Yoon on Suwon Three Women Incident: "Urgent Measures Needed... Will Ensure Such Incidents Do Not Occur"

"Welfare and Education Minister Appointment: 'We Are Searching Diligently... Will Proceed Swiftly'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 23rd regarding the 'Suwon Three Mothers' case, in which three women presumed to have taken extreme measures due to financial hardship, "There is a need for special measures for those who have moved from residences where the welfare information system is not functioning properly."

President Yoon said to reporters on his way to the Yongsan Presidential Office that morning, "I said that welfare, which is the foundation of our freedom and solidarity, should focus more on welfare for the vulnerable rather than political welfare, and that we should find those vulnerable who cannot raise their voices as one and show consideration for those in difficulty."

According to the police and local governments, on the 21st, three female bodies presumed to have taken extreme measures were found in a multi-family house in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon City. Among them, the mother, Ms. A in her 60s, was battling cancer, and her two daughters, Ms. B and Ms. C, suffered from rare incurable diseases, leading to financial hardship.

However, after moving to Suwon City in 2020, the three women did not register their residence or apply for welfare services, so they did not receive welfare services from Suwon City.

Regarding this, President Yoon promised, "The central government will create a system to properly find and care for such people and cooperate with local governments to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. We will pay special attention to citizens in difficulty."

In response to criticism that the appointment of the Minister of Health and Welfare or the Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education is delayed, he said, "We are currently working hard to find candidates while simultaneously verifying them. At present, we are not presenting new education policies or new welfare agendas, so the existing tasks are being smoothly handled through cooperation between the vice ministers and senior officials at the Presidential Office. We will make appointments promptly."

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