The Korea Times

PHOTOS Hugs, tears of joy after end of Wuhan lockdown

Medical workers hug at the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport after travel restrictions on leaving Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province and China's epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, were lifted on April 8. ReutersA medical staff member from Jilin Province, right, cries while hugging a nurse from Wuhan after working together during the COVID-19 outbreak in the city, as the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport is reopened in China's central Hubei Province on April 8. AFPMedical staff from Jilin Province (in red) hug nurses from Wuhan after working together during the COVID-19 outbreak, before leaving from the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in China's central Hubei Province on April 8. AFPA medical worker from China's Jilin Province (in red) embraces a colleague from Wuhan as she prepares to return home from Wuhan's Tianhe International Airport, in central China's Hubei Province, on April 8. AP

Apr 8, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Hugs, tears of joy after end of Wuhan lockdown [PHOTOS]

Companies

Scam alert: Beware of fake Korean masks

A KF94 face mask from Korean company Hansong, right, and the fake one with the same packaging / Korea TimesBy Jung Min-hoWatch out for scammers who are trying to rip you off with fake Korean masks.According to the Hankook Ilbo, sister paper of The Korea Times, scammers in Southeast Asia are selling fake Korean masks at a time when good-quality masks are difficult to find because of the COVID-19 pandemic.On the surface, it may look just like a famous Korean product with a KF94 filter ― but what's inside is not the same.“I have heard that some Chinese mask makers are trying to make a fortune by capitalizing on Korea's brand value,” a source told the paper. “Some people may just buy their fake products ― even though they know they are fake ― because they can make a lot of money (by reselling them).”The Korean government has strictly restricted mask exports since Feb. 26 to ensure sufficient domestic supply.Korean mask makers worry that such masks will undermine foreign customers' trust in Korea and Korean products in general.“I was expecting surges in deman

Apr 8, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Politics

Gov't considers temporarily lifting coronavirus self-isolation rules on poll day

Candidates' election posters on display in Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoThe government is considering temporarily lifting coronavirus self-isolation measures on voting day.The National Election Commission (NEC) said Tuesday it has been talks with relevant ministries to make it possible for those who are quarantining themselves because of COVID-19 to vote in parliamentary elections on April 15.One option the NEC is considering is allowing those subject to the measures to leave their homes to vote at certain times of the day to minimize their exposure to others.In an effort to help contain the virus, the government has imposed a two-week self-isolation for all arrivals from overseas since April 1.During Sunday's KBS radio program, NEC Secretary General Park Young-soo said the people's right to health is as important as their right to vote and he is still collecting opinions.The NEC has also asked voters to wear masks when they visit polling stations and have their temperatures checked before casting their ballots.

Apr 8, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Gov't considers temporarily lifting coronavirus self-isolation rules on poll day

Health

Korea deports Taiwanese woman for refusing to stay at quarantine facility

People wearing protective clothing sit on a bench at Incheon International Airport, Monday. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoKorea has deported a Taiwanese woman for refusing to stay at a quarantine facility.According to the Ministry of Justice Monday, the woman, whose identity is being withheld, was deported late on Sunday after refusing to pay for a government-designated quarantine facility.This is the first time the government has deported a foreigner for violating the self-isolation rule over the COVID-19 pandemic, although there have been some cases in which foreigners were denied entry.In an effort to help contain the coronavirus, the government has imposed mandatory two-week self-isolation for all arrivals from overseas since Wednesday.Those subject to the rule must stay in their homes or the facilities. Daily expenses for staying at the facilities are about 100,000 won ($81).The woman, who arrived at Incheon International Airport Thursday, initially agreed to stay at the facility, but later refused to pay, the ministry said.As of Monday afternoon, the virus has infected 10,284 people and

Apr 6, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Korea deports Taiwanese woman for refusing to stay at quarantine facility

'Game is not over yet': public warned of lowering guard against COVID-19

Health

Researchers in Australia discover anti-parasite drug can kill coronavirus

A colorized scanning electron micrograph of an apoptotic cell (red) infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (yellow), also known as novel coronavirus, isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility in Fort Detrick, Maryland. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH via ReutersBy Jung Min-hoResearchers in Australia have found that an anti-parasitic drug can kill COVID-19 in a lab.In a study published Friday, scientists at Monash University in Melbourne say one dose of Ivermectin, which is available around the world, was found to halt SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) from growing in cell culture within 48 hours.“We found that even a single dose could essentially remove all viral RNA by 48 hours and that even at 24 hours there was a really significant reduction in it,” said study leader Kylie Wagstaff.She noted that the mechanism by which Ivermectin worked on the virus was unknown yet, but based on how it interacted with other viruses, the drug probably stopped the virus “dampening down” the

Apr 6, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Researchers in Australia discover anti-parasite drug can kill coronavirus

Society

Biggest full moon of 2020 on show Tuesday

The biggest and brightest full moon of the year will be visible from Tuesday evening (KST). Courtesy of Korea Astronomy and Space Science InstituteBy Jung Min-hoThe biggest and brightest full moon of the year is set to appear Tuesday (KST).According to the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), the supermoon will be visible between Tuesday evening and dawn Wednesday before it reaches its maximum size at 11:35 a.m. Wednesday.A supermoon occurs when the moon moves closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit while in its “full” phase. This makes the moon look larger and brighter than usual.When the moon rises in the east Tuesday, it will be about 357,000 kilometers from Earth ― about 275,000 kilometers closer than the average distance.The supermoon will be about 14 percent larger than this year's smallest full moon, which is expected on Oct. 31, the KASI said.

Apr 6, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Biggest full moon of 2020 on show Tuesday

Health

Eight foreigners denied entry for refusing to follow self-isolation rule

Police officers in protective clothing wait for Koreans repatriated from Italy at Incheon International, April 1. AFPBy Jung Min-hoEight foreigners have been denied entry to Korea for refusing to comply with the country's mandatory self-isolation rule.The Ministry of Justice said Thursday that it returned eight foreigners to their countries after they refused to follow its coronavirus containment measure. The rule, which came into force April 1, requires all people arriving in Korea from overseas to quarantine themselves at their residences or government-designated facilities for 14 days.According to the ministry, the foreigners from six countries, including Kazakhstan, refused to follow the rule when they arrived at Incheon International Airport even after they were notified of it before leaving for Korea.Under the measure, those who do not have a place to stay here have to pay around 100,000 won ($82) for using the government-designated facilities. They also must install a mobile app that allows authorities to monitor their locations in real time.According to government data, 35 pe

Apr 2, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Eight foreigners denied entry for refusing to follow self-isolation rule

PM's ultimatum: 'No mercy for people caught ignoring self-isolation rules'

Companies

Korean budget carrier Eastar Jet to lay off 750 employees

Korean budget airline Eastar Jet plans to cut 750 jobs due to financial difficulties from the COVID-19 pandemic. Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoEastar Jet, a Korean budget airline, plans to lay off 750 employees due to financial difficulties from the COVID-19 pandemic.According to industry sources Thursday, the company plans to lay off 45 percent of its 1,680 workers ― to 930 ― to keep the business afloat amid the crisis.The company is also in talks to reduce its fleet by 10 planes to 13.“The plan has not been finalized,” a company official was quoted by Yonhap, a local news agency, as saying. “We are still in talks over the size of layoffs and severance pay.”Many people in the airline industry fear that this will only be the beginning of more job cuts, with the pandemic showing no signs of abating.Last month, Eastar Jet decided to suspend all domestic and international flights to minimize operating losses.

Apr 2, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Korean budget carrier Eastar Jet to lay off 750 employees

Global Community

Expats ask for universal basic income amid COVID-19 crisis

A man passes closed stores in Myeongdong, Seoul, March 17. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Jung Min-hoForeign workers in Korea are asking for universal basic income amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saying excluding them from access to the benefit would be a violation of the United Nations human rights treaty.More than 10,000 people have signed a petition urging the central and local governments to provide financial support to everyone, including all tax-paying foreign workers “who are also suffering” the economic fallout from the crisis.The petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website followed the Moon Jae-in government's decision to offer “emergency disaster relief money” to low and middle-income citizens in a stimulus program for the faltering economy.“Foreigners, such as married immigrants, permanent residents and ethnic Koreans who hold citizenship of other countries, have been excluded from the benefit of the anti-disaster basic income, although they pay taxes,” the petitioner wrote. “It is discrimination.”The petitioner urged the govern

Apr 2, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Expats ask for universal basic income amid COVID-19 crisis

Health

'There will be light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel'

David Yonggi Cho, right, and Lee Young-hoon, two of the most influential Christian leaders in Korea and senior pastors of the Yoido Full Gospel Church, smile during a recent interview at the church office in Seoul. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Jung Min-hoThe challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic is not only medical but also profoundly spiritual.With many people around the world suffering from the disease, some may wonder: where is God's love in this?David Yonggi Cho and Lee Young-hoon, two of the most influential Christian leaders in Korea and senior pastors of the Yoido Full Gospel Church, do not know the answer. However, they say, what they know for sure is that “God will bring good out of this difficult time.”For the first time in its 62-year history, the church ― the country's largest with more than half a million members ― has closed buildings over the past month to help contain the virus and suspended plans for all international events this year.But Cho and Lee remain hopeful for the future and their visions during and after this plight. They encourage their m

Apr 1, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Jung Min-ho

Read more

PHOTOS Hugs, tears of joy after end of Wuhan lockdown

Scam alert: Beware of fake Korean masks

Gov't considers temporarily lifting coronavirus self-isolation rules on poll day

Korea deports Taiwanese woman for refusing to stay at quarantine facility

Researchers in Australia discover anti-parasite drug can kill coronavirus

Biggest full moon of 2020 on show Tuesday

Eight foreigners denied entry for refusing to follow self-isolation rule

Korean budget carrier Eastar Jet to lay off 750 employees

Expats ask for universal basic income amid COVID-19 crisis

'There will be light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel'

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