Drag artists prepare to ‘Werq the World’

All eyes will be on Seoul’s burgeoning underground drag scene when local artists kick off the Asia tour of “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq the World” at Yes24 Live Hall at the end of this month. The Asian leg of the international tour, produced by Voss Events, will take popular performers, including Kim Chi -- a Korean American contestant from Season 8 -- to Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila and Tokyo, in addition to Seoul. The Emmy award-winning television show “RuPaul&r

CultureFeb. 13, 2020

FAO doubts NK claim of zero COVID-19 cases

An official of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations expressed doubt over North Korea’s claim that there were no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the country, Voice of America reported Thursday. Bir Mandal, deputy FAO representative in North Korea, said Wednesday that his team doubted North Korea’s claim that there were zero cases of the COVID-19 infection in the country, according to the US broadcaster. Mandal did not offer any reasons, however, f

North KoreaFeb. 13, 2020

Foreigners, overseas Koreans got less health insurance benefits than premiums

Contrary to assumptions that foreign nationals and Korean citizens residing abroad are free riders of the state health care system, they paid more in on average than they took out in terms of health insurance benefits. In 2018, some 946,745 foreign and overseas residents subscribed to the state health insurance plan, and paid a total of 1.01 trillion won in premiums, according to data from the National Health Insurance Service. This translates into an average of 1.07 million won a year per pe

Social AffairsFeb. 13, 2020

Buyers of expensive homes face probe over alleged tax evasion

SEJONG -- South Korea's tax agency said Thursday that it will launch an investigation into buyers of expensive homes over alleged tax evasion. The National Tax Service said it will start the probe into 361 people who are suspected of evading taxes or illegitimately raising money to buy homes. For instance, a 30-something person, who recently purchased a home in Seoul's affluent Gangnam district, is suspected of illegally receiving money from his or her mother. In the toughest steps ever to

EconomyFeb. 13, 2020

Court acquits three judges indicted for disclosing official secrets

A Seoul court on Thursday acquitted three incumbent judges of charges of disclosing official secrets. Judges Shin Kwang-yeol, Cho Eui-yeon and Sung Chang-ho were all indicted last year and referred to trial on charges of disclosing confidential judicial information related to a 2016 judiciary lobbying scandal involving a local businessman, judge and judge-turned-lawyer. Shin, Cho and Sung were charged with collecting and reporting confidential information on prosecutors' investigations into t

Social AffairsFeb. 13, 2020

All 147 Wuhan evacuees given clear from coronavirus

All evacuees airlifted earlier this week from Wuhan, the epicenter of the COVID-19 virus outbreak, tested negative for the illness, the country's health authorities here said Thursday. A total of 147 South Koreans, their Chinese spouses and family members were evacuated from China on Wednesday. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said five evacuees -- three South Koreans and two Chinese nationals -- who showed symptoms of the novel coronavirus upon arrival in Seoul fr

Social AffairsFeb. 13, 2020

S. Korea to speed up private sector infrastructure projects

SEJONG -- South Korea will speed up its implementation of privately funded infrastructure projects this year in a bid to spur economic recovery through investment, the finance ministry said Thursday. Vice Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol made the remarks at a meeting on infrastructure projects with relevant officials earlier in the day. A total of 62 infrastructure projects worth 5.2 trillion won ($4.4 billion) will be implemented this year. The government aims to start 50 percent of the pro

EconomyFeb. 13, 2020

Court upholds 6-month prison term for cat killer

A Seoul court on Thursday upheld a six-month prison term handed down to a man charged with abusing and killing a cat in western Seoul. The 40-year-old man, surnamed Jeong, had been indicted for abusing and murdering a cat named Jadu on a busy street in Mapo ward on July 13 last year. The appeals court at the Seoul Western District Court maintained a lower court's Nov. 1 ruling that sentenced the man to six months in prison. Following the initial ruling, Jeong had argued the sentence was exce

Social AffairsFeb. 13, 2020

S. Korea to expand support for floriculturists amid new coronavirus spread

SEJONG -- South Korea said Thursday it will roll out a set of measures to support flower farmers who have been facing falling demand, as the spread of the new coronavirus has led to the cancellation of outdoor ceremonies such as graduations. Flower farms facing financial troubles due to the novel virus are eligible to apply to a business rehabilitation fund of 30 billion won ($25.4 million) designed to help farmers facing unexpected events in the market, according to the Ministry of Agricultur

IndustryFeb. 13, 2020

Tokyo Olympics boss blasts 'irresponsible rumours' over virus shutdown

  TOKYO (AFP) -- Tokyo Olympic organisers stressed Thursday they are not considering scrapping the Games due to the coronavirus and blasted "irresponsible rumours" to the contrary. With only 162 days to go until the opening ceremony, concerns have been raised about Japan's hosting of the Games with the virus spreading throughout Asia. But Tokyo 2020 CEO Yoshiro Mori slapped down such concerns at a meeting with top International Olympic Committee officials. "With regards t

Olympic GamesFeb. 13, 2020

IMF chief sees 'mild' virus impact on global economy

WASHINGTON (AFP) - It is too early to tell the economic toll from the virus outbreak in China, but the hit to global growth should be "mild," International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said Wednesday. The death toll from the new coronavirus epidemic in China has climbed past 1,350, but hopes have risen that the outbreak could peak later this month. The IMF is expecting a "V-shaped impact," with a sharp decline in activity in China followed by a sharp recovery,

World BusinessFeb. 13, 2020

No new coronavirus infections reported for 2nd day, total unchanged at 28

South Korea on Thursday reported no new novel coronavirus cases after the latest case was identified on Tuesday, and the number of cases here remained unchanged at 28.  As of Thursday morning, the number of people being checked for the COVID-19 virus under quarantine came to 670, down from 785 on Wednesday, with seven patients having recovered and been released from hospitals, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).  The country has tested 5,769 p

Social AffairsFeb. 13, 2020

Coronavirus hits mobile carriers' launch ceremonies for Galaxy S20

South Korean mobile carriers are moving to cancel launch ceremonies for Samsung Electronics Co.'s new Galaxy S20 smartphone amid the coronavirus scare, industry sources said Thursday. South Korea's top mobile phone operator SK Telecom Co. and No. 2 industry player KT Corp. had originally planned to hold launch ceremonies for Samsung's new flagship smartphone on Feb. 27. According to the sources, SK Telecom, the crown jewel of South Korea's third-largest conglomerate SK Group, will not hold a

IndustryFeb. 13, 2020

Senior Cheong Wa Dae official in Moscow over Putin's plan to visit S. Korea

MOSCOW -- South Korea's Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Hyun-chong said Wednesday he would discuss the details of Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming trip to South Korea and other pending issues related to Seoul-Moscow ties as he began a three-day stay here. "There are pending bilateral issues. (This year) marks the 30th anniversary of (South Korea and Russia) establishing diplomatic relations. And there's a matter to discuss in connection with President Putin's visit to Sout

Foreign AffairsFeb. 13, 2020

Kim Kwang-hyun works up sweat in familiar colors with new club

JUPITER -- South Korean pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun switched teams this offseason, from the SK Wyverns in his native country to the St. Louis Cardinals in the majors. But both teams use red and white as their main colors of their uniforms. And when Kim donned his Cardinals uniform for the first time in spring training Wednesday, it brought back memories in more ways than one. "I was in full uniform, all the way down to the cleats, for the team meeting before practice," Kim recounted his o

BaseballFeb. 13, 2020

Sanders, Buttigieg emerge as frontrunners in Democratic race

MANCHESTER (AFP) -- Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg stepped forward Wednesday as undisputed frontrunners in the race to take on President Donald Trump in November after finishing first and second in the New Hampshire primary. The 78-year-old leftist senator from neighboring Vermont and the young former mayor of South Bend, Indiana took 26 and 24 percent of the votes in Tuesday's voting. Last week in Iowa's caucuses they also finished as the top two -- with Buttigieg narrowly beating Sanders.

World NewsFeb. 13, 2020

US Treasury says it will continue to use financial sanctions against N. Korea

WASHINGTON -- The US Treasury Department will continue to focus on applying financial sanctions against North Korea, according to the agency's budget request for fiscal year 2021. In the budget proposal published on the Treasury's website this week, the department's Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence outlined its efforts last year to support the administration's efforts to achieve the final and fully verified denuclearization of North Korea. TFI said that in fiscal year 2019 it sa

North KoreaFeb. 13, 2020

N. Korea offers English, Chinese services for website featuring

North Korea has begun providing English and Chinese-language services for information posted on a website promoting tours to Mount Kumgang amid its push to bolster tourism as a key industry and prop up its frail economy in the face of crippling international sanctions. The move appears to show that Pyongyang's push to lure foreign tourist remains undeterred by growing concern over the global outbreak of the new coronavirus that has led the country to tighten its border with China. Most foreig

North KoreaFeb. 12, 2020

No report of new coronavirus in N. Korea yet: WHO

No report of an outbreak of the new coronavirus has been received from North Korea's government, the World Health Organization's office in Pyongyang was quoted as saying. The office told the Voice of America that it "has not received any report of coronavirus cases from the Ministry of Public Health, Democratic People's Republic of Korea," referring to the North's official name. "WHO is working with all Member States, including DPR Korea, to respond to the new coronavirus,"

North KoreaFeb. 12, 2020

Senior S. Korean national security adviser leaves for Russia: sources

A senior South Korean national security adviser left for Russia on Wednesday in a trip expected to focus on discussions on President Moon Jae-in's initiatives to expand inter-Korean exchange and cooperation to help move forward stalled denuclearization talks. Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Hyun-chong embarked on a four-day trip to Moscow, according to sources associated with the ruling Democratic Party. He was earlier seen at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, which raised s

PoliticsFeb. 12, 2020