South Korea's fertility rate fell to the lowest in the world last year, data showed on Wednesday, as uncertainty over the coronavirus discouraged couples from marrying and having children.&nbsp;

The number of expected babies per South Korean woman fell to 0.84 in 2020, dropping further from the country's previous record low of 0.92 a year earlier, the official annual reading from the Statistics Korea showed.&nbsp;

That is the lowest among over 180 member countries of the World Bank, and far below 1.73 in the United States and 1.42 in Japan.&nbsp;

The grim milestone comes after the population fell for the first time ever last year.&nbsp;

Asia's fourth-largest economy is the fastest aging country in the OECD. The government has failed to reverse the falling birth rate despite spending billions of dollars each year on childcare subsidies and maternity leave support.&nbsp;

The nation's capital Seoul logged the lowest birth rate of 0.64.&nbsp;

In some recent reports, the number of newborns in China also plummeted by 15 per cent in 2020 from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Public Security, with the onset of the novel coronavirus disrupting the economy and weighing on decisions to have a family.&nbsp;

China saw 10.035 million births last year, the ministry said on Monday, compared with 11.79 million in 2019. Of those born last year, 52.7% were boys and 47.3% girls.&nbsp;

Posts on Chinese social media with the hashtag 'How to get China out of a low fertility trap' were viewed 120 million times recently, with some comments linking low fertility rates to high living costs, while others said social norms were changing.&nbsp;

“The declining fertility rate actually reflects the progress in the thinking of Chinese people - women are no longer a fertility tool,” wrote a user of Weibo, a Twitter-like microblog popular in China.&nbsp;

South Korea's fertility rate fell to the lowest in the world last year, data showed on Wednesday, as uncertainty over the coronavirus discouraged couples from marrying and having children.

South Korea's fertility rate fell to the lowest in the world last year, data showed on Wednesday, as uncertainty over the coronavirus discouraged couples from marrying and having children. The number of expected babies per South Korean woman fell to 0.84 in 2020, dropping further from the country's previous record low of 0.92 a year earlier, the official annual reading from the Statistics Korea showed. That is the lowest among over 180 member countries of the World Bank, and far below 1.73 in the United States and 1.42 in Japan. The grim milestone comes after the population fell for the first time ever last year. Asia's fourth-largest economy is the fastest aging country in the OECD. The government has failed to reverse the falling birth rate despite spending billions of dollars each year on childcare subsidies and maternity leave support. The nation's capital Seoul logged the lowest birth rate of 0.64. In some recent reports, the number of newborns in China also plummeted by 15 per cent in 2020 from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Public Security, with the onset of the novel coronavirus disrupting the economy and weighing on decisions to have a family. China saw 10.035 million births last year, the ministry said on Monday, compared with 11.79 million in 2019. Of those born last year, 52.7% were boys and 47.3% girls. Posts on Chinese social media with the hashtag 'How to get China out of a low fertility trap' were viewed 120 million times recently, with some comments linking low fertility rates to high living costs, while others said social norms were changing. “The declining fertility rate actually reflects the progress in the thinking of Chinese people - women are no longer a fertility tool,” wrote a user of Weibo, a Twitter-like microblog popular in China.

South Korea's fertility rate drops to lowest in world

South Korea said on Monday that it will not use Astrazeneca's coronavirus vaccine for people aged 65 and above. This has amounted to reversal of an earlier decision. South Korea has scaled back initial vaccination targets due to delayed shipments from global vaccine-sharing scheme COVAX.

The target has come down to 750,000 people from 1.3 million people to be vaccinated by first quarter of this year with Astrazeneca shots.

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said on Monday that the decision has come largely due to adjustment in supply timetable of 2.6 million Astrazeneca doses from COVAX.

South Korea has said that it would delay inoculation of the elderly until more efficacy data on this specific vaccine becomes available.

(With Reuters inputs)

South Korea said on Monday that it will not use Astrazeneca's coronavirus vaccine for people aged 65 and above. This has amounted to reversal of an earlier decision.

South Korea said on Monday that it will not use Astrazeneca's coronavirus vaccine for people aged 65 and above. This has amounted to reversal of an earlier decision. South Korea has scaled back initial vaccination targets due to delayed shipments from global vaccine-sharing scheme COVAX. The target has come down to 750,000 people from 1.3 million people to be vaccinated by first quarter of this year with Astrazeneca shots. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said on Monday that the decision has come largely due to adjustment in supply timetable of 2.6 million Astrazeneca doses from COVAX. South Korea has said that it would delay inoculation of the elderly until more efficacy data on this specific vaccine becomes available. (With Reuters inputs)

Won't use Astrazeneca COVID vaccine for elderly, says South Korea

South Korea's capital says it will give pet dogs and cats free coronavirus tests if they come into contact with infected humans and show symptoms.

A Seoul official told an online briefing that pets found infected with the virus must be quarantined at their homes or a city-run facility for 14 days. Officials are ready to conduct free tests of pets starting Monday.

The central government last week released guidelines on virus tests on pets, after a cat in the southeastern city of Jinju became the country's first animal confirmed to have COVID-19. The cat belongs to a mother and daughter who were among dozens of confirmed patients associated with a Jinju religious facility.

There is, however, no evidence that animals transmit the deadly coronavirus to humans. But the pets are being tested because they are in close contact with humans. Other local governments plan to launch similar tests for pets in line with the central government's guidelines.

Meanwhile, South Korea's tally of newly confirmed coronavirus cases fell below 300 on Monday for the first time in more than two months.

South Korea's capital says it will give pet dogs and cats free coronavirus tests if they come into contact with infected humans and show symptoms. A Seoul official told an online briefing that pets found infected with the virus must be quarantined at their homes or a city-run facility for 14 days.

South Korea's capital says it will give pet dogs and cats free coronavirus tests if they come into contact with infected humans and show symptoms. A Seoul official told an online briefing that pets found infected with the virus must be quarantined at their homes or a city-run facility for 14 days. Officials are ready to conduct free tests of pets starting Monday. The central government last week released guidelines on virus tests on pets, after a cat in the southeastern city of Jinju became the country's first animal confirmed to have COVID-19. The cat belongs to a mother and daughter who were among dozens of confirmed patients associated with a Jinju religious facility. There is, however, no evidence that animals transmit the deadly coronavirus to humans. But the pets are being tested because they are in close contact with humans. Other local governments plan to launch similar tests for pets in line with the central government's guidelines. Meanwhile, South Korea's tally of newly confirmed coronavirus cases fell below 300 on Monday for the first time in more than two months.

Seoul to give free COVID-19 tests to pets

Even as Iran announced earlier this week to release the crew of a South Korean tanker seized by it in a humanitarian move, the personnel are still on board the ship, Seoul said on Thursday.&nbsp;

On January 4, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the Hankuk Chemi and arrested its multinational crew of 20 sailors near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, saying it had polluted the waters.&nbsp;

The development came as Tehran urged Seoul to release billions of dollars of Iranian assets frozen in South Korea due to US sanctions.&nbsp;

Iran's foreign ministry said on Tuesday, the crew of the seized tanker had been granted permission to leave the country 'in a humanitarian move', although it would retain the vessel and its captain.&nbsp;

According to the South Korean reports, the partial release may complicate the situation as the ship needs personnel to maintain it.&nbsp;

All the crew members remained on board, Seoul's foreign ministry said on Thursday, adding South Korean officials had been allowed to meet them on Wednesday for the first time since the seizure.&nbsp;

"The foreign ministry is discussing with the tanker company on the disembarkation and return of the crew and will put in efforts to secure the release of the captain and the ship as early as possible," a statement said.&nbsp;

Nothing was certain despite Tehran's announcement the crew would be released, said a representative of the tanker company, DM Shipping. “Discussions for their return are still ongoing. It hasn't been decided whether they will return 100 per cent," he added.&nbsp;

The arrested crew belongs to different nationalities, such as Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea, and Myanmar.&nbsp;

Former US president Donald Trump in 2018 withdrew Washington from a landmark nuclear agreement with world powers and then reimposed and reinforced crippling sanctions on Iran.&nbsp;

Iran was a key oil supplier to resource-poor South Korea until Washington's rules blocked the purchases. According to government spokesman Ali Rabiei, Iran has $7 billion of funds blocked in Seoul.&nbsp;

Tehran has repeatedly denied any link between the ship's seizure and the funds issue.&nbsp;

Even as Iran announced earlier this week to release the crew of a South Korean tanker seized by it in a humanitarian move, the personnel are still on board the ship, Seoul said on Thursday.

Even as Iran announced earlier this week to release the crew of a South Korean tanker seized by it in a humanitarian move, the personnel are still on board the ship, Seoul said on Thursday. On January 4, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the Hankuk Chemi and arrested its multinational crew of 20 sailors near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, saying it had polluted the waters. The development came as Tehran urged Seoul to release billions of dollars of Iranian assets frozen in South Korea due to US sanctions. Iran's foreign ministry said on Tuesday, the crew of the seized tanker had been granted permission to leave the country 'in a humanitarian move', although it would retain the vessel and its captain. According to the South Korean reports, the partial release may complicate the situation as the ship needs personnel to maintain it. All the crew members remained on board, Seoul's foreign ministry said on Thursday, adding South Korean officials had been allowed to meet them on Wednesday for the first time since the seizure. "The foreign ministry is discussing with the tanker company on the disembarkation and return of the crew and will put in efforts to secure the release of the captain and the ship as early as possible," a statement said. Nothing was certain despite Tehran's announcement the crew would be released, said a representative of the tanker company, DM Shipping. “Discussions for their return are still ongoing. It hasn't been decided whether they will return 100 per cent," he added. The arrested crew belongs to different nationalities, such as Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea, and Myanmar. Former US president Donald Trump in 2018 withdrew Washington from a landmark nuclear agreement with world powers and then reimposed and reinforced crippling sanctions on Iran. Iran was a key oil supplier to resource-poor South Korea until Washington's rules blocked the purchases. According to government spokesman Ali Rabiei, Iran has $7 billion of funds blocked in Seoul. Tehran has repeatedly denied any link between the ship's seizure and the funds issue.

Crew still on board seized South Korean ship despite Iran’s release pledge

Iran has agreed to free the 19-member crew of a seized South Korea-flagged ship, both countries said Tuesday, in what appeared to be the first significant gesture by the Iranians to de-escalate the problem since impounding the vessel a month ago.

The Iranian move may also have been intended to send an indirect signal to the Biden administration, which has indicated it wants to avoid a further deterioration in relations with Iran after they worsened sharply under former President Donald Trump.

In return for the release of the crew, the South Korean government said it had pledged speedy action to address Iran’s complaints about its inability to access $7 billion in Iranian money that has been frozen in South Korean banks because of U.S. sanctions reimposed by Trump.

It was not immediately clear from the announcement when the crew members would be released. Iran said the ship and its captain would remain in its custody, pending an investigation into what the Iranians have described as violations of maritime pollution law, the original reason they gave for having seized the vessel.

Laden with 7,200 tons of chemicals, the ship, the Hankuk Chemi, was taken into custody by Iran's Revolutionary Guard during a patrol in the Persian Gulf on Jan. 4. South Korea strongly protested the seizure, and the ship’s owner called Iran’s accusations absurd.

It soon became clear that Iran had taken custody of the ship at least in part to pressure South Korea, a strong U.S. ally, over the sanctions ordered by Trump after he renounced the 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and major world powers. Those sanctions included blocking Iran’s access to billions of dollars in Iranian oil revenue deposited in foreign banks.

Iran began disregarding its commitments under the nuclear agreement in response to Trump’s actions, and has threatened further steps that include possibly blocking international inspectors from visiting nuclear sites.

While President Joe Biden has said he wants to rejoin the nuclear agreement if Iran resumes compliance, Iran has said the United States must drop the sanctions first. Neither side has publicly shown an immediate willingness to find a diplomatic solution.

But Iran’s agreement to free the South Korean ship’s crew, which Saeed Khatibzadeh, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, described as a humanitarian gesture, appeared intended to portray some measure of flexibility on sanctions-related issues.

“This may be a signal to show a willingness to resume discussions or at the least take the tensions down a notch, and perhaps to open the door for South Korea releasing seized Iranian assets,” said Farhad Alavi, a partner at Akrivis Law Group, a Washington firm that specializes in sanctions law.

“Similarly, I would not be surprised if President Biden lifts or suspends some less sensitive or perhaps more political Trump-era sanctions in the coming weeks or months — something more symbolic than substantial,” Alavi said.

There was no immediate comment from the Biden administration on the news about the South Korean crew members.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the move to free the crew members came during a telephone conversation on Tuesday between Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, and his South Korean counterpart, Choi Jong-kun.

The crew includes four South Koreans, and the other members are Burmese, Vietnamese and Indonesian, the statement said.

Choi welcomed the Iranian decision and urged the Iranian government to release the captain and the ship as well.

During his telephone conversation with Araghchi, Choi promised “speedy” action to help address Iran’s grievances over the $7 billion in impounded funds.

Choi also told Araghchi that South Korea would consult U.S. officials in Washington over the matter, the ministry said.

Iran has agreed to free the 19-member crew of a seized South Korea-flagged ship, both countries said Tuesday, in what appeared to be the first significant gesture by the Iranians to de-escalate the problem since impounding the vessel a month ago.

Iran has agreed to free the 19-member crew of a seized South Korea-flagged ship, both countries said Tuesday, in what appeared to be the first significant gesture by the Iranians to de-escalate the problem since impounding the vessel a month ago. The Iranian move may also have been intended to send an indirect signal to the Biden administration, which has indicated it wants to avoid a further deterioration in relations with Iran after they worsened sharply under former President Donald Trump. In return for the release of the crew, the South Korean government said it had pledged speedy action to address Iran’s complaints about its inability to access $7 billion in Iranian money that has been frozen in South Korean banks because of U.S. sanctions reimposed by Trump. It was not immediately clear from the announcement when the crew members would be released. Iran said the ship and its captain would remain in its custody, pending an investigation into what the Iranians have described as violations of maritime pollution law, the original reason they gave for having seized the vessel. Laden with 7,200 tons of chemicals, the ship, the Hankuk Chemi, was taken into custody by Iran's Revolutionary Guard during a patrol in the Persian Gulf on Jan. 4. South Korea strongly protested the seizure, and the ship’s owner called Iran’s accusations absurd. It soon became clear that Iran had taken custody of the ship at least in part to pressure South Korea, a strong U.S. ally, over the sanctions ordered by Trump after he renounced the 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and major world powers. Those sanctions included blocking Iran’s access to billions of dollars in Iranian oil revenue deposited in foreign banks. Iran began disregarding its commitments under the nuclear agreement in response to Trump’s actions, and has threatened further steps that include possibly blocking international inspectors from visiting nuclear sites. While President Joe Biden has said he wants to rejoin the nuclear agreement if Iran resumes compliance, Iran has said the United States must drop the sanctions first. Neither side has publicly shown an immediate willingness to find a diplomatic solution. But Iran’s agreement to free the South Korean ship’s crew, which Saeed Khatibzadeh, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, described as a humanitarian gesture, appeared intended to portray some measure of flexibility on sanctions-related issues. “This may be a signal to show a willingness to resume discussions or at the least take the tensions down a notch, and perhaps to open the door for South Korea releasing seized Iranian assets,” said Farhad Alavi, a partner at Akrivis Law Group, a Washington firm that specializes in sanctions law. “Similarly, I would not be surprised if President Biden lifts or suspends some less sensitive or perhaps more political Trump-era sanctions in the coming weeks or months — something more symbolic than substantial,” Alavi said. There was no immediate comment from the Biden administration on the news about the South Korean crew members. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the move to free the crew members came during a telephone conversation on Tuesday between Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, and his South Korean counterpart, Choi Jong-kun. The crew includes four South Koreans, and the other members are Burmese, Vietnamese and Indonesian, the statement said. Choi welcomed the Iranian decision and urged the Iranian government to release the captain and the ship as well. During his telephone conversation with Araghchi, Choi promised “speedy” action to help address Iran’s grievances over the $7 billion in impounded funds. Choi also told Araghchi that South Korea would consult U.S. officials in Washington over the matter, the ministry said.

Iran agrees to free South Korean ship’s crew

Iran said on Tuesday it has allowed about 20 crew members of a South Korean tanker seized almost a month ago for alleged pollution to leave the country in a "humanitarian move".

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the Hankuk Chemi and arrested its multinational crew near the strategic Strait of Hormuz on January 4, saying it had polluted the waters.

The development came as Tehran urged Seoul to released billions of dollars of Iranian assets frozen in South Korea due to US sanctions.

"In a humanitarian move by Iran, the crew of the South Korean tanker accused of polluting the environment of the Persian Gulf were allowed to leave the country," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement.

The permission for them to leave had been granted upon "the request of the South Korean government and (with) the cooperation of the judiciary in Iran", he added.

He did not specify whether the crew had already left.

The case of the tanker and its captain were still being reviewed, he added, without elaborating.

The arrested crew were from South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar.

Former US president Donald Trump in 2018 withdrew Washington from a landmark nuclear agreement with world powers and then reimposed and reinforced crippling sanctions on Iran.

Iran was a key oil supplier to resource-poor South Korea until Washington's rules blocked the purchases.

According to government spokesman Ali Rabiei, Iran has $7 billion of funds blocked in Seoul.

The money can neither be transferred nor earn interest, yet Iran is charged fees on it, he has said.

Iran has on various occasions denied the seizure and the funds are linked.

- 'Maximum effort' -

According to Khatibzadeh, Iran's deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi was told during a Tuesday phone call with a South Korean counterpart that Seoul was putting in its "maximum effort" to release the funds as soon as possible.

South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun had visited Tehran last month on a long-planned visit, and discussed both the tanker's and the funds issues.

He met with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who told him that "restrictions" on Iranian funds were the "biggest obstacle" to their bilateral relations in the current situation, as reported by Iran's official news agency IRNA.

Tehran had warned in January its seizure of the tanker must not be politicised, after the United States and France urged the Islamic republic to release the ship.

The Hankuk Chemi incident was the first seizure of a major vessel by Iran's naval forces in more than a year.

In July 2019, the Guards seized the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz for allegedly ramming a fishing boat. They released it two months later.

At the time it was widely seen as a tit-for-tat move after authorities in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar detained an Iranian tanker and later released it, despite US objections.

Tehran denied the two cases were related.

The Guards seized at least six other ships in 2019 over alleged fuel smuggling.

Iran said on Tuesday it has allowed about 20 crew members of a South Korean tanker seized almost a month ago for alleged pollution to leave the country in a "humanitarian move".

Iran said on Tuesday it has allowed about 20 crew members of a South Korean tanker seized almost a month ago for alleged pollution to leave the country in a "humanitarian move". The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the Hankuk Chemi and arrested its multinational crew near the strategic Strait of Hormuz on January 4, saying it had polluted the waters. The development came as Tehran urged Seoul to released billions of dollars of Iranian assets frozen in South Korea due to US sanctions. "In a humanitarian move by Iran, the crew of the South Korean tanker accused of polluting the environment of the Persian Gulf were allowed to leave the country," foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement. The permission for them to leave had been granted upon "the request of the South Korean government and (with) the cooperation of the judiciary in Iran", he added. He did not specify whether the crew had already left. The case of the tanker and its captain were still being reviewed, he added, without elaborating. The arrested crew were from South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar. Former US president Donald Trump in 2018 withdrew Washington from a landmark nuclear agreement with world powers and then reimposed and reinforced crippling sanctions on Iran. Iran was a key oil supplier to resource-poor South Korea until Washington's rules blocked the purchases. According to government spokesman Ali Rabiei, Iran has $7 billion of funds blocked in Seoul. The money can neither be transferred nor earn interest, yet Iran is charged fees on it, he has said. Iran has on various occasions denied the seizure and the funds are linked. - 'Maximum effort' - According to Khatibzadeh, Iran's deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi was told during a Tuesday phone call with a South Korean counterpart that Seoul was putting in its "maximum effort" to release the funds as soon as possible. South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun had visited Tehran last month on a long-planned visit, and discussed both the tanker's and the funds issues. He met with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who told him that "restrictions" on Iranian funds were the "biggest obstacle" to their bilateral relations in the current situation, as reported by Iran's official news agency IRNA. Tehran had warned in January its seizure of the tanker must not be politicised, after the United States and France urged the Islamic republic to release the ship. The Hankuk Chemi incident was the first seizure of a major vessel by Iran's naval forces in more than a year. In July 2019, the Guards seized the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz for allegedly ramming a fishing boat. They released it two months later. At the time it was widely seen as a tit-for-tat move after authorities in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar detained an Iranian tanker and later released it, despite US objections. Tehran denied the two cases were related. The Guards seized at least six other ships in 2019 over alleged fuel smuggling.

Iran allows crew of seized South Korean ship to leave

South Korea is set to extend pandemic social distancing curbs by two weeks until the end of Lunar New Year holidays. The decision has been taken considering the new infection clusters in the country. South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun made the annoucement on Sunday.

There were earlier expectations that the government will ease the restrictions but latest announcements have put an end to the speculations.&nbsp;

health authorities decided to maintain the curbs after a new large outbreak emerged from missionary training schools across the country last week, reversing a recent downtrend in daily infections ahead of the Lunar New Year break, which begins on Feb. 11.

"The government is planning to extend the current distancing levels and anti-virus standards as they are until the Lunar New Year holidays end," Chung told an intra-agency meeting.

"The third COVID-19 wave, which had temporarily slowed, is again threatening our daily lives following the group infections from the missionary institutes."

In line with the decision, indoor cafe and restaurant dining after 9 p.m. and any gatherings of more than four people - two key measures that have proved effective - will continue to be prohibited.

Vice Health Minister Kang Do-tae said the virus was spreading not only among the missionary schools, to which 379 cases have been linked so far, but also at churches, hospitals and sports facilities.

"There is a danger that it might lead to a broader re-spread of the virus, and potentially another major wave where thousands of patients emerge within a short time," Kang told a briefing.

But the government will "positively consider" easing the curbs, including the dining curfew, if the situation improves this week.

Chung said the ongoing spread must be further dampened to facilitate South Korea's vaccination campaign and the start of the spring school semester, which are respectively set for February and March.

About 117,000 doses of vaccines of Pfizer Inc, enough for about 60,000 people, will arrive as early as mid-February via the global distribution scheme COVAX, Chung said.

AstraZeneca will also ship its products for about 300,000 people starting February, also through COVAX, as the first batch of its shipment of vaccines for at least 1.3 million people and up to 2.19 million in the first half of this year, he added.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 355 new cases as of Saturday midnight, as the numbers fell under 400 for the first time in five days due in part to less testing during the weekend.

(With AFP inputs)

South Korea is set to extend pandemic social distancing curbs by two weeks until the end of Lunar New Year holidays. The decision has been taken considering the new infection clusters in the country.

South Korea is set to extend pandemic social distancing curbs by two weeks until the end of Lunar New Year holidays. The decision has been taken considering the new infection clusters in the country. South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun made the annoucement on Sunday. There were earlier expectations that the government will ease the restrictions but latest announcements have put an end to the speculations. health authorities decided to maintain the curbs after a new large outbreak emerged from missionary training schools across the country last week, reversing a recent downtrend in daily infections ahead of the Lunar New Year break, which begins on Feb. 11. "The government is planning to extend the current distancing levels and anti-virus standards as they are until the Lunar New Year holidays end," Chung told an intra-agency meeting. "The third COVID-19 wave, which had temporarily slowed, is again threatening our daily lives following the group infections from the missionary institutes." In line with the decision, indoor cafe and restaurant dining after 9 p.m. and any gatherings of more than four people - two key measures that have proved effective - will continue to be prohibited. Vice Health Minister Kang Do-tae said the virus was spreading not only among the missionary schools, to which 379 cases have been linked so far, but also at churches, hospitals and sports facilities. "There is a danger that it might lead to a broader re-spread of the virus, and potentially another major wave where thousands of patients emerge within a short time," Kang told a briefing. But the government will "positively consider" easing the curbs, including the dining curfew, if the situation improves this week. Chung said the ongoing spread must be further dampened to facilitate South Korea's vaccination campaign and the start of the spring school semester, which are respectively set for February and March. About 117,000 doses of vaccines of Pfizer Inc, enough for about 60,000 people, will arrive as early as mid-February via the global distribution scheme COVAX, Chung said. AstraZeneca will also ship its products for about 300,000 people starting February, also through COVAX, as the first batch of its shipment of vaccines for at least 1.3 million people and up to 2.19 million in the first half of this year, he added. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 355 new cases as of Saturday midnight, as the numbers fell under 400 for the first time in five days due in part to less testing during the weekend. (With AFP inputs)

South Korea extends COVID-19 curbs into Lunar New Year holidays

Popular South-Korean model-actress Song Yoo-jung is dead. She was 26-years-old and the cause of her death is not known yet.&nbsp; 
 
Sublime Artist Agency which represented the actress issued a statement confirming the news. “Song Yu-jung passed away on Jan 23.” The agency, however, did not specify the cause of his death.&nbsp; 
 
Song made her TV drama debut in the 2014 seies 'Golden Rainbow'. She had since then been part of two other series- 'Make Your Wish' (2014) and 'School 2017' (2017). 
 
The former model had also appeared in iKON's 'Goodbye Road' music video.&nbsp;

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Song signed with the Sublime Artist Agency in 2019, which also manages 'Parasite' actor Song Kang-ho and singer Jung Ji-hoon (aka Rain).&nbsp; 
 
In 2020, she appeared in two music videos- &nbsp;Standing Egg’s 'Friend to Lover' and NIve’s 'How Do I'.&nbsp;

Popular South-Korean model-actress Song Yoo-jung is dead. She was 26-years-old and the cause of her death is not known yet. Sublime Artist Agency which represented the actress issued a statement confirming the news.

Popular South-Korean model-actress Song Yoo-jung is dead. She was 26-years-old and the cause of her death is not known yet. Sublime Artist Agency which represented the actress issued a statement confirming the news. “Song Yu-jung passed away on Jan 23.” The agency, however, did not specify the cause of his death. Song made her TV drama debut in the 2014 seies 'Golden Rainbow'. She had since then been part of two other series- 'Make Your Wish' (2014) and 'School 2017' (2017). The former model had also appeared in iKON's 'Goodbye Road' music video. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 송유정 (@u_jjooung) × Song signed with the Sublime Artist Agency in 2019, which also manages 'Parasite' actor Song Kang-ho and singer Jung Ji-hoon (aka Rain). In 2020, she appeared in two music videos- Standing Egg’s 'Friend to Lover' and NIve’s 'How Do I'.

South Korean actress Song Yoo-jung dies aged 26 

There is a leadership crisis in Samsung. South Korea has sentenced Samsung's heir and Vice Chairman Jay Y Lee to two and a half years in prison. What happens to the world's largest smartphone maker?

Gravitas: South Korea jails Samsung's heir

A South Korean court has sentenced him two and a half years of imprisonment. This new development may lead to negative impact on company's business and future plans globally.

Samsung's Vice Chairman Lee Jae-Yong jailed for 2.5 years in bribery case

Bird flu cases are growing at an alarming rate in Asia. The continent's poultry farmers are facing an unprecedented situation. Birds are being culled and people are staying away from poultry meat.&nbsp;

It is the worst such outbreak in the region's history. From Japan to India, the deadly virus is affecting birds across farms. Millions of chickens, ducks and turkeys have been culled. Poultry prices have dropped to an all-time low.

And Asia's farmers are staring at an unprecedented crisis. While bird flu is common in Asia during this time mostly due to migratory patterns. New strains of the virus have become more lethal. This makes countries on the flight path especially vulnerable.

In India, at least 10 states have reported cases of bird flu. Over 850 cases of bird deaths have been reported in the national capital. In Rajasthan-- over 4,000 birds died because of the flu. The Uttar Pradesh government has banned poultry from other states till January 24.

In Kerala, tens of thousands of birds were culled last week. Maharashtra has detected avian influenza in crows as well. Chicken prices in India fell almost a third last week. Wary customers have steered clear of meat.

Not just India, Japan too is dealing with its worst outbreak. A quarter of all prefectures are affected. More than 3 million birds have been culled so far. South Korea also dealt with an outbreak at a duck farm. With the virus strain being similar to the one in Japan.

Compulsory flu vaccination for poultry has protected China for now but the virus has still killed wild swans in the country.

Countries like Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia have been spared for now. But continue to face risks due to the movement of goods. What makes the virus even more dangerous is its contagious nature. Infected birds have to be culled to contain the spread. But amid all this- the biggest question is can we consume poultry meat?

According to governments, there is nothing to be worried about. The World Health Organisation says it is safe. That you will be safe if you eat well-cooked meat. However, health experts are not convinced. They are concerned about a species jump. This is when a virus strain moves from one species to another. In this instance -- it could be from birds to human beings.

It has happened once in 1997. While human to human transmission has not been detected yet it cannot be ruled out.

The last time, a virus jumped species tt led to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bird flu cases are growing at an alarming rate in Asia. The continent's poultry farmers are facing an unprecedented situation. Birds are being culled and people are staying away from poultry meat.

Bird flu cases are growing at an alarming rate in Asia. The continent's poultry farmers are facing an unprecedented situation. Birds are being culled and people are staying away from poultry meat. It is the worst such outbreak in the region's history. From Japan to India, the deadly virus is affecting birds across farms. Millions of chickens, ducks and turkeys have been culled. Poultry prices have dropped to an all-time low. And Asia's farmers are staring at an unprecedented crisis. While bird flu is common in Asia during this time mostly due to migratory patterns. New strains of the virus have become more lethal. This makes countries on the flight path especially vulnerable. In India, at least 10 states have reported cases of bird flu. Over 850 cases of bird deaths have been reported in the national capital. In Rajasthan-- over 4,000 birds died because of the flu. The Uttar Pradesh government has banned poultry from other states till January 24. In Kerala, tens of thousands of birds were culled last week. Maharashtra has detected avian influenza in crows as well. Chicken prices in India fell almost a third last week. Wary customers have steered clear of meat. Not just India, Japan too is dealing with its worst outbreak. A quarter of all prefectures are affected. More than 3 million birds have been culled so far. South Korea also dealt with an outbreak at a duck farm. With the virus strain being similar to the one in Japan. Compulsory flu vaccination for poultry has protected China for now but the virus has still killed wild swans in the country. Countries like Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia have been spared for now. But continue to face risks due to the movement of goods. What makes the virus even more dangerous is its contagious nature. Infected birds have to be culled to contain the spread. But amid all this- the biggest question is can we consume poultry meat? According to governments, there is nothing to be worried about. The World Health Organisation says it is safe. That you will be safe if you eat well-cooked meat. However, health experts are not convinced. They are concerned about a species jump. This is when a virus strain moves from one species to another. In this instance -- it could be from birds to human beings. It has happened once in 1997. While human to human transmission has not been detected yet it cannot be ruled out. The last time, a virus jumped species tt led to the coronavirus pandemic.

The next pandemic?: Bird flu spreads like wildfire across Asia

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, called South Korean authorities 'idiot' over their tracking of possible military parade in Pyongyang at the weekend. Her statement was reported by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency.

"The southerners are a truly weird group hard to understand," Kim Yo Jong

"They are the idiot and top the world's list in misbehaviour."

Kim Yo Jong is a key adviser to her brother and her comments came at the end of North's ruling party Congress. It marked an important political event at which Kim Jong Un pledges to further develop his country's nuclear capabilities and admitted mistakes over the handling of the economy.

Kim Yo Jong had appeared to suffer a demotion at the meeting, not appearing on the lists of those appointed to the party central committee, after previously being an alternate member.

But the issuing of a statement in her own name is an indication she remains a key player in the North's diplomacy, having been behind its destruction of a liaison office on its side of the border last year.

On Monday, the South's military said it had detected "signs that North Korea held a military parade related to the congress" in the middle of the night at Kim Il Sung Square in the capital Pyongyang.

It said it was "closely tracking" the activity, which could have been the "actual event or its rehearsal".

The declaration provoked derision from Kim Yo Jong, who called it "senseless" and a demonstration of a "hostile attitude" by the South.

"We are only holding a military parade in the capital city, not military exercises targeting anybody nor launch of anything," she said, confirming the scheduling of the parade.

(With AFP inputs)

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, called South Korean authorities 'idiot' over their tracking of possible military parade in Pyongyang at the weekend.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, called South Korean authorities 'idiot' over their tracking of possible military parade in Pyongyang at the weekend. Her statement was reported by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency. "The southerners are a truly weird group hard to understand," Kim Yo Jong "They are the idiot and top the world's list in misbehaviour." Kim Yo Jong is a key adviser to her brother and her comments came at the end of North's ruling party Congress. It marked an important political event at which Kim Jong Un pledges to further develop his country's nuclear capabilities and admitted mistakes over the handling of the economy. Kim Yo Jong had appeared to suffer a demotion at the meeting, not appearing on the lists of those appointed to the party central committee, after previously being an alternate member. But the issuing of a statement in her own name is an indication she remains a key player in the North's diplomacy, having been behind its destruction of a liaison office on its side of the border last year. On Monday, the South's military said it had detected "signs that North Korea held a military parade related to the congress" in the middle of the night at Kim Il Sung Square in the capital Pyongyang. It said it was "closely tracking" the activity, which could have been the "actual event or its rehearsal". The declaration provoked derision from Kim Yo Jong, who called it "senseless" and a demonstration of a "hostile attitude" by the South. "We are only holding a military parade in the capital city, not military exercises targeting anybody nor launch of anything," she said, confirming the scheduling of the parade. (With AFP inputs)

Kim Jong Un's sister lashes out at 'idiot' South Korean authorities: KCNA

A South Korean startup has developed an AI-powered dog collar that can detect five emotions in canines by monitoring their barks using voice recognition technology.

South Korean smart dog collar tells owner what's in a bark

South Korea supreme leader Kim Jong Un is now also the General Secretary of the ruling worker's party. Kim Jong Un has now got another official new title and this is the title that he has managed to take of his late father Kim Jong-il.

Kim Jong Un assumes late father's mantle

Tensions emerge in the Gulf after Iran seized a South Korean vessel at the Strait of Hormuz. South Korea sends delegation to Tehran but Iran is adamant on one demand. WION tells you what.

Iran demands release of assets in South Korea

South Korea has come up with a solution to battle the shortage of hospital beds. Researchers have unveiled an inflatable negative pressure isolation ward that can be used to treat COVID-19 patients.

South Korea researchers unveils inflatable isolation ward

South Korean researchers say they have designed an inexpensive, inflatable negative pressure ward for isolating and treating patients with infectious diseases like COVID-19, after the pandemic exposed shortages of beds around the world.

S.Korea unveils inflatable isolation ward for COVID-19 patients

A South Korean delegation is heading to Iran on Wednesday to seek the release of a chemicals tanker and its 20-member crew seized in Gulf waters by Iranian forces, Yonhap news agency reported.

South Korea delegation heads to Iran to seek release of seized tanker

Iran has seized a South Korean tanker in the Persian Gulf. Tehran is demanding more than $7 billion from South Korea. These are Iranian funds frozen in Korean banks due to American sanctions.

Gravitas: Iran has seized a South Korean tanker

South Korea’s foreign ministry demanded the vessel’s immediate release and said South Korean forces stationed in the strait of Hormuz had been dispatched to the area.

Iran flexes powers in Strait of Hormuz, continues to hold South Korea's tanker | Iran-South Korea

A cold wave warning is set to be issued in Seoul on Wednesday for the first time in about three years, as the capital and central parts of the nation came under the grip of the season`s coldest weather. 
 
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said that the cold wave warning will take effect for the whole of Seoul at 9 p.m., marking the first such warning since the previous one was issued on January 23, 2018, Yonhap news agency reported. 
 
The cold wave warning is issued when the morning low is below minus 15 degree celsius for more than two consecutive days, or when the temperature drops sharply and major damage is expected. 
 
The warning was already issued for many areas in Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungcheong and North Gyeongsang provinces at 9 p.m. Tuesday, and the number of affected areas is expected to grow Wednesday. 
 
Incheon, west of Seoul; many southern cities, including Daegu and Gwangju; and the southwestern provinces of Jeolla are to come under a cold wave alert, which is issued when the morning low is below minus 12 degree celsius for more than two days, by Wednesday night, the KMA said. 
 
Morning lows in central regions fell below minus 15 degree celsius, with Seoul`s daily lowest temperature at minus 12 degree celsius. 
 
The KMA said snow will fall in Seoul between 6 p.m. and midnight, further pushing down temperatures later this week. 
 
On Thursday, daytime highs will remain below minus 10 degree celsius in the greater Seoul area, while morning lows will further plummet to minus 17 degree celsius in Seoul and surrounding areas and minus 23 degree celsius in Chuncheon of Gangwon Province on Friday. 
 
The KMA explained that the upcoming cold spell will be caused by a southward inflow of cold air from near Siberia. Temperatures will remain below the 30-year averages until next Tuesday and return to the seasonal averages next Wednesday, the KMA said. 
 
Meanwhile, a cold wave warning is to be issued for mountain areas of Jeju Island, the southern resort island known for its balmy winter weather, at 9 p.m. 
 
It will be the first time in 57 years that Jeju Island will come under a cold wave warning. The last such warning was issued on the island in 1964. 
 
According to the KMA, temperatures are forecast to dip to around minus 10 degree celsius at the middle slopes of Mount Halla and minus 15 degree celsius near the top of the Jeju mountain on Thursday. The mercury will stay in the range of minus 2 degree celsius to 2 degree celsius on the island`s coastal areas on the day. 
 
A heavy snow advisory has already been issued for Jeju`s mountain areas.

A cold wave warning is set to be issued in Seoul on Wednesday for the first time in about three years, as the capital and central parts of the nation came under the grip of the season`s coldest weather.

A cold wave warning is set to be issued in Seoul on Wednesday for the first time in about three years, as the capital and central parts of the nation came under the grip of the season`s coldest weather. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said that the cold wave warning will take effect for the whole of Seoul at 9 p.m., marking the first such warning since the previous one was issued on January 23, 2018, Yonhap news agency reported. The cold wave warning is issued when the morning low is below minus 15 degree celsius for more than two consecutive days, or when the temperature drops sharply and major damage is expected. The warning was already issued for many areas in Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungcheong and North Gyeongsang provinces at 9 p.m. Tuesday, and the number of affected areas is expected to grow Wednesday. Incheon, west of Seoul; many southern cities, including Daegu and Gwangju; and the southwestern provinces of Jeolla are to come under a cold wave alert, which is issued when the morning low is below minus 12 degree celsius for more than two days, by Wednesday night, the KMA said. Morning lows in central regions fell below minus 15 degree celsius, with Seoul`s daily lowest temperature at minus 12 degree celsius. The KMA said snow will fall in Seoul between 6 p.m. and midnight, further pushing down temperatures later this week. On Thursday, daytime highs will remain below minus 10 degree celsius in the greater Seoul area, while morning lows will further plummet to minus 17 degree celsius in Seoul and surrounding areas and minus 23 degree celsius in Chuncheon of Gangwon Province on Friday. The KMA explained that the upcoming cold spell will be caused by a southward inflow of cold air from near Siberia. Temperatures will remain below the 30-year averages until next Tuesday and return to the seasonal averages next Wednesday, the KMA said. Meanwhile, a cold wave warning is to be issued for mountain areas of Jeju Island, the southern resort island known for its balmy winter weather, at 9 p.m. It will be the first time in 57 years that Jeju Island will come under a cold wave warning. The last such warning was issued on the island in 1964. According to the KMA, temperatures are forecast to dip to around minus 10 degree celsius at the middle slopes of Mount Halla and minus 15 degree celsius near the top of the Jeju mountain on Thursday. The mercury will stay in the range of minus 2 degree celsius to 2 degree celsius on the island`s coastal areas on the day. A heavy snow advisory has already been issued for Jeju`s mountain areas.

Cold wave warning to be issued in Seoul for first time in 3 years

A South Korean tank was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian forces say the ship held because it was polluting the Persian gulf with chemicals but only the naive would believe that justification. Iran was flexing its dominance in the area and in doing so, sending a clear signal to both South Korea and more importantly the US.

This development comes amid rising tension between Iran and the outgoing Trump administration.

On Monday, Iran resumed enriching uranium once again. This a significant breach of the 2015 nuclear accord and was done to retaliate against Washington. The US had withdrawn from the agreement in 2019 and reimposed sanctions against Tehran.

In another showcase of its military might, today Iran began a massive military drone exercise.&nbsp;This is the first large-scale drone-only drill that Iran is known to have conducted.

Have a look|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/year-after-soleimani-killing-iran-unleashes-kamikaze-drones-amid-tensions-with-us-354630">Year after Soleimani killing, Iran unleashes 'kamikaze' drones amid tensions with US</a>

Iran is also angry about the killing of its top nuclear scientist&nbsp;which Tehran blames on Israel, an ally of the US.

So how did South Korea, a small country in Asia get caught up in the middle of Iran-US tensions?

On Monday, a South Korean oil tanker was travelling from Saudi Arabia to the UAE when it was flanked by Iran's revolutionary guards.&nbsp;It was escorted by Iranian forces to the port city of Bandar abbas.

All this occurred in a narrow stretch of sea called the Strait of Hormuz. Just around 21 miles wide, this strip of sea between Oman and Iran is the most sensitive choke point for all global oil supply. All tankers carrying crude oil from ports on the Persian Gulf must pass through this strait.

In 2018, the daily oil flow in this area averaged 21 million barrels per day. This is the equivalent of about 21 per cent of global petroleum consumption.

This is not the first time that Iran has seized ships of other countries. It has a history of seizing ships, especially if they belong to countries which have disputes with Tehran, and South Korea is currently not in Iran's good books.

South Korea is withholding billions of dollars of Iranian oil export revenue. Seoul is following US sanctions against Iran. South Korea demanded the immediate release of its vessel and dispatched its own forces to the area.

This comes just days ahead of a planned visit by South Korea's deputy foreign minister to Tehran.

Analysts say seizing the oil tanker was Iran's bid to force South Korea to come to the table and discuss repatriation of the Iranian money. So far Iran remains defiant.

A government&nbsp;spokesperson today said it's the Korean government holding Iranian money hostage.&nbsp;"If there is any hostage-taking, it is Korea's government that is holding more than $7 billion, which belongs to us, hostage on baseless grounds," said&nbsp;Iranian government spokesman.

However, Iran's move might have backfired as a South Korean foreign official has said that the deputy foreign minister's visit was now up in the air and the country's focus was now to free the 20 crew members of the ship.

A South Korean tank was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian forces say the ship held because it was polluting the Persian gulf with chemicals but only the naive would believe that justification.

A South Korean tank was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian forces say the ship held because it was polluting the Persian gulf with chemicals but only the naive would believe that justification. Iran was flexing its dominance in the area and in doing so, sending a clear signal to both South Korea and more importantly the US. This development comes amid rising tension between Iran and the outgoing Trump administration. On Monday, Iran resumed enriching uranium once again. This a significant breach of the 2015 nuclear accord and was done to retaliate against Washington. The US had withdrawn from the agreement in 2019 and reimposed sanctions against Tehran. In another showcase of its military might, today Iran began a massive military drone exercise. This is the first large-scale drone-only drill that Iran is known to have conducted. Have a look| Year after Soleimani killing, Iran unleashes 'kamikaze' drones amid tensions with US Iran is also angry about the killing of its top nuclear scientist which Tehran blames on Israel, an ally of the US. So how did South Korea, a small country in Asia get caught up in the middle of Iran-US tensions? On Monday, a South Korean oil tanker was travelling from Saudi Arabia to the UAE when it was flanked by Iran's revolutionary guards. It was escorted by Iranian forces to the port city of Bandar abbas. All this occurred in a narrow stretch of sea called the Strait of Hormuz. Just around 21 miles wide, this strip of sea between Oman and Iran is the most sensitive choke point for all global oil supply. All tankers carrying crude oil from ports on the Persian Gulf must pass through this strait. In 2018, the daily oil flow in this area averaged 21 million barrels per day. This is the equivalent of about 21 per cent of global petroleum consumption. This is not the first time that Iran has seized ships of other countries. It has a history of seizing ships, especially if they belong to countries which have disputes with Tehran, and South Korea is currently not in Iran's good books. South Korea is withholding billions of dollars of Iranian oil export revenue. Seoul is following US sanctions against Iran. South Korea demanded the immediate release of its vessel and dispatched its own forces to the area. This comes just days ahead of a planned visit by South Korea's deputy foreign minister to Tehran. Analysts say seizing the oil tanker was Iran's bid to force South Korea to come to the table and discuss repatriation of the Iranian money. So far Iran remains defiant. A government spokesperson today said it's the Korean government holding Iranian money hostage. "If there is any hostage-taking, it is Korea's government that is holding more than $7 billion, which belongs to us, hostage on baseless grounds," said Iranian government spokesman. However, Iran's move might have backfired as a South Korean foreign official has said that the deputy foreign minister's visit was now up in the air and the country's focus was now to free the 20 crew members of the ship.

Enriching uranium, showcase of drones and seizing South Korean tank: Iran shows its military might

The Iranian forces have seized a South Korean tanker in the state of Hormuz amidst the rising tensions with the United States in the final days of Donald Trump's Presidency.

S.Korea to send diplomat for Tehran talks after Iran seizes tanker

South Korea is a world capital of plastic surgery even during non-pandemic times. The industry is estimated to be worth about 11 trillion won ($10.03 billion) in 2020, according to Gangnam Unni, the country's largest online cosmetic surgery platform. Cosmetic surgeons say patients are interested in all parts of the face: those that can be easily hidden under masks, such as nose and lips, or those that face coverings don't conceal, which some consider the criteria of beauty in the coronavirus era.

Get your face done while pandemic lasts: Vaccine progress pushes South Korea in rush for cosmetic surgery

South Korea aims to cut some 30% of carbon emissions from railway travel by replacing all diesel passenger locomotives with a new bullet train by 2029, President Moon Jae-in said on Monday (January 4) at a station in the eastern city of Wonju.

South Korea to cut railway CO2 emissions by replacing diesel trains by 2029

South Korea meanwhile is witnessing another boom. People are eager to leave the pandemic behind, but as long as masks are mandatory in the country, many are using this time to fix some perceived flaws.

South Korea: The plastic surgery capital of the world

Iran seizes South Korean tanker amidst rising tensions with the U.S.

South Korean tanker held by Iran in port of Bandar Abbas

The government has called for "fundamental changes" over the latest census figures released at the weekend.

Your Story: South Korea's population declines for the first time ever

Dressed in South Korea's traditional costume 'Hanbok', two divers at a Seoul aquarium made New Year bows to visitors from underwater on Sunday (January 3).

Divers in 'Hanbok' send underwater New Year greeting from Seoul aquarium

South Korean government said today that some of its towns were facing "crisis of&nbsp;extinction" as the country recorded more deaths than<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-relaxes-two-child-limit-policy-over-concerns-of-aging-population-and-decline-in-birth-rate-338773"> births</a> in 2020 for the first time pointing to a looming demographic disaster.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/technically-perfect-japan-to-fund-ai-matchmaker-to-increase-birth-rate-348313">Also Read:&nbsp;Technically perfect: Japan to fund AI matchmaker to increase birth rate</a>

According to South Korea's interior ministry&nbsp;“the number of newborn babies failed to make up for the number of deaths”.

"In regions with poor economic, medical and educational infrastructure, the crisis of the extinction of such towns is escalating," it added.

The interior ministry informed the country's population had reached 51,829,023 in 2020 which was down 20,838 from 2019. South Korea has the lowest <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/xinjiang-govt-confirms-birth-rate-drop-but-denies-forced-sterilisation-of-women-329108">fertility</a> rate in the world which reached a low of 0.84 last year.

The annual death of South Korea had alarmingly exceeded deaths for the first time from 275,815 to 307,764.

The government informed that the birth rate was down 10.65 per cent year-on-year. The country recorded 275,815<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-childbirth-rate-hits-lowest-level-since-records-began-in-1899-270445"> births </a>in 2020 with the death rate going up to 307,764 - an increase of 3.1 per cent.

The population crisis has taken place despite the government spending $166 billion since 2006 to boost birth rates. The government projected that the birth rate in South Korea between 2020-25 is expected to be 297,000 even as birth rate came up short by over 20,000.

The South Korean government had earlier released data which showed that women who believe they need to marry their numbers&nbsp;fell&nbsp;to 44 per cent in 2018 from 62 per cent in 2008.

South Korean government said today that some of its towns were facing "crisis of extinction" as the country recorded more deaths than births in 2020 for the first time pointing to a looming demographic disaster.

South Korean government said today that some of its towns were facing "crisis of extinction" as the country recorded more deaths than births in 2020 for the first time pointing to a looming demographic disaster. Also Read: Technically perfect: Japan to fund AI matchmaker to increase birth rate According to South Korea's interior ministry “the number of newborn babies failed to make up for the number of deaths”. "In regions with poor economic, medical and educational infrastructure, the crisis of the extinction of such towns is escalating," it added. The interior ministry informed the country's population had reached 51,829,023 in 2020 which was down 20,838 from 2019. South Korea has the lowest fertility rate in the world which reached a low of 0.84 last year. The annual death of South Korea had alarmingly exceeded deaths for the first time from 275,815 to 307,764. The government informed that the birth rate was down 10.65 per cent year-on-year. The country recorded 275,815 births in 2020 with the death rate going up to 307,764 - an increase of 3.1 per cent. The population crisis has taken place despite the government spending $166 billion since 2006 to boost birth rates. The government projected that the birth rate in South Korea between 2020-25 is expected to be 297,000 even as birth rate came up short by over 20,000. The South Korean government had earlier released data which showed that women who believe they need to marry their numbers fell to 44 per cent in 2018 from 62 per cent in 2008.

'Crisis of extinction': South Korea's population falls for first time in 2020

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