yna--2020-12-22--Two S. Korean workers for USFK test positive for COVID-19

South Korea has seen another wave of the new coronavirus in recent weeks , particularly in Seoul and the surrounding @ @ @ @ @ the spread , the country decided to enforce tougher antivirus measures , such as banning @ @ @ @ @ more individuals and the shutdown of winter sports facilities and major tourist attractions starting this @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- Two South Korean workers for the U.S. Forces Korea have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the U.S. military said Tuesday.
One contractor who works on Camp Casey in the northern city of Dongducheon was confirmed to have been infected on Saturday after coming into contact with a person who earlier tested positive, according to USFK.
He last visited the camp on Dec. 13 and has been in isolation at his residence since the following day, it added.
The other COVID-19 patient is a civilian employee who works at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul. He last visited the base last Friday and tested positive on Sunday, USFK said.
"Both individuals are awaiting transport to a Korean medical facility designated for confirmed COVID-19 cases," USFK said, adding that South Korean and U.S. health authorities are conducting contact tracing.
The total number of coronavirus cases among the USFK-affiliated population rose to 466, most of whom have tested positive upon arrival in South Korea from the U.S.
South Korea has seen another wave of the new coronavirus in recent weeks, particularly in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area. To slow the spread, the country decided to enforce tougher antivirus measures, such as banning private gatherings of five or more individuals and the shutdown of winter sports facilities and major tourist attractions starting this week.
USFK also raised its antivirus guidance by one notch Sunday, which calls for teleworking for all members except for "mission essential" individuals and bans unnecessary off-post trips.
Medical workers clad in protective gear transport a patient infected with the new coronavirus from an ambulance to a negative-pressure ward at the National Medical Center in Seoul on Dec. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--K League champs Jeonbuk promote assistant Kim Sang-sik to head coach

The former midfielder spent the final five seasons of his 15-year career with Jeonbuk , from 2009 to 2013 .
@ @ @ @ @ remained with Jeonbuk as an assistant coach in 2014 .
He is now the first @ @ @ @ @ the club 's reins as head coach .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- Having spent over a decade as a player and an assistant coach with the team, Kim Sang-sik will now be the head coach of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
The four-time reigning K League 1 champions announced Tuesday that Kim has been promoted to become their new bench boss and replace Jose Morais. The length and financial terms of Kim's deal weren't disclosed.
This photo provided by Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Dec. 22, 2020, shows the K League 1 club's new head coach, Kim Sang-sik. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Jeonbuk and Morais parted ways earlier this month after the Portuguese tactician's two seasons in South Korea. Jeonbuk won K League 1 titles in both of Morais' seasons, extending their record title run to four straight, and also won the Korean FA Cup this year. Kim, 44, was Morais' top assistant.
The former midfielder spent the final five seasons of his 15-year career with Jeonbuk, from 2009 to 2013. Following his retirement, Kim remained with Jeonbuk as an assistant coach in 2014. He is now the first former Jeonbuk player to take the club's reins as head coach.
Once Morais' departure at season's end became a foregone conclusion, Kim quickly emerged as the strongest candidate. Kim captained Jeonbuk to their first championship in 2009 and then built a reputation as a players' coach thanks to his soft leadership skills.
"Given his strong leadership and tactical acumen, Kim Sang-sik was the perfect fit as our head coach," Jeonbuk said in a statement. "With his deep understanding of the team, Kim can embody our philosophy better than anyone."
Kim will take over a team that has won the past four league titles but has also lost some key pieces along the way, either to foreign clubs or retirement.
"I won't rest on the laurels of this year, and I'll dedicate myself to making us an even better club," Kim said. "I have faith in my players."
Jeonbuk will open offseason training camp on Jan. 11 in Namhae, some 500 kilometers south of Seoul.
This image provided by Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Dec. 22, 2020, shows the K League 1 club's new head coach, Kim Sang-sik. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--(LEAD) S. Korea to close ski slopes, tourist attractions in virus fight: PM

`` We intend to break the force of the third wave with measures that are stronger than those under Level @ @ @ @ @ he said , indicating the government remains cautious about adopting the highest level due to @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 3-4, 8-14; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will close ski slopes and other tourist attractions during the upcoming holiday season to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Tuesday.
The new restrictions will be part of the government's special antivirus measures in effect from Thursday until Jan. 3, Chung said during an interagency meeting on the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Skiers wait in line for a lift at a ski slope in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, on Dec. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
"We intend to break the force of the third wave with measures that are stronger than those under Level 3 social distancing," he said, indicating the government remains cautious about adopting the highest level due to its potential economic impact.
"The government will block transmissions in everyday life in practical ways rather than through the formality of adjusting levels," Chung said.
The capital area is currently under Level 2.5, the second highest in a five-tier scheme, as authorities continue to weigh the pros and cons of adopting Level 3 rules.
The rest of the nation is under Level 2.
Chung said all winter sports facilities, as well as popular year-end tourist attractions, will be required to close during the designated period.
Senior care centers and mental hospitals, which have become hotbeds for cluster infections, will limit visits by outsiders and ban their staff from holding private gatherings, he added.
Restaurants will face stricter social distancing rules, and restrictions will apply to all private gatherings of five or more people, he said.
The local governments of Seoul and the adjacent Incheon and Gyeonggi Province on Monday announced a ban on such gatherings from Wednesday until Jan. 3.
The capital area has recently accounted for about 70 percent of the new national daily caseload. In the past week, the country reported more than 1,000 daily confirmed cases for five consecutive days.
On Sunday and Monday, the number fell below 1,000 apparently due to fewer tests over the weekend.
"Yesterday saw a record 110,000 tests, but the number of confirmed cases stood in the 800s, leading us to hope for a turnaround," Chung said. "Christmas and the New Year holiday period must not become a trigger for the coronavirus."
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (R) speaks during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters at the government complex in Seoul on Dec. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--K-pop band BTOB's rapper under probe on alleged marijuana use

`` ( The company ) feels a sense of grave responsibility for causing concerns to many people and will do @ @ @ @ @ ( Jung to ) sincerely cooperate with further investigations , '' it said .

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- K-pop band BTOB's rapper Jung Il-hoon was apprehended by the police earlier this year for allegedly smoking marijuana on multiple occasions, according to law enforcement authorities.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Monday they referred the 26-year-old rapper, together with accomplices, to the prosecution in July, with recommendations to indict him for violating the Narcotics Control Act.
Jung is accused of repeatedly using marijuana he bought secondhand through his acquaintance. He was found to have paid for the drug with cryptocurrency, according to police.
It was also revealed that he began his mandatory military service as a public service worker in May while under investigation.
CUBE Entertainment, his management agency, acknowledged it has learned that the BTOB member is currently undergoing criminal investigation for alleged use of marijuana.
"(The company) feels a sense of grave responsibility for causing concerns to many people and will do our duty in order for (Jung to) sincerely cooperate with further investigations," it said.
BTOB debuted in 2012 with the seven-member group and gained popularity through hit ballad songs, such as "Missing You" and "Only One for Me."
Jung was creatively involved in writing several of the group's hit songs, including "Movie" and "The Winter's Tale."
This file photo shows K-pop boy group BTOB's member Jung Il-hoon. He was referred to the prosecution in July on charges of repeatedly smoking marijuana. (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--(LEAD) New virus cases under 1,000 for 2nd day, private gatherings to be banned from Wednesday

South Korean authorities have expanded anonymous testing in the greater Seoul area since Dec. 14 to try to find people @ @ @ @ @ with COVID-19 .
A total of 609 infections , including 131 cases in the past @ @ @ @ @ confirmed through such testing so far , the KDCA said .

(ATTN: ADDS details in para 10, last 4 paras)
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell below 1,000 for the second consecutive day Tuesday, but the nation again recorded its highest daily death toll as health authorities tightened virus curbs to slow the spread of the virus.
The country added 869 more COVID-19 cases, including 824 local infections, raising the total caseload to 51,460, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The tally marked a decline from 926 cases Monday, 1,097 cases Sunday, 1,053 Saturday and 1,062 Friday.
Twenty-four people died from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 722. It was the second day in a row that the nation reported its highest daily death total. The fatality rate was 1.4 percent.
Medical workers transport a COVID-19 patient at a hospital in Seoul on Dec. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
With one-day virus caseloads running at all-time highs last week, health authorities were considering whether to raise the country's social distancing guidelines to Level 3, the highest in its five-tier scheme.
However, authorities said they are aiming to contain the current wave of the pandemic without raising virus curbs to Level 3 on concerns over impacts on the economy.
Instead of applying the potential lockdown measure that would deal a severe blow to millions of small merchants, health authorities deployed "targeted" virus curbs.
Starting Wednesday, the greater Seoul area will ban gatherings of five or more people.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said ski resorts and famous tourism venues will be closed to contain the spread of the virus during the Christmas and New Year's holiday seasons.
South Korean authorities have expanded anonymous testing in the greater Seoul area since Dec. 14 to try to find people who are asymptomatic and infected with COVID-19. A total of 609 infections, including 131 cases in the past 24 hours, have been confirmed through such testing so far, the KDCA said.
South Korea has been applying Level 2.5 social distancing rules in the greater Seoul area, home to half of its 51.6 million population, and Level 2 rules in the rest of the country.
A medical worker holds hand warmers at an outdoor COVID-19 testing station in Seoul on Dec. 21, 2020, amid a cold wave. (Yonhap)
Chains of cluster infections at facilities that include nursing homes and churches, and through private gatherings, continued to pop up.
A relentless spike in virus cases spawned concerns about a shortage of hospital beds and a rise in fatalities. Health authorities issued a rare order to private hospitals last Friday to secure more intensive care beds for COVID-19 patients.
Of the newly identified local infections, 309 cases were reported in Seoul and 193 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital. Incheon, west of Seoul, reported 44 more cases.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's largest port city of Busan adding 26 cases and North Gyeongsang Province reporting 58 new cases.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients reached 281, compared with 274 from the previous day.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 35,928, up 773 from the previous day.
The country, meanwhile, added 45 imported cases, increasing the total to 5,161. Sixteen cases came from the United States, followed by nine from Russia and five from Indonesia.
The country has carried out 3,772,432 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3. The country reported the first case on Jan. 20.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--S. Korea's new top nuclear envoy holds phone talks with Biegun

Noh 's appointment came ahead of the launch of the Joe Biden administration next month and is seen as part @ @ @ @ @ of its team for North Korea talks for cooperation with Washington to continue its peace @ @ @ @ @ to dialogue .

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- Noh Kyu-duk, South Korea's new chief nuclear negotiator, spoke by phone Tuesday with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun in the first talks since his appointment this week, the foreign ministry said.
The former presidential secretary for peace planning was named Monday to replace Lee Do-hoon as the special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs.
Biegun, who doubles as the top U.S. nuclear envoy for North Korea, congratulated Noh on taking the post and reaffirmed Washington's commitment to resuming dialogue with Pyongyang, the ministry said in a press release. Biegun said he will work closely with Noh over North Korea, the ministry added.
Noh, in turn, said the two countries should maintain communication and cooperation while stably managing the situation at a time of power transition in Washington.
Noh's appointment came ahead of the launch of the Joe Biden administration next month and is seen as part of Seoul's freshening up of its team for North Korea talks for cooperation with Washington to continue its peace drive and bring Pyongyang back to dialogue.
During his visit to Seoul earlier this month, Biegun said that diplomacy remains the "best and only" course to resolve the North Korean nuclear quandary and called for Pyongyang to return to dialogue.
Noh Kyu-duk, South Korea's new chief nuclear negotiator, is shown in this photo provided by the foreign ministry on Dec. 22, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--(5th LD) New virus cases under 1,000 for 2nd day, private gatherings to be banned from Wednesday

Gatherings of more than four people will be banned at restaurants in the greater Seoul area beginning Wednesday .
A @ @ @ @ @ face a fine of up to 3 million won ( US $ 2,710 ) and @ @ @ @ @ respectively , in case they are found to have violated the ban .

(ATTN: ADDS new tally in 5th para, photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell below 1,000 for the second consecutive day Tuesday, with health authorities set to adopt the most stringent distancing rules so far to contain the spread of the virus.
The country added 869 more COVID-19 cases, including 824 local infections, raising the total caseload to 51,460, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The tally marked a decline from 926 cases Monday, 1,097 cases Sunday, 1,053 Saturday and 1,062 Friday.
Twenty-four people died from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 722. It was the second day in a row that the nation reported its highest daily death total. The fatality rate was 1.4 percent.
A medical worker conducts a COVID-19 test at a makeshift virus testing clinic on Dec. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
The country is expected to report more than 1,000 new daily cases on Wednesday morning, as 984 new cases were confirmed as of 9 p.m. Tuesday, according to health authorities and local governments. The greater Seoul area accounted for 69.6 percent with 685 cases.
With one-day virus caseloads running at all-time highs last week, health authorities were considering whether to raise the country's social distancing guidelines to Level 3, the highest in its five-tier scheme.
However, authorities said they are aiming to contain the current wave of the pandemic without raising virus curbs to Level 3 on concerns over impacts on the economy.
Instead of applying the potential lockdown measure that would deal a severe blow to millions of small merchants, health authorities deployed "targeted" virus curbs.
Gatherings of more than four people will be banned at restaurants in the greater Seoul area beginning Wednesday. A restaurant owner and customer will face a fine of up to 3 million won (US$2,710) and up to 100,000 won, respectively, in case they are found to have violated the ban.
A COVID-19 patient is loaded into an ambulance at a nursing home in the southwestern city of Gwangju on Dec. 22, 2020, to be transported to a nearby hospital. Twelve residents and four workers have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus at the facility. (Yonhap)
Across the nation, 16 ski resorts, 35 ice rinks and other winter tourist venues, including Jeongdongjin Beach in Gangwon Province that is one of the most popular beaches for watching the sunrise on New Year's Day, were ordered to be closed from Thursday until Jan. 3.
Lodging facilities were ordered to open at 50 percent capacity, KDCA officials said.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said the new round of restrictions is aimed at containing the spread of the virus during the Christmas and New Year's holiday seasons.
South Korean authorities have expanded anonymous testing in the greater Seoul area since Dec. 14 to try to find people who are asymptomatic and infected with COVID-19. A total of 609 infections, including 131 cases in the past 24 hours, have been confirmed through such testing so far, the KDCA said.
South Korea has been applying Level 2.5 social distancing rules in the greater Seoul area, home to half of its 51.6 million population, and Level 2 rules in the rest of the country. Starting Wednesday, Level 2.5 rules will be applied for all religious facilities nationwide.
A ski resort near Seoul is nearly empty on Dec. 22, 2020. The government ordered major winter sport and tourist facilities to close from Dec. 24 to Jan. 3 to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
Of the 824 newly identified local infections announced early Tuesday, 309 cases were reported in Seoul and 193 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital. Incheon, west of Seoul, reported 44 more cases.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's largest port city of Busan adding 26 cases and North Gyeongsang Province reporting 58 new cases.
Although about 72 percent of new cases came from the greater Seoul area, all parts of the nation saw rising infections.
A nursing hospital in Seoul reported 53 additional patients, raising the caseload to 107, while a religious facility in Daegu identified 30 more cases, with the total reaching 31.
Other major cluster infections included another nursing home in Chejongju, which added 10 more patients, raising the total to 71. Another religious facility on the southern island of Jeju has reported 112 patients.
Kwon Joon-wook, deputy director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said in a daily briefing that COVID-19 is likely to kill more elderly people due to a surge of infections at nursing homes and hospitals.
Medical workers conduct a coronavirus test on a visitor at a makeshift clinic in the southeastern port city of Busan on Dec. 22, 2020, amid the spread of COVID-19. (Yonhap)
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients reached 281, compared with 274 from the previous day.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 35,928, up 773 from the previous day.
The country, meanwhile, added 45 imported cases, increasing the total to 5,161. Sixteen cases came from the United States, followed by nine from Russia and five from Indonesia.
The country has carried out 3,772,432 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3. The country reported the first case on Jan. 20.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--Dongbu-led consortium picked as preferred bidder for Hanjin Heavy

The Dongbu consortium beat two competitors , including a group led by SM Line Corp , to acquire a 83.45 @ @ @ @ @ -- 63.44 percent owned by the seven domestic financial institutions and 20.01 percent by three @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- A consortium led by construction company Dongbu Corp. was picked Tuesday as the preferred bidder for the controlling stake of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co., the troubled shipbuilder said.
A group of Hanjin's creditors, led by the Korea Development Bank, reached the decision during a meeting earlier in the day, Hanjin said in a regulatory filing.
The Dongbu consortium beat two competitors, including a group led by SM Line Corp, to acquire a 83.45 percent stake in Hanjin Heavy -- 63.44 percent owned by the seven domestic financial institutions and 20.01 percent by three Filipino financial firms.
Hanjin Heavy suffered from capital erosion last year due to the troubles of its Subic shipyard in the Philippines.
Following the announcement, the Dongbu-led consortium issued a press release and said it expects its acquisition of Hanjin will create synergy in many business areas.
The stake sale is expected to be concluded early next year after gaining approval from authorities, including South Korea's arms procurement agency, Defense Acquisition Program Administration, as the shipbuilder has been fully dedicated to building battleships.
A file photo of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co. headquarters (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--(4th LD) New virus cases under 1,000 for 2nd day, private gatherings to be banned from Wednesday

(ATTN: ADDS new tally in 5th para; ADDS new photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell below 1,000 for the second consecutive day Tuesday, with health authorities set to adopt the most stringent distancing rules so far to contain the spread of the virus.
The country added 869 more COVID-19 cases, including 824 local infections, raising the total caseload to 51,460, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The tally marked a decline from 926 cases Monday, 1,097 cases Sunday, 1,053 Saturday and 1,062 Friday.
Twenty-four people died from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 722. It was the second day in a row that the nation reported its highest daily death total. The fatality rate was 1.4 percent.
A medical worker conducts a COVID-19 test at a makeshift virus testing clinic on Dec. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Health authorities and local governments said later in the day 718 new cases were confirmed as of 6 p.m. Tuesday, 137 more than at the same time on Monday. The greater Seoul area accounted for 69.2 percent with 497 cases.
With one-day virus caseloads running at all-time highs last week, health authorities were considering whether to raise the country's social distancing guidelines to Level 3, the highest in its five-tier scheme.
However, authorities said they are aiming to contain the current wave of the pandemic without raising virus curbs to Level 3 on concerns over impacts on the economy.
Instead of applying the potential lockdown measure that would deal a severe blow to millions of small merchants, health authorities deployed "targeted" virus curbs.
Gatherings of more than four people will be banned at restaurants in the greater Seoul area beginning Wednesday. A restaurant owner and customer will face a fine of up to 3 million won (US$2,710) and up to 100,000 won, respectively, in case they are found to have violated the ban.
A COVID-19 patient is loaded into an ambulance at a nursing home in the southwestern city of Gwangju on Dec. 22, 2020, to be transported to a nearby hospital. Twelve residents and four workers have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus at the facility. (Yonhap)
Across the nation, 16 ski resorts, 35 ice rinks and other winter tourist venues, including Jeongdongjin Beach in Gangwon Province that is one of the most popular beaches for watching the sunrise on New Year's Day, were ordered to be closed from Thursday until Jan. 3.
Lodging facilities were ordered to open at 50 percent capacity, KDCA officials said.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said the new round of restrictions is aimed at containing the spread of the virus during the Christmas and New Year's holiday seasons.
South Korean authorities have expanded anonymous testing in the greater Seoul area since Dec. 14 to try to find people who are asymptomatic and infected with COVID-19. A total of 609 infections, including 131 cases in the past 24 hours, have been confirmed through such testing so far, the KDCA said.
South Korea has been applying Level 2.5 social distancing rules in the greater Seoul area, home to half of its 51.6 million population, and Level 2 rules in the rest of the country. Starting Wednesday, Level 2.5 rules will be applied for all religious facilities nationwide.
A medical worker puts on gloves before performing COVID-19 tests at a testing clinic in Seoul on Dec. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Of the 824 newly identified local infections announced early Tuesday, 309 cases were reported in Seoul and 193 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital. Incheon, west of Seoul, reported 44 more cases.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's largest port city of Busan adding 26 cases and North Gyeongsang Province reporting 58 new cases.
Although about 72 percent of new cases came from the greater Seoul area, all parts of the nation saw rising infections.
A nursing hospital in Seoul reported 53 additional patients, raising the caseload to 107, while a religious facility in Daegu identified 30 more cases, with the total reaching 31.
Other major cluster infections included another nursing home in Chejongju, which added 10 more patients, raising the total to 71. Another religious facility on the southern island of Jeju has reported 112 patients.
Kwon Joon-wook, deputy director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said in a daily briefing that COVID-19 is likely to kill more elderly people due to a surge of infections at nursing homes and hospitals.
Medical workers conduct a coronavirus test on a visitor at a makeshift clinic in the southeastern port city of Busan on Dec. 22, 2020, amid the spread of COVID-19. (Yonhap)
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients reached 281, compared with 274 from the previous day.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 35,928, up 773 from the previous day.
The country, meanwhile, added 45 imported cases, increasing the total to 5,161. Sixteen cases came from the United States, followed by nine from Russia and five from Indonesia.
The country has carried out 3,772,432 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3. The country reported the first case on Jan. 20.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--(2nd LD) Chinese, Russian military aircraft violate S. Korea's air defense zone

Foreign aircraft have often entered KADIZ .
The last such incident took place in August when two Russian warplanes entered @ @ @ @ @ sea and stayed there for around 30 minutes before moving into Japan 's air defense @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS foreign ministry's response in paras 9-10)
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- Nineteen Chinese and Russian aircraft entered South Korea's air defense identification zone (KADIZ) on Tuesday, prompting the Air Force to scramble fighter jets in response, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
Four Chinese jets, believed to be H-6 bombers, first entered KADIZ above the East Sea, at around 8 a.m., according to the military.
A total of 15 Russian aircraft, including Tu-95 bombers, A-50 early warning aircraft, then flew in from the north, and they all left the zone at around 3:20 p.m., it added.
"Our military dispatched the Air Force fighter jets before their KADIZ entry in preparations for accidental situations," JCS said in a statement.
China and Russia appeared to have conducted a combined training, and none of the aircraft violated South Korea's territorial airspace, it added.
Before the aircraft's KADIZ entry, the Chinese military told South Korea its planes were carrying out normal training, according to officials.
South Korea and Russia do not have a military hotline. The two sides have been pushing to set up one between their air forces to exchange flight information, they said.
"We called military attaches of the two nations and expressed concerns about the incident," a defense ministry official said.
The foreign ministry also expressed regret over the incident.
"The ministry expressed regret to China and Russia about the entry, through diplomatic channels, and called for measures to prevent a recurrence," a ministry official said.
Foreign aircraft have often entered KADIZ. The last such incident took place in August when two Russian warplanes entered the zone above the southern sea and stayed there for around 30 minutes before moving into Japan's air defense identification zone.
Air defense identification zones are not territorial airspace and are not bound by international law. But a foreign warplane is supposed to make prior notification before approaching them in line with international customs to prevent accidental clashes.
This photo captured from Japanese government data on Nov. 29, 2019, shows a Y-9 surveillance aircraft presumed to be operated by China. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This image captured from Russia's defense ministry website shows a Russian A-50 early warning and control plane. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--(2nd LD) S. Korea confirms another case of highly pathogenic bird flu

The new case was found at a chicken farm in Yeoju , 105 kilometers southeast of Seoul , the Ministry @ @ @ @ @ Rural Affairs said .
All of the farm 's 150,000 chickens were culled as a @ @ @

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with confirmation in paras 1-4)
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea confirmed another case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) in poultry Tuesday, raising this year's total caseload to 19 amid growing concerns over the disease spreading across the nation.
The new case was found at a chicken farm in Yeoju, 105 kilometers southeast of Seoul, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said. All of the farm's 150,000 chickens were culled as a preventive measure.
The discovery put the nationwide tally of highly pathogenic bird flu cases from poultry farms at 19 since the initial outbreak in late November.
The ministry is currently investigating another suspected case reported from a duck farm in Yongin, just south of Seoul. The farm was raising 6,000 ducks and 90,000 quails.
The virus has spread at a faster pace in South Jeolla Province, which accounted for six infections. Four were from North Jeolla Province.
The country reported this year's first highly pathogenic AI case from wild birds in late October. A total of 33 cases were confirmed from wild bird habitats across the country.
A group of 20 suspected cases among wild birds are also currently under investigation.
South Korea completed culling around 6.1 million poultry, including 4 million chickens and 1.2 million quails.
Under local law, poultry within a 3-km radius of farms infected with highly pathogenic cases must be destroyed.
Quarantine officials block a road to a farm in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, on Dec. 8, 2020, due to an outbreak of virulent bird flu there. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--(LEAD) Chinese, Russian military aircraft violate S. Korea's air defense zone

Before the aircraft 's KADIZ entry , the Chinese military told South Korea its planes were carrying out normal training @ @ @ @ @ South Korea and Russia do not have a military hotline .
The two sides have @ @ @ @ @ one between their air forces to exchange flight information , they said .

(ATTN: ADDS more details throughout, photos)
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- Nineteen Chinese and Russian aircraft entered South Korea's air defense identification zone (KADIZ) on Tuesday, prompting the Air Force to scramble fighter jets in response, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
Four Chinese jets, believed to be H-6 bombers, first entered KADIZ above the East Sea, at around 8 a.m., according to the military.
A total of 15 Russian aircraft, including Tu-95 bombers, A-50 early warning aircraft, then flew in from the north, and they all left the zone at around 3:20 p.m., it added.
"Our military dispatched the Air Force fighter jets before their KADIZ entry in preparations for accidental situations," JCS said in a statement.
China and Russia appeared to have conducted a combined training, and none of the aircraft violated South Korea's territorial airspace, it added.
Before the aircraft's KADIZ entry, the Chinese military told South Korea its planes were carrying out normal training, according to officials.
South Korea and Russia do not have a military hotline. The two sides have been pushing to set up one between their air forces to exchange flight information, they said.
"We called military attaches of the two nations and expressed concerns about the incident," a defense ministry official said.
Foreign aircraft have often entered KADIZ. The last such incident took place in August when two Russian warplanes entered the zone above the southern sea and stayed there for around 30 minutes before moving into Japan's air defense identification zone.
Air defense identification zones are not territorial airspace and are not bound by international law. But a foreign warplane is supposed to make prior notification before approaching them in line with international customs to prevent accidental clashes.
This photo captured from Japanese government data on Nov. 29, 2019, shows a Y-9 surveillance aircraft presumed to be operated by China. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This image captured from Russia's defense ministry website shows a Russian A-50 early warning and control plane. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--(2nd LD) Moon says COVID-19 vaccinations won't be 'too late'

`` There are a lot of worries about the vaccine these days , but it may be inevitable for vaccine @ @ @ @ @ first because they extended much support to the vaccine development , '' Moon said during @ @ @ @ @ of the five major constitutional organizations at Cheong Wa Dae .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more details in paras 4-10)
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday efforts are well under way to ensure that coronavirus vaccinations for the South Korean people won't be too late, as the government is battling accusations that it failed to procure sufficient doses in time.
"There are a lot of worries about the vaccine these days, but it may be inevitable for vaccine producing countries to get vaccines first because they extended much support to the vaccine development," Moon said during a meeting with the leaders of the five major constitutional organizations at Cheong Wa Dae.
"I believe public inoculation in our country will begin not too late, and preparations are well under way."
Later in the day, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Moon has ordered the procurement of a sufficient amount of COVID-19 vaccine doses since as early as April.
In a text message sent to reporters, the presidential office disclosed details of Moon's past instructions about the vaccines, made on more than a dozen occasions between April and early December.
The disclosure came amid growing public concern about delays in COVID-19 vaccination as the government is striving to launch inoculation during the first quarter of next year.
Opposition lawmakers and some conservative media outlets have blasted the government for the delay, with news outlets running reports speculating that Moon belatedly reprimanded his aides over the situation.
Rebutting the news reports as untrue, Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kang Min-seok called for "politicization of vaccines to be stopped," saying it would only amplify public mistrust and distort the truth.
"They are amplifying people's mistrust by distorting and exaggerating the facts as if President Moon had his hands off of securing vaccines and we would like to reveal what is true," he said.
Kang said that Moon told a staff meeting last month to "secure an amount enough to be considered excessive."
President Moon Jae-in (C of right row) speaks during a meeting with the five highest national leaders at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Dec. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Tuesday's meeting between Moon and top officials was arranged to discuss measures to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and other pending national issues.
The five leaders who attended the meeting with Moon at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae were National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug, Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su, Constitutional Court President Yoo Nam-seok, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and National Election Commission (NEC) Chairperson Noh Jeong-hee, the office said.
It is the first time in seven months that Moon met with the five highest national leaders under the Constitution. It also marked the first such meeting after Noh became the NEC chief on Nov. 2.
Moon also asked for support from the five national leaders in resolving conflicts over ways to revamp powerful organizations, apparently referring to Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's injunction request against the justice ministry's recent decision to suspend him for two months over alleged misconduct.
The president also touched on inter-Korean relations, saying dialogue between North Korea and the United States and between the two Koreas have been in a stagnant state, but efforts have been made to prevent a further deterioration in the situation.
"Unless an unexpected situation occurs, it is expected that U.S.-North Korea dialogue and inter-Korean dialogue may regain momentum with the launch of the new U.S. administration. I will work hard to make that happen," Moon said.
In response, Park said social integration has also emerged as an important task after the National Assembly has passed reform bills involving the prosecution, the National Intelligence Service and police.
Kim called for paying greater attention to vulnerable social groups, including disabled people, women and children, while Yoo stressed the importance of alleviating polarization and expanding social safety nets.
Prior to the meeting, Moon awarded the Blue Stripes Order of Service Merit to Noh's predecessor, Kwon Soon-il, who served at the NEC from 2017 to October this year.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--Chinese, Russian military aircraft violate S. Korea's air defense zone

Air defense identification zones are not territorial airspace and are not bound by international law .
But a foreign warplane @ @ @ @ @ notification before approaching them in line with international customs to prevent accidental clashes .

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- Nineteen Chinese and Russian aircraft entered South Korea's air defense identification zone on Tuesday in what appeared to be a combined exercise, prompting the Air Force to scramble fighter jets, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
Four Chinese jets first entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) above the East Sea, followed by 15 Russian aircraft that flew in from north, according to the military.
The JCS said the two countries appeared to have conducted a combined training.
"Our military dispatched the Air Force fighter jets before their KADIZ entry in preparations for accidental situations," it said in a statement.
Before the aircraft's KADIZ entry, the Chinese military told South Korea its planes were carrying out normal training, according to officials.
Air defense identification zones are not territorial airspace and are not bound by international law. But a foreign warplane is supposed to make prior notification before approaching them in line with international customs to prevent accidental clashes.
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--(URGENT) Chinese, Russian military aircraft violate S. Korea's air defense zone: JCS

(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--2020-12-22--Main opposition lawmaker leaves party amid wealth-related allegations

He , however , did not admit to the allegations , saying they will be dealt with in accordance with @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- A lawmaker of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) left the party Tuesday in light of recent allegations that he illegally amassed personal wealth.
Rep. Jeon Bong-min, based in the port city of Busan, announced his decision to leave the PPP and serve as an independent.
MBC TV reported earlier that the first-term lawmaker allegedly had his father's construction company outsource projects to a firm that he and his siblings owned, which could constitute illegal wealth transfer.
The lawmaker's father was suspected of attempting to cover up the news report by bribing a journalist.
"I give my sincere apology to the people and party members for stirring up criticism with my father's improper remarks," Jeon said.
He, however, did not admit to the allegations, saying they will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
A file photo of Rep. Jeon Bong-min (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--S. Korean kicker Koo Young-hoe named to NFL Pro Bowl

He only appeared in four games for the Chargers .
After bouncing around in a minor competition and getting cut @ @ @ @ @ , Koo signed with the Falcons in October last year , and went on to @ @ @ @ @ goal attempts in eight games in the 2019 season .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- A near-perfect season has netted South Korean kicker Koo Young-hoe his first All-Star berth in American football.
Koo earned a Pro Bowl nod in the National Football League (NFL) on Monday (U.S. time), based on a combination of fan, player and coach voting.
In this Associated Press file photo from Sept. 27, 2020, Koo Young-hoe, the South Korean kicker for the Atlanta Falcons, warms up before a National Football League regular season game against the Chicago Bears at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Yonhap)
Koo has been one of the NFL's best kickers this season. He has been successful on 35 of 36 field goal attempts through 13 games. Koo's only miss of the season came in September.
He already owns the franchise record for most field goals in a season. And with three games remaining, Koo is challenging the all-time NFL record of 44 field goals, set by David Akers for the San Francisco 49ers in 2011.
Born in Seoul, the 26-year-old Koo moved to the United States in sixth grade. After a four-year college career, Koo signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2017, and then became the fourth South Korean native to play in the NFL, joining John Lee, Kyle Love, and former Super Bowl MVP and four-time Pro Bowler Hines Ward.
In this USA Today Sports file photo via Reuters from Dec. 13, 2020, Koo Young-hoe (R), the South Korean kicker for the Atlanta Falcons, kicks a field goal against the Los Angeles Chargers during a National Football League regular season game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. (Yonhap)
He only appeared in four games for the Chargers. After bouncing around in a minor competition and getting cut by the New England Patriots, Koo signed with the Falcons in October last year, and went on to make 23 of 26 field goal attempts in eight games in the 2019 season.
The Falcons rewarded Koo with a one-year, US$750,000 extension, and the deal has paid handsome dividends.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NFL will not hold its annual Pro Bowl game and will instead have a virtual match with players competing in the iconic Madden video game.
This image captured from the Atlanta Falcons' Twitter page shows the National Football League team's South Korean kicker, Koo Young-hoe, following his first Pro Bowl selection on Dec. 22, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--Incoming Biden gov't likely to seek N.K. dialogue in 2021 rather than sanctions: think tank

The institute also said that in the latter half of next year , Washington might seek early-stage nuclear negotiations with @ @ @ @ @ denuclearization strategy . ''
It did not elaborate on the strategy but appeared to refer @ @ @ @ @ toward a step-by-step approach to the North 's nuclear quandary .

By Song Sang-ho
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- The incoming U.S. administration of Joe Biden could seek dialogue with North Korea next year rather than focusing on sanctions, though a nuclear deal between the countries is unlikely in the year, a local think tank said Tuesday.
In its 2021 forecast for international affairs, the foreign ministry-affiliated Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (IFANS) predicted South Korea's renewed role in facilitating dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang and preventing the North's possible provocations.
The institute released a summary of the annual forecast, which is set to be released on its website on Wednesday. It touched on various topics, including next month's launch of the Biden administration and its geopolitical implications.
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden speaks during an address to the nation in Wilmington, Delaware, on Dec. 14, 2020, in this photo released by Reuters. (Yonhap)
"In 2021, chances are high that rather than focusing on sanctions pressure against the North, the U.S. administration would complete its policy review at an early date and explore opportunities for dialogue with the North," the summary read.
"While focusing on efforts to stem the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic management, North Korea is forecast to refrain from nuclear and missile provocations for the time being and watch U.S. responses," it added.
The institute also said that in the latter half of next year, Washington might seek early-stage nuclear negotiations with Pyongyang under its "phased denuclearization strategy." It did not elaborate on the strategy but appeared to refer to Biden's apparent inclinations toward a step-by-step approach to the North's nuclear quandary.
"But it is difficult to anticipate a nuclear agreement within the year due to the countries' differences, and twists and turns like the suspension of talks are expected," the institute said.
On cross-border relations, the institute pointed out that in the short term, the two Koreas may find it difficult to improve their ties due to the spread of COVID-19, and warned that a springtime South Korea-U.S. military exercise could dampen efforts for inter-Korean reconciliation.
"Especially around the time of the North's Workers' Party's eighth congress in January, the North would focus on domestic politics, and if a South Korea-U.S. exercise takes place in March, it would not be easy to enhance inter-Korean relations," the institute said.
"But in the long term, as the COVID-19 spread flats off across the world, and if the Biden administration affirms its will for the resumption of nuclear negotiations with the North, inter-Korean ties are forecast to improve," it added.
On the Sino-U.S. rivalry, the institute forecast that the Biden administration may pursue competitive policies regarding China but would seek regional stability through "economic and diplomatic engagement" with the Asian rival.
The incoming U.S. government may also seek to strengthen alliances and multilateral cooperation over regional security, trade rules and technological leadership to keep an assertive China in check, and call for closer cooperation with South Korea along the line, the institute said.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

`` With regards to the DPRK , we continue to campaign for the free flow of information into the DPRK @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency in response to a question regarding the leafleting ban .
@ @ @ @ @ , we advocate for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms . ''

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday.
-----------------
(4th LD) S. Korea to impose nationwide ban on restaurant gatherings of 5 or more people
SEOUL -- South Korea will ban five or more people from gathering at restaurants during the upcoming holiday season to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, officials said Tuesday.
Restaurants will be fined up to 3 million won (US$2,709) in case of a violation, while customers will be fined up to 100,000 won, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.
-----------------
(LEAD) U.S. stresses importance of free flow of information to N. Korea
WASHINGTON/SEOUL -- The U.S. State Department on Monday underscored the importance of getting outside information into North Korea in its first official comment on South Korea's recently legislated ban on sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.
"With regards to the DPRK, we continue to campaign for the free flow of information into the DPRK," a State Department spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency in response to a question regarding the leafleting ban. "As a global policy, we advocate for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms."
-----------------
(LEAD) Unification ministry distributes fact sheet about leafleting ban to diplomatic corps: official
SEOUL -- The unification ministry has put together an English-language fact sheet about a recently legislated ban on sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into North Korea and distributed it to foreign diplomatic missions here, an official said Tuesday.
The fact sheet was sent to the missions of over 50 countries, including member countries of the "Peace Club," a consultative channel between Seoul's foreign ministry and envoys from countries that have diplomatic missions in the North.
-----------------
Cabinet approves bill banning anti-Pyongyang leaflets
SEOUL -- The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill banning the sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets into North Korea, promising to make greater efforts to help dispel any misunderstanding of the measure amid criticism it undermines the right to freedom of expression.
The amendment to the Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act, which passed the National Assembly earlier this month, calls for punishing the scattering of leaflets across the border with up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won (US$27,047).
-----------------
(2nd LD) Court to resume hearing over top prosecutor's injunction request against suspension later this week
SEOUL -- A high-profile hearing on an injunction request by the country's top prosecutor over a disciplinary measure handed to him earlier this month will resume later this week, a court said Tuesday.
The Seoul Administrative Court began the hearing behind closed doors at 2 p.m. on whether to grant an injunction filed by Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl.
-----------------
1 in 4 COVID-19 cases in Seoul confirmed via random testing
SEOUL -- One in four new daily COVID-19 cases in Seoul was confirmed through random street testing this week, the city government said Tuesday.
The number of new daily coronavirus infections in the capital rose by 317 on Monday, staying over the 300 mark for the seventh consecutive day.
-----------------
(LEAD) Moon says COVID-19 vaccinations for Korean people won't be 'too late'
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that efforts are well under way to ensure that coronavirus vaccinations for the South Korean people won't be too late.
Moon made the remarks while meeting with the leaders of the five major constitutional organizations to discuss measures to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and other pending national issues.
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--Albright calls for U.S.-S. Korea cooperation on N. Korea's denuclearization

SEOUL , Dec. 22 ( Yonhap ) -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Tuesday she expects the @ @ @ @ @ a prepared diplomatic process to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue in close cooperation with @ @ @ @ @ the unification ministry Tuesday .

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Tuesday she expects the incoming U.S. administration to pursue a prepared diplomatic process to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue in close cooperation with South Korea, according to the unification ministry Tuesday.
Albright made the remarks during a video call with Unification Minister Lee In-young earlier in the day. Albright, who served as secretary of state under President Bill Clinton's administration, traveled to Pyongyang in 2000 and met with then North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, the current leader's father.
During Tuesday's call, Albright said she "expects the incoming U.S. administration to push ahead with a prepared diplomatic process in close coordination with South Korea to solve the North Korean nuclear issue," the ministry said in a press release.
She called on Seoul to communicate closely with the incoming Joe Biden administration, saying that South Korea understands North Korea the best, according to the ministry.
Minister Lee said he will work in close coordination with the incoming administration to make progress in the peace process, his office said.
Unification Minister Lee In-young (L) speaks during a video call with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright (R) in this photo provided by his office on Dec. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--Land minister nominee pressed by opposition over controversial remarks, allegations

`` If that guy had paid a little bit of attention , nothing would have happened , '' Byeon was @ @ @ @ @ a company meeting after the accident , stirring criticism over what some opposition lawmakers called @ @ @ @ @ human dignity and life .

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- Land Minister nominee Byeon Chang-heum, soon to face a parliamentary confirmation hearing, has come under growing pressure from opposition lawmakers to withdraw his nomination over controversial past remarks and suspicions of cronyism.
Byeon, the CEO of the state-run housing developer Korea Land & Housing Corp., was tapped earlier this month to replace Land Minister Kim Hyun-mee, amid a public backlash against the government's failure to curb soaring housing prices.
Opposition lawmakers led by the conservative, main opposition People Power Party (PPP), however, have denounced Byeon as unfit for the ministerial post and called for his nomination to be withdrawn, citing his past controversial remarks and alleged misdeeds.
At the center of the criticism are remarks Byeon made as the then CEO of Seoul Housing & Communities Corp. (SH), controlled by the Seoul metropolitan government, about a 19-year-old service engineer who was killed while repairing a screen door at the subway platform of Guui Station in Seoul in 2016.
The incident drew a huge backlash against Seoul Metro Corp., which is also controlled by the Seoul metropolitan government.
"If that guy had paid a little bit of attention, nothing would have happened," Byeon was found to have said during a company meeting after the accident, stirring criticism over what some opposition lawmakers called a lack of respect for human dignity and life.
Land Minister nominee Byeon Chang-heum is on his way to his office on Dec. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Doubling down on its offense ahead of the minister nominee's confirmation Wednesday, the PPP again called for Byeon's withdrawal.
"Due to a lack of personal integrity, not to mention qualifications and competence, nominee Byeon isn't fit for the ministerial role and cannot be allowed to sit for the confirmation hearing," a group of PPP lawmakers said in a press conference.
The lawmakers warned that they may take legal action if the nominee does not step down.
PPP spokesman Rep. Bae June-young also vowed that the party will do all it can to thwart Byeon's final appointment.
The progressive minor Justice Party also voiced its objection to the nomination, with spokesperson Jeong Ho-jin saying the party finds it difficult to approve his appointment in the absence of forgiveness from the family of the late service worker.
The nominee is also facing other allegations raised by opposition lawmakers, including suspicions of hiring several close alumni from his alma mater, Seoul National University, for senior SH posts in the past.
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--(2nd LD) Court to resume hearing over top prosecutor's injunction request against suspension later t

(2nd LD) Court to resume hearing over top prosecutor's injunction request against suspension later this week

He also argued that the measure to bar him from performing his duty seriously undermined the values of political impartiality @ @ @ @ @ .
Also major investigations , including a probe into the controversial closure of the Wolsong-1 @ @ @ @ @ dealt a serious setback , he added .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; ADDS details in first 2 paras)
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- A high-profile hearing on an injunction request by the country's top prosecutor over a disciplinary measure handed to him earlier this month will resume later this week, a court said Tuesday.
The Seoul Administrative Court began the hearing behind closed doors at 2 p.m. on whether to grant an injunction filed by Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl.
The hearing was wrapped up for the day at around 4:15 p.m. and was scheduled to resume at 3 p.m. Thursday.
Yoon did not attend the hearing, according to his lawyer Lee Wan-kyu, as he did at a previous injunction hearing late last month and at two sessions of the justice ministry's disciplinary committee earlier this month.
Last week, President Moon Jae-in endorsed the ministry's decision to suspend the top prosecutor for two months over four counts of alleged misconduct, including the surveillance of judges hearing cases on former Justice Minister Cho Kuk and presidential officials' alleged involvement in the Ulsan mayoral election in 2018 to bring victory to one of Moon's longtime friends.
The measure went into effect immediately.
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl (Yonhap)
Yoon filed an injunction Thursday night, along with a separate administrative lawsuit against the decision, claiming that the disciplinary session had procedural errors and the allegations against him were not true.
He also argued that the measure to bar him from performing his duty seriously undermined the values of political impartiality and independence at the prosecution. Also major investigations, including a probe into the controversial closure of the Wolsong-1 nuclear reactor, could be dealt a serious setback, he added.
Among the issues being discussed at the hearing included whether the suspension caused "irreparable damage," how it affected the public's well-being and whether there have been procedural flaws in the process leading up to the disciplinary decision.
His two-year term was scheduled to finish in July.
On Dec. 1, the same court granted a preliminary injunction to halt his temporary removal imposed by Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae over allegations of a series of misconduct. The ministry, undeterred, proceeded with its disciplinary panel discussions twice to eventually discipline him.
Lee Suk-oong (2nd from L), a member of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's legal team, speaks to reporters after arriving at the Seoul Administrative Court on Dec. 22, 2020, to attend a hearing to decide whether to allow an injunction filed by Yoon against the justice ministry's disciplinary action to suspend him for two months over alleged misconduct. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--Over 70 pct of S. Koreans joined boycott of Japanese goods: survey

By age , those in their 30s were the most active group in the movement , with a participation rate @ @ @ @ @ by those in their 50s , 40s and 20s , who registered a participation rate @ @ @ @ @ percent and 67.6 percent , respectively .

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- Over 70 percent of South Koreans participated in a nationwide boycott of Japan-made goods in one form or another amid an ongoing trade dispute between Seoul and Tokyo, a survey showed Tuesday.
In a six-day survey by market researcher Embrain conducted on 1,000 adults below the age of 60 through Dec. 2, 71.8 percent said they "have experience of taking part in a boycott on Japanese products" in the past two years.
The rate of female participants, at 76.4 percent, was higher compared to that of their male counterparts, which stood at 67.2 percent.
By age, those in their 30s were the most active group in the movement, with a participation rate of 75.6 percent, followed by those in their 50s, 40s and 20s, who registered a participation rate of 74 percent, 70 percent and 67.6 percent, respectively.
Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo was mentioned most frequented as the boycotted brand, at 75.7 percent, followed by beer brands Asahi, Sapporo and Kirin. Shoe store ABC mart and retailer Muji were also among the most shunned brands, according to the survey.
This file photo, taken Aug. 4, 2019, shows a sign at a supermarket in Seoul announcing a boycott of Japanese products to protest Tokyo's export curbs against South Korea. Japan's moves have fueled anti-Japan public sentiment in Korea, with people boycotting Japanese products and staging a widespread campaign encouraging people not to travel to Japan. (Yonhap)
In this file photo taken Aug. 6, 2019, members of the Confederation of Korean Government Employees hold up signs denouncing Japan's expanded export restrictions on South Korea and calling for a boycott of Japanese goods during a rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. (Yonhap)
According to the survey, 69.3 percent of Koreans think the boycott should continue, while only 12.2 percent said it should come to an end.
Of the respondents, 41.9 percent said they will keep actively participating in the movement, while 37.6 percent said they will take part but in a more moderate manner.
The boycott started in July last year in protest against Japan's export restrictions of some key industrial materials to South Korea. Tokyo made the move as the top court in South Korea ordered Japanese firms to compensate Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor in 2018.
The survey also showed that over half of Koreans expect the boycott to continue in the long term, while less than 20 percent forecast it will fade away.
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--(LEAD) Moon says COVID-19 vaccinations for Korean people won't be 'too late'

`` There are a lot of worries about the vaccine these days , but it may be inevitable for vaccine @ @ @ @ @ first because they extended much support to the vaccine development , '' Moon said during @ @ @ @ @ Dae .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details and remarks in paras 9-12)
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that efforts are well under way to ensure that coronavirus vaccinations for the South Korean people won't be too late.
Moon made the remarks while meeting with the leaders of the five major constitutional organizations to discuss measures to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and other pending national issues.
"There are a lot of worries about the vaccine these days, but it may be inevitable for vaccine producing countries to get vaccines first because they extended much support to the vaccine development," Moon said during the meeting at Cheong Wa Dae.
"I believe public inoculation in our country will begin not too late, and preparations are well under way."
President Moon Jae-in (C of right row) speaks during a meeting with the five highest national leaders at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Dec. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Amid growing public concern about delays in COVID-19 vaccination, the government is striving to secure supplies in time for the launch of inoculation during the first quarter of next year.
The five leaders who attended the meeting with Moon at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae were National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug, Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su, Constitutional Court President Yoo Nam-seok, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and National Election Commission (NEC) Chairperson Noh Jeong-hee, the office said.
It is the first time in seven months that Moon met with the five highest national leaders under the Constitution. It also marked the first such meeting after Noh became the NEC chief on Nov. 2.
Moon also asked for support from the five national leaders in resolving conflicts over ways to revamp powerful organizations, apparently referring to Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's injunction request against the justice ministry's recent decision to suspend him for two months over alleged misconduct.
The president also touched on inter-Korean relations, saying dialogue between North Korea and the United States and between the two Koreas have been in a stagnant state, but efforts have been made to prevent a further deterioration in the situation.
"Unless an unexpected situation occurs, it is expected that U.S.-North Korea dialogue and inter-Korean dialogue may regain momentum with the launch of the new U.S. administration. I will work hard to make that happen," Moon said.
In response, Park said social integration has also emerged as an important task after the National Assembly has passed reform bills involving the prosecution, the National Intelligence Service and police.
Kim called for paying greater attention to vulnerable social groups, including disabled people, women and children, while Yoo stressed the importance of alleviating polarization and expanding social safety nets.
Prior to the meeting, Moon awarded the Blue Stripes Order of Service Merit to Noh's predecessor, Kwon Soon-il, who served at the NEC from 2017 to October this year.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--(LEAD) Seoul stocks dip over 1.5 pct on virus concerns

SEOUL , Dec. 22 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean stocks dipped more than 1.5 percent Tuesday after the benchmark @ @ @ @ @ high in the previous session , largely on concerns of the spreading COVID-19 cases at @ @ @ @ @ Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar .

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks dipped more than 1.5 percent Tuesday after the benchmark index closed at an all-time high in the previous session, largely on concerns of the spreading COVID-19 cases at home and abroad. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 44.97 points, or 1.62 percent, to close at 2,733.68.
Trading volume was high at about 1.2 billion shares worth some 19.6 trillion won (US$17.7 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 783 to 99.
Foreigners sold a net 150 billion won, extending their selling streak to a fourth session, while retail investors purchased a net 366 billion won. Institutions offloaded a net 199 billion won.
Electronic signboards at a Hana Bank dealing room in Seoul show the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,733.68 on Dec. 22, 2020, down 44.97 points or 1.62 percent from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)
The KOSPI registered its deepest fall since Oct. 30 amid growing virus fears and valuation pressure.
Earlier in the morning, the South Korean government rolled out additional antivirus measures, such as banning private gatherings of five or more people from Thursday to Jan. 3 across the country.
It is an extension of a ban that was previously limited to the greater Seoul area from Wednesday until Jan. 3.
Global recovery hopes also weakened over a reported new strain of the coronavirus that is up to 70 percent more transmissible than the original.
"Investor sentiment seems to have weakened on the new strain of the coronavirus spreading in Britain, along with increased (COVID-19) lockdown efforts," Daeshin Securities analyst Lee Kyung-min said.
"Positive leads, including vaccine hopes and a U.S. stimulus agreement, came up short of offsetting the virus fears, as they had been already projected in the stock prices," he added.
Most large caps traded lower in Seoul.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 0.96 percent to 72,300 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix slumped 3.02 percent to 112,500 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics retreated 2.43 percent to 803,000 won, and Celltrion declined 2.18 percent to 359,000 won.
Internet portal giant Naver finished unchanged at 284,000 won, with its rival Kakao dipping 0.92 percent to 376,000 won.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem fell 2.21 percent to 797,000 won, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI dropped 1.94 percent to 555,000 won.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, fell 1.6 percent to 184,000 won, and top steelmaker POSCO dipped 2.55 percent to 267,500 won.
The local currency closed at 1,107.4 won per dollar, down 4.7 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed higher. The yield on three-year Treasurys lost 1.4 basis points to 0.945 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond fell 2.1 basis points to 1.302 percent.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-23--(5th LD) New virus cases spike to over 1,000, virus curbs further tightened

The country is expected to report around 1,000 new daily cases on Thursday morning , as 911 new cases were @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday , 73 fewer than at the same time on Tuesday , according to health @ @ @ @ @ The greater Seoul area accounted for 69.9 percent with 637 cases .

(ATTN: ADDS new tally in 5th para)
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases rose to above 1,000 for the first time in three days Wednesday, as the nation imposed the most stringent social distancing rules so far to contain the winter wave of the virus.
The country added 1,092 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,060 local infections, raising the total caseload to 52,550, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). It was the second-highest one-day tally of confirmed cases since the pandemic began.
The tally marked a jump from 869 cases Tuesday, 926 cases Monday, 1,097 cases Sunday, 1,053 Saturday and 1,062 last Friday.
Seventeen people died from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 739.
A medical worker performs a COVID-19 test at a testing center in Gwangju on Dec. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
The country is expected to report around 1,000 new daily cases on Thursday morning, as 911 new cases were confirmed as of 9 p.m. Wednesday, 73 fewer than at the same time on Tuesday, according to health authorities and local governments. The greater Seoul area accounted for 69.9 percent with 637 cases.
Health authorities have been considering whether to raise the country's social distancing guidelines to Level 3, the highest in its five-tier scheme.
However, authorities said they are aiming to contain the current wave of the pandemic without raising virus curbs to Level 3 on concerns over the impact on the economy.
Instead of applying measures that would deal a severe blow to millions of small merchants, health authorities have deployed "targeted" virus curbs.
Starting Wednesday, the greater Seoul area banned gatherings of five or more people. Restaurants in the greater Seoul area will face a fine if they allow gatherings of more than four people. The strongest-ever measures will be applied nationwide starting Thursday as well.
Ski resorts and famous tourism venues will be shut down to slow the spread of the virus during the Christmas and New Year's holiday season.
A new variant of COVID-19, believed to spread faster, in Britain has prompted countries in Europe and Asia to suspend flights from London.
South Korea will also temporarily halt all flights from Britain from Wednesday until Dec. 31, Yoon Tae-ho, a senior official at the health ministry, said.
All travelers from Britain will be quarantined for two weeks. When they are released from quarantine, they will undergo a more accurate virus test called the Polymerase Chain Reaction test, according to the ministry.
To help find unconfirmed infections with no symptoms, the authorities have expanded anonymous testing since Dec. 14. A total of 754 infections, including 145 cases in the past 14 hours, have been confirmed through such testing so far, the KDCA said.
South Korea has been applying Level 2.5 social distancing rules in the greater Seoul area, home to half of its 51.6 million population, and Level 2 rules in the rest of the country.
People line up to receive coronavirus tests at a makeshift clinic in Seoul on Dec. 23, 2020. South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases rose to above 1,000 for the first time in three days the same day. (Yonhap)
Of the 1,060 newly identified local infections announced early Wednesday, 373 cases were reported in Seoul and 299 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital. Incheon, west of Seoul, reported 46 more cases.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's largest port city of Busan adding 32 cases and the southern island of Jeju reporting 33 new cases.
Clusters of virus infections kept growing across the nation, although about 70 percent of new cases came from the greater Seoul area.
A religious facility in Seoul reported 20 additional patients, raising the caseload to 21, while another religious facility in Daegu identified 8 more cases, with the total reaching 37.
Other major cluster infections included a nursing home in Cheongju, which added 8 more patients, raising the total to 79. A religious facility on the southern island of Jeju has reported 119 patients.
A COVID-19 patient is loaded into an ambulance at a nursing home in the southwestern city of Gwangju on Dec. 22, 2020, to be transported to a nearby hospital. Twelve residents and four workers have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus at the facility. (Yonhap)
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients reached 284, compared with 281 from the previous day.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 36,726, up 798 from the previous day.
The country, meanwhile, added 32 imported cases, increasing the total to 5,193. Nine cases came from Indonesia, followed by six cases from the United States and five from Russia.
The country has carried out 3,826,571 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3, including 54,141 tests in the past 24 hours. The country reported its first case on Jan. 20.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-23--(5th LD) S. Korea confirms 3 more cases of highly pathogenic bird flu

Later in the day , infections with the same virus were confirmed at a farm with about 6,000 ducks in @ @ @ @ @ , and an egg farm with 310,000 chickens in Hwaseong , Gyeonggi Province , according @ @ @ @ @ offices .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with new case in 4th para)
By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea confirmed three more cases of highly pathogenic bird flu in poultry Wednesday, raising this year's total caseload to 22 amid growing concerns over the disease spreading across the nation.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said it has identified an avian influenza (AI) of H5N8 strain at a fowl farm in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, just south of Seoul. The farm was raising about 4,700 ducks and 100,000 quails.
It was the 20th such case since the nation confirmed this year's first outbreak of farm-related AI in late November.
Later in the day, infections with the same virus were confirmed at a farm with about 6,000 ducks in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, and an egg farm with 310,000 chickens in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, according to the ministry and provincial offices.
Hundreds of thousands of ducks, chickens and quails within 3 kilometers from the affected farms were culled.
Officials are also investigating a suspected case at a duck farm in Namwon, North Jeolla Province.
Officials prepare to cull birds at an egg farm in Yeoju, 105 kilometers south of Seoul, on Dec. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Earlier in the day, the country issued a standstill order for Gyeonggi and Chungcheong provinces and the central city of Sejong.
The 24-hour order, which will run through 1 a.m. Thursday, will ban movement of all livestock, workers and automobiles at poultry farms in the regions.
Violators of the order could face up to one year in prison or a fine of 10 million won (US$9,000).
The country had culled about 6.3 million poultry as of Tuesday as farm-related H5N8 infections have been reported across the nation since late November.
Meanwhile, 35 cases in wild birds have been confirmed since late October.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-23--(4th LD) New virus cases spike to over 1,000, virus curbs further tightened

Starting Wednesday , the greater Seoul area banned gatherings of five or more people .
Restaurants in the greater Seoul @ @ @ @ @ if they allow gatherings of more than four people .
The strongest-ever measures will be @ @ @ @ @ well .

(ATTN: ADDS new tally in 5th para)
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases rose to above 1,000 for the first time in three days Wednesday, as the nation imposed the most stringent social distancing rules so far to contain the winter wave of the virus.
The country added 1,092 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,060 local infections, raising the total caseload to 52,550, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). It was the second-highest one-day tally of confirmed cases since the pandemic began.
The tally marked a jump from 869 cases Tuesday, 926 cases Monday, 1,097 cases Sunday, 1,053 Saturday and 1,062 last Friday.
Seventeen people died from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 739.
A medical worker performs a COVID-19 test at a testing center in Gwangju on Dec. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
Later in the day, health authorities and local governments said 695 new cases were confirmed as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, 23 fewer than at the same time on Tuesday. The greater Seoul area accounted for 67.8 percent with 471 cases.
Health authorities have been considering whether to raise the country's social distancing guidelines to Level 3, the highest in its five-tier scheme.
However, authorities said they are aiming to contain the current wave of the pandemic without raising virus curbs to Level 3 on concerns over the impact on the economy.
Instead of applying measures that would deal a severe blow to millions of small merchants, health authorities have deployed "targeted" virus curbs.
Starting Wednesday, the greater Seoul area banned gatherings of five or more people. Restaurants in the greater Seoul area will face a fine if they allow gatherings of more than four people. The strongest-ever measures will be applied nationwide starting Thursday as well.
Ski resorts and famous tourism venues will be shut down to slow the spread of the virus during the Christmas and New Year's holiday season.
A new variant of COVID-19, believed to spread faster, in Britain has prompted countries in Europe and Asia to suspend flights from London.
South Korea will also temporarily halt all flights from Britain from Wednesday until Dec. 31, Yoon Tae-ho, a senior official at the health ministry, said.
All travelers from Britain will be quarantined for two weeks. When they are released from quarantine, they will undergo a more accurate virus test called the Polymerase Chain Reaction test, according to the ministry.
To help find unconfirmed infections with no symptoms, the authorities have expanded anonymous testing since Dec. 14. A total of 754 infections, including 145 cases in the past 14 hours, have been confirmed through such testing so far, the KDCA said.
South Korea has been applying Level 2.5 social distancing rules in the greater Seoul area, home to half of its 51.6 million population, and Level 2 rules in the rest of the country.
People line up to receive coronavirus tests at a makeshift clinic in Seoul on Dec. 23, 2020. South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases rose to above 1,000 for the first time in three days the same day. (Yonhap)
Of the 1,060 newly identified local infections announced early Wednesday, 373 cases were reported in Seoul and 299 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital. Incheon, west of Seoul, reported 46 more cases.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's largest port city of Busan adding 32 cases and the southern island of Jeju reporting 33 new cases.
Clusters of virus infections kept growing across the nation, although about 70 percent of new cases came from the greater Seoul area.
A religious facility in Seoul reported 20 additional patients, raising the caseload to 21, while another religious facility in Daegu identified 8 more cases, with the total reaching 37.
Other major cluster infections included a nursing home in Cheongju, which added 8 more patients, raising the total to 79. A religious facility on the southern island of Jeju has reported 119 patients.
A COVID-19 patient is loaded into an ambulance at a nursing home in the southwestern city of Gwangju on Dec. 22, 2020, to be transported to a nearby hospital. Twelve residents and four workers have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus at the facility. (Yonhap)
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients reached 284, compared with 281 from the previous day.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 36,726, up 798 from the previous day.
The country, meanwhile, added 32 imported cases, increasing the total to 5,193. Nine cases came from Indonesia, followed by six cases from the United States and five from Russia.
The country has carried out 3,826,571 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3, including 54,141 tests in the past 24 hours. The country reported its first case on Jan. 20.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-23--(4th LD) S. Korea confirms 2 more cases of highly pathogenic bird flu

The Ministry of Agriculture , Food and Rural Affairs said it has identified an avian influenza ( AI ) of @ @ @ @ @ farm in Yongin , Gyeonggi Province , just south of Seoul .
The farm was @ @ @ @ @ 100,000 quails .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout; TRIMS)
By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea confirmed two more case of highly pathogenic bird flu in poultry Wednesday, raising this year's total caseload to 21 amid growing concerns over the disease spreading across the nation.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said it has identified an avian influenza (AI) of H5N8 strain at a fowl farm in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, just south of Seoul. The farm was raising about 4,700 ducks and 100,000 quails.
It was the 20th such case since the nation confirmed this year's first outbreak of farm-related AI in late November.
Later in the day, the same virus was found at a farm with about 6,000 ducks in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, according to the provincial office.
Hundreds of thousands of ducks, chickens and quails within 3 kilometers from the affected farms were culled.
Officials prepare to cull birds at an egg farm in Yeoju, 105 kilometers south of Seoul, on Dec. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Officials are also investigating suspected cases from an egg farm in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, and a duck farm in Namwon, North Jeolla Province.
Earlier in the day, the country issued a standstill order for Gyeonggi and Chungcheong provinces and the central city of Sejong.
The 24-hour order, which will run through 1 a.m. Thursday, will ban movement of all livestock, workers and automobiles at poultry farms in the regions.
Violators of the order could face up to one year in prison or a fine of 10 million won (US$9,000).
The country had culled about 6.3 million poultry as of Tuesday as farm-related H5N8 infections have been reported across the nation since late November.
Meanwhile, 35 cases in wild birds have been confirmed since late October.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-23--3 officials charged with hampering audit of reactor shutdown

Two of them are in pre-trial detention as the district court granted the arrest warrants earlier this month .
The @ @ @ @ @ for the third suspect saying the official admitted to some of the charges and poses @ @ @ @

DAEJEON, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors on Wednesday indicted three officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for their alleged involvement in the destruction of government documents related to the controversial closure of an aging nuclear reactor.
The three officials, whose identities have been withheld, will stand trial on charges of destroying documents and aiding and abetting the crime in an attempt to hamper state auditors' examination of the closure of Wolsong-1, the country's second-oldest nuclear reactor, the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office said.
The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) concluded that the shutdown decision was based on biased research that undervalued the reactor's economic viability.
The officials are accused of deleting 444 files about the government's decision to terminate the operation of the reactor, right before the BAI requested the submission of the documents late last year.
Two of them are in pre-trial detention as the district court granted the arrest warrants earlier this month. The same court denied a writ for the third suspect saying the official admitted to some of the charges and poses no flight risk.
The closure of Wolsong-1 has remained a hot-button topic in domestic politics since President Moon Jae-in decided in 2017 to decommission the reactor earlier than scheduled in line with his energy policy.
A file photo of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-23--(LEAD) S. Korea deploys 5G tech in airport virus check

The Ministry of Science and ICT said the system will check for passengers without masks or with COVID-19 symptoms , @ @ @ @ @ at the arrival and departure halls of the country 's main gateway , located west @ @ @ @ @ kiosks and video surveillance .
The system can also send out autonomous robots for disinfection @

(ATTN: ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Wednesday it has introduced mobile edge computing (MEC) technology at Incheon International Airport to operate an artificial intelligence (AI) system that screens potential COVID-19 patients in a move to step up preventative measures against the pandemic.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said the system will check for passengers without masks or with COVID-19 symptoms, such as high temperature, at the arrival and departure halls of the country's main gateway, located west of Seoul, using digital kiosks and video surveillance. The system can also send out autonomous robots for disinfection.
Science and ICT Minister Choi Ki-young (L) looks at a disinfection robot installed at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus on Dec. 23, 2020, in this photo provided by the ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The ministry said the system incorporates MEC technology, which minimizes latency by sending data to nearby small-scale data centers, rather than to a centralized data center.
SK Telecom Co., the country's largest wireless carrier, has installed millimeter wave (mmWave) band 5G base stations at the airport to operate the service, which will also use the company's new AI chip, the SAPEON X220.
The ICT ministry said it will support more MEC-based 5G services, with 120 billion won (US$108 million) set aside for projects using the technology until 2022.
While 5G users have reached around 10 million in South Korea since its commercialization of the latest generation network in April last year, the country is in the early stage of rolling out mmWave 5G services that take full advantage of the network's high speed and low latency.
Rival carrier LG Uplus Corp. is currently testing mmWave 5G at the Kumoh National Institute of Technology in Gumi, about 200 kilometers south of Seoul.
The file photo, taken Dec. 12, 2020, shows passengers at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-23--Vice FM holds video talks with Indian counterpart on bilateral cooperation

In the talks , Choi and Riva Ganguly Das , secretary east in India 's Ministry of External Affairs , @ @ @ @ @ further enhance practical cooperation in areas such as infrastructure and defense even in the midst @ @ @ @ @ the foreign ministry said .

SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun held video talks with his Indian counterpart Wednesday and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas including the economy and the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
In the talks, Choi and Riva Ganguly Das, secretary east in India's Ministry of External Affairs, agreed to work together to further enhance practical cooperation in areas such as infrastructure and defense even in the midst of the COVID-19 situation, the foreign ministry said.
They also agreed to seek ways to resume high-level exchanges, including a "two plus two" meeting involving the vice defense and foreign ministers of the two countries, as soon as the pandemic situation improves.
Wednesday's discussion also covered vaccine cooperation and joint efforts to allow essential travel between the two countries so as to minimize negative economic impacts, according to the ministry.
First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun (L) speaks to his Indian counterpart, Riva Ganguly Das, during video talks held on Dec. 23, 2020, in this photo provided by Seoul's foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-23--KBO's Bears acquire new pitcher, re-sign DH from Cuba

The Bears said they liked Miranda 's high release point for his fastballs , and noted that he averaged 147 @ @ @ @ @ pitch in Taiwan this year .
That velocity would have put Miranda in the top @ @ @ @ @ 2020 .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean baseball club Doosan Bears said Wednesday they have acquired a new pitcher from Cuba, while retaining their designated hitter, Jose Miguel Fernandez, from the same country for a third season.
According to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) team, the left-hander Ariel Miranda signed a one-year deal worth up to US$800,000. He will earn $550,000 in guarantee salary, $150,000 in signing bonus and up to $100,000 in incentives.
The 31-year-old journeyman pitched in 44 games for the Baltimore Orioles and the Seattle Mariners from 2016 to 2018. He then joined the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan in July 2018, and pitched for them until 2019. Miranda spent the 2020 season in Taiwan with the CTBC Brothers.
In this Getty Images file photo from Aug. 19, 2017, Ariel Miranda of the Seattle Mariners pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays in the bottom of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Yonhap)
Miranda went 10-8 with a 3.80 ERA in 25 starts for the Brothers, along with 170 strikeouts in 156 1/3 innings.
The Bears said they liked Miranda's high release point for his fastballs, and noted that he averaged 147 kilometers per hour on that pitch in Taiwan this year. That velocity would have put Miranda in the top five among KBO starters in 2020.
The Bears said Miranda will mix in a slider, a forkball, a curveball and a changeup.
Also on Wednesday, the Bears retained their Cuban hitter Fernandez on a new one-year deal worth $1.1 million -- $600,000 in salary, $200,000 in signing bonus and $30,000 in incentives.
Fernandez led the KBO in hits in each of his first two years in the league, with 197 in 2019 and 199 in 2020. He has yet to miss a game in the KBO.
"He's a valuable part of our team who has played every game in two straight seasons," the Bears said, adding that Fernandez and Miranda are close friends. They competed against each other in the Cuban National Series from 2007 to 2014.
The Bears lost both of their foreign pitchers from the 2020 season, as Chris Flexen signed with the Mariners and Raul Alcantara joined the Hanshin Tigers in Japan. The Bears are also nearing a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Walker Lockett.
KBO clubs can sign up to three foreign players but no more than two pitchers.
In this file photo from Nov. 20, 2020, Jose Miguel Fernandez of the Doosan Bears tosses his bat after hitting a solo home run against the NC Dinos in the bottom of the second inning of Game 3 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-23--Hyundai Heavy signs MOU for Doosan Infracore takeover

South Korea 's 15th-largest conglomerate Doosan Group has been seeking to sell its shares and assets to improve its financial @ @ @ @ @ by the flagship unit Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. in return for a 3.6 @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings Co. (HHIH) said Wednesday it has inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to buy Doosan Infracore Co., the country's largest construction equipment maker, from its cash-strapped parent, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co.
On Dec. 10, a consortium led by HHIH was picked as the preferred bidder for the 35.4 percent stake held by South Korean power plant builder Doosan Heavy in Doosan Infracore.
HHIH will sign a formal deal in January next year, the group said in a regulatory filing.
Doosan Infracore has been up for sale as part of Doosan Heavy's self-rescue plan. The deal may fetch up to 1 trillion won (US$900 million), according to industry watchers.
South Korea's 15th-largest conglomerate Doosan Group has been seeking to sell its shares and assets to improve its financial structure and repay debts held by the flagship unit Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. in return for a 3.6 trillion-won lifeline from state-run banks.
This photo shows the logo of Doosan Group, to which Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. belongs, in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
(END)