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Tokyo is obliged to explain measures against Seoul A diplomatic row between Seoul and Tokyo is looming large ― yet again ― over the latter's "unilateral" two-week quarantine plan for all visitors from South Korea over concerns about the new coronavirus. Given it is a de facto entry ban for South Koreans, it was quite natural for the government to decide Friday to take simi..

Closer cooperation needed to fight COVID-19 The World Health Organization declared the global coronavirus outbreak a pandemic Wednesday. The declaration is somewhat belated but inevitable considering the new virus' rapid spread throughout the world. It should serve as a clear warning against COVID-19 that calls for more aggressive and intensive action to contain the highly con..

Time for government to rethink efficacy of education policy Private tutoring expenditure by parents with elementary, middle and high school students reached 20.9 trillion won ($17.6 billion) last year, up 7.8 percent from the 19.5 trillion won in 2018 and the biggest increase in a decade. There must be a reason for their spending to spike despite a fall in student numbers caus..

Government should step in to offer guidelines With the coronavirus ravaging the country, Gyeonggi Province has intervened to mediate in disputes between customers and business operators, including travel agencies. The mediation is necessary, considering the huge costs arising from a lack of dispute-settlement standards and guidelines when social disasters such as the coronavir..

Seoul should brace for possible mass contagion Concerns are growing that the novel coronavirus may spread rapidly in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area following a mass infection at a call center in Guro-gu, southwestern Seoul. Since greater Seoul is home to some 26 million people, it will be disastrous if the government fails to contain the spread of the virus there...

Customized support is needed to help marginal firms stay afloat Calls are mounting among small firms and the self-employed for policymakers to come up with customized support to minimize damage from the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Many of those business owners say more than just damage relief is needed to help them maintain minimal levels of operation and production. Acco..

Tripartite declaration should be supported by actions Unions, management and the government have agreed to cooperate to tide over the crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak. On Friday, the Economic, Social and Labor Council, a tripartite body for social dialogue under direct presidential control, announced that the three would join forces to share the economic and social pa..

North Korea's rocket launches cannot be justified North Korea fired three short-range projectiles into the East Sea, Monday, in what appeared to be a test of a new multiple rocket launcher. This came a week after the North's military launched two short-range projectiles, March 2, with its leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, drawing criticism from the United Nations Security Coun..

Airlines and travel agencies, already hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, are taking another hit from Japan's recent decision to tighten entry restrictions on people traveling from Korea, company officials said Sunday. Asiana Airlines, the nation's second-biggest airline, suspended all flights to Japan from Monday to the end of March for the first time since the company laun..

Changed law virtually bans ride-hailing service The National Assembly's passage of a revision to the Passenger Transport Service Act has dealt a severe blow to the fledgling innovative ride-hailing service industry. This legislation no doubt is designed to put a virtual ban on Tada, an increasingly popular mobility platform operator with 1.7 million users. On Friday, the Assem..