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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.

Virus-beating Chinese donates W1.2 million in thank-you gift to Korean medical workers

The handwritten letter and cash that the Chinese woman left at her treatment room in a show of appreciation to medical workers who treated her. Courtesy of NHISBy Park Si-soo A Chinese national has donated 1.2 million won ($985) to the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in a show of appreciation to South Korean medical workers who helped her fight the coronavirus. The woman, 35, also promised to make an additional donation of 10 million won in coming days to help other affected people. She was released from a NHIS-run quarantine/treatment center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on April 5, ending an 11-day coronavirus treatment, the cost of which the South Korean government fully covered. Seven doctors and four nurses committed themselves to treating her in rotation, according to the institute. The woman lives in Seoul with her Korean husband and two children and runs an online cosmetics shopping mall. She decided to make the donation after talking with a health worker who consoled her, saying: “We have to help each other with the entire nation in trouble.” “I was

Apr 8, 2020
Virus-beating Chinese donates W1.2 million in thank-you gift to Korean medical workers

Holiday in North Korea Exploring traditional liquor in North Korea

An array of liquor that is made in North Korea is on display  Korea Times photo by Jon DunbarBy Jon DunbarA close-up look at the snake-liquor  Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar“Has anyone seen my pet snake?” I shouted, running through the bus. It alarmed some of my fellow travelers, but the snake I was talking about was safely contained in a bottle full of 60 percent alcohol. I'd bought a bottle of baemsul (snake liquor) at a souvenir shop on the North Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone, and had to give it to the bus driver to get it back on our tour bus. The bottle turned up, and our anxiety was relieved ― mine, at least.When I showed my North Korean guide, he scrunched up his face in disgust. “It smells terrible,” he warned me. I'd first heard of baemsul in a song by the now-defunct South Korean rockabilly band Assignment 27, named after a North Korean action movie. All I knew was it came with a snake in the bottle, sort of like the worm in a bottle of tequila, only much bigger and more venomous. I had no intention of drinking the stuff; it still

Apr 7, 2020By Jon Dunbar
[Holiday in North Korea] Exploring traditional liquor in North Korea

Smell test: US base in South Korea tries new way to sniff out coronavirus

U.S. Forces in Korea personnel carry out “smell test” at the entrance to once if its sites. Stars and Stripes reported that the U.S. Army garrison in Daegu is carrying out an olfactory test to gauge whether a person might have COVID-19 or not. / YonhapSEOUL, South Korea ― The Army garrison in Daegu, the center of South Korea's coronavirus outbreak, is trying a new way to sniff out people who may have the respiratory disease ― a smell test.Beginning Friday, people trying to enter U.S. installations in the southeastern city were being randomly asked if they can smell apple vinegar as part of the health screening process that has been in place since the outbreak began on Feb. 20."We are now performing random smell tests at the entrance gates of Camps Walker, Carroll and Henry to help better detect personnel who may be infected by COVID-19," the garrison said Friday on its Facebook page, using the virus' official name. "Those personnel who cannot detect the screen will be further screened."Officials said Sunday the test began on an experimental basis at Camp Walker this weeke

Apr 7, 2020
Smell test: US base in South Korea tries new way to sniff out coronavirus

Tour agency adapts to new way of traveling

A group of tourists disembark a boat for an adventure with WinK Travels./Courtesy of William ChoBy Hallie BradleyTravel in the time of COVID-19 isn't on most peoples' minds. But it is for tour operators, who are changing the way they do things to adapt to a new way of traveling. With fewer people opting to get out and about and the government suggesting against non-essential travel, companies like When in Korea (WinK) Travels are looking to change with the times so that people can safely enjoy travel again. William Cho, owner of WinK Travels, explained that they “are currently having to cancel the trips but believe with proper care, people can enjoy a trip without spreading the cases.”Cho, originally an electronic engineer by training, lost his job in 2008 during the financial crisis in the U.S. and decided to make a career shift into tourism. His first trip was a tour to southeastern city of Gyeongju during the spring where travelers could ride bikes leisurely beneath the cherry blossoms. Though the trip didn't make much money, it was a huge success and he's been taking

Apr 7, 2020
Tour agency adapts to new way of traveling

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
  • Gyeonggi mulls giving universal basic income to foreign spouses, permanent residents
  • Gyeonggi to offer universal basic income to marriage immigrants, permanent residents

Coronavirus: 45 under police investigation for breaking self-isolation rules

By Park Si-soo Police are investigating 45 people for allegedly violating self-isolation rules in the fight against coronavirus. They are suspected of having broken out of designated places of quarantine or were caught resisting to be quarantined.“This is a serious law-breaking act challenging the well-being of our community,” a police officer said.Under the revised anti-infectious disease law, those caught violating the self-isolation rules can face up to a year in jail or a 10 million won ($8,196) fine ― and deportation in the case of foreigners.Earlier, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun declared a no-tolerance stance toward violators of the two-week self-isolation rules.

Apr 1, 2020
Coronavirus: 45 under police investigation for breaking self-isolation rules

Seoul's progressive Jewish community Hakehillah

Hakehillah group members tour downtown Seoul together. / Courtesy of Sarah GavinBy Hallie Bradley“Many people come to us saying, 'I'm Jewish, but …'” said Anna Toombs-Yun, co-founder of Jewish community organization Hakehillah. “But we think, 'I'm Jewish and …' is much better.”Whether you have only one Jewish parent, attended Hebrew school but never joined a community or maybe just know the tune of the “Shema,” Hakehillah believes you have the right to claim and be proud of your Jewish identity.Hakehillah is a progressive Jewish community in Seoul built around the ideas of diversity and inclusion. One of only two Jewish organizations in Seoul currently, Hakehillah is a group for everyone from the Orthodox to those who are looking for egalitarian services.“For us, living a Jewish life is crucial to feeling at home and we wanted it to be available for every Jew, not only some,” Toombs-Yun explained.Hakehillah group members socialize at a picnic. /Courtesy of Sarah GavinThe group started organically in the summer of 2017 when

Mar 31, 2020
Seoul's progressive Jewish community Hakehillah

Celebrating April Fool's Day with urban exploration

A manipulated image shows a tour bus passing through a Seoul urban renewal zone. The image was intended to emphasize the exploitative nature of poverty tourism./ Courtesy of Ron BandunBy Ron BandunIt's the most wonderful time of the year. My favorite holiday, April Fool's Day. My editor warned me there will be no pranks printed in the newspaper. So instead, I'd like to share some of my most legendary urban exploration April Fool's Day jokes of years past.I got my start in 2008 by claiming to have visited the Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang. I combined pictures of the then-abandoned shell with miscellaneous concrete construction pictures, and fooled a lot of people. Months later, one of the most popular expat blogs about Korea linked it before noticing its publishing date.For 2009, I made up another North Korea story. This time, I found a tunnel while hiking in the DMZ. I went through and came out in North Korea, where I was arrested immediately. But the North Koreans found my story amusing, so they showed me around Gaeseong before sending me home through Panmunjeom. My commentary include

Mar 31, 2020
Celebrating April Fool's Day with urban exploration

German caught ignoring self-isolation rules

By Park Si-soo Another foreigner has been caught ignoring the self-isolation rules that are being implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Busan City said Sunday a German student, 25, had ignored the instruction after entering the country on March 20. The student, enrolled at Pusan National University, is being treated at the school's hospital after testing positive for coronavirus on March 28. The student, whose identity was withheld, entered the country through Gimhae International Airport on March 20, without symptoms of coronavirus infection. Before coming to Korea, he briefly visited the United States and Japan, according to the city. Despite being devoid of suspicious symptoms, he was subject to mandatory two-week self-isolation in his dorm room. But he ignored this. Between March 25 and 27, he visited several school offices to deal with administrative issues, strolled along Haewondae beach, used the subway to visit several popular spots in Busan and played basketball on the school's playground. Fever, cough and other symptoms started emerging on March 26. He received

Mar 29, 2020
German caught ignoring self-isolation rules
  • S. Korea to mandate two-week quarantine for all international arrivals from Wednesday

Briton faces punishment for violating self-isolation rules

By Park Si-soo A Briton faces punishment for violating self-isolation rules that are being implemented nationwide to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun declared last week the “no-tolerance principle” for those ignoring self-isolation rules, under which violators will face up to one-year in jail or a 10 million won ($8,196) fine ― and deportation in the case of foreigners. According to Suwon City, the Briton in his 30s returned from Thailand on March 20 with symptoms of coronavirus infection. At Incheon International Airport, he was ordered to stay at home in Suwon for two weeks, monitoring his health.But he broke the instruction the following day ― he visited several public places in the city using a friend's car, bus or subway, having contact with at least 23 people. As symptoms continued developing, he received a virus test at a triage clinic in Yeongtong-gu at 3:30 p.m. on March 23. He was supposed to stay at home until the outcome was announced, but he ignored this. He played indoor golf the next morning and roamed outside not wearing a m

Mar 29, 2020
Briton faces punishment for violating self-isolation rules
  • S. Korea to mandate two-week quarantine for all international arrivals from Wednesday
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