Director Jeong Eun-gyeong Included in BBC's '100 Women of the Year' List

Transparent and Calm Briefing Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, was the only Korean selected among the BBC's '100 Women of the Year.'

On the 23rd (local time), BBC announced the 100 Women of the Year, including Commissioner Jung.

Commissioner Jung was introduced as a 'virus hunter' leading South Korea's response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The broadcast explained, "This year, we focused on those who led change and made a difference during turbulent times."

It added, "As the first female head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and currently the Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, she is known for her transparent and calm daily briefings during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Commissioner Jung expressed her thoughts, saying, "I sincerely thank all healthcare workers dedicated to pandemic response," and added, "I will do my utmost to strengthen disease response capabilities and make the world safer."

The top spot on this year's list of 100 women was given to the 'Unnamed Heroes,' drawing attention.

BBC explained, "Given the exceptional circumstances this year, countless women around the world sacrificed themselves to help others," and "to honor their contributions and remember those who lost their lives in the process, we decided to leave the first spot vacant."

Other notable figures included Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who leads a coalition government composed of women-led parties; actress Liang Ziqiong (Yang Ja-kyung), who has been active in the action film industry traditionally seen as a 'man's world'; Sarah Gilbert, who leads COVID-19 vaccine development at the University of Oxford in the UK; and Hong Kong democracy activist Agnes Chow.