Sejong Government Offices on 'COVID-19' Alert... 3 More Employees at Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Confirmed Infected

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] The Ministry of Personnel Management, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Presidential Archives... As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) rapidly spreads to the Sejong government district, the public service sector has been put on high alert. If confirmed cases continue in the Government Complex Sejong, where central administrative agencies are concentrated, concerns are growing that administrative work will inevitably face disruptions.

According to Sejong Special Self-Governing City on the 11th, two women in their 40s, one man in his 40s, one man in his 50s, and one girl in her teens tested positive for COVID-19 in Sejong on that day. Notably, among the confirmed cases, one woman in her 40s, one man in his 40s, and one man in his 50s were confirmed to be employees of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, causing unrest in the Sejong government district. The cumulative number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Sejong is 15, of which eight are public officials.

Sejong had been in a state of relief as no additional confirmed cases had occurred for some time, but the atmosphere changed rapidly after the past weekend. Following the first confirmed case among the Ministry of Personnel Management staff, employees of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Welfare were infected, leading to the feared situation of 'confirmed cases within the government complex.' Although quarantine management was strengthened, the day before yesterday, employees of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Presidential Archives tested positive, and additional cases among Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries staff occurred on this day, heightening tension among Sejong government officials to the highest level.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries closed part of Building 5-1 of the complex where the confirmed cases worked and conducted disinfection. All employees who had already arrived or were on their way to work were sent home to work remotely and await instructions. A Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official stated, "All employees in the department related to the confirmed cases have been instructed to stay home," adding, "Today's confirmed cases belong to the same organization as the employee who tested positive the day before." He continued, "There are about 500 employees in the headquarters, all of whom will undergo medical examinations and tests," and added, "Reporters who recently visited the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries building can also get tested if they wish." Due to additional confirmed COVID-19 cases among the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries press corps, the press room will be closed until this weekend.

There is intense tension as the possibility of additional confirmed cases cannot be ruled out during the investigation of the movement paths of the three confirmed cases. The Government Complex Sejong is classified as a 'Grade A' important facility, the highest level among Grade A to D, due to its significance to national security. Currently, 35 institutions, including 20 central government ministries such as the Office for Government Policy Coordination, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and 15 affiliated agencies, are housed there. The total number of employees and regular visitors is estimated to be around 20,000.

Above all, the ministries in the Sejong complex are connected by corridors. Since they share commercial and living areas within a narrow region, there are many cases where confirmed cases' movement paths overlap. Although the connecting corridors between ministries were recently closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, located next to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, remain on edge.

A Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs official said, "Since our building is adjacent to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, it is psychologically unsettling," adding, "We are strengthening disinfection and minimizing employees' movement paths." A Government Complex Management Headquarters official expressed frustration, saying, "We are prioritizing quarantine and taking various measures by building and ministry," and added, "Since confirmed cases have occurred, we are considering what additional measures should be taken."

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