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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.

In masks and gloves, Korea holds general elections amid pandemic

A women wearing a face mask to help protect against the spread of the new coronavirus waits to cast her vote for the parliamentary election at a polling station in Seoul, Wednesday, April 15, 2020. APArmed with face masks and plastic gloves, South Koreans voted for a new National Assembly on Wednesday under strict coronavirus quarantine procedures, such as temperature taking, sanitizing hands and distancing from each other in lines.South Korea is the first major country to hold nationwide elections since the coronavirus pandemic. Whether the country can successfully hold the elections without worsening the outbreak will be watched closely from overseas as it may serve as a guideline for other countries for safe voting. Election officials and voters followed strict quarantine guidelines and taking extra caution at this year's polling stations.Voters were advised to wear masks and asked to stand at least 1 meter apart from each other, with red signs on the floor marking the distance.Election officials then conducted mandatory temperature checks on voters coming inside the building

Apr 15, 2020
In masks and gloves, Korea holds general elections amid pandemic
  • Voters head to polls despite pandemic

PHOTOS Election day: Changing scenes at polling stations amid coronavirus

A woman in a face mask and disposable gloves ― preventive gear against the coronavirus spread ― casts her vote Wednesday at a polling station in Daejeon. YonhapBy Lee Gyu-leeAs South Korea's parliamentary elections began Wednesday morning, voters arriving at polling stations to elect lawmakers took measures to protect themselves against the spread of the coronavirus. The following photos show how the pandemic has changed the process at polling stations across the nation: A voter has his temperature checked before entering a polling station to cast his vote in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province. YonhapA man gets hand sanitizer to help protect against the coronavirus spread as he waits in line to cast his vote at a polling station in Daegu. YonhapA voter gets help to put on disposable gloves to help prevent the coronavirus infection at a polling station in Jongno-gu, central Seoul. Yonhap People wait in line to cast their votes while keeping their distance at a polling station in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, to help protect against the spread of the virus. YonhapA thermal

Apr 15, 2020By Lee Gyu-lee
Election day: Changing scenes at polling stations amid coronavirus [PHOTOS]
  • PHOTOS Parties react to exit polls

Voter turnout hits 62.6% in general elections as of 5 pm

A man wearing a face mask to help protect against the spread of the new coronavirus has his temperature checked upon his arrival to cast his vote for the parliamentary election at a polling station in Seoul, Wednesday, April 15, 2020. APVoter turnout for the parliamentary elections Wednesday reached 62.6 percent as of 5 p.m., the highest turnout of elections conducted since 2000, the National Election Commission (NEC) said.According to the commission, some 27.5 million South Koreans had completed casting ballots with one hour left for the voting at 14,330 polling stations nationwide in crucial elections that are seen as a referendum on President Moon Jae-in amid the country's fight against the new coronavirus.The voter turnout hit a record high for nationwide elections conducted since 2000.The figure includes part of a record high turnout of 26.69 percent in last week's two-day early voting, as well as votes by overseas South Korean nationals and those aboard ships, the NEC said.Wednesday's turnout already topped the 2016 elections' 58 percent and surpassed 60 percent for the first t

Apr 15, 2020
Voter turnout hits 62.6% in general elections as of 5 pm

Voters head to polls despite pandemic

A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Gwangjin District in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapSouth Koreans voted in parliamentary elections amid the coronavirus pandemic Wednesday, with turnout at nearly 60 percent just hours before the voting was to end in a sign of intense public interest in what is seen as a referendum on President Moon Jae-in.As of 4 p.m., 26.3 million people, or 59.7 percent of the total 44 million eligible voters, had completed casting their ballots, with two hours left until voting ends at 14,330 polling stations across the nation, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). The polls opened at 6 a.m.The turnout, which included part of a record high turnout of 26.69 percent in last week's two-day early voting, is 9.5 percentage points higher than at the same time in the previous elections four years ago.South Korea holds the quadrennial parliamentary elections to fill the 300-seat unicameral National Assembly -- with 253 directly elected seats and 47 proportional representation (PR) slots. The country has gone ahead with the elections as its mas

Apr 15, 2020
Voters head to polls despite pandemic
  • In masks and gloves, Korea holds general elections amid pandemic

FULL TEXT President Moon Jae-in's remarks at ASEAN+3 video summit

Presiden Moon speaks at the ASEAN+3 video summit at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. YonhapThe following is an unofficial translation of President Moon Jae-in's remarks during the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Special Summit on COVID-19 Response. It was provided by his office, Cheong Wa Dae.I would like to thank the secretary-general for his briefing and the leaders for their valuable insights. In the course of responding to COVID-19, the Republic of Korea has consistently adhered to the three principles of openness, transparency and democracy. To contain the spread of infectious diseases and reduce mortality, I believe the best way is to conduct intensive contact tracing and diagnosis to promptly identify, isolate and treat infected persons and their contacts, and also take other necessary measures.Such actions need to be backed up by swift and timely diagnostic tests. Through the "Emergency Use Authorization" system, Korea commercialized highly accurate diagnostic reagents early on. In addition, apart from designated screening centers, drive-thru and walk-through testing sites and other creative m

Apr 14, 2020By Do Je-hae
[FULL TEXT] President Moon Jae-in's remarks at ASEAN+3 video summit
  • Moon discusses virus measures with ASEAN, China, Japan

Moon discusses virus measures with ASEAN, China, Japan

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a video conference with leaders from ASEAN members as well as China and Japan at Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday. YonhapBy Do Je-hae President Moon held a video conference with leaders from China, Japan and the 10 ASEAN countries, Tuesday, to discuss a joint response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the emergency meeting of the ASEAN+3 nations, Moon made three proposals to raise the effectiveness of anti-virus measures and strengthen policy coordination among them. He underlined that active bilateral and multilateral cooperation will be essential to provide quarantine and medical supplies in a timely manner to those in urgent need. "Korea will secure additional funding for humanitarian assistance and respond to the fullest extent possible to any calls for help from other countries, including ASEAN," Moon said. "We are also discussing ways to utilize the ASEAN-ROK Cooperation Fund. I hope we can overcome the COVID-19 crisis together by mobilizing all the resources at our disposal, including the assistance made through trust funds at the Asian Development Ban

Apr 14, 2020By Do Je-hae
Moon discusses virus measures with ASEAN, China, Japan
  • FULL TEXT President Moon Jae-in's remarks at ASEAN+3 video summit

Nation set to go to polls

A local government official checks a voting stamp and other items needed for voting at a polling station in central Seoul, Tuesday, a day ahead of the general election to form the 21st National Assembly. The vote will be held at 14,330 polling stations nationwide, where special measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus will be carried out, such as temperature checks, providing disposable plastic gloves and operating a separate booth for those with high temperatures or respiratory symptoms. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Jung Da-min Voters will cast ballots at 14,330 polling stations, Wednesday, to elect 300 lawmakers through two votes, one for 253 single-member constituencies and the other for the remaining 47 proportional representation seats. Voting will be held from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.Attention is focused on whether the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) can ride on its high approval ratings ― seen in a series of surveys ― to secure a majority of seats, or the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) can pull off an unexpected result to win a large enough number of

Apr 14, 2020
Nation set to go to polls

Election campaign leader defends North Korean defector who became millionaire in South Korea

Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean defector who is running for a parliamentary seat in South Korea, speaks at the National Assembly in Seoul on March 3. Korea Times fileBy Jung Min-hoThe main opposition party's election campaign leader has defended Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat and defector, after the ruling party attacked him for his privileged life ahead of Wednesday's general elections.“Thae has accumulated his wealth through lawful means; he gave many lectures and wrote a book that became a bestseller,” Park Hyung-joon, co-chair of the conservative United Future Party's election campaign committee, said during CBS radio's “Kim Hyun-jung's News Show” on Tuesday.“This shows the stark contrast between South and North Korea. In the South, you can work hard to have property.”Thae, 57, who was North Korea's deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, defected to the South with his wife and two sons in 2016. He is now standing for election in Gangnam, one of the nation's richest constituencies, against Kim Sung-gon, a four-term lawmaker f

Apr 14, 2020By Jung Min-ho
Election campaign leader defends North Korean defector who became millionaire in South Korea

Parties make last-ditch efforts to win election

Hwang Kyo-ahn, the leader of the main opposition United Future Party, asks for voters' support in Wednesday's general election, during a news conference in Seoul, Tuesday. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Kang Seung-wooThe rival political parties were engaged in last-minute campaigns in Seoul and its surrounding area on the eve of election day, Tuesday, in attempts to win over swing voters.On the last day of the 13-day official campaign period, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) asked citizens to ensure administrative stability amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) stressed the need to deliver a judgment on the government's performance.The general election to make up the 300-seat National Assembly will be held nationwide today from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Seoul and its neighboring regions ― Gyeonggi Province and Incheon ― are seen as the most important political battlefields given that a total of 121 parliamentary seats are up for grabs there.Lee Nak-yon, a former prime minister who is running in the Jongno district in central Seoul

Apr 14, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Parties make last-ditch efforts to win election

Parties focus on campaigns in Seoul, adjacent areas on eve of elections

A high-profile race is expected between former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon of the ruling party and Hwang Kyo-ahn, chief of the main opposition party, who are running in the Jongno district in central Seoul. Korea Times filePolitical parties focused on campaigns in the toughest battlegrounds of Seoul and the surrounding province Tuesday, the last day of the official electioneering for this week's parliamentary polls.South Korea will hold the quadrennial parliamentary elections Wednesday to fill the 300-seat unicameral National Assembly at a time when it is fighting COVID-19.Up for grabs will be 253 directly elected seats and 47 proportional representation (PR) slots as voters will be allowed to cast two ballots ― for a candidate and a political party.The upcoming elections are widely seen as a vote of confidence for President Moon Jae-in, who is in his third year in office.On the last day of the 13-day campaign period, rival political parties ramped up efforts to appeal to voters in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, where 121 directly elected seats are available.A high-profile race is expec

Apr 14, 2020
Parties focus on campaigns in Seoul, adjacent areas on eve of elections
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