yna--2020-05-11--(LEAD) Police apprehend another key suspect in Telegram sex crime case

The chatrooms , which ran on messaging service Telegram , were operated as a pay-to-view online club for sexually explicit @ @ @ @ @ some 260,000 users , videos of at least 74 people , including 16 underage girls @ @ @ @ @ been distributed through several chat rooms .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 2, 5-6, 10)
ANDONG, South Korea, May 11 (Yonhap) -- Police said Monday they have apprehended a new key suspect allegedly involved in the so-called Nth Room case, in which dozens of people were exploited to perform gruesome sex acts that were filmed and distributed through online chatrooms.
The cyber safety department of Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency said they have apprehended a 24-year-old male university student who confessed to using the alias "God God" in the chatrooms, and have filed a request with a court for his arrest.
The chatrooms, which ran on messaging service Telegram, were operated as a pay-to-view online club for sexually explicit videos. Known to have some 260,000 users, videos of at least 74 people, including 16 underage girls, were believed to have been distributed through several chat rooms.
The man is believed to have first opened such a chatroom on Telegram. He was brought in for questioning on Saturday after police identified him as the person behind the "God God" ID.
Police said they took him into custody after he confessed being the owner of the ID.
"We apprehended the suspect after analyzing various digital evidence," said a police official involved in the case.
Police said they will soon decide whether to reveal the identity of the suspect in the high-profile sex crime case.
Authorities have so far revealed the identities of three other key co-conspirators in the case: Cho Ju-bin, Kang Hun and Lee Won-ho.
Cho, 24, was indicted for allegedly blackmailing women into providing sexual videos to the illegal Telegram chatroom. At least 25 people, including eight underage girls, have been confirmed to have been exploited by Cho.
Kang, 18, was prosecuted for allegedly blackmailing 18 female victims, including seven minors, into producing sexual content. Lee, a 19-year-old Army private first class, has been indicted by the military.
More than 140 others have also been apprehended in relation to the case.
"As the investigation is ongoing, we will have further briefings when an arrest warrant is granted," police said.
A composite image of the emblem of the South Korean prosecution service superimposed over other images related to the Telegram sexual blackmail ring case. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--(3rd LD) Infection cases linked to Itaewon clubs rise to 86

`` We should stop the virus from reaching a high risk group and causing them serious damage , '' she @ @ @ @ @ `` a high risk of community transmissions '' as the infection broke out among active @ @ @ @ @ either asymptomatic or having mild symptoms , naturally spend more time interacting with others .

(ATTN: ADDS more comments from KCDC head in paras 10-12)
SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- The number of new coronavirus infections connected to bars and clubs in Seoul's popular nightlife district of Itaewon climbed to 86 on Monday, health authorities said amid growing concerns over a high risk of community spread.
The number, put together as of noon, includes 63 club visitors and 23 family members and friends who came in contact with the clubbers, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said during a press briefing.
By region, Seoul has reported 51 confirmed cases so far, 21 in Gyeonggi Province, seven in Incheon, five in North Chungcheong Province, one each in Busan and Jeju Island.
The new cluster infections underline the challenge of controlling infections after the country started easing social distancing rules and introducing a new daily life with COVID-19.
The government warned against a possible rapid growth of cluster infections since the first confirmed case on Wednesday, and urged visitors to the affected establishments to get tested.
"We need to quickly find patients to stem community transmission," KCDC chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said during a press briefing, urging people who visited the Itaewon clubs from April 24-May 6 to be tested regardless of symptoms.
This week will prove "very crucial to minimize the impact of the virus's spread" which, according to Jeong, hasn't spread beyond the contacts of the first patient, identified as a 29-year-old man from Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
The Itaewon infections were first reported when the man tested positive on May 6 after visiting five clubs, including King Club, Trunk Club and Club Queen, between the night of May 1 and early hours of May 2.
"We should stop the virus from reaching a high risk group and causing them serious damage," she said, voicing concerns over "a high risk of community transmissions" as the infection broke out among active, young people who, either asymptomatic or having mild symptoms, naturally spend more time interacting with others.
According to the health authorities, a total of 2,456 people, out of 5,517 visitors to the Itaewon clubs, have been tested for COVID-19, and the number rose to 3,077 when including the visitor's contacts.
Considering the virus's average 4-7 day incubation period, the authorities expect more infections to appear by this Wednesday, she said, asking for swift testing for those who might have been exposed.
"I heard some people are reluctant to get tested for fear of being criticized. We will try hard to make sure everyone receives a test without feeling uncomfortable or prejudiced against," she added.
Quarantine officials spray disinfectant on a street in the international district of Itaewon in Seoul, on May 11, 2020, as scores of new cases were reported from people who recently visited entertainment places in the area. (Yonhap)
In an effort to more effectively contain the spread, the Seoul city government said it would provide free testing to club visitors, as it couldn't get hold of a vast majority of them.
"This means they intentionally avoided our calls or wrote a wrong number in the first place," Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said during a separate briefing.
In order to encourage those who don't want to reveal their identities, the city will offer free, anonymous testing, he said.
On this front, the city has been working with the police to identify and reach them.
"We will urgently deploy the coronavirus response team to identify and locate the club visitors as soon as possible," an official at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said in a briefing.
The 2,162-member team will check credit card transactions, cell phone signals and close-circuit television in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, the southern city of Daegu placed a two-week shutdown order on the city's nightlife establishments, some 1,300 in total. The move came after Seoul and Gyeonggi Province took the same measure on such facilities on Saturday and Sunday in the aftermath of the cluster infections in Itaewon.
Daegu government said some of the widely used entertainment facilities failed to maintain social distancing and other quarantine measures and the shutdown was a precautionary measure.
"We are discovering an increasing number of Itaewon club visitors (around the country) and we conclude there is a risk of community transmissions," Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said, adding the administrative order is "inevitable to stem the spread of the infectious disease."
The country reported 35 more cases of the new coronavirus Monday, the biggest single day spike since April 9, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,909.
People pass by a club in the multicultural district of Itaewon in Seoul on May 7, 2020. The club was shut down after some of its visitors tested positive for the coronavirus recently. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--(LEAD) GS Caltex suffers record Q1 loss on inventory, refining margins

Refining margins are linked to international oil prices .
Higher crude prices mean greater margins , or the difference between @ @ @ @ @ products and the cost of crude and related services .

(ATTN: RECAST headline; UPDATES with details throughout)
SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- GS Caltex Corp., South Korea's second-largest refiner by sales, said Monday that it posted a record loss in the first quarter due to inventory losses and falling refining margins.
For the January-March period, GS Caltex posted a net loss of 1.01 trillion won (US$828 million), shifting from a net profit of 87.3 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a statement.
GS Caltex said the net loss is due to inventory losses, caused by low crude oil prices, and shrinking refining margins.
This file photo shows workers talking near GS-Caltex plant in Yeosu, about 455 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Refining margins are linked to international oil prices. Higher crude prices mean greater margins, or the difference between the total value of petroleum products and the cost of crude and related services.
GS Caltex shifted to an operating loss of 1.03 trillion won from an operating profit of 329.5 billion won a year earlier.
Sales fell 11.1 percent on-year to 7.07 trillion in the first quarter over the cited period.
GS Caltex said its refining business posted an operating loss of 1.12 trillion won on sales of 5.5 trillion won in the first quarter.
Its petrochemical sector achieved an operating profit of 20.2 billion won in the first quarter, a sharp decline from 127.6 billion won in the same period of last year.
GS Caltex is a 50:50 joint venture between GS Energy and Chevron Corp, the second-largest U.S. oil producer.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

SEOUL -- South Korea 's health authorities said Monday that the loss of smell and taste are among the key @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus as the country tries to stem the spread of the infectious disease amid @ @ @ @ @ linked to bars and clubs in Seoul .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Monday.
----------------
(2nd LD) Infection cases linked to Itaewon clubs rise to 86
SEOUL -- The number of new coronavirus infections connected to bars and clubs in Seoul's popular nightlife district of Itaewon climbed to 86 on Monday, health authorities said amid growing concerns over a high risk of community spread.
The number, put together as of noon, includes 63 club visitors and 23 family members and friends who came in contact with the clubbers, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said during a press briefing.
----------------
(3rd LD) S. Korea at critical juncture for virus containment amid rising Itaewon-linked infections
SEOUL -- South Korea's coronavirus containment capability is again put to the test after successfully controlling new infections for weeks, as the country braces for a sharp rise in new virus cases linked to clubs and bars in Seoul.
The country reported 35 more cases of the new coronavirus Monday, the biggest single day spike since April 9, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,909, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
----------------
Loss of smell, taste added to list of coronavirus symptoms
SEOUL -- South Korea's health authorities said Monday that the loss of smell and taste are among the key clinical symptoms associated with the novel coronavirus as the country tries to stem the spread of the infectious disease amid a spike in new cases linked to bars and clubs in Seoul.
In its latest revision to the country's COVID-19 response manual, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said the inability to smell and a diminished sense of taste can be indications that a person has been infected with COVID-19.
----------------
Subway passengers in Seoul required to wear masks during crowded hours
SEOUL -- Subway passengers in Seoul will be required to wear face masks during crowded hours starting this week as the city government seeks to curb community transmissions of the new coronavirus, the city government said Monday.
The Seoul metropolitan government unveiled a set of measures that will begin being implemented Wednesday to let citizens keep social distancing in their daily routines when they use public transportation.
----------------
Unemployment benefit payments reach new high for 3rd-straight month over coronavirus
SEOUL -- The amount of state funds paid out as unemployment benefits soared to nearly 1 trillion won (US$820 million) last month, data showed Monday, due largely to the negative economic impact of the new coronavirus outbreak.
According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the government paid 993.3 billion won in benefits to those struggling to find jobs in April, marking a 34.6-percent increase from 738.2 billion won paid in the same month last year.
----------------
(LEAD) New batch of S. Korean anti-piracy troops sets off for overseas missions
SEOUL -- A new batch of the South Korean Navy anti-piracy unit Cheonghae left for waters off Somalia Monday as part of a rotational deployment, the Navy said.
The 300-member contingent departed from the southern port city of Busan on the 4,400-ton Dae Jo Yeong to conduct missions in the Gulf of Aden and the Hormuz Strait for six months starting in June, according to the Navy.
----------------
Corporate bond sales up in April amid eased virus rout
SEOUL -- Corporate debt sales inched up last month from a month ago as a market rout caused by the new coronavirus eased to some degree amid strong demand from foreign investors, data showed Monday.
Total debt sales were valued at 80.4 trillion won (US$66 billion), up 1.8 trillion won from a month ago, according to data from the Korea Financial Investment Association (KOFIA).
----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks down over looming uptick in virus cases
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks closed lower Monday to pare earlier gains due to growing concerns over another cluster infection. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) slid 10.42 points, or 0.54 percent, to finish at 1,935.40. Trading volume was moderate at 581 million shares worth 7.6 trillion won (US$6.23 billion), with losers outpacing gainers 529 to 316.
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--Hyundai Green Food Q1 net income up 13 pct. to 41.1 bln won

Operating income for the January-March period was 31.1 billion won , up 15.4 percent from a year ago , the @ @ @ @ @ filing .
Sales rose 7.1 percent to 834.7 billion won .

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Green Food Co. on Monday reported its first-quarter net profit of 41.1 billion won (US$ 33.7 million), up 13 percent from a year earlier.
Operating income for the January-March period was 31.1 billion won, up 15.4 percent from a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. Sales rose 7.1 percent to 834.7 billion won.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange(KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--GS Caltex shifts to loss in Q1 on inventory losses

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- GS Caltex Corp., South Korea's second-largest refiner by sales, said Monday that it swung to a net loss in the first quarter from a year earlier due to inventory losses and falling refining margins.
For the January-March period, GS Caltex posted a net loss of 1.01 trillion won (US$828 million), shifting from a net profit of 87.3 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a statement.
GS Caltex said the net loss is blamed on inventory losses caused by low crude oil prices, and falling refining margins.
Refining margins are linked to international oil prices. Higher crude prices mean greater margins, or the difference between the total value of petroleum products and the cost of crude and related services.
GS Caltex also shifted to an operating loss of 1.03 trillion won from an operating profit of 329.5 billion won a year earlier.
Sales fell 11.1 percent on-year to 7.07 trillion in the first quarter.
GS Caltex is a 50:50 joint venture between GS Energy and Chevron Corp, the second-largest U.S. oil producer.
This file photo shows workers talking near GS-Caltex plant in Yeosu, about 455 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--S. Korean Bond Yields on May. 11, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on May. 11, 2020

(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--2020-05-11--Inter-Korean summit still possible within this year: Cheong Wa Dae

`` Truly , it seems difficult at the moment , but we do not know what the variables will be @ @ @ @ @ we need to watch ( what will happen ) , '' he said .

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in remains committed to pushing for another summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at an early date, Cheong Wa Dae said on Monday.
Speaking in an interview with Yonhap News TV, presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok stressed it's too early to rule out the possibility of the two holding their fourth summit within this year.
"Truly, it seems difficult at the moment, but we do not know what the variables will be in South-North relations. So we need to watch (what will happen)," he said.
The all-news cable channel is an affiliate of Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's key wire service.
Kang said Cheong Wa Dae will strive to create conditions for the summit by exploring inter-Korean cooperation projects "beginning from what's possible."
The government will continue relevant efforts "with patience," he added.
Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok in a file photo (Yonhap)
The previous day, Moon again expressed hope for quarantine cooperation between the two Koreas as a catalyst for various other joint projects, which are either immune from U.N.-led sanctions on Pyongyang or possible to get sanctions waivers for.
South Korea, in particular, is seeking to reconnect railways across the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and enable its citizens to make individual tours of the communist neighbor.
Marking the third anniversary of his inauguration, Moon told reporters that Seoul's related offers are still valid but that there's been no response from Pyongyang yet.
Moon and Kim had three rounds of summit talks in 2018, once in Pyongyang and twice at the border village of Panmunjom.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--Band DAY6 to release new album despite members' illness

`` In order to focus on the recovery of health , ( we ) decided , through careful discussion with @ @ @ @ @ the activities of the entire band will temporarily be put on halt , including ( @ @ @ @ @ album , '' according to JYP .

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- K-pop idol rock band DAY6 is set to release a new album, "The Book of Us: The Demon." on Monday as scheduled, although the band will temporarily halt its activities due to some members' anxiety disorders, its agency said.
"After some members complained of anxiety recently, they went through a medical test and got a doctor's order to take a sufficient rest," JYP Entertainment said on its official website, one day ahead of the album release.
"In order to focus on the recovery of health, (we) decided, through careful discussion with the DAY6 members, that the activities of the entire band will temporarily be put on halt, including (the promotion) for this album," according to JYP.
JYP also said it will issue a notice when the group's activities are resumed.
Despite the temporary leave of absence, the new album will be released Monday evening as planned, the management agency said.
Led by lead single, "Zombie," "The Book of Us : The Demon," the band's sixth EP, explores the story of sentimental imbalance.
Members Young K and Wonpil participated in writing the lyrics of "Zombie," while Jae jointly composed it, according to JYP. The single delves into the sentiment of despair from a lopsided mind.
Its track list includes "Tick Tock," "Love me or Leave me," "1 to 10" and an English version of "Zombie."
An image of DAY6, provided by JYP Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--(LEAD) Seoul stocks down over looming uptick in virus cases

The country had been adding fewer than 15 cases of the new coronavirus since mid-April , with the number of @ @ @ @ @ zero at some points , before rebounding to 35 cases Monday .

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom)
SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed lower Monday to pare earlier gains due to growing concerns over another cluster infection. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) slid 10.42 points, or 0.54 percent, to finish at 1,935.40. Trading volume was moderate at 581 million shares worth 7.6 trillion won (US$6.23 billion), with losers outpacing gainers 529 to 316.
After opening higher, local shares slipped into negative terrain on growing concerns over a new cluster infection of COVID-19 in the capital city.
The number of virus infections linked to nightclubs and bars in the central district of Itaewon totaled 86 nationally as of noon.
The country had been adding fewer than 15 cases of the new coronavirus since mid-April, with the number of domestic infections even falling to zero at some points, before rebounding to 35 cases Monday.
Currency dealers work in front of an electronic signboard at the headquarters of Hana Bank in Seoul on May 11, 2020. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) slid 10.42 points, or 0.54 percent, to finish at 1,935.40.(Yonhap)
"The market is expected to experience ups and downs depending on the related reports on the new wave of infections in the country," said Seo Sang-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities Co.
The market slump, however, was still limited on the rising hope over the resumption of global business activities around the globe, with major nations deciding to gradually lift all-out lockdowns.
Foreigners dumped a net 170 billion won, while individuals scooped up a net 512 billion won. Institutions sold more shares than they bought at 363 billion won.
In Seoul, blue chips mostly closed bearish.
Top market cap Samsung Electronics moved down 0.82 percent to 48,400 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix slid 0.59 percent to 84,500 won. Battery maker Samsung SDI, on the other hand, edged up 0.53 percent to 287,000 won.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem decreased 1.7 percent to 346,500 won, and top cosmetics firm AmorePacific shed 3.31 percent to 175,500 won.
Retail giant E-Mart lost 2.62 percent to 111,500 won, while GS Retail moved up 1.06 percent to 38,050 won.
Carmakers finished mixed, with Hyundai Motor losing 0.85 percent to 93,700 won, while its sister Kia Motors gained 0.16 percent to 30,550 won. Auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis slid 1.99 percent to 172,500 won.
The South Korean won closed at 1,220.50 won against the U.S. dollar, down 0.6 won from the previous session.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys added 1.2 basis points to 0.926 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond gained 2 basis points to 1.186 percent.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--Loss of smell, taste added to list of coronavirus symptoms

SEOUL , May 11 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea 's health authorities said Monday that the loss of smell @ @ @ @ @ key clinical symptoms associated with the novel coronavirus as the country tries to stem the @ @ @ @ @ amid a spike in new cases linked to bars and clubs in Seoul .

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's health authorities said Monday that the loss of smell and taste are among the key clinical symptoms associated with the novel coronavirus as the country tries to stem the spread of the infectious disease amid a spike in new cases linked to bars and clubs in Seoul.
In its latest revision to the country's COVID-19 response manual, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said the inability to smell and a diminished sense of taste can be indications that a person has been infected with COVID-19.
It also officially said that headaches, chills and muscle cramps can indicate a coronavirus infection.
In the past, only fever, coughing, shortness of breath, sore throat and pneumonia were listed as physical signs of the illness.
After having successfully controlled the epidemic, the country reported yet another cluster of infections linked to nightclubs and bars in Seoul's trendy Itaewon district.
So far, 86 virus cases have been traced to Itaewon facilities, with authorities trying to find and test possibly thousands of people who visited such establishments. As of Monday, South Korea has confirmed 10,909 cases and 256 deaths from the pandemic.
Local government officials post entry restriction signs and warnings that masks must be worn at all times at a club in Suwon, 46 kilometers south of Seoul, on May 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
"The changes reflect clinical data collected so far, and people showing these kinds of symptoms need to be checked," Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the public health agency, stressed at a news briefing.
She said that front-line doctors are encouraged to administer coronavirus tests on people they suspect may be infected.
The latest update comes as the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention already said that prolonged chills, muscle cramps and migraines are telltale signs of the coronavirus.
In addition to adding more symptoms to its guidelines, the KCDC said it will tighten rules on releasing people in quarantine.
The move comes as scores of people who were released after undergoing repeated tests and showing no outward symptoms tested positive for COVID-19 later on.
The health agency said the revised guidelines only allow people to be released if they meet all set preconditions, like passing tests and showing no symptoms of the virus for seven days.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--(2nd LD) Infection cases linked to Itaewon clubs rise to 86

Meanwhile , the southern city of Daegu placed a two-week shutdown order on the city 's nightlife establishments , some @ @ @ @ @ move came after Seoul and Gyeonggi Province took the same measure on such facilities on @ @ @ @ @ aftermath of the cluster infections in Itaewon .

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 6-9, photo)
SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- The number of new coronavirus infections connected to bars and clubs in Seoul's popular nightlife district of Itaewon climbed to 86 on Monday, health authorities said amid growing concerns over a high risk of community spread.
The number, put together as of noon, includes 63 club visitors and 23 family members and friends who came in contact with the clubbers, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said during a press briefing.
By region, Seoul has reported 51 confirmed cases so far, 21 in Gyeonggi Province, seven in Incheon, five in North Chungcheong Province, one each in Busan and Jeju Island.
The new cluster infections underline the challenge of controlling infections after the country started easing social distancing rules and introducing a new daily life with COVID-19.
The government warned against a possible rapid growth of cluster infections since the first confirmed case on Wednesday, and urged visitors to the affected establishments to get tested.
"We need to quickly find patients to stem community transmission," KCDC chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said during a press briefing, urging people who visited the Itaewon clubs from April 24-May 6 to be tested regardless of symptoms.
This week will prove "very crucial to minimize the impact of the virus's spread" which, according to Jeong, hasn't spread beyond the contacts of the first patient, identified as a 29-year-old man from Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
The Itaewon infections were first reported when the man tested positive on May 6 after visiting five clubs, including King Club, Trunk Club and Club Queen, between the night of May 1 and early hours of May 2.
"We should stop the virus from reaching a high risk group and causing them serious damage," she said, voicing concerns over "a high risk of community transmissions" as the infection broke out among active, young people who, either asymptomatic or having mild symptoms, naturally spend more time interacting with others.
Quarantine officials spray disinfectant on a street in the international district of Itaewon in Seoul, on May 11, 2020, as scores of new cases were reported from people who recently visited entertainment places in the area. (Yonhap)
In an effort to more effectively contain the spread, the Seoul city government said it would provide free testing to club visitors, as it couldn't get hold of a vast majority of them.
"Among 5,517 people on the visitor's logs obtained by the city, we reached 2,405 but couldn't do so with 3,112," Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said during a separate briefing. "This means they intentionally avoided our calls or wrote a wrong number in the first place."
In order to encourage those who don't want to reveal their identities to come forward, the city will offer free, anonymous testing, he said.
On this front, the city has been working with the police to identify and reach them.
"We will urgently deploy the coronavirus response team to identify and locate the club visitors as soon as possible," an official at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said in a briefing.
The 2,162-member team will check credit card transactions, cell phone signals and close-circuit television in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, the southern city of Daegu placed a two-week shutdown order on the city's nightlife establishments, some 1,300 in total. The move came after Seoul and Gyeonggi Province took the same measure on such facilities on Saturday and Sunday in the aftermath of the cluster infections in Itaewon.
Daegu government said some of the widely used entertainment facilities failed to maintain social distancing and other quarantine measures and the shutdown was a precautionary measure.
"We are discovering an increasing number of Itaewon club visitors (around the country) and we conclude there is a risk of community transmissions," Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said, adding the administrative order is "inevitable to stem the spread of the infectious disease."
The country reported 35 more cases of the new coronavirus Monday, the biggest single day spike since April 9, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,909.
People pass by a club in the multicultural district of Itaewon in Seoul on May 7, 2020. The club was shut down after some of its visitors tested positive for the coronavirus recently. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--LG CNS develops AI-powered X-ray screening technology

LG CNS said its AI technology can better detect data storage devices , such as USB thumb drives , at @ @ @ @ @ added that it can scan such devices in less than one second and has 99 @ @ @ @ @ more than 50,000 images of various data storage devices and electronic gadgets .

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- LG CNS Co., an IT service unit under South Korea's LG Group, said Tuesday it has developed artificial intelligence (AI)-based X-ray screening technology that can help prevent data leakage at security-sensitive companies and institutions.
LG CNS said its AI technology can better detect data storage devices, such as USB thumb drives, at security checkpoints. The company added that it can scan such devices in less than one second and has 99 percent accuracy after learning from more than 50,000 images of various data storage devices and electronic gadgets.
The technology will be useful for firms looking to prevent sensitive data leaks via USB devices, as its self-learning algorithm can save time and improve the accuracy of screening compared to human security officers, according to LG CNS.
Its AI-powered X-ray screening solution will be used at security checkpoints at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, from next year, according to LG CNS.
These images provided by LG CNS Co. show the company's artificial intelligence-based X-ray screening technology. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--Navy to assess impact of radioactive water on its operations amid Fukushima concerns

It is the first time that the Navy has taken steps to look into the Fukushima case , though it @ @ @ @ @ Japan case in its plan to commission the research .

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- The Navy plans to look into possible impact of radioactive contaminated water on its operations, officials said Tuesday, amid concerns over Japan's planned release of radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean.
Japan has been preparing to release contaminated water from the power plant devastated by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011 into the ocean. More than 1.1 million tons of tainted water is reportedly in temporary storage at the Fukushima plant.
According to the notice of a bid posted on the government's procurement system site, the Navy plans to commission research into potential impacts of radioactive water within operational areas on its maritime operations and ways to stably carry out missions.
"We've seen a growing possibility of contaminated water being released into our operational areas and we need to assess its impact on the health of our sailors and military hardware, among others," a Navy official said.
It is the first time that the Navy has taken steps to look into the Fukushima case, though it did not specifically mention the Japan case in its plan to commission the research.
"The planned study is meant to devise detailed guidelines and response manuals in general terms," the officer said.
Seen in this photo provided by Japan's Nuclear Safety Research Association on Nov. 18, 2019, is the construction of new water storage tanks at Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--(URGENT) 38 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, bringing total to 9,670: KCDC


yna--2020-05-12--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 2 additional virus deaths, raising death toll to 258: KCDC


yna--2020-05-12--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 27 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 10,936: KCDC


yna--2020-05-12--KT, construction equipment maker to cooperate on 5G-based remote control solution

Under the memorandum of understanding ( MOU ) , the two sides will collaborate in developing various technologies for the @ @ @ @ @ including remote control platform , artificial intelligence ( AI ) -powered voice assistant solution and @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- KT Corp., South Korea's leading telecommunications firm, said Tuesday it has joined hands with Hyundai Construction Equipment Co. to develop 5G-based remote control platform for construction equipment and industrial trucks.
Under the memorandum of understanding (MOU), the two sides will collaborate in developing various technologies for the builder's autonomous forklift, including remote control platform, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered voice assistant solution and augmented reality-based maintenance support.
Hyundai Construction Equipment introduced an unmanned forklift last year.
The two companies said they plan to expand their cooperation in manufacturing, logistics and construction using 5G and AI technologies.
This photo provided by shows Hyundai Construction & Equipment Co. shows the company's autonomous forklift. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--LS Cable wins 66 bln-won cable order in U.S.

The U.S. is expected to generate 86 gigawatts a year of power through the offshore wind power plants by 2050 @ @ @ @ @ million households to use the electricity , it said .

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- LS Cable & System, the world's third-largest wire and cable maker by sales, said Tuesday it has received a 66 billion-won (US$54 million) submarine cable replacement order in the United States.
In the deal, LS Cable will replace old cable systems installed in Lake Michigan in the 1970s with new ones by 2021, the company said in a statement.
"We expect to win more orders in the U.S. underseas cable market due to increasing replacement demands and new cable demands for offshore wind-power generation facilities," the statement said.
The U.S. is expected to generate 86 gigawatts a year of power through the offshore wind power plants by 2050, allowing more than 80 million households to use the electricity, it said.
This photo provided by LS Cable & System shows an offshore wind-power generation facility being built by the company in the United States. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--(Yonhap Feature) Videoconferencing emerges as key diplomatic tool amid coronavirus outbreaks

`` Videoconferencing seems to be emerging as a new mechanism as it requires you to just switch on your computer @ @ @ @ @ this could also make it easier for smaller countries to pitch in with international cooperation @ @ @ @ @ , professor of international politics at Inha University , said .

By Song Sang-ho
SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- With coronavirus outbreaks restricting in-person meetings and overseas travel, diplomats are turning increasingly to a safer, more convenient mode of engagement with their foreign counterparts: videoconferencing.
In recent months, the typical scene of officials huddling together to build rapport and engage in negotiations of some sorts has been replaced by the spectacle of them sitting in front of projection screens or digital displays to keep their diplomacy running.
Officials have been coming to grips with the convenience of videoconferencing, which requires less preparation, saves time and travel costs, and, not least, poses no risks of COVID-19 infection, though it has such pitfalls as vulnerabilities to cyber incursions or eavesdropping.
"Videoconferencing is not new, but it is the first time that such an online method has been employed as an indispensable, pivotal tool for diplomacy among nations or at various international meetings," Kim Heung-kyu, professor of diplomacy at Ajou University, said.
"Such meetings can be more promptly and instantly assembled on short notice with less financial burden. Given the possible recrudescence of contagious diseases in the future, videoconferencing could likely take hold as a crucial diplomatic platform," he added.
Harnessing South Korea's advanced communications infrastructure, the foreign ministry has been an active user of videoconferencing, particularly amid mounting international calls for cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
From Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha to rank-and-file diplomats, officials have been holding regular or one-off videoconferences with their foreign interlocutors, leading in some cases to tangible outcomes related to stemming the spread of the virus.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks during a videoconference with her counterparts from eight countries at the foreign ministry in Seoul on April 17, 2020, in this photo provided by her ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
On Monday, Kang held a videoconference with her counterparts from six countries, including U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, to beef up international cooperation in tackling the coronavirus and ease the economic blow of the pandemic.
Kang, in particular, sought to drum up international support for Seoul's drive to ensure that pandemic-driven travel restrictions and curbs on movement should not impede economic and people-to-people exchanges.
At the height of the pandemic in March, Kang also held a crucial online conference with her Chinese and Japanese counterparts, Wang Yi and Toshimitsu Motegi, to discuss trilateral anti-virus cooperation, a subject that might have otherwise been hashed out in face-to-face talks given their countries' geographical proximity.
These videoconferences illustrated the growing potential for video-linked sessions as a catalyst for international cooperation.
"Videoconferencing seems to be emerging as a new mechanism as it requires you to just switch on your computer. Simple as that and this could also make it easier for smaller countries to pitch in with international cooperation projects," Nam Chang-hee, professor of international politics at Inha University, said.
"The growing use of videoconferencing signals our modes of diplomacy are diversifying, and it is supplementing -- if not supplanting -- the conventional way of diplomacy," he added.
In response to the rising demand for videoconferencing, the ministry has installed an additional facility for online meetings in addition to the existing two, an official said, an indication that the pandemic is affecting the way diplomats conduct diplomacy.
"In the midst of the virus outbreak, the ministry has had much more online meetings -- a reason why we have installed another videoconferencing facility," the official told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity. "It has emerged as an alternative as we can't travel abroad."
Besides managing external affairs, the ministry has also been increasingly using videoconferencing to have internal consultations with chiefs of its overseas missions that are now heavily consumed with protecting their citizens in virus-battered countries.
From January through April, the ministry held eight major videoconferences with the chiefs of the missions to discuss an array of issues, including the safety of its citizens and logistical support for their return home.
Before the coronavirus spread across the globe, diplomats preferred face-to-face talks in which they exchanged banter with their counterparts in the flesh, built trust and discussed sensitive matters while carefully examining each other's facial expressions and changes in tone.
Their preference for a conventional form of diplomacy stemmed from the skepticism over online conferences, which they thought would not be able to delve deeper into an issue and lead to any substantive outcome.
But such skepticism has been waning amid the growing sense that diplomats have no other option but to engage in videoconferencing due to social distancing restrictions and other logistical hurdles.
Now, erstwhile globe-trotting diplomats are adapting to contactless diplomacy due to the virus-driven logistical challenges, but they foresee constraints in touching on extremely sensitive and private matters during videoconferences, particularly when using commercial communication platforms accessible by general citizens.
"Due to the security concerns, diplomats have been selective about online meetings and utilizing secure communication lines for important dialogue with foreign interlocutors," the foreign ministry official said.
"So the issue of how to ensure the security of the videoconference remains a challenge," the official added.
But observers said that amid concerns about a second wave of infections and talk of the possibility that a mutated strain of the novel virus could hit the world even harder, a contactless form of diplomacy could take on greater importance down the road.
"We cannot rule out the possibility that the next pandemic could be even worse with a greater mortality rate," Kim Tae-hyung, professor of political science at Soongsil University, said. "Our diplomacy should be primed for such future eventualities."
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--Oil refiners face dim outlook after record Q1 losses

`` Given their current sluggish business , oil refiners will inevitably post record losses in the second quarter , '' @ @ @ @ @ in a note to investors .
`` It is difficult to expect a dramatic improvement @ @ @ @ @ if demand recovers . ''

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korean oil refiners' earnings are unlikely to bounce back in the second quarter of the year following record losses three months earlier, industry sources said Tuesday.
Pounded by the triple whammy of the coronavirus pandemic, tumbling oil prices and sluggish refining margins, industry leader SK Innovation Co. and three other players posted a combined operating loss of 4.38 trillion won (US$3.57 billion) in the January-March period.
The first-quarter red ink represented their worst quarterly performance and exceeded the market consensus.
Following the shocking loss, analysts painted a gloomy picture of oil refiners' earnings down the road as demand is forecast to remain anemic in the months ahead due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
"Given their current sluggish business, oil refiners will inevitably post record losses in the second quarter," Hana Financial Investment Co. said in a note to investors. "It is difficult to expect a dramatic improvement in their refining margins even if demand recovers."
This undated file photo shows a gas station in Seoul. (Yonhap)
In the first quarter, SK Innovation recorded its largest operating loss of 1.76 trillion won. Comparable losses were 1.03 trillion won for GS-Caltex Corp., slightly over 1 trillion won for S-Oil Corp. controlled by Saudi Aramco and 563.2 billion won for Hyundai Oilbank Co.
The first-quarter figure contrasts sharply with their total operating income of 3.1 trillion won for all of last year.
It is also larger than their previous record loss of 1.15 trillion won in the fourth quarter of 2014, caused by a price war among petroleum producers over shale gas.
The oil refiners' abysmal first-quarter results came as the coronavirus pandemic has sent oil prices cratering and led to a sharp drop in demand for their products.
Stung by the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures lapsed into negative territory for the first time in history in late April.
Industry watchers said falling international crude prices have sharply undercut the value of their crude and petroleum product inventories, making a big dent in their earnings.
Those unfavorable conditions came as a further blow to oil refiners already suffering from weakening refining margins, or the difference in prices of their products and crude used to make them.
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--Air-conditioned buses in Seoul to run with windows open amid virus woes

SEOUL , May 12 ( Yonhap ) -- Buses in Seoul will be able to keep their windows open while @ @ @ @ @ of precautionary measures against the coronavirus , the city government said Tuesday .

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- Buses in Seoul will be able to keep their windows open while running air conditioners as part of precautionary measures against the coronavirus, the city government said Tuesday.
The measure, applicable to buses on all routes, comes amid concerns that air conditioning in closed spaces may result in spreading the contagious virus among passengers.
The city government had previously banned air-conditioned buses from leaving windows open as part of its energy-saving scheme.
A health worker disinfects a bus at a terminal in eastern Seoul on May 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
This marks the latest move in efforts to prevent possible transmission on public transportation.
On Monday, the city announced that it will mandate subway passengers to wear masks during peak hours.
Under the measure, passengers will be required to wear face masks when the proportion of passengers to train capacity exceeds 150 percent.
The city government said it will sell surgical masks at vending machines, sales outlets and convenience stores in subway stations.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--Seoul stocks open lower on looming resurgence of virus cases

SEOUL , May 12 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean stocks opened lower Tuesday tracking overnight losses on the Wall @ @ @ @ @ over a resurgence of the new coronavirus around the globe .

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened lower Tuesday tracking overnight losses on the Wall Street amid the growing concerns over a resurgence of the new coronavirus around the globe.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 8.45 points, or 0.44 percent, to 1,926.95 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.45 percent on Monday (local time) while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.78 percent, as investors sat on the sidelines over the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rising hope over the reopening of businesses around the globe, including in the U.S., however, limited the decline.
In Seoul, market kingpin Samsung Electronics slid 0.93 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix decreased 0.95 percent. Top battery maker Samsung SDI lost 1.22 percent.
Mobile carriers opened higher, with SK Telecom advancing 0.73 percent and its smaller rival KT gaining 0.64 percent. LG Uplus added 0.74 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,226.95 won against the U.S. dollar, down 6.45 won from the previous session's close.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--Hyundai, Kia resume operations at most overseas plants

Kia has seven overseas factories -- three in China and one each in the U.S. , Slovakia , Mexico and @ @ @ @ @ ones -- two in Gwangmyeong , three in Hwaseong and three in Gwangju .
Their @ @ @ @ @ units .

By Choi Kyong-ae
SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. said Tuesday they have resumed operations at most of their overseas plants amid signs the coronavirus epidemic may have passed its peak.
Hyundai's plant in Brazil and Kia's one in Mexico are still suspended to manage inventories as the COVID-19 virus continues to affect vehicle sales, a company spokesman said over the phone.
"The carmakers' other overseas plants are now in operation, although they have resumed production at a reduced level," he said.
Hyundai and Kia restarted their U.S. plants last week. Kia's Mexico plant is expected to restart production this week, and Hyundai's Brazil plant will be suspended until May 26, according to the companies.
The two carmakers suspended most of their overseas production facilities from March until the recent resumption. The suspension affected their vehicle sales particularly in the past two months.
From January to April, Hyundai and Kia, which together form the world's fifth-biggest carmaker by sales, sold a combined 1,845,406 vehicles, down 19 percent from 2,268,183 units in the same period of last year.
Hyundai has 10 overseas plants -- four in China and one each in the United States, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Russia, India and Brazil -- and seven domestic ones -- five in Ulsan, one in Asan and one in Jeonju. Their combined capacity reaches 5.5 million vehicles.
Kia has seven overseas factories -- three in China and one each in the U.S., Slovakia, Mexico and India -- and eight local ones -- two in Gwangmyeong, three in Hwaseong and three in Gwangju. Their overall capacity is 3.84 million units.
This undated file photo shows Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors' headquarters in Yangjae, southern Seoul. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--American players in KBO trying to keep business as usual amid ESPN hype

`` It is ironic .
I thought I was coming here to leave that stuff behind me for the time @ @ @ @ @ now pitching for the Lotte Giants , told Yonhap News Agency in a phone interview @ @ @ @ @ n't expect ESPN and any of this exposure when I signed here .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ exposure .
America is learning so much about the KBO , and I think that @ @ @ @ @ it 's great for the game of baseball . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- When Dan Straily left the United States for South Korea to continue his pitching career in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in 2020, he thought he was through getting much exposure in his home country. He was only focused on getting back to Major League Baseball (MLB) someday, so his son can watch him pitch in the bigs.
But life can throw you a curve at the most unexpected times. No one could have predicted the coronavirus pandemic would have ground sports leagues around the world to a halt, or that the situation would lead ESPN, the American sports cable giant struggling to fill dead air with MLB not in action, to start televising live KBO games.
"It is ironic. I thought I was coming here to leave that stuff behind me for the time being," Straily, now pitching for the Lotte Giants, told Yonhap News Agency in a phone interview Sunday. "I didn't expect ESPN and any of this exposure when I signed here. It's cool to have all that exposure. America is learning so much about the KBO, and I think that's awesome. I think it's great for the game of baseball."
In this file photo from May 5, 2020, Dan Straily of the Lotte Giants pitches against the KT Wiz at Suwon KT Wiz Park in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Aaron Altherr, who spent a handful of years with the Philadelphia Phillies before joining the KBO's NC Dinos this year, said some of his former Phillies teammates reached out after they saw him on ESPN.
"It's a pretty surreal feeling, knowing that people back home are able to watch us play in Korea," Altherr said in a phone conversation on Monday. "It's such a weird time that we're in right now: playing in Korea and people back home being able to watch. Before, it might have been a couple of family members staying up and watching. I never figured everybody would be watching."
Straily said his favorite part about this ESPN-driven hype is watching his South Korean teammates being excited about having these new eyeballs on them.
"They've spent their whole lives watching MLB," he said. "And to see the excitement that these guys have and to know that their games are being aired in America is really cool."
Altherr said he and his Dinos teammates talked quite a bit about being featured on ESPN earlier in the season, but it's back to business as usual for them now.
"Now, we're not really focused too much on it anymore. It's a normal routine now," he said.
In this file photo from April 27, 2020, Aaron Altherr of the NC Dinos (R) high-fives his teammates Kim Tae-jin after scoring a run in a Korea Baseball Organization preseason game against the Kia Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The Dinos were featured on the very first ESPN broadcast on Opening Day last Tuesday, and ESPN also carried their game from Sunday against the LG Twins. The Giants haven't been featured yet, but no matter when that time comes, Straily said it won't change his team's approach on the field.
"That (exposure) still doesn't change the mission of what we're trying to do as a team," he said. "As an athlete, whether or not you're playing in the minor league game or major league game, as soon as the umpire says 'Play ball,' you're so focused on what you're trying to do that you don't even really notice TV cameras."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


Tuesday's weather forecast

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


KOSPI 1,938.62 UP 3.22 points (open)


KOSDAQ 687.48 UP 2.44 points (open)


yna--2020-05-12--Dollar opens at 1,224.0 won UP from 1,220.5 won


yna--2020-05-12--Kia adds upgraded Morning minicar to lineup

The upgraded Morning with a 1-liter gasoline engine comes with a series of safety features , such as the blind-spot @ @ @ @ @ rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist and lane following assist systems , the company said in @ @ @

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp. on Tuesday added the upgraded Morning minicar to its lineup as it strives to boost sales amid the coronavirus impact on vehicle sales.
The upgraded Morning with a 1-liter gasoline engine comes with a series of safety features, such as the blind-spot collision avoidance assist, the rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist and lane following assist systems, the company said in a statement.
The Morning Urban has fuel efficiency of 15.7 kilometers per liter and is priced at 12 million-15 million won (US$9,800-$12,000), it said.
From January to April, the country's second-largest carmaker sold a total of 782,901 vehicles, down 11 percent from 877,839 units in the year-ago period.
This file photo provided by Kia Motors shows the upgraded Morning minicar. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--Trump says U.S. states to surpass S. Korea in virus tests

`` As a result of these actions , every single state will be able to test more people per capita @ @ @ @ @ Korea has tested in four months since the outbreak began , '' he said .

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, May 11 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that every U.S. state will be able to surpass the total number of coronavirus tests performed in South Korea, per capita, and in May alone.
Trump has often compared the two countries in touting his administration's claimed successes in the fight against COVID-19.
At a White House press conference specifically intended to discuss testing accomplishments, Trump offered new projections based on what he said were his administration's efforts to meet the target numbers of each state.
"As a result of these actions, every single state will be able to test more people per capita in May alone than South Korea has tested in four months since the outbreak began," he said.
South Korea has conducted 668,492 tests since Jan. 3. The White House later clarified in a press release that every state will be able to test more people per capita than South Korea has tested per capita in those four months.
Trump's apparent fixation on South Korea began as the U.S. media lauded that country's aggressive response to the pandemic.
After recently reporting zero domestic infections, South Korea added dozens of new cases over the weekend after an infected man visited clubs and bars.
"We're testing more people per capita than South Korea, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Sweden, Finland and many other countries, and, in some cases, combined," Trump said, repeating a familiar line.
His comments came as the U.S. coronavirus death toll passed 80,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
This EPA photo shows U.S. President Donald Trump speaking during a press briefing on coronavirus testing in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on May 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--N. Korea's paper emphasizes economic self-reliance against hostile forces

The paper called for more efforts on recycling and localization , saying recourse to outside help can be a temporary @ @ @ @ @ it can not be a sustainable development .

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's official newspaper on Tuesday emphasized the importance of self-reliance, claiming hostile forces are bent on trying to "economically suffocate" the communist nation.
North Korea has repeatedly called for self-reliance in many areas, including economic development as it is bracing for a long fight against sanctions amid a deadlock in denuclearization talks with the United States.
"Hostile forces are making a frantic effort to economically suffocate us," the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North's ruling party, said. "Their machinations aimed at stalling our march toward a socialism powerhouse by deepening economic difficulties and internal confusions will continue."
"One would be forced to bow and kneel down to others unless economically independent," the paper said. "Economic subservience tends to lead to political subservience."
The paper called for more efforts on recycling and localization, saying recourse to outside help can be a temporary method for growth, but it cannot be a sustainable development.
North Korea's media outlets have emphasized the importance of self-reliance frequently since leader Kim Jong-un told a party meeting last December that he has no expectation of the U.S. lifting sanctions anytime soon.
A prolonged border closure with China amid the coronavirus pandemic has also been cited as another burden on the North's moribund economy as it is heavily dependent on trade with the neighboring ally.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--American left-hander pitches gem for 1st win of KBO season

Jokisch , along with his two American teammates , Jake Brigham and Taylor Motter , went back home after spring @ @ @ @ @ family and stay away from South Korea , then struggling to contain the spread of @ @ @ @ @ those three returned to Seoul late in March , they had to be quarantined for @ @ @ @ @ government mandate .
Jokisch and Brigham , the two pitchers , had to ramp back @ @ @ @ @ , and Jokisch in particular struggled in his last preseason outing on April 29 , @ @ @ @ @ three earned runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings against the Doosan Bears .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- After an up-and-down spring that included a two-week quarantine upon arriving back from his home in the United States in March, Kiwoom Heroes' starter Eric Jokisch was going to be eased back into action to open the new South Korean season this month.
But given the way he's pitched in his first two games so far, the Heroes perhaps shouldn't have worried.
Jokisch held the Samsung Lions to a run -- unearned -- over six strong innings Tuesday, helping the Heroes to a 3-2 win at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. The Heroes improved to 6-1 in the young Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season. Jokisch allowed just three singles while striking out seven and walking none.
This file photo from April 29, 2020, shows Eric Jokisch of the Kiwoom Heroes in action against the Doosan Bears in a Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) preseason game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Jokisch had pitched five innings of one-run ball in a no-decision in his season debut last Wednesday. He has now allowed just one earned run in 11 innings, and has recorded 11 strikeouts against one walk.
He was lifted after throwing 62 of his 83 pitches for strikes. He made 66 pitches last week and remains on a pitch count.
The game could have turned ugly for Jokisch from the get-go. Kiwoom center fielder Lim Byeong-wuk never saw what looked to be a routine fly off the bat of Kim Hun-gon, who reached second as the ball dropped in no-man's land. He scored on a single by Kim Dong-yub.
But Jokisch got the pitcher's best friend, a double play ball, and then a flyout to prevent further damage.
He also avoided damage despite giving up leadoff singles in both the second and the third, and then it was smooth sailing from there.
After a Park Hae-min single that opened the third inning, Jokisch retired the next 12 straight batters before handing the reins to the bullpen.
In this file photo from May 6, 2020, Eric Jokisch of the Kiwoom Heroes pitches against the Kia Tigers in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Jokisch, along with his two American teammates, Jake Brigham and Taylor Motter, went back home after spring training to be with his family and stay away from South Korea, then struggling to contain the spread of the coronavirus. And when those three returned to Seoul late in March, they had to be quarantined for 14 days, per a government mandate. Jokisch and Brigham, the two pitchers, had to ramp back up after the extended layoff, and Jokisch in particular struggled in his last preseason outing on April 29, when he was charged with three earned runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings against the Doosan Bears.
Jokisch and Brigham both pitched in that game as the final audition for the Opening Day gig, and Brigham won it with three shutout innings.
But Jokisch has been the better of the two so far, with Brigham having been limited to 7 1/3 innings over two starts.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--Kiwoom Heroes beat Samsung Lions to continue strong start to KBO season

The teams traded zeroes for a while .
The Lions were unable to capitalize on leadoff singles in the second @ @ @ @ @ that third inning , Park Hae-min singled to start the inning and then stole two @ @ @ @ @ only to be stranded there when Kim Dong-yub went down swinging to end the inning @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- The Kiwoom Heroes rallied to beat the Samsung Lions 3-2 on Tuesday for their sixth win in the first seven games of the new South Korean baseball season.
Starter Eric Jokisch gave up just one run on three hits for his first win of the season, while Lee Jung-hoo broke a 1-1 tie with an RBI single in the sixth for the home team at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.
The Heroes are now 6-1, while the Lions fell to 2-5.
This file photo from May 10, 2020, shows members of the Kiwoom Heroes celebrating a victory. (Yonhap)
The Lions scored the game's first run in the top first, as Kim Dong-yub's single scored Kim Hun-gon, who'd reached second when center fielder Lim Byeong-wuk dropped a routine fly ball.
The Heroes tied things up with a solo shot by Park Dong-won in the bottom second, as he took starter Ben Lively over the left-center field fence for his first home run of the season.
The teams traded zeroes for a while. The Lions were unable to capitalize on leadoff singles in the second and the third. In that third inning, Park Hae-min singled to start the inning and then stole two bases to reach third, only to be stranded there when Kim Dong-yub went down swinging to end the inning.
Lively walked a tightrope. He walked one and hit another in the third, but escaped unscathed by retiring two dangerous hitters, Kim Ha-seong and Lee Jung-hoo, on a strikeout and a pop fly.
In the fourth, a hit-by-pitch, a steal and an error had a man at third for the Heroes, but Taylor Motter could only manage a grounder back to the mound.
The Heroes finally broke through in the sixth. Kim Ha-seong opened things up with a double down the left field line, just under the glove of the diving third baseman Tyler Saladino. Lee Jung-hoo then brought him home with a hard single to right.
The Heroes added an insurance run in the seventh, against reliever Lim Hyun-jun. Park Jun-tae got a one-out single off the new lefty, and then reached second when Lim made a wide throw to first trying to check the runner.
Seo Geon-chang's single up the middle cashed in Park for a 3-1 cushion.
The Lions rallied with a run in the top ninth off Kiwoom closer Cho Sang-woo, who survived some nervy moments and retired cleanup Lee Won-seok on a fly to shallow center for the final out.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--(2nd LD) S. Korea renews call for Japan to lift exports curbs

`` Both countries are currently facing challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
We hope that there would be @ @ @ @ @ bring hope to companies of both countries , '' the Ministry of Trade , Industry @ @ @ @ @ a statement , urging Japan to give a response by the end of this month @

(ATTN: UPDATES with Japan's reaction in 12th para)
By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Tuesday renewed its call for Japan to lift trade regulations against its neighbor, stressing that the Asian neighbors should join forces to overcome economic jitters sparked by the new coronavirus pandemic.
Tokyo initiated a trade war against Seoul in July last year by imposing restrictions on exports of three key industrial materials critical for South Korea's chip and display industries, namely photoresist, etching gas, and fluorinated polyimide.
Japan also removed South Korea from its list of trusted partners, claiming that Seoul did not effectively control the trade of sensitive materials that can be diverted for military use.
But Tokyo has never pinpointed how Asia's No. 4 economy violated related rules.
"Both countries are currently facing challenging times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that there would be an achievement soon that can bring hope to companies of both countries," the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy said in a statement, urging Japan to give a response by the end of this month.
South Korea believes Japan's export curbs are merely a vendetta against a Seoul court's ruling that ordered Japanese firms to compensate South Korean victims of forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the peninsula.
The ministry reiterated that it has been making efforts to ease Japan's distrust over the country's export control system.
"South Korea revised its trade laws in March to clarify its control over conventional weapons, which will be implemented in June," the ministry said. "We have also increased the number of staff devoted to export control programs."
The ministry said the latest call should not be considered an ultimatum, and that it is not currently planning to take another tit-for-tat move.
"We have made the request considering that we have met all prerequisites," Lee Ho-hyeon, the director general for International Trade Policy, said during a briefing.
"We believe that Japan will come up with a positive response, as Tokyo has willingness to solve the issue as well," he added.
In Tokyo, an official handling the issue at the Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry declined to comment about the request, saying Japan frequently evaluates its export control system.
Since July, the two countries have made only a little progress in narrowing their differences.
South Korea earlier took Tokyo off its list of trusted partners and sought mediation at the World Trade Organization (WTO). It later dropped the WTO lawsuit in November in a goodwill gesture.
Lee Ho-hyeon, the director general for International Trade Policy under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, speaks during a press briefing in Sejong, 130 kilometers south of Seoul, on May 12, 2020. (Yonhap)
Tokyo also partially lifted the curbs on exports of photoresist ahead of their summit in December. But no more progress has since been made.
In March, the two countries held 16-hour talks that ended with no significant progress as well.
As the two countries' relations have further soured in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unlikely they will resolve the trade row anytime soon.
At the early stages of the pandemic, Tokyo decided to suspend its visa-waiver program for South Korean nationals. In response, Seoul ended its own entry program for Japanese visitors.
So far, the trade row has caused more damage to Tokyo's exports than the other way around.
South Korea's exports to Japan slipped 6.9 percent to US$28 billion in 2019 from a year earlier. Its imports from Japan fell at a wider margin of 12.9 percent to $47 billion.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--U.S. flies B-1B bombers near S. Korea

U.S. flies B-1B bombers near S. Korea

The pair of bombers took off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam , transited airspace southeast of South Korea @ @ @ @ @ flew over the East China Sea , Aircraft Spots tweeted without specifying the exact time @ @ @ @

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- The United States has flown two B-1B Lancer strategic bombers near the Korean Peninsula, an aviation tracker said Tuesday.
The pair of bombers took off from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, transited airspace southeast of South Korea and west of Japan and flew over the East China Sea, Aircraft Spots tweeted without specifying the exact time of the operation.
The U.S. usually sends bombers and surveillance planes to the Korean Peninsula in the wake of North Korea's provocations or on routine flight training missions.
This photo, captured from Aircraft Spots' tweet, shows a flight route of two B-1B Lancer strategic bombers. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The U.S. has deployed four B-1B bombers and some 200 relevant personnel at the Andersen Air Force Base.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. Air Force's RC-135W Rivet Joint and RC-12X Guardrail flew over Seoul and the nearby western port city of Incheon, according to military authorities.
The RC-135W is meant to intercept telemetry signals before missile launches, while the RC-12X Guardrail, operated by the U.S. Forces Korea, is an airborne collection platform of signals intelligence.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--USFK soldier tests positive for coronavirus; total infections at 28

SEOUL , May 12 ( Yonhap ) -- A U.S. soldier tested positive for the coronavirus Tuesday , a day @ @ @ @ @ , the U.S .
Forces Korea ( USFK ) said , bringing the total number @ @ @ @ @ to 28 .

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- A U.S. soldier tested positive for the coronavirus Tuesday, a day after arriving in South Korea, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said, bringing the total number of infections among its population to 28.
He arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on Monday on a U.S. government-arranged charter flight, according to USFK.
USFK said the soldier has been in isolation at a hospital on the base after being confirmed with the COVID-19 virus.
He is the fourth U.S. soldier who has been confirmed to have contracted the virus so far, it added.
All USFK-affiliated individuals arriving in South Korea from overseas should be tested for COVID-19 and then quarantined for 14 days.
"USFK continues to maintain a robust combined defense posture to protect the Republic of Korea against any threat or adversary while maintaining prudent preventive measures to protect the force," USFK said in a release.
The U.S. stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea to deter North Korean aggression, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.
A military guard at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, checks the temperature of a driver to screen entrants to the compound for the novel coronavirus on Feb. 28, 2020, in this photo provided by United States Forces Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--KCC turns to loss in Q1

KCC turns to loss in Q1

The operating profit was 52.6 percent lower than the average estimate , according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax , @ @ @ @ @ Yonhap News Agency .
The estimate of net profit was not available .

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- KCC Corp. on Tuesday reported a first-quarter net loss of 270.2 billion won (US$220.6 million), shifting from a profit of 33.2 billion won a year earlier.
The company said in a regulatory filing that operating profit for the January-March period rose 2.4 percent on-year to 20.6 billion won. Revenue increased 97.8 percent to 1.25 trillion won.
The operating profit was 52.6 percent lower than the average estimate, according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. The estimate of net profit was not available.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange (KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--Gallery Hyundai brings together Korea's most symbolic modern artworks

`` Many of the show 's visitors are delighted to be able to set their eyes on 'Universe ' because @ @ @ @ @ chance when the paintings are available for public view after they were sold in the @ @ @ @ @ according to him .

By Park Boram
SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- "I tinker with dots that assemble to represent a form. Let me keep doing things like this," Kim Whan-ki, the best known master of Korean monochrome painting, told himself in his journal in 1968.
Three years later in 1971, Kim came up with "Universe," a pair of massive blue dot paintings that went on to carve out a key spot in Korean art history.
The famous diptych, officially titled "Universe 05-IV-71 #200," went on show Tuesday in Gallery Hyundai's special exhibition in central Seoul to mark its 50th anniversary.
The exhibition, "Hyundai 50," is the painting's first public showing since it was sold at a record price at an auction last year.
"Universe" was sold for HK$88 million, or 13.2 billion won (US$10.8 million), at the Christie's auction in Hong Kong in November, the first time that a Korean painting has fetched more than 10 billion won at an auction.
Kept in a separate showroom deep inside the gallery's main art space, "Universe" is surely the highlight of the commemorative exhibition that opened Tuesday for a 20-day run.
A visitor takes a photo of Kim Whan-ki's "Universe" at Gallery Hyundai in Seoul on May 12, 2020. (Yonhap)
But few of the show's some 70 works of art fall behind "Universe" in terms of artistic mastery or historic significance as Gallery Hyundai put together an unprecedentedly star-studded collection to look back on its history as one of the earliest modern art galleries in South Korea.
From its opening in 1970 through its relocation to its current location in the main gallery district of Samcheong in central Seoul till today, Gallery Hyundai has played an instrumental role in facilitating the Korean monochrome painting genre and launching it globally, bridging the Korean and world art communities.
Selecting symbolic works from its eventful 50-year exhibition history, the collection of "Hyundai 50" naturally encompasses an impossibly high-profile artist lineup for a private art gallery, which includes such famous names enshrined in Korean school coursebooks as Park Soo-keun, Lee Jung-seob, Korean American media art pioneer Paik Nam-june and iconic female painter Cheon Kyeong-ja.
The lineup also includes such big name monochrome painters as Lee Ufan, Park Seo-bo, Nam Kwan and Kim Tschang-yeul.
An image of Gallery Hyundai's commemorative exhibition "Hyundai 50" in Seoul on May 12, 2020 (Yonhap)
"When Gallery Hyundai launched itself in 1970, abstract paintings in Korea were but a minor movement compared to figurative paintings dominating the mainstream then. With the gallery's (first abstract art) exhibition featuring painter Nam Kwan in 1972, the door for abstract painters was wide open, providing a window for them to present their artistic universe," Gallery Hyundai's Creative Director Kim Jae-seok said.
Lee Ufan, Park Seo-bo and Kim Tschang-yeul are some of the most successful abstract painters who debuted through the gallery, according to the director.
Many of the artworks in the show were borrowed from their owners through the gallery's goodwill relationships with collectors, including "Universe," which was sold to an unidentified Korean American art collector, and "Marco Polo," a media artwork by Paik Nam-june owned by Amorepacific Museum of Art.
"The collection has been carefully selected to encompass the most representative works from the painters and artists or those that carry backstories for the museum's 50-year history," Kim noted.
"Many of the show's visitors are delighted to be able to set their eyes on 'Universe' because it will be a rare chance when the paintings are available for public view after they were sold in the auction last year," according to him.
Conscious of the rarity of the opportunity, many visitors lined up to get admitted to the exhibition from early morning on Tuesday, the first day the show is open to the public.
The show runs till May 31, featuring some 40 master Korean artists.
The special show also marks the gallery's resumption of business after more than two months, as the previous show was closed earlier than planned in late February due to the local coronavirus outbreak.
The reopening represents another major sign of the local art community waking up from the fallout of COVID-19 as the country is coming back to normal after an intensive social distancing drive.
An image of Paik Nam-june's "Marco Polo" on exhibition at Gallery Hyundai in Seoul on May 12, 2020 (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--S. Korea to begin sending rotational troops to South Sudan this month

`` We will push to replace the 12th batch of the Hanbit Unit on two occasions : on May 18 @ @ @ @ @ South Sudan approved the arrival of South Korean troops late last month as an exception @ @ @ @ @ foreigners , '' a ministry official said .

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to send rotational peacekeeping troops to South Sudan starting this month, after months of delay due to the coronavirus, the defense ministry said Tuesday.
A fresh batch of troops for its 300-strong Hanbit Unit was supposed to be in the war-torn nation in March on peacekeeping missions, but the replacement was delayed at the request of South Sudan due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Part of the unit members returned home on March 27 on a chartered flight without replacement, with dozens staying there to perform basic surveillance duties until a fresh contingent arrives.
"We will push to replace the 12th batch of the Hanbit Unit on two occasions: on May 18 and June 1, as South Sudan approved the arrival of South Korean troops late last month as an exception to its entry ban on foreigners," a ministry official said.
The ministry will arrange Asiana Airlines flights to transport the troops. On its way back, the first plane plans to stop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where South Korean citizens residing in African nations will board the flight home, the official said.
"The remaining troops of the 11th batch will return home in June after all the new members arrive there and complete transfer duties," a ministry official said.
South Korea began troop deployments to South Sudan in 2013 at the U.N.'s request in accordance with a U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at assisting peaceful reconstruction work.
The African nation declared its independence from its Arab-dominated northern neighbor, Sudan, in July 2011 after decades of civil war that killed more than 2 million people.
Members of South Korea's Hanbit Unit arrive at Incheon International Airport on March 28, 2020, after their eight-month mission in South Sudan, in this photo provided by the defense ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--(LEAD) Moody's keeps its rating on South Korea at Aa2

`` The drivers behind the rating affirmation and stable outlook include Moody 's assessment of Korea 's strong governance and @ @ @ @ @ monetary management of shocks , as illustrated during the coronavirus outbreak , '' the ratings @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: ADDS details from 5th para)
SEJONG, May 12 (Yonhap) -- Global rating agency Moody's Investors Service said Tuesday that it is maintaining its rating on South Korea at "Aa2" with a stable rating outlook.
Moody's rating for Asia's fourth-largest economy has been Aa2, the third-highest level on the company's table, since 2015, when it upgraded it from Aa3.
"The drivers behind the rating affirmation and stable outlook include Moody's assessment of Korea's strong governance and effective macroeconomic, fiscal and monetary management of shocks, as illustrated during the coronavirus outbreak," the ratings agency said in a statement.
"Moody's expects Korea to maintain robust growth potential and strong fiscal and debt metrics relative to similarly rated sovereigns, through the current and potential future shocks," it said.
South Korea's export-reliant economy is expected to take a significant hit from the coronavirus pandemic, as lockdown measures have crippled global supply chains and ravaged demand.
However, Moody's said coronavirus shocks on the Korean economy will be contained.
"The rapid and widening spread of the coronavirus outbreak, deteriorating global economic outlook, falling oil prices, and asset price volatility are creating a severe and extensive credit shock across many sectors, regions and markets," Moody's said.
"For Korea, the main channels of exposure stem from its reliance on export-oriented manufacturing, its participation in regionally dispersed supply chains and the consequent spillovers to domestic consumption and investment," it said.
"However, Moody's expects that the damage to the economy will be contained and the government's fiscal and debt position will not weaken materially when compared to similarly-rated sovereigns.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that South Korea's economy will shrink 1.2 percent this year, as the global economy is expected to hit its worst year since the Great Depression due to the pandemic.
The world economy is expected to contract 3 percent this year, the IMF said.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--(LEAD) KBO manager not discouraged by slow start to 1st season

`` I understand there are people who are critical of the way we ran things in the first week , @ @ @ @ @ We 'll keep our ears open to their criticism .
But changes are inevitable , @ @ @ @ @ that we 'll go through some difficult times when we are trying to make changes @ @ @ @ @ steer this club in the right direction . ''

(ATTN: ADDS comments at bottom, byline)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Lions' first-year manager Huh Sam-young isn't afraid of making changes, nor is he discouraged by criticism he's been facing after the first week of the new season.
Despite having no prior coaching or managerial experience, Huh was asked last fall to take over a ship that's been wobbly the past four years. The Lions made six consecutive Korean Series from 2010 to 2015, and won the championship from 2011 to 2014. But they haven't been back in the postseason since 2015, and, when reached on phone by Yonhap News Agency on Monday, Huh said changes are necessary.
In this file photo from May 5, 2020, the Samsung Lions (in white) and the NC Dinos play their first game of the 2020 Korea Baseball Organization season at an empty Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
"I understand there are people who are critical of the way we ran things in the first week," Huh said. "We'll keep our ears open to their criticism. But changes are inevitable, and it's only natural that we'll go through some difficult times when we are trying to make changes. Everyone is trying to steer this club in the right direction."
The Lions went 2-4 to open the 2020 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season. Huh used a different batting order in every one of those games. A longtime data analysis expert in the Lions' front office, Huh believes he needs to have more positional versatility and flexibility than other, more talented clubs to stay competitive.
But it wasn't always smooth sailing. For instance, Choi Young-jin, who had mostly played the two corner infield positions, made his debut in left field last Thursday. He was charged with an error, and then was demoted to the minors on Monday.
"He's a capable infielder, but he needs more reps in the outfield," Huh said. "We decided to give him some time to work as an outfielder in the minors."
In this file photo from May 5, 2020, Samsung Lions manager Huh Sam-young watches his team in action against the NC Dinos in the first game of the 2020 Korea Baseball Organization season at Daegu Samsung Lions Park in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Huh is expected to stick to the same script this week, as he looks to move his players around the field.
Starting outfielder Koo Ja-wook is sidelined with an arm injury, while shortstop Lee Hak-ju is set to return to the lineup Tuesday. That means Tyler Saladino, who filled in at shortstop last week, will likely move to third base. Lee Won-seok is expected to move across the diamond from third base to first base.
Lee Sung-gyu, who started six games at first base last week, may be asked to play some outfield. He has never appeared in the outfield in his career.
"If we're to become a better team, we have to endure these difficult times," Huh said. "If the manager fears changes and has negative thoughts in his head, then coaches and players will lose confidence. I'll try to stay optimistic and keep thinking about ways to make us stronger."
Prior to Tuesday's game against the Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome, Huh said Saladino will be playing multiple positions moving forward.
"I don't think he has one position where he's best at. He can handle all positions," Huh said. "He played shortstop mostly in the U.S., but he can handle second base and third base. We may even try him in the outfield."
Asked about managing regular season games for the first time after weeks of spring training games and scrimmages, Huh said, almost casually, "These games don't feel that much different."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--(LEAD) Tesla names new country manager for S. Korea

Since it entered the Korean market in March 2017 , Tesla has built about 450 slow-charging stations and 32 superchargers @ @ @ @ @ takes 10 hours to fully charge a Tesla vehicle at a slow charger , but @ @ @ @ @ at a supercharger .

(ATTN: CORRECTS name in 3rd para; ADDS details in 4th para)
SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- U.S. electric carmaker Tesla Motors Inc. on Tuesday named a financial expert as country director for South Korea.
Kim Kyung-ho, 44, will begin his term at Tesla Korea on Monday after serving as vice president at the Korean branch of U.S.-based bank State Street for seven and a half years through Friday, a company spokeswoman said over the phone.
Until Kim's appointment, Yvonne Chan, Tesla's country director for Taiwan, had supervised Korean operations as well, she said.
Kim studied economics at New York University and earned a master's degree in business administration from Duke University. He worked at Daewoo Securities and U.S.-based asset management firm BlackRock before moving to State Street.
This file photo provided by Tesla shows Kim Kyung-ho, who will serve as country director of the U.S. carmaker's South Korean operations from Monday. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)
From January to March, Tesla sold a total of 4,070 vehicles in the Korean imported passenger car market, following Mercedes-Benz's 15,400 unit sales and BMW's 11,331 unit sales, according to the trade ministry.
The quarterly result is sharply up from the 230 units Tesla sold in Asia's fourth-biggest economy during the same period of 2019.
Tesla Korea sells models such as the Model 3, Model S, and Model X.
The Model 3, Model S and Model X are available at the starting prices of 54 million won (US$44,000), 114 million won and 121 million won, respectively.
Customers can purchase the models at lower prices with a central government subsidy of 8 million won and a provincial government subsidy worth up to 10 million won.
Since it entered the Korean market in March 2017, Tesla has built about 450 slow-charging stations and 32 superchargers across the country. It takes 10 hours to fully charge a Tesla vehicle at a slow charger, but it takes about an hour at a supercharger.
This file photo provided by Tesla shows the Model 3 launched in South Korea on Aug. 13, 2019. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--Moody's keeps its rating on South Korea at Aa2

SEJONG, May 12 (Yonhap) -- Global rating agency Moody's Investors Service said Tuesday that it is maintaining its rating on South Korea at "Aa2" with a stable rating outlook.
Moody's rating for Asia's fourth-largest economy has been Aa2, the third-highest level on the company's table, since 2015, when it upgraded it from Aa3.
"The drivers behind the rating affirmation and stable outlook include Moody's assessment of Korea's strong governance and effective macroeconomic, fiscal and monetary management of shocks, as illustrated during the coronavirus outbreak," the ratings agency said in a statement.
"Moody's expects Korea to maintain robust growth potential and strong fiscal and debt metrics relative to similarly rated sovereigns, through the current and potential future shocks," it said.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--Multilateral cooperation group on coronavirus responses to set sail

Seoul unveiled a plan last week to establish the Friends Group in the United Nations , the World Health Organization @ @ @ @ @ U.N. Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO ) , as part of its bid @ @ @ @ @ on battling the pandemic .

SEOUL, May 12 (Yonhap) -- A South Korea-led multilateral cooperation group on joint coronavirus responses was set to kick off late Tuesday with its first videoconference to be joined by more than 30 countries, the foreign ministry said.
Seoul unveiled a plan last week to establish the Friends Group in the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.N. Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), as part of its bid to further spur global discussions on battling the pandemic.
Each of the three groups would serve as a platform to promote global solidarity in ensuring international health care security, cooperation in fighting global contagious diseases and civil education on global solidarity, respectively.
The first videoconference of the U.N. group will be attended by around 200 officials from more than 30 countries and be chaired by South Korea, Canada, Denmark, Sierra Leone and Qatar, ministry spokesperson Kim In-chul told a press briefing.
U.N. Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed and David Nabarro, a special envoy to the WHO, will also take part in Tuesday's meeting, the ministry said.
"As a venue for discussions on COVID-19 and health and security issues, we expect the group to be an important platform for the U.N. to explore ways to respond to international health and security challenges," Kim said.
South Korea is planning to launch the two other cooperation groups with the WHO and UNESCO this month.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (5th from L) presides over a videoconference with chiefs of South Korean missions in China to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry in Seoul on Feb. 19, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-12--(LEAD) Another key suspect in Telegram sex crime case arrested

The court said there is probable cause to detain the suspect , whose identity was withheld , for violating the @ @ @ @ @ Children and Youth against Sex Offenses .
It added that he is also a flight @ @

(ATTN: REWRITES headline, lead; UPDATES with details in paras 2-4, minor edits throughout)
ANDONG, South Korea, May 12 (Yonhap) -- An alleged co-operator of online chat rooms in which dozens of victims were coerced into performing obscene acts was arrested Tuesday.
The Andong branch of the Daegu District Court approved a police request to arrest the 24-year-old male university student allegedly behind the so-called Nth Room sex crime case.
The court said there is probable cause to detain the suspect, whose identity was withheld, for violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth against Sex Offenses. It added that he is also a flight risk.
Police will decide on Wednesday whether to reveal the identity of the suspect in the high-profile sex crime case.
The suspect, along with several co-conspirators, is accused of operating a pay-to-view online club on messaging application Telegram for sexually explicit videos. Known to have some 260,000 users, videos of at least 74 people, including 16 underage girls, are believed to have been distributed through several chatrooms.
The man, known by his online alias "God God," is believed to have first opened a chatroom on Telegram. He was brought in for questioning on Saturday after police identified him as the person behind the ID.
"Yes, I admit it," the suspect answered, while leaving the court in Andong, 260 kilometers south of Seoul, when asked whether he admits to charges against him.
The suspect also said he was "sorry" when questioned if he had anything to say to the victims.
On Monday police apprehended the suspect after confessing to being the owner of the God God ID.
Authorities have so far revealed the identities of three other key suspects in the Telegram chatroom case: Cho Ju-bin, Kang Hun and Lee Won-ho.
Cho, 24, was indicted for allegedly blackmailing women into providing sexual videos to another Telegram chatroom called "Baksabang." At least 25 people, including eight underage girls, have been confirmed to have been exploited by Cho.
Kang, 18, was prosecuted for allegedly blackmailing 18 female victims, including seven minors, into producing sexual content. Lee, a 19-year-old Army private first class, has been indicted by the military.
More than 140 others have also been apprehended in connection to the case.
A suspect is taken to a court in the southeastern city of Andong on May 12, 2020, to attend a hearing to review whether a warrant will be granted for his arrest in connection with the so-called Nth room case. Police have apprehended the 24-year-old male university student who confessed to using the alias "God God" in chatrooms on messaging service Telegram and have filed a request with a court for his arrest. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)