People Power Party "Will Include Budget for COVID-19 Medical Staff in Supplementary Budget"

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] The People Power Party plans to urge the ruling party to ensure that the supplementary budget (추경) review includes funds for COVID-19 medical personnel.

On the 22nd, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said at a meeting with the National Health and Medical Industry Labor Union, "Since last year, the People Power Party has insisted on appropriate compensation for COVID-19 medical personnel," adding, "We are also demanding the execution of 304 billion KRW for reinforcing medical personnel in this supplementary budget. We will actively work to ensure it is reflected in the final supplementary budget review."

Floor leader Joo explained, "Proper compensation has not been made for the sacrifices and dedication of frontline medical staff. Recently, despite suffering from high fever and body aches due to side effects from COVID-19 vaccinations, they continue to work without taking leave due to the lack of substitutes, facing many difficulties," and added, "As a citizen, I feel deeply apologetic."

Na Soon-ja, chairperson of the National Health and Medical Industry Labor Union, said, "Please make every effort to ensure the support budget passes so that healthcare workers do not leave due to exhaustion and burnout," and added, "This is a temporary budget allocated for the special circumstances of the COVID-19 disaster and is a budget agreed upon by both ruling and opposition parties. I would like to ask for strong support starting with the Life Safety Allowance and for the standards and expansion of healthcare personnel responding to COVID-19."

Chairperson Na listed the conditions faced by healthcare workers struggling due to the COVID-19 response. She said, "COVID-19 dedicated hospitals are devoted to caring for patients despite poor conditions. They have been drenched in sweat while wearing protective gear such as hazmat suits and masks, and have collected COVID-19 samples with numb hands from the cold at screening clinics where heating was inadequate," explaining, "They could not freely put on or take off their hazmat suits, and could not urinate or drink water."

In response, Lee Jong-bae, chairman of the People Power Party Policy Committee, also emphasized, "All citizens are moved by your efforts over more than a year dealing with COVID-19," and said, "We will strive to ensure you are adequately compensated."

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