In this file photo, a sign displaying symptoms of mpox is displayed at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on July 24, 2022. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, April 27 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s health authorities on Wednesday expressed growing concern about hate speech directed towards individuals infected with mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.
Lim Sook-young, a senior official at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, stated that there have already been reports of incidents of hate speech against individuals infected with mpox.
“Mpox is not as infectious as COVID-19, but it still poses a risk of transmission if an infected individual tries to hide it,” Lim said during a press briefing.
“We are asking Koreans to be considerate so that potential mpox infectees would not be discouraged from making themselves known due to fears of social stigma.”
Lim’s remarks come after the spread of mpox led to hate speech and discrimination against sexual minorities, which is discouraging potential infectees from reporting their cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 96.4 percent of mpox patients were male, and 84.1 percent (30,438 people) of those who revealed their sexual orientation were so-called MSM (men who have sex with men).
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
