Preliminary Candidate Yang Hyang-ja Pledges to Establish KCDC Honam Regional Headquarters and Host It in Gwangju

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Yang Hyangja, a preliminary candidate of the Democratic Party for the National Assembly election in Seo-gu (Eul), Gwangju Metropolitan City, announced on the 1st that she will accept the Democratic Party's health and medical policy pledges and strive to provide more benefits to the Gwangju local community.

She called for the elevation of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency to a government agency level and the establishment of a regional headquarters in Gwangju, with a significant reinforcement of epidemiological investigation personnel and related organizations in Gwangju.

Along with this, plans are underway to expand negative pressure treatment beds at general hospitals in Gwangju.

The Democratic Party Policy Committee announced on the 1st a central party-level pledge to establish regional headquarters of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in six nationwide regions. However, the specific locations for the regional headquarters have not yet been decided.

Preliminary candidate Yang pointed out, "Effective infectious disease response requires large-scale and intensive manpower deployment within a short period," adding, "Currently, field personnel such as epidemiological investigators are chronically insufficient, and due to the absence of local organizations of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, there are difficulties in rapid response when incidents occur."

She also stated, "Especially since the head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency oversees both administration and quarantine, there are limitations in responding to emergency situations," and declared, "I will elevate the agency to a government agency level and attract a regional headquarters responsible for the Honam region to Gwangju."

She further emphasized, "I will establish an infectious disease response system with the perception of infectious disease response as a 'second national defense,'" and stressed, "We will strengthen the institutional foundation to protect the lives and health of the people and to prevent damage to livelihoods and the national economy caused by infectious diseases."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.