New COVID-19 cases under 700 again, cluster infections still hampering virus battle

South Korea's new daily coronavirus cases fell back below 700 again Thursday, but the country is grappling with sporadic cluster infections amid the rising number of travelers enjoying warm weather. The country reported 629 more COVID-19 cases, including 620 local infections, raising the total caseload to 138,311, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Daily cases reached a two-week high of 707 the previous day, rising from 516 tallied Tuesday. There were three additiona

May 27, 2021

COVID-19 nurse found dead in Busan in apparent suicide

A nurse working with COVID-19 patients in this southeastern city was found dead in an apparent suicide this week, her family and labor union said Wednesday, blaming her death on depression from overwork. The 33-year-old woman, identified only by her surname Lee, worked at a public health center in Busan before she was found dead at her home on Sunday morning. Her family said she had recently been assigned to manage a local hospital that was placed under cohort isolation following an outbreak

May 26, 2021

S. Korea's childbirths at fresh record low in March

The number of babies born in South Korea fell to a fresh record low in March, data showed Wednesday, underscoring the country's gloomy demographic situation with the chronically low birth rate. A total of 24,054 babies were born in March, down 0.6 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. It marked the lowest for any March since 1981, when the statistics agency began compiling related data. In the first quarter, the number of childbirths reached a record

May 26, 2021

Koreans can ditch masks outdoors after first COVID-19 shot

South Koreans who have received at least one COVID-19 shot will get to enjoy some of the perks of vaccinated status this summer. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Wednesday that two weeks after receiving a first dose of either one of the vaccines offered in the country -- from AstraZeneca or Pfizer -- people will be able to relax on social distancing and face mask-wearing. Both AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines require two doses for maximum protection. More specifically, semi-vaccinated

May 26, 2021

[Newsmaker] Leftover vaccines available for online reservation from Thursday

Coronavirus vaccines left over after people do not show up for inoculations will be available for anyone who wants to get vaccinated via online reservations starting later this week, health authorities said Wednesday. Starting on Thursday, people will be able to sign up to get the leftover doses through the country's major internet portal Naver and top mobile messenger KakaoTalk, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. People can search for the number of available COVID-19

May 26, 2021

Seoul City eases redevelopment rules in bid to tame real estate prices

South Korea’s capital city will shorten its approval procedures for real estate reconstruction projects and ease regulatory limits in line with the new mayor’s plan to supply 240,000 new housing units by 2025. Mayor Oh Se-hoon said in a press briefing Wednesday that his office had prepared six deregulatory measures to combat rising home prices, expedite reconstruction projects and allow new apartment complexes to be built. “Measures centered on limiting supplies over the pas

May 26, 2021

First ‘blood moon’ in three years expected Wednesday night

A total lunar eclipse will take place Wednesday night, according to the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute. The eclipse, which can be observed in the Americas, Asia, Australia and Antarctica, and over the Pacific and Indian oceans, will peak for about 18 minutes starting at 8:09 p.m. Korean Standard Time. Although the unusual celestial alignment will begin before moonrise, the full visual effects will only be clear once the moon has risen fully. It will be South Korea’s first

May 26, 2021

Seoul sees first decline in number of tourist hotels due to COVID-19

The number of tourist hotels in Seoul decreased for the first time last year due to the outbreaks of COVID-19, government data showed Wednesday. As of the end of 2020, there were 331 tourist hotels in Seoul, down two from a year ago, according to the data from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It was the first such decline in the capital since records began in 2008. The figure had steadily increased in the previous years, rising from 125 in 2008 to 151 in 2012, 211 in 2014, 308 in 2

May 26, 2021

[From the Scene] Itaewon, Myeong-dong still struggling as COVID-19 deters visitors

Itaewon, once a bustling neighborhood in Seoul crowded with locals and foreigners, has lost so many visitors that more than a third of its shops have had to close their doors. The area, long known for its vibrant nightlife and international flair, had already grown quieter since the United States military started relocating to Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, but the situation got much worse with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The district lost much of its appeal as a tourist attraction in

May 26, 2021

People given first dose of coronavirus vaccine can go maskless outdoors starting in July: govt.

South Korea announced Wednesday that people who have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be required to wear masks outdoors starting in July, as part of incentives for those participating in the public vaccine campaign. The incentive program announced at a daily interagency coronavirus response meeting also included a plan to lift the gathering ban for direct family members who have had their first vaccine dose. South Korea launched its two-dose vaccination regimen campa

May 26, 2021

New cases spike above 700, vaccine takers to be exempt from certain curbs

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases sharply bounced back to a nearly two-week high Wednesday as sporadic cluster infections, along with more transmissible variant cases, continued to pop up across the country. The health authorities said those who are vaccinated will be partly exempted from wearing masks and other virus restrictions in an effort to encourage more people to get COVID-19 jabs. The country reported 707 more COVID-19 cases, including 684 local infections, raising the total c

May 26, 2021

Only half of Koreans in their 60s sign up for vaccinations

South Koreans in their 60s to early 70s, for whom AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine becomes available Thursday, are reluctant to get vaccinated, the latest figures suggest. So far only 55 percent of people aged between 60 and 74 have made an appointment, according to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. There have been some notable age-related disparities in the vaccine appointment rates so far, according to Lee Jin-sook, the director of a public health center in Ch

May 25, 2021

[News Focus] Jobless rate for female NK defectors surges to record high

SEJONG -- The pandemic has worsened hiring conditions for female defectors from North Korea, who already faced higher unemployment rates than male defectors and South Korean women who were born here. According to the Korea Hana Foundation and Statistics Korea, the jobless rate for female North Korean defectors reached an all-time high of 11.4 percent in 2020. Though unemployment had been relatively high among female North Korean defectors for years, until last year the rate never exceeded 8 p

May 25, 2021

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

A total of 52 South Koreans who arrived from India this month on special flights have tested positive for the new coronavirus, health authorities said Tuesday. Of 1,718 people who returned home from the pandemic-ravaged country, 3 percent were confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). South Korea has airlifted its nationals from India 10 times via special flights since May 4 after the South Asian country became a virus h

May 25, 2021

S. Korea confirms 3 more 'breakthrough' COVID-19 infection cases

South Korea on Tuesday confirmed three more cases of so-called breakthrough COVID-19 infections, bringing the total caseload here to four. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said the four people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus even after receiving two doses of a vaccine.   A "breakthrough case" is when a person tests positive form COVID-19 between their first and second doses of a two-dose regimen or a person tests positive after full vac

May 25, 2021

S. Korea reports no additional bird flu cases for nearly 2 months

South Korea has reported no additional highly pathogenic bird flu cases for nearly two months, the environment ministry said Tuesday, indicating the latest wave of the animal disease has virtually come to an end. No additional cases of the H5N8 strain of bird flu have been reported among wild birds since April 1, according to the Ministry of Environment. There have been no new cases traced to poultry farms since April 6 as well. The alert level for the animal disease was already lowered to &q

May 25, 2021

1 in 3 young S. Koreans picks COVID-19 pandemic as No. 1 social anxiety factor

About 1 in 3 young South Koreans picked the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic as the biggest source of social anxiety last year, a poll showed Tuesday. The survey by Statistics Korea showed 32.2 percent of Koreans aged between 13 and 24 said they viewed the outbreak of the pandemic as the biggest threat to society. This marked a rise of 29.9 percentage points from 2.3 percent tallied two years earlier. Crimes ranked second with 22.6 percent, followed by unstable economic situations with 10.1 perc

May 25, 2021

[Newsmaker] Seoul to install more security cameras at riverside parks after med student’s death

Seoul plans to spend 3.8 billion won ($3.4 million) to install more security cameras in 155 locations throughout its riverside parks in response to the death of a 21-year-old medical student late last month. The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Tuesday that it was proposing a 4.24 trillion won supplementary budget on top of its 40.16 trillion won budget for this year to further assist those whose lives were damaged by the COVID-19 pandemic and to improve the city’s infrastructure f

May 25, 2021

Health minister cites importance of expanding vaccine capacity at WHA

South Korea's health minister on Tuesday stressed the importance of increasing COVID-19 vaccines and treatment manufacturing capacity to fight the pandemic. "We have to focus on developing and expanding the manufacturing capacity of vaccines and treatments to fight the current pandemic," Kwon Deok-cheol said in a keynote speech during the World Health Assembly (WHA). Kwon cited the importance of simplifying clinical trials to expand the commercial supply of COVID-19 vaccines. The he

May 25, 2021

New cases under 600 for 3rd day; infections rising outside greater Seoul

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed below 600 for the third straight day Tuesday due to fewer tests over the weekend, but health authorities are concerned over rising infections outside the greater Seoul area. The country reported 516 more COVID-19 cases, including 481 local infections, raising the total caseload to 136,983, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The daily caseload came to 585 on Sunday and 538 on Monday. There were four additional virus dea

May 25, 2021