Lee Nak-yeon: "Jeong Eun-kyeong, who saved even time for grooming to focus on work... Proud to work together"

Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, is attending the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 15th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Lee Nak-yeon, former Prime Minister under the Moon Jae-in administration and former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed his gratitude to Jung Eun-kyung, the outgoing Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Lee described Commissioner Jung as "a figure symbolizing the successful quarantine efforts during the five years of the Moon Jae-in government" and said, "I also proudly cherish having worked together with her."

On the 17th, through social media (SNS), Lee stated, "Commissioner Jung, the first head of the KDCA, is stepping down due to the government transition," and added, "I thank Commissioner Jung for making South Korea a leading country in COVID-19 quarantine."

He said, "Especially, Commissioner Jung's contributions to protecting countless citizens' lives from infectious diseases will be clearly recorded," and continued, "She focused on her work, even saving time for grooming and lunch, and her meticulous and easy-to-understand explanations of the COVID-19 situation and quarantine policies will be remembered for a long time as a model for public officials."

Furthermore, he noted, "Although there were considerable disagreements both inside and outside the government, her unwavering commitment to her beliefs will be evaluated over time as the attitude of a trusted medical professional."

Lee evaluated, "Commissioner Jung's steadfast response to COVID-19 bestowed upon South Korea the international titles of a 'textbook' example, a 'model country,' and a 'leading nation' in quarantine."