SouthKorea

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  Prime Minister Chung stresses importance of 'borderless communication channel' to minimize information gap SEOUL -- "Honestly, I am not really good at social media or communicating with others because I am too busy with work," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said as he introduced his experience in a national fight against COVID-19. The 70-year-old veteran politician played a pivotal role in South Korea's anti-epidemic campaign, working as the top commander of a control tower that collects and filters complex information before delivering 2021-02-26
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  Sajo Seafood to launch raw tuna menu delivery service SEOUL -- In an effort to ride out a business slump caused by a COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea's major seafood retailer Sajo Seafood will launch a delivery service for tuna "Hoe," a raw fish fillet served in a Korean style. Deep-sea fishing vessels catch tuna fish, a popular fish kind in Japan and South Korea, mainly in the Pacific Ocean. Bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna are bled and gutted soon after they are caught off fishnets to go through a f 2021-02-26
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  Researchers find new roundworm species near Dokdo SEOUL -- Researchers have found eight new species of roundworms as well as two other species that were not recorded in South Korea near Dokdo, a chain of rocky islets known as Liancourt Rocks, which are located in the middle of waters between the Korean peninsula and Japan. They think the newly-found species of roundworms play a vital role in the food cycle of a marine ecosystem. In a joint research project in 2020, two state-run i 2021-02-26
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  IODP drilling approved to explore oceanic basin between Korean peninsula and Japan in 2024 SEOUL -- A scientific drilling ship used by the International Ocean Discovery Program, a multi-drilling platform research program, will be able to explore an oceanic basin between the Korean peninsula and Japan probably in 2024 on a mission to find out the cause of frequent submarine landslides. A submarine landslide transports sediment across the continental shelf and into the deep ocean. It can cause significant dama 2021-02-23
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  Health officials heave sigh of relief at early introduction of Novavax vaccine SEOUL -- South Korean health officials heaved a sigh of relief after securing new deals for the additional purchase of COVID-19 vaccines for 23 million people that included a protein-based vaccine developed by Novavax, amid growing public jitters over the delayed release of home-made vaccines and the relatively slow introduction of proven foreign products. The introduction of the Novavax vaccine for 20 million people will begin in the second quarter of this year, 2021-02-16
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  ​Giant folk painting to be displayed in central square as talisman to ward off bad luck and pandemic SEOUL -- A set of giant folk paintings showing two warlords clad in golden armor will be on display at a public square in central Seoul during the Korean Lunar New Year holidays. The traditional paintings used to be displayed on the gates of public places as a talisman to ward off bad luck and evil spirits. The Cultural Heritage Administration said in a statement that "Moonbaedo" paintings will be displayed in the heart of 2021-02-08
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  Survey company predicts greater spending on household appliances, digital content SEOUL -- A COVID-19 pandemic has brought up epochal changes in the pattern of consumption as social distancing, an act of not engaging in social activities or not visiting populated places, became a social trend. Content services have gained popularity as many people abandoned outdoor activities. The pandemic is accelerating digital transformation and social changes. However, the prediction that digital transformation will gain in speed as a whole from daily li 2021-02-02
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  Moon visits announces potential deal with Novavax for 20 mln people: Yonhap SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in visited a coronavirus vaccine production plant in South Korea and announced that the government could potentially secure additional new coronavirus vaccines for 20 million people from U.S. drug manufacturer Novavax Inc. "The possibility has opened for us to secure additional vaccines for 20 million people, in addition to the already secured volume for 56 million, amid the pursuit of a deal between Novavax and SK Bioscience Co. 2021-01-20
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  New negative-pressure ambulances to be used by S. Korean fire stations SEOUL -- South Korean fire stations will operate new negative-pressure ambulances installed with an oxygen concentration monitor and an automatic ventilation system to prevent a decrease in oxygen concentration while carrying COVID-19 patients. Ambulance workers can selectively operate a negative-pressure system depending on the type of patients. Negative pressure plays a vital part in COVID-19 screening and treatment as it prevents cross-cont 2021-01-19
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  Samsung supports smart production of COVID-19 vaccine syringes SEOUL -- With the help of Samsung Electronics, a South Korean medical device manufacturer has established a smart production system capable of manufacturing more than 10 million syringes per month for COVID-19. Poonglim Pharmatech has submitted a request for emergency use authorization to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It can be injected up to five times per bottle of vaccine with a regular syringe, but a Poonglim syringe enables the safe i 2021-01-19
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  S. Korea's high-speed electrical train 'KTX-Eum' makes commercial debut. SEOUL -- South Korea's high-speed electrical multiple unit called "KTX-Eum" made its commercial debut. It is an eco-friendly train that was designed to provide pleasant travel with every seat aligned with the window and featured a distributed power system. The six-car unit train with 381 seats was manufactured by Hyundai Rotem and operated by Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL). From January 5, it will run at a maximum speed of 260 kilometers (162 miles) 2021-01-04
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  S. Korea establishes long-distance maritime digital network to safely manage fishing boats SEOUL -- In an effort to prevent fishermen from straying into prohibited areas, South Korea will establish a long-distance maritime digital network that can safely manage fishing boats and secure information about their exact location in real-time even in waters more than 100 kilometers away from land. The safe management system will be fully operated from 2021. Until now, only voice communication was possible in seas more than 100 kilometers away from land. Howeve 2020-12-16
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  Space antenna reflector installed for S. Korea's lunar exploration mission SEOUL -- South Korea's lunar exploration mission to launch a lunar orbiter in 2022 made important progress by installing the reflector of a space antenna at a ground control tower. The lunar orbiter will search for a candidate site for landing and test space internet communication during its one-year mission. SK Broadband, which is in charge of establishing an antenna system, installed the hemispherical antenna reflector with a diameter of 35 meters and a we 2020-12-11
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  Anti-epidemic center considers introducing rapid antigen inspection SEOUL -- South Korea's state anti-epidemic center is under pressure to ease its tough stance and introduce a rapid antigen inspection of vulnerable facilities such as nursing and mental hospitals that require frequent pre-emptive checks to thwart the invasion of COVID-19. At least one rapid antigen test kit has been approved for commercial use in South Korea, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). "We are preparing for a p 2020-11-30
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  Expert urges strong government steps in enforcing quarantine rules SEOUL -- A critical voice came out about a nonvirulent government crackdown for experts to feel as the daily number of new COVID-19 cases exceeded 500 at the beginning of winter, threatening to taint the reputation of South Korea which has been lauded as an example of quarantine. More worrisome, many new cases originated from Seoul and surrounding areas. As a short-term response to cope with a new nationwide wave of COVID-19 that began in November, Jung Ki-suck 2020-11-27
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  Anti-epidemic center warns of silent community infection by young untraceable virus carriers SEOUL -- The risk of silent community infection caused by untraceable patients who unknowingly recovered after being infected with COVID-19 is higher than before in South Korea, a state anti-epidemic center said, calling for the strengthened quarantine management and inspection of facilities frequented by young people. The rate of antibody formation among young people conscripted for obligatory military service was significantly higher than that of the general p 2020-11-23
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  Special winter hunting period declared to reduce wild boar population This file picture shows a wild boar captured in the eastern city of Chuncheon. SEOUL -- A 107-day-long winter hunting period will open in mid-December in South Korean cities and counties near the border with North Korea to catch wild boars that have been mercilessly killed for carrying the highly contagious African swine fever virus. Some 4,000 hunters carrying one shotgun and two hunting dogs each will be mobilized. The hunting period, which starts on December 2020-11-10
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  Foreigner caught for posting threatening flyers at French Embassy in Seoul: Yonhap SEOUL -- Police caught a foreign national who allegedly posted threatening flyers on the wall of the French Embassy building in Seoul, warning France against what he called the country's anti-Muslim stance. The man, whose nationality and identity were withheld, was booked and under investigation on charges of threatening diplomatic representatives. Police said they have identified a foreign male accomplice and were pursuing the person still at large. 2020-11-05
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  Tram line project in S. Korean port wins state approval SEOUL -- A demonstration project to build a catenary-free light rail line in South Korea's southern port city of Busan has secured state approval. If completed, it would mark the resurgence of urban tram networks that disappeared in the late 1960s. Trams powered by batteries will run on tracks installed on roads. Construction of the demonstration section that covers 1.9 kilometers (1.18 miles) and serves five stops, will begin next year at a cost of 48 2020-10-29
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  S. Korean golf lovers undaunted by COVID-19 infection at golf course SEOUL -- A friendly group game barely arranged by college alumni has left more than 50 people infected with COVID-19, threatening to throw cold water on a fresh golf boom in South Korea. However, golf lovers seem not too frightened, clogging reservation windows to have rounds before the end of this year's season. Dozens of people wined and dined at a restaurant after holding a group game at a golf course in Yongin, 35 kilometers (22 miles) south of Seoul, on Oc 2020-10-29