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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.

How COVID-19 pandemic affects foreign residents in Korea

GettyimagebankBy Kim Se-jeong The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic can be felt especially hard by foreign residents in Korea ― many don't speak the language and are considered outsiders here. They have little support around them and visiting their families in their home countries is almost impossible due to travel bans and lockdowns around the world.The Korea Times contacted several foreign residents from English-speaking countries who are living, or based, in Seoul and asked them to describe their situations. All, but one, declined to disclose their full names.An American, who wants to be identified as only David, has probably suffered the most. A resident of Seoul for 35 years, he teaches tourism at a major university in Seoul but has been stuck in the Philippines ever since. He flew to the Philippines in January to stay with his wife and son there for a winter break, but couldn't get back. “President Duterte has imposed one of the world's strictest lockdown policies. I can't leave except by special arrangements that are too expensive. I have a flight booked on AirAsia, but it

Sep 2, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
How COVID-19 pandemic affects foreign residents in Korea
  • Will COVID-19 change Chuseok customs?

Tensions escalate between gov't, Sarang Jeil Church over COVID-19

Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church gives a public statement at a press conference held in front of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, northeastern Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jinTensions are escalating between the government and Sarang Jeil Church over a COVID-19 outbreak linked to the controversial church, as the state-run health insurance operator vows to seek reimbursement from the church for coronavirus treatment costs. Quarantine authorities claim pastor Jun Kwang-hoon and his followers have been obstructing the government's anti-infection efforts by refusing to submit a list of church members and lying about their whereabouts.On Wednesday, the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) announced its intention to seek COVID-19 treatment costs of church members to be covered by Sarang Jeil Church. It plans to demand about 5.5 billion won ($4.6 million) spent to treat 1,035 church-related patients. The average coronavirus treatment cost per patient is 6.32 million won, and the NHIS covers 5.34 million won of the total.“We will soon take legal procedures after spe

Sep 2, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin
Tensions escalate between gov't, Sarang Jeil Church over COVID-19

Will COVID-19 change Chuseok customs?

People are on the move at Seoul Station as they depart for their hometowns during the Chuseok holiday in this photo taken last September. Millions of Koreans usually travel across the country to visit relatives during one of the nation's biggest annual celebrations, but this tradition could face changes this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukKorea reports 267 new virus cases; total caseload raised to 20,449By Jun Ji-hyeMany Koreans usually travel to their hometowns across the country to spend time with their families during the Chuseok holiday, but some changes in this custom are expected during this year's holiday due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chuseok is one of Korea's biggest annual celebrations, falling on Oct. 1 this year with a five-day holiday period starting Sept. 30. An increasing number of people are talking about refraining from the holiday commute this time, to aid the nationwide efforts to stem the spread of the contagious disease.Ahn Seong-hwan, 45, who runs a bus company in Gyeonggi Province, said, “I am fearful of virus infecti

Sep 2, 2020
  • How COVID-19 pandemic affects foreign residents in Korea
  • 'Ancestors skipped ancestral rites during pandemic'

Korea on tightrope in virus fight amid slightly flattened curve

People disinfect as a precaution against the coronavirus at a local market in Seoul, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020. APSouth Korea's spiking new daily virus cases have taken a breather, staying under 300 for the fourth consecutive day, but this week may be a critical juncture in determining whether the country will experience yet another round of outbreaks or not, as untraceable infections and patients in serious condition continued to rise.The country reported 267 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, raising the total caseload to 20,449, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). It marked the 21st consecutive day of a triple-digit rise, but the figure has been slightly decelerating after reaching 441 on Thursday. Since Sunday, the daily number has stayed below 300.Health authorities said the country's enhanced social-distancing scheme adopted over the weekend appears to be kicking in, although infections with unknown transmission routes and patients in critical condition are expected to increase down the road. "The slowdown in the number of new cases is continuing

Sep 2, 2020
Korea on tightrope in virus fight amid slightly flattened curve
  • New infections stay under 300 for fourth day

New infections stay under 300 for fourth day

Police officers wearing face masks and shields to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus stand guard at Gwanghwamun square in Seoul, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. APThe number of additional new coronavirus cases stayed below 300 for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, probably helped by the enhanced social distancing scheme, but the growing number of untraceable infections, together with more critically ill patients, is making the country's virus fight tougher.The country reported 267 new COVID-19 cases, including 253 local infections, raising the total caseload to 20,449, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).It marked the 21st consecutive day of triple-digit rises. The country has been reporting three-digit new COVID-19 cases since Aug. 14, led by group infections from a conservative church in the capital city.The daily new infections continued to snowball to 441 on Thursday, far below the record high of 909 cases reported in late February. But a huge chunk of infections reported over the past few weeks came from the greater Seoul area t

Sep 2, 2020
New infections stay under 300 for fourth day
  • Korea on tightrope in virus fight amid slightly flattened curve

Another legal battle set to haunt Samsung heir

Lee Jae-yongLee Jae-yong charged with fraud in mergerBy Kim Se-jeong Prosecutors indicted Samsung Group Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong without physical detention, Tuesday, on multiple charges related to a controversial merger of the group's units and alleged accounting fraud. Lee was indicted on counts of stock manipulation, violation of laws governing the capital market and external audits, and breach of trust during the merger between Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T, as well as accounting fraud at another group affiliate, Samsung Biologics. The prosecution also indicted 10 former senior executives of Samsung on similar charges for allegedly assisting Lee in the fraudulent activities surrounding the merger. “It is a case that can have grave consequences. Also, we have clear-cut evidence against them and the case is of interest to the public. With this backdrop, we conclude the case needs a judicial review,” said prosecutor Lee Bok-hyun, head of the investigation team, Tuesday. In response, Samsung criticized the prosecution, saying it was politically charged and had th

Sep 1, 2020By Kim Se-jeong
Another legal battle set to haunt Samsung heir

Korea's COVID-19 infections surpass 20,000

Citizens wait for virus tests at Seoul Medical Center in Seoul, Tuesday, when the accumulated number of COVID-19 cases surpassed 20,000. YonhapBy Bahk Eun-jiSouth Korea's total COVID-19 caseload exceeded 20,000, Tuesday, with the country seeing triple-digit daily increases for 19 consecutive days. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 235 new cases Monday, including 222 local infections, raising the total case load to 20,182.The daily number has dropped by almost half in five days since Aug. 27 when it peaked at 441, the highest daily rate in the last six months.However, the health authorities said the situation is still unstable and there could be another resurgence at any time as among the local cases detected, 175 were in the capital area, home to half of the country's 51 million population ― Seoul reported 93 new cases, while the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and west port city of Incheon reported 60 and 22 each.“The main reason for reinforcing social distancing measures is that we judged there was a limit to tracking the virus infection route

Sep 1, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Korea's COVID-19 infections surpass 20,000
  • Bakeries, convenience stores become blind spots for quarantine

Bakeries, convenience stores become blind spots for quarantine

People gather in a bakery in Jung-gu, Seoul, in this Aug. 31 photo. Enhanced social distancing rules have been in force in the greater Seoul area since Aug. 30. / Korea Times photo by Hong In-kiBy Lee Hyo-jin Bakeries and convenience stores are becoming quarantine blind spots ― along with university libraries ― after coffee store franchises and restaurants were placed under limited operation orders on top of enhanced social distancing rules in the greater Seoul area.Following the sudden resurgence of COVID-19 infections in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, the government has reintroduced strengthened quarantine measures restricting the operation of restaurants and cafes, but people are still gathering in places not subject to the latest restrictions.Hwang Soo-yeon, a college student studying for the civil service exam, said she began to study at her university's library in Anam, eastern Seoul, after the public library she was using closed last Saturday. “The university library is crammed although we don't have any in person classes on campus this semester,” Hwang said

Sep 1, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin
Bakeries, convenience stores become blind spots for quarantine
  • Korea's COVID-19 infections surpass 20,000

New virus cases under 300 for third day

People wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus are reflected in mirrors at a subway station in Seoul, Monday Aug. 31, 2020. APThe number of daily new coronavirus cases in South Korea stayed under 300 for the third consecutive day Tuesday, but health authorities remain vigilant over a rise in cases with unknown transmission routes and a growing number of patients in critical condition.The country reported 235 new COVID-19 cases, including 222 local infections, raising the total caseload to 20,182, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The total caseload surpassed the 20,000 mark for the first time since the country reported its first case on Jan. 20.Tuesday's daily tally marks a slight drop from 248 cases identified the previous day.The country's daily tally of COVID-19 cases went down for the fifth straight day after it reached a near six-month high of 441 cases Thursday. South Korea reported 371 cases on Friday, 323 cases on Saturday and 229 cases on Sunday.The KCDC said the number of COVID-19 patients in critical

Sep 1, 2020
New virus cases under 300 for third day

Gov't, doctors are alike in holding patients in tug-of-war

A doctor hands out pamphlets to visitors in front of Seoul National University Hospital, Monday, in a bid to gain public support for doctors' nationwide protest against the government's decision to increase admission quotas at medical schools. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeWhile doctors have so far been a major target of public criticism regarding their nationwide strike, the government is also being criticized for aggravating the situation by unilaterally pushing for medical workforce reform plans at a time when the country is struggling to fight the second wave of COVID-19 infections.Some citizens have already fallen victim in the ongoing conflict between doctors and the government ― a patient in his 40s who failed to receive emergency treatment in Busan due to the doctors' walkout died last Thursday, while major general hospitals have reduced clinic hours and postponed some surgeries.Some medical professors said the government should not be free from responsibility for the ongoing conflict that has brought about enormous inconvenience to citizens, as it has pushed ahead with its reform pla

Aug 31, 2020
Gov't, doctors are alike in holding patients in tug-of-war
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