South Korea

South Korea tightens restrictions, mandates wearing of masks

South Korea's capital Seoul on Monday mandated the wearing of face masks in both indoor and outdoor public places for the first time, as the country battles a surge in…

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South Korea reports biggest rise in coronavirus cases since March

South Korea reported its highest daily rise in novel coronavirus cases since early March on Sunday, as outbreaks continued to spread from a Seoul church and from political demonstrations its…

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South Korea urges more testing, quarantines as coronavirus cases hit 5-1/2 month high

South Korean health authorities warned on Friday that a cluster of coronavirus infections in the capital Seoul was threatening to spread after thousands of people attended a rally by conservative…

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Photo Story: Solidarity from Seoul with Lebanon

The Namsan Seoul Tower lit up in red, one of the three colors of the Lebanese national flag in Seoul, South Korea, on the evening of 19 August 2020, in…

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South Korea approves phase II human trial for Green Cross’s coronavirus treatment drug

South Korea's Green Cross Corp has received regulatory approval for phase II human clinical trials of its experimental coronavirus plasma treatment drug, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said…

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South Korea battles coronavirus outbreak in capital city

South Korean health officials are struggling to contain an outbreak of the new coronavirus centred in the capital Seoul, as new cases levelled off but remained in triple digits on…

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South Korea rocked by new outbreak of coronavirus

South Korea reported the highest daily rise in coronavirus cases since early March on Wednesday as an outbreak in the capital Seoul appeared to intensify. The 297 new infections mark…

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South Korea battles worst coronavirus outbreak in months, warns of tighter rules

South Korea warned on Monday of tighter novel coronavirus restrictions as new outbreaks appeared, including one linked to a church where more than 300 members of the congregation have been…

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South Korea capital returns to tougher social distancing rules as virus cases spike

South Korea reported 166 new coronavirus cases as of Friday, of which 155 were domestic, prompting the reimposition of tighter social distancing curbs in Seoul area as authorities worried about…

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South Korean doctors strike over health plans as new coronavirus cases climb

About a quarter of South Korea’s medical clinics closed on Friday for a one-day strike in protest at government plans to train new doctors, as the country reported the highest…

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Asymptomatic cases ‘carry same amount of virus’ as those with symptoms

People with symptomless Covid-19 can carry as much of the virus as those with symptoms, a South Korean study has suggested. South Korea was able to identify and isolate asymptomatic…

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Photo Story: Heavy rain hits South Korea

A collapsed road, caused by heavy rain, in Chungju, South Korea. Heavy rains triggered a string of mudslides and flooding in central South Korea on Sunday, leaving at least five…

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Surge in damaged cash as worried South Koreans try to microwave the coronavirus

Worried South Koreans are putting banknotes in their microwaves and washing machines, damaging the bills in their attempts to cleanse them of the coronavirus. The central bank said on Friday…

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Photo Story: Robot keeps an eye out for masks in South Korea

An artificial intelligence robot checks the body temperature of passengers at a bus terminal in Gwangju, South Korea, 30 July 2020. The robot is also capable of detecting whether people…

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S.Korea’s Celltrion gets UK approval for trials of COVID-19 antibody drug

South Korea's Celltrion Inc on Thursday said British regulators had given it regulatory approval for a phase I clinical trial of its experimental COVID-19 treatment drug. The company will enrol…

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Photo Story: Floods in South Korea

Residents evacuate their homes with the help of rescuers as the parking lot and lower sections of apartment buildings are flooded due to heavy rain in Daejeon, South Korea, 30…

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South Korea says daily coronavirus cases may top 100, driven by imported infections

South Korean health authorities said novel coronavirus infections among people arriving from abroad could drive the number of new cases on Friday to more than 100, the first time since…

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South Korea falls into recession

South Korea plunged into recession in the second quarter in its worst economic decline in more than two decades as the coronavirus pandemic battered exports and social distancing curbs paralysed…

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Undiagnosed virus infections could be 27 times higher in South Korea’s Daegu city

A small South Korean survey of people with no history of COVID-19, but living in a city with the most cases, showed that roughly one in 13 had antibodies to…

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South Korea approves human trials of Celltrion’s COVID-19 antibody drug

South Korea on Friday approved an early stage clinical trial of Celltrion Inc's experimental COVID-19 treatment drug, making it the country's first such antibody drug to be tested on humans.…

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One in three South Korean COVID-19 patients improve with remdesivir

One in three South Korean patients seriously ill with COVID-19 showed an improvement in their condition after being given Gilead Sciences Inc's antiviral remdesivir, health authorities said. More research was…

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Photo Story: Death of a mayor

A handout picture made available by Seoul City Hall, shows mourners pay tribute at the memorial altar for late Mayor Park Won-soon at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, South…

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South Korea finds just one case of coronavirus antibodies out of 3,000 tested

Just one person in a South Korean survey of more than 3,000 people showed neutralizing antibodies to the novel coronavirus, health authorities said on Thursday, indicating the virus has not…

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Photo Story: Celestial ‘thumbs up’ for South Korean health workers

Some 400 drones, flown by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport form the thumbs-up sign in a message of appreciation for medical workers during the coronavirus pandemic above Yeouido…

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Photo Story – Covid-19 Education Campaign in South Korea

A visitor examines a statue of Pengsoo, a popular penguin character created by the national education broadcasting channel EBS, at a beach in the southern port city of Busan, South…

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South Korea reports 63 new cases

South Korea reported 63 new coronavirus cases as of Thursday, most from domestic infections outside Seoul, triggering the return of tighter social distancing curbs in one city as the spectre…

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South Korea calls for U.S.-N.Korea leaders’ summit before U.S. election

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un should meet again before the U.S. presidential election in November, a Seoul…

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South Korea reports 39 new cases

South Korea reported 39 new cases, mostly from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area where officials have been struggling to stem transmissions amid increased public activity and eased attitudes on…

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South Korea’s first female trade minister bids for WTO top job

South Korea's trade minister Yoo Myung-hee on Wednesday announced her bid to become the next director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), aiming to be the first female leader at…

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N.Korea suspends military action plans against S.Korea

North Korea has decided to suspend military action plans against South Korea, the official KCNA news agency reported on Wednesday, as a report suggested North Korean troops were taking down…

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South Korea says it is battling ‘second wave’ of coronavirus

Health authorities in South Korea said for the first time on Monday it is in the midst of a "second wave" of novel coronavirus infections focused around its densely populated…

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North Korea promises ‘retaliatory punishment’ for the South

North Korea said on Monday that it had readied thousands of balloons and millions of leaflets in preparation for "retaliatory punishment" against South Korea. The detail, in a state media…

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South Korea’s Genexine begins human trial of coronavirus vaccine

Biotech firm Genexine Inc has launched a human clinical trial of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine in South Korea, saying it has become the first company in the country to test…

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North Korea to redeploy troops to border

North Korea on Wednesday rejected South Korea’s offer to send special envoys to ease escalating tensions over defector activity and stalled reconciliation efforts, vowing to redeploy troops to demilitarised border…

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South Korea warned it may face a new coronavirus wave without tough social distancing measures

South Korea will face another wave of coronavirus infections, with as many as 800 new cases a day by July, if the government does not introduce stricter social distancing guidelines,…

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Kim Jong Un’s sister threatens military action against South Korea

South Korea convened in an emergency security meeting on Sunday in response to Pyongyang's threats to cut off all ties with Seoul, demolish a liaison office and take military action…

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Photo Story: High temperatures hit Seoul

Workers clean a sculpture with pressurized water at Cheonggye plaza in central Seoul, South Korea, 11 June 2020. The Korean capital is currently experiencing very high temperatures with the city's…

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South Korean doctors find risk factors for severe COVID-19 cases

South Korean doctors have found certain underlying conditions that may make some COVID-19 patients more severely affected by the disease, a professor at Yeungnam University Medical Center announced. The findings…

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South Korea cases spike again

The Yonhap News Agency reports that South Korea’s coronavirus cases spiked to 50 new cases on Wednesday, after two consecutive days of fewer than 40 cases: South Korea’s new virus…

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N.Korea’s Kim stresses self-sufficient economy as tensions with S.Korea rise

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un focused on domestic economic issues at a meeting of the politburo of the country's ruling Workers Party, state media said on Monday, as the…

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South Korea reports 51 new cases of Covid-19

South Korea on Saturday reported 51 new cases of Covid-19, mostly in the densely populated capital region, as authorities scramble to stem transmissions among low-income workers who can’t afford to…

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Inovio plans human trials for potential COVID-19 vaccine in South Korea in June

Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Thursday it plans to begin human trials of its potential COVID-19 vaccine in South Korea later in June, with support from Seoul-headquartered partner, non-profit organization…

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S.Korea’s Celltrion says COVID-19 drug shows drop in viral load in animal testing

South Korea's Celltrion Inc said on Monday its experimental treatment of COVID-19 demonstrated a 100-fold reduction in viral load of the disease in animal testing. Drugmakers worldwide are rushing to…

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South Korea tightens coronavirus restrictions after new spike in cases

Officials in South Korea have re-implemented lockdown measures in the metropolitan area of Seoul, home to half the country’s 52 million population, following the biggest spike in infections in nearly…

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South Korea coronavirus cases jump to highest since early April

South Korea reported 79 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the most since April 5 and the third straight day of rising infections, raising the spectre of a second wave of…

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Photo Story: Reopening of elementary schools in South Korea

A teacher checks a first grader's temperature at Dongdo Elementary School in Daegu, South Korea, 27 May 2020. Kindergarten, elementary schools, middle school seniors and High school second grader nationwide…

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Photo Story: Robot to help fight coronavirus pandemic in South Korea

An autonomous robot (C) from SK Telecom and Omron Electronics Korea Co, used for screening and body temperature checks, is seen during a demonstration event at the SK telecom headquarters…

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South Korea reports biggest daily jump in almost 50 days

South Korea South Korea has reported 40 new coronavirus cases for its biggest daily jump in nearly 50 days, causing alarm in a country where millions of children are returning…

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Photo Story: The ‘New Normal’ in schools in South Korea

Students wait for class to begin with plastic boards placed on their desks at Jeonmin High School in Daejeon, South Korea, 20 May 2020. Schools across the country reopened for…

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South Korean football team apologises for using sex dolls to fill stands

A professional football team in South Korea has apologised after “mannequins” it used as substitute fans during a match at the weekend turned out to be sex dolls. The K-League…

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China, S. Korea consult Japan on easing business-travel curbs

China and South Korea have consulted Japan about easing border controls on business travellers to help revive business activities, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday without citing sources. The idea,…

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Catch…

Oh Jun-hyeok (R) of the SK Wyverns flips his bat after hitting a solo home run in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season game against the NC Dinos at…

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South Korea nightclub clusters spark fears of second wave

At least 85 coronavirus patients in South Korea are believed to have contracted the virus in nightclubs in recent weeks, prompting authorities to order the businesses shuttered. On Saturday, all…

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Photo Story: Recyclable waste accumulates in South Korea

Recyclable waste is piled at a storage yard in Suwon, south of Seoul, South Korea. The amount of recyclable waste is explosively increasing amid the coronavirus crisis. Via EPA-EFE/YONHAP…

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Photo Story: Football in times of pandemic

Players of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (L) and Suwon Samsung Bluewings (R) prior the K-League match between Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors vs Suwon Samsung Bluewings at the Jeonju World Cup stadium in…

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New coronavirus outbreak in South Korea linked to Seoul nightclubs

South Korean health authorities are investigating a small but growing coronavirus outbreak centred in a handful of Seoul nightclubs, seeking to keep infections in check as the country moves to…

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For first time since February, South Korea reports no new cases

South Korea reported on Thursday no new domestic coronavirus cases for the first time since its Feb. 29 peak, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.…

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