Systematic assessment of South Korea's capabilities to control COVID-19. Issue 5 (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yoo, Katelyn J.; Kwon, Soonman; Choi, Yoonjung; Bishai, David M.
• Is Part Of: Health policy. Volume 125:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 568
• Page End: 576
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: South Korea -- COVID-19 -- MERS -- Pre-exiting capabilities -- Lessons learned -- Preparedness -- Response; Medical education -- Periodicals; Medical policy -- Periodicals; Delivery of Health Care -- Periodicals; Education, Medical -- Periodicals; Health Education -- Periodicals; Health Planning -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Enseignement médical -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Medical education; Medical policy; Periodicals; Electronic journals; Electronic journals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2021.02.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0168-8510

Abstract

Highlights: Successful implementation of Korean strategy required more than actions, measures and policies. It owes tremendously to legal and organizational reforms enacted after MERS. It relied on pre-existing financing arrangements, governance and workforces experienced in outbreak. Public's response, including its solidarity and resilience, are key ingredients to success. Abstract: South Korea's COVID-19 control strategy has been widely emulated. Korea's ability to rapidly achieve disease control in early 2020 without a "Great Lockdown" despite its proximity to China and high population density make its achievement particularly intriguing. This paper helps explain Korea's pre-existing capabilities which enabled the rapid and effective implementation of its COVID-19 control strategies. A systematic assessment across multiple domains demonstrates that South Korea's advantages in controlling its epidemic are owed tremendously to legal and organizational reforms enacted after the MERS outbreak in 2015. Successful implementation of the Korean strategy required more than just a set of actions, measures and policies. It relied on a pre-existing legal framework, financing arrangements, governance and a workforce experienced in outbreak management.