Kim Young-hwan "Disobedience to Kim Moran-style 4-step distancing... President must apologize"

Former Kim Young-hwan, former member of the Future United Party (predecessor of the People Power Party)
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Former Future United Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) lawmaker Kim Young-hwan recently fiercely criticized the government's application of Level 4 social distancing measures amid the fourth wave of COVID-19.

On the 12th, Kim posted on his Facebook, "The ban on gatherings of three or more people after 6 p.m. violates constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights, and I refuse to comply with the government's Kim Moran-style Level 4 distancing."

Kim stated, "Therefore, this measure must be used very delicately and cautiously, and it is important to recognize that forcing it even under the special circumstances of COVID-19 could be considered violence imposed by the state on its citizens. This measure restricts citizens' fundamental rights without constitutional grounds despite the special situation of COVID-19, and depending on perspective, it is more violent than the emergency measures during the Yushin era. It is totalitarian, unilateral, and anti-democratic," he repeatedly criticized.

He continued, "This could be a problem with a higher fatality rate than COVID-19 eradication," and argued, "Even the WHO recommends 'Targeted Intervention' by each country, designating necessary places and times because stopping the economy can have a profound impact on individuals and society." He then questioned, "First of all, who and on what grounds limited social distancing to two people after 6 p.m.? Was there any public discussion or consensus process?"

Kim then demanded, "To live under the same sky with you, I make the following demands: First, the Blue House must take responsibility for this situation, dismiss the quarantine secretary, and the president must apologize. Second, the two-person distancing rule must be stopped unconditionally after two weeks regardless of the results. Third, losses of small business owners during this period must be compensated 100%. Fourth, resolve the issue quickly through transparent vaccine procurement reporting and rapid vaccination. Democracy in this country is still far away," he urged.