6.45 million voters rush to cast ballots for mayoral by-elections

Some 6.45 million voters rushed to polling stations Wednesday to cast their ballots for the mayor of Seoul and Busan, the two largest municipalities in South Korea. According to preliminary data from the National Election Commission, 56.8 percent of 12.16 million eligible voters cast their votes during the two-day-long early voting period and from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the day of the election. Some 58.2 percent of 8.43 million eligible voters cast their ballots to choose the next mayor of Seoul.

PoliticsApril 7, 2021

South Korea pauses AstraZeneca vaccinations for people under 60

South Korea has paused AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccinations for people younger than 60 following a third case of blood clotting in a recipient. The latest case was a previously healthy medical worker in her 20s who came down with blood clots in her lung and her leg about two weeks after her vaccination, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency told reporters in a closed door briefing. The decision to withhold the vaccine’s use for younger populations will likely strike a blow to the

Social AffairsApril 7, 2021

Korea finds third blood-clotting case among AstraZeneca vaccine recipients

A medical worker in her 20s developed blood clots in the lungs and a leg after getting a first dose of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, Korean health authorities said Wednesday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency told reporters in a closed door briefing that the previously healthy woman started experiencing breathlessness roughly 12 days after she was inoculated with the AstraZeneca shot on March 17. She was diagnosed with pulmonary embolism, or blood clots in the lung, and

Social AffairsApril 7, 2021

S. Korean, EU defense chiefs affirm cooperation on NK

The South Korean and European Union defense chiefs agreed to cooperate on Seoul’s initiative to engage North Korea in talks to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, at a face-to-face meeting in Seoul on Wednesday. Defense Minister Suh Wook and Gen. Claudio Graziano, chairman of the EU Military Committee, discussed expanding ties to deal with security concerns on the Korean Peninsula and in the surrounding regions. Graziano, who represents the defense chiefs of the 27-member EU, reports t

DefenseApril 7, 2021

N. Korea highlights role of WHO amid coronavirus pandemic

North Korea's Cabinet newspaper called Wednesday for strengthening the role of the World Health Organization, saying the country should work closely with the organization to improve the health of its people. The Minju Joson paper made the case in a commentary published on the occasion of World Health Day, saying that billions of people around the world lack access to basic medical services despite big progress in medicine and science technology. "As the COVID-19 swept across the world rec

North KoreaApril 7, 2021

Ex-top justice claims innocence in trial over alleged judiciary power abuse

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae on Wednesday denied his alleged role in a judiciary power abuse scandal during the conservative administration of Park Geun-hye, who was impeached. Yang, who headed the top court from 2011-17, is accused of having pressed his officials at the National Court Administration, the top court's governing body, to devise plans to influence politically sensitive trials for Park, who is now jailed over corruption charges. "The gale that blows in the

PoliticsApril 7, 2021

[#WeFACE] ‘Seoul needs more forests, parks’

While politicians make real estate development in Seoul their top priority, environmental campaigners say the next mayor must pay more attention to climate and environmental issues for the sake of future generations.　 “The direction we’ve been running so far has been to create added value by building more properties, roads and cars. I think it is time that we can turn around a little,” said Kim Dong-eon, eco-city team leader at the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement,

Social AffairsApril 7, 2021

Elections plagued with tons of unrecyclable plastic waste

Concerns over the environmental impact of elections are once again rising in the wake of Wednesday’s by-elections in Seoul and Busan, with rival election campaigns producing tons of trash. Only a fraction is likely to be recycled. Environmentalists are seeking legislative changes to prevent the use of nonrecyclable banners and placards as voters flock to online channels when making their political choices. The move could help the country become more eco-friendly and could make campaigns

Social AffairsApril 7, 2021

S. Korea approves Janssen's COVID-19 vaccine

South Korea's drug safety agency on Wednesday approved the COVID-19 vaccine by Johnson & Johnson's Janssen as it showed around 66 percent efficacy against the new coronavirus, becoming the third vaccine approved here. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety authorized the use of Janssen's one-shot regimen as the vaccine is effective in preventing moderate to severe COVID-19 infections among adults aged 18 and older. It marked the third COVID-19 vaccine approved by South Korean authorities fol

Social AffairsApril 7, 2021

[Newsmaker] US law students ask Biden to engage in ‘comfort women’ issue

Asian students in 15 US law schools including Harvard asked the White House to engage in the “comfort women” issue ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s US visit. The Harvard Asian Pacific American Law Students Association said Tuesday that they sent a letter, co-signed by the Asian law student associations of 14 other universities such as Columbia, Stanford and Yale, requesting US President Joe Biden to raise the issue of Japan’s wartime sex slavery during h

Foreign AffairsApril 7, 2021

Main opposition crushes ruling bloc in by-elections

Oh Se-hoon, a former mayor and the sole candidate from the main opposition People Power Party, won the by-election for Seoul mayor by a landslide. Oh won the race, taking 57.5 percent of the votes, compared to former SMEs minister Park Young-sun's 38.18 percent.  Exits poll results showed that Oh received 59 percent of the votes while Park Young-sun, former minister of SMEs and startups and the sole candidate from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, received 37.7 percent of the votes i

PoliticsApril 7, 2021

Cheong Wa Dae pledges more open communications with business

Cheong Wa Dae has pledged to facilitate communications with the business community through more frequent, official meetings, saying gone are the days of secret meetings for shady deals. According to the presidential office Wednesday, President Moon Jae-in’s new chief of staff for policy Lee Ho-seung plans to hold a series of meetings with heads of the nation’s key business groups this month in a way to better communicate with businesses in all sizes from chaebol to small merchants

PoliticsApril 7, 2021

NK Kim urges party cell leaders to be proactive and responsible

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stressed the importance of “party cells” -- the grassroots units of the ruling Workers Party -- and urged them to work in a more proactive and responsible way toward the policy goals set forth at the earlier party congress, the North’s state media reported Wednesday. 　 Kim delivered the opening address Tuesday at a conference of party cell secretaries, who lead basic units consisting of five to 30 members, according to the Korea Central News Ag

North KoreaApril 7, 2021

Unification ministry vows efforts to resume inter-Korean talks despite NK's decision to skip Tokyo Olympics

The unification ministry vowed efforts to resume inter-Korean talks despite North Korea's decision not to participate in the Tokyo Olympics, a high-level official said Wednesday. On Tuesday, North Korea said it will not take part in the upcoming Tokyo Summer Olympics to protect its athletes from the coronavirus pandemic, dashing South Korea's hopes to use the games to kick-start the stalled peace process with Pyongyang. "There is still time left until July. We will continue efforts to re

North KoreaApril 7, 2021

US committed to improving S. Korea-Japan relations: Knapper

The US administration of President Joe Biden is very committed to improved relations between South Korea and Japan as cooperation between the allies is key to dealing with various regional issues, including a nuclear-armed North Korea, a US diplomat said Tuesday. Marc Knapper, deputy assistant secretary of state for Korea and Japan, also said he feels very "optimistic" about Seoul-Tokyo relations. "I think we've seen very early on, I mean, absolute proof that this administration

Foreign AffairsApril 7, 2021

[Newsmaker] Govt. to expand free coronavirus testing to prevent new wave of infections: PM

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Wednesday the government will expand free coronavirus testing, with recent spikes in new cases spurring concerns of a fourth wave of infections. The country reported 668 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the most since Feb. 18, as sporadic cluster infections continued to increase across the country. "We will expand free testing so that anyone can get a free coronavirus diagnostic test regardless of the social distancing stage or symptoms," Chung sa

PoliticsApril 7, 2021

S. Korea investigating new bird flu case

South Korea's agricultural ministry said Wednesday it is investigating a new suspected case of highly pathogenic bird flu case amid the country's prolonged battle against the animal disease. The latest suspected case was reported at a duck farm in Jangheung, 394 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. If confirmed, it will mark the first case since late March. Since November last year, South Korea has reported 108 cases of the H5N8 strain of

Social AffairsApril 7, 2021

Moon sends letter to UAE's crown prince over nuclear power plant operation

South Korean President Moon Jae-in sent a congratulatory letter to the de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the nation's 50th founding anniversary and the start of its first nuclear power plant, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday. In the letter to Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Moon congratulated the nation on beginning the commercial operation of the Barakah plant constructed by South Korea. Three more reactors are being built there. Moon described th

PoliticsApril 7, 2021

1 Marine tests positive for new coronavirus

A Marine based in the southeastern port city of Pohang tested positive for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Wednesday. He was confirmed to have been infected after undertaking a COVID-19 test to exit quarantine, as he came into close contact with a civilian who earlier tested positive, according to the ministry. The latest case raised the total number of infections reported among the military population to 668. The authorities are carrying out virus tests on members of the Defen

Social AffairsApril 7, 2021

New virus cases most since mid-Feb., another wave of pandemic looming

South Korea reported the most new coronavirus cases since early January on Wednesday as sporadic cluster infections continued to pile up across the country, raising concerns that the country may again grapple with another wave of the pandemic. The country reported 668 more COVID-19 cases, including 653 local infections, raising the total caseload to 106,898, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. It marked a sharp rise from 478 the previous day and the largest since 674 da

Social AffairsApril 7, 2021