By Kim Minji

The Austrian newspaper Wiener Zeitung (Viennese Newspaper), one of the world's oldest dailies still running, has praised Korea's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and urged Europe to learn from the Korean model.

In the Oct. 29 article headlined "What to Learn from Korea," the publication called Korea "a good example of success in fighting COVID-19 in East Asia."

Korea's active democracy, high levels of urbanization and education, and advanced comprehension of science have greatly helped the nation contain the pandemic, it said.

The daily also mentioned Korea's social homogeneity, public trust in the government and the longstanding practice of mask wearing as playing a crucial role in the successful quarantine campaign.

"Some of these (practices) are impossible in Europe, but (we) need to learn (from) Korea's transparency, big data use and testing shown when it tracked confirmed cases in the early stage of COVID-19's spread," it added.

The newspaper also said Korea has adopted successful models from Western countries to get developed while never giving up its own traditions and characteristics.

It urged Europe to learn from Korea.

Founded in 1703, the Wiener Zeitung is the world's oldest daily newspaper still being published per Guinness World Records.

kimmj7725@korea.kr