COVID-19 Vaccination Completion Rate Surpasses 70%... Laying the Foundation for With-Corona Policy (Comprehensive)

As the transition to 'With Corona' approaches, major universities are gradually switching to face-to-face classes, bringing some vitality back to campuses and surrounding commercial areas. On the 19th, the streets around Ewha Womans University campus in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, are regaining liveliness with citizens and students. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Hyewon] On the 23rd, the domestic completion rate of COVID-19 vaccination exceeded 70%, the threshold set by the government for phased transition to normal life.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team (Promotion Team), the number of people who completed vaccination by receiving all recommended doses of each vaccine was tentatively counted at 35,945,342 as of 2 p.m. on the day.

This corresponds to 70.0% of the total population (51,349,116 as of last December).

The government has presented "70% of the entire population completing vaccination (80% for those aged 18 and over)" as a prerequisite for transitioning the quarantine system to phased normal life recovery, or 'With COVID-19,' early next month.

The day the 70% completion rate was achieved marks the 240th day since COVID-19 vaccination first began in Korea on February 26, and the 218th day since the second dose vaccinations started on March 20.

As of midnight on the day, 35,630,050 people (69.4%) had completed vaccination, and an additional 315,292 people completed vaccination over the following 14 hours.

The number of people who received the first dose totaled 40,765,640, which is 79.4% of the total population.

The Promotion Team announced the COVID-19 vaccination plan on January 28, setting a vaccination rate target of 70% to control COVID-19.

Director Jeong Eun-kyung stated, "Thanks to the public’s sense of participation to protect not only themselves and their families but also the health and safety of the community, 70% of the entire population was able to complete vaccination," and added, "We sincerely thank all citizens."