yna--2020-05-16--S. Korea, China postpone this year's repatriation of Chinese troop remains due to coronavirus

It is not exactly known how many remains will be sent this year , but the number will likely be @ @ @ @ @ last year , '' as South Korea launched excavation work on Arrowhead Ridge inside the @ @ @ @ @ in 2019 , another official said .

SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is discussing with China when to repatriate remains of Chinese troops killed during the 1950-53 Korean War as a planned repatriation event set for this spring was canceled due to the coronavirus, officials said Saturday.
In 2014, Seoul pledged to send remains of fallen Chinese soldiers to their homeland in a symbolic gesture of friendship, and it has since repatriated 599 sets of remains, including 10 last year.
"This year's event was also supposed to take place in around March or April, just as the two sides had done each year until 2019. But it was canceled due to the coronavirus," a defense ministry official said.
"Discussions are under way between the two sides to rearrange the event," he added.
It is not exactly known how many remains will be sent this year, but the number will likely be "larger than that of last year," as South Korea launched excavation work on Arrowhead Ridge inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in 2019, another official said.
The ridge located in the central part of the inter-Korean border in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, was one of the fiercest battlefields during the war.
At that time, China fought alongside North Korea against the U.S.-backed Allied forces. Nearly 1 million Chinese soldiers are believed to either have died, have been wounded or remain missing, according to Seoul government data.
Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Qiu Guohong drapes a Chinese flag over a box containing the remains of a Chinese soldier killed in the 1950-53 Korean War at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on April 3, 2019. The repatriation was the sixth of its kind since South Korea and China agreed in 2014 to bring back the remains of Chinese soldiers who were killed while fighting alongside North Korean soldiers during the three-year conflict. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-16--Pentagon says too early to fully restore U.S.-S. Korea military drills

`` We have not fully restored all of our exercises in the face of this , '' Pentagon spokesman Jonathan @ @ @ @ @ briefing .
`` There 's a lot that has to take place before we can @ @ @ @ @ will say that USFK has continued to do maneuvering , to do tabletop exercises .
@ @ @ @ @ They 've been maneuvering .
They 've been working with the Republic of Korea military @ @ @ @ @ to do so . ''

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, May 15 (Yonhap) -- It is still too early to resume all military exercises between South Korea and the United States in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, the Pentagon said Friday.
The allies postponed their springtime combined military exercises slated for March amid growing concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in South Korea.
U.S. Forces Korea said Friday it is maintaining current restrictions on service members' off-post activities following an increase in new infections in the country.
"We have not fully restored all of our exercises in the face of this," Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said during a press briefing. "There's a lot that has to take place before we can do that. But I will say that USFK has continued to do maneuvering, to do tabletop exercises. They've been flying. They've been maneuvering. They've been working with the Republic of Korea military throughout, and will continue to do so."
On the COVID-19 situation in North Korea, he questioned the regime's claims of zero confirmed cases.
"I'm not going to get into intel matters about what we do and don't know on that," Hoffman said. "I think it's safe to say that it would be highly unusual if there was one place in the world that didn't have coronavirus."
This AFP file photo shows Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman (L) and U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, at a press briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-16--Trump nominates USFK deputy commander to lead Pacific Air Forces

Air Force Lt. Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach was appointed to the rank of general and assigned as commander of Pacific @ @ @ @ @ as air component commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam , Hawaii @ @ @ @ @ a release .

WASHINGTON, May 15 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated the deputy commander of U.S. Forces Korea to be commander of U.S. Pacific Air Forces, with the rank of four-star general, the Pentagon announced Friday.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach was appointed to the rank of general and assigned as commander of Pacific Air Forces, as well as air component commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, the Pentagon said in a release.
The announcement follows the nomination of Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott L. Pleus as USFK deputy commander, with the rank of lieutenant general.
Wilsbach has served in his current position since August 2018. He is also commander of the Air Component Command, United Nations Command; commander of the Air Component Command, Combined Forces Command; and commander of the 7th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Camp Humphreys, South Korea.
If confirmed by the Senate, Wilsbach will replace Gen. Charles Brown, who has been nominated to be the Air Force Chief of Staff.
This photo, downloaded from the U.S. Air Force's website, shows Lt. Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


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(END)


yna--2020-05-15--(LEAD) S. Korea, China, Japan agree to boost cooperation on coronavirus

In particular , Park stressed the need for systemic cooperation in infectious disease response as well as vaccine and drug @ @ @ @ @ expanding exchanges of businessmen to tackle the fallout of the virus pandemic .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead, photo; UPDATES paras 1-4; TRIMS)
SEOUL, May 15 (Yonhap) -- The health ministers of South Korea, China and Japan agreed Friday to cooperate in tackling the coronavirus and developing a vaccine in their first meeting since the disease emerged in China late last year.
The tripartite teleconference involved South Korea's Park Neung-hoo, China's Ma Xiaowei and Japan's Kato Katsunobu, as well as Takeshi Kasai, the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific regional director, according to Seoul's health ministry.
The three ministers agreed to exchange clinical and epidemiological information on COVID-19 and share their data on diagnosis and treatment of the virus.
In particular, Park stressed the need for systemic cooperation in infectious disease response as well as vaccine and drug development. He also emphasized expanding exchanges of businessmen to tackle the fallout of the virus pandemic.
In this photo provided by South Korea's health ministry, Health Minister Park Neung-hoo speaks with his Chinese and Japanese counterparts in a teleconference to discuss responses to the novel coronavirus at his office in Sejong on May 15, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The meeting is the first of its kind since the coronavirus outbreak emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
It also comes as the three nations are still struggling with a steady rise in new infections.
South Korea has successfully controlled the virus, but a recent uptick in new infections tied to nightclubs and bars in the capital city of Seoul is raising concerns over a potential second wave of the virus outbreak.
The three-way gathering was launched in 2007 at the request of South Korea to deal with the Influenza A scare that swept through the world.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-16--(LEAD) Gov't to explore ways to expand movement of 'essential' people among Korea, China, Japan

The tripartite meeting , the first of its kind since the outbreak of the respiratory illness , came as the @ @ @ @ @ with a steady rise in new infections .

(ATTN: MOVES UP photo; ADDS details in paras 6-7, 11)
SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Saturday it will explore ways to expand transnational movement and exchanges of businesspeople and doctors in Northeast Asia as it held a health ministers' meeting with China and Japan over the coronavirus.
On Friday, the health ministers of South Korea, China and Japan agreed to cooperate in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and developing a vaccine in their first teleconference since the coronavirus emerged in China late last year.
South Korean Health Minister Park Neunghoo proposed the idea of expanding movement of the "essential" figures, including scientists, doctors and businesspeople, among the three nations.
This photo, provided by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, shows South Korean Health Minister Park Neunghoo holding a three-party videoconference with his Chinese and Japanese counterparts at the government complex building in the administrative city of Sejong on May 15, 2020, over cooperation in tackling the new coronavirus. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"The issue requires discussions of pan-government agencies. The government will explore possible ways (to expand movement) on the diplomatic side," Sohn Young-rae, a government official, in a briefing.
The official said the government plans to flesh out details through cooperation with Beijing and Tokyo.
The tripartite meeting, the first of its kind since the outbreak of the respiratory illness, came as the three nations are still struggling with a steady rise in new infections.
South Korea has successfully controlled the virus, but a recent uptick in new infections tied to nightclubs and bars in the capital city of Seoul is raising concerns over a potential second wave of the virus outbreak.
The tripartite teleconference involved South Korea's Park, China's Health Commission Minister Ma Xiaowei and Japan's Health Minister Kato Katsunobu, as well as Takeshi Kasai, the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific regional director.
The ministers agreed to exchange clinical and epidemiological information on COVID-19 and share their data on diagnosis and treatment of the virus.
Park stressed the need for systemic cooperation in infectious disease response as well as vaccine and drug development, Seoul's health ministry added.
The Japanese health minister reportedly asked the Seoul and Beijing governments to share their experiences in coping with the virus outbreak.
The three-way gathering was launched in 2007 at the request of South Korea to deal with the Influenza A scare that swept through the world.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-16--(4th LD) S. Korea reports fewest daily virus cases in week; cluster-linked spread slows

Anonymous tests are available for those who do not want to reveal their identities .
Given more than 56,000 people @ @ @ @ @ far , the government assumed most visitors to Itaewon have received the test .

(ATTN: ADDS background in last 2 paras)
SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean health authorities said Saturday they saw no rapid spread of the new coronavirus linked to cluster infections in a nightlife area of Seoul as the country reported the fewest daily cases in a week.
The new 19 more cases, detected Friday, brought the country's total to 11,037, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Nine were local infections, six of which are tied to the Itaewon outbreak.
It is the first time that the number of daily new infections fell below 20 since May 9 when the single-day cases hit 18.
Itaewon has emerged as a hotbed for coronavirus cluster infections here since the related first case was reported last week. The total caseload tied to visits to clubs and bars in the multicultural district of Itaewon reached 162 as of Saturday noon.
People line up to get tests for the new coronavirus at a health center in Gyeonggi Province, outside of Seoul, on May 13, 2020, in this photo provided by the Gyeonggi provincial government. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
A letup in local infections could offer respite to health authorities who were put on high alert for rapid chain infections in communities.
"Despite massive testing, there seems to be no trend of rapid virus spread tied to the Itaewon outbreak," Sohn Young-rae, an official at the disaster management headquarters, said in a briefing.
KCDC Deputy Director Kwon Joon-wook gave a similar assessment, adding that there has been no "explosive" case of Itaewon-linked infections.
The government has called on those who visited Itaewon between April 24 and May 6 to swiftly receive virus tests to stem further spread of COVID-19.
Anonymous tests are available for those who do not want to reveal their identities. Given more than 56,000 people have taken the tests so far, the government assumed most visitors to Itaewon have received the test.
Health authorities viewed this weekend as a critical juncture for the country's battle against the coronavirus, calling for people's cooperation in quarantine efforts.
"If we pass this weekend well, we expect the Itaewon-linked spread to come under the control of quarantine authorities," Sohn noted.
Despite the slowdown in the virus cases, risks of chain transmissions remain as the government reported the first quaternary infection.
A prison officer working at a detention center in Seoul was infected with the virus after traveling with a person who visited a karaoke room in the densely popoulated capital. The infection was traced to an acquaintance of an Itaewon clubbers who visited the karaoke facility.
The KCDC, meanwhile, said the country reported 10 imported cases, of which six came from the United Arab Emirates. Imported cases were once the biggest threat for South Korea's quarantine operations.
"There have been almost no imported cases, but the latest infections came from a family who arrived here from the Middle East," Kwon said.
South Korea reported two more deaths, bringing the death toll to 262.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 9,851, up 30 from the previous day.
South Korea has flattened the infection curve with its massive testing and contact tracing since its first case on Jan. 20. The number of daily new infections, which once peaked at 909, fell to a single digit figure in the first week of May.
But the government is struggling to stem a potential second wave of infections as the country saw a sharp rise in Itaewon-linked cases reported following the latest holidays.
Following 45 days of stricter social distancing, South Korea switched an "everyday life quarantine" scheme on May 6 to enable citizens to carry out social and economic activities under quarantine rules.
The country planned to gradually reopen schools starting Wednesday, but decided to postpone the plan by a week amid a spike in virus cases traced to Itaewon.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which emerged in China late last year, has killed more than 308,000 people globally, and concerns remain that the respiratory illness could pick up again if governments move too quickly to open their economies.
As of Friday, 150 countries and territories imposed entry restrictions or quarantine measures on travelers arriving from South Korea, according to the foreign ministry.
This photo, taken on May 14, 2020, shows medical workers working at an outdoor testing center at Seoul Medical Center. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-16--(3rd LD) S. Korea reports fewest daily virus cases in week; cluster-linked spread slows

Anonymous tests are available for those who do not want to reveal their identities .
Given about 56,000 people have @ @ @ @ @ , the government assumed most visitors to Itaewon have received the test .

(ATTN: ADDS more details throughout)
SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean health authorities said Saturday they saw no rapid spread of the new coronavirus linked to cluster infections in a nightlife area of Seoul as the country reported the fewest daily cases in a week.
The new 19 more cases, detected Friday, brought the country's total to 11,037, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Nine were local infections, six of which are tied to the Itaewon outbreak.
It is the first time that the number of daily new infections fell below 20 since May 9 when the single-day cases hit 18.
Itaewon has emerged as a hotbed for coronavirus cluster infections here since the related first case was reported last week. The total caseload tied to visits to clubs and bars in the multicultural district of Itaewon reached 162 as of Saturday noon.
People line up to get tests for the new coronavirus at a health center in Gyeonggi Province, outside of Seoul, on May 13, 2020, in this photo provided by the Gyeonggi provincial government. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
A letup in local infections could offer respite to health authorities who were put on high alert for rapid chain infections in communities.
"Despite massive testing, there seems to be no trend of rapid virus spread tied to the Itaewon outbreak," Sohn Young-rae, an official at the disaster management headquarters, said in a briefing.
KCDC Deputy Director Kwon Joon-wook gave a similar assessment, adding that there has been no "explosive" case of Itaewon-linked infections.
The government has called on those who visited Itaewon between April 24 and May 6 to swiftly receive virus tests to stem further spread of COVID-19.
Anonymous tests are available for those who do not want to reveal their identities. Given about 56,000 people have taken the tests so far, the government assumed most visitors to Itaewon have received the test.
Health authorities viewed this weekend as a critical juncture for the country's battle against the coronavirus, calling for people's cooperation in quarantine efforts.
"If we pass this weekend well, we expect the Itaewon-linked spread to come under the control of quarantine authorities," Sohn noted.
Despite the slowdown in the virus cases, risks of chain transmissions remain as the government reported the first quaternary infection.
A prison officer working at a detention center in Seoul was infected with the virus after traveling with a person who visited a karaoke room in the capital. The infection was traced to an acquaintance of an Itaewon clubber who visited the karaoke facility.
The KCDC, meanwhile, said the country reported 10 imported cases, of which six came from the United Arab Emirates. Imported cases were once the biggest threat for South Korea's quarantine operations.
"There have been almost no imported cases, but the latest infections came from a family who arrived here from the Middle East," Kwon said.
South Korea reported two more deaths, bringing the death toll to 262.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 9,851, up 30 from the previous day.
South Korea has flattened the infection curve with its massive testing and contact tracing since its first case on Jan. 20. The number of daily new infections, which once peaked at 909, fell to a single digit figure in the first week of May.
But the government is struggling to stem a potential second wave of infections as the country saw a sharp rise in Itaewon-linked cases reported following the latest holidays.
Following 45 days of stricter social distancing, South Korea switched an "everyday life quarantine" scheme on May 6 to enable citizens to carry out social and economic activities under quarantine rules.
The country planned to gradually reopen schools starting Wednesday, but decided to postpone the plan by a week amid a spike in virus cases traced to Itaewon.
This photo, taken on May 14, 2020, shows medical workers working at an outdoor testing center at Seoul Medical Center. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-16--Gov't to explore ways to expand movement of 'essential' people among Korea, China, Japan

SEOUL , May 16 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea said Saturday it will explore ways to expand transnational movement @ @ @ @ @ doctors in Northeast Asia as it held a health ministers ' meeting with China and @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Saturday it will explore ways to expand transnational movement and exchanges of businesspeople and doctors in Northeast Asia as it held a health ministers' meeting with China and Japan over the coronavirus.
The health ministers of South Korea, China and Japan agreed Friday to cooperate in tackling the coronavirus and developing a vaccine in their first teleconference since the virus emerged in China late last year.
South Korean Health Minister Park Neunghoo proposed the idea of expanding movement of essential figures, including scientists, doctors and businesspeople, among the three countries.
"The issue requires discussions of pan-government agencies. The government will explore possible ways (to expand movement) on the diplomatic side," Sohn Young-rae, a government official, in a briefing.
He said the government plans to flesh out details through cooperation with Beijing and Tokyo.
The tripartite teleconference involved South Korea's Park, China's Ma Xiaowei and Japan's Kato Katsunobu, as well as Takeshi Kasai, the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific regional director.
The ministers agreed to exchange clinical and epidemiological information on COVID-19 and share their data on diagnosis and treatment of the virus.
Park stressed the need for systemic cooperation in infectious disease response as well as vaccine and drug development, Seoul's health ministry added.
The three-way gathering was launched in 2007 at the request of South Korea to deal with the Influenza A scare that swept through the world.
This photo, provided by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, shows South Korean Health Minister Park Neunghoo holding a three-party videoconference with his Chinese and Japanese counterparts at the government complex building in the administrative city of Sejong on May 15, 2020, over cooperation in tackling the new coronavirus. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-16--Star actress Choi Ji-woo gives birth to her first child

Choi , best known for her role in the 2002 hit Korean drama `` Winter Sonata , '' plans to @ @ @ @ @ following the childbirth to pursue her acting career more vibrantly , working at the same @ @ @ @ @ and mom , according to YG .

SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- Star actress Choi Ji-woo gave birth to her first child Saturday, two years after she got married, her management said.
"Choi gave birth to a daughter this morning," YG Entertainment said, adding that Choi and her baby are healthy and doing well.
Choi, best known for her role in the 2002 hit Korean drama "Winter Sonata," plans to resume work as an actress following the childbirth to pursue her acting career more vibrantly, working at the same time while being a wife and mom, according to YG.
The 45-year-old married a non-celebrity in March 2018.
This photo of Choi Ji-woo was provided by YG Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-05-16--(2nd LD) S. Korea reports fewest daily virus cases in week; cluster-linked spread slows

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead: UPDATES with details throughout)
SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korean health authorities said Saturday they saw no rapid spread of the new coronavirus linked to cluster infections in a nightlife area of Seoul as the country reported the fewest daily cases in a week.
The new 19 more cases, detected Friday, brought the country's total to 11,037, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Nine were local infections, six of which are tied to the Itaewon outbreak.
It is the first time that the number of daily new infections fell below 20 since May 9 when the single-day cases hit 18.
Itaewon has emerged as a hotbed for coronavirus cluster infections here since the related first case was reported last week. The total caseload tied to visits to clubs and bars in the multicultural district of Itaewon reached 162 as of Saturday noon.
People line up to get tests for the new coronavirus at a health center in Gyeonggi Province, outside of Seoul, on May 13, 2020, in this photo provided by the Gyeonggi provincial government. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
A letup in local infections could offer respite to health authorities who were put on high alert for rapid chain infections in communities.
"Despite massive testing, there seems to be no trend of the rapid virus spread tied to the Itaewon outbreak," Sohn Young-rae, an official at the disaster management headquarters, said in a briefing.
The government has called on those who visited Itaewon between April 24 and May 6 to swiftly receive virus tests to stem further spread of COVID-19.
Anonymous tests are available for those who do not want to reveal their identities. Given about 56,000 people have taken the tests so far, the government assumed most visitors to Itaewon have received the test.
Health authorities viewed this weekend as a critical juncture for the country's battle against the coronavirus, calling for people's cooperation in quarantine efforts.
"If we pass this weekend well, we expect the Itaewon-linked spread to come under the control of quarantine authorities," Sohn noted.
Despite the slowdown in the virus cases, risks of chain transmissions remain as the government reported the first quaternary infection.
A prison officer working at a detention center in Seoul was infected with the virus after traveling with a person who visited a karaoke room in the capital. The infection was traced to an acquaintance of an Itaewon clubber who visited the karaoke facility.
The KCDC, meanwhile, said the country reported 10 imported cases, of which six came from the United Arab Emirates. Imported cases were once the biggest threat for South Korea's quarantine operations.
South Korea reported two more deaths, bringing the death toll to 262.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 9,851, up 30 from the previous day.
South Korea has flattened the infection curve with its massive testing and contact tracing since its first case on Jan. 20. The number of daily new infections, which once peaked at 909, fell to a single digit figure in the first week of May.
But the government is struggling to stem a potential second wave of infections as the country saw a sharp rise in Itaewon-linked cases reported following the latest holidays.
Following 45 days of stricter social distancing, South Korea switched an "everyday life quarantine" scheme on May 6 to enable citizens to carry out social and economic activities under quarantine rules.
The country planned to gradually reopen schools starting Wednesday, but decided to postpone the plan by a week amid a spike in virus cases traced to Itaewon.
A health worker tests a woman for coronavirus in an outdoor screening center in Gwangju, 329 kilometers southwest of Seoul on May 14, 2020, as Itaewon-related cases grew in this photo, provided by the Buk-gu office in Gwangju. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-16--Today in Korean history

Today in Korean history

2017 -- Rep .
Moon Hee-sang of the ruling Democratic Party , then acting as a special envoy of President @ @ @ @ @ says in a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida that a 2015 agreement on @ @ @ @ @ be and is not accepted by the South Korean public .
Under the controversial deal @ @ @ @ @ administration agreed to never again raise the issue of Korean women forced into sex slavery @ @ @ @ @ the early 20th century in exchange for 10 billion yen or about US $ 9 @ @

May 17
1973 -- North Korea joins the World Health Organization. South Korea acquired membership in 1949.
1980 -- South Korea's then military government, led by Chun Doo-hwan, expands its enforcement of emergency martial law nationwide and arrests two leading opposition leaders, Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-pil, on charges of rebellion, conspiracy and illegal profiteering.
The government orders Kim Dae-jung to be put to death but later commutes his sentence to life imprisonment. Kim later won the Nobel Peace Prize during his presidency in 2000 for his reconciliation efforts with North Korea.
2007 -- South and North Korea conduct test-runs of two railways -- one linking Seoul with Sinuiju, a North Korean border city with China, and the other linking Wonsan, a city on the eastern coast of the North, to Goseong, an eastern coastal city of the South.
The two train lines were cut during the 1950-53 Korean War, but they were partly restored in 2005 under an agreement sealed during the two countries' first summit in 2000.
2016 -- South Korean fiction writer Han Kang wins the 2016 Man Booker International Prize for her novel "The Vegetarian." It marked the first time a South Korean won the prestigious literature award.
2017 -- Rep. Moon Hee-sang of the ruling Democratic Party, then acting as a special envoy of President Moon Jae-in to Japan, says in a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida that a 2015 agreement on former sex slaves cannot be and is not accepted by the South Korean public. Under the controversial deal, Seoul's Park Geun-hye administration agreed to never again raise the issue of Korean women forced into sex slavery by the Japanese military in the early 20th century in exchange for 10 billion yen or about US$9 million.
2018 -- North Korea threatens to halt inter-Korean dialogue over joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States. The threat came less than a month after the historic first summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and its leader Kim Jong-un. The two leaders met again in May and September the same year.
2019 -- South Korea decides to donate US$8 million to international agencies for aid projects in North Korea and allow a group of businesspeople to visit a shuttered joint industrial complex in the North's border city of Kaesong.
(END)


yna--2020-05-16--Walkways at Joseon Dynasty royal tomb sites open to public

The Joseon royal tombs , all scattered in and around the nation 's capital , were created for 27 generations @ @ @ @ @ crown princes and even those overthrown or posthumously recognized as kings during the dynasty .
@ @ @ @ @ 1408 to 1966 using Confucianism principles and geomancy , are known for their unique construction @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- Forest walkways at Joseon Dynasty royal tomb sites were made available to the public on Saturday, allowing more outdoor leisure activities for people tired of staying home amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The nine walkways include those at the East Nine Royal Tombs, Gwangneung Royal Tomb and Sareung Royal Tomb, all located east of Seoul, and at the Taereung and Gangneung Royal Tombs and Uireung Royal Tomb in Seoul, the Cultural Heritage Administration said.
They also include those at the Jangneung Royal Tomb and the Three Royal Tombs in Paju, north of Seoul, and the Yungneung and Geolleung Royal Tombs in Hwaseong, south of Seoul.
The agency is also currently servicing 11 other closed walkways, including those at the West Five Royal Tombs and Hongneung and Yureung Royal Tombs in the outskirts of Seoul, to open them to the public later this year.
Visitors are to maintain social distancing and wear masks at all times. Details are available at www.cha.go.kr.
The Joseon royal tombs, all scattered in and around the nation's capital, were created for 27 generations of kings, queens, crown princes and even those overthrown or posthumously recognized as kings during the dynasty. The tombs, built from 1408 to 1966 using Confucianism principles and geomancy, are known for their unique construction method and landscape architecture.
This file photo shows a forest walkway at the East Nine Royal Tombs in Guri, east of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-16--(LEAD) S. Korea reports fewest daily virus cases in week amid letup in Itaewon cluster

South Korea has flattened the infection curve with its massive testing and contact tracing since its first case on Jan. @ @ @ @ @ daily new infections , which once peaked at 909 , fell to a single digit @ @ @ @ @ of May .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead: UPDATES with more info throughout; CHANGES photos)
SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported the fewest daily cases of the new coronavirus in a week Saturday as cluster infections linked to Seoul's nightlife district of Itaewon slowed down, according to health authorities.
The new 19 COVID-19 cases detected Friday raised the country's total to 11,037, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Nine were local infections tied to the Itaewon outbreak.
It is the first time that the number of daily new infections fell below 20 since May 9 when the corresponding figure hit 18.
Itaewon has emerged as a hotbed for coronavirus cluster infections here since the related first case was reported last week. The total caseload tied to the Itaewon cluster reached 161 as of Friday.
People line up to get tests for the new coronavirus at a health center in Gyeonggi Province, outside of Seoul, on May 13, 2020, in this photo provided by the Gyeonggi provincial government. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
A letup in local infections could offer respite to health authorities who were put on high alert for rapid chain infections in communities.
"Despite massive testing, there seems to be no trend of the rapid virus spread tied to the Itaewon outbreak," Sohn Young-rae, an official at the disaster management headquarters, said in a briefing.
The government has called on those who visited Itaewon between April 24 and May 6 to swiftly receive coronavirus tests.
With regard to the Itaewon outbreak, anonymous tests are available for those who do not want to reveal their identities. About 46,000 people have received virus tests so far.
Health authorities viewed this weekend as a critical juncture for the country's battle against the coronavirus, calling for people's cooperation in quarantine efforts.
"If we pass this weekend well, we expect the Itaewon-linked spread to come under the control of quarantine authorities," Sohn noted.
South Korea reported two more deaths, bringing the death toll to 262, according to the KCDC.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 9,851, up 30 from the previous day.
South Korea has flattened the infection curve with its massive testing and contact tracing since its first case on Jan. 20. The number of daily new infections, which once peaked at 909, fell to a single digit figure in the first week of May.
But the government is struggling to stem a potential second wave of infections as the country saw a sharp rise in Itaewon-linked cases reported following the latest holidays.
Following 45 days of stricter social distancing, South Korea switched an "everyday life quarantine" scheme on May 6 to enable citizens to carry out social and economic activities under quarantine rules.
The country planned to gradually reopen schools starting Wednesday, but decided to postpone the plan by a week amid a spike in virus cases traced to Itaewon.
A health worker tests a woman for coronavirus in an outdoor screening center in Gwangju, 329 kilometers southwest of Seoul on May 14, 2020, as Itaewon-related cases grew in this photo, provided by the Buk-gu office in Gwangju. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-16--S. Korea reports 19 new coronavirus cases, fewest in a week

SEOUL, May 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 19 more cases of the new coronavirus Saturday, the fewest in a week, as cluster infections linked to Seoul's nightlife district of Itaewon somewhat slowed down, according to health authorities.
Of the new COVID-19 cases detected Friday, nine were local infections, raising the total number in the country to 11,037, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
It marked the first time that the number of daily new infections fell below 20 since May 9 when the corresponding figure hit 18.
Itaewon has emerged as a hotbed for cluster infections, with the number of cases tied to bars and clubs in the multicultural district reaching at least 153 as of late Friday, according to the KCDC and the Seoul city government.
Health authorities viewed this weekend as a critical juncture for the country's battle against the coronavirus since a virus case tied to Itaewon was first reported early this month.
The country added 10 more imported cases, previously the biggest threat for South Korea's quarantine operations.
South Korea reported two more deaths, bringing the death toll to 262, according to the KCDC.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 9,851, up 30 from the previous day.
South Korea has flattened the infection curve with its massive testing and contact tracing since its first case on Jan. 20. The number of daily new infections, which once peaked at 909, fell to a single digit figure in the first week of May.
But the government is struggling to stem a potential second wave of infections as the country saw a sharp rise in Itaewon-linked cases reported following the latest holidays.
Following 45 days of stricter social distancing, South Korea switched an "everyday life quarantine" scheme on May 6 to enable citizens to carry out social and economic activities under quarantine rules.
The country planned to gradually reopen schools starting Wednesday, but decided to postpone the plan by a week amid a spike in virus cases traced to Itaewon.
A health worker checks a man who went to a church that an Itaewon-related patient visited, in an outdoor screening center at Michuhol Ward Office in Incheon, west of Seoul, on May 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--S. Korea adds 13 new virus cases; club-linked cases flatten

Around 5,500 people were estimated to have visited affected clubs in Itaewon between April 24 and May 6 .
With @ @ @ @ @ still being out of contact , health authorities are remaining vigilant over another possible boom @ @ @ @

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea added 13 new cases of the new coronavirus on Sunday with nightclub-linked infections showing signs of a slowdown over the weekend, health authorities said Sunday.
The new cases, detected Saturday, brought the country's total to 11,050, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
South Korea was at the critical juncture of whether domestic spread of the virus would continue or not after another cluster infection, in a nightlife area of Seoul, emerged early this month.
A street in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon in Seoul is nearly empty on May 16, 2020, amid the growing concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
Around 5,500 people were estimated to have visited affected clubs in Itaewon between April 24 and May 6. With more than a thousand people still being out of contact, health authorities are remaining vigilant over another possible boom in local infections.
South Korea reported no new deaths, keeping the death toll at 262.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 9,888, up 37 from the previous day.
Imported cases, which used to be the biggest threat for South Korea's quarantine operations before the clubbers' group infections came up to the surface, rose by seven to reach 1,167.
Despite the infections from Itaewon, South Korea has made no major changes to the relaxed social distancing scheme.
Amid growing concerns over an irrevocable impact on the economy, South Korea gave the go-ahead to the normalization of public facilities and other business establishments under the condition that they follow basic sanitation measures. Clubs and karaoke rooms are excluded in some areas.
High school seniors will return to classrooms starting Wednesday, a week later than earlier scheduled, and students of other grades will gradually resume their school years by June 8.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--(URGENT) 37 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, bringing total to 9,888: KCDC

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


yna--2020-05-17--(URGENT) S. Korea reports no additional virus death, death toll now at 262: KCDC


yna--2020-05-17--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 13 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 11,050: KCDC


yna--2020-05-17--OECD leading index for S. Korean economy edges up in April

In March , the BOK delivered its first emergency rate cut in over a decade , by slashing the policy @ @ @ @ @ point to send it below the 1 percent mark for the first time in its @ @

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- A leading economic index for South Korea inched up in April, with Asia's fourth-largest economy being the only country among OECD member states to see such a trend, data showed Sunday.
The composite leading indicator (CLI) of economic activity for South Korea stood at 99.9 last month, up 0.1 percentage point from the previous month, marking the rise for eighth consecutive month, according to the data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
A reading below 100 means the economy is expected to contract going forward.
The CLI gauges how an economy will fare four to six months ahead, based on industrial output, gross domestic product and housing and financial market conditions.
South Korea was the only country among members of the Paris-based club of major economies that saw its leading economic index edge up in April.
But the uptick in the country's leading economic index does not indicate the economy may improve down the road in the face of the new coronavirus outbreak.
South Korea's economy shrank 1.4 percent on-quarter in the first quarter of the year, marking the sharpest quarterly contraction since the last three months of 2008.
The country has promised relief packages worth some 240 trillion won to ease the economic fallout from the virus, with many analysts expecting the Bank of Korea (BOK) to cut its key rate again in the coming months.
In March, the BOK delivered its first emergency rate cut in over a decade, by slashing the policy rate by half a percentage point to send it below the 1 percent mark for the first time in its history.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--Major conglomerates jack up spending by 22 pct in Q1 amid virus impact

SEOUL , May 17 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea 's major business groups increased their spending by 22 percent @ @ @ @ @ the year in the face of the new coronavirus outbreak , industry data showed Sunday @

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's major business groups increased their spending by 22 percent in the first quarter of the year in the face of the new coronavirus outbreak, industry data showed Sunday.
According to the data compiled by industry tracker CEO Score, 373 companies affiliated with 59 business groups spent 21.78 trillion won(US$17.66 billion) in the January-March period, compared with 17.84 trillion won a year earlier.
Their increased spending indicates that they are now preparing for the future to secure competitiveness after the coronavirus pandemic.
Their combined sales increased 7.1 percent on-year to 356.69 trillion won, while operating income shed 39.1 percent to 14.88 trillion won over the cited period, the data showed.
By group, top conglomerate Samsung Group spent 7 trillion won in the first quarter, a sharp rise from 3.73 trillion won a year earlier. Samsung Electronics Co., the group's flagship, jacked up its spending to 6.47 trillion won from 3.07 trillion won over the cited period.
Energy and telecom giant SK Group's investment fell to 3.87 trillion won from 4.29 trillion won.
Hyundai Motor Co., the country's top automaker, spent 928 billion won in the January-March period.
SK Telecom Co., the country's top mobile carrier, spent 347 billion won, and Korean Air Lines Co. spent 225 billion won in the first quarter, according to the data.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--Moon urges full fact-finding on those responsible for 1980 massacre of Gwangju civilians

`` We have to identify all the victims of the massacre and uncover how the helicopter shooting was done and @ @ @ @ @ out to conceal and distort the truth , '' Moon said .

May 17 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in stressed the need to find the truth about who ordered the use of military force against civilian pro-democracy protesters in Gwangju in 1980.
The key issue remains unresolved four decades after the May 18 Democratization Movement amid continued attempts to conceal and distort facts, he said in a special interview aired on Sunday, the eve of the anniversary.
"It has not been revealed who ordered the opening of fire and where the final legal responsibility for it is," the president told the Gwangju regional station of MBC, a major broadcaster based in Seoul.
In May 1980, South Korea's military junta, led by Chun Doo-hwan, declared martial law to crack down on pro-democracy protests. Gwangju, 270 kilometers south of the capital, was at the center of the movement.
For 10 days from May 18, many ordinary citizens joined in the demonstration, facing thousands of paratroopers deployed there. Soldiers carried out indiscriminate beatings, torture and sexual assaults and even opened fire on protesters amid reports of shooting on a crowd from helicopters.
Official data, compiled so far, puts the number of civilian deaths at around 200 but many say it could be much higher.
The Gwangju tragedy is still a source of political and ideological rifts in South Korea. Some politicians and scholars have repeatedly made reckless remarks in public denigrating the movement.
"We have to identify all the victims of the massacre and uncover how the helicopter shooting was done and a massive operation was carried out to conceal and distort the truth," Moon said.
It's not just for legal punishment against those who are responsible but a truth-based path toward "genuine reconciliation and unity," he added.
This file photo, provided by Cheong Wa Dae, shows President Moon Jae-in speaking during a media interview at the Sangchunjae pavilion inside the presidential compound. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The president's remarks came after the launch of an independent fact-finding committee last week.
He said the government has high expectations of its activity and vowed active support.
Moon also emphasized that the historic value and significance of the Gwangju uprising should be inscribed in a new Constitution.
If revising the Constitution is discussed again, the spirit of the movement should be reflected in the preamble, he said.
Moon is expected to attend an official ceremony for the 40th anniversary of the May 18 movement in Gwangju on Monday.
The liberal-minded president said he felt "anger" over the absence of his conservative predecessors -- Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye -- from the annual event during their presidencies.
On the monthslong "candlelight revolution" that began in late 2016 and led to the impeachment of Park, Moon said it's too early to put it into the preamble of a Constitution, citing concern about a political controversy over the contemporary case.
Moon conducted the interview at the Sangchunjae pavilion inside Cheong Wa Dae.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


Sunday's weather forecast

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


yna--2020-05-17--KT to conduct epidemic study with support from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

A South Korean consortium led by KT will carry out the project named `` A Next Generation Surveillance Study for @ @ @ @ @ the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , one of the world 's largest private foundations @ @ @ @ @ ( US $ 9.7 million ) over the next three years , according to the @ @

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- KT Corp., South Korea's leading telecommunication firm, said Sunday it will conduct a research project on epidemic prevention with financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
A South Korean consortium led by KT will carry out the project named "A Next Generation Surveillance Study for Epidemic Preparedness," with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world's largest private foundations, investing 12 billion won (US$9.7 million) over the next three years, according to the company.
KT said it has formed the consortium with infectious disease experts, medical service tech developers and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information.
In the project, KT will focus on developing a mobile application that can help with early detection of infectious disease using artificial intelligence-based data analysis.
The company will also work on providing better analysis of infectious disease spread by utilizing mobile communication data and epidemiological information. It aims to develop an epidemiological model that can predict the spread of infectious diseases.
KT said the project will contribute to quick responses to new epidemic diseases in the future and will be able to upgrade South Korea's quarantine system.
This photo provided by KT Corp. on May 17, 2020, shows the company's officials in Seoul holding a videoconference with an official from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


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The use of the content for any other purposes other than personal and noncommercial use is expressly prohibited without the written consent of the Yonhap News Agency.
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(END)


yna--2020-05-17--S. Korea offers US$1 mln worth of virus testing equipment to Iran

SEOUL , May 17 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea said Sunday that it has provided about US $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ devices and other help to Iran as part of efforts to support its fight against @ @ @ @

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Sunday that it has provided about US$1 million worth of coronavirus test devices and other help to Iran as part of efforts to support its fight against the global pandemic.
The assistance was granted to an Iranian state-run medical research institute as a token of humanitarian support and friendship between the two countries, according to the South Korean Embassy in Teheran.
This was in addition to Seoul's provision of about $200,000 worth of assistance to Iran last month, including coronavirus test devices and spray-type disinfectant.
Iran has so far reported around 120,000 cases of coronavirus infection, with its death toll standing at some 7,000.
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--N. Korean paper calls for strong belief in own power amid sanctions, global pandemic

The North has claimed to be coronavirus-free , but it has taken such precautionary measures as shutting down its border @ @ @ @ @ apparently disrupted imports of key materials from the neighboring ally at a time when it @ @ @ @ @ outcome of its five-year economic development plan by year 's end .
( END )

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's official newspaper called Sunday for strong conviction in building socialism in the face of challenges, saying that there is no challenge that cannot be overcome if one has a strong belief in one's own power.
North Korea has intensified calls for self-reliance in many areas as the country appears to be facing a double whammy of crippling global sanctions and the fallout from the global coronavirus pandemic.
"Our people's conviction and will are firm and strong to open the path toward a new victory of building socialism against harsh crisis under the leadership of our party," the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North's ruling party, said.
"No difficulties and challenges would halt our people's continued strong march with soaring belief in victory and unending innovation," the paper added. "There are no ridges and challenges that cannot be overcome once one has a firm belief in his own power and stands up."
The paper noted that it is true that the country desperately needs favorable external conditions to develop its economy but that the country cannot "sell its dignity that it has protected like its own life" to see such a change.
The paper frequently used "harsh crisis," "unbearable difficult challenges and pressure" and "unprecedented tough adversity" to describe situations facing the communist state.
It did not specify what they are, but the expressions appear to be pointing to restrictions posed by global sanctions and the fallout from its ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
State media has emphasized the importance of building an economy independent of external help since leader Kim Jong-un told a party meeting last December that he has no expectation of the U.S. lifting sanctions anytime soon.
The North has claimed to be coronavirus-free, but it has taken such precautionary measures as shutting down its border with China, which has apparently disrupted imports of key materials from the neighboring ally at a time when it is striving to show the outcome of its five-year economic development plan by year's end.
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--(5th LD) S. Korea adds 13 new virus cases; club-linked cases flatten

Should the country observe no further boom in the number of cases over the weekend , South Korea could safely @ @ @ @ @ the Itaewon-linked cases under the control of quarantine authorities , they added .

(ATTN: ADDS more remarks in paras 28-30)
SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea added 13 new cases of the new coronavirus on Sunday with nightclub-linked infections showing signs of a slowdown over the weekend, health authorities said Sunday.
The new cases, detected Saturday, brought the country's total to 11,050, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Seven cases came from overseas and five are linked to a cluster in Itaewon.
It marked the fewest daily cases since Itaewon, a multicultural nightlife district in Seoul, emerged as a hotbed for coronavirus cluster infections. The country added 19 new cases a day earlier.
The new cluster infections have put South Korea at the critical juncture of whether domestic spread of the virus will continue or not.
After a patient infected with the COVID-19 virus visited multiple clubs in Itaewon in early May, the country experienced a resurgence in the number of new patients, with the daily increase reaching 35 on Monday, the highest of this month.
Travelers wearing protective masks check in at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Around 5,500 people were estimated to have visited affected clubs in Itaewon between April 24 and May 6. With more than a thousand people still being out of contact, health authorities are remaining vigilant over another possible boom in local infections.
The number of cases linked to the cluster infections came to 168 as of noon, according to health authorities. Among the newly reported cases were two quaternary infections.
There has been a growing number of cases reported from karaoke rooms as well, which are also traced to the Itaewon clubbers.
"Coin-operated karaoke rooms tend to be very small and tight without sufficient ventilation. Many visitors also don't wear masks," KCDC Chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said during a daily briefing.
"Even those who already tested negative should remain under self-quarantine as the incubation period of the disease is roughly 14 days," Jeong said.
The COVID-19 pandemic will still continue, going through ups and downs, and "we should learn lessons from the club-linked cases," Jeong added.
South Korea also plans to carry out pooled testing on military recruits, in which samples from five people will be tested simultaneously, enabling the country to test 6,300 soldiers a week.
South Korea reported no new deaths, keeping the death toll at 262.
The fatality rate reached 2.37 percent, with most of the deaths being reported from those aged 70 and older. No deaths were reported from people aged 29 or younger, although they account for nearly 35 of the total infections.
The total caseload tied to visits to clubs and bars in Itaewon reached 162 as of Saturday noon.
The government cautiously expected that, given the current pace of newly reported cases linked to Itaewon, the current situation will likely be brought under control, though it is still too early to let its guard down.
"Should the current trend continue, our analysis is that the fallout from the cluster infections in Itaewon could be brought within the range of control of our preventive network," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo told reporters.
As of 6 p.m. on Saturday, around 61,000 people have been tested in connection with the Itaewon case, he said, adding that health authorities' tracking efforts appear to be catching up with the spread of the virus.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 9,888, up 37 from the previous day.
The figures indicate nearly 90 percent of the patients fully recovered from the disease.
The nation, with a population of 50 million, has carried out 747,653 tests since Jan. 3, including 7,000 from a day earlier. South Korea reported its first COVID-19 case, from a Chinese person, on Jan. 20.
People pass by a bar, which has been closed due to the new coronavirus pandemic, in a university district in western Seoul on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Imported cases, which used to be the biggest threat for South Korea's quarantine operations before the clubbers' group infections came up to the surface, rose by seven to reach 1,167.
The number of relapse cases came to 466 as of Sunday.
Despite the infections from Itaewon, South Korea has made no major changes to the relaxed social distancing scheme.
Amid growing concerns over an irrevocable impact on the economy, South Korea gave the go-ahead to the normalization of public facilities and other business establishments under the condition that they follow basic sanitation measures. Clubs and karaoke rooms are excluded in some areas.
High school seniors will return to classrooms starting Wednesday, a week later than earlier scheduled, and students of other grades will gradually resume their school years by June 8.
Should infections be reported at a school, all students there will be ordered to return home. Epidemiologic surveys will be immediately conducted on students and teachers, with online classes to be provided until the results come out, Vice Education Minster Park Baeg-beom told reporters.
"In consultation with KCDC officials and other experts, we decided to reopen schools while thoroughly carrying out preventive efforts rather than indefinitely postponing it at a time when it remains uncertain when COVID-19 will be stamped out and there is a possibility of a second pandemic from autumn," he said.
The official said the club-linked infections have not had much impact on schools.
According to government data, the number of students, teachers and school staff members who visited the Itaewon district in early May stood at 838. Of the total, 93.8 percent have tested negative for the coronavirus, with tests still being conducted on 52 people.
Precautionary measures will be taken to minimize the risk of infections at schools, mostly aimed at reducing exposure among students on their way to school or in class. One-way passage in school hallways is one of the ways under consideration, the vice education minister added.
Health authorities here earlier said there has been no "explosive" spread of club-linked infections, although they remain vigilant over risks of chain transmissions.
Should the country observe no further boom in the number of cases over the weekend, South Korea could safely say that it has brought the Itaewon-linked cases under the control of quarantine authorities, they added.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--(4th LD) S. Korea adds 13 new virus cases; club-linked cases flatten

(ATTN: ADDS gov't officials' remarks in paras 16-18, 27-28)
SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea added 13 new cases of the new coronavirus on Sunday with nightclub-linked infections showing signs of a slowdown over the weekend, health authorities said Sunday.
The new cases, detected Saturday, brought the country's total to 11,050, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Seven cases came from overseas and five are linked to a cluster in Itaewon.
It marked the fewest daily cases since Itaewon, a multicultural nightlife district in Seoul, emerged as a hotbed for coronavirus cluster infections. The country added 19 new cases a day earlier.
The new cluster infections have put South Korea at the critical juncture of whether domestic spread of the virus will continue or not.
After a patient infected with the COVID-19 virus visited multiple clubs in Itaewon in early May, the country experienced a resurgence in the number of new patients, with the daily increase reaching 35 on Monday, the highest of this month.
Travelers wearing protective masks check in at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Around 5,500 people were estimated to have visited affected clubs in Itaewon between April 24 and May 6. With more than a thousand people still being out of contact, health authorities are remaining vigilant over another possible boom in local infections.
The number of cases linked to the cluster infections came to 168 as of noon, according to health authorities. Among the newly reported cases were two quaternary infections.
There has been a growing number of cases reported from karaoke rooms as well, which are also traced to the Itaewon clubbers.
"Coin-operated karaoke rooms tend to be very small and tight without sufficient ventilation. Many visitors also don't wear masks," KCDC Chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said during a daily briefing.
"Even those who already tested negative should remain under self-quarantine as the incubation period of the disease is roughly 14 days," Jeong said.
The COVID-19 pandemic will still continue, going through ups and downs, and "we should learn lessons from the club-linked cases," Jeong added.
South Korea also plans to carry out pooled testing on military recruits, in which samples from five people will be tested simultaneously, enabling the country to test 6,300 soldiers a week.
South Korea reported no new deaths, keeping the death toll at 262.
The fatality rate reached 2.37 percent, with most of the deaths being reported from those aged 70 and older. No deaths were reported from people aged 29 or younger, although they account for nearly 35 of the total infections.
The total caseload tied to visits to clubs and bars in Itaewon reached 162 as of Saturday noon.
The government cautiously expected that, given the current pace of newly reported cases linked to Itaewon, the current situation will likely be brought under control, though it is still too early to let its guard down.
"Should the current trend continue, our analysis is that the fallout from the cluster infections in Itaewon could be brought within the range of control of our preventive network," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo told reporters.
As of 6 p.m. on Saturday, around 61,000 people have been tested in connection with the Itaewon case, he said, adding that health authorities' tracking efforts appear to be catching up with the spread of the virus.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 9,888, up 37 from the previous day.
The figures indicate nearly 90 percent of the patients fully recovered from the disease.
The nation, with a population of 50 million, has carried out 747,653 tests since Jan. 3, including 7,000 from a day earlier. South Korea reported its first COVID-19 case, from a Chinese person, on Jan. 20.
People pass by a bar, which has been closed due to the new coronavirus pandemic, in a university district in western Seoul on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Imported cases, which used to be the biggest threat for South Korea's quarantine operations before the clubbers' group infections came up to the surface, rose by seven to reach 1,167.
The number of relapse cases came to 466 as of Sunday.
Despite the infections from Itaewon, South Korea has made no major changes to the relaxed social distancing scheme.
Amid growing concerns over an irrevocable impact on the economy, South Korea gave the go-ahead to the normalization of public facilities and other business establishments under the condition that they follow basic sanitation measures. Clubs and karaoke rooms are excluded in some areas.
High school seniors will return to classrooms starting Wednesday, a week later than earlier scheduled, and students of other grades will gradually resume their school years by June 8.
Should infections be reported at a school, all students there will be ordered to return home. Epidemiologic surveys will be immediately conducted on students and teachers, with online classes to be provided until the results come out, Vice Education Minster Park Baeg-beom told reporters.
Precautionary measures will be taken to minimize the risk of infections at schools, mostly aimed at reducing exposure among students on their way to school or in class. One-way passage in school hallways is one of the ways under consideration, he added.
Health authorities here earlier said there has been no "explosive" spread of club-linked infections, although they remain vigilant over risks of chain transmissions.
Should the country observe no further boom in the number of cases over the weekend, South Korea could safely say that it has brought the Itaewon-linked cases under the control of quarantine authorities, they added.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--(LEAD) Kiwoom Heroes beat LG Twins to snap 4-game losing streak

That was more than enough for Jokisch , who tossed six shutout innings and extended his scoreless streak to 11 @ @ @ @ @ Twins to just two singles and struck out three .
Jokisch has given up just @ @ @ @ @ innings this season .

(ATTN: ADDS comments in paras 10-11)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- The Kiwoom Heroes defeated the LG Twins 9-4 to halt their four-game losing skid in the young Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season on Sunday.
The top two hitters in the Heroes' lineup, Seo Geon-chang and Kim Ha-seong, combined to go 6-for-10 with six RBIs and three runs scored for the Heroes, who pounded out three solo home runs among 17 hits at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul to end their losing streak at four games.
Kiwoom starter Eric Jokisch tossed six scoreless innings for his second win of the season, helping the Heroes snap the Twins' winning streak at six games.
Kim Ha-seong of the Kiwoom Heroes (L) celebrates his two-run double against the LG Twins during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Park Dong-won opened the top of the second inning with a solo home run off LG starter Cha Woo-chan, giving the Heroes a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning with runners at the corners, Kim Ha-seong drove in the team's second run with a sharp single to center.
Kim, who had been batting just .143 with two RBIs before Sunday, came through with a two-run double in the top fourth, as the Heroes opened up a 4-0 lead.
Lee Jung-hoo followed up with a double of his own, with Kim scoring to make it a 5-0 Kiwoom advantage.
The Heroes picked up two more runs in the top sixth, courtesy of solo home runs by Seo Geon-chang and Lee Jung-hoo off reliever Yeo Geon-wook.
Members of the Kiwoom Heroes celebrate a solo home run by Park Dong-won (C, in helmet) during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Heroes piled on with two more runs, as Seo delivered a two-run single for a 9-0 lead.
That was more than enough for Jokisch, who tossed six shutout innings and extended his scoreless streak to 11 innings. He limited the Twins to just two singles and struck out three. Jokisch has given up just one earned run in 17 innings this season.
The Heroes had lost both games of a doubleheader on Saturday but came out swinging early and often in this one.
"This was going to be a tough game after losing two games yesterday, but our players maintained their focus," Kiwoom manager Son Hyuk said. "Our hitters were aggressive from the beginning, and it gave us some early momentum. Jokisch pitched a great game, too."
The Twins rallied late against the Heroes' bullpen, scoring once in the seventh and twice in the eighth. Then in the bottom ninth, they cut it to 9-4 on Park Jae-wook's single, but that was the last bit of offense they managed.
Eric Jokisch of the Kiwoom Heroes pitches against the LG Twins during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--Kiwoom Heroes beat LG Twins to snap 4-game losing streak

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- The Kiwoom Heroes defeated the LG Twins 9-4 to halt their four-game losing skid in the young Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season on Sunday.
The top two hitters in the Heroes' lineup, Seo Geon-chang and Kim Ha-seong, combined to go 6-for-10 with six RBIs and three runs scored for the Heroes, who pounded out three solo home runs among 17 hits at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul to end their losing streak at four games.
Kiwoom starter Eric Jokisch tossed six scoreless innings for his second win of the season, helping the Heroes snap the Twins' winning streak at six games.
Kim Ha-seong of the Kiwoom Heroes (L) celebrates his two-run double against the LG Twins during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Park Dong-won opened the top of the second inning with a solo home run off LG starter Cha Woo-chan, giving the Heroes a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning with runners at the corners, Kim Ha-seong drove in the team's second run with a sharp single to center.
Kim, who had been batting just .143 with two RBIs before Sunday, came through with a two-run double in the top fourth, as the Heroes opened up a 4-0 lead.
Lee Jung-hoo followed up with a double of his own, with Kim scoring to make it a 5-0 Kiwoom advantage.
The Heroes picked up two more runs in the top sixth, courtesy of solo home runs by Seo Geon-chang and Lee Jung-hoo off reliever Yeo Geon-wook.
Members of the Kiwoom Heroes celebrate a solo home run by Park Dong-won (C, in helmet) during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Heroes piled on with two more runs, as Seo delivered a two-run single for a 9-0 lead.
That was more than enough for Jokisch, who tossed six shutout innings and extended his scoreless streak to 11 innings. He limited the Twins to just two singles and struck out three. Jokisch has given up just one earned run in 17 innings this season.
The Twins rallied late against the Heroes' bullpen, scoring once in the seventh and twice in the eighth. Then in the bottom ninth, they cut it to 9-4 on Park Jae-wook's single, but that was the last bit of offense they managed.
Eric Jokisch of the Kiwoom Heroes pitches against the LG Twins during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--Newest major champion in S. Korean women's golf gets helpful tips from world No. 1

`` I talked to Jin-young on the phone , and she told me I should n't try to win the @ @ @ @ @ .
`` What she meant was that I should just try to control what I @ @ @ @ @ get too greedy .
I kept that in mind today and it led to a @ @ @ @

YANGJU, South Korea, May 17 (Yonhap) -- Fresh off her first career victory in South Korean women's golf on Sunday, Park Hyun-kyung said she took advice from the world No. 1 to her heart.
Park won the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship on Sunday with a four-day total of 17-under 271, beating Bae Seon-woo and Lim Hee-jeong by a stroke at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, just north of Seoul.
It was Park's first KLPGA victory in her 29th start, and also her first major.
She entered the final round trailing Lim, the overnight leader, by three strokes. Lim, a three-time champion as a rookie last year going for her second major, looked to be in the driver's seat.
Park Hyun-kyung of South Korea kisses the champion's trophy after winning the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
And Park wasn't going to force the issue during the final round, not after what LPGA star Ko Jin-young told her Saturday.
"I talked to Jin-young on the phone, and she told me I shouldn't try to win the title," Park said. "What she meant was that I should just try to control what I can control, and not get too greedy. I kept that in mind today and it led to a great result."
Park said she worked with Ko's swing coach, Lee Si-woo, and also spent some time practicing with the 2019 LPGA Player of the Year.
"Jin-young's known for her pinpoint accuracy with her iron shots, and I think I started to resemble her swing a bit," Park added.
Park was a member of a stacked rookie class in 2019. The first-year pros combined for eight wins last year, but Park didn't reach the winner's circle in 2019.
"I was so disappointed not to have been part of that winner's group last year," Park said. "I am so happy that I got the first win out of the way in the first tournament of the year."
Park tried to keep her excitement in check, saying, "I don't think the next win will come easily for me. I have to keep trying."
Park Hyun-kyung of South Korea (L) hugs her father and caddie, Park Se-su, after winning the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--Sophomore player wins 1st golf tournament held during pandemic in S. Korea

Park captured the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association ( KLPGA ) Championship in Yangju , just north of Seoul @ @ @ @ @ Sunday , at 17-under 271 .
By carding a 67 on Sunday at Lakewood Country @ @ @ @ @ Bae Seon-woo and Lim Hee-jeong by one stroke for her first KLPGA victory and also @ @ @ @ @ .

YANGJU, South Korea, May 17 (Yonhap) -- Second-year domestic tour pro Park Hyun-kyung has won the first golf tournament held in South Korea during the coronavirus pandemic.
Park captured the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship in Yangju, just north of Seoul in Gyeonggi Province, on Sunday, at 17-under 271. By carding a 67 on Sunday at Lakewood Country Club, Park held off Bae Seon-woo and Lim Hee-jeong by one stroke for her first KLPGA victory and also her first KLPGA major championship.
Park Hyun-kyung of South Korea hoists the champion's trophy after winning the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Park took home 220 million won (US$178,400) in the winner's prize. This was her 29th career KLPGA start.
Park began the day at 12-under, trailing the overnight leader, Lim, by three strokes. Park had three birdies and a bogey on the first nine, and still trailed Lim by two shots standing at the 10th tee.
Park made a crucial par putt on that hole to stay within two of Lim, and she then reeled off three straight birdies to jump to the top of the leaderboard.
Park birdied the par-four 13th to take the lead at 17-under, and Lim bogeyed that hole for a two-shot swing.
Lim cut the deficit to one with a birdie at the 15th, but Park closed with five straight pars to preserve her one-shot victory.
This was the first KLPGA tournament in South Korea in 2020. The tour opened its season in Vietnam in December but had been on hold until this week due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This tournament was played without fans, while players and caddies had to abide by quarantine measures, such as going through temperature checks and wearing masks.
Park Hyun-kyung of South Korea watches her tee shot on the first hole during the final round of the 42nd Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Championship at Lakewood Country Club in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--Further spread of club-linked cases deemed to be contained: Moon

`` Daily new cases came back down to the 10s , and of them , the daily number of domestic @ @ @ @ @ level for the second day , '' Moon said in his Facebook message .

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in said Sunday that further infections linked to entertainment facilities in Seoul's nightlife neighborhood seem to be controlled thanks to swift virus testing and contact-tracing efforts.
After successfully containing COVID-19 cases for weeks, the country reported a spike in new daily virus cases, most of which are linked to nightclubs and bars in Itaewon.
South Korea added 13 new cases of the new coronavirus on Sunday, with nightclub-linked infections showing signs of a slowdown over the weekend.
It marked the fewest daily cases since Itaewon, a multicultural nightlife district in Seoul, emerged as a hotbed for coronavirus cluster infections.
The country added 19 new cases a day earlier. The number of cases linked to the cluster infections came to 168 as of noon, according to health authorities.
"Daily new cases came back down to the 10s, and of them, the daily number of domestic infections dropped to a single-digit level for the second day," Moon said in his Facebook message.
On the back of quick testing and contact-tracing measures, the possibility of further virus infections has been sharply lowered, the president said.
The country's "excellent" quarantine system is once again playing a role, the president said, expressing thanks for the public's cooperation with the government's quarantine efforts.
"Faithful compliance to the principles of 'wearing masks and keeping distance' is working as a safety valve in preventing further outbreaks," he said.
An image of President Moon Jae-in's SNS message captured from his Facebook account on May 17, 2020 (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--14-day examination period for JSA tours likely to be shortened

The UNC is planning to resume tourist visits to the JSA as soon as next month after they were suspended @ @ @ @ @ to outbreaks of the African swine fever in the area .

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- The 14-day-long examination period required for South Koreans' tours to the demilitarized border village of Panmunjom may be cut to a three-day process, the United Nations Command (UNC) said Sunday.
The UNC said it is currently discussing the simplification plan with the South Korean government.
"The 14-day examination required for Koreans wishing to visit the Joint Security Area (JSA) is South Korea's own regulation which the UNC has been implementing for over than 10 years for South Korea," the UNC said.
After confirming the South Korean government's position not to retain the 14-day process, the UNC is planning to cooperate with the Ministry of Unification to adopt a new rule, said the UNC, which authorizes human traffic through the JSA.
Currently, a maximum of 14 days are required in security clearance for South Korean visitors to the border area while an average of three days are needed to approve a non-Korean's visit.
The upcoming simplification decision is expected to shorten the process for Koreans to the same three days required for foreigners.
The UNC is planning to resume tourist visits to the JSA as soon as next month after they were suspended in October last year due to outbreaks of the African swine fever in the area.
This photo provided by the Ministry of Unification shows Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul(L) inspecting a tourist course near the Joint Security Area on May 6, 2010. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--(3rd LD) S. Korea adds 13 new virus cases; club-linked cases flatten

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout; CHANGES photos)
SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea added 13 new cases of the new coronavirus on Sunday with nightclub-linked infections showing signs of a slowdown over the weekend, health authorities said Sunday.
The new cases, detected Saturday, brought the country's total to 11,050, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Seven cases came from overseas and five are linked to a cluster in Itaewon.
It marked the fewest daily cases since Itaewon, a multicultural nightlife district in Seoul, emerged as a hotbed for coronavirus cluster infections. The country added 19 new cases a day earlier.
The new cluster infections have put South Korea at the critical juncture of whether domestic spread of the virus will continue or not.
After a patient infected with the COVID-19 virus visited multiple clubs in Itaewon in early May, the country experienced a resurgence in the number of new patients, with the daily increase reaching 35 on Monday, the highest of this month.
Travelers wearing protective masks check in at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Around 5,500 people were estimated to have visited affected clubs in Itaewon between April 24 and May 6. With more than a thousand people still being out of contact, health authorities are remaining vigilant over another possible boom in local infections.
The number of cases linked to the cluster infections came to 168 as of noon, according to health authorities. Among the newly reported cases were two quaternary infections.
There has been a growing number of cases reported from karaoke rooms as well, which are also traced to the Itaewon clubbers.
"Coin-operated karaoke rooms tend to be very small and tight without sufficient ventilation. Many visitors also don't wear masks," KCDC Chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said during a daily briefing.
"Even those who already tested negative should remain under self-quarantine as the incubation period of the disease is roughly 14 days," Jeong said.
The COVID-19 pandemic will still continue, going through ups and downs, and "we should learn lessons from the club-linked cases," Jeong added.
South Korea also plans to carry out pooled testing on military recruits, in which samples from five people will be tested simultaneously, enabling the country to test 6,300 soldiers a week.
South Korea reported no new deaths, keeping the death toll at 262.
The fatality rate reached 2.37 percent, with most of the deaths being reported from those aged 70 and older. No deaths were reported from people aged 29 or younger, although they account for nearly 35 of the total infections.
The total caseload tied to visits to clubs and bars in Itaewon reached 162 as of Saturday noon.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 9,888, up 37 from the previous day.
The figures indicate nearly 90 percent of the patients fully recovered from the disease.
The nation, with a population of 50 million, has carried out 747,653 tests since Jan. 3, including 7,000 from a day earlier. South Korea reported its first COVID-19 case, from a Chinese person, on Jan. 20.
People pass by a bar, which has been closed due to the new coronavirus pandemic, in a university district in western Seoul on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Imported cases, which used to be the biggest threat for South Korea's quarantine operations before the clubbers' group infections came up to the surface, rose by seven to reach 1,167.
The number of relapse cases came to 466 as of Sunday.
Despite the infections from Itaewon, South Korea has made no major changes to the relaxed social distancing scheme.
Amid growing concerns over an irrevocable impact on the economy, South Korea gave the go-ahead to the normalization of public facilities and other business establishments under the condition that they follow basic sanitation measures. Clubs and karaoke rooms are excluded in some areas.
High school seniors will return to classrooms starting Wednesday, a week later than earlier scheduled, and students of other grades will gradually resume their school years by June 8.
Health authorities here earlier said there has been no "explosive" spread of club-linked infections, although they remain vigilant over risks of chain transmissions.
Should the country observe no further boom in the number of cases over the weekend, South Korea could safely say that it has brought the Itaewon-linked cases under the control of quarantine authorities, they added.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--Religious services still in anti-virus mode due to resurgence of cases

Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul , the biggest Protestant church in South Korea with 560,000 congregants , introduced a @ @ @ @ @ people allowed to join the church 's offline services Sunday , so that attendees could @ @ @ @ @ during the service .

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- Churches and temples remained on their toes Sunday, taking strict precautionary anti-virus measures, in the second week since the resumption of their public services following COVID-19 outbreaks.
South Korea eased strict social distancing guidelines on May 6, allowing churches, state-run museums and libraries to resume operations.
But following a recent resurgence of virus infections, traced to clubs in Seoul's nightlife district of Itaewon, reopening churches and temples remained highly vigilant. Some religious groups reported fewer on-site worshippers this weekend, compared with a week earlier.
Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, the biggest Protestant church in South Korea with 560,000 congregants, introduced a ceiling on the number of people allowed to join the church's offline services Sunday, so that attendees could maintain distance from one another during the service.
All worshippers had their temperatures checked before being let in to the church.
An image of a Christian church service where worshippers keep a distance from each other (Yonhap)
Still wary of virus infection, many of the church's registered members joined the Sunday service online. The church said some 1,700 worshippers simultaneously accessed one of its morning services.
Another mega-church, Somang Presbyterian Church, operated both on-and-offline services on Sunday as a limited number of worshippers were allowed into its on-site services in line with the ongoing quarantine guidelines.
All Buddhists who attended Jogyesa Temple in central Seoul also went through fever tests, hand sanitization and identity checks before being let into the Sunday ceremonies.
A strict one-meter distance was also enforced among the attendees while the ceremonies were in progress.
"Today, fewer people joined the ceremonies than last week. It may have something to do with the cluster infections in Itaewon," an official at the temple said.
After a patient infected with the COVID-19 virus visited multiple clubs in Itaewon in early May, the country recorded a resurgence in the number of new patients, leading to the monthly peak of 35 in one day last week.
On Sunday, the country's new daily cases fell to 13 as the latest cluster infections gradually subsided. The national accumulated COVID-19 cases stood at 11,050, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
An image of the front yard of Jogyesa Temple in central Seoul (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--(2nd LD) S. Korea adds 13 new virus cases; club-linked cases flatten

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea added 13 new cases of the new coronavirus on Sunday with nightclub-linked infections showing signs of a slowdown over the weekend, health authorities said Sunday.
The new cases, detected Saturday, brought the country's total to 11,050, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Seven cases came from overseas and five are linked to a cluster in Itaewon.
It marked the fewest daily cases since Itaewon, a multicultural nightlife district in Seoul, emerged as a hotbed for coronavirus cluster infections. The country added 19 new cases a day earlier.
The new cluster infections have put South Korea at the critical juncture of whether domestic spread of the virus will continue or not.
After a patient infected with the COVID-19 virus visited multiple clubs in Itaewon in early May, the country experienced a resurgence in the number of new patients, leading to the monthly peak of 35 last week.
Members of Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, the biggest Protestant church in South Korea, attend a Sunday service while wearing masks on May 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Around 5,500 people were estimated to have visited affected clubs in Itaewon between April 24 and May 6. With more than a thousand people still being out of contact, health authorities are remaining vigilant over another possible boom in local infections.
The number of cases linked to the cluster infections came to 168 as of noon, according to health authorities.
"Even those who already tested negative should remain under self-quarantine as the incubation period of the disease is roughly 14 days," KCDC Chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said during a daily briefing.
The COVID-19 pandemic will still continue, going through ups and downs, and "we should learn lessons from the club-linked cases," Jeong added.
South Korea also plans to carry out pooled testing on military recruits, in which samples from five people will be tested simultaneously, enabling the country to test 6,300 soldiers a week.
South Korea reported no new deaths, keeping the death toll at 262.
The fatality rate reached 2.37 percent, with most of the deaths being reported from those aged 70 and older. No deaths were reported from people aged 29 or younger, although they account for nearly 35 of the total infections.
The total caseload tied to visits to clubs and bars in Itaewon reached 162 as of Saturday noon.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 9,888, up 37 from the previous day.
The figures indicate nearly 90 percent of the patients fully recovered from the disease.
The nation, with a population of 50 million, has carried out 747,653 tests since Jan. 3, including 7,000 from a day earlier. South Korea reported its first COVID-19 case, from a Chinese person, on Jan. 20.
Qurantine officials carry out a disinfection operation at a subway station located in Incheon, west of Seoul, on May 17, 2020, in this photo provided by the Incheon Metropolitan City. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Imported cases, which used to be the biggest threat for South Korea's quarantine operations before the clubbers' group infections came up to the surface, rose by seven to reach 1,167.
The number of relapse cases came to 466 as of Sunday.
Despite the infections from Itaewon, South Korea has made no major changes to the relaxed social distancing scheme.
Amid growing concerns over an irrevocable impact on the economy, South Korea gave the go-ahead to the normalization of public facilities and other business establishments under the condition that they follow basic sanitation measures. Clubs and karaoke rooms are excluded in some areas.
High school seniors will return to classrooms starting Wednesday, a week later than earlier scheduled, and students of other grades will gradually resume their school years by June 8.
Health authorities here earlier said there has been no "explosive" spread of club-linked infections, although they remain vigilant over risks of chain transmissions.
Should the country observe no further boom in the number of cases over the weekend, South Korea could safely say that it has brought the Itaewon-linked cases under the control of quarantine authorities, they added.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--Chartered flight brings home 239 Korean nationals from virus-hit Russia

Those who took the latest flight to Incheon included Koreans who came all the way from Siberia , and among @ @ @ @ @ of Russian nationals as well as members of the Korean diaspora in Russia , according @ @ @ @

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- A chartered South Korean flight Sunday brought home 239 Korean nationals from Russia where all international flights were grounded amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Korean Air flight, arranged by the South Korean Embassy in Russia, landed at Incheon International Airport earlier in the day after leaving Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport. On the plane were Korean students, business travelers and families of Korean workers in Russia.
This marks the third flight South Korea has sent to Russia to bring back its nationals after Russia suspended all international flights on Mach 27 due to the pandemic.
This photo provided by the Korean Embassy in Russia shows Korean nationals preparing to board a chartered flight to South Korea on May 17, 2020, at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Last month, South Korea operated two chartered flights to Russia to bring home Korean nationals stranded in the country.
Those who took the latest flight to Incheon included Koreans who came all the way from Siberia, and among the passengers were Korean spouses of Russian nationals as well as members of the Korean diaspora in Russia, according to the embassy.
The passengers were all cleared of fever before boarding the flight back home.
"As more Korean nationals in Russia could want to return home, (the embassy) plans to arrange more chartered flights, including on May 30 and mid-June (to bring more Koreans home)," an official at the Korean Embassy said.
This photo, provided by the Korean Embassy in Russia shows Korean nationals standing in line to board a chartered flight to South Korea on May 17, 2020 at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--S. Korea seeks to ease factory regulations for more reshoring

SEOUL , May 17 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea is reviewing an option to ease regulations on the establishment @ @ @ @ @ 's metropolitan area as part of efforts to woo more firms with overseas plants return @ @ @ @ @ said Sunday .

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is reviewing an option to ease regulations on the establishment of factories in the country's metropolitan area as part of efforts to woo more firms with overseas plants return home, the finance ministry said Sunday.
Currently, strict regulations are in place on the construction of new plants and their expansion in the metropolitan area, which the business community has cited as a hurdle.
This captured image from the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama homepage shows the carmaker's plant in the U.S. state. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The ministry said it is reviewing measures to finance the cost of reshoring, provide tax incentives and subsidies to companies returning home.
Many nations around the globe and major companies are looking at reshoring as their plants and operations have been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic
Factories in the United States, China and other major economies have been shut down because of lockdowns and border closures caused by COVID-19 outbreak.
South Korea has been working to bring firms back here, but many companies have been hesitant to do so, citing regulations and higher costs.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-17--Today in Korean history

Today in Korean history

2001 -- Former South Korean soldiers admit to killing and burying innocent civilians in Gwangju in 1980 , when tens @ @ @ @ @ demonstrations for democratization .
The admission came during an interview with the Presidential Truth Commission @ @ @ @ @ released on May 18 .

May 18
1970 -- South Korea establishes diplomatic relations with Cambodia.
1980 -- Tens of thousands of students and other citizens stage demonstrations in the southwestern city of Gwangju calling for an end to martial law and the release of dissident leader Kim Dae-jung.
1983 -- Opposition leader Kim Young-sam starts a hunger strike, calling for democracy in South Korea.
1998 -- Golfer Pak Se-ri wins the U.S. LPGA championship in Delaware.
2001 -- Former South Korean soldiers admit to killing and burying innocent civilians in Gwangju in 1980, when tens of thousands of citizens staged demonstrations for democratization. The admission came during an interview with the Presidential Truth Commission on Suspicious Deaths that was released on May 18.
2002 -- Kim Hong-gul, the youngest son of then-President Kim Dae-jung, is arrested on bribery charges.
2007 -- North Korea names Pak Ui-chun, 75, a former ambassador to Russia, as its new foreign minister. The post had been vacant since his predecessor, Paek Nam-sun, died in January.
2013 -- North Korea launches three short-range guided missiles into the sea off the Korean Peninsula's east coast. The Seoul government detects two launches in the morning, followed by another in the afternoon.
(END)