Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
New presidential disease control secretary Ki Mo-ran faces criticism
Ki Mo-ran, presidential secretary for disease control and prevention affairs / Courtesy of Ki Mo-ran
By Nam Hyun-woo
By Nam Hyun-woo
Ki Mo-ran, the new presidential secretary for disease control and prevention affairs, is facing doubts about her credibility and capability to fulfill her duties in the new post. The opposition parties are badgering her over her previous remarks, which seem to underestimate the significance of the prompt supply of COVID-19 vaccines in Korea.
Some experts and opposition lawmakers claim that Ki has made “politically biased” remarks favoring the Moon Jae-in administration and are questioning whether she can provide professional and impartial advice to the president.
During a reshuffle of presidential aides last week, Moon created the new post of secretary for disease control and prevention, and named Ki as the inaugural secretary. Cheong Wa Dae said Moon picked Ki for her expertise in preventive medicine and acknowledging her contribution to the country's battle against the pandemic, as the chair of the COVID-19 countermeasure committee at the Korean Society of Preventive Medicine.
Regarding her nomination, the main opposition conservative People Power Party (PPP)'s spokesman, Rep. Bae Joon-young, said that, “Ki has misled public opinion through her comments that there is no necessity for prompt vaccination.”
“The medical community is widely concerned over Cheong Wa Dae's move to blend politics into disease control,” Bae said in a commentary, demanding that Moon cancel the appointment.
Other PPP lawmakers also voiced worries about Ki's appointment. Rep. Yun Hee-suk said on her Facebook account on Sunday that Moon is dishing out key posts to those who have curried favor with the administration, and Ki has deceived the public through her remarks downplaying the significance of vaccination.
During her appearance on the radio program of local broadcaster TBS on Nov. 20, Ki said, “Securing vaccines is not a matter of extreme urgency, given the trajectory of COVID-19 caseloads,” and, “There are about 10 vaccines currently undergoing phase 3 clinical trials. Many vaccines will continue to announce their effectiveness, but even if better ones come out, the Pfizer vaccination contract makes it impossible to return those vaccines when new ones are available.”
Ki has appeared on the program hosted by left-wing journalist Kim Ou-joon more than 50 times to provide commentary on the country's vaccination and quarantine policies. The program is currently drawing attention over claims that the host and guests present politically biased commentary.
The remarks drew a backlash, as they were interpreted to be advocating for Korea's slow vaccination. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, Korea's inoculation rate stood at 2.5 percent as of April 15, lagging far behind that of Israel with 61.7 percent, the U.K. with 47.6 percent and the U.S. with 37.1 percent.
Controversy is also rising concerning Ki's duties at the post. Cheong Wa Dae said that she will be providing advice about quarantine and prevention policies, not about vaccinations. Securing vaccines and inoculation will remain the duties of the secretary for social policies.
“It is impossible to understand why the presidential office is creating a new post for disease control while not giving it authority over vaccines,” Ma Sang-hyuk, vice chairman of the Korean Vaccine Society, wrote on his Facebook page. “This action shows that Cheong Wa Dae is indirectly admitting that Ki's previous remarks have been problematic.”
Another concern is that the new secretary's job could overlap with that of Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KCDC) Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong, and that Cheong Wa Dae might try to take a control tower role over the KCDC's quarantine policies.
Cheong Wa Dae is denying such concerns, saying that the new position is aimed at strengthening expertise in the government's quarantine efforts.