Jeon Hae-cheol Visits Gangwon-do to Discuss Local Autonomy Development Plans and Review Quarantine Status

Discussion on Achievements and Development Plans for Decentralization and Balanced Development... Review of Quarantine Situation and Severe Patient Management Status

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 22nd, Jeon Hae-cheol, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, visited Hallym University in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, and attended a local autonomy and decentralization meeting to discuss the achievements and development plans of local autonomy and balanced development.

At the local autonomy meeting hosted by the Korea Local Newspaper Association, Minister Jeon discussed the achievements and development plans of local autonomy and balanced development with local council members and residents.

The main topics comprehensively covered the achievements of local autonomy and balanced development, including the full revision of the Local Autonomy Act for the first time in 32 years, expansion of local finances through fiscal decentralization, and the promotion of super-regional cooperation and regional balanced New Deal for national balanced development. In particular, he explained the designation of population decline areas and the current status of support projects for border areas to respond to regional extinction and population decline faced by Gangwon Province.

The meeting was held with thorough quarantine measures in accordance with strengthened social distancing, and the number of on-site attendees was limited to fewer than 20. Minister Jeon said, “It is essential for us to empower local governments and establish a foundation where residents can directly participate to solve and shape local issues for future generations.” He added, “I visited Gangwon Province today to listen to the on-site opinions of officials, local councils, and residents, who are the main actors in implementing this, and will reflect them in future policy promotion.”

Following the local autonomy meeting, Minister Jeon visited Gangwon National University Hospital to inspect the quarantine situation in Gangwon Province and the management status of severe patients. This inspection was conducted amid the very rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, with severe patients concentrated among the elderly. He visited the National Gangwon National University Hospital in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, to check the overall quarantine situation and patient management status in Gangwon Province and to hear the voices of frontline staff and medical personnel.

Minister Jeon received reports on the quarantine situation in Gangwon Province and Chuncheon City and the management status of severe patients at the hospital, and held a meeting to discuss the status of securing hospital beds and countermeasures, while listening to the suggestions and difficulties of medical staff.

Minister Jeon toured the wards managing severe patients and encouraged the sacrifices and efforts of the medical staff, saying, “Gangwon National University and other national university hospitals, which have played a key role in improving public access to healthcare services and responding to COVID-19, should strive even harder to manage severe patients and secure hospital beds.”

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