Koreans have emerged from the pandemic's shadow after nearly three years of struggle with COVID-19

When Korea confirmed its first coronavirus case on January 20, 2020, few expected the respiratory virus to last this long or to disturb people's daily lives so severely. Private gatherings of more than two individuals were outlawed in the evenings at the height of social distance regulations, and restaurants and pubs were forced to close at 9 p.m.

As of Oct. 28, 1,013 days after the first virus case was identified, nearly half of....