For some people, full recovery from COVID-19 is frustratingly elusive. Many suffer with lingering symptoms, ranging from dry cough, muscle weakness to depression, weeks or even months after the infection. Dubbed as Long COVID, or post-COVID-19 syndrome, this is a growing concern as South Korea breathes a sigh of relief, past the omicron surge. According to a survey conducted between March 21 an...

The Heimlich maneuver is rapid first-aid procedure to treat choking, which uses sudden pressure against the abdomen to force objects out of the throat. On the issue, Yang declined to make any public statement, his agency Line Entertainment said. Having debuted in 2003, the comedian currently stars in variety shows including MBC’s “Omniscient Interfering View,” “Save Me! Holmes” and the above-me...

Sheen Seong-ho, a professor at the Graduate School of International Studies at Seoul National University, said that Koreans rarely take action on global issues that do not directly affect Korea. “Koreans, who have memories of a long history of oppression from foreign forces, share a national characteristic of raging against threats to their ethnicity. They are good at sticking together and carry...

Omicron appears to be losing its grip in South Korea, raising hopes for a return to pre-pandemic life. For many Koreans, this would entail a farewell to face masks, a daily nuisance that they had to get used to for the past two years. But not all are happy to ditch their masks. Some say masks are one of the good things that came out of the pandemic in a society obsessed with looks. “After two ...

The following is part of Seoul Subway Stories, a Korea Herald series exploring the city’s subway stations and surrounding areas. -- Ed. The story begins with Japan’s invasion of the Korean Peninsula in the late 16th century. Emperor Wanli of China’s Ming Dynasty dispatched troops to help Joseon fend off Japan. After the war was won, he requested Joseon to build a shrine for Guan (160-220), wh...

Kim Young-seo, a 30-year-old piano teacher, had resisted last year’s “Squid Game” phenomenon, shutting herself off from the world of streaming. Then COVID-19 came for her. After being diagnosed in late February, she signed up for multiple streaming platforms, including Netflix and Apple TV+. “The fact that I was trapped at home made me feel lethargic and I came to spend hours looking at comput...

“I was a bit worried over people’s reliance on disposables amid the virus crisis and its impact on future generations,” Kim said, adding that she has decided to switch over to stainless steel drinking straws for children for starters. COVID-19 has made 34-year-old kindergarten teacher Oh Hye-seung rethink her relationships with people around her. When Oh became infected in February, one of her ...

According to the Korea National Oil Corp., the average nationwide gasoline price rose to 2,001.9 won ($1.64) per liter in the fourth week of March, edging up 7.5 won from a week earlier. It was the first time since October 2012 that the figure has surpassed the 2,000-won mark. The price of diesel oil also skyrocketed to 1,920 won per liter during the same period, hitting the highest level since...

The omicron surge threatens to disrupt wedding plans of many couples here, but some are refusing to let it spoil the most important day of their life. Videoconferencing, livestreaming and emerging metaverse technology have made attendance possible even for those actively infected with COVID-19 -- including quarantined brides and grooms. A couple’s non-face-to-face wedding photo went viral recen...

“Wear this mask to take a break from work or receive the government’s emergency cash grants for the infected,” read the post. In response to the advertisement, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced it would closely monitor online secondhand platforms and crack down on any postings that “threaten public health.” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum warned against the act of refusing C...

Responding to the backlash from the parents, the education office said it would dispatch educational support staff, including Korean language instructors and school counselors, to each school that accepted the Afghan students, as part of its efforts to help them adapt to school life. “We will continue to support the Afghan students to help them receive a proper education. We thank both parents a...

On the contrary, residents living adjacent to the Cheong Wa Dae compound, however, sounded positive about the moving out of the presidential office and the changes it would bring. “With the height regulation, housing redevelopment has been largely limited here for years. Many residents around me seem optimistic about the planned relocation, hoping to see a rise in the area’s real estate prices,”...

Police are tracking down two Russians who escaped from a COVID-19 treatment center in North Chungcheong Province, violating their quarantine requirement, according to the North Chungcheong Provincial Office Friday. The undocumented foreigners in their 30s were quarantined in separate rooms on the fourth floor of the facility located in Jangan-myeon, Boeun-gun, sources said. They sneaked out of ...

Yoon reportedly adopted Tori, an abandoned dog with a disability, from an animal rescue organization in Ulsan. To appeal to animal-loving voters, Yoon’s camp ran an Instagram account for Tori up until last October. As a pet owner, Yoon has sent strong messages in support of animal rights. Referring to the death of a horse after filming a stunt for a KBS TV series, Yoon said “what is dangerous f...

Kim Keon-hee, President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol’s wife and future first lady, spoke to local media early Thursday morning after Yoon won the 20th presidential election. “I will assist, with my humble capabilities, the president-elect to fulfill the tasks given to him by the people,” said Kim, 49, in an interview with a local media outlet early Thursday morning after Yoon’s win became clear. “I will...