Gangnam chief slammed for defending 'reckless' residents
Gangnam District Chief Jeong Sun-kyun speaks during a media briefing at the Gangnam District Office, Sunday, apologizing for his earlier comments that defended a daughter and mother who traveled to Jeju Island despite showing COVID-19 symptoms. / Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
Seoul's Gangnam District Chief Jeong Sun-kyun is facing harsh criticism for attempting to defend a student and her mother who have drawn the ire of the public after having traveled to Jeju Island despite showing symptoms associated with COVID-19.
The daughter, a student at a university in the United States, came back to Korea, March 15, and traveled to the resort island with her mother for five days from March 20. The daughter suffered from muscle pains and a sore throat on the first day of the trip, but the two pushed ahead with their visit.
The two tested positive shortly after returning to their home in Gangnam District, forcing stores and more than 40 people on Jeju to be shut down or quarantined as a result of coming into contact with the pair.
During a media briefing, Friday, Jeong called the daughter and mother “unintended victims” of the coronavirus outbreak, saying the two, who needed to focus on receiving treatment to recover, have been in “a state of panic” after learning about the plan of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Government to file a compensation suit against them.
Jeong called Jeju's decision to file the lawsuit “the result of a misconception and a lack of understanding.”
Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong earlier said, “Selfish visitors and their guardians will have to be held legally accountable,” noting that the plaintiffs would include the provincial government, which spent money of disinfection activities, as well as shop owners and local residents.
Jeong's remarks led to a number of angry comments from internet users, with some criticizing him on the Gangnam-gu Office's homepage.
The comments included, “I don't know whether Jeong is the chief of the district or a lawyer for the daughter and mother,” and “I don't agree that the two were unintended victims.”
According to the Jeju provincial government, the two caused an estimated 100 million won ($82,000) in damages.
Amid intensifying criticism, Jeong later issued an apology, Sunday, saying, “I am sincerely sorry about worrying the residents of Jeju Island and Gangnam District who have joined hands in containing the spread of COVID-19. I will continue to do the best to fight the disease as Gangnam District has the highest number of residents who have returned home from overseas countries.”