The National Health Insurance has spent over 6.9 billion won ($5.8 million) on treatments received by ineligible Koreans living overseas over the past six years, data showed Tuesday. According to data released by Rep. Kang Gi-yun of the main opposition United Future Party, just over 6.9 billion won was spent on treatments received by overseas-based Koreans from 2015 until July this year. The National Health Insurance Act states that national health insurance coverage is withdrawn when an in

Social Affairs Aug. 25, 2020

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday called for an “extraordinary economic response” to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Moon said the resurgence of COVID-19 has placed the country’s economy and its efforts to contain the virus in jeopardy. “If phase two social distancing is prolonged, economic difficulties will grow. An extraordinary economic response is required,” Moon said. In an apparent reference to the controversy

Politics Aug. 25, 2020

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Monday met with representatives of the Korean Medical Association, continuing the efforts to resolve the conflict between the government and medical professionals. Going into the meeting, Chung voiced concerns about the impact the doctors’ planned strike will have on the fight against the pandemic, and pledged to discuss contested issues with medical professionals.  “If the Korean Medical Association goes ahead with mass closing, patients wi

Social Affairs Aug. 24, 2020

The Korea International Cooperation Agency, or KOICA, said Friday that the Green Climate Fund has granted $5 million for its Fiji Agrophotovoltaic Program. The Fiji Agrophotovoltaic Program combines solar power generation with agriculture as part of the Fijian government’s drive to fight climate change and to switch fully to renewable power sources by 2035. According to KOICA, Fiji is one of the 10 countries that are most vulnerable to natural disasters, and climate change threatens t

Social Affairs Aug. 22, 2020

President Moon Jae-in on Friday called on the government to deal sternly with attempts to hinder quarantine efforts saying that the country is facing its biggest crisis in the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking with Seoul metropolitan government officials, Moon said that some are using physical force and fake news to hinder quarantine efforts, and urged the city to use all means at its disposal to counter such developments. Moon was referring to the actions of members of the Sarang Jeil Church and

Social Affairs Aug. 21, 2020

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is in a coma, and his decision to delegate some of his power to his aides is proof, a former aide to the late President Kim Dae-jung claimed Friday.  Jang Sung-min, who served Kim Dae-jung as a political affairs secretary and as head of the state affairs monitoring office, insisted that Kim Jong-un is comatose but his sister Kim Yo-jong is not his successor despite the power restructuring. On Friday, Seoul’s spy agency briefed lawmakers in a cl

North Korea Aug. 21, 2020

A top Chinese official will arrive in South Korea on Friday to discuss a range of bilateral issues, including the matter of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit. Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, is set to arrive in Busan at the invitation of Suh Hoon, the head of South Korea’s National Security Office. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Suh will meet with Yang on Saturday morning and the two will continue t

Foreign Affairs Aug. 21, 2020

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has transferred some of his powers to others, entrusting oversight of different aspects of state affairs to his closest aides, according to Seoul’s National Intelligence Service. Among them, his sister Kim Yo-jong is said to have been recognized as second in command within the North’s power structure. Although the North has traditionally recognized no authority other than the supreme ruler, currently Kim Jong-un, Kim Yo-jong’s rising status h

North Korea Aug. 21, 2020

Rumors that the government is manipulating COVID-19 test results and that the virus is being used for political purposes are spreading among conservative groups, hampering the fight against the pandemic. “They are manipulating the numbers (of confirmed COVID-19 patients) to their benefit,” a 60-year old housewife said, declining to be named. “I heard that 2,000 people tested positive in Seoul the other day, but they are announcing smaller numbers because it (large numbers)

Social Affairs Aug. 20, 2020

Yang Jiechi, a senior Chinese government official, will visit Busan this week to discuss issues, including Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to South Korea. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Yang -- a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China -- will visit Busan on a two-day trip from Friday on invitation from Suh Hoon, chief of the presidential national security office. This is Yang’s first visit to Korea since July 2018, and his first meeting with Suh after S

Foreign Affairs Aug. 19, 2020

Ruling Democratic Party leadership contender Rep. Lee Nak-yon announced Wednesday that he was free of the novel coronavirus. Lee is a former prime minister and is considered one of the ruling bloc’s most promising presidential candidates. In a statement, Lee said he was given the negative test results at about 10:10 a.m. on Wednesday, and that he will follow the National Medical Center’s guidelines on resuming public activities. Lee was tested for the virus Tuesday after learn

Politics Aug. 19, 2020

A COVID-19 patient who ran away from a hospital was apprehended in the early hours of Wednesday. The man, in his 50s, was confirmed to have the coronavirus after attending a service at the Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul. He was apprehended at about 1:15 a.m. at a coffee shop in Sinchon, Seoul, after running away from the hospital in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, 25 hours earlier. It has been reported that there were about 40 people at the coffee shop when the man was taken into custody. His mot

Social Affairs Aug. 19, 2020

Ruling Democratic Party leadership contender Rep. Lee Nak-yon has been tested for the new coronavirus and gone into self-isolation after coming into indirect contact with an infected individual. Lee is a former prime minister and is considered one of the ruling bloc’s most promising presidential candidates. According to a social media post from Lee, the indirect contact occurred at the radio station of the local broadcaster CBS, where he appeared on a show immediately after an individ

Social Affairs Aug. 19, 2020

President Moon Jae-in could meet with Kim Chong-in, the interim leader of the main opposition United Future Party, in a one-on-one meeting if necessary, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday. Kim, whose party earlier rejected the offer, told reporters that he is open to meeting Moon if the agenda and format of the meeting are satisfactory. Moon’s senior political affairs secretary Choi Jae-sung on Tuesday welcomed Kim’s remarks and said he hoped talks could begin soon between the presidenti

Politics Aug. 18, 2020

The main opposition party has come under fire after some of its members joined a rally against Moon Jae-in that was held in defiance of disease control orders and was also attended by Jun Gwang-hun, a right-wing pastor who has been leading a campaign against President Moon Jae-in. In response to the ruling party criticisms, leaders of the opposition United Future Party sought to distance themselves from Jun and the rally. The pastor, who faces charges of election law violations, tested posit

Politics Aug. 18, 2020