Indonesian Korean in 60s Dies from COVID-19... Estimated Minimum 20 Korean Deaths

Residents are receiving the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine at a large-scale COVID-19 vaccination center set up in a soccer stadium in Surabaya, the capital of East Java Province, Indonesia.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Seo-young] As Indonesia records around 40,000 daily COVID-19 cases, it has been revealed that at least 20 Korean nationals have died in connection with this situation.

According to the Korean Embassy in Indonesia on the 1st, a Korean man in his 60s passed away while receiving COVID-19 treatment at a hospital in Kelapa Gading, Jakarta, the previous day.

The embassy estimated that there have been a total of 344 confirmed Korean cases, with 18 deaths and 84 patients airlifted to Korea by air ambulance. However, the embassy’s death count excludes two Koreans who were infected with COVID-19 in Indonesia and died after returning to Korea; including them, at least 20 Koreans have died. Additionally, Koreans who changed their nationality to Indonesian and died may not have been properly reported to the embassy, so there could be several uncounted deaths.

The Korean community in Indonesia experienced a surge in COVID-19 infections starting around June due to the spread of the Delta variant. According to embassy data, about 220 Koreans were infected between June and July, but considering those who tested positive after returning to Korea and the number of Koreans treated at hospitals, it is highly likely that over 1,000 were infected.

The main reason for the increase in Korean deaths is generally attributed to Indonesia’s poor medical infrastructure. Many local Koreans trusted less accurate antigen test negative results over PCR test results or tried to self-medicate without consulting doctors, missing the appropriate treatment window.

The embassy, Korean Association, and Korean hospitals explained, "Since the third week of July, the number of COVID-19 infections in the Korean community has been decreasing," but added, "It is still not time to be complacent. Accurate PCR testing and medical diagnosis are necessary." The embassy especially emphasized, "Early diagnosis of COVID-19 is crucial," and warned, "If patients endure symptoms by taking fever reducers or antibiotics without a doctor’s examination and their condition worsens, the golden time for treatment passes, making hospital care difficult."

Meanwhile, in India, which experienced an early surge of the Delta variant between April and June, six out of approximately 10,000 Koreans died from COVID-19.