SouthKorea

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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 weight of 100 tons on 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 pilot project in or 2020-11-30
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  [INTERVIEW] 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, a respiratory dise 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 public, according to 2020-11-23
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  Special winter hunting period declared to reduce wild boar population 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 14, was declared at a meeting chaired by Governor Choi Moon-soon of Gangwon, a mountainous, forest 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. The two were alleged 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 billion won ($42.7 milli 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 October 17. The gath 2020-10-29
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  Unmanned mail delivery service showcased on college campus in S. Korea SEOUL -- An unmanned mail delivery service using an autonomous vehicle and robots was demonstrated on a South Korean college campus to see if they are efficient in helping human workers with tasks such as the collection and delivery of mails and parcels. The demonstration in Chochiwon, about 104 kilometers (64 miles) south of Seoul, was arranged by South Korea's state postal service and the Ministry of Science and ICT. The unmanned service will be tested on the campus by the e 2020-10-28
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  COVID-19 blue keeps camping season going on despite autumn chill in S. Korea SEOUL -- The camping season usually ends with the cold wind of autumn. South Korean consumers are reluctant to adapt themselves to the change of weather and keep going out for camping in a desperate attempt to chase away "COVID blue," a sign of depression triggered by a coronavirus pandemic. Emart, South Korea's top megastore franchise, said in a statement on October 20 that sales of camping products were up 117.4 percent on-year in the first 18 days of October. Sales 2020-10-20
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  S. Koreans pick spicy rice cake menu Tteokbokki as favorite comfort food: survey SEOUL -- Tteokbokki, a menu of finger-sized rice cakes simmered in fiery-red spicy chili sauce, was picked as South Koreas' favorite comfort food, a survey showed. Fried chicken stood second, followed by Kimchi stew. In a September survey of about 10,000 people, conducted by Seoul City, Tteokbokki received the largest number of votes to become the menu favored by people who feel the need to be comforted. "Whenever life tries to bite me, I cook myself some Tteokbokki. The 2020-10-16
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  Seoul launches forestation project to create wind tunnels SEOUL -- To cope with global warming that led to a rise in the temperature of urban areas, Seoul unveiled a forestation project to create wind tunnels that also provide fresh air. Cool air will naturally be created using temperature differences and more trees will be planted to help eliminate particulate matter, also known as fine dust. The Seoul city government said in a statement on October 14 that it would work with the state-run Korea Forest Service for a 17 billion won ($1.4 mi 2020-10-14
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  Smartphone app becomes popular channel for buying train tickets SEOUL -- More and more train travelers in South Korea chose to use a convenient smartphone reservation system instead of standing in a queue at stations to buy tickets, data released by the state railway operator showed. The number of tickets purchased by train travelers with smartphones accounted for 76.8 percent of total tickets sold in 2019. It is common to see a long line of people filling the main hall of Seoul Station, the main railway hub in South Korea, to buy train ticket 2020-10-14
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  Coronavirus pandemic boosts popularity of golf in S. Korea SEOUL -- Golf is not a hobby of middle-aged people any longer in South Korea. As the population of golfers grows younger, there has been a noticeable increase in the demand for golf wear and golf-related items among fashion-conscious people in their 30s who have led the generalization of golf. Shinsegae, a major department store franchise, said that sales at shops selling golf clubs and related items in August rose 39.7 percent from a year ago. Sales of golf clothing rose together. 2020-10-13
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  LGBTQ bar visitor given six-month jail term for deceiving COVID-19 trackers SEOUL -- A 24-year-old man was sentenced to six months in prison for making false statements that hampered an accurate epidemiological investigation, leading to the dissemination of a novel coronavirus to about 80 people. He tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting an LGBTQ bar in Seoul in May. A criminal court in the western port city of Incheon ruled on October 8 that the man deserved punishment for causing "great social and economic losses" by lying about his job a 2020-10-08
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  Vietnam's coal-fired power plant becomes subject of debate in S. Korean parliament SEOUL -- A coal-fired power plant project in Vietnam has become the subject of debate in South Korea's parliament, with legislators pointing to a backlash from environmental activists and local residents who are worried about pollution, days after a state electricity company was allowed to push ahead with its investment. South Korean and Japanese companies are involved in the construction of a 1,200MW coal-fired power plant called Vung Ang 2 in Vietnam's Ha Tinh province. 2020-10-08
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  S. Korea reports two confirmed cases of pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome SEOUL -- South Korea's state anti-epidemic center reported two confirmed cases of pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome from two children, including an 11-year-old boy who had been suspected of being infected with Kawasaki disease that causes inflammation in blood vessels throughout the body, not COVID-19. Two boys have conformed to the multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The two ch 2020-10-05
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  Employment in accommodation and food industry hit hard by resurgence in COVID-19: data SEOUL -- The resurgence in COVID-19 cases that began in August after an anti-government rally involving thousands of right-wing Christians has led to a decrease in South Korea's employment rate in the accommodation and food sectors, a survey showed. The Ministry of Employment and Labor said in a statement on September 28 that the number of people employed in the accommodation and food industries in August was 1,130,000, down 15.1 percent from a year ago. The number of total work 2020-09-28
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  Jeju airport offers unmanned electric scooter rental service for tourists SEOUL -- To promote tourism, the operator of an airport on South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju launched an unmanned rental service. Travelers can rent electric scooters and electric bicycles and place them anywhere after use so that a local smart mobility company can pick up for charging. Jeju, a scenic semitropical island that draws about 15 million visitors annually, has a vast network of tourism infrastructure including sightseeing, hiking and many unique restaurants 2020-09-25
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  Asiana uses new A380 for non-landing scenic flight to help ease COVID-19 stress SEOUL -- In a bid to offer an experience similar to that of international flights for regular overseas travelers grounded by a COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea's second-largest flag carrier Asiana Airlines will utilize its Airbus A380, dubbed the "hotel of the sky," to non-landing scenic flights. Non-landing scenic flights were adopted in many countries to ease the stress of travelers who are frustrated by the pandemic that forced many countries to regulate travelers fro 2020-09-24