KCDC 'Nominal Promotion' Controversy... Seong Il-jong Says "Let's Promote After Separating Ministry of Health and Welfare"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Regarding the controversy over the "nominal promotion" of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Rep. Seong Il-jong of the United Future Party proposed an alternative to split the Ministry of Health and Welfare into the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Welfare, and then promote the KDCA to an agency-level organization.

On the 10th, Rep. Seong announced through a press release that he had introduced a bill to amend the Government Organization Act, which centers on splitting the Ministry of Health and Welfare into the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Welfare and promoting the KDCA to an agency under the Ministry of Public Health.

The government announced on the 3rd a bill to amend the Government Organization Act to promote the KDCA to the Korea Disease Control Agency. However, this reorganization plan included transferring the National Institute of Health under the KDCA to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and creating a second vice minister position responsible for health within the Ministry of Health and Welfare, leading to criticism that it was used to expand the Ministry's own jurisdiction.

In contrast, the bill introduced by Rep. Seong proposes to split the Ministry of Health and Welfare into the Ministry of Public Health, which oversees policies related to medical resources and institutions, and the Ministry of Welfare, which is responsible for elderly welfare and social security, and to promote the KDCA to an agency under the Ministry of Public Health. Accordingly, the Ministry of Public Health will be responsible for public health and future growth engines, the KDCA will oversee affairs related to infectious diseases and other diseases, and the Ministry of Welfare will enhance its capacity to respond to increasing welfare demands.

Rep. Seong said, "Although there has been a significant difference in the nature of work between the health care and social welfare sectors and the fields are vast, the dedicated ministries for health and welfare have not been separated, making it difficult to establish a sustainable health care system and respond in a timely manner." He added, "Based on the high expertise of the KDCA, it should be able to make independent and prompt policy decisions regarding infectious diseases and disease control."

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