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| A resident blocks the road with his tractor in front of the National Human Resources Development Institute in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, in opposition to the government's reported decision to house 700 Koreans from Wuhan there, Wednesday./ Yonhap |
By Kim Se-jeong
Municipal administrations and residents are going all-out to prevent 700 Koreans being evacuated from Wuhan, China, from coming to their communities amid growing concerns over the spread of a coronavirus disease, government officials said Wednesday.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it had chosen facilities in two municipalities ― both in the Chungcheong provinces ― to accommodate them for the next two weeks for monitoring. But it is facing resistance from municipal officials and residents there.
The Koreans are scheduled to arrive at Gimpo International Airport Jan. 30 and 31 on two chartered planes. They will be sent directly to the two facilities from the airport ― the National Human Resources Development Institute in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province and the Police Human Resources Development Institute in Asan, South Chungcheong Province. The government had initially picked Cheonan in South Chungcheong Province, but changed the location due to local opposition.
Medical experts said people suspected of having come into contact with the virus need to be isolated for two weeks, its incubation period.
Angry residents from Jincheon and Asan used tractors and cars to block access to the designated facilities, in a show of opposition to the government decision.
"We have many families with children in this region. I can't understand why the government chose Jincheon, and it makes me very angry," one resident surnamed Choi said. "The government should have asked people for their opinions on a matter like this."
The ministry explained that the capabilities of the facilities and distance from the airport and medical centers were taken into consideration, but this didn't assuage the locals.
"Did the government know the institute is right in front of an apartment building? We are treated as second-class citizens. I will leave town tomorrow," one mother wrote in a local internet group for mothers.
Jincheon County officials also spoke out against the decision. "Jincheon is a small place with a high population density. It's not appropriate for housing these people. Also, there's no big medical clinic nearby where people can be treated in case of an emergency. The government decision-making process was one-sided and we can't accept this."
Opposition also came from a politician from President Moon Jae-in's party.
"People in Asan feel the decision was part of a politically-motivated game that Asan lost. This makes the people very angry," according to Asan Mayor Oh Se-hyun of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea.
According to the ministry, the people who are being initially repatriated are symptom free and will stay in single rooms with ensuite bathrooms. They will have their temperatures checked twice a day and will not be allowed to have any guests during the monitoring period.
