On the 9th, the Cheong Wa Dae Su-Bo meeting proceeded without mask-wearing... On the 3rd, the Cabinet meeting had President Moon and attendees wearing masks
[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] A notable change in the Blue House senior secretaries and aides meeting held on the afternoon of the 9th, presided over by President Moon Jae-in, is the disappearance of 'health masks.'
Since the outbreak of the 'Novel Coronavirus Infection (COVID-19),' participants in meetings chaired by the president wore masks. In fact, at the Cabinet meeting presided over by President Moon on the 3rd, key attendees including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Hong Nam-ki wore health masks during the meeting.
However, the meeting scene changed within a week. At the Blue House senior secretaries and aides meeting on the 9th, not a single person, including President Moon, wore a mask. This is also related to a change in Blue House guidelines. Yoon Jae-kwan, deputy spokesperson of the Blue House, explained, "When commuting by private car, entering through Yeonpungmun Gate, moving within the premises, during work, and general attendance at meetings within the premises, wearing masks is unnecessary."
The fact that the Blue House senior secretaries and aides meeting was held without masks is also related to the mask shortage caused by the spread of concerns surrounding COVID-19. From the 9th, the 'mask 5-day rotation system' was implemented, and extraordinary measures are being discussed to resolve the mask shortage crisis. It is said that the maskless meeting was held based on the judgment that public officials should take the lead in setting an example.
Deputy Spokesperson Yoon said, "Main speakers at meetings within the premises and those who use public transportation when commuting will continue to wear masks as before," adding, "Except for special cases requiring health mask use, the general recommendation is to use cloth masks."
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