한국, 코로나19에도 총선 치를 수 있는 이유

The coronavirus crisis has put the political process on hold in many countries, but South Korea is in a position to go ahead with a general election this Wednesday.
Media around the world are keeping a close eye on this nation as it becomes the first country to head to the polls during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kim Dami reports.
South Korea will go ahead with its general election while it continues to slowly but surely get the virus under control.
Other countries, including the UK and Ethiopia, have had to postpone elections, but South Korea has the capability to proceed as planned.
"Korea's position from the beginning has been trying to keep things open and moving. Korea has proven that it has the ability to manage an outbreak like this with the testing so far. I think the government feels confident."
In this election, the top priorities are sanition and safety.
The New York Times noted last Friday that South Korea is making sure that all 44 million eligible voters feel safe heading to the polling stations.
In addition to disinfecting all 14-thousand of those facilities nationwide, the National Election Commission will check every single voter's temperature and give them disposable gloves to wear.
In fact, the two days of early voting last week proved that the general election can be held as planned.
Foreign journalists, who've watched the situation unfold, are cautiously optimistic.
"The number of those infected everyday are pretty good. 30 people a day is nothing compared to other countries. Still, there are lots of problems like with people doesn't have symptoms still are infected."
The polling stations are ventilated on a regular basis, and the more than 60 thousand volunteers will wear masks and gloves and keep an appropriate distance from others.
There are still risks,... but South Korea's decision to hold the election shows that even in the midst of a pandemic, a country can help its people exercise their democractic rights in a clean, safe environment.
Kim Dami, Arirang News.