Our life is returning to normal. Face coverings have been left up to individual choice in our daily lives since the indoor mask mandate ended. In the post-COVID-19 era, which requires a balance between daily life and disease prevention measures, how would we be able to overcome the fear of the viruses and live with them? Professor Myoungsoon You at the Graduate School of Public Health has been continuously investigating public awareness since January 2020, when COVID-19 started. We inquired with him, who has long been exploring public health studies and examining citizens’ awareness of infectious diseases, about what shift in awareness is necessary for us. 

1.

South Korea has been praised for successfully coping with COVID-19 when all other countries were struggling. 

In September 2020, in the early days of the pandemic, a U.S. survey company surveyed citizens in 14 major countries, including South Korea, the United States, France, and Germany. The survey evaluated how threatened citizens in each country felt about nine global issues, including climate change, the spread of infectious diseases, and terrorism; 89% of South Koreans selected the spread of infectious diseases as the severest threat to the nation. At that time, there were significantly fewer confirmed cases of COVID-19 per million people in South Korea compared to those in other countries. That survey’s results show a significantly high level of awareness of the epidemic as a risk to individuals and society in South Korea. This high-level awareness of a risk of infection drew attention to infection information released via the media or emergency text alerts and further resulted in acceptance and continued practice of recommended actions, such as wearing face coverings, which greatly contributed to prevention of spread. Moreover, through experiencing the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2015, the health authorities knew that a lack of transparency in the disclosure of infection information or delayed responses could lead to a crisis. As a result, with active responses from the beginning of the pandemic, they were able to encourage the citizens to trust the health authorities and maintain a high level of participation in measures to prevent or mitigate spread of the disease. 

2.

Among the changes in public awareness of COVID-19, which change has been the most prominent compared to the early days? 

In the early days, people were more serious about the consequences of infection for themselves and those around them than the possibility of infection itself. There was a higher level of fear of burden or criticism from others in the case of confirmation. This trend had remained until 2021, when a stepwise return to regular activities was mentioned, and it has declined significantly since the spike of COVID-19 Omicron variants. As the level of information disclosure related to infected people has shifted and more countermeasures such as therapeutics have become available, there has been a shift in the perception of infection from the early days of the pandemic. Overseas institutions, such as the EU, have recently investigated “pandemic fatigue,” which has been an issue since the beginning of the pandemic. This phenomenon refers to a lack of motivation to pay attention to related information or a decline in compliance with quarantine rules through time under pandemic conditions. According to the survey results, approximately half of the total respondents in South Korea responded that they felt tired from an overlong exposure to similar COVID-19 information, while the response was considerably low that they would not follow recommended behaviors according to the quarantine rules like before. The indomitable will and long-lasting motivation are admirable despite the overlong implementation of the quarantine rules. Simultaneously, it is a shame that compensation and support have not been properly offered for the citizens, despite excellent cooperation. For example, there is a need for strictly evaluating government priorities in support of the COVID-19 recovery effort in relation to the heavier loads of the housewives who had to care for their children's homeschooling alone, the heaped loss of small business owners who eventually closed their shops regardless of lack of living means, and the economic hardship of young people who were unemployed due to insufficient job opportunities. 

3.

We realized the need for a healthcare policy that addresses the psychological and social anxiety of individuals, as well as prevention and countermeasures against infectious diseases. Why should we accordingly focus on the psychological symptoms as much as on the diseases? 

A new word, “Corona Blue,” appeared during the pandemic period. As the pandemic triggered major changes in our daily lives, an increasing number of people are suffering from stress, anxiety, and depression. Initially, these emotional effects were mainly considered to be temporary feelings or emotions. Some people may be accustomed to and comfortable with social distancing. However, humans, as social animals, tend to experience mental problems when they are alienated from others. Many social problems have occurred in health problems due to the spread of viruses, including the social withdrawal of people living alone, particularly the physically challenged or the elderly, as well as the helplessness of young people in situations where their goals are repeatedly delayed. In the midst of a transition to a post-COVID-19 era, these psychological problems still remain. 

4.

There have been several changes in healthcare policy due to COVID-19. What is required to advance public health? 

The pandemic experience enabled us to realize the importance of cooperation and participation of civil society and to learn that we can overcome the crisis when mature citizenship precedes. At the center are trust and communication. If the government and quarantine authorities decide to exercise “social distancing” at a specific time and level, they must properly describe the reasons to the citizens. Even the government or experts cannot effectively manage the crisis of a viral infection in a manner where a small group exclusively evaluates information and knowledge as the administrator of the viral control and demands the people to unilaterally follow their rules. Furthermore, there is a need to pay attention to the healthcare system. In addition to personal sacrifice, public resources, such as manpower, organizations, and health insurance funds, enabled us to respond to the pandemic through public health centers, epidemiological investigators, and other medical responses. Based on the proven importance of public resources, strengthened efforts are necessary to secure and develop social support and manpower for preventing and responding to infectious diseases. 

5.

What are the characteristics of health science that distinguishes it from clinical science? Also, I am curious about the opportunity to study health science. 

Clinical health sciences aim to diagnose an individual patient's disease at an early stage and facilitate the patient’s recovery by offering effective treatment, while public health sciences refer to a field of study investigating the health of a group, or the public. The purposes of public health sciences are to develop systems and policies that prevent disease and promote health in cooperation with local communities, allowing their members to lead a healthy life. Since my undergraduate years, I have had a keen interest in developing and applying social policies. I first took a public health science course at graduate school, and I was fascinated with  3Ps model of public health sciences: prevention, promotion, and protection (3Ps). Individual health levels differ within societies. Moreover, it may be more challenging for people with a poor standard of living to stay healthy. Public health sciences refer to a field of study concerned with establishing a standard of living in which everyone can maintain a proper health level. The greatest value of public health sciences is to realize social well-being, which is a sum of both mental and physical health. 

6.

What was the most memorable moment to date? 

I needed to take care of my child during my time studying in the United States. In the early days of my PhD program, I studied while raising my child alone, which was challenging. Helplessness and depression gradually clouded my life, preventing me from devoting myself to studies and regular life as before. Because mental health and psychological counseling services were available at the school I attended, as at SNU, I visited a specialist. According to the diagnosis results, I realized that the problem arose from my urge to endure everything despite separation from my family and a different economic and cultural environment. I thought all the changes were okay with me, which was not true. Subsequently, I was able to overcome the issues by sharing my problems with others around me and receiving help from my family according to the advice of the specialist. The experiences I had at that time interconnect with the themes I am currently exploring. Even if we have been psychologically healthy in the past, we must constantly monitor our social relationships and support resources to prevent and manage health risks. Furthermore, I was able to personally learn the importance of efforts to protect those who are relatively weak or deteriorating compared to before. 

7.

Please dispense any advice or comment to students regarding your wishes before an imminent return to regular activities. 

The world is facing various issues, including infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and climate change. I believe that if SNU members with outstanding capabilities work together across various fields, they will be able to produce a more in-depth analysis and deliver solutions. There is a need to develop a scheme that can swiftly collect and disseminate the research of members. Moreover, I feel immense gratitude for young people, including students. I would like to express both pride and gratitude to young people, particularly at a socially active age, who have endured for people weaker than themselves, although COVID-19 prevented them from meeting others, studying enthusiastically, and carrying out what they wanted to do.