Something these news stories never mention about this breakout of the coronavirus in Seoul is whether the hospitals are being overwhelmed or not? That is the key factor people need to remember, is the spread contained enough to where the hospitals can handle the sickest people:
A medical worker stands next to cooling equipment at a makeshift clinic in central Seoul on Aug. 19, 2020.
South Korea’s daily new virus cases have now soared by three-digit figures for a week straight as the country on Wednesday reported the largest number of cases since early March, with infections traced to churches in the capital city of Seoul continuing to swell.
The country added 297 more COVID-19 cases, including 283 local infections, raising the total caseload to 16,058, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Over the past week, the daily new virus cases have been in the triple digits, with almost 1,300 cases being newly identified. Wednesday’s daily tally marks the most since March 8, when the country reported 367 COVID-19 cases.
Gwanghwamun Square demonstrations Anti-government demonstrators pack Gwanghwamun Square and Sejong boulevard in downtown Seoul on Aug. 15, 2020. Protestors attacked the policies of the incumbent government and ruling party, with the gathering being organized by Sarang Jeil Church and the conservative Freedom Union. (Yonhap)
Here is the latest on the development of the Yongsan Park:
The idea of creating Yongsan Park became official in 2005 after the Roh Moo-hyun administration and the U.S. agreed to relocate troops there to Pyeongtaek.
In 2007, the National Assembly passed a special act on the creation of the park and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport began allocating resources for it.
No one expected the relocation would take so long.
One reason for the delay was that government had to find money to finance the Yongsan Relocation Plan ― which it was supposed to pay for. Occasional provocations from North Korea were also a factor that influenced the project.
Now, the former U.S. site is more than 90 percent empty.
The land ministry projects the park will be opened in 2027, but many, including the Ministry of National Defense responsible for the site return negotiations, are cautious, only saying it will largely depend on the talks which are expected to hit a stumbling block over the issue of soil contamination.
The land ministry has got many things done so far.
In 2012, it selected a team of architects and urban planners to design the park ― the final version of the plan was made public last week and can be found at park.go.kr.
The ministry is also carrying out aggressive public awareness campaigns about the park.
In 2018, the ministry began offering tours of the garrison, inviting a limited number of residents to see the historic buildings and sites.
On Aug. 1, the ministry is opening up the 50,000 square meters of land that used to be a residential compound for U.S. military officers and their families. The land was returned to Korea in 1986 but instead of opening up to the public immediately, the government built new houses and rented them to USFK personnel until the end of last year.
You can read more at the link, but how many people think all of Yongsan Garrison will be turned into a park? I also wonder if the historic Imperial Japanese era buildings will be torn down as well.
This plan would be disastrous to the various parks and green space around Seoul if approved:
In this photo, taken on July 15, 2020, Land Minister Kim Hyun-mee speaks at a meeting with lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party in charge of transportation policies at a National Assembly building in western Seoul.
South Korea is considering opening up greenbelt zones in the Seoul metropolitan area to make more land available for housing as part of efforts to help resolve the country’s housing supply shortage in the densely populated area, the transport ministry said Wednesday.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said it has formed a task force with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Seoul city, Gyeonggi and Incheon regional governments to discuss ways to supply more homes in the capital city and adjacent areas.
In less than a week, the government has changed its stance toward easing the construction ban in the development restriction areas designated by the country to resolve housing shortage problems.
According to the YTN News report Mayor Park was found dead in slopes of Bukhansan mountain near Waryong Park. The below map shows where the park is located at in Seoul with red tree icon:
It has not been confirmed if this is suicide yet or not, but according to what this daughter has said, it does appear to be a suicide. If confirmed this would be the second major political suicide since 2009 to rock South Korea. In 2009 former President Roh Moo-hyun committed suicide when him and his family was faced with corruption probes.
For some expats living in Seoul you may be getting a check from the City of Seoul soon:
Foreigners living in Seoul will receive a one-time Covid-19 relief payment, a city official confirmed Wednesday.
During a plenary session Tuesday, the Seoul Metropolitan Council passed a supplementary budget bill that included plans to allocate 33 billion won ($27.4 million) for a program to dole out emergency funds to foreigners.
But the city has been light on basic details, including the timing and payment amounts.
Seoul’s decision to provide Covid-19 emergency payments to foreigners came less than a month after Korea’s human rights watchdog, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, issued a policy recommendation to the metropolitan government of Seoul and the provincial government of Gyeonggi not to discriminate against foreigners when providing Covid-19 relief.
In North Korea, people need permission to live in Pyongyang. In South Korea, people need permission to buy/sell housing in parts of Seoul. If buy/sell without the government approval, can go to jail for 2 yrs. https://t.co/Qe6I8EfsYE
The U.S. embassy’s virtue signaling didn’t last very long:
A man walks near “Black Lives Matter” and rainbow banners at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Sunday, June 14, 2020. AP
The U.S. Embassy in Seoul took down a “Black Lives Matter” banner from its mission building Monday, only two days after the banner was unfurled in solidarity with “the fight against racial injustice and police brutality” in the United States.
In a statement sent to The Korea Times Tuesday, an embassy spokeswoman said Ambassador Harry Harris removed the banner to avoid misapprehension that he supports any specific groups leading the protests.
“The ambassador’s intent was not to support or encourage donations to any specific organization,” the spokeswoman said. “To avoid the misperception that American taxpayer dollars were spent to benefit such organizations, he directed that the banner be removed.
“This in no way lessens the principles and ideals expressed by raising the banner, and the embassy will look for other ways to convey fundamental American values in these times of difficulty at home.
You can read more at the link, but it does seem strange that the State Department would be advocating for an organization that supports illegal immigration and defunding police departments.
Baby Shark, Pinkfong named promotional envoys for Seoul Popular characters — the Baby Shark (L) and Pinkfong — pose for a photo with Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon during a ceremony at Seoul City Hall on June 8, 2020, to mark their appointment as new ambassadors to promote visits to the South Korean capital. (Yonhap)
Service at Sarang Community Church Sarang Community Church holds a service at its main hall in southern Seoul on May 31, 2020, in this photo provided by the church. (Yonhap)
