About 97 percent of service members aged 30 and older have received the second doses of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine, the defense ministry said Friday. As of Thursday, 113,164 troops, or 96.8 percent of troops of the age group who had their first shots, have received the second doses, according to the ministry. The military provided AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for their first shots in April and May but the second doses were given with Pfizer's after health authorities decided earlier this m

Defense July 30, 2021

Samsung Electronics Co. retained the top spot in the global smartphone market in the second quarter of the year, a report showed Friday, although its market share declined from the previous quarter due to fewer shipments. The South Korean giant had a market share of 18 percent in the April-June period, after shipping 58 million Galaxy smartphones, up 7 percent from a year ago, according to a report from market researcher Counterpoint Research. But compared with the first quarter, its market s

Industry July 30, 2021

A group of progressive lawmakers have condemned misogynistic attacks being leveled at a female South Korean archer now competing at the Tokyo Olympics. An San, the double gold medalist who will vie for her third gold in women's individual archery on Friday, has recently become a target of misogynistic attacks for her short haircut. Some male internet users flooded An's social media account with hate speech, taking issue with her past use of online slang terms, deemed misandrist by anti-femin

Politics July 30, 2021

President Moon Jae-in expressed his gratitude Friday to those who have endeavored to protect South Korea's tidal flats inscribed as UNESCO's world natural heritage. Earlier this week, the UNESCO added tidal flats, called "getbol" in Korean, in four areas located on the western coast of the country, to the list. The getbol have become a "great life" to be protected by not just South Koreans but also mankind, the president wrote on his social media accounts. "But this p

Politics July 30, 2021

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un accused "hostile forces" of intensifying "frantic and persistent war drills for aggression" as he presided over the first-ever workshop of military commanders and political officers this week, state media reported Friday. The remark came as South Korea and the United States are mulling over whether and how to conduct their annual military exercise expected for mid-August amid concern that it could negatively affect a conciliatory mood created

North Korea July 30, 2021

YOKOHAMA -- After serving up a game-tying solo home run to Israel in the top of the ninth inning to blow a 5-4 lead for South Korea on Thursday, closer Oh Seung-hwan wore an incredulous smile on his face that said, "Oh no, not again." Welcome to Yokohama Stadium, home of the baseball tournament for the Tokyo Olympics. It's a smallish park, stretching 94 meters down the lines and 118 meters to dead center. And the wind was blowing out on this night, and South Korea and Israel had thre

Olympic Games July 30, 2021

South Korea's exports of autos jumped 71.9 percent on-year in the second quarter on the back of robust demand for sedans and eco-friendly vehicles, data showed Friday. The country's outbound shipments of cars came to $10.7 billion in the April-June period, compared with $6.25 billion the previous year, according to the data compiled by the Korea Customs Service. Autos accounted for some 7 percent of South Korea's exports. Imports of autos rose 38.3 percent on-year to $4.1 billion in the cited

Economy July 30, 2021

Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged efforts to "defend, consolidate and develop" relations with North Korea, Pyongyang's state media reported Friday, after the North's Kim Jong-un said he will push to elevate the two countries' ties to a "new strategic point." Xi made the remarks in a reply to Kim's earlier letter to mark the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China, touting the "message of fervent congratulations at an early hour" as a sign

North Korea July 30, 2021

South Korean archer Kim Woo-jin will take aim at his second gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday, when the medal round in the individual event will take place. Kim Woo-jin won the team gold medal on Monday, alongside Kim Je-deok and Oh Jin-hyek. The latter two were gone after the round of 32 in the individual event, leaving Kim Woo-jin, who has reached the round of 16, to try to extend South Korea's winning streak in the event to three Olympics. Oh won the individual gold in 2012 and K

Olympic Games July 30, 2021

Samsung Electronics Co. stayed on as the world's second-largest tablet computer vendor in the second quarter of the year, a report showed Friday, as it strives to catch up with industry leader Apple Inc. The South Korean giant logged a market share of 18 percent in the April-June period, after shipping 8.2 million Galaxy Tab tablets, up 19 percent from a year ago, according to market researcher Strategy Analytics. "The Android tablet market is undergoing big changes as vendors retool th

Industry July 30, 2021

South Korean manufacturers' business sentiment dropped for August amid a recent spike in COVID-19 infections, central bank data showed Friday. The business sentiment index (BSI) for local manufacturers came to 92 for August, down from 99 for July, according to the data from the Bank of Korea (BOK). The index measures manufacturers' outlook on business conditions in the following month. A reading below 100 means pessimists outnumber optimists. The nation's daily new infections have exceeded 1

Economy July 30, 2021

South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases increased to more than 1,700 Friday as health authorities strive to contain the virus spread amid summer vacation season.  The country added 1,710 COVID-19 cases, including 1,662 local infections, raising the total caseload to 196,806, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The latest tally is up from 1,674 cases reported Thursday but is lower than a record 1,896 cases Wednesday.  The country added four more COVID-19

Social Affairs July 30, 2021

South Korea has secured at least a bronze medal in the women's doubles badminton event at the Tokyo Olympics, after two pairs advanced to the semifinals on the opposite sides of the bracket on Thursday. Kim So-yeong and Kong Hee-yong defeated Mayu Matsumoto and Wakana Nagahara of Japan 2-1 (21-14, 14-21, 28-26) in the quarterfinals at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza. Hours later, Lee So-hee and Shin Seung-chan beat Selena Piek and Cheryl Seinen of the Netherlands 2-0 (21-8, 21-17) in the quarters

Olympic Games July 29, 2021

At least five people are presumed to have died of heat-related illnesses this week as scorching weather continued to grip the country, health authorities said Thursday. A total of 869 people were reported to have suffered heat-related illnesses from May 20 to Wednesday, more than double the number reported the same period last year, which stood at 356, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. The number of deaths from heat illnesses was tallied at 12, including four since

Social Affairs July 29, 2021

The government will push for a video-linked reunion of divided families with North Korea as the most urgent inter-Korean project, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday. A presidential official made the remark when asked to comment on speculation that the government is seeking a video-linked reunion event with the North, following Tuesday's restoration of communication lines between the two Koreas. "It is an issue agreed upon by the leaders of South and North Korea, and (video reunions are) the most

Politics July 29, 2021