29 Million Wearing Gloves in Heat... The World Focuses on 'Election Quarantine', Results in 2 Weeks

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The number of voters in the 21st National Assembly general election held on the 15th was about 29 million. Among the total 43,994,247 eligible voters, 66.2% headed to the polling stations. To prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), voters wore masks, and election staff at the polling station entrances checked temperatures one by one and distributed hand sanitizers and vinyl gloves. Tape was placed on the floor of the waiting lines at 1-meter intervals to encourage social distancing while waiting their turn. This was the scene of 'election quarantine.'

This scene also attracted great interest overseas. It was because South Korea was the first among major countries that had experienced large-scale outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic to hold a nationwide election. The UK’s BBC reported, "South Korea has never postponed elections, even during the Korean War in 1952 when presidential elections were held," and added, "For election officials, the biggest issue was how to avoid the risk of infection." It further stated, "Some feared the voting process would be chaotic, but people lined up at designated places and patiently waited their turn," adding, "Everyone remained calm."

Voters with a body temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher or respiratory symptoms voted at separately installed temporary polling booths due to infection concerns. Those under self-quarantine could only vote at specially designated polling stations after prior application, and were allowed to go out only from 5:20 PM to 7 PM. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, among 59,918 self-quarantined individuals in the country, 13,642 (22.8%) applied to vote in the general election. To facilitate this voting process smoothly, about 550,000 election-related personnel were deployed across 14,330 polling stations nationwide.

Although the general election has ended, domestic quarantine authorities are closely monitoring the post-election situation. Some management gaps were revealed, such as self-quarantined voters mixing with general voters during the voting process, and a large number of people going out and having contact while 'enhanced social distancing' measures were in place. The Central Disease Control Headquarters stated, "To assess the success of election quarantine, we need to observe the trend of new confirmed cases for the next 10 days to two weeks." Foreign media also forecast, "There is a concern that a nationwide outbreak may occur again in South Korea after the election."

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