yna--2020-04-16--(5th LD) New virus cases stay below 30 for 4th straight day

`` The government wants to thank election and health officials for completing the parliamentary elections amid the crisis with a @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` But considering the incubation period of COVID-19 , we have to @ @ @ @ @ to see whether our quarantine measures on the voting day have really worked . ''

(ATTN: FIXES figure in 19th para after KCDC's correction)
SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases hovered below 30 for the fourth straight day Thursday, but health authorities are still staying vigilant over imported cases and cluster infections following the parliamentary elections the previous day.
The 22 new cases, detected Wednesday and slightly down from 27 a day ago, brought the nation's total infections to 10,613, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Military medical officials clad in protective suits disinfect chairs at a church in Daegu on April 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Thursday's new virus cases also mark a sharp drop from the Feb. 29 peak of 909 new cases. The country's daily number of new virus cases has been below 50 for the last eight days.
But health authorities remain on high alert over new cases coming from overseas, as well as cluster infections at churches and hospitals.
They are also keeping an eye on those who retested positive for COVID-19. A total of 141 people who had been declared cured have tested positive for COVID-19 again, with 34 of them in their 20s.
Of the 22 new cases, half of them were from overseas.
The nation's death toll from the new coronavirus, which emerged in China late last year, rose by four to 229, according to the KCDC.
The number of patients released from quarantine after making full recoveries reached 7,757, up 141 from a day earlier.
Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said although recent figures related to the novel coronavirus appear to be "positive," the country should not let its guard down after a large number of people went outside to cast their ballots in the parliamentary elections Wednesday.
"The government wants to thank election and health officials for completing the parliamentary elections amid the crisis with a high voter turnout," he said. "But considering the incubation period of COVID-19, we have to wait one or two weeks to see whether our quarantine measures on the voting day have really worked."
A teacher uses an online learning program at an empty classroom at an elementary school in Seoul on April 16, 2020, amid the spread of the novel coronavirus. (Yonhap)
The southeastern city of Daegu, the nation's worst virus-hit region, and its surrounding North Gyeongsang Province each added four new cases.
The total number of cases reported in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province has now reached 6,827 and 1,352, respectively.
Other major provinces and cities also reported infections, with Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province adding two and four new cases, respectively.
The country detected four new cases coming from overseas at border checkpoints. The total number of imported cases is now at 967.
Since April 1, South Korea has enforced mandatory 14-day self-quarantines for all travelers coming from overseas to better contain imported cases.
Seeking to reduce the daily number of new infections to below 50, South Korea has extended strict guidelines on social distancing by two weeks to Sunday.
Health officials urged those in self-isolation to keep quarantine rules, as the number of people breaching such rules have raised public concerns.
As of Wednesday, a total of 231 were caught violating self-isolation orders, with 140 of them facing legal actions.
Among 11,151 self-isolating South Koreans who cast their ballots Wednesday, four of them broke quarantine rules, according to health authorities.
Election officials wearing face masks sort ballot papers to count votes for the general elections at a vote-counting center in Busan on April 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
The government previously announced that those in self-quarantine would be accompanied by health officials from their isolation facilities to polling stations at a separately designated time, but some of them apparently visited other places without the authorities' permission.
South Korea has vowed to show no leniency toward those who breach quarantine rules. Violators could face up to one year in jail or a fine of up to 10 million won (US$8,200), and they will be asked to wear electronic wristbands for the rest of their quarantine period. Foreigners could be deported if they break quarantine rules.
The KCDC said there is little possibility that the virus can be transmitted through patients' blood or feces.
After conducting virus culture tests on 24 blood and fecal samples collected from 74 patients, the KDCD said it found that no virus strain was able to be isolated from blood or feces, meaning it is difficult for COVID-19 to be transmitted through routes other than the respiratory system.
Military medical officials clad in protective suits disinfect a hallway at a middle school in Daegu on April 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Health authorities said local researchers will join clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine in cooperation with the International Vaccine Institute. They said clinical trials are planned in South Korea using a DNA vaccine candidate developed by U.S. pharmaceutical firm Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The KCDC said clinical trials are expected to start in June, with phase one of the trial involving 40 adults and phase two testing 160 adults.
The KCDC said the government is discussing with experts new prevention guidelines that would allow people to return to their daily lives. However, it opposed the idea of issuing immunity certificates to those who have recovered from COVID-19 with antibodies.
"Issuing such immunity certificates would be a hasty decision," said KCDC Deputy Director Kwon Jun-wook. "At this point, we have not fully analyzed antibodies to the virus."
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-16--(LEAD) Moon says he feels 'heavy responsibility' after election victory

`` We have to confront the national crisis we have never before experienced , but ( the government ) will @ @ @ @ @ in the people , '' he said in a statement on the outcome of the @ @ @ @ @ before .

(ATTN: UPDATES with details; ADDS photo, byline)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- Following his party's landslide victory in parliamentary elections, South Korean President Moon Jae-in signaled a "bold" push for policy measures Thursday to defeat the coronavirus and minimize the economic impact from it.
"We have to confront the national crisis we have never before experienced, but (the government) will boldly move ahead with confidence in the people," he said in a statement on the outcome of the parliamentary elections held the day before.
The ruling Democratic Party and its satellite group secured a combined total of 180 seats in the 300-member National Assembly.
It marks the biggest majority any party has claimed since the country's full democratization with the 1987 constitutional revision.
Moon described the election results as a "great choice of the people."
He said the people were so eager to ride out the crisis and added "force" to his administration.
"I feel a sense of heavy responsibility with the whole body before delight," the president said." "I will never be conceited and will listen to the voice of the people more humbly."
This file photo, from April 10, 2020, shows President Moon Jae-in casting his ballot in early voting for the April 15 general elections. (Yonhap)
Moon pointed out that South Korea held the national elections in the midst of the pandemic.
Voters abided by the social distancing and other quarantine rules, and even those in self-isolation participated in the polls in an orderly way, leading to a "miraculous turnout" of 66.2 percent, or 29 million votes, according to Moon.
The election "amazed the world once again," he said. South Korea has already won global plaudits for having effectively slowed the spread of the disease through early testing and treatment.
In a meeting with his aides earlier in the day, Moon expressed hope that the in-person election would not affect the country's anti-infection efforts, a Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters.
He instructed close monitoring of self-isolating voters' health and that of poll workers.
Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok reads out President Moon Jae-in's statement on general election results, in Seoul, on April 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-16--11 S. Korean businessmen return home from Mali amid coronavirus lockdown

It was not easy for the South Korean Embassy in Senegal -- the mission responsible due to the absence of @ @ @ @ @ Mali -- to find ways to help them return as flight operations in the region @ @ @ @

By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- Eleven South Korean businessmen, who had been stranded in Mali due to the coronavirus lockdown there, returned home Thursday after a long journey made possible by helping hands from many foreign countries, including Belgium, officials said.
The employees of Haejeon Industrial Co., a dam construction company in southwestern South Korea, were stuck in the West African nation for over a month as Mali declared a nationwide lockdown and closed its border in mid-March to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
It was not easy for the South Korean Embassy in Senegal -- the mission responsible due to the absence of a Korean diplomatic presence in Mali -- to find ways to help them return as flight operations in the region have been suspended.
The Korean embassy in Senegal had asked its foreign partners who run embassies there, such as the United States, Britain, France and Belgium, to contact them if they learn of any special flights planning to depart from Mali.
Good news came in late last week when the U.S. Embassy in Mali informed the Korean mission in Senegal that a Belgian military aircraft was preparing to fly out to help dozens of its own citizens and foreigners return home.
In the course of arranging the evacuation for the Koreans, Belgium's current ambassador to Mali, Adrien Theatre, played a key role in allowing the Koreans to board the military plane, according to foreign ministry officials in Seoul.
In an exception to Belgium's entry ban on foreigners currently in place, the 11 businessmen were also permitted to spend a night at a hotel near the airport in Belgium, before they traveled to Qatar to board a flight home, the officials said.
Theatre previously served as ambassador to South Korea from 2016-18.
Aboard the Belgian military plane, equipped to carry about 50 people, were its own nationals, American and European citizens and the 11 Koreans. The Haejeon employees arrived at Incheon International Airport on Thursday afternoon.
This photo, provided by the South Korean Embassy in Brussels on April 15, 2020, shows a Belgian military aircraft after it arrived from Mali, carrying its own citizens and foreigners, including 11 South Korean businesspeople who had been stranded in the West African nation due to the coronavirus lockdown there. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-16--(2nd LD) Ruling party wins landslide in parliamentary elections amid pandemic

`` ( I feel ) heavy responsibility prior to the joy of victory when seeing the election results , '' @ @ @ @ @ in a meeting at the National Assembly on Thursday .
`` ( We ) will @ @ @ @ @ coming from ) the new coronavirus , with an exemplary attitude , and preemptively and @ @ @ @ @ that threatens people 's livelihoods and the national economy . ''

(ATTN: UPDATES with figures in paras 5, 9, minor edits throughout)
By Kim Soo-yeon and Lee Minji
SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in's ruling party clinched a landslide victory in parliamentary elections, which is set to give it an upper hand in pushing ahead with its agenda as the country faces a virus pandemic and an economic slowdown.
In the quadrennial election, held as scheduled on Wednesday despite the coronavirus pandemic, the Democratic Party (DP) and its satellite group secured a combined 180 seats in the 300-seat unicameral National Assembly, according to data from the National Election Commission (NEC) on Thursday.
This is nearly double the 103 seats obtained by the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) and its sister party. It also marks the biggest majority any party has claimed since the country's transition to democracy in 1987.
This photo, taken on April 15, 2020, shows officials of the Democratic Party and its satellite party posing in front of a board at the National Assembly in Seoul showing seats the parties have secured in the general elections. (Yonhap)
Of the 253 directly contested seats, the DP won 163 seats, followed by the UFP with 84 seats, the liberal Justice Party with one seat, and independent candidates with five seats.
Of the 47 proportional representation slots, the parties affiliated with the UFP and DP secured 19 and 17 seats, respectively. The Justice Party won five seats, while the People's Party and the Open Democratic Party got three seats each, according to the election watchdog.
The elections, held in the midst of South Korea's battle against COVID-19, was seen as a referendum on President Moon Jae-in, who has two more years in office.
Moon's approval rating fell to the 30 percent level at one point last year, hit by a prolonged economic slowdown and a political scandal involving former Justice Minister Cho Kuk.
But the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis has changed public sentiment, as illustrated in recent polls in which Moon's approval rating shot up to over 50 percent.
South Korea has reported a caseload of 10,613 since its first infection on Jan. 20. It recorded fewer than 30 new virus cases on Thursday for the fourth straight day.
The DP's victory will enable Moon to manage state affairs stably during the rest of his single, five-year term. It will prop up Moon's reform initiatives, including the reform of the prosecution.
With 180 seats, the ruling bloc would be able to fast-track the passage of bills without support from other parties.
Observers say it would be capable of "doing everything" in parliament except constitutional revision, which requires at least 200 votes on the floor.
It would enable the DP to avoid political squabbles in pushing for key reform bills, unlike during the outgoing session of the National Assembly.
Graphic This graphic shows the estimated number of seats won by parties in the April 15 general elections. (Yonhap)
The general elections, one of the world's first elections to be held amid the coronavirus pandemic, was carried out with extra precautions.
The election watchdog prioritized safety to prevent potential exposure to the risk of infection.
Voters wearing face masks had their temperatures checked at the entrance. They disinfected their hands with sanitizers and put on plastic gloves before casting ballots. To keep social distancing rules, voters were advised to stand at least 1 meter apart from others.
Despite the virus, more than 29 million voters hit the polls, resulting in a provisional voter turnout of 66.2 percent, the highest in 28 years. Turnout in early voting also hit a record 26.7 percent.
"(I feel) heavy responsibility prior to the joy of victory when seeing the election results," DP chairman Lee Hae-chan said in a meeting at the National Assembly on Thursday. "(We) will beat the national crisis (coming from) the new coronavirus, with an exemplary attitude, and preemptively and actively cope with the crisis that threatens people's livelihoods and the national economy."
Among notable DP winners were Lee Nak-yon, the former prime minister who co-spearheaded the ruling party's election campaign. Lee beat UFP heavyweight Hwang Kyo-ahn in the politically symbolic constituency of Jongno in central Seoul, effectively solidifying his stature as a strong presidential candidate.
The UFP, meanwhile, suffered a painstaking blow, marking its third straight defeat in elections held since the 2017 ouster of conservative President Park Geun-hye over a massive corruption scandal.
The conservative party failed to win over voters, though it highlighted the government's failure to prop up the economy and stressed the need to keep the DP in check.
Party leader Hwang resigned from the chairmanship to take responsibility for the UFP's defeat.
Kim Chong-in, the veteran politician who helped shape the conservative bloc's campaign, apologized over the result.
"I acknowledge that the UFP's change (in attitude) was insufficient. I feel apologetic for asking (the voters) to support a party that did not have the basics right."
At the same time, he asked the people to support the embattled party.
"Even if (the party) is insufficient and not likable, (people) need to keep the main opposition party alive for the country's future. I sincerely ask so."
Election officials are seen manually counting proportional representation votes at a high school in Jongno Ward in Seoul on April 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-16--Some preseason baseball games moved from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Both the preseason and the regular season schedules this year are predicated on how well the virus is deemed to @ @ @ @ @ number of new cases in South Korea has stayed below 30 for the past several @ @ @ @ @ will meet with team presidents next Tuesday to settle on the new Opening Day .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean baseball league on Thursday moved half of scheduled preseason games from afternoon to evening to allow players to get accustomed to playing under the lights.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) has tentatively set a 20-game exhibition season to start next Tuesday, which may still change depending on the situation with the coronavirus. For now, the league's 10 clubs are set to play four games each through April 27, for a total of 20 games over a seven-day span.
All 20 games were set for 2 p.m. starts, but 10 of them will instead begin at 6 p.m. This is to let players have a few more night games under their belt before the regular season, which could start as early as May 1.
LG Twins players practice at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on April 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Teams have been alternating between practices and intrasquad games since early March, and they've not been permitted to face other teams, in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. They have had a few scrimmages under the lights, and in normal springs in the past, teams have always asked the KBO to move some afternoon preseason games to 6 p.m.
Both the preseason and the regular season schedules this year are predicated on how well the virus is deemed to have been contained. The number of new cases in South Korea has stayed below 30 for the past several days, and the KBO will meet with team presidents next Tuesday to settle on the new Opening Day.
The preseason was originally set for March 14-24, with the regular season to follow on March 28. The coronavirus pandemic threw a wrench into that plan.
If it goes ahead, the new preseason will ensure a minimum amount of traveling for teams, and only those in close proximity to one another will square off so that they won't have to spend the night in a road city.
For instance, three clubs in Seoul, the Doosan Bears, LG Twins and Kiwoom Heroes, will only play one another plus the SK Wyverns in Incheon, about 40 kilometers west of the capital, and the KT Wiz in Suwon, some 45 kilometers south of Seoul.
The Samsung Lions in Daegu, the Lotte Giants in Busan and the NC Dinos in Changwon will mostly stay in the southeastern part of the country. The Lions and the Dinos will each make one visit to Gwangju in the southwest to play the Kia Tigers.
Kia Tigers players gather around the mound at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, after the end of an intrasquad game on April 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Hanwha Eagles, based in the central city of Daejeon, will travel a bit east to Daegu for a game against the Lions, and then a little north to face the Wiz in Suwon.
The current, two-week social distancing campaign is set to end Sunday. The government will decide later this week whether to extend or ease the drive.
If the nationwide campaign goes on for another two weeks, the KBO will have to push back both the preseason and regular season. The league is hoping to salvage a full, 144-game season, even with a delayed May start, and has already prepared a contingency plan to hold all postseason games beyond Nov. 15 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, the country's only domed ballpark, as a neutral venue.
COVID-19 has forced premature cancellations of pro basketball and volleyball seasons. The K League's pro football season, which was supposed to kick off on Feb. 29, also remains on hold.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

In the quadrennial election , held as scheduled on Wednesday despite the coronavirus pandemic , the Democratic Party and its @ @ @ @ @ have secured a combined 180 seats in the 300-seat unicameral National Assembly , according to @ @ @ @ @ Commission ( NEC ) on Thursday .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Thursday.
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(LEAD) Ruling party wins landslide in parliamentary elections amid pandemic
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in's ruling party clinched a landslide victory in parliamentary elections, which is set to give it an upper hand in pushing ahead with its agenda as the country faces a virus pandemic and an economic slowdown.
In the quadrennial election, held as scheduled on Wednesday despite the coronavirus pandemic, the Democratic Party and its satellite group were estimated to have secured a combined 180 seats in the 300-seat unicameral National Assembly, according to data from the National Election Commission (NEC) on Thursday.
-----------------
Moon says he feels 'heavy responsibility' after election victory
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in said Thursday he feels a sense of "heavy responsibility" rather than delight over the ruling party's crushing victory in this week's parliamentary elections.
In a statement, he described the election results as a "great choice of the people."
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(2nd LD) USFK removes travel restrictions for Daegu after decline in
SEOUL -- U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Thursday it has removed travel restrictions for South Korea's southeastern city of Daegu as new coronavirus cases in the area have been on the decline recently.
In February, USFK designated Daegu as a coronavirus "hot spot" and banned all service members from making nonessential travel to, from and around the city, as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases there began to surge sharply.
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(LEAD) N. Korean defector wins first-ever constituency seat in parliament
SEOUL -- A high-profile North Korean defector won a constituency seat in this week's general elections, becoming the first person hailing from the communist nation to be chosen directly by South Korean voters as their representative.
Thae Yong-ho, a former No. 2 diplomat at North Korea's Embassy in London, was elected to the National Assembly as the main conservative opposition United Future Party's candidate in Seoul's southern affluent district of Gangnam.
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(LEAD) BOK to launch special loan scheme for banks, brokerages, insurers
SEOUL -- South Korea's central bank said Thursday it will launch a special loan scheme that allows local banks, brokerages and insurers to help fend off a possible funding crunch and easily access credit amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Under the special loan program of 10 trillion won (US$8.1 billion), which will begin from May 4 for three months, local banks, brokerages and insurers can take out special loans against collateral from the Bank of Korea (BOK).
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(LEAD) More students resume classes online but networks remain unstable
SEOUL -- An additional 3.12 million elementary and secondary students began the spring semester Thursday by participating in online classes amid the nationwide battle against the coronavirus, but the unprecedented tele-education was marred by network access problems at many places.
Under the government's three-step plan, first and second graders at middle schools and high schools, as well as fourth to sixth graders at elementary schools, began the new semester through remote learning.
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(END)


yna--2020-04-16--Actor Lee Min-ho returns to small screen with fantasy romance 'The King'

`` I 've been on a hiatus for about three years , and that time was very important for me @ @ @ @ @ , '' the 32-year-old actor said in an online press conference .
`` I 've @ @ @ @ @ years and thought of what to do in the future .
At that moment , @ @ @ @ @ producers of this series . ''

By Kim Boram
SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean star actor Lee Min-ho said Thursday that his latest television project, "The King: Eternal Monarch," will be a turning point in his acting career of nearly 20 years.
"I've been on a hiatus for about three years, and that time was very important for me as I've turned 30," the 32-year-old actor said in an online press conference. "I've looked back through my past years and thought of what to do in the future. At that moment, I received a call from producers of this series."
This combined image provided by SBS shows characters of "The King: Eternal Monarch." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Lee, who debuted in 2003 and soared to stardom with the 2009 drama series "Boys Over Flowers," left the entertainment scene due to the two-year mandatory military service in 2017, following his last TV drama series, "Legend of the Blue Sea" (2016).
Discharged from the military in April last year, he chose "The King," set to air on Friday through SBS, for his return project. It is one of the most anticipated dramas thanks to the reunion of Lee and renowned screenwriter Kim Eun-sook after "The Heirs" (2013).
Kim is known as the most sought-after drama writer in South Korea for a number of smash-hit TV series including "Descendants of the Sun" (2016), "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" (2016) and "Mr. Sunshine" (2018).
"When I first read the script, I was so eager to participate in this project and I wanted to do it well," he said. "I decided to go with this drama as I knew Kim's influence on the Korean entertainment circle."
In the 16-episode fantasy drama about two parallel universes, Lee takes the title role of Lee Gon, emperor of the Korean Empire in the past, who goes over to the present-day Republic of Korea after a time portal opens due to unknown reasons.
Lee said his character is a scientific and mathematical person who likes to extract the right answer to a problem, but is very sincere and warmhearted at the same time.
"He wants a clear answer and focuses on the process of solving problems," he said. "He looks a bit slow, but his words have power and sincerity."
Kim Go-eun, who takes on two different roles, as a detective in the present and a criminal in the past, said viewers will love "The King" for its unique setting in parallel universes and attractive characters.
It is her second time working with author Kim Eun-sook following the hit drama "Guardian."
"This drama is about two parallel worlds and has many details. All the characters are memorable and sweet," she said. "I'm doing my best to live up to the expectations of the screenwriter and fans."
Directed by Baek Sang-hoon, "The King" will also be available simultaneously on Netflix from Friday.
This photo provided by SBS shows Lee Min-ho (L) and Kim Go-eun, who play the lead roles of "The King: Eternal Monarch," posing at a press conference in Seoul on April 16, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-16--Journalist quarantined in N. Korea says strict guidelines were in place

Roh Geum-soon , a journalist at the Choson Sinbo , a pro-North Korea newspaper in Japan , also said in @ @ @ @ @ that she was not allowed to go out of her hotel in Pyongyang during the @ @ @

SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- A reporter quarantined for nearly a month in North Korea has said the communist nation was following strict coronavirus guidelines, including taking the temperatures of those quarantined three times a day.
Roh Geum-soon, a journalist at the Choson Sinbo, a pro-North Korea newspaper in Japan, also said in a YouTube video posted Sunday that she was not allowed to go out of her hotel in Pyongyang during the quarantine period.
Roh said she was quarantined for 30 days, though she did not specify the exact dates.
"Six days before the World Health Organization declared the pandemic, on January 24, (North Korea) launched a national emergency system and followed its own anti-virus measures," Roh said in the video posted on the YouTube channel Pyongtong run by a group of Korean-Japanese people.
North Korea has closed all ports of entry by land, sea and air as part of its efforts to block the COVID-19 virus from entering the country.
All foreigners and overseas Koreans entering the country have since been taken to an isolated facility in Pyongsong city in South Pyongan Province, Roh said.
Roh said doctors checked her body temperature three times a day, and people whose body temperatures reached over 37.5 C were taken to the isolated facility in Pyongsong.
"Without a mask, we were not allowed to ride the bus, or go inside shops or offices ... they were that strict," she said.
North Korea also ordered its people to wear masks, with the goal of producing tens of thousands in factories and homes, according to Roh.
North Korea has not reported any COVID-19 virus infections, but it has called for nationwide efforts to prevent an outbreak in the country, including intensified border controls and a tightened quarantine process.
Roh Geum-soon (L), a journalist at the Choson Sinbo, speaks about her quarantine experience in North Korea on a video posted on Pyongtong TV, a Youtube channel run by a group of Korean-Japanese people, in this image captured from the channel on April 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-16--(4th LD) New virus cases stay below 30 for 4th straight day

(ATTN: ADDS more info in 25th para; 4th photo)
SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases hovered below 30 for the fourth straight day Thursday, but health authorities are still staying vigilant over imported cases and cluster infections following the parliamentary elections the previous day.
The 22 new cases, detected Wednesday and slightly down from 27 a day ago, brought the nation's total infections to 10,613, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Military medical officials clad in protective suits disinfect chairs at a church in Daegu on April 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Thursday's new virus cases also mark a sharp drop from the Feb. 29 peak of 909 new cases. The country's daily number of new virus cases has been below 50 for the last eight days.
But health authorities remain on high alert over new cases coming from overseas, as well as cluster infections at churches and hospitals.
They are also keeping an eye on those who retested positive for COVID-19. A total of 141 people who had been declared cured have tested positive for COVID-19 again, with 34 of them in their 20s.
Of the 22 new cases, half of them were from overseas.
The nation's death toll from the new coronavirus, which emerged in China late last year, rose by four to 229, according to the KCDC.
The number of patients released from quarantine after making full recoveries reached 7,757, up 141 from a day earlier.
Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said although recent figures related to the novel coronavirus appear to be "positive," the country should not let its guard down after a large number of people went outside to cast their ballots in the parliamentary elections Wednesday.
"The government wants to thank election and health officials for completing the parliamentary elections amid the crisis with a high voter turnout," he said. "But considering the incubation period of COVID-19, we have to wait one or two weeks to see whether our quarantine measures on the voting day have really worked."
A teacher uses an online learning program at an empty classroom at an elementary school in Seoul on April 16, 2020, amid the spread of the novel coronavirus. (Yonhap)
The southeastern city of Daegu, the nation's worst virus-hit region, and its surrounding North Gyeongsang Province each added four new cases.
The total number of cases reported in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province has now reached 6,827 and 1,352, respectively.
Other major provinces and cities also reported infections, with Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province adding two and four new cases, respectively.
The country detected four new cases coming from overseas at border checkpoints. The total number of imported cases is now at 967.
Since April 1, South Korea has enforced mandatory 14-day self-quarantines for all travelers coming from overseas to better contain imported cases.
Seeking to reduce the daily number of new infections to below 50, South Korea has extended strict guidelines on social distancing by two weeks to Sunday.
Health officials urged those in self-isolation to keep quarantine rules, as the number of people breaching such rules have raised public concerns.
As of Wednesday, a total of 231 were caught violating self-isolation orders, with 140 of them facing legal actions.
Among 11,151 self-isolating South Koreans who cast their ballots Wednesday, six of them broke quarantine rules, according to health authorities.
Election officials wearing face masks sort ballot papers to count votes for the general elections at a vote-counting center in Busan on April 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
The government previously announced that those in self-quarantine would be accompanied by health officials from their isolation facilities to polling stations at a separately designated time, but some of them apparently visited other places without the authorities' permission.
South Korea has vowed to show no leniency toward those who breach quarantine rules. Violators could face up to one year in jail or a fine of up to 10 million won (US$8,200), and they will be asked to wear electronic wristbands for the rest of their quarantine period. Foreigners could be deported if they break quarantine rules.
The KCDC said there is little possibility that the virus can be transmitted through patients' blood or feces.
After conducting virus culture tests on 24 blood and fecal samples collected from 74 patients, the KDCD said it found that no virus strain was able to be isolated from blood or feces, meaning it is difficult for COVID-19 to be transmitted through routes other than the respiratory system.
Military medical officials clad in protective suits disinfect a hallway at a middle school in Daegu on April 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Health authorities said local researchers will join clinical trials for a coronavirus vaccine in cooperation with the International Vaccine Institute. They said clinical trials are planned in South Korea using a DNA vaccine candidate developed by U.S. pharmaceutical firm Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc.
The KCDC said clinical trials are expected to start in June, with phase one of the trial involving 40 adults and phase two testing 160 adults.
The KCDC said the government is discussing with experts new prevention guidelines that would allow people to return to their daily lives. However, it opposed the idea of issuing immunity certificates to those who have recovered from COVID-19 with antibodies.
"Issuing such immunity certificates would be a hasty decision," said KCDC Deputy Director Kwon Jun-wook. "At this point, we have not fully analyzed antibodies to the virus."
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-08--Pompeo: U.S. remains hopeful N. Korea will denuclearize

Pompeo made the remark during a press briefing at the State Department as tensions persist over North Korea 's threat @ @ @ @ @ strategic weapon '' in the near future .

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- The United States remains hopeful North Korea will dismantle its nuclear weapons program as promised by its leader Kim Jong-un, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday.
Pompeo made the remark during a press briefing at the State Department as tensions persist over North Korea's threat to showcase a "new strategic weapon" in the near future.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


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yna--2020-01-07--U.S. ambassador expresses hope S. Korea will send forces to Strait of Hormuz

The ambassador said the `` door remains open for negotiations '' with North Korea , but also warned that the @ @ @ @ @ fight tonight if need be , '' when asked about the U.S. plan for the @ @ @ @ @ an intercontinental ballistic missile in the near future .

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. ambassador to South Korea on Tuesday expressed hope Seoul will send troops to help safeguard the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz amid heightening tensions in Middle East following the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general last week.
Amb. Harry Harris made the remarks in an interview with South Korean broadcaster KBS. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, was killed in a drone strike on Friday.
"I would hope that Korea will send forces out there," Harris said, noting that South Korea gets "so much of" its "energy from the Middle East."
The airstrike has raised expectations that Washington will step up calls for its allies to contribute to maritime security operations in the waterway that hosts key shipping lanes for 20 percent of world oil trade and more than 70 percent of South Korea's oil imports.
Earlier in the day, Seoul's foreign ministry said no decision has been made yet on whether to send troops to the region, adding that an interagency review is under way in consideration of the need to protect South Korean ships and nationals that pass through the strait.
Regarding the defense cost-sharing talks between Seoul and Washington, Harris said the two sides are at the final stage of their negotiations.
"We have compromised our position, so we'll see what the outcome is next week," he said, referring to the next round of meetings between the two sides expected to take place in Washington.
Touching on North Korea, Harris said he wants to see "progress toward denuclearization in lockstep with success or progress in inter-Korean relations," adding that issues such as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to South Korea "should be done in consultations with" the United States.
Earlier in the day, President Moon Jae-in called for efforts to create conditions to materialize Kim's visit to Seoul.
The ambassador said the "door remains open for negotiations" with North Korea, but also warned that the U.S. is "ready to fight tonight if need be," when asked about the U.S. plan for the North's possible launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile in the near future.
In this file photo, taken on Sept. 6, 2019, U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Harry Harris speaks during a launch ceremony for South Korea's seventh medical helicopter at Ajou University Hospital in Suwon, south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-01-07--(LEAD) Ministry says no decision yet on whether to send S. Korean troops to Hormuz Strait

Seoul 's foreign ministry has launched an internal team to handle the upsurge in tensions in the Middle East .
@ @ @ @ @ an interagency working-level meeting to discuss measures to handle the possible fallout from the tensions @ @ @ @ @ fluctuations .

(ATTN: ADDS more info in last 4 paras)
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has made no decision yet on whether to send its troops to help safeguard the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday, amid rising tensions in the Middle East from the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general last week.
Friday's fatal drone strike on Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, has raised expectations that Washington will step up calls for its allies to contribute to maritime security operations in the waterway that hosts key shipping lanes for more than 70 percent of South Korea's oil imports.
"We are carrying out an interagency review in consideration of the need to protect South Korean ships and nationals that pass through the strait, and the ongoing international security efforts there," Kim In-chul, the ministry spokesperson, told a regular press briefing.
"No decision has been made yet. ... We will continue to contribute to international efforts for stability in that region," he added.
This photo, taken April 23, 2019, shows Kim In-chul, spokesperson for the foreign ministry, speaking during a press briefing at the ministry in Seoul. (Yonhap)
South Korea has reportedly been weighing the option of using its anti-piracy Cheonghae unit operating off the Somali coast to partake in a U.S.-led campaign to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz.
But it has been walking a tightrope as it seeks to balance increased security contributions as an ally of the U.S. with exploring ways to maintain its long-standing trade relations with the Islamic republic.
Seoul's foreign ministry has launched an internal team to handle the upsurge in tensions in the Middle East. It has also been leading an interagency working-level meeting to discuss measures to handle the possible fallout from the tensions, such as oil price fluctuations.
Later on Tuesday, the ministry held a meeting with South Korean companies with operations in Iraq and called for stepped-up efforts to ensure the safety of those stationed there.
Deputy Foreign Minister for Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs Lee Sang-jin, who presided over the meeting, explained government measures to protect its citizens and stressed the importance of close communication between the government and the companies, according to the ministry.
The Seoul government has imposed a travel ban on Iraq, but has given exceptional permits for those involved in business, government and media.
The majority of the roughly 1,570 South Koreans currently in Iraq are employees of major construction firms that have clinched projects in the country.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-07--S. Korea co-chairs NATO-run fund for Afghanistan security forces

A co-chair convenes an annual plenary session of the board in the second quarter , together with the secretary general @ @ @ @ @ well as other meetings in Afghanistan with a local representative , it said .

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has become a co-chair of the board of a NATO-run international fund to help bolster Afghan security forces, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday.
South Korea started its one-year term on Monday on the board of the Afghan National Army Trust Fund, according to the ministry. The board monitors and reviews the fund's cost effectiveness, financial integrity and accountability.
A co-chair convenes an annual plenary session of the board in the second quarter, together with the secretary general of the NATO, as well as other meetings in Afghanistan with a local representative, it said.
The last plenary meeting took place in June.
"Through this role as the co-chair of the board, we expect to engage more actively in international efforts to support Afghanistan and boost cooperation with NATO as well," the ministry said in a release.
(END)


yna--2020-01-07--S. Korea cruises past Indonesia at Olympic women's volleyball qualifying tournament

Indonesia tried to give the heavily favored South Korea a run for its money early on , and the teams @ @ @ @ @ the first set .
South Korea pulled ahead to 14-12 .
And then from 14-13 @ @ @ @ @ , scoring four straight points with a spike and three blocks in a row .
@ @ @ @ @ set 25-18 .

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea enjoyed a breezy victory over Indonesia to begin its Olympic women's volleyball qualifying tournament on Tuesday in Thailand.
Captain Kim Yeon-koung scored a match-best 12 points, as world No. 9 South Korea dispatched the 117th-ranked Indonesia 3-0 (25-18, 25-10, 25-9) in Pool B action at Korat Chatchai Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
The winner of this qualifying event will advance to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Coached by Italian Stefano Lavarini, South Korea is trying to make it to its third straight Summer Games.
South Korea will next play Iran (world No. 39) on Wednesday and Kazakhstan (No. 23) on Thursday.
Seven teams have been divided into two groups, with the host country Thailand in Pool A with Chinese Taipei and Australia. The two best teams from each group will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, followed by the final on Sunday, all at Korat Chatchai Hall.
In this photo provided by FIVB on Jan. 7, 2020, South Korean players celebrate a point against Indonesia in their Pool B match of the Asian Olympic women's volleyball qualification tournament at Korat Chatchai Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Indonesia tried to give the heavily favored South Korea a run for its money early on, and the teams were tied at 12-12 in the first set. South Korea pulled ahead to 14-12. And then from 14-13, Kim went to work, scoring four straight points with a spike and three blocks in a row. South Korea took the opening set 25-18.
South Korea claimed the next set 25-10 in just 21 minutes. With her team up 7-4, Kim picked up three straight aces to blow it wide open, and South Korea had the next four points as well for a 14-4 lead.
South Korea charged out to a 5-0 lead to start the third set, and the lead quickly ballooned to 10-2 as South Korea went on to close out an easy win.
Six players contributed at least seven points apiece for South Korea, who enjoyed a 13-1 advantage in aces and a 9-0 edge in blocks.
Kim, one of the world's best wing spikers, led all players in scoring despite sitting out most of the second set and the entire third set.
In this photo provided by FIVB on Jan. 7, 2020, Kim Yeon-koung of South Korea (L) hits a spike past Shella Bernadetha Onnan of Indonesia in their Pool B match of the Asian Olympic women's volleyball qualification tournament at Korat Chatchai Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-07--(LEAD) FM meets new top Japanese envoy amid soured ties

Despite the gap in the two sides ' stances , President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held @ @ @ @ @ month where they agreed to make efforts to resolve the pending issues through dialogue .
@ @ @ @ @ their first one-on-one meeting in more than a year .

(ATTM: ADDS more info in paras 3-4, 11-13; CHANGES photo)
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with new Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Koji Tomita on Tuesday as South Korea and Japan seek to mend ties badly frayed over wartime history and trade.
Tomita's courtesy call on Kang marked the first time the two have met since the veteran Japanese diplomat, known for his past service in Korea, arrived in Seoul early last month to replace predecessor Yasumasa Nagamine.
"I think your visit is meaningful as you are the first foreign guest (to the ministry) this year," Kang said after exchanging New Year's greetings with the Japanese envoy.
Tomita responded, "It is an honor that you greeted me as the first foreign guest in 2020."
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (R) speaks with new Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Koji Tomita at the foreign ministry in Seoul on Jan. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
Upon arriving in Seoul on Dec. 3, Tomita pledged to play a "bridge-building" role to help address the discord between the two countries.
Seoul-Tokyo relations dipped to the lowest point in years last year after Tokyo tightened export controls on key industrial materials vital to South Korean tech firms and removed Seoul from its list of favored trading partners.
Seoul interpreted those measures as retaliation for South Korean Supreme Court's rulings in late 2018 that ordered Japanese companies to compensate Korean victims of forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
Seoul hit back by declaring an end to a bilateral military information-sharing pact with Tokyo. But Seoul's last-minute decision to suspend the termination of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) capped off months of heightening tensions.
Despite the gap in the two sides' stances, President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held summit talks in China last month where they agreed to make efforts to resolve the pending issues through dialogue. The summit in China was their first one-on-one meeting in more than a year.
In his New Year's address earlier in the day, Moon called Japan the country's closest neighbor and proposed developing bilateral ties in a future-oriented manner, while repeating his call for Tokyo to withdraw the export restrictions.
Before the meeting with Tomita, Kang met nine senior members of the Korean Residents Union in Japan, better known as Mindan.
At the meeting, Kang pledged to continue efforts to improve relations between Seoul and Tokyo while expressing sadness over their difficulties stemming from historical feuds between the two countries.
The union members voiced hope for the restoration of exchanges among citizens of the two countries, citing a recent sharp drop in the number of South Korean tourists to Japan.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-07--'Parasite' scores 4 nominations for British Academy awards

In the nominations for the 2020 BAFTA Film Awards , slated for February , the South Korean film was listed @ @ @ @ @ film , best director , best original screenplay and best film not in the English @ @

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- Bong Joon-ho's black comedy "Parasite" has been nominated in four categories for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards, organizers said Tuesday.
In the nominations for the 2020 BAFTA Film Awards, slated for February, the South Korean film was listed in the categories of best film, best director, best original screenplay and best film not in the English language.
This captured image shows "Parasite" is nominated for best film for the 2020 British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
For best film, the family satire will compete with "1917" by Sam Mendes, "The Irishman" by Martin Scorsese, "Joker" by Todd Phillips and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" by Quentin Tarantino.
Also, Bong will vie for the best direction award with Todd Phillips, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino and Sam Mendes.
Along with "Parasite," "Booksmart," "Knives Out," "Marriage Story" and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" are up for best original screenplay.
In the best non-English language film category, "Parasite" will contend with "The Farewell" by Lulu Wang, "Pain and Glory" by Pedro Almodovar, "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" by Celine Sciamma and "For Sama" by Waad Al-Khateab.
"Joker" earned 11 nods, including best film, followed by "The Irishman" and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" with 10 each.
In the 2018 BAFTA awards, South Korean director Park Chan-wook's "The Handmaiden" won the best film not in the English language.
"Parasite," Bong's seventh feature film depicts class inequality. It has been collecting prestigious accolades since it clinched the Palme d'Or at last year's Cannes Film Festival.
It won the best foreign language film honor at the Golden Globes Awards on Sunday, following a series of trophies bestowed by U.S. film critics associations.
The BAFTA awards ceremony, which is seen as an important indicator for the Oscars, will take place at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Feb. 2.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-07--Seoul officials discuss ways to minimize economic fallout from U.S.-Iran conflict

Last week 's U.S. airstrike that killed a top Iranian general has raised fears of war between Washington and Tehran @ @ @ @ @ on trade ties between South Korea , a core ally of the U.S. , and @ @

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- The foreign ministry held an interagency meeting Tuesday to discuss ways to minimize any negative impact from rising tensions between the United States and Iran on South Korean firms trading with the Islamic republic.
Yun Kang-hyeon, the deputy foreign minister for economic affairs, presided over the meeting which also involved officials from the industry and economy ministries, and the Financial Services Commission.
The officials decided to continuously pursue the resumption of trade in humanitarian products with Iran through won-based accounts at Korean banks and help South Korean firms retrieve outstanding contract money from their Iranian clients.
"The participating officials decided to offer active support to minimize any damage to our businesses and ensure they can carry out their business activities stably," the ministry said in a press release.
Last week's U.S. airstrike that killed a top Iranian general has raised fears of war between Washington and Tehran, and of adverse impact on trade ties between South Korea, a core ally of the U.S., and Iran.
The government plans to continue interagency consultations to support Korean businesses, the ministry added.
Yun Kang-hyeon (3rd from L), the deputy foreign minister for economic affairs, presides over an interagency economic meeting on tensions between the United States and Iran in Seoul on Jan. 7, 2020, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-07--(LEAD) Moon puts top priority on innovation to boost growth

In his annual New Year 's address , Moon said he will `` work hard to revitalize the economy by @ @ @ @ @ that the nation 's economy will achieve a rebound in both exports and facility investment @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with reaction of business lobby in 9th para)
By Kim Deok-hyun
SEJONG, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday put his top economic priority on stepping up a drive for innovation to help lift the economy's recovery momentum, expressing confidence that the nation's economy will make a fresh leap this year.
In his annual New Year's address, Moon said he will "work hard to revitalize the economy by further strengthening innovation" and that the nation's economy will achieve a rebound in both exports and facility investment this year.
As his single, five-year term passed the halfway point last November, Moon also emphasized that, "This year should be when we earnestly reap tangible results from the policies my administration has carried out so far."
President Moon Jae-in delivers his New Year's address at the presidential office in Seoul on Jan. 7, 2020. Moon, among other things, urged inter-Korean efforts to create the conditions for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to South Korea. (Yonhap)
To spur an economic recovery, Moon said the government will help further encourage investment through large investment projects worth 100 trillion won (US$86.5 billion) in both the public and private sectors.
This year, the government will help nurture data, network and artificial intelligence industries and boldly invest in three new industries -- system semiconductors, biohealth and future cars.
As part of the government's initiative to boost the economy through investment, state-run institutions will expand this year's investment to 60 trillion won, up from 55 trillion won last year.
Also, the government will encourage private firms to spend 25 trillion won in large-scale investment projects.
Regulations that hinder the entry and growth of new technologies and new industries will be lifted drastically, Moon said.
The Federation of Korean Industries, which represents large businesses, said it expects tangible economic achievements through deregulation and innovative growth.
South Korea's economy is predicted to have suffered its weakest annual growth in a decade last year, hit by a lengthy U.S.-China trade war and a cyclical slump in the memory chip sector.
The economy is expected to grow 2.4 percent this year, following last year's estimated 2 percent expansion, on the back of an anticipated recovery in the memory chip sector and a series of policy measures.
South Korea's exports fell 10.3 percent on-year in 2019 to $542.4 billion, according to government data.
For December last year, the monthly exports slipped 5.2 percent on-year to $45.7 billion to extend their slump to a whopping 13th consecutive month.
But this year's outbound shipments are forecast to rise 3 percent.
Citizens watch a live TV broadcast of President Moon Jae-in's New Year's address at Seoul Station in the South Korean capital on Jan. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
On the property market, Moon again vowed to stabilize home prices in Seoul and its neighboring areas.
"(We) will never be defeated in the war against real estate speculation," Moon said.
Last month, the government unveiled tougher measures to rein in a rise in housing prices.
Under the measures, mortgage loans have been banned when buying a house worth over 1.5 billion won in Seoul and other areas since mid-December last year.
The loan-to-value ratio for the purchase of a home valued from 900 million won to 1.5 billion won will be cut to 20 percent from the current 40 percent.
Moon also unveiled a plan to push for the revision of laws to foster a "fair economy" and the encouragement of "sound management" by local conglomerates.
Since his inauguration, Moon has worked to resolve the issue of large business groups' cross-shareholdings and rectify unfair trade practices by big firms.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-07--S. Korea to ban SPCs and real estate firms from brokerages' loans

Loans from securities firms were meant to be funneled to venture firms and small and medium-sized companies , but some @ @ @ @ @ in property development projects through SPCs that are usually considered smaller firms , according to @ @ @ @ @ FSC ) .

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will push to exclude special purpose companies (SPCs) and real estate firms from the scope of small and medium-sized companies eligible for loans from brokerages, the chief financial regulator said Tuesday.
Loans from securities firms were meant to be funneled to venture firms and small and medium-sized companies, but some of the loans ended up in property development projects through SPCs that are usually considered smaller firms, according to the Financial Services Commission (FSC).
Securities firms extended more than 5 trillion won (US$4.28 billion) to special purpose companies, 40 percent of which was funneled to real estate sector, FSC Chairman Eun Sung-soo said, without elaborating on a time frame.
Financial Services Commission Chairman Eun Sung-soo speaks in a meeting with top executives of securities firms at a government building in central Seoul on Jan. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
"It is never desirable for investment banking divisions of securities companies to concentrate on real estate," Eun said in a meeting with top executives of securities firms.
He called for efforts to ensure securities firms can extend loans to innovative companies.
Last month, Eun asked financial institutions to extend more capital to small and medium-sized companies with new technologies and growth potential.
South Korean financial institutions have excessively extended home-backed loans and other loans to households.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-07--S. Korea loses to Australia to open Olympic men's volleyball qualifying tournament

Australia returned the favor in the second set by winning it 25-23 .
Then in the third set , South @ @ @ @ @ deficit to move to a set point at 24-23 .
Australia forced deuce at 24-24 @ @ @ @ @ points to take the 2-1 lead in sets .

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea stumbled out of the gate at the Asian Olympic men's volleyball qualifying tournament on Tuesday, falling to Australia in a five-set nail-biter in China.
Australia prevailed over South Korea 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 26-24, 20-25, 19-17) in the teams' opening Pool B match at Jiangmen Sports Center Gymnasium in Jiangmen, China.
There are two pools of four countries each. The top two from each side will advance to the semifinals and only the winner will play at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
South Korea is trying to qualify for its first Olympic men's volleyball tournament since 2000.
Despite Tuesday's loss to the 15th-ranked Australia, South Korea's hopes of making it out of the preliminary round in China are very much alive. Coached by Im Do-hun, South Korea (world No. 24) will next face India (131st) on Wednesday and Qatar (33rd) on Thursday.
In this photo provided by FIVB on Jan. 7, 2020, South Korean players celebrate a point against Australia in their Pool B match of the Asian Olympic men's volleyball qualification tournament at Jiangmen Sports Center Gymnasium in Jiangmen, China. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Australian attacker Thomas Edgar, who spent two seasons in South Korea's V-League, led all players with 30 points. Na Gyeong-bok paced the South Korean offense with 16 points, with Jeon Kwang-in and Park Chul-woo each chipping in 14.
South Korea built a 17-12 lead in the first set, but Australia battled back to cut it to 19-18. Park stepped up to score some key late points as South Korea closed out the set 25-23.
Australia returned the favor in the second set by winning it 25-23. Then in the third set, South Korea rallied from a 21-15 deficit to move to a set point at 24-23. Australia forced deuce at 24-24 and got the next two points to take the 2-1 lead in sets.
South Korea won the fourth set 25-20 and then took an early 6-4 lead in the deciding fifth frame.
It was a seesaw affair from there. Australia went up 11-8, only to see South Korea tie it up at 11. A 13-11 Australian lead quickly became a 13-13 tie.
Sitting at match point with a 14-13 lead, Edgar's miscue led to deuce. The teams battled all the way to 17-17, before Australia secured the next two points for the hard-fought win.
In this photo provided by FIVB on Jan. 7, 2020, Park Chul-woo of South Korea (R) attempts to block Samuel Walker of Australia (C) during their Pool B match of the Asian Olympic men's volleyball qualification tournament at Jiangmen Sports Center Gymnasium in Jiangmen, China. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-07--(LEAD) Record high January daily lows reported in southern regions

Ulleung Island in the East Sea and Heuksan Island in the Yellow Sea also reported their second-highest daily lows for @ @ @ @ @ 11.3 C , respectively , while Mokpo in South Jeolla Province and Buan and Jeongeup @ @ @ @ @ Province , witnessed their third-highest daily lows of 9.4 C , 7.7 C and 9.6 @ @ @ @ @ the month .

(ATTN: UPDATES with highest daily high temperature in 97 years on Jeju Island in last 10 paras; ADDS photo)
SEOUL/JEJU, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- Residents and visitors to Jeju Island witnessed the warmest January weather on Tuesday, with the daily low on the southern resort island rising to an all-time high of 18.5 C, a weather agency said.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), some regions on the nation's southern coast also reported their highest daily low temperatures for January amid an extended spell of unseasonably warm weather gripping the Korean Peninsula.
Jeju Island's morning low of 18.5 C is higher than its 30-year January average of 14.8 C recorded between 1981 and 2010, the KMA said, noting it is just 0.4 C lower than the previous day's highest temperature of 18.9 C.
In the nation's southern regions, Gochang of North Jeolla Province and Suncheon of South Jeolla Province also recorded their highest January daily lows of 10.3 C and 7.1 C, respectively, it noted.
Amid unseasonably warm weather, royal azalea is in full blossom on a university campus on Jeju Island on Jan. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
Ulleung Island in the East Sea and Heuksan Island in the Yellow Sea also reported their second-highest daily lows for January at 8.2 C and 11.3 C, respectively, while Mokpo in South Jeolla Province and Buan and Jeongeup, both of North Jeolla Province, witnessed their third-highest daily lows of 9.4 C, 7.7 C and 9.6 C, respectively, for the month.
The KMA said the unseasonably warm weather has something to do with rain that soaked the entire nation from Monday.
It explained that while the Siberian high pressure, which usually brings cold air to Korea during the winter season, recently weakened, comparatively warm air has flowed into the nation along the southwesterly winds from the Pacific.
The absence of the so-called radiant cooling phenomenon has also contributed to the unseasonably high temperatures in the southern regions, it added.
"This winter, the cold is generally weaker and temperatures are higher than usual amid frequent rainfall. The development of high atmospheric pressure in the southern regions also led to the unseasonably high temperatures. The phenomenon of the record high daily low temperatures in January is exceptional," a KMA official said.
Rape flowers are in full blossom on Jeju Island on Jan. 7, 2020, as the island's daily high temperature rose to 23 C. (Yonhap)
On Jeju Island, the daily high rose to 23 C, the highest January temperature in 97 years since record keeping began in 1923.
The KMA said the daily high is about 7 to 14 C higher than the 30-year January average on the island.
On the streets of Jeju, lightly clad residents and tourists were enjoying the springlike weather, with some of them seen wearing half-sleeve shirts.
People running on coastal roads or playing basketball in sports parks didn't look cold despite wearing shorts and short sleeves.
A company employee surnamed Kang, who showed up at work in short sleeves, said, "I was doubtful when the temperature was forecast to rise to 21 C today. I came to work in short sleeves and everybody envied me."
At cafes, cold drinks sold better than hot ones.
"I wore a winter jacket unaware of unusually hot temperatures and sweat a lot even while standing still. I just now ordered cold coffee. There is little snow this winter, and the temperature is high so there is no winter atmosphere," said a cafe client in the city of Jeju.
A 50-year-old tourist, who just landed at Jeju International Airport, said he was disappointed with the island's unseasonal winter weather because he went there to see snow-covered Mount Halla.
"I'm afraid snow on Halla will melt as rain is forecast for tonight. I may run into spring flowers instead of snow while trekking on Mount Halla," said the tourist, who introduced himself as Park.
The KMA said the temperature will fall slightly on Jeju Island from Wednesday, when cold air comes down from the northwest. Daytime temperatures will be similar to the 30-year average, but wind chill temperatures will drop more sharply due to strong winds.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

According to data compiled by Yonhap Infomax , a financial information provider , the combined operating profit of the 51 @ @ @ @ @ part of the KOSPI 200 Index , is estimated to have fallen by 44.59 percent @ @ @ @ @ US $ 59.2 billion ) in 2019 compared with the previous year 's 124.5 trillion @ @

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday.
----------------
(LEAD) S. Korea moves Patriot missile unit to central Seoul
SEOUL -- South Korea has moved a Patriot missile unit from a southeastern region to central Seoul, sources said Tuesday, as part of efforts to better defend key facilities from potential threats from North Korea.
The Air Force unit, which previously was stationed in North Gyeongsang Province, was relocated to a former military installation at Mount Bukak behind the presidential office compound earlier this month, according to the sources.
----------------
FM meets new top Japanese envoy amid soured ties
SEOUL -- Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with new Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Koji Tomita on Tuesday as South Korea and Japan seek to mend ties badly frayed over wartime history and trade.
Tomita's courtesy call on Kang marked the first time the two have met since the veteran Japanese diplomat, known for his past service in Korea, arrived in Seoul early last month to replace predecessor Yasumasa Nagamine.
----------------
Ministry says no decision yet on whether to send S. Korean troops to Hormuz Strait
SEOUL -- South Korea has made no decision yet on whether to send its troops to help safeguard the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday, amid rising tensions in the Middle East from the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general last week.
Friday's fatal drone strike on Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, has raised expectations that Washington will step up calls for its allies to contribute to maritime security operations in the waterway that hosts key shipping lanes for more than 70 percent of South Korea's oil imports.
----------------
Record high January daily lows reported in southern regions
SEOUL -- Residents and visitors to Jeju Island witnessed the warmest January weather on Tuesday, with the daily low on the southern resort island rising to an all-time high of 18.5 C, a weather agency said.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), some regions on the nation's southern coast also reported their highest daily low temperatures for January amid an extended spell of unseasonably warm weather gripping the Korean Peninsula.
----------------
Foreigners subject to tightened mortgage rules: regulator
SEOUL -- South Korea said Tuesday that foreigners are also subject to tightened mortgage rules in a move to plug any possible loopholes in its efforts to stabilize home prices.
The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said the tightened mortgage rules are being applied to both South Koreans and foreigners.
----------------
(LEAD) Major firms' operating profit estimated to have almost halved last year
SEOUL -- Major listed firms are estimated to have seen their earnings nearly halve last year in the face of uncertainties stemming from the Sino-American trade row, a market tracker said Tuesday.
According to data compiled by Yonhap Infomax, a financial information provider, the combined operating profit of the 51 companies, which are also part of the KOSPI 200 Index, is estimated to have fallen by 44.59 percent to 69 trillion won (US$59.2 billion) in 2019 compared with the previous year's 124.5 trillion won.
----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks rebound on eased Mideast concerns, Korean won sharply up
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks closed sharply higher as investors set out for bargains amid eased uncertainties over oil prices prompted by tensions in the Middle East. The Korean won jumped against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) jumped 20.47 points, or 0.95 percent, to close at 2,175.54. Trading volume was moderate at 559 million shares worth 5.08 trillion won (US$4.35 billion), with winners outnumbering losers 512 to 316.
----------------
(CES 2020) LG Display to supply foldable OLED screens this year: CEO
LAS VEGAS -- LG Display Co., a major display panel maker in South Korea, will supply foldable OLED displays this year, the company's CEO said Monday.
Jeong Ho-young said a mini laptop with LG Display's foldable screen will be available in the market this year. The prototype of a 13.3-inch foldable OLED screen, which is reportedly for Chinese tech giant Lenovo, was on display at the company's booth at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada.
----------------
(LEAD) (CES 2020) Samsung unveils new tech vision highlighting human-centered solutions
LAS VEGAS -- Samsung Electronics Co. on Monday unveiled its new vision highlighting human-centered solutions as the South Korean titan introduced its latest achievements in future technologies like robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G and internet of things (IoT) ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) here.
Kim Hyun-suk, president and CEO of Samsung's Consumer Electronics division, unveiled what he calls the "Age of Experience" at the company's pre-show keynote in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(END)


yna--2020-01-07--FM meets new top Japanese envoy amid soured ties

By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha met with new Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Koji Tomita on Tuesday as South Korea and Japan seek to mend ties badly frayed over wartime history and trade.
Tomita's courtesy call on Kang marked the first time the two have met since the veteran Japanese diplomat, known for his past service in Korea, arrived in Seoul early last month to replace predecessor Yasumasa Nagamine.
Details of their discussions were not disclosed, but the strained relations between the two countries, and possible ways to resolve the row, were expected to naturally come up during the meeting.
Upon arriving in Seoul on Dec. 3, Tomita pledged to play a "bridge-building" role to help address the discord between the two countries.
Seoul-Tokyo relations dipped to the lowest point in years last year after Tokyo tightened export controls on key industrial materials vital to South Korean tech firms and removed Seoul from its list of favored trading partners.
Seoul interpreted those measures as retaliation for South Korean Supreme Court's rulings in late 2018 that ordered Japanese companies to compensate Korean victims of forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
Seoul hit back by declaring an end to a bilateral military information-sharing pact with Tokyo. But Seoul's last-minute decision to suspend the termination of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) capped off months of heightening tensions.
Despite the gap in the two sides' stances, President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held summit talks in China last month where they agreed to make efforts to resolve the pending issues through dialogue. The summit in China was their first one-on-one meeting in more than a year.
In his New Year's address earlier in the day, Moon called Japan the country's closest neighbor and proposed developing bilateral ties in a future-oriented manner, while repeating his call for Tokyo to withdraw the export restrictions.
New Japanese ambassador to Seoul Koji Tomita speaks to reporters upon arriving at the Gimpo International Airport, in western Seoul, on Dec. 3, 2019. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-07--(LEAD) Seoul stocks rebound on eased Mideast concerns, Korean won sharply up

On Monday , the index plunged nearly 1 percent on growing concerns over military tensions between the United States and @ @ @ @ @ Middle East that came after a U.S. drone strike killed the head of an elite @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed sharply higher as investors set out for bargains amid eased uncertainties over oil prices prompted by tensions in the Middle East. The Korean won jumped against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) jumped 20.47 points, or 0.95 percent, to close at 2,175.54. Trading volume was moderate at 559 million shares worth 5.08 trillion won (US$4.35 billion), with winners outnumbering losers 512 to 316.
On Monday, the index plunged nearly 1 percent on growing concerns over military tensions between the United States and major oil-producing states in the Middle East that came after a U.S. drone strike killed the head of an elite Iranian force late last week.
Iran has vowed to take corresponding measures, while the U.S. has said they will lead to additional strikes against multiple Iranian targets.
Global oil prices have since skyrocketed.
"The market anxiety still persists as the conflict between the United States and Iran continues, while the possibility of retaliation by Iran has been raised," said Kim Hoon-gil, an analyst at Hana Financial Investment.
"But the stock market showed a gradual rebound on a view that there will unlikely be additional armed clashes," the analyst added.
In this photo taken on Jan. 7, 2020, dealers at a KEB Hana Bank trading room look at computer monitors. The benchmark KOSPI jumps nearly 1 percent to close at 2,175.54 points. (Yonhap)
Lee Sang-jae, an analyst at Eugene Investment & Securities, noted Middle East risks have rarely had any long-term effects on the financial market.
"Also, the uncertainties over global oil prices have been somewhat eased by a U.S. decision to boost its oil production," Lee said.
Foreigners purchased a net 191.3 billion won, extending their buying streak to a third consecutive session. Individuals and institutions offloaded a net 164.5 billion won and 44.5 billion won, respectively.
Most large caps closed in positive terrain.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics added 0.54 percent to 55,800 won, while top pharmaceutical company Celltrion surged 2.89 percent to 178,000 won.
LG Household & Health Care soared 7.53 percent to 343,000 won, with top chemical company LG Chem soaring 1.30 percent to 311,000 won.
Top automaker Hyundai Motor lost 0.43 percent to 115,500 won, while its smaller affiliate Kia Motors gained 0.36 percent to 42,050 won.
The Korean won closed at 1,166.40 won per dollar, up 5.7 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed sharply lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys added 5.4 basis points to 1.331 percent, while the return on the benchmark five-year government bond surged 7.5 basis points to 1.420 percent.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-07--(LEAD) PM nominee says he will propose inviting opposition politicians to Cabinet

`` The principle means separation of roles ( in the legislative , administrative and judicial branches ) , but does @ @ @ @ @ a need to ) separate ( the roles ) that a person can take , @ @ @ @ @ But I 'll humbly reflect on such concerns . ''

(ATTN: ADDS more details from para 6)
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister nominee Chung Sye-kyun said Tuesday he plans to propose forming a Cabinet that involves opposition politicians after the April parliamentary elections.
Speaking at a parliamentary confirmation hearing, Chung, a six-term lawmaker, said his idea is aimed at promoting the "cooperative" governance of state affairs in the face of deepened partisan tensions.
"I am planning to propose to President (Moon Jae-in) an idea of forming a Cabinet that involves the participation of various political parties, after the April 15 general elections end," Chung said at the start of the two-day hearing.
President Moon Jae-in named Chung, a former National Assembly speaker, to succeed Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon in December.
The nomination of the prime minister requires approval by the National Assembly.
In 2018, President Moon considered nominating opposition figures to Cabinet posts. But the main opposition Liberty Korea Party and the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party rejected his idea, raising doubts about Moon's sincerity.
Chung apparently held out the card of a bipartisan Cabinet as intensified wrangling by rival parties has almost suspended the legislature. Hundreds of bills related to people's livelihoods have been pending for months.
Cooperation with opposition parties is critical to buttress the government-sponsored bills as Moon passed the mid-point of his single five-year term in November 2019.
Chung pledged to regularly meet political and social leaders to seek social integration, taking an example of weekly meetings with the people by ex-late Swedish Prime Minister Tage Erlander.
Opposition lawmakers, meanwhile, took issue with Chung's nomination, saying that it hampers the principle of separation of powers, given that he is a former parliamentary leader.
"The principle means separation of roles (in the legislative, administrative and judicial branches), but does not mean (there is a need to) separate (the roles) that a person can take," Chung said. "But I'll humbly reflect on such concerns."
Chung pointed out the need to begin discussions to revise the Constitution after the upcoming parliamentary elections.
"I think that a proper time for constitutional revision will be a one-year span after the 21st National Assembly formed," Chung said.
In March 2018, Moon submitted a constitutional revision bill that calls for changing the current single five-year presidential term to a maximum of two successive four-year terms.
But the proposal was scuttled due to opposition parties' boycott in March 2018 when Chung was the parliamentary speaker.
The nominee also said that the government will make efforts to serve as a catalyst in shoring up the slowing economy and seek bold deregulation for a better business environment.
Prime Minister nominee Chung Sye-kyun speaks at a parliamentary confirmation hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul on Jan. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-07--K League's all-time scoring leader back for 23rd season

The ageless wonder , who will turn 41 in April , made his K League debut with Pohang Steelers in @ @ @ @ @ in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen and the Premier League with Middlesbrough , before returning @ @ @ @ @ in 2008 with Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma ( currently Seongnam FC ) .
He joined Jeonbuk @ @ @ @ @ won seven K League 1 championships , including the last three , and one Asian @ @ @ @ @ Champions League title in 2016 with them .

SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- Lee Dong-gook, the lifetime scoring leader in South Korean professional football whose career has now spanned four decades, will return to the pitch in 2020.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of the K League 1 announced on Tuesday they've re-signed Lee, their captain, for his 12th season with the club and his 23rd professional season overall. Financial details were not disclosed.
This image provided by Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Jan. 7, 2020, shows the K League 1 club's forward Lee Dong-gook. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The ageless wonder, who will turn 41 in April, made his K League debut with Pohang Steelers in 1998. He had stints in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen and the Premier League with Middlesbrough, before returning to South Korea for good in 2008 with Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (currently Seongnam FC). He joined Jeonbuk in 2009, and has won seven K League 1 championships, including the last three, and one Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League title in 2016 with them.
The four-time K League 1 MVP is also the league's all-time goal leader with 223 and counting. He had nine goals in 33 matches in 2019, which ended a 10-season streak of goals in double figures.
"I've entered every season looking to challenge myself, and I am glad to have another opportunity," Lee said in a statement released by Jeonbuk. "I'll dedicate myself to helping Jeonbuk take the championship again this year."
In another transaction on Tuesday, Jeonbuk gave their defender Lee Yong a four-year extension. The 33-year-old will be entering his fourth season with Jeonbuk.
This image provided by Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Jan. 7, 2020, shows the K League 1 club's defender Lee Yong. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-07--S. Korean Bond Yields on Jan. 7, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on Jan. 7, 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--2020-01-07--(LEAD) S. Korea moves Patriot missile unit to central Seoul

Starting in 2017 , the military had pushed for the relocation of one of its Patriot missile units to beef @ @ @ @ @ and northern areas , as a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense ( THAAD ) @ @ @ @ @ southern county of Seongju was able to protect the south .

(ATTN: ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has moved a Patriot missile unit from a southeastern region to central Seoul, sources said Tuesday, as part of efforts to better defend key facilities from potential threats from North Korea.
The Air Force unit, which previously was stationed in North Gyeongsang Province, was relocated to a former military installation at Mount Bukak behind the presidential office compound earlier this month, according to the sources.
The unit is believed to be equipped with PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles designed to intercept incoming aircraft and missiles at altitudes of around 20-40 kilometers.
A Patriot missile battery is deployed at Mount Bukak in central Seoul on Jan. 7, 2019. (Yonhap)
Starting in 2017, the military had pushed for the relocation of one of its Patriot missile units to beef up the defenses of central and northern areas, as a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense battery in the southern county of Seongju was able to protect the south.
North Korea has been focusing on advancing its conventional weapons. It demonstrated new types of ballistic missiles last year capable of reaching most parts of South Korea, including its version of Russia's Iskander and the U.S.' Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).
President Moon Jae-in salutes during a review of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles at a ceremony to mark the 71st Armed Forces Day at an Air Force base in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Oct. 1, 2019. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


Wednesday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Jan. 8 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


yna--2020-01-08--Seoul stocks open sharply lower on Mideastern tensions

The weak start came shortly after Iran 's state media reported a series of missile attacks against a U.S. air @ @ @ @ @ heightening tensions in the Middle East that began late last week when the U.S. killed @ @ @ @ @ a drone strike .

SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened more than 1 percent lower Wednesday following overnight losses on Wall Street and reports of Iran's missile attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) plunged 21.97 points, or 1.01 percent, to 2,153.57 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
The weak start came shortly after Iran's state media reported a series of missile attacks against a U.S. air base in Iraq, further heightening tensions in the Middle East that began late last week when the U.S. killed a top Iranian general in a drone strike.
Washington earlier warned of additional strikes against Iranian targets in case of retaliation by the Middle Eastern country.
The U.S. stock market closed lower Tuesday (New York time) with the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 119.70 points, or 0.42 percent, to 28,583.68.
In Seoul, most large caps were in negative terrain, while chipmakers opened higher.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics added 0.36 percent, but leading automaker Hyundai Motor lost 0.43 percent, while top chemical company LG Chem tumbled 1.93 percent.
State-run power company KEPCO plunged 2.19 percent, with top refiner SK Innovation sliding 2.08 percent.
The won was trading at 1,176.95 won against the U.S. dollar, sharply down 10.55 won from the previous session's close.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-08--U.S. says significant drop in N.K. provocations shows progress toward goals

`` Maybe you want to call it neutral , but again , having seen the worst of it -- 2010 @ @ @ @ @ I guess we 're not -- and I do n't want to speak too much @ @ @ @ @ I think in general the absence of severely provocative activity to me says we 're @ @ @ @ @ he added .

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's provocative behavior dropped significantly last year, a senior U.S. official claimed Tuesday, arguing that the United States is making progress toward its goals in dealing with the communist nation.
In a background briefing with reporters, the State Department official said 2019 was a "good year" because of the "significant reduction" of North Korean "activity, missiles, tests, and all the rest of that stuff."
"I believe this will continue," he said without elaborating. "We saw that the threats that were supposed to come to pass in December did not, and I think that's because the U.S. has taken a solid stand and demonstrated strength and insistence that the agreements be adhered to."
This AFP file photo shows the U.S. Department of State in Washington. (Yonhap)
North Korea had threatened to send an unwanted "Christmas gift" to the U.S. in protest of their stalled denuclearization talks.
While Christmas passed without a "gift," North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned in a New Year's Day message that the world will soon see a "new strategic weapon."
Many experts believe the weapon could be an intercontinental ballistic missile or a submarine-launched ballistic missile.
The officials said he believes "last year points to a continued insistence that North Korea live up to its commitments."
U.S. officials have often emphasized that Kim committed to dismantle the regime's nuclear weapons program during his first summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore in June 2018.
But the details have yet to be worked out amid an impasse in negotiations over how to match the North's denuclearization steps with U.S. sanctions relief and security guarantees.
Pressed on how 2019 was a positive year when North Korea conducted more than a dozen short-range missile tests and only one round of working-level negotiations was held following the collapse of the second Trump-Kim summit in February, the official responded, "Because it wasn't negative."
"Maybe you want to call it neutral, but again, having seen the worst of it -- 2010 was a good example -- I guess we're not -- and I don't want to speak too much more on this, but I think in general the absence of severely provocative activity to me says we're accomplishing our goals," he added.
On the possibility of North Korea staging a weapons test to mark Kim's birthday Wednesday, the official demurred.
"I don't know. A lot of his demonstrations to date though, if you've watched, have been horseback riding near Paektusan and things like that," he said. "These are messages of resolve to his own people, who don't have access to outside information. So it doesn't have to be something so provocative. It can be something aimed domestically."
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-08--(LEAD) Hyundai partners with Uber over urban air mobility business

Hyundai Motor and Uber signed a strategic deal , the first of its kind for the U.S. ride-hailing company , @ @ @ @ @ sidelines of the Consumer Electronics Show ( CES ) , which kicked off its four-day @ @ @ @ @ local time ) , the company said in a statement .

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 4-6, 9-11)
SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co. said Wednesday it has partnered with Uber Technologies Inc. to foster an urban air mobility service in its latest move to take a lead in the fledgling business.
Hyundai Motor and Uber signed a strategic deal, the first of its kind for the U.S. ride-hailing company, in Las Vegas on the sidelines of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which kicked off its four-day run on Jan. 7 (local time), the company said in a statement.
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun and Uber Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi said the two companies will develop the world's most advanced personal air vehicle (PAV) and integrate PAVs with the urban air mobility (UAM) service.
In this photo taken Jan. 7, 2020 (local time), and provided by Hyundai Motor, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun (3rd from left) and Eric Allison, head of Uber's air taxi service Uber Elevate (L), pose with other officials behind the 'S-A1' PAV concept jointly developed by Hyundai and Uber at a CES media day held at Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"Through the partnership with Uber, we will accelerate efforts to harness Hyundai's businesses and technologies to deliver true freedom of mobility. We will innovate tirelessly to redefine the boundaries of mobility and provide quality time to customers," Chung said.
Uber Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi said combining Hyundai's larger scale manufacturing capabilities with Uber's technology platform will facilitate a major step forward for Uber's air taxi service, Uber Elevate.
"As Hyundai taps its automotive industry experience to mass produce air taxis, we will be able to more quickly take Uber's platform into the skies, expanding affordable and seamless transportation in cities around the world," Khosrowshahi said.
Uber has also partnered with leading aircraft makers, such as Boeing, U.S.-based Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. and Brazilian aerospace company Embraer S.A., with an aim to commercialize Uber Air taxi in 2023.
At CES, the South Korean carmaker unveiled the 'S-A1' PAV concept jointly developed with Uber, and the PAV is a core part of the UAM service, a key future innovation business that can help overcome urban challenges like traffic congestion, connecting the sky and the ground.
Hyundai's first concept PAV S-A1 is equipped with electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and is designed to seat five people, including a pilot. It will be operated initially by a pilot during the early stage of commercialization and driven autonomously once the relevant technologies are developed.
"We believe Hyundai has the potential to build Uber Air vehicles at rates unseen in the current aerospace industry, producing high quality, reliable aircraft at high volumes to drive down passenger costs per trip," said Eric Allison, head of Uber Elevate.
Uber aims to launch a "vibrant air taxi network in the coming years," he said.
Hyundai expects UAM will be commercialized in 2028, and the UAM services will be offered first in overseas markets. For the launch of domestic services, the carmaker will continue to consult with authorities to revise or ease relevant rules and regulations, Chung said.
UAM is one of three innovative mobility solutions sought by Hyundai Motor Group, along with purpose built vehicle (PBV) and Hub, a place for mobility transfer and community activities.
PBVs allow passengers to enjoy tailored services while traveling to their destinations. Upon personalization, PBVs can function as a restaurant, coffee shop, and hotel, or even a clinic and pharmacy, in addition to an urban shuttle.
PBVs and UAM connect at the Hub, which will be installed across future cities to form a mobility ecosystem. The Hub has a skyport for the PAV on the top and docking stations on the ground for PBV to approach and depart from multiple directions.
Some 200 companies have jumped into the PAV and UAM business to seek new growth drivers in the rapidly changing automotive industry, Hyundai said.
U.S. investment bank Morgan Stanley forecast the global UAM market to reach US$1.5 trillion by 2040.
This image provided by Hyundai Motor shows how the carmaker's smart mobility solutions will work once fully developed. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-08--S. Korea-U.S. defense cost talks 'at crossroads' of deadlock or compromise: official

`` Now , it appears right to say that the two sides are at a crossroads that may determine whether @ @ @ @ @ a deadlock or into a prolonged one , or whether the talks will lead to @ @ @ @ @ differences , '' the official told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity .

By Song Sang-ho
SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Yonhap) -- The defense cost-sharing talks between South Korea and the United States stand "at a crossroads" of a possible deadlock or major compromise, a Seoul official said Wednesday, ahead of the next round of their negotiations as early as next week.
His remarks came a day after U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris said in a media interview that the negotiation over how much Seoul should pay for the upkeep of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is heading toward its last stage and that Washington's top negotiator James DeHart is "optimistic."
"Now, it appears right to say that the two sides are at a crossroads that may determine whether the negotiation will slide into a deadlock or into a prolonged one, or whether the talks will lead to a chance to dramatically narrow differences," the official told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity.
"Differences still remain as we said last year, but we have greatly broadened our understanding. Thus, we still need to wait and see," he added.
Last year's cost-sharing accord, called the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), expired last month, a reason why Seoul and Washington have been under pressure to clinch a new SMA.
South Korea's chief negotiator Jeong Eun-bo and his U.S. counterpart, DeHart, held their last negotiation in Seoul last month but failed to reconcile gaps on such key sticking points as the total amount of Seoul's financial contributions and what should be included in the SMA.
After the talks, DeHart hinted that the U.S. retreated from its initial demand for a fivefold increase to US$5 billion in Seoul's payments, while noting the SMA framework should be adjusted to capture the "full range" of the defense costs, including "all rotations of our military personnel to the peninsula."
Jeong and DeHart are expected to hold another round of talks in Washington as early as next week, with the exact date of the talks yet to be announced.
In Tuesday's interview with the local broadcaster KBS, the top U.S. envoy in South Korea, Harris, voiced optimism for the upcoming SMA talks.
"We've compromised our position. So we will see what the outcome is next week," he said. "Mr. DeHart is optimistic."
But the Seoul official struck a cautious note.
"There are still differences in our views on key sticking points," he said.
Last year's 10th SMA required South Korea to pay around US$870 million, an increase of 8.2 percent from the previous year.
Since 1991, Seoul has shouldered partial costs under the SMA -- for Korean civilians hired by the USFK, the construction of military facilities to maintain the allies' readiness and other forms of support.
Jeong Eun-bo (R), South Korea's top negotiator in defense cost-sharing talks with the United States, and his U.S. counterpart, James DeHart, pose for a photo before their negotiations in Seoul on Dec. 17, 2019, in this photo provided by the foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)