Flattening the Curve on COVID-19: South Korea's Measures in Tackling Initial Outbreak of Coronavirus.

The spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is causing an unprecedented crisis around the world, with South Korea being no exception. South Korea experienced a surge of COVID-19 cases on February 19, 2020, but was able to flatten the COVID-19 curve in only 20 days without enforcing lockdown measures that restrict the freedom and movement of people. The actual field experience of the Korean government's COVID-19 response team, who participated in drafting the document "Tackling COVID-19: Health, Quarantine, and Economic Measures: Korean experience," was examined and an in-depth analysis was conducted of the South Korean government's experience dealing with the Middle East respiratory syndrome of 2015. Three prominent factors were identified behind Korea's responses against COVID-19. First, it was crucial that the government responded as 1 team efficiently to cooperate and respond to COVID-19. Second, a novel approach was needed to combat COVID-19 spread. Information and communication technology had a key role in South Korea's strategy to contain COVID-19. Third, an effective response to COVID-19 was possible due to the successful partnership between the general public and state authorities.

Searching for Digital Technologies in Containment and Mitigation Strategies: Experience from South Korea COVID-19.

Background: Korea has achieved health policy objectives in pandemic management so far, namely minimizing mortality, flattening the epidemic curve, and limiting the socio-economic burden of its measures. The key to the Korean government's success in combating COVID-19 lies with the latest digital technologies (DTs). The prompt and effective application of DTs facilitates both containment as well as mitigation strategies and their sub-policy measures. Methods: This article uses an experiential analysis based on an exploratory case study - analysis on field applications of the government's interventions. Information is collected by qualitative methods such as literature analysis, meeting materials, and a review of various government reports (including internal ones) along with academic and professional experiences of the authors. Findings: The article presents the unique Korean health policy approaches in the COVID-19 crisis. First, DTs allow the Korean government to embrace various policy measures together listed in containment strategy, namely altering and warning, epidemiological investigation, quarantine of contacts, case-finding, social distancing, and mask-wearing. Second, DTs allow Korea to integrate containment and mitigation strategies simultaneously. Along with the above measures in containment, healthcare service, medical treatment, and prophylaxis (presymptomatic testing) within mitigation are utilized to prevent a COVID-19 spread. Conclusions: Korea develops DTs in an integrated manner in the early pandemic stage under strong and coordinated government leadership. Above all, the DTs' functions in each pandemic developmental stage are continuously upgraded. Instead of prioritizing policy measures or strategies, therefore, Korea can implement diverse policies simultaneously by integrating DTs effectively. During the COVID-19 outbreak, DTs work as the enablers to connect these two strategies and their measures in Korea. Recommendations: DTs should be at the center of the disaster management paradigm, especially during a pandemic. DTs are facilitators and integrators of containing and mitigating strategies and their policy measures.

COVID-19 in South Korea: Lessons for developing countries.

South Korea's response is considered by many as one the most effective models against COVID-19. The average number of new cases per day fell to 6.4 in the first week of May and currently 90% of all confirmed cases have fully recovered after a massive outbreak in February 29. First, South Korea has flattened the curve of COVID-19 by combining testing, early isolation, and free treatment of positive cases combined with digital technologies without taking to "lockdown" measures. Second, South Korea has been holding press briefings twice a day and disclosed all information on COVID-19 to the public in an open and transparent manner. Third, South Korea has worked to secure the civic participation and voluntary engagement of citizens and businesses. The South Korean approach to COVID-19 may be difficult to emulate even for countries like the U.S. and U.K., but provides important policy implications for developing countries and needs for strengthening three core competencies against the outbreak of an epidemic: digital technology, efficient health governance, and civic partnership. It is a great challenge for developing countries to fight alone against COVID-19. As such, the international community should work to strengthen these core competencies accordingly.