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. 2021 May;125(5):568-576.
doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2021.02.011. Epub 2021 Mar 3.

Systematic assessment of South Korea's capabilities to control COVID-19

Katelyn J Yoo  1 , Soonman Kwon  2 , Yoonjung Choi  3 , David M Bishai  4
Affiliations

Systematic assessment of South Korea's capabilities to control COVID-19

Katelyn J Yoo et al. Health Policy. 2021 May.

Abstract

South Korea's COVID-19 control strategy has been widely emulated. Korea's ability to rapidly achieve disease control in early 2020 without a "Great Lockdown" despite its proximity to China and high population density make its achievement particularly intriguing. This paper helps explain Korea's pre-existing capabilities which enabled the rapid and effective implementation of its COVID-19 control strategies. A systematic assessment across multiple domains demonstrates that South Korea's advantages in controlling its epidemic are owed tremendously to legal and organizational reforms enacted after the MERS outbreak in 2015. Successful implementation of the Korean strategy required more than just a set of actions, measures and policies. It relied on a pre-existing legal framework, financing arrangements, governance and a workforce experienced in outbreak management.

Keywords: COVID-19; Lessons learned; MERS; Pre-exiting capabilities; Preparedness; Response; South Korea.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no declarations of interest.

Figures

Exhibit 1
Exhibit 1
Cumulative Confirmed Cases by Provinces in Korea.
Exhibit 2
Exhibit 2
Core Capabilities Framework.
Exhibit 3
Exhibit 3
Timeline of Policy and Actions taken to Control COVID-19.
Exhibit 4
Exhibit 4
Response Systems of the Korean Government.
Exhibit 5
Exhibit 5
Alert Levels: National Crisis Level and Social Distancing Level.
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