Kim Jong-in "Unable to Purchase Vaccines, Making Pitiful Excuses... Reveal When Vaccinations Will Be Possible"

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

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, criticized the government's vaccine-related response, saying, "There is widespread anxiety among the public, but the government is offering lame excuses," and urged the government to clearly disclose the timing of vaccine purchases and when vaccinations will be possible.

At the Emergency Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 24th, Chairman Kim said, "While the top leaders of countries like the United States are demonstrating vaccine leadership and managing the COVID-19 crisis steadily, it is still uncertain when vaccines will be introduced in our country and when people will be able to get vaccinated."

He added, "The government is making excuses such as 'The president gave instructions, but the lower levels did not properly comply,' and 'We plan to introduce vaccines only after safety is guaranteed by other countries for the sake of public safety.' Instead of making various excuses about past events, the government has the obligation to clearly disclose how and when vaccines will be purchased and when the public will be able to receive them."

Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party, also criticized the government’s response, saying, "The government has been dragging its feet and failing to fulfill its responsibilities, and despite the opposition party demanding vaccine purchase funds twice and having them reflected in the budget, it has failed to secure vaccines." He added, "When criticism about vaccines arose, the government said it would review vaccine safety, causing even more anxiety among the public."

He further stated, "Since other countries are all conducting (vaccine) prevention measures, the government is causing anxiety by implying 'there must be a problem with the vaccine,' and then shamelessly shifting responsibility to the media and opposition parties. Regarding AstraZeneca, although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved it, the government said it would grant emergency approval if the UK approved it, but now it is backtracking by saying 'there is no reason to be the first in the world to vaccinate.'"

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