Sim Jae-cheol "Government Must Change Mask Policy Quickly... Urges Special Supply Method"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Shim Jae-cheol, floor leader of the United Future Party, urged the government to introduce a 'special supply method' where the government directly purchases masks in bulk and distributes them through the administrative network.

At the party meeting on the 27th, Floor Leader Shim stated, "To resolve the mask shortage crisis, I strongly urge once again that the special supply method, which our party proposed early on, be actively promoted."

He emphasized, "The government or local governments contract directly with companies to purchase masks in bulk and then distribute them using the administrative network such as village chiefs, neighborhood chiefs, block chiefs, and community centers. Some local governments have already implemented this method and seen positive results. The government must directly supply masks to elderly residents in rural, fishing, and mountain villages, as well as those in nursing homes."

He also claimed that under the current system, some companies receive preferential treatment. Floor Leader Shim raised suspicions, saying, "The masks are currently procured from the Public Procurement Service at 900 won and sold at 1,500 won, resulting in a distribution margin of 600 won. Geo Young is taking all of that distribution margin, and Park Myung-sook, who was an advisor to Geo Young, supported the proportional representation candidates of the Together Citizens' Party this time."

He criticized the nuclear phase-out policy as well. Floor Leader Shim said, "The fruits of success achieved through hard work are being uprooted. After completely destroying the nuclear power ecosystem with the nuclear phase-out policy, they are now saying they will inject 1 trillion won in emergency funds into Doosan Heavy Industries, which is suffering from severe financial difficulties."

He pointed out, "Our citizens are banned or restricted from entering almost all countries worldwide?about 180 countries?but the Moon Jae-in government has left the doors wide open to countries around the world. They announced they would conduct thorough investigations of travelers from Europe but gave up after just two days. They loudly declared they would conduct thorough investigations of entrants from the United States, where more than 3,000 people enter daily, but then changed the policy to a two-week self-quarantine. They boasted without the capability."

Floor Leader Shim said, "This general election is a very critical election that will determine whether we can protect South Korea’s liberal democracy and market economy and whether we can rebuild a fallen South Korea." He emphasized, "The United Future Party must win to restore South Korea to normal."