It has been a special year for BTS so it just seemed natural that one of the band member's birthday was celebrated in a special way as well. Singer Kim Taehyung aka V turned 25 on Wednesday and Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in honour of the singer.&nbsp; 
 
The younger singer has become the first K-Pop artist to get such an honour and is only the second personality after Shah Rukh Khan to get a birthday tribute on the world's tallest building.&nbsp; 
 
V's birthday was also marked by The Dubai Fountain as it danced to the tunes of the singer's hit track 'Winter Bear'.&nbsp; 
 
The Burj Khalifa honoured Kim Taehyung by addressing him 'V singer', 'V dancer', 'V actor', 'V producer', 'Happy V Day' and 'Kim Taehyung'.&nbsp; 
 
The official Twitter page of Burj Khalifa shared the video with a caption stating, "#BurjKhalifa celebrates the birthday of V, the South Korean singer from the popular band BTS! #TaehyungonBurjKhalifa #HAPPYVDAY #HappyTaehyungDay #HappyBrithdayTaehyung @KIMTAEHYUNGBAR_" 
 
Here, have a look at the video.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BurjKhalifa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BurjKhalifa</a> celebrates the birthday of V, the South Korean singer from the popular band BTS!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TaehyungonBurjKhalifa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TaehyungonBurjKhalifa</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HAPPYVDAY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HAPPYVDAY</a> 
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyTaehyungDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyTaehyungDay</a> 
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HappyBrithdayTaehyung?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HappyBrithdayTaehyung</a><a href="https://twitter.com/KIMTAEHYUNGBAR_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KIMTAEHYUNGBAR_</a> <a href="https://t.co/WY5COM6bdG">pic.twitter.com/WY5COM6bdG</a>
— Burj Khalifa (@BurjKhalifa) <a href="https://twitter.com/BurjKhalifa/status/1343997473614913542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Born on 30 December 1995, V is the youngest member of the band. A talented singer, he has also released some solo songs outside of BTS and all of them have been blockbusters. He co-wrote and co-produced the song ‘Hold Me Tight’ in 2015 and released his first solo track ‘Stigma’ from the album Wings in 2016.&nbsp; 
 
V is also an actor who has appeared in historical drama 'Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth' in a supporting role.&nbsp;

It has been a special year for BTS so it just seemed natural that one of the band member's birthday was celebrated in a special way as well. Singer Kim Taehyung aka V turned 25 on Wednesday and Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in honour of the singer.

It has been a special year for BTS so it just seemed natural that one of the band member's birthday was celebrated in a special way as well. Singer Kim Taehyung aka V turned 25 on Wednesday and Dubai's Burj Khalifa lit up in honour of the singer. The younger singer has become the first K-Pop artist to get such an honour and is only the second personality after Shah Rukh Khan to get a birthday tribute on the world's tallest building. V's birthday was also marked by The Dubai Fountain as it danced to the tunes of the singer's hit track 'Winter Bear'. The Burj Khalifa honoured Kim Taehyung by addressing him 'V singer', 'V dancer', 'V actor', 'V producer', 'Happy V Day' and 'Kim Taehyung'. The official Twitter page of Burj Khalifa shared the video with a caption stating, "#BurjKhalifa celebrates the birthday of V, the South Korean singer from the popular band BTS! #TaehyungonBurjKhalifa #HAPPYVDAY #HappyTaehyungDay #HappyBrithdayTaehyung @KIMTAEHYUNGBAR_" Here, have a look at the video. #BurjKhalifa celebrates the birthday of V, the South Korean singer from the popular band BTS!#TaehyungonBurjKhalifa #HAPPYVDAY #HappyTaehyungDay #HappyBrithdayTaehyung@KIMTAEHYUNGBAR_ pic.twitter.com/WY5COM6bdG — Burj Khalifa (@BurjKhalifa) December 29, 2020 × Born on 30 December 1995, V is the youngest member of the band. A talented singer, he has also released some solo songs outside of BTS and all of them have been blockbusters. He co-wrote and co-produced the song ‘Hold Me Tight’ in 2015 and released his first solo track ‘Stigma’ from the album Wings in 2016. V is also an actor who has appeared in historical drama 'Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth' in a supporting role.

BTS singer V turns 25, Burj Khalifa lights up in his honour 

South Korea is famous for its lightning fast internet. But now, it may have just become faster! A report showed on Wednesday how the country’s 5G speed and the overall connectivity had improved in the second half of 2020.

Currently, South Korea is in the process of deploying 5G across the country.

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Based on data from South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT, it was figured that the average download speed on country’s three major telecom networks clocked in 690.47 megabits per second or Mbps. These three carriers include SK Telecom, KT Corp, and LG Uplus Corp.

With 690.47 Mbps, the speed has improved by 33.91 Mbps&nbsp;in the second half of 2020.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/britain-bans-installation-of-new-huawei-5g-equipment-from-september-2021-346456" hreflang="en">Britain bans installation of new Huawei 5G equipment from September 2021</a>

Sk Telecom had the fastest speed with 795.57 Mbps, followed by KT with 667.48 Mbps&nbsp;speed, and trailed by LG Plus with 608.49 Mbps.

According to Yonhap news agency, South Korea’s average 4G LTE download speed has now reached 153.1 Mbps, which is roughly four times slower than the average speed of 5G connectivity.

The country’s ministry published data on mobile speed and network quality twice a year, in a bid to push companies to keep improving.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/technology/us-offers-1-billion-deal-to-brazil-to-sway-it-away-from-chinas-huawei-5g-network-336778" hreflang="en">US offers $1 billion deal to Brazil to sway it away from China's Huawei 5G network</a> 
 
In April 2019, South Korea became the first country to commercialise 5G. By the end of October, the country had 10 million 5G users, accounting for 14 per cent of the country’s 70 million mobile subscriptions.

Currently, the country offers 5G which requires support from 4G LTE, instead of a standalone 5G network.

The country aims to make 5G coverage nationwide by 2022, with the three big players pledging $24 billion to update the infrastructure.

South Korea is famous for its lightning fast internet. But now, it may have just become faster! A report showed on Wednesday how the country’s 5G speed and the overall connectivity had improved in the second half of 2020.

South Korea is famous for its lightning fast internet. But now, it may have just become faster! A report showed on Wednesday how the country’s 5G speed and the overall connectivity had improved in the second half of 2020. Currently, South Korea is in the process of deploying 5G across the country. Based on data from South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT, it was figured that the average download speed on country’s three major telecom networks clocked in 690.47 megabits per second or Mbps. These three carriers include SK Telecom, KT Corp, and LG Uplus Corp. With 690.47 Mbps, the speed has improved by 33.91 Mbps in the second half of 2020. Also read: Britain bans installation of new Huawei 5G equipment from September 2021 Sk Telecom had the fastest speed with 795.57 Mbps, followed by KT with 667.48 Mbps speed, and trailed by LG Plus with 608.49 Mbps. According to Yonhap news agency, South Korea’s average 4G LTE download speed has now reached 153.1 Mbps, which is roughly four times slower than the average speed of 5G connectivity. The country’s ministry published data on mobile speed and network quality twice a year, in a bid to push companies to keep improving. Also read: US offers $1 billion deal to Brazil to sway it away from China's Huawei 5G network In April 2019, South Korea became the first country to commercialise 5G. By the end of October, the country had 10 million 5G users, accounting for 14 per cent of the country’s 70 million mobile subscriptions. Currently, the country offers 5G which requires support from 4G LTE, instead of a standalone 5G network. The country aims to make 5G coverage nationwide by 2022, with the three big players pledging $24 billion to update the infrastructure.

5G download speed in South Korea touches 690 Mbps

The final hearing of a trial that will decide whether Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee returns to jail for alleged bribery began in a Seoul court on Wednesday.

The heir of one of South Korea`s most powerful families was convicted of bribing an associate of former President Park Geun-hye and jailed for five years in 2017. That sentence was reduced and suspended on appeal and he only served a year in jail before being freed in 2018.

A subsequent Supreme Court ruling sent the matter back to the Seoul High Court, which must now decide on a new sentence. A decision is not expected until early next year.

While not the only legal challenge Lee is dealing with - he is also on trial for alleged fraud and stock price manipulation - the bribery case is the biggest immediate threat to his leadership of Samsung Electronics.

Lee, who entered the court in a dark suit and grey tie, is expected to read a statement near the end of the hearing.

Lee, 52, has been the de facto head of Samsung Electronics since his father Lee Kun-hee was hospitalised in 2014.

The elder Lee passed away in October but his role as chairman has yet to be filled.

A return to jail could see the younger Lee sidelined from major decisions at the smartphone-to-semiconductor giant, at a time when the family needs to raise funds to pay a hefty inheritance tax and potentially juggle equity stakes in key affiliates to shore up its control.

How much more jail time Lee serves, if any, will partly depend on the court`s evaluation of the work of an independent compliance committee set up by Samsung earlier this year.

The committee, headed by a former Supreme Court judge, was established in January to monitor wrongdoing by executives and suggest remedies.

Prosecutors sought a nine-year jail term for Lee, saying that defendants, including Lee, "did not show passive resistance" to former President Park`s unlawful demands.

Under South Korean law, a jail term of three years or less can be suspended; more than that and the person must serve out the term barring a presidential pardon.

The final hearing of a trial that will decide whether Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee returns to jail for alleged bribery began in a Seoul court on Wednesday.

The final hearing of a trial that will decide whether Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee returns to jail for alleged bribery began in a Seoul court on Wednesday. The heir of one of South Korea`s most powerful families was convicted of bribing an associate of former President Park Geun-hye and jailed for five years in 2017. That sentence was reduced and suspended on appeal and he only served a year in jail before being freed in 2018. A subsequent Supreme Court ruling sent the matter back to the Seoul High Court, which must now decide on a new sentence. A decision is not expected until early next year. While not the only legal challenge Lee is dealing with - he is also on trial for alleged fraud and stock price manipulation - the bribery case is the biggest immediate threat to his leadership of Samsung Electronics. Lee, who entered the court in a dark suit and grey tie, is expected to read a statement near the end of the hearing. Lee, 52, has been the de facto head of Samsung Electronics since his father Lee Kun-hee was hospitalised in 2014. The elder Lee passed away in October but his role as chairman has yet to be filled. A return to jail could see the younger Lee sidelined from major decisions at the smartphone-to-semiconductor giant, at a time when the family needs to raise funds to pay a hefty inheritance tax and potentially juggle equity stakes in key affiliates to shore up its control. How much more jail time Lee serves, if any, will partly depend on the court`s evaluation of the work of an independent compliance committee set up by Samsung earlier this year. The committee, headed by a former Supreme Court judge, was established in January to monitor wrongdoing by executives and suggest remedies. Prosecutors sought a nine-year jail term for Lee, saying that defendants, including Lee, "did not show passive resistance" to former President Park`s unlawful demands. Under South Korean law, a jail term of three years or less can be suspended; more than that and the person must serve out the term barring a presidential pardon.

South Korea holds final hearing in Samsung leader Jay Y Lee's graft trial

Indian Army chief Gen MM Naravane kickstarted his three-day visit to South Korea on Monday where he held talks with Seoul's top military brass to bolster bilateral military engagement, officials said.&nbsp;

Naravane held talks with Korea's defence minister, chief of joint staff, amongst others where they exchanged views on defence cooperation, the Indian embassy in Korea and Indian Army said.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-army-general-naravanes-saudi-visit-sheds-light-on-paks-break-up-with-arab-world-349792">Indian Army General Naravane's Saudi visit sheds light on Pak's break-up with Arab world</a>

"A new era of India-ROK armed forces partnership! During the first-ever visit of an Indian Army Chief to ROK, Gen Naravane had useful discussions with Minister of National Defence Gen Suh Wook, Chairman of Joint Chief of Staff Gen Won In-choul and DAPA Minister Kang Eun-ho today," wrote in a tweet.&nbsp;

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A new era of India-ROK armed forces partnership! During the first-ever visit of an Indian Army Chief to ROK, Gen Naravane had useful discussions with Minister of National Defence Gen Suh Wook, Chairman of Joint Chief of Staff Gen Won In-choul and DAPA Minister Kang Eun-ho today. <a href="https://t.co/YRbKcKAYk1">pic.twitter.com/YRbKcKAYk1</a>
— India in ROK (@IndiainROK) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiainROK/status/1343495870977769473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"General MM Naravane #COAS interacted with Mr Gang Eun Ho #Minister of #DAPA #RepublicofKorea and exchanged views on defence cooperation," Indian Army tweeted.&nbsp;

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General MM Naravane <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COAS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COAS</a> interacted with Mr Gang Eun Ho <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Minister?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Minister</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DAPA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DAPA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepublicofKorea?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepublicofKorea</a> and exchanged views on defence cooperation.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Friendship?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Friendship</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianArmy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianArmy</a> <a href="https://t.co/df98ZPNfR4">pic.twitter.com/df98ZPNfR4</a>
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) <a href="https://twitter.com/adgpi/status/1343538722411663361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
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South Korea has been a major defence supplier to India and earlier Indian Army had said that the purpose of the army chief's visit is to enhance defence relations between both the countries.

Watch |&nbsp;

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Naravané's visit is coming two weeks after he concluded a six-day tour to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;

Last month, he also tripped to Nepal where he was conferred upon the honorary rank of 'General of the Nepal Army' amid the tensed ties between both the Himalayan neighbours.&nbsp;

Indian Army chief Gen MM Naravane kickstarted his three-day visit to South Korea on Monday where he held talks with Seoul's top military brass to bolster bilateral military engagement, officials said.

Indian Army chief Gen MM Naravane kickstarted his three-day visit to South Korea on Monday where he held talks with Seoul's top military brass to bolster bilateral military engagement, officials said. Naravane held talks with Korea's defence minister, chief of joint staff, amongst others where they exchanged views on defence cooperation, the Indian embassy in Korea and Indian Army said. Also read | Indian Army General Naravane's Saudi visit sheds light on Pak's break-up with Arab world "A new era of India-ROK armed forces partnership! During the first-ever visit of an Indian Army Chief to ROK, Gen Naravane had useful discussions with Minister of National Defence Gen Suh Wook, Chairman of Joint Chief of Staff Gen Won In-choul and DAPA Minister Kang Eun-ho today," wrote in a tweet. A new era of India-ROK armed forces partnership! During the first-ever visit of an Indian Army Chief to ROK, Gen Naravane had useful discussions with Minister of National Defence Gen Suh Wook, Chairman of Joint Chief of Staff Gen Won In-choul and DAPA Minister Kang Eun-ho today. pic.twitter.com/YRbKcKAYk1 — India in ROK (@IndiainROK) December 28, 2020 × "General MM Naravane #COAS interacted with Mr Gang Eun Ho #Minister of #DAPA #RepublicofKorea and exchanged views on defence cooperation," Indian Army tweeted. General MM Naravane #COAS interacted with Mr Gang Eun Ho #Minister of #DAPA #RepublicofKorea and exchanged views on defence cooperation.#Friendship #IndianArmy pic.twitter.com/df98ZPNfR4 — ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) December 28, 2020 × South Korea has been a major defence supplier to India and earlier Indian Army had said that the purpose of the army chief's visit is to enhance defence relations between both the countries. Watch | Naravané's visit is coming two weeks after he concluded a six-day tour to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Last month, he also tripped to Nepal where he was conferred upon the honorary rank of 'General of the Nepal Army' amid the tensed ties between both the Himalayan neighbours.

Indian Army chief meets South Korea's top military brass to enhance bilateral ties

South Korea said on Friday (December 25) that 1,241 new coronavirus cases were reported the day before, the highest daily count recorded, with a large outbreak at a prison in Seoul.

South Korea sets highest daily coronavirus toll, struggles to contain latest surge

South Korea plans to discuss whether it needs to further tighten distancing rules this weekend as the current curbs failed to reverse a resurgence in outbreaks, with the daily coronavirus count hitting another high on Friday, officials said.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 1,241 new coronavirus cases as of midnight Thursday, the highest daily count recorded.

Daily numbers have been hovering at record levels over the past few weeks, around 1,000, but the government resisted calls for imposing the toughest Level 3 at least for the greater Seoul area due to economic concerns, calling it a last resort.

Level 3 restrictions would essentially mean a lockdown of Asia`s fourth-largest economy, closing another 1.2 million businesses and allowing only essential workers into offices.

Health authorities blamed an outbreak at a Seoul prison for the fresh high daily tally but said they will gather on Sunday to decide whether distancing needs to be tightened to Level 3.

"The weekly average had exceeded 1,000 but we still see it is more likely to be a temporary phenomenon," Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health ministry official, told a briefing.

"But how it would effect our decision on Level 3 ... we will hold a meeting on Sunday and release the outcome."

The streets around major cathedrals and churches which would otherwise be filled with cars and worshippers were empty, local television footage showed, as they held Christmas services online in line with a gathering ban.

Some new restrictions were taken this week including a ban on gatherings of more than four people, and a suspension of ski resorts and tourist spots, aimed at stopping the spread during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun urged anti-virus measures to be strictly implemented especially at military and correction facilities.

At a prison in eastern Seoul, 478 inmates and 20 workers have tested positive so far, including 288 newly confirmed on Thursday.

While a majority of the public are cooperative, many still flout distancing rules, Chung said, referring to some restaurants and bars defying a ban to take guests after 9 p.m. with their doors locked and lights turned off.

More than 118,000 tests were conducted nationwide on Thursday, Yoon said, as authorities have been ramping up testing since last week to better track cases from unknown origin and people who were infected but not displaying symptoms.

South Korea had early success in quickly controlling outbreaks with aggressive testing and contact tracing, but that success led to over-confidence that left the government scrambling to contain a third wave, critics say.

Total infections stand at 54,770, with 773 deaths, KDCA data showed.

South Korea plans to discuss whether it needs to further tighten distancing rules this weekend as the current curbs failed to reverse a resurgence in outbreaks, with the daily coronavirus count hitting another high on Friday, officials said.

South Korea plans to discuss whether it needs to further tighten distancing rules this weekend as the current curbs failed to reverse a resurgence in outbreaks, with the daily coronavirus count hitting another high on Friday, officials said. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 1,241 new coronavirus cases as of midnight Thursday, the highest daily count recorded. Daily numbers have been hovering at record levels over the past few weeks, around 1,000, but the government resisted calls for imposing the toughest Level 3 at least for the greater Seoul area due to economic concerns, calling it a last resort. Level 3 restrictions would essentially mean a lockdown of Asia`s fourth-largest economy, closing another 1.2 million businesses and allowing only essential workers into offices. Health authorities blamed an outbreak at a Seoul prison for the fresh high daily tally but said they will gather on Sunday to decide whether distancing needs to be tightened to Level 3. "The weekly average had exceeded 1,000 but we still see it is more likely to be a temporary phenomenon," Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health ministry official, told a briefing. "But how it would effect our decision on Level 3 ... we will hold a meeting on Sunday and release the outcome." The streets around major cathedrals and churches which would otherwise be filled with cars and worshippers were empty, local television footage showed, as they held Christmas services online in line with a gathering ban. Some new restrictions were taken this week including a ban on gatherings of more than four people, and a suspension of ski resorts and tourist spots, aimed at stopping the spread during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun urged anti-virus measures to be strictly implemented especially at military and correction facilities. At a prison in eastern Seoul, 478 inmates and 20 workers have tested positive so far, including 288 newly confirmed on Thursday. While a majority of the public are cooperative, many still flout distancing rules, Chung said, referring to some restaurants and bars defying a ban to take guests after 9 p.m. with their doors locked and lights turned off. More than 118,000 tests were conducted nationwide on Thursday, Yoon said, as authorities have been ramping up testing since last week to better track cases from unknown origin and people who were infected but not displaying symptoms. South Korea had early success in quickly controlling outbreaks with aggressive testing and contact tracing, but that success led to over-confidence that left the government scrambling to contain a third wave, critics say. Total infections stand at 54,770, with 773 deaths, KDCA data showed.

South Korea to decide on tougher distancing as COVID-19 count hits another high

India and South Korea are holding talks on starting transport air bubble arrangements between the 2 countries for the movement of people. Amidst the COVID pandemic global air travel came to a grinding halt and “Transport Air Bubbles” was established which are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services.

During the talks between India's secretary east in the ministry of external affairs Riva Ganguly Das and South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-Kun on Wednesday both sides, "exchanged views on cooperation in the context of COVID-19, including facilitating essential air travel between the two countries", an MEA readout said.&nbsp;

South Korean minister highlighted the steps being considered by his Government to further relax the travel restrictions for foreigners including Indian citizens travelling to the country including relaxing restrictions on numbers per flight and categories of visas.&nbsp;

The readout said, "The two sides also agreed to continue ongoing consultations for an air bubble arrangement." 
 
Transport air bubbles are reciprocal and airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits. India has an air bubble arrangement with 23 countries, while with the UK it has been suspended just recently due to the new strain of corona visit.

During the talks, both sides also planned to deepen cooperation in areas like defence, and in particular on enhancing defence industry cooperation.

India and South Korea are holding talks on starting transport air bubble arrangements between the 2 countries for the movement of people. Amidst the COVID pandemic global air travel came to a grinding halt and “Transport Air Bubbles” was established which are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services.

India and South Korea are holding talks on starting transport air bubble arrangements between the 2 countries for the movement of people. Amidst the COVID pandemic global air travel came to a grinding halt and “Transport Air Bubbles” was established which are temporary arrangements between two countries aimed at restarting commercial passenger services. During the talks between India's secretary east in the ministry of external affairs Riva Ganguly Das and South Korea's First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-Kun on Wednesday both sides, "exchanged views on cooperation in the context of COVID-19, including facilitating essential air travel between the two countries", an MEA readout said. South Korean minister highlighted the steps being considered by his Government to further relax the travel restrictions for foreigners including Indian citizens travelling to the country including relaxing restrictions on numbers per flight and categories of visas. The readout said, "The two sides also agreed to continue ongoing consultations for an air bubble arrangement." Transport air bubbles are reciprocal and airlines from both countries enjoy similar benefits. India has an air bubble arrangement with 23 countries, while with the UK it has been suspended just recently due to the new strain of corona visit. During the talks, both sides also planned to deepen cooperation in areas like defence, and in particular on enhancing defence industry cooperation.

India, South Korea hold talks on starting a transport air bubble arrangement

South Korean President Moon Jae-in faced growing public pressure on Wednesday over his COVID-19 vaccine procurement plans as the country struggled to contain a third wave of the pandemic, reporting its second-highest daily tally of cases.

Domestic media has lambasted the government`s approach to securing newly developed COVID-19 vaccines as too relaxed and overly reliant on locally produced shots, which will take more time than overseas options.

According to a poll by research firm Realmeter, six in 10 South Koreans believe urgency should be prioritised over safety when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines and that inoculations should begin as soon as possible given the rapid surge in new cases.

South Korea had 1,092 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the national tally to 52,550, with 739 deaths, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The record of 1,097 cases was logged on Sunday.

Late on Tuesday, Moon`s office said a public inoculation programme would "not begin too late". The government has previously said vaccinations could start as early as February.

Health authorities have expressed concern over public perceptions that view the vaccination programme as a global competition, emphasizing instead the significance of confirming the safety of the shots.

The United States and the United Kingdom, suffering much higher cases and death rates, have no alternative to anti-virus measures other than the vaccines, Son Young-rae, a senior official at the health ministry, told a briefing.

"These countries are somewhat inappropriate for us to take as teachers, and considering the process of safety checks, we believe there is no reason for us to be the world`s first or second country to receive the vaccines," Son said.

Meanwhile, the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines for U.S. military personnel stationed in South Korea will arrive as early as Thursday, a source familiar with the plan told Reuters.

Roughly 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea.

The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said it will begin to administer the vaccines and that the initial inoculations would be limited to frontline health care workers and first responders.

"Over the next few days, USFK will begin to receive and administer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to combat the COVID-19 virus to further protect the force and our community," the USFK said in a statement.

South Korea`s aggressive tracing and testing early in the pandemic had made the country a global success story but the recent surge in cases has confounded efforts to contain the virus.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Wednesday that authorities have so far secured around 8,000 of a targeted 10,000 additional hospital beds for COVID-19 patients with the help of private hospitals.

Seoul and its surrounding areas have banned gatherings of more than four people from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3, and both restaurant owners and patrons may face up to 3 million won ($2,700) in fines for violation of the order.

Authorities have also shut down all ski resorts and winter tourist spots in a bid to stop the spread during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in faced growing public pressure on Wednesday over his COVID-19 vaccine procurement plans as the country struggled to contain a third wave of the pandemic, reporting its second-highest daily tally of cases.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in faced growing public pressure on Wednesday over his COVID-19 vaccine procurement plans as the country struggled to contain a third wave of the pandemic, reporting its second-highest daily tally of cases. Domestic media has lambasted the government`s approach to securing newly developed COVID-19 vaccines as too relaxed and overly reliant on locally produced shots, which will take more time than overseas options. According to a poll by research firm Realmeter, six in 10 South Koreans believe urgency should be prioritised over safety when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines and that inoculations should begin as soon as possible given the rapid surge in new cases. South Korea had 1,092 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the national tally to 52,550, with 739 deaths, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. The record of 1,097 cases was logged on Sunday. Late on Tuesday, Moon`s office said a public inoculation programme would "not begin too late". The government has previously said vaccinations could start as early as February. Health authorities have expressed concern over public perceptions that view the vaccination programme as a global competition, emphasizing instead the significance of confirming the safety of the shots. The United States and the United Kingdom, suffering much higher cases and death rates, have no alternative to anti-virus measures other than the vaccines, Son Young-rae, a senior official at the health ministry, told a briefing. "These countries are somewhat inappropriate for us to take as teachers, and considering the process of safety checks, we believe there is no reason for us to be the world`s first or second country to receive the vaccines," Son said. Meanwhile, the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines for U.S. military personnel stationed in South Korea will arrive as early as Thursday, a source familiar with the plan told Reuters. Roughly 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea. The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said it will begin to administer the vaccines and that the initial inoculations would be limited to frontline health care workers and first responders. "Over the next few days, USFK will begin to receive and administer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to combat the COVID-19 virus to further protect the force and our community," the USFK said in a statement. South Korea`s aggressive tracing and testing early in the pandemic had made the country a global success story but the recent surge in cases has confounded efforts to contain the virus. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Wednesday that authorities have so far secured around 8,000 of a targeted 10,000 additional hospital beds for COVID-19 patients with the help of private hospitals. Seoul and its surrounding areas have banned gatherings of more than four people from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3, and both restaurant owners and patrons may face up to 3 million won ($2,700) in fines for violation of the order. Authorities have also shut down all ski resorts and winter tourist spots in a bid to stop the spread during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

South Korea's Moon under fire for vaccine plans as COVID-19 cases surge

South Korea on Tuesday tightened nationwide restrictions on gatherings and travel to suppress the country's third wave of coronavirus infections since the start of the pandemic.

South Korea tightens restrictions for holidays as COVID cases surge

South Korea which was once haled in successfully containing the coronavirus outbreak, overtime the reality has changed. On Tuesday south Korea has recorded its second highest spike in coronavirus infections. Seoul becomes the worst COVID-19 affected region.

South Korea battles its third COVID-19 surge, Moon Jae-in under fire for vaccine strategy

South Korea battles its third COVID-19 surge

South Korea reported a record 1,097 new coronavirus cases on Sunday including an outbreak in a Seoul prison that infected 188 as the country's latest wave of COVID-19 worsens.

Prison reports major COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea

As third wave surge of coronavirus infections raised concerns of bed shortage, South Korea on Saturday ordered hospitals to secure beds for critical COVID-19 patients, Yonhap news agency said.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 1,053 infections of the new coronavirus, a record fourth consecutive day of more than 1,000 cases.

South Korea has been able to keep the mortality rate low. It has recorded 659 COVID-19 deaths out of 48, 570 infections. This has been possible due to aggressive tracing and testing which minimised strain on hospitals

The mitigation efforts made the country a global success story when many nations saw soaring infections, prompting wide lockdowns.

But the recent surge - stemming from widespread clusters across the country rather than the large, isolated outbreaks of the first two waves - has caused a severe shortage of hospital beds.

The health ministry's Central Disaster Management Headquarters on Friday ordered major general hospitals and national university hospitals to secure 1% of its licensed beds as dedicated beds for serious COVID patients, Yonhap reported on Saturday citing hospitals and regional governments.

Health ministry officials could not be immediately reached.

(With Reuters inputs)

As third wave surge of coronavirus infections raised concerns of bed shortage, South Korea on Saturday ordered hospitals to secure beds for critical COVID-19 patients, Yonhap news agency said.

As third wave surge of coronavirus infections raised concerns of bed shortage, South Korea on Saturday ordered hospitals to secure beds for critical COVID-19 patients, Yonhap news agency said. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 1,053 infections of the new coronavirus, a record fourth consecutive day of more than 1,000 cases. South Korea has been able to keep the mortality rate low. It has recorded 659 COVID-19 deaths out of 48, 570 infections. This has been possible due to aggressive tracing and testing which minimised strain on hospitals The mitigation efforts made the country a global success story when many nations saw soaring infections, prompting wide lockdowns. But the recent surge - stemming from widespread clusters across the country rather than the large, isolated outbreaks of the first two waves - has caused a severe shortage of hospital beds. The health ministry's Central Disaster Management Headquarters on Friday ordered major general hospitals and national university hospitals to secure 1% of its licensed beds as dedicated beds for serious COVID patients, Yonhap reported on Saturday citing hospitals and regional governments. Health ministry officials could not be immediately reached. (With Reuters inputs)

South Korea: Concerns raised amid coronavirus sickbed shortage

South Korea is once again struggling to contain the widespread surge of the novel coronavirus cases, and the COVID-19 hospitals are facing the brunt of it as hundreds are struggling to find a bed in the emergency wards.

At least six people have lost their lives to the deadly coronavirus while waiting to get a bed in hospitals. "We express our deepest condolences and feel keenly responsible,” Park Yoo-mi, a quarantine officer for the Seoul government told a media briefing.

He also acknowledged the problem of lack of hospital beds and reported the problem has been going on since the start of the month of December as the country saw a sharp increase in the coronavirus cases. "The on-site response team in the Seoul metropolitan area has been experiencing difficulty in allocating beds due to sharp increase in confirmed cases and overload in administration and medical systems since the beginning of December," he said.

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This news broke out months after South Korea was able to enjoy less or no coronavirus cases. The new surge in cases has led the tally to 47,515 cases with nearly 650 deaths. While the number looks smaller in comparison to other countries such as the US, UK and India, South Korea has been urging locals to stay indoors to help the government in controlling the rise in the h of coronavirus cases and deaths.&nbsp;

The country recorded 1,062 new cases on Friday, making it the first time South Korea has continuously reported more&nbsp;than 1,000 cases.

Out of the six, three patients were waiting in a nursing home in the&nbsp;Gyeonggi province and one was waiting at his home waiting for a hospital bed to be vacated. The other two deaths have been reported from December, but no details have been provided yet.

As per officials, nearly 580 patients are waiting for beds to be vacated in the capital city of Seoul, out of which at least 227 patients have been waiting for two days.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, South Korea's&nbsp;Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun has asked people to practice 'social consensus' and abide by the set rules and regulations.

"There have been increasing attempts to continue operation in an irregular way by changing their stated type of business in order to slip through the government`s anti-virus efforts," Chung said. "That can never be acceptable."

South Korea is once again struggling to contain the widespread surge of the novel coronavirus cases, and the COVID-19 hospitals are facing the brunt of it as hundreds are struggling to find a bed in the emergency wards.

South Korea is once again struggling to contain the widespread surge of the novel coronavirus cases, and the COVID-19 hospitals are facing the brunt of it as hundreds are struggling to find a bed in the emergency wards. At least six people have lost their lives to the deadly coronavirus while waiting to get a bed in hospitals. "We express our deepest condolences and feel keenly responsible,” Park Yoo-mi, a quarantine officer for the Seoul government told a media briefing. He also acknowledged the problem of lack of hospital beds and reported the problem has been going on since the start of the month of December as the country saw a sharp increase in the coronavirus cases. "The on-site response team in the Seoul metropolitan area has been experiencing difficulty in allocating beds due to sharp increase in confirmed cases and overload in administration and medical systems since the beginning of December," he said. × This news broke out months after South Korea was able to enjoy less or no coronavirus cases. The new surge in cases has led the tally to 47,515 cases with nearly 650 deaths. While the number looks smaller in comparison to other countries such as the US, UK and India, South Korea has been urging locals to stay indoors to help the government in controlling the rise in the h of coronavirus cases and deaths. The country recorded 1,062 new cases on Friday, making it the first time South Korea has continuously reported more than 1,000 cases. Out of the six, three patients were waiting in a nursing home in the Gyeonggi province and one was waiting at his home waiting for a hospital bed to be vacated. The other two deaths have been reported from December, but no details have been provided yet. As per officials, nearly 580 patients are waiting for beds to be vacated in the capital city of Seoul, out of which at least 227 patients have been waiting for two days. Meanwhile, South Korea's Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun has asked people to practice 'social consensus' and abide by the set rules and regulations. "There have been increasing attempts to continue operation in an irregular way by changing their stated type of business in order to slip through the government`s anti-virus efforts," Chung said. "That can never be acceptable."

Six people in South Korea die of COVID while waiting for hospital beds

This holiday season, a cat cafe in Seoul is allowing visitors to cuddle up with around 130 feline friends, some dressed up in red-and-white Santa costumes, ready to wish people a "meow-y Cat-mas."

Santa cats spread Christmas cheer in Seoul

South Korea on Monday banned sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the North, in a move rights activists condemned as a violation of free speech and a "misguided strategy" to please the North Korean regime.

Activist groups have long sent flyers critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over human rights abuses and his nuclear ambitions across the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, either flying them by hot air balloon or floating them across rivers.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eight-countries-including-us-denounce-human-rights-record-in-north-korea-349195">Eight countries, including US, denounce human rights record in North Korea</a>

The leaflets have infuriated Pyongyang, which issued a series of vitriolic condemnations earlier this year demanding Seoul take action and upped the pressure by blowing up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border.

The leader's sister and key adviser Kim Yo Jong called the defector activists behind the campaign "human scum hardly worth their value as human beings".

South Korea's parliament passed a law criminalising sending leaflets, USB drives -- a favoured method of distributing information and entertainment -- or money to the North with all 187 MPs in attendance approving the bill.

Also read|<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/protests-erupt-as-south-koreas-most-notorious-rapist-walks-free-349258">&nbsp;Protests erupt as South Korea’s most notorious rapist walks free</a>

President Moon Jae-in has long championed engagement with the North and his Democratic party has an absolute majority in the 300-member assembly, while all members of the conservative opposition People Power Party boycotted the vote.

Under the measure, those convicted of sending leaflets face a maximum penalty of three years in prison or a fine of 30 million won ($28,000).

- 'A barbaric act' - 
Park Sang-hak, the chairman of Fighters for a Free North Korea, one of the leaflet-sending groups, was defiant and vowed to continue their activities.

"I do not accept this as a rightful law and will continue doing what I've been doing: delivering a message of freedom to 25 million people across the border," he told AFP.

"North Korea stands as the only country on Earth that completely shuts its people off from the internet," he added. "This criminalisation is a barbaric act that violates their right to know the truth."

New York-based Human Rights Watch had called on parliament to reject the proposal, saying it would violate freedom of expression and turn humanitarian activity into a "criminal offence".

Seoul "seems more interested in keeping North Korea's Kim Jong Un happy than letting its own citizens exercise their basic rights on behalf of their northern neighbours," John Sifton, the group's Asia advocacy director, said in a statement. &nbsp;

Both Koreas used to regularly send leaflets to the other side, but agreed to stop such propaganda activities -- including loudspeaker broadcasts along the frontier -- in the Panmunjom Declaration signed by Moon and Kim and at their first summit in 2018.

But in the South civilian groups, mainly led by defectors, continued their anti-Kim activity in border areas.&nbsp;

Provocative depictions of leader Kim's spouse Ri Sol Ju sparked "serious outrage" and served as the "last straw" for Pyongyang, Russian ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora told the TASS news agency in June.&nbsp;

South Korean residents in the border areas had for years asked the authorities to ban the activity, fearing military action by the North against the launch sites.&nbsp;

Inter-Korean relations have been in the deep freeze following the collapse of a summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump early last year over what the nuclear-armed North would be willing to give up in exchange for a loosening of sanctions.&nbsp;

South Korea on Monday banned sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the North, in a move rights activists condemned as a violation of free speech and a "misguided strategy" to please the North Korean regime.

South Korea on Monday banned sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the North, in a move rights activists condemned as a violation of free speech and a "misguided strategy" to please the North Korean regime. Activist groups have long sent flyers critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over human rights abuses and his nuclear ambitions across the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, either flying them by hot air balloon or floating them across rivers. Also read| Eight countries, including US, denounce human rights record in North Korea The leaflets have infuriated Pyongyang, which issued a series of vitriolic condemnations earlier this year demanding Seoul take action and upped the pressure by blowing up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border. The leader's sister and key adviser Kim Yo Jong called the defector activists behind the campaign "human scum hardly worth their value as human beings". South Korea's parliament passed a law criminalising sending leaflets, USB drives -- a favoured method of distributing information and entertainment -- or money to the North with all 187 MPs in attendance approving the bill. Also read| Protests erupt as South Korea’s most notorious rapist walks free President Moon Jae-in has long championed engagement with the North and his Democratic party has an absolute majority in the 300-member assembly, while all members of the conservative opposition People Power Party boycotted the vote. Under the measure, those convicted of sending leaflets face a maximum penalty of three years in prison or a fine of 30 million won ($28,000). - 'A barbaric act' - Park Sang-hak, the chairman of Fighters for a Free North Korea, one of the leaflet-sending groups, was defiant and vowed to continue their activities. "I do not accept this as a rightful law and will continue doing what I've been doing: delivering a message of freedom to 25 million people across the border," he told AFP. "North Korea stands as the only country on Earth that completely shuts its people off from the internet," he added. "This criminalisation is a barbaric act that violates their right to know the truth." New York-based Human Rights Watch had called on parliament to reject the proposal, saying it would violate freedom of expression and turn humanitarian activity into a "criminal offence". Seoul "seems more interested in keeping North Korea's Kim Jong Un happy than letting its own citizens exercise their basic rights on behalf of their northern neighbours," John Sifton, the group's Asia advocacy director, said in a statement. Both Koreas used to regularly send leaflets to the other side, but agreed to stop such propaganda activities -- including loudspeaker broadcasts along the frontier -- in the Panmunjom Declaration signed by Moon and Kim and at their first summit in 2018. But in the South civilian groups, mainly led by defectors, continued their anti-Kim activity in border areas. Provocative depictions of leader Kim's spouse Ri Sol Ju sparked "serious outrage" and served as the "last straw" for Pyongyang, Russian ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora told the TASS news agency in June. South Korean residents in the border areas had for years asked the authorities to ban the activity, fearing military action by the North against the launch sites. Inter-Korean relations have been in the deep freeze following the collapse of a summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump early last year over what the nuclear-armed North would be willing to give up in exchange for a loosening of sanctions.

South Korea bans sending leaflets into North

South Korea reported a record 950 daily coronavirus cases on Saturday, exceeding the late February peak of 909, with the president calling the country`s third wave of COVID-19 an "emergency".

Of the Friday cases reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 928 were locally transmitted and 22 were imported, bringing the total to 41,736 infections with 578 deaths.

More than 70% the domestically transmitted cases were from Seoul and its neighbouring areas, where about half of the nation`s 52 million people live, amid the latest spread via small, widespread clusters.

"This is indeed an emergency situation," President Moon Jae-in said, ordering the mobilisation of police, military personnel and public medical doctors in an effort to curb the further spread of the coronavirus.

"We plan to extensively expand drive-through and walk-through coronavirus testing methods ... as preemptive measures to track down infected people and block the spread," Moon said in a Facebook post.

South Korea is likely to see a further rise in the caseload with significant increases in testing, he added.

The third wave comes despite tougher social distancing rules that took effect on Tuesday, including unprecedented curfews on restaurants and most other businesses. The country has reported about 600 cases a day this week.

The surge has been a blow to South Korea`s vaunted pandemic-fighting system, which used invasive tracing, testing and quarantine to blunt previous waves without lockdowns, keeping daily infections below 50 for much of the summer.

Calling this wave a crisis, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Friday he would dispatch about 800 military, police and government workers to every district of greater Seoul to help track down potential patients.

South Korea reported a record 950 daily coronavirus cases on Saturday, exceeding the late February peak of 909, with the president calling the country`s third wave of COVID-19 an "emergency".

South Korea reported a record 950 daily coronavirus cases on Saturday, exceeding the late February peak of 909, with the president calling the country`s third wave of COVID-19 an "emergency". Of the Friday cases reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 928 were locally transmitted and 22 were imported, bringing the total to 41,736 infections with 578 deaths. More than 70% the domestically transmitted cases were from Seoul and its neighbouring areas, where about half of the nation`s 52 million people live, amid the latest spread via small, widespread clusters. "This is indeed an emergency situation," President Moon Jae-in said, ordering the mobilisation of police, military personnel and public medical doctors in an effort to curb the further spread of the coronavirus. "We plan to extensively expand drive-through and walk-through coronavirus testing methods ... as preemptive measures to track down infected people and block the spread," Moon said in a Facebook post. South Korea is likely to see a further rise in the caseload with significant increases in testing, he added. The third wave comes despite tougher social distancing rules that took effect on Tuesday, including unprecedented curfews on restaurants and most other businesses. The country has reported about 600 cases a day this week. The surge has been a blow to South Korea`s vaunted pandemic-fighting system, which used invasive tracing, testing and quarantine to blunt previous waves without lockdowns, keeping daily infections below 50 for much of the summer. Calling this wave a crisis, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Friday he would dispatch about 800 military, police and government workers to every district of greater Seoul to help track down potential patients.

South Korea reports record 950 cases in COVID-19 'emergency'

South Korea’s most infamous rapist was released on Saturday after serving 12 years in prison, sparking angry demonstrations and anonymous death threats that led to an increased police presence outside the predator’s home.

Protesters gathered outside a prison in southern Seoul on Saturday, shouting “Send him to hell!” and “Castrate him!,” as Cho Doo-soon was released.

Cho was arrested in 2008 and later convicted of raping an 8-year-old girl, and his name has since become synonymous with the soft-glove treatment sex offenders are said to receive in the country’s courts.

When Cho, now 68, was released at dawn Saturday, people were still enraged.

“What kind of country is this, protecting such a rapist?” protesters shouted as Cho was driven out in a gray government van under heavy police protection.

Some protesters lay down on the pavement, holding signs and shouting slogans, in an attempt to prevent Cho from leaving. Police officers removed them and built barricades to allow the van carrying Cho to pass. Protesters kicked at the van and hurled eggs and insults at the vehicle. Anonymous death treats were issued against Cho online, forcing the authorities to add more police officers and surveillance cameras around his home.

Public anger has surged in recent months as the date of Cho’s release approached. On Wednesday, the National Assembly passed a bill, nicknamed the “Cho Doo-soon law,” which banned people convicted of sexually assaulting minors from leaving their homes at night or during hours when students commute to and from school. The law also bans such sex offenders from going near schools.

South Korean courts have long been accused of leniency in meting out justice to white-collar criminals and sex offenders.

In April, a 24-year-old man named Son Jong-woo was released from prison after completing an 18-month sentence for running one of the world’s biggest child pornography websites. In July, a local court rejected the U.S. Justice Department’s request to have him extradited to face money-laundering and other charges in an American court.

Women’s rights advocates have said the justice system’s inability to properly punish sex offenders has allowed sexual abuse to proliferate nationwide.

But sex crimes here have also attracted more scrutiny in recent years, coupled with the country’s growing #MeToo movement, and the government has vowed tougher punishments. Last month, a 25-year-old man named Cho Joo-bin was sentenced to 40 years in prison for blackmailing young women, including eight minors, into making sexually explicit videos that he sold through encrypted online chat rooms.

Cho Doo-soon, who is not related to Cho Joo-bin, was drunk when he kidnapped a first-grader on her way to school and raped her in a church restroom in 2008. His drunkenness, age and “weak mental state” were cited as mitigating factors when the court sentenced him to 12 years in prison. The prosecutors, who in South Korea can push for stiffer punishments after sentencing in an appeal, chose not to.

Cho’s pending release from prison captured the attention of many South Koreans and the local news media for weeks. The Justice Ministry had not revealed from which prison Cho would be released on Saturday or at what time. But hundreds of protesters and journalists found out and gathered outside the Seoul prison from which he was released, the Justice Ministry facility in Ansan south of Seoul where Cho made a brief stop, and a house in Ansan where he planned to live with his wife.

Ansan residents have protested his return home, saying that they don’t feel safe with him in their neighborhood.

The police promised round-the-clock monitoring. Cho was seen wearing an electronic ankle monitor when he left prison on Saturday and was ordered to wear it for seven years. His whereabouts and photograph will be available on a government website for registered sex offenders.

The police also installed a monitoring system at his home and will make random visits there to check on him. They also have added 35 surveillance cameras, brighter streetlights and police booths in Cho’s neighborhood to monitor his movements and also deter people who have threatened to attack him. Police officers specially trained in martial arts will patrol his neighborhood.

Cho, wearing a cap and mask, did not respond to questions shouted by reporters on Saturday. But Ko Jeong-dae, a Justice Ministry official assigned to supervise Cho during his post-prison life, said Cho was surprised by the rage directed at him.

“While we were moving in the car, he told me he hadn’t expected this,” Ko told reporters in a briefing. “He said he had committed an unpardonable atrocity and he would live in repentance for the rest of his life.”

South Korea’s most infamous rapist was released on Saturday after serving 12 years in prison, sparking angry demonstrations and anonymous death threats that led to an increased police presence outside the predator’s home.

South Korea’s most infamous rapist was released on Saturday after serving 12 years in prison, sparking angry demonstrations and anonymous death threats that led to an increased police presence outside the predator’s home. Protesters gathered outside a prison in southern Seoul on Saturday, shouting “Send him to hell!” and “Castrate him!,” as Cho Doo-soon was released. Cho was arrested in 2008 and later convicted of raping an 8-year-old girl, and his name has since become synonymous with the soft-glove treatment sex offenders are said to receive in the country’s courts. When Cho, now 68, was released at dawn Saturday, people were still enraged. “What kind of country is this, protecting such a rapist?” protesters shouted as Cho was driven out in a gray government van under heavy police protection. Some protesters lay down on the pavement, holding signs and shouting slogans, in an attempt to prevent Cho from leaving. Police officers removed them and built barricades to allow the van carrying Cho to pass. Protesters kicked at the van and hurled eggs and insults at the vehicle. Anonymous death treats were issued against Cho online, forcing the authorities to add more police officers and surveillance cameras around his home. Public anger has surged in recent months as the date of Cho’s release approached. On Wednesday, the National Assembly passed a bill, nicknamed the “Cho Doo-soon law,” which banned people convicted of sexually assaulting minors from leaving their homes at night or during hours when students commute to and from school. The law also bans such sex offenders from going near schools. South Korean courts have long been accused of leniency in meting out justice to white-collar criminals and sex offenders. In April, a 24-year-old man named Son Jong-woo was released from prison after completing an 18-month sentence for running one of the world’s biggest child pornography websites. In July, a local court rejected the U.S. Justice Department’s request to have him extradited to face money-laundering and other charges in an American court. Women’s rights advocates have said the justice system’s inability to properly punish sex offenders has allowed sexual abuse to proliferate nationwide. But sex crimes here have also attracted more scrutiny in recent years, coupled with the country’s growing #MeToo movement, and the government has vowed tougher punishments. Last month, a 25-year-old man named Cho Joo-bin was sentenced to 40 years in prison for blackmailing young women, including eight minors, into making sexually explicit videos that he sold through encrypted online chat rooms. Cho Doo-soon, who is not related to Cho Joo-bin, was drunk when he kidnapped a first-grader on her way to school and raped her in a church restroom in 2008. His drunkenness, age and “weak mental state” were cited as mitigating factors when the court sentenced him to 12 years in prison. The prosecutors, who in South Korea can push for stiffer punishments after sentencing in an appeal, chose not to. Cho’s pending release from prison captured the attention of many South Koreans and the local news media for weeks. The Justice Ministry had not revealed from which prison Cho would be released on Saturday or at what time. But hundreds of protesters and journalists found out and gathered outside the Seoul prison from which he was released, the Justice Ministry facility in Ansan south of Seoul where Cho made a brief stop, and a house in Ansan where he planned to live with his wife. Ansan residents have protested his return home, saying that they don’t feel safe with him in their neighborhood. The police promised round-the-clock monitoring. Cho was seen wearing an electronic ankle monitor when he left prison on Saturday and was ordered to wear it for seven years. His whereabouts and photograph will be available on a government website for registered sex offenders. The police also installed a monitoring system at his home and will make random visits there to check on him. They also have added 35 surveillance cameras, brighter streetlights and police booths in Cho’s neighborhood to monitor his movements and also deter people who have threatened to attack him. Police officers specially trained in martial arts will patrol his neighborhood. Cho, wearing a cap and mask, did not respond to questions shouted by reporters on Saturday. But Ko Jeong-dae, a Justice Ministry official assigned to supervise Cho during his post-prison life, said Cho was surprised by the rage directed at him. “While we were moving in the car, he told me he hadn’t expected this,” Ko told reporters in a briefing. “He said he had committed an unpardonable atrocity and he would live in repentance for the rest of his life.”

Protests erupt as South Korea’s most notorious rapist walks free

South Korea Superfreeze Inc's coldest warehouse is being prepared for the tonnes of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines that will soon make their way to the country.

Located 65 km (40 miles) below Seoul and boasting temperatures frostier than an Antarctic winter, the facility would be the best, perhaps only, place in South Korea suitable for bulk storage of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, says company CEO Kim Jin-ha.

Some rooms in the warehouse are so frigid that a cup of warm water thrown into one will immediately turn into snow.

The warehouse uses liquefied natural gas (LNG) to keep temperatures cool trumped electricity.

The agency has asked Korea Superfreeze to provide plans and cost estimates for storing and distributing vaccines, including how it would handle a scenario where vaccines would be shipped to 260 different locations.

South Korea has arranged to buy 20 million doses of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech.

The country also has deals for 20 million doses each for the vaccines developed by Moderna Inc and AstraZeneca Plc/Oxford University and for another 4 million doses from Johnson &amp; Johnson.

To accommodate Pfizer's vaccine, Korea Superfreeze is planning a dedicated passageway and elevator so there is no interference from outside temperatures. Once it confirms, it has a contract, it will begin construction which may take two-three months. The warehouse also has 220 closed-circuit cameras that monitor resting cargo round the clock.

The company has been in talks with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency since early November and while nothing is yet decided, expectations are high it will land a contract.

(with inputs)

South Korea Superfreeze Inc's coldest warehouse is being prepared for the tonnes of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines that will soon make their way to the country. Located 65 km (40 miles) below Seoul and boasting temperatures frostier than an Antarctic winter, the facility would be the best, perhaps only, place in South Korea suitable for bulk storage of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, says company CEO Kim Jin-ha.

South Korea Superfreeze Inc's coldest warehouse is being prepared for the tonnes of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines that will soon make their way to the country. Located 65 km (40 miles) below Seoul and boasting temperatures frostier than an Antarctic winter, the facility would be the best, perhaps only, place in South Korea suitable for bulk storage of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, says company CEO Kim Jin-ha. Some rooms in the warehouse are so frigid that a cup of warm water thrown into one will immediately turn into snow. The warehouse uses liquefied natural gas (LNG) to keep temperatures cool trumped electricity. The agency has asked Korea Superfreeze to provide plans and cost estimates for storing and distributing vaccines, including how it would handle a scenario where vaccines would be shipped to 260 different locations. South Korea has arranged to buy 20 million doses of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech. The country also has deals for 20 million doses each for the vaccines developed by Moderna Inc and AstraZeneca Plc/Oxford University and for another 4 million doses from Johnson & Johnson. To accommodate Pfizer's vaccine, Korea Superfreeze is planning a dedicated passageway and elevator so there is no interference from outside temperatures. Once it confirms, it has a contract, it will begin construction which may take two-three months. The warehouse also has 220 closed-circuit cameras that monitor resting cargo round the clock. The company has been in talks with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency since early November and while nothing is yet decided, expectations are high it will land a contract. (with inputs)

South Korean ultra-cold warehouse prepares to store Pfizer Covid vaccine

Legendary filmmaker Kim Ki-duk is no more. The iconic filmmaker died due to Covid-19 complications on Friday in Latvia. He was known for art house films.&nbsp; 
 
Kim Ki-duk made movies like 'Samaritan Girl', '3-Iron', ;Arirang', 'Pietà' and 'One on One'. 
 
His career spanned over two decades and he had won several prestigious awards and films festivals like Berlin International Film Festival, Venice Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival. 
 
He made his directorial debut with a film called 'Crocodile' in 1996. He subsequently gained international recognition for his 2001 film 'The Isle' which travelled to various film festivals and earned awards and appreciation.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Legendary filmmaker Kim Ki-duk is no more. The iconic filmmaker died due to Covid-19 complications on Friday in Latvia. He was known for art house films. Kim Ki-duk made movies like 'Samaritan Girl', '3-Iron', ;Arirang', 'Pietà' and 'One on One'.

Legendary filmmaker Kim Ki-duk is no more. The iconic filmmaker died due to Covid-19 complications on Friday in Latvia. He was known for art house films. Kim Ki-duk made movies like 'Samaritan Girl', '3-Iron', ;Arirang', 'Pietà' and 'One on One'. His career spanned over two decades and he had won several prestigious awards and films festivals like Berlin International Film Festival, Venice Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival. He made his directorial debut with a film called 'Crocodile' in 1996. He subsequently gained international recognition for his 2001 film 'The Isle' which travelled to various film festivals and earned awards and appreciation.

South Korean filmmaker Kim Ki-duk dies due to Covid-19 complications: Reports

South Korea reported nearly 700 new COVID-19 cases. Health authorities announced measures to increase testing. Watch this video to know more.

South Korea reports nearly 700 new COVID-19 cases

South Korean furniture design student Kim Ha-neul is transforming discarded face masks into stools in an effort to show that the masks can be recycled and to draw attention to the environmental pollution they are causing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

South Korean student transforms used face masks into stools to promote recycling

South Korea authorities scrambled on Thursday to build hospital beds in shipping containers to ease strains on medical facilities stretched by the latest coronavirus wave, which shows little sign of abating with 682 new cases.

The resurgence of infections has rekindled concerns about an acute shortage of hospital beds, prompting Seoul city to begin installing container beds for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

Health authorities plan to step up testing by launching temporary sites at some 150 locations across the greater Seoul area.

"We`re in a critical situation where our anti-virus efforts and medical system`s capacity could reach their limits before long," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo told a meeting, vowing to mobilise all available resources. 
"Above all, we will secure sufficient treatment centres and hospital beds for critical cases so that they can receive proper treatment in a timely manner."

In Seoul, with a population of 10 million, only around 3% of hospital beds were available for severe cases, and 17% for all patients, according to Park Yoo-mi, a quarantine officer at the city government.

The city has dispatched 50 epidemiological investigators to 25 districts to help track down potential patients, in addition to 10 sent from the central government, Park said.

A total of 274 military and police officers and other administrative staff will also be mobilised for epidemiological surveys starting Friday, she added.

Thursday`s 682 new infections came a day after the daily tally hit 686, the second-highest since the country`s first case was confirmed in January, even as tougher social distancing rules took effect this week, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

New cases have been persistently around 600 over the past week, driven by smaller, harder-to-trace clusters around the densely populated capital city of Seoul, whereas the early two waves were centred on a handful of groups or regions.

The governor of South Korea`s most populous province Gyeonggi, with 13.5 million people, said on Wednesday he plans to conduct mass testing in some areas to discover potential cases.

President Moon Jae-in called for buying more COVID-19 vaccines after authorities announced deals with four global drugmakers as part of a drive to inoculate 44 million people, or 60% of the country`s population. 
Total infections rose to 40,098, with 564 deaths, KDCA data showed. 
&nbsp;

South Korea authorities scrambled on Thursday to build hospital beds in shipping containers to ease strains on medical facilities stretched by the latest coronavirus wave, which shows little sign of abating with 682 new cases.

South Korea authorities scrambled on Thursday to build hospital beds in shipping containers to ease strains on medical facilities stretched by the latest coronavirus wave, which shows little sign of abating with 682 new cases. The resurgence of infections has rekindled concerns about an acute shortage of hospital beds, prompting Seoul city to begin installing container beds for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Health authorities plan to step up testing by launching temporary sites at some 150 locations across the greater Seoul area. "We`re in a critical situation where our anti-virus efforts and medical system`s capacity could reach their limits before long," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo told a meeting, vowing to mobilise all available resources. "Above all, we will secure sufficient treatment centres and hospital beds for critical cases so that they can receive proper treatment in a timely manner." In Seoul, with a population of 10 million, only around 3% of hospital beds were available for severe cases, and 17% for all patients, according to Park Yoo-mi, a quarantine officer at the city government. The city has dispatched 50 epidemiological investigators to 25 districts to help track down potential patients, in addition to 10 sent from the central government, Park said. A total of 274 military and police officers and other administrative staff will also be mobilised for epidemiological surveys starting Friday, she added. Thursday`s 682 new infections came a day after the daily tally hit 686, the second-highest since the country`s first case was confirmed in January, even as tougher social distancing rules took effect this week, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). New cases have been persistently around 600 over the past week, driven by smaller, harder-to-trace clusters around the densely populated capital city of Seoul, whereas the early two waves were centred on a handful of groups or regions. The governor of South Korea`s most populous province Gyeonggi, with 13.5 million people, said on Wednesday he plans to conduct mass testing in some areas to discover potential cases. President Moon Jae-in called for buying more COVID-19 vaccines after authorities announced deals with four global drugmakers as part of a drive to inoculate 44 million people, or 60% of the country`s population. Total infections rose to 40,098, with 564 deaths, KDCA data showed.

South Korea scrambles to build container hospital beds to combat third COVID-19 wave

After months of keeping the novel coronavirus spread under control, a new outbreak has scared the authorities of a threat bigger than the starting of the grim year.

Following a sudden surge in the COVID-19 cases, South Korea has raised its coronavirus alert to the highest level in the capital city Seoul as the authorities believe this outbreak may take longer to be controlled.

South Korea had been following the "trace, test and treat" approach for the past few months, and had managed to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Following a drop in cases, the country had reopened its economy, letting people step out to meet friends and go to work, and life was slowly returning back to normal.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-reaches-deal-to-buy-astrazenecas-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-347131">South Korea reaches deal to buy AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine candidate</a>

However, in the past few weeks, daily infections started increasing at a rapid rate. The infections, which had once come down to less than 100, crossed 100 a few weeks ago and have now reached 500 new cases per day.

"We are facing the biggest crisis in our fight against Covid-19," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Sunday.

On Sunday, South Korea reported 631 new cases, marking it the day with the highest number of daily infections in the last nine months. The worst affected area in the country is the greater Seoul region, as reported by&nbsp;the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

Also read|<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-coronavirus-outbreak-adds-new-stress-to-gruelling-eight-hour-exam-346878">&nbsp;South Korea coronavirus outbreak adds new stress to gruelling, eight-hour exam</a>

While the daily infections are much lower than the rest of the world, such as India, the US and many European countries, the authorities are alarmed by the increasing cases. Seoul has now returned to partial strict lockdown. As per the new guidelines, all gatherings of more than 50 people have been banned. The gatherings with less than 50 will have to first check the temperature of the attendees and will have to strictly follow social distancing while wearing face masks. All professional sports will also be held behind closed doors with no spectators present.

All cafes have been asked to serve only takeaways,&nbsp;and restaurants have been strictly instructed to serve only till 9 pm, with only deliveries permitted post that. The restaurants, before 9 pm, will not be allowed to serve in full capacity.

These regulations will stay in place at least till the end of the year, the Prime Minister told the fellow citizens.

After months of keeping the novel coronavirus spread under control, a new outbreak has scared the authorities of a threat bigger than the starting of the grim year.

After months of keeping the novel coronavirus spread under control, a new outbreak has scared the authorities of a threat bigger than the starting of the grim year. Following a sudden surge in the COVID-19 cases, South Korea has raised its coronavirus alert to the highest level in the capital city Seoul as the authorities believe this outbreak may take longer to be controlled. South Korea had been following the "trace, test and treat" approach for the past few months, and had managed to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Following a drop in cases, the country had reopened its economy, letting people step out to meet friends and go to work, and life was slowly returning back to normal. Also read| South Korea reaches deal to buy AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine candidate However, in the past few weeks, daily infections started increasing at a rapid rate. The infections, which had once come down to less than 100, crossed 100 a few weeks ago and have now reached 500 new cases per day. "We are facing the biggest crisis in our fight against Covid-19," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Sunday. On Sunday, South Korea reported 631 new cases, marking it the day with the highest number of daily infections in the last nine months. The worst affected area in the country is the greater Seoul region, as reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Also read| South Korea coronavirus outbreak adds new stress to gruelling, eight-hour exam While the daily infections are much lower than the rest of the world, such as India, the US and many European countries, the authorities are alarmed by the increasing cases. Seoul has now returned to partial strict lockdown. As per the new guidelines, all gatherings of more than 50 people have been banned. The gatherings with less than 50 will have to first check the temperature of the attendees and will have to strictly follow social distancing while wearing face masks. All professional sports will also be held behind closed doors with no spectators present. All cafes have been asked to serve only takeaways, and restaurants have been strictly instructed to serve only till 9 pm, with only deliveries permitted post that. The restaurants, before 9 pm, will not be allowed to serve in full capacity. These regulations will stay in place at least till the end of the year, the Prime Minister told the fellow citizens.

'Biggest crisis': South Korea tightens COVID-19 restrictions amid record high surge

SEOUL, South Korea — Nearly a half-million South Korean high school seniors hunkered down on Thursday to take an annual university-entrance exam they had been preparing for since kindergarten — a nine-hour marathon of tests that could decide their futures.

But this year, the government had to ensure the exam did not become a super-spreader event for the coronavirus.

Watch |

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/south-korea-to-close-bars-restrict-restaurants-amid-coronavirus-spike-344897/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

&nbsp;

For days, health officials in full protective gear had repeatedly disinfected 31,000 classrooms where the exam was to take place.

All students had to get their temperature taken before entering the classrooms. They sat at desks separated by plastic dividers and wore masks throughout the test.

Government-run health clinics stayed overnight to test students and screen anyone infected with the virus at the last minute. Those with a fever or sore throat were escorted to separate rooms to take their exams. At least one student showed up in full protective gear for fear of catching the coronavirus.

“I came early because I feared that I might be caught in a traffic jam,” another student, Kim Mun-jeong, told the cable channel JTBC. “I also wanted to check into the test-taking room sooner than other students to get myself familiarized with it and gain composure.”

In this education-obsessed country, it’s hard to overestimate the importance of the College Scholastic Ability Tests, or suneung, in the life of a South Korean student.

Most universities select their students based largely on the test scores of the single standardized year-end exam. Diplomas from a few top universities like Seoul National can make a huge difference when applying for jobs and promotions. Many students who fail to enter the universities they covet take the tests again and again in the following years, often living and studying in institutes with militarylike discipline.

Exam day is also a day when the country collectively wrings its hands and much of life is put on pause.

All banks, businesses and government offices delayed opening their doors by an hour to lessen road traffic. All planes were grounded and all military guns silenced for half an hour for fear they might interrupt students focused on an English listening-comprehension test. In the Jogyesa Buddhist temple in Central Seoul, parents lit candles and burned incense as they prayed for the success of their children taking the exam.

The pandemic has added new twists and an extra layer of anxiety and suspense to the grueling test. South Korea is grappling with a third wave of coronavirus infections, with health officials reporting some of the highest daily caseloads the country has seen. In the past week, the country has reported 438 to 581 new cases per day, including 540 on Thursday.

“Exam-takers and their parents, who have been supporting them, have had a tougher time this year than ever because of COVID-19,” said Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, referring to how the pandemic has upended school life. “We must do everything we can to make sure that the students take their exam safely, and prepare for any emergencies that can happen during the exam day.”

Suneung usually takes place in mid-November, but the test was pushed back by two weeks because the pandemic delayed school openings by a month in spring. Officials took extra precautions to make sure students reached the exam sites safely and on time.

On Thursday, police officers with motorcycles were dispatched to pick up those running late for the test.

Even those who tested positive for the virus got the chance to take the college-entrance exam. The Education Ministry and health officials prepared negative-pressure hospital chambers at the Seoul Medical Center and 24 other hospitals so that 35 students with COVID-19 could take their exams while exam administrators wearing Level-D protective suits kept watch. Nurses also kept a close eye on the students through closed-circuit television screens for signs of trouble.

More than 400 students under a two-week quarantine were also allowed to sit for the test in the specially prepared facilities.

The importance of suneung can be traced back to the destitute decades following the Korean War, when families saw education as the ticket for their children to escape poverty. The country’s razor-sharp focus on education is often cited for helping its dramatic postwar transformation, going from one of the world’s poorest under dictatorship to one of its richest democracies.

Today, young South Koreans are among the world’s most highly educated. In 2017, 70% of the country’s population of 25- to 34-year-olds had a tertiary education, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Many families start preparing their children from kindergarten, enrolling them in after-school cram sessions or hiring private tutors to elevate their math and English-language skills. Wealthy families fork over thousands of dollars a month to help their children, creating a multibillion-dollar exam-preparation industry and eroding a once widely held belief among poorer families that college-entrance exams were a great equalizer for social mobility.

The exam has been linked, however, to troubling trends.

The soaring educational costs are often blamed for the country’s low birthrates, as families felt they could not afford to finance the education of multiple children. Suicide is the No. 1 cause of death for South Koreans between the ages of 10 and 29. And when analysts discuss the country’s suicide rates, among the world’s highest, they often cite the extreme level of stress caused by the exam.

But suneung endures.

In past years, while the rest of the country would fall silent on suneung day, early morning scenes in front of school-turned-test-sites could be raucous. As students arrived bundled up against the cold, junior high school students would chant slogans, unfurl placards, beat drums and hand out sticky rice taffy called “yeot” — all for good luck.

Such scenes have all but vanished this year because of social distancing rules. As elsewhere, school life in South Korea has been thrown off balance, with health officials placing limits on the number of students allowed into the classroom or closing schools altogether and switching to online instruction as the outbreaks raged and subsided.

On Thursday, mothers silently accompanied their children to the test sites, hugging them and whispering, “Good luck!” at the gates. Fathers held rosaries as they prayed at school walls.

For those who finish the exams, the official test results will come out on Dec. 23.

But students can get an inkling of how well — or poorly — they have done as soon as they leave the test site. A government website reveals preliminary answers to all the questions as soon as each section of the nine-hour exam is completed.

SEOUL, South Korea — Nearly a half-million South Korean high school seniors hunkered down on Thursday to take an annual university-entrance exam they had been preparing for since kindergarten — a nine-hour marathon of tests that could decide their futures.

SEOUL, South Korea — Nearly a half-million South Korean high school seniors hunkered down on Thursday to take an annual university-entrance exam they had been preparing for since kindergarten — a nine-hour marathon of tests that could decide their futures. But this year, the government had to ensure the exam did not become a super-spreader event for the coronavirus. Watch | For days, health officials in full protective gear had repeatedly disinfected 31,000 classrooms where the exam was to take place. All students had to get their temperature taken before entering the classrooms. They sat at desks separated by plastic dividers and wore masks throughout the test. Government-run health clinics stayed overnight to test students and screen anyone infected with the virus at the last minute. Those with a fever or sore throat were escorted to separate rooms to take their exams. At least one student showed up in full protective gear for fear of catching the coronavirus. “I came early because I feared that I might be caught in a traffic jam,” another student, Kim Mun-jeong, told the cable channel JTBC. “I also wanted to check into the test-taking room sooner than other students to get myself familiarized with it and gain composure.” In this education-obsessed country, it’s hard to overestimate the importance of the College Scholastic Ability Tests, or suneung, in the life of a South Korean student. Most universities select their students based largely on the test scores of the single standardized year-end exam. Diplomas from a few top universities like Seoul National can make a huge difference when applying for jobs and promotions. Many students who fail to enter the universities they covet take the tests again and again in the following years, often living and studying in institutes with militarylike discipline. Exam day is also a day when the country collectively wrings its hands and much of life is put on pause. All banks, businesses and government offices delayed opening their doors by an hour to lessen road traffic. All planes were grounded and all military guns silenced for half an hour for fear they might interrupt students focused on an English listening-comprehension test. In the Jogyesa Buddhist temple in Central Seoul, parents lit candles and burned incense as they prayed for the success of their children taking the exam. The pandemic has added new twists and an extra layer of anxiety and suspense to the grueling test. South Korea is grappling with a third wave of coronavirus infections, with health officials reporting some of the highest daily caseloads the country has seen. In the past week, the country has reported 438 to 581 new cases per day, including 540 on Thursday. “Exam-takers and their parents, who have been supporting them, have had a tougher time this year than ever because of COVID-19,” said Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, referring to how the pandemic has upended school life. “We must do everything we can to make sure that the students take their exam safely, and prepare for any emergencies that can happen during the exam day.” Suneung usually takes place in mid-November, but the test was pushed back by two weeks because the pandemic delayed school openings by a month in spring. Officials took extra precautions to make sure students reached the exam sites safely and on time. On Thursday, police officers with motorcycles were dispatched to pick up those running late for the test. Even those who tested positive for the virus got the chance to take the college-entrance exam. The Education Ministry and health officials prepared negative-pressure hospital chambers at the Seoul Medical Center and 24 other hospitals so that 35 students with COVID-19 could take their exams while exam administrators wearing Level-D protective suits kept watch. Nurses also kept a close eye on the students through closed-circuit television screens for signs of trouble. More than 400 students under a two-week quarantine were also allowed to sit for the test in the specially prepared facilities. The importance of suneung can be traced back to the destitute decades following the Korean War, when families saw education as the ticket for their children to escape poverty. The country’s razor-sharp focus on education is often cited for helping its dramatic postwar transformation, going from one of the world’s poorest under dictatorship to one of its richest democracies. Today, young South Koreans are among the world’s most highly educated. In 2017, 70% of the country’s population of 25- to 34-year-olds had a tertiary education, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Many families start preparing their children from kindergarten, enrolling them in after-school cram sessions or hiring private tutors to elevate their math and English-language skills. Wealthy families fork over thousands of dollars a month to help their children, creating a multibillion-dollar exam-preparation industry and eroding a once widely held belief among poorer families that college-entrance exams were a great equalizer for social mobility. The exam has been linked, however, to troubling trends. The soaring educational costs are often blamed for the country’s low birthrates, as families felt they could not afford to finance the education of multiple children. Suicide is the No. 1 cause of death for South Koreans between the ages of 10 and 29. And when analysts discuss the country’s suicide rates, among the world’s highest, they often cite the extreme level of stress caused by the exam. But suneung endures. In past years, while the rest of the country would fall silent on suneung day, early morning scenes in front of school-turned-test-sites could be raucous. As students arrived bundled up against the cold, junior high school students would chant slogans, unfurl placards, beat drums and hand out sticky rice taffy called “yeot” — all for good luck. Such scenes have all but vanished this year because of social distancing rules. As elsewhere, school life in South Korea has been thrown off balance, with health officials placing limits on the number of students allowed into the classroom or closing schools altogether and switching to online instruction as the outbreaks raged and subsided. On Thursday, mothers silently accompanied their children to the test sites, hugging them and whispering, “Good luck!” at the gates. Fathers held rosaries as they prayed at school walls. For those who finish the exams, the official test results will come out on Dec. 23. But students can get an inkling of how well — or poorly — they have done as soon as they leave the test site. A government website reveals preliminary answers to all the questions as soon as each section of the nine-hour exam is completed.

The college-entrance exam is 9 hours long. COVID-19 made it harder.

South Korea has reached a deal with AstraZeneca PLC to purchase its coronavirus vaccine candidate as it seeks to secure supplies amid a resurgence of outbreaks.

The government has said it was in final talks with global drugmakers including AstraZeneca, Pfizer Inc and Johnson &amp; Johnson over their experimental vaccines, and launched a preliminary review of the former's product in October for potential fast-track approval.

The JoongAng Ilbo newspaper said health authorities signed a contract with the Britain-based company on November 27, and were nearing agreements with Pfizer and Johnson &amp; Johnson.

"The AstraZeneca deal has been done, and a memorandum of understanding was reached with both Pfizer and Johnson &amp; Johnson. But further negotiations are needed to finalise the amount of supplies and the timing of shipment," the official was quoted as saying.

The Yonhap news agency also reported that an agreement with AstraZeneca was inked recently and the government would make an announcement as early as next week after completing negotiations with other firms.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said that the JoongAng report was not the government's official position but that it would finalise talks and unveil comprehensive results shortly.

The KDCA has said 172 billion won ($157 million) was set aside to buy an initial 60 million doses this year, enough to vaccinate about 60% of the country`s population of 52 million, around the second quarter of 2021. It has secured 20 million doses via the COVAX facility, an international COVID-19 vaccine allocation platform co-led by the WHO.&nbsp;

(with inputs)

South Korea has reached a deal with AstraZeneca PLC to purchase its coronavirus vaccine candidate as it seeks to secure supplies amid a resurgence of outbreaks. The government has said it was in final talks with global drugmakers including AstraZeneca, Pfizer Inc and Johnson & Johnson over their experimental vaccines, and launched a preliminary review of the former's product in October for potential fast-track approval.

South Korea has reached a deal with AstraZeneca PLC to purchase its coronavirus vaccine candidate as it seeks to secure supplies amid a resurgence of outbreaks. The government has said it was in final talks with global drugmakers including AstraZeneca, Pfizer Inc and Johnson & Johnson over their experimental vaccines, and launched a preliminary review of the former's product in October for potential fast-track approval. The JoongAng Ilbo newspaper said health authorities signed a contract with the Britain-based company on November 27, and were nearing agreements with Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. "The AstraZeneca deal has been done, and a memorandum of understanding was reached with both Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. But further negotiations are needed to finalise the amount of supplies and the timing of shipment," the official was quoted as saying. The Yonhap news agency also reported that an agreement with AstraZeneca was inked recently and the government would make an announcement as early as next week after completing negotiations with other firms. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said that the JoongAng report was not the government's official position but that it would finalise talks and unveil comprehensive results shortly. The KDCA has said 172 billion won ($157 million) was set aside to buy an initial 60 million doses this year, enough to vaccinate about 60% of the country`s population of 52 million, around the second quarter of 2021. It has secured 20 million doses via the COVAX facility, an international COVID-19 vaccine allocation platform co-led by the WHO. (with inputs)

South Korea reaches deal to buy AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine candidate

South Korea’s National Assembly passed a revision of its Military Service Act to let some male K-pop stars postpone their mandatory military service until they turn 30.

South Korea passes law allowing BTS stars to defer military service

South Korea’s parliament on Tuesday passed a bill to allow globally recognised K-pop artists such as BTS to postpone their mandatory military service to age 30.

All able-bodied South Korean men aged between 18 and 28 must serve in the military for about two years as part of the country’s efforts to guard against North Korea.

The amendment to the Military Service Act was designed to provide exceptions for K-pop megastars who improve the country’s cultural status and boost the economy.

South Korea allows eligible students to defer their duties up to age 28 and has granted exemptions for high-profile classical musicians and athletes who won Olympic medals or a gold at the Asian Games, including Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min.

No K-pop stars had received exemptions but the new bill will ensure entertainers recommended by the culture minister can defer their service to age 30.

The oldest member of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/bts">BTS</a>, 27-year-old Jin, is nearing enlistment at a time when the seven-member boy band is rewriting K-pop history.

Since launching in 2013, BTS has driven the global K-pop craze with catchy, upbeat music alongside lyrics and social campaigns aimed at empowering young people.

It recently notched a first ever No.1 hit single on the U.S. Billboard charts with the song “Dynamite”, and bagged an unprecedented Grammy nomination as a K-pop band.

“Pop artists tend to make their highest achievements in their 20s but many of them had to pursue a graduate degree to delay their service,” said Jeon Yong-gi, who co-authored the bill.

BTS’s management, Big Hit Entertainment, did not respond to a request for comment on the legislative change, but Jin and other band members have previously said they would fulfil their duties as required.

Military service is a contentious issue in South Korea. A poll released last month by local news outlet E-Today showed some 53% of respondents supported special treatment for BTS, while 47% opposed it.

South Korea’s parliament on Tuesday passed a bill to allow globally recognised K-pop artists such as BTS to postpone their mandatory military service to age 30. All able-bodied South Korean men aged between 18 and 28 must serve in the military for about two years as part of the country’s efforts to guard against North Korea.

South Korea’s parliament on Tuesday passed a bill to allow globally recognised K-pop artists such as BTS to postpone their mandatory military service to age 30. All able-bodied South Korean men aged between 18 and 28 must serve in the military for about two years as part of the country’s efforts to guard against North Korea. The amendment to the Military Service Act was designed to provide exceptions for K-pop megastars who improve the country’s cultural status and boost the economy. South Korea allows eligible students to defer their duties up to age 28 and has granted exemptions for high-profile classical musicians and athletes who won Olympic medals or a gold at the Asian Games, including Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min. No K-pop stars had received exemptions but the new bill will ensure entertainers recommended by the culture minister can defer their service to age 30. The oldest member of BTS, 27-year-old Jin, is nearing enlistment at a time when the seven-member boy band is rewriting K-pop history. Since launching in 2013, BTS has driven the global K-pop craze with catchy, upbeat music alongside lyrics and social campaigns aimed at empowering young people. It recently notched a first ever No.1 hit single on the U.S. Billboard charts with the song “Dynamite”, and bagged an unprecedented Grammy nomination as a K-pop band. “Pop artists tend to make their highest achievements in their 20s but many of them had to pursue a graduate degree to delay their service,” said Jeon Yong-gi, who co-authored the bill. BTS’s management, Big Hit Entertainment, did not respond to a request for comment on the legislative change, but Jin and other band members have previously said they would fulfil their duties as required. Military service is a contentious issue in South Korea. A poll released last month by local news outlet E-Today showed some 53% of respondents supported special treatment for BTS, while 47% opposed it.

South Korea passes law to allow BTS to postpone military service

South Korean netizens are fuming after China claimed a fermented cabbage dish as its own. Molly Gambhir tells you more about the row over Kimchi.

Gravitas: South Korea and China fight over a cabbage dish

From avoiding family members to skipping extra study at "cram schools", the coronavirus has forced nearly half a million South Korean test-takers and proctors to rethink their strategies ahead of a hyper-competitive university entrance exam this week.

The gruelling, almost eight-hour test on Thursday is seen as a life-defining event for high school seniors. A degree from a prestigious university is seen as a minimum requirement for securing one of the coveted but limited corporate jobs in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

This year teachers, proctors and students drastically changed their study and teaching practices to try to ensure those taking the test don`t ruin their chances by getting sick.

"We take caution not just in classes but also during lunch, sitting facing the walls, eating alone and not talking at all," said one teacher who will also serve as a proctor, speaking on condition of anonymity as she was not authorised to speak to the media.

After delaying the exam by two weeks, authorities have prepared 31,291 test venues nationwide for this year`s exam, nearly double the number from last year to allow more social distancing.

Some venues are specialized to accommodate at least 37 students with confirmed infections, and another 430 in quarantine, deputy education minister Park Baeg-beom told a briefing on Wednesday.

All students must wear masks and will be separated by plastic screens, Park said.

For students who are suspected cases of COVID-19, proctors must wear protective equipment and collect exam papers in plastic bags and wipe them before handing over to the staff outside.

The health authorities extended the operation hours for COVID-19 testing centres until 10 p.m. on Wednesday to ensure high school students who test positive overnight get assigned the right testing venues the next day.

South Korea reported 511 new cases as of midnight Tuesday, bringing the country’s total to 35,163 with 526 deaths.

STRESSFUL TIMES

Authorities have urged students to stop attending cram schools and private lessons, and pleaded with citizens to halt all non-essential outside activity ahead of the exam.

Many students worry all the exam-day precautions might throw them off their game, or that they might catch the virus ahead of time and feel too sick to perform well.

Song Hae-in, 18, will sit the test on Thursday and said her family arranged to minimize conversation or contact and kept 2 metres (6 feet) away from her to avoid any possible infection.

"We promised not to leave our own rooms unless necessary," said Song, who worried her online classes were not enough to prepare her for the exam properly.

"We had to be extra careful of our health for the test day because of the cold weather, but the coronavirus has added more stress."

President Moon Jae-in encouraged the test-takers ahead of the exam.

"Preparations for the exam alone are not easy. I feel sorry that you have to take the test during the coronavirus situation, which makes it harder and worrisome," Moon said on Twitter.

Health authorities scrambled to prevent a potential coronavirus cluster this week after a student who attended a cram school in a Seoul neighbourhood tested positive for the virus.

Students normally go to cram schools to practice test problems for weeks ahead of the exam, but many of this year`s test-takers stayed home, Jun Jin-mo, a private school desk assistant, told Reuters.

"I can’t imagine the stress this year’s students have," Jun said. "The college entrance exam itself is already a huge barrier, but now there is another barrier called the coronavirus."

From avoiding family members to skipping extra study at "cram schools", the coronavirus has forced nearly half a million South Korean test-takers and proctors to rethink their strategies ahead of a hyper-competitive university entrance exam this week.

From avoiding family members to skipping extra study at "cram schools", the coronavirus has forced nearly half a million South Korean test-takers and proctors to rethink their strategies ahead of a hyper-competitive university entrance exam this week. The gruelling, almost eight-hour test on Thursday is seen as a life-defining event for high school seniors. A degree from a prestigious university is seen as a minimum requirement for securing one of the coveted but limited corporate jobs in Asia’s fourth-largest economy. This year teachers, proctors and students drastically changed their study and teaching practices to try to ensure those taking the test don`t ruin their chances by getting sick. "We take caution not just in classes but also during lunch, sitting facing the walls, eating alone and not talking at all," said one teacher who will also serve as a proctor, speaking on condition of anonymity as she was not authorised to speak to the media. After delaying the exam by two weeks, authorities have prepared 31,291 test venues nationwide for this year`s exam, nearly double the number from last year to allow more social distancing. Some venues are specialized to accommodate at least 37 students with confirmed infections, and another 430 in quarantine, deputy education minister Park Baeg-beom told a briefing on Wednesday. All students must wear masks and will be separated by plastic screens, Park said. For students who are suspected cases of COVID-19, proctors must wear protective equipment and collect exam papers in plastic bags and wipe them before handing over to the staff outside. The health authorities extended the operation hours for COVID-19 testing centres until 10 p.m. on Wednesday to ensure high school students who test positive overnight get assigned the right testing venues the next day. South Korea reported 511 new cases as of midnight Tuesday, bringing the country’s total to 35,163 with 526 deaths. STRESSFUL TIMES Authorities have urged students to stop attending cram schools and private lessons, and pleaded with citizens to halt all non-essential outside activity ahead of the exam. Many students worry all the exam-day precautions might throw them off their game, or that they might catch the virus ahead of time and feel too sick to perform well. Song Hae-in, 18, will sit the test on Thursday and said her family arranged to minimize conversation or contact and kept 2 metres (6 feet) away from her to avoid any possible infection. "We promised not to leave our own rooms unless necessary," said Song, who worried her online classes were not enough to prepare her for the exam properly. "We had to be extra careful of our health for the test day because of the cold weather, but the coronavirus has added more stress." President Moon Jae-in encouraged the test-takers ahead of the exam. "Preparations for the exam alone are not easy. I feel sorry that you have to take the test during the coronavirus situation, which makes it harder and worrisome," Moon said on Twitter. Health authorities scrambled to prevent a potential coronavirus cluster this week after a student who attended a cram school in a Seoul neighbourhood tested positive for the virus. Students normally go to cram schools to practice test problems for weeks ahead of the exam, but many of this year`s test-takers stayed home, Jun Jin-mo, a private school desk assistant, told Reuters. "I can’t imagine the stress this year’s students have," Jun said. "The college entrance exam itself is already a huge barrier, but now there is another barrier called the coronavirus."

South Korea coronavirus outbreak adds new stress to gruelling, eight-hour exam

Former South Korean dictator Chun Doo-hwan was found guilty of defaming a dead priest on Monday, in connection with a pro-democracy uprising his troops crushed 40 years ago.

The 89-year-old dozed off as the verdict was read out in Gwangju, where the 1980 demonstrations ended in a bloodbath, but he was spared a return to prison.&nbsp;

The official toll for the dead or missing is around 200 people, but activists say it may have been three times as high, and Chun is known as the "Butcher of Gwangju".

He still denies any direct involvement in the suppression of the uprising, and in a 2017 memoir denounced a priest who had repeatedly testified that helicopter gunships had opened fire on civilians, as "Satan in a mask".

Under South Korean libel law defamation can be a criminal offence as well as a civil matter, relatives can file such complaints on behalf of dead people, and truth is not necessarily a defence.

The priest's family lodged a criminal libel complaint against Chun and prosecutors took him to trial.

"Chun was aware of the helicopter shots fired," the court said, adding Chun alone bore the "main responsibility" for the casualties.

It gave him an eight-month suspended sentence, well short of the 18-month custodial term sought by prosecutors, with Yonhap news agency quoting the judge as calling on him to "sincerely atone" for his deeds.

Wearing a facemask and a black hat, Chun -- who was not held in custody during the trial -- did not speak to reporters as he left.

Chun governed South Korea with an iron fist during the 1980s. He oversaw the country's economic rise and won the right to host the 1988 Summer Olympics, but also brutally repressed opponents until mass demonstrations forced him to accept democracy.&nbsp;

He was the country's first president to hand over power peacefully, but remains among its most reviled figures.

In 1996, he was convicted of treason and condemned to death, in part over what happened at Gwangju, but his execution was commuted on appeal and he was released following a presidential pardon.

All four of South Korea's living ex-presidents are either currently in prison or have previously served jail terms.

Former South Korean dictator Chun Doo-hwan was found guilty of defaming a dead priest on Monday, in connection with a pro-democracy uprising his troops crushed 40 years ago.

Former South Korean dictator Chun Doo-hwan was found guilty of defaming a dead priest on Monday, in connection with a pro-democracy uprising his troops crushed 40 years ago. The 89-year-old dozed off as the verdict was read out in Gwangju, where the 1980 demonstrations ended in a bloodbath, but he was spared a return to prison. The official toll for the dead or missing is around 200 people, but activists say it may have been three times as high, and Chun is known as the "Butcher of Gwangju". He still denies any direct involvement in the suppression of the uprising, and in a 2017 memoir denounced a priest who had repeatedly testified that helicopter gunships had opened fire on civilians, as "Satan in a mask". Under South Korean libel law defamation can be a criminal offence as well as a civil matter, relatives can file such complaints on behalf of dead people, and truth is not necessarily a defence. The priest's family lodged a criminal libel complaint against Chun and prosecutors took him to trial. "Chun was aware of the helicopter shots fired," the court said, adding Chun alone bore the "main responsibility" for the casualties. It gave him an eight-month suspended sentence, well short of the 18-month custodial term sought by prosecutors, with Yonhap news agency quoting the judge as calling on him to "sincerely atone" for his deeds. Wearing a facemask and a black hat, Chun -- who was not held in custody during the trial -- did not speak to reporters as he left. Chun governed South Korea with an iron fist during the 1980s. He oversaw the country's economic rise and won the right to host the 1988 Summer Olympics, but also brutally repressed opponents until mass demonstrations forced him to accept democracy. He was the country's first president to hand over power peacefully, but remains among its most reviled figures. In 1996, he was convicted of treason and condemned to death, in part over what happened at Gwangju, but his execution was commuted on appeal and he was released following a presidential pardon. All four of South Korea's living ex-presidents are either currently in prison or have previously served jail terms.

Former South Korean dictator Chun guilty of defamation over massacre

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