Bruce Klingner: Less Red-Tape, Less Bureaucracy in South Korea's Coronavirus Response

Bruce Klingner joined Newsy, Thursday, April 2, to talk about the latest on the coronavirus, the strong South Korean response to the outbreak, and the need to balance strong response with Americans' civil liberties.

Bruce Klingner specializes in Korean and Japanese affairs as the senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at The Heritage Foundation's Asian Studies Center. Klingner’s analysis and writing about North Korea, South Korea and Japan, as well as related issues, are informed by his 20 years of service at the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency.

[아잉귀요미잉]

south korean government don't reveal people's identity when tracking the movement.
people don't know who that person is, and government only tell them where he or she visited.
Freedom and human rights are more guaranteed than other countries that have imposed containment measures.

[Mree]

And yet being in lockdown is fine? Lockdown is far more instrusive invasion of everyone’s privacy and freedom and that is not acceptable for someone who happens to live in SK. Being in a lockdown is a sign of gov’t’s lack of competence in dealing with emergency situation.

[yelkebi]

I think this interview overlooks so much fundamental insight underneath (i've also seen a similar debate in Germany whether this could lead to some totalism–come on..). For South Koreans, the major factor that significantly lessens potential concerns of 'big brother' is their advanced democracy (that neither China or Japan has) and their firm belief in it– the belief that their democratic government will use sensitive personal data for the sole purpose of precaution and prevention of infection spread; and the belief that enables the current government indeed implements the high-level democracy and rule the special legislation. With much advanced democratic notions and transparent administration, the potential concerns and risks of 'big brother' continue to stay at minimum while its benefits are so tangible with curves flattened while everyone is still working as usual. This may sound a bit ideal, but South Korea is definitely giving a hope that any liberal and democratic countries can also effectively and transparently win any virus pandemic without enforcing real big brother stuffs.

[robobeg]

After the 2015 MERS outbreak, South Koreans discussed on the matter, agreed to grant the KCDC and epidemiologist officials warrantless and exclusive access to surveillance during a pandemic, and adopted the related laws.

Compare this to:
We allow doctors with a licence to stab our body with a knife.
We allow police officers and prosecutors to arrest people and search their private properties if they give a paper called warrant, issued by another official called judge.

[rnjs]

I would rather share my personal data with the government than get stuck at home in complete lockdown and nowhere to go.

[sooncheolyoon]

Biggest difference is leadership. South Korean President said "This is a war. We have to fight with everything we have." Trump said " This is just another flu, it will go away in April."

[minyounghwang]

Well as a Korean I am thankful that government does alerting message to people. If im the one with virus I want to publicly reveal all the info about where i have been so that people who might have had contact with me can examine their health conditions more carefully. Privacy is not a religion. Try to understand the disease. Dont just say its their culture and our culture. That condescending attitude is not helping. Covid 19 is not cancer or normal flu. Its so contagious that your freedom can kill others.

[peterjohnson]

South Korea is the best in the world!!!

[mikeatback]

Thousands dead vs a big brother like action. I think big brother is better. Though if the US implemented this policy someone will find a loophole and use that policy for something it wasn’t intended for. Or they sneak in some strange vague verbiage to allow for a loophole.

[ezrajy]

Koreans brush their teeth at least 3 times per day. Tracking could be completed in 10 min.

[fridlce]

Why korea? Koreans hate sluggish and slow and inefficient thing. Every thing are super. they already have huge of nuclear generations if want which can manufacture nuclear trmendous bombs.
Efficiency and speed and smartness . . No country can win.
But students are hell.
everythings are fast in efficient way.
Only problem is polititions.