yna--2020-06-26--(3rd LD) Police search offices of defector groups at center of anti-Pyongyang leafleting

With a court-issued search and seizure warrant , officers from the Seoul Metropolitan Police combed the office of Park Sang-hak @ @ @ @ @ for a Free North Korea , and the office of Kuensaem , another anti-North Korea @ @ @ @ @ 's younger brother , Jung-oh .
Police also looked into Park 's vehicle and mobile @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES with latest developments in first 4 paras; CHANGES photos)
SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- Police on Friday raided two offices related to a North Korean defector who has been at the center of the anti-Pyongyang leafleting campaign, which the South Korean government views as a breach of law and the North has vehemently denounced.
With a court-issued search and seizure warrant, officers from the Seoul Metropolitan Police combed the office of Park Sang-hak, the head of Fighters for a Free North Korea, and the office of Kuensaem, another anti-North Korea activist group run by Park's younger brother, Jung-oh. Police also looked into Park's vehicle and mobile phone in search of evidence.
The search operation, which initially met with strong opposition from the two group's officials, lasted for seven hours from 10 a.m.
Park's activist group has been leading the campaign to send anti-North Korea propaganda leaflets across the border.
"The search is part of efforts to seize materials so that we can verify if the Parks' activities are in breach of the law," a police officer said.
Defying the government's warning against cross-border leafleting, Park claimed that activists from his group sent some 500,000 leaflets carried by 20 large helium balloons over to the North on Monday night.
Police move a box of materials during a search and seizure operation of the office of Park Sang-hak who has been at the center of the anti-Pyongyang leafleting campaign, in Seoul on June 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae earlier warned that the government would crack down on such acts, which it said constitute a violation of laws including the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation act.
The campaign to scatter leaflets that criticize the North Korean political system and the North's ruling Kim family has recently been a major source of confrontations between the two Koreas.
Meeting with reporters Friday following the police search, Park vowed to continue his leaflet campaign and demanded the government guarantee his right to free expression.
"As long as (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un's tyranny and political prison camps (in North Korea) continue, I will keep going," Park told reporters.
He also accused the government of "clamping down on nationals' freedom of expression while being submissive to Kim Jong-un and his younger sister Yo-jong."
According to Park's lawyer, the police based the latest search on charges of breaching the law on inter-Korean exchange and collection and use of donations, as well as the high-pressure gas safety control act.
North Korean defector Park Sang-hak, the head of Fighters for a Free North Korea, gets in a car in front of the group's office in Seoul on June 26, 2020, after police completed their search and seizure of the office as part of their probe into the group's anti-Pyongyang leafleting campaign. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-26--(LEAD) Independent committee advises prosecution not to indict Samsung heir in succession case

It said there was `` insufficient explanation on the need and validity to arrest the defendants against the principle of @ @ @ @ @ referring to the principle that pretrial detention should only be used as a last resort @ @ @ @ @ whether Lee is guilty should be determined through `` legal battles and court hearings .
@

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in 4th para)
SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- An independent committee advised the prosecution Friday not to indict Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong for his role in a controversial merger and alleged accounting fraud.
The panel of outside experts concluded that the prosecution's investigation into the high-profile succession case was not warranted, after a lengthy discussion at the Supreme Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul.
The 14-member committee consists of members drawn from a pool of experts from academia, media, civic organizations and cultural industries.
Except for one acting chairperson, 13 members participated in the deliberation on the issue. Most of them were said to conclude that it was hard to substantiate some of the prosecution's claims against Lee, including alleged violation of the capital market laws.
Samsung Group and the prosecutors submitted written opinions totaling 50 pages in length ahead of taking turns giving presentations and answering questions from the panel. Lee, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, did not attend the meeting.
Although not legally binding, the conclusion is expected to weigh in the prosecution's decision process for further legal actions against Lee.
Since the introduction of the system in 2018, the committee had given out recommendations in eight cases and the prosecution has followed all of them.
But some expect the prosecution, having shown confidence over the ability to prove Lee's guilt, to push ahead with its plan to bring charges against Lee for stock manipulation and violation of capital market laws.
This composite image shows Samsung's heir and de facto leader Lee Jae-yong against a background of the prosecution's logo and building. (Yonhap)
The experts' review was established after a citizen's panel, formed by the prosecution, arrived at a decision on June 11 that the issue needed independent reassessment.
Early this month, the Samsung scion requested public assessment of the investigation, an outside review system introduced two years ago to enhance neutrality and fairness of prosecutorial investigations into cases that are of great public interest.
Lee is accused of playing a role in the controversial merger in 2015 between two Samsung affiliates, Cheil Industries Inc. and Samsung C&T, and suspected accounting fraud at the pharmaceutical unit of Samsung Biologics.
The prosecutors suspect that the merger and fraud were designed to help him gain greater control of the country's biggest conglomerate.
Lee is the grandson of Lee Byung-chull, the founder of Samsung Group. His father, Lee Kun-hee, has been incapacitated since he suffered a heart attack in 2014.
On June 9, the Seoul Central District Court rejected the prosecution's request to put Lee behind bars for a further investigation.
It said there was "insufficient explanation on the need and validity to arrest the defendants against the principle of trial without detention," referring to the principle that pretrial detention should only be used as a last resort. The court also said whether Lee is guilty should be determined through "legal battles and court hearings."
Lee has denied the allegations against him. Samsung also has claimed that Lee was not briefed on and did not order any illegal transactions, including stock manipulation and accounting fraud.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-26--Samsung heir wins public backing in legal battle, but uncertainty remains

The panel 's decision is not legally binding , but if history is any guide , its recommendation has been @ @ @ @ @ ' probes .
Since the introduction of the scheme , the panel has issued recommendations @ @ @ @ @ the prosecution has followed all of them .

By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Group heir apparent Lee Jae-yong was granted a respite Friday in a legal battle over his alleged role in a controversial merger and fraudulent accounting, as an independent panel of experts concluded that prosecutors should not indict him.
The panel, made up of civil activists, legal experts and others, concurred that the investigation into Lee unwarranted.
Early this month, a few days ahead of a court ruling over his detention, Lee, vice chairman at Samsung Electronics Co., requested the panel review whether prosecutors' investigation is fair, seeking public support for the high-stake legal battle.
The independent panel was introduced two years ago to enhance neutrality and fairness of prosecutors' probes into cases that are of great public interest. In a nutshell, the panel was created to rein in prosecutors' powers.
This file photo, taken on June 8, 2020, shows Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong leaving the Seoul Central District Court after attending a hearing on his arrest warrant. (Yonhap)
The panel's decision is not legally binding, but if history is any guide, its recommendation has been convincing enough to affect prosecutors' probes. Since the introduction of the scheme, the panel has issued recommendations in eight cases, and the prosecution has followed all of them.
Prosecutors suspect that Lee and the group's top management were involved in a calibrated scheme to intentionally lower the value of Samsung C&T Corp. prior to its merger with Cheil Industries Inc. in 2015, so as to facilitate Lee's managerial succession from his ailing father, Lee Kun-hee.
Prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for Lee, but their request was denied by the Seoul Central District Court on June 9.
Samsung has been strongly denying such allegations, saying Lee was not involved in any decision-making process regarding the 2015 merger, and there was no stock price manipulation or unfair trading.
Even though Lee avoided detention and the panel ruled in favor of his side, industry insiders said that Samsung uncertainties remain.
This photo shows the corporate logo of Samsung Group at its office building in Seoul on June 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
In addition, Lee is still dealing with a bribery case that put him behind bars a couple years ago.
Lee was imprisoned for about a year in 2017 for bribing a confidant of former President Park Geun-hye in return for her administration's support for the 2015 merger. He was released in February 2018 after his sentence was suspended by an appeals court, but the Supreme Court last year ordered a retrial.
Despite ongoing legal battles, Lee has been active in taking care of Samsung's business to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and renewed tensions between the United States and China.
He recently visited Samsung Electronics' chip R&D center and home appliance business unit in South Korea to check their future strategies.
Lee also met with Hyundai Motor Group heir Chung Euisun last month to discuss possible cooperation in the electric vehicle (EV) business as the group's affiliate Samsung SDI Co. produces EV batteries.
Lee has been especially focusing on Samsung's chip business since he got out of jail in 2018.
In April last year, Samsung Electronics, the group's crown jewel, announced a vision to become the world's No. 1 logic chip maker by 2030 by investing 133 trillion won (US$111 billion) and bolstering its competitiveness in the system LSI and foundry businesses.
Samsung Electronics, the world's leading memory chip and smartphone maker, recently announced the addition of new foundry and NAND flash production facilities in South Korea.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-26--Independent committee advises prosecution not to indict Samsung heir in succession case

SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- An independent committee advised the prosecution Friday not to indict Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong for his role in a controversial merger and alleged accounting fraud.
The panel of outside experts concluded that the prosecution's investigation into the high-profile succession case was not warranted, after a lengthy discussion at the Supreme Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul.
The 14-member committee consists of members drawn from a pool of experts from academia, media, civic organizations and cultural industries.
Samsung Group and the prosecutors submitted written opinions totaling 50 pages in length ahead of taking turns giving presentations and answering questions from the panel. Lee, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, did not attend the meeting.
Although not legally binding, the conclusion is expected to weigh in the prosecution's decision process for further legal actions against Lee.
Since the introduction of the system in 2018, the committee had given out recommendations in eight cases and the prosecution has followed all of them.
But some expect the prosecution, having shown confidence over the ability to prove Lee's guilt, to push ahead with its plan to bring charges against Lee for stock manipulation and violation of capital market laws.
This composite image shows Samsung's heir and de facto leader Lee Jae-yong against a background of the prosecution's logo and building. (Yonhap)
The experts' review was established after a citizen's panel, formed by the prosecution, arrived at a decision on June 11 that the issue needed independent reassessment.
Early this month, the Samsung scion requested public assessment of the investigation, an outside review system introduced two years ago to enhance neutrality and fairness of prosecutorial investigations into cases that are of great public interest.
Lee is accused of playing a role in the controversial merger in 2015 between two Samsung affiliates, Cheil Industries Inc. and Samsung C&T, and suspected accounting fraud at the pharmaceutical unit of Samsung Biologics.
The prosecutors suspect that the merger and fraud were designed to help him gain greater control of the country's biggest conglomerate.
Lee is the grandson of Lee Byung-chull, the founder of Samsung Group. His father, Lee Kun-hee, has been incapacitated since he suffered a heart attack in 2014.
On June 9, the Seoul Central District Court rejected the prosecution's request to put Lee behind bars for a further investigation.
It said there was "insufficient explanation on the need and validity to arrest the defendants against the principle of trial without detention," referring to the principle that pretrial detention should only be used as a last resort. The court also said whether Lee is guilty should be determined through "legal battles and court hearings."
Lee has denied the allegations against him. Samsung also has claimed that Lee was not briefed on and did not order any illegal transactions, including stock manipulation and accounting fraud.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-26--(URGENT) External committee advises prosecution not to indict Samsung heir

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


yna--2020-06-26--Fellow KBO managers send best wishes to ailing SK Wyverns' skipper

`` I heard about his situation during our game Thursday , and I was really shocked , '' Son said @ @ @ @ @ the Kia Tigers at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul .
`` He 's very dear @ @ @ @ @ gave me the opportunity to coach when I was working in television , and he @ @ @ @ @ wanted to do .
He also helped me get my first managerial job . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korean baseball managers sent their best wishes to an ailing rival Friday, saying they would like to see him back in the dugout soon.
During Thursday's Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season game, SK Wyverns' manager Youm Kyoung-youb fell unconscious in the dugout and was quickly transported to a local hospital. He has since regained consciousness, and the Wyverns said Youm was able to have simple conversations with his family Thursday evening.
This file photo from June 18, 2020, shows SK Wyverns' manager Youm Kyoung-youb in a pregame press conference before facing the KT Wiz in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Youm, 52, will remain hospitalized for further tests. Doctors have cited lack of sleep, poor diet and severe stress as reasons for Youm's condition.
The incident was close to home for Son Hyuk, current Kiwoom Heroes' manager who served as Youm's pitching coach for the Wyverns in 2019. The two had also worked together as manager-pitching coach tandem with the Heroes in 2015 and 2016.
"I heard about his situation during our game Thursday, and I was really shocked," Son said Friday before his team hosted the Kia Tigers at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. "He's very dear to my heart. He gave me the opportunity to coach when I was working in television, and he let me do what I wanted to do. He also helped me get my first managerial job."
Matt Williams, the Tigers' manager, said it was "scary" what Youm is going through at the moment.
Kiwoom Heroes' manager Son Hyuk (R) greets Park Byung-ho in the dugout after Park's solo home run against the LG Twins in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
"Stress is a dangerous thing," Williams said. "We wish him the best. Hopefully, he's back in the dugout soon."
Son said he decompresses by reading comic books and playing "Go," or the board game called "baduk" in Korea.
"I try to sleep as much as I can," Son added. "Some nights, I fall asleep while reading a comic book."
Williams beats stress by exercising. He's famous for running up and down the stairs of every stadium he visits, and Gocheok Sky Dome was one of only two remaining stadiums that Williams hadn't seen this season.
"It's painful, but it works," Williams said of his pregame routine.
In this file photo from June 16, 2020, Kia Tigers' manager Matt Williams watches his team in action against the NC Dinos in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-26--(LEAD) 2 football players suspended for drunk driving

The K League said Lee was caught by police for driving while impaired on May 21 , but he did @ @ @ @ @ club until June 19 .
He played in three matches in the meantime .

(ATTN: ADDS photo, more info at bottom)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- Two South Korean football players were suspended Friday for driving under the influence of alcohol.
The Korea Professional Football League (K League) announced Friday that it has banned Chungnam Asan FC midfielder Lee Sang-min for 15 games and Daejeon Hana Citizen midfielder Park In-hyek for 10 games. Both players were fined 4 million won (US$3,330). These two clubs both compete in the second-tier K League 2.
These file photos provided by the Korea Professional Football League on June 26, 2020, show Chungnam Asan FC midfielder Lee Sang-min (L) and Daejeon Hana Citizen midfielder Park In-hyek. The two players have been suspended for driving under the influence of alcohol. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The K League said Lee was caught by police for driving while impaired on May 21, but he didn't report it to his club until June 19. He played in three matches in the meantime.
Park caused a fender-bender on June 15 while moving his vehicle in a parking lot. He had been drinking when another driver asked him to move his car. Park reported his accident to his club immediately, according to the K League.
Shortly after the league levied its penalties, both clubs apologized to their fans and announced that they will issue their own punishments for the two players.
This image, provided by the Korea Professional Football League on June 14, 2020, shows its emblem. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-26--K-pop group Seventeen's 'Heng:Garae' sells over 1 mln copies

Hanteo said that Seventeen as of Friday ranked third in all-time album sales during the first week window , according @ @ @ @ @ is likely to rise further during the remainder of the first week .

SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- K-pop boy band Seventeen's latest record "Heng:Garae" has sold more than 1 million copies within just five days of its release, according to the band's label on Friday.
According to Pledis Entertainment, the group's label-management agency, "Heng:Garae" had sold 1.01 million copies as of Friday at noon. Pledis cited data from music sales tracker Hanteo Chart.
The 13-piece boy band released its seventh EP album on Monday. The record is the band's first release after Pledis was acquired by Big Hit Entertainment, the company behind K-pop powerhouse BTS.
Hanteo said that Seventeen as of Friday ranked third in all-time album sales during the first week window, according to Pledis. The number is likely to rise further during the remainder of the first week.
Seventeen became the second music artist after BTS in 2020 to move more than 1 million albums during its first week.
The album was largely expected to become a commercial success, with the band having secured more than 1.06 million retail pre-orders in South Korea before release.
Seventeen has proven strong growth in terms of record sales in the past year.
"You Made My Dawn," the group's sixth EP album released in January 2019, sold some 338,000 copies during week one, while the band's follow-up record, "And Ode," released in September of the same year, moved some 700,000 copies during the first week window.
In this file photo, K-pop boy band Seventeen poses for a photo during a media showcase for its new EP, "Heng:Garae," at a hotel in southern Seoul on June 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-26--SOFA subcommittee discusses ways to bolster exchanges between local residents and U.S. troops

`` Through this subcommittee , the foreign ministry will continue efforts to expand positive contact among our citizens , and @ @ @ @ @ , and ensure the experience of such mutually beneficial exchanges will serve as a robust @ @ @ @ @ the peoples of the two countries , '' the ministry said in a press release @

SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- Officials from South Korea and the United States discussed ways to bolster exchanges among South Korean civilians and American troops here Friday, as part of efforts to deepen the two countries' alliance, the foreign ministry said.
The two sides held a meeting of the Civil-Military Relations Subcommittee of the Joint Committee of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) at Camp Humphreys, a U.S. military complex in Pyeongtaek, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul. SOFA governs the legal status of the 28,500 American troops here.
During the session, Kim Yeon-sik, the director of the ministry's SOFA affairs division, and Col. Lee Peters, director of Public Affairs of the U.S. Forces Korea, discussed the plan to launch the "We Go Supporters" group next month.
The group, which consists of South Korean citizens, U.S. citizens, USFK personnel and their families, is a key project to expand exchanges among them, strengthen their friendship and enhance mutual understanding.
"Through this subcommittee, the foreign ministry will continue efforts to expand positive contact among our citizens, and USFK troops and their families, and ensure the experience of such mutually beneficial exchanges will serve as a robust bridge linking the minds of the peoples of the two countries," the ministry said in a press release.
South Korea and the U.S. have regularly convened sessions of the subcommittee on civil-military relations -- one of the 20 subcommittees under the SOFA Joint Committee -- to help nurture stronger ties between local residents and U.S. military personnel.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-26--(2nd LD) Police search properties of ex-N.K. defector at center of anti-Pyongyang leafleting

SEOUL , June 26 ( Yonhap ) -- Police on Friday searched the car and mobile phone of a former @ @ @ @ @ been at the center of the anti-Pyongyang leafleting campaign , which the South Korean government @ @ @ @ @ law and the North vehemently denounces .

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with more info)
SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- Police on Friday searched the car and mobile phone of a former North Korean defector who has been at the center of the anti-Pyongyang leafleting campaign, which the South Korean government views as a breach of law and the North vehemently denounces.
Investigators at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency met with Park Sang-hak, the head of Fighters for a Free North Korea, in Seoul earlier in the day and looked into his vehicle and mobile phone in search of potential evidence, according to the police.
Park's activist group has been leading the campaign to send anti-North Korea propaganda leaflets across the border.
The police were also trying to search the offices of Park's organization in Seoul's Songpa Ward, as well as Kuensaem, another anti-North Korea activist group run by Park's younger brother.
The dispatched police officers were, however, not let into the offices and were on standby in front of them, as the brothers strongly resisted the police's search order.
"The search is part of efforts to seize materials so that we can verify if the Parks' activities are in breach of the law," a police officer said.
Defying the government's warning against cross-border leafleting, Park claimed that activists from his group sent some 500,000 leaflets carried by 20 large helium balloons over to the North on Monday night.
Cheong Wa Dae earlier warned that the government would crack down on such acts, which it said constitute a violation of laws including the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation act.
The campaign to scatter leaflets that criticize the North Korean political system and the North's ruling Kim family has recently been a major source of confrontations between the two Koreas.
Meeting with reporters Friday following the police search, Park vowed to continue his leaflet campaign and demanded the government guarantee his right to free expression.
"As long as (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un's tyranny and political prison camps (in North Korea) continue, I will keep going," Park told reporters.
He also accused the government of "clamping down on nationals' freedom of expression while being submissive to Kim Jong-un and his younger sister Yo-jong."
According to Park's lawyer, the police based the latest search on charges of breaching the law on inter-Korean exchange and collection and use of donations, as well as the high-pressure gas safety control act.
Park Sang-hak, the head of Fighters for a Free North Korea, speaks to reporters on June 25, 2020 in Seoul. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

Jeon Hyun-heui , who was defeated in the April 15 parliamentary elections as a candidate of the Democratic Party , @ @ @ @ @ as chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission ( ACRC ) , a minister-grade @ @ @ @ @ at the end of this month .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Friday.
----------------
(LEAD) Jeju Air's Eastar Jet takeover faces growing uncertainty over unpaid wages, virus shock
SEOUL -- Jeju Air Co.'s planned takeover of smaller local rival Eastar Jet Co. could be delayed further due to differences over acquisition terms between the two sides amid the new coronavirus outbreak, industry sources said Friday.
In March, Jeju Air signed a deal to acquire a controlling 51.17 percent stake in Eastar Jet from its parent Eastar Holdings Inc. for 54.5 billion won (US$45 million) as part of its expansion strategy despite the growing COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the airline industry.
----------------
(LEAD) Ex-lawmaker tapped to lead national anti-corruption agency
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in has picked a former two-term ruling party lawmaker as new head of South Korea's state anti-corruption body, Cheong Wa Dae announced Friday.
Jeon Hyun-heui, who was defeated in the April 15 parliamentary elections as a candidate of the Democratic Party, is to replace Pak Un-jong as chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), a minister-grade position. Pak is retiring at the end of this month.
----------------
Moon asks parliament to pick candidates to lead corruption investigative unit
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in has formally requested that the National Assembly recommend two candidates to head a special agency to be launched next month with a mission to investigate corruption among high-ranking government officials, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday.
The president sent an official letter with the request to National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug earlier this week, as his government is gearing up to establish the unit in July as stipulated in relevant legislation.
----------------
(3rd LD) New virus cases rebound; community spread, imported cases on steady rise
SEOUL -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases bounced back again Friday amid a steady rise in cluster infections and imported cases, putting continued strain on the country's efforts to contain further virus spread.
The country added 39 cases, including 27 local infections, raising the total caseload to 12,602, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
----------------
In war memorial speech, Moon considered 'comprehensive' security, not just N. Korea threat: Cheong Wa Dae
SEOUL -- Pledging a tough response to "provocations from any direction" in his Korean War anniversary speech this week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in was talking about "comprehensive security," not just North Korea, his office said Friday.
The previous night, Moon attended the Seoul Air Base ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the war and stressed, "Our military has strength to ward off any threat."
----------------
Court cuts prison term of ex-presidential aides in retrial of 'white list' case
SEOUL -- In a retrial of a high-profile "white list" case under the former administration of Park Geun-hye, an appellate court on Friday reduced the prison term of Kim Ki-choon, Park's former chief of staff, to a year from 18 months.
Kim was indicted for pressuring the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), a business lobby group, to provide 6.9 billion won (US$5.7 million) between 2014 and 2016 to 33 conservative activist groups and other organizations supportive of the Park administration. Among them was the Korea Parent Federation, a right-wing civic group that staged pro-Park rallies.
----------------
BLACKPINK wants to deliver message of hope in 'How You Like That'
SEOUL -- Members of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK said Friday they felt a deeper sense of responsibility when releasing their new song, "How You Like That."
"This may sound too lofty but we want to send out a positive and hopeful message through the new song," BLACKPINK's main singer Jisoo said during a press conference held for the release of the group's new song.
----------------
(2nd LD) At least 13 virus infections reported in relation to Seoul church
SEOUL -- At least 13 new coronavirus infections traced to a major church in Seoul were reported on Friday, adding to concerns over a bigger outbreak, as the metropolitan area is facing a second wave of the infectious virus.
The patients, who are members of Wangsung Church in the southwestern ward of Gwanak, were found to have attended choir activities and an overnight church camp before testing positive, according to health authorities.
(END)


yna--2020-06-26--15 COVID-19 treatment drugs, vaccines get nod for clinical trials in S. Korea

The ministry said most of the candidates being tested are foreign , but two have been made by local drugmakers @ @ @ @ @ Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp .

SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has approved 15 candidates for coronavirus treatment drugs and vaccines for clinical trials as it steps up efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Friday.
The candidate materials include two that may be developed into vaccines and 13 that show promise as treatment drugs, it said.
The ministry said most of the candidates being tested are foreign, but two have been made by local drugmakers -- Bukwang Pharmaceutical Co. and Chong Kun Dang Pharmaceutical Corp.
Bukwang's Levovir was originally made to treat hepatitis B, while Chong Kun Dang's drug Nafabelltan is an anticoagulant that may help people infected with COVID-19.
GC Pharma, another South Korean pharmaceutical company, is getting ready to conduct phase two clinical trials for a potential treatment drug that uses blood plasma taken from people who have fully recovered from coronavirus infections.
As for vaccine candidates, the ministry said GX-19, a vaccine material made by South Korea's Genexine Inc., is being examined by experts ahead of clinical tests.
The ministry said it has authorized local hospitals to use the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone on critically ill patients, after the drug drew international attention for helping some COVID-19 patients.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-26--Korea's R&D spending up 9.7 pct, more focus on infectious diseases, Green New Deal

Some 2.46 trillion in state budget , up a sharp 45.6 percent from 2020 , will be spent on the @ @ @ @ @ and an additional 2.15 trillion won will be used to assist bio health , future @ @ @ @ @ according to the ministry .

SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will spend 21.6 trillion won (US$18 billion) in state budget on research and development (R&D) in 2021, with emphasis placed on countering infectious diseases, the science ministry said Friday.
The earmarked sum represents a 9.7 percent increase from this year's budget of 19.7 trillion won to support 945 projects, the Ministry of Science and ICT said.
Of the total, 377.6 billion won will be spent to study treatments and vaccines for the novel coronavirus and build up Seoul's capability to respond to future pandemics.
The figure is more than double the 173.8 billion won set aside this year to cope with contagious illnesses and shows the country's commitment to fully backing local efforts to tackle COVID-19, the ministry said.
Some 2.46 trillion in state budget, up a sharp 45.6 percent from 2020, will be spent on the so-called Green New Deal, and an additional 2.15 trillion won will be used to assist bio health, future mobility and system semiconductors, according to the ministry.
The ministry said some 2.1 trillion won will be set aside to upgrade the country's industrial materials, components and equipment sectors, with a further 2.35 trillion won to facilitate basic research.
The ministry said the R&D spending plan will be forwarded to the finance ministry next week and then be sent to parliament in September for approval.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-26--Pro-N. Korea paper slams Bolton, Abe for hindering inter-Korean reconciliation

`` There are two things ( we ) realized once again .
One is the despicable means Bolton had taken @ @ @ @ @ between North Korea and the U.S , '' it said .
`` It is he @ @ @ @ @ to assert that the U.S. should launch a preemptive strike against the North and created @ @ @ @ @ crisis . ''

SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- A pro-North Korea newspaper in Japan on Friday slammed former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton for breaking up talks between Pyongyang and Washington and hampering inter-Korean reconciliation.
The criticism came in response to Bolton's memoir, "The Room Where It Happened," in which he shares details of President Donald Trump's foreign policy decisions and his account of nuclear talks between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, including how negotiations fell apart in the Hanoi summit.
"It has been reaffirmed that Bolton is in cahoots with the Japanese government, getting in the way of inter-Korean reconciliation," the Choson Sinbo, a pro-North Korea newspaper in Japan, said in a column.
"There are two things (we) realized once again. One is the despicable means Bolton had taken to break up the summit between North Korea and the U.S," it said. "It is he who was in the frontline to assert that the U.S. should launch a preemptive strike against the North and created the second North Korean nuclear crisis."
The paper also criticized Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for "instilling wrong awareness of South Korea into President Trump and encouraging confrontation."
"This book is consistent with information excessively glorifying his contribution and his strange worldview ... public sentiment towards Bolton in the U.S. is quite negative," it added.
Earlier, South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae strongly criticized Bolton's account as being "distorted" and based on "bias and prejudice."
North Korea has not released any response to Bolton's book.
A copy of former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton's memoir, "The Room Where It Happened," is seen against the backdrop of the White House in Washington on June 18, 2020, in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--Mobile carriers tipped to deliver robust Q2 earnings on expanded 5G presence: poll

`` 5G subscribers are expected to reach 10 million by the end of the year , '' said Choi Kwan-soon @ @ @ @ @ Securities Co. , in a report .
`` Apple is expected to release its first @ @ @ @ @ half of this year , while Samsung Electronics will release the Galaxy Note 20 , @ @ @ @ @ models . ''

By Chae Yun-hwan
SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's major mobile carriers are expected to report improved bottom lines in the second quarter on the back of a rise in subscribers to 5G network services amid the pandemic, analysts said Saturday.
The combined net profits of the country's three major carriers -- SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. -- are estimated at 711 billion won (US$591 million) in the April-June period, compared with 561 billion won from the previous year, according to a poll by Yonhap Infomax, the financial news arm of Yonhap News Agency.
The upbeat forecast comes as the carriers enjoyed a steady rise in 5G-running mobile phones with pricey plans, which led to increased revenue per user.
The country's 5G subscribers hit 6.3 million as of the end of April, accounting for over 9 percent of the country's total 69 million mobile users, compared with 4.7 million users at the end of last year, data from the science ministry showed.
South Korea rolled out 5G, which is 20 times faster than the preceding 4G long-term evolution (LTE) network, back in April last year, becoming the first country in the world to do so.
Global shipments of 5G smartphones reached 24.1 million in the first quarter the year, compared with 18.7 million for all of last year, according to industry tracker Strategy Analytics.
South Korea's tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. shipped 8.3 million 5G phones during the January-March period, accounting for 34.4 percent of total shipments, the data showed.
Analysts said despite the broader economic slump from the pandemic, the country's infection preventive measures and social distancing drive are prodding more people to resort to speedy data transmission as they stay at home and work remotely.
"Since the coronavirus outbreak, data traffic has increased and the share of users on unlimited 5G and LTE data plans is increasing," said Kim Hong-seek, an analyst at Hana Financial Investment Co., in a report. "Second-quarter earnings will likely confirm the trend of rising average revenue per user."
Net profit for LG Uplus, the country's No. 3 carrier by subscribers, is expected to jump the most (40 percent) in the April-June period from the previous year to 138 billion won.
SK Telecom, which leads in 5G subscriber count, is forecast to post a net profit of 359 billion won, up 39 percent over the same period. Runner-up KT's net profit is estimated at 214 billion won, up 5 percent, according to the poll.
The upcoming releases of new 5G models is expected to accelerate the adoption of the network among smartphone users.
"5G subscribers are expected to reach 10 million by the end of the year," said Choi Kwan-soon, an analyst at SK Securities Co., in a report. "Apple is expected to release its first 5G model in the second half of this year, while Samsung Electronics will release the Galaxy Note 20, Z Flip and Fold 2 models."
Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy S20 5G smartphones are displayed at a SK Telecom store in central Seoul on February 20, 2020. (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--(2nd LD) S. Korea reports 51 more coronavirus cases amid cluster infections at Seoul church

In particular , nine people were added to the list of COVID-19 patients related to Wangsung Church in the southwestern @ @ @ @ @ has emerged as a source of cluster infections .
It is known to have more @ @ @ @

(ATTN: MODIFIES headline, lead; UPDATES throughout with additional info)
SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- The number of South Korea's daily COVID-19 cases bounced back to over 50 on Saturday amid another outbreak of cluster infections traced to a major church in Seoul.
A total of 51 people tested positive for the new coronavirus, according to data collated during the last 24 hours by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Among them, 31 people contracted the virus via community spread, while 20 cases were imported, it announced.
They included 15 in Seoul, 12 in nearby Gyeonggi Province and two in Daejeon, some 160 kilometers south of the capital.
In particular, nine people were added to the list of COVID-19 patients related to Wangsung Church in the southwestern ward of Gwanak, which has emerged as a source of cluster infections. It is known to have more than 1,700 followers.
A total of 16 patients has been confirmed in Seoul alone so far in cases traced to the church since a 31-year-old woman was found Wednesday to have been infected with the virus. She attended choir activities and an overnight church camp.
Seoul citizens go through new coronavirus tests at a temporary testing site established at Wangsung Church in the southeastern area of the capital on June 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korea reported 51 cases on Wednesday, 28 the next day and 39 on Friday.
The rebound in the number of infections comes as the country is apparently facing a second wave of outbreaks, especially in the Seoul capital area with population of 24 million, in the wake of weekslong declines in confirmed cases.
Health and quarantine authorities are fighting twin battles against community transmissions and cross-border inflows of infections.
The nation's total caseload was tallied at 12,653 as of the day, about five months after the confirmation of its first new coronavirus infection. The KCDC reported no additional deaths, with the tally remaining at 282.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--(LEAD) S. Korea reports 51 more coronavirus infections

The rebound in the number of cases comes as the country is apparently facing a second wave of outbreaks , @ @ @ @ @ area with population of 24 million , in the wake of weekslong declines in confirmed @ @

(ATTN: MODIFIES lead paras; UPDATES throughout with details; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Saturday reported additional daily cases of COVID-19, with the number jumping over 50 again amid another outbreak of cluster infections traced to a major church in Seoul.
A total of 51 people tested positive for the new coronavirus, according to data collated during the last 24 hours by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Among them, 31 people contracted the virus via community spread, while 20 cases were imported, it announced.
They included 15 in Seoul, 12 in nearby Gyeonggi Province and two in Daejeon, some 160 kilometers south of the capital.
The country's total caseload was tallied at 12,653 as of the day, about five months after the confirmation of its first new coronavirus infection.
Seoul citizens go through new coronavirus tests at a temporary testing site established at Wangsung Church in the southeastern area of the capital on June 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
The rebound in the number of cases comes as the country is apparently facing a second wave of outbreaks, especially in the Seoul capital area with population of 24 million, in the wake of weekslong declines in confirmed cases.
Health and quarantine authorities are fighting twin battles against community transmissions and cross-border inflows of infections.
Most recently, Wangsung Church in the southwestern ward of Gwanak has emerged as an epicenter of infections. More than a dozen people who attended choir activities and an overnight church camp there were found to have contracted the virus.
The church is known to have more than 1,700 followers.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--S. Korea reports 51 more coronavirus infections

The country 's total caseload was tallied at 12,653 as of the day , about five months after the confirmation @ @ @ @ @ infection .

SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea announced 51 additional COVID-19 infections Saturday, marking a continued rise in confirmed cases here amid an apparent second wave of outbreaks.
Among them, 31 people contracted the virus via community spread, while 20 cases were imported, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The country's total caseload was tallied at 12,653 as of the day, about five months after the confirmation of its first new coronavirus infection.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 51 more COVID-19 infections on Saturday


yna--2020-06-27--Incheon citizens seeking psychological counseling surge amid virus crisis

The city has introduced various support programs for those in need of psychological help , such as providing plant kits @ @ @ @ @ of two weeks and offering coloring books to those suffering from anxiety or depression .

INCHEON, June 27 (Yonhap) -- The number of people seeking psychological counseling more than doubled in the past few months here, according to city officials Saturday, as the COVID-19 pandemic was seen to have had widespread mental and emotional tolls on ordinary people.
Applications for psychological counseling at the city's public health and welfare centers totaled 34,372 between Feb. 1 and Wednesday, according to the Incheon metropolitan government.
Monthly numbers have shown steady increases during the course of the pandemic. Applications, which stood at 3,816 in February, climbed to 4,585 in March and surged to 8,269 in April. Numbers for May and June (as of Wednesday) reached 9,077 and 8,625, respectively.
According to city health officials, many shared their fears of isolation and anxiousness from being forced indoors, avoiding crowded spaces and lack of social activities.
Many of those seeking help have also shared concerns of family members possibly becoming infected. Some have also shown symptoms of depression from being quarantined due to contact with COVID-19 patients.
Small business owners seeking psychological support have shown signs of helplessness from business closures.
The city has introduced various support programs for those in need of psychological help, such as providing plant kits that grow over the course of two weeks and offering coloring books to those suffering from anxiety or depression.
"Undergoing stressful emotions caused by spread of infectious disease is only natural," said an official on the city's mental health support team. The official advised those in need of help to contact local public health and welfare centers.
This image provided by the Incheon metropolitan government shows a poster for the city's campaign calling for social distancing while also keeping mental health in check. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on June 27)

(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on June 27)

There are tricky hurdles ahead .
The United States is maintaining the stance that without the North 's denuclearization , @ @ @ @ @ in sanctions or adopting a declaration to formally end the war .
The North has @ @ @ @ @ of talking with the South .
Policymakers should be clear about how they will balance @ @ @ @ @ for peace .
Also , domestically , 70 years after the fratricidal Korean War , @ @ @ @ @ the question is just how many more cycles of `` hot and cold '' interchanges @ @ @ @ @ future ?
The North hopefully can find rapport with the President 's words : `` @ @ @ @ @ talk about unification , we have to achieve peace first . ''
( END )

Reconciliatory gesture
North called on to end 'most sorrowful war'
After a sudden hike in tensions, the two Koreas are exchanging reconciliatory actions and words that could provide an opportunity for dialogue. Marking the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-1953 Korean War, President Moon Jae-in all but proffered the North a chance to revive peace talks.
"The first step toward putting an end to the war is not to forget its horrible tragedy," in his address at a ceremony held at Seoul Air Base Thursday. Touting the "long-desired wish" of 80 million Koreans for peace, he called on the North to "boldly embark on an endeavor to end the most sorrowful war in world history."
The President's cautiously couched-words came after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called off military confrontation against the South few days before. It was preceded by a series of more direct conciliatory remarks from the ruling bloc. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has proposed pursuing a formal end to the Korean War. Other DPK members have sponsored a motion calling for a formal end to the Korean War.
Thus, following two weeks of "hot" tension after the North's demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office, the two Koreas are at a "cold" point of waiting to see which party moves first. Once again, the burden of initiative seems to fall on the South's shoulders. For if the North had intended to grab world attention by ratcheting up tension, it has succeeded most definitively with the South. Seoul hurriedly dispatched Lee Do-hoon, the special representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs to U.S. to meet with his counterpart, Stephen Biegun, the special envoy for North Korea, over the tension spike.
Also North Korea resumed criticism of the South through its state media outlets Friday, while remaining relatively silent against the U.S. The North's Tongil Voice blasted Seoul for not implementing the inter-Korean declaration, "hamstrung by working group meetings with the U.S."
There are tricky hurdles ahead. The United States is maintaining the stance that without the North's denuclearization, there will be no let-up in sanctions or adopting a declaration to formally end the war. The North has loudly complained of the ineffectiveness of talking with the South. Policymakers should be clear about how they will balance these divergent parties to negotiate for peace. Also, domestically, 70 years after the fratricidal Korean War, Koreans desire peace. But the question is just how many more cycles of "hot and cold" interchanges will there be in the future? The North hopefully can find rapport with the President's words: "If we are going to talk about unification, we have to achieve peace first."
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers

Korean-language dailies -- Prosecutors face setback in plan to indict Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong over succession-related suspicions ( Kyunghyang Shinmun ) -- President Moon 's approval rating dips due to controversy over Incheon airport 's decision to hire part-time workers as regular employees ( Kookmin Daily ) -- Panel recommends against prosecution 's probe , indictment of Samsung heir in succession case ( Donga llbo ) -- President Moon asks parliament to recommend candidates to lead special agency to probe corruption among senior civil servants ( Seoul Shinmun ) -- Rival parties to have final negotiations on selection of standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Moon urges speedy launch of special unit to probe corruption among senior civil servants ( Chosun Ilbo ) -- Panel says indictment of Samsung heir 'inappropriate ' ( JoongAng Ilbo ) -- Panel recommends against indictment of Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong ( Hankyoreh ) -- Rival parties ' floor leaders fail to reach deal , normalization of National Assembly further delayed ( Hankook Ilbo ) -- Panel says prosecution needs to stop investigating Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong ( Maeil Business Newspaper ) -- Panel suggests halt to prosecutors ' probe into Samsung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Korea Economic Daily )

SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major South Korean newspapers on June 27.
Korean-language dailies
-- Prosecutors face setback in plan to indict Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong over succession-related suspicions (Kyunghyang Shinmun)
-- President Moon's approval rating dips due to controversy over Incheon airport's decision to hire part-time workers as regular employees (Kookmin Daily)
-- Panel recommends against prosecution's probe, indictment of Samsung heir in succession case (Donga llbo)
-- President Moon asks parliament to recommend candidates to lead special agency to probe corruption among senior civil servants (Seoul Shinmun)
-- Rival parties to have final negotiations on selection of standing committee heads (Segye Times)
-- President Moon urges speedy launch of special unit to probe corruption among senior civil servants (Chosun Ilbo)
-- Panel says indictment of Samsung heir 'inappropriate' (JoongAng Ilbo)
-- Panel recommends against indictment of Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong (Hankyoreh)
-- Rival parties' floor leaders fail to reach deal, normalization of National Assembly further delayed (Hankook Ilbo)
-- Panel says prosecution needs to stop investigating Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong (Maeil Business Newspaper)
-- Panel suggests halt to prosecutors' probe into Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong's succession case (Korea Economic Daily)
English-language dailies
-- Panel recommends probe of Samsung chief be called off (Korea JoongAng Daily)
-- Five preschoolers suffer kidney failure following E. coli infection (Korea Herald)
-- Brinkmanship unlikely to save N.K. from sanctions (Korea Times)
(END)


Saturday's weather forecast

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

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


yna--2020-06-27--Mud festival to go online amid virus pandemic

For this year 's event , scheduled for July 17-26 , organizers said they plan to rely on technology to @ @ @ @ @ as setting up screens across major cities to show mud festival activities and teaming up @ @ @ @ @ .

BORYEONG, South Korea, June 27 (Yonhap) -- The Boryeong Mud Festival, one of South Korea's most popular local festivals, will be held online this year due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
Festival organizers said they plan to offer various programs online to prevent possible infections among participants and protect the coastal city of Boryeong in South Chungcheong Province.
The annual festival, held on the city's wide mudflats formed along the country's west coast, is known for allowing participants to get muddy in a series of activities, from mud wrestling to mud baths.
This photo, taken on July 19, 2019, shows visitors enjoying mud activities at Boryeong, 190 kilometers south of Seoul, during last year's annual mud festival. (Yonhap)
For this year's event, scheduled for July 17-26, organizers said they plan to rely on technology to hold virtual events -- such as setting up screens across major cities to show mud festival activities and teaming up with YouTubers for live chats.
They also plan to send out 1,000 sets of "mud experience" kits so that participants can get a taste of what the mud festival will be like without actually visiting Boryeong.
Boryeong's mud is known to be rich in minerals and to help prevent skin aging. Since 1998, the central South Korean city has organized the mud festival as part of efforts to promote its natural resources among international tourists.
Last year, more than 1.8 million visitors attended the event.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--Seoul stocks likely to stay in tight range next week on renewed virus woes

The index started weak Monday as investors took to the sidelines over fears of the second wave of new COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ abroad .

SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares are expected to move in a tight range next week, as investors remain wary over the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, analysts said Saturday.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,134.65 points on Friday, slightly down from 2,141.32 points a week ago.
The index started weak Monday as investors took to the sidelines over fears of the second wave of new COVID-19 cases both at home and abroad.
The KOSPI briefly bounced back Tuesday and closed 1.42 percent higher Wednesday on the back of upbeat economic data from the United States and Europe.
However, the KOSPI tumbled more than 2 percent Thursday after new daily virus cases in the U.S. surged to nearly 36,000 in the latest tally.
On Friday, the index gained more than 1 percent as large-cap tech shares rallied.
Kim Byong-yeon, an analyst at NH Investment & Securities, said the stock market already went through corrections due to concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak, and investors adopted a wait-and-see stance.
The analyst said key economic data, such as purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector in the U.S., may increase market volatility next week.
Kim forecast the main stock index to trade between 2,030 and 2,130 points in the coming week.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--Young starter shrugs off tough stretch for 1st win of KBO season

`` More so than my win-loss record , I was n't happy with the way I was pitching early in @ @ @ @ @ Lee , who was charged with 20 earned runs in his first five starts , @ @ @ @ @ then allowed just five earned runs in his next 23 innings , lowering his ERA @ @ @ @ @ that span .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- It took him nine starts, and Kiwoom Heroes' left-hander Lee Seung-ho finally has his first win of the 2020 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season.
Along the way, he's had to go up against some of the league's top pitchers. In fact, Lee started opposite NC Dinos' ace Koo Chang-mo, the league leader in ERA and strikeouts, twice, losing one game and getting a no-decision in the other.
Lee Seung-ho of the Kiwoom Heroes pitches against the LG Twins in the first game of their Korea Baseball Organization double header at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
But the 21-year-old said when he toes the rubber, his counterpart is the last thing on his mind.
"I am facing hitters, not the other pitchers," Lee said matter-of-factly Friday, before the Heroes hosted the Kia Tigers at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. Lee picked up his first victory Thursday, in the first game of a double header against the LG Twins. He scattered eight hits across five innings while giving up two earned runs. He's now 1-2 with a 4.89 ERA this season.
"I have a lot of confidence in my teammates that they can hit any pitcher," Lee added. "So I've never really thought much about opposing starters."
In addition to Koo, Lee has also gone up against Lotte Giants' right-hander Dan Straily, a hard-luck ace who is only 1-2 despite ranking third in the KBO with a 2.10 ERA. Lee has also faced LG Twins' Tyler Wilson twice this month alone, and outpitched him for Thursday's win.
Though it took him nearly two full months before getting into the win column, Lee said he didn't stress over his stats so much.
Lee Seung-ho of the Kiwoom Heroes pitches against the LG Twins in the first game of their Korea Baseball Organization double header at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
"More so than my win-loss record, I wasn't happy with the way I was pitching early in the season," said Lee, who was charged with 20 earned runs in his first five starts, spanning 23 innings. He then allowed just five earned runs in his next 23 innings, lowering his ERA from 7.83 to 4.89 in that span.
"I only focused on pitching better, and I never thought about trying to get the first win," Lee continued. "Still, it feels great to get one out of the way. I realized how tough it is just to win one game."
Lee appeared to have turned the corner on June 12 against the Dinos, his second duel against Koo. Lee tossed six shutout innings and gave up four hits, though he got a no-decision as the Heroes prevailed 3-2 in 10 innings.
In his next start six days later, Lee held the Giants to a run -- unearned -- over a season-high seven innings.
Lee said an uncluttered mind has led to better performance of late.
"Early in the season, I tried changing my routine and tweaking my mechanics," Lee said. "Nothing seemed to work. So I decided I should just relax on the mound and not have any negative thoughts."
Lee is now pitching in his third season, and his second as a full-time starter. Last year, Lee was 8-5 with a 4.48 ERA in 23 starts.
Currently without their injured American ace Jake Brigham, the Heroes will count on Lee to continue to pitch the way he has this month and improve on 2019.
Asked how he thought getting the first win will help the rest of his season, Lee smiled and said, "Nobody knows for sure. Hopefully, I will be able to relax more and keep pitching well,"
In this file photo from June 12, 2020, Lee Seung-ho of the Kiwoom Heroes pitches against the NC Dinos their Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--S. Korean Embassy in D.C. installs banner thanking U.S. on Korean War anniversary

The banner was also installed on the buildings of the South Korean consulate general and cultural center , as well @ @ @ @ @ , all in Washington .

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, June 26 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean Embassy in Washington on Friday installed a banner thanking the United States as both sides marked the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War.
The banner is displayed on the front of the embassy building, with the words "remembrance," "solidarity," "peace," and "Thanks to the U.S.A!" printed below both countries' flags.
On the anniversary, which fell on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visited the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington and placed a wreath in honor of the fallen.
The U.S. fought with South Korea under the United Nations flag against a North Korean invasion backed by China and the Soviet Union.
The three-year conflict ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty, leaving the sides technically still at war.
More than 33,000 American troops were killed in action.
The banner was also installed on the buildings of the South Korean consulate general and cultural center, as well as the Old Korean Legation, all in Washington.
This photo, provided by the South Korean Embassy in Washington, shows a banner thanking the United States on the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, installed on the embassy building on June 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--U.S. Congress moves to keep restrictions on removing troops from S. Korea

Those conditions are that a reduction is in the national security interest of the United States and will not significantly @ @ @ @ @ allies in the region , and that the secretary has appropriately consulted with U.S. allies @ @ @ @ @ Japan , regarding the move .

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, June 26 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Congress appeared set to keep restrictions on withdrawing American troops from South Korea in new legislation authorizing funding for military and national security programs.
The Armed Services Committees of both the Senate and the House of Representatives have drawn up their respective versions of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2021.
In the Senate version, the bill prohibits the use of the authorized funds to reduce the total number of American troops stationed in South Korea from their current level of 28,500 until 90 days after the secretary of defense certifies that the move meets two conditions.
This EPA file photo shows the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington. (Yonhap)
Those conditions are that a reduction is in the national security interest of the United States and will not significantly undermine the security of U.S. allies in the region, and that the secretary has appropriately consulted with U.S. allies, including South Korea and Japan, regarding the move.
The House version adds two more conditions -- that a reduction is commensurate with a reduction in the threat posed by North Korea, and that South Korea is capable of deterring a conflict -- while doubling the required number of days after certification to 180.
This year's NDAA contains the same provision restricting a drawdown of troops below 28,500. Last year's version set the bar at 22,000.
The Senate and House versions must be reconciled before the bill can be passed and sent to U.S. President Donald Trump to sign or veto.
If kept, the restriction is expected to limit the Trump administration's ability to withdraw troops from South Korea amid reports that the measure could be used to pressure Seoul in the two countries' ongoing negotiations over a new defense cost-sharing deal.
Trump's recent decision to reduce troop levels in Germany has fueled those concerns.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--U.S. calls out N.K. regime for torture in detention facilities

`` On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture , we call on all governments to act to @ @ @ @ @ compensation and rehabilitation for survivors of torture , and to bring those who engage in @ @ @ @ @ the department said .

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, June 26 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. State Department called out the North Korean regime on Friday for allegedly using torture against defectors and others held in detention facilities.
The department said in a statement marking the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture that various countries, including Iran and China, use torture to suppress and punish their populations.
"The North Korean regime also continues to employ torture as a standard practice in its detention facilities, particularly against defectors -- including children -- forcibly returned from abroad," it said.
"The United States is committed to using all available tools to promote accountability for those who engage in these practices, which can destroy the lives of victims," the statement added.
In Iran, the regime used forms of torture that included flogging, blinding, stoning, amputation and sexual violence, according to the department.
In China, more than a million Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and members of other predominantly Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang were arbitrarily detained in internment camps, where "many" reported torture, it said.
Also listed were the regimes of Syria, Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela, as well as the governments of Russia and Zimbabwe.
"On this International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, we call on all governments to act to prevent torture, to provide compensation and rehabilitation for survivors of torture, and to bring those who engage in torture to justice," the department said.
The statement comes a day after the department released its annual Trafficking in Persons Report, putting North Korea in the lowest Tier 3 category for human trafficking for the 18th consecutive year.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


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(END)


yna--2020-06-26--(4th) Independent panel recommends against prosecution indictment of Samsung heir in succession case

Except for one acting chairperson , 13 members participated in the deliberation process and voted in favor of Lee , @ @ @ @ @ the investigation and not indict him .
Most of them were said to conclude that @ @ @ @ @ some of the prosecution 's claims against him , including alleged violation of the capital @ @ @ @ @ also reportedly factored in Samsung 's role in the country 's coronavirus-battered economy .

(ATTN: UPDATES with civic group's response in last 4 paras)
SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- An independent committee recommended Friday against an indictment of Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong, dealing a blow to the prosecution's plan to formally charge him over his role in a controversial merger and alleged accounting fraud.
The panel of outside experts concluded that the prosecution's investigation into the high-profile succession case was not warranted, after a lengthy discussion at the Supreme Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul.
The 14-member committee consisted of members drawn from a pool of experts from academia, media, civic organizations and cultural industries.
Except for one acting chairperson, 13 members participated in the deliberation process and voted in favor of Lee, advising the prosecution to drop the investigation and not indict him. Most of them were said to conclude that it was hard to substantiate some of the prosecution's claims against him, including alleged violation of the capital market laws. The committee also reportedly factored in Samsung's role in the country's coronavirus-battered economy.
Members of the independent committee formed by the South Korean prosecution leave the Supreme Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul on June 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
Lee's lawyers welcomed the decision.
"We respect the decision from the committee," they said in a release. "We thank the committee for giving Lee and Samsung a chance to focus on their business activities and overcome the current crisis.
In a short statement, the prosecution said it would "determine the future course of its legal action based on the investigation's results and the committee's recommendation."
During the deliberation process, Samsung Group and the prosecutors submitted written opinions totaling 50 pages in length and took turns giving presentations and answered questions from the panel. Lee, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, did not attend the meeting.
Although not legally binding, the conclusion is expected to weigh in the prosecution's decision process for further legal actions against Lee.
Since the introduction of the system in 2018, the committee had given out recommendations in eight cases and the prosecution has followed all of them.
But some expect the prosecution, having shown confidence over the ability to prove Lee's guilt, to push ahead with its plan to bring charges against Lee for stock manipulation and violation of capital market laws.
This composite image shows Samsung's heir and de facto leader Lee Jae-yong against a background of the prosecution's logo and building. (Yonhap)
The experts' review was established after a citizen's panel, formed by the prosecution, arrived at a decision on June 11 that the issue needed independent reassessment.
Early this month, the Samsung scion requested public assessment of the investigation, an outside review system introduced two years ago to enhance neutrality and fairness of prosecutorial investigations into cases that are of great public interest.
Lee is accused of playing a role in the controversial merger in 2015 between two Samsung affiliates, Cheil Industries Inc. and Samsung C&T, and suspected accounting fraud at the pharmaceutical unit of Samsung Biologics.
The prosecutors suspect that the merger and fraud were designed to help him gain greater control of the country's biggest conglomerate.
Lee is the grandson of Lee Byung-chull, the founder of Samsung Group. His father, Lee Kun-hee, has been incapacitated since he suffered a heart attack in 2014.
On June 9, the Seoul Central District Court rejected the prosecution's request to put Lee behind bars for a further investigation.
It said there was "insufficient explanation on the need and validity to arrest the defendants against the principle of trial without detention," referring to the principle that pretrial detention should only be used as a last resort. The court also said whether Lee is guilty should be determined through "legal battles and court hearings."
Lee has denied the allegations against him. Samsung also has claimed that Lee was not briefed on and did not order any illegal transactions, including stock manipulation and accounting fraud.
The Seoul-based civic group People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy strongly criticized the committee's decision for overlooking "the grave criminal allegations (against Lee)."
"We express our deepest regret for the decision that groundlessly gave Samsung the upper hand," it said in a statement. "The court acknowledged allegations against Lee," it argued, citing the judge's statement when she rejected the prosecution's arrest warrant earlier this month.
At that time she said, "The basic facts (of the case) have been all explained. And prosecutors seem to have already secured considerable evidence through the investigation."
The civic group continued, "It is questionable whether the investigation into the allegations surrounding the illegal succession was excessive," demanding the prosecution proceed with an indictment.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-26--Veteran slugger feels sense of responsibility batting in heart of order

`` Over the course of a season , we 'll have our ups and downs , '' Choi said .
@ @ @ @ @ the guys that we ca n't get caught up in emotions on a daily basis @ @ @ @ @ and we have to take it slowly . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 26 (Yonhap) -- For the past dozen years, veteran hitter Choi Hyoung-woo has been batting in the heart of the order, be it for his former club Samsung Lions or his current team Kia Tigers.
He is now approaching with an increasing sense of responsibility.
"When I was younger, I just didn't know any better, and I just assumed I would bat cleanup if I kept hitting well," the 36-year-old Choi said Friday, after helping the Tigers to an 8-6 win over the Kiwoom Heroes in Seoul. His third-inning grand slam at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul erased a 2-1 deficit.
"But now, I am holding myself accountable for batting in such an important spot," Choi added. "It forces me to keep improving myself."
In this file photo from June 17, 2020, Choi Hyoung-woo of the Kia Tigers bats against the NC Dinos in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Choi has been as consistent as they come in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), though he finally showed some signs of slowing down in 2019.
He was on a streak of five seasons with at least 20 home runs and 100 RBIs, and then settled for 17 homers and 86 RBIs last year.
Choi may be able to get to the 20-100 plateau this year. Through 42 games, he has eight homers and 31 RBIs.
He's also batting a robust .322/.423/.534, slightly ahead of his career numbers. After going 3-for-5 Friday, Choi is batting .404 for the month of June.
"I was trying to keep it simple at the plate," Choi said of his home run. "I knew I've been swinging the bat fairly well of late. And luckily, I got a pitch in the middle of the zone."
The long-time left fielder has been serving as the designated hitter more in the past couple of years, a switch that Choi said helps him more mentally than physically because, "I have less to worry about during the game."
The Tigers moved up to fourth place with Friday's win. They weren't considered among the playoff contenders before the season, and Choi said he himself is pleasantly surprised that his team is this high up in the standings.
As the sage veteran with five championship rings, Choi had this message for his teammates.
"Over the course of a season, we'll have our ups and downs," Choi said. "I've been telling the guys that we can't get caught up in emotions on a daily basis. It's a marathon and we have to take it slowly."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--(LEAD) 2 workers die, 2 critically wounded while cleaning inside manhole in Daegu

DAEGU , June 27 ( Yonhap ) -- Two workers died of asphyxiation and two were critically injured on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ in the southeastern South Korean city of Daegu , fire officials said .

(ATTN: UPDATES with number of deaths; AMENDS headline)
DAEGU, June 27 (Yonhap) -- Two workers died of asphyxiation and two were critically injured on Saturday while cleaning inside a manhole in the southeastern South Korean city of Daegu, fire officials said.
The accident happened at a recycling center in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at 5:42 p.m.
Two workers, who suffered cardiac arrest, died while being treated at a hospital. Another two workers nearly lost consciousness after they suffered asphyxiation, fire officials said.
Police were investigating the cause of the accident.
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--Four workers critically wounded while cleaning inside manhole in Daegu

DAEGU , June 27 ( Yonhap ) -- Four workers were critically injured on Saturday while cleaning inside a manhole @ @ @ @ @ city of Daegu , fire officials said .

DAEGU, June 27 (Yonhap) -- Four workers were critically injured on Saturday while cleaning inside a manhole in the southeastern South Korean city of Daegu, fire officials said.
The accident happened at a recycling center in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at 5:42 p.m.
Two workers suffered cardiac arrest and two nearly lost consciousness after they suffered from asphyxiation, fire officials said.
Police were investigating into the cause of the accident.
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--(4th LD) S. Korea reports 51 more coronavirus cases amid cluster infections at Seoul church

A total of 16 patients has been confirmed in Seoul and three others in Gyeonggi Province so far in cases @ @ @ @ @ a 31-year-old woman was found Wednesday to have been infected with the virus .
She @ @ @ @ @ overnight church camp .

(ATTN: ADDS details in para 7)
SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- The number of South Korea's daily COVID-19 cases bounced back to over 50 on Saturday amid another outbreak of cluster infections traced to a major church in Seoul.
A total of 51 people tested positive for the new coronavirus, according to data collated during the last 24 hours by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Among them, 31 people contracted the virus via community spread, while 20 cases were imported, it announced.
They included 15 in Seoul, 12 in nearby Gyeonggi Province and two in Daejeon, some 160 kilometers south of the capital.
In particular, nine people were added to the list of COVID-19 patients related to Wangsung Church in the southwestern ward of Gwanak, which has emerged as a source of cluster infections. It is known to have more than 1,700 followers.
Seoul citizens go through new coronavirus tests at a temporary testing site established at Wangsung Church in the southeastern area of the capital on June 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
A total of 16 patients has been confirmed in Seoul and three others in Gyeonggi Province so far in cases traced to the church since a 31-year-old woman was found Wednesday to have been infected with the virus. She attended choir activities and an overnight church camp.
As of 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, 22 coronavirus patients were linked to Wangsung Church and a total of 1,813 people, including church congregants and their family members, had been tested, officials said.
Eleven infections have been reported as well in connection with a church in Anyang, a city just south of Seoul.
The health and quarantine authorities raised the need to discuss whether to designate churches and other religious facilities as "high-risk" places in the anti-virus fight.
"It's a situation in which discussions (on the issue) are necessary in line with social distancing," Kwon Jun-wook, deputy director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a press briefing.
Currently, such facilities are not listed as high-risk places, which include bars, nightclubs, karaoke facilities, standing concert halls and indoor gyms that run group exercises.
Kwon Jun-wook, deputy director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, holds a press briefing in this file photo. (Yonhap)
South Korea reported 51 cases on Wednesday, 28 the next day and 39 on Friday.
The rebound in the number of infections comes as the country is apparently facing a second wave of outbreaks, especially in the Seoul capital area with population of 24 million, in the wake of weekslong declines in confirmed cases.
Health and quarantine authorities are fighting twin battles against community transmissions and cross-border inflows of infections.
The nation's total caseload was tallied at 12,653 as of the day, about five months after the confirmation of its first new coronavirus infection. The KCDC reported no additional deaths, with the tally remaining at 282.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--E. coli infections rise to 57 in city south of Seoul, source unknown

Health authorities have widened a probe into the E. coli outbreak in the city of Ansan , about 50 kilometers @ @ @ @ @ since a kindergarten student in the city showed symptoms of illness on June 12 .

ANSAN, South Korea, June 27 (Yonhap) -- The number of people infected with a strain of E. coli bacteria rose to 57 south of Seoul, while the source of the bacteria is still unknown, health authorities said Saturday.
Health authorities have widened a probe into the E. coli outbreak in the city of Ansan, about 50 kilometers south of the capital, since a kindergarten student in the city showed symptoms of illness on June 12.
The outbreak centered on the kindergarten in Ansan as health authorities collected samples from all 202 students and teachers for clinical analysis.
As of Saturday noon, 111 of them showed symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of E. coli that can cause kidney failure.
The number of patients has been increasing since four children complained of stomachache on June 16.
A total of 22 people, including 22 kindergarten students, have been hospitalized after experiencing stomachache and diarrhea.
Health authorities have conducted epidemiological research, suspecting the mass food poisoning may have been caused by lunch provided by the kindergarten.
The kindergarten has been ordered to close until the end of this month.
They also fined the kindergarten for failing to preserve some food ingredients offered to students in case of a food poisoning outbreak.
This photo, taken on June 25, 2020, shows the exterior of a kindergarten where about 100 pupils have complained of food poisoning symptoms over the past week in Ansan, just south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--(3rd LD) S. Korea reports 51 more coronavirus cases amid cluster infections at Seoul church

(ATTN: UPDATES with new press briefing in paras 6-10; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- The number of South Korea's daily COVID-19 cases bounced back to over 50 on Saturday amid another outbreak of cluster infections traced to a major church in Seoul.
A total of 51 people tested positive for the new coronavirus, according to data collated during the last 24 hours by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Among them, 31 people contracted the virus via community spread, while 20 cases were imported, it announced.
They included 15 in Seoul, 12 in nearby Gyeonggi Province and two in Daejeon, some 160 kilometers south of the capital.
In particular, nine people were added to the list of COVID-19 patients related to Wangsung Church in the southwestern ward of Gwanak, which has emerged as a source of cluster infections. It is known to have more than 1,700 followers.
Seoul citizens go through new coronavirus tests at a temporary testing site established at Wangsung Church in the southeastern area of the capital on June 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
A total of 16 patients has been confirmed in Seoul and three others in Gyeonggi Province so far in cases traced to the church since a 31-year-old woman was found Wednesday to have been infected with the virus. She attended choir activities and an overnight church camp.
Eleven infections have been reported as well in connection with a church in Anyang, a city just south of Seoul.
The health and quarantine authorities raised the need to discuss whether to designate churches and other religious facilities as "high-risk" places in the anti-virus fight.
"It's a situation in which discussions (on the issue) are necessary in line with social distancing," Kwon Jun-wook, deputy director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a press briefing.
Currently, such facilities are not listed as high-risk places, which include bars, nightclubs, karaoke facilities, standing concert halls and indoor gyms that run group exercises.
Kwon Jun-wook, deputy director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, holds a press briefing in this file photo. (Yonhap)
South Korea reported 51 cases on Wednesday, 28 the next day and 39 on Friday.
The rebound in the number of infections comes as the country is apparently facing a second wave of outbreaks, especially in the Seoul capital area with population of 24 million, in the wake of weekslong declines in confirmed cases.
Health and quarantine authorities are fighting twin battles against community transmissions and cross-border inflows of infections.
The nation's total caseload was tallied at 12,653 as of the day, about five months after the confirmation of its first new coronavirus infection. The KCDC reported no additional deaths, with the tally remaining at 282.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--USFK eases anti-virus restrictions in central Seoul

`` Due to continued associated risk , all bars , clubs and establishments that restrict entrance to adults only remain @ @ @ @ @ USFK-affiliated personnel until further notice , '' it added .
`` The USFK community must @ @ @ @ @ adhere to the core health protection tenets that have enabled it to achieve its current @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Saturday it's lifting some restrictions on activities by its personnel in the central Seoul district of Yongsan, citing the continued low numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases there.
The USFK has decided to adjust the health protection condition (HPCON) from the current "Charlie" to "Bravo" for residents in the area, effective at noon next Monday.
Authorized activities in the Yongsan district include seated dining at restaurants and visiting hotels, barbershops and hair salons, child care facilities and gyms, as well as outdoor activities, it said in a press release.
The 28,000-strong USFK has a garrison in Yongsan, once home to its headquarters, which has been relocated to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul.
Despite the adjustment in the HPCON for the Yongsan area, the USFK said it is not lowering its guard against COVID-19.
"Due to continued associated risk, all bars, clubs and establishments that restrict entrance to adults only remain off limits pen-wide to all USFK-affiliated personnel until further notice," it added. "The USFK community must remain disciplined, vigilant and adhere to the core health protection tenets that have enabled it to achieve its current level of success."
An American service member gets his temperature checked at the entrance of Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek in a file photo provided by the U.S. Forces Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--Remains of 6 fallen U.N. service members from Korean War repatriated to Hawaii

The remains , believed to be of Americans , were excavated at multiple locations in South Korea across various periods @ @ @ @ @ kept by Seoul 's defense ministry , according to the U.S.-led UNC and the ministry @

SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- The remains of six service members who died during the 1950-53 Korean War while fighting under the U.N. flag were sent to Hawaii, the United Nations Command (UNC) said Saturday.
The remains, believed to be of Americans, were excavated at multiple locations in South Korea across various periods of time and had been kept by Seoul's defense ministry, according to the U.S.-led UNC and the ministry.
On Thursday, which marked the 70th anniversary of the onset of the conflict, the remains of the six service members were transferred to the U.S. Forces Korea during a joint ceremony that included the repatriation of 147 South Korean service members.
Then on Friday, the remains were loaded onto an aircraft bound for Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and left Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek. The U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency there will be tasked with identifying the remains, they added.
"Although separated from their countrymen, they were never forgotten," UNC Command Chaplain Col. David Bowlus prayed over the repatriated remains before their departure.
UNC said it maintains its solemn obligation to recover those who have fallen in battle and those listed as missing in action or prisoners of war.
Around 1.95 million people from 22 countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada and Turkey, also took part in the three-year war, including six countries that extended medical support. Of them, 33,686 U.S. service members were killed, 92,134 wounded and 3,737 unaccounted for, according to government data.
Members of the United Nations Command (UNC) salute caskets containing the remains of UNC service members killed during the 1950-53 Korean War during a ceremony at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on June 26, 2020, in this photo provided by the air base. The remains were transferred to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--BLACKPINK's new song tops iTunes charts in 60 nations

SEOUL , June 27 ( Yonhap ) -- K-pop girl group BLACKPINK 's latest song ranked No .
1 on @ @ @ @ @ , its management agency said Saturday , a day after the release of `` How @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's latest song ranked No. 1 on iTunes charts in 60 nations, its management agency said Saturday, a day after the release of "How You Like That."
The number of countries where the song topped the charts represents an all-time high for a South Korean girl group.
The song also dominated two major Asian music streaming services -- Line Music of Japan and QQ Music of China -- according to YG Entertainment.
BLACKPINK's fresh music video has also drawn explosive attention. Posted on YouTube, it recorded more than 66 million views as of 1 p.m. on the day.
K-pop girl group BLACKPINK in a photo released by YG Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-27--S. Korea's military to deploy new wheeled anti-aircraft system

It 's equipped with an Electro Optical Targeting System ( EOTS ) developed by Hanwha Systems Co. , one of @ @ @ @ @ South Korean ones , that have formed a team for the development program .

SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to mass-produce a newly developed wheeled air defense cannon system for use by its military starting next year in a project to replace the aging Vulcan in operation, the nation's arms agency said Saturday.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said it has signed a 250 billion-won (US$200 million) contract with Hanwha Defense Co. on the 30-mm anti-aircraft gun wheeled vehicle system (AAGW).
It would be a substitute for the Vulcan Air Defense System (VADS) that has been used by the country's Army, Air Force and Marine Corps for a long time.
An image of the 30-mm anti-aircraft gun wheeled vehicle system (AAGW) in a photo provided by South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
AAGW has a firing range of 3 kilometers, 1.6 times longer than the Vulcan. It requires 18 personnel for company-level operation, versus 48 for the VADS.
It's equipped with an Electro Optical Targeting System (EOTS) developed by Hanwha Systems Co., one of around 200 firms, mostly South Korean ones, that have formed a team for the development program.
AAGW is expected to help enhance the military's low altitude air defense capability against low-flying aircraft and drones, according to DAPA.
"Besides, it will contribute to fostering the defense industry and creating jobs at an economically difficult time (for South Korea)," a DAPA official said.
The agency inked a separate contract, worth 70 billion won, with Indra, a radar maker based in Spain, to purchase the Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) system for use at air bases.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-06-28--IPO stocks fly high, appetite for newcomers set to grow further

Last month , the Bank of Korea ( BOK ) cut the key interest rate to a record low of @ @ @ @ @ new coronavirus ' economic fallout .
It also sharply cut South Korea 's growth outlook @ @ @ @ @ contraction this year , compared with a 2.1 percent expansion forecast in February .

SEOUL, June 28 (Yonhap) -- Newly listed stocks enjoyed substantial gains in the first half this year, fueling an investor rush amid volatile market trends, data showed Sunday.
A total of 12 companies made debuts on the main KOSPI and the tech-laden KOSDAQ markets, nine of which far exceeded their IPO prices, according to the data from the bourse operator Korea Exchange (KRX).
As of Friday, these firms' stock price hikes averaged as high as 52.4 percent.
Among them, Leading Edge Technology Co. Ltd. closed Friday at 20,300 won on the KOSDAQ market, up 160.3 percent from the 7,800 won IPO price. The OLED-related equipment maker was listed on June 22.
LED chipmaker Seoul Viosys soared 144 percent, with Nanotech company LEMON and biotech firm SCM Lifescience surging 120.8 percent and 70.9 percent, respectively. Marketing service provider PlayD shot up 50.6 percent.
This undated file photo shows the Korea Exchange (KRX)'s headquarters building in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Experts largely attributed the IPO stock rally to inflows of cash from retail investors.
SK Biopharmaceuticals, the bio unit of SK Group, offered 3.9 million IPO shares from June 23-24. Investors deposited 31 trillion won to get the stocks, the largest amount in the country's IPO history.
Financial experts said the IPO stock rush may continue down the road thanks to upcoming IPOs by big-name firms, such as Big Hit Entertainment, the label of K-pop superstars BTS.
Ample liquidity circulating in the market, combined with investors seeking higher returns amid the low-interest, low-growth economy, may help boost IPO stocks.
Last month, the Bank of Korea (BOK) cut the key interest rate to a record low of 0.5 percent, citing the new coronavirus' economic fallout. It also sharply cut South Korea's growth outlook in 2020 to 0.2 percent contraction this year, compared with a 2.1 percent expansion forecast in February.
SK securities analyst Na Seung-doo expected the IPO stock rush to stretch throughout the rest of the year.
Na said, "We are seeing more inflows of cash to the stock market amid the strong regulations on real estate."
"The previous investment-related market fiascos also seem to have increased demand for direct investment," he added.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)