S. Korea's COVID-19 cases surge to over 80,000 amid new variant woes

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases jumped to a weekly high of more than 80,000 on Tuesday amid concerns over the spread of a new omicron subvariant and a wintertime surge. The country confirmed 81,056 new coronavirus infections, including 63 from overseas, bringing the total to 29,220,591, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. It is far higher than the previous day's 22,735, as the infections had been on a decline over the past six days. The figure a week earlier was 87,5

Jan. 3, 2023

Visa requirements tightened, PCR tests required for China arrivals

A new rule mandating those traveling from China to South Korea via airplane or ship to get a PCR test upon arrival was applied Monday along with visa restrictions, as Seoul expressed concerns over a spike in imported cases from the neighboring country. For the next two months, travelers from China for short-term visits of fewer than 90 days are required to get tested immediately upon arrival, and will be accommodated at the airport until their test results are known, according to authorities. Lo

Jan. 2, 2023

Police to beef up foreign suspects' rights protection

South Korean police unveiled Monday plans to ramp up human rights protections for foreign suspects through a new set of standards and a new policy. The Korean National Police Agency said it would seek to make video recordings of custodial interrogations involving foreign suspects mandatory beginning this year at their request in case they need an interpreter. Foreigners would be among those eligible to request video recording of their statement to police, along with those who are illiterate or

Jan. 2, 2023

Court says deport order valid for Chinese man convicted of DUI

The Ulsan District Court said Monday that it has turned down a Chinese national's request to nullify the immigration office's order to leave the country after the long-term resident was convicted of driving under the influence. The court dismissed the plaintiff’s request that was made on the basis of procedural defect, and said the Chinese national, who was caught drunk driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.183 percent in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, in July 202

Jan. 2, 2023

It’s official: At least 15 otters living in Han River

In one of the world’s busiest metropolises, Seoul is home to over 9 million people and now, officially, at least 15 otters. Following a series of otter sightings along the Han River which cuts across the megacity, local authorities last week announced that 15 Eurasian otters are confirmed to be inhabiting there. The analysis, conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, is based on footage of surveillance cameras installed along the Han River. Otters, which are most active at night, wer

Jan. 2, 2023

S. Korean Catholics pay tribute to late Pope Benedict XVI

South Korean Catholics on Monday mourned the loss of former Pope Benedict XVI, led by tributes by religious leaders. Benedict, who served as the head of the Catholic Church from 2005 through 2013, died Saturday morning (local time) in the Vatican monastery at the age of 95. He retired for health reasons to become the first Catholic pope to abdicate in 600 years. Myeongdong Cathedral set up a memorial altar in the underground sanctuary one day after his death to commemorate Benedict XVI, which wi

Jan. 2, 2023

S. Korea's COVID-19 cases fall; curbs on travelers from China in place

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases fell for the sixth consecutive day Monday amid concerns over a wintertime surge, with the government beginning to require a PCR test for travelers from China as the virus spreads in the neighboring country. The country confirmed 22,735 new coronavirus infections, including 35 from overseas, bringing the total to 29,139,535, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. The daily caseload has been on a steady decline since Tuesday when the figure jump

Jan. 2, 2023

Court sides with decision to deport foreigner with DUI conviction

ULSAN-- A court has ruled in favor of the immigration office's decision to deport a foreigner convicted of drunk driving, court officials said Monday. In accordance with the Immigration Control Act, immigration authorities issued the deportation of the Chinese national after he was handed down a suspended prison term for driving while under the influence of alcohol and causing car accidents. The Chinese national then filed a lawsuit with the Ulsan District Court, asking the court to nulli

Jan. 2, 2023

More cities join move to hike charges for transportation, utilities

Most regions across the country plan to raise public utility charges in the new year, including public transportation fares, water and sewage rates, and prices of standard garbage bags. According to the public utility charge plan of South Korea's 17 provinces and metropolitan cities, most regions have already decided to or are considering raising fares for public transportation such as taxis, subways and buses. Seoul announced last week it would raise the basic fare for taxis from 3,800 won

Jan. 1, 2023

All five victims of expressway fire identified

All five victims who died in a fire in a soundproof tunnel on a highway in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday, were identified Saturday. “The identity of the five victims has been confirmed through DNA tests by the National Forensic Service,” the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency said Saturday. The forensic service confirmed that, of the five victims, three were women and two were men. Three were in their 60s, while the others were in their 20s and 30s, respectively. Two wom

Jan. 1, 2023

S. Korea confirms additional bird flu case at duck farm in southern region

South Korea has confirmed a new case of avian influenza at a duck farm in a southern region, local officials said Sunday. The highly pathogenic avian influenza strain of H5N1 was found at the farm located in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, according to the officials. The new case brought the total bird flu infections confirmed in the province this winter to four. About 15,000 ducks have been culled at the farm and those located nearby. Local authorities have enforced restrictions on vehicles mo

Jan. 1, 2023

S. Korea's COVID-19 cases fall; critically ill patients hit 8-month high

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases fell for the fifth straight day on Sunday, but the number of critically ill patients rose to the highest in about eight months as the government is bracing for a wintertime surge and a spike in imported cases from China. The country confirmed 57,527 new coronavirus infections, including 110 from overseas, bringing the total to 29,116,800, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. The latest tally marked the fifth straight fall since Tuesday, when

Jan. 1, 2023

The uphill battle to stop Han River suicides

On Oct. 1, 44-year-old Cho Han-ah and her husband were enjoying the afternoon out. The unseasonably warm weather invited the couple on a walk across the 1.5-kilometer-long Wonhyo Bridge over Han River in Seoul, where they ran across a young woman about to jump into the waters below. “No!” Cho shouted, as she grabbed the woman who already had a leg up on the railing of the bridge. The woman fell over her feet and landed on the bridge floor. The woman attempting to jump was a 19-year-o

Dec. 31, 2022

[Weekender] From lockdown to holiday visits, one nursing hospital’s COVID-19 journey

Some sense of normal life is returning to South Korea’s hospitals for the oldest and the most vulnerable patients. Last weekend, Misodle Hospital for the elderly in Guro-gu, southern Seoul, spent the first Christmas since COVID-19 with in-person visits. With social distancing and other rules already lifted, the government permitted face-to-face encounters at elderly care facilities from October. Up until this point, residents and visiting loved ones could only meet separated by a glass wal

Dec. 31, 2022

2022 in numbers

1. Tough living conditions ① COVID cases The number of COVID-19 cases grew by 28.2 million this year due to the highly transmissible omicron subvariant. The figure was 635,253 on Jan. 1 but surged to 28.7 million at the end of this year. ② Inflation Fried chicken: 9.2% Gas: 36.2% Ramen: 12.6% Cooking oil: 43.3% (Nov. 2022, Year-on-year increase) South Korea has been no exception to global inflation, with “everything has risen except my salary” becoming a popular catchphrase. 2. U

Dec. 31, 2022

Changes to come in 2023

The coming year will see a number of changes ranging from minimum wages to university admissions fees. Each will have varying degrees of impact on day-to-day lives, below are some of the changes likely to have a direct effect on the lives of the individual. 1. Minimum wage increase The minimum hourly wage will rise by 460 won from Jan. 1 to 9,620 won ($7.60) an hour. Employees working eight hours, five days a week, will earn over 2 million won a month, including 346,000 won of holiday pay. 2.

Dec. 31, 2022

Popular bell-tolling event on New Year's Eve to resume after two-year hiatus

South Korea will resume its annual bell-tolling ceremony to celebrate New Year's Eve after two years of suspension due to COVID-19. The ceremony hosted by the Seoul metropolitan government will take place at 11:30 p.m. Saturday at Bosingak Pavilion in central Seoul with about 100,000 people attending.   Cho Gue-sung, a member of the national football team who competed in the World Cup in Qatar, painter-actress Jung Eun-hye of the popular TV drama "Our Blues," and honorary

Dec. 31, 2022

S. Korea's COVID-19 cases down for 4th straight day

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases fell for the fourth consecutive day Saturday amid the government's efforts to contain the virus' wintertime resurgence. The country confirmed 63,104 new coronavirus infections, including 67 from overseas, bringing the total to 29,059,273, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. Saturday's tally is down from 66,211 a week ago as daily infections have been on the decrease since Tuesday. The KDCA reported 61 COVID-19 deaths, bringing the death toll

Dec. 31, 2022

South Korea toughens COVID-19 testing for China arrivals

South Korea is tightening COVID-19 travel rules for arrivals from China, where a record surge of infections is underway, for about two months starting next year. The government’s COVID-19 response headquarters on Friday announced that all travelers from China will face extra rules including a mandatory COVID-19 test both before and after arrival. Only those who are negative in a PCR or a rapid test taken within 48 hours can board the plane to South Korea. Exceptions will be made for Korean

Dec. 30, 2022

[Newsmaker] Foreign workers fluent in Korean to receive visa extension benefits

Foreigners working in South Korea on an E-9 visa with a high command of the Korean language will likely be allowed to stay in Korea continuously for up to 10 years. According to a plan announced Friday by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Employment Permit System will be revised to give benefits to foreign laborers who are fluent in Korean. Currently, holders of the E-9 nonprofessional work visa wishing to extend their stay after 4 years and 10 months must leave Korea and reapply for th

Dec. 30, 2022