yna--2020-10-30--S. Korea bans poultry imports from Netherlands after bird flu outbreak

The ministry added it would enhance monitoring of fowl at borders as AI outbreaks have been reported from China , @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Friday banned imports of poultry from the Netherlands after a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu was found in the country.
The Dutch government announced on Thursday that chickens on a farm in the central province of Gelderland were infected with a highly contagious variant of avian influenza (AI).
South Korea's agriculture ministry said it imposed an import ban on all poultry and poultry products from the country.
The ministry added it would enhance monitoring of fowl at borders as AI outbreaks have been reported from China, Taiwan and some European countries.
South Korea also confirmed two infections of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian flu among wild birds in provincial towns this week.
This photo provided by the Cheonan municipal government on Oct. 25, 2020, shows a vehicle spraying disinfectant near poultry farms, following the detection of a highly pathogenic avian influenza strain in the region. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-10-30--(LEAD) Hyundai E&C bags US$1.8 bln plant deal in Iraq

In a regulatory filing , the South Korean builder said it signed the contract with the state-run Basra Oil Co. @ @ @ @ @ in the southern state of Basra .

(ATTN: FIXES figure in lead; REVISES details in 3th para)
SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. said Friday it has clinched a 2 trillion-won (US$1.8 billion) deal to build a part of a residue upgrading complex in Iraq.
In a regulatory filing, the South Korean builder said it signed the contract with the state-run Basra Oil Co. to participate in the project in the southern state of Basra.
The residue upgrading facility produces high-value chemical products, such as high grade diesel, utility facilities and buildings.
Hyundai E&C said it will break ground for the facility in January to complete it by July 2025.
The deal accounts for 11.7 percent of the company's revenue last year, it noted.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-30--Regulator orders 6-month suspension of cable channel MBN for accounting fraud

Separately , the regulator said it will decide next month whether to approve renewal of MBN 's license , which @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 30 .

SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's telecommunications regulator on Friday ordered a six-month suspension of services for cable TV channel MBN for accounting fraud in an unprecedented heavy punishment of a broadcaster in the country.
The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) said MBN manipulated its balance sheet in 2011 to conceal a portion of the capital raised under borrowed names of its employees.
MBN's move was part of its plans to raise 300 billion won, the minimum requirement to acquire a license to operate a general programming cable TV network.
The regulator added that the cable channel submitted falsified documents for its license's reapproval in 2014 and 2017.
The cable channel will be given a six-month grace period before being suspended from May through October.
The regulator said it has also decided to press criminal charges against MBN and its top management.
Separately, the regulator said it will decide next month whether to approve renewal of MBN's license, which is set to expire on Nov. 30.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-30--Prosecution raids Shinhan Investment over high-profile financial scam case

The case is developing into a high-profile lobbying scandal , in which former and incumbent high-ranking government officials and politicians @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- The prosecution on Friday raided a local brokerage house in connection with a snowballing financial fraud scandal involving a hedge fund, officials said.
Investigators from the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors Office raided the headquarters of Shinhan Investment Corp. in western Seoul to secure materials related to Lime Asset Management.
Shinhan faces disciplinary action from the Financial Supervisory Service for misselling Lime funds.
Lime is under probe over its alleged cover-up of massive losses and subsequent suspension of fund redemption worth an estimated 1.6 trillion won (US$1.39 billion).
The case is developing into a high-profile lobbying scandal, in which former and incumbent high-ranking government officials and politicians are embroiled.
Earlier this week, the prosecution raided KB Securities, which also distributed Lime funds.
This undated file photo shows the headquarters of Shinhan Investment Corp. in Seoul. (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-30--(2nd LD) LG Electronics Q3 net nearly doubles on strong TV, home appliance sales

`` Our home appliance division saw slumped demand in the first half of the year due to COVID-19 , '' @ @ @ @ @ conference call .
`` However , we are seeing pent-up demand in the second half @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS stock price at bottom)
SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc. said Friday its net profit nearly doubled in the third quarter from a year earlier on the back of strong global demand for its TVs and home appliances amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The South Korean tech giant said its net income reached 649.2 billion won (US$573.6 million) in the July-September period, up 87.8 percent from 345.7 billion won the previous year.
Its third-quarter operating income stood at 959 billion won, up 22.7 percent on-year, while sales reached 16.9 trillion won, rising 7.8 percent over the same period. Both figures are record highs for the company in the third quarter.
The results were in line with the earnings guidance announced earlier this month that beat the market consensus.
This file photo, taken on April 7, 2020, shows LG Electronics Inc.'s headquarters in western Seoul. (Yonhap)
LG said its strong performance in the third quarter was driven by robust home appliance and TV sales amid the stay-at-home trend driven by the pandemic.
"Our home appliance division saw slumped demand in the first half of the year due to COVID-19," the company said in a conference call. "However, we are seeing pent-up demand in the second half of the year."
Sales from LG's home appliance and air solution division reached 6.2 trillion won in the quarter, up 15.5 percent on-year.
"We expect demand to increase next year, although it is difficult to rise to pre-pandemic levels," the company said. "Recovery to such levels will take a long time."
"Nevertheless, our home appliance and air solution division expects demand for hygiene and health care-related products to increase based on customer needs. We will expand such features to our products," it added.
The tech giant's home entertainment division, which includes its organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TVs, logged sales of 3.67 trillion won, up 14.3 percent over the same period.
According to market researcher TrendForce, LG was the world's second-largest TV vendor in the third quarter after its TV shipments increased 6.7 percent on-year to 7.94 million units. Compared with the second quarter, LG's TV shipments soared 81.7 percent.
The South Korean tech giant's struggling mobile business narrowed its operating losses to 148.4 billion won in the third quarter. The company's mobile business has been in the red since the second quarter of 2015.
LG said sales from its mobile division stood at 1.52 trillion won, up 16.5 percent on-quarter, thanks to a recovery in global demand for mobile phones.
The company said it will target European and Central and South American markets with 5G and budget phones to capitalize on market share given up by Huawei Technologies Co., as U.S. sanctions have hurt the Chinese company.
LG has expanded its budget smartphone lineup in major markets to overcome the division's slump.
Shares in LG Electronics plunged 3.67 percent to 84,000 won, underperforming the broader KOSPI's 2.56 percent decline. LG reported its third-quarter earnings at the market's close.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-30--KBO club manager expects players to be ready despite long layoff

The Heroes , who have already secured one of five postseason berths , are currently in fourth place .
If @ @ @ @ @ if both the second-ranked KT Wiz and No .
3 LG Twins lose Friday , @ @ @ @ @ in second place .
That means the Heroes will advance directly to the second round @ @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- With a scheduling quirk in the final stretch, the Kiwoom Heroes are finishing up their 2020 Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season by playing just two games over the final eight days.
Since Oct. 20, clubs have been playing makeup games of rained-out contests from earlier in the year. But the Heroes, who play their home games at Gocheok Sky Dome, the only domed stadium in the league, had fewer games to make up than anyone else.
In this file photo from Oct. 23, 2020, Kiwoom Heroes players celebrate their 6-2 victory over the Doosan Bears in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Prior to facing the Doosan Bears Friday night, the Heroes had last played exactly a week ago, against the same opponent.
Kiwoom's interim manager Kim Chang-hyun, though, isn't worried about effects of the extended layoff, especially because there's much at stake in Friday's game.
The Heroes, who have already secured one of five postseason berths, are currently in fourth place. If they beat the Bears and if both the second-ranked KT Wiz and No. 3 LG Twins lose Friday, then the Heroes will finish in second place. That means the Heroes will advance directly to the second round in the playoffs.
Finishing either in fourth or fifth means a Wild Card game for the Heroes on Sunday.
"We enjoyed our down time, but we also tried to stay sharp," Kim said in his pregame media availability at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. "We did live batting practice and tried to simulate game-like situations the best we could."
The Bears, who are in fifth, also see Friday's game as a must-win situation, since a victory could lift them to as high as third place. They will send their No. 1 starter Raul Alcantara to the mound, though they could have chosen to save him for the postseason.
This file photo provided by the Kiwoom Heroes on Oct. 8, 2020, shows the Korea Baseball Organization club's interim manager, Kim Chang-hyun. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Alcantara has been the hardest-throwing starter in the KBO this season, averaging 151.6 kilometers per hour with his fastball, according to the statistics site Statiz. No one else is averaging 150 kph.
After not playing for a week, Kiwoom hitters may have a hard time catching up to Alcantara's fastball, at least early on in the game. Kim said the Heroes had been preparing for the game expecting to see Alcantara.
Earlier Friday, Doosan manager Kim Tae-hyoung said he'll be receiving updates on scores in other stadiums. Kim Chang-hyun, on the other hand, said he'll keep himself in the dark.
"It doesn't matter what other scores are," he said. "We have to do the best we can here, regardless of what is happening elsewhere."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-30--(LEAD) Samsung Heavy's Q3 net losses narrow on one-off gains

Samsung Heavy also said it will make concerted efforts to gain more orders for liquefied natural gas carrier in the @ @ @ @ @

By Nam Kwang-sik
(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with more details; CHANGES headline)
SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Heavy Industries Co. said Friday its net losses narrowed in the third quarter from a year earlier due to one-off gains.
Net losses shrank to 7.4 billion won (US$6.5 million) in the July-September period from a net loss of 583.2 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Sales fell 14.6 percent on-year to 1.67 trillion won, while operating losses narrowed to 13.4 billion won from 312 billion won a year earlier.
"Reduced costs of raw materials and additional proceeds from changed orders for offshore plants helped prop up the bottom line," the company said in an e-mailed statement.
Samsung Heavy also said it will make concerted efforts to gain more orders for liquefied natural gas carrier in the rest of the year.
But the shipbuilder won $1 billion worth of orders in the nine-month period, marking 12 percent of its target of $8.4 billion.
This photo, provided by Samsung Heavy Industries Co., shows a floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel, which the South Korean shipbuilder christened "DUA" at its shipyard on the country's southeastern Geoje Island on Nov. 27, 2019. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

The Seoul Western District Court sentenced the violator , identified only as a 29-year-old , to six months in prison @ @ @ @ @ , for breaching the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and ordered him to complete @ @ @ @ @ .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Friday.
-----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks sink over 2.5 pct on massive foreign sell-offs
SEOUL -- South Korean shares plunged more than 2.5 percent Friday, as major tech giants suffered a slump from massive foreign sell-offs. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) plunged 59.52 points, or 2.56 percent, to close at 2,267.15.
-----------------
Some mishandled flu vaccines used for inoculation: authorities
SEOUL -- Some seasonal flu vaccines that were mishandled during storage were found to have been used for inoculation, health authorities said Friday.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said some of the bottles shipped by Shinsung Pharm. Co. were used in late September in neighborhood clinics as part a nationwide flu vaccination program.
-----------------
S. Korea to invest over 20 tln won in green mobility sectors: Moon
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in said Friday the government plans to invest more than 20 trillion won (US$17.7 billion) in electric vehicles and other areas of green mobility by 2025.
The president announced the investment plan, part of the administration's ambitious Korean New Deal initiative, as he traveled to a manufacturing plant of Hyundai Motor Co. in the southeastern industrial city of Ulsan.
-----------------
LG Chem stays No. 1 in EV battery market this year
SEOUL -- LG Chem Ltd. was the world's biggest supplier of electric vehicle (EV) batteries in the first nine months of this year thanks to robust demand from global automakers, a market research firm said Friday.
South Korea's largest chemical company accounted for a 24.6 percent share of the global EV market in the January-September period, with 19.9 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of battery production capacity, according to SNE Research.
-----------------
Man gets suspended prison sentence for breaching self-quarantine rule
SEOUL -- A quarantine violator was given a suspended prison sentence by a Seoul court Friday after being convicted of illegally leaving his designated self-isolation accommodation several times before testing positive for the coronavirus.
The Seoul Western District Court sentenced the violator, identified only as a 29-year-old, to six months in prison, suspended for two years, for breaching the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and ordered him to complete 120 hours of community service.
-----------------
Busan film festival closes safely amid pandemic
SEOUL -- The 25th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) came to a close Friday, with its experimental hybrid format off to a good start amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
This year's BIFF, which opened Oct. 21 for a 10-day run, screened 192 films from 68 countries at the Busan Cinema Center (BCC) in the southern port city of Busan, along with the opening film "Septet: The Story of Hong Kong."
(END)


yna--2020-10-30--(LEAD) LG Electronics Q3 net nearly doubles on strong TV, home appliance sales

(ATTN: UPDATES with more detail from conference call from para 5)
SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc. said Friday its net profit nearly doubled in the third quarter from a year earlier on the back of strong global demand for its TVs and home appliances amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The South Korean tech giant said its net income reached 649.2 billion won (US$573.6 million) in the July-September period, up 87.8 percent from 345.7 billion won the previous year.
Its third-quarter operating income stood at 959 billion won, up 22.7 percent on-year, while sales reached 16.9 trillion won, rising 7.8 percent over the same period. Both figures are record highs for the company in the third quarter.
The results were in line with the earnings guidance announced earlier this month that beat the market consensus.
This file photo, taken on April 7, 2020, shows LG Electronics Inc.'s headquarters in western Seoul. (Yonhap)
LG said its strong performance in the third quarter was driven by robust home appliance and TV sales amid the stay-at-home trend driven by the pandemic.
"Our home appliance division saw slumped demand in the first half of the year due to COVID-19," the company said in a conference call. "However, we are seeing pent-up demand in the second half of the year."
Sales from LG's home appliance and air solution division reached 6.2 trillion won in the quarter, up 15.5 percent on-year.
"We expect demand to increase next year, although it is difficult to rise to pre-pandemic levels," the company said. "Recovery to such levels will take a long time."
"Nevertheless, our home appliance and air solution division expects demand for hygiene and health care-related products to increase based on customer needs. We will expand such features to our products," it added.
The tech giant's home entertainment division, which includes its organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TVs, logged sales of 3.67 trillion won, up 14.3 percent over the same period.
According to market researcher TrendForce, LG was the world's second-largest TV vendor in the third quarter after its TV shipments increased 6.7 percent on-year to 7.94 million units. Compared with the second quarter, LG's TV shipments soared 81.7 percent.
The South Korean tech giant's struggling mobile business narrowed its operating losses to 148.4 billion won in the third quarter. The company's mobile business has been in the red since the second quarter of 2015.
LG said sales from its mobile division stood at 1.52 trillion won, up 16.5 percent on-quarter, thanks to a recovery in global demand for mobile phones.
The company said it will target European and Central and South American markets with 5G and budget phones to capitalize on market share given up by Huawei Technologies Co., as U.S. sanctions have hurt the Chinese company.
LG has expanded its budget smartphone lineup in major markets to overcome the division's slump.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-30--(LEAD) KBO club manager resigns after health scares

The Wyverns were in first place for most of the 2019 season , but they were passed by the Doosan @ @ @ @ @ on the final day of the regular season .
The Wyverns ' bats went cold @ @ @ @ @ never got hot again in the postseason , as they bowed out to the Kiwoom @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: ADDS comments in paras 8-11)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean baseball club manager has resigned after experiencing health scares amid a disappointing season.
The SK Wyverns of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Friday that Youm Kyoung-youb has decided to step down after two seasons on the bench. The 52-year-old had one more year left in his contract.
Youm fell ill and briefly lost consciousness during a game on June 25. Doctors later pointed to excessive stress, lack of sleep and poor diet as causes for Youm's health problems.
In this file photo from Sept. 1, 2020, SK Wyverns' manager Youm Kyoung-youb speaks at a press conference before a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game against the LG Twins at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Bench coach Park Kyung-oan served as interim manager during Youm's absence. Youm returned to the dugout on Sept. 1 but lasted only five games before experiencing another bout of health issues that forced him to sit out for the rest of the year.
"I'd like to apologize to SK fans for letting them down," Youm said in a statement released by the club. "I am especially sorry that I was absent during the season. I felt like this was the time for me to take responsibility and leave."
Youm first joined the Wyverns as general manager in 2017. He oversaw the Wyverns' championship run in 2018, and then took over from Trey Hillman as the bench boss starting in the 2019 season.
The Wyverns reached the postseason last year but will finish in ninth place among 10 clubs this regular season, which concludes Friday.
Prior to Friday's game against the LG Twins at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, Park, the interim skipper, said he also feels responsible for the club's downfall.
"I was shocked to hear the news of his resignation," Park said. "I haven't talked to him yet. I figured he had a lot on his mind."
Park said he felt terrible about how the season played out, but he also thanked the Wyverns for giving him the opportunity to take the reins.
"There's a world of difference between being a bench coach and an interim manager," Park said. "I've faced so many challenges and obstacles. I realized I should be even better prepared."
The Wyverns were in first place for most of the 2019 season, but they were passed by the Doosan Bears for the top seed on the final day of the regular season. The Wyverns' bats went cold in the second half and never got hot again in the postseason, as they bowed out to the Kiwoom Heroes in the second round.
Before this year, the Wyverns lost two key pitchers, including franchise icon Kim Kwang-hyun, who signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in December. Their two new foreign pitchers, Nick Kingham and Ricardo Pinto, didn't pan out, and the offense continued to struggle. The Wyverns suffered a 10-game losing streak in the first month of the season in May and never climbed out of that early hole.
The Wyverns said Youm had wanted to return for next year but ultimately decided against it because of his poor health.
The Wyverns recently signaled a major shakeup, having hired former general manager Min Kyung-sam as new president.
In this file photo from Sept. 1, 2020, SK Wyverns' manager Youm Kyoung-youb watches his club in action against the LG Twins during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-30--Doosan Solus to spend 270 bln won for plant expansion in Hungary

`` We will secure an annual production capacity of 75,000 tons of battery copper foil by 2025 and lead the @ @ @ @ @ with the aim of being the world 's first maker , '' the company said @ @ @ @ @

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- Doosan Solus Co., a South Korean copper foil maker, will invest 270 billion won (US$238 million) to expand its plant in Hungary, its parent Doosan Corp. said Friday.
Doosan Solus completed its copper foil-producing plant in Hungary with a capacity of 10,000 tons in August.
Doosan Solus will increase the production capacity of the plant to 25,000 tons by 2022, the company said.
"We will secure an annual production capacity of 75,000 tons of battery copper foil by 2025 and lead the European battery copper foil market with the aim of being the world's first maker," the company said in an emailed statement.
Demand for copper foil, a key material for electric vehicle batteries, has been rising, as global automakers have been racing to roll out electric vehicles.
This photo, provided by Doosan Corp. on Oct. 30, 2020, shows a Hungary battery copper foil plant of Doosan Solus Co. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-30--Hyosung remains in red in Q3

Hyosung remains in red in Q3

Operating income for the July-September period was 45.4 billion won , up 111.2 percent from a year ago , the @ @ @ @ @ filing .
Revenue fell 2.8 percent to 719.5 billion won .
( END )

SEOUL, Oct. 30 (Yonhap) -- Hyosung Corp. on Friday reported its third-quarter net loss of 78.1 billion won (US$68.8 million), remaining in the red compared with a year ago.
Operating income for the July-September period was 45.4 billion won, up 111.2 percent from a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. Revenue fell 2.8 percent to 719.5 billion won.
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--BTS to debut new lead single 'Life Goes On' at American Music Awards

The song was the group 's first song entirely in English .
It became the top Billboard Hot 100 single @ @ @ @ @ Korean group to debut at the top spot .
( END )

SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- K-pop megastar BTS will debut its highly anticipated new single, called "Life Goes On," at a U.S. music award show next month, the band's agency said Saturday.
The seven-member boy band will hold a live performance at this year's American Music Awards scheduled for Nov. 22 (local time), according to Big Hit Entertainment.
The upcoming new album, "BE (Deluxe Edition)," will be released next month, following February's "Map Of The Soul: 7."
This undated photo, provided by Big Hit Entertainment, shows BTS' new single, "Life Goes On." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Other details of the lead title have not been released.
BTS will also perform its latest hit "Dynamite" at the American Music Awards.
The song was the group's first song entirely in English. It became the top Billboard Hot 100 single, making them the first Korean group to debut at the top spot.
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--(LEAD) New virus cases above 100 for 4th day, cluster infections in focus

Of the newly identified local infections Friday , 51 cases were reported in Seoul , 23 cases in Gyeonggi Province @ @ @ @ @ three cases in Incheon , west of Seoul .
The greater Seoul area is home @ @ @ @ @ nation 's 51.6 million population .

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details)
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases rose by triple digits for the fourth straight day Saturday as cluster infections across the country continued to pile up amid eased social distancing measures.
The country added 127 more COVID-19 cases, including 96 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 26,511, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
It marked a rise from 103 new cases reported Wednesday, 125 on Thursday and 114 on Friday, it said.
Pedestrians line up in front of a coronavirus-prevention gate at the entrance to the main street in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, on Oct. 30, 2020, as health authorities strengthen efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 one day before Halloween. To pass through the gate, people must sanitize their hands, get temperature checks and register with smartphone QR codes. (Yonhap)
The latest upticks were mostly traced to senior nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities, but sporadic group infections continued to rise at small gatherings, including family meetings not only in the greater Seoul area but across the country.
Since the country eased the social distancing scheme by one notch to the lowest level of a three-tier system on Oct. 12, the daily figures have shown ups and downs, hovering around 100.
Health authorities warned that the country's virus cases may further pile up on a potential resurgence in virus infections as people travel to enjoy autumn vacations.
Halloween, which falls on Saturday, is also a major concern for health authorities as people could gather at entertainment facilities, potential hotbeds for cluster infections.
The country reported more than 270 COVID-19 cases tied to clubs in the nightlife district of Itaewon in western Seoul in early May.
Of the newly identified local infections Friday, 51 cases were reported in Seoul, 23 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital and three cases in Incheon, west of Seoul. The greater Seoul area is home to around half of the nation's 51.6 million population.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's southeastern city of Daegu adding nine cases and the southern port city of Busan adding two cases.
The country, meanwhile, added 31 imported cases, up from 21 a day earlier, the KDCA said. Six cases came from the United States, two from Europe and 23 from Asia, excluding China.
South Korea reported one additional death, raising the death toll to 464. The fatality rate was 1.75 percent.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 54 as of midnight, up from 51 the previous day.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 24,311, up 84 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 2,624,492 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3, including 12,261 tests the previous day.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--Seoul shares face high volatility in coming week; U.S. elections, COVID-19 in focus

Local analysts said the KOSPI could receive an upward push in the coming week from hopes for third-quarter earnings hikes @ @ @ @ @ .
Such positive factors , however , could be offset by uncertainties from the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ U.S. time ) and both houses of Congress , they noted .

By Chung Joo-won
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares are likely to face high volatility in the coming week, with key political developments, including the U.S. presidential election and new coronavirus outbreaks, expected to roil global financial markets, analysts said Saturday.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,267.15 points on Friday, down 3.97 percent from a week ago.
Local analysts said the KOSPI could receive an upward push in the coming week from hopes for third-quarter earnings hikes and hunting for year-end dividends. Such positive factors, however, could be offset by uncertainties from the U.S. presidential election on Tuesday (U.S. time) and both houses of Congress, they noted.
"The stock market will pay strong attention to the U.S. presidential election and the COVID-19 situation (in the U.S. and Europe)," NH Investment & Securities analyst Noh Dong-kil said.
"With the U.S. stimulus talks having gone slow, investors are now crossing their fingers for the FOMC to roll out some additional policies," he added.
In the past few months, the Federal Reserve and its chairman Jerome Powell have repeatedly signaled that the pandemic-hit economy requires additional support.
The U.S. Federal Open Market Committee will begin its next meeting Wednesday after the presidential election and announce the results on Thursday.
Local investors have been attentive to the U.S. presidential candidates' differences on the environment, taxation and antitrust issues. Among them, antitrust discussions have caught the most attention, financial experts said.
"Despite some concerns the candidates' focus on the antitrust law (and its influence on the South Korean IT exporters), its influence over stock prices likely will be short-lived," KTB Investment & Securities analyst Kim Jong-hyun said.
"Rather, it is more likely that the growing demand for 5G infrastructure and untact technology would increase private investment," he added.
South Korea's October import-export data will be posted on Sunday.
China's Caixin manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) and U.S. Institute for Supply and Management (ISM) manufacturing index will be published on Monday (Korea time).
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--KT Wiz slugger Rojas Jr. comes up one category shy of KBO Triple Crown

A 1-for-5 night at the plate Friday ensured that Rojas Jr. would not get the Triple Crown .
Only two @ @ @ @ @ -- Lee Man-soo in 1984 for the Samsung Lions , and Lee Dae-ho in 2006 @ @ @ @ @ Giants .
Batting average and RBIs are no longer revered as viable statistics among more @ @ @ @ @ -- they 're considered random with an element of luck involved -- but there 's @ @ @ @ @ the highest batting average and most home runs , plus most RBIs , all at @ @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- He gave it a good run, but Mel Rojas Jr. of the KT Wiz has ultimately come up short of winning a South Korean baseball batting Triple Crown.
The 30-year-old outfielder led the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in the regular season with 47 home runs and 135 RBIs. He built such substantial leads in those two categories down the stretch that the only suspense was whether he would also win the batting title and take home the Triple Crown.
Mel Rojas Jr. of the KT Wiz (L) celebrates his RBI single against the Hanwha Eagles during the top of the first inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon, 160 kilometers south of Seoul, on Oct. 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
The best Rojas Jr. can hope for now is to finish second in the batting race. He sat in third place in batting average with .349 after the conclusion of his season on Friday. Son Ah-seop of the Lotte Giants finished second at .352 and the league leader, Choi Hyoung-woo of the Kia Tigers, is taking his .354 average into the final game of the season against the NC Dinos Saturday evening.
A 1-for-5 night at the plate Friday ensured that Rojas Jr. would not get the Triple Crown. Only two KBO players have won it -- Lee Man-soo in 1984 for the Samsung Lions, and Lee Dae-ho in 2006 and 2010 for the Lotte Giants. Batting average and RBIs are no longer revered as viable statistics among more analytically savvy fans and observers -- they're considered random with an element of luck involved -- but there's still something romantic about having the highest batting average and most home runs, plus most RBIs, all at the same time.
Rojas Jr. was batting .387 through July, but a .206 average in August brought his season average down to .340. He bounced back by hitting .348 for September and then .388 in October. But going 3-for-14 in his final three games likely cost him.
Mel Rojas Jr. of the KT Wiz watches his fly ball against the Kia Tigers during the top of the fifth inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, on Oct. 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
Rojas Jr. still put up outstanding numbers elsewhere, as he finished among the leaders in most major offensive categories except steals and established himself as a strong MVP candidate.
His 47 homers are the most by a KBO player since Kiwoom Heroes' Park Byung-ho had 53 in 2015. Rojas Jr. is the first foreign player with the outright home run title since Larry Sutton of the now-defunct Hyundai Unicorns in 2005.
Rojas Jr. also led the league with a .680 slugging percentage and ranked third with a .417 on-base percentage. His on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of 1.097 also topped the KBO.
Rojas Jr. ranked second in hits with 192 and third in multihit games with 58.
Rojas Jr. holds a 116-115 lead in runs scored over the Dinos' designated hitter Na Sung-bum, who may or may not play Saturday in a meaningless game for his club. But in total bases, Rojas Jr. has a huge lead over Na at 374-313.
Mel Rojas Jr. of the KT Wiz celebrates his two-run home run against the Kia Tigers during the top of the first inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, on Oct. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--New virus cases above 100 for 4th day, cluster infections in focus

The latest upticks were mostly traced to senior nursing homes , hospitals and other facilities , but sporadic group infections @ @ @ @ @ gatherings , including family meetings not only in the greater Seoul area but across the @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases rose by triple digits for the fourth straight day Saturday as cluster infections across the country continued to pile up amid eased social distancing measures.
The country added 127 more COVID-19 cases, including 96 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 26,511, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
It marked a rise from 103 new cases reported Wednesday, 125 on Thursday and 114 on Friday, it said.
Pedestrians line up in front of a coronavirus-prevention gate at the entrance to the main street in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, on Oct. 30, 2020, as health authorities strengthen efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 one day before Halloween. To pass through the gate, people must sanitize their hands, get temperature checks and register with smartphone QR codes. (Yonhap)
The latest upticks were mostly traced to senior nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities, but sporadic group infections continued to rise at small gatherings, including family meetings not only in the greater Seoul area but across the country.
Since the country eased the social distancing scheme by one notch to the lowest level of a three-tier system on Oct. 12, the daily figures have shown ups and downs, hovering around 100.
Health authorities warned that the country's virus cases may further pile up on a potential resurgence in virus infections as people travel to enjoy autumn vacations.
Halloween, which falls on Saturday, is also a major concern for health authorities as people could gather at entertainment facilities, potential hotbeds for cluster infections.
The country reported more than 270 COVID-19 cases tied to clubs in the nightlife district of Itaewon in western Seoul in early May.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--(URGENT) 84 more patients released from coronavirus treatment, total released now at 24,311: KDCA

(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--2020-10-31--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 1 additional coronavirus death, total now at 464: KDCA


yna--2020-10-31--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 127 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 26,511: KDCA


yna--2020-10-31--Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers

Korean-language dailies -- 'OEM ' fund floats in capital market ( Kyunghyang Shinmun ) -- Over 200 prosecutors criticize justice @ @ @ @ @ -- 230 prosecutors in protest against justice minister Choo ( Donga llbo ) -- Democratic @ @ @ @ @ Seoul , Busan mayoral races ( Seoul Shinmun ) -- Trump 's victory highly unlikely @ @ @ @ @ ago ( Segye Times ) -- 230 prosecutors stand against justice ministry ( Chosun Ilbo @ @ @ @ @ ( JoongAng Ilbo ) -- Regulator orders 6-month suspension of cable channel MBN ( Hankyoreh @ @ @ @ @ suspended for 6 months ( Hankook Ilbo ) -- Moon visits Hyundai Motor 's Ulsan @ @ @ @ @ ) -- Moon vows to provide 1.33 mln electric , hydrogen cars ( Korea Economic @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major South Korean newspapers on Oct. 31.
Korean-language dailies
-- 'OEM' fund floats in capital market (Kyunghyang Shinmun)
-- Over 200 prosecutors criticize justice minister (Kookmin Daily)
-- 230 prosecutors in protest against justice minister Choo (Donga llbo)
-- Democratic Party to produce candidates for Seoul, Busan mayoral races (Seoul Shinmun)
-- Trump's victory highly unlikely ... different from 4 yrs ago (Segye Times)
-- 230 prosecutors stand against justice ministry (Chosun Ilbo)
-- Trump vs. Biden (JoongAng Ilbo)
-- Regulator orders 6-month suspension of cable channel MBN (Hankyoreh)
-- Cable channel MBN suspended for 6 months (Hankook Ilbo)
-- Moon visits Hyundai Motor's Ulsan factory (Maeil Business Newspaper)
-- Moon vows to provide 1.33 mln electric, hydrogen cars (Korea Economic Daily)
English-language dailies
-- Moon inspects Hyundai factory and gives mobility pep talk (Korea JoongAng Daily)
-- President Moon pledges W20tr investment in future mobility, tours Hyundai's Ulsan plant (Korea Herald)
-- 'US President Trump may go for summit with Kim Jong-un right after re-election' (Korea Times)
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--Seoul rivals set for clash at start of KBO postseason

The Heroes went through a controversial managerial change , as first-year skipper Son Hyuk resigned with 12 games left in @ @ @ @ @ control coach Kim Chang-hyun is the interim boss .
They were in third place when @ @ @ @ @ general belief around the league is he was dismissed by upper management -- and they @ @ @ @ @ the way to end up in fifth place .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- The start of the South Korean baseball postseason on Sunday will feature a battle of two evenly matched clubs based in the nation's capital.
The LG Twins will host the Kiwoom Heroes for the first of possibly two Wild Card games in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason on Sunday. The first pitch is 2 p.m. at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul.
The Twins finished fourth in the regular season at 79-61-4 (wins-losses-ties), and the Heroes took the fifth spot at 80-63-1. Though the Heroes had more wins, they trailed the Twins in winning percentage, .564 to .559.
The winning percentage in the KBO is reached by dividing wins by the sum of wins and losses, with ties not coming into the equation.
In this file photo from Oct. 23, 2020, Kim Hyun-soo (C) and Yoo Kang-nam (L) of the LG Twins celebrate their 8-4 victory over the Kia Tigers in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The Twins only need a win or a tie on Sunday to advance to the next stage. If they drop that game, they'll immediately get another chance on Monday, also at Jamsil, for a win or a tie necessary to advance.
The Heroes, on the other hand, must win two straight games to move on to the next round.
Since the Wild Card system was introduced in 2015, no fifth-place team has made it past this stage. Only the 2016 Kia Tigers managed to even win a game as the lower seed.
The Heroes will try to buck the trend. They won the season series over the Twins 10-6 and outscored them 73-64, while hitting 16 home runs to the Twins' 12.
For the season overall, the Twins were a slightly better offensive club, while the Heroes held a slim edge in pitching. Based on fielding metrics, they were also among the best defensive clubs.
In this file photo from Oct. 23, 2020, Kiwoom Heroes players celebrate their 6-2 victory over the Doosan Bears in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Both teams had some ups and downs. They each threatened to overtake the NC Dinos for first place, coming within decimal points in winning percentage at one point in the second half, only to fall back again and watch the Dinos claim the regular season crown.
The Heroes went through a controversial managerial change, as first-year skipper Son Hyuk resigned with 12 games left in the season. Former quality control coach Kim Chang-hyun is the interim boss. They were in third place when Son quit -- though the general belief around the league is he was dismissed by upper management -- and they went 7-5-0 the rest of the way to end up in fifth place.
Though the Twins had the second-best record in October at 13-9-1, they lost their final two games to drop from second to fourth place. The Heroes split their 18 games in October, and losing to the Doosan Bears 2-0 in their season finale on Friday kept them from moving up any further.
Against this setting, the Twins couldn't have asked for a better pitcher to start this potential one-and-done game, as right-hander Casey Kelly will take the mound.
In this file photo from Oct. 23, 2020, Casey Kelly of the LG Twins pitches against the Kia Tigers during the bottom of the sixth inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
He went 15-7 with a 3.32 ERA for the year and was one of the league's top starters in the second half, with a 11-1 record and a 2.22 ERA.
Kelly was 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA in three starts against the Heroes during the regular season. He had 18 strikeouts against six walks in 19 innings versus the Heroes. He served up just one home run, to Park Jun-tae on Sept. 10. No Kiwoom batter managed more than two hits off Kelly.
The Heroes already burned their top starter, Eric Joksich, on Friday versus the Bears. They lost that game, and right-hander Jake Brigham is now lined up to start Sunday. Interim manager Kim Chang-hyun said before Friday's game that, in an all-hands-on-deck strategy, every pitcher except Brigham was available to take the mound that day.
Slowed by injuries all year, Brigham went 9-5 in 21 starts with a 3.62 ERA. He pitched to a 5.74 ERA in three starts against the Twins, going 1-2 in those games.
LG slugger Robert Ramos homered once off Brigham this year, and outfielder Kim Hyun-soo went 3-for-8 with two RBIs and two runs scored against the right-hander.
Kelly pitched at least six innings in 14 straight starts dating back to July 31 and allowed more than three runs on just two occasions.
Brigham wasn't nearly as consistent but finished strong, giving up just one run in 13 innings across his final two full starts. On Oct. 23, Brigham pitched just one inning as an opener of sort against the Bears.
In this file photo from Oct. 23, 2020, Jake Brigham of the Kiwoom Heroes pitches against the Doosan Bears during the bottom of the first inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
The Heroes and the Twins ranked first and second in bullpen ERAs. But while the Heroes ran their relievers into the ground, as they threw a league-high 574 innings, the Twins received a league-low 495 2/3 innings from their bullpen.
If they build a lead through five or six innings, the Heroes can bring in some lively arms to protect that cushion. Setup man An Woo-jin and closer Cho Sang-woo are two of the hardest throwers in the KBO.
The Twins' closer Go Woo-suk is no slouch, either, and the reigning Rookie of the Year Jung Woo-young has continued to thrive in the setup role.
On offense, Kim Hyun-soo led the Twins with a .331 batting average and 119 RBIs. Ramos launched a team-best 38 home runs in his first KBO season. Sleek-fielding shortstop Oh Ji-hwan batted .300 for the first time in his career and matched his personal high with 41 doubles.
The Heroes have the league's best offensive shortstop with Kim Ha-seong, who put up a .306 average, 30 homers and 109 RBIs. Formerly light-hitting outfielder Lee Jung-hoo enjoyed a power surge this year, setting a league record with 49 doubles and shattering career highs with 15 homers and 101 RBIs.
In this file photo from Sept. 10, 2020, Lee Chun-woong of the LG Twins (R) celebrates his three-run home run against the Kiwoom Heroes with teammate Robert Ramos (L) during the bottom of the seventh inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


Saturday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Oct. 31 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


yna--2020-10-31--(Yonhap Interview) Baritone singer Kim Gihoon: Late start helped me succeed

`` I thought the other vocalists had done far better than me .
I was so ashamed of my singing @ @ @ @ @ home , '' Kim said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ called at the very end .
It was the grand prize .
That was my @ @ @ @ @ . ''

By Kim Boram
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- In a local classical music competition back in 2009, Kim Gihoon was waiting for the result of the first time he ever sang in public. The host of the contest did not call his name from the list of vocalist winners and moved on to musical instrument sections.
"I thought the other vocalists had done far better than me. I was so ashamed of my singing and wanted to go back home," Kim said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday. "But my name was called at the very end. It was the grand prize. That was my first trophy in my life."
This photo provided by Arts & Artists shows baritone Kim Gihoo. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Born in a small rural town of Gokseong, South Jeolla Province, Kim started to learn operatic singing when he was 18 years old. Until then, he just imitated classical singers on TV and did not show this secret ability to his mother and father.
His parents, who did not have professional musical careers, did not allow their only son to devote himself to classical music or other arts, even though Kim was good at many things like singing, playing the piano and Korean traditional music, drawing and even studying.
"A vocal professor, who visited a singing session of the church choir, was surprised after hearing I sing like a classical vocalist," he recalled. "Then, he suggested I pursue vocal studies and tried to convince my church pastor and parents."
But it was not enough to have his parents change their mind. Kim traveled to Gwangju, the biggest city near his hometown, to get verified that he could become a world-class singer.
"My father gave me a few months to see how the first step of my vocalist career would go," he said. "Within three months, I had swept all classical music competitions in South Jeolla Province. Since then, my parents have become my biggest supporters."
The collection of No. 1 prizes in the short period of time, showing Kim's bigger-than-expected potential, helped him enter Yonsei University and learn the basic skills of operatic singing.
"When I first started singing, I didn't have the technique or experience to control my breathing and deliver long songs," he said. "I had to rely more on my talent. I thought I was like a machine that makes sounds."
This photo provided by Arts & Artists shows baritone Kim Gihoo. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
But his relatively short experience did not matter. His roughly 10-year career is decorated with a number of highly coveted accolades, including the top prize at the 2016 Seoul International Music Competition and runner-up titles at the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition and at the 2019 World Opera Competition, also known as Operalia.
In particular, he is one of the four South Korean male vocalists who have won a medal at the quadrennial Tchaikovsky contest since 1966.
Ironically, the go-getting singer attributed his rapid and great accomplishments in the competitive classical music scene to the belated start of his singing profession.
As he started with a clean slate, he has no bad habits or unnecessary routines that some of his colleagues developed.
"It is easy to draw a picture on a blank sheet of paper. Many people are struggling to change their long-lasting bad habits," said the 29-year-old baritone singer. "But for me, as an upstart singer, I can easily change my habits or routines because they are new."
For Kim, who has been on a roll since he first came across classical music, the novel coronavirus pandemic is not a tragedy but rather, it is a fluke that has given him a rare break for the first time in about 10 years.
His overseas schedules have been wiped out since March, with his concerts and recitals in the United States having been canceled until September next year.
Now, he is staying at home in Gokseong with his parents and enjoying his daily life that he has missed for a decade.
"I'd never rested since I started singing. I went to college, served in the military and participated in a number of competitions," he said. "Thanks to this long break, I'm so much more relaxed than I've ever been in my life."
A fully rested Kim will have a gala concert titled "Opera Passion" with three other opera singers next Saturday at Lotte Concert Hall in eastern Seoul.
The poster of "Opera Passion" by Arts & Artists (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--Nation's longest walking trail traversing south coast opens

The Namparang Trail is the second segment of the 4,500-km Korea Trail that stretches around the nation 's entire coast @ @ @ @ @ which opened in 2016 on a 770-km route spanning from the Unification Observatory in Goseong @ @ @ @ @ near the border with North Korea , to Busan .

SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's longest walking trail linking the southeastern port city of Busan with the southwestern county of Haenam via the scenic southern coast was opened to the public Saturday.
The new footpath, named the Namparang (south wave) Trail, runs 1,470 kilometers from Oryukdo Sunrise Park in Busan, 453 km southeast of Seoul, to Ttangkkeut (land's end) Village in Haenam, 423 km south of the capital.
The Namparang Trail consists of 90 courses featuring beautiful coastal paths, including those of the Hallyeohaesang and Dadohaesang national parks, forests, villages and downtown areas.
The Namparang Trail is the second segment of the 4,500-km Korea Trail that stretches around the nation's entire coast after the Haeparang Trail, which opened in 2016 on a 770-km route spanning from the Unification Observatory in Goseong, an east coast county near the border with North Korea, to Busan.
This photo provided by the Haenam County Office shows a forest path of Mount Dalma, part of the Namparang Trail, in southwestern South Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The opening ceremony of the Namparang Trail was held in Ttangkkeut Village in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports and the Korea Tourism Organization, with the number of participants minimized due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Following the ceremony, officials, local residents and tourists walked together to Ttangkkeut Tower, one of the trail's 90 courses.
According to Haenam officials, the county is home to three Namparang Trail courses stretching 46 km -- a coastal walkway and two forest paths leading to Ttangkkeut Tower. One of the forest paths passes through Mount Dalma, which offers stunning views of the southernmost end of the Korean Peninsula, while Mihwangsa Temple, located on the mountain, offers temple stay programs for foreigners.
This undated file photo shows Oryukdo Sunrise Park in Busan, the starting point of Namparang Trail. (Yonhap)
In Busan, five courses of the Namparang Trail traverse panoramic coasts, sea ports, forests and downtown areas of the nation's second-largest city.
Namparang Trail also passes through all the other scenic southern coasts and ports, including those in Gangjin, Goheung, Suncheon and Yeosu of South Jeolla Province and Namhae, Tongyeong, Geoje and Changwon of South Gyeongsang Province.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


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yna--2020-10-31--(2nd LD) Popular Seoul areas crowded on Halloween night despite COVID-19 woes

`` I 've been waiting for Halloween so much .
There are n't many festivals you can enjoy on the @ @ @ @ @ a 22-year-old wearing a costume said , `` COVID-19 is scary but we can be @ @ @ @ @ ''

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 4-10, photo)
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- Popular areas in the South Korean capital were bustling with crowds celebrating Halloween on Saturday despite continued warnings by authorities against potential new coronavirus transmissions.
While most major clubs in the popular areas of Hongdae, Itaewon and Gangnam were closed as part of precautionary measures, people instead flocked to bars in the areas to enjoy the weekend.
Itaewon in the central Seoul ward of Yongsan was crowded with people wearing Halloween costumes. The lines to sign digital entry logs were long, raising worries over possible transmissions despite people wearing anti-virus masks.
Most bars were full at around 9 p.m., with streets getting crowded with people taking photos and queuing to get into bars.
Partygoers seemed excited for the annual event.
"I've been waiting for Halloween so much. There aren't many festivals you can enjoy on the street with strangers," a 22-year-old wearing a costume said, "COVID-19 is scary but we can be careful and wear masks."
But some, such as shop owners and residents, appeared vigilant against the infectious virus.
"It seems there are three to four times more people than usual," said a 30-year-old resident surnamed Park. "If infections against spread in Itaewon, the local economy will collapse and residents will feel tense walking outside."
Itaewon was at the center of a mass transmission in May after infections spread at nightclubs during a holiday weekend.
"I considered closing but decided to open since it has been really tough. I'm planning to strictly stick to the safety guidelines," a shop owner said.
People wearing costumes line up in front of a coronavirus-prevention gate at the entrance to the main street in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, on Oct. 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in central Seoul, is crowded with people on Oct. 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
Pedestrians line up in front of a coronavirus-prevention gate at the entrance to the main street in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, on Oct. 30, 2020, as health authorities strengthen efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 one day before Halloween. To pass through the gate, people must sanitize their hands, get temperature checks and register with smartphone QR codes. (Yonhap)
Hongdae, in western Seoul, was also bustling with crowds. While there were not many people wearing costumes compared with Itaewon, many were out for weekend dinners.
"I think it has been the most crowded day in Hongdae in months," a taxi driver said.
But streets with popular clubs were unusually quiet as they had closed for the weekend. Some bars were nearly empty, with only five people filling a 20-table shop.
Gangnam in southern Seoul was also crowded with weekend crowds.
A long line formed in front of a store with jack-o-lanterns and a skull-shaped decoration.
"It's not that we are holding special events celebrating Halloween. We're trying to be careful with infection," a shop employee said.
Hongdae, a popular neighborhood in western Seoul, is crowded on Oct. 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
The South Korean government has been on alert over the new coronavirus spreading among partygoers on Halloween weekend.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun called on health authorities to maintain response readiness against potential COVID-19 cluster transmissions during Halloween weekend.
Chung also asked young people to refrain from organizing Halloween gatherings at nightclubs, as well as to wear masks and maintain personal hygiene.
Many popular clubs in Seoul's Itaewon, Hongdae and Gangnam neighborhoods decided to close this Halloween weekend to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The Seoul metropolitan government said a total of 85 entertainment facilities expressed their intention to close over Halloween.
South Korea added 127 more COVID-19 cases on Saturday, raising its total caseload to 26,511, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
It marked the fourth straight day of triple-digit cases following 103 new cases reported on Wednesday, 125 on Thursday and 114 on Friday.
A poster, which says, "I know what you did on Oct. 31," is displayed next to Park Yoo-mi, a senior official responsible for public health at the Seoul metropolitan government, as she holds a press conference at City Hall in Seoul on Oct. 28, 2020, telling people to refrain from gathering during the upcoming Halloween on Oct. 31 amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--(LEAD) Popular Seoul areas crowded on Halloween night despite COVID-19 woes

While most major clubs in the popular areas of Hongdae , Itaewon and Gangnam were closed as part of precautionary @ @ @ @ @ to bars in the areas to enjoy the weekend .

(ATTN: CHANGES photos; ADDS photos and details in last two paras)
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- Popular areas in the South Korean capital were bustling with crowds celebrating Halloween on Saturday despite continued warnings by authorities against potential new coronavirus transmissions.
While most major clubs in the popular areas of Hongdae, Itaewon and Gangnam were closed as part of precautionary measures, people instead flocked to bars in the areas to enjoy the weekend.
Itaewon in the central Seoul ward of Yongsan was crowded with people wearing Halloween costumes. The lines to sign digital entry logs were long, raising worries over possible transmissions despite people wearing anti-virus masks.
Shop owners and visitors both appeared vigilant against the infectious virus.
"I'm planning to have a quick dinner with friends and we're not going to a bar," a twenty-something visitor said.
"I considered closing but decided to open since it has been really tough. I'm planning to strictly stick to the safety guidelines," a shop owner said.
People wearing costumes line up in front of a coronavirus-prevention gate at the entrance to the main street in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, on Oct. 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in central Seoul, is crowded with people on Oct. 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
Pedestrians line up in front of a coronavirus-prevention gate at the entrance to the main street in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, on Oct. 30, 2020, as health authorities strengthen efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 one day before Halloween. To pass through the gate, people must sanitize their hands, get temperature checks and register with smartphone QR codes. (Yonhap)
Hongdae, in western Seoul, was also bustling with crowds. While there were not many people wearing costumes compared with Itaewon, many were out for weekend dinners.
"I think it has been the most crowded day in Hongdae in months," a taxi driver said.
But streets with popular clubs were unusually quiet as they had closed for the weekend. Some bars were nearly empty, with only five people filling a 20-table shop.
Gangnam in southern Seoul was also crowded with weekend crowds.
A long line formed in front of a store with jack-o-lanterns and a skull-shaped decoration.
"It's not that we are holding special events celebrating Halloween. We're trying to be careful with infection," a shop employee said.
Hongdae, a popular neighborhood in western Seoul, is crowded on Oct. 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
The South Korean government has been on alert over the new coronavirus spreading among partygoers on Halloween weekend.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun called on health authorities to maintain response readiness against potential COVID-19 cluster transmissions during Halloween weekend.
Chung also asked young people to refrain from organizing Halloween gatherings at nightclubs, as well as to wear masks and maintain personal hygiene.
Many popular clubs in Seoul's Itaewon, Hongdae and Gangnam neighborhoods decided to close this Halloween weekend to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The Seoul metropolitan government said a total of 85 entertainment facilities expressed their intention to close over Halloween.
South Korea added 127 more COVID-19 cases on Saturday, raising its total caseload to 26,511, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
It marked the fourth straight day of triple-digit cases following 103 new cases reported on Wednesday, 125 on Thursday and 114 on Friday.
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--Popular Seoul areas crowded on Halloween night despite COVID-19 woes

SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- Popular areas in the South Korean capital were bustling with crowds celebrating Halloween on Saturday despite continued warnings by authorities against potential new coronavirus transmissions.
While most major clubs in the popular areas of Hongdae, Itaewon and Gangnam were closed as part of precautionary measures, people instead flocked to bars in the areas to enjoy the weekend.
Itaewon in the central Seoul ward of Yongsan was crowded with people wearing Halloween costumes. The lines to sign digital entry logs were long, raising worries over possible transmissions despite people wearing anti-virus masks.
Shop owners and visitors both appeared vigilant against the infectious virus.
"I'm planning to have a quick dinner with friends and we're not going to a bar," a twenty-something visitor said.
"I considered closing but decided to open since it has been really tough. I'm planning to strictly stick to the safety guidelines," a shop owner said.
Streets in Itaewon in central Seoul are crowded on Halloween evening on Oct. 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
Pedestrians line up in front of a coronavirus-prevention gate at the entrance to the main street in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, on Oct. 30, 2020, as health authorities strengthen efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 one day before Halloween. To pass through the gate, people must sanitize their hands, get temperature checks and register with smartphone QR codes. (Yonhap)
Hongdae, in western Seoul, was also bustling with crowds. While there were not many people wearing costumes compared with Itaewon, many were out for weekend dinners.
"I think it has been the most crowded day in Hongdae in months," a taxi driver said.
But streets with popular clubs were unusually quiet as they had closed for the weekend. Some bars were nearly empty, with only five people filling a 20-table shop.
Gangnam in southern Seoul was also crowded with weekend crowds.
A long line formed in front of a store with jack-o-lanterns and a skull-shaped decoration.
"It's not that we are holding special events celebrating Halloween. We're trying to be careful with infection," a shop employee said.
Hongdae, a popular neighborhood in western Seoul, is crowded on Oct. 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
The South Korean government has been on alert over the new coronavirus spreading among partygoers on Halloween weekend.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun called on health authorities to maintain response readiness against potential COVID-19 cluster transmissions during Halloween weekend.
Chung also asked young people to refrain from organizing Halloween gatherings at nightclubs, as well as to wear masks and maintain personal hygiene.
Many popular clubs in Seoul's Itaewon, Hongdae and Gangnam neighborhoods decided to close this Halloween weekend to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The Seoul metropolitan government said a total of 85 entertainment facilities expressed their intention to close over Halloween.
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--Moon goes trekking on soon-to-open historic trail course

The area was designated as a no-entry place following the so-called Jan. 21 incident in 1968 .
At the time @ @ @ @ @ sneaked onto the 342-meter-high mountain and approached Cheong Wa Dae in an apparent attempt to @ @ @ @ @ After two weeks of skirmishes around the mountain , all the intruders , except two @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in on Saturday went trekking on a trail course and unlocked the gate to the route, 52 years after it was declared off-limits for security reasons.
The hike came two days after Cheong Wa Dae announced plans to open the northern side of an ancient fortress wall on Mount Bukak, just behind the presidential compound in Seoul, to the public starting in November.
The 1.1 million-square-meter mountain, 4.8 times bigger than Yeouido in western Seoul, is known for well-preserved trail courses.
The area was designated as a no-entry place following the so-called Jan. 21 incident in 1968. At the time, 31 North Korean commandos sneaked onto the 342-meter-high mountain and approached Cheong Wa Dae in an apparent attempt to assassinate then-President Park Chung-hee. After two weeks of skirmishes around the mountain, all the intruders, except two, were killed.
President Moon Jae-in (C) is briefed by Chung Jae-suk, the chief of the Cultural Heritage Administration, on Oct. 31, 2020 on the plan to open a trail route on the northern side of an ancient fortress wall on Mount Bukak, just behind the presidential compound in Seoul, to the public starting in November. (Yonhap)
Moon, who was accompanied by mountaineer Um Hong-gil, actress Lee Si-young and residents of Buamdong, a neighborhood near the trail course, walked to an entrance to the route and opened the steel gate that had been closed for decades.
"Only the trail course that follows the fortress wall has been opened for now, but the plan is to wholly open the area north of Cheong Wa Dae by 2022," Moon said.
He added that "the guarding (of the area) should be heightened in a more scientific way," mentioning that the opened area is important not only for the security of the presidential compound but also for airspace security.
The trail route opening is the latest in Cheong Wa Dae's move to fully open the mountain to the public by the first half of 2022, which was one of Moon's presidential campaign pledges.
The Moon administration has opened several areas near the presidential compound to the public since 2017.
Shortly after the launch of the Moon administration in May 2017, Cheong Wa Dae took a measure to allow ordinary people to walk right in front of the presidential compound at any time of day.
In 2018, it lifted all remaining curbs on hikers' entry on the nearby mountain of Inwang.
President Moon Jae-in (L) speaks with mountaineer Um Hong-gil and others during his hike to a trail route on the northern side of an ancient fortress wall on Mount Bukak, just behind the presidential compound in Seoul on Oct. 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
A view of a Mount Bukak trail course to be open to the public, in this photo provided by Cheong Wa Dae (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--(LEAD) 3 killed, 19 injured in fishing boat collision with bridge

But some have raised views that the fishing boat could have sped up to find a better spot for fishing @ @ @ @ @ regulate recreational fishing hours to after sunrise and before sunset for heightened safety .

(ATTN: ADDS details in last six paras, photos throughout)
BORYEONG/TAEAN, South Korea, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- Three South Koreans were killed and 19 others were injured after their fishing boat collided with a bridge pier on the country's west coast earlier Saturday, the Korea Coast Guard said.
The accident occurred at around 5:41 a.m. when the 9.77-ton boat carrying 21 recreational fishermen and a skipper collided with one of the piers of a bridge connecting Anmyeon Island and Wonsan Island.
Three out of the four men found unconscious by the Coast Guard were pronounced dead at hospitals, while the fourth remained unconscious and in critical condition, said Lee Sung-il, a Coast Guard spokesman in the western coastal county of Taean.
This photo, provided by the Coast Guard on Oct. 31, 2020, shows a recreational fisherman being rescued after a fishing boat accident. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This photo, provided by the Coast Guard on Oct. 31, 2020, shows the bridge pier on South Korea's west coast that a fishing boat crashed into. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Lee said 19 other men, including a 42-year-old skipper identified only by his family name Woo, are being treated at nearby hospitals for serious and minor injuries such as broken bones.
The Coast Guard plans to question the skipper as soon as he is released from the hospital on charges of professional negligence resulting in death, Lee said.
Lee said the skipper is believed to have failed to see a bridge pier due to darkness as his boat was traveling at between 15 and 18 nautical miles (27 and 33 kilometers) per hour.
There were no apparent issues with safety or weather conditions.
The boat was built to carry up to 22 people and the skipper was not drunk. The weather was relatively fair, with not much fog and waves measuring 1 meter in height.
But some have raised views that the fishing boat could have sped up to find a better spot for fishing, highlighting the need to regulate recreational fishing hours to after sunrise and before sunset for heightened safety.
Currently, fishing boats are allowed to leave the port after 4 a.m. and arrive before 8 p.m.
Most of the people on board were known to have come to Boryeong in groups for weekend fishing trips after reserving seats in advance online.
All passengers were wearing life jackets when they were rescued.
This photo, provided by the Coast Guard on Oct. 31, 2020, shows a 9.77-ton fishing boat that crashed into a bridge pier on South Korea's west coast. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--(LEAD) Busan IPark relegated to second-tier K League 2 next year

`` We 've been through so much this year , and the players stayed patient and resilient , '' Kim @ @ @ @ @ able to feed off the energy of our fans today for this come-from-behind victory .
@ @ @ @ @ better next year for our supporters . ''

(ATTN: ADDS comments in paras 15-16, 20-21)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- Busan IPark have been relegated to the second-tier competition in South Korean club football for next season.
By finishing in last place among 12 clubs in the K League 1 on Saturday with a 2-1 loss to Seongnam FC, Busan will ply their trade in the K League 2 in 2021. They had 25 points from five wins, 10 draws and 12 losses.
Incheon United, who began Saturday in last place but ended up in 11th place after defeating FC Seoul 1-0. They collected 27 points from seven wins, six draws and 14 losses.
Seongnam finished in 10th with 28 points from seven wins, seven draws and 13 losses.
Elias Aguilar of Incheon United celebrates his goal against FC Seoul during a K League 1 match at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Oct. 31, 2020, in this photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Busan just earned a promotion from the K League 2 for this season, after toiling there for four seasons from 2016 to 2019.
Entering Saturday, Busan, Seongnam and Incheon were the only three teams in danger of relegation.
Incheon were in last place with 24 points, while Busan and Seongnam were one point ahead of them. Busan remained ahead of Seongnam in the table thanks to their 24-22 edge in goals scored, the first tiebreaker.
Seongnam hosted Busan at Tancheon Sports Complex in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, while Incheon were visiting FC Seoul at Seoul World Cup Stadium in the capital city. Both matches kicked off at 3 p.m. Incheon were in a must-win situation, though Busan and Seongnam could stay put with a draw as long as Incheon didn't win.
First goals in both matches were scored almost simultaneously. Lee Dong-jun put Busan on the board in the 31st minute, and then just seconds later in Seoul, Elias Aguilar scored for Incheon.
If the matches had ended there, then Seongnam would have been relegated.
Instead, Seongnam battled back in the second half to secure at least another season with the big boys in the K League 1.
Ma Sang-hoon of Seongnam FC (R) celebrates his goal against Busan IPark during a K League 1 match at Tancheon Sports Complex in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 31, 2020, in this photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
First, it was 19-year-old forward Hong Si-soo netting the equalizer in the 65th minute. It was also Hong's first professional goal.
Then in the 77th, defensive back Ma Sang-hoon scored the go-ahead goal. Incheon stayed ahead of FC Seoul in the capital. That meant Busan were now facing relegation.
Four minutes of injury time were awarded in both matches. Busan kept knocking on the door but couldn't get one into the net.
Seongnam's first-year boss, Kim Nam-il, was reduced to tears after his team closed out the nervy victory -- a rare show of emotion for the former hard-nosed midfielder.
"We've been through so much this year, and the players stayed patient and resilient," Kim said. "We were able to feed off the energy of our fans today for this come-from-behind victory. We'll try to be better next year for our supporters."
Incheon-Seoul matched dragged on in the final moments, as tempers flared amid some hard fouls, but Incheon held on for dear life and a spot in the K League 1 for next year.
Over recent seasons, Incheon built a reputation as a great escape artist, a team that always found ways to barely avoid relegation at the last possible moments.
This year, they started the season with a 15-match winless skid, and Jo Sung-hwan took over from Lim Wan-sup as new head coach in August. Incheon had zero wins, five draws and nine losses at the time of Jo's hiring, and went 7-1-5 to close out the season.
Jo said he felt "blessed" to be at the helm of the tough-minded club that still has room to grow.
"I know a lot of people felt we'd be relegated, but I think we silenced those skeptics with each passing match," said Jo, whose Incheon won the final two matches of the season. "The final five matches were especially stressful, and it felt like we were living on the edge the whole time. I didn't even want to think about the possibility of relegation."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--Busan IPark relegated to second-tier K League 2 next year

Seongnam hosted Busan at Tancheon Sports Complex in Seongnam , just south of Seoul , while Incheon were visiting FC @ @ @ @ @ Stadium in the capital city .
Both matches kicked off at 3 p.m. Incheon were @ @ @ @ @ though Busan and Seongnam could stay put with a draw as long as Incheon did @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- Busan IPark have been relegated to the second-tier competition in South Korean club football for next season.
By finishing in last place among 12 clubs in the K League 1 on Saturday with a 2-1 loss to Seongnam FC, Busan will ply their trade in the K League 2 in 2021. They had 25 points from five wins, 10 draws and 12 losses.
Incheon United, who began Saturday in last place but ended up in 11th place after defeating FC Seoul 1-0. They collected 27 points from seven wins, six draws and 14 losses.
Seongnam finished in 10th with 28 points from seven wins, seven draws and 13 losses.
Elias Aguilar of Incheon United celebrates his goal against FC Seoul during a K League 1 match at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Oct. 31, 2020, in this photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Busan just earned a promotion from the K League 2 for this season, after toiling there for four seasons from 2016 to 2019.
Entering Saturday, Busan, Seongnam and Incheon were the only three teams in danger of relegation.
Incheon were in last place with 24 points, while Busan and Seongnam were one point ahead of them. Busan remained ahead of Seongnam in the table thanks to their 24-22 edge in goals scored, the first tiebreaker.
Seongnam hosted Busan at Tancheon Sports Complex in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, while Incheon were visiting FC Seoul at Seoul World Cup Stadium in the capital city. Both matches kicked off at 3 p.m. Incheon were in a must-win situation, though Busan and Seongnam could stay put with a draw as long as Incheon didn't win.
First goals in both matches were scored almost simultaneously. Lee Dong-jun put Busan on the board in the 31st minute, and then just seconds later in Seoul, Elias Aguilar scored for Incheon.
If the matches had ended there, then Seongnam would have been relegated.
Instead, Seongnam battled back in the second half to secure at least another season with the big boys in the K League 1.
Ma Sang-hoon of Seongnam FC (R) celebrates his goal against Busan IPark during a K League 1 match at Tancheon Sports Complex in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 31, 2020, in this photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
First, it was 19-year-old forward Hong Si-soo netting the equalizer in the 65th minute. It was also Hong's first professional goal.
Then in the 77th, defensive back Ma Sang-hoon scored the go-ahead goal. Incheon stayed ahead of FC Seoul in the capital. That meant Busan were now facing relegation.
Four minutes of injury time were awarded in both matches. Busan kept knocking on the door but couldn't get one into the net.
Incheon-Seoul matched dragged on in the final moments, as tempers flared amid some hard fouls, but Incheon held on for dear life and a spot in the K League 1 for next year.
Over recent seasons, Incheon built a reputation as a great escape artist, a team that always found ways to barely avoid relegation at the last possible moments.
This year, they started the season with a 15-match winless skid, and Jo Sung-hwan took over from Lim Wan-sup as new head coach in August. Incheon had zero wins, five draws and nine losses at the time of Jo's hiring, and went 7-1-5 to close out the season.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--(LEAD) Seoul rivals set for clash at start of KBO postseason

`` Though we could n't grab the No .
2 seed in the regular season , we 'll try to @ @ @ @ @ title ) in the postseason , '' Kim said .
`` All we can do @ @ @ @ @ we can under the circumstances .
We wo n't look to do too much on @ @ @ @ @ our game . ''

(ATTN: ADDS comments throughout)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- The start of the South Korean baseball postseason on Sunday will feature a battle of two evenly matched clubs based in the nation's capital.
The LG Twins will host the Kiwoom Heroes for the first of possibly two Wild Card games in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason on Sunday. The first pitch is 2 p.m. at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul.
The Twins finished fourth in the regular season at 79-61-4 (wins-losses-ties), and the Heroes took the fifth spot at 80-63-1. Though the Heroes had more wins, they trailed the Twins in winning percentage, .564 to .559.
The winning percentage in the KBO is reached by dividing wins by the sum of wins and losses, with ties not coming into the equation.
In this file photo from Oct. 23, 2020, Kim Hyun-soo (C) and Yoo Kang-nam (L) of the LG Twins celebrate their 8-4 victory over the Kia Tigers in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The Twins only need a win or a tie on Sunday to advance to the next stage. If they drop that game, they'll immediately get another chance on Monday, also at Jamsil, for a win or a tie necessary to advance.
The Heroes, on the other hand, must win two straight games to move on to the next round.
Since the Wild Card system was introduced in 2015, no fifth-place team has made it past this stage. Only the 2016 Kia Tigers managed to even win a game as the lower seed.
The Heroes will try to buck the trend. They won the season series over the Twins 10-6 and outscored them 73-64, while hitting 16 home runs to the Twins' 12.
The Twins were holding down the No. 2 seed on Wednesday, but lost their final two games to end up in fourth. Manager Ryu Joong-il apologized to LG fans on Saturday for the late-season letdown.
"Even though we disappointed our fans with the way we finished the regular season, we'll do our best in the postseason going forward," Ryu told reporters at Jamsil. "We'll consider postseason games as bonus and we'll make sure we won't have any regrets at the end."
Asked if he had any special message for his squad ahead of Sunday's game, Ryu said, "I told them just to have fun."
LG captain Kim Hyun-soo echoed the manager's sentiment.
"Though we couldn't grab the No. 2 seed in the regular season, we'll try to capture (the Korean Series title) in the postseason," Kim said. "All we can do is to try the best we can under the circumstances. We won't look to do too much on the field but just play our game."
For the season overall, the Twins were a slightly better offensive club, while the Heroes held a slim edge in pitching. Based on fielding metrics, they were also among the best defensive clubs.
In this file photo from Oct. 23, 2020, Kiwoom Heroes players celebrate their 6-2 victory over the Doosan Bears in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Both teams had some ups and downs. They each threatened to overtake the NC Dinos for first place, coming within decimal points in winning percentage at one point in the second half, only to fall back again and watch the Dinos claim the regular season crown.
The Heroes went through a controversial managerial change, as first-year skipper Son Hyuk resigned with 12 games left in the season. Former quality control coach Kim Chang-hyun is the interim boss. They were in third place when Son quit -- though the general belief around the league is he was dismissed by upper management -- and they went 7-5-0 the rest of the way to end up in fifth place.
But losing to the Doosan Bears 2-0 in their season finale on Friday kept them from moving up any further. Kim, the interim skipper, rued that missed opportunity, but said he hasn't lost faith in his club, which finished runner-up to the Bears in last year's Korean Series.
"Our players know how to handle big games," he said at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. "And they're a proud group of guys, having been to many postseasons. The Twins have more margin for error, but we have to go all-in on the first game. We'll worry about the next game afterward."
Kim Ha-seong, the Heroes' hard-hitting shortstop, said he didn't want to make any excuse for falling to fifth. By a schedule quirk, the Heroes only played two games in the final eight days, while everyone else played several makeup games.
"We're only thinking about the next game against LG," Kim said. "We don't really have much to say at this point. We just want to play a lot of games this postseason."
In this file photo from Oct. 23, 2020, Casey Kelly of the LG Twins pitches against the Kia Tigers during the bottom of the sixth inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Against this setting, the Twins couldn't have asked for a better pitcher to start this potential one-and-done game, as right-hander Casey Kelly will take the mound.
He went 15-7 with a 3.32 ERA for the year and was one of the league's top starters in the second half, with a 11-1 record and a 2.22 ERA.
Kelly was 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA in three starts against the Heroes during the regular season. He had 18 strikeouts against six walks in 19 innings versus the Heroes. He served up just one home run, to Park Jun-tae on Sept. 10. No Kiwoom batter managed more than two hits off Kelly.
The Heroes already burned their top starter, Eric Joksich, on Friday versus the Bears. They lost that game, and right-hander Jake Brigham is now lined up to start Sunday. Interim manager Kim Chang-hyun said before Friday's game that, in an all-hands-on-deck strategy, every pitcher except Brigham was available to take the mound that day.
Slowed by injuries all year, Brigham went 9-5 in 21 starts with a 3.62 ERA. He pitched to a 5.74 ERA in three starts against the Twins, going 1-2 in those games.
LG slugger Robert Ramos homered once off Brigham this year, and outfielder Kim Hyun-soo went 3-for-8 with two RBIs and two runs scored against the right-hander.
Kelly pitched at least six innings in 14 straight starts dating back to July 31 and allowed more than three runs on just two occasions.
Brigham wasn't nearly as consistent but finished strong, giving up just one run in 13 innings across his final two full starts. On Oct. 23, Brigham pitched just one inning as an opener of sort against the Bears.
Ryu said he wanted Kelly, who last pitched on Oct. 23, to start Friday's game, which would have given the Twins a better chance of winning and thus securing No. 2 seed. Instead, Kelly had been slow in his recovery from the wear and tear of earlier starts. Ryu will now count on the right-hander to beat the Heroes and play no more than one Wild Card game.
Their second American right-hander, Tyler Wilson, will remain sidelined with elbow issues. He hasn't pitched since Oct. 4 but could be available in the next round if the Twins get there.
Ramos, who last played on Oct. 6 and has only appeared in two games in October with an ankle injury, will return to the lineup Sunday. Ryu said Ramos participated in both batting and fielding practices Saturday.
In this file photo from Oct. 23, 2020, Jake Brigham of the Kiwoom Heroes pitches against the Doosan Bears during the bottom of the first inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
The Heroes and the Twins ranked first and second in bullpen ERAs. But while the Heroes ran their relievers into the ground, as they threw a league-high 574 innings, the Twins received a league-low 495 2/3 innings from their bullpen.
If they build a lead through five or six innings, the Heroes can bring in some lively arms to protect that cushion. Setup man An Woo-jin and closer Cho Sang-woo are two of the hardest throwers in the KBO.
The Twins' closer Go Woo-suk is no slouch, either, and the reigning Rookie of the Year Jung Woo-young has continued to thrive in the setup role.
On offense, Kim Hyun-soo led the Twins with a .331 batting average and 119 RBIs. Ramos launched a team-best 38 home runs in his first KBO season. Sleek-fielding shortstop Oh Ji-hwan batted .300 for the first time in his career and matched his personal high with 41 doubles.
The Heroes have the league's best offensive shortstop with Kim Ha-seong, who put up a .306 average, 30 homers and 109 RBIs. Formerly light-hitting outfielder Lee Jung-hoo enjoyed a power surge this year, setting a league record with 49 doubles and shattering career highs with 15 homers and 101 RBIs.
In this file photo from Sept. 10, 2020, Lee Chun-woong of the LG Twins (R) celebrates his three-run home run against the Kiwoom Heroes with teammate Robert Ramos (L) during the bottom of the seventh inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--Interim manager for KBO club Wyverns resigns over team's poor performance

`` While working as the team 's interim manager , I realized I had so much room for improvement , @ @ @ @ @ club statement .
`` I feel responsible for our team 's poor performance this year @ @ @ @ @ was time for a change of scenery . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- The interim manager for the South Korean baseball club SK Wyverns has resigned, leaving a leadership vacuum for a team coming off its worst season in 20 years.
The Wyverns of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Saturday bench coach Park Kyung-oan, who served as interim skipper in the absence of ailing Youm Kyoung-youb, expressed his intent to resign following their season finale from the previous night. The club accepted his resignation Saturday.
This file photo from Aug. 14, 2020, shows SK Wyverns' interim manager Park Kyung-oan during the top of the second inning of a Korea Baeball Organization regular season game against the Kia Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Youm fell ill and briefly lost consciousness during a game on June 25, and Park assumed the interim managerial role from that point. Youm returned on Sept. 1 but lasted only five games because of recurring health problems. Youm himself resigned before Friday's game.
Park, 48, has spent 18 years with the Wyverns' organization -- 11 years as a player, and then the rest as their minor league manager, player development director, battery coach and bench coach.
The Wyverns finished in ninth place among 10 teams at 51-92-1 (wins-losses-ties) for a .357 winning percentage. It's the second-lowest winning percentage in franchise history, ahead of only the .338 mark (44-86-3) from their inaugural season in 2000.
"While working as the team's interim manager, I realized I had so much room for improvement," Park said in a club statement. "I feel responsible for our team's poor performance this year. I also thought it was time for a change of scenery."
The Wyverns are already in the midst of a major shakeup. They recently brought in their former general manager, Min Kyung-sam, as new club president. Earlier Saturday, they announced signings of two new pitchers, Wilmer Font and Artie Lewicki.
The Wyverns acknowledged Friday that former national team manager Son Dong-yol had interviewed for the managerial job. They're expected to name their new skipper sometime next week.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--83 deaths reported among people who received flu vaccine: authorities

The deaths have stoked public anxiety over the safety of flu vaccines , but the Korea Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ the deaths of 72 people have very limited relation with the flu shots .
Another @ @ @ @ @ investigation .

SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's public health agency said Saturday that a total of 83 people, most of whom are elderly, died after being administered with a seasonal flu vaccine.
The deaths have stoked public anxiety over the safety of flu vaccines, but the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said the deaths of 72 people have very limited relation with the flu shots. Another 11 cases are currently under investigation.
Of the total, 37 people are in their 70s, followed by 34 people aged 80 or older, eight under 60 and four in their 60s, KDCA said.
This file photo shows a flu shot being administered. (Yonhap)
The health authorities have repeatedly said they have found no direct link between flu shots and deaths, urging people to get flu vaccinations before the onset of winter amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Public anxiety has heightened over the safety of flu vaccines after some vaccine bottles -- part of the country's free inoculation program -- were exposed to room temperature during distribution. The authorities, however, said there was no safety issue.
So far, more than 11.5 million South Koreans received a free state flu shot, accounting for 60.9 percent of the vaccination rate for about 19 million people, including teenagers and senior citizens.
Generally, flu season arrives between end-November and December. Considering that flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination, experts recommend people get flu shots by mid-November.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--(LEAD) S. Korea confirms 3rd MIS-C cases

She was later readmitted for other symptoms and confirmed to be an MIS-C case in mid-October , the authorities said @ @ @ @ @ in stable condition after receiving treatment at an intensive care unit for one week .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in paras 6-7)
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- An additional case of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) has been confirmed in South Korea, bringing the total caseload to three, health authorities said Saturday.
The 14-year-old girl was admitted to a hospital and recovered from the disease earlier this year, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
KDCA has conducted an investigation into eight suspected MIS-C cases and confirmed that a total of three children had the syndrome that affects several organs and systems in the body.
The symptoms of MIS-C include inflammation of the blood vessels, swollen hands and feet, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
The girl first had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient and was admitted to a hospital for treatment in September, the KDCA said.
She was later readmitted for other symptoms and confirmed to be an MIS-C case in mid-October, the authorities said. The girl is currently in stable condition after receiving treatment at an intensive care unit for one week.
The patients in two previous cases -- an 11-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy -- both recovered without any serious complications, the authorities said.
The KDCA earlier published a case definition for the disease.
It refers to children and adolescents under 19 who show symptoms of a fever of 38 C or above lasting 24 hours or longer, with inflammation and multisystem involvement of two or more organs in severe clinical condition requiring hospitalization.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)