Prime Minister Jeong: "Helping 1.78 million students attend in-person classes is what we must do now"

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is delivering an opening remark at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on the 3rd, when the third phase of in-person classes for 1.78 million students began, "What we must do now is for everyone to follow quarantine rules in their respective positions to support students' return to school."

On the same day, Prime Minister Chung presided over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting for COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office and stated, "We are well aware that there are some concerns about proceeding with in-person classes as scheduled amid sporadic cluster infections occurring in the metropolitan area."

He emphasized, "However, we must not let current difficulties shatter the future and hopes of our children," adding, "This is why we operated tent schools even amid the bombardment of war."

Prime Minister Chung continued, "Although there were a total of 70 cases of students infected during the month of May, there was not a single case of infection through schools," pointing out, "This figure shows that everyone is prioritizing school quarantine and making efforts."

Furthermore, he urged, "Infections have been continuing recently in private academies and small religious gatherings," and requested, "Please refrain from operating to block the infection link between the community and schools, and if operation is unavoidable, please strictly adhere to quarantine rules."