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Striking doctors should return to dialogue A conflict between the government and the medical sector is escalating over a plan to increase the number of medical students. The Korean Intern Resident Association, the mouthpiece of 16,000 trainee doctors, said Monday that it has decided to go on an indefinite strike. The haggling is worrisome as it comes amid the resurgent COVID-19 pandemic here. Th..

New party leader should promote national unity President Moon Jae-in's former prime minister, Lee Nak-yon, will steer the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) as he was chosen with slightly over 60 percent of the party member votes. Lee's expansive track record as former five-term lawmaker, former governor of South Jeolla Province and former journalist gave his candidacy a dominance over the o..

BTS became the first South Korean artist to land at No. 1 on Billboard's main singles chart in the United States on Monday. "BTS achieves its first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, as 'Dynamite' debuts at the summit," Billboard reported Monday, one day before its chart will be refreshed. Previously, the highest-charting South Korean artist ever on the Hot 100 was soloist PSY with his ..

This week crucial to make or break virus control South Korea is engaged in an uphill battle against COVID-19. The number of new daily infections has remained in the triple digits for two weeks. This has prompted the health authorities to enforce far stricter social distancing measures in a desperate bid to contain the resurgence of infections. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention..

Can leadership change help mend Seoul-Tokyo ties? Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has tendered his resignation for health reasons. Japan is set to choose its new prime minister soon in mid-September. Now the question is whether the looming replacement of the Japanese leadership will bring about any changes in soured relations between Seoul and Tokyo. We hope the neighbors will mend ties to en..

How do bottles of the trans-generational Korean liquor soju ― with different colors ― get recycled? Until 2009, it was unthinkable. This was why soju makers agreed that year to manufacture the bottles in green color with same size and design so the makers can share each other's bottles to recycle them. The voluntary agreement ― not bound by law ― between the soju makers and the Ministry of Envir..

Doctors should no longer hold patients hostage Medical doctors and trainee doctors are on a head-on collision course with the government over its plan to increase the number of medical students and create a new medical school. They cannot avoid criticism for holding patients hostage in their actions to oppose the plan and protect their own interests. Thousands of disgruntled medical professional..

Measures needed to avoid worst-case scenario The rapid spread of COVID-19 is showing no signs of abating, with infections spreading across the nation. It is worrisome that only seven beds are available for patients in critical condition in Seoul and the metropolitan area. The National Medical Center (NMC), now in charge of management of hospital beds for coronavirus patients, has warned of a loo..

Any violators should face zero tolerance Complying with social distancing rules and anti-infection measures is the key to containing the spread of COVID-19. This is all the more important because South Korea faces a second wave of mass infections. Yet some members of our society are making ill-conceived efforts to flout the guidelines and proper measures against the highly contagious virus. They..

Greater Seoul area students, schools should commit to two-weeks' remote-only learning With daily COVID-19 infection cases hovering in the 300s again, students from kindergarten and up to 11th grade in Seoul and its surrounding area will engage only in remote learning for two weeks through Sept. 11. There are a few exceptions, mainly high school seniors who will take the College Scholastic Abilit..