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South Korean President Moon Jae-in holds a video conference with ASEAN leaders and China and Japan at the Blue House on Apr. 14. (provided by the Blue House)

On Apr. 14, South Korean President Moon Jae-in proposed the creation of a new channel for dialogue between the public health ministers in South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Such dialogue, Moon said, would allow South Korea to share its experience with combatting COVID-19 and the lessons it has learned in that process and facilitate information-sharing between all the countries involved.

Moon made the comments during a special video conference with the leaders of ASEAN, China, and Japan on Tuesday. “South Korea was confronted with the spread of COVID-19 earlier than other countries and has faced many challenges. Fortunately, we’re currently entering the phase of stabilization. What we’ve found to be extremely helpful is focusing on tracking infected individuals, thoroughly carrying out contact tracing, and being transparent about sharing information, which is the basis for voluntary participation by the public,” he said.

“Throughout our response to COVID-19, South Korea has adhered to the three principles of openness, transparency, and democracy. Overcoming an infectious disease requires that the public take ownership of disease control.”

Moon said that South Korea would be doing everything in its power to cooperate with ASEAN member states on beating the coronavirus. “South Korea will increase its humanitarian aid budget to ensure that medical supplies, including those necessary for disease control, can arrive in time, and it will field requests from various countries, including ASEAN members, as our circumstances permit,” he said.

Moon also proposed establishing “a channel between the health ministers of South Korea and ASEAN in order to strengthen the regional network for public health cooperation.”

“So as to minimize the negative impact on our economies, we must maintain economic and person-to-person exchange, trade and investment, and the flow of essential food supplies,” the South Korean president emphasized.

By Seong Yeon-cheol, staff reporter

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