"If This Is the Case, Why Did We Socially Distance?" One in Four COVID-19 Cases Worldwide Is Korean... Citizens Express Dissatisfaction

Total New Cases 400,741... Critical Patients 1,244 at Record High
Prime Minister Kim Bu-gyeom "Omicron Spread Peaks... Expected to Pass Soon"

On the morning of the 16th, citizens are waiting to receive PCR and rapid antigen tests at the COVID-19 screening clinic of Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Amid the continued spread of COVID-19 due to the Omicron variant pandemic, a survey revealing that "1 in 4 confirmed cases worldwide is Korean" has sparked strong criticism from citizens. South Korea was initially praised as a "model country for quarantine" with the reputation of "K-quarantine" thanks to rapid testing and the efforts of its people during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak.

However, despite quarantine guidelines such as social distancing lasting over two years, the acceleration of the spread has led to growing public dissatisfaction. The government currently states that the Omicron spread is at its peak.

Due to the Omicron variant pandemic, new COVID-19 cases exceeded 400,000 on the 16th. The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight that day, 400,741 new cases were reported, bringing the total to 7,629,275. This is the first time the number of new COVID-19 cases has surpassed 400,000.

Severe and critical patients are also rapidly increasing. The number of severe cases recorded that day was 1,244, up 48 from the previous day (1,196), marking a daily record high.

Amid this, a survey showing that South Korea ranks first worldwide in new COVID-19 cases has led to criticism of the government's quarantine guidelines.

According to the global statistics site Worldometer, as of the 14th, South Korea recorded 350,176 new cases in one day, the highest number worldwide. Of the 1,360,157 new cases globally, 25.7% were from South Korea.

A man in his 20s, Kim, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, said, "I thought COVID was someone else's problem, but I ended up infected," adding, "The efforts over the past two years feel meaningless. With over 400,000 cases now, it seems only a matter of time before it reaches 500,000." He continued, "I don't know why I bothered to strictly follow quarantine guidelines for two years. I feel empty."

On the 16th, as the spread of COVID-19 continued, citizens were getting tested at a screening clinic in front of Seoul City Hall. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Initially, South Korea was regarded as a "model country for quarantine." Last year, it was also selected as one of the "7 MVP countries for quarantine" by the U.S. economic media Bloomberg.

Based on various pandemic-related indicators, Bloomberg ranked "COVID resilience" and in November last year selected ▲South Korea ▲Denmark ▲Norway ▲Finland ▲United Arab Emirates (UAE) ▲Canada ▲Switzerland as the 7 MVP countries.

However, currently, South Korea is experiencing a rapid spread of the Omicron variant, with daily new cases exceeding 400,000 and severe cases hovering around 1,000 daily.

Given this situation, criticism from self-employed business owners continues. They have been considered the biggest victims of government quarantine guidelines such as social distancing.

One netizen posted on the self-employed community "Apeunikka Sajangida" ("Because it hurts, I'm a boss"), saying, "With 300,000 to 400,000 cases daily, what use is isolation? The end of K-quarantine is tragic," and criticized, "What have we really done until now?"

Other countries are easing social distancing regulations. The UK was the first major Western European country to lift the mask mandate at the end of January and fully lifted quarantine measures on February 24. The U.S. also lifted mask mandates in all 50 states as of March 8, with Hawaii being the last.

France also decided to lift most COVID-19 quarantine rules starting from the 14th. In particular, the mask mandate in indoor public facilities was removed, allowing "no mask" in schools and workplaces.

Meanwhile, the government judged that the Omicron spread is currently at its peak. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum chaired the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the 16th, stating, "More than 30% of the cumulative confirmed cases were infected within the past week, indicating that the Omicron spread has reached its peak," and added, "Experts predict the peak will soon pass."

He continued, "The current social distancing measures will end this weekend," and said, "We will accurately analyze the current quarantine situation and listen to opinions from all sectors to make a decision at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on Friday (March 18)."

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