Ruling and Opposition Clash Over COVID-19 Measures: "Moon Government Style Won't Work" vs "Disease Inspection Agency"

National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee Full Meeting
Democratic Party Criticizes Director of Disease Control Agency
People Power Party Defends Government's Quarantine Policy

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 2nd, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in sharp exchanges over the government's COVID-19 quarantine policies during the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee plenary session.

The Democratic Party of Korea criticized Baek Kyung-ran, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), stating there is no difference between the Moon Jae-in administration and the current administration's quarantine policies. Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Seon-woo asked, "What is the decisive difference between the Moon Jae-in government and the Yoon Suk-yeol government’s quarantine policies?" Baek responded, "One change is the establishment of the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee." Kang then criticized, "How is the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee different from the existing Recovery Support Committee? Even if there is a difference, is the presence of this advisory committee the only difference in the Yoon Suk-yeol government's scientific quarantine?"

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Won-i expressed concern, saying, "I worry how much the public will sympathize with the claim that the decisive difference between the Moon Jae-in government's quarantine system and the Yoon Suk-yeol government's scientific quarantine is that the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee is composed solely of civilian members." He added sharply, "If it is made up only of civilian members and the government is excluded, can that be called scientific quarantine?" He continued, "I looked for any differences from the Moon Jae-in administration’s policies, but found no measures at all," adding, "Yet they call it scientific quarantine as a name."

Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Young-seok pointed out, "According to the commissioner, the state leaves it to the civilian committee, and if things go well, the government takes credit, but if things go wrong, they blame the civilians. It only looks like they are creating a civilian committee to shift responsibility." He continued, "On the internet, there are calls to bring back former Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong," and said, "While former Commissioner Jeong is likened to Admiral Yi Sun-sin, Commissioner Baek is compared to Won Gyun, who destroyed the Joseon navy. There are also jokes calling the KDCA 'Jilbyeong Gwanramcheong' (Disease Spectator Agency), 'Jilbyeong Gungyeongcheong' (Disease Watching Agency), and 'Jilbyeong Banggicheong' (Disease Abandonment Agency)."

The People Power Party defended the Yoon Suk-yeol government's overall quarantine policies, arguing they should not be disparaged. People Power Party lawmaker Kang Ki-yoon emphasized, "While awareness of risks is necessary, we must not return to the Moon Jae-in administration’s social distancing measures that suffocated the daily lives of the people."

People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jong-sung criticized 'Moon Jae-in Care.' He stated, "It has been revealed that to exaggerate the achievements of Moon Jae-in Care, losses were compensated, overestimations were made, and benefits were recklessly expanded through lax benefit reviews," adding, "Although it was promoted as strengthening health insurance coverage, 'Moon Jae-in Care' became a failed policy that worsened the financial soundness of health insurance."

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