Seoul has introduced an enhanced social distancing campaign as cases surge
Asian countries that were praised for their adept suppression of Covid-19 are now facing growing criticism for falling behind in the race to roll out vaccines.
Countries like South Korea were the poster children of the first wave of coronavirus for skilfully avoiding draconian national lockdowns.
But with cases now on the rise again and the highly transmissible UK variant spreading around the world, authorities are facing urgent questions about their lagging vaccination programmes.
There is anger in South Korea in particular and a sense of resignation in Japan as it emerged that vaccines won't be rolled out until late February at the very earliest - months behind the UK and the West.