South Korea’s advisory committee on infectious diseases, under the office of the prime minister, on Monday advised the government to lift COVID-19 testing regulations for inbound travelers. The committee’s announcement is fanning speculations that the government will lift the predeparture COVID-19 testing rule. The government’s decision is expected to be made this week. At present, all travelers to South Korea must submit the results of a polymerase chain reaction test tak

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases fell below 50,000 on Monday, but the number of critically ill patients kept rising despite a slowing virus trend. The country reported 43,142 new COVID-19 infections, including 360 cases from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 23,026,960, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Monday's count is sharply down from 85,295 recorded the previous day. Daily cases tend to drop on Mondays due largely to fewer tests over the weekend.

About two-thirds of South Koreans are opposed to a proposed bill that bans the recording of phone calls without consent because such recordings can be used to protect themselves or for public good, such as whistleblowing, a survey showed Monday. A group of ruling People Power Party lawmakers, led by Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, has proposed the bill that bans phone recordings without the consent of everyone taking part in the conversation. Those who breach the law can face up to 10 years in prison, acco

Smartphones’ built-in call recorder essential for work efficiency, self-defense, some say

Cigarette manufacturers in South Korea will be required to strengthen health warnings on cigarette packaging starting in late December under a new government regulation, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Sunday. The ministry plans to distribute the updated manual for labeling health warnings on cigarette packaging Monday, as a follow-up to the government's tobacco industry regulation revision passed in June. The new regulation is to take effect Dec. 23. The manual requires companies t

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases dropped below 90,000 on Sunday, while the number of critically ill patients reached its highest level since late April. The country added 85,295 new COVID-19 infections, including 363 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 22,983,818, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. It marked a decline from 101,140 on Friday and 95,604 on Saturday. Daily cases fell as low as 59,028 on Monday but rebounded to above 100,000 throughout most of las

VATICAN -- Archbishop Lazzaro You Heung-sik became the fourth South Korean cardinal in an appointment ceremony at the Vatican on Saturday. You, 70, was sworn in at St. Peter's Basilica at 4 p.m. as one of 20 new cardinals appointed by Pope Francis. The appointment was announced in May. He was also among 16 cardinal electors under 80 years old, who are eligible to vote for the next pontiff in a secret conclave. You became the fourth Korean cardinal after the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, th

People are gathered around to enjoy a night time festival called Hangang Moon Light Market at the Han River's riverside park in Banpo district, Seocho-gu, Southern Seoul on Friday. The event, which has reopened after a nearly three-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, will run on Fridays and Saturdays between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. for a total of 10 times from Aug. 26 to Oct. 29., except for Chuseok holiday season. Some 40 food trucks and another 60 booths are operated by individual ve

A closer look at some peculiar consequences of a conviction

South Korea's new COVID-19 cases dropped below 100,000 on Saturday, while the number of critically ill patients reached the highest level since late April. The country added 95,604 new COVID-19 infections, including 398 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 22,898,523, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. It marked a decline from the previous day's 101,140 and the first time daily infections have fallen below 100,000 since Monday when there were 59,028 ne

Korea’s recent wave of COVID-19 cases appears to be waning, the local health authorities said Friday. On Friday, Korea saw 101,140 new case of COVID-19 and 575 patients were reported to be in serious condition. The daily death toll stood at 81. “This is the lowest number of daily confirmed cases for a Friday in four weeks,” Kim Seong-ho, an official from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said at a briefing held Friday. “We, however, cannot b

South Korea plans to take measures to stabilize the foreign exchange market in a timely manner if market volatility increases, driven by herd behavior or speculative bets in the currency market, a senior government official said Friday. The government will also buy back Treasury bonds and take steps to help curb a rise in bond yields, when needed, if the bond market shows jitters amid global rate hike drives, according to First Vice Finance Minister Bang Ki-sun. The finance ministry said the Sou

Police will increase the number of officers dispatched to international organizations to strengthen investigative capabilities amid a rising number of cross-border crimes, officials said Friday. Under the plan, more officers will be dispatched to various international organizations and law enforcement agencies, such as United Nations Peacekeeping and the International Criminal Police Organization, according to the National Police Agency (NPA). The NPA said it also plans to sign a business agreem

First lady Kim Keon-hee visited a funeral house in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday and paid condolences to a mother and her two daughters who were found dead earlier this week, after reportedly struggling with debt and illness. The mother, in her 60s, and her two daughters in their 40s apparently took their own lives after the family suffered from financial difficulties and serious illness, including cancer. Their marginalization from social welfare shocked the public. President Yoon Suk

South Korea will continue to require those entering the country to provide negative results of COVID-19 tests taken before entering the country. According to the central disaster response team, the measure will remain in place as the daily caseload remains high. The country currently requires travelers entering the country – both Korean and foreign nationals – to take a PCR test within 48 hours prior to arrival or a rapid antigen test within 24 hours prior to arrival. The Kore