yna--2020-05-13--(LEAD) Seoul stocks rebound on bargain hunting

The local stock market got off toward a weak start as Republican members of the U.S. Senate vowed to take @ @ @ @ @ grounds that Beijing has caused the global COVID-19 pandemic .

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed higher Wednesday as investors scooped up bargains amid renewed concerns over the trade row between the United States and China. The Korean won gained against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) moved up 18.25 points, or 0.95 percent, to finish at 1,940.42. Trading volume was moderate at 608 million shares worth 8.79 trillion won (US$7.18 billion), with gainers outpacing losers 426 to 403.
The local stock market got off toward a weak start as Republican members of the U.S. Senate vowed to take steps to sanction China on grounds that Beijing has caused the global COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. President Donald Trump also ruled out possibilities that Washington and Beijing will renegotiate their phase-one trade deal, adversely impacting investors' sentiment.
A dealer work in front of an electronic signboard at the headquarters of Hana Bank in Seoul on May 13, 2020. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) moved up 18.25 points, or 0.95 percent, to finish at 1,940.42. (Yonhap)
"The rising concerns over the growing trade row between the U.S. and China was a negative factor for the South Korean stock market," Seo Sang-young, a researcher at Kiwoom Securities Co., said.
Local shares, however, rebounded later in the session as investors, led by retail investors, scooped up bargains.
Foreigners dumped a net 318 billion won, but individuals scooped up a net 215 billion won. Institutions bought more shares than they sold at 90 billion won.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics moved up 1.36 percent to 48,550 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix lost 2.45 percent to 83,600 won.
Top chemical firm LG Chem advanced 4.14 percent to 352,000 won, and leading cosmetics producer AmorePacific added 1.74 percent.
Mobile carriers closed mixed, with No. 1 SK Telecom falling 1.67 percent to 206,500 won while KT advanced 0.63 percent to 23,800 won. LG Uplus, the smallest player, added 2.53 percent to 14,200 won.
Leading pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics jumped 4.05 percent to 616,000 won and Celltrion moved up 1.9 percent to 215,000 won.
The South Korean won closed at 1,223.80 won against the U.S. dollar, up 1.00 won from the previous session.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed higher. The yield on three-year Treasurys fell 3 basis points to 0.856 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond shed 3.1 basis points to 1.111 percent.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-13--N.K. media urges frontal breakthrough touting recent fertilizer factory as start

The paper also said many `` obstacles and challenges '' lay ahead but added that it will overcome the obstacles @ @ @ @ @ powerful socialist country and achieve a frontal breakthrough through self-reliance as we have marched on @ @ @ @ @ the hardships . ''

SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's main newspaper called Wednesday for redoubling efforts to rebuild its economy, calling the recent completion of a fertilizer factory a "gunfire signaling the first victory" in its "frontal breakthrough" drive.
North Korea has been ramping up the campaign to break head-on through economic difficulties as prospects of sanctions relief have dimmed amid a lack of progress in nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang.
"We have a task ahead of us, to continuously strengthen our bold fight for a 'frontal breakthrough' and to achieve great accomplishments such as the Sunchon Phosphatic Fertilizer Factory," the Rodong Sinmun said in an editorial.
Calling the completion of the factory a "gunfire signaling the first victory," the paper urged that more economic achievements be made in all areas as the North commemorates its 75th anniversary of the founding of the Worker's Party in October this year.
The paper also said many "obstacles and challenges" lay ahead but added that it will overcome the obstacles and "certainly establish a powerful socialist country and achieve a frontal breakthrough through self-reliance as we have marched on with our revolution through all the hardships."
In early May, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended a ceremony marking the completion of the Sunchon Phosphatic Fertilizer Factory in Sunchon, north of Pyongyang.
North Korean state media touted the fertilizer factory as the first key outcome of the "frontal breakthrough" drive.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (C) cuts a ribbon during a ceremony to mark the completion of a phosphatic fertilizer factory in Sunchon, north of Pyongyang, on May 1, 2020, in this photo released the next day by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. Kim made his first public appearance after a 20-day absence that sparked rumors about his health. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--Daewoo E&C says its joint venture wins US$4.2 bln order from Nigeria

Daewoo E & C said its joint venture with Italy 's Saipem SPA and Japan 's Chiyoda Corp. will carry @ @ @ @ @ engineering , procurement and construction of the Train 7 project for Nigeria LNG .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., a major builder in South Korea, said Thursday that its joint venture with two foreign partners has won a 5.18 trillion won (US$4.2 billion) order to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) production train in Nigeria.
Daewoo E&C said its joint venture with Italy's Saipem SPA and Japan's Chiyoda Corp. will carry out the whole process of engineering, procurement and construction of the Train 7 project for Nigeria LNG.
Daewoo E&C said the project is set to be completed in Bonny Island, Nigeria in 66 months after starting construction.
The plant will have an annual production capacity of 8 million tons of LNG.
Daewoo E&C said its stake is worth about 2.06 trillion, accounting for about 40 percent. The rest is held by Italy's Saipem and Japan's Chiyoda.
This photo, provided by Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co., shows LNG facilities in Bonny Island, Nigeria. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--CJ Logistics shifts to profits in Q1

CJ Logistics shifts to profits in Q1

The operating profit was 11.3 percent lower than the average estimate , according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax , @ @ @ @ @ Yonhap News Agency .
The estimate of net profit was not available .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- CJ Logistics Corp. on Thursday reported its first-quarter net income of 11.4 billion won (US$ 9.3 million), turning from a loss of 12.5 billion won a year earlier.
The company said in a regulatory filing that operating income for the January-March period rose 28.3 percent on-year to 58.2 billion won. Revenue increased 3.4 percent to 2.51 trillion won.
The operating profit was 11.3 percent lower than the average estimate, according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. The estimate of net profit was not available.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange(KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--(URGENT) 67 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, bringing total to 9,762: KCDC

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


yna--2020-05-14--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 1 more virus death, raising death toll to 260: KCDC


yna--2020-05-14--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 29 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 10,991: KCDC


yna--2020-05-14--Samsung Galaxy A51 bestselling Android smartphone in Q1: report

`` As mobile operators have reduced subsidies in recent years , and many countries are now tumbling into post-virus recession @ @ @ @ @ becoming increasingly price-sensitive and they are seeking out new Android models that deliver the biggest @ @ @ @ @ '' it said .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co.'s mid-range smartphone, the Galaxy A51, was the world's bestselling Android smartphone model in the first quarter of the year, a report showed Thursday.
The Galaxy A51, which was unveiled in December, shipped 6 million units globally, accounting for 2.3 percent of all smartphones shipped in the January-March period, according to market tracker Strategy Analytics.
The Redmi 8, made by China's Xiaomi Corp., was the second bestselling Android smartphone with a 1.9 percent share. Samsung's premium handset, the Galaxy S20 Plus, came in third place with a 1.7 percent share.
Four of the top-six bestselling Android smartphones in the first quarter were from Samsung, according to Strategy Analytics, with the rest being Xiaomi models.
Samsung Galaxy A10s, Xiaomi Redmi Note 8, and Samsung Galaxy A20s ranked fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively.
This photo, provided by Samsung Electronics Co., shows the company's Galaxy A51 smartphone. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Strategy Analytics said the Android smartphone market is entering a "post-premium era," as many consumers apparently seek "value-for-money devices with good-enough specs at affordable prices."
"As mobile operators have reduced subsidies in recent years, and many countries are now tumbling into post-virus recession, smartphone consumers globally are becoming increasingly price-sensitive and they are seeking out new Android models that deliver the biggest bang for their buck," it said.
According to Strategy Analytics, global smartphone shipments reached a total of 275 million units in the first quarter, and Android smartphones accounted 86 percent of them.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--Over 24,000 linked to Itaewon cluster tested: Seoul mayor

The mayor also stressed that his goal is to conduct tests on everyone who visited the night spots in question @ @ @ @ @ do not comply with the city 's testing order could face a fine of up @ @ @ @ @ US $ 1,629 ) .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- More than 24,000 people connected with the recent new coronavirus outbreak in Seoul's popular multicultural neighborhood of Itaewon have been tested for COVID-19, thanks to the adoption of free and anonymous tests, the city mayor said Thursday.
"The number of accumulated tests related to the Itaewon outbreak has reached 24,082 so far," Park Won-soon, mayor of Seoul, said in an interview with TBS radio.
Cases linked to bars and nightclubs in Itaewon hit 120 on Wednesday as secondary infections surfaced across the country. Infections in Seoul accounted for more than half of the cases at 70.
In light of growing concerns, Seoul has adopted free tests for those related to the club. Visitors who are concerned about reporting their personal details can receive anonymous tests.
"The anonymous tests are taking effect. Since the introduction, the number of tests has jumped eightfold from average," Park added.
Without specifying details, the mayor said the anonymous tests have confirmed new infections. Park, however, said the city does not plan to release infection figures tied to the anonymous tests.
The mayor also stressed that his goal is to conduct tests on everyone who visited the night spots in question and warned that those who do not comply with the city's testing order could face a fine of up to 2 million won (US$1,629).
People wait in line to be tested for the new coronavirus at a make-shift clinic at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital in Seoul on May 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--Korean language test canceled worldwide due to pandemic

Thanks to the global spread of `` hallyu , '' or the Korean wave , a record 375,871 people sat @ @ @ @ @ up 14.2 percent from 329,224 in the previous year .
The cumulative number of applicants @ @ @ @ @ test since its launch in 1997 totaled 2.54 million .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- The Korean language proficiency test slated for later this month in over 60 countries worldwide has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, its organizer said Thursday.
Seoul's National Institute for International Education said it has canceled the 69th Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), scheduled to take place in 64 countries, including South Korea, on May 24, for fears of community spread of COVID-19.
The education ministry-affiliated institute noted that South Korea's alert status on the novel coronavirus still remains at the highest "serious" level amid fears of a second wave of infections traced to a Seoul entertainment district.
This undated file photo shows foreigners taking the Test of Proficiency in Korean. (Yonhap)
The institute had planned to administer TOPIK, a language proficiency test for foreigners whose native language is not Korean, six times in South Korea and five times outside the country in 2020.
It said Taiwan, praised for its successful pandemic response, will be the sole exception and TOPIK will be held in three Taiwanese cities -- Taipei, Kaohsiung and Taichung -- on May 24 as scheduled.
Exam fees will be fully refunded for the canceled tests, and applications for a refund will be possible on the TOPIK website.
The institute had announced as recently as April 27 that schedules for the 69th TOPIK remained unchanged but has changed its position, as confirmed coronavirus cases linked to nightspots in Seoul's Itaewon district soared.
It said the 70th TOPIK will take place July 12, but scheduled changes cannot be ruled out depending on the spread of COVID-19.
Thanks to the global spread of "hallyu," or the Korean wave, a record 375,871 people sat for TOPIK in 2019, up 14.2 percent from 329,224 in the previous year. The cumulative number of applicants who have taken the language test since its launch in 1997 totaled 2.54 million.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--Hanwha Life Insurance Q1 net income up 261.5 pct to 83.9 bln won

Operating profit for the January-March period was 99.8 billion won , up 164.6 percent from a year ago , the @ @ @ @ @ filing .
Sales rose 32 percent to 8.14 trillion won .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- Hanwha Life Insurance Co. on Thursday reported its first-quarter net income of 83.9 billion won (US$ 68.4 million), up 261.5 percent from a year earlier.
Operating profit for the January-March period was 99.8 billion won, up 164.6 percent from a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. Sales rose 32 percent to 8.14 trillion won.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange(KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--Seoul stocks open lower on Wall Street losses

U.S. stocks plunged Wednesday ( local time ) after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell expected a slow economic recovery from @ @ @ @ @ Investor sentiment was also hit by growing concerns over tensions between the United States and @ @

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- Seoul stocks opened lower Thursday, tracking losses on Wall Street amid the new coronavirus pandemic.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 24.37 points, or 1.26 percent, to 1,916.05 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
U.S. stocks plunged Wednesday (local time) after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell expected a slow economic recovery from the novel coronavirus fallout. Investor sentiment was also hit by growing concerns over tensions between the United States and China.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.17 percent to close at 23,247.97, while the Nasdaq Composite slid 1.55 percent to 8,863.17.
In Seoul, most large-cap stocks got off to a weak start.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 1.65 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix plunged 2.27 percent.
South Korea's No. 1 automaker, Hyundai Motor, shed 0.97 percent, while auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis declined 0.88 percent.
Top chemical firm LG Chem slid 1.70 percent, and leading steelmaker POSCO dipped 1.73 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,228.40 won against the U.S. dollar, down 4.60 won from the previous session's close.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--SK Telecom, Samsung unveil 5G smartphone with quantum-safe crypto solution

The price of the handset has been set at 649,000 won ( US $ 530 ) in South Korea , @ @ @ @ @ Pre-orders will open on Friday before its official launch on May 22 .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- SK Telecom Co., South Korea's largest mobile carrier, on Thursday introduced a 5G smartphone highlighting quantum-safe cryptography solution in cooperation with Samsung Electronics Co.
The Galaxy A Quantum will be the world's first 5G smartphone with quantum random number generator (QRNG) chipset that ensures better mobile communication security, according to SK Telecom.
The QRNG chip, developed by SK Telecom's Switzerland-based subsidiary ID Quantique, generates random numbers based on quantum crypto technology, which creates strong keys that are not biased and cannot be predicted, the company said, thus strengthening the security of data transmission.
South Korea's largest mobile carrier said Galaxy A Quantum users will be able to experience its quantum crypto solution in services that require identification and certification, which includes mobile payment application.
The Galaxy A Quantum comes with a quad-rear camera setup with a 6.7-inch display and a 4,500mAh battery.
The price of the handset has been set at 649,000 won (US$530) in South Korea, according to SK Telecom. Pre-orders will open on Friday before its official launch on May 22.
In this photo provided by SK Telecom Co. on May 14, 2020, models promote the Galaxy A Quantum smartphone with QRNG chipset. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--FM Kang explains S. Korea's quarantine efforts during U.N.-ITU videoconference

During the meeting co-hosted by the United Nations and its specialized agency , the International Telecommunication Union ( ITU ) @ @ @ @ @ York time ) , Kang noted the approach as an effort to build trust with @ @ @ @ @ fight against the COVID-19 pandemic .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has explained South Korea's approach to tackling the new coronavirus based on a balance between containment and human rights protection during a U.N.-led videoconference, her office said Thursday.
During the meeting co-hosted by the United Nations and its specialized agency, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), on Wednesday (New York time), Kang noted the approach as an effort to build trust with citizens during Seoul's aggressive fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The session on balancing public health, privacy and human rights is the latest in a series of U.N.-led videoconferences on digital cooperation in response to the contagious disease.
Kang pointed out that Seoul has a set of guidelines in place to protect privacy and personal data related to COVID-19 patients, amid concerns over social stigmas associated with the contagious disease.
She also used the session to explain Seoul's anti-virus strategy anchored in its capacity to swiftly test suspected cases, and trace and treat them, as well as social distancing efforts.
Among the participants in the videoconference were UN Under Secretary General Fabrizio Hochschild, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic and Microsoft Corporation Vice President Steve Crown.
Previous U.N.-ITU sessions discussed a range of issues, including connectivity gaps in different regions, misinformation management, and online safety and security.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha attends a recent U.N.-led videoconference on digital cooperation in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic at the foreign ministry in Seoul in this photo provided by the ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--(LEAD) S. Korea aims to create 1.56 mln jobs in public sector

The labor force participation rate , which refers to the percentage of those who are aged 15 or older and @ @ @ @ @ by either being employed or actively looking for jobs , also fell 1.6 percentage points @ @ @ @ @ , according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea .

(ATTN: ADDS remarks, details in last 5 paras)
SEJONG, May 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea aims to create 1.56 million jobs in the public sector, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Thursday, as the nation's economy suffered its sharpest job losses in 21 years over the coronavirus pandemic.
Hong said the government will soon draw up plans to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus on the job market.
About 1 million jobs in the public sector have not been opened due to social distancing rules, but the government will soon open such jobs by easing some rules, Hong said.
The government will also encourage public firms to create some 550,000 jobs for young people, Hong said.
Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki speaks at a meeting with economy-related ministers on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
On Wednesday, South Korea reported the sharpest drop in its April employment since 1999 as the coronavirus pandemic hammered job markets.
The number of employed people in South Korea stood at 26.56 million in April, 476,000 people fewer than a year ago, marking the biggest on-year decline since February 1999.
The labor force participation rate, which refers to the percentage of those who are aged 15 or older and remain in the labor force by either being employed or actively looking for jobs, also fell 1.6 percentage points to 62 percent in April, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.
It also marked the sharpest decline since 2000, when the nation's job markets were crippled in the wake of the Asian financial crisis.
With companies slashing hiring and the virus cutting social activities, economists say the worst has yet to come, heightening the urgency of the government's efforts to project jobs.
Hong said job losses in the service sector showed signs of spreading to the manufacturing sector in April, though temporary workers were the hardest hit.
The government will also push for a safety net for temporary and freelance workers, Hong said.
South Korea has promised relief packages worth some 240 trillion won (US$197.2 billion) to ease the economic fallout from the virus.
The nation's economy shrank 1.4 percent on-quarter in the first quarter of the year, marking the sharpest quarterly contraction since the last three months of 2008.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--Seoul to hold world's 1st hydrogen mobility show in July

SEOUL , May 14 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea will hold the world 's first hydrogen mobility energy show @ @ @ @ @ is pushing to take the leadership in the hydrogen vehicle and other related industries , @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will hold the world's first hydrogen mobility energy show in July as the country is pushing to take the leadership in the hydrogen vehicle and other related industries, an industry association said Thursday.
The Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA) will host the hydrogen show at the KINTEX exhibition hall, north of Seoul, from July 1-3, with the sponsorship of attending companies, such as Hyundai Motor Group, KAMA said in a statement.
The hydrogen exhibition is in line with South Korea's "hydrogen economy road map" to foster hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles and other hydrogen-related businesses as future growth drivers, a KAMA official said.
The exhibition was originally scheduled to take place from March 18-20, but it was delayed due to the spread of the coronavirus.
(END)


KOSDAQ 687.92 DN 3.61 points (open)


Thursday's weather forecast

SEOUL , May 14 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


KOSPI 1,922.44 DN 17.98 points (open)


yna--2020-05-14--Dollar opens at 1,228.0 won UP from 1,223.8 won


yna--2020-05-14--(Yonhap Interview) As dedicated fan, ex-U.S. Ambassador Lippert continues to be envoy for S. Korean

(Yonhap Interview) As dedicated fan, ex-U.S. Ambassador Lippert continues to be envoy for S. Korean baseball

`` I just miss being in the stadiums -- fan culture and the food .
I also miss traveling around @ @ @ @ @ .
Since I left Korea as ambassador , I have made it to games in @ @ @ @ @ , and we always make it a point to go out and have some fun @ @ @ @ @ after the games , '' he said , adding that he usually finds fun regional @ @ @ @ @ .
`` People still recognize me . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- His term as the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea may have ended three years ago, but Mark Lippert continues to serve as an envoy for South Korean baseball in Washington.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) is enjoying newfound fame this month, with the U.S. sports cable giant ESPN carrying six live games per week. It's the only live baseball available on U.S. television, as Major League Baseball (MLB) has been unable to begin its season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
And Lippert, who became a fan of the KBO club Doosan Bears during his term here from 2014 to 2017, is glad to promote the KBO brand of baseball for anyone who is interested or curious.
In this file photo from March 23, 2019, Mark Lippert, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, poses for a photo at a Korea Baseball Organization game between the home team Doosan Bears and the Hanwha Eagles at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
"It's the complete package: great baseball, great players, great action, great fans and with a uniquely Korean twist," Lippert said in a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency. "There is something in it for everyone -- baseball expert, casual fan, foodies, music lovers or for folks who are just curious about Korean culture."
Now a senior adviser for the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, Lippert said it is "not hard at all" to watch weekday games on ESPN, despite the odd hours in the Eastern Standard Time (EST) zone, given the time difference. A weekday game in the KBO begins at 5:30 a.m. EST, while weekend games begin at 1 a.m. or 4 a.m. EST.
In the past, he would wake up early and watch games on the Korean portal site Naver, which streams KBO games, while walking his dog, Grigsby, or making breakfast for his two South Korean-born children, Sejun and Saehee.
"This year, it's been especially fun because I can watch live on ESPN and follow the chat rooms and live (text) updates of other games on Naver," Lippert said. "Later in the day, I can catch the replays. It's been great!"
Lippert said he thinks the U.S. exposure for the KBO will "leave an indelible mark in the minds of MLB fans that there is a very special professional league in Korea, and that the KBO deserves, at the very least, some significant space in the professional baseball conversation and consciousness."
"I do think there will be a lasting impact," Lippert added. "I also hope it will lead some (American) fans to go to Korea to watch games in person because there is nothing, and I mean nothing, like a KBO game."
In this file photo from Aug. 27, 2019, Mark Lippert, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, poses for a selfie with a fan at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul after watching a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game between the home team Doosan Bears and the SK Wyverns. (Yonhap)
Lippert himself has traveled to South Korea to watch a few KBO games, including the Bears' home opener in the 2019 season. His last games were Games 1 and 2 of the 2019 Korean Series; the Bears won those games in their last at-bats in the bottom of the ninth inning, and went on to sweep the Kiwoom Heroes for the third title in five years.
"I just miss being in the stadiums -- fan culture and the food. I also miss traveling around Korea to see the games. Since I left Korea as ambassador, I have made it to games in six of the nine ballparks, and we always make it a point to go out and have some fun in the cities before and after the games," he said, adding that he usually finds fun regional restaurants and eats local food. "People still recognize me."
Lippert shared one particular story: He and a friend traveled to Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, to watch the Bears play the Kia Tigers in 2018. When they walked out of the KTX station, Lippert was instantly recognized by a cab driver, who instantly started yelling, "Yagujang!" the Korean word for "baseball stadium."
Lippert's KBO fandom also led to some indelible moments for the former ambassador in Washington.
While he's a Bears fan, he makes sure to wear the jersey of a different KBO team, the Lotte Giants, when he attends games for the Washington Nationals in the U.S. capital. Lippert has the Giants' throwback road jersey in powder blue with red letters, and it has resemblance to the old jersey for the Montreal Expos, a franchise that moved to Washington and became the Nationals of today.
Once, Lippert went to a Nationals game wearing that Lotte jersey. The game happened to feature a South Korean player from the opposing team, and there were many Korea and Korean-Americans in the stands. Those who either recognized Lippert's jersey or Lippert the ex-ambassador -- or both -- swarmed him for selfies, prompting the stadium usher that had been sitting next to him to ask, "Who are you?"
A couple of days later, Lippert went to another Nationals game, again in his Lotte uniform and in the same area of the stadium, with the same usher now wearing an amused look. This time, Lippert was spotted by a familiar face -- one of his former body guards in Seoul who had traveled to Washington for a State Department training course.
For Lippert, seeing that former body guard wasn't the end of it; the body guard had a better ticket than his former boss.
Lippert's ties with South Korea run deep. Sejun and Saehee -- both of whom have also become KBO fans -- were born here, and Lippert's presence at KBO stadiums endeared him to the South Korean public and made him approachable in ways that his predecessors weren't.
"The Lippert family and Korea are going to be intertwined," he said. "In fact, in my farewell speech as ambassador, I made this point, by saying, '(The Korean people) touched us deeply. I know your future is bright. And we intend to return many times to witness it, partake in it and be inspired by it.' We're just living what I felt and continue to feel about Korea."
In this file photo from March 31, 2017, Mark Lippert, former U.S. ambassador to South Korea, waves to fans at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul while attending a Korea Baseball Organization game between the home team Doosan Bears and the Hanwha Eagles at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Though travel restrictions are keeping Lippert from flying to South Korea to watch his Bears, he's keeping close tabs on the club's fortunes.
Asked about his thoughts on the Bears' chances of defending their title, Lippert said the key is to address the loss of Josh Lindblom, a 20-game winner and reigning league MVP who has since signed with the Milwaukee Brewers.
"But, this highly talented core team is back for another ride. And this is a group that, we have seen time and time again, knows how to win," Lippert added. "So, I like their chances. More broadly, just like last year, I think this is going to be another very exciting KBO season. I'm excited for the Bears but also the season!"
Lippert grew up a fan of the Cincinnati Reds. His father was a season ticket holder for the Reds, and Lippert was one of more than 47,000 fans at the old Riverfront Stadium on Sept. 11, 1985, when Pete Rose got his 4,192nd hit to pass Ty Cobb as the all-time leader in the majors.
So, if the Reds were playing in Game 7 of the World Series and the Bears were in Game 7 of the Korean Series at the same time, which game would Lippert watch?
His immediate reaction to the question was, "Good grief. Are you going to make me pick between Sejun and Saehee next?"
"Being an ambassador is all about keeping Washington and Seoul out of zero-sum choices for the alliance," he said. "So I hope if my skill set is still intact. I'd find a way to watch both!!!"
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--UNC checking aircraft warning markers to prevent accidental border crossings into N. Korea

`` This week , UNC personnel are flying the length of the DMZ 's southern boundary to verify that the @ @ @ @ @ visible .
If not , we 'll work to clear the foliage and replace the @ @ @ @ @ ensure that both civilian and military aircraft avoid flying into the DPRK by mistake , @ @ @ @ @ its Facebook post Wednesday .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- The U.S.-led United Nations Command has said it is inspecting warning markers set up near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to alert pilots they are approaching North Korea's airspace so as to prevent accidental border crossings.
Currently, dozens of red-colored panels, named Aircraft Warning Panel Markers (AWPM), are set up near the southern limit line of the buffer zone to give such warnings to pilots. Those are about a minute's flight from the Military Demarcation Line.
"This week, UNC personnel are flying the length of the DMZ's southern boundary to verify that the markers are still intact and visible. If not, we'll work to clear the foliage and replace the markers, since AWPMs help ensure that both civilian and military aircraft avoid flying into the DPRK by mistake," the command said in its Facebook post Wednesday.
The DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The UNC said the maintenance mission comes as one of its special investigation teams identified a deficiency that contributed to a potential aviation incident involving a civilian aircraft last year, without further elaboration.
"Mitigating incidents is one of many ways we support peace on the Korean Peninsula," the command said. UNC administers the buffer zone and enforces the Armistice Agreement that halted the 1950-53 Korean War.
In January 2005, the UH-60 Blackhawk of the U.S. Forces Korea flew past the non-flight line near the DMZ during routine training, and narrowly avoided crossing the border into the North after South Korean troops fired a flare gun shot.
This image captured from a United Nations Command Facebook video uploaded on May 13, 2020, shows an aircraft warning panel marker set up near the Demilitarized Zone. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--(3rd LD) Itaewon-linked chain transmissions grip greater Seoul area

Of the national total , at least 82 were those who visited affected venues in Itaewon , and the others @ @ @ @ @ .
Around two-thirds of them were aged between 19 and 29 , the KCDC said @

(ATTN: UPDATES figures in paras 2-4)
By Lee Minji
SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- Chain infections coming from nightspots in the neighborhood of Itaewon were reported in the capital area Thursday, raising fears over what health authorities called "a truly cruel virus" further spreading in the area that is home to half of all South Koreans.
The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and the Seoul city government confirmed that 142 cases have been traced to Itaewon, a vibrant area known for its nightlife and international community, as of 6 p.m. Thursday.
A total of 82 cases were reported in Seoul alone, forming the second-largest cluster infection in the capital, following 98 cases linked to a call center in the southwestern area of Sindorim.
Of the national total, at least 82 were those who visited affected venues in Itaewon, and the others were infected through chain transmissions. Around two-thirds of them were aged between 19 and 29, the KCDC said.
The latest data comes amid heightened concerns that the capital area -- consisting of Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon -- may face another wave of transmissions of COVID-19.
A health worker checks a man who went to a church that an Itaewon-related patient visited, in an outdoor screening center at Michuhol Ward Office in Incheon, west of Seoul, on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
Incheon, west of Seoul, appeared to be most affected by chain transmissions that are believed to have been triggered by a 25-year-old who visited Itaewon.
The city reported 14 cases of infection, including what the government suspected to be "tertiary transmissions." Those infected include nine teenagers the Itaewon clubber taught in private tutoring sessions and cram schools, as well as another tutor who taught one of the infected students.
The tutor, a senior at a local university who visited Itaewon between May 2-3, was found to have lied about his teaching job. He is also suspected of lying about his itinerary despite having instructed a class on May 6.
The incident has developed into a case involving the monitoring of 1,473 people in the port city, including people they came in contact with, as well as other students at the cram school and churches patients attended.
Authorities have urged people who visited Itaewon to come forward and get tested in a responsible manner before the virus further spreads in local communities.
Risks of patients unconsciously spreading the infectious disease have escalated, with roughly 36 percent of the patients estimated as not showing any symptoms, according to Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.
In a press briefing Wednesday, KCDC chief Jeong Eun-kyeong called the COVID-19 "a truly cruel virus" that "when infected can hurt the people who are most close to oneself."
In efforts to encourage clubbers who may not want to disclose their identity, the government has started offering anonymous testing for those who visited Itaewon. Around 35,000 have been tested nationally.
Hongdae, a university district in western Seoul, is relatively empty on May 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
Meanwhile, new infections traced to other nightlife districts in Seoul have put health authorities on alert over additional outbreaks.
Na Baeg-ju, the city's civil health bureau director, said officials are closely monitoring and probing the university district of Sinchon in western Seoul, as well as Nakwon-dong in central Seoul, where Itaewon-related patients had visited.
Hongdae, another university district in Seoul, has also emerged as a possible group infection site after five of six people who visited a bar there tested positive. The six, who are friends, did not visit Itaewon.
Daily new infections in the country came in at 29, bringing the country's total infections to 10,991 on Thursday, according to the KCDC.
Of the total, 22 were reported in the greater Seoul area, including Gyeonggi Province and Incheon.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--Main opposition agrees to merge with sister party

Members of the UFP established the Korea Future Party ( KFP ) in the runup to the April 15 elections @ @ @ @ @ new rules designed to give minor parties better chances to win PR seats .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition United Future Party (UFP) on Thursday agreed to merge with its affiliated party, which was created to seek proportional representation (PR) seats in last month's parliamentary elections.
Members of the UFP established the Korea Future Party (KFP) in the runup to the April 15 elections, which were conducted under new rules designed to give minor parties better chances to win PR seats.
UFP floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young and KFP chief Rep. Won Yoo-chul said they agreed to push for a merger as soon as possible and launch an organization to complete the merger.
The merger will raise the main opposition's seats in the 300-seat parliament to 103 from 84.
The ruling Democratic Party and its affiliate party also completed their merger Wednesday. They won a combined 177 seats in last month's elections.
Rep. Joo Ho-young (R), floor leader of the main opposition United Future Party (UFP), shakes hands with Rep. Won Yoo-chul, chief of the UFP's sister Korea Future Party, during a press conference on their merger at the National Assembly in Seoul on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--3 players share lead as women's golf returns in S. Korea

`` I tend to lose my feel if I miss even three days of practice , and I was quite @ @ @ @ @ I did n't hold my clubs for 14 days , '' Bae said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ expected .
I think it helped me that I did n't put any pressure on @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to win the title comes up , I will pounce on it . ''

YANGJU, South Korea, May 14 (Yonhap) -- Three players were tied for the lead on Thursday after the opening round of the first professional golf tournament in South Korea this year.
Japanese tour player Bae Seon-woo was one of a trio who shot five-under 67 in the first round of the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship.
The first major of the KLPGA season, being held at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, is also the first golf competition on South Korean soil in 2020. The coronavirus outbreak forced the KLPGA to put its season on hold after the season opener in Vietnam last December.
Kim Char-young and Hyun Se-lin also carded 67s.
Bae Seon-woo of South Korea reacts to a birdie putt during the first round of the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, on May 14, 2020, in this photo provided by the KLPGA. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The field of 150 players is vying for 3 billion won (US$2.4 million) in purse. The champion will take home 220 million won.
The tournament will be played without fans, due to lingering concerns of COVID-19 infections.
The 2019 KLPGA Rookie of the Year Cho A-yean was tied for fourth with two others after a four-under 68. Then eight golfers shot a 67, including the defending champion Choi Hye-jin.
U.S. LPGA stars struggled on Thursday. World No. 3 Park Sung-hyun, the highest-ranked player this week, carded a 73, as did the reigning LPGA Rookie of the Year Lee Jeong-eun. Kim Sei-young, a 10-time LPGA winner, shot a 74.
This is Park's first tournament of the year. She had planned to start her 2020 season in March but the LPGA Tour has been on hold since February due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Bae, who has four career KLPGA wins, had to be quarantined for 14 days after returning from Japan last month. Her quarantine only ended last Friday, and she didn't resume her practice until the following day.
But Bae didn't miss a beat, picking up five birdies against no bogeys.
Park Sung-hyun of South Korea watches her tee shot during the first round of the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
"I tend to lose my feel if I miss even three days of practice, and I was quite worried about this week because I didn't hold my clubs for 14 days," Bae said. "I scored better than I expected. I think it helped me that I didn't put any pressure on myself. But if an opportunity to win the title comes up, I will pounce on it."
On playing her first competitive round since last December, Bae said, "I feel like I can finally breathe. Now that I am back playing a tournament, I feel alive."
Park, the marquee name in the field, said she struggled on fast greens at Lakewood. Her first and only birdie of the round came at the 16th hole.
"I haven't figure out the greens here yet, and I didn't put a good putting stroke on any holes today," Park said. "I grew more accustomed to the speed of the greens on the back nine. I expect myself to play better tomorrow than today."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--(6th LD) Itaewon clubgoers again urged to get virus tests to stem further spread

`` We are faced with a very important critical point , '' said Kwon Joon-wook , a senior health official @ @ @ @ @ a crossroads to decide whether the pandemic will be contained on the back of intensive @ @ @ @ @ further measures will be needed . ''

(ATTN: UPDATES figures in 3rd para)
SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported a steady rise in new virus infections linked to nightclubs and bars in Seoul's most popular nightlife neighborhood, putting health authorities on alert against secondary and tertiary infections traced to the capital city's second-largest virus cluster.
A total of 29 new cases of COVID-19 were added as of Wednesday, with 26 of them being local infections, bringing the nation's total number to 10,991, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
A total of 142 cases linked to nightclubs and bars in Itaewon, including clubgoers, their family members and coworkers, have been confirmed as of 6 p.m. Thursday, according to the KCDC and local governments.
Quarantine officials work at a clinic in Seoul on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
"We are faced with a very important critical point," said Kwon Joon-wook, a senior health official. "We are at a crossroads to decide whether the pandemic will be contained on the back of intensive social distancing or whether other further measures will be needed."
The KCDC said this weekend will be a critical juncture determining whether the Itaewon infection cluster leads to community-wide spread.
The KCDC said it has confirmed tertiary infections in Incheon after a private academy instructor lied about his occupation following his recent visit to a Itaewon club. So far, 11 confirmed virus cases have been tied to him.
Health authorities said they are still struggling to locate the whereabouts of around 2,500 people connected with the Itaewon outbreak for testing.
"Anonymity will be guaranteed for COVID-19 testing to prevent possible privacy issues," KCDC chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said during a daily briefing, apparently addressing concerns about discrimination against clubgoers.
South Korea had added fewer than 15 cases of COVID-19 since mid-April, with the number of domestic infections even falling to zero on some days.
But the number of daily new cases has hovered around 30 for the past three days after the country saw an unexpected spike in cases coming from entertainment facilities, with secondary and tertiary infections reported not only in Seoul but across the country.
Of the total 29 cases, 12 came from Incheon, west of Seoul, six from Gyeonggi Province, surrounding the capital city, and three each from Seoul and North Chungcheong Province, the KCDC said.
Imported cases, previously the biggest threat for South Korea's quarantine operations, are now less of a concern, though the country reported three more such cases Thursday.
An elderly man listens to a medical professional after arriving at a coronavirus screening clinic in Incheon, west of Seoul, on May 14, 2020, to undergo a COVID-19 test. (Yonhap)
South Korea's virus death toll climbed to 260 after adding one more fatality, according to the KCDC, with the mortality rate reaching 2.37 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 9,762, up 67 from a day earlier, the KCDC said.
The country has carried out COVID-19 tests on 711,484 people since Jan. 3, including 15,564 from a day earlier.
The number of people undergoing tests has spiked recently due to cases linked to nightspots in Itaewon.
So far, some 35,000 people have been tested over the Itaewon infection cluster, according to the KCDC.
"A total of some 15,000 tests were conducted yesterday alone with a total of 35,000 tests undergoing in connection with Itaewon clubs," Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health ministry official, said in a briefing.
Health authorities urged people to voluntarily get tested as those who do not follow the advice will face a fine of up to 2 million won (US$1,600).
They also said 131 people who have violated self-isolation measures will be handed over to the prosecution.
After flattening the curve of COVID-19, South Korea shifted last Wednesday to an "everyday life quarantine" scheme and the normalization of public facilities and other business establishments, under the condition they follow basic sanitation measures.
But due to the recent surge in virus cases traced to the Itaewon area, the country has decided to push back the reopening of schools by one week, allowing students to physically attend classes in phases starting next Wednesday.
Seoul and other municipal governments have issued an administrative order banning gatherings at entertainment establishments, which has de facto forced club and bar owners to suspend business.
A sign advises those who visited clubs in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood to refrain from entering the National Hangeul Museum on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--(LEAD) Golfers, caddies adjust to new normal as women's season resumes in S. Korea

Golf returned in South Korea on Thursday with the opening round of the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association ( @ @ @ @ @ , just north of Seoul in Gyeonggi Province .
It 's the first golf tournament @ @ @ @ @ year , following the 2020 season opener held in Vietnam last December .
And the @ @ @ @ @ international media interest while the rest of the golfing world remains grounded .

(ATTN: ADDS comments at bottom)
YANGJU, South Korea, May 14 (Yonhap) -- Post-round hugs and handshakes gave way to fist bumps. There was no clubhouse banter. There were more bottles of hand sanitizer than there were fans.
These are elements of golf's new normal during the coronavirus pandemic.
Players and caddies prepare to start the opening round of the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
Golf returned in South Korea on Thursday with the opening round of the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship in Yangju, just north of Seoul in Gyeonggi Province. It's the first golf tournament on South Korean soil this year, following the 2020 season opener held in Vietnam last December. And the KLPGA Tour has drawn substantial international media interest while the rest of the golfing world remains grounded.
Lakewood Country Club was open only to players, caddies, tournament officials and credentialed media. And inside their own lounge, players had to maintain a safe distance.
Dining tables were spread out so that players could eat separately while facing the same direction, in accordance with physical distancing guidelines.
Players sign their scorecards inside the scoring tent, with bottles of hand sanitizer on the table, after the first round of the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
On the course, caddies had to keep their masks on, though players were allowed to take them off during their round. Flags on each hole were wrapped in antibacterial sheets.
The scoring tent was set up outside. Players typically sign their scorecards in an indoor scoring area, but this isn't a typical tournament.
Tournament officials and players all had to put their masks on inside that scoring tent. And players had to sanitize their hands before handing over their cards.
"With the eyes of the world on us, we feel the sense of responsibility to set the standard for quarantine in professional golf," a KLPGA official said. "We're determined to make this a clean tournament."
Players said it felt strange not to have fans around to applaud their shots. After making birdie putts or putting their iron shots close to the hole, golfers often acknowledge their fans with a quick wave or a smile. That won't be part of this tournament.
"I birdied the first hole, and I didn't know how I should celebrate it," said defending champion Choi Hye-jin. "I made an eagle and I just kept it to myself."
Kim Sei-young, world No. 6, said she felt like she was playing a practice round. Oh Ji-hyun, a KLPGA star, said it would have been nice to feed off the crowd's energy.
Bae Seon-woo, who plies her trade in Japan, said that without crowd reaction, it was difficult to tell where her shots landed on greens.
Choi said one advantage of playing without fans was that the pace of play picked up and she had better focus.
One player, who declined to be named, said, "Not a lot of fans follow me anyway. This didn't feel all that different."
In this photo provided by the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) on May 14, 2020, players eat their lunch on separate tables in the dining area at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, after the first round of the 42nd KLPGA Championship. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--May 18 pro-democracy Gwangju uprising should be reflected in constitutional revision, Moon says

Moon 's call is not new , but this time , it came amid high expectations that the ruling Democratic @ @ @ @ @ for constitutional revision in the incoming National Assembly .
It secured an overwhelming majority in @ @ @ @ @ April 15 general elections .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in has emphasized the need to inscribe the historic value and significance of the May 18 Democratization Movement in a new constitution of South Korea, a local broadcaster that interviewed him said on Thursday.
Moon had the special interview with the Gwangju regional station of MBC days ahead of the 40th anniversary of the bloody movement staged in Gwangju, 270 kilometers south of Seoul, in 1980. Citizens protested against the then-military junta led by Chun Doo-hwan.
The broadcaster plans to air the interview, which took place at the Sangchunjae pavilion inside Cheong Wa Dae earlier this week, on Sunday.
It released a preview of the interview in which Moon stressed the historic meaning and constitutional value of the May 18 incident.
If revising the Constitution is discussed again, the spirit of the movement should be reflected in the preamble, Moon was quoted as saying.
This is a way to promote national unity, he added, pointing out that the Gwangju case is at the center of the country's democratization.
Moon's call is not new, but this time, it came amid high expectations that the ruling Democratic Party will push in earnest for constitutional revision in the incoming National Assembly. It secured an overwhelming majority in the 300-member parliament through the April 15 general elections.
President Moon Jae-in (R) consoles a bereaved family member of a victim of the 1980 civilian massacre committed by a military junta during the May 18 Democratization Movement in Gwangju while visiting a national cemetery there on May 18, 2019. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--U.S. lawmakers ask S. Korea to back Taiwan's bid to participate in WHO session

`` It 's customary not to disclose anything unless there is an agreement between the two sides ( to reveal @ @ @ @ @ wo n't speak about it , '' the official told reporters Thursday on condition of @ @

By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea was included on the list of more than 50 countries that U.S. lawmakers have asked to support Taiwan's bid to participate in a key upcoming World Health Organization (WHO) session, a U.S. congressional committee website has shown.
The U.S. House foreign affairs committee website showed the list of 55 countries that received the request in a letter signed by four lawmakers, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch. The list, as of May 8, included South Korea, Japan, Britain, the European Union, Australia, Indonesia, India, Malaysia and others.
The letter calls on leaders of the "like-minded" countries to "affirmatively support Taiwan's participation in international organizations and in light of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic" and "to reject Beijing's political pressure campaign aimed at excluding Taiwan."
As a start, it calls for Taiwan to be allowed in the World Health Assembly, slated for May 18-19.
A foreign ministry official in Seoul declined to confirm whether it has received the letter, citing diplomatic practices.
"It's customary not to disclose anything unless there is an agreement between the two sides (to reveal it). So I won't speak about it," the official told reporters Thursday on condition of anonymity.
Asked South Korea's position regarding the matter, the official declined to respond, adding that it's up to the WHO chief to decide whether to invite Taiwan to the general assembly.
"We should look into various aspects. In the past years, there were times when they were invited and they were not invited," he said.
The U.S. lawmakers' call comes amid growing criticism of China by the Donald Trump administration over the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. Washington has blamed Beijing for worsening the crisis by hiding related information.
China has opposed Taiwan being recognized as an independent member in any international organizations under its "One China" policy that considers Taiwan as part of its territory.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--(LEAD) Schools to reopen as scheduled, uncertainty lingers amid infections involving teachers, stude

(LEAD) Schools to reopen as scheduled, uncertainty lingers amid infections involving teachers, students

The opening has already been delayed several times , and Vice Education Minister Park Baeg-beom said in a briefing that @ @ @ @ @ considering another delay in opening classes for high school seniors '' who will take the @ @ @ @ @ .
Classes are scheduled to resume on May 20 .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead, photo; ADDS more info in paras 1-7, 13-15)
SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- Despite a recent spike in novel coronavirus infections involving teachers and students, the education ministry said Thursday it will forge ahead with its plan to reopen schools.
The opening has already been delayed several times, and Vice Education Minister Park Baeg-beom said in a briefing that the ministry "was not considering another delay in opening classes for high school seniors" who will take the university entrance exam this winter. Classes are scheduled to resume on May 20.
For other graders, "We need to see, but a delay is not being considered at this stage," he said.
According to the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), there are 133 coronavirus patients in connection with a recent outbreak that started in nightclubs of the city's multicultural district of Itaewon.
Among the confirmed cases, more than 10 are young students believed to have contracted COVID-19 from their teachers who visited some of the clubs.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, some 158 teachers and school officials are confirmed to have visited entertainment establishments in the city's popular nightlife districts, including Itaewon, from April 29 to May 6.
Another tally released by the ministry showed 41 school officials, including 34 native English teachers, visited nightclubs in Itaewon from April 24 to May 6. Forty people tested negative and one was waiting for a result as of late Thursday afternoon. During the same period, 880 school officials went to Itaewon, but didn't visit nightclubs.
A Seoul high school is disinfected on May 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
On Thursday morning, a teenage student and his mother in Incheon were confirmed to have contracted the virus, after the student's teacher at a private institute spent time in Itaewon clubs and later tested positive.
The teenager's school friend also tested positive, bringing the total cases traced to the Incheon instructor to 14, with most of them students and their contacts.
Authorities also found that some underage students sneaked into such clubs during the period against the law.
The recent surge in infections increases pressure on the education ministry, which has postponed reopening schools five times already.
Amid growing pressure to create a safe learning environment, the relevant government agencies held an emergency meeting Thursday morning to strengthen quarantine and health safety measures in schools and private education institutes, as well as other facilities widely used by underage students.
The meeting produced strong recommendations on cram schools to offer online classes and strict hygiene rules.
No less importantly, the authorities decided to tighten social distancing rules again, which were eased earlier this month, in school districts. Educational institutes that fail to comply with the rules can face a forceful closure.
The ministry is also toying with various ideas to safely reopen schools in a limited form, such as one-day-on, one-day-off schedules and running separate classes.
Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae (C) speaks during an emergency response meeting over quarantine measures in school districts at the Government Complex in Seoul on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
The government had planned phased reopening nationwide starting Wednesday, in line with its relaxed social distancing measures that went into effect on May 6. But it delayed the plan earlier this week following the unexpected outbreak in Itaewon.
The ministry has already put in place strict hygiene and social distancing rules, as well as detailed guidelines for monitoring possible patients to tackle the spread of the virus.
However, some parents remain concerned about the highly contagious virus.
A parent, who asked not to be named, said, "The possibility of an outbreak of even one patient at school doesn't sit well," referring to the isolation guidelines in the ministry's response manual.
"I heard teenagers are more likely to be asymptomatic and to unwittingly spread the virus. I don't think school quarantine measures are stringent enough," the 49-year-old said.
An education expert, who also asked to remain anonymous, told Yonhap News Agency, "The ministry shouldn't patch up the problem by delaying reopening schools on an as-needed basis."
"The central government should set clear guidelines on this and put forward a short- and long-term plan."
A man walks past Pink Elephant, one of clubs in the multicultural district of Itaewon in Seoul, where a new infection cluster recently originated, on May 13, 2020.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--Korean firms again in anti-virus mode over Itaewon cluster infections

`` Previous mass infections in the country involved a specific religion and a place , '' an official from local @ @ @ @ @ cases from Itaewon are connected with young people and spread around the Seoul metropolitan area @ @ @ @ @ concerned about it ''

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean firms are again beefing up their virus prevention measures after the country reported cluster infections linked to clubs and bars in a popular nightlife neighborhood in Seoul, industry insiders said Thursday.
After the country shifted to an "everyday life quarantine" scheme to normalize social and economic activities last week, many companies decided to end remote working and allowed their workers to return to the office.
However, with the recent surge in virus cases tied to nightclubs and bars in Itaewon, local firms are returning to remote working and reinforcing their virus prevention measures.
Samsung Electronics Co.'s COVID-19 task force urged workers who recently visited virus-contaminated neighborhoods to report to the company and get tested for the novel coronavirus.
Citizens wait in line to get tested for the novel coronavirus at a virus testing clinic in Yongsan, central Seoul, on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
In addition to workers who visited entertainment facilities in Itaewon, Samsung employees who visited a bowling center in Suwon, south of Seoul, last Friday and Saturday are also required to take virus tests. Suwon is home to Samsung's headquarters.
Cheil Worldwide Inc., a marketing firm under Samsung Group whose headquarters is located in Itaewon, said that it has instructed its workers to work at other office buildings outside the multicultural neighborhood.
Only a small number of essential workers will commute to its Itaewon building, according to the company.
Top mobile operator SK Telecom Co. said it decided to resume remote working and its workers will work from home from Thursday to May 24.
SK Telecom previously enforced remote working from Feb. 25 to April 5 and then switched to a flexible working system, under which workers can choose their place of work.
SK Innovation Co., the top oil refiner here, said its quarantine level for its production sites has been raised to the same level as when the country's daily virus infections peaked.
Workers are advised to limit their business trips, and those who visited other regions are required to self isolate for at least four days, according to the company.
Other major firms, including Hyundai Motor Co. and LG Electronics Inc., said they have also told their workers to get tested if they visited places where virus cases were identified.
"Previous mass infections in the country involved a specific religion and a place," an official from local firm said. "But cases from Itaewon are connected with young people and spread around the Seoul metropolitan area, so we are more concerned about it"
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--K-pop boy band Monsta X puts off N. American tour over pandemic

The decision will require rescheduling the entire itinerary of the tour , which spans 17 cities in the region , @ @ @ @ @ Minneapolis on June 2 .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- K-pop boy band Monsta X has put off its North American concert tour, set to kick off next month, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, its management agency said Thursday.
"Monsta X's North American tour which was scheduled for June and July in the United States and Canada has been postponed," Starship Entertainment said.
"We will closely watch the situation so we can secure replacement schedules when the COVID-19 pandemic subsides," Starship said on its SNS accounts.
The decision will require rescheduling the entire itinerary of the tour, which spans 17 cities in the region, including the first stop in Minneapolis on June 2.
The world tour's inaugural Seoul leg, scheduled for May 9-10, was also called off due to the pandemic.
An image of Monsta X, provided by Starship Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

SEOUL -- Chain infections coming from nightspots in the neighborhood of Itaewon were reported in the capital area Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ authorities called `` a truly cruel virus '' further spreading in the area that is @ @ @ @ @ South Koreans .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Thursday.
-----------------
(5th LD) Itaewon clubgoers again urged to get virus tests to stem further spread
SEOUL -- South Korea reported a steady rise in new virus infections linked to nightclubs and bars in Seoul's most popular nightlife neighborhood, putting health authorities on alert against secondary and tertiary infections traced to the capital city's second-largest virus cluster.
A total of 29 new cases of COVID-19 were added as of Wednesday, with 26 of them being local infections, bringing the nation's total number to 10,991, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
-----------------
(2nd LD) Itaewon-linked chain transmissions grip greater Seoul area
SEOUL -- Chain infections coming from nightspots in the neighborhood of Itaewon were reported in the capital area Thursday, raising fears over what health authorities called "a truly cruel virus" further spreading in the area that is home to half of all South Koreans.
The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed 133 cases traced to Itaewon, a vibrant area known for its nightlife and international community, as of Thursday at noon.
-----------------
Last plenary meeting of 20th National Assembly set for next Wednesday
SEOUL -- Rival political parties agreed Thursday to hold the last plenary meeting of the 20th National Assembly next week to handle bills linked to people's livelihoods.
The meeting will convene next Wednesday to pass a set of legislation, including a revision to the employment insurance act, before the new parliament will begin its four-year term on May 30.
-----------------
Coronavirus to put greater strain on exports than 2008 crisis: minister
SEJONG -- South Korea's industry minister said Thursday the country's exports are not likely to rebound in the near future as the new coronavirus pandemic has strained Asia's fourth-largest economy more severely than the 2008 financial crisis did.
"The COVID-19 pandemic is anticipated to have a greater impact on exports than the 2008 financial crisis, and last for a longer period," Industry Minister Sung Yun-mo said in a meeting with reporters.
-----------------
LG Polymers moving styrene monomer from India after deadly gas leak
SEOUL -- LG Polymers India, an affiliate of South Korean chemical giant LG Chem Ltd, said Thursday it has begun transporting styrene monomer in its plant and styrene tanks at a port to South Korea following a recent deadly gas leak.
Gas leaked from LG Polymers India last Thursday, killing 12 people and sickening more than a thousand near the plant in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
-----------------
Asiana to reopen 13 int'l routes in June as virus woes ease
SEOUL -- Asiana Airlines Inc., South Korea's second-biggest carrier, said Thursday it will resume flights on 13 international routes next month as the coronavirus outbreak seems to have passed its peak.
The move comes on the heels of its bigger local rival Korean Air's similar plan.
-----------------
(LEAD) Lotte Shopping delivers 'earnings shock' in Q1 amid coronavirus pandemic
SEOUL -- Lotte Shopping Co., the operator of South Korea's biggest department store and a leading discount store, said Thursday it swung to the red in the first quarter, mainly due to an industry-wide slump caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The key unit of retail giant Lotte Group reported a net loss of 43.3 billion won (US$35.3 million) on a consolidated basis for the January-March period, shifting from a profit of 109.2 billion won a year earlier.
-----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks end lower on grim economic outlook
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks closed lower Thursday as investor sentiment was dented by a grim forecast for global economic recovery amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 15.46 points, or 0.80 percent, to close at 1,924.96.
-----------------
BTS to stage live online concert next month in time of virus quarantine
SEOUL -- Having rescheduled the entire itinerary of its world tour this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, K-pop boy band BTS will stage a live online concert next month, inviting fans from across the world, its management agency said Thursday.
The septet will connect with its fans "Army" through the livestreaming event, "Bang Bang Con the Live," on the evening of June 14 (Korean time), Big Hit Entertainment announced on the Weverse mobile application and its SNS accounts.
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--Golfers, caddies adjust to new normal as women's season resumes in S. Korea

YANGJU, South Korea, May 14 (Yonhap) -- Post-round hugs and handshakes gave way to fist bumps. There was no clubhouse banter. There were more bottles of hand sanitizer than there were fans.
These are elements of golf's new normal during the coronavirus pandemic.
Players and caddies prepare to start the opening round of the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
Golf returned in South Korea on Thursday with the opening round of the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship in Yangju, just north of Seoul in Gyeonggi Province. It's the first golf tournament on South Korean soil this year, following the 2020 season opener held in Vietnam last December. And the KLPGA Tour has drawn substantial international media interest while the rest of the golfing world remains grounded.
Lakewood Country Club was open only to players, caddies, tournament officials and credentialed media. And inside their own lounge, players had to maintain a safe distance.
Dining tables were spread out so that players could eat separately while facing the same direction, in accordance with physical distancing guidelines.
Players sign their scorecards inside the scoring tent, with bottles of hand sanitizer on the table, after the first round of the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
On the course, caddies had to keep their masks on, though players were allowed to take them off during their round. Flags on each hole were wrapped in antibacterial sheets.
The scoring tent was set up outside. Players typically sign their scorecards in an indoor scoring area, but this isn't a typical tournament.
Tournament officials and players all had to put their masks on inside that scoring tent. And players had to sanitize their hands before handing over their cards.
"With the eyes of the world on us, we feel the sense of responsibility to set the standard for quarantine in professional golf," a KLPGA official said. "We're determined to make this a clean tournament."
In this photo provided by the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) on May 14, 2020, players eat their lunch on separate tables in the dining area at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, after the first round of the 42nd KLPGA Championship. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--(5th LD) Itaewon clubgoers again urged to get virus tests to stem further spread

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; RESTRUCTURES throughout)
SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported a steady rise in new virus infections linked to nightclubs and bars in Seoul's most popular nightlife neighborhood, putting health authorities on alert against secondary and tertiary infections traced to the capital city's second-largest virus cluster.
A total of 29 new cases of COVID-19 were added as of Wednesday, with 26 of them being local infections, bringing the nation's total number to 10,991, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
So far, 136 cases have been linked to nightclubs and bars in Itaewon, including clubgoers, their family members and coworkers, according to the KCDC. Among them, 82 had visited the establishments.
Quarantine officials work at a clinic in Seoul on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
"We are faced with a very important critical point," said Kwon Joon-wook, a senior health official. "We are at a crossroads to decide whether the pandemic will be contained on the back of intensive social distancing or whether other further measures will be needed."
The KCDC said this weekend will be a critical juncture determining whether the Itaewon infection cluster leads to community-wide spread.
The KCDC said it has confirmed tertiary infections in Incheon after a private academy instructor lied about his occupation following his recent visit to a Itaewon club. So far, 11 confirmed virus cases have been tied to him.
Health authorities said they are still struggling to locate the whereabouts of around 2,500 people connected with the Itaewon outbreak for testing.
"Anonymity will be guaranteed for COVID-19 testing to prevent possible privacy issues," KCDC chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said during a daily briefing, apparently addressing concerns about discrimination against clubgoers.
South Korea had added fewer than 15 cases of COVID-19 since mid-April, with the number of domestic infections even falling to zero on some days.
But the number of daily new cases has hovered around 30 for the past three days after the country saw an unexpected spike in cases coming from entertainment facilities, with secondary and tertiary infections reported not only in Seoul but across the country.
Of the total 29 cases, 12 came from Incheon, west of Seoul, six from Gyeonggi Province, surrounding the capital city, and three each from Seoul and North Chungcheong Province, the KCDC said.
Imported cases, previously the biggest threat for South Korea's quarantine operations, are now less of a concern, though the country reported three more such cases Thursday.
An elderly man listens to a medical professional after arriving at a coronavirus screening clinic in Incheon, west of Seoul, on May 14, 2020, to undergo a COVID-19 test. (Yonhap)
South Korea's virus death toll climbed to 260 after adding one more fatality, according to the KCDC, with the mortality rate reaching 2.37 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 9,762, up 67 from a day earlier, the KCDC said.
The country has carried out COVID-19 tests on 711,484 people since Jan. 3, including 15,564 from a day earlier.
The number of people undergoing tests has spiked recently due to cases linked to nightspots in Itaewon.
So far, some 35,000 people have been tested over the Itaewon infection cluster, according to the KCDC.
"A total of some 15,000 tests were conducted yesterday alone with a total of 35,000 tests undergoing in connection with Itaewon clubs," Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health ministry official, said in a briefing.
Health authorities urged people to voluntarily get tested as those who do not follow the advice will face a fine of up to 2 million won (US$1,600).
They also said 131 people who have violated self-isolation measures will be handed over to the prosecution.
After flattening the curve of COVID-19, South Korea shifted last Wednesday to an "everyday life quarantine" scheme and the normalization of public facilities and other business establishments, under the condition they follow basic sanitation measures.
But due to the recent surge in virus cases traced to the Itaewon area, the country has decided to push back the reopening of schools by one week, allowing students to physically attend classes in phases starting next Wednesday.
Seoul and other municipal governments have issued an administrative order banning gatherings at entertainment establishments, which has de facto forced club and bar owners to suspend business.
A sign advises those who visited clubs in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood to refrain from entering the National Hangeul Museum on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--Hyundai, Kia to resume operations at all overseas plants from Monday

Kia has seven overseas factories -- three in China and one each in the U.S. , Slovakia , Mexico and @ @ @ @ @ ones -- two in Gwangmyeong , three in Hwaseong and three in Gwangju .
Their @ @ @ @ @ units .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. said Thursday all of their overseas plants will be in operation next week amid signs of the coronavirus epidemic passing its peak.
Currently, Kia's plant in Mexico is the only overseas manufacturing facility which is still suspended to manage inventories. South Korea's No.2 carmaker plans to restart production at its Mexican plant on Monday, a company spokesman said over the phone.
"Most of their overseas plants have resumed production at a reduced level and whether production volumes will return to pre-coronavirus levels largely hinges on demand recovery," he said.
Hyundai restarted its Brazil plant on Wednesday. Last week, Hyundai and Kia resumed operations at their Alabama and Georgia plants, respectively, in the United States.
Hyundai and Kia, which together form the world's fifth-biggest carmaker by sales, suspended most of their overseas production facilities from March. The suspension affected their vehicle sales, particularly in the past two months.
From January to April, Hyundai and Kia sold a combined 1,845,406 vehicles, down 19 percent from 2,268,183 units in the same period of last year.
Hyundai has 10 overseas plants -- four in China and one each in the United States, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Russia, India and Brazil -- and seven domestic ones -- five in Ulsan, one in Asan and one in Jeonju. Their combined capacity reaches 5.5 million vehicles.
Kia has seven overseas factories -- three in China and one each in the U.S., Slovakia, Mexico and India -- and eight local ones -- two in Gwangmyeong, three in Hwaseong and three in Gwangju. Their overall capacity is 3.84 million units.
This undated file photo shows Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors' headquarters in Yangjae, southern Seoul. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--(LEAD) Seoul stocks end lower on grim economic outlook

SEOUL , May 14 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean stocks closed lower Thursday as investor sentiment was dented by @ @ @ @ @ economic recovery amid the novel coronavirus pandemic .
The Korean won fell against the U.S. @ @

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom; photo)
SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed lower Thursday as investor sentiment was dented by a grim forecast for global economic recovery amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 15.46 points, or 0.80 percent, to close at 1,924.96.
Trading volume was high at 744 million shares worth 9.3 trillion won (US$7.5 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 638 to 229.
The index never moved above the flatline throughout the session.
Analysts said investors focused on the bleak outlook from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who delivered an assessment for a slow economic recovery from the novel coronavirus fallout.
Growing concerns over renewed trade tensions between the United States and China also weighed down the local market, analysts added.
This photo shows a screen showing the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) at a dealing room at Hana Bank in Seoul on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
"Powell's comments were not helpful since it can lead to continued foreign sell-offs here," Seo Sang-young, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities, said.
Foreigners dumped a net 552 billion won, while institutions sold a net 238 billion won worth of local stocks. Individuals scooped up a net 785 billion won on the Seoul bourse.
Most large-cap stocks ended in negative terrain.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics plunged 1.13 percent to 48,000 won and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix tumbled 3.59 percent to 80,600 won.
South Korea's largest automaker, Hyundai Motor, lost 0.86 percent to 92,300 won, while auto parts producer Hyundai Mobis declined 0.59 percent to 169,500 won.
Top chemical firm LG Chem dipped 2.13 percent to 344,500 won, and leading steelmaker POSCO dropped 2.89 percent to 168,000 won.
However, pharmaceutical giant Celltrion advanced 0.93 percent to 217,000 won, while Kakao, which runs the nation's leading mobile messenger app, KakaoTalk, jumped 3.93 percent to 225,000 won.
The South Korean won closed at 1,228.00 won against the U.S. dollar, down 4.20 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys rose 1.3 basis points to 0.869 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond added 1.1 basis points to 1.122 percent.
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--S. Korean Bond Yields on May. 14, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on May. 14, 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--2020-05-14--S. Korea 'standout performer' in 2020 auto sales: Moody's

The economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak will result in a decline of at least 30 percent in auto sales @ @ @ @ @ Argentina , Russia , Indonesia and Mexico in 2020 , with sales to rebound by @ @ @ @ @ percent in 2021 , Moody 's said in a report .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- Moody's Investors Service said Thursday South Korea will fare better than other countries in "secondary auto markets" this year in terms of vehicle sales.
The economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak will result in a decline of at least 30 percent in auto sales in India, Brazil, Argentina, Russia, Indonesia and Mexico in 2020, with sales to rebound by about 15 percent to 20 percent in 2021, Moody's said in a report.
In contrast, Moody's said "The standout performer remains South Korea, which opted against the across-the-board lockdown measures common in most other markets. As a result, we expect a far more modest 6 percent drop in auto unit sales, followed by a 2 percent rebound in 2021."
Moody's forecast global sales to plummet 20 percent to 72 million vehicles this year from 90.2 million units a year earlier amid a sharp drop in economic activity in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
In 2021, global auto sales are expected to rebound by 11.5 percent to 80.3 million units. Beyond next year, the recovery in auto demand is likely to continue, but at a slower pace, it said.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--S. Korea to build up infectious disease response capabilities

At present , there is no cure or vaccine for COVID-19 , which was first reported in China in late @ @ @ @ @ said a drug may be created toward the end of the second half of 2020 @ @ @ @ @ forthcoming till next year .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Thursday that it plans to build up its response capabilities against infectious diseases and create a new growth engine by capitalizing on know-how and measures taken to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.
At a emergency economic policy meeting chaired by Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki, participants said state support will be concentrated on quarantine and prevention, diagnosis and screening, and the development of treatment drugs.
At present, there is no cure or vaccine for COVID-19, which was first reported in China in late 2019. Many experts have said a drug may be created toward the end of the second half of 2020, with a vaccine not forthcoming till next year.
South Korea has reported 10,991 cases of the virus, with the death toll standing at 260. Both figures are much lower than many countries in Europe and North America, mainly due to the country's extensive testing and strict social distancing.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, which regulates drugs and test kits, said any development will be designed to not only deal with the present strain of coronavirus but also mutations, along with new illnesses that may occur.
Earlier, the country said it will spend 1.2 trillion won (US$980 million) on research and development by 2025.
South Korea also plans to promote the so-called K-quarantine model, based on swift, aggressive testing, detailed contact tracing, quarantine and treatment, as the new international standard that can be used by other countries in dealing with epidemics.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--Moon names new Presidential Security Service chief

Ryoo Yeon-sang , deputy head of the agency , will be promoted to lead it , with Ju Young-hoon retiring @ @ @ @ @ as the president 's chief bodyguard .
Ryoo will assume the post on Friday , @ @ @ @ @ spokesman Kang Min-seok .

SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in will replace the director of the Presidential Security Service, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday, as he has just entered his fourth year in office.
Ryoo Yeon-sang, deputy head of the agency, will be promoted to lead it, with Ju Young-hoon retiring after three years of service as the president's chief bodyguard. Ryoo will assume the post on Friday, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
Ryoo has worked at the agency for 28 years after majoring in police administration at Dongguk University in Seoul.
He is credited with having contributed to the upgrading of the presidential bodyguard team through a successful push for "friendly, open and humble" security service, Kang said.
He is expected to continue contributions to the establishment of a new security service system and culture in response to the innovation of the organization, going forward, and a change in circumstances, Kang added.
Ryoo Yeon-sang, newly appointed director of the Presidential Security Service, in a file photo (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-14--(LEAD) Lotte Shopping delivers 'earnings shock' in Q1 amid coronavirus pandemic

SEOUL , May 14 ( Yonhap ) -- Lotte Shopping Co. , the operator of South Korea 's biggest department @ @ @ @ @ store , said Thursday it swung to the red in the first quarter , mainly @ @ @ @ @ caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; ADDS more info from 2nd para, photo)
SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- Lotte Shopping Co., the operator of South Korea's biggest department store and a leading discount store, said Thursday it swung to the red in the first quarter, mainly due to an industry-wide slump caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The key unit of retail giant Lotte Group reported a net loss of 43.3 billion won (US$35.3 million) on a consolidated basis for the January-March period, shifting from a profit of 109.2 billion won a year earlier.
Corporate logo of Lotte Shopping Co. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
It posted 52.1 billion won in operating profit for the quarter, compared with 205.3 billion won a year ago.
Its sales fell 8.3 percent on-year to 4.07 trillion won in the first quarter.
The company attributed the grim business results to fewer people visiting offline stores and more staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic
"Most local retail companies were faced with difficulties due to worsened consumer sentiment," said a company official who asked not to be named. "We will try to strengthen the e-commerce environment through Lotte On."
Lotte Shopping joined a list of traditional retailers that have announced a slew of drastic and painful restructuring measures after delivering poor earnings in the face of harsh competition with e-commerce players.
Last month, Lotte Shopping launched an ambitious online shopping website, Lotte On, which integrates the websites of Lotte's eight affiliates, including Lotte Department Store, the electronics unit Himart, Lotte Home Shopping and Lotte Duty Free.
Shares of Lotte Shopping closed at 89,000 won, up 0.56 percent from a day earlier. The earnings were announced after the local market closed.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-15--Korean Air passengers required to wear masks from Monday

`` It is obligatory for all passengers on domestic flights to wear masks from Monday .
The company is considering @ @ @ @ @ flights as well , '' a company spokeswoman said over the phone .

SEOUL, May 15 (Yonhap) -- Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's biggest airline, said Friday it will require all passengers on domestic routes to wear masks on board from next week.
Korean Air has joined its global peers, like United Airlines Inc. and American Airlines Inc., to adopt the rules requiring masks to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.
"It is obligatory for all passengers on domestic flights to wear masks from Monday. The company is considering applying the rules to international flights as well," a company spokeswoman said over the phone.
Early this month, the International Air Transport Association, which represents global airlines, recommended the mandatory wearing of masks or face coverings on flights to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
This photo, taken on May 13, 2020, shows Korean Air planes at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, just west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-15--(URGENT) 59 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, bringing total to 9,821: KCDC


yna--2020-05-15--(URGENT) S. Korea reports no additional virus death, death toll now at 260: KCDC


yna--2020-05-15--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 27 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 11,018: KCDC


yna--2020-05-15--S. Korea says virus pandemic increases downside risks to economy

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

SEOUL, May 15 (Yonhap) -- The coronavirus pandemic has increased downside risks to the South Korean economy, with exports and job markets suffering from economic devastation, the finance ministry said Friday.
In a monthly report, called Green Book, the Ministry of Economy and Finance painted a bleaker picture of the economic impact from the COVID-19 pandemic compared with its April report.
"With domestic consumption continuing to shrink, employment indices sharply dropped, downside risks to our economy are growing," the report said.
"Worries about global economic recession are also growing as risks increase in major economies," it said.
This week, South Korea reported the sharpest drop in its April employment since 1999 as the coronavirus pandemic hammered job markets.
The number of employed people in South Korea stood at 26.56 million in April, 476,000 people fewer than a year ago, marking the biggest on-year decline since February 1999.
In April, the nation's exports tumbled 24.3 percent on-year to $36.9 billion. South Korea suffered a trade deficit of $950 million in April, snapping its 98 straight months of having more exports than imports.
The nation's exports sank 46.3 percent on-year in the first 10 days of May amid the shock from the pandemic.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that South Korea's economy will shrink 1.2 percent this year as the global economy is expected to have its worst year since the Great Depression of the 1930s due to the pandemic.
The world economy is expected to contract 3 percent this year, the IMF said.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-15--Mobile data show 42-pct plunge in public movement when virus ravaged S. Korea

Public movement sank 41.9 percent on Feb. 29 , when the nation reported more than 900 daily infections , compared @ @ @ @ @ year before , according to the data from SK Telecom Co. , the nation 's @ @ @ @ @ data was released by Statistics Korea .

SEJONG, May 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea saw a 42-percent plunge in public movement in late February, as the novel coronavirus was ravaging the nation, mobile phone data showed Friday.
Public movement sank 41.9 percent on Feb. 29, when the nation reported more than 900 daily infections, compared with the same day a year before, according to the data from SK Telecom Co., the nation's largest wireless carrier. The data was released by Statistics Korea.
Movement of people on May 2, when the nation reported just six new daily infections, recovered to some 83 percent of movement recorded on the same day the previous year, the data showed.
However, public movement on May 9 fell to 75 percent of movement on the same day the previous year, according to the data.
South Korea suffered hundreds of daily new infections in the fourth week of February and the first week of March, although it appeared to bring the virus outbreak under control.
Still, fears of a new wave of infections are lingering in South Korea due to a recent spike in new cluster infections linked to entertainment venues in Seoul's Itaewon district.
In the fourth week of February, the inflow of people into the southeastern city of Daegu, once the nation's epicenter, plunged 52.6 percent, according to the data.
Unlike other nations, South Korea has not enforced lockdown measures to combat the virus. Instead, the nation implemented strict social-distancing guidelines, along with mass testing.
SK Telecom accounted for 42 percent of the nation's mobile phone market, Statistics Korea said.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-15--S. Korea vows more measures to prop up virus-hit economy

Temporary or freelance workers who lost their jobs will be eligible for the subsidies , and they will receive a @ @ @ @ @ each .

SEJONG, May 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will roll out more measures to prop up the nation's economy hit by the coronavirus pandemic, Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom said Friday.
The new measures are aimed at insulating plunging exports from economic activities at home, Kim told a meeting with senior ministry officials.
Kim warned that exports may continue to decline in May due in part to the lockdown measures of South Korea's major export destinations.
Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom speaks at a meeting with senior officials on May 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
In April, the nation's exports tumbled 24.3 percent on-year to $36.9 billion. South Korea suffered a trade deficit of $950 million in April, snapping its 98 straight months of having more exports than imports.
In the first 10 days of May, exports sank 46.3 percent on-year. The daily average exports during the 10-day period slipped 30.2 percent on-year.
Last week, the government said it will provide 1.5 trillion won (US$1.2 billion) in subsidies to temporary workers who lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Temporary or freelance workers who lost their jobs will be eligible for the subsidies, and they will receive a total of 1.5 million won each.
Kim said the government will make efforts to begin handing out the subsidies from mid-June.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)