Over 520 suspects caught trading drugs on dark web using cryptocurrencies

Seoul police said Tuesday they have recently cracked down on more than 520 drug trafficking suspects on charges of distributing, selling or buying drugs over the dark web using cryptocurrencies. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said 521 suspects -- 49 distributors and sellers of smuggled drugs and 472 drug buyers and users -- were apprehended and 13 of them were placed under arrest. The suspects are accused of using cryptocurrencies and the dark web to buy and sell cannabis and other banne

Social AffairsJune 1, 2021

P4G summit ends with Seoul redoubling climate role

A global climate summit wrapped up its two-day run Monday, with host nation South Korea pledging stronger environmental action and a green recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, as the country seeks a bigger role in the global fight against climate change. 　 The Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, or P4G, summit brought world leaders together to discuss public-private partnerships toward carbon neutrality and sustainable growth. 　 Due to the coronavirus situation, the meeting w

Foreign AffairsJune 1, 2021

[Newsmaker] Mayor of Seoul, Gyeonggi governor clash on social media over basic income plans

The mayor of Seoul and the governor of Gyeonggi Province, the heads of the two largest local governments in South Korea, exchanged words over the weekend on the topic of basic income support. While Gyeonggi Gov. Lee Jae-myung proposes prioritizing the equal distribution of funds to people of all socioeconomic levels, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon wants to give more to those with less income. The two had clashed in the past over the matter, but the conflict flared up again last week when Oh wrote a so

PoliticsJune 1, 2021

[Herald Interview] Swedish envoy touts first-mover advantage in green transition

Achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions is now a global initiative, and those realizing that ambition earlier than others will see more than clear air, clean water and nice nature, the Swedish ambassador to Korea says. “It’s not only the government, civil society and individual consumers, but actually driven these days very much by enterprises by the private sector because they see that there is a gain in being a first mover,” Ambassador Jakob Hallgren said during an inter

Foreign AffairsJune 1, 2021

S. Korea reports 5th MIS-C case

An additional case of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) has been confirmed in South Korea, bringing the total caseload to five, health authorities said Tuesday. The 8-year-old boy tested positive for the COVID-linked syndrome in April and has since recovered from the illness, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The boy was hospitalized after being infected with COVID-19 earlier this year. After fully recovering, he was released in early Febr

Social AffairsJune 1, 2021

S. Korea reports 202 more COVID-19 variant cases, total nearing 1,600

South Korea has confirmed 202 more cases of COVID-19 variants, including 168 local infections, health authorities said Tuesday, amid concerns that the spread of more transmissible virus strains may further complicate the country's fight against the pandemic. Of the newly confirmed variant cases, 170 were the Britain-originated strain, followed by 24 Indian variant cases and eight South African ones. There was no additional case of the virus strain from Brazil, according to the Korea Disease Con

Social AffairsJune 1, 2021

Govt. to launch task force to improve troops' living conditions

The defense ministry will launch an interagency task force to come up with measures to improve troops' living conditions after a series of complaints over poor meal quality and other inconveniences, officials said Tuesday. The quality of military meals has emerged as a hot issue after active-duty soldiers uploaded photos showing poor quality meals on a Facebook page serving as an anonymous bulletin board for troops, leading to Defense Minister Suh Wook issuing an apology. Those under COVID-19

DefenseJune 1, 2021

65 S. Koreans flown from India test positive for COVID-19

A total of 65 South Koreans who arrived from India last month on special flights have tested positive for the new coronavirus, health authorities said Tuesday. Of 2,171 people who returned home from the pandemic-ravaged country, 3 percent were confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19 as of Sunday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). South Korea has airlifted its nationals from India 13 times via special flights since May 4 after the South Asian country bec

Social AffairsJune 1, 2021

1st batch of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine arrives in S. Korea

The first batch of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, enough for 27,500 people, arrived in South Korea on Tuesday, health authorities said. The first batch of 55,000 bottles is part of a contract for 40 million doses signed between the Seoul government and the US pharmaceutical company. The vaccine was initially scheduled to be delivered Monday but was delayed one day due to "local circumstances" in the United States. The vaccine will be administered to health care workers under the age

Social AffairsJune 1, 2021

[#WeFACE] Zero-waste movement gains ground

For someone who is not familiar with the term “zero waste,” it might seem like simply creating no waste. But there is a whole lot more to it. To establish guiding principles, the Zero Waste International Alliance defines it as “the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.&rd

Social AffairsJune 1, 2021

Govt. push to ease citizenship rules draws ire

The justice ministry's plan to lower the barrier for children of permanent residents to gain citizenship has triggered protest from people who suspect the move was a ploy to benefit Chinese living here. An early draft of the revision to the Nationality Act allows children of permanent residents with "close ties" to South Korea to easily acquire citizenship. In detail, children up to the age of 6 will be able to immediately gain citizenship without preconditions and those aged 7 and ab

PoliticsJune 1, 2021

Military reports 3 more coronavirus cases

An Air Force officer and two Army members tested positive for the new coronavirus, the latest in a series of infections at barracks, the defense ministry said Tuesday. The airman in the city of Osan was confirmed to have been infected in a test required to exit quarantine. He has been in isolation after coming into contact with his colleague who tested positive earlier, according to the ministry. One enlisted soldier and an Army officer tested positive following their recent vacations, it adde

DefenseJune 1, 2021

[Newsmaker] Air Force officer dies in suicide after being sexually harassed by colleague

An Air Force officer has died in an apparent suicide after being sexually harassed by a colleague, officials said Tuesday. In March, the female master sergeant stationed in the central city of Seosan was sexually harassed by the man surnamed Jang inside a car on their way back to the base after a private gathering that she was forced to attend, according to the officials. She then reported the case to the authorities the following day, but the military allegedly failed to take appropriate step

DefenseJune 1, 2021

N. Korea slams countries for piling up excessive supply of vaccines amid shortage

North Korea criticized some countries for storing an excessive stock of coronavirus vaccines while others suffer from a lack of supplies in a recent United Nations session. In a statement presented at the 74th World Health Assembly last week, North Korea also urged the World Health Organization to help achieve a fair distribution of the vaccines across the globe. "The development of COVID-19 vaccines and medicines might be the achievement for the common mankind whereas an unfair reality i

North KoreaJune 1, 2021

DP floor leader raises need for another round of universal stimulus checks

Rep. Yun Ho-jung, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), has said the country needs to come up with another round of universal COVID-19 response stimulus checks in time for the national attainment of herd immunity. "(The government) needs to provide emergency handouts and take measures for grand economic reconciliation as a new strategy to reinvigorate the economy for the post-COVID-19 era," the ruling party floor leader said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency at the N

PoliticsJune 1, 2021

[Graphic News] Older people more likely to have lost income due to COVID-19: survey

　Older people were more likely to have suffered a decrease in income due to the coronavirus pandemic, a survey showed. 　In the survey conducted on 16,244 workers in 537 professions from August to November, 35.8 percent said they earned less in 2020 due to the economic fallout from the pandemic, according to the Korea Employment Information Service. 　Only 2.9 percent said they saw their income increase. 　The survey showed that the proportion of people who lost income grew almost in line

NationalJune 1, 2021

New infections in 400s for 3rd day, virus curbs eased for vaccinated people

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases remained in the 400s for the third consecutive day Tuesday, while health authorities are easing distancing rules for vaccinated people to speed up the inoculation drive. The country reported 459 more COVID-19 cases, including 449 local infections, raising the total caseload to 140,799, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. It is the first time that the daily caseload has stayed around 400 for three days in a row since late March,

Social AffairsJune 1, 2021

S. Korea discovers more Korean War remains in DMZ

South Korea discovered 28 more bone fragments believed to be from troops killed in the 1950-53 Korean War as well as thousands of artifacts inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) so far this year, the defense ministry said Tuesday. The military resumed a demining and excavation operation on Arrowhead Ridge in Cheorwon, about 90 kilometers northeast of Seoul, on April 5, after months of hiatus during winter, to continue the project launched in 2019. Over the past two months, the military has disco

DefenseJune 1, 2021

S. Korea's intelligence chief to return home after weeklong trip to US: sources

South Korea's intelligence chief is expected to return home Tuesday after a weeklong trip to the United States that apparently focused on discussions with his counterparts on North Korea, sources said. National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Park Jie-won had been in the US since his departure on May 26. His trip drew keen attention as it came just days after President Moon Jae-in and US President Joe Biden held a summit and agreed to use diplomacy to resolve the North's nuclear standoff.

North KoreaJune 1, 2021

Global leaders pledge inclusive green recovery at P4G summit

Foreign leaders and heads of international organizations on Monday pledged an inclusive green recovery for carbon neutrality and urged joint efforts to help developing countries join the initiative. The unified message came as the P4G summit wrapped up its two-day run in Seoul. It was the first time South Korea had hosted a multilateral international meeting on the environment. “We reaffirm that the fight against COVID-19 leaves important lessons for the global response to the climate

Foreign AffairsMay 31, 2021