[Fact Check] Will Sending Masks to China Cause a Shortage in Medical Settings?

Former Lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo Criticizes Government's China Appeasement on Facebook... Government: "Medical Mask Stockpiles Allocated According to City and Province Demand"

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Choi Dae-yeol] “We are short of masks in medical sites because we sent masks to China.” This was stated by former lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo on his Facebook on the 7th. Former lawmaker Ahn asserted, “The lives and safety of our people come first rather than watching China’s reaction. Quarantine and politics must be separated.”

The issue of masks has been the focus of attention since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia). If it is true that masks are lacking in medical sites, the anxiety among the general public could increase further.

The novel coronavirus issue is intertwined with the public’s ‘fear.’ Since it is a matter directly related to the safety of the people’s lives, it is important to verify accurate information.

On the 11th, a citizen wearing a mask is passing in front of the screening clinic at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Citizens have been experiencing difficulties purchasing masks since the novel coronavirus outbreak. Strictly speaking, it is not impossible to obtain masks, but the ‘perceived price’ has soared. Before the outbreak, the price of one KF94 mask, which was the best-selling item on major shopping malls, was around 500 to 1,000 won.

However, after the outbreak, it is not easy to buy a KF94 mask for less than 1,000 won. The price of KF94 masks available on major shopping malls is around 3,000 to 5,000 won per piece. Has the price of the same product increased several times? Rather than such cases, cheaper products mostly sold out, and only relatively expensive products were available for purchase, which led to this result.

Why has it become difficult to purchase large quantities of low-priced masks on major shopping malls? Is it because masks were sent to China, as some claim? Has the government’s concern about China affected our people, especially areas like medical sites where masks are absolutely necessary?

The shortage of masks is a complex issue caused by multiple factors. The frequent exposure of mask shortage stories in the media has also contributed to the spread of consumer psychology to secure masks for emergencies. There is also a view that Chinese traders attempted to buy large quantities for resale profits.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Domestic mask distributors are no different. There is talk that they stockpile masks in large quantities to seek price differences. Concerns that some merchants would obstruct mask distribution and engage in ‘hoarding’ have become a reality.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s Central Investigation Team for Hazardous Crimes detected illegal transactions by Company A selling masks online. Company A advertised selling 1.05 million health masks for 1.4 billion won in cash via the internet, lured buyers to highway rest areas, then took them to storage warehouses to sell masks, evading government crackdowns.

Company officials locked the warehouse after being caught with 1.05 million masks stored in the factory warehouse and some fled.

Distributor Company B was selling health masks on an online market but marked them as ‘sold out’ from January 31 to February 6 despite having sufficient stock. It was revealed that the warehouse held 390,000 masks.

The government judged that the actions of some merchants stirred public anxiety. According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the daily production scale of masks is 9 million, a sharp increase from 2 to 3 million before the outbreak. The government plans to strengthen crackdowns on hoarding and unfair trade practices.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is having a conversation with medical association leaders, including Choi Dae-jip, President of the Korean Medical Association, at the 'New Coronavirus Infectious Disease Response Medical Association Meeting' held on the 7th at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

There are various variables affecting the mask supply situation. Then how should we interpret claims that masks are lacking in medical sites and that the shortage is due to sending masks to China? On the 4th, Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, explained at a regular briefing, “The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is stockpiling (medical masks),” and “Allocations have been made according to the demand requested by each city and province, and additional requests are immediately supported.”

The government said it plans to provide masks so that shortages are not felt, but is it possible that frontline medical sites are experiencing mask shortages? Kim Dae-ha, public relations director of the Korean Medical Association, explained, “It is not that masks are immediately lacking in medical sites, but considering the trend, there are voices wanting stable supply.”

This means that even in medical sites, there is a sense of anxiety that mask supply could become difficult if the novel coronavirus situation prolongs. However, it is difficult to link the medical sites’ anxiety as evidence for the claim that ‘masks are lacking.’ It is also hard to find clear evidence supporting the argument that masks are lacking in medical sites because masks were sent to China.

Kim Dae-ha, public relations director of the Korean Medical Association, said, “From the medical community’s perspective, it is not a situation where they can say the market shortage is because of China,” and added, “We (the Medical Association) are requesting mask supply and the government is preparing countermeasures, so although frontline medical institutions are anxious, they are also hopeful.”

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