In battle against virus, Trump restricts travel from Europe

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Taking dramatic action, President Donald Trump sharply restricted passenger travel from 26 European nations to the US and moved to ease the economic cost of a viral pandemic that is roiling global financial markets and disrupting the daily lives of Americans. Trump, in a rare Oval Office address to the nation Wednesday night, said the monthlong restriction on travel would begin late Friday, at midnight. After days of playing down the coronavirus threat, he blamed Europe for

World NewsMarch 12, 2020

Seoul stocks open lower on US losses, WHO declaration

Seoul stocks opened lower Thursday, tracking renewed market turmoil on Wall Street, sparked by the UN health body's declaration that the new coronavirus is a pandemic. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 19.70 points, or 1.03 percent, to 1,8888.57 in the first 15 minutes of trading. On Wednesday, the KOSPI plunged nearly 3 percent to 1,908.27 points, the lowest level since Feb. 17, 2016. The plunge was driven by lack of clarity from the planned US measures to cushion the econ

MarketMarch 12, 2020

PM warns about potential 'super transmission' of coronavirus in metropolitan areas

South Korea's prime minister voiced concerns about potential "super transmissions" of the new coronavirus in Seoul and its adjacent areas Thursday, calling for strengthened quarantine efforts. The number of COVID-19 cases linked to a Seoul call center has reached at least 100 as the biggest cluster infection in the capital and its surrounding metropolitan areas, home to some 2.5 million people. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun expressed concerns about potential "super transmission

Social AffairsMarch 12, 2020

Exports of agricultural goods down 13% in Jan. amid coronavirus outbreak

South Korea's exports of agricultural goods tumbled a whopping 13 percent in January from a year earlier as the global outbreak of the new coronavirus dealt a harsh blow to the country's efforts to penetrate deeper into Asian countries. Outbound shipments of agricultural products reached $692 million in January, down from $786 million posted a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the state-run Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. Exports of fresh goods tumbled 14.4 percent o

EconomyMarch 12, 2020

Will heat stop the spread of new virus? No one really knows

JAKARTA (AP) -- As outbreaks of the new coronavirus that first emerged in China continue to spread in more than 100 countries -- particularly those experiencing winter -- one of the biggest unanswered questions is how it will behave in warmer weather. Like influenza, the new disease is a respiratory infection belonging to a family of viruses that typically survive longer in colder environments. Most people experience only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, but older

World NewsMarch 12, 2020

Juventus defender Rugani tests positive for coronavirus

MILAN (AFP) -- Juventus and Italy defender Daniele Rugani on Wednesday became the first Serie A footballer to test positive for coronavirus, the Italian champions confirmed. The 25-year-old "is currently asymptomatic," the Turin giants said, but the club is "currently activating all the isolation procedures required by law, including those who have had contact with him." Rugani is the first top-flight footballer to fall victim to the virus which has killed 827 in Italy and

World NewsMarch 12, 2020

Coronavirus cases at govt. complex spark worries over cluster infection

Seven more public servants working at South Korea's main government complex have been infected with the new coronavirus, officials said Thursday, increasing the number of cases there to 14. Six new COVID-19 cases were reported from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries based in the main government building in the administrative city of Sejong, 130 kilometers south of Seoul. The number of patients from the oceans ministry totaled 11. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs also reported

Social AffairsMarch 12, 2020

Trump to make primetime address on US coronavirus response

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- President Donald Trump will make a primetime address Wednesday on the coronavirus crisis, his latest attempt to counter criticism of his response to the growing health and economic fallout from the pandemic. "I'll be making a statement later on tonight as to what I have decided to do," Trump told reporters at the White House. It was scheduled from the Oval Office for 9:00 pm (0100 GMT). Trump said he would explain his plan for tackling both the health crisis, as

World NewsMarch 12, 2020

US, UK troops among 3 dead in Iraq rocket attack as US-led coalition responds

BAGHDAD (AFP) -- An American soldier, a British soldier and one US contractor were killed Wednesday, a US official said, in the deadliest rocket attack in years on an Iraqi military base hosting foreign troops. The attack threatens a dangerous escalation, with suspected US-led coalition air strikes promptly targeting Iran-aligned Iraqi fighters in neighbouring Syria, a war monitor said. At least 18 fighters were reported killed. On Wednesday evening, a volley of 18 rockets hit the Taji

World NewsMarch 12, 2020

WHO labels coronavirus a 'pandemic' as Europe scrambles to contain it

GENEVA (AFP) -- The World Health Organization called the new coronavirus outbreak a pandemic on Wednesday, issuing a grim warning that the global spread and severity of the illness was due to "alarming levels of inaction". The call came as Europe faced a mounting number of cases -- including a slew of new countries clocking first deaths -- prompting governments to roll out increasingly tough measures to slow the rapid spread of the virus. The number of cases across the globe has ris

World NewsMarch 12, 2020

Moon makes first visit to virus control headquarters

President Moon Jae-in visited the disease control headquarters Wednesday to encourage health officials fighting the new coronavirus. Moon visited the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) in Cheongju, 140 kilometers south of Seoul, for the first time since the nation reported the outbreak of COVID-19 on Jan. 20. Moon commended the health authorities' fast testing and treatment, pointing out that Korea's containment efforts are receiving international recognition, his spokesma

PoliticsMarch 11, 2020

[팟캐스트] (343) 수도권 집단 감염 / 위기에 처한 신천지

  진행자: 임현수 Kevin Kevin Lee Selzer 1.   S. Korea on edge over largest yet mass infections in Seoul 아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2 팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638 [1] Seoul’s biggest-yet cluster of infections emerged in South Korea’s capital Tuesday, keeping health authorities on their toes despite the number of newly discovered infections slowing for the fourth consecutive day. *cluster: 무리 *

PodcastMarch 11, 2020

Italy announces 25b euros package to fight coronavirus

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said Wednesday that Rome was allocating 25 billion euros ($28.3 billion) to fight  the novel coronavirus outbreak that has killed 631 people in Italy. "We have allocated an emergency sum of 25 billion euros," Conte told reporters during a break in a meeting on the government's response to the rapidly escalating health crisis. The entire sum "will not all be used immediately," Conte added.  Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri said It

World NewsMarch 11, 2020

Korea's market for pop culture expands nearly 20% in 2018

The South Korean market for popular culture content including K-pop and K-drama expanded nearly 20 percent in 2018 from two years earlier on a surge in overseas sales, a government report showed Wednesday. According to the biennial tally of the popular culture market, compiled by the Korea Creative Content Agency and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the combined revenue of the industry came to 6.42 trillion won (US$5.4 billion) in 2018, up 19.5 percent from about 5.37 trillion won

K-popMarch 11, 2020

When avoiding virus is luxury

South Korea is telling its citizens to stay home and avoid gatherings, in an anti-coronavirus campaign known as “social distancing.” But staying put is a luxury for many rent-paying small business owners and workers who can’t afford to take time off. The coronavirus cost Shin Hye-ryong, who runs two cafes in Suwon and Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, nearly half of his regular revenue last month. He said he suffered a sharp drop in customer turnout since the outbreak’s onse

Social AffairsMarch 11, 2020

[Graphic News] Korea's electronic financial transactions grow in 2019

　The amount of daily financial transactions using credit cards and electronic means continued to grow last year while the use of checks and promissory notes continued to dwindle, central bank data showed. 　The value of daily financial transactions using non-cash payment methods, including remittance services, came to 81.4 trillion won ($68.7 billion) in 2019, up 1 percent from a year earlier, according to the data from the Bank of Korea. 　The daily use of cards, including debit cards, amoun

BusinessMarch 11, 2020

South Korea’s financial groups still lagging in board diversity

[EMPOWERING WOMEN FINANCIERS]  The Korea Herald is publishing a series of articles to shed light on efforts to transform South Korea’s financial market by having more women financiers both at working and leadership levels and the challenges they face. This is the first installment. -- Ed.  The industry-wide campaign to “break the glass ceiling” has been going on for years, with little progress so far, particularly in South Korea’s financial market which is

MarketMarch 11, 2020

Assetplus ex-CEO returns to top post

Assetplus Investment Management said Wednesday it has named Edward Yang as its new CEO following a shareholders meeting. This marks Yang’s return to the top post in four years -- he served in the top post from June 2012 to May 2016. After his term, he has since led Assetplus’s strategic business division. Yang said he would focus on the firm’s digital marketing scheme that would allow the asset manager to draw retail investments into its funds through mobile trading platfor

MarketMarch 11, 2020

Gyeonggi Province to ban events at religious facilities that breach virus guidelines

Gyeonggi Province plans to ban events at religious facilities that fail to follow virus prevention guidelines provided by the province, its governor said Wednesday. Gov. Lee Jae-myung told reporters that the measure will go into effect starting March 22 under an emergency administrative order. Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds Seoul, has a population of 14 million. A total of 175 COVID-19 infections had been reported here as of Tuesday midnight. (Yonhap)

Social AffairsMarch 11, 2020

Samsung committee advises heir to apologize to public

Samsung’s compliance monitoring committee, led by former Justice Kim Ji-hyung, has advised the conglomerate’s heir, Lee Jae-yong, and seven affiliates to apologize to the public for past wrongdoing in connection with the group’s leadership succession plans, it said Wednesday. According to a statement released by the committee, it sent a letter setting forth its recommendations to Vice Chairman Lee and the affiliates, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung C&T and Samsung

IndustryMarch 11, 2020