Tourist arrivals in S. Korea tumble 95% in H1

Tourist arrivals in South Korea plunged more than 95 percent in the first half of the year due to global travel curbs amid the coronavirus pandemic, data showed Tuesday. The data from the state-run Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) showed 73,000 foreign tourists visited South Korea in the January-June period, down 95.4 percent from a year earlier. The figure accounted for 17.5 percent of all foreigners who visited South Korea in the six-month period. In particular, it was much fewer than the 2

Aug. 17, 2021

Weddings again under threat as ‘unfair’ Level 4 rules allow only up to 49 guests

Wedding ceremonies in South Korea face another round of cancellations and disappointment, as restrictive virus rules limit the number of guests and force organizers to pivot from their game plans. At the moment, Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province are under Level 4 social distancing rules, limiting the number of guests at weddings there to 49. The rule is not likely to be relaxed anytime soon, which has drawn immense anger from to-be-married couples and wedding venues alike. Officials and exp

Aug. 17, 2021

Prosecutors raid Hyundai Heavy for allegedly hampering FTC probe over unfair trade

Prosecutors have raided Hyundai Heavy Industries Co.'s headquarters in the southeastern city of Ulsan for allegedly destroying evidence to avert the antitrust watchdog's investigation into unfair business practices, judicial sources said Tuesday. According to the sources, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office recently searched the company's office in Ulsan, about 415 kilometers southeast of the capital, to seize internal documents. Last year, People's Solidarity for Participatory Democ

Aug. 17, 2021

School children return to classrooms from summer vacations in middle of raging pandemic

With summer vacations ending, children started to return to their classrooms under relaxed distancing rules for schools Monday, despite an uncontrolled outbreak of the coronavirus. Last week, the Ministry of Education eased social distancing guidelines in schools for the fall semester. The measure was aimed at running in-person classes even under Level 4 distancing measures, the most stringent set of rules, as long as there are attendance caps to keep a safe distance among students in order to

Aug. 17, 2021

New infections dip to 1,300s on fewer tests, post-holiday resurgence worried

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back to the 1,300s on Tuesday due to fewer tests over the extended weekend amid concerns over a potential upsurge down the road. The country added 1,373 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,323 local infections, raising the total caseload to 226,854, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Daily infections fell from 1,556 on Monday, 1,817 on Sunday and 1,930 on Saturday, but the decline was attributable to fewer tests over

Aug. 17, 2021

S. Korea reports 2 additional ASF cases

South Korea's agricultural ministry on Monday reported two additional cases of African swine fever (ASF) after it confirmed the first cases of the animal disease at a local farm in about three months on Aug. 8. The authorities found the two new cases in a pig farm in Inje, Gangwon Province, and began culling about 1,700 pigs at the farm, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. On Aug. 8, pigs at a farm in Goseong of the same province were infected with the disease, pr

Aug. 16, 2021

Warrant issued for KCTU head, but arrest remains challenge for police

An arrest warrant for an umbrella union head has been issued, but resistance from the union is likely to present tougher challenges for police. On Friday, a local court issued an arrest warrant for Yang Kyung-soo, head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, on charges of violating COVID-19 rules by organizing a large rally last month. Despite repeated requests from authorities and restrictions implemented as part of Level 4 social distancing rules, the KCTU held a rally with 4,701 of i

Aug. 16, 2021

As infections rise, concerns emerge over collapse of medical system

There are fears that the medical system could collapse under the weight of the fourth wave of COVID-19, with some hospitals reporting bed shortages and a woman dying at a treatment center while waiting for care. As of Sunday at midnight, the daily number of newly confirmed cases was 1,556, the highest Sunday figure ever recorded in South Korea. The number of confirmed cases now stands at 225,481. Of the newly confirmed cases, 1,493 were locally transmitted and 63 were imported, with 857 of t

Aug. 16, 2021

New infections dip to 1,500s amid concerns over post-holiday surge

  South Korea's daily new coronavirus fell back to the 1,500s due to fewer tests over the weekend but marked the highest daily figure reported on a Monday amid concerns over a spike in cases following the Liberation Day holiday. The country added 1,556 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,493 local infections, raising the total caseload to 225,481, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Daily infections fell from 1,817 on Sunday and 1,930 on Saturday, but the de

Aug. 16, 2021

[Graphic News] Fewer teens arrested, but higher percentage accused of drug or online crimes

　The total number of juveniles arrested decreased last year, but the proportion of drug and online crime cases involving teens increased, police data showed. 　According to the National Police Agency, 64,595 teenagers aged between 14 and 18 were apprehended on criminal charges last year, down from 66,204 in 2019 and 66,259 in 2018. 　But the agency said the number of teenagers nabbed for alleged drug crimes surged to 132 last year, from 72 in 2019 and 56 in 2018. 　The tally of teen arrest

Aug. 16, 2021

Remains of Korean independence fighter Hong Beom-do return from Kazakhstan

The remains of Hong Beom-do, a historic Korean independence fighter, were brought home from Kazakhstan on Sunday, 78 years after his death in the Central Asian nation. 　President Moon Jae-in received and honored his remains at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, as Korea marked Liberation Day to commemorate the anniversary of its liberation from Japan‘s 1910-45 colonial rule. 　Hong, who served as general commander of Korea’s independence army, is a historic figure i

Aug. 15, 2021

[News Focus] US nationals become No. 1 in tally for inbound visitors

SEJONG -- US nationals have become the largest group of foreign visitors to South Korea by nationality, though they placed No. 4 in the tally in 2018 and 2019 and No. 3 in 2020. According to the Korea Immigration Service, the number of inbound travelers from the US reached 104,931 during the first half of 2021. US nationals overtook Chinese (formerly No. 1), Japanese and Taiwanese in the tally, while the situation is estimated to be affected by the pandemic. The number of inbound travelers fr

Aug. 15, 2021

Just how much risk do outdoor protests pose?

One-person demonstrations against the Moon Jae-in administration were held all around central Seoul districts the morning of the National Liberation Day on Sunday, after attempts to stage a march in Gwanghwamun the previous day proved unsuccessful. Police stationed guards at 81 major roads around the city and blockaded the central city boulevard with buses and fences from early Saturday to ward off any action. The leaders of the weekend demonstrations previously insisted they would be &ldq

Aug. 15, 2021

Jeju under toughest curbs amid spiking virus cases

JEJU -- The municipality of the southern resort island of Jeju decided Sunday to raise social distancing rules to the highest level starting Wednesday in a bid to stem a spike in COVID-19 cases. The virus curbs will be raised by one notch to Level 4, the highest level in the country's four-tier scheme, from the current Level 3, according to the Jeju provincial government. The move will be effective until Aug. 29. Jeju Island has joined the greater Seoul area and several non-capital areas that

Aug. 15, 2021

2nd batch of US's Janssen vaccine arrives in S. Korea

The second batch of 400,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson's Janssen COVID-19 vaccine that the United States promised to offer to South Korea arrived here on Sunday, officials said. The shipment departed from Tennessee on Saturday (US time) and landed in Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, at around 12:47 p.m., according to the officials. The newly arrived vaccines will be administered first to prisoners and sailors from Aug. 23 after undergoing a safety assessment. They do not requ

Aug. 15, 2021

New COVID-19 cases dip to 1,800s amid worry over spike in holiday-tied cases

South Korea's daily new coronavirus fell back to the 1,800s Sunday due to fewer tests over the weekend, but health authorities remained on alert over further spread of the virus following an extended weekend. The country added 1,817 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,749 local infections, raising the total caseload to 223,928, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Sunday's tally was down from 1,930 on Saturday and 1,990 on Friday. But the decline was attribut

Aug. 15, 2021

[Anniversary Special] Pandemic forces small businesses to scramble for new strategies, new neighborhoods

As COVID-19 sweeps through society, once populous urban areas and tourist spots have become almost desolate, pushing small-business owners to the brink. The strict social distancing rules are taking a heavy toll on small businesses, which was evident from what The Korea Herald saw last week in some of the most well-known areas in Seoul for social gatherings and entertainment. On any given day of the week, the streets of Hongdae, western Seoul, are expected to be filled with people. The go-to c

Aug. 14, 2021

Military reports three additional COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military said Saturday it has added three more COVID-19 infections, raising the cumulative caseload to 1,548. The latest cases were reported from barracks in Yangpyeong and Dongducheon, located in Gyeonggi Province surrounding Seoul, and an Army unit in the southwestern city of Gwangju, the defense ministry said. The two cases in Gyeonggi were "breakthrough infections," as the service members have been fully vaccinated with Pfizer's shots. This puts the breakthrough

Aug. 14, 2021

New daily COVID-19 cases stay in 1,900s for 3rd day amid concerns over further spike

South Korea's daily coronavirus infections continued to stay around 2,000 on Saturday amid concerns over yet another potential virus spike after the public holiday running through early next week. The country added 1,930 COVID-19 cases, including 1,860 local infections, raising the cumulative caseload to 222,111, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Daily cases are counted until midnight and announced the following day. Saturday's tally was down by 60 from 1,990 count

Aug. 14, 2021

Consumer complaints erupt over discount app's sharp reduction in promised service

Consumer complaints have erupted over a local online discount app operator's abrupt decision to significantly reduce its much-touted financial reward service. In recent months, Mergepoint has gained huge popularity in Korea for its discount service under which consumers can buy the so-called Mergepoints at a discount of 20 percent off the regular price and use them in about 60,000 places nationwide, like local retail chains, convenience stores and coffee shops. It has attracted about 1 milli

Aug. 13, 2021