Authorities are on alert after another wild boar was found with a dangerous virus in Gangwon Province. Provincial authorities announced Friday that a wild boar found dead outside its African swine fever control area in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, tested positive for the disease that’s especially deadly for animals. Eight pig farms contain 18,120 pigs in a 10-kilometer radius of where the dead boar was found. One of the farms is just 600 meters from where the carcass was found, they said.

Social Affairs Oct. 23, 2020

Authorities are investigating tap water contamination in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, after residents reported finding larva-like creatures in water coming from their faucets. 　　 The Ministry of Environment said Wednesday that it has dispatched officials to the southern island to look into the city’s tap water and check nearby water purification centers. As of Tuesday, two Seogwipo residents reported to have found larva-like creatures inside a filter attached to a showerhead. Jeju Island&rsqu

Social Affairs Oct. 21, 2020

The main opposition party will ask law enforcement authorities to investigate government officials involved in a nuclear reactor’s early retirement last year who allegedly obstructed the state watchdog’s audit into the decision-making process, its leader said Wednesday. People Power Party Floor Leader Rep. Joo Ho-young said in a party meeting Wednesday that the party will report all related officials who “abused authority” to push for the closure of the Wolsong-1 reacto

Politics Oct. 21, 2020

Five South Korean educational institutions are partnering with the Asian Development Bank to improve the quality of education in the region. They are the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, the Korean Educational Development Institute, the Korea Education and Research Information Service, the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training, and the National Education Training Institute. Under the memorandum of understanding signed Tuesday, the six parties will collabo

Social Affairs Oct. 20, 2020

Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power underestimated the economic viability of the country’s second-oldest nuclear reactor before its earlier than scheduled closure last year, the top audit watchdog said Tuesday. Wolsong-1, a 679-megawatt reactor in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, was retired from operation in December last year, in what was billed as a milestone in President Moon Jae-in’s anti-nuclear initiative. But debates lingered surrounding KHNP’s decision, with nuclear

Social Affairs Oct. 20, 2020

On Oct. 12, another courier died after working long shifts with little sleep. It was the 10th fatality this year linked to overwork among parcel delivery workers in Korea, according to a coalition of 67 civic groups and labor unions formed to improve their working conditions. Delivery workers, despite being hailed as heroes for their contributions to the public’s well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak, continue being pushed to their physical limits with little protection from labor law

Social Affairs Oct. 19, 2020

A financial fraud scandal involving a private equity investment company has spilled over to the prosecution after a key suspect claimed to have lobbied ranking prosecutors, one of whom is now part of the investigative team. The revelation added fuel to the political debate surrounding the country’s law enforcement authority, which the Moon Jae-in administration has openly criticized for wielding “uncontrolled” power and has vowed to reform. It also ripped open a rift between

Politics Oct. 18, 2020

The Korea Methodist Church slapped Rev. Lee Dong-hwan with a two-year suspension from work for giving a blessing to participants in a queer festival in August last year. The judicial committee of the Korea Methodist Church’s Gyeonggi Province branch made the decision Thursday, immediately suspending Lee from his position as pastor at a Methodist church in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. He is also barred from making sermons, giving blessings and holding prayers on behalf of the Methodist Church

Social Affairs Oct. 15, 2020

The police decided not to permit two outdoor rallies planned by a conservative group for Sunday and Oct. 25 due to concerns that the events could cause another resurgence of the coronavirus. At 9 p.m. Wednesday, the Seoul Jongno Police Station notified the group, which also organized one of the rallies held on Aug. 15 in central Seoul’s Gwanghwamun at which hundreds were infected with the virus, of its decision to refuse permission for both of the events. The group, known for its anti-g

Social Affairs Oct. 15, 2020

South Korea saw a 25 percent decline in airborne nitrogen dioxide levels between January and May from the previous three-year average, a lawmaker said Wednesday, attributing the decline to coronavirus lockdowns in China. Rep. Jang Chul-min of the Democratic Party cited Korea Environment Corp. data available on AirKorea that showed Korea’s average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, a key air pollutant, during the first five months of this year reached 0.017 parts per million, 25.4 percen

Technology Oct. 14, 2020

Six universities, including the nation’s most prestigious Seoul National University, were found to have breached the government-set evaluation standards in their portfolio-based admissions process, the Education Ministry said Wednesday. The six caught with rule breaches in the ministry’s special inspection from Nov. 13-Dec. 6 are Seoul National, Korea, Sogang, Sungkyunkwan, Kyung Hee and Konkuk universities. The probe into the six institutions’ past admission records was a fol

Social Affairs Oct. 14, 2020

Mask-wearing has become mandatory in South Korea on all forms of public transportation as of Tuesday, as well as in medical facilities and other designated public spaces, but not all types of face coverings are deemed acceptable. Considered suitable are government-certified medical masks such as KF-94, KF-80 or KF-AD as well as cotton masks and ordinary, disposable hygiene masks, if worn properly covering both the nose and mouth. Masks with valves and those made out of mesh are categorized a

Social Affairs Oct. 13, 2020

The use of South Korea as a transit point for international drug trafficking has increased sharply over the past few years, a lawmaker said Tuesday, citing customs data. Rep. Kim Tae-heum of the People Power Party said a total of 107 kilograms of narcotics bound for overseas destinations had been seized by the Korea Customs Service on six occasions over the past five years. The aggregate value of the drugs seized was nearly 280 billion won ($243.67 million). For 98.5 percent of the drugs tha

Social Affairs Oct. 13, 2020

Face masks will be mandatory on public transportation and in medical and care facilities starting Tuesday as South Korea continues to combat the coronavirus outbreak. The requirement under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act was put in place to fight the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. A fine of up to 100,000 won ($87) will be levied for not wearing masks on buses, subways or trains. Anyone without masks at medical or care facilities or demonstrations is also subj

Social Affairs Oct. 12, 2020

Schools in South Korea will raise their attendance caps for schools in line with the recent easing of social distancing guidelines. Many hope this will narrow the achievement gap among students from different socioeconomic backgrounds, which has widened since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. The Education Ministry announced Sunday that all schools will be allowed to have two-thirds of their students attend classes in person starting Oct. 19. Currently, attendance is capped at two-thirds

Social Affairs Oct. 12, 2020