Last week I had a serious debate with myself over whether I should visit Korea over the summer.
I have an 8-year-old boy and I contemplated going for several days, weighing the pros and cons.
The cons were, obviously, becoming exposed to a virus that “has no cure” ― although everyone keeps forgetting that no virus actually has a cure.
The pros were also obvious, at least to me: the need for a break from the desperately mundane life I now have in Tokyo.
My son also was adamant about wanting to reconnect with some of his kindergarten buddies. So in the end, the pros outweighed the cons.
And a couple of days ago, I received something that sealed the decision for me. An acquaintance of mine here in Japan sent me something circulating on the Internet.
It was a message from a Korean doctor imploring for people to shake off the MERS shock and get back to their normal routines. He pointed to the people who got better, and stressed that a lack of vaccination is not the same as the virus being untreatable.
The note also berated Korean journalists and media outlets for posting stories based on rumors and unchecked information.
While I believe the authenticity of the doctor’s message needs to be verified, the words did have a certain impact.
I don’t think I even need to ask how many stories we see online regarding MERS that actually have an identifiable source, instead of the usual “those close to the matter” or “government officials.”
And what about the rumors going viral on social networking platforms, triggered mainly by the media. Not to mention the unnecessary amount of coverage being given to the conflict between Cheong Wa Dae and Seoul City on the handling of the virus.
I mean really, is this a time for politics?
By generating and regenerating these negative and sometimes groundless stories, don’t we know that we are feeding the international media with unnecessary fodder on Korea?
In particular, Japanese news outlets are having a field day.
For those of you who may not know, Japan is just as eager for sensational stories about Korea as Korea is about Japan.
The so-called “Nut Rage” of Korean Air heiress Cho Hyun-ah, for instance, remained at the top of the Japanese news long after most of the international press lost interest.
And now, there is the MERS outbreak.
Japan Broadcasting Corp. has been reporting heavily on the issue, with the situation in Korea at the top of the news for several days now.
It sticks only to the facts, giving out only the number of people infected or the casualties.
Still, it pains me to have to see these stories day after day because many tell me that beneath the exceedingly rational facade, Japanese people harbor a subtle sense of contempt toward Koreans for their lack of regard for safety precautions. And Koreans, on the other hand, make fun of the Japanese for being sticklers for rules.
I don’t know who is to blame for the MERS furor, but one thing that I am certain of is that it cannot and must certainly not go on like this.
The sudden and rapid spread of MERS is naturally a cause for nationwide concern, and it most certainly should be a lesson for the future.
But it also does not mean that the public at large is exposed to some cureless, apocalyptic virus.
I join many others when I say that while we must fight the virus, groundless fears should not interfere with our everyday lives.
For me, I intend to board that Korean Air flight I reserved months ago in hopes of nursing my homesickness. Only this time, I will be armed with masks and some heavy-duty hand sanitizer.
By Kim Ji-hyun
Kim Ji-hyun is The Korea Herald’s Tokyo correspondent. ― Ed.
