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Lessons Learned from Battling COVID-19: The Korean Experience

Author

Listed:
  • Sang M. Lee

    (College of Business Administration, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA)

  • DonHee Lee

    (College of Business Administration, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea)

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has swept the world like a gigantic tsunami, turning social and economic activities upside down. Methods: This paper presents some of the innovative response strategies implemented by the public health system, healthcare facilities, and government in South Korea, which has been hailed as the model country for its success in containing COVID-19. Korea reinvented its public health infrastructure with a sense of urgency. Results: Korea’s success rests on its readiness, with the capacity for massive testing and obtaining prompt test results, effective contact tracing based on its world-leading mobile technologies, timely provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) to first responders, effective treatment of infected patients, and invoking citizens’ community and civic conscience for the shared goal of defeating the pandemic. The lessons learned from Korea’s response in countering the onslaught of COVID-19 provide unique implications for public healthcare administrators and operations management practitioners. Conclusion: Since many epidemic experts warn of a second wave of COVID-19, the lessons learned from the first wave will be a valuable resource for responding to the resurgence of the virus.

Suggested Citation

  • Sang M. Lee & DonHee Lee, 2020. "Lessons Learned from Battling COVID-19: The Korean Experience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-20, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:20:p:7548-:d:430253
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Josca van Houwelingen-Snippe & Thomas J. L. van Rompay & Somaya Ben Allouch, 2020. "Feeling Connected after Experiencing Digital Nature: A Survey Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-16, September.
    2. Kyu-Myoung Lee & Kyujin Jung, 2019. "Factors Influencing the Response to Infectious Diseases: Focusing on the Case of SARS and MERS in South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-19, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nam-gun Kim & Hyeri Jang & Seungkeun Noh & Ju-hee Hong & Jongsoon Jung & Jinho Shin & Yongseung Shin & Jongseong Kim, 2022. "Analyzing the Effect of Social Distancing Policies on Traffic at Sinchon Station, South Korea, during the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020 and 2021," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Loredana Larisa Văduva (Ene) & Ana-Maria Nedelcu & Daniela Stancu (Zamfir) & Cristinel Bălan & Ioan-Matei Purcărea & Mihaela Gurău & Daniel Alin Cristian, 2023. "Digital Technologies for Public Health Services after the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Risk Management Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Alessia Marcassoli & Matilde Leonardi & Marco Passavanti & Valerio De Angelis & Enrico Bentivegna & Paolo Martelletti & Alberto Raggi, 2023. "Lessons Learned from the Lessons Learned in Public Health during the First Years of COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-21, January.
    4. Huarng, Kun-Huang & Lee, Cheng-Fang & Yu, Tiffany Hui-Kuang, 2023. "Case study of a healthcare virtual community model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    5. Sajid Ullah & Farman Ullah Khan & Vanina Adoriana Trifan & Adina Eleonora Spinu & Grigorie Sanda, 2022. "Modeling Key Strategies for Reducing Socio-Economic and Health Crisis: Perspective from COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-21, October.

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