S. Korea records all-time high daily COVID-19 cases amid omicron surge

South Korea‘s daily coronavirus cases hit an all-time high of 8,571 as of midnight Monday, with the quickly spreading omicron variant now dominant, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Tuesday. It is the first time the daily figure has topped 8,000 cases dating back to when the country reported the first COVID-19 infection in January 2020. The previous all-time high was 7,848 on Dec. 15, 2021. Despite the sudden increase in daily cases, the number of critically ill CO

Social AffairsJan. 25, 2022

Ahn refutes secret negotiations, says alliance only possible under his banner

Ahn Cheol-soo, the minor opposition People’s Party presidential candidate, on Tuesday refuted rumors of behind-the-scenes negotiations with the main opposition People Power Party, saying once again that no alliance is possible unless he is the unified candidate. Speaking in a radio interview, Ahn said he is not considering merging his campaign with that of Yoon Suk-yeol of the People Power Party.  “I assume that there isn’t a person (who is conducting unofficial negot

PoliticsJan. 25, 2022

Pentagon calls for China to support enacting new UN sanctions on N. Korea

The US Defense Department on Monday urged China to use its leverage to support and enforce UN Security Council resolutions and enact new UN sanctions, while reiterating its call on North Korea to cease “provocations” and de-escalate tensions. The Pentagon pointed out Beijing’s stonewalling on the international community’s efforts to implement UN economic sanctions on North Korea. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said China, the “direct neighbor of North Korea

North KoreaJan. 25, 2022

‘How’s your belly doing?’ An innocent campaign or obsession with body shape?

When Diana Nordeus encountered a large wooden frame installed at a highway rest area in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, last September with a supposedly cute sign saying, “How’s your belly doing?” she couldn’t just laugh it off.  To her, it seemed like yet another blatant display of Korean society’s obsession with thinness, with which she has had some first-hand experience.  “I was very malnourished when I first came to Korea in May last year and the

Social AffairsJan. 25, 2022

Ruling party announces reforms to address weak support for Lee Jae-myung

The head of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea announced he will not seek reelection in the next National Assembly, as part of large-scale reforms to the party aimed at boosting support for its presidential nominee, Lee Jae-myung. Rep. Song Young-gil, a five-term lawmaker and the chairman of the Democratic Party, said in a press conference Tuesday that he will not seek to run again as a lawmaker in the next parliamentary elections in 2024. He also announced his party will not make nominations

PoliticsJan. 25, 2022

Speculations rise on Kim Keon-hee’s official campaign debut

Kim Keon-hee, the wife of presidential nominee Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party, may be preparing to officially join her husband’s election campaign. Naver, one of the two largest internet portals in South Korea, on Tuesday registered an official profile page for Kim that listed her as an exhibition planner who has served as the president of Covana Contents since 2009. Four exhibitions were directed under her lead, the profile read. Kim was also found Sunday to be

PoliticsJan. 25, 2022

ASEAN connectivity key to prosperity: Cambodian ambassador

Connectivity is key to improving, development, trade and other benefits to ASEAN, and putting the group’s master plan into action is key to achieving it, according to Cambodia, which is chairing the bloc this year. The conversion from key actions under the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 into projects is was crucial to connectivity, Cambodia Ambassador to ASEAN Yeap Samnang said in a keynote speech at the 9th ASEAN Connectivity Forum held Jan. 18-19. MPAC 2025 was adopted

Diplomatic CircuitJan. 25, 2022

[Newsmaker] N.Korea appears to fire two cruise missiles from inland area: S.Korean military

North Korea fired two suspected cruise missiles from an inland area Tuesday morning, its fifth weapons test this year. “North Korea is presumed to launch two cruise missiles this morning,” a South Korean military official told reporters on condition of anonymity. “The missiles are estimated to have traveled mostly inland although further analysis is needed,” the military official said, adding the missiles were not fired toward the East Sea. 　 The military official sa

DefenseJan. 25, 2022

New NK sanctions face up to 6-month delay on China and Russia’s objection

The US’ push to impose UN sanctions on five North Koreans responsible for the regime’s recent missile launches could be delayed for at least six months, after China and Russia blocked the move. 　 Norway, which holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council in January, confirmed that China and Russia have put a hold on a US initiative to impose additional UN sanctions on the regime, according to a Voice of America report Tuesday. It added that the block period can last up

North KoreaJan. 25, 2022

No signs of work to restore nuclear test tunnels at Punggye-ri site: Seoul official

South Korea has detected no signs of North Korea trying to restore underground tunnels at its purportedly demolished Punggye-ri nuclear test site despite indications of maintenance work there, a Seoul official said Tuesday. The official's assessment came after Olli Heinonen, a former deputy director-general at the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the Voice of America (VOA) earlier this week that the North is maintaining the site as evidenced by "trails of the cars and cleaning of s

North KoreaJan. 25, 2022

Yoon vows to scrap nuclear phaseout policy

Main opposition presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol said Tuesday he will scrap the nuclear phaseout policy and reduce the proportion of fossil fuel generation by a third to cut fine dust emissions by more than 30 percent. Yoon of the conservative People Power Party made the remarks while announcing his election pledges on the environment and agriculture at the party's headquarters in Seoul. Yoon said he, if elected president in March, will do his utmost to reduce fine dust pollution by abolis

PoliticsJan. 25, 2022

Jeju expecting 207,000 visitors during Lunar New Year holiday: tourism association

JEJU -- More than 200,000 people are expected to travel to Jeju Island during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday despite growing concerns over the spread of the omicron coronavirus variant, according to travel industry officials Tuesday. According to the Jeju Tourism Association, the number of visitors to the resort island during the extended holiday period, from Saturday to Feb. 2, is expected to reach 207,000, up 35.2 percent from a year ago. The number of scheduled Jeju-bound flights durin

Social AffairsJan. 25, 2022

Nat'l Assembly speaker to attend Beijing Olympics opening

Parliamentary Speaker Park Byeong-seug will visit China next month and attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the National Assembly said Tuesday. He is scheduled to visit Beijing from Feb. 3-6 at the invitation of Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. They will discuss ways to boost exchanges between the parliaments of the two countries, which mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, the National Assembly said

PoliticsJan. 25, 2022

New Gwanghwamun Square to open in July with fresh attractions

Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul will reopen in July after completing over 1 1/2 years of renovation that will more than double the total area, including tripling the space for trees and other plants, the city government said Tuesday. The square, located in front of the royal Gyeongbok Palace and the US Embassy, has been one of the must-visit places for tourists and citizens. Since November 2020, construction has been under way to expand the square from 18,840 square meters to 40,300 square

Social AffairsJan. 25, 2022

Military reports 78 more COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military on Tuesday reported 78 additional COVID-19 cases, including 67 breakthrough infections, raising the total caseload among its personnel to 4,020. Of the new cases, 63 are from the Army, seven from the Marine Corps, four from units under the direct control of the defense ministry and four from the Air Force. The Army infection count included 30 trainees based at a boot camp in Nonsan, 213 kilometers south of Seoul. Currently, 406 military personnel are under treatment. Of

Social AffairsJan. 25, 2022

Lee pledges basic income for farming, fishing villages

Ruling party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung pledged Tuesday to provide a basic income of up to 1 million won ($836) to residents of farming and fishing villages if elected in March. Lee of the liberal Democratic Party announced the pledge at a press conference in Pocheon, 46 kilometers north of Seoul, as he canvassed voters in Gyeonggi Province for a third day. Lee said he will increase the agriculture and fisheries industries' share of the government budget to 5 percent and conduct deve

PoliticsJan. 25, 2022

[Graphic News] Two-fifths of self-employed mullbusiness closure amid pandemic

　Four out of 10 self-employed people in South Korea are considering closing their businesses due to sluggish sales amid the long-enforced strict social distancing rules during the coronavirus pandemic, a survey showed. 　According to the survey of 500 people operating restaurants, retail and other service businesses by the Federation of Korean Industries, a major business lobby group, 40.8 percent said that they are considering discontinuing their operations. 　Of them, 28.2 percent cited decli

NationalJan. 25, 2022

US urges N. Korea to cease provocations, find ways to de-escalate tension: Pentagon

The United States continues to call on North Korea to stop its provocations and instead return to dialogue to find ways to de-escalate tension, US Department of Defense Press Secretary John Kirby said Monday. Kirby also said the US remains concerned about the North's advancing nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. "We've been very clear about our concerns over the advancing nuclear ambitions and ballistic missile capabilities of Pyongyang," Kirby said in a press briefing. &quo

North KoreaJan. 25, 2022

UAE PM honors Zayed Sustainability Prize winners

UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented awards to 10 winners of the 2022 Zayed Sustainability Prize on Jan. 17. The Zayed Sustainability Prize was established in 2008 to honor the legacy of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The prize is the UAE’s pioneering global award recognizing small- to medium-size enterprises, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions for their innovative, impactful and inspirational sus

Diplomatic CircuitJan. 24, 2022

Mongolia rolls out fourth COVID vaccine shot to combat omicron surge

Mongolia has begun administering a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine nationwide on a voluntary basis starting from Jan. 7, the Embassy of Mongolia in Seoul said in a press statement Sunday. Some 66 percent of the Mongolian population have received two shots of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 28.7 percent have had the third shot. The press statement said Mongolia’s mortality rate from COVID-19 was lower compared to developed countries due to its immediate vaccination campaign and that it ha

Social AffairsJan. 24, 2022