Lee Hae-chan's 'One Mask for 3 Days' Remark... United Party Says "No Intention to Increase Supply"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 2nd, Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, made a remark suggesting that "it is possible to use one mask for three days" in relation to the prevention of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), which drew criticism from the United Future Party.

Jang Neung-in, the full-time deputy spokesperson of the United Future Party, pointed out in a statement on the 2nd, "Does Leader Lee understand the feelings of the citizens who line up from dawn to buy masks?"

He said, "This remark is a careless comment that fails to consider the feelings of citizens who wait in line from early morning in front of Nonghyup and post offices to purchase masks," and added, "At a time when there should be efforts to increase the insufficient supply of masks, I want to ask if urging citizens to suppress their demand for masks is the COVID-19 countermeasure that the ruling party leader thinks of."

Deputy Spokesperson Jang criticized, "Citizens who anxiously receive numbered tickets and wait to buy masks, which have become essential for the lives and safety of their families, do not have the mental luxury to selectively use masks like Leader Lee Hae-chan, who has become a symbol of vested interests," and added, "There are even concerns in society that the government might be suppressing the demand for masks for the sake of citizens' lives, similar to the failed real estate demand suppression policy under the Moon Jae-in administration."

He emphasized, "What Leader Lee Hae-chan should be concerned about is not suppressing mask demand, but bold and swift measures such as declaring special disaster zones to end COVID-19 and minimize damage."

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