Supply shortage of face masks in S. Korea due to Chinese buying binge

The supply of facial masks has not met demand in South Korea, with some industry watchers blaming Chinese tourists and merchants for going on a buying binge here to protect themselves from a new coronavirus. South Korea is not an exception to the global phenomenon of people buying face masks to prevent infection from a new strain of coronavirus. It is increasingly difficult to purchase masks with good filtering features either online or at brick-and-mortar stores and pharmacies. Concerns abo

Social AffairsFeb. 3, 2020

IZ*ONE set to return with new album this month

Resuming its high-profile music career, girl band IZ*ONE will release a new album, "Bloom*Iz," this month, its management agency said Monday. The new album, set for release on Feb. 17, is the 12-member girl group's first full-length album, marking the resumption of the band's activities after a three-month hiatus. The band temporarily suspended its activities in November as producers of cable music channel Mnet's "Produce" audition show came under a police investigation o

K-popFeb. 3, 2020

S. Korea to adopt enhanced quarantine measures to fight coronavirus

South Korea said Monday it will adopt more stringent quarantine measures against the new coronavirus by testing those who show symptoms upon arrival and placing those who have been in contact with confirmed cases into self-quarantine.  The measure, to be effective Tuesday, came as the country braces for the further spread of the potentially fatal virus. So far, the country has reported 15 confirmed cases, with 61 potential cases under observation. The country's health authorities sai

Social AffairsFeb. 3, 2020

Retailers in S. Korea close outlets due to new coronavirus

A string of major retailers, including duty-free shops and hypermarket chains, across the have temporarily shut down some of their stores, industry sources said Monday, stoking concerns that China coronavirus outbreak could affect consumer confidence in the sector. Shilla Duty Free, one of the country's leading duty-free operator, on Sunday closed its two outlets in central Seoul and on the southern resort island of Jeju after two coronavirus-infected people had each visited the shops. The co

EconomyFeb. 3, 2020

LG Chem swings to loss in Q4 on one-off costs

LG Chem Ltd., South Korea's leading chemicals firm, said Monday that it swung to a loss in the fourth quarter from a year earlier due to one-off costs related to energy storage systems. The net loss stood at 56.8 billion won ($47.5 million) in the three months that ended Dec. 31 from a net profit of 126.5 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing. A company spokesman said one-off costs related to safety measures following a series of fires in ESS are to blame for the

IndustryFeb. 3, 2020

NHN, Google expand mobile payment partnership

NHN, one of South Korea’s largest internet service providers, said Monday that its credit and debit card-based payment services will be available on tech giant Google’s flagship platforms including Google Play, YouTube and Google Drive. The firm -- based in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province -- offers a mobile payment solution called Payco, which was already available to a limited extent on the Google platforms. Since November 2017, Payco subscribers have been able to use Payco membershi

MarketFeb. 3, 2020

Defense chief to visit India for bilateral talks, defense expo

South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo was set to depart for India on Monday to hold talks with his Indian counterpart to explore ways to further bilateral ties, his office said Monday. During the four-day official visit at the invitation of Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Jeong will also attend DEFEXPO 2020, one of Asia's largest defense expos, set for Feb. 5-9 in the Indian city of Lucknow, according to his ministry. "During the visit, the two ministers will hold talks t

Foreign AffairsFeb. 3, 2020

800 soldiers quarantined, reserve forces' training postponed in anti-coronavirus measures

South Korea has quarantined about 800 soldiers and postponed regular training sessions for reserve forces as part of efforts to contain the new type of coronavirus, defense ministry officials said Monday. The quarantined soldiers have either visited China or surrounding regions recently, or had contact with such visitors, while the training sessions for reserve forces will be put off for about 50 days, officials said. The ministry also postponed medical checkups for potential draftees with a

DefenseFeb. 3, 2020

Present and future of Korea's medical AI

In March 2016, Koreans were stunned by the match between Alpha Go, an artificial intelligence program, and Lee Se-dol, a world-renowned Go champion. In many ways, the match marked a turning point in public perception of AI here. Domestic industrial applications of AI rose, including in the medical sphere. This is an encouraging phenomenon, but without proper intervention, it may be too late to catch up with the US and China, which have more mature ecosystems of AI research and commercialization

ViewpointsFeb. 3, 2020

S. Korea to request EU review of steel safeguard

South Korea said Monday it plans to ask the European Union to review a safeguard measure against Korean-made steel products that went into effect last year. During the four-day meeting, set to kick off in Seoul on Tuesday, the two sides will discuss a variety of trade issues and review progress under their bilateral FTA, which went into effect in July 2011, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In particular, Seoul plans to raise the issue of the latest safeguard measure im

Foreign AffairsFeb. 3, 2020

S. Korea's debt-GDP ratio increases at 2nd-fastest pace worldwide

South Korea's ratio of private debt to gross domestic product grew at the second-fastest click among major economies in the third quarter of 2019, data showed Monday.  Household debt in Asia's fourth-largest economy accounted for 95.1 percent of the country's GDP as of end-September last year, up 3.9 percentage points from a year earlier, according to the data by the Institute of International Finance.  The growth rate was the second highest among 34 major countries in the world,

EconomyFeb. 3, 2020

BTS drops 2nd trailer for upcoming album, 'Map of the Soul: 7'

K-pop band BTS on Monday dropped the second trailer for its upcoming album, "Map of the Soul: 7," set for official release on Feb. 21. "Outro: Ego," member J-Hope's solo song and the outro track of the band's fourth full album, was released on BTS' social media accounts and to the band's mobile app-based fan community early Monday. The first trailer, "Interlude: Shadow," starring member Suga, was released last month. The video for "Ego" briefly walk

K-popFeb. 3, 2020

Virus deaths in China pass 360, exceeding SARS mainland toll

BEIJING (AFP) -- China's death toll from the coronavirus epidemic soared past 360 on Monday, with deepening global concern about the outbreak and governments closing their borders to people from China. The fresh toll came a day after China imposed a lockdown on a major city far from the epicentre and the first fatality outside the country was reported in the Philippines. Authorities in Hubei, the province at the epicentre of the outbreak, reported 56 new fatalities, with one reported in the

World NewsFeb. 3, 2020

Novel coronavirus expected to weigh on S. Korea's economy: finance minister

The rapid spread of the novel coronavirus is expected to weigh on South Korea's economy unless the epidemic is contained swiftly, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Monday. The coronavirus epidemic has had a limited impact on the Korean economy so far, but it is difficult to determine how the virus will affect the nation's economy, Hong told a meeting with economy-related ministers earlier in the day. "There is a high possibility that this situation could slow China's economy," Hong

EconomyFeb. 3, 2020

Tottenham weather Man City storm to snatch win

LONDON (AFP) -- Steven Bergwijn's debut goal helped Tottenham to a remarkable 2-0 win over 10-man Manchester City on Sunday to breathe new life into their challenge for a top-four finish in the Premier League. Jose Mourinho's men had been completely outplayed for the first hour, but were kept in the game by City's profligacy and Hugo Lloris's first-half penalty save from Ilkay Gundogan. However, Oleksandr Zinchenko's sending off changed the course of the game as Spurs scored with their first

SoccerFeb. 3, 2020

'Parasite' wins two titles at British Academy awards

Bong Joon-ho's black comedy "Parasite" won two titles, including best foreign language film, at this year's British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards. At the ceremony of the BAFTA Film Awards held at London's Royal Albert Hall on Sunday (British time), the awards of best original screenplay and best film not in the English language were given to "Parasite," which was nominated in four categories, including best film and best director. It is the second time that a

FilmFeb. 3, 2020

Govt. to punish mask sellers 'disturbing market'

With demand for masks surging amid fears over the new coronavirus, the government on Sunday announced plans to punish sellers who disturb the market.    In a joint press briefing held by ministers, Food and Drug Safety Minister Lee Eui-kyung said the government is closely monitoring wholesalers and online retailers suspected of hiking prices excessively.    The government plans to promptly revise the relevant regulations to punish such sellers with prison terms of up to tw

Social AffairsFeb. 2, 2020

[Graphic News] More than 40% of US adults have eaten plant-based meat

　As restaurants nationwide add them to menus, plant-based “meats” are becoming increasingly popular in the United States - where more than 40 percent of adults have eaten them at least once, a new survey showed. 　Gallup research said 41 percent have tried a plant-based meat - whether it be a substitute for beef or pork - and they are mostly among upper-income young adults and those living in American suburbs. 　Plant-based meats are rising in popularity, with fast food chains li

World NewsFeb. 2, 2020

‘Coronamap’ showing confirmed patients’ movements attracts more than 3m visits

A Korean college student’s self-coded “Coronamap,” showing the movements of confirmed coronavirus-infected patients before they were put in quarantine, has recorded more than 3 million visits and may soon record 5 million, reports said Sunday. The map is marked with a web of lines showing the places visited by the 15 patients in Korea and where they are currently confined. It also spells out the number of people showing symptoms of pneumonia and other complications possibly r

IndustryFeb. 2, 2020

Photographer Lee Jung-jin’s new works reveal deep inner self

 Upon entering photographer Lee Jung-jin’s solo exhibition, one may be overwhelmed by huge nature photographs in black and white. Then, upon bending over for a closer look, one might be tempted to touch them due to their unique velvet-like texture. This is because they are printed on Korean traditional mulberry paper, called “hanji.” PKM Gallery in Samcheong-dong is hosting the exhibition, titled “Jungjin Lee: Voice,” two years after the artist’s solo e

Arts & DesignFeb. 2, 2020