Most Popular
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Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone
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[Exclusive] Korean adoptee sisters meet for the first time in 39 years
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Rose's 'Apt.' redefines K-pop's global appeal
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Two years on, thousands mourn Itaewon tragedy, calling for accountability
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[Herald Interview] Love for K-drama, food defines 'Secret Ingredient'
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Hanwha, HD Hyundai vie for Poland’s $2.7b submarine program
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First lady’s controversies to top agenda at meeting of party leaders
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[Photo News] Rallying against LGBTQ+
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4 in 10 young South Koreans take up 'irregular' jobs: data
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SM founder Lee Soo-man is back with A2O Entertainment
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Moderna to supply COVID-19 vaccine to S. Korea in May
US biotech firm Moderna is slated to provide 40 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine as early as March, according to news reports Friday. The move came after the Korean government on Thursday inked a deal with the company to purchase vaccine doses for 20 million or more people. "Under the terms of the proposed agreement, deliveries would begin in May 2021,” the company said in a statement. "COVID-19 vaccine is not currently approved for use in South Korea, and the co
Social AffairsJan. 1, 2021
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Justice minister apologizes over massive virus outbreak at detention center
Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae on Friday apologized over massive coronavirus infections among inmates at a detention center in Seoul. Choo has been under fire for belatedly responding to COVID-19 infections at Dongbu Detention Center in southeastern Seoul, in which over 900 cases have been confirmed over the past month. "As justice minister overseeing correctional facilities, I feel sorry for causing anxiety among people with regard to the spread of the coronavirus at Dongbu Detention Cente
PoliticsJan. 1, 2021
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Ruling party chief to seek pardons for 2 imprisoned former
Ruling Democratic Party Chairman Lee Nak-yon said Friday he will ask President Moon Jae-in "at an appropriate time" to grant pardons to two former conservative presidents imprisoned for corruption charges. Lee, who served as prime minister under the Moon administration, made the remarks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency, also stressing that the party should play an active role in pushing for the matter in order to promote national unity. As this year will be effecti
PoliticsJan. 1, 2021
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S. Korea to require foreign arrivals to test negative for COVID-19
South Korea will require foreigners to test negative for the novel coronavirus before arrival, starting at airports next week, as the nation steps up its fight against the pandemic amid a winter wave of the virus, officials said Friday. Foreign arrivals must have a negative polymerase chain reaction coronavirus test taken within 72 hours before their departure to South Korea, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The rule for foreigners arriving at South Korean airpor
Social AffairsJan. 1, 2021
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Moon pledges to 'get normal lives back' in new year
President Moon Jae-in said Friday he will work with the people to make sure they reclaim their "normal lives" in the new year after overcoming the coronavirus pandemic. "With the power of coexistence, we will certainly get normal lives back," Moon said in a Facebook message. "Not only in the virus fight but also in the economy, climate environment and peace on the Korean Peninsula, we will take the lead in the winds of change." Thanking the people for exer
PoliticsJan. 1, 2021
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New infections above 1,000 again amid no signs of slowdown
South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases rose above 1,000 again Friday as health authorities are expected to extend the current social distancing rules. The country added 1,029 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,004 local infections, raising the total caseload to 61,769, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The tally marked a rise from 967 cases Thursday, 1,050 cases Wednesday, 1,045 cases Tuesday and 807 cases Monday. Over the past seven days, the nation'
Social AffairsJan. 1, 2021
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NK leader sends handwritten New Year greetings to people
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un extended New Year's greetings in a short letter to the people Friday, apparently skipping his trademark address on the first day of the year ahead of a rare party congress expected to take place soon. "I sincerely wish all the families across the country greater happiness and beloved people, good health. In the new year, too, I will work hard to bring earlier the new era in which the ideals and desires of our people will come true," Kim said in t
North KoreaJan. 1, 2021
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Pandemic dampens New Year celebrations
South Koreans are settling in for a subdued New Year holiday, as gatherings are restricted and festivities have been cancelled in the face of a third wave of coronavirus flare-up. Assemblies of five or more people are banned in the greater Seoul area and ski resorts and other tourist spots across the country have been shut down as part of measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. On Thursday, the country reported 967 confirmed cases, bringing the t
Social AffairsDec. 31, 2020
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S. Korea signs deal with Moderna to buy COVID-19 vaccines for 20 million
South Korea on Thursday signed a deal with US biotech company Moderna to buy new coronavirus vaccine doses for 20 million people, with the supply to begin in the second quarter of next year, health authorities said. Following the deal, the total amount of COVID-19 vaccines South Korea has secured is enough to inoculate 56 million people, more than enough to cover the country's population of 52 million, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). &nbs
Social AffairsDec. 31, 2020
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Moon names new chief of staff
President Moon Jae-in named You Young-min, former minister of science and ICT, as his new chief of staff, Cheong Wa Dae announced Thursday. You replaces Moon’s longest-serving chief of staff, Noh Young-min, who resigned the previous day after a two-year stint to give the president fresh momentum as he enters his fifth year in office. On Wednesday, three top aides offered their resignations as the Moon administration faces harsh criticism over the nation’s slow COVID-19
PoliticsDec. 31, 2020
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Rapper quits K-pop boy band BTOB amid probe into alleged marijuana use
K-pop band BTOB's rapper Jung Il-hoon has left the group, the band's management agency said Thursday, one week after allegations of marijuana use came to light. "(The agency) decided to respect Jung's wish to leave BTOB in order not to inflict more damage on the group," CUBE Entertainment said. "Jung feels a sense of grave responsibility and deeply regrets breaking the trust of fans and letting them down," it added. Last week, police said they referred the 26-year-old rapp
Social AffairsDec. 31, 2020
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2 USFK-affiliated people test positive for new coronavirus
A retired American service member and his spouse tested positive for the new coronavirus, the US Forces Korea (USFK) said Thursday. The individuals, who reside in the city of Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, developed symptoms consistent with the virus and were confirmed Wednesday to have been infected, according to USFK. They last visited Camp Humphreys in the city on Dec. 18 and are currently in isolation at a facility at the camp designated for COVID-19 patients, the command s
Social AffairsDec. 31, 2020
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USFK-affiliated S. Korean civilians, troops begin getting COVID-19 vaccinations
South Korean civilian workers and troops affiliated with the US Forces Korea (USFK) began getting COVID-19 vaccinations Thursday, the US military said, becoming the country's first citizens to get inoculated against the virus. The first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for USFK members arrived in South Korea last week, and the command began administering its initial doses to front-line health care workers, first responders and its command team. Korean nationals affiliated with USFK, in
DefenseDec. 31, 2020
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Year two of pandemic: What’s in store for Korea
Much of 2021 will be a repeat of 2020. But as vaccines enter the scene, experts say some degree of normalcy might begin to return by the year’s end. Infectious disease expert Dr. Kim Woo-joo of Korea University Medical Center said the second year of the pandemic will be characterized by the “vaccine divide” at a global level. “You might need to be vaccinated if you want to travel this year, for instance,” he said. As of Thursday, around 25 countries hav
Social AffairsDec. 31, 2020
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Moon picks former Science Minister You Young-min as chief of staff
President Moon Jae-in has tapped You Young-min, a former science and technology minister, as his new chief of staff, Cheong Wa Dae announced Thursday. You, known for his IT expertise from decades of experience in a related corporate sector, is succeeding Noh Young-min, who tendered his resignation the previous day following a two-year stint. Noh was quoted as saying that he wants to leave room for fresh momentum in Moon's presidency, which is facing a host of challenges from housing market ins
PoliticsDec. 31, 2020
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Ex-UN chief Ban calls for rectification of ban on sending anti-N. Korea leaflets
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Thursday for the government to "rectify" a recently legislated ban on sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into North Korea, saying the law made South Korea a target of international human rights criticism. Ban made the call in his pre-released New Year's speech posted on his foundation's website, as US politicians and other critics voiced concerns that the ban could hurt freedom of expression and efforts to deliver outside information into th
North KoreaDec. 31, 2020
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New COVID-19 rules to be announced Saturday as winter holiday season near its end
South Korea will decide on new social distancing rules Saturday, as the country continues to battle the third and deadliest COVID-19 wave to date, officials said Thursday. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said officials are in discussion with experts and local governments to come up with a new plan starting Monday, as the social distancing rules in place will reach their end by Sunday’s end. At the moment, the region of Greater Seoul, which includes Incheon and
Social AffairsDec. 31, 2020
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[Newsmaker] Medical students who boycotted licensing exam get second chance
The government will allow fourth-year medical students to retake a state medical licensing exam they boycotted, a reversal of its previous position, as the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic threatens to cause a shortage of doctors. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said during a press briefing Thursday that the government will administer the practical test again in January as a precaution, to address the anticipated shortage of medical personnel next year. “We are dee
Social AffairsDec. 31, 2020
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President’s son urges critics to stop attacking what he does for living
President Moon Jae-in’s son Moon Joon-yong said he can accept criticism against the “president’s son,” but cannot accept the denunciation of what he does for a living. “Since the reason politicians criticize me through mass media is to attack the president of the rival camp, I point out that their intention is lousy,” Moon, 38, wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. Opposition politicians have questioned the fairness of the city of Seoul’s decision to grant M
Social AffairsDec. 31, 2020
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S. Korea's bird flu countermeasures put to test as farm-linked caseload nears 40
South Korea was struggling to contain the spread of highly pathogenic bird flu among local poultry farms as the number of such cases reached nearly 40 on Thursday, but the influx of migratory birds continued to strain the antivirus fight. The latest highly contagious H5N8 strain of bird flu was found from a duck farm in Gimpo, just north of Seoul, on the previous day, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. Among the 37 farm-related cases reported so far, 10 came from
Social AffairsDec. 31, 2020