Open AccessInformation Communication Technologies (ICTs), Crisis Communication Principles and the COVID-19 Response in South Korea
Author(s) -
HyeJin Paek,
Thomas Hove
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of creative communications/journal of creative communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.273
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 0973-2594
pISSN - 0973-2586
DOI - 10.1177/0973258620981170
Subject(s) - information and communications technology , crisis response , crisis communication , social distance , public relations , government (linguistics) , variety (cybernetics) , pandemic , normative , social media , health communication , covid-19 , icts , public health , business , political science , infectious disease (medical specialty) , medicine , disease , computer science , linguistics , philosophy , pathology , artificial intelligence , law , nursing
This case study highlights several communication insights that have emerged from the South Korean national response to COVID-19. In particular, it focuses on how innovative disease control programmes and information and communications technologies (ICT) have been used in conjunction with appropriate message strategies. The South Korean government used ICTs in a variety of ways to enhance crisis communication, coordinate large-scale public health efforts and supply chains, and facilitate widespread adoption of preventive measures such as social distancing and mask wearing. The response and communication strategies were based on principles established by research in social sciences and recommended for pandemic response, including social marketing, crisis communication, and normative influence. South Korea’s COVID-19 response and communication strategies can provide useful insights for national efforts to manage COVID-19 and other possible future infectious disease outbreaks.