Prime Minister Jeong: "COVID-19 False and Manipulated Information Rampant... Zero Tolerance for Production and Withholding Acts"

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun stated on the 21st, "As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis continues, false and fabricated information is rampant," adding, "The government will strictly respond according to the law with a zero-tolerance policy toward the production and distribution of false and fabricated information."

At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting held at Seoul City Hall that day, Prime Minister Chung said, "Recently, false and fabricated information such as the confirmation of the escalation to level 3, signs of hoarding daily necessities, and 70 confirmed cases at a funeral hall in Jeju Island have become frequent."

He added, "Such dissemination acts incite distrust and confusion and constitute a social evil that undermines the community's quarantine capabilities," and instructed, "The Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Communications Commission, the National Police Agency, and other related agencies should thoroughly track down these illegal acts, impose severe punishments, and report the results to the CDSCH."

Prime Minister Chung noted, "Over the past week, an average of about 950 confirmed cases per day have occurred, with more than 70% still concentrated in the metropolitan area. In particular, Seoul recorded 470 confirmed cases yesterday, setting a new record," emphasizing, "We must control the metropolitan area to overcome the critical point of this third wave."

He continued, "Adjustments to social distancing levels should be carefully prepared but should be the last resort," stressing, "First, special quarantine measures are necessary for recently identified vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals, nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, and ski resorts. Additionally, quarantine management should be strengthened for gatherings, parties, religious events, tourism, and travel that increase during Christmas and the year-end and New Year holidays."

He concluded, "The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters should consult with related ministries and local governments to prepare and promptly implement enhanced special quarantine measures for the year-end and New Year period," and urged, "The government must not ignore the hardships caused by high-intensity quarantine measures. The financial authorities should review reasonable support measures."

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