Mask Alert Apps | Public Institutions

This compendium, prepared by the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), aims to capture emerging trends in digital responses of UN Member States against the COVID-19 pandemic along with other digital government initiatives and provide a preliminary analysis of their main features. These cases are shared for exchange of information so that Member States can learn from each other and possibly create new partnerships.

The Korean government discloses the sales data of government-rationed masks with complete transparency. Based on this data, Korean companies and citizens have created apps that alert users of mask availability at pharmacies in close proximity. They also provide detailed information on the locations of pharmacies, how many masks have been brought to those pharmacies, and how many remain in stock in real-time

Country

Republic of Korea

Institution

Central Government, private companies