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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.

Nearly 10 million COVID-19 vaccines may be discarded in Korea

A person receives his fourth shot of the COVID-19 vaccine at a local clinic in Seongdong District, Seoul, July 18. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-hanGov't struggles to handle soon-to-expire dosesBy Lee Hyo-jin Nearly 10 million soon-to-expire COVID-19 vaccine doses are likely to be discarded in Korea amid waning demand, in sharp contrast to the early days of the national vaccination campaign when the country grappled with a scarce supply. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), as of Monday, there are a total of 14,208,000 stockpiled vaccine doses. They include 8.3 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, 2.7 million doses of Moderna, 1.98 million doses of Johnson & Johnson, 671,000 doses of Novavax and 609,000 doses of the SKYCovione, the country's first domestically developed vaccine by SK Bioscience. Considering that about 100,000 shots are being administered per week, at the current pace, about 10 million doses are likely to go to waste by the end of this year with their expiration dates approaching. The shelf life of COVID-19 vaccines is usually betwee

Sep 12, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
Nearly 10 million COVID-19 vaccines may be discarded in Korea

Yoon names vice health minister as health minister

This photo, provided by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, shows Cho Kyoo-hong, President Yoon Suk-yeol's pick for health minister, delivering remarks at an event in Seoul, Sept. 7. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk-yeol on Wednesday named the first vice health minister as the health minister, making his third pick for the job following the withdrawal of two previous nominees.Cho Kyoo-hong was tapped to head the Ministry of Health and Welfare, presidential chief of staff Kim Dae-ki said during a press briefing.Cho is the president's third choice for the position, which has been vacant since the start of the Yoon administration.Yoon's two previous nominees withdrew over allegations of various irregularities. (Yonhap)

Sep 7, 2022
Yoon names vice health minister as health minister

Korea's new COVID-19 cases below 100,000 amid virus slowdown

People wait to take COVID-19 tests at a testing center in Seoul's eastern district of Songpa, Sept. 5. YonhapKorea's new COVID-19 cases fell below 100,000 on Tuesday, marking a moderate decline from a week ago, as the spread of the virus has been waning. The country reported 99,837 new COVID-19 infections, including 273 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 23,706,477, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Tuesday's count marks a steady on-week fall from 115,615 a week earlier. The daily infection tallies have stayed in the five digits since last Thursday after hitting as high as 180,000 in mid-August. The death toll from COVID-19 stood at 27,193, up 44 from the previous day. The number of critically ill patients dropped by 26 to 536. Despite the virus slowdown, authorities have called for the public not to lower their guard, as transmission risks could rise with heavy travel expected during the four-day Chuseok fall harvest holiday starting Friday. (Yonhap)

Sep 6, 2022
Korea's new COVID-19 cases below 100,000 amid virus slowdown

New COVID-19 cases below 100,000 for 4th day amid eased virus curbs

This photo shows people participating in a makgeolli festival held in Donghae, Gangwon Province, amid eased virus curbs, Sept. 3. YonhapKorea's new coronavirus cases stayed below 100,000 for the fourth straight day, according to the country's health authorities Sunday.The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said 72,144 new COVID-19 infections, including 241 from overseas, have been confirmed, with the total caseload having risen to 23,569,192.The daily caseload jumped to 115,615 cases on Aug. 30 from 43,114 a day earlier, but it continued to decline in the past six days from Aug. 30 through Sunday. The Sunday figure plunged by 13,089 cases compared to a week earlier.The country suspended its mandatory pre-departure COVID-19 test for inbound travelers starting Saturday. A mandatory PCR test within the first 24 hours of entry into Korea remains in place.The KDCA reported 79 additional deaths from COVID-19, putting the death toll at 27,093. The number of critically ill patients came to 548, up 28 from the previous day. (Yonhap)

Sep 4, 2022
New COVID-19 cases below 100,000 for 4th day amid eased virus curbs

Korea reports 2nd case of monkeypox

A notice regarding monkeypox is put up at an arrival gate in Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, July 24. YonhapKorea confirmed its second case of monkeypox, prompting concerns over the possibility of the spread of the virus, Saturday.According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the patient, who arrived at Incheon International Airport from Europe on July 19, tested positive for the virus this week. The infected person is being treated in an isolation ward of a hospital. In June, the country reported its first case of monkeypox. The first patient was discharged from hospital in July following medical treatment. The virus, traditionally confined to regions in Central and Western Africa, can cause symptoms that include fever, chills, rash and lesions. The country has been vigilant against a potential inflow of monkeypox as an increasing number of countries have reported cases of the viral disease and international travel has increased following the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. Health authorities have designated monkeypox as a second-degree infe

Sep 3, 2022
Korea reports 2nd case of monkeypox

New COVID-19 cases below 90,000 for 2nd day

A COVID-19 testing station, set up at a community health center in Seoul, on Sept. 2. NewsisKorea's new COVID-19 cases stayed below 90,000 for the second straight day Friday, hitting the lowest for a Friday count in five weeks, as the virus wave is slowing down. The country reported 89,586 new COVID-19 infections, including 317 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 23,417,425, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The latest figure is up by about 8,000 from the previous day but marks an on-week decline considering that all numbers for Fridays were in the six digits from Aug. 5 until last week.The virus resurgence from an Omicron variant began in South Korea in early July, with the daily caseload spiking to as high as 180,000 in mid-August from as low as 3,000 in June. Authorities believe the virus wave is now on track for a gradual slowdown. Despite the slowdown, health officials called for people not to lower their guard as the pace of transmissions could pick up again around and after the Chuseok fall harvest holiday, which falls on Sept. 9-12. "Altho

Sep 2, 2022
New COVID-19 cases below 90,000 for 2nd day

Korean lunar orbiter to undergo critical trajectory maneuver on journey toward moon: KARI

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying Korea's first lunar orbiter, the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter known as Danuri, stands erect on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the United States, Aug. 4. YonhapKorea's unmanned space vehicle Danuri is scheduled to undergo a critical trajectory maneuver this week to travel toward the moon for the country's first lunar mission, officials said Thursday.Danuri, also known as the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter, was launched last month aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in the U.S. state of Florida for Korea's first space mission beyond Earth's orbit.The orbiter is currently on its way to the moon on a ballistic lunar transfer trajectory ― which takes the vehicle toward the sun before looping back to arrive at the moon's orbit in December. The route, while much longer than traveling directly toward the moon, allows more fuel efficiency as it uses the sun's gravity for travel.According to the state-run Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), Danuri is scheduled to carry out a Traject

Sep 1, 2022
Korean lunar orbiter to undergo critical trajectory maneuver on journey toward moon: KARI

New COVID-19 cases dip to 80,000s; deaths hit 4-month high

Inbound travelers wait in line to take COVID-19 tests at Incheon International Airport, Korea's main gateway west of Seoul, Aug. 31. YonhapKorea's new COVID-19 cases fell to the 80,000 range Thursday amid a moderate declining trend, though a sharp rise in the death toll called for a continued close watch over serious cases. The country reported 81,573 new COVID-19 infections, including 300 from overseas, bringing the total caseload to 23,327,897, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The latest tally is down from Wednesday's 103,503 and 113,371 counted a week ago, marking a gradual slowdown of the virus wave in line with health authorities' prediction. Korea has seen a virus resurgence since late July with the daily cases rebounding to the six digits.The newly reported deaths came to 112, the highest since April 29, putting the death toll at 26,876, the KDCA said. The fatality rate remained at 0.12 percent. The number of critically ill patients stood at 555, down 14 from the previous day. Korea is set to lift the pre-travel COVID-19 test requirement for inbound

Sep 1, 2022
New COVID-19 cases dip to 80,000s; deaths hit 4-month high

Korea to lift pre-travel COVID-19 test requirement for inbound travelers this week

Inbound travelers from abroad stand in line to take coronavirus tests at a testing station at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, Aug. 30. YonhapKorea will lift its current pre-travel COVID-19 test requirement for inbound travelers later this week, an official said Wednesday, as the government believes the recent virus wave has passed its peak and the spread of Omicron could slow down.The new rule that will take effect Saturday came after a state infectious disease advisory committee recommended the government lift the mandatory pre-travel polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for inbound travelers. "All inbound travelers, whether our nationals or foreigners, arriving aboard a plane or ship will not need to hand in a negative PCR test starting midnight of Sept. 3," Second Vice Health Minister Lee Ki-il said in a virus response meeting.Currently, inbound travelers are required to show a negative result within 48 hours of their PCR tests or within 24 hours of their rapid antigen tests to enter the country.Critics and the travel industry have called for the requirements to be

Aug 31, 2022
Korea to lift pre-travel COVID-19 test requirement for inbound travelers this week

Korea likely to see 'twindemic' in upcoming flu season

People wait to receive COVID-19 tests at a screening center in Seocho District, Seoul, Tuesday. NewsisVulnerable groups advised to receive both flu and updated COVID-19 vaccinesBy Lee Hyo-jin A “twindemic” ― a severe flu season occurring at the same time as an increase in coronavirus cases, possibly overwhelming healthcare systems ― is likely to occur in Korea this coming flu season, according to local medical experts, amounting to a worrisome scenario. Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory disease caused by a family of viruses that infect the nose, throat and even lungs in serious cases. Common symptoms of the illness include a high fever, cough and sore throat.Each year, the country grapples with a flu season which usually begins at the end of November, reaches its peak in December and lasts until as late as April.It is not the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020 that experts have warned about a possible twindemic.But Korea has so far avoided such a double whammy of viral infections. Thanks to COVID-19-induced measures such a

Aug 30, 2022By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea likely to see 'twindemic' in upcoming flu season
  • Prime Minister hints at ending pre-arrival COVID-19 tests before Chuseok holiday
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