6 Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Employees Test Positive for COVID-19...Concerns Over Work Disruption in Sejong Government Offices (Comprehensive)

On the 12th, as additional confirmed cases emerged at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in the Government Complex Sejong, Sejong City, the connecting corridor between the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries was restricted.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] On the 12th, additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) were identified at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. As the spread of COVID-19 continues in the Sejong government district, concerns over disruptions to administrative work are growing.

According to Sejong City, six employees of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries tested positive on this day alone. Additionally, a woman in her 40s working at the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs was confirmed as a new case.

As a result, the total number of infected government Sejong Complex employees has risen to 15, including 11 from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, one from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, one from the Ministry of Personnel Management, and one from the Presidential Archives of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. The total confirmed cases in Sejong City reached 24.

Sejong had been experiencing a period without new confirmed cases, creating a sense of relief, but the situation changed rapidly after the past weekend. On the 7th, a Ministry of Health and Welfare employee working in Building 10 of Sejong Complex 1 tested positive. Although quarantine measures were strengthened, additional confirmed cases have since emerged, increasing tension among Sejong Complex public officials.

In particular, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries reported 11 positive cases: one on the 10th, four on the 11th, and six on the 12th. The ministry closed part of Building 5-1, where the infected employees worked, and conducted disinfection. A ministry official stated, "All individuals who underwent retesting the previous day were confirmed positive," and added, "All employees in departments related to the confirmed cases have been instructed to work from home." To prevent further spread of COVID-19, the press room for reporters covering the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will be closed until this weekend. The operation of the cafeteria has also been suspended, and general public access is prohibited.

The problem is that the possibility of additional confirmed cases cannot be ruled out. The Sejong Complex is classified as a 'Grade A' important facility, the highest level among the A to D grades, 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, and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, as well as 15 affiliated agencies, are housed there. The total number of employees and regular visitors is estimated to be around 20,000. Although connecting corridors between ministries have recently been 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 alert.

Accordingly, the Government Complex Management Headquarters is strengthening quarantine measures to prevent further spread of COVID-19 within the Sejong Complex. On the 3rd, connecting corridors between buildings within the Sejong Complex were closed, and on the 11th, the facial recognition system allowing mask-free entry was suspended at four government complexes nationwide?in Seoul, Sejong, Gwacheon, and Daejeon?to ensure masks are worn upon entry.

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