Global map of COVID-19 cases

KCDC Call Center 1339

China｜Cases 78,825｜Deaths 2,788
South Korea ｜Cases 2,337｜Deaths 13

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  Social affairs

  Coronavirus peak not in sight: KCDC

  • Seoul virus cases surpass 60 with rise in hospital infections

• North Korea
  

  ‘NK could stage military provocation in Oct.’

  Provided the COVID-19 outbreak is under control by October, North Korea could stage a military provocation, such as a satellite launch, to mark the 75th anniversary of its Workers’ Party founding, said Ankit Panda, a senior editor at The Diplomat. Speaking on Radio Free Asia on Thursday, Panda said October would be a critical moment for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who appears eager to “insert himself onto the US political agenda” ahead of the 2020 US presidential electi

• Transport
  

  Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan plant halts due to confirmed COVID-19 case

  Hyundai Motor Group stopped operations of its Ulsan manufacturing plant’s second factory Friday after an employee who works there was confirmed with COVID-19. According to the automaker, the factory has suspended operations since 11:30 a.m. Friday. The worker was confirmed to be infected that morning. The company said it has disinfected the site and put five co-workers into self-isolation.  A Hyundai Motor employee said the duration of the shutdown will be decided later based on t

• Defense
  

  Military has 26 infected, 10,000 quarantined

  A total of 27 military personnel were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 as of Friday, and 10,400 service members have been quarantined, the Ministry of National Defense said. Infected personnel included soldiers, officers and civilian workers. Fifteen of the patients were in the Army, and ten were in the Air Force, with two remaining service members in the Navy and Marine Corps each. The military had taken the precaution of an expanded quarantine to contain the spread of COVID-19. The t

• Social affairs
  

  Over 850 medics volunteer for Daegu

  Over 850 medical professionals and administrative officials from the private sector have volunteered to serve in Daegu, the government announced Friday. “Having recruited medical professionals to volunteer to work in the Daegu area from the 24th of this month, 853 have volunteered as of 9 a.m. today,” Kim Gang-lip, vice health minister, said Friday. Kim also serves on the government’s central response team. By profession, the volunteers consist of 58 doctors, 257 nurses, 2

• Social affairs
  

  Filter-added handmade masks’ effectiveness equivalent to government-certified masks: research

  Cotton masks with a manually added filter were as effective as government-certified masks in blocking particles of human saliva, research by a public health institute showed Friday. The average particle collection efficiency of cotton masks with an electrostatic filter cotton attached inside was found to be 80 to 95 percent, while government-certified KF 80 masks measured at over 80 percent, according to Seoul Research Institute of Public Health and Environment. Efficiency of dental masks ca

• Industry
  

  Samsung’s Z Flip sells out in 9 minutes in China despite slow market

  Galaxy S20 sales lackluster domestically

• Industry
  

  Celltrion begins research for coronavirus vaccine

  Celltrion said Friday it has begun research for a drug candidate to fight the new coronavirus. The company has obtained a blood sample from a patient confirmed with COVID-19. Having discovered a drug candidate for the Middle East respiratory syndrome, the company will search for a new potential molecule that can help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. “We’re in the initial phase. It will take time for any results,” said a Celltrion official. “Since viruses mut

• Industry
  

  [Weekender] Survival diary of Korean internet cafes

  PC rooms, almost solely dependent on gaming contents, seek ways to stay relevant

NEWSMAKER

• Social affairs

  

  Arrested pastor sticks to mass Sunday service plan

  Seoul police and the city government plan to block a joint worship service, slated to take place at a plaza in central Seoul on Sunday, amid concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak. Led by a controversial pastor, who is now in police custody for violating the election law, a civic group has held street rallies opposing President Moon Jae-in for months, with some in the form of outdoor worship services. Despite repeated warnings, the group, which calls itself the “Pan-national Alliance for

LATEST NEWS

• Today

  

  Television

  Park Seo-jun talks about ‘Itaewon Class,’ cancellation of pop-up bar plan

  Owing to the nationwide COVID-19 outbreak, actor Park Seo-jun said he would have to cancel the pop-up bar he had promised to open if the drama series “Itaewon Class” succeeded to reach a 10 percent viewership rating. “I will try to find some other way to express our gratitude. I had not expected this situation when I had made the promise. Although promises are important, I believe it is more important that the (COVID-19) situation gets better,” Park, who plays the lead

• Today

  

  Foreign Affairs

  58 countries restrict entry from coronavirus-hit S. Korea

  Nearly 60 countries are restricting the entry of travelers from South Korea with bans or tougher quarantine procedures over coronavirus concerns, foreign ministry data showed Friday, as the number of infections rose to more than 2,300 confirmed cases here. South Korea's government issued an advisory asking its people to reconsider or delay any planned travel to countries that have imposed restrictions due to worries that people could face inconveniences or safety issues. As of Friday, twenty-

• Today

  

  Money

  KDB picks 2 external partners to back W120b for supply chain autonomy

  State-run Korea Development Bank said Friday it had chosen two external partners to operate funds with a combined 120 billion won ($99.2 million) of public money to support South Korea’s drive for supply chain autonomy. The two partners are BNW Investment-Industrial Bank of Korea consortium and SKS Private Equity-Korea Investment Private Equity group. These were among nine applicants to manage the funds. Each group is mandated to attract at least 40 billion won investment from the priva

• Today

  

  Foreign Affairs

  S. Korea to offer half of promised help to China through int'l agencies: official

  South Korea will provide about half of the aid it promised to China in its fight against the new coronavirus through international assistance agencies in an apparent bid to avoid disrupting supplies of medical items for its own people, a foreign ministry official said Friday. Late last month, the Seoul government unveiled a plan to provide US$5 million worth of aid to China, including face masks, medical gloves and disinfectants, to help the country at the center of COVID-19 outbreak, which ha

• Today

  

  Markets

  Seoul stocks crumble on coronavirus-fueled selling spree

  As global stock markets tumble, Kospi falls below 1,990 points

More Stories

SPOTLIGHT

• People

  

  Celebrities donate to support fight against coronavirus

  Celebrities in Korea are making donations to help people fight against the spread of COVID-19 across the nation. On Friday, actress Yum Jung-ah donated 100 million won ($82,200) to Green Umbrella Child Fund Korea to help purchase masks and hand sanitizers for children in need. Singer-turned-actress Yoona, members of K-pop band Red Velvet, and singers Kang Daniel and Zico also made donations to the cause. 　　 On Thursday, singer-songwriter IU donated 100 million won each to nonprofit organi

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  Music

  Green Day pushes back dates for Asian tour

  Green Day has postponed its Seoul show originally slated for March due to mounting fears over the coronavirus outbreak. The American rock band is pushing back the dates for the Asian leg of its “Hella Mega” tour, including the March 22 show in Seoul, local organizer Live Nation Korea said in a statement on Friday. The band was to return to Korea in more than a decade, since its last concert here in January 2010. “Unfortunately, we had to make the difficult decision to pos

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  Film

  ‘Train to Busan’ sequel ‘Peninsula’ confirms summer release

  “Peninsula,” the sequel to hit zombie flick “Train to Busan,” will be released this summer, distributor NEW said Friday. Though the company did not reveal the release date, the film may hit theaters in August. Taking off from where the story ended in “Train to Busan,” the upcoming movie is expected to have the same setting as the first film. According to Yeon Sang-ho, director of both films, “Peninsula” will take place four years after the z

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  Arts&Design

  Arario Gallery reaches out via online, private exhibition

  Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, Arario Gallery said Friday it will unveil artworks through an online exhibition. Most art galleries in Korea have shut down temporarily due to rising virus infections across the country.  Arario Gallery, a major commercial contemporary art gallery here, will showcase more than 20 works initially planned for Art Basel Hong Kong, the biggest international art fair in Asia, which was canceled earlier this month due to the virus outbreak. The online showcase

GRAPHIC NEWS

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EDITORIAL

• Do not pass the buck

  Minister blames Koreans; Cheong Wa Dae points at Shincheonji; Ruling party praises response

• Far-sightedness

  Virus crisis should prompt policy shift to reverse structural economic downturn

VIEWPOINTS

THE INVESTOR

• Economy

  

  Rents, commissions lowered as virus rages through economy

  As the economy in Korea shoulders headwinds from weakened consumer sentiment due to the coronavirus spread, a number of companies and building owners are coming up with self-rescue measures to help prop up the ecosystem. 　Telecom giant KT announced Thursday it will reduce three months’ rent for self-employed business owners at its buildings across the nation, which it believes will cost it 2.4 billion won ($1.97 million). 　KT said it wished to take on the social responsibility of sharin

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  Startups & Investors

  Top startup stories and events in 2019

  Things are slowing down as the novel coronavirus appears to become a pandemic. In Korea, big and small meetings -- even demo day events -- are being canceled and people are afraid of human contact. Even though IMF Managing Director Kristalina Geogieva said it is too soon to gauge the economic impact of the virus outbreak, it is likely that the fatal disease will take a toll on the global economy. 　 It is hard to predict how this epidemic situation will impact global startups. While hoping the

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  The Boardroom

  Hanjin Group to sell hotel assets for financial health

  Hanjin KAL, the holding company of airline-to-logistics conglomerate Hanjin Group, said Thursday it was looking to sell its non-core hotel assets to improve its financial health and shareholder value. 　Hanjin KAL said invitations to bid for the assets had been sent to 12 firms including real estate consulting firms, accounting firms and asset management firms. 　On Feb. 7, the company decided during the board meeting to sell assets related to its loss-making leisure and hotel business to focu

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  Startups & Investors

  Mobility startups immune to coronavirus outbreak

  Personal mobility startups remain mostly unaffected by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak for the time being, according to industry sources. 　Electric scooter-sharing service Kickgoing operator Olulo, with more than 440,000 members, said Wednesday that its personal mobility business has not been greatly affected by the massive COVID-19 crisis. 　“Olulo’s service wasn’t much affected as it is a personal mobility service. Rather, it was the weather that had a bigger influence,&r

K-POP

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  BTS' 'Map of the Soul: 7' breaks 1st-week sales record in S. Korea

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  BTS cancels Seoul leg of world tour over coronavirus concerns

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  BTS to release 2nd music video of 'ON'

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  IZ*ONE's 'Bloom*Iz' tops Oricon weekly overseas album chart

HERALD INTERVIEW

• Industry

  

  Philip Morris Korea reworks HR management for all stages of employment

  A corporate culture centered on employees is often misunderstood here. It is mistakenly considered the opposite of a profit-centered culture and is used to describe companies providing generous welfare and compensation to employees. However, PMK goes beyond that, said Upadhyay in an interview with The Korea Herald. The company ensures staff go through a better employee experience throughout the employment cycle, starting from the job-seeking stage to leaving the company. Upadhyay, who has w

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  Markets

  Booming business at fabric maker amid soaring demand for masks

  Local fabric maker E&H in full swing amid rising COVID 19 cases, seeks Kosdaq debut in H2

• 

  Music

  Mika returns as Michael Holbrook, name he once hated

  British pop star says latest album is provocation of his honest, conflicting emotions

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  Film

  Salaryman-turned-director Kim Yong-hoon debuts big

  Newcomer aspires to add color to Korean cinema scene

PHOTO NEWS

• Culture

  

  Where nobles lived

  Bukchon Hanok Village offers a glimpse into life in Joseon era

VIDEO

• Film

  

  Chungmuro, the heart of Korean cinema, goes beyond ‘Hallyuwood’

  Award-winning ‘Parasite’ benefits from Chungmuro, home to director Bong Joon-ho and other Korean filmmakers

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  Film

  Why does ‘Parasite’ mix pricey beef into instant noodles?

  The food featured in director Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” is not just nourishment for the characters but also serves up symbolism and social satire, hinting at social stratification in Korean society. As the movie’s plot gains momentum, one of the foods in focus is jjapaguri -- translated as ram don in the English subtitles. The Korean name comes from its two main ingredients -- the instant noodle brands Jjapaghetti and Neoguri. Bong spices up this otherwise ordinary dis

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  Diplomatic Circuit

  ‘Push for green energy pays off’

  [Meet the diplomat] Danish ambassador discusses renewable energy, life satisfaction and ‘Parasite’

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  Culture

  Flavor chemistry behind cocoa gastronomy

  The mouth-watering sweetness that originated from cocoa serves as the main component of chocolate in the modern confectionery industry. The unique bounties of rare flavors coming from the deep brown beans are undoubtedly the magic hands behind the juicy touch. Many chocolate lovers agree -- a bite of fine chocolate can be as exquisite as a fancy truffle risotto, conveying the pleasure of tasting something truly delectable. On Jan. 10, the world’s largest chocolate festival, “Salon du

MOST POPULAR

• S. Korea's virus cases top 2,000, citizens urged to avoid mass gatherings
• Drive-thru clinics, drones: Korea’s new weapons in virus fight
• 58 countries restrict entry from coronavirus-hit S. Korea
• Daegu battles shortage of hospital beds, medical personnel
• Peak of virus outbreak not in sight: KCDC
• Seoul provides English COVID-19 briefing
• Arrested pastor sticks to mass Sunday service plan
• Filter-added handmade masks’ effectiveness equivalent to government-certified masks: research
• Faced with mask shortages, some look for DIY alternatives
• Nationwide rush to identify infections among Shincheonji followers

FEATURES

• Economy

  

  Employment falls in almost all age groups

    SEJONG -- The tight hiring market has been a point of contention over the past two or three years, though the Moon Jae-in administration has continued to express a strong commitment to job creation as often as possible. Recent data from a government agency showed that people are still having difficulty holding jobs, which particularly has been witnessed among almost entire generations. According to Statistics Korea, the number of employed people fell for the second consecutive month --

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  Social affairs

  Korea’s gender gap set to widen

  Ratio of men to women continues to slide

• 

  Industry

  After 15 years, Korea considers overhaul of games industry law

  Culture Ministry working on removing negative connotations that hold industry back, but fine-tuning still needed

• 

  Politics

  Will President Moon change major foreign and economic policies during remaining 2 years?

  SEJONG -- The next presidential election will take place in two years, possibly on March 9, 2022. After that, there will be a two-month period in which a president-elect leads a transition committee before President Moon Jae-in’s term expires at midnight May 9. That means Moon has about 24 months to determine what his legacy will be, political commentators say. The Moon administration came to power on the strength of massive candlelight vigils in late 2016, when former President Park Ge

WEEKENDER

• Industry

  

  Survival diary of Korean internet cafes

  PC rooms, almost solely dependent on gaming contents, seek ways to stay relevant

• 

  Film

  The ‘Parasite’ impact

  How Koreans, markets and society are reacting to the Oscar-winning film that holds up a mirror to Korea’s dark present

• 

  Social affairs

  At home, safe from the virus

  New coronavirus means more downtime, less active social lives for Koreans

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  Culture

  Forgotten stories behind Jeongwol Daeboreum traditions

  “I crack nuts with my family on Jeongwol Daeboreum. I am not sure why, but I guess the tradition is supposed to shoo away some bad ghosts and bring good luck,” Kang Min-woo, 26, said. “I do know that there are some other Jeongwol Daeboreum traditions, but I do not celebrate them.” Saturday is “Jeongwol Daeboreum” or “Daeboreum,” a traditional holiday marking the first full moon of the Lunar New Year. However, traditions are slowly fading, especia