At the First Cabinet Meeting, Oh Se-hoon Sets Direction: "Introduce Rapid Test Kits in Schools and Religious Facilities... Need for System Improvement on Officially Announced Price Decisions"

"Urgent Call for Rapid Approval of Rapid Test Kits, Concerns Over Prolonged Online Classes, Inconvenience and Damage to Religious Activities"
Expansion of Rapid Test Kit Application from Karaoke Rooms to Schools, Religious Facilities, and Restaurants
"Need for System Improvement to Allow Local Governments Authority and Participation in Public Price Decision Process"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Mayor Oh Se-hoon, attending the Cabinet meeting for the first time since his inauguration as Seoul Mayor, requested the expedited approval of COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits. He also conveyed the opinion that institutional improvements are needed to allow local governments to participate in the price-setting process.

On the morning of the 13th, Mayor Oh attended the Cabinet meeting presided over by President Moon Jae-in and said, "I am pleased to be able to convey the voices of Seoul citizens to the government, and at the same time, I feel a heavy responsibility," making the request.

Mayor Oh emphasized the need to hasten the introduction of rapid antigen test kits. He argued that if rapid antigen test kits, already verified overseas, are immediately utilized, it would guarantee business activities for self-employed individuals and small business owners, as well as in-person classes for students and religious activities. This expands the original intent of introducing self-test kits for karaoke rooms and similar venues to schools and religious facilities.

Mayor Oh stated, "The current quarantine system, based on the sacrifices of self-employed individuals and small business owners, cannot be maintained as is," adding, "Moreover, the prolonged online remote classes have led to a decline in students' basic academic skills and widened disparities, and parents are also enduring multiple layers of hardship at home." He also mentioned the significant inconvenience and damage experienced by religious facilities.

He continued, "Seoul City intends to conduct a pilot project using the rapid antigen test method recognized by the government," and added, "Since widespread use is difficult, we urge the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to approve the use of rapid antigen test kits that are convenient to use and provide quick results as soon as possible, and we hope the President will take special interest in this matter."

Concerns about the sharp rise in official real estate prices were also conveyed. Mayor Oh expressed the position that amendments to related laws and institutional improvements by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport are necessary to alleviate the rapidly increasing burden on citizens due to the rise in official prices.

He said, "In the case of land or single-family houses, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and local governments jointly participate in the official price determination process, but the Ministry solely decides the prices of multi-family housing," adding, "Institutional improvements are also needed to allow local governments to have authority and participate in the price determination process of multi-family housing, and I request the President and relevant ministers to take an interest and cooperate on this matter."