The French ambassador to Korea on Tuesday appealed to South Korean investors to invest in France, as the country seeks to repair a coronavirus-ravaged economy and pave the way to make it more green, competitive and resilient by 2030. Introducing its 100 billion-euro ($118 billion) economic stimulus package announced in early September, Ambassador Philippe Lefort stressed that it would be a win-win opportunity for both sides to enhance cooperation, particularly in the fields of energy, green mo

Social Affairs Oct. 6, 2020

The South Korean government will decide whether or not to maintain the current level of social distancing rules this week, as the country’s daily virus cases hovered around 70 for the sixth consecutive day Tuesday.   　 High-risk facilities are required to remain closed and restrictions are placed on the size of gatherings both indoors and outdoors under the current Level 2 distancing regime in place nationwide until Sunday. The government designated the period from Sept. 28 to Oct.

Social Affairs Oct. 6, 2020

Health authorities on Monday confirmed there had been two cases of a rare inflammatory disease linked to coronavirus in South Korea. 　 The two children -- an 11-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy -- were admitted to hospitals and recovered from multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children earlier this year, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. 　 The 11-year-old boy, who had been staying in the Philippines from January to March, showed symptoms of a fever and stomachac

Social Affairs Oct. 5, 2020

South Korea reported double-digit gains in COVID-19 cases for the fourth consecutive day Sunday, though health authorities remain on alert over a potential rebound in infections after the Chuseok fall harvest holiday. 　 On Sunday, the last day of the extended Chuseok holiday, Korea added 64 new coronavirus cases, including 47 locally transmitted cases, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. 　T he country’s new daily COVID-19 case count had been under 100 for the pre

Social Affairs Oct. 4, 2020

It is the time of the year when migrant workers in South Korea feel the most homesick, as locals celebrate the Chuseok fall harvest holiday with their families. 　 As the coronavirus pandemic has brought the world to a standstill, many of them are stuck in this foreign country with neither an income nor a way out, missing their homes more than ever. 　 “I want to go back to my country. All my Nepalese friends say so too,” said Megh Thapa, 44, a Nepalese national. “But there ar

Social Affairs Sept. 29, 2020

South Korea’s new daily COVID-19 case count dropped to 50 Monday, the lowest in 48 days, as the country strives to prevent a rebound in coronavirus infections over the Chuseok holiday. 　 Of the 50 new COVID-19 cases reported in the 24 hours ending Sunday at midnight, 40 were locally transmitted and 10 were imported, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. 　 Health authorities, meanwhile, confirmed that three individuals in Korea had been infected with influenza and

Social Affairs Sept. 28, 2020

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Sunday appealed to South Koreans to refrain from visiting their hometowns during the upcoming Chuseok holiday to help rein in the coronavirus. He also renewed warnings against holding illegal rallies. 　 The country’s virus fight is to be put to the test during the extended holiday, which runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, when a mass movement of people could heighten the risk of community spread of COVID-19. The country recorded double-digit figures in daily ne

Social Affairs Sept. 27, 2020

Level 2 social distancing rules will remain in place across the nation over the long Chuseok holiday with tougher measures added, the government announced Friday, to prevent a rise in infections during the five-day period. Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo reiterated his calls for refraining from traveling and asked people to stay home during Chuseok, saying the country is at a critical juncture for the government’s antivirus fight. “The large outbreak of COVID-19 has bee

Social Affairs Sept. 25, 2020

South Korea reported more than 100 new COVID-19 cases for the second consecutive day Thursday, due to sporadic clusters of infections across the country, keeping health authorities on edge ahead of the Chuseok holiday. 　 Korea added 125 more COVID-19 cases -- 109 locally transmitted and 16 imported -- in the 24 hours ending Wednesday at midnight, pushing up the total caseload to 23,341, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. 　 Korea saw fewer than 100 new cases for thre

Social Affairs Sept. 24, 2020

The ASEAN-Korea Centre will organize its annual 2020 ASEAN Youth Career Mentorship on Saturday to support ASEAN students in building their future careers in South Korea. At the event, to be livestreamed at 11 a.m. on the center’s YouTube channel, Korean professionals as well as ASEAN mentors currently working in Korea are to share information on visa issues, job searching and career building. This year’s mentorship program, which has been held every year since 2017, is composed

Social Affairs Sept. 23, 2020

South Korea’s daily new coronavirus cases bounced back over 100 for Wednesday’s count, as sporadic clusters of infections and untraceable cases continue to strain health authorities’ virus containment efforts. 　 Korea counted 110 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency -- 99 locally transmitted and 11 imported. 　 The resurgence of COVID-19 here has been contained “considerably,” but it will take further time an

Social Affairs Sept. 23, 2020

　 South Korea’s daily new COVID-19 cases stayed below 100 for the third consecutive day, though authorities strive to bring the situation under control before the upcoming Chuseok holiday. Korea reported 61 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday -- 51 locally transmitted and 10 imported -- according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, who leads the country’s COVID-19 response, got tested for the coronavirus after one of his close aides t

Social Affairs Sept. 22, 2020

The trial began Monday for former and incumbent lawmakers of the then-main opposition Liberty Korea Party in connection with a mass brawl that broke out inside the National Assembly in April 2019 over the fast-tracking of major reform bills. Hwang Kyo-ahn, the Liberty Korea Party’s former chief, and Na Kyung-won, its former floor leader, denied all charges, denouncing the indictment as politically motivated and defending their actions as legitimate resistance against “unconstituti

Social Affairs Sept. 21, 2020

The government appears to be stuck over whether to extend the current level of tightened social distancing as daily coronavirus cases remain in the triple digits, and untraceable cases and sporadic clusters of infections weigh on its virus containment efforts. South Korea reported 176 new COVID-19 cases Friday -- 161 locally transmitted and 15 imported, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Friday that the government will annou

Social Affairs Sept. 11, 2020

A COVID-19 infection cluster that so far numbers 17 cases emerged at one of the country’s biggest general hospitals in Seoul on Thursday, as health authorities struggle to bring the number of infections nationwide below 100 per day.   　 Korea reported 155 new COVID-19 cases Thursday -- 141 locally transmitted and 14 imported, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The total caseload rose to 21,743.   　 Seventeen people from Severance Hospital’s

Social Affairs Sept. 10, 2020