Ahn Cheol-soo: "Expanding and Reforming the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency... Will Grant Full Authority for Infectious Disease Prevention"

"COVID-19, Prepare for a Long-Term Battle"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, who is in self-quarantine after completing medical volunteer work in Daegu, stated on the 20th, “In the next National Assembly, we will unite the party’s consensus to expand and reorganize the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare into the ‘Disease Control and Prevention Agency’ directly under the Prime Minister, granting it full authority over infectious disease prevention at the level of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”

On the same day, Ahn attended the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly via video conference and said, “I see the dedication and sense of mission of public officials in Director Jung Eun-kyung’s white hair and tired face,” adding, “However, I am angered by the contradictions and backwardness of the bureaucratic administrative system as I confirmed that the KCDC director does not have the necessary authority to perform their duties.”

He emphasized, “The head of the Disease Control and Prevention Agency will be appointed as an expert in the field of quarantine and will be granted full authority over quarantine measures in the event of an infectious disease outbreak,” and added, “The personnel authority over the agency will naturally be guaranteed.”

He continued, “The Disease Control and Prevention Agency head will be empowered to decide on raising the infectious disease crisis level, dispatching the military and controlling regions, banning entry of foreigners who have visited infection sources or infected areas, and quarantining returnees who have resided in infected regions. The president will be allowed to take prior action and report afterward.”

Ahn requested, “In this March extraordinary session of the National Assembly, please adopt a ‘Special Resolution of the National Assembly’ to thank and support the heroes of our society such as frontline public officials, hospital medical staff, and volunteers who are dedicated to overcoming the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). I sincerely ask Yeouido politics to once again embrace the hearts of the people who have been divided by politics, unify them, and encourage and support each other.”

Ahn said, “I hope COVID-19 will retreat quickly, but it will not be suppressed that easily,” and added, “We must prepare for a long-term battle.”

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