China virus death toll rises to 170, more than 1,700 new cases

WUHAN (AFP) -- The nationwide death toll from China's viral epidemic has leapt to 170, the government said on Thursday, with more than 1,700 new infections confirmed. Thirty-seven of the 38 new deaths came in hard-hit Hubei province, the epicentre of a contagion that is causing mounting global fear. Another death occurred in southwestern Sichuan province, the National Health Commission reported. Tibet also reported its first case, the commission said. The 38 new deaths marked the biggest s

World NewsJan. 30, 2020

Satellite imagery suggests security patrols at NK nuclear test site

WASHINGTON -- North Korea's decommissioned nuclear test site in Punggye-ri shows signs of routine security patrols, a US monitor said Wednesday. In commercial satellite imagery from Jan. 17, footpaths and vehicle tracks were visible in the snow around the portal areas and at the main administrative support area, 38 North said on its website. The imagery also showed snow-cleared roads leading from the security barracks area to the command center, it said. "There are no indications of ren

North KoreaJan. 30, 2020

S. Korea expected to send evacuation planes to Wuhan late Thurs

South Korea is expected to send chartered flights to the coronavirus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan on Thursday night to airlift its nationals from the area placed under a lockdown, a foreign ministry official said. It would represent an hourslong delay from Seoul's original plan to evacuate around 700 South Koreans seeking to leave the epicenter of the deadly contagious virus by beginning to send in planes early Thursday. Two Korean Air planes were initially scheduled to take off at 10 a.m. and a

Social AffairsJan. 30, 2020

Hong Sang-soo's new film included in Berlin fest competition lineup

South Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo's latest film has been nominated to compete at the Berlin International Film Festival next month. In a press conference held Tuesday, festival organizers unveiled a list of 18 movies that will vie for the Gold and Silver Bears at the festival scheduled from Feb. 20 to March 1. Hong's film, "The Woman Who Ran," is his 24th feature as well the seventh film starring his muse Kim Min-hee. The director was first invited to the film fest in 1997 with h

FilmJan. 29, 2020

No additional new coronavirus cases reported in S. Korea, 28 potential cases monitored

South Korea's health authorities said Wednesday they have not diagnosed new additional cases of the new coronavirus in the country but are monitoring 28 other potential cases amid heightened quarantine rules. So far, the country has confirmed four cases of the novel virus, with the latest one reported Monday. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 187 people have experienced signs of the new virus strain since Jan. 3, and 155 have tested negative and been release

Social AffairsJan. 29, 2020

Ulsan mayor, several former Cheong Wa Dae officials indicted over election-meddling scandal

Ulsan Mayor Song Cheol-ho was indicted Wednesday on charges of violating election law, as the prosecution's probe into a 2018 election-meddling scandal involving Cheong Wa Dae is apparently drawing to a close. Several former Cheong Wa Dae officials were also indicted for their alleged involvement in the case, along with Song Byeong-gi, former vice mayor of the southeastern city, and Hwang Un-ha, who led the Ulsan Metropolitan Police Agency at that time. They include Baek Won-woo, former sec

PoliticsJan. 29, 2020

Moon bestows symbolic swords to new military generals

President Moon Jae-in conferred "samjeonggeom" swords on a total of 77 newly appointed brigadier generals Wednesday, ordering them to do their best to ensure South Korea's firm defense posture. "Security is very important in our society. Therefore, assuming the post of generals, who command troops, means becoming a member of leading our society," Moon told them, according to Cheong Wa Dae's deputy spokesperson Han Jung-woo. Speaking after the sword ceremony at his office

DefenseJan. 29, 2020

Residents of Jincheon, Asan refusing to welcome Korean evacuees from Wuhan

Residents of two central South Korean towns, formally picked Wednesday to house South Korean nationals evacuated from Wuhan, China, this week, are strongly protesting the government's decision as a threat to their health. The government said it will send about 700 South Korean nationals arriving from Wuhan to the National Human Resources Development Institute in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, and the Police Human Resources Development Institute in Asan, South Chungcheong Province. Jinche

Social AffairsJan. 29, 2020

[팟캐스트] (337) 정부, 우한에 전세기 투입 예정/ 북한도 '우한 폐렴' 초비상

  진행자: 김보경, Kevin Lee Selzer 1.   S. Korea to bring back citizens from Wuhan 아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2 팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638 [1] South Korean nationals in Wuhan, China, will be flown back to the country on four chartered flights this week as part of Seoul’s response to the coronavirus outbreak. *charter flight: 전세기 *outbreak: 발생 [2] “About 700 Koreans in Wuhan have expressed hop

PodcastJan. 29, 2020

Seoul to limit Wuhan chartered flight to asymptomatic Koreans

The chartered flight for taking South Koreans out of Wuhan, China will be limited to those without any related symptoms, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Wednesday. The decision directly contradicts Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo’s statement earlier in the day.  According to the Health Ministry, the four chartered flights out of Wuhan will be limited to those without symptoms, in line with Chinese authorities’ decision. A Health Ministry official said

Social AffairsJan. 29, 2020

Park Hae-jin, Cho Bo-ah usher in spring with ‘Forest’

The first episode of KBS2’s upcoming drama series “Forest,” a love story between a perfect-but-heartless man and a hurting-but-warm-hearted woman that unfolds in the woods, is slated to air Wednesday night. Park Hye-jin plays corporate takeover specialist Kang San-hyeok, who, looking for new prey fakes his way into working as a special rescue worker at Miryeong Forest. Here, Kang comes face-to-face with past trauma that has been causing a burning pain in his arm and tumbles

TelevisionJan. 29, 2020

MWC 2020 to proceed as scheduled despite coronavirus spread

The Mobile World Congress 2020 will proceed as planned, according to a statement released by London-based GSMA on Tuesday local time. The event will kick off in Barcelona, Spain, on Feb. 24-27. The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators with almost 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem. It organizes MWC events annually in Barcelona, Los Angeles and Shanghai. The announcement comes amid mounting concerns over the novel coronavirus

IndustryJan. 29, 2020

FSC vows to beef up risk assessment for financial firms

Eun Seong-soo, chairman of the Financial Services Commission, said Wednesday that the financial regulator will come up with measures to monitor risks of financial conglomerates in a comprehensive manner. “The FSC will keep trying to establish sophisticated risk assessment rules for financial conglomerates, which will not overlap with the existing regulations in the financial sector,” said the FSC chairman in a meeting jointly organized by financial think tanks Korea Institute of Fi

EconomyJan. 29, 2020

SK in hot pursuit of Hyundai for No. 2 spot in chaebol list: report

SK Group is fast catching up with South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate Hyundai Motor Group, even as Samsung Group continued to maintain the top spot last year with a sizable lead over them, according to a report on Wednesday. Samsung Group has remained the largest conglomerate in terms of fair value, revenue, operating profit and operating margin for the past five years, local corporate research center Korea CXO Institute said. Fair value represents the estimated worth of various

IndustryJan. 29, 2020

[KH Explains] TRS, leverage scheme behind hedge fund debacle in Korea

The recent brouhaha surrounding hedge fund company Lime Asset Management is stoking concerns about a potential liquidity crunch across the financial market in South Korea. At the heart of the controversy is what is called a total return swap. Simply put, a TRS is a financial deal that helps fund operators like Lime Asset enjoy leverage. For instance, a hedge fund can acquire underlying assets, including bonds, equities, commodities and mortgage-backed securities, in partnership with a cash-r

MarketJan. 29, 2020

[Slawomir Sierakowski] The twilight of EU foreign policy

Reporting on a recent conference in Berlin to discuss the conflict in Libya, one of Germany’s largest newspapers, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, notes that, “the days when America dominated the Middle East are over.” For more than a decade, the United States has been pulling back, forcing Europe to unfurl its own protective umbrella, either through the European Union or through the foreign policies of individual member states. It is now clear that the second option is winnin

ViewpointsJan. 29, 2020

[Kim Myong-sik] Moon, Choo must cooperate in Yoon’s probe

Battles are underway on multiple fronts ahead of the general election this spring. Of course, noisiest are the demonstrations at Gwanghwamun and those in Seocho-dong, Seoul, by anti- and pro-government groups alike, though they are still abstaining from violence. Amazing yet saddening is the vehement contest between the two top authorities of law enforcement. When President Moon Jae-in appointed Choo Mi-ae as justice minister, the new minister wasted little time before transferring senior a

ViewpointsJan. 29, 2020

[Newsmaker] Ahn quits own Bareunmirae party, likely to create new one

Former presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo said Wednesday he has decided to leave the party he co-founded two years ago, in an apparent move to create a new group for the April general elections. The former chief of the Bareunmirae Party, who returned from abroad last week after more than a year’s absence from the political scene, said he was giving up on the minor opposition party, blaming party leaders for failing to present a vision for new politics. The move came after the party&rsq

PoliticsJan. 29, 2020

Seoul pushes to include symptomatic Koreans on chartered flight out of Wuhan

Seoul plans to bring back South Koreans based in Wuhan, China, regardless of whether they show symptoms associated with the new coronavirus infection, the health minister said Wednesday. Speaking at a meeting with associations of medical professionals, Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo said that all Koreans who apply to return on flights chartered by the South Korean government will be brought back to the country.  “Those showing symptoms will be carried on a separate

Social AffairsJan. 29, 2020