89% of S. Koreans see pandemic as greatest national threat, highest rate among advanced countries
- 4 years ago
코로나19 걱정 가장 많이 하는 나라 한국,..심리 방역 도움되지만 지나칠 경우 우울증 유발할수도
Exactly 6 months ago, back on March 11th, the World Health Organization declared that the outbreak of COVID-19 had become a pandemic.
It is still affecting all parts of the world,..but people in South Korea, despite living in a country with very few cases, have been found to be most concerned about the pandemic.
Lee Kyung-eun tells us more.
"South Korea's battle against COVID-19 began in January,…two months before the WHO declared it a pandemic.
It has lasted for nine months now,...and I am out on the streets to ask people how they are coping with it."
"When the country was reporting one or two cases, I was so scared I just stayed home for months. But now, I can't think of a world free from masks."
"You can't stop exercising, so I wake up earlier to run when people are not around... and for the rest of the day, I am just stuck at home."
"I am kind of used to the restrictions now. It also has some positives, because I go home early and save money."
People seem to have found ways to live "with Corona",...but their levels of concern remain high.
U.S.-based Pew Research surveyed what 14 advanced countries saw as their greatest national threat, with infectious diseases topping many of their answers.
For South Korea, a whopping 89 percent of people answered pandemic, the highest among the countries surveyed.
Korea also has the most people who say that their daily life has changed due to COVID-19.
"Maybe, it's because information spreads very fast in Korea's densely populated and wired society. But the problem is the information also includes fake news that causes fear."
This cautious attitude could contribute to the country's virus prevention efforts, but it could have negative side effects.
"Humans are fundamentally optimistic you don't get on a bus worrying that it could get in an accident. But COVID-19 makes you nervous all day,... which can give a lot of stress and depression. Young kids can feel it even more due to parents preventing them from going out."
But on the bright side, this experience could help them grow stronger.
For that to happen, it is important that they are given accurate information and hopeful messages that "we can overcome this."
Lee Kyung-eun, Arirang News.
Exactly 6 months ago, back on March 11th, the World Health Organization declared that the outbreak of COVID-19 had become a pandemic.
It is still affecting all parts of the world,..but people in South Korea, despite living in a country with very few cases, have been found to be most concerned about the pandemic.
Lee Kyung-eun tells us more.
"South Korea's battle against COVID-19 began in January,…two months before the WHO declared it a pandemic.
It has lasted for nine months now,...and I am out on the streets to ask people how they are coping with it."
"When the country was reporting one or two cases, I was so scared I just stayed home for months. But now, I can't think of a world free from masks."
"You can't stop exercising, so I wake up earlier to run when people are not around... and for the rest of the day, I am just stuck at home."
"I am kind of used to the restrictions now. It also has some positives, because I go home early and save money."
People seem to have found ways to live "with Corona",...but their levels of concern remain high.
U.S.-based Pew Research surveyed what 14 advanced countries saw as their greatest national threat, with infectious diseases topping many of their answers.
For South Korea, a whopping 89 percent of people answered pandemic, the highest among the countries surveyed.
Korea also has the most people who say that their daily life has changed due to COVID-19.
"Maybe, it's because information spreads very fast in Korea's densely populated and wired society. But the problem is the information also includes fake news that causes fear."
This cautious attitude could contribute to the country's virus prevention efforts, but it could have negative side effects.
"Humans are fundamentally optimistic you don't get on a bus worrying that it could get in an accident. But COVID-19 makes you nervous all day,... which can give a lot of stress and depression. Young kids can feel it even more due to parents preventing them from going out."
But on the bright side, this experience could help them grow stronger.
For that to happen, it is important that they are given accurate information and hopeful messages that "we can overcome this."
Lee Kyung-eun, Arirang News.