South Korea will decide on new social distancing rules Saturday, as the country continues to battle the third and deadliest COVID-19 wave to date, officials said Thursday. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said officials are in discussion with experts and local governments to come up with a new plan starting Monday, as the social distancing rules in place will reach their end by Sunday’s end. At the moment, the region of Greater Seoul, which includes Incheon and

Social Affairs Dec. 31, 2020

The government will allow fourth-year medical students to retake a state medical licensing exam they boycotted, a reversal of its previous position, as the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic threatens to cause a shortage of doctors. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said during a press briefing Thursday that the government will administer the practical test again in January as a precaution, to address the anticipated shortage of medical personnel next year. “We are dee

Social Affairs Dec. 31, 2020

South Korea is contemplating whether to raise its social distancing measures to the highest level, as the country continues to report high numbers of new coronavirus cases and deaths under the third and deadliest wave of the pandemic here. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun urged in a meeting Wednesday that the country thoroughly prepare virus control strategies following the end of this weekend, when the Level 2.5 social distancing rules in the Greater Seoul area and Level 2 rules in the rest of th

Social Affairs Dec. 30, 2020

Diplomatic tensions between South Korea and Japan are likely to worsen after a court order took effect Tuesday, mandating that the local assets of a Japanese firm be sold off to compensate victims of forced labor. At the start of Tuesday, a public notice issued by the Daejeon District Court went into effect authorizing the seizure of assets held in South Korea by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. This would fulfill a November 2018 ruling by the Supreme Court ordering the company to provide between

Foreign Affairs Dec. 29, 2020

The health authorities are on alert over the first discovery in South Korea of a more transmissible variant of the new coronavirus from Britain, as Korea struggles to overcome its third and deadliest coronavirus wave to date. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, three Korean nationals who arrived here from Britain last week were confirmed Monday morning to have the new coronavirus strain, which is believed to be 70 percent more transmissible than the original. Authorit

Social Affairs Dec. 28, 2020

South Korea on Sunday decided to maintain its current social distancing rules until Jan. 3 as the country tries to control COVID-19’s impact on the economy while it faces its third and deadliest wave of infections to date amid the winter holiday season. The country on Sunday announced 970 new coronavirus cases -- 946 locally transmitted and 24 imported from overseas -- raising the total number of cases recorded in Korea to 56,872, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agen

Social Affairs Dec. 27, 2020

Chung Kyung-sim, the wife of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, was sentenced to four years in prison for forging documents to help her daughter gain admission at a medical school and for making illegal investments in a private equity fund. The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday immediately put Chung under detention and slapped her with a fine of 500 million won ($451,000), alongside the forfeiture of 140 million won. The 58-year-old Dongyang University professor was indicted in November

Social Affairs Dec. 23, 2020

The government is facing growing criticism over the apparent lag in Korea procuring sufficient COVID-19 vaccines, with a blame game erupting over who is responsible. President Moon Jae-in said in a meeting Tuesday that efforts were well underway to ensure Korea has enough vaccine doses for its people, hitting back at accusations that he has been too slow in acquiring vaccines, which already have reached the public in a number of countries. “I believe public inoculation in our country wi

Politics Dec. 23, 2020

The government is considering allowing fourth-year medical students another chance to take the state medical licensing exam, as the country anticipates a shortage of medical personnel next year. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said in a radio interview Sunday that “there is a possibility” that medical students who boycotted the licensing exam this year could be given the opportunity to take the state-run test soon. “We were really cautious in concern of public opinion, but the

Social Affairs Dec. 21, 2020

South Korea faces a dearth of hospital beds due to a surge in confirmed cases especially in Seoul and nearby areas. A total of four coronavirus patients have died while waiting for hospital treatment in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, authorities said Friday. And 251 patients, most of them severe cases, in Gyeonggi Province and 580 patients in Seoul are on standby for available hospital beds. 　 According to Gyeonggi Provincial government Friday, two coronavirus patients in their 70s and a pati

Social Affairs Dec. 18, 2020

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl has taken aim at the president in the latest of his ongoing conflict with the incumbent administration and its close officials. Yoon’s defense told reporters Thursday that Yoon is fighting the “illegal and unfair” two-month suspension from his post with a lawsuit against President Moon Jae-in, as he is the one who signed and approved the disciplinary action. “This lawsuit is a complaint against an action from the president, so this is a

Politics Dec. 18, 2020

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl is taking legal action to overturn his two-month suspension from office, which took effect Wednesday night upon receiving presidential approval. Lee Wank-kyu, a legal representative for the prosecutor general, told reporters in a statement Thursday that Yoon’s defense would file for an injunction from the Seoul Administrative Court to halt the suspension order. The injunction request will be submitted electronically after working hours as it is impossibl

Politics Dec. 17, 2020

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl has been officially suspended from his post for the next two months following an executive order from President Moon Jae-in, the Blue House announced Wednesday night. Chung Man-ho, senior secretary for public communication at the Blue House, said in a press briefing that Moon approved Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae’s recommendation to levy the penalization on Yoon that the ministry’s disciplinary committee decided early Wednesday morning. The order ca

Politics Dec. 16, 2020

Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl is to be removed from duty for two months following a vote by a Justice Ministry disciplinary committee that met amid an unprecedented conflict between the heads of the prosecution and the ministry. The disciplinary panel voted to suspend Yoon from his post early Wednesday morning, deeming him responsible for four of the six allegations brought against him. There are five possible levels of punishment, with dismissal the heaviest and a reprimand the lightest.

Politics Dec. 16, 2020

The long-simmering conflict between Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae continued Tuesday with the second meeting of the ministry’s disciplinary committee. Yoon once again was absent from the meeting, which started at around 10:30 a.m. at the Gwacheon Government Complex. The meeting was held to determine whether Yoon is subject to disciplinary action over allegations that Choo raised against him last month. The chief prosecutor is accused of ethical and lega

Politics Dec. 15, 2020