Covid: in South Korea, health measures lead to discrimination
Audio 01:17
South Korea is often presented as a model in the fight against the epidemic, but health measures have also given rise to some discrimination.
AP - Lee Jin-man
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
South Korea is often presented as a model in the fight against the epidemic, but health measures have also given rise to some discrimination.
Some regions have made PCR testing mandatory only for foreign workers.
It is also impossible to have their vaccine recognized if it was made outside the country.
A difference in treatment that displeases foreign residents of the country.
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With our correspondent in Seoul,
Nicolas Rocca
This Monday, November 15, the city of Gimhae made the PCR test mandatory for all foreign children in a hundred nurseries in the municipality.
Faced with criticism, the decision was canceled, but it is a new health measure that targets only foreigners, which annoys this Senegalese resident of the capital.
"
I think their requests are not 'open' and that we live in the same situation every day," he
laments.
It's like "don't insist" ... And I cannot imagine that, when you are vaccinated, for example in Senegal, and when you come here, we do not recognize your vaccine.
It is nonsense.
"
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To read also:
End of the “zero Covid” strategy in South Korea, the country intends to live with the virus
A problem that should be resolved before next year
For the past two weeks, a health pass has been compulsory to enter sports halls or discos. And authorities only recognize vaccines made outside the country for Korean nationals, not foreigners. This is the case of this French student: “
Here, I cannot get my vaccination recognized. It didn't give me that much of a problem, since I've only been here recently, but for example, we couldn't get into a bar one day with my other friends. We were all vaccinated abroad, but suddenly it was not recognized, so we could not enter.
"
A difference in treatment difficult to explain, because the country issues exemptions from fortnight for certain foreigners vaccinated outside Korea.
Authorities say the problem will be resolved by the end of the year.
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South Korea
Coronavirus
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