Son Young-rae Says 'No Need to Be the No.1 Vaccine Country'...Opposition Criticizes as 'Showing Off' (Summary)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The opposition criticized Son Young-rae, head of the Strategic Planning Division at the Central Accident Response Headquarters (CARH) and spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Welfare, who expressed concern that "our society is creating an atmosphere of competition to be the first in the world to receive the vaccine."

Hong Kyung-hee, senior deputy spokesperson of the People’s Party, criticized in a statement on the 23rd, saying, "This is an unprecedented blunder. When did our people ever ask the government authorities to make Korea the number one country in vaccine administration?"

He added, "We simply demanded a normal life starting next year by securing vaccines through prompt responses like other countries, no more and no less," and pointed out, "Is it reasonable for government officials to distort facts and shift the responsibility for being far behind in the vaccine procurement competition onto the people, ignoring the earnest wishes of the public?"

Deputy Spokesperson Hong criticized, "The serious concern lies not with our society but with the perception of the government’s quarantine authorities," and said, "I hope Son, the head, answers what exactly he is trying to manage in that position."

He questioned, "It is doubtful whether the Accident Response Headquarters is not managing an accident but rather struggling in a defensive position due to falling behind in the vaccine procurement competition initiated by the Blue House," and urged, "The government should immediately apologize to the public for the inappropriate remarks and take prompt action against Son, who appears to have no strategy at all."

Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, also called it "a shocking matter," demanding, "There is a limit to how much the public’s feelings can be hurt. The president should immediately dismiss Son to sound an alarm in the public service, which is misleading the public with absurd sophistry."

He pointed out, "By that logic, are New Zealand and Singapore, which maintain the highest level of quarantine while successfully securing vaccines early and starting vaccinations, fools?" He noted, "As of the 22nd, Singapore reported zero new local infections (29 imported cases), and New Zealand has had no local infections since November 18, yet both have succeeded in securing vaccines available for the entire population."

Kim said, "South Korea is in a state of mental collapse due to an incompetent and irresponsible president and civil servants who only watch the president’s mood and remain inactive," adding, "He is no longer qualified to remain in public office, being more like a spokesperson for the Ministry of Self-Preservation (보신복지부) than the Ministry of Health and Welfare (보건복지부), having sold his soul to careerism and sycophancy."

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