Examining the COVID-19 Response Law Shared by the Korean Government: "The Key is Civic Awareness"

Government Prepares and Shares 34-Page Report
Introducing Rapid Response and 3T Strategy... Citing 'Citizens' as the Most Important Key

Medical Guidelines Created in English from Related Government Report. (Source: Ministry of Economy and Finance)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] In a report on the experience with the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) shared at the request of the World Bank (WB), the Korean government revealed that the key to its early response was "citizen consciousness." It explained that a high level of civic awareness and cooperation was the most effective factor.

According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, on the 25th, the World Bank, through a letter from Makhtar Diop, Vice President for Infrastructure, requested that Korea share its response experience with developing countries vulnerable to epidemic response, stating that "capacity and infrastructure to respond to the COVID-19 crisis are necessary." The letter particularly noted that Korea was resolving the issue without aggressive lockdown measures and asked to inform individual member countries of related information and provide bilateral cooperation. In response, the Korean government, through collaboration among relevant ministries and agencies, prepared and shared a 34-page English document detailing Korea's quarantine response system and economic countermeasures.

Reviewing the related report, the Korean government's response strategy was summarized into three points. First, "rapid response." The report prepared by the Ministry of Economy and Finance stated, "After the first confirmed case on January 27, government officials approved the use of Korean diagnostic kits, and by February, established the first drive-through screening centers and testing capacity to examine thousands daily," emphasizing that "it is important to respond quickly before the situation worsens."

Second, the report highlighted the Korean government's "3T strategy (Testing, Tracing, Treating)." As of the 24th, over 350,000 people had been tested, and through confirmation of 9,000 cases, it helped with isolation and treatment immediately after infection. The report introduced, "When an individual tests positive, health authorities classify contacts and trace movement routes using CCTV, credit card transaction records, vehicle and mobile phone GPS," and "confirmed patients were categorized into four groups based on symptoms, with severe cases receiving intensive treatment until full recovery."

Finally, the report referred to the most important "secret" and praised the citizens. It stated, "The most important secret in the fight against COVID-19 was the citizens," emphasizing that "a high level of civic consciousness and voluntary cooperation prevented virus transmission and was the most effective measure in countering it."

Additionally, the report detailed the Korean government's economic and financial measures taken so far, mentioning large-scale fiscal injections, livelihood support packages, supplementary budget formulation, interest rate cuts, forward exchange position adjustments, and currency swap agreements.