SouthKorea

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  [Coronavirus] Health officials voice concern about public fatigue and weak social distancing SEOUL -- Anti-epidemic authorities warned of "explosive community infections" that could lead to the collapse of South Korea's health system as seen in Europe and the United States as the public showed mental fatigue over prolonged social distancing that has played a crucial role in stopping a spike in patients infected with a new coronavirus. South Koreans have demonstrated strong unity and will in a national fight against a COVID-19 epidemic since the f 2020-04-06
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  [PHOTO NEWS] A famous rape flower garden plowed up to turn away urban visitors A tractor plows up a rape flower garden in Samcheok on April 3. SEOUL -- A prominent rape flower garden in South Korea was plowed up to turn away a flower-viewing crowd amid the growing anxiety of elderly villagers over the spread of a novel coronavirus. A rape flower festival has been held every spring in a seaside town in Samcheok, 190 kilometers (118 miles) east of Seoul. City officials have called off this year's festival, which was to be held from March 23 2020-04-03
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  [Coronavirus] Epidemic expected to accelerate transition to digital economy E-mart, a retail franchise, offers a discount for notebooks in preparation for online classes at schools on April 2. SEOUL -- South Korea's leading life insurance company is getting down to a digital platform on an order from its chief who forecast an irreversible change caused by a new coronavirus epidemic in the pattern of consumers living in a country well-known for an ultra-fast mobile telecom network that opened a connected society. "We need to pre 2020-04-02
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  [Coronavirus] S. Korea to open online classes for students to prevent COVID-19 infection Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye SEOUL -- South Korea has chosen to open online school classes using its advanced internet and mobile communication infrastructure to help students receive education during a school lockdown caused by a novel coronavirus epidemic. The first semester normally opens after a spring break in early March. However, schools have postponed the opening of classes since February 23. "An unprecedented situation continues throughout March w 2020-04-01
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  [Coronavirus] Public spontaneity plays key role in fighting epidemic: survey SEOUL -- Without compulsory regulations, more than 90 percent of South Koreans were found to have followed anti-epidemic guidelines spontaneously, refraining from going out or entering multi-use facilities, to help their country contain a new coronavirus epidemic, a state survey showed. Since the first COVID-19 patient was reported on January 20, South Korea has never introduced compulsory guidelines for ordinary people. Along with th 2020-04-01
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  [Coronavirus] Jeju governor files compensation suit against traveler SEOUL -- The governor of South Korea's southern resort island Jeju sued a 19-year-old student studying in the United States and her mother for damages, accusing them of making a five-day free journey despite symptoms of a new coronavirus. The two have been the target of widespread public rebuke for their inconsiderate act. It marked the first COVID-related lawsuit against any individuals since South Korea was hit by an epidemic in January. South Korea has been rela 2020-03-30
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  [Coronavirus] Medical association denounces complacent government attitude A file picture shows quarantine officials conducting a virus chek at Incheon International Airport. SEOUL -- South Korea's medical community warned of "devastating" consequences in a novel coronavirus epidemic, denouncing a complacent government attitude in screening passengers at airports, as public anxiety and grievances grew over the lax enforcement of rules for those who self-quarantined. Foreigners should be banned from entering for a short perio 2020-03-30
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  [Coronavirus] Airport looms as new hotbed of virus infections SEOUL -- South Korea's anti-epidemic campaign has been lauded abroad. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau praised South Korean health authorities for conducting the extensive and speedy screening of patients infected with a novel coronavirus, describing a limited entry ban as the right decision. As the epidemic showed signs of subsiding from its peak in mid-February, South Korea is now flooded with requests for help from other coun 2020-03-27
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  ​[SCENE] A day full of fear and anxiety to go through virus screening A file picture shows health officials checking diagnostic kits at a virus screening center. SEOUL -- "I am going to stick this into your nose to take a sample from your upper respiratory system," a grim-faced doctor clad in a white anti-contamination suit all over his body said, holding up a 15 centimeter-long cotton swab. "Please try not to move. This is going to hurt." It smelled like a dental clinic overlighted with fluorescent lights on each w 2020-03-26
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  [Coronavirus] Epidemic prompts alcoholic drink aficionados to drink at home SEOUL -- Instead of drinking Soju, a favorite distilled liquor made with potatoes, or a glass of ice-chilled beer straight from the tap, South Korea's acoholic drink aficionados shunned bars and restaurants and chose to enjoy their favorite drink in homes. At weekdays, bars and restaurants have been filled with people drinking after work. However, the scene has changed since a coronavirus epidemic hit South Korean in January. People rushed to their homes straig 2020-03-26
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  [Coronavirus] ​ ​Drive-thru restaurants gain attention as trendy meal choice A file picture shows a client picking pre-packaged slices of raw fish in Pohang. SEOUL -- Tens of cars lining up along a quiet beachside road in the southern port city of Pohang created a bizarre scene on a sunny spring day in mid-March. The drivers silently waited to reach a makeshift drive-thru tent run by fishermen selling pre-packaged slices of raw ridge-eyed flounder, a menu well known as South Korea's spring seasonal delicacy. The long line of cars resembled 2020-03-25
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  [Coronavirus] Research consortium starts vaccine testing on primates SEOUL -- In a bid to find an effective medicine for a new coronavirus earlier than other countries, a state-commissioned research consortium embarked on the first testing of a vaccine candidate on primates. If its safety is proven, clinical trials on humans are to begin in June. The global COVID-19 pandemic has opened a huge market for vaccines, diagnostic kits and medicines. South Korea has formed a consortium involving researchers and companies such as Genexine, GenN 2020-03-25
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  [Coronavirus] Moon receives Trump's request for diagnostic reagents SEOUL -- With his heart swollen with pride, President Moon Jae-in slipped away from diplomatic rules to reveal U.S. President Donald Trump's urgent request for diagnostic reagents and other quarantine items to stem a pandemic, as well as a flurry of similar requests for help from other countries grappling with shortages. "There are many official government-level requests for diagnostic reagents, along with private-level export con 2020-03-25
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  Sex chat room operator thanks for ending demonic nature of his two-faced life Cho Ju-bin, a sex chat room operator, appears before journalists at a police station in Seoul on March 25. SEOUL -- Wearing a neck protector and a medical bandage plastered on his head, a 24-year-old man expressed his gratitude for being able to stop the demonic nature of his two-faced life doing volunteer work at social welfare facilities and running a pay group chat room that showed photos and videos of violent sex acts involving underage 2020-03-25
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  [Coronavirus] S. Korea to conduct quick clinical experiment on two drugs SEOUL -- South Korea will conduct a quick clinical experiment to see if Chloroquine, a medication used to prevent and treat malaria, and Kaletra, a prescription medicine approved for the treatment of HIV infection, are effective in treating patients infected with a novel coronavirus. The two drugs have been selectively used with other antiviral drugs to treat critical patients. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said on Tuesday that it would in 2020-03-24
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  [Interview] International Vaccine Institute emphasizes development of 'universal' vaccine Jerome Kim, Director General of International Vaccine Institute, answers questions in an interview with Aju Business Daily on March 17 SEOUL -- Many bio companies and researchers around the world have jumped into the race to develop vaccines or effective treatments for COVID-19 that triggered a global pandemic, but an institute affiliated with the United Nations Development Programme is more concerned about the genetic variation that 2020-03-24
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  President Moon deplores online sex crime, demands severe punishment SEOUL -- Shocked by a pay group chat room showing photos and videos of violent sex acts involving underage victims, President Moon Jae-in ordered a thorough investigation for the punishment of operators and users together, condemning it as a "cruel" crime destroying human life. "As president, I offer my sincere condolences to the victims and sympathize with the people's legitimate anger," Moon said in remarks conveyed by his spokesman in respons 2020-03-23
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  S. Korea introduces 'walking-thru' clinics at airport to test travelers from abroad SEOUL -- Buoyed by the successful operation of drive-thru screening that gained global attention for a quick and safe diagnostic test, South Korea introduced a "walking-thru" system at airport checkpoints that can drastically reduce a heavy workload and time taken for the screening of travelers from abroad. The system will start appearing on March 25 at 40 points at Incheon International Airport, South Korea's gateway west of Seoul. It takes six or seven m 2020-03-23
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  Institut Pasteur Korea regards Ciclesonide as most plausible COVID-19 drug SEOUL -- Based on cell experiment, Institut Pasteur Korea, an infectious disease-focused research institute, regards ciclesonide, a glucocorticoid used to treat asthma and allergic rhinitis, as the most plausible drug for COVID-19, citing its safety and medicinal efficacy. Through a drug re-creation study which finds new drugs from existing medicines, the institute said it has confirmed the antiviral effects of ciclesonide. "We hope that the results of the stu 2020-03-23
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  [Coronavirus] Doctors trying hard to keep alive patient showing 'cytokine storm' SEOUL -- Old people who have underlying chronic health problems are highly vulnerable to a new coronavirus, but it also kills young and healthy people suffering from an excessive immune response that ravages healthy lung tissue, leading to acute respiratory distress and multi-organ failure. Untreated, it is usually fatal. At a hospital in the southeastern city of Daegu, doctors are struggling to cure a 26-year old patient who fell into a critical condition d 2020-03-20