First Day at Work, Jeong Ho-young Says "COVID-19 Fatigue at Its Limit... Preparing for Worst-Case Scenario"

Minister of Health and Welfare Nominee, "National Pension Reform Requires Communication with Experts and Practitioners"
Apologizes for Controversial Column 'Marriage is the Cure for Cancer'... Also Faces Allegations of Violating Farmland Act

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Jung Ho-young, the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, stated on the 12th regarding the new government's quarantine policy, "Since the COVID-19 situation has lasted for such a long time, the public's fatigue has reached its limit," adding, "However, policies must always consider the worst-case scenarios, so we will carefully review and consider these situations."

On the same day, Jung made these remarks to reporters on his way to his first day at the office set up in the National Pension Service building in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, to prepare for the National Assembly confirmation hearing.

With social distancing measures expected to be largely eased starting from the 18th, this is interpreted as his intention to simultaneously prepare for the recovery of daily life from COVID-19 and proactive responses to new variants. In an interview with the media the previous day, he also expressed the view that "One life is not less valuable than ten lives, and all lives are precious, so we must approach this very cautiously."

Jung traveled to Seoul by KTX on the morning of the 12th after treating patients at Kyungpook National University Hospital until the day before. A surgical specialist at Kyungpook National University Hospital, Jung is an authority in the field of gastric cancer, having performed 3,000 gastric cancer surgeries from 1998 to 2016 and served as president of the Korean Gastric Cancer Association in 2020. From August 2017 to August 2020, he served as the hospital director of Kyungpook National University Hospital. During his tenure as hospital director, when COVID-19 spread significantly in Daegu centered around the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in February 2020, he was recognized for leading the initial response to COVID-19 as a regional base hospital director. At that time, Kyungpook National University Hospital introduced the world's first drive-through testing and the nation's first residential treatment center.

While Jung's experience as director of a national university hospital provides him with expertise in COVID-19 quarantine measures, doubts have been raised about whether he can effectively lead the reform of the National Pension Service, the new government's top priority. In response, he said, "Just as I was not a medical expert from the start, I will diligently learn and listen to the opinions of experts regarding the National Pension reform tasks," adding, "I will wisely resolve issues through communication with capable and excellent officials within the Ministry of Health and Welfare."

Jung faced criticism after it was revealed that in a 2012 newspaper column, he claimed that marriage and childbirth were acts of 'patriotism' and seemed to blame women for the low birthrate. Regarding this, Jung apologized, saying, "As a former surgical professor, it was a piece written to simply explain my heartfelt concern about the low birthrate phenomenon. If anyone felt uncomfortable or hurt by it, I sincerely apologize."

He is also under suspicion of violating the Farmland Act after it was revealed that he purchased 1,500㎡ of farmland in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, in February 1998 and entrusted farming to a nearby relative without going through a separate consignment procedure. He responded, "It is related to the clan's land, and since it was a long time ago, I am still trying to understand the situation," adding, "I will explain it during the confirmation hearing."

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