Prime Minister Jeong Visits National Medical Center... "No Vaccine Trial and Error Allowed"

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is delivering opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 15th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Office for Government Policy Coordination announced that Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun visited the isolation treatment ward at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 16th.

Director Jeong Gi-hyeon of the medical center, Deputy Director of Medical Affairs Ko Im-seok, Second Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Kang Do-tae, and Deputy Minister of National Defense Park Jae-min attended the visit.

They inspected the COVID-19 isolation treatment ward and vaccination center operated by the medical center starting next week at the former U.S. Army Corps of Engineers site, and encouraged officials at the Seoul Metropolitan Area Joint Response Situation Room.

Prime Minister Chung received a briefing on the operation plan of the isolation treatment ward from Deputy Director Ko and toured the hospital rooms.

Prime Minister Chung stated, "This site was used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stationed in Korea for over 60 years but was returned to our government in December last year," adding, "To secure even one more COVID-19 bed in the metropolitan area, the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Health and Welfare, and local governments joined forces to open the COVID-19 isolation treatment ward ahead of schedule."

He continued, "With 107 COVID-19 beds secured right next to the main building of the medical center, the medical response capacity in the metropolitan area has been strengthened," and urged, "The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) should provide maximum support in personnel and equipment so that the isolation treatment ward can perform its functions promptly."

He also toured the vaccination center being prepared to administer vaccines as soon as they arrive in Korea.

Prime Minister Chung said, "Vaccinations can be administered at the center right next to the medical center, and adverse reactions can be monitored after vaccination."

He emphasized, "Our country should wisely respond to avoid the trial and error experienced by countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, which started vaccinations earlier than us, by learning from their difficulties as a lesson."