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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.

Military under fire for allegedly violating human rights in COVID-19 measures

An Army officer in protective clothing guides trainees entering the Republic of Korea Army Training Center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, in this Dec. 28, 2020 photo. YonhapBy Jung Da-minA controversy is arising over the military's alleged excessive COVID-19 quarantine measures, which critics say violate the basic human rights of service members. According to the Center for Military Human Rights Korea, a human rights civic group, conscripts at the Republic of Korea Army Training Center are being treated poorly under the center's measures.They are allegedly banned from brushing their teeth and washing their face for three days after arriving at the center and are not allowed to take a shower for eight to 10 days under the name of “anti-virus measures,” according to a report by the group released Monday. “We have confirmed that trainees enter the training center every Monday, and all of the admitted trainees undergo preventive quarantine. … They receive a first PCR test on Tuesday and they are not allowed to brush their teeth nor wash their face until t

Apr 27, 2021
Military under fire for allegedly violating human rights in COVID-19 measures

New virus cases in 500s for 2nd day

A medical worker takes test samples for COVID-19 at a makeshift testing center near Seoul Station in central Seoul, April 25. YonhapSouth Korea's daily new virus cases stayed in the 500s for the second straight day Tuesday due to less testing as the country accelerates a vaccine rollout amid woes over another wave of the pandemic.The country reported 512 more COVID-19 cases, including 477 local infections, raising the total caseload to 119,898, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Tuesday's figure was slightly up from 500 the previous day. The daily caseload usually spikes from Wednesday as more people get tested. The average number of daily infections in the past week neared 700 as cluster infections and untraceable cases continued to grow amid increased social activities due to warmer weather.There were three additional deaths from the virus, raising the total to 1,820. The fatality rate was 1.52 percent. The country has designated this week as a special period to stop the rising trend of infections. Dining-in by civil servants will be banned, and work from

Apr 27, 2021
New virus cases in 500s for 2nd day
  • Moon discusses vaccine cooperation with Novavax CEO

Novavax CEO to discuss vaccine supply with Moon

SK Bioscience's vaccine production plant in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province / Captured from SK Bioscience websiteBy Kim Bo-eunNovavax CEO Stanley Erck is set to meet with President Moon Jae-in Tuesday, to discuss supply of the U.S. biotech firm's COVID-19 vaccine here.Top executives of Novavax arrived on Monday in Korea to check on its vaccine production and discuss related issues with its contract manufacturer SK Bioscience and the government. The Novavax CEO will meet the President at Cheong Wa Dae for a meeting at 3 p.m., along with the trade and health ministers and officials of SK Bioscience, presidential spokeswoman Park Kyung-mee said in a written briefing to reporters. The meeting is intended to address expanding cooperation with Novavax in vaccine production and speeding up the drug authority's approval of the vaccine, she said.The government made a deal earlier with Novavax and the SK affiliate to secure 40 million doses of Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine for 20 million individuals. SK Bioscience contract-manufactures the vaccine, and as an in-licensing partner the company is

Apr 26, 2021By Kim Bo-eun
Novavax CEO to discuss vaccine supply with Moon
  • Gov't dismisses fears of COVID-19 vaccine fiasco

Gov't dismisses fears of COVID-19 vaccine fiasco

Acting Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki announces a statement to the public regarding the country's COVID-19 inoculation plan at the Government Complex in Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulActing Prime Minister vows to administer first shots to 70 percent of population by SeptemberBy Jun Ji-hye, Nam Hyun-wooThe government sought to dismiss concerns over a possible shortage of COVID-19 vaccines and their safety, Monday, which could hamper its efforts to meet the goal of achieving herd immunity by November, amid growing fears over another wave of infections. President Moon Jae-in urged critics to refrain from creating exhausting debates about the vaccine, something he claims has caused anxiety among the public, and called on them to concentrate on the national effort to overcome the public health crisis as soon as possible.“The government has secured a sufficient amount of COVID-19 vaccines, and pushed ahead with its vaccine rollout plan without a hitch under its clear goal of achieving herd immunity by November,” Moon said during a meeting with senior secretaries

Apr 26, 2021By Jun Ji-hye
Gov't dismisses fears of COVID-19 vaccine fiasco
  • No individual choice for COVID-19 vaccine: gov't
  • Novavax CEO to discuss vaccine supply with Moon

No individual choice for COVID-19 vaccine: gov't

A police officer receives his first shot of the coronavirus vaccine from AstraZeneca at a hospital in Sejong, Monday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jinThe government will maintain its stance that individuals will not be able to choose the type of COVID-19 vaccine they receive, although Korea has secured an abundant supply of doses from five pharmaceutical companies. Following the latest deal with Pfizer for additional doses for 20 million people announced Sunday, Korea has so far secured enough doses to inoculate 99 million people, double its entire population, and 2.75 times the 36 million, or 75 percent of the population that must be vaccinated in order to reach herd immunity. This has raised speculation that the government may allow the public to choose the vaccine type they would like to receive to encourage more active participation in the nationwide immunization plan. There have been calls for individuals to be allowed to choose their vaccine following concerns over the potential blood clotting side effect of the AstraZeneca vaccine. A brief pause in the inoculation of people under the age

Apr 26, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
No individual choice for COVID-19 vaccine: gov't
  • Gov't dismisses fears of COVID-19 vaccine fiasco

New virus cases at 500 on fewer tests

A medical worker tries to take test samples for COVID-19 at a makeshift testing center near Seoul Station in central Seoul, April 25. YonhapSouth Korea's daily new virus cases fell below 600 on Monday for the first time in six days due to fewer tests over the weekend as health authorities accelerated the country's inoculation drive.The country reported 500 more COVID-19 cases, including 469 local infections, raising the total caseload to 119,387, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The country added 4 more deaths, raising the total to 1,817.Monday's figure was sharply down from 644 the previous day and 785 on Saturday.Last week, daily infections neared 800 as cluster infections and untraceable cases grew amid increased social activities due to the warmer weather.The KDCA has designated this week as a special period to stop the current pace of the outbreak.Dining-in by civil servants will be banned, and working from home as well as working half time or part of business hours will be expanded in the public sector, the authorities said.They added that tougher ru

Apr 26, 2021
New virus cases at 500 on fewer tests

Korea's immunization plan depends on timely delivery of vaccines

People over age 75 receive the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine at a vaccination center in Daegu, Friday. YonhapGov't secures additional Pfizer doses for 20 million peopleBy Lee Hyo-jin The government's immunization plan against COVID-19 depends on the timely delivery of vaccines without any delay, according to medical experts, even though the country has signed contracts to acquire enough doses for nearly double the entire population. The administration announced Saturday that it had reached a deal with Pfizer for additional doses for 20 million people, which would allow it to vaccinate 99 million with the total amount of vaccines “secured.” This is 1.9 times Korea's total population and 2.75 times the 75 percent of the people ― 36 million ― that need to be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity. Through separate deals with five pharmaceutical companies, the government has already signed contracts for vaccines from Pfizer for 33 million people, AstraZeneca for 10 million, Johnson & Johnson for 6 million, and Moderna and Novavax for 20 million people each. In addition

Apr 25, 2021By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea's immunization plan depends on timely delivery of vaccines
  • New cases on Saturday back again under 700 on fewer tests

New cases on Saturday back again under 700 on fewer tests

Vice-Minister of Education Jung Jong-chul on April 24 checks whether the country's COVID-19 safety measures are being kept at a soccer field in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, where this year's national soccer tournament for middle school students is held. Courtesy of Ministry of Education South Korea's daily new virus cases fell below 700 for the first time in five days on Saturday due to fewer tests during the weekend, amid lingering concerns about a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections.The country reported 644 more COVID-19 cases, including 603 local infections, raising the total caseload to 118,887, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The country added one more death, raising the total to 1,813.The daily infections neared 800 last week as cluster infections continued to emerge nationwide. Untraceable cases accounted for about 30 percent of all cases reported in the past two weeks, the highest ever.The greater Seoul area where more th

Apr 25, 2021
New cases on Saturday back again under 700 on fewer tests
  • Korea secures additional Pfizer vaccines for 20 million people
  • Korea's immunization plan depends on timely delivery of vaccines

Korea secures additional Pfizer vaccines for 20 million people

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong, left, speaks during a press conference at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno District, April 24, in which the government said it will import additional Pfizer vaccine doses for 20 million people. Yonhap South Korea said Saturday it has signed a deal with U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. to import additional Pfizer vaccine doses for 20 million people in a move that could ease public concerns about a vaccine shortage. The deal came after South Korean health minister Kwon Deok-cheol held two video conferences with his Pfizer counterpart on April 9 and 23."The additional deal would allow South Korea to receive coronavirus vaccines more stably," Kwon said in a news conference at the government complex building in Seoul.South Korea is set to receive Pfizer vaccine doses for 3.5 million people by the end of June. Among them, Pfizer vaccine doses for 875,000 people have already been delivered to

Apr 24, 2021
Korea secures additional Pfizer vaccines for 20 million people
  • New cases on Saturday back again under 700 on fewer tests

New virus cases on Saturday near 800 for 2nd day on increased cluster infections

A COVID-19 vaccination center in Daegu's Suseong District is crowded with visitors, April 23. YonhapNew daily COVID-19 infections here stayed in the high 700s for the second straight day Friday as community infections and untraceable cases continued to spread across the country. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) country reported 785 more coronavirus cases, including 760 local ones, raising the total caseload to 118,243.Daily infections soared to the 700 range Wednesday, deepening worries over another wave of the pandemic in Korea. Untraceable cases accounted for 29 percent of all infections reported in the past two weeks, the highest ever. The defense ministry said Friday that 39 confirmed cases were reported on the Navy's amphibious landing ship Gojunbong. The KDCA said there had been one more death, raising the total to 1,812 at a fatality rate of 1.53 percent.The greater Seoul area where more than half of the country's 52 million people resides is under Level 2 social distancing, the third highest in the government's five-tier plan, with the rest of the countr

Apr 24, 2021
New virus cases on Saturday near 800 for 2nd day on increased cluster infections
  • Public skeptical of November herd immunity goal
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