[Exclusive] Song Young-gil Sends Vaccine Cooperation Letter to Russian Federation Council Vice Chairman

Need for Diversification of Vaccine Supply Sources at the 'Plan B' Level
Securing Early After Safety Verification... Secure in Advance
Utilizing Diplomatic Power with Russia Expertise... Proposing 'Vaccine Cooperation' to Parliament

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] It was confirmed on the 23rd that Song Young-gil, Chairman of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, recently sent a letter to the Russian parliament containing vaccine cooperation discussions. The letter was sent to Konstantin Kosachev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Council, and Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee, requesting comprehensive cooperation related to the Sputnik V vaccine.

Chairman Song is known as a leading Russia expert within the Democratic Party of Korea, having visited Russia in 2013 at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin and received a medal. The sending of the letter by Chairman Song is interpreted as the start of a diplomatic campaign toward Russia in the National Assembly, as the government actively considers the introduction of the Russian-made COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V. The aim is to diversify vaccine supply sources and strengthen negotiating power against countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.

On the same day, Chairman Song appeared on the radio and said, "The safety of Sputnik V is a part that needs to be sufficiently verified," but added, "However, once safety verification is completed, it may become difficult to secure vaccines, so it is important to secure quantities in advance." He also noted that the fact that Sputnik V is being produced under contract in South Korea makes its introduction easier. Last month, Chairman Song held overall cooperation discussions with Vladimir Primak, Head of Investment at the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), which supported the development of Sputnik V, and Nina Kandelaki, Head of Healthcare at RDIF.

Song Young-gil, a candidate for the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, met with Andrey Kulik, the Russian Ambassador to Korea, on April 9 and requested cooperation for the domestic introduction of Sputnik V. He received a positive response from Ambassador Andrey.

Within the ruling party, even if Sputnik V is introduced, many hold the view that vaccination should be postponed until safety is confirmed, but securing this vaccine as a ‘third alternative’ or ‘Plan B’ is necessary as a precautionary measure. Currently, Germany is also promoting the introduction of Sputnik V while awaiting the European Medicines Agency’s review results. A key Democratic Party official said, "It is necessary to diversify vaccine supply sources to import vaccines at reasonable prices from the United States and the United Kingdom, and the Russian vaccine is a practical alternative from that perspective."

Meanwhile, in addition to sending this letter, Chairman Song is exploring the possibility of vaccine introduction through non-face-to-face communication with Yuri Trutnev, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia; Valentina Matviyenko, Chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council; Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the Russian State Duma; Olga Yepifanova, Chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council-Korean Parliamentarian Cooperation Group; and Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the Russian State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee. Earlier this month, he also sent a letter to U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, seeking comprehensive Korea-U.S. value cooperation and requesting a meeting with vaccine cooperation in mind.