SEOUL: With only a half year left in office, South Korean President Moon Jae-in stated on Tuesday that his administration will do everything possible to restore normalcy and economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to reports, South Korea began easing virus restrictions this month as the first step in its "living with Covid-19" policy, after more than 70% of the country's population had been fully vaccinated. Nonetheless, health officials are on high alert, as virus cases may rise again.

Moon's single five-year term will come to an end on May 9, 2022. "Until the end," the President said at a Cabinet meeting, "the government will make every effort to achieve a complete return to normal life." During his final six months as president, Moon said he will focus on containing the spread of Covid-19 and bolstering the economy.

Life with Covid-19 will be different than life before the pandemic,  Moon said and urged more people to get vaccinated and follow containment guidelines, which include wearing masks. He explained that the phased recovery of daily routines entails the process of returning to normal daily life while stabilising the anti-epidemic situation. "To bring vaccines, containment, the economy, and people's livelihoods into harmony," Moon said, the government will continue the transition to sustainable epidemic control and medical response modes.

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