Lee Nak-yeon: "Shincheonji Should Provide Owned Facilities as Treatment Centers... At Least It's the Right Thing to Do"

Lee Nak-yeon, Chairman of the COVID-19 Disaster Safety Countermeasures Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering opening remarks at the government-party meeting on the supplementary budget for COVID-19 response held at the National Assembly on the 2nd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] On the 2nd, Lee Nak-yeon, Chairman of the Democratic Party's COVID-19 Disaster Safety Countermeasures Committee, demanded that Shincheonji "provide Shincheonji-owned facilities as living treatment centers for asymptomatic and mild patients affiliated with Shincheonji and take responsibility for their operation."

At a joint meeting of the COVID-19 Countermeasures Committee and the Supreme Council held at the National Assembly that day, Chairman Lee said, "Since the majority of confirmed patients come from the Shincheonji Church, the rapid spread is related to Shincheonji."

He added, "I believe this is the minimum duty to the people. Medical support for patients at the Shincheonji living treatment centers will be provided by the government, and like other treatment centers, patients who require hospital treatment should be promptly transferred to hospitals for inpatient care."

He also emphasized a firm response toward Shincheonji. Chairman Lee said, "Shincheonji must fulfill its obligation to protect public health by promptly and accurately providing member information to the authorities," adding, "If compliance is insufficient, public authority must be exercised swiftly and decisively. The opposition party should reflect on whether their attitude, which seems to protect Shincheonji, negatively affects quarantine efforts."

Chairman Lee also proposed to Democratic Party members, "Let us send small donations filled with our love to patients and medical staff nationwide, including Daegu and Gyeongbuk," and said, "I will also participate. Through such sharing and solidarity, let us cross this river of crisis together."

He continued, "There were significant mismatches in supply and demand and a lack of explanation to the public regarding masks, which caused great inconvenience and dissatisfaction among the people," and said, "From now on, we must accurately explain to the public the realities of supply and distribution as well as hygiene rules faithful to medical science, and gain the public’s understanding and participation."

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