Most Popular
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[Exclusive] Korean adoptee sisters meet for the first time in 39 years
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Signs point to N. Korean troops in Russia-Ukraine combat zone
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Rose's 'Apt.' redefines K-pop's global appeal
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Yoon calls for measures to protect Koreans amid escalating Iran-Israel conflicts
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Two years on, thousands mourn Itaewon tragedy, calling for accountability
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Civil servant’s death linked to workplace bullying
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[Weekender] Walk around Korea to really get to know the country
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N. Korea slams Seoul-Washington joint air exercise
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[Herald Interview] Love for K-drama, food defines 'Secret Ingredient'
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[Herald Interview] K-pop’s 'best years are ahead of us': Spotify’s general manager for Asia Pacific
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Govt. launches probe into LH officials' alleged land speculation, vows speedy process
The South Korean government launched a task force Thursday to look into allegations that employees of a state housing corporation used secret information on a residential area development project for land speculation. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said the interagency team would examine all recent land transactions by officials at the land ministry and Korea Land and Housing Corp. (LH) in areas chosen by the government for the latest massive land redevelopment project. At a press briefing, he
PoliticsMarch 4, 2021
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[Newsmaker] Ex-Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon wins main opposition's ticket for Seoul mayoral election
Former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Thursday won the main opposition party's ticket to run in the upcoming Seoul mayoral election seen as a barometer of public opinion ahead of the 2022 presidential election. Oh, who served as Seoul mayor from 2006-2011, won the People Power Party's primary for the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, solely based on a two-day public opinion poll, according to the polling results. He beat former four-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won, former two-term lawmaker Oh Sh
PoliticsMarch 4, 2021
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2 USFK service members, Korean contractor test positive for virus
Two American service members and a South Korean national working for the US Forces Korea (USFK) have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the US military said Thursday. A soldier at Camp Casey in the northern city of Dongducheon was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 on Wednesday after developing symptoms, according to USFK. Dongducheon, 40 kilometers north of Seoul, is where more than 100 infections have been reported among some 4,000 foreigners living in the city. Following a spike
DefenseMarch 4, 2021
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Chief negotiator eyes agreement in defense cost talks with US this week
South Korea's chief negotiator in defense cost-sharing talks with the United States pledged best efforts Thursday to conclude negotiations on all major points this week, as he departed for Washington for a new round of talks. Jeong Eun-bo and his US counterpart, Donna Welton, are set to meet in the US capital Friday for their first face-to-face talks on the sharing of the cost for stationing the 28,500 US Forces Korea since the administration of President Joe Biden took office in January. &quo
DefenseMarch 4, 2021
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NK leader stresses local party officials' role for balanced national development
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stressed the role of local party officials in archiving national development as he attended a workshop of chief secretaries of city and county committees of the ruling Workers' Party, state media reported Thursday. The workshop, the first of its kind, was held on Wednesday at the building of the Central Committee of the party in Pyongyang to discuss ways to implement goals put forth during a rare party congress in January, according to the Korean Central News Age
North KoreaMarch 4, 2021
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New virus cases stay in 400s for 2nd day as vaccinations gather pace amid safety concerns
South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed in the 400s for the second consecutive day Thursday as the country pushes forward with its vaccination drive amid looming safety concerns. The country reported 424 more COVID-19 cases, including 401 local infections, raising the total caseload to 91,240, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The tally was slightly down from the 444 recorded the previous day. The country added seven more deaths from COVID-19, raising the
Social AffairsMarch 4, 2021
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N. Korea poses 'most immediate threat' to US: Indo-Pacific commander
WASHINGTON -- North Korea will continue to be the "most immediate threat" to the United States until it agrees to full denuclearization, the commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command said Wednesday. Adm. Phil Davidson also said the North continues to develop its ballistic missiles despite its ongoing moratorium on long-range missile testing. "Until the nuclear situation is resolved on the Korean Peninsula and Kim Jong-un agrees to complete denuclearization, North Korea will remai
Foreign AffairsMarch 4, 2021
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Biden says will empower diplomats to reduce threat from N. Korea
WASHINGTON -- The United States will empower its diplomats to reduce threats posed by North Korea, President Joe Biden said in his interim national security strategic guidance published Wednesday. "We will empower our diplomats to work to reduce the threat posed by North Korea's growing nuclear and missile programs, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Republic of Korea and Japan," the US president said in his guideline, referring to South Korea by its official name. The guidance e
Foreign AffairsMarch 4, 2021
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S. Korea, Japan are key US partners in dealing with N. Korea: White House spokeswoman
WASHINGTON -- South Korea and Japan are key partners of the United States in dealing with threats posed by North Korea, a White House spokesperson said Wednesday. The remarks from Jen Psaki at a daily press briefing come amid a steady deterioration in ties between the US allies. Asked if there will be any three-way discussion between the countries in the near future, she said, "I am sure at some point there will be. I have nothing to preview for you, but of course, Japan and South Korea a
Foreign AffairsMarch 4, 2021
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US must use every tool to prevent N. Korea from advancing nuclear capability: Sherman
WASHINGTON -- The United States has to use every tool available, including pressure, to prevent North Korea from advancing its nuclear capability, a top State Department appointee said Wednesday. Wendy Sherman, deputy secretary-designate, also highlighted the importance of China's cooperation in applying maximum pressure on the North. "Because I have been out of the government, I don't know all that is in place now, but certainly we do want to ensure that North Korea understands that unle
Foreign AffairsMarch 4, 2021
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Blinken lays out 'most urgent' priorities for US, leaves out N. Korea
WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken laid out eight priorities for American diplomacy on Wednesday but again skirted the issue of how to deal with nuclear-armed North Korea. In his first major public address as secretary, Blinken touched on a wide range of issues ranging from tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and promoting democracy to climate change. "When President Biden asked me to serve, he made sure that I understood that my job is to deliver for you ... I take this respon
Foreign AffairsMarch 4, 2021
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US will work to promote S. Korea-Japan cooperation: Sung Kim
WASHINGTON -- The United States will work to promote cooperation between South Korea and Japan as it sees trilateral cooperation between the two countries and the US as vital to facing regional challenges such as North Korea, a ranking US diplomat said Wednesday. Sung Kim, acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said cooperation between South Korea and Japan is more important to the US than any other relationship. "The Biden-Harris administration is committ
Foreign AffairsMarch 4, 2021
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FM Chung meets victim of Japan's wartime sexual slavery
Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong met with a victim of Japan's wartime sexual slavery Wednesday, as Seoul seeks to defuse persistent historical tensions with Tokyo amid Washington's calls for tighter trilateral cooperation with its key Asian allies. The meeting with Lee Yong-soo, Chung's first with a sexual slavery victim since taking office last month, came as the 92-year-old Lee has stepped up calls for the government to bring the case to the International Court of Justice with no diplomatic s
PoliticsMarch 3, 2021
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Korea may allow AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for older people
The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which is currently being used only for at-risk groups under the age of 65 in Korea, might be put to wider use sooner than expected, thanks to “reassuring data” from countries that were first to be vaccinated. A senior official at the KDCA said Tuesday the agency was “examining the possibility of giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to the older population based on emerging data and another round of review by the advisory board.” Last month,
Social AffairsMarch 3, 2021
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Dispute brews over Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine’s 7th extra dose in Korea
Korea’s National Medical Center says it intends to make the most out of Pfizer vaccines by extracting up to seven doses from a vial using special syringes. As standard, each Pfizer vial yields five to six doses. Dr. Oh Myoung-don, heading the NMC’s COVID-19 immunization program, said on Wednesday in a text message response to a question from The Korea Herald that “wasting the extra dose could not be justified when the vaccines do so much to save lives.” “When we
Social AffairsMarch 3, 2021
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‘Comfort woman’ requests meeting with President Moon to take sex slavery issue to ICJ
Lee Yong-soo, one of 15 surviving South Korean “comfort women,” on Wednesday requested a meeting with President Moon Jae-in in order to take the issue of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery to the International Court of Justice for a resolution. The 92-year-old’s request came during her hourlong meeting with Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong, in what was the minister’s first meeting with a sexual slavery victim -- euphemistically known as comfort women -- since tak
Foreign AffairsMarch 3, 2021
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Experts vouch for safety of COVID-19 vaccines
South Korean public health authorities are investigating reports of suspected adverse events among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine. As of midnight Tuesday, 87,428 people in Korea had received a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine -- around 85,000 of them being the AstraZeneca vaccine and the rest Pfizer vaccine -- with 209 of them reporting “adverse reactions.” The vast majority -- 204 cases -- of the reported events were known, mild side effects such as headaches, low-grade fever
Social AffairsMarch 3, 2021
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Japan undecided on timing, method of Fukushima water release
Japanese authorities are undecided on how and when to discharge radioactive water from the devastated Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea or air, amid heightened environmental and public safety concerns from its neighboring countries, including South Korea. “The exact timing on when the government will decide on the method and the period is yet to be decided,” said a Japanese government official Wednesday. “We are still evaluating the situation. But it’s t
Foreign AffairsMarch 3, 2021
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Military health care workers get first vaccine shots
South Korea’s military started their COVID vaccine rollout Wednesday as health care workers at major military hospitals -- about 2,400 doctors, nurses and technicians -- lined up to receive AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines. The vaccination was the first for the military, though some Korean soldiers working for the US military stationed here received inoculations two months ago. More medical personnel working at bases nationwide will get the shots in stages, the military said. But the servi
DefenseMarch 3, 2021
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Seoul’s North Korea human rights law at standstill for 5 years
South Korea’s North Korea Human Rights Act remains of little real consequence five years after its enactment, with the ruling liberal bloc showing no particular urgency in dealing with human rights violations in the North amid stalled peace talks. On Wednesday, the law marked its fifth anniversary since it was enacted on March 3, 2016, more than a decade after similar laws took effect in the US and Japan in the early 2000s. But little progress has been made in carrying out the concrete
North KoreaMarch 3, 2021