Ruling Party and Government "Promptly Prepare Measures to Address Economic Crisis"... Clarify 'Scientific Quarantine' Principle Related to COVID-19

Second High-Level Party-Government-Cheong Meeting Held 11 Days After First Meeting

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is attending the first high-level ruling party-government meeting of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration held at the Prime Minister's official residence in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 6th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Gimin Lee] On the 17th, the People Power Party and the government held the 2nd high-level party-government consultation meeting and agreed to promptly prepare countermeasures to overcome the economic crisis. Regarding the spread of COVID-19, they reaffirmed the principle of "scientific quarantine."

On the same day, the party and government held a high-level consultation meeting at the Prime Minister's official residence in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, to discuss livelihood economic measures and quarantine measures. It was held hastily considering the economic crisis situation and the spread of COVID-19, only 11 days after the first high-level party-government consultation meeting on the 6th.

Kwon Seong-dong, acting party leader and floor leader, mentioned the high oil prices, high interest rates, and high exchange rates in his opening remarks, saying, "Downward pressure on the economy is increasing, and I am concerned whether the policy effects will be properly delivered." He added, "If we are not careful, the government may be criticized for being invisible during the economic crisis," and urged, "Please work together to prepare more active and preemptive crisis measures."

Prime Minister Han Deok-soo said, "The government will take a stance of dedicating itself to stabilizing people's livelihoods, and I and the ministers will directly visit the field to continuously promote measures to alleviate the difficulties of the people."

Kim Dae-gi, Chief of Staff to the President, regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol's departmental work reports, said, "The main directive is to revive the economy, to do whatever it takes to revive the economy," and added, "The Presidential Office will also do its best to proactively and promptly resolve the difficulties of the people."

Regarding the spread of COVID-19, the party and government announced that they would minimize restrictions on daily life and respond with scientific quarantine.

Acting leader Kwon said, "As we promised to conduct scientific quarantine different from the Moon Jae-in administration, we must prepare reasonable quarantine measures that minimize restrictions on daily life."

Chief of Staff Kim also said, "On July 11, we gathered Jeong Ki-seok, Chair of the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee, and Baek Kyung-ran, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, to have in-depth discussions about COVID-19 and to respond more scientifically."

Expanding vaccination and improving the medical response system, including therapeutics, were also presented as COVID-19 countermeasures. Prime Minister Han said, "The number of COVID-19 patients has doubled compared to last week, and the spread is faster than expected," adding, "Based on accumulated experience, if we increase vaccination rates, promptly administer therapeutics, and establish a well-prepared medical response system, we can sufficiently overcome the crisis."

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