During the opening of the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) which took place in Milan, Italy, President Park stated, "It's been decided that in order to respond to the Ebola virus that is spreading to several countries, Korea will be offering humanitarian assistance by dispatching health personnel."
President Park has shown her support for Ebola victims and Ebola countermeasures back in late September as well, when it was announced at a United Nations (U.N.) meeting that South Korea would be donating $5,000,000 USD to the cause. Prior to this announcement, the government had already donated $600,000 USD via theWorld Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
The Blue House has further commented, "The huge Ebola situation that is a threat beyond West Africa to the international community's overall stability has developed into a severe, humanitarian crisis situation." They continued, "We've reviewed that the U.N.'s request for additional support for the international community is a necessity; we've decided that the government's stance consists of dispatching health personnel."
Despite the government's charitable actions, netizen reaction has mostly been negative, perhaps due to the president's unpopular status in the polls. Top comments include: "Park Geun Hye, please go as our representative; hold hands with and go together with Jasmine Lee (National Assembly member)~," "Do they not think of the safety of the health workforce? It looks like this wasn't planned, but you can just send them like that?" and, "If she's not going to go herself then she shouldn't be talking. Who's going to go? If the president is saying she's sending [people], then she should take the lead and send the Saenuri Party (conservative political party) lawmakers to first investigate the site and then send [others]."
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