Giving out patient details in South Korea: Serving public good or invasion of privacy

Transparency is crucial in a health crisis, but revealing too much could lead to stigmatisation

Medical staff attending to a woman upon her arrival at the Keimyung University hospital in Daegu, South Korea, last week. In South Korea, a government alert is sent out to mobile phones, giving details such as a new Covid-19 patient's age, gender and
Medical staff attending to a woman upon her arrival at the Keimyung University hospital in Daegu, South Korea, last week. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Chang May Choon South Korea Correspondent In Seoul
Updated
Mar 15, 2020, 02:02 PM
Published
Mar 15, 2020, 05:00 AM
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In highly connected South Korea, people know immediately when a new coronavirus case emerges in their neighbourhood.

A government alert, accompanied by a shrill emergency alarm, will pop up on their mobile phones, giving details such as the new patient's age, gender and travel history.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on March 15, 2020, with the headline Giving out patient details in South Korea: Serving public good or invasion of privacy. Subscribe

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