[Contribution] UNICEF and Korea: Together driving change for children

It has been 30 years since the Republic of Korea joined the United Nations on 17 September 1991, and over the past three decades the country has emerged as a central partner in international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. The country’s relationship with the United Nations Children’s Fund goes back to the founding of the Republic of Korea in 1948. For more than four decades, UNICEF had a country office presence, providing humanitarian and development support to

Foreign AffairsSept. 30, 2021

Air Force launches space center to boost space defense capabilities

The Air Force was to launch a space center under the direct control of its chief of staff Thursday as part of efforts to expand its presence in space and strengthen defense capabilities against emerging threats, the military said. A signboard hanging ceremony was to be held at the Air Force headquarters in the central city of Gyeryong, presided over by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Park In-ho, according to the military. The new organization will be in charge of exchanges with other space unit

DefenseSept. 30, 2021

Top nuclear envoys of S. Korea, US to hold talks on NK dialogue

The top nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States were set to meet in Jakarta on Thursday to discuss joint efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea, after its leader Kim Jong-un voiced a willingness to restore inter-Korean communication lines following tensions over recent missile tests. The talks between Seoul's chief nuclear envoy, Noh Kyu-duk, and his US counterpart, Sung Kim, come as Seoul and Washington are strategizing on humanitarian aid, confidence-building measures and ot

Foreign AffairsSept. 30, 2021

US denies hostile intent, reiterates willingness to talk

WASHINGTON -- The United States has no hostile policy and is ready to meet with North Korea without preconditions, a State Department spokesman said Wednesday, after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the US offer to engage with the North is a disguise for its hostility. "The United States harbors no hostile intent toward the DPRK. Our policy calls for a calibrated, practical approach that is open to and will explore diplomacy with the DPRK to make tangible progress that increases the s

Foreign AffairsSept. 30, 2021

Final vote for “fake news” bill pushed back again from fierce opposition

The ruling party walked back from its plan to put a controversial media bill for a final vote in face of strong opposition and stalled negotiations with the opposition bloc on Wednesday. The Democratic Party of Korea said in a press briefing on Wednesday evening that its senior party officials decided to give up trying to put the media bill up for a final vote at Wednesday’s plenary session of the National Assembly, the last one to be held in September. “We ruled that it would be d

PoliticsSept. 29, 2021

S. Korea to cooperate with new Japanese Cabinet under Kishida for 'future-oriented' ties

South Korea will continue to cooperate with the new Japanese government under the leadership of Fumio Kishida, the foreign ministry said Wednesday, following his win in the party election set to make him the next prime minister. "The government intends to continue to cooperate with the newly launched Japanese Cabinet to develop the bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan in a future-oriented manner," the ministry said. Kishida won the leadership election of the ruling Li

Foreign AffairsSept. 29, 2021

US to continue to pursue diplomacy with N. Korea despite missile launches: nuke envoy

North Korea's latest missile launches will not affect the US' determination to seek diplomacy with the North for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the US nuclear envoy for Pyongyang said Wednesday.  Sung Kim, US special representative for North Korea, made the remark at a press event in Jakarta, a day after the North test-fired a hypersonic missile into the East Sea. The firing came after the regime's test-firings of two short-range missiles on Sept. 15 and a new type of cruis

North KoreaSept. 29, 2021

Kishida to be Japan's next PM

  Former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership election on Wednesday, making him all but certain to become Japan’s new prime minister.  The 64-year-old replaces outgoing party leader Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who decided early this month to step down after a year in office amid plummeting approval ratings over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Kishida is effectively assured to be named the prime minister at an extraor

Foreign AffairsSept. 29, 2021

North Korea says it tested hypersonic missile

North Korea said Wednesday that their newest weapon tested the previous day was a hypersonic missile, and that the launch matched all technical expectations. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the weapon seems to be in its early stages of development and far from deployment, adding the missile defense South Korea and the US maintain can take it down. “Flight maneuverability and stability of the missile, along with the gliding characteristics of the hypersonic warhead, were pr

North KoreaSept. 29, 2021

Breakthrough cases near 8,000, most frequent among those in 30s

South Korea has reported nearly 8,000 coronavirus infections involving people who tested positive for COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated, health authorities said Wednesday. Out of more than 17.75 million people who have received the full-dose vaccine regimen, there were 7,772 breakthrough cases, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Since its nationwide inoculation campaign began in late February, a total of 38.76 million people, or 75.5 percent of the country's populat

Social AffairsSept. 29, 2021

Seoul treads lightly around Pyongyang’s ‘ballistic’ missile

Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday continued to exercise caution regarding North Korea’s latest missile test, while the US and Japan have condemned Pyongyang for firing what appears to be a ballistic missile, a violation of UN resolutions. “We cannot predict anything for now,” Park Soo-hyun, President Moo Jae-in’s senior secretary for public communication, told a radio interview with KBS. “Every single action North Korea takes is open to interpretation as it always cont

North KoreaSept. 29, 2021

South Korea reviews ‘vaccine pass’

As infections continue to soar among those unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, the South Korean government is reviewing a “vaccine pass” that benefits only vaccinated people in accessing multiuse facilities. Health and Welfare Minister Kwon Deok-cheol hinted Tuesday at the possibility of introducing such a system in Korea. “We are considering ways to ease distancing rules for private gatherings and multiuse facilities centering on those who have been vaccinated,”

Social AffairsSept. 29, 2021

Afghan refugees begin social adaptation program

Afghan evacuees in Korea started a new chapter of their lives Wednesday, as the government kicked off a basic social adaptation program to help the refugees settle in the country. The Ministry of Justice started the Korea Immigration and Integration Program for the adults to help them understand and learn Korean culture and the language. There are six levels in the program, the ministry said, and it aims to have the Afghans get through the first three levels, which would require at least 215 h

Social AffairsSept. 29, 2021

Debate continues on controversial media bill

Rival parties continue to clash over a controversial media bill that faces criticism for potentially undermining the freedom of press, signaling a chance for the ruling party to unilaterally use its dominant position in the legislative branch to pass the bill on a final vote. Floor leaders of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and main opposition People Power Party met Wednesday morning for a meeting chaired by National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug where they discussed making amendments

PoliticsSept. 29, 2021

End-of-war declaration 'very useful' step to build trust, peace between Koreas: unification minister

Declaring an end to the Korean War could be a "very useful" and "meaningful" step that builds mutual trust between the two Koreas, and would pave the way for peace and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula, Unification Minister Lee In-young said Wednesday. During a press meeting held just before embarking on an overseas trip to Germany, Belgium and Sweden, Lee urged North Korea to come out for dialogue to discuss denuclearization, inter-Korean relations and other cross-border i

North KoreaSept. 29, 2021

S. Korea's childbirths at fresh low in July

The number of babies born in South Korea dropped to a record low in July, data showed Wednesday, in the latest sign that underscores the country's gloomy demographic situation with the chronically low birth rate. A total of 22,352 babies were born in July, down 2.8 percent from the previous year, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. In the first seven months of this year, the number of newborns reached an all-time low of 159,269, down 3.4 percent from the previous year. South Kore

Social AffairsSept. 29, 2021

Seoul third-best city in world to be a student: report

Seoul is the third-best city in the world to be a university student, according to a recent report from UK-based education consultant Studee. Studee on Tuesday released the Student Cities Index for 2021, indicating the best 100 cities for university students across the globe. “Seoul has the greatest number of high-ranking universities anywhere in the study,” the report said. “The city also offers reasonably cheap rent and above-average levels of free speech.” Studee a

Social AffairsSept. 29, 2021

16.5% of S. Korea's population aged 65 and older in 2021: report

People aged 65 and older made up 16.5 percent of South Korea's population this year, a report showed Wednesday, highlighting concerns that the fast-aging demographic transition could pose a drag on the country's economy. According to the report by Statistics Korea, the number of people aged 65 and older stood at 8.53 million this year. The South Korean population is projected to peak in 2028 before going on a downward curve, the report showed. However, the graying of South Korea will accelerate,

Social AffairsSept. 29, 2021

[Newsmaker] Assimilation programs begin for Afghan evacuees in S. Korea

The government on Wednesday started assimilation programs for Afghan evacuees who settled in South Korea in August upon fleeing their country after it was taken over by the Taliban. Various programs, offered by relevant ministries, are aimed at helping them learn the language, get familiar with the culture and more easily assimilate into Korean society. The Ministry of Justice runs the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) with a goal to teach them Korean culture and language, along w

Social AffairsSept. 29, 2021

Two Koreas could hold additional summit under next presidency of South: Cheong Wa Dae official

The two Koreas could hold an additional summit under the next presidency of the South if another meeting between the leaders isn't able to take place before the end of President Moon Jae-in's term next year, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official said Wednesday. Speculation of an inter-Korean summit has surfaced as of late, especially following Moon's proposal of signing a declaration on the end of the 1950-53 Korean War in his speech to the recent United Nations General Assembly. Last week, Kim Yo-jon

PoliticsSept. 29, 2021