Moon offers public apology over LH land speculation scandal

President Moon Jae-in apologized to the people Tuesday over alleged insider property speculation involving officials at the state-owned housing supply body, two weeks after the revelation of the case by civic groups. "I am sorry for having caused great concern to the people," he said at the start of a weekly Cabinet meeting. The case has brought about a "great sense of despondency and disappointment" among the public, he added. The apology followed a string of strong messa

PoliticsMarch 16, 2021

Defense ministry calls for N. Korea's 'flexible' stance, full implementation of military pact

The defense ministry urged North Korea on Tuesday to have a "flexible" stance and implement an inter-Korean military agreement after Pyongyang threatened to scrap the pact in anger over Seoul's combined exercise with the United States. Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, made the threat, accusing the South of hostility for pushing ahead with springtime military exercises with the United States that kicked off on March 8 and continue through Thursday. "As

North KoreaMarch 16, 2021

3 more soldiers in Sejong test positive for COVID-19

Three soldiers based in the central city of Sejong have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Tuesday. They were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 in a test required to exit quarantine after coming into contact with a colleague who tested positive earlier, according to the ministry. Since the first case was reported earlier this month, the unit in Sejong, some 120 kilometers south of Seoul, has reported a total of 12 cases. The total number of infections repo

DefenseMarch 16, 2021

S. Korea, US to hold 'two plus two' meeting on alliance, N. Korea, China issues

South Korea and the United States are set to hold a "two plus two" meeting of foreign and defense ministers later this week, with a key focus on reinvigorating their alliance in the face of a recalcitrant North Korea and an assertive China. Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and Defense Minister Suh Wook will join their US counterparts, Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin, for the allies' first such gathering in five years on Thursday after they hold separate two-way meetings with their resp

Foreign AffairsMarch 16, 2021

New infections in 300s for 2nd day, tighter curbs in store for greater Seoul

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases remained in the 300s for the second day Tuesday on fewer tests over the past weekend, but toughened antivirus measures will be implemented for virus-prone facilities in greater Seoul amid fears of an infection resurgence. The country reported 363 more COVID-19 cases, including 345 local infections, raising the total caseload to 96,380, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The figure was slightly down from 382 on Monday. Over the

Social AffairsMarch 16, 2021

Almost all of S. Korea shrouded with yellow dust blowing in from China

Almost all of South Korea was blanketed Tuesday by a massive yellow dust storm originating from the inland deserts in northern China, the state weather agency said. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), almost all parts of the nation came under the influence of high levels of yellow dust that originated in the Inner Mongolian region in northern China and the vicinity of the Gobi Desert over the weekend and was moving south by riding the northerly wind. The latest yellow d

Social AffairsMarch 16, 2021

[Graphic News] Seoul population falls below 10m for first time in over three decades

　Seoul’s population has fallen below 10 million for the first time in over 30 years, the city government said. 　The total stood at 9,911,088 residents at the end of last year, with 9,668,465 citizens and 242,623 foreign nationals living in the capital, the local government said, citing data from the Interior and Justice ministries. 　This marks the first time since 1988 that Seoul’s population has dipped below 10 million. 　The South Korean capital posted a population of 10.29

NationalMarch 16, 2021

PM orders review of special holiday program for COVID-19 vaccinations

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Tuesday instructed health authorities to review ways of introducing a holiday program geared toward vaccinations against the new coronavirus. "There is a need to systematize a vaccine holiday to encourage the people to participate in the vaccination campaign with assurance," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a daily interagency meeting on the coronavirus response. Chung explained that regular side effects, such as experiencing a fever or achin

Social AffairsMarch 16, 2021

US soldier at Camp Humphreys tests positive for COVID-19

An American service member at a US military base in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, has tested positive for the new coronavirus, US Forces Korea (USFK) said Tuesday. The soldier at US Army Garrison Humphreys was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 on Sunday following USFK's surveillance testing program, according to the US military. The soldier has been on a shelter-in-place status since Saturday and is currently at an isolation facility for confirmed patients. "KDCA and USF

DefenseMarch 16, 2021

NK leader's sister slams S. Korea for military drills with US, threatens to scrap military pact

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened Tuesday to scrap a military peace agreement with South Korea and break up a Workers' Party organ tasked with inter-Korean dialogue as she lambasted the South for conducting military exercises with the United States. Kim Yo-jong also warned the new US administration of President Joe Biden not to engage in such hostile acts, saying it better not do things that would "keep it from getting a good night's sleep" if it wants

North KoreaMarch 16, 2021

Korean War Memorial to add list of US, S. Korean soldiers killed

WASHINGTON -- The Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington will undergo an extensive renewal that will add a complete list of those killed in battles, including Korean augmentees to the US Army or KATUSA, the Korean Embassy here said Monday. The work to add a list of some 43,000 Korean War veterans killed in battle will begin on Tuesday. The $22 million project is expected to take 18 months, according to embassy officials. The newest addition to the memorial will have a list of some 36,000

Foreign AffairsMarch 16, 2021

N. Korea unresponsive to US calls for dialogue: White House

WASHINGTON -- North Korea continues to remain unresponsive to US calls for dialogue, a White House spokesperson said Monday. Jen Psaki also said the US will continue its diplomatic efforts to denuclearize North Korea while working closely with US allies in the region. "I can confirm that we have reached out. We obviously have a number of channels as we always have had that we can reach out through," Psaki told a press briefing. A senior US administration official earlier told Yonhap

Foreign AffairsMarch 16, 2021

S. Korea, Japan alliances critical to regional issues: US secretaries

WASHINGTON -- US alliances with South Korea and Japan are the key to addressing most pressing issues in the Indo-Pacific region that include China's aggression and North Korea's nuclear programs, top US officials said, calling the alliances force multipliers. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also said the US will continue to address such issues diplomatically but also maintain the world's most powerful military to support its efforts. "Our alliances

Foreign AffairsMarch 16, 2021

Korea to vaccinate 12 million against COVID-19 by June: minister

South Korea will vaccinate 12 million people against COVID-19 by the end of June, Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol said in a government meeting Monday morning. The minister said the next phase of the vaccination efforts put Korea closer to its hope of exiting the pandemic. “Our destination is clear: To get to herd immunity and return to normal life,” he said. President Moon Jae-in has promised to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to 70 percent of Korea’s 51 million-st

Social AffairsMarch 15, 2021

Moon, first lady to receive COVID-19 vaccines next week

President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook will receive COVID-19 vaccines on Tuesday next week ahead of their planned trip to the UK for the G-7 summit in June, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday. The presidential couple will be given the two-dose AstraZeneca vaccines like other citizens here, the presidential office added. “Their planned vaccination also aims to eradicate safety and efficacy concerns surrounding the AstraZeneca vaccine,” Moon’s spokesperson Kang Min-seok s

PoliticsMarch 15, 2021

Moon pledges to clean up corruption in housing market

President Moon Jae-in on Monday vowed to root out corruption in the housing market, calling real estate speculation another form of “deep-rooted evil” that has long been prevalent in society. “Eradicating deep-rooted evil and restoring order in the real estate market will become one of the key goals in the remaining time of the administration,” Moon said in a weekly meeting with his key aides at Cheong Wa Dae. “We should keep in mind that this is the most import

PoliticsMarch 15, 2021

Family of late transgender soldier to continue legal battle for her reinstatement

The family of Byun Hee-soo, a transgender former soldier who was forcibly discharged from the Army last year, will press ahead with an administrative lawsuit she had filed against the Army before her death, an advocacy group said Monday. Byun's attorneys and family decided on Wednesday to apply for succession of the suit to "fulfill her dream (of serving the country as a transgender soldier) by winning the legal battle at all costs," the group working for Byun's reinstatement and res

Social AffairsMarch 15, 2021

[Newsmaker] Police seek another missing child in case of toddler’s death

A police investigation looking into who had left a 2-year-old girl alone in an empty house for months continues, after her death reported last week ignited a public uproar. The toddler named Boram was found dead on Feb. 10 in the southeastern city of Gumi in North Gyeongsang Province. Police arrested a 22-year-old woman surnamed Kim on charges of homicide and child neglect as they suspected she had left the child alone as she remarried. Recent DNA test results showed, however, that Kim’s

Social AffairsMarch 15, 2021

S. Korea reports 31 more cases of COVID-19 variants, total now at 213

South Korea on Monday reported 31 more new cases of major COVID-19 variants, including 12 local infections, prompting health authorities to stay on guard against the spread of the more transmissible strains here. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said 24 people were confirmed to have been infected with the British variant, and seven tested positive for the South African strain, raising the total to 213. Among them, 12 were Korean nationals infected with the British varian

Social AffairsMarch 15, 2021

S. Korea to host forum on digital cooperation with Latin America this week

South Korea will host an annual forum on bilateral cooperation with Latin American countries in Seoul later this week with a focus on digital technologies, the foreign ministry said Monday. The Korea-LAC Digital Cooperation Forum is set to take place on Wednesday and Thursday, both online and offline, to discuss cooperation on 5G networks, digital governance, cybersecurity and other issues, the ministry said. LAC stands for Latin American and Caribbean countries. Through this forum, Seoul seek

Foreign AffairsMarch 15, 2021