World races to contain new COVID threat, the omicron variant Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the world raced Friday to contain a new coronavirus variant potentially more dangerous than the one that has fueled relentless waves of infection on nearly every continent.

Late ex-President Chun’s wife apologizes for ‘pains and scars’ inflicted during his presidency The wife of late former President Chun Doo-hwan, widely criticized for the bloody crackdown on a 1980 pro-democracy uprising in the southwestern city of Gwangju, issued an apology on Saturday for the “pains and scars” inflicted during his presidency.

Daily COVID-19 cases bounce back above 4,000; deaths hit record high South Korea’s new coronavirus cases rose above 4,000 with the numbers of deaths and critically ill patients hitting fresh record highs Saturday, deepening worries about the further spread of COVID-19 under a phased scheme for a gradual return to normal life.

Korea vows efforts to ensure timely supply of vaccines at virtual ASEM summit Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Friday South Korea will work to ensure equitable and timely supply of COVID-19 vaccines across the world as he attended a virtual summit of Asian and European leaders.

Coupang Play to release first original series ‘One Ordinary Day’ Coupang Play, a homegrown streaming service, will premier Korean drama “One Ordinary Day,” starring actors Kim Soo-hyun and Cha Seong-won, Saturday as its first-ever original series.

No US request for talks over potential diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics: official South Korea has not received any request from the United States for consultations over a possible diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics slated for February, a foreign ministry official said Friday.

Korea, Uzbekistan vow to speed up negotiations for trade deal Korea and Uzbekistan agreed Friday to expedite efforts to clinch a bilateral free trade agreement and to boost cooperation on stable supply chains of key industrial items, Seoul’s finance ministry said.

Property owners cry foul over growing real estate tax burden As the government sent out real estate tax bills a week ago, those who are subject to pay the tax expressed severe discontent over the sudden increase in their tax burden. While calling the Moon administration’s tax scheme “punitive” in nature, some property owners are […]

EU wants to stop flights from southern Africa over variant European Union nations were moving to stop air travel from southern Africa on Friday, seeking to counter the spread of a new COVID-19 variant as the 27-nation bloc battles a massive spike in cases.

French fishermen to block ports, tunnel in spat with UK French fishing crews are threatening to block French ports and traffic under the English Channel on Friday to disrupt the flow of goods to the U.K., in a dispute over post-Brexit fishing licenses.