NK leader visits mausoleum of grandfather, father to mark new year

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has visited the mausoleum of his late grandfather and father in his first reported public activity this year, Pyongyang's state media said Sunday. Kim paid tribute at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, where the bodies of state founder and his grandfather Kim Il-sung and his father, Kim Jong-il, are enshrined, on the occasion of the start of the new year, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The visit to the mausoleum came after he unveiled this ye

North KoreaJan. 2, 2022

New virus cases dip below 4,000, fast spread of omicron variant in focus

South Korea's new coronavirus cases fell below 4,000 on Sunday as the country has implemented tighter antivirus measures to stem the spike in virus infections and the fast spread of the omicron variant. The country added 3,833 new COVID-19 infections, including 3,683 local infections, raising the total caseload to 639,083, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The daily figure marked a decline from 4,875 reported Friday and 4,416 on Saturday. The fall was largel

Social AffairsJan. 2, 2022

[Photo News] 2022: The year of the tiger

According to the Chinese zodiac, there are twelve different animals that represent each year. The twelve different animals are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. As there are twelve different animals, there is a cycle that takes twelve years for a full rotation.  2021 was the Year of the Ox, which makes 2022 the Year of the Tiger. But to be exact, it is called the Year of the Black Tiger. It originates from the term “iminnyeon”,

Social AffairsJan. 1, 2022

New infections below 5,000 for 2nd day, distancing curbs extended for 2 more weeks

South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed below 5,000 for the second day in a row Saturday as the nation maintained tough social distancing restrictions to rein in the fast spread of COVID-19.  The country added 4,416 new COVID-19 infections, including 4,310 local infections, raising the total caseload to 635,253, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.   The daily figure marks a slight decline from 4,875 tallied a day earlier. South Korea reported 62 m

Social AffairsJan. 1, 2022

N. Korea focuses on economy in 2022 policy direction, skips specific messages on S. Korea, US

North Korean officials noted the "growing instability" of the military situation on the peninsula and emphasized the importance of boosting the country's defense capabilities, as they had a major Workers' Party plenary earlier this week, according to Pyongyang's state media Saturday. The North, however, stopped short of providing the outside world with fresh clues to its key policies related to inter-Korean ties and denuclearization talks with the United States.  During the fiv

North KoreaJan. 1, 2022

Moon expects March presidential election to bring hope for future

President Moon Jae-in said Saturday he expects the upcoming presidential election to bring hope for the future, with people expected to vote in a tight race in March between two main candidates.  "An election to pick a new president lies ahead," Moon said in a New Year's message posted on social media, adding he "expects an election that assures hope for the future together with people."  The presidential election will be held on March 9, and recent polls showed

PoliticsJan. 1, 2022

Defense minister reiterates political neutrality ahead of March presidential poll

South Korea's Defense Minister Suh Wook reiterated calls Friday for military personnel to maintain political neutrality as rival parties are revving up preparations for the March 9 presidential election. Suh made the calls in his New Year's message that highlighted the Moon Jae-in administration's resolve to strengthen "across-the-board" national defense while trying to reduce cross-border tensions. "As the presidential election and local elections are slated for March and June,

DefenseDec. 31, 2021

S. Korea reports sharpest gain in omicron cases

South Korea reported a sharp increase in omicron infections on Friday, with health authorities saying it was possible the coronavirus variant had already spread within the community. The country counted 269 new infections of the new variant, which pushed the total caseload to 894, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. It is the steepest gain since omicron was first detected in the country. Of the 269, 186 were foreign arrivals and 83 were local transmissions. Abou

Social AffairsDec. 31, 2021

Yoon’s ‘Am I an idiot?’ remark turns into a viral meme

The conservative opposition People Power Party‘s presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl asked the rhetorical question on Wednesday if he is an “idiot” to take part in a TV debate with his liberal rival Lee Jae-myung. His remark has now become a viral meme in online communities. At a campaign event on Wednesday in Andong, a conservative stronghold, Yoon dismissed a proposal by the candidate from the ruling Democratic Party to debate him. “The Democratic Party candidate w

PoliticsDec. 31, 2021

Ex-UN chief says 'end goal' of inter-Korean cooperation efforts should be N.Korea denuclearization

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday that North Korea's denuclearization should be the "end goal" of South Korea's efforts to improve inter-Korean relations, in a message for Seoul's next administration set to be launched in May. Ban made the remarks in a New Year's message, as the incumbent Seoul government's efforts for cross-border rapprochement have remained stalled with little headway in the endeavors to denuclearize the North. "While tenaciously pushing to d

Foreign AffairsDec. 31, 2021

Decade-old gaming curfew ends at midnight Friday

At the turn of the year, South Korea’s 10-year-old gaming curfew on minors under the age of 16 will be lifted.  From midnight Friday, Koreans can play through the night as the anti-addiction system, introduced in 2011, is abolished, according to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on Friday.  Previously, those aged 16 or younger were banned from playing online computer games between midnight and 6 a.m.  The National Assembly in November passed a revision to the You

Social AffairsDec. 31, 2021

Yoon stresses corruption probe of ex-president Park was not personal

Main opposition presidential nominee Yoon Suk-yeol stressed Friday that his investigation of former President Park Geun-hye was carried out in the line of duty as a senior prosecutor amid speculation her release from prison could hurt his election chances. Park became a free woman at midnight under a presidential pardon after serving nearly five years in prison. Her release puts Yoon of the People Power Party (PPP) in an awkward position as he headed the investigation of Park's corruption scand

PoliticsDec. 31, 2021

People Power Party strife peaks to extend into 2022

Strife within the main opposition People Power Party has reached its peak and is expected to carry onto 2022, as the latest attempt to bring peace fell short amid dwindling support for presidential nominee Yoon Suk-yeol on the last day of 2021. Kim Chong-in, head of Yoon’s presidential election campaign committee, said Friday his attempt to bring People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok back to the team failed after the two held a meeting over lunch in Seoul the same day. "Whet

PoliticsDec. 31, 2021

Year-end bell-ringing ceremonies canceled across country for 2nd year amid pandemic

Annual year-end bell-ringing ceremonies have been canceled across the nation for the second year in a row amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, officials said Friday. The country's most popular bell-ringing ceremony, which used to be held on New Year's Eve at Bosingak Pavilion in central Seoul, has been called off again, according to the Seoul city government. Instead, a virtual bell-ringing event will be livestreamed through YouTube and Facebook, the city said. It marks the second time the y

Social AffairsDec. 31, 2021

[Newsmaker] Mother of infant found inside roadside donation box faces infanticide charges

The mother of an infant found dead inside a clothing donation bin in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, earlier this month could face infanticide charges, the police said on Friday. According to the Osan police, investigators have sent the case to the prosecution on Thursday. The woman is accused of neglect leading to the death of the just-born boy in the bathroom of her house, where she had given birth. She is charged with discarding the baby’s body in a roadside clo

Social AffairsDec. 31, 2021

Assembly passes bill on lowering age of candidacy for parliament to 18

The National Assembly on Friday passed a bill that lowers the age of candidacy for parliament and local elections from 25 to 18. Under the bill, which is expected to be endorsed by the Cabinet next month, anyone aged 18 and above can run for a seat in the National Assembly starting with the by-elections slated for March 9, when the presidential election will be held simultaneously. At least five seats will be up for grabs in the 300-seat Assembly. The bill passed 204-12, with 10 abstentions.

PoliticsDec. 31, 2021

Military reports 22 more COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military on Friday reported 22 additional COVID-19 cases, including 21 breakthrough infections, raising the total caseload among its personnel to 3,257. Of the new cases, 16 are from the Army and two from the Navy, two from the Air Force and two from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the defense ministry said. Currently, 272 military personnel are under treatment. Of the total military caseload, 1,457 are breakthrough cases. (Yonhap)

Social AffairsDec. 31, 2021

S. Korea emitted 701.3m tons of greenhouse gas in 2019: environment ministry

South Korea emitted a total of 701.3 million tons of greenhouse gas in 2019, the environment ministry said Friday. The 2019 figure, confirmed by the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Research Center, represents a 3.5 percent drop from the 2018 tally, according to the ministry. The decrease came largely from a reduction in power plant emissions from 268.5 million tons to 248.7 million tons and alternative ozone layer depleting substances from 8.8 million tons to 6.3 million tons. But road transport

Social AffairsDec. 31, 2021

New COVID-19 cases below 5,000, distancing curbs extended for 2 weeks

South Korea's new coronavirus cases fell below 5,000 for the first time in three days Friday, but the government decided to extend toughened social distancing rules for two more weeks through mid-January to try to reduce critical cases and contain the omicron variant. The country added 4,875 new COVID-19 infections, including 4,758 local infections, raising the total caseload to 630,838, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The daily tally represented a sharp de

Social AffairsDec. 31, 2021

N. Korea has final review on draft resolution for year-end party plenary

North Korea has discussed a draft resolution expected to be adopted at the close of an ongoing key party meeting, its state media reported Friday, amid expectations the document could include its foreign policy line for the new year. The North convened a fourth day of the 4th Plenary Meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's 8th Central Committee on Thursday, during which participants "concluded sectional workshops and consultative sessions," according to the official Korean Central News

North KoreaDec. 31, 2021