Pyeongtaek Mayor Jung Jang-sun Reflects: "COVID-19 Quarantine Operations are Like a Battlefield"

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Seo Dong-young] Pyeongtaek Mayor Jung Jang-sun has expressed his various feelings from leading quarantine operations amid COVID-19 in an essay.

In an article titled "Reflections of a Local Government Leader," Mayor Jung stated, "It has been over two years since I became mayor," and said, "The COVID-19 quarantine operations are like a battlefield."

He continued, "We are handling COVID-19 testing, confirmed case management, tracing confirmed patients' movements, managing self-quarantined individuals, managing overseas arrivals, and handling various public inquiries with minimal staff, so it is hectic," and added, "Quarantine workers, without holidays, are suffering from dehydration while wearing protective suits on hot days to maintain screening centers."

He went on to say, "However, from August 15, when COVID-19 resurgence began, approximately 30 community infection cases occurred within about 10 days," and explained, "The workload of health center staff exploded. Around August 15, numerous confirmed cases occurred mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, and since 'Gyeonggi Province epidemiological investigators' could not come down to Pyeongtaek, health center staff had to take on their duties as well."

"The common voice from the field is that they have reached psychological limits rather than physical hardship. One employee's heart pounds just hearing the word 'Corona,'" he said, illustrating the difficulties faced by civil servants on the front lines of quarantine efforts.

Regarding recent rumors that confirmed cases from an KCTU rally were concealed as Gwanghwamun rally participants, he explained in detail: "That confirmed patient was said to be an August 15 rally participant, and since numerous Gwanghwamun rally confirmed cases emerged, we naturally classified them as Gwanghwamun rally participants. If this is a mistake, then it was a mistake," and then dismissed the allegations, saying, "In an era like today where administrative transparency is systematized and individual claims abound, the idea that manipulations could be instructed is simply anachronistic thinking."

<Reflections of a Local Government Leader> Full Text

It has been slightly over two years since I became mayor. While there are many feelings, lately I often think how wonderful it would be if people showed a little more consideration for one another. Several disasters that began last year have been ongoing for nearly a year. African swine fever, COVID-19, monsoons, COVID-19 resurgence, typhoons—a continuous series of disasters, and the civil servants on the front lines are truly being worked to exhaustion.

With the current difficult situation, patience seems to have weakened. There are various types of people—those who shout over the phone if they are dissatisfied, those who come to city hall and cause commotion that prevents work almost all afternoon. Of course, there are also those who bring snacks for people's hard work and send support cards.

The COVID-19 quarantine field is also a living space and can appear in various scenes. However, when viewed up close, that field is like a battlefield. Especially during this 10-day period of COVID-19 resurgence, it is more so. COVID-19 testing, confirmed case management, tracing confirmed patients' movements, managing self-quarantined individuals, managing overseas arrivals, handling various public inquiries—we are handling all this with minimal staff, so it is hectic.

More than half a year into the COVID-19 crisis, quarantine workers report extreme fatigue from staffing offices without holidays, and those maintaining screening centers in hot weather while wearing protective suits are experiencing dehydration symptoms.

Unfortunately, Pyeongtaek's COVID-19 situation has recently worsened. From initial cases in February through August, Pyeongtaek had 25 community infection cases excluding U.S. military and overseas entry cases, and there were no community infections for 94 days. However, approximately 30 community infection cases occurred within about 10 days from August 15, when COVID-19 resurgence began.

During this period, the workload of health center staff exploded, and their workplace was truly a battlefield. Around August 15, numerous confirmed cases occurred mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, and since 'Gyeonggi Province epidemiological investigators' could not come down to Pyeongtaek, health center staff had to take on their duties as well.

The common voice from the field is that they have reached psychological limits rather than physical hardship. The numerous complaints related to COVID-19 itself exhaust people, and there are many malicious complainants who curse and shout at employees, causing staff to experience burnout. Many employees show signs of depression, and some have taken sick leave due to physical deterioration. Perhaps those employees who can take sick leave are fortunate.

One employee feels anxiety so severe that their heart pounds just hearing the word "Corona," and many employees fear each day when they wake up in the morning.

Amidst all this, a media outlet published an article titled "Announced KCTU Rally Confirmed Cases as Gwanghwamun Rally Participants" related to the August 15 Seoul rally. The article's main point was that a local government headed by a ruling party member converted confirmed cases from KCTU rally attendance into those from Gwanghwamun rally attendance. Ultimately, the article alleged that Pyeongtaek City made manipulation for political purposes, but this is impossible.

On that day, 11 confirmed cases were discovered in Pyeongtaek in a cluster. With 4 cases related to the Gwanghwamun rally besides patient 65, it was the day with the most confirmed cases for Pyeongtaek. The period around the 22nd was extremely busy for the health center.

When staff were overwhelmed, patient 65, who lived in Osan and was tested at a Pyeongtaek hospital, was notified as positive by that hospital to the health center, and the health center conducted a basic investigation by phone with that confirmed patient. The patient said they were an August 15 rally participant, and since numerous Gwanghwamun rally confirmed cases had emerged, we naturally classified them as a Gwanghwamun rally participant. That is all there was to it. If this was a mistake, then it was a mistake.

I feel profound dismay at media coverage that interpreted this politically, suggesting manipulation occurred because I am a Democratic Party mayor. The mayor's name is listed as Kim 00, and I received only the most basic note report that they were an Osan resident and August 15 rally participant.

How could I have instructed changing this patient to a Gwanghwamun rally participant when we did not even know if they were a KCTU member or whether they attended the Bosingak rally?

For all of this to be the intent of the local government head, wouldn't I have had to instruct health center staff or media relations staff to manipulate? Is that even possible?

What reason would there be to go that far? In an era like today where administrative transparency is systematized and individual claims abound, the idea that manipulations could be instructed is simply anachronistic thinking.

Nowadays, civil servants absolutely do not follow unjust instructions. They suffer harm later as a result.

Moreover, someone who served as a national assemblyman and considers this mayoral position as the final chapter of their life would not end it this way. Because of this article, I received many phone calls and felt anger welling up in my chest all day.

And civil servants focused on war-like operations in the COVID-19 field have neither the time nor reason to think about politics. In fact, the majority of staff thought August 15 meant Gwanghwamun rally, and they did not even know about the Bosingak rally. I have caused great pain to employees who are truly doing their best to prevent COVID-19.

The spirit of our citizens who are strong in crisis is being tested once again. Pyeongtaek City will implement quarantine more thoroughly, and we will make greater efforts to prevent recurrence of mistakes in releasing incorrect information. I earnestly request that citizens understand the mistakes that occurred with generosity and trust Pyeongtaek City once again. Furthermore, I ask the media to refrain from attempting to interpret quarantine operations politically based on limited information from a perspective disconnected from the actual field.