S. Korea sees first politician infected with COVID-19, ruling party to hold nat'l convention online
- 4 years ago
정치권도 뚫렸다, 차명진 '정치인 첫 확진' ...與 전당대회 온라인 개최
The political circles here in South Korea are also on high alert as a number of current and former lawmakers have had to be tested for the coronavirus for coming in contact with confirmed patients.
One ex-politician has tested positive for the virus; the ruling Democratic Party is going all-virtual with its national convention to observe the nation's level two social distancing.
Not only that, parliament is pushing for legal revisions to allow lawmakers to vote on bills remotely, in case the situation worsens.
Kim Mok-yeon has a wrap up.
Former lawmaker Cha Myung-jin has become the first political figure in South Korea to test positive for COVID-19.
Health authorities say Cha, who was a lawmaker for the conservative Saenuri Party under a previous government, was confirmed in the early hours of Wednesday morning, after being tested the day before.
He's known to have participated in the massive rally held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on Saturday, led by Sarang Jeil Church...the source of the nation's second largest cluster infection.
Lee Nak-yon, the ruling Democratic Party's leading candidate for the party chairman elections next week, was also tested but the result came back negative.
Lee was tested as he came into indirect contact with a COVID-19-confirmed journalist during a radio interview on Monday.
Two other lawmakers, Kim Yong-min of the Democratic Party and Choi Hyung-du of the main opposition party have also been tested after indirect contact with the same journalist. The results are expected Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, the resurgence in COVID-19 cases has affected numerous scheduled National Assembly events, including the ruling party's national convention.
The Democratic Party announced Wednesday that it will elect its new leader virtually, instead of its usual large-scale ceremony.
The convention will be held at the party's headquarters in western Seoul next Saturday with around 50 people in attendance, including candidates and staff members.
In a related move, the National Assembly Secretariat is also pushing for legal revisions to allow remote voting on bills,... in case parliament sessions are canceled due to COVID-19
Usually, lawmakers are required to be physically present in the parliamentary chambers to cast their votes, but the secretariat is pushing for new amendments to allow hold videoconferences and online voting.
Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.
The political circles here in South Korea are also on high alert as a number of current and former lawmakers have had to be tested for the coronavirus for coming in contact with confirmed patients.
One ex-politician has tested positive for the virus; the ruling Democratic Party is going all-virtual with its national convention to observe the nation's level two social distancing.
Not only that, parliament is pushing for legal revisions to allow lawmakers to vote on bills remotely, in case the situation worsens.
Kim Mok-yeon has a wrap up.
Former lawmaker Cha Myung-jin has become the first political figure in South Korea to test positive for COVID-19.
Health authorities say Cha, who was a lawmaker for the conservative Saenuri Party under a previous government, was confirmed in the early hours of Wednesday morning, after being tested the day before.
He's known to have participated in the massive rally held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on Saturday, led by Sarang Jeil Church...the source of the nation's second largest cluster infection.
Lee Nak-yon, the ruling Democratic Party's leading candidate for the party chairman elections next week, was also tested but the result came back negative.
Lee was tested as he came into indirect contact with a COVID-19-confirmed journalist during a radio interview on Monday.
Two other lawmakers, Kim Yong-min of the Democratic Party and Choi Hyung-du of the main opposition party have also been tested after indirect contact with the same journalist. The results are expected Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, the resurgence in COVID-19 cases has affected numerous scheduled National Assembly events, including the ruling party's national convention.
The Democratic Party announced Wednesday that it will elect its new leader virtually, instead of its usual large-scale ceremony.
The convention will be held at the party's headquarters in western Seoul next Saturday with around 50 people in attendance, including candidates and staff members.
In a related move, the National Assembly Secretariat is also pushing for legal revisions to allow remote voting on bills,... in case parliament sessions are canceled due to COVID-19
Usually, lawmakers are required to be physically present in the parliamentary chambers to cast their votes, but the secretariat is pushing for new amendments to allow hold videoconferences and online voting.
Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.