SouthKorea

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  ​Seoul issues binding order for rush hour subway passengers to wear masks SEOUL -- In an effort to prevent the second wave of a novel coronavirus pandemic, any rush-hour commuters who do not wear masks will be banned from boarding subway trains in Seoul. Emergency masks are available at subway station kiosks. The order would take effect on May 13. The Seoul city government urged citizens to avoid using public transport during busy commuting hours to lower the possibility of contamination, and those with underlying diseases to refrain from using crowded pu 2020-05-11
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  [Coronavirus] Police trace thousands of gay bar visitors for virus inspection SEOUL -- South Korean police are tracing more than 3,000 people who went into hiding for fear of public humiliation after visiting gay clubs as the number of COVID-19 patients related to the epicenter of gay nightlife in Seoul rose to 86, sparking a feeling of strain and hurry among health officials. The police agency in Seoul said that it would deploy a quick response team to check the identity and whereabouts of thousands of people who have visited gay clubs in Itaewon, an interna 2020-05-11
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  President Moon urges S. Korea to brace for second wave of COVID-19 epidemic SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in urged South Korea to brace for the second wave of a coronavirus epidemic as a new outbreak originating from gay clubs spread, leaving more than 50 people infected and threatening to dampen efforts to surmount a national crisis by setting a global standard in the prevention of COVID-19. The fresh outbreak in the epicenter of gay nightlife in Seoul embarrassed health officials as it came after South Korea eased social distancing guidelines to permit gr 2020-05-10
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  President Moon presents S. Korea's post-pandemic goal to lead global industrial map SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in presented a new national goal to establish his country as a leader in the process of reorganizing the post-pandemic global order, saying that South Korea has a golden opportunity to become a world factory of high-tech industries and change the global industrial map. As South Korea has become the safest and most transparent production base in the world, it now has a "golden" opportunity to push ahead with bold strategies to attract high-tech i 2020-05-10
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  [Coronavirus] Gay club infections spark panic and anxiety in sexual minority community SEOUL -- South Korea's sexual minority community was gripped with a sense of panic and anxiety after a 29-year-old man infected with a new coronavirus made a free-wheeling overnight trip through gay bars and dance clubs in the epicenter of gay nightlife not far away from downtown Seoul, triggering a cluster of infections. On May 8, health officials reported 15 new COVID-19 cases, including three foreigners and an army staff sergeant, related to the man who had visited five bars 2020-05-08
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  S. Korea allows mask exports, sees sharp increase in diagnostic kit shipment SEOUL -- Helped by growing popularity abroad, exports of South Korean diagnostic kits to sort out patients infected with a novel coronavirus soared to $201.2 million in April from $24.1 million a month ago. Demand is expected to remain strong as many countries have yet to contain a pandemic. South Korea has been swamped with urgent requests for diagnostic reagents and other quarantine items to stem a pandemic, as well as a flurry of similar requests for humanitarian help from othe 2020-05-07
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  Air conditioning becomes new source of concern at classrooms SEOUL -- Contamination through air conditioning has become a new source of concern among health officials as South Korea eased social distancing guidelines to permit greater social and economic activities than before, with millions of students ready to go back to school campuses gradually. Health officials and experts are working on guidelines on the use of air conditioning, especially at schools. High school seniors and students at small elementary and middle schools in remote area 2020-05-06
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  Researchers confirm meaningful outcome in coronavirus vaccine testing on primates SEOUL -- In vaccine testing on monkeys, a state-commissioned research consortium in South Korea claimed to have confirmed the generation of antibodies that can neutralize a novel coronavirus. The consortium will push ahead with clinical trials on humans in June after acquiring quick approval from a state watchdog. The COVID-19 pandemic has opened a huge market for vaccines, diagnostic kits and medication. South Korea has launched a research consortium involving Genexine, GenNBio, Bi 2020-05-06
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  Schools reopen this month based on confidence in quarantine SEOUL -- In a bold attempt based on confidence in its quarantine system that has been praised and benchmarked abroad, more than six million students, teachers and support personnel will go back to school campuses gradually from May 13 as South Korea eases social distancing guidelines this week to permit greater social and economic activities than before. High school seniors and students at small elementary and middle schools in remote areas such as islands will return to school on M 2020-05-04
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  Health officials find no virus in first full-fledged sample pooling SEOUL -- A novel coronavirus has not been detected in South Korea's first full-fledged "sample pooling," a quick diagnostic method of preventing herd infections at vulnerable places, which was conducted at nursing hospitals in the metropolitan area. The examination of 6,544 samples collected from 46 nursing hospitals in Seoul and its surrounding province was conducted from Mary 17 to April 27, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), 2020-05-04
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  Pandemic boosts sales of ready-to-cook meal kits SEOUL -- A coronavirus epidemic has boosted sales of ready-to-cook meal kits, which are easily found at convenience stores, as many people dine in their homes due to social distancing, according to a South Korean convenience store chain. Ready-to-cook meal kits in forms of stew, soup or stir-fried vegetables and meat dishes are favored by single-person households for the simplicity of cooking. The meal kits can be cooked immediately using a stove or microwave oven as all ingredients 2020-05-04
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  [Coronavirus] Health officials turn their eyes to quarantine of migrant foreign workers SEOUL -- Alarmed by a spike in coronavirus infections linked to clusters in foreign worker dormitories in Singapore, South Korean health officials turned their eyes to the quarantine of homeless people and migrant foreign workers who are living the blind spot of surveillance. Many foreign workers, legal or illegal, who used to provide cheap labor in rural farming communities and small factories, have left since South Korea was hit by a coronavirus epidemic in late January. There 2020-04-28
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  Marketing promotion to stimulate asparagus consumption sparks online competition SEOUL -- An online discount marketing promotion led by a provincial governor to help asparagus farmers who have seen a sharp drop in exports of their crops due to a coronavirus pandemic sparked an unexpected craze among South Korean online shoppers. Asparagus, the shoot of a flowering plant in the lily family, is a common food ingredient in the western world, but it is not so popular in South Korea mainly because of its high price. One kilogram (2.2 pounds) of asparagus sells for 2020-04-28
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  President Moon joins social media initiative to thank medical staff SEOUL -- "I express my respect and gratitude to medical staff for their dedication," President Moon Jae-in said after he joined a social media initiative to commend doctors, nurses and health officials for their dedicated services to a national fight against a coronavirus epidemic. Deputy Health and Welfare Minister Kim Kang-rip proposed a social campaign to cheer medical personnel involved in a tough fight against COVID-19 on April 16, a day after South Korea held elect 2020-04-28
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  [Coronavirus] President Moon urges S. Korea to set new global example in overcoming pandemic SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in urged South Koreans to set global standards in going a new way out of a painful coronavirus epidemic as the country prepares for a new daily life with the re-opening of school classes, church services and sports games. The international community has praised South Korea's quarantine which is becoming a global standard, Moon said. "The world is paying attention to how we will achieve the coexistence of quarantine and daily life. Let's all 2020-04-27
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  Military rifle bullet hit head of caddie on duty in her golf course SEOUL -- A female caddie in her 20s suffered a head injury during her duty on the 16th hole of a golf course. The caddie and other people thought that she may have been hit by a stray golf ball. In a hospital, she underwent an emergency operation after doctors discovered a 5.56-millimeter rifle bullet in her head. The rare incident took place at a golf course in Damyang, some 250 kilometers (155 miles) southwest of Seoul, on April 23 when the ill-fated caddie pulled out a golf club 2020-04-24
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  [Coronavirus] S. Korea eases strict restrictions on exports of high-quality masks SEOUL -- Satisfied with sufficient stock and stable distribution, South Korea eased strict restrictions on exports of masks which have played a crucial role in abating the spread of a novel coronavirus. Korean War veterans in foreign countries will be the first group of recipients to wear high-quality products from South Korea. As the supply of masks is stable, drugstores are now well-stocked with masks. As of April 21, 86.6 percent of all pharmacies in South Korea have masks in s 2020-04-24
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  [Coronavirus] First 'sample pooling' test conducted to prevent herd infection in Seoul SEOUL -- "Sample pooling," a quick diagnostic method of preventing herd infections at vulnerable places, was applied for the first time to nursing hospitals in Seoul. The experimental examination was successful and detected no virus, becoming a role model in South Korea's anti-epidemic fight against COVID-19. It should be used only for disease monitoring. The "pooling protocol" invented by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), a state h 2020-04-22
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  New contactless detector developed for sobriety test in S. Korea SEOUL -- For a sobriety crackdown which has been inactive this year due to a novel coronavirus epidemic, South Korean police came up with a new contactless sensor that can detect drunk drivers without breathalyzing. Police used a rod attached with a new detector covered with a disposable plastic cover. A week-long trial operation began on April 20 to see if the new detector is effective. The National Police Agency (NPA) said in a statement on Monday that it would use the new devic 2020-04-20
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  Envoy urges resumption of economic and trade cooperation between China and S. Korea SEOUL -- Beijing and Seoul should restore and develop economic and trade cooperation, China's top envoy in South Korea said, showing confidence in the rapid recovery of China's economy from the impact of a novel coronavirus epidemic. "We must never close the gate between China and South Korea," Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming said in an interview with Aju Business Daily, adding the two countries are working to ensure the vital traffic of citizens through the mutual 2020-04-17