Nearly three in ten patients who have died of the new coronavirus in South Korea suffered from dementia, as the degenerative brain illnesses is more common among elderly people, local health authorities said Tuesday. The country's COVID-19 death toll has risen to 124 as of Tuesday, up 13 from a day earlier, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said. Of the total fatalities, 34, or 27.4 percent, had dementia. "We are making utmost efforts to detect virus patients at

Social Affairs March 24, 2020

K-pop boy band BTS announced Tuesday it will cut down the itinerary of its upcoming world tour, "Map of the Soul Tour," due to the coronavirus pandemic. "With the global spread of COVID-19, in some countries and cities, the level of unpredictability is becoming higher to prepare for the shows," the band's management agency Big Hit Entertainment said in a notice posted on the Weverse mobile app. "As a result of the current global circumstances, we anticipate having to

K-pop March 24, 2020

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will explain South Korea's efforts to fight the new coronavirus and call for global solidarity in ending the pandemic in a videoconference of the World Economic Forum (WEF) this week, her office said Tuesday. On Wednesday (Korea time), Kang is set to join a video-linked session related to the COVID-19 Action Platform, a WEF initiative launched earlier this month to galvanize collective action in responding to the virus. "Minister Kang plans to explain the

Foreign Affairs March 24, 2020

An American soldier stationed in South Korea was found dead in her barracks room last week, the US military said Tuesday. Private First Class Marissa Jo Gloria was found unresponsive in her room at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on Saturday and pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel, according to the 2nd Infantry Division. The cause of her death is under investigation, the military said, though officials said they do not believe her death has

Social Affairs March 24, 2020

텔레그램 '고담방' 만들어 음란물 공유방 링크…총 1만여건 전시 여성 노예 부리듯 착취한 사진도 게시…검찰 징역 3년 6월 구형 검찰이 미성년자 등에 대한 성 착취 불법 촬영물을 제작·유포한 텔레그램 대화방인 'n번방' 전 운영자 '와치맨'에 대해 징역 3년 6개월을 구형한 것으로 확인됐다. 24일 수사당국 등에 따르면 수원지검은 지난 19일 수원지법 형사9단독 박민 판사 심리로 열린 이 사건 결심공판에서 텔레그램 닉네임 와치맨을 사용하는 전모(38·회사원) 씨에게 이같이 구형했다. 전 씨는 지난해 4월부터 같은 해 9월까지 해외 메신저 프로그램인 텔레그램으로 성인 또는 아동·청소년 이용 음란물을 공유하는 대화방인 '고담방'을 개설해 불특정 다수의 음란물 이용자들에게 대화방을 홍보하고, 후원금 등을 모집한 혐의로 기소됐다. 그는 고담방을 통해 음란물 대화방 '노사모'의 접속 링크를 게시, 여성의 가슴이나 중요

한국어판 March 24, 2020

재학시절 끔찍한 잔혹 범죄와는 거리 있는 평범한 전문대생 텔레그램에서 '박사방'을 운영하며 여성에 대한 성 착취물을 제작·유포한 혐의로 구속된 조주빈(25)씨는 전문대 재학시절 성적이 우수하고 학보사 활동을 열심히 했던 것으로 확인됐다. 조씨가 다녔던 인천 모 전문대 학교 관계자들은 24일 "현재 학교에 남아 있는 기록들로만 보면 조주빈씨는 학업과 동아리 활동을 활발히 했던 학생이었다"고 설명했다. 인천에서 초·중·고교를 다닌 조씨는 지난 2014년 3월 이 대학 정보통신과에 입학해 2018년 2월 졸업할 때까지 4학기 평균 평점 4.17(4.5만점)을 받았다. 특히 글쓰기 솜씨가 좋아 2014년 2학기 때 대학 도서관이 주최한 교내 독후감 대회에서 1등상을 받기도 했다. 조씨는 신입생이었던 2014년 1학기에 학보사 수습기자로 선발돼 그 해 2학기부터 이듬해인 2015년 1학기까지 1년여간 학보사 정식기자와 편집국

한국어판 March 24, 2020

K-pop concerts, showcases and various other promotional events have been canceled due to the spreading of the new coronavirus. But that does not mean the industry is at a total standstill. Many established and rising K-pop artists, including Kang Daniel and EXO leader Suho, are ready to drop new albums in coming weeks to warm up the scene hit by the virus, according to their management agencies. Kang's first EP, "CYAN," is set for release Tuesday evening, officially bringing him bac

K-pop March 24, 2020

Local non-government organizations can receive government financial support for coronavirus-related North Korea aid projects if they have an agreement with Pyongyang, a unification ministry official said Tuesday. The remark came amid hopes for resuming aid projects in North Korea after US President Donald Trump expressed an intention to help with Pyongyang's fight against the coronavirus in a recent personal letter to leader Kim Jong-un. "We have established regulations on humanitarian a

North Korea March 24, 2020

The music video of K-pop girl band BLACKPINK's 2018 song "Ddu-du Ddu-du" topped 1.1 billion YouTube views Tuesday, the strongest YouTube feat yet by a K-pop band. The sensationally popular song achieved the feat in one year and nine months after its official release in June 2018. That makes "Ddu-du Ddu-du" the most-watched YouTube music video by a K-pop band, as well as the only music video by a K-pop band that topped the 1 billion YouTube view milestone. BLACKPINK is

K-pop March 24, 2020

A US citizen working for US Forces Korea (USFK) has tested positive for the new coronavirus, bringing the total number of USFK-related infection cases to 10, the military said Tuesday. The COVID-19 patient, who works at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, is now in isolation at his off-base residence as directed by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), USFK said, adding he last visited the base Friday. "KCDC and USFK are actively conduc

Defense March 24, 2020

With their season canceled on Tuesday due to the coronavirus outbreak, two coaches tied at the top of the Korean Basketball League (KBL) standings were at a loss for words. "I don't know if I should be congratulated for finishing in first place," said DB Promy head coach Lee Sang-beom, whose team ended up with a 28-15 record identical to the SK Knights. "We didn't win a championship after all." Indeed, the KBL, as it announced the cancellation of the remainder of the regul

More Sports March 24, 2020

The South Korean baseball league decided Tuesday to postpone the start of the 2020 season even further to late April, with its hope of beginning in the middle of next month dashed by the coronavirus pandemic. The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said the new season will not begin before April 20, following a three hour-plus meeting with a board of governors, made up of 10 club presidents. The new regular season was slated to begin this Saturday, but the COVID-19 outbreak forced the KBO to de

Baseball March 24, 2020

Samsung Electronics Co. on Tuesday introduced the industry's first all-in-one power management integrated circuits (PMIC) for wireless earbuds. The South Korean tech giant said its MUA01 and MUB01 PMICs will allow companies to manufacture true wireless stereo (TWS) devices with "greater flexibility." "Samsung was able to integrate up to 10 discrete components into one, including switching chargers and discharge circuits, enabling the PMICs to occupy less than half the space co

Technology March 24, 2020

Asiana Airlines Inc., South Korea's second-biggest airline, said Tuesday it has asked 12 cabin crew members to self-isolate after their colleague on a Incheon-New York flight was diagnosed with the new coronavirus. The infected flight attendant flew with the 12 others on the flight OZ222, which left Incheon last Tuesday (Korean time) and returned on the flight OZ221 from New York on Thursday (US time), according to Asiana. The purser reportedly traveled in his private car to Samcheok, Gangwon

Mobility March 24, 2020

South Korean airlines are facing further challenges after the government imposed stricter entry restrictions to fight the spreading coronavirus outbreak. Korean Air Co., South Korea's biggest airline and national flag carrier, said Monday it will temporarily suspend all flights on the Incheon-Beijing route from Saturday to April 25, leaving only three routes available to China. The move comes as China steps up efforts to keep out imported COVID-19 cases. On Sunday, the Chinese aviation author

Mobility March 24, 2020