A national commission on Monday set next year's minimum hourly wage at 9,160 won ($7.98) in a 5.1 percent on-year increase. The Minimum Wage Commission, which is composed of nine members each from labor, business and the general public, struck the agreement around midnight during a plenary session held at the government complex in Sejong. During the negotiations, the labor side had called for a significant increase from this year's 8,720 won, while the management side had called for a freeze,

Social Affairs July 13, 2021

The leaders of the ruling and main opposition parties agreed Monday to give the next round of COVID-19 relief aid to all citizens, not just select groups, their spokespeople said.    Song Young-gil, chairman of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), and Lee Jun-seok, chairman of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), reached the agreement during a meeting over dinner.    "The two leaders appear to have reached a consensus that (the handouts) should be given to the

Social Affairs July 12, 2021

President Moon Jae-in on Monday met with archbishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik, the first South Korean appointed to a secretary position at the Vatican, Cheong Wa Dae said.    You is set to leave for the Vatican later this month to serve as the new prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, the Vatican arm overseeing matters regarding priests and deacons as well as seminaries.    Pope Francis appointed You to the position last month.    "I wish for Pope Franci

Politics July 12, 2021

Six US Forces Korea (USFK) service members and five other affiliated individuals tested positive for the new coronavirus, the US military said Monday, the latest in a series of infections from American military bases in South Korea.    Three of the six soldiers were from Camp Casey in Dongducheon, north of Seoul, and one each from Camp Carroll in the southeastern city of Daegu and the Osan and Kunsan Air Bases, according to the USFK.    The remaining cases were one Korean

Social Affairs July 12, 2021

    President Moon Jae-in will take Japan's attitude into account when deciding whether to visit Tokyo for the opening ceremony of the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and bilateral summit talks, according to his office Monday.    "Our government intends to have South Korea-Japan summit talks," a Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters, requesting anonymity. "But it maintains the position that there should be an accomplishment if talks are held."    The

Foreign Affairs July 12, 2021

The South Korean professional baseball league decided on Monday to suspend its ongoing regular season, effectively immediately, following multiple cases of the novel coronavirus.    This marked South Korea's first professional sports league to halt proceedings because of COVID-19 cases.    The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) reached the decision after its emergency board meeting with CEOs of the league's 10 clubs at KBO's head office in Seoul.    In spring 20

Baseball July 12, 2021

Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong's trial has been postponed after the Supreme Court advised last week that court proceedings be suspended in the greater Seoul area for two weeks amid record-setting coronavirus cases. The vice chairman of Samsung Electronics has been on trial over a controversial merger of two Samsung affiliates and alleged accounting fraud since October last year. In September, he was charged with unfair trading, stock manipulation and breach of trust in relation to the 2015 me

Social Affairs July 12, 2021

Star actor Lee Byung-hun donated 100 million won (US$87,200) to a children's hospital in Seoul on his birthday Monday, according to his agency. The donation, delivered to the children's hospital of Asan Medical Center in southern Seoul, will be used to relieve the financial burdens of young patients and their families and help them continue necessary medical care, said BH Entertainment. "I wish to deliver a little comfort and support to children in a lengthy fight against sickness, and th

Film July 12, 2021

A UNESCO committee will adopt a decision next week calling for Japan to live up to its promise to honor forced labor victims at an information center on industrial revolution sites registered on the World Heritage list, an official said Monday. The World Heritage Committee (WHC) is expected to adopt the decision between July 21-23 during the 44th annual session slated to run virtually through the end of this month, a foreign ministry official said. In the decision, the WHC plans to express &qu

Foreign Affairs July 12, 2021

South Korean stocks rebounded to snap a three-day losing streak Monday as investors sought to buy oversold stocks after the benchmark index took a breather the previous session amid escalating virus concerns. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) advanced 28.52 points, or 0.89 percent, to close at 3,246.47 points. Trading volume was light at about 1.1 billion shares worth some 11.1 trillion won ($9.7 billion), with gainers outnumberi

Market July 12, 2021

The Seoul city government's official digital map has newly added a feature showing the level of crowds at COVID-19 testing centers across the city, according to officials Monday. The Smart Seoul Map, available at the URL address https://map.seoul.go.kr/smgis2/short/6NjT7, was updated to reveal the level of crowds in line waiting to be tested at some 80 testing centers across the city, according to city officials. The crowed sizes are divided into three categories -- normal, busy and crowded --

Social Affairs July 12, 2021

South Korea experienced three to four more days of heat waves and tropical nights per year during the past decade than it did during the past 48 years, data from the Korea Meteorological Administration showed Monday. Heat wave days from 2011 to 2020 averaged 14 days per year, up 3.9 days from the 10.1 days recorded between 1973 and 2020. The average number of tropical nights increased 3.3 days to nine days during the same period. A heat wave alert is issued when the maximum sensible temperatur

Social Affairs July 12, 2021

SEOUL/POCHEON -- Five people were injured after an Army ambulance helicopter crash-landed at a military base Monday, authorities said. The helicopter made an emergency landing on the airstrip at an Army aviation battalion in Pocheon, 46 kilometers north of Seoul, at 10:35 a.m. while on its way to pick up a patient there, according to the Army and the local fire department. Five crewmembers were injured, two seriously, and were moved to a nearby hospital. None of them are in a life-threatening

Defense July 12, 2021

Entering their final stretch of preparation for the Olympic men's football tournament, South Korea will host a pair of Tokyo-bound countries in tuneup matches this week. South Korea will first take on Argentina at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Yongin Mireu Stadium in Yongin, about 50 kilometers south of Seoul. Then at 8 p.m. Friday at Seoul World Cup Stadium, South Korea will face France. Coached by Kim Hak-bum, South Korea will depart for Japan on Saturday. In his prematch press conference Monday, Ki

Soccer July 12, 2021

South Korean banks' social contributions exceeded 1 trillion won ($871 million) for the second straight year in 2020 amid a coronavirus-caused economic downturn, a trade association said Monday. The Korea Federation of Banks said its 22 members, including lenders and other financial institutions, spent about 1.1 trillion won on social contribution activities last year. Their social contributions topped the 1 trillion-won mark for the second consecutive year, but the amount was a tad lower than

Economy July 12, 2021