[Asia Economy Reporter Bu Aeri] It has been confirmed that the search proportion for 'mask' on Naver increased the most over the past month. This reflects the public's interest due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Searches related to health, such as 'hand sanitizer' and 'disinfectant,' also increased in frequency. 'Shincheonji' and 'Daegu' were also searched relatively frequently.
Asia Economy analyzed COVID-19 related keywords on Naver Data Lab from the 20th of last month, when the first domestic confirmed case occurred, to the 25th of this month, and found significant changes at critical points. Data Lab sums the number of keyword searches by period and classifies them into 1 to 100 levels, displaying the maximum value during the search period as 100. For the keyword 'corona,' searches surged starting from the 18th, when the 31st confirmed patient, identified as a super-spreader, was confirmed. The search volume, which was 5 on the 18th, increased more than threefold to 17 the next day, and reached the maximum value of 100 on the 25th. Similar results were found when entering 'COVID-19.'
For consumer products considered preventive measures against COVID-19, such as masks, hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and alcohol swabs, the figures, which had maintained a level of 0 to 1 last year, surged to 100 on the 24th. Mask searches decreased from the 9th to the 14th, when President Moon Jae-in and the government were recommending routine economic and consumption activities, but surged again starting on the 19th, when cluster infections occurred.
The search volume for the keyword 'Shincheonji' was 0 on the 17th but sharply rose to 100 on the 19th, when a large number of infected patients who had contact with the 31st confirmed patient at the Daegu Shincheonji Jesus Church were confirmed. Searches for 'Daegu' showed a similar pattern.
Official government announcements also appear to have influenced the number of searches. The search count for 'Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention' was 10 on the 27th of last month, when the government raised the infectious disease crisis alert from caution to warning, and reached 100 on the 28th. The keyword 'Wuhan pneumonia' once reached 100 but has significantly decreased to a level of 0 to 4 after the government renamed it 'COVID-19' on the 12th.
The number of news comments also increased more than threefold before and after the spread of COVID-19. Comments, which had maintained a level of 300,000 to 400,000 a month ago, surpassed 1 million on the 25th. On the 25th, a total of 1,016,481 comments were posted, with the 'social sector,' covering breaking news and local community news related to COVID-19, accounting for 43.2% (439,128 comments), and the 'political sector,' covering government policies and other news, accounting for 34.6% (351,667 comments).
Experts analyzed these results as reflecting the public's anxiety about COVID-19. Lee Dong-gwi, a professor of psychology at Yonsei University, explained, "As COVID-19 spreads and deaths occur, the public's anxiety level is rising. People need a place to relieve their emotions, but since it is difficult to go outside, the desire to express their frustration through the internet has intensified."
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