Gov't launches inter-agency team to inspect illegal market activities surrounding urea water solution

The government on Monday launched an inter-agency team to monitor illegal market activities surrounding urea water solution amid a dire shortage of the key material used in diesel vehicles to reduce emissions due to tightened imports, officials said. The launch of the special inspection team, comprising 31 sub-teams and 108 personnel, came as South Korea has been grappling with a shortage of urea water solution, known as diesel exhaust fluid, and its surging prices in recent weeks, since China

Nov. 8, 2021

Govt. mulls using military urea water reserve to help ease supply shortages

The government is considering using the military reserve of urea water solution, a key material used in diesel vehicles to reduce emissions, to help address supply shortages in the civilian sector, sources said Monday. The defense ministry and other relevant ministries are in talks over the idea of temporarily lending part of the military stockpile to the civilian sector, they said, amid fears that a protracted shortage of the fluid could cause serious disruptions in the country's logistical in

Nov. 8, 2021

2,844 people caught drunk driving in 1st week of 'living with COVID-19': police

A total of 2,844 people were caught drunk driving in the first full week last week since the country eased virus curbs to gradually return to normalcy under its "living with COVID-19" scheme, police said Monday. Of them, 514 were caught Saturday, 427 on Friday and 417 on Sunday, and total of 2,091 people had blood alcohol content levels high enough to have their license revoked while the remaining 753 with levels warranting license suspension, according to the National Police Agency.

Nov. 8, 2021

New infections fall below 2,000 in six days, potential uptick worrisome amid eased virus curbs

South Korea's new coronavirus cases fell below 2,000 for the first time in six days Monday as fewer people took virus tests over the weekend, but health authorities remain on alert as new infections could rise under eased social distancing rules. Last week, the government began its "living with COVID-19" scheme as part of a broader plan to gradually lift the virus restrictions by the end of February. The country reported 1,760 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total caseload to 381,694

Nov. 8, 2021

[News Focus] Korea ranks 8th of 10 nations in Q3 employment

SEJONG -- South Korea placed eighth among 10 major economies in employment rate in the third quarter of 2021, which suggests that the country would still lag behind most members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in the hiring sector. The OECD has compared the figures for nine members -- which have publicized the third-quarter employment rates among the total 38 members -- and one nonmember, Russia. Korea posted a 66.8 percent employment rate for the working-age popu

Nov. 7, 2021

Living with COVID-19: What to expect

Nov. 1 marked the launch of the South Korean government’s three-phase plan, announced last week, to gradually lift the restrictions previously imposed because of COVID-19. While many people have welcomed the road map for a return to normal -- particularly local business owners hurt by the prolonged restrictions -- there are still concerns about what is to come in this new era of “living with COVID-19.” Experts across the country have expressed concern that the new policy

Nov. 7, 2021

Number of critically ill COVID patients rises after rules relaxed

The number of seriously ill COVID-19 patients has risen steadily since Nov. 1, when rules were eased for public gatherings and working hours at public facilities such as restaurants and cafes. The change came into effect as part of a step-by-step transition by health authorities to remove all restrictions by February. This weekend some 3,000 South Koreans attended rallies in downtown Seoul, while many others took advantage of the increased freedom in public places. But Korea is seeing an incr

Nov. 7, 2021

First trial in land development scandal to kick off Wednesday

The trial of Yoo Dong-gyu in the Daejang-dong land development scandal will begin Wednesday, raising questions about whether the prosecution will widen the probe and look into senior officials close to presidential nominee Lee Jae-myung. The Seoul Central District Court is to hold its first hearing for Yoo, who served as former acting president of Seongnam Development Corp., which was in charge of the urban development project in Daejang-dong, a district within Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Y

Nov. 7, 2021

Crowds pack religious facilities on 1st weekend under 'living with COVID-19'

People flocked to churches and temples in South Korea on Sunday to attend worship services on the first weekend since the country began easing virus restrictions as part of steps to return to pre-pandemic normalcy. South Korea on Monday kicked off the first of the three-stage "living with COVID-19" scheme to gradually phase out coronavirus restrictions as more than 70 percent of the population have been fully vaccinated. Under the eased rules, in-person worship services are now allo

Nov. 7, 2021

Pirate attacks on S. Korean ships down amid anti-piracy efforts off western Africa

Pirate attacks on South Korean ships dropped nearly 30 percent this year mostly due to a decline in cases in waters off the piracy-prone western Africa, the maritime ministry said Sunday. The number of pirate attacks targeting South Korean ships came to 97 during the January-September period, down 27 percent from the previous year's 132 cases, according to the ministry. The decline stemmed mostly from a fall in attacks in waters off western Africa, apparently thanks to recently beefed-up anti-

Nov. 7, 2021

93.7 percent of S. Koreans consider climate crisis 'serious': survey

Nearly 94 percent of South Koreans consider the climate crisis "serious," but only half believe the issue is connected to human rights, a survey showed Sunday. According to the survey of 1,500 people commissioned by the National Human Rights Commission, 80.4 percent responded that they are interested in the climate crisis issue. Asked how serious the crisis is, 93.7 percent said "serious," while 79.8 percent said climate change seriously affects people's lives, according to

Nov. 7, 2021

New COVID-19 cases stay over 2,000 for 5th straight day amid relaxed virus curbs

South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed above 2,000 for the fifth consecutive day Sunday amid worries over a resurgence of infections after the country relaxed virus curbs to gradually return to normalcy under its "living with COVID-19" scheme. The country reported 2,224 new COVID-19 cases, including 2,204 local infections, raising the total caseload to 379,935, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The figure is slightly down from 2,248 cases but m

Nov. 7, 2021

[Eye Plus] Path of hardship behind success to be witnessed in the Museum of Korean Emigration History

The Museum of Korean Emigration History, South Korea’s first museum on the history of emigration, attracts visitors with its exhibits on embracing the lives, joys and sorrows of Koreans overseas by providing a network of the compatriot societies at home and abroad. The cultural exhibit center located in Jung-gu of Incheon is the first historical museum that takes pride in highlighting the emigration of Koreas since being established in June 13, 2008, to commemorate the 100th anniversary o

Nov. 6, 2021

[Photo News] Monster spud could be largest potato in the world

What could be the world’s largest potato was found in Wellington, New Zealand, on Aug. 30. Donna and Colin Craig-Browns, a couple living in New Zealand, dug up a potato that weighs 7.9 kilograms. They were unsure of its identity before digging it out but once they did, they were absolutely flabbergasted. To give their discovery a funny twist, the couple decided to name the potato Doug, after the way it was unearthed.  The previous potato record-holder weighed 4.98 kilograms. The cou

Nov. 6, 2021

[Photo News] COVID-19 vaccination for kids begins in the US

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has given final approval to using the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children aged 5-11 years old. CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Tuesday that approximately 28 million children are now eligible to receive the vaccine for free. Last week, the FDA authorized a 10-microgram dose of the Pfizer vaccine for children under 12, which is one-third of the adult dose. Health authorities forecast that the lower dose will help reduce the chances of si

Nov. 6, 2021

Nearly 1,500 caught drunk driving in first 4 days of 'living with COVID-19': police

Nearly 1,500 people were caught while driving under the influence (DUI) in the first four days after the country lifted business hour restrictions and raised the cap on private gatherings under its "living with COVID-19" scheme, police said Saturday. A total of 1,486 people were busted for DUIs between Monday and Thursday, according to the police, with 384 of them having blood alcohol content levels high enough to have their licenses suspended and the rest with levels warranting havin

Nov. 6, 2021

Military reports 7 additional COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military reported seven additional COVID-19 cases Saturday, bringing the total caseload among its personnel to 2,074, the defense ministry said. All the newly confirmed cases were found to be breakthrough infections. With the latest tally, there have been 374 breakthrough cases in the military. (Yonhap)

Nov. 6, 2021

New cases over 2,000 for 4th day amid relaxed virus curbs

South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed above 2,000 for the fourth consecutive day Saturday as the country relaxed virus curbs under its "living with COVID-19" scheme that allows people to gradually return to normalcy. The country reported 2,248 new COVID-19 cases, including 2,219 local infections, raising the total caseload to 377,712, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. Saturday's figure is down from 2,344 cases from the previous day but still substantially la

Nov. 6, 2021

Lotte aquarium seeks to transport beluga whale to wildlife sanctuary

Lotte World said Friday that it plans to send its only-surviving beluga whale in its aquarium to a wildlife sanctuary next year in a move for its eventual release into its natural habitat. The theme park business unit of Hotel Lotte Co. said it is in contact with a whale sanctuary in Iceland, and plans to talk with sanctuaries in Russia and Canada. Lotte World said the East Sea -- the body of water between South Korea and Japan -- is also considered as a site for releasing "Bella," o

Nov. 5, 2021

Ex-school principal accused of spycam voyeurism handed over to prosecution

Police on Friday transferred to the prosecution a former elementary school principal accused of installing a spy camera in a female teachers' restroom. The Anyang Dongan Police Station in Anyang, 23 kilometers south of Seoul, concluded its probe into the 57-year-old man, who was arrested late last month, and handed the case over to the prosecution, recommending he be indicted on sexual offense charges, officials said. He has admitted to having fitted a tiny camera inside a tissue box in the re

Nov. 5, 2021