USFK to toughen COVID-19 quarantine rules amid another wave of pandemic

The US Forces Korea (USFK) decided to implement tougher antivirus rules for two weeks, banning visits to bars and clubs and mandating mask wearing, amid the fast spread of the pandemic in South Korea, the US military said Friday. South Korea has seen a drastic surge in the daily COVID-19 caseload over the past several days, reporting the highest-ever figure on Friday since the outbreak of the pandemic last year. The Seoul government decided to impose the toughest social distancing scheme in the

July 9, 2021

2 KBO players test positive for COVID-19

Two members of the South Korean baseball club NC Dinos have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, forcing the league to cancel two games scheduled for Friday. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said the game between the Dinos and the Kiwoom Heroes set to take place at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Friday evening will be rescheduled for a later date. Another game in Seoul, between the LG Twins and the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, has also been canceled out of precaution, becau

July 9, 2021

Record COVID-19 surge pushes Seoul to ‘toughest-ever’ social distancing

Korea on Friday announced further restrictions to tame a record surge in COVID-19 cases from Monday onward, including a ban in the capital region on social gatherings of more than two people past 6 p.m. and total closures of bars and other nightlife establishments. In the last 24 hours ending Thursday midnight, the country logged its highest daily total of 1,316 cases, according to official statistics, topping the previous worst 1,275 cases of the day before. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum to

July 9, 2021

[Newsmaker] 10 indicted, 12 under probe over death of Air Force sexual abuse victim

Military prosecutors have indicted 10 people over the death of an Air Force sexual harassment victim following a monthlong investigation into a string of irregularities that led to the noncommissioned officer taking her own life, the defense ministry said Friday. The number of officials to stand trial could further rise as a dozen others are still under investigation, the ministry said, announcing the interim results of its probe into the incident that sparked an intense public outcry over the

July 9, 2021

COVID-19 cases break record for 2nd day, wider Seoul under semi-lockdown

South Korea on Friday reported the highest-ever daily COVID-19 cases since the outbreak of the pandemic, as health authorities decided to impose the toughest virus curbs in the greater Seoul area, the hotbed for the recent spike in virus infections, in an effort to bring the fourth wave of the outbreak under control.  The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said 1,316 more COVID-19 cases were confirmed Thursday, including 1,236 local infections, raising the total caseload to 164,0

July 9, 2021

S. Korea to impose highest-level distancing scheme in Seoul area amid virus resurgence

South Korea announced Friday it will place the greater Seoul area under the toughest social distancing rules of Level 4 as concerns of a fourth wave of new COVID-19 outbreaks over the summer grow stronger. The decision to implement Level 4 guidelines in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, 40 kilometers west of the capital, Monday for two weeks was reached in an interagency COVID-19 response meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum. Under Level 4 rules, gatherings of more than two peopl

July 9, 2021

S. Korea to announce new virus curbs for greater Seoul area on Friday

  South Korea's health authorities said Thursday they will announce new social distancing measures for the greater Seoul area soon, amid expectations that the capital area may be placed under the highest level in the four-tier system. South Korea reported 1,275 new COVID-19 cases on the day, setting a new daily record. The government will announce a readjusted level of social distancing Friday after a COVID-19 control meeting in the morning, officials said. South Korea earlier planned t

July 8, 2021

Korea delays stronger COVID-19 countermeasures despite record rise in cases

South Korea once again delayed imposing stronger anti-COVID-19 measures, despite counting a record number of new COVID-19 cases Thursday. Korea’s highest one-day increase of 1,275 cases was announced Thursday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s update, taking the country’s cumulative total to 164,028. The previous high of 1,241 cases was set at the height of the country’s deadliest surge in December. While declaring Korea was “in the

July 8, 2021

[News Focus] Gyeonggi’s sole expansion likely to hamper ‘national balance’

SEJONG -- South Korea’s demographic figures suggest that the government’s policies for a “balanced national development” via population distribution might be lacking effectiveness, at least so far. This can be seen from the continuous renewal of Gyeonggi Province’s record-high population. According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the population of Gyeonggi surpassed 13.5 million in June for the first time in history. More than 1 in 4 Koreans were residing

July 8, 2021

[Herald Interview] ‘Mind education can change a lot’

The International Youth Fellowship has grown into a global youth organization that has opened nearly 100 branches worldwide since it was founded as a non-governmental organization in 2001. “There was a problem with a student (who was participating in illegal activities, such as drugs) in LA and his mother asked me to help him,” the Rev. Park Ock-soo, founder of the IYF, said during a recent interview with The Korea Herald at the IYF headquarters in southern Seoul. “But how c

July 8, 2021

Top court upholds prison terms for 3 ex-spy chiefs in illegal NIS funds case

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld rulings for three former National Intelligence Service (NIS) chiefs convicted of providing illegal funds to the office of then President Park Geun-hye. The three chiefs -- Nam Jae-joon, Lee Byung-kee and Lee Byong-ho -- were indicted on charges of sending 3.5 billion won ($3.1 million) from the agency's special activities funds to Cheong Wa Dae on a monthly basis while in office. The top court confirmed the rulings handed down to them in a retrial in Januar

July 8, 2021

Ruins of advanced public toilet uncovered at Joseon Dynasty palace in Seoul

The remains of a public toilet with an advanced purification facility, presumed to be built about 150 years ago, were discovered at a Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) palace in Seoul, a government agency said Thursday. The toilet ruins, which have the form of a rectangular stone pit measuring 10.4 meters in length, 1.4 meters in width and 1.8 meters in height, were uncovered at Gyeongbok Palace in the heart of the capital, according to the Ganghwa National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage. Th

July 8, 2021

New virus cases most since pandemic hit, tougher curbs eyed in greater Seoul

South Korea reported the highest daily COVID-19 cases since the pandemic hit the nation early last year on Thursday as the country braces for another wave of the pandemic, prompting authorities to consider imposing tougher virus curbs. The country recorded 1,275 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,227 local infections, raising the total caseload to 164,028, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. It marked the highest number since Jan. 20 last year, when the nation reported i

July 8, 2021

53 newly enlisted soldiers at Army boot camp test positive for COVID-19

More than 50 newly enlisted soldiers at an Army boot camp have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Wednesday, amid fears of a fourth wave of infections across the country. After one conscript at the Korea Army Training Center in the central city of Nonsan was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, 35 others who had contact with him were also found to be infected as of 10 a.m., according to the ministry. The ministry announced 16 more cases were confirmed as 6

July 7, 2021

Labor group leader grilled by police over alleged illegalities during rallies

The head of South Korea's largest labor umbrella group was summoned by police on Wednesday for questioning over alleged illegalities during rallies that took place in Seoul between May and June amid COVID-19-related warnings by health authorities. According to officials at Seoul's Yeongdeungpo Police Station, Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), was grilled as a suspect for about four hours, beginning at 10 a.m., in connection with alleged violations of t

July 7, 2021

South Korea to tweak visa policies and welcome more foreigners

South Korea plans to change parts of its visa policy to allow more skilled foreigners into the country, in a bid to tackle its declining population and aging society. The plans were unveiled Wednesday at a regular briefing held by the Ministry of Justice. According to the ministry, the government plans to lower qualifications to obtain long-term residency, or a F-2 visa, for talented foreigners in “promising industries” that require support on a “national level.” Exac

July 7, 2021

Newly enlisted soldiers can receive Pfizer starting next week: KDCA

South Koreans set to join the military between July and September will be eligible for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Wednesday. The shots will be administered at regional inoculation centers starting next Monday to conscripted individuals and professional soldiers set to begin their service. The KDCA recommends that people apply for the program only if they can complete the two-dose regimen before joining the military, since vaccination

July 7, 2021

Korea officially in COVID-19 fourth wave

The fourth wave of COVID-19 has hit Korea, the country’s top health officials said Wednesday. In the 24 hours ending Tuesday at midnight, Korea logged 1,212 new cases of COVID-19 -- the second highest figure seen in a day since the pandemic began. The highest one-day rise was recorded Dec. 25 last year with 1,241 cases at the height of the country’s devastating third wave. Koreans head into summer with prospects of ever harsher social distancing instead of more freedom earlier p

July 7, 2021

Justice ministry pushes to grant long-term stay permit to foreign talent

The government is pushing to grant the long-term residency F-2 visa to high-skilled foreigners as a way to tackle the shrinking population and retain talented workers, the justice ministry said Wednesday. The Ministry of Justice announced the plan during a briefing on the result of a government meeting on the economy. The ministry came up with the idea, together with 12 other ministries, in order to retain foreign professionals with specialties in an array of industrial sectors, which, the min

July 7, 2021

Seoul to reduce public transport, expand testing as COVID-19 cases reach new high

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Wednesday the city will reduce bus and subway schedules and expand COVID-19 testing to fight the recent resurgence of the virus amid a record high number of cases. At a press briefing, Oh said bus schedules will be scaled back starting Thursday and subway schedules starting Friday. For both buses and the subway, schedules will be reduced by 20 percent after 10 p.m. Oh ordered the owners and employees of private cram schools, restaurants, cafes, karaoke establishment

July 7, 2021