Justice Party "Need for Follow-up Measures on Military Group Infection...Urgent Inspection of Overseas Deployment Units Required"

Cheonghae Unit Mass Infection Incident... Military Authorities Must Offer Responsible Apology

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Justice Party has demanded an official apology from the military authorities regarding the mass COVID-19 infection incident in the Cheonghae Unit. They also urged an urgent inspection of overseas dispatch units.

On the 19th, the Justice Party stated in relation to the Cheonghae Unit mass infection incident, "This is the worst-case scenario where the possibility of additional confirmed cases cannot be ruled out due to an unprecedented mass infection within the military."

On the same day, Chief Spokesperson Lee Dong-young criticized, "It is very disappointing that the military authorities and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea are hastily trying to evade responsibility by explaining that the Cheonghae Unit set sail in February when it was not yet time for vaccination, or that they could not send vaccines due to lack of storage facilities," adding, "The sloppy and complacent response at the military level cannot escape criticism as the cause of the mass infection."

Chief Spokesperson Lee emphasized, "With such a careless and irresponsible attitude, it is doubtful whether they can thoroughly identify the causes and responsibilities or properly present measures to prevent recurrence," and added, "The military authorities, who caused the mass infection incident due to sloppy and complacent quarantine management, must officially apologize to the Cheonghae Unit soldiers, their families, and the citizens, and responsibly investigate the causes of this incident and take follow-up measures."

He continued, "To prevent recurrence, the military authorities should conduct an urgent inspection of all overseas dispatch units and responsibly present vaccination and quarantine safety measures."

On the same day, the Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that as of 8 a.m. (Korea time), 247 out of 301 crew members of the 34th Cheonghae Unit Munmu the Great-class destroyer, accounting for 82.1%, were confirmed to have COVID-19.