Asia FX Weekly Gains Hold Amid U.S. Inflation Data and Iran Ceasefire Uncertainty 
NIO ES9 SUV Launch Sends HK Shares Down 7% Despite Bold Pricing Strategy 
China's Factory-Gate Prices Rise for First Time in Over Three Years Amid Global Cost Pressures 
Rio Tinto's California Boron Assets Attract Over a Dozen Bidders, Valued at Up to $2 Billion 
Trump Claims Oil Tankers Heading to U.S. Amid Iran War and Strait of Hormuz Crisis 
Federal Reserve Probes Big Banks Over Private Credit Exposure Amid Growing Systemic Risk Concerns 
Bank of America Maintains Forecast for Two Fed Rate Cuts in 2026 Despite Inflation Risks 
U.S. Inflation Surges in March as Iran War and Tariffs Drive Prices Higher 
TSMC Posts Strong Q1 2025 Revenue, Riding AI Chip Demand Wave 
China's Inflation Data Misses Forecasts as Consumer Prices Slow in March 
Chinese Brands Are Taking Over Brazil — And It's Just Getting Started 
Oil Prices Rise Amid Strait of Hormuz Tensions and U.S.-Iran Talks 
Goldman Sachs, ANZ Cut Oil Forecasts Amid U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Hopes 
White House Warns Staff Over Insider Trading Amid Suspicious Oil Market Bets 
Asian Stocks Rally on Ceasefire Hopes and Bargain Buying 
Disney Plans to Cut 1,000 Jobs Amid Ongoing Restructuring Efforts 
BCA Research Warns U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Could Collapse, Maintains Cautious Equity Outlook 
More than 1,000 Korean citizens have sued the government's health leaders for the planned requirement of presenting vaccine pass or proof of vaccination in public facilities. They said that the pass presents concerns related to discrimination against individuals who are not vaccinated yet.
According to Yonhap News Agency, around 1,023 people who are the complainants filed the lawsuit on Friday, Dec. 31, with the Seoul Administrative Court. The defendants on the case include Health Minister Kwon Deok Cheol; Jeong Eun Kyung, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner; and Oh Se Hoon, the mayor of Seoul.
The citizens are challenging the vaccine pass that the government officials are planning to implement. Under the regulation, everyone is required to show their vaccine records when visiting restaurants, cram schools, cafes, theaters, and other indoor facilities. For the unvaccinated ones, they must present negative COVID-19 test results issued within 48 hours after the test.
It was reported that there are also doctors among the plaintiffs in the case and they are accusing the government of forcing the citizens to be vaccinated by prohibiting them from much of the public life. In the lawsuit, they are requesting an order from the court to invalidate the vaccine pass administrative order.
"The government is effectively forcing people to get COVID-19 vaccines that lack clinical trials by imposing serious restrictions on unvaccinated people in their use of public facilities," part of the people's petition reads.
The plaintiffs also urged the government to loosen up the rules on people with mild symptoms or asymptomatic instead of imposing excessive regulations. They said that this suggestion will help create herd immunity and be able to provide intensive care for patients who are critically ill.
In any case, the filing of the lawsuit came as the government is set to implement a mandate of requiring proof of vaccination in department stores and discount stores next week. As previously reported by The Korea Herald, the measure will begin on Jan. 10 and the vaccination pass is only valid for six months.
Lastly, the paper passes are not valid and people must present a QR code that can be generated through Naver, Kakao, and at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's mobile application.
