SouthKorea

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  Military rifle bullet hit head of caddie on duty in her golf course SEOUL -- A female caddie in her 20s suffered a head injury during her duty on the 16th hole of a golf course. The caddie and other people thought that she may have been hit by a stray golf ball. In a hospital, she underwent an emergency operation after doctors discovered a 5.56-millimeter rifle bullet in her head. The rare incident took place at a golf course in Damyang, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) southwest of Seoul, on April 23 when the ill-fated caddie pulle 2020-04-24
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  [Coronavirus] S. Korea eases strict restrictions on exports of high-quality masks SEOUL -- Satisfied with sufficient stock and stable distribution, South Korea eased strict restrictions on exports of masks which have played a crucial role in abating the spread of a novel coronavirus. Korean War veterans in foreign countries will be the first group of recipients to wear high-quality products from South Korea. As the supply of masks is stable, drugstores are now well-stocked with masks. As of April 21, 86.6 percent of all pharmacies in South Korea ha 2020-04-24
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  [Coronavirus] First 'sample pooling' test conducted to prevent herd infection in Seoul SEOUL -- "Sample pooling," a quick diagnostic method of preventing herd infections at vulnerable places, was applied for the first time to nursing hospitals in Seoul. The experimental examination was successful and detected no virus, becoming a role model in South Korea's anti-epidemic fight against COVID-19. It should be used only for disease monitoring. The "pooling protocol" invented by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KC 2020-04-22
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  New contactless detector developed for sobriety test in S. Korea SEOUL -- For a sobriety crackdown which has been inactive this year due to a novel coronavirus epidemic, South Korean police came up with a new contactless sensor that can detect drunk drivers without breathalyzing. Police used a rod attached with a new detector covered with a disposable plastic cover. A week-long trial operation began on April 20 to see if the new detector is effective. The National Police Agency (NPA) said in a statement o 2020-04-20
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  Envoy urges resumption of economic and trade cooperation between China and S. Korea SEOUL -- Beijing and Seoul should restore and develop economic and trade cooperation, China's top envoy in South Korea said, showing confidence in the rapid recovery of China's economy from the impact of a novel coronavirus epidemic. "We must never close the gate between China and South Korea," Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming said in an interview with Aju Business Daily, adding the two countries are working to ensure the vital traffic of citizens thro 2020-04-17
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  Ex-prime minister Lee Nak-yeon firms his political position in heavyweight election battle SEOUL -- Former prime minister Lee Nak-yeon of the ruling Democratic Party firmed his position as a potential presidential candidate with a comfortable victory in a heavyweight election battle against Hwang Kyo-ahn, an outspoken opposition leader, in a district that has been regarded as a key constituency in South Korea's political map. The 67-year-old politician who had served as prime minister in the government of President Moon Jae-in until January this year g 2020-04-16
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  [Coronavirus] Health officials proud of setting new example in fight against COVID-19 A National Election Committee official checks body temperatures of voters at a polling station in eastern Seoul on April 15. SEOUL -- South Korea deserves compliment for setting another good example as the first country in the world to hold elections without trouble, health officials said, praising active cooperation by voters who have risked strict and cumbersome quarantine procedures to prevent the penetration of a novel coronavirus into polling statio 2020-04-16
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  President Moon given clear mandate through overwhelming election victory SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in received a clear mandate from voters to exercise his strong leadership through an overwhelming victory in parliamentary elections as his administration garnered acclaim for making an effective response to a new coronavirus epidemic that has rattled the international community. The ruling camp secured a comfortable majority of 180 seats in the high-stake political event to elect 300 National Assembly members for a four-year te 2020-04-16
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  Moon's ruling party predicted to secure stable majority in parliamentary elections Former prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon leaves the situation room of the ruling Democratic Party in Seoul on April 15 after an exit poll predicted a ruling party victory. SEOUL -- The ruling party of South Korean President Moon Jae-in was in a state of guarded optimism and excitement as a joint exit poll conducted by major TV stations found that it is predicted to secure a stable majority of seats in elections to form a new legislative body. This year's parliamenta 2020-04-15
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  [SCENE] Voting proceeds in calm and orderly manner, no worries about infection Voters wait outside a polling station in eastern Seoul on April 15. SEOUL -- It's like a silent march to the judge of fate, but there was no fear in their faces. Rather, many were relaxed and confident, showing a sense of pride and belief that the final moment to conquer an insurmountable epidemic is not far away. The mood outside a polling station at an elderly culture and fitness center in Seoul's eastern district of Jungnang was calm and orderl 2020-04-15
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  S. Korea goes ahead with parliamentary election despite overriding concern over COVID-19 A health official checks the temperature of a voter outside a polling station in Seoul on April 15. SEOUL -- For an unavoidable political event that could jeopardize an uphill anti-epidemic campaign, millions of South Koreans wearing masks cast ballots to form a new legislative body, watched nervously by health officials who have tried hard to thwart a coronavirus attack for months. The high-stake political event to elect 300 National Assembly members for a four- 2020-04-15
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  [Coronavirus] Research to see if mutation is related to re-activated virus A health official disinfects a polling station for general elections to form a new National Assembly.. SEOUL -- Embarrassed by a steady rise in the number of patients who were infected with a novel coronavirus again after they were cured and released from hospital, South Korea's state anti-epidemic center will launch a full-pledged epidemiological study to see if there are any mutations in a meaningful gene part. South Korea's national campaign to contai 2020-04-14
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  [Coronavirus] Walk-thru virus screening system to be patented abroad SEOUL -- South Korean Inventors of a "walk-thru" system developed for the quick and safe screening of patients infected with a novel coronavirus will apply for an overseas patent to protect intellectual property rights. It will be promoted as the brand name of "K-Walkthru." Along with a drive-thru screening system that gained global attention, a walk-thru system has been introduced in South Korea to reduce the time taken for the screening of patient 2020-04-13
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  [Coronavirus] Health officials struggle with 're-activated' virus SEOUL -- In their fight against a new coronavirus epidemic, South Korean health officials are struggling with an inexplicable phenomenon caused by the re-infection of more than 100 people who have been cured and discharged from hospitals. South Korea's national fight against COVID-19 has been hampered by asymptomatic infections and the dynamic nature of COVID-19 since the first case was reported on January 20. Another factor that has annoyed health officials was th 2020-04-13
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  [Coronavirus] S. Korea opens discussion on changing quarantine protocol A file picture shows health officials disinfecting a subway train in Seoul. SEOUL -- With debate still on the table abroad over whether the global pandemic has reached its peak, South Korea opened official discussions on how to implement a new protocol in which daily life and economic activities can proceed in harmony with quarantine. A committee involving government officials and experts held its first meeting on Friday when South Kore 2020-04-10
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  [Coronavirus] Epidemic changes method of balloting to form new parliament SEOUL -- Wearing masks and disposable plastic gloves, South Korean voters cast ballots on the first day of early voting to form a new parliament at thousands of polling stations supervised by election managers who used hand sanitizers, electronic thermometers and remote identification devices to prevent the penetration of a novel coronavirus. Putting the safety of voters before balloting on April 15 to elect 300 members of South Korea's unicameral legislative body, 2020-04-10
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  [Coronavirus] Daegu reports no infection, sheds image as epicenter of epidemic Health officials check an empty ward at a military hospital in Daegu on April 10 after city officials reported no new infections. SEOUL -- Shedding its image as a dreadful place to go, Daegu reported no new patient infected with a novel coronavirus for the first time since the southeastern city became the epicenter of South Korea's epidemic triggered by the mass infection of cult followers in February. There was no cheer to celebrate the remarkable moment i 2020-04-10
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  [Coronavirus] Verified 'sample pooling' introduced to prevent herd infection in S. Korea SEOUL -- Known for innovative ideas such as drive-thru or walk-thru examinations that gained global attention, South Korea's medical society has invented a quick diagnostic method of preventing herd infections at vulnerable places such as nursing hospitals that often have frustrated health officials trying to stem the spread of a coronavirus epidemic. Mass infections at nursing hospitals and care facilities for old people have created a major obstacle to South Kore 2020-04-09
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  [Coronavirus] Seoul mayor shuts down adult entertainment facilities to prevent new wave of COVID-19 epidemic SEOUL -- The mayor of Seoul ordered the temporary shutdown of adult entertainment facilities such as hostess bars and dance clubs in the capital after the infection of a boy band leader and two women sparked a virus alert in Gangnam, an upscale modern district, home to gleaming skyscrapers, designer brands and stylish nightclubs. Dance clubs, singing rooms and PC bangs have been asked to take strict quarantine steps or shut down, but city officials found that out of 2, 2020-04-08
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  [Coronavirus] Prime Minister voices concerns over young clubbers becoming silent virus carriers SEOUL -- Despite the nationwide anti-coronavirus campaign that prompted many people to observe an order for social distancing or stay in homes, people in their 20s enjoy fiery nights at dance and music clubs in a district known for rapper Psy's 2012 hit song "Gangnam Style" and other entertainment areas. The young generation's irresponsible and careless behavior has become the target of public criticism. Some parents insisted that such clubs should 2020-04-07