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

[Newsmaker] USFK issues 'shelter in place' directive amid COVID-19 outbreaks in barracks

United States Forces Korea (USFK) on Sunday issued a "shelter in place" directive, ordering part of its service members to remain at home after additional COVID-19 outbreaks were reported inside its barracks. According to USFK's Twitter account, the directive dated Saturday requires service members based at Yongsan Garrison in central Seoul and Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, to stay at home except for necessary activities. It said the directive will expire Tuesday. The

DefenseJan. 17, 2021

S. Korea investigating suspected case of highly pathogenic bird flu

South Korea's agricultural ministry said Sunday it is investigating a suspected case of highly pathogenic bird flu from a poultry farm. The latest suspected case of the malign H5 strain of avian influenza was reported at a duck farm in Gimje, about 260 kilometers southwest of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The ministry issued a standstill order for nearby farms within 10 kilometers, as bird flu is contagious and can cause severe illness and even death

Social AffairsJan. 17, 2021

[Feature] Death sentence looming for universities as first-ever demographic winter starts

Private universities in South Korea may be heading for mass closures as the country crosses into its first-ever demographic winter, and experts say more government support is needed. As the population shrinks, universities -- particularly less prestigious institutions, and those located away from population centers -- are facing a student shortage and increasing financial difficulties. According to a Statistics Korea analysis, the number of Koreans aged between 18 and 21 is projected to fall

Social AffairsJan. 17, 2021

N. Korea set for Supreme People's Assembly session following party congress

North Korea is to kick off a parliamentary session in Pyongyang on Sunday in an apparent legislative step to follow up on the country's ruling party congress that recently ended. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Choe Ryong-hae, the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), and parliamentary representatives offered flowers at the statues of former North Korean leaders at Pyongyang's Mansudae hill on Saturday, ahead of the fourth session of the 14th SPA

North KoreaJan. 17, 2021

New virus cases in 500s for 6th day; tougher curbs partially eased

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases remained in the 500s for the sixth consecutive day Sunday, as the country partially eased restrictions on cafes and gyms to strike a balance between maintaining social distancing and easing the burden on virus-hit businesses. The country added 520 more COVID-19 cases, including 20 imported infections, raising the total caseload to 72,340, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Sunday's daily number marked a sharp fall from

Social AffairsJan. 17, 2021

[Eye Plus] Green refuge underground

Cheongdam Station on Seoul Subway Line 7 in bustling southern Seoul offers an unlikely escape from pollution and the gray urban environment, reviving the original meaning of the name Cheongdam in a small section of the station. The name Cheongdam means “clear pond,” and is said to have been given to the area for the Han River’s clear waters in the area. The modern-day revival of the clear pond takes the form of a 650-meter section of the subway station where plants, an artific

Social AffairsJan. 16, 2021

New virus cases in 500s for 5th day as govt. announces eased restrictions

South Korea on Saturday eased restrictions on previously shuttered or scaled back businesses as the number of new coronavirus cases in South Korea stayed in the 500s for the fifth consecutive day. The country added 580 more COVID-19 cases, including 547 local infections, raising the total caseload to 71,820, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Saturday's daily number marked a slight increase from 513 posted a day earlier, the KDCA said. Prime Minister Chung

Social AffairsJan. 16, 2021

S. Korea extends current social distancing level for 2 weeks, eases restrictions on cafes, gyms

South Korea on Saturday extended its current social distancing level for two weeks while easing business restrictions on cafes, gyms and other indoor facilities. Under the new measures taking effect Monday, the capital area will continue to enforce Level 2.5, the second highest in a five-tier system, and the rest of the nation will remain under Level 2. The ban on private gatherings of five or more people, and the restriction on business operations after 9 p.m., will also be kept intact. Prim

Social AffairsJan. 16, 2021

USFK reports 6 more virus cases linked to Yongsan, Pyeongtaek bases

One American soldier stationed in South Korea and five individuals affiliated with US Forces Korea (USFK) have tested positive for the new coronavirus, military officials said Friday. The service member resides and works on the US Army Garrison Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, and has access to the Yongsan base, according to USFK. Four civilian workers -- three American and one Korean -- and a family member tested positive on Thursday, it added. The Yongsan ba

Social AffairsJan. 15, 2021

N. Korea holds military parade, showcases new SLBM

North Korea staged a military parade Thursday evening in central Pyongyang, showing off its state-of-the-art weapons, including a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), state media reported Friday. The parade, held in Kim Il-sung Square, came after Pyongyang wrapped up its eight-day congress of the ruling Workers' Party on Tuesday, at which leader Kim Jong-un pledged to bolster the country's nuclear arsenal. North Korea appears to be aiming to up the ante ahead of next week's inaugurati

North KoreaJan. 15, 2021

Gyeonggi Governor tops poll of presidential hopefuls

Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung came out on top in the latest poll of support for presidential candidates released Friday, while previous front-runner Lee Nak-yon plummeted. In a survey by Gallup Korea conducted with 1,000 adults over the age of 18 from Tuesday to Thursday, 23 percent of respondents picked Lee as their most favored presidential candidate, up 3 percentage points from the poll a month earlier. Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl came in second with 13 percent support, unch

Social AffairsJan. 15, 2021