Central and Local Policy Council Discuss Cooperation on Vaccination and Child Abuse Response

Held on the 22nd chaired by the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety... 17 Cities and Provinces and 226 Deputy Heads of Cities, Counties, and Districts Nationwide Attend to Ensure On-site Implementation

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 22nd, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety held the 2nd Central-Local Policy Council meeting via video conference, chaired by Minister Jeon Hae-cheol, to check the preparation status of local governments for the vaccination campaign starting from the 26th of February to March and the implementation status of the 'Government Joint Child Abuse Response System Enhancement Plan.'

At the meeting, to secure on-site implementation capability, not only the 17 metropolitan cities and provinces but also the deputy heads of 226 cities, counties, and districts nationwide attended. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency provided guidance on the vaccination plans for each target group according to the COVID-19 vaccination plan for February to March and requested thorough preparation, including securing operational personnel for the priority regional vaccination centers (one per city/province, two in Gyeonggi). Additionally, they urged local governments to conclude contracts with entrusted medical institutions according to their temporary vaccination implementation plans, form visiting vaccination teams for public health centers, nursing facilities, and facilities for the disabled, and establish emergency response systems and rapid responses in case of adverse reactions.

In response, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety promised to actively identify and resolve newly arising on-site difficulties as local governments prepare for vaccination implementation and to provide full support.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare requested active cooperation from local governments to promptly implement the child abuse response system enhancement plan announced at the Social Relations Ministers' Meeting on January 19, including strengthening on-site expertise and preparing the immediate separation protection system. In particular, they urged local governments to complete the additional deployment of 374 dedicated child abuse officers within the year, relax the overtime pay cap to improve working conditions for dedicated officers, and support the installation of additional shelters. The National Police Agency also requested the establishment of a mutual accompaniment dispatch system between abuse prevention police officers and dedicated officers for the rapid protection of child victims during nights and holidays.

Furthermore, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety requested active cooperation for the full-scale launch and stable settlement of the autonomous police system, which is about to be fully implemented as part of the power structure reform including investigation rights adjustment, by preparing pilot operations such as enacting and revising ordinances, organizing administrative offices, and forming and operating autonomous police committees by city and province to ensure smooth initial operations.

Minister Jeon Hae-cheol of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety emphasized, “The period starting from the 26th, when vaccination begins, is a critical turning point for COVID-19,” and urged, “Please do your best to ensure that the central and local governments unite with trust and safety as the highest values to facilitate smooth vaccination.” He added, “To eradicate child abuse, strengthen early on-site response capabilities and expand infrastructure for protecting child victims, with active cooperation between the government and local governments. Also, prepare without fail for pilot operations and other measures by local governments to ensure the successful on-site settlement of the autonomous police system, which will be fully implemented on July 1.”

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