Articles by Shim Woo-hyun
Shim Woo-hyun
ws@heraldcorp.com-
Ex-presidential candidate takes helm at DP
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea is setting sail with Lee Jae-myung, its former presidential candidate, while the ruling party continues to struggle with an ongoing internal feud. On Sunday, Lee was confirmed as the new chairman with a strong majority. The ruling People Power Party, on the other hand, looks likely to struggle in internal dispute for some time to come, with a court ruling suspending interim leader Rep. Joo Ho-young from duty. On Sunday, the Democratic Party held
Politics Aug. 28, 2022
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S. Korea’s daily COVID-19 infections continue to stay high
South Korea’s new daily infections continued to stay high Thursday, according to government data released Friday. The government noted the spread is expected to last for a while. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the number of COVID-19 infections during the 24 hours of Thursday reached 138,812, bringing the total caseload to over 22 million. The daily tally was down from the previous day’s 178,574 cases, but up from 128,714 cases one week prior. The
Social Affairs Aug. 19, 2022
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Seoul to offer subsidies to babysitting family members
The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Thursday announced that the government would provide a 300,000 won ($226) monthly subsidy to babysitting family members to help young parents find child care. But, concerns have already mounted that the system could be abused. According to the city government, Seoul will provide a monthly subsidy of 300,000 won to those looking after a relative’s child under three for over 40 hours per month. The household’s combined earnings must be less th
Social Affairs Aug. 19, 2022
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Millions of COVID-19 vaccines have been wasted: report
More than five million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been discarded in South Korea, according to a report released by the National Assembly on Thursday. More vaccines, however, are expected to be discarded with their expiration dates approaching. The issue of COVID-19 vaccines going to waste is likely to continue as more are scheduled to arrive in South Korea by the end of this year. According to the National Assembly Budget Office, the country discarded a total of 5.29 million doses of C
Social Affairs Aug. 18, 2022
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COVID-19 spread reaches 4-month high
South Korea‘s daily COVID-19 cases reached a four-month high due to increased activities over the extended weekend, government data showed Wednesday. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Tuesday’s daily tally of new COVID-19 infections jumped to 180,803. The figure was up around 20 percent from a week ago. It was also the highest figure since April 12, when the country added some 195,000 cases. “An increase in travelers during the summer vacation se
Social Affairs Aug. 17, 2022
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Seoul to choose new slogan by December
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Tuesday that it has officially embarked on developing the city‘s new slogan, which will replace the eight-year-old “I·SEOUL·U,” created under the mayorship of Park Won-soon. The city government said it has decided to change the slogan after the existing one has been widely criticized for lacking clarity. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also previously criticized his predecessor’s slogan for being incomprehensible and fo
Social Affairs Aug. 16, 2022
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S. Korea forecasts severe cases to peak at some 900 in early September
The South Korean government on Tuesday said that the total number of critically ill COVID-19 patients will peak between 800 and 900 in early September. The government added the number of deaths from COVID-19 could also reach between 100 and 140 during the same period. The government, however, did not change its projection for the number of daily infections, which it previously anticipated to peak at around 200,000 cases in late-August. “The COVID-19 spread is expected to peak by the e
Social Affairs Aug. 16, 2022
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Ruling party faces intensifying internal conflict
The ruling People Power Party’s internal conflict appears likely to continue, with a party leadership contender launching another volley of criticism at the former chair‘s actions. Na Kyung-won, a former four-term People Power Party lawmaker, on Monday berated Lee Jun-seok, the suspended chairman of the same party, for his scathing press conference attacking the party held over the weekend. Na claimed that he “threw a bomb” at the party by making a speech undermining fe
Politics Aug. 15, 2022
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S. Korea‘s COVID-19 spread slows but resurgence expected to continue
The latest resurgence in COVID-19 infections in South Korea slowed down on Sunday, according to government data Monday. The resurgence, however, is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, coinciding with the summer holiday season, as well as the Chuseok holiday in early September. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s report on Monday, the country added 62,078 new COVID-19 infections on Sunday. The daily tally reported during the 24 hours of Sunday was
Social Affairs Aug. 15, 2022
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S. Korea’s COVID-19 deaths rise to three-month high
Nearly 60 people died with the COVID-19 virus Wednesday, the highest in around three months, and is expected to keep rising along with cases. According to data released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Thursday, South Korea added 59 deaths from the virus during the previous day, the highest since May 11, when the government added 63 deaths. The death toll came to 25,441, and the fatality rate was 0.12 percent. Health authorities added 89.8 percent or 53 deaths were
Social Affairs Aug. 11, 2022
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S. Korea’s daily COVID-19 cases reach four-month high of over 150,000
South Korea’s daily COVID-19 infections surpassed 150,000, reaching a four-month high since April, the government announced Wednesday. The number of critically ill patients also topped 400, amid a prolonged resurgence fueled by the fast spread of a highly contagious omicron strain. “The speed at which COVID-19 spreads is accelerating again,” Lee Ki-il, a deputy health minister, said during a COVID-19 response meeting on Wednesday. The country added 151,792 new COVID-19 case
Social Affairs Aug. 10, 2022
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Unusual rainband behind record downpour
Monday’s record-breaking downpour was caused by an unusual rainband formation over the Korean Peninsula, experts say, with more rain on the way. Every year, South Korea suffers heavy rainfall in the period between July and August, during which almost two thirds of annual rainfall occurs. A rainband generally comes between June and July, while another one may occur in late August or early September. It is rather unusual for the second rainband to come in early August, particularly a stro
Social Affairs Aug. 9, 2022
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Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon visits site damaged by heavy rain
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Tuesday morning visited an apartment complex in Sadang-dong in Seoul to survey the area, after torrential rain hit Seoul and the surrounding areas from late Monday into the next morning. As part of the city’s emergency response, Oh inspected the embankment installed in the Kukdong Apartment complex that collapsed due to a landslide, according to the Seoul city government. There have been no reports of injury as a result of the collapse. Residents living in the
Social Affairs Aug. 9, 2022
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Why is S. Korea trying to strengthen border controls in Jeju?
The South Korean government could reinstate electronic travel authorization in Jeju, following a number of cases involving foreign visitors overstaying their tourist visas. The Ministry of Justice confirmed Monday that the government plans to introduce the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) for the island. A spokesperson of the ministry, however, added it would still collect opinions from representatives from Jeju’s tourism organizations before making the final decision. Th
Social Affairs Aug. 8, 2022
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PM to discuss pardon of Samsung heir Lee with President Yoon
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Wednesday that he would discuss with President Yoon Suk-yeol about granting pardons to business executives, including Samsung’s de-facto chief and heir Lee Jae-yong, on the occasion of Liberation Day on Aug. 15. It was the first time for the prime minister to officially mention that he would take the issue to the president. Han said, “I will propose them (pardons),” in response to Rep. Park Sung-joong’s question at a parliamentary inte
Politics Aug. 6, 2022
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