Confirmed Case Movement Analysis '24 Hours → 10 Minutes'... Q1 Innovation Best Practice

Since the implementation of "social distancing in daily life" began on the 6th, commuters are seen walking near Gwanghwamun Intersection in Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] An epidemiological investigation support system that analyzes the movement paths of confirmed COVID-19 cases within 10 minutes has been selected as an excellent case of regulatory innovation.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 10th that it selected five cases, including the 'COVID-19 Epidemiological Investigation Support System,' as excellent cases of proactive administration and regulatory innovation in the first quarter of this year.

The COVID-19 Epidemiological Investigation Support System automates the epidemiological investigation process of COVID-19 infected individuals by utilizing smart city R&D technology that collects and processes large-scale urban data.

With real-time analysis of big data, it achieved an impressive result by analyzing the movement paths of confirmed COVID-19 cases, which previously took more than 24 hours, within 10 minutes. This technology is evaluated to have greatly helped South Korea, which had the second highest number of confirmed cases after China in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, to quickly regain stability.

The Ministry of Land explained that generating such big data requires extensive cooperation from 28 related government agencies, and it is even more meaningful that the system was officially operated just one month after the infectious disease crisis alert level was raised to 'serious.'

In fact, the system development began on February 27 at the Ministry of Land's proposal, underwent trial operation from March 16 to 25, and started official operation on March 26 of the same month.

During an online briefing for foreign journalists involving more than 50 media outlets worldwide on the 10th of last month, many media organizations, including the Spanish news agency EFE and the British Reuters news agency, reportedly showed interest in this system.

The Ministry of Land explained, "Requests for consultations from foreign governments and international organizations are continuously coming in, playing a role in enhancing the nation's status."

Other excellent cases included ▲ aviation quarantine and disinfection and support for the aviation industry ▲ supply of 2.5 million masks to public transportation workers ▲ relaxation of business license standards to expand taxi transportation franchise businesses ▲ resolution of guarantee accidents in public rental apartments.

The Ministry of Land decided and implemented various policies that were impossible under air service agreements to repatriate overseas Koreans struggling due to COVID-19. In particular, it swiftly established the 'Safety Standards for Cargo Loading in Passenger Aircraft' to enable idle passenger planes to urgently transport COVID-19 diagnostic kits. This was also introduced as an excellent case by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The Ministry of Land also played a role in ensuring that public transportation operated without interruption. At the end of March, when most mask stocks were depleted, the Ministry secured supplies in consultation with related agencies such as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and supplied 2.5 million masks to the public transportation industry.

Kim Jeonghee, the Ministry of Land's Innovation Administration Officer, explained, "To respond to the economic downturn caused by COVID-19, we plan to further encourage proactive administration and regulatory innovation and continuously monitor to ensure that excellent cases currently being implemented are stably established in the field."