[In-Depth Look] The Future Arrived Early, Korea's Role

Ham Hyeri Journalist/Cultural Critic

Despite the trials, the seasons change, and the cherry blossom petals that bloomed fleetingly are scattered by the wind. Contrary to expectations that things would return to normal once the weather warmed, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis continues. Although South Korea has entered a relatively stable phase, the situation in other countries remains severe. The whole world is enduring difficult days, trying to minimize the shock of the suddenly arrived "future."

It may seem as if everything has come to a halt because of COVID-19, but we all know that we are living each day amid the whirlwind of a great transformation. The prevailing view is that when the war against COVID-19 ends, humanity will be living in a completely different world than before. The Western Middle Ages ended at the peak of the Black Death that devastated 14th-century Europe. Afterward, rapid changes occurred in religion, culture, economy, society, and all other fields. Similarly, it is evident that after the COVID-19 situation ends, a world governed by new values and new paradigms different from before will emerge.

COVID-19 is shaking the rules, order, and systems that humanity has built up so far. Seeing countries that were cautious about South Korea at the beginning collapse helplessly before the virus makes one think that the standards for great powers and advanced countries will change. The role of governments will also change, and the priorities for fiscal spending will shift. Fixed ideas about life and work will change, and significant changes will come to economic structures and lifestyles. In particular, freedom and privacy protection seem to be values that will have to be compromised. Technologically, it has become possible to monitor the entire population, and we have learned that the state's surveillance system is always ready to be activated. How to accept a situation where individuals' physiological phenomena and overall privacy come under government surveillance will be an important issue.

In response to COVID-19, non-face-to-face economic activities such as online shopping and telecommuting are rapidly expanding. The fact that all schools are conducting online classes was unimaginable just 100 days ago. After passing through a period of confusion marked by overloads, system malfunctions, and shutdowns, we will find ourselves in the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and the digital economy have become commonplace.

These tremendous changes simultaneously demand choices. As Yuval Harari emphasized in his Financial Times column "The World After Coronavirus" on March 20, many of the choices we make now will change our lives for years to come. The shape of the world that COVID-19 will create depends on the choices we make. Harari stated in the column, "If humanity chooses discord, it will not only prolong the crisis but also cause more severe disasters in the future. If we choose global solidarity, it will be a victory not only over the coronavirus but also over all future epidemics and crises that may attack humanity in the 21st century."

Since the COVID-19 crisis is a problem faced by humanity together, it can only be solved by joining forces. It is said that infectious diseases comparable to COVID-19 will appear every few years. The whole world agrees on the need to strengthen international cooperation in quarantine, but urgent matters prevent action. We place our hopes on South Korea's role, which has firmly risen to the ranks of advanced quarantine countries through the COVID-19 crisis. The world has been reporting with envy on South Korea's rapid and efficient quarantine system and medical system, transparent information disclosure, top-level information technology and biotechnology capabilities, and the mature citizens who calmly accept government measures and practice them themselves. Many want to learn from South Korea's response methods and drive-through testing system and import diagnostic kits and medical equipment. We must not be complacent with the success of "K-quarantine." We must also actively prepare for the world after the crisis. As emphasized previously in this space, it is time to raise our standards to a global level and actively lead international solidarity. We believe we have sufficient capabilities.

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