S. Korea vows efforts to support vaccination in Asia's developing nations

South Korea reaffirmed its commitment to comprehensive vaccine support for Asia's developing countries during a virtual session hosted by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to Seoul's foreign ministry Tuesday. Second Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-moon delivered the message at the COVID-19 Global Action Meeting held the previous day. Choi said South Korea will offer a "support package," including vaccine supplies, cold chains, storage logistics, to help improve health car

Foreign AffairsFeb. 15, 2022

[Graphic News] Apartment purchases by young people hit record high last year: data

　The proportion of apartments bought by people in their 30s or younger reached an all-time high last year amid “panic buying” over soaring housing prices, data showed. 　The buyers in this age group accounted for 31 percent of the country’s total apartment sales in 2021, up from 29.2 percent in 2020, according to the data compiled by the Korea Real Estate Board. 　The agency began compiling the related data in 2019, and the figure for that year came to 28.3 percent. 　In Seoul

Social AffairsFeb. 15, 2022

New COVID-19 cases hit fresh high of 57,177 amid omicron woes

South Korea's daily COVID-19 infections rose sharply to hit another high of over 57,000 cases Tuesday, putting health authorities on alert amid the fast spread of the highly transmissible omicron variant across the nation. The country reported 57,177 new COVID-19 infections, including 57,012 local cases, raising the total caseload to 1,462,421, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The latest figure marked the sixth day in a row that daily infections have surpassed

Social AffairsFeb. 15, 2022

Americans advised not to travel to S. Korea amid COVID-19 surge

WASHINGTON -- The US government on Monday advised its people against travel to South Korea amid reports of widespread COVID-19 infections in the Northeast Asian nation. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added South Korea to the "very high" risk Level 4 category, along with five other countries and territories, including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Comoros, French Polynesia and Saint Pierre and Miquelon "If you must travel to South Korea, make sure you are vaccinated

Foreign AffairsFeb. 15, 2022

Official presidential campaign period kicks off

The official presidential campaign period kicked off Tuesday for a 22-day run, allowing candidates to rally on streets and ad campaigns to hit the air in a final appeal to voters ahead of the election on March 9. Lee Jae-myung, the candidate of the ruling Democratic Party, launched his campaign of the official period at the stroke of midnight with a visit to a vessel traffic control tower in the southeastern port city of Busan. Yoon Suk-yeol, the candidate of the main opposition People Power Par

PoliticsFeb. 15, 2022

N. Korea to issue commemorative coins marking late former leader's birthday

North Korea will issue commemorative coins to mark the upcoming birth anniversary of its late leader, state media reported Tuesday, in a move to kick up a festive mood for the national holiday. The standing committee of the Supreme People's Assembly decided to issue the gold and silver coins in celebration of the 80th birthday of Kim Jong-il, late father of current leader Kim Jong-un, which falls on Wednesday this year, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency. The coins are

North KoreaFeb. 15, 2022

Another natural quake hits near N. Korea's nuclear test site: weather agency

A natural earthquake struck near North Korea's nuclear test site again Tuesday, South Korea's weather agency said, marking the fourth quake to hit the region in just five days. The 2.5 magnitude quake struck about 38 kilometers north-northwest of Kilju, North Hamgyong Province, at 6:52 a.m., the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said. "It has been analyzed as a natural earthquake," an agency official said. The epicenter was at a latitude of 41.29 degrees north and a longitude o

North KoreaFeb. 15, 2022

Two natural quakes hit near N. Korea's nuclear test site: KMA

Two minor natural earthquakes hit near North Korea's nuclear testing site Monday, South Korea's state weather agency said. A 2.3 magnitude tremor occurred about 36 kilometers north-northwest of Kilju, North Hamgyong Province, at 2:33 p.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). At 7:47 p.m., another 2.3 magnitude quake struck about 37 kilometers north of the region, where North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear testing site is located, the KMA said. Both are presumed to have o

Social AffairsFeb. 14, 2022

14 candidates register for March presidential election

A total of 14 candidates will run in the March 9 presidential election, the state election commission said Monday as it concluded the two-day candidate registration. The National Election Commission said 11 people registered their names Sunday and three more joined the race Monday. On Sunday, Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party, Ahn Cheol-soo of the centrist People's Party and Sim Sang-jeung of the minor progressive Justi

PoliticsFeb. 14, 2022

S. Korea rolls out 4th COVID-19 shots as omicron outbreaks grip nursing homes

South Korea is rolling out fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccines to immunocompromised individuals and residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities starting this month. Novavax’s vaccine will be offered to people who remain unvaccinated and also in a mixed regimen to people who have had an adverse reaction to a dose of a different vaccine. According to a Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announcement Monday, the fourth dose of an mRNA vaccine -- either from Pfiz

Social AffairsFeb. 14, 2022

Regular school screenings would cause kids ‘needless anguish’

As spring semester approaches amid the omicron surge, the South Korean government is mulling rapid antigen screening of students and staff as part of its back-to-school plans. The Ministry of Education said Monday rapid antigen testing may become a staple at kindergartens and the 1st through the 12th grade when the new semester begins in March. Earlier in the day, the ministry had announced that they would carry out the testing, but ministry officials later would not confirm to The Korea He

Social AffairsFeb. 14, 2022

Moon orders plans for safe evacuation amid Ukraine crisis

President Moon Jae-in on Monday ordered government ministries to prepare for the safe evacuation of Koreans in Ukraine, and draw up measures to mitigate damages to Korean companies, citing the threat of a looming Russian invasion of Ukraine. “We need to implement what we can do right away and prepare closely for the worst,” Moon said, presiding over an external economic security strategy meeting. “In case of emergency, it is necessary to make every effort to evacuate and with

Foreign AffairsFeb. 14, 2022

Two years into pandemic, international programs continue despite obstacles for students

For nearly two years, international programs at universities and schools had to adapt to change as mandatory quarantine and remote learning were brought in. But recent data shows there has been little change in demand despite the COVID measures. A total of 152,281 students came to South Korea to study last year, according to data from the Korean Educational Development Institute. The figure is slightly down from 2020 when it stood at 153,695 and has fallen for two years in a row since 2019 wh

Social AffairsFeb. 14, 2022

Presidential candidates report financial status

Ahn Cheol-soo of the People’s Party is the wealthiest among the 11 presidential candidates, according to data submitted to the National Election Commission. The candidates’ financial reports submitted to commission show that Ahn is the has net assets of 197 billion won ($164 million). Among the four major candidates, Yoon Suk-yeol from the People Power Party came second with 7.7 billion won, followed by Lee Jae-myung from Democratic Party with 3.2 billion won. Sim Sang-jung of the

PoliticsFeb. 14, 2022

S. Korea to evacuate citizens from Ukraine amid looming crisis with Russia

South Korea plans to evacuate its citizens from Ukraine within a couple of days in an additional operation amid growing fears of a Russian invasion, the foreign ministry said Monday. A total of 281 Korean nationals, including diplomatic staff, are staying in Ukraine as of Monday, and about 100 plan to leave the nation by Tuesday, it noted. "The government is urging Korean nationals to leave Ukraine as soon as possible via available flights or land routes as a Level 4 travel advisory was iss

Foreign AffairsFeb. 14, 2022

Military reports 308 more COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military on Monday reported 308 additional COVID-19 cases, raising the total caseload among its domestic personnel to 8,945. The new cases included 178 from the Army, 80 from the Air Force, 17 from the Navy, 13 from units under the direct control of the defense ministry and 12 from the Marine Corps. There were also five cases from the ministry, two from the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command and one from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Currently, 3,566 military personnel are under t

Social AffairsFeb. 14, 2022

Yoon, Ahn butt heads over merger of candidacies

The campaigns of main opposition presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol and minor candidate Ahn Cheol-soo clashed Monday over the right way to merge their campaigns, with Yoon's side rejecting Ahn's proposal of a public opinion survey. Ahn of the centrist People's Party proposed the merger with Yoon of the conservative People Power Party (PPP) on Sunday, with less than a month to go until the March 9 election. Ahn said the two sides should field a single candidate to take on ruling

PoliticsFeb. 14, 2022

[News Focus] No, animals were harmed in the making of this episode

State-run broadcasting company KBS announced last week it is adopting guidelines for animals in productions, responding to a prolonged dispute and ensuing public outrage over a horse’s death after filming of historical drama “The King of Tears, Lee Bang-won.” Last month, it was revealed that the production team of “Lee Bang-won” had forcibly tripped over a horse while shooting, causing the stuntman’s injury and the horse’s death a week afterwards. It wa

Social AffairsFeb. 14, 2022

[Herald Interview] Yoon Suk-yeol eyes return of market-oriented, happiness centered economy

Since joining the presidential race as a political novice representing the main opposition People Power Party, Yoon Suk-yeol has emphasized how much damage South Korea endured under the incumbent administration, promising the next five years will be drastically different under his lead. Partly siding with free-market policies and advocating for happier lives of the people, Yoon is preparing to assign a new role for the central government: assisting businesses and facilitating their growth, rath

PoliticsFeb. 14, 2022

[Herald Interview] 'Lee Jae-myung's universal basic income would change society'

Bringing universal basic income to South Korea is central to the socioeconomic vision of Lee Jae-myung, the presidential nominee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. Under the scheme, citizens would unconditionally receive the same sum of money each year, a plan touted by Lee and his aides as a means to tackle growing inequality and provide funds for people to sustain their livelihoods should difficulties arise. Some will receive more based on their social and economic standings. Kang Nam

PoliticsFeb. 14, 2022