South Korea's new COVID-19 cases hit the highest Monday tally in nine weeks amid concerns of the virus' resurgence in the winter. The country reported 23,765 new COVID-19 infections, including 54 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 26,217,994, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. Monday's tally is up from 18,665 the previous week and the highest of all Mondays since 36,917 counted on Sept. 12. South Korea's COVID-19 outbreaks have been on the

The death toll from the crowd crush in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood rose by one to 158, authorities said Monday. The additional victim is a South Korean woman in her 20s, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said. A total of 132 South Koreans and 26 foreign nationals were killed during the crowd surge in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon on Oct. 29. Funeral procedures for 130 South Koreans have been completed and the bodies of 24 foreign nationals have been s

After zeroing in on police leadership, the special investigation team set up by the National Police Agency to look into the causes behind the Itaewon tragedy that took the lives of at least 157 people, is now looking into the response of related authorities. The division said Sunday it will bring in officials from the Yongsan-gu Office and Seoul Metro to testify to how they responded to the tragedy. The team deems that the Yongsan-gu Office failed its duty for disaster control as a local gover

South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed above 50,000 for the third consecutive day Saturday amid concerns of a possible resurgence in the winter. The country reported 54,328 new COVID-19 infections, including 58 from overseas, bringing the total to 26,145,764, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The latest tally is up from 40,903 a week ago and 37,312 two weeks ago, according to the authorities. The country added 46 deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 2

The death toll from the crowd crush in Seoul‘s Itaewon neighborhood increased by one to 157, authorities said Friday. The additional victim is a soldier who was pronounced brain dead and donated his organs. A total of 131 South Koreans and 26 foreigners were killed during the crowd surge in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon on Oct. 29, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said. Funeral procedures of 130 South Koreans were completed and the bodies of 23 f

Park Byung-hwa, a serial rapist, was released from prison on Oct. 31 and lives in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. Several restrictions have been added to ease residents' anxiety, but calls for eviction still continue. The Suwon District Prosecutors' Office said Thursday that the court had passed the prosecution's request for additional measures to extend Park Byung-hwa's curfew. The original curfew was from midnight to 6 a.m., and the court’s order added three additional h

Song Sang-hyun, the former president of the International Criminal Court, said Friday that South Korea should endeavor to expand its efforts to further the implementations of liberal values. At Friday’s symposium commemorating the foundation established in his name -- the Song Sang-hyun Foundation for International Justice, Peace and Human Rights -- Song said that the post-World War II international order of liberal democracy was faced with “new challenges, crises.” “N

The police special investigation team for the Itaewon disaster is still looking into a number of suspicions and rumors, amid criticism that the investigation is heading in the wrong direction, freeing government authorities from responsibility. Kim Dong-wook, spokesperson for the investigation team said on Friday that they have been examining the suspicion surrounding the Yongsan Police Station intelligence team’s report that warned of danger before the disaster. The report, which included

A Yongsan police officer under investigation in connection to the Itaewon tragedy was found dead Friday. The officer, identified by the surname Jeong, faced allegations that he was involved in deleting a report proposing concerns about safety measures during Halloween period. Jeong, 55, was found dead at his home in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul at 12:45 p.m., Friday. Family members found Jeong and reported it to the police. Jeong reportedly sent a message implying suicide to some colleagues the previous da

A Seoul court on Friday approved the extradition of a woman believed to be the mother of two children whose bodies were found in suitcases in New Zealand in August. The Seoul High Court made the decision, and the woman, known as a South Korean-born New Zealand citizen in her 40s, is said to have consented to her extradition to the South Pacific nation. She was arrested in Ulsan, 307 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in mid-September after local police had tracked her down at the request of New Zeal

Neighbors use pig heads to protest Islamic house of worship's construction

Suneung, the college entrance examination that is held once a year, is now just a week away. Across the country, people of all ages pay attention to the exam that takes place simultaneously everywhere here on the third Thursday of each November, as society puts great importance on college admission. Students go all out to achieve their best score on the test in belief that a good score could change their lives. Their families and friends bustle to help, pray and buy sweets for the students in th

Kim Jin-tae, the province’s first conservative governor in 12 years, shares visions for change

The Korean government has pledged a major reform of police administration and the overall national safety system following the Itaewon Halloween tragedy. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Thursday the reform plans would be released next month. "We will work on a pangovernmental disaster safety management system, major reform of police and crowd management measures by next month," Han said at a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. Han’s pledge co

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases fell to below 60,000 but showed a marked on-week growth Thursday as the country is at the onset of another virus wave, health authorities said. The country reported 55,365 new COVID-19 infections, including 50 from overseas, bringing the total to 26,037,020, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said. It marked a slight fall from the previous day's 62,472 cases, when the daily count hit about a two-month high. But Thursday's figure was ar