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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.

Gender ministry deepens efforts to embrace diverse forms of family

Minister of Gender Equality and Family Chung Young-ai speaks during a press conference on the 2021-2025 Basic Plan for a Healthy Family Policy, at Government Complex Seoul, April 27. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jinThe social perception of the definition of family is rapidly changing in Korea. Once frowned upon, unmarried couples living together have become widely accepted. Also, the percentage of one-person households accounts for nearly one-third of the total number of households in the country, according to government data. However, the Civil Law defines “family” as based on marriage, childbirth or adoption. Other types, such as couples and roommates who live together, as well as single-person households, are not legally recognized, making them ineligible for some government programs and benefits.In this regard, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is seeking to expand the definition of family to include those who are in diverse relationships based on closeness and care for each other. In April, the ministry introduced its 2021-2025 Basic Plan for a Healthy Family Policy, wh

Oct 6, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Gender ministry deepens efforts to embrace diverse forms of family

New infections back in 2000s after long weekend

A man gets COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Mapo District, Seoul, Oct. 6. YonhapSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases surged to over 2,000 again after three days on Wednesday following a long weekend, amid concerns over the spread of the pandemic ahead of another extended weekend.The country added 2,028 more COVID-19 cases, including 2,002 local infections, raising the total caseload to 323,379, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).Daily infections rebounded after falling below the 2,000 mark on Monday and Tuesday on fewer tests. South Korea had reported more than 2,000 cases per day since Sept. 26, a day after daily cases exceeded 3,000 for the first time following the Chuseok holiday, also known as Korean Thanksgiving.The country added 12 more deaths from COVID-19, raising the death toll to 2,536. The fatality rate stood at 0.78 percent.Health authorities remain on alert over another surge in new cases after a long weekend that ended on Oct. 4 due to the National Foundation Day and ahead of another extended weekend ending on Oct. 11 due

Oct 6, 2021
New infections back in 2000s after long weekend

Against dog meat

A pet dog passes by a giant banner calling for an end to the dog meat trade, hung on a building facade by Donghaemul, a local animal rights group, in Seoul's Mapo District, Tuesday. Yonhap

Oct 5, 2021By Lee Hae-rin
Against dog meat

89 pets test positive for COVID-19

gettyimagesbankBy Lee Hyo-jin A total of 89 dogs and cats have tested positive for the coronavirus in Korea as of September, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Tuesday. Available information to date in the country and overseas shows that animals can be infected with the virus, mostly during close contact with confirmed human patients, but the risk of pet-to-human transmission is considered to be low.According to the data submitted from the ministry to Rep. Maeng Sung-kyu of the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea, 55 dogs and 34 cats have been infected here since the pandemic began in January 2020.Of them, 80 were reported in Seoul, while three were seen in Gyeonggi Province, followed by two in Sejong City. Under the government quarantine policy, if an owner is confirmed to have been infected by the virus, the local government may test their pet if it shows coronavirus-like symptoms, including fever, coughing and breathing difficulties, in cooperation with a local veterinary service center.If an animal tests positive, it will be placed un

Oct 5, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
89 pets test positive for COVID-19
  • New cases slightly under 1,600 on fewer tests

Korea moving to introduce state-run health insurance for pets

gettyimagesbankBy Bahk Eun-jiLee Seog-jae, a 65-year-old resident of Songpa District, Seoul, has been raising a Yorkshire terrier named Aree for 14 years. Because of her old age, Aree has been suffering from cataracts, so Lee has to take her to a vet often.“Every time I take Aree to the vet to renew her prescription for eye medicine, I have to pay 25,000 won,” Lee said. “But one day I learned that the medicine is the same kind that's used for people, and that it costs only 3,000 won to 4,000 won if a person gets a prescription from a doctor, because the medicine is covered by the national health insurance service.”Many pet owners, like Lee, have been complaining about the high costs of veterinary care and treatments. What bothers them more is that different veterinary clinics charge different fees to treat the same diseases, as there are no shared or official standards for veterinary fees.In this situation, calls for offering state-run health insurance for pets are gaining momentum, with the number of pet owners here reaching nearly 15 million.In one such move

Oct 5, 2021By Bahk Eun-ji
Korea moving to introduce state-run health insurance for pets

New cases slightly under 1,600 on fewer tests

Pedestrians walk past a man as he lights a cigarette on his motorbike in Seoul, Sept. 28. AFP-YonhapSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell below 1,600 on Tuesday on fewer tests during an extended weekend, but new infections may rise down the road due to increased tests.The country added 1,575 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,557 local infections, raising the total caseload to 321,352, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).Daily infections slightly fell from 1,673 cases on Monday after the nation reported more than 2,000 cases on a daily basis since Sept. 26.The country added 11 more deaths from COVID-19, raising the death toll to 2,524. The fatality rate stood at 0.79 percent.On Sept. 25, daily cases exceeded 3,000 for the first time since the start of the pandemic early last year following the Chuseok holiday. Health authorities remain on alert over another surge in new cases after an extended weekend and ahead of another extended weekend that ends on Oct. 11.For another two weeks from Monday, South Korea extended the toughest social distancing

Oct 5, 2021
New cases slightly under 1,600 on fewer tests
  • 89 pets test positive for COVID-19

Breakthrough infections surge among vaccinated soldiers in Yeoncheon

Soldiers buy bus tickets at Dong Seoul Bus Terminal, Monday. YonhapBy Lee Hae-rinA massive outbreak of COVID-19 infections has hit a military unit in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, and most of the confirmed patients had been fully vaccinated, according to the health authorities, Monday.It is the largest number of breakthrough infections here in one location.As of Saturday, 46 soldiers in the 184-member unit tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Central Disease Control Headquarters and Ministry of National Defense. Of them, 36 were fully vaccinated ― 33 had received two Pfizer shots and the remaining three, first AstraZeneca and Pfizer second.Five others also received their second shots, but it had been less than two weeks since their second one, the period which is believed necessary for one to develop enough immunity.No one is in critical condition or requires hospitalization, the ministry said.The first infection case was confirmed on Friday with a sergeant who had been on vacation from Sept. 16 to 23. He was also categorized as a breakthrough infection case. “Vaccina

Oct 4, 2021By Lee Hae-rin
Breakthrough infections surge among vaccinated soldiers in Yeoncheon
  • Fewer tests send Korea's new infections below 2,000s

Fewer tests send Korea's new infections below 2,000s

People wait to get tested for COVID-19 at a testing center in Songpa District, Seoul, Oct. 4. YonhapSouth Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell below the 2,000s on Monday as fewer people took virus tests over the weekend amid fears over the wide spread of the virus. The country added 1,673 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,653 local infections, raising the total caseload to 319,777, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Health authorities remained on alert over another surge in new cases as two back-to-back extended weekends are likely to prompt more people to travel.The government designated Monday as a substitute holiday for Oct. 3 National Foundation Day. The Oct. 9 Hangeul Day, which marks the proclamation of the Korean alphabet, will be observed as a three-day extended weekend.The country added six more deaths from COVID-19, raising the death toll to 2,513.For two weeks from Monday, South Korea extended the toughest social distancing rules in the greater Seoul area, home to half of the population of 52 million. Since July 12, the greater Seoul ar

Oct 4, 2021
Fewer tests send Korea's new infections below 2,000s
  • Breakthrough infections surge among vaccinated soldiers in Yeoncheon

0.6% of people fail to get second COVID-19 vaccine shot

A bottle of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is ready to be administered at a hospital in Seoul, Friday. As of Sept. 25, 0.6 percent of Koreans who received their first COVID-19 vaccine shots did not get their second injections by the scheduled dates. YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooAs Korea tries to reach its target vaccination rate of 70 percent by October, some people who received their first doses are giving up on getting their second shots, thus failing to achieve full vaccination.According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Sunday, 0.6 percent of those who received their first COVID-19 shots did not receive their second ones by the scheduled dates as of Sept. 25. Those who suffered from side effects of the first shots and heard of stronger side effects of the second doses have declined to receive their follow-up injections despite not being fully vaccinated. The rate also includes those who missed their appointments for the second shots as well.A number of petitioners posted on the Cheong Wa Dae website claiming that their family members or friends have died or became seri

Oct 4, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
0.6% of people fail to get second COVID-19 vaccine shot

Korea in talks with Merck to pre-purchase COVID-19 pills

This undated image provided by Merck shows its experimental COVID-19 pills. The pharmaceutical company said, Friday, that the oral treatment reduced hospitalization and deaths by half in people infected with the virus. AP-YonhapBy Kim RahnPublic health authorities here have said they are holding talks with Merck to pre-purchase its COVID-19 treatment pill, which the U.S. drugmaker said can reduce hospitalization and deaths by half. News of the talks came a day after the pharmaceutical company announced that its experimental pill showed efficacy for people recently infected with the coronavirus, and that it would seek authorization for the use of the drug with health authorities in the U.S. and other countries.“We've been notified by Merck of the early results of its clinical tests of the pill. We believe the results about reduced fatality rates and efficacy for variants are positive,” the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) told reporters, Saturday.“But it goes against the principle to make public the details of such discussions. We'll make them publi

Oct 3, 2021By Kim Rahn
Korea in talks with Merck to pre-purchase COVID-19 pills
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