Gwangju City: "Mild COVID-19 Patients from Daegu Area to be Isolated and Treated in Gwangju"

Announcement of Gwangju Community Special Statement

Mayor Lee Yong-seop: “Carefully considering the call of the times and responsibility... Asking for citizens’ understanding and participation”

On the 1st, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, issued a special statement together with the heads of various institutions and organizations including the five district offices, city council, city education office, May 18 organizations, veterans' organizations, religious groups, economic sectors, civil society, and medical community, announcing that mild COVID-19 patients from Daegu will be isolated and treated in Gwangju in the spirit of sharing and solidarity of Gwangju. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City, along with its 5 district offices, city council, city education office, May 18 organizations, veterans’ groups, religious circles, economic sectors, civil society, and medical community leaders, have decided to accept and treat mild COVID-19 patients from Daegu, a “Moonlight Alliance” sister city struggling fiercely against COVID-19.

As a Gwangju community, they announced a special statement at the Gwangju City Hall briefing room on the afternoon of the 1st, saying, “On this meaningful occasion of the 101st anniversary of the March 1st Movement, our Gwangju community intends to fulfill the historical mission entrusted to us.”

Mayor Lee Yong-seop, reading the statement as a representative, emphasized, “Daegu citizens who tested positive for COVID-19 are being left untreated due to lack of hospital beds, resulting in deaths, which is a heartbreaking situation,” and added, “Just as countless hands of solidarity stood with Gwangju in May 1980, now is the time for us to repay that debt.”

He explained, “We will support Daegu while taking thorough measures such as strict quarantine and complete isolation from the outside to ensure no impact on the lives and safety of our citizens,” and “Mild COVID-19 patients from Daegu will be isolated and hospitalized for treatment at Bitgoeul Chonnam National University Hospital and Gwangju Municipal Second Nursing Hospital, which are designated infectious disease specialized hospitals, according to their symptoms.”

He also added, “We will ensure perfect safety during the transportation of Daegu patients to prevent community infection, and family members will not accompany them.”

He continued, “Although there have been no additional confirmed cases in Gwangju for seven consecutive days, the domestic COVID-19 situation is at a ‘serious’ level, making it difficult to predict when new cases may occur,” and “Recently, confirmed cases have emerged in the eastern region of Jeonnam, heightening local anxiety.”

He revealed the background of the decision, saying, “In this situation, the decision by the Gwangju community, responsible for the lives and safety of Gwangju citizens, to accept Daegu patients was a very difficult one. However, after gathering opinions from many, including medical staff, and carefully considering Gwangju’s historical mission and responsibility, we believed this path is the right one for Gwangju and reflects Gwangju’s identity.”

Furthermore, he stated, “We are thoroughly preparing to ensure that our city’s confirmed patients are not affected at all by the support for Daegu patients,” and “Severe patients will be treated at national isolation beds in Chonnam National University Hospital and Chosun University Hospital, while mild patients will be isolated and treated at Bitgoeul Chonnam National University Hospital, which is designated as an infectious disease specialized hospital, with sufficient beds secured for our city’s use.”

He emphasized, “Both preventing the spread of infectious diseases and helping Daegu require acting within the golden time; if missed, the effectiveness greatly diminishes. Therefore, rather than pushing away or being wary, we must overcome this difficulty by uniting all national capabilities through closer solidarity,” and “This is the spirit of the March 1st Independence Movement that has continued for the past 100 years and the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Movement, which is marking its 40th anniversary.”

Mayor Lee appealed for the understanding and participation of Gwangju citizens, saying, “Gwangju has always followed the spirit of the times and the greater good to turn the tide of history in the right direction, and history will justly evaluate our decision this time as well.”

Meanwhile, the special statement was jointly signed by Mayor Lee Yong-seop, Kim Dong-chan, Chair of Gwangju Metropolitan City Council, Jang Hwi-guk, Superintendent of Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, Im Taek, Dong-gu District Mayor, Seo Dae-seok, Seo-gu District Mayor, Kim Byeong-nae, Nam-gu District Mayor, Moon In, Buk-gu District Mayor, Kim Sam-ho, Gwangsan-gu District Mayor, Jeong Byeong-seok, President of Chonnam National University, Min Young-don, President of Chosun University, Lee Sam-yong, Director of Chonnam National University Hospital, Jeong Jong-hoon, Director of Chosun University Hospital, Choi Yong-su, Director of Gwangju Christian Hospital, Yang Dong-ho, President of Gwangju Medical Association, Park Chang-heon, President of Gwangju Dental Association, Kim Gwang-gyeom, President of Gwangju Korean Medicine Association, Jeong Hyun-cheol, President of Gwangju Pharmaceutical Association, Lee Suk-ja, President of Gwangju Nursing Association, Park Jae-man, Executive Representative of Gwangju Citizens’ Organizations Council, Lee Jeong-jae, Executive Representative of Gwangju Civil Society Organizations Federation, Kim Gap-je, Head of Gwangbokhoe Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch, Lee Cheol-woo, Chairman of the May 18 Memorial Foundation, Kim Young-hoon, President of the May 18 Democratic Patriots’ Families Association, Kim I-jong, President of the May 18 Democratic Movement Disabled Veterans Association, Moon Heung-sik, President of the May 18 Detained and Injured Association, Lee Myeong-ja, Director of May Mothers’ House, Ahn Seong-rye, Former Director of Ilam Human Rights Library, Lee Hong-gil, Head of the 4.19 Revolution Merit Association Gwangju-Hoseo Branch, Won Soon-seok, Chairman of Gwangju Democratization Movement Memorial Association, Choi Young-tae, Chair of Gwangju Citizens’ Rights Committee, Lee Jong-gi, President of Gwangju Christian Churches Federation, Monk Dong-hyun, President of Gwangju Buddhist Federation, Kim Hee-jung, Archbishop of Gwangju Catholic Archdiocese, Jang Deok-hoon, Head of Won Buddhism Gwangju-Jeonnam District, Kim Jung-chae, Former Head of Gwangju Hyanggyo Confucian Academy, Jeong Chang-seon, President of Gwangju Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kim Bong-gil, President of Gwangju Employers’ Association, Son Jung-ho, President of Gwangju Merchants’ Federation, Lee Kyung-chae, President of Gwangju Small Business Federation, Oh Byung-chae, President of Korea Senior Citizens Association Gwangju Federation, Kim Cheon-su, President of Gwangju Social Welfare Council, Jeon Seong-nam, President of Gwangju Social Workers Association, and Lee In-chun, President of Gwangju Disabled Persons Federation.

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