South Korea’s Response to COVID-19 Can Be Linked to Its Culture

At the time of writing this article, the world has lost 858 million people to COVID-19. As devastating as this is, some countries have fared much better than others. South Korea being one of the prime examples of how having an effective containment, tracking and testing plan works. With only 326 deaths, it's easy to see why. 

The question begs, how much influence Korean culture can be attributed to this successful containment? 

Confucian ideologies

In South Korea, the nation believes in a collectivist culture where the good of the people is more important than the individual. This ideology demands that Koreans act with what's in the best interest of the entire community. As such, that feeling of "alone together" or "all in this together" can truly be felt in the country. 

Part of the collective mind-set is being willing to sacrifice personal comfort and privacy for the good of all. Unlike other countries where there has been major pushback on having to wear masks, South Koreans wear masks not only to protect themselves, but they do so to respect and protect others. 

Tracking with technology

Personal privacy is something people aren't too eager to give up. Who wants Big Brother tracking their every move? Citizens in South Korea understand that sacrificing something for the good of the whole is necessary - even if it means allowing sensitive information to be accessible to the public. 

The country has an app that uses GPS locations to let others know where unnamed people who have tested positive for the virus are. This allows others to avoid those areas and reduce their chances of coming in contact with COVID. 

This technology is especially useful for those who need to move amid the pandemic for one reason or another. The app can help you choose what suburban or less densely populated areas are based on confirmed cases. 

Keeping up with the Koreans

If you thought city life was busy in Western countries, then you've probably never been to South Korea where the ppalli ppalli ("hurry hurry") mindset is present in everything Koreans do. They have 30-minute weddings, the fastest internet in the world, and fast food is taken to the extreme. It's this go-go-go mindset is one of the reasons their response has been so swift. 

Drive-thru testing stations were erected in just a few days. There are even testing stations that look like phone booths of old. Apps were developed in record time, one such app is dedicated to showing the current stock of face masks. School closures happened almost immediately, as did event cancellations and travel restrictions - all of which helped to slow the virus' spread. 

New corporate culture

All across the globe, companies are allowing workers to work from home if they are able to due to the pandemic. South Koreans tend to work long hours and telecommuting is frowned on. However, businesses have had to reevaluate their stances on that because the government demanded a change to alleviate congestion on public transit and in the office. 

Before the virus, Koreans would work even when they were sick. Many of them even felt that kind of dedication and work ethic was a virtue. Now? Not so much. More corporations are reconsidering their stance on sick leave and after-hours work gatherings, which was normally encouraged for team building.

No one knows what the long-term effects of COVID-19 will be, but at this current point in time, the Korean culture and beliefs have helped the nation tackle the virus magnificently.