‘We should try to tide over the COVID crisis as we do in the lock-step race’

President Moon Jae-in said, “We should try to weather the current corona situation as we do in a lockstep race where we should try to keep pace with one another.” He made the statement on March 22, 2020 suggesting that the Korean people should try to work together to tide over the difficult situation developed by the spread of the COVID diseases. Excerpts from the statement of President Moon follow:

This warm spring weather brings back memories of the organized trips and sports days that I experienced while in elementary school.

The three-legged race was one event that all the children, regardless of their athletic abilities, had a fair chance of winning. The students had to compete in pairs, and if one member tried to get ahead alone, the team would end up stumbling and falling instead. The teams had to keep pace in lockstep if they were to reach the finish line safe and sound.

Our current battle against COVID-19 is akin to a great three-legged race. The effort would be futile if individuals adopt such an attitude as “It’s all right so long as I’m not sick,” or “It’s all right so long as I’m living well.”

We are now maintaining social distancing, but the distance between our hearts has grown closer than ever.

Our people are protecting each other by giving away face masks, doing volunteer work, sending charitable supplies and donations and exchanging warm-hearted words. I have always respected the strong sense of civic consciousness that our people display in times of crisis. Many across the world are marveling at the exceptional attitude our people are now exhibiting.

The incidence of newly-confirmed cases is falling sharply, and the number of patients who fully recover each day is now outpacing daily number of new infections. Yet the restrictions we are still under in this battle against the virus bring persistent inconveniences to our daily lives with respect to shopping, public transport usage, after-school daycare and leisure activities. Economic activities have also contracted significantly.

Our being “in this fight together” enables us to overcome the inconvenience and anxiety. This is a difficult time for all of us, but we are not going through it alone. The tougher the challenges we face become, the stronger our capacity to band together grows.

Moreover, the Government will always stand at the forefront. Let us overcome together and move forward as one. We can do it now, just as we have always done.