Korea 24 - 2021.12.15

Korea24 &ndash; 2021.12.15. (Wednesday)<br /> <br /> News Briefing: Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum confirmed that the government is considering further lowering the size of private gatherings and restricting business hours of multi-use facilities as part of efforts to contain a recent surge in COVID-19 infections in the nation. This comes as the nation recorded new highs in the daily infection count and the number of critically ill patients. (Eunice Kim)<br /> <br /> In-Depth News Analysis: The so-called &lsquo;Nth Room Prevention Law&rsquo; came into effect on Friday, requiring major online platforms to monitor and filter illegal content. This came in response to the &lsquo;Nth Room&rsquo; digital sex crimes scandal that made headlines last year, but there has been criticism that the measures fail to address the problem, as well as concerns that it promotes censorship. The debate has spread to the election race as well, with presidential candidates attacking and defending the new law. Law Professor Cho Hee-kyung from Hongik University joins us on the line to look closer at this issue.<br /> <br /> Korea Trending with Walter Lee: <br /> 1. More details on the 4.9 magnitude earthquake that struck waters off the coast of South Korea&rsquo;s southern island of Jeju on Tuesday have been confirmed. (규모 4.9 지진, 수평 단층 이동으로 피해 줄어&hellip;원인은 추가 연구 필요)<br /> 2. New data has shown once again that Koreans in their 30s are delaying or giving up on marriage altogether, and avoiding childbirth. (결혼 안하는 30대초&hellip;혼인율 83년생 67%-88년생 37%, 30%P차)<br /> 3. BTS has set a new record for an artist with the most weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Digital Song Sales Chart, after their hit song &lsquo;Butter&rsquo; re-took the top spot. (BTS, 빌보드 &lsquo;디지털 송 세일즈&rsquo; 최다 1위)<br /> <br /> Korea Book Club: We once again dive into the mind-bending worlds of the science-fiction writer Kim Bo-young, as our literary critic Barry Welsh, introduces her latest short story collection titled &#039;On the Origin of Species and Other Stories&