Kim Nam-guk "Doctor-turned-politician Park In-sook, this is too much... Are you an anti-vaccine force?"

Kim Nam-guk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is questioning at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office audit held by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on October 22 last year.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-guk criticized former Future United Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) lawmaker and doctor Park In-sook's remark that "there is a possibility of discrimination based on the type of vaccine received," asking, "Are you an anti-vaccine force?"

On the 17th, Kim posted on his Facebook, "Is it acceptable for a politician who was re-elected and is a 'doctor' to criticize the government by dividing vaccines and to incite public anxiety and distrust?" he criticized.

He stated, "The government is putting its life on the line to increase vaccine supply and vaccination rates with the single-minded belief that 'vaccines are livelihood,'" adding, "I vividly see frontline public officials who do not put down their phones and work tirelessly day and night. I am truly sorry and grateful."

He continued, "Not only public officials but also the people are united," praising, "All citizens are making efforts and enduring day by day to quickly overcome COVID-19 and regain normal life."

Kim then emphasized the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which former lawmaker Park criticized, by citing overseas cases and comparisons with other vaccines.

Kim said, "It is really excessive to incite distrust of a specific vaccine and claim things like 'people will travel abroad separately' or 'certain vaccines will be discriminated against when traveling abroad.'" He strongly criticized this.

He pointed out, "Looking at the opposition party's behavior, it seems they are not cooperating to increase vaccination rates but rather deliberately inciting anxiety and distrust to lower vaccination rates."

Finally, he said, "The opposition party must never exploit the COVID-19 crisis for political gain," and urged, "I hope the opposition, including former lawmaker Park who is a doctor, will also make efforts to increase vaccination rates."

Former lawmaker Park wrote on her Facebook on the 16th, "People who received Pfizer can travel to Guam, but those who received AZ (AstraZeneca) cannot," criticizing, "I am angry again at the Moon Jae-in government's failure to secure vaccines."

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