yna--2020-05-27--One Chinese caught after illegally entering S. Korea on small boat

The illegal entrant , who was caught on Tuesday , stayed in South Korea for one year until July 2012 @ @ @ @ @ , but after that , he remained in the country illegally until April 2015 , @ @ @ @ @ being caught for drunk driving .

SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean Coast Guard has arrested a Chinese national who illegally entered the country on a small boat last week, officials said Wednesday.
The 43-year-old man was caught in the southwestern city of Mokpo on Tuesday, according to the Taean Coast Guard, six days after he and five other compatriots arrived in the western coastal city of Taean undetected on a 1.5-ton boat and then fled.
A Chinese man is taken to the Taean Coast Guard station in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, on May 27, 2020, after illegally entering South Korea on a boat. (Yonhap)
The vessel was found abandoned belatedly on Sunday, and the coast guard and the military have been carrying out a probe amid suspicions that North Korean spies could have used the boat.
"All those aboard the boat are believed to be Chinese nationals," an investigator said, adding that the authorities are tracing the remaining people and looking into their purposes of entry and possible links to criminal cases, among other things.
The illegal entrant, who was caught on Tuesday, stayed in South Korea for one year until July 2012 after being given legal status, but after that, he remained in the country illegally until April 2015, when he was expelled after being caught for drunk driving.
Earlier, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that chances seem low that this case has something to do with espionage activities, though a probe is under way with all possibilities open to learn if there were any security lapses.
Footage from a nearby closed-circuit TV showed people leaving the boat. Inside the boat were clothes, leftover food and other items that appeared to have been made in China, the authorities said.
Coast Guard officers investigate a 1.5-ton boat in the western coastal town of Taean, South Chungcheong Province, on May 15, 2020, a day after the boat was found abandoned. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-27--(LEAD) Two rare Buddhist treasures fail to sell at high-profile auction

Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha , dating back to the middle of the 7th century during the period of Unified Silla ( @ @ @ @ @ as South Korea 's Treasure No .
284 in 1963 .
Standing in an imposing @ @ @ @ @ 38 centimeters , larger than any other gilt-bronze Buddhist statue manufactured during the Silla period @

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details at bottom; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- High-profile auctions of two ancient Buddhist treasures in Seoul on Wednesday failed to attract any bidders.
The auctions of Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha and Gilt-bronze Standing Bodhisattva, both owned by Kansong Art Museum, were held at the K Auction headquarters in southern Seoul. Bidding began at 1.5 billion won (US$1.23 million) each but ended with zero bids.
Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha, dating back to the middle of the 7th century during the period of Unified Silla (668-918), was designated as South Korea's Treasure No. 284 in 1963. Standing in an imposing posture, its height reaches 38 centimeters, larger than any other gilt-bronze Buddhist statue manufactured during the Silla period.
An auctioneer presents Gilt-bronze Standing Bodhisattva, which was made between the 6th and 7th centuries during the Silla period, at K Auction in southern Seoul on May 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Gilt-bronze Standing Bodhisattva, which was made between the 6th and 7th centuries during the Silla period, was designated as Treasure No. 285 in 1963. The 19-cm-high statue was discovered in Geochang, southeast South Korea.
Kansong Art Museum was founded by Korean businessman Jeon Hyeong-pil (1906-1962) in 1938, initially with the name Bohwagak, during the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula.
Wednesday was the first time that the Seoul-based private museum had put up part of its collection for auction. The auction plan reportedly came due to the museum's financial hardship.
An auctioneer presents Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha, which dates back to the middle of the 7th century during the period of Unified Silla (668-918), at K Auction in southern Seoul on May 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Amid concerns of overseas purchases, some cultural heritage experts have called for the National Museum of Korea (NMK) to use state coffers to buy and preserve the two treasures at home.
NMK representatives reportedly reached out to Kansong for a private sale, but the latter insisted on holding a public auction to respect potential bidders.
Observers predict that the Kansong museum will put the items, along with other treasures in its possession, back on auction in the near future.
This composite file photo shows Gilt-bronze Standing Bodhisattva (L) and Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha, two high-value ancient statues owned by Kansong Art Museum in Seoul. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-27--Belgium hopes to introduce S. Korea's virus contact tracing system

The two sides also shared the need for social solidarity , as well as for states to play a greater @ @ @ @ @ people and women in the health crisis , according to Cheong Wa Dae .

SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korean first lady Kim Jung-sook and Queen Mathilde of Belgium held telephone talks on Wednesday and discussed ways to boost cooperation in tackling the new coronavirus, the presidential office said.
During the 50-minute conversation, Mathilde praised South Korea's response to COVID-19 and expressed hope to adopt its contract tracing system in preparation for a possible second wave of the pandemic, according to a press release by Cheong Wa Dae.
Kim, in response, briefed the queen on how the internationally acclaimed system works, including ways to protect private information, it added.
The two sides also shared the need for social solidarity, as well as for states to play a greater role, to help young people and women in the health crisis, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
South Korean first lady Kim Jung-sook holds phone talks with Queen Mathilde of Belgium at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on May 27, 2020, in this photo provided by the presidential office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-27--Two rare Buddhist treasures fail to sell at high-profile auction

SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- High-profile auctions of two ancient Buddhist treasures in Seoul on Wednesday failed to attract any bidders.
The auctions of Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha and Gilt-bronze Standing Bodhisattva, both owned by Kansong Art Museum, were held at the K Auction headquarters in southern Seoul. Bidding began at 1.5 billion won (US$1.23 million) each but ended with zero bids.
Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha, dating back to the middle of the 7th century during the period of Unified Silla (668-918), was designated as South Korea's Treasure No. 284 in 1963. Standing in an imposing posture, its height reaches 38 centimeters, larger than any other gilt-bronze Buddhist statue manufactured during the Silla period.
An auctioneer presents Gilt-bronze Standing Bodhisattva, which was made between the 6th and 7th centuries during the Silla period, at an auction event held at K Auction in southern Seoul on May 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Gilt-bronze Standing Bodhisattva, which was made between the 6th and 7th centuries during the Silla period, was designated as Treasure No. 285 in 1963. The 19-cm-high statue was discovered in Geochang, southeast South Korea.
Kansong Art Museum was founded by Korean businessman Jeon Hyeong-pil (1906-1962) in 1938, initially with the name Bohwagak, during the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula.
Wednesday was the first time that the Seoul-based private museum had put up part of its collection for auction. The auction plan reportedly came due to the museum's financial hardship.
This composite file photo shows Gilt-bronze Standing Bodhisattva (L) and Gilt-bronze Standing Buddha, two high-value ancient statues owned by Kansong Art Museum in Seoul. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-27--Expert calls for proposing video family reunions with N. Korea to mark 20th anniversary of summit

`` At a time when it 's difficult to meet face-to-face , I think we need to push ahead with @ @ @ @ @ he said during the forum hosted by the Institute for National Security Strategy .
`` @ @ @ @ @ to international sanctions . ''

By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea should propose video family reunions with North Korea next month to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the first-ever inter-Korean summit in 2000, a top expert on North Korea said Wednesday.
Suh Choo-suk, who also served as vice defense minister from 2017-2019, made the remarks during a forum, citing family reunions and coronavirus cooperation as among the most viable options for inter-Korean cooperation.
"At a time when it's difficult to meet face-to-face, I think we need to push ahead with a video meeting," he said during the forum hosted by the Institute for National Security Strategy. "This is not directly related to international sanctions."
The two Koreas held the first-ever summit of their leaders in 2000 between then-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. The two leaders adopted what is known as the "June 15 Joint Declaration," pledging to work together for peace.
Suh stressed that video reunions of families separated by the Korean War are a practical approach during the coronavirus pandemic, saying South Korea is ready with the necessary equipment and the meetings are not subject to global sanctions.
"The coronavirus situation is very unique as the countries are putting all efforts into social distancing. It's not just inter-Korean relations that are at an impasse; it has affected all other diplomatic relations," Suh said.
Security experts hold a discussion at a Seoul hotel during a forum organized by the Institute for National Security Strategy on May 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-27--(LEAD) Kia to extend plant suspension in S. Korea

Kia has seven overseas factories -- three in China and one each in the United States , Slovakia , Mexico @ @ @ @ @ local ones -- two in Gwangmyeong , three in Hwaseong and three in Gwangju .
@ @ @ @ @ million units .

(ATTN: ADDS Hyundai's assembly line suspension plan in last 3 paras)
SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-biggest carmaker by sales, said Wednesday it will suspend two domestic plants for several days next month due to lockdowns in major markets.
Kia plans to suspend its No. 1 plant in Gwangmyeong, just south of Seoul, from June 1-2 and 8-9 and its No. 2 Gwangmyeong plant from June 1-3 and 8-10, a company spokesman said.
The No. 1 plant churns out the Carnival minivan, the Stinger sports car and the flagship K9 sedan, while the No. 2 plant produces the Pride compact and the Stonic subcompact sport utility vehicle. The two plants were halted from April 27-29 due to the same reasons.
This undated file photo shows Kia Motors' plant in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap)
The maker of the K5 sedan and the Sorento SUV said Tuesday it will extend the suspension of its No. 2 plant in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, until June 5 after suspending production two times since April 27.
It already suspended the plant from April 27 to May 8 and plans to halt the plant from May 25-29 to keep inventories at manageable levels.
The No. 2 Gwangju plant produces the Sportage SUV and the Soul boxcar, but coronavirus lockdown restrictions in the United States and Europe have blocked vehicle exports from South Korea, the spokesman said.
Kia suspended most of its overseas plants from March and resumed most of their operations early this month to control inventories. All of its overseas plants are in operation as its Mexico plant reopened on Tuesday.
From January to April, Kia's sales fell 11 percent to 782,901 vehicles from 877,839 units in the year-ago period.
Kia has seven overseas factories -- three in China and one each in the United States, Slovakia, Mexico and India -- and eight local ones -- two in Gwangmyeong, three in Hwaseong and three in Gwangju. Their overall capacity is 3.84 million units.
Hyundai Motor Co, which owns a 34 percent stake in Kia, also said it will halt three assembly lines at its No. 3 and 4 plants in Ulsan, 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul, from June 1-5 and 11-12.
The vehicles to be affected by the planned suspension are the Venue subcompact car, the Ioniq electric and hybrid cars and the Porter truck, Hyundai said.
Hyundai said it is considering halting assembly lines at its No. 1 plant, which rolls out the Kona subcompact SUV and Veloster subcompact.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-27--(4th LD) More students return to school amid new surge in coronavirus cases

Ahead of summer , which is expected to be hotter than last year , according to the national weather agency @ @ @ @ @ to turn on air-conditioners with windows closed and to ventilate classrooms at every recess .

(ATTN: UPDATES with new info in paras 20, 24, last 2 paras )
By Woo Jae-yeon
SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- More than 2 million more South Korean students returned to school Wednesday as the country saw a resurgence of confirmed novel coronavirus cases.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed a total of 40 new cases, highest in 49 days, in the morning. Among them, 36 cases were reported in densely-populated Seoul and its surrounding areas.
The rise in the number of cases is largely attributed to local transmissions from a club cluster infection that started in the nightlife district of Itaewon in Seoul in early May.
A boy reads a textbook at Suwan Elementary School in Gwangju, a southwestern city, on May 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Amid growing concerns over the spread of COVID-19, some 560 schools and kindergartens across the country postponed their reopenings.
In the face of the virus's ongoing spread, the reopening of schools is considered crucial to test the government's "everyday life quarantine" scheme. The scheme, introduced May 6, is designed to help people learn to live with the virus and resume normal life amid relaxed social distancing.
The students affected by the second phase of reopening are the two lowest grades of elementary school, kindergarten students, middle school seniors and second-year high school students. The estimated number of students is 2.37 million.
Last week, 440,000 high school seniors returned to school, more than two months behind schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The country's academic year begins in March.
With Wednesday's reopenings, a total of 2.81 million, or 47 percent, of all students, including those in kindergartens, started attending in-person classes.
A teacher greets a girl at Dongdo Elementary School in the southern city of Daegu on May 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
The resumption comes as health authorities are on alert over local transmissions in connection with the Itaewon cluster, including new outbreaks at a logistics center in Bucheon, west of Seoul.
The latest figure showed 259 cases were related to the Itaewon cluster and at least 36 cases are traced to e-commerce operator Coupang's logistics center.
While the first phase is considered to have gone off without a major problem, there is pervasive fear about potential COVID-19 outbreaks among young students.
There has been a spate of coronavirus infections involving students of various ages.
A teacher checks students' temperatures at Hanil Elementary School in the city of Suwon, south of Seoul, on May 27, 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Yonhap)
Earlier this week, a 6-year-old kindergarten boy was infected with the virus from his teacher. In the southern city of Daegu, a high school senior at Osung High School tested positive late Tuesday night, leading to the closure of six schools. In another case, a teacher at an elementary school tested positive.
Despite the government's confidence in managing the pandemic, parents and teachers are still worried that young children could struggle to keep quarantine and social distancing rules.
"I am worried about young children. High shool students can control themselves but for little ones, I am not convinced," Lee Yoon-hee, a working mother with two children, said.
Her oldest daughter, who is in her first year at a Seoul high school, went to school in the morning.
"I also worry about flexible school schedules. It makes life harder for parents like myself, because I have to adjust to any change that might arise," she said, referring to a potential sudden school closure or one-day-on, one-day-off schedules.
Students keep a distance from one another after arriving at Cheongun Elementary School in Seoul on May 27, 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Yonhap)
During a briefing Wednesday, Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae stressed the importance of "preemptive actions" in responding to the pandemic.
To curb new infections, a total of 561 kindergartens, elementary, middle and high schools across the country, or 2.7 percent of the total, had rescheduled their reopening to later dates. With this, the number of students who returned to school Wednesday was lower than originally expected.
By region, 111 schools in Seoul and 181 in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, postponed their reopening. The figure was the highest in Bucheon at 251, with a new infection cluster at the Coupang distribution center there.
She also pointed out the imperatives of resuming in-person classes.
"Remote classes is not enough to fully educate students, which is only possible through face-to-face classes," she said.
To calm parents' anxiety, the ministry increased the number of permissible absent days so that students can stay at home without worrying about school attendance.
Also, schools have more leeway over setting up schedules to minimize classroom crowding, such as alternating school days for different classes. High school seniors go to school every day to prepare for the national university entrance exam slated for early December.
By grade, high school classrooms run at two-thirds of their full attendance, while the figure is one-third for middle and elementary schools.
Schools in areas with more infections are strongly advised not to fill classrooms with more than two-thirds of students.
The ministry also offers staffing and logistics assistance to schools to help run after-school day care programs smoothly for working parents.
To monitor and tackle potential outbreaks at schools, the ministry is in close coordination with the KCDC and provincial education offices.
The government also unveiled a set of relaxed guidelines on mask use at schools amid warmer weather.
Students are permitted not to wear masks on a playground and during outdoor classes on condition that they can stay at least 1 meter apart from each other.
If efficient ventilation and distancing are guaranteed, they also don't need to wear masks when attending small classes or doing extracurricular activities.
Also they can take off masks when feeling dizzy and having shortness of breath.
Ahead of summer, which is expected to be hotter than last year, according to the national weather agency, the government ordered schools to turn on air-conditioners with windows closed and to ventilate classrooms at every recess.
Previously the government had advised leaving windows ajar when using air-conditioners, to limit the spread of the virus through airborne droplets.
A child has his temperature checked at a kindergarten in Sejong, central South Korea, on May 27, 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-27--Kia to extend plant suspension in S. Korea

SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-biggest carmaker by sales, said Wednesday it will suspend two domestic plants for several days next month due to lockdowns in major markets.
Kia plans to suspend its No. 1 plant in Gwangmyeong, just south of Seoul, from June 1-2 and 8-9 and its No. 2 Gwangmyeong plant from June 1-3 and 8-10, a company spokesman said.
The No. 1 plant churns out the Carnival minivan, the Stinger sports car and the flagship K9 sedan, while the No. 2 plant produces the Pride compact and the Stonic subcompact sport utility vehicle. The two plants were halted from April 27-29 due to the same reasons.
This undated file photo shows Kia Motors' plant in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap)
The maker of the K5 sedan and the Sorento SUV said Tuesday it will extend the suspension of its No. 2 plant in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, until June 5 after suspending production two times since April 27.
It already suspended the plant from April 27 to May 8 and plans to halt the plant from May 25-29 to keep inventories at manageable levels.
The No. 2 Gwangju plant produces the Sportage SUV and the Soul boxcar, but coronavirus lockdown restrictions in the United States and Europe have blocked vehicle exports from South Korea, the spokesman said.
Kia suspended most of its overseas plants from March and resumed most of their operations early this month to control inventories. All of its overseas plants are in operation as its Mexico plant reopened on Tuesday.
From January to April, Kia's sales fell 11 percent to 782,901 vehicles from 877,839 units in the year-ago period.
Kia has seven overseas factories -- three in China and one each in the United States, Slovakia, Mexico and India -- and eight local ones -- two in Gwangmyeong, three in Hwaseong and three in Gwangju. Their overall capacity is 3.84 million units.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-27--(LEAD) BMW unveils face-lifted 5, 6 Series in S. Korea

`` The fact that we can even host this event today at the Driving Center , underscores the decisive and @ @ @ @ @ at an early stage , to slow the spread of the coronavirus , '' Pieter @ @ @ @ @ sales , said in an online message for the event .

(ATTN: ADDS Jan-April sales in last para)
SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- BMW on Wednesday unveiled the face-lifted 5 and 6 Series models in South Korea to show its "strong and unwavering" commitment to the Northeast Asian market due to robust demand for its models.
The German carmaker held a digital world premiere at its driving center in Incheon, just west of Seoul, to reveal the upgraded BMW 523d sedan, the 530e plug-in hybrid sedan, and the BMW 640i xDrive Gran Turismo model, BMW Korea said in a statement.
"The fact that we can even host this event today at the Driving Center, underscores the decisive and comprehensive actions taken by Korea at an early stage, to slow the spread of the coronavirus," Pieter Nota, head of BMW sales, said in an online message for the event.
He underlined the importance of the Korean market, as the nation topped all other countries in terms of sales of BMW 5 Series models in Korea from January to April.
BMW said it plans to launch the three upgraded models in Korea in the fourth quarter of this year.
From January to April, BMW Group Korea, which sells BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce models, sold a total of 18,669 vehicles, up 39 percent from 14,146 units in the year-ago period.
This photo, provided by BMW Korea and taken on May 27, 2020, shows the BMW 640i xDrive Gran Turismo model (L) and other models displayed at the carmaker's Songdo Driving Center in Incheon, just west of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

On Tuesday , the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( KCDC ) said two suspected cases of Multisystem @ @ @ @ @ MIS-C ) were reported in Seoul for the first time in the country .
MIS-C @ @ @ @ @ drawn attention because the condition has been possibly linked to the novel coronavirus .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.
----------------
2 children recover from suspected inflammatory syndrome, one released from hospital
SEOUL -- Two children have recovered from a suspected inflammatory syndrome and are in good health, with one being released from a hospital, South Korea's public health agency said Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said two suspected cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) were reported in Seoul for the first time in the country. MIS-C cases around the globe have drawn attention because the condition has been possibly linked to the novel coronavirus.
----------------
(3rd LD) New virus cases spike on club-linked infections, another looming cluster
SEOUL -- South Korea's new virus cases spiked by the most in nearly two months on Wednesday as the country grapples with a steady rise in club-linked transmission and yet another cluster infection looms.
The country reported 40 new cases, including 37 local infections, raising the total coronavirus caseload to 11,265, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
----------------
(3rd LD) More students return to school amid new surge in coronavirus cases
SEOUL -- More than 2 million more South Korean students returned to school Wednesday as the country saw a resurgence of confirmed novel coronavirus cases.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed a total of 40 new cases, highest in 49 days, in the morning. Among them,
----------------
(3rd LD) Greater Seoul area braces for further virus spread following 36 new cases
SEOUL -- Seoul and the surrounding area have added 36 new coronavirus cases, data showed Wednesday, raising concerns over a possibly bigger outbreak at a time when the country is attempting to return to normal life.
New infections reported in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon totaled 36 as of midnight, more than doubling from 14 reported the previous day, according to the data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks extend gains to third session on hopes of recovery
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks finished a tad higher Wednesday despite escalating tension between the United States and China, as investors sought to scoop up bargains amid growing hopes of an economic recovery. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 1.42 points, or 0.07 percent, to close at 2,031.20, extending its winning streak to a third consecutive session. Trading volume was high at about 1.16 billion shares worth some 12.5 trillion won (US$10.1 billion), with winners outnumbering losers 477 to 362.
----------------
(2nd LD) Logistics center-linked virus cases spike, stoking concern over further domestic spread
SEOUL -- South Korea on Wednesday reported a continued rise in new coronavirus cases linked to a logistics center in a city west of Seoul, putting health authorities on alert over further community spread.
As of 9 a.m., at least 36 virus cases had been traced to the logistics center in Bucheon, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
(END)


yna--2020-05-27--(2nd LD) Military mobilizes over 200,000 man-days to combat coronavirus

SEOUL , May 27 ( Yonhap ) -- Over 200,000 man-days of military personnel have been mobilized to help cope @ @ @ @ @ the disease was first reported in the country in late January , the defense ministry @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS second photo)
SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- Over 200,000 man-days of military personnel have been mobilized to help cope with the coronavirus outbreak since the disease was first reported in the country in late January, the defense ministry said Wednesday.
The number includes some 29,000 man-days of medical workers, as well as 30,000 man-days for disinfection work and 125,000 for quarantine operations at ports and airports, according to the ministry.
The military has reported 52 of the coronavirus cases in barracks so far.
Members of the Army Second Operational Command sterilize a retail outlet in the southeastern city of Daegu on March 5, 2020, in this photo provided by the command. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Nationwide, South Korea reported 40 new cases of the virus Wednesday, raising the country's total coronavirus caseload to 11,265.
South Korea was on the verge of controlling the virus, with the daily increase falling to as low as just two cases three weeks ago.
But health authorities have been on alert again after a cluster infection reported in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon has led to other sporadic transmissions across the country.
Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglim visited Vice Defense Minister Park Jae-min on Wednesday to discuss ways to boost cooperation against a possible second wave of infections and expressed gratitude for the military's contribution in fighting the virus.
"Because the defense ministry gave full-fledged support in this national crisis of COVID-19 ... we could tide over a difficult time," Kim said during the meeting at the defense ministry building in Seoul.
In response, Park pledged to actively collaborate with the health ministry so that the military's medical system can supplement and support the country's quarantine system.
Vice Defense Minister Park Jae-min (L) and Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip hold talks at the defense ministry in Seoul on May 27, 2020, in this photo provided by Park's office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-27--(LEAD) Army posthumously decorates soldier killed in Korean War after finding remains in DMZ

Under a bilateral military accord signed in 2018 , the two Koreas agreed to launch a joint excavation project on @ @ @ @ @ But the South has carried out the project alone since last year , as the @ @ @ @ @ calls for joint work .

(ATTN: CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea posthumously awarded a medal to a soldier killed in the 1950-53 Korean War after his remains were recently found during an excavation project inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the Army said Wednesday.
The Army delivered the medal to the son of the late Ssg. Jeong Yeong-jin, marking the first time an award is given to the war bereaved, after confirming the identity of the remains found during the excavation operation on Arrowhead Ridge inside the DMZ.
Under a bilateral military accord signed in 2018, the two Koreas agreed to launch a joint excavation project on the former battle site. But the South has carried out the project alone since last year, as the North did not respond to calls for joint work.
Born in 1926, the staff sergeant joined the military in 1952 and died the next year, just two weeks before the truce was signed.
The government had decided to give the medal to the late soldier a year after he died, but it could not deliver the award as contacts with the bereaved family were not well established at that time.
"I hope this can also happen to the numerous bereaved families who are waiting for their beloved ones and the families of the people of merits who could not receive the medal," the son, Jeong Hae-soo, said.
Last year, the military found around 2,030 bone fragments believed to have belonged to about 261 troops killed in the war, according to the defense ministry.
In this photo provided by the Army, Jeong Hae-soo (L) poses on May 27, 2020, after receiving a medal for his father, Ssg. Jeong Yeong-jin, who was killed during the 1950-53 Korean War. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-27--(3rd LD) Greater Seoul area braces for further virus spread following 36 new cases

`` We are looking into the case , leaving open the possibility of the Coupang logistics center group infection spreading @ @ @ @ @ than the first identified patient who visited a Bucheon buffet restaurant , '' she said @ @ @ @ @ venue where several Itaewon-linked infections have occurred .

(ATTN: CLARIFIES official's remark in 11th para; ADDS details in 12th para)
By Lee Minji
SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- Seoul and the surrounding area have added 36 new coronavirus cases, data showed Wednesday, raising concerns over a possibly bigger outbreak at a time when the country is attempting to return to normal life.
New infections reported in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon totaled 36 as of midnight, more than doubling from 14 reported the previous day, according to the data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Health workers conduct a virus test on a visitor at an outdoor screening center set up in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, on May 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
More than half of the infections, 19, were reported in Seoul, followed by 11 in Incheon, a port city west of Seoul, and six in the surrounding Gyeonggi Province.
South Korea as a whole added 40 cases, the largest daily increase in 49 days, raising the country's COVID-19 caseload to 11,265.
Most of the new cases were traced to an infection cluster originating from nightspots in the Seoul neighborhood of Itaewon, with related cases totaling 259 as of noon.
More than 50 of the 259 Itaewon-linked cases, including those that have spread through seven stages of transmission, are believed to trace to a 25-year-old cram school instructor in Incheon who allegedly lied about not visiting the area in an epidemiological probe.
A retail logistics center in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, that is associated with e-commerce giant Coupang has also emerged as a virus hotspot, with 36 cases identified as of 9 a.m.
By area, 22 were based in Incheon, followed by 10 in Gyeonggi Province and four in Seoul, according to the KCDC.
This photo taken on May 26, 2020, shows a logistics center in Bucheon, just outside of Seoul, where infections have been reported among its employees. (Yonhap)
While Bucheon is located in Gyeonggi Province, it sits between the southwestern area of Seoul and Incheon, raising risks of possible transmissions in the greater Seoul area.
Regarding views that the Coupang case derived from the Itaewon cluster, KCDC Director Jeong Eun-kyeong said authorities are weighing the possibility of transmission by another route.
"We are looking into the case, leaving open the possibility of the Coupang logistics center group infection spreading through another infection route rather than the first identified patient who visited a Bucheon buffet restaurant," she said, referring to the party venue where several Itaewon-linked infections have occurred.
Jeong said the first patient did not work while showing symptoms, mentioning the possibility of the cluster infection separately beginning in mid-May and spreading through repeated exposures.
Some 3,600 employees at the Bucheon logistics center are being checked for the virus, Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said, adding that authorities will look into whether workplace quarantine guidelines were in place.
An elementary school in Bucheon is empty on May 27, 2020, after its reopening was postponed due to a series of infections reported in the city just outside of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The spike in cases come less than a month after South Korea ended its strict social distancing campaign and shifted to an "everyday life quarantine" scheme.
The measure, which went into effect on May 6, was introduced to help people return to normal life while maintaining quarantine measures.
Students have been returning to school under the updated quarantine scheme, with more than 2 million students at kindergartens and grade schools resuming in-person classes earlier in the day.
The latest developments, however, are expected to hinder the transition for the time being.
In a Facebook post updated late Tuesday, Bucheon Mayor Jang Deog-cheon announced the city will be returning to strict social distancing for the time being to prevent additional infections.
Under the plan, schools in the area will remain closed and run online classes for all grades except for high school seniors, who already resumed in-person classes last week.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-27--(LEAD) Late 5th-early 6th century funeral relics unearthed at royal tomb complex

According to the institute , burial site 120 was known to have been discovered during the era of Japanese colonial @ @ @ @ @ later abandoned and forgotten , with three houses later built over the area and remaining @ @ @

(ATTN: CHANGES dateline; UPDATES with more details in paras 5-6, 11-12; ADDS photo at bottom)
GYEONGJU, South Korea, May 27 (Yonhap) -- A pair of ceremonial gilt-bronze shoes, believed to have been made between the late 5th century and early 6th century, were unearthed from an excavation site at a royal tomb complex in southeastern South Korea, cultural heritage authorities said Wednesday.
The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) said researchers have unearthed the artifacts -- a pair of gilt-bronze shoes, a silver ornament piece made to be attached on belts and a slew of equestrian adornments among others -- from the Hwangnamdong Tumulus No. 120-2 excavation site inside the Daereungwon, a Silla-era royal tomb complex in Gyeongju, some 371 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
This undated photo, released by the Cultural Heritage Administration on May 27, 2020, shows a gilt-bronze shoe that South Korean archaeologists unearthed from the Hwangnamdong Tumulus No. 120-2 from the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935) in Gyeongju, southeastern South Korea. The shoe is believed to have been made between the latter part of the 5th century and the first part of the 6th century. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The last time a pair or gilt-bronze shoes, presumed to have been used for funeral rituals, were unearthed at an ancient Silla tomb was in 1977 at another site in the same city.
The relics were presumed to have been possessions of either an aristocrat or person with royal blood. Researchers said the shoes, which appeared to be in relatively good condition, were discovered near the feet of the deceased.
The sex of the deceased, according to researchers, was difficult to discern at the moment.
Gyeongju was the capital of Silla (57 B.C.-A.D. 935), the kingdom that eventually unified the Korean Peninsula under its rule. A vast number of archaeological sites and cultural properties from this period remain in the city.
This undated photo, released by the Cultural Heritage Administration on May 27, 2020, shows a variety of horse ornaments that South Korean archaeologists unearthed from the Hwangnamdong Tumulus No. 120-2 from the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935) in the ancient city of Gyeongju, southeastern South Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
According to researchers, both pairs of shoes had T-shaped carve-out patterns on the surface, decorated each with gilt-bronze "dalgae," a bracelet-like ornament made with beads.
Other items discovered, presumed to have been buried along with the deceased as personal belongings, included a gilt-bronze horse saddle, a bronze iron, a Korean traditional steel cauldron and various earthenware.
"The items usually reveal the social status of the deceased. From the discovery of the gilt-bronze shoes, it's generally assumed that the deceased was of royal lineage," said Kim Kwon-il, a senior researcher at the Silla Cultural Heritage Research Institute.
In the vicinity of site 120-2 were two other burial sites, with the larger site 120 to the north and 120-1 even further to the north.
According to the institute, burial site 120 was known to have been discovered during the era of Japanese colonial rule, but it was later abandoned and forgotten, with three houses later built over the area and remaining until recently.
This undated photo, released by the Cultural Heritage Administration on May 27, 2020, shows a bronze iron that South Korean archaeologists unearthed from the Hwangnamdong Tumulus No. 120-2 from the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935) in the ancient city of Gyeongju, southeastern South Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The excavation was part of a project between the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Gyeongju city aimed at restoring major historic ruins linked to the capital of the Silla dynasty.
Gyeongju is home to three UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites: Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, Yangdong Village, and the Gyeongju Historic Areas. Daeruengwon is part of the Gyeongju Historic Areas.
This undated photo, released by the Cultural Heritage Administration on May 27, 2020, shows a bird's eye view of an excavation site of Hwangnamdong Tumulus No. 120-2 from the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 935) in Gyeongju, southeastern South Korea. Tumulus No. 120-2 is shown in the left area of the photo in dark brown and green. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-27--(LEAD) In shift of stance, ruling party presses lawmaker-elect Yoon to clarify scandal

Last week , prosecutors raided the office of the civic group and two of its related facilities in Seoul as @ @ @ @ @ They currently are scrutinizing the accounting books of the group after some 10 legal complaints @ @ @ @ @ have been filed by activists and others , according to prosecution officials .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info throughout)
SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- In a clear shift of stance, the ruling Democratic Party (DP) is raising calls on its lawmaker-elect Yoon Mee-hyang, a longtime activist for wartime sexual slavery victims, to clarify various suspicions raised against her and her civic group.
The DP's pressure on Yoon for an explanation marks a clear departure from the wait-and-see stance it had maintained since Lee Yong-soo, a victim of the Japanese military's World War II sexual slavery, accused Yoon and her organization of accounting malpractices and other wrongdoings in a press conference on May 7.
The 92-year-old victim held another press conference Monday to reiterate her call that Yoon be brought to justice as prosecutors look into the growing allegations.
An image of lawmaker-elect Yoon Mee-hyang (Yonhap)
Lee claimed in the nationally televised news conference that the lawmaker-elect "used" aged victims to raise funds and help promote the cause of the group for the past 30 years.
"(What the DP is demanding from Yoon) is that the lawmaker-elect and (her civic group) the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan clarify the accounting transparency issue," the DP's deputy floor leader Kim Young-jin told reporters a day earlier. "She needs to take responsibility for exactly what will follow."
The latest shift of stance by the DP hints that the party has started to distance itself from the growing scandal involving Yoon as it is set to enter the new National Assembly term as a majority party later this week.
"The party is currently telling Yoon to hurry up and present her position on the issue," the DP deputy floor leader noted.
The DP has the option of ousting Yoon from the party. In that case, Yoon could retain her parliamentary seat outside of the ruling party. If she resigns before the official start of the new parliamentary term Saturday, her proportional representation seat could be handed over to another party member.
The party's leadership is unlikely to turn its back on Yoon for now despite growing calls for action even from inside the party.
DP Chairman Lee Hae-chan hinted at the party's determination to fight against rising calls for Yoon's resignation during a supreme council meeting earlier in the day.
"(The party) should not give in to allegations that are raised through something like scavenging for private information," the party leader noted.
"The related government authorities need to speed up the fact verification process (for Yoon) and I request the public make their final judgment after carefully watching it," Lee said.
His remarks are in line with the party's previous stance that it will wait and see until the allegations are factually verified or refuted.
Yoon has remained out of the public eye for more than a week. She did not show up for the party's plenary meeting of lawmaker-elects on Wednesday.
Ruling Democratic Party Chairman Lee Hae-chan (R) speaks during the party's supreme council meeting in Seoul on May 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
A poll by Realmeter showed Wednesday that 7 out of every 10 Koreans think Yoon should step down from her parliamentary seat.
The opposition bloc is also mounting pressure for her resignation after the main opposition United Future Party officially launched a task force dedicated to the scandal Monday.
Last week, prosecutors raided the office of the civic group and two of its related facilities in Seoul as part of their probe. They currently are scrutinizing the accounting books of the group after some 10 legal complaints against Yoon and the group have been filed by activists and others, according to prosecution officials.
Once the chamber officially launches its inaugural session sometime next week, Yoon is protected by lawmakers' immunity from arrest.
But many in the prosecution service predict that prosecutors will be unable to finish analyzing the accounting books and summon Yoon for questioning before the new parliamentary term begins.
Allegations against Yoon include collecting donations for the victims through her private bank accounts and having her father take care of a shelter for the victims for years for a monthly pay of 1.2 million won (US$973).
Her embattled civic group is suspected of purchasing the shelter building in Anseong, south of Seoul at a price far above the market value and reselling it below the market price and leaving the expenditure of some of government subsidies and other donation funds it received for the victims out of its public report and accounting books, respectively.
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-27--Seoul to support construction equipment sector amid pandemic

`` In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic , the global construction equipment market is expected to create new demand @ @ @ @ @ stressing that the government will help expand exports of construction equipment .

SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will support the country's construction equipment sector to overcome a drop in sales amid the coronavirus pandemic, Industry Minister Sung Yun-mo said on Wednesday.
"In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the global construction equipment market is expected to create new demand," Sung said, stressing that the government will help expand exports of construction equipment.
This file photo, provided by Hyundai Construction Equipment Co., shows an unmanned forklift that hit the market in April 2019. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The global market value of construction equipment is estimated at US$207.9 billion, 2.5 times higher than that of the global shipbuilding market.
Exports of construction equipment makers tumbled 32.3 percent in April from a year ago due to decreased global demand stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Their exports are forecast to nose-dive more than 30 percent on-year in May.
Local construction equipment makers like Doosan Infracore Co. and Hyundai Construction Equipment Co. have suspended production at their local plants from late May to early June due to weak exports to Europe and North America.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-27--(LEAD) Seoul stocks extend gains to third session on hopes of recovery

`` The reason the impact on the stock market may have been limited , despite the escalating tension between the @ @ @ @ @ both reaffirmed their commitment to fulfilling their first stage trade agreement , '' Noh added @

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks finished a tad higher Wednesday despite escalating tension between the United States and China, as investors sought to scoop up bargains amid growing hopes of an economic recovery. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) added 1.42 points, or 0.07 percent, to close at 2,031.20, extending its winning streak to a third consecutive session. Trading volume was high at about 1.16 billion shares worth some 12.5 trillion won (US$10.1 billion), with winners outnumbering losers 477 to 362.
An electronic signboard at a KEB Hana Bank trading room in Seoul shows the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 1.42 points, or 0.07 percent, to close at 2,031.20 on May 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
The advance came one day after the KOSPI breached the psychologically significant 2,000-point threshold for the first time since March 6.
The index fluctuated throughout the day after opening slightly lower on news reports that the U.S. may freeze assets of Chinese officials and businesses in retaliation against Beijing's push for a new national security law for Hong Kong.
"The U.S. has in fact declared plans to take sanctions should China vote on the national security law for Hong Kong. The U.S.-China dispute may further escalate toward the end of this week," said NH Investment & Securities analyst Noh Dong-kil.
"The reason the impact on the stock market may have been limited, despite the escalating tension between the two, is because they both reaffirmed their commitment to fulfilling their first stage trade agreement," Noh added.
South Korea's exports had dropped for 14 consecutive months since December 2018 amid the prolonged trade dispute between the world's two largest economies that was put on pause after they signed the trade agreement in January.
The U.S. and China are South Korea's two largest trade partners.
"The market seems to be taking a breather, considering that the hopes of economic reopening and China's stimulus measures have already been projected in the KOSPI in the previous session," Kiwoom Securities analyst Seo Sang-young said.
Individuals purchased a net 322.3 billion won, offsetting massive sell-offs by both foreigners and institutions.
Foreign investors dumped a net 217 billion won, with institutions offloading a net 86.4 billion won.
Large caps closed mixed.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics surged 1.32 percent to 49,900 won, while No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix fell 0.61 percent to 81,400 won.
Leading pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics tumbled 3.26 percent to 624,000 won, and Celltrion slipped 0.7 percent to 213,000 won.
Top automaker Hyundai Motor advanced 0.31 percent to 98,100 won, with its smaller affiliate Kia Motors climbing 1.43 percent to 31,950 won.
The local currency closed at 1,234.40 won per dollar, down 0.10 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys rose 2.4 basis points to 0.863 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond gained 1.6 basis points to 1.096 percent.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--BOK projects contraction of Korean economy this year due to virus fallout

SEOUL , May 28 ( Yonhap ) -- The Bank of Korea ( BOK ) on Thursday sharply slashed its @ @ @ @ @ , projecting a 0.2 percent on-year contraction amid the coronavirus pandemic , which would mark @ @ @ @ @ two decades .

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- The Bank of Korea (BOK) on Thursday sharply slashed its growth outlook for the year, projecting a 0.2 percent on-year contraction amid the coronavirus pandemic, which would mark the slowest growth in over two decades.
The latest outlook for Asia's fourth-largest economy is a sharp cut from its earlier estimate of a 2.1 percent expansion this year.
The sharp reduction from the February estimate follows the extensive spread of the new coronavirus that has infected more than 5 million people globally.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--(URGENT) BOK sharply cuts growth outlook to 0.2 pct contraction from 2.1 pct growth

(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--2020-05-28--S. Korea's virus fight in trouble amid new cluster, daily infections at 2-month high

South Korea has seen ups and downs in the number of new cases , but infections mostly had been on @ @ @ @ @ April 5 .
They even reached just two earlier this month , before the cluster @ @ @ @ @ of Itaewon in Seoul emerged early this month .

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported the largest number of new coronavirus cases in nearly two months Thursday due to a cluster infection at a logistics center in a city just west of Seoul, with more related cases in the metropolitan area feared to come.
The country reported 79 new cases, including 68 local infections, raising the total coronavirus caseload to 11,344, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
It marked the largest daily increase in 53 days.
The increase was mostly attributable to mass infections at the distribution center in Bucheon. So far, a total of 69 cases have been traced to the facility operated by e-commerce operator Coupang.
Health authorities are worrying that more related cases tied to the Coupang logistics center are likely to follow, as tests are currently being carried out on some 4,000 potential cases.
A worker disinfects a logistics center of Market Kurly, an online grocery delivery platform, in eastern Seoul on May 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Initial investigations showed the logistics center did not follow basic guidelines, including maintaining distance between people at its cafeteria. Authorities are finding out whether the cases from the center and Itaewon are connected.
After successfully controlling community spread on strict social distancing and quick testing, the country has had to face a large scale cluster in the capital city. As of Wednesday noon, a total of 259 cases have been linked to Itaewon clubs and bars.
South Korea has seen ups and downs in the number of new cases, but infections mostly had been on a downhill since 81 on April 5. They even reached just two earlier this month, before the cluster infection from the nightlife district of Itaewon in Seoul emerged early this month.
The country, which reported its first COVID-19 case from a Chinese person on Jan. 20, once reported a daily increase of more than 900 cases in late February.
Early this month, South Korea eased its social distancing guidelines, with students, including kindergartners, returning to school in phases.
On growing concerns over the spread of COVID-19, however, some 560 schools and kindergartens across the country postponed their reopenings on Wednesday.
South Korea reported no new deaths on Thursday with virus-related death toll at 269.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 10,340, up 45 from the previous day.
The number of imported cases, which used to be the top concern for South Korea's battle against COVID-19, rose by 11.
A teacher holds the hand of her student at an elementary school in the southern port city of Busan on May 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--(URGENT) 45 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,34

(URGENT) 45 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,340: KCDC


yna--2020-05-28--(URGENT) S. Korea reports no additional virus death, death toll now at 269: KCDC


yna--2020-05-28--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 79 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 11,344: KCDC


yna--2020-05-28--Gov't to hold strategy meeting amid rising Sino-U.S. tensions

The diplomatic strategy session , to be presided over by First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young , is expected to @ @ @ @ @ 's approach should be in terms of addressing the growing Sino-U.S. rivalry that has intensified @ @ @ @ @ China 's legislative bid to tighten control over Hong Kong .

By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- The government was set to hold an interagency meeting Thursday to discuss countermeasures against rising tensions between the United States and China amid concerns South Korea is caught in the middle of the two major powers and would be pressured to take sides.
The diplomatic strategy session, to be presided over by First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young, is expected to focus on what South Korea's approach should be in terms of addressing the growing Sino-U.S. rivalry that has intensified over the coronavirus pandemic and China's legislative bid to tighten control over Hong Kong.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will also attend the meeting, along with officials from other related ministries and state-affiliated think tanks, according to her office.
Washington has been ramping up its anti-China campaign by pinning the blame on Beijing for causing the spread of COVID-19 and voicing criticism on its push to enact controversial national security laws on Hong Kong to punish anti-government activities.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of strong actions against China if it goes ahead with the legislation.
Thursday's session also comes after U.S. Under Secretary of State Keith Krach revealed last week that the U.S. had already discussed with South Korea its "Economic Prosperity Network" initiative aimed at reducing dependence on China-centered global supply chains.
The Sino-U.S. tensions have renewed worries about South Korea being pressured to walk a tightrope between the two major powers -- its ally and biggest trade partner.
China has been busy defending its position to its foreign partners, including South Korea, in an apparent bid to seek their backing. Diplomatic sources say Beijing has shared information with Seoul on its push for the national security laws on Hong Kong.
Seoul has not made an official comment about issues related to Hong Kong, except to say that the government is closely watching the situation.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks during the second session of a diplomatic strategy coordination meeting in Seoul on Dec. 30, 2019. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--(LEAD) BOK trims key rate to fresh record low amid deepening virus woes

The BOK is set to offer its new growth estimate later in the day , and many expect its projection @ @ @ @ @ percent than to 1 percent , which will likely mark the slowest on-year growth since @ @ @ @ @ 's economy shrank 5.5 percent on-year in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis @

(ATTN: UPDATES with reports of a BOK member being excluded from Thursday's monetary policy decision due to possible conflict of interest in last 2 paras)
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's central bank slashed its policy rate by a quarter percentage point to a new record low of 0.5 percent Thursday to help support the country's economy tipped to grow at the slowest pace in over two decades amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The move came a little over two months after the Bank of Korea (BOK) cut the base rate to 0.75 percent from 1.25 percent in its first emergency rate cut since October 2008.
In a recent poll conducted by Yonhap Infomax, the financial news arm of Yonhap News Agency, two-thirds, or 12, of 18 experts surveyed had anticipated the BOK to further slash the key rate this month. The BOK had stood pat in April.
Those who expected a rate cut cited the need to further insulate the economy from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been spreading at an increasing rate globally since the BOK's emergency rate reduction, delivered on March 16.
As the virus outbreak wreaked havoc on global trade, outbound shipments by Asia's fourth-largest economy plunged 24.3 percent on-year to US$36.9 billion in April, leading to the country's first trade deficit in 99 months.
The country's exports inched down 0.2 percent on-year to $46.9 billion in March.
Partly due to such a heavy setback for South Korea's exports, which, together with imports, account for nearly half of its gross domestic product (GDP), many economic think tanks have sharply slashed their growth outlooks for the South Korean economy, with the International Monetary Fund projecting a 1.2 percent on-year contraction for Asia's fourth-largest economy.
In its latest revision, published shortly after the country reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on Jan. 20, the BOK slashed its growth outlook to 2.1 percent from 2.3 percent.
The BOK is set to offer its new growth estimate later in the day, and many expect its projection to be closer to zero percent than to 1 percent, which will likely mark the slowest on-year growth since 1998, when the country's economy shrank 5.5 percent on-year in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
Meanwhile, the BOK said one of its monetary policy board members, Cho Yoon-je, was excluded from Thursday's vote, due to his ownership of stocks that is currently being reviewed for a possible conflict of interest.
Cho, a former ambassador to the United States, began his term at the seven-member BOK board in April, along with two other new members and a member appointed to a second term.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--LG Electronics joins governing council of decentralized public network

`` Distributed ledger technology holds the potential to improve customer value and allow enterprises across many sectors to offer new @ @ @ @ @ the trust , security and speed that it provides , '' said Cho Taeg-il , @ @ @ @ @ LG Electronics .

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc. announced Thursday it has joined the governing council of a public distributed ledger for building decentralized applications to better study advanced blockchain technologies.
The South Korean firm is the sole home appliance maker to join the Hedera Governing Council and is its 14th member, joining global companies like Google, IBM and Boeing.
"LG will work with Hedera and other members of the Council to identify ways that distributed ledger technology can benefit consumers and supply chain partners by enabling seamless transactions," it said in a release.
A distributed ledger refers to a database shared by multiple participants in which members can securely verify and record their own transactions without going through a central server.
"Distributed ledger technology holds the potential to improve customer value and allow enterprises across many sectors to offer new services that take advantage of the trust, security and speed that it provides," said Cho Taeg-il, a senior vice president of LG Electronics.
This photo provided by LG Electronics Inc. on May 28, 2020, shows members of the Hedera Governing Council. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--Hacking attempts on S. Korean defense info nearly double in 2019

`` It is hard to say for sure where the hacking attacks are coming from , as the intruders often @ @ @ @ @ avoid exposing their identity , '' an official said .

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- The number of hacking attempts on South Korea's defense information from abroad nearly doubled on-year in 2019, though they did not lead to an actual leak of documents, the defense ministry said Thursday.
A total of 9,533 hacking attempts on the country's defense information system were detected last year, up from around 4,000 in 2017 and 5,000 in 2018, according to the ministry.
The system refers to a set of equipment and software for collection, processing, storage and utilization of national security-related information.
Following the surge in the number of hacking attempts, the ministry has established a multilayered protection system to guard against the leak of sensitive defense information.
A majority of the IP addresses used for the recent attacks were traced to China and the United States, though officials said the hackers are believed to have concealed their actual locations.
"It is hard to say for sure where the hacking attacks are coming from, as the intruders often use proxy IP addresses to avoid exposing their identity," an official said.
In 2016, the military's intranet suffered hacking attacks, leading to the leakage of some defense information. South Korea blamed the North for the incident, a claim Pyongyang has stayed mum on.
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--(LEAD) Logistics center-linked virus cases snowball to 69, emerging as another cluster in greater Se

(LEAD) Logistics center-linked virus cases snowball to 69, emerging as another cluster in greater Seoul

`` It looks like preventive measures against the epidemic by employees at the facility , such as wearing masks or @ @ @ @ @ are sick , have not been properly carried out , '' Health Minister Park Neung-hoo @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with additional case reported at another logistics center in paras 2-4)
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Thursday reported a continued spike in new coronavirus cases linked to a logistics center in a city west of Seoul, which has emerged as yet another cluster.
A total of 69 cases had been traced to the logistics center operated by the country's leading e-commerce operator, Coupang Inc., in Bucheon as of early Thursday, according to health authorities.
Coupang also said one more employee at its other logistics center in Goyang, just north of Seoul, also tested positive for COVID-19.
All employees at the facility who had contact with the patient were put under self-isolation, Coupang said, adding that the facility has been shut down.
The first related case, confirmed last week, is believed to be linked to a cram school instructor in nearby Incheon, who contracted the virus after a visit to Seoul's nightlife area of Itaewon that has emerged as the capital city's largest cluster.
This photo, taken on May 26, 2020, shows a logistics center of Coupang, the country's leading e-commerce operator, in Bucheon, west of Seoul, where a large number of COVID-19 cases were reported. (Yonhap)
Concerns about community spread have mounted, as Seoul and the surrounding areas are home to roughly half of South Korea's population of more than 50 million.
"It looks like preventive measures against the epidemic by employees at the facility, such as wearing masks or taking a break if they are sick, have not been properly carried out," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said during a meeting.
"Infection routes are being diversified in work places, cram schools and karaoke rooms in the metropolitan area," Park said.
Health authorities said they are conducting an epidemiological study into the cases, adding that workers at the facility did not appear to properly comply with quarantine measures.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--(URGENT) One BOK board member excluded from latest policy decision due to conflict of interest


yna--2020-05-28--BOK trims key rate to fresh record low amid deepening virus woes

By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's central bank slashed its policy rate by a quarter percentage point to a new record low of 0.5 percent Thursday to help support the country's economy tipped to grow at the slowest pace in over two decades amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The move came a little over two months after the Bank of Korea (BOK) cut the base rate to 0.75 percent from 1.25 percent in its first emergency rate cut since October 2008.
In a recent poll conducted by Yonhap Infomax, the financial news arm of Yonhap News Agency, two-thirds, or 12, of 18 experts surveyed had anticipated the BOK to further slash the key rate this month. The BOK had stood pat in April.
Those who expected a rate cut cited the need to further insulate the economy from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been spreading at an increasing rate globally since the BOK's emergency rate reduction, delivered on March 16.
As the virus outbreak wreaked havoc on global trade, outbound shipments by Asia's fourth-largest economy plunged 24.3 percent on-year to US$36.9 billion in April, leading to the country's first trade deficit in 99 months.
The country's exports inched down 0.2 percent on-year to $46.9 billion in March.
Partly due to such a heavy setback for South Korea's exports, which, together with imports, account for nearly half of its gross domestic product (GDP), many economic think tanks have sharply slashed their growth outlooks for the South Korean economy, with the International Monetary Fund projecting a 1.2 percent on-year contraction for Asia's fourth-largest economy.
In its latest revision, published shortly after the country reported its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on Jan. 20, the BOK slashed its growth outlook to 2.1 percent from 2.3 percent.
The BOK is set to offer its new growth estimate later in the day, and many expect its projection to be closer to zero percent than to 1 percent, which will likely mark the slowest on-year growth since 1998, when the country's economy shrank 5.5 percent on-year in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--(URGENT) BOK cuts key rate to fresh record low of 0.5 pct amid deepening economic virus fallout


yna--2020-05-28--Logistics center-linked virus cases snowball to 69, emerging as another cluster in greater Seoul

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Thursday reported a continued spike in new coronavirus cases linked to a logistics center in a city west of Seoul, which has emerged as yet another cluster.
A total of 69 cases have been traced to the logistics center operated by the country's leading e-commerce operator Coupang in Bucheon as of early Thursday, according to health authorities.
The first related case, confirmed last week, is believed to be linked to a cram school instructor in nearby Incheon, who contracted the virus after a visit to Seoul's nightlife area of Itaewon that has emerged as the capital city's largest cluster.
This photo, taken on May 26, 2020, shows a logistics center of Coupang, the country's leading e-commerce operator, in Bucheon, west of Seoul, where a large number of COVID-19 cases were reported. (Yonhap)
Concerns about community spread have mounted, as Seoul and the surrounding areas are home to roughly half of South Korea's population of more than 50 million.
"It looks like preventive measures against the epidemic by employees at the facility, such as wearing masks or taking a break if they are sick, have not been properly carried out," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said during a meeting.
"Infection routes are being diversified in work places, cram schools and karaoke rooms in the metropolitan area," Park said.
Health authorities said they are conducting an epidemiological study into the cases, adding that workers at the facility did not appear to properly comply with quarantine measures.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--Creditors call on Korean Air to raise capital following financial aid

SEOUL , May 28 ( Yonhap ) -- Creditors of Korean Air Lines Co. have demanded the cash-strapped airline raise @ @ @ @ @ ( US $ 1.62 billion ) by the end of next year in return for @ @ @ @ @ familiar with the issue said Thursday .

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- Creditors of Korean Air Lines Co. have demanded the cash-strapped airline raise capital of 2 trillion won (US$1.62 billion) by the end of next year in return for fresh financial support, officials familiar with the issue said Thursday.
The Korea Development Bank (KDB) and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Exim Bank) recently signed an agreement with South Korea's biggest national flag carrier to extend 1.2 trillion won in new liquidity to help the company hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
The state lenders will provide 200 billion won in loans, buy asset-backed securities worth 700 billion won and purchase 300 billion worth of perpetual bonds.
The KDB will shoulder 60 percent of the financial aid, with Exim Bank responsible for the remainder.
"The deal includes a clause requesting Korean Air to secure 2 trillion won by the end of next year," a creditor bank official said. "The airline is required to raise 1 trillion won through a rights offering and another 1 trillion won through self-rescue measures."
Last week, Korean Air said it will push to carry out a share sale worth 1 trillion won and is seeking to sell assets, including a prime lot of land in central Seoul, as part of its self-help plan.
Hanjin KAL Corp., Korean Air's holding company, said it will purchase the new Korean Air common shares worth 300 billion won to help the air carrier withstand its liquidity crunch.
The move comes as 4 trillion won of the airline's debt is set to mature this year.
Korean Air said it will be able to pay back the maturing debt with the creditors' financial aid and money raised through self-help measures.
Industry officials said the KDB and Exim Bank will emerge as the second-largest shareholder of Korean Air, with a 16.37 percent interest, after purchasing the carrier's perpetual bonds to be issued.
Currently, Hanjin KAL is the No. 1 shareholder with a 29.96 percent stake in Korean Air. The state pension operator National Pension Service owns 9.98 percent.
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--Seoul stocks open higher on Wall Street gains

The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 553.16 points , or 2.21 percent , to close at 25,548.27 on Thursday ( @ @ @ @ @ The tech-rich NASDAQ finished up 0.77 percent at 9,412.36 .

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened higher Thursday, taking a cue from overnight gains on Wall Street.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 13.77 points, or 0.68 percent, to 2,044.97 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
The gains were led by the U.S. tech stock rally overnight, triggered by global chipmaker Micron Technology Inc.'s estimate-beating earnings guidance, analysts said.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 553.16 points, or 2.21 percent, to close at 25,548.27 on Thursday (New York time). The tech-rich NASDAQ finished up 0.77 percent at 9,412.36.
In Seoul, most large caps traded higher.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 1.20 percent and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix jumped 2.95 percent.
Leading automaker Hyundai Motor advanced 0.31 percent, and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors climbed 0.47 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver added 0.88 percent, with its local rival Kakao up 0.77 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics slid 0.16 percent, while leading chemical maker LG Chem gained 1.26 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,237.85 won against the U.S. dollar, down 3.45 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--Promoted clubs seeking first wins in top football league on weekend

The K League implemented the current promotion-relegation system in 2013 .
Sangju Sangmu , a team of conscripted players serving @ @ @ @ @ the first team to earn promotion in 2014 .
But they did not win their @ @ @ @ @ week , with the 2-1 victory over FC Seoul coming on the heels of four @ @ @ @ @ straight losses .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- When Gwangju FC and Busan IPark earned promotions to the top division in South Korean football for the 2020 season, this could not have been the kind of start they had envisioned.
Gwangju have dropped their first three matches, and they sit dead last among 12 clubs in the K League 1. Busan have managed one draw and two losses for one point, which puts them in 11th place. Both will try to end the winless drought Saturday.
Gwangju dominated the K League 2 last year, reeling off a 19-match undefeated streak with 13 wins and six draws from the start of the season. They won the second division to return to the K League 1 for the first time since 2017.
In this file photo, from May 17, 2020, Gwangju FC players (in yellow) react to their 1-0 loss to FC Seoul in their K League 1 match at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Busan had been away from the K League 1 since 2015. After finishing in second place in the K League 2 last season, Busan had to win a promotion-relegation playoff to book a spot in the K League 1 again.
When Gwangju host Ulsan Hyundai FC at 7 p.m. Saturday, they will not just be chasing their first win of the season: Gwangju have not even scored a goal yet. Incheon United are the only other team not to have scored so far in 2020.
Gwangju have not shown much offensive flow so far, with just five shots on target through three matches. Felipe, the reigning K League 2 scoring champion who netted 19 goals in 27 matches in 2019, has managed only three shots, with none hitting the net, in three contests.
Ulsan are regarded as one of the title favorites for this season. They lead all clubs with eight goals after three matches, and Gwangju will have their hands full.
In this file photo, from May 17, 2020, Felipe of Gwangju FC (L) is helped up by Park Dong-jin of FC Seoul during their K League 1 match at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
If they do not get over that Ulsan hump, Gwangju will next face the reigning FA Cup champions Suwon Samsung Bluewings. A five-match losing streak to open the season is not outside the realm of possibility.
Busan have played better than their records show. In the second match, Busan pushed the three-time defending champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors hard, before giving up the tiebreaking goal to Lars Veldwijk during stoppage time for a 2-1 loss. The following week, Busan held Ulsan to a 1-1 draw for their first point of the season.
But with just two goals scored in three matches, Busan have not found the touch that saw them net a K League 2-best 73 goals in 37 contests a year ago. They will meet Suwon at 7 p.m. Saturday at home.
In this file photo, from May 24, 2020, Busan IPark players celebrate their goal against Ulsan Hyundai FC in their K League 1 match at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The K League implemented the current promotion-relegation system in 2013. Sangju Sangmu, a team of conscripted players serving their military duty, were the first team to earn promotion in 2014. But they did not win their first match until the seventh week, with the 2-1 victory over FC Seoul coming on the heels of four straight draws followed by two straight losses.
In 2015, Daejeon Citizen needed eight matches to get their first K League 1 victory. They lost their first four before recording a draw, and then they lost two more matches before beating Suwon 2-1.
Promoted clubs were more successful over the next three years, with Sangju in 2016, Gangwon FC in 2017 and Gyeongnam FC in 2018 all winning their first K League 1 matches of their respective seasons. In 2019, Seongnam FC got their first three points in match No. 3.
This file photo, from May 10, 2020, shows Busan IPark (in white) and Pohang Steelers in action during their K League 1 match at Pohang Steel Yard in Pohang, 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--(LEAD) S. Korea to set up 500 bln-won fund for auto parts firms

SEJONG , May 28 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea will set up a guarantee fund of 500 billion won @ @ @ @ @ ) to provide more loans to auto parts firms that have been hit by the @ @ @ @ @ Hong Nam-ki said Thursday .

(ATTN: ADDS remarks, details in last 5 paras)
SEJONG, May 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will set up a guarantee fund of 500 billion won (US$405 million) to provide more loans to auto parts firms that have been hit by the coronavirus pandemic, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Thursday.
The fund, which will be financed by the government and carmakers, will provide guarantees for loans for auto parts firms, Hong said.
The public sector will buy 9,500 cars by the end of September to prop up auto parts firms, Hong said.
To boost private consumption, the government will open a nationwide shopping festival on June 26 for a two-week run, Hong said.
In May, South Korea's consumer sentiment rebounded from an 11-year low as the nation eased social distancing rules.
Hong said the rebound in consumer confidence is a "meaningful signal" for an economic recovery.
Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki speaks at a meeting with economy-related ministers on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
In the first 20 days of this month, exports sank 20.3 percent on year amid the shock from the coronavirus pandemic, customs data showed Thursday.
The pandemic has disrupted trade and halted production around the globe, with a rising number of countries fully shutting their borders.
Hong said the government will draw up plans to help companies win more overseas orders and bring their overseas plants back to South Korea.
South Korea has pledged stimulus packages worth 250 trillion won, or 13 percent of its gross domestic product, to cushion the economic blow from the pandemic.
The nation's economy shrank 1.4 percent on-quarter in the first quarter of this year, marking the sharpest quarterly contraction since the last three months of 2008.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


KOSPI 2,047.08 UP 15.88 points (open)


yna--2020-05-28--(LEAD) Former activist for wartime sex slavery victims to hold press conference over allegations

At the meeting , Moon mentioned an agreement which the two countries signed in December 2015 to `` finally and @ @ @ @ @ that has long remained a thorn in their relations .
Moon later scrapped the deal @ @ @ @ @ Geun-hye administration .

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 3, 8-12)
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- Lawmaker-elect Yoon Mee-hyang, a longtime activist for wartime sexual slavery victims, is set to hold a press conference this week to clarify her position over allegations of financial misdeeds involving her and her civic group.
"Lawmaker-elect Yoon has decided to hold a press conference on Friday ... (She) will deliberate on the schedule and venue and let the party know," an official of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) said Thursday.
A key party official, meanwhile, told Yonhap News Agency that Yoon is likely to clarify her position over the allegations rather than addressing any plans in relation to her parliamentary seat.
Yoon, former head of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, was elected in the April 16 general elections.
The controversy surfaced after Lee Yong-soo, a 92-year-old victim of Japan's wartime sexual slavery, accused Yoon and her organization of accounting malpractices and other wrongdoings in a May 7 press conference.
Friday's scheduled press conference would mark Yoon's first appearance in more than a week. She has remained out of the public eye, not showing up for a plenary meeting of DP lawmakers-elect on Wednesday.
It also comes just one day before the new parliamentary term begins on Saturday.
This composite image shows lawmaker-elect Yoon Mee-hyang against file photos of the prosecutor's office and a civic group representing wartime sexual slavery victims. (Yonhap)
Meanwhile, the wartime sexual slavery issue was briefly discussed during a meeting between President Moon Jae-in and party floor leaders earlier in the day, the presidential office said.
At the meeting, Moon mentioned an agreement which the two countries signed in December 2015 to "finally and irreversibly" resolve the issue that has long remained a thorn in their relations. Moon later scrapped the deal signed by the previous Park Geun-hye administration.
"There was anticipation that the issue would be resolved, but it did not because the victims could not accept (the agreement)," Moon said, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
The deal included Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's indirect apology and Tokyo's 1 billion-yen (US$9.3 million) donation to a foundation dedicated to supporting surviving victims. But it came under fire here for not securing Japan's legal responsibility and leaving out the victims in reaching the deal.
Moon said resolving the issue would be a "task" going forward, Kang said, while stressing that the president did not directly address the controversy over Yoon during the meeting.
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--Prosecution requests arrest warrant for ex-mayor over alleged sexual assault

Oh is alleged to have sexually assaulted a city employee at his office in early April .
He stepped down @ @ @ @ @ 23 after apologizing to the victim in a press conference .

BUSAN, May 28 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors on Thursday sought an arrest warrant against a former mayor of South Korea's second-largest city over alleged sexual assault.
The Busan District Prosecutors Office said it has filed a warrant to detain ex-Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don on charges of indecent act by compulsion.
Oh is alleged to have sexually assaulted a city employee at his office in early April. He stepped down from the post on April 23 after apologizing to the victim in a press conference.
The court is expected to hold a hearing on the warrant request as early as Monday.
Oh, who ran as a candidate for the Democratic Party, was elected as the mayor of Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in 2018. The party expelled him in late April.
The mayoral post has been temporarily filled by the city's vice mayor for administrative affairs until a by-election scheduled for April 2021.
Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don leaves the Busan Police Agency in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, following questioning on May 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--S. Korea on course to approve remdesivir for virus treatment

SEOUL , May 28 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea is likely to soon approve remdesivir as an emergency treatment @ @ @ @ @ could be the first treatment drug for COVID-19 here , health officials said Thursday .

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is likely to soon approve remdesivir as an emergency treatment for coronavirus patients in what could be the first treatment drug for COVID-19 here, health officials said Thursday.
The investigational antiviral drug by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences Inc., if officially approved here, will be administered in the treatment of critically ill novel coronavirus patients, according to them.
Earlier in the day, a group of infectious disease experts discussed remdesivir's effectiveness in treating virus patients and agreed to recommend the use of the drug for seriously ill virus patients.
About 5 percent of coronavirus patients in the country are classified as critically ill.
Their recommendation will be delivered to the Central Quarantine Control Headquarters and finally approved by the country's health authorities. Remdesivir will likely be brought in under special import authorization, they said.
Remdesivir was originally developed to combat the deadly viral haemorrhagic fever Ebola.
Clinical trials in the United States have shown it can shorten the recovery period of some patients from around 15 days to 11 days.
Tests have also shown that remdesivir can reduce the fatality rate of infected people to about 7 percent, down from 12 percent for patients who did not get the drug.
Early this month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authority so the drug can be used for virus patients who need intensive care and ventilators.
Since its first virus outbreak on Jan. 20, South Korea has reported over 11,300 cases of COVID-19 so far, with its death toll standing at 269. The fatality rate came to 2.37 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 10,340.
On Thursday, the country identified 79 new virus cases, marking the largest daily increase in 53 days, as another cluster infections tied to a distribution center in a city just west of Seoul has snowballed.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--Ex-MLB player Kang Jung-ho expresses desire to rejoin KBO's Heroes

The ball is in the Heroes ' hands .
They said they will soon meet with Kang 's agent in @ @ @ @ @ course of action .
They can take Kang off the voluntarily retired list either to @ @ @ @ @ him a free agent .
If the Heroes decide not to reinstate Kang , then @ @ @ @ @ to sign with anyone else in the KBO .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- Former major league player Kang Jung-ho told his ex-Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club Kiwoom Heroes on Thursday that he'd like to rejoin the team once his one-year suspension, stemming from past drunk driving cases, ends in 2021.
The Heroes said Kang reached out to their general manager Kim Chi-hyun earlier Thursday and expressed his desire to be reunited with the club. Kang is currently staying in the United States.
Kang, who left the Heroes via posting to sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2015, remains on the "voluntarily retired" list because he wasn't a free agent at the time of his departure. The Heroes still own rights to Kang, and they must first take Kang off that list before he can play in the KBO.
In this Getty Images file photo from May 11, 2019, Kang Jung-ho of the Pittsburgh Pirates waits in the on-deck circle during a Major League Baseball regular season game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. (Yonhap)
And based on his three prior drunk driving arrests, the KBO suspended Kang for one year and ordered him to do 300 hours of community service. The suspension will begin once Kang signs a KBO contract.
The ball is in the Heroes' hands. They said they will soon meet with Kang's agent in Seoul before deciding their next course of action. They can take Kang off the voluntarily retired list either to sign him themselves or make him a free agent. If the Heroes decide not to reinstate Kang, then he won't be able to sign with anyone else in the KBO.
Kang has repeatedly apologized for his past mishaps and has pledged to donate his salary to charities if he signs with a KBO club.
Drafted out of high school as a catcher, Kang carved out an All-Star career at shortstop for the Heroes. In his last season before moving to the majors, Kang established a new KBO record for most home runs in a season by a shortstop with 40.
In 2015, Kang finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting, thanks to a .287/.355/.461 line, 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 126 games.
Then in 2016, Kang posted a .513 slugging percentage while setting career highs with 21 home runs and 62 RBIs in 103 games. But following a drunk driving accident in December that year, Kang never duplicated that level of production.
He missed the entire 2017 season, as he was unable to get his work permit. He appeared in only three games in 2018 and then 65 games in 2019 before the Pirates released him.
In this file photo from Oct. 31, 2014, Kang Jung-ho of the Nexen Heroes celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the LG Twins in a Korea Baseball Organization postseason game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--(2nd LD) S. Korea launches 40 tln-won fund for backbone industries

The government has said airlines , shippers and others hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for the fund @ @ @ @ @ have more than 500 billion won in debt and more than 300 employees per company @

(ATTN: UPDATES with comments by head of financial regulator and background in paras 5-8)
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Thursday launched a fund worth 40 trillion won (US$32.2 billion) to provide timely financial assistance to the country's backbone industries amid the economic fallout of the new coronavirus.
The government has said airlines, shippers and others hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible for the fund's financial support if they have more than 500 billion won in debt and more than 300 employees per company.
This photo, provided by the Financial Services Commission, shows its Vice Chairman Sohn Byung-doo (3rd from L) speaking in a meeting with officials of policy lenders and private equity funds at a building in southern Seoul on May, 28, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Among others, South Korea's two full-service carriers -- Korean Air Lines Co. and Asiana Airlines Inc. -- and seven low-cost carriers have suffered from a sharp decline in air travel demand sparked by the coronavirus pandemic.
Local airlines have suspended most of their flights on international routes since March as an increasing number of countries have strengthened entry restrictions amid virus fears.
Financial Services Commission Chairman Eun Sung-soo expressed a willingness to provide additional financial assistance to the budget carriers, though he did not specify whether the proposed assistance would come from the fund or a state lender.
He also said a main creditor bank of SsangYong Motor Co. can determine whether to provide financial assistance to the South Korean unit of Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
KPMG Samjong Accounting Corp., the auditor of SsangYong Motor, has recently refused to deliver an opinion on the carmaker's ability to run normally as a company after the carmaker posted sharply widened net losses in the first quarter.
From January to March, SsangYong's net losses deepened to 193.54 billion won (US$157 million) from 26.12 billion won in the year-ago period as the coronavirus outbreak affected production and sales.
Also Thursday, the Financial Services Commission unveiled a plan to create a separate fund worth 300 billion won as part of broader efforts to help facilitate corporate restructuring.
The fund is meant to extend loans to companies and buy their convertible bonds or bonds with warrants, the commission said in a statement.
The commission said the creation of the fund could meet companies' short-term capital needs, and investors can expect a stable profit with low risks, which could lead to additional investments.
"Market-led restructuring is a must ... as creditor banks have a limitation in their assistance to restructuring companies for the normalization of management," Sohn Byung-doo, vice chairman of the commission, said in a meeting with officials of policy lenders and private equity funds at a building in southern Seoul.
The move comes as some South Korean companies are pushing to sell their assets to secure liquidity amid uncertainty over the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fund is part of a broader corporate restructuring innovation fund meant to facilitate corporate restructuring.
The corporate restructuring innovation fund, set up in 2018, has so far invested about 700 billion won in 16 companies, including KG Dongbu Steel Co. and Sungdong Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co.
The commission has expanded the size of the corporate restructuring innovation fund to 2.6 trillion from the previous 1.6 trillion won.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--(LEAD) Nissan to withdraw from S. Korea as sales plunge

`` The company has reached a conclusion that it is hard to regain a sustainable growth structure in South Korea @ @ @ @ @ at home and abroad despite its efforts to keep operations here , '' it said @

(ATTN: ADDS 2nd photo and details in paras 5-7,11)
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- Nissan Motor Co. said Thursday it will withdraw its operations from South Korea by December amid weak sales caused by lingering anti-Japan sentiment and the new coronavirus outbreak.
The Japanese carmaker will pull out the Nissan and premium Infiniti brands as part of its global business reorganization, the company said in a statement.
"The company has reached a conclusion that it is hard to regain a sustainable growth structure in South Korea due to worsening business environments at home and abroad despite its efforts to keep operations here," it said.
Nissan said it will continue to offer after-sales services for South Korean owners of Nissan and Infiniti models for eight years through 2028.
This file photo shows Nissan Motor's company logo. (Yonhap)
Hammered by lower demand amid COVID-19 worries, Nissan shifted to a net loss of 671.2 billion yen (US$6.2 billion) in the 2019 fiscal year through March from a net profit of 319.1 billion yen a year earlier. It sold 4.79 million vehicles in 2019, down 13 percent from a year ago.
It is the first time for Nissan to report a net loss in 11 years since it swung to a loss in 2008 when major industries were affected by the financial crisis.
Nissan plans to slash its output capacity by 20 percent to produce 5.4 million autos in the fiscal year ending in March 2023. It will close a car assembly plant in Spain due to a low utilization rate.
Japanese carmakers have suffered a sharp decline in sales in Asia's fourth-biggest economy as the two countries are still at odds over Tokyo's imposition of export curbs last year.
In the January-April period, Nissan brand sales fell 41 percent to 813 vehicles from 1,384 units a year earlier. Infiniti brand sales nose-dived 79 percent to 159 from 759 during the same period.
Five Japanese brands are available in the Korean passenger vehicle market -- Toyota Motor Corp. and its luxury brand Lexus; Honda Motor Co.; and Nissan and its premium brand Infiniti.
The five brands sold a combined 5,636 autos in the first four months, down 59 percent from 13,737 a year earlier due to weak sales amid sentiment against Japanese products and virus fears.
Last July, Japan tightened regulations on exports to South Korea of three high-tech materials critical for the production of semiconductors and displays.
In August, Japan also removed South Korea from its list of countries given preferential treatment in trade procedures.
South Korea views the moves as retaliation against 2018 Supreme Court rulings here ordering Japanese firms to compensate South Korean victims of forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
This undated photo provided by Nissan Korea shows the Altima sedan. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--Former activist for wartime sex slavery victims to hold press conference over allegations

`` Lawmaker-elect Yoon has decided to hold a press conference on Friday ... ( She ) will deliberate on the @ @ @ @ @ the party know , '' an official of the ruling Democratic Party ( DP ) @ @ @

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- Lawmaker-elect Yoon Mee-hyang, a longtime activist for wartime sexual slavery victims, is set to hold a press conference this week to clarify her position over allegations of financial misdeeds involving her and her civic group.
"Lawmaker-elect Yoon has decided to hold a press conference on Friday ... (She) will deliberate on the schedule and venue and let the party know," an official of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) said Thursday.
Yoon, former head of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, was elected in the April 16 general elections.
The controversy surfaced after Lee Yong-soo, a 92-year-old victim of Japan's wartime sexual slavery, accused Yoon and her organization of accounting malpractices and other wrongdoings in a May 7 press conference.
Friday's scheduled press conference would mark Yoon's first appearance in more than a week. She has remained out of the public eye, not showing up for a plenary meeting of DP lawmakers-elect on Wednesday.
It also comes just one day before the new parliamentary term begins on Saturday.
This composite image shows lawmaker-elect Yoon Mee-hyang against file photos of the prosecutor's office and a civic group representing wartime sexual slavery victims. (Yonhap)
(END)