신종 코로나바이러스 감염증(코로나19) 경기도 용인 66번 확진자 A(29)씨가 다녀간 서울 이태원 클럽을 중심으로 집단감염 사례가 연일 확인되자 '사회적 거리두기'가 끝나지 않은 상황에서 유흥업소에 방문한 행적을 두고 비판 목소리가 거세다. A씨가 다녀간 업소에 성소수자들이 주로 찾는 '게이 클럽'이 포함된 사실이 알려지면서 성소수자 집단이 도매금으로 비난의 화살을 맞는 일이 벌어졌다. 이와 관련한 '아웃팅'(동성애 등 성적 지향이나 성 정체성이 타인에 의해 강제로 공개되는 것) 우려에 확진자 동선 공개 범위 논란도 일고 있다. 전문가들은 재난 상황에서 사회적 소수자나 약자에게 차별과 혐오가 가해지는 현상이 반복돼 왔다며, 이같은 혐오는 사태 해결에 도움이 되지 않는다고 지적한다. ◇ '게이클럽' 네 글자에 쏟아진 성소수자 혐오 용인 66번 환자 A씨는 이달 6일 코로나19 확진 판정을 받았다. 동선 추적 결과 그는 확진 판정을 받기 나흘 전인 이달 2일 새벽 이태원 일대

한국어판 May 10, 2020

신종 코로나바이러스 감염증(코로나19) 방역 지침이 다소 완화했지만 야외 행사는 여전히 어려운 요즘, 트로트 가수들의 방송가 진출이 한층 활발해졌다. 비지상파 시청률 신기록을 쓴 TV조선 '미스터트롯' 신드롬의 잔열이 오래 지속하는 가운데 해당 프로그램 출연진뿐만 아니라 중견 트로트 가수들까지도 각종 예능에 고정 멤버나 게스트로 참여하며 새로운 시장을 열고 있다. 물론 가장 활발한 방송 활동을 펼치는 쪽은 '미스터트롯' 출신 '트롯맨'들이다. 임영웅, 영탁, 이찬원 등 결승 진출자들은 '사랑의 콜센타-신청곡을 불러드립니다'를 비롯한 TV조선 주요 예능은 물론 MBC TV '라디오 스타', JTBC '뭉쳐야 찬다', '77억의 사랑', 올리브 '밥블레스유' 등에 연이어 출연하며 방송가를 휩쓸고 있다. 이들이 출연한 프로그램은 자체 최고 시청률을 경신하며 반응도 뜨겁다. KBS 2TV '불후의 명곡' 등 앞으로 출연할 프로그램들도 한창 예약 대기 중이다. '톱(TOP)7' 외에

한국어판 May 10, 2020

LG Polymers India, an affiliate of South Korean chemical giant LG Chem Ltd., on Saturday expressed condolences over a gas leak that killed 12 people as it vowed to provide an effective care package for the victims. LG Polymers India said it has created a special task force to help victims and families to resolve any issues and provide assistance to the bereaved families. "LG Polymers India would like to express our deepest condolences to everyone who has been affected and hurt by this in

Industry May 10, 2020

The United States continues to seek a defense cost-sharing agreement with South Korea as neither side wants to see the alliance erode, a State Department official said Friday. R. Clarke Cooper, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, said communication has never stopped between the relevant parties, including the two countries' presidents, top diplomats, and top negotiators. His comment contradicts President Donald Trump's claim on Thursday that South Korea "has agre

Defense May 9, 2020

After coming home from a hectic day at work, Patty Noakes likes to wind down by watching baseball on ESPN. But it is not just any baseball she is watching on the US cable station these days. ESPN will be carrying six Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) games per week this season, while Major League Baseball (MLB) remains grounded due to the coronavirus pandemic. For fans like Noakes, who grew up in Cincinnati during the "Big Red Machine" era of the early 1970s, KBO is the only basebal

Baseball May 9, 2020

The Seoul city government on Saturday effectively suspended business at clubs and bars in the city after recent infections in the city's popular multicultural neighborhood of Itaewon put health authorities on alert over a possibly bigger outbreak. Under an administrative order that has gone into effect immediately, all clubs, bars, "room salons" and other nightlife establishments across the capital will be banned from hosting crowds of people, virtually suspending businesses at such

Social Affairs May 9, 2020

An American soldier who was recently assigned to the US Forces Korea from Japan tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the military said Friday, bringing the total number of infections among its population to 27. He arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on Wednesday on a US government-arranged charter flight and was under mandatory quarantine at Camp Humphreys while awaiting the results of his COVID-19 test. He is the third active-duty USFK service me

Defense May 8, 2020

JEONJU -- It's been a long time coming, but professional football is finally here in South Korea. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors hosted Suwon Samsung Bluewings before some 42,000 empty seats at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, to kick off the 2020 K League 1 season. The season was slated to begin on Feb. 29 but was pushed back indefinitely five days prior to its start due to the coronavirus outbreak. Then with the number of new cases steadily falling last month, the

Soccer May 8, 2020

SKC Co., a South Korean maker of chemicals and film products, said Friday that its net profit nearly tripled in the first quarter from a year earlier due to a stake sale. For the January-March period, SKC posted a net profit of 86.1 billion won ($70.5 million), a sharp increase from a profit of 23 billion a year earlier. SKC said the sale of its stake in SKC Kolon PI Inc., a maker of polyimide film used in displays, semiconductors and electric vehicles, boosted the company's bottom line. In

Industry May 8, 2020

South Korea's top multiplex chain CJ CGV Co. said Friday its first-quarter net loss widened sharply from a year earlier due to the coronavirus outbreak. CJ CGV said in a regulatory filing that it lost 118.6 billion won ($97.3 million) in the January-March period, compared with a net loss of 8.6 billion won a year earlier. Yet, the first-quarter net loss was smaller than a shortfall of 213.5 billion won recorded in the previous quarter. Revenue nose-dived 47.6 percent on-year to 243.3 billion

Industry May 8, 2020

LG Corp. on Friday reported its first-quarter net income of 592.1 billion won ($ 485.4 million), up 30.8 percent from a year earlier. Operating profit for the January-March period was 607.7 billion won, up 31.2 percent from a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. Revenue fell 2.6 percent to 1.58 trillion won. (Yonhap)

Industry May 8, 2020

  SK Chemicals Co. on Friday reported its first-quarter net profit of 13 billion won ($10.7 million), swinging from a loss of 11.6 billion won a year earlier.  Operating income for the January-March period was 8 billion won, up 119.2 percent from a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. Sales fell 20.9 percent to 252.5 billion won.  (Yonhap)

Industry May 8, 2020

Lotte Chemical Corp., a major South Korean petrochemical company, said Friday that it swung to a net loss in the first quarter from a year earlier due to weak demand amid the coronavirus pandemic. For the January-March period, Lotte Chemical posted a net loss of 90 billion won ($73.7 million), shifting from a net profit of 224 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing. Lotte Chemical said the net loss is blamed on weak demand amid the coronavirus pandemic as well as

Industry May 8, 2020

The government on Friday issued a monthlong advisory on clubs and bars, asking such establishments to voluntarily suspend business after group infections were reported at Seoul's popular multicultural neighborhood of Itaewon. Under the advisory, clubs and bars across the country will be advised to voluntarily suspend business for a month starting 8 p.m. Friday. The government also plans to tighten precautionary measures, such as making sure that entry logs of visitors are accurately filled ou

Social Affairs May 8, 2020

South Korean stocks closed higher Friday as investor sentiment got a boost from less-than-pessimistic economic indicators from the United States and China, analysts said. The Korean won rose against the US dollar. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 17.21 points, or 0.89 percent, to finish at 1,945.82. Trading volume was moderate at 775 million shares worth 7.82 trillion won ($6.4 billion), with gainers outpacing losers 588 to 227. Seoul stocks got off to a solid st

Market May 8, 2020