[Full Text] Lee Jae-myung: "100,000 Won Support per Home Treatment Patient, Will Ease Social Distancing if Elected"

Lee Jae-myung's Press Conference on the 21st Regarding 'Measures to Overcome and Respond to COVID-19 Damage'
Announcing Support Plans for Home Treatment Patients and Easing Social Distancing if Elected

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, held a “Press Conference on Overcoming and Responding to COVID-19 Damage” at the Democratic Party headquarters on the 21st and announced, “We will provide an additional support fund of 100,000 KRW per person to those undergoing home treatment.”

Candidate Lee said, “Home treatment strictly follows the guidelines of the quarantine authorities,” and added, “Naturally, the state must share the costs.” He also mentioned easing social distancing measures if elected. He stated, “If I am elected, I will ease social distancing starting March 10,” and “I once again demand that social distancing restrictions be relaxed to 24 hours for those who have received the third vaccination.”

The full text is as follows.

I promise the nation’s unlimited responsibility for COVID-19 damage.

- Establishment of the ‘COVID-19 Damage Emergency Relief Special Committee,’ swift passage and execution of supplementary budget -

- Strengthening home treatment support and improving management, easing restrictions to 24 hours for third-dose vaccine recipients -

- Extension of COVID-19 loan maturities and repayment deferrals, credit amnesty, and promotion of an economic booster shot plan -

Dear fellow citizens,

I am Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea.

As Omicron spreads rapidly,

it is increasingly threatening the safety and livelihoods of the people.

Listening to the public’s distress, frustration, difficulties, and complaints at campaign sites nationwide,

my heart also breaks in despair.

Currently, it is difficult to predict the peak level of Omicron infection rates in South Korea,

or when that peak will occur.

More than 500,000 people are currently in self-quarantine,

and the damage to small business owners is accumulating exponentially.

Considering that overseas countries suffered enormous damage until Omicron infection rates peaked,

it is hard to gauge how much greater a crisis we will face in the future.

Therefore, the nation’s unlimited responsibility for quarantine and the economy, including economic activities, education, home treatment, and support for small business owners, is more urgent than ever.

All citizens have worked together to overcome this crisis.

I once again thank the public for their cooperation and the sacrifices of medical staff.

However, if the state does not promise unlimited responsibility for the damage caused by COVID-19 quarantine measures,

no one will be able to endure anymore.

Despite the urgent situation where every hour counts due to severe hardships,

the People Power Party and candidate Yoon Seok-youl oppose the passage of the supplementary budget,

and hypocritically betray the people by saying “there is plenty of time.”

While 3 million KRW could be a lifeline for livelihoods,

I clearly state that the empty promise of 50 trillion KRW is worth less than a scrap of paper,

and the Democratic Party of Korea will pass the supplementary budget today

to support the people, small business owners, and self-employed suffering from COVID-19,

and will provide swift support within this week.

Also, due to Omicron’s strong transmissibility,

it is time for a major shift in K-quarantine.

Although the fatality rate is low, its strong transmissibility requires

focusing quarantine efforts on protecting high-risk groups such as the elderly and those with underlying conditions.

Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party of Korea

will enter the public with one hand holding flexible and rational smart quarantine,

and the other hand holding full compensation and responsibility.

First, I will talk about flexible and rational smart quarantine and medical response systems.

First, we will strengthen the management of severe patients and support for home treatment, and improve the support system.

It has been about 10 days since the transition to a home treatment management system due to Omicron spread,

but confusion on the ground remains.

We will significantly increase personnel available for home treatment consultations in each local government,

and swiftly reassign administrative staff from public health centers

to resolve issues such as inability to reach consultation centers and insufficient support for patients.

We will immediately implement this starting with jurisdictions led by Democratic Party local government heads.

Under the party leader’s chairmanship, at least our party’s local government heads will hold video conferences

to regularly check the situation.

Home treatment strictly follows the guidelines of the quarantine authorities.

Naturally, the state must share the costs.

Going forward, to support home treatment patients with costs such as purchasing medicines,

we will provide an additional support fund of 100,000 KRW per person.

We will make every effort to secure hospital beds, medical personnel, and equipment for managing severe patients.

Second, we will introduce rapid and scientific diagnostic and vaccination methods.

We will promptly resolve the supply issues of rapid antigen test kits

and ensure smooth distribution to pharmacies and convenience stores.

To avoid long lines in cold weather,

the government should quickly establish a reservation system using mobile apps, etc.

We will rapidly distribute the Novavax vaccine,

and conduct prompt vaccinations targeting the unvaccinated, those with underlying conditions, facility residents, and those who had adverse reactions to the first and second doses, to protect them from infection risks.

We will also thoroughly inspect and respond to treatment and management measures for severe patients.

The government’s previously requested “PCR test cost support for one caregiver or family member other than the patient”

will be applied starting today.

We hope this will be smoothly implemented on the ground through active promotion.

Third, we once again demand that social distancing restrictions be relaxed to 24 hours for those who have received the third vaccination.

Extending business hours only until 10 p.m. is insufficient.

If the gathering limit cannot be increased from 6 to 8 or 10 people,

at least third-dose vaccine recipients should be allowed to stay longer.

We again call for the government’s decisive action.

If I am elected, I will ease social distancing starting March 10.

Also, when adjusting social distancing levels and response systems,

please actively consider realistically subdividing severe patient indicators,

and using confirmed case numbers as a supplementary indicator.

Fourth, I request improvements to quarantine guidelines in educational settings in March.

The government’s quarantine guidelines for educational settings in March,

and recommendations for twice-weekly testing for kindergarten and elementary to high school students,

are increasing anxiety and confusion among parents and school staff.

I understand parents’ concerns about twice-weekly testing before school attendance.

The Ministry of Education should actively promote to prevent worries and confusion regarding twice-weekly testing.

Also, considering the situation where 100,000 confirmed cases occur daily,

the abolition of the youth quarantine pass should be actively considered.

Preparing quarantine measures suitable for the Omicron variant

is the way to minimize confusion and maximize efficiency.

Next,

I will talk about the nation’s full compensation and responsibility to overcome the livelihood crisis.

I apologize to the public for the grossly insufficient budget compared to the damage and difficulties caused by COVID-19.

Even if insufficient, we must put out the urgent fires first.

There is no time to delay or fight in front of the people who are enduring day by day.

The supplementary budget to be submitted to today’s plenary session is an emergency budget for quarantine and livelihoods, so

the National Assembly must pass it today.

In addition to support funds for small business owners,

budgets for medical, quarantine, and care personnel support, distribution of self-diagnostic kits to all citizens,

living support for home treatment patients,

and support for vulnerable employment groups, transportation workers, and cultural artists

must be included in the current supplementary budget and passed,

and executed promptly.

The Democratic Party of Korea will take the lead with more solemn, earnest, and strong determination.

Second, the extension of loan maturities and repayment deferrals for small business owners and the self-employed must be swiftly implemented.

At the end of March, the extension of loan maturities and repayment deferrals for small business owners and the self-employed will expire.

They had no choice but to borrow money to survive,

but now it is squeezing livelihoods instead.

This crisis is coming next month.

Along with swift execution of the supplementary budget, please take immediate action on loan maturity extensions and repayment deferrals.

Furthermore, I promise once again.

The government will take over bad debts caused by COVID-19 and conduct debt adjustment and forgiveness,

and implement a comprehensive credit amnesty to fully restore credit damaged by COVID-19.

Third, we will prepare an “economic booster shot” plan for economic recovery.

Losses of small business owners and the self-employed have accumulated for over two years.

The unaddressed damage to the public, estimated between 40 trillion and 50 trillion KRW,

must be fully borne by the government.

Any shortfall in this supplementary budget

will be largely supplemented by an economic booster shot after the election.

Even if it requires a large-scale emergency supplementary budget or emergency financial order,

we will take full responsibility to ensure that citizens can engage in at least minimal economic activities.

Dear fellow citizens,

Immediately after being elected, my first directive will be

to establish the Roosevelt-style rapid response body, the ‘COVID-19 Damage Emergency Relief Special Committee,’

to respond with speed.

After March 10, South Korea’s COVID-19 response will definitely change.

The presidential transition committee will soon become the ‘COVID-19 Damage Emergency Relief Special Committee.’

Through the operation of the COVID-19 Damage Emergency Relief Special Committee,

we will rapidly implement policies to overcome the crisis,

and fully restore the daily lives of the people.

We will review budget plans for emergency damage support,

and speedily manage the reception, review, and prompt payment procedures for small business loss compensation.

We will quickly propose improvements to gathering bans and business hour restrictions after March 10,

and focus on credit recovery preparation and eliminating blind spots in damage support.

We will also introduce a comprehensive national responsibility system for damages caused during vaccination and treatment,

and comprehensively resolve and support daily inconveniences and damages arising from quarantine processes such as daycare, kindergarten and elementary to high school student care, and distribution of diagnostic kits.

Dear fellow citizens,

A strong and capable economic president in times of crisis!

We must immediately put the prepared Lee Jae-myung into action.

You, the people, can make this happen.

Without wasting a single minute or second, I will act immediately.

Thank you.