Aju Business Daily

SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in urged South Koreans to set global standards in going a new way out of a painful coronavirus epidemic as the country prepares for a new daily life with the re-opening of school classes, church services and sports games.

The international community has praised South Korea's quarantine which is becoming a global standard, Moon said. "The world is paying attention to how we will achieve the coexistence of quarantine and daily life. Let's all work together to become another world standard and model."

South Korea is working on a new protocol in which daily life and economic activities can proceed in harmony with quarantine. The new system blocks the spread of infectious diseases while allowing some activities to address public fatigue and sluggish economic activities. Detailed guidelines would be based on a survey of public opinions

"It is a new experiment to participate in everyday social and economic activities while following quarantine guidelines," Moon said, adding South Korea can realize economic recovery ahead of other countries. "We will overcome the crisis the fastest and best way to solidify the status of South Korea as a global leader."

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun told a separate anti-epidemic conference that South Korea would go the way that no one has gone yet. "As we walk, it becomes a new path, and the world is following," he said.

"No country has yet properly established the norms necessary to combine daily life and quarantine. If we make it and successfully settle it down, it will also be subject to benchmarking in other countries," Chung said, citing the re-opening of sports games in May as an example.

Professional soccer and baseball leagues should play their own games without spectators for a while to follow quarantine guidelines on social distancing. K-League, the professional football league put off in late February, will come back on May 8. All players, coaches, judges and officials should be screened for COVID-19.

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) will open the 2020 season of its professional league on May 5. Originally, the main league, which has ten franchises, was to open on March 28. KBO Secretary-General Ryu Dae-hwan said earlier that the league could increase the number of spectators gradually only if the threat from COVID-19 is reduced.