Illegal Chinese fishing activities in S. Korean waters rampant in March: Coast Guard

An average of 65 unlicensed Chinese fishing boats have been appearing in waters near the western inter-Korean sea border every day this month ahead of the April-June crab catching season, a sharp rise from about 15 boats on average during the same period last year. According to the Coast Guard, the average number of illegal Chinese fishing boat entries across the western inter-Korean sea border, known as the Northern Limit Line (NLL), for March represents a fourfold increase compared to 2020. Th

March 30, 2022

51.9% oppose Yoon's plan to relocate presidential office

About half of South Koreans are against President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's plan to move the presidential office out of Cheong Wa Dae, while some 44 percent support the idea, a poll showed Wednesday. According to the poll of 1,004 adults, conducted by pollster Embrain Public on Sunday and Monday, 51.9 percent said the presidential office should remain at Cheong Wa Dae and 44.3 percent said they back the relocation plan. Yoon has decided to move the presidential office from Cheong Wa Dae to what

March 30, 2022

S. Korea's new COVID-19 cases rise to over 420,000; critical cases at record high

South Korea's new daily COVID-19 cases rose to over 420,000 Wednesday amid concerns over the continued rise in seriously ill patients and deaths over the fast spread of the highly transmissible "stealth omicron" subvariant. The country added 424,641 new coronavirus infections, including 42 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 12,774,956, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The daily count shifted to an upturn Tuesday after five days of a consta

March 30, 2022

After 7 days of COVID-19, patients are left stranded

COVID-19 patients who remain sick beyond the seven-day isolation are struggling to find access to care and pay hospital bills. In January, as omicron’s share of new cases was rising, the government shortened the isolation period to seven days. Once the seven-day isolation expires, all COVID-19-related medical costs are no longer covered by the government. “The government considers a patient to no longer be a COVID-19 case past day seven. And yet some patients are still on oxygen

March 29, 2022

Korea asks: what age is too young to be a criminal?

Amid nationwide concern about the rising juvenile crimes, President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol and his transition team have been studying ways to reduce the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12. The Ministry of Justice officials met with the presidential transition committee chief last week, vowing to support the process of changing the legal definition of a “criminal minor,” referring to the age below which children are immune from punishment for crimes. Chapter II, Articl

March 29, 2022

Justice ministry to expand family invitations for Ukrainians in S. Korea amid Russian invasion

Ukrainian nationals, including those of Korean descent, will be able to invite more family members to South Korea amid the Ukraine-Russia war, the justice ministry said Tuesday. Until now, family invitations were only given to parents, spouses and underage children, but the ministry decided to expand the invitations to siblings and grandparents. Ukrainian nationals staying in South Korea with a short-term visa of 90 or fewer days will also be allowed a long-term stay here until the hostility in

March 29, 2022

S. Korea's new COVID-19 cases rise to nearly 350,000 amid 'stealth omicron' woes

South Korea's new daily COVID-19 cases rose to around 350,000 Tuesday, ending a downturn for five consecutive days, amid the fast spread of the highly transmissible "stealth omicron" subvariant. The country added 347,554 new coronavirus infections, including 41 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 12,350,428, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Tuesday's tally marked a surge from 187,213 cases the previous day, when the daily count came to a ne

March 29, 2022

Busan City hosts business presentation, hoping for economic growth

Busan Metropolitan Government has signed memorandums of understanding with businesses on investments worth 360 billion won ($293 million), the city said Monday. According to the local government, the city hosted a conference in central Seoul to promote business opportunities in the southern port city to corporations located in Greater Seoul. Through the event, it signed memorandums with four corporations, including digital shopping platform SSG.com, which is owned by retail conglomerate Shin

March 28, 2022

Lee Jun-seok wages online war on disability rights protest

Activists and lawmakers on Monday protested People Power Party chief Lee Jun-seok’s online attacks of a disability advocacy group’s protests for speeding up barrier-free initiatives in South Korea’s public transit system. Beginning Friday, Lee published a series of nine Facebook posts targeting Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination, an disability rights advocacy group whose members have been protesting for improved accessibility in Seoul subways in recent months. 

March 28, 2022

Land Ministry eyes zero-tolerance rules for construction negligence

In the wake of the collapse of an HDC Hyundai Development apartment building under construction in Gwangju in January, the government is pushing for legislation that would allow it to hand out stronger penalties against companies for poor construction. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on Monday revealed plans for a “one-strike, you’re out” policy that would allow authorities to rescind the company’s construction license if three or more people die as a

March 28, 2022

S. Korea’s severe cases reach all-time high

The number of severe COVID-19 cases in South Korea hit another record high during the 24 hours of Sunday, the country’s health authorities said Monday. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the country’s severe cases reached an all-time high of 1,273, increasing 57 from the previous day’s 1,216. The bed occupancy rate for COVID-19 patients also reached 70 percent, up 2.2 percentage points from the previous day, as the number of severe cases remained

March 28, 2022

Prosecutors raid Samsung Electronics on suspected unfair biz practice

Prosecutors on Monday raided Samsung Electronics Co. and a Samsung food service subsidiary over suspicions of unfair business practice involving in-house cafeteria services, officials said. Investigators from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office searched the headquarters of Samsung Electronics in Suwon and Samsung Welstory in Bundang, both south of Seoul, for materials related with business deals on meal services for employees. Monday's raids came after the national antitrust regulator

March 28, 2022

Over 130,000 migrant workers to get stay extension in S. Korea: govt.

The government has decided to grant stay extensions to over 130,000 migrant workers in the country to relieve labor shortage at farms and small businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said Monday. Of some 132,000 workers whose stay permits end between April 13 and Dec. 31, those who receive stay extensions for the first time will be able to stay in South Korea for another year, according to the labor and justice ministries. A 50-day extension will be given to those whose permit expires

March 28, 2022

National police chief tests positive for COVID-19

The head of the National Police Agency, Kim Chang-yong, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, officials said. The commissioner general got a positive result in a polymerase chain reaction test, the police officials said, adding that Kim will undergo seven-day quarantine and treatment till Sunday. (Yonhap)

March 28, 2022

S. Korea's new COVID-19 cases in downward trend amid 'stealth' omicron spread

South Korea's new daily COVID-19 cases fell below 200,000 for the first time in 25 days Monday, as the omicron-driven virus peak appears to have passed amid growing concerns over the spread of the even more transmissible "stealth omicron" subvariant. The country added 187,213 new coronavirus infections, including 25 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 12,003,054, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. It is the first time since March 2 that the d

March 28, 2022

Why some renters voted in line with rich homeowners

The night of March 9 marked the closet election in modern South Korean history as exit polls had predicted, defying expectations that it was a clear win for now President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol. But when results of ballot counting in the richest areas in southeastern Seoul -- Gangnam, Seocho and Songpa -- started to come in, the balance began to tip in favor of Yoon. In Gangnam and Secoho, he carried over 67 and 65 percent of the vote, respectively. In the end, Seoul turned red, which is the color

March 27, 2022

[Newsmaker] Gilbert Houngbo to be first African to head UN labour agency

GENEVA (AFP) -- Gilbert Houngbo, the former prime minister of Togo, was on Friday elected the next head of the International Labour Organization, and will become the first African to lead the UN agency. After two rounds of voting, the ILO's governing body elected the 61-year-old to succeed British trade unionist Guy Ryder, who steps down at the end of September, after 10 years in the job. "You have made history," Houngbo told the governing body after the election. "I am deeply

March 27, 2022

S. Korea’s daily COVID-19 cases down for four straight days

South Korea’s daily COVID-19 cases have decreased for four straight days, according to data reported by the country’s health authorities, Sunday. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the country recorded 318,130 COVID-19 infections during the 24 hours of Saturday, staying below 400,000 for the fourth consecutive day. The total caseload reached 11,815,841. The country’s daily COVID-19 cases have been decreasing since Tuesday, when the figure surpassed

March 27, 2022

70 earthquakes detected on Korean Peninsula in 2021: data

A total of 70 earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.0 or stronger were detected on the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding waters last year, a level similar to the yearly average over the past 20 years, the state weather agency said Sunday. The 2021 figure is up from 68 logged the previous year and is similar to the yearly average of 70.6 since the country began tracking related data with a digital system in 1999, according to the data by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Of the total,

March 27, 2022

Veterans minister to visit Thailand, Turkey, South Africa

South Korea's Veterans Affairs Minister Hwang Ki-chul will embark on a trip to Thailand, Turkey and South Africa this week for talks on bilateral cooperation and meet Korean War veterans, his office said Sunday. On Tuesday, Hwang is set to meet Thai officials in Bangkok, visit a Thai military unit that participated in the 1950-53 conflict and attend a dinner session with Thai veterans who fought for the South during the war. During his stay in Turkey from Wednesday to Friday, the minister plans

March 27, 2022