Joo Ho-young: "Vaccine Procurement Must Be a Key Agenda at the Korea-US Summit"

"Vaccine, a Strategic Material Crucial to the Lives of Our Citizens"

Joo Ho-young, Acting Leader of the People Power Party, is attending the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Joo Ho-young, Acting Leader of the People Power Party, said on the 20th regarding the upcoming Korea-US summit to be held in the United States next month, "The president's visit to the US should prioritize securing vaccines as the most important agenda."

In his remarks at the party's floor strategy meeting that day, Acting Leader Joo stated, "Thorough negotiations and preparations must be made in advance." He emphasized, "Vaccines are the highest strategic resource tied to the lives, safety, and economy of each country's citizens," adding, "We must devote all efforts to restoring trust between the two countries before the visit to the US." He further added, "The indicator of our diplomacy depends on how many good vaccines we can secure as a result of this summit."

Lee Jong-bae, Chairman of the Policy Committee, also stressed the importance of securing vaccines. Chairman Lee said, "Despite being in a COVID-19 crisis for over a year, our country has maintained a relatively stable quarantine system thanks to the voluntary sacrifices of the people," and pointed out, "What the Moon Jae-in administration should do is not self-praise but to show respect for the people's voluntary sacrifices and acknowledge the failure in vaccine supply."

Chairman Lee stated, "The government-wide Vaccine Procurement Task Force has been floundering and wasting time, and senior government officials have effectively admitted a diplomatic vacuum by saying that vaccine procurement is not a diplomatic issue that the president or ministers can handle," urging, "An immediate review of dispatching a presidential special envoy for vaccine procurement is necessary. If parliamentary diplomacy is needed, we will cooperate on a bipartisan basis." He also called for, "An immediate review of retroactive compensation measures for vulnerable groups such as small business owners and self-employed individuals."