The Korea Times

Three Koreans in China infected with coronavirus

A woman wearing a face mask walks on the Qianmen pedestrian street in Beijing, Feb. 10. ReutersBy Jung Min-hoThree Korean citizens in mainland China were confirmed to have been infected with the new coronavirus, the Korean government said Monday.Kim Gang-lip, deputy head of the central disaster headquarters, told reporters that three members of a family staying in Qingdao, in the country's eastern province of Shandong, have tested positive for the virus, which has killed 904 people and infected nearly 41,000 in 29 countries over the past few weeks.“The World Health Organization and the Chinese government notified on Sunday that they were confirmed to be infected,” Kim said.The three ― a father and his two children ― are “in a stable condition” and have been treated at a local hospital, he said. The man is the spouse of a Chinese woman who was confirmed to have been infected with the virus on Jan. 31.The government has no plan to bring the patients back to Korea. “As we are responsible for foreigners infected with the virus here, it is the Chinese governm

Feb 10, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Three Koreans in China infected with coronavirus

Health

Over 350,000 sign petition calling for WHO chief's resignation

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus attends a news conference on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 6. ReutersBy Jung Min-hoMore than 350,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the resignation of World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus over his “improper” handling of the coronavirus outbreak.The petition was initiated by a person using the ID “Osuka Yip” on Jan. 31. The petitioner blamed Ghebreyesus' leadership for the rapid spread of the virus, which has killed more than 900 people and infected nearly 41,000 in 29 countries in the past few weeks.How and when the virus infected the first person, possibly spreading from an animal, in the Chinese city of Wuhan is still unclear. But when the threat was brought to the attention of China's authorities in December and then the world, Ghebreyesus remained hesitant to declare a global health emergency ― until Jan. 31.“We strongly think Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is not fit for his role as WHO Director-General. W

Feb 10, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Over 350,000 sign petition calling for WHO chief's resignation

Foreign Affairs

China can bring coronavirus under control 'in 10 days,' Chinese envoy says

Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming speaks to reporters at the government complex in Seoul, Thursday, before meeting top foreign ministry officials over issues about the deadly new coronavirus. Korea Times photo by Cho Young-binBy Jung Min-hoChinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming claims the Chinese government can bring the deadly new coronavirus under control in 10 days.Citing “the best scientists responding to the virus in China,” Xing told reporters Thursday that the situation will improve “in seven to 10 days,” before meeting high-ranking foreign ministry officials at the government complex in Seoul, according to the Hankook Ilbo, the sister paper of The Korea Times.“We (China) can overcome this,” Xing said in Korean. “Trust us.”Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming speaks to reporters on arrival at Incheon International Airport, Jan. 30. YonhapHis comments come as the Korean government is under increasing pressure to deny entry to all people coming from China to better prevent the spread of the virus, whi

Feb 6, 2020By Jung Min-ho

China can bring coronavirus under control 'in 10 days,' Chinese envoy says

Health

Korean-Australian student told to leave Sydney boarding school over virus fears

By Jung Min-hoRavenswood School for Girls on Sydney's upper north shore. / YonhapA Korean-Australian student has been asked to leave her boarding school in suburban Sydney amid fears of the new coronavirus from China.The Sydney Morning Herald, a local daily, reported Wednesday that the 10th grade student, surnamed Kim, from Korea, was forced to leave her dormitory at Ravenswood School for Girls ― even though she had not been to China since visiting Shanghai in October.The outbreak of the deadly virus began a month ago in the Chinese city of Wuhan.Kim, who had been medically cleared and allowed into her dormitory last week, was told to leave hours later after the school decided to require students who have recently traveled to “other affected areas” to stay home for 14 days.Infection cases had been confirmed in Korea and Australia by then.Her father told the newspaper that he believes Ravenswood was “massively overreacting.”“Despite (my) protest that she did not visit China (since the outbreak) and did not have contact with any visitors from China and no

Feb 6, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Korean-Australian student told to leave Sydney boarding school over virus fears

Health

Coronavirus: Expert urges gov't to close border with China immediately

An Imperial guard wearing a face mask stands outside Gyeongbok Palace, the main royal palace during the Joseon Dynasty, in Seoul, Monday, Feb. 3, 2020. A viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 20,000 people globally. Korea has 16 cases. APBy Jung Min-hoHakim DjaballahAn infectious disease specialist is urging the government to deny entry to all people coming from China immediately to better prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus from Wuhan, saying, without drastic measures, the world is on track for a pandemic. "I urge the Korean authorities to close the border with China, and quarantine any passengers arriving in the country, by air or sea, for at least three weeks, and those who've been in China during the past two months," Hakim Djaballah, former CEO of Institute Pasteur Korea, told The Korea Times. "The Moon Jae-in administration is in a very tough spot between neighborly diplomacy and doing the right thing for the country. "Thus far, we have seen the first death and the first human-to-human viral transmissions outside China. I fear that we

Feb 4, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Coronavirus: Expert urges gov't to close border with China immediately

Health

Can dogs and cats be infected with new virus? WHO says no

A dog wears a mask at Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port in Gyeonggi Province, Jan. 23. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoAs fears of the new coronavirus continue to spread in Korea, more people have started wearing face masks. Some people even make sure that their dogs and cats are also covered. But can they be infected with the virus and possibly pass it to their owners?According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the answer is no ― at least for now.“At present, there is no evidence that companion animals/pets such as dogs or cats can be infected with the new coronavirus,” the WHO said in a statement. “However, it is always a good idea to wash your hands with soap and water after contact with pets. This protects you against various common bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella that can pass between pets and humans.”But Li Lanjuan, a renowned Chinese epidemiologist and a specialist on China's National Health Commission, said the possibility should not be ruled out.Lanjuan told China Central Television, according to a China Daily translation: “If pets go out and have contac

Feb 3, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Can dogs and cats be infected with new virus? WHO says no

Coronavirus: Hong Kong dog believed to be first case of human-to-animal transmission

Trends

Korea's natural population decline begins

Korea's population is officially shrinking. GettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoKorea's population is officially shrinking.For the first time since the government started keeping track in 1983, deaths outnumbered births in November, and the country is expected to report its first annual population decline this year.According to Statistics Korea data released last week, 25,438 people died that month, up 5.1 percent from a year earlier. Meanwhile, the number of newborns fell short with 23,819, a 5.9 percent decrease from a year earlier and a November record low.More deaths than births put the country's natural population growth at minus 0.4 percent.The trend is expected to accelerate. According to the data, 20, 493 couples married that month, down 10.1 percent from a year earlier.Across the rich world, many women increasingly choose to marry late, if at all, and have one child, if any. Korea is one of the most ― if not the most ― extreme cases.In 2018, the country's total fertility rate ― the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime ― hit a record low of 0.98, far below the re

Feb 3, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Korea's natural population decline begins

Korea's total fertility rate hits all-time low in 2019

Companies

Royce' chocolate to close business in Korea

By Jung Min-hoRoyce', a Japanese chocolate maker, will close its business in Korea.Royce' Confect Korea, a retailer of the brand here, said Wednesday that all nine shops, including five in Seoul, will close by the end of March.A decline in sales, fueled by a recent boycott of Japanese products, was the main reason for the decision, a retail company official told the Hankook Ilbo, sister paper of The Korea Times.“Thank you very much for loving Royce' chocolate,” a company statement said. “We will try our best to the very end with the best possible services.”

Jan 29, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Royce' chocolate to close business in Korea

Politics

#MeToo brings down young politician of ruling party

Won Jong-gun speaks at a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. He was one of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's "hand-picked" new members for the April 15 general election. YonhapBy Jung Min-hoIntroducing a 27-year-old man as the latest member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) last month, Chairman Lee Hae-chan called him “the future” of the party.That future now looks bleak. On Monday, a former girlfriend of Won Jong-gun revealed photos of her legs covered in bruises, claiming they were “the evidence of his rape.” She also, in detail, accused him of sexually abusing her and forcing her to carry out a sexual act in front of a camera.“I'm not afraid of being sued for defamation, because everything I said here is an undeniable fact,” she wrote on a popular website. This made headlines within hours.The next day, Won, who had been widely promoted as the party's new representative for people in their 20s and 30s for the April 15 general election, announced that he will not seek his future in politics anymore. But he

Jan 29, 2020By Jung Min-ho

#MeToo brings down young politician of ruling party

Ruling party's approval rating lowest since Moon's inauguration: Gallup

Companies

Air Seoul suspends all flights to China amid deadly virus outbreak

Air Seoul will suspend all flights to China due to the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the country. Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoAir Seoul, a Korean budget carrier, said Tuesday it will suspend all flights to China due to the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the country.Air Seoul, which operates the Zhangjiajie and Liny routes from Incheon, said it made the decision amid growing fears of the virus that has so far killed 106 people in China and infected more than 4,500 around the world.Customers who have bought tickets to either of the destinations since Jan. 24 can cancel their trips without additional charge, the company said.“We have received a lot of calls since the outbreak of the disease,” an Air Seoul official said.Other Korean airlines are suspending services to China.Jeju Air said it will halt the Busan-Zhangjiajie and Muan-Zhangjiajie services later this week.Eastar Jet will also stop servicing the Cheongju-Zhangjiajie route from Thursday for a month. The company said it is mulling whether it should suspend flights to other Chinese cities.

Jan 28, 2020By Jung Min-ho

Jung Min-ho

Read more

Three Koreans in China infected with coronavirus

Over 350,000 sign petition calling for WHO chief's resignation

China can bring coronavirus under control 'in 10 days,' Chinese envoy says

Korean-Australian student told to leave Sydney boarding school over virus fears

Coronavirus: Expert urges gov't to close border with China immediately

Can dogs and cats be infected with new virus? WHO says no

Korea's natural population decline begins

Royce' chocolate to close business in Korea

#MeToo brings down young politician of ruling party

Air Seoul suspends all flights to China amid deadly virus outbreak

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