Gov't pushes for global recognition of 18 'K-quarantine' measures

The Korean government will submit 18 different measures for testing, tracing and treating the Covid-19 outbreak to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as it works to promote the “K-quarantine” response model.

Hong Nam-ki, deputy prime minister for economic affairs who doubles as the finance minister, said Thursday that local authorities will drum up efforts to promote the “K-quarantine 3T international standardization” model to the world, noting Korea’s elevated stature in the international society for its handling of the domestic Covid-19 outbreak.

The “3T” stands for testing, tracing and treating Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Hong's comments came during a government meeting discussing the Korean economy in the post-Covid-19 age.

The Korean government has been eager to highlight its successful countermeasures against the Covid-19 outbreak since daily new infections dropped from a triple-digit peak in February to the single-digits by mid-April — though that figure has climbed to around 50 in recent days due to newly emerging clusters in the Seoul metropolitan area.

The government's third supplementary budget, detailed last week, allocates 11.4 billion won ($9.5 million) specifically for promoting the K-quarantine model.

Among the 18 measures to be proposed to the Geneva-based ISO are Korea’s temporary drive-thru and walk-through Covid-19 testing centers; a smart phone app that asks users about their possible symptoms of the virus and reports the results to government officials; another app that monitors users’ self-quarantine and alerts government officials when the users leave their homes; several social distancing guidelines; government-led isolated treatment centers; and diagnostic test kits.

The Korean government hopes to propose all 18 measures to the ISO, one by one, through 2022.

By enhancing Korea’s global reputation and branding itself as a “developed nation in the realm of preventing the spread of infectious diseases,” Hong said he hopes to see the ISO’s approval help Korean companies make new forays into the overseas market.

Local government officials said Thursday that the nation’s drive-thru and walk-through systems are already in the first among six stages in the ISO process to be recognized as an international standard.

BY LEE SUNG-EUN, BAEK MIN-JEONG [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]