Volunteer Sampling Activity at Temporary COVID-19 Testing Site in Seoul Station Plaza on the Morning of the 11th
On the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday, the 11th, Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, is volunteering for specimen collection at a temporary COVID-19 screening clinic set up in Seoul Station Plaza. The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight that day, there were 504 new domestic COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 82,434. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, began the Lunar New Year holiday with COVID-19 medical volunteer work.
On the morning of the 11th, Ahn participated in volunteer activities collecting specimens at a temporary COVID-19 screening site set up at Seoul Station Plaza, wearing protective suits and face shields.
Seoul Station is one of the places with heavy foot traffic, making it a location where medical staff assistance is urgently needed. Ahn said, "I receive daily text messages from the Medical Association requesting medical volunteer resources due to a shortage of medical personnel even now," adding, "Today, I saw parents holding their children’s hands, police officers, and security company staff all getting tested here. The number of people tested here was several times more than in front of City Hall Plaza."
He continued, "I volunteered diligently with the hope that their test results would be negative," and emphasized, "I sincerely thank the many medical professionals and related personnel who do not rest even during the holiday season and serve for the lives and safety of the people."
Regarding the government’s quarantine guidelines, including the ban on gatherings of five or more people, which prevent Seoul citizens and the public from even meeting their families, Ahn expressed regret. He said, "I have said that social distancing methods should be newly reorganized with more realistic and scientific standards, but it seems the review is happening belatedly," and added, "I think it is time for many experts to form a consultative body and seriously discuss this issue."
Through Facebook on the same day, Ahn stated, "I sincerely hope we can quickly get out of this long tunnel of pain," and said, "To do so, there is something we must not forget. The driving force that can create hope in a crisis?I believe it is the spirit of solidarity and coexistence, the community spirit of 'going together and living together.'"
He raised critical voices against the government and ruling party. Ahn pointed out, "The government and ruling party continue divisive politics that split the people, populism that exploits crises for elections, incompetent ad hoc administration that worsens problems, and autocratic governance that destroys democratic institutions and practices," and criticized, "This regressive politics of division and incompetence makes overcoming the COVID-19 crisis difficult and heavily burdens the lives of ordinary citizens with job disasters and soaring real estate prices."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
