Coronavirus: in South Korea, good citizenship and iron discipline secure the legislative

Text by: Stéphane Lagarde Follow

While half the planet is now confined, nearly 44 million voters are called to the polls Wednesday, April 15 in South Korea to renew the 300 seats of the National Assembly. Sanitary very supervised, the course of the poll will probably be as much followed as the results. Korea has so far managed to contain the Covid-19 epidemic without locking up its population.

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From our special correspondent in Busan,

" One meter away " and black tape lines drawn on the floor to remind the queue not to play the accordions. Friday and Saturday, the first floor of the town hall of Yeonge district in Busan was full, like most of the offices where one could vote in advance in Korea. The participation rate is already high, a sign that we are trying to avoid the crowd.

Around the central staircase, elderly and masked voters. " The process is longer than usual because of the coronavirus, but the prevention and security measures reassure those who were a little afraid to come to vote. We disinfect the premises. You have to wear a mask, we distribute gloves. And as you can see, we check the temperature of the voters at the entrance. It is only after that that you can vote ”, explains Jin Myong-jun, responsible for the smooth running of the poll.

► Read also: Coronavirus: in South Korea, despite health measures, the fear of a second wave

White stripes line the queue at this Busan polling station where one could vote in advance. Stéphane Lagarde / RFI

A campaign quieter than usual

Health security measures also strengthened for candidates and their supporters. These legislative elections are definitely not ordinary elections. At a crossroads in the city center, activists in k-way bow to the whistle in front of motorists. Seo Jong-suk wears gloves and a white and pink double mask, one to protect himself from the coronavirus, the other in the colors of his candidate. “ We always keep the mask and before going home, we wash our hands well. It's not as usual, the countryside is quieter. We are careful to stay away from people, with the coronavirus anyway it is not the same atmosphere. "

A small table at the entrance to the Shanghai Street polling station in Busan's Chinatown. Again a blow of disinfectant on the hands, gloves to put on, and a thermometer aimed at the forehead or the wrist. Kim Mi-yong, lives next door, she is reassured. “ People respect the regulatory distances and I have the impression that it is well organized. In addition, the epidemic has subsided, so we are not afraid to vote. Well obviously, when we hear someone cough, we move away. We let the person pass so that they can vote and leave as soon as possible. "

Strengthen your immunity by eating well!

Among the 50,000 people in quarantine in Korea, those who do not show symptoms will be able to go out Wednesday accompanied by an official to vote at reserved times (5:20 pm and 7:00 pm). The rest will have polling stations in separate locations. “ Because of the preventive measures, we need more people. The recruitment of assessors was not easy. Some worried that they would have to work during the epidemic when many voters were expected. But the security protocol is strict and it is a work of public interest. In the end, we had no refusal, ”says Jin Myong-jun.

In Busan, the electoral campaign takes place in an integral combination, in the colors of course of his or her candidate. Stéphane Lagarde / RFI

Korea mobilized in front of the coronavirus, the loudspeakers on the hills of old Busan warm the activists. There too, gloves and masks are de rigueur, and for the oldest, grandmother's recipes, like Park Jang-hyun. “ We protect ourselves of course, but the most important thing is to strengthen our immunity. And for that, you have to eat well. We Koreans have kimchi, fermented cabbage and soy soup. But those who have an appetite suppressed, and who eat only instant noodles, they are less resistant to viruses. "

Culinary secrets to strengthen the immune system. Above all, it was a massive screening campaign and the tracing of the contaminated that allowed South Korea to contain the disease. Yellow and full buoys like summer melons, large rope snakes wound on the quays, the echoes of the countryside can be heard as far as the port of Busan. For now, the epidemic seems to have stabilized, says an old man in a hurry to take shelter from the wind, but on polling day, the coronavirus will still be in everyone's mind.

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