SEOUL, June 19 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea, still stuck in first wave of coronavirus outbreak, is on alert over another potential round of virus infections in the summer, as a significant downturn in the virus appears unlikely. Respiratory viruses, such as influenza, tend to subdue in the summer after surging in the winter season. [...]
SEOUL, June 19 (Korea Bizwire) — With new coronavirus infections continuing to break out in South Korea’s capital, swimming at public pools may not be possible this summer. The Seoul metropolitan government on Friday announced plans to tentatively postpone the opening of swimming pools and water sports facilities by the Han River. The city government [...]
SEOUL, June 19 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s two leading duty-free operators will begin to sell duty-free products through local retail channels next week as the government has decided to temporarily permit such sales to help the pandemic-hit sector, company officials said Friday. Industry leader Lotte Duty Free and its rival, Shilla Duty Free, plan [...]
CHANGWON, June 19 (Korea Bizwire) — The Republic of Korea Naval Academy in the southeastern city of Changwon carried out judo belt examinations online under the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The academy, with the authority bestowed by the Korea Judo Association to carry out judo belt examinations, held so-called ‘untact’ examinations for 40 cadets on Thursday. Prior [...]
SEOUL, June 19 (Korea Bizwire) — The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced additional plans on Thursday to disperse visitors coming to beaches by introducing reservation systems, as part of efforts to prevent the coronavirus from spreading. The government will introduce reservation systems at 14 beaches located in North Jeolla Province’s Yeosu, Mokpo, and Shinan [...]
SEOUL, June 19 (Korea Bizwire) — To prevent coronavirus epidemics which are spread by wildlife vectors, it’s better to attempt to improve the overall health of the ecosystem rather than passively taking ex-post countermeasures, according to a new report released by a state-run body affiliated with the Prime Minister’s Office. The Korea Environment Institute published [...]
SEOUL, June 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Regulations are set to be loosened further to enable airlines to use passenger planes remaining idle due to the coronavirus outbreak to transport cargo more easily. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on Thursday that it would ease the fire protection standards for passenger planes to make [...]
SEOUL, June 18 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s education ministry on Thursday urged universities and students to mutually resolve the latter’s growing call for tuition refunds amid the new coronavirus pandemic. “(The ministry) feels regretful that students cannot attend in-person classes due to the new coronavirus. (It) also sympathizes with universities whose budgets have been [...]
SEOUL, June 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Korean Air Lines Co. and Asiana Airlines Inc. — South Korea’s two largest airlines — said Thursday they will extend mileage points, set to expire this year, by one year amid the new coronavirus outbreak. The two carriers made the decision as the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected passenger [...]
SEOUL, June 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Purchases made through mobile gadgets like smartphones in South Korea reached a record high in the first quarter of the year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, a report showed Thursday. The total value of mobile shopping transactions reached a fresh high of 24.79 trillion won (US$20.3 billion) in [...]