Biden sends letter of appreciation for Korea’s support on Ukraine

US President Joe Biden sent a letter of appreciation to President Moon Jae-in for the South Korean government’s measures against Russia, including export controls and financial sanctions, over the Ukraine crisis, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday. Biden said in a letter that “Korea’s determined measures will be a strong message that it supports Ukraine’s sovereignty,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Park Kyung-mi said in a written briefing on the same day. Biden stated in t

Foreign AffairsMarch 8, 2022

S. Korea's critical COVID-19 cases hit two-month high of 1,007

The number of critically ill COVID-19 patients in South Korea reached a two-month high as of midnight Monday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Tuesday. The country’s health authorities said severe and critical cases hit 1,007, up 52 from a day earlier. It was the first time in 64 days since the figure surpassed 1,000. The country added 186 more COVID-19 deaths, the second-highest figure since the government has collected related data. The death toll reached

Social AffairsMarch 8, 2022

Main opposition predicts landslide win, ruling bloc maintains hope for tight victory

In the final hours of their campaigns for this year’s presidential election, the ruling and opposition blocs each predicted victory for their side as they ramped up last-minute campaigning on Tuesday. With the election law prohibiting publication of all public surveys from six days before the election, the two frontrunners in the race -- Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party -- stayed on their toes. On Tuesday, P

PoliticsMarch 8, 2022

[Diplomatic Circuit]Bangladesh observes Historic 7th March

The Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul on Monday observed the Historic 7th March, a day commemorating the landmark speech of Bangladesh’s first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who led the country to independence. The Historic 7th March speech by Rahman was delivered on March 7, 1971, and effectively declared the country’s independence from Pakistan. It is a realistic documentation of the limitations of post-colonial nation-states in developing inclusive, democratic societies for diverse

Diplomatic CircuitMarch 8, 2022

[Diplomatic Circuit]Marking 60th year of ties, Argentine envoy highlights Latin America opportunities

Latin American nations and Korea have great opportunity to cooperate and promote their cultures this year, said Argentine Ambassador to South Korea Alfredo Carlos Bascou in a recent interview with The Korea Herald. “Latin America offers an economy that is very complementary to the Korean (one) and, for this reason, the future agenda of our countries with Korea is very promising and diverse in topics and businesses,” the ambassador said. According to Bascou, 13 embassies from Latin

Diplomatic CircuitMarch 8, 2022

Lee, Yoon make final campaign pitches in Seoul

The election campaigns for the presidential election wrapped up Tuesday, with candidates each promising a brighter future for Korea. While the front-runners spent the last day of campaigns claiming to be the right choice for the nation’s future, their campaigns have been marred with scandals and accusations, which all but buried pledges and policy initiatives. On Tuesday, all major candidates marked an end to their campaign journeys in central and symbolic areas of Seoul, having spent

PoliticsMarch 8, 2022

First signs of activity detected at N.Korean nuclear test site in 4 years

Satellite imagery shows “very early signs of activity” at the previously shuttered Punggye-ri nuclear test site for the first time since 2018, while a UN watchdog said North Korea appears to have continued fissile material production at its major nuclear facilities. The California-based James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies on Monday said the commercial satellite images taken on March 4 suggest that Pyongyang has resumed construction activities at the nuclear test site i

North KoreaMarch 8, 2022

[KH Explains] Democratic Party accused of repeating "Druking" scandal in support of Lee

Accusations of rigging online opinions have been raised yet again, further marring a presidential race that has already been characterized by mudslinging, now in its final days. The accusations follow a news report that revealed a recording file that could potentially damage presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party, and its rapid spread online upon release Sunday night. However, claims emerged that the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and campaign officia

PoliticsMarch 8, 2022

[Newsmaker] A modern Churchill? Zelenskyy praised as war communicator

To a watching world, his message is this, in both his words and his resolute, sometimes haggard appearance: He stands as a mirror to the suffering and spirit of his people. It appears to be getting through. Just days into the war engulfing his nation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is drawing historical comparisons as an effective and stirring wartime communicator _ yet with a distinctly modern touch inflected by the sensibilities of live television and the personal feel of social media

Foreign AffairsMarch 8, 2022

Moon hopes for further progress in gender equality under next administration

Marking the 8th International Women’s Day, President Moon Jae-in said there is still a culture that prevents gender equality in Korea and expects the next government to make progress. Moon posted a congratulatory message with a photo of a rose on his social networking services accounts, including Facebook and Twitter, on Tuesday. “The courageous voices of female workers who shouted human rights 114 years ago continue to this day,” he said. “I would like to thank ever

PoliticsMarch 8, 2022

'Peace for Ukraine' message put up on Seoul city library building

The Seoul city government has put up a message wishing for "peace for Ukraine" against an image symbolizing Ukraine's flag on a large signboard plastered on the front wall of the Seoul city library building. The message on the Seoul Metropolitan Library building was put up in the hope of peace in Ukraine and is in line with the city's ongoing "peace light" campaign to light up key city landmarks in blue and yellow symbolizing Ukraine. The signboard shows in the background a b

Foreign AffairsMarch 8, 2022

Lee vows to send special envoy to N. Korea, freeze public utility charges

Ruling party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung said Tuesday he will send special envoys to the United States, China, Japan and North Korea as soon as he is elected in an effort to help bring lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. Lee of the liberal Democratic Party made the remark during a special press conference on the eve of the election, saying he will pursue pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests and remove dangers of war from the divided peninsula. "I will remove a thre

PoliticsMarch 8, 2022

Moon urges voters to take part in presidential election

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday urged voters to take part in the presidential election, while calling for thorough preparations to prevent lapses shown in early voting and guarantee virus-infected people's right to vote. Moon made the remarks at a Cabinet meeting, a day before South Koreans vote to pick his successor. In two-day early voting that ended last Saturday, turnout stood at a record of about 37 percent. "Tomorrow is the time for people to choose a president who will lead state af

PoliticsMarch 8, 2022

N. Korea urged to respect denuclearization deals amid reports of activities at Yongbyon

South Korea's unification ministry on Tuesday called on North Korea to abide by agreements it has made with the international community for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula amid reports the reclusive regime is continuing activities at its main Yongbyon nuclear complex. On Monday, Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said the agency's monitoring team has spotted indications of activity at the 5-megawatt reactor at the complex north of Pyong

North KoreaMarch 8, 2022

Ruling party chief discharged from hospital after hammer attack

Ruling Democratic Party (DP) Chairman Song Young-gil was discharged from a hospital Tuesday, a day after he was wounded in a hammer attack during his campaigning for the party's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung. In Monday's attack, a YouTuber in his 70s struck Song in the head from behind with a hammer several times during campaigning in Seoul's Sinchon area. He was immediately taken to a hospital and received stitches on his head. The assailant was immediately taken into police custody.

PoliticsMarch 8, 2022

403 more CCTV cameras to be installed at Han River parks to strengthen safety surveillance

The Seoul city government said Tuesday it plans to install 403 more CCTV cameras at riverside parks along the Han River to strengthen safety surveillance following a high-profile death of a medical college student last year. The plan to complete the installations of new CCTVs, including 40 smart poles, by the end of June, will boost the total number of cameras from the current 163 to 567, officials said. The new installations will be concentrated around lawn plazas and other popular zones. Calls

Social AffairsMarch 8, 2022

S. Korea develops small thermal battery for precision guided bombs

South Korea's state defense research institute has developed a small high-power thermal battery to be fitted on precision guided bombs to enhance their accuracy and operational range, its officials said Tuesday. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) said the battery is designed to be activated by the shock of a munitions launch, and it will power key components of guided bombs, such as GPS. Through various tests, the agency has confirmed that the battery is capable of functioning stably even

DefenseMarch 8, 2022

Firefighters make slow headway as wildfires damage east coast

Multiple wildfires have charred east coastal mountain areas the size of more than 30,000 soccer fields over the past five days, but firefighting efforts have made slow headway hampered by thick smoke and fickle winds, officials said Tuesday. Firefighting authorities regard Tuesday as a watershed in their all-out efforts to contain the main fires, as the wind direction is forecast to change unfavorably in the afternoon. They initially aimed to extinguish the main fires Monday but were disturbed b

Social AffairsMarch 8, 2022

Australia sanctions N. Korean firm involved in arms development

Australia has imposed its own sanctions against a North Korean trading company linked with the secretive nation's development of weapons of mass destruction, as well as Chinese and Russian companies accused of helping Pyongyang shun international sanctions, a recent government document showed. The Pyongyang-based Puhung Trading Corp. has been added to Australia's list of entities under financial sanctions, which restrict the use of their assets, according to a document from Foreign Minister Mari

North KoreaMarch 8, 2022