S. Korea to invest W1.5tr in startups in 2021

South Korea will invest 1.5 trillion won ($1.4 billion) in helping startups this year. It increased by 66.2 billion won on-year to record the largest amount ever, according to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. The ministry said in a press release Monday that the budget related to startups has been on the steady increase as it is important to creating jobs and nurturing companies that specialize in contactless technology. Fifteen ministries plan to support 1.4 trillion won for 90 projects,

Social AffairsJan. 4, 2021

Court ruling on ‘comfort women’ cases imminent

 A South Korean court is set to rule on two lawsuits filed against the Japanese government by Korean women who were forced to work in Japan’s military brothels during World War II, with the decision likely to impact the already fragile state of bilateral relations. 　 The Seoul Central District Court is set to decide Friday on a case filed against the Japanese government by 12 plaintiffs -- Korean victims and victims’ bereaved family members -- demanding 100 million won ($92,50

Foreign AffairsJan. 4, 2021

Korea unveils new low-carbon bullet train

President Moon Jae-in started the year stressing a goal of reaching carbon neutrality during the unveiling of the nation’s new low-carbon, high-speed train -- the KTX-Eum -- in Wonju, Gangwon Province, Monday. “This year will mark the first year of the nation’s adoption of low-carbon, eco-friendly trains,” Moon said, calling trains key to the government’s push for sustainable growth with innovation, under the “Korean New Deal.” “Ultimately, Ko

PoliticsJan. 4, 2021

Licensed private detectives get green light in Korea

Licensed private detectives can do business in South Korea beginning Wednesday, following the recent revision of the Credit Information Use and Protection Act. The National Police Agency announced Monday that it had inspected the country’s private detective agencies over the past year and provided on-site guidance so they can operate as part of a regulated system. Previously, the police said, 12 companies were issuing 14 different private certificates. The police had ordered corrective

Social AffairsJan. 4, 2021

[Newsmaker] Death of 16-month-old causes public outcry

The death of a 16-month-old girl has caused public outrage in South Korea.  The girl reportedly died from violent child abuse that took place over nine months by her adoptive parents. When the girl died in the emergency room at a hospital in western Seoul on Oct. 13, she had fractures across her body and her organs had suffered severe damage, including extensive damage to the pancreas and internal bleeding. The adoptive parents are set to face trial on Jan. 13. The prosecution has indi

Social AffairsJan. 4, 2021

23 new virus cases reported in USFK, total exceeds 500

Seventeen American service members and six others affiliated with the US Forces Korea (USFK) tested positive for the new coronavirus upon arrival in South Korea from the United States, the US military said Monday. The latest cases among the USFK-affiliated population rose to 509, most of whom have tested positive upon arrival in South Korea from the US. Of the newly reported cases, eight service members and one dependent arrived at Osan Air Base in the city of Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers so

DefenseJan. 4, 2021

Justice minister nominee vows to continue prosecution reform

Justice minister nominee Park Beom-kye on Monday vowed to carry on prosecution reform, a contentious topic that has triggered backlash from prosecutors, and asked for their close cooperation. "I understand the reason why President Moon Jae-in appointed me was to entrust me with the role of a closing pitcher for prosecution reform," he told reporters on his way to work to prepare for his confirmation hearing, the schedule of which has yet to be determined. He said conditions are ripe

PoliticsJan. 4, 2021

Proposal to pardon former presidents parked after backlash

The suggestion from ruling Democratic Party of Korea leader Rep. Lee Nak-yon that President Moon Jae-in grant presidential pardons to his two immediate predecessors is blossoming into yet another controversy, with backlash from both the ruling and opposition blocs. On New Year’s Day, Lee raised the question of granting pardons to the two imprisoned ex-presidents -- Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye -- telling reporters that he would propose it to President Moon at an appropriate time. &l

PoliticsJan. 4, 2021

South Korea to begin vaccinations next month

South Korea’s nationwide vaccination program will start as early as next month as the country’s coronavirus situation remains in its third and deadliest wave thus far, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Monday. Speaking at the central response team meeting, Chung said the government will do its best to ensure that the country has a detailed vaccination plan in place, covering all stages from shipment and storage to inoculation and aftercare, by the end of this month. He asked relat

Social AffairsJan. 4, 2021

Minister says he hopes for positive message from N. Korea

Unification Minister Lee In-young said Monday he hopes to receive a positive message from North Korea on inter-Korean relations as Pyongyang is expected to hold a rare party congress this week. Lee made the remarks during his online address for the new year to his ministry staff, as the North is set to convene the congress of the Workers' Party this week for the first time in over four years amid expectations that the North is to unveil its economic scheme and policy directions for the United S

North KoreaJan. 4, 2021

S. Korea investigating new suspected case of highly contagious bird flu

South Korea's agricultural ministry said Monday it is looking into yet another suspected case of highly pathogenic bird flu linked to farms amid the prolonged fight against the disease. The latest suspected case of a highly contagious H5N8 strain of bird flu was reported from an egg farm in Cheonan, 92 kilometers south of Seoul, late Sunday, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. After reporting the first case at a farm in nearly three years in November 2020, the cou

Social AffairsJan. 4, 2021

Govt. rejection of naturalization application over DUI charge legal: court ruling

A government decision to reject a foreign national's naturalization application citing a drunk driving conviction has been ruled lawful by a Seoul court, according to judicial sources Monday. According to the sources, the Seoul Administrative Court recently overturned a Nepali national's request to rescind the justice ministry's rejection of the person's naturalization due to a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction. The Nepali had filed litigation against the justice minister after bein

Social AffairsJan. 4, 2021

[Newsmaker] S. Korea in talks with US to cover wages of Korean workers at USFK: official

South Korea is in talks with the United States to cover the wages of Korean employees at the US Forces Korea (USFK), an official said Monday, in an apparent move to avoid another furlough amid the stalled defense cost-sharing negotiations. The prolonged deadlock in the talks determining Seoul's share of the costs to keep American troops here potentially puts thousands of Korean workers at USFK at risk of being forced to take unpaid leave again this year. About 4,000 of them were furloughed for

DefenseJan. 4, 2021

Freezing temperatures sweep S. Korea

Cold waves swept across South Korea, with temperatures falling below 0 degrees Celsius for most parts of the country on Monday. Morning lows ranged from minus 3 C to minus 18 C in the central, northern and western regions. Temperatures dipped to around minus 20 C in some mountainous and seaside areas in the northeast. The Korea Meteorological Administration issued cold wave alerts for parts of Gyeonggi Province and Gangwon Province as of 11 a.m. Monday. Wind chills will be lower than the a

Social AffairsJan. 4, 2021

S. Korea condemns deadly airport attack in Yemen

South Korea strongly condemns a terrorist attack presumed to have taken place at a southern airport in Yemen and expresses support for international efforts to end the conflict in the region, the foreign ministry said Monday. "Our government strongly condemns the presumed terrorist attack at the Aden International Airport that occurred at an important juncture in which the agreement on the formation of a new Yemeni government is being implemented," ministry spokesperson Choi Young-sam

Foreign AffairsJan. 4, 2021

Moon rides S. Korea's brand-new low-carbon bullet train

President Moon Jae-in took a trial ride in South Korea's landmark bullet train, designed to cut carbon emissions, on Monday in his first on-site activity of the new year. He traveled between two local cities -- Wonju in Gangwon Province and Jecheon in North Chungcheong Province -- on the EMU-260 train a day before it is to be put into public service. EMU stands for electric multiple unit, and 260 is its running speed in kilometers per hour. Named the KTX-Eum, it is the first EMU train develope

PoliticsJan. 4, 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. "We've decided to extend the Level 2.5 scheme for all units from today u

DefenseJan. 4, 2021

Navy chief calls for securing light aircraft carrier to boost capabilities

The chief of South Korea's Navy has vowed to make every effort to secure a light aircraft carrier and diverse military assets to boost defense capabilities. The Navy has sought to build a 30,000-ton-class light aircraft carrier, and the military authorities finalized a plan last week to push for the project in earnest starting this year. "We should expedite moves to secure diverse future military assets, including a light aircraft carrier, in a timely manner to be fully prepared for futur

DefenseJan. 4, 2021

Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy appeals S. Korean court's asset seizure order

Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has appealed a South Korean court's order to seize its assets held in South Korea soon after the relevant legal process to compensate victims of Japan's wartime forced labor took effect late last month, judicial officials said Monday. The public notifications to Mitsubishi Heavy went into force last Tuesday and Wednesday, after the company failed to carry out a 2018 order by the Supreme Court to compensate five plaintiffs, including a 91-year-old victim. The

Foreign AffairsJan. 4, 2021

New cases rebound to over 1,000 despite extended virus curbs

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases bounced back to over 1,000 Monday due to soaring infections in a Seoul prison and care homes across the country, as well as continued community infections, despite extended tougher virus curbs. The country added 1,020 more COVID-19 cases, including 985 local infections, raising the total caseload to 64,264, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Monday's daily caseload marks a sharp rise from 657 on Sunday and 824 on Satur

Social AffairsJan. 4, 2021