Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki Tests Negative for COVID-19... Returns to Work

Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Minister of Economy and Finance [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, has returned to work after testing negative for COVID-19.

According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance on the 3rd, Hong was reported to have tested negative for COVID-19 while waiting at home the previous afternoon.

On the 1st, Hong attended the 7th Innovation Growth BIG3 Promotion Meeting held at the Government Seoul Office Building. After a Ministry of SMEs and Startups employee who attended the meeting tested positive for COVID-19 on the 2nd, Hong canceled all his schedules and underwent testing. Not only Hong but also Byun Chang-heum, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Kwon Chil-seung, Minister of SMEs and Startups; and Park Jin-gyu, Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, who attended the meeting, were all classified as contacts and underwent COVID-19 testing.

However, all meeting attendees were wearing masks, and since their movement paths differed from that of the confirmed employee, they were not classified as close contacts. Epidemiological investigations by health authorities found that none of the Ministry of Economy and Finance staff attending the meeting, including Hong, had close contact with the confirmed case.

Having tested negative and avoided classification as close contacts, Hong plans to carry out his official weekend schedule as planned, including the Economic Situation Review Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on the 4th.

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