Jeon Hae-cheol: "President Yoon's Criticism of Moon Government's COVID-19 Measures Goes Too Far"

"Moon Jae-in Government Establishes Systematic Quarantine Framework"

Jeon Hae-cheol, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized on the 12th that "President Yoon Seok-yeol's criticism and disparagement of the Moon Jae-in administration's COVID-19 quarantine measures have gone too far." This was a rebuttal to President Yoon's criticism of the so-called 'K-quarantine' of the Moon Jae-in administration during a closed meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19 the previous day. Jeon served as the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety under the Moon Jae-in administration.

On the same day, Jeon said on Facebook, "The president should not disparage the entire national effort to overcome COVID-19 or turn it into a political dispute with distorted remarks."

He explained, "During the Moon Jae-in administration, from the early stages of domestic COVID-19 outbreaks, a whole-of-government capability was mobilized through the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters centered on the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, establishing a system quarantine framework in which local governments also responded together."

Jeon Hae-cheol, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Jeon continued, "Based on a high vaccination rate, we were able to stably manage severe cases and mortality rates despite the spread of variants," adding, "Above all, this would have been impossible without the active cooperation of the people who trusted the government and endured economic and psychological hardships."

Jeon said, "In the unprecedented infectious disease disaster, not only our country but the entire world has fought a truly difficult battle in quarantine and livelihood fields," and "Now, after 3 years and 4 months, most quarantine measures have ended, allowing us to enjoy our precious daily lives."

Regarding the 'initial entry of Chinese nationals during the early COVID-19 outbreak,' which President Yoon raised as an issue, Jeon rebutted, "At that time, in the absence of scientific evidence and data, the whole world responded in a similar manner," and "Considering our local Korean residents and businesses, as well as the principle of reciprocity, measures were discussed comprehensively and implemented step by step."