Without consensus, ‘pardons cannot be a tool for national unity’

This is an excerpt from President Moon Jae-in’s New Year press conference. -- Ed. Q. What is your position on pardons for former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye? A. I have pondered long on the issue of the pardon as it was considered the most important question today, but I have decided to tell you my thoughts frankly. Two former presidents being incarcerated is a lamentable situation for the country, and as there are reports of the two being in ill-health, I am concerned f

PoliticsJan. 18, 2021

Heavy snow advisory issued for Seoul, central regions

A heavy snow advisory was replaced by a cold wave alert in Seoul and central regions on Monday, the weather agency said, forecasting the capital's morning low will dip to minus 13 C on Tuesday. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said it has lifted a heavy snow advisory issued for Seoul and central and southern regions and that a cold wave alert or warning will go into effect in those regions Monday night. A cold wave warning is issued when the morning low is below minus 15 C for mor

Social AffairsJan. 18, 2021

Moon believes S. Korea will achieve faster herd immunity formation than other nations

President Moon Jae-in forecast Monday that South Korea will be able to achieve the formation of collective herd immunity against the new coronavirus faster than other countries under the government's inoculation program. "South Korea will definitely not lag behind (in achieving herd immunity), but rather will be able to achieve it much faster compared to other nations when considering the inoculation period and the time frame in achieving herd immunity," Moon said during a New Year's

PoliticsJan. 18, 2021

USFK reports 3 more virus cases linked to Yongsan base

Three more coronavirus cases were reported in connection with a US Army base in Seoul, US Forces Korea said Monday. Two American civilian employees at the US Army base in Seoul and the spouse of another American employee, who had tested positive last week, were confirmed to be infected with the virus, according to the US military. The civilians, who work at the Yongsan base, contracted the virus after coming into direct contact with other confirmed patients from the base, according to USFK.

Social AffairsJan. 18, 2021

Public firms to hire over 26,000 new employees this year: finance minister

South Korea's public institutions plan to hire more than 26,000 new employees this year in a bid to prop up the job market hit hard by the new coronavirus outbreak, the finance minister said Monday. The plan will represent an increase of around 1,000 people from the previous year, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said at an opening speech for a job fair on public institutions. "Job creation in the public sector has become more important than ever to tackle the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

PoliticsJan. 18, 2021

Defense ministry extends restrictions on troop vacations over pandemic

The defense ministry said Monday it has extended a toughened social distancing scheme for two weeks, banning troops from vacationing and taking off-installation trips to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. Since November, the ministry has enforced Level 2.5 social distancing rules, the second highest in its five-tier alert system, following a series of COVID-19 cluster infections at barracks across the country. "Given the government's decision on the social distancing rules, we've dec

DefenseJan. 18, 2021

Now not yet time to discuss pardons of two ex-presidents: Moon

President Moon Jae-in made clear Monday that it is premature to talk about granting special pardons to two convicted former presidents -- Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye. "I think now is not the (right) time to talk about pardons (for them)," he said, breaking his silence on the politically sensitive issue. He was speaking during his unprecedented online New Year's press conference. "The imprisonment of the two former presidents is a very unfortunate incident nationally,"

PoliticsJan. 18, 2021

1st homegrown coronavirus medicine expected to be used from early Feb.:PM

South Korea's first homegrown coronavirus treatment candidate from Celltrion Inc. is expected to be used to treat patients starting early February, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Monday. "We expect the drug to be used from early next month in antivirus activities in the field if the review process goes smoothly," Chung said during an interagency meeting on the COVID-19 response held at the government complex in Seoul. The prime minister said health authorities convened a panel of

PoliticsJan. 18, 2021

New virus cases at almost 2-month low on fewer tests, infections slowdown

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases rose by the smallest number in nearly two months Monday, apparently on the back of tightened social distancing measures and fewer tests over the weekend, but health authorities remain vigilant over potential upticks. The country added 389 more COVID-19 cases, including 366 local infections, raising the total caseload to 72,729, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Monday's daily figure marked a sharp fall from 520 posted

Social AffairsJan. 18, 2021

Some 135,000 terminal patients opt to die with dignity over 3 years: data

Nearly 135,000 terminally ill South Koreans have chosen to forgo life-prolonging treatment since the legalization of the right to die with dignity three years ago, government data showed Monday. The number of patients who opted to die with dignity stood at 134,945 at the end of December last year, according to the data from the National Agency for Management of Life-Sustaining Treatment. Of the total patients, 80,594, or 59.7 percent, were male, with those aged 60 or older taking up 81 percent

Social AffairsJan. 18, 2021

N. Korea convenes parliamentary meeting after party congress

North Korea convened a parliamentary session in Pyongyang over the weekend to discuss personnel, budget and other issues in a follow up on decisions made during a recent ruling party congress, state media said Monday. The North's rubber-stamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) meeting was held less than a week after Pyongyang wrapped up the eight-day congress of the ruling Workers' Party on Tuesday. On Sunday, the SPA unanimously decided on the implementation of its five-year economic plan set fo

North KoreaJan. 18, 2021

Authorities on alert as heavy snowfall set to hit Korea

Disaster safety authorities were on heightened alert on Sunday as heavy snowfall was forecast to hit South Korea on Sunday evening and throughout the night, raising alarms over potential traffic disturbances around morning rush hour the next day. The Korea Meteorological Administration said the western part of the greater Seoul area and the west coast line of the South Chungcheong Province will begin to see snowfall at around 3 p.m. The flurry will then gradually move east to affect the count

Social AffairsJan. 17, 2021

1 new case of highly pathogenic bird flu reported from poultry farm

One new case of highly pathogenic bird flu was reported from a local poultry farm on Sunday, raising the total caseload to 66, the agriculture ministry said. The latest suspected case of the highly-virulent H5N8 avian influenza strain was reported at a duck farm in Gimje, about 260 kilometers southwest of Seoul, according to the ministry. The ministry said it has culled poultry in farms within a 3 kilometer radius and has issued a standstill order for nearby farms within 10 kilometers for 30 d

Social AffairsJan. 17, 2021

Korea officially invited as guest nation to G-7 summit in Britain

LONDON -- South Korea has been officially invited to this year's summit of the Group of Seven (G-7) industrialized nations set to be hosted by Britain in June.  The office of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Saturday (local time) that the government has invited South Korea, Australia and India as guest nations to the three-day G-7 summit set to be held in Cornwall from June 11-13. The G-7 meeting normally includes the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy,

PoliticsJan. 17, 2021

[News Focus] 1 in 4 female Seoulites aged 60 or over

SEJONG -- The number of people aged 100 or over in South Korea reached a historic high of 21,912 last year, data from the Ministry of Interior and Safety showed. In particular, 75.5 percent of centenarians were women, with the age group comprising 16,561 women vs. 5,351 men. Of all female centenarians, 5,001 or 30.1 percent resided in Seoul. Compared with 2010, when the tally of female centenarians residing in the capital was 2,549, the number has seen a 96.1 percent increase. The figure stoo

Social AffairsJan. 17, 2021

Korea slightly eases social distancing rules

Some businesses that have been shut down amid a winter surge in COVID-19 infections will be able to reopen in the coming week, as South Korea revises its social distancing rules in a tricky balance between health and the economy. The government said over the weekend that indoor sports and karaoke facilities, which have been required to stay closed since early December, can reopen with some restrictions starting Monday. Cafes can open for indoor operations until 9 p.m., just like restaurants.&n

Social AffairsJan. 17, 2021

Experts split over NK’s nuclear missile threat

North Korea experts are divided over the seriousness of the threat posed by the missiles revealed Thursday at North Korea’s latest military parade attended by leader Kim Jong-un. North Korea showcased what appeared to be new ballistic missiles -- a submarine-launched missile, the Pukguksong-5-siot and a short-range missile akin to Russia’s Iskander, the KN-23. The Korean letter “siot” refers to it being sea-based, and the previous fourth version was displayed at a parade

North KoreaJan. 17, 2021

Seoul's new envoy to Tokyo committed to "political" solution to historical conflicts

New South Korean Ambassador to Japan Kang Chang-il on Sunday stressed his commitment to exploring "political" solutions to a set of historical conflicts between the two countries and fostering a "future-oriented" bilateral relationship. Kang made the remarks in a virtual meeting with reporters before he officially takes office this week, amid renewed tensions between Seoul and Tokyo over a recent South Korean court ruling ordering the Japanese government to compensate victim

Foreign AffairsJan. 17, 2021

Another bout of heavy snow to hit S. Korea

Another bout of heavy snowfall has been forecast to hit South Korea later in the day and continue through Monday morning, raising the alarm over a potential traffic disturbance around morning rush hour. The Korea Meteorological Administration said the western part of the greater Seoul area and the west coast line of South Chungcheong Province will begin to see snowfall at around 3 p.m. The flurry will then gradually move east to affect the country's inland areas. By Monday morning, most parts

Social AffairsJan. 17, 2021

Former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to run in by-election

Former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, a member of the main opposition People Power Party, announced on Sunday his candidacy for the Seoul mayoral by-election. With Oh joining the race, the so-called “Big Three” from the opposition bloc -- including Ahn Cheol-soo, head of the minor opposition People’s Party, and Na Kyung-won, former floor leader of the conservative opposition -- are expected to compete for the title of unified candidate, who may be selected next month. The former m

PoliticsJan. 17, 2021