Lee Jae-myung: "Gyeonggi Province civil servants and affiliated agency executives banned from personal contact for 2 weeks except family and official duties"

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hoon Reporter] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, has ordered civil servants within the province to restrict personal contact to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Governor Lee announced this fact through his SNS on the 27th. The governor stated, "Currently, quarantine authorities are asking general citizens to refrain from private gatherings and unnecessary outings," and "As governor responsible for the safety of Gyeonggi Province residents, I am instructing all civil servants and executives of affiliated public institutions within the province to refrain from personal contact outside of family and official duties for two weeks except in unavoidable circumstances to maintain quarantine administrative capacity."

The following is the full text of Governor Lee Jae-myung's SNS post.

<I have instructed all civil servants in Gyeonggi Province to refrain from personal contact.>

COVID-19 is spreading alarmingly. If we cannot overcome this crisis now, it will become uncontrollable. Public officials and medical staff have endured difficulties together with the people. It is a grave situation where the efforts of our civil servants, who have worked day and night, weekends included, may all come to naught.

In times like this, I and our Gyeonggi Province civil servants, as representatives of the people, must set an example.

Civil servants are not mere employees but selfless servants to the people who are sovereigns, and central and local government organizations are the last bastions that maintain the nation and society.

Infection of civil servants, unlike infection of ordinary individuals, means the collapse of the frontlines of quarantine operations, leading not only to distrust in the quarantine system but also potentially causing the worst scenario of government organizational paralysis in extreme cases.

Therefore, maintaining the health of civil servants is both a personal matter and an extension of boundless service to the people.

Currently, quarantine authorities are asking general citizens to refrain from private gatherings and unnecessary outings as much as possible. To avoid the worst-case scenario such as government organizational paralysis, civil servants above all must not engage in unnecessary private gatherings and contact.

Accordingly, as governor responsible for the safety of 13.7 million Gyeonggi Province residents, in order to maintain quarantine administrative capacity, I am instructing all civil servants and executives of affiliated public institutions within the province to refrain from personal contact outside of family and official duties for two weeks except in unavoidable circumstances.

In times of crisis, the attitude of civil servants is most important.
I ask our Gyeonggi Province civil servants to take the lead for the health and safety of 13.7 million residents.

I trust our Gyeonggi Province civil servants.