New cases at new high of over 2,200 despite month of toughest virus curbs

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases reached a new high of over 2,200 on Wednesday since the start of the pandemic in January last year in the face of monthlong toughened virus curbs and a slower than expected vaccination campaign. The country added 2,223 COVID-19 cases, including 2,145 local infections, raising the total caseload to 216,206, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The latest caseload was up 683 from 1,540 the previous day. The country added o

Aug. 11, 2021

S. Korea’s daily new COVID-19 cases top 2,000 for first time

South Korea’s daily new coronavirus cases surpassed 2,000 for the first time Tuesday despite weeks of toughened social distancing restrictions, according to official data. As of 9 p.m., 2,021 new infections were confirmed nationwide, up 637 from the same time Monday, health authorities and local governments said. It is unprecedented that more than 2,000 additional cases have been reported in a day in the country since it saw its first COVID-19 infection on Jan. 20 last year. South Kore

Aug. 10, 2021

[Newsmaker] Juvenile drug cases on the rise

Drug cases are on the rise in South Korea, with a marked surge in the number of juveniles arrested on drug charges, officials said Tuesday. According to government data, 7,565 people were arrested on drug charges and 1,138 people were imprisoned for drug offenses between January and June. Drug arrests rose 8.6 percent from the same period last year. The number of drug arrests stood at 12,613 in 2018, 16,044 in 2019 and 18,050 in 2020. The crackdown was carried out by the Ministry of Food a

Aug. 10, 2021

'Shoe polish chocolate,’ ‘glue stick candy’ banned

Chocolate in a shoe polish can, carbonated drinks in a marker ink bottle, candy in a glue stick and a lipstick container -- foods that resemble familiar non-food products -- will no longer be sold in South Korea under a legal revision. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Tuesday it has issued an advance notice for revised ordinances under a revised bill on labelling and advertising of foods that passed the National Assembly last month. The revised law bans labelling and advertising that

Aug. 10, 2021

Hwaseong set to become leading mega city of Gyeonggi

The population of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province has increased by 69.3 percent over the past decade, far outpacing the 13.8 percent growth of the province overall. The city saw the demographic figure sharply climb from just over half a million in July 2011 to over 870,000 in July 2021. It has grown to be the fourth-largest city in Gyeonggi (the most populous region among the country’s 17 major cities and provinces), next to Suwon (the largest with 1.18 million), Goyang (1.08 million) and Yo

Aug. 10, 2021

Hwaseong mayor strengthens city’s growth engines for 3 years

The rapid growth and innovations in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province is drawing attention to the city, and to its Mayor Seo Cheol-mo, who took office in July 2018. Born to a needy family in 1968, Seo spent his childhood in a tiny, underground single-room apartment with nine other family members including his parents. Though Seo had excellent academic scores, he had to give up on prominent private universities, and opted for the Republic of Korea Air Force Academy, which offered him full scholarshi

Aug. 10, 2021

No sign of letup in COVID-19 spread while vaccine plans are disrupted

The latest wave of COVID-19 infections is showing no signs of slowing down, with 1,540 new cases announced Tuesday -- 1,476 locally transmitted and 64 imported from overseas. The figure, which covers the 24 hours ending Monday at midnight, pushes the total number of cases to date to 213,987, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. South Korea added nine more deaths, raising the death toll to 2,134. The virus seemed to have slowed down a little in the capital region -- Seo

Aug. 10, 2021

S. Korea to urge Moderna to swiftly supply vaccine amid delayed shipments

Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Tuesday the government plans to call on Moderna Inc. to swiftly supply its COVID-19 vaccine as the US drugmaker is expected to delay the planned shipment for this month. Moderna has notified the government that it plans to supply less than half of the 8.5 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine planned for August, spawning concerns that the country's vaccine rollout may hit a snag amid the fourth wave of the pandemic. "The government should make all-out eff

Aug. 10, 2021

New virus cases over 1,500, further surge in store

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases bounced back to above 1,500 on Tuesday, as the nationwide resurgence of COVID-19 cases continued amid the summer season. The country added 1,540 COVID-19 cases, including 1,476 local infections, raising the total caseload to 213,987, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The latest caseload was up 48 from 1,492 the previous day. The country added nine more deaths from COVID-19, raising the death toll to 2,134. Health aut

Aug. 10, 2021

More students to attend in-person classes in 2nd semester: ministry

The Ministry of Education announced Monday that in-person classes will be expanded in phases during the second semester. According to the ministry, kindergartners and first and second graders will be able to attend in-person classes regardless of which social distancing level the health authorities designate. At Level 3, three-quarters of elementary school students between grades three and six, two-thirds of middle school students and half of first- and second-year high school students can g

Aug. 9, 2021

Moderna slashes August deliveries to Korea by more than half: minister

South Korea will lengthen the period between the first and second doses of two messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccines to six weeks, due to Moderna more than halving August shipments to Korea, Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol said Monday. Kwon said in an emergency breifing that Moderna will be sending less than half of the roughly 9 million doses of the vaccine that it had promised to ship this month.  “In a recent communication Moderna has apologized for the delay

Aug. 9, 2021

Sarang Jeil Church defies restrictions

Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul is again raising concerns about COVID-19 by forging ahead with face-to-face worship services and announcing a large-scale rally. Its leader, the Rev. Jeon Kwang-hoon, was indicted on charges of violating a ban on rallies in connection with a similar event last year. Since the implementation of tough restrictions in the Greater Seoul area July 12, the church has conducted four face-to-face worship services. Under the current quarantine rules, only 19 people are all

Aug. 9, 2021

Heavy rains from tropical storm Lupit flood homes, roads on east coast

Heavy rains brought by tropical storm Lupit led to flooding in parts of Gangwon Province along the east coast and in the southeastern port city of Busan, authorities said Monday. The eastern coastal city of Sokcho, 213 kilometers northeast of Seoul, received 67.5 millimeters of rain per hour on Sunday afternoon, according to the Gangwon provincial government. Flooding was reported at 26 houses, seven shops and one road, with the city government planning to carry out on-site inspections Monday

Aug. 9, 2021

New infections under 1,500 on fewer tests; cases piling up outside of Seoul

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back to below 1,500 on Monday on fewer tests over the weekend as the country has extended its highest virus rules for another two weeks due to relentless spread of the virus. The country added 1,492 COVID-19 cases, including 1,455 local infections, raising the total caseload to 212,448, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The latest caseload was down 237 from 1,729 the previous day, falling below the 1,700s for the

Aug. 9, 2021

Improper excavation procedures blamed for deadly Gwangju building collapse

A five-story building in the southwestern city of Gwangju collapsed during a demolition process due to improper excavation procedures that added excessive weight near the bottom, the transport ministry said Monday. The building collapsed on June 9 and fell onto a bus that was stopped at a bus stop near the construction site, leaving nine people dead and eight others seriously injured. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said the demolition team didn't abide by the excavation wor

Aug. 9, 2021

Another ASF case found, 24,000 pigs culled

South Korea is again on alert to contain the spread of the deadly Africa swine fever after finding a new case at a pig farm just three months after the last discovery. The government-led ASF task force announced Sunday that an ASF case was confirmed at a domesticated pig farm in Goseong-gun, Gangwon Province. The latest discovery of an ASF case in a pig farm comes three months after the last case was found in the province on May 4. The country so far has located a total of 18 ASF cases at loca

Aug. 8, 2021

Seoul subway workers gear up for strike vote

Seoul’s subway workers are mulling a full-scale strike as Seoul Metro prepares to carry out a massive restructuring plan to resolve continuing financial losses. Unionized workers at Seoul Metro are planning to hold a vote, along with union members who work for subway corporations in Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Incheon and Gwangju, from Aug. 16 to 19 to decide whether to launch a full-scale strike to protest Seoul Metro’s plan to reduce its head count by 1,539 employees. Seoul Metro&rsqu

Aug. 8, 2021

Social distancing rules questioned amid surge in cases

Despite having its most restrictive social distancing measures in place for nearly a month, South Korea is still scrambling to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The country reported 1,729 newly confirmed cases in the 24 hours ending Saturday at midnight, setting yet another record. It is the highest daily case tally on a weekend since the outbreak began early last year. “The fourth wave led by the delta variant, unlike the past waves, is characterized by faster spread and stronger in

Aug. 8, 2021

Tropical storm Lupit approaching East Sea near Korea, heavy rain forecast

Tropical storm Lupit is approaching the East Sea near South Korea and is forecast to pour heavy rains on the country's east coast, the weather agency said Sunday. Around midnight, Lupit is predicted to land on Japan's Kyushu before presumably passing further northward between the South Korean side of the East Sea and the northern coast of Japan the next morning, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. As of 11 a.m., Lupit's central pressure stood at 992 hectopascals, and it is estimated

Aug. 8, 2021

New COVID-19 cases fall below 1,800 amid stepped-up vigilance

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell below 1,800 on Sunday but still marked the highest tally for a Sunday to date, with the country extending its stringent virus curbs amid few signs of the situation abating. The country added 1,729 COVID-19 cases, including 1,670 local infections, raising the total caseload to 210,956, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The latest caseload is down from 1,823 reported Saturday but up from 1,704 on Friday. Daily case

Aug. 8, 2021