Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun's First Government Question Session After Inauguration... 'COVID-19' Expected to Be a Key Issue

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is delivering a speech at the Expanded Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response held on the 21st at the Seoul Situation Center, Central Disaster and Safety Situation Room, Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun took the stage for his first government-wide questioning session since taking office. Both ruling and opposition parties are expected to discuss the government's response and future plans regarding the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) situation, as well as the formulation of the supplementary budget (추경). Notably, this session marks the first attendance of Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, which is expected to spark intense exchanges between the ruling and opposition parties over allegations of election interference in the Ulsan mayoral race, prosecution personnel appointments, and decisions to keep indictments confidential.

On the 24th, the National Assembly will hold a plenary session to conduct government-wide questioning targeting Prime Minister Chung and other cabinet members on political, diplomatic, unification, and security issues. Questions related to the COVID-19 situation are expected to dominate the session. The opposition parties, including the United Future Party, will criticize the government's initial response and raise accountability issues, emphasizing the need for fundamental measures such as banning entry of visitors from China. Meanwhile, the ruling party is expected to stress the severity of the COVID-19 situation and the necessity of formulating a supplementary budget.

Ruling party lawmaker Kim Boo-kyum, who will be asking questions, proposed ▲expanding screening clinics ▲full implementation of mobile testing ▲best efforts to secure medical personnel and hospital beds ▲securing treatment facilities, and demanded the formulation of a supplementary budget to support quarantine and the livelihood economy. Regarding the scale of the budget, he appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and emphasized that support should exceed the amount provided during the MERS outbreak (11.6 trillion won).

The opposition, while criticizing the government's initial response, expressed willingness to cooperate across party lines regarding the COVID-19 situation. On the same day, United Future Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn said at a Supreme Council meeting held before the government questioning, "It has been a full month since the Korean Medical Association proposed banning entry of visitors from China. If the government had listened then, we would not have reached this situation." He added, "I will cooperate so that Prime Minister Chung can attend the National Assembly for just one day during the three days of questioning, and I hope he returns to work on the remaining days to fully focus on managing the Wuhan coronavirus situation."

Justice Minister Choo will also attend the government questioning for the first time. Opposition lawmakers are expected to continue sharp criticism of her regarding the Ulsan mayoral election interference allegations, prosecution personnel appointments, and controversies over the decision to keep indictments confidential. Conversely, the ruling party is expected to respond by emphasizing the necessity of prosecutorial reform. Additionally, Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Chang-il plans to request creative and political solutions from Prime Minister Chung concerning Korea-Japan relations.

Meanwhile, during this government questioning session, lawmakers Kang Chang-il, Kim Boo-kyum, and Lee Kyu-hee will represent the ruling party; Joo Ho-young, Kwon Seong-dong, and Baek Seung-joo will represent the United Future Party; and Park Ji-won will represent the Alternative Party. On the following days, the 25th will focus on economic issues, and the 26th will cover education, social, and cultural issues in government questioning sessions.