South Korea goes to polls amid coronavirus, with masks and gloves

As most countries continue to battle coronavirus from within a lockdown, South Korea, which was at one point the second-leading country with COVID-19 cases, is holding elections, albeit with its pandemic arrangements in place and having considerably reduced its infection numbers over the last two months.

The April 15 parliamentary elections is expected to boost the prospects of current President Moon Jae-in and his Democratic Party of Korea on the back of his government’s response to coronavirus, which has earned praises across the world, and thanks to a record number of young voters. The results are expected by 8 pm (local time) the same day.

The early polls which were called after massive corruption scandal brought down former president Park Geun-hye, will be keenly watched as voters would have job and economic prospects and corruption in the back of their minds.

As per early indications, the coronavirus has failed to deter voters who would be required to wear masks, wash their hands, take a temperature test and vote with plastic gloves on. People in quarantine would be allowed to vote by post.

In the 300-member National Assembly, 13 candidates are in the fray for the presidential post.

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Traditional campaigning methods such as mass rally, shaking hands, have given way to elbow bumps, small group meetings with social distancing, and more online promotion.

The World Health Organisation and several other major countries praised South Korea for bringing the outbreak under control, with some leaders even requesting Seoul’s advice on measures taken.

From a peak of 900 daily infections, the country has reduced the number to about 50, through a combination of aggressive testing, monitoring, social distancing and strict quarantine for overseas arrivals. The 51-million-people nation has also relaxed restrictions on movement.

Check coronavirus numbers in South Korea here

As of April 14 afternoon, it had recorded a total of 10,564 cases and 222 deaths, a stark contrast compared to countries like the US, the UK, Italy, Spain and Iran, where the deaths have been registered in the thousands. Besides, over 7,500 people have recovered.

However, there has been criticism too. Some elderly voters expressed fears over another bout of outbreak while holding the polls. Just one case of infection could result in thousands getting the virus again, just as it did through a woman who attended a service at a church in Daegu province.

“The candidates should stop exploiting the coronavirus outbreak to win votes,” Park Seon-min, a young voter in Seoul, was quoted as saying by The Guardian, expressing shock over some candidates hugging voters and not wearing a mask.