Kim Jong-in "Establish National Health Safety Department and Selectively Distribute Disaster Relief Funds"... Also Advocates for Level 3 Social Distancing Measures

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, is attending the Emergency Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, proposed the establishment of a National Health Safety Department to create a health system framework. He also emphasized that disaster relief funds should be selectively distributed considering polarization. Within the emergency committee, there were also calls to raise social distancing to level 3 due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Chairman Kim said at the emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly Main Building on the 24th, "Polarization is worsening due to the COVID-19 situation."

He stated, "Regarding the second wave of COVID-19, the government inevitably has to prepare a 4th supplementary budget," and added, "When distributing emergency disaster relief funds, preparations should be made while reviewing where to focus support most intensively, keeping polarization issues in mind."

Chairman Kim also proposed the establishment of a National Health Safety Department, saying, "While experiencing the COVID-19 situation, I thought we need to properly establish our country's health system."

He criticized the government's wrong messaging related to the resurgence of COVID-19. Kim pointed out, "The government is repeating mistakes," and said, "Last March, when COVID-19 temporarily subsided, the president took off his mask and said at the Cabinet meeting that it was okay to remove masks. The government sent the wrong message, which led to the spread of COVID-19."

He continued, "This time as well, the government was careless by encouraging travel and consumption, and COVID-19 spread," adding, "The president mentioned arrests and detention warrants regarding COVID-19, enforced excessive law enforcement, but the ones who solve COVID-19 are not the laws but solely the dedicated efforts of medical staff."

He also warned against the ruling party's politicization of COVID-19. Kim said, "Looking at the recent behavior of the ruling party trying to politicize the COVID-19 situation, they are showing unfairness and injustice regarding the prosecution destruction incident, Cho Kuk, the Ulsan mayoral election interference, the Yoon Mi-hyang case, and power-related suspicion cases," and added, "It is right for the entire nation to participate in COVID-19 prevention, but inciting fear should be avoided in a democratic country."

Chairman Kim said, "Countries are competing to secure COVID-19 vaccines," and added, "I hope the government will explain whether it is making efforts to vaccinate the entire population, how much vaccine securing capability it has, and make the best efforts to secure vaccines."

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, is attending the Emergency Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Floor leader Joo Ho-young also said, "The government's responsibility lies in failing to prevent the second wave of COVID-19 infections despite warnings from experts," and demanded an apology, saying, "The government, which should raise awareness and educate the public, instead encouraged travel and issued dining coupons, causing wrong perceptions."

Regarding the doctors' association strike, he said, "More medical personnel are needed, and when dedication is required, we cannot help but criticize the government's lack of measures," and added, "Since this is a very important law adjusting our country's doctor system, the final discussion needs to be conducted in depth by the National Assembly forming a special committee."

Emergency committee member Sung Il-jong argued that social distancing should be raised to level 3. He said, "It is effective only if (level 3) is implemented within the first week of the infectious disease outbreak," and "We need to ask for the public's understanding and participation." Emergency committee member Kim Mi-ae also said, "The resurgence of COVID-19 is serious enough to consider social distancing level 3."

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