Daily virus cases stay below 4,000 for 2nd straight day amid tighter antivirus curbs

South Korea's daily coronavirus cases stayed below 4,000 for the second straight day Monday as the country has extended the enforcement of its tighter social distancing measures for two more weeks to stem a surge in infections and the spread of the omicron variant. The country added 3,129 new COVID-19 infections, including 2,993 local infections, raising the total caseload to 642,207, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). This marked the second straight day that

Jan. 3, 2022

The perils, promises omicron holds for 2022

As the third year of the pandemic dawns, the rise of a new variant once again upends previously established calculations about the virus. Forecasts out there are a mix of bleak and upbeat, with the most optimistic saying omicron could be “the beginning of the end.” Although it’s still too early to predict omicron’s impact, most experts agree on one point: This winter will be a challenge with an omicron-fueled surge riding on top of the existing damages from delta.

Jan. 2, 2022

Over 1,000 file suit against govt. over vaccine pass

Over 1,000 people have jointly filed a lawsuit against the government's requirement of presenting proof of vaccination in multiuse facilities on concerns over discrimination against unvaccinated people, sources said Sunday. A total of 1,023 plaintiffs filed the suit Friday with the Seoul Administrative Court against Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong, and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to challenge the so-called vaccine pass. Und

Jan. 2, 2022

Street cleaner: “I’m totally satisfied with my job”

An online post purportedly written by a street cleaner saying he is “100 percent satisfied” with his salary and working conditions has gone viral Sunday.  The writer of the job review, posted on online community bobaedream.co.kr., introduces himself as a 42-year-old sanitation worker who started work on Jan. 1 last year. “I’m 100 percent satisfied with my job largely due to the salary I receive,” he wrote, adding that his annual wages easily exceed 50 million

Jan. 2, 2022

[Newsmaker] May 2022 be year of healing, really

A concerted effort to heal the scars of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has widened social, political and economic divisions during its two-year reign, was one of the top wishes from ordinary people in Korea for the New Year. As much as the COVID-19 crisis has isolated people and affected their daily routines, it also has shed light on the importance of interpersonal ties and solidarity. The Korea Herald interviewed 10 people -- COVID-19 frontline nurses, a Seoul-based TikToker and influencer,

Jan. 2, 2022

COVID-19 vaccine pass will be applied with 6-month validity period this week

Proof of vaccination required for access to multiuse facilities will be valid only for six months after the primary series or booster doses starting Monday, health authorities said as they seek to stem the latest upsurge in virus cases. Under the tightened measure, those who completed the primary series on July 6 last year or before will not be allowed to use those facilities starting Monday if they are not administered with a booster shot, officials said. The so-called vaccine pass is require

Jan. 2, 2022

New virus cases dip below 4,000, fast spread of omicron variant in focus

South Korea's new coronavirus cases fell below 4,000 on Sunday as the country has implemented tighter antivirus measures to stem the spike in virus infections and the fast spread of the omicron variant. The country added 3,833 new COVID-19 infections, including 3,683 local infections, raising the total caseload to 639,083, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The daily figure marked a decline from 4,875 reported Friday and 4,416 on Saturday. The fall was largel

Jan. 2, 2022

[Photo News] 2022: The year of the tiger

According to the Chinese zodiac, there are twelve different animals that represent each year. The twelve different animals are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. As there are twelve different animals, there is a cycle that takes twelve years for a full rotation.  2021 was the Year of the Ox, which makes 2022 the Year of the Tiger. But to be exact, it is called the Year of the Black Tiger. It originates from the term “iminnyeon”,

Jan. 1, 2022

New infections below 5,000 for 2nd day, distancing curbs extended for 2 more weeks

South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed below 5,000 for the second day in a row Saturday as the nation maintained tough social distancing restrictions to rein in the fast spread of COVID-19.  The country added 4,416 new COVID-19 infections, including 4,310 local infections, raising the total caseload to 635,253, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.   The daily figure marks a slight decline from 4,875 tallied a day earlier. South Korea reported 62 m

Jan. 1, 2022

S. Korea reports sharpest gain in omicron cases

South Korea reported a sharp increase in omicron infections on Friday, with health authorities saying it was possible the coronavirus variant had already spread within the community. The country counted 269 new infections of the new variant, which pushed the total caseload to 894, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. It is the steepest gain since omicron was first detected in the country. Of the 269, 186 were foreign arrivals and 83 were local transmissions. Abou

Dec. 31, 2021

Decade-old gaming curfew ends at midnight Friday

At the turn of the year, South Korea’s 10-year-old gaming curfew on minors under the age of 16 will be lifted.  From midnight Friday, Koreans can play through the night as the anti-addiction system, introduced in 2011, is abolished, according to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on Friday.  Previously, those aged 16 or younger were banned from playing online computer games between midnight and 6 a.m.  The National Assembly in November passed a revision to the You

Dec. 31, 2021

Year-end bell-ringing ceremonies canceled across country for 2nd year amid pandemic

Annual year-end bell-ringing ceremonies have been canceled across the nation for the second year in a row amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, officials said Friday. The country's most popular bell-ringing ceremony, which used to be held on New Year's Eve at Bosingak Pavilion in central Seoul, has been called off again, according to the Seoul city government. Instead, a virtual bell-ringing event will be livestreamed through YouTube and Facebook, the city said. It marks the second time the y

Dec. 31, 2021

[Newsmaker] Mother of infant found inside roadside donation box faces infanticide charges

The mother of an infant found dead inside a clothing donation bin in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, earlier this month could face infanticide charges, the police said on Friday. According to the Osan police, investigators have sent the case to the prosecution on Thursday. The woman is accused of neglect leading to the death of the just-born boy in the bathroom of her house, where she had given birth. She is charged with discarding the baby’s body in a roadside clo

Dec. 31, 2021

Military reports 22 more COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military on Friday reported 22 additional COVID-19 cases, including 21 breakthrough infections, raising the total caseload among its personnel to 3,257. Of the new cases, 16 are from the Army and two from the Navy, two from the Air Force and two from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the defense ministry said. Currently, 272 military personnel are under treatment. Of the total military caseload, 1,457 are breakthrough cases. (Yonhap)

Dec. 31, 2021

S. Korea emitted 701.3m tons of greenhouse gas in 2019: environment ministry

South Korea emitted a total of 701.3 million tons of greenhouse gas in 2019, the environment ministry said Friday. The 2019 figure, confirmed by the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Research Center, represents a 3.5 percent drop from the 2018 tally, according to the ministry. The decrease came largely from a reduction in power plant emissions from 268.5 million tons to 248.7 million tons and alternative ozone layer depleting substances from 8.8 million tons to 6.3 million tons. But road transport

Dec. 31, 2021

New COVID-19 cases below 5,000, distancing curbs extended for 2 weeks

South Korea's new coronavirus cases fell below 5,000 for the first time in three days Friday, but the government decided to extend toughened social distancing rules for two more weeks through mid-January to try to reduce critical cases and contain the omicron variant. The country added 4,875 new COVID-19 infections, including 4,758 local infections, raising the total caseload to 630,838, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The daily tally represented a sharp de

Dec. 31, 2021

South Korea to extend social restrictions for another two weeks

South Korea will extend the current social distancing measures for another two weeks, and the youth vaccine pass will be applied from March 1, a top official said Friday. “It is too early to be sure that we have overcome the crisis,” said Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum at the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting, explaining the plan to strengthen quarantine measures. “In particular, it takes time to preemptively prepare before the highly tr

Dec. 31, 2021

Korea wants to coexist with COVID-19 in 2022

With vaccines aplenty and new therapies on the way, South Korea envisions to have less social distancing and more freedom in 2022. In a news briefing Thursday, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Yoo Geun-heag said with the rise of the omicron variant, “when the pandemic will come to an end has become more unpredictable than ever.” Still, Korea will “strive to make headway toward normalcy carefully,” he said. 　 The government laid out how the country will navigate thro

Dec. 30, 2021

S. Korea’s decision to extend entry ban over omicron leaves Africans frustrated

South Korea extended the ban on short-term travelers from 11 African countries for another four weeks on Wednesday in an effort to “prevent the omicron variant from entering the country.” But as cases rise elsewhere, the decision to single out Africa has left many Africans living in Korea angry. The measure to restrict entry from select African countries was first enacted in late November, soon after the omicron variant was first detected in South Africa. The Korea Disease Control a

Dec. 30, 2021

USFK sees surge in COVID-19 cases

  A total of 467 people affiliated with the US Forces Korea tested positive for the new coronavirus in the week ending Dec. 27, according to data from the US Forces Korea released Thursday.  The US military counted 457 cases among service members at its Osan base and Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, and 10 from overseas arrivals.  The weekly figure marks a steep rise from 75 cases reported in the previous week of Dec. 14-20. It was also the highest since Nov. 9.&

Dec. 30, 2021