yna--2020-08-03--Action adventure 'Steel Rain 2' tops 1 mln admissions

Directed by Yang Woo-suk and starring Jung Woo-sung , the movie is about a fictional tripartite summit of the two @ @ @ @ @ .
The leaders of the three countries are confined in a nuclear-powered submarine after a @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- The action adventure film "Steel Rain 2: Summit" has topped 1 million admissions in South Korea.
Released Wednesday, the film attracted 662,000 viewers from Friday to Sunday, raising the total admissions to 1.01 million, according to data by the Korean Film Council.
It is the third South Korean movie to surpass the 1 million admission line since the COVID-19 pandemic, following the zombie thrillers "#Alive" and "Peninsula."
Directed by Yang Woo-suk and starring Jung Woo-sung, the movie is about a fictional tripartite summit of the two Koreas and the United States. The leaders of the three countries are confined in a nuclear-powered submarine after a military coup in the North.
The former No. 1 "Peninsula" fell to second over the weekend with 303,000 moviegoers. Its total admissions reached 3.44 million.
A scene from "Steel Rain 2: Summit" by Lotte Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--Non-contact travel trend boosts sales of camping, outdoor gear

Reflecting the popularity of camping , the number of vehicles revamped to be used as camping cars nearly tripled in @ @ @ @ @ year from the previous year on high demand for camping and eased regulations , according @ @ @ @ @

By Kim Soo-yeon
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- The new coronavirus outbreak has given a big boost to domestic travel here amid disrupted air travel. But for some vacationers, visiting tourist attractions or using lodging facilities could still be the last thing they want to do.
Against this backdrop, a new non-contact travel trend has gained traction in South Korea as more people are turning their eyes to outdoor camping and "chabak," a newly coined word that means sleeping and staying in a car during travel.
A 31-year-old office worker, surnamed Kang, said he visited Gapyeong, northeast of Seoul, in July to enjoy camping with his friend as the COVID-19 pandemic thwarted his plan for overseas travel.
"With a borrowed camping car, I had fun when I grilled barbecue on a fire. For city dwellers, making a camping trip could be a refreshing experience," he said.
Local retailers and foodmakers have been quick to meet high demand for such camping goods and are witnessing a sharp rise in sales.
In front of a camping van, citizens relax at a camping ground in Haman County, South Gyeongsang Province, on May 12, 2020. (Yonhap)
"Camping and chabak have emerged as a new trend (for travel) during summer vacations as people can set up a private space and reduce contacts," an official at Lotte Mart said.
Chabak, in particular, has gained momentum as it involves easy mobility and does not require many camping goods.
Reflecting the popularity of the new travel trend, sales of camping equipment, including chairs and tables, jumped 103.7 percent in the June 1-July 25 period compared with the same period of last year, according to Lotte Mart.
Sales of camping bedding gained 37.6 percent and tents shot up 55.4 percent on-year in the cited period, it added.
SSG.COM, the online shopping unit of retail conglomerate Shinsegae, said chabak-related goods, including tents connected to sports utility vehicles (SUV) and inflatable mattresses, saw explosive sales growth in June and July.
Sales of SUV tents and inflatable mattresses jumped 664 percent and 90 percent respectively in the June 1-July 27 period, compared with the same period of last year.
"The products appeared to be popular as chabak travel can allow people to choose vacation spots freely and minimize the risk of having contact with others," an SSG.COM official said.
This photo, provided by e-commerce operator Wemakeprice Inc., shows an inflatable mattress used to stay and sleep in a car. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Demand for small-sized suitcases also rose among people in their 20s and 30s after the country was swept by the craze for Starbucks Korea's seasonal promotional suitcase, called the summer ready bag, this summer.
The hype to secure pink or green summer ready bags and one of three camping chairs offered under Starbucks' "e-frequency" rewards program recently ran high enough to see the formation of long queues in front of Starbucks outlets nationwide at dawn.
Reflecting the popularity of camping, the number of vehicles revamped to be used as camping cars nearly tripled in the first half of the year from the previous year on high demand for camping and eased regulations, according to the transportation ministry.
The number of such revamped camping cars reached 3,214 in the January-June period, up from 1,119 units.
Korean foodmakers are also in a rush to roll out easy-to-eat meals targeting camping clans.
Hyundai Green Food, an affiliate of Hyundai Department Store, launched the camping meal kit brand named Cam Meal in June.
With half-cooked meal products involving beef and pork, people can easily eat them by boiling or grilling them.
Harim Co., the country's largest poultry-processing company, released a cube-sized chicken meat, saying that people can conveniently make grilled chicken skewers with the product and vegetables.
This photo, provided by Hyundai Green Food, shows its camping meal kit brand named Cam Meal. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--(URGENT) 21 more released from coronavirus treatment, total now at 13,280: KCDC

(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--2020-08-03--(URGENT) S. Korea reports no additional coronavirus deaths, death toll now at 301: KCDC


yna--2020-08-03--(4th LD) Heavy rain pummels central S. Korea; casualties reported in landslides

The rescue personnel also searched the scene for a missing Vietnamese staffer of the family business , but stopped the @ @ @ @ @ resume it the following day .
The authorities did not rule out the possibility that @ @ @ @ @ harm 's way as his car was not discovered at the scene .

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout)
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- Heavy rain continued to pound South Korea's central regions and the greater Seoul area Monday, flooding houses and roads, and prompting authorities to close riverside and mountainous areas.
From 6 p.m. Saturday through 9 p.m. Monday, more than 390 millimeters of rain soaked Anseong in Gyeonggi Province, south of Seoul, while precipitation for Chungju in North Chungcheong Province and Cheorwon in Gangwon Province reached 400 mm and 296 mm, respectively, during the same period.
Heavy rain alerts had been issued for the greater Seoul area, as well as North and South Chungcheong Provinces and Gangwon and North Gyeongsang Provinces as of 9:10 p.m. Rain of more than 30 mm per hour continued to fall in parts of Gyeonggi, Gangwon and Chungcheong Provinces.
In Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, a landslide swept over a temporary building in a semiconductor parts factory, killing three workers in their 30s and injuring one in his 50s. Two other workers managed to escape.
The workers were reportedly working in a makeshift building made of panels. Fire authorities said it took them nearly one hour to locate the victims as soil piled up several meters high.
This photo shows a semiconductor parts factory in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, where three workers died and one was seriously injured due to a mudslide triggered by torrential rain on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
This photo shows a house in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, which was destroyed by a gas explosion prompted by a landslide on Aug. 2, 2020. (Yonhap)
In Gapyeong, also in Gyeonggi Province, the gas and water supply was temporarily suspended to restore pipes that have been exposed due to heavy rain.
Three members of a family, including a 2-years-old child, were found dead after they went missing following a mudslide that engulfed the family-run rental accommodation house in the Gyeonggi county.
The rescue personnel also searched the scene for a missing Vietnamese staffer of the family business, but stopped the search with a plan to resume it the following day. The authorities did not rule out the possibility that the staffer got out of harm's way as his car was not discovered at the scene.
Local authorities said a person was swept up in a mountain stream in Gapyeong, while another went missing in nearby Pocheon County.
This photo, provided by fire authorities in northern Gyeonggi Province, shows an accomodation engulfed by a landslide in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province on Aug. 3, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The rain was estimated to have damaged 556 houses and 3,622 hectares of farm land in the affected regions. Over 919 people have been displaced from their homes due to flooding and landslides.
In Seoul, a hole measuring 2 meters in width and 1.5 meters in depth appeared at a road in the southern area of Gangnam. Authorities are restoring the road. No casualties were reported.
Elsewhere in Seoul, authorities helped pump out water from flooded houses and remove trees that had been toppled by the heavy rain.
Entry to most of the 11 parks along the Han River has been banned as water levels spiked and swamped the areas. Entrance to streams and mountains are also being restricted to prevent accidents.
Parts of Olympic Expressway, a key highway that connects southern Seoul with Gyeonggi Province, was also closed as water levels quickly rose earlier in the day, although cars were allowed to pass later in the afternoon.
Most areas of a park by Han River in Seoul are under water following heavy rain across South Korea on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Parts of a road and a riverside park next to Olympic Expressway in southern Seoul are swamped due to heavy rain on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Olympic Expressway (L), a highway that connects southern Seoul with nearby Gyeonggi Province, is empty on Aug. 3, 2020, as entry was banned amid heavy rain. (Yonhap)
Similar damage was reported in the city of Incheon and the provinces of North Jeolla and South Chungcheong.
Areas in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, were swamped as 50-80 mm of rain hit the area. Rain swelled up to knee-level in a traditional market and covered car rooftops on some roads.
Passengers leave their cars after heavy rain swamped areas of Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Meanwhile, most train services that had been suspended due to mudslides resumed earlier Monday. However, trains connecting Chungju and Jecheon, both in North Chungcheong Province, and Youngju and Donghae in the eastern region remained disrupted. The Taebaek line also remained suspended.
A section of an busy intersection on Gyeongbu Expressway near Singal remained closed due mudslide.
The central disaster agency said that six have died and 13 went missing due to the heavy rain on Monday alone. Counting fatalities reported over the weekend, the death toll for the past three days reached 12. Besides hundreds of homes being evacuated, authorities said 872 public facilities have been damaged by heavy rain.
President Moon Jae-in has called off his scheduled summer holiday amid growing damage from torrential rain, according to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
Moon was briefed on the extent of damage caused by heavy rain nationwide and expressed concerns over people's safety, presidential deputy spokesperson Yoon Jae-kwan said in a briefing.
A destroyed cattle shed in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, is seen after heavy rain on Aug. 2, 2020. (Yonhap)
This photo, provided by fire authorities at North Chungcheong Province, shows rescue workers conducting a search near Eumseong after a 62-year-old was reported to have gone missing at a stream on Aug. 2, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Chuncheon Dam, in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, is in full action, releasing 2,370 tons of waters per second on Aug. 3, 2020, after heavy rain hit the area. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--Weather alert for capital, central regions raised to highest level amid heavy rain

The safety headquarters stressed that there currently is heightened risk as large amounts of rain that have inundated the country @ @ @ @ @ have weakened the foundations of the ground , which can lead roads and retaining walls @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea raised its weather alert for the capital city and the central region of the country to the highest level amid heavy rain, strong winds and flooding, the government said Monday.
The state danger review committee met earlier in the day and decided to raise the warning level from the current "orange" to the highest "red" as the weather service predicted heavy localized downpours, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said.
South Korea maintains a tiered alert system for dangers related to precipitation and strong wind, ranging from yellow -- representing the need for caution -- moving up to orange, for heightened vigilance, and up to red, which signifies severe conditions.
"The upgrade went into effect as of 6 p.m. for the regions, as isolated and unexpected rainfalls that are hard to forecast are expected," it said.
Minister of the Interior and Safety Chin Young (C) recieves reports on weather-related damage at a situation room of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul on Aug. 3, 2020, in this photo provided by office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The safety headquarters stressed that there currently is heightened risk as large amounts of rain that have inundated the country over the past few days have weakened the foundations of the ground, which can lead roads and retaining walls suddenly giving way.
"By raising the response level, the government is acting proactively to the present development and informing the general public of the seriousness of the situation," it said.
This latest move follows the safety countermeasure headquarters being placed on the level-three readiness response posture on Sunday, in anticipation of worsening weather conditions. That is also the highest level of readiness for the emergency countermeasure organization.
Minister of the Interior and Safety Chin Young, who chairs the headquarters, said all government agencies need to reflect the heightened alert level and do their utmost to protect lives and property.
He then urged ordinary citizens to stay indoors whenever possible and cooperate with advisories issued by safety authorities.
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--(3rd LD) Heavy rain pummels central S. Korea; casualties reported in landslides

A family of three , including a child of two , who went missing after their home in the Gyeonggi @ @ @ @ @ mudslide , were found dead at the site .
Some 40 emergency rescue personnel and @ @ @ @ @ to the house , with a search operation still underway for another person who may @ @ @ @ @ when it was destroyed .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 7-9, 13, 17-18)
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- Heavy rain continued to pound South Korea's central regions and the greater Seoul area Monday, flooding houses and roads, and prompting authorities to close riverside and mountainous areas.
More than 100 millimeters of rain per hour soaked Chuncheon in mountainous Gangwon Province and heavy rain of 80 mm hit parts of Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds Seoul.
Heavy rain advisories had been issued for the greater Seoul area, as well as Sejong, North and South Chungcheong Provinces and Gangwon and North Gyeongsang Provinces as of 2 p.m. Up to 90 mm of rain continued to fall in northern areas of Chungcheong.
In Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, a landslide swept over a temporary building in a semiconductor parts factory, killing three workers in their 30s and injuring one in his 50s. Two other workers managed to escape.
The workers were reportedly working in a makeshift building made of panels. Fire authorities said it took them nearly one hour to locate the victims as soil piled up several meters high.
This photo shows a semiconductor parts factory in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, where three workers died and one was seriously injured due to a mudslide triggered by torrential rain on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
This photo shows a house in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, which was destroyed by a gas explosion prompted by a landslide on Aug. 2, 2020. (Yonhap)
In Gapyeong, also in Gyeonggi Province, the gas and water supply was temporarily suspended to restore pipes that have been exposed due to heavy rain.
A family of three, including a child of two, who went missing after their home in the Gyeonggi county was engulfed in a mudslide, were found dead at the site. Some 40 emergency rescue personnel and heavy construction equipment were sent to the house, with a search operation still underway for another person who may have been in the house when it was destroyed.
Local authorities said a person was swept up in a mountain stream in Gapyeong, while another went missing in nearby Pocheon County.
This photo, provided by fire authorities in northern Gyeonggi Province, shows an accomodation engulfed by a landslide in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province on Aug. 3, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The rain was estimated to have damaged 112 houses and 2,330 hectares of land in the province and nearby regions. Seventy landslides were reported. Over 910 people have been displaced from their homes due to flooding and landslides.
In Seoul, a hole measuring 2 meters in width and 1.5 meters in depth appeared at a road in the southern area of Gangnam. Authorities are restoring the road. No casualties were reported.
Elsewhere in Seoul, authorities helped pump out water from flooded houses and remove trees that had been toppled by the heavy rain.
Entry to most of the 11 parks along the Han River has been banned as water levels spiked and swamped the areas. Entrance to streams and mountains are also being restricted to prevent accidents.
Parts of Olympic Expressway, a key highway that connects southern Seoul with Gyeonggi Province, was also closed as water levels quickly rose earlier in the day, although cars were allowed to pass later in the afternoon.
Most areas of a park by Han River in Seoul are under water following heavy rain across South Korea on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Parts of a road and a riverside park next to Olympic Expressway in southern Seoul are swamped due to heavy rain on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Olympic Expressway (L), a highway that connects southern Seoul with nearby Gyeonggi Province, is empty on Aug. 3, 2020, as entry was banned amid heavy rain. (Yonhap)
Similar damage was reported in the city of Incheon and the provinces of North Jeolla and South Chungcheong.
Areas in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, were swamped as 50-80 mm of rain hit the area. Rain swelled up to knee-level in a traditional market and covered car rooftops on some roads.
Passengers leave their cars after heavy rain swamped areas of Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Meanwhile, most train services that had been suspended due to mudslides resumed earlier Monday. However, trains connecting Chungju and Jecheon, both in North Chungcheong Province, and Youngju and Donghae in the eastern region remained disrupted. The Taebaek line also remained suspended.
A section of an busy intersection on Gyeongbu Expressway near Singal remained closed due mudslide.
The central disaster agency said that six have died and 13 went missing due to the heavy rain on Monday alone. Counting fatalities reported over the weekend, the death toll for the past three days reached 12. Besides hundreds of homes being evacuated, authorities said 872 public facilities have been damaged by heavy rain.
President Moon Jae-in has called off his scheduled summer holiday amid growing damage from torrential rain, according to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
Moon was briefed on the extent of damage caused by heavy rain nationwide and expressed concerns over people's safety, presidential deputy spokesperson Yoon Jae-kwan said in a briefing.
A destroyed cattle shed in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, is seen after heavy rain on Aug. 2, 2020. (Yonhap)
This photo, provided by fire authorities at North Chungcheong Province, shows rescue workers conducting a search near Eumseong after a 62-year-old was reported to have gone missing at a stream on Aug. 2, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Chuncheon Dam, in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, is in full action, releasing 2,370 tons of waters per second on Aug. 3, 2020, after heavy rain hit the area. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--N. Korea releases border dam water without prior notice: sources

The South 's military and intelligence authorities are known to have detected signs of the North opening the floodgates through @ @ @ @ @ the North did not notify the South of the move with inter-Korean military communication lines @ @ @

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Monday discharged water from a border dam without notifying South Korea in advance, ahead of possible torrential downpours in the communist state, government sources said.
The North partially opened the floodgates of Hwanggang Dam on the western inter-Korean border and sent water into the Imjin River, a move that put authorities here on alert against the potential rise in water levels in the South.
The water discharge came as the North's official Korean Central News Agency reported that "special" heavy rain warnings had been issued for Pyongan, Hwanghae and Jagang Provinces, Kaesong and other parts of the country.
The South's military and intelligence authorities are known to have detected signs of the North opening the floodgates through various monitoring tools, as the North did not notify the South of the move with inter-Korean military communication lines cut off.
The military authorities here predicted that the North could additionally open floodgates of the dam, as some areas under the downpour warnings are forecast to see 500 millimeters of rain or more overnight.
The North had agreed to notify the South in advance of plans to open the floodgates after its unannounced discharge of water from Hwanggang Dam in September 2009 caused waters to rise abruptly and left six South Koreans in the border region dead.
When heavy rains hit the North in September 2010, the North notified the South through the western military communication line prior to its possible discharge of the water from the border dam.
If the North abruptly discharges water into the border river, it could damage fishing gear set up there or cause injury to people.
This file photo shows the Pilseung Bridge in the upper region of Imjin River. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--K-pop act (G)I-dle sings of summer, youthfulness in new single

`` I get asked that a lot , about what my biggest muse is .
For our songs , I @ @ @ @ @ our members a lot , '' Soyeon said .
`` It 's not about inspiration @ @ @ @ @ want to talk about .
We talk to each other a lot and I try @ @ @ @ @ possible . ''

By Chang Dong-woo
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- In an about-face from its usually contemplative and edgy sound and imagery, K-pop girl group (G)I-dle said Monday its new single "Dumdi Dumdi" was intended to be a bright dance song inspired by the spirit of youthfulness and the sizzling summer heat.
"While writing the new song, I asked myself what summer reminds me of. I thought it was similar to the spirit of youthfulness," (G)I-dle singer Soyeon said during a press conference held online ahead of the single's 6 p.m. release.
Soyeon, the self-producing leader of (G)I-dle and one of the leading creative forces among the more younger talent pool of today's K-pop, added, "youthfulness reminds people of both cool and hot, and passionate emotions."
"I hope fans fan feel the spirit of youthfulness and summer while listening to the song."
This publicity photo provided by Cube Entertainment on Aug. 3, 2020, shows K-pop girl group (G)I-dle. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Co-written by Soyeon and music producer Poptime, "Dumdi Dumdi" combines tropical moombahton beats with simple-yet-catchy melodies and lyrics that's easy to sing along to.
The single marks the first-new release by (G)I-dle since the single "I'm The Trend" put out in July of last year.
The Cube Entertainment group, which includes Chinese, Taiwanese and Thai members, recently held its first-ever live concert remotely after being forced to cancel a 32-city world tour due to COVID-19.
"It was disappointing to not be able to meet our fans at our first-ever live concert," Thai member Minnie said.
The singer, however, said the love shown by fans during the concert was almost palpable, even remotely.
"The real-time comments were filled with messages of support. I almost cried when hearing the recorded voices of fans while performing 'Latata' near the end."
This photo provided by Cube Entertainment on Aug. 3, 2020, shows K-pop girl group (G)I-dle performing on stage at a media showcase in Seoul for its new single album "Dumdi Dumdi." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Amid the ongoing new coronavirus situation, main singer Miyeon said the group as a whole was trying to stay virtually connected with global fans more than ever. "We're grateful for the fans who care for our music. It's a trying time for all of us," she said.
When asked about songwriting inspirations, Soyeon said (G)I-dle itself was the biggest source of inspiration.
"I get asked that a lot, about what my biggest muse is. For our songs, I try to be inspired by our members a lot," Soyeon said. "It's not about inspiration but more about what we want to talk about. We talk to each other a lot and I try to listen as much as possible."
This photo provided by Cube Entertainment on Aug. 3, 2020, shows K-pop girl group (G)I-dle posing for photos at a media showcase in Seoul for its new single album "Dumdi Dumdi." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--(2nd LD) Creditors warn of Asiana deal collapse, urge HDC to show sincerity on takeover

In its self-help measures , Asiana has had all of its 10,500 employees take unpaid leave for 15 days a @ @ @ @ @ circumstances normalize .
Asiana 's executives have also agreed to forgo 60 percent of their @ @ @ @ @ time frame was given for how long the pay cuts will remain in effect .

(ATTN: UPDATES with details on financial support in last para)
By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB) on Monday warned that property developer Hyundai Development Co. (HDC) should proceed with the proposed 2.5 trillion-won (US$2.1 billion) deal to buy Asiana Airlines Co., rejecting HDC's request for another round of due diligence on the country's No. 2 air carrier.
"We cannot accept the demand for a new round of due diligence," KDB Vice President Choi Dae-hyun said in an online briefing, calling the HDC's demand an excessive one that goes way beyond ordinary procedures in a merger and acquisition deal.
In December, the HDC-Mirae Asset Daewoo consortium signed the deal to acquire the carrier from Kumho Industrial, a construction unit of Kumho Asiana Group, as well as new Asiana shares to be issued and Asiana's six affiliates, for 2.5 trillion won.
HDC, a major property developer, has completed seven weeks of due diligence on Asiana Airlines.
But the property developer has recently demanded additional due diligence on the debt-laden carrier for 12 weeks beginning in mid-August, claiming it will be forced to shoulder Asiana's heavy debts if it acquires the airline without looking into its current financial conditions hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
Choi said the collapse of the deal will be inevitable unless HDC takes a step that would show its sincerity for an Asiana takeover, noting the HDC's request may be aimed at delaying the deal's close.
HDC's company logo and Asiana Airlines' planes at an airport in South Korea (Yonhap)
Asiana has suspended most of its flights on international routes, as more than 180 countries have strengthened entry restrictions amid virus fears this year.
Asiana's net losses for the January-March quarter deepened to 683 billion won from 89.18 billion won a year earlier. It is widely expected to report widened losses for the second quarter.
KDB Chairman Lee Dong-gull pressed HDC to make a determination on whether it will proceed with the deal or not as he warned that HDC will be to blame for a looming collapse of the deal.
"I expect that HDC will not file a suit seeking refund of advanced payment," Lee said, noting that KDB and Kumho Industrial have done nothing wrong.
The KDB, Asiana's main creditor bank, and the Export-Import Bank of Korea plan to inject a combined 1.7 trillion won into Asiana to help the carrier stay afloat. Last year, the creditors extended a total of 1.6 trillion won to the carrier.
In its self-help measures, Asiana has had all of its 10,500 employees take unpaid leave for 15 days a month since April until business circumstances normalize. Asiana's executives have also agreed to forgo 60 percent of their wages, though no specific time frame was given for how long the pay cuts will remain in effect.
Separately, the KDB said it is ready to inject some of the 40 trillion-won fund for backbone industries into Korean Air Lines Co., noting the carrier plans to apply for financial support.
Choi said Asiana could also receive financial support.
Consultations have been under way between the government and financial companies over additional financial support to budget airlines, according to the KDB.
South Korea's two full-service carriers -- Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines -- and seven low-cost carriers have suffered from a sharp decline in air travel demand sparked by the coronavirus pandemic.
The KDB and the Export-Import Bank of Korea have so far injected a combined 300 billion won into Jeju Air, Jin Air, T'way, Air Busan and Air Seoul -- five out of seven low-cost carriers.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--(LEAD) S. Korea, China seek to boost trade amid pandemic

SEOUL , Aug. 3 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea and China on Monday held a meeting to update and @ @ @ @ @ bilateral free trade agreement ( FTA ) , which took effect around five years ago @ @ @ @ @ joint efforts to overcome economic jitters sparked by the new coronavirus pandemic .

(ATTN: CHANGES para 4 following the ministry's revised statement)
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and China on Monday held a meeting to update and expand the scope of their bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), which took effect around five years ago, and vowed to make joint efforts to overcome economic jitters sparked by the new coronavirus pandemic.
The two countries held a virtual meeting to discuss ways to better utilize their FTA and boost bilateral trade amid the new coronavirus pandemic, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Seoul and Beijing implemented the deal in December 2015. On the back of the FTA, trade between the two advanced 18.2 percent from 2015 to 2018.
During the meeting, South Korea and China touched on the potential establishment of a new committee centering on the online commerce industry to overcome disruptions in business activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seoul requested that China protect the intellectual rights of its exporters.
In November 2019, China implemented a new law in which its authorities can ban registrations of trademarks when the applicants are deemed to have malicious intent of exploiting foreign firms.
The two also agreed to speed up negotiations to lift more barriers in the service and investment segments.
South Korea and China vowed to boost their trade amid the new coronavirus pandemic and agreed to keep the "fast-track" entry system to minimize travel restrictions for business officials.
Seoul plans to simplify application procedures for officials of small- and medium-sized companies.
Trade with China reached US$243.4 billion in 2019, slightly down from $268.6 billion posted the previous year amid global economic uncertainties, the ministry data showed.
Outbound shipments to China increased for the second consecutive month by rising 2.5 percent on-year in July. The growth was led by petrochemical products and steel goods as Chinese factories gradually resumed their operations.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--(News Focus) Fresh tensions brewing in Seoul-Tokyo ties over court procedure to sell off Japanese as

(News Focus) Fresh tensions brewing in Seoul-Tokyo ties over court procedure to sell off Japanese assets

`` I believe that both sides intend to maintain the status quo , unless one of the two comes with @ @ @ @ @ other , '' Nam said .
`` Both countries know that , if they do @ @ @ @ @ it would put them at odds with Washington , and they do n't want to @ @ @ @ @ went through last year . ''

By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- The already frayed relations between South Korea and Japan will likely plunge further into a fresh downward spiral as a local court is expected to kick off a procedure to sell off assets of a Japanese firm to compensate victims of wartime forced labor.
Starting midnight Tuesday, the Pohang branch of the Daegu District Court will be able to start the procedure to auction off some of Nippon Steel Corp.'s stake in a joint venture company established with POSCO so as to cash them out for compensating forced labor victims.
Japan has warned of strong countermeasures if the procedure for sales goes ahead, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga saying Saturday that Tokyo is looking at "all available measures" and "has a clear direction about it."
"It's the game of chicken all over again," Lee Won-duk, a professor at Kookmin University, said. "The two countries are fighting for their pride even though this is a potentially explosive matter that can further aggravate the ties," he said.
The case grew out of the South Korean Supreme Court's landmark ruling in October 2018 that ordered Japan's Nippon Steel to pay four forced labor victims 100 million won each in compensation for their suffering. It was the first such court ruling.
Japan strongly protested the verdict, claiming that all reparation issues stemming from its 1910-45 colonial occupation of Korea were settled under a 1965 normalization pact in which the South received grants and economic cooperation loans.
The plaintiffs have since asked the Pohang court to seize Nippon Steel's shares in a step to recover the damages. The court granted the request in January last year and sent a notice of the seizure decision to Japan so that it could be formally delivered to the company, but Tokyo refused to accept the document.
After 10 months of waiting, the court published the notice on its website in early June, setting in motion a legal procedure, known as "service by public notice," which is usually taken when such notices are unable to be delivered, including when the whereabouts of recipients are unknown.
After two months, the notice is considered to have been delivered, and that deadline is Tuesday.
Although some legal technicalities remain, it's only a matter of time for the asset sales to take place and evolve into what would be yet another fresh source of tensions in their bilateral relations, experts said.
South Korean protesters stage a rally on Aug. 3, 2019, in front of the former site of the Japanese Embassy in central Seoul, criticizing Tokyo's recent move to impose curbs on exports to South Korea. Some protestors held placards reading "No Abe" and "Japan should apologize." (Yonhap)
The assets subject to sales are the 30 percent stake held by Nippon Steel, formerly Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. at the time of the Supreme Court decision, in PNR, a joint venture company with South Korea's POSCO, worth about 400 million won (US$335,000) by face value.
Should the court order the asset sales, there is little doubt that Japan will take retaliatory steps against South Korea, on top of the export curbs and removal of Seoul from its preferred trade partners' list it imposed last year in anger over the South Korean court ruling.
Among the measures that Japan could take against South Korea in addition to those restrictions is a further tightening of export control measures on industrial materials that Korea highly relies on Japan for. In July last year, Tokyo slapped export controls on three display materials vital to Seoul's tech firms.
"Some say that South Korea has fared well in the face of Japan's export curbs. But we cannot deny that when it comes to industrial competitiveness, it's still asymmetrical," Lee said. "If Japan really 'turns off the tap' for our exporters, our industries are going to suffer."
Experts also point to possible financial restrictions in relation to some $42 billion that Japanese banks have invested in South Korean companies, an option that observers say would likely yield a limited impact. Other measures in theory include raising tariffs and some sort of visa restrictions.
On Monday, the foreign ministry in Seoul said it is bracing for the possibility of Japan taking retaliatory steps following the court order to sell off the assets.
South Korea will certainly hit back at Japan in its own way, and reactivating its earlier decision to terminate a bilateral military intelligence-sharing pact with Tokyo is among the options it may be weighing, according to Nam Chang-hee, a professor at Inha University.
This file photo shows Korean workers forcibly taken to Japan during the Japanese colonial rule of Korea from 1910-45. On Oct. 30, 2018, the Supreme Court upheld a 2013 ruling on damages claims filed by four victims and ordered Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. (NSSM) to pay each victim 100 million won (US$87,720). (Yonhap)
Later this month, Seoul will have to decide whether to renew a military intelligence-sharing pact with Tokyo it almost scrapped last year in protest at Japan's export restrictions. In late November, Seoul decided to suspend its decision to terminate the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) at the last minute after the two countries agreed to resolve the matter through diplomacy.
The dispute over GSOMIA had raised concern from the United States as its strategic interest lies in maintaining a stable trilateral security partnership with its two Asian allies.
"Nevertheless, the two countries intend to keep the situation under control, as they have enough of their own pressing political issues to deal with," Nam said.
The Moon Jae-in government is on a mission to broker another summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to accomplish its signature engagement policy with Pyongyang. The Shinzo Abe government appears to be struggling with the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, for which Abe has been under scrutiny over his government's mishandling of the outbreak.
"I believe that both sides intend to maintain the status quo, unless one of the two comes with something strong to provoke the other," Nam said. "Both countries know that, if they do (terminate GSOMIA), it would put them at odds with Washington, and they don't want to do that after what they went through last year."
As the court procedure for asset sales is to effectively begin, chances for diplomatic negotiations will be "very, very low," Yang of Sungkonghoe University said.
"We could say that the government's focus, probably for both sides, has already moved on to devising ways to retaliate after the court orders the sales, rather than diplomatic engagement," he said.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--S. Korean teens suffer from lack of sleep, survey finds

It showed 33.1 percent said they do not exercise at all except during physical education classes at school .
Among @ @ @ @ @ percent said they do not engage in sport activities even during physical education classes .

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- The average South Korean youth gets seven hours and 18 minutes of sleep per night, one hour short of the average in developed countries, a survey showed Monday.
More than half of them suffer from sleep deprivation, mostly due to study and internet surfing.
The state-funded National Youth Policy Institute released the results of its survey on health and lifestyle habits of teenagers. It was conducted with 8,201 students and 310 teachers between May and July in 2019.
Why are most Korean students sleep deprived? Youtube https://youtu.be/6N8nrD3cPCY
The study found the average teenager sleeps seven hours and 18 minutes a night, with elementary, middle and high school students averaging eight hours and 41 minutes, seven hours and 21 minutes and six hours and 3 minutes, respectively.
They compare to 10 to 11 hours recommended in the United States for early adolescents and eight to 10 hours for teenagers, according to the institute.
Korean teenagers get less sleep than the people in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, who average 8 hours and 22 minutes of sleep, the study said.
The survey found 55.2 percent of the respondents said they experienced sleep deprivation. As the main reason, study was cited by the most (62.9 percent), followed by internet use (49.8 percent), private institutes and tutoring (43.1 percent) and chatting (42.7 percent).
A computer-generated image depicting South Korean students suffering from sleep deprivation (Yonhap)
Among other findings, the survey showed South Korean students spend only 2.64 hours on average on sport activities per week.
It showed 33.1 percent said they do not exercise at all except during physical education classes at school. Among high school seniors, 6.9 percent said they do not engage in sport activities even during physical education classes.
The respondents said they have breakfast on an average 4.84 days per week and dinner on an average 6.49 days.
"Teenagers are not guaranteed their basic rights to exercise, nutrition and rest, which are the basic requirements for health, due to their academically-oriented living environments," the National Youth Policy Institute said.
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--Korean carmakers' July sales down on pandemic; domestic sales up 10 pct

They originally planned to launch Hyundai 's Tucson sport utility vehicle , the Genesis GV80 SUV and G80 sedan and @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. later this year , but they are still awaiting shipment to the U.S. @ @ @ @ @

By Choi Kyong-ae
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean carmakers' auto sales fell 9.2 percent last month from a year earlier as overseas demand remained weak amid the new coronavirus outbreak, but their domestic sales spiked 10 percent, industry data showed Monday.
The five carmakers in South Korea -- Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Motors Corp., GM Korea Co., Renault Samsung Motors Corp. and SsangYong Motor Co. -- sold a combined 584,042 vehicles in July, down from 642,973 units a year ago, according to data from the companies.
A reduction in individual consumption taxes in the country and decreased overseas demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic drove down their monthly sales results, the companies said.
These photos show logos of the country's five carmakers: (clockwise from top L) Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors, SsangYong Motor, GM Korea and Renault Samsung Motors. (Yonhap)
The five carmakers' domestic sales rose 10 percent to 144,422 units in July from 131,135 a year ago, helped by robust sales of Hyundai and Kia's new models.
The models include Hyundai's Grandeur sedan the G80 sedan and GV80 sport utility vehicle sold under Hyundai's independent Genesis brand.
Their overseas sales fell 14 percent to 439,620 from 511,838 during the same period, with the pandemic showing no signs of slowdown, particularly in advanced countries such as the United States.
In July, Hyundai's sales fell 13 percent to 313,097 units from 357,862, while Kia's dropped 3 percent to 219,901 from 226,600 during the same period.
Hyundai and Kia, the country's two biggest carmakers, suspended operations of their major overseas plants until late May, and overseas parent firms of the three other carmakers reduced production to control inventories amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Production at the five carmakers' plants falls short of the levels before the coronavirus outbreak hit the automobile industry early this year.
Hyundai and Kia said they will continue to make efforts to minimize the negative impact of the coronavirus on vehicle sales in global markets while focusing on securing stable sales networks despite the virus.
Given the carmakers sold a total of 3,305,080 units in the January-June period, they are likely to miss their sales target of 7.54 million cars for this year.
The two carmakers had planned to focus on boosting sales in the U.S. market this year to offset sluggish demand in China, the world's biggest automobile market.
They originally planned to launch Hyundai's Tucson sport utility vehicle, the Genesis GV80 SUV and G80 sedan and Kia's Sportage SUV in the U.S. later this year, but they are still awaiting shipment to the U.S. due to the pandemic.
This photo taken on April 8, 2020, shows vehicles lined up at Hyundai Motor's port in Ulsan, about 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Renault Samsung and SsangYong Motor also performed poorly amid the pandemic.
Renault Samsung's sales plunged 44 percent to 8,923 units last month from 15,874 a year earlier. SsangYong Motor's declined 29 percent to 7,459 from 10,498 during the same period.
To revive sales, Renault Samsung has yet to secure export volume for the XM3 compact SUV from its French parent Renault S.A. to replace the now-suspended output volume of Nissan Motor Co.'s Rogue SUV at its sole plant in Busan, 450 kilometers south of Seoul.
Renault Samsung used to produce about 100,000 Rogues a year for export under a manufacturing contract with Nissan. But the production stopped in March, as Nissan cut the output allocation to the plant, citing output losses caused by labor strikes.
SsangYong's Indian parent Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.'s recent decision not to invest in the Korean unit dealt a bigger blow to the SUV-focused carmaker's sales.
In contrast, GM Korea reported an increase in sales last month.
GM Korea's sales rose 8.7 percent in July to 34,632 from 31,851 a year ago on strong sales of its SUV models such as the Trailblazer and Traverse SUVs and the Colorado pickup truck.
From January to July, the five carmakers sold a total of 3,639,246 autos, down 19 percent from 4,509,202 in the same period of last year.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--(LEAD) Creditors warn of Asiana deal collapse, urge HDC to show sincerity on takeover

(ATTN: UPDATES with more comments by KDB in paras 13-17)
By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB) on Monday warned that property developer Hyundai Development Co. (HDC) should proceed with the proposed 2.5 trillion-won (US$2.1 billion) deal to buy Asiana Airlines Co., rejecting HDC's request for another round of due diligence on the country's No. 2 air carrier.
"We cannot accept the demand for a new round of due diligence," KDB Vice President Choi Dae-hyun said in an online briefing, calling the HDC's demand an excessive one that goes way beyond ordinary procedures in a merger and acquisition deal.
In December, the HDC-Mirae Asset Daewoo consortium signed the deal to acquire the carrier from Kumho Industrial, a construction unit of Kumho Asiana Group, as well as new Asiana shares to be issued and Asiana's six affiliates, for 2.5 trillion won.
HDC, a major property developer, has completed seven weeks of due diligence on Asiana Airlines.
But the property developer has recently demanded additional due diligence on the debt-laden carrier for 12 weeks beginning in mid-August, claiming it will be forced to shoulder Asiana's heavy debts if it acquires the airline without looking into its current financial conditions hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
Choi said the collapse of the deal will be inevitable unless HDC takes a step that would show its sincerity for an Asiana takeover, noting the HDC's request may be aimed at delaying the deal's close.
HDC's company logo and Asiana Airlines' planes at an airport in South Korea (Yonhap)
Asiana has suspended most of its flights on international routes, as more than 180 countries have strengthened entry restrictions amid virus fears this year.
Asiana's net losses for the January-March quarter deepened to 683 billion won from 89.18 billion won a year earlier. It is widely expected to report widened losses for the second quarter.
KDB Chairman Lee Dong-gull pressed HDC to make a determination on whether it will proceed with the deal or not as he warned that HDC will be to blame for a looming collapse of the deal.
"I expect that HDC will not file a suit seeking refund of advanced payment," Lee said, noting that KDB and Kumho Industrial have done nothing wrong.
The KDB, Asiana's main creditor bank, and the Export-Import Bank of Korea plan to inject a combined 1.7 trillion won into Asiana to help the carrier stay afloat. Last year, the creditors extended a total of 1.6 trillion won to the carrier.
In its self-help measures, Asiana has had all of its 10,500 employees take unpaid leave for 15 days a month since April until business circumstances normalize. Asiana's executives have also agreed to forgo 60 percent of their wages, though no specific time frame was given for how long the pay cuts will remain in effect.
Separately, the KDB said it is ready to inject some of the 40 trillion-won fund for backbone industries into Korean Air Lines Co., noting the carrier plans to apply for financial support.
Choi said Asiana could also receive financial support.
Consultations have been under way between the government and financial companies over additional financial support to budget airlines, according to the KDB.
South Korea's two full-service carriers -- Korean Air Lines and Asiana Airlines -- and seven low-cost carriers have suffered from a sharp decline in air travel demand sparked by the coronavirus pandemic.
In March, the government announced it would inject 300 billion won into low-cost carriers.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--(2nd LD) Heavy rain pummels central S. Korea; casualties reported in landslides

Heavy rain advisories had been issued for the greater Seoul area , as well as Sejong , North and South @ @ @ @ @ North Gyeongsang Provinces as of 2 p.m. Up to 90 mm of rain continued to @ @ @ @ @ Chungcheong .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline; UPDATES with details throughout, photos)
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- Heavy rain continued to pound South Korea's central regions and the greater Seoul area Monday, flooding houses and roads, and prompting authorities to close riverside and mountainous areas.
More than 100 millimeters of rain per hour soaked Chuncheon in mountainous Gangwon Province and heavy rain of 80 mm hit parts of Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds Seoul.
Heavy rain advisories had been issued for the greater Seoul area, as well as Sejong, North and South Chungcheong Provinces and Gangwon and North Gyeongsang Provinces as of 2 p.m. Up to 90 mm of rain continued to fall in northern areas of Chungcheong.
In Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, a landslide swept over a temporary building in a semiconductor parts factory, killing three workers in their 30s and injuring one in his 50s. Two other workers managed to escape.
The workers were reportedly working in a makeshift building made of panels. Fire authorities said it took them nearly one hour to locate the victims as soil piled up several meters high.
This photo shows a semiconductor parts factory in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, where three workers died and one was seriously injured due to a mudslide triggered by torrential rain on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
This photo shows a house in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, which was destroyed by a gas explosion prompted by a landslide on Aug. 2, 2020. (Yonhap)
In Gapyeong, also in Gyeonggi Province, the gas and water supply was temporarily suspended to restore pipes that have been exposed due to heavy rain.
Four people, including a child, were reported missing after a mudslide engulfed an accommodation in the Gyeonggi county. Fire authorities recovered an unidentified female body at the search site.
A person was swept up in a mountain stream in Gapyeong, according to a report.
This photo, provided by fire authorities in northern Gyeonggi Province, shows an accomodation engulfed by a landslide in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province on Aug. 3, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The rain was estimated to have damaged 112 houses and 1,043 hectares of land in the province. Seventy cases of landslides were reported.
In Seoul, a hole measuring 2 meters in width and 1.5 meters in depth appeared at a road in the southern area of Gangnam. Authorities are restoring the road. No casualties were reported.
Elsewhere in Seoul, authorities helped pump out water from flooded houses and remove trees that had been toppled by the heavy rain.
Entry to most of the 11 parks along the Han River has been banned as water levels spiked and swamped the areas. Entrance to streams and mountains are also being restricted to prevent accidents.
Entry to parts of Olympic Expressway, a key highway that connects southern Seoul with Gyeonggi Province, was also banned as water levels quickly rose.
Most areas of a park by Han River in Seoul are under water following heavy rain across South Korea on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Parts of a road and a riverside park next to Olympic Expressway in southern Seoul are swamped due to heavy rain on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Olympic Expressway (L), a highway that connects southern Seoul with nearby Gyeonggi Province, is empty on Aug. 3, 2020, as entry was banned amid heavy rain. (Yonhap)
Similar damage was reported in the city of Incheon and the provinces of North Jeolla and South Chungcheong.
Areas in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, were swamped as 50-80 mm of rain hit the area. Rain swelled up to knee-level in a traditional market and covered car rooftops on some roads.
Passengers leave their cars after heavy rain swamped areas of Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Meanwhile, most train services that had been suspended due to mudslides resumed earlier Monday. However, trains connecting Chungju and Jecheon, both in North Chungcheong Province, and Youngju and Donghae in the eastern region remained disrupted. The Taebaek line also remained suspended.
The central disaster agency said that six have died and eight have gone missing due to the heavy rain as of Monday morning. At least 190 houses were damaged, forcing 818 people to leave them. More than 1,500 people left the area.
President Moon Jae-in has called off his scheduled summer holiday amid growing damage from torrential rain, according to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
Moon was briefed on the extent of damage caused by heavy rain nationwide and expressed concerns over people's safety, presidential deputy spokesperson Yoon Jae-kwan said in a briefing.
A destroyed cattle shed in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, is seen after heavy rain on Aug. 2, 2020. (Yonhap)
This photo, provided by fire authorities at North Chungcheong Province, shows rescue workers conducting a search near Eumseong after a 62-year-old was reported to have gone missing at a stream on Aug. 2, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Chuncheon Dam, in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, is in full action, releasing 2,370 tons of waters per second on Aug. 3, 2020, after heavy rain hit the area. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--(LEAD) Moon urges efforts to minimize casualties as damage by heavy rain rises

Earlier in the day , the presidential office said the president cut short his time off and has since come @ @ @ @ @ the weekend , he went down to his private home in Yangsan , South Gyeongsang @ @ @ @ @ to stay there for a week for a summer holiday .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; ADDS photos; RECONSTRUCTS)
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday called for the central and provincial governments to move fast to take necessary steps to ensure no more life is lost as the country has been pummeled by torrential rain for days.
He was briefed on the extent of damage incurred by heavy rain nationwide and expressed concerns particularly over people's safety, presidential deputy spokesperson Yoon Jae-kwan said in a briefing.
The president asked the central and provincial governments to "do their best to prevent any tragic loss" to the disasters by evacuating early people who live in "areas prone to floods and landslides," according to his office.
He also implored the public to take precautionary measures to avoid visiting flooded areas and to listen to weather broadcasts before heading out.
The undated file photo shows South Korean President Moon Jae-in. (Yonhap)
This photo shows a collapsed road from heavy rain in the central city of Chungju, about 105 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Aug. 2, 2020. (Yonhap)
Earlier in the day, the presidential office said the president cut short his time off and has since come back to Seoul. Over the weekend, he went down to his private home in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, with a plan to stay there for a week for a summer holiday.
His decision to come back early came as torrential rain hammered the central part of the country, causing landslides and flooding that have destroyed buildings, killed and injured nearly 20 people and required some 1,500 to evacuate.
The president also urged firefighters and public servants to take special care of themselves during search and rescue operations.
It marked the second consecutive year that Moon has canceled his summer vacation.
Last year, Moon abruptly canceled his five-day summer vacation to respond, among other things, to Japan's trade restrictions against South Korea.
Banpo Park along the Han River in Seoul is submerged amid heavy rain on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
A man delivers boxes containing food orders using a rope and a tub to officials working on facilities floating over the Han River in Seoul on Aug. 3, 2020, as a bridge there is inundated amid heavy rain. A reader provided this photo. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--'Robot umpires' to go into test operation in KBO's minor league from Tuesday

`` We 've installed the equipment for the system at Futures League stadiums of LG Champions Park and Masan Baseball @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Based on the results and opinions from the field , we will @ @ @ @ @ introduction of robot umpires to the KBO League in the future . ''

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean baseball's minor league will start using "robot umpires" later this week, the sport's governing body said Monday.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said it will test run the automated ball-strike system in the Futures League game between the Hanwha Eagles and LG Twins at LG Champions Park in Icheon, southeast of Seoul, on Tuesday.
The so-called robot umpires will call balls and strikes in 26 upcoming minor league games, including the Tuesday match.
"We've installed the equipment for the system at Futures League stadiums of LG Champions Park and Masan Baseball Stadium," the KBO said. "Based on the results and opinions from the field, we will review the feasibility of the introduction of robot umpires to the KBO League in the future."
The KBO has announced plans to use the automated system in the Futures League for the entire 2021 season and apply it to the KBO's top league as early as 2022.
Though the system is colloquially called the robot umpire, it doesn't involve any robots standing behind the catcher to make calls. A radar-based ball-tracking system will identify a pitch's location, and the information will reach the home plate umpire via his earpiece for the call on the field.
This image provided by the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), shows a diagram of "robot umpires." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--Some 4,000 cram schools introduce entry log system to combat COVID-19

`` Senior citizens and middle and high school students who do not possess a smartphone may have difficulties using the @ @ @ @ @ hagwon , in general , agree on the need to install such an electronic entry @ @ @ @ @ ministry official said .

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- About 4,000 cram schools, called hagwon in Korean, across the country have installed a quick response (QR) code-based entry authentication system to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus, the Ministry of Education said Monday.
In the Seoul metropolitan area, where QR code-based entry logs are mandatory for private educational facilities, all 3,382 hagwon have already introduced the digital registration system, the ministry said.
Outside the capital area, there were 64 hagwon mandated to have the QR code-based entry management system, and all of them have completed the mission, it noted.
This file photo shows a student using his smartphone to scan a QR code before entering a hagwon. (Yonhap)
An additional 670 hagwon outside the capital area have introduced the smartphone-based entry log system, though it is not compulsory for them, the ministry added.
In June, the ministry announced a plan to introduce the QR-code system for all large-scale cram schools with more than 300 enrolled students, giving a grace period until July 14.
"Senior citizens and middle and high school students who do not possess a smartphone may have difficulties using the QR-code registration system, but hagwon, in general, agree on the need to install such an electronic entry log system," a ministry official said.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

The New Zealander has accused the diplomat of groping parts of his body on three different occasions in 2017 .
@ @ @ @ @ attention after New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern raised the issue in a phone call @ @ @ @ @ week .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Monday.
-----------------
(LEAD) Senior diplomat ordered to return home immediately over sexual assault allegations in New Zealand
SEOUL -- The foreign ministry has ordered a senior diplomat to return home immediately over allegations that he sexually assaulted a local embassy employee when he was stationed in New Zealand, an official said Monday.
The New Zealander has accused the diplomat of groping parts of his body on three different occasions in 2017. The case has drawn fresh attention after New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern raised the issue in a phone call with President Moon Jae-in last week.
-----------------
S. Korea bracing for Japan's possible retaliation over asset sales: ministry
SEOUL -- South Korea is bracing for the possibility of Japan taking retaliatory measures after a local court carries out a decision to sell off assets of a Japanese firm to compensate victims of wartime forced labor, the foreign ministry said Monday.
Starting Tuesday, a South Korean court will be able to start a procedure to auction off some shares that Nippon Steel Corp. has in a joint venture company established with POSCO to cash them out for compensating forced labor victims.
-----------------
(LEAD) Debate heating up on fate of 'jeonse'
SEOUL -- "Jeonse" (long-term deposit rental system) versus "weolse" (monthly rent).
That has emerged as the hottest topic in local political circles since new laws intended to protect tenants from landlords and excessive rent increases went into effect at the end of July.
-----------------
(LEAD) Heavy rain continues to pummel central S. Korea
SEOUL -- Heavy rain continued to pound South Korea's central regions and the greater Seoul area Monday, flooding houses and roads, and prompting authorities to close riverside and mountainous areas.
Torrential rain of up to 100 millimeters per hour, accompanied by thunder and lightning, were forecast for parts of the country's central region, with heavy rain of 50 mm hitting parts of Gyeonggi and Gangwon Province in the morning.
-----------------
Creditors warn of Asiana deal collapse, urge HDC to show sincerity on takeover
SEOUL -- South Korea's state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB) on Monday warned that property developer Hyundai Development Co. (HDC) should proceed with the proposed 2.5 trillion-won (US$2.1 billion) deal to buy Asiana Airlines Co., rejecting HDC's request for another round of due diligence on the country's No. 2 air carrier.
"We cannot accept the demand for a new round of due diligence," KDB Vice President Choi Dae-hyun said in an online briefing, calling the HDC's demand an excessive one that goes way beyond ordinary procedures in a merger and acquisition deal.
-----------------
Nearly 9,000 fans attend K League matches over weekend
SEOUL -- Nearly 9,000 fans attended six K League matches over the weekend as clubs opened stadium gates for the first time since the novel coronavirus outbreak in South Korea, data showed Monday.
Six teams of the top-division K League 1 -- Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Seongnam FC, Incheon United, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Gangwon FC and Busan I Park -- played at home on Saturday and Sunday, according to the Korea Professional Football League (K League).
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--Dongwon F&B Q2 net profit down 2.6 pct. to 8.2 bln won

The operating profit was 13.4 percent higher than the average estimate , according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax , @ @ @ @ @ Yonhap News Agency .
The estimate of net profit was not available .

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- Dongwon F&B Co. on Monday reported its second-quarter net income of 8.2 billion won (US$ 6.8 million), down 2.6 percent from a year earlier.
Operating income for the April-June period was 16.8 billion won, up 16.1 percent from a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. Sales rose 6.8 percent to 757.2 billion won.
The operating profit was 13.4 percent higher than the average estimate, according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. The estimate of net profit was not available.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange(KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--Nearly 9,000 fans attend K League matches over weekend

For both baseball and football , teams permit fans for just 10 percent of their stadium capacity for the time @ @ @ @ @ only purchased online with credit cards .

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- Nearly 9,000 fans attended six K League matches over the weekend as clubs opened stadium gates for the first time since the novel coronavirus outbreak in South Korea, data showed Monday.
Six teams of the top-division K League 1 -- Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Seongnam FC, Incheon United, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Gangwon FC and Busan I Park -- played at home on Saturday and Sunday, according to the Korea Professional Football League (K League).
A total of 8,984 supporters entered six stadiums during the two-day period, accounting for 68.1 percent of 13,194 available seats.
Fans are seated at a distance from each other during a match between Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Pohang Steelers at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
On Saturday, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, which hosted Pohang Steelers at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, sold 2,959 tickets, or 70.4 percent, out of 4,205.
Incheon United played against Gwangju FC at Incheon Football Stadium in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, on the same day. Its 1,865 supporters bought 97 percent of 1,929 tickets on sale.
In the Suwon-Daegu FC match at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, south of Seoul, on Sunday, fans filled 1,577 out of 3,155 available seats.
The second-tier K League 2, meanwhile, saw a combined 2,560 fans attend five matches over the weekend, taking up 45.1 percent of 5,680 tickets on sale.
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the opening kickoff of K League was pushed back from Feb. 29 to May 8, and the season began without fans.
As the pace of COVID-19 spread has slowed down in recent weeks, the South Korean health authorities allowed sports teams to open their stadium gates.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) got the ball rolling on July 26, and the K League started Saturday.
For both baseball and football, teams permit fans for just 10 percent of their stadium capacity for the time being, with all tickets only purchased online with credit cards.
Fans must go through temperature checks and leave their personal information. Eating, chanting and singing are prohibited at their seats.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--(LEAD) Seoul stocks end tad higher on EV battery makers' rally, tech gains

SEOUL , Aug. 3 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean shares closed slightly higher Monday due to an advance in @ @ @ @ @ shares , bucking concerns over the global resurgence of the COVID-19 infections .
The Korean @ @ @ @ @ dollar .

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares closed slightly higher Monday due to an advance in EV battery makers and tech shares, bucking concerns over the global resurgence of the COVID-19 infections. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
After choppy trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 1.67 points, or 0.07 percent, to close at 2,251.04. Trading volume was high at about 636 million shares worth some 13.4 trillion won (US$11.2 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 515 to 325.
Foreigners sold a net 269 billion won, while retail investors purchased a net 625 billion won. Institutions offloaded a net 381 billion won.
Electronic signboards at the trading room of Hana Bank in Seoul show the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,251.04 on Aug. 3, 2020, up 1.67 points or 0.07 percent from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)
The local stock market stayed in negative terrain amid the resurgence of COVID-19 infections around the world. Global cases have topped 18 million.
The political feud between the United States and China, South Korea's two largest trade partners, also pushed the index into a tight range.
But the market turned higher as EV battery-related shares and China's improved manufacturing data in July boosted market sentiment.
LG Chem, the fifth-largest cap on the KOSPI, spiked 11.8 percent to close at an all-time high of 635,000 won. Samsung SDI surged 4.28 percent to 414,500 won, and SK Innovation jumped 1.97 percent to 129,500 won, joining the EV battery rally.
Investor sentiment was also fueled by China's Caixin Manufacturing Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI), or gauge for the world's No. 2 economy's manufacturing activity, logging the steepest growth in almost a decade.
"Foreign sell-offs grew weaker after China's economic data (on the PMI) came out," said Shinhan Financial Investment analyst Choi Yoo-joon.
Large caps closed mixed in Seoul.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 1.9 percent to 56,800 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix retreated 1.21 percent to 81,800 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics gained 0.41 percent to 736,000 won.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, climbed 0.4 percent to 127,000 won, while its smaller affiliate Kia Motors dipped 1.73 percent to 39,700 won.
Internet giant Naver jumped 4.49 percent to 314,500 won, with its rival Kakao adding 6.55 percent to 366,000 won.
The local currency closed at 1,193.40 won against the U.S. dollar, down 2.1 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys rose 0.3 basis point to 0.799 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond added 0.9 basis point to 1.040 percent.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--S. Korean Bond Yields on Aug. 3, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on Aug. 3, 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--2020-08-04--N. Korea released dam water without notifying South Korea: ministry official

Under an agreement signed between the two Koreas in October 2009 , the North agreed to notify the South in @ @ @ @ @ open the floodgates , following a deadly accident that killed six South Koreans after the @ @ @ @ @ Dam without notice .

SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- North Korea did not notify South Korea before discharging water from a border dam earlier this week in violation of an inter-Korean agreement, a unification ministry official said Tuesday.
On Monday, the North partially opened the floodgates of Hwanggang Dam on the western inter-Korean border and sent water into the Imjin River, a move that put authorities here on alert against the potential rise in water levels in the South.
"North Korea has opened the gates of the dam three times from July to Aug. 3. The North has not notified us in advance as it opened the gates of the dam," the ministry official said.
"The water level in Pilseung Bridge as of 7 a.m. Tuesday was 2.99 meters, and it has not reached a level of concern," he said. "The government is cooperating closely with several institutions, maintaining communication and strictly following the response system."
Under an agreement signed between the two Koreas in October 2009, the North agreed to notify the South in advance of its plans to open the floodgates, following a deadly accident that killed six South Koreans after the North discharged water from Hwanggang Dam without notice.
"The government maintains the stance that (the two Koreas) must abide by inter-Korean agreements," he said.
This file photo shows the Pilseung Bridge in the upper region of the Imjin River. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-04--(LEAD) New virus cases again over 30, imported cases still on high plateau

Of the imported cases , seven were South Koreans and 14 foreigners .
Seven of them tested positive for the @ @ @ @ @ at either an airport or a seaport , while 14 others were confirmed to have @ @ @ @ @ , according to the public health agency .

(ATTN: ADDS more info throughout, photo)
SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 34 more cases of the new coronavirus Tuesday, with the number of imported cases almost twice that of local infections, health authorities said.
The new cases -- 21 imported cases and 13 local infections -- raised South Korea's total cases of COVID-19 to 14,423, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The number of new COVID-19 cases had been in the 30s since Friday, when South Korea reported 36 new virus cases. The number fell to 31 on Saturday, 30 on Sunday and 23 on Monday.
Pedestrians walk in front of a coffee shop in southern Seoul on Aug. 3, 2020, where at least 10 COVID-19 patients have been confirmed to have been infected. (Yonhap)
Of the local infections, Gyeonggi Province surrounding Seoul accounted for the largest share with 11, followed by Seoul with nine and the southern city of Gwangju with two, the KCDC said.
The number of daily new local cases was in the single digits for the past three days, with eight on Saturday, eight on Sunday and three on Monday.
As of late Monday, a total of 10 cases have been confirmed at a coffee shop and a restaurant, both of them located in southern Seoul, the authorities said.
The KCDC also earlier said that one of the COVID-19 patients linked to a campsite in Hongcheon, 100 kilometers east of Seoul, had actually visited the same coffee shop last month. A total of 10 people have been confirmed with the virus in connection with the campsite.
Of the imported cases, seven were South Koreans and 14 foreigners. Seven of them tested positive for the virus in the screening process at either an airport or a seaport, while 14 others were confirmed to have the virus while under self-quarantine, according to the public health agency.
Health authorities have said that imported cases may continue given the virus resurgence globally.
The accumulated number of imported cases reached 2,482 in South Korea.
The country reported no additional deaths, with the death toll remaining at 301, according to the KCDC.
The KCDC said South Korea's fatality rate of people infected with the virus was 2.09 percent.
The number of patients fully cured of the virus reached 13,352, up 72 from the previous day.
South Korea has carried out 1,579,757 tests since Jan. 3.
City government officials of the southern city of Gwangju hold signs urging people to wear face masks on Aug. 4, 2020. (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-04--Seoul stocks extend gains late Tue. morning on signs of economic rebound

Estimate-beating July manufacturing data in the United States , China and Europe raised hopes for a global economic rebound , @ @ @ @ @ new coronavirus outbreaks .

SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares extended gains late Tuesday morning, as signs of economic recovery helped boost investor sentiment.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 30.61 points, or 1.36 percent, to 2,281.65 as of 11:20 a.m.
Estimate-beating July manufacturing data in the United States, China and Europe raised hopes for a global economic rebound, despite the resurgence of the new coronavirus outbreaks.
Large-cap gains kept the market bullish, with the benchmark index briefly touching the year's high of 2,284.66 points.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics added 1.58 percent, with No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix edging up 0.12 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics gained 1.09 percent, and Celltrion advanced 1.34 percent.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem rose 1.73 percent, and giant automaker Hyundai Motor jumped 3.54 percent.
Internet giant Naver dipped 0.95 percent, while its rival Kakao added 0.27 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,192.90 won against the U.S. dollar, up 0.50 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-04--(2nd LD) S. Korea to add 132,000 housing units in greater Seoul area to stabilize home prices

The government decided to use a military-run golf course in northern Seoul as land for 10,000 new homes , but @ @ @ @ @ other greenbelt zones in the Seoul metropolitan area to make more land available for housing @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS remarks, details from para 8)
By Kim Deok-hyun
SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to supply 132,000 housing units in Seoul and its neighboring area, in the latest effort to stabilize home prices and ease fears of shortages, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Tuesday.
The government will ease some construction rules, allowing redevelopment projects of aging apartment buildings to increase their floor area ratio to up to 500 percent to build more homes, Hong said.
Such redevelopment projects will also be allowed to build 50-story apartment buildings, Hong said.
Construction of the new homes will begin this year and be completed by 2028, Hong told reporters.
In particular, public housing units will be allotted for first-time home buyers and young people, Hong said.
This photo, taken on July 15, 2020, shows high-rise apartments in the southeastern Seoul ward of Songpa as seen from an observatory at Lotte World Tower, also in Songpa. Songpa is regarded as one of the four southern Seoul wards where housing prices are higher compared with other areas of the capital. (Yonhap)
The government decided to use a military-run golf course in northern Seoul as land for 10,000 new homes, but it will not open up other greenbelt zones in the Seoul metropolitan area to make more land available for housing, Hong said.
At the same time, the government will redouble efforts to root out speculative investment in the property market, Hong said.
"The government will conduct daily monitoring of the property market and sternly cope with activities that disrupt the market," Hong said.
The National Assembly will review tax measures to stabilize home prices later in the day.
Along with the tax measures, the supply measures are expected to stabilize home prices and protect first-time home buyers, Hong said.
Last month, the government announced its toughest measures yet to rein in rising housing prices, as a series of steps, including tax hikes and loan regulations, failed to put the brakes on soaring home prices.
Under the proposed tax measures, the government will raise property ownership tax rates for multiple-home owners.
This photo, taken on June 14, 2020, shows signs with prices for housing transactions put up at a real estate agency in Seoul. (Yonhap)
The current 0.6 percent to 3.2 percent ownership tax on people who own three or more homes will be raised to 1.2 percent to 6 percent, according to the ministry.
Companies that own multiple homes will face a 6 percent property ownership tax, it said.
The punitive tax rate will be applied to 0.4 percent of South Korea's total population, the ministry said.
Record-low interest rates and excess liquidity, which has been pumped into the market to help revive the virus-hit economy, have contributed to soaring home prices, analysts said.
Housing prices in Seoul and some adjacent cities have risen despite the government's efforts to cool the real estate market.
The Moon Jae-in administration has rolled out a series of comprehensive measures to stem rising home prices, but the regulations have only resulted in a short-term letup in housing prices.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-04--Military closely monitoring N. Korea amid U.N. report on miniaturized nuclear devices

`` Thanks to our reliable and effective self-defense war deterrence , there will no longer be war on this land @ @ @ @ @ future will be firmly guaranteed permanently , '' Kim said during a national conference of @ @ @ @ @ North 's official Korean Central News Agency .

SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is closely monitoring North Korea's nuclear and missile activities, the defense ministry said Tuesday, following a media report that Pyongyang appears to have developed miniaturized nuclear devices.
Citing a confidential United Nations report, Reuters reported that several countries believe that the North has "probably developed miniaturized nuclear devices to fit into the warheads of its ballistic missiles."
Asked to comment on the report, deputy ministry spokesperson Col. Moon Hong-sik said South Korea sees North Korea's technology to miniaturize a nuclear warhead to have reached a "considerable" level, an assessment also noted in the country's 2018 biennial defense white paper.
"Our military is closely monitoring North Korea's nuclear and missile activities, and South Korea and the United States are maintaining a close cooperation system," Moon said during a regular press briefing.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said last week that the North will "never stop honing the most powerful national defense capacity," marking the 67th anniversary of the signing of the armistice of the 1950-53 Korean War.
"Thanks to our reliable and effective self-defense war deterrence, there will no longer be war on this land and our national security and future will be firmly guaranteed permanently," Kim said during a national conference of veterans, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves at a national conference of veterans at the April 25 Cultural Palace in Pyongyang on July 27, 2020, in this photo captured from Korean Central Television footage on July 28. The gathering marked the 67th anniversary of the Korean War armistice that fell on the same day. The North calls the 1950-53 conflict the "Fatherland Liberation War" and designated the armistice signing date as Victory Day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-04--STX Offshore wins order to build 3 PC tankers

STX Offshore relaunched its shipyard in Jinhae , 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul , on July 27 , four days @ @ @ @ @ its strike on July 23 in return for an agreement with the company and the @ @ @ @ @ the right buyer to put the shipbuilder back on track .
( END )

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- Mid-sized shipbuilder STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co. said Tuesday it has signed a deal with a local shipper to build three 6,600-ton petrochemicals tankers.
The vessels will be delivered starting in the first quarter of 2022, the shipbuilder said, adding their prices were not made public on the request of the buyer.
STX Offshore, plagued by a drop in orders, has an order backlog of just seven ships to be built by the first quarter of 2021.
STX Offshore has been under a restructuring program pushed by its main creditor, the Korea Development Bank, since 2013.
This photo shows an operating large-sized crane in Jinhae shipyard of STX Offshore & Shipbuilding Co. (Yonhap)
The shipbuilder's unionized workers went on general strike starting on June 1, urging the shipbuilder to stop six-month unpaid furloughs, which half of about 500 unionized workers have taken in rotation since June 2018.
STX Offshore relaunched its shipyard in Jinhae, 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on July 27, four days after its labor union stopped its strike on July 23 in return for an agreement with the company and the provincial government to seek for the right buyer to put the shipbuilder back on track.
(END)


yna--2020-08-04--Damage from heavy rain continues to grow in S. Korea

More than 1,000 were forced to leave their homes , while some 5,751 hectares of farm land were swamped or @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters .

SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- Damage from heavy rain that pounded the country's central region earlier this week continued to grow, leaving 12 dead and 14 missing as of Tuesday.
More than 1,000 were forced to leave their homes, while some 5,751 hectares of farm land were swamped or buried as of 6 a.m., according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters.
Most recently, six deaths were reported in Pyeongtaek and Gapyeong, both in Gyeonggi Province, as landslides engulfed a makeshift workplace and a mountainside accommodation.
Six people were reported missing, including a man in his 60s who got swept away by water while driving a truck in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province.
A total of 1,025 people from 629 households fled their homes. More than half of them were in North Chungcheong Province, followed by 391 in Gyeonggi, 70 in Gangwon and nine in Seoul.
Property damage continued to snowball, with 1,483 private assets and 1,475 public facilities suffering damage from the downpour.
Jamsu Bridge, which links Seoul's southern and northern parts over the Han River, is partially submerged following heavy rain on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Around one-third of the damage was reported at houses, while damage was also reported at warehouses, agricultural plastic houses and cattle sheds, according to the government.
Public facilities, such as roads and bridges, railways and water reservoirs were also destroyed.
Authorities completed restoring more than half of the damaged properties, with more than 25,000 police and fire authorities as well as volunteers mobilized.
But some roads and railways -- 43 roads and six railway routes including the Chungbuk, Taebaek and Yeongdong lines -- remained suspended.
An official uses an excavator to restore a road covered by soil following a landside in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 4, 2020. (Yonhap)
In Seoul, most riverside roads that had entry restricted as water levels rose were back in operation, with the exception of Jamsu Bridge, which links the capitals' southern and northern parts over the Han River.
Trekking routes at 10 national parks, including Mount Bukhan, Taebaek and Songni, as well as 16 underpasses and 92 parking lots adjacent to streams and rivers, remained under restriction.
President Moon Jae-in is set to hold an emergency meeting in the afternoon on countering the recent damage.
In a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun ordered the disaster agency to review declaring damaged areas as special disaster zones.
Chung also urged officials to "strictly deal (with the situation) and work to minimize damage, with a focus on preventing deaths."
This photo, provided by Korea Rail Road Corp., shows company officials visiting Samtan Station on the Chungbuk Line in North Chungcheong Province on Aug. 4, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-04--S. Korea's H1 venture investment down 17.3 pct on coronavirus

A total of 1.65 trillion won ( US $ 1.38 billion ) was invested in promising venture firms and startups @ @ @ @ @ down 17.3 percent from a year earlier , according to the data from the Ministry @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's investment in startups sank more than 17 percent in the first half of the year due to the coronavirus outbreak, government data showed Tuesday.
A total of 1.65 trillion won (US$1.38 billion) was invested in promising venture firms and startups in the January-June period, down 17.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the data from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
The ministry said investment in startups dropped sharply in the second quarter of the year in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, leading the overall decline.
Hit hard were biopharmaceutical, medical, distribution, services and entertainment sectors.
In contrast, so-called untact industries suffered a relatively smaller decline, with investment falling 6.5 percent on-year to 769.1 billion won.
The combined workforce of 34,038 venture companies whose employment data was available totaled 667,699 as of end-June, up 4.3 percent, or nearly 27,300, from a year earlier.
The information and communication industry led the job growth by adding about 10,800 jobs over the cited period, followed by manufacturing with nearly 9,800, according to the data.
(END)


yna--2020-08-04--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Aug. 4 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .


yna--2020-08-04--S. Korea to provide open data on 'virus-safe' restaurants

`` The data on the safe restaurants will speed up the efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , '' @ @ @ @ @ Food and Rural Affairs said in a statement .
`` We plan to build more @ @ @ @ @ a hand to the country 's anti-virus fight . ''

SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Tuesday it will release data on restaurants that follow sanitary guidelines meant to avoid the spread of the new coronavirus to induce people to dine out more without being excessively concerned about safety.
"The data on the safe restaurants will speed up the efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19," the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said in a statement. "We plan to build more open data that can lend a hand to the country's anti-virus fight."
The country has been building up a database of restaurants that strictly follow sanitary and distancing guidelines to cope with the new coronavirus pandemic. So far, 2,309 establishments are on the list.
A staff member wearing a protective mask serves dishes at a restaurant in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, in this file photo taken on July 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
Health authorities have been advising restaurants to have their employees wear protective masks at all times and to provide separate utensils for communal dishes and pots.
Sharing a dish provided simultaneously for a group has been common practice in Korean culture, but the virus pandemic has made South Koreans opt for separate dishes.
The data will be updated every week.
South Korea's top mobile carrier SK Telecom Co. plans to reflect the data on its mobile map application to help users find nearby shops that follow anti-virus guidelines starting Wednesday.
The country's new coronavirus infections reached 14,423 as of Tuesday, with the number of imported cases especially rising sharply recently as more South Korean workers returned home, along with cluster infections from overseas sailors.
Locally transmitted cases nevertheless showed a clear sign of a slowdown. South Korea added just 13 cases on the day.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-04--Vietnam-EU FTA to benefit S. Korean fashion firms: KITA

The association said the latest deal with Vietnam is expected to increase demand for Vietnamese clothes in Europe as well @ @ @ @ @ depends on China for 30 percent of its clothes imports , but it slaps tariffs @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korean fashion firms based in Vietnam are expected to benefit from the free trade agreement (FTA) between the Southeast Asian country and the European Union, which went into effect this month, a report showed Tuesday.
"Under the agreement, clothes producers based in Vietnam can enjoy the benefit of the latest FTA for goods made with South Korean materials," the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) said in its report.
Clothes produced with Chinese materials, on the other hand, cannot enjoy the benefits of the Vietnam-EU trade deal, as the world's No. 2 economy does not have a pact with the union.
South Korea implemented its own FTA with the EU in 2015.
Vietnam's imports of South Korean materials to produce clothes reached US$1.7 billion in 2019, accounting for 11.5 percent of the total. Those of Chinese goods reached $6.7 billion, or 58.9 percent.
KITA said exports of South Korean materials to the Southeast Asian nation may also increase down the road on the back of the Vietnam-EU FTA.
The association said the latest deal with Vietnam is expected to increase demand for Vietnamese clothes in Europe as well. Currently, the EU depends on China for 30 percent of its clothes imports, but it slaps tariffs of up to 12 percent.
"Vietnam has been making aggressive moves to open up its markets. It currently holds FTAs with 52 countries and has emerged as the trade hub of Southeast Asia," the KITA report said.
"South Korean firms based in Vietnam should utilize the FTA networks and set up long-term strategies," it added.
Vietnam was the third-largest export destination for Asia's No. 4 economy in 2019, with China and the United States standing as the top two.
South Korea's combined exports to Vietnam in 2019 reached $48 billion, down 0.9 percent from a year earlier. Over the cited period, the country's exports dipped 10.4 percent amid the growing protectionism around the globe and falling prices of memory chips.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-04--(LEAD) S. Korea to add 132,000 housing units in greater Seoul area to stabilize home prices

(ATTN: UPDATES with measures)
By Kim Deok-hyun
SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to supply 132,000 housing units in Seoul and its neighboring area, in the latest effort to stabilize home prices and ease fears of shortages, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Tuesday.
The government will ease some construction rules, allowing redevelopment projects of aging apartment buildings to increase their floor area ratio to up to 500 percent to build more homes, Hong said.
Such redevelopment projects will also be allowed to build 50-story apartment buildings, Hong said.
Construction of the new homes will begin this year and be completed by 2028, Hong told reporters.
In particular, public housing units will be allotted for first-time home buyers and young people, Hong said.
This photo, taken on July 15, 2020, shows high-rise apartments in the southeastern Seoul ward of Songpa as seen from an observatory at Lotte World Tower, also in Songpa. Songpa is regarded as one of the four southern Seoul wards where housing prices are higher compared with other areas of the capital. (Yonhap)
The government decided to use a military-run golf course in northern Seoul as land for 10,000 new homes, but it will not open up other greenbelt zones in the Seoul metropolitan area to make more land available for housing, Hong said.
At the same time, the government will redouble efforts to root out speculative investment in the property market, Hong said.
Last month, the government announced its toughest measures yet to rein in rising housing prices, as a series of steps, including tax hikes and loan regulations, failed to put the brakes on soaring home prices.
Record-low interest rates and excess liquidity, which has been pumped into the market to help revive the virus-hit economy, have contributed to soaring home prices, analysts said.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-04--2 more service members test positive for new coronavirus

The soldier based in Pocheon , some 45 kilometers north of Seoul , has been in isolation after coming into @ @ @ @ @ counselor who was infected with COVID-19 late last month , according to the ministry .

SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- An Army draftee and a military intelligence command officer tested positive for the new coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections among the military population to 79, the defense ministry said Tuesday.
The soldier based in Pocheon, some 45 kilometers north of Seoul, has been in isolation after coming into close contact with an outside counselor who was infected with COVID-19 late last month, according to the ministry.
The soldier tested positive on his second test required to exit mandatory quarantine, it added.
The counselor was found to have visited several front-line units in the Pocheon areas before he tested positive, and 19 virus patients at the barracks are believed to be linked to the man.
Another fresh case is a warrant officer affiliated with the Defense Security Support Command in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, according to the defense ministry.
He appears to have contracted the virus after visiting a restaurant in Seoul where a COVID-19 patient stayed, command officials said, adding that contact tracing is under way.
The command carried out disinfection work at its headquarters building and had all of its members undergo a virus test, they noted.
The total number of service members in quarantine stands at 466, and the military authorities have put another 1,673 in isolation as a preventive measure.
Nationwide, South Korea reported 34 new cases of the new coronavirus Tuesday, including 13 local infections, raising the total caseload to 14,423, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
This file photo taken May 8, 2020, shows service members at the Army's Second Corps leaving the base for vacation while wearing masks. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)