"'COVID-19' Hospital Admission Refusal and False Epidemiological Investigation Statements Public Interest Reports to Be Prioritized"

Kwonikwi "Prompt Handling of Public Interest Reports Violating Infectious Disease Prevention Act"

Chairman Eunjeong Park of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) announced that it will prioritize handling reports of public interest violations related to refusal of hospitalization treatment by infected individuals and false statements in epidemiological investigations to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The ACRC stated that it will promptly process public interest reports involving violations of the COVID-19 Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, Quarantine Act, Medical Service Act, and others.

Public interest violations refer to acts subject to penalties or administrative sanctions under 284 public interest reporting laws, and anyone can report such acts to the ACRC or related agencies.

The ACRC explained that among the 284 laws, the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, Quarantine Act, Medical Service Act, Price Stabilization Act, Maternal and Child Health Act, Industrial Safety and Health Act, Infant and Toddler Care Act, and Emergency Medical Service Act are related to the spread of COVID-19, and violations of these laws are subject to public interest reporting.

Representative reportable acts include ▲ refusal of hospitalization treatment by COVID-19 infected persons classified as a first-class infectious disease ▲ making false statements or intentionally omitting or concealing facts during epidemiological investigations ▲ failing to report entry into the country after staying in or transiting through China ▲ non-compliance with quarantine measures such as building closures ▲ hoarding of masks and hand sanitizers ▲ and failure to comply with orders to close daycare centers due to concerns about COVID-19 infection.

The ACRC informed that it actively protects reporters through confidentiality guarantees, protective measures, personal safety protection, and prohibition of disadvantageous measures. It is also possible to use "anonymous proxy reporting," where a public interest report is filed under a lawyer's name instead of the reporter's name.

Chairperson Park Eun-jung of the ACRC said, "We hope that the COVID-19 situation will be resolved quickly through the active public interest reporting of the people," and added, "The ACRC will also do its best to handle public interest reports and protect reporters."

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