Seoul Claims Coronavirus Is Leaving South Korea

President Moon Jae-in announced to the world the other day that his administration has successfully put the coronavirus pandemic under control and invited other countries that are interested in learning “how we’ve done it” are welcome to visit Korea.

Believing that Moon told the truth, almost all South Koreans, who had been gripped by fear and despair amid the fast-spreading disease for months were swept into the state of indescribable relief and hope. They were also proud of themselves before the world as the country has become one of the leading nations that had achieved such a feat of “winning the battle” against the vicious virus.

Meanwhile, the popularity of President Moon in opinion polls shot up, especially among the country’s voters who will cast their ballots on April 15 to elect the members of the National Assembly. It was not immediately clear whether the president made his remark prematurely in order to help the pro-government left-wing parties gain the control of the national legislature.

Despite the presidential announcement, however, the number of persons found to have contracted the virus continued to come in, proving that the pandemic is far from over. What’s more, as of Sunday, March 29, the government is debating whether to reopen the nation’s schools in early next month as having been announced or postpone the opening day yet again, contradicting the president’s proclamation that the threat of the coronavirus is over in South Korea.

“We cannot run a risk of opening schools nationwide and see some of our children getting infected,” one news commentator was quoted as saying. “As far as I’m concerned,” he added, “President Moon popped the champagne cork too early. (END)