On the First Day of Vaccination, Lee Jae-myung Says, "I Will Fulfill the Vaccination Mission Without Any Gaps"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung is holding a press conference on the third relocation of public institutions in Gyeonggi Province at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on the morning of February 17.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Jumi Lee] Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung emphasized on the 26th, the day COVID-19 vaccinations began, "I will carry out my duties flawlessly so as not to let down the people who are wholeheartedly cooperating with quarantine efforts."

On the same day, Lee posted on his Facebook a message titled "Vaccinations are starting. The people have not wavered at all," stating, "Vaccinations will be administered sequentially by target groups until December," and informed, "On the first day, a total of 2,377 vaccinations are scheduled, including 1,724 people at 11 nursing hospitals and 653 people at 38 nursing facilities."

Lee said, "Even though the opposition party provoked unnecessary disputes by saying 'The president should get vaccinated first,' 93.8% of the priority vaccination group, residents of nursing hospitals, agreed to receive the vaccine," emphasizing, "Various conspiracy theories and fake news trying to use the health of the people as a political tool were rampant, but our citizens did not budge."

He continued, "This is the reason why K-quarantine has become a standard envied worldwide," and expressed hope, saying, "After the start of vaccinations, a higher and longer 4th or 5th wave of COVID-19 may come. However, I believe that if we respond with one heart and one mind as we have so far, we can overcome any crisis."

Lee added, "As one of the persons responsible for quarantine, I will continue to trust only the people, as I have done until now," and said, "In the end, we will pass through the long winter and welcome spring."

Meanwhile, at 9 a.m. on the 26th, AstraZeneca vaccinations began simultaneously nationwide for workers and residents under 65 years old at nursing hospitals and nursing facilities.