yna--2020-01-25--(LEAD) Seoul mulls providing financial aid to separated families for N.K. visit: minister

`` The government is considering helping the elderly people with the cost of visiting North Korea so that they can @ @ @ @ @ and relieve , though slightly , the sorrow of separation , '' Kim said during @ @ @ @ @ New Year 's Day at Imjingak Park in Paju , just south of the demilitarized @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: ADDS more info in 5th para; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is considering providing financial support for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War to visit North Korea, Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said Saturday.
Kim's remarks are in line with the government's broader push to allow South Koreans to make individual trips to the North as a way to ease tensions and facilitate stalled denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington.
"The government is considering helping the elderly people with the cost of visiting North Korea so that they can go near their hometowns, and relieve, though slightly, the sorrow of separation," Kim said during a ceremony to mark Lunar New Year's Day at Imjingak Park in Paju, just south of the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.
"Now is the time to heal the wounds from the division. The issue of the separated families especially needs a special measure as time is running out," he added.
Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul speaks during an event for those who hope to reunite with their loved ones in North Korea at Imjingak in Paju, northwest of Seoul, on Jan. 25, 2020. Imjingak is located just south of the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas and is used every year by separated families to mark the Korean autumn harvest celebration and Lunar New Year's Day. (Yonhap)
The minister went on to say that the government will mobilize "all ways available" to help resolve the issue of separated families. They include efforts to verify whether their loved ones are still alive in the North.
On Thursday, President Moon Jae-in also vowed efforts to create opportunities for South Koreans to meet their families in the North.
The two Koreas agreed in their September summit in 2018 to open a permanent reunion center for divided families and to hold video meetings or exchange video messages. But the impasse in nuclear talks between the North and the United States has hindered the events from taking place.
Among the total of 133,370 South Koreans registered as members of separated families, only 52,730 were alive as of last year, highlighting the urgency of one of the most pressing humanitarian matters for the two Koreas.
Among the survivors, 63 percent were aged 80 or older.
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-25--Hyundai Motor to produce hydrogen commercial cars in China

To take the lead in the hydrogen vehicle market , Hyundai announced in late 2018 its plan to invest 7.6 @ @ @ @ @ auto parts companies , research and development activities and facility expansion by 2030 .

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co. said Saturday it will produce hydrogen fuel-cell electric commercial vehicles in its Chinese plant to make inroads into the local electric vehicle market.
In the China EV100 Forum held in Beijing from Jan. 10-12, Executive Vice President Lee In-cheon, head of Hyundai's Commercial Vehicle Business Division, unveiled the plan.
In August last year, the Hyundai executive said the hydrogen commercial car production plan will begin in 2023 if the company makes the decision.
Sichuan Hyundai Motor Co., a 50:50 joint venture set up between Hyundai Motor and Sichuan Nanjun Automobile Group Co. in 2012, is expected to be in charge of the hydrogen commercial car production.
Hyundai produces 1.05 million vehicles, in China, the world's biggest automobile market, out of its overall vehicle production of 3.74 million units.
This file photo provided by Hyundai Motor shows the Nexo hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Meanwhile, Hyundai aims to sell 10,100 Nexo hydrogen passenger cars mainly to public organizations and companies this year, sharply up from 4,194 units it sold last year.
To take the lead in the hydrogen vehicle market, Hyundai announced in late 2018 its plan to invest 7.6 trillion won for partnerships with auto parts companies, research and development activities and facility expansion by 2030.
Hyundai aims to establish a production facility capable of rolling out 50,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles a year by 2030. It also targets selling 200,000 hydrogen fuel cell systems a year in global markets by the same year.
The number of Nexo vehicles sold outside the country totaled 1,015 units in the past two years.
In 2019, South Korea claimed a 52-percent share of the global hydrogen fuel cell electric market, followed by the United States with a share of 29 percent, Japan with 9.7 percent and Europe with 6.5 percent, the statement said.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-25--'The Man Standing Next' attracts more than 1.12 million viewers

The accumulated attendance for the film , which was released Wednesday , was tallied at 1,127,757 , according to the @ @ @ @ @ Film Council .
It was trailed by `` Hitman : Agent Jun '' that has @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- "The Man Standing Next" has attracted more than 1.12 million moviegoers since the political thriller's release three days ago, box-office data showed Saturday, highlighting its popularity during the ongoing Lunar New Year holiday.
The accumulated attendance for the film, which was released Wednesday, was tallied at 1,127,757, according to the computerized tally from the Korean Film Council. It was trailed by "Hitman: Agent Jun" that has attracted 220,805 viewers so far.
"The Man Standing Next" depicts the intense power struggle among former President Park Chung-hee's top aides before one of them assassinated the general turned president in 1979.
It is based on a nonfiction best-seller, "KCIA Chiefs," published from 1990 to 1992 in the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper. Park established the intelligence agency, the KCIA, to apparently conduct surveillance of politicians, government officials and others.
A scene from "The Man Standing Next" provided by Showbox (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-25--Korean telcos reconfigure biz divisions to beef up AI capabilities

The new business division was established less than a month after KT selected its next CEO Koo Hyun-mo .
The @ @ @ @ @ replace the incumbent CEO Hwang Chang-kyu in March , is an ICT expert who also @ @ @ @ @ Industry Association .

By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korean telecommunication firms have revamped their business divisions to boost their artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, industry insiders said Saturday, as they aim to expand their presence beyond mobile services.
KT Corp., the nation's No. 2 mobile carrier, last week announced that it created a business division dedicated to AI and digital transformation (DX) solutions.
KT said its AI-DX division will focus on integrating its 5G know-how with other future technologies such as AI, big data, cloud and internet of things.
In this photo taken by KT Corp. on Jan. 9, 2020, KT employees check the company's 5G network through an artificial intelligence-powered control system. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
KT said it expects the division to have close cooperation with the company's software development units to produce various AI-powered solutions.
The new business division was established less than a month after KT selected its next CEO Koo Hyun-mo. The 56-year-old, who will officially replace the incumbent CEO Hwang Chang-kyu in March, is an ICT expert who also heads the Korean VR AR Industry Association.
SK Telecom Co., South Korea's top mobile carrier, also joined the move by adjusting the roles of its in-house technology units last month.
SKT said its AIX Center, led by chief technology officer Kim Yoon, is now responsible for managing the company's technology support jobs that were previously carried out by three other in-house technology centers.
The move is an initial step for SKT to apply AI technologies to all of its business operations, according to the company.
SKT has been one of the active players developing AI solutions in recent years.
Earlier this month, SKT CEO Park Jung-ho urged at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada, that local companies need to join forces to develop AI solutions together, highlighting the concept of "hyper-cooperation."
This photo taken on Oct. 15, 2019, shows models for LG Uplus Corp. exercising through an artificial intelligence-powered home training service at the company's headquarters building in Seoul. (Yonhap)
LG Uplus Corp., the nation's No. 3 mobile carrier, reinforced its AI capability by giving more power to its digital transformation group that is responsible for creating new business opportunities with future smart technologies.
Under its chief strategy officer Park Jong-wook, LG Uplus also created a DX unit controlling the company's digital transformation plans.
LG Uplus CEO Ha Hyun-hoi recently said the company seeks to combine its 5G network solutions with AI, augmented reality (AR) and autonomous driving technologies.
At CES 2020, Ha was spotted visiting booths of Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Google to check their latest AI solutions.
"I believe AI-powered electronics devices and mobility solutions can change the lives of people," Ha said at CES 2020. "Securing technologies that can take care of consumers' emotions will be directly linked to the company's competitiveness in the future."
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-25--Seoul mulls providing financial aid to separated families for N.K. visit: minister

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is considering providing financial support for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War to visit North Korea, Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said Saturday.
Kim's remarks are in line with the government's broader push to allow South Koreans to make individual trips to the North as a way to ease tensions and facilitate stalled denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington.
"The government is considering helping the elderly people with the cost of visiting North Korea so that they can go near their hometowns, and relieve, though slightly, the sorrow of separation," Kim said during a ceremony to mark Lunar New Year's Day at Imjingak Park in Paju, just south of the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.
"Now is the time to heal the wounds from the division. The issue of the separated families especially needs a special measure as time is running out," he added.
On Thursday, President Moon Jae-in also vowed efforts to create opportunities for South Koreans to meet their families in the North.
The two Koreas agreed in their September summit in 2018 to open a permanent reunion center for divided families and to hold video meetings or exchange video messages. But the impasse in nuclear talks between the North and the United States has hindered the events from taking place.
Among the total of 133,370 South Koreans registered as members of separated families, only 52,730 were alive as of last year, highlighting the urgency of one of the most pressing humanitarian matters for the two Koreas.
Among the survivors, 63 percent were aged 80 or older.
In this file photo, taken on Sept. 13, 2019, Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul makes a speech near the altar honoring the ancestors of people separated by the 1950-53 Korean War at Imjingak in Paju, northwest of Seoul. The park is located just South of the demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas and is used every year by separated families to mark the Korean autumn harvest celebration and the Lunar New Year's Day. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-25--JCS chief visits west coast unit to check readiness

`` At the core of vigilance operations are the troops that put their missions into practice , '' Park was @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki has visited a key unit on the west coast to check military readiness during the Lunar New Year holiday, his office said Saturday.
On Friday, the country's top military officer met with troops in the unit to encourage them and highlight the importance of a "firm" defense posture.
"At the core of vigilance operations are the troops that put their missions into practice," Park was quoted as saying.
Park also stressed that the success of the entire military operations could hinge directly on a single troop's execution of his or her mission.
"With this in mind, we should build an unswerving, firm readiness posture," he said.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki (C) visits a unit on the west coast to check military readiness on Jan. 24, 2020, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-25--NK Embassy in Beijing hosts Lunar New Year reception

SEOUL , Jan. 25 ( Yonhap ) -- The North Korean Embassy in Beijing has hosted a reception with a @ @ @ @ @ for the Lunar New Year 's Day , Pyongyang 's state media reported Saturday .

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- The North Korean Embassy in Beijing has hosted a reception with a high-ranking Chinese diplomat in time for the Lunar New Year's Day, Pyongyang's state media reported Saturday.
China's Vice Foreign Minister Luo Zhaohui and other officials attended the reception Wednesday, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency.
Jong Hyon-u, charge d'affaires at the embassy, and other North Korean employees were present at the event.
The North's diplomatic missions in Shenyang and Dandong of China also held similar receptions, the agency said.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-25--S. Korea on high alert to prevent spread of Wuhan coronavirus

`` The government is checking all people who are complaining of symptoms with no coronavirus incidents being identified in the @ @ @ @ @ said a Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( KCDC ) official .
She @ @ @ @ @ 69 people who are under close observation after having come in contact with the country @ @ @ @ @ showing signs of being ill .

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's public health protection authorities said Saturday the country is maintaining a high level of vigilance to prevent the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus as people celebrate the four-day Lunar New Year holiday.
The country reported a confirmed case of the new coronavirus that causes pneumonia-like sickness Monday and another Friday, and said it has checked 32 other people for the new coronavirus so far with all testing negative.
"The government is checking all people who are complaining of symptoms with no coronavirus incidents being identified in the past 24 hours," said a Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) official. She added that none of the 69 people who are under close observation after having come in contact with the country's second confirmed case are showing signs of being ill.
Hospital employees at Seoul Medical Center in the South Korean capital put up a notice informing people of risks associated with the Wuhan coronavirus on Jan. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
The first confirmed case involved a 35-year-old Chinese woman who arrived at Incheon International Airport, the country's main gateway located west of Seoul, from Wuhan with the second being a South Korean who has worked in the city in Hubei Province since April 2019 that is seen as the epicenter of the latest outbreak, and returned home after feeling unwell. The 55-year-old man arrived in South Korea on Wednesday with a fever.
The KCDC said the second patient is in stable condition with doctors treating him for a sore throat.
Airports across the nation have set up checkpoints to screen passengers from China and other countries for signs of illness, with local authorities accelerating quarantine efforts to contain the virus as a countless number of people visit relatives back home or travel abroad. Seoul earlier advised its citizens not to visit the central Chinese city at the epicenter of the disease
The KCDC stressed citizens should follow strict personal hygiene rules whether they are in the country or traveling abroad, especially since large numbers of Chinese tourists are visiting South Korea during the holiday period. The Lunar New Year is celebrated by both Korean and Chinese people.
The agency said people feeling ill should immediately contact its emergency call center by dialing "1339" to receive assistance.
It also asked people to wash their hands frequently, cover their mouths when coughing and if they have respiratory problems wear a mask.
Common symptoms of the coronavirus, thought to have originated in Wuhan, central China, include fever, sore throat and breathing difficulties, with more acute cases being chills and muscle pain. Health experts said that elderly people and those with underlying disorders should be more careful not to contract the new type of virus.
China announced that the virus has killed 41 people so far, with 1,287 confirmed to be infected, amid concerns that the pneumonia-like illness is spreading quickly and widely.
Beijing has already stressed it will mobilize all its resources to contain the disease and even took steps to close off around a dozen cities and famous tourist attractions to control the spread.
Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Macao, Hong Kong, France and the United States all have people infected with the new virus. Media outlets also reported that Nepal has a confirmed case.
The new coronavirus, first reported in China on Dec. 31, was originally believed to have been passed onto humans by animals but is now known to be transmissible person to person, although victims may be contracting the virus by coming in contact with saliva and other bodily fluids rather than through airborne factors.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-25--'Parasite' team beefs up last-minute Oscar campaign

They are also scheduled to take part in the Directors Guild America ( DGA ) Awards on Saturday , as @ @ @ @ @ for the top honor along with Golden Globes winner `` 1917 '' by Sam Mendes @ @ @ @ @ by Martin Scorsese and `` Once Upon a Time in Hollywood '' by Quentin Tarantino @

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- Director Bong Joon-ho and the cast of "Parasite" are entering the final stretch in the heated race for the upcoming Oscars.
The genre-bending family satire was nominated in six categories -- best picture, best director, best screenplay, best editing, best production design and best international feature film -- for the 2020 Academy Awards slated for Feb. 9.
It is the first time that a South Korean-made film has earned a nod for one of the world's biggest film events.
According to CJ ENM, which is behind the Cannes-winning film, the "Parasite" team will carry out a last-minute campaign in the United States to win the hearts of members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
The voting will begin on Thursday (U.S. time) and close on Feb. 4, with about 8,000 AMPAS members casting a ballot.
The team may include director Bong and crew members including co-screenwriter Han Jin-won, editor Yang Jin-mo and production designer Lee Ha-jun, along with actors and actresses led by Song Kang-ho and Lee Sun-kyun.
They will hold a series of media interviews and participate in other award ceremonies before and during the period.
Last weekend, they attended the American Cinema Editors (ACE) Eddie Awards, the Producers Guild of America Awards and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. "Parasite" won top prizes at the ACE and SAG awards.
They are also scheduled to take part in the Directors Guild America (DGA) Awards on Saturday, as "Parasite" is nominated for the top honor along with Golden Globes winner "1917" by Sam Mendes, "The Irishman" by Martin Scorsese and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" by Quentin Tarantino.
Next month, the upcoming Writers Guild of America (WGA) Awards and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards are also on their list to attend before the Oscars.
In this photo moved by the Associated Press, the "Parasite" team poses after winning the top prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards held in Los Angeles, California, on Jan. 19, 2020. (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-25--N. Korea seen beefing up efforts to fend off new coronavirus

The Rodong Sinmun , the daily of the North 's ruling Workers ' Party , also carried an article on @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan in central China , in an apparent effort to call for caution among North @ @ @ @ @ not reported any confirmed case yet .

SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Saturday stepped up efforts to prevent the spread of a new strain of the Chinese coronavirus with the cancellation of a flight between Pyongyang and Beijing, and a temporary restriction on foreign residents' trips to China.
The Rodong Sinmun, the daily of the North's ruling Workers' Party, also carried an article on the coronavirus that originated from Wuhan in central China, in an apparent effort to call for caution among North Koreans. The North has not reported any confirmed case yet.
"Recently, the damage from the new strain of the coronavirus has been expanding," the article reads.
"Media outlets in many countries have reported that its impact on the world economy could potentially be greater than that when the severe acute respiratory syndrome spread in the past," it added.
Citing a Chinese official's explanation, the paper pointed out that when one has early symptoms of the coronavirus infection, such as breathing difficulties, he or she needs immediate medical treatment.
The Russian Embassy in Pyongyang reportedly said in its social media post that the North's foreign ministry had notified it that an Air China flight between Pyongyang and Beijing would be canceled until Feb. 10.
The British government also said on its website that North Korean authorities have temporarily restricted travel of foreign residents to China, and tour operators have reported a government suspension of tourism to the North.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


Sunday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Jan. 26 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .

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


yna--2020-01-26--S. Korea requests first Interpol red notice over violator of copyrights

`` So far , it has been difficult to arrest copyright violators who are staying overseas , but ( the @ @ @ @ @ efforts to apprehend them outside of the country in active cooperation with Interpol , '' @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has requested an Interpol red notice on a South Korean who operated an illegal content-sharing website in violation of the country's copyright protection law, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Police Agency said on Sunday.
The request requires the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to call on its 194 member states to locate and arrest the South Korean who operates the illegal site, partly named "Torrent."
The illegal content-sharing site is carrying some 455,000 files, and the number of times internet users access the site reaches some 1,500 every month, according to the ministry and the police.
It is the first time a South Korea-initiated Interpol red notice was issued over a copyright violator, the ministry said.
"So far, it has been difficult to arrest copyright violators who are staying overseas, but (the ministry) will step up efforts to apprehend them outside of the country in active cooperation with Interpol," a ministry official said.
In joint raids with the police since 2018, the ministry has detected 19 operators in charge of nine illegal content-sharing sites.
Six of them have been formally put into police custody while a total of 20 illegal sites were shut down as part of efforts to safeguard copyrights.
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--Private English institutes posing as kindergartens may face penalties

`` The Elementary and Secondary Education Act stipulates criminal punishment for non-school institutions using the title of school .
As @ @ @ @ @ of school , relevant offenders should be punished equally .
The ministry will push to @ @ @ @ @ Act , '' said a ministry official .

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- Private institutes offering English language courses for preschoolers using the description "English kindergarten" may face punishment from the authorities, the Ministry of Education said Sunday.
Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae recently presided over the 16th meeting of the Education Trust Restoration Team to discuss punitive measures against private English language institutes posing as English kindergartens, according to the ministry. In South Korea, kindergartens are defined as a type of school, but private education institutes are not.
Under the Enforcement Decree of the Early Childhood Education Act, a first-time offender accused of illegally calling itself an English kindergarten can be punished with a fine of 2 million won (US$1,712). Penalties for second-time and third-time offenders increase to 3 million and 5 million won, respectively.
This photo from Yonhap News TV shows a local English language institute for preschoolers. (Yonhap)
Participants in the meeting also discussed increasing the fines for private English language institutes for preschoolers that operate under the false name of English kindergarten.
"The Elementary and Secondary Education Act stipulates criminal punishment for non-school institutions using the title of school. As kindergartens are also a kind of school, relevant offenders should be punished equally. The ministry will push to revise the Early Childhood Education Act," said a ministry official.
In South Korea, a growing number of parents enroll their preschoolers in private English language academies from early childhood in accordance with widespread enthusiasm for learning English. Capitalizing on the foreign language boom, many private English language institutes illicitly advertise themselves as English kindergartens.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--FC Seoul to face Malaysian club in AFC Champions League playoff

FC Seoul made it straight to the playoff by virtue of finishing in third place in the K League 1 @ @ @ @ @ into the preliminary round after winning the Malaysia FA Cup last year , and they @ @ @ @ @ 5-1 last week to set up a meeting with FC Seoul .

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's FC Seoul will take on a Malaysian opponent this week with a berth in Asia's top club football competition at stake.
In an East Region playoff match for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League, FC Seoul will host Kedah on Tuesday at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The kickoff is 7 p.m.
The winner of this one-and-done match will be slotted into Group E of the AFC Champions League, alongside Beijing FC of China and Chiangrai United of Thailand. The other spot will be filled by the winner of another East Region playoff match between Japanese side Kashima Antlers and Australian club Melbourne Victory.
FC Seoul made it straight to the playoff by virtue of finishing in third place in the K League 1 in 2019. Kedah got into the preliminary round after winning the Malaysia FA Cup last year, and they defeated Tai Po of Vietnam 5-1 last week to set up a meeting with FC Seoul.
This playoff match will be FC Seoul's first official contest of 2020.
FC Seoul have never won an AFC Champions League title, with a pair of runner-up finishes in 2002 and 2013.
In this file photo from Aug. 25, 2019, members of FC Seoul celebrate a goal against Jeju United during the teams' K League 1 match at Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo, Jeju Island. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--U.N. panel approves 38 requests for sanctions exemptions to aid N.K. last year

SEOUL , Jan. 26 ( Yonhap ) -- The U.N. Security Council panel approved nearly 40 requests for sanctions exemptions @ @ @ @ @ the provision of humanitarian assistance to North Korea , more than twice the number of @ @ @ @ @ earlier , a report showed .

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- The U.N. Security Council panel approved nearly 40 requests for sanctions exemptions last year to allow for the provision of humanitarian assistance to North Korea, more than twice the number of sanctions waivers granted a year earlier, a report showed.
According to the report recently compiled by Germany, which served as chair of the UNSC sanctions committee on North Korea last year, sanctions waivers were granted for 38 requests with regard to humanitarian projects in North Korea.
The committee granted 15 exemptions a year earlier.
The report, however, did not provide further details on organizations that received sanctions exemptions and their activities in the North.
Humanitarian activities in North Korea are not banned under sanctions the UNSC imposed on Pyongyang to punish its nuclear and missile provocations but related materials are subject to sanctions waivers from the U.N.
Earlier this month, the U.N. panel granted sanctions exemptions for two aid agencies' assistance projects in North Korea, the first waivers granted since the start of the year.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--S. Korea to abolish military guardhouse facilities in July

In accordance with the revision , troubled soldiers shall be subject to special education and training programs on the military @ @ @ @ @ a maximum 15 days .
They also could face a cut in their monthly pay @ @ @ @ @ or a reduction in their vacation days of up to five days at one time @

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will abolish the military guardhouse system in July as part of efforts to protect the human rights of draftees, defense ministry officials said Sunday.
The move comes after parliament passed a revision of the Military Personnel Management Act earlier this month, which calls for the abolishment of guardhouses and the establishment of additional educational programs instead to discipline soldiers.
The revision will come into effect six months after passage.
Under the current guardhouse system, rank-and-file soldiers who commit wrongdoings can be sent to military confinement facilities for up to 15 days at a time following the decision by a military disciplinary committee.
As it has been a source of controversy over human rights violations for limiting conscripts' personal liberty, the ministry began to push for its abolishment in 2018 as part of its military reform drive and submitted the law revision last October.
In accordance with the revision, troubled soldiers shall be subject to special education and training programs on the military spirit and service rules for a maximum 15 days. They also could face a cut in their monthly pay for up to three months or a reduction in their vacation days of up to five days at one time.
Any incarceration of soldiers will only be possible through an official court trial, and those found guilty while being in service will be put in a military prison, not any other confinement facility, according to the officials.
"It will be a landmark case that will help improve soldiers' rights," Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said earlier. "We have been working to come up with follow-up measures to prevent the decision from causing discipline to slacken."
Seen in this photo taken Feb. 12, 2019, is South Korea's defense ministry in Seoul. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--N. Korea's main-season crop output estimated to be below average in 2019: FAO

`` This is particularly concerning as overall food production in 2018 was more than 9 percent lower compared with 2017 @ @ @ @ @ production level in more than a decade , '' the report said .
`` This @ @ @ @ @ consecutive year of a reduced output . ''

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's crop output during its main harvest season last year is estimated to be below average, a report has shown amid concerns over chronic food shortages in the communist state.
According to the report, recently compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the North's main-season crops -- primarily rice and maize -- harvested over the September-October period are estimated to have come in below average.
"This is particularly concerning as overall food production in 2018 was more than 9 percent lower compared with 2017, and was the lowest production level in more than a decade," the report said. "This would also mark the third consecutive year of a reduced output."
The report cited bad weather conditions, such as dry spells, typhoons and floods, as well as macroeconomic challenges and sanctions as factors having negative impact on the situation.
"Given the country's dependence on local food production, any decrease in the output can lead to serious food insecurity levels," it said.
The report called for early action over the winter months to mitigate the effects of prolonged dry and wet conditions, adding that urgent support is needed for off-season production.
North Korea is known to be suffering from chronic food shortages compounded by unfavorable weather conditions and a lack of fertilizer and other key materials due to international sanctions.
This undated photo, released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 9, 2019, shows farmers harvesting fallen rice in a paddy after a powerful typhoon, Lingling, passed through the Korean Peninsula on Sept. 7. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--Xi looks set for spring visit to S. Korea, while Moon eyes new era in Seoul-Beijing ties

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will likely travel to South Korea separately this year to represent his country in an annual @ @ @ @ @ It is South Korea 's turn to host the event , after it was held @ @ @ @ @ last year .
The date of this year 's summit has yet to be announced @ @ @ @ @ yet to be fixed .

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to make his first visit to South Korea in six years within the next few months, an informed source said Sunday, as President Moon Jae-in sets his sights on an "epoch-making" improvement in relations between the neighboring countries.
"President Xi is preparing to visit South Korea just before or after a visit to Japan, around when cherry blossoms bloom," the source said on condition of anonymity.
Xi is also considering a trip to North Korea this year, according to the source, who also said the president's visits to the two Koreas and Japan "are intertwined, as Beijing is concerned about relations with all its neighbors."
Xi made his previous state visit to South Korea in July 2014 and held his latest summit with Moon in Beijing last month.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting in Beijing on Dec. 23, 2019. (Yonhap)
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will likely travel to South Korea separately this year to represent his country in an annual trilateral summit involving Japan. It is South Korea's turn to host the event, after it was held in Chengdu, China, last year. The date of this year's summit has yet to be announced, likely as it has yet to be fixed.
Moon described the Chinese leaders' planned trips here as an opportunity for South Korea-China relations to take "an epoch-making leap."
The relationship soured following the former Park Geun-hye administration's 2016 decision to accept the stationing of a U.S. advanced missile defense system, THAAD, in South Korea.
In particular, the Moon government has decided to place a priority on implementing its New Northern Policy throughout 2020 after focusing on laying the groundwork for the New Southern Policy, mainly centered on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, over the past three years.
One of Moon's key tasks is to harmonize the diplomatic initiative with China's Belt and Road strategy.
His office has already instructed the foreign ministry and related authorities to map out detailed plans to maximize synergy between the two.
Moon hopes to revive projects to reconnect inter-Korean railroads as part of his "East Asia Railway Community" vision.
In their Chengdu talks in late December, the Chinese premier expressed support for Moon's initiative, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--Pct of Americans viewing N. Korea as 'very serious' threat hits lowest: poll

Around 13 percent of those polled replied that North Korea is `` no threat at all , '' the highest @ @ @ @ @ also showed that Americans see Iran and Russia as more serious threats to the U.S. @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- The percentage of Americans seeing North Korea as a "very serious threat" to the United States hit the lowest level in about a decade this year, a poll showed, apparently reflecting eased concerns after the two countries began denuclearization talks in 2018.
According to the poll jointly conducted by CNN and SSRS, a research firm, 29 percent said that the North poses a "very" serious threat.
The figure was the lowest since the poll was first conducted in 2009, when the corresponding figure stood at 52 percent. It was also lower than 34 percent registered in 2019.
Around 13 percent of those polled replied that North Korea is "no threat at all," the highest level since 2015. It also showed that Americans see Iran and Russia as more serious threats to the U.S. than North Korea.
The survey appears to reflect eased concerns among Americans about the North's nuclear and missile programs after Pyongyang came out for denuclearization talks with the U.S. in 2018.
U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held their first-ever summit in June 2018 and agreed to work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in exchange for security guarantees from Washington.
Nuclear talks, however, have remain stalled since their no-deal second summit in February last year.
The survey was conducted on 1,156 adults from Jan. 16-19 and has a margin error of 3.4 percentage points.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--Farm goods trade deficit likely to widen on FTAs: report

Since its first FTA with Chile , which went into effect in 2004 , South Korea has been aggressively expanding @ @ @ @ @ its export-oriented segments , such as electronics and automobiles .

By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's trade deficit in the agricultural segment is expected to widen this year as imports of farm goods are set to expand at a faster pace than exports on the back of the country's free trade agreement (FTA) networks, a report showed Sunday.
The deficit in South Korea's trade of agricultural products is expected to expand 5.8 percent on-year in 2020 to reach US$22.3 billion, according to the report released by the Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI).
Outbound shipments of agricultural products are estimated at US$6.7 billion this year, up 2.2 percent from 2019.
Imports of agricultural goods, however, are also expected to grow at a faster pace of 4.9 percent to $29 billion, according to the report.
The KREI attributed the trade deficit to South Korea's expanded trade deals, which have led to a sharp increase in imports of agricultural products, especially fresh fruits and vegetables.
Since its first FTA with Chile, which went into effect in 2004, South Korea has been aggressively expanding its trade territory to support its export-oriented segments, such as electronics and automobiles.
Last year alone, South Korea reached an agreement on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other dialogue partners.
The FTAs, however, also have led to a higher trade deficit in the agricultural sector for Asia's No. 4 economy.
South Korea's imports of agricultural products from FTA partners, including the United States and China, reached $22 billion in the January-September period of 2019, hovering above the annual average of $19 billion posted from 2014 to 2018.
The KREI said South Korea's imports of vegetables and fruits are especially set to rise 65.7 percent and 1.4 percent in 2020, respectively, this year.
In contrast, its purchases of meat products are anticipated to decrease 7.5 percent on-year amid the outbreak of African swine fever in Asian countries.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


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(END)


yna--2020-01-25--(4th LD) S. Korea expands 'cornonavirus watch' zone from Wuhan to all of China

`` The government is testing all people who are complaining of symptoms with no coronavirus incidents being identified in the @ @ @ @ @ a KCDC official said .
She added that none of the 69 people who are @ @ @ @ @ come in contact with the country 's second confirmed case are showing signs of illness @

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in paras 1-3, 5, 8-9, 16, 18; CHANGES bottom photo)
SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's public health and safety agency announced Saturday that they have designated mainland China a "coronavirus watch" zone as part of its ongoing effort to prevent the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus here.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) pledged to safeguard public health as South Koreans celebrate the four-day Lunar New Year holiday. It initially only marked Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, and surrounding Hubei Province as a place of special interest with extra scrutiny in terms of quarantine procedures for people who arrive from the city.
Details on the exact action to be taken will be announced on Sunday, the agency said, with such a step likely to entail all Chinese travelers having to fill out detailed health questionnaires upon arrival in South Korea.
About 32,000 Chinese visitors arrive in the country per day and Seoul confirmed cases of the new coronavirus that causes pneumonia-like illness on Monday and Friday. It said earlier in the day that it has so far checked 32 other people for the new coronavirus with all testing negative.
Hospital employees at Seoul Medical Center in the South Korean capital put up a notice informing people of risks associated with the Wuhan coronavirus on Jan. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
"The government is testing all people who are complaining of symptoms with no coronavirus incidents being identified in the past 24 hours," a KCDC official said. She added that none of the 69 people who are under close observation after having come in contact with the country's second confirmed case are showing signs of illness.
The first confirmed case involved a 35-year-old Chinese woman who arrived at Incheon International Airport, the country's main gateway west of Seoul, from Wuhan with the second being a South Korean who has worked in the city in Hubei Province since April 2019 and returned home after feeling unwell. The 55-year-old man arrived in South Korea on Wednesday with a fever.
The KCDC said the second patient is in stable condition with doctors treating him for a sore throat.
Airports across the nation have set up checkpoints to screen passengers from China and other countries for signs of illness, with local authorities accelerating quarantine efforts to contain the virus as a countless number of people visit relatives back home or travel abroad. Seoul earlier advised its citizens not to visit the central Chinese city.
The KCDC stressed citizens should follow strict personal hygiene standards whether they are in the country or traveling abroad, especially since the Lunar New Year is celebrated in both countries and involves travel by many people.
The agency said people feeling ill should immediately contact its emergency call center by dialing "1339" to receive assistance.
It also asked people to wash their hands frequently, cover their mouths when coughing and wear a mask if they have respiratory problems.
Common symptoms of the coronavirus include fever, sore throat and breathing difficulties, with more acute cases involving chills and muscle pain. Health experts said that elderly people and those with underlying disorders should be more careful not to contract the virus.
Related to the growing health concerns, South Korea's foreign ministry raised the travel advisory level for Wuhan and the Hubei region to "red alert" and recommended its citizens to evacuate the region.
"We advise all South Koreans to withdraw from the region unless for urgent matters, and our nationals who were planning to travel to the area to either cancel or delay the plan," the ministry said in a release.
The "red alert" is the third highest in the country's four-tier travel warning system.
China, meanwhile, announced that the virus has killed 41 people so far, with over 1,300 confirmed to be infected, amid concerns that the pneumonia-like illness is spreading quickly and widely.
Beijing has already stressed it will mobilize all its resources to contain the disease and even took steps to close off around a dozen cities and famous tourist attractions to control the spread.
This image, provided by the foreign ministry shows South Korea's travel advisory level for Wuhan and Hubei Province having been raised to "red alert" (R) from "yellow" and "blue" levels. The ministry strongly recommended its citizens to evacuate the region. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Macao, Hong Kong, France and the United States all have people infected with the new virus. Malaysia and Australia reported new confirmed cases during the day.
The new coronavirus, first reported in China on Dec. 31, was originally believed to have been passed onto humans by animals but is now known to be transmissible person to person, although victims may be contracting the virus by coming in contact with saliva and other bodily fluids rather than through airborne factors.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-25--(LEAD) Explosion kills 4 at lodging facility in eastern S. Korea

Among seven guests at the accommodations , four died and the three others were seriously injured .
Two other people @ @ @ @ @ lightly hurt by the explosion .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with latest info)
DONGHAE, South Korea, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- A suspected gas explosion at a lodging facility in eastern South Korea killed four people and injured five others on Saturday, firefighters said.
The accident occurred at 7:46 p.m. at a two-story building in Donghae, 280 kilometers east of Seoul, they said. Firefighters put out the fire in about 20 minutes.
Among seven guests at the accommodations, four died and the three others were seriously injured. Two other people who were passing by were lightly hurt by the explosion.
The explosion took place on the second floor, while the guests were cooking meat using a portable gas stove, they said.
"The other three people who survived are in critical condition due to severe burns," a firefighter said.
Police and firefighters are working to determine the identities of the guests and details of the incident.
(END)


yna--2020-01-25--(LEAD) Traffic flowing smoothly again on Lunar New Year's holiday

As of 9 p.m. , the drive to Seoul from the southeastern port city of Busan was expected to take @ @ @ @ @ minutes ; four hours and 10 minutes from Ulsan ; three hours and 40 minutes @ @ @ @ @ Gwangju and two hours and 20 minutes from the central city of Daejeon , it @ @

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout with latest info)
SEOUL, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- Traffic was moving well on major expressways across South Korea on Saturday evening, on the second day of the four-day Lunar New Year's holiday.
Called "Seol" in Korean, it is one of the largest annual celebrations for Koreans, many of whom visit their hometowns to get together with relatives and pay respects to ancestors. This year's Lunar New Year's day fell on Saturday and the four-day holiday ends on Monday.
Korea Expressway Corp. expected around 6 million automobiles to use the nation's expressways on Saturday. As of 9 p.m. that day, traffic was moving well on major expressways.
As of 9 p.m., the drive to Seoul from the southeastern port city of Busan was expected to take about four hours and 30 minutes; four hours and 10 minutes from Ulsan; three hours and 40 minutes from the southwestern city of Gwangju and two hours and 20 minutes from the central city of Daejeon, it said.
The expressway operator said traffic on roads heading to Seoul is expected to be heavy again starting 9 a.m. Sunday and peak at around 4 to 5 p.m., before returning to the normal level early on Monday morning.
Cars pack an expressway in southern Seoul that links the capital city and the southeastern city of Busan on Jan. 25, 2020, as they head for their hometowns on Lunar New Year's Day. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-01-25--Explosion at lodging facility in eastern S. Korea injures 9

`` Among the seriously injured seven people , four seem to have had cardiac arrests .
The other two seem @ @ @ @ @ , '' a firefighter said .

DONGHAE, South Korea, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- A suspected gas explosion at a lodging facility in eastern South Korea injured nine people on Saturday, firefighters said.
The accident occurred at 7:46 p.m. at a two-story building in Donghae, 280 kilometers east of Seoul, they said. Firefighters put out the fire.
"Among the seriously injured seven people, four seem to have had cardiac arrests. The other two seem to have been lightly injured," a firefighter said.
Authorities said they are working to determine what exactly caused the explosion.
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--(LEAD) Traffic remains congested on highways as people hit road on New Year holiday

A drive from Busan to Seoul , about 450 kilometers in distance , was expected to take about five hours @ @ @ @ @ Gangneung , about 230 kilometers east of the capital , the drive was expected to @ @ @ @ @ hours .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; ADDS updated traffic conditions in paras 5-7)
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- Traffic on major highways remained congested on Sunday, as millions of South Koreans hit the road back to Seoul as the Lunar New Year holiday draws to a close.
Sunday is the second-to-last day of the Lunar New Year's long weekend, one of the country's largest holidays. This year's holiday started Friday, and the annual exodus of people in Seoul and its surrounding areas for their hometowns began Thursday evening.
With the long weekend ending Monday, those people began making their way back up north or west toward the nation's capital on Sunday.
According to the state-run Korea Expressway Corp., traffic toward Seoul was expected to peak around 4-5 p.m. Sunday, and it likely won't ease until the wee hours of Monday morning.
As of 4:30 p.m., vehicles moved at an average of 40 kph or slower traveling northbound on some sections of the Gyeongbu Expressway linking the southern port city of Busan with Seoul.
A drive from Busan to Seoul, about 450 kilometers in distance, was expected to take about five hours and 30 minutes. From Gangneung, about 230 kilometers east of the capital, the drive was expected to take four and a half hours.
No serious traffic jams were reported on the southbound sides of major highways.
The Korea Expressway Corp. estimated about 4.64 million vehicles would hit the road on Sunday.
This photo from Jan. 25, 2020, shows vehicles clogging the southbound lanes on the Gyeongbu Expressway in Seoul, as millions of South Koreans began their annual exodus out of the capital city and toward their hometowns during the Lunar New Year's long weekend. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--(4th LD) S. Korea reports 3rd confirmed case of Wuhan coronavirus

The Seoul city government convened an emergency meeting of senior officials to check its response procedures to handle outbreaks and @ @ @ @ @ be taken to ensure the safety of its citizens .
Gyeonggi Province said it has @ @ @ @ @ that can help to contain outbreaks and coordinate work to isolate and treat people who @ @ @ @ @ virus .
It said hospitals have been notified to prepare for contingencies that could include @ @ @ @ @ South Chungcheong Province also said that it has canceled a group tour by some 3,000 @ @ @ @ @ were not from Wuhan .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 4-12, 16, 19-20, 24-26; CHANGES first photo)
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Sunday reported its third confirmed case of the Wuhan coronavirus amid mounting fears over the spread of the pneumonia-like illness throughout China and other parts of the world, with quarantine authorities scrambling to determine how best to respond to people who initially show no symptoms.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), a 54-year-old South Korean resident of Wuhan who arrived back home on Monday tested positive for the new strain of the virus that has killed 56 people so far.
"Upon arrival at the airport he showed no symptoms and was not aware he had been infected until he started suffering from fever, chills and muscle cramps on Wednesday. His condition seems to have improved for a few days before getting worse again, at which time he contacted health authorities and was placed in isolation on Saturday for tests and treatment," the KCDC said.
A notice placed at Myongji Hospital in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, asks people who recently visited China to use a separate entrance as a precautionary step following the announcement by the KCDC that a third Wuhan coronavirus case has been discovered in the country on July 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
Authorities said that in the latest case, the man had engaged in normal activities after flying into Incheon International Airport late Monday from Wuhan via Qingdao. It said officials are checking where he visited and the people he may have been in contact with so as to inform them of health risks and ask them to report any signs of illness.
On a broader level, Seoul said that starting on Tuesday, all of China will be classified as a "coronavirus risk area" subject to tighter quarantine, with newer standards on screening to be applied.
Travelers coming in from China must fill out detailed health questionnaires upon arrival in the country. The KCDC said it will receive around 200 additional personnel from the police, the military and local government to man checkpoints and asked citizens to be understanding of inconveniences that tighter screening may cause.
"If a person from Wuhan and nearby areas show signs of fever and breathing issues he or she will be placed in quarantine, while those from other parts of China that seem to have pneumonia will be isolated as well," the KCDC said. It said that for other milder symptoms, people who have not been to Wuhan will be placed under active monitoring.
Previously, Seoul had kept people in quarantine only if they had been to Wuhan in the recent past and were feeling ill, with those with no or very mild symptoms not being restricted and only advised to stay at home.
The latest case follows Seoul confirming two incidents of the new coronavirus strain on Monday and Friday, respectively, with health workers checking on the conditions of those that have come in contact with such people. In the first incident, the KCDC discovered 45 people who came into contact with the 35-year-old Chinese woman, while in the second case, involving a 55-year-old South Korean man, a total of 75 people have been identified and have been monitored, with the 11 people tested for having cold-like symptoms all testing negative for the virus.
Health authorities said that of the two people who were earlier confirmed to have been infected, the Chinese woman is being treated for pneumonia, with the man in stable condition and being monitored around the clock. They are in designated isolation unit wards in Incheon and Seoul, respectively. The third patient is in a hospital in Goyang City.
KCDC said that overall it has checked a total of 47 people who have shown symptoms so far, with all testing negative for the illness. The tally of people screened was 32 on Saturday.
South Korea's foreign ministry, which raised the travel advisory level for Wuhan and the Hubei region to "red alert" the previous day, has recommended its citizens evacuate the region.
"Red alert" is the third highest in the country's four-tier travel warning system.
The South Korean government is also considering evacuating its citizens from Wuhan on a chartered plane. About 500 South Koreans are said to be staying in and around Wuhan.
According to South Korean residents in Wuhan, the South Korean Consulate General in the city recently polled them about chartering a plane out of Wuhan. More than 400 people said they would board the flight if one became available.
A ministry source said that talks are under way with Beijing and other related organization to evacuate people.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday that the U.S. government will offer 1,000 American citizens in Wuhan a seat on a chartered 230-seat Boeing plane. The South Korean government has yet to reach an agreement with its Chinese counterpart over the use of its own chartered flight.
Reflecting the concerns raised by the coronavirus, airports across South Korea have set up checkpoints to screen passengers from China and other countries for signs of illness, with local authorities accelerating quarantine efforts to contain the virus as people visit relatives at home or travel abroad.
The Seoul city government convened an emergency meeting of senior officials to check its response procedures to handle outbreaks and what additional measures need to be taken to ensure the safety of its citizens. Gyeonggi Province said it has set up a situation room that can help to contain outbreaks and coordinate work to isolate and treat people who have tested positive for the virus. It said hospitals have been notified to prepare for contingencies that could include a spike in patients. South Chungcheong Province also said that it has canceled a group tour by some 3,000 Chinese nationals even though they were not from Wuhan.
"We contacted the travel agency that arranged the tour and reached an agreement to cancel the trip," a provincial official said. He said the move reflected local concerns about the illness.
Health workers stressed citizens should follow strict personal hygiene rules whether they are in the country or traveling abroad, especially since large numbers of Chinese tourists are visiting South Korea during the holiday period. The start of the Lunar New Year is celebrated by both Korean and Chinese people.
They said people feeling ill should immediately contact its emergency call center by dialing "1339."
It also asked people to wash their hands frequently, cover their mouths when coughing and, if they have respiratory problems, wear a mask.
On the issue of ferreting out people who are not feeling ill even though they have been infected with the virus, local doctors said that the government may have to broaden what it is checking for to detect those with the new coronavirus.
Kim Woo-joo, a professor of medicine at Korea University, said that there are people who do not seem to show signs of pneumonia at all.
"This requires authorities to expand their checklist and check for even minor telltale signs," he said.
Common symptoms of the coronavirus, thought to have originated in Wuhan, central China, include fever, sore throat and breathing difficulties, with more acute cases bringing chills and muscle pain. Health experts said that elderly people and those with underlying disorders should be more careful.
This image created by Yonhap News Agency shows the travel route taken by three people who have been confirmed to have contracted the Wuhan coronavirus as of Jan. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
Local businesses, meanwhile, said that with the spread of the coronavirus, many have halted all trips by employees to Wuhan and the nearby area.
SK Global Chemical Co. and steelmaker POSCO said they have stopped all trips to the most-affected areas, while oil refiner SK Innovation Co. announced that only critical personnel will be permitted to visit.
China announced that besides the deaths, 1,975 people are confirmed infected amid concerns that the virus is spreading quickly and widely. It said that of those infected, 324 were in critical condition.
Outside China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Macao, Hong Kong, France, Australia and the United States have reported confirmed cases of the new coronavirus strain, and there are media reports of a new case in Canada.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--(LEAD) Kim Jong-un's aunt makes 1st public appearance in over 6 years

Her long absence from public view had given rise to speculation that she , too , had been purged .
@ @ @ @ @ Seoul told the National Assembly in August 2017 that she was staying near Pyongyang and @ @ @ @ @ diabetes .

(ATTN: ADDS more info throughout)
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- Kim Kyong-hui, a once-powerful aunt of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has made her first public appearance in more than six years since the execution of her husband, Pyongyang's state media showed Sunday.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim Jong-un attended a concert celebrating Lunar New Year's Day on Saturday at the Samjiyon Theater in Pyongyang with his wife, Ri Sol-ju. The KCNA, monitored in Seoul, added that Kim Kyong-hui joined the leader and his wife in the audience.
According to photos released by state media, Kim Kyong-hui was seen sitting between leader Kim's wife and his younger sister, Kim Yo-jong. In the KCNA article, her name was listed right after Choe Ryong-hae, the North's No. 2 leader.
This photo captured from the website of the Rodong Sinmun in North Korea on Jan. 26, 2020, shows North Korean officials attending a Lunar New Year's concert at the Samjiyong Theater in Pyongyang the previous day. From left are Choe Ryong-hae, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly; Kim Jong-un, North Korea's leader; Ri Sol-ju, Kim's wife; and Kim Kyong-hui, Kim's aunt in her first public appearance in over six years. (Yonhap)
Kim Kyong-hui's public appearance marked the first time in more than six years since her husband and once No. 2 man in Pyongyang, Jang Song-thaek, was executed on charges of treason and corruption in December 2013.
She was last seen watching a military parade held to mark the country's 65th founding anniversary on Sept. 9 of the same year.
Her long absence from public view had given rise to speculation that she, too, had been purged. The National Intelligence Service in Seoul told the National Assembly in August 2017 that she was staying near Pyongyang and was getting medical treatment for diabetes.
Born in 1946, Kim Kyong-hui is a daughter of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung and sister of late leader and Kim Jong-un's father Kim Jong-il. She was stripped of major government posts following her husband's unexpected execution.
Experts see her reappearance as intended to emphasize the internal solidarity of Kim's family as the country is bracing for a protracted fight against crippling sanctions and pressure led by the United States.
She, however, is not likely to assume an important position again given her old age and her apparently weakened political status following her husband's execution, they added.
In his New Year's message, leader Kim called for making a "frontal breakthrough" to tackle challenges confronting the country and intensified efforts to build a self-reliant economy amid a lack of progress in denuclearization negotiations.
Kim said that he does not feel bound to maintain a self-imposed moratorium on testing long-range and nuclear weapons, saying that the North will show off a "new strategic weapon" in the near future.
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--Seoul issues safety guidebook for tourists

Illustrations are used to help foreigners understand the content .
It has QR codes to allow users to search for @ @ @ @ @ phones .

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul city government has recently issued a guidebook containing safety tips for international tourists visiting the capital.
The booklet, titled "Guide for Safe Travel In Seoul," is available in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese.
It is distributed free of charge at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, and major tourist information centers.
The guidebook provides useful information on safety in various places such as shopping centers, mountain trails, bicycle lanes and the Han River.
It offers tips on coping with extreme weather conditions in all four seasons, as well as dealing with things like fine dust and disaster drills.
Illustrations are used to help foreigners understand the content. It has QR codes to allow users to search for more information with their mobile phones.
Images from "Guide for Safe Travel In Seoul" provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--LCD panel prices to rise in H1 as Korean display makers cut supplies

`` The price for TV-sized LCD panels is likely to make a steady rise in the first half , '' @ @ @ @ @ at KB Securities Co. , said .
`` Global TV manufacturers are likely to expand @ @ @ @ @ sports events , such as Euro 2020 and the Tokyo Olympics .
Also , Korean @ @ @ @ @ to shut down additional LCD lines . ''

By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- Prices for TV-sized LCD panels are likely to go up in the first half of the year, analysts here said Sunday, as South Korean display makers are cutting their supplies in a move to convert their LCD facilities to OLED production lines.
The price of large-sized LCD panels in the second half of January rose slightly compared to the first half of the month, according to data from WitsView, a display research division of market tracker TrendForce. WitsView releases display panel price data twice a month.
The price of a 32-inch LCD panel saw the largest hike at 3.1 percent, followed by the 43-inch at 1.4 percent, the 55-inch at 0.9 percent and the 65-inch at 0.6 percent, WitsView data showed.
This undated photo provided by LG Display Co. shows the company's plant in Guangzhou, China. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The 75-inch LCD panel was the only product that suffered a price decline after it dropped 0.3 percent to US$333 in the second half of January.
Analysts said LCD panel prices could keep an upward trend until the first half of the year as South Korean display makers like Samsung Display Co. and LG Display Co. are cutting their LCD panel productions, while TV makers are to expand their display inventories to sell more TVs later.
"The price for TV-sized LCD panels is likely to make a steady rise in the first half," Kim Dong-won, an analyst at KB Securities Co., said. "Global TV manufacturers are likely to expand their marketing ahead of major sports events, such as Euro 2020 and the Tokyo Olympics. Also, Korean display panel makers are likely to shut down additional LCD lines."
LG Display has been working to convert its LCD production lines into OLED facilities, while Samsung Display is also preparing to retool its LCD line to produce its next-generation display known as QD-Display.
This photo provided by Samsung Display Co. shows the company's Asan Campus building in South Chungcheong Province, central South Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The two local display giants have been trying to downsize their LCD businesses as Chinese makers with cheaper products dominated the market in recent years with a massive output.
LG Display, in particular, has been suffering the most among local display makers as more than 70 percent of its sales relied on LCD products. Analysts predicted that the company's operating loss in 2019 could surpass 1 trillion won (US$856 million).
"The recent hike in LCD prices is likely to improve LG Display's earnings for this year, but the company will speed its transition to OLED business," said Kim at KB Securities. "LG Display's earnings this year will depend on the productivity of its OLED plant in Guangzhou, China."
Analysts, however, predicted that the upward trend in LCD prices may not last until the end of the year as Chinese makers are ramping up the LCD production capability of 10th-generation factories.
"It is likely that this upturn cycle in the LCD industry is to last about two quarters considering the utilization rate of Chinese display makers in the second half," Kim Hyun-soo, an analyst at Hana Financial Investment Co., said.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--(3rd LD) S. Korea reports 3rd confirmed case of Wuhan coronavirus

The country reported two confirmed cases of the new coronavirus strain on Monday and Friday and is keeping close tabs @ @ @ @ @ come in contact with such people .
In the first incident , the KCDC discovered @ @ @ @ @ contact with the 35-year-old Chinese woman , while in the second case , involving the @ @ @ @ @ a total of 67 people have been identified and are being monitored .

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 12-14, 22)
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Sunday reported its third confirmed case of the Wuhan coronavirus amid mounting fears over the spread of the pneumonia-like illness throughout China and other parts of the world, with quarantine authorities scrambling to determine how best to respond to people who initially show no symptoms.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), a 54-year-old South Korean resident of Wuhan who arrived back home on Monday tested positive for the new strain of the virus that has killed 56 people so far.
"Upon arrival at the airport he showed no symptoms and was not aware he had been infected until he started suffering from fever, chills and muscle cramps on Wednesday. His condition seems to have improved for a few days before getting worse again, at which time he contacted health authorities and was placed in isolation on Saturday for tests and treatment," the KCDC said.
This file photo taken Jan. 23, 2020, shows people at Incheon International Airport west of Seoul wearing masks as they move through the passenger terminal amid Wuhan coronavirus fears. (Yonhap)
It said more information about the third case will be made available in due course with all efforts being made to trace his whereabouts and people he met after arriving in the country.
The country reported two confirmed cases of the new coronavirus strain on Monday and Friday and is keeping close tabs on those that may have come in contact with such people. In the first incident, the KCDC discovered 44 people who came into contact with the 35-year-old Chinese woman, while in the second case, involving the 55-year-old South Korean man, a total of 67 people have been identified and are being monitored.
Health authorities said that of the two people who were earlier confirmed to have been infected, both are in a stable condition and are receiving treatment.
Besides the latest confirmed case, the KCDC said it has checked 47 people who have shown symptoms so far, with all testing negative for the illness. The tally of people screened was 32 on Saturday.
To counter the health threat posed by the virus, authorities here said Saturday that they have designated mainland China a "coronavirus watch" zone as part of their ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus here.
"The government will start asking all travelers coming in from China to fill out detailed health questionnaires upon arrival in the country," a KCDC source said. The tighter rules will not be enforced immediately as related personnel need to be trained, she said.
South Korea's foreign ministry raised the travel advisory level for Wuhan and the Hubei region to "red alert" and recommended its citizens evacuate the region.
"Red alert" is the third highest in the country's four-tier travel warning system.
The South Korean government is also considering evacuating its citizens from Wuhan on a chartered plane. About 500 South Koreans are said to be staying in and around Wuhan.
According to South Korean residents in Wuhan, the South Korean Consulate General in the city recently polled them about chartering a plane out of Wuhan. More than 400 people said they would board the flight if one became available.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday the U.S. government will offer 1,000 American citizens in Wuhan a seat on a chartered 230-seat Boeing plane. The South Korean government has yet to reach an agreement with its Chinese counterpart over the use of its own chartered flight.
Reflecting the concerns raised by the coronavirus, airports across South Korea have set up checkpoints to screen passengers from China and other countries for signs of illness, with local authorities accelerating quarantine efforts to contain the virus as people visit relatives at home or travel abroad.
Health workers stressed citizens should follow strict personal hygiene rules whether they are in the country or traveling abroad, especially since large numbers of Chinese tourists are visiting South Korea during the holiday period. The start of the Lunar New Year is celebrated by both Korean and Chinese people.
They said people feeling ill should immediately contact an emergency call center by dialing "1339."
Health authorities also asked people to wash their hands frequently, cover their mouths when coughing and, if they have respiratory problems, wear a mask.
Common symptoms of the coronavirus, thought to have originated in Wuhan, central China, include fever, sore throat and breathing difficulties, with more acute cases bringing chills and muscle pain. Health experts said that elderly people and those with underlying disorders should be more careful.
Local businesses, meanwhile, said that with the spread of the coronavirus, many have halted all trips by employees to Wuhan and the nearby area.
SK Global Chemical Co. and steelmaker POSCO said they have stopped all trips to the most-affected areas, while oil refiner SK Innovation Co. announced that only critical personnel will be permitted to visit.
Elsewhere, the province of South Chungcheong said it has canceled visits by 3,000 Chinese tourists from Jan. 30 to the end of February. To promote regional tourism, South Chungcheong had worked with travel agencies and tour promotion bodies to attract Chinese travelers. Though the tourists whose trips have been canceled are from areas far outside Wuhan, the province noted that the coronavirus has already spread across China and it does not want to take the risk of having the illness find its way to South Chungcheong.
China announced that besides the deaths, 1,975 people are confirmed infected amid concerns that the virus is spreading quickly and widely. It said that of those infected, 324 were in critical condition.
Outside China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Macao, Hong Kong, France, Australia and the United States have reported confirmed cases of the new coronavirus strain, and there are media reports of a new case in Canada.
This image created by Yonhap News Agency shows the travel route taken by three people who have been confirmed to have contracted Wuhan coronavirus as of Jan. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--Over 8,000 illegal stayers leave Korea voluntarily under incentive program

The ministry said 8,093 overstayers went abroad voluntarily for one month beginning on Dec. 11 , when the government embarked @ @ @ @ @ permitting overstayers voluntarily departing from South Korea by June this year to reenter the country @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- More than 8,000 foreigners staying illegally in South Korea left the country voluntarily for a month after the government began to offer various incentives, including an opportunity for reentry, last month, the Ministry of Justice said Sunday.
The ministry said 8,093 overstayers went abroad voluntarily for one month beginning on Dec. 11, when the government embarked on a new policy of permitting overstayers voluntarily departing from South Korea by June this year to reenter the country if certain conditions are met.
Those who leave on their own are exempted from paying fines and given an opportunity to obtain a short-term visa for 90 days of stay here after a certain period of time following departure.
Those who reenter the country with the short-term visa and leave again before its expiry can also receive a multiple-entry visa with a validity period of one year.
The logo of the Ministry of Justice (Yonhap)
Starting July 1, even overstayers choosing a voluntary departure will be slapped with fines.
According to the ministry, an average of 385 overstayers voluntarily left the country a day after the implementation of the new incentive policy.
Between last July and November, the daily average of voluntary departures was 188, it noted.
Details on how to report voluntary departures to the authorities are available on the website of the Korea Immigration Service or Hi Korea.
Meanwhile, the ministry said it will toughen crackdowns and punishment for employers of illegal foreigners.
The ministry also signed an MOU with its Thai counterpart last November, which calls for bilateral cooperation and efforts to prevent Thais from staying illegally in South Korea.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--Today in Korean history

Today in Korean history

2010 -- South Korea and North Korea exchange fire in waters near the inter-Korean sea border , with tensions rising @ @ @ @ @ area in the Yellow Sea a `` no-sail '' zone .
The Joint Chiefs of @ @ @ @ @ Korea fired several artillery shells into the northern part of the Northern Limit Line ( @ @ @ @ @ or injuries were reported , as both sides fired into the air .
The clash @ @ @ @ @ after the divided Koreas engaged in their first naval clash on the west coast in @ @ @ @ @ Korean ship violated the sea border .

Jan. 27
1883 -- The Joseon Dynasty designates the "Taegeukki" as the national flag.
1959 -- Lee Dong-jun, a correspondent of the Soviet Union's Pravda newspaper in Pyongyang, defects to South Korea through the truce village of Panmunjom.
1971 -- South Korea puts the Vienna Convention on consular relations into force.
1994 -- Kim Dae-jung, then head of the now defunct Democratic Party, establishes the Asia-Pacific Peace Foundation.
2003 -- South Korean presidential envoy Lim Dong-won leaves for Pyongyang to discuss with North Korean leaders ways to resolve the North's standoff with the United States over its nuclear weapons program.
2005 -- South Korea's foreign ministry calls in China's ambassador to express regret over Beijing's repatriation to North Korea of a former South Korean solider taken prisoner during the 1950-53 Korean War.
2010 -- South Korea and North Korea exchange fire in waters near the inter-Korean sea border, with tensions rising after Pyongyang declared the disputed area in the Yellow Sea a "no-sail" zone. The Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said North Korea fired several artillery shells into the northern part of the Northern Limit Line (NLL). No casualties or injuries were reported, as both sides fired into the air. The clash came less than three months after the divided Koreas engaged in their first naval clash on the west coast in seven years after a North Korean ship violated the sea border.
2012 -- Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairman Choi See-joong, the country's top communications regulator, resigns amid allegations that a former aide took a bribe from a businessman in return for favors.
2016 -- Chinese tech giant Xiaomi Inc. starts selling its smartphones in South Korea through local dollar-shop chain Daiso. It was the first time its mobile devices were sold at offline stores here.
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--BTS producer Bang Si-hyuk named to Billboard's Power List

`` Bang , 47 , diversified his South Korean company 's exploding business , '' Billboard 's blurb on Bang @ @ @ @ @ Big Hit premiered its first new group since BTS with Tomorrow X Together ( which @ @ @ @ @ chart ) , acquired Source Music ( a subsidiary label that 's home to high-charting @ @ @ @ @ launched the mobile game BTS World -- all while reporting , in August , record @ @ @ @ @ million for the first half of 2019 . ''

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- Bang Si-hyuk, the chief producer for K-pop sensation BTS, has made the 2020 Billboard Power List.
The U.S. music publication unveiled its annual list of the industry's most powerful figures on Thursday (local time). And Bang, CEO and executive producer of Big Hit Entertainment, was recognized for his role behind the meteoric surge of BTS.
According to Billboard, BTS in 2019 became the first group since the Beatles to produce three No. 1 albums within a year.
"Bang, 47, diversified his South Korean company's exploding business," Billboard's blurb on Bang's selection said. "Big Hit premiered its first new group since BTS with Tomorrow X Together (which topped Billboard's World Albums chart), acquired Source Music (a subsidiary label that's home to high-charting girl group GFriend) and launched the mobile game BTS World -- all while reporting, in August, record revenue of US$172 million for the first half of 2019."
Bang joined the likes of Universal Music Group Chairman Lucian Grainge, Sony Music Group Chairman Rob Stringer and Spotify founder Daniel Ek on the Power List.
This file photo provided by Big Hit Entertainment on Dec. 5, 2019, shows the management company's CEO, Bang Si-hyuk. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--Traffic builds up on highways as people return to Seoul from New Year holiday

A drive from the southern port city of Busan to Seoul , about 450 kilometers in distance , was expected @ @ @ @ @ and 30 minutes as of 1 p.m. From Gangneung , about 230 kilometers east of @ @ @ @ @ was expected to take three hours and 40 minutes .

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- Traffic on major highways was building up on major highways nationwide on Sunday, as millions of South Koreans returned to Seoul at the end of the Lunar New Year's holiday.
Sunday is the second-to-last day of the Lunar New Year's long weekend, one of the country's largest holidays. This year's holiday started Friday, and the annual exodus of people in Seoul and its surrounding areas for their hometowns began Thursday evening.
With the long weekend ending Monday, those people began making their way back up north or west toward the nation's capital on Sunday.
According to the state-run Korea Expressway Corp., traffic toward Seoul was expected to peak around 4-5 p.m. Sunday, and it likely won't ease until the wee hours of Monday morning.
A drive from the southern port city of Busan to Seoul, about 450 kilometers in distance, was expected to take about six hours and 30 minutes as of 1 p.m. From Gangneung, about 230 kilometers east of the capital, the drive was expected to take three hours and 40 minutes.
The Korea Expressway Corp. estimated about 4.64 million vehicles would hit the road on Sunday.
This photo from Jan. 25, 2020, shows vehicles clogging the southbound lanes on the Gyeongbu Expressway in Seoul, as millions of South Koreans began their annual exodus out of the capital city and toward their hometowns during the Lunar New Year's long weekend. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--Moon vows pan-governmental effort against deadly virus from China

The statement came shortly after South Korea reported its third confirmed patient to have the coronavirus .
The virus originated @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan and has been spreading across China , killing dozens of Chinese people so far @ @ @ @ @ others , according to official data .

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in issued a special public message Sunday, pledging every effort to curb the spread of a new type of virus from China.
He stressed the government is on high alert during the ongoing Lunar New Year holiday season and that a "24-hour response system" is in operation. He cited a host of Chinese tourists here and South Koreans retuning from visits to the neighboring country as risk factors in the spread of the disease.
"Now that the government is making every necessary effort along with local authorities, I ask the people to have trust in the government and not to be excessively anxious in connection with measures needed," he said in the message.
The statement came shortly after South Korea reported its third confirmed patient to have the coronavirus. The virus originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has been spreading across China, killing dozens of Chinese people so far and infecting more than 1,000 others, according to official data.
A file photo of the National Medical Center in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Moon spoke with the heads of the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (KCDC) and National Medical Center on the phone.
Speaking with KCDC chief Jung Eun-kyeong, the president called for "preemptive" and "more active" steps to prevent the inflow of those infected with the virus during the quarantine stage at local airports and seaports, according to Cheong Wa Dae deputy spokesperson Han Jung-woo.
Moon also emphasized the need for pan-governmental cooperation in the campaign and promised to provide medical institutions with all necessary support.
Jung reported to Moon that her organization plans to introduce a new medical check-up method for the virus ahead of an expected increase in demand here, Han said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--(2nd LD) S. Korea reports 3rd confirmed case of Wuhan coronavirus

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details throughout; CHANGES photos)
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Sunday reported its third confirmed case of the Wuhan coronavirus amid mounting fears over the spread of the pneumonia-like illness throughout China and other parts of the world, with quarantine authorities scrambling to determine how best to respond to people who initially show no symptoms.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), a 54-year-old South Korean resident of Wuhan who arrived back home on Monday tested positive for the new strain of the virus that has killed 56 people so far.
"Upon arrival at the airport he showed no symptoms and was not aware he had been infected until he started suffering from fever, chills and muscle cramps on Wednesday. His condition seems to have improved for a few days before getting worse again, at which time he contacted health authorities and was placed in isolation on Saturday for tests and treatment," the KCDC said.
This file photo taken Jan. 23, 2020, shows people at Incheon International Airport west of Seoul wearing masks as they move through the passenger terminal amid Wuhan coronavirus fears. (Yonhap)
It said more information about the third case will be made available in due course with all efforts being made to trace his whereabouts and people he met after arriving in the country.
The country reported two confirmed cases of the new coronavirus strain on Monday and Friday and is keeping close tabs on those that may have come in contact with such people. In the first incident, the KCDC discovered 44 people who came into contact with the 35-year-old Chinese woman, while in the second case, involving the 55-year-old South Korean man, a total of 67 people have been identified and are being monitored.
Health authorities said that of the two people who were earlier confirmed to have been infected, both are in a stable condition and are receiving treatment.
Besides the latest confirmed case, the KCDC said it has checked 47 people who have shown symptoms so far, with all testing negative for the illness. The tally of people screened was 32 on Saturday.
To counter the health threat posed by the virus, authorities here said Saturday that they have designated mainland China a "coronavirus watch" zone as part of their ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus here.
"The government will start asking all travelers coming in from China to fill out detailed health questionnaires upon arrival in the country," a KCDC source said. The tighter rules will not be enforced immediately as related personnel need to be trained, she said.
South Korea's foreign ministry raised the travel advisory level for Wuhan and the Hubei region to "red alert" and recommended its citizens evacuate the region.
"Red alert" is the third highest in the country's four-tier travel warning system.
Reflecting the concerns raised by the coronavirus, airports across South Korea have set up checkpoints to screen passengers from China and other countries for signs of illness, with local authorities accelerating quarantine efforts to contain the virus as people visit relatives at home or travel abroad.
Health workers stressed citizens should follow strict personal hygiene rules whether they are in the country or traveling abroad, especially since large numbers of Chinese tourists are visiting South Korea during the holiday period. The start of the Lunar New Year is celebrated by both Korean and Chinese people.
They said people feeling ill should immediately contact its emergency call center by dialing "1339."
It also asked people to wash their hands frequently, cover their mouths when coughing and, if they have respiratory problems, wear a mask.
Common symptoms of the coronavirus, thought to have originated in Wuhan, central China, include fever, sore throat and breathing difficulties, with more acute cases bringing chills and muscle pain. Health experts said that elderly people and those with underlying disorders should be more careful.
Local businesses, meanwhile, said that with the spread of the coronavirus, many have halted all trips by employees to Wuhan and the nearby area.
SK Global Chemical Co. and steelmaker POSCO said they have stopped all trips to the most-affected areas, while oil refiner SK Innovation Co. announced that only critical personnel will be permitted to visit.
China announced that besides the deaths, 1,975 people are confirmed infected amid concerns that the virus is spreading quickly and widely. It said that of those infected, 324 were in critical condition.
Outside China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Macao, Hong Kong, France, Australia and the United States have reported confirmed cases of the new coronavirus strain, and there are media reports of a new case in Canada.
This image created by Yonhap News Agency shows the travel route taken by three people who have been confirmed to have contracted Wuhan coronavirus as of Jan. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--(LEAD) S. Korea reports 3rd confirmed case of Wuhan coronavirus

`` Upon arrival at the airport he showed no symptoms but he started suffering from fever , chills and muscle @ @ @ @ @ condition seems to have improved for a few days before getting worse again , at @ @ @ @ @ authorities and was placed in isolation on Saturday for tests and treatment , '' the @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details throughout; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Sunday reported its third confirmed case of the Wuhan coronavirus amid mounting fears over the spread of the pneumonia-like illness throughout China and other parts of the world.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), a 54-year-old South Korean resident of Wuhan who arrived back home on Monday tested positive for the new strain of the virus that has killed 56 people so far.
"Upon arrival at the airport he showed no symptoms but he started suffering from fever, chills and muscle cramps on Wednesday. His condition seems to have improved for a few days before getting worse again, at which time he contacted health authorities and was placed in isolation on Saturday for tests and treatment," the KCDC said.
This file photo taken Jan. 23, 2020, shows new arrivals at Incheon International Airport going through a thermal checkpoint designed to detect people with fever. (Yonhap)
It said more information about the third case will be made available in due course.
Besides the latest confirmed case, the KCDC said it has checked 47 people who have showed symptoms so far, with all testing negative for the illness. The tally was 32 on Saturday.
The country reported two confirmed cases of the new coronavirus strain on Monday and Friday and is keeping close tabs on those that may have come in contact with such people.
To counter the health threat posed by the virus, the health authorities here said Saturday that they have designated mainland China a "coronavirus watch" zone as part of their ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus here.
Later in the day, South Korea's foreign ministry raised the travel advisory level for Wuhan and the Hubei region to "red alert" and recommended its citizens to evacuate the region.
The "red alert" is the third highest in the country's four-tier travel warning system.
Reflecting the concerns raised by the coronavirus, airports across South Korea have set up checkpoints to screen passengers from China and other countries for signs of illness, with local authorities accelerating quarantine efforts to contain the virus as people visit relatives at home or travel abroad.
Health workers stressed citizens should follow strict personal hygiene rules whether they are in the country or traveling abroad, especially since large numbers of Chinese tourists are visiting South Korea during the holiday period. The start of the Lunar New Year is celebrated by both Korean and Chinese people.
They said people feeling ill should immediately contact its emergency call center by dialing "1339."
It also asked people to wash their hands frequently, cover their mouths when coughing and, if they have respiratory problems, wear a mask.
Common symptoms of the coronavirus, thought to have originated in Wuhan, central China, include fever, sore throat and breathing difficulties, with more acute cases bringing chills and muscle pain. Health experts said that elderly people and those with underlying disorders should be more careful.
China announced that besides the deaths, 1,975 people are confirmed infected amid concerns that the virus is spreading quickly and widely. It said that of those infected, 324 were in critical condition.
Outside China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Macao, Hong Kong, France, Australia and the United States have reported confirmed cases of the new coronavirus strain, and there are media reports of a new case in Canada.
This file photo taken Jan. 23, 2020, shows sanitation workers spraying the floor of Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, with a disinfectant to guard against the spread of the Wuhan Cornavirus. (Yonhap)
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--Anticipated S. Korean games set for launch in H1

SEOUL , Jan. 26 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea 's major game publishers are scheduled to launch their indigenous @ @ @ @ @ of the year , which will also boost their earnings down the road , industry @ @ @ @

By Kim Han-joo
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's major game publishers are scheduled to launch their indigenous games during the first half of the year, which will also boost their earnings down the road, industry sources said Sunday.
Netmarble Games, a major mobile game developer and publisher, said its new mobile massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), "A3:Still Alive," will be available to local users in March.
This photo, provided by Netmarble Games, shows its latest mobile massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), "A3:Still Alive." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The game is Netmarble's first attempt to merge an MMORPG, which is popular in the country, and a battle royale game, which is more popular in the Western market.
"'A3: Still Alive' is Netmarble's fresh adventure in the game market as it is a completely new genre," Netmarble CEO Kwon Yeong-sik said earlier.
The game allows a total of 30 players to compete to be the last standing, Netmarble said.
The date of the global launch has not yet been decided
Another gaming company, Nexon Co., is also scheduled to roll out its latest mobile role-playing game (RPG) based on a fantasy theme, "Counter Side," on Feb. 4.
Players can collect characters in a virtual reality background, in which reality and another world exist with more than 100 characters.
This photo, provided by Nexon Co., shows the company's latest RPG, "Counter Side." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)