Moon seeks bipartisan support for fighting virus

President Moon Jae-in visits the National Assembly on Feb. 28. Yonhap

By Do Je-hae

President Moon Jae-in made a rare visit to the National Assembly, Friday, to seek bipartisan support in dealing with the national health emergency unleashed by COVID-19.

During the visit, Moon meet with the leaders of the major parties including Lee Hae-chan, chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK); and those from the main opposition United Future Party comprising Hwang Kyo-ahn, chairman of the former Liberty Korea Party; Justice Party Chairwoman Sim Sang-jeung; and You Sung-yop, co-chairman of the Party for People's Livelihoods. Moon also met with National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang before joining a roundtable with the leaders.

Previously, Moon has invited party leaders to Cheong Wa Dae for consultations on state affairs. The President's visit to the National Assembly is seen as reflecting his determination to underline the importance of non-partisan support for his administration's struggle to control the epidemic. Moon has called on parliamentary support for a supplementary budget to cope with the economic fallout of the new coronavirus

During the talks with the party leaders, the President highlighted his concerns for the economy, which has been hit hard by the virus as it has dampened commercial activity and consumption.

President Moon Jae-in, left, and National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang greet each other wearing masks at the National Assembly on Feb. 28. Yonhap

“I am particularly worried about the economy. There are has been a grave impact on our businesses. The concerns are magnified when considering that the situation could be prolonged,” Moon said. “With a bold fiscal injection, the government has unveiled special measures to help the affected companies and small- and medium-sized businesses urgently and revive the sagging economy. The government will seek unprecedented measures for affected areas and industries and sharply expand tax and financial support to small businesses in need. The government also needs drastic measures to boost consumption. In particular, we will fully support Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province to address the socioeconomic damage they are experiencing. I look forward to the National Assembly's suggestions on other necessary measures. We will draw up an emergency supplementary budget and submit it to the National Assembly as soon as possible.”

But the opposition lashed out at the Moon administration's “incompetence” in dealing with the national health emergency, particularly during the initial stages. Hwang pointed out that the government has aggravated the situation by not carrying out a stringent entry ban on people traveling from China.

“The President, the prime minister and the entire government were too idle in their responses to the virus,” Hwang said. “The current crisis has been caused by the government's failure. The entry ban on China should have been implemented from the very beginning, as requested consistently by the people and experts. But the President did not listen,” Hwang said.

A day before the meeting, Cheong Wa Dae issued a statement on the mounting calls for “closing the border” with China, saying that this was not an effective solution.

Cheong Wa Dae has faced criticism that it is putting diplomacy with Beijing ahead of the people's well-being by dismissing the demand for banning entry of people from all over China, not just Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus.