The more news you watch about the coronavirus, the more likely you are to develop prejudice, fear and anxiety about getting infected, a study showed Thursday. According to a survey of 1,500 adults by a research team led by psychiatry professor Kim Sung-wan at Chonnam National University Medical School, there was a noticeable decrease in prejudice, fear and anxiety among those who have more knowledge of COVID-19. But consuming news on COVID-19 via mass media did not help people gain knowledge

South Korea’ daily COVID-19 cases surpassed 1,000 for the first time on Sunday, the highest total since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak here in January, as the government’s antivirus restrictions appear to be bearing little fruit. Calling the current situation “the biggest crisis” since the pandemic arrived here, President Moon Jae-in warned that the country will have to consider enforcing the toughest-level social distancing rules if the virus doesn’t s

South Korea’s health authorities said Thursday that they would expand anonymous COVID-19 testing and enable anyone to be tested for the virus regardless of symptoms, as the country struggles to flatten the curve. 　 Korea added 682 coronavirus cases -- 646 locally transmitted and 36 originating from overseas -- in the 24 hours ending Wednesday at midnight, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. 　 Thursday’s daily case count marks a slight decrease from a day e

South Korea reported nearly 700 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, second-highest daily total since the beginning of the outbreak here in January, despite tightened antivirus restrictions in place nationwide. Korea added 686 coronavirus cases -- 662 locally transmitted and 24 originating from overseas -- in the 24 hours ending Tuesday at midnight, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Wednesday’s daily case count is the highest ever apart from Feb. 29 when the dai

Transmission routes were unknown for 1 in 5 coronavirus cases reported over the past two weeks in South Korea as of Tuesday, signaling a tough battle in reining in the spread of the virus as the world watches COVID-19 vaccinations begin in the UK. Korea added 594 coronavirus cases -- 566 locally transmitted and 28 imported from overseas -- in the 24 hours ending Monday at midnight, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. For the past two weeks, transmission routes for 2

President Moon Jae-in ordered the government Monday to step up its contact-tracing and testing capacities in the Seoul metropolitan area as the country battles “the biggest crisis” since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. 　 Despite a fall in the number of coronavirus tests carried out over the weekend, South Korea added 615 coronavirus cases -- 580 locally transmitted and 35 imported from overseas -- in the 24 hours ending Sunday at midnight, according to

Tougher antivirus restrictions will take effect in Seoul starting Saturday, with a record number of new daily COVID-19 cases reported in the capital and the country’s daily case count surpassing 600 on Friday. The spike in coronavirus cases is also fueling fears of the health system becoming overwhelmed, causing shortages of hospital beds and other resources for critically ill patients. At this pace, according to health officials, hospital beds can be expected to run out in 10 to 14 days

South Korea’s new daily COVID-19 case count topped 500 for the second consecutive day Friday, prompting health authorities to consider further tightening social distancing measures amid a full-blown third wave of infections across the country. The country reported 569 new cases -- 525 locally transmitted cases and 44 imported from overseas -- in the 24 hours ending Thursday at midnight, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.　 A day earlier, Korea saw the daily cas

South Korea’s new daily COVID-19 case count soared to 583 on Thursday, the highest single-day increase in virus cases since early March amid a full-blown third wave of infections across the country. The country reported 553 locally transmitted cases and 19 cases imported from overseas in the 24 hours ending Wednesday at midnight, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.　 It is the first time that the country’s daily virus cases have exceeded 500 since March 6,

A series of symposiums to celebrate the winners of this year’s Nobel Prizes and their accomplishments will be held online Tuesday, according to the Swedish Embassy in South Korea. Organized by the embassy, the Sweden-Korea Nobel Memorial Program 2020 will consist of three symposiums, where Korean and Swedish experts from partner universities and institutions will discuss this year’s Nobel awards in literature, economics and the sciences. The event opens with a science session, wh

South Korea reported the highest number of new daily COVID-19 cases since late August on Wednesday, amid the continued emergence of infection clusters from every corner of daily life. The country reported 382 new coronavirus cases -- 363 locally transmitted and 19 imported from overseas -- in the 24 hours ending Tuesday at midnight, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Wednesday’s case tally marked the highest figure since Aug. 27, when it stood at 434 amid a re

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday was awarded the “Strait of Magellan” Award by the Chilean government for his global leadership to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Ban, who now serves as chairman of the National Council on Climate and Air Quality as well as president and chair of the Global Green Growth Institute, won the award for his contribution in leading the international community to adopt Sustainable Development Goals and in reaching th

Health authorities on Tuesday urged members of the public to minimize social contact to help rein in a nationwide wave of COVID-19 infections as the country’s new daily cases bounced back to over 300. 　 The country reported 349 new coronavirus cases -- 320 locally transmitted and 29 imported from overseas -- in the 24 hours ending Monday at midnight, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.　 　 “Please forgo your plans for year-end gatherings this year to preven

Antibody tests on young enlistees in the nation’s military showed immunity levels three times higher than average for all age groups, government data revealed Monday. Of the 6,959 enlisted soldiers aged between 20 and 22, whose samples were collected in September and October, 15 tested positive without having been previously diagnosed with COVID-19. Ten others with a history of COVID-19 also tested positive. This means 0.22 percent of the people considered uninfected had an immune r

An exhibition of extended reality content will open at Incheon Airport on Tuesday, as part of the 24th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. Co-organized by the Embassy of France in Seoul and the French Institute, the exhibition, titled “Beyond Reality over Incheon Airport,” will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Dec. 13 at the airport’s Terminal 1. Under the theme of “traveling,” the exhibition features virtual reality projects – 360-degree vide

An online education fair for South Koreans interested in pursuing higher education in Europe will be held on Nov. 23-24, the Delegation of the European Union to Korea said Friday. The EU Delegation to Korea, together with embassies of the European nations in Seoul, will host “Study in Europe Fair 2020” in a fully virtual format, to be attended by 53 European universities and institutions from 17 countries, according to the EU Delegation to Korea. At the fair, which will be held e

The Greater Seoul area, home to half of South Korea’s population, is considered to have entered a third wave of COVID-19 infections, health authorities said Friday, as the country’s new daily coronavirus cases topped 300 for the third consecutive day. The country reported 363 new coronavirus cases -- 320 locally transmitted and 43 imported from overseas -- in the 24 hours ending Thursday at midnight, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.　 “We see that

South Korea’s new daily coronavirus cases exceeded 300 for the second consecutive day Thursday, with sporadic clusters of infections linked to everyday spaces posing a challenge to authorities’ fight to rein in another nationwide wave of COVID-19 infections. The country reported 343 new coronavirus cases -- 293 locally transmitted and 50 imported from overseas -- in the 24 hours ending Wednesday at midnight, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.　 New cluste

A webinar to analyze the situation on the Korean Peninsula and share Nordic experiences of peace mediation will be held on Tuesday, marking the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. Hosted by embassies of Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway in Seoul and Yonsei University's GSIS Program in International Cooperation on peace and security, experts and scholars will discuss how Nordic experiences can help solve the decades-long nuclear problem on the Korean Peninsula. The event open

South Korea faces a growing threat of another nationwide wave of COVID-19 infections as the country’s new daily coronavirus cases topped 300 on Wednesday, the highest number since August, with a spike in both locally transmitted and imported cases. The country reported 313 new coronavirus cases -- 245 locally transmitted and 68 imported from overseas -- in the 24 hours ending Tuesday at midnight, according to the Korea Disease Control Agency.　 Health authorities are scrambling to contai