Jungsubon: "Moon's '5-person dinner' not a violation of quarantine rules"... Jo Myeonghui "Doubtful if the public will understand"

On the afternoon of the 12th, President Moon Jae-in attended the 'Special COVID-19 Response Quarantine Inspection Meeting' held at the Yeomin-gwan of the Blue House. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Ju-hee] The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) stated on the 27th that the recent dinner President Moon Jae-in held at the presidential residence with four former aides does not violate the 'ban on gatherings of five or more people.'

According to reports, the office of Cho Myung-hee, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee from the People Power Party, asked the CDSCH whether President Moon's dinner with aides at the presidential residence violated quarantine rules.

In response, the CDSCH explained on the same day, "Various meetings and event attendances by the President are considered part of official duties as President and thus have an official nature." Therefore, the President's dinner is deemed official and does not violate quarantine rules.

Earlier, it was reported that on the 19th, President Moon invited four former Blue House aides?Yoon Chang-ryeol, former Social Secretary (currently 2nd Deputy Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination), Choi Jae-sung, former Political Secretary, Kang Min-seok, former Spokesperson, and Kim Young-sik, former Legal Secretary?to the presidential residence for a farewell dinner.

However, this drew criticism as a violation of the 'ban on gatherings of five or more people.' On the 24th, an online community user identified as A posted that President Moon's dinner violated quarantine rules and filed a complaint through the National Petition System. This complaint was forwarded through the National Petition System and received by the Jongno District Office, where the Blue House is located.

A stated, "I believe it was inappropriate for President Moon, who has the obligation to strictly observe quarantine rules, to have dinner with four former aides." He added, "Even if the meeting of President Moon and the four former aides at the Blue House residence is recognized as 'official business,' the 'dinner' aspect qualifies as a 'private gathering of five or more people.'"

According to CDSCH quarantine rules, meetings for official duties or essential business activities of companies are not considered private gatherings. However, meals before or after meetings are considered private gatherings, and groups of five or more are not allowed to dine together.

Regarding the CDSCH's explanation that this was "not a violation of quarantine rules," Representative Cho said, "It is questionable whether the public will understand the President, who emphasized strict compliance with quarantine rules under a zero-tolerance policy, holding a drinking gathering of five or more people as an official meeting." He added, "The health authorities and Seoul city must not show leniency toward violators of quarantine rules just because they are powerful."