Kim Jong-in "Government Should Implement Level 3 Social Distancing Before Cases Increase Significantly"

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, is attending the Emergency Response Committee Chairman-Senior Lawmakers Meeting held at the National Assembly on the 26th, delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, requested the government to fully concentrate on resolving the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) by implementing a '3-step social distancing' measure.

On the 27th, during a party leadership meeting held via a non-face-to-face video application, Chairman Kim said, "Apart from COVID-19, there should be no unnecessary controversies or wasteful national power."

The participants of the non-face-to-face meeting agreed that the government should prioritize overcoming COVID-19 as its top task. Chairman Kim requested, "I ask the government to fully devote itself to resolving COVID-19," adding, "Above all, before the number of confirmed cases rises significantly, the government should not hesitate but faithfully adopt the nation's fundamental stance of protecting the lives and safety of the people, such as implementing 3-step social distancing."

Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the United Future Party, conveyed Chairman Kim's remarks, saying, "We request the ruling party to cooperate and take proactive measures regarding the COVID-19 escape bill," and urged for the prompt processing of the second disaster relief fund, stating, "There seem to be many disagreements within the ruling party about the disaster relief fund, but now is not the time to fight."

She said, "Citizens in need of relief have no choice but to look to the government," adding, "The country is needed at times like this. Please make a decisive decision without engaging in wasteful disputes over the disaster relief fund."

Photo of the floor leader meeting posted on Facebook by Baek Hyun-jin, floor spokesperson of the United Future Party, on the 27th.

Meanwhile, due to the closure of the National Assembly caused by COVID-19, the United Future Party canceled all schedules within the National Assembly on this day, and the floor leader is discussing the situation of the Assembly while working from home. In particular, party leadership and lawmakers are conducting frequent video meetings using laptops and smartphones.

Floor spokesperson Bae Hyun-jin posted a photo of the video meeting on her Facebook on the same day. She said, "As the National Assembly was completely closed, the United Future Party floor leadership team inevitably had to hold a video meeting," adding, "Students and office workers are already quite familiar with this technology, but ironically, the National Assembly was somewhat late in adopting new technology."

The United Future Party plans to hold a video meeting in the afternoon under the chairmanship of Floor Leader Joo to discuss responses to the COVID-19 situation and major issues.