SouthKorea

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  Big gospel church eases public jitters by suspending services SEOUL -- Bowing to government and public pressure, Yoido Full Gospel Church, which is South Korea's largest Pentecostal Christian congregation with a membership of 560,000, agreed to suspend indoor services, as the number of patients infected with a new coronavirus surged to more than 2,000. Yoido Full Gospel Church affiliated with the Assemblies of God said on Friday that all services would be held online. The church's main building in Seoul is capable of seat 2020-02-28
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  Clinical experts propose classification of patients for self-treatment at home SEOUL -- Clinical experts proposed the classification of patients infected with a new coronavirus so that those with minor symptoms can treat themselves at home as quarantine officials and doctors in areas hit hard by a raging epidemic showed a burnout syndrome and lack of beds due to the surging number of confirmed cases. A systematic approach is needed to lower the death rate by allowing patients with light symptoms to treat themselves at their houses, a state-commis 2020-02-27
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  Financial firms can allow employees to work from home: Yonhap SEOUL -- South Korea's financial authorities said Wednesday that financial companies can allow their ordinary employees to work from home during emergencies amid the spread of the new coronavirus. The Financial Services Commission informed the financial companies of its decision earlier this month. The move is designed to ensure financial services are not disrupted in the case of employee self-quarantine over the coronavirus known as COVID-19. The virus has kill 2020-02-26
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  Health officials investigate flight attendant's virus infection SEOUL -- Korean Air, the top flag carrier in South Korea, recommended teleworking for pregnant women and other employees working at non-face-to-face worksites after a 24-year-old female flight attendant was infected with a highly contagious new coronavirus following her overseas duty covering Los Angeles and Tel Aviv. A Korean Air flight attendant tested positive for the virus on Tuesday while staying at her home for self-quarantine, according to the Korea Ce 2020-02-26
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  Presidential residence put under direct threat of COVID-19 SEOUL -- South Korea's presidential office was once put under the direct threat of a novel coronavirus after President Moon Jae-in, accompanied by aides and senior government officials, showed brave hearts to make a field trip to a provincial city stricken with a spike in the number of confirmed cases. The presidential office got startled after an assistant of Lee Seung-ho, a vice mayor in the southeastern city of Daegu, was found to have been infected with the vir 2020-02-26
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  Mega-church curate infected with virus triggers massive quarantine in Seoul SEOUL -- Extensive quarantine measures were being taken in an eastern district of South Korea's capital after a mega-church curate was infected with the highly contagious coronavirus that has penetrated into every corner of society from hospitals and churches to office buildings, leaving more than 1,200 infected and 12 dead. Officials in Gangdong District, which is one of Seoul's 25 districts, were put on anti-virus alert on Wednesday, taking massive preventive 2020-02-26
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  Ex-president Lee Myung-bak released on bail again SEOUL -- Former President Lee Myung-bak was released on bail again, six days after an appeals court raised his sentence and put him into custody in a courtroom. He was ordered to stay at his house pending a final decision by South Korea's highest Supreme Court. Lee, who served as president from 2008 to early 2013, was released from prison and arrived at his home on Tuesday night after the Seoul High Court suspended his detention. The 78-year-old was thrown b 2020-02-26
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  Seoul mayor voices blatant disgust and doubt over Shincheonji Local government officials shut down a facility run by Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southeastern city of Ulsan. SEOUL -- Bowing to government pressure, Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a religious organization blamed for causing a sudden spike in the number of patients infected with a highly contagious new coronavirus in South Korea, promised to present an entire list of believers for potential virus checks. Shincheonji has been the target of public fury sinc 2020-02-25
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  S. Korea considers importing anti-flu drug Avigan from Japan Health officials disinfect a railway station in Seoul. SEOUL -- With no established cure for a new coronavirus, South Korea considers importing Avigan, an anti-influenza drug produced by a unit of Japan's Fujifilm group as a spike in the number of confirmed cases embarrassed health officials and filled up isolation wards. Discussion is under way with a state clinical committee on whether to use Avigan for patients infected with COVID-19, according to the Minis 2020-02-25
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  S. Koreans rely on digital maps to track spreading virus: Yonhap Health officials disinfect the National Assembly complex in Seoul to prevent a coronavirus outbreak on February 24. SEOUL -- Digital maps are helping South Koreans keep track of COVID-19 amid a deluge of information on the contagious virus as the number of patients is increasing by the hundreds. South Korea's infections remained relatively stable until mid-February. The total number of patients hovered around 30 and even remained unchanged for several days. Bu 2020-02-25
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  Petition wins public support for disintegration of troubled religious group SEOUL -- Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a religious organization blamed for causing a sudden spike in the number of patients infected with a highly contagious new coronavirus in South Korea, waged a justification fight as public anger turned into calls for disintegration. Shincheonji has been the target of public fury since a 61-year-old follower was guaranteed on February 17 after attending services at its branch in the southeastern city of Daegu. The number of coronavi 2020-02-24
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  Anxiety grows among commuters in central Seoul Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon calls for strong measures to curb the spread of a virus epidemic in the capital on February 21. .Seoul.n SEOUL -- Anxiety and jitters are growing among commuters using public transportation to go to their worksites in Seoul, which has reported nearly 20 patients infected with a highly contagious new coronavirus, including six alone in Jongno, a district lined with many important landmarks and high-rise office buildings. Jongno in the ce 2020-02-21
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  Virus feared to deal heavy blow to economy and people's livehihood A health official escorts a patient out of Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo. SEOUL -- South Korea is in a "very severe" situation due to the proliferation of coronavirus infection, President Moon Jae-in said, warning a prolonged epidemic is feared to deal a heavy blow to the economy and the livelihoods of people. On Friday, the number of patients infected with the highly contagious virus soared to 204, including 16 ex-patients who have been discharged from 2020-02-21
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  First death of coronavirus patient stokes widespread health scare in S. Korea This picture shows health officials closing down Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo. SEOUL -- South Korea reported the first death of a patient infected with a new coronavirus as 53 new cases were confirmed in a single day, bringing the total number of patients to 104 as of Thursday afternoon. One coronavirus patient was pronounced dead at a hospital in the southeastern county of Cheongdo after showing symptoms of pneumonia, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control 2020-02-20
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  Religious organization Shincheonji closes chapels, regrets Coronavirus spread SEOUL -- Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a religious organization which was once caught up in a dispute over alleged heresy, has closed chapels after regretting an overnight surge in the number of patients infected with a new coronavirus due to one follower who participated in services before being quarantined. As of Thursday morning, the number of confirmed patients in South Korea soared to 82, with 51 new cases reported this week. One was discovered at a nose, ear, and 2020-02-20
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  Coronavirus 'super spreader' at church services raises health scare: Yonhap SEOUL -- The spread of the new coronavirus in South Korea may be accelerating, with the country's probable first "super spreader" having infected as many as 14 out of the 20 newly reported virus cases at church services. The country's 31st COVID-19 patient, who resides in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is judged to have infected at least 15 others, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) on Wednesday.' 2020-02-19
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  Police unveil project to develop rope-firing non-lethal weapon SEOUL -- To safely overpower criminals without using lethal weapons, South Korean police unveiled a project to develop a rope-firing gun and stun batons. The National Police Agency said Wednesday that it would invest five billion won ($4.1 million) by the end of 2022 to develop non-lethal weapons designed to capture criminals more efficiently and safely. Instead of a net, the innovative gun fires a rope with weights attached to each end. On impact, the rope will im 2020-02-19
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  Ex-president Lee Myung-bak back into prison with higher jail term Ex-president Lee Myung-bak shakes hands with supporters before walking into to the Seoul High Court on February 19. SEOUL -- Ex-president Lee Myung-bak was thrown back into prison after an appeals court canceled an earlier decision to release him on bail and raised his sentence to 17 years on corruption, embezzlement and other charges, scolding the businessman-turned former leader for showing no repentance. The 78-year-old became one of South Korea's two f 2020-02-19
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  Court exonerates S. Korea's app-based mobility service Tada SoCar CEO Lee Jae-woong smiles broadly at a news conference outside a Seoul court after he was found not guilty on February 19. SEOUL -- Tada, a smartphone-based ride-hailing service run by a pioneer in South Korea's mobility service market, was found not guilty after a court rejected argument by state prosecutors that it is an illegal paid taxi service. The court defined Tada as a rent car service based on mobile applications. Tada has rapidly grown to become Sout 2020-02-19
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  President Moon urges 'special measures' to contain fallout from deadly virus SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in called for special measures to contain the fallout from an unabated coronavirus outbreak as health officials raised awareness about potential preparations for blind infection. The causality of three new cases reported in South Korea remained untraceable, embarrassing epidemiologists. "We need special measures," Moon told a cabinet meeting at his office on Tuesday, urging government officials to mobilize "every possible mean 2020-02-18