Lawmakers criticized for planning overseas visit amid pandemic
The main building of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, is seen in this October, 2020, photo. Korea Times file
By Jung Da-min
Four lawmakers are facing searing criticism for planning a business trip to Europe when Korea is being overwhelmed by a fourth wave of mass COVID-19 infections.
The lawmakers have yet to make a final decision on whether to push ahead with the trip, but they are likely to make the journey, according to an aide of Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun. Yoon heads the Korea-Latvia Parliamentary Friendship Group of the National Assembly and is one of the four lawmakers who is scheduled to visit Latvia and Lithuania for eight days from July 24 to 31.
According to Yoon's aide, the three other lawmakers are Rep. Yoo Sung-kull, head of the Korea-Lithuania Parliamentary Friendship Group, and two Assemblymen who belong to each friendship group of Latvia and Lithuania, respectively. The aide refused to identify the two lawmakers.
As soon as the lawmakers' planned trip became known, many people started questioning if the visit to the two European countries is necessary amid the worsening pandemic situation not only in Korea but also in Europe.
Critics claim that the lawmakers should refrain from traveling overseas when Korea is going through a critical moment in its fight against COVID-19 and when there seems to be no urgent diplomatic agenda involving Korea and the European countries.
As this year commemorates the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Baltic states, or Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Korean members of the parliamentary friendship groups of the three countries had been invited to visit in March this year, the official told The Korea Times, Friday. As a result, the four Korean lawmakers had decided to visit Latvia and Lithuania, but not Estonia, because members of the Korea-Estonia Parliamentary Group could not make it due to other schedules.
The planned visit, however, has been put off until late July.
“I understand that some people are displeased with the lawmakers' overseas trip amid the pandemic situation, but it could be a diplomatic discourtesy to Latvia and Lithuania if we cancel the trip at the last moment after it had already been pushed off from March to July,” the official said.