President Moon: "K-Quarantine Will Lead Not Only as a Model Country but Also in Daily Life Recovery"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 19th, President Moon Jae-in spoke about the full lifting of social distancing measures, stating, "The government will do its best to become a leading country not only in K-quarantine but also in the recovery of daily life."

President Moon chaired a Cabinet meeting via video conference at the Blue House on the same day and said, "I am deeply moved that everyone can return to the daily life they have longed for within our government's term."

President Moon said, "By adjusting the infectious disease classification, we can return to a normal medical system," and expressed his gratitude, "I sincerely thank the citizens, quarantine officials, and medical staff who cooperated and dedicated themselves to making this (daily life recovery) possible."

At the Cabinet meeting, the official launch of the nation's first special local government, the 'Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Special Union,' was reported. President Moon praised, "There was much effort from related ministries and local governments to achieve today's result. Along with my gratitude, I sincerely congratulate the launch of the Bu-Ul-Gyeong Special Union."

The Special Union is part of the super-regional cooperation strategy for region-led balanced development. President Moon evaluated, "Our government has pursued balanced development policies in various ways since its inception, but we could not reverse the concentration in the metropolitan area," and stated, "Super-regional cooperation is a newly promoted balanced development strategy added to existing policies with an urgent desire to change that trend."

President Moon assessed super-regional cooperation as a bold plan to create a wide-area economic living zone beyond local government boundaries to multi-polarize South Korea and expressed high expectations, saying, "There is great hope for national balanced development and regional progress."

He then addressed the Bu-Ul-Gyeong Special Union, saying, "I hope you move forward vigorously toward the goal of becoming one of the eight mega-cities in Northeast Asia," and added, "If you establish strategic industries such as automobiles, shipbuilding, shipping, aviation, and hydrogen, create a joint foundation for talent development, and expand spatial innovation and transportation networks to extend a one-day economic living zone like the metropolitan area, you can certainly succeed."

He also emphasized his hope that the next government will inherit and develop the super-regional cooperation model. President Moon said, "I hope the new challenge that takes its first step under our government will further develop and blossom under the next administration," and wished for the super-regional cooperation model to spread nationwide to Daegu-Gyeongbuk, Gwangju-Jeonnam, and the Chungcheong region.