"It won't be easy to end the wave of COVID-19 until a vaccine or medicine is developed. We'll have to think that a second wave is almost inevitable," Son said during the briefing broadcast live online. "What are important are the efforts to keep the number of new infections under control at an appropriate level, while considering them as a natural condition."

The remark came one day after South Korea officially shifted to "everyday life quarantine" in line with the flattening of the country's virus curve, following more than two months of "intensive social distancing." 

South Korea reported four more cases of the new coronavirus Thursday, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,810, including 256 deaths.

Under the new campaign, South Koreans are allowed to go back to their daily routines while adhering to basic guidelines to prevent infections. Schools will also open in phases starting next week. 

Kwon Jun-wook, deputy director general of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), said a second wave, if it comes, is most likely in the winter, though noting that it could come at any time in the coming months. 

"As this everyday life quarantine campaign is a new path for us ... we might have some sporadic new infections as we go through trial and error, but we will go ahead revising and supplementing it as we go," Kwon said.

The briefing took place remotely with some 30 reporters from 15 countries asking questions in real time via an online messaging platform. (Yonhap)