South Korea’s post-pandemic future

What vision does South Korea need for the post-pandemic era? — AP

THE world begins 2021 with hope amid continuing despair. The roll out of vaccines in wealthy countries offers hope that the Covid-19 pandemic will wind down as the year moves along. This hope contrasts with the reality of rising cases that are pushing healthcare systems to their limit. More cases mean more deaths and social dislocation. The light at the end of the tunnel is bright, but distant.

Pondering the future offers a brief respite from the disquiet of the pandemic winter. At heart is the question of what sort of future we want. Through the ages, leaders have looked past crises to offer a vision for the future and a roadmap to get there. By nature, these efforts are idealistic, calling on the better angels in human nature. Idealism often hits the wall of reality and many of these efforts never come to fruition, or do so later in a different form.