The War Against the New Coronavirus 'Fear'... 3 Walls President Moon Must Overcome

"Confront vague fears resolutely" order... YouTube sanctions' effectiveness, government trust cracks, and opposition party's political use must be overcome

"Excessive anxiety and vague fear must be confronted resolutely." President Moon Jae-in's declaration of a "war against fear" at the comprehensive review meeting on the response to the 'Novel Coronavirus Infection (Wuhan Pneumonia)' held at the Government Seoul Office on the 30th is a noteworthy point.

The spread of fear surrounding the novel coronavirus contains concerns that it could weaken the effectiveness of the government's response and exacerbate the problem. The spread of anxiety caused by fake news can lead to a contraction in economic sentiment, which may negatively impact the economic environment.

President Moon defined, "The production and distribution of fake news that incites distrust and anxiety is a serious criminal act that hinders quarantine efforts and jeopardizes the safety of the people." He also called for firm measures from related ministries. Although President Moon has launched a war against the fear of the novel coronavirus, the reality presents formidable obstacles.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The three walls acting as obstacles to President Moon's plan are the limitations of YouTube sanctions, the beginning of cracks in government trust, and the political use of the 'Novel Coronavirus risk' as a political issue.

YouTube is the source of fake news surrounding the novel coronavirus. It is a place overflowing with various verified and unverified information aimed at turning the public's thirst for information into profit. A video appeal by a young man who appears to be a resident of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, has recorded over 8 million views as of the morning of the 31st.

Whether the individual actually resides in Wuhan or whether the claims made are true has not been confirmed, but the influence is enormous. Content related to the novel coronavirus produced by domestic YouTubers is also pouring out.

Since YouTube is not subject to the Broadcasting Act, questions are being raised about the effectiveness of regulation. If President Moon's call for firm action remains only words, that itself is a problem, and if additional regulatory measures are introduced, there is concern that it could rekindle debates over the infringement of 'freedom of expression.'

The fact that cracks in government trust have already begun is also a point to watch. During the process of changing the temporary residential facility site for Wuhan evacuees in Korea from Cheonan to Asan and Jincheon, the government experienced a crisis of trust.

On the 30th, as public anxiety grows over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), residents of Asan clashed with the police near the Chungnam Asan Police Human Resources Development Institute, which was designated as the quarantine facility for evacuees from Wuhan. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Although persuasion efforts by the government and metropolitan and local government heads continue, the residents' opposition sentiment has not subsided. Suspicions that the personal information of patients infected with the novel coronavirus has been leaked are also a focal point of controversy. If the government's information management is shaken, voluntary reporting by suspected infected individuals could be discouraged.

A Blue House official said, "This is currently an unprecedented national and nationwide crisis due to the novel coronavirus infection." It means that the ruling and opposition parties and the public must unite to overcome the crisis. Calls to transcend ideology and political factions and join forces are also coming from the ruling party side.

However, whether President Moon can overcome the crisis based on bipartisan cooperation is questionable. The 21st general election, just over two months away, is creating an environment favorable for the political use of the novel coronavirus risk. Both the confirmation of the first domestic secondary infection case and the public opinion clash related to the arrival of Wuhan evacuees on the 31st are factors causing difficulties for the ruling party.

It is also noteworthy that, with the movement to form new parties continuing ahead of the general election, there is no choice but to emphasize clarity. It is said that it is more advantageous for public sentiment with opposition party tendencies to take a stance criticizing the government rather than cooperating with the ruling party.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.