The Korea Times

Health ministry in hot seat over 'thoughtless' promotional video, leak of quarantine documents

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has come under fire for its inappropriate promotional video on quarantine rules, Sunday. / Screen captured from YouTubeBy Lee Hyo-jin The Ministry of Health and Welfare has come under fire for both its “thoughtless” quarantine rules promotional video and leaked documents about revised social distancing rules ahead of an official announcement.The ministry uploaded the two-and-a-half-minute video on New Year's Day on the ministry's social media channels. The clip features six people from various age groups dancing and singing at home as a way to beat the “corona blues” and encourage people to follow social distancing measures. “The stay-at-home dance tutorial was posted to cheer people up amid the prolonged coronavirus pandemic,” read the caption of the video. However, the clip immediately drew criticism for making light of the serious COVID-19 situation, and violating the gathering ban on groups of five or more people currently imposed nationwide. Also, many people pointed out the thoughtlessness of making noise by

Jan 3, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin

Health ministry in hot seat over 'thoughtless' promotional video, leak of quarantine documents

Politics

Korea urged to fix immigration policies

Multicultural families, foreign residents should be considered 'equal members of our society'By Lee Hyo-jinIn recent decades, South Korea has emerged as a global economic powerhouse and become a core member of the international community. Leading the transformation have been many Korean individuals and companies who have written success stories in different parts of the world. Joining the league of advanced countries, the country has strengthened its overseas presence and raised its global profile both economically by expanding exports and diplomatically by increasing its donations to developing nations.However, despite its successful ascension to the world stage, Korea is considered neither internationalized nor inclusive. Society here is still insular, failing to embrace different cultures, races and nationalities.Such closed-mindedness is preventing Asia's fourth-largest economy from moving forward, as the country is facing grave demographic challenges ― an aging population, a low birthrate and a declining workforce.In this regard, creating an “inclusive society” to br

Dec 31, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Health

Rewards for reporting banned gatherings draws mixed reactions

Signs at a restaurant in Jongno District, Seoul, read that gatherings of five or more people are banned following the government's anti-coronavirus guidelines in this Dec. 23 photo. / Korea Times fileBy Lee Hyo-jin Citizens are showing mixed reactions to a system rewarding people who report violations of social distancing rules to the authorities, whether to view it as an effective way of containing the COVID-19 spread, or an unnecessary policy violating privacy by making people spy on each other. Following the government's strengthened social distancing measures, private gatherings of five or more people have been banned nationwide since Dec. 24.In order to encourage public participation and cooperation, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced it will reward 100 people who make report violators with a gift voucher worth 100,000 won ($92), which can be used in traditional markets and local stores. Many local governments are following suit, with some offering bigger rewards. The reports can be made through the app “e-people” by attaching a photo or video. “

Dec 31, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Rewards for reporting banned gatherings draws mixed reactions

Fight against coronavirus getting complicated

Global Community

Korea ranks 13th out of 52 countries on migrants' social integration index

GettyimagesbankBy Lee Hyo-jin Korea ranked 13th out of 52 countries on its level of social integration of migrants in the Migration Integration Policy Index (MIPEX), according to the latest MIPEX report issued earlier this month.First published in 2004, the MIPEX is a comprehensive international benchmark on the integration policies of countries around the world. Its latest edition issued earlier this month covered 52 countries across five continents including the EU member states, the U.S., Canada and India, measured between 2014 and 2019.Korea was ranked along with the United Kingdom, France and Iceland, each receiving 56 points out of 100, which is higher than the MIPEX average of 52.Korea took the lead among five Asian countries, followed by Japan, China, Indonesia and India. But the report pointed out that the country's immigration policies are less developed than those of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S., the traditional top destinations for migrants. Among the eight indicators ― healthcare, labor market mobility, family reunification, education, political participa

Dec 31, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Korea ranks 13th out of 52 countries on migrants' social integration index

Society

Heavy snowfall hits Gwangju

Cars blanketed with snow are stuck in traffic on a road in Juwoldong, Namgu, Gwangju, Thursday, after a heavy snowfall warning was issued for the city and South Jeolla Province. / Yonhap

Dec 30, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Law & Crime

Closed investigation on ex-mayor's sexual misconduct provokes backlash

A coalition of women's rights groups gather in front of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) building calling for the commission to launch an official investigation into the alleged sexual misconduct of late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, in this July 28 photo. / Korea Times photo by Lee Han-hoBy Lee Hyo-jin Women's rights groups are furious over the police's decision to close the investigation on sexual misconduct allegations against late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon without reaching a clear conclusion.The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on Tuesday that it has ended the months-long investigation, and the case will be transferred to the prosecution with non-indictment recommendations. Under the current laws, the police have no power to recommend indictment when the accused is dead. A coalition of women's rights groups issued a statement immediately after, criticizing the authorities for failing to conduct an active and fair investigation and not disclosing to the public new facts found over the past few months. “As an investigative body, the police have the

Dec 30, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Closed investigation on ex-mayor's sexual misconduct provokes backlash

Politics

Special pardons ahead of New Years' Day

Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae bows during an announcement on special pardons granted to 3,024 people ahead of New Years' Day, at the Government Complex Seoul, Tuesday. Most of the people were convicted of minor crimes related to work. Politicians and business tycoons were excluded from the list. / Yonhap

Dec 29, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Health

Government in hot seat over detention facility management

Buses transporting inmates infected with COVID-19 depart from Seoul Dongbu Detention Center to Cheongsong correctional facility in North Gyeongsang Province, Monday. / Yonhap.PM apologizes for mismanagement that resulted in massive infection clusterBy Lee Hyo-jinThe government is in the hot seat over a massive COVID-19 outbreak linked to a state-run detention center in Seoul, which may be attributable to lax management and belated responses. The Seoul Dongbu Detention Center in eastern Seoul added 233 new confirmed patients for Monday after a third mass testing was conducted the previous day, bringing the total number to infected inmates and officers to 748, according to the Ministry of Justice, Tuesday.The number is approximately 25 percent of the total 2,419 inmates and 425 staff members at the facility. Although the source of the mass infection remains unknown, the facility reported its first confirmed case, a detention center officer, Nov. 27.The authorities can hardly avoid criticism over their belated response as they only launched massive testing three weeks later, following a

Dec 29, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Government in hot seat over detention facility management

Health

'Lift suspension on operation of indoor gyms'

A member of the Pilates and Fitness Business Association stages a solo protest in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday, calling on the government to lift the suspension on operation of indoor gyms and sports facilities and implement feasible antivirus measures. Indoor gyms, categorized as high-risk facilities, have been shut down since Dec.1 under the Level 2.5 social distancing measures. / Yonhap

Dec 29, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

'Lift suspension on operation of indoor gyms'

Society

Calls grow for better living conditions for migrant workers

A vinyl greenhouse used as accommodation for foreign migrant workers at a farm in Gyeonggi Province. / YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jin Civic groups are calling for better living conditions for migrant workers following the recent death of a Cambodian woman whose body was found in a vinyl greenhouse at a farm in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province.Although the interim results of the autopsy showed the direct cause of her death to be liver disease, it was revealed that she had been living in a sandwich panel construction built inside a vinyl greenhouse. A coalition of civic groups including migrant workers' rights organizations issued a statement, Thursday, demanding a thorough investigation into her death and calling for the implementation of measures to prevent similar tragedies.“Currently, foreign workers at farms are suffering from devastating living conditions, as they are provided with temporary constructions made from vinyl greenhouses, sandwich panels and container boxes, which do not protect them at all from heat waves, cold snaps or heavy rain,” the statement read. Although using vin

Dec 25, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin

Lee Hyo-jin

Read more

Health ministry in hot seat over 'thoughtless' promotional video, leak of quarantine documents

Korea urged to fix immigration policies

Rewards for reporting banned gatherings draws mixed reactions

Korea ranks 13th out of 52 countries on migrants' social integration index

Heavy snowfall hits Gwangju

Closed investigation on ex-mayor's sexual misconduct provokes backlash

Special pardons ahead of New Years' Day

Government in hot seat over detention facility management

'Lift suspension on operation of indoor gyms'

Calls grow for better living conditions for migrant workers

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