Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images
韓国政府は外国人観光客を対象に、MERS（中東呼吸器症候群）保険を無料で提供する計画だ。韓国に滞在中の外国人観光客がMERSに感染した場合、国が治療費などを負担するというものだ。韓国国内での患者数が拡大し、観光業にも影響を与えていることを受けての対応だが、国内からは「不公平だ」という声が挙がっている。
■MERS保険とは？
アメリカのワシントン・ポスト紙の6月16日付の記事によると、政府は外国人に対して、無料で入れる保険に入るよう案内するという。外国人観光客が韓国に滞在中にMERS感染した場合には、旅費と治療費を負担するほか、さらに3000ドル（約37万円）の特別支援金を出す。もしMERSで死亡した場合は、1億ウォン（約1100万円）を支払うというもので、22日から実施するという。
■韓国国内から批判の声
この新しい政策について、韓国国内からは批判の声が挙がっている。韓国KBSは、次のように報じた。
「そんなことで外国人観光客の考えが変わると思っているのなら、それこそ机上の空論です。この政策によって、世界の人々はむしろ『あんな保険商品が案内されるなんて』と、不安にならないでしょうか。
また、この政策は公平性の観点からも問題があります。韓国民がMERSで死亡した場合、家族には葬儀代もしっかり払われていないのが実情なのです。外国人観光客だけに特別支援金を出すというのを知って、患者の家族はどう感じるでしょう。
今、観光客に必要なのは補償金の話ではないのです。MERSを収束させたとする宣言なのです」
韓国でMERSの感染広がる
South Korea Reports Eighth MERS Death(01 of28)
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JUNE 09: Elementary school students wear masks as a precaution against the MERS virus as they wait for a lesson to start at Midong Elementary School on June 9, 2015 in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea has reported eight deaths related to the virus with 2,500 people quarantined and 1,800 schools closed as of June 9, 2015. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) (credit:Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(02 of28)
A student has her temperature taken by a teacher outside the Sungshin elementary school in Seoul on June 8, 2015. South Korea recorded its sixth death and biggest single day jump in Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) infections, with 23 new cases in the largest outbreak of the potentially deadly virus outside Saudi Arabia. AFP PHOTO / Ed Jones (Photo credit should read ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ED JONES via Getty Images)
South Korea Reports Eighth MERS Death(03 of28)
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JUNE 09: Elementary school students wear masks as a precaution against the MERS virus as they wait for a lesson to start at Midong Elementary School on June 9, 2015 in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea has reported eight deaths related to the virus with 2,500 people quarantined and 1,800 schools closed as of June 9, 2015. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) (credit:Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images)
South Korea Reports Eighth MERS Death(04 of28)
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JUNE 09: Elementary school students wear masks as a precaution against the MERS virus as they arrive at Midong Elementary School on June 9, 2015 in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea has reported eight deaths related to the virus with 2,500 people quarantined and 1,800 schools closed as of June 9, 2015. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) (credit:Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images)
South Korea Reports Eighth MERS Death(05 of28)
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JUNE 09: Elementary school students wear masks as a precaution against the MERS virus as they wait for a lesson to start at Midong Elementary School on June 9, 2015 in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea has reported eight deaths related to the virus with 2,500 people quarantined and 1,800 schools closed as of June 9, 2015. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) (credit:Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images)
South Korea MERS(06 of28)
Philippines tourists wear masks as a precaution against the MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, virus on a subway train in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, June 7, 2015. A fifth person in the country has died of the MERS virus, as the government announced Sunday it was strengthening measures to stem the spread of the disease and public fear. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea MERS(07 of28)
Hospital workers wear masks as a precaution against the MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, virus as they work in front of an emergency room of Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, June 7, 2015. A fifth person in South Korea has died of the MERS virus, as the government announced Sunday it was strengthening measures to stem the spread of the disease and public fear.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea MERS(08 of28)
A tourist wears mask as a precaution against MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, virus at the Gyeongbok Palace, one of South Korea\'s well-known landmarks, in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, June 7, 2015. A fifth person in the country has died of the MERS virus, as the government announced Sunday it was strengthening measures to stem the spread of the disease and public fear. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea MERS(09 of28)
Tourists wear masks as a precaution against MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, virus as they visit Gyeongbok Palace, one of South Korea\'s well-known landmarks, in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, June 7, 2015. A fifth person in the country has died of the MERS virus, as the government announced Sunday it was strengthening measures to stem the spread of the disease and public fear. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea MERS(10 of28)
A passenger wears a mask as a precaution against the MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, virus on a subway train in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, June 7, 2015. A fifth person in South Korea has died of the MERS virus, as the government announced Sunday it was strengthening measures to stem the spread of the disease and public fear.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea China MERS(11 of28)
South Korean Health and Welfare Minister Moon Hyung-pyo, left, speaks during a press conference to announce how to further prevent the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, May 31, 2015. China on Friday confirmed its first case of MERS in a South Korean businessman who ignored instructions to stay home after his father was diagnosed with the disease. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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South Korea MERS Virus(16 of28)
A man helps a patient to wear a mask as a precaution against the possible MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, virus in front of a facility to examine temporarily quarantined people who could be infected with the MERS virus at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, South Korea Monday, June 1, 2015. More than 680 people in South Korea are isolated after having contact with patients infected with the virus that has killed hundreds of people in the Middle East, health officials said Monday.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(17 of28)
A man wearing a face mask walks outside the Gyeongbokgung palace in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials over their \'insufficient\' response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. AFP PHOTO / Ed Jones (Photo credit should read ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ED JONES via Getty Images)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(18 of28)
A man wearing a face mask walks through a market in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials over their \'insufficient\' response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. AFP PHOTO / Ed Jones (Photo credit should read ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ED JONES via Getty Images)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(19 of28)
South Korean hospital workers set a separated emergency center for MERS cases at the National Medical Center in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials on June 1, over their response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. Major South Korean hospitals are setting up special MERS clinic rooms to fight the disease. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUNG YEON-JE via Getty Images)
South Korea MERS Virus(20 of28)
South Koreans wearing masks as a precaution against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus sit at an emergency room at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, South Korea Monday, June 1, 2015. More than 680 people in South Korea are isolated after having contact with patients infected with a virus that has killed hundreds of people in the Middle East, health officials said Monday. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea MERS Virus(21 of28)
A patient wearing a mask as a precaution against the MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, virus walks by a facility to examine temporarily quarantined people who could be infected with the MERS virus at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, South Korea Monday, June 1, 2015. More than 680 people in South Korea are isolated after having contact with patients infected with the virus that has killed hundreds of people in the Middle East, health officials said Monday. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea China MERS(22 of28)
South Korean Health and Welfare Minister Moon Hyung-pyo speaks during a press conference to announce how to further prevent the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, May 31, 2015. China on Friday confirmed its first case of MERS in a South Korean businessman who ignored instructions to stay home after his father was diagnosed with the disease. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea China MERS(23 of28)
South Korean Health and Welfare Minister Moon Hyung-pyo, left, speaks during a press conference to announce how to further prevent the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, May 31, 2015. China on Friday confirmed its first case of MERS in a South Korean businessman who ignored instructions to stay home after his father was diagnosed with the disease. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(24 of28)
A South Korean hospital worker wearing a mask stands in front of a public notice on MERS while setting up a separated emergency center at the National Medical Center in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials on June 1, over their response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. Major South Korean hospitals are setting up special MERS clinic rooms to fight the disease. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUNG YEON-JE via Getty Images)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(25 of28)
South Korean hospital workers wearing masks stand in front of a public notice on MERS while setting up a separated emergency center at the National Medical Center in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials on June 1, over their response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. Major South Korean hospitals are setting up special MERS clinic rooms to fight the disease. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUNG YEON-JE via Getty Images)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(26 of28)
South Korean rescue members carry a woman in front of a public notice on MERS at the National Medical Center in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials on June 1, over their response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. Major South Korean hospitals are setting up special MERS clinic rooms to fight the disease. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUNG YEON-JE via Getty Images)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(27 of28)
South Korean hospital workers wearing masks stand in front of a public notice on MERS while setting up a separated emergency center at the National Medical Center in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials on June 1, over their response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. Major South Korean hospitals are setting up special MERS clinic rooms to fight the disease. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUNG YEON-JE via Getty Images)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(28 of28)
South Korean hospital workers set a separated emergency center for MERS cases at the National Medical Center in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials on June 1, over their response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. Major South Korean hospitals are setting up special MERS clinic rooms to fight the disease. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUNG YEON-JE via Getty Images)
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