South Korea on Monday extended special quarantine measures to cover arrivals from Europe, amid the surge in coronavirus cases in the region. 　 Previously six countries from the continent -- Italy, France, Germany, Spain, the UK and Netherlands -- were subject to tougher screening procedures. Similar measures have now been in place on arrivals from China, Japan, Iran, Hong Kong and Macao. 　 South Korean nationals and foreigners arriving from Europe are required to have their temperatures checke

The US has welcomed South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s proposal for leaders of the Group of 20 countries to hold a video conference to address the escalating coronavirus outbreak, according to Cheong Wa Dae on Sunday.  Korea’s national security adviser Chung Eui-yong spoke by phone with his US counterpart Robert O’Brien to discuss ways for the two allies to cooperate on handling COVID-19. During their conversation, Chung explained Moon’s idea for a special video

North Korean diplomat Choe Kang-il, an expert on US affairs, has been appointed as the new ambassador to Austria, replacing a son-in-law of the country’s founder Kim Il-sung, according to North’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.  Choe, a deputy director general for North American affairs at North Korea’s Foreign Ministry, has been part of nuclear talks with the US, including working-level negotiations ahead of US-North Korea summits in Singapore and Hanoi. He was

As South Korea grapples with a shortage of face masks during the prolonged novel coronavirus outbreak, a rather unconventional idea is being floated: using the shuttered Kaesong industrial park to produce masks for both Koreas. 　 The joint inter-Korean complex in North Korea’s border city of Kaesong, North Hwanghae Province, has the capacity to manufacture protective masks and reusable cotton masks to meet the needs of South Korea’s population of 51 million, according to Kim Jin-hy

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry raised the travel alert for two additional regions of Italy effective Monday, amid the fast-rising number of COVID-19 cases.  Seoul issued a “yellow warning,” which calls for travel restraint and is the third-highest in the country’s four-notch warning system, for Piedmont and Marche in Italy’s northwest and central east, respectively.  There are now five provinces in Italy with a “yellow warning,” including Lo

South Korea and Japan tightened border controls Monday over fears of the novel coronavirus, reigniting a long-standing spat.  Both countries suspended their 90-day visa waiver programs for each other, while deciding to invalidate visas already issued. Meanwhile, Japan mandates all visitors from Korea to go into quarantine for two weeks upon arrival. Seoul is also enforcing special entry procedures, including temperature checks and health examinations.  　 Flights between both countri

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry raised the travel alert for all regions of Japan on Saturday, amid growing concerns about the number of COVID-19 cases there.  Effective Monday Seoul advised “restraint,” representing the third level in the country’s four-notch warning system. A week ago it advised “caution,” a warning one notch lower.  The ministry cited growing concerns about the continued spread of the coronavirus in Japan and how it could affect

The World Health Organization on Friday (Geneva time) urged countries to “stand together” on COVID-19, in response to the renewed diplomatic row between Seoul and Tokyo over travel restrictions in response to the outbreak.  “COVID-19 is a common enemy,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters during a press briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Geneva. “And the only way we can beat this virus is when we stand together. …

South Korea on Friday expressed “extreme regret” over Japan’s entry restrictions imposed on its citizens over the novel coronavirus, and warned of “corresponding measures.”  　 Japan on Thursday announced that all arrivals from Korea will be put into two-week quarantine at designated facilities, while it has invalidated some visas already issued to travelers from here. It is also suspending a visa-waiver program for short stays, all effective from Monday. 　 It

A South Korean team on Thursday left for Vietnam to support more than 310 South Korean nationals quarantined there over fears of novel coronavirus. 　 　 “The most important thing is to help our citizens who want to return to Korea, through consultations with the Vietnamese authorities,” Kyun Jong-ho, who heads the 12-strong “rapid response” team, told reporters at Incheon International Airport before taking off in the morning. 　 Consisting of officials mostly from the F

Pyongyang’s propaganda media outlets lashed out at South Korea’s latest hit TV drama series and a film dealing with North Korea, calling them an “unacceptable and atrocious provocation.”   　 “Recently, South Korean authorities and film producers are releasing anti-republic films and TV dramas that are deceptive, fabricated, absurd and impure, putting all their efforts on making strategic propaganda,” the North said via an editorial published by online p

The chief of South Korea’s National Health Insurance Service described the Japanese government’s handling of the novel coronavirus crisis as “political,” with the upcoming Tokyo Olympics at stake. 　 Kim Yong-ik, president of the NHIS, said the number of infections in the neighboring country could be much higher than reported and that Japan is “not testing enough.” 　 “If a country does not test and diagnose, COVID-19 will be passed over as a cold, and

Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday it will continue to work for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit here in the first half of the year, while admitting the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak could affect his trip. 　 The ministry has submitted a policy briefing to President Moon Jae-in in writing, not through a face-to-face session, due to the virus outbreak here. It laid out policies for this year that include high-level exchanges with partner countries and strengthening inter-

The number of COVID-19 cases in South Korea is fast approaching 5,000 and paints a rather peculiar picture of patient demographics: 20-somethings make up the biggest age bracket, and women clearly outnumber men.  　 According to data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the country’s total 4,812 confirmed cases as of Tuesday afternoon, people in their 20s accounted for 29.4 percent, or 1,417 cases, followed by those in their 50s at 19.8 percent (952 cases).

Gripped by the rapid spike in coronavirus cases here, international exchange programs are being cut short and overseas students are returning home. 　 Breanna Morgan, a 19-year-old student at the University of Alabama, arrived in Seoul just five days ago when she found out she had to leave. Last week, her US-based program provider, International Studies Abroad, notified her and some 70 Americans that their semester abroad program at Korea University was suspended due to concerns about the COVID