Kang Seung-woo is the Business Desk editor at The Korea Times. Prior to this position, he covered politics, national affairs, finance and sports.
Foreign diplomats positive of Korea's anti-virus fight
A passenger bound for the United States shows a quarantine certificate that he received after submitting a health questionnaire at the quarantine office of Incheon International Airport, Wednesday. / Yonhap
By Kang Seung-woo
By Kang Seung-woo
Diplomats stationed in Korea have shown positive reactions to the country's fight against the COVID-19 outbreak here.
Although Korea has been plagued by the novel coronavirus, with the number of infections surpassing 7,800 ― the fourth-highest in the world behind China, Italy and Iran ― its quarantine efforts are drawing international praise.
“We positively estimate Korea's efforts in fighting COVID-19 and have implemented measures in that direction,” Vasif Aliyev, counsellor and deputy head of mission at the Embassy of Azerbaijan, told The Korea Times.
“First, conducting the world's largest-scaled (to population ratio), accurate and immediate diagnosis of the virus to detect patients even with mild symptoms in order to prevent further spread of the virus and lower the possible mortality rate; second, a thorough examination process over several rounds at the airports from the very entrance to the departure hall; third, the creation of the first-ever drive-thru system in the world; and classification of patients with severe and mild symptoms to implement designated treatment for them in separate facilities.
“And most importantly, wide and efficient use of information and communication technologies to fight the spread of the virus such as a real-time notification system about newly infected patients, various apps and maps on the spread of the virus, just-closed facilities, mask purchasing, etc.”
Zokir Saidov, deputy head of mission at the Uzbekistan Embassy, echoed Aliyev's view.
“We appreciate the efforts that the Korean government is doing right now. (There is) some new technology which is called drive-thru diagnostics, which was developed for the first time in Korea. This is very important and helpful,” he told The Korea Times, adding the number of tests was much larger in comparison with other developed states.
Their reactions were similar to that of U.S. Ambassador to Korea Harry Harris, who also praised Seoul's anti-virus measures.
“I appreciate the hard work that airport staff are doing for all of us, really, not just Americans, but everyone, as Korea works to limit the spread of COVID worldwide,” Harris was quoted as saying by the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Wednesday, after visiting health checkpoints at Incheon International Airport.
“The Korean model is held up as the exemplar around the world.”
The ambassador also wrote on Twitter that he was impressed by Korea's “robust and comprehensive response efforts to limit the virus' spread.”
Amid the positive views from the diplomatic corps here, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to invite foreign envoys for an inspection tour of the airport similar to Harris' visit, Friday, as part of its efforts to convince countries to ease their entry bans or restrictions for people traveling from Korea.
The measure comes as still more than 120 countries are closing their doors or toughening entry restrictions on visitors from Korea despite a slowdown in the number of new infections.
“We have sent an invitation to each embassy in Korea for tomorrow's on-site tour with diplomats,” a foreign ministry official said, Thursday.
According to the ministry, they will get to see the quarantine process for outbound passengers and the special entry procedures.
Friday's inspection will be the third event the ministry has held for foreign envoys in Seoul since the COVID-19 outbreak.
On Feb. 25, Kim Gunn, the deputy minister for political affairs, held a closed-door briefing session with officials from diplomatic missions in Korea. Last week, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha herself presided over another, reassuring participants of the nation's thorough response to COVID-19 and asking them to refrain from “excessive measures” against people traveling from Korea.
The government has introduced a three-step airport fever check since March 9, under which departing passengers have to go through temperature checks at the terminal, departure lobby and boarding gate.
While trying to get entry restrictions eased on travelers from Korea, the administration is also in talks with 20 countries, asking them to allow businessmen from Korea to enter as a quarantine exception. Those countries include China, Vietnam, Indonesia and India, which have many Korean companies based there that are involved in various large-scale projects.