[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the 29th at 5 p.m., Jeong Soon-gyun, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, issued a statement saying, "I sincerely apologize for causing concern to the residents of Jeju Island, the public, and the citizens of Gangnam-gu who are working hard together to prevent the spread of COVID-19, due to my recent remarks regarding the confirmed mother and daughter who visited Jeju Island being misunderstood and causing controversy that is completely different from my true intentions."
The mayor stated, "I take the comments and criticisms you have sent so far as a whip urging me to be more thorough in preventing the spread of COVID-19, and I will renew my determination to do my best to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Gangnam-gu." He added, "I am well aware that many citizens are suffering and facing difficulties due to this COVID-19 situation. As the Mayor of Gangnam-gu, I will devote all my efforts to preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19 in Gangnam-gu, where the influx of overseas entrants is the highest, to alleviate this suffering and hardship even a little."
Meanwhile, on the 28th, the mayor made remarks that seemed to defend the mother and daughter from Gangnam-gu who traveled to Jeju Island despite showing COVID-19 symptoms, calling them "innocent victims," which led to hundreds of critical comments on the Gangnam-gu office website, including remarks such as "I don't know if he is a mayor or a lawyer."
In particular, a petition demanding strict punishment for the mother and daughter was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board, gaining over 140,000 signatures, and a petition calling for the impeachment of Mayor Jeong Soon-gyun also received more than 30,000 signatures.
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Statement Regarding the Confirmed Mother and Daughter Who Visited Jeju
I sincerely apologize for causing concern to the residents of Jeju Island, the public, and the citizens of Gangnam-gu who are working hard together to prevent the spread of COVID-19, due to my recent remarks regarding the confirmed mother and daughter who visited Jeju Island being misunderstood and causing controversy that is completely different from my true intentions.
I take the comments and criticisms you have sent so far as a whip urging me to be more thorough in preventing the spread of COVID-19, and I will renew my determination to do my best to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Gangnam-gu.
I am well aware that many citizens are suffering and facing difficulties due to this COVID-19 situation.
As the Mayor of Gangnam-gu, I will devote all my efforts to preventing and controlling the spread of COVID-19 in Gangnam-gu, where the influx of overseas entrants is the highest, to alleviate this suffering and hardship even a little.
Thank you.
Jeong Soon-gyun, Head of Gangnam-gu Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters
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