[The Editors' Verdict] Hatred Does Not Stop the Virus

It is very regrettable to discover in Seoul in 2020 a phrase symbolizing Western powers' racial discrimination, such as 'No entry for Chinese and dogs.' It is not even a request to refrain from entry for 'people with fever or cough.'

Since quarantine systems vary by country and geographical separation exists, distinctions between countries can naturally lead to a sense of alienation. However, this is more of a regional issue than a national one. If a virus infection is prevalent in a specific area, completely blocking its spread to neighboring regions is almost impossible. This is especially true in modern society, where interregional movement is frequent.

The anti-Chinese sentiment spreading as widely as the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) seems to stem from accumulated resentment toward the country of China and the people raised within its borders. Overtly dismissive remarks about Korea in diplomatic circles, petty economic retaliation, passive responses to the North Korean nuclear issue, and somewhat unpleasant behavior of Chinese tourists encountered on the streets?all contribute to the growing anti-Chinese atmosphere, which, as a Korean, is not entirely incomprehensible given the opportunity to attack a 'troublesome country (people).'

However, consider this. It is not because we cannot escape China's sphere of influence diplomatically or because we are economically interdependent that we should act this way. This is purely a matter of humanity, and considering the regional characteristics adjacent to China, it means making the wisest judgment as an attitude we must uphold.

The population of Hubei Province is about 58.5 million, similar to Korea (Wikipedia). So far, nearly 20,000 people there have been infected with the novel coronavirus, and about 470 have died. Suppose such an event occurred in Korea. That society could no longer be considered normal. Administrative, medical, and educational systems would be on the verge of collapse, and economic activities, including logistics, would be paralyzed. Securing the safety of Koreans residing there would be our primary concern, but it is not strange at all to consider what contributions we can make as a regional country to block the spread of the virus in that deadly place.

Stopping the novel coronavirus, which has spread more widely than Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), at this point can be an important preemptive measure for the safety of neighboring countries. We have not only a humanitarian responsibility to help curb the virus's spread within China but also a regional necessity to ensure the safety of our community.

What we have confirmed through SARS, novel flu, and MERS is the clear fact that an outbreak of viral infection cannot be stopped by the efforts of a single country alone. Internally, raising awareness of personal hygiene and fostering mature civic consciousness to minimize the spread of infectious diseases are essential. Externally, it is time to actively participate in international cooperation to reduce the virus's spread to a controllable level. Neglecting this work due to anti-Chinese sentiment will lead to endangering ourselves without gaining any justification or practical benefit.

The most effective way to prevent the virus from entering the community beyond closing borders is to minimize the host status of citizens at the origin. The more Chinese people become victims of the novel coronavirus, the proportionally higher the possibility of the virus landing on the Korean Peninsula. On the other hand, what can be gained by excluding unspecified Chinese-speaking people from stores, schools, and hospitals is neither the peace of this society, nor the pleasure of retaliation, nor anything beyond that.

Shin Beom-su, Head of Social Affairs Division

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