yna--2020-05-28--Nissan to withdraw from S. Korea as sales plunge

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- Nissan Motor Co. said Thursday it will withdraw its operations from South Korea by December amid weak sales caused by lingering anti-Japan sentiment and the new coronavirus outbreak.
The Japanese carmaker will pull out the Nissan and premium Infiniti brands as part of its global business reorganization, the company said in a statement.
"The company has reached a conclusion that it is hard to regain a sustainable growth structure in South Korea due to worsening business environments at home and abroad despite its efforts to keep operations here," it said.
Nissan said it will continue to offer after-sales services for South Korean owners of Nissan and Infiniti models for eight years through 2028.
This file photo shows Nissan Motor's company logo. (Yonhap)
Japanese carmakers have suffered a sharp decline in sales in Asia's fourth-biggest economy as the two countries are still at odds over Tokyo's imposition of export curbs last year.
In the January-April period, Nissan brand sales fell 41 percent to 813 vehicles from 1,384 units a year earlier. Infiniti brand sales nose-dived 79 percent to 159 from 759 during the same period.
Five Japanese brands are available in the Korean passenger vehicle market -- Toyota Motor Corp. and its luxury brand Lexus; Honda Motor Co.; and Nissan Motor Co. and its premium brand Infiniti.
Last July, Japan tightened regulations on exports to South Korea of three high-tech materials critical for the production of semiconductors and displays.
In August, Japan also removed South Korea from its list of countries given preferential treatment in trade procedures.
South Korea views the moves as retaliation against 2018 Supreme Court rulings here ordering Japanese firms to compensate South Korean victims of forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--BTS agency Big Hit applies for preliminary review for listing

Big Hit , whose value is estimated at least 2 trillion won , is widely expected to wrap up its @ @ @ @ @ emerge .

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- Big Hit Entertainment, the management agency of K-pop mega group BTS, has filed for a preliminary review to be listed, the bourse operator here said Thursday.
NH Investment & Securities, Korea Investment & Securities and JP Morgan will handle the offer, according to the Korea Exchange (KRX).
Big Hit, established in 2005, manages K-pop singers BTS, Tomorrow X Together and Lee Hyun.
Founder and co-CEO Bang Si-hyuk currently holds a 45.1 percent stake in the label.
In 2019, Big Hit logged revenue of 587.2 billion won (US$473.5 million) and a net profit of 72.4 billion won.
The company's operating profit reached 98.7 billion won, bigger than the combined operating profit of the top three K-pop agencies -- SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and YG Entertainment.
The KRX conducts preliminary reviews within 45 working days upon receiving a submission.
Companies submit an application to be listed within six months after receiving the preliminary review result.
Big Hit, whose value is estimated at least 2 trillion won, is widely expected to wrap up its listing this year unless issues emerge.
This file photo, provided by Big Hit Entertainment, shows K-pop group BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
BTS’ agency Big Hit Entertainment prepares to go public Youtube https://youtu.be/s5RISU-yNl8
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--(4th LD) Moon stresses 'politics of cooperation' in meeting with party floor leaders

On the North 's `` hostile '' acts against the South other than provocations aimed at drawing international attention , @ @ @ @ @ saying by the conservative politician that his government is `` managing the situation and trying @ @ @ @ @ from recurring . ''

(ATTN: UPDATES with opposition party lawmaker's briefing, other details from 6th para)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in requested bipartisan support Thursday for the government's plan to allocate a third supplementary budget in response to the economic fallout of the new coronavirus pandemic, during a meeting with the floor leaders of South Korea's two major political parties at Cheong Wa Dae.
He also emphasized the importance of the National Assembly speedily passing an employment-related bill and helping with preparations for the establishment of a non-prosecution unit in July tasked with investigating corruption among high-ranking civil servants, according to presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok.
Moon hosted the luncheon meeting with Kim Tae-nyeon of the ruling Democratic Party and Joo Ho-young of the main opposition United Future Party, two days before the country's newly elected lawmakers begin their four-year terms. The meeting took place at the Sangchunjae guesthouse inside the presidential compound in Seoul.
President Moon Jae-in (C) poses for a commemorative photo with Kim Tae-nyeon (R), floor leader the ruling Democratic Party, and Kim's counterpart from the main opposition United Future Party, Joo Ho-young, at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
Moon pointed out that the world is confronted with a crisis deemed the most serious since the Great Depression.
Speaking to Kim and Joo, the president suggested "politics of cooperation" and frequent meetings for candid discussions on various issues.
Another keyword in Moon's message was "national unity."
The president expressed hope that the parties will soon reach a deal in negotiations on the chairs of the 18 standing committees at the parliament and open its formal session smoothly.
Joo proposed the creation of a new ministerial position in charge of political affairs and Moon told his chief of staff, Noh Young-min, to consider it, Kang said.
The government is expected to submit another extra budget bill, reportedly worth around 40 trillion won (US$32 billion), next month to minimize the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government is separately gearing up to launch the new investigative agency under legislation on prosecution reform, which Joo's party views as aimed at bolstering already-strong presidential power.
Speaking separately to reporters on the Cheong Wa Dae session, Joo said he had raised worries about fiscal soundness amid the Moon administration's expansionary budget spending.
With regard to national security, Joo also took issue with North Korea's continued nuclear and missile programs.
In response, Moon cited South Korea's "overwhelming conventional" firepower to counter the North's threats, saying it's realistically impossible for Seoul to seek its own nuclear armament due to various international rules.
On the North's "hostile" acts against the South other than provocations aimed at drawing international attention, the president was quoted as saying by the conservative politician that his government is "managing the situation and trying to prevent such a thing from recurring."
It marked Moon's first Cheong Wa Dae meeting with the floor leaders of the rival parties since Nov. 5, 2018. That meeting was joined by then floor leaders of three smaller opposition parties.
This time, only the two parties eligible to form a floor negotiating group, which requires at least 20 seats, were invited.
President Moon Jae-in (L) talks with Kim Tae-nyeon (R), floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, and Kim's counterpart from the main opposition United Future Party, Joo Ho-young, at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--UNC joins S. Korean training against illegal entry into Han River estuary

The three-day training exercise led by the Marine Corps and involving the Navy and Coast Guard focused on `` knowledge @ @ @ @ @ training '' to develop and train `` on responses to illegal incursions , '' the @ @ @ @ @ post .

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- The United Nations Command (UNC) said Thursday it joined the South Korean military in a training exercise this week to tackle illegal incursions into neutral waters of a Han River estuary.
The waterway along the inter-Korean western border has often been infiltrated by Chinese fishing boats, and the Marine Corps has carried out policing operations in cooperation with the U.S.-led UNC.
The three-day training exercise led by the Marine Corps and involving the Navy and Coast Guard focused on "knowledge sharing, discussions and live training" to develop and train "on responses to illegal incursions," the command said in a Facebook post.
Earlier this month, the Marine Corps launched the policing operation and removed two drift nets and eight buoys in the region, UNC said, adding that it notified North Korea of the operation.
The neutral zone was designated by the Armistice Agreement that halted the 1950-53 Korean War, and UNC enforces the agreement.
This photo posted on the United Nations Command's Facebook page on May 28, 2020, shows service members staging a training exercise at a Han River estuary near the inter-Korean border. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--U.N. group asks N. Korea to determine whereabouts of 34 missing persons

Launched in 1980 , the U.N. group has assisted families in locating the whereabouts of their relatives who have disappeared @ @ @ @ @ to relevant governments and demands they share the outcome of their investigations .

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- A U.N. group has requested that North Korea release information on about 30 civilians presumed to have gone missing or been abducted mostly during the Korean War.
According to a report posted on its website, the U.N. Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) made the request in a letter sent to the North last November.
In the letter, it requested that North Korea provide information on a total of 34 "enforced disappearance" cases, including 27 people who were allegedly taken to the North against their will during the 1950-53 war.
It has not been confirmed whether the North has provided a response to the request.
Enforced disappearance refers to a person who has gone missing after having been arrested, detained or abducted by a government or state-run organization.
Launched in 1980, the U.N. group has assisted families in locating the whereabouts of their relatives who have disappeared. It delivers such allegations to relevant governments and demands they share the outcome of their investigations.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--(3rd LD) Moon stresses 'politics of cooperation' in meeting with party floor leaders

SEOUL , May 28 ( Yonhap ) -- President Moon Jae-in requested bipartisan support Thursday for the government 's plan @ @ @ @ @ budget in response to the economic fallout of the new coronavirus pandemic , during a @ @ @ @ @ of South Korea 's two major political parties at Cheong Wa Dae .

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details of press briefing)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in requested bipartisan support Thursday for the government's plan to allocate a third supplementary budget in response to the economic fallout of the new coronavirus pandemic, during a meeting with the floor leaders of South Korea's two major political parties at Cheong Wa Dae.
He also emphasized the importance of the National Assembly speedily passing an employment-related bill and helping with preparations for the establishment of a non-prosecution unit in July tasked with investigating corruption among high-ranking civil servants, according to presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok.
Moon hosted the luncheon meeting with Kim Tae-nyeon of the ruling Democratic Party and Joo Ho-young of the main opposition United Future Party, two days before the country's newly elected lawmakers begin their four-year terms. The meeting took place at the Sangchunjae guesthouse inside the presidential compound in Seoul.
President Moon Jae-in (C) poses for a commemorative photo with Kim Tae-nyeon (R), floor leader the ruling Democratic Party, and Kim's counterpart from the main opposition United Future Party, Joo Ho-young, at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
Moon pointed out that the world is confronted with a crisis deemed the most serious since the Great Depression.
Speaking to Kim and Joo, the president suggested "politics of cooperation" and frequent meetings for candid discussions on various issues.
Joo proposed the creation of a new ministerial position in charge of political affairs and Moon told his chief of staff, Noh Young-min, to consider it, Kang said.
The government is expected to submit another extra budget bill, reportedly worth around 40 trillion won (US$32 billion), next month to minimize the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government is separately gearing up to launch the new investigative agency under legislation on prosecution reform, which Joo's party views as aimed at bolstering already-strong presidential power.
It marked Moon's first Cheong Wa Dae meeting with the floor leaders of the rival parties since Nov. 5, 2018. That meeting was joined by then floor leaders of three smaller opposition parties.
This time, only the two parties eligible to form a floor negotiating group, which requires at least 20 seats, were invited.
President Moon Jae-in (L) talks with Kim Tae-nyeon (R), floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, and Kim's counterpart from the main opposition United Future Party, Joo Ho-young, at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--(LEAD) S. Korea opts to adopt tougher distancing rules, warns of return to strict mode

`` We need to comprehensively assess the capability of our medical system and recent virus spread before deciding the level @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` At this moment , we will focus on finding virus-infected people @ @ @ @ @ exposed to high infections risks . ''

(ATTN: UPDATES first 6 paras with government's announcement; ADDS photo; RECASTS headline and lead)
By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- Despite growing calls for a return to strict social distancing amid a spike in virus cases, South Korea on Thursday chose to implement tightened quarantine measures for the next two weeks before deciding whether to switch to strict social distancing mode.
Under the plan, the country will adopt tougher social distancing in Seoul and the surrounding areas through June 14 to stem the further spread of the new coronavirus in the densely populated area.
Students at an elementary school in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, keep a distance from one another on May 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Public facilities, such as museums and art galleries, will shut down, while companies are advised to adopt flexible work systems and strictly follow quarantine guidelines. Bars and clubs will also be strongly advised to close over the two-week period, health authorities said.
"Considering the incubation period of the COVID-19 virus, the next two weeks will be a critical juncture in preventing the further spread of the virus in the metropolitan area," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said during a separate briefing.
"We would have no choice but to return to the intense social distancing scheme if the number continues to grow," he added.
The move comes amid growing calls for a rollback to strict social distancing following a recent spike in virus cases in the capital area, which includes Seoul, the western port city of Incheon and surrounding Gyeonggi Province.
The country reported 79 more COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the highest number in nearly two months, most of which were traced to a cluster at a distribution center in a city just west of Seoul.
The resurgence in new virus cases came less than one month after the country eased social distancing guidelines. The main feature of the looser guidelines was the reopening of schools.
"We think the current situation, especially with today's figure of 79 cases, has various implications," Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said at a press briefing. "We know that people are very concerned about the situation in regard to school reopenings."
Kim said that it will be too hasty to take the country back to stricter social distancing scheme due to just one daily figure.
This photo, taken on May 27, 2020, shows citizens keeping a distance at a park in Bucheon, west of Seoul, where group infections at a logistics center have been reported. (Yonhap)
"We need to comprehensively assess the capability of our medical system and recent virus spread before deciding the level of quarantine measures," he said. "At this moment, we will focus on finding virus-infected people from those who have been exposed to high infections risks."
After flattening the curve of the novel coronavirus, South Korea on May 6 gave the go-ahead to its "everyday life quarantine" scheme, the normalization of public facilities and other business establishments, under the condition they follow basic sanitation measures.
It was implemented based on the requirement that the country's daily new virus cases stay below 50, while the proportion of cases with unknown links stands at 5 percent or under.
But with both criteria unmet, there have been growing calls for the country to consider going back to its strict social distancing campaign that was enforced between March 22 and May 5.
During that period, health authorities urged citizens to stay home, except for essential needs or jobs, while strongly recommending people suspend religious gatherings, indoor sports activities, and visits to nightclubs and other entertainment venues.
In early May, the country reported a cluster infection in Seoul's nightlife district of Itaewon and more recently, a logistics center in Bucheon, west of Seoul, raising concerns of further community spread.
Health officials disinfect delivery lockers at an apartment in Gwangju on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
More than 260 cases have been linked to Itaewon clubs and bars.
While health authorities focused on breaking the club-linked transmission chain, the logistics center operated by e-commerce leader Coupang has emerged as another cluster.
At least 82 cases have been traced to the facility, and more related cases are feared to come down the road.
Experts said a steady rise of untraceable virus infections is the real concern.
Of the 303 cases that were confirmed between May 13 and 27, 7.6 percent, or 23, were cases with unknown transmission routes. The proportion of such cases was only 4 percent between April 29 and May 13.
"Social distancing was a shield against the coronavirus, but as people's alertness started to fall back, it created a crack in our society and let the virus invade again," said Kim Woo-joo, a professor of infectious medicine at Korea University Guro Hospital in Seoul. "Since we do not have a vaccine for the virus, we need to raise our guard again against the virus."
Some experts speculated that even if health authorities decided to return to strict social distancing scheme, it may be applied to only regions with high infection risks.
Already, the city of Bucheon, dealing with group infections at a Coupang logistics center, announced that it will roll back quarantine measures.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--(3rd LD) New viral cluster feared to disrupt school reopening plan

As of 11 a.m. Thursday , the latest figure released by KCDC shows infection cases connected to the center have @ @ @ @ @ the tally is feared to go up , as thousands of workers and their contacts @ @ @ @ @ virus .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in paras 10-13)
By Woo Jae-yeon
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- Wider school reopening for more than 2 million pupils met with more concern than joy, as South Korea reported a new viral cluster in the greater capital area.
Under the government's phased reopening plan, school children and kindergartners returned to their classrooms en mass on Wednesday to begin much-delayed in-person learning. Schools were set to begin in March but were set back by the new coronavirus pandemic.
On the same day, however, more than 60 COVID-19 cases were confirmed at a distribution center in Bucheon, located between the western port city of Incheon and Seoul.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) on Thursday confirmed 79 new infection cases, including 69 linked to the center owned by Coupang, the country's leading e-commerce giant.
As of 11 a.m. Thursday, the latest figure released by KCDC shows infection cases connected to the center have risen to 82. And the tally is feared to go up, as thousands of workers and their contacts are being tested for the virus.
Children eat lunch at an elementary school in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, on May 27, 2020, while maintaining distance from one another to protect themselves from the spread of COVID-19. (Yonhap)
The new cluster of infections spooked schools in Bucheon and nearby areas, causing them to further postpone the reopening and resume online classes.
The Incheon education authorities suspended the reopening of 243 schools and kindergartens in the city. All 251 schools in Bucheon were ordered to close, except for high school seniors' classes, earlier this week to limit the spread of the virus.
Nationwide, 838, or 4 percent of the total 20,902 schools, didn't open Thursday, according to the education ministry, up by 277 schools from a day ago. Bucheon closed down the largest number of schools, followed by Gumi in North Gyeongsang Province at 182.
On Wednesday, 2.43 million students went to school, which accounted for about 90 percent of the total students subject to the second phase reopening.
Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said in a briefing Thursday that the government would do its utmost to break the chain of virus transmission in the capital area.
On that front, it issued strong advice for facilities and business establishments frequently used by young students, including cram schools, to close until June 14, while keeping schools open.
"If the government fails to curb the spread in early stages, the virus will spread through communities, which in turn will affect schools and disrupt in-person classes," he said, asking for public cooperation in the fight against the virus "to protect the happiness of students."
Aside from the cluster infection, there has been a flurry of infections involving the country's youth. In Seoul, a high school senior in Gangdong Ward tested positive on Wednesday, leading to the closure of some schools.
In Yeouido, a cram school teacher has tested positive, prompting six area schools and a number of other educational institutes in the same building to close.
Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said on a radio show Thursday morning that the government was monitoring the cluster infections in Bucheon very seriously, and that the closure of schools in the city was "inevitable" to protect public health.
The choice of whether to reopen is at each school's discretion, the minister said, although the final decision is made in close consultation with provincial education offices and the ministry.
Students eat lunch with opaque partitions separating them at the cafeteria of Daejeon Seonyucho Elementary School in Daejeon, 164 kilometers south of Seoul, on May 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Online forums used by parents were filled with concerned voices over in-person classes and potential health risks for children.
"I am really torn between whether to send my kid back to school today, given the Coupang infections," a user who uses "atatamom" as her ID wrote on the portal site Naver's forum, Baby Love, on Thursday morning.
"I won't send my kid to school today. It is better than feeling anxious," another user "Lovelyn" wrote back.
The country's daily infection figure released by the KCDC marks the highest in 53 days since 81 reported on April 5, and well above the threshold of 50 set by the government as a target for starting the so-called everyday life quarantine scheme in early May.
The reopening of schools is deemed a crucial step towards regaining a semblance of normalcy and running the ambitious scheme successfully.
First graders wearing gifted crowns learn the proper way to wash their hands during a class at Maeyeoul Elementary School in Suwon, south of Seoul, on May 27, 2020. South Korea implemented the second phase of school reopenings the same day for the two lowest grades of elementary school, kindergarten students, middle school seniors and second-year high school students. (Yonhap)
The education authorities remained adamant that the country would avoid the mistake made by Singapore, which closed its schools again after failing to contain explosive virus spread in the dormitories of migrant workers.
When visiting an elementary school in Seoul on Wednesday, Cho Hee-yeon, the superintendent of the Seoul Education Office, said that while the country was facing an uphill battle, it would overcome any difficulties.
South Korea could "walk on the same path as Singapore by closing down schools" in the worst-case scenario, he said, adding that many European nations have also been struggling after reopening their schools.
But it needed to "trail-blaze a new path" in educating students "by thoroughly implementing quarantine measures and balancing in-person and remote classes, without closing schools," he said.
The first phase of the reopening began last Wednesday for 440,000 high school seniors. The phased reopening will continue until June 8.
The government has put in place meticulous quarantine and isolation protocols in schools, introduced a series of measures to minimize classroom crowding and issued relaxed guidelines on mask use at schools ahead of summer. Also it staffed up for school sanitary practices.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education issued a new guideline on Thursday that kindergartens should shut down for two weeks and offer online classes in case of a confirmed COVID-19 case.
The next reopening of schools is slated for Wednesday.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--KBO's plan to bring back fans on hold amid enhanced quarantine measures

The Korea Baseball Organization ( KBO ) , which opened its regular season on May 5 without fans in the @ @ @ @ @ to start selling tickets either this coming weekend or early next week .
The league @ @ @ @ @ preparing to open gates in phases , and the initial plan would have seen teams @ @ @ @ @ the seats and allow fans to maintain safe distances inside the ballpark .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean baseball league on Thursday put its plan to bring fans back to games on hold, as the government announced beefed-up quarantine measures in the capital area amid a recent spike in novel coronavirus cases.
An enhanced social distancing scheme will be in place in Seoul and its surrounding areas through June 14, as South Korea tries to keep a lid on a potential second wave of COVID-19. South Korea reported 79 new cases Thursday, the highest total in nearly two months.
Cheerleaders for the Korea Baseball Organization club Doosan Bears perform during the Bears' home game against the SK Wyverns at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on May 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), which opened its regular season on May 5 without fans in the stands, had been hoping to start selling tickets either this coming weekend or early next week. The league and the teams had been preparing to open gates in phases, and the initial plan would have seen teams sell about 30 percent of the seats and allow fans to maintain safe distances inside the ballpark.
That will have to wait for several more days at least. And if the capital region is unable to keep the spread of the virus under control by June 14, the next step will be a return to more intense social distancing guidelines.
With KBO games now available in 130 countries via ESPN and its international affiliates, the South Korean league is enjoying an unprecedented level of international attention.
In this file photo from May 17, 2020, a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game between the home team Kia Tigers and the Doosan Bears is underway without fans at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--(4th LD) New virus cases at 2-month high, tougher social distancing in line for metropolitan area

South Korea has seen ups and downs in the number of new cases , but infections mostly had been falling @ @ @ @ @ on April 5 .
The number even reached just two earlier this month , before @ @ @ @ @ nightlife district of Itaewon in Seoul emerged early this month .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, paras 1-3; ADDS details throughout)
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported the highest number of new coronavirus cases in nearly two months Thursday due to a cluster at a logistics center just west of Seoul, compelling health authorities to adopt tougher social distancing guidelines in the metropolitan area.
The country identified 79 new cases, including 68 local infections, raising the total coronavirus caseload to 11,344, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). It marked the largest daily increase in 53 days.
In the face of a recent spike in new virus cases, there have been calls for a return to strict social distancing. Health authorities have decided to impose a tighter social distancing campaign in Seoul and surrounding areas over the next two weeks through June 14.
Most of the newly identified cases have been tied to the distribution center in Bucheon. A total of 82 cases have been traced to the facility operated by e-commerce company Coupang as of 11 a.m.
A woman drops her child off at an elementary school in Gwangju, 330 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
Of the newly added infections, 67 cases were reported in the metropolitan area, which includes the surrounding Gyeonggi Province.
Health authorities are worried that more related cases tied to the Coupang logistics center are likely to follow, as tests are currently being carried out on some 4,000 potential cases.
So far, they have conducted virus tests on around 3,500 people over the cluster. Among them, around 2,800 tested negative for COVID-19, with others awaiting their results.
"In case of the Bucheon logistics center, nearly 70 people have been infected in three days since the first patient was identified," Kwon Joon-wook, deputy-general of KCDC, said in a briefing. "It is likely that the number of patients will increase further," he added.
Initial investigations showed the logistics center did not follow basic guidelines, including maintaining distance between people at its cafeteria. Authorities are finding out whether the cases from the center and Itaewon are connected.
The KCDC said it is important to follow basic sanitary guidelines, as it has also found traces of the COVID-19 virus on hats and shoes worn by the workers at the Bucheon center.
Citizens line up at a makeshift clinic in Bucheon, west of Seoul, on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
Health authorities are also looking into another Coupang distribution facility in Goyang, north of Seoul, where one employee has tested positive.
Given that there are many part-time workers in logistics centers, health authorities have requested such facilities across the country to keep track of all visitors.
They plan to inspect 1,321 logistics centers and 82 delivery terminals to check their virus response readiness.
Health authorities are also looking at cases tied to a call center in central Seoul. The center, which reported its first case on Tuesday, has seven COVID-19 infections so far.
After successfully controlling community spread due to strict social distancing and quick testing, the country has faced a large-scale cluster in the capital city. As of Thursday, 261 cases have been linked to Itaewon clubs and bars.
South Korea has seen ups and downs in the number of new cases, but infections mostly had been falling since the 81 cases reported on April 5. The number even reached just two earlier this month, before the infection cluster in the nightlife district of Itaewon in Seoul emerged early this month.
The country, which reported its first COVID-19 case, a Chinese person, on Jan. 20, once reported a daily increase of more than 900 cases in late February.
Early this month, South Korea eased its social distancing guidelines, with students, including kindergartners, returning to school in phases.
South Korea, however, decided earlier in the day to beef up quarantine measures in the Seoul metropolitan area over the next two weeks to stem the further spread of the new coronavirus in the densely populated area amid eased social distancing.
Sanitation workers disinfect delivery lockers at an apartment building in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
Under the measures, health authorities will apply a strong social distancing scheme in the capital city and surrounding areas through June 14.
"Considering the incubation period of the COVID-19 virus, the next two weeks will be a critical juncture in preventing the further spread of the virus in the metropolitan area," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said during a separate briefing.
"We would have no choice but to return to the intense social distancing scheme if the number continues to grow," he added.
Health authorities consider the daily increase of below 50 as a threshold for eased social distancing.
South Korea reported no new deaths Thursday, with the virus-related death toll at 269. The fatality rate came to 2.37 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 10,340, up 45 from the previous day.
The number of imported cases, which used to be the top concern for South Korea in the battle against COVID-19, rose by 11. So far, the number of such cases has reached 1,232, with most of them being South Korean nationals.
The country carried out 15,790 additional COVID-19 tests Wednesday, raising the total number of people tested to 868,666.
Since late April, South Korea has required people who violate self-quarantine orders to wear location-tracking wristbands. It said a total of 74 bands have been applied so far.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--Thriving reliever hoping for chance to start again in KBO

`` I really have no desire to close out games , '' Ham told reporters in his media availability before @ @ @ @ @ Wyverns at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul .
`` I think most pitchers would rather start @ @ @ @ @ bullpen .
We have so many good starters on this team , so I am @ @ @ @ @ .
Ultimately , I want to start . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- For the Doosan Bears in this Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season, left-handed reliever Ham Deok-ju has been a savior who has turned the dismal bullpen around almost single-handedly.
As an all-purpose reliever filling in for struggling closer Lee Hyeong-beom, Ham has a 2.70 ERA with a win and three saves and hasn't given up a run in his last five outings -- in a bullpen that has a KBO-worst ERA of 8.29.
As much as he has helped the relief corps, though, Ham said Thursday he would prefer to become a starter than a full-time closer.
In this file photo from May 17, 2020, Ham Deok-ju of the Doosan Bears pitches against the Kia Tigers in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
"I really have no desire to close out games," Ham told reporters in his media availability before the Bears hosted the SK Wyverns at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. "I think most pitchers would rather start than pitch out of the bullpen. We have so many good starters on this team, so I am in the bullpen for now. Ultimately, I want to start."
Ham, who debuted with the Bears in 2013 at 18, dabbled at starting in 2017, when 24 of his 35 appearances came in starts. He went 7-8 with a 4.15 ERA in those 24 games.
He hasn't made a start since and instead moved to the bullpen full-time as he recorded 43 saves from 2018 and 2019.
The soft-spoken 25-year-old admitted he doesn't think he has the right temperament to be a closer. They say closers should have a short memory and forget about blown saves quickly. But Ham said that, when he was closing, he tended to dwell on his mistakes and had a hard time bouncing back mentally.
The Bears don't need much help with their rotation at the moment. After their two imports, Chris Flexen and Raul Alcantara, the Bears boast three established starters in Yoo Hee-kwan, Lee Yong-chan and Lee Young-ha.
Doosan manager Kim Tae-hyoung said in his pregame presser that Ham has been his best reliever of late and will get the bulk of opportunities in late-inning, high-leverage situations.
With no opportunity to start on the horizon, Ham said he's just biding his time and added, "I think my opportunity to start will come if I keep pitching well."
Ham attributed his strong performance early this season to better control. After walking 34 batters in just 54 2/3 innings in 2019, Ham has issued just three free passes in 10 innings so far in 2020.
"I try to get ahead in the count as much as I can," Ham said. "But this year, even if I throw a ball with my first pitch to a batter, I feel more confident that I can come back and throw a strike."
In this file photo from May 20, 2020, Ham Deok-ju of the Doosan Bears pitches against the NC Dinos in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-28--S. Korea, U.S. to hold videoconference on election day anti-virus measures

The session , slated to begin at 8 a.m. Friday , was arranged after the National Association of Secretaries of @ @ @ @ @ a nonpartisan organization of public officials in the United States , asked for Seoul to @ @ @ @ @ the polls in April ahead of the U.S. presidential vote in November .

SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean government officials will hold a videoconference with their U.S. counterparts this week to share Seoul's know-how in administering parliamentary elections amid the coronavirus outbreak, the foreign ministry said Thursday.
The session, slated to begin at 8 a.m. Friday, was arranged after the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), a nonpartisan organization of public officials in the United States, asked for Seoul to share its experience in holding the polls in April ahead of the U.S. presidential vote in November.
Officials from the foreign ministry, the interior ministry and the National Election Commission will join the session with their U.S. counterparts from the State Department, NASS and National Association of State Election Directors.
Among the participants are Ko Yun-ju, director-general for North American affairs at Seoul's foreign ministry, and Marc Knapper, deputy assistant secretary of state for Korea and Japan at the U.S. State Department.
At the session, officials from Seoul's election watchdog will give a briefing on quarantine measures it took during the parliamentary elections. U.S. officials will then pose questions to the South Korean side.
Ahead of the U.S. election, NASS showed interest in South Korea's early voting process, social distancing protocols at polling stations and other anti-virus efforts, including fever checks, before voters cast ballots, according to the ministry.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

`` Hong Kong is an important region that has a close relationship with South Korea in terms of people-to-people and @ @ @ @ @ it as important for prosperity and development in Hong Kong to be maintained under the @ @ @ @ @ ' framework , '' ministry spokesperson Kim In-chul said in a press briefing ahead of @ @ @ @ @ legislature .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Thursday.
----------------
S. Korea to enhance quarantine measures in greater Seoul area amid spiking cases
SEOUL -- South Korea said Thursday that it will beef up quarantine measures in the Seoul metropolitan area over the next two weeks to stem further spread of the new coronavirus in the densely populated area amid eased social distancing.
Under the measure, health authorities will apply a strong social distancing scheme in the capital city and surrounding areas through June 14.
----------------
(3rd LD) Logistics center-linked virus cases snowball to 82, further spread in store
SEOUL -- South Korea on Thursday reported a mass infection of the new coronavirus linked to a logistics center in a city west of Seoul, raising concerns that more related cases may be identified down the road.
A total of 82 cases have been traced to the logistics center operated by the country's leading e-commerce operator, Coupang Inc., in Bucheon as of 11 a.m., according to health authorities and government officials.
----------------
(LEAD) S. Korea backs Hong Kong's prosperity under 'one nation, two systems' policy: ministry
SEOUL -- South Korea believes it is important that Hong Kong maintains its prosperity and development under China's "one nation, two systems" policy, the foreign ministry said Thursday, amid growing international criticism over Beijing's push for controversial security laws on the semiautonomous territory.
"Hong Kong is an important region that has a close relationship with South Korea in terms of people-to-people and economic exchanges. We see it as important for prosperity and development in Hong Kong to be maintained under the 'one nation, two systems' framework," ministry spokesperson Kim In-chul said in a press briefing ahead of a vote by the Chinese legislature.
----------------
(LEAD) S. Korea to export US$500,000 worth of hereditary disease medicine to Iran this week
SEOUL -- South Korea will this week send to Iran US$500,000 worth of medicine used to treat a hereditary disease, the foreign ministry said Thursday, in the first such humanitarian exports to the country since the United States tightened anti-Tehran sanctions last year.
The medicine to treat Gaucher's disease will be sent by air on Friday. The ministry also expects another batch of exports, such as medicine and medical equipment, worth $2 million in total to be shipped to the Middle Eastern country next month.
----------------
(2nd LD) New viral cluster feared to disrupt school reopening plan
SEOUL -- Wider school reopening for more than 2 million pupils met with more concern than joy, as South Korea reported a new viral cluster in the greater capital area.
Under the government's phased reopening plan, school children and kindergartners returned to their classrooms en mass on Wednesday to begin much-delayed in-person learning. Schools were set to begin in March but were set back by the new coronavirus pandemic.
----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks close lower on coronavirus cluster infections
SEOUL -- South Korean shares closed lower Thursday, snapping a three-day winning streak, on the largest number of daily infections of the new coronavirus in nearly two months. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 2.66 points, or 0.13 percent, to close at 2,028.54. Trading volume was high at about 1.15 billion shares worth some 14.2 trillion won (US$11.5 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 689 to 177.
----------------
68 pct of S. Korean teens think unification with N.K. necessary: poll
SEOUL, May 28 (Yonhap) -- Nearly 70 percent of South Korean youths think that reunification with North Korea is necessary, a survey showed on Thursday.
According to the poll conducted by the National Youth Policy Institute, 67.8 percent of 3,228 elementary, middle and high school students replied that two Koreas need to reunify.
----------------
(Movie Review) Suspenseful start undone by anticlimax ending in 'Intruder'
SEOUL -- The word family is considered synonymous with home, affection and warmth, which conjure up feelings of peace. People warm themselves around a dinner table with parents and children after finishing their work in the evening.
When a stranger comes into this private boundary and gradually breaks down the daily life, however, the shock and distress strikingly eat into their hearts.
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--S. Korea struggling to flatten virus curve again, cluster infections in focus

Alarmed by the spike in virus cases , health authorities opted to impose a tighter social distancing campaign in the @ @ @ @ @ Seoul and the surrounding areas , home to half of the country 's population of @ @ @ @ @ over the next two weeks through June 14 .

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea added 58 more coronavirus cases Friday due to a rise in cluster infections tied to a distribution center in a city just west of Seoul, compelling health authorities to again raise their guard against another potential wave of the virus outbreak.
The new COVID-19 cases, including 55 local infections, raised the total caseload to 11,402, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Friday's newly identified cases marks a slowdown from the nearly two-month high of 79 the previous day but still put renewed strain on the country's virus response capability. All the new cases were reported in greater Seoul areas.
Most of the new infections were tied to a distribution facility run by e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon, just west of Seoul.
So far, at least 90 cases have been traced to the center since the first patient was confirmed last week, according to the KCDC and local governments.
This photo, taken on May 27, 2020, shows a statement about the suspension of operations at a logistics center run by e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon, west of Seoul, over the new coronavirus outbreak. (Yonhap)
The logistics center cluster has brought to the fore the vulnerability of workplaces where many people work in a close environment without strictly complying with quarantine measures.
Alarmed by the spike in virus cases, health authorities opted to impose a tighter social distancing campaign in the densely populated metropolitan area -- Seoul and the surrounding areas, home to half of the country's population of more than 50 million, over the next two weeks through June 14.
A series of mass infections have jeopardized health authorities' drive over the past few weeks to bring the virus outbreak under control, with another cluster tied to nightclubs and bars in Seoul's nightlife neighborhood.
The total caseload linked to Itaewon clubs and bars reached 261 as of noon Thursday, according to the KCDC.
The country, meanwhile, added three imported cases and reported no additional deaths, with the total death toll staying at 269.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,363, up 23 from the previous day.
Citizens line up to receive tests for the new coronavirus at a clinic in Bucheon, west of Seoul, on May 28, 2020, as South Korea reported a sharp rise in cases tied to a logistics center operated by e-commerce leader Coupang in the city. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--(URGENT) 23 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,36

(URGENT) 23 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,363: KCDC

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


yna--2020-05-29--(URGENT) S. Korea reports no additional virus death, death toll now at 269: KCDC


yna--2020-05-29--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 58 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 11,402: KCDC


yna--2020-05-29--Gov't to inspect retail logistics centers for infection risks: PM

On Thursday , the government tightened quarantine measures in the capital area over the next two weeks as part of @ @ @ @ @ infections in the densely-populated area where half of the country 's population lives .

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's government will carry out across-the-board inspections of logistics centers, associated with online retailers for possible infections risks, the prime minister said Friday, amid growing alarm over new coronavirus cases.
"We plan to discuss measures for logistics centers run by online retailers and inspect them," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said in a government response meeting.
"In addition to logistics centers, there are some workplaces where a lot of people work in closed spaces ... (I urge) health authorities and local governments to find these facilities one by one and inspect their quarantine circumstances."
A health worker checks a visitor's temperature at a virus screening center set up at Bucheon, just west of Seoul, on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
Chung's remarks follow a spike in new infections in Seoul and its surrounding areas traced to logistics centers ran by e-commerce operators Coupang and Market Kurly.
On Thursday, South Korea reported 79 cases, the highest number of new COVID-19 infections in nearly two months. Most of the cases were concentrated in the capital area that includes Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.
Infections linked to Coupang are estimated to have topped 90 cases as of late Thursday, mostly among people who work at the company's logistics center in Bucheon, just west of Seoul.
"The (government's) everyday quarantine scheme has faced a critical challenge. Carelessness is threatening the safety of people in the capital area," Chung said.
On Thursday, the government tightened quarantine measures in the capital area over the next two weeks as part of efforts to fend off additional infections in the densely-populated area where half of the country's population lives.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--Samsung Group heir summoned again over succession-related allegations

Prosecutors suspect Samsung 's top management was involved in efforts to facilitate Lee 's managerial succession from his ailing father @ @ @ @ @ may have intentionally lowered the value of Samsung C & T prior to its merger @ @ @ @ @ benefit the heir apparent .

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korean prosecutors called in Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong again Friday as part of an investigation into a controversial merger between two Samsung units.
The summons came three days after Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee was questioned for 17 hours about suspicions surrounding the 2015 merger of two major affiliates: Samsung C&T Corp. and Cheil Industries Inc.
Prosecutors suspect Samsung's top management was involved in efforts to facilitate Lee's managerial succession from his ailing father, Lee Kun-hee, and may have intentionally lowered the value of Samsung C&T prior to its merger with Cheil Industries to help benefit the heir apparent.
Lee was the largest shareholder in Cheil Industries, an affiliate that produces textiles, chemicals and electronic chemical materials, with a stake of 23.2 percent. That means a fall in the valuation of Samsung C&T paves the way for a merger ratio advantageous to the Samsung heir.
Lee is said to have denied the allegations.
The prosecution service's investigation seems to have gained steam this year with fresh rounds of a probe into the group's top management amid reports that it's nearing an end.
Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, in a file photo. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--Number of South Korean budget phone users continues to fall in March

Local subscribers to so-called mobile virtual network operators ( MVNOs ) numbered 7.61 million as of the end of March @ @ @ @ @ the previous month , according to the data from the Ministry of Science and ICT @

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- The number of budget smartphone users in South Korea continued to drop in March with its market share threatening to sink below the 10-percent mark, data showed Friday.
Local subscribers to so-called mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) numbered 7.61 million as of the end of March, down 0.6 percent from the previous month, according to the data from the Ministry of Science and ICT.
MVNOs rent networks from the country's three carriers -- SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. They usually provide users with rate plans cheaper than those of the major carriers as they save on network operation costs.
After peaking at 8.10 million in April last year, the number of thrift phone subscribers had been on the decline, except for June last year.
Budget handsets' share of the country's mobile phone market thus slid to 10.9 percent as of end-March. The figure sank to the 11 percent level in June last year after remaining in the 12-percent range since July 2018.
Market watchers said MVNOs would find it difficult to keep a double-digit market share down the road should the downtrend last.
The downturn was attributed to their failure to provide users with cheap 5G service rates and a lack of 5G-based budget models.
As of end-March, only 754 budget phone users subscribed to 5G services, while the three industry giants had more than 5 million.
The government has been promoting MVNO subscriptions, which were introduced in 2011, in line with its efforts to ease the burden of mobile phones fees on households.
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--(URGENT) S. Korea has fully explained to China about THAAD equipment transport: official


yna--2020-05-29--Struggling slugger shows signs of life in victory

`` This has n't been an easy season , but I am trying to make sure everybody , from veterans @ @ @ @ @ fun on the field , '' Choi said .
`` This is still early and @ @ @ @ @ baseball left .
We should try to keep things light . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- SK Wyverns' slugger Choi Jeong had hit that proverbial rock bottom. He had the worst batting average among 61 qualified batters in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) with .153 before Thursday's game against the Doosan Bears.
The only way for him to go was up.
Choi Jeong of the SK Wyverns smiles after hitting an RBI double against the Doosan Bears during the top of the seventh inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
Choi went 2-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs Thursday, helping the Wyverns to a 6-1 victory at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. Well, Choi is still the worst qualified hitter in the league, but at least his batting average went up to .172.
"I think I am still in the process of getting better," said Choi, who entered the 2020 season with a .290 lifetime batting average and 335 home runs, most among active players and fifth all time. "I am happy to have contributed to the team's victory."
And victories have been hard to come by for the Wyverns, who once suffered a 10-game losing streak and who are stuck in last place by 2.5 games at 4-16. They've had some rotten injury luck, and Choi's struggles at the plate -- he has homered just once in 20 games -- haven't helped.
"I've not been swinging the bat well and at the same time, we've been losing a lot of games," Choi said. "So I've been pressing at the plate quite a bit."
Then came perhaps his best game of the season on Thursday. It came on the heels of a four-walk game on Wednesday, and a 2-for-3 performance on Tuesday.
Drawing four walks in four trips to the plate -- Choi saw 21 pitches -- was a particularly encouraging sign. It meant he wasn't chasing bad pitches and he was happy to take what pitchers gave him instead of forcing the issue. Relative to his poor batting average, Choi has an excellent .346 on-base percentage, thanks to his team-leading 14 walks.
He's drawing walks at a career-high pace, though detractors may argue that Choi isn't being paid 1.2 billion won per season (US$970,995) to stroll to first base a few times a game and that he should be hitting with more power.
Living up to those expectations is challenging enough. On top of that, this is also Choi's first season as the Wyverns' captain. The reticent 33-year-old, who doesn't come across as a vocal, rah-rah type of leader, admitted that so much losing has made his job tougher.
"This hasn't been an easy season, but I am trying to make sure everybody, from veterans to rookies, will have fun on the field," Choi said. "This is still early and we have a lot of baseball left. We should try to keep things light."
Choi Jeong of the SK Wyverns hits a two-run double against the Doosan Bears during the top of the fifth inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--(URGENT) USFK replaces expired THAAD guided missiles during Friday's ground transport: defense minis

(URGENT) USFK replaces expired THAAD guided missiles during Friday's ground transport: defense ministry


yna--2020-05-29--Seoul stocks open lower on Wall Street losses

The fall was largely attributed to the latest development in the Sino-American dispute on China 's passing of the new @ @ @ @ @ severely restrict civil liberties in Hong Kong .

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened lower Friday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street amid rising Sino-American tensions over China's passing of a new national security law on Hong Kong.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) retreated 10.80 points, or 0.53 percent, to 2,017.74 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
The fall was largely attributed to the latest development in the Sino-American dispute on China's passing of the new national security law that could severely restrict civil liberties in Hong Kong.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States is also set to reveal new policies on China's move.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 147.63 points, or 0.58 percent, to close at 25,400.64 on Thursday (New York time).
In Seoul, most large caps traded mixed.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 1.19 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix slipped 2.38 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics jumped 2.29 percent, with leading chemical maker LG Chem advancing 0.26 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,238.95 won against the U.S. dollar, up 0.65 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--(3rd LD) S. Korea, U.S. transport equipment for USFK's THAAD base by ground

The THAAD deployment has been one of the most sensitive issues for South Korea , as China has taken economic @ @ @ @ @ hosting of the battery .
Seoul and Washington have stressed that the system aims only @ @ @ @ @ growing missile threats posed by North Korea .

(ATTN: ADDS USFK's statement in paras 6-8, photo)
By Oh Seok-min and Choi Soo-hyang
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States brought missile defense equipment and other items into an American military base Friday in a surprise overnight operation aimed at skirting opposition from local residents.
U.S. Forces Korea has operated a full six-launcher Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in the country's central county of Seongju since 2017. Due to strong opposition by local residents, the U.S. military has used air transportation to move supplies.
"The defense ministry is supporting ground transport for USFK's Seongju base that began last night and will continue through early Friday," the ministry said in a release.
The transportation finished at around 6 a.m.
The delivered materials included military equipment but exactly what went in was not immediately clear. The ministry said it was "to improve working conditions for Korean and American troops there and to replace some decrepit equipment."
In this photo, provided by a civic group, vehicles transport military equipment and other items into the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) base in South Korea's central county of Seongju on May 29, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"USFK periodically conducts vehicular resupply and support missions to its formations and installations across South Korea," USFK said in a statement sent to Yonhap News Agency.
It added that the move is to maintain a high "fight tonight" readiness level and to provide a robust combined defense posture to protect South Korea against any threat or adversary.
USFK and South Korea's defense ministry "have maintained close coordination, cooperation and collaborative efforts to ensure this mission is conducted to minimize and prevent any inconvenience in the least disruptive manner for the local Korean population and all parties involved," it said.
The construction to improve residential facilities for the troops began in August last year.
A ministry official said the ground transport was inevitable to move some hardware, and the government had discussions with local residents regarding the matter several times but failed to win their full consent.
No major conflicts with the residents there have been reported so far, he added.
The THAAD deployment has been one of the most sensitive issues for South Korea, as China has taken economic retaliatory measures for Seoul's hosting of the battery. Seoul and Washington have stressed that the system aims only to better cope with the growing missile threats posed by North Korea.
A launcher of an advanced U.S. missile defense system called THAAD is seen in this photo captured from the Facebook account of the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) on April 24, 2019. The USFK said it conducted a THAAD exercise at a base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, last week. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


Friday's weather forecast

SEOUL , May 29 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


yna--2020-05-29--(LEAD) Factory output posts sharpest drop in over decade in April amid virus pandemic

Local manufacturers have been facing hurdles in securing key parts as suppliers around the globe suspended their operations amid the @ @ @ @ @ of goods also being disrupted by entry bans .

(ATTN: ADDS remarks, details in last 6 paras)
SEJONG, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's factory output plunged by the most in more than a decade in April from a month earlier, as the coronavirus pandemic hit exports, data showed Friday.
Production in the mining, manufacturing, gas and electricity industries plunged 6 percent, marking the sharpest decline since December 2008, according to data compiled by Statistics Korea.
The country's overall industrial production also fell 2.5 percent in April.
In March, the nation's overall industrial output fell 0.3 percent on-month, marking the sharpest decline since February 2011.
Retail sales rose 5.3 percent in April from a month earlier as the nation eased strict social distancing rules, and the output in the service sector gained 0.5 percent on-month.
Asia's fourth-largest economy shrank 1.4 percent on-quarter in the first quarter of this year, the sharpest quarterly contraction since the last three months of 2008.
Exports sank 20.3 percent on-year in the first 20 days of May amid the shock from the coronavirus pandemic.
Production of chips dropped 12.6 percent on-month, the data showed.
Local manufacturers have been facing hurdles in securing key parts as suppliers around the globe suspended their operations amid the pandemic, with global shipments of goods also being disrupted by entry bans.
Facility investment gained 5 percent on month in April, marking the second straight monthly increase, the data showed.
Ahn Hyung-joon, a senior official at Statistics Korea, told reporters that auto sales rose in April as the nation extended tax cuts on car buyers to increase consumption.
Sales of durable goods, such as cars, gained 4.1 percent and those of nondurable ones, such as cosmetics, rose 1.6 percent, the data showed.
The so-called cyclical component of the composite leading index, which predicts the turning point in business cycles, fell by 1.3 point on-month, marking the sharpest decline since March 1998.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


KOSPI 2,018.37 DN 10.17 points (open)


KOSDAQ 706.16 DN 2.59 points (open)


yna--2020-05-29--Dollar opens at 1,238.5 won DN from 1,239.6 won


yna--2020-05-29--(Yonhap Feature) Robot-based services, automation gather pace on pandemic-driven demand

Ticket machines and an automated self-service kiosk for popcorn and soda are open up off to the side .
And @ @ @ @ @ in front of the popcorn bar , with numbers on the doors , as employees @ @ @ @ @ from the kiosk and put them in the boxes .

By Kim Han-joo
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- Carrying two ice lattes and a blueberry scone, a courier leaves a cafe on the 18th floor of a building, passing through an automatic door before taking an elevator down to the fourth floor. The deliverer then uses an application to notify the customer that the order will arrive soon.
All this is done not by a human but by a chest-high autonomous robot designed to carry out a delivery job.
Dilly Tower is a self-driving robot currently under development by Woowa Brothers Corp., the operator of South Korea's top food delivery application Baedal Minjok, or Baemin, which launched a trial service of robot delivery at the company's headquarters in eastern Seoul earlier this month.
Moving at a human's walking speed of 1.2 meters per second, Dilly Tower moves entirely on its own, navigating inside buildings by using artificial intelligence (AI) technology that draws input from cameras around its rim to make deliveries based on preinstalled routes.
This photo, provided by South Korea's top food delivery app operator Woowa Brothers Corp., shows the company's food delivery robot, Dilly Tower, at the company's headquarters in eastern Seoul on May 18, 2020. The robot can use elevators and make deliveries based on preinstalled routes. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Increasing robot-based delivery services, along with automated systems, underscores a shift in humans' everyday life, and they are set to expand their presence as the new coronavirus pandemic fuels demand for such services with increased automation having greater impact on workforces in every industry, ranging from automobiles to food delivery.
A number of local companies, both big and small, have already expanded using robots as part of a globalwide social distancing campaign to reduce the number of workers who have to physically come to work.
Delivery services are one of the industries where the use of robots is likely to increase the most due to health concerns as more people want to minimize their contact with delivery workers and servers.
"There has been heightened interest in contact-free orders amid the ongoing wide spread of the novel coronavirus," said Kim Yo-seob, an official from Woowa Brothers in charge of robotics development. "Although unmanned delivery services existed before the COVID-19 epidemic, the virus outbreak is expected to promote its adoption."
CGV, a multiplex chain run by the country's entertainment giant CJ Group, also launched a zero-contact cinema at one of its branches in Seoul where everything is fully automated with no human staff coming in contact with customers.
Ticket machines and an automated self-service kiosk for popcorn and soda are open up off to the side. And 12 pick-up boxes are installed in front of the popcorn bar, with numbers on the doors, as employees prepare snacks after receiving orders from the kiosk and put them in the boxes.
"Demand for no-contact services have increased for the safety of customers due to the COVID-19 outbreak," Oh Dae-sik a CGV official, said.
In March, the company closed down 35 theaters nationwide following poor ticket sales. CGV reopened several of its branches recently but shuttered around 30 percent of its screens due to plunging profitability.
This photo, provided by CGV, a multiplex chain run by the South Korean entertainment giant CJ Group, shows a contact-free cinema at its theater in Yeouido, western Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
There is not a single human worker at the theater, where only two self-driving robots, called Check-bots -- which are about 1.5 meters tall -- wandering around the corridor to give customers information.
"We gather feedback from moviegoers and consider expanding the contact-free cinema system to other branches, which is expected to enhance the level of convenience for our customers, as well as the efficiency of the operation," Oh said.
With the intensive social distancing placed in workplaces for a few months, the COVID-19 outbreak has also hastened the need for a labor force for manufacturing facilities that does not get sick or quarantined.
POSCO ICT Co., an IT system unit of the country's leading steelmaker POSCO, has expanded its so-called smart factory where AI, big data and robots are fully placed.
Manufacturing facilities have traditionally relied on lines of human operators spaced close together, which has become a relatively tall order since the pandemic broke out.
"We plan to expand the system not only in the steel industry but also in various manufacturers, including chemicals, heavy industry and textiles," a company official said.
A report by the global consulting firm Boston Consulting Group showed that manufacturing robots currently complete about 10 percent of the total work, but the ratio is expected to skyrocket to 25 percent by 2025.
This photo, provided by South Korea's major builder Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., shows its artificial intelligence (AI) industrial robot capable of intricate tasks. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. also began adopting AI-equipped industrial robots at its construction sites.
Previously, industrial robots in the local construction sector were mainly capable of conducting easy and repetitive tasks due to the delicacy of tasks that can only be done by human arms and fingers.
But the new industrial robot, with multiple joints, can follow the work pattern of construction workers based on a newly developed software.
The company plans to adopt complex industrial robots at construction sites on a trial basis with the goal of covering 20 percent of the workload by 2026.
Robots and automation have also expanded their territory in offices to carry out repetitive tasks, ranging from human resources and sales to purchasing.
Major tech firm LG Electronics Inc. plans to expand its so-called Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology in up to 900 office-related tasks by the end of this year, sharply up from 400.
RPA technology, first adopted in 2018, is designed to carry out basic and repetitive tasks, and can complete higher-level tasks of analysis and comparison based on AI technology and big data.
"The technology currently replaces approximately 12,000 hours of human labor per month," a company official said. "The technology allowed the company to relocate many tedious and repetitive tasks to robotics technology."
A report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) shows companies that employ automation and robotics technology effectively are 10 times more productive than those that do not.
Experts say it is inevitable for more manufacturers and service providers to adopt automation and robots amid rising personal expenses coupled with continued falling prices of robots as the technology develops.
This photo, provided by the city government of Incheon, shows an industrial robot provided by the government at a manufacturing facility. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
They, however, say these robots are not a new technology and still in a relatively early stage, with more time and research needed for the technology to mature and to achieve a full deployment.
"Dilly Tower is designed to help human riders not to fully replace them," said Kim at Woowa Brothers. "There are still many obstacles for Dilly Tower to be fully commercialized to make deliveries on roads."
A report by the World Robotics showed that South Korea had 631 robots per 10,000 human workers, indicating the highest density, largely thanks to the installation of a high volume of robots in the electronics and automotive industries.
South Korea, however, still ranks behind the United States, Europe and Japan in terms of robotics innovation.
In an effort to boost its international profile, the Seoul government plans to provide 1,500 robots with a budget of 127.1 billion won (US$102.4 million) this year.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy hopes that the robots will be adopted in manufacturing and four service industries where the technology is most needed.
"The post-pandemic world has many opportunities for robotics and automated systems due to increased interest in the contact-free era," said a ministry official, who asked not to be named. "We will support seeking a new-growth engine by utilizing robotics."
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--(2nd LD) S. Korea, U.S. transport equipment for USFK's THAAD base by ground

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; ADDS background in 7th para, byline; CHANGES photo)
By Oh Seok-min and Choi Soo-hyang
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States brought missile defense equipment and other items into an American military base Friday in a surprise overnight operation aimed at skirting opposition from local residents.
USFK has operated a full six-launcher Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in the country's central county of Seongju since 2017. Due to strong opposition by local residents, the U.S. military has used air transportation to move supplies.
"The defense ministry is supporting ground transport for USFK's Seongju base that began last night and will continue through early Friday," the ministry said in a release.
The transportation finished at around 6 a.m.
The delivered materials included military equipment but exactly what went in was not immediately clear.
The ministry said it was "to improve working conditions for Korean and American troops there and to replace some decrepit equipment."
The construction to improve residential facilities for the troops began in August last year.
A ministry official said the ground transport was inevitable to move some hardware, and the government had discussions with local residents regarding the matter several times but failed to win their full consent.
No major conflicts with the residents there have been reported so far, he added.
The THAAD deployment has been one of the most sensitive issues for South Korea, as China has taken economic retaliatory measures for Seoul's hosting of the battery. Seoul and Washington have stressed that the system aims only to better cope with the growing missile threats posed by North Korea.
In this photo, provided by a civic group, vehicles transport military equipment and other items into the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) base in South Korea's central county of Seongju on May 29, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--Factory output posts sharpest drop in over decade in April amid virus pandemic

The economy , Asia 's fourth largest , shrank 1.4 percent on-quarter in the first quarter of this year , @ @ @ @ @ the last three months of 2008 .

SEJONG, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's factory output plunged by the most in more than a decade in April from a month earlier, as the coronavirus pandemic hit exports, data showed Friday.
Production in the mining, manufacturing, gas and electricity industries plunged 6 percent, marking the sharpest decline since December 2008, according to data compiled by Statistics Korea.
The country's overall industrial production also fell 2.5 percent in April.
In March, the nation's overall industrial output fell 0.3 percent on-month, marking the sharpest decline since February 2011.
Retail sales rose 5.3 percent in April from a month earlier as the nation eased strict social distancing rules, and the output in the service sector gained 0.5 percent on-month.
The economy, Asia's fourth largest, shrank 1.4 percent on-quarter in the first quarter of this year, the sharpest quarterly contraction since the last three months of 2008.
Exports sank 20.3 percent on-year in the first 20 days of May amid the shock from the coronavirus pandemic.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--Doosan Bears beat Lotte Giants to avoid back-to-back losses

Doosan starter Raul Alcantara scattered nine hits across six innings for his team-high fourth win of the season , while @ @ @ @ @ hitters , Heo Kyoung-min and Park Kun-woo , combined to drive in three of the @ @ @ @ @ Jamsil Stadium in Seoul .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- The Doosan Bears defeated the Lotte Giants 4-2 on Friday to avoid losing consecutive games for the first time in the current Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season.
Doosan starter Raul Alcantara scattered nine hits across six innings for his team-high fourth win of the season, while the team's bottom two hitters, Heo Kyoung-min and Park Kun-woo, combined to drive in three of the team's four runs at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul.
This file photo from May 27, 2020, shows members of the Doosan Bears after a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
The Bears were coming off a 6-1 loss to the SK Wyverns from Thursday. They improved to 13-8 and have not yet lost back-to-back games this season.
The Giants, who opened the season 5-0, dropped to 10-11.
The Bears opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom third. Heo led off the inning with a single and stole second, before coming home on Park's double.
Two batters later, Jose Miguel Fernandez cashed in Park with a single to right for a 2-0 lead.
The Giants cut the deficit in half in the top fourth thanks to Son Ah-seop's two-out, RBI single.
But the Bears regained their two-run lead in the bottom fourth, as Park hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded.
The Giants tried to make the game more interesting in the top sixth, with two straight singles putting men at the corners with nobody out for Dixon Machado, the team leader with 15 RBIs.
Machado picked up another RBI, though it came on a fielder's choice grounder to shortstop. The next batter, Min Byung-hun, hit into an inning-ending, 6-4-3 double play to take the wind out of the Giants' sails.
Heo's solo home run to lead off the bottom seventh gave the Bears more breathing room at 4-2.
The Giants outhit the Bears 10-5 in the loss, a microcosm of their season-long inability to hit with runners aboard.
Heo and Park, batting eighth and ninth, went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored combined.
Neither starter looked particularly sharp. Alcantara allowed a hit in each of his six innings and also issued three walks, but the Giants failed to capitalize on their chances.
Lotte starter Noh Kyung-eun took the loss after giving up three runs on four hits and three walks in six innings.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--N. Korea slams U.S. over cybercrime accusation

`` To put it clearly , our state has nothing to do at all with what is claimed by the @ @ @ @ @ threat , '' Pyongyang 's foreign ministry said in an English statement on its website @

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Friday lashed out at the United States for issuing an advisory last month over the communist regime's cyber threats.
"To put it clearly, our state has nothing to do at all with what is claimed by the U.S. to be a cyber threat," Pyongyang's foreign ministry said in an English statement on its website.
"The U.S. should be clearly aware that worthless and worn-out plots and fabrications invented continuously by themselves will no longer work against the international community," it added.
On April 15, four U.S. government agencies issued a joint advisory highlighting the cyber threat posed by North Korea.
"The DPRK's malicious cyber activities threaten the United States and the broader international community and, in particular, pose a significant threat to the integrity and stability of the international financial system," the advisory said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
The advisory also said that North Korea has relied on cybercrimes to raise funds to develop weapons of mass destruction and carry out ballistic missile programs.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--Ex-Samsung worker ends one-year protest atop 25-meter tower

He was initially sentenced to five years in prison in 2017 but was freed a year later after the Seoul @ @ @ @ @ to 2 1/2 years , suspended for four years , dismissing most of the bribery @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court last year sent the case back to the Seoul High Court for a @ @

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- A fired worker of Samsung Group ended his one-year protest atop a 25-meter tower in southern Seoul on Friday after reaching an agreement with South Korea's largest conglomerate.
Kim Yong-hee, a former employee of the now-defunct Samsung Techwin Co., has been involved in in a dispute with the group since he was fired in 1995. He claimed he was unlawfully dismissed for his activity to establish a labor union, which had been virtually banned by the family-controlled conglomerate until recently.
After 24 years of struggle demanding Samsung's apology and his reinstatement, he climbed up a traffic surveillance tower on June 10, 2019, and continued a sit-in for more than 300 days.
Samsung Techwin, a defense equipment maker, was sold to Hanwha Group in 2015.
Earlier this month, Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong made a rare public apology over various controversies over the management of the conglomerate and vowed to scrap the group's "no labor union" policy. The group later made an apology for failing to promptly settle the dispute with Kim.
This file photo taken on May 7, 2020, shows Kim Yong-hee, a former worker of South Korea's top conglomerate Samsung, who has been protesting on a traffic surveillance tower in southern Seoul since June last year. He ended the protest on May 29. (Yonhap)
Samsung's actions came after the group's independent compliance committee urged Lee to make a public apology and improve Samsung's behavior regarding the issue of Lee's managerial succession, labor union relations and communication with civil society.
The belated apology also came as Lee faces an investigation into a controversial merger between two Samsung units, Samsung C&T Corp. and Cheil Industries Inc., in 2015.
Lee was summoned by the prosecution Friday for the second time this week in the investigation. Prosecutors suspect Samsung's top management was involved in efforts to facilitate Lee's managerial succession from his ailing father, Lee Kun-hee, and may have intentionally lowered the value of Samsung C&T prior to its merger with Cheil Industries to help benefit Lee Jae-yong.
He also faces a new trial on a bribery case involving a longtime friend of former President Park Geun-hye.
He was initially sentenced to five years in prison in 2017 but was freed a year later after the Seoul High Court reduced the sentence to 2 1/2 years, suspended for four years, dismissing most of the bribery charges against him. The Supreme Court last year sent the case back to the Seoul High Court for a retrial.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--(LEAD) KBO manager wary of opposing lineup's explosive potential

`` It 's a long season , and we 'll begin this series with a clean slate , '' said @ @ @ @ @ coach with the Nexen ( currently Kiwoom ) Heroes .
`` We 'll have games @ @ @ @ @ a lot of runs and leave men on base .
I just have to trust @ @ @ @ @ them to come around .
I am not too concerned about our stats . ''

(ATTN: ADDS comments in last 2 paras, photo)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- The Lotte Giants have scored a grand total of five runs in their past four games in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) heading into their weekend series against the Doosan Bears starting Friday.
But when the Bears' manager Kim Tae-hyoung looks across the diamond and into the opposing dugout, he sees a lineup that can go off at any moment.
"Every team has its ups and downs, and the Giants' lineup can be really explosive," Kim said in his pregame media availability at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. "So we have to keep that in mind when we face them. Our pitchers have to be on their toes."
Jose Miguel Fernandez of the Doosan Bears (C) is forced out at second base against the SK Wyverns in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
Kim didn't single out any hitters, but the Giants, on paper, should be a better hitting team than their .255/.325/.381 line shows. Their on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS), .706, puts them in eighth place among 10 clubs.
Their lineup tends to be top heavy, with Min Byung-hun, Jeon Jun-woo, Son Ah-seop, Lee Dae-ho and An Chi-hong, five All-Stars with strong track records, often batting one through five.
Of the bunch, Jeon has hit a team-best four home runs but none since May 17. Lee, the franchise icon, is stuck at one home run, though he's leading the team with a .360 batting average. New shortstop Dixon Machado, regarded as a defense-first acquisition, has surprised with four home runs and a team-leading 15 RBIs, but he's only slashing .206/.286/.441.
In this file photo from May 15, 2020, Doosan Bears' manager Kim Tae-hyoung stands for the national anthem before the start of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game against the Kia Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Still, with the Bears ranking last in team ERA with 6.20, Kim doesn't want to poke the sleeping bear and have the Giants' offense come alive against his team.
And the manager has his own lineup to worry about: They were held hitless in 4 2/3 innings against SK Wyverns' starter Lee Geun-wook in Thursday's 6-1 loss, and managed just three hits for the game.
"I felt that we weren't swinging the bat with any sort of energy last night," Kim said. "Even the hits that we had didn't come on good contact."
Later Friday, Lotte manager Her Mun-hoe preached patience when it comes to his offense.
"It's a long season, and we'll begin this series with a clean slate," said Her, a former hitting coach with the Nexen (currently Kiwoom) Heroes. "We'll have games where we don't score a lot of runs and leave men on base. I just have to trust these guys and wait for them to come around. I am not too concerned about our stats."
In this file photo from May 24, 2020, An Chi-hong of the Lotte Giants celebrates his RBI single against the Kiwoom Heroes in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Sajik Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--Vice FM discusses cooperation with mission chiefs in Central America

Citing South Korea 's provisions of relief items to the countries and sharing of its experience and know-how in fighting @ @ @ @ @ minister called for using these recent exchanges as a chance to further strengthen relationships with @ @ @ @ @ other fields .

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho held video talks Friday with chiefs of seven South Korean diplomatic missions in Central America to discuss ways for greater cooperation with the countries in the region amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In the meeting with ambassadors to Guatemala, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and Panama, Lee praised the missions for helping South Korean nationals and company officials staying there to head off the COVID-19 amid lockdowns.
Citing South Korea's provisions of relief items to the countries and sharing of its experience and know-how in fighting the virus, the vice minister called for using these recent exchanges as a chance to further strengthen relationships with the countries in economy and other fields.
The seven countries are members of the Central American Integration System, or SICA in Spanish, a framework established in 1991 in joint pursuit of regional peace and economic development. South Korea has been an observer of the organization since 2012.
This photo, provided by the foreign ministry, shows a videoconference between Seoul officials and heads of diplomatic missions in Central America, presided over by Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho, in Seoul on May 29, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--S. Korea shares with U.S. know-how on election-day anti-virus measures

Ko expressed South Korea 's desire to actively share its quarantine experience should there be any request from the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ as another example of close cooperation between Seoul and Washington .

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea held a video conference with the United States on Friday to share its know-how in safely administering nationwide elections amid the coronavirus pandemic, the foreign ministry said, as the U.S. prepares to hold a presidential election in November.
The session was arranged after the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), a nonpartisan organization of public officials in the U.S., asked for Seoul to share its experience in holding the parliamentary polls in April.
On April 15, South Korea carried out the elections with the highest voter turnout of 66.2 percent since 1992 despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Health authorities have reported no virus cases traced to the elections.
Officials from the foreign ministry, the interior ministry and the National Election Commission joined the session with their U.S. counterparts from the State Department, NASS and National Association of State Election Directors.
Among the participants were Ko Yun-ju, director-general for North American affairs at Seoul's foreign ministry, and Marc Knapper, deputy assistant secretary of state for Korea and Japan at the U.S. State Department.
Knapper said that South Korea's capability to proceed with the elections gave hope for democracies across the world, while noting democratic procedures should not weaken due to the COVID-19 crisis, according to the ministry.
Ko expressed South Korea's desire to actively share its quarantine experience should there be any request from the U.S., while portraying the videoconference as another example of close cooperation between Seoul and Washington.
During the session, officials from Korea's election watchdog gave a briefing on a series of election-day anti-virus measures, such as disinfection of polling stations, fever checks and social distancing protocols, as well as quarantine procedures during the early voting period and the process of counting votes.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--Gov't, state-run creditors discuss Doosan Heavy's self-rescue plan

Two state-run creditors -- the Korea Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of Korea -- have been in talks with @ @ @ @ @ of Doosan Heavy , on a debt restructuring plan for the builder of turbines , @ @ @ @ @

SEJONG, May 29 (Yonhap) -- Top economic policymakers and heads of state-run creditor banks on Friday discussed a self-rescue plan submitted by cash-strapped Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., the finance ministry said Friday.
Two state-run creditors -- the Korea Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of Korea -- have been in talks with Doosan Group, the parent of Doosan Heavy, on a debt restructuring plan for the builder of turbines, power plants and roads.
During the Friday meeting, the creditors briefed economic policymakers, including Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki, on the debt restructuring plan, the ministry said in a statement.
Under the plan, Doosan Heavy will launch a "large-scale" rights offering and sell non-core assets, according to the statement.
Doosan Heavy will also transform its business portfolio into "eco-friendly" businesses, it said.
The creditors expected the debt restructuring plan to help Doosan Heavy stand on its own feet, the statement said.
Doosan Group has put its affiliates and assets, such as Doosan Solus Co., a copper foil maker for electric vehicles, and Doosan Tower, the group's headquarters building in Seoul, up for sale.
The sale of Doosan Solus is expected to fetch between 700 billion won (US$565.2 million) and 800 billion won, but Doosan Group wants at least 1 trillion won from the asset sale.
It has been widely said that Doosan Heavy suffered setbacks in business as the outbreak of the new coronavirus and the poor performance of its construction affiliate, Doosan Engineering & Construction Co., dented Doosan Heavy.
Another reason for the setback has been reported to be the shift of the country's energy policy from nuclear and fossil fuel-based power generation to renewable energy sources, such as solar power.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--KDB, others extend 480 bln-won green loan to Hyundai Heavy

SEOUL , May 29 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean state-run lender KDB said Friday that it and other financial @ @ @ @ @ won ( US $ 388 ) in loans to Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. , the @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korean state-run lender KDB said Friday that it and other financial institutions have provided 480 billion won (US$388 million) in loans to Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., the country's largest shipbuilder.
Of the 480 billion won in so-called green loan, 350 billion won was extended to Hyundai Heavy by KDB.
The rest of the fund was provided by banks, including HSBC and ICBC, and a KDB affiliate.
This file photo provided by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. shows a LNG carrier. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap).
Green loans usually are offered to finance eco-friendly projects, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, renewable energies and high-efficient energies.
Hyundai Heavy will reportedly use the fund to develop technologies for LNG carriers.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

SEOUL -- North Korea 's food production is expected to be low this year just as in previous years , @ @ @ @ @ to be `` catastrophic , '' a U.S. expert said , challenging many forecasts that @ @ @ @ @ food insecurity in an economy already faltering under sanctions .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Friday.
----------------
(4th LD) S. Korea struggling to contain cluster-traced virus spread in greater Seoul area
SEOUL -- South Korea reported more than 50 new virus cases for the second consecutive day Friday, all in the Seoul metropolitan area due to logistics center-tied cluster infections, putting renewed strain on health authorities to contain further spread in the densely populated region.
South Korea reported 58 more additional COVID-19 cases, raising the total caseload to 11,402, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Of them, 55 were local infections.
----------------
S. Korea seeks to import remdesivir for virus treatment
SEOUL -- South Korea is seeking to import remdesivir as an emergency treatment for coronavirus patients, based on recommendations by local experts and clinical tests, health officials said Friday.
The investigational antiviral drug by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences Inc. will only be administered to critically ill coronavirus patients, as a group of local infectious disease experts recommended it after checking its effectiveness and safety.
----------------
Lawmaker-elect denies allegations over donations for 'comfort women'
SEOUL -- A South Korean lawmaker-elect who is a longtime activist for "comfort women" forced into wartime sexual slavery by Japanese troops on Friday denied allegations that she misappropriated donations for the surviving victims, while offering a public apology for causing a related controversy.
Speaking on the eve of the start of her four-year term at the National Assembly, Yoon Mee-hyang of the ruling Democratic Party rejected calls to give up her parliamentary seat.
----------------
N.K. food shortages not catastrophic this year despite coronavirus impact: U.S. monitor
SEOUL -- North Korea's food production is expected to be low this year just as in previous years, but the situation is unlikely to be "catastrophic," a U.S. expert said, challenging many forecasts that the coronavirus has further aggravated food insecurity in an economy already faltering under sanctions.
Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein, an associate scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute specializing in the North Korean economy, made the case in a report released by the U.S.-based think tank 38 North.
----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks end higher on finance minister's FX intervention comments
SEOUL -- Seoul stocks ended slightly higher Friday, after South Korea's finance minister hinted at possible intervention in case of volatility in the local currency markets. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 1.06 points, or 0.05 percent, to close at 2,029.60. Trading volume was moderate at about 1.08 billion shares worth some 13.8 trillion won (US$11.2 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 461 to 384.
----------------
S. Korea to kick off homegrown Aegis destroyer development project in earnest
SEOUL -- South Korea is set to begin basic designing of an indigenous Aegis-equipped destroyer in a move to enhance the Navy's defense capabilities, the arms procurement agency said Friday.
In 2018, the government decided on the Korea Destroyer Next Generation (KDDX) project to locally build 6,000 ton-class destroyers by the late 2020s to be equipped with the homegrown combat system.
----------------
Budget carrier's flight operation permit suspended amid virus fallout
SEOUL -- South Korea's transport ministry said Friday it has suspended a budget carrier's flight operation permit, as its services have not run for a certain period.
Eastar Jet Co. has suspended all flights on international routes since March 9 and all domestic flights since March 24 in light of lockdowns and reduced passengers. It plans to halt operations until June 25, the company said.
----------------
KBO manager wary of opposing lineup's explosive potential
SEOUL -- The Lotte Giants have scored a grand total of five runs in their past four games in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) heading into their weekend series against the Doosan Bears starting Friday.
But when the Bears' manager Kim Tae-hyoung looks across the diamond and into the opposing dugout, he sees a lineup that can go off at any moment.
----------------
Moon seeks to hold regular meetings with party leaders
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in has instructed his office to seek to set up a regular meeting with political party leaders, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday, a day after his luncheon meeting with the floor leaders of the two largest parties.
The move is in line with Moon's efforts to secure a standing channel to better communicate with them, according to presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok.
(END)