yna--2020-08-15--Sports teams in Seoul, surrounding region revert to crowdless games

Teams in the Korea Baseball Organization ( KBO ) reopened their gates to fans on July 26 , followed by @ @ @ @ @ Aug. 1 .
In the early stages , teams were only allowed to operate stadiums @ @ @ @ @ capacity to ensure the safety and health of fans .
Under protocols for both leagues @ @ @ @ @ least a seat apart from one another , even if they 're traveling in a @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Yonhap) -- Less than a month after welcoming fans back to stadiums, South Korea professional sports teams in Seoul and its surrounding region will revert to having empty stands due to a recent spike in coronavirus virus cases.
The government on Saturday raised the three-tier social distancing scheme in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province from Level 1 to Level 2, effective Sunday. It will stay there for two weeks.
In this file photo from July 31, 2020, fans take in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game between the home team LG Twins and the Hanwha Eagles at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
With that, all indoor gatherings of 50 or more people and outdoor gatherings of 100 or more people will be banned, which means no crowds at sports games.
Cluster infections in and around Seoul have emerged as a major concern in recent days. South Korea reported 166 new COVID-19 cases Saturday, the second straight day with the figure surpassing the century mark. It's the highest daily total since March 11.
Among those 166, 155 were locally transmitted cases. And 72 of those 155 were reported in Seoul, plus another 67 from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province.
South Korea introduced a three-level social distancing drive, and the country had been at Level 1. The level can be altered locally as necessary.
Baseball fans attend a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game between the home team Kiwoom Heroes and the Hanwha Eagles at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Aug. 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
Teams in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) reopened their gates to fans on July 26, followed by K League football clubs on Aug. 1. In the early stages, teams were only allowed to operate stadiums at 10 percent of their capacity to ensure the safety and health of fans. Under protocols for both leagues, fans must sit at least a seat apart from one another, even if they're traveling in a group.
Then starting this week, the government raised the cap to 30 percent. KBO and K League teams said they would stay around 25 percent to continue to ensure fan safety while adhering to COVID-19 guidelines.
And now, at least for teams in and around the capital city, it will be back to square one.
Fans watch a K League 1 match between the home team Seongnam FC and Busan IPark at Tancheon Sports Complex in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, on Aug. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
In the KBO, four teams play in Seoul and Gyeonggi: the Doosan Bears, the LG Twins and the Kiwoom Heroes in the capital, and the KT Wiz in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul.
In the top-flight K League 1, three clubs are based in the capital area: FC Seoul in Seoul; Seongnam FC in Seongnam, just south of the capital; and Suwon Samsung Bluewings in Suwon.
The K League 2 has a team each in Seoul and Suwon, plus three more clubs in Gyeonggi Province -- in Bucheon, Ansan and Anyang.
In this file photo from Aug. 7, 2020, fans attend a K League 1 match between the home team FC Seoul and Gangwon FC at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-15--Virus guidelines tightened in Seoul, Gyeonggi amid local transmission rebound

The number of new cases is the highest tallied since March 11 , when the country reported 242 new daily @ @ @ @ @ a mass outbreak in Daegu and a cluster originating from a call center building in @ @

SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Saturday placed stricter social distancing guidelines on the greater Seoul area after daily new COVID-19 cases in the country reached a five-month high of 166, as the highly infectious disease is spreading at an alarming rate.
The decision to raise the social distancing plan in Seoul and the Gyeonggi region up one notch to Level 2 was reached at a pan-governmental COVID-19 meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun.
The move comes after the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported that new daily coronavirus cases reached 166 as of midnight Friday, raising the total caseload to 15,039.
The number of new cases is the highest tallied since March 11, when the country reported 242 new daily infections during the height of a mass outbreak in Daegu and a cluster originating from a call center building in Seoul.
Of the new cases, 155 were of local transmissions. The number of daily infections reached triple digits for the second straight day.
In this file photo, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters at the government complex in Seoul on July 31, 2020, to discuss measures to contain the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-15--(3rd LD) New virus cases reach 5-month high, guidelines toughened for Seoul, Gyeonggi area

The KCDC has warned that the greater Seoul area is teetering on the brink of another spike in virus cases @ @ @ @ @ social distancing guidance may be rolled back if the upward trend continues .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more details throughout)
SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Saturday placed stricter social distancing guidelines on the greater Seoul area after daily new COVID-19 cases in the country reached a five-month high of 166, as transmissions in and around the capital continue to spread at an alarming rate.
The decision to raise the social distancing plan in Seoul and the Gyeonggi region up one notch to "level 2" was reached at a pan-governmental COVID-19 meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun.
The move comes as the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported that new daily coronavirus cases reached 166 as of midnight Friday, raising the total caseload to 15,039.
The number of new cases was the most since March 11, when the country reported 242 new daily infections during the height of a mass outbreak in Daegu and a cluster originating from a call center building in Seoul.
Of the new cases, 155 were local transmissions. The number of daily infections reached triple digits for the second straight day.
Public officials disinfect a church in Seoul's Seongbuk Ward on Aug. 14, 2020, following the detection of a cluster of new coronavirus infections at the church. (Yonhap)
In June, the country adopted a three-tier social distancing scheme that adjusts the intensity of virus prevention guidelines depending on the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The country as a whole has been on "Level 1" social distancing since May 6, which allows citizens to carry out their economic and social activities under quarantine rules.
However, due to a resurgence of virus cases in recent days, there have been growing calls that the country should raise its social distancing level.
The number of new cases has shown a dramatic increase during the week, with new daily confirmed cases nearly doubling from 28 on Monday to 54 reported on Wednesday, with people testing positive for the virus reaching triple digits Friday.
The KCDC has warned that the greater Seoul area is teetering on the brink of another spike in virus cases and that the easing of social distancing guidance may be rolled back if the upward trend continues.
Of the new locally transmitted cases, 72 were reported in Seoul and 67 from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province.
Sporadic cluster infections have shown no signs of a let-up, with most cases traced to churches in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.
Infections tied to a church in Yongin, south of Seoul, reached 72 as of noon Friday, up 60 from the previous day.
Cases linked to a church in northern Seoul rose by 14 to 19. The Seoul metropolitan government ordered the temporary shutdown of the church, with health authorities conducting virus tests on 1,897 people.
It was also reported that 31 residents in a town in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, were also infected with COVID-19.
The latest spikes in cases in those areas put local governments on high alert. They ordered restrictions on gatherings and activities at religious facilities to contain the further spread of the virus.
On Friday, the Seoul city government said it decided to place tougher restrictions on gatherings at around 7,500 religious facilities, including churches and Buddhist temples.
Face-to-face events, provisions of food and group eating will be prohibited at those facilities. During regular services at churches, the singing of hymns will be restricted while collective prayer will be banned.
The Gyeonggi provincial government also raised the level of social distancing by restricting gatherings at churches and other religious facilities.
Students line up to take coronavirus tests at a screening center in Ulsan, 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Aug. 13, 2020, after a middle school student in the city tested positive for COVID-19. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-15--(URGENT) S. Korea raises social distancing level in greater Seoul area amid transmission rebound

(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--2020-08-15--N. Korean, Russian leaders pledge stronger ties on Liberation Day exchange

In their messages , the two men expressed their desire to further deepen bilateral ties based on the agreement for @ @ @ @ @ summit in Russia 's Far Eastern city of Vladivostok in April of last year , @ @ @ @ @ official Korean Central News Agency ( KCNA ) .

SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged greetings Saturday to mark the 75th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japan, Pyongyang's state media reported.
In their messages, the two men expressed their desire to further deepen bilateral ties based on the agreement for cooperation reached during their first summit in Russia's Far Eastern city of Vladivostok in April of last year, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
According to the KCNA, Kim said in his message that the cooperative relations between the two countries "would steadily grow strong at a higher level" based on the summit agreement reached in April of last year.
Kim also wished Putin "bigger success in his responsible work" for building a powerful Russia and the prosperity of its people.
The KCNA cited Putin as saying that the North Korea-Russia agreement from last year "contributes to further developing the reciprocal cooperation and promoting peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the Northeast Asian region."
Kim traveled to the Russian border town of Vladivostok in 2019 for his first-ever summit with Putin. They agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in various areas.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) toasts Russian President Vladimir Putin during a post-summit dinner at the Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia, on April 25, 2019, in this photo carried by the Korean Central News Agency the next day. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-16--KBO club closes stadium to fans as precaution

On Saturday , the government raised the three-tier social distancing scheme in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province a notch @ @ @ @ @ response to a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in those areas .
With that change @ @ @ @ @ , any outside gathering of 100 or more people are banned , meaning sports games @ @ @ @ @ to be played without spectators until further notice .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean baseball club SK Wyverns announced Sunday they will temporarily close their home stadium to fans as a precautionary measure during the coronavirus pandemic, following the action taken by their neighboring clubs currently under strict social distancing guidelines.
In this file photo from July 29, 2020, fans take in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game between the home team SK Wyverns and the LG Twins at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The Wyverns, a Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club based in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, said they will not admit any fans to their upcoming, six-game homestand at SK Happy Dream Park, from Tuesday to next Sunday.
On Saturday, the government raised the three-tier social distancing scheme in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province a notch to Level 2, in response to a recent spike in COVID-19 cases in those areas. With that change, which took effect Sunday, any outside gathering of 100 or more people are banned, meaning sports games in Seoul and Gyeonggi are to be played without spectators until further notice.
The government's decision affected four KBO clubs: the Doosan Bears, the LG Twins and the Kiwoom Heroes in Seoul, and the KT Wiz in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of the capital.
Though Incheon wasn't subject to tougher social distancing measures, the city is in close proximity to Seoul, and the Wyverns decided to take extra precautions.
The Wyverns said they will continue to monitor the virus situation in Incheon before reopening their gates.
The 2020 KBO season began May 5, as opposed to the original Opening Day of March 28 because of the coronavirus outbreak in the country. Fans weren't allowed in the early going, due to lingering infection concerns, and the teams finally got the green light to start admitting fans for games starting July 26.
Members of the SK Wyverns celebrate their 11-2 victory over the KT Wiz in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 12, 2020. (Yonhap)
At first, teams could only operate stadiums at 10 percent capacity to ensure the safety and health of fans. The cap was raised to 30 percent last Tuesday, though clubs said they would keep it at around 25 percent to continue to exercise caution.
The KBO has been a gate-driven league and not having any fans for the first 2 1/2 months of the season had put teams in dire financial situations. Even with the government-mandated limit on the size of crowds, bringing fans back had been a much-needed relief for those teams.
And yet the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the capital region has put a damper on excitement that had been building. South Korea reported 279 new cases Sunday, the first time in five months that the daily total surpassed 200, and 267 of those were local transmissions.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-16--(URGENT) Moon vows stern responses to illegality by some churches that hamper nat'l quarantine effor

(URGENT) Moon vows stern responses to illegality by some churches that hamper nat'l quarantine efforts


yna--2020-08-16--New virus cases soar to 279

New virus cases soar to 279

The additional cases of the COVID-19 pandemic raised the country 's total caseload to 15,318 , according to the Korea @ @ @ @ @ Prevention ( KCDC ) .
Of the new cases , 267 were local transmissions .

SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases jumped to 279 on Sunday, topping the 200 level for the first time in five months, due mainly to sporadic local infections in the greater Seoul area.
The additional cases of the COVID-19 pandemic raised the country's total caseload to 15,318, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Of the new cases, 267 were local transmissions.
It marks the first time since early March that the new daily infections surpassed 200.
South Korea, meanwhile, reported no additional fatalities, keeping the death toll at 305. The fatality rate was 1.99 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 13,910, up nine from the previous day.
A makeshift new coronavirus testing center is set up in front of a town hall in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 15, 2020, after 31 locals were confirmed to have COVID-19 after attending a gathering among townspeople. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-16--(URGENT) S. Korea reports no additional coronavirus death, death toll at 305: KCDC


yna--2020-08-16--(URGENT) 9 more patients released from coronavirus treatment, total now at 13,910: KCDC


yna--2020-08-16--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 279 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 15,318: KCDC


yna--2020-08-16--S. Korea, U.S. to stage joint summertime exercise this week: JCS

The FOC is meant to verify if Seoul is on course to meet the conditions for the OPCON transition .
@ @ @ @ @ rather than time-based , the Seoul government seeks to retake it under the current Moon @ @ @ @ @ will end in May 2022 .

SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States decided to kick off their annual summertime combined exercise in an adjusted manner this week, military officials said Sunday, following the postponement of their springtime training due to the coronavirus.
The computer-simulated Combined Command Post Training (CCPT) will begin Tuesday and run until Aug. 28, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement, noting that the two sides made the decision "after taking into consideration related circumstances, such as the COVID-19 situation comprehensively."
Seoul and Washington had initially planned to kick-start the training Sunday but pushed back the date after a South Korean Army officer who was supposed to take part in the exercise tested positive for the coronavirus Friday, according to military officials.
The planned exercise will be smaller in scale compared with previous ones, as American troops necessary for the program were not able to come to South Korea under coronavirus-related restrictions, they added.
In the runup to the planned exercise, the two sides held a four-day crisis management staff training last week.
The two sides have usually held major combined exercises twice a year -- in March and August, but they skipped this year's springtime CCPT due to the fast spread of the new coronavirus.
South Korea had been managing the COVID-19 situation in a relatively stable manner, but it reported 166 new patients Saturday, which is a five-month high, mostly in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan areas due to cluster infections mainly from churches, according to health authorities.
South Korean and U.S. service members engage in a computer simulated exercise called the Key Resolve in Busan, South Korea, on March 10, 2016, in this photo provided by the Navy Fleet Command. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"This exercise will put a focus on the maintenance of the combined defense posture. A run-through based on the future combined command structure after the transition of the wartime operation control (OPCON) will partly be conducted," the JCS said.
Currently, a four-star U.S. Army general helms the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC). After Seoul retakes OPCON from Washington, however, a South Korean general is supposed to command the CFC.
As the upcoming exercise will be held in an adjusted manner, a Full Operational Capability (FOC) test will not be conducted fully, which would affect Seoul's OPCON transfer of its forces from Washington.
The FOC is meant to verify if Seoul is on course to meet the conditions for the OPCON transition. Though it is conditions-based, rather than time-based, the Seoul government seeks to retake it under the current Moon Jae-in administration, whose term will end in May 2022.
During last year's summertime exercise, the allies conducted an initial operational capability (IOC) test, and their defense ministers decided to move on to the FOC test. Following the FOC test, the two sides will carry out a Full Mission Capability (FMC) test.
"We would accept inevitable circumstances," Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said earlier during a parliamentary committee meeting. "If needed, we will change our plans (regarding the OPCON transfer), I believe."
Public officials disinfect a church in Seoul's Seongbuk Ward on Aug. 14, 2020, following the detection of a cluster of new coronavirus infections at the church. The number of daily local virus cases in South Korea reached 103 the same day, jumping to an over four-month high as sporadic clusters in the greater Seoul area piled up. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


Sunday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Aug. 16 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


yna--2020-08-16--Average temperatures of June and July reversed for first time

Data from the World Meteorological Organization showed Siberia 's average temperature between January and June this year was 5 C @ @ @ @ @ , with the corresponding gap widening to above 10 C in June .
Notably , @ @ @ @ @ , Russia , surged to 38 C on June 20 , with world meteorologists saying @ @ @ @ @ not occurred without global climate change .

SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- The average temperature in July was lower than in June for the first time this year in South Korea, meteorologists said Sunday, due to exceptionally high temperatures in the Arctic caused by global climate change.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), this year's June was the hottest on record with a monthly average temperature of 22.8 C but the mercury didn't rise further in July, as cold air stayed over the country due mainly to climate change.
As a result, the monthly average temperature for July was 22.7 C, marking the first time that the June and July temperatures have been reversed since data keeping began in 1973.
This graphic provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration shows movements of atmospheric pressure around the Korean Peninsula in July. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The 30-year average temperatures for June and July are 21.2 C and 24.5 C, respectively.
The KMA said this year's abnormal weather occurred because cold air had long stagnated in the upper and lower atmospheres over the Korean Peninsula from late June.
On top of that, the delayed northern expansion of the North Pacific high pressure with hot and humid air and its clash with cold air from the north led to a prolonged period of downpours and wet weather on the peninsula, the agency explained, attributing the phenomenon to unusually high temperatures in the Arctic.
Data from the World Meteorological Organization showed Siberia's average temperature between January and June this year was 5 C higher than the 30-year average, with the corresponding gap widening to above 10 C in June. Notably, the daily high in Verkhoyansk, Russia, surged to 38 C on June 20, with world meteorologists saying such an abnormality may have not occurred without global climate change.
The KMA said South Korea's annual average temperature will rise by 1.7 C to 4.4 C towards the end of the 21st century from the levels between 1981 to 2010, while the country's annual average precipitation volume will grow by 6.6 to 13.2 percent in the same period.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


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yna--2020-08-16--Prosecutors ask court to revoke pastor Jun's bail amid spike in virus cases

Jun Kwang-hoon , who has led multiple anti-government rallies in central Seoul , was indicted in March over allegations of @ @ @ @ @ was released the following month on the condition that he does not take part in @ @ @ @ @ pending case .

SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors have asked a local court to revoke bail granted to a conservative pastor at the center of a massive coronavirus outbreak in the greater Seoul area for violating the condition for his release, they said Sunday.
Jun Kwang-hoon, who has led multiple anti-government rallies in central Seoul, was indicted in March over allegations of violating the election law and was released the following month on the condition that he does not take part in any rallies related to the pending case.
Prosecutors said Jun failed to keep the term by participating in another massive anti-government rally in downtown Seoul on Saturday, and also mobilizing members of his church, the Sarang Jeil Church, to take part in the demonstration in violation of self-quarantine rules.
The participants, including Jun, were supposed to be quarantined after more than 100 coronavirus patients were traced to the religious facility.
The government and the Seoul city government filed a complaint against Jun the same day for allegedly violating self-quarantine rules and hampering the authorities' efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.
As of 2 p.m., infections tied to the church have swelled to 249 nationwide, according to health authorities, and the figure is feared to grow as thousands are undergoing virus tests.
"The government will take stern legal action against Jun to protect the lives and safety of our people in this grave COVID-19 situation," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said.
South Korea's coronavirus infections jumped to a five-month high of 279 on Sunday, raising the total caseload to 15,318.
Alarmed by a resurgence of infections in recent days, the government raised social distancing in Seoul and its neighboring areas by one notch to Level 2 in the three-tier system Sunday for two weeks.
In this file photo, taken on April 20, 2020, Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon (C), chief of the Christian Council of Korea, speaks to reporters outside a detention center in Uiwang, south of Seoul, after a court approved his conditional release on bail in a trial over allegations that he violated the election law by asking participants in a street rally to support a specific political party in April's general elections. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-08-16--(4th LD) New virus cases hit 5-month high of 279

The government asked members of the church to take coronavirus tests as quickly as possible , noting that a quarter @ @ @ @ @ church who underwent the tests have been confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 .
If @ @ @ @ @ guidelines , they will be reported to the police , it said .

(ATTN: ADDS 4th photo, more info in paras 17-18, 21-22)
SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus infections jumped to a five-month high of 279 on Sunday due mainly to a surge in church-related cases in the greater Seoul area.
This brought the country's total caseload to 15,318, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Of the total, 267 were locally transmitted cases.
It marked the highest figure since March 8 when the new daily infections stood at 367 after hitting a record high of 909 on Feb. 29, with Daegu and its neighboring North Gyeongsang Province at the center of the mass outbreak.
It also marked a three-digit number for the third straight day, following 103 infections Friday and 166 Saturday.
This photo taken Aug. 16, 2020, shows a notice that bans churchgoers from entering Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul for worship and rallies after cases linked to the church jumped to 134 as of 2 p.m. on Aug. 15. (Yonhap)
Of the local transmissions, 141 cases were reported in the capital city of Seoul and 96 were from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province. Seoul and the Gyeonggi Province accounted for 85 percent of the new infections, the KCDC said.
Alarmed by a resurgence of infections in recent days, the government raised social distancing in Seoul and its neighboring areas by one notch to Level 2 in the three-tier system Sunday for two weeks.
But health authorities are concerned about the further spread of the virus out of the capital area because sporadic cluster infections have shown no signs of letting up.
The authorities said the country appears to be reentering another round of infections.
"The current situation appears to be the early stage of another round of massive infections, and unless the spread of the virus is contained as much as possible, there will be a serious impact," Health Minister Park Neunghoo told a press briefing.
This captured image of President Moon Jae-in's Facebook page shows his photo and message against any unlawful acts that could spread the COVID-19 pandemic. (Yonhap)
As the new daily cases spiked to a five-month high, President Moon Jae-in instructed officials to employ every possible means to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, calling the situation "very critical."
"We are at a very critical juncture. The government should mobilize every possible means to stem the spread of the new coronavirus," Moon was quoted as saying by his spokesperson Kang Min-seok.
The president made the call after being briefed about the results of an emergency government response meeting presided over by his chief of staff Noh Young-min.
He also vowed to take stern measures against any unlawful acts that could hamper the government's efforts to fight the virus.
The warning came after pastor Jun Kwang-hoon and other members of the Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul took part in massive anti-government rallies held in downtown Seoul on Saturday in violation of self-quarantine rules. They were supposed to be quarantined after more than 100 COVID-19 patients were traced to the church.
As of 2 p.m., infections tied to the church have swelled to 249 nationwide, the KCDC said, adding that the figure is feared to grow as thousands are undergoing virus tests.
The central government and the Seoul metropolitan government said they will separately file a complaint against Jun for allegedly violating self-quarantine rules and hampering the authorities' efforts to constrain the spread of the pandemic.
The government asked members of the church to take coronavirus tests as quickly as possible, noting that a quarter of the people from the church who underwent the tests have been confirmed to be infected with COVID-19. If they do not follow the guidelines, they will be reported to the police, it said.
Jun has reportedly not taken the virus test yet.
Anti-government demonstrators pack Gwanghwamun Square and Sejong Boulevard in downtown Seoul on Aug. 15, 2020, for rallies led by a conservative group and an umbrella labor union. (Yonhap)
Cases linked to the Woori Jeil Church in Yongin, south of Seoul, meanwhile, increased to 126, while a church in Seoul's western ward of Yangcheon has reported seven patients.
Sporadic infections have also been reported in recent days from the fast-food franchise Lotteria, an investment company, offices, schools and coffee shops.
Seventeen new coronavirus patients were confirmed in relation to a Starbucks store in Paju, north of Seoul, on Sunday, raising the total number of cases tied to the coffee shop to 40.
In the southwestern city of Gwangju, 682 bars and clubs were ordered to shut down for 10 days as of 7 p.m., after nine cases were reported in relation to a nightlife district in the city.
Twelve people arriving from abroad were also confirmed to have the virus Sunday, up from 11 cases a day earlier.
South Korea reported no additional fatalities, keeping the death toll at 305. The fatality rate was 1.99 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 13,910, up nine from the previous day.
A makeshift new coronavirus testing center is set up in front of a town hall in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 15, 2020, following over 30 locals being confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 after attending a gathering among the townspeople. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-16--Gov't heightens attendance cap for schools in capital area due to virus surge

From Tuesday to Sept. 11 , the number of students at kindergartens and elementary and middle schools should be kept @ @ @ @ @ for schools in Seoul , Incheon and Gyeonggi Province , heightened from an earlier guideline @ @ @ @ @ two-thirds level , according to the Ministry of Education .

SEJONG, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- The government's restrictions on classroom capacity will be strengthened in the metropolitan area starting next week following a surge in the number of new coronavirus cases in the region, the education ministry said Sunday.
From Tuesday to Sept. 11, the number of students at kindergartens and elementary and middle schools should be kept under one-third of the total for schools in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, heightened from an earlier guideline that limited them to a two-thirds level, according to the Ministry of Education.
The decision came as South Korea has seen a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases related to churches in the greater Seoul area, prompting the government to raise the social distancing guidelines in the region by one notch to Level 2 in the three-tier system for two weeks starting Sunday.
For schools in regions other than the metropolitan area, the government strongly advised keeping the number of students at a two-thirds level, while ordering schools in regions with a large number of new infections to replace in-person classes with remote learning.
The ministry said the plan to hold the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), the country's biggest academic event of the year, in early December remains unchanged for now.
"We will prepare to hold the exam on Dec. 3 as planned, making thorough preparations to make sure it can be held safely," Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said during a briefing.
South Korea reported 279 new cases of the virus Sunday, raising the total caseload to 15,318.
In this file photo, taken on June 8, 2020, students keep a distance from one another upon arriving at Jeil Middle School on South Korea's southern island of Jeju as the country implemented its fourth phase of school reopening for middle school first graders and elementary school fifth and sixth graders. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-08-16--(3rd LD) New virus cases hit 5-month high of 279

The warning came after pastor Jun Kwang-hoon and other members of the Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul took part in @ @ @ @ @ downtown Seoul on Saturday in violation of self-quarantine rules .
They were supposed to be @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 patients were traced to the church .

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 8, 13, and 16)
SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus infections jumped to a five-month high of 279 on Sunday due mainly to a surge in church-related cases in the greater Seoul area.
This brought the country's total caseload to 15,318, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Of the total, 267 were locally transmitted cases.
It marked the highest figure since March 8 when the new daily infections stood at 367 after hitting a record high of 909 on Feb. 29, with Daegu and its neighboring North Gyeongsang Province at the center of the mass outbreak.
It also marked a three-digit number for the third straight day, following 103 infections Friday and 166 Saturday.
This photo taken Aug. 16, 2020, shows a notice that bans churchgoers from entering Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul for worship and rallies after cases linked to the church jumped to 134 as of 2 p.m. on Aug. 15. (Yonhap)
Of the local transmissions, 141 cases were reported in the capital city of Seoul and 96 were from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province. Seoul and the Gyeonggi Province accounted for 85 percent of the new infections, the KCDC said.
Alarmed by a resurgence of infections in recent days, the government raised social distancing in Seoul and its neighboring areas by one notch to Level 2 in the three-tier system Sunday for two weeks.
But health authorities are concerned about the further spread of the virus out of the capital area because sporadic cluster infections have shown no signs of letting up.
The authorities said the country appears to be reentering another round of infections.
"The current situation appears to be the early stage of another round of massive infections, and unless the spread of the virus is contained as much as possible, there will be a serious impact," Health Minister Park Neunghoo told a press briefing.
This captured image of President Moon Jae-in's Facebook page shows his photo and message against any unlawful acts that could spread the COVID-19 pandemic. (Yonhap)
As the new daily cases spiked to a five-month high, President Moon Jae-in instructed officials to employ every possible means to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, calling the situation "very critical."
"We are at a very critical juncture. The government should mobilize every possible means to stem the spread of the new coronavirus," Moon was quoted as saying by his spokesperson Kang Min-seok.
The president made the call after being briefed about the results of an emergency government response meeting presided over by his chief of staff Noh Young-min.
He also vowed to take stern measures against any unlawful acts that could hamper the government's efforts to fight the virus.
The warning came after pastor Jun Kwang-hoon and other members of the Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul took part in massive anti-government rallies held in downtown Seoul on Saturday in violation of self-quarantine rules. They were supposed to be quarantined after more than 100 COVID-19 patients were traced to the church.
As of 2 p.m., infections tied to the church have swelled to 249 nationwide, the KCDC said, adding that the figure is feared to grow as thousands are undergoing virus tests.
The central government and the Seoul metropolitan government said they will separately file a complaint against Jun for allegedly violating self-quarantine rules and hampering the authorities' efforts to constrain the spread of the pandemic.
The government asked members of the church to take coronavirus tests as quickly as possible. If they do not follow the guidelines, they will be reported to the police, it said.
Cases linked to the Woori Jeil Church in Yongin, south of Seoul, meanwhile, increased to 126, while a church in Seoul's western ward of Yangcheon has reported seven patients.
Sporadic infections have also been reported in recent days from the fast-food franchise Lotteria, an investment company, offices, schools and coffee shops.
Twelve people arriving from abroad were also confirmed to have the virus Sunday, up from 11 cases a day earlier.
South Korea reported no additional fatalities, keeping the death toll at 305. The fatality rate was 1.99 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 13,910, up nine from the previous day.
Anti-government demonstrators pack Gwanghwamun Square and Sejong Boulevard in downtown Seoul on Aug. 15, 2020, for rallies led by a conservative group and an umbrella labor union. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-16--(2nd LD) Moon calls for all-out efforts to stem spread of coronavirus as daily cases spike to five-m

(2nd LD) Moon calls for all-out efforts to stem spread of coronavirus as daily cases spike to five-month high

The warning came as pastor Jun Kwang-hoon and other members of the Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul took part in @ @ @ @ @ Seoul on Saturday in violation of self-isolation rules .
They were supposed to be quarantined @ @ @ @ @ patients were believed to have been connected to the church at that time .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; ADDS more details, comments throughout, photo; RESTRUCTURES)
SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in on Sunday ordered officials to mobilize every possible means to contain the spread of the new coronavirus and to take stern responses to any unlawful acts that could hamper the state quarantine system, his office said.
Moon made the call after being briefed about the results of an emergency meeting involving Cheong Wa Dae officials, which was held in the wake of the latest surge in new COVID-19 cases.
As of midnight Sunday, South Korea reported 279 additional virus cases, marking the first time in five months that the country reported more than 200 new daily infections, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Since Saturday, a total of 548 new patients have been recorded, mostly in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.
"We are at a very critical juncture. The government should mobilize every possible means to stem the spread of the new coronavirus," Moon said, according to his spokesperson Kang Min-seok.
Officials carry out disinfection work around the Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul on Aug. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Moon also instructed the officials to ensure medical facilities are fully prepared in the metropolitan areas to prevent the possible shortage of hospital beds, and called for cooperation with the churches that have reported multiple virus cases for quarantine efforts, Kang added.
"Any violation of quarantine measures and acts that disrupt those quarantine efforts should be dealt with in a stern manner in order to protect the safety of the people and to establish the rule of law," Moon said.
The warning came as pastor Jun Kwang-hoon and other members of the Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul took part in massive rallies held in downtown Seoul on Saturday in violation of self-isolation rules. They were supposed to be quarantined after more than 100 COVID-19 patients were believed to have been connected to the church at that time.
As of Sunday noon, cases linked to the Sarang Jeil Church have totaled 249 nationwide, KCDC said, adding that the figure is feared to grow as thousands are undergoing virus tests.
Earlier, Moon criticized Jun and other church members for conducting a "very senseless" and "unforgivable act" that challenges the national disease control and prevention system and threatens the lives of the people.
"The government will take very stern and strong measures even by resorting to compulsory means," Moon noted in his Facebook message.
He then expressed regret for causing concern over the spread of the coronavirus at a time when the people are facing difficulties after recent heavy rains.
Anti-government demonstrators pack Gwanghwamun Square and Sejong Boulevard in downtown Seoul on Aug. 15, 2020. Protestors attacked the policies of the incumbent government and ruling party, with the gathering being organized by the Sarang Jeil Church and the conservative Freedom Union. (Yonhap)
This file photo, taken June 29, 2020, shows pastor Jun Kwang-hoon of the Sarang Jeil Church. (Yonhap)
The central government said it will file a complaint against Jun with related authorities for his alleged violation of self-quarantine obligations and the disruption of the country's quarantine work by submitting a false list of suspected coronavirus patients among his followers.
Separately, the Seoul municipal government also vowed to report him and other church officials to law enforcement authorities for their suspected violation of the country's infectious disease prevention act.
"Pastor Jun broke the self-isolation rule and spread false information to deliberately delay virus tests for church members," acting Mayor Seo Jeong-hyup said in a press briefing Sunday.
During a recent media report, Jun claimed that the COVID-19 infections among his church members seem to have been caused by "virus terrors by outside forces."
A total of 4,066 members are required to undergo virus tests, but the authorities have failed to reach 669 people, according to the municipal government.
As he failed to host a rally as planned following the city government's ban on large gatherings due to coronavirus concerns, Jun encouraged his followers across the country to take part in other demonstrations, according to officials.
The Sarang Jeil Church case resembles that of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a minor religious sect, which was at the center of the early coronavirus outbreak in South Korea.
Some 4,000 followers, most of whom were from its branch in the southeastern city of Daegu, were infected with the virus, and its leader Lee Man-hee was arrested this month on charges of obstructing the government's anti-virus efforts.
Worshipers attend a Sunday service while maintaining social distancing at the Yeouido Full Gospel Church in Seoul on Aug. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-16--Two N. Korean wooden-boxed landmines found in border regions after heavy rain

`` The landmines from North Korea do not have chances of exploding .
But we ask citizens to pay extra @ @ @ @ @ as they do not look like explosives on the surface '' a JCS official said @

SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- The military authorities collected two wooden-boxed landmines in inter-Korean border areas, which were presumed to have been swept away from North Korea due to the recent heavy rain, officials said Sunday.
Since earlier this month, front-line military units have carried out operations to detect and remove landmines in border areas, which could have made their way south due to swollen water levels following the recent heavy precipitation.
So far, two wooden-boxed mines operated by the North Korean military were collected near the western island of Yeonpyeong and the Inje county in Gangwon Province, along with 17 landmines laid by the South Korean military, according to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
Millions of landmines are believed to have been laid on the Korean Peninsula during the 1950-53 Korean War, particularly in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that bisects the two Koreas.
This image, provided by the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Aug. 14, 2020, shows wooden-boxed landmines (L) and anti-personnel landmines. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"The landmines from North Korea do not have chances of exploding. But we ask citizens to pay extra caution to those objects, as they do not look like explosives on the surface" a JCS official said.
Starting Monday, the military plans to expand the mine removal operations by mobilizing hundreds more service members and equipment in cooperation with the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) to help citizens return to their everyday lives safely, he added.
In recent weeks, South Korea experienced heavy downpours, mostly in central regions, which killed 37 and left five others unaccounted for, according to the disaster headquarters.
Troops use metal detectors to search for mines that may have been swept away by heavy rain to civilian populated areas south of the Demilitarized Zone in the county of Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 14, 2020, in this photo provided by the military. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-16--(2nd LD) New virus cases hit 5-month high of 279

Jun and his followers took part in a massive anti-government rally in central Seoul Saturday after the Seoul city government @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 concerns , including one organized by his church .
The pastor defied compliance with @ @ @ @ @ in the rally , according to city officials .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline and lead; ADDS photos and details throughout)
SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus infections jumped to a five-month high of 279 on Sunday due mainly to a surge in church-related cases in the greater Seoul area.
This brought the country's total caseload to 15,318, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Of the total, 267 were locally transmitted cases.
It marks the highest figure since March 8 when the new daily infections stood at 367 after hitting a record high of 909 on Feb. 29, with Daegu and its neighboring North Gyeongsang Province at the center of the mass outbreak.
It also marked a three-digit number for the third straight day, following 103 infections Friday and 166 Saturday.
This photo taken Aug. 16, 2020, shows a notice that bans churchgoers from entering Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul for worship and rallies after cases linked to the church jumped to 134 as of 2 p.m. on Aug. 15. (Yonhap)
Of the local transmissions, 141 cases were reported in the capital city of Seoul and 96 were from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province. Seoul and the Gyeonggi Province accounted for 85 percent of the new infections, the KCDC said.
Alarmed by a resurgence of infections in recent days, the government raised social distancing in Seoul and its neighboring areas by one notch to Level 2 in the three-tier system Sunday for two weeks.
But health authorities are concerned about the further spread of the virus out of the capital area because sporadic cluster infections have shown no signs of letting up.
As of 2 p.m., infections tied to the Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul have swelled to 249, while cases linked to the Woori Jeil Church in Yongin, south of Seoul, increased to 126. Local authorities have ordered the churches' congregations to take COVID-19 tests.
Sporadic infections have also been reported in recent days from the fast-food franchise Lotteria, an investment company, offices, schools and coffee shops.
Twelve people arriving from abroad were also confirmed to have the virus Sunday, up from 11 cases a day earlier.
This captured image of President Moon Jae-in's Facebook page shows his photo and message against any unlawful acts that could spread the COVID-19 pandemic. (Yonhap)
The central government and the Seoul metropolitan government said they will separately file a complaint against Jun Kwang-hoon, the pastor of the Sarang Jeil Church for allegedly violating self-quarantine rules and hampering the authorities' efforts to constrain the spread of the pandemic.
Jun and his followers took part in a massive anti-government rally in central Seoul Saturday after the Seoul city government banned large gatherings out of COVID-19 concerns, including one organized by his church. The pastor defied compliance with the self-quarantine order to participate in the rally, according to city officials.
As the country's new daily cases jumped to 279, President Moon Jae-in warned of stern responses to unlawful acts by some church members.
"It is a clear challenge to the national disease control and prevention system, and an unforgivable act that threatens the lives of the people," Moon wrote on his Facebook page, adding the government will take "very stern and strong" measures even by resorting to compulsory means.
He said the coronavirus outbreak is at a serious stage, and the government will make all-out efforts to get the virus under control.
South Korea, meanwhile, reported no additional fatalities, keeping the death toll at 305. The fatality rate was 1.99 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 13,910, up nine from the previous day.
Anti-government demonstrators pack Gwanghwamun Square and Sejong Boulevard in downtown Seoul on Aug. 15, 2020, for rallies led by a conservative group and an umbrella labor union. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-16--(LEAD) Moon warns of stern responses to church members' illegal acts against anti-virus efforts

He eventually failed to host an anti-government rally as planned after the city government banned large gatherings out of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ , participated in another rally leading his followers from across the country while failing to @ @ @ @ @ according to officials .
More than 100 coronavirus patients were believed to have been connected @ @ @ @ @ time .

(ATTN: ADDS more details in last 7 paras, photo)
SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in on Sunday warned of stern responses to unlawful acts by some church members that have hampered the country's anti-virus efforts, after a far-right pastor and his followers staged massive rallies in violation of a state ban amid a surge in new coronavirus cases.
On Saturday, more than 10,000 people took part in rallies in downtown Seoul, including one led by a far-right group, and participated in by pastor Jun Kwang-hoon and other members of Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul.
He eventually failed to host an anti-government rally as planned after the city government banned large gatherings out of COVID-19 concerns. He, however, participated in another rally leading his followers from across the country while failing to take appropriate quarantine measures, according to officials. More than 100 coronavirus patients were believed to have been connected to the church at that time.
"It is a very senseless act that hampers efforts of the whole people to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. It is a clear challenge to the national disease control and prevention system, and an unforgivable act that threatens the lives of the people," Moon said in his Facebook message.
The government will take "very stern and strong measures even by resorting to compulsory means," Moon added.
"We are at a critical juncture, as a large number of new cases are expected to be reported for some time being," Moon said, expressing sorry for causing concern over the spread of the coronavirus at a time when the people have faced difficulties after recent heavy rains.
"Please follow the government's quarantine measures thoroughly. The government will trust the people and do its best to overcome the current difficulties," Moon added.
On Sunday, South Korea reported 279 additional COVID-19 cases, a surge from 166 new cases the previous day, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). It is the first time that the country reported more than 200 new daily infections in five months.
Cases linked to Sarang Jeil Church have totaled 193 nationwide, according to the Seoul metropolitan government.
Anti-government demonstrators pack Gwanghwamun Square and Sejong Boulevard in downtown Seoul on Aug. 15, 2020. Protestors attacked the policies of the incumbent government and ruling party, with the gathering being organized by Sarang Jeil Church and the conservative Freedom Union. (Yonhap)
The central government said it will file a complaint against Jun with related authorities for his alleged violation of self-quarantine obligations and the disruption of the country's quarantine work by submitting a false list of suspected coronavirus patients among his followers.
Separately, the Seoul municipal government also vowed to report him and other church officials to law enforcement authorities for their suspected violation of the country's infectious disease prevention act.
"Pastor Jun broke the self-isolation rule and spread false information to deliberately delay virus tests for church members," acting Mayor Seo Jeong-hyup said in a press briefing Sunday.
During a recent media report, Jun claimed that the COVID-19 infections among his church members seem to have been caused by "virus terrors by outside forces."
A total of 4,066 members are required to undergo virus tests, but the authorities have failed to reach 669 people, according to the city government.
This file photo taken June 29, 2020, shows pastor Jun Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-16--Today in Korean history

Today in Korean history

1992 -- South Korea opens a liaison office in Hanoi , about four months before the country reestablished its diplomatic @ @ @ @ @ Korea and Vietnam first established their diplomatic relationship in 1956 , but the relationship was @ @ @ @ @ Ho Chi Minh City , then Saigon and the capital of South Vietnam , was @ @ @ @ @ Army of Vietnam , marking the end of the Vietnam War .

Aug. 17
1901 -- Hansung Electric Co. holds a ceremony to mark the first time that electric lights are turned on in Seoul.
1962 -- Prime Minister Jang Myun is arrested without physical detention on anti-revolutionary conspiracy charges.
1964 -- South Korea establishes an association of its journalists.
1992 -- South Korea opens a liaison office in Hanoi, about four months before the country reestablished its diplomatic ties with Vietnam. South Korea and Vietnam first established their diplomatic relationship in 1956, but the relationship was severed in 1975, when Ho Chi Minh City, then Saigon and the capital of South Vietnam, was captured by the People's Army of Vietnam, marking the end of the Vietnam War.
2001 -- Bang Sang-hoon, president of the daily Chosun Ilbo; Kim Byung-kwan, former honorary chairman of the daily Dong-A Ilbo; and Cho Hee-jun, former chairman of the Kukmin Daily, are arrested on tax evasion charges after a special tax probe into the news organizations. Conservative forces claimed the probe conducted under the Kim Dae-jung administration was a plot to tame news media critical of the government.
2016 -- The Seoul government announces the defection of Thae Yong-ho, a minister at North Korea's embassy in London, who was one of the highest North Korean diplomats to have defected to the South. The government confirmation reportedly came several days after Thae arrived in Seoul.
2019 -- North Korea's Korean Central News Agency says it tested a "new weapon" under the guidance of leader Kim Jong-un the previous day with a goal to build defense capabilities. The state media did not provide other details, but experts said the North appeared to have test-launched its version of the U.S.' Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).
(END)


yna--2020-08-16--SK Group beats Samsung Group in H1 net profit

Samsung Group ranked second with an overall net profit of 5.62 trillion won in the first half , down 30 @ @ @ @ @ a year earlier due to a sales decline in the mobile business unit .
LG @ @ @ @ @ net profit of 3.06 trillion won , up 90 percent from 1.61 trillion won during @ @ @ @ @ said .

SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- SK Group, a South Korean telecom-to-chemicals conglomerate, ranked first in first-half net profit, beating Samsung Group on equity gains from its affiliates, a local market data provider said Sunday.
In the six months that ended in June, SK Group's consolidated net profit jumped 32 percent to 6.19 trillion won (US$5.2 billion) from 4.69 trillion won in the same period of last year, according to Info Bigs, a conglomerate-focused data service provider operated by Yonhap Infomax Inc.
SK's stellar performance was helped by strong earnings results from its affiliates, such as SK hynix Inc., SK Telecom Co. and SK Innovation Co., the data firm said.
In particular, robust chip demand boosted SK hynix's bottom line, and increased dividend income from its affiliates drove up SK Innovation's first-half net figure, it said.
Samsung Group ranked second with an overall net profit of 5.62 trillion won in the first half, down 30 percent from 8.05 trillion won a year earlier due to a sales decline in the mobile business unit. LG Group ranked third with a net profit of 3.06 trillion won, up 90 percent from 1.61 trillion won during the same period, it said.
Hyundai Motor Group came in fourth, reporting a 44 percent on-year decline to a net profit of 2.56 trillion won in the first six months due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on vehicle sales.
SK Group's headquarters in central Seoul (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-16--Moon warns of stern responses to church members' illegal acts against anti-virus efforts

`` It is a very senseless act that hampers efforts of the whole people to contain the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ a clear challenge to the national disease control and prevention system , and an unforgivable @ @ @ @ @ of the people , '' Moon said in his Facebook message .

SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in on Sunday warned of stern responses to unlawful acts by some church members that have hampered the country's anti-virus efforts, after a far-right pastor and his followers staged massive rallies in violation of a state ban amid a surge in new coronavirus cases.
On Saturday, more than 10,000 people went ahead with the anti-government protests in downtown Seoul, which were led by far-right groups, including pastor Jun Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul, though the city government banned large gatherings out of COVID-19 concerns.
Dozens of coronavirus patients were believed to have been connected to Jun's church, but it rather encouraged its believers across the country to take part in the demonstrations while failing to take appropriate quarantine measures, according to officials.
"It is a very senseless act that hampers efforts of the whole people to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. It is a clear challenge to the national disease control and prevention system, and an unforgivable act that threatens the lives of the people," Moon said in his Facebook message.
The government will take "very stern and strong measures even by resorting to compulsory means," Moon added.
On Sunday, South Korea reported 279 additional COVID-19 cases, a surge from 166 new cases the previous day, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). It is the first time that the country reported more than 200 new daily infections in five months.
Cases linked to the Sarang Jeil Church totaled 193 nationwide as of Sunday, according to the Seoul metropolitan government.
Anti-government demonstrators pack Gwanghwamun Square and Sejong Boulevard in downtown Seoul on Aug. 15, 2020. Protestors attacked the policies of the incumbent government and ruling party, with the gathering being organized by Sarang Jeil Church and the conservative Freedom Union. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-16--Record long monsoon in central S. Korea ends, heat advisory issued

The recent downpours caused serious damage across the country , killing 37 and leaving five others missing .
Some 8,196 @ @ @ @ @ homes , with more than 2,300 still unable to return as of 9 p.m. Saturday @ @ @ @ @ Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters .

SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- The record long monsoon in central South Korea that brought heavy downpours and caused casualties ended Sunday, which will be followed by a heat wave, the weather agency said.
After some rain in Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces early Sunday, the monsoonal front is forecast to move northward, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).
This year's rainy season began June 24 and continued for 54 days in the central part of the country, marking the longest monsoon season following a 49-day streak in 2013, the agency said.
The southern resort island of Jeju also experienced a record long monsoon of 49 days, which ended July 28, and the southern areas also had 38 days of the rainy season this summer, it added.
Part of Han River Park are covered with mud on Aug. 13, 2020, after a recent heavy rain. (Yonhap)
Between June 1 and Aug. 15, South Korea received around 920 millimeters of rain, which is the second-largest amount since the weather authorities began compiling the related data in 1973, according to the KMA.
The record was set in 2011, when about 970 mm of rain fell. The average precipitation during the cited period came to about 570 mm, the agency noted.
The recent downpours caused serious damage across the country, killing 37 and leaving five others missing. Some 8,196 have been displaced from their homes, with more than 2,300 still unable to return as of 9 p.m. Saturday, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters.
The weather agency also said that this year marked the first time the country did not experience a typhoon in July, while it saw an average of 4.3 typhoons over the past decade.
Though the monsoon officially ended, wet weather is expected to continue, and there are chances of showers for parts of the central areas, according to the KMA.
A heat wave is also forecast to grip the country.
A heat wave warning was issued for Seoul at 11 a.m., as the daytime high is expected to reach above 33 C, the KMA said. A heat advisory is in place for most of the country.
People visit a beach on South Korea's southern island of Jeju on Aug. 13, 2020, amid a scorching heat wave. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-16--(LEAD) New virus cases soar to 279, highest in 5 months

Alarmed by a resurgence of infections in recent days , the government raised social distancing in Seoul and its neighboring @ @ @ @ @ Level 2 in the three-tier system for two weeks from Sunday .
But health authorities @ @ @ @ @ of the virus out of the capital area .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; ADDS details in paras 3-12)
SEOUL, Aug. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported more than 200 new coronavirus cases for the first time in five months Sunday due mainly to a spike in infections in the greater Seoul area.
The country added 279 new cases of COVID-19, bringing its total caseload to 15,318, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
It marks the first time since early March that the new daily infections surpassed 200. The country reported more than 200 new daily infections for days after the number peaked at 909 on Feb. 29 with Daegu and its surrounding North Gyeongsang Province at the center of the mass outbreak.
The number of new cases is the most since March 8 when the country reported 367 cases. It also marked a three-digit number for the third straight day, following 166 infections on Saturday and 103 on Friday.
Of the 279 new cases, 267 were local transmissions, also the most since 366 on March 8. The figure for Saturday was 155.
A total of 141 of the 279 cases were reported in the capital city of Seoul and 96 were from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province. Seoul and the Gyeonggi Province accounted for 85 percent of the new infections, the KCDC said.
Alarmed by a resurgence of infections in recent days, the government raised social distancing in Seoul and its neighboring areas by one notch to Level 2 in the three-tier system for two weeks from Sunday. But health authorities are concerned about further spread of the virus out of the capital area.
Sporadic cluster infections have shown no signs of a let-up, with most cases traced to small and medium-sized churches in the greater Seoul area.
A makeshift new coronavirus testing center is set up in front of a town hall in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 15, 2020, after 31 locals were confirmed to have COVID-19 after attending a gathering there. (Yonhap)
Infections tied to the Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul spiked to 134 as of 2 p.m. Saturday, while cases linked to the Woori Jeil Church in Yongin, south of Seoul, increased to 105. Local authorities have ordered the churches' congregations to take COVID-19 tests.
Sporadic infections have also been reported in recent days from the fast-food franchise Lotteria, an investment company, offices, schools and coffee shops.
Twelve people arriving from abroad were also confirmed to have the virus Sunday, an increase from 11 cases the previous day.
South Korea, meanwhile, reported no additional fatalities, keeping the death toll at 305. The fatality rate was 1.99 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 13,910, up nine from the previous day.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-17--Banks' credit loans set to soar further in August

SEOUL , Aug. 17 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean banks ' credit loans to individuals are set to spike @ @ @ @ @ in August due to soaring housing costs and other factors , industry data showed Monday @

SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean banks' credit loans to individuals are set to spike for the third consecutive month in August due to soaring housing costs and other factors, industry data showed Monday.
Outstanding unsecured loans to individuals by five major lenders -- KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori and NH Nonghyup -- totaled 121.49 trillion won (US$102 billion) as of Thursday, up 1.29 trillion won from July.
Individual credit loans increased 2.67 trillion won in July and 2.84 trillion won in June, respectively.
July's spike was attributed to surging home prices that prompted people to borrow from banks to buy apartments before prices rise further down the road.
Apartment prices in South Korea have been skyrocketing despite a series of government measures to keep them in check.
Analysts said the recent bullish stock market has sent retail investors taking out bank loans to invest, contributing partly to the surge in credit loans.
Also responsible was the coronavirus outbreak that forced jobless or furloughed people to borrow money from banks, they added.
The outbreak of COVID-19, which started in South Korea in late January, has battered the country's economy by crimping exports and consumer spending.
Asia's fourth-largest economy shrank 3.3 percent on-quarter in the April-June period, the slowest on-quarter growth since the 6.8 percent contraction in the first quarter of 1998.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-17--(2nd LD) S. Korea reports 197 new virus infections amid fears of resurgence in greater capital

(ATTN: ADDS vice health minister's remarks, details in paras 7-11)
SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 197 more cases of the new coronavirus on Monday as it battles sporadic outbreaks in Seoul and its neighboring area amid growing fears of resurgence in the greater Seoul area.
The additional COVID-19 cases, including 188 local infections, raised the country's total caseload to 15,515, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Of the new cases, 188 were local transmissions.
Monday's figure came a day after the nation reported 279 new daily infections, marking the first time since early March that the new daily infections surpassed 200.
People in Seoul's Seongbuk Ward wait to get tested for the new coronavirus on Aug. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Although the number of new cases declined from a day earlier, it marked a three-digit number for the fourth straight day, following 166 infections Saturday and 103 Friday.
Of the newly identified local infections, a total of 89 cases was reported in the capital city of Seoul, and 67 were from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, the KCDC said.
Alarmed by a resurgence of infections in recent days, the government raised social distancing in Seoul and its neighboring areas by one notch to Level 2 in the three-tier system for two weeks from Sunday. But health authorities are concerned about further spread of the virus out of the capital area.
Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip told reporters that authorities will further tighten social distancing rules unless the pace of new infections in the Seoul metropolitan area stabilizes by the end of this week.
To help slow the spread of the virus in the greater capital area, health authorities formed a pan-government task force, Kim said.
Kim called for people in the greater capital area to stay home and avoid unnecessary gatherings, warning that, "New infections in the area could happen at anytime and anywhere."
South Korea saw hundreds of daily new infections in the southeastern city of Daegu in late February and early March but brought the outbreak under control.
Kim said the situation in the capital area is graver than that in Daegu, citing difficulties tracing people who came into contact with patients.
Sporadic cluster infections have shown no signs of a let-up, with most cases traced to small and medium-sized churches in the greater Seoul area.
Infections tied to the Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul spiked to 249 as of noon Sunday, while cases linked to the Woori Jeil Church in Yongin, south of Seoul, increased to 126. Local authorities have ordered the churches' congregations to take COVID-19 tests.
Seoul and its neighboring area are home to 25 million people.
Sporadic infections have also been reported in recent days from the fast-food franchise Lotteria, an investment company, offices, schools and coffee shops.
South Korea, meanwhile, reported no additional fatalities, keeping the death toll at 305. The fatality rate was 1.99 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 13,917, up seven from the previous day.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-17--Eased liquidity rules for banks likely to be further extended

SEOUL , Aug. 17 ( Yonhap ) -- Eased liquidity rules for banks , effective since April amid a market @ @ @ @ @ in the number of cases of the new coronavirus , are likely to be extended @ @ @ @ @ increase at any time , sources said Monday .

SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- Eased liquidity rules for banks, effective since April amid a market rout caused by a surge in the number of cases of the new coronavirus, are likely to be extended further as market uncertainty may increase at any time, sources said Monday.
In April, the country eased foreign exchange liquidity rules through September to prod local financial firms to provide more dollars in the currency market roiled by market turbulence.
Local financial institutions have been required to hold an adequate amount of foreign currency assets on hand to get over short-term liquidity disruptions.
Under the eased rules, the foreign exchange liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) for banks was set at at least 70 percent.
The FX LCR is measured as high-quality liquid foreign assets to projected net cash outflows over 30 days.
But a recent surge in new virus cases here, coupled with volatile financial markets, is still posing a risk to financial companies, according to the sources.
The sources said the eased liquidity rules may be extended by six months again.
The country has taken series of steps to stem market turmoil and provide a buffer against the fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak.
Also, South Korea struck a US$60 billion currency swap deal with Washington in March for a six-month period, with the deal extended again last month by six months.
(END)


yna--2020-08-17--'Deliver Us From Evil' breaks even after 12 days

Starring Hwang Jung-min and Lee Jung-jae and directed by Hong Won-chan , the film follows the story of an assassin @ @ @ @ @ who finds himself mired in unexpected incidents as a mysterious killer , played by Lee @ @ @ @ @ his dead brother .

SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean thriller "Deliver Us From Evil" has reached its break-even point in 12 days despite the new coronavirus pandemic that has hampered local cinemas.
Some 841,000 people watched the film between Aug. 14 and 16 alone, raising the total number of viewers to 3.54 million, according to the data by the Korean Film Council. The film's break-even point is 3.5 million.
In addition to reaching its break-even point, the crime action film is set to outpace summer blockbusters that hit theaters earlier, such as zombie blockbuster "Peninsula" that has attracted 3.78 million since its release on July 15.
Starring Hwang Jung-min and Lee Jung-jae and directed by Hong Won-chan, the film follows the story of an assassin, played by Hwang, who finds himself mired in unexpected incidents as a mysterious killer, played by Lee, pursues him to avenge his dead brother.
This image, provided by CJ Entertainment, shows a scene from the crime thriller "Deliver Us From Evil." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This image, provided by CJ Entertainment, shows a promotional poster for the crime thriller "Deliver Us From Evil." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-17--(LEAD) S. Korea reports 197 new virus infections amid fears of resurgence in greater capital

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 5-11; RECASTS headline, lead para)
SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 197 more cases of the new coronavirus on Monday as it battles sporadic outbreaks in Seoul and its neighboring area amid growing fears of resurgence in the greater Seoul area.
The additional COVID-19 cases, including 188 local infections, raised the country's total caseload to 15,515, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Of the new cases, 188 were local transmissions.
Monday's figure came a day after the nation reported 279 new daily infections, marking the first time since early March that the new daily infections surpassed 200.
People in Seoul's Seongbuk Ward wait to get tested for the new coronavirus on Aug. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Although the number of new cases declined from a day earlier, it marked a three-digit number for the fourth straight day, following 166 infections Saturday and 103 Friday.
Of the newly identified local infections, a total of 89 cases was reported in the capital city of Seoul, and 67 were from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, the KCDC said.
Alarmed by a resurgence of infections in recent days, the government raised social distancing in Seoul and its neighboring areas by one notch to Level 2 in the three-tier system for two weeks from Sunday. But health authorities are concerned about further spread of the virus out of the capital area.
Sporadic cluster infections have shown no signs of a let-up, with most cases traced to small and medium-sized churches in the greater Seoul area.
Infections tied to the Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul spiked to 249 as of noon Sunday, while cases linked to the Woori Jeil Church in Yongin, south of Seoul, increased to 126. Local authorities have ordered the churches' congregations to take COVID-19 tests.
Seoul and its neighboring area are home to 25 million people.
Sporadic infections have also been reported in recent days from the fast-food franchise Lotteria, an investment company, offices, schools and coffee shops.
South Korea, meanwhile, reported no additional fatalities, keeping the death toll at 305. The fatality rate was 1.99 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 13,917, up seven from the previous day.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-17--Auto exports down for 4th consecutive month in July amid virus pandemic

SEOUL , Aug. 17 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea 's exports of automobiles dropped by almost 12 percent in @ @ @ @ @ , extending their slump to a fourth month , due mainly to the new coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ business activities while weighing on consumer sentiment , data showed Monday .

SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports of automobiles dropped by almost 12 percent in July from a year earlier, extending their slump to a fourth month, due mainly to the new coronavirus pandemic that has strained global business activities while weighing on consumer sentiment, data showed Monday.
Local carmakers shipped 181,362 units of cars overseas last month, down 11.7 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The country's auto exports declined 40.1 percent, 57.5 percent and 44.6 percent in June, May and April, respectively, according to the data.
In terms of value, outbound shipments of autos sank 4.2 percent on-year to US$3.66 billion in July.
The slump in outbound shipments came as the COVID-19 pandemic has led to lockdowns across the globe, with overseas distributors of South Korean automobiles also shutting down their businesses.
The global economic crisis sparked by the pandemic also induced consumers to have second thoughts about purchasing brand new cars.
South Korea's combined auto production decreased 3.8 percent on-year to 345,711 units last month.
Domestic sales, however, rose 8.9 percent to 164,539 units on the back of carmakers' promotions and marketing efforts.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-17--Heat wave grips S. Korea as monsoon season ends

Heat advisories and alerts have been issued for areas in Daejeon , Gwangju and Busan , where the wind chill @ @ @ @ @ 35 C for two or more days .
In Seoul , the wind chill temperature @ @ @ @ @ 33 C for two or more days .

SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- A heat advisory has been put in place for most parts of South Korea on Monday as temperatures rose following the country's longest-ever monsoon season.
Heat advisories and alerts have been issued for areas in Daejeon, Gwangju and Busan, where the wind chill temperature was expected to exceed 35 C for two or more days. In Seoul, the wind chill temperature was expected to remain over 33 C for two or more days.
People relax at Haeundae Beach in the southeastern port city of Busan on Aug. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) forecast daytime temperatures to rise over 33 C, with the mercury surging over 35 C in the country's eastern coastal areas and southern areas, including the resort island of Jeju.
Night temperatures were also expected to stay high, prompting tropical nights, in which nighttime lows remain above 25 C between 6:01 p.m. and 9 a.m. the following day.
On Monday, nighttime lows reached 26.1 C in Seoul, 28.3 C in Gangneung, 26.1 C in Busan and 27 C in Jeju, according to the KMA.
The heat wave comes after the country underwent a record-long monsoon season. This year's rainy season began June 24 and continued for 54 days in the central part of the country, marking the longest monsoon season following a 49-day streak in 2013, according to the KMA.
People relax at a beach in the eastern coastal city of Sokcho, Gangwon Province, on Aug. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
People rest at a pavilion in Miryang, South Gyeonggnam Province, to escape the heat on Aug. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-17--S. Korea reports 197 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 15,515

The additional COVID-19 cases raised the country 's total caseload to 15,515 , according to the Korea Centers for Disease @ @ @ @ @ ) .
Of the new cases , 188 were local transmissions .

SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 197 more cases of the new coronavirus on Monday as it battles sporadic outbreaks in densely populated Seoul and its neighboring area.
The additional COVID-19 cases raised the country's total caseload to 15,515, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Of the new cases, 188 were local transmissions.
Monday's figure came a day after the nation reported 279 new daily infections, marking the first time since early March that the new daily infections surpassed 200.
South Korea, meanwhile, reported no additional fatalities, keeping the death toll at 305. The fatality rate was 1.99 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 13,917, up seven from the previous day.
People in Seoul's Seongbuk Ward wait to get tested for the new coronavirus on Aug. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-17--USFK ups warning level for all areas in S. Korea amid virus resurgence

The recent surge in cases has prompted the health authorities to place stricter social distancing guidelines on Seoul and the @ @ @ @ @ the national alert level by one notch to Level 2 for two weeks from Sunday @

SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has raised the health protection level against the new coronavirus for all areas within South Korea as local infections accelerated amid a surge in church-related cases.
Effective at 5 a.m. Monday, the USFK heightened the Health Protection Condition Level (HPCON) to Charlie, or HPCON C, for all areas in the country, USFK said in a Facebook post.
Under the revised rules, the number of personnel working on bases will be reduced, and the USFK will conduct health checks such as temperature screening on all people entering its military bases.
On Saturday, USFK raised its protection level to Charlie within Seoul and the surrounding areas, including the western city of Incheon and eight districts in Gyeonggi Province.
The decision to raise the HPCON level to all areas within the country came after South Korea's new COVID-19 cases reached a five-month high of 279 on Sunday, spiking up from 166 on Saturday.
The recent surge in cases has prompted the health authorities to place stricter social distancing guidelines on Seoul and the metropolitan areas, scaling up the national alert level by one notch to Level 2 for two weeks from Sunday.
This file photo shows a gate of the U.S. base Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-17--(URGENT) 7 more patients released from coronavirus treatment, total now at 13,917: 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--2020-08-17--(URGENT) S. Korea reports no additional coronavirus death, death toll at 305: KCDC


yna--2020-08-17--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 197 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 15,515: KCDC


yna--2020-08-17--Ruling party outpaced by main opposition party in public support, Moon's approval rating falls again

Ruling party outpaced by main opposition party in public support, Moon's approval rating falls again: survey

By region , the DP 's approval rating was lower than the UFP across the country , with the exception @ @ @ @ @ provinces , which are traditionally known to support the liberal party , as well as @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's main opposition party has outstripped the ruling party in public support for the first time since the conservative party's setback from ex-President Park Geun-hye's impeachment in 2016, a poll showed Monday.
The United Future Party's (UFP) approval rating came in at 36.3 percent, up 1.7 percentage points from the previous week, while that for the Democratic Party (DP) slipped 0.3 percentage point to 34.8 percent, according to the weekly poll by Realmeter commissioned by broadcaster YTN.
It marked the first time since October 2016, when public anger over disgraced former President Park was mounting, that the conservative party's approval rating surpassed that for the liberal party.
By region, the DP's approval rating was lower than the UFP across the country, with the exception of Gwangju and the Jeolla provinces, which are traditionally known to support the liberal party, as well as Gyeonggi Province and Incheon.
But even in Gwangju and the Jeolla provinces, public support for the DP fell 7.7 percentage points to 51.6 percent, according to the survey.
By age, support for the DP was lower compared with the UFP in all age groups, except for those in their 30s and 40s.
"It seems that a shift in stance for swing voters, who had politically distanced themselves from the UFP, has prompted a change in overall approval ratings," an official at Realmeter said.
President Moon Jae-in's job approval rating fell for a second straight week, slipping 0.6 percentage point to 43.3 percent.
The survey of 2,515 voters across the country was conducted from Aug. 10-14. It has a margin of error of 2 percentage points with a 95 percent confidence level.
This illustration shows the logos of the Democratic Party (L) and the United Future Party against the interior of the National Assembly. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-08-17--LG Chem's EV battery biz in full swing

LG Chem's EV battery biz in full swing

Meanwhile , two other South Korean EV battery makers -- Samsung SDI Co. and SK Innovation Co. -- came in @ @ @ @ @ market shares of 6 percent and 3.9 percent , respectively .

SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- LG Chem Ltd., South Korea's top chemicals firm, is seeing its electric vehicle (EV) battery business in full swing on the back of rising orders, industry sources said Monday.
The company's EV battery business posted 5.08 trillion won in sales in the first half of the year, accounting for 37.2 percent of its total revenue.
Its EV battery business's share of total sales topped 30 percent last year. Compared with two years earlier, its share jumped by 12.8 percentage points, the sources said.
The EV battery unit's operating income stood at 104 billion won in the January-March period, making up 13.3 percent of the total.
LG Chem, meanwhile, became the largest supplier of electric vehicle (EV) batteries in the first half of the year.
Based on the global usage of EV batteries, LG Chem's market share stood at 24.6 percent in the January-June period, up from 10.4 percent a year earlier, according to market tracker SNE Research.
The data showed that 10.5 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of LG Chem's EV batteries were used in the first half of this year, compared with 5.7 GWh from a year earlier.
SNE Research attributed the hike to robust sales of the Tesla Model 3, the Renault Zoe EV and the Audi e-tron EV, which are all powered by LG Chem's EV batteries.
China's CATL came in second in the first half of the year with a 23.5 percent market share, down slightly from 25.1 percent a year earlier.
Meanwhile, two other South Korean EV battery makers -- Samsung SDI Co. and SK Innovation Co. -- came in fourth and sixth place with market shares of 6 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively.
The strong performance of the Korean EV battery makers came despite a sharp decline in the global usage of EV batteries due to the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
The combined global usage of EV batteries came to 42.6 GWh in the January-June period, down 23 percent from 55.3 GWh a year earlier.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-17--Korea's exports of virus test kits on decline since April

According to the data by the Korea Customs Service , the value of test kit exports came to US $ @ @ @ @ @ a more than eightfold jump from $ 24 million in March .

SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports of coronavirus test kits have declined since their peak in April, leading to a plunge in stock prices of test kit makers, data showed Monday.
With the coronavirus pandemic raging across the globe, many countries had scrambled to import Korean COVID-19 test kits, in a boon to local manufacturers.
According to the data by the Korea Customs Service, the value of test kit exports came to US$214 million in April, a more than eightfold jump from $24 million in March.
However, exports of test kits fell 15.3 percent on month to $181 million in May and declined 19.5 percent on month to $146 million in June.
In the first six months of this year, Korea exported $91.9 million worth of test kits to Brazil and $59.8 million worth of test kits to India.
Yoon Hyuk-jin, an analyst at SK Securities, said Korea's exports of test kits declined as many affected nations started making their own test kits in May.
Test kit maker Seegene Inc. said its second-quarter sales came to 256.6 billion won ($215.6 million), beating market expectations.
But Seegene saw its stock price plunge about 30 percent compared with its peak earlier this year.
Other industry players -- LabGenomics Co. and Sugentech Inc -- have seen their stock prices plummet by some 30 percent and 40 percent, respectively.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-17--Foreign virus patients required to cover treatment costs

SEOUL , Aug. 17 ( Yonhap ) -- Foreign new coronavirus patients are required to share the costs of their @ @ @ @ @ with those who violate local rules being obligated to fully pay the bill .

SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- Foreign new coronavirus patients are required to share the costs of their treatment here from Monday, with those who violate local rules being obligated to fully pay the bill.
Health authorities said they will request foreign COVID-19 patients to pay the costs for their medical services if they are found to have violated quarantine rules.
From Aug. 24, the country will charge foreigners a different amount by considering the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic relations, according to the authorities.
South Korea has been providing free medical services to all COVID-19 patients reported here, including foreigners.
People arriving from abroad are guided to undergo quarantine procedures in the arrival hall at Incheon airport, west of Seoul, on Aug. 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
There have been growing calls for foreign patients to share the burden, as the prolonged virus pandemic is poised to further burden taxpayers.
South Korea has been cautious about changing its free-of-charge treatment policy due to diplomatic issues.
South Korea, however, will still exempt all costs for foreigners who are infected with the virus here to curb community spread.
Foreigners enrolled in the country's public health care insurance will be eligible for state support.
The country's new coronavirus infections jumped to a five-month high of 279 on Sunday due mainly to a surge in church-related cases in the greater Seoul area.
This brought the country's total caseload to 15,318, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Of the total, 267 were locally transmitted cases.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)


Monday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Aug. 17 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


yna--2020-08-17--Nighttime tour of Gyeongbok Palace to begin in Sept.

A daily total of 4,500 visitors will be allowed to attend the nocturnal tour , while tickets , 3,000 won @ @ @ @ @ per person , will be available for purchase at the online portal Naver ( https @ @ @ @ @ next Friday .

SEOUL, Aug. 17 (Yonhap) -- A nighttime tour of Gyeongbok Palace will begin next month, the cultural heritage authority said Monday.
The special Gyeongbok Palace night tour will start on Sept. 2 and go through Dec. 4, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA).
A daily total of 4,500 visitors will be allowed to attend the nocturnal tour, while tickets, 3,000 won (US$2.50) per person, will be available for purchase at the online portal Naver (https://booking.naver.com) starting from next Friday.
Due to cluster infections of COVID-19 in Seoul and its populous surrounding areas, the administration had suspended nearly all tours and cultural events at royal palaces for months since late May.
It reopened the gates of the royal places from July 22 but has allowed only individual tours.
This photo provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration shows Geunjeongjeon, the throne hall of Gyeongbok Palace. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(MORE)


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(END)