my timesThe Korea Times
lhj

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.

Go to Email

Read more

Health

Lax social distancing measures may worsen COVID-19 situation in May

People stand in line to get a coronavirus test at a makeshift testing center in front of Seoul station, Thursday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin Lax social distancing measures may worsen the COVID-19 situation in May, which is the “month of the family” in Korea, according to medical experts, who warned that the country may see spikes in infections due to increased gatherings. The government announced Friday it will extend the current social distancing scheme ― Level 2 in the greater Seoul area and Level 1.5 in other regions ― for another three weeks until May 23. The current guidelines were initially scheduled to end at midnight May 2.Nationwide bans on gatherings of five or more people and limited opening hours of cafes and restaurants until 10 p.m., as well as a ban on nighttime entertainment facilities in Seoul and its surrounding areas, will also remain in place.Although the average daily number of local infections during the past week has exceeded the benchmark for Level 2.5 social distancing set by the government, health authorities decided against raising the level citing a

Apr 30, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Lax social distancing measures may worsen COVID-19 situation in May
  • Korea to extend current social distancing measures for 3 weeks: acting Prime Minister
  • New virus cases in 600s for 2nd day
Global Community

Migrant groups say temporary stay permits for undocumented children 'ineffective'

gettyimagesbankBy Lee Hyo-jin A policy introduced by the Ministry of Justice to give undocumented migrant children legal status and allow them to have temporary residency rights, may not be helpful for those in need, according to local migrants' rights groups. Currently, children without legal immigrant status are allowed to stay in the country until they finish high school, after which they face deportation.In order to protect the basic rights of these children, the ministry announced the policy, April 19, under which unregistered migrant minors can apply for temporary legal status ― a D-4 visa usually given to people studying here, or a G-1 visa that allows a one-year stay for various reasons.Eligible applicants are limited to those born and resident in Korea for more than 15 years, who graduated from elementary school before Feb. 28, 2021. The policy will be effective until February 2025, and those wishing to apply should visit an immigration office with their parents.The ministry noted that the limits on eligibility and duration of the policy were aimed at preventing it from bein

Apr 29, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Migrant groups say temporary stay permits for undocumented children 'ineffective'
Society

Crested ibises born in wild 42 years after functional extinction in Korea

Two crested ibises, a bird species once functionally extinct in Korea, have hatched in the wild in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, after a pair of the birds were released two years ago there, according to county officials, Thursday. It is the first confirmed case of a natural hatching in 42 years since the species disappeared here. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin Two crested ibises, a bird species once functionally extinct in Korea, have hatched in Changnyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, Thursday, according to county officials. It is the first confirmed case of the bird being born naturally here in 42 years since the species disappeared. Three eggs were laid by a pair of crested ibises born at a state-run captive breeding facility in 2016 and released into the wild in 2019, and two of them have successfully hatched.One chick hatched around 10:12 a.m., Monday, followed by another which hatched around 5:30 a.m., Wednesday, according to county officials. The officials said the two chicks are being taken care of by their parents.The chicks are expected to leave the nest around June 10,

Apr 29, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Crested ibises born in wild 42 years after functional extinction in Korea
Health

Lee Pil-soo to lead Korea Medical Association

By Lee Hyo-jin Lee Pil-soo, vice president of the Korea Medical Association (KMA), the largest doctors' group in the country, has been elected as the new president of the association.His three-year term as the 41st president will begin on May 1, replacing incumbent head Choi Dae-zip. Lee Pil-soo, 41st president of the Korea Medical Association / Courtesy of Korea Medical AssociationLee won the runoff vote which took place at the association's headquarters in Yongsan District, Seoul, on March 26, by garnering 12,431 votes, or 52 percent of the 23,658 valid votes.“In this particular period that we are in, I feel a strong sense of responsibility as the new president. My mission is to lead the association in playing a pivotal role in overcoming the coronavirus pandemic, and at the same time, I will put all my efforts into protecting the rights of our 130,000 members,” he said during a speech at a KMA meeting, Sunday. Prior to the election, he appealed to the members by pledging to take the role of a negotiator and to represent the voices of local doctors better. “We hav

Apr 29, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Lee Pil-soo to lead Korea Medical Association
Health

Children may be allowed to take mother's surname

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Chung Young-ai speaks during a briefing on a five-year-plan framework of healthy families, at Government Complex Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin Children may be allowed to take their mother's surname, as the government plans to change the current system prioritizing paternal roots when determining a child's family name, according to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, Tuesday. Under South Korean law, children must take their biological father's surname, unless the parents had agreed at the time of marriage registration to use the mother's surname. The Minister of Gender Equality and Family released a statement Tuesday in which it indicated that such a system may lead to “discriminatory perceptions among children of various families, such as unmarried and single parents.”The gender ministry said it will improve the system through discussions with the Ministry of Justice to allow couples to choose their child's surname when applying for birth registration, so that it will be easier for them to use a maternal family name. T

Apr 27, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Children may be allowed to take mother's surname
Law & Crime

Police investigating sealing of front door with super glue

By Lee Hyo-jin Police are looking for the suspect who allegedly applied super glue on the front door of a house in Incheon, sealing the door shut, according to Incheon Namdong Police Station, Tuesday. The police said they received a report from a resident at a multi-family residence in the area, Saturday, who said she had been trapped in the house due to a sealed door. Police are looking for the suspect who allegedly applied super glue on the front door of a house in Incheon, sealing the door shut, according to Incheon Namdong Police Station, Tuesday. gettyimagesbankThe woman, who lives with her teenage son, said she had to call a door repairman, as she was not able to open the door on her way to work on April 20. They found out that the door had been jammed due to a large amount super glue applied to the gaps around the door frame. The glue was also found on the door bell, door knob, and keypad.The police are searching for the suspect involved with the case through surveillance footage from cameras installed near the house, while the victims have requested police protection over con

Apr 27, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Police investigating sealing of front door with super glue
Law & Crime

Wife of Belgian ambassador yet to respond to police on assault allegation

By Lee Hyo-jin The wife of Belgian Ambassador to Korea Peter Lescouhier has yet to respond to a police request for questioning regarding her alleged assault of a store clerk, according to an officer, Monday. “We have opened an investigation of her based on CCTV footage and questioning of victims,” Jang Ha-yeon, chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said at a press briefing.The wife of the Belgian ambassador to Korea is not responding to a police request to come in for questioning regarding her alleged assault case, according to the police, Monday. Yonhap“We have made multiple requests though the embassy and relevant organizations, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for her to report to the police station for questioning, but we have not received any clear response yet.”He added that they are proceeding in accordance with the standard process for the investigation of crimes committed by members of diplomatic missions in Korea.The police are looking into allegations that Lescouhier's wife slapped a clothing store employee in the face April 9, afte

Apr 26, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Wife of Belgian ambassador yet to respond to police on assault allegation
Health

No individual choice for COVID-19 vaccine: gov't

A police officer receives his first shot of the coronavirus vaccine from AstraZeneca at a hospital in Sejong, Monday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jinThe government will maintain its stance that individuals will not be able to choose the type of COVID-19 vaccine they receive, although Korea has secured an abundant supply of doses from five pharmaceutical companies. Following the latest deal with Pfizer for additional doses for 20 million people announced Sunday, Korea has so far secured enough doses to inoculate 99 million people, double its entire population, and 2.75 times the 36 million, or 75 percent of the population that must be vaccinated in order to reach herd immunity. This has raised speculation that the government may allow the public to choose the vaccine type they would like to receive to encourage more active participation in the nationwide immunization plan. There have been calls for individuals to be allowed to choose their vaccine following concerns over the potential blood clotting side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine. A brief pause in the inoculation of people under the age

Apr 26, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
No individual choice for COVID-19 vaccine: gov't
  • Gov't dismisses fears of COVID-19 vaccine fiasco
Law & Crime

Two Pakistan Embassy employees caught allegedly shoplifting

By Lee Hyo-jin Two diplomats from the Pakistan Embassy in Korea were caught allegedly shoplifting at a store in Seoul, according to police, Saturday. Yongsan Police Station said the two were caught stealing items worth 11,000 won ($10) and 1,900 won ($1.70), respectively, at the same store in Itaewon, Yongsan District, on different dates.Two diplomats at the Pakistan Embassy in Korea were caught shoplifting at a store in Seoul, according to police, Saturday. YonhapOne allegedly stole chocolate treats worth 1,900 won ($1.70), Jan. 10, and the other a hat worth 11,000 won ($10), Feb. 23.After the hat was stolen, an employee at the store filed a police report shortly afterwards, and the law enforcement authorities identified the suspect through CCTV footage as a 35-year-old diplomat of the Pakistan Embassy. Following an investigation, officers closed the case without booking the suspect because of diplomatic immunity. Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, diplomats and their families may avoid arrest, detention or indictment under certain laws of their host country. The p

Apr 25, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Two Pakistan Embassy employees caught allegedly shoplifting
Health

Korea's immunization plan depends on timely delivery of vaccines

People over age 75 receive the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine at a vaccination center in Daegu, Friday. YonhapGov't secures additional Pfizer doses for 20 million peopleBy Lee Hyo-jin The government's immunization plan against COVID-19 depends on the timely delivery of vaccines without any delay, according to medical experts, even though the country has signed contracts to acquire enough doses for nearly double the entire population. The administration announced Saturday that it had reached a deal with Pfizer for additional doses for 20 million people, which would allow it to vaccinate 99 million with the total amount of vaccines “secured.” This is 1.9 times Korea's total population and 2.75 times the 75 percent of the people ― 36 million ― that need to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity. Through separate deals with five pharmaceutical companies, the government has already signed contracts for vaccines from Pfizer for 33 million people, AstraZeneca for 10 million, Johnson & Johnson for 6 million, and Moderna and Novavax for 20 million people each. In addition

Apr 25, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea's immunization plan depends on timely delivery of vaccines
  • New cases on Saturday back again under 700 on fewer tests
previous page
152153154155156
next page

Top 5 stories

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.