South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed above 7,400 for the third consecutive day Friday, with the country set to restore tight social distancing and other virus curbs to contain the fast spread of the virus. The country added 7,435 more COVID-19 cases, including 7,400 local infections, bringing the cumulative total to 551,551, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Friday's tally is down from the previous day's 7,622 and the record high of 7,850 reported Wednesday, bu

South Korea's overseas direct investment rose at the fastest pace in nearly five years in the third quarter amid the global economic recovery, data showed Friday. South Korean companies' overseas investments came to $17.01 billion in the July-September period, up 58.2 percent from the previous year, according to the data by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. It marked the fastest on-year gain since the fourth quarter of 2016, when it grew 58.3 percent. The third-quarter growth rate was also

Senior diplomats of South Korea and the United States are set to hold annual economic talks in Seoul on Friday to discuss bilateral cooperation on global supply chains, energy, infrastructure and technology, Seoul officials said. Second Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-moon and Jose Fernandez, US undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, will lead the sixth Senior Economic Dialogue (SED), as a Sino-US rivalry intensifies on technological leadership, trade and secur

엘리베리터 유머 중에 다음과 같은 것이 있다.  덩치 큰 레슬링선수 같은 사람이 같이 타면서 ‘Hit ten!’이라고 하자 당황한 사람이 자기 머리를 열 번 때렸다는 이야기. ‘10층 눌러주세요’라는 말을 잘못 들어 생긴 경우이다.  미국의 할머니가 고양이를 품에 안고 있는데 한국 아저씨가 고양이를 가까이 가서 보려고 하자 할머니가 ‘Beat it!’이라고 하니 고양이를 때리라는 말로 잘못 알아듣고 고양이 때리려 하다가 신고 당했다는 이야기. Beat it 은 ‘저리 비켜’라는 의미이다.  일본사람이 미국의 어느 골목을 걷고 있는데 미국 경찰이 ‘Freeze!”라고 했는데 몸을 움직이며 ‘Please!’하다가 총을 맞았다는 이야기. Freeze!는 ‘꼼짝마’의 의미이다. 이들 이야기가 어디까지

　The average life expectancy of South Korean babies born last year reached 83.5 years, more than seven years longer than two decades ago, data showed, amid improved public awareness about health and a better medical system. 　The average life expectancy at birth in 2020 was 2.4 months longer than a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea. 　Compared with 10 and 20 years ago, the average life expectancy became 3.2 years and 7.5 years longer, respectively. 　The reading a

South Korean stocks opened lower Friday, tracking an overnight stock plunge on Wall Street as investors digest the US Fed's recent monetary policy decision. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (Kospi) declined 4.92 points, or 0.16 percent, to 3,001.49 points in the first 15 minutes of trading. Overnight, the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite shed 2.47 percent over the Fed's move to double the pace of its stimulus withdrawal and projections of three rate hikes next year. The Dow Jones Ind

A 3.2 magnitude earthquake struck near South Korea's southern island of Jeju on Friday in the 18th aftershock following a 4.9 magnitude quake earlier this week, officials said. The aftershock occurred at 6:22 a.m. in waters about 38 kilometers off the island's southwestern city of Seogwipo, near the epicenter of Tuesday's quake, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). Officials said the quake was the 18th and the biggest aftershock of Tuesday's earthquake. Local fire authori

The North Korean Embassy in China held a memorial service to commemorate former leader Kim Jong-il on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of his death, Pyongyang's state media reported Friday, highlighting close ties between the two countries. Wang Chen, vice chairman of the standing committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, attended the ceremony Thursday and asked North Korean Ambassador Ri Ryong-nam to convey Chinese President Xi Jinping's "warm greetings and best wishes"

The court ruled in favor of construction companies embroiled in a suit over construction of high-rise apartment buildings near the UNESCO-listed royal tomb Jangneung, in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday, allowing the construction to continue. On Dec. 10, a Seoul court ruled in favor of the construction companies who were fighting the Cultural Heritage Administration’s order to suspend construction. The state agency then appealed the ruling. If the CHA again appeals the court&rsquo

Daegwallyeong Snow Festival The Daegwallyeong Snow Festival will run from Jan. 21-30 at the area of Songcheon Stream in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. The annual festival began in 1993 and has become among the most famous winter festivals in South Korea. The event features beautiful snowy hills and enjoyable activities for both children and adults. Admission fees are yet to be announced, but various in-person programs are ready to excite winter-loving visitors. More information can be found at

InterContinental Seoul pesents ‘Romantic Holiday’ Package Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas in Samseong-dong announced its plan to offer the Romantic Holiday Package, prepared especially for lovers in the Christmas and year-end season, until Dec. 31. A body oil and body lotion set worth 174,000 won from French haute couture beauty brand BULY 1803 is included as a Christmas gift. A complimentary bottle of Mosel Christmas wine for a year-end mood and a tin of cookies are also provid

Don’t Look Up (US) Opened Dec. 8 Comedy Directed by Adam McKay Astronomy graduate student Kate Dibiaski (Jennifer Lawrence) and professor Dr. Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) discover a comet headed straight for Earth on a devastating collision course. However, no one cares about the news of an approaching comet that can destroy the planet. The two decide to go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy everything. Encanto (US) Opened Nov. 24 Animati

After pressure from a group of embassies in Seoul, the South Korean government agreed to allow foreign residents to register overseas vaccinations for use in the COOV app vaccine pass and to apply for booster shots. Korean nationals vaccinated overseas and foreign residents with quarantine exemptions have been allowed to register their overseas vaccinations, but most foreign residents could not register their vaccination status. Fear over the omicron variant prompted the government to expand the