Hong Nam-ki: "No Economy Without COVID-19 Prevention"... Urges Strict Quarantine at 'Sejong Government Complex'

Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, is presiding over an emergency issue inspection meeting of the Ministry of Economy and Finance held on March 14 at the Government Seoul Office in Gwanghwamun, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Hong Nam-ki emphasized thorough quarantine measures at the Government Sejong Complex on the 14th, stating, "There is no economy without quarantine."

On this day, Deputy Prime Minister Hong made the remarks immediately after presiding over an emergency issue inspection meeting following the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting chaired by the Prime Minister.

Hong Nam-ki checked the Ministry of Economy and Finance's flexible work guidelines, such as 'working from home and smart work centers,' aimed at blocking the spread of COVID-19 and securing administrative capacity in emergencies. He urged strict management of duties, including minimizing interpersonal contact when working at the office and adhering to designated work locations and hours when working remotely.

Additionally, Hong reviewed the current economic situation, measures to strengthen the emergency response system, and the real economy and financial market conditions in response to domestic and international financial market instability caused by sharp declines in stock and oil prices.

Hong emphasized that the Ministry of Economy and Finance must act as the economic control tower and conduct proactive risk management. He said, "We must faithfully implement the comprehensive package support measures already announced and the supplementary budget after its passage in the National Assembly to help small business owners, SMEs, and affected industries and companies endure these difficult times." He added, "In addition to existing policies, creative measures to strengthen support for those affected must be devised."

Meanwhile, according to Sejong City, as of 10 a.m. on the same day, there were a total of 31 confirmed cases at the Government Sejong Complex. Among them, 26 cases were from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and one case each from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Presidential Archives under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

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