New virus cases above 400 for 2nd day, virus fight hampered by loosened vigilance

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed above 400 for the second straight day Thursday as warm weather and the yearlong virus battle loosened citizen's vigilance against the pandemic. The country reported 430 more COVID-19 cases, including 419 local infections, raising the total caseload to 100,276, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The country added two more deaths from COVID-19, increasing the total to 1,709. The fatality rate was 1.70 percent, t

March 25, 2021

Korea mulls time off for vaccine recovery

Fresh talks have started in Korea to decide whether workers should be given time off in case they suffer side effects following COVID-19 vaccinations. In a news briefing Wednesday, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said it may recommend workplaces permit workers to take unpaid time off without having to use up their regular leave. Whether to actually institute post-vaccination leave would remain up to the employer to decide. Since the vaccines began rolling out to front-line workers and nur

March 24, 2021

First ever impeachment trial of judge begins

The nation’s first ever impeachment trial of a judge began Tuesday, as the Constitutional Court held a pretrial hearing for Lim Seong-geun, who stands accused of abusing his judicial power in several politically sensitive court rulings. The 300-seat National Assembly last month passed a motion tabled by a group of 161 lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party and minor liberal parties to impeach Lim, a sitting judge at the time, making him the first judge in South Korea to face an impeac

March 24, 2021

Unions oppose move to allow migrant laborers work at “death-ridden” logistics firms

A foreign workers’ representative group has called for improved working conditions at logistics firms, as the South Korean government mulls allowing migrant laborers to be dispatched as couriers to tackle the industry’s manpower shortage. In a statement released Wednesday, the Migrants’ Trade Union criticized the government for “effectively trying to make up industries short of local manpower with migrant workers.” The union said migrant laborers would be put at ri

March 24, 2021

S. Korea reports record-low childbirths in January

The number of babies born in South Korea fell to a record low in January, data showed Wednesday, underpinning the country's chronically low birth rate. A total of 25,003 babies were born in January, down 6.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. It marked the lowest for any January since 1981 when the statistics agency began compiling related data. South Korea is struggling with a sustained fall in childbirths as many young people delay marriage or g

March 24, 2021

Police seek warrant for local official's arrest in land speculation probe

Police said Wednesday they have sought a warrant for the arrest of a local government official, the first such action in a widening investigation into property speculation by public workers nationwide. The Gyeonggi Bukbu Police Agency said the arrest warrant was sought against a senior official of the Pocheon municipal government, 46 kilometers north of Seoul, over suspicions he used classified information to purchase land and a building near the site of a train station ahead of its constructio

March 24, 2021

S. Korea develops new adjuvant against foot-and-mouth disease

South Korea's agricultural ministry said Wednesday it has developed a new adjuvant that can bolster the effectiveness of vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The new adjuvant, dubbed "rpHSP70-AD," is capable of developing antibodies at a faster pace while coping with various strains of FMD, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The latest finding compares with the existing oil-based treatments, which take longer for animals to develop antibodies

March 24, 2021

New suspected case of bird flu reported, total now at 107

South Korea's agricultural ministry said Wednesday it is investigating a new suspected case of highly pathogenic bird flu, with the total confirmed caseload currently standing at 107. The latest suspected case of malign H5N8 strain of bird flu came from a duck farm in Naju, 355 kilometers south of Seoul, the previous day, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. The farm was raising 19,000 ducks. The result is expected to be delivered within three days. South Korea h

March 24, 2021

New infections back above 400; current virus curbs likely to be extended

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases bounced back to over 400 Wednesday as sporadic cluster infections continued at workplaces and private gatherings, spurring concerns over a resurgence in cases. The country reported 428 more COVID-19 cases, including 411 local infections, raising the total caseload to 99,846, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The country added three more deaths from COVID-19, increasing the total to 1,707. The fatality rate was 1.71 pe

March 24, 2021

2 ex-judges given suspended terms in judiciary power abuse cases

Two former senior judges were handed suspended terms on Tuesday on charges of abuse of power intended to sway outcomes of high-profile cases and professional misconduct during the administration of previous President Park Geun-hye. The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Lee Min-geol, former director of planning at the National Court Administration, to 10 months in prison, suspended for two years. The court also handed Lee Kyu-jin, a former member of the Supreme Court's sentencing committee

March 23, 2021

Vaccination starts for S. Koreans aged 65 and older at nursing homes, hospitals

South Korea on Tuesday began vaccinating people aged 65 and older at nursing homes and long-term care hospitals nationwide as scheduled, amid a mix of excitement and anxiety. More than 370,000 inpatients in the age group, caretakers and medical staff at such facilities are scheduled to get vaccinated in the coming weeks. The second round of the country's vaccine rollout came after the government decided to expand the vaccination program based on new overseas studies showing the effectiveness o

March 23, 2021

Oh Se-hoon to run in 2-way Seoul mayoral race

Former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will run again for the job next month as he was chosen over software entrepreneur-turned-politician Ahn Cheol-soo in polls to make it a two-way race against the ruling party. Running on the main opposition People Power Party’s ticket, Oh was declared winner of the bipartisan primary against the leader of the minor opposition People’s Party Tuesday morning. The primary was based solely on a survey of 3,200 people conducted by two pollsters on Monday. O

March 23, 2021

[Animals in Korea (3)] Why are so many dogs abandoned and killed?

A photo of a white Maltese mix with a hopeless look on his face was posted on an animal adoption platform, Pawinhand, early this month. The message read, “Please take a look at this puppy whose deadline is over.” This means a monthlong period to find a new owner was over and he would soon be euthanized. The white dog was abandoned in a village this past winter with some dog supplies, according to local residents, and was rescued by an animal shelter after wandering the village fo

March 23, 2021

Prosecutors seize ex-President Park's house over unpaid fines

The prosecution has seized the house of former President Park Geun-hye after she failed to pay financial penalties ordered by the Supreme Court in its final ruling on her corruption and power abuse cases, prosecution officials said Tuesday. In its high-profile ruling on Jan. 14, the top court upheld a 20-year prison sentence, a fine of 18 billion won ($15 million) and a forfeit of 3.5 billion won for Park, who was convicted in a massive power abuse and bribery scandal that removed her from offi

March 23, 2021

[Newsmaker] Rights watchdog urges end to 'discriminatory' coronavirus testing requirement for foreign workers

The state human rights watchdog on Tuesday urged local governments to withdraw their orders for migrant workers to undergo mandatory coronavirus testing, calling it "discriminatory against foreigners." Some local governments, including Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, issued such administrative orders earlier this month amid spikes in infections in areas and workplaces with a large number of foreign nationals. The city of Seoul revised the order Friday amid protests from t

March 23, 2021

Police probe dozens of public servants, including presidential security staffer, in LH scandal

A government probe team said Tuesday that it has referred dozens of alleged land speculation cases involving public servants, including a presidential security staffer, to the police. The team led by police said Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency has been looking into the cases of 23 public officials and a Cheong Wa Dae security officer. The total number of people under probe over suspected land speculation has mounted to 333. It also confirmed that the official working for the Presidential Security

March 23, 2021

Police seek suspect after women attacked with coffee

Police said Tuesday they are searching for a man who allegedly threw lukewarm coffee at women on the street in a suspected hate crime against females. Police in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul, received reports that a man on a bicycle hurled coffee at a total of six women who were alone at a bus stop or on a bench at night from March 9-21. The victims are all in their 20s. Police are trying to track down the suspect through closed-circuit TV footage. "As it is suspected as a

March 23, 2021

New infections back below 400, AstraZeneca shots for elderly begin

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back to below 400 on Tuesday for the first time in a week amid concerns of a potential resurgence as the AstraZeneca vaccine rollout for elderly citizens began after a one-month delay over safety concerns. The country reported 346 more COVID-19 cases, including 331 local infections, raising the total caseload to 99,421, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The country added seven more deaths from COVID-19, increasin

March 23, 2021

S. Korea reports 1 more bird flu case, total now at 107

South Korea's agricultural ministry said Tuesday it has identified yet another case of highly pathogenic bird flu amid the prolonged battle against the contagious animal disease. The latest confirmed case of the H5N8 strain of avian influenza came from a duck farm in Jangheung, South Jeolla Province, overnight, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. It marked the first confirmed case since March 13, when another egg farm in North Chungcheong Province was infected wi

March 23, 2021

Child grooming for sexual abuse to be punished in S. Korea

Online grooming, or luring minors through the internet to sexually illicit businesses, will be subject to criminal punishment in South Korea starting in September, a government ministry said Tuesday. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said the revised act on the protection of children and juveniles against sexual abuse will take effect on Sept. 24. Under the revised law, those who repeatedly send online messages incurring sexual shame or hate to children or trick them into doing some s

March 23, 2021