Defectors’ remittances to N. Korea down 18% in 2021 amid pandemic: NGO

Remittances from North Korean defectors to their families living across the inter-Korean border fell by 18.2 percent while Pyongyang has maintained a border lockdown for two years and strengthened controls over its society, Seoul-based nongovernmental organizations said in a joint report. The Database Center for North Korean Human Rights and North Korea Social Research conducted a mixed in-person, online, and telephone survey of 407 North Korean defectors living in South Korea between November

North KoreaDec. 29, 2021

[Feature] Coal-reliant families lack warmth this winter

This winter has been colder to Yang Jae-sook, a 57-year-old woman living in a shanty town near the Naksan Mountain Trail in northern Seoul.  “I need about nine coal briquettes (a day) to keep the house warm, but these days I’m trying to burn less because donations have decreased recently amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” Yang said. “Also, the price of the fuel has become quite burdensome, making me want to wait for volunteers to arrive with briquettes,” said the w

Social AffairsDec. 29, 2021

S. Korea conducted Dokdo defense drills last week: source

South Korea conducted regular military drills to strengthen the defense of its easternmost islets of Dokdo last week, an informed source said Wednesday, amid lingering tensions caused by Japan's persistent claims to the East Sea outcroppings. The country's military staged the drills to ensure their readiness to fend off potential foreign infiltrations to the rocky outcroppings, the source said without elaborating on the exact date and the size of the participating troops. "(The military)

DefenseDec. 29, 2021

About 2,000 wild dogs living in Jeju’s mid-mountain area: study

In Jeju Island’s less populated areas on the midslope of Hallasan, around 2,000 wild dogs are believed to be living in packs for hunting and breeding, a recent study revealed. According to Jeju National University’s Wildlife Rescue Center, which led the research, the population of wild dogs in the midsection of the mountain, lying between 300 meters and 600 meters above sea level, is estimated to be somewhere between 1,626 and 2,168. The researchers explained they are domestic dog

Social AffairsDec. 29, 2021

Population mobility falls for 11th month in Nov.

SEJONG -- The number of South Koreans who moved to different residences in the country dropped for the 11th straight month in November amid fewer newly available apartments, data showed Wednesday. The number of people who changed their residences sank 7.1 percent on-year to 567,000 last month, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. It marked the 11th consecutive month the number has dropped and was lower than the 10.7 percent decline posted in September. The fall was attributable

Social AffairsDec. 29, 2021

S. Korea's childbirths hit record low in Oct.

The number of babies born in South Korea sank to a record low in October, data showed Wednesday, highlighting the country's bleak demographic situation with the chronically low birth rate. A total of 20,736 babies were born in the country in October, down 5.2 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. It marked the lowest tally for any October since 1981, when the statistics agency began compiling related data. The October figure was also down from 21,920

Social AffairsDec. 29, 2021

S. Korea, US have effectively agreed on draft text of end-of-war declaration: FM Chung

South Korea and the United States have "effectively" agreed on the draft text of the proposed declaration of a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War, Seoul's top diplomat said Wednesday amid their continued push to resume dialogue with North Korea. Chung Eui-yong made the remarks during a press conference, noting he and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the progress in the allies' consultations over the declaration when they met on the margins of a Group of Seven session

Foreign AffairsDec. 29, 2021

Moon's 5-year presidency gets approval rating of 42.1%

About 42 percent of South Koreans think that President Moon Jae-in did a good job in handling state affairs over the past five years, an approval rating slighly higher than the vote he received in the 2017 presidential election, a poll showed Wednesday. Moon, who was elected president with 41.1 percent of the vote, has enjoyed relatively high approval ratings through his term so far, compared with his predecessors. His single-five year term ends in May after the March 9 presidential election.

PoliticsDec. 29, 2021

Military reports 27 more COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military on Wednesday reported 27 additional COVID-19 cases, with all of them being breakthrough infections, raising the total caseload among its personnel to 3,207. Of the new cases, 13 are from the Army, seven from the Air Force, four from the Navy and three from units under direct control of the ministry. Currently, 257 military personnel are under treatment. Of the total military caseload, 1,411 are breakthrough cases. (Yonhap)

DefenseDec. 29, 2021

Seoul citizens pick infectious diseases as most dangerous health hazard: survey

Citizens in Seoul picked infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, as the most dangerous health hazard, followed by fine dust and climate change, a survey showed Wednesday. Infectious diseases topped the list of dangerous health and environmental factors with 4.21 points on a 5-point scale in an online survey of 1,000 Seoul citizens and 321 experts on public health and the environment, according to the Seoul Research Institute of Public Health and Environment. Fine dust came in second at 4.02 poi

Social AffairsDec. 29, 2021

New COVID-19 cases bounce back to above 5,000; critical cases hit record high

South Korea's new coronavirus cases bounced back to above 5,000 for the first time in three days Wednesday and the number of critically ill patients surged to a record high. The country added 5,409 new COVID-19 infections, including 5,283 local infections, raising the total caseload to 620,938, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Wednesday's figure marked a rise from 3,865 on Tuesday and 4,206 on Monday, but it represented a sharp decline from a daily record h

Social AffairsDec. 29, 2021

CIO checked phone logs of 60 opposition lawmakers: PPP

The state anti-corruption investigation office has checked the phone logs of 60 lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), the party said Wednesday, accusing the powerful investigative agency of illegal surveillance. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) has come under fire following revelations that it obtained the phone records of journalists, politicians and their family members in an alleged attempt to identify the source of leaks to the media.

PoliticsDec. 29, 2021

US hopes N. Korea will respond positively to outreach for dialogue: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- The United States continues to hope that North Korea will respond positively to its outreach for dialogue, a state department spokesperson said Tuesday. Ned Price also reiterated that the US remains ready and willing to meet with North Korea without any preconditions. "We have made clear through our public messaging and private messaging as well that we are ready, willing and able to engage in this diplomacy," Price said in a telephonic press briefing. "And we are

Foreign AffairsDec. 29, 2021

NK leader orders 'important revolutionary measures' for rural development

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has presided over the second-day session of a key party plenary to discuss rural development measures, Pyongyang's state media reported Wednesday amid its drive to tackle nagging economic woes. During the meeting held Tuesday, Kim "set forth medium- and long-term development strategies and major tasks for attaining the grand goal of rural development in line with the realistic conditions and the requirement of the times," according to the North's offici

North KoreaDec. 29, 2021

KOICA offers $24m in overseas COVID-19 response aid in 2021

South Korea's overseas aid agency said Tuesday it has provided $24 million worth of support to help eight developing countries fight the COVID-19 pandemic this year. The support measures were meant to help the countries diagnose, treat and prevent COVID-19, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) said in a press release. The beneficiaries of the support program were Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Colombia, Ethiopia, Vietnam, the Philippines, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Jamaica.

Foreign AffairsDec. 28, 2021

Lee expresses opposition to pardoning ex-President Lee

Lee Jae-myung, the presidential nominee of the ruling Democratic Party, on Tuesday expressed opposition to granting a pardon to former President Lee Myung-bak, saying it could hamper national unity in the long term. After the government decided to pardon former President Park Geun-hye last week, some conservative supporters have been demanding that Lee, currently serving a 17-year prison term over embezzlement and bribery charges, should also be released. "We first need to think about whe

PoliticsDec. 28, 2021

To debate or not - candidates disagree

Whether to stage a televised debate or not is another topic being argued over between the two main contenders for South Korea’s upcoming presidential election, with no such event held so far with about 70 days left until the voting day. Lee Jae-myung, presidential nominee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, has called for his rival Yoon Suk-yeol from the main opposition People Power Party to join him for a debate over policies and visions as the two are the main contenders in the ong

PoliticsDec. 28, 2021

Most S. Koreans do not like China, Yoon says

Most South Koreans, especially younger people, don't like China even though the administration of President Moon Jae-in has pursued pro-China policies, main opposition presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol said Tuesday. Yoon of the People Power Party (PPP) made the remarks during a discussion hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in South Korea (AMCHAM) in his answer to a question about the country's dependence on exports to China. "The current government used policies skewed toward C

PoliticsDec. 28, 2021

S. Korea to become 9th largest donor to UN budget in 2022-24

South Korea will become the ninth-largest contributor to the United Nations' regular and peacekeeping budgets starting next year, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. The UN General Assembly on Friday approved the budget obligations for 193 member states, setting South Korea's share at 2.57 percent of the total funding for the 2022-24 period. The ratio was up from 2.27 percent for the 2019-21 period, moving the country's rank up two notches from the current 11th place. The ministry said South K

Foreign AffairsDec. 28, 2021

Polish-Belarus emergency is not migration but political crisis, says Polish envoy

Polish Ambassador to Korea Piotr Ostaszewski defended his country’s actions on the Poland-Belarus border, saying the current situation was not just a migration issue but a political crisis stirred up by the Aleksandra Lukashenka regime as retaliation for European Union sanctions against Belarus. Thousands of migrants, mostly from the Middle East are stranded on the Belarusian side of the border trying to cross into Poland. The United Nations last week called on the two countries to addre

Diplomatic CircuitDec. 28, 2021