Value context and insight. lkm@koreatimes.co.kr
INTERVIEW Korea's hidden heroes lead way in fighting coronavirus
Economy and Finance Ministry Development Finance Bureau Director Lee Dae-joong. / Courtesy of Ministry of Economy and Finance
By Lee Kyung-min
Finance ministry officials recall intensive 24 hours drafting 'Tackling COVID-19'
By Lee Kyung-min
“I have a task for you. Write me a report on Korea's response measures against COVID-19. It will be used to help other countries navigate the pandemic. Deadline is by end of day. Be thorough, but quick.”
The order came from Economy and Finance Ministry Development Finance Bureau Director Lee Dae-joong at 9 a.m. on March 25.
It was hours after World Bank Vice President for Infrastructure Makhtar Diop sent an email to the ministry seeking Korea's help in fighting the new coronavirus.
Two deputy directors ― Lee Hyun-ji and Park Jun-suk ― rushed to their computers and opened files previously downloaded for daily news-coverage monitoring and policy reviews.
Quarantine and medical treatment efforts had been covered by Lee and economic policies by Park.
The ministry's newest and youngest members reorganized and restructured the news releases in English in a way they deemed best helped readers understand the sequence of events.
Included were how and when the infection was first reported and subsequent follow-up measures, with perspectives ranging from quarantine and medical treatment to economic relief, with the necessary ministry and agency roles outlined.
Tables and graphics were used to illustrate key events to help first-time readers visualize the complicated and complex figures, terms and overall developments.
Half a day later, a rough draft was handed over. It was 10 p.m. and now director Lee had to take over for the editing.
To Lee, who went to high school and college in the U.S., writing papers in English was not that demanding. Yet, pressure was there because the report was for international release.
Lee stayed up all night revising the draft, mostly changing wording, rephrasing sentences and checking the flow of the whole report after adding an introduction and conclusion he penned.
The next morning, he was able to knock on the door of his superior with a 34-page booklet, “Tackling COVID-19.” It was then sent to Diop before noon.
Enormous deadline pressure notwithstanding, the officials remained calm, collected and composed. Most of all, they knew not to waste a second because time was of the essence to countries that were losing a large number of their people daily.
What kept them focused was their shared understanding that while the cases confirmed and death toll are only numbers on paper, those were actual human lives lost or close to being lost.
“We knew the stakes,” director Lee said.
To many, the figures are a set of data points that show how fast or slow the virus spread. But to others, they meant their loved ones' lives being cut short. Knowing that, they could not think to say the task was overwhelming for the time frame given.
Their intense efforts in turn led to a wave of commendations from around the world. Email requests are flooding in from many entities ― private and state-run ― seeking response measures in detail.
The booklet underwent several updates. It has become a 120-page report referenced as the “most exemplary” measure shared by 189 members of the World Bank.
It was distributed to key government bodies, research institutes and media outlets in the U.S., Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The ministry says of many requests received, a considerable number concern proposals for bilateral or multilateral cooperation on research projects and purchase requests for medical supplies and testing kits.
Lee said he did not expect such a wave of positive responses from around the world, adding that the experience makes him all the more humble.
“Making the booklet was not about the success of the Korean government but sharing our experiences to help other countries find a way they best see fit to tackle the situation. I was happy to help,” he said.
Busy referring requests to the right government agencies and private organizations, deputy directors Lee and Park feel the same.
“I am deeply heartened that I was able to help those in dire need both as a Korean and as a public servant. This helps me stay motivated and to work hard,” Lee Hyun-ji said.
Park shares the feeling. “The task was a reminder of how I should and will stay committed to what I do as a public servant. I am happy that I could help,” he said.