Ruling Party and Government "Considering No Mask Requirement from Kindergartens and Daycare Centers... PCR Test Abolition After Entry" (Comprehensive)

Seong Il-jong, Chairman of the Policy Committee of the People Power Party, is delivering a keynote speech at the party-government meeting held at the National Assembly on the 28th to discuss measures to resolve the late-night taxi shortage. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kwon Hyun-ji] On the 29th, the ruling party and the government held a COVID-19 prevention meeting to discuss lifting mask mandates and abolishing PCR tests within one day of entry. The ruling party proposed to the government lifting indoor mask mandates starting from kindergartens, daycare centers, and elementary schools, as well as abolishing PCR tests after entry.

After the meeting, Sung Il-jong, chairman of the Policy Committee, said, "There are language development issues caused by mask-wearing, so we ask related agencies to discuss whether indoor mask-wearing can be stopped as soon as possible starting from kindergartens, daycare centers, and elementary schools."

At the meeting, the ruling party requested the government to consider four points: ▲partial lifting of indoor mask mandates ▲abolishing PCR tests after entry ▲allowing in-person visits at nursing hospitals ▲thorough prevention measures to avoid a resurgence.

He said, "Lifting indoor mask mandates is a very difficult issue that requires in-depth discussions by scientists, but we requested a review on whether masks can be removed first in daycare centers or kindergartens, and it will be decided through extensive discussions."

This is due to concerns that masks may hinder the language development process of young children. Chairman Sung said, "In the language development process, young children learn language by watching their parents' mouth movements, but masks restrict this," adding, "We requested a priority review on whether it is possible to lift the mandate in kindergartens, daycare centers, and elementary schools."

He also said, "Only China and our country currently require PCR tests after entry, so we requested the government to abolish this requirement," adding, "The Policy Committee has been requesting the abolition of post-entry tests for a month. We requested again today, and I believe we are at the final stage of decision-making."

He emphasized, "Visits by family members to nursing hospitals and nursing facilities should be allowed under strict prevention measures and mask-wearing so that warmth can be felt," and also requested the government to implement thorough prevention measures in preparation for the possibility of a resurgence.