On the 28th, amid growing concerns over the spread of COVID-19, commuters near Yeouido Station in Seoul hurriedly walked wearing masks on their way to work. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kangwook Cho] The fear of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has engulfed Yeouido, the political and financial hub of South Korea. This follows a construction company employee working at a construction site in Yeouido testing positive for COVID-19, and subsequently, a confirmed case emerging at the headquarters of the state-run Korea Eximbank. With confirmation that a COVID-19 positive individual had also visited the National Assembly, the entire Yeouido area has entered a 'high alert mode.'
According to related industries on the 28th, an employee at the Korea Eximbank headquarters located in Yeouido was notified of a COVID-19 positive test result at around 7:30 PM the previous day. This employee experienced chills without fever or respiratory symptoms on the 26th, underwent testing after work, and was confirmed positive on the evening of the 27th. Korea Eximbank activated its crisis response headquarters, closed the entire building, and conducted disinfection operations. Approximately 800 headquarters employees were instructed to work from home on the 28th. However, essential personnel involved in fund transfers and facility management continued working on-site at the headquarters while wearing protective gear.
KDB Industrial Bank also went on high alert. Since KDB Industrial Bank is located right next to Korea Eximbank, the movement paths of employees from both banks overlap significantly. Notably, employees from both banks share the same cafeteria. On this day, KDB Industrial Bank issued a so-called 'movement ban order' prohibiting face-to-face contact between departments and inter-floor movement.
While there have been instances of COVID-19 cases at bank branches leading to branch closures, this is the first time a headquarters employee has been confirmed positive. On the 26th, it was confirmed that A, a deputy pastor from Seoul Myeongseong Church who tested positive for COVID-19, had visited the Woori Bank headquarters in Jung-gu, leading to the closure and disinfection of its basement level 1.
Concerns about additional infections have intensified following the confirmed patient's movement path, spreading fear throughout Yeouido. Yeouido is South Korea's political and financial center, often referred to as the 'Manhattan of Korea.' It houses the National Assembly, Financial Supervisory Service, Seoul International Finance Center (IFC), Federation of Korean Industries building, as well as numerous securities firms, banks, insurance companies, financial public enterprises such as the Industrial Bank headquarters, and key facilities for broadcasting and media, making it the core of domestic politics, economy, and culture.
On the previous day, a COVID-19 positive case was confirmed at the 'Yeouido Park One' construction site built by POSCO Engineering & Construction, leading to the closure of the construction site. The employee showed fever symptoms starting on the 24th and was treated at Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital on the 26th, where the first test returned a positive result.
Earlier, on the 24th, it was confirmed that a COVID-19 positive individual had visited the National Assembly, prompting both ruling and opposition parties to cancel various meetings, including plenary sessions. The National Assembly Secretariat also closed some entrances to the premises and began emergency response measures. This followed the confirmation that Ha Yoon-su, chairman of the Korea Federation of Teachers' Associations, who attended the 'Moon Jae-in Government's Private School Reform Plan: What Are the Issues?' forum held at the National Assembly on the 19th, tested positive for COVID-19. Attendees from the Future United Party, including floor leader Shim Jae-cheol and lawmakers Kwak Sang-do and Jeon Hee-kyung, underwent hospital testing. Both ruling and opposition parties canceled plenary sessions and party meetings. Schedules for standing committees such as the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee's bill subcommittee were also postponed.
A financial sector official expressed concern, saying, "With the COVID-19 situation spreading from the National Assembly and construction sites to the headquarters of state-run banks in Yeouido, a red alert has been triggered across the entire Yeouido area. This crisis has raised fears not only about disruptions in financial support for companies affected by COVID-19 but also about the potential paralysis of financial transactions."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
