The South Korean government will deal sternly with violators of COVID-19 rules during the Halloween weekend and foreigners will be no exception, Interior Minister Jeon Hae-cheol said on Sunday.

The minister issued the warning during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, saying Halloween celebrations pose a high risk of additional infections, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Halloween falls on Sunday this year.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-haunted-houses-need-to-terrify-you-more-than-ever-this-halloween-422993">Haunted houses need to terrify you more than ever this Halloween</a>

"The government and local governments have been carrying out joint patrols in areas frequented by foreign nationals and visited by multiple people," Jeon said, referring to a week-long patrol period that ends Tuesday.

He said the authorities have also been conducting a campaign to discourage people from gathering.

"With regard to foreign nationals who are caught violating antivirus rules, we plan to take strict measures in accordance with relevant laws," he added.

South Korea is set to begin a phased return to normal life on Monday, starting with the lifting of curfews on restaurant hours and allowing private gatherings of up to 10 people in the capital area and up to 12 in the rest of the country.

Jeon said cluster infections continue to be reported across the country and that concerns persist over an increase of cases amid the return to normal.

He called for continued adherence to social distancing protocols, such as mask wearing and regular ventilation.

The South Korean government will deal sternly with violators of COVID-19 rules during the Halloween weekend and foreigners will be no exception, Interior Minister Jeon Hae-cheol said on Sunday.

The South Korean government will deal sternly with violators of COVID-19 rules during the Halloween weekend and foreigners will be no exception, Interior Minister Jeon Hae-cheol said on Sunday. The minister issued the warning during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, saying Halloween celebrations pose a high risk of additional infections, reports Yonhap News Agency. Halloween falls on Sunday this year. Also Read | Haunted houses need to terrify you more than ever this Halloween "The government and local governments have been carrying out joint patrols in areas frequented by foreign nationals and visited by multiple people," Jeon said, referring to a week-long patrol period that ends Tuesday. He said the authorities have also been conducting a campaign to discourage people from gathering. "With regard to foreign nationals who are caught violating antivirus rules, we plan to take strict measures in accordance with relevant laws," he added. South Korea is set to begin a phased return to normal life on Monday, starting with the lifting of curfews on restaurant hours and allowing private gatherings of up to 10 people in the capital area and up to 12 in the rest of the country. Jeon said cluster infections continue to be reported across the country and that concerns persist over an increase of cases amid the return to normal. He called for continued adherence to social distancing protocols, such as mask wearing and regular ventilation.

Foreigners in S Korea warned against violating Covid rules on Halloween

South Korea extended social distancing curbs to combat the coronavirus pandemic on Friday for two weeks, offering more incentives to people to get vaccinated as it battles thousands of new cases each day, particularly in the capital.

The rapid resurgence in the greater Seoul area prompted authorities to extend distancing restrictions until October&nbsp;17, including a ban in the region on dining out after 10 p.m. and gatherings of more than two people after 6 pm.

The country recorded 2,486 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), with the daily tally having topped 3,000 for the first time last week.

The daily average exceeded 2,635 over the past week - the highest-ever level and easily more than twice the level a month before, the KDCA said.

The capital Seoul and neighbouring regions remain the hotspot, reporting almost 2,000 cases every day for the last week, up about 42 per cent within just one week.

"We`re in a very dangerous situation where the virus is spreading surrounding the Seoul metropolitan area," said Lee Ki-il, deputy minister of health care policy, speaking during a briefing.

The upcoming two weeks is an important period as the government is revamping its anti-virus policy to facilitate a phased return to normal activities starting November, he added.

Among new incentives introduced to encourage people to get vaccinated, the deputy minister said wedding ceremonies can be held with up to 199 attendees if they included 150 fully vaccinated people.

"If the vaccination rate constantly rises and the scales of outbreaks are stably controlled for the next two weeks, we should be able to set out on phased back to normal in earnest," Lee said.

Around 77 per cent of South Korea`s 52 million population had received one shot of vaccine as of Thursday, with about 50 per cent fully vaccinated, as the country has quickly ramped up its inoculation campaign despite a shaky start.

The government aims to vaccinate 80 per cent of all adults by the end of October, and is considering introducing a 'vaccine pass' to allow those who have been fully inoculated to use public facilities and travel more freely. 
&nbsp;

South Korea extended social distancing curbs to combat the coronavirus pandemic on Friday for two weeks, offering more incentives to people to get vaccinated as it battles thousands of new cases each day, particularly in the capital.

South Korea extended social distancing curbs to combat the coronavirus pandemic on Friday for two weeks, offering more incentives to people to get vaccinated as it battles thousands of new cases each day, particularly in the capital. The rapid resurgence in the greater Seoul area prompted authorities to extend distancing restrictions until October 17, including a ban in the region on dining out after 10 p.m. and gatherings of more than two people after 6 pm. The country recorded 2,486 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), with the daily tally having topped 3,000 for the first time last week. The daily average exceeded 2,635 over the past week - the highest-ever level and easily more than twice the level a month before, the KDCA said. The capital Seoul and neighbouring regions remain the hotspot, reporting almost 2,000 cases every day for the last week, up about 42 per cent within just one week. "We`re in a very dangerous situation where the virus is spreading surrounding the Seoul metropolitan area," said Lee Ki-il, deputy minister of health care policy, speaking during a briefing. The upcoming two weeks is an important period as the government is revamping its anti-virus policy to facilitate a phased return to normal activities starting November, he added. Among new incentives introduced to encourage people to get vaccinated, the deputy minister said wedding ceremonies can be held with up to 199 attendees if they included 150 fully vaccinated people. "If the vaccination rate constantly rises and the scales of outbreaks are stably controlled for the next two weeks, we should be able to set out on phased back to normal in earnest," Lee said. Around 77 per cent of South Korea`s 52 million population had received one shot of vaccine as of Thursday, with about 50 per cent fully vaccinated, as the country has quickly ramped up its inoculation campaign despite a shaky start. The government aims to vaccinate 80 per cent of all adults by the end of October, and is considering introducing a 'vaccine pass' to allow those who have been fully inoculated to use public facilities and travel more freely.

S.Korea extends social distancing curbs as COVID-19 cases rise in Seoul

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un will visit the South this week for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, Seoul said Wednesday.

Kim Yo-Jong, who is a senior member of the ruling Workers&#39; Party, will be part of a high-level delegation due Friday and led by the North&#39;s ceremonial head of state, the unification ministry said.

Kim Yo-Jong was promoted in October to be an alternate member of the party&#39;s powerful politburo, the decision-making body presided over by her brother.&nbsp;

In her late 20s, she has frequently been seen accompanying her brother on his &quot;field guidance trips&quot; and other events and is known to have been involved in the party&#39;s propaganda operations.&nbsp;

The North has always kept its leadership within the family -- Kim Jong-Un is the third generation of the dynasty to lead the country, after his father Kim Jong-Il and grandfather Kim Il-Sung, the North&#39;s founder.

Kim Jong-Il fathered both Kim Jong-Un and Kim Yo-Jong with his third partner, former dancer Ko Yong-Hui.

Kim Yo-Jong was promoted in October to be an alternate member of the party's powerful politburo

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un will visit the South this week for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, Seoul said Wednesday. Kim Yo-Jong, who is a senior member of the ruling Workers' Party, will be part of a high-level delegation due Friday and led by the North's ceremonial head of state, the unification ministry said. Kim Yo-Jong was promoted in October to be an alternate member of the party's powerful politburo, the decision-making body presided over by her brother. In her late 20s, she has frequently been seen accompanying her brother on his "field guidance trips" and other events and is known to have been involved in the party's propaganda operations. The North has always kept its leadership within the family -- Kim Jong-Un is the third generation of the dynasty to lead the country, after his father Kim Jong-Il and grandfather Kim Il-Sung, the North's founder. Kim Jong-Il fathered both Kim Jong-Un and Kim Yo-Jong with his third partner, former dancer Ko Yong-Hui.

Kim Jong-Un's sister to visit South Korea this week: Seoul

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