[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 60 (Monday, April 5, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA'S COMMENDABLE RESPONSE TO COVID-19

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 5, 2021

  Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize and commend our ally 
South Korea's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the leadership 
of President Moon Jae-in and Prime Minister Chung Sye-Kyun, who took 
office just prior to the World Health Organization's declaration of a 
pandemic, the Republic of Korea's response to COVID-19 should be 
applauded.
  I am proud to represent one of the most vibrant Korean American 
communities in the nation in the Ninth District of New Jersey. Korean 
Americans have contributed greatly to North Jersey and to our nation in 
myriad ways, from business and science, to sports, the arts, and public 
service. I share the pride of many Korean Americans across our country 
and the Ninth District in South Korea's response to the pandemic.
  From the outset of the pandemic, the Republic of Korea engaged in a 
coordinated national strategy to control viral spread. This included 
reactivating contact tracing tools last used to combat the 2012 Middle 
East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak, which allowed South Korea to 
rapidly collect and analyze real-time data on COVID-19 cases.
  Equipped with an effective tracing program, South Korea quickly made 
use of a smartphone application to help ensure compliance with 
isolation or quarantine following exposure to the virus.
  Critically, the Republic of Korea made a concerted and early effort 
to provide accurate information on the COVID-19 pandemic to the general 
public. From the very first reported cases in the country, South Korea 
ensured its citizens knew to social distance, practice good hygiene, 
and wear a mask in public.
  Together, these measures led to the Republic of Korea's notably low 
infection and death counts over the past year, despite being one of the 
first nations to experience recorded cases.
  In the 73 years since the founding of the Republic of Korea, our two 
nations have enjoyed a powerful and enduring alliance, marked by a 
shared belief in the values of democracy and freedom.
  I have always been deeply dedicated to upholding our commitment to 
the security and defense of the Republic of Korea, who continue to 
serve as one of our most valued economic and strategic partners. I 
sincerely hope the bonds that tie our two nations will only grow 
stronger as we continue to collaborate on the many issues that face us, 
including quashing COVID-19 with science, good governance, and 
effective communication. On that task, the world ought to look to the 
Republic of Korea as a role model.

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