The Korea Times

K-water joins Ukraine reconstruction as follow-up action to Yoon's promises

An Jung-ho, left, chief management officer of the Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-water), attends an MOU signing ceremony between K-water and UHE in Liverpool, England, Wednesday (local time). Right is Andriy Nikolayenko, a member of Ukraine's parliament. Courtesy of Korea Water Resources Corp.By Jun Ji-hyeThe Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-water) has become the first Korean public institution to join reconstruction projects for Ukraine, paving the way for enhanced cooperation between the two nations. The state-owned company said, Thursday, that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ukrhydroenergo (UHE), the Ukrainian state-owned hydropower generating company, in Liverpool, England, Wednesday (local time).The MOU is part of follow-up measures for President Yoon Suk Yeol promises of assistance to Ukraine during his visit to the war-torn country on July 15, after his three-day official visit to Poland. At the time, President Yoon said he agreed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to provide a comprehensive package of security, humanitarian and reconstruction assist

Jul 27, 2023By Jun Ji-hye

K-water joins Ukraine reconstruction as follow-up action to Yoon's promises

Politics

Gov't faces growing calls to overhaul parent-teacher communication channels

A girl passes by a wall filled with messages of condolence at an elementary school in Seoul's Seocho District, Wednesday, where a teacher in her 20s took her own life inside her classroom, July 18. Yonhap'I get phone calls from parents late at night and even on weekends'By Jun Ji-hyeThe government is facing growing calls to improve channels of communication between parents and teachers after a young elementary school teacher committed suicide inside her classroom recently, shedding light on the suffering of many educators from excessive complaints made by demanding parents.Teachers' unions said Wednesday that instructors, under the current system, have to handle parents' complaints on their own, because they often air grievances through text messages or calls made directly to the educators.This has raised the need to create a separate communication channel, such as an official email address, to deal with inquiries or complaints by parents, in order to free teachers from handling a torrent of messages.Others urged the government to develop a mobile application that can let teachers an

Jul 26, 2023By Jun Ji-hye

Gov't faces growing calls to overhaul parent-teacher communication channels

Politics

Korea ready to welcome 43,000 young Scouts from around globe

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook speaks during a media conference at the Government Complex in Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapWorld Scout Jamboree to open Aug. 1 with K-pop performances featuring IVE, StayC, NmixxBy Jun Ji-hyeKorea has finalized preparations for the 25th World Scout Jamboree that will bring together over 43,000 teenagers from 150 countries, Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Hyun-sook said, Tuesday, with only a week left before the event kicks off.The world's largest youth camp, which is held every four years, will take place from Aug. 1 to 12 on reclaimed land at Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, and aims at offering a chance for young people from around the world to learn about each other's cultures and build friendships.Minster Kim said during a media conference that the construction of water supply and sewage systems, temporary sewage disposal plants and parking lots as well as shower and toilet facilities have been completed. “A large venue where opening and closing ceremonies, as well as K-pop performances, will take place, Jamboree hospi

Jul 25, 2023By Jun Ji-hye

Korea ready to welcome 43,000 young Scouts from around globe

Health

Health authorities warn of infectious diseases transmitted from overseas

Check-in counters at Incheon International Airport are crowded, June 20. NewsisBy Jun Ji-hyeHealth authorities urged people to guard against infectious diseases transmitted from other countries, as the number of cases of such diseases, including malaria, has risen by more than five times year-on-year amid increasing overseas travel following the easing of many rules and regulations put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said Tuesday that the number of cases of seven infectious diseases transmitted from overseas stood at 145 as of July 15, up by 27 from a year earlier. The seven diseases are shigellosis, cholera, measles, dengue fever, chikungunya fever, zika virus disease and malaria. In particular, cases of shigellosis, measles and zika virus disease were zero last year, but rose to 15, four and one this year, respectively.Shigellosis and cholera are water- or food-borne diseases. The KDCA said people should refrain from drinking unsanitary water or eating raw food, and wash hands frequently while traveling. Measles is a resp

Jul 25, 2023By Jun Ji-hye

Health authorities warn of infectious diseases transmitted from overseas

Society

Teachers demoralized by indiscriminate reporting of child abuse

A woman mourns at a memorial altar in Seoul's Seocho District, Monday, for an elementary school teacher who took her own life inside her classroom on July 18. YonhapPresident orders guidelines to protect teachers' rights, enhance their authorityBy Jun Ji-hyeTeachers across the country have been suffering from increasing accusations of child abuse filed by parents or students against them.Teachers and unions said Monday that most of these cases resulted from their attempts to guide students, citing an example of one teacher who was accused of child abuse after grabbing the arms of a pupil to stop a fight with a classmate.Once a child abuse report is filed, a teacher faces months of being investigated by police and prosecutors until they are cleared of suspicion. This makes them lose confidence considerably, with some of them giving up guiding students or leaving schools altogether.The suffering of teachers came to the fore following the recent death of an elementary school teacher in Seoul's affluent Seocho District who took her own life inside her classroom on July 18.Although the po

Jul 24, 2023By Jun Ji-hye

Teachers demoralized by indiscriminate reporting of child abuse

Yoon calls for devising guidelines to protect teachers' rights

Health

COVID-19 resurgence poised to grip Korea

A medical worker at a COVID-19 testing center in Daegu puts an ice pack on her neck to cool off, July 6. YonhapGovernment's plan to fully lift indoor mask mandate raises concernsBy Jun Ji-hyeCOVID-19 is showing signs of a resurgence in Korea as the numbers of daily new cases have increased for three consecutive weeks to reach over 30,000. The number of patients who were diagnosed with or suspected of having seasonal influenza has also risen in recent weeks, which is considered unprecedented, given that epidemics of influenza usually break out in winter.Amid the so-called “twindemic” of COVID-19 and the flu, health experts raised concerns over the government's plan to fully lift the remaining indoor mask rules as early as next month. According to the latest data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the number of new COVID-19 patients increased 22.2 percent to 186,953 in the second week of July from the previous week. The daily average of new infections for that week was tallied at 26,708, up from 21,857 the previous week. In particular, the daily ca

Jul 23, 2023By Jun Ji-hye

COVID-19 resurgence poised to grip Korea

Society

Teachers exposed to abuse and assault at schools due to lack of protection

A student lays flowers in front of an elementary school in Seoul's Seocho District, Thursday, to offer condolences to a teacher who took her own life in a classroom on Tuesday. YonhapCases of violence by students against teachers more than doubled since 2018By Jun Ji-hyeAn elementary school teacher in Seoul took her own life recently, apparently unable to handle complaints from demanding parents. Also grabbing headlines was another incident where an elementary school student assaulted his teacher, causing her to require medical treatment. Those incidents have shed light on a lack of support and protection for teachers from abuse and assault.Teachers' unions claimed that the two incidents are just the latest in a series of cases showing how seriously the rights of educators are being infringed upon. On Tuesday morning, the elementary school teacher in Seoul's affluent Seocho District took her own life inside her classroom, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. The death of the teacher, who was in her 20s, triggered a torrent of rumors in online communities that she

Jul 20, 2023By Jun Ji-hye

Teachers exposed to abuse and assault at schools due to lack of protection

School teacher's death sparks calls for improved educator protections, education reforms

Health

Incheon recognizes physician-founded startup for job creation

Chung Jun-won, right, professor of gastroenterology at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, poses with Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, center, after being awarded a plaque from the city government at Incheon City Hall on July 11. The city honored startup CAIMI for its contribution in creating jobs this year. Courtesy of Gachon University Gil Medical CenterBy Jun Ji-hyeA medical instruments startup founded by Chung Jun-won, professor of Gachon University Gil Medical Center, has been selected as this year's excellent company by Incheon Metropolitan City in recognition of its contribution to creating jobs. According to Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Thursday, Chung, professor of the Gastroenterology Division, founded the startup CAIMI, in 2020.CAIMI, which stands for creative artificial intelligence (AI) and medical instruments, specializes in innovative medical equipment incorporating AI technology.The firm is located at the Incheon Startup Park in Songdo where the Incheon Free Economic Zone is located. Chung assumes the CEO post of the company which currently has 10 employees. Ch

Jul 20, 2023By Jun Ji-hye

Incheon recognizes physician-founded startup for job creation

Politics

Next year's hourly minimum wage raised 2.5% to 9,860 won

Jeong Yong-jae, left, a senior official at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, protests after the next year's hourly minimum wage was set at 9,860 won at the Minimum Wage Commission meeting at the Government Complex in Sejong, Wednesday. YonhapLabor, business circles both unhappy about new wage hikeBy Jun Ji-hyeThe hourly minimum wage for next year was set at 9,860 won ($7.8), a 2.5 percent increase from this year, the Minimum Wage Commission said, Wednesday, after the conclusion of marathon talks.The new minimum wage translates into a monthly pay of nearly 2.07 million won, up from 2.02 million this year.Both labor and business circles criticized the new minimum wage ― the former slammed it for failing to reflect inflation, while the latter claimed the hike will increase the burden of personnel expenses faced by businesses.The Minimum Wage Commission reached the decision at its 15th meeting that started Tuesday afternoon and continued through early Wednesday morning. The commission was originally composed of 27 members ― nine each representing the public's interest, businesses

Jul 19, 2023By Jun Ji-hye

Next year's hourly minimum wage raised 2.5% to 9,860 won

Politics

Korea files appeal against ruling to compensate Elliott

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon speaks during a media conference at the Government Complex in Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapJustice minister says PCA ruling goes against Korea-US FTABy Jun Ji-hyeKorea has filed a suit asking a court in Britain to cancel an order by an international tribunal to pay nearly $108 million (136 billion won) to U.S.-based hedge fund Elliott Investment Management, Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon said Tuesday. The case involves a protracted dispute caused by the controversial 2015 merger of two Samsung Group affiliates ― Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries. The merger was widely seen as aimed at solidifying Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong's management grip over the family-controlled conglomerate.The minister's announcement came about a month after Korea was ordered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Netherlands to pay nearly $54 million plus interest in compensation to Elliott for an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) suit that the New York-based activist fund filed in 2018.“The ruling goes against the FTA signed between Korea and the Unite

Jul 18, 2023By Jun Ji-hye

Jun Ji-hye

Read more

K-water joins Ukraine reconstruction as follow-up action to Yoon's promises

Gov't faces growing calls to overhaul parent-teacher communication channels

Korea ready to welcome 43,000 young Scouts from around globe

Health authorities warn of infectious diseases transmitted from overseas

Teachers demoralized by indiscriminate reporting of child abuse

COVID-19 resurgence poised to grip Korea

Teachers exposed to abuse and assault at schools due to lack of protection

Incheon recognizes physician-founded startup for job creation

Next year's hourly minimum wage raised 2.5% to 9,860 won

Korea files appeal against ruling to compensate Elliott

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