What Do You Think About Disclosing Personal Information of Confirmed 'Shinjong Corona' Cases?

Some Citizens Create Fake News Using Confirmed Case Information
Despite Government's Strict Punishment Policy, Rumors Spread
Debate Over Policy of Disclosing Confirmed Cases

On the afternoon of the 2nd, when concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus infection were rising, passengers at Incheon Airport Terminal 2 were wearing masks while moving around. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] As the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) that originated in Wuhan, China spreads worldwide, concerns about infection are growing.

The government is making every effort to prevent infection by disclosing the movement paths of confirmed cases and urging people who have been in the same space as confirmed patients and have symptoms such as fever to promptly report to call centers (1339, 120 call center) or local health centers.

The problem is that there are side effects such as the spread of fake news and rumors using this confirmed patient information. Despite the government's policy to strictly punish fake news, unverified information is spreading, causing confusion among citizens.

As a result, there is a controversy over the disclosure of confirmed patient movement information. Some argue that disclosing confirmed patient information causes social confusion. On the other hand, there are opinions that actively disclosing confirmed patient information is reasonable as a measure to prevent the novel coronavirus.

◆ "Hiding infection and going to work" Witch hunt on childcare teacher

On the 31st of last month, it was revealed that Ms. A, the daughter of the 6th confirmed patient (55, male), who was secondarily infected by the 3rd confirmed patient (54, male), was working as a childcare teacher at a daycare center in Taean-gun, Chungnam Province. Citizens spread Ms. A's personal information through mom cafes and online communities, criticizing her with comments such as "She is a daycare teacher but irresponsible" and "If children with weak immunity get infected, it's all Ms. A's responsibility."

Some citizens raised their voices criticizing this, saying "Stop spreading personal information of ordinary people." This is because Ms. A was not diagnosed with the novel coronavirus, and the claim that she "deliberately hid the infection and went to work" was not proven true. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Chungnam Province on the following day (the 1st), Ms. A tested negative for the virus.

One netizen pointed out, "The daughter of the 6th confirmed patient is also a victim," and asked, "Why is the 3rd confirmed patient's personal information not exposed, but Ms. A's is just because she is a daycare teacher?" He added, "The 3rd confirmed patient intentionally lied and caused confusion about the symptom onset time. Isn't that what should be socially criticized?"

A petition demanding the disclosure of the 3rd confirmed patient's personal information and a fine was also posted. The petitioner pointed out, "In Taiwan, a confirmed patient who did not report pneumonia was fined 10 million won," and said, "The 3rd confirmed patient entered from Wuhan and had cold symptoms but did not voluntarily report. He bought medicine at a pharmacy and even wandered around every corner of Gangnam-gu."

He continued, "Because of this confirmed patient, the 6th confirmed patient appeared, and the 6th patient's daughter had her personal information exposed," and urged, "The 3rd confirmed patient who caused inconvenience should be fined as well as have his personal information disclosed. If personal information cannot be disclosed, at least impose a fine." The petition has currently received over 10,000 endorsements, meeting the requirement of more than 100 preliminary consents, and is under administrator review.

On the morning of the 3rd, a notice related to screening and diagnosis of the novel coronavirus infection is posted in front of the Gangnam-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

◆ Fake news about confirmed patients' names, ages, addresses circulating

On the same day, a photo of a document titled "Leak of confirmed patient information" was posted on an online community, prompting police investigation. The document titled "Report on confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the jurisdiction" contained partial names, ages, addresses, relationships between confirmed patients, and details of confirmation.

Citizens who heard this news continue to debate whether to disclose confirmed patients' personal information. University student B (22) said, "There is concern and anxiety because the confirmed patients' movement paths and living areas overlap," but added, "I am negative about disclosing confirmed patients' personal information."

B said, "If personal information of confirmed patients is disclosed, it may discourage suspected infected people from voluntarily reporting in the future," and "I understand people's anxiety, but I don't think (disclosure) is an effective method."

Meanwhile, office worker C (25) said, "The 3rd confirmed patient knew symptoms had appeared but wandered around various places in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Even after being confirmed, he lied and caused confusion in classifying contacts," and argued, "This is intentionally threatening others' health and safety, so personal information should be disclosed and punishment imposed."

Another office worker D (28) said, "If confirmed patients' personal information and detailed movement paths are disclosed, contacts can be found faster, and it will be easier for contacts to voluntarily report if suspicious symptoms appear," and added, "I also think it can prevent damage such as fake news or illegal personal information distribution in advance."

On the morning of the 29th, officials at an elementary school in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, are measuring the body temperature of students on their way to school to prevent the novel coronavirus infection known as 'Wuhan pneumonia.'
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The government plans to promptly disclose confirmed patient information to prevent fake news. Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Central Disease Control Headquarters, responded at the daily briefing held at the Government Sejong Complex on the 31st of last month to a question about rumors spreading on SNS due to delayed announcements of confirmed cases, saying, "We will organize and disclose information quickly to prevent rumors on SNS caused by delayed information disclosure."

Meanwhile, the Central Disease Control Headquarters announced at 9 a.m. on the 2nd that the number of confirmed novel coronavirus patients in Korea increased by three to 15. The 13th patient (28, male) was one of 368 repatriated Koreans who returned on a temporary flight on the 31st of last month, confirmed during the full diagnostic testing process, and isolated at the National Medical Center.

The 14th patient (40, female), a Chinese national, was confirmed as the wife of the 12th patient, and the 15th patient (43, male) was found to have been on the same flight as the 4th patient (55, male), who entered from Wuhan on the 20th of last month.

On the same day, the government announced that starting from the 4th, it will completely ban entry of all foreigners who have visited or stayed in Hubei Province, China, the origin of the novel coronavirus, within the past 14 days.

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