Cha Myung-jin: "The Lockdown of Daegu Is Virtually Martial Law... Aimed at Isolating the Political Opposition's Stronghold"

[Source - Cha Myung-jin, former Liberty Korea Party member, Facebook]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Shin-won] Former Liberty Korea Party (now United Future Party) lawmaker Cha Myung-jin claimed that the maximum lockdown measures implemented in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions by the Democratic Party, the government, and the Blue House to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) are "effectively a state of siege."

On the 25th, former lawmaker Cha wrote on his Facebook, "The lockdown of Daegu and Gyeongbuk is an attempt to isolate the stronghold of political opposition forces," expressing this view.

Regarding Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, chairman of the Korea Christian Federation (HanKiChong), who was arrested on the 24th on charges including violation of the Public Official Election Act, Cha criticized, "It is an effort to tie the hands and feet of the major shareholders of the political opposition forces who have practical influence."

He added, "However, quite a few people are pleased with this," and said, "Don't you realize that you might be next, or the one after next? Expect it. A world you have never experienced before will unfold."

He also sarcastically remarked, "Even ordinary people can clearly see how Moon Jang's (a derogatory term for President Moon Jae-in) path will go after the general election," and said, "They have excellent political skills to use an epidemic unfavorable to themselves to suppress political opposition forces."

Earlier, the party, government, and Blue House held a high-level meeting at the Democratic Party Central Office in Yeouido, Seoul, in the morning to discuss COVID-19 related quarantine status, mask supply stabilization measures, and economic measures. Daegu and Gyeongbuk were designated as special management areas for infectious diseases and lockdown measures were implemented to quickly block the spread. Special support will be provided to the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, small and medium-sized enterprises, and self-employed individuals, along with active support for export companies.