Just in: The S. Korean prime minister has announced a new 5-level social distancing scheme, up from the original 3-level scheme. yna.co.kr/view/AKR202011…
More on new social distancing measure in S. Korea:
Levels: 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3
Zones: nation divided into 7 zones, level of each zone based on average # of daily infections/week
Mask wearing + other key rules previously for "high-risk" facilities now apply to all facilities
Level 1 signifies a controllable level of transmission that allows people to carry out their ordinary lives while wearing masks and following social distancing rules at designated facilities.
At Level 1.5, use of multi-use facilities is restricted.
At Level 2, the pandemic is considered to be spreading nationwide and nonessential outdoor visits and gatherings are discouraged in the affected zones.
Level 2.5 is considered to be exceeding health system's routine response levels, and gov will urge public to remain at home.
At Level 3, which will be issued in the event that more than 800 new daily cases are reported for a week, nation will effectively be placed on lockdown.
"전쟁의 잿더미 속에서 한국은 전 세계에 '한강의 기적'을 보여줬고, 번영하는 민주주의와 경제 강국의 빛나는 모범이 됐다. 한국은 코로나19와의 싸움에서 글로벌 리더가 돼 왔고 또 공동 번영과 가치, 안보를 증진시키고 국제사회의 도전에 대처하는 데 있어 이 지역의 강력한 동맹이 돼 왔다."
"대통령으로서 나는 우리의 군대를 철수하겠다는 무모한 협박으로 한국을 갈취하기보다는, 동아시아와 그 이상의 지역에서 평화를 지키기 위해 우리의 동맹을 강화하면서 한국과 함께 설 것이다. 나는 원칙에 입각한 외교에 관여하고 비핵화한 북한과 통일된 한반도를 향해 계속 나아갈 것이다."
"As President, I'll stand with South Korea, strengthening our alliance to safeguard peace in East Asia and beyond, rather than extorting Seoul with reckless threats to remove our troops".
"As President, I'll continue to defend the American Dream for everyone, so every Korean American family has the same fair shot at prosperity and a better future. I'll stand against racism in every form [...] working to heal today's divisions, not fan the flames".
The Shincheonji outbreak was the first major outbreak in S. Korea. We didn't know much then, there were few measures, & congregants unknowingly spread the virus among themselves.
Sarang Jeil Presbyterian Church: week after week, deliberately defied every measure, warning & ban.
While we can draw parallels to the Shincheonji outbreak, there are also clear differences. This time, it's malicious. The radical Sarang Jeil Presbyterian Church has been aggressive in defying every rule and ban.
For instance, after the Shincheonji outbreak, some congregants went into hiding both because of the COVID-19 stigma but also being branded a weird cult. Yes, they were accused of hampering containment efforts due to hiding. Same happened for gay club outbreak.
1/ A top ranking male S. Korean diplomat is currently wanted by New Zealand police accused of sexually assaulting a male staff at the S. Korean embassy there in 2017. Arrest warrant was issued on February 28 2020 for the former Deputy Ambassador, but S. Korea has refused to help.
2/ The S. Korean diplomat was exposed by New Zealand media earlier this year as having been charged with indecent assault against a staff member at the S. Korean embassy in Wellington.
BREAKING: The side of the former secretary of the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, who accused him of sexual misconduct prior to his death, is to give a press conference at 2:00 pm today local time.
Press conference to take place at the Korea Women's Hot Line office in Eunpyeong District, also attended by the former secretary's lawyer and the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center. news.v.daum.net/v/202007131102…
Details in Korean of the upcoming press conference by those representing the alleged victim:
BREAKING: Daughter of Mayor of Seoul Park Won-soon dialed police at 5:17 pm local time today to report father missing, who left house 4-5 hours prior, "leaving behind words that sounded like his will". Police trying to locate the Mayor. yna.co.kr/view/AKR202007…
DEVELOPING: Mayor of Seoul Park Won-soon has been reported missing by his daughter, his phone is reportedly turned off. Police are trying to locate his whereabouts.