Biden’s vaccine export plans boost ‘vaccine swap’ prospects for Korea

US President Joe Biden on Monday (US time) announced plans to send an additional 20 million doses of approved COVID-19 vaccines to other countries by the end of June, giving a boost to Seoul’s prospects of securing vaccines through a swap arrangement with Washington. 　 The pledged vaccines were produced by US drugmakers Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson, and this is the first time that the US is sending shots authorized for domestic use to other nations. This brings the total ear

Foreign AffairsMay 18, 2021

S. Korea's COVID-19 variant cases top 1,000, set to further rise

South Korea has confirmed 247 more cases of major variants of the new coronavirus, raising the total caseload to over 1,000, amid concerns that the country's fight against the pandemic may be stressed by more transmissible strains of the virus. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said of the newly identified variant cases from May 9 to 15, 195 were local infections, while 52 were imported cases, bringing the total variant cases the country has confirmed since October last yea

Social AffairsMay 18, 2021

Anti-corruption agency raids Seoul education office over power abuse case

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials on Tuesday raided the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education over alleged hiring irregularities surrounding five teachers in connection with an ongoing probe against the city’s education chief.  Seoul Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon is accused of abusing his power by pressing for a special employment process for five teachers who were fired after being convicted of violating the Public Official Election Act. The

Social AffairsMay 18, 2021

38 S. Koreans flown from India test positive for COVID-19

A total of 38 South Koreans who arrived from India this month on special flights tested positive for the new coronavirus, health authorities said Tuesday. Of 1,039 Koreans brought home from the pandemic-ravaged country, 3.2 percent were confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Of the patients, 15 Koreans were screened at the airport and the reminder tested positive while being placed under quarantine at state-designated

Social AffairsMay 18, 2021

Nation marks anniversary of Gwangju pro-democracy uprising

GWANGJU -- South Korea marked the 41st anniversary of the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju on Tuesday, as the historic incident drew fresh attention amid Myanmar citizens' struggle against the military junta. About 200 people were killed and thousands injured in the southwestern city from May 18-27, 1980, as the military brutally cracked down on protestors who rose up against the ruling junta led by Chun Doo-hwan. In a commemorative social media message, President Moon Jae-in expressed s

PoliticsMay 18, 2021

Military investigators raid arms procurement agency over alleged military secrets leak

Investigators from the defense intelligence command raided the arms procurement agency over allegations that an agency official leaked confidential information on major defense projects, officials said Tuesday. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) official is suspected of leaking internal documents on several military technology development projects to private defense firms, including the development of a submarine sonar system, according to the officials. During Monday's raid

DefenseMay 18, 2021

Employment rate of NK defectors drops 3.8% last year amid pandemic: ministry

The employment rate of North Korean defectors in South Korea fell 3.8 percent last year amid the coronavirus pandemic, the unification ministry said Tuesday. The ministry released the latest data in a new master plan on settlement support for North Korea defectors for 2021-2023 and the implementation plan for this year. The employment rate of North Korean defectors last year was 54.4 percent, down from the previous year's 58.2 percent, behind that of South Korean-born citizens (60.4 percent).

North KoreaMay 18, 2021

BTS company teams up with education foundation to develop Korean learning material

Hybe Edu, an affiliate of K-pop powerhouse Hybe, plans to develop learning material for Korean classes at overseas elementary and middle schools, the company said Tuesday. The company said it recently signed a business partnership with the International Korean Education Foundation to develop support material for Korean language classes at overseas schools. The new learning material will be distributed at elementary and middle schools abroad through Seoul's education ministry starting early nex

Social AffairsMay 18, 2021

Moon set for 5-day trip to US for summit with Biden

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will make a five-day trip to the United States this week for his first face-to-face summit talks with his American counterpart, Joe Biden, Cheong Wa Dae announced Tuesday. Their summit will be held at the White House on Friday afternoon (local time) followed by a joint press conference, according to Chung Man-ho, senior Cheong Wa Dae secretary for public communication. Moon plans to leave for the US capital on Wednesday afternoon. He is scheduled to begin hi

Foreign AffairsMay 18, 2021

Vaccinated Army member tests positive for COVID-19

A civilian worker for the military tested positive for the new coronavirus even though he received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, marking the fifth such case among the military population, the defense ministry said Tuesday. The employee working on an Army base in the southern city of Busan was confirmed to have been infected after coming into contact with one of his colleagues who earlier tested positive, according to the ministry. He got the first jab of AstraZeneca's vaccine late la

DefenseMay 18, 2021

NK propaganda website calls 1980 pro-democracy movement 'historic event' in anti-fascism movement

A North Korean propaganda outlet on Tuesday described a 1980 pro-democracy uprising in South Korea as a "historic event" in the anti-fascism movement, highlighting people's fearless fight in the face of a bloody crackdown. On Tuesday, South Korea marks the 41st anniversary of the May 18 uprising in the southwestern city of Gwangju quelled ruthlessly by the military junta led by then Gen. Chun Doo-hwan. The crackdown left more than 200 people killed and 1,800 others wounded. "The

North KoreaMay 18, 2021

New cases back under 600, potential upsurge still worrisome

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell below 600 on Tuesday on fewer tests over the weekend, but health authorities remained alert over a potential hike amid continued cluster inflections and spreading variant cases. The country reported 528 more COVID-19 cases, including 506 local infections, raising the total caseload to 132,818, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. There was one additional virus death, raising the total to 1,904. The fatality rate came to 1.4

Social AffairsMay 18, 2021

[Newsmaker] Moon recalls 1980 Gwangju uprising, hopes for breakthrough in Myanmar

President Moon Jae-in commemorated the anniversary of a 1980 pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju on Tuesday with a call for finding the truth behind the bloody crackdown by soldiers and recovery of victims' honor. Thanks to "courageous" testimonies by some of those involved, "We are coming close to the truth of Gwangju," Moon wrote on his Facebook and Twitter accounts in commemoration of the May 18 Democratization Movement. In Gwangju, 329 kilometers south of Seoul, at that t

PoliticsMay 18, 2021

Biden unveils plans to send 20 million doses of US approved COVID vaccine overseas

US President Joe Biden on Monday unveiled plans to provide 20 million doses of domestically approved COVID-19 vaccines to other countries by the end of next month, reiterating his pledge to turn his country into an "arsenal" of vaccines for the entire world. It is the first time that the US has agreed to send coronavirus vaccines approved for use in the US to other countries. So far, the FDA has approved COVID-19 vaccines of Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson for use in the Unit

Foreign AffairsMay 18, 2021

USFK offers to provide COVID-19 vaccines to S. Korea: sources

The US Forces Korea (USFK) has offered to provide part of its COVID-19 vaccines to the Korean government to help relieve the country's vaccine shortage, government sources said Monday. USFK recently delivered its intention of providing around 13,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccines, and South Korean defense and health authorities are discussing how to use the vaccines and other details, according to the sources. In March, USFK began administering J&J's Janssen vaccine to i

Social AffairsMay 17, 2021

Moon says COVID-19 vaccine issue to be addressed in his upcoming US visit

President Moon Jae-in articulated his resolve Monday to bear fruit in efforts to cement a COVID-19 vaccine partnership with the United States during his visit there later this week. Moon was referring to his plan to hold summit talks with President Joe Biden at the White House on Friday (local time), speaking at a weekly meeting with his senior Cheong Wa Dae aides. "I will use this visit to the US as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation on vaccines and (for South Korea) to move toward

PoliticsMay 17, 2021

Tired of waiting, some Koreans eye COVID-19 shot trip to the US

Some Koreans awaiting a COVID-19 vaccine are now wondering if they can take a vacation to the US to get inoculated. Rocky Kim, who runs a travel agency in Alaska, said he has had a deluge of inquiries from people in Korea about its recently debuted tour package that includes getting Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. “Here vaccinations are also offered to people who aren’t citizens or residents,” he said. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in an April 16 tweet

Social AffairsMay 17, 2021

Anti-junta coalition says ready for dialogue with conditions

The National Unity Government fighting Myanmar’s military junta is ready for dialogue to rebuild the country torn by monthslong clashes between protesters and troops, if the junta stops killing people and returns power to people, the unity government’s minister of international cooperation said Friday. Dr. Sasa, a doctor-turned-politician who goes by the single name and was working with elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi before the military detained her and seized power on Feb. 1, rule

Foreign AffairsMay 17, 2021

Seoul to announce new housing rules to expedite supply of new homes

New measures to expedite housing redevelopment projects and deter real estate speculation are among a raft of policies currently in the works, Seoul’s mayor said Monday, as the city looks to supply 240,000 new housing units by 2025 to combat rising home prices. In a meeting with reporters Monday, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said his ambition to alleviate the regulatory pressure affecting real estate reconstruction and renovation projects in the city remained “unfazed,” as his offic

Social AffairsMay 17, 2021

[Newsmaker] Friend of medical student found dead in Han River speaks out

The case of a 21-year-old medical student found dead in the Han River on April 30, which has received much media interest, took a new turn on Monday as his friend spoke out through his lawyer for the first time. Sohn Jung-min went missing early on April 25 after drinking overnight with his friend at a riverside park in Banpo, Seoul, and was found dead in the river days later. As Sohn’s father desperately looked for his son, and after he told the press that he wanted to know how his son g

Social AffairsMay 17, 2021