VANK announced that it conducted a street interview campaign in central Seoul with foreigners of various nationalities, including those from the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, and Australia, to improve global awareness of African swine fever (ASF).
The interviews were designed to examine misconceptions and biases surrounding ASF and to explore how disease names that include specific geographic references influence public perception. VANK paid particular attention to the term “African swine fever,” noting that it can lead people to associate the disease with a specific continent.
According to the results, most respondents were unaware of the issues associated with the term “African swine fever,” and some mistakenly believed the disease occurs only in Africa. This suggests that the inclusion of a geographic name in the disease term may create an unconscious stigmatizing effect on public perception.
One Dutch international student who took part in the interview said, “Names have power. The Africa I experienced was a continent of immense diversity, but the term ‘African swine fever’ seems to obscure that image,” adding that “there is a need to remove the name of a specific continent from the disease.”
During the interviews, VANK also asked participants, “How would you feel if your country’s name were used as the name of a disease?” Many responded, “I’ve never thought about it, but it would feel very unfair,” reflecting on their own previously unexamined perceptions of ASF and acknowledging underlying bias.
In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends avoiding the use of geographic locations or specific groups in disease names, as such terms can cause unnecessary stigma and misunderstanding. In line with these international guidelines, VANK plans to emphasize that ASF is not an issue confined to a particular region but a global disease that requires a collective response, and to take the lead in raising awareness about the need to revise its name.
Ma Ji-yun, a youth researcher at VANK who led the campaign, said, “Through the interviews, we were able to confirm that people of various nationalities had been accepting the term ASF without critical reflection,” adding, “It was an opportunity to directly witness how the language we use in everyday life can create stigma and bias.”
She added, “The most meaningful outcome of this campaign was that many participants recognized the problem with the term ‘African swine fever’ and expressed agreement on the need for change,” and expressed hope that “this effort will serve as a meaningful starting point for breaking unconscious bias embedded in the terms we use.”
VANK Director Park Gi-tae said, “Geographic names attached to diseases can reinforce and entrench negative stereotypes about specific regions,” adding, “A small shift in awareness to correct such names can become the first step toward genuine cooperation and solidarity in the international community.”
VANK said it will produce the interview footage as online content and distribute it worldwide, continuing its campaign to promote more accurate and responsible awareness of disease naming.