Kim Jong-in: "Government and ruling party politicize virus response efforts instead of overcoming it... Unacceptable"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, criticized the ruling party and government, saying they are "politicizing the issue instead of making efforts to overcome the virus."

At a meeting of the United Future Party's provincial party chairpersons held at the National Assembly on the 21st, Chairman Kim said, "In a situation where the political circles and the public need to cooperate to overcome the second wave of COVID-19, the ruling party is politicizing the issue as if the United Future Party should be held responsible for the second wave."

He added, "This is not the basic attitude expected of the ruling party," and said, "If the virus (novel coronavirus infection) is spreading, I cannot understand why they are trying to politicize the issue instead of reaching a public consensus and making efforts to overcome the virus in any form."

Chairman Kim pointed out, "After the second wave of COVID-19 occurred, the government, which had been pleased at first glance for having overcome COVID-19 well, seems to be very flustered," and said, "The government itself dismantling the central quarantine system that had been active in the quarantine headquarters is ultimately a factor that caused the virus to spread again."

He also cited COVID-19 as a cause of the recent election defeat. Chairman Kim said, "Over the past three years, various policies pursued by the current government have only caused confusion without producing significant results," and added, "Nevertheless, the COVID-19 crisis covered up all the government's failures in the last election, resulting in a huge defeat for our United Future Party in the last general election."

He also called on the provincial party chairpersons to make changes for regaining power. He said, "Only by making many changes ourselves and adopting a mindset suited to the times can we face the upcoming presidential election and regain power once again," and urged, "Please make great efforts to secure victory in the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections in April next year and then win the next presidential election."

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