Jung Eun-kyung Mainly Uses Business Expenses at Gimbap Restaurants
Medical Staff Collapsing in Heatwave
Citizens Say "Will Gimbap Be Enough?" and "Hope They Eat Some Meat" in Support
Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, is attending the 'COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters Meeting' held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 7th, listening attentively to the opening remarks by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "Is kimbap enough?", "I hope you get to eat some meat.", "Medical staff are really working so hard."
During the '4th wave' of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a nationwide outpouring of support for the dedication of medical personnel. Especially recently, despite the perceived temperature soaring above 33 degrees Celsius and the suffocating conditions, medical staff wearing thick protective suits and fully engaged in COVID-19 related treatment are being applauded as 'COVID heroes.'
Also, as the details of the Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Director Jung Eun-kyung's business expense usage were revealed, citizens have been encouraging her with comments like "Isn't this too frugal?" and "Please eat something more delicious."
According to a document titled 'June 2021 Director's Business Expense Usage,' which spread on social media such as Twitter on the 16th, Director Jung used 3,995,400 KRW in business expenses over 32 occasions last month for a total of 251 people. This file is the same as the one published on the KDCA website on the 7th.
June operational expenses of Director Jeong Eun-kyeong disclosed by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Photo by Internet Capture
Looking at the details, most of the business expenses were used for COVID-19 related work or meetings. The amount averages about 16,000 KRW per person, which is about half of the 30,000 KRW limit per person set by the Kim Young-ran Act. The detailed breakdown shows that the main places were delivery-available traditional Korean set meal restaurants, snack bars, and kimbap shops near Osong Station in Cheongju City, Chungbuk, where the KDCA is located.
There were also payments at restaurants or bakeries near the National Assembly and Seoul Station, which appear to have been used during business trips. At a donut specialty shop in Seoul Station, five people paid 5,000 KRW.
Reviewing the monthly disclosed business expense usage of Director Jung, it was confirmed that not only last month but also in May and April, all food was taken out as packed meals. In April and May, snacks costing about 6,000 KRW per person were purchased at cafes and bakeries under the name of 'encouragement for staff morale in the vaccination promotion team.'
Netizens who checked Director Jung's business expense details responded with comments such as "You can feel the exhaustion," "The packed lunch looks pitiful," and "I hope someone buys her some meat."
Citizens who visited the screening clinic are waiting for a COVID-19 test. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Amid the attention on Director Jung's so-called 'exhausting business expense details,' there was also an incident where a district office employee working at a temporary screening clinic in Seoul collapsed from exhaustion.
According to Gwanak-gu, Seoul, on the 15th, at around 2:20 p.m., a female public official in her 40s, Ms. A, who was dispatched to support the temporary screening clinic at Sillim Sports Center, lost consciousness and collapsed. She had been working there since 10 a.m. that day.
Colleagues and on-site medical staff who found Ms. A performed emergency treatment, and before the ambulance arrived, she regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital. After receiving medical treatment, Ms. A returned home with no major health issues.
Due to the impact of the 4th wave of COVID-19, the number of citizens visiting screening clinics has surged, and medical staff are facing double hardships amid the ongoing heatwave. In Gwanak-gu alone, about 3,000 tests are conducted daily, which is more than double the usual number.
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