United Future Party Emphasizes Government Responsibility, Saying "Moon Administration Itself Undermined Advanced COVID-19 Defense System"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] On the 23rd, the United Future Party raised their voice, stating that “the government is responsible” for the rapid increase in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, criticized at an emergency countermeasure meeting on COVID-19 held that afternoon, saying, “The Moon Jae-in administration itself has largely undermined the advanced COVID-19 defense system built by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.”

Chairman Kim said, “I think the Moon Jae-in government itself has taken complacent COVID-19 quarantine measures, such as President Moon’s remarks that COVID-19 could end soon.”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He pointed out, “Examples include drastically reducing some hospital COVID-19 beds, making August 17 a holiday, issuing consumption coupons, and allowing religious gatherings,” adding, “President Moon also stated that COVID-19 could end soon.”

Chairman Kim said, “My visit to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 21st was to support them to work with conviction without worrying about the ruling party’s stance when swift action was needed,” and added, “However, the ruling party is showing an absurd behavior of trying to exploit even this for political strife instead of cooperating.”

He continued, “The ruling party, amid the public’s overall anger over failures such as real estate, has become obsessed with political strife using the COVID-19 spread as an opportunity,” and said, “The government and the ruling party should fight COVID-19, not the people or the opposition. Stop political obstruction that only cares about approval ratings immediately.”

Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the United Future Party, also sharply criticized, saying, “The Moon Jae-in government seems to approach COVID-19 quarantine not from a scientific or health perspective but from a political one.”

At the meeting, Floor Leader Joo said, “We need to overcome this crisis by respecting expert opinions centered on quarantine authorities, but this government does not seem to do so,” and added, “They gave signals in many places as if COVID-19 was over. They extended holidays and issued coupons, seemingly encouraging outdoor activities, and lifted bans on small gatherings, giving the public a wrong signal that COVID-19 might be over.”

He continued, “At times like this, the people should unite to overcome the crisis, but instead, they are looking for scapegoats, shifting responsibility, and showing various problems such as not imposing any sanctions on friendly organizations,” and emphasized, “At times like this, I earnestly ask to refrain from political strife, passing the buck, and dividing the people, and to act and speak in accordance with proper quarantine principles.”

At the meeting, the United Future Party also argued for the necessity of disaster relief payments and the 4th supplementary budget bill. Chairman Kim said, “Since the current situation is more urgent than the previous spread, social distancing, disaster relief payments, and supplementary budget should be actively considered,” and emphasized, “It is urgent to form a COVID-19 special committee through bipartisan agreement. Comprehensive measures should be devised not only for infectious disease prevention but also for economic and social impacts. It is also desirable to recognize the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s command authority over local health centers in emergency situations.”

Regarding the indefinite strike by medical residents, Chairman Kim said, “The indefinite strike by medical residents who are responsible for the lives of the people on the front lines must stop,” and requested, “I ask for mutual concessions with the attitude that the people come first.” He added, “Since there are suspicions that the government is pushing policies opposed by the medical community, a change in the government’s attitude is also required.”

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