President Moon: "Obstruction of quarantine may also be subject to criminal charges... Strict law enforcement must be demonstrated" (Comprehensive)

President Moon Jae-in attended the 'Emergency Inspection for Strengthening COVID-19 Prevention Measures in Seoul' held at Seoul City Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 21st, wearing a mask. 2020.8.21 [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sunhee] President Moon Jae-in on the 21st stated, "If there are any acts that obstruct epidemiological investigations or quarantine measures, we will firmly respond legally not only under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act but also by applying charges such as obstruction of official duties or other criminal offenses. If necessary, I hope to demonstrate strict law enforcement, including on-the-spot arrests or requests for detention warrants."

On the same day, President Moon visited the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters situation room on the 3rd floor of Seoul City Hall to urgently inspect the COVID-19 quarantine situation in Seoul and the metropolitan area. He said, "I hope you show the public that 'public authority is alive'." He added, "Above all, it is important to respond quickly, proactively, and decisively. Places requiring access control should be controlled, places where gatherings were prohibited must remain prohibited, and administrative investigations should be conducted swiftly to secure necessary data. If it is judged that Seoul City’s own capabilities are insufficient during this process, please seek support from the police and the central government."

President Moon said, "There are some organized acts obstructing rapid epidemiological investigations and quarantine measures," and "There are also physical obstructions or interference occurring on-site." He emphasized, "They are also obstructing government epidemiological investigations and quarantine measures through large-scale fake news," and urged, "I hope Seoul City mobilizes all its administrative power."

According to the Blue House, President Moon’s visit to Seoul City on this day was an emergency decision not originally scheduled, conducted with a minimal number of personnel. It appears that the fact that the Seoul mayor’s position is vacant was also taken into consideration. Since new confirmed cases surged to the 300s the previous day, making this weekend a critical turning point for the re-spread of COVID-19 in the metropolitan area, the president conveyed special requests.

President Moon received a report on the quarantine status from Acting Mayor Seo Jeong-yeop of Seoul. He then moved to the conference room and urged Seoul’s quarantine officials to do their best to prevent the nationwide spread of COVID-19, which is showing signs of re-spreading mainly in the metropolitan area. During the approximately 20-minute closed-door briefing, President Moon received a report on Seoul’s quarantine measures from Acting Mayor Seo. Subsequently, reports on related quarantine measures were given in order by Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon, National Police Agency Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong, Ministry of the Interior and Safety Disaster and Safety Management Headquarters Director Kim Gye-jo, and National Institute of Health Director Kwon Jun-wook.

To check the on-site situation, phone connections were also made. President Moon and other meeting attendees connected by phone with Choi Jae-pil, Director of Infection Control at Seoul Medical Center, to hear an explanation about the status of securing hospital beds in the metropolitan area. Due to the surge in COVID-19 confirmed cases in Seoul and the metropolitan area, securing hospital beds is also in an emergency situation. Additionally, phone connections were made with epidemiological investigators from private hospitals and officials from Seongbuk-gu Public Health Center, where Sarang Jeil Church is located, to check the on-site situation.

Those attending the schedule included Acting Mayor Seo, Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs Kim Woo-young, and other Seoul city officials, as well as Choi Jae-sung, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, Yoon Chang-ryeol, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs, and Yoo Dae-young, Secretary for Local Autonomy Development from the Blue House.

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