yna--2020-12-21--COVID-19 cases top 50,000 in S. Korea amid worsening pandemic

The country faced its first wave of the outbreak tied to a church in the southeastern city of Daegu in @ @ @ @ @ .
The second wave gripped the country in late August in connection with a church @ @ @ @ @ anti-government rally .

By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's total COVID-19 caseload broke the 50,000 mark on Monday as new cases have been rising at their fastest pace ever, hampering authorities' antivirus efforts.
New cases stood at 926 earlier in the day to push up the total to 50,591, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The daily death toll hit a record high of 24, raising the total to 698.
The caseload surpassed the 50,000 mark in the 11 months since the nation reported its first case on Jan. 20.
The daily number of cases first crossed 1,000 on Dec. 13, and remained in the quadruple digits for five days in a row starting Wednesday. Monday's figure fell below 1,000 due largely to less testing on the weekend.
It took only 11 days for the number to rise from 40,000 to top 50,000, while it took 20 days to add another 10,000 cases after the tally surpassed 30,000 on Nov. 20.
A medical worker collects a specimen from a woman for COVID-19 testing at a temporary screening station in central Seoul on Dec. 20, 2020. (Yonhap)
Chains of cluster infections have continued to pop up across the nation in the winter season, which provides a more favorable environment to viruses and weakens people's immune systems.
The third wave of the pandemic has posed greater challenges to antivirus efforts as sporadic infections in various community settings make it harder to trace their transmission routes compared with the previous outbreaks.
The country faced its first wave of the outbreak tied to a church in the southeastern city of Daegu in late February and early March. The second wave gripped the country in late August in connection with a church in northern Seoul and an anti-government rally.
Spiking cases stretched nationally designated COVID-19 treatment centers to their limits, prompting health authorities to issue a rare order on private hospitals to secure more intensive-care beds for patients.
Construction is under way at the Seoul Medical Center on Dec. 20, 2020, to add more hospital beds for critically ill COVID-19 patients. (Yonhap)
In the greater Seoul area, only three intensive-care beds were available as of Saturday, while the capital ran out of beds for COVID-19 patients, according to the virus response control tower.
A total of 368 patients in the Seoul metropolitan area have been waiting for hospitalization at home as of Sunday due to the lack of hospital beds.
The health ministry said it will add 318 hospital beds for critically ill patients by this coming Saturday to cope with the hike in new cases and reduce the number of people on the waiting list.
"We are stepping up efforts to minimize the number of people awaiting hospitalization at home and strengthen monitoring on them to avoid worsening conditions while on standby," Health Minister Park Neunghoo said in a briefing Sunday.
Experts said this week will be a critical juncture for the outbreak, calling for the government to take stronger restrictions to curb the virus spread.
"There is a strong possibility that (additional cases) spike even higher," Eom Joong-sik, a medical professor at Gachon University, said. "(The government) should raise the social distancing scheme to Level 3 to further reduce contacts between people and gatherings."
A store in Itaewon, an entertainment district in Seoul, is closed on Dec. 20, 2020, under tough social distancing measures adopted to slow down the spread of COVID-19. (Yonhap)
South Korea has been applying Level 2.5 social distancing rules, the second highest under a five-tier scheme, in the greater Seoul area, home to half of its 51.6 million population, and Level 2 rules in the rest of the country since Dec. 8.
Officials have been mulling whether to raise social distancing guidelines to Level 3, but they remained cautious over adopting the strongest measures on concerns over their adverse impact on the domestic economy.
"Level 3 distancing has a far-reaching ripple effect on the economy, which should be avoided if possible," Park said. "We want people to be more patient and join (the distancing campaign) to flatten the curve at the current level without taking the toughest measures."
Level 3 can be adopted when locally transmitted cases hover between 800 and 1,000 for a week or the daily tally doubles from the previous day.
If the toughest curbs are imposed, more than 2 million shops and facilities will be ordered to be shut down, according to officials.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-12-21--Raising distancing rules to top level should remain as government's 'final card': PM

`` The number of positive patients has not obviously dwindled , but there have been some positive signs , such @ @ @ @ @ ) use of mobile phones and transportation and the narrowing rate of those infected in @ @ @ @ @ thanks to aggressive virus tests , '' the prime minister said .

SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Monday that elevating the nation's social distancing rules to the highest Level 3 should be a last resort for the government in dealing with the new coronavirus crisis, stressing the importance for the public to properly follow state-mandated distancing rules.
"Adjusting the social distancing level needs to be prepared thoroughly, but it should remain as the final card," Chung said during a government meeting of top officials in charge of dealing with the pandemic.
The remarks came as the government is mulling over whether to elevate the social distancing requirements to the strongest Level 3 from the current Level 2.5 in Seoul and surrounding areas.
On Sunday, the country reported 1,097 new COVID-19 cases, the largest daily figure ever, making it the fourth straight day the daily number exceeded the 1,000 mark. The daily tally came down to 926 cases on Monday, raising the total caseload to 50,591, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
"The number of positive patients has not obviously dwindled, but there have been some positive signs, such as the decreasing (public) use of mobile phones and transportation and the narrowing rate of those infected in their 60s or older, thanks to aggressive virus tests," the prime minister said.
He also instructed officials to come up with tougher infection prevention measures for the year-end and New Year's Day period, especially for facilities with high risks of virus infection such as hospitals, nursing homes and ski resorts.
The prime minister, meanwhile, warned against the spread of fake news or rumors on COVID-19, saying such illegal acts will be dealt with through "stern" law enforcement.
He said "distorted, false information is again proliferating as the COVID-19 crisis is continuing, such as (rumors on) the adoption of Level 3 social distancing or signs of hoarding of essential goods."
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks during a government meeting of top officials in charge of dealing with the pandemic at the Seoul City Hall on Dec. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-12-21--Ex-U.S. Defense Secretary Mattis to receive Korea-U.S. alliance award

The guideline contains a set of commitments , such as the U.S. pledge not to withdraw its forces from Korea @ @ @ @ @ been working for the OPCON transition of South Korean troops from Washington to Seoul .

By Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- Former U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis was chosen as the recipient of a South Korean government award for his contribution to the security of the Korean Peninsula and the bilateral alliance, the defense ministry said Monday.
Mattis, who served as the top U.S. defense official between 2017 and 2019, will receive this year's Paik Sun-yup Award, which was named after the best-known South Korean hero of the 1950-53 Korean War. He is the eighth recipient.
"He played a pivotal role in managing the security situation on the Korean Peninsula in 2017, when tensions ran high, which helped set conditions for the Korea peace process," the ministry said in a statement.
Mattis also "presented a blueprint for a staunch combined defense mechanism after the envisioned transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) by signing the 'Alliance Guiding Principles' in 2018," the ministry added.
The guideline contains a set of commitments, such as the U.S. pledge not to withdraw its forces from Korea. The two countries have been working for the OPCON transition of South Korean troops from Washington to Seoul.
The award ceremony was supposed to be held in October during the Korea-U.S. defense ministers' meeting, but it was rescheduled early next year due to the new coronavirus.
Mattis expressed his intention to donate prize money to a project to build a memorial wall in Washington to commemorate U.S. veterans who fought in the Korean War, according to the ministry.
The war broke out on June 25, 1950, when North Korean troops, backed by the Soviet Union, invaded the South. The U.S. and 20 other allied countries fought alongside South Korea under the United Nations flag, while China helped North Korea.
It ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas technically in a state of war.
South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo (L) and his U.S. counterpart James Mattis sign an approved guideline after concluding their annual Security Consultative Meeting in Washington on Oct. 31, 2018, in this photo provided by Jeong's ministry. The guideline, called the Alliance Guiding Principles, addresses how the two countries will operate their combined defense mechanism after the wartime operation control (OPCON) is transferred to the South Korean side. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-12-21--Kim Sei-young 'proud' of winning LPGA's top player award

Kim won twice in 2020 , including her first career major at the KPMG Women 's PGA Championship in October @ @ @ @ @ the money list , behind Ko , with a little over US $ 1.4 million @ @ @ @ @ LPGA titles in what 's shaping up to be a Hall of Fame career .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- Though she didn't win the final LPGA tournament of the year as she'd hoped, Kim Sei-young was still happy to walk away with a major individual honor.
By finishing runner-up to fellow Korean Ko Jin-young at the CME Group Tour Championship in Florida on Sunday (local time), Kim clinched the Player of the Year award. Kim collected 118 points to beat Park In-bee, another Korean star, by six points. Players earn points based on top-10 finishes, and points are doubled at major tournaments.
In this Getty Images photo, Kim Sei-young of South Korea poses with the LPGA Player of the Year trophy following the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, on Dec. 20, 2020. (Yonhap)
"It feels great. I'm very proud of it," Kim said after shooting an even 72 to finish at 13-under 275 at Tiburon Golf Club, five strokes behind Ko.
"Paul (Fusco) and I have been working hard this year," she said, referring to her caddy. "I'm very thankful to people around me, my parents, my coach and my trainer."
Kim held a one-shot lead over Ko entering the final round, but she traded three birdies with three bogeys. Kim had just four bogeys combined over her first three rounds. Ko had seven birdies in the final round.
"I'm a little disappointed I couldn't play well today," Kim said. "(Ko) did a great job today. I tried to chase her but I couldn't."
Kim won twice in 2020, including her first career major at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in October. She finished second on the money list, behind Ko, with a little over US$1.4 million. The 27-year-old has 12 LPGA titles in what's shaping up to be a Hall of Fame career.
"I learned a lot (this year) because I know how to control pressure," Kim said. "I still need to learn more. I'm still hungry for wins. I'll keep working hard."
In this Getty Images photo, Kim Sei-young of South Korea watches her shot on the third hole during the final round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida, on Dec. 20, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-12-21--Seoul may ban gatherings of 5 or more people to stem COVID-19 spread

The greater Seoul area is currently under Level 2.5 , the second highest in the nation 's five-tier social distancing @ @ @ @ @ bans gatherings with 50 or more people , but the capital area has already been @ @ @ @ @ as far as assembly restrictions are concerned .

SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul city government is pushing to implement an extreme assembly restriction measure that would ban gatherings of five or more people in the capital to slow the spread of the coronavirus, officials said Monday.
Its new administrative order for the restrictions on freedom of assembly may take effect on Christmas Eve in time for the peak season for year-end gatherings and events, the officials said.
The municipal government has been fine-tuning the new assembly restriction measure with the provincial government of Gyeonggi, which surrounds Seoul, and is planning to make an official announcement soon, they noted.
People stand in line to take coronavirus tests at a temporary screening center in front of Seoul City Hall in downtown Seoul on Dec. 20, 2020. (Yonhap)
The ban on gatherings of five or more people, if implemented, would be stronger than under the highest Level 3 social distancing scheme, in which gatherings of 10 or more people are prohibited.
The greater Seoul area is currently under Level 2.5, the second highest in the nation's five-tier social distancing alert system. Level 2.5 bans gatherings with 50 or more people, but the capital area has already been enforcing the Level 3 guidelines as far as assembly restrictions are concerned.
If the new administrative order is issued in the capital area, only meetings of four or fewer people are allowed regardless of indoors or outdoors.
Last week, Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung said in a social media post that he was discussing the strident assembly restriction measure with other local governments in the capital area.
In Seoul, the number of new daily coronavirus cases rose by an all-time high of 473 on Sunday, breaking the previous record of 423 set only three days ago. Throughout this month, the number of daily cases in the capital has fluctuated between 213 and 473.
ycm@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-12-21--(LEAD) S. Korea ups disinfection operations at wild bird habitats on avian influenza

`` Due to the influx of migratory birds into the country , contaminants can get into local farms at anytime @ @ @ @ @ Agriculture , Food and Rural Affairs said in a statement .

(ATTN: UPDATES with suspected case in paras 7-9)
By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Monday that it has expanded disinfection operations at major wild bird habitats and poultry farms to cope with the rising number of highly pathogenic bird flu cases.
"Due to the influx of migratory birds into the country, contaminants can get into local farms at anytime," the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said in a statement.
"As we are facing a grave situation, there will be zero tolerance of any violation of the quarantine guidelines," it added.
Officials carry out disinfection operations at a farm in Hwaseong, south of Seoul, on Dec. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Local authorities are using 958 units of vehicles and drones to carry out disinfection operations in surrounding areas of poultry farms.
The agricultural ministry also advised farms to apply disinfectants around their farms and clean floors on a daily basis. They are also requested the changing of shoes when moving among sheds.
The country has so far reported 18 highly pathogenic bird flu cases from poultry farms, including at a private park, since late November.
On Monday, a suspected case was reported at a chicken farm in Yeoju, 105 kilometers southeast of Seoul. An initial test came back positive, with the final result expected in one to three days.
The ministry restricted movement into and out of the farm and carried out an epidemiological survey upon receiving the report. The farm raises 150,000 chickens.
All farms within a 10-km radius have also been subject to restrictions on movement, as well as surveillance and testing.
The virus has especially spread at a faster pace in South Jeolla Province, which accounted for six infections. Four were from North Jeolla Province.
The spread of the virus has led authorities to cull 6.1 million poultry so far, including 4 million chickens and 1.2 million quails.
Under local law, poultry within a 3-km radius of farms infected with highly pathogenic cases must be destroyed.
The country reported this year's first highly pathogenic avian influenza case from wild birds in late October. A total of 30 cases was confirmed from wild bird habitats across the country.
The ministry, meanwhile, said the latest cases of bird flu have had only a limited impact on the local market for poultry and eggs.
"The price of eggs has recently increased around 7.3 percent compared to the yearly average," the ministry said, pointing out that retailers also have sufficient volumes of poultry products in stock.
Quarantine officials to cull chickens at a chicken farm in Gumi, 261 kilometers south of Seoul, on Dec. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-12-21--(4th LD) New virus cases under 1,000 on fewer tests, daily death toll hits new high

In a new round of restrictions , gatherings of five or more people will be banned in the capital Seoul @ @ @ @ @ and Incheon .
The administrative order for the restrictions will take effect at midnight Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ , officials said .

(ATTN: UPDATES with latest figures in paras 9-10)
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell below 1,000 for the first time in six days Monday, mainly due to less testing over the weekend, as health authorities are set to announce new virus restrictions over the Christmas and New Year's Day holiday period. The daily virus death toll also hit a record high amid rising patients.
The country added 926 more COVID-19 cases, including 892 local infections, raising the total caseload to 50,591, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The tally marked a decline from 1,097 cases Sunday, 1,053 Saturday and 1,062 Friday.
In another grim milestone, the nation's total caseload exceeded 50,000. It took only 11 days for the total infections to surpass the 50,000 mark. South Korea's total caseload surpassed 40,000 on Dec. 10.
Sohn Young-rae, a senior health official, told reporters that health authorities will announce a new set of virus restrictions Tuesday over the Christmas and New Year's Day holiday period, instead of raising virus curbs to the toughest level.
New restrictions may be applied for winter sports facilities, New Year's Day sunrise venues and nursing homes, Sohn said.
If the government decides to raise virus curbs to the toughest level, the government will inform the public two or three days before the toughest restrictions are applied, Sohn said.
A medical staffer holds hand warmers at an outdoor COVID-19 testing station in Seoul on Dec. 21, 2020, amid a cold wave. (Yonhap)
In a new round of restrictions, gatherings of five or more people will be banned in the capital Seoul and its neighboring Gyeonggi Province and Incheon. The administrative order for the restrictions will take effect at midnight Tuesday and end on Jan. 3, officials said.
As of 6 p.m. Monday, daily new cases stood at 581, which was 33 fewer than at the same time on Sunday, according to health authorities.
The greater Seoul area accounted for 68 percent, with 188 cases in Seoul, 164 in Gyeonggi Province and 45 in Incheon.
A new variant of COVID-19, which is believed to spread faster, in Britain has prompted several countries to suspend flights from London. KDCA officials said the new variant has not been found yet in South Korea.
To help find unconfirmed infections with no symptoms, authorities have expanded anonymous testing in the greater Seoul area since Dec. 14. A total of 479 infections have been confirmed through such testing so far, the KDCA said.
With one-day virus case totals running at all-time highs last week, health authorities were considering whether to raise the country's social distancing guidelines to Level 3, the highest in its five-tier scheme.
However, authorities said they are aiming to contain the current wave of the pandemic without raising virus curbs to Level 3 on concerns over impacts on the economy.
A health worker performs a COVID-19 test on a person in Seoul on Dec. 20, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korea has been applying Level 2.5 social distancing rules in the greater Seoul area, home to half of its 51.6 million population, and Level 2 rules in the rest of the country.
Chains of cluster infections at facilities that include nursing homes and churches, and through private gatherings, continued to pop up.
A relentless spike in virus cases spawned concerns about a shortage of hospital beds and a rise in fatalities. Health authorities issued a rare order to private hospitals Friday to secure more intensive care beds for COVID-19 patients.
Drivers wait to receive coronavirus tests in a drive-thru clinic in the eastern coastal city of Donghae on Dec. 20, 2020, as the city government decided to conduct the tests on all citizens amid a spike in virus infections. (Yonhap)
Of the 892 local infections announced earlier in the day, 327 cases were reported in Seoul and 237 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital. Incheon, west of Seoul, reported 85 more cases.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's largest port city of Busan adding 19 cases and South Gyeongsang Province reporting 15 new cases.
Although about 72 percent of new cases came from the greater Seoul area, all parts of the nation saw rising infections.
A detention center in southern Seoul reported two additional patients, raising the caseload to 217, while a religious facility in western Seoul identified 10 more cases, with the total reaching 213.
Other major cluster infections included a nursing home in Ulsan, which added 11 more patients, raising the total to 240. Another religious facility on the southern island of Jeju has reported 100 patients so far.
South Korea reported 24 additional deaths, raising the death toll to 698. The fatality rate was 1.38 percent.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients reached 274, compared with 278 from the previous day.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 35,155, up 433 from the previous day.
The country, meanwhile, added 34 imported cases, increasing the total to 5,116. Twelve cases came from the United States, followed by nine from Russia and four from Germany.
The country has carried out 3,713,861 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3. The country reported the first case on Jan. 20.
kdh@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-12-21--(LEAD) Vice justice minister apologizes over unpunished assault against driver

The official said there have been similar cases where the taxi was deemed to be not moving , qualifying as @ @ @ @ @ where the offender faced heavier charges because an assault on the driver of a soon-to-be @ @ @ @ @ posing an extra risk .

(ATTN: UPDATES with vice minister's apology in paras 1-2, 5-6; CHANGES headline)
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- Vice Justice Minister Lee Yong-gu apologized Monday amid public uproar over his unpunished assault against a taxi driver last month.
"I am deeply sorry for causing concern to the people with a personal matter," he wrote in a statement sent to reporters. "I also apologize again to the taxi driver."
Lee has come under fire after it was reported late last week that he got away free following the altercation in early November.
Lee, who was a lawyer at the time, allegedly grabbed the driver by the collar in an intoxicated state when the man tried to wake him up after arriving at his home in southern Seoul. He was appointed vice minister on Dec. 2.
"I believe the police will review my case and determine right from wrong," Lee said. "As I am now a public official, I will watch my behavior ever more carefully."
Police are looking into past cases to determine whether officers took appropriate steps over Lee's case, according to a police official.
"We will once again thoroughly review legal precedents with the help of former jurists, lawyers and senior officials who handled the case at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency," the official said.
The Seocho Police Station, which has jurisdiction over Lee's neighborhood, applied charges of assault, a crime not punishable against will, not the heavier charges that apply to assault against a driver in motion.
The case was closed last month after the taxi driver indicated he does not want Lee punished.
The official said there have been similar cases where the taxi was deemed to be not moving, qualifying as assault, and other cases where the offender faced heavier charges because an assault on the driver of a soon-to-be moving vehicle was regarded as posing an extra risk.
Police quoted the driver as saying that the vehicle had stopped when the incident occurred.
This file photo shows Vice Justice Minister Lee Yong-gu. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-12-21--Police review cases similar to vice justice minister's unpunished assault

SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- Police are looking into past cases that are similar to the new vice justice minister's unpunished assault against a taxi driver to determine whether officers took appropriate steps at the time of the incident, a police official said Monday.
Vice Justice Minister Lee Yong-gu has come under fire after it was reported late last week that he got away free following the altercation in early November.
Lee, who was a lawyer at the time, allegedly grabbed the driver by the collar in an intoxicated state when the man tried to wake him up after arriving at his home in southern Seoul. He was appointed vice minister on Dec. 2.
"We will once again thoroughly review legal precedents with the help of former jurists, lawyers and senior officials who handled the case at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency," the official said.
The Seocho Police Station, which has jurisdiction over Lee's neighborhood, applied charges of assault, a crime not punishable against will, not the heavier charges that apply to assault against a driver in motion.
The case was closed last month after the taxi driver indicated he does not want Lee punished.
The official said there have been similar cases where the taxi was deemed to be not moving, qualifying as assault, and other cases where the offender faced heavier charges because an assault on the driver of a soon-to-be moving vehicle was regarded as posing an extra risk.
Police quoted the driver as saying that the vehicle had stopped when the incident occurred.
This file photo shows Vice Justice Minister Lee Yong-gu. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-21--Surprise U.S. Women's Open champ to join LPGA Tour in 2021

`` The key will be making adjustments to new surroundings , and I think I will have plenty of support @ @ @ @ @ '' Kim said .
`` There will be so many changes .
I 'll have @ @ @ @ @ manager and a trainer , and set my offseason training schedule .
My agency and @ @ @ @ @ , and we 'll soon start making more concrete plans . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- Kim A-lim, who shocked the golfing world by winning the oldest LPGA major championship earlier this month, will take her talent to America next year.
The reigning U.S. Women's Open champion announced on Monday that she will be joining the LPGA full-time starting in 2021. The 25-year-old had been playing on the Korea LPGA (KLPGA) Tour since 2016.
Kim became one of the tour's best Cinderella stories of 2020 when she captured the U.S. Women's Open in Houston on Dec. 14. She rallied from a five-stroke deficit to finish at three-under 281, holding off world No. 1 Ko Jin-young by one shot.
In this Associated Press file photo from Dec. 14, 2020, Kim A-lim of South Korea hoists the championship trophy after winning the U.S. Women's Open at Champions Golf Club in Houston. (Yonhap)
Typically, any non-LPGA member who wins a tournament is eligible for full LPGA membership for the following season. But with the 2020 season having been cut from 33 tournaments to 18 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all full-time players who otherwise wouldn't have qualified for next year's membership will retain their status for another season. This also means Kim will enjoy her full-fledged membership through 2022.
Kim had until Monday to exercise her option.
"I've been dreaming of playing on the LPGA Tour for a long time," said Kim, a two-time KLPGA winner. "I fell in love with such excellent training environments in the U.S. I decided this was an opportunity for me to compete and challenge myself in a better situation."
In this Associated Press file photo from Dec. 14, 2020, Kim A-lim of South Korea hoists the championship trophy after winning the U.S. Women's Open at Champions Golf Club in Houston. (Yonhap)
Kim is one of two nonmembers to win an LPGA major this year, joined by the AIG Women's Open champion Sophia Popov.
"The key will be making adjustments to new surroundings, and I think I will have plenty of support from people around me," Kim said. "There will be so many changes. I'll have to hire a new personal manager and a trainer, and set my offseason training schedule. My agency and I have a rough outline, and we'll soon start making more concrete plans."
A few KLPGA stars before Kim made the leap to the U.S. circuit by winning a tournament. The current world No. 1 Ko Jin-young won an LPGA tournament in October 2017, and then became a two-time major champion and the LPGA Player of the Year by 2019.
In this Getty Images file photo from Dec. 14, 2020, Kim A-lim of South Korea celebrates her birdie at the 18th hole during the final round of the U.S. Women's Open at Champions Golf Club's Cypress Creek Course in Houston. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-21--(LEAD) 21 USFK-affiliated people test positive for new coronavirus

Fourteen of them tested positive on their first mandatory COVID-19 test prior to entering quarantine , and the remainder were @ @ @ @ @ virus on their second mandatory test , according to the USFK .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead with latest info; UPDATES throughout)
By Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- Fifteen American service members, five family members and one U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) retiree tested positive for the new coronavirus upon arrival in South Korea from the United States over the past few weeks, the USFK said Monday.
Of them, five service members arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on U.S. government-chartered flights between Nov. 29 and Dec. 19, according to the U.S. military.
Ten other service personnel, five dependents and one USFK retiree arrived on commercial flights at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, it added.
Fourteen of them tested positive on their first mandatory COVID-19 test prior to entering quarantine, and the remainder were confirmed to have contracted the virus on their second mandatory test, according to the USFK.
All USFK-affiliated individuals arriving in South Korea are required to undergo a virus test and quarantine for 14 days. Medical personnel administer a second test prior to their release.
"Thorough cleaning of all transportation assets and quarantine rooms has been completed," USFK said in a statement. "None of the new arrivals have interacted with anyone residing within USFK installations or the local community."
On Sunday, the U.S. military said that a South Korean employee at Camp Humphreys has tested positive for the new coronavirus. He last visited the base on Wednesday.
The contractor was in isolation at his off-installation home, waiting to be transferred to a medical facility designated for virus patients, according to USFK.
The total number of coronavirus cases among the USFK-affiliated population rose to 464, most of whom have tested positive upon arrival in South Korea from the U.S.
Amid a resurgence of infections in South Korea, USFK raised its health protection level for all areas in the country to the third-highest level of Charlie in its five-tier system Saturday.
In this February file photo provided by the U.S. Forces Korea, a military guard at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, checks the temperature of a driver to screen entrants to the compound for the novel coronavirus. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-12-21--(2nd LD) Debt-laden SsangYong Motor files for court receivership

Mahindra said early this year it would inject 230 billion won into SsangYong for the following three years after obtaining @ @ @ @ @ But its board voted against the investment plan last month as the spreading COVID-19 outbreak @ @ @ @ @ in global markets .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; ADDS details throughout)
By Choi Kyong-ae
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- Financially-troubled SsangYong Motor Co. said Monday it has filed for court receivership as it struggles with snowballing debts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision comes after SsangYong Motor, the South Korean unit of Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., failed to pay 60 billion won (US$54.8 million) worth of debts to its foreign creditor banks last week.
SsangYong asked the creditors to roll over the loans but failed to obtain approval from the lenders, the company said in a statement. The carmaker also failed to pay 90 billion won due on Monday to its main creditor, Korea Development Bank (KDB).
"The company inevitably decided to file for court receivership as the debt repayment will have a grave impact on business operations," it said.
SsangYong also received a three-month suspension of its obligation to pay its debts. The company is now aiming to find a new investor in the next three months before the court-led restructuring begins, a company spokesman said.
HAAH Automotive Holdings, Inc., a California company that imports vehicles for the U.S. market, has been reportedly a possible investor in SsangYong. HAAH declined to comment on the matter.
This file photo taken April 5, 2020, shows SsangYong Motor's plant in Pyeongtaek, 70 km south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Trading in SsangYong shares was halted on the Korean Stock Exchange immediately after the main stock bourse was closed.
On Monday, SsangYong shares plunged 19 percent to 2,770 won, far underperforming the broader KOSPI's 0.2 percent gain.
The SUV-focused carmaker logged net losses in the past 15 consecutive quarters through the third quarter of this year due to lack of new models and tougher competition with local rivals.
Its vehicle sales fell 19 percent on-year to 96,763 units in the January-November period from 119,876 a year earlier.
SsangYong's lineup consists of the flagship G4 Rexton, as well as the Tivoli, Korando and Rexton Sports.
This is the second time for SsangYong to place itself under court receivership after undergoing the same process a decade ago.
China-based SAIC Motor Corp. acquired a 51 percent stake in SsangYong in 2004 but in 2009 relinquished its control of the carmaker in the wake of the economic downturn.
Court receivership is one step short of bankruptcy in South Korea's legal system. In receivership, the court will decide whether and how to revive the company.
In 2011, Mahindra acquired a 70 percent stake in SsangYong for 523 billion won and now holds a 74.65 percent stake in the carmaker.
Mahindra has said it does not have a plan to inject fresh capital into SsangYong and will give up its status as the biggest shareholder of the Korean unit if it finds a new investor.
Mahindra said early this year it would inject 230 billion won into SsangYong for the following three years after obtaining approval from its board. But its board voted against the investment plan last month as the spreading COVID-19 outbreak continues to affect vehicle sales in global markets.
Instead of the proposed 230 billion won, Mahindra said it would consider a "special one-time infusion" of up to 40 billion won over the next three months to help SsangYong continue operations.
The one-time cash injection falls far short of the 500 billion won Mahindra Managing Director Pawan Goenka had said is needed to turn SsangYong around by 2022.
In August, KPMG Samjong Accounting Corp., the auditor of SsangYong, declined to give its opinion on the carmaker's earnings results for the January-June period.
If Samjong gives no opinion on SsangYong's annual financial statements for the year, the company can appeal the decision within a week and will be given one year to improve its financial health.
SsangYong could be delisted if its accountant again refuses to offer an opinion on the company's annual performance for the following year after the one-year period.
This file photo provided by SsangYong Motor shows the all-new Rexton SUV. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-21--Former monk sentenced to 6 yrs in prison for distributing sex abuse imagery online

According to the court , he also possessed approximately 1,260 sexual abuse images and videos , including some that featured @ @ @ @ @ phone and other storage units .
He claimed it was difficult to verify whether people @ @ @ @ @ , which either were in his possession or were shared by him , were underage @ @ @ @ @ his claim .

SUWON, South Korea, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean man was sentenced to six years in prison on Monday for selling sex exploitation materials through online chat rooms connected to a massive online sex trafficking case that shocked the country earlier this year.
The Suwon District Court, south of Seoul, sentenced the man, only identified as a 32-year-old former Buddhist monk, to six years imprisonment and a forfeiture of 2.24 million won (US$2,030). He was also ordered to undergo 120 hours of sex offender treatment for violating the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles against Sexual Abuse.
The court also ordered a 10-year disclosure of his personal information and banned him from working with young and disabled people for 10 years upon release from prison.
This computer-generated image, provided by Yonhap News TV, depicts an online sex trafficking crime involving children. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The former monk, once a member of the country's biggest Buddhist sect of Jogye Order, was indicted in April for operating four pornography websites and distributing some 8,000 obscene photos and videos from sometime in 2016 to March this year.
He was also accused of purchasing sex abuse videos shared in the Nth room and Baksabang, the infamous Telegram chatrooms that were busted earlier this year for blackmailing dozens of women and girls into filming sexually abusive content. He was found to have sold the videos on about 50 different occasions for a profit of some 1.5 million won.
According to the court, he also possessed approximately 1,260 sexual abuse images and videos, including some that featured minors, on his mobile phone and other storage units. He claimed it was difficult to verify whether people featured in some 400 materials, which either were in his possession or were shared by him, were underage. But the court dismissed his claim.
The accused, the court said, should be highly condemned for "committing evil acts despite a responsibility for practicing Buddha's teachings as a monk," and should be "sternly punished" for causing "lasting pain" to the victims, even though he claimed he was regretful and that the proceeds he gained were small.
The former monk was reportedly expelled from the Jogye Order after the allegations against him surfaced earlier this year.
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-21--Hanwha Solution to raise 1.2 tln won via stock sale for renewable energy biz

Hanwha Solution 's board of directors approved the plan for the issuance of 31.4 million shares to fund its broader @ @ @ @ @ won in the next five years in solar and hydrogen businesses .

SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- Hanwha Solution Corp., Hanwha's energy subsidiary, said Monday it will sell new shares to raise 1.2 trillion won (US$1.1 billion) to step up its solar panel business and develop renewable energy technology.
Hanwha Solution's board of directors approved the plan for the issuance of 31.4 million shares to fund its broader plan to invest 2.8 trillion won in the next five years in solar and hydrogen businesses.
The company said it will use the funds in the research and development of advanced solar panel materials and energy storage systems for solar panels.
The company will also spend 200 billion won in the "green" hydrogen business, which uses renewable energy to produce hydrogen from water.
The company said it aims to generate 21 trillion won of revenue in 2025 by targeting the growing renewable energy market in South Korea, the United States and Europe.
This image provided by Hanwha Group on Dec. 21, 2020, shows its renewable energy vision. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

SEOUL -- South Korea 's daily new coronavirus cases fell below 1,000 for the first time in six days Monday @ @ @ @ @ testing over the weekend , as health authorities are set to announce new virus restrictions @ @ @ @ @ Year 's Day holiday period .
The daily virus death toll also hit a record @ @ @ @ @

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Monday.
-----------------
(3rd LD) Capital area bans gatherings of 5 or more people to stem COVID-19 spread
SEOUL -- Gatherings of five or more people will be banned in the greater Seoul area, beginning Wednesday, in a new hard-line measure to combat the spread of the coronavirus, local governments said Monday.
The governments of Seoul and neighboring Gyeonggi Province and Incheon announced the strident assembly restriction measure in time for the upcoming peak season for year-end gatherings and events.
-----------------
Moon affirms 2021 budget use for coronavirus vaccine, treatment development
SEOUL-- President Moon Jae-in said Monday the government will spend a part of South Korea's record amount of science-related budget next year for the development of a COVID-19 vaccine and treatment.
He was chairing the third plenary meeting of the Presidential Advisory Council on Science and Technology at Cheong Wa Dae.
-----------------
(3rd LD) New virus cases under 1,000 on fewer tests, daily death toll hits new high
SEOUL -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell below 1,000 for the first time in six days Monday, mainly due to less testing over the weekend, as health authorities are set to announce new virus restrictions over the Christmas and New Year's Day holiday period. The daily virus death toll also hit a record high amid rising patients.
The country added 926 more COVID-19 cases, including 892 local infections, raising the total caseload to 50,591, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
-----------------
Ruling party chief expresses regret over criticism of new law banning anti-Pyongyang leaflets
SEOUL -- Ruling Democratic Party (DP) Chairman Rep. Lee Nak-yon on Monday voiced his regret over growing criticism that the new law banning the launching of anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border runs afoul of the right to freedom of expression.
Last Monday, the National Assembly, where the DP commands a majority, passed a bill that penalizes the sending of propaganda leaflets critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un or his political system into the North, despite strong objection by opposition lawmakers.
-----------------
Concerns over leafleting ban stems from lack of 'accurate understanding': unification ministry
SEOUL -- Concerns over South Korea's recently legislated ban on sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into North Korea stems from a lack of understanding of the measure, the unification ministry said Monday.
Last week, the ruling Democratic Party rammed the leafleting ban through the National Assembly after forcefully ending a filibuster by the main opposition party objecting to the bill, despite concerns that the ban undermines the right to freedom of expression.
-----------------
(LEAD) Financially troubled SsangYong Motor files for court receivership
SEOUL -- Financially-troubled SsangYong Motor Co. said Monday it has filed for court receivership as it struggles with snowballing debts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision comes after SsangYong Motor, the South Korean unit of Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., failed to pay 60 billion won (US$54.8 million) worth of debts to its creditor banks last week.
-----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks hit record high on pharmaceutical gains
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks closed at a record high Monday as pharmaceutical heavyweights posted strong gains amid the surging new coronavirus cases. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 6.47 points, or 0.23 percent, to close at 2,778.65.
-----------------
S. Korea eyes nurturing key industries as new growth engines
SEOUL -- South Korea said Monday it plans to foster what it calls the "Big 3" industries, namely green cars, biohealth, and non-memory chips, in line with efforts to overcome economic fallout from the virus pandemic and seek sustainable growth.
The combined amount of state funds allocated for the three segments will reach 4.2 trillion won (US$3.8 billion) next year, up 37 percent from 2020, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
(END)


yna--2020-12-21--S. Korea's 2021 public diplomacy plan focuses on contactless projects amid COVID-19

Among the cases is a project by the Consulate General in Sydney to display photos of Australian Korean War veterans @ @ @ @ @ on the wall of an international convention center in Sydney to mark the 70th anniversary @ @ @ @ @ 1950-53 conflict .

SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Monday finalized a public diplomacy plan for 2021 focusing on the use of contactless digital platforms to promote its policies and national image abroad amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the foreign ministry said.
The plan came at a virtual session of a state public diplomacy committee involving officials from the central and provincial governments. Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho led the session.
The plan centers on reshaping the country's public diplomacy strategy in the midst of the pandemic that has disrupted in-person diplomacy with many countries employing various restrictions to stem the spread of the virus.
Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho presides over a virtual public diplomacy committee session at the foreign ministry on Dec. 21, 2020, in this photo provided by the ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Next year, the government and provincial authorities plan to capitalize on social media and other online platforms as "mainstream" tools for public diplomacy and deepen cooperation with civil society and private sectors to enhance diplomatic activities, the ministry said.
"In the era of the new coronavirus, we face restrictions in carrying out in-person diplomacy probably until the early part of next year," a ministry official said. "Thus we cannot help but reinforce non-face-to-face diplomacy."
During Monday's session, the committee recognized more than a dozen exemplary cases of public diplomacy conducted by central and provincial governments, and the country's overseas diplomatic missions.
Among the cases is a project by the Consulate General in Sydney to display photos of Australian Korean War veterans at a subway station and on the wall of an international convention center in Sydney to mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 conflict.
The cases also included a program by the Consulate General in Shanghai, China, to establish a digital content studio, called "On Shanghai," and produce online content in cooperation with local online influencers.
The participants in the session agreed to continue sending out messages of global solidarity to help overcome the global pandemic, and diversify public diplomacy projects to help people in vulnerable countries.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-21--(LEAD) Seoul stocks hit record high on pharmaceutical gains

Bond prices , which move inversely to yields , closed higher .
The yield on three-year Treasurys lost 0.4 basis @ @ @ @ @ and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond fell 2.2 basis points to 1.323 @ @

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed at a record high Monday as pharmaceutical heavyweights posted strong gains amid the surging new coronavirus cases. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 6.47 points, or 0.23 percent, to close at 2,778.65.
Trading volume was high at about 1.1 billion shares worth some 18.7 trillion won (US$17 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 428 to 415.
Foreigners sold a net 8 billion won, while institutions purchased a net 132 billion won. Retail investors offloaded a net 88 billion won.
Electronic signboards at a Hana Bank dealing room in Seoul show the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,778.65 on Dec. 21, 2020, up 6.47 points, or 0.23 percent, from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)
"Morning trading got off to a weak start as positive news from a U.S. stimulus agreement was offset by COVID-19 lockdown concerns," KB Securities analyst Ha In-hwan said.
"But increasing bio gains seem to have pushed up the stock indices (in the afternoon)," he added.
Chip and auto heavyweights, the driving force in the KOSPI's rally last week, fared poorly due to investors' profit-taking, while steel, telecommunications and services advanced.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics finished unchanged at 73,000 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix shed 2.11 percent to 116,000 won.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, fell 1.06 percent to 170,000 won, while top steelmaker POSCO advanced 2.04 percent to 274,500 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics gained 2.62 percent to 823,000 won, and Celltrion jumped 3.09 percent to 367,000 won.
Internet portal giant Naver rose 0.53 percent to 284,000 won, with its rival Kakao adding 3.41 percent to 379,500 won.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem edged up 0.12 percent to 815,000 won, but rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI moved down 0.35 percent to 566,000 won.
The local currency closed at 1,102.7 won per dollar, down 3.0 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed higher. The yield on three-year Treasurys lost 0.4 basis point to 0.959 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond fell 2.2 basis points to 1.323 percent.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-21--(LEAD) Financially troubled SsangYong Motor files for court receivership

SsangYong asked the creditors to roll over the loans but failed to obtain approval from the lenders , the company @ @ @ @ @ The carmaker also failed to pay 90 billion won due on Monday to its main @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: ADDS 2nd photo, details and background throughout)
By Choi Kyong-ae
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- Financially-troubled SsangYong Motor Co. said Monday it has filed for court receivership as it struggles with snowballing debts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision comes after SsangYong Motor, the South Korean unit of Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., failed to pay 60 billion won (US$54.8 million) worth of debts to its creditor banks last week.
SsangYong asked the creditors to roll over the loans but failed to obtain approval from the lenders, the company said in a statement. The carmaker also failed to pay 90 billion won due on Monday to its main creditor, Korea Development Bank.
"The company inevitably decided to file for court receivership as the debt repayment will have a grave impact on business operations," it said.
This file photo taken April 5, 2020, shows SsangYong Motor's plant in Pyeongtaek, 70 km south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Trading in SsangYong shares was halted on the Korean Stock Exchange immediately after the main stock bourse was closed.
On Monday, SsangYong shares plunged 19 percent to 2,770 won, far underperforming the broader KOSPI's 0.2 percent gain.
The SUV-focused carmaker logged net losses in the past 15 consecutive quarters through the third quarter of this year due to lack of new models and tougher competition with local rivals.
Its vehicle sales fell 19 percent on-year to 96,763 units in the January-November period from 119,876 a year earlier.
SsangYong's lineup consists of the flagship G4 Rexton, as well as the Tivoli, Korando and Rexton Sports.
This is the second time for SsangYong to place itself under court receivership after undergoing the same process a decade ago.
China-based SAIC Motor Corp. acquired a 51 percent stake in SsangYong in 2004 but in 2009 relinquished its control of the carmaker in the wake of the economic downturn.
Court receivership is one step short of bankruptcy in South Korea's legal system. In receivership, the court will decide whether and how to revive the company.
In 2011, Mahindra acquired a 70 percent stake in SsangYong for 523 billion won and now holds a 74.65 percent stake in the carmaker.
Mahindra has said it does not have a plan to inject fresh capital into SsangYong and will give up its status as the biggest shareholder of the Korean unit if it finds a new investor.
Mahindra said early this year it would inject 230 billion won into SsangYong for the following three years after obtaining approval from its board. But its board voted against the investment plan last month as the spreading COVID-19 outbreak continues to affect vehicle sales in global markets.
Instead of the proposed 230 billion won, Mahindra said it would consider a "special one-time infusion" of up to 40 billion won over the next three months to help SsangYong continue operations.
This file photo provided by SsangYong Motor shows the all-new Rexton SUV. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-21--S. Korean Bond Yields on Dec. 21, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on Dec. 21, 2020

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


yna--2020-12-21--Seoul stocks hit record high on pharmaceutical gains

`` Morning trading got off to a weak start as positive news from a U.S. stimulus agreement was offset by @ @ @ @ @ KB Securities analyst Ha In-hwan said .

SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed at a record high Monday as pharmaceutical heavyweights posted strong gains amid the surging new coronavirus cases. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 6.47 points, or 0.23 percent, to close at 2,778.65.
Trading volume was high at about 1.1 billion shares worth some 18.7 trillion won (US$17 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 428 to 415.
Foreigners sold a net 8 billion won, while institutions purchased a net 132 billion won. Retail investors offloaded a net 88 billion won.
"Morning trading got off to a weak start as positive news from a U.S. stimulus agreement was offset by COVID-19 lockdown concerns," KB Securities analyst Ha In-hwan said.
"But increasing bio gains seem to have pushed up the stock indices (in the afternoon)," he added.
Chip and auto heavyweights, the driving force in the KOSPI's rally last week, fared poorly due to investors' profit-taking, while steel, telecommunications and services advanced.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics finished unchanged at 73,000 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix shed 2.11 percent to 116,000 won.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, fell 1.06 percent to 170,000 won, while top steelmaker POSCO advanced 2.04 percent to 274,500 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics gained 2.62 percent to 823,000 won, and Celltrion jumped 3.09 percent to 367,000 won.
Internet portal giant Naver rose 0.53 percent to 284,000 won, with its rival Kakao adding 3.41 percent to 379,500 won.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem edged up 0.12 percent to 815,000 won, but rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI moved down 0.35 percent to 566,000 won.
The local currency closed at 1,102.7 won per dollar, down 3.0 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-21--(3rd LD) Capital area bans gatherings of 5 or more people to stem COVID-19 spread

Acting Seoul Mayor Seo Jeong-hyup , while calling on citizens to actively comply with the no-assembly order in a news @ @ @ @ @ scenes in New York and London , where the streets are empty and the cities @ @ @ @ @ also take place in Seoul .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 8-10, 13-15)
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- Gatherings of five or more people will be banned in the greater Seoul area, beginning Wednesday, in a new hard-line measure to combat the spread of the coronavirus, local governments said Monday.
The governments of Seoul and neighboring Gyeonggi Province and Incheon announced the strident assembly restriction measure in time for the upcoming peak season for year-end gatherings and events.
The new administrative order for the restrictions on freedom of assembly will take effect at midnight Tuesday and end on Jan. 3.
Under the new administrative order, only meetings of four or fewer people are allowed in the capital area regardless of whether they are held indoors or outdoors.
The ban on gatherings of five or more people is stronger than under the highest Level 3 social distancing scheme, in which gatherings of 10 or more people are prohibited.
The greater Seoul area is currently under Level 2.5, the second highest in the nation's five-tier social distancing alert system. Level 2.5 bans gatherings with 50 or more people.
The unprecedented assembly restriction measure has been introduced as year-end gatherings, events and travel are expected to increase nationwide amid the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
The latest administrative order, set to be in force through Jan. 3, will apply to all kinds of private, corporate and family gatherings as well as year-end parties.
Exceptionally, however, wedding and funeral ceremonies will still be permitted in consideration of their unique characteristics, as long as the number of participants is fewer than 50.
In case of violations, both business owners and customers will be slapped with fines, administrative sanctions and other penalties.
South Korea reported more than 1,000 daily confirmed cases for five consecutive days over the past week, though the number fell below 1,000 Monday apparently due to fewer tests over the weekend. The capital area accounts for about 70 percent of the national daily caseload.
In Seoul, the number of new daily coronavirus cases rose by an all-time high of 473 on Sunday, breaking the previous record of 423 set only three days ago. Throughout this month, the number of daily cases in the capital has fluctuated between 213 and 473.
Acting Seoul Mayor Seo Jeong-hyup, while calling on citizens to actively comply with the no-assembly order in a news conference, said that the scenes in New York and London, where the streets are empty and the cities are under lockdowns, can also take place in Seoul.
Seo said as many as 157 more people were diagnosed with COVID-19 in Seoul from midnight to 2 p.m. Monday.
Speaking on the growing public concern about hospital bed shortages, Seo said there are only four intensive-care beds available for seriously ill coronavirus patients as of Monday but that his government will increase the number to 105 by the end of this month through cooperation with private general hospitals.
People stand in a long line to take coronavirus tests at a temporary screening center in front of Seoul Station in central Seoul on Dec. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-21--Financially troubled SsangYong Motor files for court receivership

Mahindra has said it does not have a plan to inject fresh capital into SsangYong and will give up its @ @ @ @ @ of the Korean unit if it finds a new investor .

By Choi Kyong-ae
SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) – Financially troubled SsangYong Motor Co. on Monday filed for court receivership as it struggles with snowballing debts amid the COVID-19 pandemic, sources said.
The decision comes after SsangYong Motor, the South Korean unit of Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., failed to pay 60 billion won (US$54.8 million) worth of debts to its three creditor banks last week.
The state-run Korea Development Bank, the main creditor of SsangYong, reportedly was scheduled to decide on whether to roll over 90 billion won in loans due Monday.
The SUV-focused carmaker logged operating losses in the past 15 consecutive quarters due to lack of new models and tougher competition with local rivals.
As a result, its vehicle sales fell 19 percent on-year to 96,763 units in the January-November period.
In 2011, Mahindra acquired a 70 percent stake in SsangYong Motor for 523 billion won and now holds a 74.65 percent stake in the carmaker.
Mahindra has said it does not have a plan to inject fresh capital into SsangYong and will give up its status as the biggest shareholder of the Korean unit if it finds a new investor.
This file photo taken April 5, 2020, shows SsangYong Motor's plant in Pyeongtaek, 70 km south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-21--S. Korea's 5G download speed fastest globally: report

South Korea was the first country to commercialize the latest generation network in April last year and has racked up @ @ @ @ @ users as of end-October , accounting for 14 percent of the country 's total 70 @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has the fastest 5G download speed in the world, reaching over 350 megabits per second (Mbps), a report showed Monday.
The country's 5G download speed stood at an average 351.2 Mbps, followed by Saudi Arabia at 272.8 Mbps and Taiwan at 247.7 Mbps, industry tracker Opensignal said in a report, citing data collected between Sept. 1 and Nov. 29 in 15 global markets with 5G networks.
The result marks an improvement for South Korea from a previous report by Opensignal in October, which had found the country's 5G download speed as the world's second fastest after Saudi Arabia.
Download speeds on 5G across 15 global markets are shown in this image provided by Opensignal on Dec. 21, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) I(Yonhap)
South Korea was the first country to commercialize the latest generation network in April last year and has racked up just under 10 million 5G users as of end-October, accounting for 14 percent of the country's total 70 million mobile subscriptions.
The time South Korean 5G users spent connected to the network, however, stood at 24.6 percent, behind Kuwait at 29 percent and Saudi Arabia at 27.8 percent, according to the Opensignal report.
South Korea has yet to commercialize the standalone version of 5G, requiring support from past generation networks, such as 4G LTE.
The country's three major mobile carriers promised earlier this year to spend up to 25.7 trillion won (US$23.3 billion) until 2022 to update network infrastructure and establish nationwide 5G coverage.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-21--KOSPI 200 Closing Price List-5

KOSPI 200 Closing Price List-5

Netmarble 124,500 DN 1,000 HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUST RIES HOLDI NG S313500 UP5000 ORION 126,500 DN 1,500 HANWHA SYSTEMS 14,750 DN @ @ @ @ @ 4,500 SKCHEM 403,000 UP 17,000 HDC-OP 26,550 UP 200 WooriFinancialGroup 10,000 UP 50 SGBC 51,100 @ @ @ @ @ DN 650 ShinpoongPharm 122,500 DN 27,000 KEPCO 28,050 DN 250 SamsungSecu 42,600 UP 250 KG @ @ @ @ @ SKTelecom 249,000 UP 2,500 S & T MOTIV 48,900 DN 100 HyundaiElev 40,900 0 AEKYUNG @ @ @ @ @ 78,500 UP 6,200 LOTTE SHOPPING 99,600 DN 200 IBK 9,410 UP 50 DONGSUH 31,900 DN @ @ @ @ @ SAMSUNG C & T 127,500 DN 1,500 PanOcean 4,625 UP 145 Celltrion 367,000 UP 11,000 @ @ @ @ @ PHARM 275,500 UP 63,500 HYUNDAIDEPTST 70,400 DN 200 KIH 76,800 UP 1,100 LOTTE Himart 31,150 @ @ @ @ @ 1,200 GS 38,200 UP 150 LIG Nex1 29,950 DN 100 HYUNDAIGLOVIS 180,500 DN 500 HANAFINANCIALGR @ @ @ @ @ 2,505 DN 155 HYUNDAI ROTEM 17,050 UP 200 LGELECTRONICS 94,900 DN 900 AMOREPACIFIC 207,000 DN @ @ @ @

Netmarble 124,500 DN 1,000
HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUST RIES HOLDI NG S313500 UP5000
ORION 126,500 DN 1,500
HANWHA SYSTEMS 14,750 DN 1,450
BGF Retail 137,000 UP 4,500
SKCHEM 403,000 UP 17,000
HDC-OP 26,550 UP 200
WooriFinancialGroup 10,000 UP 50
SGBC 51,100 UP 1,250
CJ CGV 23,650 DN 650
ShinpoongPharm 122,500 DN 27,000
KEPCO 28,050 DN 250
SamsungSecu 42,600 UP 250
KG DONGBU STL 11,450 DN 300
SKTelecom 249,000 UP 2,500
S&T MOTIV 48,900 DN 100
HyundaiElev 40,900 0
AEKYUNG INDUSTRIAL 24,300 DN 500
Yuhan 78,500 UP 6,200
LOTTE SHOPPING 99,600 DN 200
IBK 9,410 UP 50
DONGSUH 31,900 DN 650
SamsungEng 13,000 DN 50
SAMSUNG C&T 127,500 DN 1,500
PanOcean 4,625 UP 145
Celltrion 367,000 UP 11,000
Huchems 24,500 DN 150
DAEWOONG PHARM 275,500 UP 63,500
HYUNDAIDEPTST 70,400 DN 200
KIH 76,800 UP 1,100
LOTTE Himart 31,150 UP 150
HYUNDAIHOMESHOP 83,800 UP 1,200
GS 38,200 UP 150
LIG Nex1 29,950 DN 100
HYUNDAIGLOVIS 180,500 DN 500
HANAFINANCIALGR 36,050 UP 250
HANWHA LIFE 2,505 DN 155
HYUNDAI ROTEM 17,050 UP 200
LGELECTRONICS 94,900 DN 900
AMOREPACIFIC 207,000 DN 1,500
(END)


yna--2020-12-21--KOSPI 200 Closing Price List-4

KOSPI 200 Closing Price List-4

Kangwonland 23,300 UP 100 NAVER 284,000 UP 1,500 Kakao 379,500 UP 12,500 NCsoft 864,000 UP 1,000 KIWOOM 124,000 DN 1,500 @ @ @ @ @ 8,120 DN 30 DWEC 4,610 0 DongwonF & B 180,000 0 KEPCO KPS 31,100 DN @ @ @ @ @ UP 19,000 LGCHEM 815,000 UP 1,000 KEPCO E & C 17,950 DN 400 Fila Holdings @ @ @ @ @ DN 50 SK Innovation 187,500 DN 1,000 POONGSAN 28,200 UP 100 KBFinancialGroup 45,150 UP 200 @ @ @ @ @ HAUSYS 78,500 UP 1,200 Youngone Corp 32,250 0 CSWIND 174,500 DN 5,000 GKL 16,800 UP @ @ @ @ @ 300 HanmiPharm 355,500 UP 2,000 BNK Financial Group 5,830 DN 20 emart 152,500 DN 500 @ @ @ @ @ 00 UP650 KOLMAR KOREA 48,250 UP 2,350 HANJINKAL 60,600 DN 200 DoubleUGames 62,100 UP 200 @ @ @ @ @ 98,700 UP 1,400 MANDO 52,000 DN 900 SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS 823,000 UP 21,000 INNOCEAN 60,700 UP @ @ @ @ @ 450 H.S.ENTERPRISE 13,700 DN 50 Big Hit 158,500 DN 3,500 IlyangPharm 82,000 UP 18,900 ( @ @

Kangwonland 23,300 UP 100
NAVER 284,000 UP 1,500
Kakao 379,500 UP 12,500
NCsoft 864,000 UP 1,000
KIWOOM 124,000 DN 1,500
DSME 26,750 DN 200
DSINFRA 8,120 DN 30
DWEC 4,610 0
DongwonF&B 180,000 0
KEPCO KPS 31,100 DN 550
LGH&H 1,630,000 UP 19,000
LGCHEM 815,000 UP 1,000
KEPCO E&C 17,950 DN 400
Fila Holdings 43,350 DN 450
FOOSUNG 11,450 DN 50
SK Innovation 187,500 DN 1,000
POONGSAN 28,200 UP 100
KBFinancialGroup 45,150 UP 200
Hansae 18,100 UP 650
LG HAUSYS 78,500 UP 1,200
Youngone Corp 32,250 0
CSWIND 174,500 DN 5,000
GKL 16,800 UP 50
KOLON IND 40,550 DN 300
HanmiPharm 355,500 UP 2,000
BNK Financial Group 5,830 DN 20
emart 152,500 DN 500
지HANKOOK TIRE & TEC HNOLOGY402 00 UP650
KOLMAR KOREA 48,250 UP 2,350
HANJINKAL 60,600 DN 200
DoubleUGames 62,100 UP 200
CUCKOO 100,000 UP 2,500
COSMAX 98,700 UP 1,400
MANDO 52,000 DN 900
SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS 823,000 UP 21,000
INNOCEAN 60,700 UP 100
Doosan Bobcat 29,800 DN 450
H.S.ENTERPRISE 13,700 DN 50
Big Hit 158,500 DN 3,500
IlyangPharm 82,000 UP 18,900
(MORE)


yna--2020-12-22--Insurance fraud claims rise 9.5 pct in H1

SEOUL , Dec. 22 ( Yonhap ) -- Fraudulent insurance claims rose 9.5 percent in terms of payments in the @ @ @ @ @ , partly due to a rise in minor fraud by jobless people as the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ the financial regulator said Tuesday .

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- Fraudulent insurance claims rose 9.5 percent in terms of payments in the first half of this year, partly due to a rise in minor fraud by jobless people as the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the economy, the financial regulator said Tuesday.
According to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), insurance scammers took a record 452.6 billion won (US$409.4 million) through wrongful filings during the January-June period, up from 39.2 billion won a year earlier.
The regulator detected 47,417 suspects in the six-month period, up 10 percent from a year earlier.
Although the number of insurance scams involving insurance brokers or agents fell, the number of minor scams involving jobless people, day laborers and restaurant workers increased, the FSS said.
Fraud involving non-life insurance accounted for 92.3 percent of the total false claims.
Fraudulent auto insurance claims amounted to 189.1 billion won, up 6.4 percent from a year ago.
The FSS has been intensifying its crackdown on insurance scams in cooperation with related state agencies, including the prosecution and police.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--S. Korea to spend over 500 bln won on biotech next year

For research into new core biotech industries , the ministry will invest 71 billion won to develop new medicine , @ @ @ @ @ devices , targeting the elderly and the disabled , and 31.1 billion won in regenerative @ @ @ @ @ stem cell technology and others .

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Tuesday it will invest 520 billion won (US$470 million) in biotechnology next year as part of efforts to develop treatment and vaccines for COVID-19.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said the figure represents a 24.9 percent hike from 2020.
The ministry said it will spend 31.7 billion won on COVID-19 treatment and vaccine development next year and 10.2 billion won to acquire technology to respond to new infectious diseases.
For research into new core biotech industries, the ministry will invest 71 billion won to develop new medicine, 61.8 billion won in medical devices, targeting the elderly and the disabled, and 31.1 billion won in regenerative medicine to strengthen research in stem cell technology and others.
The government plans to spend a total 2.2 trillion won on developing new medicine until 2030.
The ministry said it also plans to invest 51.3 billion won to acquire next-generation biotech, such as single-cell analysis.
To treat patients suffering from brain diseases amid the country's rapidly aging population, the ministry will also spend 53.3 billion won on brain-related research.
South Korean biotech and pharmaceutical companies also announced last month a large-scale investment plan to nurture the country's biohealth industry.
Under the plan, 36 pharmaceutical makers and five venture capital firms, including Samsung Biologics Co. and Celltrion Inc., will invest a combined 10 trillion won by 2023 to hone their competitiveness and technological capabilities.
This undated file photo provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT shows its logo at its office in Sejong, around 120 kilometers south of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


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yna--2020-12-22--S. Korea's tech trade at record high last year: data

Technology trade refers to the country 's international technology transactions , such as the use of patents , licenses and @ @ @ @ @ to tech products , according to the Ministry of Science and ICT .

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's technology trade reached an all-time high of US$31.6 billion last year, up 10.1 percent from 2018, government data showed Tuesday.
Technology trade refers to the country's international technology transactions, such as the use of patents, licenses and technical services, as opposed to tech products, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT.
The ICT ministry said outbound technology transfers amounted to $13.8 billion last year, compared with imports of $17.9 billion, leading to a trade deficit of $4.1 billion that highlights South Korea's reliance on foreign technology.
The ratio of tech exports to imports, however, rose last year to 0.77 for the ninth consecutive year from 0.33 in 2010.
By country, South Korea had the largest technology trade with the United States at $9.8 billion, accounting for 30.9 percent of last year's total.
South Korea also had a technology trade deficit of $4.6 billion with the U.S., with ICT ministry data showing that U.S. technology accounted for 40.2 percent of South Korea's total inbound technology transfers last year.
In terms of technology trade surplus, South Korea had the largest surplus with Vietnam last year at $2.4 billion.
The ICT ministry said the trade surplus is likely derived from royalties from South Korean direct investment into the country.
The Ministry of Science and ICT's office in Sejong, around 120 kilometers south of Seoul, is shown in this undated file photo provided by the ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--(3rd LD) S. Korea to impose nationwide ban on gatherings of 5 or more people in virus fight: PM

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

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details, comments in paras 10-13; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will ban private gatherings of five or more people during the upcoming holiday season to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Tuesday.
The new restriction will be part of the government's special antivirus measures in effect from Thursday until Jan. 3, Chung said during an interagency meeting on the COVID-19 pandemic response.
It is an extension of a ban that was previously limited to Seoul and the adjacent Incheon and Gyeonggi Province from Wednesday until Jan. 3.
Skiers wait in line for a lift at a ski slope in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, on Dec. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
"We intend to break the force of the third wave with measures that are stronger than those under Level 3 social distancing," he said, indicating the government remains cautious about adopting the highest level due to its potential economic impact.
"The government will block transmissions in everyday life in practical ways rather than through the formality of adjusting levels," Chung said.
The capital area is currently under Level 2.5, the second highest in a five-tier scheme, as authorities continue to weigh the pros and cons of adopting Level 3 rules.
The rest of the nation is under Level 2.
Chung said ski slopes and other winter sports facilities, as well as popular year-end tourist attractions, will be required to close during the designated period.
Senior care centers and mental hospitals, which have become hotbeds for cluster infections, will limit visits by outsiders and ban their staff from holding private gatherings. Restaurants will also face stricter social distancing rules, he added.
In this file photo taken Dec. 13, 2020, a large shopping mall in Seoul is empty under strict social distancing guidelines against COVID-19. (Yonhap)
Department stores and large supermarkets will be required to make temperature checks on visitors and will be banned from offering samples of food and drinks, officials said.
Fewer than half of rooms at hotels and guesthouses nationwide will be available for reservation during the year-end holiday season, and party venues will be banned during the period, they noted.
"Although these measures are expected to cause inconvenience to many people due to limited use of facilities and cancellation of hotels, they are inevitable," Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health ministry official, said in a briefing.
He said the government will promptly come up with support measures for facilities that are banned or restricted, though he did not elaborate.
The capital area has recently accounted for about 70 percent of the new national daily caseload. In the past week, the country reported more than 1,000 daily confirmed cases for five consecutive days.
On Sunday and Monday, the number fell below 1,000 apparently due to fewer tests over the weekend.
"Yesterday saw a record 110,000 tests, but the number of confirmed cases stood in the 800s, leading us to hope for a turnaround," Chung said. "Christmas and the New Year holiday period must not become a trigger for the coronavirus."
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (R) speaks during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters at the government complex in Seoul on Dec. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--Korea Shipbuilding wins 607.2 bln-won LNG ship order in Panama

Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co. , one of three shipbuilding affiliates of the holding company , will build the three @ @ @ @ @ shipper in Panama by September 2024 , the company said in a regulatory filing .

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., the world's leading shipbuilding group, said Tuesday it has received a 607.2 billion-won (US$549 million) liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship order in Panama.
Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co., one of three shipbuilding affiliates of the holding company, will build the three LNG carriers for an unidentified shipper in Panama by September 2024, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Two other shipbuilding affiliates are Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co.
So far this year, the three shipyards have bagged $9.4 billion worth of orders, achieving 85 percent of this year's order target of $11 billion.
This photo taken Nov. 2, 2020, and provided by Korea Shipbuilding shows an LNG ship built by its main affiliate Hyundai Heavy Industries. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--Unification ministry distributes fact sheet about leafleting ban to diplomatic corps: official

In the fact sheet , the ministry explained that freedom of expression can be subject to certain restrictions when necessary @ @ @ @ @ of residents living in the border areas , citing the possibility of provocations from the @ @

By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- The unification ministry has put together an English-language fact sheet about a recently legislated ban on sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into North Korea and distributed it to foreign diplomatic missions here, an official said Tuesday.
The fact sheet was sent to the missions of over 50 countries, including member countries of the "Peace Club," a consultative channel between Seoul's foreign ministry and envoys from countries that have diplomatic missions in the North.
Other countries include members of the "Korean Peninsula Club," another channel with foreign diplomatic missions stationed in the South that are also accredited to North Korea, the official said.
In the fact sheet, the ministry explained that freedom of expression can be subject to certain restrictions when necessary for the safety and lives of residents living in the border areas, citing the possibility of provocations from the North.
It added that while freedom of expression is a constitutional right, it cannot take precedence over the right to life and safety of residents living near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
"The ministry will seek a broader understanding of the bill by strengthening communication with the international community," another official said.
The ministry's move came after the ruling Democratic Party rammed the leafleting ban through the National Assembly last week, forcefully ending a filibuster by the main opposition party objecting to the bill, despite concerns that the ban undermines the right to freedom of expression.
Many critics, including some U.S. lawmakers and international human rights groups, have expressed concerns about the bill, pointing out it could hurt the freedom of expression and undercut efforts to send outside information into the reclusive North.
Once enacted, the revision to the law on inter-Korean relations will prohibit the launch of anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border, with violators subject to a maximum prison term of three years or a fine of 30 million won (US$27,400).
In this file photo, police officers collect a balloon containing anti-Pyongyang leaflets at a mountain in Hongcheon, a town in South Korea's northeastern province of Gangwon, on June 23, 2020. Fighters for a Free North Korea, a Seoul-based organization of North Korean defectors advocating for North Korean human rights, claimed it sent such balloons toward North Korea in the South Korean border town of Paju, north of Seoul, the previous day. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--Seoul stocks extend losses on virus concerns

Earlier in the morning , the South Korean government rolled out additional antivirus measures , such as banning private gatherings @ @ @ @ @ from Thursday to Jan. 3 across the country .

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks extended losses late Tuesday morning as investors are wary of COVID-19 that is spreading at home and abroad.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 19.34 points, or 0.7 percent, to 2,759.31 as of 11:20 a.m.
Stocks got off to a weak start after the benchmark index closed at an all-time high in the previous session.
Earlier in the morning, the South Korean government rolled out additional antivirus measures, such as banning private gatherings of five or more people from Thursday to Jan. 3 across the country.
It is an extension of a ban that was previously limited to the greater Seoul area from Wednesday until Jan. 3.
Global recovery hopes also weakened over the new strain of the coronavirus in Britain, reportedly up to 70 percent more transmissible than the original COVID-19 illness.
Most large caps traded lower in Seoul.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics declined 0.55 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix shed 2.16 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest carmaker, lost 1.07 percent.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem dropped 1.47 percent, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI moved down 1.24 percent.
Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics retreated 0.85 percent, and Celltrion went down 1.36 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver gained 1.76 percent, with its rival Kakao adding 1.19 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,106.9 won against the U.S. dollar, down 4.2 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--K League's Gwangju FC hire new head coach

Park 's departure put a damper on a 2020 campaign , in which Gwangju , in their first season following @ @ @ @ @ League 2 , finished in the upper tier of the top division .
Earlier this @ @ @ @ @ manager Ki Yeong-ok was charged with embezzlement , which also forced CEO Jeong Weon-ju to @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korean football club Gwangju FC announced their hiring of Kim Ho-young as new head coach Tuesday.
Kim, 51, served as a caretaker boss for FC Seoul for nine matches in 2020. Kim is replacing Park Jin-sup, who left Gwangju after three seasons to become FC Seoul's new full-time head coach.
This file photo from Sept. 13, 2020, shows FC Seoul's caretaker head coach Kim Ho-young during a K League 1 match against Suwon Samsung Bluewings at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Kim was the head coach for Gangwon FC in the late part of the 2011 season. After briefly coaching a college team, Kim returned to the K League 1 as an assistant for FC Seoul at the start of the 2020 season.
Kim then took over on an interim basis after Choi Yong-soo stepped down at the end of July. Kim was in charge for nine matches but resigned after clashing with the front office over his status.
Gwangju said they saw Kim as the right person to bring stability to a club in turmoil.
Park's departure put a damper on a 2020 campaign, in which Gwangju, in their first season following a promotion from the K League 2, finished in the upper tier of the top division. Earlier this month, their former general manager Ki Yeong-ok was charged with embezzlement, which also forced CEO Jeong Weon-ju to step down.
Gwangju named their former head coach Choi Man-heui as new CEO and said Choi will double as general manager.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--S. Korea investigating more suspected highly pathogenic bird flu

The country reported this year 's first highly pathogenic avian influenza case from wild birds in late October .
A @ @ @ @ @ confirmed from wild bird habitats across the country .

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's agricultural ministry said Tuesday it is currently investigating 20 suspected cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza from wild birds.
The country reported this year's first highly pathogenic avian influenza case from wild birds in late October. A total of 33 cases were confirmed from wild bird habitats across the country.
South Korea has so far also reported 18 highly pathogenic bird flu cases from poultry farms, including at a guest ranch, since late November.
On Monday, a suspected case was reported at a chicken farm in Yeoju, 105 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
The virus has spread at a faster pace in South Jeolla Province, which accounted for six infections. Four were from North Jeolla Province.
South Korea also completed culling around 6.1 million poultry, including 4 million chickens and 1.2 million quails.
Under local law, poultry within a 3-km radius of farms infected with highly pathogenic cases must be destroyed.
Quarantine officials block a road to a farm in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province, on Dec. 8, 2020, due to an outbreak of virulent bird flu there. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


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

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

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 9-12, para 14)
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell below 1,000 for the second consecutive day Tuesday, but the nation again recorded its highest daily death toll as health authorities tightened virus curbs to slow the spread of the virus.
The country added 869 more COVID-19 cases, including 824 local infections, raising the total caseload to 51,460, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The tally marked a decline from 926 cases Monday, 1,097 cases Sunday, 1,053 Saturday and 1,062 Friday.
Twenty-four people died from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll to 722. It was the second day in a row that the nation reported its highest daily death total. The fatality rate was 1.4 percent.
Medical workers transport a COVID-19 patient at a hospital in Seoul on Dec. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
With one-day virus caseloads running at all-time highs last week, health authorities were considering whether to raise the country's social distancing guidelines to Level 3, the highest in its five-tier scheme.
However, authorities said they are aiming to contain the current wave of the pandemic without raising virus curbs to Level 3 on concerns over impacts on the economy.
Instead of applying the potential lockdown measure that would deal a severe blow to millions of small merchants, health authorities deployed "targeted" virus curbs.
Starting Wednesday, the greater Seoul area will ban gatherings of five or more people.
Gatherings of more than four people will be banned at restaurants in the greater Seoul area beginning Wednesday. A restaurant owner and customer will face a fine of up to 3 million won (US$2,710) and up to 100,000 won, respectively, in case they are found to have violated the ban.
Across the nation, 16 ski resorts, 35 ice rinks and other winter tourist venues, including Jeongdongjin Beach in Gangwon Province that is one of the most popular beaches for watching the sunrise on New Year's Day, were ordered to be closed from Wednesday until Jan. 3.
Lodging facilities were ordered to open at 50 percent capacity, KDCA officials said.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said the new round of restrictions is aimed at containing the spread of the virus during the Christmas and New Year's holiday seasons.
South Korean authorities have expanded anonymous testing in the greater Seoul area since Dec. 14 to try to find people who are asymptomatic and infected with COVID-19. A total of 609 infections, including 131 cases in the past 24 hours, have been confirmed through such testing so far, the KDCA said.
South Korea has been applying Level 2.5 social distancing rules in the greater Seoul area, home to half of its 51.6 million population, and Level 2 rules in the rest of the country. Starting Wednesday, Level 2.5 rules will be applied for all religious facilities nationwide.
A medical worker holds hand warmers at an outdoor COVID-19 testing station in Seoul on Dec. 21, 2020, amid a cold wave. (Yonhap)
Chains of cluster infections at facilities that include nursing homes and churches, and through private gatherings, continued to pop up.
A relentless spike in virus cases spawned concerns about a shortage of hospital beds and a rise in fatalities. Health authorities issued a rare order to private hospitals last Friday to secure more intensive care beds for COVID-19 patients.
Of the newly identified local infections, 309 cases were reported in Seoul and 193 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital. Incheon, west of Seoul, reported 44 more cases.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's largest port city of Busan adding 26 cases and North Gyeongsang Province reporting 58 new cases.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients reached 281, compared with 274 from the previous day.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 35,928, up 773 from the previous day.
The country, meanwhile, added 45 imported cases, increasing the total to 5,161. Sixteen cases came from the United States, followed by nine from Russia and five from Indonesia.
The country has carried out 3,772,432 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3. The country reported the first case on Jan. 20.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--BTS' 'Dynamite' rebounds to top 10 on Billboard Hot 100 with drop of holiday remix

The rebound came following the release of the song 's holiday remix on Dec. 11 .
The song 's sales @ @ @ @ @ , while streams were up 7 percent to 8.5 million , it added .

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- K-pop superstar BTS' megahit song "Dynamite" has resurged to the top 10 on Billboard's main singles chart this week.
"Dynamite" ranked No. 9 on the Hot 100 chart to be refreshed Tuesday (U.S. local time), up 15 notches from No. 24 last week, Billboard said Monday.
The rebound came following the release of the song's holiday remix on Dec. 11. The song's sales jumped 227 percent to 40,000, while streams were up 7 percent to 8.5 million, it added.
The holiday remix of the song has the addition of Christmas carol-like sounds in the background with a festive and hearty mood.
The chart-topper this week for the Hot 100 was Taylor Swift's "Willow," the main track of "Evermore," the singer's latest album released earlier this month, according to Billboard.
These photos, provided by Big Hit Entertainment, show BTS singing in the music video for the holiday remix version of its hit song "Dynamite." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Billboard also said "Dynamite" rebounded to the top of the Global Excl. U.S. Chart this week from the No. 3 spot last week.
"Dynamite," released on Aug. 21, earned the seven-piece band its first career No. 1 on Billboard's main singles chart. It also helped BTS earn a Grammy nomination in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category.
BTS is set to perform at an online year-end concert featuring artists from Big Hit's labels on Dec. 31.
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Dec. 22 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .

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


yna--2020-12-22--Military reports five new virus cases

Military reports five new virus cases

One Navy officer stationed in the eastern city of Donghae was confirmed to have been infected following an infection of @ @ @ @ @ one of his colleagues at the same unit also contracted the virus , according to @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- Four service members and an civilian worker for the military tested positive for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Tuesday.
One Navy officer stationed in the eastern city of Donghae was confirmed to have been infected following an infection of his family member, and one of his colleagues at the same unit also contracted the virus, according to the ministry.
One Army officer in the border city of Paju tested positive after undergoing a test upon returning from vacation. Contact tracing is under way, the ministry said.
One soldier in Paju and a civilian worker for an Air Force unit in the southeastern city of Daegu also tested positive following their family members' infection, according to the ministry.
The latest cases brought the total number of COVID-19 infections among the military population to 488.
Currently, 880 service members are in isolation in accordance with the health authorities' guidelines, and the military has quarantined an additional 3,766 people under stricter antivirus schemes of its own as a preventive step, according to the ministry.
Nationwide, the country added 869 more COVID-19 cases, including 824 local infections, raising the total caseload to 51,460, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
This file photo taken May 8, 2020, shows service members walking at Seoul Station. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-22--(2nd LD) S. Korea to impose nationwide ban on gatherings of 5 or more people in virus fight: PM

(ATTN: UPDATES paras 1, 3, 8-9; CHANGES headline, lead)
SEOUL, Dec. 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will ban private gatherings of five or more people during the upcoming holiday season to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Tuesday.
The new restriction will be part of the government's special antivirus measures in effect from Thursday until Jan. 3, Chung said during an interagency meeting on the COVID-19 pandemic response.
It is an extension of a ban that was previously limited to Seoul and the adjacent Incheon and Gyeonggi Province from Wednesday until Jan. 3.
Skiers wait in line for a lift at a ski slope in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, on Dec. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
"We intend to break the force of the third wave with measures that are stronger than those under Level 3 social distancing," he said, indicating the government remains cautious about adopting the highest level due to its potential economic impact.
"The government will block transmissions in everyday life in practical ways rather than through the formality of adjusting levels," Chung said.
The capital area is currently under Level 2.5, the second highest in a five-tier scheme, as authorities continue to weigh the pros and cons of adopting Level 3 rules.
The rest of the nation is under Level 2.
Chung said ski slopes and other winter sports facilities, as well as popular year-end tourist attractions, will be required to close during the designated period.
Senior care centers and mental hospitals, which have become hotbeds for cluster infections, will limit visits by outsiders and ban their staff from holding private gatherings. Restaurants will also face stricter social distancing rules, he added.
The capital area has recently accounted for about 70 percent of the new national daily caseload. In the past week, the country reported more than 1,000 daily confirmed cases for five consecutive days.
On Sunday and Monday, the number fell below 1,000 apparently due to fewer tests over the weekend.
"Yesterday saw a record 110,000 tests, but the number of confirmed cases stood in the 800s, leading us to hope for a turnaround," Chung said. "Christmas and the New Year holiday period must not become a trigger for the coronavirus."
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (R) speaks during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters at the government complex in Seoul on Dec. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)