yna--2020-03-23--Seoul stocks open sharpy lower, triggering trading halt

Causing more concerns to investors , the U.S. Senate on Sunday failed to advance its emergency rescue package over the @ @ @ @ @ Democrats could not narrow down their differences .

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened sharply lower Monday, triggering a temporary halt of trading as economic slowdown fears persisted over the new coronavirus pandemic.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) surrendered 88.86 points, or 5.67 percent, to 1,477.29 as of 9:15 a.m.
The plunge of stocks triggered local bourse operators to activate a trading halt only six minutes after the opening bell.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average on Friday dropped 4.6 percent despite Washington's announcement introducing a major stimulus package.
Causing more concerns to investors, the U.S. Senate on Sunday failed to advance its emergency rescue package over the coronavirus crisis after Republicans and Democrats could not narrow down their differences.
U.S. crude oil prices also fell as investors expect a drop in demand as manufacturing, travel and other industries take a big hit from the COVID-19 pandemic.
South Korea last week approved an extra budget worth 11.7 trillion won to help the struggling economy, while its central bank cut its policy rate by half a percentage point to a record low of 0.75 percent.
But analysts said economic activities in the country are likely to stay low as South Korea is still grappling with cluster infections and imported cases.
The government on Saturday called for suspending the operation of religious, indoor sports and entertainment facilities for the next 15 days until April 5 to stem the spread of the virus.
In Seoul, most large-cap stocks plunged across the board to start the session.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics moved down 5.07 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix plunged 7.89 percent.
Carmakers also started lower, with No. 1 Hyundai Motor decreasing 4.92 percent and its smaller sister Kia Motors surrendering 8.28 percent. Auto parts producer Hyundai Mobis shed 8.54 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,271.30 won against the U.S. dollar, down 24.80 won from the previous session's close.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--Hyundai suspends India plant amid virus fear

Last week , Hyundai and Kia halted most of their plants in the United States and Europe to prevent the @ @ @ @ @ line with strict movement bans and lockdowns .

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's biggest carmaker by sales, said Monday it has suspended its plant in India due to the spreading coronavirus outbreak.
The Chennai plant's suspension comes as the Indian government ordered most manufacturing facilities in 75 regions affected by COVID-19 outbreak to stop operations, a company spokesperson said.
Hyundai said it will suspend operations of the 650,000-unit-a-year plant by the end of this month in line with the local government's guidelines.
Kia Motors Corp, which is 34 percent owned by Hyundai, is also expected to stop operations of its 300,000-unit-a-year Anandapur plant sooner or later.
Last week, Hyundai and Kia halted most of their plants in the United States and Europe to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in line with strict movement bans and lockdowns.
This undated file photo provided by Hyundai Motor shows the carmaker's assembly line in its Chennai, India, plant. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--(LEAD) Korea's exports up 10 pct in first 20 days of March amid virus woes

The country 's outbound shipments came to US $ 30.7 billion in the March 1-20 period , rising from $ @ @ @ @ @ period a year earlier , according to the data from the Korea Customs Service .

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout)
SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports moved up 10 percent in the first 20 days of March from a year earlier, customs data showed Monday, led mostly by improved shipments of chips and automobiles and increased working days.
The country's outbound shipments came to US$30.7 billion in the March 1-20 period, rising from $27.9 billion in the same period a year earlier, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service.
The daily average for the period, however, slipped 0.4 percent on-year. The customs office noted the number of working days over the cited period came to 16 this year, compared with 14.5 last year.
The data came amid growing concerns that COVID-19 outbreak is denting exports by Asia's fourth-largest economy.
By segment, exports of chips advanced 20.3 percent and those of automobiles increased 13.7 percent from a year earlier.
Outbound shipments of ships, on the other hand, nosedived 49.6 percent.
By country, shipments to China gained 4.9 percent on-year, while shipments to the United States spiked 27.2 percent.
South Korea's exports had dropped for 14 consecutive months until January, largely due to a prolonged trade dispute between the United States and China and a slump in global chip prices.
Exports grew 4.5 percent in February from a year earlier.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--S. Korean stock trading halted after sharp plunge

SEOUL , March 23 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean stock trading was halted on Monday after the opening bell @ @ @ @ @ stock market plunged by more than 5 percent .

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stock trading was halted on Monday after the opening bell, as the country's stock market plunged by more than 5 percent.
The country's key stock index, the KOSPI, shed 85.93 points, or 5.49 percent, to 1,480.22 as of 9:08 a.m.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--Korea's exports up 10 pct in first 20 days of March

The daily average for the same period slipped 0.4 percent on-year , according to the Korea Customs Service

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports moved up 10 percent in the first 20 days of March from a year earlier, customs data showed Monday.
The daily average for the same period slipped 0.4 percent on-year, according to the Korea Customs Service
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--93-year-old woman fully recovered from new coronavirus

`` The patient is the oldest person among recovered COVID-19 cases .
She previously had symptoms of dementia but did @ @ @ @ @ disease , '' said a city official who asked not to be named .

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- A 93-year-old South Korean woman infected with the novel coronavirus has fully recovered and been released from quarantine, city officials said Monday.
The patient, from a nursing hospital in the southeastern city of Gyeongsan, returned home after fully recovering from COVID-19. The city is adjacent to Daegu, an epicenter of the local outbreak.
Health workers transfer a novel coronavirus patient at a nursing hospital in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, on March 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
"The patient is the oldest person among recovered COVID-19 cases. She previously had symptoms of dementia but did not have any other underlying disease," said a city official who asked not to be named.
The patient underwent 13 days of intensive treatment and tested negative for the virus twice, they said.
A total of 2,909 people have fully recovered as of Sunday, up from 2,612 a day earlier, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The rate of full recovery has steadily increased over the past 10 days to reach a record high of 32.7 percent on Sunday, the KCDC said.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


KOSPI 1,474.45 DN 91.70 points (open)

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


KOSDAQ 443.51 DN 24.24 points (open)


Monday's weather forecast

SEOUL , March 23 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


yna--2020-03-23--Dollar opens at 1,265.0 won UP from 1,246.5 won


yna--2020-03-23--S. Korea logs 2nd-biggest foreign capital outflow in Asia over virus

Seoul struck the $ 60 billion currency swap agreement with Washington last week , which marks the second of its @ @ @ @ @ be in place for at least six months .

SEJONG, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has suffered the second-largest outflow of foreign stock investment funds among major Asian emerging nations over the past month amid a dollar shortage sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, data showed Monday.
Offshore investors withdrew US$10.24 billion from the South Korean stock market between Feb. 20 and Wednesday, according to the data compiled by the Korea Center for International Finance (KCIF).
It was the second-largest outflow among major Asian emerging markets after Taiwan's $13.2 billion, showed the data based on a Bloomberg analysis. China and Hong Kong was excluded from the tally.
India came next with $7.33 billion, followed by Thailand with $2.05 billion, Indonesia with $620 million, the Philippines with $350 million and Vietnam with $250 million.
Foreign investors exodus from the emerging countries was attributed to an international dollar crunch triggered by the rapid spread of the coronavirus across the globe.
South Korean foreign exchange authorities said offshore investors' stock selling binge is weighing on the domestic currency market, despite a recent currency swap deal with the United States.
Seoul struck the $60 billion currency swap agreement with Washington last week, which marks the second of its kind since 2008 and will be in place for at least six months.
But the swap arrangement failed to stop foreigners dumping local stocks. Offshore investors sold a net 585 billion won Friday, extending their net selling to 12 sessions on end.
The government said it will lose no time in providing financial institutions and businesses with dollars by utilizing the swap facility and tapping foreign exchange reserves in case of a liquidity shortage.
As part of efforts to stabilize the currency market, South Korea raised the cap on bank's currency forward positions by 25 percent Thursday.
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--(EDITORIAL from Korea JoongAng Daily on March 23)

The Covid-19 outbreak has challenged the entire world .
The United States is enforcing a lockdown on 75 million citizens @ @ @ @ @ shut in Italy .
In the wake of the worst global crisis since World War @ @ @ @ @ growth and massive layoffs stemming from a shutdown of manufacturing and services are ever-deepening in @ @ @ @ @ for Economic Affairs Hong Nam-ki expressed worries about the possibility of recessions for up to @ @ @ @ @ 11.7 trillion won ( $ 9.4 billion ) supplementary budget , the Moon Jae-in administration @ @ @ @ @ in emergency funds to help the struggling players in our economy .
But that could @ @ @ @ @ of the red tape that forces applicants for emergency loans to wait two to three @ @ @ @ @ they need .

The BAI must act
The Covid-19 outbreak has challenged the entire world. The United States is enforcing a lockdown on 75 million citizens while all factories have been shut in Italy. In the wake of the worst global crisis since World War II, concerns about negative growth and massive layoffs stemming from a shutdown of manufacturing and services are ever-deepening in Korea. Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Hong Nam-ki expressed worries about the possibility of recessions for up to four years. Following an 11.7 trillion won ($9.4 billion) supplementary budget, the Moon Jae-in administration announced another 50 trillion won in emergency funds to help the struggling players in our economy. But that could be useless in the face of the red tape that forces applicants for emergency loans to wait two to three months to get the money they need.
A fitting corollary is a patient in need of an oxygen respirator, but unfortunately his or her arteries are blocked due to the deep-rooted bureaucracy of the Board of the Audit and Inspection (BAI) and the widespread culture of non-action in officialdom. Despite the urgency of the outbreak, government officials are blindly following their rule books.
Their extreme passivity exacerbates the hardships of the self-employed and mom-and-pop stores across the country. According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, only 9.2 percent of emergency funds were executed from Feb. 13 to March 10. As a result of the drastic enforcement of unpaid leave in the aviation, hotel, automobile and shipbuilding industries, contractors are on the brink of collapse. And yet, the head of the state-run Industrial Bank of Korea has been accused of violating the 52-hour workweek by a union after employees had to work overtime to process requests for loans.
The government revised the BAI's guidelines Thursday to effectively deal with the economic crisis. Yet the effect remains to be seen due to a critical lack of specifics. Civil servants will hardly put the revision into action under such circumstances. The BAI has reacted by promising a "fast preliminary consulting" with ministries in need. But how many officials would dare to request such a "fast track"?
In a battle against an extraordinary enemy, all the decision-making should be streamlined. The Financial Supervisory Service, in particular, must simplify the process of companies getting loans from private banks. Otherwise, money cannot reach needy enterprises.
The government must take a cue from the Lee Myung-bak administration, which ordered the head of the BAI to join an emergency meeting led by the president. We hope President Moon does the same to hear plans by the BAI to save the economy.
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on March 23)

For its part , the government is required to take pre-emptive action .
President Moon has repeatedly vowed to do @ @ @ @ @ the impression that he has put words before action .
Moon has been reluctant to @ @ @ @ @ other restrictive measures on travelers coming from China and other countries .
But the government @ @ @ @ @ such measures , if necessary , to prevent the influx of infected people into the @ @

Long-term strategy needed
Authorities should take more comprehensive measures
About two months have passed since South Korea reported its first case of the novel coronavirus on Jan. 20. The country still faces an uphill battle to bring COVID-19 under control although the spread of the pandemic here has somewhat slowed. No one can let their guard down against the highly contagious virus.
Now the government and health authorities should map out a new strategy to better cope with the public health crisis. They have so far focused on tracing, isolating and treating members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a secretive Christian sect responsible for massive outbreaks in Daegu. The number of new daily cases has recently declined in the southeastern city.
But new infection clusters have continued to occur ― at a call center, hospitals and Protestant churches in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province. This is raising fears about the further spread of the coronavirus throughout our communities. The country now stands at a crossroads: whether to bring the virus under control soon, or face a long-term battle.
Considering internal and external factors, it is hard to expect a quick end to the health emergency. Thus it is imperative to hammer out long-term measures. Expedient steps and a complacent attitude toward the relentless virus have already proved to be a recipe for failure. We urge the Moon Jae-in administration to take more systematic and comprehensive measures not only to fight the virus, but also to minimize the economic fallout from the epidemic.
Against this backdrop, we positively assess Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun's call for closing religious, indoor sports and entertainment facilities for 15 days. Noting that the next 15 days are critical in the battle with the virus, he recommended Saturday that those facilities stop their operations temporarily. His call stopped short of a ban on mass gatherings and events by the facilities which are vulnerable to infection clusters. But he warned that the authorities may take administrative action against those violating quarantine and disinfection guidelines.
In reality, it is difficult to ban all the activities of such groups, particularly religious ones. Therefore it is important to encourage them to participate in the government's social distancing campaign voluntarily. Every member of our society needs to follow the authorities' guidelines to protect both themselves and others from the pandemic.
For its part, the government is required to take pre-emptive action. President Moon has repeatedly vowed to do so, but is giving the impression that he has put words before action. Moon has been reluctant to impose an entry ban or other restrictive measures on travelers coming from China and other countries. But the government should not hesitate to adopt such measures, if necessary, to prevent the influx of infected people into the country.
In this regard, we welcome the government's move to conduct virus tests on all passengers arriving from Europe and place those even with negative results under a 14-day self-quarantine. The move, starting Sunday, is inevitable as Europe is emerging as the new hotspot for COVID-19. Seoul should also consider taking the same action for the U.S. where the total number of confirmed cases has rapidly surged to more than 15,000.
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--(EDITORIAL from Korea Herald on March 23)

On March 19 , the government extended a special entry procedure for arrivals from nine countries including Italy and Iran @ @ @ @ @ .
For instance , on March 17 alone , the procedure found suspected symptoms in @ @ @ @ @ 19.3 percent ) .
The ratio looks rather high , and will likely rise further @ @ @ @ @ and the government began to test all entrants from Europe for the virus on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ requires entrants to have their temperature taken at the airport and report self-check results daily @ @ @ @ @ .

Keep up guard
Cluster infection hit nursing hospitals; New cases come from abroad
South Korea's coronavirus disease situation is still uneasy although it is showing signs of calming down.
The number of daily new confirmed patients has bounced past 100 in five days -- on Wednesday it rose to 152. fell to 87 on Thursday, shot up to 147 on Friday and dipped to 98 on Saturday.
The rebound in the number of new confirmed cases is concerning, but more problematic is the persistent outbreak of cluster infections and steady influx of infected patients from abroad.
Cluster infections are the No. 1 cause for alarm, as they strike places vulnerable to mass contagions -- such as nursing homes, religious facilities and call centers. To make matters worse, it is almost impossible to grasp who started the contagion there. Particularly concerning is infections at nursing hospitals, which accommodate old and sick people, who are most vulnerable.
The Daegu City Metropolitan Government initiated coronavirus tests for all 33,610 workers and patients in more than 390 nursing hospitals and assisted living facilities on March 13. As of Saturday, the tests found about 190 cases, with nearly 150 of them concentrated in two nursing hospitals.
Considering that the tests are 87 percent completed and results have not come in yet for 3,949 people, some more additional COVID-19 cases are expected. A nursing hospital reportedly learned only after tests that the virus has sickened more than half of its patients -- thousands of nursing facilities are scattered across the country.
As the virus rages in Europe and the US, an influx of patients from abroad is steadily increasing. As of midnight Friday, 23 passengers from abroad were found to be infected during the airport entry procedure.
Some Koreans pushed ahead with overseas trips despite the pandemic and returned home after being infected. A family of three residing in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, set out on March 9 to tour Britain, France, and the Netherlands and came back home on March 17, testing positive when they arrived.
Out of 15 Seoul citizens who tested positive on March 17-18, eight contracted the disease during their overseas trips. Penalty charges for tour cancellation might have been burdensome, but they should have taken into account the situation outside the country and refrained from traveling.
If the authorities fail to control overseas travel and entry into Korea effectively, the country can suffer a second round of COVID-19 outbreak similar to what hit Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.
On March 19, the government extended a special entry procedure for arrivals from nine countries including Italy and Iran to all around the world. For instance, on March 17 alone, the procedure found suspected symptoms in 367 of 1,989 arrivals (19.3 percent). The ratio looks rather high, and will likely rise further, as the procedure expands and the government began to test all entrants from Europe for the virus on Sunday. The special entry procedure requires entrants to have their temperature taken at the airport and report self-check results daily for 14 days after entry.
A 17-year-old male student of a Daegu high school, without underlying diseases, died due to sudden pneumonia. The authorities said he posthumously tested negative for the virus, ending controversies over whether there were fallacies on the positive test results of his urine sample.
However, young people must not be relieved. A new study indicates that COVID-19 triggers in some people including young and healthy ones a cytokine storm, where one's own immune system goes berserk, making the body's response to the virus deadly. A 26-year-old patient with serious COVID-19 symptoms is known to be associated with cytokine storm.
In nutshell, there is no safe zone. If you give the virus a chance, it will give you a nasty bite.
Considering uncertainties about the swift development of vaccines or therapies, the pandemic is expected to last for some time. The overall spread in Korea has slowed down, but the situation is still volatile. A lax response may trigger a sudden surge. The authorities and public must not drop their guard.
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers

Korean-language dailies -- Gov't lukewarm on unveiling massive economic aid package in response to coronavirus ( Kyunghyang Shinmun ) -- @ @ @ @ @ over Telegram underage sex abuse chat room ( Kookmin Daily ) -- Gov't vows no @ @ @ @ @ guidelines ( Donga llbo ) -- S. Korea to consider direct payments to people over @ @ @ @ @ -- S. Korea eyes curbing group infections at nursing homes , multiplex facilities , stemming @ @ @ @ @ ) -- Those in 20s report largest infections among age groups due to careless attitude @ @ @ @ @ Oil refiners , automakers , airliners in serious crisis over coronavirus ( JoongAng Ilbo ) @ @ @ @ @ infections ( Hankyoreh ) -- Countries around the world in wartime footing over new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ Global economic packages over coronavirus snowballing ( Maeil Business Newspaper ) -- Default risks of @ @ @ @ @ Korea Economic Daily )

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major South Korean newspapers on March 23.
Korean-language dailies
-- Gov't lukewarm on unveiling massive economic aid package in response to coronavirus (Kyunghyang Shinmun)
-- 124 operators, accomplices arrested over Telegram underage sex abuse chat room (Kookmin Daily)
-- Gov't vows no tolerance to facilities violating quarantine guidelines (Donga llbo)
-- S. Korea to consider direct payments to people over coronavirus (Seoul Shinmun)
-- S. Korea eyes curbing group infections at nursing homes, multiplex facilities, stemming import cases (Segye Times)
-- Those in 20s report largest infections among age groups due to careless attitude (Chosun Ilbo)
-- Oil refiners, automakers, airliners in serious crisis over coronavirus (JoongAng Ilbo)
-- Underprivileged vulnerable to coronavirus infections (Hankyoreh)
-- Countries around the world in wartime footing over new coronavirus (Hankook Ilbo)
-- Global economic packages over coronavirus snowballing (Maeil Business Newspaper)
-- Default risks of subprime corporate bonds rising (Korea Economic Daily)
English-language dailies
-- Visitors from Europe being held for testing for 24 hours (Korea JoongAng Daily)
-- S. Korea starts coronavirus tests on all European arrivals (Korea Herald)
-- Churches criticized for ignoring gov't warning (Korea Times)
(END)


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(END)


yna--2020-03-23--FM Kang discusses anti-virus efforts with Dutch counterpart

Blok , in response , agreed with her and held out hopes for the two sides to work together in @ @ @ @ @ and to continue exchanges and cooperation going forward , according to the ministry .

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha spoke by phone with her Dutch counterpart, Stef Blok, Monday and discussed ways to cope with the global spread of the new coronavirus, her ministry said.
In the telephone talks, made at the Netherlands' request, Kang explained that although Korea has seen a marked decline in daily new infection cases, the country has been actively taking measures to prevent the inflow of COVID-19 from overseas and community transmission.
Blok praised Korea's effective response system, including the advanced test kits and transparent disclosure of related information, and asked Seoul to provide assistance through ways, such as sharing its quarantine experience and supplying protective goods, the ministry said.
During the phone talks, Kang also stressed that Korea's tougher entry procedures for people from Europe, and the Netherlands' travel curb against Koreans, should not impede essential bilateral exchanges and asked for the Netherlands' cooperation in that regard.
Blok, in response, agreed with her and held out hopes for the two sides to work together in the fight against the virus and to continue exchanges and cooperation going forward, according to the ministry.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--(LEAD) Hyundai heir apparent buys Hyundai Motor, Mobis stocks to boost prices

The spreading coronavirus is widely expected to impact the automotive group 's production facilities and sales for the rest of @ @ @ @ @ company said it will ramp up production of its popular models , like the Palisade @ @ @ @ @ for lost sales .
It said that in the next three years , it will @ @ @ @ @ research and development to build up its capabilities .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details from para 2)
SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Group's heir apparent Chung Euisun on Monday bought 19 billion won (US$15 million) worth of stocks in two key affiliates to prop up their declining prices.
Hyundai Motor Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun purchased 139,000 shares of Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's No. 1 carmaker, and 72,552 shares of Hyundai Mobis Co., a leading auto parts producer, before the stock market closed on Monday, the companies said in separate regulatory filings.
Chung bought the two companies' stocks for 19 billion won -- Hyundai Motor stocks at 68,435 won per share and Hyundai Mobis shares at 130,789 won a share -- they said. This gives him 1.86 percent stake in the flagship motor company, with his holdings in Hyundai Mobis reaching 0.08 percent.
He was named president of both companies last year and took on the role of head of Hyundai Motor's board of directors this year, making him the top decision maker in the automotive conglomerate.
Hyundai Motor and Mobis stocks have suffered sharp declines recently due to the growing impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the group's mainstay automobile businesses.
"The purchase of shares should be seen as Chung taking responsibility of the company at a time of uncertainty," a corporate source said.
Last week, Hyundai suspended its U.S. plant in Georgia after an employee was diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus, and this week, the company halted its plant in Chennai in India due to the local government's measures to fight the virus that has spread across the world.
The spreading coronavirus is widely expected to impact the automotive group's production facilities and sales for the rest of the year, although the company said it will ramp up production of its popular models, like the Palisade SUV, to make up for lost sales. It said that in the next three years, it will spend 3-4 trillion won on research and development to build up its capabilities.
On Monday, Hyundai Motor fell 3.1 percent to 68,900 won, and Hyundai Mobis declined 5 percent to 133,500 won, in line with the broader KOSPI's 5.3 percent loss.
This is down sharply from 135,500 won and 239,000 won per share, respectively, on Feb. 17.
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--(2nd LD) Korean Air to halt more flights to China amid virus woes

The move comes as China steps up efforts to keep out imported COVID-19 cases .
On Sunday , the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ international flights bound for Beijing will first land at one of 12 designated airports for @ @ @ @ @ being allowed into the capital city .

(ATTN: ADDS updated info on Asiana's flights 3rd para; RESTRUCTURES)
SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean airlines are facing further challenges after the government imposed stricter entry restrictions to fight the spreading coronavirus outbreak.
Korean Air Co., South Korea's biggest airline and national flag carrier, said Monday it will temporarily suspend all flights on the Incheon-Beijing route from Saturday to April 25, leaving only three routes available to China.
Asiana Airlines Inc., the country's second-biggest airline, said it has canceled its direct flights to Beijing scheduled for Thursday and Saturday this week, and that it will decide by Tuesday on whether to suspend the operation of the route.
Asiana had previously operated 25 routes to China, but only nine routes are in service as of Monday, a company spokesman said.
The move comes as China steps up efforts to keep out imported COVID-19 cases. On Sunday, the Chinese aviation authorities announced that all international flights bound for Beijing will first land at one of 12 designated airports for health checks from Monday before being allowed into the capital city.
This photo taken on March 23, 2020, shows the vacant Gimhae International Airport in Busan, 450 kilometers south of Seoul, amid the spreading coronavirus outbreak. (Yonhap)
More than 90 percent of Korean Air's 32 routes to the neighboring country are not operating.
Korean Air and Asiana have already suspended most of their flights on international routes as an increasing number of countries close their borders or take further measures against incoming passengers.
Korean Air has suspended 10 out of 12 European routes, with reduced flights on the Incheon-London and Incheon-Paris routes. Asiana is currently running its Incheon-Frankfurt route, with six other European routes not in service.
Local airlines have been struggling with a sharp decline in air travel demand since Jan. 20, when South Korea reported its first case of COVID-19.
Adding to the airlines' woes, Japan on March 9 adopted a temporary 14-day self-quarantine period for people flying from South Korea and China and asked them to refrain from using public transport. Tokyo also decided to suspend its visa-waiver program for South Korean nationals.
In response to Tokyo's new entry restrictions, Seoul suspended a visa-free entry program for Japanese nationals the same day.
The move prompted Korean Air to suspend 16 of its 17 routes to Japan starting March 9, the remaining one being the Incheon-Narita route.
Asiana suspended all of its flights to Japan for the March 9-31 period due to Japan's entry restrictions. It previously operated 11 routes to eight Japanese cities.
Eastar Jet Co. said it will shut down for one month from Tuesday through April 25.
"The company will enter a more drastic restructuring to survive the current crisis and the shutdown decision is an inevitable option the company can take to minimize the fallout from the virus outbreak," Eastar Chief Executive Choi Jong-gu said Monday in a message to his employees.
Jeju Air Co., the country's largest low-cost carrier, is currently serving two routes -- from Incheon to Tokyo and Osaka -- down from 15.
Jeju Air operated 82 international routes and six domestic routes but now only the two Japanese and three domestic routes are available.
Five other budget carriers -- Jin Air Co., Air Busan Co., Air Seoul Inc., T'way and Fly Gangwon -- suspended all or most of their flights on international routes. Most of them have entered an emergency management system to stay afloat.
Moody's Investors Service said global airlines' capacity will be cut by 40 to 60 percent or more for the second quarter of 2020 as the airline industry is one of the sectors most stressed by the coronavirus outbreak.
"Large airlines have adequate liquidity to manage through a fairly significant short-term disruption through June, and a continuing but more moderate disruption through the third quarter," Moody's said in a report.
But the global ratings agency expected smaller airlines with less liquidity to be more exposed, noting there is potential for some of them to collapse within a short period unless there is additional support from their governments.
Airline stocks continued to plunge on the increased number of suspensions.
On Monday, Korean Air plunged 6.2 percent to 14,300 won, Asiana fell 2.4 percent to 2,670 won and Jeju Air declined 5.1 percent to 12,000 won. The broader KOSPI shed 5.3 percent.
South Korea has reported 8,961 confirmed coronavirus cases and 111 deaths as of Monday.
This photo taken on March 8, 2020, shows Korean Air Lines' aircraft parked at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, just west of Seoul, amid growing fears over COVID-19. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--(LEAD) S. Korean firms temporarily shut down Indian factories over coronavirus

Samsung said its smartphone plant in Noida , located adjacent to New Delhi , will suspend operations until Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ of its kind in the world with an annual production capacity of 120 million units @ @ @ @ @ , besides the smartphone line , it has halted refrigerator production at the same factory @

(ATTN: UPDARES with more infor in paras 2-5, 15-17)
SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean companies such as Hyundai Motor Co. and Samsung Electronics Co. temporarily shut down their plants in India in line with the country's efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The decision came in response to the Indian government's guidance meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19 that has infected 359 people and killed seven people in the South Asian country.
The affected South Korean companies include Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc., as well as leading carmaker Hyundai.
Samsung said its smartphone plant in Noida, located adjacent to New Delhi, will suspend operations until Wednesday. That factory is the largest of its kind in the world with an annual production capacity of 120 million units. The company said that, besides the smartphone line, it has halted refrigerator production at the same factory.
Samsung doubled its capacity in the country in 2018 as it views India as a critical manufacturing base that can make products not only for the local market but for export as well.
LG said its plants in Noida and Pune -- which mainly produce washing machines -- will be closed until end-March. The Pune plant also makes LG smartphones.
POSCO, the world's fifth-biggest steelmaker by output, said it has shuttered its two coil service centers in Delhi and Pune, the second-largest city in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra government has banned gatherings of more than five people at public places and encouraged companies to practice work from home as part of social distancing meant to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
Hyundai Steel Co., South Korea's No. 2 steelmaker, also said it has closed its service center and steel pipe plant in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
POSCO and Hyundai Steel said their plants will remain closed until next Tuesday.
Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's biggest carmaker by sales, has also suspended its plant in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu.
Hyundai said it will suspend operations of the 650,000-unit-a-year plant by the end of this month in line with the local government's guidelines.
Kia Motors Corp, which is 34 percent owned by Hyundai, is also expected to stop operations of its 300,000-unit-a-year Anandapur plant sooner or later.
Last week, Hyundai and Kia halted most of their plants in the United States and Europe to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in line with strict movement bans and lockdowns.
Related to the temporary shutdown, a Hyundai Motor source said the measures reflect the need to protect everyone working for the company. He stressed that once the situation is cleared, the carmaker, along with Kia, will resume production as they move to increase their presence on the subcontinent.
Despite such remarks, some business insiders said that all companies will take a hit in terms of lost output and sales.
"The government's decision to effectively shut down everything is affecting demand across the board. It will weigh down companies for the time being," a South Korean businessman said.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--(LEAD) S. Korea calls on citizens to cancel or postpone overseas trips over coronavirus

The special advisory is issued due to an urgent danger and is valid for the next four weeks unless it @ @ @ @ @ suspends the travel alerts already in place , except for the ones under higher warnings @

(ATTN: ADDS more info in 4th para; CORRECTS death toll in 2nd last para)
SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea issued a "special travel advisory" Monday calling on its citizens to cancel or postpone their trips abroad over the spread of the new coronavirus, the foreign ministry said.
The special travel advisory, effective as of Monday, applies to all countries except those that are already under higher alerts that call for withdrawal of citizens or are subject to a travel ban.
It also calls for people who are staying outside of Korea to take extra caution for their safety.
The special advisory is issued due to an urgent danger and is valid for the next four weeks unless it is extended. The advisory suspends the travel alerts already in place, except for the ones under higher warnings.
The advisory comes as many countries and territories have closed their borders and enforced a lockdown amid a rapid spread of the COVID-19 infections in Europe and the U.S. in recent days.
The latest action aims to send a message to citizens that they should not travel abroad under such difficult circumstances, as the border controls have led to suspensions of flight operations, making overseas trips impractical, a ministry official said.
Since the virus was first reported in China in December, there have been more than 341,500 infection cases globally and over 14,700 people died from the disease. On Monday, Korea's caseload reached 8,961, with 111 deaths.
The special advisory is separate from the general travel alert system that comes in a four-level scale. Seoul has issued a blue travel alert, meaning to take caution, for all countries previously not affected by travel warnings, due to the global spread of the novel virus.
This photo shows a nearly deserted arrivals gate at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Feb. 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--China sends 1 mln surgical masks to S. Korea as anti-virus relief provision

The novel virus , which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December , has hit both countries hard @ @ @ @ @ 81,000 infections with more than 3,200 deaths .
Korea 's infection tally stood at 8,961 @ @ @ @ @ to the virus .

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- China sent an additional one million surgical masks to South Korea on Monday, the Chinese Embassy in Seoul said, as part of efforts to help its neighbor cope with the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The stock, delivered from Shanghai, is the latest batch of relief goods Beijing has provided to Seoul via the Red Cross in support of its fight against the COVID-19.
The previous relief supplies from China included 1 million medical masks, 100,000 N95 respirator masks and 10,000 items of protective clothing.
Seoul has also promised to provide Beijing with US$5 million in assistance for anti-virus efforts.
The novel virus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, has hit both countries hard, with China reporting over 81,000 infections with more than 3,200 deaths. Korea's infection tally stood at 8,961 Monday with 111 deaths linked to the virus.
This photo, released by the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, shows the stock of surgical masks Beijing delivered to Seoul on March 23, 2020, as part of relief provision for the fight against the new coronavirus. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--S. Korea calls on citizens to cancel or postpone overseas trips over coronavirus

The special travel advisory , effective as of Monday , applies to all countries except those that are already under @ @ @ @ @ withdrawal of citizens or are subject to a travel ban .
It is valid for @ @ @ @ @ it is extended .

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea issued a "special travel advisory" Monday calling on its citizens to cancel or postpone their trips abroad over the spread of the new coronavirus, the foreign ministry said.
The special travel advisory, effective as of Monday, applies to all countries except those that are already under higher alerts that call for withdrawal of citizens or are subject to a travel ban. It is valid for the next four weeks unless it is extended.
The special advisory also calls for people who are staying outside of Korea to take extra caution for their safety.
The advisory comes as many countries and territories have closed their borders and enforced a lockdown amid a rapid spread of the COVID-19 infections in Europe and the U.S. in recent days.
The latest action aims to send a message to citizens that they should not travel abroad under such difficult circumstances, as the border controls have led to suspensions of flight operations, making overseas trips impractical, a ministry official said.
Since the virus was first reported in China in December, there have been more than 341,500 infection cases globally and over 14,700 people died from the disease. On Monday, Korea's caseload reached 8,961, with 113 deaths.
The special advisory is separate from the general travel alert system that comes in a four-level scale. Seoul has issued a blue travel alert, meaning to take caution, for all countries previously not affected by travel warnings, due to the global spread of the novel virus.
This photo shows a nearly deserted arrivals gate at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Feb. 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--(LEAD) Pro volleyball season wiped out by coronavirus

KOVO had designs on resuming play in late March or early April under a compressed schedule to finish out the @ @ @ @ @ would likely have been shortened in that scenario , so that the champions would be @ @ @ @ @ the latest .
That 's the day of parliamentary elections , and many of V-League @ @ @ @ @ as voting count stations .

(ATTN: ADDS details on final standings in paras 7-12)
SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean professional volleyball season has been canceled due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO) announced on Monday that the remainder of the V-League regular season and playoffs for both men and women will be wiped out. KOVO reached the conclusion after an emergency board meeting with representatives from 13 men's and women's V-League teams -- their second such meeting in five days.
The V-League is the second major pro sport circuit in South Korea to bite the bullet and bring the competition to an end. Last Friday, the Women's Korean Basketball League (WKBL) decided to cancel all remaining regular season and playoff games.
In this file photo from March 1, 2020, Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate (L) and GS Caltex Kixx play their women's V-League volleyball regular season match behind closed doors at Suwon Gymnasium in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
This is the first incomplete season in the history of the V-League, which was launched in 2005.
The last V-League matches were played on March 1. The seven men's and six women's teams had played a few earlier games without fans, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, before KOVO shuttered doors altogether.
In the V-League, seven men's teams play 36 matches each, and six women's teams play 30 matches apiece. When the men's competition came to a halt, teams had played 31 to 33 matches. The women's teams had 26 or 27 matches in the books at the time of suspension. In all, there were 14 men's and 10 women's regular season contests remaining.
KOVO said championships will not be awarded, and the final regular season standings will be set retroactively to the 30-game mark for men, and 25-game point for women.
That is the conclusion of the fifth "round" in both competitions. Teams play each other once in each round, meaning one round is made up of six matches for men and five matches for women.
The Woori Card Wibee ended at the top of the men's league with 64 points (23-7), just ahead of the Korean Air Jumbos (62 points, 22-8). The Hyundai E&C Hillstate were the women's champions with 52 points and a 19-6 mark, and GS Caltex Kixx finished in second place at 51 points and a 17-8 record.
In the V-League, a 3-0 victory and a 3-1 victory are worth three points, while a 3-2 victory is worth two points. The team that loses a five-set affair also gets a point.
When V-League screeched to a halt, Woori Card had 69 points (25-7) and Korean Air had 65 points (23-8) with one game in hand. The race was tighter on the women's side, with just one point separating Hyundai E&C (55 points, 20-7) and GS Caltex (54 points, 18-9).
The top three teams in each league receive prize money ranging from 30 million won to 120 million won (US$23,670 to $94,690), and it will all be donated to help with quarantining efforts against COVID-19.
Cho Won-tae (R), president of the Korean Volleyball Federation, chairs a meeting with V-League club representatives in a board meeting at the KOVO headquarters in Seoul on March 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
KOVO had designs on resuming play in late March or early April under a compressed schedule to finish out the regular season. The playoffs would likely have been shortened in that scenario, so that the champions would be determined by April 15 at the latest. That's the day of parliamentary elections, and many of V-League arenas are scheduled to serve as voting count stations.
KOVO and team reps also discussed jumping straight to the playoffs or playing out the rest of the regular season and awarding first-place teams with championships without staging the playoffs.
But the spread of the virus has shown few signs of abating, particularly with concerns about cluster infections and imported cases mounting. And last Saturday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun urged suspension of operations for indoor sports and entertainment facilities through April 5 in a nationwide social distancing drive.
This file photo from Feb. 25, 2020, shows a men's V-League volleyball match between home team Kepco Vixtorm and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Bluefangs taking place without fans in the stands. (Yonhap)
Elsewhere, the men's Korean Basketball League (KBL) shut down following three games on Feb. 29 and its initial plan was to resume play on March 29. It will hold talks with club officials Tuesday, with the WKBL's recent cancellation expected to impact their decision.
The K League, the men's football circuit, hasn't even kicked off, after delaying its Feb. 29 start of the new season. There's no word yet on when the season will start.
The Korea Baseball Organization has pushed its Opening Day from March 28 to sometime in April. The league will meet with club presidents Tuesday to possibly settle on a start date or at least move closer to doing so.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--Pro volleyball season wiped out by coronavirus

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean professional volleyball season has been canceled due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO) announced on Monday that the remainder of the V-League regular season and playoffs for both men and women will be wiped out. KOVO reached the conclusion after an emergency board meeting with representatives from 13 men's and women's V-League teams -- their second such meeting in five days.
The V-League is the second major pro sport circuit in South Korea to bite the bullet and bring the competition to an end. Last Friday, the Women's Korean Basketball League (WKBL) decided to cancel all remaining regular season and playoff games.
In this file photo from March 1, 2020, Hyundai Engineering & Construction Hillstate (L) and GS Caltex Kixx play their women's V-League volleyball regular season match behind closed doors at Suwon Gymnasium in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
This is the first incomplete season in the history of the V-League, which was launched in 2005.
The last V-League matches were played on March 1. The seven men's and six women's teams had played a few earlier games without fans, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, before KOVO shuttered doors altogether.
KOVO had designs on resuming play in late March or early April under a compressed schedule to finish out the regular season. The playoffs would likely have been shortened in that scenario, so that the champions would be determined by April 15 at the latest. That's the day of parliamentary elections, and many of V-League arenas are scheduled to serve as voting count stations.
Cho Won-tae (R), president of the Korean Volleyball Federation, chairs a meeting with V-League club representatives in a board meeting at the KOVO headquarters in Seoul on March 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
KOVO and team reps also discussed jumping straight to the playoffs or playing out the rest of the regular season and awarding first-place teams with championships without staging the playoffs.
But the spread of the virus has shown few signs of abating, particularly with concerns about cluster infections and imported cases mounting. And last Saturday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun urged suspension of operations for indoor sports and entertainment facilities through April 5 in a nationwide social distancing drive.
In the V-League, seven men's teams play 36 matches each, and six women's teams play 30 matches apiece. When the men's competition came to a halt, teams had played 31 to 33 matches. The women's teams had 26 or 27 matches in the books at the time of suspension. In all, there were 14 men's and 10 women's regular season contests remaining.
This file photo from Feb. 25, 2020, shows a men's V-League volleyball match between home team Kepco Vixtorm and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Bluefangs taking place without fans in the stands. (Yonhap)
Elsewhere, the men's Korean Basketball League (KBL) shut down following three games on Feb. 29 and its initial plan was to resume play on March 29. It will hold talks with club officials Tuesday, with the WKBL's recent cancellation expected to impact their decision.
The K League, the men's football circuit, hasn't even kicked off, after delaying its Feb. 29 start of the new season. There's no word yet on when the season will start.
The Korea Baseball Organization has pushed its Opening Day from March 28 to sometime in April. The league will meet with club presidents Tuesday to possibly settle on a start date or at least move closer to doing so.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--(LEAD) S. Korea to unveil measures to stabilize markets this week

On Monday , the heads of 19 banks in South Korea met with Eun and other financial officials and agreed @ @ @ @ @ a bond market stabilization fund and a stock market stabilization fund , according to the @ @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with results of meeting between Eun and heads of 19 banks in paras 9-10)
SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's financial authorities are expected to announce a set of measures this week to help stabilize financial markets roiled by the spread of the new coronavirus, industry sources said Monday.
The measures include a bond market stabilization fund worth more than 10 trillion won (US$7.94 billion), according to officials.
Last week, Financial Services Commission chief Eun Sung-soo decided to create the bond market stabilization fund during a meeting with the heads of eight banks and other relevant officials.
The South Korean bond market has been suffering a jolt as major economies, including the United States, sharply cut their key rates to minimize the economic fallout from the spread of COVID-19.
The U.S. Federal Reserve slashed its base rate by a whopping 1.5 percentage points in two emergency rate cuts, sending its rates to a target range of 0-0.25 percent.
The Bank of Korea followed suit, slashing its own rate by 0.5 percentage point to 0.75 percent last week in its first emergency rate cut in more than a decade.
The measures could also include a stock market stabilization fund, which could be worth up to 10 trillion won, though its exact size has not been finalized, the officials said.
A key issue is whether financial companies will participate in a proposed stock market stabilization fund due to concerns about potential losses amid high volatility in markets.
On Monday, the heads of 19 banks in South Korea met with Eun and other financial officials and agreed to actively cooperate in creating a bond market stabilization fund and a stock market stabilization fund, according to the Financial Services Commission.
The lenders also said they will make efforts to extend low-rated loans to small businesses, while extending the maturity dates of debts and refraining from retrieving loans.
South Korean financial markets have been suffering extended losses under heavy selling by foreign investors amid the COVID-19 pandemic around the world.
Last week, South Korea and the United States signed a $60 billion bilateral currency swap agreement in a move expected to relieve the liquidity crunch caused by the global spread of the new coronavirus. The currency swap deal led to a sharp rebound of the Korean stock market on Friday.
Still, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 83.69 points, or 5.34 percent, to close at 1,482.46 on Monday.
The Financial Services Commission has decided to expand a primary collateralized bond obligations (P-CBOs) scheme to 6.7 trillion won in a move to help ease the credit crunch for low-rated companies.
The P-CBOs scheme could cover airlines, the tourism industry and other industries related to domestic consumption.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--(LEAD) Moon against discussing permanent change in academic calendar, Cheong Wa Dae says

She also said her ministry would later decide whether to press ahead with the school opening on April 6 , @ @ @ @ @ , such as trends in regional and daily infections , school authorities ' capabilities to @ @ @ @ @ opinions and supply of quarantine materials .

(ATTN: UPDATES with details; MODIFIES headline)
SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in expressed a negative view Monday about formally considering a change to South Korea's academic year in response to a call for a review of whether to introduce the autumn semester system.
He said it's "not desirable to discuss" the issue in connection with the current situation, receiving a report from Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae, according to Cheong Wa Dae's deputy spokesman Yoon Jae-kwan.
Yoo, who doubles as deputy prime minister for social affairs, briefed Moon on administrative preparations for opening elementary and secondary schools next month.
President Moon Jae-in (2nd from L) receives a briefing from Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae (2nd from R) at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on March 23, 2020, in this photo provided by Moon's office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
They were supposed to open on March 2 after a monthlong winter break. But the government postponed the start of the semester till April 6 as part of efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19.
In South Korea, the new academic year begins in early March, unlike in the United States and many other major countries.
Some students and parents have complained about the mismatch amid lingering concerns about huge social costs and other inconveniences in case of a shift in the academic calendar.
Moon's message represented his first official response to the controversial offer. It apparently reflected his resolve to focus on containing the virus and putting schools back in normal operation as early as possible.
He instructed the education authorities to make thorough preparations for the opening of the spring semester, especially in the supply of facial masks for students and teachers.
Yoo reported to the president on online education and child care systems in operation for the delayed school opening.
She also said her ministry would later decide whether to press ahead with the school opening on April 6, taking into account various factors, such as trends in regional and daily infections, school authorities' capabilities to control the virus, public opinions and supply of quarantine materials.
The ministry plans to have relevant consultations with the country's health and quarantine authorities for the decision.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--Casinos shutter amid coronavirus spread

Casinos shutter amid coronavirus spread

South Korea added 64 new cases of the COVID-19 infection on Monday , though they were detected Sunday , bringing @ @ @ @ @ to 8,961 .
The daily infection rate was below 100 cases for the second straight @ @ @ @ @ since peaking at 909 on Feb. 29 .

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean casino operators said Monday they will temporarily close down their operations in line with the country's efforts to promote "social-distancing" measures to help contain the new coronavirus outbreak.
State-run casino operator Grand Korea Leisure Co. (GKL) said it has decided to close the establishments from Tuesday to April 6.
The company operates three foreigners-only casinos in Seoul and Busan under the brand name Seven Luck.
Another casino operator, Paradise Group, said it will close down its four casino sites in Seoul, Incheon, Jeju and Busan for two weeks as well.
Paradise said while it has already been taking all precautionary measures, including carrying out disinfection operations and checking the temperature of visitors, it has decided to close its casinos for the safety of its staff and customers.
South Korea added 64 new cases of the COVID-19 infection on Monday, though they were detected Sunday, bringing the nation's total caseload to 8,961. The daily infection rate was below 100 cases for the second straight day and was the lowest since peaking at 909 on Feb. 29.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--S. Korea facing crucial juncture in virus fight: experts

The experts said that they do not expect so-called `` herd immunity '' to take place in South Korea .
@ @ @ @ @ it is time for the country to decide whether to maintain its containment efforts or @ @ @ @ @ country needs to reconsider its current quarantine policy .

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is facing an increasingly pivotal time to decide whether or not to continue its current efforts to contain the new coronavirus, as the country can win the virus fight after more than half the national population develops immunity to COVID-19, experts said Monday.
"The outbreak will stop when 60 percent of the population becomes immune to the virus," said Oh Myoung-don, head of the country's central clinical committee for emerging disease control.
"Vaccination seems to be the only way to raise the level of immunity, but I think we need to wait about 12 months to see if a COVID-19 vaccine available on the market," Oh said.
The experts said that they do not expect so-called "herd immunity" to take place in South Korea. Rather, they insisted that it is time for the country to decide whether to maintain its containment efforts or not, stressing that the country needs to reconsider its current quarantine policy.
Herd immunity refers to a scenario where enough people in a community develop immunity to an infection, so that infections stop spreading.
Since its first confirmed case in late January, South Korea has been waging a hard battle to contain spread of the virus by preaching "social distancing," under which school breaks have been extended for nearly one month and many companies have implemented remote working.
As a result of the nimble response to the virus, the country reported its lowest daily figure of new coronavirus infections since late last month on Monday. The 64 new cases, which were detected Sunday, brought the nation's total infections to 8,961, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
This file photo taken on Feb. 20, 2020, shows Oh Myoung-don, head of South Korea's central clinical committee for emerging disease control, at a press event in Seoul. (Yonhap)
The clinical committee, however, warned that there is a possibility that the country may see a surge in new coronavirus cases this fall if a vaccine is not developed.
"We need to prepare enough medical equipment and protective gear in case the number of patients soars in the fall," he said. "Ultimately, the government needs to step up in developments of vaccines and treatment drugs for COVID-19."
Until the vaccine is developed, Oh said South Korea needs to focus on stemming imported cases and also review its quarantine strategy on cluster infections.
"So far, the country's strategy has centered on curbing the spread of the virus and it controlled it to some extent" he said. "However, it will difficult to continue to pursue that strategy."
To better control virus cases coming from overseas, South Korea last week decided to implement stricter screening procedures on all arrivals. Starting Sunday, travelers from Europe were required to have a two-week quarantine period regardless of symptoms.
The country also urged people to suspend the operation of religious, indoor sports and entertainment facilities for 15 days until April 5.
"Whether to continue or ease the government's virus curbing strategy needs to be carefully decided considering its impact from the economy to culture," he said. "The country's quarantine policy needs to be based on scientific facts and people's understandings."
Oh said South Korea should be especially cautious of COVID-19 spreading at schools. The country's new school year will begin on April 6 after the date was postponed several times.
The clinical committee also urged the government to set up a hospital specially designed for handling contagious diseases as soon as possible.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--(LEAD) Korean Air to halt more flights to China amid virus woes

(ATTN: ADDS Moody's assessment on airlines in paras 19-21)
SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean airlines are facing further challenges after the government imposed stricter entry restrictions to fight the spreading coronavirus outbreak.
Korean Air Co., South Korea's biggest airline and national flag carrier, said Monday it will temporarily suspend all flights on the Incheon-Beijing route from Saturday to April 25, leaving only three routes available to China.
The move comes as China steps up efforts to keep out imported COVID-19 cases. On Sunday, the Chinese aviation authorities announced that all international flights bound for Beijing will first land at one of 12 designated airports for health checks from Monday before being allowed into the capital city.
This photo taken on March 23, 2020, shows the vacant Gimhae International Airport in Busan, 450 kilometers south of Seoul, amid the spreading coronavirus outbreak. (Yonhap)
More than 90 percent of Korean Air's 32 routes to the neighboring country are not operating.
Asiana Airlines Inc., the country's second-biggest airline, said Monday it is considering halting flights to Beijing from Thursday.
Asiana had previously operated 25 routes to China, but only nine routes are in service as of Monday, a company spokesman said.
Korean Air and Asiana have already suspended most of their flights on international routes as an increasing number of countries close their borders or take further measures against incoming passengers.
Korean Air has suspended 10 out of 12 European routes, with reduced flights on the Incheon-London and Incheon-Paris routes. Asiana is currently running its Incheon-Frankfurt route, with six other European routes not in service.
Local airlines have been struggling with a sharp decline in air travel demand since Jan. 20, when South Korea reported its first case of COVID-19.
Adding to the airlines' woes, Japan on March 9 adopted a temporary 14-day self-quarantine period for people flying from South Korea and China and asked them to refrain from using public transport. Tokyo also decided to suspend its visa-waiver program for South Korean nationals.
In response to Tokyo's new entry restrictions, Seoul suspended a visa-free entry program for Japanese nationals the same day.
The move prompted Korean Air to suspend 16 of its 17 routes to Japan starting March 9, the remaining one being the Incheon-Narita route.
Asiana suspended all of its flights to Japan for the March 9-31 period due to Japan's entry restrictions. It previously operated 11 routes to eight Japanese cities.
Eastar Jet Co. said it will shut down for one month from Tuesday through April 25.
"The company will enter a more drastic restructuring to survive the current crisis and the shutdown decision is an inevitable option the company can take to minimize the fallout from the virus outbreak," Eastar Chief Executive Choi Jong-gu said Monday in a message to his employees.
Jeju Air Co., the country's largest low-cost carrier, is currently serving two routes -- from Incheon to Tokyo and Osaka -- down from 15.
Jeju Air operated 82 international routes and six domestic routes but now only the two Japanese and three domestic routes are available.
Five other budget carriers -- Jin Air Co., Air Busan Co., Air Seoul Inc., T'way and Fly Gangwon -- suspended all or most of their flights on international routes. Most of them have entered an emergency management system to stay afloat.
Moody's Investors Service said global airlines' capacity will be cut by 40 to 60 percent or more for the second quarter of 2020 as the airline industry is one of the sectors most stressed by the coronavirus outbreak.
"Large airlines have adequate liquidity to manage through a fairly significant short-term disruption through June, and a continuing but more moderate disruption through the third quarter," Moody's said in a report.
But the global ratings agency expected smaller airlines with less liquidity to be more exposed, noting there is potential for some of them to collapse within a short period unless there is additional support from their governments.
Airline stocks continued to plunge on the increased number of suspensions.
On Monday, Korean Air plunged 6.2 percent to 14,300 won, Asiana fell 2.4 percent to 2,670 won and Jeju Air declined 5.1 percent to 12,000 won. The broader KOSPI shed 5.3 percent.
South Korea has reported 8,961 confirmed coronavirus cases and 111 deaths as of Monday.
This photo taken on March 8, 2020, shows Korean Air Lines' aircraft parked at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, just west of Seoul, amid growing fears over COVID-19. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--New law to enhance protection of consumers from humidifier sanitizers

SEOUL , March 23 ( Yonhap ) -- The Ministry of Environment said Monday it will proclaim a revision of @ @ @ @ @ sterilizers this week , seeking to expand the scope of diseases caused by the use @ @ @ @ @ facilitate victims ' lawsuits against their manufacturers .

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- The Ministry of Environment said Monday it will proclaim a revision of the current law regulating humidifier sterilizers this week, seeking to expand the scope of diseases caused by the use of the chemical products and facilitate victims' lawsuits against their manufacturers.
A revision of the Special Act on Remedy for Damage Caused by Humidifier Disinfectants will be proclaimed Tuesday before being enforced six months later, the ministry said.
Under the revised law, people who become sick with asthma, pneumonia, bronchiectasis and interstitial lung disease after being exposed to humidifier disinfectants will be put in a more advantageous position in their damage suits against manufacturers.
This file photo from Yonhap News TV shows various humidifier disinfectant products. (Yonhap)
Those patients have so far had difficulties verifying damage to their health because such diseases can be caused by various factors, such as smoking, aging, eating habits, occupational factors and family history, in addition to exposure to toxic humidifier sanitizers.
In addition, the revised law obliges humidifier sanitizer makers to prove the absence of correlation between exposure to their products and various diseases of consumers.
The new law also calls on the government to offer its assistance to people who suffer from diseases rarely associated with exposure to humidifier disinfectants if they are recognized as victims by a state-run screening committee.
South Korea's notorious humidifier sterilizer scandal came to light in 2011 after four pregnant women died of unknown lung problems. Toxic disinfectant products reportedly caused the deaths of over 1,500 consumers in the nation.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--S. Korea seeks to send 2 chartered flights to virus-hit Italy to evacuate citizens next week

About 650 people have expressed their wishes to take the flights , as they have had difficulty finding plane tickets @ @ @ @ @ Italy 's strict restrictions on movement and other quarantine measures .

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is seeking to send two chartered flights to coronavirus-hit Italy to bring home hundreds of its citizens next week, a foreign ministry official said Monday.
About 650 people have expressed their wishes to take the flights, as they have had difficulty finding plane tickets on their own, amid Italy's strict restrictions on movement and other quarantine measures.
"I think the dispatch of the flights to Italy is expected to materialize next week," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
For those stranded in Peru, due to the country's border closure to stem the spread of the virus, the South Korean government helped arrange a flight from the Mexican airline Aeromexico.
The plane is expected to fly from the Peruvian capital of Lima to Incheon, west of Seoul, this week, carrying about 200 people, including tourists and volunteer workers of Seoul's overseas aid agency, the Korea International Cooperation Agency.
South Korea has thus far run government-arranged flights to evacuate citizens from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, a cruise ship off Yokohama near Tokyo and most recently from Tehran.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--Moon against discussing September opening of new school year: Cheong Wa Dae

He said it 's `` not desirable to discuss '' the issue in connection with the current situation , receiving @ @ @ @ @ Yoo Eun-hae on preparations for the delayed start of the spring semester in response to @ @ @ @ @ to Cheong Wa Dae 's deputy spokesman Yoon Jae-kwan .

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in expressed a negative view Monday about the possibility that his government will start a formal review on the proposed autumn opening of the country's school year.
He said it's "not desirable to discuss" the issue in connection with the current situation, receiving a briefing from Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae on preparations for the delayed start of the spring semester in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, according to Cheong Wa Dae's deputy spokesman Yoon Jae-kwan.
Elementary and secondary schools nationwide were supposed to begin their new school year on March 2 after a monthlong winter break. But the government has postponed the opening till April 6 as part of efforts to slow the spread of the virus.
Some people have proposed that the government consider changing the academic calender officially to begin the new school year in September to synchronize it with schedules in the United States and many other countries.
President Moon Jae-in (2nd from L) receives a briefing from Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae (2nd from R) at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on March 23, 2020, in this photo provided by Moon's office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--(LEAD) Celltrion accelerates development of COVID-19 treatment

The company also said it aims to develop a diagnostic kit for the virus that can decrease the test time @ @ @ @ @ minutes and commercialize it within the next three months .

(ATTN: ADDS more information in paras 1-8)
SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean biopharmaceutical firm Celltrion Inc. said Monday that it is accelerating work on a treatment for the novel coronavirus as part of its efforts to address the global pandemic.
The company was earlier selected as a preferred developer for a monoclonal antibody project to treat and prevent COVID-19 by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Currently, there is no specific treatment for the new strain of virus.
The corporate logo of Celltrion Inc. (Yonhap)
Celltrion said that it plans to start clinical trials on humans to come up with a treatment for the novel coronavirus within the next six months.
It has identified a library of antibodies sourced from the blood of fully recovered patients in the country. These antibodies are thought to be involved in neutralizing the virus and may contribute to recovery.
In a further step, the biopharmaceutical firm plans to develop a so-called "super antibody" that can attach to and neutralize all coronavirus strains, such as the one causing COVID-19, and other new virus strains, enabling protection against unforeseen mutations.
The company also said it aims to develop a diagnostic kit for the virus that can decrease the test time to between 15 and 20 minutes and commercialize it within the next three months.
Celltrion said it plans to apply for device authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory authorities after acquiring relevant data.
"We implemented an emergency preparedness plan at the very start of the COVID-19 outbreak leveraging our unique antibody discovery, development and manufacturing technologies," Kwon Ki-Sung, head of the research and development division at Celltrion, said in a press release.
On Monday, shares of Celltrion spiked 14.75 percent to 175,000 won (US$138). The country's key stock index, the KOSPI, lost 5.34 percent to close at 1,482.46 points.
The country on Monday reported its lowest daily figure for new coronavirus infections since late last month, as the nation ramped up social distancing rules to slow the virus' spread.
The 64 new cases, which were detected Sunday, brought the nation's total infections to 8,961, according to the KCDC.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--Conservative pastor indicted over alleged defamation, election law violation

Jun was also charged with defamation for groundlessly calling the president a spy for North Korea and falsely claiming that @ @ @ @ @ the country , the prosecution said .

SEOUL, March 23 (Yonhap) -- A conservative pastor who has led mass anti-government rallies in central Seoul was indicted Monday for allegedly defaming the president and breaking election law.
Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon was indicted on charges of breaking public election law by asking rally participants to support the conservative bloc in the upcoming April 15 elections, according to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office.
The conservative pastor used loudspeakers to drum up support for conservative parties, including the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, in multiple rallies and prayer meetings held at Gwanghwamun Plaza in central Seoul between December and January.
Jun was also charged with defamation for groundlessly calling the president a spy for North Korea and falsely claiming that the president attempted to communize the country, the prosecution said.
The pastor, who also serves as chairman of the Christian Council of Korea, has been in detention since late February.
This photo, taken on Feb. 3, 2020, shows Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon attending a questioning at Jongno Police Station in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-23--(URGENT) Moon negative about discussing September opening of new school year: Cheong Wa Dae

(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--2020-03-24--Seoul stocks off to solid start, bucking Wall Street losses

The Dow Jones Industrial Average on Monday ( local time ) dropped 3.04 percent to close at 18,591.93 points after @ @ @ @ @ advance a stimulus bill of about US $ 2 trillion as haggling between Republicans and @ @ @ @ @ continues .

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened sharply higher Tuesday despite overnight losses on Wall Street amid fears over the new coronavirus pandemic.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) surged 36.96 points, or 2.49 percent, to 1,519.42 as of 9:15 a.m.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average on Monday (local time) dropped 3.04 percent to close at 18,591.93 points after the Senate again failed to advance a stimulus bill of about US$2 trillion as haggling between Republicans and Democrats over the massive plan continues.
The plunge in U.S. stocks markets came even after the U.S. Federal Reserve announced aggressive quantitative easing to soothe financial markets, which includes purchasing an unlimited amount of Treasurys and mortgage-backed securities.
However, in Seoul, most large-cap stocks rose across the board.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics moved up 2.12 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix advanced 4.32 percent.
Carmakers also started higher, with No. 1 Hyundai Motor increasing 3.63 percent and its smaller sister Kia Motors climbing 1.86 percent. Auto parts producer Hyundai Mobis surged 4.12 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,259.00 won against the U.S. dollar, up 7.5 won from the previous session's close.
(END)


yna--2020-03-24--Uncertainty growing over S. Korean exports despite recent upturn

The pandemic has thus made a big dent in South Korean exporters ' sentiment .
According to the Korea International @ @ @ @ @ business survey index stood at 79 for the second quarter , the lowest level in @ @ @ @ @ A reading below 100 means pessimists outnumber optimists .

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- Despite a recent recovery, uncertainty is growing over South Korea's exports down the road due to the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, sources said Tuesday.
The country's outbound shipments grew 10 percent on-year in the first 20 days of March on brisk overseas demand for chips and automobiles, along with more working days, according to government data.
The solid increase follows a 4.5 percent rise in February, the first rebound in 15 months.
This month's improved export performance stemmed mainly from increased shipments to China -- South Korea's biggest market, taking nearly 25 percent of its exports -- as well as the United States.
South Korean exports to China climbed 4.9 percent on-year in the first 20 days of March as the world's second-largest economy slowly returned to normal following a devastating coronavirus outbreak.
It marks a sharp turnaround from a 6.6 percent on-year decline in exports to China for all of February.
Shipments to America, South Korea's No. 2 overseas market, spiked 27.2 percent over the 20-day period, following a 9.9-percent gain in February, the first on-year rise in nine months.
Yet observers say it is still premature to think that South Korea's exports have gotten back on track to a recovery, given the rapid spread of COVID-19 across the globe.
The World Health Organization declared the respiratory disease a pandemic about two weeks ago. The novel coronavirus has disrupted trade and halted production worldwide, with a rising number of countries fully shutting down their borders.
The virus outbreak has emerged as a big drag on South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy, as it depends on trade for nearly 70 percent of its gross domestic product.
The pandemic has thus made a big dent in South Korean exporters' sentiment. According to the Korea International Trade Association, its export business survey index stood at 79 for the second quarter, the lowest level in more than seven years. A reading below 100 means pessimists outnumber optimists.
Industry watchers also said bleak the economic situations in China and the U.S. bode ill for South Korean exports in the coming months.
Major economic think tanks have revised down their growth outlooks for China to the 5 percent range for this year. Goldman Sachs has projected the U.S. economy, the world's largest, to shrink 3.1 percent this year.
The Korea Institute for International Economic Policy has warned that South Korea will inevitably be hit by decreased demand for capital and intermediate goods from major economies should the new coronavirus spread further.
(END)


Tuesday's weather forecast

SEOUL , March 24 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


KOSPI 1,523.69 UP 41.23 points (open)


KOSDAQ 457.21 UP 13.45 points (open)


yna--2020-03-24--Dollar opens at 1,265.0 won DN from 1,266.5 won


yna--2020-03-24--Biz groups up borrowing on looming credit crunch

`` There has been a rise in requests for loans , citing difficulties in refinancing maturing bonds , '' a @ @ @ @ @ low yields on bonds may be a reason for difficulties in direct financing .
Over @ @ @ @ @ bonds are scheduled to mature before the end of April , according to the Korea @ @ @ @

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- Major business groups in South Korea greatly expanded their bank loans this month, data showed Tuesday, amid a potential credit crunch caused by the new coronavirus outbreak that apparently limited their direct financing.
As of March 20, outstanding loans extended by five major banks to large companies came to 78.7 trillion won (US$61.8 billion), up nearly 1.8 trillion won from end-February, according to the data from the banks.
The increase marks a sharp acceleration from an increase of around 788 billion won in the entire month of February.
In the photo, taken March 4, 2020, a makeshift signboard at a bank in Daegu, one of the epicenters of the new coronavirus in South Korea, located some 300 kilometers south of Seoul, says the line for counseling on special loans for businesses hit by the virus outbreak has closed for the day with more than 200 people already standing in line. (Yonhap)
Such an increase also marks an unusual development, according to bank officials, who noted loans extended to large firms rarely fluctuate as conglomerates generally rely more on direct financing.
For instance, the outstanding bank loans to major business groups came to 73.8 trillion won as of the end of January, down only 512 billion won, or 0.7 percent, from two years earlier.
Loans extended to small and midsized firms, on the other hand, jumped by more than 61 trillion won or 16 percent over the cited period to 447.2 trillion won from 385.4 trillion won.
"Large companies appear to be taking out additional loans within their credit line to secure necessary funds," an official said.
The Bank of Korea (BOK) has slashed its base interest rate by half a percentage point to a new record low of 0.75 percent, in a move to spur spending amid the spread of COVID-19.
"There has been a rise in requests for loans, citing difficulties in refinancing maturing bonds," a bank official said, noting low yields on bonds may be a reason for difficulties in direct financing. Over 6.5 trillion won in corporate bonds are scheduled to mature before the end of April, according to the Korea Financial Investment Association.
The government earlier said it will set up a new bond market stabilization fund, worth at least 10 trillion won.
"Someone has to play the role of circulating the fund by purchasing corporate bonds," Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki has said.
The BOK said Monday that it will purchase an unspecified amount of local bonds this week to help prevent a possible credit crunch facing local companies in its second publicized repo operations in less than a week.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-24--Foreigners dump Samsung Electronics amid virus-fueled recession fears

Foreign investors owned 55.37 percent of Samsung Electronics , the world 's No .
1 smartphone and memory chipmaker , @ @ @ @ @ to the data from the Korea Exchange .

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- Foreign ownership of Samsung Electronics Co. has fallen to a 13-month low amid offshore investors' selling binge sparked by fears over a coronavirus-induced global economic recession, data showed Tuesday.
Foreign investors owned 55.37 percent of Samsung Electronics, the world's No. 1 smartphone and memory chipmaker, as of Friday, according to the data from the Korea Exchange.
It was the lowest foreign stake in the top-cap tech giant, the flagship of South Korea's largest conglomerate Samsung Group, since the 51.85 percent recorded on Dec. 11, 2018.
The decline came amid foreign investors' massive selling of South Korean stocks due to escalating worries over the economic impact of the fast-spreading coronavirus.
The screens at a dealing room at Hana Bank in Seoul on March 23, 2020 show the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) and Korean won-U.S. dollar exchange rate. (Yonhap)
Offshore investors' net selling of South Korean stocks lasted for the 13th session Monday, with their cumulative selling amounting to some 9.8 trillion won (US$7.7 billion).
Samsung Electronics bore the brunt of the foreign sell-offs, with the amount reaching some 4.4 trillion won over the cited period.
In contrast, South Korean retail investors extended their net buying of Samsung Electronics to 13 sessions on end Monday, with the cumulative amount standing at 4.2 trillion won.
Retail investors' massive purchases of Samsung Electronics came despite local brokerages' downgrades of first-quarter earnings estimates for the tech titan due to the fallout of COVID-19.
(END)


yna--2020-03-24--Trump calls for protecting Asian-Americans after using term 'Chinese virus'

`` It is very important that we totally protect our Asian American community in the United States , and all @ @ @ @ @ he tweeted .
`` They are amazing people , and the spreading of the Virus @ @ @ @ @ any way , shape , or form .
They are working closely with us to @ @ @ @ @ WE WILL PREVAIL TOGETHER ! ''

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, March 23 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that Asian Americans should be protected amid reports of racist attacks fueled by the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump's expression of support comes after he has repeatedly used the term "Chinese virus" despite criticism it encourages racism.
"It is very important that we totally protect our Asian American community in the United States, and all around the world," he tweeted. "They are amazing people, and the spreading of the Virus is NOT their fault in any way, shape, or form. They are working closely with us to get rid of it. WE WILL PREVAIL TOGETHER!"
Trump later made a similar statement at the opening of a daily White House press briefing on the coronavirus.
Last week, he defended his use of the term "Chinese virus," saying it was not racist but accurate because the virus first emerged in China.
U.S. news outlets have reported multiple incidents of discrimination against Asians in recent weeks.
The World Health Organization has issued guidance against using geographic locations to name illnesses.
This AFP photo shows U.S. President Donald Trump speaking during a White House press briefing on the coronavirus on March 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-24--KBO team to resume training after ill player tests negative for coronavirus

There has n't been a positive case yet among KBO players or employees , but a few teams have already @ @ @ @ @ Kiwoom Heroes were forced to halt their training last Monday when a minor league player @ @ @ @ @ Bears also pressed pause after learning that their minor league team had been on the @ @ @ @ @ as the Kiwoom minor leaguer .
He later tested negative .

SEOUL, March 24 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean baseball club will return to practice Tuesday after an ill player tested negative for the coronavirus.
The Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) had to cancel their training Monday and shut down their ballpark, Sajik Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, after one of their players exhibited a fever. He was quickly tested for COVID-19, while the rest of the team was sent home to self-isolate.
The results came back negative later Monday, and the Giants said they will be back to work Tuesday.
The Giants came home from their spring training in Australia last Tuesday. They had three days off and returned to practice Saturday.
Members of the Lotte Giants train at Sajik Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on March 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
The COVID-19 outbreak has forced the KBO to scrap all preseason games and delay the start of the regular season. It was slated to start this Saturday, and now the league is hoping to get things going by mid-April. The KBO will meet with club representatives tomorrow to discuss scheduling.
There hasn't been a positive case yet among KBO players or employees, but a few teams have already survived some scares. The Kiwoom Heroes were forced to halt their training last Monday when a minor league player showed symptoms. The Doosan Bears also pressed pause after learning that their minor league team had been on the same flight home from Taiwan as the Kiwoom minor leaguer. He later tested negative.
The SK Wyverns and the NC Dinos also had to cancel their practices last Tuesday after an employee of the company in charge of their scoreboards tested positive for the virus. The teams returned to action later in the week after front office staffers who'd come in contact with the employee all tested negative.
But the Dinos' minor league team stopped their training again Thursday when one player had a fever and sore throat. He tested negative the following day.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-24--(EDITORIAL from Korea JoongAng Daily on March 24)

To win the battle against the new coronavirus , the government should take two steps : blocking any influx of @ @ @ @ @ its spread in local communities .
The Moon Jae-in administration mandated tests for travelers from @ @ @ @ @ of the outbreak — from Sunday and encouraged so-called `` social distancing '' among the @ @ @ @ @ letup in China , the virus is rampaging across the European continent .
Of the @ @ @ @ @ receives from Europe , it 's possible that 5 percent of them are infected with @ @ @ @ @ a line of contagion we can close off .

Shutting the door
To win the battle against the new coronavirus, the government should take two steps: blocking any influx of Covid-19 from overseas and stopping its spread in local communities. The Moon Jae-in administration mandated tests for travelers from Europe — the new epicenter of the outbreak — from Sunday and encouraged so-called "social distancing" among the public. Despite an alleged letup in China, the virus is rampaging across the European continent. Of the 1,000 passengers a day Korea receives from Europe, it's possible that 5 percent of them are infected with the virus. That is a line of contagion we can close off.
The problem is the huge expense of quarantining incoming foreigners. Whether they test positive or negative, 150,000 won ($118) is spent on each to carry out the test. If a traveler tests positive, the cost of quarantine for at least two weeks is 4 million won. There are other costs, and even people who test negative are told to self-quarantine for two weeks.
Covid-19 is spreading fast around the globe with more than 300,000 people already confirmed infected in 193 countries. To some desperate foreigners whose lives could be at stake, Korea — equipped with quality medical infrastructure — could be seen as a newfound haven in their tough battle against the virus. In an ironic development, Korea continues to leave its doors open to foreigners while its people are shunned by more than 170 countries now. But those doors are closing somewhat.
The Moon administration must think again whether it can really afford such lenient treatment. Even if the government champions humanity and human rights, it must first weigh carefully if it has the ability to pay for such largesse. Actually, it all started with the government's reluctance to block the entry of people from China at the initial stages of the outbreak because of its reluctance to get on the bad side of Beijing.
As community infections grow, serious problems have to be avoided in the Seoul metropolitan area. An example is the death of a 17-year-old in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang, because he could not get appropriate medical treatment. The government should not discriminate against foreigners. But a state is required to protect the safety of its citizens first. We urge the government to enforce an all-out ban on the entry of foreigners at least for the next two weeks.
(END)


yna--2020-03-24--(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on March 24)

Both the IOC and Japanese organizers said cancelling the Games was not under consideration , but they apparently see postponing @ @ @ @ @ The IOC said it will take about four weeks to make a decision on whether @ @ @ @ @ it requires consultations with the Japanese authorities , global sports officials , broadcasters and sponsors @ @ @ @ @ that these consultations should have already taken place considering what is occurring around the world @ @ @ @ @ explanation means the world must wait four more weeks until the IOC comes up with @ @ @ @ @ words , there will be no end to controversies over the fate of the Tokyo @ @ @ @ @

Postpone Tokyo Olympics
:Nothing is more important than safety
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has finally acknowledged the need to postpone the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled for July 24 to Aug. 9, as the spread of COVID-19 worldwide has largely disrupted preparations in Japan and other countries. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also said for the first time Monday that a postponement would be unavoidable if the games cannot be held "in a complete way."
It is fortunate to see an exit plan finally being discussed by the IOC and the host country as the COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging the globe. Their coordinated move to push back the Games ― albeit belatedly ― will hopefully ease confusion about the fate of the Tokyo Olympics and relieve the burden on countries in their fight against the coronavirus. But the games have not yet been postponed officially. Given the grim reality that going ahead with the Olympics as scheduled is considered neither feasible nor desirable by most athletes and fans around the world in the face of the COVID-19 crisis, a decision should be made as quickly as possible.
Both the IOC and Japanese organizers said cancelling the Games was not under consideration, but they apparently see postponing as a viable option. The IOC said it will take about four weeks to make a decision on whether to delay the Olympics because it requires consultations with the Japanese authorities, global sports officials, broadcasters and sponsors. But it is obvious that these consultations should have already taken place considering what is occurring around the world. The IOC's latest explanation means the world must wait four more weeks until the IOC comes up with a decision. In other words, there will be no end to controversies over the fate of the Tokyo Olympics during this period.
All this gives the impression that the IOC is ignorant of reality ― and irresponsible. In a letter to athletes, IOC President Thomas Bach said the IOC was taking a "rational" approach, and "this may not be in line with the emotions many of you have to go through." We wonder how many will agree with his assertion that the IOC's response to COVID-19 has been rational.
The point is that a safe and secure opening of the Tokyo Olympics is now all but impossible. The COVID-19 crisis have delayed or cancelled many qualifying events for the Olympics and disrupted the training of athletes as many countries have barred people from gyms and other workout venues.
On Sunday, Canada announced it won't send athletes to Tokyo unless the games are postponed by a year, becoming the first country to threaten such a move. It said it was unsafe for athletes to continue training as it runs counter to the public health advice which all Canadians should follow.
The situation is not different in other countries. If the Olympics are all about pursuing excellence, the Tokyo Olympics, if held as scheduled, would be recorded as a fiasco. The Games should not be held at the cost of the athletes' safety.
(END)