"Save My Daughter"... Vaccine Victims' Families Protest Strongly Against Director Jeong Eun-gyeong

Jung Eun-kyung, Responding to Families' Protests: "I Understand Their Feelings... Will Create a Forum for Discussion"

Members of the Korea COVID-19 Vaccine Victims' Families Association (Kobakhoe) are demanding a meeting with Jeong Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, as she leaves Hana Hospital in Cheongju, a delegated medical institution for vaccination in Chungbuk, after receiving an additional dose on the 19th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Bereaved families claiming that their children died due to side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine strongly protested to Jeong Eun-kyeong, Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), on the 19th. At that time, Director Jeong was leaving the hospital after receiving a COVID-19 booster shot.

Director Jeong received an additional dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine around 11 a.m. at Hana Hospital in Cheongju, Chungbuk, a designated vaccination medical institution. She had previously received her second dose with the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine on April 30, and the booster was administered about seven months later.

In front of the hospital, the COVID-19 Vaccine Victims' Families Association (Kobaekhoe) was holding placards with phrases such as "If you survive after vaccination, consider yourself lucky; if you die, no causal relationship, just a senseless death," and "I'm scared of both the vaccine and the virus," waiting for Director Jeong.

When Director Jeong tried to leave the hospital after vaccination, the protesters blocked the vehicle she was in and protested.

Members of the COVID-19 Vaccine Victims' Families Association (Kobakhoe) are demanding a meeting with Jeong Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, as she leaves Hana Hospital in Cheongju, Chungbuk, a designated vaccination medical institution, after receiving an additional dose on the 19th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The bereaved families knocked on the vehicle door carrying Director Jeong, shouting "Apologize," and "Save my daughter," and some lay down on the road, obstructing traffic.

When the police tried to restrain them, one bereaved family member cried out, "My daughter died, and I can't even protest this much?" The commotion lasted about 10 minutes and only ended after Director Jeong personally got out of the car to talk with them.

Director Jeong told the families, "I fully understand the desperate feelings of losing a family member," and said, "We will create an opportunity to meet and discuss this at the KDCA."

Meanwhile, at a press meeting after vaccination, Director Jeong emphasized, "The booster shot has the effect of rapidly enhancing immunity," and added, "For high-risk groups such as residents of nursing hospitals and long-term care facilities, where the risk of severe illness and death is high, additional vaccination is very important."

She continued, "In Korea, except for those under 18 and healthy adults aged 18 to 49, most people are recommended to receive the booster shot," and said, "We will soon review whether to implement additional vaccination for the general adult population."

Regarding concerns about adverse reactions after vaccination, she said, "Since this is a new vaccine, unknown side effects can only be identified over time," and added, "We will analyze overseas trends and cooperate with related ministries to expand the scope of vaccine injury compensation."

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