Seomun Market, a major traditional market in new coronavirus-hit Daegu, shows modest signs of recovery on March 25, 2020, as the number of new coronavirus cases nationwide has gradually declined recently. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 27 (Korea Bizwire) — Amid the coronavirus outbreak, South Koreans are beginning to find more hope than fear.
Despite hundreds of confirmed cases each day, South Koreans have been able to maintain hope.
Tapacross, a local big data analyst, looked into some 4.6 million posts related to the coronavirus on online platforms such as Twitter, uploaded between January 20 and March 15.
The company designated January 20 to February 17, prior to the 31st confirmed case, as Phase 1 of the coronavirus outbreak, and February 18 to March 15 as Phase 2.
During Phase 2, 3,033,163 online posts talked about the coronavirus, which was almost double the number of posts uploaded in Phase 1 (1,567,721 posts).
The company also found that the number of posts in Phase 2 with optimistic views about the pandemic situation jumped by almost 123 percent since Phase 1.
While 79 percent of online posts during Phase 1 were pessimistic about the pandemic situation, the level dropped to 52 percent in Phase 2.
The company explained that news reports on a series of donations by celebrities, local authorities and organizations to help those struggling from the coronavirus rekindled optimism among South Koreans.
As the coronavirus began to spread worldwide, news reports by foreign media introducing South Korea as an exemplary case of fighting the coronavirus also helped create optimism on social media, encouraging more people to cheer for overcoming the coronavirus.
“During Phase 1, racism and entry bans were the main topics on social networks. Now, in Phase 2, online posts mostly talked about government policy, foreign media, donations and other good deeds,” Tapacross said.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
