Risk governance, resilience, and response against COVID-19 in the Republic of Korea

The Republic of Korea has faced an unprecedented crisis owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to investigate the emergence of COVID-19-related risks in Korea since 2020 and identify key lessons for formulating better response measures. The authors explore Korea's response to COVID-19 from January 2020 to March 2021, and find that its successful response relies on keeping to the principles of openness, transparency, and citizenry participation, as well as, adopting a Three-T Strategy consisting of strong diagnostic testing capabilities, contact tracing using ICT tools, and rigorous treatment. Crisis leadership also plays a critical role in combating COVID-19 through identifying emerging risks, making evidence-based decisions, and unifying administrative efforts. In addition, a national response manual is useful in delineating the roles of responsible agencies since the earliest stage. Finally, the authors find that understanding the features of the pandemic's systemic risk is essential to respond to COVID-19 effectively.