[Graphic News] Korea’s total fertility rate hits record low last year

　South Korea’s total fertility rate hit a record low last year as the number of childbirths continued to fall, data showed, underlining the country’s bleak demographic situation. 　The country’s total fertility rate - the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime - came to 0.81 last year, down from 0.84 the previous year, according to Statistics Korea. 　It marked the lowest since 1970 when the statistics agency began compiling related data. Last year marked the

NationalMarch 14, 2022

S. Korea's new COVID-19 cases above 300,000 for 3rd day as omicron rages

South Korea reported more than 300,000 new COVID-19 cases for a third consecutive day Monday as the virus wave, fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant, continued to grip the nation. The country added 309,790 new COVID-19 infections, the majority of which coming from local transmissions, putting the total caseload at 6,866,222, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Monday's count is a drop from the previous day's 350,190, due largely to fewer tests on the weeke

Social AffairsMarch 14, 2022

Yoon's spokesperson denies report on PM's retention

A spokesperson for President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol denied a news report Monday that Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is being considered for retention in the incoming government. The Chosun Ilbo newspaper carried the report earlier in the day, saying retaining Kim would avoid political wrangling during the parliamentary confirmation process for a new prime minister and demonstrate a commitment to working together with the opposition party. "Prime Minister Kim is a person of virtue and is respect

PoliticsMarch 14, 2022

USTR Tai to visit S. Korean-run factory to mark 10th anniversary of KORUS FTA

US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai and South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo will visit a factory run by a South Korean company in Michigan this week to mark the 10th anniversary of the enactment of the Korea-US free trade agreement, her office said Sunday. "On Wednesday March 16, 2022, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai will travel to the Detroit area, Auburn, and Bay City, Michigan," the office of the USTR said in a press release. "Ambassador Tai, Congr

Foreign AffairsMarch 14, 2022

Govt. to begin vaccinating children aged 5-11 against COVID-19 in late March

The government will begin vaccinating children aged 5-11 against COVID-19 late this month, Interior Minister Jeon Hae-cheol said Monday. The safety of COVID-19 vaccines for children has been sufficiently proven abroad while COVID-19 patients aged 11 or under have surpassed 15 percent of all cases in the country, Jeon said during a COVID-19 response meeting. "The government will carry out vaccination for young children aged between 5-11, who have been excluded from inoculation, from late M

Social AffairsMarch 14, 2022

Russia strikes near Ukrainian capital; port city under siege

MARIUPOL, Ukraine (AP) -- Russian forces pounded the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on Saturday, shelling its downtown as residents hid in an iconic mosque and elsewhere to avoid the explosions. Fighting also raged in the outskirts of the capital, Kyiv, as Russia kept up its bombardment of other cities throughout the country. Mariupol has endured some of Ukraine's worst punishment since Russia invaded. Unceasing barrages have thwarted repeated attempts to bring food, water and medicine into the

Foreign AffairsMarch 13, 2022

Yoon appoints Ahn Cheol-soo as chief of presidential transition committee

People’s Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo will lead the presidential transition committee, President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol said Sunday, in a speedy move to launch the committee for a smooth transition of power from the incumbent government. “Ahn Cheol-soo and I share values and philosophy on state affairs management and we have already met (for discussion) after the election,” Yoon said during a press briefing on Sunday. “Ahn is willing to lead the presidential transition

PoliticsMarch 13, 2022

S. Korea‘s daily COVID-19 cases stay over 350,000, critical cases rise

South Korea‘s daily COVID-19 infections stayed over 350,000 for two days in a row, government data showed, Sunday. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the country reported 350,190 new COVID-19 cases during the 24 hours of Saturday. The daily tally was slightly down from the all-time high of 383,665 seen the previous day. The decrease was likely due to fewer people being tested during the weekend. Of the locally transmitted cases reported, infections from Seoul a

Social AffairsMarch 13, 2022

President-elect to break away from Moon administration’s Cabinet gender quota

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol will not adopt a gender or regional quota for his presidential transition committee or his Cabinet when he begins his presidency. A key official on Yoon’s team has said that his personnel will be based on their talent and ability, Yonhap reported Sunday. “To serve the public, you need to look at their talent, not their story,” the official was quoted as saying by the news agency. The move is a departure from a gender quota during the Moon Jae-i

PoliticsMarch 13, 2022

[Newsmaker] Companies Leaving Russia Don’t Know If and When They’ll Return

(Bloomberg) -- When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, companies rushed behind the Iron Curtain to plant their flag in Russian soil. Icons of capitalism, from Apple Inc. to McDonald’s Corp. to Adidas AG, went on to build profitable businesses in the ensuing years as consumers clamored for a slice of Western lifestyle. In just a few short days, those longstanding ties have unraveled. After Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, a mass corporate exodus set in, starting wi

Foreign AffairsMarch 13, 2022

Trade chief, lawmakers to visit US this week for 10th anniv. of KORUS FTA

South Korea's trade minister and some lawmakers will visit the United States this week to mark the 10th anniversary of the implementation of the two nations' free trade agreement, the trade ministry said Sunday. Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo and a parliamentary delegation led by Rep. Lee Hack-young, chief of the parliamentary committee on trade and industry, will visit the US between Monday and Friday, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. They plan to attend an event to celebrat

Foreign AffairsMarch 13, 2022

Foreign ministry extends COVID-19 advisory against all overseas travel

The foreign ministry renewed its COVID-19 special advisory against all overseas travel for another month Sunday in what is expected to be the last extension of the advisory that was first issued two years ago. In the advisory effective until April 13, the ministry warned against travelling to all countries and regions due to the global spread of the omicron variant while asking those overseas to take measures to prevent exposure to the virus. The advisory was first issued in March 2020 and has b

Social AffairsMarch 13, 2022

NK outlet slams S. Korea for denouncing satellite project as ICBM development

A North Korean propaganda machine slammed South Korea on Sunday for denouncing what Pyongyang claims were recent satellite launch tests as efforts to develop a new intercontinental ballistic missile, arguing it is a double standard to take issue with space projects that all countries are entitled to undertake. South Korea and the United States have recently announced their assessment that Pyongyang's purported satellite tests on Feb. 27 and March 5 were part of efforts to develop a new ICBM syst

North KoreaMarch 13, 2022

New COVID-19 cases above 350,000 for 2nd day amid omicron wave

South Korea's daily COVID-19 cases stayed above 350,000 for the second straight day Sunday as the country is grappling with the fast spread of the omicron variant. The country reported 350,190 new COVID-19 infections, including 350,157 local cases, raising the total caseload to 6,556,453, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The tally fell from an all-time high of 383,664 on Saturday due largely to less testing on the weekend. The omicron variant is spreading a

Social AffairsMarch 13, 2022

Main fire of east coast wildfires extinguished: KFS

ULJIN -- The main fire of massive wildfires in the eastern coastal areas has been put out after more than 213 hours since the blaze started more than eight days ago, the Korea Forest Service said Sunday. Choi Byeong-am, head of the Korea Forest Service (KFS), said although the main fire has been extinguished, firefighters are still working to put out the remaining fires. The blaze started in the east coastal town of Uljin on March 4, about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and became the coun

Social AffairsMarch 13, 2022

N. Korea appears to have started demolishing S. Korean-built hotel

　 North Korea appears to have begun to dismantle some of the South Korean-built facilities at the Mount Kumgang resort, a report has said. 　Citing satellite images taken from March 5-9 by Planet Labs, the Voice of America said Friday (U.S. time) that the roof of the Haegumgang Hotel had become darker in the photos. The images also showed that heavy machinery was located in front of the floating hotel. 　The previous day, the South Korean government said it had detected similar moves at the

North KoreaMarch 12, 2022

US will call out N. Korea's bad behavior, but remains open to dialogue: U.S. officials

The US will continue to call out “bad behavior” from North Korea, a Pentagon spokesperson said Friday, amid speculation that the recalcitrant state may be preparing for a nuclear or an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test. 　“We made these revelations public, we announced some of the additional ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and enhanced readiness we were taking because we believe it’s important to call out the behavior that we‘

North KoreaMarch 12, 2022

New cases hit record high of over 380,000; COVID-19 death toll tops 10,000

South Korea‘s daily coronavirus cases hit another record high of over 380,000 on Saturday amid the omicron surge, with the death toll surpassing 10,000. 　The country reported 383,665 new COVID-19 infections, including 　383,590 local cases, raising the total caseload to 6,206,277, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). 　It marks the largest-ever daily count, surpassing the previous daily high of 342,446 cases tallied Wednesday. 　 Total cases also reached

Social AffairsMarch 12, 2022

U.S. imposes sanctions on 5 Russian entities related to N.Korea

The US imposed sanctions on five Russian entities, including two Russian nationals, for aiding North Korea‘s ballistic missile programs Friday. 　“The DPRK continues to launch ballistic missiles in blatant violation of international law, posing a grave threat to global security,” Brian Nelson, under secretary of the treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, was quoted as saying, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of

North KoreaMarch 12, 2022

NK reports on Yoon’s election win

North Korean state media on Friday reported on conservative candidate Yoon Suk-yeol’s win as South Korea’s new president, marking the regime’s first coverage of the election result.  In a brief report, the North’s Korean Central News Agency said, “Yoon Suk-yeol, a candidate of the conservative opposition ‘People Power Party,’ won by a narrow margin in the 20th ‘presidential election’ held in South Korea on March 9.” The Rodong Sin

Foreign AffairsMarch 11, 2022