Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the sanctions imposed by the West has created a global energy crisis. Now, South Korea and Germany held energy talks in Qatar.

Qatar to help Germany cut reliance on Russian oil amid Ukraine conflict

North Korea appeared to have fired a short-range multiple rocket launcher, South Korean military said on Sunday, amid heightened tensions in the region. The launch comes after a number of larger missile launches by the North in the recent past. <o:p></o:p>

"This morning there was firing in North Korea which is assumed to be multiple rocket launcher shots, and our military was monitoring the related situation and maintaining a readiness posture," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/multiple-explosions-heard-at-pakistan-army-depot-in-sialkot-sources-463936">Multiple explosions heard at Pakistan Army Depot in Sialkot: Sources</a><o:p></o:p>

The North Korean military fired four shots around 7:20 am local time (22:20 GMT on Saturday) for around an hour towards the west coast from an unidentified location in South Pyongan Province, according to a report from Yonhap news agency.<o:p></o:p>

Although the launches have not attracted the same attention as the massive intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), North Korea has tested a variety of new types of multiple launch rocket system in the last few years and it has significantly boosted their massive artillery.<o:p></o:p>

The launch has once again stoked tensions of a possible aggression towards South Korea and National Security Council held an emergency vice-ministerial meeting over the launches.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-on-the-right-side-of-history-over-ukraine-war-wang-yi-463948" hreflang="en">China on the right side of history over Ukraine war: Wang Yi</a>

South Korea approved plans to pursue a $2.6-billion artillery interception system last year, similar to Israel’s “Iron Dome,” which can be used to protect against North’s long-range guns and rockets.<o:p></o:p>

From 2021, North Korea has conducted a huge number of missile launches. South Korea and the US have both warned that North Korea could resume the testing of ICBMs for the first time since 2017.

<o:p>Watch |&nbsp;</o:p>North Korea's latest missile tests alarm pentagon as the US, South Korea suspect ICBM tests<o:p></o:p>

&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/north-koreas-latest-missile-tests-alarm-pentagon-as-the-us-south-korea-suspect-icbm-tests-461153/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">(With inputs from agencies)</div>

North Korea appeared to have fired a short-range multiple rocket launcher, South Korean military said on Sunday, amid heightened tensions in the region. The launch comes after a number of larger missile launches by the North in the recent past.

North Korea appeared to have fired a short-range multiple rocket launcher, South Korean military said on Sunday, amid heightened tensions in the region. The launch comes after a number of larger missile launches by the North in the recent past. "This morning there was firing in North Korea which is assumed to be multiple rocket launcher shots, and our military was monitoring the related situation and maintaining a readiness posture," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Also read | Multiple explosions heard at Pakistan Army Depot in Sialkot: Sources The North Korean military fired four shots around 7:20 am local time (22:20 GMT on Saturday) for around an hour towards the west coast from an unidentified location in South Pyongan Province, according to a report from Yonhap news agency. Although the launches have not attracted the same attention as the massive intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), North Korea has tested a variety of new types of multiple launch rocket system in the last few years and it has significantly boosted their massive artillery. The launch has once again stoked tensions of a possible aggression towards South Korea and National Security Council held an emergency vice-ministerial meeting over the launches. Also read | China on the right side of history over Ukraine war: Wang Yi South Korea approved plans to pursue a $2.6-billion artillery interception system last year, similar to Israel’s “Iron Dome,” which can be used to protect against North’s long-range guns and rockets. From 2021, North Korea has conducted a huge number of missile launches. South Korea and the US have both warned that North Korea could resume the testing of ICBMs for the first time since 2017. Watch | North Korea's latest missile tests alarm pentagon as the US, South Korea suspect ICBM tests (With inputs from agencies)

North Korea fires multiple rocket launcher, says South Korean military

South Korea is battling fresh Covid-19 outbreaks as the country registered record infections with over 4,00,000 cases in a day. The recent resurgence was driven by infections in the Seoul metropolitan area amid the Omicron variant spread.

South Korea facing worst COVID-19 outbreak as government eases norms

South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;reported a record of more than 600,000 coronavirus cases Thursday, with authorities saying the country was near the peak of an Omicron-fuelled infection wave.

According to WHO data,&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;leads the world in newly reported cases in the last seven days with 2,417,174 infections, followed by Vietnam with 1,776,045.

The 621,328 case tally recorded Thursday is&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea's highest daily figure since the pandemic began.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-says-global-rise-in-covid-cases-is-tip-of-the-iceberg-463031">WHO says global rise in COVID-19 cases is 'tip of the iceberg'</a>

But critical cases and deaths remain comparatively low in the country of around 52 million where the majority of adults are fully vaccinated and have received a booster shot, official data shows.

"We have been preparing for an increase in the number of patients since Omicron became dominant," Lee Sang-won, a senior official at the&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said Thursday.&nbsp;

But even the government's modelling did not anticipate this many, he said.&nbsp;

"The number is much greater than what was expected," he said.

Health authorities believe&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;is nearing the peak of an Omicron-driven wave, but Lee said they were recalculating "the scale of the confirmed cases or how long the 'peak period' is going to last".

Once it has passed, officials believe the country will be able to start getting back to normal.

"I think this crisis will be the last major crisis in the overall response to Covid-19," Sohn Young-rae, a senior health ministry official, said Wednesday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspected-north-korea-missile-fails-after-launch-over-pyongyang-462817">Suspected North Korea missile fails after launch over Pyongyang</a>

Since the pandemic began in 2020, 11,481 people have died of Covid in&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea, according to health authorities.

Its total Covid fatality rate stands at 0.14 percent as of Thursday, compared to 0.05 to 0.1 percent for seasonal flu, according to official statistics.

The&nbsp;Omicron&nbsp;surge and its&nbsp;economic&nbsp;implications&nbsp;will pose an immediate&nbsp;challenge&nbsp;to&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea's new president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, who&nbsp;narrowly&nbsp;won&nbsp;last week.

Seoul abandoned its "trace, test and treat" approach last month as a dramatic surge in Omicron cases threatened to overwhelm its healthcare system.

Instead of mass testing and aggressive contact tracing, patients with mild or moderate symptoms are now asked to look after themselves at home.

Authorities are also prioritising PCR testing for people aged 60 or older.

The country has continued to relax its social distancing rules, under pressure from small businesses owners who say years-long Covid restrictions had pushed them to the brink.

The government is expected to decide whether to keep current distancing guidelines, such as an 11 pm curfew for businesses, this Friday.

Later this month, Seoul will also begin vaccinating children between the ages of 5 and 11.

Watch |&nbsp;South Korea facing worst COVID-19 outbreak as government eases norms

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/south-korea-facing-worst-covid-19-outbreak-as-government-eases-norms-463032/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

&nbsp;

South Korea reported a record of more than 600,000 coronavirus cases Thursday, with authorities saying the country was near the peak of an Omicron-fuelled infection wave.

South Korea reported a record of more than 600,000 coronavirus cases Thursday, with authorities saying the country was near the peak of an Omicron-fuelled infection wave. According to WHO data, South Korea leads the world in newly reported cases in the last seven days with 2,417,174 infections, followed by Vietnam with 1,776,045. The 621,328 case tally recorded Thursday is South Korea's highest daily figure since the pandemic began. Also read | WHO says global rise in COVID-19 cases is 'tip of the iceberg' But critical cases and deaths remain comparatively low in the country of around 52 million where the majority of adults are fully vaccinated and have received a booster shot, official data shows. "We have been preparing for an increase in the number of patients since Omicron became dominant," Lee Sang-won, a senior official at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said Thursday. But even the government's modelling did not anticipate this many, he said. "The number is much greater than what was expected," he said. Health authorities believe South Korea is nearing the peak of an Omicron-driven wave, but Lee said they were recalculating "the scale of the confirmed cases or how long the 'peak period' is going to last". Once it has passed, officials believe the country will be able to start getting back to normal. "I think this crisis will be the last major crisis in the overall response to Covid-19," Sohn Young-rae, a senior health ministry official, said Wednesday. Also read | Suspected North Korea missile fails after launch over Pyongyang Since the pandemic began in 2020, 11,481 people have died of Covid in South Korea, according to health authorities. Its total Covid fatality rate stands at 0.14 percent as of Thursday, compared to 0.05 to 0.1 percent for seasonal flu, according to official statistics. The Omicron surge and its economic implications will pose an immediate challenge to South Korea's new president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, who narrowly won last week. Seoul abandoned its "trace, test and treat" approach last month as a dramatic surge in Omicron cases threatened to overwhelm its healthcare system. Instead of mass testing and aggressive contact tracing, patients with mild or moderate symptoms are now asked to look after themselves at home. Authorities are also prioritising PCR testing for people aged 60 or older. The country has continued to relax its social distancing rules, under pressure from small businesses owners who say years-long Covid restrictions had pushed them to the brink. The government is expected to decide whether to keep current distancing guidelines, such as an 11 pm curfew for businesses, this Friday. Later this month, Seoul will also begin vaccinating children between the ages of 5 and 11. Watch | South Korea facing worst COVID-19 outbreak as government eases norms

South Korea reports more than 600,000 Covid cases amid Omicron surge

South Korea reported more than 400,000 COVID-19 cases – the highest daily figure since the start of the pandemic – on Wednesday. The latest wave of infections is fueled by the Omicron variant but the government believes that they are nearing the peak of&nbsp;the ongoing Omicron wave. <o:p></o:p>

The latest spike in cases is the “last biggest challenge” facing the country, Sohn Young-rae, a senior health official, said in a press briefing according to AFP. <o:p></o:p>

“If we overcome this crisis, we will step closer to returning to normalcy,” he added.

<o:p>Also read:&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vietnam-scraps-covid-19-quarantine-for-international-travellers-462920">Vietnam scraps COVID-19 quarantine for international travellers</a><o:p></o:p>

According to the latest&nbsp;World Health Organisation (WHO) data, South Korea leads the world in newly reported cases in the last seven days with 2,358, 878 cases followed by Vietnam with 1,795,380.<o:p></o:p>

South Korea will lift mandatory quarantine on arrival for fully vaccinated visitors from March 21.<o:p></o:p>

On the domestic front, South Korea has already relaxed its social distancing rules after protests from small businesses who were clear that the rules were hampering their income. Currently, the country has a 11pm curfew for businesses and a six-person limit for most private gatherings.<o:p></o:p>

The South Korean government will take further decisions regarding the restrictions on Friday.

<o:p>Also read:&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspected-north-korea-missile-fails-after-launch-over-pyongyang-462817">Suspected North Korea missile fails after launch over Pyongyang</a><o:p></o:p>

When it comes to vaccination, the eligible population of South Korea has received both vaccination doses and the booster jabs. As a result, although the infection rate is extremely high, the number of deaths remain low.

The current situation has also put an immense amount of pressure on the healthcare system which has resulted in the abandonment of the ‘trace, test and treat’ system.

(With agency inputs)

South Korea reported more than 400,000 COVID-19 cases – the highest daily figure since the start of the pandemic – on Wednesday. The latest wave of infections is fueled by the Omicron variant but the government believes that they are nearing the peak of the ongoing Omicron wave.

South Korea reported more than 400,000 COVID-19 cases – the highest daily figure since the start of the pandemic – on Wednesday. The latest wave of infections is fueled by the Omicron variant but the government believes that they are nearing the peak of the ongoing Omicron wave. The latest spike in cases is the “last biggest challenge” facing the country, Sohn Young-rae, a senior health official, said in a press briefing according to AFP. “If we overcome this crisis, we will step closer to returning to normalcy,” he added. Also read: Vietnam scraps COVID-19 quarantine for international travellers According to the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) data, South Korea leads the world in newly reported cases in the last seven days with 2,358, 878 cases followed by Vietnam with 1,795,380. South Korea will lift mandatory quarantine on arrival for fully vaccinated visitors from March 21. On the domestic front, South Korea has already relaxed its social distancing rules after protests from small businesses who were clear that the rules were hampering their income. Currently, the country has a 11pm curfew for businesses and a six-person limit for most private gatherings. The South Korean government will take further decisions regarding the restrictions on Friday. Also read: Suspected North Korea missile fails after launch over Pyongyang When it comes to vaccination, the eligible population of South Korea has received both vaccination doses and the booster jabs. As a result, although the infection rate is extremely high, the number of deaths remain low. The current situation has also put an immense amount of pressure on the healthcare system which has resulted in the abandonment of the ‘trace, test and treat’ system. (With agency inputs)

South Korea reports more than 400,000 COVID-19 cases amid Omicron wave

Yoon Suk-Yeol has been elected as South Korea's new President. A self-proclaimed anti-feminist, he wants to abolish South Korea's Ministry for Gender Equality. He also plans to adopt a tougher line on China. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: South Korea elects 'anti-feminist' conservative as President

The election of Yoon Suk-yeol as South Korea's next president has been welcomed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The PM said he hoped to work closely with him to rebuild healthier ties with the neighbour. &nbsp;

Kishida told reporters, "I offer my heartfelt congratulations on his election. Especially now as the international community faces major change, healthy Japan-South Korea relations are ... indispensable." &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-votes-for-new-leader-to-tackle-covid-19-soaring-house-prices-inequality-460418" hreflang="en">South Korea votes for new leader to tackle COVID-19, soaring house prices, inequality</a>

On Thursday, 60-year-old Yoon also talked with US President Joe Biden over call, Yonhap News reported, citing Yoon's party. &nbsp;

In Wednesday's presidential election, conservative Yoon was elected president. Ruling party candidate Lee Jae-myung conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent. &nbsp;

The election witnessed a wave of discontent over scandals, economic policy&nbsp;and gender wars. It has reshaped the political future of Asia's fourth-largest economy. &nbsp;

Yoon’s victory in the bitterly fought election means a remarkable turnaround for the main conservative bloc. It is now known as the People Power Party. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-xi-calls-for-maximum-restraint-offers-to-mediate-between-ukraine-and-russia-460498" hreflang="en">China’s Xi calls for ‘maximum restraint’, offers to mediate between Ukraine and Russia</a>

The party had been struggling to regroup since the 2017 snap election was held after the impeachment and ouster of then President Park Geun-hye. &nbsp;

At a victory ceremony with supporters, Yoon said, "I would pay attention to people's livelihoods, provide warm welfare services to the needy, and make utmost efforts so that our country serves as a proud, responsible member of the international community and the free world." &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The election of Yoon Suk-yeol as South Korea's next president has been welcomed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday. The PM said he hoped to work closely with him to rebuild healthier ties with the neighbour.

The election of Yoon Suk-yeol as South Korea's next president has been welcomed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday. The PM said he hoped to work closely with him to rebuild healthier ties with the neighbour. Kishida told reporters, "I offer my heartfelt congratulations on his election. Especially now as the international community faces major change, healthy Japan-South Korea relations are ... indispensable." Also Read: South Korea votes for new leader to tackle COVID-19, soaring house prices, inequality On Thursday, 60-year-old Yoon also talked with US President Joe Biden over call, Yonhap News reported, citing Yoon's party. In Wednesday's presidential election, conservative Yoon was elected president. Ruling party candidate Lee Jae-myung conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent. The election witnessed a wave of discontent over scandals, economic policy and gender wars. It has reshaped the political future of Asia's fourth-largest economy. Yoon’s victory in the bitterly fought election means a remarkable turnaround for the main conservative bloc. It is now known as the People Power Party. Also Read: China’s Xi calls for ‘maximum restraint’, offers to mediate between Ukraine and Russia The party had been struggling to regroup since the 2017 snap election was held after the impeachment and ouster of then President Park Geun-hye. At a victory ceremony with supporters, Yoon said, "I would pay attention to people's livelihoods, provide warm welfare services to the needy, and make utmost efforts so that our country serves as a proud, responsible member of the international community and the free world." (With inputs from agencies)

Japan PM congratulates South Korea's President-elect Yoon, looks for improvement in ties

South Korea gets a new President. Conservative Yoon Suk Yeol will assume office for the first time. He promises to foster unity.

South Korea gets new President: Yoon Suk Yeol to assume office for the first time

Some 44 million South Koreans headed to polls to elect their next president on Wednesday after a campaign marked by surprises, scandals and smears. 
 
The winner will face mounting challenges including handling South Korea`s worst wave of COVID-19 infections, deepening inequality and surging housing prices that have strained Asia`s fourth-largest economy, and the ever-present threat of North Korea. 
 
Voters are looking for a leader who can root out corruption, heal the divided nation and polarised politics, and initiate negotiations that succeed in curbing North Korea`s nuclear ambitions. 
 
Fourteen candidates registered to run but the focus is on a tight two-way race between Lee Jae-myung, the standard-bearer of the ruling Democratic Party, and Yoon Suk-yeol, from the conservative main opposition People Power Party. 
 
They are vying to succeed incumbent President Moon Jae-in, who is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election. The winner will begin his single, five-year term on May 10. 
 
Polls last week showed a slight edge for Yoon, who secured a surprise, last-minute boost when a fellow conservative running a distant third dropped out and threw Yoon his support. 
 
A survey by Embrain Public estimated the merger could give Yoon 47.4% to Lee`s 41.5%, while an Ipsos poll tipped the margin with Ahn at a slightly wider 48.9% to 41.9% for Yoon. 
 
In the absence of opinion polls over the past six days, Yoon`s camp said on Monday it expected to win with a 10% margin, while Lee`s team predicted it would come out on top by 1-2%. 
 
SWING VOTERS 
 
A former prosecutor general, Yoon has vowed to fight corruption, foster justice and create a more level playing field, while seeking a harder line toward North Korea and a "reset" with China. 
 
Lee was governor of the most populous province of Gyeonggi and shot to fame with his aggressive coronavirus responses and advocacy for universal basic income. 
 
Both candidates` disapproval ratings matched their popularity as scandals, mud-slinging and gaffes dominated what was dubbed the "unlikeable election". 
 
Young voters who backed Moon but became disillusioned with economic problems and corruption scandals are seen as a key bank of support. 
 
Lee Sung-jin, 33, said he was casting his ballot at a polling station in Seoul because he had heard that the turnout among people in their 20s and 30s would be important. 
 
"As the current problems for young people concerning employment and housing prices are serious, I voted for a candidate who made a pledge to come up with solutions," he said, without specifying who he voted for. 
 
VOTING WITH COVID-19 
 
South Korea reported a record daily high 342,446 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday but the surge has hardly registered as an election issue, beyond some debate over how to compensate citizens and businesses. 
 
With more than 1 million COVID patients treating themselves at home, election authorities tightened voting procedures for patients on Monday amid uproar over early voting irregularities over the weekend. 
 
During Saturday`s special early voting for infected voters, some election workers collected ballots in shopping bags or plastic buckets to place in ballot boxes, and some voters reported receiving papers that had already been used. 
 
Officials said there was no evidence of foul play but the chaos threatened to tarnish South Korea 35-year democratic history of tight and relatively transparent elections, and a mostly successful fight against COVID-19. 
 
The race has already faced a number of disruptions. 
 
In a rare incident of violence in a South Korean election, a man with a hammer assaulted the leader of the Democrat Party and slightly injured him on Monday while he was campaigning for Lee.

Some 44 million South Koreans headed to polls to elect their next president on Wednesday after a campaign marked by surprises, scandals and smears. The winner will face mounting challenges including handling South Korea`s worst wave of COVID-19 infections, deepening inequality and surging housing prices that have strained Asia`s fourth-largest economy, and the ever-present threat of North Korea.

Some 44 million South Koreans headed to polls to elect their next president on Wednesday after a campaign marked by surprises, scandals and smears. The winner will face mounting challenges including handling South Korea`s worst wave of COVID-19 infections, deepening inequality and surging housing prices that have strained Asia`s fourth-largest economy, and the ever-present threat of North Korea. Voters are looking for a leader who can root out corruption, heal the divided nation and polarised politics, and initiate negotiations that succeed in curbing North Korea`s nuclear ambitions. Fourteen candidates registered to run but the focus is on a tight two-way race between Lee Jae-myung, the standard-bearer of the ruling Democratic Party, and Yoon Suk-yeol, from the conservative main opposition People Power Party. They are vying to succeed incumbent President Moon Jae-in, who is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election. The winner will begin his single, five-year term on May 10. Polls last week showed a slight edge for Yoon, who secured a surprise, last-minute boost when a fellow conservative running a distant third dropped out and threw Yoon his support. A survey by Embrain Public estimated the merger could give Yoon 47.4% to Lee`s 41.5%, while an Ipsos poll tipped the margin with Ahn at a slightly wider 48.9% to 41.9% for Yoon. In the absence of opinion polls over the past six days, Yoon`s camp said on Monday it expected to win with a 10% margin, while Lee`s team predicted it would come out on top by 1-2%. SWING VOTERS A former prosecutor general, Yoon has vowed to fight corruption, foster justice and create a more level playing field, while seeking a harder line toward North Korea and a "reset" with China. Lee was governor of the most populous province of Gyeonggi and shot to fame with his aggressive coronavirus responses and advocacy for universal basic income. Both candidates` disapproval ratings matched their popularity as scandals, mud-slinging and gaffes dominated what was dubbed the "unlikeable election". Young voters who backed Moon but became disillusioned with economic problems and corruption scandals are seen as a key bank of support. Lee Sung-jin, 33, said he was casting his ballot at a polling station in Seoul because he had heard that the turnout among people in their 20s and 30s would be important. "As the current problems for young people concerning employment and housing prices are serious, I voted for a candidate who made a pledge to come up with solutions," he said, without specifying who he voted for. VOTING WITH COVID-19 South Korea reported a record daily high 342,446 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday but the surge has hardly registered as an election issue, beyond some debate over how to compensate citizens and businesses. With more than 1 million COVID patients treating themselves at home, election authorities tightened voting procedures for patients on Monday amid uproar over early voting irregularities over the weekend. During Saturday`s special early voting for infected voters, some election workers collected ballots in shopping bags or plastic buckets to place in ballot boxes, and some voters reported receiving papers that had already been used. Officials said there was no evidence of foul play but the chaos threatened to tarnish South Korea 35-year democratic history of tight and relatively transparent elections, and a mostly successful fight against COVID-19. The race has already faced a number of disruptions. In a rare incident of violence in a South Korean election, a man with a hammer assaulted the leader of the Democrat Party and slightly injured him on Monday while he was campaigning for Lee.

South Korea votes for new leader to tackle COVID-19, soaring house prices, inequality

The presidential election in South Korea is underway, over 44 million South Koreans will cast their vote this year. There is a tight battle between liberal and conservative candidates.

South Korea's Presidential Election underway, over 44 million eligible to vote this year

South Korea has started voting for a presidential election in the shadow of the pandemic, as up to a million people with COVID-19 are expected to cast ballots during a spike driving one of the world's highest caseloads.

Voters are choosing a replacement for liberal President Moon Jae-in, who cannot run for re-election due to term limits. Moon's ruling party is represented by Lee Jae-myung.

Renewed tensions between Washington and Pyongyang have been a major setback for Moon, a dovish liberal and son of northern war refugees who staked his single presidential term on his ambitions for inter-Korean rapprochement.

A 15-second video clip in which Lee did a spoof of a hair-loss commercial sparked explosive reaction on social media as well as complaints from some experts and rival candidates that he was pushing a populist agenda.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-deepfake-democracy-man-uses-digital-avatar-to-win-elections-453593/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

He courted younger voters in January by calling for legalising the estimated $1 billion tattoo industry, which operates underground because South Korean law allows only doctors to perform the procedure.

Lee is especially targeting young people who joined candlelight vigils leading up to the 2017 impeachment and ouster of conservative then-president Park Geun-hye.

South Korean presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol got a boost when a rival dropped out, but if the conservative former prosecutor wins next week, it may also be thanks to "deepfake" avatars and viral short videos.

Opposition leader Yoon and the top liberal contender have gone to unusual lengths in the nation's tradition-bound politics to shed the image of grumpy old men, courting young voters who could prove decisive in what has been a close race.&nbsp;

The race has focussed on seeking a leader to clean up polarised politics and corruption, and tackle the runaway housing prices and deepening inequality that have dogged Asia's fourth-largest economy.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-missiles-to-scandals-issues-at-stake-in-south-koreas-presidential-election-453520">Also see |&nbsp;From missiles to scandals: Issues at stake in South Korea's presidential election</a>

Analysts believe that what will propel the winner towards victory will not be his populist campaign promises or North Korea policy but what the papers have dubbed a "cycle of revenge" in South Korea's famously adversarial politics.

"This election is a battle between two opposite forces,&nbsp;the progressives and conservatives," said political analyst Park Sang-byoung.

South Korean presidents are allowed by law to serve a single five year term, and every living former president has been investigated and jailed for corruption after leaving office.

Outgoing President Moon Jae-in himself swept to power in 2017 after his disgraced predecessor Park Geun-hye was impeached over an influence-peddling scandal that also put a Samsung heir behind bars.

Now, Park's conservatives are eager for revenge. Ironically, their candidate Yoon was chief prosecutor under Moon and pursued Park when she was impeached,&nbsp;an experience that boosted his profile and popularity and pushed him to enter politics.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-divided-over-candidates-proposal-of-allowing-health-insurance-to-cover-hair-loss-443214">Also read |&nbsp;South Korea divided over candidate's proposal of allowing health insurance to cover hair loss</a>

Yoon has encouraged people with COVID or isolating to vote, saying they could amount to millions out of more than 40 million eligible voters.

While the pandemic did not prevent big campaign rallies, leading presidential runners have run "contact-free" campaigns. Lee met supporters at a drive-in movie theatre.

Moon is spending his last days in office grappling with an unprecedented wave in coronavirus infections driven by fast-moving Omicron variant, which has stretched worn-out health workers.

The surge has come after a delta-driven spread that spiked hospitalisations and deaths in December and early January, which erased the country’s earlier epidemiological gains Moon had touted as a major accomplishment.

South Korea held a national election in 2020 and regional polls last year, with infected people required to mail in their ballots or use special polling stations at hospitals. Daily COVID infections were in the hundreds at most at that time. This week they topped 200,000.

South Korean politics has seen a "deepening division" in recent years, with elections more focused on party rivalry than policy, analyst Yoo Jung-hoon said.

"Many conservatives still hold a grudge over the impeachment of Park Geun-hye," he said.

Yoon is appealing to these disgruntled voters, offering a chance at "revenge" for Park's ousting -- even going so far as to threaten to investigate Moon for unspecified "irregularities".&nbsp;

"We should do it," Yoon said last month, referring to prosecuting Moon and his administration.

His comments earned a rare rebuke from the presidential Blue House and the ruling Democratic party's candidate Lee said they indicated his rival was not fit to lead the nation.

But analysts say it's just political business as usual in Seoul.

"The Moon administration has prosecuted many former officials in the name of rooting out deep-rooted corruption," Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University.

"I expect the same standard to be applied under the Yoon government should wrongdoings be found," he said.

Yoon's wife in January gave an unwitting insight into the realpolitik to come, claiming enemies and critics would be prosecuted if her husband won because that's "the nature of power," according to taped comments released after a court battle.

Polls show that voters' top concerns this election cycle are skyrocketing house prices in the capital Seoul, stagnant growth, and stubborn youth unemployment,&nbsp;but campaigning has been dominated by mud-slinging.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

South Korea has started voting for a presidential election in the shadow of the pandemic, as up to a million people with COVID-19 are expected to cast ballots during a spike driving one of the world's highest caseloads.

South Korea has started voting for a presidential election in the shadow of the pandemic, as up to a million people with COVID-19 are expected to cast ballots during a spike driving one of the world's highest caseloads. Voters are choosing a replacement for liberal President Moon Jae-in, who cannot run for re-election due to term limits. Moon's ruling party is represented by Lee Jae-myung. Renewed tensions between Washington and Pyongyang have been a major setback for Moon, a dovish liberal and son of northern war refugees who staked his single presidential term on his ambitions for inter-Korean rapprochement. A 15-second video clip in which Lee did a spoof of a hair-loss commercial sparked explosive reaction on social media as well as complaints from some experts and rival candidates that he was pushing a populist agenda. He courted younger voters in January by calling for legalising the estimated $1 billion tattoo industry, which operates underground because South Korean law allows only doctors to perform the procedure. Lee is especially targeting young people who joined candlelight vigils leading up to the 2017 impeachment and ouster of conservative then-president Park Geun-hye. South Korean presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol got a boost when a rival dropped out, but if the conservative former prosecutor wins next week, it may also be thanks to "deepfake" avatars and viral short videos. Opposition leader Yoon and the top liberal contender have gone to unusual lengths in the nation's tradition-bound politics to shed the image of grumpy old men, courting young voters who could prove decisive in what has been a close race. The race has focussed on seeking a leader to clean up polarised politics and corruption, and tackle the runaway housing prices and deepening inequality that have dogged Asia's fourth-largest economy. Also see | From missiles to scandals: Issues at stake in South Korea's presidential election Analysts believe that what will propel the winner towards victory will not be his populist campaign promises or North Korea policy but what the papers have dubbed a "cycle of revenge" in South Korea's famously adversarial politics. "This election is a battle between two opposite forces, the progressives and conservatives," said political analyst Park Sang-byoung. South Korean presidents are allowed by law to serve a single five year term, and every living former president has been investigated and jailed for corruption after leaving office. Outgoing President Moon Jae-in himself swept to power in 2017 after his disgraced predecessor Park Geun-hye was impeached over an influence-peddling scandal that also put a Samsung heir behind bars. Now, Park's conservatives are eager for revenge. Ironically, their candidate Yoon was chief prosecutor under Moon and pursued Park when she was impeached, an experience that boosted his profile and popularity and pushed him to enter politics. Also read | South Korea divided over candidate's proposal of allowing health insurance to cover hair loss Yoon has encouraged people with COVID or isolating to vote, saying they could amount to millions out of more than 40 million eligible voters. While the pandemic did not prevent big campaign rallies, leading presidential runners have run "contact-free" campaigns. Lee met supporters at a drive-in movie theatre. Moon is spending his last days in office grappling with an unprecedented wave in coronavirus infections driven by fast-moving Omicron variant, which has stretched worn-out health workers. The surge has come after a delta-driven spread that spiked hospitalisations and deaths in December and early January, which erased the country’s earlier epidemiological gains Moon had touted as a major accomplishment. South Korea held a national election in 2020 and regional polls last year, with infected people required to mail in their ballots or use special polling stations at hospitals. Daily COVID infections were in the hundreds at most at that time. This week they topped 200,000. South Korean politics has seen a "deepening division" in recent years, with elections more focused on party rivalry than policy, analyst Yoo Jung-hoon said. "Many conservatives still hold a grudge over the impeachment of Park Geun-hye," he said. Yoon is appealing to these disgruntled voters, offering a chance at "revenge" for Park's ousting -- even going so far as to threaten to investigate Moon for unspecified "irregularities". "We should do it," Yoon said last month, referring to prosecuting Moon and his administration. His comments earned a rare rebuke from the presidential Blue House and the ruling Democratic party's candidate Lee said they indicated his rival was not fit to lead the nation. But analysts say it's just political business as usual in Seoul. "The Moon administration has prosecuted many former officials in the name of rooting out deep-rooted corruption," Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University. "I expect the same standard to be applied under the Yoon government should wrongdoings be found," he said. Yoon's wife in January gave an unwitting insight into the realpolitik to come, claiming enemies and critics would be prosecuted if her husband won because that's "the nature of power," according to taped comments released after a court battle. Polls show that voters' top concerns this election cycle are skyrocketing house prices in the capital Seoul, stagnant growth, and stubborn youth unemployment, but campaigning has been dominated by mud-slinging. (With inputs from agencies)

What is 'cycle of revenge' in South Korea's famously adversarial politics?

North Korea is at it again. It has fired at least one suspected ballistic missile towards the sea to the east of the Korean peninsula on Saturday, militaries in the region said. &nbsp;

It is its ninth missile test of the year. This test has come just days before the South Korea's presidential election. &nbsp;

The launch appeared to have involved a suspected ballistic missile, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and the office of Japan's Prime Minister said. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/finally-us-navy-recovers-crashed-f-35c-lightning-ii-aircraft-from-south-china-sea-458883" hreflang="en">Finally, US Navy recovers crashed F-35C Lightning II aircraft from South China Sea</a>

The Saturday's launch came from a location near Sunan, where Pyongyang's international airport is located, the South Korean military said. &nbsp;

Japan's Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said, "This launch comes at a time when international society is dealing with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and also when the Beijing Paralympics is being held... and it is not acceptable." &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-intensifies-crackdown-on-fake-reports-blocks-twitter-facebook-459123">Russia intensifies crackdown on 'fake' reports, blocks Twitter, Facebook &nbsp;</a>

"The significant pace at which North Korea is developing its missile-launching technology is not something our country and the surrounding regions can overlook," Kishi added. &nbsp;

The North Korean projectile reached a height of 550 kilometres (340 miles) and flew a distance of 300 kilometres (190 miles), Kishi further added. &nbsp;&nbsp;

South Korea's National Security Council will hold an emergency meeting, the presidential Blue House said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

North Korea is at it again. It has fired at least one suspected ballistic missile towards the sea to the east of the Korean peninsula on Saturday, militaries in the region said.

North Korea is at it again. It has fired at least one suspected ballistic missile towards the sea to the east of the Korean peninsula on Saturday, militaries in the region said. It is its ninth missile test of the year. This test has come just days before the South Korea's presidential election. The launch appeared to have involved a suspected ballistic missile, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and the office of Japan's Prime Minister said. Also Read: Finally, US Navy recovers crashed F-35C Lightning II aircraft from South China Sea The Saturday's launch came from a location near Sunan, where Pyongyang's international airport is located, the South Korean military said. Japan's Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said, "This launch comes at a time when international society is dealing with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and also when the Beijing Paralympics is being held... and it is not acceptable." Also Read: Russia intensifies crackdown on 'fake' reports, blocks Twitter, Facebook "The significant pace at which North Korea is developing its missile-launching technology is not something our country and the surrounding regions can overlook," Kishi added. The North Korean projectile reached a height of 550 kilometres (340 miles) and flew a distance of 300 kilometres (190 miles), Kishi further added. South Korea's National Security Council will hold an emergency meeting, the presidential Blue House said. (With inputs from agencies)

Ahead of South Korea’s polls, Kim Jong-led North holds 2022’s ninth missile test

More than 6,000 people have been evacuated their homes as firefighters battle a massive wildfire in South Korea's eastern coastal areas on Saturday. 
 
The fire burned an estimated 21,179 acres of woodland in Uljin, about 330 km southeast of Seoul, and its neighbouring city of Samcheok as of Saturday afternoon, according to forest and firefighting authorities. 
 
That is more than double the size of woodland reported to have been affected the previous day, reports Yonhap News Agency. 
 
The blaze started on Friday morning on a road near a mountain in Uljin and spread north to Samcheok in the afternoon, driven by strong winds and dry weather, according to the Korea Forest Service (KFS). 
 
It destroyed at least 153 homes and 53 other structures, but no casualties were reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-south-koreas-polls-kim-jong-led-north-holds-2022s-ninth-missile-test-459144">Ahead of South Korea’s polls, Kim Jong-led North holds 2022’s ninth missile test</a> 
 
The fire once threatened a nuclear power plant, the nation's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production complex, and power transmission lines in the areas, but the firefighters brought the blaze under control before it reached the facilities, officials said. 
 
But as the fire began to spread south again toward villages in Uljin following a switch in the wind direction, some villagers were forced to evacuate to safety. 
 
As of Saturday afternoon, 4,296 firefighters were battling the blaze with 46 helicopters and 273 firetrucks deployed, focusing their efforts on blocking the southward spread of the fire and again on protecting the nuclear, gas and power facilities, according to the authorities.

Firefighters were experiencing difficulties in extinguishing the fire with helicopters due to strong winds of 27 mps and thick smog created by the forest fire. 
 
"Since the area affected is so big, our goal this morning is to overpower the flames moving southward," Choi Byeong-am, chief of the KFS, told reporters. "We aim to bring all flames under control by the sunset," he added. 
 
Wildfires also broke out in two other areas of Gangwon Province -- Gangneung and Yeongwol-- during the day, disrupting traffic on a highway and a railway along the coast.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-expresses-grave-regret-over-norths-ballistic-missile-launch-457095">South Korea expresses 'grave regret' over North's ballistic missile launch</a> 
 
President Moon Jae-in called for all-out efforts to prevent any casualties and protect key industrial facilities from fires. 
 
"It's fortunate that there were no casualties overnight and core facilities such as Samcheok liquefied natural gas complex and Hanul nuclear power plant remain safe," Moon was quoted by presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee as saying after being briefed on the situations. 
 
"Please make every effort to prevent casualties and protect core facilities from wildfires and make all-out efforts to extinguish them as early as possible."

More than 6,000 people have been evacuated their homes as firefighters battle a massive wildfire in South Korea's eastern coastal areas on Saturday. The fire burned an estimated 21,179 acres of woodland in Uljin, about 330 km southeast of Seoul, and its neighbouring city of Samcheok as of Saturday afternoon, according to forest and firefighting authorities.

More than 6,000 people have been evacuated their homes as firefighters battle a massive wildfire in South Korea's eastern coastal areas on Saturday. The fire burned an estimated 21,179 acres of woodland in Uljin, about 330 km southeast of Seoul, and its neighbouring city of Samcheok as of Saturday afternoon, according to forest and firefighting authorities. That is more than double the size of woodland reported to have been affected the previous day, reports Yonhap News Agency. The blaze started on Friday morning on a road near a mountain in Uljin and spread north to Samcheok in the afternoon, driven by strong winds and dry weather, according to the Korea Forest Service (KFS). It destroyed at least 153 homes and 53 other structures, but no casualties were reported. Also read | Ahead of South Korea’s polls, Kim Jong-led North holds 2022’s ninth missile test The fire once threatened a nuclear power plant, the nation's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) production complex, and power transmission lines in the areas, but the firefighters brought the blaze under control before it reached the facilities, officials said. But as the fire began to spread south again toward villages in Uljin following a switch in the wind direction, some villagers were forced to evacuate to safety. As of Saturday afternoon, 4,296 firefighters were battling the blaze with 46 helicopters and 273 firetrucks deployed, focusing their efforts on blocking the southward spread of the fire and again on protecting the nuclear, gas and power facilities, according to the authorities. Firefighters were experiencing difficulties in extinguishing the fire with helicopters due to strong winds of 27 mps and thick smog created by the forest fire. "Since the area affected is so big, our goal this morning is to overpower the flames moving southward," Choi Byeong-am, chief of the KFS, told reporters. "We aim to bring all flames under control by the sunset," he added. Wildfires also broke out in two other areas of Gangwon Province -- Gangneung and Yeongwol-- during the day, disrupting traffic on a highway and a railway along the coast. Also read | South Korea expresses 'grave regret' over North's ballistic missile launch President Moon Jae-in called for all-out efforts to prevent any casualties and protect key industrial facilities from fires. "It's fortunate that there were no casualties overnight and core facilities such as Samcheok liquefied natural gas complex and Hanul nuclear power plant remain safe," Moon was quoted by presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee as saying after being briefed on the situations. "Please make every effort to prevent casualties and protect core facilities from wildfires and make all-out efforts to extinguish them as early as possible."

Over 6,000 evacuated due to fast-spreading wildfire in South Korea

There is huge pressure on policymakers to raise interest rates as South Korea's inflation nears decade-high levels. Consumer inflation hovered near a 10-year high.

South Korea inflation nears decade-high levels: Pressure on policymakers to raise interest rates

The South Korea's presidential National Security Council (NSC) on Sunday expressed "grave regret" over North Korea's launch of a "ballistic missile", calling for Pyongyang to immediately stop acts that threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula. 
 
National security adviser Suh Hoon presided over the NSC meeting, shortly after North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile that marked the North's eighth show of force this year, Yonhap news agency reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-fires-an-unidentified-projectile-in-what-comes-as-the-eighth-launch-this-year-456948">North Korea fires an 'unidentified projectile' in what comes as the eighth launch this year</a> 
 
South Korea's military said the North's ballistic missile flew around 300 km at an altitude of 620 km. 
 
NSC members "expressed deep concern and grave regret over North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile today, despite the fact that South Korea and the US have made joint efforts for a diplomatic solution," Cheong Wa Dae said in a statement. 
 
"Firing a ballistic missile at a time when the world is striving to resolve the war in Ukraine is not desirable for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, region and the world," the NSC said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-issues-new-warning-to-evacuate-last-remaining-citizens-from-ukraine-454800">South Korea issues new warning to evacuate last remaining citizens from Ukraine</a> 
 
The NSC also called for North Korea to swiftly respond to offers for dialogue by South Korea, the US and the international community, according to the statement. 
 
The North's latest launch came at a sensitive time for South Korea, which is set to hold a presidential election on March 9. 
 
The NSC emphasised that it will make utmost efforts to protect security ahead of the presidential election. 
 
In January, the North conducted seven rounds of missile tests, including an intermediate-range ballistic missile launch.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-weighs-penalty-against-tesla-for-exaggerating-mileage-453748">&nbsp;South Korea weighs penalty against Tesla for exaggerating mileage</a> 
 
Some analysts have said North Korea could engage in more provocative actions down the road as it issued a veiled threat last month to lift its yearslong self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests. 
 
North Korea appeared to have refrained from missile tests during the recently concluded Winter Olympics in Beijing, its traditional ally and key economic supporter.

The South Korea's presidential National Security Council (NSC) on Sunday expressed "grave regret" over North Korea's launch of a "ballistic missile", calling for Pyongyang to immediately stop acts that threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula.

The South Korea's presidential National Security Council (NSC) on Sunday expressed "grave regret" over North Korea's launch of a "ballistic missile", calling for Pyongyang to immediately stop acts that threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula. National security adviser Suh Hoon presided over the NSC meeting, shortly after North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile that marked the North's eighth show of force this year, Yonhap news agency reported. Also read | North Korea fires an 'unidentified projectile' in what comes as the eighth launch this year South Korea's military said the North's ballistic missile flew around 300 km at an altitude of 620 km. NSC members "expressed deep concern and grave regret over North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile today, despite the fact that South Korea and the US have made joint efforts for a diplomatic solution," Cheong Wa Dae said in a statement. "Firing a ballistic missile at a time when the world is striving to resolve the war in Ukraine is not desirable for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, region and the world," the NSC said. Also read | South Korea issues new warning to evacuate last remaining citizens from Ukraine The NSC also called for North Korea to swiftly respond to offers for dialogue by South Korea, the US and the international community, according to the statement. The North's latest launch came at a sensitive time for South Korea, which is set to hold a presidential election on March 9. The NSC emphasised that it will make utmost efforts to protect security ahead of the presidential election. In January, the North conducted seven rounds of missile tests, including an intermediate-range ballistic missile launch. Also read | South Korea weighs penalty against Tesla for exaggerating mileage Some analysts have said North Korea could engage in more provocative actions down the road as it issued a veiled threat last month to lift its yearslong self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests. North Korea appeared to have refrained from missile tests during the recently concluded Winter Olympics in Beijing, its traditional ally and key economic supporter.

South Korea expresses 'grave regret' over North's ballistic missile launch

President Moon Jae-in said Friday that South Korea will fully use its nuclear power plants under its nuclear phase-out scheme, calling nuclear power a mainsource of electricity over the next 60 years. 
 
"Over the next 60 years, while nuclear power plants continue to operate, nuclear power plants should be fully utilized as a main base source of electricity," Moon told a meeting on stable supply of power, according to presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee. 
 
Construction of four nuclear reactors -- Shin-Hanul No. 1 and No. 2, as well as Shin-Kori No. 5 and No. 6 -- have been delayed due to safety inspections and other issues, Xinhua news agency reported.

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Moon urged officials to make efforts to gradually start operations at the four nuclear reactors, because safety standards for operations have increased, Park said. 
 
Moon said the Korean government's energy transition policy is to gradually suspend construction of new nuclear power plants and prohibit the extension of the lifespan for older nuclear power plants until 2084. 
 
Moon called for officials to "make every effort to ensure the safety of nuclear power plants while maintaining proper operation rate," according to Park. 
 
The nuclear phase-out scheme set by Moon's government centers on slowly breaking away from nuclear energy by refraining from building additional plants while retiring old ones.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-weighs-penalty-against-tesla-for-exaggerating-mileage-453748">South Korea weighs penalty against Tesla for exaggerating mileage</a> 
 
Under the roadmap, South Korea plans to decrease the number of nuclear plants in operation to 17 by 2034, from this year's 24. 
 
The government plans to reduce nuclear energy to account for 23.9 per cent of the country`s total power generation by 2030 from around 30 per cent last year. It targets to raise the proportion of renewable sources to 20 per cent from 6.6 per cent over the same period.

President Moon Jae-in said Friday that South Korea will fully use its nuclear power plants under its nuclear phase-out scheme, calling nuclear power a mainsource of electricity over the next 60 years.

President Moon Jae-in said Friday that South Korea will fully use its nuclear power plants under its nuclear phase-out scheme, calling nuclear power a mainsource of electricity over the next 60 years. "Over the next 60 years, while nuclear power plants continue to operate, nuclear power plants should be fully utilized as a main base source of electricity," Moon told a meeting on stable supply of power, according to presidential spokesperson Park Kyung-mee. Construction of four nuclear reactors -- Shin-Hanul No. 1 and No. 2, as well as Shin-Kori No. 5 and No. 6 -- have been delayed due to safety inspections and other issues, Xinhua news agency reported. Also read | South Korea issues new warning to evacuate last remaining citizens from Ukraine Moon urged officials to make efforts to gradually start operations at the four nuclear reactors, because safety standards for operations have increased, Park said. Moon said the Korean government's energy transition policy is to gradually suspend construction of new nuclear power plants and prohibit the extension of the lifespan for older nuclear power plants until 2084. Moon called for officials to "make every effort to ensure the safety of nuclear power plants while maintaining proper operation rate," according to Park. The nuclear phase-out scheme set by Moon's government centers on slowly breaking away from nuclear energy by refraining from building additional plants while retiring old ones. Also read | South Korea weighs penalty against Tesla for exaggerating mileage Under the roadmap, South Korea plans to decrease the number of nuclear plants in operation to 17 by 2034, from this year's 24. The government plans to reduce nuclear energy to account for 23.9 per cent of the country`s total power generation by 2030 from around 30 per cent last year. It targets to raise the proportion of renewable sources to 20 per cent from 6.6 per cent over the same period.

President Moon calls nuclear power main source of electricity over next 60 years

&nbsp;External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has met his counterparts from Bangladesh, South Korea, the Czech Republic and the European Union in Paris, discussing issues of mutual interest and ways to step up bilateral engagement.

Jaishankar, who arrived here from Germany on Sunday on a three-day visit to France, has held a series of meetings with his counterparts from other Indo-Pacific countries participating in the EU Indo-Pacific Forum. Jaishankar met his Bangladeshi counterpart, Dr AK Abdul Momen.

"Good meeting with Bangladesh FM Dr AK Abdul Momen. Appropriate that it should be on International Mother Language Day. Noted that 2021 was a great year for the relationship. Committed to taking it to an even higher level in 2022," he tweeted after the meeting.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/s-jaishankar-begins-3-day-visit-to-france-to-attend-eu-ministerial-forum-for-cooperation-in-indo-pacific-454895">S. Jaishankar begins 3-day visit to France to attend EU Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in Indo-Pacific</a>

On Monday, he met Chung Eui-yong, his South Korean counterpart. "Met with FM Chung Eui-yong of the Republic of Korea. Agreed to strengthen our bilateral cooperation. Facilitating ease of travel is a shared priority. Also discussed regional issues of common concern," Jaishankar said in a tweet.

Jaishankar also met his Czech counterpart.

"Nice meeting with FM (Foreign Minister) Jan Lipavsky of the Czech Republic. Engaged him on EU related issues as part of the Trio. Appreciate his commitment to facilitating an expanded relationship," Jaishankar tweeted, along with a photograph after the meeting.

After his meeting with EU Commissioner for International Relationships Jutta Urpilainen, Jaishankar tweeted, "A warm interaction with EU Commissioner for International relationships Jutta Urpilainen.

"A positive discussion on working together in Africa, enhancing green partnerships and on promoting connectivity. India-EU cooperation is advancing across many fronts," Jaishankar wrote.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/state-of-border-will-define-relations-with-china-says-indias-foreign-minister-jaishankar-454677">'State of border will define relations with China', says India's foreign minister Jaishankar</a>

Earlier on Monday, the External Affairs Minister met French Defence Minister Florence Parly. "Pleasure to meet Defence Minister @florence_parly. As trusted strategic partners, discussed contemporary developments. Convergence in our outlook and interests was visible. Affirmed our commitment to cooperate on new and emerging security challenges, he tweeted after the meeting.

Jaishankar arrived in Paris on a day when French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a marathon telephonic conversation to defuse the crisis in Ukraine amid apprehension of a Russian invasion of the eastern European nation.

On Sunday, Jaishankar held wide-ranging talks with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian during which they discussed key regional and global issues, particularly the India-EU relationship, and exchanged perspectives on the situation in Afghanistan, the Iranian nuclear deal and the Ukraine crisis.&nbsp;

Jaishankar and Drian also reiterated their shared commitment to the principles of multilateralism and a rules-based order, and agreed to coordinate in the UN Security Council on issues of mutual concern.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Indian EAM S Jaishankar on a 3-day visit to France to attend EU forum on Indo-Pacific

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-eam-s-jaishankar-on-a-3-day-visit-to-france-to-attend-eu-forum-on-indo-pacific-455127/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has met his counterparts from Bangladesh, South Korea, the Czech Republic and the European Union in Paris, discussing issues of mutual interest and ways to step up bilateral engagement.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has met his counterparts from Bangladesh, South Korea, the Czech Republic and the European Union in Paris, discussing issues of mutual interest and ways to step up bilateral engagement. Jaishankar, who arrived here from Germany on Sunday on a three-day visit to France, has held a series of meetings with his counterparts from other Indo-Pacific countries participating in the EU Indo-Pacific Forum. Jaishankar met his Bangladeshi counterpart, Dr AK Abdul Momen. "Good meeting with Bangladesh FM Dr AK Abdul Momen. Appropriate that it should be on International Mother Language Day. Noted that 2021 was a great year for the relationship. Committed to taking it to an even higher level in 2022," he tweeted after the meeting. Also read | S. Jaishankar begins 3-day visit to France to attend EU Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in Indo-Pacific On Monday, he met Chung Eui-yong, his South Korean counterpart. "Met with FM Chung Eui-yong of the Republic of Korea. Agreed to strengthen our bilateral cooperation. Facilitating ease of travel is a shared priority. Also discussed regional issues of common concern," Jaishankar said in a tweet. Jaishankar also met his Czech counterpart. "Nice meeting with FM (Foreign Minister) Jan Lipavsky of the Czech Republic. Engaged him on EU related issues as part of the Trio. Appreciate his commitment to facilitating an expanded relationship," Jaishankar tweeted, along with a photograph after the meeting. After his meeting with EU Commissioner for International Relationships Jutta Urpilainen, Jaishankar tweeted, "A warm interaction with EU Commissioner for International relationships Jutta Urpilainen. "A positive discussion on working together in Africa, enhancing green partnerships and on promoting connectivity. India-EU cooperation is advancing across many fronts," Jaishankar wrote. Also read | 'State of border will define relations with China', says India's foreign minister Jaishankar Earlier on Monday, the External Affairs Minister met French Defence Minister Florence Parly. "Pleasure to meet Defence Minister @florence_parly. As trusted strategic partners, discussed contemporary developments. Convergence in our outlook and interests was visible. Affirmed our commitment to cooperate on new and emerging security challenges, he tweeted after the meeting. Jaishankar arrived in Paris on a day when French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a marathon telephonic conversation to defuse the crisis in Ukraine amid apprehension of a Russian invasion of the eastern European nation. On Sunday, Jaishankar held wide-ranging talks with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian during which they discussed key regional and global issues, particularly the India-EU relationship, and exchanged perspectives on the situation in Afghanistan, the Iranian nuclear deal and the Ukraine crisis. Jaishankar and Drian also reiterated their shared commitment to the principles of multilateralism and a rules-based order, and agreed to coordinate in the UN Security Council on issues of mutual concern. Watch | Indian EAM S Jaishankar on a 3-day visit to France to attend EU forum on Indo-Pacific

EAM S Jaishankar meets counterparts from Bangladesh, South Korea, Czech Republic and EU in Paris

The word at present is deeply influenced by Korean culture. Korean cinema, music, dramas rule the roost and have managed to break boundaries and connect with people world over. South Korea is one of the biggest influences on culture at the moment and rightly so. Much like its pop-culture and cinema, people are now devouring into Korean delicacies.&nbsp; 
 
From Khimchi fried rice, to pickled cucumber to sprout salad and rice cakes, Korean recipes are gaining immense popularity.&nbsp; 
 
While it isn't always possible to&nbsp;go to a Korean eatery to satiate your cravings, it is possible to create authentic Korean dishes at home. Yes, you read that right, you can make authentic Korean food at home.&nbsp; 
 
Here are 6 easy Korean recipes that you need to try at home today.&nbsp; 
 
Korean Seasoned Spinach (Sigumchi Namul)

<img alt="s" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7a511ec1-8d22-4c06-b6d8-d120d6b6e2f7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202022-02-21T175505.107.jpg" /> 
Ingredients 
1 pound fresh spinach 
1 to 2 tablespoons soy sauce 
1 tablespoon sesame oil 
1 tablespoon sesame seeds 
1 tablespoon sesame salt 
2 cloves garlic (finely chopped) 
2 teaspoons sugar

How to make 
Blanch the spinach in boiling water for 30 seconds. 
 
Quickly remove the spinach to a colander and rinse it under cold water. 
 
Gently squeeze the spinach to remove excess water and transfer to a serving bowl. 
 
In a measuring cup or small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, sesame salt, garlic, and sugar. Mix well. 
 
Pour the dressing over the spinach and toss gently. Serve and enjoy!

Korean Bean Sprout Salad (Sookju Namul)

<img alt="s" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5470c607-3a82-41ac-9ec1-1c4a74854c94" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202022-02-21T175520.880.jpg" />

Ingredients 
1/2 pound mung bean sprouts, rinsed thoroughly 
1 scallion, finely chopped 
2 teaspoons minced garlic 
2 teaspoons sesame oil 
1 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted 
1 teaspoon soy sauce 
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

How to make it 
Parboil the bean sprouts in boiling water for 2 minutes. 
 
Remove them from the boiling water and rinse the sprouts in cold water. Gently squeeze the bean sprouts between your hands to get rid of the excess water. 
 
Toss the bean sprouts with the scallion, garlic, sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, soy sauce, and salt. 
 
Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving.

Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokumbap)

<img alt="f" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="875ac38e-c291-4e9a-9464-1ffbe3fc8b13" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202022-02-21T175641.591.jpg" /> 
 
Ingredients 
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, or oil, divided 
1 cup kimchi, preferably made with napa cabbage, drained and chopped 
1/2 sweet onion, chopped 
3 large cloves garlic, chopped (about 1 tablespoon) 
1 tablespoon soy sauce 
4 ounces thinly sliced beef/mutton/chicken 
3 cups cooked rice, cold 
Kosher salt, to taste 
4 large fried eggs 
1 scallion, chopped

How to make 
Heat 1 tablespoon of butter or oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the kimchi and onion and sauté for a few minutes until onion is tender. 
 
When vegetables begin to look transparent, add garlic and soy sauce; sauté for another 2 to 3 minutes. 
Add the meat and continue to sauté until meat is cooked. 
 
Add the cooked rice and the rest of the oil or butter, mixing to combine until heated through. 
 
Salt to taste and top each serving with a fried egg and scallions. Enjoy!

Korean Pan-Fried Fish (Saeng Sun Jun)

<img alt="mk" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="45468757-c3a6-4776-9865-c5192da87cf5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202022-02-21T175728.869.jpg" /> 
 
Ingredients 
1 pound fish fillets, rinsed and patted dry 
1 tablespoon kosher salt 
1 teaspoon pepper 
2 large eggs 
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 
Vegetable oil

How to make 
Cut the fish diagonally with the grain so the pieces are about 1/2 inch thick. Salt and pepper the fish on all sides. 
Beat eggs with any remaining salt in a bowl. 
 
Put flour in a shallow bowl or dish next to the egg. 
 
Heat up a pan with a few teaspoons of oil over medium heat. 
 
Dip each fish piece into flour to coat; then dip into egg mixture and place immediately in the frying pan. 
 
Fry fish until the coating turns golden-yellow, 1 to 3 minutes on each side. (Try not to overcook, as the fish will become dry.) Remove to paper towels to drain. Serve hot.

Korean BBQ Chicken Wings (Tong Dak)

<img alt="jk" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c3dffbb0-681e-4ad6-a881-b8a08f374c75" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202022-02-21T175703.068.jpg" />

Ingredients 
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, minced 
2 teaspoons sesame oil 
6 tablespoons soy sauce 
3 tablespoons sugar 
3 tablespoons honey 
5 cloves garlic, minced 
1/2 small onion, minced 
1 tablespoon red pepper pasta (gochujang) 
2 pounds chicken wings and drumettes

How to make 
Mix all ingredients, except chicken, together for sauce. 
 
Marinate chicken for at least an hour in the sauce (a few hours is better). 
 
Preheat oven to 400 F. In a heated cast-iron or heavy pan on stove, over medium high-heat, brown chicken on all sides, reserving marinade for later. 
 
Transfer chicken wings and drumsticks to a shallow roasting pan, pouring sauce over pieces. 
 
Put chicken into preheated oven and cook for a total of 40 to 50 minutes. Turn once during cooking, covering with more sauce if needed.

Korean Pickled Cucumber (Oi Muchim)

<img alt="g" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="89e14ed4-6362-4f1e-9eb7-608bdcd99fc8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202022-02-21T175436.907.jpg" /> 
 
Ingredients 
4 small Korean or Kirby cucumbers 
3 tablespoons sugar 
1 tablespoon salt 
1/4 cup vinegar

How to make 
To make the dish, you'll need to begin by cutting cucumbers into either uniform strips or round slices. You can use mandoline for thinner strips, if you'd like.&nbsp; 
 
Next, you should sprinkle the cucumbers with sugar and salt and toss gently to combine. 
 
Once the cucumbers have been sprinkled, add vinegar. You need to stir it to make sure all of the cucumbers are coated. 
 
Once you've completed this step, let the cucumbers sit for about 20 minutes before serving them to your guests. If you've adjusted any of the ingredients, you may want to taste test one of the cucumbers yourself to make sure the flavor is exactly how you like it. If you're cooking the dish for your family, have a spouse or child try one of the cucumbers and let you know what they think about the seasoning. 
&nbsp;

The word at present is deeply influenced by Korean culture. Korean cinema, music, dramas rule the roost and have managed to break boundaries and connect with people world over.

The word at present is deeply influenced by Korean culture. Korean cinema, music, dramas rule the roost and have managed to break boundaries and connect with people world over. South Korea is one of the biggest influences on culture at the moment and rightly so. Much like its pop-culture and cinema, people are now devouring into Korean delicacies. From Khimchi fried rice, to pickled cucumber to sprout salad and rice cakes, Korean recipes are gaining immense popularity. While it isn't always possible to go to a Korean eatery to satiate your cravings, it is possible to create authentic Korean dishes at home. Yes, you read that right, you can make authentic Korean food at home. Here are 6 easy Korean recipes that you need to try at home today. Korean Seasoned Spinach (Sigumchi Namul) Ingredients 1 pound fresh spinach 1 to 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon sesame seeds 1 tablespoon sesame salt 2 cloves garlic (finely chopped) 2 teaspoons sugar How to make Blanch the spinach in boiling water for 30 seconds. Quickly remove the spinach to a colander and rinse it under cold water. Gently squeeze the spinach to remove excess water and transfer to a serving bowl. In a measuring cup or small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds, sesame salt, garlic, and sugar. Mix well. Pour the dressing over the spinach and toss gently. Serve and enjoy! Korean Bean Sprout Salad (Sookju Namul) Ingredients 1/2 pound mung bean sprouts, rinsed thoroughly 1 scallion, finely chopped 2 teaspoons minced garlic 2 teaspoons sesame oil 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted 1 teaspoon soy sauce 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt How to make it Parboil the bean sprouts in boiling water for 2 minutes. Remove them from the boiling water and rinse the sprouts in cold water. Gently squeeze the bean sprouts between your hands to get rid of the excess water. Toss the bean sprouts with the scallion, garlic, sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, soy sauce, and salt. Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving. Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi Bokumbap) Ingredients 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, or oil, divided 1 cup kimchi, preferably made with napa cabbage, drained and chopped 1/2 sweet onion, chopped 3 large cloves garlic, chopped (about 1 tablespoon) 1 tablespoon soy sauce 4 ounces thinly sliced beef/mutton/chicken 3 cups cooked rice, cold Kosher salt, to taste 4 large fried eggs 1 scallion, chopped How to make Heat 1 tablespoon of butter or oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the kimchi and onion and sauté for a few minutes until onion is tender. When vegetables begin to look transparent, add garlic and soy sauce; sauté for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the meat and continue to sauté until meat is cooked. Add the cooked rice and the rest of the oil or butter, mixing to combine until heated through. Salt to taste and top each serving with a fried egg and scallions. Enjoy! Korean Pan-Fried Fish (Saeng Sun Jun) Ingredients 1 pound fish fillets, rinsed and patted dry 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon pepper 2 large eggs 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour Vegetable oil How to make Cut the fish diagonally with the grain so the pieces are about 1/2 inch thick. Salt and pepper the fish on all sides. Beat eggs with any remaining salt in a bowl. Put flour in a shallow bowl or dish next to the egg. Heat up a pan with a few teaspoons of oil over medium heat. Dip each fish piece into flour to coat; then dip into egg mixture and place immediately in the frying pan. Fry fish until the coating turns golden-yellow, 1 to 3 minutes on each side. (Try not to overcook, as the fish will become dry.) Remove to paper towels to drain. Serve hot. Korean BBQ Chicken Wings (Tong Dak) Ingredients 1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, minced 2 teaspoons sesame oil 6 tablespoons soy sauce 3 tablespoons sugar 3 tablespoons honey 5 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 small onion, minced 1 tablespoon red pepper pasta (gochujang) 2 pounds chicken wings and drumettes How to make Mix all ingredients, except chicken, together for sauce. Marinate chicken for at least an hour in the sauce (a few hours is better). Preheat oven to 400 F. In a heated cast-iron or heavy pan on stove, over medium high-heat, brown chicken on all sides, reserving marinade for later. Transfer chicken wings and drumsticks to a shallow roasting pan, pouring sauce over pieces. Put chicken into preheated oven and cook for a total of 40 to 50 minutes. Turn once during cooking, covering with more sauce if needed. Korean Pickled Cucumber (Oi Muchim) Ingredients 4 small Korean or Kirby cucumbers 3 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon salt 1/4 cup vinegar How to make To make the dish, you'll need to begin by cutting cucumbers into either uniform strips or round slices. You can use mandoline for thinner strips, if you'd like. Next, you should sprinkle the cucumbers with sugar and salt and toss gently to combine. Once the cucumbers have been sprinkled, add vinegar. You need to stir it to make sure all of the cucumbers are coated. Once you've completed this step, let the cucumbers sit for about 20 minutes before serving them to your guests. If you've adjusted any of the ingredients, you may want to taste test one of the cucumbers yourself to make sure the flavor is exactly how you like it. If you're cooking the dish for your family, have a spouse or child try one of the cucumbers and let you know what they think about the seasoning.

Sookju Namul to Kimchi Bokumbap: 6 easy Korean recipes to try at home

South Korea has issued an emergency warning to urge the last remaining citizens to quickly leave Ukraine due to escalating military tension along the eastern border with Russia, the Foreign Ministry said on Sunday. 
 
The Korean Embassy in Ukraine stepped up its warning as shelling in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine intensified in new signs of fears that a war could start within days, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/skorea-reports-record-high-of-90443-new-covid-cases-453676">South Korea reports record high of 90,443 new Covid cases</a> 
 
A total of 68 Korean nationals were staying in Ukraine as of Saturday, which excludes diplomatic staff and 10 living in the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014, according to the Mnistry. 
 
Among them, 40 will depart Ukraine over the weekend, while the embassy will continue to persuade other citizens to flee the nation or move to the western region for their safety.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-crisis-russia-welcomes-indias-principled-and-independent-approach-at-un-454579">Ukraine crisis: Russia ‘welcomes’ India’s ‘principled and independent’ approach at UN</a> 
 
The Embassy has been providing emergency kits and information about bomb shelters for the remaining citizens in case of contingency, it noted. 
 
The Korean Embassy has relocated its staff to temporary offices in Ukraine`s Liev on the western border and Przemysl in Poland`s southeastern region since February 16.

South Korea has issued an emergency warning to urge the last remaining citizens to quickly leave Ukraine due to escalating military tension along the eastern border with Russia, the Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.

South Korea has issued an emergency warning to urge the last remaining citizens to quickly leave Ukraine due to escalating military tension along the eastern border with Russia, the Foreign Ministry said on Sunday. The Korean Embassy in Ukraine stepped up its warning as shelling in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine intensified in new signs of fears that a war could start within days, reports Yonhap News Agency. Also read | South Korea reports record high of 90,443 new Covid cases A total of 68 Korean nationals were staying in Ukraine as of Saturday, which excludes diplomatic staff and 10 living in the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized from Ukraine in 2014, according to the Mnistry. Among them, 40 will depart Ukraine over the weekend, while the embassy will continue to persuade other citizens to flee the nation or move to the western region for their safety. Also read | Ukraine crisis: Russia ‘welcomes’ India’s ‘principled and independent’ approach at UN The Embassy has been providing emergency kits and information about bomb shelters for the remaining citizens in case of contingency, it noted. The Korean Embassy has relocated its staff to temporary offices in Ukraine`s Liev on the western border and Przemysl in Poland`s southeastern region since February 16.

South Korea issues new warning to evacuate last remaining citizens from Ukraine

South Korea’s presidential race went virtual for the votes. The Al Yoon avatar is reportedly hugely popular with young South Koreans. Is deepfake technology going to be the future of election campaigns?

Deepfake of South Korea’s presidential candidate Al Yoon ahead of election

South Korean politician Yoon Seok-Youl has become the 'world's first deepfake candidate'. He is winning over voters through his digital avatar made through hours of specially-recorded footage. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Deepfake Democracy: Man uses 'digital avatar' to win elections

South&nbsp;Korea's antitrust regulator is considering imposing penalties against U.S. electric car maker Tesla Inc over its findings the company exaggerated the specifications of its batteries, an official said on Wednesday.

The&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) had sent a report to the electric vehicle (EV) maker stating that it had exaggerated the mileage of some of its models, including Model 3, in violation of the Act on Fair Labeling and Advertising, the official said.

"We plan to hold a general meeting to review and determine the extent to which the automaker has violated the law and decide the level of sanctions," an official at the KFTC told Reuters, asking not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/skorea-reports-record-high-of-90443-new-covid-cases-453676">South Korea reports record high of 90,443 new Covid cases</a>

Tesla, on its website, says its Model 3 can travel 528 km (328 miles) on a single charge. The KFTC says however that the range may fall short of that should the temperature drop below freezing.

Analysts said most electric vehicles could generally experience some loss of driving range in cold weather.

Separately, the KFTC is also weighing whether to impose penalties against Tesla for not refunding deposits to customers who cancelled online purchases before their vehicle orders were put in place for release.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-missiles-to-scandals-issues-at-stake-in-south-koreas-presidential-election-453520">From missiles to scandals: Issues at stake in South Korea's presidential electio</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-missiles-to-scandals-issues-at-stake-in-south-koreas-presidential-election-453520">n</a>

In&nbsp;South&nbsp;Korea, Tesla requires customers to pay a deposit of 100,000 won ($84) when purchasing Tesla cars online, but deposits were not refunded upon customers' order cancellations, according to Yonhap news agency.

Tesla was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Reuters.

South Korea's antitrust regulator is considering imposing penalties against U.S. electric car maker Tesla Inc over its findings the company exaggerated the specifications of its batteries, an official said on Wednesday.

South Korea's antitrust regulator is considering imposing penalties against U.S. electric car maker Tesla Inc over its findings the company exaggerated the specifications of its batteries, an official said on Wednesday. The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) had sent a report to the electric vehicle (EV) maker stating that it had exaggerated the mileage of some of its models, including Model 3, in violation of the Act on Fair Labeling and Advertising, the official said. "We plan to hold a general meeting to review and determine the extent to which the automaker has violated the law and decide the level of sanctions," an official at the KFTC told Reuters, asking not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. Also read | South Korea reports record high of 90,443 new Covid cases Tesla, on its website, says its Model 3 can travel 528 km (328 miles) on a single charge. The KFTC says however that the range may fall short of that should the temperature drop below freezing. Analysts said most electric vehicles could generally experience some loss of driving range in cold weather. Separately, the KFTC is also weighing whether to impose penalties against Tesla for not refunding deposits to customers who cancelled online purchases before their vehicle orders were put in place for release. Also read | From missiles to scandals: Issues at stake in South Korea's presidential election In South Korea, Tesla requires customers to pay a deposit of 100,000 won ($84) when purchasing Tesla cars online, but deposits were not refunded upon customers' order cancellations, according to Yonhap news agency. Tesla was not immediately available for comment when contacted by Reuters.

South Korea weighs penalty against Tesla for exaggerating mileage

South Korea's daily number of Covid cases hit a record high amid the spread of the Omicron variant of the virus, the health authorities said Wednesday. 
 
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the country reported 90,443 confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, raising the total tally to 1,552,851.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-missiles-to-scandals-issues-at-stake-in-south-koreas-presidential-election-453520">From missiles to scandals: Issues at stake in South Korea's presidential election</a> 
 
The daily caseload was up from 57,175 in the previous day, topping 90,000 for the first time in the country, Xinhua news agency reported. 
 
The recent resurgence was driven by infections in the Seoul metropolitan area amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, which became a dominant strain here.

Of the new cases, 18,834 were Seoul residents. The number of newly infected people living in Gyeonggi province and the western port city of Incheon was 27,954 and 5,817, respectively.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-contrast-to-covids-59-million-deaths-this-malady-kills-more-than-9-million-people-every-year-453616">In contrast to Covid's 5.9 million deaths, this malady kills more than 9 million people every year</a> 
 
The virus also raged in the non-metropolitan region. The number of new infections in the non-capital areas was 37,676, or 41.7 per cent of the total local transmissions. 
 
Among the new cases, 162 were imported from overseas, lifting the total to 27,659. 
 
The number of infected people who were in a serious condition stood at 313, down one from the previous day.

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Wuhan scientists flag deadlier coronavirus

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-wuhan-scientists-flag-deadlier-coronavirus-448614/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

At least 39 more deaths were confirmed from the pandemic, bringing the death toll to 7,202. The total fatality rate was 0.46 per cent. 
 
The country has administered Covid vaccines to 44,757,215 people, or 87.2 per cent of the total population, and the number of fully vaccinated people stands at 44,249,882, or 86.2 per cent. 
 
The number of those who received their booster dose was 29,769,192, or 58.0 per cent of the population.

South Korea's daily number of Covid cases hit a record high amid the spread of the Omicron variant of the virus, the health authorities said Wednesday. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the country reported 90,443 confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, raising the total tally to 1,552,851.

South Korea's daily number of Covid cases hit a record high amid the spread of the Omicron variant of the virus, the health authorities said Wednesday. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the country reported 90,443 confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, raising the total tally to 1,552,851. Also read | From missiles to scandals: Issues at stake in South Korea's presidential election The daily caseload was up from 57,175 in the previous day, topping 90,000 for the first time in the country, Xinhua news agency reported. The recent resurgence was driven by infections in the Seoul metropolitan area amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, which became a dominant strain here. Of the new cases, 18,834 were Seoul residents. The number of newly infected people living in Gyeonggi province and the western port city of Incheon was 27,954 and 5,817, respectively. Also read | In contrast to Covid's 5.9 million deaths, this malady kills more than 9 million people every year The virus also raged in the non-metropolitan region. The number of new infections in the non-capital areas was 37,676, or 41.7 per cent of the total local transmissions. Among the new cases, 162 were imported from overseas, lifting the total to 27,659. The number of infected people who were in a serious condition stood at 313, down one from the previous day. Watch | Gravitas: Wuhan scientists flag deadlier coronavirus At least 39 more deaths were confirmed from the pandemic, bringing the death toll to 7,202. The total fatality rate was 0.46 per cent. The country has administered Covid vaccines to 44,757,215 people, or 87.2 per cent of the total population, and the number of fully vaccinated people stands at 44,249,882, or 86.2 per cent. The number of those who received their booster dose was 29,769,192, or 58.0 per cent of the population.

South Korea reports record high of 90,443 new Covid cases

South Korea's antitrust regulator is investigating US electric car maker Tesla over allegations that the company exaggerated the specifications of its batteries, an official at the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said.

South Korea investigates Tesla on mileage

South Korea's presidential candidates formally have begun campaigning from today. The election is being considered as the tightest race between the two main parties in 20 years.

South Korea kicks off presidential race

South Korean presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol is using deepfake technology to garner votes.

His team has created a digital avatar of the frontrunner and set "AI Yoon" loose on the campaign trail ahead of a March 9 election.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-tom-cruises-deepfake-videos-raise-an-alarm-367264/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

From a deepfake video of Barack Obama insulting Donald Trump to failed New York mayoral candidate Andrew Yang campaigning in the metaverse, AI technology has been used in elections before.&nbsp;

But AI Yoon's creators believe he is the world's first official deepfake candidate, a concept gaining traction in South Korea, which has the world's fastest average internet speeds.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-viral-chinese-app-is-using-deepfake-tech-to-morph-faces-triggering-privacy-concerns-247368">Also see |&nbsp;How viral Chinese app is using deepfake tech to morph faces triggering privacy concerns</a>

With neatly-combed black hair and a smart suit, the avatar looks near-identical to the real South Korean candidate but uses salty language and meme-ready quips in a bid to engage younger voters who get their news online.

The former prosecutor general had earlier apologised over inaccuracies on his wife's resume when she applied for teaching jobs years ago, amid growing anger over what many voters see as politicians' hypocrisy.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/spot-the-real-elon-musk-deepfake-or-doppelganger-netizens-cant-decide-437678">Also read |&nbsp;Spot the real Elon Musk: Deepfake or doppelganger? netizens can't decide</a>

Yoon Suk-yeol is the flag bearer of the main conservative opposition People Power Party and will face off against his challenger from the ruling Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung.

Though a political novice, Yoon shot to fame as prosecutor-general for indicting Cho Kuk, a former justice minister and aide to President Moon Jae-in, over several charges including bribery and fraud in getting his daughter into university.

Going by opinion polls, the two leading candidates for South Korea's presidency have a big problem - their disapproval ratings are so high that the March 9 vote has been dubbed the "unlikeable election".

Started by pundits and popularised by the media, the name has stuck, and even the candidates shamefacedly acknowledge the ugly image they've helped create.

Voters wanting to hear what they will do about runaway property prices and the widening income inequality in Asia's fourth largest economy have been disappointed by election campaigns that have stooped to vicious personal attacks.

Public disillusion with the country's political class festered during the five-year term of the outgoing president, Moon Jae-in.

(With inputs from agencies)

South Korean presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol is using deepfake technology to garner votes. His team has created a digital avatar of the frontrunner and set "AI Yoon" loose on the campaign trail ahead of a March 9 election.

South Korean presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol is using deepfake technology to garner votes. His team has created a digital avatar of the frontrunner and set "AI Yoon" loose on the campaign trail ahead of a March 9 election. From a deepfake video of Barack Obama insulting Donald Trump to failed New York mayoral candidate Andrew Yang campaigning in the metaverse, AI technology has been used in elections before. But AI Yoon's creators believe he is the world's first official deepfake candidate, a concept gaining traction in South Korea, which has the world's fastest average internet speeds. Also see | How viral Chinese app is using deepfake tech to morph faces triggering privacy concerns With neatly-combed black hair and a smart suit, the avatar looks near-identical to the real South Korean candidate but uses salty language and meme-ready quips in a bid to engage younger voters who get their news online. The former prosecutor general had earlier apologised over inaccuracies on his wife's resume when she applied for teaching jobs years ago, amid growing anger over what many voters see as politicians' hypocrisy. Also read | Spot the real Elon Musk: Deepfake or doppelganger? netizens can't decide Yoon Suk-yeol is the flag bearer of the main conservative opposition People Power Party and will face off against his challenger from the ruling Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung. Though a political novice, Yoon shot to fame as prosecutor-general for indicting Cho Kuk, a former justice minister and aide to President Moon Jae-in, over several charges including bribery and fraud in getting his daughter into university. Going by opinion polls, the two leading candidates for South Korea's presidency have a big problem - their disapproval ratings are so high that the March 9 vote has been dubbed the "unlikeable election". Started by pundits and popularised by the media, the name has stuck, and even the candidates shamefacedly acknowledge the ugly image they've helped create. Voters wanting to hear what they will do about runaway property prices and the widening income inequality in Asia's fourth largest economy have been disappointed by election campaigns that have stooped to vicious personal attacks. Public disillusion with the country's political class festered during the five-year term of the outgoing president, Moon Jae-in. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korean presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol using deepfake technology to garner votes

South Korea has launched a self-treatment scheme for patients with mild coronavirus symptoms. As new infections are soaring to a new high the country is trying to free up medical resources for more serious cases, take a look.

South Korea turns to self-treatment as covid cases surge

They were the feel-good story of the Winter Olympics in 2018: young women from a remote farming county who catapulted South Korea to curling glory by winning its first Olympic medal in the sport.

Then, that same year, the team the Korean press had nicknamed the “Garlic Girls” (in a nod to the iconic produce of their region) shocked the country by accusing their coaches of verbal and psychological abuse.

Nine months after their victory at the Games, the team called a surprise news conference during which they aired their grievances against their two coaches and the father of one of the coaches, who was also the vice president of the Korean Curling Federation.

The Garlic Girls said the trio swore at them, berated them if they interacted with other athletes, banned them from using social media and withheld their prize money. They also tried to sideline the team captain, Kim Eun-jung, after learning of her plans to start a family.

“To be honest, I’m not completely sure if we’re over this yet,” Kim Kyeong-ae, a team member, wrote in an email to The New York Times as she prepared for the Beijing Winter Olympics this month.

While some of South Korea’s top athletes have grown used to decades of harsh training and abuse, a younger generation has started to push back, inspired at least in part by the Garlic Girls.

Their news conference helped revive painful discussions about the mistreatment of athletes in South Korea, where nepotism, exploitation and misconduct have been common for decades. Elite sports in the country are notoriously hierarchical, with men often on top and athletes told not to question orders.

In 2008, the government’s National Human Rights Commission said nearly 80% of student athletes in middle and high schools had been subjected to physical and verbal abuse from their coaches and older teammates.

After the Garlic Girls spoke out, there was an outpouring of other accounts of abuse, including from Shim Suk-hee, a member of South Korea’s national short-track speedskating team and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, who said she had been repeatedly raped by her former coach. (Last year he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.)

Several female athletes in judo, taekwondo and wrestling also came forward to accuse their male coaches of sexual abuse.

In February 2019, after an investigation, the government said that most of the allegations made by the Garlic Girls were true. The two coaches and Kim Kyung-doo, the curling official, were banned from the sport for life.

And for the first time, South Korea appointed three foreign coaches to lead the women’s, men’s and mixed double curling teams at the Olympics. The Garlic Girls are set to compete against Canada in Beijing on Thursday in a round-robin match.

“Although we can’t know of and change all the corruption in the sporting world, at least in this sport we can reveal what has been going on in the hopes that it won’t happen again,” Kim Kyeong-ae, 28, wrote in her email.

But those who speak out risk being sidelined or criticized. Coaches have immense control over their athletes, who are recruited at a young age and live in dormitories. Many of them are taken out of school and feel they have no career options if they fail.

Oh Ji-hoon, a former speedskater who has trained in both the United States and South Korea, said that Korean athletes typically don’t question their coaches’ methods of discipline and training because they get used to it from a young age.

“In Korea, training programs are way more intense than those of the U.S.,” Oh said. “There is less leeway, much less flexibility and, candidly, it’s fairly common for coaches to yell at skaters.”

After the curling team went public with their accusations, Peter Gallant, a Canadian coach who guided them to their silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics, backed the players.

Gallant is now the team’s head coach, and curling experts say his experience is likely to propel the Garlic Girls to greater heights. The team adores him, referring to him as “Appa,” or father in Korean. In an email, Gallant noted that the level of respect the curlers have for those who are older than them is so high that “nothing is really questioned” during practice.

That is not necessarily good.

“A coach wants his athletes to ask questions,” he added.

Four of the five Garlic Girls come from Uiseong, a farming community and a seemingly unlikely site for a sporting revolution. The rural town of 53,000 people uses a cartoon garlic bulb as the county mascot.

The Garlic Girls have said their previous coaches often made them feel ashamed for not coming from a major city.

“It’s useless training people from the countryside,” they recalled being told.

Uiseong, however, is home to one of South Korea’s first curling facilities, built in 2006 after a former government official saw the sport on a trip to Canada.

Kim Eun-jung, the captain, and currently ranked seventh in the world, fell in love with the sport after trying it during gym class in middle school. She encouraged classmate Kim Yeong-mi to join, followed by her younger sister, Kim Kyeong-ae.

Kim Cho-hi, the only team member not from Uiseong, also started curling in middle school, but in Gyeonggi province, just outside of Seoul.

Because they all have the same surname, the Garlic Girls are also known as Team Kim. To differentiate themselves, each chose a nickname honoring their favorite breakfast food. Kim Eun-jung is “Annie,” the name of a yogurt brand. Kim Yeong-mi is “Pancake,” while her sister, Kyeong-ae, is “Steak.” Kim Cho-hi is “ChoCho,” a nod to chocolate cookies, which she loves to eat for breakfast. Kim Seon-yeong is “Sunny,” for sunny-side-up eggs.

The team was an underdog going into the 2018 Winter Olympics but pulled off upsets against Canada and Switzerland, two curling powerhouses. Almost overnight, the Garlic Girls became a sensation in a country that knew little about curling.

In the past two years, the pandemic has made practice challenging. Several competitions were canceled. And unlike teams from countries where curling has long been popular, the Garlic Girls often must travel abroad for competitions and training, which has meant dealing with quarantines and spending more time away from home.

But Gallant said the team’s experience with their previous coaches prepared them for the future, even with the pandemic. In an interview with Rocks Across the Pond, a curling podcast, he said there was no question that “it created a kind of toughness in them.”

“To do what they did, to make everything public, took a lot of courage and effort,” he said. “No matter what they face now, it’s not going to be as bad as that.”

They were the feel-good story of the Winter Olympics in 2018: young women from a remote farming county who catapulted South Korea to curling glory by winning its first Olympic medal in the sport.

They were the feel-good story of the Winter Olympics in 2018: young women from a remote farming county who catapulted South Korea to curling glory by winning its first Olympic medal in the sport. Then, that same year, the team the Korean press had nicknamed the “Garlic Girls” (in a nod to the iconic produce of their region) shocked the country by accusing their coaches of verbal and psychological abuse. Nine months after their victory at the Games, the team called a surprise news conference during which they aired their grievances against their two coaches and the father of one of the coaches, who was also the vice president of the Korean Curling Federation. The Garlic Girls said the trio swore at them, berated them if they interacted with other athletes, banned them from using social media and withheld their prize money. They also tried to sideline the team captain, Kim Eun-jung, after learning of her plans to start a family. “To be honest, I’m not completely sure if we’re over this yet,” Kim Kyeong-ae, a team member, wrote in an email to The New York Times as she prepared for the Beijing Winter Olympics this month. While some of South Korea’s top athletes have grown used to decades of harsh training and abuse, a younger generation has started to push back, inspired at least in part by the Garlic Girls. Their news conference helped revive painful discussions about the mistreatment of athletes in South Korea, where nepotism, exploitation and misconduct have been common for decades. Elite sports in the country are notoriously hierarchical, with men often on top and athletes told not to question orders. In 2008, the government’s National Human Rights Commission said nearly 80% of student athletes in middle and high schools had been subjected to physical and verbal abuse from their coaches and older teammates. After the Garlic Girls spoke out, there was an outpouring of other accounts of abuse, including from Shim Suk-hee, a member of South Korea’s national short-track speedskating team and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, who said she had been repeatedly raped by her former coach. (Last year he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.) Several female athletes in judo, taekwondo and wrestling also came forward to accuse their male coaches of sexual abuse. In February 2019, after an investigation, the government said that most of the allegations made by the Garlic Girls were true. The two coaches and Kim Kyung-doo, the curling official, were banned from the sport for life. And for the first time, South Korea appointed three foreign coaches to lead the women’s, men’s and mixed double curling teams at the Olympics. The Garlic Girls are set to compete against Canada in Beijing on Thursday in a round-robin match. “Although we can’t know of and change all the corruption in the sporting world, at least in this sport we can reveal what has been going on in the hopes that it won’t happen again,” Kim Kyeong-ae, 28, wrote in her email. But those who speak out risk being sidelined or criticized. Coaches have immense control over their athletes, who are recruited at a young age and live in dormitories. Many of them are taken out of school and feel they have no career options if they fail. Oh Ji-hoon, a former speedskater who has trained in both the United States and South Korea, said that Korean athletes typically don’t question their coaches’ methods of discipline and training because they get used to it from a young age. “In Korea, training programs are way more intense than those of the U.S.,” Oh said. “There is less leeway, much less flexibility and, candidly, it’s fairly common for coaches to yell at skaters.” After the curling team went public with their accusations, Peter Gallant, a Canadian coach who guided them to their silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics, backed the players. Gallant is now the team’s head coach, and curling experts say his experience is likely to propel the Garlic Girls to greater heights. The team adores him, referring to him as “Appa,” or father in Korean. In an email, Gallant noted that the level of respect the curlers have for those who are older than them is so high that “nothing is really questioned” during practice. That is not necessarily good. “A coach wants his athletes to ask questions,” he added. Four of the five Garlic Girls come from Uiseong, a farming community and a seemingly unlikely site for a sporting revolution. The rural town of 53,000 people uses a cartoon garlic bulb as the county mascot. The Garlic Girls have said their previous coaches often made them feel ashamed for not coming from a major city. “It’s useless training people from the countryside,” they recalled being told. Uiseong, however, is home to one of South Korea’s first curling facilities, built in 2006 after a former government official saw the sport on a trip to Canada. Kim Eun-jung, the captain, and currently ranked seventh in the world, fell in love with the sport after trying it during gym class in middle school. She encouraged classmate Kim Yeong-mi to join, followed by her younger sister, Kim Kyeong-ae. Kim Cho-hi, the only team member not from Uiseong, also started curling in middle school, but in Gyeonggi province, just outside of Seoul. Because they all have the same surname, the Garlic Girls are also known as Team Kim. To differentiate themselves, each chose a nickname honoring their favorite breakfast food. Kim Eun-jung is “Annie,” the name of a yogurt brand. Kim Yeong-mi is “Pancake,” while her sister, Kyeong-ae, is “Steak.” Kim Cho-hi is “ChoCho,” a nod to chocolate cookies, which she loves to eat for breakfast. Kim Seon-yeong is “Sunny,” for sunny-side-up eggs. The team was an underdog going into the 2018 Winter Olympics but pulled off upsets against Canada and Switzerland, two curling powerhouses. Almost overnight, the Garlic Girls became a sensation in a country that knew little about curling. In the past two years, the pandemic has made practice challenging. Several competitions were canceled. And unlike teams from countries where curling has long been popular, the Garlic Girls often must travel abroad for competitions and training, which has meant dealing with quarantines and spending more time away from home. But Gallant said the team’s experience with their previous coaches prepared them for the future, even with the pandemic. In an interview with Rocks Across the Pond, a curling podcast, he said there was no question that “it created a kind of toughness in them.” “To do what they did, to make everything public, took a lot of courage and effort,” he said. “No matter what they face now, it’s not going to be as bad as that.”

How the ‘Garlic Girls’ overcame abuse to return to the Olympics

South Korea on Wednesday dropped the "trace, test and treat" programme amid a surge in Omicron cases.

Senior health official Sohn Young-rae said the "trace, test and treat" approach is "difficult to operate due to limited resources" and has "excessively high social and economic costs."

The daily number of new cases hit a record high of 49,567 for Tuesday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/2022-beijing-winter-olympics-south-korea-accuses-china-of-appropriating-korean-culture-450765">Also read |&nbsp;Beijing Winter Olympics: South Korea accuses China of ‘appropriating Korean culture’</a>

The daily tally has more than doubled in less than a week, and could reach up to 170,000 later this month, the KDCA said.

A new set of measures to manage the virus is taking effect in stages starting this month, and will refocus resources on the most vulnerable, health officials said.

The aim is to diagnose and treat high-risk groups to "prevent the collapse of the medical system and the deterioration of social and economic functions", Sohn added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-battling-rapid-surge-in-covid-19-cases-despite-nearly-90-vaccination-rate-430023">Also read |&nbsp;South Korea battling rapid surge in COVID-19 cases despite nearly 90% vaccination rate</a>

Authorities will be prioritising tests for people aged 60 or older.

Previously, anyone testing positive was sent to a government centre for treatment and quarantine, but now asymptomatic patients are being told to stay at home.

Nearly 96 per cent of South Korean adults have been fully vaccinated and some 64% have received a booster shot.

The country's government shifted its testing and tracing policy in the face of the Omicron spread in favour of self-monitoring and diagnosis and at-home treatment starting last week.

At least through Feb. 20, officials will restrict any private social gatherings between those who are fully vaccinated to six people, while requiring unvaccinated people to eat or drink alone at restaurants and coffee shops. Public indoor dining is banned after 9 p.m.

Proof of vaccination or a recent negative test is also required to enter potentially crowded venues such as restaurants, nightclubs, karaoke rooms and gyms.

Announcing the decision at a government meeting, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum cited the “inexorable” virus spread driven by the highly contagious omicron variant, even as he acknowledged the public’s fatigue with pandemic restrictions.

The expanded use of rapid antigen test kits, which experts say can fail to detect the omicron variant, has raised concerns that infected people may also continue to venture out in public, after getting a false negative test.

(With inputs from agencies)

South Korea on Wednesday dropped the "trace, test and treat" programme amid a surge in Omicron cases. Senior health official Sohn Young-rae said the "trace, test and treat" approach is "difficult to operate due to limited resources" and has "excessively high social and economic costs.

South Korea on Wednesday dropped the "trace, test and treat" programme amid a surge in Omicron cases. Senior health official Sohn Young-rae said the "trace, test and treat" approach is "difficult to operate due to limited resources" and has "excessively high social and economic costs." The daily number of new cases hit a record high of 49,567 for Tuesday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Also read | Beijing Winter Olympics: South Korea accuses China of ‘appropriating Korean culture’ The daily tally has more than doubled in less than a week, and could reach up to 170,000 later this month, the KDCA said. A new set of measures to manage the virus is taking effect in stages starting this month, and will refocus resources on the most vulnerable, health officials said. The aim is to diagnose and treat high-risk groups to "prevent the collapse of the medical system and the deterioration of social and economic functions", Sohn added. Also read | South Korea battling rapid surge in COVID-19 cases despite nearly 90% vaccination rate Authorities will be prioritising tests for people aged 60 or older. Previously, anyone testing positive was sent to a government centre for treatment and quarantine, but now asymptomatic patients are being told to stay at home. Nearly 96 per cent of South Korean adults have been fully vaccinated and some 64% have received a booster shot. The country's government shifted its testing and tracing policy in the face of the Omicron spread in favour of self-monitoring and diagnosis and at-home treatment starting last week. At least through Feb. 20, officials will restrict any private social gatherings between those who are fully vaccinated to six people, while requiring unvaccinated people to eat or drink alone at restaurants and coffee shops. Public indoor dining is banned after 9 p.m. Proof of vaccination or a recent negative test is also required to enter potentially crowded venues such as restaurants, nightclubs, karaoke rooms and gyms. Announcing the decision at a government meeting, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum cited the “inexorable” virus spread driven by the highly contagious omicron variant, even as he acknowledged the public’s fatigue with pandemic restrictions. The expanded use of rapid antigen test kits, which experts say can fail to detect the omicron variant, has raised concerns that infected people may also continue to venture out in public, after getting a false negative test. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea drops 'trace, test and treat' programme amid surge in Omicron cases

Korean drama 'Snowdrop' is all set to premiere in India on OTT platform Disney+Hotstar on February 9. The show has been in the news ever since the first trailer came out. The show has just wrapped up in the South Korean network JTBC and received modest ratings and reviews. But 'Snowdrop' remained in news right from the beginning- even before it was aired in South Korea- for its controversial story which many alleged was insensitive to Korean history.&nbsp; 
 
The show stars popular Korean actor Jung Hae-in and marks the acting debut of BLACKPINK singer Jisoo.&nbsp; 
 
What is the plot of 'Snowdrop'? 
 
The story is set in 1987 - an important time in South Korean history, as it was the year that citizens protested and called for an end to the authoritarian government.&nbsp; 
 
The series is primarily a love story of Im Soo-ho(Jung Hae-in), a North Korean spy and Young-ro (Jisoo), a &nbsp;college student. Jung plays a spy, who is discovered in a bloodied condition by Jisoo, and she hides him in her dormitory room as she presumes him to be as a pro-democracy activist. With the help of her friends, she hides him from the government, who are actually looking for the North Korean spy.

What is the controversy? 
 
Months before the show aired in South Korea, in March 2021, the show landed in trouble when the synopsis of the show leaked online giving an impression that it was distorting history. 
 
Based on the synopsis, people believed that the male lead is a spy, who has infiltrated the activist movement, while another lead character is a team leader at the Agency For National Security. 
 
The network on which the show was to air, JTBC, provided clarification on the plot soon after but the opposition on the show remained. Most found the show insulting as it depicted a North Korean spy's involved with the pro-democracy movement.&nbsp; 
 
The socio-political context has been deeply emotional for most in the country. The protestors for the regime in the 1980s were falsely accused of being North Korean spies. The pro-democracy protesters were imprisoned, tortured and killed by the government to suppress voices.&nbsp; 
 
The uproar continued after the release of the first two episodes in December 2021. Fans took to social media to discuss the problems with the show- and claimed that the team was 'insensitive' to people who had struggled and fought for democracy in the country.&nbsp; 
 
Jisoo’s name in the show further angered sentiments, with many saying that her character’s initial name was also the name of a real-life protestor, whose husband was killed after he was falsely accused of being a North Korean spy. People also had problems with the way Central government intelligence was depicted on the show- who were typically tasked to arrest North Korean spies.&nbsp; 
 
They alleged that the show was glorifying a lead character from the Agency For National Security Planning (NSP), which was part of the authoritarian regime at the time. The use of a symbolic song for the democracy movement in the show was also criticised. 
 
The clarification 
 
A petition demanding the cancellation of the show was posted on the website of the Blue House (the executive office and official residence of South Korea’s head of state) soon after the show premiered. The petition had over 300, 000 signatures and alleged that the show “defames the value and reputation of the democratisation movement”.&nbsp; 
 
Following the backlash, JTBC &nbsp;issued a statement explaining the background and motif of including important incidents from History in the show.&nbsp; 
 
"With this background, it contains a fictional story of the party in power colluding with the North Korean government in order to maintain authority. 'Snowdrop' is a creative work that shows the personal stories of individuals who were used and victimized by those in power,” the statement read. 
 
The statement also stated that no spy in 'Snowdrop' leads the democratization movement.&nbsp; 
 
The makers insisted that most of the misunderstandings and concerns over “history distortion” and “disparaging the democratization movement” would be answered as the drama progresses. JTBC stood firm on their story, though some advertisers were quick to opt-out.&nbsp; 
 
The outrage continues 
 
While the show has ended in South Korea, it still continues to be in news. On January 30 this year, in an open letter Korean professors and scholars asked the president of Disney+, Asia Pacific, to find experts and evaluated the historical facts in the drama. The letter was addressed to Walt Disney’s Asia Pacific president Luke Kang.&nbsp;

'Snowdrop' premiers on Disney+Hotstar on February 9.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Korean drama 'Snowdrop' is all set to premiere in India on OTT platform Disney+Hotstar on February 9. The show has been in the news ever since the first trailer came out.

Korean drama 'Snowdrop' is all set to premiere in India on OTT platform Disney+Hotstar on February 9. The show has been in the news ever since the first trailer came out. The show has just wrapped up in the South Korean network JTBC and received modest ratings and reviews. But 'Snowdrop' remained in news right from the beginning- even before it was aired in South Korea- for its controversial story which many alleged was insensitive to Korean history. The show stars popular Korean actor Jung Hae-in and marks the acting debut of BLACKPINK singer Jisoo. What is the plot of 'Snowdrop'? The story is set in 1987 - an important time in South Korean history, as it was the year that citizens protested and called for an end to the authoritarian government. The series is primarily a love story of Im Soo-ho(Jung Hae-in), a North Korean spy and Young-ro (Jisoo), a college student. Jung plays a spy, who is discovered in a bloodied condition by Jisoo, and she hides him in her dormitory room as she presumes him to be as a pro-democracy activist. With the help of her friends, she hides him from the government, who are actually looking for the North Korean spy. What is the controversy? Months before the show aired in South Korea, in March 2021, the show landed in trouble when the synopsis of the show leaked online giving an impression that it was distorting history. Based on the synopsis, people believed that the male lead is a spy, who has infiltrated the activist movement, while another lead character is a team leader at the Agency For National Security. The network on which the show was to air, JTBC, provided clarification on the plot soon after but the opposition on the show remained. Most found the show insulting as it depicted a North Korean spy's involved with the pro-democracy movement. The socio-political context has been deeply emotional for most in the country. The protestors for the regime in the 1980s were falsely accused of being North Korean spies. The pro-democracy protesters were imprisoned, tortured and killed by the government to suppress voices. The uproar continued after the release of the first two episodes in December 2021. Fans took to social media to discuss the problems with the show- and claimed that the team was 'insensitive' to people who had struggled and fought for democracy in the country. Jisoo’s name in the show further angered sentiments, with many saying that her character’s initial name was also the name of a real-life protestor, whose husband was killed after he was falsely accused of being a North Korean spy. People also had problems with the way Central government intelligence was depicted on the show- who were typically tasked to arrest North Korean spies. They alleged that the show was glorifying a lead character from the Agency For National Security Planning (NSP), which was part of the authoritarian regime at the time. The use of a symbolic song for the democracy movement in the show was also criticised. The clarification A petition demanding the cancellation of the show was posted on the website of the Blue House (the executive office and official residence of South Korea’s head of state) soon after the show premiered. The petition had over 300, 000 signatures and alleged that the show “defames the value and reputation of the democratisation movement”. Following the backlash, JTBC issued a statement explaining the background and motif of including important incidents from History in the show. "With this background, it contains a fictional story of the party in power colluding with the North Korean government in order to maintain authority. 'Snowdrop' is a creative work that shows the personal stories of individuals who were used and victimized by those in power,” the statement read. The statement also stated that no spy in 'Snowdrop' leads the democratization movement. The makers insisted that most of the misunderstandings and concerns over “history distortion” and “disparaging the democratization movement” would be answered as the drama progresses. JTBC stood firm on their story, though some advertisers were quick to opt-out. The outrage continues While the show has ended in South Korea, it still continues to be in news. On January 30 this year, in an open letter Korean professors and scholars asked the president of Disney+, Asia Pacific, to find experts and evaluated the historical facts in the drama. The letter was addressed to Walt Disney’s Asia Pacific president Luke Kang. 'Snowdrop' premiers on Disney+Hotstar on February 9.

Korean drama 'Snowdrop' to premiere in India; a look at the show's controversial past

South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong conveyed regret to his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar over the offence caused to the people and Government of India by the social media post on Kashmir.

South Korean FM expresses regret to Indian EAM Jaishankar on Hyundai Pakistan's post

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