Justice ministry grants temporary stay permits for undocumented migrant children

Illegal migrant children who are born and have lived in South Korea for more than 15 years will be given temporary stay permits, the Ministry of Justice said Monday, as part of efforts to recognize their fundamental and equal rights and inherent dignity. The policy, which runs until February 2025, is limited to children who graduated from elementary school before Feb. 28, 2021. Middle or high school kids will be granted the D-4 visa, and those who already graduated from high school will get the

Social AffairsApril 19, 2021

[Newsmaker] Yoon far ahead of rivals as presidential hopeful: poll

Former chief prosecutor Yoon Seok-youl, who rose to stardom by defying the Moon Jae-in administration’s prosecutorial reform drive, beat his closest rival by a whopping 16.2 percentage points in the latest poll on presidential preference. In the survey of 1,011 adults nationwide, conducted Friday by Realmeter and commissioned by YTN, 37.2 percent chose Yoon as their most preferred presidential hopeful. The second-most-popular choice was Gyeonggi Gov. Lee Jae-myung with 21 percent support

PoliticsApril 19, 2021

Moon to join Biden-hosted climate summit this week

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will participate in a multilateral meeting on climate change this week to be hosted by US President Joe Biden, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday. Moon is joining the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate, slated for Thursday and Friday, along with dozens of other heads of state, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Park Kyung-mee. Delivering a speech at a session to be held for two hours from 9 p.m. on Thursday (Seoul time), Moon plans to explain Seoul's commitment to

PoliticsApril 19, 2021

Army soldier tests positive for coronavirus

An Army soldier has tested positive for the new coronavirus while away from his base for vacation, the defense ministry said Monday. The soldier, based in Siheung, south of Seoul, was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 after a family member was found to be infected with the virus, according to the ministry. The latest case raised the total number of infections reported among the military population to 698. Of them, 670 have been fully cured and 28 are under treatment. Nationwide, South Kor

DefenseApril 19, 2021

S. Korea seeking to toughen regulations on internet-based exchanges with N. Korea

South Korea is seeking to require its citizens to win government approval in advance before exchanging digital files of films or books with North Koreans via the internet, the unification ministry said Monday. In January, the ministry proposed revising the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act in a way that requires approval from the unification minister for cross-border exchanges of "immaterial things" via electronic tools and information and communication networks. Under the pr

North KoreaApril 19, 2021

PM nominee vows to present new govt. stance on pandemic-related support

Prime Minister nominee Kim Boo-kyum said Monday he plans to deliver a fresh government stance in terms of the pandemic-related public support programs in his confirmation hearing. "Before everything else, I will try to find measures to give the public, fatigued by COVID-19, means of support, and prepare to deliver answers (at the confirmation hearing)," Kim told reporters as he arrived at his temporary office in central Seoul. Kim explained that he will consult with related agencies

PoliticsApril 19, 2021

New virus cases back under 600 on fewer tests; stable vaccine rollout in focus

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back below 600 for the first time in six days Monday mainly due to fewer tests over the weekend amid concerns over the fourth wave of the pandemic as the country strives to get more people vaccinated. The country reported 532 more COVID-19 cases, including 512 local infections, raising the total caseload to 114,646, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Monday's figure was sharply down from 672 the previous day. The daily f

Social AffairsApril 19, 2021

Moon urges move toward 'more mature' democracy in S. Korea on historic anniversary

President Moon Jae-in called Monday for nonstop efforts to further develop South Korea's democracy, as the country commemorated its historic pro-democracy movement six decades ago. He paid tribute to the victims of the April 19 Revolution in 1960, which was led by students protesting vote-rigging in presidential elections by then President Rhee Syngman, during his visit to a national cemetery in Seoul. The two-week mass civilian protests led to the collapse of the Rhee government that had rule

PoliticsApril 19, 2021

[Newsmaker] Number of S. Korean stay-at-home fathers hits new high in March

SEJONG -- The number of South Korean stay-at-home fathers reached an all-time high in March as fewer women took charge of bringing up kids, government data showed Monday. A total of 13,000 South Korean men outside the labor force were in charge of child care last month, up 6,000 from a year earlier, according to the data from the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS). It was the largest number since data tracking began in 1999. The on-year increase was also the biggest since March 201

Social AffairsApril 19, 2021

N. Korea's imports from China surge in March: data

North Korea's imports from China spiked to a six-month high last month, data showed Sunday, amid signs of Pyongyang easing prolonged border restrictions amid the pandemic. According to the data by the Chinese customs authorities, North Korea imported around $12.98 million worth of goods from China in March, up from $3,000 logged in the previous month. It is the highest level since September last year when the figure came to $18.9 million. The North's imports from China had fallen to near zero

North KoreaApril 19, 2021

US service member injured in stabbing, police searching for suspect

A US service member stationed in South Korea was stabbed during a scuffle at a local bar, and police are searching for a suspect who is presumed to also be an American soldier, officers said Sunday. The 21-year-old service member was stabbed in his stomach late Saturday at the bar in the city of Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, during a fight, according to Pyeongtaek Police Station. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital and has received treatment, the officers said, adding t

Social AffairsApril 18, 2021

Embattled senior prosecutor questioned in ex-vice minister travel ban case

SUWON -- Prosecutors have questioned the chief of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office over alleged abuse of power in connection with an illegal travel ban imposed against a scandal-ridden senior official two years ago, officials said Sunday. Lee Sung-yoon was questioned at the Suwon District Prosecutors Office as a suspect on Saturday over allegations that he exercised undue influence in 2019 to bring an end to an investigation into the alleged illegal exit ban imposed on former vice

Social AffairsApril 18, 2021

[Herald Interview] Opening up gates in the COVID-19 era

Singaporean Ambassador to Korea Eric Teo recently received the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (First Class) Gwanghwa Medal from the Korean government in appreciation of his service promoting Korea-Singapore ties. It has been nearly two years since he arrived in Seoul, and a lot has changed in that time, owing to the virus pandemic affecting the world since early 2020. Though the gateways between Korea and Singapore remain mostly closed for now due to the travel restrictions brought on by

InternationalApril 18, 2021

Kerry backs Japan’s wastewater release, rules out US intervention

US climate envoy John Kerry reaffirmed Washington’s backing for Japan’s recent decision to release radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, while ruling out the possibility of stepping into the related process, amid Seoul’s call for Washington’s cooperation in ensuring Tokyo’s transparency. 　 “The US is confident that the government of Japan has had full consultation with IAEA, that IAEA has set up a rigorous process,” Kerry sai

Foreign AffairsApril 18, 2021

[News Focus] Widening wage gap seen between nonregular, regular jobs

SEJONG -- The wage gap between regular and nonregular workers in South Korea has continued to grow over the past decade, state data showed. According to Statistics Korea, the average monthly wage for regular workers came to 2.29 million won ($2,050) in 2010, which posted a gap of 1.03 million won, compared to 1.26 million won for nonregular workers. In 2015, the gap between the two widened to 1.23 million won by 2.7 million won vs. 1.47 million won for nonregular employees. The state-run agen

Social AffairsApril 18, 2021

New ASEAN-Korea Center chief begins role

Kim Hae-yong, a former South Korean ambassador to Myanmar and New Zealand, officially started his term Friday as the fifth secretary-general of the ASEAN-Korea Center, the organization announced Sunday. The 64-year-old career diplomat replaces Lee Hyuk for a single three-year term to 2024. His appointment was confirmed during the 13th meeting of the center’s council, held online on Feb. 9. The secretary-general is a retired career diplomat who served with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Foreign AffairsApril 18, 2021

NK propaganda outlet denounces S. Korea's weapons purchase plans

A North Korean propaganda outlet on Sunday denounced South Korea's weapons purchase plans as an attempt to accelerate preparations to invade the country. Tongil Voice made the accusations, referring to Seoul's decision to import 36 large combat choppers by 2028 in a project in which the country has already deployed 36 Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopters. "The South Korea military is further stepping up plots to develop and introduce advanced arms equipment for northward invasion at a time wh

North KoreaApril 18, 2021

N. Korea slams Japan despite Suga's willingness to meet leader Kim

North Korea's main newspaper on Sunday kept up criticism of Japan over its history of aggression toward the Korean Peninsula, after the Japanese prime minister expressed a willingness to meet with the North's leader to resolve bilateral issues. The Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North's ruling Workers' Party, carried an article that criticized Japan for "occupying the Korean Peninsula during the first half of the 20th century and engaging in a barbaric policy to annihilate the people.&quo

North KoreaApril 18, 2021

S. Korea to start vaccinations of care workers, airline crews

South Korea will start giving AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to health care workers and airline crews this week to speed up the vaccination drive against the pandemic, the health authority said Sunday. Health authorities will administer AstraZeneca vaccines to health care workers for the disabled, seniors and veterans as well as airline crews starting from Monday, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Those under age 30 will be excluded from the list on concerns over rar

Social AffairsApril 18, 2021

New virus cases in 600s for 4th day as sporadic infections continue

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed in the 600s for the fourth consecutive day Sunday as sporadic infections continue to pop up across the nation, complicating antivirus efforts against the fourth wave of the pandemic. The country reported 672 more COVID-19 cases, including 649 local infections, raising the total caseload to 114,115, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. It added three more deaths, raising the total to 1,797. The average daily number of loc

Social AffairsApril 18, 2021