yna--2020-12-15--S. Korea to buy MH-60R Seahawk to boost Navy's anti-submarine capabilities

South Korea will sign a contract with the Lockheed Martin Corp. subsidiary this year for the 960 billion won ( @ @ @ @ @ project to purchase maritime choppers to boost the Navy 's detection and attack capabilities against @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration .

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Tuesday decided to buy U.S. aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky's MH-60R Seahawk helicopter to bolster the Navy's anti-submarine capabilities, the arms procurement agency said.
South Korea will sign a contract with the Lockheed Martin Corp. subsidiary this year for the 960 billion won (US$878 million) project to purchase maritime choppers to boost the Navy's detection and attack capabilities against enemies' vessels and submarines, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
The decision was made during a defense project promotion committee meeting.
A total of 12 Seahawks will arrive here by 2025 in phases, an agency official said.
The 19.76-meter-long and 5.1-meter-high chopper with the maximum cruising speed of 267 kilometers per hour can handle multiple missions, including operations of warfare, search, rescue, and medical evacuation.
This undated file photo, captured from the U.S. Navy's website, shows Sikorsky's MH-60R Seahawk chopper. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--(LEAD) Seoul stocks down for 2nd day on profit-taking

In addition , analysts said investors are testing the waters ahead of the next U.S. Federal Open Market Committee ( @ @ @ @ @ for Tuesday and Wednesday ( U.S. time ) , for any positive note for the @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks slumped for the second consecutive session Tuesday, as investors sought to cash in part of recent gains amid spiking virus cases. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 5.38 points, or 0.19 percent, to close at 2,756.82, with construction and bio sectors having led the KOSPI's retreat.
Trading volume was moderate at about 1.1 billion shares worth some 15.3 trillion won (US$14.5 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 564 to 290.
Electronic signboards at a Hana Bank dealing room in Seoul show the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,756.82 on Dec. 15, 2020, down 5.38 points or 0.67 percent from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)
Market heavyweights came under foreign and institutional selling.
Foreigners dumped a net 388 billion won, extending their selling spree to a fourth straight session, with institutions selling a net 249 billion won. Retail investors bought a net 605 billion won.
"Despite the overnight reports on U.S. vaccination, the KOSPI was weighed down by increasing pressure from the COVID-19 outbreaks," Hana Financial & Investment analyst Lee Young-gon said.
South Korea's daily COVID-19 cases remained high at nearly 900 Tuesday after hitting a daily record of 1,030 cases Sunday, prompting authorities to consider tougher restrictions.
In addition, analysts said investors are testing the waters ahead of the next U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, set for Tuesday and Wednesday (U.S. time), for any positive note for the financial markets.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics closed unchanged at 73,800 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix gained 0.43 percent to 117,500 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics shed 1.48 percent to 800,000 won, but Celltrion advanced 0.7 percent to 360,000 won.
Internet portal giant Naver lost 1.05 percent to 283,000 won, with its rival Kakao moving down 0.67 percent to 371,000 won.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem rose 1.01 percent to 801,000 won, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI climbed 0.55 percent to 552,000 won.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, declined 0.26 percent to 188,500 won, while top steelmaker POSCO dipped 2.71 percent to 269,0 00 won.
The local currency closed at 1,093.3 won per dollar, down 1.5 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed mixed. The yield on three-year Treasurys lost 0.2 basis point to 0.984 percent, while the return on the benchmark five-year government bond rose 1.1 basis points to 1.317 percent.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--S. Korean Bond Yields on Dec. 15, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on Dec. 15, 2020

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


yna--2020-12-15--S. Korea, Canada to seek 'two plus two' dialogue of defense, diplomatic officials

Kim voiced hope that the two countries can work together to lead international efforts to address global issues , such @ @ @ @ @ ahead of the P4G summit South Korea plans to host in May next year .

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Canada agreed Tuesday to seek the establishment of a new working-level dialogue involving their defense and diplomatic officials to strengthen their strategic partnership, the foreign ministry said.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gunn and Paul Thoppil, assistant deputy minister at Global Affairs Canada, reached the agreement at their countries' annual strategic dialogue, which was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the session, the two sides also agreed to explore ways for "constructive" bilateral cooperation to handle the shifting diplomatic environment following a leadership change in the United States, the ministry said.
Kim voiced hope that the two countries can work together to lead international efforts to address global issues, such as climate change, particularly ahead of the P4G summit South Korea plans to host in May next year.
P4G stands for Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, a public-private initiative to tackle climate change and other sustainable development challenges.
The two sides also discussed efforts to empower women and cooperation in combating the new coronavirus.
"The South Korea-Canada strategic dialogue this time is evaluated as having contributed to deepening mutual understanding as strategic partners, and keeping the momentum for bilateral communication and cooperation," the ministry said in a press release.
Since the two countries forged the strategic partnership in 2014, they have held the strategic dialogue annually to deepen practical bilateral cooperation.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gunn speaks during a virtual strategic dialogue session with Paul Thoppil, assistant deputy minister at Global Affairs Canada, at the foreign ministry in Seoul on Dec. 15, 2020 in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--(3rd LD) Defector activist mulls constitutional complaint over ban on anti-Pyongyang leafleting

The ministry , however , noted that the ban would not be applied to the delivery of non-sensitive items through @ @ @ @ @ as China , into the North and any leafleting via such countries could be subject @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS foreign ministry's comments in last 4 paras)
By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- A high-profile North Korean defector activist is considering filing a constitutional complaint against the recently legislated ban on the sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the communist nation, his lawyer said Tuesday.
On Monday night, the National Assembly, controlled by the ruling Democratic Party, passed the bill penalizing the sending of anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets into the North despite strong objection by opposition party lawmakers.
Critics, including Park Sang-hak, a defector who heads Fighters for a Free North Korea, have strongly opposed the ban, saying it would violate the right to freedom of speech.
"Park believes that the anti-leaflet law is an unconstitutional and bad law that tramples on the freedom of speech," Lee Heon, his legal representative, said in a message sent to reporters, adding he will file a complaint with the Constitutional Court if the law goes into effect.
Fighter for a Free North Korea is one of the defector groups involved in actively pushing to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border despite the government's repeated appeals against such activity.
The government and the ruling party have been seeking to ban the leafleting after North Korea bristled at such activity and even blew up an inter-Korean liaison office in June in anger.
Pyongyang has denounced the leafleting as a violation of inter-Korean agreements and demanded that Seoul take preventive measures.
In July, the unification ministry revoked operation permits for two defector groups, including Park's, saying their campaigns to send leaflets into the North have gravely hindered the government's unification policies and jeopardized the lives and safety of residents.
Critics have claimed that such a ban is tantamount to caving to Pyongyang's pressure, violating the right to the freedom of speech, and blocking information from the people living in the reclusive and oppressive country.
The ministry refuted those claims, saying that the freedom of expression is an important constitutional right but it cannot take precedence over the life and safety of people in border regions.
"Scattering anti-North Korea leaflets infringes upon other people's right to life, safety and properties by causing North Korean provocations, and undermines national security by heightening inter-Korean tensions," the ministry said.
The ministry, however, noted that the ban would not be applied to the delivery of non-sensitive items through a third country, such as China, into the North and any leafleting via such countries could be subject to local laws.
The foreign ministry said it will continue communication with other countries, including the U.S., about the issue.
"Human rights are a value that we cannot compromise on. We respect it more than anything else. Yet we'd also like to emphasize that this bill is a minimal measure to protect the safety of the people in border areas," ministry spokesperson Choi Young-sam said in a press briefing.
"We will continue to make efforts to communicate with the international community, including the United States, about the matter based on this position of ours," he said.
In this May 31, 2020, photo provided by members of Fighters for Free North Korea, a civic organization of North Korean defectors, they prepare to send 20 large balloons carrying anti-North Korea propaganda leaflets across the border in the border city of Gimpo, west of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--S. Korea aims to acquire COVID-19 vaccines starting in Q1 2021: PM

The prime minister acknowledged that there were growing demands for the swift introduction of vaccines , amid the resurgence of @ @ @ @ @ country and news that vaccines were starting to be administered to the general public in @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Tuesday that the government plans to start acquiring new coronavirus vaccines in the first quarter of 2021.
During a vaccine procurement-related government meeting, Chung said that authorities will establish a meticulous plan to allow prepurchased vaccines to be "acquired properly from the first quarter of next year" so that they can be administered according to plan.
The pan-ministerial meeting at the government complex in Seoul was attended by the finance, foreign and health ministers and the head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (L) and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki arrive at a vaccine procurement-related government meeting held at the government complex in Seoul on Dec. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
The prime minister acknowledged that there were growing demands for the swift introduction of vaccines, amid the resurgence of new virus cases across the country and news that vaccines were starting to be administered to the general public in Britain and the United States.
Chung promised that he will personally oversee the entirety of the vaccine program, from procurement to inoculation, so as to reassure the public from anxieties related to vaccine obtainment.
He also said the government will do all it can to bring in already-secured vaccine volume at the earliest date to make sure that inoculations are not delayed.
The prime minister plans to hold the vaccine procurement meeting with officials from involved ministries and state agencies once every week.
The health ministry announced last week that the country has secured early access to COVID-19 vaccines developed by four pharmaceutical companies and from a global vaccine project for 44 million people.
The government said it has completed the deal with AstraZeneca Inc. and is in the process of finalizing the agreement with other suppliers, namely Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson's Janssen and Moderna.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--N.K. likely to use party congress to send conciliatory message to U.S.: expert

`` North Korea 's 8th party congress is expected to be held before the inauguration of the U.S. president .
@ @ @ @ @ trying to express their stance preemptively at the party congress with the possibility of sending @ @ @ @ @ room for negotiations as much as possible rather than taking a touch stance , '' @ @ @

By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is likely to send a conciliatory message to the United States when it holds a rare party congress next month in a bid to leave room for negotiations before President-elect Joe Biden takes office, an expert said Tuesday.
Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, made the remarks during a symposium, forecasting that Pyongyang is expected to use the congress to influence the Biden administration's policymaking on the North.
"North Korea's 8th party congress is expected to be held before the inauguration of the U.S. president. I think the North is trying to express their stance preemptively at the party congress with the possibility of sending a conciliatory message to leave room for negotiations as much as possible rather than taking a touch stance," he said.
"The North will maintain its stance on developing strategic weapons but at the same time it is likely to send messages on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear weapons to leave room for nuclear talks with the U.S.," he added.
Hong also pointed out that the incoming Biden administration's message to Pyongyang on its willingness to inherit the current administration's agreements and negotiations with North Korea will be a crucial factor in how the North views Biden's policy.
Other factors expected to affect Pyongyang's policies toward Washington include how much importance Biden places on North Korea among his foreign policy priorities, as well as his policy on global sanctions and decision on whether or not to conduct joint military exercises with Seoul, the expert said.
The North said earlier this year it will hold the party congress next month to unveil a new economic development scheme. Observers say that it is also likely to disclose a new policy direction toward the U.S. and South Korea ahead of Biden's inauguration on Jan. 20.
Denuclearization talks with North Korea have made little progress since the 2019 summit of Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi broke down without a deal.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--Seoul stocks down for 2nd day on profit-taking

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks slumped for the second consecutive session Tuesday, as investors sought to cash in part of recent gains amid spiking virus cases. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 5.38 points, or 0.19 percent, to close at 2,756.82, with construction and bio sectors having led the KOSPI's retreat.
Trading volume was moderate at about 1.1 billion shares worth some 15.3 trillion won (US$14.5 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 564 to 290.
Market heavyweights came under foreign and institutional selling.
Foreigners dumped a net 388 billion won, extending their selling spree to a fourth straight session, with institutions selling a net 249 billion won. Retail investors bought a net 605 billion won.
"Despite the overnight reports on U.S. vaccination, the KOSPI was weighed down by increasing pressure from the COVID-19 outbreaks," Hana Financial & Investment analyst Lee Young-gon said.
South Korea's daily COVID-19 cases remained high at nearly 900 Tuesday after hitting a daily record of 1,030 cases Sunday, prompting authorities to consider tougher restrictions.
In addition, analysts said investors are testing the waters ahead of the next U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, set for Tuesday and Wednesday (U.S. time), for any positive note for the financial markets.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics closed unchanged at 73,800 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix gained 0.43 percent to 117,500 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics shed 1.48 percent to 800,000 won, but Celltrion advanced 0.7 percent to 360,000 won.
Internet portal giant Naver lost 1.05 percent to 283,000 won, with its rival Kakao moving down 0.67 percent to 371,000 won.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem rose 1.01 percent to 801,000 won, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI climbed 0.55 percent to 552,000 won.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, declined 0.26 percent to 188,500 won, while top steelmaker POSCO dipped 2.71 percent to 269,000 won.
The local currency closed at 1,093.3 won per dollar, down 1.5 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--KOSPI 200 Closing Price List-5

KOSPI 200 Closing Price List-5

HANAFINANCIALGR 36,250 UP 200 GS 37,550 DN 400 CJ CGV 24,500 UP 650 LIG Nex1 29,500 UP 250 Fila Holdings @ @ @ @ @ 2,560 UP 55 AMOREPACIFIC 211,000 DN 500 FOOSUNG 10,250 UP 370 SK Innovation 184,500 UP @ @ @ @ @ KBFinancialGroup 46,300 DN 700 Hansae 17,100 UP 150 LG HAUSYS 76,600 UP 1,600 Youngone Corp @ @ @ @ @ UP 5,000 GKL 16,900 DN 600 KOLON IND 39,650 DN 300 HanmiPharm 343,000 DN 6,000 @ @ @ @ @ 110 emart 154,000 0 지HANKOOK TIRE & TEC HNOLOGY395 00 UP1850 KOLMAR KOREA 45,950 DN @ @ @ @ @ DoubleUGames 58,800 DN 400 CUCKOO 98,100 UP 1,500 COSMAX 96,400 DN 1,100 MANDO 52,200 DN @ @ @ @ @ 12,000 INNOCEAN 62,000 UP 1,300 Doosan Bobcat 30,350 0 H.S.ENTERPRISE 14,150 UP 650 Netmarble 127,000 @ @ @ @ @ RIES HOLDI NG S296000 DN3000 ORION 127,500 DN 4,500 HANWHA SYSTEMS 14,800 UP 1,200 BGF @ @ @ @ @ 372,500 DN 3,500 HDC-OP 26,150 UP 250 WooriFinancialGroup 10,000 DN 100 Big Hit 172,000 DN @ @ @ @

HANAFINANCIALGR 36,250 UP 200
GS 37,550 DN 400
CJ CGV 24,500 UP 650
LIG Nex1 29,500 UP 250
Fila Holdings 44,700 UP 1,000
HANWHA LIFE 2,560 UP 55
AMOREPACIFIC 211,000 DN 500
FOOSUNG 10,250 UP 370
SK Innovation 184,500 UP 1,500
POONGSAN 28,100 DN 350
KBFinancialGroup 46,300 DN 700
Hansae 17,100 UP 150
LG HAUSYS 76,600 UP 1,600
Youngone Corp 33,500 UP 450
CSWIND 152,500 UP 5,000
GKL 16,900 DN 600
KOLON IND 39,650 DN 300
HanmiPharm 343,000 DN 6,000
BNK Financial Group 5,890 UP 110
emart 154,000 0
지HANKOOK TIRE & TEC HNOLOGY395 00 UP1850
KOLMAR KOREA 45,950 DN 100
HANJINKAL 60,300 DN 2,800
DoubleUGames 58,800 DN 400
CUCKOO 98,100 UP 1,500
COSMAX 96,400 DN 1,100
MANDO 52,200 DN 200
SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS 800,000 DN 12,000
INNOCEAN 62,000 UP 1,300
Doosan Bobcat 30,350 0
H.S.ENTERPRISE 14,150 UP 650
Netmarble 127,000 UP 500
HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUST RIES HOLDI NG S296000 DN3000
ORION 127,500 DN 4,500
HANWHA SYSTEMS 14,800 UP 1,200
BGF Retail 127,500 DN 500
SKCHEM 372,500 DN 3,500
HDC-OP 26,150 UP 250
WooriFinancialGroup 10,000 DN 100
Big Hit 172,000 DN 3,500
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--KOSPI 200 Closing Price List-4

KOSPI 200 Closing Price List-4

LOTTE SHOPPING 101,000 DN 500 IBK 9,350 DN 70 Kakao 371,000 DN 2,500 SHINSEGAE INTERNATIO NAL162000 DN1500 NCsoft 875,000 DN @ @ @ @ @ 500 KIWOOM 134,000 UP 1,500 LG Uplus 11,850 UP 50 DSME 27,050 DN 750 SAMSUNG @ @ @ @ @ 8,240 UP 10 DWEC 4,415 DN 85 KT & G 86,400 DN 400 DHICO 14,300 @ @ @ @ @ 1,800 DONGSUH 30,750 UP 200 LG Display 17,950 UP 1,150 SamsungEng 13,200 DN 300 SAMSUNG @ @ @ @ @ 1,500 PanOcean 4,120 UP 30 SAMSUNG CARD 34,900 UP 300 CheilWorldwide 20,950 UP 200 KT @ @ @ @ @ DN 50 NAVER 283,000 DN 3,000 KEPCO E & C 16,950 0 DongwonF & B @ @ @ @ @ DN 600 HYUNDAIGLOVIS 186,500 DN 1,500 HYUNDAI ROTEM 17,050 UP 800 LGELECTRONICS 93,400 DN 1,600 @ @ @ @ @ 3,000 KEPCO KPS 29,850 DN 250 LGCHEM 801,000 UP 8,000 Celltrion 360,000 UP 2,500 Huchems @ @ @ @ @ 135,000 UP 1,500 HYUNDAIDEPTST 71,000 0 KIH 77,000 DN 600 LOTTE Himart 31,600 DN 350 @ @ @

LOTTE SHOPPING 101,000 DN 500
IBK 9,350 DN 70
Kakao 371,000 DN 2,500
SHINSEGAE INTERNATIO NAL162000 DN1500
NCsoft 875,000 DN 10,000
LOTTE TOUR 16,700 UP 500
KIWOOM 134,000 UP 1,500
LG Uplus 11,850 UP 50
DSME 27,050 DN 750
SAMSUNG LIFE 74,200 DN 1,100
DSINFRA 8,240 UP 10
DWEC 4,415 DN 85
KT&G 86,400 DN 400
DHICO 14,300 DN 100
Doosanfc 56,100 UP 1,800
DONGSUH 30,750 UP 200
LG Display 17,950 UP 1,150
SamsungEng 13,200 DN 300
SAMSUNG C&T 128,500 DN 1,500
PanOcean 4,120 UP 30
SAMSUNG CARD 34,900 UP 300
CheilWorldwide 20,950 UP 200
KT 24,750 UP 150
Kangwonland 23,750 DN 50
NAVER 283,000 DN 3,000
KEPCO E&C 16,950 0
DongwonF&B 178,000 DN 2,000
HYUNDAIHOMESHOP 84,200 DN 600
HYUNDAIGLOVIS 186,500 DN 1,500
HYUNDAI ROTEM 17,050 UP 800
LGELECTRONICS 93,400 DN 1,600
LGH&H 1,593,000 UP 3,000
KEPCO KPS 29,850 DN 250
LGCHEM 801,000 UP 8,000
Celltrion 360,000 UP 2,500
Huchems 23,950 DN 50
DAEWOONG PHARM 135,000 UP 1,500
HYUNDAIDEPTST 71,000 0
KIH 77,000 DN 600
LOTTE Himart 31,600 DN 350
(MORE)


yna--2020-12-15--KOSPI 200 Closing Price List-3

KOSPI 200 Closing Price List-3

GS Retail 34,300 DN 400 Ottogi 555,000 UP 1,000 IlyangPharm 62,800 DN 1,600 F & F 84,800 UP 300 HtlShilla @ @ @ @ @ UP 100 MERITZ SECU 3,850 DN 20 Mobis 259,000 UP 1,000 HANWHA AEROSPACE 28,050 UP @ @ @ @ @ HDC HOLDINGS 11,050 DN 100 S-1 82,900 UP 1,000 ZINUS 99,500 UP 200 Hanchem 164,000 @ @ @ @ @ 700 LS ELECTRIC 59,700 UP 500 KorZinc 398,000 UP 4,000 SamsungHvyInd 6,980 DN 60 SYC @ @ @ @ @ DN 1,100 IS DONGSEO 51,200 UP 300 S-Oil 72,000 UP 500 LG Innotek 162,500 0 @ @ @ @ @ 500 HMM 13,600 UP 300 HYUNDAI WIA 48,450 DN 200 KEPCO 24,000 UP 100 SamsungSecu @ @ @ @ @ STL 11,500 DN 500 SKTelecom 246,000 DN 3,000 S & T MOTIV 49,500 UP 1,750 @ @ @ @ @ INDUSTRIAL 24,650 DN 150 Hanon Systems 15,850 UP 150 SK 244,500 DN 4,500 ShinpoongPharm 147,000 @ @ @ @ @ 550 Asiana Airlines 4,545 UP 75 COWAY 70,000 DN 500 DWS 29,350 UP 450 ( @ @

GS Retail 34,300 DN 400
Ottogi 555,000 UP 1,000
IlyangPharm 62,800 DN 1,600
F&F 84,800 UP 300
HtlShilla 82,300 DN 100
NamsunAlum 5,070 UP 100
MERITZ SECU 3,850 DN 20
Mobis 259,000 UP 1,000
HANWHA AEROSPACE 28,050 UP 900
KumhoPetrochem 135,000 DN 3,000
HDC HOLDINGS 11,050 DN 100
S-1 82,900 UP 1,000
ZINUS 99,500 UP 200
Hanchem 164,000 DN 2,000
OCI 68,200 UP 700
LS ELECTRIC 59,700 UP 500
KorZinc 398,000 UP 4,000
SamsungHvyInd 6,980 DN 60
SYC 51,000 DN 800
HyundaiMipoDock 50,600 DN 1,100
IS DONGSEO 51,200 UP 300
S-Oil 72,000 UP 500
LG Innotek 162,500 0
LOTTE CHEMICAL Corp 272,500 DN 500
HMM 13,600 UP 300
HYUNDAI WIA 48,450 DN 200
KEPCO 24,000 UP 100
SamsungSecu 42,500 UP 350
KG DONGBU STL 11,500 DN 500
SKTelecom 246,000 DN 3,000
S&T MOTIV 49,500 UP 1,750
HyundaiElev 41,350 UP 200
AEKYUNG INDUSTRIAL 24,650 DN 150
Hanon Systems 15,850 UP 150
SK 244,500 DN 4,500
ShinpoongPharm 147,000 DN 12,000
Handsome 30,100 UP 550
Asiana Airlines 4,545 UP 75
COWAY 70,000 DN 500
DWS 29,350 UP 450
(MORE)


yna--2020-12-15--KOSPI 200 Closing Price List-2

KOSPI 200 Closing Price List-2

MIRAE ASSET DAEWOO 9,700 UP 40 SKC 85,900 DN 100 LS 70,600 UP 900 GC Corp 390,500 DN 8,500 GS @ @ @ @ @ 650 CJ LOGISTICS 161,000 DN 500 DOOSAN 52,500 DN 1,800 DaelimInd 85,700 DN 900 HANKOOK @ @ @ @ @ 62,000 DN 1,200 Yuhan 68,100 DN 400 SK hynix 117,500 UP 500 Youngpoong 535,000 UP @ @ @ @ @ DN 700 CUCKOO HOMESYS 39,150 UP 150 SamsungF & MIns 196,000 UP 4,000 HANALL BIOPHARMA @ @ @ @ @ DN 350 Hanwha 26,250 UP 50 DB HiTek 34,900 DN 300 CJ 81,000 DN 1,100 @ @ @ @ @ 25,100 UP 350 DongkukStlMill 7,800 DN 140 Daewoong 47,050 DN 2,600 POSCO CHEMICAL 101,500 DN @ @ @ @ @ L & L 10,300 DN 50 LOTTE Fine Chem 53,300 DN 800 HYUNDAI STEEL 39,200 @ @ @ @ @ 3,000 Nongshim 297,000 DN 3,000 SGBC 40,100 DN 800 Hyosung 81,600 UP 300 Hanmi Science @ @ @ @ @ UP 2,000 Hanssem 105,000 UP 5,000 TAEYOUNG E & C 11,300 DN 50 KSOE 108,500 @ @ @ @ @ DN 550 ( MORE )

MIRAE ASSET DAEWOO 9,700 UP 40
SKC 85,900 DN 100
LS 70,600 UP 900
GC Corp 390,500 DN 8,500
GS E&C 37,000 DN 650
CJ LOGISTICS 161,000 DN 500
DOOSAN 52,500 DN 1,800
DaelimInd 85,700 DN 900
HANKOOK TECHNOLOGY G ROUP15200 DN300
KiaMtr 62,000 DN 1,200
Yuhan 68,100 DN 400
SK hynix 117,500 UP 500
Youngpoong 535,000 UP 4,000
HyundaiEng&Const 37,350 DN 700
CUCKOO HOMESYS 39,150 UP 150
SamsungF&MIns 196,000 UP 4,000
HANALL BIOPHARMA 37,800 UP 300
Kogas 29,650 DN 350
Hanwha 26,250 UP 50
DB HiTek 34,900 DN 300
CJ 81,000 DN 1,100
JWPHARMA 33,500 DN 1,250
LGInt 25,100 UP 350
DongkukStlMill 7,800 DN 140
Daewoong 47,050 DN 2,600
POSCO CHEMICAL 101,500 DN 1,000
BoryungPharm 19,200 DN 50
L&L 10,300 DN 50
LOTTE Fine Chem 53,300 DN 800
HYUNDAI STEEL 39,200 DN 1,000
Shinsegae 240,000 DN 3,000
Nongshim 297,000 DN 3,000
SGBC 40,100 DN 800
Hyosung 81,600 UP 300
Hanmi Science 72,800 DN 1,100
SamsungElecMech 166,000 UP 2,000
Hanssem 105,000 UP 5,000
TAEYOUNG E&C 11,300 DN 50
KSOE 108,500 DN 2,500
HANWHA SOLUTIONS 45,350 DN 550
(MORE)


yna--2020-12-15--KOSPI 200 Closing Price List-1

KOSPI 200 Closing Price List-1

AmoreG 55,400 DN 900 HyundaiMtr 188,500 DN 500 ORION Holdings 13,500 UP 150 NEXENTIRE 6,350 DN 50 CHONGKUNDANG 184,000 DN @ @ @ @ @ SKBP 171,500 UP 500 Hyundai M & F INS 24,150 UP 650 Daesang 25,900 DN @ @ @ @ @ SamyangFood 97,000 DN 1,200 POSCO INTERNATIONAL 15,150 UP 200 CJ CheilJedang 380,000 UP 1,000 TaekwangInd @ @ @ @ @ UP 60 KAL 27,400 0 YUNGJIN PHARM 8,170 DN 160 BukwangPharm 30,700 DN 100 ILJIN @ @ @ @ @ Corp. 78,000 UP 900 SAMYANGHOLDINGS 67,700 DN 200 ShinhanGroup 33,550 DN 550 HITEJINRO 31,900 DN @ @ @ @ @ Binggrae 55,300 0 GCH Corp 37,250 DN 1,250 LotteChilsung 111,000 DN 3,000 HYUNDAIGREENFOOD 8,680 DN @ @ @ @ @ SPC SAMLIP 72,000 DN 200 SAMSUNG SDS 179,500 DN 1,000 KOREA AEROSPACE 25,150 UP 350 @ @ @ @ @ 45,750 UP 1,050 SamsungElec 73,800 0 NHIS 11,900 0 SAMSUNG SDI CO. , LTD .
@ @ @ @ @ CEMENT 28,400 DN 800 KPIC 227,000 DN 500 SK Discovery 62,500 DN 1,100 ( MORE @

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- Tuesday's closing prices (KRW) of
KOSPI 200 stocks traded on the main Korea Stock Exchange.
AmoreG 55,400 DN 900
HyundaiMtr 188,500 DN 500
ORION Holdings 13,500 UP 150
NEXENTIRE 6,350 DN 50
CHONGKUNDANG 184,000 DN 2,500
KCC 185,000 UP 1,500
SKBP 171,500 UP 500
Hyundai M&F INS 24,150 UP 650
Daesang 25,900 DN 150
SKNetworks 4,725 DN 85
SamyangFood 97,000 DN 1,200
POSCO INTERNATIONAL 15,150 UP 200
CJ CheilJedang 380,000 UP 1,000
TaekwangInd 759,000 DN 13,000
SsangyongCement 7,210 UP 60
KAL 27,400 0
YUNGJIN PHARM 8,170 DN 160
BukwangPharm 30,700 DN 100
ILJIN MATERIALS 48,350 UP 750
LG Corp. 78,000 UP 900
SAMYANGHOLDINGS 67,700 DN 200
ShinhanGroup 33,550 DN 550
HITEJINRO 31,900 DN 300
LOTTE 34,500 DN 200
Binggrae 55,300 0
GCH Corp 37,250 DN 1,250
LotteChilsung 111,000 DN 3,000
HYUNDAIGREENFOOD 8,680 DN 70
POSCO 269,000 DN 7,500
SPC SAMLIP 72,000 DN 200
SAMSUNG SDS 179,500 DN 1,000
KOREA AEROSPACE 25,150 UP 350
KUMHOTIRE 3,925 0
DB INSURANCE 45,750 UP 1,050
SamsungElec 73,800 0
NHIS 11,900 0
SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD. 552,000 UP 3,000
HANIL HYUNDAI CEMENT 28,400 DN 800
KPIC 227,000 DN 500
SK Discovery 62,500 DN 1,100
(MORE)


yna--2020-12-16--S. Korea speeds up culling of poultry to prevent highly pathogenic bird flu

The country has culled 5.59 million birds as preventive measures since reporting the first farm-related case in late November , @ @ @ @ @ Agriculture , Food and Rural Affairs .

By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Wednesday it is speeding up efforts to cull poultry around farms infected with highly pathogenic bird flu amid growing concerns over the virus spreading nationwide.
The country has culled 5.59 million birds as preventive measures since reporting the first farm-related case in late November, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Chickens accounted for 3.5 million, followed by quails with 1.2 million and ducks with 880,000.
Local authorities slaughtered poultry within a 3-kilometer radius of infected farms.
Officials prepare to cull birds at a farm in Naju, 355 kilometers south of Seoul, on Dec. 9, 2020, after highly pathogenic bird flu was found at a nearby duck farm. (Yonhap)
South Korea has reported 16 cases of highly pathogenic bird flu from farms. South Jeolla Province accounted for six, and Gyeonggi and North Jeolla provinces accounted for three infections each.
There were also cases from the provinces of South and North Chungcheong, along with South Gyeongsang.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is contagious and can cause severe illness and even death in poultry.
The country reported this year's first highly pathogenic avian influenza case from wild birds in late October. Since then, a total of 29 cases have been found from wild bird habitats nationwide.
Authorities are currently investigating seven suspected cases from wild birds.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


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(END)


yna--2020-12-16--(2nd LD) Daily virus caseload hits another high, S. Korea closer to toughest virus curbs

To prevent new cluster infections at nursing facilities , health authorities said they will carry out COVID-19 tests on all @ @ @ @ @ the greater Seoul every week .
Workers at nursing homes outside of the capital area @ @ @ @ @ weeks .

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout; CHANGES photos)
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases hit another new high Wednesday in the face of alarming increases in cluster infections across the country, prompting health authorities to seriously consider adopting the toughest virus curbs.
The country added 1,078 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,054 local infections, raising the total caseload to 45,442, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Wednesday's daily caseload is higher than the previous record of 1,030 on Sunday, which was the first time for the number to breach the 1,000 mark.
After falling to 718 on Monday due to fewer tests being carried out over the weekend, infections rebounded to 880 the previous day, as health authorities expanded free COVID-19 tests to find more potential cases.
Health authorities expect the country's daily virus caseload may reach up to 1,200.
A medical worker carries out COVID-19 tests on visitors at a makeshift clinic in central Seoul on Dec. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Health authorities are focusing on securing more hospital beds while finding asymptomatic "hidden spreaders," instead of adopting the Level 3 social-distancing scheme, the toughest measure under the country's five-tier alert system.
They acknowledged that the current social distancing, the second highest level, has failed to flatten the virus curve and hinted they are carefully looking at the option of adopting Level 3.
Level 3 can be adopted when locally transmitted cases surge to between 800 and 1,000 or the daily tally doubles from the previous day.
Over the past week, the daily average number of COVID-19 cases here came to 832.6, with the greater Seoul area taking up 73.1 percent.
"Adopting Level 3 will take not only the number of new patients into consideration but also medical capabilities, as well as the reproduction rate of the virus," said Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health official, during a daily briefing.
"We urge people to comply with Level 2.5 currently implemented in the greater Seoul area to avoid the toughest virus restrictions, which can hurt numerous self-employed people and small shop owners," he added.
Under the highest level, any gatherings of 10 or more people will be banned, which is stricter than the current ceiling of 49.
Schools will be fully shut down, and companies are required to have nonessential employees work from home.
Medical workers carry out COVID-19 tests on visitors at a makeshift clinic in central Seoul on Dec. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Of the locally transmitted cases, the capital city of Seoul accounted for 373 cases, and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province took up 320. Incheon, west of Seoul, had 64 new cases. The three areas account for around half of the nation's population.
Outside of greater Seoul, the southeastern port city of Busan reported 41 additional cases and North Jeolla Province added 75.
The southeastern city of Daegu added 27 infections, and Dajeon, 164 kilometers south of Seoul, reported 15 more cases. South and North Chungcheong Provinces added 35 and 22 cases, respectively.
To prevent new cluster infections at nursing facilities, health authorities said they will carry out COVID-19 tests on all workers at such facilities in the greater Seoul every week. Workers at nursing homes outside of the capital area will be tested every two weeks.
Over the past month, a total of 26 cluster infections have been traced to medical facilities, including nursing homes.
Imported cases came to 24.
The United States accounted for seven cases followed by Indonesia with six. There were also cases imported from other countries, including Uzbekistan, Russia, Japan and Canada.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients reached 226, up 21 from the previous day.
The KDCA reported 12 additional deaths, raising the total to 612. On Tuesday, the country reported 13 deaths, a record high.
The fatality rate reached 1.35 percent.
The number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 388, raising the total to 32,947. This indicates around 72.5 percent of local patients have been cured.
South Korea carried out 3,488,769 COVID-19 tests so far, including 47,549 the previous day.
The ratio of people testing positive reached 2.27 percent, compared to 1.99 percent a day earlier, when 44,181 tests were carried out.
Visitors wait in line to receive COVID-19 tests at a makeshift clinic in central Seoul on Dec. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--Seoul stocks trim early gains late Wednesday morning on lockdown concerns

But the KOSPI 's gains eased as the country added a fresh record high of 1,078 more COVID-19 cases .
@ @ @ @ @ second-highest social distancing measures have failed to curb the virus spread , hinting it would @ @ @ @ @ Level 3 if necessary .

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks trimmed part of their earlier gains from U.S. stimulus hopes late Wednesday morning, as concerns of a broader lockdown increased over the surging new coronavirus outbreaks here.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 10.72 points, or 0.39 percent, to 2,767.54 as of 11:20 a.m.
The KOSPI opened higher after a two-session retreat, largely on rosy expectations that the world's largest economy would hasten a fresh stimulus deal before its previous benefits expire by the end of the year.
Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.13 percent, following Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's comment that lawmakers would have to stay in Washington until the US$748 billion relief deal is clinched.
But the KOSPI's gains eased as the country added a fresh record high of 1,078 more COVID-19 cases. Health authorities said the current second-highest social distancing measures have failed to curb the virus spread, hinting it would not hesitate for the toughest Level 3 if necessary.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 0.27 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix retreated 0.43 percent.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem rose 2.12 percent, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI moved up 1.45 percent.
Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics advanced 1.75 percent, while Celltrion declined 1.67 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest carmaker, added 1.06 percent, and leading steelmaker POSCO climbed 0.83 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver edged up 0.18 percent, with its rival Kakao rising 0.27 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,092.55 won against the U.S. dollar, up 0.75 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--S. Korea-led U.N. group discusses pandemic responses with disease monitoring board

They also noted that countries should keep in mind that an infectious disease does not only put people 's health @ @ @ @ @ massive social and economic damage , calling for efforts to enhance cooperation in areas like @ @ @ @ @ minimize the repercussions .

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean-led group of U.N. member countries held a videoconference with an international disease monitoring board to discuss policy directions for effective coronavirus responses, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.
The U.N. Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security was launched in May under Seoul's initiative with a view to bring up a U.N.-level response to the coronavirus pandemic and other global health problems. It has 44 countries and the European Union as members.
The videoconference was held Tuesday (New York time) with leading pandemic experts belonging to the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board, an independent body consisting of former and sitting health and government officials and working with the World Health Organization and the World Bank.
In Tuesday's meeting, the participants agreed that responses based on principles of multilateralism, such as partnering with international financial institutions and continued investment in domestic as well as global health care systems, are key to fighting diseases and preparing for any future health crisis.
They also noted that countries should keep in mind that an infectious disease does not only put people's health at risk but could cause massive social and economic damage, calling for efforts to enhance cooperation in areas like vaccine development so as to minimize the repercussions.
In the closing remarks, South Korea's Ambassador to the U.N. Cho Hyun stressed the importance for countries to work together to secure COVID-19 vaccines, adding that the Friends Group will make every effort to function as a leading platform for tackling COVID-19 and other diseases, the ministry said.
South Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Cho Hyun speaks during a virtual conference with experts from the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board in New York, on Dec. 15, 2020 (U.S. time), in this photo provided by Seoul's foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This photo, provided by Seoul's foreign ministry on Dec. 16, 2020, shows the participants of a meeting hosted by the U.N. Group of Friends of Solidarity for Global Health Security that took place the previous day. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--Asia forest cooperation agency gains observer status in U.N. General Assembly

The ministry also pointed out that AFoCO 's status as an observer will help further strengthen the implementation of South @ @ @ @ @ , particularly in the forestry sector , given that all members of the Association of @ @ @ @ @ ) are part of the organization .

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul-based international forest cooperation agency established under South Korea's initiative has won observer status in the U.N. General Assembly, the foreign ministry said Wednesday, in a milestone likely to bolster its presence on the world stage.
On Tuesday, the 75th session of the General Assembly adopted a resolution on the observer status of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) launched in 2018 under Seoul's proposal to ensure sustainable forest management to help address climate change.
The observer status will enable AFoCO to participate in official sessions of the U.N. General Assembly, and thus create opportunities to secure international support for Asia's forest management, the ministry said.
"With the observer status, it is expected that AFoCO will be able to enhance its competitiveness by participating in U.N. discussions on sustainable development and green growth and expanding its presence as an international organization," the ministry said in a press release.
The ministry also pointed out that AFoCO's status as an observer will help further strengthen the implementation of South Korea's New Southern Policy, particularly in the forestry sector, given that all members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are part of the organization.
The organization consists of 13 members and two observers. Its formal launch in 2018 came based on Seoul's proposal for the entity during the 2009 special summit between South Korea and ASEAN.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--(News Focus) S. Korean companies bet big on hydrogen for zero-emission goal

There are currently three ways to make hydrogen .
Grey hydrogen is produced when the element is stripped out of @ @ @ @ @ coal , while blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas and produces less CO2 .
@ @ @ @ @ variety as it uses renewable energy to produce hydrogen from water .

By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- Major South Korean companies in carbon intensive industries are jacking up investment in hydrogen across sectors to cut their greenhouse emissions and capture new business opportunities in the emerging energy sector.
Hydrogen can offer solutions in fields ranging from transport to energy storage as an alternative to fossil fuels and is an important pillar of President Moon Jae-in's Green New Deal initiative aimed at going carbon neutral by 2050 and developing renewable energy industries.
To embrace the global energy transition, Korean companies in the auto, chemical and steel industries have recently announced hydrogen business road maps to boost demand and foster new growth drivers.
Hyundai Motor Group, the world's fifth-largest automotive group, is on the front of the hydrogen business in the nation with two decades of expertise in developing the hydrogen fuel cell system for vehicles.
Since introducing the ix35 fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) in 2013, Hyundai has added the NEXO SUV, the XCIENT fuel cell heavy-duty truck and a fuel cell electric bus, leading the market ahead of its Japanese rivals.
FCEVs run on pressurized hydrogen and create electricity by chemically fusing it with oxygen in a fuel stack.
Hyundai Motor Co. introduces its fuel cell electric vehicle, the NEXO, in a hydrogen mobility show held at KINTEX in Goyang, north of Seoul, on July 1, 2020, in this photo provided by the automaker. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
According to SNE Research, Hyundai Motor sold 4,917 FCEVs in the first nine months of this year, accounting for 73.8 percent of the global market.
In July, Hyundai shipped 10 XCIENT trucks to Switzerland as part of its contract to export a total of 1,600 of them to the European nation by 2025.
As fuel cell vehicles remain a niche segment due to lack of fueling stations and limited models, Hyundai said it will explore ways to expand the applications of its fuel cell systems in a wide range of areas.
"The company will accelerate its hydrogen ecosystem initiative by upgrading fuel cell system technology and expanding fuel cell business beyond the development of fuel cell vehicles," the company said at the 2020 CEO Investor Day forum last week. "The company plans to expand the application of its fuel cell system in all transportation areas, such as ships, trains, forklifts and urban air mobility (UAM)."
Hyundai Motor is set to launch a brand dedicated to its fuel cell system, called HTWO, which stands for the hydrogen molecule H2, to target major markets, including South Korea, the United States, Europe and China.
SK Group, the nation's third-largest conglomerate whose businesses range from semiconductor and telecom to refinery and battery, said it plans to produce hydrogen utilizing its energy infrastructure.
SK Gas Co.'s hydrogen fueling station in Incheon, west of Seoul, is seen in this photo provided by SK's gas subsidiary on July 16, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
SK Holdings, the group's holding firm, set an annual hydrogen production target of 280,000 tons by 2025 to supply it to petrol stations and fuel cell power plants.
Under the plan, SK E&S Co., the nation's largest private natural gas provider, aims to start supplying 30,000 tons of liquefied hydrogen annually to the Seoul metropolitan area in 2023, using resources from refinery SK Innovation Co.
SK E&S said it will also begin producing 250,000 tons of "blue" hydrogen per year in 2025 using its imported natural gas, and develop "green" hydrogen technology in the long term.
There are currently three ways to make hydrogen. Grey hydrogen is produced when the element is stripped out of fossil fuels, such as coal, while blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas and produces less CO2. Green hydrogen is the cleanest variety as it uses renewable energy to produce hydrogen from water.
"The group's investment in the hydrogen industry means that SK's portfolio is shifting toward the eco-friendly business," an SK Holdings official said. "We will utilize the energy business infrastructure to create a hydrogen ecosystem to tap into the global market."
POSCO, the world's fifth-largest steelmaker by output, is also stepping up efforts to expand its hydrogen business and establish supply chains, targeting 5 million tons of annual hydrogen production by 2050.
The company currently produces 7,000 tons of hydrogen per year, mostly using natural gas and byproducts from its power plants.
POSCO said it aims to expand the blue hydrogen production capacity to 500,000 tons by 2030 and establish 2 million tons of a green hydrogen production system by 2040.
"We will take a leading role in producing and supplying hydrogen, the key of the next-generation clean energy," POSCO CEO Choi Jeong-woo said. "POSCO will contribute to the hydrogen ecosystem in line with the nation's net zero carbon goal."
This file photo taken Aug. 27, 2020, shows South Korean steelmaker POSCO's factory in Pohang, 374 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Market watchers say the traditional manufacturing industry's aligning strategy is an inevitable trend to join the global shift to the renewable energy economy.
"The hydrogen industry is gaining attention as major economies have announced their carbon neutral goals to fight climate change," Im Eun-young, an analyst at Samsung Securities, said. "While investors mainly focused on the fuel cell system and hydrogen vehicles, they have been growingly paying attention to the value chain, ranging from production and distribution to utilization."
Experts said the government and companies have to work together to develop technologies to produce green hydrogen at scale to achieve the zero-emission goal. In the meantime, blue hydrogen will remain as an interim model for building scale and lowering costs, they noted.
"It would be inevitable to expand production of grey and blue hydrogen for at least the next 10 years," Jun Hye-young, an analyst at KTB Investment & Securities, said. "While SK's and POSCO's plans to produce hydrogen are expected to benefit from growing demand in the short term, their strategy focused on grey hydrogen is not compatible with the government's carbon neutral goal for 2050."
Hydrogen is still new to South Korea's energy portfolio, considering it only took up around 0.3 percent of the country's combined power generation in 2018. South Korea produced 375.5 megawatts of power from 50 hydrogen fuel cell plants in 2018, according to the energy ministry.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Dec. 16 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .

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


yna--2020-12-16--960 more soldiers mobilized in virus fight as daily new infections hit record high

The move came as South Korea added 1,078 more COVID-19 cases Wednesday , raising the total caseload to 45,442 .
@ @ @ @ @ previous record of 1,030 on Sunday , which was the first time for the daily @ @ @ @ @ mark .

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- Nearly 1,000 additional soldiers were dispatched to public health centers Wednesday to help the government cope with the coronavirus pandemic, the Army said, as the country's daily new virus cases hit a new record high.
About 960 soldiers from the Capital Defense Command, along with 41 medical staff members, were sent to 160 public health centers in the greater Seoul area to guide citizens visiting the virus test facilities for the next three weeks, according to the military.
The move came as South Korea added 1,078 more COVID-19 cases Wednesday, raising the total caseload to 45,442. It is higher than the previous record of 1,030 on Sunday, which was the first time for the daily number to cross the 1,000 mark.
As the country struggles to stem the third wave of infections in the winter season, the Army has already sent 379 officers from the Special Warfare Command to support the government's antivirus activities Monday.
"The Army considers the situation as a national emergency and is helping the government's COVID-19 response efforts to mobilize all available resources," it said in a release.
Special warfare soldiers guide a citizen at a health center in Seoul on Dec. 14, 2020, as part of efforts to assist the government's epidemiological survey in the fight against COVID-19. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
The Armed Forces General Hospital in the central city of Daejeon also started receiving COVID-19 patients earlier in the day amid concerns over a possible hospital bed shortage.
Two other military hospitals in the southeastern city of Daegu and the northern city of Goyang will also open to civilians soon, according to the defense ministry.
In barracks, two Marine officers in Gimpo, west of Seoul, and an Army soldier in Paju, north of the capital, have tested positive for the new coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections among the military population to 472.
The Marines were confirmed to have contracted the virus after one of their family members first tested positive. The soldier in Paju was infected after virus cases were reported at his unit.
Following a series of virus cases reported among service members upon their return from emergency leave, the ministry said it will recommend troops take virus tests before returning if they visited the metropolitan area during their leave.
Special warfare soldiers input data at a health center in Seoul on Dec. 14, 2020, as part of efforts to assist the government's epidemiological survey in the fight against COVID-19. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--7 in 10 Koreans plan to travel abroad after COVID-19 vaccine development: poll

About half of all respondents said their overseas trips will last seven days to one month , while another 40 @ @ @ @ @ traveling for four to six days .

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- Seven out of 10 South Koreans plan to travel abroad after coronavirus vaccines are developed, a survey showed Wednesday.
According to Incheon International Airport Corp.'s recent survey, 70.2 percent of South Koreans and 82 percent of foreign nationals said they have overseas travel plans after the development of COVID-19 vaccines is completed.
The survey was conducted on 1,000 Koreans and 600 foreign nationals from China, Japan, Vietnam and other countries from Oct. 30 to Nov. 20.
This photo, taken on Dec. 1, 2020, shows airplanes at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Of them, 33.4 percent of Koreans and 35.3 percent of foreigners said they are willing to go abroad within three to six months after the vaccination development.
As for the travel destination, 42.2 percent of Koreans preferred Europe, while 57.2 percent of foreigners preferred Asia.
Over 90 percent of all respondents cited tourism as the reason for overseas travels, while only 8.8 percent of Koreans and 3.4 percent of foreigners cited business purposes.
About half of all respondents said their overseas trips will last seven days to one month, while another 40 percent of them plan on traveling for four to six days.
The survey also showed that over 70 percent of both Korean and foreign respondents plan to receive vaccines. Notably, nearly 90 percent of Koreans said they want to get vaccinations to travel abroad.
Meanwhile, about half of all respondents unwilling to travel abroad even after the vaccine development said they do not want to fly out of the country due to fears of coronavirus infection.
Lim Nam-soo, acting CEO of the Incheon airport corporation, said his company will refurbish its passenger services and airport facilities in anticipation of a rebound in air travel demand, as many people have high expectations for overseas travels in line with the vaccine development.
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--Yoo highlights revitalization of multilateralism at WTO

`` We plan to bolster ties and cooperation with major trading partners and promote open free trade around the globe @ @ @ @ @ a meeting with trade experts .
`` With such partners , we plan to make @ @ @ @ @ led by the World Trade Organization . ''

By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee said Wednesday Seoul will continue its efforts to expand cooperation with major trade partners at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
"We plan to bolster ties and cooperation with major trading partners and promote open free trade around the globe," Yoo said during a meeting with trade experts. "With such partners, we plan to make efforts to rebuild multilateral trade led by the World Trade Organization."
The trade minister also expressed hope over the implementation of the upcoming major regional trade pact. In November, members of ASEAN, along with its dialogue partners, South Korea, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, inked the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.
In this file photo taken on Dec. 1, 2020, Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee delivers a speech in southern Seoul during a conference. (Yonhap)
Seoul will also continue to review joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade agreement involving 11 nations, she added.
Yoo, meanwhile, is currently running to become the new head of the WTO.
But she has failed to drum up landslide support from the WTO's member countries, with her Nigerian rival, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, standing ahead in a two-way race.
The WTO said earlier Okonjo-Iweala has garnered more support from the member states than Yoo.
The process to pick the new director-general of the WTO is based on consensus among all member states, meaning a single nation could block either Yoo or Okonjo-Iweala.
The WTO had planned to hold a meeting this year to pick a new head, but the meeting was delayed, as the United States expressed support for Yoo.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--Samsung, LG win dozens of accolades at CES 2021 Innovation Awards

The CES Innovation Awards is an annual event that honors outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products across 28 @ @ @ @ @ sponsored by the Consumer Technology Association ( CTA ) , which also hosts CES 2021 @ @ @ @ @ , all-digital event taking place from Jan. 11 to 14 .

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. said Wednesday they have won dozens of honors at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2021 Innovation Awards as the South Korean electronics giants vow to introduce cutting-edge technologies and products at the world's largest tech expo.
The CES Innovation Awards is an annual event that honors outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products across 28 product categories. It is sponsored by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which also hosts CES 2021, the organization's first-ever, all-digital event taking place from Jan. 11 to 14.
This photo, provided by Samsung Electronics Co. on Dec. 16, 2020, shows the company's products that received honors at the CES 2021 Innovation Awards. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Samsung said 44 of its products and service solutions grabbed CES 2021 Innovation Awards honors, including four Best of Innovation accolades.
The Best of Innovation award is given to those rated highest across the product categories.
Among Samsung's 44 award-winning honorees, 16 were from TVs, followed by 11 from mobile devices, nine from home appliances, four from semiconductors, three from audio products and one from monitor.
Samsung, the world's largest TV and smartphone vendor, said its next-generation display and smart TV accessibility solution have been named Best of Innovation winners. Its Galaxy Note 20 5G smartphones and Galaxy Buds+ BTS Edition were also Best of Innovation honorees.
This photo, provided by LG Electronics Inc. on Dec. 16, 2020, shows the company's products that received Best of Innovation honors at the CES 2021 Innovation Awards. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
LG received its largest-ever 24 honors at the CES 2021 Innovation Awards, including two Best of Innovation distinctions.
The company said its 48-inch OLED TV and InstaView Door-in-Door refrigerator with a voice recognition feature took Best of Innovation honors in the gaming and home appliances categories, respectively.
LG, the world's largest OLED TV vendor, said its OLED TV won a total of five honors in three categories at the CES 2021 Innovation Awards.
Both Samsung and LG have confirmed their participation in CES 2021. They are scheduled to hold virtual press conferences on Jan. 11 to introduce their new products and innovations.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--Cheong Wa Dae checks cybersecurity amid growing non-contact activities

Suh Hoon , director of national security at the presidential office , pointed out that the importance of cybersecurity has @ @ @ @ @ than at any other time .

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap)-- Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday it has reviewed South Korea's cybersecurity posture during a high-level interagency meeting, as non-contact activities have sharply increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Suh Hoon, director of national security at the presidential office, pointed out that the importance of cybersecurity has been highlighted more this year than at any other time.
He cited the spread of contactless activities, such as online classes and working from home.
Speaking at the annual "national cybersecurity policy coordination meeting," he called for the review of tasks on new security threats in the coronavirus era and a preemptive response.
It was held at the national crisis management center at Cheong Wa Dae, joined by vice ministerial officials at 16 government offices.
Suh Hoon, director of national security at Cheong Wa Dae, in this file photo provided by the presidential office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--BTS' 'Dynamite' makes top 5 on Billboard's Pop Songs radio chart

Meanwhile , BTS ' latest EP `` BE '' ranked 18th on Billboard 's 200 album chart for the third @ @ @ @ @ on Nov. 20 , the eight-track album topped the chart in its first week and @ @ @ @ @ week .

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- K-pop superstar BTS has hit the top five on a Billboard radio airplay chart for the first time with its mega-hit single "Dynamite."
The band's first English-language song rose one notch to rank fifth this week on the Pop Songs radio chart updated Tuesday (U.S. time), according to Billboard.
The chart is one of the main radio airplay charts of Billboard, measuring total weekly plays of the top 40 songs on around 160 mainstream radio stations.
It is the first time that BTS has made it to the top five on the airplay chart, marking the highest ranking achieved by a Korean song. Rapper Psy's "Gangnam Style" finished 10th in 2012.
"Dynamite," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late August, has been making a belated spurt on radio charts in recent weeks.
It hit the top 10 on the Pop Songs radio chart last month for the first time and rose one by one to fifth place this week.
At the same time, the song finished 10th place this week on Billboard's Radio Songs chart, which gauges the airplay of all songs on radio stations stateside.
Thanks to its stellar radio airplay performance, "Dynamite" ranked 24th on the Hot 100 this week, down 14 notches from a week earlier, remaining on Billboard's singles chart for 16 straight weeks.
Meanwhile, BTS' latest EP "BE" ranked 18th on Billboard's 200 album chart for the third week. Since its release on Nov. 20, the eight-track album topped the chart in its first week and dropped to third the following week.
This photo, provided by Big Hit Entertainment on Oct. 3, 2020, shows K-pop group BTS singing "Dynamite," its latest Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit, for the "BTS Week" special on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in the United States. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--Virus death toll experiences double-digit rise for 2nd day, hospital bed shortage looms

The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 226 , sharply up 21 from the previous day @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's coronavirus death toll continued to rise Wednesday, posting a double-digit increase in virus fatalities for the second straight day as critically ill patients piled up amid spiking virus cases.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said the country reported 12 additional deaths from COVID-19, raising the total to 612.
The country reported a daily high of 13 COVID-19 deaths Tuesday.
Citizens wait in line to receive COVID-19 tests at a makeshift clinic in central Seoul on Dec. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 226, sharply up 21 from the previous day, according to the KDCA.
The country continues to witness a double-digit increase of COVID-19 patients in critical condition due to spiking new cases.
Health authorities have warned the death toll could spike in the coming days, as the fatality rate for COVID-19 patients is especially high among the older population
The average fatality rate for COVID-19 patients came to 1.35 percent as of Tuesday, compared with a whopping 15.02 percent among those aged 80 or older, the KDCA said.
The country added 1,078 more COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, including 1,054 local infections, raising the total caseload to 45,442, the KDCA said.
Wednesday's daily number is higher than the previous record of 1,030 on Sunday, which was the first time that the 1,000 mark was breached.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--Rare COVID-19 cluster of foreign nationals occurs at college dorm

Municipal health authorities then conducted coronavirus tests on everyone suspected of having come into contact with the first patient -- @ @ @ @ @ 59 from Vietnam , seven from Uzbekistan and one from Thailand ) , 64 Korean @ @ @ @ @ personnel .

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- Twenty Vietnamese students living in a college dormitory in a central South Korean city have been diagnosed with COVID-19, local officials said Wednesday, reporting a rare coronavirus cluster of foreign nationals here.
The nation's latest mass infection occurred at Ajou Motor College in Boryeong, a South Chungcheong Province city about 200 kilometers south of Seoul.
The college reported its first confirmed case Monday, when a Vietnamese student residing in its dormitory tested positive for the coronavirus.
This file photo shows a coronavirus testing center in Boryeong, central South Korea. (Yonhap)
Municipal health authorities then conducted coronavirus tests on everyone suspected of having come into contact with the first patient -- 67 foreign dormitory residents (59 from Vietnam, seven from Uzbekistan and one from Thailand), 64 Korean dormitory residents and 31 school personnel.
Through the tests, 19 Vietnamese students have been confirmed to be infected, the officials said, noting authorities are to administer coronavirus tests to all 300 other dormitory residents Wednesday.
The municipal authorities are investigating the patients' travel and infection routes, suspecting that the group infection may have occurred due to close contact in enclosed dormitory rooms.
In recent weeks, a string of clusters of coronavirus infections have erupted at elderly nursing homes, churches, educational institutions and other multiuse facilities throughout South Korea, as the nation has reported around 1,000 new cases every day.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--PM urges gov't steps against economic impact from possible lifting of distancing rules

He instructed related authorities , including the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups , @ @ @ @ @ advance , tailored to the current situation , based on the experience of providing emergency @ @ @ @ @ is preparing to offer the third batch of relief money linked with coronavirus-led damages .

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap)-- Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun called Wednesday for thorough measures to minimize the negative impact on the economy and the people's livelihoods in case of tougher anti-coronavirus social distancing restrictions.
"(We) can't rule out (the possibility of) a decision to raise (the rule) to Level 3," while the government is making all-out efforts to curb the COVID-19 spread without using the "last means," he stressed during a daily interagency meeting on the pandemic.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters held at Seoul City Hall on Dec. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Currently, Seoul, as well as the nearby Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, is under Level 2.5, the second highest of the five-tier alert system. Most other areas in South Korea are under Level 2.
Rather than taking the Level 3 step "recklessly," Chung said, the government needs to gear up for measures to support people and businesses that are affected by it in consideration of the expected impact on the economy and people's livelihoods.
He instructed related authorities, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, to review support measures in advance, tailored to the current situation, based on the experience of providing emergency relief funds. The government is preparing to offer the third batch of relief money linked with coronavirus-led damages.
"Prepared support would pave the way for a quick (economic) recovery," Chung pointed out.
The prime minister also emphasized the urgency of securing sickbeds for coronavirus patients.
"For now, securing sickbeds is the foremost task of virus prevention and control," he said and called for the mobilization of "every administrative power" to prevent infected people from waiting for hospital beds for a day or longer.
Health authorities reported 1,078 additional coronavirus cases at the start of the day, the country's highest daily number since the outbreak began.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--(LEAD) Daily virus caseload hits another high, S. Korea closer to toughest virus curbs

Of the locally transmitted cases , the capital city of Seoul accounted for 373 cases , and the surrounding Gyeonggi @ @ @ @ @ Incheon , west of Seoul , had 64 new cases .
The three areas account @ @ @ @ @ nation 's population .

(ATTN: ADDS details in last 9 paras)
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases hit another new high Wednesday in the face of alarming increases in cluster infections across the country, prompting health authorities to seriously consider adopting the toughest virus curbs.
The country added 1,078 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,054 local infections, raising the total caseload to 45,442, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Wednesday's daily caseload is higher than the previous record of 1,030 on Sunday, which was the first time for the number to breach the 1,000 mark.
After falling to 718 on Monday due to fewer tests being carried out over the weekend, infections rebounded to 880 the previous day, as health authorities expanded free COVID-19 tests to find more potential cases.
Health authorities expect the country's daily virus caseload may reach up to 1,200.
Drivers wait in lines to receive drive-thru COVID-19 tests at a makeshift clinic in Gangneung, 237 kilometers south of Seoul, on Dec. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
Health authorities are focusing on securing more hospital beds while finding asymptomatic "hidden spreaders," instead of adopting the Level 3 social-distancing scheme, the toughest measure under the country's five-tier alert system.
South Korea has been cautious in adopting Level 3 as the move will cause economic damage to shop owners and self-employed people.
Health authorities acknowledged that the current social distancing, the second highest, has failed to flatten the virus curve and hinted it will not hesitate to adopt Level 3 when necessary.
Level 3 can be adopted when locally transmitted cases surge to between 800 and 1,000 or the daily tally doubles from the previous day.
Under the highest level, any gatherings of 10 or more people will be banned, which is stricter than the current ceiling of 49.
Schools will be fully shut down, and companies are required to have nonessential employees work from home.
A medical worker carries out COVID-19 tests on visitors at a makeshift clinic in central Seoul on Dec. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
Of the locally transmitted cases, the capital city of Seoul accounted for 373 cases, and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province took up 320. Incheon, west of Seoul, had 64 new cases. The three areas account for around half of the nation's population.
Outside of greater Seoul, the southeastern port city of Busan reported 41 additional cases and North Jeolla Province added 75.
The southeastern city of Daegu added 27 infections, and Dajeon, 164 kilometers south of Seoul, reported 15 more cases. South and North Chungcheong Provinces added 35 and 22 cases, respectively.
Imported cases came to 24.
The United States accounted for seven cases followed by Indonesia with six. There were also cases imported from other countries, including Uzbekistan, Russia, Japan and Canada.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients reached 226, up 21 from the previous day.
The KDCA reported 12 additional deaths, raising the total to 612. On Tuesday, the country reported 13 deaths, a record high.
The fatality rate reached 1.35 percent.
The number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 388, raising the total to 32,947. This indicates around 72.5 percent of local patients have been cured.
South Korea carried out 3,488,769 COVID-19 tests so far, including 47,549 the previous day.
The ratio of people testing positive reached 2.27 percent, compared to 1.99 percent a day earlier, when 44,181 tests were carried out.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--(2nd LD) Job losses extended to 9th month in Nov. amid pandemic

The statistics agency said the pace of job losses in the service sector eased last month , as the country @ @ @ @ @ to the lowest level in October following a slowdown in new virus cases .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 9-12)
By Kim Soo-yeon
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- The number of employed people in South Korea declined for the ninth straight month in November as the new coronavirus outbreak continued to deal a blow to the job market, data showed Wednesday.
The number of employed people reached 27.2 million last month, 273,000 fewer than a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.
But the pace of the decline eased last month from October, when the number of jobs fell by 421,000, the sharpest on-year decline in six months, as softened virus curbs boosted economic activities.
The country has reported job losses every month since March, when the nation lost about 195,000 jobs, the first on-year job loss since 2009, due to the fallout of the pandemic.
It also marked the longest streak of job losses since the number of employed people declined for the 16th consecutive month in April 1999 due to the fallout of the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis.
The country's jobless rate rose 0.3 percentage point on-year to 3.4 percent in November, the data showed.
The file photo taken Nov. 11, 2020, shows a citizen looking at job information at an employment arrangement center in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Last month, the employment rate for those aged between 15 and 64 reached 66.3 percent, down 1.1 percentage points from a year earlier.
The unemployment rate for young adults -- those aged between 15 and 29 -- came to 8.1 percent in November, up 1.1 percentage points from the previous year.
The statistics agency said the pace of job losses in the service sector eased last month, as the country relaxed the social distancing rules to the lowest level in October following a slowdown in new virus cases.
"But the outlook for the job market remains bleak in December, given that the country raised the virus curbs due to a resurgence in COVID-19 cases," Jeong Dong-myeong, a senior Statistics Korea official, said at a press briefing.
On Dec. 8, South Korea raised the social distancing guidelines to Level 2.5, the second highest in its five-tier scheme, in the densely populated greater Seoul area over the third wave of the pandemic.
The daily number of coronavirus cases surged to a fresh high of 1,078 on Wednesday, raising the total caseload to 45,442.
The manufacturing sector, a backbone of the country's economy, lost 113,000 jobs on-year in November, larger than a fall of 98,000 posts in October.
The accommodation and food service segment reported an on-year fall of 161,000 jobs last month, and the wholesale and retail sector lost 166,000 jobs.
The service segments suffered job losses as people refrained from visiting off-line stores over concerns about virus infections.
But the public administration sector gained 152,000 jobs and the social welfare sector added 114,000 positions.
Temporary workers bore the brunt of the fallout of the virus outbreak the most. Workers with permanent jobs rose by 38,000 on-year in November. But the number of temporary workers declined by 162,000 on-year in November and jobs for day laborers lost 44,000 positions.
The total number of unemployed people here reached 967,000 last month, up 101,000 from the previous year, as almost all age groups, except for those in their 40s, reported a rise in unemployment.
The number of economically active people decreased 172,000 on-year to 28.2 million, while those inactive increased by 431,000 to 16.7 million, the data showed.
In November, the Bank of Korea (BOK) revised up its 2020 estimate of the country's job loss to 200,000, from its August forecast of a fall of 130,000.
In the file photo taken Nov. 11, 2020, jobseekers look around booths of a job fair in the Convention and Exhibition Center in southern Seoul. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--Seoul stocks open higher on U.S. stock gains

Stocks increased on rosy expectations of a Santa rally , in addition to anticipations that the world 's largest economy @ @ @ @ @ its previous benefits expire by the end of the year .

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened higher Wednesday after overnight Wall Street gains, as investors pinned their hopes on a U.S. stimulus deal.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 14.31 points, or 0.52 percent, to 2,771.13 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
The KOSPI rebounded after a two-session retreat, despite the country's surging COVID-19 cases.
Stocks increased on rosy expectations of a Santa rally, in addition to anticipations that the world's largest economy would hasten a deal before its previous benefits expire by the end of the year.
Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.13 percent, following Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's comment that lawmakers would have to stay in Washington until the US$748 billion relief deal is clinched. The Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.25 percent, with the S&P 500 climbing 1.29 percent.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics gained 0.14 percent, while No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix traded flat.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem rose 1.12 percent, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI moved up 0.54 percent.
Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics retreated 0.25 percent, and Celltrion lost 0.56 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest carmaker, gained 1.59 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver added 0.71 percent, with its rival Kakao moving up 0.67 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,089.4 won against the U.S. dollar, up 3.9 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--U.S. welcomes increased transparency in S. Korea's FX market intervention

The Treasury Department noted that countries , once put on the monitoring list , will `` remain there for at @ @ @ @ @ help ensure that any improvement in performance versus the criteria is durable and is not @ @ @ @ @ ''

By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- The United States on Wednesday welcomed steps taken by South Korea to increase the transparency of its foreign exchange intervention.
It also said the country's market intervention, along with other fiscal steps to help stabilize the economy, seems "warranted."
"Korea implemented comprehensive public health measures that limited the spread of COVID-19. Nevertheless, Korea's financial markets experienced volatility, and its growth outlook deteriorated as the pandemic spread worldwide," the U.S. Department of Treasury said in an annual report to Congress that named Vietnam and Switzerland as currency manipulators.
South Korea, along with nine other countries including Japan, Germany and Italy, were put on a monitoring list.
The Treasury Department noted that countries, once put on the monitoring list, will "remain there for at least two consecutive reports to help ensure that any improvement in performance versus the criteria is durable and is not due to temporary factors."
Regarding South Korea, the report said the country intervened in the foreign exchange spot market with net sales of US$9.1 billion over a one-year period ending in June 2020.
While noting the amount represented only 0.6 percent of South Korea's gross domestic product, far lower than the 2 percent threshold that would raise an alarm for the U.S., the Treasury Department said South Korea continued to increase its transparency.
"Treasury welcomes Korea's steps to increase the transparency of its foreign exchange intervention, including by transitioning to quarterly disclosure from semiannual in December 2019," the report said.
"Given the slowdown in growth that was already underway prior to the pandemic, a stronger fiscal response seems warranted, particularly if growth wanes or further risks materialize," it added.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--(LEAD) S. Korea's lantern lighting fest listed as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage

With the inclusion of the festival , South Korea now has 21 intangible cultural assets inscribed as UNESCO intangible cultural @ @ @ @ @ epic chanting , the royal ancestral ritual at the Jongmyo shrine and its music , @ @ @ @ @ of Jeju `` haenyeo , '' or women divers on the southern resort island of @ @

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 7-8)
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's lantern lighting festival, a springtime event held to celebrate Buddha's birthday, has been officially inscribed as intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO, the government said Wednesday.
The decision was made during the 15th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, taking place Monday through Saturday (France time), online.
It comes roughly a month after the panel preliminarily picked the Lantern Lighting Festival, or "Yeondeunghoe" in Korean, as one of the 25 successful candidates to be listed. Recommendations are rarely reversed.
This file photo, provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration on Nov. 17, 2020, shows a lantern lighting festival taking place in the country. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This file photo, provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration on Nov. 17, 2020, shows people preparing for the lantern lighting festival. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The festival of lights, held annually in line with Buddha's birthday on April 8 on the lunar calendar, symbolizes lighting up the world to make it an abundant and fair place for everyone. The Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) designated it as a national intangible cultural asset in 2012.
The tradition dates back centuries. The "History of the Three Kingdoms," depicting the ancient kingdom of Silla (57 B.C.-A.D. 935), tells stories of royals visiting a temple to see the lotus lanterns.
Once a religious ceremony, it has now evolved into a popular festival for the public. Lanterns made with paper and bamboo decorate temples and streets across the country, and parades also take place.
The government organization noted that this "inclusiveness," which invites people who are not Buddhists, was factored into the committee's decision.
"The Committee took note of the inclusiveness of Yeondeunghoe, which contributes to overcoming all social boundaries and to ultimately expressing cultural diversity," CHA said. "The Committee also noted that the lantern lighting festival plays the role of sharing pleasure and, in times of difficulties, of enhancing social cohesion."
With the inclusion of the festival, South Korea now has 21 intangible cultural assets inscribed as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. They include pansori epic chanting, the royal ancestral ritual at the Jongmyo shrine and its music, as well as the culture of Jeju "haenyeo," or women divers on the southern resort island of Jeju.
Most recently, South and North Korea both applied for the listing of "ssireum," a traditional form of wrestling conducted in a sand pit. It successfully made the list in 2018 in the first joint inscription by the two Koreas.
In this file photo from March 18, 2020, colorful paper lanterns decorate the yard of Jogye Temple in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
This file photo from May 5, 2019, shows participants holding lotus-shaped lanterns during a lantern lighting festival in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--S. Korea's lantern lighting fest listed as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's lantern lighting festival, a springtime event held to celebrate Buddha's birthday, has been officially inscribed as intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO, the government said Wednesday.
The decision was made during the 15th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, taking place Monday through Saturday (France time), online.
It comes roughly a month after the panel preliminarily picked the Lantern Lighting Festival, or "Yeon Deung Hoe" in Korean, as one of the 25 successful candidates to be listed. Recommendations are rarely reversed.
This file photo, provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration on Nov. 17, 2020, shows a lantern lighting festival taking place in the country. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This file photo, provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration on Nov. 17, 2020, shows people preparing for the lantern lighting festival. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The festival of lights, held annually in line with Buddha's birthday on April 8 on the lunar calendar, symbolizes lighting up the world to make it an abundant and fair place for everyone. The Cultural Heritage Administration designated it as a national intangible cultural asset in 2012.
The tradition dates back centuries. The "History of the Three Kingdoms," depicting the ancient kingdom of Silla (57 B.C.-A.D. 935), tells stories of royals visiting a temple to see the lotus lanterns.
Once a religious ceremony, it has now evolved into a popular festival for the public. Lanterns made with paper and bamboo decorate temples and streets across the country, and parades also take place.
With the inclusion of the festival, South Korea now has 21 intangible cultural assets inscribed as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. They include pansori epic chanting, the royal ancestral ritual at the Jongmyo shrine and its music, as well as the culture of Jeju "haenyeo," or women divers on the southern resort island of Jeju.
Most recently, South and North Korea both applied for the listing of "ssireum," a traditional form of wrestling conducted in a sand pit. It successfully made the list in 2018 in the first joint inscription by the two Koreas.
In this file photo from March 18, 2020, colorful paper lanterns decorate the yard of Jogye Temple in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
This file photo from May 5, 2019, shows participants holding lotus-shaped lanterns during a lantern lighting festival in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--USFK to raise virus warning level for all areas in S. Korea amid resurgence

The decision to raise the HPCON level for all areas within the country came after South Korea 's daily number @ @ @ @ @ the highest on Wednesday since its first outbreak in January .

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Wednesday it will raise the health protection level against the new coronavirus for all areas in South Korea following a resurgence of coronavirus infections.
Effective 00:01 a.m. Saturday, the U.S. military will heighten the Health Protection Condition (HPCON) to Charlie, or HPCON C, for all areas in the country, USFK said in a Facebook post.
Under the tightened rules, only "mission-essential" individuals will report for duty while other personnel will work remotely.
"While bubble-to-bubble travel remains authorized, USFK highly encourages all individuals to avoid travel as much as possible across South Korea," it said.
USFK said it will make a new assessment regarding the protection level on Jan. 4.
On Friday, USFK raised its protection level to Charlie within Seoul, the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and the western city of Incheon.
The decision to raise the HPCON level for all areas within the country came after South Korea's daily number of new virus cases hit the highest on Wednesday since its first outbreak in January.
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--2020-12-16--(2nd LD) Moon approves ministry's decision on punishing top prosecutor: Cheong Wa Dae

Moon was said to have said that he `` thinks highly of the decision '' and will consider whether to @ @ @ @ @ said the ongoing initiative to reform power institutions , such as launching a new anti-corruption @ @ @ @ @ been `` impossible '' if not for Choo 's drive .

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 3, 7)
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in has approved the justice ministry's decision to suspend South Korea's top prosecutor from duty for two months, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.
The measure against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl over multiple charges of ethical and legal misdeeds came after the ministry's disciplinary committee voted to punish him in a marathon session that ended early Wednesday morning.
President Moon approved the decision at 6:30 p.m. after Choo visited his office at 5 p.m. for a related briefing to the president, according to Chung Man-ho, senior presidential secretary for public communication. The measure immediately went into effect.
Chung, meanwhile, added that Choo has tendered a resignation.
This file photo from June 22, 2020, shows President Moon Jae-in (C), Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae (L) and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. (Yonhap)
Moon was said to have said that he "thinks highly of the decision" and will consider whether to accept it. He also said the ongoing initiative to reform power institutions, such as launching a new anti-corruption investigative unit, would have been "impossible" if not for Choo's drive.
As the person who appointed the top prosecutor, Moon voiced regret over the latest development and urged the justice ministry and the prosecution to get to a fresh start.
President Moon Jae-in (L) and Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae in a file photo (Yonhap)
In a statement sent to reporters, Yoon's lawyer said that the top prosecutor will take legal actions against the disciplinary measure regardless of Choo's offer to resign.
In late November, Choo accused Yoon of violating his obligation of being "politically neutral" as leader of the nation's state prosecution service.
Yoon's lieutenants also illegally gathered private information on judges handling major cases, according to Choo. Yoon, however, has denied all the allegations and took issue with the procedural legitimacy of how he was disciplined.
In a press statement, he described the ministry's move as an "illegal and unjust" step based on "unlawful and groundless pretexts" only aimed at ousting him in spite of his two-year tenure that ends in July next year.
He added he would address the problem in accordance with procedures stipulated in the Constitution and law.
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl arrives at the Supreme Prosecutors Office in Seoul for work on Dec. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Choo and Yoon, both appointed by Moon, have long been at odds with each other. Since taking office in January, the minister has been at the forefront of the government's drive to reform the prosecution office said to have excessive power and authority.
Critics of the Moon administration argue that the president is abusing his power to tame the prosecution that has been looking into several scandals involving his confidants.
Yoon is leading opinion polls on the favorability of potential presidential candidates for the conservative bloc but has remained vague in public about whether he's intent on running in the election slated for the spring of 2022.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--(LEAD) Moon approves ministry's decision on punishing top prosecutor: Cheong Wa Dae

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES details in first six paras, photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in has approved the justice ministry's decision to suspend South Korea's top prosecutor from duty for two months, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday.
The measure against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl over multiple charges of ethical and legal misdeeds came after the ministry's disciplinary committee voted to punish him in a marathon session that ended early Wednesday morning.
President Moon approved the decision at 6:30 p.m. after Choo visited his office in the afternoon for a related briefing to the president, according to Chung Man-ho, senior presidential secretary for public communication. The measure immediately went into effect.
Chung, meanwhile, added that Choo has tendered a resignation.
This file photo from June 22, 2020, shows President Moon Jae-in (C), Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae (L) and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. (Yonhap)
Moon was said to have said that he "thinks highly of the decision" and will consider whether to accept it. He also said the ongoing initiative to reform power institutions, such as launching a new anti-corruption investigative unit, would have been "impossible" if not for Choo's drive.
As the person who appointed the top prosecutor, Moon voiced regret over the latest development and urged the justice ministry and the prosecution to get to a fresh start.
President Moon Jae-in (L) and Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae in a file photo (Yonhap)
In late November, Choo accused Yoon of violating his obligation of being "politically neutral" as leader of the nation's state prosecution service.
Yoon's lieutenants also illegally gathered private information on judges handling major cases, according to Choo. Yoon, however, has denied all the allegations and took issue with the procedural legitimacy of how he was disciplined.
In a press statement, he described the ministry's move as an "illegal and unjust" step based on "unlawful and groundless pretexts" only aimed at ousting him in spite of his two-year tenure that ends in July next year.
He added he would address the problem in accordance with procedures stipulated in the Constitution and law.
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl arrives at the Supreme Prosecutors Office in Seoul for work on Dec. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Choo and Yoon, both appointed by Moon, have long been at odds with each other. Since taking office in January, the minister has been at the forefront of the government's drive to reform the prosecution office said to have excessive power and authority.
Critics of the Moon administration argue that the president is abusing his power to tame the prosecution that has been looking into several scandals involving his confidants.
Yoon is leading opinion polls on the favorability of potential presidential candidates for the conservative bloc but has remained vague in public about whether he's intent on running in the election slated for the spring of 2022.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-16--(URGENT) Justice minister tenders resignation after Moon endorses decision to suspend top prosecutor

(URGENT) Justice minister tenders resignation after Moon endorses decision to suspend top prosecutor from duty for two months

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


yna--2020-12-16--(URGENT) Moon approves justice ministry's decision to suspend top prosecutor from duty for two month

(URGENT) Moon approves justice ministry's decision to suspend top prosecutor from duty for two months


yna--2020-12-16--Canada pension fund to invest 300 bln won into fried chicken franchise BHC

CPPIB , Canada 's biggest pension fund , is scheduled to sign a contract with BHC to become one of @ @ @ @ @ Korean firm , according to the source .

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) plans to invest 300 billion won (US$275 million) into BHC Co., a fried chicken franchise operator in South Korea, an industry source said Wednesday.
CPPIB, Canada's biggest pension fund, is scheduled to sign a contract with BHC to become one of the new investors for the Korean firm, according to the source.
BHC saw sales grow 34 percent on-year to 318.6 billion won in 2019, and its operating profit jumped 62 percent on-year to 97 billion won last year.
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yna--2020-12-16--Moon receives minister's briefing on punishing top prosecutor: Cheong Wa Dae

Choo and Yoon , both appointed by Moon , have long been at odds with each other .
Since taking @ @ @ @ @ minister has been at the forefront of the government 's drive to reform the prosecution @ @ @ @ @ power and authority .

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in received a direct briefing Wednesday from Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae on the ministry's decision to suspend South Korea's top prosecutor from duty for two months, Cheong Wa Dae said.
The disciplinary measure against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl over multiple charges of ethical and legal misdeeds requires the president's approval.
The ministry's disciplinary committee voted to punish him in a marathon session that ended on early Wednesday morning. Choo visited Moon's office in the afternoon for a related briefing to Moon, Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok confirmed.
President Moon Jae-in (L) and Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae in a file photo (Yonhap)
In late November, Choo accused Yoon of violating his obligation of being "politically neutral" as leader of the nation's state prosecution service.
Yoon's lieutenants also illegally gathered private information on judges handling major cases, according to Choo. Yoon, however, has denied all the allegations and took issue with the procedural legitimacy of how he was disciplined.
In a press statement, he described the ministry's move as an "illegal and unjust" step based on "unlawful and groundless pretexts" only aimed at ousting him in spite of his two-year tenure that ends in July next year.
He added he would address the problem in accordance with procedures stipulated in the Constitution and law.
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl arrives at the Supreme Prosecutors Office in Seoul for work on Dec. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Choo and Yoon, both appointed by Moon, have long been at odds with each other. Since taking office in January, the minister has been at the forefront of the government's drive to reform the prosecution office said to have excessive power and authority.
Critics of the Moon administration argue that the president is abusing his power to tame the prosecution that has been looking into several scandals involving his confidants.
Yoon is leading opinion polls on the favorability of potential presidential candidates for the conservative bloc but has remained vague in public about whether he's intent on running in the election slated for the spring of 2022.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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