yna--2020-10-25--(LEAD) Biography timeline of late Samsung head Lee Kun-hee

SEOUL , Oct. 25 ( Yonhap ) -- Lee Kun-hee , chief of South Korea 's top conglomerate , Samsung @ @ @ @ @ hospital in Seoul on Sunday at age 78 .
The following are the major events @ @ @ @ @ late business tycoon in chronological order .

(ATTN: CHANGES photos)
SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- Lee Kun-hee, chief of South Korea's top conglomerate, Samsung Group, died at a hospital in Seoul on Sunday at age 78. The following are the major events during the life of the late business tycoon in chronological order.
This undated photo provided by Samsung Group shows Chairman Lee Kun-hee in his childhood. Lee died at a hospital in Seoul on Oct. 25, 2020, at age 78. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This photo provided by Samsung Group shows Chairman Lee Kun-hee (L) at a ceremony to mark his inauguration as the chairman in 1987. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
1942 - born in Daegu as third son of Samsung Group founder Lee Byung-chull
1953 - heads to Japan for education
1965 - graduates from Waseda University with business major
1966 - finishes George Washington University's MBA program, joins Samsung-affiliated Tongyang Broadcasting Co.
1967 - marries Hong Ra-hee (who later heads Samsung's art museum Leeum)
1978 - becomes vice chairman of Samsung C&T Corp.
1979 - becomes vice chairman of Samsung Group
1987 - becomes Samsung Group chairman, announces "second founding" vision for the conglomerate the following year
1993 - announces new Samsung corporate identity
1996 - becomes a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
1998 - becomes CEO and chairman of Samsung Electronics Co.
2004 - awarded Legion D'Honneur medal by the French government
2007 - participates in South Korean campaign to host the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang
2008 - indicted by special prosecutors on charges of operating large group slush funds, announced departure from management, announces measures to improve corporate governance; sentenced by a Seoul district court to three years in prison suspended for five years on tax-evasion charges
2009 - A high court in August confirms sentence on charges of business malpractice; pardoned through presidential executive order in December
2010 - reinstated as Samsung Electronics Co. chairman; Samsung reveals first Galaxy S smartphone
2011 - reportedly plays a key role at the 123rd general session of the IOC where South Korea's PyeongChang won the bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics
2014 - hospitalized and remains bedridden after a myocardial infarction
2020 - passes away at age 78
In this file photo, Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee applauds in tears after PyeongChang was chosen to host the 2018 Winter Olympics during a general session of the International Olympic Committee in Durban, South Africa, on July 7, 2011. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-25--(LEAD) S. Korea reports 1st highly pathogenic avian influenza case in 32 months

Authorities placed a travel ban on people and vehicles within a 500-meter radius of the location where the H5N8 strain @ @ @ @ @ and sale of poultry at local markets in Cheonan will also be suspended until the @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details at bottom; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- A highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) case was reported in South Korea on Sunday, marking the first virulent bird flu case in the country in 32 months.
The virulent avian influenza strain of H5N8 was discovered from a fecal sample collected from wild birds Wednesday in Cheonan, 92 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
This photo provided by the Cheonan municipal government on Oct. 25, 2020, shows a quarantine vehicle spraying disinfectant near poultry farms in the area, following the detection of a highly pathogenic avian influenza strain in the region. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The discovery marked the first highly pathogenic AI case confirmed in the country since the H5N6 case, which is similarly virulent to H5N8, reported in the nearby Asan region in February 2018.
Highly pathogenic AI is very contagious and can make poultry very sick and even cause death.
The ministry has already restricted the movement of poultry and other livestock at 188 farms within a 10-kilometer radius of the area after discovering a H5-type AI strain in the area earlier.
Authorities placed a travel ban on people and vehicles within a 500-meter radius of the location where the H5N8 strain was discovered. The purchase and sale of poultry at local markets in Cheonan will also be suspended until the travel ban is lifted.
"Given the precarious situation, we ask that all farms remain vigilant in terms of disease control as highly pathogenic AI cases could break out at farms at any given moment," a ministry official said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-25--Political community split over legacies of late Samsung chief

`` The negative legacies he has left behind , such as anti-competitive intra-group transactions , forming close ties between businesses @ @ @ @ @ management , are hurdles of our times that our society has to abolish , '' @ @ @ @ @ spokesman of the ruling Democratic Party ( DP ) , as he also expressed his @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- Political parties on Sunday offered different views on the legacies left by late Samsung Group head Lee Kun-hee with the legendary business icon becoming subject to both chastisement and praise for his unrelenting determination for success even at the expense of breaking the law.
"The negative legacies he has left behind, such as anti-competitive intra-group transactions, forming close ties between businesses and the administration and non-labor management, are hurdles of our times that our society has to abolish," commented Rep. Huh Young, spokesman of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), as he also expressed his condolences.
This file photo shows Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Kun-hee. He died at a hospital in Seoul on Oct. 25, 2020, at age 78. (Yonhap)
Huh also described Lee's tumultuous life as having been that of "glory and shame."
"By leading Samsung's global leap, (Lee) was the driving force in laying the cornerstone of South Korea's growth. Samsung aspired to be a premier company but in doing was often out of bounds of the law."
Rep. Lee Nak-yon, head of the DP, praised Lee's colossal business accomplishments but also pointed out the negative influences of the late business leader, such as his chaebol-oriented economic world view and failure to accept labor unions at Samsung.
"I hope that Samsung cuts loose its chains from its past misdeeds and manages to reinvent itself," wrote Lee on his Facebook page.
The main opposition People Power Party (PPP), meanwhile, praised Lee's vision and management to transform Samsung into a global business powerhouse.
"(Lee) created the basis of which Samsung became the No. 1 global company in the field of cutting-edge industries of semiconductors and mobile phones," said PPP spokesperson Rep. Bae June-young.
Bae added, "We must prepare for the future with innovation and hard work so that the will of (Lee) does not end in vain."
Officials from Samsung Group move around at Samsung Medical Center in southern Seoul on Oct. 25, 2020. Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Kun-hee died at the hospital on the day. He was 78. (Yonhap)
Smaller opposition parties also delivered differing views on Lee's life respective to their ideological spectrum.
The minor progressive Justice Party (JP) said Lee left behind a "dark history" in modern South Korean society from his non-labor union management.
"That shadow has been extended to Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong. We demand that (Samsung) wipe away the shadow of the dark history," the party said in a statement.
The minor center-right People's Party commented that Lee's contributions and achievements to the South Korean economy should not be treated lightly.
Samsung stands at the center of the South Korean economy, with the group's assets at 8 trillion won (US$6.9 billion) at the time Lee took the throne and now estimated at well beyond 400 trillion won.
His only son, Jae-yong, is widely expected to serve as the new leader of Samsung Group, but he has been embroiled in a high-profile succession scandal.
Lee was indicted on charges of accounting fraud and stock price manipulation for the merger of the group's two units, which is widely seen as a key step to facilitate his succession from his father.
In this file photo taken Feb. 6, 2010, Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee (C) poses for photos with his younger sister Lee Myung-hee during a ceremony to mark the 100th birth anniversary of their late father and founder of the business group Lee Byung-chull at Hoam Art Hall in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-25--(News Focus) Jae-yong's smooth succession in spotlight after Samsung chief's death

Lee Kun-hee , chairman of Samsung Electronics Co. and the group chief , died Sunday at the age of 78 @ @ @ @ @ years for a heart attack , ending his 33-year reign of the business empire whose @ @ @ @ @ and construction to insurance and an amusement park .

By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- The succession of South Korea's top conglomerate, Samsung, by Lee Jae-yong, the only son of late Samsung Group chief, is in the spotlight as the tech behemoth aims to solidify its presence in the smartphone, semiconductor and other business realms with a massive investment plan under his leadership.
Lee Kun-hee, chairman of Samsung Electronics Co. and the group chief, died Sunday at the age of 78 after he was hospitalized for years for a heart attack, ending his 33-year reign of the business empire whose business portfolio ranges from tech and construction to insurance and an amusement park.
Jae-yong, the eldest scion of the late Samsung Group chief, has been spearheading the group's management, serving as the de facto leader of Samsung since May 2014, when his father collapsed due to a heart attack.
In 2018, the country's fair trade watchdog recognized Lee Jae-yong as the chief of the conglomerate.
This file photo taken May 6, 2020, shows Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong at a press conference in Seoul. (Yonhap)
The 52-year-old Lee, now Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman, has undertaken various aggressive projects to streamline the group's business portfolio, selling its chemical and defense arms to Hanwha Group and Lotte Group. It also acquired U.S.-based Harman International Industries.
Last year, Samsung Electronics unveiled a vision to become the world's No. 1 logic chip maker by 2030 by investing 133 trillion won (US$117 billion) and bolstering its competitiveness in the system LSI and foundry businesses.
Last week, the group's flagship expected its third-quarter profit to be the largest in two years, as its chip business got a boost from U.S. sanctions on Huawei Technologies Co. and its mobile sales bounced back on pent-up demand amid the pandemic.
In its earnings guidance, the South Korean tech giant estimated its operating profit at 12.3 trillion won ($10.6 billion) for the July-September period, up 58.1 percent from a year ago.
The figure also marks Samsung's best quarterly performance since the third quarter of 2018, when it logged an operating profit of 17.5 trillion won.
Samsung estimated its third-quarter sales at 66 trillion won in the three-month period, up 6.45 percent from a year earlier. The figure is also above the market consensus of 64 trillion won.
While Jae-yong has been leading Samsung's core businesses, his sisters have been leading Samsung's businesses in various fields.
Boo-jin, the first daughter of Lee Kun-hee, leads Samsung's hotel arm, Hotel Shilla Co., while Lee Seo-hyun is in charge of the Samsung Welfare Foundation.
As Kun-hee passed away, his scions have to deal with how to pay hefty inheritance tax for his assets.
As of end-June, the late Samsung chief held a 4.18 percent stake in Samsung Electronics, a 2.86 percent stake in Samsung C&T and a 20.76 percent stake in Samsung Life Insurance, among others.
If Lee's family members decide to inherit his stocks, the inheritance tax could be around a jawdropping 10 trillion won, industry insiders said.
This photo provided by Samsung Group on Oct. 25, 2020, shows Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee (C) with his daughters Lee Boo-jin (L) and Lee Seo-hyun (R) at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the United States. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
But inheriting his father's stock ownership may face some hurdles as Jae-yong is also facing legal battles that could put him in jail again.
The political scandal that led to the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, first cast a cloud over him. Amid allegations that Samsung provided bribes to the Park administration, he already served around a year in prison.
Lee was released in February 2018 after an appellate court handed him a suspended sentence, but six months later, the country's top court ordered a review of the suspended sentence.
Last month, prosecutors indicted Jae-yong over his alleged involvement in the merger of the two Samsung affiliates -- Samsung C&T Corp. and Cheil Industries Inc. -- in 2015 and fraudulent accounting of a pharmaceutical unit.
Prosecutors suspect that Lee and the group's top management were involved in a calibrated scheme to intentionally lower the value of Samsung C&T prior to its merger with Cheil Industries so as to facilitate Lee's managerial succession from his father.
In May, Jae-yong made a public apology, saying he will make sure no controversies happen again over his succession issue.
He also made a surprising announcement that he will not pass on management power to his children, hinting that Samsung will move away from the family-run chaebol system.
Samsung is also facing possible changes in its corporate governance structure.
A recent bill proposed by lawmakers would force Samsung Life Insurance to sell its stocks in Samsung Electronics under revised guidelines for the calculation of stock value.
Jae-yong currently controls the group with a cobweb-like ownership structure linking Samsung C&T, Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung Electronics.
But since he holds a very small stake in Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung Electronics, industry insiders speculate that Jae-yong may inherit some of the shares held by his father to get better control of the group.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-25--(2nd LD) New virus cases under 100 for 2nd day, sporadic cluster infections linger

Health authorities remain vigilant as the country may face another uptick in the number of new cases due to people @ @ @ @ @ enjoy autumn vacation .
A possible transmission of the virus among clubbers on Halloween is @ @ @ @ @ said .

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported fewer than 100 new coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day Sunday, but sporadic cluster infections among hospitals and other risk-prone facilities continued, straining the country's virus fight.
The country added 61 more COVID-19 cases, including 50 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 25,836, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
South Korea added 77 new virus cases Saturday, dropping from 155 and 121 cases identified on Friday and Thursday, respectively.
A medical worker stands at a makeshift clinic in southern Seoul on Oct. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
The country has recently observed an uptick in daily new virus cases due to sporadic cluster infections at hospitals and facilities for the elderly, who are vulnerable to COVID-19.
So far, patients aged 70 and above account more than 80 percent of the country's COVID-19 deaths.
South Korea has been going through ups and downs in the number of new virus cases since the country eased its social distancing scheme on Oct. 12.
Previously, the country adopted Level 2 social distancing, in which indoor gatherings of 50 or more people were banned. High-risk facilities, such as clubs, were ordered to close as well.
Such restrictions are lifted under Level 1, in which people are required to only follow sanitary guidelines.
The country had kept the daily increase of COVID-19 infections in double digits for six consecutive day through Wednesday, before rebounding to yet another three-digit figure on Thursday.
The latest drop, however, was in part attributed to fewer tests carried out over the weekend.
Health authorities remain vigilant as the country may face another uptick in the number of new cases due to people traveling across the nation to enjoy autumn vacation. A possible transmission of the virus among clubbers on Halloween is also a concern, they said.
Cheerleaders wearing protective masks wait for the start of a basketball game in Wonju, 132 kilometers east of Seoul, on Oct. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
Of the newly identified local infections, 17 cases were reported in Seoul and 27 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital. The greater Seoul area is home to around half of the nation's 51.6 million population.
As of noon Sunday, a total of 27 COVID-19 cases have been traced to a private gathering in the Guro Ward of Seoul, up 14 from the previous day.
A senior care center in northeastern Seoul reported 49 patients, up three from a day earlier.
Another hospital in Gunpo, south of Seoul, added three more cases, raising the total to 40.
Over the past two weeks, around 10 percent of the newly added cases had unknown infection routes. Cluster infections accounted for around a quarter of the new cases over the period.
The country added 11 imported cases.
Among the imported cases, Russia and the Philippines accounted for two each. There were also infections from India, Myanmar, Ukraine, France, Austria, Belgium and South Africa.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 53 on Sunday, down seven from the previous day.
No additional deaths were reported, keeping the total at 457. The fatality rate reached 1.77 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 23,869, up 35 from the previous day. This indicates more than 92 percent of the COVID-19 patients reported here have been cured.
South Korea has carried out 2,546,146 COVID-19 tests so far, including 5,467 the previous day. The daily number of tests was far below the more than 10,000 tests typically carried out on a weekday.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-25--Samsung chief was wealthiest man in S. Korea

The total value of stocks held by Lee , who died at a Seoul hospital after being bedridden following a @ @ @ @ @ stood at 18.2 trillion won ( US $ 16.1 billion ) as of Friday , @ @ @ @ @ data .

SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- Lee Kun-hee, the late chief of South Korea's top conglomerate Samsung Group, was the wealthiest man in the country, data showed Sunday.
The total value of stocks held by Lee, who died at a Seoul hospital after being bedridden following a heart attack in 2014, stood at 18.2 trillion won (US$16.1 billion) as of Friday, according to the Korea Exchange data.
Samsung Electronics Co. Chairman Lee Kun-hee is shown in this undated file photo. Lee, who died on Oct. 25, 2020, after being bedridden following a heart attack in 2014, was the richest person in the country. (Yonhap)
By company, Lee held a 4.18 percent stake in the conglomerate's crown jewel, Samsung Electronics Co., worth 15 trillion won, 20.76 percent in Samsung Life Insurance Co. valued at 2.6 trillion won, 2.88 percent in construction company Samsung C&T Corp. worth 564.3 billion won, 0.08 percent in preferred shares of Samsung Electronics worth 33 billion won and 0.01 percent in Samsung SDS Co. worth 1.7 billion won.
The total value outshines that of his son and Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman and the group heir Lee Jae-yong, who holds the title as the second-richest man in the country, worth about 7.2 trillion won.
The late Lee's stock value trumps those of other conglomerate chiefs in the country, including Celltrion Group Chairman Seo Jung-jin at 4.49 trillion won, Hyundai Motor Group Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-koo at 4.47 trillion won and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won at 2.6 trillion won.
Lee was also one of the wealthiest people in the world, with Forbes estimating his net worth at $20.9 billion, putting him at the 67th spot on the publication's list of billionaires.
The late Samsung Electronics chairman was the only South Korean included on Forbes' current list of the top 100 billionaires.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-25--Late Samsung chief's scions to pay record high inheritance taxes

Experts say the late Samsung Group chief 's family may choose to pay the taxes over several years .
Under @ @ @ @ @ are allowed to make the payment through installments for upward of five years .

By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- As Samsung chief Lee Kun-hee passed away, his heirs, including his only son, Jae-yong, and his sisters will shoulder a record high amount of inheritance tax, industry sources said Sunday.
Lee Kun-hee, who led South Korea's top family-controlled conglomerate Samsung Group, died at a hospital in Seoul on Sunday at age 78, leaving behind stock assets of some 18 trillion won (US$15.9 billion).
The senior Lee is survived by his wife, Hong Ra-hee, and only son, Jae-yong, and two daughters -- Boo-jin and Seo-hyun.
The late chairman held a 4.18 percent stake in the flagship Samsung Electronics Co., along with another 0.08 percent share in the firm's preferred stocks.
This photo provided by Samsung Group on Oct. 25, 2020, shows the conglomerate's Chairman Lee Kun-hee (C) at the 125th general session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) held at a hotel in Buenos Aires in 2013. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
He held a 29.76 percent stake in Samsung Life Insurance Co., along with 2.88 percent in Samsung C&T Corp., the de facto holding firm of the conglomerate as well.
Lee's stake in Samsung SDS Co. is estimated at 0.01 percent.
Industry sources estimate that his heirs will pay around 10 trillion won as inheritance taxes for just stock assets.
Experts say the late Samsung Group chief's family may choose to pay the taxes over several years. Under South Korean law, they are allowed to make the payment through installments for upward of five years.
The family of LG Group, another conglomerate, earlier decided to pay the taxes over five years as they inherited stakes from their late chief.
Hong, meanwhile, holds a 0.91 percent stake in Samsung Electronics Co., estimated at around 3.2 trillion won.
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong holds a 0.7 percent stake in the tech giant, along with 17.33 percent shares in Samsung C&T and more stakes in other affiliates, totaling 7.1 trillion won.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-25--As ex-IOC member, late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee also left mark on S. Korean sports

Samsung is the official Olympic partner in the wireless communication equipment and computing equipment category .
It became a Top @ @ @ @ @ at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano , Japan , and in August 2014 , @ @ @ @ @ their TOP partnership through the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games .
Then late last year , @ @ @ @ @ to run through the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- The giant for South Korea's economy as the head of Samsung Group, Lee Kun-hee, who passed away Sunday at age 78, also left an important mark on sports for his country.
Lee was a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 1996 to 2017, serving on its Cultural Commission in 1997 and Finance Commission from 1998 to 1999. With Samsung also emerging as one of the IOC's most important corporate partners, Lee played an instrumental role in helping bring the 2018 Winter Olympics to the South Korean alpine town of PyeongChang.
In this file photo from July 6, Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee (C), then a member of the International Olympic Committee, acknowledges the crowd during the IOC Sessions at Durban International Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa. (Yonhap)
Lee, who had been hospitalized since 2014 following a heart attack, resigned from the IOC in 2017 and had been an honorary member of the organization since then.
In the early 2000s, Lee was one of three South Korean members of the IOC, joined by the former IOC Vice President Kim Un-yong and former Doosan Group Chairman Park Yong-sung. Lee's time at the IOC coincided with South Korea's heyday in international sports diplomacy.
Domestically, Lee was the president of the Korea Wrestling Federation (KWF) from 1982 to 1997. A former competitive wrestler in high school, Lee oversaw the golden age of South Korean wrestling, as the country picked up seven Olympic gold medals, 29 Asian Game gold medals and four world championships on his watch.
With Lee at the helm, Samsung Group launched professional and semi-pro teams in a wide range of sports, including baseball, football, basketball, volleyball, wrestling and table tennis. Lee was the owner of the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) from 1982 to 2001.
Samsung is the official Olympic partner in the wireless communication equipment and computing equipment category. It became a Top Olympic Partner (TOP) at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, and in August 2014, Samsung and the IOC extended their TOP partnership through the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games. Then late last year, the deal was extended further to run through the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
In this file photo from Sept. 29, 2000, Lee Kun-hee (L), then a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), shares a moment with North Korean IOC member Chang Ung (C) and South Korean member Kim Un-yong during a reception hosted by the Korean Olympic Committee during the Sydney Summer Olympics in Sydney. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--S. Korea welcomes Sudan-Israel agreement normalizing diplomatic ties

On Friday ( U.S. time ) , the North African country and the Jewish state reached the deal brokered by @ @ @ @ @ the agreement , U.S. President Donald Trump said the deal would also come with the @ @ @ @ @ U.S. list of terrorism-sponsoring countries .

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea welcomes an agreement between Sudan and Israel to normalize their diplomatic relations and a subsequent U.S. decision to remove the African country from its list of terrorism-sponsoring countries, the foreign ministry said Monday.
"Our government welcomes the agreement to normalize relations between Sudan and Israel and end hostilities, and expects the agreement to contribute to regional stability and a peace settlement," ministry spokesperson Kim In-chul said in a commentary.
"In addition, the government welcomes the U.S. decision to remove Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism and hopes that efforts to democratize Sudan and develop its economy will bear fruit."
On Friday (U.S. time), the North African country and the Jewish state reached the deal brokered by the United States. Announcing the agreement, U.S. President Donald Trump said the deal would also come with the removal of Sudan from the U.S. list of terrorism-sponsoring countries.
The deal is expected to help Sudan pave the way for various cooperation projects with Israel and receive foreign loans and aid to revive its economy battered by U.S. sanctions and mismanagement by the government.
This composite photo by the AFP, filed on Oct. 23, 2020, shows an Israeli flag (L) and a Sudanese flag. On Oct. 23, the two countries agreed to normalize relations in a U.S.-brokered deal to end hostilities. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--Korea Shipbuilding wins 240 bln won orders from Africa, Europe

Korea Shipbuilding has obtained deals to build two 300,000-ton Very Large Crude-oil Carriers ( VLCC ) and a 50,000-ton petrochemicals @ @ @ @ @ areas , the company said .

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shipbuilding holding company Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. said Monday that it has signed a combined 240 billion won (US$213 million) of orders from Africa and Europe.
Korea Shipbuilding has obtained deals to build two 300,000-ton Very Large Crude-oil Carriers (VLCC) and a 50,000-ton petrochemicals carrier from customers in the areas, the company said.
The company did not reveal the names of the companies that placed the orders.
Under the deal, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. will build the VLCCs, and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. will construct the petrochemicals carrier.
The vessels are slated to be delivered starting January 2022, Korea Shipbuilding said.
Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard are units of Korea Shipbuilding.
Last month, Korea Shipbuilding won a combined 420 billion won order from Europe and Oceania to build four 300,000-ton VLCCs by the first half of 2022.
This photo, provided by Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. on Oct. 26, 2020, shows a crude-oil carrier by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--SsangYong Motor Q3 net losses slightly narrow on reduced costs

Net losses for the three months that ended in September narrowed to 102.44 billion won ( US $ 90 million @ @ @ @ @ in the same period of last year , the company said in a statement .

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- SsangYong Motor Co., the South Korean unit of Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said Monday its third-quarter net losses narrowed from a year earlier, helped by reduced costs.
Net losses for the three months that ended in September narrowed to 102.44 billion won (US$90 million) from 107.9 billion won in the same period of last year, the company said in a statement.
"The company's drastic cost-cutting efforts in wages and welfare benefits for employees helped narrow the quarterly net losses, with exports to major markets improving in the past three months," a company spokesman said.
This file photo provided by SsangYong Motor shows the all-new Rexton SUV to be launched in the domestic market in November 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)
The company expects the recently launched Tivoli Air sport utility vehicle and the planned launch of the all-new Rexton SUV in November will help boost sales in the fourth quarter.
Operating losses also narrowed to 93.19 billion won in the third quarter from 105.17 billion won a year ago. Sales fell 16 percent to 705.69 billion won from 836.43 billion won during the cited period.
From January to September, however, net losses widened to 304.82 billion won from 185.47 billion won in the year-ago period as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to weigh on consumer sentiment.
SsangYong's overall sales fell 24.5 percent to 74,707 vehicles in the first nine months from 98,987 units a year earlier.
The SUV-focused carmaker's lineup consists of the flagship G4 Rexton, as well as the Tivoli, Korando and Rexton Sports.
In 2011, Mahindra acquired a 70 percent stake in SsangYong Motor for 523 billion won. The Indian firm currently owns a 74.65 percent stake in SsangYong.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--N. Korea showing little sign of easing border control: unification ministry

`` We are paying close attention to relevant situations , but based on the result of monitoring up until this @ @ @ @ @ no marked changes , '' Yoh Sang-key , the ministry 's spokesperson , said during @ @ @ @ @ `` We will continue to keep tabs on the matter for a longer time .
@

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has shown little sign of lifting restrictions imposed on the operation of trains across its border with China to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the unification ministry said Monday.
Early in the day, the Daily NK, a local news website specializing in North Korea, reported that the North and China have reached a deal to resume the operation of international trains moving across their border starting Friday.
"We are paying close attention to relevant situations, but based on the result of monitoring up until this weekend, there have been no marked changes," Yoh Sang-key, the ministry's spokesperson, said during a regular press briefing. "We will continue to keep tabs on the matter for a longer time."
North Korea has reported no COVID-19 outbreak, but it has maintained strict restrictions on the movement of people and goods across the border with China since early this year as part of efforts to stem the spread of the highly contagious disease.
Such measures seem to be taking a toll on the North's economy, as they have been hampering its imports of food and other key materials from China. The North has not reported on any action of easing its border control.
Yoh Sang-key, spokesman of the unification ministry, speaks during a press conference at the government complex in Seoul on Oct. 19, 2020, to announce that a tour program to the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom will resume early next month after more than a year of suspension caused by the African swine fever. (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--(LEAD) Samsung Electro-Mechanics Q3 net jumps on demand recovery

Its module business posted sales of 852.7 billion won , down 9 percent from a year earlier due to an @ @ @ @ @ smartphone market amid the pandemic .
However , the figure was a 41 percent increase @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES throughout; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., a major electronics components maker in South Korea, on Monday reported robust third-quarter earnings on firm demand amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The Samsung Group affiliate chalked up a net profit of 240 billion won (US$212.5 million), up 119.4 percent from a year earlier.
The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted 302.5 billion won in operating profit for the July-September period, up 59.9 percent from a year ago. Sales rose 3.3 percent on-year to 2.28 trillion won.
Compared with the second quarter, its operating profit soared 215 percent, while sales increased 26 percent.
Strong sales of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) and package substrates boosted its profitability, the company said.
This image shows the corporate logo of Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
By sector, its component unit posted a revenue of 983.2 billion won, up 20 percent from a year ago, as major smartphone manufacturers released new models, boosting its MLCC sales.
Its module business posted sales of 852.7 billion won, down 9 percent from a year earlier due to an overall demand decline in the smartphone market amid the pandemic. However, the figure was a 41 percent increase from the previous quarter.
Its revenue from the substrate business was 452 billion won, down 1 percent from a year ago.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics expected sales growth to continue in the fourth quarter with solid demand for its MLCC products and package substrates.
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--Doosan Infracore's sales of mini-sized excavators triple in S. Korea

Sales of mini-sized excavators , which refer to those under 5 tons , rose 192 percent in the January-September period @ @ @ @ @ thanks mainly to Doosan Infracore 's competitive edge in customer service , the company said @

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's leading construction equipment maker Doosan Infracore Co. said Monday that sales of its mini-sized excavators in South Korea nearly tripled in the first nine months from a year ago.
Sales of mini-sized excavators, which refer to those under 5 tons, rose 192 percent in the January-September period from a year ago, thanks mainly to Doosan Infracore's competitive edge in customer service, the company said.
A mini-sized excavator made by Doosan Infracore Co. is shown in this photo provided by the company on Oct. 26, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap).
Compared with 2018, sales of mini-sized excavators increased four times in the country.
South Korea's mini-sized excavator market grew more than 10 percent annually over the past five years to reach about 3,000 units last year, with Japanese mini-sized excavators accounting for a sheer 90 percent of the market share, the company said.
Doosan Infracore holds only 10 percent share of the local mini-sized excavator market.
The country's top construction equipment maker was put up for sale last month due to its parent Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co.'s cash shortages.
Among bidders for Doosan Infracore, global shipbuilding group Hyundai Heavy Industries Group attracted attention, as it has the country's second-largest construction equipment maker, Hyundai Construction Equipment Co., under its wing.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--(LEAD) NCT, BLACKPINK make Billboard 200's top 10

The Billboard 200 is one of the U.S. music publisher 's main charts , ranking the most popular albums of @ @ @ @ @ States based on data , including album sales and streaming .

(ATTN: ADDS details on NCT in paras 6-8)
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- Popular K-pop acts NCT and BLACKPINK both ranked in the top 10 on the Billboard's main albums chart with their latest albums.
The 23-member boy band NCT debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 with its new album "NCT - The 2nd Album RESONANCE Pt. 1," the Billboard reported Sunday (U.S. time).
The Billboard 200 is one of the U.S. music publisher's main charts, ranking the most popular albums of the week in the United States based on data, including album sales and streaming.
NCT's album earned 43,000 equivalent album units, with 40,000 coming from traditional album sales and the remaining coming from digital streaming.
While NCT's spin-off act NCT 127 has made it to the Billboard 200, it marks the first time that an album by the full-member act has reached the main album chart.
NCT 2020 is an umbrella team that brings together members from preexisting teams under SM's NCT brand -- NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV and an upcoming NCT-branded act that has yet to officially debut.
NCT, or Neo Culture Technology, is SM's international idol group project that emphasizes expandability, flexibility and modularity in lineups and music.
Envisioned by SM founder Lee Soo-man, NCT was launched in 2016 with the aim of producing an endless number of international boy bands under the NCT umbrella based in major cities around the world.
This photo, provided by SM Entertainment, shows 23-member boy band NCT. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
K-pop superstar BLACKPINK ranked No. 10 with its first full-length album "The Album," according to Billboard.
"The Album," released Oct. 2, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard chart -- the first time for a K-pop girl group -- and ranked No. 6 the following week.
Billboard said the group's album units slipped 15 percent from the previous week to 29,500 units.
This photo, provided by YG Entertainment, shows K-pop girl group BLACKPINK. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--TWICE says 2nd full album shows band's more daring, dark side

`` It portrays the danger and anxiety that come from standing on the boundary between the good and bad , @ @ @ @ @ a series of questions and answers sent to the press before the album drops at @ @ @

By Lee Minji
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- Popular K-pop girl group TWICE said Monday that its upcoming full-length album "Eyes Wide Open" will likely surprise fans with the band's darker and bolder side.
"It portrays the danger and anxiety that come from standing on the boundary between the good and bad," rapper Dahyun said in a series of questions and answers sent to the press before the album drops at 6 p.m.
"It also captures a provocative ambience that boldly crosses the line, which I feel that a lot of people will be surprised by seeing a new TWICE that they've never seen before," she said.
Mina, one of the group's Japanese members, said the band shifted away from its signature upbeat demeanor and delved into a darker area with the new album.
"(We) sang about the insecure and uneasy sentiment that TWICE has never shown. Everyone has both a bright side and an insecure side," she said.
This photo, provided by JYP Entertainment, shows K-pop girl group TWICE. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The 13-track album is the band's first full-length album in three years and includes collaborations with British artist Dua Lipa and South Korean singer-songwriter Heize.
Teasers released ahead of the album release show the group's nine members -- Jihyo, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu -- with more mature looks, wearing all-black dresses and gray suit-inspired outfits.
The main track "I Can't Stop Now," written by agency chief Park Jin-young and composed by Melanie Joy Fontana and Michel "Lindgren" Schulz, captures an uncontrollable mind that is in conflict between the good and bad, according to JYP.
This photo, provided by JYP Entertainment, shows K-pop girl group TWICE. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Dahyun explained the main track is a retro-style song with strong instrumental sounds.
"It's a synthwave genre that blends European electronic sound and the 1980s U.S. synth sound. Once you hear it you'll probably be humming it," she said.
The band's members said they also attempted to play out the retro ambience visually through their outfits and music video.
Jihyo said the group attempted to showcase the retro vibe through bold styling in the music video, while Sana chipped in saying the music video comes with a lot of visual attractions, such as a huge flower set and a set replicating a subway platform.
When asked about their favorite tracks they would like to recommend, Jihyo and Chaeyoung picked "Hell in Heaven" while Nayeon and Mina chose "Say Something."
The group's members asked fans to look forward to their first full album in years and voiced disappointment at not being able to meet them in person.
TWICE is scheduled to hold a live meeting with fans at 8 p.m. that will be streamed on V LIVE and YouTube.
The nine-member band will be doing its promotional activities without Jungyeon, who will temporarily sit out due to anxiety issues.
In an Oct. 20 post on the group's official Instagram account, Jungyeon left a message thanking fans for the group's five-year anniversary and said she looks forward to returning soon after her recovery.
This photo, provided by JYP Entertainment, shows the track list for K-pop girl group TWICE's new album "Eyes Wide Open." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--(LEAD) Key Samsung units surge as succession issue looms following group chief's death

Shares in three Samsung affiliates held by the late group chief spiked in the morning session as investors bet that @ @ @ @ @ may facilitate a revamp of the governance structure at key affiliates , and his only @ @ @ @ @ Lee Jae-yong , will secure his grip on the country 's largest conglomerate down the @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details from para 5; ADDS photo)
By Kim Soo-yeon
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- Shares in Samsung Group's key affiliates traded higher Monday on expectations that they may increase dividend payouts to help the late Samsung chief's scions secure funds to pay record high inheritance taxes.
Samsung Group chief Lee Kun-hee died Sunday at age 78, more than six years after being hospitalized for a heart attack.
Shares in three Samsung affiliates held by the late group chief spiked in the morning session as investors bet that the senior Lee's death may facilitate a revamp of the governance structure at key affiliates, and his only son and group heir, Lee Jae-yong, will secure his grip on the country's largest conglomerate down the road.
Industry sources said the late Samsung Electronics chairman's scions may have to pay 10 trillion won (US$8.85 billion) in inheritance tax.
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong arrives at Samsung Medical Center in southern Seoul on Oct. 25, 2020, where the memorial altar for his late father Lee Kun-hee was set up. (Yonhap)
Tech giant Samsung Electronics, the group's crown jewel, traded 0.33 percent higher on the main bourse as of 10:46 a.m. Samsung C&T, the group's de facto holding company, jumped 15.38 percent, and Samsung Life Insurance, which holds a stake in Samsung Electronics, rose 6.18 percent.
"Lee Jae-yong may use dividend payouts and his family's financing to pay out the inheritance tax if he receives his late father's stake in Samsung Electronics and Samsung Life Insurance," said Yoo Jong-woo, an analyst at Korea Investment & Securities Co.
As of end-June, the late chairman held a 4.18 percent stake in Samsung Electronics, a 2.86 percent stake in Samsung C&T and a 20.76 percent stake in Samsung Life Insurance, among others. The value of his stock holdings is estimated at some 18 trillion won.
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jae-yong, the de facto chief of the group, controls the group with a cobweb-like ownership structure linking Samsung C&T, Samsung Life Insurance and Samsung Electronics.
He holds a 0.7 percent stake in the tech behemoth but controls Samsung Group through his grip on Samsung C&T with a 17.33 percent stake.
The combined value of Jae-yong's stock holdings of Samsung C&T and other units is estimated at some 7 trillion won.
In May, Lee made a rare public apology over a controversy related to his succession issue, saying he will not hand over managerial power to his children.
His succession process has involved a high-profile bribery case and a controversial merger of two of its key units -- Samsung C&T Corp. and Cheil Industries Inc. -- in 2015. Legal battles on both fronts are still under way.
The top court ordered a lower court last year to reconsider its suspended jail sentence for him in a massive bribery scandal that led to the ouster of former President Park Geun-hye.
The prosecution also indicted Lee last month over his alleged involvement in the 2015 merger of the two Samsung affiliates and fraudulent accounting of a pharmaceutical unit.
"Unlike investors' anticipation, there seems to be a slim possibility about an imminent overhaul in the group's governance structure," said Eun Kyeong-wan, an analyst at Meritz Securities. "At least, uncertainty surrounding Lee's legal problems should be first dispelled."
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Oct. 26 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .

(URGENT) N. Korea says Travis King decided to come over to N. Korea because he harbored ill feeling within the U.S. Army: KCNA


yna--2020-10-26--Biz, political leaders attend funeral for late Samsung chief

A funeral procession for Lee is scheduled to run through Wednesday , with his burial site reportedly to be in @ @ @ @ @ , where graves of his ancestors are located .

By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- Key business and political leaders on Monday attended a funeral service to offer their condolences to the family of late Samsung Group chief Lee Kun-hee, mourning the death of South Korea's most influential business tycoon.
Lee died Sunday at age 78, more than six years after being hospitalized for a heart attack.
An encoffining ceremony for Lee started around 9 a.m. at the funeral hall of Samsung Medical Center in southern Seoul, with his wife and scions, including Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, in attendance.
The ceremony was held under a Won Buddhism format as Lee was a follower of the religion.
Samsung Group earlier announced that Lee's funeral service will be held in a modest manner with family members and it courteously decline visits from others due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the country's social distancing scheme, gatherings of more than 50 people are not recommended.
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong (C) enters a funeral hall at Samsung Medical Center in Seoul for his father's funeral service on Oct. 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
But Samsung decided to accept a small group of those offering their condolences.
President Moon Jae-in delivered his condolences through his chief of staff, Noh Young-min, and Cheong Wa Dae's senior secretary for economic affairs, Lee Ho-seung, on Sunday.
CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun, a nephew of the late Samsung chief; HDC Chairman Chung Mong-gyu; and Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung were also among those who visited to offer their condolences.
Samsung's former and current high-ranking officials made visits earlier in the day as well. Samsung expects more visits later in the day.
Meanwhile, Samsung employees have set up an online memorial altar to mourn the death of Lee.
A funeral procession for Lee is scheduled to run through Wednesday, with his burial site reportedly to be in Yongin, south of Seoul, where graves of his ancestors are located.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--LG licenses ice-making tech for French-door refrigerators to Electrolux

A French-door refrigerator usually has a freezer at the bottom , meaning consumers need to bend down to get ice @ @ @ @ @ tech firm said it has the technology to install an ice maker inside the fridge @ @ @ @ @ easily get ice .

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc. said Monday it has signed a patent licensing deal with Sweden-based home appliance maker Electrolux AB that covers ice-making technologies for French-door refrigerators.
Under the agreement, Electrolux will be able to produce and sell French-door refrigerators using patented technologies developed by LG. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
A French-door refrigerator usually has a freezer at the bottom, meaning consumers need to bend down to get ice. But the South Korean tech firm said it has the technology to install an ice maker inside the fridge, so that users can easily get ice.
Such technologies have already been applied to LG's refrigerators sold worldwide. LG said it has more than 700 globally registered patents for ice-making technologies for refrigerators.
This photo, provided by LG Electronics Inc. on June 23, 2020, shows the company's freezer door ice maker for refrigerators. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--S. Korea to donate 6 bln won to developing nations in Southeast Asia

The fund , set to be provided over the next three years , will be spent to install solar facilities @ @ @ @ @ Cambodia , according to the Ministry of Agriculture , Food and Rural Affairs .

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Monday it has inked an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme to provide 6 billion won (US$5.3 million) in aid to build sustainable infrastructure in farms in Southeast Asia.
The fund, set to be provided over the next three years, will be spent to install solar facilities at farms in Myanmar and Cambodia, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
It marked the first time for the agricultural ministry to officially join forces with the UNDP.
"The project is anticipated to help farms in Asia overcome climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic by utilizing sustainable technology," the ministry said in a statement.
"South Korea will contribute to enhancing the livelihoods of farmers in such developing countries," it added.
The logo of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is seen in the photo provided by the ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--S. Korea approves US$200 mln in aid for developing nations fighting pandemic

The approval is part of the nation 's plans to provide more than $ 400 million in loans and grants @ @ @ @ @ to help them push for health projects against the novel coronavirus .

SEJONG, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's finance ministry said Monday it has approved US$200 million in health care aid for three Asian nations to better combat the coronavirus pandemic.
The approval is part of the nation's plans to provide more than $400 million in loans and grants to developing nations this year to help them push for health projects against the novel coronavirus.
The three nations are the Philippines, Cambodia and Bangladesh.
The fund is expected to help developing nations build testing and tracing systems to fight the virus and expand containment facilities in the nations, the ministry said.
Globally, more than 42 million people have been infected with the new coronavirus, and more than 1.1 million people have died, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--High COVID-19 numbers in capital area raise worries ahead of Halloween

`` We understand people 's wishes to get together with those they have n't seen in a long time due @ @ @ @ @ frustrations , but please remember the cluster infections that sprang from Itaewon clubs in May @ @ @ @ @ Neung-hoo said during a press briefing Sunday .

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- The number of COVID-19 cases in the capital area has increased since the government eased its social distancing rules two weeks ago, posing an ongoing challenge to health authorities ahead of possibly large crowds this Halloween weekend.
The government took coronavirus restrictions down to the lowest Level 1 on Oct. 12, citing falling new cases and "public fatigue" over various restrictions on dining in, gathering in large crowds and other measures meant to stop the spread of the virus.
But in the two weeks since, domestic infections have increased daily by numbers ranging from 41 to 138, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
This file photo shows people lining up outside a club in the Hongdae area of Seoul on Oct. 12, 2020, after the government eased social distancing restrictions to Level 1. (Yonhap)
Only two days met the criterion for Level 1 -- fewer than 50 new daily cases -- while two other days saw the figures surpass 100 to 104 and 138.
Health authorities have expressed concern the trend will continue and worsen going into the winter as the seasonal flu spreads.
A more immediate concern is the upcoming Halloween events planned for Saturday, with partygoers expected to crowd the bars and clubs of hip districts, such as Hongdae and Itaewon.
"We understand people's wishes to get together with those they haven't seen in a long time due to COVID-19 and release their frustrations, but please remember the cluster infections that sprang from Itaewon clubs in May," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said during a press briefing Sunday.
"A moment of complacency can lead to a difficult winter for everyone," he added, warning that the cluster infections at the center of the recent high numbers could trigger a large-scale spread at any time due to increased social and economic activities.
The cluster infections have mostly arisen in nursing homes in the capital area, which has accounted for 77 percent of all new domestic cases in the past two weeks.
Health authorities said they will focus on controlling infections at these and other "at-risk" facilities, while also ensuring the enforcement of social distancing rules at nightlife establishments in Seoul, Incheon and Busan ahead of Halloween.
Rules include keeping entry logs, maintaining distances between tables and limiting capacity inside establishments.
In the event of a violation, authorities said they will immediately suspend the business.
This photo shows patrons singing in a karaoke bar in Seoul on Oct. 12, 2020, after the government eased social distancing restrictions to Level 1. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--Biden says N. Korea has more 'lethal' missiles because of Trump

`` Guess what .
It would be a nuclear war , and he does have plenty of nuclear capability .
@ @ @ @ @ have a very good relationship with him .
... We have a very good relationship @ @ @ @ @ war , '' Trump said in the last presidential TV debate held Thursday .

By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said Sunday that North Korea now possesses a greater number of missiles that are also more dangerous than before because of U.S. President Donald Trump.
He also accused Trump of embracing dictators, such as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, while undermining the country's relationship with its traditional allies.
"He embraces every dictator in sight, and he pokes his finger in the eye of all our friends," the former vice president said in an interview with U.S. TV network CBS News' "60 Minutes."
The captured image from the website of U.S. television network CBS shows Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaking in an interview with CBS News' "60 Minutes" that was broadcast on Oct. 25, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"And so what's happening now is you have the situation in (North) Korea where they have more lethal missiles, and they have more capacity than they had before," Biden added.
His remarks come after the communist state unveiled a new longer-range intercontinental ballistic missile in a military parade staged Oct. 10 to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers' Party.
Trump has held three meetings with the North Korean leader between June 2018 and June 2019, and claims his "good relationship" with Kim is what prevented a nuclear war with North Korea.
"Guess what. It would be a nuclear war, and he does have plenty of nuclear capability. In the meantime, I have a very good relationship with him. ... We have a very good relationship, and there's no war," Trump said in the last presidential TV debate held Thursday.
Biden insisted the way Trump treated friends and foes has left his country less secure than before.
"Our lack of standing in the world," he said when asked what the biggest foreign threat facing the U.S. was.
"You have our NATO allies backing away from us because they say they can't count on us," Biden said. "So he's moving away from what has allowed us to bring the world together."
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--Imported commercial car sales jump 26 pct in September

From January to September , overall sales fell 13 percent to 3,091 from 3,567 in the year-ago period amid the @ @ @ @ @ said .

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- Sales of imported commercial vehicles in South Korea jumped 26 percent last month from a year earlier on robust sales of Scania and Iveco trucks, an industry association said Monday.
The number of newly registered imported commercial vehicles rose to 383 units in September from 304 a year ago, the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA) said in a statement.
"Increased sales of Scania and Iveco trucks helped offset decreased sales of MAN and Mercedes-Benz trucks last month," a KAIDA official said.
Imported commercial vehicles currently account for a large share of the domestic commercial vehicle market.
Five major imported commercial vehicle brands -- MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo Trucks, Scania and Iveco -- sell trucks, buses and vans in South Korea.
From January to September, overall sales fell 13 percent to 3,091 from 3,567 in the year-ago period amid the pandemic-caused slump, the association said.
KAIDA expects the new coronavirus outbreak will continue to weigh on consumer sentiment this year.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--Samsung Electro-Mechanics Q3 net income up 119.4 pct. to 240 bln won

The operating profit was 10.4 percent higher than the average estimate , according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax , @ @ @ @ @ Yonhap News Agency .
The estimate of net profit was not available .
( END @

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. on Monday reported its third-quarter net income of 240 billion won (US$212.5 million), up 119.4 percent from a year earlier.
Operating profit for the July-September period was 302.5 billion won, up 59.9 percent from a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. Revenue rose 3.3 percent to 2.28 trillion won.
The operating profit was 10.4 percent higher than the average estimate, according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. The estimate of net profit was not available.
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--SM Entertainment's new girl group to debut in Nov.

SM Entertainment said the band 's name comes from the English words `` avatar , experience and aspect '' -- @ @ @ @ @ to be able to meet another self through an avatar and experience a new world @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- SM Entertainment, the K-pop powerhouse that represents popular girl groups Girls' Generation and Red Velvet, on Monday announced the debut of a new girl group next month.
Little is known about the new act, named "aespa," except for a logo and a teaser video uploaded on the group's social media accounts early Monday.
SM Entertainment said the band's name comes from the English words "avatar, experience and aspect" -- with the name meaning "to be able to meet another self through an avatar and experience a new world."
This is the first K-pop group SM Entertainment is showcasing since NCT was unveiled in 2016. It is also the first new girl group affiliated with the agency since Red Velvet's debut in 2014.
SM Entertainment is one of the country's biggest K-pop agencies that has managed popular girl groups, dating back to S.E.S. in the 1990s.
This image, provided by SM Entertainment, shows the logo for new girl group "aespa." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--(LEAD) Woori Financial Q3 net falls 2.4 pct on reduced equity gains

Net profit for the three months ending in September fell to 521.32 billion won ( US $ 462 million ) @ @ @ @ @ the same period of last year , Woori said in a statement .

(ATTN: REWRITES throughout; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- Woori Financial Group said Monday its third-quarter net profit fell 2.4 percent from a year earlier on decreased gains from equity ties with affiliates.
Net profit for the three months ending in September fell to 521.32 billion won (US$462 million) from 534.11 billion won in the same period of last year, Woori said in a statement.
"The quarterly net income declined, as reduced gains from equity ties with affiliates such as Woori Card and Woori Investment Bank Co. were reflected in the bottom line," a company spokesman said.
The company will focus on making profits in the non-banking division for the rest of the year as uncertainties grow amid the prolonged coronavirus pandemic, the statement said.
Operating profit climbed 2.4 percent to 674.91 billion won in the third quarter from 659.29 billion won a year ago. Sales fell 41 percent to 4.28 trillion won from 7.31 trillion won during the same period, the financial group said.
This photo, taken on Feb. 11, 2020, shows an Woori Bank outlet in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--(LEAD) Naver, CJ sign share-swap deal in strategic tie-up

As of May , Netflix held the most active mobile application users among over-the-top ( OTT ) services in South @ @ @ @ @ million in a country with a population of 51 million , according to market researcher @ @ @ @ @ than local player Wavve at 3.46 million and Seezn at 2.36 million .

(ATTN: UPDATES with comments by CJ official and details in paras 7-14; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top online portal operator Naver and entertainment and logistics giant CJ Group signed a share-swap deal Monday in a strategic tie-up to boost their competitive edge in the e-commerce and entertainment industries, officials said.
Under the deal worth 600 billion won (US$531 million), Naver will acquire a 7.85 percent stake in CJ Logistics Corp., a parcel delivery company, a 5 percent stake in entertainment giant CJ ENM Corp. and a 6.26 percent stake in Studio Dragon, a drama production company owned by CJ ENM.
In return, Naver plans to provide stakes with the same monetary value to the three CJ units. The stakes in Naver to be held by CJ Logistics, CJ ENM and Studio Dragon are 0.64 percent, 0.32 percent and 0.32 percent, respectively.
Han Seong-sook (L), CEO of Naver, and Choi Eun-seok, head of Management Strategy Office of CJ Corp., pose after signing a strategic partnership deal on Oct. 26, 2020, in this photo provided by Naver. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The share swaps between Naver and CJ Logistics and CJ ENM are set to take place on Tuesday, while one involving Studio Dragon is expected to take about two weeks, the companies said.
The move is meant to set up a new cooperative model in content and e-commerce markets and strengthen their competitive edge against the influx of foreign rivals, such as U.S. streaming giant Netflix Inc.
As of May, Netflix held the most active mobile application users among over-the-top (OTT) services in South Korea at an estimated 6.37 million in a country with a population of 51 million, according to market researcher Nielsen KoreanClick, far higher than local player Wavve at 3.46 million and Seezn at 2.36 million.
Naver said it plans to unveil globally competitive content in cooperation with CJ ENM, the production house behind Oscar-winning "Parasite," and Studio Dragon, which created the popular drama "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God."
Naver said they will invest 300 billion won over the next three years to produce content for global audiences amid the growing popularity of "hallyu," the Korean wave of pop culture.
K-pop and the broader Korean Wave have resonated with young people around the world, burnishing South Korea's image as a cool country, home to K-pop phenomenon BTS and "Gangnam Style," South Korean rapper Psy's 2012 mega-hit song.
A CJ official said the cooperation between CJ and Naver could further expand Korean content in global markets, citing CJ's capacity to create and produce top-notch content and Naver's original content in webtoon and webnovel.
Line Webtoon, the webcomic arm of Naver, saw the number of its monthly active users surpass 67 million globally in August.
Naver Webtoon, more commonly known as Line Webtoon in the United States, is home to a plethora of creator-owned content, ranging from romance to fantasy.
Naver also plans to acquire a stake in tving, a subscription-based video-on-demand service that was recently spun off from CJ ENM in a move to strengthen competitiveness against Netflix.
Also, Naver and CJ Logistics plan to expand fulfillment services for e-commerce and jointly invest in logistics infrastructure, officials said.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--(3rd LD) Biz, political leaders visit funeral parlor of late Samsung chief

The ceremony was expected to take place in a Won Buddhism style as Lee was a follower of the religion @ @ @ @ @ it was not held under such a format .

(ATTN: UPDATES info in paras 10, 12-16; ADDS photo)
By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- Key business and political leaders on Monday visited a funeral parlor to offer their condolences to the family of late Samsung Group chief Lee Kun-hee, mourning the death of South Korea's most influential business tycoon.
Lee died Sunday at age 78, more than six years after being hospitalized for a heart attack.
An encoffining ceremony for Lee started around 9 a.m. at the funeral hall of Samsung Medical Center in southern Seoul, with his wife and scions, including Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, in attendance.
The ceremony was expected to take place in a Won Buddhism style as Lee was a follower of the religion, but Samsung later said it was not held under such a format.
Samsung earlier announced that Lee's funeral service will be held in a modest manner with family members and it courteously decline visits from others due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the country's social distancing scheme, gatherings of more than 50 people are not recommended.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (R) enters a funeral hall at Samsung Medical Center in Seoul to attend a funeral service for late Samsung Group chief Lee Kun-hee on Oct. 26, 2020. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
But Samsung decided to accept a small group of those offering their condolences.
President Moon Jae-in delivered his condolences through his chief of staff, Noh Young-min, and Cheong Wa Dae's senior secretary for economic affairs, Lee Ho-seung, on Sunday.
CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun, a nephew of the late Samsung chief; HDC Group Chairman Chung Mong-gyu; and Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung were also among those who visited to offer their condolences on Sunday.
Samsung's former and current high-ranking officials made visits to the funeral service for the late chairman. They were followed by business moguls here, including Shinsegae Group Chairman Lee Myung-hee, who is also a sister of the late Samsung chief; Hyundai Motor Group chief Chung Euisun; Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae; SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won; and Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-yeon.
"It's very sad that a great man has passed away," Chung said to reporters. "I appreciate him for implementing the spirit of the leader across entire fields of the country's business community."
SK's Chey hailed Lee as a man who built Korea's first and biggest global company, adding that Lee's death is huge loss for the nation.
Top government officials, including Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki and Industry Minister Sung Yun-mo, and political heavyweights from the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition People Power Party also visited the funeral service.
"Lee was a second-generation business leader who really had incredible achievements," the prime minister said. "It was his determination and driving force that made Samsung a global-leading company today."
Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun enters a funeral hall at Samsung Medical Center in Seoul to attend a funeral service for late Samsung Group chief Lee Kun-hee on Oct. 26, 2020. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
Foreign ambassadors to the country, including U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris, Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming and British Ambassador Simon Smith, and former United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon also offered their condolences.
Meanwhile, Samsung employees have set up an online memorial altar to mourn the death of Lee. More than 19,000 condolence messages were posted on the virtual memorial site in the morning.
Samsung said the website shows photos and video clips of Lee's business activities in the past, so that young employees can better know about his business philosophy and achievements.
A funeral procession for Lee is scheduled on Wednesday, with his burial site reportedly to be in Yongin, south of Seoul, where graves of his ancestors are located.
SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won enters a funeral hall at Samsung Medical Center in Seoul to attend a funeral service for late Samsung Group chief Lee Kun-hee on Oct. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--Naver, CJ sign share-swap deal in strategic tie-up

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top online portal operator Naver and entertainment and logistics giant CJ Group signed a share-swap deal Monday in a strategic tie-up to boost their competitive edge in the e-commerce and entertainment industries, officials said.
Under the deal worth 600 billion won (US$531 million), Naver will acquire a 7.85 percent stake in CJ Logistics Corp., a parcel delivery company, a 5 percent stake in entertainment giant CJ ENM Corp. and a 6.26 percent stake in Studio Dragon, a drama production company owned by CJ ENM.
In return, Naver plans to provide stakes with the same monetary value to the three CJ units. The stakes in Naver to be held by CJ Logistics, CJ ENM and Studio Dragon are 0.64 percent, 0.32 percent and 0.32 percent, respectively.
The share swaps between Naver and CJ Logistics and CJ ENM are set to take place on Tuesday, while one involving Studio Dragon is expected to take about two weeks, the companies said.
The move is meant to set up a new cooperative model in content and e-commerce markets and strengthen their competitive edge against the influx of foreign rivals, such as U.S. streaming giant Netflix Inc.
As of May, Netflix held the most active mobile application users among over-the-top (OTT) services in South Korea at an estimated 6.37 million in a country with a population of 51 million, according to market researcher Nielsen KoreanClick, far higher than local player Wavve at 3.46 million and Seezn at 2.36 million.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--YouTube ranks as fifth most trustworthy media in South Korea: survey

Among TV , radio , newspapers , the internet and social media , the first two were the only ones @ @ @ @ @ they tend to trust than those who answered the opposite .

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- YouTube ranked as the fifth most trustworthy media in South Korea in the third quarter, beating other traditional local outlets, a survey showed Monday.
The state-run broadcaster KBS topped the list with 17.7 percent trust level in the survey conducted by Kantar Korea, a research firm, and commissioned by KBS, from Sept. 24-26 on 1,009 adults across the country.
Public broadcaster MBC came in second with 10.6 percent, followed by two cable channels, JTBC with 7.9 percent and TV Chosun with 6.7 percent.
A logo of YouTube Korea provided by Yonhap News TV (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
YouTube ranked fifth with 5.48 percent. up three notches from the previous quarter.
The global video-sharing website was ninth in the second quarter of 2019 and stayed at No. 8 since the third quarter of that year.
The survey also showed overall credibility of South Korean news outlets decreased by 0.4 percentage points on quarter to 41.4 percent.
Among TV, radio, newspapers, the internet and social media, the first two were the only ones with more respondents who answered they tend to trust than those who answered the opposite.
Some 54.5 percent answered they trust TV while 39.4 percent said they do not.
Social media was the least trusted media category, trusted by only 23.9 percent and distrusted by 55.5 percent.
The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points and a confidence level of 95 percent.
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--TXT's new album appears more relatable than ever amid COVID-19

`` But that sentiment inspired us so that the album could come out well .
'We Lost the Summer ' @ @ @ @ @ It 's a story about teens who can not go to school and are living @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said , adding that the song would be relatable not only to @ @ @ @ @ global pandemic .

By Lee Minji
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- K-pop act Tomorrow X Together said Monday their upcoming album captures the stories and sentiments of teens who are living in an unprecedented world amid the new coronavirus pandemic.
"Like everyone else, we were taken aback and confused by the situation that we're experiencing for the first time. Above all, it was sad not to be able to listen to MOA's cheering sounds when we perform on stage," Taehyun said during a media conference, referring to the group's dedicated fan base called MOA.
The singer of the group, also known as TXT, was speaking during a media showcase held in Seoul ahead of the release of the quintet's new album "Blue Hour" at 6 p.m.
Members of K-pop group Tomorrow X Together pose at a media showcase held in Seoul on Oct. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
The TXT member, however, said going through the pandemic actually helped the boy band better prepare for the album.
"But that sentiment inspired us so that the album could come out well. 'We Lost the Summer' portrays the COVID-19 situation. It's a story about teens who cannot go to school and are living in a completely different world," he said, adding that the song would be relatable not only to teens but everyone experiencing the global pandemic.
Like their previous hit "Fairy of Shampoo," that remade a popular 1990s song, the latest song was also inspired by a '90s hit that was written when South Korea was facing the Asian financial crisis.
"We could relate well to the lyrics that reflected the reality. We hope that 'We Lost the Summer' could be relatable in 2020 like how Han's Band's 'Game Arcade' was relatable to the public in 1998," Huening Kai said.
Tomorrow X Together performs "Blue Hour" during a media showcase in Seoul on Oct. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
If "We Lost the Summer" is a song that proves relatable in the age of a pandemic, the album's main track, "Blue Hour," could uplift minds in a depressing year, like 2020.
The main track, with the Korean title that literally translates to "You and Me that were discovered in the sky at 5:53 p.m.," is an upbeat disco pop that portrays a boy who feels confused yet in awe when seeing the sky at that precise time between day and night.
The band's music video is a treat for the eye, with the five members dancing in a pastel-colored set. The background then shifts to the hilly ridges of Daegwallyeong in the country's mountainous Gangwon Province with the quintet dancing under a clear blue sky.
"It's an overall bright and energetic song. We hope to extend the disco fever that started with BTS," said Yeonjun, referring to the K-pop superstars who are also managed by Big Hit Entertainment.
Beomgyu added that the choreography for the song was inspired by the Korean title, with a dance that depicts a clock, asking fans to look out for other signature dance moves, such as the wing dance and the pair dance.
Members of K-pop group Tomorrow X Together pose at a media showcase held in Seoul on Oct. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
Other songs on the five-track mini album -- "Ghosting," "Wishlist" and "Way Home" -- all capture the sentiment of teens by focusing on narratives that they go through in everyday life.
Some of the members also took part in the songwriting for the tracks "Ghosting" and "Wishlist," which they said helped them share their stories more personally.
In fact, TXT picked relatability as something that has propelled the rookie band's popularity in the past year. The band debuted in March 2019.
"We feel that we are loved when we read posts from fans that they were encouraged or comforted by listening to our songs. Perhaps we are loved because the messages in our songs are relatable ones that a lot of people have experienced or will eventually go through," Soobin said.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--(LEAD) U.S. pushing for flexible adjustment of troop levels overseas: defense ministry

`` Instead of keeping a certain level of American troops at a particular country , it is pushing for a @ @ @ @ @ in consideration of security situations , '' the defense ministry said in an answer to @ @ @ @ @ Dae-sik of the main opposition People Power Party about why the troop commitment was missing @

(ATTN: ADDS minister's more remarks, defense ministry's statement in paras 7-10, 14-15)
By Choi Soo-hyang
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- The United States did not commit to maintaining its troop level in South Korea in a recent joint statement between their defense ministers because it is adjusting its overseas troop presence in a flexible manner, the defense ministry said Monday.
The two countries issued a joint communique after annual talks between Defense Minister Suh Wook and U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper earlier this month, but the statement did not include a usual U.S. commitment to keep American troops at the current level.
That raised speculation the U.S. may be considering troop cuts.
"Instead of keeping a certain level of American troops at a particular country, it is pushing for a policy flexibly adjusting troop levels in consideration of security situations," the defense ministry said in an answer to a question from Rep. Kang Dae-sik of the main opposition People Power Party about why the troop commitment was missing.
Still, Suh said the U.S. has pledged an "unshakable commitment" to the security of South Korea at the Security Consultative Meeting, and there were no discussions on the possible reduction of the USFK force level.
Asked to comment on the omission of the expression on keeping USFK troop levels, Suh said the Pentagon appears to have received guidelines to have a more flexible stance on the level of its troops dispatched overseas.
"The issue is bound by the U.S.' National Defense Authorization Act, so that no discussions (about the possible reduction in the number of USFK troops) took place during the meeting," Suh noted.
The NDAA disallows the reduction of the number of American troops in South Korea below the current level unless the U.S. defense secretary certifies that reduction is in the U.S. national security interest.
The defense ministry also issued a separate statement on Monday and stressed that "there have not been any discussions on the USFK troop level between the two sides up until now."
"A senior U.S. official who attended the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) also confirmed that the omission of the sentence about the maintenance of the current level of American troops in South Korea does not mean any reduction," the ministry said.
Talk of the troop reduction came as the two sides have failed to narrow differences over their cost sharing for the upkeep of the 28,500-strong USFK under the bilateral deal, called the Special Measures Agreement.
On Oct. 5, USFK informed South Korean employees of a furlough that could occur in April next year in case the two countries fail to reach an agreement on their defense cost-sharing deal.
More than 4,000 South Korean workers already experienced unpaid leave from April to June this year before the U.S. accepted South Korea's proposal to fund the labor costs for all USFK Korean workers through the end of the year.
The U.S. has been pushing for greater "strategic flexibility" for its forces deployed around the world.
Esper said earlier that he wants to pursue more rotational force deployments into theaters as it gives the U.S. greater strategic flexibility in terms of responding to challenges around the globe, though he stressed that he has not issued an order to withdraw forces from the Korean Peninsula.
Defense Minister Suh Wook speaks during a parliamentary audit session at the National Assembly in Seoul on Oct. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--Kurosawa: I didn't need great courage to make film on Japan's wartime crime

`` I 've made a lot of films set in modern days .
But it is hard to tell what @ @ @ @ @ wrong in these stories of today , '' he said during the news conference streamed @ @ @ @ @ I chose to picture the past that is not so far from the present , @ @ @ @ @ true and not as it is the history . ''

By Kim Boram
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa said Monday that it didn't take a great deal of courage to make his Venice-winning film that directly deals with his country's wartime atrocities.
"It didn't require strong determination or bravery," the prolific director said in an official press conference for "Wife of a Spy" at the 25th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). "I just thought I have to tell the story based on historical facts."
This image provided by the 25th Busan International Film Festival shows a scene from "Wife of a Spy." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The winner of best director at this year's Venice International Film Festival is the first period film by Kurosawa, who is well known for horror and genre movies featuring ghosts in modern Japan.
Set in the city of Kobe in early 1940s in the midst of the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Warld War II, the film depicts Yusaku (Issey Takahashi), a wealthy businessman who maps out his own espionage activities after witnessing the Japanese military's biological and chemical warfare research on humans in Manchuria.
His wife, Satoko (Yu Aoi), joins his plan to reveal the wartime atrocities to the wider world.
"I've made a lot of films set in modern days. But it is hard to tell what is correct and what is wrong in these stories of today," he said during the news conference streamed online. "But when I chose to picture the past that is not so far from the present, I now know what is true and not as it is the history."
This image provided by the 25th Busan International Film Festival shows a scene from "Wife of a Spy." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
He said his work would be regarded as a deviation in the Japanese film industry where there are few movies that depict the controversial past and the country's war crimes. "Wife of a Spy" hit Japanese theaters on Oct. 16.
"I know people have hardly seen this kind of Japanese film," he said. "I didn't need great determination to make it or care much as for how it will be received in Japan."
But he noted that he has not disclosed the truth that has been covered up for a long time and did not try to send a political message through the movie. Instead, he said he just wanted to make an entertaining war-period drama with suspense and romance.
"My film does not judge the way the past and the present are related. My role is to show that something happened at that time and time went by," he said. "I hope each person makes their own judgment after watching the movie."
This year's BIFF runs from Oct. 21-30.
This image provided by the 25th Busan International Film Festival shows a scene from "Wife of a Spy." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa in this photo provided by the 25th Busan International Film Festival (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--Cold-hearted mother draws fire for claiming wealth of late daughter she forsook 28 yrs ago

Under the standing Civil Code , the woman is the sole person capable of inheriting the wealth left behind by @ @ @ @ @ birth father died several years ago .
To the astonishment of the bereaved family , @ @ @ @ @ the 55 million won withdrawn from her late daughter 's bank account for hospital and @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- Are birth parents entitled to the wealth left behind by their deceased children even if they had long lived apart? Under the current inheritance law, the answer is yes, though some have denounced such parents as cold-hearted and unethical.
The legal loopholes angered the public last year, when Goo Ha-ra, a former member of popular girl group KARA, took her own life in November and her birth mother suddenly showed up for the first time in 20 years to claim half of the late singer's wealth.
At that time, more than 100,000 people signed a petition to ask the National Assembly to revise the inheritance law to block such shameless parents from inheriting their forsaken children's properties.
While parliament has yet to follow up on the petition, a second incident, similar to Goo's case, recently occurred in Korean society.
According to local legal circles on Monday, a 55-year-old woman came forward to claim all financial assets of her 29-year-old biological daughter who died of stomach cancer in February, though they had lived apart for the past 28 years.
The cold-hearted woman, whose identity was withheld, drew fire for abruptly showing up after learning of her daughter's death and eventually receiving 150 million won (US$133,000), including death insurance money, company severance pay and housing rental deposit.
Unsatisfied with the inheritance, the woman even filed a lawsuit claiming that the late daughter's stepmother and half-brother used her debit card to pay for her hospital and funeral expenses. In the lawsuit filed with the Seoul Eastern District Court in April, the woman demanded the return of 55 million won in "unfair gains" from the bereaved family.
It has been known that the birth mother and the deceased daughter had lived together only one year after the latter's birth and had not contacted each other at all for the following 28 years.
Under the standing Civil Code, the woman is the sole person capable of inheriting the wealth left behind by her daughter, because her birth father died several years ago. To the astonishment of the bereaved family, the women started litigation saying the 55 million won withdrawn from her late daughter's bank account for hospital and funeral bills belongs to her.
The court held two rounds of hearings before ordering the woman to return about 10 million won to the bereaved family.
According to the bereaved family, the daughter expressed concern while in hospital that her wealth would be inherited by her birth mother after her death and voiced a wish that her financial assets be given to her stepmother and half-brother.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--(LEAD) FM sees 'problem' with ambassador's remarks about alliance with U.S.

`` I think there was a problem in some of his expressions .
We have yet to take any action @ @ @ @ @ thoroughly examining the intent of the ambassador 's remarks , '' she said in the @ @ @ @ @ audit when asked by a lawmaker if the ministry gave him any warning .

(ATTN: ADDS paras 8-9 with Kang's remarks about Xi's speech)
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Monday she sees a "problem" with recent remarks by the country's ambassador to the United States that sparked criticism for belittling South Korea's alliance with Washington.
Kang also told a parliamentary audit session that she is considering taking unspecified "necessary action" over Ambassador Lee Soo-hyuck's remarks that just because South Korea chose the U.S. as its ally 70 years ago does not mean that it has to choose the U.S. for the next 70 years.
While Lee's intention was to stress that the country's national interests are the foremost priority, critics blasted Lee for having made such inappropriate remarks about the host country amid the growing U.S.-China rivalry.
On Monday, Kang admitted that the remarks were inappropriate.
"I think there was a problem in some of his expressions. We have yet to take any action but we will, after thoroughly examining the intent of the ambassador's remarks," she said in the final session of the parliamentary audit when asked by a lawmaker if the ministry gave him any warning.
"I believe some sort of action is necessary," she said.
On Chinese President Xi Jinping's characterization of his country's participation in the 1950-53 Korean War as "a fight against U.S. imperialist invaders," Kang reiterated that there is no denying that the North invaded the South.
When asked by a lawmaker if she sees Xi's remarks as "distortion of history," Kang agreed.
"It is so from our point of view," she said. "I believe that the global context of the U.S-China strategic rivalry has certainly played a part, but it's not appropriate to evaluate the intent of a foreign leader's speech."
She added that her ministry has clearly delivered that point to the Chinese side.
"It's an undeniable historical fact. We have conveyed our position clearly to the Chinese side, and we're taking necessary steps," she said. "The U.N. Security Council resolution also states that the war broke out with the North's invasion to the South."
The government has been criticized for failing to speak up against Beijing after Xi made the remarks in his speech last week to mark the 70th anniversary of China's participation in the three-year conflict. The war ended in an armistice, leaving the two Koreas technically still at war.
In Monday's session, Kang also said she feels "limitations" in her leadership as she described the difficulties in handling a spate of sexual misconduct cases that have flared up at South Korean missions overseas.
But, at the same time, she also said she believes they show the ministry is undergoing a change from a closed and male-dominated organization to one that guarantees a system allowing people to report matters they think are unfair.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks during a parliamentary audit session at the National Assembly on Oct. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--Government bans late-night mobile disaster alerts, except for emergency cases

According to the lawmaker , the central and provincial governments have sent out 34,679 mobile alerts in total from January-September @ @ @ @ @ in particular , 51 out of a total of 395 emergency alerts were sent out @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- The government has set up new guidelines for emergency alerts so as to not disturb people late at night, a lawmaker said Monday.
In the guidelines made by the Ministry of Interior and Safety and revealed by Rep. Park Soo-young from the opposition People Power Party (PPP), the ministry banned the sending of alerts from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day, except in emergency cases that warrant immediate public attention.
Under the guidelines, airing alerts containing policy advertisements is outright banned regardless of the time of day.
The ministry also offered detailed rules for alerts pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic, such as banning unnecessary COVID-19 related alerts and actively using social media accounts or websites to release information on new outbreaks or transmission routes, rather than releasing information directly to the public.
According to the lawmaker, the central and provincial governments have sent out 34,679 mobile alerts in total from January-September. On Sept. 3, in particular, 51 out of a total of 395 emergency alerts were sent out from midnight to 6 a.m.
The graphic provided by Yonhap News TV shows an emergency alert. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-26--(LEAD) Defense ministry reviewing possible provision of intelligence on slain official to U.N.

`` We judge the incident based upon primary sources , and a legal review is under way on providing those @ @ @ @ @ in an answer to Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the main opposition People Power Party who @ @ @ @ @ no smoking gun to back such judgment .

(ATTN: ADDS more remarks, details in last 5 paras, photo)
By Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is considering providing the United Nations with military intelligence collected in the course of North Korea's killing of one of its citizens if the U.N. launches an investigation, Defense Minister Suh Wook said Monday.
On Sept. 22, North Korea fatally shot the 47-year-old official, who was adrift in its side of the Yellow Sea, and burned his body, according to the South Korean military. He went missing the previous day while on duty near the western border island of Yeonpyeong.
The authorities also said that the official was presumed to have sought to defect to the North, citing military intelligence. The Coast Guard also made an interim conclusion earlier this month that he sought the defection after losing money in gambling.
North Korea acknowledged the shooting but claimed it only burned a "floating material" he used, not his body. The bereaved family has also challenged the claim of his attempt to defect and has been appealing to the U.N. for a fresh investigation.
The file photo taken Oct. 6, 2020, shows Lee Rae-jin, the elder brother of a South Korean official killed by North Korean soldiers while drifting in its waters, holding a petition at the U.N. office on North Korea's human rights in Seoul to appeal to the United Nations that a "fair and objective" probe into the killing be conducted. (Yonhap)
"If the U.N. carries out an investigation, we will present the facts that we have," Suh said during a parliamentary audit of the ministry, stressing that the military stuck with its earlier assessment.
"We judge the incident based upon primary sources, and a legal review is under way on providing those sources," he said in an answer to Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the main opposition People Power Party who pointed out that there exists no smoking gun to back such judgment.
Last week, Tomas Ojea Quintana, the U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights situation, raised the tragic incident during a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly and denounced the killing as a violation of international human rights law.
The minister said he is aware that the incident was reported to the U.N. and that his ministry has not yet received any official request for the submission of related information.
Suh also said that the ministry is reviewing if there is any information it can provide to the family regarding the incident.
Earlier this month, Lee Rae-jin, the elder brother of the deceased official, asked for the audio file of a wiretapped conversation between his brother and North Korean troops before the killing, as well as video clips recorded by the South Korean military's surveillance equipment that show the North's burning of his body.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ahn Gyu-back of the ruling Democratic Party said during the audit that the Coast Guard reported multiple times via international communication channels on the first day of his disappearance that search operations were under way.
"Those messages were not directed at North Korea, but I believe that the North would also have listened to them at that time," Suh said.
Critics have said that the authorities failed to take appropriate actions to prevent his death, such as letting North Korea know the official had gone missing and seeking its help for search operations.
The military and the Coast Guard continue to search for the body of a South Korean fisheries official, who was shot to death by North Korean troops last month, in waters off the western border island of Yeonpyeong on Oct. 3, 2020, in this photo provided by the Coast Guard. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)