Coronavirus outbreak

869,000 sign petition calling for Moon to be impeached

A worker disinfecting Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral in Seoul yesterday. The number of infections continued to surge in South Korea yesterday, with cases in Seoul and Busan coming mainly from small clusters at churches and hospitals.
A worker disinfecting Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral in Seoul yesterday. The number of infections continued to surge in South Korea yesterday, with cases in Seoul and Busan coming mainly from small clusters at churches and hospitals. PHOTO: REUTERS

Close to 869,000 people in South Korea have signed a petition to impeach President Moon Jae-in over what they claim is the government's mishandling of the outbreak of Covid-19 in the country. The number of infections continued to surge yesterday, hitting 1,261.

The petition criticised Mr Moon for not banning all visitors from China, where the coronavirus originated, and for sending three million face masks to the country. Only visitors from China's Hubei province are barred.

The death tally stands at 12, including a 36-year-old Mongolian who flew in for a liver transplant but became infected in hospital.

A total of 284 new cases were reported yesterday, with most of them linked to two clusters of infections in the south-eastern city of Daegu and nearby Cheongdo. There are 49 cases in Seoul and 58 in Busan, coming mainly from small clusters of outbreaks at churches and hospitals.

The authorities have said that mass infections in the country started from a Feb 16 church service by the Daegu branch of the secretive Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The church has submitted a list of its 212,000 members nationwide to the government so that health officials can start testing those who have flu-like symptoms.

Even as the government goes all out to curb the spread of the virus, such as revising an infectious disease Act to fine people up to 3 million won (S$3,450) for refusing a virus test, and limiting the export of face masks to 10 per cent of the output, criticism of the Moon administration has grown.

The petition calling for his impeachment was filed with the presidential Blue House on Feb 4.

The petitioner wrote: "We cannot just watch this catastrophe anymore... I call for impeachment."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 27, 2020, with the headline 869,000 sign petition calling for Moon to be impeached. Subscribe