[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The opposition parties have voiced criticism over President Moon Jae-in's remark not to "have excessive anxiety" about the Wuhan pneumonia. Ahead of the general election, it seems that the Wuhan pneumonia is emerging as a big issue shaking the election landscape, similar to the past MERS outbreak.
Jeon Hee-kyung, spokesperson for the Liberty Korea Party, criticized on the 26th through a statement, saying, "Even with the Wuhan pneumonia becoming a reality right before our eyes, the president tells us not to have 'excessive anxiety,' but the people are anxious."
Spokesperson Jeon pointed out, "The third confirmed case of the novel coronavirus has occurred domestically. In the face of the Wuhan pneumonia that has already become a reality, the president's message is unbelievably complacent. It is the president's complacency that is the cause of the people's anxiety," and added, "The third confirmed patient had lived in Wuhan, China, but passed through quarantine without suspicion of symptoms upon entry."
He said, "Although it is known that the incubation period of Wuhan pneumonia averages 2 to 7 days, up to 14 days, the quarantine net was breached helplessly," and emphasized, "During the last MERS outbreak, the current ruling party spread various rumors such as 'MERS can be transmitted through air' and 'the fatality rate reaches as high as 40%,' only increasing public anxiety."
Spokesperson Jeon criticized, "Videos and reports indicating a situation far more serious than the MERS outbreak are pouring in, and measures to protect nationals are being taken one after another, yet today, under the administration responsible for the state affairs, the president's only message is 'do not be anxious,' which makes the people despair," and added, "The Moon Jae-in administration approaches even a national crisis involving the lives of the people in a partisan manner."
Kim Ik-hwan, spokesperson for the New Conservative Party, also said, "The president's message not to have excessive anxiety sounds complacent," and pointed out, "Currently, the whole world is trying to save their nationals from the fear of the spread of Wuhan pneumonia by dispatching charter flights to Wuhan and even controlling transportation, but the president's words telling people not to have excessive anxiety, without recognizing the seriousness at all, sound like the idle talk of a president from the moon to the people."
Spokesperson Kim criticized, "The third confirmed patient passed through airport quarantine without any symptoms and lived in the local community, which is further heightening public anxiety," and said, "The government's stance that it will cover the medical expenses for the first Chinese pneumonia patient residing domestically with taxpayers' money is a typical case of kowtowing to China and has nothing to do with the principle of protecting nationals."
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