[Book Sip] The 'Seven Waves' Brought by COVID-19

Some sentences encapsulate the entire content of the book itself, while others instantly resonate with the reader’s heart, creating a point of connection with the book. We present meaningful sentences excerpted from the book. - Editor’s note

This book is the result of a joint project led by Professor Hong Seok-cheol, who gained attention as a ‘pandemic economist’ explaining the relationship between disease and the economy while our society responded to and overcame infectious diseases, along with seven distinguished scholars from the College of Social Sciences at Seoul National University. It discusses the long-term impacts of the massive changes that COVID-19 has brought to every aspect of our lives. It comprehensively explains the values, institutions, and cultural changes COVID-19 has triggered in Korean society and the new order being created across seven areas. Beyond healthcare, it consolidates in-depth analyses and insights from various fields on the ‘new normal’ of the post-COVID era, including social values and relationships, political culture, technology utilization, individual empowerment, and mobility.

We must dream and plan for a society where policies, not politics, engage in continuous feedback with citizens; where individuals jointly manage risks to form a welfare community; where the foundations of life and society are supported by pillars rooted in civil society and local communities; where social capital takes root in our society like capillaries; and where a society of free air allows free individuals with communal interests to unleash their creativity and potential, thereby achieving economic prosperity and cultural richness.

【Chapter 1 Reconstructing Values, A Great Transformation Changing the Future of the Republic of Korea: pp. 45?46】

That time did not just pass by. Tremendous changes occurred in industry and society, and people’s paradigms of thinking shifted rapidly. Initially, there was fear of infectious diseases and confusion about an uncertain future. People constantly blamed someone, and anxiety about becoming the target of criticism persisted. The number of people suffering economically surged, and many complained of loneliness and depression. However, as it gradually became clear that this was not a return to the past but the beginning of a new era, people started to adapt and change.

【Chapter 2 The Disintegration of Relationships, New Ways to Become ‘We’ Again: p. 74】

Depending on socio-economic class, the agents of mobility will differ, and a ‘hybrid mobility landscape’ combining physical and non-physical mobility will become commonplace. Furthermore, as socio-economic stratification through mobility becomes more pronounced, the phenomenon of ‘mobility polarization’ will stand out. People of lower socio-economic status will be responsible for physical mobility, while those in higher classes who own personal mobility devices and network capital that can replace and supplement physical mobility will become empowered as ‘controllers of digital mobility’ at the nodes of mobility networks.

【Chapter 3 Stagnant Daily Life, The Geography Law for the Post-COVID Era: pp. 117?118】

Seven Waves | Written by Hong Seok-cheol, Kim Su-young, Lee Geon-hak, Lee Jun-hwan, Lim Dong-gyun, and 2 others | 21st Century Books | 268 pages | 19,800 KRW

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