About six months after the first coronavirus wave, South Korea is once again in turmoil from a large cluster of infections traced to churchgoers. At the center of the ongoing COVID-19 resurgence is Sarang Jeil Church, led by a controversial pastor with far-right, extremist political inclinations, which has emerged as the country’s second-largest virus cluster with over 600 confirmed cases. But smaller-scale breakouts have popped up nationwide at scores of other Protestant churches as wel

Social Affairs Aug. 20, 2020

Seeing a stabilizing trend of new coronavirus cases in the past few months, many students, teachers and parents had hoped the coming second semester of the school year would be different. The first semester had been punctuated with weeks of closures followed by weeks of online-only classes and a mix of online and offline formats, with the former remaining the mainstay -- all because of the COVID-19 outbreak. But with COVID-19 cases suddenly surging in the capital region, including dozens of ca

Social Affairs Aug. 20, 2020

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea has entered an emergency phase as its approval rating fell behind that of the conservative opposition United Future Party -- for the first time in almost three years -- a survey revealed Thursday. The Realmeter survey found the ruling party’s support rating reach 33.4 percent, down 1.7 percentage points from a week earlier, while the United Future Party gained 1.9 percentage points to 36.5 percent. It is the first time the main opposition party has su

Politics Aug. 14, 2020

Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung is leading in a popularity poll for the next presidency, a survey showed Friday. In a Gallup survey of 1,001 adults in South Korea conducted from Tuesday to Thursday, Gov. Lee for the first time raced ahead of Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Lee Nak-yon in terms of popularity. Over 19 percent of the respondents preferred Gov. Lee, up 6 percentage points from a month earlier. The endorsement rate for his political rival Rep. Lee dropped 7 percentage points to

Politics Aug. 14, 2020

Thousands of doctors on Friday staged a nationwide walkout as talks with the government over medical reform plans fell through. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 24.7 percent of 33,836 medical clinics, hospitals and institutions announced Thursday that they would be closed on Friday. The ministry said the actual closure rate for Friday could be higher considering the ongoing vacation season. Under the lead of the Korea Medical Association, which represents 130,000 doctors, medi

Social Affairs Aug. 14, 2020

The July weather in South Korea was cooler than June for the first time in recorded history this year, in yet another disturbing sign of climate change on the Korean Peninsula. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the average temperature in June was 22.8 degrees Celsius, the highest June on record since data began to be compiled in 1973. July temperatures averaged 22.7 degrees Celsius, slightly lower than that of June. It is the first time that June was hotter than July. Nor

Social Affairs Aug. 13, 2020

The government plans to launch a joint inspection of dams and weirs installed in the nation’s four major rivers for their possible flood control effectiveness, following President Moon Jae-in’s earlier call for the effort. The Ministry of Environment said Wednesday it will join forces with civilian experts to verify whether the so-called four rivers project helped mitigate flood risks during the recent torrential rains, as claimed by the conservative opposition United Future Party.

Social Affairs Aug. 12, 2020

The government is doubling its subsidies for disaster relief and repair efforts as the country faces a record-long monsoon season that has caused significant casualties and property damage. The decision was made during a meeting involving the Cabinet, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and the Blue House at the National Assembly on Wednesday morning. “We came to a consensus that national-level support is needed for regions affected by the unprecedented rainfall and discussed the need f

Social Affairs Aug. 12, 2020

Tuesday marked the 49th day of the summer monsoon, tying the record for South Korea’s longest rainy season since data has been recorded. With no letup in sight for this wet streak, the country is expected to break the record set in 2013. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, this year’s rainy season, which started June 24, is forecast to continue until Aug. 16, with heavy rains expected mostly in the capital, Seoul, as well as in Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces. Jeju

Social Affairs Aug. 11, 2020

Tuesday marked the 49th day of this year‘s monsoon, tying the record for South Korea’s longest rainy season since data has been recorded. With no letup in sight for this wet streak, the country is expected to break the record, set in 2013, at midnight. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, this year’s rainy season, which started on June 24, is forecast to continue until Aug. 16, with more heavy rains expected mostly in the capital Seoul and Gyeonggi and Gangwo

Social Affairs Aug. 11, 2020

South Korea breathed a sigh of relief Monday as Typhoon Jangmi was downgraded to a tropical depression soon after making landfall in the southeastern corner of the country, leaving behind little damage as the country was still reeling after days of torrential rains. But Typhoon Jangmi affected many parts of the country, extending a monsoon season that was already one of the country’s longest and deadliest. The death toll from the recent streak of heavy rainfall, which began Aug. 1, stoo

Social Affairs Aug. 10, 2020

A typhoon is expected to bring more rain to the southeastern corner of South Korea already saturated from one of the longest and deadliest monsoon seasons on record, authorities said Monday. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, as of 10 a.m. Monday, typhoon Jangmi, the fifth this year and the first to make a direct impact on the Korean Peninsula, was skirting the eastern coast of Jeju Island and is due to make a landfall near Gyeongsang Province at around 3 p.m. It is expecte

Social Affairs Aug. 10, 2020

Heavy rainfall across the country over the past few days has killed at least 30, with more likely casualties as 12 people are still unaccounted for, as a typhoon is approaching the peninsula. The unusually long and intense downpour, which started on Aug. 1, has triggered flash floods and landslides, resulting in the deadliest monsoon season in nine years. Officials scrambled to lend more support and expedite recovery, with some politicians voicing the need for another supplementary budget to he

Social Affairs Aug. 9, 2020

Casualties from days of torrential rain stood at 30 people dead, eight injured and 12 missing as of 6 a.m. Sunday, authorities said. The unusually long and intense downpour, which started Aug.1, triggered floods, landslides and evacuations, submerging or burying homes, crops and roads. The nation’s forestry authority has issued the highest level of landslide warning for the entire country, except the southern Jeju Island. Flood warnings were also issued for vulnerable areas near river

Social Affairs Aug. 9, 2020

South Korea’s capital was issued its first flood alert in nine years, as days of heavy rain threatened river systems in much of the country, including Seoul’s Han River. Most major dams were discharging water, at risk of flooding. The death toll from the six-day streak of torrential rain stood at 18 as of 5 p.m. Thursday, with 16 others missing, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters. One person was killed, another was found without a heartbeat an

Social Affairs Aug. 6, 2020