hankyoreh

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been receiving a steady stream of requests from heads of state around the world for assistance and data regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Since Feb. 20, Moon has taken 15 phone calls with heads of state from around the world, according to Blue House Deputy Spokesperson Yoon Jae-kwan. “That amounts to once every two days, excluding weekends,” Yoon added. The phone calls have revolved around requests for aid, diagnostic kits, and data on disease prevention from South Korea, which is being hailed as a model for fighting the spread of COVID-19. As recently as Apr. 2, Moon took a phone call from Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez, who asked for assistance in purchasing Korean medical supplies. “I have the deepest respect for how South Korea has responded to COVID-19, and hope to learn from it,” Marquez reportedly said.