[Excerpt from the 7th Meeting of the Central Election Preparation Committee and Overcoming National Crisis Committee on COVID-19]

“We will protect our own people without fail.”

□ March 30, 2020 (Mon.)

■ Lee Nak-yeon, Chairperson of the Central Election Preparation Committee, and the Overcoming National Crisis Committee on COVID-19

The number of people fully recovered from COVID-19 has exceeded that of patients under treatment. Countries that have adopted South Korea’s quarantine systems and techniques continue to increase. However, the spread of the virus is showing no signs of abating. Of newly confirmed cases, the proportion of those entering the country from foreign countries has kept rising. Collective infection cases have been continuously reported in long-term care institutions and some religious facilities. The government has decided to enforce a two-week mandatory coronavirus quarantine for all entrants from overseas starting April 1st. Anyone who violates the mandatory quarantine rule will face tightened punishment.  

Over the last weekend, many Koreans went out to enjoy spring and meet close acquaintances. Some may be complacent about the current situations involving the outbreak. But there is no room for complacency. All Koreans at home and from overseas should strictly comply with quarantine rules. After several times of the postponement, schools are scheduled to start on April 6. Quarantine officials and superintendents of schools in the country have voiced their negative opinions on the scheduled opening of schools. Some proposed that schools should open as scheduled, but face-to-face classes should be replaced with online classes. We are planning to decide when to open schools and how to offer lessons to students as early as possible through close discussions with education and quarantine authorities. I firmly believe the safety of students must be prioritized over anything else. 

The Democratic Party of Korea will make the utmost effort to produce desirable results in the upcoming elections, while focusing all our resources on the overcoming of this national crisis and lessening of the people’s suffering. We will protect our own people without fail.