[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The New York Times (NYT) in the United States described President Moon Jae-in's remark that "the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) will soon end" as "a costly error."
On the 28th (local time), the NYT published an article titled "South Korean Leader Said Coronavirus Would 'Disappear.' It Was a Costly Error" through its Seoul dispatch.
The NYT noted, "The South Korean government's optimism disappeared after a 61-year-old woman tested positive on February 18, becoming the 31st patient," adding, "Since then, infections surged two to three times daily, and President Moon faced political backlash."
As evidence, it stated, "(South Korean) opposition politicians are attacking President Moon's mishandling of the crisis, such as not quickly closing the Chinese border and failing to supply enough masks to citizens," and added, "As some Chinese cities began quarantining Korean visitors landing at airports, anger among Koreans soared."
It further reported, "South Korea's economy depends on China," and "The South Korean government is reluctant to impose entry bans on Chinese nationals, unlike about 40 countries including the United States and North Korea." The NYT also introduced that more than one million people have petitioned for President Moon's impeachment through the Blue House online bulletin board, expressing doubts about whether Koreans can trust President Moon's strategy, which fundamentally relies on public cooperation and awareness.
Meanwhile, on the 13th, President Moon said at a meeting with key figures in the business community, "Because quarantine authorities are maintaining vigilance and doing their best, COVID-19 will soon end."
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