Moon urges swift measures to trace COVID-19 infections amid another wave of pandemic

President Moon Jae-in instructed the government Wednesday to step up efforts to speedily trace COVID-19 infections amid a sharp hike in confirmed cases. He called for the establishment of more temporary testing centers in areas with many residents or visitors and swift mobilization of military personnel, police officers and civil servants to that end, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Park Kyung-mee. The president ordered "preemptive" steps to expand testing on people related t

PoliticsJuly 7, 2021

S. Korea to expand child care services to help more women work: minister

South Korea's top economic policymaker said Wednesday the country plans to expand child care services in a bid to encourage more women to continue to work amid the chronically low birthrate. Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said the plan is aimed at better tackling the country's demographic challenges from the low birthrate and rapid aging. "A decline in labor supply, a jump in welfare costs for senior citizens and regional imbalances will have significant economic and social impacts on the c

Social AffairsJuly 7, 2021

Pfizer vaccines under exchange deal with Israel arrive in S. Korea

A total of 700,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine by Pfizer Inc. under an exchange deal with Israel arrived in South Korea on Wednesday. The expiring COVID-19 vaccines, enough for 350,000 people, arrived at Incheon International Airport, the country's main gateway, earlier in the day. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said the country will return the same number of Pfizer vaccine doses from a future order to Israel later, possibly between September and November. The COV

Social AffairsJuly 7, 2021

37 newly enlisted soldiers at Army boot camp test positive for COVID-19

Dozens of newly enlisted soldiers at an Army boot camp have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Wednesday, amid fears of a fourth wave of infections across the country. After one conscript at the Korea Army Training Center in the central city of Nonsan was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, 35 others who had contact with him were also found to be infected, according to the ministry. Virus tests are under way on 400 others to confirm any additional cases. The

DefenseJuly 7, 2021

New cases most since late Dec., virus curbs extended for 1 week

South Korea's daily new virus cases spiked by the most since late December on Wednesday, fanning fears of a fourth wave of outbreaks over the summer. Health authorities decided to extend current distancing curbs in the greater Seoul area for one week but warned of further tougher measures unless the current situation is brought under control. The country reported 1,212 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,168 local infections, raising the total caseload to 162,753, the Korea Disease Control and Pr

Social AffairsJuly 7, 2021

S. Korea records 2nd-highest daily COVID-19 cases of over 1,200

South Korea on Wednesday recorded over 1,200 new daily COVID-19 cases, marking the second-highest tally since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country and raising concerns of the potential emergence of a fourth pandemic wave, the government announced. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum during a daily interagency meeting on the nation's coronavirus response. Kim also said that the government's current distancing rules will be extended for an additional week. Wednesday's

Social AffairsJuly 7, 2021

Defense chief 'terribly ashamed' about one-star general's sexual abuse allegations

Defense Minister Suh Wook said Wednesday he feels "terribly ashamed and regret" over recent sexual harassment allegations raised against a one-star general despite the military's ongoing efforts to root out sex crimes following the suicide of an Air Force abuse victim. The defense chief made the remark during a biannual meeting with top commanders to discuss the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and other defense issues, vowing to hand down a stern punishment to the accused b

DefenseJuly 7, 2021

US, Chinese envoys for N. Korea hold phone talks: State Dept.

WASHINGTON -- Sung Kim, Special US representative for North Korea, held phone talks with his Chinese counterpart on Tuesday, the State Department said. The call between Kim and China's Liu Xiaoming apparently marks the first of its kind since Kim was named the special envoy in May. "I can confirm that a call took place," a department spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency without elaborating. Department spokesman Ned Price later highlighted an important role China can play in addressi

Foreign AffairsJuly 7, 2021

Seoul to ban drinking at Han River parks after 10 p.m. starting Wednesday

The Seoul metropolitan government said Tuesday it will ban drinking at Han River parks every night between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. starting the next day. The ban was announced Sunday as part of the central government's toughened social distancing guidelines for the capital area, which has recently seen a spike in COVID-19 cases. The city government said it will begin enforcing an administrative order on the ban at midnight Tuesday, with no predetermined end date. Violations will be punishable with

Social AffairsJuly 6, 2021

Daily coronavirus cases surge over 1,000 for first time in six months

South Korea confirmed over 1,000 new coronavirus cases Tuesday for the first time in six months amid a resurgence in the Seoul metropolitan area, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The country reported 1,006 more COVID-19 cases from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the number is expected to further rise when the daily total is announced Wednesday morning. The figure shot up to over 1,000 for the first time since Jan. 3 when the nation was undergoing a third wave of the pandemic,

Social AffairsJuly 6, 2021

Move to revise Nationality Act faces backlash

Anti-China sentiment and differing views on nationality could be fanning debate over a proposal to lower the entry barriers to South Korean citizenship. In Korea, any child born to a Korean parent is granted citizenship. In April the Ministry of Justice suggested tweaking the laws to open the door to citizenship for children born in Korea to foreign parents. Doing so would promote multiculturalism and boost Korea’s ultralow birth rate, said the ministry. The proposed change would aff

Social AffairsJuly 6, 2021

S. Korea's opposition leader thanks acting US envoy for America's vaccine provision

South Korea's main opposition party leader on Tuesday thanked the acting US ambassador to South Korea for his country's COVID-19 vaccine provision. Lee Jun-seok, head of the People Power Party (PPP), noted that he was one of the beneficiaries, during his meeting with Robert Rapson, the acting US ambassador to Seoul, at the National Assembly. "I was among those who benefited from the US' recent provision of 1 million doses of the Janssen vaccine," Lee said. "It is something that

PoliticsJuly 6, 2021

S. Korean, Fijian leaders note bilateral agreement on aid in letters

The leaders of South Korea and Fiji have exchanged letters on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the two sides establishing diplomatic ties, Cheong Wa Dae said. In a letter to his Fijian counterpart, Jioji Konousi Konrote, President Moon Jae-in pointed out that bilateral relations have constantly developed since 1971, according to Moon's spokesperson Park Kyung-mee. Moon expressed hope that the two countries will expand cooperation in various fields, including politics, business and cultu

PoliticsJuly 6, 2021

[Herald Interview] Korea needs a leader who can handle external issues: Lee Nak-yon

Rep. Lee Nak-yon, a Democratic Party of Korea heavyweight who announced his presidential bid Monday, believes South Korea now needs a new leader befitting its raised status. “South Korea’s status has risen to a high level,” Lee said in an interview with The Korea Herald. “The public has gained a lot of confidence both internally and externally, but at the same time we face a lot of challenges. “We need a leader who is worthy of strengthening the nation’s s

PoliticsJuly 6, 2021

Finland-Korea cooperation has great potential in post-COVID era: Finnish ambassador

Finland and South Korea have great potential for collaboration in a wide range of fields, including the environment, ICT and pioneering the world after COVID-19, says Finnish Ambassador Pekka Metso. “Finland-Korea cooperation will benefit ITCs, ocean and fisheries, and startups because Finland is looking for new avenues of research, innovation, circular economy, smart harbors and ports, autonomous vessels and maritime industry,” Metso said. “Finland and South Korea can provi

Foreign AffairsJuly 6, 2021

[Newsmaker] Lee Jae-myung says ‘shall I pull down my pants’ on TV

Gyeonggi Province governor and presidential front-runner Lee Jae-myung asked in a televised debate “shall I pull down my pants again?” when asked to explain his scandal with an actor. During the debate among eight candidates for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea’s primary for next year’s presidential election Monday evening, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun asked Lee to explain a previous scandal, saying the morality of a president is very important. Lee explaine

PoliticsJuly 6, 2021

Vaccine-scarce Korea accepts Israel’s offer of Pfizer doses close to expiry

Korean health officials said Tuesday they have reached a deal with Israel to receive their offer of 700,000 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine that are due to expire shortly, in exchange for a fresh batch of the same number at a later date. The Pfizer vaccines sent from Israel will arrive here Wednesday morning, to be used immediately, according to a Ministry of Health and Welfare statement. “The Israeli government was looking to exchange its surplus Pfizer supply, and Korea is

Social AffairsJuly 6, 2021

Russians leave N. Korea en masse amid global pandemic

A group of Russians left North Korea en masse last week after living in the country for the past several years, Russia's Embassy in Pyongyang said. Photos released on the embassy's Facebook page on Tuesday showed dozens of Russians waving as they prepared to depart from Pyongyang Station. "On July 2, many of our colleagues and friends returned to their homeland - those who have worked with us in Russian missions abroad in the DPRK for the past few years, including during these difficult c

North KoreaJuly 6, 2021

Seoul to ban drinking at Han River parks after 10 p.m. starting Wednesday

The Seoul metropolitan government said Tuesday it will ban drinking at Han River parks every night between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. starting the next day. The ban was announced Sunday as part of the central government's toughened social distancing guidelines for the capital area, which has recently seen a spike in COVID-19 cases. The city government said it will begin enforcing an administrative order on the ban at midnight Tuesday, with no predetermined end date. Violations will be punishable with

Social AffairsJuly 6, 2021

S. Korea to receive 700,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine under exchange deal with Israel

South Korea will receive 700,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine by Pfizer Inc. from Israel under an exchange deal, health authorities here said Tuesday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said the expiring COVID-19 vaccine doses will arrive in the country early Wednesday and will be used for inoculation starting next week. The KDCA said the country will return the same number of Pfizer vaccine doses from a future order to Israel later, possibly between September and Novem

Social AffairsJuly 6, 2021