Opposition Voices "President Must Take Responsibility" Over Cheonghae Unit Mass Infection

Song Young-gil, Democratic Party Leader, "Accountability Must Be Determined, and All-Out Efforts for Recurrence Prevention"

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 19th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] In response to the mass COVID-19 outbreak in the Cheonghae Unit, opposition parties criticized the government's failure in quarantine measures and even raised accountability issues for President Moon Jae-in. The ruling party stated that it would focus all efforts on identifying responsibility and preventing recurrence, while asking to refrain from political attacks.

Han Ki-ho, Secretary General of the People Power Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting on the morning of the 19th, "The UN peacekeeping forces were all provided vaccines by the UN regardless of country," adding, "Units such as the Munmu Daewang ship are the responsibility of the Republic of Korea. What was the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces doing?"

He continued, "When a mass infection occurred in a religious organization, administrative power was fully mobilized to carry out punishment. The President must take responsibility for the military, and that responsibility must be held accountable," he emphasized.

Kim Yong-tae, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, also said, "I recall the government's recent announcement that it was considering vaccine support for North Korea. I hope they will break free from the petty illusions about North Korea and, if there are vaccines to share, use them for the frontline soldiers protecting the country."

On the same day, Bae Hyun-jin, also a Supreme Council member of the same party, appeared on BBS Radio and criticized, "The Moon Jae-in government has been praising its K-quarantine efforts, barely managing so far, but fundamentally, it is a failed quarantine that did not operate according to the government's intentions in all aspects, including vaccine procurement and supply."

The ruling party also mentioned identifying responsibility amid this unprecedented situation. Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting that day, "We must thoroughly investigate whether the military authorities were complacent in this incident, and we will devote all efforts to overseas dispatch inspections and preventing recurrence."

However, they expressed a stance to draw a line against political attacks. Lee So-young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a briefing the day before, "The Munmu Daewang ship had already set sail before the vaccination of soldiers began in February. Although vaccination was considered, it was ultimately not administered because it was difficult to respond to emergency situations in case of adverse vaccine reactions and to store vaccines requiring ultra-low temperature freezers," adding, "We urge the People Power Party to immediately stop distorting facts as if the government abandoned the soldiers by claiming they were left in a 'quarantine blind spot.'"

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