Candidate Jo Gyu-hong: "Will Thoroughly Monitor Blind Spots to Prevent Tragic Accidents"

"Creating a Dense and Robust Welfare Safety Net for Vulnerable Groups"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Cho Gyu-hong, the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare, stated that he will strengthen protection for vulnerable groups to prevent tragic incidents such as the "Suwon Three Mothers Death Case" from recurring.

On the 7th, through the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Cho expressed his feelings upon nomination, saying, "As the difficulties of ordinary people increase and the COVID-19 crisis continues, I feel a heavy sense of responsibility as the nominee for Minister of Health and Welfare."

He added, "Having served as the First Vice Minister for four months, I deeply recognized that health and welfare policies are directly connected to the lives of the people."

Cho then mentioned the recent consecutive deaths among vulnerable groups and expressed his determination to address blind spots. He said, "If appointed as minister, I will create a dense and robust welfare safety net for vulnerable groups. In particular, I will carefully manage blind spots to ensure that tragic incidents that saddened us all, such as the Suwon Three Mothers Death Case and the deaths of youth preparing for independence, do not recur."

Regarding health issues including COVID-19, Cho stated, "I will expand essential medical services that are necessary but insufficiently supplied, support medically underserved areas, and strengthen COVID-19 response efforts to protect the lives and health of the people."

He also promised, "I will thoroughly prepare structural reform tasks to secure the sustainability of welfare, such as innovative welfare investment for virtuous cycles of welfare and growth, reform of the National Pension to prepare for the future, response to low birth rates, and fostering the biohealth industry. Based on the knowledge and experience accumulated while working at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, I will always listen carefully to the voices of the National Assembly, related experts, and the field, and actively communicate while reviewing and preparing policies."

Cho, originally from the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, was appointed as the First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare in May and has been serving concurrently as the acting Minister of Health and Welfare, a position currently vacant.

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