Subway lines crisscross Seoul, with stations dotting the roadsides. With a combined length of nearly 1,000 kilometers and over 340 stations, the subway is an inseparable part of Seoul’s underground. For years, the role of the stations has been focused on utility and commercial aspects. However, many stations have taken on new functions.  Jonggak Station in central Seoul is one such station, and it is now home to an underground garden whose plants bask in real sunlight. The garde

Social Affairs Feb. 7, 2020

South Korea on Thursday saw the highest number of novel coronavirus cases being confirmed in one day, adding to growing fears about an epidemic here. On Thursday, the government coronavirus response team revealed that four individuals -- tagged the 20th to 23rd patients -- have been confirmed, pushing up the total to 23. Meanwhile, another patient has made a full recovery and was set to be released later in the day. The patient set for release Thursday is a 35-year old Chinese national, who

Social Affairs Feb. 6, 2020

South Korea on Wednesday confirmed three more cases of coronavirus infection, pushing up the total to 19, while the second confirmed patient was released from hospital later in the day. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention three more people have been confirmed to have the virus, including another individual who appears to have contracted the virus in a third country. The patient discharged is a 55-year-old man who was the second Korean to be infected with the vi

Social Affairs Feb. 5, 2020

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday called for economic measures to be drawn up and implemented swiftly to minimize the fallout from the coronavirus outbreak, saying the government must prepare for the worst. “Preparing against the worst-case scenario in which the situation becomes protracted, measures to minimize the impact on and damage to our economy must be drawn up quickly,” Moon said at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. The weekly Cabinet meeting focused on the government’

Social Affairs Feb. 4, 2020

The continuing coronavirus crisis is raising the pressure on the Moon Jae-in administration, as it scrambles to deal with the outbreak. On Monday, the government announced more measures announced to tackle the situation, while Minister of Health and Welfare assessed the situation, hinging on developments over the next seven to 10 days. “(The virus) continues to spread in China, so a week to 10 days from now will be very important,” Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said at a meeting

Social Affairs Feb. 3, 2020

President Moon Jae-in on Friday sought an “extraordinary response” from his top administration officials to contain the coronavirus situation. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Moon urged Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun to play a central role in government ministries’ response, expressing concern about the spread of the virus in Korea. On Friday, five more Koreans were confirmed to be infected with the new strain of coronavirus. Three of the patients contracted the virus in Korea,

Social Affairs Jan. 31, 2020

The first group of Koreans evacuated from Wuhan, China, arrived in Korea on Friday. 　 The flight carrying 368 Koreans out of the Chinese city at the epicenter of the new coronavirus outbreak arrived at Gimpo International Airport just before 8 a.m. One person was barred from boarding the flight in Wuhan after symptoms were detected. At Gimpo, passengers were screened for symptoms associated with the coronavirus infection. Of these, 14 people were sent to the National Medical Center and fou

Social Affairs Jan. 31, 2020

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday asked for public trust in the government’s efforts to contain the new coronavirus, pledging secure management of facilities housing Koreans returning from China’s Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus outbreak. Speaking at a meeting to assess the government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, which included an evacuation plan of South Korean nationals from the Chinese city, Moon called on ministries to deal sternly with “fake news&rdqu

Social Affairs Jan. 30, 2020

The chartered flight for taking South Koreans out of Wuhan, China will be limited to those without any related symptoms, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Wednesday. The decision directly contradicts Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo’s statement earlier in the day.  According to the Health Ministry, the four chartered flights out of Wuhan will be limited to those without symptoms, in line with Chinese authorities’ decision. A Health Ministry official said

Social Affairs Jan. 29, 2020

Seoul plans to bring back South Koreans based in Wuhan, China, regardless of whether they show symptoms associated with the new coronavirus infection, the health minister said Wednesday. Speaking at a meeting with associations of medical professionals, Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo said that all Koreans who apply to return on flights chartered by the South Korean government will be brought back to the country.  “Those showing symptoms will be carried on a separate

Social Affairs Jan. 29, 2020

outh Korean nationals in Wuhan, China, will be flown back to the country on four chartered flights this week as part of Seoul’s response to the coronavirus outbreak. “About 700 Koreans in Wuhan have expressed hopes to return, and chartered planes will be sent on Jan. 30 and Jan. 31,” Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Tae-ho said Tuesday. He added that the dates of the flights may be changed, depending on the ongoing negotiations with Beijing. Lee said the decisi

Social Affairs Jan. 28, 2020

South Korea is ramping up efforts to fend off a new coronavirus spreading fast in China, with an influx of Chinese tourists expected here for this week’s Lunar New Year holiday. The coronavirus has killed nine so far. The country’s health authorities, airports and other related agencies are on heightened alert, with President Moon Jae-in ordering “full quarantine and preventative measures” to prevent the spread of the coronavirus here, in an emergency briefing on Wed

Social Affairs Jan. 22, 2020

The military will focus on strengthening its ability to respond to nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in 2020, and on applying cutting-edge technologies to its defense systems, the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday. The plans were revealed in an annual briefing session for President Moon Jae-in at the Gyeryongdae complex -- an Army, Navy and Air Force headquarters near Daejeon. At the briefing, Moon stressed the importance of defense, pointing to the increased def

Defense Jan. 21, 2020

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Monday ordered health authorities to respond quickly to prevent the spread of a new coronavirus from China, after the first case was confirmed in South Korea. On Monday, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that a Chinese woman had tested positive for the coronavirus. On receiving the report, Chung ordered the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the KCDC to work with other concerned organizations to prevent the virus from spreading,

Social Affairs Jan. 20, 2020

President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that hope remains for the denuclearization of North Korea and resolving the current Seoul-Tokyo discord. Speaking at a New Year’s press conference, Moon said that both North Korea and the US have shown they are open to dialogue. He expressed hopes for renewed momentum, saying prolonging the current deadlock would be detrimental to the process. “The North-US dialogue is not active, but the trust between President Trump and Chairman Kim, and the

Politics Jan. 14, 2020