I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
PM vows measures to stop MERS
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn speaks during an interpellation session at the National Assembly, Friday. / Yonhap
By Kang Hyun-kyung
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has admitted that the government’s initial response to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) was ineffective and vowed to make every effort to stop the deadly virus.
During a National Assembly interpellation session on Friday, he said the government did not have much information and knowledge about the virus, and its inexperience and lack of preparedness were behind its slow response.
“The government was not aggressive, either, when it first broke out,” he said when asked whether the initial policy response was appropriate.
The prime minister, who took office Thursday, vowed to make a top priority of stopping the spread of MERS.
The subject of the deadly virus dominated the Assembly plenary session, which was Hwang’s official debut as the government’s No.2 man.
In interpellation, lawmakers asserted the virus has begun affecting the economy.
They said the tourism industry was hardest hit because the number of inbound tourists had sharply fallen in the wake of MERS.
Rep. Shim Jae-kwon, of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for failing to take measures following the first outbreak of MERS in Saudi Arabia in September 2012.
He said the ministry should have issued a travel alert then. He also urged the ministry to take preemptive measures if such an epidemic breaks out in foreign countries in the future.
Before the plenary session, Hwang paid courtesy visits to the party leaders.
Rep. Shim Yoon-joe, of the ruling Saenuri Party, said the MERS outbreak was affecting the nation’s credibility. “Some 20 people who needed to be separated from the public were found to have travelled overseas, raising anxiety among the nationals in the foreign countries,” Shim said.
Rep. Kim Moo-sung, chairman of the Saenuri Party, called on the prime minister to exert effective leadership at a time of crisis to control MERS as soon as possible. Kim voiced worries about its negative effects on the economy.
Rep. Moon Jae-in, the NPAD leader, urged the new prime minister to make all-out effort to end MERS.
“I hope that Hwang can demonstrate decisive leadership to fight the virus,” he said during a meeting with senior NPAD lawmakers, adding that drought was another challenge facing the nation.
Moon called on the prime minister to consolidate all political capital to tackle those challenges, alleging that the Park Geun-hye government had failed to contain MERS in its early stage.
He said the NPAD decided to attend the voting for Hwang’s parliamentary approval because the party did not want to politicize those critical issues.