Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok: "Strict Quarantine Rules... Need to Lower Social Distancing to Level 2 Soon"

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, emphasized on the 3rd, "As the 4th wave of COVID-19 increases inconvenience for residents and difficulties for small business owners, Jeonnam should be the first to lower social distancing to level 2 and allow private gatherings of 6 to 8 people by putting all efforts into blocking and quarantine measures."

Governor Kim stated at the policy meeting with department heads held in the Seo Jae-pil Room at the provincial office that morning, "Although the severe spread of COVID-19 is showing signs of calming nationwide, the situation is still not to be underestimated," adding, "If we make even a small mistake, another cluster infection could break out."

He continued, "With the nationwide spread of the 4th wave of COVID-19, there were six days last month when more than 20 cases occurred in Jeonnam, but thanks to the cooperation of residents and the efforts of medical staff and public officials, the numbers have dropped to single digits for two consecutive days," and urged, "However, if we become complacent even slightly, cluster infections could occur again, so please do not let your guard down and engage in thorough quarantine activities."

He also said, "Strong measures are being taken against entertainment facilities that recently violated social distancing rules, but their hardships must also be considered," and added, "The small business owners’ Hope Recovery Fund support program, the national support fund, and the loss compensation system scheduled to be paid from around October, which are being promoted as compensation for losses due to business restrictions, must be clearly and thoroughly communicated so that no eligible recipients are excluded from support."

He also mentioned the UNESCO World Heritage registration of the mudflats on the southwestern coast.

Governor Kim said, "Although Korea’s mudflats initially received a notification of 'registration rejection,' their eventual registration proves the global value of the southwestern coast mudflats as an ecological treasure," and encouraged, "Going forward, let’s preserve the mudflat ecology, enhance future brand value, and attract the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Center to make Jeonnam stand tall as the ecological capital of Korea."

He added, "The Korea University of Energy and Technology has released recruitment guidelines for students and graduate students and is smoothly preparing for its official opening next year by inviting many world-class scholars as professors," and said, "To nurture it as a top 10 global engineering university contributing to regional development, efforts should be made nationwide to attract excellent students, and especially to encourage many outstanding local students to apply, with active support from the provincial government."

Regarding river management, he stated, "Jeonnam has 7 national rivers totaling 327 km, but 556 local rivers totaling 2,948 km, which places a heavy burden on river management due to poor financial conditions," and emphasized, "We must develop a feasibility rationale to have local rivers supported by the national government like national support local roads or to convert them into national rivers, and actively propose this to the central government."