Choi Sang-mok, Focus on Economy and Livelihood... Party and Government "Emergency Response Before and After Seol"

No Comments from Acting President Choi on Arrest
Focus Remains on Restoring Public Welfare
Party and Government Hold Medical Policy Meeting
Intensive Treatment Planned for Respiratory Disease Patients

Choi Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Strategy and Finance, has remained reserved in his remarks on the second day following the arrest of the sitting president, continuing his efforts on economic and public welfare matters. Since there were no clashes between state agencies during the execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol, this is interpreted as a measure to minimize domestic and international political uncertainties by stabilizing the acting president system. The government and the People Power Party also held a scheduled party-government meeting to discuss special emergency medical maintenance measures and respiratory infectious disease response plans in preparation for the Lunar New Year holiday.

A government official from Acting President Choi’s side said on the 16th, "Acting President Choi currently has no plans to make any special remarks regarding President Yoon’s arrest," adding, "He has been focusing on economic and public welfare matters from the beginning, so he refrained from issuing political messages during the execution of the arrest warrant, and that stance will not change (even after the arrest)."

Choe Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Economy and Finance, is holding a Cabinet meeting at the Government Seoul Office Building on January 14, 2025. 2025.1.14 Photo by the Presidential Office Press Photographers Group, Yonhap News Agency

Acting President Choi carried out his existing schedule the day before President Yoon’s arrest, including the National Affairs Ministers Meeting and a luncheon meeting with ambassadors to Korea, and plans to attend scheduled public welfare, diplomatic, and security events on the day as well. At the previous day’s meeting, Choi indirectly indicated that there was no national risk due to President Yoon’s arrest by stating, "We are carrying out work without wavering in areas such as the economy and security." He is also expected to make similar remarks at the afternoon meeting on major diplomatic and security issues.

According to sources inside and outside the government, Acting President Choi is refraining from politically interpretable remarks and strongly prioritizing public welfare recovery. Although some interpreted his statement made shortly after the execution of the arrest warrant in the early morning?"If an unfortunate incident occurs, strict responsibility will be held"?as supporting the prevention of the arrest, the government drew a clear line. A government official explained, "It was a systemic directive sent together to the police and the security office."

Kwon Young-se, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, Kwon Seong-dong, Floor Leader, and Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare, are taking a commemorative photo before the party-government consultative meeting on the Lunar New Year emergency medical system and respiratory infectious disease spread inspection held at the National Assembly on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Meanwhile, the party and government held a meeting at the National Assembly on the same day to review the emergency medical system and the spread of respiratory infectious diseases during the Lunar New Year holiday. The People Power Party, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency agreed to designate the period from January 20 to February 5 as an emergency response week, during which specialist consultation fees will be increased by 250%, emergency medical procedures by 150%, and nighttime and holiday treatments at regional and local centers will receive an additional 100% support.

To minimize overcrowding in emergency rooms, patients with respiratory diseases will be intensively treated through fever clinics and cooperative respiratory disease hospitals, while regional emergency medical institutions and emergency medical facilities will receive additional fees for treating non-severe emergency patients.

Regarding the currently prevalent respiratory infectious diseases, a joint task force has been formed, and a sample surveillance system will continue to operate. The stock of influenza treatments will also be monitored, and if supply becomes unstable, government reserves will be actively utilized.

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