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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.

Virus issue becoming variable in election

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) floor leader Lee In-young speaks during a press conference over the issue of 2019-nCoV (COVID-19) spread at the National Assembly, Sunday. YonhapBy Jung Da-min Less than two months ahead of the April 15 general election, the COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) epidemic has become top of the agenda in politics, and is expected to be one of the game-changers in the elections.The epidemic has provided an opportunity for the opposition parties to attack the ruling bloc by pointing to the government's “incapability” in dealing with the situation. But if the spread of the virus slows and the situation improves, it could give the advantage to the ruling party and backfire on the opposition.For now, the political prospects of using the virus look dim for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), as the number of patients has kept rising since last week due to a “super-spread event” at a branch of the Shincheonji Church in Daegu. The government and the ruling party have faced growing criticism for failing to prevent the spread in local communi

Feb 23, 2020
Virus issue becoming variable in election
  • S. Korea raises alert level to 'highest' for COVID-19

Moon's New Northern Policy gaining spotlight

President Moon Jae-in, left, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their summit in Moscow in 2018. Korea Times fileBy Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in will focus on his New Northern Policy of engaging more actively with countries situated north of the Korean Peninsula this year, including Russia, Mongolia and other countries in central Asia.The South Korean leader highlighted the New Northern Policy during his Jan. 14 New Year address, along with other diplomatic priorities such as inter-Korea relations, U.S., Japan and China as well as the New Southern Policy.“Last year, the government strengthened cooperation with ASEAN to build a community of mutual prosperity through the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit and the Mekong-Republic of Korea Summit. The government will also further solidify the South Korea-U.S. alliance this year while accelerating its New Southern and New Northern policies to diversify foreign affairs,” Moon said. Cheong Wa Dae has been putting much emphasis on the New Northern Policy since the beginning of the year. “T

Feb 21, 2020By Do Je-hae

Moon orders swift response to coronavirus

President Moon Jae-in, fourth from left, speaks during a meeting at a department store in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, Friday. YonhapBy Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in received an emergency briefing from Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, Friday, regarding the quick spread of the coronavirus in Korea.Chung designated the Daegu-Gyeongsang region as a “special care area” after the first COVID-19 death was reported in Cheongdo, a remote village in North Gyeongsang Province.“The government will carry out special measures by designating Daegu and Cheongdo as special care zones,” he said during a meeting with Moon and relevant ministers. Chung underlined the need to shift the focus on preventing the further spread of the virus locally.On Thursday alone, there were more than 50 confirmed cases at a church in Daegu, raising concerns that the epidemic is far from over.On Feb. 13, Moon expressed optimism about the epidemic, saying the situation would be resolved by the end of the month. But since the remark, the situation has grown more severe, as seen by the sharp spike in infecti

Feb 21, 2020By Do Je-hae
Moon orders swift response to coronavirus

Moon: virus spread in local communities 'very severe'

President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with people representing small and medium-sized companies, restaurant and tourism industries at a department store in Mokdong, Seoul, Friday. YonhapPresident Moon Jae-in said Friday that South Korea's fight against COVID-19 has entered a "very severe" situation but that his government will make every effort to ensure there are no loopholes in quarantine measures and to minimize the economic effects of the epidemic.He asked people to cooperate in undergoing early medical tests and treatment in case of symptoms of the novel coronavirus."It's a very severe situation," the president stated during his visit to a market for small and medium-sized firms' products in western Seoul.He cited the rapid spread of the outbreak locally.Dozens of new confirmed cases have been reported in Daegu, a three-hour drive southeast from Seoul, and nearby towns. The number of those infected with COVID-19 totals more than 150. The virus has even infiltrated into the barracks of a few military units south of Seoul, according to official reports."The government is s

Feb 21, 2020
Moon: virus spread in local communities 'very severe'
  • Korea overwhelmed by soaring number of new coronavirus cases

Xi to Moon: 'A friend in need is a friend indeed'

South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed in his telephone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday to strengthen cooperation between the neighboring countries in a desperate fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic, according to Cheong Wa Dae.They also agreed to share relevant clinical experiences of their countries, in addition to close partnership between their quarantine authorities, Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kang Min-seok said in a press briefing.Xi proposed the sharing of such clinical data, which he said China has accumulated via its monthlong battle against COVID-19.Moon replied that South Korea expects a joint response with China to the deadly virus, including the exchange of the information to be of help to his government's quarantine measures, Kang said.During the 32-minute conversation, Moon expressed his condolences over the deaths of Chinese patients.Moon said he expects China to overcome the outbreak with the unified power of its people. He then requested continued interest and support for South Korean residents and companies in China.Xi thanked

Feb 21, 2020
Xi to Moon: 'A friend in need is a friend indeed'

Moon vows support for film industry at lunch with Bong

President Moon Jae-in, right, and “Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho laugh during a luncheon at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. The President congratulated Bong and the cast of the film for winning four Oscars and pledged to provide stronger support for the film industry. YonhapBy Do Je-hae President Moon Jae-in vowed to provide more government support for the film and culture industry during a meeting with Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. The director was invited with some 20 staff and actors of the film “Parasite” which has gained numerous global accolades for dealing with the universal theme of social divide. “I am very proud that the film left a mark on the 100 years of Korea's film industry. I am also proud of the fact that the film made history at the Oscars,” Moon said during a lunch with the film's director and team, according to press pool reports. Bong swept up four Oscars and has emerged as an international star with the film becoming the first non-English movie to win the best picture award.Moon lauded the filmmake

Feb 20, 2020By Do Je-hae
Moon vows support for film industry at lunch with Bong

Ex-president gets 17-year jail term

Former President Lee Myung-bak shakes hands with his supporters after arriving at the Seoul High Court, Wednesday, to attend a trial. The appellate court increased Lee's prison sentence to 17 years from 15 on bribery and embezzlement charges and took him back into custody after he was released on bail. He is also ordered to pay a 13 billion won fine. Yonhap

Feb 20, 2020By Bahk Eun-ji
Ex-president gets 17-year jail term

Not happy with opposition's criticism

Cabinet members, including Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun in the front row, look upset as Rep. Shim Jae-cheol, the floor leader of the main opposition United Future Party, delivers a speech critical of the Moon Jae-in administration, during an extraordinary session of the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. He said the last three years under the Moon administration were a disaster, calling on people to judge the current government at the April 15 general election. / Yonhap

Feb 19, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Not happy with opposition's criticism

Justice Party seeks to set up organization for migrants

Jasmine Lee, third from right, a Philippines-born naturalized Korean politician, speaks at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday, as the minor Justice Party announces its pledges on immigrants for the April 15 general election. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooThe minor Justice Party said, Wednesday, it would seek to set up an organization to deal with matters concerning immigrants and enact an “Immigration Law.”The pledge for the April 15 general election has come amid calls for more centralized control when implementing comprehensive policies for foreigners, as current governing bodies have been set up to oversee policies on migrant workers, marriage migrants and foreign students separately.“The number of foreign nationals who live in Korea has reached 2.5 million, accounting for 4.9 percent of the total population. However, despite different types of foreigners, there are few legal and institutional supports for them,” the party chairwoman Rep. Sim Sang-jeung said in a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul.“Immigrants are vulnerable to blind

Feb 19, 2020By Kang Seung-woo
Justice Party seeks to set up organization for migrants

'Gov't needs to monitor English media on epidemics with greater scrutiny'

Rep. Heo Yun-jung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea smiles during an interview with The Korea Times at her office in the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Lawmaker urges government to win public trust to fight against fake news on virusBy Jung Da-min The government needs to monitor English media on epidemics with greater scrutiny, including the current 2019-nCoV (COVID-19) outbreak, as it reflects the government's actions to the world, which could have diplomatic, economic and social influence in the globalized era, a health expert-turned-lawmaker has said.Thus the government should offer accurate information through trusted media channels that target foreigners here or abroad, to prevent false information from spreading, she said.“As today's world is one market, South Korea's issue is not merely a domestic issue but a global issue. The government should pay particular attention how foreign media and domestic media targeti

Feb 19, 2020
'Gov't needs to monitor English media on epidemics with greater scrutiny'
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