Lesson from coronavirus

By Park Yoon-bae

Many people are asking the question: How come South Korea has become so vulnerable to the new coronavirus, despite its relatively well-established healthcare system?

The question appears to be a tricky one. But actually the answer is quite simple: The country has failed in its response to the highly contagious virus. In other words, its quarantine network was porous since the first case of infection was reported on Jan. 20.

It is regrettable to see Korea emerging as a new epicenter for COVID-19 which originated in Wuhan, the capital of China's central Hubei Province, in December.

The health authorities here have been caught off guard since late February when the Shincheonji Church of Jesus became a hotbed for the virus in Daegu, the country's fourth-largest city. On Wednesday, the number of confirmed patients there surged to 4,006, accounting for 75 percent of total infections in the entire country.

They should have monitored travelers coming from Wuhan more closely to contain the virus; but they only began to track Shincheonji members who had been dispatched to the Chinese city, after the 31st patient tested positive for the virus on Feb. 18.

The church's effort to expand its presence in Wuhan has led to such unpredictable consequences, which is why its founder, Lee Man-hee, apologized Monday for the spread of the coronavirus. He also promised to cooperate fully with the authorities in the fight against COVID-19; but his apology is called into question, given what the church has done so far to evade its responsibility for the worsening situation.

Seoul Metropolitan Government has filed a complaint with the prosecution against Lee and other church leaders for causing virus-related injuries and deaths. The Daegu municipal authorities have also lodged a complaint with the police against the church for providing false information about its members and disturbing disinfection and quarantine efforts.

Shincheonji and its leaders should reflect on their mistakes sincerely and join the national campaign against the epidemic. They should realize that no religion is above the law, and that nothing is more pressing than virus containment at this point.

There are other factors contributing to the upsurge in local infections. They include belated action, a lack of a sense of crisis and a complacent attitude.

The Moon Jae-in administration belatedly raised the country's health alert to the highest level of "red" on Feb. 23 after the virus was already out of control. President Moon had ignored medical experts' repeated calls to do this. The late action belied his stress on pre-emptive steps to keep the virus in check.

The country's entry ban on travelers only from Wuhan and other areas in Hubei Province is also controversial. Civic groups and opposition parties, particularly conservative ones, have continued to call for a ban on travelers from all of China. But the government is still against this total ban, arguing that it will do South Korea more harm than good.

It is, to some degree, understandable that the government needs to consider ties with China, our country's largest trading partner. Yet Seoul seems to be too submissive to Beijing even when the virus is putting people's lives at risk. It would be wrong if Moon were going all-out to please Chinese President Xi Jinping so as to realize his visit to Seoul in the first half of the year.

During a phone conversation, Moon told Xi that China's difficulties were the same as Korea's. He certainly meant to convey Seoul's support for and cooperation with Beijing in battling the coronavirus. But his goodwill gesture has yet to be reciprocated because Chinese provincial authorities are ― one after another ― putting Korean travelers under quarantine.

It is frustrating to see China, ground zero of the coronavirus outbreak, treating Korean travelers as if they are potential spreaders of the disease.

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha requested her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to ask his government to refrain from taking "excessive" measures against Korean visitors. But Beijing appeared to virtually snub her request by putting virus prevention before diplomacy.

Rapid globalization has made it difficult to stop a contagious disease from spreading from one country to another. It is also difficult to create a perfect quarantine and healthcare system to fend off a potential virus attack.

Partisan struggles and increasingly divisive politics also make matters worse. The rival parties here should refrain from playing politics and the "blame game" by using the COVID-19 issue to their advantage in the upcoming April 15 general election.

All members of our society should make collective efforts to bring the virus under control. We also need to learn a lesson from this public health crisis: Prevention is better than cure. A more scientific and systematic approach is required to better protect people from epidemics.

The writer (byb@koreatimes.co.kr) is the chief editorial writer of The Korea Times.