Prime Minister & Defence Minister Drop the Mic Over Navy Covid‑Crisis
On Tuesday, a convoy of air‑lifted sailors scrambled back to Seoul after a South Korean navy destroyer, the Munmu the Great, got hit with Covid‑19 in the middle of a counter‑piracy patrol off the coast of Africa. Roughly 250 of the 301‑strong, unvaccinated crew were infected, making it the country’s biggest military Covid spike.
Two Apologies, One Big Shock
Prime Minister Kim Boo‑kyum and Defence Minister Suh Wook both ate their words in front of a joint agency Covid‑meeting:
- Kim apologized for neglecting the health of his soldiers and pledged full treatment and recovery support.
- Suh took responsibility for not vaccinating the crew before the ship left Korea in early February for an eight‑month mission.
It’s an uncomfortable double‑dose of apology that has people in Seoul fuming, especially as a new Covid wave is rolling in. Only about 13% of the 52 million population has been fully inoculated, and vaccine shortages are a real headache.
Why the Crew Wasn’t Vaccinated
The Defence Ministry argued that:
- Cooling logistics for certain vaccines were barely there while the ship was at sea.
- Emergency responses were limited, so they didn’t have time to vaccinate on the go.
Opposition lawmakers, however, are not buying it.
Opposition Rants
Floor Leader Kim Ki‑hyeon said the government “sounded out lame excuses” and should have:
- Sought help from other countries.
- Swapped the crew for vaccinated personnel.
- Told President Moon Jae‑in to apologise and fire Suh.
Other lawmakers blamed the early response for turning a handful of positive cases into a ship‑wide out‑break, noting:
- A sailor who first reported symptoms on July 2 got only cold medicine.
- The navy initially used less accurate antigen tests and didn’t move to PCR tests until six crew members were confirmed infected on July 15.
What’s Next for the Crew?
The 301 sailors, part of the famous Cheonghae Unit, landed in Seoul with an emergency medical convoy. Here’s the game plan:
- Critically ill sailors will be hospitalised.
- Green‑lit sailors will be sent to treatment centres.
- Those who test negative get a retest and isolation at military facilities.
In the meantime, a new 200‑strong vaccinated crew will take the helm and sail the ship home over the next 50 days.
Who Got the Virus?
Some reports speculated that contaminated food aboard the ship was the culprit, especially after the ship docked at an unnamed port in the Gulf of Aden from June 28 to July 1. However, Lee Sang‑won of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said that infection from food was unlikely. The KDCA will investigate once the crew arrives home.
South Korea’s Covid‑Mile‑Dance
South Korea is juggling an urgent new wave while wrestling with vaccine supply chain hiccups. Their earlier responses have been successful thanks to a giant tracing & testing system, but the current wave shows how fragile that safety net can be. As of Monday, the KDCA reported 1,278 new cases, pushing total infections above 180,000, with 2,059 deaths trailing.
Bottom Line
South Korea’s top brass is facing a real backlash, and the navy’s Covid disaster may end up being a defining moment for public trust in the government’s pandemic management. The hope is that a big, noisy apology—and better safeguards—will keep their troops safe out in the world.
