[2022 National Audit] Jo Gyu-hong "Will Consider Measures to Mandate Masks by Location"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, announced that he is considering applying the indoor mask-wearing mandate only to specific places such as medical institutions.

On the 20th, during the comprehensive audit of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, when Kim Mi-ae, a member of the People Power Party, explained that there is almost no indoor mask-wearing mandate in overseas countries, Minister Cho said, "Considering overseas cases where mandates are applied selectively to places such as medical institutions, public transportation, and social welfare facilities, we will actively review this as well."

Rep. Kim stated, "Among major overseas countries, there is no country in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that currently imposes a mask-wearing mandate on all indoor facilities like our country does," and asked for Minister Cho's opinion, calling such mandates "a very administrative convenience-oriented idea."

Rep. Kim also expressed great concern about the language and social development of infants and toddlers, and cited antibody positivity survey results showing that most of the population has COVID-19 antibodies, saying, "I believe we cannot insist on prioritizing quarantine measures while overlooking these aspects."

In response, Minister Cho said, "I understand that many agree with your remarks," but added, "We are making decisions by considering the possibility of resurgence, public acceptance of inconvenience, and expert opinions."

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