yna--2020-05-10--S. Korea to conduct coronavirus antibody tests in late May

The serology tests on 7,000 people aged 10 or above are also expected to show how many people have immunity @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will conduct coronavirus antibody tests in late May to determine the true extent of coronavirus infections in the country, officials said Sunday.
The serology tests on 7,000 people aged 10 or above are also expected to show how many people have immunity against the novel coronavirus.
For the southeastern city of Daegu and the surrounding North Gyeongsang Province, the nation's two worst-hit regions, authorities will conduct serology tests on 1,000 people, officials said.
Health authorities will begin conducting the antibody tests after they make a decision on the methodology of the serology tests, officials said.
Experts have said a significant number of people in the nation might have recovered from the virus without knowing they were infected.
South Korea reported 34 additional cases of the coronavirus Sunday, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,874.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 9,610 have recovered so far.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-10--(5th LD) Coronavirus cases linked to Itaewon clubs rise to 54

The Itaewon infections began when a 29-year-old man tested positive on May 6 after visiting five clubs , including King @ @ @ @ @ Club Queen , between the night of May 1 and wee hours of May 2 @ @ @ @ @ were believed to have visited those clubs and bars on that night .

(ATTN: UPDATES with health minister's remarks, details in paras 11-15)
By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- Coronavirus cases linked to clubs and bars in Seoul's multicultural district of Itaewon have jumped to 54, an official said Sunday, as South Korea struggles to stop the cluster infection from spreading further.
The hike deepened fears that Itaewon-related infections could get out of control and lead to a nationwide transmission after the country had successfully brought the virus outbreak under control with zero local infections reported on many days in recent weeks.
The Itaewon infections began when a 29-year-old man tested positive on May 6 after visiting five clubs, including King Club, Trunk Club and Club Queen, between the night of May 1 and wee hours of May 2. More than 1,500 people were believed to have visited those clubs and bars on that night.
Of the 54 Itaewon-linked cases, 43 visited clubs and 11 others are either their family members or acquaintances of the clubbers, according to Jeong Eun-kyeong, head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
She said an investigation is under way into those who had contact with the 54 people.
The cluster infection has showed signs of spreading.
Of the total 54 cases, 30 came in Seoul; 14 in Gyeonggi Province; six in Incheon, west of Seoul; two in North Chungcheong Province; and one each in the southeastern city of Busan and the southern island of Jeju.
Earlier in the day, the KCDC reported that 34 new cases were confirmed in South Korea on Saturday, the biggest single-day spike since April 9, due mainly to the Itaewon cluster infection. The new cases brought the country's total to 10,874.
The number of daily infections had remained below 30 after falling to 32 on April 12.
The death toll remained unchanged at 256 as of midnight Saturday.
Of the 34 cases confirmed Saturday, 24 were linked to Itaewon, and an additional 11 new cases were confirmed Sunday in connection with Itaewon, Jeong said.
Crowds of people walk around the Seomyeon district of downtown Busan, South Korea's second-largest city, on May 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
Although infections linked to clubgoers are on a steady rise, Health Minister Park Neung-hoo told reporters that the government may go ahead with its plan to gradually reopen schools from this week.
"It is difficult to make a decision on whether to delay the school reopening process," Park said, citing the early stage of investigation into Itaewon-related infections.
However, Park said the government will make a decision as soon as possible after closely monitoring the severity of the Itaewon-linked infections.
Schools across the country are set to reopen starting Wednesday after being closed for the past few months as part of precautionary measures against the coronavirus.
The reopening is scheduled to be carried out in phases for added safety, starting with high school seniors Wednesday and ending with grade one of middle school and grades five and six of elementary school on June 1.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun instructed officials to find an estimated 1,510 people who visited clubs in Itaewon last week and test them for the novel coronavirus.
Jeong said the number of visitors to the clubs from late April to Wednesday could be up to 7,000.
Seoul's Yongsan Ward Office, which has jurisdiction over Itaewon, said it could not get hold of 1,982 out of 5,517 people who signed entry logs at the five clubs. The office said the number of people listed in the entry logs reached 7,222, but 1,705 people overlapped.
The KCDC has urged visitors of those clubs to take tests for the virus and self-isolate to limit the possible spread of the virus.
Also Saturday, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon imposed an administrative order to effectively suspend business at clubs, bars and other nightlife establishments in the capital city.
The precautionary measure will remain in place until further notice, without specifying a date.
Last week, South Korea shifted to a relaxed, everyday form of social distancing, allowing people to resume outdoor activities and public events, including holding spectator-free professional sports games and religious services.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-10--(4th LD) Coronavirus cases linked to Itaewon clubs rise to 54

(ATTN: UPDATES with officials not getting hold of nearly 2,000 clubbers in paras 14-15)
By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- Coronavirus cases linked to clubs and bars in Seoul's multicultural district of Itaewon have jumped to 54, an official said Sunday, as South Korea struggles to stop the cluster infection from spreading further.
The hike deepened fears that Itaewon-related infections could get out of control and lead to a nationwide transmission after the country had successfully brought the virus outbreak under control with zero local infections reported on many days in recent weeks.
The Itaewon infections began when a 29-year-old man tested positive on May 6 after visiting five clubs, including King Club, Trunk Club and Club Queen, between the night of May 1 and wee hours of May 2. More than 1,500 people were believed to have visited those clubs and bars on that night.
Of the 54 Itaewon-linked cases, 43 visited clubs and 11 others are either their family members or acquaintances of the clubbers, according to Jeong Eun-kyeong, head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
She said an investigation is under way into those who had contact with the 54 people.
The cluster infection has showed signs of spreading.
Of the total 54 cases, 30 came in Seoul; 14 in Gyeonggi Province; six in Incheon, west of Seoul; two in North Chungcheong Province; and one each in the southeastern city of Busan and the southern island of Jeju.
Earlier in the day, the KCDC reported that 34 new cases were confirmed in South Korea on Saturday, the biggest single-day spike since April 9, due mainly to the Itaewon cluster infection. The new cases brought the country's total to 10,874.
The number of daily infections had remained below 30 after falling to 32 on April 12.
The death toll remained unchanged at 256 as of midnight Saturday.
Of the 34 cases confirmed Saturday, 24 were linked to Itaewon, and an additional 11 new cases were confirmed Sunday in connection with Itaewon, Jeong said.
Crowds of people walk around the Seomyeon district of downtown Busan, South Korea's second-largest city, on May 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
On Saturday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun instructed officials to find an estimated 1,510 people who visited clubs in Itaewon last week and test them for the novel coronavirus.
Jeong said the number of visitors to the clubs from late April to Wednesday could be up to 7,000.
Seoul's Yongsan Ward Office, which has jurisdiction over Itaewon, said it could not get hold of 1,982 out of 5,517 people who signed entry logs at the five clubs. The office said the number of people listed in the entry logs reached 7,222, but 1,705 people overlapped.
The KCDC has urged visitors of those clubs to take tests for the virus and self-isolate to limit the possible spread of the virus.
Also Saturday, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon imposed an administrative order to effectively suspend business at clubs, bars and other nightlife establishments in the capital city.
The precautionary measure will remain in place until further notice, without specifying a date.
Last week, South Korea shifted to a relaxed, everyday form of social distancing, allowing people to resume outdoor activities and public events, including holding spectator-free professional sports games and religious services.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-10--Xi sends response message to N.K. leader, vows to further bolster relations

`` Xi Jinping said that he has intent to propel the steady advance and development of China-DPRK relations in the @ @ @ @ @ contribute to the regional peace , development and prosperity by thoroughly carrying out important agreements @ @ @ @ @ intensifying exchange and cooperation between the two parties and the two countries , '' KCNA @ @

SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, vowing to "propel the steady advance and development" of relations between the two countries, Pyongyang's state media reported Sunday.
Xi's "verbal message" came in response to a message that Kim sent last week to congratulate and praise China for successfully stemming the spread of the new coronavirus, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency.
KCNA quoted Xi as saying that Kim's message showed the "deep feelings" the North has toward China and "displayed the solid foundation of the traditional China-DPRK friendship and its tremendous vitality," according to KCNA.
DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"Xi Jinping said that he has intent to propel the steady advance and development of China-DPRK relations in the new era and to actively contribute to the regional peace, development and prosperity by thoroughly carrying out important agreements, strengthening strategic communications and intensifying exchange and cooperation between the two parties and the two countries," KCNA said.
KCNA did not give further details.
But China's state-run CCTV reported earlier that Xi vowed to "do everything in China's power" to help North Korea with efforts related to the virus, saying he considers relations between the two countries very important.
Xi also expressed hopes to strengthen strategic communication and exchanges and to lead improvements in bilateral relations in the new era, according to CCTV.
North Korea claims to be free of coronavirus infections, but it has taken precautionary measures, such as shutting down its border with China and toughening quarantine on inbound shipments.
North Korea has frequently praised China for its anti-virus efforts since COVID-19 first broke out in China last December, apparently highlighting their friendly relations.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-10--(3rd LD) Coronavirus cases linked to Itaewon clubs rise to 54

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in 3rd para)
By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- Coronavirus cases linked to clubs and bars in Seoul's multicultural district of Itaewon have jumped to 54, an official said Sunday, as South Korea struggles to stop the cluster infection from spreading further.
The hike deepened fears that Itaewon-related infections could get out of control and lead to a nationwide transmission after the country had successfully brought the virus outbreak under control with zero local infections reported on many days in recent weeks.
The Itaewon infections began when a 29-year-old man tested positive on May 6 after visiting five clubs, including King Club, Trunk Club and Club Queen, between the night of May 1 and wee hours of May 2. More than 1,500 people were believed to have visited those clubs and bars on that night.
Of the 54 Itaewon-linked cases, 43 visited clubs and 11 others are either their family members or acquaintances of the clubbers, according to Jeong Eun-kyeong, head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
She said an investigation is under way into those who had contact with the 54 people.
The cluster infection has showed signs of spreading.
Of the total 54 cases, 30 came in Seoul; 14 in Gyeonggi Province; six in Incheon, west of Seoul; two in North Chungcheong Province; and one each in the southeastern city of Busan and the southern island of Jeju.
Earlier in the day, the KCDC reported that 34 new cases were confirmed in South Korea on Saturday, the biggest single-day spike since April 9, due mainly to the Itaewon cluster infection. The new cases brought the country's total to 10,874.
The number of daily infections had remained below 30 after falling to 32 on April 12.
The death toll remained unchanged at 256 as of midnight Saturday.
Of the 34 cases confirmed Saturday, 24 were linked to Itaewon, and an additional 11 new cases were confirmed Sunday in connection with Itaewon, Jeong said.
Crowds of people walk around the Seomyeon district of downtown Busan, South Korea's second-largest city, on May 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
On Saturday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun instructed officials to find an estimated 1,510 people who visited clubs in Itaewon last week and test them for the novel coronavirus.
Jeong said the number of visitors to the clubs from late April to Wednesday could be up to 7,000.
The KCDC has urged visitors of those clubs to take tests for the virus and self-isolate to limit the possible spread of the virus.
Also Saturday, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon imposed an administrative order to effectively suspend business at clubs, bars and other nightlife establishments in the capital city.
The precautionary measure will remain in place until further notice, without specifying a date.
Last week, South Korea shifted to a relaxed, everyday form of social distancing, allowing people to resume outdoor activities and public events, including holding spectator-free professional sports games and religious services.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-10--(LEAD) Another military official infected with coronavirus, cyber command on high quarantine alert

SEOUL , May 10 ( Yonhap ) -- The South Korean military 's cyber command said Sunday another senior officer @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus after contacting a patient serving at the unit in a case presumed to be @ @ @ @ @ of infections in the bustling Seoul district of Itaewon .

(ATTN: UPDATES with plan to punish officers, other details from 5th para)
SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean military's cyber command said Sunday another senior officer has tested positive for the coronavirus after contacting a patient serving at the unit in a case presumed to be linked with a new cluster of infections in the bustling Seoul district of Itaewon.
The military is conducting coronavirus tests, based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR), on all the members of the Cyber Operations Command under the direct wing of the Ministry of Defense.
The move reflected growing alarm over the gradual penetration of COVID-19 into the country's 600,000-strong armed forces.
A total of 43 soldiers have been confirmed to be infected with the virus as of 10 a.m. Sunday, with 39 of them declared fully cured, according to the ministry.
The cyber command officer did not visit Itaewon recently, according to a military source.
Earlier, a staff sergeant working at the command was diagnosed with COVID-19 following a visit to an Itaewon club on May 2, where a cluster infection has been reported, in breach of the military's quarantine guidelines.
The officer reported for duty Monday and then a service member with the command was confirmed to have contracted the disease.
An Army captain serving at a base in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, was also found to have been infected after visiting a club in Itaewon last weekend.
The military plans to take stern disciplinary measures against the staff sergeant and the captain for violating restrictions on off-base activities amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The defense ministry said 969 troops remain isolated in the military's own "preemptive" quarantine step and 114 others have been in quarantine at the call of heath authorities.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-10--SK Innovation's two affiliates donate 4,000 COVID-19 test kits to Myanmar

Suh Sok-won , CEO of SK Trading International , said the company has donated the test kits on humanitarian grounds @ @ @ @ @ is having difficulties diagnosing people who have suspected coronavirus due to the lack of test @ @

SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- SK Energy Co. and SK Trading International Co. have donated 4,000 Korean-made coronavirus test kits to Myanmar, the two firms' parent company said Sunday.
The test kits worth about US$50,000 arrived in Myanmar's commercial capital of Yangon on Saturday, said SK Innovation Co., South Korea's biggest refiner by sales.
Suh Sok-won, CEO of SK Trading International, said the company has donated the test kits on humanitarian grounds as the Southeast Asian country is having difficulties diagnosing people who have suspected coronavirus due to the lack of test kits.
In Myanmar, the virus has killed six people and infected 178, according to Worldometer, a website that provides real-time statistics for the coronavirus pandemic.
Last year, SK Energy and SK Trading International each purchased a 17.5 percent stake in Best Oil Co., a leading oil and gas company in Myanmar.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-10--Another military official infected with coronavirus, cyber command on high quarantine alert

SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean military's cyber command said Sunday another senior officer has tested positive for the coronavirus after contacting a patient serving at the unit in a case presumed to be linked with a new cluster of infections in the bustling Seoul district of Itaewon.
The military is conducting coronavirus tests, based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR), on all the members of the Cyber Operations Command under the direct wing of the Ministry of Defense.
The move reflected growing alarm over the gradual penetration of COVID-19 into the country's 600,000-strong armed forces.
A total of 43 soldiers have been confirmed to be infected with the virus as of 10 a.m. Sunday, with 39 of them declared fully cured, according to the ministry.
Earlier, a staff sergeant working at the command was diagnosed as having COVID-19 following a visit to an Itaewon club last weekend, where a cluster infection has been reported, in breach of the military's quarantine guidelines.
The officer reported for duty Monday and then a service member with the command was confirmed to have contracted the disease.
The defense ministry said 969 troops remain isolated in the military's own "preemptive" quarantine step and 114 others have been in quarantine at the call of heath authorities.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-10--Gyeonggi Province issues 'no-assembly' order for clubs, entertainment facilities

`` This is an inevitable measure to realistically prevent the risk of any spread of infections and to avoid the @ @ @ @ @ following Seoul 's administrative order .
I ask for your understanding , '' he added @

SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- The Gyeonggi provincial government imposed a "no-assembly" order for clubs and entertainment facilities Sunday after a recent spike in coronavirus cases linked to clubs and bars in Seoul's Itaewon district put health authorities on alert.
Gov. Lee Jae-myung of the province surrounding Seoul said the measure will be effective immediately and remain in place for two weeks, as he announced the administrative order in a nationally televised online emergency press briefing.
Under the measure, all entertainment facilities, including clubs, "room salons," bars and restaurants, are banned from hosting "crowds of people," which virtually suspends their businesses.
"This is an inevitable measure to realistically prevent the risk of any spread of infections and to avoid the balloon effect in Gyeonggi Province following Seoul's administrative order. I ask for your understanding," he added.
The precautionary measure comes after dozens of infections were reported in relation to a 29-year-old who tested positive after spending time at five clubs and bars in Itaewon last weekend.
Health authorities here said that cases of the coronavirus linked to the clubs in Itaewon jumped to 54 as of noon on Sunday.
South Korea confirmed 34 new cases Saturday, 24 of them linked to Itaewon, raising South Korea's total cases of COVID-19 to 10,874, and the nation's death toll remained unchanged at 256, according to health authorities.
On Sunday, an additional 11 cases were confirmed in connection with the Itaewon cluster infection.
(END)


yna--2020-05-10--(2nd LD) Coronavirus cases linked to Itaewon clubs rise to 54

Of the total 54 cases , 30 came in Seoul ; 14 in Gyeonggi Province ; six in Incheon , @ @ @ @ @ in North Chungcheong Province ; and one each in the southeastern city of Busan and @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: RECASTS throughout with coronavirus cases linked to Itaewon clubs jumping to 54)
By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- Coronavirus cases linked to clubs and bars in Seoul's multicultural district of Itaewon have jumped to 54, an official said Sunday, as South Korea struggles to stop the cluster infection from spreading further.
The hike deepened fears that Itaewon-related infections could get out of control and lead to a nationwide transmission after the country had successfully brought the virus outbreak under control with zero local infections reported on many days in recent weeks.
The Itaewon infections began when a 29-year-old man tested positive after visiting a series of clubs and bars without wearing a mask between May 1-2. More than 1,500 people were believed to have visited those clubs and bars on the night.
Of the 54 Itaewon-linked cases, 43 visited clubs and 11 others are either their family members or acquaintances of the clubbers, according to Jeong Eun-kyeong, head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
She said an investigation is under way into those who had contact with the 54 people.
The cluster infection has showed signs of spreading.
Of the total 54 cases, 30 came in Seoul; 14 in Gyeonggi Province; six in Incheon, west of Seoul; two in North Chungcheong Province; and one each in the southeastern city of Busan and the southern island of Jeju.
Earlier in the day, the KCDC reported that 34 new cases were confirmed in South Korea on Saturday, the biggest single-day spike since April 9, due mainly to the Itaewon cluster infection. The new cases brought the country's total to 10,874.
The number of daily infections had remained below 30 after falling to 32 on April 12.
The death toll remained unchanged at 256 as of midnight Saturday.
Of the 34 cases confirmed Saturday, 24 were linked to Itaewon, and an additional 11 new cases were confirmed Sunday in connection with Itaewon, Jeong said.
Crowds of people walk around the Seomyeon district of downtown Busan, South Korea's second-largest city, on May 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
On Saturday, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun instructed officials to find an estimated 1,510 people who visited clubs in Itaewon last week and test them for the novel coronavirus.
Jeong said the number of visitors to the clubs from late April to Wednesday could be up to 7,000.
The KCDC has urged visitors of those clubs to take tests for the virus and self-isolate to limit the possible spread of the virus.
Also Saturday, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon imposed an administrative order to effectively suspend business at clubs, bars and other nightlife establishments in the capital city.
The precautionary measure will remain in place until further notice, without specifying a date.
Last week, South Korea shifted to a relaxed, everyday form of social distancing, allowing people to resume outdoor activities and public events, including holding spectator-free professional sports games and religious services.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-10--(LEAD) Moon prioritizes sanctions-free quarantine ties with N. Korea

`` It is worth pushing actively as a priority because it does not infringe upon U.N. Security Council sanctions , @ @ @ @ @ health of all people both in the South and the North , '' Moon said @ @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details; CHANGES headline; ADDS photo)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in suggested quarantine cooperation with North Korea on Sunday as a viable way to jump-start a broader range of inter-Korean cooperation projects, saying it would not breach international sanctions on Pyongyang.
Speaking to reporters after a special address marking the third anniversary of his inauguration, Moon pointed out that the two Koreas share the 248-kilometer-long Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as a land border, a potential transmission route.
"It is worth pushing actively as a priority because it does not infringe upon U.N. Security Council sanctions, and contributes to hygiene and health of all people both in the South and the North," Moon said of coronavirus cooperation.
Moon's offer of inter-Korean quarantine cooperation was not new, and his latest remarks reflected a sense of urgency over joint efforts amid growing concern about a "second round of pandemic."
He stressed that a string of cooperation proposals that Seoul has made so far, including those related to an inter-Korean railway connection and individual tours to the North, remain "valid." Among other envisioned programs are turning the DMZ into a U.N.-led peace zone and excavating war remains together.
"Still, North Korea is not responding. I think (it) is suffering from various difficulties due to the novel coronavirus infection (problem)," he said.
President Moon Jae-in (L) delivers a special address at the Cheong Wa Dae press briefing room on May 10, 2020, the third anniversary of his inauguration. (Yonhap)
The president vowed a continued push for persuading Pyongyang to accept the offers.
He reaffirmed plans to seek inter-Korean projects in a preemptive way amid a drawn-out stalemate in denuclearization talks.
"Now, South and North Korea should find and do what they can," not just waiting for progress in Washington-Pyongyang dialogue, Moon stressed.
What's suggested by Seoul won't be subject to the U.N. Security Council sanctions on Pyongyang or could be eligible for a sanctions waiver, he added
Moon, meanwhile, said inter-Korean and Washington-Pyongyang "communication" has not been severed, albeit not as brisk as before, as they are "confirming mutual trust and commitment to dialogue."
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-10--(URGENT) Gyeonggi Province governor issues 'no-assembly' order for clubs, entertainment facilities

(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--2020-05-10--Today in Korean history

Today in Korean history

2004 -- Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jung-eun , who succeeded her husband Chung Mong-hun after his suicide in mid-2003 , @ @ @ @ @ discuss inter-Korean economic projects .
During her four-day visit , Hyun met with officials from @ @ @ @ @ Hyundai 's North Korean business partner , to exchange views on the Mount Geumgang tourism @ @ @ @ @ an industrial complex in Kaesong , a city on the border with South Korea .

May 11
1937 -- The Japanese colonial regime orders 100,000 Koreans to move to Manchuria in northeastern China in an attempt to make it easier for Japan to invade China and to weaken Korea's independence movement. The descendants of those Koreans, living in villages named after their hometowns, are now Chinese nationals. Japan colonized Korea from 1910-1945.
1965 -- The South Korean government severs diplomatic relations with the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) after the West African state normalizes ties with North Korea.
1997 -- Survivors or relatives of those who were killed during a May 1980 crackdown on large-scale demonstrations against then-military leader Chun Doo-hwan in the southeastern city of Gwangju receive the National Merit Award.
1999 -- Hundreds of members of the Manmin Jungang Church, a Protestant sect in northern Seoul, storm into the headquarters of MBC, blocking the television station from airing a documentary critical of their leader. Sect leader Lee Jae-rok reportedly compared himself to Jesus and claimed a handkerchief he touched could heal the sick.
2001 -- The Seoul District Court allows Dong-Ah Construction Company to go into bankruptcy.
2004 -- Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jung-eun, who succeeded her husband Chung Mong-hun after his suicide in mid-2003, arrives in North Korea to discuss inter-Korean economic projects. During her four-day visit, Hyun met with officials from the Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, Hyundai's North Korean business partner, to exchange views on the Mount Geumgang tourism project and the construction of an industrial complex in Kaesong, a city on the border with South Korea.
2009 -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and Uzbek President Islam Karimov agree to significantly strengthen ties between their countries, noting their strategic partnership is mutually beneficial. The agreement came in a joint statement issued at the end of a summit held in the Uzbek capital.
2010 -- Samsung Electronics Co. and its affiliates will spend 23.3 trillion won (US$20.63 billion) on environmental and health care businesses by 2020 as part of efforts to tap future growth engines. The investment will focus on such areas as solar cells, rechargeable cells for hybrid electric vehicles and light-emitting diode (LED) technologies.
2013 -- The former presidential spokesman who was fired after becoming embroiled in a sex scandal while accompanying President Park Geun-hye on her first trip to the United States denied allegations of having sexually assaulted a young American woman who worked for him during the visit.
2017 -- President Moon Jae-in accepts the resignation of Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, a holdover from the former government, on his second day in office. Hwang had served as acting president for months since former President Park Geun-hye was impeached over a corruption scandal in December.
(END)


yna--2020-05-10--(URGENT) 24 Itaewon-linked coronavirus cases confirmed Saturday alone: KCDC


yna--2020-05-10--(URGENT) Coronavirus cases linked to Itaewon clubs total 54 so far: KCDC


yna--2020-05-10--(LEAD) Moon: S. Korea to lead post-corona era with 'pace-setting' economy

`` There 's no reason to stand still out of fear .
If we do not let our guard down @ @ @ @ @ quarantine system can fully control and manage the spread of the virus , '' Moon @ @ @ @ @ the right quarantine and medical systems combined with experience to respond quickly to any unexpected @ @ @ @ @ . ''

(ATTN: UPDATES with additional remarks on coronavirus concern in paras 4-9, N. Korea in last 8 paras; ADDS photo)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in presented an ambitious vision Sunday for South Korea to take the initiative in the post-coronavirus global economy on the basis of its prowess in the sectors of information and communication technology, and bio-health.
"We will use our relatively rapid stabilization of the COVID-19 outbreak and the transition to a new normal as a turning point for enhancing economic vitality," Moon said in a special address to mark the third anniversary of his inauguration and unveil his top priority policy tasks for his remaining two years in power.
"We will blaze a trail in the post-COVID-19 era with a pace-setting economy," he said.
President Moon Jae-in delivers a special speech at Cheong Wa Dae's press briefing room on May 10, 2020, on the occasion of his third inauguration anniversary. (Yonhap)
He vowed full efforts to turn ongoing crises into opportunities in a bold and aggressive way.
He used the word "lead" 11 times throughout his 25-minute speech from the Chunchugwan press room of Cheong Wa Dae.
"I will strive to pave the way for the Republic of Korea to take the lead globally," he said, using South Korea's official name.
Moon has been apparently emboldened by the success so far of the so-called K-quarantine.
But he warned: "It will be a long time before the COVID-19 outbreak has ended completely. We are in a prolonged war." He cited the newly reported infection cluster in nightspots in Seoul, which rekindled worries about a second wave of contagion.
On Sunday, South Korea reported 34 additional infections, mostly connected with a 29-year-old man who visited three nightclubs in the Itaewon district before testing positive, according to health authorities.
Still, Moon said the country should try to move forward.
"There's no reason to stand still out of fear. If we do not let our guard down, our epidemic prevention and quarantine system can fully control and manage the spread of the virus," Moon said. "We have the right quarantine and medical systems combined with experience to respond quickly to any unexpected infection clusters that might occur."
Moon emphasized that what matters is the economy.
"The world economy has ground to a halt," Moon said, comparing the current economic crisis to the Great Depression a century ago. "We are in a situation with no bottom and no end in sight. The damage to our economy is indeed colossal as well."
Moon said the government will strive to turn South Korea into a globally leading "digital powerhouse" with innovative business ventures and startups serving as the main driving force.
On the envisioned Korean version of the New Deal, Moon said South Korea will focus on a "preemptive investment" for the future, designed to establish digital infrastructure and create many jobs.
"The early establishment of 5G infrastructure and the building of infrastructure to collect, accumulate and use data will be pursued as national projects," he said. "Non-face-to-face industries related to medical services, education and retail distribution will be intensively fostered.
Moon pointed out that the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the importance of beefing up health care and social safety nets.
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be upgraded to the Disease Control and Prevention Administration to strengthen its expertise and independence," he said. The agency, known as the KCDC, has served as the control tower of South Korea's anti-virus quarantine system.
The government will also "establish the cornerstone for an era of universal employment insurance" by first enabling freelancers, contract workers and others in "blind spots" to be covered and then expanding it to all of the self-employed, according to the president.
Among the nation's 27.79 economically active population, only 13.78 million workers are covered by the system, data show.
President Moon Jae-in takes questions from reporters at the Chunchugwan press briefing room of Cheong Wa Dae on May 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
On the topic of North Korea, he proposed that the two Koreas work toward a "single community of life and a peace community by cooperating on human security."
He gave no details in the address, which he said was mainly about how to ride out the ongoing national crisis and prepare for the post-coronavirus era.
He instead expressed hope that despite a stalemate in nuclear talks, the two Koreas will carry out their own cooperation projects, such as relinking railways across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), turning the DMZ into an international peace zone, allowing South Koreans to make individual tours of the communist neighbor and excavating war remains together.
All the proposals remain "valid," the president said. "Still, North Korea is not responding. I think (it) is suffering various difficulties due to the novel coronavirus infection (problem)."
He added inter-Korean and Washington-Pyongyang "communication" has not been severed, albeit not as brisk as before, as they are "confirming mutual trust and commitment to dialogue."
"Now, South and North Korea should find and do what they can," not just waiting for progress in Washington-Pyongyang dialogue, Moon stressed.
What's suggested by Seoul won't be subject to the U.N. Security Council sanctions on Pyongyang or could be eligible for a sanctions waiver, he said.
In particular, Moon added, quarantine partnerships against the coronavirus, as well as animal diseases like African swine fever, could serve as a starting point.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-10--Hyundai Electric wins 35 bln-won deals from Saudi Arabia

The latest contracts raised Hyundai Electric 's deals in the oil-rich kingdom to more than 60 billion won in the @ @ @ @ @ than triple from the same period last year .

SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Electric and Energy Systems Co. said Sunday it has clinched two orders worth 35 billion won (US$28.6 million) to supply power transformers and gas insulated switchgears to Saudi Electricity Co. and Saudi Arabia's state oil company Saudi Aramco.
Hyundai Electric, a unit of shipbuilding giant Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., said the state-run utility order came to 23 billion won, while the rest came from Saudi Aramco.
The latest contracts raised Hyundai Electric's deals in the oil-rich kingdom to more than 60 billion won in the January-April period, up more than triple from the same period last year.
Hyundai Electric was spun off from Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. in 2017.
This photo, provided by Hyundai Electric & Energy Systems Co., shows a power transformer manufactured by the company. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-10--Moon says S. Korea's offer of inter-Korean railway, individual tours still valid

SEOUL , May 10 ( Yonhap ) -- President Moon Jae-in said Sunday that South and North Korea should look @ @ @ @ @ cooperation projects , such as joint quarantine efforts , regardless of the stalled negotiations between @ @ @ @ @ States .

SEOUL, May 10 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in said Sunday that South and North Korea should look to carry out their own cooperation projects, such as joint quarantine efforts, regardless of the stalled negotiations between the North and the United States.
Moon made the remark after delivering a special address marking the third anniversary of his inauguration, stressing that cooperation proposals that Seoul has made so far, such as those related to an inter-Korean railway connection and individual tours to the North, remain valid.
Moon said the South will keep trying to persuade the North to accept such cooperation offers.
"Existing proposals remain valid," Moon said, when asked about the fate of his proposals for inter-Korean cooperation. "We will keep persuading North Korea so that our offers can be accepted."
Moon said the North appears to be suffering from difficulties caused by COVID-19.
Moon also said that both the South and the U.S. are maintaining "communication" with the North.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--S. Korea at critical juncture for virus containment amid rising Itaewon-linked infections

The hike came after a man in his 20s who tested positive for COVID-19 visited clubs and bars in Seoul @ @ @ @ @ Itaewon on May 1 .
More than 1,500 people were believed to have visited those @ @ @ @ @ the virus patient .

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's coronavirus containment capability is again put to the test after successfully controlling new infections for weeks, as the country braces for a steady rise in new cases linked to clubs and bars in Seoul.
The country reported 35 more cases of the new coronavirus Monday, the biggest single day spike since April 9, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,909, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The country had been adding fewer than 15 cases of COVID-19 since mid-April, with the number of domestic infections even falling to zero at some points, before rebounding to 18 and 34 cases over the weekend.
The hike came after a man in his 20s who tested positive for COVID-19 visited clubs and bars in Seoul's popular multicultural neighborhood of Itaewon on May 1. More than 1,500 people were believed to have visited those places during the time with the virus patient.
So far, virus infections linked to the places have totaled 75 nationally, the Seoul city's mayor said Monday.
Shown in the photo taken May 10, 2020, is a medical check-up center for the new coronavirus located in the Yongsan district of Seoul, where a multicultural neighborhood of Itaewon is located. (Yonhap)
After keeping local infections at zero for a few days, South Korea saw an unexpected spike in cases coming from entertainment facilities in the popular area, with infections reported not only in Seoul but across the country.
Imported cases, which used to be the biggest threat for South Korea's quarantine operations over recent days, are now less of a concern. But the country still added six such cases Monday.
The nation's death toll remained unchanged at 256, the KCDC said.
In total, 9,632 people in South Korea have recovered from the virus, up 22 from a day earlier.
South Korea gave the go-ahead to the normalization of public facilities and other business establishments under the condition that they start following basic sanitation measures Wednesday. Schools will also open in phases soon.
The country vowed to maintain most of the eased regulations despite the new cluster infections for the time being, although it plans to apply tougher restrictions on entertainment facilities.
Seoul, the most populous city, imposed an administrative order to effectively suspend business at clubs, bars and other nightlife establishments Saturday. The precautionary measure will remain in place until further notice, without specifying a date.
The country remains vigilant over more cluster infections from the previous holiday that ran from April 30 through May 5, as many South Koreans made short trips across the nation. The incubation period of the COVID-19 virus is roughly two weeks.
The country, which has been warning of a second wave of the pandemic in the second half of 2020, is now concerned that may happen soon.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--Police apprehend another key suspect in Telegram sex crime case

The chatrooms , which ran on messaging service Telegram , were operated as a pay-to-view online club for sexually explicit @ @ @ @ @ some 260,000 users , videos of at least 74 people , including 16 underage girls @ @ @ @ @ been distributed through several chat rooms .

ANDONG, South Korea, May 11 (Yonhap) -- Police said Monday they have apprehended a new key suspect allegedly involved in the so-called Nth Room case, in which dozens of people were exploited to perform gruesome sex acts that were filmed and distributed through online chatrooms.
The cyber safety department of Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency said they have apprehended a 24-year-old male who confessed to using the alias "God God" in the chatrooms, and have filed a request with the court for his arrest.
The chatrooms, which ran on messaging service Telegram, were operated as a pay-to-view online club for sexually explicit videos. Known to have some 260,000 users, videos of at least 74 people, including 16 underage girls, were believed to have been distributed through several chat rooms.
The man is believed to have first opened such a chatroom on Telegram. He was brought in for questioning on Saturday after police identified him as the person behind the "God God" ID.
Police said they took him into custody after he confessed being the owner of the ID.
Authorities have so far revealed the identities of three other key co-conspirators in the case: Cho Ju-bin, Kang Hun and Lee Won-ho.
Cho, 24, was indicted for allegedly blackmailing women into providing sexual videos to the illegal Telegram chatroom. At least 25 people, including eight underage girls, have been confirmed to have been exploited by Cho.
Kang, 18, was prosecuted for allegedly blackmailing 18 female victims, including seven minors, into producing sexual content. Lee, a 19-year-old Army private first class, has been indicted by the military.
More than 120 others have also been apprehended in relation to the case.
"As the investigation is ongoing, we will have further briefings when an arrest warrant is granted," police said.
A composite image of the emblem of the South Korean prosecution service superimposed over other images related to the Telegram sexual blackmail ring case. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--Hyundai to launch all-new EV next year

Hyundai to launch all-new EV next year

Hyundai plans to produce the next-generation pure electric model at its plant , 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul .
The @ @ @ @ @ to the union as any changes in assembly lines require agreement from unionized workers , @ @ @

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's biggest carmaker by sales, said Monday it plans to launch a new large-size electric vehicle next year to absorb rising demand for environment-friendly vehicles.
Hyundai Motor recently explained the planned launch of the electrified model, with the project name of NE, and its production plan to the union, a company spokesman said over the phone.
Hyundai plans to produce the next-generation pure electric model at its plant, 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The company also explained the plan to the union as any changes in assembly lines require agreement from unionized workers, he said.
This photo, taken on Nov. 5, 2019, and provided by Hyundai Motor Group, shows Hyundai Motor's EV concept 45 displayed at the China International Import Expo. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"But the company has yet to consult with the union on proceeding with the new electric model's production," the spokesman said.
The new electrified model will be based on the EV concept 45, which was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and at the China International Import Expo, held in Shanghai in November.
The EV concept 45 adopts the carmaker's next-generation design direction of "sensuous sportiness," which is defined by the harmony of four fundamental elements in vehicle design: proportion, architecture, styling and technology.
The number represents the 45 years since 1974, when the Korean carmaker unveiled the Pony Coupe Concept at the Torino Motor Show.
Currently, Hyundai has two all-electric passenger car models, the Ioniq and the Kona EV, in its lineup.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--(URGENT) 22 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, bringing total to 9,632: KCDC


yna--2020-05-11--(URGENT) S. Korea reports no additional coronavirus deaths, raising death toll to 256: KCDC


yna--2020-05-11--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 35 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 10,909: KCDC


yna--2020-05-11--Moon's approval rating above 60 pct as his third year in office kicks off

Moon 's approval rating has been above the 60-percent level since it hit 63.7 percent in the fourth week of @ @ @ @ @ positive assessments of the government 's handling of the new coronavirus outbreak .

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in's approval rating stayed above 60 percent for the third straight week as he entered his third year in office, a poll showed Monday.
Public support for Moon came to 62 percent last week, up 1.4 percentage points from the previous week, according to a poll by Realmeter on 2,515 voters nationwide.
The survey was conducted on May 4 and between last Wednesday and Friday.
Moon's approval rating has been above the 60-percent level since it hit 63.7 percent in the fourth week of April on the back of positive assessments of the government's handling of the new coronavirus outbreak.
In a separate poll by Gallup Korea, Moon's approval rating reached 71 percent, marking the first time since July 2018 that the figure topped 70 percent.
The government's success in slowing the spread of COVID-19 helped the ruling Democratic Party (DP) win a landslide victory in the April 15 parliamentary elections.
Realmeter said that Moon's approval rating was 81.6 percent in the first survey after he took office in May 2017. Public support hit an all-time high of 84.1 percent in the fourth week of May 2017.
His approval rating averaged 58.5 percent over the past three years. It hit a record low of 56.1 percent in October 2019 due to a political scandal involving former Justice Minister Cho Kuk.
The support rating for the DP fell 1.5 percentage points on-week to 43.7 percent. That of the main opposition United Future Party hit 26.1 percent, down 1.9 percentage points from a week before.
The poll had a margin of error of 2 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.
This photo, taken on May 10, 2020, shows President Moon Jae-in delivering a special speech to mark the third anniversary of his inauguration. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--(LEAD) S. Korea sends 2 million face masks to U.S. to help fight COVID-19

It is not the first time that Korea has offered humanitarian aid to the U.S. Seoul sent US $ 5 @ @ @ @ @ the country was hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 .
After Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane @ @ @ @ @ 2017 , Korea sent $ 2 million .

(ATTN: ADDS U.S. ambassador's message in paras 6-7)
SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Monday sent 2 million face masks in emergency assistance to the United States to help its fight against the new coronavirus, the foreign ministry said.
The provision of the masks came after President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the two countries' cooperation in battling the COVID-19 pandemic during phone talks on March 24.
A U.S. cargo flight carrying the masks was set to arrive in the United States on Monday, the ministry said. The supplies will be distributed to medical institutions at the vanguard of the anti-virus campaign.
"The provision followed comprehensive considerations, such as our country's domestic COVID-19 situation and the local supply and demand for masks, and the need for support for our ally, the U.S.," the ministry said in a press release.
"We hope that South Korea and the U.S. will quickly overcome the shared challenge of the COVID-19 disease through this support, and this can contribute to sharing Korea's quarantine experience with the international community," it added.
U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris expressed gratitude for the mask provision.
"A BIG thank you to ROK and @TheBlueHouseKR for providing 2 million face masks to @fema. Our alliance and friendship are as vital and ironclad today as it was 70 years ago," he said in a tweet.
It is not the first time that Korea has offered humanitarian aid to the U.S. Seoul sent US$5 million to the U.S. when the country was hit by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma struck the U.S. in 2017, Korea sent $2 million.
Masks are loaded onto a U.S. cargo plane at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry on May 11, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--Tesla 3rd highest-selling import auto brand in S. Korea

Year-ago sales figures were not immediately available from the trade ministry .
Tesla reports its sales figures to the ministry @ @ @ @ @ member of the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association ( KAIDA ) .

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- U.S. electric carmaker Tesla Motors Inc. ranked third in first-quarter sales in South Korea's imported passenger vehicle market on strong demand for the Model 3, an industry association said Monday.
In the January-March period, Tesla sold a total of 4,070 vehicles in the South Korean import car market, following Mercedes-Benz's 15,400 unit sales and BMW's 11,331 unit sales, according to data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
This file photo provided by Tesla shows the Model 3 launched in South Korea on Aug. 13, 2019. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Tesla's sales jumped to 2,499 units in March from 1,433 in February and 138 in January helped by robust sales of the Model 3, the data showed.
Year-ago sales figures were not immediately available from the trade ministry. Tesla reports its sales figures to the ministry as it is not a member of the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA).
The Model 3 is priced at 53.69 million won (US$44,000) here but it can be purchased at lower prices with a government subsidy worth up to 8 million won.
Tesla's first-quarter sales accounted for 46 percent of 8,831 electric vehicles, including Hyundai Motor Co.'s Ioniq and Kia Motors Corp.'s Niro, sold in Korea in the first three months, the ministry said.
Other Tesla models sold in Korea include the Model S and Model X, which sell at the starting prices of 111 million won and 119 million won, respectively.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--(2nd LD) S. Korea's May 1-10 exports dip 46.3 pct as pandemic cripples global demand

The International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) has predicted that South Korea 's economy will shrink 1.2 percent this year @ @ @ @ @ expected to have its worst year since the Great Depression of the 1930s over the @ @

(ATTN: ADDS details in last 5 paras; RECASTS headline)
SEJONG, May 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports sank 46.3 percent on-year in the first 10 days of May amid the shock from the coronavirus pandemic, customs data showed Monday.
The nation's outbound shipments stood at US$6.9 billion in the May 1-10 period, compared with $12.5 billion for the same period last year, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service.
The daily average exports during the 10-day period slipped 30.2 percent on-year.
The data came amid growing concerns that the coronavirus pandemic is denting exports from Asia's fourth-largest economy.
The new coronavirus has disrupted trade and halted production around the globe, with a rising number of countries fully shutting their borders.
By segment, exports of memory chips, a key item, fell 17.8 percent, and those of automobiles plunged 80.4 percent over the 10-day period from a year earlier.
By country, shipments to China dropped 29.4 percent on-year, while shipments to the United States sank 54.8 percent.
Shipments to the European Union and Vietnam plunged 50.6 percent and 52.2 percent, respectively.
South Korea's imports in the 10-day period also suffered, dropping 37.2 percent to $9.6 billion, according to the data.
In April, the nation's exports tumbled 24.3 percent on-year to $36.9 billion. South Korea suffered a trade deficit of $950 million in April, snapping its 98 straight months of having more exports than imports.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that South Korea's economy will shrink 1.2 percent this year as the global economy is expected to have its worst year since the Great Depression of the 1930s over the pandemic.
The world economy is expected to contract 3 percent this year, the IMF said.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--SK Telecom to supply car infotainment system to Volvo in S. Korea

South Korea 's leading mobile carrier said it plans to apply 5G technologies in the near future so that passengers @ @ @ @ @ inside their cars .
The company said it will also support in-car payment service to @ @ @ @

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- SK Telecom Co. said Monday its car infotainment system will be installed in Volvo vehicles sold in South Korea.
Under the partnership with Volvo Car Korea Co., the South Korean telecommunications firm will supply its in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system and will cooperate to develop IVI-related technologies.
SK Telecom said its IVI system will be equipped in Volvo cars in South Korea starting with the 2022 models that are scheduled to be launched next year.
South Korea's leading mobile carrier said it plans to apply 5G technologies in the near future so that passengers can better enjoy various content inside their cars. The company said it will also support in-car payment service to promote smart mobility.
SK Telecom has been trying to expand its presence in the mobility sector in recent years.
In January, the company signed a partnership with China-based electric vehicle (EV) maker Byton to develop an IVI system. Last year, the company signed a navigation development deal with BMW.
According to consulting firm McKinsey & Company, the global connected car market is expected to grow up to US$1.5 trillion by 2030.
This photo provided by SK Telecom Co. on May 11, 2020, shows the company's in-vehicle infotainment system installed in a Volvo vehicle. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--New batch of S. Korean anti-piracy troops sets off for overseas missions

In order to prevent the new coronavirus from penetrating the destroyer , all service members have stayed on board for @ @ @ @ @ maintaining a readiness posture .
They have all tested negative for the virus in two @ @ @ @ @ place in late April and early May , the military said .

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- A new batch of the South Korean Navy anti-piracy unit Cheonghae left for waters off Somalia Monday as part of a rotational deployment, the Navy said.
The 300-member contingent departed from the southern port city of Busan on the 4,400-ton Dae Jo Yeong to conduct missions in the Gulf of Aden and the Hormuz Strait for six months starting in June, according to the Navy.
It is the 32nd batch since the Cheonghae Unit was first deployed in 2009 to help with global efforts to tackle piracy off Somalia. In January, South Korea decided to temporarily expand its mission areas to include the Strait of Hormuz following a U.S. request to help protect the key waterway.
In order to prevent the new coronavirus from penetrating the destroyer, all service members have stayed on board for the past two weeks, maintaining a readiness posture. They have all tested negative for the virus in two rounds of testing that took place in late April and early May, the military said.
"I express gratitude to the service members of the 32nd batch for devotedly preparing for the overseas missions despite difficult circumstances, such as to prevent the spread of COVID-19," Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Boo Suk-jong said.
This undated photo provided by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries shows the 4,400-ton destroyer Dae Jo Yeong. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--Seoul stocks open higher on U.S. jobs data

SEOUL , May 11 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean stocks opened higher Monday on less pessimistic jobs data from @ @ @ @ @ shot up to the highest rate since the Great Depression but still managed to be @ @ @ @

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened higher Monday on less pessimistic jobs data from the United States, which shot up to the highest rate since the Great Depression but still managed to be below market expectations.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 13.13 points, or 0.67 percent, to 1,958.95 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
The unemployment rate in the U.S. shot up to a whopping 14.7 percent in April, from 4.4 percent posted a month earlier. The dismal data, however, still avoided even worse scenarios suggested by market watchers.
The reopening of businesses around the globe, including several states in the U.S., also buoyed investors' sentiment.
In Seoul, market kingpin Samsung Electronics rose 0.92 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix gained 0.12 percent. LG Electronics climbed 0.72 percent.
Top carmaker Hyundai Motor went up 1.9 percent and its auto parts affiliate Hyundai Mobis added 1.42 percent. Kia Motors moved up 2.46 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,127.85 won against the U.S. dollar, up 2.05 won from the previous session's close.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--Itaewon club-linked infections now at 75: Seoul mayor

After keeping local infections at zero for a few days , South Korea saw an unexpected spike in cases coming @ @ @ @ @ popular area , with infections reported not only in Seoul but across the country .

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- Coronavirus infections linked to clubs and bars in Itaewon, Seoul's multicultural neighborhood, have totaled 75 nationally, the city's mayor said Monday.
After keeping local infections at zero for a few days, South Korea saw an unexpected spike in cases coming from entertainment facilities in the popular area, with infections reported not only in Seoul but across the country.
The number of cases reported across the country has reached 75, including 49 in the country's capital, Mayor Park Won-soon said in a radio interview with broadcaster KBS.
People walk past a dance club in the popular international district of Itaewon in Seoul on May 9, 2020. The club was shut down, as a man in his 20s who tested positive for COVID-19 visited the place on May 1. Some 500 people were reportedly present at that time. (Yonhap)
Park said that the city government has secured the names of 5,517 people who visited the affected facilities and has gotten in touch with 2,405 of them.
Among those the city managed to get in touch with were 28 foreigners, he added.
The mayor said those who were not accounted for are believed to have provided false information or be trying to evade contact. Park urged them to get checked for infection.
On Saturday, the city government imposed an administrative order on all nightlife facilities here, effectively suspending businesses as a precaution against additional outbreaks.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--Surging Lotte Giants looking to extend undefeated run vs. defending champions in KBO

The Heroes went 5-1 last week , while the Twins were 2-3 .
The Twins are still waiting for their @ @ @ @ @ and Casey Kelly , to come around after their 14-day quarantine following a trip home @ @ @ @ @ their offseason preparation .
But their third foreign player , first baseman Roberto Ramos , @ @ @ @ @ of his own two-week quarantine .
He 's batting .450/.500/.850 with two home runs , @ @ @ @ @ .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- Having jumped out to a 5-0 start in the new South Korean baseball season, the Lotte Giants may be just good enough to break the hearts of their long-suffering fans when it's all said and done.
For now, though, they'll keep marching on, trying to end a title drought that reached 27 years 2019 when they finished in last place.
The Giants will host the defending champion Doosan Bears in what shapes up to be an early marquee series of the new Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season. The three-game set will be Tuesday-Thursday at Sajik Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
Members of the Lotte Giants celebrate their 4-0 victory over the SK Wyverns in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Sajik Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on May 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Giants ran the table last week thanks to a potent offense and the league's stingiest pitching. This is their first 5-0 start to a season since 2013. They're tied for the KBO lead with nine home runs and are in second place with 36 runs scored. They boast the lowest team ERA with 3.13 and have issued the fewest walks with 11.
Defensively, two new acquisitions up the middle, shortstop Dixon Machado and second baseman An Chi-hong, have brought stability.
The Giants took all five games against two teams that are regarded as playoff contenders this season, the KT Wiz and the SK Wyverns. Three of the five wins have been of the come-from-behind variety.
The ability to rally from deficits sets up the Giants nicely against the Bears, who have the most porous bullpen in the league so far.
The Bears will have their top three starters lined up against the Giants: Raul Alcantara, Lee Young-ha and Chris Flexen, all of whom threw quality starts of at least six innings pitched and three or fewer earned runs allowed last week.
Kim Jae-hwan of the Doosan Bears watches his RBI single against the KT Wiz during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on May 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Giants will counter with three homegrown starters in Seo Jun-won, Park Se-woong and Jang Won-sam.
On paper, they look overmatched against the Bears' trio. But if the starters can keep the Giants in the game and then the lineup can get to the bullpen early, things could get interesting in late innings.
The Bears eked out a 13-12 win over the Wiz in 11 innings on Sunday, after their five relievers served up six runs in five innings to blow a 10-3 lead.
Among the Friday-Sunday weekend matchups, the LG Twins will host the Kiwoom Heroes in their first all-Seoul meeting of the season at Jamsil Stadium.
The Heroes went 5-1 last week, while the Twins were 2-3. The Twins are still waiting for their two aces, Tyler Wilson and Casey Kelly, to come around after their 14-day quarantine following a trip home to the United States affected their offseason preparation. But their third foreign player, first baseman Roberto Ramos, has shaken off the effects of his own two-week quarantine. He's batting .450/.500/.850 with two home runs, two doubles and three RBIs.
In one scheduling note taking effect this week, all games that are canceled due to inclement weather will now be rescheduled as double headers or games on Monday, which is normally a designated offday in the KBO.
The league is hoping to play a full 144-game schedule this year despite a delayed start caused by the coronavirus pandemic. To that end, the KBO has wiped out the annual All-Star break and brought double headers and Monday games into the mix.
Roberto Ramos of the LG Twins follows through on a solo home run against the NC Dinos during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on May 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--(LEAD) S. Korea's exports dip 46.3 pct in first 10 days of May over virus pandemic

The nation 's outbound shipments stood at US $ 6.9 billion in the May 1-10 period , compared with $ @ @ @ @ @ period last year , according to the data from the Korea Customs Service .

(ATTN: UPDATES with details; AMENDS headline)
SEJONG, May 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports sank 46.3 percent on year in the first 10 days of May amid the shock from the coronavirus pandemic, customs data showed Monday.
The nation's outbound shipments stood at US$6.9 billion in the May 1-10 period, compared with $12.5 billion for the same period last year, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service.
The daily average exports during the 10-day period slipped 30.2 percent on-year.
The data came amid growing concerns that the coronavirus pandemic is denting exports from Asia's fourth-largest economy.
The new coronavirus has disrupted trade and halted production around the globe, with a rising number of countries fully shutting their borders.
By segment, exports of memory chips, a key item, fell 17.8 percent, and those of automobiles plunged 80.4 percent over the 10-day period from a year earlier.
By country, shipments to China dropped 29.4 percent on-year, while shipments to the United States sank 54.8 percent.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


Monday's weather forecast

SEOUL , May 11 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .

(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--2020-05-11--Outstanding state bonds near 1,100 tln won: data

SEOUL , May 11 ( Yonhap ) -- The value of South Korea 's outstanding state and special bonds has @ @ @ @ @ with 1,100 trillion won ( US $ 901 billion ) due to more fiscal spending @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus outbreak , data showed Monday .

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- The value of South Korea's outstanding state and special bonds has soared this year to flirt with 1,100 trillion won (US$901 billion) due to more fiscal spending to cope with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, data showed Monday.
The outstanding amount of government bonds and debt issued by public institutions came to a new high of 1,098.4 trillion won as of Friday, according to the data from the Korea Financial Investment Association.
The figure was up 78.3 trillion won from the end of last year. In late March last year, the value broke through the 1,000 trillion-won level.
Outstanding government bonds came to 753.5 trillion won, up 65.7 trillion won over the cited period.
The outstanding value of special bonds, which are issued by public institutions and backed by the state, stood at 344.9 trillion won, up 12.6 trillion won.
The jump in outstanding state and special bonds comes amid government efforts to cushion the economy from the fallout of the COVID-19 outbreak.
In March, the National Assembly passed an 11.7 trillion-won supplementary budget to help cope with the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, of which 10.3 trillion won was raised in a state bond issue.
In late April, the government decided to float 3.4 trillion won in state bonds to fund part of state cash grants to all its citizens suffering from the coronavirus crisis.
(END)


KOSPI 1,953.51 UP 7.69 points (open)


KOSDAQ 686.81 UP 4.51 points (open)


yna--2020-05-11--(6th LD) Infection cases linked to Itaewon clubs rise to 94

`` We should stop the virus from reaching a high risk group and causing them serious damage , '' she @ @ @ @ @ `` a high risk of community transmissions '' as the infection broke out among active @ @ @ @ @ either asymptomatic or having mild symptoms , naturally spend more time interacting with others .

(ATTN: UPDATES with reports of an infection case confirmed from an additional club in paras 11-14; RESTRUCTURES; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- The number of new coronavirus infections connected to bars and clubs in Seoul's popular nightlife district of Itaewon climbed to 94 on Monday, health authorities and local governments said amid growing concerns over a high risk of community spread.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced that 86 cases, including 63 club visitors and 23 family members and friends who came in contact with the clubbers, were confirmed as of noon on Monday.
Later in the day, the Seoul city government reported eight more cases to take the total infections to 94.
By region, Seoul has reported 59 confirmed cases, with 21 in Gyeonggi Province, seven in Incheon, five in North Chungcheong Province and one each in Busan and Jeju Island.
The new cluster infections underline the challenge of controlling infections after the country started easing social distancing rules and introducing a new daily life with COVID-19.
The government warned against a possible rapid growth of cluster infections since the first confirmed case on Wednesday, and urged visitors to the affected establishments to get tested.
"We need to quickly find patients to stem community transmission," KCDC chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said during a press briefing, urging people who visited the Itaewon clubs from April 24-May 6 to be tested regardless of symptoms.
"We should stop the virus from reaching a high risk group and causing them serious damage," she said, voicing concerns over "a high risk of community transmissions" as the infection broke out among active, young people who, either asymptomatic or having mild symptoms, naturally spend more time interacting with others.
This week will prove "very crucial to minimize the impact of the virus's spread" which, according to Jeong, hasn't spread beyond the contacts of the first patient, identified as a 29-year-old man from Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
The Itaewon infections were first reported when the man tested positive on May 6 after visiting five clubs, including King Club, Trunk Club and Club Queen, between the night of May 1 and early hours of May 2.
On Monday, Seoul's Seodaemun District Office said one of its residents has tested positive after visiting a different club in Itaewon.
The patient, a male in his 20s, visited the club, named Made, on May 2, according to the district office, bringing the total number of affected clubs in Itaewon to at least six.
It said the number of new infections linked to Itaewon clubs may grow exponentially, noting Made is one of the most popular and most frequently visited clubs in Itaewon.
Itaewon is one of the nation's most popular places among foreign visitors, many of who may be out of reach of local health authorities due to their lack of local contacts.
According to the health authorities, a total of 2,456 people, out of 5,517 visitors to the Itaewon clubs, have been tested for COVID-19, and the number rose to 3,077 when including the visitor's contacts.
Considering the virus's average 4-7 day incubation period, the authorities expect more infections to appear by this Wednesday, she said, asking for swift testing for those who might have been exposed.
"I heard some people are reluctant to get tested for fear of being criticized. We will try hard to make sure everyone receives a test without feeling uncomfortable or prejudiced against," she added.
Quarantine officials spray disinfectant on a street in the international district of Itaewon in Seoul on May 11, 2020, as scores of new cases were reported from people who recently visited entertainment places in the area. (Yonhap)
In an effort to more effectively contain the spread, the Seoul city government said it would provide free testing to club visitors, as it couldn't get hold of a vast majority of them.
"This means they intentionally avoided our calls or wrote a wrong number in the first place," Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said during a separate briefing.
In order to encourage those who don't want to reveal their identities, the city will offer free, anonymous testing, he said.
On this front, the city has been working with the police to identify and reach them.
"We will urgently deploy the coronavirus response team to identify and locate the club visitors as soon as possible," an official at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said in a briefing.
The 2,162-member team will check credit card transactions, cell phone signals and close-circuit television in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, the southern city of Daegu placed a two-week shutdown order on the city's nightlife establishments, some 1,300 in total. The move came after Seoul and Gyeonggi Province took the same measure on such facilities on Saturday and Sunday in the aftermath of the cluster infections in Itaewon.
Daegu government said some of the widely used entertainment facilities failed to maintain social distancing and other quarantine measures and the shutdown was a precautionary measure.
"We are discovering an increasing number of Itaewon club visitors (around the country) and we conclude there is a risk of community transmissions," Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said, adding the administrative order is "inevitable to stem the spread of the infectious disease."
The country reported 35 more cases of the new coronavirus Monday, the biggest single day spike since April 9, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,909. In Seoul, there have been a total of 698 infection cases, up by 10 confirmed cases.
People pass by a club in the multicultural district of Itaewon in Seoul on May 7, 2020. The club was shut down after some of its visitors tested positive for the coronavirus recently. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--(5th LD) Infection cases linked to Itaewon clubs rise to 94

(ATTN: UPDATES with Seoul city's data in headline, paras 1-4, last para)
SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- The number of new coronavirus infections connected to bars and clubs in Seoul's popular nightlife district of Itaewon climbed to 94 on Monday, health authorities and local governments said amid growing concerns over a high risk of community spread.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced that 86 cases, including 63 club visitors and 23 family members and friends who came in contact with the clubbers, were confirmed as of noon on Monday.
Later in the day, the Seoul city government reported eight more cases to take the total infections to 94.
By region, Seoul has reported 59 confirmed cases, with 21 in Gyeonggi Province, seven in Incheon, five in North Chungcheong Province and one each in Busan and Jeju Island.
The new cluster infections underline the challenge of controlling infections after the country started easing social distancing rules and introducing a new daily life with COVID-19.
The government warned against a possible rapid growth of cluster infections since the first confirmed case on Wednesday, and urged visitors to the affected establishments to get tested.
"We need to quickly find patients to stem community transmission," KCDC chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said during a press briefing, urging people who visited the Itaewon clubs from April 24-May 6 to be tested regardless of symptoms.
This week will prove "very crucial to minimize the impact of the virus's spread" which, according to Jeong, hasn't spread beyond the contacts of the first patient, identified as a 29-year-old man from Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
The Itaewon infections were first reported when the man tested positive on May 6 after visiting five clubs, including King Club, Trunk Club and Club Queen, between the night of May 1 and early hours of May 2.
"We should stop the virus from reaching a high risk group and causing them serious damage," she said, voicing concerns over "a high risk of community transmissions" as the infection broke out among active, young people who, either asymptomatic or having mild symptoms, naturally spend more time interacting with others.
According to the health authorities, a total of 2,456 people, out of 5,517 visitors to the Itaewon clubs, have been tested for COVID-19, and the number rose to 3,077 when including the visitor's contacts.
Considering the virus's average 4-7 day incubation period, the authorities expect more infections to appear by this Wednesday, she said, asking for swift testing for those who might have been exposed.
"I heard some people are reluctant to get tested for fear of being criticized. We will try hard to make sure everyone receives a test without feeling uncomfortable or prejudiced against," she added.
Quarantine officials spray disinfectant on a street in the international district of Itaewon in Seoul, on May 11, 2020, as scores of new cases were reported from people who recently visited entertainment places in the area. (Yonhap)
In an effort to more effectively contain the spread, the Seoul city government said it would provide free testing to club visitors, as it couldn't get hold of a vast majority of them.
"This means they intentionally avoided our calls or wrote a wrong number in the first place," Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said during a separate briefing.
In order to encourage those who don't want to reveal their identities, the city will offer free, anonymous testing, he said.
On this front, the city has been working with the police to identify and reach them.
"We will urgently deploy the coronavirus response team to identify and locate the club visitors as soon as possible," an official at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said in a briefing.
The 2,162-member team will check credit card transactions, cell phone signals and close-circuit television in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, the southern city of Daegu placed a two-week shutdown order on the city's nightlife establishments, some 1,300 in total. The move came after Seoul and Gyeonggi Province took the same measure on such facilities on Saturday and Sunday in the aftermath of the cluster infections in Itaewon.
Daegu government said some of the widely used entertainment facilities failed to maintain social distancing and other quarantine measures and the shutdown was a precautionary measure.
"We are discovering an increasing number of Itaewon club visitors (around the country) and we conclude there is a risk of community transmissions," Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said, adding the administrative order is "inevitable to stem the spread of the infectious disease."
The country reported 35 more cases of the new coronavirus Monday, the biggest single day spike since April 9, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,909. In Seoul, there have been a total of 698 infection cases, up by 10 confirmed cases.
People pass by a club in the multicultural district of Itaewon in Seoul on May 7, 2020. The club was shut down after some of its visitors tested positive for the coronavirus recently. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--3.8 magnitude quake detected in N. Korea

The administration earlier said the magnitude of the quake was 4.0 but later revised it down to 3.8 .

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- A 3.8 magnitude earthquake was detected late Monday in an eastern North Korean province, South Korea's weather authority said, adding that the quake appeared to be natural.
The tremor was detected at 7:45 p.m., some 37 kilometers northwest of Pyonggang County in Kangwon Province, the Korea Meteorological Administration said.
The administration earlier said the magnitude of the quake was 4.0 but later revised it down to 3.8.
South Korea closely monitors seismic activities in the communist state, partly because what the administration calls "artificial" tremors may indicate nuclear tests.
Pyonggang, however, has frequently seen natural seismic activities, with a 3.5 magnitude quake detected there in September.
The photo provided by the Korean Meteorological Administration shows the origin of a 3.8 magnitude quake detected in North Korea's Kangwon Province on May 11, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--(URGENT) S. Korean meteorological administration says 4.0 magnitude quake detected in N. Korea


yna--2020-05-11--(4th LD) Infection cases linked to Itaewon clubs rise to 86

(ATTN: UPDATES with Seoul city's data in 4th para, last para)
SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- The number of new coronavirus infections connected to bars and clubs in Seoul's popular nightlife district of Itaewon climbed to 86 on Monday, health authorities said amid growing concerns over a high risk of community spread.
The number includes 63 club visitors and 23 family members and friends who came in contact with the clubbers, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said during a press briefing.
By region, Seoul has reported 51 confirmed cases so far, with 21 in Gyeonggi Province, seven in Incheon, five in North Chungcheong Province and one each in Busan and Jeju Island.
But the Seoul city government said the total infections could be over 94 once some more cases reported to the city later in the day are included.
The new cluster infections underline the challenge of controlling infections after the country started easing social distancing rules and introducing a new daily life with COVID-19.
The government warned against a possible rapid growth of cluster infections since the first confirmed case on Wednesday, and urged visitors to the affected establishments to get tested.
"We need to quickly find patients to stem community transmission," KCDC chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said during a press briefing, urging people who visited the Itaewon clubs from April 24-May 6 to be tested regardless of symptoms.
This week will prove "very crucial to minimize the impact of the virus's spread" which, according to Jeong, hasn't spread beyond the contacts of the first patient, identified as a 29-year-old man from Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
The Itaewon infections were first reported when the man tested positive on May 6 after visiting five clubs, including King Club, Trunk Club and Club Queen, between the night of May 1 and early hours of May 2.
"We should stop the virus from reaching a high risk group and causing them serious damage," she said, voicing concerns over "a high risk of community transmissions" as the infection broke out among active, young people who, either asymptomatic or having mild symptoms, naturally spend more time interacting with others.
According to the health authorities, a total of 2,456 people, out of 5,517 visitors to the Itaewon clubs, have been tested for COVID-19, and the number rose to 3,077 when including the visitor's contacts.
Considering the virus's average 4-7 day incubation period, the authorities expect more infections to appear by this Wednesday, she said, asking for swift testing for those who might have been exposed.
"I heard some people are reluctant to get tested for fear of being criticized. We will try hard to make sure everyone receives a test without feeling uncomfortable or prejudiced against," she added.
Quarantine officials spray disinfectant on a street in the international district of Itaewon in Seoul, on May 11, 2020, as scores of new cases were reported from people who recently visited entertainment places in the area. (Yonhap)
In an effort to more effectively contain the spread, the Seoul city government said it would provide free testing to club visitors, as it couldn't get hold of a vast majority of them.
"This means they intentionally avoided our calls or wrote a wrong number in the first place," Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said during a separate briefing.
In order to encourage those who don't want to reveal their identities, the city will offer free, anonymous testing, he said.
On this front, the city has been working with the police to identify and reach them.
"We will urgently deploy the coronavirus response team to identify and locate the club visitors as soon as possible," an official at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said in a briefing.
The 2,162-member team will check credit card transactions, cell phone signals and close-circuit television in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, the southern city of Daegu placed a two-week shutdown order on the city's nightlife establishments, some 1,300 in total. The move came after Seoul and Gyeonggi Province took the same measure on such facilities on Saturday and Sunday in the aftermath of the cluster infections in Itaewon.
Daegu government said some of the widely used entertainment facilities failed to maintain social distancing and other quarantine measures and the shutdown was a precautionary measure.
"We are discovering an increasing number of Itaewon club visitors (around the country) and we conclude there is a risk of community transmissions," Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said, adding the administrative order is "inevitable to stem the spread of the infectious disease."
The country reported 35 more cases of the new coronavirus Monday, the biggest single day spike since April 9, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,909. In Seoul, there have been a total of 694 infection cases, up by six confirmed cases.
People pass by a club in the multicultural district of Itaewon in Seoul on May 7, 2020. The club was shut down after some of its visitors tested positive for the coronavirus recently. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--(2nd LD) Seoul postpones reopening schools following spike in club infections

`` Even if schools are well prepared with quarantine measures and have contingency scenarios in place , I believe it @ @ @ @ @ infections if there are patients , '' said one petition launcher who claimed to be @ @ @ @ @ demanding the government to reschedule the plan .

(ATTN: UPDATES with quote, details in paras 4-5, 16-18)
By Lee Minji
SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Monday announced plans to reopen schools a week later than scheduled after dozens of infections coming from clubs in the city's multicultural neighborhood of Itaewon triggered concerns over a bigger outbreak.
"The education ministry, through consultation with health authorities, postponed school reopening for high school seniors to guarantee the safety of students. The reopening for other grades will also be postponed by a week," Vice Education Minister Park Baeg-beom said in a press briefing.
Under the revised schedule, high school seniors will return to school on May 20, followed by younger students who will return to school in steps concluding on June 8, according to the education ministry.
This photo shows a high school classroom in the eastern Seoul ward of Seongdong on May 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
Park also urged school staff to "help protect the health of students they love" by immediately getting virus checks if they visited affected facilities between April 24 and May 6.
While the ministry currently does not have plans to carry out mandatory screenings for all teachers and school staff due to privacy and administrative issues, he said authorities will strictly deal with those who lie about their visits.
The announcement comes just two days before high school seniors, who are currently taking online classes, were set to return to classrooms.
Schools here normally start the new school year in March, but the schedule has been postponed several times due to the coronavirus. Schools instead resumed classes online in April for the first time in the country's 70-year history of education.
The government announced plans last week to reopen schools in steps starting Wednesday in line with its relaxed social distancing measures that went into effect on May 6.
Situations quickly changed after a 29-year-old who visited clubs and bars in Itaewon between May 1-2 tested positive for the contagious virus.
More than 80 cases, including those who went clubbing as well as their families and acquaintances, have since been reported across the country, putting people on alert over chances of a second wave of infection.
More than 160,000 people had signed online petitions asking the government to reschedule the school opening for all graders.
"Even if schools are well prepared with quarantine measures and have contingency scenarios in place, I believe it is impossible to prevent additional infections if there are patients," said one petition launcher who claimed to be a high school senior, demanding the government to reschedule the plan.
Education officials, such as the city's education chief Cho Hee-yeon, also called for the government to review the schedule.
Health authorities disinfect a cafeteria at a high school in the southeastern Seoul ward of Songpa on May 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
"Our children should not (stand on) the frontline of quarantine but should be protected at the last line of defense," Cho Hee-yeon wrote in a May 11 Facebook post.
"In that sense, if the current trend of concerns over a second wave of COVID-19 continues, (I) believe there is a need to review the school reopening schedule."
Some parents welcomed the announcement.
"I was looking forward to my son returning to school, but then the Itaewon case broke out and we don't know how many more infections will be reported," a mother of a high school sophomore told Yonhap.
"I think the first semester is already disrupted. In this situation, I think it's better to postpone it by a week rather than starting early (despite the risks) and ruining the whole year," she said.
On Sunday, Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said the government will carefully review the case.
"I understand that many are concerned over the Itaewon club infections that occurred just a few days before high school seniors return to school ... Our priority on student safety remains unchanged. We are closely monitoring all risks and will make a prudent decision, leaving many possibilities open," she wrote in a Facebook post.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--S. Korea shares coronavirus-related quarantine know-how with 66 foreign partners: official

South Korea launched the task force late last month to help foreign countries cope with the coronavirus by sharing its @ @ @ @ @ has held a slew of online seminars on virus responses with countries like the United @ @ @ @ @ Europe and South America .

SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has advised a total of 66 foreign countries about tackling the coronavirus outbreak amid growing international calls for sharing its quarantine experience and know-how, a senior foreign ministry official said Monday.
Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho made the remark during a meeting of an interagency government task force set up to deal with foreign requests seeking to benchmark South Korea's quarantine system that has gained global recognition for considerable success in flattening the curve.
"The figures show as of last week that our country has carried out activities related to international quarantine cooperation by hosting more than 250 online seminars and videoconferences for 66 countries and 23 international organizations," he said.
South Korea launched the task force late last month to help foreign countries cope with the coronavirus by sharing its own quarantine experience. It has held a slew of online seminars on virus responses with countries like the United States and many countries in Europe and South America.
In Monday's meeting, Lee also said that the government is considering dispatching experts to other countries wishing to learn more about Korea's case firsthand or inviting them to Seoul.
"We plan to gradually look into such projects, when conditions are met," he added.
Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho (R) presides over an interagency meeting of government and health officials on international cooperation for coronavirus responses at Seoul's foreign ministry on May 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-11--(LEAD) Seoul postpones reopening schools following spike in club infections

(ATTN: UPDATES with announcement throughout; RECASTS lead; ADDS photo)
By Lee Minji
SEOUL, May 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Monday announced plans to reopen schools a week later than scheduled after dozens of infections coming from clubs in the city's multicultural neighborhood of Itaewon triggered concerns over a bigger outbreak.
"The education ministry, through consultation with health authorities, postponed school reopening for high school seniors to guarantee the safety of students. The reopening for other grades will also be postponed by a week," Vice Education Minister Park Baeg-beom said in a press briefing.
Under the revised schedule, high school seniors will return to school on May 20, followed by younger students who will return to school in steps concluding on June 8, according to the education ministry.
This photo shows a high school classroom in the eastern Seoul ward of Seongdong on May 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
The announcement comes just two days before high school seniors, who are currently taking online classes, were set to return to classrooms.
Schools here normally start the new school year in March, but the schedule has been postponed several times due to the coronavirus. Schools instead resumed classes online in April for the first time in the country's 70-year history of education.
The government announced plans last week to reopen schools in steps starting Wednesday in line with its relaxed social distancing measures that went into effect on May 6.
Situations quickly changed after a 29-year-old who visited clubs and bars in Itaewon between May 1-2 tested positive for the contagious virus.
More than 80 cases, including those who went clubbing as well as their families and acquaintances, have since been reported across the country, putting people on alert over chances of a second wave of infection.
More than 160,000 people had signed online petitions asking the government to reschedule the school opening for all graders.
"Even if schools are well prepared with quarantine measures and have contingency scenarios in place, I believe it is impossible to prevent additional infections if there are patients," said one petition launcher who claimed to be a high school senior, demanding the government to reschedule the plan.
Education officials, such as the city's education chief Cho Hee-yeon, also called for the government to review the schedule.
Health authorities disinfect a cafeteria at a high school in the southeastern Seoul ward of Songpa on May 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
"Our children should not (stand on) the frontline of quarantine but should be protected at the last line of defense," Cho Hee-yeon wrote in a May 11 Facebook post.
"In that sense, if the current trend of concerns over a second wave of COVID-19 continues, (I) believe there is a need to review the school reopening schedule."
On Sunday, Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said the government will carefully review the case.
"I understand that many are concerned over the Itaewon club infections that occurred just a few days before high school seniors return to school ... Our priority on student safety remains unchanged. We are closely monitoring all risks and will make a prudent decision, leaving many possibilities open," she wrote in a Facebook post.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)