The Korea Herald

Social distancing likely to persist through the year, says health minister

Social affairsJan 21, 2021

Social distancing will likely be necessary for the rest of the year, Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol said Thursday. “Even if we achieve 70 percent herd immunity, social distancing and...
Govt. applauds own ‘superb’ COVID-19 response 1 year on

Social affairsJan 20, 2021

A year on since the official introduction of the novel coronavirus into South Korea, the government says the country has responded to the pandemic “superbly,” especially compared to other countries. ...
[Herald Interview] Front-liners who treated first COVID-19 patients look back on experience

Social affairsJan 19, 2021

The novel coronavirus has been in South Korea for one full year as of Wednesday, and medical professionals have been on the front lines of the ongoing struggle. Ahead of COVID-19’s one-year annivers...
[Herald Interview] Hard lessons from COVID-19 will equip Korea better for next pandemic

HealthJan 18, 2021

This interview is the second installment in a three-part series in conversations with the former directors of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- now the Korea Disease Control and...
Foreign residents to get COVID-19 vaccine for free

Social affairsJan 18, 2021

The South Korean government on Monday said that foreign residents in the country will also be given the COVID-19 vaccine for free, as will Korean nationals, once the vaccines are rolled out. The Kor...
Korea slightly eases social distancing rules

Social affairsJan 17, 2021

Some businesses that have been shut down amid a winter surge in COVID-19 infections will be able to reopen in the coming week, as South Korea revises its social distancing rules in a tricky balance b...
Korean government vows ‘stiff penalty’ for social distancing violators

Social affairsJan 13, 2021

The South Korean government on Wednesday said there would be “stiff penalties” for people not heeding social distancing rules, as the third and worst wave of COVID-19 in the country has begun to mell...
[Herald Interview] Korea’s COVID-19 response overlooks patients’ well-being

HealthJan 12, 2021

This interview is the first installment in a three-part series in conversations with the former directors of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- now the Korea Disease Control and ...
Who will get COVID-19 vaccine first? The debate begins

Social affairsJan 12, 2021

As South Korea gears up for COVID-19 vaccinations, with the first batch of vaccines to be shipped here next month, the government is weighing whom to push to the front of the line. The Korea Disease...
Korea’s new COVID-19 cases fall, but deaths rise

Social affairsJan 10, 2021

South Korea’s new cases of COVID-19 have fallen, but deaths and hospitalizations are climbing amid a lack of hospital beds and outbreaks among vulnerable populations. In this month alone, 208 people...
[Herald Interview] Doctor asks prosecutors to consider murder charges in toddler’s death

Social affairsJan 6, 2021

The president of the Korean Pediatrics Society, Dr. Lim Hyun-taek argued murder charges should be brought against the adoptive parents of a toddler who died in October last year of suspected abuse, c...
S. Korea passes 1,000 COVID-19 deaths

Social affairsJan 5, 2021

More than 1,000 people in South Korea had lost their lives to COVID-19 as of Monday at midnight. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Tuesday announced 26 more deaths from the previous...
Public fury grows as some politicians flout COVID-19 rules

Social affairsJan 4, 2021

Public fury is growing in South Korea over elected officials flouting safety guidance and practices as the country grapples with a record number of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Democratic Party of Kor...
[Herald Interview] Nursing home residents are being ‘quarantined to death’

Social affairsJan 3, 2021

As COVID-19 ravages through nursing homes in South Korea, their vulnerable residents are being “quarantined to death” without getting a chance of treatment, says Dr. Son Deog-hyeon heading the Korean...
Ban on private gatherings to be extended nationwide until Jan. 17

Social affairsJan 3, 2021

Private gatherings of five or more people will be banned nationwide starting Monday, as the country struggles to contain the largest wave of COVID-19 infections since the pandemic began. The ban, wh...