Korea’s Culture of Public Health
Amidst the global response to COVID-19, countries have each taken their own unique response to the pandemic. Here are three of Korea’s unique measures to combat the coronavirus on its home turf.
1. Masks
Image: Idols are frequently photographed wearing face masks to help protect from getting sick and as a method of safe-guarding their voices. Pictured Eunji of Apink
Even before the onset of infections, Korea had a large face mask culture tied to skincare and fashion, but in this case, we are speaking about personal protective equipment. From workplace and occupational personal protective equipment to those used in food service and even by idols masking their identity in public, a variety of masks are used. With the onset of coronavirus cases, public use of masks has skyrocketed. Masks are used by both people hoping to protect themselves as well as those already sick and cautious of infecting others. However, merely wearing a face mask does not indicate that someone has a disease or is of a particular profession, and it does not carry any other significant stigma. In the majority of the world, a big focus has been on the quickly-depleting supply as people panic-buy. Interestingly enough, this has not been the case in Korea.
Photo: Heo Ran/Reuters - Photo of pharmacist providing masks to customers.
Following the escalation of COVID-19 into a pandemic, the Korean government passed a law making it so that masks can only be purchased from a pharmacy or post office. On top of that, they have limited the purchase of masks to two per person per week. To alleviate the rush and crowds at these offices, Korea put into place a system to designate a day in which one can come in and purchase masks based on the year of each individual's birthdate. A quick check online updates citizens on which branches still have masks in stock, and a valid ID is all you need to purchase your essentials.
Additionally, stores have also adapted practices of testing customers’ temperature at the door before entry and denying access to anyone with an elevated temperature. Most stores even require customers to be wearing masks before they enter store premises.
2. Sanitization
Image: Heo Ran/Reuters. Disinfection services sanitize subway car in Seoul, Korea March 11, 2020.
Since large populations in urban cities in South Korea rely on public transportation, much of the focus has been on sanitizing these places. Sanitization workers are equipped with tools and personal protective gear to methodically and rigorously sterilize frequently visited and touched surfaces, buildings, and streets. Use of automatic operative equipment such as escalators and automatic doors has been on the rise.
Unlike the West, South Korea has not experienced panic-buying with people going after toilet/bath paper, hand sanitizers, and disinfectant sprays, as these items are still stocked up in stores, and the majority of public places provide free hand sanitizer. Additionally, many places have installed anti-viral films on elevator buttons, switches, and handrails.
3. Coronavirus Testing & Alerts
One of Korea’s biggest efforts in preventing the spread of the coronavirus is aggressive screening and testing. One of the biggest issues with the COVID-19 spread is that many of those infected are asymptomatic, as the virus can be latent for up to a week before showing some of the common symptoms. Additionally, many COVID-19 symptoms are frequently associated with the common cold, flu, or allergies.
While the story of Patient 31, coined a “super-spreader” of the COVID-19 in South Korea and thought to have infected hundreds of individuals, is well know, many people do not know of the organized cooperation between government officials, sanitations workers, and healthcare providers to make sure enough beds were made available through collaborative efforts.
Shop owners and commercial places have limited the occupancy of their stores and enforce rigorous criteria to entry such as limiting the number of individuals allowed inside shops, checking body temperature, and enforcing that customers wear masks. Some stores and businesses even require that the bottom of shoes be wiped in a disinfectant solution before entry.
To combat the spread, South Korea has pursued and provided rigorous testing organized by the government. Pop-up tents and drive-through testing centers provide negative pressure “examination rooms” where walk-in patients can either come in to be tested or pull over in their car to see if they may be infected. Quick test result turnaround times have greatly aided the fight against the rapid spread of the disease. Because of this, the death toll has been kept low.
Additionally, the government has put into place an alert system to notify different cities, regions, and neighborhoods when a new case is reported. Residents are then informed to keep away from certain areas and/or be cautious with interactions. Coronavirus tracking apps also help inform citizens of recent outbreaks and their proximity. Similar to the majority of the world, schools were closed very early on and have shifted to E-education to help slow the rate of infected individuals.
While many places have enforced lockdowns or stay-at-home mandates like China, Italy, and the U.S., Korea has remained open.
We’re All in This Together
Regardless of where you are in the world, we all must work together to fight the spread of COVID-19. While the world may currently be “social distancing” from each other, remember that this is just temporary physical distancing! We hope the world can come together and share their best practices as we all take part in winning this battle.
What unique measures is your hometown/country taking to help flatten the COVID-19 infection curve?
Interested in Learning More?
We’ve listed some sites below where you can learn more about COVID-19. Be sure to check your sources and follow your local rules, laws, and regulations. And most importantly, remember to wash your hands!