[The Editors' Verdict] After the Lockdown

Changchun (長春), a representative automobile industry city in China, does not have a very long history compared to other Chinese cities. Nevertheless, Changchun carries the tragic modern history of China intact. The city began to take shape when Han Chinese migration started during the Qing Dynasty. It emerged as a transportation hub when Russia constructed the Dongqing Railway, and after the Russo-Japanese War, it became the capital of the Japanese-established Manchukuo, called Xinjing (新京). Today, it is the capital of Jilin Province (吉林省).

During this period, an event known as the "Siege of Changchun" occurred. After China was liberated in 1945 following Japan's defeat, the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party intensified. Changchun, a key city in Northeast China, was initially occupied by the Kuomintang forces. At the end of 1947, the Communist forces launched attacks on major cities in Manchuria amid severe cold. On May 23, 1948, they launched a large-scale assault, driving 100,000 Kuomintang troops into the city of Changchun. They immediately cut off supply routes and began the siege operation. About 500,000 people, including civilians and refugees, were trapped inside Changchun. It was a "starvation tactic" aimed at both soldiers and civilians. With power and water cut off and supplies scarce, people survived by eating tree bark and wild plants. There were even disturbing rumors of human flesh being traded. The siege lasted about five months until October 19 of the same year. The Communist forces won by incorporating 80,000 Kuomintang soldiers at once, but innocent civilians suffered greatly. It is estimated that up to 330,000 people died. The situation was so horrific that it is also called the "Changchun Holocaust."

Today, a different kind of siege is unfolding in Changchun. As COVID-19 infections surged in Changchun, on the 11th the city imposed a lockdown including a ban on residents going outside, closure of all businesses and production facilities except essential goods stores, and a complete suspension of public transportation. Automobile factory production also stopped. Recently, Changchun has been reporting around 1,000 new infections daily.

The lockdown has expanded to Shenyang, Shanghai, and other cities. Shenyang imposed a full city lockdown from the 24th for a week, including a ban on residents going outside and suspension of production facilities. In Shanghai, the Pudong area stopped public transportation from the 28th, and the Puxi area followed from the 1st of next month, each for four days, with companies and factories either halting operations or switching to remote work. Even Shanghai, considered China's economic capital with a population of 25 million, was fully locked down, clearly illustrating the Chinese government's approach to COVID-19. This contrasts sharply with the United States and Europe, where citizens' autonomy and choice were maximally respected.

South Korea's COVID-19 response lies somewhere between the approaches of the US/Europe and China. Over two years and two months since the outbreak, various measures such as social distancing and vaccine pass systems (proof of vaccination or negative test) were implemented. Two measures have been most criticized: restrictions on business operations for self-employed and small business owners, and the strict application of the vaccine pass. Many businesses, including restaurants and cafes, were forcibly closed, severely infringing on the livelihoods of self-employed and small business owners, with insufficient compensation. The vaccine pass was so strict that those unvaccinated found it difficult to carry out daily activities, leading to criticism that citizens' freedom of choice was taken away. The lockdown was weak in some respects and strong in others.

Now, we are waiting for the end of the COVID-19 tunnel. What did lockdown mean to us? Did it achieve the goal of minimizing deaths? Was a stronger lockdown necessary, or should other methods have been sought? Did the government excessively suppress citizens under the pretext of lockdown? Were there politicians who focused on strengthening their own power during this time? How will those who suffered irreparable damage from the lockdown be compensated? We face many questions. Each of these questions must be answered. One of the most important tasks for the new government is to meticulously record these in the "COVID-19 White Paper."

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