WFP could cease operations in N. Korea this year due to pandemic

The World Food Programme (WFP) could suspend its operations in North Korea this year as restrictions on imports remain in place due the coronavirus pandemic, a report on its website showed Tuesday. According to the report, the UN aid agency has continued to be faced with difficulties in deploying its staff in the North, with its physical monitoring activities being curtailed for a prolonged period of time. "Pandemic-related restrictions do not ease and food imports, international staff de

North KoreaFeb. 23, 2021

Seoul says unfreezing Iranian fund in Korea requires US approval first

The South Korean Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said unfreezing Iranian assets held in Korean banks would require prior approval from the US, denying Tehran’s claim that a deal had already been reached.  　 On Monday, Tehran announced that the two sides had reached an agreement on transferring the frozen Iranian assets to their desired destinations, during a discussion between Central Bank of Iran Gov. Abdolnaser Hemmati and Korean Ambassador to Iran Ryu Jeong-hyun. 　 According to the

Foreign AffairsFeb. 23, 2021

[Newsmaker] Claims of past school violence sweep sports, showbiz

Celebrities and athletes are facing public outrage, following a string of accusations of past bullying. Following the bullying scandal that damaged the careers of four professional volleyball players this month, another volleyball player Park Sang-ha retired on Monday after admitting to allegations of school violence. Over the weekend, another allegation was raised that Hanwha Eagles baseball player Yoo Jang-hyuk assaulted and bullied a school mate during elementary school. The revelations ar

Social AffairsFeb. 23, 2021

First taxi service for those with COVID-19 symptoms launches in Busan

The first taxi service in South Korea exclusively for those with COVID-19 symptoms kicked off in Busan with the same fare system but will only run to and from home and local public health centers. The Busan city government said Tuesday a local taxi company named Tomato Taxi has started a cab service exclusively for those in need of COVID-19 checks with 32 taxi vehicles. The service was introduced following requests from Busan’s civic task force on COVID-19, the city said. The taxis used

Social AffairsFeb. 23, 2021

What Seoul mayor candidates have to say on LGBTQ festival

The issue of LGBTQ rights has come to the fore again in South Korea’s political circles, sparked by the recent remarks from one of the leading candidates to be Seoul mayor. The controversial remarks from minor opposition People’s Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo was made during a televised debate between him and rival candidate Keum Tae-sup last week while discussing an annual LGBTQ Pride parade held in central Seoul since 2000. The Seoul Queer Culture Festival, held every year since 200

Social AffairsFeb. 23, 2021

No relief money for violators of antivirus regulations: PM

Those who violate social distancing restrictions will not be eligible for an upcoming batch of emergency cash handouts, South Korea's prime minister said Tuesday. Chung Sye-kyun was warning of stern measures, including the so-called "one-strike, you're out" punishment, amid continued reports of some shops, restaurants and other businesses nationwide breaching a set of rules aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19. "At invisible places, there are frequent cases of social commitme

PoliticsFeb. 23, 2021

NK steelmaking workers urge nationwide efforts to ramp up production

Workers at a major steel plant in North Korea held a rally to firm up their commitment to meet their production target and call for nationwide efforts to achieve the first-year goal of the country's five-year economic development scheme, state media reported Tuesday. The rally held Monday at the Hwanghae Iron and Steel Complex came after leader Kim Jong-un criticized officials at a recent party meeting for showing "passive and self-protecting tendencies" in setting this year's goals a

North KoreaFeb. 23, 2021

[Graphic News] Paternity leave increases 23% in 2020

　The number of men going on paternity leave jumped 23 percent last year from the previous year, reflecting cultural and policy changes, the Labor Ministry said. 　The total number of private sector workers requesting paternity leave stood at 27,423 last year, more than double the number in 2017 (12,042), the ministry said. 　The increase can be attributed to more couples raising their children together and policies encouraging men to take leave, it said. 　The coronavirus pandemic likely con

NationalFeb. 23, 2021

S. Korea to begin inoculations this week, herd immunity by Nov. in question

South Korea will begin its first inoculations against the novel coronavirus later this week, health authorities said Tuesday, adding it might not be able to achieve herd immunity by November. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said it will launch the free inoculation program with British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca's vaccine Friday and with US pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc.'s vaccine Saturday. Starting at 9:00 a.m. Friday, health care workers and patients,

Social AffairsFeb. 23, 2021

New virus cases in 300s for 2nd day; high reproduction rate, variants still concerning

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed below 400 for the second straight day Tuesday on fewer tests over the weekend, but authorities are vigilant over the rising reproduction rate amid eased social distancing measures and an increase in the number of patients infected with COVID-19 variants. The country reported 357 more virus cases, including 330 local infections, raising the total caseload to 87,681, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). On Monday, S

Social AffairsFeb. 23, 2021

US working closely with S. Korea to maintain joint defense readiness: Pentagon official

The US and South Korea have maintained an adequate level of defense readiness and will continue to do so, an official from the US Department of Defense said Monday. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby also said the South Korea-US alliance will continue to remain strong as ever. "As Gen. Abrams has said many times, we do have to maintain a significant level of readiness on the peninsula," Kirby said, referring to Robert Abrams, commander of US Forces Korea. "And the secretary is confi

Foreign AffairsFeb. 23, 2021

[Newsmaker] Men's volleyball league suspended for 2 weeks after player tests positive for COVID-19

The South Korean professional volleyball league announced Tuesday the ongoing men's season will be suspended for two weeks, effective immediately, after a player tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO), which operates the V-League, reached the decision a few hours after Park Jin-u of the KB Insurance Stars tested positive for COVID-19 late Monday. The suspension will wipe out Tuesday evening's match between the Hyundai Capital Skywalkers and the Kepco

Social AffairsFeb. 23, 2021

US will build on 'Quad' to deal with China: State Dept.

The United States will continue to build on its multilateral dialogue in the Indo-Pacific, known as the Quad, to face many challenges in the region, including China, a spokesman for the US State Department said Monday. Ned Price also said the Quad will play a central role in the region. "When it comes to the Quad...it's an example of the United States and some of our closest partners pulling together for the good of a free and open Indo-Pacific," the department spokesman told a press

Foreign AffairsFeb. 23, 2021

Chemical accidents surged over 30% last year: institute

The number of chemical accidents soared by more than 30 percent last year, a government agency said Monday, indicating possible loopholes in the management of hazardous materials amid the growing prevalence of non-face-to-face work environments caused by the coronavirus outbreaks. According to the National Institute of Chemical Safety, affiliated with the Ministry of Environment, 75 chemical accidents were reported nationwide in 2020, marking a rise of 32 percent from 57 accidents in 2019. The

Social AffairsFeb. 22, 2021

Experts paint murky outlook for COVID-19 herd immunity

Health experts both inside and outside the government say Korea may be farther away from herd immunity against COVID-19 than previously thought. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jung Eun-kyeong said Monday that as more contagious variants of COVID-19 and other variables come into play, herd immunity “could take higher rates of vaccinations than the aimed 70 percent.” In a Jan. 25 briefing to the president, the Ministry of Health and Welfare had said 70 per

Social AffairsFeb. 22, 2021

Moon’s top aide returns to work after offering to resign over personnel spat

President Moon Jae-in’s senior secretary for civil affairs and justice Shin Hyun-soo has withdrawn his resignation after the president turned it down last week, putting a tentative end to a weeklong dispute over possible internal conflicts within the presidential office. “Shin has returned to work, entrusting his future to the president’s decision,” said Chung Man-ho, senior presidential secretary for public communication, during a media briefing Monday, adding that he

PoliticsFeb. 22, 2021

Unification minister calls for early resumption of inter-Korean dictionary project

Unification Minister Lee In-young called Monday for efforts to restart a long-suspended project to compile a unified Korean-language dictionary with North Korea, saying it will be a "firm step" toward unification. Lee made the remarks during his virtual speech at a forum on the inter-Korean project, urging for the early resumption of the project on the publication of a common Korean-language dictionary that began in 2005 as part of efforts to overcome language barriers between the two

North KoreaFeb. 22, 2021

Defense minister readies for nationwide vaccine rollout

South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook on Monday chaired a teleconference reviewing the last-minute preparations for the first round of coronavirus vaccinations to begin Friday. The military has practiced safely delivering the vaccines -- from AstraZeneca and Pfizer -- to about 340,000 patients and medical personnel in nursing homes and COVID-19 treatment centers.  Pfizer vaccines need to be kept at temperatures at least as cold as minus 60 degrees Celsius, while AstraZeneca vaccines can

DefenseFeb. 22, 2021

Police pledge maximum safety measures for vaccination

Police on Monday pledged all-out efforts to ensure the safety of the nation's COVID-19 inoculation program to be rolled out late this week. South Korea plans to begin to administer AstraZeneca's vaccines Friday and Pfizer's products Saturday. Pfizer's shots are scheduled to arrive in the country Friday while AstraZeneca's vaccines are produced in SK Bioscience Co.'s factory in Andong, 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Kim Chang-yong, chief of the National Police Agency (NPA), said the agency

Social AffairsFeb. 22, 2021

Homegrown COVID-19 vaccine may be available early next year: minister

South Korea could produce locally developed vaccines against the novel coronavirus early next year, the ICT minister said Monday, as the country seeks to prepare for a drawn-out fight against the pandemic. Minister of Science and ICT Choi Ki-young said the government will continue to support development of local vaccines against the virus even though the country has secured enough vaccines from foreign pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca. The country plans to roll

PoliticsFeb. 22, 2021