my timesThe Korea Times
skim

Kim Se-jeong

Korea Times K-Culture Reporter

I am covering trend, food and fashion. Previously, I covered diplomacy, city, environment and unification.

Go to Email

Read more

Health

No. of coronavirus infections over 5,000

Figure Members of the Capital Defense Command spray disinfectant in Guryong Village, an urban slum in Seoul, Tuesday. Socially disadvantaged groups are more vulnerable to the new coronavirus because their access to masks and clean water is limited. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukPresident Moon declares 'belated' war on COVID-19By Kim Se-jeongThe government reported 851 additional cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, pushing the total number of patients here over 5,000, among which there have been 31 fatalities, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).A total of 5,186 cases were confirmed as of 4 p.m., of which 4,285 were from Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province. The KCDC said 23 patients were in critical condition, indicating there could be more fatalities soon.President Moon Jae-in has “declared a war” on the coronavirus and placed all government agencies on 24-hour alert. “We're in a critical phase. The crisis in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province is at its peak,” Moon said during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday. Regarding the provision

Mar 3, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
No. of coronavirus infections over 5,000
  • “Next couple of weeks is critical to Korea's coronavirus fight"
Health

Shincheonji founder's appearance draws attention

Lee Man-hee, founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus listens to his secretary during a press conference held in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. / Yonhap By Kim Se-jeongThe press conference on the ongoing coronavirus epidemic held Monday by Lee Nam-hee, the founder of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, has been attracting a great deal of public attention. The majority of coronavirus patients here are members of Lee's controversial church, considered a heretical sect by mainstream Christian religions here.Dressed in a grey suit and wearing a yellow tie from luxury brand Hermes, the 88-year-old apologized for his sect's role in the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus. Pictures of a watch he was wearing showed the name of disgraced former President Park Geun-hye and the seal of the presidential office engraved on it, triggering speculations about a political connection to the former head of state. Pro-Park Geun-hye politicians reacted by saying the watch was a fake and

Mar 3, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
Shincheonji founder's appearance draws attention
  • Who is woman next to beleaguered Shincheonji founder?
Health

Gov't plans to distribute masks through convenience stores

People wait in line outside a post office in Namyangjoo, Gyeonggi Province, to buy masks, Monday. /YonhapBy Kim Se-jeong The government is planning to use convenience stores to sell protective masks ― which are in high demand amid the new coronavirus outbreak.While a detailed plan was not available Monday, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said a continued shortage of masks despite government intervention had moved it to consider utilizing convenience stores.On Feb. 26, the government announced the decision to have mask producers distribute their masks to 2,200 of Nonghyup Bank's Hanaro Marts, 1,406 post offices and 24,000 pharmacies across the country for just under 1,000 won per mask. Pharmacies receiving the masks are located in big cities such as Seoul, while the Hanaro Marts and post offices are in Daegu, Cheongdo in North Gyeongsang Province and other small counties in other parts of the country. The daily production capacity of Korea's local mask manufacturers is 13 million.Despite these initiatives, a mask shortage continued over the weekend as deliveries were delayed for

Mar 2, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
Health

Shincheonji head apologizes for group's role in coronavirus outbreak

Shincheonji Church Founder Lee Man-hee bows on his knees to apologize during a press conference at a church facility in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, Monday./ Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulNo. of patients reach 4,335, with 26 deathsBy Kim Se-jeongThe head of the Shincheonji Church apologized Monday for causing “grave concerns” to public health as the religious group's members account for nearly 60 percent of confirmed coronavirus patients in Korea.In a rare press conference, Shincheonji founder Lee Man-hee said, “As the founder of the church, I apologize for what is happening. We didn't mean to create this mess, but a large number of patients are members of my church or those who came into contact with them.”“I did what I could do, but couldn't stop it all from spreading. I seek the forgiveness of citizens,” he said before stepping aside from a dais and bowing while kneeling down.“The government has done its utmost to prevent the virus from spreading from the Shincheonji Church in Daegu. We are fully cooperating to help it and will contin

Mar 2, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
Shincheonji head apologizes for group's role in coronavirus outbreak
Health

650,000 masks available at post offices from Monday

People wait in line outside Haengbok department store in Yangcheon District in Seoul to buy masks, Sunday. /Yonhap By Kim Se-jeong Consumers can purchase masks from all post offices from Monday, according to the government, to help prevent transmission of the new coronavirus.On Sunday, Korea Post said it will distribute 650,000 masks through the nation's 1,406 post offices starting from Monday. Each customer can buy up to five masks at a time at a price of 1,000 won per mask. Nonghyup stores are also selling masks. The new coronavirus outbreak has caused an unprecedented shortage of masks. To keep supply and prices under control, the government has begun to regulate production, distribution and exports. On Saturday, the government said it supplied nearly 4.5 million masks via public organizations. Among them, 1.54 million went to the southern cities of Daegu and Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province. About 2.1 million were in the Seoul metropolitan area. Despite the i

Mar 1, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
650,000 masks available at post offices from Monday
Health

Shincheonji founder under criminal investigation

Former members of Shincheonji Church and activists demonstrate in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seoul on Thursday, condemning church founder Lee Man-hee for playing a role in spreading the coronavirus. / Yonhap By Kim Se-jeongSuwon District Prosecutors' Office is investigating Shincheonji Church founder Lee Man-hee for his alleged role in the fast spread of the coronavirus in Korea, the office said Sunday. Of 3,526 confirmed patients, 2,113 are Shincheonji members, according to the government, Sunday. Last Thursday, a group of former Shincheonji members filed a criminal investigation with the prosecutors' office accusing Lee of disrupting the government's effort to contain the virus. “By submitting fake documents, he has impeded the government in its epidemiological efforts against the new coronavirus,” the group said in front of the district prosecutors' office. Failing to comply with the government in the infectious disease-led crisis can be punished

Mar 1, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
Shincheonji founder under criminal investigation
  • Shincheonji leader to hold press conference
Health

Coronavirus infections center on Daegu, Shincheonji followers

Quarantine officials disinfect roads in Daegu, using a military vehicle, Thursday. The city has more than 1,000 coronavirus patients. / YonhapBy Kim Se-jeongThe coronavirus outbreak appears to be spiraling out of control here after 505 new cases were reported Thursday, with most being members of the Shincheonji Church in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).The nationwide total for COVID-19 infections has now reached 1,766 as of 10:00 p.m. with 13 deaths ― the latest being a 73-year-old man from Daegu with an existing kidney problem. He was a member of the controversial Christian sect and was confirmed infected Tuesday, but had to wait at home to be hospitalized due to a shortage of hospital beds.The number of confirmed cases in Daegu alone stands at 1,132, almost two thirds of the total. Mayor Kwon Young-jin said the biggest challenge for Daegu was shortage of patient beds. The city only has 54 negative pressure rooms for patients in a serious condition. Those with minor symptoms stay in ordinary wards, but the

Feb 27, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
Coronavirus infections center on Daegu, Shincheonji followers
  • Ruling party, government fuel public's mistrust
Health

Protestant churches urged to cancel Sunday worship

Yoido Full Gospel Church is one of many mega churches that wants to keep its Sunday worship./ Korea Times fileBy Kim Se-jeong Calls are growing for Yoido Full Gospel Church, Gwanglim Methodist Church and other protestant mega-churches to halt all worship services, including those on Sunday, amid growing fears of the spread of COVID-19.Myung Sung and Somang churches canceled all of their services after both members and a pastor were confirmed to have been infected, Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Onnuri Church was the first to voluntarily axe services, replacing them with online worship.However, Youngnak Presbyterian Church in Seoul has thus far kept its Sunday worship, claiming that it should continue in a time of crisis. The Full Gospel Church also refused to cancel its Sunday services.Korea is home to a number of protestant mega-churches with more than 10,000 members each. Seoul and Gyeonggi Province alone have at least 20. Some of the most concerned about the continuation of services are those who live near the places of worship. “I am not a member of the church and so

Feb 27, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
  • International students start to exit Korea over coronavirus fears
  • Mass hoarding leads to empty Nongshim shelves, limits on ramen
  • Ruling party, government fuel public's mistrust
Health

Coronavirus patients surpass 1,000 in 37 days

Foreign tourists wearing masks tour Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, Wednesday. The number of COVID-19 infections here surpassed 1,000, Wednesday, 37 days after the first case was reported. /Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Kim Se-jeongThe Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said Wednesday that the number of COVID-19 virus infections here has surpassed 1,000, 37 days after the first case was reported.The figure reached 1,261 as of 5 p.m., up 284 from a day earlier, with the number of deaths rising to 12 from 10.A 73-year-old man from Daegu and a member of the Shincheonji Church, a Christian sect at the center of a spike in the new coronavirus cases, was the 12th person to die. The 11th was a Mongolian national, the first foreign patient to die of the virus in Korea. The KCDC said more deaths are expected, as five patients remain in very serious condition. Among the new confirmed patients was a U.S. soldier. The United States Forces Korea said the soldier was stationed in Chilgok Camp Carroll, but visited Camp Henry in Daegu, Monday. In addition, a nursing home

Feb 26, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
Coronavirus patients surpass 1,000 in 37 days
Health

Myung Sung Church scrambling to deny Shincheonji connection

Myung Sung Church has two confirmed patients now. /Korea Times fileBy Kim Se-jeong Myung Sung Church was scrambling to defend itself Wednesday against critics who are accusing it of being connected to the controversial Shincheonji Church. This comes after one of its pastors was found to have contracted COVID-19 in Daegu, the epicenter of the outbreak in Korea that mostly affected members of the controversial religious sect.“Myung Sung Church has nothing to do with Shincheonji,” the church wrote in a statement on its website. “Nor does it have anything to do with Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo. The church will respond actively to those who make false accusations.”The pastor visited a funeral hall in Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province, Feb. 14, to attend a memorial ceremony for a family member of a church acquaintance. Before the pastor placed himself in quarantine Feb. 21, he attended a worship service with 2,000 congregants and had meetings with the church's leadership.Internet commenters drew a connection between the Myung Sung pastor and Shincheonji, arguing t

Feb 26, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
Myung Sung Church scrambling to deny Shincheonji connection
  • Shincheonji's secrecy sparks concerns over mass infection
previous page
5051525354
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.