"What Is Possible, Korea Proves"…Major Foreign Media Focus on General Election Amid COVID-19

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Global foreign media outlets have shown interest and focused coverage on the South Korean general election held on the 15th despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

British broadcaster BBC featured South Korea's general election as a major article on its homepage.

BBC reported, "South Korea is a country that held presidential elections even during the Korean War in 1952," adding, "South Korean health authorities allowed voters with a body temperature exceeding 37.5 degrees Celsius who expressed their intention to vote to do so at separate locations, and even voters with mild symptoms could vote at polling stations set up outside hospitals while wearing protective suits and masks."

BBC also stated, "Despite the risk of COVID-19 infection, South Korea is demonstrating what is possible even in the current situation," and "Although it requires more time and effort than usual elections, many voters seemed willing to endure for democracy and appeared happy."

Japan's NHK reported, "Under normal circumstances, South Korea's general election would have served as a 'midterm evaluation' of the Moon Jae-in administration in its latter term, but due to COVID-19, the focus is on quarantine measures."

US broadcaster CNN reported, "South Korea has never postponed an election, and COVID-19 did not stop it this time either."

AP News also noted, "South Korea's general election contrasts with the United States, where some regions canceled primary elections for presidential candidates or switched to mail-in voting," adding, "To prevent the spread of COVID-19 due to the election, polling stations marked social distancing intervals, provided hand sanitizers, disposable plastic gloves, and conducted temperature checks."

It further added, "Separate polling stations were also prepared for voters entering from overseas who must quarantine for two weeks."

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