All govt. bodies switch to 24/7 emergency situation room system

All government organizations in South Korea have been operating emergency situation rooms 24 hours a day since earlier this week to swiftly cope with the coronavirus outbreak, authorities said Friday. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said that the 24/7 operations at all government organization emergency situation rooms began Wednesday and will continue until the COVID-19 crisis is over. The rare emergency footing by all government ministries and agencies was ordere

PoliticsMarch 6, 2020

Premier League drop pre-match handshake over coronavirus concern

LONDON (AFP) -- Premier League players and officials will not take part in the traditional pre-match handshake from this weekend over fears about the spread of the coronavirus. Teams have been told by Premier League chiefs that they will still line up as usual before kick-of, but the home team will walk past the away side without shaking hands. The measure is in respond to the threat of the potentially deadly virus, with more than 90,000 cases reported in 87 countries. "The Premier Leag

SoccerMarch 6, 2020

US tests stranded cruise ship passengers for coronavirus

LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- Passengers on a cruise ship stranded off the coast of San Francisco were confined to their cabins Thursday as tests were conducted to determine if any of the nearly 3,500 guests and crew had contracted the new coronavirus. Authorities said the Grand Princess, which had been scheduled to dock on Wednesday, would remain at sea until the test results of those who had shown symptoms of the virus are known. The California National Guard said it had flown test kits to the ship

World NewsMarch 6, 2020

Theaters screen past hit films amid coronavirus struggle

South Korean movie theater chains are screening past blockbusters and classics as the spreading coronavirus has been keeping people from local cinemas. The 2004 fantasy film "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" made a return to the South Korean silver screen in 4DX on Feb. 26. The 4DX version of part three of the tale of teenage wizardry is popular among long-time "Harry Potter" fans, who enjoy the physical effects such as sprays of wind and water and chair movements

IndustryMarch 6, 2020

S. Korea reports 518 new virus cases, total now at 6,284

South Korea reported 518 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday, bringing the nation's total number of infections to 6,284, with most new virus infections still occurring in the southeastern city of Daegu, the epicenter of the virus outbreak here, and neighboring North Gyeongsang Province. So far, 42 people, mostly elderly patients with underlying illnesses, have died in South Korea from the respiratory virus that emerged in China late last year, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prev

Social AffairsMarch 6, 2020

S. Korea urges mask filter makers to speed up production amid virus spread

South Korea said Friday it will provide any necessary support to local producers of fabric filters to help boost the production of face masks amid the spread of the new coronavirus. The COVID-19 epidemic has caused severe shortages of face masks, prompting the government to introduce a de facto distribution system for protective masks. Under the measure set to take effect Monday, people can purchase only two face masks per week from pharmacies on designated days of the week depending on thei

IndustryMarch 6, 2020

NSC to convene over Japan's entry restrictions on arrivals from S. Korea

South Korea's National Security Council will hold a meeting on Friday morning to discuss Japan's decision to tighten entry restrictions from the South amid the spread of the new coronavirus. In its standing committee meeting at 10 a.m., top national security officials will discuss ways to respond to Japan's move to effectively place South Koreans arriving in Japan under a two-week quarantine, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced Thursday night that those fl

PoliticsMarch 6, 2020

NK media stays mum on Kim's letter to Moon

North Korean media have not reported yet on a personal letter that leader Kim Jong-un sent to South Korean President Moon Jae-in this week in a surprise conciliatory gesture amid long-stalled relations between the two sides. Kim sent the letter on Wednesday to express his support for South Korea's fight against the new coronavirus, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said the following day. In return, Moon sent a response letter to thank Kim for his support, the office added. But North Kore

North KoreaMarch 6, 2020

[Digital Simplicity] Working from home brings its own challenges

As the novel coronavirus spreads, a growing number of office workers in South Korea and elsewhere are being pushed out of their cozy cubicles and forced to work remotely. However, if you’re working remotely, your humble abode is not always home sweet home. My general perception of working from home is mixed. As a journalist, I have spent most of my career working remotely. I usually commuted to and from the government agencies or companies that I covered, and returned to the newsroom o

ViewpointsMarch 6, 2020

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The Invisible Man (US) Opened Feb. 27 Horror, Mystery, Sci-fi Directed by Leigh Whannell When Cecilia’s (Elisabeth Moss) abusive ex-boyfriend takes his own life and leaves her a large part of his fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia’s sanity begins to unravel. She desperately tries to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see. Lucky Chan-sil (Korea) Opened March 5 Dra

FilmMarch 6, 2020

Wines go vegan

Veganism is a growing trend around the world, and the wine scene is no exception. Following the rise of keywords such as natural, organic and biodynamic, the wine scene has also discovered vegan wine -- wine manufactured free of any animal ingredients at any stage of the process. Though some may ask, “Aren’t all wines vegan?” animal-based products are often involved in the winemaking process, notably the wine clarifying process, called “fining.” Animal-based f

FoodMarch 6, 2020

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and Packages

Early spring at L‘Escape Hotel L‘Escape Hotel presents a package deal designed for the spring season. As fine dust can halt some from enjoying outdoor activities in the spring, the French-style boutique hotel has prepared various indoor activities. Guests will be offered a total package for coloring activities upon check-in. For guests who post their coloring activity works to their Instagram accounts with hashtags of “#lescapehotel,” and “#hotelpackage,”

FoodMarch 6, 2020

[Travel Bits] Festivals and sights across Korea

Garden of Morning Calm Spring Festival The Garden of Morning Calm, situated in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, is one of Korea‘s major botanical gardens. Established to promote the beauty of Korean flowers and plants and to develop the local gardening culture, the botanical site attracts about 700,000 visitors each year. During the Spring Festival period, the Garden of Morning Calm is covered with a rich tapestry of color from thousands of flowers and trees in full bloom. In addition, t

TravelMarch 6, 2020

[Eye plus] Keeping our distance

Once renowned for its bustling nightlife and friendly people who like to meet, dine and drink together, South Korea is pushing “social distancing” as a way to contain the rapidly spreading new coronavirus. The campaign calls on people to hold back from casual physical contact and avoid large gatherings, such as office parties and religious services. First proposed by professor Ki Mo-ran at the National Cancer Center, who also heads the Korean Society for Preventive Medicine&rsquo

Social AffairsMarch 6, 2020

[Weekender] How coronavirus has changed way Koreans exercise

As the new coronavirus spreads throughout the nation, more and more people are reluctant to go to the gym for a workout. The situation worsened Thursday, when the city of Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, said 80 people had tested positive for the virus after taking Zumba classes at local fitness centers or coming into contact with people who took those classes. “I used to take Zumba lessons at a fitness center near my home. Since last week, the center temporarily closed down and I

TechnologyMarch 6, 2020

New York asks residents to self-isolate after returning from S. Korea

WASHINGTON -- New York City is asking residents returning from South Korea and four other countries to self-isolate for 14 days as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus, the office of the city's mayor said Thursday. The office of Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the measure as the number of infections in the state of New York doubled overnight to 22. "The Department of Health is asking New Yorkers who return from the following countries to self-isolate for 14 days

Foreign AffairsMarch 6, 2020

S. Korea urges Japan to lift trade restrictions

South Korea on Friday urged Japan to immediately lift the trade curbs it imposed on Asia's No. 4 economy, stressing that Seoul has taken necessary measures to bolster its export control system in line with Tokyo's demands. In July last year, Japan imposed restrictions on exports to Seoul of three key industrial materials critical for South Korea's chip and display industries, namely photoresist, etching gas and fluorinated polyimide. Tokyo cited Seoul's alleged lax export control system for s

Foreign AffairsMarch 6, 2020

S. Korea voices 'extreme regret' over Japan's entry restrictions for Koreans

The foreign ministry on Friday expressed "extreme regret" over Japan's two-week quarantine plan for visitors from South Korea over new coronavirus concerns, warning of "all possible" corresponding measures. Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young plans to summon Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koji Tomita to officially lodge a protest over the measure that is set to take effect Monday and last until the end of this month. Tokyo announced Thursday that visitors from South Ko

Foreign AffairsMarch 6, 2020

US ready to resume nuclear talks with N. Korea: official

WASHINGTON -- The United States stands ready to resume denuclearization negotiations with North Korea as soon as possible and hopes to hear back from the regime, a senior US official said Thursday. Christopher Ford, assistant secretary of state for international security and nonproliferation, made the comment during a press briefing marking the 50th anniversary of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Despite three meetings between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, denucl

North KoreaMarch 6, 2020

Moon holds phone talks with leaders of UAE, Egypt on anti-virus efforts

President Moon Jae-in spoke by phone with the leaders of the United Arab Emirates and Egypt on Thursday and discussed joint efforts to cope with the new coronavirus, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said. Moon held talks first with Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and then with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok said in a release. The phone talks each lasted about 20 minutes. Moon asked for understa

Foreign AffairsMarch 5, 2020