Gold funds in South Korea have posted dismal returns over the past month amid falling gold prices due to the coronavirus scare, data showed Thursday. Local gold funds with assets of 1 billion won ($796,000) or more registered an average return of minus 12.45 percent over the last one-month period, according to the data from FnGuide. They outperformed stock investment funds over the cited period, but the performance failed to live up to expectations, given the metal's nature as a traditional s

Market March 19, 2020

South Korea started imposing special quarantine measures for all new arrivals from abroad on Thursday as it guards against imported cases of the novel coronavirus, the country's health authorities said. South Koreans and foreign nationals alike are subject to the strict measure, and all entrants to the country must undergo fever checks at air terminals and sea ports, according to the health authorities. Those who have a cough, a sore throat and other symptoms believed to be related to COVID-1

Social Affairs March 19, 2020

약국 앞 길게 늘어선 줄. 긴 시간 기다린 사람들이 구매하는 것은 마스크. 코로나19 사태가 장기화하며 '금스크'로 불릴 만큼 몸값이 뛴 마스크. 실내외서 마스크를 쓰지 않은 사람을 찾아보기 어려운 우리나라. 그런데 코로나19 확산에도 유럽과 미국 등 해외에선 마스크를 쓰지 않은 사람이 여전히 많은데. '마스크가 아시아에선 장려되고, 미국에선 외면당하는 이유는?'(미국 시사주간지 타임) 외신도 궁금해하는 이슈, 아시아에서 유난한 '마스크 열풍'. 코로나19 감염을 마스크로 막을 수 있는지 그 효과는 여전히 갑론을박. '마스크 구매를 중단해달라. 마스크가 일반 대중이 코로나를 예방하는 데는 효과가 없다.'(미국 보건최고책임자 제롬 애덤스 박사 트위터) '증상 없다면 마스크를 쓸 필요가 없다.'(세계보건기구 감염병 예방 및 통제 담당 크리스틴 프란시스 고문) '마스크 착용이 전염병을 예방할 수 있는 건 상식이다.'(홍콩 중문대 데이비드 후이 교수, 호흡기의학 전문가)

한국어판 March 19, 2020

WASHINGTON -- The White House coronavirus task force said Wednesday it is seeing South Korea and China at the far end of their epidemic curves and studying the two countries to predict patterns in the United States. Dr. Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the task force, offered the assessment during a press briefing at the White House. Moments earlier, President Donald Trump said he was invoking the Defense Production Act, which would give him authority to get industries to increase output of me

Foreign Affairs March 19, 2020

A South Korean government-arranged chartered flight departed for Seoul on Thursday, carrying 80 people evacuated from Iran due to the worsening outbreak of the new coronavirus. The Asiana Airlines plane, with 74 Koreans and six Iranian family members aboard, took off from Al Maktoum International Airport near Dubai at 8:05 a.m. (Korean time), the foreign ministry in Seoul said. It is scheduled to arrive at Incheon International Airport on Thursday afternoon. The evacuees had earlier been air

Foreign Affairs March 19, 2020

미국에서 데뷔한 보이그룹 몬스타엑스가 팝스타 켈리 클라크슨이 진행하는 TV쇼에 출연해 신곡 무대를 가졌다. 18일 소속사 스타쉽엔터테인먼트에 따르면 이들은 지난 17일(이하 현지시간) 미국 NBC '켈리 클라크슨 쇼'에 출연했다. 이날 방송에서 클라크슨은 몬스타엑스를 두고 "음악계를 휩쓸고 있다"면서 "미국과 영국을 포함한 20개 이상 지역 아이튠즈 차트에서 최신 음악 장르 중 하나인 K팝으로 1위에 올랐다"고 소개했다. 몬스타엑스는 지난달 14일 발매한 미국 정규 1집 '올 어바웃 러브'(ALL ABOUT LUV) 타이틀곡 '유 캔트 홀드 마이 하트'(YOU CAN'T HOLD MY HEART) 무대를 현장에 모인 팬들 앞에서 불렀다. 이들이 공연하는 동안 팬들은 함께 객석에서 춤추고 환호했다. 무대를 본 클라크슨은 "너희에게 반했다", "정말 멋졌다. 고맙다"고 말했다. 빌보드는 이날 &quo

한국어판 March 19, 2020

교수·학생 가족 등장 해프닝까지…"일반 강의보다 3배 더 힘들어" "루니루니님, 제 목소리 들리세요?" 지난 17일 오후 온라인으로 진행된 한 대학원 수업은 유튜브 라이브 방송을 방불케 했다. 교수가 초대한 화상채팅방에 들어온 학생들이 실명 아닌 닉네임(별명)을 쓰기도 해 교수가 학생들을 '○○님' 등 닉네임으로 부르기도 했다. 교수는 "내가 꼭 유튜버가 된 것 같은 기분"이라고 말했다. 개인 사정 때문에 수업에 참여하지 못할 뻔한 학생들은 '혜택'을 받았다. 몇몇 학생들은 늦은 퇴근길에 전철을 타고 집에 가며 출석에 응하거나 병원에서 수업을 듣기도 했다. 신종 코로나바이러스 감염증(코로나19) 사태로 지난 16일 각 대학이 사상 초유의 '온라인 개강'을 맞았다. 전례 없는 강의환경이 익숙하지 않은 교수와 학생들 사이에 온갖 해프닝이 벌어지고 있다. 한 대학 강의에서는 교수가 마이크를 켜지 않고

한국어판 March 19, 2020

배우 문지윤이 급성 패혈증으로 36세 일기로 사망했다. 소속사 가족이엔티는 문지윤이 전날 오후 8시 56분께 숨졌다고 19일 밝혔다. 고인은 2002년 MBC TV 드라마 '로망스'로 데뷔해 KBS 2TV '쾌걸 춘향', SBS TV '일지매', MBC TV '선덕여왕', JTBC '송곳', tvN '치즈인더트랩'과 영화 '돌려차기', '불한당' 등 다수의 작품에 출연했다. 가장 최근작은 MBC TV 주말드라마 '황금정원'이다. 소속사는 "유족들은 신종 코로나바이러스 감염증(코로나19) 감염 우려로 조문객 안전에 대한 걱정의 말씀을 했고 고인을 위한 애도를 부탁드렸다. 조화는 정중히 거절했다"고 전했다. 빈소는 인제대 상계백병원 장례식장에 차려졌으며 발인은 20일 낮 12시. (연합뉴스)

한국어판 March 19, 2020

South Korea's foreign ministry said Wednesday it has issued a travel advisory for all countries previously not affected by its travel warnings prompted by the global spread of the new coronavirus. Under the unprecedented move, all South Koreans are advised to take caution when visiting any foreign country, the ministry said, adding that the level-1 travel advisory will be effective as of Thursday. "All those planning an overseas trip are advised to carefully consider the need and possibl

Foreign Affairs March 18, 2020

The US Embassy in Seoul said Wednesday that it will suspend all routine visa interviews this week in line with a State Department measure to respond to the new coronavirus outbreaks. The measure, set to take effect on Thursday, will not affect the visa waiver program for Korean citizens or services for US citizens, the embassy said. "The US Embassy to the Republic of Korea will cancel all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments as of March 19, 2020," the embassy said in

Foreign Affairs March 18, 2020

A national fencing player has tested positive for the novel coronavirus after participating in a competition in Europe, the sport's governing body said Wednesday. The Korean Fencing Federation said it received the COVID-19 test result of the 25-year-old female fencer of the national squad, whose identity is being withheld, early in the day. She returned to South Korea on Sunday after participating in a contest in Hungary. The fencer, who complained of a sore throat during her stay in Hungary,

More Sports March 18, 2020

Public-use businesses in Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds Seoul, were ordered on Wednesday to thoroughly observe a set of guidelines for preventing the coronavirus outbreak. Issuing a rare administrative order, the provincial government instructed internet cafes, karaoke rooms, clubs and other places of business frequented by the public to abide by seven quarantine requirements, including regular disinfection and ventilation, until April 6 to help curb the spread of COVID-19. The government

Social Affairs March 18, 2020

A growing number of foreign countries have been asking about importing South Korean-made coronavirus diagnostic kits and other forms of aid to help curb the pandemic, a foreign ministry official said Wednesday. Such calls have been rising as Seoul's containment efforts have led to a slowdown in new COVID-19 cases and a low fatality rate, which have created breathing space for South Korea to look beyond its shores to embrace a broader role in the global fight against the virus. "We have b

Foreign Affairs March 18, 2020

More than 2,500 performing art shows and exhibitions have been canceled for the first four months of this year, resulting in heavy financial damage to the arts industry, a report showed Wednesday. According to the report by the private Federation of Artistic & Cultural Organization of Korea, a total of 2,511 concerts, performing art shows and art exhibitions have been called off in the January-April period due to coronavirus outbreaks. The direct financial damage from the show cancellat

Social Affairs March 18, 2020

The South Korean Buddhist community and an umbrella group of Protestant churches said Wednesday they will postpone upcoming Buddha's birthday and Easter celebrations to join the nationwide fight against the novel coronavirus. "The ritual to celebrate Buddha's birthday, scheduled to be held on April 30, will be put off to May 30," the Association of Korea Buddhist Orders, whose members include the country's biggest Jogye Order, said in a press conference in Seoul. "The Lotus La

Social Affairs March 18, 2020