yna--2020-12-14--SK Innovation inks joint venture deal to run another EV battery plant in China

SEOUL , Dec. 14 ( Yonhap ) -- SK Innovation Co. has invested in an electric vehicle ( EV ) @ @ @ @ @ the latest move to boost its production capacity amid growing demand for zero-emission cars in @ @ @ @ @ market , people familiar with the matter said Monday .

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- SK Innovation Co. has invested in an electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in China in the latest move to boost its production capacity amid growing demand for zero-emission cars in the world's largest auto market, people familiar with the matter said Monday.
The South Korean EV battery maker acquired a 49 percent stake in EVE Asia Co., a subsidiary of Chinese EV battery maker EVE Energy Co., through a debt-equity swap deal, they said.
EVE Asia runs an EV battery plant in the Chinese southern city of Huizhou.
The deal will allow SK Innovation to jointly operate the plant capable of producing EV battery cells totaling 10 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year, beginning next year.
It marks SK Innovation's third joint venture investment in Chinese EV battery plants as the South Korean EV battery maker seeks to respond to the fast-growing EV market in the world's second-largest economy.
Currently, SK Innovation runs an EV battery plant in Changzhou, east China, with Beijing Automotive Group and Beijing Electronics.
SK Innovation's joint venture factory with EVE in the eastern city of Yancheng will begin operation next year.
This photo, provided by SK Innovation Co., shows officials from SK Innovation, Beijing Automotive Group and Beijing Electronics at the completion ceremony for their EV battery cell manufacturing joint venture BEST in Changzhou, China, on Dec. 5, 2019. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--(2nd LD) 17 USFK members test positive for new coronavirus

`` All individuals have since been transferred to an isolation facility designated for confirmed COVID-19 cases at U.S. Army Garrison @ @ @ @ @ , '' USFK said , adding that none of them have interacted with anyone residing @ @ @ @ @ local community .

(ATTN: UPDATES paras 2-3 with latest info)
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- Seventeen individuals affiliated with the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) have tested positive for the new coronavirus over the past few weeks, the U.S. military said Monday.
One South Korean citizen working at Camp Casey in the northern city of Dongducheon was confirmed on Monday to have been infected, USFK said in a statement.
"Contact tracing is ongoing. USFK and local ROK public health officials are actively ensuring that all known on-post and off-post facilities visited by the employee are thoroughly cleaned," it added. ROK is the acronym of South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.
This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2019, shows U.S. Forces Korea's Camp Casey in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap)
Sixteen others tested positive upon arrival here between Nov. 28 and Dec. 11.
Three service members and a family member arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on U.S. government-chartered flights, while 11 service personnel and one dependent arrived here on commercial flights via Incheon International Airport, west of the capital, according to USFK.
Twelve of them tested positive on their first mandatory COVID-19 test prior to entering quarantine, and the remainder were confirmed to have contracted the virus on their second mandatory test, it added.
All USFK-affiliated individuals arriving in South Korea are required to undergo a virus test and quarantine for 14 days. Medical personnel administer a second test prior to their release.
"All individuals have since been transferred to an isolation facility designated for confirmed COVID-19 cases at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys and Osan Air Base," USFK said, adding that none of them have interacted with anyone residing within USFK installations or the local community.
The latest cases brought the total number of USFK-related coronavirus infections to 435.
U.S. military officers wait for American service personnel to arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on April 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--(3rd LD) Hundreds of special forces personnel mobilized to support virus fight

Starting this week , the Armed Forces General Hospital in the central city of Daejeon will begin accepting COVID-19 patients @ @ @ @ @ the southeastern city of Daegu and the northern city of Goyang will also be open @ @ @ @ @ to the ministry .
The three military hospitals have a total of 465 beds .

(ATTN: ADDS additional measures, defense chief's emergency meeting in paras 8-9, 12, 15; REPLACES photo with latest)
By Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- More than 300 Special Warfare officers were dispatched to public health centers Monday to help with the government's handling of the new coronavirus, the Army said.
A total of 379 officers from the Army's Special Warfare Command were sent to 78 public health centers in Seoul and the surrounding areas to conduct diverse supporting roles, such as contact tracing, data management and transferring samples for virus tests for two months, according to the Army.
The move came as the metropolitan area has reported large numbers of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. On Sunday, the country's number of daily infections hit a record high of 1,030, and nearly 80 percent of them were from Seoul, the western city of Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.
"We will do our best to support the government's antivirus efforts just like carrying out military operations," Yang Eun-chan, who leads the Army's new coronavirus task force, said.
Special warfare soldiers work at a health center in Seoul on Dec. 14, 2020, as part of efforts to assist the government's epidemiological survey in the fight against COVID-19. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
In addition to the special forces personnel, the defense ministry sent 56 military doctors and 18 nurses to newly established makeshift testing centers in the greater Seoul area to support quarantine work.
Free virus tests are offered at the centers with a goal of having more people take tests.
"A total of 486 officials and around 74 more medical personnel will be additionally sent to the testing centers this, and we are considering mobilizing more personnel, if necessary, in close consultations with health authorities," a ministry official said.
Starting this week, the Armed Forces General Hospital in the central city of Daejeon will begin accepting COVID-19 patients, and military hospitals in the southeastern city of Daegu and the northern city of Goyang will also be open to civilians soon, according to the ministry. The three military hospitals have a total of 465 beds.
The decision came as the recent spike in the number of infections in the greater Seoul area has caused concern about a possible shortage of sickbeds, particularly for those with serious symptoms.
On Monday, South Korea's daily virus cases fell back below 1,000 to stand at 718, including 682 local infections, raising the total caseload to 43,484, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
But the drop is believed to be owing largely to fewer tests conducted over the weekend.
Defense Minister Suh Wook presided over an emergency meeting with top commanders Monday and ordered the mobilization of all military assets available to best support the government's virus fight, according to his office.
The military added no new COVID-19 patients Monday for the first time in nearly a month. It has seen a drastic surge in confirmed cases due to cluster infections at barracks across the world since mid-November.
Up until Monday morning, the total caseload among the military population came to 451, according to the defense ministry.
"It is necessary to continue to enforce measures to stem the spread of the virus into barracks and at the same time get key personnel and guard troops ready to conduct their duties under any circumstances," Suh said.
Ambulances are parked in front of Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on Dec. 14, 2020. The National Fire Agency mobilized vehicles and personnel from 12 regional headquarters to the South Korean capital and the surrounding areas the same day to help transport patients infected with the new coronavirus amid a spike in the number of coronavirus cases. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--Moon to stress OECD's role in global economic recovery, vow Seoul's contribution

Joining the official event to be held online later in the day in celebration of the occasion , Moon is @ @ @ @ @ role so far as a signature body in the global economic field , it said @ @ @ @ @ in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade .

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in will deliver a video message to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) convention and reaffirm South Korea's resolve to help develop multilateralism, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday.
Joining the official event to be held online later in the day in celebration of the occasion, Moon is to note the OECD's role so far as a signature body in the global economic field, it said. The OECD was founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.
Moon will point out that the OECD has promoted fair and transparent competition by setting more than 450 international standards in various sectors such as climate, governance, fiance, investment, trade and anti-corruption.
This file photo, provided by Cheong Wa Dae, shows President Moon Jae-in delivering a video message at his office in Seoul for the virtual Climate Ambition Summit on Dec. 13, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
He also plans to explain about the government's push for the Korean version of New Deal aimed at fostering sustainable and inclusive growth. He will then pledge Seoul's commitment to continue to contribute to anti-poverty and sustainable development as a member of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee.
"In addition, (the president) will emphasize the importance of multilateralism for overcoming the COVID-19 crisis and express his expectation that the OECD will serve as a milestone for a better recovery of the world economy," Cheong Wa Dae said.
South Korea became a member of the OECD in 1996.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--S. Korea sets up free Wi-Fi networks on buses in operation across nation

The accumulated number of times the free Wi-Fi services were used on buses reached 420 million between May 2019 and @ @ @ @ @ said .
This translates into each person in the country 's 51.6 million population using @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has established free Wi-Fi networks on around 35,000 city buses operating across the nation, allowing citizens aboard to access the internet free of charge and reduce their mobile phone bills, the ICT ministry said Monday.
The Ministry of Science and ICT said it marks the first time in the world that free Wi-Fi services will be provided on all of the 35,006 city buses in operation.
The ministry and 16 provincial governments began setting up free Wi-Fi networks on buses in 2018 and completed the project in October this year in an effort to reduce households' communication bills and help citizens better access the internet.
"It is meaningful that the service will help reduce the burden of communications bills for people who might have difficulty in using high-priced subscription packages," ICT Minister Choi Ki-young said.
The accumulated number of times the free Wi-Fi services were used on buses reached 420 million between May 2019 and October 2020, the ministry said. This translates into each person in the country's 51.6 million population using such services eight times.
The ministry said the free bus Wi-Fi services will enable people to have economic benefits valued at around 22 million won (US$20,000) over the next three years.
ICT Minister Choi Ki-young (R) and two ruling party lawmakers access free Wi-Fi services on a bus in Seoul on Dec. 14, 2020, as South Korea has established the network on all city buses in operation in the country. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--3 consortia submit final bids for Hanjin Heavy

The 83.45 percent stake in Hanjin Heavy up for sale is owned by seven local financial institutions , including KDB @ @ @ @ @ institutions that include Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. via a debt-for-equity swap .

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- Three consortia have submitted bids for financially troubled Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co., its main creditor said Monday.
The three consortia include the one led by construction firm Dongbu Corp and another one led by shipper SM Line Corp., according to the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB).
The 83.45 percent stake in Hanjin Heavy up for sale is owned by seven local financial institutions, including KDB, and three Filipino financial institutions that include Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. via a debt-for-equity swap.
KDB picked local accounting firm Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers and KDB's mergers and acquisitions consulting team as co-lead managers for the stake sale.
The preliminary bid to sell the controlling stake in the shipbuilder was finalized on Oct. 26.
This file photo shows a shipyard of Hanjin Heavy Industries Co. in Busan, about 453 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Unionized workers at Hanjin Heavy have called for job security and a ban on rezoning the shipyard for other uses, such as an apartment complex.
Civic groups in Busan, where the shipyard of Hanjin Heavy is located, have supported the workers' calls.
The stake sale is expected to be concluded early next year after gaining approval from authorities, including the country's arms procurement agency Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), as the shipbuilder has been fully dedicated to building battleships.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--Local gov'ts shift into higher gear to block spread of COVID-19

In the province that surrounds Seoul , the bed utilization rate at hospitals dedicated to COVID-19 infections rose to 91.4 @ @ @ @ @ of available hospital beds dedicated to severely ill coronavirus patients has been reduced to a @ @ @ @ @ of ready-to-use beds at residential treatment centers for mild COVID-19 cases has also declined to @ @ @ @ @ rate of 83.4 percent .
Worse yet , the number of people waiting at home @ @ @ @ @ virus due to the hospital bed shortage rose by 23 to 308 as of midnight @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- Local governments nationwide are shifting to a wartime-like emergency posture in the face of a recent spike in coronavirus infections.
According to officials on Monday, almost all provincial and municipal governments are mobilizing all possible measures to secure more hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, expand coronavirus testing for residents and readjust their social distancing guideline levels.
In Gyeonggi Province, which has reported over 200 new daily cases in recent days, the authorities' efforts are focused on expanding hospital beds and residential treatment facilities to accommodate the growing number of confirmed cases.
In the province that surrounds Seoul, the bed utilization rate at hospitals dedicated to COVID-19 infections rose to 91.4 percent, while the number of available hospital beds dedicated to severely ill coronavirus patients has been reduced to a mere one. The number of ready-to-use beds at residential treatment centers for mild COVID-19 cases has also declined to 306, marking a utilization rate of 83.4 percent. Worse yet, the number of people waiting at home after testing positive for the virus due to the hospital bed shortage rose by 23 to 308 as of midnight Sunday.
Lee Jae-myung (2nd from L), governor of Gyeonggi Province, talks to students at Kyonggi University in Suwon, south of Seoul, on Dec. 14, 2020, while touring the school's dormitory set to be converted into a residential treatment center for COVID-19 patients. (Joint Press Corps-Yonhap)
Faced with imminent saturation at the province's dedicated coronavirus hospitals, the Gyeonggi government has begun to implement emergency mobilization measures for private facilities, including university dormitories.
In the first such move, the provincial government will convert Kyonggi University's 1,000-room dormitory in Suwon, about 50 kilometers south of Seoul, into a residential treatment center, officials said, noting other university dorms and corporate training centers in the province will also be transformed for the same purpose.
Gangwon Province, east of Seoul, is also struggling to expand residential treatment facilities after reporting over 60 new infections in the past three days. The provincial government is also preparing for a worsening situation in which all public and dedicated hospitals are packed with COVID-19 patients and non-coronavirus patients are transferred to private facilities.
Gangneung, a Gangwon city on the east coast, has announced a plan to administer coronavirus tests to all citizens for the first time in the country, after several infection clusters recently broken out there. As of early Monday morning, 2,368, or 1.1 percent, of the city's population of 213,189, had taken tests conducted in a drive-thru method.
Gangneung has also raised its social distancing scheme to Level 2.5, the second highest in the nation's five-tier system.
Citizens of Gangneung, Gangwon Province, take coronavirus tests in a drive-thru method on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
While the central government is reportedly considering raising the social distancing level for the greater Seoul area to the highest 3 from the current 2.5, many provincial cities are pushing to lift their levels to 2.5 from the current 2.
In the central city of Dangjin, the municipality plans to raise its social distancing level to 2.5, beginning Tuesday, after a cluster of infections traced to a church showed signs of expanding.
Operational restrictions for multi-use and entertainment facilities are also expanding in many cities.
Gwangju, a metropolitan city about 330 kilometers south of Seoul, has additionally ordered all clubs, bars, karaoke rooms and indoor standing performance halls to close from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day for two weeks starting Tuesday. They are currently allowed to operate till midnight.
Restaurants and cafes are only allowed to offer takeout and delivery during the same hours. The maximum seating capacity at the city's religious facilities has been reduced from 50 percent to 30 percent, with meals and meetings entirely banned there.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--Army association donates face masks to children in South Sudan, Lebanon

The items will be delivered via vessels next month along with other military items for the Dongmyung unit in Lebanon @ @ @ @ @ South Sudan , according to the Association of the Republic of Korea Army .

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- An Army advocacy group said Monday it is donating 70,000 face masks and 10,000 toothbrushes to children in South Sudan and Lebanon where South Korean soldiers are deployed for peacekeeping operations.
The items will be delivered via vessels next month along with other military items for the Dongmyung unit in Lebanon and the Hanbit unit in South Sudan, according to the Association of the Republic of Korea Army.
South Korean soldiers there have been providing medical support to local residents during the coronavirus pandemic, it said.
South Korea began sending troops to South Sudan in 2013 at the United Nation's request in accordance with a U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at assisting peaceful reconstruction work.
The Dongmyung unit has been operating as part of the U.N. Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFL) since 2007.
In this file photo, taken on June 3, 2020, troops of the Hanbit Unit, tasked with peacekeeping operations in South Sudan, arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. The rotational troops had to remain at post longer than planned due to the COVID-19 outbreak. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--UNHCR Seoul chief appreciates S. Korea's opening of borders for refugees despite COVID-19

`` I think it is very important to recognize the role of Korea , not just in leading the way @ @ @ @ @ domestically but also in its very generous and magnanimous support to UNHCR and others in @ @ @ @ @ Ratwatte said .

By Song Sang-ho
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- The U.N. refugee agency's representative in Seoul on Monday appreciated South Korea keeping its borders open for asylum seekers despite the COVID-19 pandemic, while calling for efforts to change the lingering perception of refugees simply as a "burden."
James Lynch, head of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Korea, made the remarks during a press conference marking the 70th anniversary of the agency born after World War II to help those fleeing violence, conflict and other threats to their lives.
"The Korean government, unlike 168 other countries, has had a functioning asylum system throughout the pandemic. They have been inclusive in allowing all people, including refugees, to have access to the medical care system," Lynch said.
"It is also important to note that they continue to admit refugees even throughout the pandemic. So we would like to applaud the government of Korea for their actions during the pandemic," he added.
James Lynch, head of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Korea, attends a press conference in Seoul on Dec. 14, 2020, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Despite Seoul's contributions to helping address refugee crises around the world, Lynch noted "only a slight change" in Korean people's perception toward asylum seekers since 2018, when the refugee issue emerged as a hot-button topic here due to a sudden influx of Yemenis having arrived on the southern resort island of Jeju to seek asylum.
Lynch cited the result of last month's public survey that showed the percentage of Koreans in favor of admitting refugees rose to 33 percent from 24 percent tallied in 2018. The poll was conducted on 1,016 Korean citizens aged 18 or older.
"Any positive change is welcome. But what we have seen is only a slight change in attitude toward refugees in Korea," he said.
"It is also an anniversary of the Korean War. So we know that people in Korea understand very well what it's like to have to flee conflict, find safety and refuge," he added, referring to the outbreak of the 1950-53 conflict.
Touching on the deeply ingrained public perception of refugees as a "burden," Lynch stressed the need to change that "equation."
"I think it is the general perception not just in Korea that refugees are a burden, not a contribution. I think that equation needs to be turned around," he said, citing Albert Einstein -- a German-born physicist who sought refugee after fleeing Nazi threats -- as an example of refugees' contribution to society.
"Refugees contribute a lot to new homes where they reside. Generally, we've seen very little ... kind of criminality. We've seen the people are hardworking," he added.
Indrika Ratwatte, UNHCR director of the bureau for Asia and the Pacific, also joined the conference through video links. He stressed the role of South Korea in supporting refugees through its actions such as helping them overcome the pandemic.
"I think it is very important to recognize the role of Korea, not just in leading the way to respond to the crisis domestically but also in its very generous and magnanimous support to UNHCR and others in the COVID response," Ratwatte said.
"That gesture of solidarity from other countries means that it gives them support and strength and confidence to deal with refugee issues in a manner that they feel shared responsibility and shared burdens together," he added.
In 1950, the UNHCR started its mission first under a three-year mandate with only 34 employees. It now has 17,000 personnel in 135 countries as a bedrock agency to address refugee crises in Myanmar, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world.
"I think protecting people forced to flee is our mandate. I have witnessed through my 31 years (of service) the strength, resilience and courage of refugees," the Seoul representative said.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

Public hospitals have received most local COVID-19 patients but have now reached the saturation point , as the number of @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 per day .
Indeed , the number of available hospital beds in the greater @ @ @ @ @ ill coronavirus patients has been reduced to 13 as of Sunday , while more than @ @ @ @ @ home because they have not been assigned a bed at public hospitals or residential treatment @ @ @ @ @ .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Monday.
-----------------
(4th LD) New virus infections under 1,000 on fewer tests; efforts extended to find more potential cases
SEOUL -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back below 1,000 on Monday on fewer tests over the weekend after topping the mark for the first time the previous day, with health authorities struggling to conduct more virus tests to rein in further spread.
The country added 718 more COVID-19 cases, including 682 local infections, raising the total caseload to 43,484, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
-----------------
(LEAD) PM says 'cautious deliberation' required in elevating distancing scheme to top level
SEOUL -- Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Monday that implementing the toughest social distancing scheme requires careful examination despite increasing calls from experts and the public to raise the level to curb the fast growth of COVID-19 cases.
"(Implementing) the Level 3 social distancing scheme is the last resort that we can choose, and it requires cautious deliberation, as it calls for confidence and social consensus on its effectiveness," Chung said during a government meeting of top officials in charge of dealing with the pandemic.
-----------------
(LEAD) Asiana decides on capital reduction to improve financial status
SEOUL -- Asiana Airlines Inc. said Monday it will cut its capital base to improve its financial status amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shareholders approved a 3:1 capital reduction plan as the airline's capital erosion rate reached 56.3 percent at the end of June, a company spokesman said.
-----------------
(LEAD) Civic groups call for mobilization of private hospitals for COVID-19 patients
SEOUL -- Civic and labor groups on Monday urged the government to mobilize more beds and medical personnel from large private hospitals to cope with the worsening hospital bed shortage caused by a recent surge in coronavirus infections.
Public hospitals have received most local COVID-19 patients but have now reached the saturation point, as the number of newly confirmed cases hovers around 1,000 per day. Indeed, the number of available hospital beds in the greater Seoul area dedicated to severely ill coronavirus patients has been reduced to 13 as of Sunday, while more than 500 patients are waiting at home because they have not been assigned a bed at public hospitals or residential treatment centers for mild coronavirus cases.
-----------------
(LEAD) Abrams says USFK will get COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it's authorized
SEOUL -- The first batch of a coronavirus vaccine for U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is expected to be shipped to South Korea as soon as it is approved for emergency use, Gen. Robert Abrams said Monday.
The USFK commander made the remark in an interview with the American Forces Network radio station, saying the vaccine to be used for overseas U.S. personnel is likely to be Moderna's, though the U.S. has begun distributing Pfizer's vaccine across the country.
-----------------
(LEAD) S. Korea on high alert over nationwide spread of bird flu
SEOUL -- South Korea said Monday it is speeding up efforts to cull poultry in areas affected by highly pathogenic bird flu amid growing concerns over the nationwide spread due to migratory birds.
The country has identified 13 highly pathogenic bird flu cases across the nation so far this year, with the latest case being reported at a chicken farm in Gimpo, located just west of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
-----------------
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--(LEAD) Hanwha Energy starts commercial production at Malaysian solar plant

Under the project , Hanwha Energy will provide about 65,000 megawatt hours of electricity , enough to power 15,000 households @ @ @ @ @ years , the company said .

(ATTN: FIXES figure in third para)
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- Hanwha Energy Corp., South Korea's renewable energy company, said Monday it has completed a 48-megawatt solar power plant in Malaysia and started commercial production.
In 2017, Hanwha Energy won a US$40 million project by the state-run utility firm Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) to build the plant in Malaysia's northeastern state Perlis.
Under the project, Hanwha Energy will provide about 65,000 megawatt hours of electricity, enough to power 15,000 households, in the next 21 years, the company said.
Hanwha Energy Corp.'s 48-megawatt solar power plant in Chuping, northeastern state of Malaysia, is seen in this photo provided by the South Korean renewable energy company on Dec. 14, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--(LEAD) Seoul stocks slump amid spiking COVID-19 cases

Stocks widened losses after a choppy start , as the country 's new COVID-19 cases broke the 1,000 mark for @ @ @ @ @ topped 700 on Monday .

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks finished lower Monday as investors remained wary of the country's spiking new coronavirus outbreaks. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) retreated 7.86 points, or 0.28 percent, to close at 2,762.2 points.
Trading volume was moderate at about 1.1 billion shares worth some 16.8 trillion won (US$15.4 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 577 to 276.
Foreigners sold a net 360 billion won, while retail investors purchased 1 trillion won. Institutions offloaded a net 701 billion won.
Electronic signboards at a Hana Bank dealing room in Seoul show the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,762.2 on Dec. 14, 2020, down 7.86 points or 0.28 percent from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)
Stocks widened losses after a choppy start, as the country's new COVID-19 cases broke the 1,000 mark for the first time Sunday and topped 700 on Monday.
President Moon Jae-in said Sunday that the government is mulling raising the social distancing scheme to the highest, Level 3, if the current pace is maintained.
"The possibility of raising the social distancing alert to Level 3 may have reduced foreign investors' appetite for risky assets," HI Investment & Securities analyst Park Sang-hyun said.
Most large caps closed mixed in Seoul.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics added 0.54 percent to 73,800 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix advanced 1.3 percent to 117,000 won.
Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics lost 0.98 percent to 812,000 won, and Celltrion shed 0.97 percent to 357,500 won.
Internet portal giant Naver moved down 1.38 percent to 286,000 won, with its rival Kakao slipping 0.27 percent to 373,500 won.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest carmaker, declined 0.53 percent to 258,000 won.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem dipped 1.86 percent to 793,000 won, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI lost 1.26 percent to 549,000 won.
Leading steelmaker POSCO dropped 1.07 percent to 276,500 won.
The local currency closed at 1,091.8 won against the U.S. dollar, down 1.5 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed mixed. The yield on three-year Treasurys added 0.6 basis point to 0.986 percent, while the return on the benchmark five-year government bond slipped 0.1 basis point to 1.306 percent.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--S. Korean Bond Yields on Dec. 14, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on Dec. 14, 2020

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


yna--2020-12-14--(LEAD) 17 USFK members test positive for new coronavirus

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead with new case; ADDS details in paras 2-4, 9)
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- Seventeen individuals affiliated with the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) have tested positive for the new coronavirus over the past few weeks, the U.S. military said Monday.
One USFK member at Camp Casey in the northern city of Dongducheon was confirmed on Monday to have been infected, USFK said in a Facebook post.
"Notifications to those affected, case trace and team clean operations are occurring now," the U.S. military said, adding it will share additional information as it becomes available.
This photo taken on Nov. 20, 2019, shows U.S. Forces Korea's Camp Casey in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap)
Sixteen others tested positive upon arrival here between Nov. 28 and Dec. 11.
Three service members and a family member arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on U.S. government-chartered flights, while 11 service personnel and one dependent arrived here on commercial flights via Incheon International Airport, west of the capital, according to USFK.
Twelve of them tested positive on their first mandatory COVID-19 test prior to entering quarantine, and the remainder were confirmed to have contracted the virus on their second mandatory test, it added.
All USFK-affiliated individuals arriving in South Korea are required to undergo a virus test and quarantine for 14 days. Medical personnel administer a second test prior to their release.
"All individuals have since been transferred to an isolation facility designated for confirmed COVID-19 cases at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys and Osan Air Base," USFK said, adding that none of them have interacted with anyone residing within USFK installations or the local community.
The latest cases brought the total number of USFK-related coronavirus infections to 435.
U.S. military officers wait for American service personnel to arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on April 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--(LEAD) Asiana decides on capital reduction to improve financial status

Asiana was one of the airlines hit hardest by the pandemic this year .
It has suspended most flights on @ @ @ @ @ travel demand dried up and suffered snowballed debts .

(ATTN: ADDS stock prices at bottom)
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- Asiana Airlines Inc. said Monday it will cut its capital base to improve its financial status amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shareholders approved a 3:1 capital reduction plan as the airline's capital erosion rate reached 56.3 percent at the end of June, a company spokesman said.
"The company made the decision to avoid being designated as issues for administration or having its credit rating downgraded," he said over the phone.
After the reduction, the number of Asiana's overall stocks will fall from 223.2 million shares to 74.4 million shares, while its capital will decrease from 1.11 trillion won (US$1.02 billion) to 372.1 billion won.
Asiana was one of the airlines hit hardest by the pandemic this year. It has suspended most flights on international routes since March as travel demand dried up and suffered snowballed debts.
Korean Air Lines Co., the country's biggest and national flag carrier, is in the process to acquire the smaller local rival for 1.8 trillion won by June next year.
On Monday, Asiana plunged 11 percent to 4,470 won, far underperforming the broader KOSPI's 0.3 percent loss.
This file photo taken Dec. 1, 2020, shows an Asiana passenger jet taking off from Incheon International Airport with Korean Air planes in the foreground in Incheon, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--Key broker indicted on fraud in Optimus fund scam case

Chung is suspected of swindling the Korea Communications Agency out of some 106 billion won in collusion with Kim Jae-hyun @ @ @ @ @ , from June 2017 to March 2018 .
They elicited the money from the public @ @ @ @ @ that it would be invested in safe public corporate bonds .

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors on Monday indicted a key broker on charges of fraud in connection with its investigation into an investment scam scandal at a private equity firm, judicial sources said.
They said the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office charged Chung Young-je, the former CEO of Optimus Alternative Investment who is known as a key accomplice in the fund scam, with fraud.
The scandal surrounding Optimus Asset Management centers on allegations that the private equity company solicited funds worth about 1.2 trillion won (US$1.1 billion) from thousands of people for investments in public institutions but actually funneled most of the money into risky assets, causing huge losses to the investors.
Chung is suspected of swindling the Korea Communications Agency out of some 106 billion won in collusion with Kim Jae-hyun, the jailed Optimus CEO, from June 2017 to March 2018. They elicited the money from the public agency on a false promise that it would be invested in safe public corporate bonds.
Prosecutors also suspect Chung of taking 144 million won from a man surnamed Yoo, who is known as the architect of Optimus, in return for luring investment.
Meanwhile, the investigators have been chasing yet another suspect, surnamed Ki, who is at large.
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--Corporate earnings dip by most in 11 years in 2019

The data , meanwhile , showed that 43 percent of the polled firms , or 5,695 companies , held subsidiaries @ @ @ @ @ China accounted for the biggest portion of overseas units with 28.2 percent , followed by @ @ @ @ @ and Vietnam with 11.7 percent .

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean companies' earnings declined by the most in 11 years in 2019, as the manufacturing sector remained sluggish amid the global economic slowdown, data showed Tuesday.
Their combined before-tax net profit reached 102 trillion won (US$93.3 billion) in 2019, down 37.1 percent from the previous year, according to the data on 13,255 firms compiled by Statistics Korea.
It marked the sharpest on-year decline since 2008, when their earnings fell 43.6 percent.
In 2019, manufacturers, led by electronics and chemical makers, saw their pre-tax net profit fall as exports remained weak amid the global economic slowdown and the trade tension between the United States and China, according to the statistics agency.
The manufacturing sector, the backbone of the Korean economy, posted a pre-tax net profit of 64 trillion won in 2019, down 60 trillion won from a year earlier.
In 2019, the surveyed firms' combined sales reached 2,440 trillion won, down 0.6 percent from the previous year.
It marked the first on-year decline since 2015, when corporate revenues fell 3.2 percent.
The data, meanwhile, showed that 43 percent of the polled firms, or 5,695 companies, held subsidiaries at home and abroad.
China accounted for the biggest portion of overseas units with 28.2 percent, followed by the U.S. with 12.9 percent and Vietnam with 11.7 percent.
The agency said of the surveyed firms, 6,968 companies spent a combined 60.1 trillion won on research and development (R&D) in 2019, up 2.6 percent from a year earlier.
Of them, 5,045 manufacturers saw combined spending on R&D reach 55.4 trillion won in 2019, up 1.9 percent from the previous year, the data showed.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


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yna--2020-12-15--Season's coldest weather grips S. Korea as mercury dips below minus 20 C

The Korea Meteorological Administration ( KMA ) issued a cold wave alert or advisory for most parts of South Korea @ @ @ @ @ the southern island of Jeju , as the mercury dropped to the season 's record @ @ @ @ @ in Hongcheon , 100 kilometers east of Seoul , and minus 22.7 C in PyeongChang @ @ @ @ @ in Gangwon Province , as of 6 a.m .

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- The entire nation came under the grip of a cold wave Tuesday, with temperatures dipping below minus 20 C in mountainous areas of Gangwon Province, east of Seoul.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) issued a cold wave alert or advisory for most parts of South Korea, excluding coastal areas and the southern island of Jeju, as the mercury dropped to the season's record lows of minus 23.5 C in Hongcheon, 100 kilometers east of Seoul, and minus 22.7 C in PyeongChang, a mountain resort town in Gangwon Province, as of 6 a.m.
Citizens in thick winter jackets walk near Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul on Dec. 15, 2020, as the capital's morning low dived to minus 11 C. (Yonhap)
Morning lows in the central regions also dipped to the season's lowest, with Seoul recording minus 11 C and Cheonan of South Chungcheong Province minus 11.5 C, the weather agency said.
The southern regions also recorded sub-zero temperatures, with the mercury falling to minus 5.6 C in Busan, minus 5 C in Gwangju and minus 6.8 C in Daegu.
On top of the frigid cold weather, heavy snow fell in the western coastal areas and Jeju Island, prompting the KMA to issue a heavy snow alert for those areas and the East Sea island of Ulleung.
As of 5 a.m., 5 to 15 centimeters of snow fell along the western coastal areas of South Jeolla Province, while up to 30 cm of snow is forecast for Jeju's mountain areas during the day. Jeju police have already imposed traffic restrictions for some mountain roads on the island.
KMA officials said the cold wave will continue throughout the day in most regions, with daily highs forecast to remain below zero. They asked people to pay extra attention to personal health and cold-related damage to public safety and agricultural facilities.
Grappling with freezing cold weather, citizens in Seoul and other cities went to work in thick winter jackets.
"It's colder today than yesterday. From the moment I left my home, the air was very chilly. It was too cold while I was waiting for the bus," said an office worker who commutes from Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, to Seoul every day.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--Moon says envisioned launch of anti-corruption investigation agency highly significant

`` The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials ( CIO ) is highly significant , as it can serve as @ @ @ @ @ the prosecution , '' Moon said during a weekly Cabinet meeting held at the government @ @ @ @ @ presided over the meeting from Cheong Wa Dae through a video link .

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that the envisioned launch of a powerful corruption investigation agency is very meaningful as it can serve as a systemic tool to keep the prosecution in check.
"The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is highly significant, as it can serve as a tool to democratically regulate the prosecution," Moon said during a weekly Cabinet meeting held at the government complex in Seoul. He presided over the meeting from Cheong Wa Dae through a video link.
President Moon Jae-in speaks via videoconference during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Dec. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
Last week, parliament approved a bill on facilitating the launch of the CIO, a major policy initiative of Moon. The ruling party spearheaded the passage in spite of strong protests by the main opposition party.
The non-prosecution body will be tasked with investigating corruption among senior government officials. Prosecutors are among civil servants subject to the CIO's probe over alleged corruption.
"The CIO can serve as a systemic tool to sternly hold the prosecution accountable for its internal corruption and misdeeds," the president stated.
Moon also said that the prosecution has become a subject of public criticism, arguing that the power institution has become a "sacred ground" that is not held responsible for wrongdoings while wielding enormous state power.
The president also rebuked criticism from the opposition that the CIO is a tool that would allow a dictatorship.
"As we're adding another sword against potential power abuse by the administration, it's hard to comprehend how this can be linked to the idea of a dictatorship," Moon argued.
Moon also stressed the importance of working together across the political spectrum to allow the CIO to perform its duty under strict political neutrality.
A bill to establish the CIO was approved in December last year and the legislation took effect in July. But its launch has been delayed amid political disputes over the choice of its first leader.
Moon has expressed his expectation that the CIO will be formally set up at the start of 2021.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--Seoul stocks trade bearish late Tue. morning amid lockdown concerns

Local large caps dipped on foreign and institutional selling , as well as on the aggravating pandemic toll in the @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded bearish late Tuesday morning, as lockdown concerns in major economies offset optimism over the emergency launch of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccinations in the United States.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 8.27 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,753.93 as of 11:20 a.m.
Local large caps dipped on foreign and institutional selling, as well as on the aggravating pandemic toll in the U.S., Europe and Asia.
South Korea's daily COVID-19 cases remained high at nearly 900 Tuesday after hitting a daily record of 1,030 cases Sunday, prompting authorities to consider tougher restrictions.
Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.62 percent as the U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 300,000. The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.5 percent, but the S&P 500 retreated 0.44 percent.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics traded flat, while No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix shed 0.85 percent.
Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics dropped 1.35 percent, and Celltrion dipped 2.38 percent.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem declined 0.38 percent, but rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI edged up 0.18 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest carmaker, lost 0.79 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver gained 0.52 percent, but its rival Kakao fell 0.27 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,093.35 won against the U.S. dollar, down 1.55 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--(2nd LD) New virus cases spike again, nearing 900; virus battle on tight rope amid faster spread

`` It seems Level 2.5 had a limited impact as more people felt fatigue from social distancing guidelines and did @ @ @ @ @ , '' a health official said .
`` But we need to earn enough consensus @ @ @ @ @ to move on to Level 3 . ''

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 14-15; CHANGES photos)
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases bounced back to nearly 900 Tuesday after a brief fall the previous day, as the country struggles to curb the nationwide spread of the virus in winter, warning that the toughest virus curbs may be adopted.
The country added 880 more COVID-19 cases, including 848 local infections, raising the total caseload to 44,363, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Tuesday's daily virus caseload marked a rise from 718 on Monday, but it stayed below the largest daily caseload ever of 1,030 new cases on Sunday and 950 cases on Saturday.
Health authorities warn that the country's daily virus caseload may spike to 1,200 should the current pace be maintained.
"The latest transmissions are mostly traced to families, acquaintances and colleagues," KDCA chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said in a daily briefing Monday, urging people to avoid year-end gatherings.
Citizens wait in a line to receive COVID-19 tests at a makeshift clinic in central Seoul on Dec. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
To speed up COVID-19 tests, South Korea started providing free coronavirus tests at 150 makeshift clinics in the wider Seoul area starting Monday.
The measure, which will run through Jan. 3, is meant to trace asymptomatic patients. People can receive tests without providing personal information other than their mobile numbers.
Authorities warned that the country may adopt the toughest social distancing scheme of Level 3 if the virus curve does not flatten.
Currently, the country operates Level 2.5 social distancing in the greater Seoul area.
The Level 2.5 social distancing scheme allows gatherings of less than 50 people and sports events without spectators. Restaurants are allowed to offer takeout after 9 p.m., while cafes cannot have sit-in customers around the clock.
Under the highest level, more restrictions will be implemented, with any gatherings of 10 or more people banned.
People are basically advised to stay at home as much as possible, and companies are required to have nonessential employees work from home.
Level 3 can be adopted when locally transmitted cases surge to 800 to 1,000 or the daily tally doubles from the previous day.
"It seems Level 2.5 had a limited impact as more people felt fatigue from social distancing guidelines and did not comply with them properly," a health official said. "But we need to earn enough consensus from the society in order to move on to Level 3."
A visitor receives a COVID-19 test at a makeshift clinic in southern Seoul on Dec. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
Of the locally transmitted cases, the capital city of Seoul accounted for 246 cases, and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province took up 274. Incheon, west of Seoul, had 55 new cases.
Outside of greater Seoul, the southeastern port city of Busan reported 40 additional cases, followed by the southeastern city of Daegu with 18, South Gyeongsang Province with 16 and South Chungcheong Province with 37.
Cluster infections lingered nationwide, with a restaurant from central Seoul reporting 280 cases so far.
Imported cases reached 32.
Cases traced to the United States accounted for 18, while Germany and India took up two each. There were also cases from Indonesia, Japan and Ukraine.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 205, up 20 from the previous day.
The KDCA reported 13 additional deaths, raising the total to 600.
The fatality rate reached 1.35 percent.
The number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 457, raising the total to 32,559. This indicates 73.4 percent of patients reported here have been cured.
South Korea has carried out 3,441,220 COVID-19 tests, including 44,181 from the previous day. The daily number of tests came to 22,444 on Sunday.
Citizens wait in a line to receive COVID-19 tests at a makeshift clinic in central Seoul on Dec. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--S. Korea to expand child care subsidies to boost low birthrate

The 2019 figure is far below the replacement level of 2.1 that would keep South Korea 's population stable at @ @ @ @ @ also a sharp drop from the 4.53 in 1970 , when the government began to @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Tuesday announced a set of measures to expand perks for families and subsidies for children to try to boost the low birthrate that has plagued Asia's fourth-largest economy for more than a decade.
The package, drawn up by the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy, will be the foundation of the government's demographic policy over the next five years.
First, the government will newly provide a 300,000-won (US$275) bonus every month to all infants below the age of 12 months starting in 2022. The monthly cash allowance will be gradually expanded to 500,000 won by 2025.
This file photo shows a relatively empty infant unit at a Seoul hospital. (Yonhap)
The planned cash bonus is separate from the government's current monthly allowance of 100,000 won for each child under the age of 7, officials said.
Also, the government will doll out a 2 million-won cash bonus to expectant parents to help cover their prenatal expenses starting in 2022.
The government will also increase the current 600,000-won congratulatory allowance for each pregnant woman to 1 million won.
The package also includes extra perks for working parents, as the government aims to increase the number of couples on parental leave.
A total of 105,000 people were on either maternity or paternity leave in 2019, with the government aiming for the number to increase to 200,000 by 2025.
Under the new package, couples with a child less than 12 months old can each receive up to 3 million won in monthly salary when both take 3 month-leave from work.
The government also said it plans to expand benefits for families with multiple kids by giving perks to families with two children from the current three children.
The government will provide university tuition fees to families in the low income bracket with more than three children.
The government has spent 185 trillion won since 2006 to encourage more childbirths by rolling out three sets of measures, as the country' fast-graying population could face a serious demographic crisis.
Despite the efforts, the country's total fertility rate, which refers to the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime, hit an all-time low of 0.92 in 2019, down from 0.98 a year earlier.
Last year marked the second consecutive year for the rate to fall below 1. South Korea was the only member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that had a total fertility rate below 1.
The 2019 figure is far below the replacement level of 2.1 that would keep South Korea's population stable at 51 million. It is also a sharp drop from the 4.53 in 1970, when the government began to compile related data.
The committee expected the figure to fall to 0.8 during the first half of next year.
The downturn in childbirths comes as some young South Koreans are opting to distance themselves from life's three major milestones -- dating, marriage and having children -- because they cannot find decent jobs amid a longstanding economic slowdown.
Other factors are the high cost of private education for kids and skyrocketing home prices, as well as the difficulties women face in finding jobs after spending extended time away from work to raise their children.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--Hyundai Motor promotes domestic sales biz head to CEO

Auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis will have Cho Sung-hwan , who has been leading the company 's research and development @ @ @ @ @ sector , as its new president , while Hyundai E & C promoted Yoon Young-jun @ @ @ @ @ the company 's housing business unit , to its new CEO .

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Group, South Korea's second-largest conglomerate, on Tuesday named the new CEO for its flagship unit in its latest senior executive reshuffle focusing on future growth.
The automotive titan promoted Chang Jae-hoon, an executive vice president who led Hyundai Motor Co.'s domestic sales business and its luxury marquee Genesis, to president and CEO of South Korea's top automaker.
Chang, 56, will focus on upgrading corporate culture and its innovations, the group added. Hyundai Motor's existing CEO Lee Won-hee, meanwhile, will concentrate on other areas including value chain developments.
The group said a slew of executives leading Hyundai Motor's future businesses, such as urban air mobility (UAM), autonomous driving and hydrogen fuel cell, have earned promotions.
Among newly promoted executives, 30 percent were from its future business and research sectors.
This undated file photo shows Chang Jae-hoon, who was promoted to CEO of Hyundai Motor Co. on Dec. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
The group also named new leaders for its key affiliates, including Hyundai Mobis Co., Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. and Hyundai Wia Corp.
Auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis will have Cho Sung-hwan, who has been leading the company's research and development (R&D) sector, as its new president, while Hyundai E&C promoted Yoon Young-jun, who has been managing the company's housing business unit, to its new CEO.
Hyundai Wia, a machinery and auto parts manufacturer, named Jung Jae-wook, who formerly led Hyundai Motor's procurement unit, as its new CEO.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--N. Korea begins regular wintertime drills, no unusual signs detected yet: JCS

In the face of difficulties caused by the new coronavirus and prolonged international sanctions , North Korea launched the `` @ @ @ @ @ to achieve the country 's national and economic goals by the end of the year @

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has begun regular wintertime military drills, and no unusual movements have been detected so far, the South Korean military said Tuesday.
"We believe that North Korea began their regular wintertime drills," Col. Kim Jun-rak, spokesperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), told a regular briefing. "South Korea and the U.S. intelligence authorities are closely monitoring related movements in close coordination."
The drills have yet to be in full swing, and there are no signs indicating any imminent provocative acts, according to a JCS officer.
The communist country usually kicks off their exercise for winter in December to continue through early spring, and the program has often involved artillery firing drills.
Early this month, the U.S. had flown several types of surveillance aircraft over South Korea in an apparent move to monitor the North.
Pyongyang has not made major military moves in recent months, though it unveiled a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), along with diverse military assets, during a military parade on Oct. 10, to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party.
In the face of difficulties caused by the new coronavirus and prolonged international sanctions, North Korea launched the "80-day campaign" in October to achieve the country's national and economic goals by the end of the year.
Some speculate that it could make provocations, such as missile launches, around the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden in January.
This image captured from a documentary film aired by North Korea's official Korean Central TV on Jan. 10, 2020, shows test-firings of multiple rocket launchers by an all-female military unit on the western border island of Changrin in November 2019. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the firing drills. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


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

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

(ATTN: ADDS unification ministry's explanations in last 2 paras)
By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- A high-profile North Korean defector activist is considering filing a constitutional complaint against the recently legislated ban on the sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the communist nation, his lawyer said Tuesday.
On Monday night, the National Assembly, controlled by the ruling Democratic Party, passed the bill penalizing the sending of anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets into the North despite strong objection by opposition party lawmakers.
Critics, including Park Sang-hak, a defector who heads Fighters for a Free North Korea, have strongly opposed the ban, saying it would violate the right to freedom of speech.
"Park believes that the anti-leaflet law is an unconstitutional and bad law that tramples on the freedom of speech," Lee Heon, his legal representative, said in a message sent to reporters, adding he will file a complaint with the Constitutional Court if the law goes into effect.
Fighter for a Free North Korea is one of the defector groups involved in actively pushing to send anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border despite the government's repeated appeals against such activity.
The government and the ruling party have been seeking to ban the leafleting after North Korea bristled at such activity and even blew up an inter-Korean liaison office in June in anger.
Pyongyang has denounced the leafleting as a violation of inter-Korean agreements and demanded that Seoul take preventive measures.
In July, the unification ministry revoked operation permits for two defector groups, including Park's, saying their campaigns to send leaflets into the North have gravely hindered the government's unification policies and jeopardized the lives and safety of residents.
Critics have claimed that such a ban is tantamount to caving to Pyongyang's pressure, violating the right to the freedom of speech, and blocking information from the people living in the reclusive and oppressive country.
In a message sent to reporters, the ministry said that the recently legislated ban is aimed at regulating leaflet-scattering activity that could pose a "serious threat" to the safety of South Korean citizens.
The ministry, however, noted that the ban would not be applied to the delivery of non-sensitive items through a third country, such as China, into the North and any leafleting via such countries could be subject to local laws.
In the May 31, 2020, photo provided by members of Fighters for Free North Korea, a civic organization of North Korean defectors, they prepare to send 20 large balloons carrying anti-North Korea propaganda leaflets across the border in the border city of Gimpo, west of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Dec. 15 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .


yna--2020-12-15--S. Korea's ICT exports up for 6th straight month in Nov. on chips, displays

Outbound shipments of information communication and telecommunication ( ICT ) products came to US $ 16.56 billion in November , @ @ @ @ @ posted in the previous year , according to the data compiled by the Ministry of @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports of information and telecommunication products surged 15.8 percent in November from a year earlier, extending their rise for the sixth consecutive month, data showed Tuesday, on the back of robust overseas demand for memory chips and display products amid the pandemic.
Outbound shipments of information communication and telecommunication (ICT) products came to US$16.56 billion in November, compared with $14.3 billion posted in the previous year, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Imports of such goods also increased 14.2 percent over the cited period to reach $10.38 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $6.18 billion.
By segment, exports of chips jumped 16.1 percent to reach $8.67 billion, with those of memory chips rising 7.3 percent to account for $5.19 billion.
Exports of displays also advanced 27.7 percent on-year in November to reach $2.18 billion amid growing demand from the mobile industry.
Overseas sales of smartphones gained 24.9 percent to hit $2.18 billion on the back of the year-end shopping season, led by strong demand from the United States.
By destination, exports to China, the country's top trading partner, rose 8.1 percent to $7.72 billion, led mostly by chips and mobile devices.
Those to Vietnam added 35.2 percent to $2.83 billion on robust demand for displays as well.
Shipments to the U.S. jumped 19.4 percent to hit $1.87 billion, marking the 11th consecutive month of on-year growth.
Exports to Japan, on the other hand, shed 13.8 percent to $330 million.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--18 Army soldiers, officers test positive for COVID-19

The collective infections began after two soldiers first tested positive for COVID-19 upon their return from holiday .
One officer @ @ @ @ @ confirmed to have been infected in subsequent virus tests .

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- Eighteen Army soldiers and officers have tested positive for the new coronavirus, including 14 from the same unit in the city of Paju, north of Seoul, the defense ministry said Tuesday.
More cases could come from the Paju base as testing was still under way for all 400 unit members.
The collective infections began after two soldiers first tested positive for COVID-19 upon their return from holiday. One officer and 11 other soldiers were confirmed to have been infected in subsequent virus tests.
In the Gangwon Province county of Hwacheon, an Army solider tested positive while on vacation and an officer was confirmed to have contracted the virus while in quarantine after a family member was infected.
Two soldiers in the western city of Incheon and the border county of Cheorwon, respectively, tested positive after virus cases were reported at their units.
The latest cases brought the total number of coronavirus infections among the military population to 469.
On Monday, Defense Minister Suh Wook presided over an emergency meeting with top commanders and ordered the mobilization of all military assets available to support the government's virus fight.
Nationwide, South Korea added 880 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, raising the total caseload to 44,363. The country has been struggling with the third wave of infections as the winter season approaches, with its daily caseload reaching a record high of 1,030 on Sunday.
In this file photo, taken Nov. 17, 2020, service members are seen at Seoul Station in the capital. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--Tourists to S. Korea forecast to drop to 32-year low this year

If the decline continues , the number of incoming tourists is expected to total 2.5 million at the end of @ @ @ @ @ the lowest since 2.34 million in 1988 .
The forecast is also a far cry @ @ @ @ @ million projection made earlier this year .

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- The number of overseas tourists visiting South Korea is expected to slump to the lowest level in 32 years amid the new coronavirus pandemic that has practically paralyzed the global tourism sector, data showed Tuesday.
The number of foreigners who visited the country in the January-October period reached 2.39 million, down 83.6 percent from the same period last year, according to the culture ministry and the state tourism office.
Roughly half of the figure -- 1.27 million -- was tallied in January. But after the country reported its first virus case in January, the number began to slide to 685,000 in February and 83,000 in March. The monthly average stayed at the 60,000 level throughout July to October.
If the decline continues, the number of incoming tourists is expected to total 2.5 million at the end of year, which would be the lowest since 2.34 million in 1988. The forecast is also a far cry from the government's 20 million projection made earlier this year.
"The number of incoming tourists reached a record high last year and reported an on-year increase in January, which stoked expectations. But the target drifted away due to the new coronavirus," an official at the Korea Tourism Organization said.
This Nov. 18, 2020, file photo shows Incheon International Airport, the country's main airport, nearly empty amid the new coronavirus pandemic. (Yonhap)
The number of Koreans traveling abroad was also expected to fall to the lowest level in 22 years.
The number of outgoing tourists came in at 4.12 million in the first 10 months of the year, slumping 83 percent from the previous year.
After hitting 2.51 million in January, the figure more than halved to 1.04 million in February and 143,000 in March. It has recently stayed between 70,000 and 80,000 on a monthly basis.
At this rate, the total number of Koreans who traveled abroad is forecast to reach 4.2 million this year, which is the lowest since 3.06 million in 1998, when the country was undergoing the Asian financial crisis.
Seoul has been tackling a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, with the number of daily cases spiking to a record high Sunday. The country added 880 more cases Tuesday, raising the total caseload to 44,363, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
Myeongdong, a popular shopping destination for foreigners visiting Seoul, is quiet on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--Doosan Heavy wins 100 bln won order for energy system in Australia

The 150-megawatt-hour ESS to be built in the Queensland Province of Australia will be able to provide electricity to about @ @ @ @ @ the company said .

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean power plant builder Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. said Tuesday that its U.S. unit Doosan GridTech Inc. has signed a 100 billion won (US$92 million) deal to build an energy storage system (ESS) in Australia.
Under the deal with Singapore-based Vena Energy, Doosan GridTech will be responsible for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) for the ESS until 2021.
The 150-megawatt-hour ESS to be built in the Queensland Province of Australia will be able to provide electricity to about 23,000 households a day, the company said.
An ESS refers to a system that provides electricity during hours at its peak usage after storing it during hours at its lower usage.
Vena Energy is a renewable energy developer operating in the Asia-Pacific region, Doosan Heavy said.
This image, provided by Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. on Dec. 15, 2020 shows a bird's eye view of an energy storage system (ESS) to be built by Doosan GridTech Inc. in Queensland Province, Australia. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--Justice ministry opens 2nd hearing on disciplinary action against top prosecutor

The hearing was attended by his lawyers and four of the seven members of the disciplinary panel .
Choo , @ @ @ @ @ not taken part in the process even though she is a member .

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- A justice ministry panel reconvened Tuesday for a second meeting on whether to punish Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl for alleged misconduct.
The disciplinary hearing, unprecedented in the country's history, resumed at 10:30 a.m. at the government complex in Gwacheon, south of Seoul. The first meeting last Thursday ended without reaching any conclusions.
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl arrives at the Supreme Prosecutors Office in Seoul on Dec. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
Yoon faces allegations of ethical and legal misconduct, including surveillance of the judiciary, in a case brought forward by Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae.
Choo suspended the top prosecutor last month on six counts of alleged misdeeds, but Yoon returned to work after winning a court injunction against the order.
Yoon, who has denied all the allegations, was absent from Tuesday's meeting as he was during the first session last week.
The hearing was attended by his lawyers and four of the seven members of the disciplinary panel. Choo, as the petitioner, has not taken part in the process even though she is a member.
Eight witnesses have been asked to testify, including Shim Jae-cheol, head of the ministry's Internal Inspection Bureau. Shim was initially appointed as a member of the panel, but he recused himself last week.
The witnesses are seen as being evenly divided between Yoon's supporters and Choo's allies.
After questioning the witnesses, the panel will hear from Yoon's lawyers before entering internal deliberations and reaching a conclusion.
The top prosecutor's defense has taken issue with the fairness of the selection process for the panel members.
Shortly before Tuesday's hearing began, Yoon's lawyer, Lee Wan-kyu, said his team will request the recusal of two panel members.
If punished, Yoon will face one of five types of disciplinary action, ranging from reprimand to dismissal.
The four heaviest types of punishment, starting with a salary reduction, will require President Moon Jae-in to execute it.
Yoon is expected to seek legal action, including a court injunction, to overturn any punishment.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--Virus death toll tipped to sharply rise amid spiking critically ill patients

An average of 219 COVID-19 patients older than 60 were reported every day over the past week , the KDCA @ @ @ @ @ for 32 percent of the total daily new cases , compared with 22.9 percent a @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Tuesday reported the most coronavirus deaths in a single day, as critically ill patients continue to pile up amid spiking cases, health authorities said.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said the country reported 13 additional deaths from COVID-19, raising the total caseload to 600.
It marks the first time that the daily death toll hovered above 10.
Officials prepare to carry out COVID-19 tests at a makeshift clinic in the southeastern port city of Busan on Dec. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 205, sharply up 20 from the previous day, according to the KDCA.
Health authorities have warned the death toll could spike in the coming days, as the fatality rate for COVID-19 patients is especially high among the older population
The average fatality rate for COVID-19 patients came to 1.35 percent as of Monday, compared with a whopping 15.22 percent among those aged 80 or older, the KDCA said.
An average of 219 COVID-19 patients older than 60 were reported every day over the past week, the KDCA said. The number accounts for 32 percent of the total daily new cases, compared with 22.9 percent a week earlier.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--(LEAD) S. Korea's bird flu battle at critical juncture

In line with efforts to prevent the spread of the virus , the country has culled more than 5 million @ @ @ @ @ as well as the surrounding areas , including 3.23 million chickens and 880,000 ducks .

(ATTN: UPDATES paras 5-6, 11)
By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's agricultural ministry said Tuesday the number of highly pathogenic bird flu cases from local poultry farms may continue to rise down the road due to seasonal migratory birds, urging farmers to beef up preventive measures against the contagious animal disease.
"As migratory birds will continue to flock into the country through January, local poultry farms are currently at a critical juncture," the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said in a statement.
South Korea has reported 13 highly pathogenic bird flu cases from poultry farms so far this year, while three other suspected cases are currently under investigation.
A truck disinfects the surrounding area of a duck farm in Jangseong, 308 kilometers south of Seoul, on Dec. 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
After reporting the first farm-related case on Nov. 26, the virus has spread throughout the nation, with infections being reported from various provinces, with South Jeolla Province alone adding five cases.
In line with efforts to prevent the spread of the virus, the country has culled more than 5 million poultry from infected farms, as well as the surrounding areas, including 3.23 million chickens and 880,000 ducks.
Local authorities slaughtered poultry within a 3-kilometer radius of infected farms.
"As wild animals, including rats, can carry contaminants, farmers should thoroughly block them from entering their farms," the ministry added.
South Korea said it will slap fines on farms that fail to follow preventive measures.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is contagious and can cause severe illness and even death in poultry.
The country reported its first highly pathogenic case in 32 months in late October in Cheonan, 92 kilometers south of Seoul, from wild birds.
Since then, a total of 27 cases have been found from wild bird habitats across the country, according to the ministry. Nine other suspected cases are currently under investigation.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--S. Korea to install more fences to prevent African swine fever

The country earlier installed fences at border areas to prevent wild boars from reaching pig farms , but traces of @ @ @ @ @ outside of the fenced area in Inje , 165 kilometers east of Seoul .

By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Tuesday it will further raise its guard against African swine fever (ASF) amid a growing number of infections among wild boars, which could potentially spread to pig farms.
Since October last year, South Korea has identified a whopping 883 cases of ASF from wild boars in border areas, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs.
The country earlier installed fences at border areas to prevent wild boars from reaching pig farms, but traces of the disease were discovered from outside of the fenced area in Inje, 165 kilometers east of Seoul.
South Korea said it will also send 35 officials to Inje to search for more remains of wild boars.
"We request pig farms to thoroughly follow preventive guidelines, including applying quicklime around barns," the ministry said.
The country had suffered a series of ASF outbreaks among domestic pigs last year, which struck 14 farms.
After a lull in cases for around a year, South Korea reported two farm-related ASF cases in October this year, though no additional cases were found afterward.
ASF does not affect humans but is deadly to pigs. There is currently no vaccine or cure for the disease.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--(2nd LD) S. Korean golfer Kim A-lim wins U.S. Women's Open

`` To be honest , it was a little bit disappointing round , the third round on Saturday , '' @ @ @ @ @ decided to come out today and try to be the aggressive player that I was @ @ @ @ @ pin , and it actually worked out today . ''

(ATTN: ADDS comments, more info from 4th para, photos)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean professional golfer Kim A-lim on Monday won the Women's U.S. Open in her debut in the major.
The 25-year-old shot a 4-under par 67 in the final round to win the 75th U.S. Women's Open at the Champions Golf Club in Houston.
Kim shot a four-round total of 3-under 281 to win the title by one stroke.
"I'm very honored to win the 75th U.S. Women's Open. Still can't really soak in that I'm the champion, but it feels different winning the tournament here," she said in a post-match press conference.
"I'm really glad, and through COVID-19, we had a lot of difficulties, but glad we had the U.S. Women's Open held in Houston," said Kim, who wore a mask during the tournament. "It was a great win. Thank you."
This AP photo shows Kim A-lim holding up the championship trophy after winning the U.S. Women's Open at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 14, 2020. The 25-year-old South Korean shot a four-round total of 3-under par 281 to win the tournament by one stroke over South Korea's Ko Jin-young and the United States' Amy Olson. (Yonhap)
Kim is the 10th South Korean golfer to win the U.S. Women's Open, while her victory marks the 11th of its kind by a South Korean golfer, with Park In-bee taking the title twice.
It also marks the first time Kim ever played in the U.S. Women's Open, making her only the fifth player in the entire history of the oldest LPGA major to win the title in her debut.
She is the 10th non-LPGA member to win a major in the sport's history, including Hinako Shibuno and Sophia Popve, who topped the Women's British Open in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Kim, 25, also is the third South Korean to capture a major LPGA title, following Kim Sei-young who won the Women's PGA and Mirim Lee who took the helm of the ANA Inspiration.
In this AP photo, South Korean Kim A-lim tees off on the third hole during the final round of the U.S. Women's Open at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
Kim began the final round at No. 9 with a three-round total of one-over par 214, lagging five shots behind the third-round leader Hinako Shibuno.
Her performance to rally from five shots behind in the final round of the U.S. Open tied the record for the largest come-from-behind victory that has been achieved by only six players, including Annika Sorenstam in 1995.
She snatched three consecutive birdies in the last three holes of the final round after getting two bogeys on the 10th and 11th holes.
Kim's last push cornered Amy Olson, who had a two-shot lead on the back nine, and tied with her after her birdie on the 17th.
Her comeback victory was completed with the 18th hole birdie, while Olson fell behind after a bogey on the 16th.
"To be honest, it was a little bit disappointing round, the third round on Saturday," she said. "I decided to come out today and try to be the aggressive player that I was, try to attack the pin, and it actually worked out today."
Ko Jin-young, also from South Korea, shared the No. 2 spot with Olson of the United States after they both finished with a four-round total of 2-under par 282.
Finishing the third round with an even-par, she hit three under in the final round, including two birdies in the last three holes, to finish runner-up in her third LPGA appearance of the season.
Ko, currently ranked the world's No. 1 in women's golf, had stayed in her home country until October amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I had a great round today. I had a couple of missed putts, but I finished good today," she said. "I wanted to finish strong on the last hole, so I made it, and I was happy."
This AP photo shows South Korean Ko Jin-young hitting a shot during the final round of the U.S. Women's Open at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas, on Dec. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
Two other South Koreans, Lee Jeong-eun and Park In-bee, also made it to the top 10 at this year's U.S. Women's Open.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--SsangYong Motor misses debt repayment worth 60 bln won

`` ( The company ) does n't have enough funds to repay the debt due to worsening business conditions , @ @ @ @ @ a regulatory briefing .
`` We will try to extend the debt maturity with our @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- SsangYong Motor Co. said Tuesday it has missed the repayment of 60 billion won (US$54.8 million) of debt to its three creditors.
The South Korean subsidiary of Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said the outstanding loans amount to 59.9 billion won and that the interest is 600 million won, which accounts for 8 percent of its total equity.
The debt includes 20 billion won from JP Morgan, 10 billion won from BNP Paribas and 30 billion won from Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
"(The company) doesn't have enough funds to repay the debt due to worsening business conditions," the firm said in a regulatory briefing. "We will try to extend the debt maturity with our creditors."
Its 90 billion-won debt from the state-run Industrial Bank of Korea is due on Dec. 21.
The SUV maker has logged operating deficits for 15 consecutive quarters as it fell behind in competition with its Korean rivals.
SsangYong sold 96,763 vehicles in the first 11 months of this year, a 19 percent fall from a year earlier, due to weak sales abroad.
Mahindra has been looking for a partner for the debt-ridden subsidiary as part of its restructuring plan.
In 2011, Mahindra acquired a 70 percent stake in SsangYong Motor for 523 billion won and now holds a 74.6 percent stake in the carmaker.
A SsangYong Motor Co. official introduces the New Rexton SUV during an online event on Nov. 9, 2020, in this photo provided by the carmaker. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--S. Korea confirms 3 more cases of bird flu at poultry farms

Avian influenza ( AI ) of the H5N8 strain was found in samples collected from chicken farms in Gumi , @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Ministry of Agriculture , Food and Rural Affairs .

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Tuesday confirmed three more cases of highly pathogenic bird flu at poultry farms across the nation, raising the total to 16.
Avian influenza (AI) of the H5N8 strain was found in samples collected from chicken farms in Gumi, 261 kilometers southeast of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Another chicken farm in Imsil County in North Jeolla Province, located 300km south of the capital, reported a suspected bird flu case, which was later confirmed to be H5N8 AI, the ministry said.
A goose at a farm in Cheonan in South Chungcheong Province, 92 kilometers south of Seoul, was also confirmed to be an H5 strain of AI, it added.
The ministry said authorities are culling poultry within a 3-km radius of the farms and issued a standstill order for nearby farms as part of preventive measures.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is contagious and can cause severe illness and even death in poultry.
The country reported its first highly pathogenic case in 32 months in late October in Cheonan from wild birds.
Authorities conduct an on-site inspection in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, on Dec. 15, 2020, after a bird flu case was discovered in the region, in photo provided by the Ministry of Environment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--Two S. Koreans move out of Ethiopia's conflict region, source says

The two unidentified Koreans had been out of contact since tensions heightened recently in the northern region of Tigray in @ @ @ @ @ an armed conflict is ongoing between its federal government and military forces led by a @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- Two South Koreans have escaped from Ethiopia's conflict-hit region unharmed and moved to a "safe" location in the capital city of Addis Ababa, an informed source said Tuesday.
The two unidentified Koreans had been out of contact since tensions heightened recently in the northern region of Tigray in the African country, where an armed conflict is ongoing between its federal government and military forces led by a dissident political party.
They arrived in Addis Ababa on Monday (local time) and plan to take a flight home soon, the source said. They reportedly know each other from work.
Concern about their safety was also mentioned during the recent phone conversation between the top diplomats of the two countries earlier this month, another source said.
Seoul's foreign ministry has raised the travel warning for Tigray to "Level 3", the second-highest out of a four-scale system, which calls for citizens to leave the country.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--Bourse operator again delays decision on scandal-ridden Kolon TissueGene

Kolon TissueGene was listed on the secondary KOSDAQ market in 2017 .
The trading of Kolon TissueGene has been suspended @ @ @ @ @ government revoked its permit to sell the gene therapy drug Invossa over mislabeling and false @ @ @ @ @

By Chung Joo-won
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's bourse operator on Tuesday delayed its decision on whether to delist the scandal-ridden drugmaker Kolon TissueGene Inc., saying it needs more time to review the issue.
The Korea Exchange (KRX) said it will reopen a meeting on the fate of Kolon TissueGene, an affiliate of Kolon Life Science, later. It stopped short of announcing a specific date.
This file photo shows the corporate flag of Kolon Group at the group headquarters in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, on Jan. 6, 2020. (Yonhap)
A week earlier, the KRX postponed its decision on the matter.
Kolon TissueGene was listed on the secondary KOSDAQ market in 2017. The trading of Kolon TissueGene has been suspended since late May after the government revoked its permit to sell the gene therapy drug Invossa over mislabeling and false reporting of an ingredient.
In July, Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety banned the production and sale of Invossa after it canceled the license for the drug made by Kolon Life Science.
Kolon Life Science acknowledged that a substance in the joint pain treatment drug had been mislabeled since 2003, with authorities arguing the company intentionally failed to disclose additional data it discovered on the problem before submitting the drug for approval.
Last month, the KRX turned down Kolon TissueGene's proposed measures to improve its financial status, calling them "insufficient." The firm appealed the decision, asking for a second review.
As of its last trading on May 28, Kolon TissueGene's market cap stood at 489.6 billion won, with a 34.48 percent stake held by some 65,000 retail investors.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


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

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

(ATTN: ADDS his visit to virus testing center in last 3 paras; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Tuesday that the government plans to start acquiring new coronavirus vaccines in the first quarter of 2021.
During a vaccine procurement-related government meeting, Chung said that authorities will establish a meticulous plan to allow prepurchased vaccines to be "acquired properly from the first quarter of next year" so that they can be administered according to plan.
The pan-ministerial meeting at the government complex in Seoul was attended by the finance, foreign and health ministers and the head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (L) and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki arrive at a vaccine procurement-related government meeting held at the government complex in Seoul on Dec. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
The prime minister acknowledged that there were growing demands for the swift introduction of vaccines, amid the resurgence of new virus cases across the country and news that vaccines were starting to be administered to the general public in Britain and the United States.
Chung promised that he will personally oversee the entirety of the vaccine program, from procurement to inoculation, so as to reassure the public from anxieties related to vaccine obtainment.
He also said the government will do all it can to bring in already-secured vaccine volume at the earliest date to make sure that inoculations are not delayed.
The prime minister plans to hold the vaccine procurement meeting with officials from involved ministries and state agencies once every week.
The health ministry announced last week that the country has secured early access to COVID-19 vaccines developed by four pharmaceutical companies and from a global vaccine project for 44 million people.
The government said it has completed the deal with AstraZeneca Inc. and is in the process of finalizing the agreement with other suppliers, namely Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson's Janssen and Moderna.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (R) visits a temporary coronavirus test center at Seoul Station in the capital city on Dec. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
Later in the day, Chung visited a temporary coronavirus testing center established at Seoul Station in response to the recent surge in infections, especially in the capital and nearby areas.
He said it's important to find coronavirus patients who are asymptomatic via "preemptive" infection tests and to cut the link of virus spread.
He stressed that the government, local authorities and the people should join forces to overcome the third wave of large-scale COVID-19 outbreaks in South Korea.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-15--Google required to submit report on service errors to Seoul gov't

`` We urged Google to notify local users in Korean about the service outage `` the ministry said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ under the Telecommunication Business Act if needed after figuring out the cause of the case @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 15 (Yonhap) -- U.S. internet giant Google will have to submit a report on its service errors that caused inconvenience to Korean users under the revised telecommunication act, the Ministry of Science and ICT said Tuesday.
Google suffered a global outage as its services, including Gmail, YouTube and Google Calendar, went down between 8:30 p.m and 9:30 p.m. Monday (local time).
Google explained to the ministry that it experienced an authentication system outage for approximately 45 minutes due to an internal storage quota issue.
The company posted a statement on its Twitter account in English, but it did not notify local users.
"We urged Google to notify local users in Korean about the service outage " the ministry said. "We will take appropriate measures under the Telecommunication Business Act if needed after figuring out the cause of the case."
Under the revised Telecommunication Business Act, which took effect last week, online content providers, including Google, Netflix and Facebook, are responsible for providing stable services to users and are required to report service errors to the ICT ministry.
Google will have to submit the report by Dec. 30, becoming the first to come under the new regulation, the ministry said.
The government revised the telecom regulations as global streaming giants have recently come under scrutiny over their responses to service complaints despite their growing popularity.
This image captured from the YouTube homepage on Dec. 14, 2020, shows an error message. Google and YouTube services went down on the day, which the U.S. internet giant said was caused by internal storage problems. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

During a vaccine procurement-related government meeting , Chung said that authorities will establish a meticulous plan to allow prepurchased vaccines @ @ @ @ @ from the first quarter of next year '' so that they can be administered according @ @ @

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday.
-----------------
(LEAD) Moon highlights importance of anti-corruption investigation agency for prosecution reform
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that the envisioned launch of a powerful corruption investigation agency is very meaningful as it can serve as a systemic tool to keep the prosecution in check.
"The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is highly significant, as it can serve as a tool to democratically regulate the prosecution," Moon said during a weekly Cabinet meeting held at the government complex in Seoul. He presided over the meeting from Cheong Wa Dae through a video link.
-----------------
(2nd LD) Defector activist mulls constitutional complaint over ban on anti-Pyongyang leafleting
SEOUL -- A high-profile North Korean defector activist is considering filing a constitutional complaint against the recently legislated ban on the sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the communist nation, his lawyer said Tuesday.
On Monday night, the National Assembly, controlled by the ruling Democratic Party, passed the bill penalizing the sending of anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets into the North despite strong objection by opposition party lawmakers.
-----------------
(2nd LD) Main opposition leader apologizes for two ex-presidents' corruption convictions
SEOUL -- The interim leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) offered an official apology Tuesday for two former presidents affiliated with the conservative party, who were convicted of corruption.
Kim Chong-in made the public apology during a press conference at the National Assembly, holding the party accountable for failing to keep the convicted former Presidents Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak in check.
-----------------
(LEAD) S. Korea to expand child care subsidies to boost low birthrate
SEOUL -- South Korea on Tuesday announced a set of measures to expand perks for families and subsidies for children to try to boost the low birthrate that has plagued Asia's fourth-largest economy for more than a decade.
The package, drawn up by the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy, will be the foundation of the government's demographic policy over the next five years.
-----------------
(LEAD) Justice ministry holds 2nd hearing on disciplinary action against top prosecutor
SEOUL -- A justice ministry panel reconvened Tuesday for a second meeting on whether to punish Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl for alleged misconduct.
The disciplinary hearing, unprecedented in the country's history, resumed at 10:34 a.m. at the government complex in Gwacheon, south of Seoul. The first meeting last Thursday ended without reaching any conclusions.
-----------------
S. Korea aims to acquire COVID-19 vaccines starting in Q1 2021: PM
SEOUL -- Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Tuesday that the government plans to start acquiring new coronavirus vaccines in the first quarter of 2021.
During a vaccine procurement-related government meeting, Chung said that authorities will establish a meticulous plan to allow prepurchased vaccines to be "acquired properly from the first quarter of next year" so that they can be administered according to plan.
------------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks down for 2nd day on profit-taking
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks slumped for the second consecutive session Tuesday, as investors sought to cash in part of recent gains amid spiking virus cases. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 5.38 points, or 0.19 percent, to close at 2,756.82, with construction and bio sectors having led the KOSPI's retreat.
(END)