[Desk Column] In the Era of Epidemics, a Breakthrough in Solidarity

In times of crisis, we focus our five senses on insightful perspectives. This is why we listen to the words of world-renowned scholars. The instinct to seek insights that can turn a crisis into an opportunity or help navigate difficult situations is innate.

The reality and daily life we believed to be predictable were brutally trampled by a virus of unknown origin. The common sense and predictions we trusted were completely overturned. The future, which seemed obvious, was once again confirmed to be an unpredictable realm. The arrogance of believing that the future can be predicted and controlled has disappeared.

In Steven Spielberg’s 2005 film War of the Worlds, a tripod-sized monster emerged from deep underground and turned people to ashes. Humanity, helpless and defenseless, was powerless. The current world is no different from the Earthlings in the movie who were helplessly overwhelmed by an alien invasion. In 2020, the enemy of Earth changed from aliens to a virus.

Ordinary daily life was shattered. People fled aimlessly. They desperately ran to protect their families. The evacuation scenes in the movie have turned into a reality where the entire world isolates itself. Walls were built and fences raised. Historian Yuval Harari said, "The world is building individual strongholds and fortresses." He pointed to solidarity, cooperation, and collaboration as solutions to the global crisis. Though it may sound clich?, experience proves these are the answers.

Ironically, cooperation and collaboration are what can stop the spread of infectious diseases. From the past couple of months’ experience, we have learned that information must be transparently disclosed and shared. Whether voluntary or sometimes forced, social cooperation and collaboration are indispensable. Many countries around the world are sharing Korea’s information and waiting for our equipment and medical supplies. The world hopes our experience and know-how will be shared.

Harari said that to protect one’s own citizens, cooperation with foreigners is necessary, and international solidarity based on mutual trust is essential.

There is no need to ridicule or feel ashamed of ourselves, as when over 100 countries banned entry and locked down after Korea became the second country with the highest number of COVID-19 cases after China. At least so far, we have proven that our approach was correct.

Harari made similar remarks when he visited Korea three years ago. He said that global cooperation is necessary to solve the problems facing humanity today. Whether it is a pandemic, climate change, or distribution issues, the solution lies in collective action based on cooperation. Jared Diamond, author of Guns, Germs, and Steel, predicted in his book Upheaval, published last February, that new pathogens could emerge at any time and that serious attention must be paid to inequality to prevent new infectious diseases. Pathogens know no borders. It is a perfect situation to ask fundamental questions.

Kim Min-jin, Head of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups

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