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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.

Opening schools in September suggested

Empty classroom in a Gangwon Province high school / YonhapBy Do Je-hae Some politicians have come forth with the suggestion that Korea consider starting each school year in the fall, as in many other countries around the world, rather than starting it in March, amid the delayed opening of schools nationwide to prevent the spread of COVID-19.South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kyoung-soo recently made the suggestion on his Facebook after the Ministry of Education delayed the opening of the new semester again. Korea's elementary, middle and high schools were initially supposed to start the new school year on March 2, but the start has been delayed three times so far, to March 9, March 23 and now to April 6. Some parents and quarantine officials want an even further delay, as the nation is still seeing a considerable number of confirmed cases of COVID-19.Proponents of the autumn school year system have pointed out that starting the school year in spring goes against global standards. “Among the member states of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), on

Mar 24, 2020By Do Je-hae
Opening schools in September suggested

Too many parties confuse voters

A citizen passes by a promotional booth for the General Election in Incheon, March 23. YonhapBy Do Je-hae The rapid establishment of new parties is confusing voters ahead of the April 15 general election, as there are so many and their names are very similar.As of March 24, there are 50 parties registered with the National Election Commission (NEC). In addition, there are 27 preparatory committees which have registered with the NEC to form new political parties soon. Such newly launched minor parties are targeting proportional representation seats, as the revised Election Law gives a larger chance to minor parties to win these seats with the goal of reflecting various public opinions.A number of the parties have used the same words in their names, such as “minju” or “minjoo” (democracy), “kukmin” (the people) and “mirae” (future), which will make it all the more confusing for voters when looking at the ballot sheet at the voting booths. “Minju” is one of the most commonly used words, so far included in the names of six parti

Mar 24, 2020By Do Je-hae
Too many parties confuse voters
  • Satellite parties confirm proportional representation candidate lists

Satellite parties confirm proportional representation candidate lists

An official of Civil Together, a satellite party of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, enters the party office on Yeouido, Seoul, Tuesday, the day it announced the list of proportional representation candidates for the April 15 general election. YonhapBy Jung Da-min Three weeks ahead of the April 15 general election, “satellite parties” of the ruling party and the main opposition party have confirmed their candidate lists for proportional representation.Both the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) decided earlier to create “separate paper parties” for the proportional representation seats in a bid to gain more seats under a new electoral system. The DPK's satellite party Civil Together, created by pro-Moon Jae-in civic groups and several minor liberal parties, finalized its list of 35 candidates for proportional representation, Tuesday. Shin Hyun-young, a professor of family medicine in Myongji Hospital, gained the top spot in the list. She is known for her contribution in the nationwide COVID-19 containm

Mar 24, 2020
Satellite parties confirm proportional representation candidate lists
  • Too many parties confuse voters

President urges thorough probe into Telegram child porn case

President Moon Jae-in / YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in called Monday for a thorough investigation into shocking sex crimes against women, including underage girls, in which group chat rooms of the Telegram messenger service were used.He described the acts of the offenders in the so-called Nth room case as "cruel" behavior that destroyed the lives of victims and said he "feels sympathetic" to the "justifiable" public fury over it.At least 74 women, including 16 minors, were sexually abused and exploited for several months, as they were virtually enslaved with threats of spreading photos of their naked bodies, according to police. They were forced to photograph or film themselves doing sexual acts, even grotesque ones. Those were shared with a host of viewers in the chat rooms. The number of members, who paid money for the materials, reportedly reaches 260,000.Moon stressed the need to probe all members of the chat rooms, not just those who uploaded and distributed the photos and videos. according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok."Police should take this incident as a serious crim

Mar 24, 2020
President urges thorough probe into Telegram child porn case
  • Face of notorious child porn suspect revealed
  • Police chief vows full probe into everyone involved in Telegram child porn case

Virus pandemic unprecedented test for young generation

Jalen Grimes, 13, smiles as her 7-year-old sister, Sydney, prepares for a cartwheel outside their home in Chicago on Sunday. Both girls are now doing schoolwork at home because of the virus pandemic. / AP-YonhapFor Jalen Grimes, the virus pandemic is stirring up a slew of emotions. ``Annoyed`` is the first one the 13-year-old Chicagoan mentions. "Scared, confused, worried.''She was supposed to be enjoying the end of her eighth-grade year, a rite of passage in states like Illinois, with a graduation and a school trip that are not likely to happen. That's hard enough. But her father is also about to be deployed as a paramedic, a more dangerous than usual job in these times. Her mom, a therapist, also has been on call a lot and is prone to pneumonia. And then there are her grandparents."It's a lot of fear with family members and stuff,'' Jalen said. "I think a lot of us don't think it will affect us, but it's a worry.''As this crisis unfolds, her generation likely be tested like never before, especially those whose families are already on the edge, financially and health-wise. "It's goi

Mar 23, 2020
Virus pandemic unprecedented test for young generation

Ruling party in internal feud over candidates list

Officials of the candidate nomination panel of the Civil Together, a minor party created by pro-Moon Jae-in civic groups and several minor liberal parties, prepare to screen proportional representation candidates at their headquarters on Yeouido, Seoul, Sunday. The party is serving as a “satellite party” of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). The Civil Together Party's logo has the same font and color as that of the DPK. YonhapBy Jung Da-min The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is undergoing internal feud over the list of its proportional representation candidates who will be members of its “satellite party,” Civil Together.Last week, the ruling party decided to cooperate with Civil Together, a minor party created by pro-Moon Jae-in civic groups and several minor liberal parties, in a bid to win more proportional representation seats in the April 15 general election under the new electoral system. Some DPK members have left the ruling party and joined the Civil Together to run under the ticket of the “paper party” with plans to return

Mar 23, 2020
Ruling party in internal feud over candidates list

Gov't to take legal actions against churches ignoring 'social distancing' guidelines

Churchgoers confront public officials trying to enter Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul on Sunday. The church held public services despite the government's strong request not to hold public gatherings at religious, indoor sports and recreational facilities as part of efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus. YonhapSouth Korea will take legal action against several Protestant churches for violating the government's guidelines for preventing the massive spread of the new coronavirus, the prime minister said Monday.As part of the government's drive for stricter social distancing, health authorities advised churches to follow quarantine measures, including keeping the distance between followers at least 2 meters while attending services and having their temperature checked.But some churches, including Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul, pressed ahead with weekend religious services, without abiding by some of the guidelines.Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said stern government measures, including banning gatherings, should be imposed on churches that have ignored the virus guidelines."The

Mar 23, 2020
Gov't to take legal actions against churches ignoring 'social distancing' guidelines

Former Real president Sanz dies after contracting coronavirus

Former Real Madrid team's President Lorenzo Sanz delivers a speech to launch his candidature for Real Madrid's President in Madrid, Spain, June 6, 2006. According to reports, his son Fernando Sanz reported on twitter that Lorenzo Sanz has died Saturday. Sanz, 76, was infected with the Coronavirus and had COVID-19 disease. / EPA-YonhapMADRID (AFP) - Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz, who was hospitalized with coronavirus, died on Saturday at the age of 76, his son announced.Sanz was in charge of the Spanish giants from 1995-2000, overseeing two Champions League titles."My father has just passed away. He did not deserve this ending and in this way," tweeted his son, Lorenzo Sanz junior."One of the best, bravest and hardest-working people I have ever seen. His family and Real Madrid were his passions."Three days ago, Sanz Jr., a former professional basketball player, said that his father had been admitted to a Madrid hospital after suffering the symptoms of the coronavirus which has killed more than 1,320 people in Spain. Sanz claimed a place on the Real Madrid board in the mid-

Mar 22, 2020
Former Real president Sanz dies after contracting coronavirus

COVID-19 to affect election turnout, results

Postmen and university students promoting the work of the National Election Committee's Daejeon branch encourage people to vote in the April 15 general election at the Daejeon Post Office, Thursday. YonhapBy Jung Da-min The protracted COVID-19 outbreak has become a major variable in the upcoming general election while other political matters are gaining little attention in the shadow of the all-consuming virus issue, according to political watchers, Sunday.Watchers say voters are more likely to vote without enough information about the candidates and their promises, as well as the parties, than in previous elections, as the media has been focusing on the virus spread and containment despite the elections being just around the corner.Political pundits have presented different expectations over voter turnout and how the pandemic will affect the result of the elections. Some said the turnout will be lower than before but others say it will remain at similar levels to previous polls. Park Myoung-ho, a professor of political science and diplomacy at Dongguk University, said voter turnout

Mar 22, 2020
COVID-19 to affect election turnout, results

President, ministers to return 30% of salary for COVID-19 control efforts

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and Cabinet members hold an emergency workshop at the Government Complex Seoul, Saturday, when they agreed to return 30 percent of their salary for four months to fund the efforts to contain COVID-19. / YonhapBy Kim RahnPresident Moon Jae-in and high-ranking government officials will return 30 percent of their monthly salary over the next four months to help fund nationwide efforts to combat COVID-19. The Prime Minister's Secretariat said, Saturday, that Cabinet members and heads of government agencies decided to do this during an emergency workshop presided over by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun at the Government Complex in Seoul that day.Their salary will be returned to the state coffers, and the finance ministry will use the money for quarantine efforts and support for people financially hit by the pandemic.Moon, Chung, and minister- and vice minister-level officials will join the move, which will be applied to salaries this month through June.“They agreed on the partial salary return to share pain with the people,” the secretariat said in

Mar 22, 2020By Kim Rahn
President, ministers to return 30% of salary for COVID-19 control efforts
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