New clusters of infections linked to churches in the populated Seoul metropolitan area are keeping Korea’s health authorities on their toes, as the country reported 20 new infections Friday. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nine of the new cases were locally transmitted -- six in Seoul and three in the surrounding Gyeonggi Province. The remaining 11 were imported. The total caseload rose to 14,519. A new cluster of infections was found at a church in

More than 2,500 people have been displaced from a week of heavy rain in much of the country, leading the government to designate seven hard-hit areas as special disaster zones. President Moon Jae-in declared Chungju, Jaecheon and Umseong in North Chungcheong Province and Asan in South Chungcheong Province as well as Anseong in Gyeonggi Province and Cheorwon in Gangwon Province emergency disaster zones, allowing them to receive state aid and other necessary support. When designated as special

South Korea’s Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Friday hailed the country’s effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, citing this year’s sustainable development report by a team of international experts that put the country at No. 1 among OECD countries. “Such feedback (on Korea’s response to the pandemic) on a global forum is due to the dedication by our medical professionals and cooperation by members of the public,” he said at a pangovernmental meeting

South Korea’s trainee doctors went on a one-day strike Friday, in protest against the government’s plan to increase the number of medical students in the country. No major disruptions in medical services were reported, as affected hospitals mobilized alternative health workers including clinical doctors and medical professors to fill the absence of interns and resident doctors at intensive care units, surgery and emergency rooms. The government laid out a plan to increase the num

South Korea's new virus cases fell sharply on Friday as local infections grew again in a single-digit figure. But new cluster infections at restaurants and churches are still straining the country's anti-virus fight. The country added 20 cases, including nine local infections, raising the total caseload to 14,519, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). On Thursday, the new virus cases rose above 40 for the first time since July 29, when the figure reached 4

A shelter booth designed to protect passengers from sunlight, dust and even from viruses while waiting for a bus to arrive was unveiled on the streets of Seoul.  Starting Wednesday, the Seongdong-gu District Office runs smart bus shelters at its 10 busiest bus stations in the district to improve the public transit experience in and around the bus stop.  The district is the first to introduce a bus shelter equipped with ultraviolet light air sterilizers for preventing transmission of

Trainee doctors at hospitals on Friday launched a one-day strike in protest of the government's medical workforce reform plan, but there was no major disruptions reported as hospitals mobilized alternative health workers. The Korean Intern Resident Association (KIRA), a group of interns and resident doctors, began the 24-hour walkout earlier in the day in opposition to the government's plan to raise admission quotas at medical schools. Around 70 percent of the group's 16,000 members took part

Jara and Nami islands -- two popular tourist attractions near Seoul -- have been submerged as water levels rose following the recent downpour that battered South Korea's central region. The islands, both located by Bukhan River, were flooded in the early hours of Thursday as more than 600 millimeters of rain dropped on Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province and water was discharged from Soyang River Dam, quickly driving up water levels. Officials removed movable facilities after the government announced

Five-star hotel-turned-quarantine site coronavirus-proofed for arriving travelers

Even after a vaccine is developed, there will be no immediate change to antivirus rules, as people will still have to wear masks and maintain social distancing, health authorities said Thursday. 　 “At this point, what I want to stress is that after a safe vaccine is secured sufficiently and administered safely, there will be a no change in everyday quarantine,” KCDC Deputy Director Kwon Jun-wook said at a briefing Thursday. “No vaccine can guarantee 100 percent safety (agains

Five more American service members and one Department of Defense civilian employee tested positive for the new coronavirus upon their arrivals in South Korea, the US Forces Korea (USFK) said Thursday. The service members arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, on US government chartered flights, while the civilian arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of the capital, on a commercial flight, it said. Five of them tested positive on their first mandatory COVID-19 test p

As casualties and damages surge, officials look to provide support with more budget and designations

Publc parks along the Han River in Seoul were closed on Thursday due to heavy rain that hit the capital and central parts of the country. A flood advisory was issued in the morning for the Han River for the first time in nine years as up to 18,000 tons of water per second were discharged from Paldang Dam in the upper part of the river. The city government shut down all 11 riverside parks, including Jamsil, Yeouido and Nanji parks. The office in charge of managing Han River environs asked c

Young doctors plan to walk off job Friday to protest government’s health reforms

Jeju Island experienced its hottest-ever tropical night Wednesday, with an overnight low temperature of 29.7 degrees Celsius. The figure is the highest nighttime low recorded for the island since data was first compiled in 1973. The island’s previous record was 29.4 degrees Celsius on July 23, 2017. From 6 p.m. Wednesday to 3 a.m. Thursday, Jeju Island’s temperatures ranged between 31 and 33 degrees Celsius. The morning temperature was around 30 degrees Celsius until 8:30 a.m. bu