President Moon Jae-in has proposed the Group of 20 major industrialized nations exempt "essential" figures from entry bans aimed at curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus, stressing it's vital countries maintain the flow of essential exchanges to minimize the virus' negative effects on the world economy.
Moon called on G-20 leaders Thursday, during an emergency virtual summit, to seek ways to allow for the travel of essential persons, such as medical professionals and business leaders, "to the extent that we do not undermine any one country's efforts at disease control."
He said they should adopt "expansionary macroeconomic policies" and strengthen the global financial safety net to cope with the fallout of the pandemic and provide stability for the least-developed nations.
To this end, he said South Korea was willing to share its "successful coronavirus response model," highlighted by transparent quarantine measures, quick and accurate testing and democratic public participation, without a total restriction on travelers from abroad.
As for global efforts to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 and help developing countries enhance their capability to combat epidemics, Moon said South Korea would be there "every step of the way."■
<Photo: Yonhap News>
