The nominee for prime minister pledged Monday to revamp South Korea’s disease control system after the recent spread of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
“If I become prime minister, I will review the system to prevent national disasters like this one and install a comprehensive countermeasure system so all citizens and the private and government sectors could join hands to deal with them,” Hwang Kyo-ahn said on the first day of a three-day parliamentary confirmation hearing.
He also apologized for the spread of the virus, saying “I feel a sense of frustration on the question of if the government took all its countermeasures seriously and comprehensively in the initial stage of the disease.”
On Monday, South Korea reported its sixth death from the acute respiratory illness, along with 23 new cases, bringing the total number of people diagnosed to 87.
MERS is a viral respiratory illness that had a very high fatality rate of over 40 percent globally before the outbreak in South Korea.
South Korea now is facing many other challenges like stagnant economic growth, economic difficulties in households, and low birth rates, as well as a fast-aging population, the prime minister nominee said.
“I believe people expect (me) to play an important role in reviving the economy, creating good jobs and stabilizing people’s livelihood as well as achieving a secure society,” Hwang added.
He also vowed to throw all his “heart and soul” into reviving the economy and enhancing social unity.
Hwang was nominated to take over the country’s No. 2 political job in May, a month after Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo stepped down amid allegations he took 30 million won ($27,000) from a businessman who hanged himself in April.
In South Korea, the prime minister is the only Cabinet post that requires parliamentary confirmation. Critics say hearings frequently end up humiliating the nominee mainly over his or her past records or ethical lapses, and do not focus on the skills required for the job. (Yonhap)
