SouthKorea

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  S. Korea allows mask exports, sees sharp increase in diagnostic kit shipment A file picture shows South Korean diagnostic kits and equipment stored at an airport in Madagascar. 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 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 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 Genexin 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 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 Ce 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 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 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 poun 2020-04-28
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  President Moon joins social media initiative to thank medical staff President Moon Jae-in and senior aides join the Thank You Challenge for medical workers at the presidential office on April 27. 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-r 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 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 pulle 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 ha 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 (KC 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 o 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 thro 2020-04-17
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  Ex-prime minister Lee Nak-yeon firms his political position in heavyweight election battle SEOUL -- Former prime minister Lee Nak-yeon of the ruling Democratic Party firmed his position as a potential presidential candidate with a comfortable victory in a heavyweight election battle against Hwang Kyo-ahn, an outspoken opposition leader, in a district that has been regarded as a key constituency in South Korea's political map. The 67-year-old politician who had served as prime minister in the government of President Moon Jae-in until January this year g 2020-04-16
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  [Coronavirus] Health officials proud of setting new example in fight against COVID-19 A National Election Committee official checks body temperatures of voters at a polling station in eastern Seoul on April 15. SEOUL -- South Korea deserves compliment for setting another good example as the first country in the world to hold elections without trouble, health officials said, praising active cooperation by voters who have risked strict and cumbersome quarantine procedures to prevent the penetration of a novel coronavirus into polling statio 2020-04-16
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  President Moon given clear mandate through overwhelming election victory SEOUL -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in received a clear mandate from voters to exercise his strong leadership through an overwhelming victory in parliamentary elections as his administration garnered acclaim for making an effective response to a new coronavirus epidemic that has rattled the international community. The ruling camp secured a comfortable majority of 180 seats in the high-stake political event to elect 300 National Assembly members for a four-year te 2020-04-16
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  Moon's ruling party predicted to secure stable majority in parliamentary elections Former prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon leaves the situation room of the ruling Democratic Party in Seoul on April 15 after an exit poll predicted a ruling party victory. SEOUL -- The ruling party of South Korean President Moon Jae-in was in a state of guarded optimism and excitement as a joint exit poll conducted by major TV stations found that it is predicted to secure a stable majority of seats in elections to form a new legislative body. This year's parliamenta 2020-04-15
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  [SCENE] Voting proceeds in calm and orderly manner, no worries about infection Voters wait outside a polling station in eastern Seoul on April 15. SEOUL -- It's like a silent march to the judge of fate, but there was no fear in their faces. Rather, many were relaxed and confident, showing a sense of pride and belief that the final moment to conquer an insurmountable epidemic is not far away. The mood outside a polling station at an elderly culture and fitness center in Seoul's eastern district of Jungnang was calm and orderl 2020-04-15