[G20 Video Conference] President Moon: "Korea Was at the Center of the COVID-19 Challenge" (Update)

G20 Video Conference Remarks "Sharing Successful Response Models with the International Community"... Proposal to Allow Movement of Essential Personnel Including Scientists, Doctors, and Entrepreneurs

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] On the afternoon of the 26th, President Moon Jae-in attended the G20 Special Video Summit and stated, "For the past two months, Korea has been at the center of the COVID-19 challenge," adding, "Although we cannot be completely assured yet, through proactive and transparent quarantine measures and the voluntary and democratic participation of our citizens in quarantine efforts, the situation is gradually stabilizing."

President Moon said, "From the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak until now, our government has responded based on three major principles: openness, transparency, and democracy," explaining, "We identified confirmed cases through an overwhelmingly large number of tests and traced their infection routes to the end. After isolating all confirmed patients and their close contacts, we imposed travel bans. We believed this was the best way to prevent the spread of infection and reduce casualties."

President Moon emphasized that Korea installed drive-through testing centers and implemented ‘self-quarantine apps’ and ‘self-diagnosis apps’ utilizing IT technology. He also added that Korea carried out ‘special entry procedures’ that minimized restrictions on the cross-border movement of people and goods while maximizing the effectiveness of quarantine measures.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon stated, "While not completely restricting entry from abroad, we have made efforts to control the inflow of infection sources from overseas and protect entrants themselves by conducting thorough inspections at the point of entry without discrimination between foreigners and nationals for those arriving from countries with many confirmed cases."

President Moon emphasized, "We promptly and transparently disclosed all relevant information domestically and internationally," adding, "We intend to share our successful response model with the international community."

President Moon explained that the Korean government is implementing bold expansionary macroeconomic policies and financial stabilization policies worth 100 billion dollars (132 trillion won) to overcome the COVID-19 economic crisis.

President Moon proposed ways to strengthen international solidarity to overcome COVID-19. He said, "G20 member countries must share COVID-19 quarantine experiences and clinical data and join forces to develop treatments and vaccines," emphasizing, "We must also cooperate to support vulnerable countries in health and medical care."

President Moon asserted, "We must utilize all available means to implement expansionary macroeconomic policies, strengthen the global financial safety net, and cooperate to stabilize the economies of underdeveloped and impoverished countries."

He also proposed, "To minimize the negative impact of COVID-19 on the global economy, it is important to maintain essential flows of economic exchange between countries," suggesting, "We should jointly explore ways to allow the movement of essential personnel such as scientists, doctors, and businesspeople within the scope that does not hinder each country's quarantine measures."