'All Stop' at the National Assembly Due to COVID-19 Confirmed Visitor... Plenary Session Indefinitely Postponed

Door Closure... Supplemental Budget and Livelihood Bills Processing Also Unlikely

The COVID-19 alert level was raised to the highest level, "Severe," and with news 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 National Assembly plenary hall is empty on the 24th. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] It was belatedly revealed that a representative from the Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations who attended a National Assembly forum tested positive for COVID-19, causing the National Assembly to come to a complete halt. The passage of livelihood bills as well as the supplementary budget bill for COVID-19 response has become uncertain.

Han Minsu, spokesperson for the National Assembly, said in an emergency briefing on the morning of the 24th, "After Speaker Moon Hee-sang received a report related to COVID-19, it was decided not to hold today's plenary session." Originally, a government questioning session on political, diplomatic, and unification affairs was scheduled for the plenary session that day.

Standing committee activities were also canceled. The Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee canceled the subcommittee meetings scheduled from the 24th to the 26th following a proposal by Park Wan-joo, the Democratic Party's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee whip. The 1st meeting of the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee's Land Legislation Review Subcommittee was postponed, and the 1st meeting of the Transportation Legislation Review Subcommittee scheduled for the 25th and the full Land Committee meeting on the 26th were also successively delayed.

As various National Assembly schedules were postponed, the preparation of the supplementary budget bill for COVID-19 response became difficult. The passage of livelihood bills, including the "COVID-3 Acts" such as the Quarantine Act amendment scheduled for the 27th, also became uncertain.

The National Assembly has launched emergency measures including quarantine. The National Assembly Safety Situation Room issued a notice asking attendees who went to the forum attended by the Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations representative to report immediately, and access to the 2nd floor of the Members' Office Building where the forum was held has been closed. All staff were advised to wear masks even in their offices, and the National Assembly Library, which receives many external visitors, has decided to close indefinitely.

Meanwhile, the problematic forum was held on the 19th at the Members' Office Building, hosted by Gwak Sang-do, a member of the Future United Party, titled "Moon Jae-in Government's Private School Innovation Plan, What is the Problem?" Ha Yun-su, president of the Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations who attended this forum, tested positive for COVID-19 two days later on the 21st, raising concerns about possible infections among attendees including Floor Leader Shim, Representative Gwak, and Representative Jeon Hee-kyung. These lawmakers and their aides are currently being tested for COVID-19 infection. Results are expected as early as this afternoon or tomorrow morning.