Business Traveler, July/August 2020

J U LY A U G U S T 2 0 2 0 b u s i n e s s t r a v e l e r u s a c o m 2 2 CITY OF INNOVATIONS In these uncertain times if you want to have a meeting or conference or want to spend time in a safe place and not hampered by fears of Coronavirus exposure Antarctica might be just the spot But if you are not up for icebergs penguins and a cold quarantine concept that spans an entire continent then Seoul may be the next best bet The world class city has much to offer safe social practices smart infrastructure systems fantastic food and colorful experiences all appealing to both business and leisure travelers alike LEADING THE CHARGE AGAINST COVID 19 Unlike other major metro centers around the globe Seoul moved ahead of the Coronavirus pandemic long before the disease got the upper hand In fact Korea has been a model for cities and countries seeking advice as weakened medical systems buckle under the weight of ongoing corona related admissions and deaths The country adopted a massive variegated approach to tamping down the contagion with aggressive testing and contact tracing near universal use of masks serious social distancing practices and the quick closing of localized hot spots Benefitted by steady leadership that emphasizes a science based collective response to the pandemic the Korean populace has been lauded for quick adoption and cooperation as protective practices continue to pivot Korea has made testing options widely available if not mandatory for residents and visitors and as new cases have continued to slow an efficient public health system has been busy designing and deploying spatial protections to allow restaurants to open and stores to operate with comfortable measures of safety TESTING TRACING TREATMENT TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY As most of the world continues to grapple with the delicate balance between stemming exposure to COVID 19 and trying to live the semblance of a normal life Korea has been busy innovating ways to test more people faster while limiting contact with medical personnel These measures have included opening more Drive Thru test centers and more recently Walk Thru centers were introduced At the same time testing times were cut in half and contact tracing was improved so much so that by the end of May nearly a million tests had been performed and fatalities had been counted at fewer than 300 On average Korea a country of some 51 million people can test 20000 individuals per day and have the results by the next morning Impressive even by Western standards As Seoul gets on its feet and stays anchored there city officials are well aware of the potential for new waves of cases and are taking proper precautions At the same time however that K pop beat that is in the citys DNA continues to pulse People gather in open air cafes for tasty Korean BBQ The citys massive malls are open and thriving Metro connections run on time hotel lobbies team with guests temples and attractions welcome visitors and international meetings are coming back But do not be surprised if that cappuccino you ordered is brewed and delivered by a robot South Korea remains a gaga fan and world manufacturing hub for forward facing electronic gadgets Where there is a need or even if there is not there is an innovative solution in the works somewhere in Seoul IMAGES Most of the citizens wear a mask in public spaces Assistant Robot with announcement about Coronavirus Covid 19 in International Airport Seoul South Korea Gyeongbokgung Palace Seoul Guard in mask