Hwang Kyo-an "We Must Take Care of Our People First... Sincheonji Should Not Be Uncooperative"

Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, is wearing a mask before the start of the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 2nd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, urged the declaration of the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions as special disaster areas in response to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), saying "We must take care of our people first." He also requested cooperation from the Shincheonji group.

On the 2nd, at the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly main building, Leader Hwang stated, "Daegu and Gyeongbuk are in a war situation against the Wuhan coronavirus."

Regarding the government's plan to provide $5 million in aid to China amid the spread of COVID-19, he said, "I absolutely cannot understand this with my common sense," emphasizing, "This is not the time to be leisurely thinking about external circumstances. Take care of our people first."

Leader Hwang urged the declaration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk as special disaster areas, saying, "About half of the 3,736 confirmed cases are waiting for hospitalization at home, which causes even greater fear." He stressed, "We must secure one thousand hospital beds early within the Daegu and Gyeongbuk area and provide additional funding for the operation of infectious disease-dedicated hospitals. This must be done swiftly."

He also emphasized that a special law must be passed within the February extraordinary session of the National Assembly, stating, "The United Future Party will push forward with three major legislative amendments as party policy, including support measures such as compensation for losses of medical institutions and early prevention measures for the spread of infectious diseases."

He requested cooperation from the Shincheonji group. Leader Hwang said, "What the government authorities currently need is accurate information provision, and there must be unconditional cooperation with the authorities," emphasizing, "Especially, we sternly request the Shincheonji group. Non-cooperation is absolutely unacceptable."

He also pointed out the first confirmed case of a Chinese international student, warning, "There is serious concern about additional spread caused by asymptomatic infected individuals coming from China."

He stressed the need for economic measures equivalent to those in wartime. Leader Hwang said, "This is an emergency economic situation almost equivalent to wartime," adding, "In crises such as disasters and calamities, the government must activate the market. It must be awakened through deregulation and other measures."

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