Seoul, Moscow hold FTA talks for service sector

South Korea on Monday launched another round of trade talks with Russia to flesh out details on the two country's pending free trade agreement (FTA) in the service and investment segments. The two countries have decided to hold the four-day video conference on their free trade talks due to the global spread of the novel coronavirus, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. So far, the two countries held three rounds of trade negotiations, with the previous meeting being held in

EconomyMarch 23, 2020

Tri-Stone Korea inks MOU with North Jeolla Province, Iksan

Tri-Stone Korea said Monday it has inked a memorandum of understanding with North Jeolla Province and Iksan City, for establishing a manufacturing facility in the Foreign Investment Zone. The low-carbon ferrochrome manufacturer -- a joint venture with PSITC -- said it signed the agreement on March 16 to enter the industrial space of 2.8 million square meters, stretching across Samgymyeon and Nangsanmyeon in Iksan. “Given the excellent location, adjacent to the Gunsan Port and Saemange

IndustryMarch 23, 2020

Sex crime chat room ignites public fury

More than 2 million people have signed an online petition as of Monday demanding the government unveil the identity of a man who allegedly ran a group chat room where photos and videos of violent sex acts, involving underaged victims, were distributed. At least 74 victims are known to have been exploited in the so-called Nth room case, in which a man surnamed Cho allegedly lured victims into taking naked photos and later threatened and exploited them into more gruesome sex acts. Cho, who used

Social AffairsMarch 23, 2020

Korean language education video series featuring BTS set for release this week

The management agency of K-pop boy band BTS will this week launch a series of short video clips designed to provide Korean language education to non-Korean fans, the agency said Monday. Big Hit Entertainment said the first three episodes of the series, "Learn Korean with BTS," will hit Weverse, the mobile app for the BTS fan community, Tuesday afternoon. Following the release of the first three episodes, one new episode will hit Weverse every Monday morning, with a total of 30 clip

K-popMarch 23, 2020

One more service personnel tests positive for coronavirus, total at 39

One Air Force officer stationed in the southeastern city of Daegu has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Monday, the first infection reported in barracks in about two weeks. The new case brought the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the military to 39. Of the total, 21 were in the Army, 14 in the Air Force, two in the Marine Corps and one each in the Navy and a unit under the direct control of the ministry. The numbers include 19 people who have ful

Social AffairsMarch 23, 2020

Virus outbreak may lead to Korea's first negative growth since 1998: reports

South Korea's economy may post its first negative growth in more than two decades this year should the spread of the new coronavirus continue to undermine global economy and trade, reports suggested Monday. Capital Economics, a London-based economic research consultancy, said in a report last week that the South Korean economy could shrink 1 percent this year, the worst outlook for Asia's fourth-largest economy so far. South Korea also said its economic growth will likely slow due to the globa

EconomyMarch 23, 2020

S. Korea reports lowest daily increase in coronavirus cases in month

South Korea’s novel coronavirus cases climbed by 64 to 8,961 Monday, as the government tightened rules on social distancing and toughened quarantine screening on all arrivals from Europe. The new cases marked the lowest daily increase in a month in the country, continuing a downward trend in new infections from the peak of 909 cases reported on Feb. 29. The death toll rose by seven to 111, with the overall fatality rate standing at 1.24 percent, according to the Korea Centers for Dise

Social AffairsMarch 23, 2020

NK paper calls for unconditional adherence to coronavirus quarantine rules

North Korea's main newspaper called Monday for "unconditional and absolute" adherence to coronavirus quarantine regulations, saying allowing exceptions to the law could affect the very existence of the country. The Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the North's ruling Workers' Party, made the appeal in an editorial, stressing that it is also an important political issue for all people to strictly abide by regulations and order established under the national emergency quarantine system. &quo

North KoreaMarch 23, 2020

S. Korea to unveil measures to stabilize markets this week

South Korea's financial authorities are expected to announce a set of measures this week to help stabilize financial markets roiled by the spread of the new coronavirus, industry sources said Monday. The measures include a bond market stabilization fund worth more than 10 trillion won ($7.94 billion), according to officials. Last week, Financial Services Commission chief Eun Sung-soo decided to create the bond market stabilization fund during a meeting with the heads of eight banks and other r

MarketMarch 23, 2020

[Herald Interview] Ex-Boyfriend vocalist Jeongmin returns as singer-songwriter

Jeongmin, now an accomplished singer-songwriter, used to live in the glitz and glam, wear heavy makeup and dance in front of thousands of crowds. For eight years, he was a vocalist for the now-defunct K-pop act Boyfriend, signed under one of the major K-pop labels, Starship Entertainment. Since 2011, the youthful six-piece boy band had a promising start with numerous hits like “I’ll Be There” and “Janus,” especially flourishing in Japan. But just like many K-pop a

K-popMarch 23, 2020

S. Korea to take legal actions against churches violating coronavirus guidelines

South Korea will take legal action against some Protestant churches for violating the government's guidelines for preventing the massive spread of the new coronavirus, the prime minister said Monday. As part of the government's drive for stricter social distancing, health authorities advised churches to follow quarantine measures, including keeping the distance between followers at least 2 meters while attending services and having their temperature checked. But some churches, including Saran

PoliticsMarch 23, 2020

[Contribution] What US can learn from Korea about fighting coronavirus

South Korea has been recognized internationally for the effectiveness of its response to the novel coronavirus pandemic and impact of the COVID-19 disease. As the number of cases continue to rise in the US, what lessons can America take from South Korea? Drive-through testing: Korea created a highly efficient system of drive-through COVID-19 test centers that have helped the nation of 51 million perform fast and extensive testing. With a capacity to test up to 15,000 patients daily, the expans

ViewpointsMarch 23, 2020

Korea's exports up 10% in first 20 days of March amid virus woes

South Korea's exports moved up 10 percent in the first 20 days of March from a year earlier despite the new coronavirus pandemic, customs data showed Monday, led mostly by improved shipments of chips and automobiles, along with increased working days. The country's outbound shipments came to $30.7 billion in the March 1-20 period, rising from $27.9 billion in the same period a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service. The daily average for the period, however, slipped

EconomyMarch 23, 2020

S. Korea logs 2nd-biggest foreign capital outflow in Asia over virus

South Korea has suffered the second-largest outflow of foreign stock investment funds among major Asian emerging nations over the past month amid a dollar shortage sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, data showed Monday. Offshore investors withdrew $10.24 billion from the South Korean stock market between Feb. 20 and Wednesday, according to the data compiled by the Korea Center for International Finance (KCIF). It was the second-largest outflow among major Asian emerging markets after Taiwan's

MarketMarch 23, 2020

Olympic postponement may be 'inevitable', Japan's PM says

TOKYO (AFP) -- Postponing the Olympics over the coronavirus pandemic may become "inevitable", Japan's prime minister conceded Monday, after the International Olympic Committee said a delay was being considered as pressure grows from athletes and sports bodies. The comments from Shinzo Abe were his first acknowledgement that the 2020 Games may not open as scheduled on July 24, as the coronavirus marches across the globe causing unprecedented chaos. Canada's Olympic and Paralympic com

Olympic GamesMarch 23, 2020

Spain reports virus deaths up 30 percent in one day

Spain on Sunday announced 394 new deaths caused by the novel coronavirus, raising to 1,720 the official death toll in Europe's worst-hit country after Italy, a 30 percent increase over the previous day. The number of confirmed cases of the disease rose by 3,646, or 14.6 percent, to 28,572, according to health ministry figures, with officials warning infections will rise further in the coming days. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his country's situation was now the most difficult sin

World NewsMarch 22, 2020

Iran leader refuses US help, citing virus conspiracy theory

Iran's supreme leader refused US assistance Sunday to fight the new coronavirus, citing an unfounded conspiracy theory that the virus could be man-made by America.  Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's comments come as Iran faces crushing US sanctions blocking the country from selling its crude oil and accessing international financial markets.  But while Iranian civilian officials in recent days have increasingly criticized those sanctions, 80-year-old Khamenei instead chose to traffic in the

World NewsMarch 22, 2020

Overcoming virus scare with fiercer fears

Virus fears are not just present in reality, but also on the big screen. American director Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 film “Contagion” portrays the spread of a deadly virus. The details -- from the outbreak of the virus to the symptoms and even the wickedness of humankind amid the chaos -- seem almost prophetic considering what was to come in nine years. Maybe it is the desire to put the invisible culprit threatening and constraining us inside our homes in front of our eyes, o

FilmMarch 22, 2020

[Graphic News] No. of foreign residents in Korea falls below 2.5 million

　The number of foreigners staying in South Korea fell nearly 4 percent in January this year, after topping a landmark 2.5 million the previous month, government data showed. 　According to data released by the Ministry of Justice, 2,426,433 foreigners were residing in the country as of the first month of 2020, marking a decline of 3.9 percent from 2,524,656 last December. 　The ministry also said the number of Korean nationals leaving the country in January increased 7.4 percent on-month to

Social AffairsMarch 22, 2020

S. Korea issues nonbinding social distancing ultimatum

South Korea has called for expanded public participation in social distancing for the next two weeks, as the country witnesses a wave of community spread and imported infections leading to a resurgence in new cases of COVID-19. In announcing the 15-day plan for more stringent social distancing, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Saturday that adhering to the practice was of utmost importance to stem the spread of the disease before the spring semester kicks off on April 3. This means cancelin

Social AffairsMarch 22, 2020