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Lee Hyo-jin

Korea Times Finance Reporter

Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.

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Health

Migrant human rights groups denounce excessive use of force at immigration detention center

A Moroccan man is detained ― on his stomach with his feet and hands tied behind his back and with his head bound in protective head gear ― in solitary confinement at Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center in Gyeonggi Province, in this video footage taken in June. Courtesy of Duroo Association for Public Interest LawBy Lee Hyo-jin Civic groups for the human rights of migrants and foreign nationals here have denounced immigration authorities for the excessive use of force against a detainee at an immigration detention center, calling for punishment of those responsible and measures to prevent any recurrence. A coalition of these groups held a press conference, Wednesday, in front of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, calling for immediate release of the detainee, while demanding apologies from the head of Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center and the justice minister.A Moroccan man in his 30s, who has been detained at Hwaseong Detention Center in Gyeonggi Province for over six months, has been subject to inhumane treatment there, according to the groups.An immigration detent

Sep 29, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Migrant human rights groups denounce excessive use of force at immigration detention center
Health

Vaccinations to pick up pace next month

People are monitored for possible side effects after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Mapo District of Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin Korea's nationwide COVID-19 vaccination program is expected to pick up pace in October, as the government plans to expand inoculations to people who have yet to receive a single dose.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced Monday the inclusion of children aged between 12 and 17, along with pregnant women in its vaccination list for the fourth quarter. Starting Oct. 18, teenagers aged between 12 and 17, or those born between 2004 and 2009, will receive the Pfizer vaccine. The reservation system for children aged 16 and 17 will be open from Oct. 5 to 29, while appointments for those aged between 12 and 15 can be made from Oct. 18 through Nov. 12.The government also plans to roll out vaccinations for 136,000 pregnant women from mid-October. They will be administered with mRNA vaccines Moderna or Pfizer. Since the vaccination campaign kicked off on Feb. 26, 38.09 million people, or 75 percent of the p

Sep 28, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Vaccinations to pick up pace next month
  • New cases in 2,000s for 3rd day; infections resurge in non-greater Seoul
Health

Korea aims to fully vaccinate 80% of adults by end of October

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong, right, speaks during a briefing on the government's vaccination plan for the fourth quarter at the KDCA office in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Monday. YonhapBooster shots to start with high-risk groupsBy Lee Hyo-jin Korea aims to fully vaccinate 80 percent of its adult population and 90 percent of the elderly population aged 60 and older by the end of October, in preparation for a gradual shift to a “live with COVID-19” era.The COVID-19 Vaccination Task Force, under the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), unveiled its inoculation plan for the fourth quarter Monday, which includes the inoculation of children aged between 12 and 17, along with pregnant women.The health authorities plan to increase the rate of fully vaccinated individuals aged 18 and older to 80 percent, up from the current 53 percent; and fully immunize 90 percent of the elderly population by then, up from current 87 percent. As part of its efforts to speed up the administration of second doses, the go

Sep 27, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea aims to fully vaccinate 80% of adults by end of October
  • 9 out of 10 Koreans believe ending COVID-19 impossible
Health

Owners of unregistered dogs to face fines from October

gettyimagesbankBy Lee Hyo-jin Starting in October, owners who have not registered their pet dogs will face a fine of up to 600,000 won ($510).The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced Sunday that it will launch a crackdown from Oct. 1 on dog owners over a set of pet-related rules, including pet registration and requirements on leashes and muzzles in public areas.The mandatory registration system aims to strengthen responsibility among pet owners and reduce the number of abandoned dogs.Under the rules, all dogs two months or older should be registered at local governments or designated veterinary clinics. Owners can choose between pendants or electronic microchips which are embedded under the dog's skin. The punishment for having an unregistered dog is a 200,000 won fine, while owners who repeatedly fail register their pets face bigger fines ― 400,000 won if they are caught twice and 600,000 won for the third time. In addition, those who have not leashed their dogs in public areas will face a fine of 200,000 won on the first notice, 300,000 won on the second, and 5

Sep 27, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Owners of unregistered dogs to face fines from October
Health

Explosive rise in infections disrupts Korea's path to 'live with COVID-19' strategy

People wait in line to receive a coronavirus test at a testing center in Songpa District of Seoul, Sunday. YonhapSome experts expect daily tally to top 4,000 in a few daysBy Lee Hyo-jin An explosive rise in coronavirus cases following the Chuseok holiday is causing disruptions to the government's plan to adopt a “live with COVID-19” strategy from late next month. The administration previously said that it was drawing up a plan to implement such a strategy, under which antivirus restrictions would be gradually eased, from the end of October when 70 percent of the country's 52 million population is expected to be fully vaccinated. But the plan is now facing uncertainty due to a surge in infections following the long weekend holiday, which ran from Sept. 18 to 22, during which millions of people travelled across the country to visit their family.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 3,273 new infections for Friday, among which 3,245 were local transmissions, a record high since the coronavirus outbreak reached here. The daily tally for Saturday drop

Sep 26, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Explosive rise in infections disrupts Korea's path to 'live with COVID-19' strategy
  • Korea to begin booster shots for people 60 and older, medical workers in near future: PM
Politics

Media self-reform

Representatives of seven media-related organizations pose during a press conference at the Korea Press Foundation in central Seoul, Thursday. The organizations have agreed to establish a self-regulatory body, as an alternative to the proposed revision to the Act on Press Arbitration, which enables punitive damages against media outlets that produce “fake news.” They said the joint body will review articles to correct false reports and help people harmed by them. Yonhap

Sep 23, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Media self-reform
Foreign Affairs

Return of Korean War remains

President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook attend a joint repatriation ceremony with the United States, held at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii, Wednesday (local time). Korea received the remains of 68 Korean soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War, while handing over the remains of five American service members to representatives of their country. Yonhap

Sep 23, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Return of Korean War remains
Health

Conflict deepening between Seoul gov't, LGBT festival organizers

People march in central Seoul during the annual parade of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival, June 27. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin A conflict is deepening between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and organizers of the annual Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF), following the city government's recent decision to reject the latter's application to be registered as a non-profit organization. The Seoul Queer Culture Festival (SQCF) Organizing Committee, consisting of members of the LGBTQ community and their allies, has been holding the annual festival in central Seoul since 2000. The festival calls for human rights for sexual minorities and the eradication of discrimination.The committee filed an application to the city government in October 2019 to be registered as a non-profit organization.After nearly two years of review, the city sent a letter to the committee, turning down its application, on Aug. 25. The city government explained that its decision was based on a history of reports of indecent exposure by the participants in its cultural events, such as at its parades and film festivals. It

Sep 23, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Conflict deepening between Seoul gov't, LGBT festival organizers
Health

'Body profile' trend may cause serious side effects

gettyimagesbank By Lee Hyo-jin Flexing muscles for photo shoots was once reserved for celebrities and professional athletes. But recently, an increasing number of young, ordinary Koreans having their toned, muscular bodies professionally photographed after months of working out in a challenge called shooting one's “body profile.” Social media channels are flooding with posts including body profile photos. The body profile hashtag has over 2 million posts on Instagram, and hundreds of YouTubers have been participating in the challenge to update their viewers on their progress.Body profile photos have emerged as a trend among people in their 20s and 30s, who are choosing to spend their time at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic focused on their physical health and perfecting their appearance.They engage in months of intensive workouts with personal trainers in order to shape their bodies for a photo session reserved at a studio. Weeks of restrictive diets, living on sala

Sep 21, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
'Body profile' trend may cause serious side effects
Politics

Human rights organizations call for 'prudent review' of 'fake news' bill

The offices of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea / Korea Times fileBy Lee Hyo-jin Human rights watchdogs in Korea and abroad have expressed concerns over the controversial “fake news” bill, saying that it could limit the voice of the media and freedom of expression.The proposed revision to the Act on Press Arbitration intends to increase punitive damages on media outlets that have intentionally produced false information, including punitive compensation of up to five times the present levels for stories that are deemed to be deliberately false or “grossly negligent” in their reporting.The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) said Friday that the media law revision includes several clauses that could undermine the media's freedom protected by the Constitution, and asked the chairman of the National Assembly to conduct a “prudent review” of the bill.“Although the revision bill aims to strengthen the responsibility of media outlets, we cannot rule out the possibility that critical media reports or investigative reports o

Sep 17, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Human rights organizations call for 'prudent review' of 'fake news' bill
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