A Sudden Halt in the Daily Routine of
Living
We,
South Koreans, have first known that the COVID-19 was confirmed to have spread
to South Korea on or around January 20, 2020, from Wuhan, China. The infection
number abruptly increased in the third-largest city of Daegu in South Korea. The
increase was potentially attributable to the gathering of a new religious
movement as known as the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. This
recklessness
from the Church left South Korea stigmatized as the worst-hit country with
coronavirus next to China.
When
the Wuhan virus first hit South Korea, the local media reported that about 42
Chinese Shincheonji devotees who had visited Daegu city from Wuhan, China, were
suspected of propagating the outbreak. No matter what the reasons were, the ROK
government should have restricted entry to all suspected people from overseas
from the beginning.
Nonetheless,
South Korea lost a critical opportunity to interrupt the coronavirus outbreak, which
has resulted in nearly 9,500 infectees and 126 deaths as of today. The spread
of the deadly virus has not only forced every resident to be stuck indoors but
also has had a massive effect on all businesses as their activities have ground
to a halt.
What
is further embarrassing is that South Korea, who has currently reached the 10th
largest economy in the world, is faced with the unprecedented indignity by
being banned from entry by more than 170 countries globally. By being globally
banned, we Koreans must say, this is an unbearable humiliation.
Currently,
the novel virus has rapidly spread all over the five seas and the six
continents and has driven every nation into a panicked state. For example, in
Italy, the worst-hit coronavirus hot spot in Europe has encountered the highest
fatality rate of nearly 10 %. The United States, Spain, Germany, and others are
following in sequence.
The
current formidable pandemic situation triggered by the COVID-19 reminds us of
the Black Death that was a devastating global epidemic outbreak claiming nearly
200 million lives in Europe and Asia in the mid-1300s.
In
connection, a question arises, is this horrible COVID-19 virus similar to the
Black Death that appeared more than 700 years ago? Doubts about this question are,
of course, raised by a non-specific religious person and viewed from a
pessimistic angle. In any case, if it is true, though hoped that this anxiety is
an unfounded one, it will undoubtedly be a horrific devastation to the human
population once again. What if it occurs? Would it be a divine punishment for
the wrongdoings that human beings have done? Nobody can answer
the question.
What
every human being on earth must do to prevent the imminent catastrophe is to
bring every possible effort by, regardless of race and ideology, suspending all
the disputes and fights to overcome current consequences.
Let
us pray to the Almighty that it doesn't happen!
Jae-sung Chung
