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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.

Gov't issues back-to-work orders to 278 striking doctors

A doctor holds a sign criticizing the government medical policy at the Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. APThe health authorities issued back-to-work orders to 278 striking doctors across the country Saturday as their collective action in protest of a medical reform plan continued. The Korean Medical Association (KMA), which represents 130,000 doctors nationwide, ended their three-day walkout Friday. But interns and residents at general hospitals continued their action, and the KMA also vowed to launch an indefinite strike Sept. 7 unless the government withdrew its new plan to increase the number of medical students and open a new medical school.The government has ordered not only junior doctors in the greater Seoul area but also those in the provinces to return to work, warning of possible prison terms, as the country is faced with a prolonged spike in new COVID-19 infections.The Central Disease Control Headquarters said Saturday that it had conducted an inspection into 10 training hospitals in the country and sent out the executive order to 278

Aug 29, 2020
Gov't issues back-to-work orders to 278 striking doctors
  • New virus cases below 400 for second day

New virus cases below 400 for second day

A notice on precautions against the coronavirus is displayed at a subway station in Seoul, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. APThe number of new daily COVID-19 infections in South Korea fell below 400, Saturday, for the second straight day, but noted sporadic infection clusters in the greater Seoul area are still putting the country's fight against the coronavirus at risk.The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 323 new cases, including 308 local infections, raising the overall caseload to 19,400.Saturday's total marks a drop from the previous day when new cases came to 371; however, the number of daily infections has stayed in triple digits for more than two weeks.Since Aug. 14, a combined 4,630 cases have been reported, mostly tied to a conservative church in northern Seoul, and an Aug. 15 Liberation Day rally in central Seoul.Of the 308 local cases, 244 were identified in the capital area, home to half of the country's 51 million population. Seoul added 124, while the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and western port city of Incheon reported 100 and 20, respectivel

Aug 29, 2020
New virus cases below 400 for second day
  • Gov't issues back-to-work orders to 278 striking doctors

Doctors vow to launch indefinite strike starting Sept. 7

Choi Dae-zip, head of the Korean Medical Association (KMA) which represents local doctors, speaks during a press conference held in Seoul, Friday, announcing the KMA's plan to launch an indefinite strike starting Sept. 7, in protest of the government's new policy that centers on increasing the number of students at medical schools. YonhapA group of South Korean doctors said Friday it has decided to launch a general strike starting early September in protest of the government's new policy that centers on increasing the number of students at medical schools.The Korean Medical Association (KMA), which represents local doctors, said it has decided to launch an indefinite strike starting Sept. 7, expressing disappointment over the country's decision to submit a complaint against 10 trainee doctors who were refusing to return to work."If our demands are not met, we will stage a general strike starting on the day indefinitely," Choi Dae-zip, who heads the KMA, said.Doctors on Friday entered the last day of their three-day nationwide strike in protest of the government's medical reform schem

Aug 28, 2020
Doctors vow to launch indefinite strike starting Sept. 7

Doctors' strike begins to take toll on patients

A banner reads that medical treatment for everyone except urgent patients may be restricted or delayed at the emergency room of Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul. / YonhapBy Lee Hyo-jinA doctors' strike in protest against the government's plan to produce more doctors has begun taking a toll on patients, with the death of a patient who failed to receive emergency treatment in the southeastern city of Busan, Friday. The local 119 center received a report of a drug-poisoned man in his 40s in Buk-gu, Busan, around 11:23 p.m., Wednesday, according to the Busan Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters. Rescuers immediately searched for a nearby hospital available for suitable treatment, but failed because doctors were off duty in the nationwide walkout. The authorities stated that despite about 20 urgent calls made by hotline officials, six major general hospitals in Busan and surrounding South Gyeongsang Province, and seven other hospitals in the area refused to accept the patient.The patient's condition became critical as treatment was delayed for more than three

Aug 28, 2020By Lee Hyo-jin
Doctors' strike begins to take toll on patients
  • When will coronavirus pandemic peak?

When will coronavirus pandemic peak?

Citizens wait in long lines to receive COVID-19 testing at a public health center in Gwangju, 250 kilometers south of Seoul, Friday, after a bus driver in the city tested positive for the virus. / Yonhap'The current situation is like the calm before the storm'By Jun Ji-hyeHealth experts and government officials have shown differing opinions on when the ongoing second wave of COVID-19 infections will reach its peak, intensifying confusion among citizens amid growing fears over the resurgence of the virus.While some health experts and insurance analysts said the new wave of COVID-19 appears to have already passed its peak, other experts and health authorities warned of a further spike in the number of virus patients. Joo Young-soo, a senior official at the National Medical Center who heads the COVID-19 joint response team, said the team believes the latest wave of infections had reached its peak, at least in the Seoul metropolitan area, on Aug. 23. “The increasing trend has started to flatten out,” he said.Baek Soon-young, a professor from the College of Medicine at the Cat

Aug 28, 2020
When will coronavirus pandemic peak?
  • Doctors' strike begins to take toll on patients

Seoul extends ban on rallies of 10 or more

A man wearing face mask walks outside the Seoul City Hall in Seoul, Aug. 20, 2020. EPANew virus cases in South Korea's capital reached 146, data showed on Friday, slightly falling from the previous day's record high but still remaining in triple digits due to cluster infections.With the latest figures, the city's COVID-19 caseload totaled 3,532 as of midnight, according to the data by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the city government.Virus cases in the capital have sharply spiked following cluster infections related to churches and a mass rally in central Seoul on Aug. 15. Daily cases have mostly remained in the triple digits after dipping to 97 on Sunday. On Wednesday, it hit a record 154.Fourteen new cases were traced to Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul, which has been at the center of the recent COVID-19 resurgence in South Korea. Cases related to the church totaled 567 as of midnight.Two new cases were also identified in relation to a mass anti-government rally led by Sarang Jeil Church pastor Jun Kwang-hoon, raising the number of cluster infections

Aug 28, 2020
Seoul extends ban on rallies of 10 or more
  • Korea to retain Level 2 social distancing, consider restrictions on restaurants

Korea to retain Level 2 social distancing, consider restrictions on restaurants

A visitor wearing a face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus walks along on a nearly empty the Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. APSouth Korea will retain its Level Two social distancing requirements in Seoul and its surrounding areas for another week despite the recent surge in COVID-19 transmissions in the area, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Friday. The government will instead consider ways to restrict the operations of restaurants and cafes in its latest countermeasures to curb the rapid spread of the coronavirus, he said. "The government will extend the Level Two social distancing, set to expire this weekend, by one more week (to the following Sunday)," the prime minister said in a regular government COVID-19 response meeting. He said there are growing calls to elevate the distancing requirements to the highest Level Three, but it remains "the choice of last resort given its economic and social repercussions.""For now, (we) need to maximize the effectiveness of the Level Two distancing currently in place," he added.Starting Aug. 19,

Aug 28, 2020
Korea to retain Level 2 social distancing, consider restrictions on restaurants
  • Korea reports 371 more cases of new coronavirus
  • Seoul extends ban on rallies of 10 or more

Korea reports 371 more cases of new coronavirus

People wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus cross a road in Seoul, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. APNew coronavirus cases in South Korea are spreading fast to provinces, raising concerns over a possible nationwide second wave of infections.Of 359 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases reported here Friday, 75, or 21 percent, were from regions other than the greater Seoul area, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). On the previous day, the figure rose to 28 percent, compared to 15 percent on Aug. 14 when the country started to witness a resurgence in virus cases with triple-digit daily new cases. South Korea had brought the virus spread under control until early August, but more than 4,300 new cases have been identified in the past two weeks, mostly tied to a conservative church in northern Seoul and an anti-government march in the capital on Liberation Day on Aug. 15.Health authorities said provincial residents confirmed with COVID-19 after visiting the church or the rally appear to be serving as virus spreaders in the reg

Aug 28, 2020
Korea reports 371 more cases of new coronavirus
  • Korea to retain Level 2 social distancing, consider restrictions on restaurants

Korea's national health insurance rate to go up 2.89% in 2021

A medical worker in a booth takes samples from a woman during the COVID-19 testing at a makeshift clinic in Seoul, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. APSouth Korea's national health insurance rate will go up 2.89 percent on-year in 2021, with an average salaried worker to pay 3,399 won (US$2.86) more per month, the government said Friday.The rate increase decided by the Health Insurance Policy Deliberation Committee is slightly lower than the 3.2 percent hike set for this year, compared to 2019, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said.It said under the changes, the health insurance rate for a corporate subscriber will move up from the current 6.67 percent to 6.86 percent. This translates into health insurance payment for individuals working for a company rising to 122,727 won per month from 119,328 won this year.For so-called local subscribers, who do not work for a company, the average monthly health insurance payment for a household will reach 97,422 won in 2021 from 94,666 won at present, the ministry said.The latest increase comes as Seoul has marked up its health insurance rates by 2-3 p

Aug 28, 2020
Korea's national health insurance rate to go up 2.89% in 2021

Doctors' strike enters last day, yet trainee doctors to continue

A doctor holds a sign criticizing the government medical policy at the Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020. APDoctors entered the last day of their three-day nationwide strike Friday in protest of the government's medical reform scheme, but concerns are looming over service disruptions as trainee doctors have vowed to continue their collective actions indefinitely.Tens of thousands of practitioners have joined interns and resident doctors at general hospitals for the walkout, raising their voice against the government's move to increase the number of medical students. Their walkout has gone ahead despite a mandatory return-to-work order from the government, which has warned of possible jail terms as it would cause major difficulties when the country is faced with spiking novel coronavirus cases.The strike is the second of its kind and organized by the Korean Medical Association (KMA), which has some 130,000 members. However, the Korean Intern and Resident Association (KIRA) representing the trainee doctors, as well as fellow doctors, at major general

Aug 28, 2020
Doctors' strike enters last day, yet trainee doctors to continue
  • Gov't-doctor standoff escalating with no settlement in sight
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