[Newsmaker] Disaffected young men call for gender equality in conscription

South Korea’s mandatory military service is back in the limelight as younger men step up calls for conscription for women as a matter of gender equality. But experts say this movement faces a long road ahead. The fresh debate about subjecting both men and women to mandatory military service was sparked by ruling Democratic Party Rep. Park Yong-jin, who suggested revamping the conscription system as part of his 2022 presidential election campaign. Park proposed an all-volunteer military o

DefenseApril 28, 2021

Military begins vaccinating service members over 30

The defense ministry on Wednesday began administering AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine to service members aged 30 and older, it said, amid growing concerns over the spread of the virus in barracks. Authorities plan to complete giving the first vaccine doses to 126,000 troops over the age of 30 in the next two weeks in the full-fledged launch of a vaccine campaign in the military. Receiving the vaccine is voluntary, but over 80 percent of the troops subject to the vaccination have agreed to t

DefenseApril 28, 2021

New Korean learning kit aims to help more fans study Korean with BTS

The process of learning a language can be more effective when you have a strong motivation, which is why the company behind BTS recently released the latest version of its Korean learning kit involving the K-pop act's miniature characters for global fans. "Learn! Korean with TinyTAN," is a follow-up series to Hybe Edu's "Learn! Korean with BTS" released last year. The company said the new version is tailored to fans who are newly learning the language, focusing on the basic

Social AffairsApril 28, 2021

[Graphic News] South Korea’s population continues to decline in Q1

　South Korea’s population continued to decrease during the first quarter of this year as deaths outnumbered births, government data showed. 　As of March 31, the nation’s registered population stood at 51,705,905, down 0.24 percent from 51,829,023 tallied at the end of 2020, when the population fell for the first time on record, according to census figures from the Ministry of Interior and Safety. 　Natural decrease accounted for 10,370 while the remaining 116,177 people were der

NationalApril 28, 2021

JCS chairman heads to Hawaii for talks with US, Japanese counterparts

Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Won In-choul was to depart for Hawaii on Wednesday for talks with his US and Japanese counterparts to discuss the security situation in the region, his office said. Won is scheduled to meet with Gen. Mark Milley and Gen. Koji Yamazaki on Thursday (Hawaii time) to discuss ways to strengthen "multilateral cooperation to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia," according to the military. Such trilateral face-to

DefenseApril 28, 2021

New cases bounce back near 800; untraceable infections at highest ever

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases rose to the highest in four days on Wednesday, nearing 800, and the proportion of untraceable infections hit the highest point ever amid concerns of another wave of the pandemic. The country reported 775 more COVID-19 cases, including 754 local infections, raising the total caseload to 120,673, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The latest tally is the highest since Saturday, when the country recorded 785 cases, and marks a sh

Social AffairsApril 28, 2021

[Newsmaker] Power generator, construction materials delivered to Seongju THAAD base despite protest

SEONGJU -- The Ministry of Defense on Wednesday successfully delivered non-weapon materials and construction equipment onto a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) base here after briefly running into protests from residents and activists opposed to the deployment of the American missile defense system. Early in the day, a few dozen protesters staged a sit-in and blocked the passage of vehicles heading to the base for the THAAD system in the central town of Seongju, about 300 kilometers s

Social AffairsApril 28, 2021

Coronavirus self-test kits to hit pharmacy shelves next week

South Koreans are expected to be able to purchase coronavirus self-test kits at local pharmacies or via online channels early next week, kit makers said Wednesday. South Korea's drug safety agency on Friday green-lighted two types of COVID-19 home test kits developed by biotech firms SD Biosensor and Humasis in an effort to boost its testing capacity amid rising cases. Humasis said its self-test kit is priced around 9,000 won ($8.10) to 10,000 won per single package, and will start sales at ph

Social AffairsApril 28, 2021

US may consider waiving patents for COVID-19 vaccines: White House

The United States may consider waiving the intellectual property (IP) rights of its COVID-19 vaccines to help expedite global production, the White House said Tuesday, amid a global shortage of what many countries consider to be safer and more effective vaccines produced here in the US. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki, however, said no decision has been made. "We have to evaluate whether it's more effective to manufacture here and provide, supply to the world, or the IP waiver is an opt

Foreign AffairsApril 28, 2021

Korea-US summit to mark new diplomatic milestone for Biden: US official

The upcoming summit between President Joe Biden and his South Korean counterpart, Moon Jae-in, will mark another diplomatic milestone for the US president, a senior US official said Tuesday, highlighting the emphasis the Biden administration places on US alliances. "We have a few upcoming milestones that are worth noting. We have the visit, next bilateral in-person visit with the Republic of Korea," the US administration official said in a telephonic press conference, requesting anony

Foreign AffairsApril 28, 2021

Court issues arrest warrant for Eastar Jet founder

A court issued an arrest warrant on Wednesday for the founder of cash-strapped budget carrier Eastar Jet on charges of embezzlement and breach of trust. Lee Sang-jik, an independent lawmaker, is suspected of colluding with a senior company official who was indicted in February for causing about 43 billion won ($38.47 million) in financial damage to the airline by paying off long-term loans early and underselling company shares to a specific subsidiary. Judge Kim Seung-gon of the Jeonju Distric

PoliticsApril 28, 2021

US-S. Korea alliance must begin with respect, understanding: Moon's aide

A new South Korea-US alliance must begin with increased understanding and mutual respect, a close ally of South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday, insisting the United States must understand why Seoul has no choice but to be patient and seek to peacefully denuclearize North Korea. "One of the key things the 'returned America' should be different in is that an alliance must begin faithfully from values that both sides must respect as allies," Yang Jung-chul said in a paper post

Foreign AffairsApril 28, 2021

Govt. holds preparatory meeting for P4G summit

The government held a meeting Tuesday to discuss preparations for an international summit on climate change and sustainable development, which South Korea will host late next month. Officials from the foreign, environment, finance and trade ministries and other agencies attended the sixth preparatory session for the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals summit to be held virtually from May 30-31, the foreign ministry said. In the meeting, Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong underscored

Foreign AffairsApril 27, 2021

‘When can I get my shot?’ Vaccine envy grips Koreans

Vaccine envy is spreading among pandemic-weary Koreans, as the country trails behind most major economies in vaccinations with just 4 percent of the population half or fully vaccinated. “When I hear about mask-less concerts and travels resuming in some countries I just get depressed,” said a Seoul resident surnamed Park. Park, a 29 year old without medical conditions, said he has “no idea” when he would be getting his shot. Based on the latest vaccination timeline, a

Social AffairsApril 27, 2021

Moon, Novavax CEO agree to expand vaccine partnership

President Moon Jae-in and Novavax CEO Stanley Erck have agreed to expand the current partnership on the local production of the US drugmaker’s new vaccine, including the possible extension of a licensing deal to share manufacturing technology, according to Cheong Wa Dae sources Tuesday. The two held a face-to-face meeting at the presidential office earlier in the day. In their first video conversation in January, the South Korean government secured 40 million doses of the new Novavax va

PoliticsApril 27, 2021

‘Japan’s NRA should share information transparently, promptly’ on wastewater release

Japan announced on April 13 that it will release the contaminated water that has been stored at the Fukushima nuclear power station site into the ocean. Soon after the announcement, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, the nuclear regulatory agency of Korea, expressed strong concern together with other ministries, including the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Science and Technology, and

Foreign AffairsApril 27, 2021

S. Korea reports steady rise in variant cases, total now at 535

South Korea has confirmed 86 more cases of contagious variants of the new coronavirus, bringing the total to 535, amid concerns that the country's virus battle may be exacerbated by the more transmissible viruses. Of them, 52 people were local infections and 34 imported cases, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on Tuesday. By nationality, 58 of them are South Koreans and 28 are foreigners, the authorities said. According to the KDCA, 86 cases are the Britain-

Social AffairsApril 27, 2021

[Newsmaker] Fighting dirty? Army bans bathing as anti-COVID-19 measure for recruits

The South Korean Army deprived recruits of basic hygiene as part of its anti-COVID-19 measures, a civic group revealed, criticizing the military for neglecting soldiers’ basic rights. The Center for Military Human Rights Korea said in a statement Monday that the Korea Army Training Center was too strict in enforcing its COVID-19 prevention measures for recruits, even barring access to basic hygiene options during their weekslong training period. According to the nonprofit human rights ad

DefenseApril 27, 2021

Seoul protests Japan’s renewed Dokdo claims

The Foreign Ministry called in a Japanese diplomat Tuesday to protest Tokyo’s renewed territorial claims over South Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo in its annual foreign policy paper. The 2021 diplomatic blue book, an analysis of last year’s international affairs and record of Japan’s diplomatic activities, was the first issued under Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, who took office in September. The ministry expressed regret to Hirohisa Soma, deputy chief of

Foreign AffairsApril 27, 2021

Trilateral cooperation with China, Japan at crossroads of 'leap or stagnation': vice FM

Trilateral cooperation among South Korea, China and Japan is at a "crossroads between a leap or stagnation," Second Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-moon said Tuesday, hoping that the neighboring countries will work together to move their relationships forward. Choi made the remark during an event to mark the founding of the Seoul-based Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat set up by the three countries to facilitate cooperation in a region long plagued by tensions over history and other

Foreign AffairsApril 27, 2021