S. Korea to import 53 tons of mask filters amid supply shortage

South Korea said Friday it plans to import 53 tons of mask filters through June to keep up the supply of the sanitary item amid the spread of the new coronavirus. The first batch of 2.5 tons of melt-blown nonwoven fabric filters will arrive here next week, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The country has been running short of protective masks, as well as their materials, as demand for them has soared amid the COVID-19 epidemic. Starting last week, South Korea has been

EconomyMarch 20, 2020

Italy overtakes China with most virus deaths, Trump slams Beijing

PARIS (AFP) -- Italy surpassed China on Thursday as the country with the most deaths from coronavirus as the UN chief warned "millions" could die if it spreads unchecked around the globe. President Donald Trump said meanwhile that the United States is fast-tracking antimalarial drugs for use as a treatment and lashed out at China for not informing the world earlier about the original outbreak. China for its part reported no new domestic cases for the first time since the virus appea

World NewsMarch 20, 2020

Pension fund to naysay appointment of some board members at banks, conglomerates

South Korea's state pension fund will vote against the appointments of some board members at banks and major companies during shareholder meetings as they are not qualified for the positions. The National Pension Service (NPS) said its trust management committee has decided to object to the appointments of Woori Financial Group Chairman Sohn Tae-seung and Shinhan Financial Group chief Cho Yong-byoung as board members at the banks. The pension service also said it will vote against the motion t

EconomyMarch 20, 2020

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Dreamer (Korea) Opened March 19 Drama, Crime Directed by Cho Sung-bin North Korean defector Geun-su (Hong Geun-taek) struggles to settle in capitalist South Korean society, while searching for the brother he was separated from during their escape from the communist regime. Ji-hyuk (Cha Ji-hyun), an ex-convict and deliveryman, finds out Geun-su is involved in drug dealing. Desperate to flee the country for a new life, Ji-hyuk persuades Geun-su to steal a bag of methamphetamine and make big mone

FilmMarch 20, 2020

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and Packages

Scrumptious breakfast at Andaz Seoul Gangnam Andaz Seoul Gangnam presents the “Mini Break, Mighty Breakfast” promotion until May 31, for guests planning a spring vacation. 　 The promotion allows guests to enjoy a scrumptious breakfast after a relaxing night at the hotel at a discount price of 10,000 won per adult. The regular breakfast fee is 44,000 won per person. Due to the COVID-19 situation, the buffet-style breakfast has been changed to a set menu or a la carte breakfast, a

FoodMarch 20, 2020

US weighs warning against all overseas travel

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Trump administration is considering an upgrade to its already dire warning to Americans against all international travel as the coronavirus outbreak spreads. US officials said Thursday the State Department could soon issue a new alert urging Americans not to travel abroad under any circumstances. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because a final decision has not been made and the warning could be tempered, even if approved. At the moment, the department's ad

Foreign AffairsMarch 20, 2020

S. Korea, US still have gaps in defense cost-sharing talks: foreign ministry

South Korea and the United States still have gaps over the sharing of the cost for stationing the US Forces Korea, the foreign ministry said Friday, after they wrapped up three days of hard bargaining in Los Angeles. The failure to reconcile their differences added to concerns that Korean workers in the USFK could be forced to go on unpaid leave starting next month, as the US military has repeatedly warned of their furloughs absent a deal to fund their wages. Seoul's top negotiator Jeong Eun

Foreign AffairsMarch 20, 2020

[Digital Simplicity] ‘Infodemic’ is as lethal as coronavirus

About three weeks ago, I watched a news segment online showing Japanese shoppers rushing to buy toilet paper. Shelves were stripped bare quickly across Japan. The reason for the panic buying was allegedly linked to the fatal coronavirus pandemic. A sense of urgency hit my brain. Wait, what if I run out of precious toilet paper at home? If an emergency happens in relation to my bodily functions, should I hail a taxi and speed through the now eerily quiet Seoul streets to go to the office wher

ViewpointsMarch 20, 2020

Nation hit by strong winds, suffers property damages, forest fires

　 South Korea was hit by typhoon-class strong winds on Thursday, which caused a number of injuries and forest fires, as well as massive damage to outdoor facilities, across the nation. 　 　The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said the instantaneous maximum wind speed exceeded 100 kilometers per hour in many regions, destroying building roofs and windows, spreading mountain fires and forcing the cancellations of domestic flights and ferry services. 　 　The weather agency issued its first-e

Social AffairsMarch 19, 2020

S. Korea, US sign a $60b currency swap deal

The Bank of Korea and the US Federal Reserve Board on Thursday signed bilateral currency swap arrangements totaling at $60 billion, to be effective for the next six months, South Korea's central bank said. "The latest (US-Korea) currency swap deal seeks to reduce the strain upon the recently struggling global dollar currency market," the BOK said in a late night release. The US Fed conventionally had permanent currency swap deals with five other central banks -- Canada, B

EconomyMarch 19, 2020

S. Korea mulls mandatory home quarantine for arrivals from Europe

South Korea is considering imposing 14 days of mandatory quarantine at home on all arrivals from Europe in an effort to stem imported cases of the new coronavirus, government sources said Thursday. 　 　Starting at midnight, the government expanded its special inspection procedures to all South Koreans and foreigners entering the country. 　“The government is strongly considering whether to oblige all entrants from Europe to stay in isolation at home for 14 days,” said a government of

Social AffairsMarch 19, 2020

Wuhan offers hope on virus front; Italy nears stark toll

  BEIJING (AP) -- Thursday was a day of contrasts on the front lines of the battle against the new coronavirus. In a sign of hope, the Chinese city of Wuhan reported no new homegrown infections, but in a stark warning for the world, Italy appeared set to surpass China‘s death toll from the virus. The two milestones were a dramatic illustration of how much the global outbreak has pivoted toward Europe and the United States. They also showed how the arc of contagion can vary in d

World NewsMarch 19, 2020

EU's Brexit negotiator Barnier says he has COVID-19

BRUSSELS (AFP) -- The EU‘s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has the coronavirus, he announced on Thursday. 　 “I tested positive yesterday for Covid-19. I’m as well as I can be, strictly confined to my home,” Barnier, 69, said in a video posted on his Twitter account. 　 “I‘m fine, morale is good,” added the former French foreign minister, who is in France. 　 “I naturally am following all instructions, as does my team. My message to all those

World NewsMarch 19, 2020

Volleyball federation delays decision on season suspended amid coronavirus crisis

The national volleyball governing body has put off deciding the fate of the suspended professional season, amid increasing calls for cancellation in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. 　The Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO) met with representatives from 13 men‘s and women’s V-League teams on Thursday, and the only agreement that came out of the meetings was that they will meet again soon to reach a conclusion, one way or the other. 　 　The three-plus hours of talks had some team

More SportsMarch 19, 2020

JCS chief orders commanders to strengthen guard duty following series of security breaches

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki on Thursday ordered all troops to strengthen their guard operations following a series of civilian intrusions into military bases, his office said. Presiding over an emergency meeting of major commanders, Park also ordered military units to mobilize more troops and devices for the guard operations and improve their current reporting system, the JCS said. 　 The meeting was aimed at devising and implementing more “pragmatic and fundamental me

DefenseMarch 19, 2020

Bidding war for Prudential Life intensifies amid coronavirus risks

An intense bidding war for the takeover of Prudential Life Insurance of Korea, valued at some 2 trillion won ($1.6 billion), kicked off early Thursday as major banking groups and private equity houses vied to get their hands on the insurer. The bid for a 100 percent stake in the insurer came as the risks stemming from the novel coronavirus compounded those from the Bank of Korea’s latest rate cut. Those risks have slowed the momentum for the bid, which could be the largest acquisition d

MarketMarch 19, 2020

[Graphic News] Korean adults read fewer books

　South Korean adults spent less time reading books last year, in contrast to children, a survey said. 　According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s latest survey on the reading habits of  Koreans, adults read an annual average of 7.5 books in 2019, marking a decline of 1.9 books from 9.4 books read in 2017. 　On the other hand, elementary, middle and high school students read an average of 40.7 books annually, up 6.4 books from 34.3 books recorded two years ago, the

Social AffairsMarch 19, 2020

NPS to vote against chiefs of Shinhan, Woori, Hyosung

The National Pension Service, South Korea’s public pension fund, said Thursday it would disapprove of the chiefs of Shinhan Financial Group, Woori Financial Group and Hyosung as board directors in their respective shareholders meetings in March. The decisions came as the pension fund overseeing 736.7 trillion won ($576.7 billion) has moved to ramp up shareholder activism and exercise its voting power to keep large corporations in check as a minority shareholder. The NPS’ nine-membe

MarketMarch 19, 2020

Rock musician celebrates record 30th year as radio host

Rock musician and radio show host Bae Chul-soo celebrated his 30th year as the host of a popular pop music radio show on Thursday, making himself the longest-sitting host of a radio program in Korean entertainment history. Since his first day hosting the evening radio show "Music Camp" by MBC on March 19, 1990, as a flourishing, rebellious 37-year-old rock musician, Bae has matured into a widely trusted, gray-haired show host over the past 30 years. His established status also lande

PerformanceMarch 19, 2020

S. Korea to focus on easing virus restrictions for businesspeople in upcoming G20 teleconference

South Korea will make the case for minimizing travel restrictions aimed at combating the new coronavirus for businesspeople in next week's teleconference among the leaders of the Group of 20 nations, a foreign ministry official said Thursday. Seoul has been preparing for the gathering that Saudi Arabia, this year's chair of the G-20 summit, has said will take place sometime next week to "present a coordinated set of policies to protect people and safeguard the global economy." "

Foreign AffairsMarch 19, 2020