Korea 24 - 2021.12.01

Korea24 &ndash; 2021.12.01. (Wednesday)<br /> <br /> News Briefing: South Korea has hit a new high in its daily COVID-19 case count of 5,123. The number of critically ill COVID-19 patients also hit an all-time high of 723. Meanwhile, authorities are also waiting to confirm the first suspected cases of the omicron variant in the country. (Eunice Kim)<br /> <br /> In-Depth News Analysis: On Monday, South Korea announced a comprehensive plan for next year to strengthen its crack down on the use of illegal drugs. According to data released by the government, the country caught a total of 753 kilos of illegal drugs being imported into the country from January to September this year, which was up more than four times the same period last year. Such data has reinforced concerns over the rapidly growing rate of illegal drug use in Korea. To help us get a better understanding of the current situation reporter Haley Yang from the Korea JoongAng Daily joins us in the studio.<br /> <br /> Korea Trending with Walter Lee: <br /> 1. Two police officers have been dismissed for their mishandling of a violent dispute that broke out over a noise complaint between neighbors, which resulted in a woman being stabbed. (칼부림 현장서 도망친 6개월차 여경, 19년차 남경 결국 해임)<br /> 2. The family of a 96 year-old woman suffering from dementia have called on the authorities to reinvestigate a case of sexual assault, after a neighbor in his 80&rsquo;s was cleared of rape charges, despite his DNA being found on the woman&rsquo;s body. (치매 앓는 96세 할머니 성폭행한 남성&hellip; DNA 나왔는데 &#039;무혐의&#039;)<br /> 3. The Korean Series champion KT Wiz have recruited the former major league slugger Henry Ramos on a one-year contract worth one million US dollars. (KT Wiz, 헨리 라모스 영입)<br /> <br /> Korea Book Club: Barry Welsh joins us once again to introduce a short story collection by the famed poet and writer Jeong Ho-seung (정호승). Published by Seoul Selection, &#039;Lonesome Jar: Poetic Fables&#039; (trans. Brother Anthony) tell simple but profound, life-affirming stori