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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

Calls grow for faster compensation for COVID-19 vaccine side effects

A woman receives a coronavirus vaccine from AstraZeneca at a hospital in Gangseo District, Seoul, Monday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin The government is being asked to speed up state compensation for people who suffer side effects from COVID-19 vaccination in order to ensure that payment for medical treatment does not become a burden for those suffering from them. Under the current compensation system, it may take several months for the health authorities to review any causal link between the vaccine and side effects, during which affected people must receive medical treatment at their own expense.If the health authorities recognize a causal link between the vaccine and the side effects, the government will cover all medical expenses needed for treatment. In the case of death due to vaccination, 430 million won ($388,000) will be provided in compensation and 300,000 won for funeral expenses. A 45-year-old nursing assistant who was inoculated with her first shot of AstraZeneca vaccine on March 12 is currently hospitalized after suffering paralysis in her arms and legs. She was diagnosed with

Apr 22, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Calls grow for faster compensation for COVID-19 vaccine side effects
  • Korea's 'vaccine swap' options may require diplomatic reward
Health

Disabled people left behind in government's COVID-19 support measures

Civic groups representing people with disabilities call for the eradication of discrimination against disabled people during a rally near the Ministry of Health and Welfare building in Sejong, Tuesday. The event was organized to mark the Day of the Disabled People in Korea which falls on April 20. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on vulnerable groups in society, and exposed Korea's ill-prepared support network for the disabled population in case of national disasters and infectious disease outbreaks. During the early stages of the pandemic, disabled people experienced limited access to face masks and COVID-19-related information due insufficient communication platforms, as well as medical services. Also, for people with severe physical disabilities, the mandatory self-isolation rule came as a challenge.A man surnamed Kim, 37, who was only able to use his left arm due to his physical disability, had to endure his self-isolation period without any help from others. Kim, who lived alone in Daegu, was put under 14 days of self-isolation after he came int

Apr 22, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Disabled people left behind in government's COVID-19 support measures
Law & Crime

3 accused of displaying animal cruelty videos on chat room

Three people have been accused of displaying videos and photos of them brutally abusing animals on a member-only online chatroom, the police said, Monday. The two cats in this photo are unrelated to the story. Korea Times fileBy Lee Hyo-jin Seongdong Police Station announced Monday that it had referred three people to the prosecution for allegedly distributing videos and photos in a members-only online chat room of them brutally abusing and killing animals. The suspects were accused of violating the Animal Protection Law, while one was additionally accused of violating the Wildlife Protection and Management ActThey were among about 80 participants in the anonymously run chat room to have been called in for police questioning. Others were not referred to the prosecutors' office as officers did not find any evidence of their direct involvement in cruelty to animals. The case was made public in January by the Korea Animal Welfare Association (KAWA), a local animal rights group, which filed a police report and publicly disclosed some of the content and conversations shared in the chat ro

Apr 20, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
3 accused of displaying animal cruelty videos on chat room
Society

Public anger rises over car owners taking up multiple parking spaces

This photo, uploaded by an internet user, Monday, shows an SUV vehicle occupying four parking spaces at an underground parking lot of an apartment building. Screen captured from internet communityBy Lee Hyo-jin Public anger is rising over “thoughtless” car owners who park their vehicles taking up multiple parking spaces, limiting the slots available to other vehicles and inconveniencing others.An internet user uploaded a posting on Bobaedream, an online community for motorists, criticizing a van owner who took up four parking spaces in an underground parking lot, Monday.The writer attached photos of a van parked occupying four parking spaces, saying, “I wanted to show the photos to a parking lot attendant so he would make the owner move the car, but I couldn't because the person in charge wasn't there at the time.”This photo, uploaded by an internet user, Saturday, shows a Mercedes-Benz vehicle occupying two parking stalls in an underground parking lot of an apartment. Screen captured from internet communityThe incident immediately gained widespread attention

Apr 20, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Public anger rises over car owners taking up multiple parking spaces
Health

Korea needs better support for multiracial children in rural areas

Students with multicultural backgrounds attend a foreign language and culture class at an elementary school in Seoul in this file photo. Korea Times fileBy Lee Hyo-jin Tailored support measures are needed for children from multiracial backgrounds living in rural areas, as they showed a lower level of psychosocial adaptation compared to those in large cities, according to a study by the National Youth Policy Institute released Monday. Such findings were included in the results of an 11-year-long longitudinal study conducted on school life, family environment, social adaptation and bicultural identity of multiracial children nationwide.According to the findings, compared with those living in the metropolitan area, multiracial teenagers living in small towns showed lower levels of self-esteem and social competence ― they exhibited relatively lower capabilities in terms of feeling positive about themselves and interacting with others. They also had lower assessments for physical and mental health and had less interaction with their parents, having fewer daily conversations on topics such

Apr 19, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea needs better support for multiracial children in rural areas
  • Justice ministry grants temporary stay permits for undocumented migrant children
Society

Seoul City suffers e-scooter parking problem

Two electric scooters are parked in the middle of a sidewalk on a university campus in Seoul in this Nov. 3, 2020 photo. Korea Times photo by Lee Han-hoCity government seeks to tow e-scooters at no-parking zonesBy Lee Hyo-jin Electric scooters, an innovative eco-friendly form of transportation, have gained increasing popularity in Korea since their sharing platforms were commercialized in 2018. More and more people are choosing e-scooters for travelling short distances, as they are faster than going on foot and a better option than crowded public transport. Currently, over 60,000 devices from various operators are deployed in the capital area, a hike from around 150 in 2018, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.Users can unlock an e-scooter on the street by scanning a QR code using their smartphone, ride to their destination and park it there after their trip. Unlike rental bicycles, e-scooters do not have designated parking areas they should be returned to.The “dockless” scheme is what makes the personal mobility devices convenient for riders, but on the other

Apr 18, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Seoul City suffers e-scooter parking problem
Law & Crime

Drug crimes by foreigners on the rise, violent crimes fall

gettyimagesbank By Lee Hyo-jin The number of drug-related crimes committed by foreign nationals in Korea has more than doubled over the last four years, while over the same time the number of violent crimes such as murder and assault has decreased, according to a lawmaker, Thursday.Rep. Kang Gi-yun of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) revealed data received from the National Police Agency that included the number of crimes committed by foreigners between 2017 and 2020, based on the number of cases booked.There has been an average of 37,000 booked cases every year; 36,069 in 2017, 34,832 in 2018, 39,249 in 2019 and 39,140 in 2020. The number of foreign suspects booked for drug crimes has more than doubled from 620 in 2017 to 1,428 in 2020. The number of non-violent crimes such as fraud and scamming stood at 7,002 cases last year, up 53 percent from 4,571 in 2017. Meanwhile, violent crimes including murder and robbery decreased during the same period. The n

Apr 17, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Drug crimes by foreigners on the rise, violent crimes fall
Health

Local governments propose their own COVID-19 measures

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung speaks at a provincial assembly meeting at the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly building, Thursday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jinLocal governments have begun proposing their own COVID-19 measures without sufficient consultation with central government, raising concerns that any moves deviating from nationwide quarantine policies may lead to widespread confusion or weaken the antivirus measures set by the health authorities.Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung announced Thursday that his provincial government was reviewing the possibility of launching a separate vaccination rollout for residents of the province, using vaccines that have not been introduced into the country so far. “Special measures are needed amid deepening concerns of a fourth wave of infections. We are reviewing whether Gyeonggi Province will be able to offer vaccines to our residents separately,” Lee said at an assembly meeting when asked about additional measures that the local government is planning in order to reach herd immunity in the province.An official of the prov

Apr 16, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Local governments propose their own COVID-19 measures
Health

'UN women center' to be set up in Korea in November

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Chung Young-ai speaks during a press conference at the Korea Press Center, Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jinAn international platform on promoting gender equality will be set up in Korea later this year, according to Gender Equality and Family Minister Chung Young-ai, Wednesday.The first of its kind in the country, the tentatively named “U.N. Women Knowledge Center” will take a leading role in empowering women and sharing women-related initiatives throughout the Asia-Pacific region, she said. “Following a proposal from U.N. Women, we are cooperating with the international organization to build a platform which we aim to launch by November this year,” the minister said during a press conference in Seoul, the first such event since Chung took office on Dec. 29.The platform will serve as a center for education, research and partnership building on women-related priorities in and outside the country. The ministry is engaging in talks to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with U.N. Women in the near future. In addit

Apr 14, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
'UN women center' to be set up in Korea in November
Health

Asylum seeker leaves airport for hospital after 14 months in transit zone

This photo taken on May 19, 2020 shows the arrival hall at Incheon International Airport. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin A man seeking asylum status in Korea was allowed to leave Incheon International Airport and enter the country after being stuck there for 14 months, as his refugee application had been denied. Incheon District Court made a ruling, Tuesday, to allow temporary dismissal of his status as an “internee” and granted him the right to stay at a local hospital in order to undergo medical treatment. The man, whose nationality was not revealed, from his home country due to political persecution and arrived at Incheon International Airport in February 2020. But his refugee application was denied by the Ministry of Justice, as the final destination of his flight was another country, with Korea as a transfer point. Refugees can make applications as asylum seekers at immigration checkpoints. Since that time, he had been living in the transit zone of the airport. He was reported to have suffered from a hernia due to a disease contracted while en route to Korea, and his condition

Apr 14, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Asylum seeker leaves airport for hospital after 14 months in transit zone
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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.