Healthy kids under 12 may not fully benefit from COVID-19 vaccines post-omicron peak

COVID-19 vaccinations for younger children are opening up too late in South Korea for them to benefit from the protection, according to a top immunization and pediatric infectious disease expert. The vaccine program for children aged 5 to 11 does not begin here until March 31. At that point the omicron wave would already be in retreat and many would have natural antibodies, said Dr. Choi Eun-hwa, the head of Korea’s national advisory committee on immunization practices. Speaking at a

March 22, 2022

Obtaining legal information of each country with a single visit

Even though the global economic situation has dramatically changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and commitments to reach carbon neutrality, Korean companies have sought a way out of the difficulties in the economy through overseas expansion and exports. In order for businesses to enter global markets and achieve successful settlement overseas, it is vital to minimize the possibility of court battles by correctly understanding the laws and systems of other countries. However, Korean companies

March 22, 2022

S. Korea’s daily COVID-19 cases rebound to over 350,000

South Korea’s daily COVID-19 infections jumped back up above 350,000 on Monday, the country’s health authorities said Tuesday, while the rapid spread of the stealth omicron variant cast doubt on the government’s projection that the peak of the current wave is ending. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the country added 353,980 new COVID-19 cases during the 24 hours of Monday, rising sharply from 209,169 reported a day earlier. The total caseload c

March 22, 2022

Doctor says those without COVID-19 have no friends

The reason you haven’t contracted COVID-19 yet? Probably because you have no friends. At least, that’s what one South Korean physician believes. “The adults who have not yet been infected with COVID-19 are those who have interpersonal problems,” read a Facebook post uploaded by Ma Sang-hyuk, vice president of the Korean Vaccine Society, on March 16. The post was removed but a screenshot has been widely shared online, sparking controversy. Unlike other virus exper

March 22, 2022

Cherry blossom street in Yeouido to welcome visitors this year but without festival

A popular cherry blossom street in Seoul's Yeouido district will welcome visitors during the blossoming season later this month, the first time in three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said Tuesday. The street in Yeongdeungpo Ward, one of the most well-known spots to enjoy the spring flower in Seoul, is where the cherry blossom festival is held every year, but the festival has been canceled for two consecutive years due to the pandemic. This year, the ward office decided not to hol

March 22, 2022

Prosecution stands against Justice Ministry ahead of Yoon administration

The prosecution appears to be on a collision course with the Ministry of Justice on how the new administration should lead the agency and what rights should be given for the ministry in overseeing the prosecution. Sources said Tuesday the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office recently submitted a report to the Ministry of Justice asking the justice minister to be stripped of its power to lead prosecutorial investigations. The report was filed ahead of the ministry’s meeting with the president

March 22, 2022

'Comfort women' sculptor couple wins libel suit against internet media chief

A sculptor couple, known for their "comfort women" statue representing wartime sex slaves, has won a libel suit against an internet media operator who claimed another of the couple's sculpture representing forced labor victims was modeled after a Japanese man. The Seoul Western District Court ordered the head of an internet media outlet and another person to pay 7 million won ($5,720) and 5 million won in damages, respectively, in the civil suit filed by the couple, Kim Seo-kyung and K

March 22, 2022

Daily coronavirus cases spike to over 350,000, total caseload nears 10m

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases spiked to over 350,000 on Tuesday, adding to concerns that infections could spike again as the accumulated caseload nears 10 million. The country reported 353,980 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight, raising the total caseload to 9,936,540, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The total caseload is expected to breach the grim milestone of the 10 million mark within the day, meaning 1 out of 5 South Koreans have become infected with CO

March 22, 2022

S. Korea‘s daily COVID-19 cases fall below 300,000 for the first time in 10 days

South Korea‘s daily COVID-19 infections fell below 300,000 for the first time in 10 days on Sunday, prompting the authorities to speculate that the worst may be over. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the country added 209,169 new COVID-19 infections on Sunday. The country’s total caseload came to 9,582,815. South Korea’s daily COVID-19 cases have been dropping for four straight days since the country reached an all-time high of 621,281 COVID-19

March 21, 2022

Children of Afghan evacuees start school life in Ulsan

Monday was the first day of school for 85 children of evacuees from Afghanistan in the southeastern city of Ulsan, after being airlifted here from the war-torn home country last year.  Among them, 28 started school life at Seoboo Elementary School in Dong-gu, while 16 children aged 5 to 7 entered nearby preschools operated by Noksu Elementary School and Sangin Elementary School.  Nineteen middle school students and 22 high schoolers also began attending classes at 14 neighboring publ

March 21, 2022

Rights watchdog advises addition of transgender data in national statistics

The state human rights watchdog has recommended that the government include transgender-related data when compiling national statistics so as to better understand their situation and draw up government policy for them, officials said Monday. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) made the recommendation to the health, interior and gender ministries as well as Statistics Korea, while asking the prime minister to come up with such a guideline on the issue. "Transgender people e

March 21, 2022

Govt. seizes W150b in unfair profits in yearlong special real estate probe

The government has seized a total of 150.6 billion won ($112.5 million) in unfair profits from real estate speculation after a yearlong investigation into speculative deals involving over 6,000 offenders, a special government probe team announced Monday. The police-led inter-agency team of over 1,500 personnel, including tax and financial authorities, announced the results of its investigation launched in March last year in the wake of an explosive corruption scandal at the state-run LH, or Kore

March 21, 2022

Cheong Wa Dae set to fade into history as legacy of 'imperial presidency'

Cheong Wa Dae, a symbol of South Korea's presidential authority for over seven decades, is set to vanish into history in May when it turns into a public park upon the inauguration of Yoon Suk-yeol as the new president. Yoon announced his decision Sunday to relocate the presidential office from Cheong Wa Dae to Yongsan, central Seoul, saying the vast green area in the heart of Seoul will be returned to citizens after his May 10 inauguration. Cheong Wa Dae, situated at the foot of Mount Bukak behi

March 21, 2022

Govt. to introduce oral COVID-19 medicine Lagevrio for 100,000 patients this week: interior minister

The government will introduce the oral antiviral medicine Lagevrio for 100,000 patients this week while seeking an early procurement of additional oral COVID-19 medicine, Interior Minister Jeon Hae-cheol said Monday. The planned introduction of the medicine by American multinational pharmaceutical company MSD, also known as Molnupiravir, comes amid rising demand for such oral COVID-19 medicine, the minister said during a COVID-19 response meeting. Over the weekend, the Ministry of Food and Drug

March 21, 2022

Daily coronavirus cases drop to 200,000s; concerns linger over spike amid eased curbs

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases dropped to the 200,000s for the first time in 10 days Monday due to less testing over the weekend, but concerns remain high that infections could spike again, as the government eased social distancing rules this week. The country reported 209,169 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total caseload to 9,582,815, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Monday's tally marked a sharp decline from a record high of 621,281 reported Thursday. The

March 21, 2022

[Subway Stories] Daerim, a hub of Korean Chinese culture hoping to shake negative image

The following is part of Seoul Subway Stories, a Korea Herald series exploring the city’s subway stations and surrounding areas. -- Ed.  An exotic scene created by the mixture of Korean and Chinese culture unfolds when walking out of Exit 12 at Daerim Station on subway lines No. 2 and 7 in southwestern Seoul. Large restaurants with colorful signs written in Chinese sell hot pot and lamb skewers, dishes that have become increasingly popular among Koreans in recent years. Small shops f

March 20, 2022

Mixed reactions to Yoon’s relocation of presidential office

South Koreans were largely divided over President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol’s announcement on Sunday of plans to move the presidential office to the Defense Ministry compound in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.  While some Yongsan residents expressed worry over downside risks to the region’s property market due to security-related restrictions, those living in neighborhoods near the current presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, hoped it would open new development opport

March 20, 2022

Omicron surge puts 2m patients under home isolation in Korea

The omicron surge is placing an unprecedented number of COVID-19 patients at home and hospitals across South Korea. More than 2 million people were isolating at home as of Sunday, marking a huge jump from about 160,000 a week earlier. Of them, 315,687 were vulnerable patients aged 60 and older who require remote safety monitoring, exceeding the government’s estimated manageable threshold of 300,000. Patients under 60 are not eligible for monitoring even if they are clinically vulnerabl

March 20, 2022

S. Korea’s cumulative COVID-19 cases near 10m

As the highly transmissible omicron variant continues to surge, South Korea’s cumulative number of COVID-19 infections nears 10 million since the country reported its first confirmed case around 26 months ago. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency‘s report on Sunday, the country added 334,708 new COVID-19 cases during the 24 hours of Saturday. The country’s total caseload neared 10 million at 9,373,646 as of midnight Saturday, accounting for some 20

March 20, 2022

Tax agency ordered to return W11.3b to Samsung over taxation suit

The Supreme Court has ordered tax authorities to refund Samsung Electronics Co. 11.3 billion won ($9.3 million) in undue corporate taxes from a former patent deal with U.S. software giant Microsoft Corp., court officials said Sunday. Samsung filed the complaint against local tax officials, who purported that the South Korean tech company avoided paying corporate taxes for using Microsoft's patents in its smartphones following a deal in July 2011. Two lower courts also ruled in favor of Samsung.

March 20, 2022