South Korea reports record daily coronavirus cases surpassing 2,000 for the first time Wednesday since the pandemic began. The country recorded 2,223 cases, with most infections in Seoul and its surrounding areas, although numbers continue to rise outside the capital. South Korea had previously been held up as a model on how to combat the virus, but it was slow to start its vaccine roll out, encountering supply shortages. Just 15.6 percent of the country's 52 million population is fully vaccinated, authorities said Wednesday. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES