[Fact Check] Did President Moon Say He Could Get the COVID Vaccine First?

Political Dispute Over President's Priority Vaccination, Focus on President Moon's January 18 New Year's Press Conference Remarks
President Moon: "No Need for President to Have Priority," "Will Not Avoid Leading by Example If Necessary"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] “The President previously spoke on TV during a dialogue with the people, saying that he could get the (COVID-19) vaccine first if necessary. Since he already mentioned this...”

This was stated by Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, during an appearance on tbs Radio’s ‘Kim Eo-jun’s News Factory’ on the 23rd. Whether President Moon Jae-in will be the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is a contentious issue in political circles.

The opposition party argues that President Moon should be the first to get vaccinated to alleviate concerns about the vaccine’s safety. Meanwhile, the ruling party contends that politicizing whether President Moon is the first to be vaccinated is itself a political maneuver aimed at amplifying safety concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

To approach this controversy, it is necessary to examine what President Moon said, when and where he said it, and in what context. First, President Moon’s remarks were not made during a ‘dialogue with the people’ but at the 2021 ‘New Year Press Conference.’

The New Year Press Conference held at the Blue House Chunghwagan on January 18th included about 20 offline and 100 online domestic and foreign journalists. President Moon’s comments on the COVID-19 vaccine came during a Q&A session with reporters.

A broadcaster reporter covering the Blue House asked, “Mr. President, to alleviate public anxiety about vaccination, may I ask if you intend to be the first to receive the vaccine?”

President Moon replied, “Some people have expressed concerns about the vaccine, but our country has a very high influenza vaccination rate globally,” adding, “I believe our people will trust the quarantine authorities and get vaccinated for COVID-19 as well.”

He further stated, “I think it is still an unfounded fear that people in Korea will avoid vaccination due to anxiety about the vaccine,” and “If there are no disruptions in vaccination, I believe that public officials, including the President, except those engaged in quarantine work, do not necessarily need to be prioritized.”

In other words, the President expressed the view that he does not need to be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccination.

Additionally, President Moon said, “I think it is sufficient to vaccinate priority groups first, and then vaccinate the general public together later,” sharing his opinion.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon was born in January 1953 and is 68 years old. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, those aged 65 and over are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination starting in May. However, exceptions for priority vaccination apply only in cases of urgent overseas travel for essential public duties or important economic activities, subject to strict verification and procedures.

Unless President Moon travels abroad for official duties, it is highly likely that he will receive the COVID-19 vaccine after May.

The COVID-19 vaccination starting on the 26th targets residents and workers in elderly nursing hospitals. For President Moon to be the first vaccinated, changes to current regulations or allowances for exceptions would be necessary.

At the New Year Press Conference, President Moon said, “However, if anxiety about the vaccine becomes very high and people avoid vaccination, creating a situation where leading by example is necessary, I would not avoid that either.”

Interpreting President Moon’s statement as saying he can get the COVID-19 vaccine first is debatable. He only said he would not avoid it on the premise that vaccine anxiety increases significantly, leading to vaccine avoidance and a need for him to set an example.

While it could be interpreted that President Moon’s statement about not avoiding vaccination means he intends to get vaccinated first, the overall context of his remarks at the New Year Press Conference indicates that the President does not need to be prioritized and will receive the COVID-19 vaccine according to the vaccination order.

After comprehensively reviewing the content and context of President Moon’s remarks at the New Year Press Conference, the claim that he said he could get the COVID-19 vaccine first is judged to be a ‘half-truth.’