​South Korea to lift PCR test requirement for arrivals from China

SEOUL -- South Korea plans to lift a post-arrival PCR test requirement for travelers from China on March 1 as the COVID-19 pandemic has receded, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said February 22. The headquarters affiliated with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said that the government has decided to scrap the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test requirement as the pandemic situation in China has been stabilized with Chinese arrivals showing a low

February 22, 2023

​Court rules in favor of same-sex couple demanding spousal health insurance coverage

SEOUL -- A same-sex couple has won a court ruling that recognized their legal status for the first time in South Korea as far as the state health insurance coverage is concerned. On February 21, the Seoul High Court ruled in favor of the gay couple who has demanded the same spousal coverage from the health insurance as heterosexual couples. The appellate court made the landmark ruling, overturning a lower court's decision that the plaintiff was not qualified as a dependent

February 21, 2023

State tourism institution rolls out tour course recommendation content for Hallyu fans

SEOUL -- Targeting Korean Wave fans all over the world, a tourism organization under South Korea’s culture ministry has released content that contains various information about K-content including K-pop, dramas, entertainment shows, and films. A total of 51 tour courses were selected such as the hit drama Hometown Cha Cha Cha and content related to Meokbang, an audiovisual show involving one or more hosts eating food while interacting with fans. The Korea Tourism Organization

February 21, 2023

S. Korea to nurture logistics sector for establishment of quick delivery infrastructure through drones and robots

SEOUL -- To establish a same-day delivery infrastructure nationwide, South Korea's transport ministry unveiled its plan to commercialize robot delivery by 2026 and drone delivery by 2027. The country will assist the logistics industry's digital transformation and lift regulations regarding building logistics centers in urban areas. Currently, most logistics centers are located in suburban regions. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a press release on

February 21, 2023

​Phishing scams cause $1.28 billion in damages over past five years

SEOUL -- South Korea suffered 1.66 trillion won ($1.28 billion) in cumulative damages arising from phishing scams over the last five years, a report by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said February 21. Phishing scams related to bank loans caused 999.8 billion won in damages between 2018 and 2022, accounting for 60.1 percent of the total sum, according to the report submitted by the FSS to Rep. Kang Min-kuk of the ruling People Power Party (PPP). The number of phishing s

February 21, 2023

Indonesia to collaborate with K-pop industry to create global phenomenon 'Indonesian Wave'

SEOUL -- Indonesia is seeking to step up collaboration with South Korean partners to create an Indonesian entertainment ecosystem equal to the Korean Wave, Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea Gandi Sulistiyanto said during an annual media briefing at his official residence in Seoul on February 17. He said that his country aims to create an Indonesia Wave (I-Wave) by cooperating with South Korea in various entertainment sectors such as fashion, music, games and animation. "

February 17, 2023

​Prosecution seeks arrest warrant for opposition leader on corruption charges

SEOUL -- The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said February 16 that it has sought an arrest warrant for Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main progressive opposition Democratic Party (DP), over corruption allegations involving land development projects and suspicious donations from corporations. Lee faces bribery, breach of duty, conflict of interest and other charges in relation to large-scale development projects in Daejang-dong and Wirye, Seongnam City, just sou

February 16, 2023

S. Korean consumers favor meal kit products than dining out due to price hike

SEOUL -- The popularity of meal kits, ready-to-eat meal packs, at megastores has increased despite South Korea adopting re-opening policies, including lifting regulations on compulsory face masks in indoor environments. The unexpected popularity of the convenient heat-and-eat meal packs was affected by increased prices of daily necessities including food. Meal kits became popular in South Korea when the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country in early 2020. People avoid

February 16, 2023

​China to resume issuing short-term visas for South Koreans February 18

SEOUL -- China has decided to resume issuing short-term visas for South Korean travelers on February 18, the Chinese Embassy in Seoul said on February 15. The decision was made four days after South Korea restarted the issuance of short-term visas for travelers from China. The Seoul government lifted the visa restrictions as China's new COVID-19 wave began to recede and a mere 1.1 percent of travelers from the neighboring country tested positive for the coronavirus. The Seo

February 15, 2023

South Korea to resume issuing short-term visas for travelers from China

SEOUL -- The South Korean government said February 10 that it has decided to resume issuing short-term visas in its diplomatic missions in China for those wanting to travel to Korea starting February 11. In a positive response to Seoul's decision, China said that it will actively consider lifting its visa restrictions against South Koreans. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters that South Korea's lifting of visa restrictions on China is a step in the

February 10, 2023