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Jun Ji-hye

Korea Times Finance Reporter

Hello, I am Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at The Korea Times. I primarily cover financial authorities and write articles on a wide range of topics related to finance and capital markets. If you have any information to share, feel free to email me at jjh@koreatimes.co.kr, and I will review it carefully. I am committed to always doing my best to communicate with readers through high-quality articles.

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Health

Korea facing shortage of hospital beds amid 3rd wave of infections

Students and teachers at a high school in Sejong City wait in line to go through COVID-19 testing, Friday, as several infections were reported there.By Jun Ji-hyeThe health authorities and experts here are raising concerns over a potential shortage of hospital beds to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients as new daily cases continue to surge amid a third wave of infections.Experts say the country could face a shortage of intensive care beds in a few weeks if the spike in the number of coronavirus patients continues. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Friday, the nation added 569 infections including 525 locally transmitted cases for Thursday, raising the total caseload to 32,887. The new daily cases exceeded 500 for the second straight day.Sohn Young-rae, a senior official at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said the number of critically ill patients was 77 as of Friday, and among them, elderly patients accounted for about 20 percent.“There are still 100 hospital beds available for serious cases as of Friday. The situation is okay for now,

Nov 27, 2020By Jun Ji-hye
Korea facing shortage of hospital beds amid 3rd wave of infections
  • Military bans troops from vacationing, off-base trips over virus
  • Number of weekday moviegoers falls amid worsening pandemic
Health

Hike in COVID-19 cases may paralyze response system

A bus to carry COVID-19 patients stands by in front of the boot camp of the Army's 5th Infantry Division in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday, as nearly 70 infections were reported there.COVID-19 cases exceed 500 for 1st time since MarchBy Jun Ji-hyeConcerns are growing that the country's response system for controlling COVID-19 infections and treating virus patients is reaching its limits amid an explosive increase in new daily cases as the nation fights a third round of the pandemic.Experts said Thursday that the speed of virus transmission appears to have accelerated beyond that of the epidemiological investigations and antivirus measures being conducted by the health authorities. This has resulted in a continuous rise in new daily cases from the 100 range to the 300 range and eventually to the 500 range in recent weeks. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the nation added 583 infections including 553 locally transmitted cases for Wednesday, raising the total caseload to 32,318. This was a sharp rise from 382 identified the day before.The numb

Nov 26, 2020By Jun Ji-hye
Hike in COVID-19 cases may paralyze response system
  • Military to ban all troops from vacationing, off-installation trips over virus fears
  • Calls growing for stronger virus curbs
  • COVID-19 cases over 500 for 2nd day
Travel & Food

Hotel Lobby

By Jun Ji-hyeInterContinental Seoul COEX offers winter packages With the winter season fast approaching, InterContinental Seoul COEX is presenting two types of winter packages for guests to choose from.Guests can select between “Afternoon Tea” and “Wonder Hour” which are held at The Lobby Lounge on the ground floor of the hotel, and enjoy it during an overnight stay at the hotel. The Afternoon Tea package includes The Lobby Lounge's afternoon tea set made from seasonal ingredients. Chestnut opera, persimmon mousse, mugwort “injeolmi” (rice cake) rolls and various other desserts as well as sandwiches are served with coffee or tea. The Wonder Hour package offers a voucher for two that provides unlimited wine, drinks and food during the night hours. As the promotion offers three types of beer and 10 types of wine ― with no limit on consumption ― and also includes 30 types of snacks, it is a good choice for joyful year-end gatherings. Both packages are available until Dec. 30 excluding Dec. 24 and 25.All guests

Nov 26, 2020By Jun Ji-hye
Hotel Lobby
Travel & Food

1 in 2 Koreans say quality of travel depends on items they pack

By Jun Ji-hyeChoi Joo-na, a 32-year-old office worker in Seoul, never forgets to pack her Polaroid camera and instant film into her luggage whenever going on a trip. For her, the Polaroid camera is a medium that records the moments and joy of her trip as well as being an inanimate travel companion.“I want to capture my enjoyment of the trip through instant analog photography as I believe this heightens the experience and moments during my trip,” she said.Like Choi, 55 percent of Korean millennial travelers believe that the quality of their experiences during the trip can vary depending on the travel items they pack with them, according to a recent survey conducted by global online travel agency Expedia.The company surveyed 300 Koreans aged between 20 and 39 from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5, focusing on what they considered “essential” items for their travel and the reasons behind this.In the survey, nine out of 10 respondents said they have their own special travel items they always pack with them, and nearly 30 percent have felt these items to be like actual travel co

Nov 25, 2020By Jun Ji-hye
1 in 2 Koreans say quality of travel depends on items they pack
Health

Tourism sector sinking into bottomless pit amid prolonged pandemic

The office of a tour company in central Seoul is almost empty in this photo taken on Oct. 5 as most of its employees have been on unpaid leave amid plummeting demand for travel caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeThe tourism industry is suffering an unprecedented crisis caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Travel companies, hotels and airlines are laying off employees or having workers take unpaid leave, as no one is able to predict when the crisis will be over and they will be able to return to work.According to Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) data, Tuesday, the workforce at the country's six listed travel companies has decreased by 7.8 percent, or 400, to 4,758 as of the end of September compared to the end of last year, due mainly to worsening business performances. Staff at the nation's largest tour agency HanaTour and runner-up Modetour Network have been reduced by 5.8 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively, while smaller firms, Yellow Balloon Tour and Redcap Tour, have seen 13.6 percent and 10.8 percent decreases in the number of employees.

Nov 24, 2020By Jun Ji-hye
Tourism sector sinking into bottomless pit amid prolonged pandemic
  • Talks on third relief fund begin
Society

K-water seeking to nurture startups in water industry

By Jun Ji-hyeThe Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-water) is seeking to foster water industry innovation by nurturing promising startups to ensure safe and clean water supply to every household here.Toward that goal, the state-run company held a contest together with the Ministry of Environment, dubbed Startup Water 2020, in Seoul, Friday, during which time individuals and startups presented their innovative ideas to develop businesses in the water industry.The contest was aimed at discovering promising future technologies that can be commercialized and serve as new growth engines for the industry.K-water said 528 participants including university students have submitted 226 kinds of ideas, technologies and products in the three months since June. Among those, the 100-member evaluation group selected 18 projects that can contribute to digital transformation in water quality management, resolving water shortages and preventing flood damage and water pollution. Among them, eight excellent projects were showcased during Friday's event. K-water said winners will be offered prize money total

Nov 22, 2020By Jun Ji-hye
K-water seeking to nurture startups in water industry
Health

Korea to raise social distancing level to curb mass outbreaks

The street near Yonsei University and Sogang University, which is usually bustling with young people, is quiet Sunday after the universities reported COVID-19 infections. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeThe government decided to raise the social distancing level in Seoul and surrounding areas by one notch to Level 2 beginning Tuesday, to prevent another wave of COVID-19 infections, as new daily cases are expected to continue surging in the coming weeks, according to Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo, Sunday.The government also decided to elevate the distancing scheme in Gwangju and North and South Jeolla provinces to Level 1.5 as these regions have seen a rapid increase in the number of virus patients.These measures will be applied for two weeks until Dec. 7 at the earliest.“The decision was made in consideration of the rapid spread of COVID-19 infections ahead of winter months,” Park said during a media briefing after the government meeting on COVID-19 response.The government's decision to enhance social distancing measures came only three days after it enforced tightened

Nov 22, 2020By Jun Ji-hye
Korea to raise social distancing level to curb mass outbreaks
  • Police investigate disinformation, data breaches related to COVID-19
Companies

Customer anxiety rises about Korean Air's takeover of Asiana

Passenger planes of the country's top flag carrier Korean Air and No. 2 carrier Asiana Airlines are parked at Incheon International Airport, Tuesday, a day after Korean Air announced a decision to take over its smaller local rival. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeCustomers are raising concerns about the possible impact of Korean Air's planned takeover of its smaller local rival Asiana Airlines as, if completed, the acquisition will grant the national flag carrier a dominant market position here that could lead to a rise in prices. Those who have used Asiana Airlines' membership reward program are also worried about the fate of their mileage points after the No. 2 carrier is acquired by Korean Air. On Monday, Korean Air and its holding company Hanjin KAL announced they would acquire the cash-strapped Asiana with the help of the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB). If successful, Korea will have one mega airline that dominates the country's aviation industry and ranks within the global top 10.Given that the decision was made amid deepening financial difficulties in the aviation industry due to

Nov 18, 2020By Jun Ji-hye
Customer anxiety rises about Korean Air's takeover of Asiana
  • No massive layoffs: Korean Air
Health

Winter may bring bigger COVID-19 challenges in Korea

A public health center in Seoul's Dongdaemun District is crowded by citizens waiting for COVID-19 testing, Friday. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeHealth experts and the authorities here are raising concerns that the upcoming winter months could bring a more serious phase of the COVID-19 pandemic if the government fails to control the spread of the coronavirus as cases have begun rising by triple digits day after day.They said winter would offer a favorable environment for the new coronavirus to spread as it is known to be more virulent in cold, dry weather, and people gather more in confined spaces during the season. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the country added 191 more COVID-19 infections for Thursday, 162 of which were local cases, raising the total caseload to 28,133.The daily caseload, the highest in nearly two months, marked a triple-digit growth for the sixth consecutive day amid an increase in the number of both locally transmitted cases and those imported from overseas. Concerns over further outbreaks are mounting as COVID-19 cases have been ri

Nov 13, 2020By Jun Ji-hye
Winter may bring bigger COVID-19 challenges in Korea
  • Government to put all efforts in securing COVID-19 vaccines
Health

Cheonan call center facing lawsuit over COVID-19 outbreak

Citizens in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, wait their turn to go through COVID-19 testing at a public health center, Thursday, as infections reported in the region were traced to a call center. YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeThe Shinhan Life Insurance and Shinhan Card call center in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, which has produced a cluster of at least 30 COVID-19 infections, is facing a lawsuit over its negligence in complying with antivirus guidelines aimed at stemming the spread of the contagious disease.Local government and health authority officials said Friday that they found out during their on-the-spot survey that the call center workers were not even following basic measures such as wearing face masks and keeping a distance between them. “The call center workers are believed to have been in a poor working environment as there was no proper ventilation system, either,” a Cheonan City official said. “Neglecting antivirus guidelines resulted in the infections there. We are considering filing a lawsuit against those in charge of the call center.”Call cen

Nov 6, 2020By Jun Ji-hye
Cheonan call center facing lawsuit over COVID-19 outbreak
  • Gov't to maintain lowest level of social distancing despite concerns
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