The world is watching Korea's lifting of most social distancing measures from April 18 except the mask mandate. Shown are people on the same day eating at the food court of a hypermarket in Seoul. (Yonhap News)

By Lee Jihae

Foreign media are giving priority coverage to Korea's lifting of most social distancing measures on April 18 except the mask mandate.

In its article headlined "South Korea downgrades Covid to a 'Class 2' disease and removes restrictions" on April 15, the British daily Financial Times covered Korea's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in depth.

Korea's "decision to remove restrictions offers a stark contrast with neighbouring North Korea and China, both of which continue to wrestle with variations of their zero-Covid approach," it said.

Dr. Jerome Kim, director-general of the Seoul-based International Vaccine Institute, was quoted as saying, "If you look at the balance between the number of infections and deaths and what you can do in Korea, Korea has done relatively well," adding, "Looking at the number of deaths per 1 million population, Korea and Singapore are in the same general range, 10 times lower than the US."

Bloomberg on the same day said in its article titled "Covid Standout South Korea to Drop Most Curbs as Virus Recedes" that the nation's "measured, step-by-step approach to the pandemic has drawn global attention." "The country pioneered the use of quick testing and high-tech contact tracing early on, using lessons learned from previous epidemics," it added.

"South Korea also focused on inoculating those in high-risk groups first. It now has the highest booster shot take-ups in the world, with 89.2% of the population 18 and above having had their third shot."

Bloomberg added, "While it's seen more than 30% of the 51 million population testing positive for Covid since the start of 2020, South Korea has never had to resort to a lockdown thanks to its mitigation approach that's constantly renewed and extended every few weeks depending on the severity of the spread."

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum was quoted as telling an April 15 meeting on responding to the pandemic, "As our quarantine situation and medical system's capability have been stabilized, we will boldly lift social distancing measures."

The Associated Press in an article dated the same day titled "S. Korea to remove most virus restrictions as omicron slows" explained what Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol told a government briefing on April 15.

Though people must still wear masks indoors, he was quoted as saying, authorities could scrap the outdoor mask mandate if the spread of COVID-19 further slows over the next two weeks.

In its article titled "South Korea to lift most COVID curbs next week as Omicron wanes," Reuters on April 15 said, "South Korea has largely managed to limit deaths and critical cases through widespread vaccinations." 

"Nearly 87% of the country's 52 million population are fully vaccinated, with 64% having also received booster shots, according to Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) data."

Reuters said most pandemic-related restrictions such as a midnight curfew on restaurants and other businesses and the cap on people at a private meeting were lifted on April 18. "On wearing masks outdoors, (Prime Minister) Kim said the government will review whether to lift the existing restriction in two weeks, depending on the virus situation," it added.

jihlee08@korea.kr