yna--2020-06-11--(LEAD) LG Twins take 1st game of KBO double header over SK Wyverns

Lee , an 18-year-old out of high school , struck out a career-high seven batters in seven frames at Jamsil @ @ @ @ @ the Wyverns to one run on six hits .
He did n't walk anybody in @ @ @ @ @ Organization ( KBO ) start .
Lee improved to 2-1 for the season , with @ @ @ @ @ those three starts , Lee has yet to allow more than two earned runs .

(ATTN: ADDS details)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- Rookie right-hander Lee Min-ho tossed seven strong innings, and slugger Robert Ramos blasted a tie-breaking two-run home run in the seventh, as the LG Twins defeated the SK Wyverns 3-1 to take the first game of their double header in Seoul on Thursday.
Lee, an 18-year-old out of high school, struck out a career-high seven batters in seven frames at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, while limiting the Wyverns to one run on six hits. He didn't walk anybody in his third career Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) start. Lee improved to 2-1 for the season, with a 1.16 ERA. In those three starts, Lee has yet to allow more than two earned runs.
Lee Min-ho of the LG Twins pitches against the SK Wyverns in the first game of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season double header at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
Ramos broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh with a two-run shot off reliever Seo Jin-yong, for his league-leading 13th home run of 2020.
The Wyverns went up 1-0 in the top of the first inning, with Jamie Romak's RBI single off Lee cashing in Choi Ji-hoon, who'd reached on a bloop double to shallow center.
The Twins wasted early chances against SK starter Ricardo Pinto. In the bottom second, Jung Ju-hyeon grounded out to end a two-on, two-out rally. Lee Chun-woong led off the bottom third with a single, but was erased in a double play two batters later.
The Twins tied things up at 1-1 in the bottom fourth, courtesy of Oh Ji-hwan's sacrifice fly. The inning began on a promising note, with a single and a double putting runners at second and third with nobody out. But Oh's sac fly was sandwiched by a pop out and a groundout.
The Twins had the bases loaded with a single and two hit-by-pitches in the bottom sixth, only to see pinch hitter Hong Chang-ki strike out swinging against Pinto.
The Twins broke through with Pinto out of the game in the seventh, Seo got two quick outs before walking Chae Eun-seong. Ramos then battled Seo to seven pitches before driving a hanging splitter over the right field wall for a 3-1 LG lead.
Ramos, in his first KBO season, has 13 home runs to lead all players, and he's tied for fourth in RBI with 29.
The Twins' bullpen then took over from Lee to begin the top eighth, with Jin Hae-soo and Jung Woo-young combining for two shutout innings.
Lee threw 112 pitches, also a career high, and 75 were strikes.
These two teams played a double header Thursday after their scheduled game on Wednesday was rained out. This is the second double header of the season, and the Twins have been in both.
Roberto Ramos of the LG Twins watches his two-run home run against the SK Wyverns in the first game of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season double header at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-11--U.N. official notes S. Korea's transparent public health surveillance for virus tracing

`` For instance , in the Republic of Korea , under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act , public @ @ @ @ @ to collect personal health data across the country during an epidemic , '' he said @ @ @ @ @ official name .
`` However , while the law enables substantial disease surveillance with privacy @ @ @ @ @ government officials to share with the public basic information concerning its contact tracing efforts .
@

By Park Kyung-joon and Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- A United Nations official positively evaluated South Korea's transparent use of personal information for the purpose of tracing coronavirus infections as an exemplar in the global fight against the pandemic, a document showed Thursday.
David Kaye, the U.N.'s special rapporteur on freedom of expression, described the country's approach as balanced between demand for public health surveillance to trace infections and the need to reveal information of contact-tracking efforts in a report to be submitted to an upcoming Human Rights Council session.
Details of the 19-page report were viewed by Yonhap News Agency ahead of the session set to open next Monday.
His assessment came amid lingering concern here about health and quarantine authorities' aggressive gathering of personal information for contact tracing and early testing in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the report, titled "Disease pandemics and the freedom of opinion and expression," Kaye noted concern that some campaigns to combat the new coronavirus "may be failing to meet the standards of legality, necessity and proportionality."
He touched on the issue of promoting and protecting the right to freedom of opinion and expression.
He underlined five areas of concern: access to information held by public authorities, access to the internet, protection and promotion of independent media, public health disinformation and public health surveillance.
"The emergence of the COVID-19 virus will increase demands for the use of surveillance tools to trace positive tests for the virus and track the spread of the disease," he said. "This desire is fully understandable as a matter of public health."
Kaye pointed out that many states have undertaken robust health surveillance and it's still premature to evaluate the human rights or public health impacts.
He then presented South Korea's experience as an exemplar, citing its legal system that guarantees privacy and commitment to transparent implementation of specific measures.
"For instance, in the Republic of Korea, under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, public health authorities enjoy significant power to collect personal health data across the country during an epidemic," he said, using South Korea's official name. "However, while the law enables substantial disease surveillance with privacy guarantees, it also requires government officials to share with the public basic information concerning its contact tracing efforts."
In this way, he added, the law "appears to satisfy the government's health policy requirements and the public's right to information."
As South Korea "appears to be doing," he emphasized, it is imperative that such collection of data be coupled with "strict personal data protection guarantees and be time-limited."
A customer gets a QR code via a smartphone app at a bar in Seoul on June 10, 2020, the first day of the mandatory QR code-based registration of visitors at bars, clubs and other entertainment facilities across the country to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. (Yonhap) (END)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-11--LG Twins take 1st game of KBO double header over SK Wyverns

The Twins tied things up at 1-1 in the bottom fourth , courtesy of Oh Ji-hwan 's sacrifice fly .
@ @ @ @ @ promising note , with a single and a double putting runners at second and third @ @ @ @ @ Oh 's sac fly was sandwiched by a pop out and a groundout .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- Rookie right-hander Lee Min-ho tossed seven strong innings, and slugger Robert Ramos blasted a tie-breaking two-run home run in the seventh, as the LG Twins defeated the SK Wyverns 3-1 to take the first game of their double header in Seoul on Thursday.
Lee, an 18-year-old out of high school, struck out a career-high seven batters in seven frames at Jamsil Baseball Stadium, while limiting the Wyverns to one run on six hits. He didn't walk anybody in his third career Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) start.
Lee Min-ho of the LG Twins pitches against the SK Wyverns in the first game of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season double header at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
Ramos broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh with a two-run shot off reliever Seo Jin-yong, for his league-leading 13th home run of 2020.
The Wyverns went up 1-0 in the top of the first inning, with Jamie Romak's RBI single off Lee cashing in Choi Ji-hoon, who'd reached on a bloop double to shallow center.
The Twins wasted early chances against SK starter Ricardo Pinto. In the bottom second, Jung Ju-hyeon grounded out to end a two-on, two-out rally. Lee Chun-woong led off the bottom third with a single, but was erased in a double play two batters later.
The Twins tied things up at 1-1 in the bottom fourth, courtesy of Oh Ji-hwan's sacrifice fly. The inning began on a promising note, with a single and a double putting runners at second and third with nobody out. But Oh's sac fly was sandwiched by a pop out and a groundout.
The Twins had the bases loaded with a single and two hit-by-pitches in the bottom sixth, only to see pinch hitter Hong Chang-ki strike out swinging against Pinto.
The Twins broke through with Pinto out of the game in the seventh, Seo got two quick outs before walking Chae Eun-seong. Ramos then battled Seo to seven pitches before driving a hanging splitter over the right field wall for a 3-1 LG lead.
The Twins' bullpen then took over from Lee to begin the top eighth, with Jin Hae-soo and Jung Woo-young combining for two shutout innings.
Lee threw 112 pitches, also a career high, and 75 were strikes.
Roberto Ramos of the LG Twins watches his two-run home run against the SK Wyverns in the first game of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season double header at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-11--(3rd LD) Cheong Wa Dae warns of tough crackdown on leaflet launches into N. Korea

The government will `` thoroughly crack down '' on the act of sending such leaflets and related materials across the @ @ @ @ @ any violation in accordance with the law , added Kim , who doubles as head @ @ @ @ @ NSC .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more remarks, other details from 5th para)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- Cheong Wa Dae warned Thursday that the government would thoroughly crack down on a campaign to launch propaganda leaflets across the border into North Korea in its first official statement on Pyongyang's renewed brinkmanship highlighted by an announcement to sever all inter-Korean communication lines.
The office of President Moon Jae-in expressed "strong regret" over the continued launches of anti-Pyongyang leaflets by activists here, mostly defectors, citing a set of inter-Korean agreements intended to halt such acts.
The launches not only constitute a breach of South Korean laws, including the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation act, but also do not meet the accords between the two sides, Kim You-geun, deputy director of Cheong Wa Dae's national security office, said in a statement.
Kim You-geun, deputy director of Cheong Wa Dae's national security office, issues a statement in Seoul on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
"It's of no help to our efforts to achieve peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula either," he added, speaking after a meeting of the National Security Council's standing committee.
The government will "thoroughly crack down" on the act of sending such leaflets and related materials across the border and deal strictly with any violation in accordance with the law, added Kim, who doubles as head of the secretariat of the NSC.
He asked civic groups to stringently follow relevant domestic laws, saying the North has stopped sending its own propaganda leaflets to the South since the 2018 Panmunjom Declaration issued by the leaders of the two Koreas after their historic summit at the border village.
He then reaffirmed the South's commitment to abiding by all inter-Korean agreements signed to maintain peace and avoid accidental military clashes.
Kim did not take questions from reporters after reading out the statement at the Chunchugwan press center of Cheong Wa Dae.
The NSC session was presided over by Chung Eui-yong, director of national security at the presidential office.
Other participants included presidential chief of staff, Noh Young-min, and National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon, as well as Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul and Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, Cheong Wa Dae said.
Also in attendance were Chin Young, minister of interior and safety, and Moon Seong-hyeok, minister of oceans and fisheries.
Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Unification filed a criminal complaint with police against two North Korean defector groups for sending leaflets.
They are accused of flying balloons containing written messages condemning the North's regime or tiny radios, and also attempting to hold an event to release floating plastic bottles with rice and face masks toward the North.
The ministry said the move is a violation of the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation act that bans sending goods to North Korea without government permission, as well as the aviation safety act and the public waters management act.
Critics of the Moon administration's policy on the North accused Cheong Wa Dae itself of staying silent to curry favor with the unpredictable communist neighbor.
A Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters it's not appropriate for the presidential office to react to every message from the North that newspapers here often pick up.
He mentioned Uriminzokkiri, a well-known North Korean propaganda outlet. It's just a website run by a propaganda organ operated under the wing of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, which is in charge of Pyongyang's daily tasks on Seoul, he said on the customary condition of anonymity.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-11--Some 1,400 auditioned for 'Les Miserables' supporting roles amid pandemic: company

SEOUL , June 11 ( Yonhap ) -- An unusually high number of people have auditioned for supporting roles in @ @ @ @ @ Les Miserables '' in South Korea , the production company said Thursday , highlighting the @ @ @ @ @ stage actors in a market hit hard by the new coronavirus crisis .

SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- An unusually high number of people have auditioned for supporting roles in an upcoming production of "Les Miserables" in South Korea, the production company said Thursday, highlighting the severe competition for jobs among stage actors in a market hit hard by the new coronavirus crisis.
Theater company Les Miserable Korea said that the number of applicants for vacant supporting roles in the Korean-language theater adaptation of the French classic musical reached around 1,400. The show is slated for Aug. 7-16 at the Seoul Arts Center.
Stage veterans, including Oh Hyun-kyung, Park Woong, Im Dong-jin and Jeong Sang-cheol, are currently on board the production. The audition was held to cast more younger actors in the show.
The company said it hired some 50 new actors from the audition.
"The fact that some 1,400 auditioned for the roles reflects the current state of our performing arts industry," said Chung Dal-young, professor of theater management at Seoul's Dongguk University, who was a member of the casting panel.
Chung added, "Even considering that a lot of shows have been canceled due to COVID-19 and that the project is a timeless classic, the turnout was larger than expected."
The performing arts industry has been among the worst-hit sectors by COVID-19 in South Korea, with aggregate ticket sales of musicals, plays, classical concerts and other performances in April plummeting to 4.68 billion won (US$3.84 million) from the 20.9-billion-won tally in February.
This photo provided by Les Miserables Korea on June 11, 2020, shows the casting panel at an audition for the upcoming Korean-language theater production of "Les Miserables" slated for Aug. 7-16 in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-11--(LEAD) No fresh virus cases reported at military intelligence command

The exact route of infection of the first patient is not known , though three of the four officers appear @ @ @ @ @ after eating together with the major , according to officials .

(ATTN: ADDS test results, family infections in paras 3-4)
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- No fresh coronavirus cases were reported at the military intelligence command Thursday, officials said, after an officer's infection spread to four others and forced all command members to go through testing.
On Tuesday, an Army major at the Defense Security Support Command under the direct wing of the ministry was confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19, and four of his colleagues tested positive the following day, according to the ministry.
"We tested all members of the command, and they all, excluding the five officers, tested negative," a ministry official said.
But two family members of the infected officers tested positive, including a six-year-old daughter, the health authorities said later in the day.
The exact route of infection of the first patient is not known, though three of the four officers appear to have caught the virus after eating together with the major, according to officials.
The command has implemented stringent anti-virus measures, such as remote working and banning going outside after work, they added.
As of Thursday, the total number of infections among the military population stood at 58. Of them, 43 have completely recovered, according to the ministry.
Currently, 243 service personnel are quarantined in accordance with health authorities' guidelines. In addition, military authorities have put 1,476 members in isolation as a preventive step, it added.
South Korea has seen cluster infections in Seoul and surrounding areas in recent days. The country reported 45 more cases of the virus Thursday, bringing the nation's total to 11,947, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The security command is headquartered in the city of Gwacheon, just south of Seoul.
Students, teachers and workers are tested for the new coronavirus at a private educational institute in southeastern Seoul on June 9, 2020, after an assistant cook at its cafeteria was confirmed to be infected. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-11--(2nd LD) Cheong Wa Dae warns of tough crackdown on leaflet launches into N. Korea

He mentioned Uriminzokkiri , a well-known North Korean propaganda outlet .
It 's just a website run by a propaganda @ @ @ @ @ of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea , which is in charge of @ @ @ @ @ Seoul , he said on the customary condition of anonymity .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; UPDATES throughout with Cheong Wa Dae's statement; CHANGES photo)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- Cheong Wa Dae warned Thursday that the government would thoroughly crack down on a campaign to launch propaganda leaflets across the border into North Korea in its first official statement on Pyongyang's renewed brinkmanship highlighted by an announcement to sever all inter-Korean communication lines.
The office of President Moon Jae-in expressed "strong regret" over the continued launches of anti-Pyongyang leaflets by activists here, mostly defectors, citing a set of inter-Korean agreements intended to halt such acts.
The launches not only constitute a breach of South Korean laws, including the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation act, but also do not meet the accords between the two sides, Kim You-geun, deputy director of Cheong Wa Dae's national security office, said in a statement.
Kim You-geun, deputy director of Cheong Wa Dae's national security office, issues a statement in Seoul on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
"It's of no help to our efforts to achieve peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula either," he added, speaking after a meeting of the National Security Council's standing committee.
The government will "thoroughly crack down" on the act of sending such leaflets and related materials across the border, added Kim, who doubles as head of the secretariat of the NSC.
He then reaffirmed the South's commitment to abiding by all inter-Korean agreements signed to maintain peace and avoid accidental military clashes.
The NSC session was presided over by Chung Eui-yong, director of national security at the presidential office.
Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Unification filed a criminal complaint with police against two North Korean defector groups for sending leaflets.
Critics of the Moon administration's policy on the North have accused Cheong Wa Dae itself of staying silent to curry favor with the unpredictable communist neighbor.
A Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters it's not appropriate for the presidential office to react to every message from the North that newspapers here often pick up.
He mentioned Uriminzokkiri, a well-known North Korean propaganda outlet. It's just a website run by a propaganda organ operated under the wing of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea, which is in charge of Pyongyang's daily tasks on Seoul, he said on the customary condition of anonymity.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-11--EU delivers interim report on Hyundai-Daewoo deal

`` We have received the interim report ( from the EC ) , but we could not reveal its details @ @ @ @ @ the investigation , '' an official at Korea Shipbuilding said on condition of anonymity , @ @ @ @ @ data to the commission as soon as possible .

By Nam Kwang-shik
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- The European Union (EU) has delivered its interim report on the proposed deal between South Korea's top two shipbuilders, and its review may be in the final stretch, industry sources said Thursday.
In December last year, the European Commission (EC), the executive body of the EU, opened its probe into the acquisition of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. (DSME) by Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. (KSOE), the shipbuilding sub-holding company of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group.
However, the EC suspended in March its review of the acquisition due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The EC resumed on June 3 its investigation into the US$1.8 billion acquisition deal, aiming for its completion by September.
These file photos, provided by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., shows Hyundai's shipyard (left) and Daewoo's shipyard. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"We have received the interim report (from the EC), but we could not reveal its details as the party concerned with the investigation," an official at Korea Shipbuilding said on condition of anonymity, adding it will submit additional data to the commission as soon as possible.
The EC is expected to focus mainly on whether the deal will hurt market competition in the shipbuilding field of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petrochemical gas (LPG) carriers, industry insiders said.
In March 2019, Hyundai Heavy Industries Group signed a deal to buy a 55.72 percent stake in Daewoo Shipbuilding, which could create the world's biggest shipbuilder with a 21 percent share in the global shipbuilding market.
In a bid to acquire Daewoo Shipbuilding, Hyundai Heavy Industry Group split Hyundai Heavy Industries into two entities -- Korea Shipbuilding, a sub-holding company that governs shipbuilding units under the group, and a reorganized Hyundai Heavy Industries Co.
The deal needs regulatory approval from six countries -- South Korea, China, Kazakhstan, Japan, European Union and Singapore. Kazakhstan approved the deal in October 2019.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

The move came days after North Korea defined the South as an `` enemy '' and vowed to cut all @ @ @ @ @ over anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent across the border by North Korean defectors .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Thursday.
----------------
(LEAD) NSC discusses N. Korea issue, results to be made public: Cheong Wa Dae
SEOUL -- South Korea's top security officials had discussions Thursday on the North Korea issue in their weekly National Security Council (NSC) meeting, Cheong Wa Dae said.
The NSC's standing committee session opened at 3 p.m., presided over by Chung Eui-yong, director of national security at the presidential office, according to a Cheong Wa Dae official, who spoke to reporters.
----------------
(3rd LD) New virus cases slow slightly, cluster infections still grip greater Seoul
SEOUL -- South Korea's new virus cases slowed slightly Thursday, but the greater Seoul area is still haunted by a steady rise in cluster infections despite toughened measures to stem further community spread in the metropolitan area.
The country added 45 new cases, including 40 local infections, raising the total caseload to 11,947, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
----------------
(LEAD) S. Korea soon to decide whether to extend short-selling ban
SEOUL -- South Korea has yet to decide whether to lift or extend a temporary short-selling ban, the financial regulator said Thursday.
In March, South Korea imposed the six-month ban on stock short selling to cope with a stock market rout triggered by the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
----------------
(LEAD) Unification ministry files criminal complaint against leaflet-sending defector groups
SEOUL -- The unification ministry filed a criminal complaint with police Thursday against two North Korean defector groups for sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border, officials said.
The move came days after North Korea defined the South as an "enemy" and vowed to cut all inter-Korean communication lines in anger over anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent across the border by North Korean defectors.
----------------
(LEAD) Negotiations kick off to set next year's minimum wage amid pandemic
SEOUL -- A national commission launched negotiations Thursday to decide the legal minimum wage for next year amid the continuing economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
The Minimum Wage Commission hosted a plenary meeting in Sejong, an administrative city south of Seoul, setting out to determine the yearly revised minimum wage for 2021.
The minimum wage for 2020 stands at 8,590 won (US$7.22) per hour, up 2.9 percent from last year.
----------------
BTS to release 'Stay Gold' from upcoming Japanese album next week
SEOUL -- K-pop superstar BTS will release "Stay Gold," the title track of its upcoming new Japanese full-length album, next week.
The original Japanese song will be revealed to the public at 6 p.m. on June 19, according to an announcement posted on the website of the band's official Japanese fan club Thursday.
----------------
Kia Motors suspends 2 plants near capital over coronavirus
SEOUL -- Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-biggest carmaker by sales, halted its two domestic plants Thursday, as two workers at the plants near the capital were confirmed to have contracted the new coronavirus.
The suspension came after the two worker at the plants in Gwangmyeong, just southwest of Seoul, tested positive for COVID-19.
----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks end 9-day winning streak ahead of Fed outlook, won falls
SEOUL -- South Korean shares closed lower to end its nine-day winning-streak on Thursday, with a gloomy outlook from the U.S. Fed for the pandemic-hit economy spooking investors. The Korean won fell against the U.S. greenback.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 18.91 points, or 0.86 percent, to close at 2,176.78. Trading volume was high at about 814 million shares worth some 16.6 trillion won (US$13.7 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 660 to 218.
(END)


yna--2020-06-11--Samsung's foundry biz market share to rise in Q2: report

Overall , TrendForce expected the combined revenues of the top 10 foundries in the second quarter to increase 23.1 percent @ @ @ @ @ there was not a massive reduction in wafer start orders in the first quarter , @ @ @ @ @ orders in the current quarter amid the novel coronavirus pandemic .

SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co.'s market share in the global foundry industry is expected to increase in the current quarter from the previous three months, a report showed Thursday, with growth in the 5G smartphone market.
Samsung's share of the foundry business was estimated at 18.8 percent in the April-June period, 2.9 percentage points higher than three months earlier, according to a report from industry tracker TrendForce.
The South Korean tech giant's revenue from the foundry business was expected to jump 15.7 percent on-year to US$3.6 billion in the second quarter of the year, TrendForce said.
"Owing to good customer adoption rates of 5G smartphones featuring Qualcomm's mid-range and high-end 7-series Snapdragon 5G platforms, the demand for Samsung's 7nm process technology was relatively stable," TrendForce said.
This photo provided by Samsung Electronics Co. on May 21, 2020, shows the company's chip plant in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The industry's leading player, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), is expected to see a slight decrease in its market share in the second quarter, TrendForce said, but will maintain its dominant status.
TSMC was projected to mark a 51.5 percent market share in the second quarter, down 2.6 percentage points from three months earlier. The company was estimated to post on-year revenue growth of 30.4 percent to collect $10.1 billion in the second quarter.
GlobalFoundries was expected to take the No. 3 spot in the global foundry market with 7.4 percent share, followed by UMC with 7.3 percent.
South Korea's DB HiTek Co. was estimated to rank tenth, with revenue of $193 million in the second quarter.
Overall, TrendForce expected the combined revenues of the top 10 foundries in the second quarter to increase 23.1 percent from a year earlier as there was not a massive reduction in wafer start orders in the first quarter, while foundry clients increased their orders in the current quarter amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
However, the market researcher warned of uncertainties in the second half of the year.
"The ongoing trade tension between China and the U.S. means not all foundries have benefited from the wave of demand, and the increased demand in 2Q20 does not represent a revenue driver capable of supporting the overall foundry industry in the long term," it said.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-11--(LEAD) S. Korea soon to decide whether to extend short-selling ban

On Thursday , the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index ( KOSPI ) fell 18.91 points , or 0.86 percent @ @ @ @ @ , up sharply from March 19 , when the market crashed 8.39 percent to close @ @ @ @ @ 1,457.64 points .
It sank below the 1,500 level to hit its lowest point since @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with stock prices in 5th para)
SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has yet to decide whether to lift or extend a temporary short-selling ban, the financial regulator said Thursday.
In March, South Korea imposed the six-month ban on stock short selling to cope with a stock market rout triggered by the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
Financial Services Commission Chairman Eun Sung-soo said the authorities will lift the ban with rules if there is a need for improvement of the system.
Financial Services Commission Chairman Eun Sung-soo holds a press briefing on financial policy in the second half of this year at the main government complex building in central Seoul on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
Eun said in March that the ban on short selling may be lifted before six months when and if the market becomes stabilized.
On Thursday, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 18.91 points, or 0.86 percent, to close at 2,176.78, up sharply from March 19, when the market crashed 8.39 percent to close at a yearly low of 1,457.64 points. It sank below the 1,500 level to hit its lowest point since July 2009.
The authorities "will extend" the six-month ban if needed, Eun said in a press briefing, adding that no decision has been made yet on whether to extend the short-selling ban.
The latest ban marks the third of its kind in South Korea. The country last prohibited short selling in 2011.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-11--(URGENT) Cheong Wa Dae says S. Korea will keep abiding by all inter-Korean agreements to avoid accid

(URGENT) Cheong Wa Dae says S. Korea will keep abiding by all inter-Korean agreements to avoid accidental clashes

(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--2020-06-11--(URGENT) Cheong Wa Dae voices 'deep regret' over continued spread of anti-Pyongyang leaflets by S. K

(URGENT) Cheong Wa Dae voices 'deep regret' over continued spread of anti-Pyongyang leaflets by S. Korean activists


yna--2020-06-11--Deputy FM to visit UAE in first diplomatic trip for in-person talks since pandemic

His three-day trip , running through Monday , will be the first overseas visit by a South Korean diplomat for @ @ @ @ @ since countries went under lockdowns and closed borders over the COVID-19 outbreak .
The last @ @ @ @ @ foreign ministry official was one made to Los Angeles by Jeong Eun-bo , chief negotiator @ @ @ @ @ the United States , in mid-March .

SEOUL, June 11 (Yonhap) -- Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gunn will travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) later this week to discuss ways to enhance cooperation amid the coronavirus pandemic, the foreign ministry said Thursday.
His three-day trip, running through Monday, will be the first overseas visit by a South Korean diplomat for face-to-face talks with foreign counterparts since countries went under lockdowns and closed borders over the COVID-19 outbreak. The last known in-person visit by a foreign ministry official was one made to Los Angeles by Jeong Eun-bo, chief negotiator for defense cost-sharing talks with the United States, in mid-March.
During the trip to the UAE, Kim is expected to call for the need to create a fast-track entry system for businesspeople so as to help them make progress with their overseas businesses, the ministry said.
He will also discuss with officials in the Middle Eastern country ways to reinforce quarantine measures for South Korean nationals against COVID-19. Other bilateral issues, such as promoting the special strategic partnership between the two sides, will also be among the agenda items, the ministry added.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gunn arrives in Dulles International Airport near Washington D.C. on Jan. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--N. Korean leader sends congratulatory message to Putin

He added that he had a `` firm belief that the joint recognition and agreements between him and the Russian @ @ @ @ @ fail to dynamically promote the development of the strategic and traditional relations of friendship between @ @ @ @ @ ''

SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday on the occasion of the country's national day, according to state media.
In the letter, Kim expressed his belief that the two countries would continue to maintain friendly relations, the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.
"The Russian people have achieved great successes in the struggle for building a powerful and prosperous Russia while overcoming all kinds of challenges and trials under the energetic leadership of the Russian president," Kim was quoted as saying in the report.
Kim said "he reminisced with joy" about his first summit with Putin held in April last year in the Russian far eastern city of Vladivostok.
He added that he had a "firm belief that the joint recognition and agreements between him and the Russian president would be implemented without fail to dynamically promote the development of the strategic and traditional relations of friendship between the DPRK and Russia."
DPRK is the acronym of the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Last month, Kim also sent a message to Putin congratulating Russia on its 75th anniversary of the end of World War II.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin pose for a photo prior to their meeting at Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia, on April 25, 2019, in this photo captured from Yonhap News TV. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--(LEAD) Virus cases bounce back, greater Seoul area still harried by cluster infections

On Thursday , cases traced to a warehouse run by e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon , just west of Seoul @ @ @ @ @ two from a day earlier .
Those linked to small churches in the metropolitan area @ @ @ @ @ 94 .

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout)
SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new virus cases rebounded to over 50 on Friday, with most of them reported in the Seoul metropolitan area, likely forcing health authorities to extend toughened social distancing in the densely populated capital area.
The country added 56 new cases, including 43 local infections, raising the total caseload to 12,003, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). It marked an increase from 45 posted a day earlier.
Of the locally transmitted cases, all but one were reported in Seoul and surrounding areas.
The accumulated number of patients in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital city surpassed the 1,000 threshold.
Sanitation staff members disinfect a classroom of Inha University in Incheon, west of Seoul, on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korea eased its strict social distancing guidelines on May 6 on the back of the flattened virus curve, with phased reopenings of schools starting in mid-May.
The relaxed social distancing guidelines, however, have been in peril as a group of clubgoers from a nightlife district in Seoul were confirmed to be infected with COVID-19.
A string of cluster infections tied to religious gatherings, a distribution center and sports facilities has also popped up.
Late last month, the country implemented a two-week tougher social distancing scheme for the metropolitan area that is home to half the country's population of 50 million.
But asymptomatic "silent" virus spreaders along with secondary transmissions traced to cluster infections harried health authorities, who even say the country may roll back to strict social distancing again unless the virus curve flattens sharply.
Health authorities are likely to extend the deadline set for Sunday as a whopping 97 percent of locally transmitted cases have been reported in the metropolitan area this month.
Visitors wait to be tested for the new coronavirus at a makeshift clinic located in western Seoul on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
On Thursday, cases traced to a warehouse run by e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, reached 146, up two from a day earlier. Those linked to small churches in the metropolitan area rose by two to reach 94.
Cases tied to a door-to-door business establishment rose to 116 as of Thursday, with patients aged 60 and above accounting for nearly 70 percent. The first virus patient from the company was reported on June 2.
COVID-19 cases linked to a table tennis gym in southwestern Seoul came in at 60 on the previous day.
Other smaller cluster infections were reported across the nation as well. Seven cases were reported from the Defense Security Support Command, located in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul.
The resurgence in virus cases came as the country completed phased school reopenings this week.
The total death tally increased by one to 277, with the fatality rate reaching 2.31 percent. The rate for patients aged 80 and above stood at a whopping 26.15 percent.
South Korea's imported virus cases reached 1,325, up 13 from a day earlier.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,669, up 15 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 1,081,487 COVID-19 tests since Jan. 3. The figure translates to roughly 1 out of every 50 South Koreans receiving COVID-19 tests.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--Virus cases bounce back, greater Seoul area still harried by cluster infections

SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new virus cases rebounded to over 50 on Friday, with most of them reported in the Seoul metropolitan area, likely forcing health authorities to extend toughened social distancing in the densely populated capital area.
The country added 56 new cases, including 43 local infections, raising the total caseload to 12,003, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). It marked an increase from 45 posted a day earlier.
Of the locally transmitted cases, all but one were reported in Seoul and surrounding areas.
Sanitation staff members disinfect a classroom of Inha University in Incheon, west of Seoul, on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korea eased its strict social distancing guidelines on May 6 on the back of the flattened virus curve, with phased reopenings of schools starting in mid-May.
The relaxed social distancing guidelines, however, have been in peril as a group of clubgoers from a nightlife district in Seoul were confirmed to be infected with COVID-19.
A string of cluster infections tied to religious gatherings, a distribution center and sports facilities has also popped up.
Late last month, the country implemented a two-week tougher social distancing scheme for the metropolitan area that is home to half the country's population of 50 million.
But asymptomatic "silent" virus spreaders along with secondary transmissions traced to cluster infections harried health authorities, who even say the country may roll back to strict social distancing again unless the virus curve flattens sharply.
Health authorities are likely to extend the deadline set for Sunday as a whopping 97 percent of locally transmitted cases have been reported in the metropolitan area this month.
Visitors wait to be tested for the new coronavirus at a makeshift clinic located in western Seoul on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
On Thursday, cases traced to a warehouse run by e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, reached 146, up two from a day earlier. Those linked to small churches in the metropolitan area rose by two to reach 94.
Cases tied to a door-to-door business establishment rose to 116 as of Thursday, with patients aged 60 and above accounting for nearly 70 percent. The first virus patient from the company was reported on June 2.
COVID-19 cases linked to a table tennis gym in southwestern Seoul came in at 60 on the previous day.
Other smaller cluster infections were reported across the nation as well. Seven cases were reported from the Defense Security Support Command, located in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul.
The resurgence in virus cases came as the country completed phased school reopenings this week.
The total death tally increased by one to 277.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,669, up 15 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 1,081,487 COVID-19 tests since Jan. 3. The figure translates to roughly 1 out of every 50 South Koreans receiving COVID-19 tests.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--(URGENT) 15 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,66

(URGENT) 15 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,669: KCDC


yna--2020-06-12--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 1 more virus death, death toll now at 277: KCDC


yna--2020-06-12--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 56 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 12,003: KCDC


yna--2020-06-12--Veteran catcher overwhelmed by improbable power surge

Lee , who will turn 39 in about three months , said it `` would n't be the strangest thing @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Though he 's batting a robust .400 this year , with three of @ @ @ @ @ for home runs in 15 at-bats , Lee knows he will only be playing once @ @ @ @ @ at most , behind starting catcher Yoo Kang-nam .
Lee only started the second game @ @ @ @ @ because Yoo played the first one in scorching heat and manager Ryu Joong-il wanted to @ @ @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- LG Twins' backup catcher Lee Sung-woo had just four home runs in 512 games in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) prior to this season.
Then in 14 games this year, most of them coming off the bench, Lee has already hit three home runs.
So what gives?
"I don't even know what's going on with me," Lee said Thursday, shaking his head as he discussed his third home run of the young season against the SK Wyverns at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul.
"I am experiencing things that I never thought would happen to me," the 38-year-old added. "This is all overwhelming.
Lee Sung-woo of the LG Twins hits a solo home run against the SK Wyverns in the second game of their Korea Baseball Organization regular season double header at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
Lee's solo shot Thursday broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom seventh of the second game of the teams' double header. But when he made contact, Lee wasn't sure if he'd hit it hard enough.
"I am not a home run hitter, so I don't really know how my hands are supposed to feel on a home run," Lee said with a smile. "I didn't think I got enough of the ball. So I just started running hard."
And there was another reason that Lee went full speed, even as the third base umpire, Choi Young-joo, made a circle above his head to signal a home run.
Lee's fly ball touched the tip of left fielder Choi Ji-hoon's outstretched glove before it bounced off the stairwell in the stands and landed on left field grass. But Lee never saw the ball go over the fence.
"I saw the left fielder jump, and I figured the ball hit the top of the fence and came back," Lee said. Then with a chuckle, Lee added, "I've never hit a triple my whole career, and I thought this was my chance to finally get one."
The long KBO journey Lee has taken to this point is nothing to laugh about. He signed with the SK Wyverns as an undrafted free agent in 2005 but made his KBO debut with the Kia Tigers three years later. He never played much with the Tigers, getting as few as eight at-bats in one season.
Lee Sung-woo of the LG Twins celebrates his solo home run against the SK Wyverns in the second game of their Korea Baseball Organization regular season double header at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Wyverns brought him back before the 2017 season, and Lee appeared in a career-high 88 games in 2018. Then it was off to the Twins for 2019. He played in 55 games, including 19 in a start, and batted only .156.
Lee, who will turn 39 in about three months, said it "wouldn't be the strangest thing if I retired right now." Though he's batting a robust .400 this year, with three of his six hits having gone for home runs in 15 at-bats, Lee knows he will only be playing once or twice a week, at most, behind starting catcher Yoo Kang-nam. Lee only started the second game of Thursday's double header because Yoo played the first one in scorching heat and manager Ryu Joong-il wanted to give him a breather.
As his career winds down, Lee is trying to find joy in small things. To wit: Lee said he was happy he wasn't lifted for a pinch hitter Thursday, something that has happened to Lee too many times to count.
Lee has always been a defensive-minded catcher. That he's stuck around as long as he has despite limited offensive upside is a testament to his defense, not to mention his perseverance.
In fact, Lee was typecast as a defense-first catcher so early in his career that he never got a chance to hone his hitting skills.
"Most of my hitting coaches never spent enough time with me to work on mechanics, and they just told me to keep working on my defense," Lee said. "Everything I know about hitting, I've basically taught myself."
Late last season, one veteran Twin teammate stepped in to fill that coaching void for Lee.
Lee Sung-woo (L) and Kim Hyun-soo of the LG Twins celebrate their 4-3 victory over the SK Wyverns in the second game of their Korea Baseball Organization regular season double header at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
As the KBO's all-time hits leader, Park Yong-taik knows a thing or two about swinging the bat. He gave Lee some tips on how to transfer his weight better and how to use his lower body more effectively.
"At that point, I had nothing to lose. And I have never been afraid to fail," Lee said. "So I kept working on things he taught me during the winter. At spring training, I was able to get proper timing and start hitting with more power."
Both Park and Lee wish this turnaround had come sooner.
"Yong-taik told me once, 'If we became teammates five years earlier, I would have made you a starting catcher,'" Lee said with a grin.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--S. Korea says downside risks to economy slightly recede

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) has predicted that South Korea 's economy could shrink 1.2 @ @ @ @ @ global economy is expected to have its worst year since the Great Depression of the @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's finance ministry said Friday that downside risks to the nation's economy have slightly receded but warned that risks of global recession have weighed on an economic recovery.
In a monthly report, called the "Green Book," the Ministry of Economy and Finance painted a somewhat positive picture of the economy, compared with its May report.
"With a decline in domestic consumption showing signs of easing and employment indices recovering, downside risks to our economy have slightly receded," the report said.
"However, worries about global economic recession are growing as risks increase in major economies," it said.
The nation's jobless rate surged to a 10-year high in May as the coronavirus pandemic hammered job markets. The number of employed people fell by 392,000 to 26.93 million in May, marking the third consecutive monthly decline.
In a sign of hope for job markets, the pace of job losses eased in May. South Korea lost about 467,000 jobs in April, marking the sharpest monthly decline in more than 21 years.
Consumer sentiment rebounded from an 11-year low in May, mainly due to a decline in the number of new coronavirus infection cases here.
The country's composite consumer sentiment index came to 77.6 in the month, up 6.8 points from a month earlier when the index dropped to the lowest level since December 2008.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has predicted that South Korea's economy could shrink 1.2 percent this year as the global economy is expected to have its worst year since the Great Depression of the 1930s due to the pandemic.
The world economy is expected to contract 6 percent this year, the OECD said.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--Video unveiled for BTS' autobiographical song 'We are Bulletproof: the Eternal'

The video was released as part of the 2020 BTS Festa , an annual event where the band celebrates its @ @ @ @ @ , commonly referred to as ARMY .
BTS member Jungkook released a solo song , @ @ @ @ @ '' last week as part of the celebration .

SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- K-pop giant BTS on Friday released a music video for "We are Bulletproof: the Eternal," off of its most recent album "Map of the Soul: 7," as part of the group's annual fan celebration event.
The animated music video shared on YouTube features adorable versions of individual BTS members walking and running through a variety of locations. The seven later join one another to be launched above the clouds riding a whale.
Included in "Map of the Soul: 7," released in February, "We are Bulletproof: the Eternal" is an autobiographical throwback song on the septet's roots, encompassing the band's journey from its scrappy debut days to its success today.
This composite image provided by Big Hit Entertainment, label-management agency of BTS, on June 12, 2020, shows highlights of BTS' new music video for "We are Bulletproof: the Eternal." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The video was released as part of the 2020 BTS Festa, an annual event where the band celebrates its debut anniversary with international fans, commonly referred to as ARMY. BTS member Jungkook released a solo song, "Still with You," last week as part of the celebration.
The K-pop act will cap off this year's BTS Festa event with an online concert, "Bang Bang Con: The Live," on Sunday. Fans will be able to view the concert from six different angles.
Music video for BTS' "We are Bulletproof: the Eternal" (Yonhap) Youtube https://youtu.be/7UWBYJjuIL0
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--Seoul stocks open sharply lower as U.S. market plunges over virus fears

The local currency was trading at 1,208.90 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m. , sharply down 12.50 @ @ @ @ @ 's close .

SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks nosedived over 4 percent at the opening bell Friday, taking a cue from overnight plunges in U.S. markets over renewed fears about the new coronavirus pandemic, analysts said.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 80.33 points, or 3.69 percent, to 2,096.45 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Seoul shares closed lower to snap a nine-day winning streak Thursday, as investor sentiment was hurt by a bleak economic outlook by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Overnight, Wall Street took a beating over revived concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic may resurge. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 6.9 percent, the largest fall in three months, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 5.27 percent.
Investor sentiment remained subdued as the Fed warned of a "long road" to economic recovery Wednesday over the virus outbreak and vowed to keep interest rates low.
In Seoul, most large caps started in negative terrain.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics fell 4.42 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix declined 4.18 percent.
Top automaker Hyundai Motor shed 5.07 percent, and its affiliate Kia Motors declined 4.9 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,208.90 won to the U.S. dollar as of 9:15 a.m., sharply down 12.50 won from the previous session's close.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--Vice finance minister sees 'relatively good' sign of recovery in exports

SEJONG, June 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's vice finance minister said Friday the nation's exports showed a "relatively good" sign of recovery in the first 10 days of this month, but warned of risks over a second wave of coronavirus infections.
Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom made the remarks a day after South Korea reported a 20.2 percent jump in exports for the June 1-10 period.
The sharp rise was mainly attributed to a calendar effect because there were more working days, but it raised hopes for a recovery in global trade as more nations eased coronavirus lockdown measures.
The daily average exports during the 10-day period fell 9.8 percent on-year, compared with a 30.2 percent plunge during the May 1-10 period.
"Exports showed a relatively good mode as the daily average exports fell by a single digit," Kim said in a meeting with senior ministry officials.
Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom speaks at a meeting with senior ministry officials on June 12, 2020. (Yonhap)
However, the situation for exports is still "grave" because there are lingering concerns about a new wave of infections around the world, Kim said.
The government will spare no efforts to support exporters and provide liquidity to them, Kim said.
Exports dropped for the third consecutive month in May due to the growing economic fallout from the pandemic.
Outbound shipments dove 23.7 percent to US$34.8 billion last month, compared with $45.7 billion posted a year earlier.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has predicted that South Korea's economy could shrink 1.2 percent this year as the global economy is expected to have its worst year since the Great Depression of the 1930s due to the pandemic.
The world economy is expected to contract 6 percent this year, the OECD said.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--Local transmissions balloon by double digits in Seoul

The city saw four consecutive days of double-digit increases in March when a cluster infection broke out at a call @ @ @ @ @ ward of Guro and another four-day streak linked to nightspots in Itaewon in May .

SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- The number of newly confirmed cases from local transmissions in Seoul marked a double-digit growth for 11 straight days, raising concerns over a possibly bigger outbreak in the city where one-fourth of the population lives.
The number of daily local transmissions reported here from June 1-10 increased by two-digit numbers ranging from 13 to 29, according to an analysis of data by Yonhap News Agency.
On Thursday, the figure reached 23 as of 6 p.m., raising the total to 203.
This marks the longest double-digit growth streak since the new coronavirus pandemic broke out in South Korea.
The city saw four consecutive days of double-digit increases in March when a cluster infection broke out at a call center in the southwestern Seoul ward of Guro and another four-day streak linked to nightspots in Itaewon in May.
Health workers at a screening center in the eastern Seoul ward of Jungnang use ice packs to cool down on June 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
The latest data comes amid heightened worries over chain transmissions traced to massive infection clusters in the greater Seoul area that includes Incheon, west of Seoul, and Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds the capital.
In addition to the nightspot and call center infections, the area has seen several cluster infections popping up -- including those linked to online retailer Coupang's warehouse, small churches and religious meetings, a door-to-door retailer that sells health products and a table tennis club.
Smaller sporadic infections have also been reported at a number of other facilities, such as call centers and private-sector education institutes.
In an effort to clamp down on bigger chain transmissions, the government in late May tightened distancing measures in the greater Seoul area until June 14.
The government is expected to announce whether to extend the move before the deadline.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--Nintendo Switch sales jump 30 pct in Q1 amid coronavirus outbreak

A total of 82,848 units of the video game console made by Japanese gaming firm Nintendo Co. were sold during @ @ @ @ @ 30.4 percent from the same period a year earlier , according to the data by @ @ @ @ @ .

By Kim Han-joo
SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- Sales of the Nintendo Switch jumped more than 30 percent on-year during the first quarter of this year in South Korea amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, industry data showed Friday.
A total of 82,848 units of the video game console made by Japanese gaming firm Nintendo Co. were sold during the January-March period, up 30.4 percent from the same period a year earlier, according to the data by local distributor Daewon Media Co.
Sales of Nintendo Switch game titles also skyrocketed 57.4 percent on-year to 287,590 units during the cited period, the data showed.
People line up to purchase Animal Crossing: New Horizons, a new game title for the Nintendo Switch, in front of a store in Seoul on April 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
An accumulated 505,718 units of the Nintendo Switch and 1.44 million game titles have been sold in South Korea since the global release in 2017, the data showed.
The increased sales of the console show that more people are turning to video games for entertainment as the COVID-19 pandemic has confined them to their homes.
Noticeably, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, a new title released on March 20, has gained popularity, Daewon Media said. More than 2.6 million units of the game were sold globally.
Daily active users of PC and console games spiked 46 percent on-year during the January-May period, according to a separate report by game software developer Unity Technologies. The corresponding number for mobile gaming was a 17 percent increase.
Before the COVID-19 outbreak hit, there was already a 13 percent on-year increase in mobile app downloads, but the corresponding number skyrocketed as countries entered lockdowns in early March, according to the report.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


Friday's weather forecast

SEOUL , June 12 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


KOSPI 2,088.24 DN 88.54 points (open)


yna--2020-06-12--(URGENT) Seoul stock market crashes 4 pct at the opening bell on virus woes


KOSDAQ 722.91 DN 34.15 points (open)


yna--2020-06-12--Dollar opens at 1,207.2 won UP from 1,196.4 won


yna--2020-06-12--(Yonhap Feature) Even amid virus fears, Koreans choose to dine together, separately

`` At first , we began holding ( online ) tea parties because most of our employees were home alone @ @ @ @ @ others .
They were getting bored , and they wanted to get together one way @ @ @ @ @ the 27 year-old when asked if the company could not have simply done away with @ @ @ @ @ being .

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- After Yi Si-woo got off work last Friday, he hurried home to start preparing for a company dinner, cooking seafood risotto with fresh salad on the side.
An hour later, the 24-year-old was joined by a dozen others in his studio with barely enough space for a smaller group, but none had to stand, as each and every person was in the comfort of their own home for their online company dinner.
"The idea was to share a moment, not the actual food. People prepared their own dishes at home and met online through videoconferencing to eat and talk together without the danger of catching the new coronavirus," Yi said.
Seen in the photo, provided by a local IT firm, Platfarm, are employees of the Seoul-based company working at home while connected online via a social networking platform. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The so-called remote dinner parties began about two months ago, when Yi's company, an industrial materials manufacturer in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, decided to have all of its non-essential employees work from home in the midst of the new coronavirus outbreak.
All unnecessary meetings, including company dinners and gatherings, immediately stopped.
Running a business in South Korea became more difficult when the country launched a strict social distancing campaign in late March, encouraging people to stay home whenever possible and to avoid all unnecessary gatherings.
The campaign, originally set to end after 15 days, lasted until May 5, when the country shifted to slightly lax social distancing.
Even to date, however, eating together is often considered hazardous, if not unwise.
"People were obviously afraid to meet other people in person because of the new coronavirus. There was little reason for people to want to meet colleagues just to have dinner when they were choosing not to meet their own friends," Yi said.
Yi's superiors apparently thought otherwise.
"Company dinners are considered a valuable chance to develop a bond between workers, and thus enhance their sense of being on the same team," said the head of Yi's company, who asked not to be identified.
"Business owners tend to believe eating together helps create not only friendship but a common goal for employees, which is often key to running a successful business," he said, highlighting the importance of company dinners in Korean culture by adding that "shikgu," one of the Korean words for family, literally refers to those who eat together.
The photo, provided by IT firm Platfarm, shows a dish prepared by one of its employees at home for an online company dinner, with other participants seen on the screen of a laptop. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Large restaurants, including those at highway rest stops, continue to arrange their seats in one direction or in alternating positions to have all customers face the same direction or maintain a safe distance from one another.
Restaurant workers are now required to wear masks while cooking or serving, and customers are also required to wear protective gear when entering such premises.
"Getting together was simply out of the question when all workers were told to work from home," said Hong Eun-kyeung, a marketing manager at Platfarm, an IT firm based in Seoul that creates emojis for online communication.
"One may think a company dinner is where people (physically) get together and eat together. But the company decided there was no reason it cannot hold a company dinner online when all its employees are working together online," she added.
Platfarm began holding online dinner parties in February, shortly after South Korea reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on Jan. 20.
"At first, we began holding (online) tea parties because most of our employees were home alone and wanted to socialize with others. They were getting bored, and they wanted to get together one way or another," said the 27 year-old when asked if the company could not have simply done away with company dinners for the time being.
To make it voluntary, the company made it a contest where each person is given 20,000 won (US$17) and those who come up with the most scrumptious-looking and best-value meals for the money win.
About 20 employees have taken part in each of the contests held every last Wednesday of the month since February.
"People are having fun just participating. It may have been possible because we are a young IT firm, but people seem to enjoy creating their own content with the food they choose and sharing their dish with others online, instead of just eating the food," Hong said.
In the undated photo, provided by Seoul-based IT firm Platfarm, a company official shares his dish online as part of a contest for employees working from home as a precaution against the new coronavirus. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Such voluntary efforts by local businesses and their employees to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus have, at least in part, kept South Korea from seeing a large number of work-related infections.
The total number of COVID-19 cases here still remains at below 12,000, more than four months after the country reported its first confirmed case, which marks a sharp contrast from the rest of the world, where more than 100,000 infection cases are reported daily.
Jeong Eun-kyeong, head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said keeping a safe distance, as well as making only online contact, helps prevent infections.
"Keeping a 2-meter distance, or at least a 1-meter distance, between people helps prevent infections," she said recently, citing a report from a British research institute.
Chung noted wearing a mask can help reduce the infection risk by 85 percent, even in a high-risk environment.
Wearing masks in a safer environment may further reduce the risk, she added.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--(2nd LD) N. Korea vows to build up 'more reliable' force against U.S. threats

`` The question is whether there will be a need to keep holding hands shaken in Singapore , as we @ @ @ @ @ of factual improvement to be made in the DPRK-U.S. relations simply by maintaining personal relations @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. President , '' he said .

(ATTN: ADDS Washington's remarks in last 3 paras)
By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Friday its goal is to build up a "more reliable" force against long-term military threats from the United States as the two countries marked the second anniversary of the first-ever summit of their leaders.
North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon made the remark, adding that Pyongyang would "never again" provide the U.S. with "another package" that President Donald Trump could use to boast as his political achievements.
"The secure strategic goal of the DPRK is to build up more reliable force to cope with the long-term military threats from the U.S. This is our reply message to the U.S. on the occasion of second anniversary of June 12," Ri said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.
DPRK is the acronym of the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"What stands out is that the hope for improved DPRK-U.S. relations -- which was high in the air under the global spotlight two years ago -- has now been shifted into despair," he added.
Ri voiced frustration over a stalemate since the Singapore summit, accusing Washington of just focusing on talking up "political achievements" without taking any actual steps to fulfill agreements.
"The question is whether there will be a need to keep holding hands shaken in Singapore, as we see that there is nothing of factual improvement to be made in the DPRK-U.S. relations simply by maintaining personal relations between our Supreme Leadership and the U.S. President," he said.
"In retrospect, all the practices of the present U.S. administration so far are nothing but accumulating its political achievements. Never again will we provide the U.S. chief executive with another package to be used for achievements without receiving any returns," he added.
This photo, taken from the North's Rodong Sinmun daily newspaper on June 13, 2018, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) shaking hands with U.S. President Donald Trump before a row of their national flags ahead of a summit on the Singaporean resort island of Sentosa a day earlier. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met in Singapore on June 12, 2018, to negotiate the dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons program in exchange for sanctions relief and other concessions.
The first summit between sitting leaders of the two countries produced a joint statement committing the North to "work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" in return for U.S. security guarantees.
The two sides also agreed to work together to improve bilateral relations, build a lasting and stable peace regime on the peninsula, and repatriate the remains of American service members killed during the 1950-53 Korean War.
Subsequent negotiations to follow-up on the agreements, however, have stalled due to wide differences over the scope of North Korea's denuclearization and U.S. sanctions relief, as well as the sequencing of their steps. Trump and Kim held their second summit in February last year but failed to produce an agreement.
"The U.S. administration, through the two years of totally unjust and anachronistic practices, laid bare openly that its much-claimed improvement of relations between the DPRK and U.S. means nothing but a regime change, security guarantee an all-out preemptive nuclear strike, and confidence building an invariable pursuit of isolation and suffocation of the DPRK," Ri said.
"All the above facts clearly prove once again that, unless the 70-plus-year deep-rooted hostile policy of the U.S. towards the DPRK is fundamentally terminated, the U.S. will as ever remain to be a long-term threat to our state, our system and our people."
Ri's statement came hours after the U.S. said that it is committed to implementing the Singapore summit agreement and is willing to take a flexible approach.
"The United States is committed to engaging the DPRK in meaningful negotiations so that North Koreans can realize a brighter future," a State Department spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency.
"That offer remains on the table. We are willing to take a flexible approach to reach a balanced agreement on all of the Singapore summit commitments," the spokesperson added.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--Suspension of state museums, theaters extended amid virus resurgence

The National Hangeul Museum and three branches of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul and Gwacheon @ @ @ @ @ Seoul outlets of the National Library of Korea , will also stay out of service @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- The operation of state-run museums and theaters in Seoul and adjacent cities was further suspended Friday amid a resurgence of new coronavirus infections in the metropolitan area.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said major state-run museums, including the National Museum of Korea, National Folk Museum of Korea and National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, will remain closed until further notice.
The National Hangeul Museum and three branches of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul and Gwacheon, as well as two Seoul outlets of the National Library of Korea, will also stay out of service, according to the ministry.
The institutions have been closed since late May amid signs of resurgence in COVID-19 transmissions. On Friday, the culture ministry decided to extend the shutdown as the country's new daily infections, mostly reported in the capital area, have hovered around 50 recently.
Cultural facilities outside of the capital area are currently in business, operating in compliance with social distancing guidelines.
Along with the museums and libraries, key national theaters and art companies based in the greater Seoul area, including the National Theater of Korea and National Gukak Center, will close their doors or suspend performances, the ministry said.
The cultural institutions' resumption will be determined in accordance with how the virus situation develops, the ministry said.
Also on Friday, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced that Seoul's four royal palaces, including Deoksu Palace, and other heritage sites in the capital area will also be put on further suspension over infection fears.
An image of a deserted Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--KBO player with fever tests negative for coronavirus

Jeong was immediately dropped from the active roster on Thursday .
The Giants said Jeong also had diarrhea and showed @ @ @ @ @ , but because he also had a fever , they did n't want to take @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean baseball player who exhibited fever earlier in the week has tested negative for the novel coronavirus.
The Lotte Giants said Friday their catcher Jeong Bo-keun took a test for COVID-19 the previous day after showing fever, and the result came back negative 24 hours later.
In this file photo from May 7, 2020, Jeong Bo-keun of the Lotte Giants flips his bat after hitting an RBI single against the KT Wiz during their Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Jeong was immediately dropped from the active roster on Thursday. The Giants said Jeong also had diarrhea and showed symptoms commonly associated with enteritis, but because he also had a fever, they didn't want to take any chances.
The coronavirus pandemic pushed the start of the 2020 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season from March 28 to May 5. No player has tested positive so far.
The Giants arrived in Seoul on Friday to take on the LG Twins for a three-game series at Jamsil Baseball Stadium. They're in the midst of a season-high six-game winning streak.
This file photo provided by the Lotte Giants on May 8, 2020, shows Jeong Bo-keun, catcher for the Korea Baseball Organization club. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--Overseas contemporary artists featured in Gallery Hyundai exhibition

Gallery Hyundai has also expanded its reach to China from 2007 and has since collaborated with several of China 's @ @ @ @ @ Weiwei 's untitled installation at the exhibition is modeled after a plastic toy belonging to @ @ @ @ @ reborn through the process of traditional furniture production by Chinese artisans .

By Chang Dong-woo
SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- Contemporary experimental works from renowned overseas artists are prominently featured in a special anniversary exhibition of Gallery Hyundai, one of South Korea's quintessential modern art galleries, organizers said Friday.
Gallery Hyundai, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, launched the second of its two-part exhibition, titled "Hyundai 50," on Friday at its two showrooms in Seoul's central district of Jongno.
The gallery, founded in 1970, is credited with playing a key role in promoting South Korean modern art to the world and introducing art from abroad to South Koreans. It held the first of its two-series anniversary show in May.
Last month's show centered on a star-studded retrospective collection from local contemporary heavyweights, such as Kim Whan-ki, Park Soo-keun and Lee Jung-seob.
This show emphasizes international post-modern powerhouses with whom the gallery has worked since the 1980s, during which its vision for a larger international presence began to take shape.
Put on display are works varied in mediums -- including paintings, photography, sculptures and hybrid installations -- by 29 artists or teams, including 13 from overseas, representing the flow of cutting-edge contemporary art history.
In the first floor gallery, space is seemingly redefined by an installation piece that uses neon lights by Francois Morellet, titled "Prickly π Neonly No. 2, 1=3," while a seemingly infinite number of painted stars grip viewers from "Constellations," Chilean artist Ivan Navarro's work made available to the public for the first time in Seoul.
This photo provided by Gallery Hyundai on June 12, 2020, shows an installation piece using neon lights by Francois Morellet, titled "Prickly π Neonly No. 2, 1=3," put on display at Gallery Hyundai's "Hyundai 50" exhibition in Seoul on June 12-July 19. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The center of the gallery showcases "Anomaly Strolls_Alchemy of Gold," a large-scale video installation that features footage from an empty house in Kanazawa, Japan, and an automated plant factory in Korea, raising questions of existence with poetic reflections on the conditions of contemporary life.
The piece, by Moon Kyung-won and Jeon Joon-ho, is being presented for the first time in South Korea after it was first revealed at the Tate Liverpool gallery in 2018 in Britain.
Works by Jesus Rafael Soto of Venezuela, Robert Indiana of the U.S. and Britain's Michael Craig Martin all emphasize multi-layered interaction between color and form, language and image, sign and meaning.
This photo provided by Gallery Hyundai on June 12, 2020, shows an installation piece by Moon Kyung-won and Jeon Joon-ho, titled "Anomaly Strolls II: Alchemy of Golden Leaf," put on display at Gallery Hyundai's "Hyundai 50" exhibition in Seoul on June 12-July 19. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Gallery Hyundai has also expanded its reach to China from 2007 and has since collaborated with several of China's modern art titans. Ai Weiwei's untitled installation at the exhibition is modeled after a plastic toy belonging to the artist's own cat reborn through the process of traditional furniture production by Chinese artisans.
Zeng Fanzhi's representative series, "Landscape" and "Masks," reflect the light and shadow of China's rapid modernization. Japanese artist On Kawara's "Date Paintings" are the result of his almost meditative practice of painting the date of production on each work.
Gallery Hyundai became the first South Korean gallery to participate in an overseas art fair to promote Korean art on the global stage. It is also the leader in opening exhibitions of overseas masters, including Joan Miro, Marc Chagall and Jean-Michel Basquiat, in South Korea.
This photo provided by Gallery Hyundai on June 12, 2020, shows an untitled installation piece by Chinese modern artist Ai Weiwei put on display at Gallery Hyundai's "Hyundai 50" exhibition in Seoul on June 12-July 19. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--TVXQ's Max Changmin to marry non-celebrity girlfriend in September

`` I believe the road I will soon walk is a road requiring greater responsibility than the one I have @ @ @ @ @ to be a husband of a family and TVXQ 's member Changmin who can return @ @ @ @ @ I have received , '' he added .

SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- K-pop singer Max Changmin of the male duo TVXQ will marry his non-celebrity girlfriend in September, his management agency said Friday.
"Max Changmin will tie the knot with his girlfriend on Sept. 5," SM Entertainment said.
Details of the wedding ceremony, including the venue and time, will not be disclosed to respect the wishes of his fiance and both families, the company added.
"He will continue to present excellent performance as a TVXQ member and an artist. We wish for (fans') blessings for our singer who is about to enter a new phase in his life," it said.
Max Changmin posted a hand-written letter on his official online fan community to deliver the news.
This file photo shows Max Changmin, a member of the K-pop male duo TVXQ (Yonhap)
"I have kept a precious relationship (with my girlfriend), giving trust and faith to each other, and naturally have come to a decision to spend my life with her," he wrote.
"I believe the road I will soon walk is a road requiring greater responsibility than the one I have walked. I will try to be a husband of a family and TVXQ's member Changmin who can return all the support and encouragement I have received," he added.
Max Changmin debuted in 2004 as a member of the originally five-piece boy band TVXQ and rose to become a superstar across Asia. He regrouped into a duo with U-Know Yunho in 2010 after three other members left the group due to a contract dispute with the agency.
His relationship with his girlfriend was revealed last year through media reports.
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--(LEAD) 2G network services set to turn off 25 yrs after ushering in mobile era in S. Korea

SK Telecom Co. was allowed by the ICT ministry to discontinue its 2G cellular network with conditions for consumer protection @ @ @ @ @ phones running on 2G services in the country as of April this year , according @ @ @ @

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more details throughout)
SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's 2G mobile network will be gradually shut down 25 years after bringing in the mobile era in the country as the top mobile operator got the nod for the termination of the service on Friday.
SK Telecom Co. was allowed by the ICT ministry to discontinue its 2G cellular network with conditions for consumer protection. There were some 900,000 phones running on 2G services in the country as of April this year, according to the ministry.
The termination of SK Telecom's 2G mobile services will begin from July 6. Some 390,000 mobile phone users subscribed to SK Telecom's 2G services as of April.
KT Corp., the second-largest mobile operator here, ended its 2G services in 2011. LG Uplus, the country's smallest mobile service provider, is likely to follow the lead of its two bigger rivals.
In 1996, the country launched 2G mobile services based on the world's first commercial code division multiple access (CDMA) network built by SK Telecom, helping facilitate the country's advance in the telecom segment.
The country started provided mobile email services in 1999, followed by video on demand and multimedia connectivity in 2001.
With more services, the number of 2G subscribers in the country topped 900,000 in March 1997 and ballooned to 20 million in 2006, even after the country started 3G services in 2003.
The upcoming closure of 2G services came as local mobile operators have been ramping up the drive to promote 5G services.
As of May, the number of 5G mobile network users was estimated to have reached around 7 million, just 14 months after the country adopted the ultra-high-speed telecom service.
The number is roughly equal to 10 percent of all mobile phone subscriptions in the country.
South Korea rolled out the world's first commercial 5G network on April 3, 2019.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--(LEAD) Prime minister says cluster infections in serious phase, 2nd pandemic looming

The six civilian experts agreed that it is premature for the country to let its guard down .
They warned @ @ @ @ @ complacent about global plaudits over the country 's handling of the crisis , which involves @ @ @ @ @ treatment .
One of them was quoted as saying , `` Even the first half @ @ @ @ @ ) is not over yet . ''

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with Chung's remarks in meeting with virus experts; CHANGES headline; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun voiced strong concern Friday about the continued reports of cluster infections of COVID-19 and cases of unknown origins in Seoul and nearby areas.
He also said a second wave of the pandemic may actually become a reality in the worst-case scenario, speaking at a meeting with a group of infectious disease experts.
"The situation is not inconsequential, as sporadic cluster infections and cases of unknown infection routes continue around the capital area," Chung said during the session held at the government office complex in Seoul.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (L) speaks at a meeting with infectious disease experts at the government office complex in Seoul on June 12, 2020. (Yonhap)
The meeting came shortly after the government's announcement of a decision to indefinitely extend the toughened social distancing campaign as a preventive measure in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province against the new coronavirus.
South Korea reported 56 additional confirmed cases Friday, including 42 infections in the capital area, where around half of the nation's 52 million population resides.
Although the government decided on the open-ended strict social distancing measures, it will have to consider additional steps and prepare for a second wave of the pandemic, added the prime minister, who leads the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, a control tower in the country's virus fight.
The six civilian experts agreed that it is premature for the country to let its guard down. They warned the government not to be complacent about global plaudits over the country's handling of the crisis, which involves early testing, tracing and treatment. One of them was quoted as saying, "Even the first half (of the COVID-19 crisis) is not over yet."
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun makes opening remarks during the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters session held at the government office complex in central Seoul on June 12, 2020. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

SEOUL -- U.S. President Donald Trump was `` very clear '' that he wants to bring U.S. troops home from @ @ @ @ @ other allies , his former ambassador to Germany said , stressing Americans are `` tired @ @ @ @ @ for the defense of other countries .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Friday.
----------------
(3rd LD) New virus cases bounce back, greater Seoul under extended anti-infection measures
SEOUL -- South Korea's new virus cases rebounded to over 50 on Friday, with most of them reported in the Seoul metropolitan area, forcing health authorities to indefinitely extend toughened infection preventive measures in the densely populated capital area.
The country added 56 new cases, including 43 local infections, raising the total caseload to 12,003, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). It marked an increase from 45 posted a day earlier.
----------------
(LEAD) Gyeonggi names 'danger zones' to block anti-N. Korean leaflets
SEOUL -- The provincial government of Gyeonggi, which surrounds Seoul, said Friday it will thoroughly block any attempt to send anti-North Korea propaganda leaflets across the border by designating parts of its border areas as off-limits danger zones.
The Gyeonggi government said the planned designation is one of its three measures to prevent North Korean defectors and South Korean activists from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets and materials into the North from the northern border areas.
----------------
(LEAD) Local transmissions balloon by double digits in Seoul
SEOUL -- The number of newly confirmed cases from local transmissions in Seoul marked a double-digit growth for 11 straight days, raising concerns over a possibly bigger outbreak in the city where one-fourth of the population lives.
The number of daily local transmissions reported here from June 1-10 increased by two-digit numbers ranging from 13 to 29, according to an analysis of data by Yonhap News Agency.
----------------
(LEAD) Trump wants to pull out troops from S. Korea, Japan, other allies: ex-U.S. envoy to Germany
SEOUL -- U.S. President Donald Trump was "very clear" that he wants to bring U.S. troops home from South Korea, Japan and other allies, his former ambassador to Germany said, stressing Americans are "tired of paying too much" for the defense of other countries.
Richard Grenell made the remarks in an interview with the German newspaper Bild earlier this week while confirming a plan to pull out 9,700 U.S. troops from Germany -- about 30 percent of the total 34,674 U.S. troops in the European country, according to the U.S. media outlet Politico.
----------------
N. Korea slams U.N. chief for expressing regret over Pyongyang's move to cut inter-Korean hotlines
SEOUL -- North Korea on Friday criticized U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for expressing "regret" over the North's decision to cut off all inter-Korean communication channels.
Guterres expressed his regret over Pyongyang's announcement, warning that such channels "are necessary to avoid misunderstandings or miscalculations," according to U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
----------------
(2nd LD) Toughened social distancing in greater Seoul extended indefinitely on spiking cases
SEOUL -- Beleaguered by a steady rise in cluster infections in the Seoul metropolitan area, South Korea on Friday opted to indefinitely extend its enhanced social distancing in the country's most densely populated region.
Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said tougher infection disease prevention measures will be enforced in Seoul and the adjacent cities in Gyeonggi Province, as well as Incheon, the western port city close to the nation's capital, until the number of new cases in the area drops to the single digits.
----------------
(LEAD) Attendance cap to remain for schools in capital area until June 30 amid uptick in infections
SEOUL -- The Ministry of Education on Friday extended a measure to reduce classroom crowding, as the country continued to see a worrisome uptick in coronavirus cases in Seoul and its adjacent cities.
The ministry said the measure to cap the number of students will be effective until June 30, which was originally scheduled to end this week. Elementary and middle schools are required to cap the number of students at one-third of the total student body and high schools at two-thirds.
----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks sink 2 pct on renewed concerns over virus, won falls
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks dropped 2 percent to the lowest in over a week Friday as renewed concerns over the new coronavirus outbreak pounded investor sentiment. The Korean won fell sharply against the U.S. dollar.
After a choppy session, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) declined 44.48 points, or 2.04 percent, to finish at 2,132.30, the lowest in eight sessions. Trading volume was moderate at 681.3 million shares worth 14.7 trillion won (US$12.2 billion), with losers outpacing gainers 720 to 160.
----------------
FM discusses coronavirus vaccine with IVI chief
SEOUL -- Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with the head of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) on Friday and discussed the coronavirus pandemic and efforts to develop a vaccine, her office said.
In the meeting with Jerome Kim, she said that the role of the IVI has become more important as an international organization with expertise in development and distribution of vaccines, given the world is still facing the COVID-19 pandemic without a vaccine.
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--KBO's home run leader placed on injured list with ankle, back issues

`` He had some discomfort in his right ankle after the double header , and he woke up this morning @ @ @ @ @ '' Ryu said in his pregame media availability .
`` He took an injection in @ @ @ @ @ see how his recovery goes , but it looks like he wo n't be available @ @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- LG Twins' slugger Roberto Ramos, who's leading South Korean baseball with 13 home runs this season, was placed on the injured list (IL) on Friday with ankle and back pain.
Before the start of the Twins' home game versus the Lotte Giants in Seoul, LG manager Ryu Joong-il said Ramos is expected to miss the rest of the weekend.
Roberto Ramos of the LG Twins celebrates his two-run double against the SK Wyverns in the second game of their Korea Baseball Organization regular season double header at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
Ramos played both games of the Twins' double header against the SK Wyverns on Thursday. He played first base in the first game and then served as designated hitter in the next one.
"He had some discomfort in his right ankle after the double header, and he woke up this morning with a sore back," Ryu said in his pregame media availability. "He took an injection in his back. We'll see how his recovery goes, but it looks like he won't be available this weekend."
The Twins could ill afford to lose Ramos, who has quickly emerged as one of the most feared power hitters in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in his first season here.
In 32 games, Ramos ranks first in home runs (13), second in slugging percentage (.777), second in on-base plus slugging percentage (1.219), third in RBIs (31) and third in batting average (.391).
Without their biggest bopper, the Twins will run into a Giants team riding a season-high six-game winning streak.
"Just because we won't have Ramos, it doesn't mean we're guaranteed to lose the series," Ryu said. "We've got our ace on tonight with Tyler Wilson. I think it's going to be a tight game."
The Twins called up long-time minor leaguer Kim Ho-eun to take over first base during Ramos' absence. A seventh-round pick in the 2016 draft, Kim, 28, will make his KBO debut Friday.
The KBO implemented the injured list for the first time this season. There's no minimum number of days a player has to stay on it before being activated. Theoretically, a player can be put on the list and then return the next day.
In pre-IL days here, clubs took injured players off their active roster, and they had to be sidelined for a minimum 10 days before they could be activated.
Roberto Ramos of the LG Twins watches his two-run home run against the SK Wyverns in the first game of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season double header at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--Kia Motors to expand engine production line in Slovakia

`` We originally planned to start the construction in March , but it was postponed due to the novel coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ official said .
`` The completion date for the production line expansion could change depending @ @ @ @ @ ''

SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-largest automaker, said on Friday that it will invest 70 million euros (US$79 million) to expand its engine production facility in Slovakia.
The affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group said it plans to complete the expansion of the engine production line at its plant in Zilina, Slovakia, by Aug. 31.
The revamp of the facility is to produce the next-generation 1.6 GDi and T-GDi engines that are expected to be used for the Ceed, Kia's compact car designed exclusively for the European market.
"We originally planned to start the construction in March, but it was postponed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak," a Kia official said. "The completion date for the production line expansion could change depending on the virus situation."
This undated photo provided by Kia Motors Corp. shows workers at the company's plant in Zilina, Slovakia. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-12--(LEAD) Seoul stocks sink 2 pct on renewed concerns over virus, won falls

SEOUL , June 12 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean stocks dropped 2 percent to the lowest in over a @ @ @ @ @ over the new coronavirus outbreak pounded investor sentiment .
The Korean won fell sharply against @ @ @ @

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead, para 2: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, June 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks dropped 2 percent to the lowest in over a week Friday as renewed concerns over the new coronavirus outbreak pounded investor sentiment. The Korean won fell sharply against the U.S. dollar.
After a choppy session, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) declined 44.48 points, or 2.04 percent, to finish at 2,132.30, the lowest in eight sessions. Trading volume was moderate at 681.3 million shares worth 14.7 trillion won (US$12.2 billion), with losers outpacing gainers 720 to 160.
An electronic signboard at the teading room of Hana Bank Seoul shows the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) having plunged 44.48 points, or 2.04 percent, to finish at 2,132.30 on June 12, 2020. (Yonhap)
"Investors were spooked by concerns about a potential second wave of infections," Seo Sang-young, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities Co., said.
South Korean shares nosedived more than 4 percent at the opening bell, taking a cue from overnight plunges in U.S. markets over renewed fears about the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 1,861.82 points, or 6.9 percent, to close at 25,128.17.
Investor sentiment remained subdued after the U.S. Federal Reserve warned of a "long road" to economic recovery Wednesday over the virus outbreak and vowed to keep interest rates low.
But the Seoul market trimmed earlier losses in the afternoon session as investors rushed to pharmaceuticals stocks out of bargains.
Individual investors snapped up a net 554.3 billion won, while foreigners unloaded a net 265 billion won. Institutions sold more shares than they bought at 283 billion won.
Most stocks closed in negative terrain, led by falls in tech shares and automakers.
Market leader Samsung Electronics fell 3.68 percent to 52,300 won amid uncertainties surrounding Samsung Group's de facto leader Lee Jae-yong's legal battle in a succession probe.
No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix declined 3.73 percent to 85,200 won, and home appliances giant LG Electronics lost 1.74 percent to 67,800 won.
Top automaker Hyundai Motor shed 4.61 percent to 103,500 won, and its affiliate Kia Motors fell 1.96 percent to 35,000 won.
The local currency closed at 1,203.80 won against the U.S. dollar, down 7.40 won from the previous session.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys added 0.4 basis point to 0.841 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond rose 1.2 basis points to 1.125 percent.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)