New virus cases in 300s for 2nd day; high reproduction rate, variants still concerning

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed below 400 for the second straight day Tuesday on fewer tests over the weekend, but authorities are vigilant over the rising reproduction rate amid eased social distancing measures and an increase in the number of patients infected with COVID-19 variants. The country reported 357 more virus cases, including 330 local infections, raising the total caseload to 87,681, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). On Monday, S

Feb. 23, 2021

[Newsmaker] Men's volleyball league suspended for 2 weeks after player tests positive for COVID-19

The South Korean professional volleyball league announced Tuesday the ongoing men's season will be suspended for two weeks, effective immediately, after a player tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO), which operates the V-League, reached the decision a few hours after Park Jin-u of the KB Insurance Stars tested positive for COVID-19 late Monday. The suspension will wipe out Tuesday evening's match between the Hyundai Capital Skywalkers and the Kepco

Feb. 23, 2021

Chemical accidents surged over 30% last year: institute

The number of chemical accidents soared by more than 30 percent last year, a government agency said Monday, indicating possible loopholes in the management of hazardous materials amid the growing prevalence of non-face-to-face work environments caused by the coronavirus outbreaks. According to the National Institute of Chemical Safety, affiliated with the Ministry of Environment, 75 chemical accidents were reported nationwide in 2020, marking a rise of 32 percent from 57 accidents in 2019. The

Feb. 22, 2021

Experts paint murky outlook for COVID-19 herd immunity

Health experts both inside and outside the government say Korea may be farther away from herd immunity against COVID-19 than previously thought. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jung Eun-kyeong said Monday that as more contagious variants of COVID-19 and other variables come into play, herd immunity “could take higher rates of vaccinations than the aimed 70 percent.” In a Jan. 25 briefing to the president, the Ministry of Health and Welfare had said 70 per

Feb. 22, 2021

Police pledge maximum safety measures for vaccination

Police on Monday pledged all-out efforts to ensure the safety of the nation's COVID-19 inoculation program to be rolled out late this week. South Korea plans to begin to administer AstraZeneca's vaccines Friday and Pfizer's products Saturday. Pfizer's shots are scheduled to arrive in the country Friday while AstraZeneca's vaccines are produced in SK Bioscience Co.'s factory in Andong, 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul. Kim Chang-yong, chief of the National Police Agency (NPA), said the agency

Feb. 22, 2021

Conservative groups plan anti-Moon rally on March 1

Conservative groups known for organizing mass political rallies last year said Monday they plan to hold a similar event denouncing President Moon Jae-in on March 1 Independence Movement Day. At a press conference near Cheong Wa Dae, the activists said the rally will be held at Gwanghwamun Square but stopped short of revealing details. "We hope that your resolve, which filled Gwanghwamun Square on Aug. 15, will once again manifest itself," Kim Kyung-jae, a former leader of the Korea F

Feb. 22, 2021

Less than half of S. Koreans willing to receive COVID-19 vaccine shots immediately: poll

Less than half of South Koreans are willing to receive COVID-19 vaccine shots immediately, without waiting for further reports on those vaccines' effects, an opinion poll showed Monday. In the survey conducted on 1,020 people aged 18 or over by the Korea Society Opinion Institute from last Friday to Saturday, only 45.8 percent said they are willing to be vaccinated "right away" when their turn for COVID-19 vaccine shots comes. Another 45.7 percent responded they will delay their vacc

Feb. 22, 2021

[News Focus] Doctors protest bill to strip convicts of medical licenses

Doctors are once again in conflict with the government, this time over a legislative revision on the revocation of medical licenses, and are threatening industrial action that could disrupt the country’s COVID-19 vaccination program. The conflict, if unresolved, could cause delays and disruptions to the operations of hospitals, as well as to the nationwide COVID-19 inoculation program slated to start Friday. The Korean Medical Association announced Sunday that it would stage a general st

Feb. 22, 2021

Wildfires sweep area the size of 357 soccer fields

Forest fires that began in Andong and Yecheon in North Gyeongsang Province on Sunday swept an area the size of 357 soccer fields, fire and local authorities said Monday, as dry weather and strong winds continue. Over 2,600 personnel including civil servants, expert fire fighters, dozens of helicopters and fire trucks were mobilized as firefighting work resumed early Monday. No casualties have been reported, but residents in the area were told to evacuate. As of 7 a.m. Monday, about 30 percent

Feb. 22, 2021

Eight foreigners, 1 Korean test positive for COVID-19 after party at USFK member's home

SEOUL/PYEONGTAEK -- Eight foreigners and one South Korean have tested positive for the new coronavirus after attending a party at a US Forces Korea (USFK) service member's home, officials said Monday. The party was held Feb. 13 near Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, and attended by 19 foreigners and two South Koreans, according to officials at the Pyeongtaek city government. The service member works on the base. Police have been asked to locate two of the attendees, wh

Feb. 22, 2021

Army officer in Seoul tests positive for coronavirus

An Army officer based in Seoul has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Monday. The soldier was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 after a family member was found infected, according to the ministry. The case brought the total number of infections reported among the military population to 568, of which 556 have been fully cured and 12 are under treatment. Nationwide, South Korea reported 332 additional virus cases, raising the total caseload to 87,324. (Yonhap

Feb. 22, 2021

[Newsmaker] Blazes tear through forests in southeastern cities of Andong, Yecheon

Wildfires have reduced huge swaths of forests in the southeastern cities of Andong and Yecheon to ash, fire authorities said Monday. The fires that broke out Sunday engulfed the mountain areas of Andong and Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, and burned around 255 hectares of land, equivalent to 357 football fields. The cities' governments resumed containment operations early Monday, deploying around 2,000 public servants and scores of fire equipment, and put out the remaining flames by around

Feb. 22, 2021

New virus cases in 300s again on fewer tests; cluster infections worrisome

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases dipped below 400 on Monday due to fewer tests over the weekend, but a series of cluster infections at plants and hospitals continued to pile up. The country reported 332 more COVID-19 cases, including 313 local infections, raising the total caseload to 87,324, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Monday's daily caseload marks the lowest in a week. The country added five more deaths, raising the total to 1,562. The fatali

Feb. 22, 2021

Doctors' association threatens strike over bill on licenses

South Korea's largest association of doctors said Sunday it will stage a general strike if parliament passes a revised bill on revoking the licenses of medical professionals convicted of serious crimes. The threat by the Korean Medical Association, which represents about 130,000 doctors, comes only five days before South Korea is scheduled to begin COVID-19 inoculation program with AstraZeneca's vaccines. It fueled concerns that the vaccination program will be adversely affected before it even

Feb. 21, 2021

Will ‘social bubble’ strategy work for Korea?

South Korean health authorities are expected to announce a revised roadmap for social distancing that will give more freedom to businesses, while restricting people’s behaviors more strictly, to combat COVID-19. “So far Korea has restricted opening of businesses and public places without necessarily limiting movement of people or other individual behaviors,” said Health Ministry spokesperson Son Youg-rae during a news briefing last week. “From now on, closures

Feb. 21, 2021

[News Focus] Koreans’ life expectancy to be 85.5 years by 2040

SEJONG -- South Korea ranked No. 10 in people’s life expectancy at birth among the 37 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in its 2019 comparison. The Paris-based organization defined life expectancy at birth as how long, on average, a newborn can expect to live, if current death rates do not change. Korean newborns are estimated to live 82.7 years on average. Though Korea saw the average life span has become quite longer compared to 1970-1980s, the figur

Feb. 21, 2021

New virus cases in 400s for 2nd day, potential upticks in infections in focus

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed below 500 for the second straight day on Sunday, but health authorities remained vigilant about a potential flare-up in virus infections amid eased social distancing rules. The country reported 416 more COVID-19 cases, including 391 local infections, raising the total caseload to 86,992, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The country added four more deaths, raising the total to 1,557. The virus tally was lower

Feb. 21, 2021

Forest fire in Jeongseon contained, no casualties reported

JEONGSEON -- A wind-fed forest fire that broke out in the northeastern county of Jeongseon has been put out after 18 hours, authorities said Sunday. The fire, which broke out on Saturday, was put out as of 9:40 a.m. after affecting an estimated 12 hectares of mountain land, according to the Korea Forest Service. No casualties have been reported. The authorities have deployed 14 helicopters and 421 personnel from the Korea Forest Service, fire services and the military as part of mop-up efforts

Feb. 21, 2021

[Photo News] Tulips get ready for shipment as spring nears

As spring nears, tulips, one of the most popular flowers in the nation, are growing on a flower farm in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.  The flower business in the area has been slow due to the cancellation of special events such as graduations amid the pandemic. But laborers are still busy at work. With the upcoming season offering new hope, they are preparing shipments of tulips. By Gha Hee-sun (lizka98@heraldcorp.com)

Feb. 20, 2021

Coronavirus cases fall below 500 amid resurgence concerns after eased distancing rules

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back below 500 for the first time in four days on Saturday, but sporadic infections continued to be reported amid worries over a potential resurgence after the government eased social distancing rules earlier this week. The country reported 448 more COVID-19 cases, including 416 local infections, raising the total caseload to 86,576, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The latest caseload was down from the previous day's 56

Feb. 20, 2021