[In-Depth Look] Values Awakened by COVID-19

Ham Hyeri / Journalist · Cultural Critic

Every incident has two sides. The novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has brought great disaster to our society and the entire planet, but through this crisis, we are gaining something precious. We have come to understand how much consideration for others and a sense of community can empower us to overcome such an unprecedented crisis. We are grateful for the dedication of the medical staff and volunteers who risked their lives to head to Daegu, the gestures of gratitude from Daegu citizens, the stream of donations, rent reductions considering the difficulties of small business owners, blood donation campaigns, and the flower-sending movement to comfort patients undergoing COVID-19 treatment. Numerous heartwarming stories greatly alleviate the anxiety felt while watching the real-time COVID-19 situation.

Having passed through an era of rapid growth and standing on the brink of a $40,000 per capita income era, we were skeptical about whether we had truly entered a ‘mature civil society.’ However, witnessing the response to COVID-19 has dispelled my personal doubts. Although the government fumbled and failed to supply even a single mask properly, citizens practiced concession, consideration, and cooperation, actively participating in ‘social distancing’ not only for their own safety but for everyone’s safety, doing their utmost to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Above all, it was remarkable that people responded rationally without showing aggression or exclusionary feelings toward specific individuals or religions that extreme anxiety could have provoked. The government officially announced that 60% of the cluster outbreaks of COVID-19 were related to Shincheonji. However, rather than blaming or reproaching, as fellow citizens, we have done our best to ensure their swift treatment, and the sincere attitude of the quarantine authorities in transparently disclosing information about COVID-19 has genuinely resonated with the public. It is somewhat ironic that the ‘mature civil society guaranteed by transparency,’ which was only a slogan before, has been confirmed through COVID-19, but its significance is profound.

Foreign media highly praise the Korean government not only for providing various high-quality medical services to patients but also for focusing on thorough transparency by publicly sharing large-scale screening test results and confirmed patients’ movement paths. In the pandemic situation of COVID-19, countries around the world are using our quarantine system as a textbook. Transparent information disclosure dispels anxiety and distrust. It has also rendered fake news powerless. In a hyper-connected society, all of this is closely linked and mutually influential. Based on transparently disclosed information, individuals taking precautions from their respective positions is the best strategy to cope with new infectious diseases.

The revival of community spirit is, I believe, the most precious value gained from overcoming the COVID-19 crisis. We are learning that everyone must actively participate in problem-solving and cooperate with diverse cultures and religions. Now, we must take a step further and expand the community to a global community. The emergence of infectious diseases like COVID-19 seems to be a turning point in the history of civilization. We know very well that human civilization has advanced by learning lessons through crises. We must contemplate how to stop future global disasters and what we must do for the better future of the next generation and humanity, as well as our roles. The emergence of new infectious diseases without definite treatments or vaccines presents humanity with new challenges.

It is certain that the most urgent task is to address the vulnerabilities revealed this time and to weave a more robust social safety net so that all citizens can calmly overcome crises when they arise. Alongside this, we must concentrate our scientific and medical capabilities on developing treatments. More than a thousand words, developing a treatment alone can present a significant milestone. There is a clear reason why hardship came to us first.

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