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| President Moon Jae-in speaks with other leaders of major industrialized and developing economies during the Group of 20 special teleconference summit, at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap |
By Kang Seung-woo
Korea is gaining international attention amid the global health crisis, becoming an example of success in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
The latest case showing the nation's elevated status was acknowledged during the G20 summit, held through an unprecedented 100-minute special video conference on Thursday night, following President Moon Jae-in's proposal for the special meeting on cooperation in the global fight against the virus.
In the conference, Moon stressed the need to exempt "essential figures" from entry bans that many countries have implemented to curb the spread of the deadly virus, and the call has been reflected in the joint statement of the G20 leaders.
Korea has received rave reviews from around the globe for its handling of the novel virus by managing to lower the number of new infections while preserving its healthcare system.
"We commit to continue working together to facilitate international trade and coordinate responses in ways that avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade," the statement read.
"Emergency measures aimed at protecting health will be targeted, proportionate, transparent and temporary. We task our trade ministers to assess the impact of the pandemic on trade."
Since earlier this month, Moon has called for an exemption of travel restrictions for businesspeople if they have health certificates issued by their governments, as a large number of countries have shut their doors to visitors to prevent spread of COVID-19. The Korean government has been in talks with countries to allow businessmen from Korea to enter.
"It is vital that countries maintain the flow of essential economic exchanges," Moon said during the virtual meeting. "To that end, to the extent that we do not undermine any one country's efforts at disease control, I propose that we seek ways to allow for the travel of essential persons such as scientists, medical professionals, and business leaders."
With many countries adopting draconian restrictions, Korea has stuck with "special entry procedures" at airports.
"In accordance with the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendation, we minimized restriction on cross-border movements of people and goods while undertaking measures to maximize the impact of quarantine through special entry procedures," Moon said.
"Korea remains committed to continuously improving and refining quarantine measures and seeks to share our successful response model with the international community."
He also introduced to the global leaders the nation's successful methods employed in its fight against the coronavirus such as a drive-through testing site, an information technology-enabled self-quarantine app and a self-diagnosis app.
"With regard to the international community's endeavors to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, engage in development cooperation for health services and ramp up the capacity of developing countries to combat epidemics, Korea will be there every step of the way," the President said.
Korea's elevated status in terms of public healthcare was evidenced by U.S. President Donald Trump's remark, Thursday, that he has heard so much about Korea since the coronavirus outbreak, as the country's handling of COVID-19 has been praised in American media and elsewhere.
In addition, Korea's virus test kits are gaining recognition, with 47 countries seeking to import the diagnostic tools, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
