Government: "Operating 'Supply Difficulty Field Inspection Team' Separately from Mask Enforcement Team"

On the 2nd, as the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection increases, citizens are lining up to buy masks at Haengbokhan Department Store in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced on the 2nd that it has been operating an on-site inspection team since the 28th of last month to listen to the current status of the mask supply market and the difficulties and suggestions of production and sales entities in the process of full-scale response for the early stabilization of mask supply, and to reflect these in policies.

The government is conducting investigations and crackdowns on unfair and illegal activities such as hoarding and violations of public distribution obligations through a joint inspection team involving the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the Fair Trade Commission, the National Police Agency, and the National Tax Service. Separately, the on-site inspection team is an effort to identify and improve legal or institutional problems that hinder mask supply and distribution in the field.

Since the 28th of last month until yesterday, a total of 64 employees have been mobilized, inspecting pharmacies, post offices, Nonghyup Hanaro Marts, manufacturers, etc. nationwide every other day in groups of 32. So far, they have inspected a total of 207 locations: 188 pharmacies, 16 Nonghyup Hanaro Marts, 1 post office, and 2 manufacturers.

An official from the on-site inspection team stated, "There was an opinion that it is necessary to reduce the public's anxiety about purchasing masks by providing assurance that public mask supplies will continue to be delivered on-site," adding, "There was also an opinion that it is necessary to designate masks and other disaster-related items as strategic materials and introduce a public stockpiling system for future emergency response."

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