Tokyo just like Seoul has seen a recent increase in COVID infections and this has caused the Japanese government to cancel fans attending the games:

Organizers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Thursday agreed to hold the Games without spectators, after Japan declared a coronavirus state of emergency for the capital that will run throughout the event.

The widely expected move was made following talks between the government, Tokyo organizers and Olympic and Paralympic representatives.

It was “regrettable” that the Games were going to be held in a limited format, Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto told a briefing, adding her apologies to those who had bought tickets.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

It may be easier soon to do late night video gaming in South Korea:

The Ministry of Gender, Equality and Family has agreed to review the controversial “shutdown law” that bans minors from playing PC games after 12 a.m.  
   
Effective since November 2011, the law bans teens younger than 16 from playing computer games between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. The aim was to forcibly prevent teenagers from late-night gaming — an activity seen by the ministry as causing sleep deprivation, health damage and potentially, game addiction.  
   
Since it took effect, the law has been attacked by players, game companies and even lawmakers that questioned its effectiveness, especially after smartphones replaced desktops as the dominant medium for games. Facing those criticism, the Ministry of Gender, Equality and Family has always refused to abolish the law.  
   
Its Tuesday statement, however, strikes a softer tone, suggesting the ministry is now willing to consider a change.  
   
“The gaming environment has shifted and multiple bills were proposed to the National Assembly in regard to this law, including abolition,” the statement said. 

Joong Ang Ilbo

You can read more at the link.

When I see these reports it would be more informational if we knew if any of these people had the vaccine and if so what symptoms did they have?:

South Korea recorded 1,212 COVID-19 infections Wednesday, its highest on-day number of patients this year and the second highest of the pandemic. 

U.S. Forces Korea, meanwhile, announced that 19 people had tested positive for the coronavirus respiratory disease between June 29 and July 2.

The surge in cases, which forced Seoul to suspend plans to ease pandemic restrictions related to masks and social distancing, came the same day that public tours were temporarily halted to the Joint Security Area at the border between the two Koreas.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link, but of interest is that the article states that USFK has an over 80% vaccination percentage.

Here is the latest update on the Korean presidential race:

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and People’s Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo had their first meeting on Wednesday and agreed to work together for the opposition’s victory in next year’s presidential election.   
   
Yoon, who announced his presidential bid last month, met with Ahn, a two-time former presidential candidate in 2012 and 2017, for an almost 2 hour luncheon. According to their spokesmen, Yoon and Ahn agreed to continue their political and policy alliance.    
   
Yoon and Ahn agreed that they will work together to deter the Democratic Party’s (DP) victory in the March 2022 presidential election, their spokesmen said in a joint press briefing. They confirmed that they are rivals in good faith as well as partners.    
  

It looks like soon the remaining 30% of US military personnel not vaccinated will have to get the shot:

The Army is directing commands to prepare to administer mandatory COVID-19 vaccines as soon as Sept. 1, Army Times is reporting.

The Department of the Army Headquarters has sent an executive order to commands that the vaccines will become mandatory “on or around 01 September 2021 pending full Food and Drug Administration licensure.”

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

A former Korea Herald chairman appears to have had enough of COVID protocols in Korea:

Hong Jung-wook, a former chairman of the Korea Herald and ex-lawmaker, who is now chairman of the food company Organica, has caused a stir after calling Korea’s COVID-19 control measures “totalitarian” while praising the speed of the U.S.’s vaccination drive and return to normal daily life in his latest Facebook post.

Hong wrote July 5 that it took him less than five minutes at customs upon arriving in New York to check his health regarding COVID-19 and that wearing a mask was optional.

“The country that has seen the world’s highest number of casualties due to COVID-19 is now returning to daily life quickly,” he said. “On the other hand, it takes about an hour to enter Korea. For even vaccinated people like me, they have me write in an app, call me and send me text messages every day, only to hear me say, ‘no symptoms.'”

Hong, who served in the National Assembly from 2008-2012, said that Korea’s disease control authorities should put more effort into vaccinating citizens instead of into trying to control them. 

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.