National Assembly Cancels Plenary Session Schedule Due to COVID-19 Spread Concerns
United Future Party Floor Leader Shim Jae-cheol, Gwak Sang-do, Jeon Hee-kyung in Self-Quarantine After Contact with Confirmed Cases
Hwang Kyo-ahn Cancels Seoul Jongno Schedule
Future United Party Floor Leader Shim Jae-cheol (center) is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The plenary session of the National Assembly scheduled for the 24th was completely canceled after Sim Jae-cheol, floor leader of the United Future Party, and lawmakers Kwak Sang-do and Jeon Hee-kyung were reported to have come into contact with confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) during a forum held at the National Assembly.
Floor leader Sim and lawmakers Kwak and Jeon are currently undergoing testing at a hospital. Given the situation, concerns are growing about how far the so-called 'National Assembly COVID-19 incident' will spread.
Han Min-soo, spokesperson for the National Assembly, said in an emergency briefing that "the government questioning session on politics, unification, diplomacy, and security scheduled for 2 p.m. today will not be held," adding, "Speaker Moon Hee-sang recently received a report related to COVID-19 and decided not to hold today's plenary session."
The Democratic Party and the United Future Party agreed to postpone the plenary session and decided to discuss the schedule after the 25th at a later time. Yoon Hu-duk, senior deputy floor leader of the Democratic Party, stated, "We plan to discuss the National Assembly schedule again after the test results of floor leader Sim are out."
Kim Han-pyo, senior deputy floor leader of the United Future Party, said, "Floor leader Sim went to a screening clinic for testing, and as a preemptive measure, the party meeting was canceled and the plenary session was tentatively postponed."
The COVID-19 alert level was raised to the highest "Severe" stage, and with reports that a confirmed COVID-19 patient attended a parliamentary forum, all National Assembly schedules, including the plenary session scheduled for the 24th, were canceled or postponed. The "Stop" traffic sign in front of the National Assembly plenary hall on the 24th seems to reflect the situation at the Assembly. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
Earlier, floor leader Sim and spokesperson Jeon attended a forum titled "Moon Jae-in Government's Private School Reform Plan, What Is the Problem?" held on the afternoon of the 19th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. The event was hosted by fellow party member lawmaker Kwak Sang-do.
It was revealed that Ha Yun-su, chairman of the Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations and an attendee of the event, was recently diagnosed with COVID-19, prompting floor leader Sim and spokesperson Jeon to urgently visit a hospital on the morning of the 24th. It was reported that floor leader Sim and spokesperson Jeon sat near Chairman Ha during the event.
Chairman Ha posted on his Facebook on the same day, saying, "I apologize for causing concern. I was quickly diagnosed positive and hospitalized, so I did not even have time to organize my surroundings before now informing you," adding, "According to the medical staff, my condition is mild (throat area), and with proper treatment, I expect to be discharged soon."
Future United Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Floor leader Sim, who was tested that morning, has entered self-quarantine. His office released a statement saying, "Although floor leader Sim was seated three seats away from the confirmed patient, there was no handshake or physical contact," and "Immediately after confirming this, he visited a screening clinic and completed testing."
Regarding his health, the statement said, "Floor leader Sim's health condition is good, and the attending physician recommended self-management rather than isolation until the test results come out." It added, "We will inform you immediately once the test results are available, and please understand that today's test was a preemptive measure."
Meanwhile, Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Future Party, canceled his schedule in Jongno, Seoul, where he planned to run in the April 15 general election, due to the spread of COVID-19.
Hwang's office informed reporters, "Due to the National Assembly situation, including the cancellation of the party meeting and plenary session, all public and private schedules of candidate Hwang Kyo-ahn today have been canceled."
Hwang was scheduled to announce measures and pledges related to small business owners in front of the Changsin-dong Stationery and Toy Market in Jongno-gu at 1 p.m. and to greet merchants inside the market.
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