yna--2020-07-29--No. of beach visitors halves over June-July amid virus pandemic

SEOUL , July 29 ( Yonhap ) -- The number of South Koreans heading to beaches more than halved over @ @ @ @ @ the new coronavirus pandemic , data showed Wednesday , but the figure is poised to @ @ @ @ @ people spend their vacations at home instead of abroad .

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- The number of South Koreans heading to beaches more than halved over the past two months amid the new coronavirus pandemic, data showed Wednesday, but the figure is poised to rebound in August as more people spend their vacations at home instead of abroad.
Some 250 beaches here saw the accumulated number of visitors over the period reach 8.1 million as of Monday, plunging from 18.55 million posted a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
Local beaches normally start their summer operation in June.
The country's 21 popular beaches especially saw their number of daily visitors plunge to 12,000 from 28,000 posted in 2019.
A beach located in Gangneung, 237 kilometers east of Seoul, is packed with vacationers in this file photo taken on July 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
"We expect the number of visitors at beaches to rebound in August in sync with the summer vacation season," the ministry said in a statement, requesting travelers to follow basic distancing guidelines and wear masks.
South Korea has adopted an alert system for major beaches under which authorities issue a "red" alert when the number of visitors at beaches exceeds the level at which they can keep safe distances.
Under ties with South Korea's leading portal operator Naver Corp., visitors can check the traffic at the beaches through its website.
People are also banned from eating or drinking at beaches during night hours. Violators can be slapped with fines of up to 3 million won (US$2,497) under the country's disease control law, according to the ministry.
South Korea added 48 new infections on Wednesday, raising the total caseload to 14,251.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--U.S., Australia reaffirm support for N.K. denuclearization negotiations

`` The secretaries and ministers affirmed their support for U.S.-DPRK denuclearization negotiations and their commitment to fully implement sanctions against @ @ @ @ @ threat to security and regional stability posed by North Korea 's nuclear and ballistic missile @ @ @ @ @ in the joint statement released after the talks .

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- The United States and Australia have reaffirmed their support for denuclearization negotiations with North Korea and commitment to sanctions against the communist regime's nuclear and missile programs.
The two countries made the pledge after holding "two-plus-two" ministerial consultations between their ministers and secretaries of foreign affairs and defense in Washington on Tuesday (U.S. time).
"The secretaries and ministers affirmed their support for U.S.-DPRK denuclearization negotiations and their commitment to fully implement sanctions against North Korea to counter the threat to security and regional stability posed by North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs," they said in the joint statement released after the talks.
DPRK refers to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.
They also called on China to be transparent with the U.S. and Russia on negotiating the terms for limitations on nuclear weapons and other disarmament measures.
(From L to R) Australia's Minister of Defense Linda Reynolds, Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo listen while U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Department of State following the 30th AUSMIN in Washington, D.C., in this Reuters photo taken on July 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--S. Korea will seek to extend foreign workers' stay permits amid pandemic: PM

South Korea has so far reported nearly 90 imported cases tied to Russian ships docked in the country since June @ @ @ @ @ countries -- Bangladesh , Pakistan , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , the Philippines and Uzbekistan -- @ @ @ @ @ high-risk countries in an effort to contain imported cases .

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will seek ways to extend stay permits for foreign workers here in a bid to relieve labor shortages in farming and other areas in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the prime minister said Wednesday.
"(The government) will push for measures to lengthen the stay permits for foreign laborers and temporarily allow them to work in farming villages and so forth," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a regular government virus response meeting.
Chung cited labor shortages reported in farming villages as one of the reasons for the envisioned measures.
"In the wake of COVID-19, farming areas are facing severe labor shortages ahead of the upcoming harvest season," he noted.
The minister said many foreign workers are now unable to return home, despite their expired stay permits, due to their home countries' lockdown or cancellation of flights. If those workers' stay permits are extended, they can get seasonal jobs or work in farming houses, Chung said.
South Korea also plans to step up quarantine measures on sailors coming from Russia and other countries that are in Seoul's list of nations subject to tougher quarantine, the prime minister also said.
In line with new measures, sailors from Russia and the designated nations will be required to submit health certificates proving they have tested negative for COVID-19 on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test when entering South Korean soil, he said.
South Korea has so far reported nearly 90 imported cases tied to Russian ships docked in the country since June. It has placed six countries -- Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines and Uzbekistan -- on the list of such high-risk countries in an effort to contain imported cases.
This week, the government also plans to airlift some 70 more Korean workers from virus-hit Iraq, the minister said.
If completed, this marks the third time South Korea has flown planes to Iraq to bring home its nationals from the Middle Eastern country where the infection caseload is spiking. Nearly 400 Koreans, mostly workers in Korea-run construction sites in Iraq, came home in the two previous evacuation missions.
South Korean nationals board a military plane at Baghdad International Airport to return home from coronavirus-hit Iraq on July 23, 2020, in this photo provided the next day by the South Korean Embassy in Iraq. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--(LEAD) Gov't to brief U.N. rapporteur on decision to probe activist groups over anti-N.K. leafleting

South Korea has advised those groups against sending leaflets to the North , saying it could heighten tensions and put @ @ @ @ @ border areas at risk .
Activist groups have claimed that leafleting is aimed at providing @ @ @ @ @ to people suffering in the isolated country .

(ATTN: ADDS details form ministry spokesperson's remarks)
By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- The unification ministry said Wednesday that it will hold a video meeting with the United Nations special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights this week to explain its recent decision to probe activist groups over campaigns to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the communist nation.
The meeting with Special Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana, set for Thursday, comes after the ministry said it would inspect dozens of activist groups, including those run by North Korean defectors, to see if they are operating in accordance with their declared business purposes.
"The meeting will be held ... between the director of the ministry's human rights bureau and the U.N. rapporteur during the morning hours at the request of the rapporteur," Yoh Sang-key, the ministry's spokesperson, told a regular press briefing.
"To be discussed at the meeting are issues linked to the overall human rights situations in North Korea, including the probe into the civic groups," he added.
The probe is a follow-up on the ministry's earlier move to revoke the licenses for two defector groups accused of sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets in defiance of the government's repeated calls against such activity.
Activist groups and human rights groups have protested those measures, saying they are infringing upon their rights to freedom of speech. The special rapporteur has also reportedly expressed concerns about the inspection.
The sending of leaflets has emerged as a major source of cross-border tensions since Pyongyang called it a violation of an inter-Korean summit agreement and threatened to take a series of retaliatory steps against South Korea if it did not stop such activity.
North Korea also called South Korea an "enemy" and blew up a joint liaison office in its border town of Kaesong in anger over the leafleting issue last month.
South Korea has advised those groups against sending leaflets to the North, saying it could heighten tensions and put the lives of residents in border areas at risk. Activist groups have claimed that leafleting is aimed at providing information on the outside world to people suffering in the isolated country.
North Korean defector Park Sang-hak, the head of Fighters for a Free North Korea, gets in a vehicle in front of the group's office in Seoul on June 26, 2020, after police completed their search and seizure at the office as part of their probe into the group's anti-Pyongyang leafleting campaign. (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--Imported car association suspends chief over alleged sexual misconduct

`` FCA does not tolerate any form of harassment , abuse or discrimination of our employees or business partners .
@ @ @ @ @ policy to both immediately and thoroughly investigate any concern brought to our attention , '' @ @ @ @

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's imported vehicle lobby group said Wednesday it has suspended Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) Korea President Pablo Rosso from his position over alleged sexual misconduct.
In an emergency board meeting held on Tuesday, the Korea Automobile Importers and Distributors Association (KAIDA) made the decision to immediately suspend Rosso from his position as chairman.
"We are planning to take additional measures depending on the results of the probe into his alleged sexual harassment and assault (at FCA Korea)," KAIDA said in a statement.
This file photo provided by FCA Korea shows company President and Managing Director Pablo Rosso. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Rosso began his two-year term as chairman of the Korean imported car lobby group in March. He has served as president of FCA Korea since 2013.
The move comes after an online public petition calling for a probe into Rosso's alleged sexual misbehavior was filed at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on July 22.
Any petition that garners support from more than 200,000 signatures within a month mandates an official response from Cheong Wa Dae.
FCA began an investigation into the matter and suspended Rosso from his duties as president and managing director of its Korean operations from Friday, an FCA spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
"FCA does not tolerate any form of harassment, abuse or discrimination of our employees or business partners. It is the company's policy to both immediately and thoroughly investigate any concern brought to our attention," the statement said.
In 2019, FCA sold 10,251 Jeep SUV models in South Korea, jumping 35 percent from 7,590 units a year earlier. It was the first time the Italian and American multinational carmaker sold more than 10,000 vehicles in one year since it entered the Korean market in 1992.
To boost sales in Korea, the company plans to add the Gladiator to its lineup in the third quarter. The current lineup is composed of the flagship Grand Cherokee, the Wrangler, the Cherokee, the Compass and the Renegade.
FCA Korea stopped selling non-SUV passenger vehicles in January 2018 as part of its reorganization of portfolios.
FCA is controlled by Exor N.V., an Italian holding company based in the Netherlands.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--More Russian sailors infected, total virus cases swell to 91

According to the authorities , 12 more cases were reported from a Russian ship docked in the southeastern port city @ @ @ @ @ total caseload tied to the vessel to 44 since 32 Russian sailors were confirmed to @ @ @ @ @ .
The vessel carried 94 crewmembers .

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- More Russian seafarers were confirmed to have been infected with the new coronavirus, with the number of related cases rising to 91 in total, health authorities said Wednesday.
According to the authorities, 12 more cases were reported from a Russian ship docked in the southeastern port city of Busan, raising the total caseload tied to the vessel to 44 since 32 Russian sailors were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 on Friday. The vessel carried 94 crewmembers.
In addition, one Russian sailor aboard a cargo ship docked in Incheon, west of Seoul, also tested positive for the virus.
This photo, taken on July 24, 2020, shows Russian sailors disembarking from a ship docked in South Korea's southeastern port city of Busan as they tested positive for the coronavirus. (Yonhap)
Carrying 20 crewmembers, the 6,800-ton cargo vessel departed from Vladivostok on July 21 and entered the Incheon port on Sunday. Nineteen other sailors tested negative for the virus.
Infections traced to Russia ships have become a new source of cluster infections here since last month, with 19 virus cases tied to two Russia-flagged vessels docked in Busan reported.
With the newly identified cases, South Korea has detected a total of 91 virus cases from nine Russian ships docked here since June.
South Korea is considering adding Russia to a list of countries requiring stronger quarantine checks as cluster infections on Russian ships have continued to swell.
The government has placed six countries -- Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines and Uzbekistan -- on the list of such high-risk countries in an effort to contain imported cases.
Arrivals from the countries are required to submit a certificate showing they tested negative for the new coronavirus.
Since late June, South Korea has been conducting on-board quarantine checks of Russian ships arriving in Busan ports.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--S. Korean women's golf tour cancels 3 tournaments as sponsors pull out

The LPGA Tour in the United States is returning this week , but many of the top-ranked South Korean players @ @ @ @ @ 1 Ko Jin-young , are staying home for now , given the dire COVID-19 situation @ @ @ @ @ , Ko is playing at the Jeju Samdasoo Masters at home , instead of the @ @ @ @ @ Ohio .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- In cruise control since resuming its season in May during the coronavirus pandemic, the South Korean women's golf tour has canceled three tournaments set for August and September.
The Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) announced Wednesday the scrapped tournaments are: the HighOne Resort Ladies Open (Aug. 20-23), the Hanwha Classic (Aug. 27-30) and the All for You Renoma Championship (Sept. 10-13).
Of the three, the Hanwha Classic is a major tournament.
This image provided by the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association on May 27, 2020, shows the organization's new logo. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The KLPGA said title corporate sponsors for the three events wanted to pull out of their commitments this year, citing financial trouble during the pandemic.
The KLPGA began its 2020 season last December in Vietnam and then pressed pause as the novel coronavirus wreaked havoc on South Korea. The tour returned in May with the first major tournament of the season, the KLPGA Championship, and there has been no disruption since.
The tour is in the southern island of Jeju this week for the Jeju Samdasoo Masters Open. With Wednesday's cancellations, the next event will be the Dayouwinia MBN Ladies Open, scheduled for Aug. 14-16. It will be the only tournament in August.
As it stands, three tournaments are set for September, four more for October and two last tournaments for November.
The LPGA Tour in the United States is returning this week, but many of the top-ranked South Korean players, including world No. 1 Ko Jin-young, are staying home for now, given the dire COVID-19 situation in America. This week, Ko is playing at the Jeju Samdasoo Masters at home, instead of the LPGA Drive On Championship in Ohio.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--Satellite imagery suggests uranium enrichment ongoing at N.K. nuclear complex: U.S. monitor

But it said there has been no evidence to suggest a five-megawatt nuclear reactor at the complex has been operating @ @ @ @ @ source of weapons-grade plutonium for the North .
Pyongyang can harvest one nuclear bomb worth @ @ @ @ @ fuel rods from the reactor .

By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- Commercial satellite imagery suggests that North Korea is continuing activities possibly related to uranium enrichment at its Yongbyon nuclear complex, a U.S. monitor has said.
Regular appearances of railcars and what were believed to be liquid nitrogen (LN) tanker trailers at the uranium enrichment plant indicate that some sort of ongoing enrichment operations, according to 38 North.
"The continued reappearance of three to four specialized rail flatcars throughout the complex, and especially at the spur servicing these facilities, is evidence of some level of activity beyond caretaking," it said.
Images from July 8 showed that three railcars had newly arrived in the Pungang-ri area west of the Yongbyon reactor compound. The flatcars are usually used to hold cylindrical containers, which suggest operations to move chemical agents.
A possible LN tanker trailer also appeared at the plant between July 11 and 14, 38 North added.
The monitor also pointed to the constant remodeling of buildings and new construction in the main research and administrative areas inside the complex.
But it said there has been no evidence to suggest a five-megawatt nuclear reactor at the complex has been operating. The reactor was the source of weapons-grade plutonium for the North. Pyongyang can harvest one nuclear bomb worth of plutonium by reprocessing spent fuel rods from the reactor.
Nuclear negotiations with the United States broke down in Hanoi early last year. The two sides were far apart over how far Pyongyang should denuclearize in order for Washington to give concessions in return.
Since then, North Korea has stepped up efforts for its "self-reliance" campaign, including enhancing military capacity, amid a deteriorating economy further blighted by the coronavirus pandemic.
On Tuesday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared that the nuclear deterrence is what will permanently guarantee national security and protect the country's future from outside threats.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--S. Korea to accelerate supply of hydrogen-powered buses

Hydrogen is an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels as automobiles running on the resource only create water in the @ @ @ @ @ It can be produced as a by-product of industrial facilities , including petrochemical plants as @ @

By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Wednesday started the local supply of a newly developed hydrogen fuel-cell bus in line with its efforts to increase the number of automobiles running on the environment-friendly resource in more areas.
One of the buses, whose mass production began this month, was delivered to a bus operator based in Jeonju, 243 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
South Korea invested 16.1 billion won (US$13.4 million) to develop new hydrogen-powered buses customized for urban transportation. The vehicle is capable of running 450 kilometers on a full charge, the ministry added.
As of this month, there are 15 hydrogen-powered buses and 10 hydrogen-powered trucks in South Korea. The country plans to add at least 80 new hydrogen-powered trucks into the market throughout 2020.
The Moon Jae-in administration has been seeking to foster the hydrogen economy while pushing to slowly phase out nuclear energy by retiring old reactors and refraining from building new ones.
Hydrogen is an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels as automobiles running on the resource only create water in the process of generating power. It can be produced as a by-product of industrial facilities, including petrochemical plants as well.
As of end-June, the accumulated number of hydrogen fuel cell cars running in South Korea reached 7,682 units, soaring from just 87 units in 2016.
In May, South Korea launched a two-year pilot program to test hydrogen trucks under ties with local logistics firms.
The country plans to increase the number of hydrogen charging stations, which currently stands at 34 to 100 by the end of this year, which will eventually reach 450 in 2025.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--Major S. Korea-related events of 2019 explained in Yonhap's new almanac

Major events covered by the almanac include the trilateral summit between South Korea , North Korea and the United States @ @ @ @ @ over the appointment of Cho Kuk as justice minister , strained relations between Seoul and @ @ @ @ @ of `` Parasite '' by director Bong Joon-ho and South Korea 's soft power prowess @ @ @ @ @ of football star Son Heung-min and other South Korean athletes on the world stage .

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday released an English-language almanac summarizing major news events and policies that occurred within and were related to South Korea in 2019.
"Korea Annual 2020," the sole English-language annual almanac published in South Korea, chronicles last year's major news stories in the fields of politics, economics, society, culture and sports.
Yonhap, South Korea's main news wire service, annually publishes the single-volume almanac to offer accurate and in-depth information on Korea to foreign government organs, international organizations and businesses, diplomatic missions and observers of Korea-related news and developments.
Major events covered by the almanac include the trilateral summit between South Korea, North Korea and the United States in Panmunjom, the controversy over the appointment of Cho Kuk as justice minister, strained relations between Seoul and Tokyo, the global phenomenon of "Parasite" by director Bong Joon-ho and South Korea's soft power prowess, and the major feats of football star Son Heung-min and other South Korean athletes on the world stage.
The North Korea section contains news on the North's political, economic, social, educational and sports events, as well as articles on developments in inter-Korean relations.
Published in handbook form, the almanac includes a chronology of Korea in 2019 and relevant statistics. The layout has been enhanced with more photos and graphics.
The 496-page book is priced at 30,000 won (US$25).
"Korea Annual 2020" was published by Yonhap News Agency on July 29, 2020. Yonhap annually publishes the single-volume almanac to offer accurate and in-depth information on developments related to South Korea. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--SK Telecom updates services for hearing-impaired taxi drivers

The company said drivers will use smartwatches to better access ADAS technology , such as lane keep assist and front @ @ @ @ @ system activates , smartwatches alert drivers with vibrations , in addition to the system 's @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korean telecom giant SK Telecom Co. said Wednesday it updated its services for hearing-impaired taxi drivers with new safety technology.
The telecom operator partnered with local social venture Coactus Ltd. in 2018 to launch a taxi-hailing app for hearing-impaired drivers.
SK Telecom said Coactus will directly employ the drivers and use advanced driver assistant system (ADAS) technology from the telecom operator.
A SK Telecom Co. employee explains the advanced driver assistant system to a hearing-impaired taxi driver in this photo provided by SK Telecom on July 29, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The company said drivers will use smartwatches to better access ADAS technology, such as lane keep assist and front collision warning. When the system activates, smartwatches alert drivers with vibrations, in addition to the system's conventional visual and audio warnings.
The devices can also send location information directly to the police in case of emergencies.
SK Telecom said the new service aims to ensure the drivers' job stability and improve their safety.
Since the service's launch, it has assisted 62 drivers and completed over 150,000 trips, according to SK Telecom.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--New virus cases bounce back to over 40 on surge in imported cases

Of the 14 local transmissions , 13 were from the greater Seoul area -- seven in Seoul , five in @ @ @ @ @ Incheon .
The southeastern port city of Busan also reported one more COVID-19 case .

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- The number of new daily coronavirus in South Korea bounced back to above 40 Wednesday as both imported cases and local transmissions climbed up.
The country added 48 cases, including 34 imported cases, raising the total caseload to 14,251, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The tally marked a sharp increase from 25 new virus cases reported Monday and 28 cases Tuesday.
Infections coming in from overseas have risen steadily by double-digit numbers for 34 consecutive days. The number of imported cases spiked to a record 86 on Saturday before dropping to 46 Sunday and 16 Monday.
This photo taken on July 28, 2020, shows health workers guiding arrivals at Incheon International Airport in Incheon. (Yonhap)
Of the 34 newly reported imported cases, 21 were detected at quarantine checkpoints at ports and airports.
The newly identified cases are mostly tied to Russian ships docked in the southeastern port city of Busan. So far, cases tied to seafarers on Russia-flagged ships have reached 90, health authorities said.
Domestic infections also increased by a double-digit figure after marking nine cases on Monday and five cases on Tuesday.
Of the 14 local transmissions, 13 were from the greater Seoul area -- seven in Seoul, five in Gyeonggi Province and one in Incheon. The southeastern port city of Busan also reported one more COVID-19 case.
Health authorities are staying vigilant over sporadic outbreaks during the summer vacation season as the country also lifted some infection preventive measures.
South Korea gave the go-ahead to all church gatherings on Friday, while it also allowed people to attend sports events on a limited basis.
The country reported no additional deaths, keeping the death toll at 300, according to the KCDC.
The number of patients fully cured of the virus reached 13,069, up 62 from the previous day, while 882 are currently under treatment, down 14 from a day earlier.
South Korea has carried out 1,547,307 tests since Jan. 3.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--(LEAD) SK Innovation shifts to Q2 loss on low oil prices

The company also swung to an operating loss of 439.74 billion won in the second quarter from an operating profit @ @ @ @ @ year ago .
Sales fell 45 percent to 7.2 trillion won from 13 trillion won @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: REWRITES throughout)
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- SK Innovation Co., South Korea's biggest refiner by sales, said Wednesday it swung to a net loss in the second quarter from a year earlier as the new coronavirus outbreak dragged down oil prices.
SK Innovation posted a net loss of 345.83 billion won (US$289 million) in the April-June quarter, swinging from a net profit of 155.44 billion won in the same period of last year, the company said in a statement.
"The COVID-19 pandemic drove down oil prices, petrochemical product prices and sales volume," the statement said.
The company also swung to an operating loss of 439.74 billion won in the second quarter from an operating profit of 493.67 billion won a year ago. Sales fell 45 percent to 7.2 trillion won from 13 trillion won during the same period.
From January to June, it shifted to a net loss of 1.89 trillion won from a net profit of 353.42 billion won in the year-ago period.
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--Eastar likely to file for court receivership following ruptured deal: transport minister

`` It 's regrettable that we have decided to scrap the deal despite the government 's intention to support it @ @ @ @ @ a statement .
`` But the decision was inevitable due to uncertainties amid the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ shareholder value . ''

SEJONG, July 29 (Yonhap) -- Low-cost carrier Eastar Jet Co. is believed to be seeking court receivership following a failed takeover deal by bigger rival Jeju Air Co, South Korea's transport minister said Wednesday.
"As Eastar is likely to file for court receivership, we are working on follow-up measures, together with the labor ministry," Kim Hyun-mee, the country's minister of infrastructure and transport, said during a parliamentary briefing that touched on critical issues related to potential layoffs of Eastar's 1,500 employees.
"There are various issues that should be taken into consideration, since Eastar is suffering a capital impairment," she added.
Last week, Jeju Air, the country's biggest low-cost carrier, backtracked from a deal to acquire the North Jeolla Province-based airline, citing rising uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It's regrettable that we have decided to scrap the deal despite the government's intention to support it," it said in a statement. "But the decision was inevitable due to uncertainties amid the pandemic and the possible impact on shareholder value."
After the deal fell flat, the ministry urged Eastar to come up with a plan B to prevent layoffs as a condition for state support.
This file photo, taken July 1, 2020, shows Jeju Air and Eastar Jet B737 passenger planes at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--K League's top contenders advance to semifinals at nat'l tournament

Busan opened the scoring against Jeonbuk just four minutes into the match , thanks to Gustavo Vintecinco 's header .
@ @ @ @ @ five straight goals .
Following goals by Cho Gue-sung and Han Kyo-won , Jeonbuk 's @ @ @ @ @ with three goals in the second half .

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- The two best clubs in South Korean football this season both advanced to the semifinals of the largest annual national tournament on Wednesday.
Ulsan Hyundai FC, currently in first place in the K League 1, defeated Gangwon FC 3-0 in the quarterfinals of the Korea Football Association Cup (FA Cup) at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, 415 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
After a scoreless first half, Ulsan midfielder Yoon Bitgaram grabbed a brace, and fellow midfielder Lee Chung-yong added another.
Ulsan continued their impressive 2020 campaign with another convincing victory over Gangwon, whom they had defeated twice by a combined score of 4-0 during the league play.
Yoon Bitgaram of Ulsan Hyundai FC (R) takes a shot past Han Kook-young of Gangwon FC during their quarterfinals match at the Korea Football Association Cup at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, 415 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on July 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, trailing Ulsan in second place in the K League, routed Busan IPark 5-1 at Busan Gudeok Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of the capital. Former Corinthians forward Gustavo, who joined Jeonbuk a week ago, scored a hat trick in a nine-minute span in the second half. He has four goals in two appearances for Jeonbuk.
Busan opened the scoring against Jeonbuk just four minutes into the match, thanks to Gustavo Vintecinco's header. But Jeonbuk then answered with five straight goals. Following goals by Cho Gue-sung and Han Kyo-won, Jeonbuk's Gustavo rounded out the scoring with three goals in the second half.
Gustavo of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (L) high-fives his teammate Son Jun-ho after completing a hat trick against Busan IPark during the teams' quarterfinals match at the Korea Football Association Cup at Busan Gudeok Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on July 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
Ulsan and Jeonbuk are on the opposite sides of the bracket and remain on a collision course to meet in the final.
Ulsan will face Pohang Steelers in the semifinals. Pohang knocked out FC Seoul 5-1 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Stanislav Iljutcenko scored twice to lift Pohang to their first FA Cup semifinals in seven years. Song Min-kyu, Kim Kwang-suk and Shim Dong-woon netted other goals for the winning side.
Junior Negrao of Ulsan Hyundai FC (C) is challenged by Cho Ji-hun of Gangwon FC (L) during their quarterfinals match at the Korea Football Association Cup at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, 415 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on July 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
Seongnam FC blanked Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1-0 at home in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, to set up a semifinals meeting with Jeonbuk. Tomislav Kis' goal in the 73rd minute stood as the winner for Seongnam in the tight contest.
The FA Cup champions will earn a spot in the following season's Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League.
The semifinals will be played on Oct. 28.
Han Kyo-won of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (R) and Kim Byung-oh of Busan IPark battles for the ball during their quarterfinals match at the Korea Football Association Cup at Busan Gudeok Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on July 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--Veteran slugger rises to No. 2 on KBO career home run list

Choi went deep just twice in May while batting .205 but now has nine home runs in July .
He @ @ @ @ @ .397 for the month .

INCHEON, July 29 (Yonhap) -- SK Wyverns' slugger Choi Jeong climbed to No. 2 on the career home run list in South Korean baseball on Wednesday.
Choi belted a solo shot off Jeong Chan-heon of the LG Twins in the bottom of the third inning of their Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season game at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul.
Choi Jeong of the SK Wyverns hits a solo home run against the LG Twins in the bottom of the third inning of their Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season game at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, on July 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
It was Choi's 352th home run of his career and 17th in 2020.
With that, Choi broke a tie with retired slugger Yang Joon-hyuk. Only Lee Seung-yuop, who had 467 home runs, stands in front of Choi.
Choi, 33, had one home run as an 18-year-old rookie in 2005 and has reached double figures in the long ball department every year since then.
Choi went deep just twice in May while batting .205 but now has nine home runs in July. He entered Wednesday's game batting .397 for the month.
Choi Jeong of the SK Wyverns rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the LG Twins in the bottom of the third inning of their Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season game at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, on July 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--(LEAD) WTO sets up panel to look into Seoul-Tokyo trade row

South Korea has argued that Japan `` fails to administer its laws , regulations , decisions and rulings of general @ @ @ @ @ on exports in a uniform , impartial and reasonable manner , '' according to a @ @ @ @ @ such moves conflict with WTO agreements that call for free and fair movement of goods @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details on WTO panel future course in paras 11-13)
By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL/GENEVA, July 29 (Yonhap) -- The World Trade Organization's dispute settlement body on Wednesday decided to set up a panel to look into South Korea's complaint against Japan's export restrictions, a month after the decision was put off due to Tokyo's opposition.
Under the WTO rules, an investigation panel can be set up unless there is unanimous opposition from all members.
In June, South Korea reopened the WTO complaint over Japan's export curbs on key industrial materials, as Tokyo remained unresponsive to Seoul's call for the removal of the export restrictions it imposed one year ago.
The bilateral dispute began in July last year, when Japan abruptly announced it would regulate South Korea-bound exports of the three materials -- photoresist, etching gas and fluorinated polyimide that are critical for the chip and display industries, the backbone of Asia's No. 4 economy.
A month later, Japan even removed South Korea from its list of trusted trading partners, provoking Seoul to take tit-for-tat action in September.
Tokyo blamed Seoul for failing to effectively control trade of sensitive items that can be diverted for military purposes, but it has not yet provided clear evidence on how South Korea violated international rules.
Japan's export curbs are viewed as retaliation against a South Korean court's decision that ordered Japanese companies to provide compensation for their wartime slavery of Korean workers.
With the two countries making no clear progress in resolving the dispute, South Korea filed a complaint with the WTO on the issue in September.
The country had suspended the process in November 2019 in a goodwill gesture, with Japan also lifting some regulations for photoresist.
As there were no further developments, in May 2020, South Korea warned it would have no choice but to resume the WTO complaint unless Japan put forward any moves to address the issue.
South Korea has argued that Japan "fails to administer its laws, regulations, decisions and rulings of general application relating to the restrictions on exports in a uniform, impartial and reasonable manner," according to a WTO document. It said such moves conflict with WTO agreements that call for free and fair movement of goods, services and intellectual property.
Seoul's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said the WTO will move to appoint panel members, receive written arguments from both sides outlining their positions on the matter, as well as listen to oral testimonies.
"From the setting up of the panel to a final decision being reached in principle takes between 10 to 13 months, although this can be shortened or pushed back, depending on developments," it said.
So far, Tokyo's retaliation has caused more damage to Japan than South Korea.
In 2019, South Korea's exports to Japan moved down 6.9 percent, whereas its imports nose-dived 12.9 percent.
The ongoing "boycott Japan" movement among South Korean consumers dealt a harsh blow to Japanese consumer goods companies. Demand for Japanese beer became nearly nonexistent here, a development far different than the past when South Korea used to be the top buyer of Japanese beer through 2018.
South Korea also managed to diversify its sources to secure the crucial items while making efforts to foster its technologies for equipment, parts and materials as well.
Data compiled by the Korea International Trade Association showed South Korea's imports of hydrogen fluoride from Japan over the January-May period plunged 85.8 percent on-year. Accordingly, Japan only accounted for 12 percent of South Korea's total imports of the material, down from 44 percent posted last year.
But for South Korea, settling the trade row with the Asian neighbor is still important, as Japan could come up with more regulations down the road. The country also has enough uncertainties on its plate due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
South Korea's exports are expected to fall 9 percent on-year in July, possibly extending a slump to the fifth consecutive month, a poll by Yonhap Infomax, the financial news arm of Yonhap News Agency, showed this week.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--(LEAD) Prosecutor in alleged blackmail case in brawl with investigator during search and seizure

In a statement , Han argued that he was unlocking his phone to call his lawyer , with permission from @ @ @ @ @ investigator , when Jeong suddenly hurled himself over the table between them to push Han @ @ @ @ @ was sitting .
During the ensuing scuffle , Jeong grabbed his arm and shoulder and @ @ @ @ @ Han said .

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in last 3 paras; ADDS photos
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- A brawl broke out Wednesday between prosecutor Han Dong-hoon, accused of being involved in an alleged blackmail case, and another prosecutor, part of the investigation team of the case.
The rare scuffle between the two incumbent prosecutors has added a new twist to the ongoing saga of the high-profile case, which for months served as a flashpoint between Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl over how the probe should be handled.
Han, a close aide of Yoon, is accused of colluding with a former reporter at local cable television network Channel A to blackmail a jailed businessman to dig up dirt on a pro-government public intellectual.
The file photos shows Han Dong-hoon (L) and Jeong Jin-woong (R). (Yonhap)
The scuffle occurred in the morning while the investigators were doing a search-and-seizure operation at Han's office in Yongin, south of Seoul, to secure the USIM card of Han's cell phone that it obtained last month.
In a statement, Han argued that he was unlocking his phone to call his lawyer, with permission from Jeong Jin-woong, a senior investigator, when Jeong suddenly hurled himself over the table between them to push Han off the sofa where he was sitting. During the ensuing scuffle, Jeong grabbed his arm and shoulder and pressed his face down, Han said.
While Jeong acknowledged his sudden behavior, he said he did so to stop Han from potentially deleting evidence on his phone.
"It didn't seem like he was making a phone call. Circumstantial evidence was showing that he was trying to delete or change information saved on his phone," an official from the investigation team said.
This photo, provided by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office on July 29, 2020, shows prosecutor Jeong Jin-woong being treated at a hospital. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
After the commotion, Han requested Jeong be immediately removed from the scene and from the investigation, but his request was dismissed, he said.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office issued a short statement, saying Jeong was being treated in hospital for injuries sustained during the fight, which was triggered by Han's "physical interference" in the search-and-seizure process.
The investigation team is said to be considering adding a new charge of obstruction of justice for Han.
But Han strongly insisted that he was cooperating with the investigation, adding that he was physically assaulted "unilaterally" and Jeong "unfairly" wielded his power as law enforcement.
Later in the day, Han filed a complaint at the Supreme Prosecutors Office, which immediately began a probe into the case.
Accusing Han of derailing the ongoing investigation, Jeong said he will sue Han for defamation.
The file photo shows prosecutor Han Dong-hoon. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--WTO sets up panel to look into Seoul-Tokyo trade row

The bilateral dispute began in July last year , when Japan abruptly announced it would regulate South Korea-bound exports of @ @ @ @ @ , etching gas and fluorinated polyimide that are critical for the chip and display industries @ @ @ @ @ 's No .
4 economy .

By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL/GENEVA, July 29 (Yonhap) -- The World Trade Organization's dispute settlement body on Wednesday decided to set up a panel to look into South Korea's complaint against Japan's export restrictions, a month after the decision was put off due to Tokyo's opposition.
Under the WTO rules, an investigation panel can be set up unless there is unanimous opposition from all members.
In June, South Korea reopened the WTO complaint over Japan's export curbs on key industrial materials as Tokyo remained unresponsive to Seoul's call for the removal of the export restrictions it imposed one year ago.
The bilateral dispute began in July last year, when Japan abruptly announced it would regulate South Korea-bound exports of the three materials -- photoresist, etching gas and fluorinated polyimide that are critical for the chip and display industries, the backbone of Asia's No. 4 economy.
A month later, Japan even removed South Korea from its list of trusted trading partners, provoking Seoul to take a tit-for-tat action in September.
Tokyo blamed Seoul for failing to effectively control trades of sensitive items that can be diverted for military purposes but has not yet provided clear evidence on how South Korea violated international rules.
Japan's export curbs are viewed as a retaliation against a South Korean court's decision that ordered Japanese companies to provide compensation for their wartime slavery of Korean workers.
With the two countries making no clear progress in resolving the dispute, South Korea filed a complaint with the WTO on the issue in September.
The country had suspended the process in November 2019 in a goodwill gesture, with Japan also lifting some regulations for the photoresist.
As there were no further developments, in May 2020, South Korea warned it will have no choice but to resume the WTO complaint unless Japan put forward any moves to address the issue.
South Korea has argued that Japan "fails to administer its laws, regulations, decisions and rulings of general application relating to the restrictions on exports in a uniform, impartial and reasonable manner," according to a WTO document.
So far, Tokyo's retaliation has caused more damage to Japan than South Korea.
In 2019, South Korea's exports to Japan moved down 6.9 percent, whereas its imports nose-dived 12.9 percent.
The on-going "boycott Japan" movement among South Korean consumers dealt a harsh blow to Japanese consumer goods companies. Demand for Japanese beer became nearly nonexistent here, a development far different than the past when South Korea used to be the top buyer of Japanese beer through 2018.
South Korea also managed to diversify its sources to secure the crucial items, while making efforts to foster its technologies for equipment, parts and materials as well.
Data compiled by the Korea International Trade Association showed South Korea's imports of hydrogen fluoride from Japan over the January-May period plunged 85.8 percent on-year. Accordingly, Japan only accounted for 12 percent of South Korea's total imports of the material, down from 44 percent posted last year.
But for South Korea, settling the trade row with the Asian neighbor is still important as Japan can come up with more regulations down the road. The country also has enough uncertainties on its plate due to the new coronavirus pandemic.
South Korea's exports are expected to fall 9 percent on-year in July, possibly extending a slump to the fifth consecutive month, a poll by Yonhap Infomax, the financial news arm of Yonhap News Agency, showed this week.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--Prosecutor in alleged blackmail case in brawl with investigator during search and seizure

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- A brawl broke out Wednesday between prosecutor Han Dong-hoon, accused of being involved in an alleged blackmail case, and another prosecutor, part of the investigation team of the case.
The rare scuffle between the two incumbent prosecutors has added a new twist to the ongoing saga of the high-profile case, which for months served as a flashpoint between Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl over how the probe should be handled.
Han, a close aide of Yoon, is accused of colluding with a former reporter at local cable television network Channel A to blackmail a jailed businessman to dig up dirt on a pro-government public intellectual.
The scuffle occurred in the morning while the investigators were doing a search-and-seizure operation at Han's office in Yongin, south of Seoul, to secure the USIM card of Han's cell phone that it obtained last month.
In a statement, Han argued that he was unlocking his phone to call his lawyer, with permission from Jeong Jin-woong, a senior investigator, when Jeong suddenly hurled himself over the table between them to push Han off the sofa where he was sitting. During the ensuing scuffle, Jeong grabbed his arm and shoulder and pressed his face down, Han said.
While Jeong acknowledged his sudden behavior, he said he did so to stop Han from potentially deleting evidence on his phone.
"It didn't seem like he was making a phone call. Circumstantial evidence was showing that he was trying to delete or change information saved on his phone," an official from the investigation team said.
After the commotion, Han requested Jeong be immediately removed from the scene and from the investigation, but his request was dismissed, he said.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office issued a short statement, saying Jeong was being treated in hospital for injuries sustained during the fight, which was triggered by Han's "physical interference" in the search-and-seizure process.
The investigation team is said to be considering adding a new charge of obstruction of justice for Han.
But Han strongly insisted that he was cooperating with the investigation and that he was physically assaulted "unilaterally."
He warned of legal action against Jeong for assaulting him by "unfairly" wielding his power as law enforcement.
The file photo shows prosecutor Han Dong-hoon. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--Lengthy bans upheld for triathletes, coach in abuse scandal

These three are accused of having verbally and physically abused former Gyeongju triathlete Choi Suk-hyeon , who took her own @ @ @ @ @ In the months leading up to her passing , Choi had filed complaints with local @ @ @ @ @ KSOC and the Korea Triathlon Federation .

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- Lifetime bans for a triathlon coach and his athlete for allegedly abusing a late athlete have been upheld by the nation's top sports body.
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) on Wednesday rejected appeals by Kim Gyu-bong, head coach of Gyeongju City Hall's semi-pro club, and a triathlete surnamed Jang on their permanent bans.
Separately, the 10-year ban on another Gyeongju triathlete, Kim Do-hwan, was also upheld by the KSOC.
These three are accused of having verbally and physically abused former Gyeongju triathlete Choi Suk-hyeon, who took her own life on June 26. In the months leading up to her passing, Choi had filed complaints with local police and with both the KSOC and the Korea Triathlon Federation.
The disciplinary committee of the Korean Sport & OIympic Committee meets in Seoul on July 29, 2020, to review appeals submitted by alleged abusers in a triathlon scandal on their lengthy bans. (Yonhap)
Choi's pleas for help went unanswered, and it was only after her death that legal and sports authorities began looking into those allegations more seriously.
On July 6, the Korea Triathlon Federation banned coach Kim and Jang for life, while suspending Kim Do-hwan.
Kim Do-hwan has since admitted to his wrongdoing and apologized to Choi's family, but that didn't affect his suspension. Coach Kim and Jang have maintained their innocence.
The three figures submitted their appeals on July 14. In an unusually swift move, considering the gravity of the situation and how Choi's tragic passing had become a national story, the KSOC held the review Wednesday.
The KSOC's disciplinary committee said none of the three attended Wednesday's hearing and they did not send their legal representatives. They only submitted written appeals, and the KSOC decided there were not enough grounds to lessen the original penalties.
"Members of our committee concluded that no form of violence could ever be tolerated," said Kim Byung-cheol, head of the KSOC's disciplinary committee. "We've spoken to the KSCO about the pressing need to prevent similar incidents in the future and to better protect athletes."
The late South Korean triathlete Choi Suk-hyeon receives a gold medal at the 2013 National Martine Sports Games in Ulsan, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in these photos provided by Choi's surviving family on July 2, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Choi had kept a diary detailing apparent abusive behavior by her coach and the two older teammates, and she had also made audio recordings of occasions when she was apparently being physically and verbally abused.
After Choi's passing, many of her Gyeongju teammates stepped forward with their own allegations of having been abused by the coach and the two senior triathletes.
The scandal is the latest moment of reckoning for the South Korean sports community, which has long struggled to eradicate an abusive culture but has not yet proven capable of cleaning itself up.
In this file photo from July 6, 2020, Kim Gyu-bong, head coach of the triathlon team at Gyeongju City Hall, leaves a meeting of the Korea Triathlon Federation's disciplinary committee in Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--(LEAD) Heavy rains flood homes, roads in central, southern areas

More than 460 hectares of farmland were submerged in Yeonggwang and the southwestern counties of Buan and Gochang , both @ @ @ @ @ mm of rain .

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with new info)
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- Torrential rains pounded the central and southern regions of South Korea on Wednesday, flooding many homes, roads and farmland.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) had issued heavy rain alerts for parts of Chungcheong, Jeolla and North Gyeonsang provinces.
The heaviest rainfall was recorded in the southwestern county of Hwasun, where 225 millimeters of rain poured for 24 hours until 4 p.m. Precipitation for other areas ranged from 80 mm to 190 mm.
In Yeonggwang in the southwest, some roads and homes were inundated, as downpours measuring up to 66.4 mm per hour lashed the county in the morning.
A parking lot is submerged by an overflowing stream in the southwestern city of Jeonju on July 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
In the southwestern city of Gwangju, a 10-lane road was swamped by water, as the city was hit by up to 136 mm of rain.
Some houses in the central city of Cheongju were flooded by a swollen stream. A man fled his half-submerged car in the nearby city of Jecheon.
More than 460 hectares of farmland were submerged in Yeonggwang and the southwestern counties of Buan and Gochang, both hit by more than 127 mm of rain.
Trees were knocked down in several cities and counties, including the central city of Daejeon, which reported 128 mm of rain.
In Jecheon, agricultural authorities released water from a reservoir after it exceeded 90 percent of capacity.
In North Jeolla Province, a total of 14 trails in Mount Jiri National Park were blocked. In the county of Wanju, soil flowed from hills, forcing the closure of two roads in the morning.
The KMA forecast rain will continue until Thursday, with some areas recording 30-80 mm per hour.
A road is flooded in the southeastern city of Busan on July 29, 2020, in this photo provided by the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--Real estate bills pass through parliamentary committees despite opposition boycott

On July 10 , the Moon Jae-in government said it will raise property ownership tax for multiple-home owners and ease @ @ @ @ @ in the capital area , marking the latest action to cool a surge in prices @ @ @ @ @ .
The government also plans to announce a package of fresh measures to boost home @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- The ruling Democratic Party (DP) passed a package of real estate-related bills through parliamentary standing committees this week, including two on Wednesday, in a process vehemently protested and boycotted by the main opposition party.
Earlier in the day, the standing Legislation and Judiciary Committee, where 11 out of the total 18 seats are held by the DP, approved two bills to revise the Housing Lease Protection Act in its plenary session.
This was after the DP fast-tracked the passage of another 11 real estate-related bills through three standing committees including the Strategy and Finance Committee, based on its lion's share of 176 seats in the 300-member parliament.
Those bills aim to raise tax burdens for owners of multiple houses and curb property market speculation in line with the government's broadening efforts to bring the overheated real estate market, especially apartments in Seoul and nearby cities, under control.
On July 10, the Moon Jae-in government said it will raise property ownership tax for multiple-home owners and ease regulations to supply more homes in the capital area, marking the latest action to cool a surge in prices that has fueled public discontent. The government also plans to announce a package of fresh measures to boost home supply on Aug. 4.
If the envisioned bills are approved at a full floor session, they will better protect the rights of tenants in the face of skyrocketing house prices.
They will also legally guarantee tenants' rights to extend their house lease contracts by up to two more years from the first two-year deals. Under the revisions, the maximum rate of rent increase is capped at 5 percent in the event of contract renewals.
Under the bills, the home acquisition tax levied on owners of two homes will also be increased to as high as 8 percent, while the rate for owners of three homes will be revised up to 12 percent.
Meanwhile, those who buy their first homes will get a 50 percent discount in acquisition tax under the bills, according to the content of the bills.
The passage of bills through the standing committees, however, was single handedly led by the DP, as lawmakers of the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) boycotted the committees' votes and brought the procedures into question.
As DP Rep. Yun Ho-jung, chairman of the legislation committee, put two bills to a vote Wednesday, all the committee members affiliated with the UFP walked out of the meeting room in a boycott of the vote.
Rep. Kim Do-eup of the UFP, who is a member of the committee, accused the chairman of leading the plenary committee meeting in a "unilateral manner" and trying to railroad the bills.
A residential area in Seoul (Yonhap)
Protesting the series of actions by the DP as "parliamentary dictatorship," the UFP has also threatened to further boycott committee meetings and take legal action.
"(Discriminately) tabling bills proposed by certain lawmakers and railroading them for vote without proper discussion constitute an act of deluding the public and the National Assembly," Rep. Yoo Sung-kull said in a press conference Tuesday.
"Given the clear flaws, the bills should be invalid, and (the UFP) will take legal action," the lawmaker said.
Despite growing opposition protest, officials at the DP said the party is planning to pass all the bills through the final full-floor vote by Aug. 4 to back the government's efforts to stabilize the market.
Rep. Cho Su-jin (C) of the United Future Party confronts legislation committee Chairman Rep. Yun Ho-jung of the Democratic Party during a committee session on July 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--Japan's forced labor issue should be dealt with from human rights viewpoint: experts

According to a South Korean government report released in 2012 , about 500 to 800 Koreans are believed to have @ @ @ @ @ cramped and stifling spaces at undersea coal mines on the island off the coast of @ @ @ @ @ , and 143 of them died there of diseases , malnutrition and accidents .
Korea @ @ @ @ @ from 1910 to 1945 .

By Chang Dong-woo
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- Japan's failure to recognize its wrongdoings during World War II should fundamentally be addressed and dealt with from the perspective of rectifying a violation of human rights, experts said Wednesday.
"The interpretation issue of forced mobilization and forced labor is not just an issue between the two countries (South Korea and Japan) but a multilateral issue involving Chinese and allied prisoners of war, and it also needs to be stressed as a human rights issue," said Kim Min-chul, a history professor from Seoul's Kyung Hee University.
The comments were made at an international forum in Seoul on the subject of Japan's revisionist rhetoric and policies pertaining to the forced labor that took place at the 23 UNESCO-designated sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution.
Attendees at an international forum in Seoul listen to a group of experts on East Asian history from Australia, Japan, Taiwan, the United States and South Korea, brought together through teleconference on July 29, 2020. The forum was on the topic of Japan's revisionist rhetoric and policies pertaining to the forced labor that took place at the 23 UNESCO-designated sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution. (Yonhap)
Upon the 2015 designation, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee called for Japan to prepare an interpretive strategy that allows an understanding of the "full history of each site." Tokyo then agreed to take such steps as remembering the victims by establishing an information center.
In June, Tokyo opened the promised information center but virtually ignored the UNESCO committee's recommendation, as the facility does not offer any explanations on the forced labor that took place at the sites.
Kim called for Japan to uphold the promise it made to UNESCO to realize the "universal values" pursued by the committee.
"One way would be to turn the information center, which is criticized as a center for distorting history, into a center for shared memories of East Asia, involving stakeholders and related countries," the professor said.
Todd Henry, an associate professor of history at the University of California, San Diego, also argued that "nationalized frameworks" in dealing with the history problem with Japan do not necessarily empower the individual victims.
Henry also stressed the need to approach the issue "in ways that allow us to better capture the insidious forces that are often lost in state-dominated frameworks" in remembering the past and make use of history in the present.
Lauren Richardson, director of studies at the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University, in a presentation highlighted many of the atrocities forced laborers from Korea faced.
"Thousands of Korean laborers died on their work sites from malnutrition, starvation or work place accidents," Richardson said. She also highlighted that many Korean laborers remained stranded in the Russia's far eastern island of Sakhalin even after Korea's liberation from Japan.
Park Yang-woo, South Korean culture minister, speaks at an international forum in Seoul on July 29, 2020, on the subject of Japan's revisionist messages and policies pertaining to the forced labor that took place at the 23 UNESCO-designated sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution. (Yonhap)
Park Yang-woo, South Korea's culture minister, in an opening speech called on Japan to "earnestly relate to the victims in affected countries" of its past atrocities.
"Japan surely needs to reflect on and apologize for its past wrongdoings in order to gain the trust of the Asian countries victimized and truly cooperate and join together with them," the minister said.
According to a South Korean government report released in 2012, about 500 to 800 Koreans are believed to have been made to work in cramped and stifling spaces at undersea coal mines on the island off the coast of Nagasaki between 1943 to 1945, and 143 of them died there of diseases, malnutrition and accidents. Korea was a colony of Japan from 1910 to 1945.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--(LEAD) S. Korea will handle diplomat's alleged sexual harassment in New Zealand after finding facts,

(LEAD) S. Korea will handle diplomat's alleged sexual harassment in New Zealand after finding facts, Moon says

The 2017 case has drawn public attention again since a recent news report in New Zealand .
While serving as @ @ @ @ @ Korean Embassy in Wellington at that time , the diplomat was accused of behaving indecently @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: ADDS more details in last 3 paras)
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in told the leader of New Zealand that his government will handle a sexual harassment allegation involving a senior South Korean diplomat, once based in Wellington, after finding relevant facts, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Wednesday.
Moon had phone talks with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern the previous day.
She raised the issue at the end of the 30-minute conversation, the official told reporters.
The 2017 case has drawn public attention again since a recent news report in New Zealand. While serving as a counselor at the South Korean Embassy in Wellington at that time, the diplomat was accused of behaving indecently against a local male staffer.
The diplomat, whose name remains withheld formally, left the capital city in 2018 and is now serving as consul general in another foreign country.
There has reportedly since been little progress in a probe by New Zealand's police despite a court-issued arrest warrant.
Responding to Ardern's remarks, Moon said, "Related (South Korean) authorities will handle (the matter) after confirming facts," the Cheong Wa Dae official said on the condition of anonymity.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the foreign ministry had probed the diplomat and had cut his salary for a month as a disciplinary measure before reassigning him to the current post.
"While checking related facts in a stern manner, we will make efforts for a smooth resolution through close communication with New Zealand authorities," a ministry official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in holds phone talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on July 28, 2020, in this photo provided by Cheong Wa Dae. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--(LEAD) Moon urges continued efforts for 'complete missile sovereignty'

`` A circumstance has been created for our private companies to gain competitiveness without losing a golden time in an @ @ @ @ @ shifting to private cooperation from that led by the government , '' Park Su-kyung , @ @ @ @ @ technology , said at a separate press briefing .

(ATTN: UPDATES with briefing on global competitiveness from 6th para; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in called Wednesday for a continued push to secure the "complete missile sovereignty" of South Korea, saying the lifting of restrictions on the country's use of solid fuels for its space rocket offers a good chance for development of the space industry.
Moon was speaking about the revised missile guidelines between Seoul and Washington, announced the previous day, on allowing Seoul to launch long-range rockets based on solid propellants, as well as liquid and hybrid ones, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
The president evaluated the lifting as a "good opportunity" for the nation's space industry as a "future industry," Kim said in a press briefing.
Moon stressed the need to make continued efforts to "secure complete missile sovereignty," Kim said.
South Korea is still prohibited from firing ballistic missiles with the range of over 800 kilometers under the alliance accord first signed in 1979.
President Moon Jae-in, in a file photo (Yonhap)
Cheong Wa Dae, meanwhile, said the new alliance accord would help enhance the global competitiveness of South Korea's space sector, in particular the private one.
"A circumstance has been created for our private companies to gain competitiveness without losing a golden time in an era that space development is shifting to private cooperation from that led by the government," Park Su-kyung, presidential adviser for science and technology, said at a separate press briefing.
She mentioned the market of small communication and observation satellites.
Over the past 10 years, around 1,500 such satellites were launched, with more than 8,600 expected to be launched in the coming decade, she added.
"South Korean companies have obtained a chance to enter the launch service market, in which some 30 firms are operating in the world," he said.
Park Su-kyung, adviser to President Moon Jae-in for science and technology, speaks during a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae on July 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--Creditors bracing for collapse of Asiana deal: regulator

In its self-help measures , Asiana has had all of its 10,500 employees take unpaid leave for 15 days a @ @ @ @ @ circumstances normalize .
Asiana 's executives have also agreed to forgo 60 percent of their @ @ @ @ @ time frame was given for how long the pay cuts will remain in effect .

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- Creditors of Asiana Airlines Inc. are looking at various options in the event of the collapse of a deal to sell the debt-laden carrier to a local consortium, the financial regulator said Wednesday.
In December, the consortium, led by HDC Hyundai Development Co., signed a deal with Kumho Industrial Co., which owns a 30.77 percent stake in Asiana Airlines, to acquire the carrier.
But the deal has been on the brink of falling through as the new coronavirus outbreak sharply reduced travel demand and pushed up Asiana's debts this year.
In a parliamentary committee session, Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Eun Sung-soo said, "Asiana and its creditor banks are looking at countermeasures (to help Asiana stay afloat) if the HDC consortium does not have an intention to acquire the carrier."
FSC Chairman Eun Sung-soo answers questions about the Asiana Airlines sale plan from lawmakers in a parliamentary committee session in Seoul on July 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
Asked if the government can inject some of the 40 trillion won stabilization fund for back-bone industries into Asiana if the deal collapses, the chairman said, "Asiana is qualified for the fund if the company applies for it. The fund's review committee will make a decision."
A day earlier, FSC Vice Chairman Sohn Byung-doo said that consultations among related institutions were underway "with all options on the table," as for the possibility of Asiana becoming a state-owned company if the deal collapses.
HDC is widely expected to scrap the deal given differences over acquisition terms between HDC and Kumho and worsening business environments amid the pandemic.
On Sunday, HDC demanded another round of due diligence on Asiana in what appears to be a step to withdraw from the deal.
One month earlier, HDC called for renegotiations with Asiana creditors over the acquisition terms, describing the ongoing virus crisis as a "never expected and very negative factor" that will affect its planned takeover of the carrier.
HDC then cited Asiana's snowballing debts as another reason for renegotiations, noting that debts are "damaging the acquisition value of the carrier." Asiana's debts jumped by 4.5 trillion won from July last year to March this year.
Kumho Industrial on July 14 sent a letter demanding that HDC complete the deal by the end of August. HDC didn't confirm the notification.
Asiana has been hit hard by the pandemic. It has suspended most of its flights on international routes as more than 180 countries have strengthened entry restrictions amid virus fears this year.
Asiana's net losses for the January-March quarter deepened to 683.26 billion won from 89.18 billion won a year earlier. It is widely expected to report widened losses for the second quarter next month.
To help Asiana stay afloat, the state-run Korea Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of Korea plan to inject a combined 1.7 trillion won into Asiana. Last year, the creditors extended a total of 1.6 trillion won to the carrier.
In its self-help measures, Asiana has had all of its 10,500 employees take unpaid leave for 15 days a month since April until business circumstances normalize. Asiana's executives have also agreed to forgo 60 percent of their wages, though no specific time frame was given for how long the pay cuts will remain in effect.
HDC's company logo and Asiana Airlines' planes at an airport in South Korea (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--Heavy rains flood homes, roads in central, southern areas

The heaviest rainfall was recorded in the southwestern county of Hwasun , with 210.5 millimeters as of 1 p.m. Precipitation @ @ @ @ @ 80 mm to 190 mm .

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- Heavy rains pounded the central and southern areas of South Korea on Wednesday, flooding many homes, roads and farmlands.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued heavy rain alerts for parts of Chungcheong, Jeolla and North Gyeonsang provinces.
The heaviest rainfall was recorded in the southwestern county of Hwasun, with 210.5 millimeters as of 1 p.m. Precipitation for other areas ranged from 80 mm to 190 mm.
In Yeonggwang in the southwest, some roads and homes were inundated as downpours measuring 66.4 mm per hour lashed the county in the morning.
A parking lot is submerged by an overflowing stream in the southwestern city of Jeonju on July 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
A 10-lane road was swamped by water in the southwestern city of Gwangju, which was hit by 175.5 mm of rain as of 1 p.m.
Some houses in the central city of Cheongju were flooded by a swollen stream. A man fled his half-submerged car in the nearby city of Jecheon.
Ten hectares of farmland were submerged in the southwestern county of Buan, hit by more than 130 mm of rain.
Trees were knocked down in at least four cities and counties.
In Jecheon, agricultural authorities released water from a reservoir after it exceeded 90 percent of capacity.
The KMA forecast rain will continue until Thursday morning, with some areas recording 30-50 mm per hour.
A road is flooded in the southeastern city of Busan on July 29, 2020, in this photo provided by the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

As part of the measures , the government plans to scrap a decades-old law that allows people with parental rights @ @ @ @ @ .
Article 915 of South Korea 's Civil Act indicates that `` person of parental @ @ @ @ @ to protect or educate his or her child , take necessary disciplinary action against the @ @ @

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.
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Korean drug suspect arrested in Cambodia
SEOUL -- A South Korean national has been arrested in Cambodia on charges of attempting to smuggle methamphetamine into South Korea and Japan, prosecutors here said Wednesday.
The drug suspect was apprehended in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, after having allegedly been involved in drug trafficking in five Asian countries, according to the Supreme Prosecutors Office (SPO) and the Incheon District Prosecutors Office.
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(LEAD) Russian sailors required to submit virus-free certificate on spiking cases
SEOUL -- Sailors aboard ships coming from Russia will be required to submit a certificate showing they have tested negative for the new coronavirus for entry into South Korea as cluster infections traced to Russian ships docked here have continued to swell, health authorities said Wednesday.
Starting on Aug. 3, seafarers on all vessels departing from Russia should turn in such certificates, according to South Korean health authorities. The documents should be issued within 48 hours of departure.
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Moon urges continued efforts for 'complete missile sovereignty'
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in called Wednesday for a continued push to secure the "complete missile sovereignty" of South Korea, saying the lifting of restrictions on the country's use of solid fuels for its space rocket offers a good chance for development of the space industry.
Moon was speaking about the revised missile guidelines between Seoul and Washington, announced the previous day, on allowing Seoul to launch long-range rockets based on solid propellants, as well as liquid and hybrid ones, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
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(2nd LD) New virus cases bounce back to over 40 on surge in imported cases
SEOUL -- The number of new daily coronavirus in South Korea bounced back to above 40 Wednesday as both imported cases and local transmissions climbed up.
The country added 48 cases, including 34 imported cases, raising the total caseload to 14,251, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The tally marked a sharp increase from 25 new virus cases reported Monday and 28 cases Tuesday.
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(2nd LD) Cheong Wa Dae says no document exists on alleged money deal with N. Korea in 2000
SEOUL -- Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday the government has no document related to an alleged under-the-table agreement with North Korea in 2000 signed by Park Jie-won, newly appointed head of South Korea's state spy agency.
It was countering political attacks made by the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) that Park had signed the accord, ahead of the inter-Korean summit talks, to offer US$3 billion in financial support to Pyongyang. Park was one of the closest aides to then President Kim Dae-jung, who had a historic meeting with the North's leader Kim Jong-il.
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(Movie Review) 'Deliver Us From Evil' is all about action
SEOUL -- The action thriller "Deliver Us From Evil," directed by Hong Won-chan, fills its near two-hour running time with stabbings, murders and assassinations carried out by two professional killers.
Hired assassin In-nam (Hwang Jung-min) plans to retire after carrying out his last mission. But that final task causes a rabid, ruthless pursuer, Ray (Lee Jung-jae), to pursue In-nam's death.
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S. Korea will handle diplomat's alleged sexual harassment in New Zealand after finding facts, Moon says
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in told the leader of New Zealand that his government will handle a sexual harassment allegation involving a senior South Korean diplomat, once based in Wellington, after finding relevant facts, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Wednesday.
Moon had phone talks with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern the previous day.
-------------------
S. Korea moves to strengthen punishment for abusive parents
SEOUL -- South Korean plans to mandate tougher punishment for parents who abuse their children and provide a safety net for at-risk children, the education ministry said Wednesday.
As part of the measures, the government plans to scrap a decades-old law that allows people with parental rights to physically punish their children. Article 915 of South Korea's Civil Act indicates that "person of parental authority may, in order to protect or educate his or her child, take necessary disciplinary action against the child."
-------------------
KBO's Samsung Lions sign ex-MLB outfielder Daniel Palka
SEOUL -- Former Chicago White Sox outfielder Daniel Palka is coming to South Korea.
The Samsung Lions of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Wednesday they've signed Palka for the rest of the season for US$100,000. The 28-year-old will also get $20,000 in signing bonus and $50,000 in incentives. Separately, the Lions are paying the White Sox $100,000 in buyout.
--------------------
(LEAD) Korea seeks to extend foreign workers' stay permits to cope with seasonal labor shortage
SEOUL -- South Korea will push to extend stay permits for foreign migrant workers who cannot return home due to the coronavirus pandemic, in a bid to relieve seasonal labor shortages in farming and other areas, a government agency said Wednesday.
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said that it and relevant ministries will discuss allowing migrant workers whose work permit periods expired to extend their stay here once for up to three months and engage in seasonal agricultural labor and other activities outside of their status of stay.
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--Korean firms disappointed with world's largest tech expo going online-only in 2021

`` The CES in recent years was not only covering electronics but also electric vehicles ( EVs ) and robots @ @ @ @ @ from a battery maker .
`` I 'm afraid we will have less opportunities to @ @ @ @ @ technology in EVs and batteries , with the show turning online . ''

By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korean firms on Wednesday lamented the world's largest tech expo's decision to hold the event online next year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic as they seek ways to better promote their new technology and products.
The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has announced that the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) will go fully digital next year due to the COVID-19 crisis. The tech show is slated for Jan. 6 to 9 in the United States.
"Amid the pandemic and growing global health concerns about the spread of COVID-19, it's just not possible to safely convene tens of thousands of people in Las Vegas in early January 2021 to meet and do business in person," said CTA chief Gary Shapiro.
The CES has been an important event for South Korean electronics giants, like Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc., as it offers an opportunity to showcase their latest products and technologies to global audiences.
This photo, taken on Jan. 7, 2020, shows visitors at Samsung Electronics Co.'s exhibition booth at the Consumer Electronics Show 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Yonhap)
This year's CES drew more than 180,000 visitors, with some 4,500 companies from 155 countries also attending the event.
"The CES is a place where companies can check, share and benchmark the industry's latest technology trends," said an official from a local electronics company who asked not to be named. "It's a pity that we cannot see that stage next year."
Although the event will be held online, industry insiders pointed out that it will be less attractive compared to an in-person expo.
"What's more regretful is that we will miss opportunities to meet people from other companies and institutions and exchange future business ideas," said another official from an electronics firm.
Non-traditional electronics firms, including Hyundai Motor, also chimed in.
"The CES in recent years was not only covering electronics but also electric vehicles (EVs) and robots," said an official from a battery maker. "I'm afraid we will have less opportunities to check out trends of next-generation technology in EVs and batteries, with the show turning online."
South Korean firms said they will decide their moves related to next year's CES after looking at the event organizer's detailed plans.
Industry insiders said local companies will have to figure out the best way to approach spectators online amid the contactless trend sparked by the pandemic.
The CES already promised that next year's event will deliver a "unique experience."
"CES 2021 will be a new immersive experience, where attendees will have a front row seat to discover and see the latest technology," it said. "This highly personalized experience will bring a global event to the comfort and safety of your home or office."
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--KBO's Samsung Lions sign ex-MLB outfielder Daniel Palka

The Lions made room for Palka by waiving Tyler Saladino , his former teammate with the White Sox in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ since July 15 with a back injury , and the Lions ran out of patience @ @ @ @ @ also missed time earlier in the season with an injury .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- Former Chicago White Sox outfielder Daniel Palka is coming to South Korea.
The Samsung Lions of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Wednesday they've signed Palka for the rest of the season for US$100,000. The 28-year-old will also get $20,000 in signing bonus and $50,000 in incentives. Separately, the Lions are paying the White Sox $100,000 in buyout.
The Lions made room for Palka by waiving Tyler Saladino, his former teammate with the White Sox in 2018. Saladino has been sidelined since July 15 with a back injury, and the Lions ran out of patience with the player who'd also missed time earlier in the season with an injury.
In this Getty Images file photo from July 28, 2018, Daniel Palka of the Chicago White Sox hits a two-run single against the Toronto Blue Jays in the bottom of the eighth inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. (Yonhap)
KBO teams can each sign up to three foreign players, with no more than two pitchers. The two other import players for the Lions are starting pitchers David Buchanan and Ben Lively.
Saladino played 44 out of the Lions' 68 games and is leaving with a .280/.411/.477 line, six home runs and 27 RBIs.
The Lions are counting on some home run power from Palka that they didn't get from Saladino. In his rookie season in 2018, Palka swatted 27 home runs in 124 games and finished fifth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
The following season, though, Palka only appeared in 30 games and homered only twice, while batting .107/.194/.179.
Palka performed much better in Triple-A last year, with a .263/.374/.527 line, 27 home runs, 72 RBIs and 23 doubles in 106 games.
The Lions said Palka is a great fastball hitter, and his power and bat speed should turn him into a successful slugger in the KBO.
In this Getty Images file photo from Sept. 18, 2018, Daniel Palka of the Chicago White Sox is greeted by his teammates after hitting a solo home run against the Cleveland Indians in the top of the sixth inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Progressive Field in Cleveland. (Yonhap)
Through Tuesday's action, the Lions ranked eighth among 10 clubs with 63 home runs and seventh with a .756 on-base plus slugging percentage.
The Lions had 76 games remaining in the 144-game season before Wednesday. Palka won't be able to join them immediately, as he must serve his mandatory 14-day quarantine once he arrives in South Korea.
The Lions have lost four straight to fall to 34-34 for the season, three games out of the fifth and the final playoff spot. They haven't been to the postseason since losing in the Korean Series in 2015.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--S. Korea moves to strengthen punishment for abusive parents

SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korean plans to mandate tougher punishment for parents who abuse their children and provide a safety net for at-risk children, the education ministry said Wednesday.
As part of the measures, the government plans to scrap a decades-old law that allows people with parental rights to physically punish their children. Article 915 of South Korea's Civil Act indicates that "person of parental authority may, in order to protect or educate his or her child, take necessary disciplinary action against the child."
The law, legislated in 1958, has been a source of controversy, with critics claiming it may prompt parents to consider children as their "possession" and justify child abuse.
In addition to scrapping the law, the government plans to run a campaign on preventing child abuse and launch a taskforce to review stronger punishment for abusive parents.
An illustration depicting Article 915 of South Korea's Civil Act, which stipulates that parents may take necessary disciplinary action to protect or educate their children. (Yonhap)
To protect children, the government plans to introduce a policy that would grant public servants the right to separate children from their parents.
In addition to the legal changes, the government plans to assign public servants looking over child abuse issues and build a more comprehensive system so that relevant government agencies and schools can share information on at-risk children.
The latest measures come after several brutal child abuse cases shocked the nation.
A 9-year-old with burned fingers and severe bruises who was found by a neighbor turned out to have been abused by her stepfather and mother at home, while another 9-year-old died after being locked in a suitcase by his father's girlfriend.
President Moon Jae-in urged officials to look into the country's child welfare system and detect children in need, mentioning how spending more time at home due to the new coronavirus may expose to them more abuse.
A man attends a hearing at the Miryang branch of the Changwon District Court in Miryang, 386 kilometers south of Seoul, on June 15, 2020, on allegations of abusing his step daughter. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-29--Telcos expand AI services amid slump in mobile biz

The AI is currently being tested to find optimal energy consumption and climate levels for its headquarters building in central @ @ @ @ @ pieces of data collected from sensors every day , according to KT .

By Chae Yun-hwan
SEOUL, July 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's major telecom firms are expanding artificial intelligence (AI)-based services ranging from mobility to factory operations, industry insiders said Wednesday, as they search for new growth engines beyond the mobile communications business.
Last month, LG Uplus Corp. joined an AI research alliance that includes its local rival KT Corp. and electronics giant LG Electronics Inc. to better develop human-like algorithm solutions.
LG Uplus also launched an augmented reality (AR)-based navigation service with Kakao Mobility Corp. that incorporates AI technology.
Available on its navigation app for 5G smartphones, it uses AR holograms to provide driving directions and road information in real time, based on AI suggestions.
A model showcases LG Uplus Corp.'s new augmented-reality navigation service powered by artificial intelligence technology, in this photo provided by LG Uplus on July 29, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
SK Telecom Co., the country's leading mobile carrier, has been reportedly working with Samsung Electronics Co. and the country's top mobile messenger operator Kakao Corp. to boost its competitiveness in the sector.
Earlier this week, SK Telecom inked a deal with Hwashin Co., an automotive parts maker, to install an AI-powered quality control system at all of its local production lines over the next five years.
The system automatically detects defective products based on their sound during the manufacturing process, according to the carrier.
KT plans to offer an AI-based climate and energy control system for buildings with its real estate subsidiary KT estate Inc.
The AI is currently being tested to find optimal energy consumption and climate levels for its headquarters building in central Seoul by analyzing 5 million pieces of data collected from sensors every day, according to KT.
KT estate Inc. employees check its smart building monitoring system at the company's office in Seongnam, south of Seoul, in this photo provided by KT Corp. on July 28, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)
Telecom operators' AI services come amid lukewarm performance from their main mobile business.
SK Telecom's average revenue per user from its mobile business in the first quarter fell 1.4 percent on-quarter, while that of LG Uplus edged up only 0.2 percent. KT's average revenue per user rose 1.4 percent over the same period.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)