yna--2020-09-01--(3rd LD) Export slump extends to 6th month; chips cushion virus fallout

`` South Korea 's exports had hit the nadir in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic .
But since then @ @ @ @ @ shipments have been recovering gradually , '' an official from the ministry said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ , uncertain when exports will rebound . ''

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout, photo)
By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports extended their slump to a sixth month in August as the resurgence of the new coronavirus around the globe continued to strain business activities, data showed Tuesday. But the retreat was in the single digits on a recovery in shipments of chips.
Outbound shipments came to US$39.6 billion last month, down 9.9 percent from $44 billion posted a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The latest figures were slightly better than what the market had expected. According to a poll by Yonhap Infomax, the financial arm of Yonhap News Agency, the country's August exports were expected to have dipped 12 percent on-year.
Imports shed 16.3 percent to $35.5 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $4.12 billion. The country snapped its 98 straight months of having more exports than imports in April, before rebounding to the black in May.
On a daily basis, exports decreased at a smaller margin of 3.8 percent, as August had fewer working days compared with the previous year.
"South Korea's exports had hit the nadir in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But since then, the country's outbound shipments have been recovering gradually," an official from the ministry said. "It is still, however, uncertain when exports will rebound."
By segment, overseas sales of chips, the mainstay export product, advanced 2.8 percent on-year in August to $8.2 billion, extending their gains to two months on the back of rising shipments to smartphone production lines in China and Vietnam.
Chips accounted for 20 percent of the country's overall exports.
Shipments of biohealth products shot up 58.8 percent over the period. Exports of computers doubled on-year in August on increased teleworking schemes as well.
Exports of automobiles, on the other hand, dropped 12.8 percent over the period as major production lines in the country reduced their operations in August due to the summer vacation season and renovations.
Sales of mobile devices moved down 31.7 percent despite the release of new products by major players such as Samsung Electronics Co. amid the global pandemic.
Outbound shipments of petroleum products plunged 44 percent on-year last month as global demand sharply lost ground amid the virus pandemic. Overseas sales of petrochemical goods also shed 21.4 percent.
Exports of ships dipped 31.5 percent, while those of displays slipped 22.8 percent, the data showed.
While foodstuffs have been among beneficiaries of the virus pandemic, the sector's exports edged down 1.3 percent on-year in August, due to a sharp decrease in demand from Japan.
By destination, exports to China, the country's top trading partner, moved down 3 percent on-year in the month due to weak performance of machinery, auto parts and mobile segments.
Outbound shipments to the United States decreased 0.4 percent over the period, especially as demand for South Korean petroleum products sharply fell as U.S. air carriers reduced their operations amid the pandemic.
The two countries accounted for 41.6 percent of South Korea's monthly exports.
Exports to the European Union slipped 2.5 percent and shipments to Japan dipped 20.7 percent over the period, as the slump in their manufacturing segments led to weaker demand for South Korean steel and machines.
Shipments to ASEAN members fell 17.8 percent due to the intensifying competition with Chinese display makers, along with the weak demand for textile products, according to the ministry.
"The resurgence of the COVID-19 cases, along with the trade dispute between the United States and China, poses a threat to South Korea's exports," Industry Minister Sung Yun-mo said in a statement. "With global oil prices staying low, we need to stay vigilant."
In July, exports decreased 7 percent on-year, following the 10.8 percent drop in June and the 23.8 percent decline in May.
South Korea earlier saw its outbound shipments rise 4.5 percent for the first time in 14 months in February, before the pandemic hit the global economy hard.
In 2019, the country's outbound shipments dipped more than 10 percent due to the low price of memory chips.
The weak exports have so far dealt a harsh blow to Asia's No. 4 economy.
Last week, the central bank slashed its annual economic growth outlook for South Korea, expecting a sharper-than-expected contraction of 1.3 percent.
The latest projection marked a sharp cut from the bank's estimate in May of a 0.2 percent contraction. It would mark the worst performance since 1998, when the Korean economy shrank 5.1 percent in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--(2nd LD) Minor league baseball players, staff test negative for COVID-19 following pitcher's infecti

(2nd LD) Minor league baseball players, staff test negative for COVID-19 following pitcher's infection

According to the Twins , Shin came over to say hello to two LG minor leaguers before a game last @ @ @ @ @ Those two LG players and their two roommates were tested earlier Tuesday and are currently @ @ @ @ @ said .
All other members of the Twins ' minor league club will also undergo @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS details in para 7)
SEOSAN, South Korea, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean minor league baseball players and their team staff members have tested negative for the novel coronavirus, following an earlier positive test for a pitcher on their club.
Health officials in Seosan, home of the Futures League affiliate for the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club Hanwha Eagles in South Chungcheong Province, announced Tuesday that 40 players, coaches and members of the support staff all tested negative for COVID-19.
In this file photo from Aug. 24, 2020, Hanwha Eagles players celebrate their 6-3 win over the LG Twins in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
They had tests after minor league pitcher Shin Jung-rak tested positive for the virus Monday. He's the first South Korean professional athlete to be infected.
There were 37 other team members who didn't report to work at the Seosan minor league facility on Tuesday, and they will undergo tests near their homes.
Shin hasn't appeared in a KBO game since June 27, and his last Futures League game was July 22. He has been rehabbing from an elbow injury since and has been working out with others in the "rehab unit," away from the rest of the Futures League team.
As a precaution, the KBO decided to postpone the Eagles' Futures League game set for Tuesday. In addition, the LG Twins' affiliate also had its Tuesday game postponed, because Shin, a former Twins draft pick, recently came in contact with two members of that team.
According to the Twins, Shin came over to say hello to two LG minor leaguers before a game last Tuesday and again Wednesday. Those two LG players and their two roommates were tested earlier Tuesday and are currently in quarantine, the Twins said. All other members of the Twins' minor league club will also undergo tests later Tuesday.
Two Hanwha minor leaguers who were recently called up to the KBO will also be tested. Depending on their test results, the Eagles' KBO game against the Doosan Bears, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, could be postponed.
In this file photo from Aug. 9, 2020, Hanwha Eagles players take a bow toward the stands after losing to the KT Wiz 6-3 in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon, 160 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--(LEAD) Korean Air's aircraft conversion plan approved

If there is an additional request from Korean Air for plane conversion , the government will review the request and @ @ @ @ @ issues are guaranteed by manufacturer Boeing after conversion , a ministry official said .

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 5-6)
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's biggest carrier, said Tuesday it will convert two of its passenger jets into cargo planes upon government approval to meet growing demand amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has approved the national flag carrier's request to convert two B777-300ER jets into cargo planes, a Korean Air spokeswoman said over the phone.
"The company may consider making another request to the ministry to convert additional passenger jets into cargo planes if cargo demand continues to rise amid the COVID-19 pandemic," she said.
This photo, taken July 7, 2020, shows Korean Air planes at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
If there is an additional request from Korean Air for plane conversion, the government will review the request and approve it if the safety issues are guaranteed by manufacturer Boeing after conversion, a ministry official said.
The ministry said it will provide support for low-cost carriers if they want to carry cargo in their passenger jets under the aviation guidelines.
Asiana Airlines Inc., the country's second-biggest carrier, said it is considering the plane conversion plan as it expects the virus outbreak could be prolonged for some time.
Cargo-carrying demand has jumped this year as more than 180 countries and territories closed their borders or imposed entry restrictions on incoming passengers amid virus fears.
Increased cargo demand helped airlines offset a sharp decline in air travel demand in the April-June quarter.
On a parent basis, Korean Air shifted to a net profit of 162.4 billion won (US$137 million) in the second quarter from a net loss of 80.78 billion won a year earlier as it focused on obtaining more cargo-carrying orders.
In June, Korean Air began to carry cargo in cargo seat bags, which attach to the seats of passenger jets, as the pandemic drove down travel demand and its earnings.
The move is in line with global airlines, which are now using their passenger planes for cargo flights, either by using cargo seat bags or removing seats.
Korean Air has a fleet of 143 passenger jets, including 26 B777-300ERs, and 23 cargo planes.
The carrier expects its overall cargo volumes will increase by at least 10 tons to 34 tons due to the conversion plan being approved.
Korean Air has suspended most of its flights on international routes since March, dealing a blow to its first-half bottom line.
From January to June, its consolidated net losses widened to 619.49 billion won from 482.01 billion won in the same period of last year.
In February, Korean Air's parent company, Hanjin KAL Corp., came up with self-help measures, which include the sale of low-profit, non-core assets to focus on the mainstay airline and logistics business.
Korean Air had 70 percent of its 20,000-strong workforce take paid leave for six months starting April 16 as a measure to overcome the prolonged virus crisis.
Last month, it signed a deal to sell its mainstay in-flight catering and duty-free business to local private equity fund Hahn & Company for 990.6 billion won to secure operating capital.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Public firms tipped to report 3 tln won in losses over coronavirus

The 39 public firms , however , are expected to return to the black in 2021 with a combined net @ @ @ @ @ , the Ministry of Economy and Finance said in a statement .

SEJONG, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's major public firms are expected to report a combined net loss of 3 trillion won (US$2.5 billion) this year, as the coronavirus pandemic hit their earnings, the finance ministry said Tuesday.
The 39 public firms, however, are expected to return to the black in 2021 with a combined net profit of 5.2 trillion won, the Ministry of Economy and Finance said in a statement.
The combined debt of the public firms is expected to reach 521 trillion won by the end of this year, up 24.4 trillion won from a year ago.
Their debt-to-capital ratio is expected to stand at 172.2 percent at the end of this year, compared with 167.1 percent a year ago.
After peaking at 173 percent in 2022, the debt ratio is expected to fall to 171.4 percent in 2024, the ministry said.
Last year, the Korea Electric Power Corp., the country's power monopoly, reported the first loss in 11 years, due mainly to weaker electricity sales coupled with increased financial costs.
Its total debt amounted to 128.8 trillion won last year, up 14.6 trillion won from a year ago.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Moon congratulates BTS on Billboard feat, says it writes new K-pop history

It is more meaningful that the seven-member boy band has made the achievement with the song `` Dynamite , '' @ @ @ @ @ hope and consolation for the people in the world suffering amid the COVID-19 pandemic , @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that BTS has written a "new chapter in K-pop history" by topping the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for the first time as a South Korean artist.
"It is truly amazing. It is a splendid feat that further raises pride in K-pop," he said on his social media account.
It is more meaningful that the seven-member boy band has made the achievement with the song "Dynamite," which contains a message of hope and consolation for the people in the world suffering amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the president.
The success "will bring huge consolation to Koreans suffering from the national crisis caused by COVID-19. I offer my heartfelt congratulations," he added.
President Moon Jae-in, in a file photo released by Cheong Wa Dae. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
BTS writes another K-pop history; conquering Billboard's Hot 100 for the first time with ‘Dynamite’ Youtube https://youtu.be/qpaHj_ffGII
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Sep. 1 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .

(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--2020-09-01--LG Uplus forms AR, VR alliance with global telcos and Qualcomm

The group said it will release a VR series on the International Space Station in November , which will be @ @ @ @ @ a space walk , by working with the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- LG Uplus Corp., South Korea's No. 3 mobile carrier, said Tuesday it has formed an alliance with global telecom operators, content developers and U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm Technologies Inc. to develop 5G-based augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) content to boost the budding industry.
The Global XR Content Telco Alliance will collaborate on developing 5G-based extended reality (XR) content, which covers all immersive content such as AR and VR, according to a statement from LG Uplus.
The alliance includes Japan's KDDI Corp., China Telecom Corp., Bell Canada and Qualcomm, and it will be headed by LG Uplus at launch. Global VR developers such as Canada's Felix & Paul Studios and France's Atlas V will also join the alliance as content partners.
This photo, provided by LG Uplus on Sept. 1, 2020, shows the logos of LG Uplus Corp. and other global firms of an alliance for augmented reality content. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The cross-border alliance will develop XR content based on Qualcomm's platform that promises more immersive quality using high-speed 5G networks.
The group said it will release a VR series on the International Space Station in November, which will be shot in space and feature a space walk, by working with the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
LG Uplus added that it plans to produce more immersive content, such as concerts and documentaries on athletes.
The alliance's launch comes as LG Uplus has recently focused on strengthening its AR and VR business with global partners.
Last month, the mobile carrier released a 5G-based AR glasses device with Chinese mixed-reality developer Nreal, and it has partnered with Google to develop AR and VR content since last year.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Korean Air's aircraft conversion plan approved

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's biggest carrier, said Tuesday it will convert two of its passenger jets into cargo planes upon government approval to meet growing demand amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has approved the national flag carrier's request to convert two B777-300ER jets into cargo planes, a Korean Air spokeswoman said over the phone.
"The company may consider making another request to the ministry to convert additional passenger jets into cargo planes if cargo demand continues to rise amid the COVID-19 pandemic," she said.
This photo taken July 7, 2020, shows Korean Air planes at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
If there is an additional request from Korean Air for plane conversion, the government will review the request and approve it if the safety issues are guaranteed by manufacturer Boeing after conversion, a ministry official said.
Cargo-carrying demand has jumped this year as more than 180 countries and territories closed their borders or imposed entry restrictions on incoming passengers amid virus fears.
Increased cargo demand helped airlines offset a sharp decline in air travel demand in the April-June quarter.
On a parent basis, Korean Air shifted to a net profit of 162.4 billion won (US$137 million) in the second quarter from a net loss of 80.78 billion won a year earlier as it focused on obtaining more cargo-carrying orders.
In June, Korean Air began to carry cargo in cargo seat bags, which attach to the seats of passenger jets, as the pandemic drove down travel demand and its earnings.
The move is in line with global airlines, which are now using their passenger planes for cargo flights, either by using cargo seat bags or removing seats.
Korean Air has a fleet of 143 passenger jets, including 26 B777-300ERs, and 23 cargo planes.
The carrier expects its overall cargo volumes will increase by at least 10 tons to 34 tons due to the conversion plan being approved.
Korean Air has suspended most of its flights on international routes since March, dealing a blow to its first-half bottom line.
From January to June, its consolidated net losses widened to 619.49 billion won from 482.01 billion won in the same period of last year.
In February, Korean Air's parent company, Hanjin KAL Corp., came up with self-help measures, which include the sale of low-profit, non-core assets to focus on the mainstay airline and logistics business.
Korean Air had 70 percent of its 20,000-strong workforce take paid leave for six months starting April 16 as a measure to overcome the prolonged virus crisis.
Last month, it signed a deal to sell its mainstay in-flight catering and duty-free business to local private equity fund Hahn & Company for 990.6 billion won to secure operating capital.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Samsung Heavy gets approval for natural gas liquefaction cycle

SEOUL , Sept. 1 ( Yonhap ) -- Samsung Heavy Industries Co. said Tuesday it has won approval for natural @ @ @ @ @ key component in the design of a natural gas liquefaction facility from the American Bureau @ @ @ @ @ , a U.S. quality assurance and risk management company .

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Heavy Industries Co. said Tuesday it has won approval for natural gas liquefaction cycle, a key component in the design of a natural gas liquefaction facility from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), a U.S. quality assurance and risk management company.
Natural gas liquefaction cycle is a core technology to liquefy natural gas at ordinary temperature by freezing it at under 160 degrees below zero with refrigerant.
The approval by ABS will help Samsung Heavy cut costs to build offshore plants, South Korea's leading shipbuilder said in an emailed statement.
Offshore plants refer to large-scale floating facilities to explore, drill, extract, store, and process crude and natural gas that lies deep under the seabed.
Before the approval, Samsung Heavy had paid fees related to natural gas liquefaction cycle to foreign companies in the United States and Australia, the shipbuilder said.
This photo provided by Samsung Heavy Industries Co. shows the FLNG (Floating LNG) facility built by the shipbuilder in June 2017. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Critically ill virus patients spiking; sickbed shortage feared

Hospital beds are also running out in other regions .
In particular , there are no hospital beds for coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ condition in Gwangju , Daejeon , Gangwon Province and North and South Jolla Province .

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The number of coronavirus patients in serious or critical condition in South Korea has spiked amid a resurgence of new infections, raising concerns about a shortage of hospital beds, health officials said Tuesday.
South Korea reported 235 daily new infections Tuesday, marking the 19th day of triple-digit hikes and raising the total caseload to 20,182, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The number of virus patients in serious or critical condition spiked to 104 on Tuesday, compared with 12 on Aug. 19. Such patients have doubled in four or five days since Aug. 19.
The figure could further rise, along with fatalities, as the number of elderly virus patients continues to increase.
If the spread is not curbed at this point, the number could soar to as high as 130 by Thursday, officials said.
This photo taken by a Yonhap News TV reporter shows medical workers moving a confirmed patient of the new coronavirus to the Kyungpook National University Hospital in Daegu, 302 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Aug. 30, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said the number of coronavirus patients aged 60 or older accounted for more than 30 percent of the total cases identified in the past two weeks.
Deaths are much higher among elderly coronavirus patients with underlying health conditions, so they must be admitted to hospitals.
Health authorities have made utmost efforts to secure hospital beds to save the lives of critically ill coronavirus patients, Kim said.
Since early last month, the government has been scrambling to secure more hospital beds.
As of Sunday, health authorities secured a total of 517 hospital beds for coronavirus patients in serious or critical condition, but only 55 of them are available for treatment.
In the metropolitan region, just 16 of 193 hospital beds are available for treatment.
Hospital beds are also running out in other regions. In particular, there are no hospital beds for coronavirus patients in serious or critical condition in Gwangju, Daejeon, Gangwon Province and North and South Jolla Province.
The government plans to secure 40 more hospital beds for coronavirus patients in serious or critical condition by mid-September, officials said.
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--(LEAD) Prosecution to announce results of investigation of Samsung heir Lee in high-profile successi

(LEAD) Prosecution to announce results of investigation of Samsung heir Lee in high-profile succession case in afternoon

It is believed that the prosecution will go ahead and charge Lee without physical detention later in the day with @ @ @ @ @ capital market laws in relation to the 2015 merger between two Samsung affiliates , Cheil @ @ @ @ @ & T , and alleged accounting fraud at the pharmaceutical unit of Samsung Biologics .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead)
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's prosecution will announce the results of an investigation into a succession case at Samsung Group on Tuesday afternoon and is likely to indict the group's heir Lee Jae-yong for his role in a controversial merger and alleged accounting fraud, according to legal sources.
It is believed that the prosecution will go ahead and charge Lee without physical detention later in the day with stock manipulation and violation of capital market laws in relation to the 2015 merger between two Samsung affiliates, Cheil Industries Inc. and Samsung C&T, and alleged accounting fraud at the pharmaceutical unit of Samsung Biologics.
Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, leaves the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul on June 8, 2020, after a hearing on the prosecution's request for a warrant for his arrest. (Yonhap)
Prosecutors suspect that Lee, the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, was involved in a companywide scheme to plan the merger and fraud in a way to take over control of the country's biggest conglomerate from his ailing father, Lee Kun-hee, who suffered a heart attack in 2014.
They, in particular, believe that the value of Cheil, of which Lee was the largest shareholder with a stake of 23.2 percent, was inflated and that of Samsung C&T was lowered intentionally prior to the merger.
Lee is also suspected of being part of the alleged plan to inflate the value of Samsung Bioepis, a joint venture between Samsung Biologics, a subsidiary of Cheil Industries, and the U.S.-based Biogen Inc.
He has consistently denied the allegations since the investigation started in November 2018.
But prosecutors have shown confidence that there is sufficient evidence to support the charges against Lee.
Since this year, prosecutors have intensified the investigation, calling in incumbent and former Samsung senior executives over the case, including Choi Gee-sung and Kim Jong-joong, who had led the group's now-disbanded control tower, the Future Strategy Office. In May, Lee was brought in twice for investigation.
In a turn of events that Lee hoped would help his case, the prosecution's independent panel recommended on June 26 to drop charges against Lee, citing difficulties substantiating some of the prosecution's claims.
The 14-member panel, including one chairperson, concluded by 10-3 that the prosecution's investigation into the high-profile succession case was not warranted, following a lengthy discussion at the Supreme Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul.
Since the recommendation, prosecutors have gathered various opinions from management and accounting professors and experts in efforts to build up a case against Lee.
Filing charges against Lee might come as a surprise, given the fact that the prosecution has accepted most recommendations by the panel since the system was introduced in January 2018 to keep its power in check and guarantee the fairness of its investigations.
This composite image shows Samsung's heir and de facto leader Lee Jae-yong against a background of the prosecution's logo and building. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Gyeonggi gov. closer behind ruling party leader in favorability poll

It could be a chance for him to solidify his party base .
If he wants to join the presidential @ @ @ @ @ should quit his current job no later than next March , a year ahead of @ @ @ @ @ party 's constitution .

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Lee Jae-myung, governor of Gyeonggi Province, has continued to gain public support, further narrowing the gap with Lee Nak-yon, the new leader of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), in a monthly poll of potential presidential candidates, Realmeter said Tuesday.
In the five-day survey of 2,544 voters nationwide through Friday, the governor's favorability rose 3.7 percentage points to 23.3 percent from a month earlier. That of the DP chief, a former prime minister, dropped 1 percentage point to 24.6 percent, though he remains the front-runner.
It marks the first time that the ratings of the two have narrowed to within the margin of error, which is plus and minus 1.9 percentage points, in the pollster's relevant survey.
Lee Jae-myung (L), governor of Gyeonggi Province, and Lee Nak-yon, head of the ruling Democratic Party, in a combined photo provided by Yonhap News TV. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The DP leader's favorability peaked at 40.2 percent in April, when the governor's marked 14.4 percent.
The governor, who served as Seongnam mayor, is known for aggressive policy measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. He is also a strong advocate of a universal basic income.
The former prime minister won the party leadership last weekend, though his favorability has fallen for four months in a row.
Many say that his new job is a double-edged sword for his possible bid to become the next president to be elected around March 2022.
It could be a chance for him to solidify his party base. If he wants to join the presidential race, however, he should quit his current job no later than next March, a year ahead of the election, under the party's constitution.
It means that he has only half a year to produce accomplishments as the leader of the party with 176 seats in the 300-member National Assembly.
South Korea is struggling to contain the coronavirus and minimize its economic fallout, which are among a number of major challenges facing the nation.
Meanwhile, Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl remained in third, with his rating dipping 2.7 percentage points to 11.1 percent.
Kim Chong-in, caretaker leader of the main opposition United Future Party who was included in the Realmeter poll for the first time, garnered 1.3 percent of support.
Asked during a radio interview whether there is a possibility that Kim will run in the presidential election, the DP leader said, "I think so."
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--(2nd LD) Export slump extends to 6th month; chips cushion virus fallout

SEOUL , Sept. 1 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea 's exports extended their slump to a sixth month in @ @ @ @ @ the new coronavirus around the globe continued to strain business activities , data showed Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ in the single digits on a recovery in shipments of chips .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; ADDS details throughout, photo)
By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports extended their slump to a sixth month in August as the resurgence of the new coronavirus around the globe continued to strain business activities, data showed Tuesday. But the retreat was in the single digits on a recovery in shipments of chips.
Outbound shipments came to US$39.6 billion last month, down 9.9 percent from $44 billion posted a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
The latest figures were slightly better than what the market had expected. According to a poll by Yonhap Infomax, the financial arm of Yonhap News Agency, the country's August exports were expected to have dipped 12 percent on-year.
Imports shed 16.3 percent to $35.5 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $4.12 billion. The country snapped its 98 straight months of having more exports than imports in April, before rebounding to the black in May.
On a daily basis, exports decreased at a smaller margin of 3.8 percent as August had fewer number of working days compared with the previous year.
By segment, overseas sales of chips, the mainstay export product, advanced 2.8 percent on-year in August to $8.2 billion, extending their gains to two months on the back of rising shipments to smartphone production lines in China and Vietnam.
Chips accounted for 20 percent of the country's overall exports.
Shipments of biohealth products shot up 58.8 percent over the period. Exports of computers doubled on-year in August on increased teleworking schemes as well.
Exports of automobiles, on the other hand, dropped 12.8 percent over the period as major production lines in the country reduced their operations in August due to the summer vacation season and renovations.
Sales of mobile devices moved down 31.7 percent despite the release of new products by major players such as Samsung Electronics Co. amid the global pandemic.
Outbound shipments of petroleum products plunged 44 percent on-year last month as global demand sharply lost ground amid the virus pandemic. Overseas sales of petrochemical goods also shed 21.4 percent.
Exports of ships dipped 31.5 percent, while those of displays slipped 22.8 percent, the data showed.
By destination, exports to China, the country's top trading partner, moved down 3 percent on-year in the month due to weak performance of machinery, auto parts and mobile segments.
Outbound shipments to the United States also decreased 0.4 percent over the period, especially as demand for South Korean petroleum products sharply fell as U.S. air carriers reduced their operations amid the pandemic.
Exports to the European Union slipped 2.5 percent and shipments to Japan dipped 20.7 percent over the period as the slump in their manufacturing segments led to weaker demand for South Korean steel and machines.
"The resurgence of the COVID-19 cases, along with the trade dispute between the United States and China, poses a threat to South Korea's exports," Industry Minister Sung Yun-mo said in a statement. "With global oil prices staying low, we need to stay vigilant."
In July, exports decreased 7 percent on-year, following the 10.8 percent drop in June and the 23.8 percent decline in May.
South Korea earlier saw its outbound shipments rise 4.5 percent for the first time in 14 months in February, before the pandemic hit the global economy hard.
In 2019, the country's outbound shipments dipped more than 10 percent due to the low price of memory chips.
The weak exports have so far dealt a harsh blow to Asia's No. 4 economy.
Last week, the central bank slashed its annual economic growth outlook for South Korea, expecting a sharper-than-expected contraction of 1.3 percent.
The latest projection marked a sharp cut from the bank's estimate in May of a 0.2 percent contraction. It would mark the worst performance since 1998, when the Korean economy shrank 5.1 percent in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Cardinals' Kim Kwang-hyun seeks 2nd win of season vs. familiar foe

In his previous meeting against the Reds , No .
9 hitter Kyle Farmer had two of the team 's @ @ @ @ @ .
Jesse Winker , who ranked second in MLB with an on-base plus slugging percentage @ @ @ @ @ before Monday 's action , had the other hit , a fifth-inning double .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- St. Louis Cardinals' South Korean starter Kim Kwang-hyun will go for his second win of the season against the same team that he beat for his first career victory less than two weeks ago.
Kim will take the mound against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati at 6:40 p.m. Tuesday local time, or 7:40 a.m. Wednesday in Seoul.
In this Associated Press file photo from Aug. 22, 2020, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. (Yonhap)
It will be Kim's fourth career Major League Baseball (MLB) start and his second against the Reds. He held them scoreless over six innings of three-hit ball on Aug. 22, helping the Cardinals to a 3-0 victory. He struck out three and walked none.
Kim followed that up with another strong six-inning performance against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Thursday, with the lone Pirates run off Kim being an unearned run.
In his previous meeting against the Reds, No. 9 hitter Kyle Farmer had two of the team's three hits against the left-hander. Jesse Winker, who ranked second in MLB with an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of 1.122 before Monday's action, had the other hit, a fifth-inning double.
Winker batted sixth in that game. The top four hitters in the Reds' lineup were a combined 0-for-11 with a strikeout against Kim.
In this Associated Press photo, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals pauses after giving up an RBI single to Jacob Stallings of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the top of the fourth inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Aug. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Cardinals got three runs off Wade Miley in that game but may find it tougher to score against the Reds' starter this time, right-hander Sonny Gray.
Gray is 5-1 with a 1.94 ERA, the fourth-best mark in the National League (NL). He is tied with Washington Nationals' ace Max Scherzer for second in the NL with 55 strikeouts, and opponents are only batting .180 off Gray, the third-lowest mark in the Senior Circuit.
Gray faced the Cardinals on Aug. 20 and gave up two runs on four hits in six innings in a no-decision. The Cardinals won the game 5-4, after scoring three times in the bottom of the ninth inning.
In this UPI photo, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Aug. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--(LEAD) New virus cases under 300 for 3rd day, rising infections with unknown routes worrisome

`` It is worrisome that more than 30 percent of the confirmed COVID-19 patients over the past two weeks are @ @ @ @ @ , '' Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said in a briefing .
`` The risk @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 virus is highest among older people and those with underlying diseases . ''

(ATTN: ADDS photo, health official's remarks and more info throughout)
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The number of daily new coronavirus cases in South Korea stayed under 300 for the third consecutive day Tuesday, but health authorities remain vigilant over a rise in cases with unknown transmission routes and a growing number of patients in critical condition.
The country reported 235 new COVID-19 cases, including 222 local infections, raising the total caseload to 20,182, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The total caseload surpassed the 20,000 mark for the first time since the country reported its first case on Jan. 20.
A private institute in Seoul is vacant on Aug. 31, 2020, as the country has implemented stronger social distancing measures to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
Tuesday's daily tally marks a slight drop from 248 cases identified the previous day.
The country's daily tally of COVID-19 cases went down for the fifth straight day after it reached a near six-month high of 441 cases Thursday. South Korea reported 371 cases Friday, 323 cases Saturday and 229 cases Sunday.
The KCDC said the number of COVID-19 patients in critical condition came to 104, up 25 from a day earlier. The number is also more than an 11 times increase from two weeks earlier.
"It is worrisome that more than 30 percent of the confirmed COVID-19 patients over the past two weeks are those aged more than 60," Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said in a briefing. "The risk of dying due to the COVID-19 virus is highest among older people and those with underlying diseases."
The country's virus fatality rate currently stands at 1.61 percent, while the rate of COVID-19 patients suffering from existing diseases, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, came to more than 90 percent, the KCDC said.
Of the 238 locally transmitted cases, 175 were identified in the capital area, home to half of the country's 51 million population. Seoul added 93 more cases, while the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and west port city of Incheon reported 60 and 22 cases, respectively.
Other major municipalities reported additional infections, with the southwestern city of Gwangju adding four cases and the central city of Daejeon adding eight cases.
As of Monday, 1,056 cases have been traced to the Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul -- a hotbed of the recent spike in new infections. The church-linked cases also led to infections in at least 25 locations, with 74 cases reported in 10 different provinces and municipalities outside the greater Seoul area.
Also at least 399 patients have been reported from the Aug. 15 demonstration in central Seoul, with 185 cases identified in 11 different provinces and municipalities outside the greater Seoul area.
This photo taken Sept. 1, 2020, shows Carewill, an elderly care facility in Seoul's Seongbuk Ward that was put under quarantine after three people there tested positive for the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
South Korea began to impose strengthened antivirus curbs in the greater Seoul area Sunday to stop the nationwide spread of COVID-19. More than 70 percent of virus cases in the country have come from the nation's capital area in recent weeks.
Under enhanced guidelines, restaurants and bakeries in the greater Seoul area can operate until 9 p.m., and only takeaway and delivery will be permitted from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
For franchise coffee chains, only takeout or delivery will be permitted regardless of operating hours.
Indoor sports facilities, such as fitness centers and billiard halls, are also advised to suspend their operations, while toughened virus prevention measures are also enforced at cram schools and elderly care centers.
Also health authorities are particularly concerned over a rising number of untraceable cases. Of the cases confirmed between Aug. 18 and Monday, a record 22.7 percent of them had unclear transmission routes, according to the KCDC.
The number of newly identified imported cases stood at 13, with four of them detected at quarantine checkpoints at airports and harbors. The country's total number of imported cases is now at 2,836.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 15,198, up 225 from the previous day.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--(2nd LD) S. Korean economy shrinks revised 3.2 pct on-quarter in Q2: BOK

South Korea had been getting the virus under control , with the daily new cases staying in double-digit figures , @ @ @ @ @ multiple cluster infections in the greater Seoul area , from churches to office buildings , @ @ @ @ @ undermined the country 's quarantine efforts .

(ATTN: UPDATES with details and background in paras 9-14)
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's economy shrank at a slower-than-estimated pace in the second quarter from three months earlier amid the COVID-19 pandemic, central bank data showed Tuesday.
The country's real gross domestic product (GDP) contracted 3.2 percent in the April-June period from the previous quarter, the biggest on-quarter drop since a 3.3 percent retreat posted in the last three months of 2008, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).
But the reading marks a slight increase from an earlier estimate of a 3.3 percent contraction estimated in July and compares with a 1.3 percent decrease in the first quarter of the year, the data showed.
From a year earlier, the local economy shrank 2.7 percent in the second quarter, compared with a 1.4 percent on-year expansion in the previous quarter.
The BOK said decreased outbound shipments are to blame for the economic contraction in the second quarter.
Exports -- which account for about half of the South Korean economy -- fell 16.1 percent in the second quarter due to lower overseas demand for vehicles and mobile handsets amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
It marked the biggest on-quarter decline since the fourth quarter of 1963 when outbound shipments posted a 24 percent on-quarter drop.
The BOK said the manufacturing segment fell 8.9 percent in the second quarter from three months earlier, while the construction sector contracted 0.3 percent and facility investment fell 0.5 percent.
Meanwhile, consumer spending grew 1.5 percent in the second quarter from three months earlier due to virus relief handouts, a temporary tax cut on purchases of passenger cars and improved consumer sentiment on a decline in COVID-19 cases, Park Seong-bin, director of the BOK's National Accounts Division, said in a briefing.
South Korea had been getting the virus under control, with the daily new cases staying in double-digit figures, until early August. But multiple cluster infections in the greater Seoul area, from churches to office buildings, started to break out and undermined the country's quarantine efforts.
On Tuesday, South Korea marked a grim milestone as its total COVID-19 cases surpassed 20,000.
In May, the government offered relief funds totaling 14.3 trillion won (US$12 billion) to all households as part of efforts to cushion the economic fallout from the new coronavirus.
Last month, the central bank forecast a 1.3 percent contraction for Asia's fourth-largest economy in 2020 amid the deepening virus fallout, sharper than its estimate in May of a 0.2 percent retreat.
The BOK said the economy is expected to contract 2.2 percent this year in the worst-case scenario in which the flare-up in virus outbreaks continues into the winter.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--U.N. raises 5 percent of funds needed to help with N.K. anti-virus efforts

North Korea has claimed to be coronavirus-free , but outside watchers say the country is in dire need of outside @ @ @ @ @ such infectious diseases , given its weak medical infrastructure .

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The United Nations has raised about 5 percent of what is needed to help with North Korea's efforts to prevent the new coronavirus, a U.N. report showed Tuesday.
According to the report by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the U.N. has collected US$1.8 million, far smaller than the $39.7 million estimated to be necessary to support North Korea's anti-epidemic efforts.
The amount was still slightly larger than the $1.3 million the OCHA reported in June.
North Korea has claimed to be coronavirus-free, but outside watchers say the country is in dire need of outside help in the face of such infectious diseases, given its weak medical infrastructure.
The North closed its border late in January in a precautionary move to prevent the flow of the virus, and toughened quarantine criteria on inbound goods and people.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--LG Electronics opens virtual exhibition booth for IFA 2020

LG will also demonstrate its Proactive Customer Care service , an AI-based solution that assists its appliance owners in maintaining @ @ @ @ @ products .
It will also show how people can manage LG appliances through the company @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc., a major home appliance maker in South Korea, on Tuesday opened its first-ever virtual exhibition booth to introduce its latest products and technologies for Europe's largest tech expo amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
LG's 3D virtual exhibition booth for IFA 2020 was opened to the public under the slogan "Experience LG like never before." People can enter the booth by accessing its website (http://exhibition.lg.com) or downloading a mobile application.
This year's IFA trade show, which runs from Thursday to Saturday in Berlin, Germany, has been scaled down due to the pandemic, so LG decided to operate an online exhibition booth to showcase its latest innovations to global audiences.
This image, provided by LG Electronics Inc. on Sept. 1, 2020, shows the company's 3D virtual exhibition booth for IFA 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
LG said the online booth provides realistic renderings of Hall 18 of Messe Berlin, which it used for the IFA exhibition since 2015.
The booth first welcomes visitors with a display installation named "New Wave," featuring flat and curved OLED screens.
After the OLED signage, visitors can see a moving performance from 10 LG OLED TVs with rollable display. Both roll-up and roll-down models of LG's rollable OLED TVs will be featured.
The virtual exhibition hall, which LG made with Unity Technologies Korea, allows users to experience its latest products from TVs to audio products.
Visitors can tour the online booth with voice explanations from docents. They can check out detailed images or specifications by clicking exhibited products.
The company has also set up "LG ThinQ Home" to highlight its smart home appliances and integrated services. Its latest appliances are introduced as visitors go through seven different zones inside the virtual house.
LG will also demonstrate its Proactive Customer Care service, an AI-based solution that assists its appliance owners in maintaining the quality of their compatible products. It will also show how people can manage LG appliances through the company's LG ThinQ app.
This image, provided by LG Electronics Inc. on Sept. 1, 2020, shows the company's home appliance products displayed at its online exhibition booth for IFA 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--(LEAD) Minor league baseball players, staff test negative for COVID-19 following pitcher's infection

Shin has n't appeared in a KBO game since June 27 , and his last Futures League game was July @ @ @ @ @ rehabbing from an elbow injury since and has been working out with others in the @ @ @ @ @ away from the rest of the Futures League team .

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 4, 6)
SEOSAN, South Korea, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean minor league baseball players and their team staff members have tested negative for the novel coronavirus, following an earlier positive test for a pitcher on their club.
Health officials in Seosan, home of the Futures League affiliate for the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club Hanwha Eagles in South Chungcheong Province, announced Tuesday that 40 players, coaches and members of the support staff all tested negative for COVID-19.
In this file photo from Aug. 24, 2020, Hanwha Eagles players celebrate their 6-3 win over the LG Twins in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
They had tests after minor league pitcher Shin Jung-rak tested positive for the virus Monday. He's the first South Korean professional athlete to be infected.
There were 37 other team members who didn't report to work at the Seosan minor league facility on Tuesday, and they will undergo tests near their homes.
Shin hasn't appeared in a KBO game since June 27, and his last Futures League game was July 22. He has been rehabbing from an elbow injury since and has been working out with others in the "rehab unit," away from the rest of the Futures League team.
As a precaution, the KBO decided to postpone the Eagles' Futures League game set for Tuesday. In addition, the LG Twins' affiliate also had its Tuesday game postponed, because Shin, a former Twins draft pick, recently came in contact with some members of that team.
Two Hanwha minor leaguers who were recently called up to the KBO will also be tested. Depending on their test results, the Eagles' KBO game against the Doosan Bears, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, could be postponed.
In this file photo from Aug. 9, 2020, Hanwha Eagles players take a bow toward the stands after losing to the KT Wiz 6-3 in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon, 160 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Samsung reports virus-infected worker at Polish plant, production unaffected

Samsung said its Polish plant is operating normally as the virus-infected worker had not come to the manufacturing facility since @ @ @ @ @ home .

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday a worker at its home appliance plant in Poland has been infected with the novel coronavirus, but production there is not affected.
The employee at Samsung's plant in Wronki, Poland, tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.
Samsung said it disinfected the facility and ordered 14 workers who have come in contact with the virus-infected employee to self-isolate.
Samsung said its Polish plant is operating normally as the virus-infected worker had not come to the manufacturing facility since last week and stayed at home.
Samsung's Polish plant produces home appliances, including washers and refrigerators. The facility was partially shut down in May after a virus case was reported there.
This file photo taken July 30, 2020, shows an outdoor sign at Samsung Electronics Co.'s office building in Seoul. (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--(2nd LD) S. Korea on high alert as powerful typhoon approaches

As the typhoon is approaching the Korean Peninsula , the entire South Korea is likely to come under its influence @ @ @ @ @ forecast to start raining on Jeju Island and in South Jeolla Province on Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ 400 millimeters and strong wind have also been predicted for the entire country between Wednesday @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS N. Korea's preparatory steps in last 3 paras, photo)
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's provincial governments are on high alert Tuesday as another typhoon forecast to be more powerful than one that hit the country last week is approaching the country and expected to affect their regions.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, Typhoon Maysak was traveling north-northeastward at a speed of 16 kilometers per hour from waters some 220 kilometers west of Japan's Okinawa Island as of 3 p.m.
This image, provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration, shows the expected route of Typhoon Maysak as of 3 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The central pressure of the season's ninth typhoon was 935 hectopascals, with its radius of maximum wind at 380 km and its maximum wind speed at 49 meters per second.
The weather agency predicted the typhoon will come close to Jeju Island on Wednesday before landing along the south coast of South Gyeongsang Province early Thursday.
It will move further north to pass through cities like Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongju before moving back to waters along the east coast on Thursday evening, according to the weather authorities.
At its peak, the typhoon could bring powerful winds with speeds of up to 180 kilometers per hour, the agency said, adding that Maysak may be stronger in force than Typhoon Bavi, which hit the country last week.
As the typhoon is approaching the Korean Peninsula, the entire South Korea is likely to come under its influence by Thursday. It was forecast to start raining on Jeju Island and in South Jeolla Province on Tuesday. Heavy rains of up to 400 millimeters and strong wind have also been predicted for the entire country between Wednesday and Thursday.
As of 6 p.m., the central disaster management headquarters raised the storm and flood warning by one notch to the third-highest level of "orange" on its four-tier scale, and heightened its emergency response mode to the second-highest stage on the three-tier scale.
The Korea Forest Service also raised the landslide warning for Jeju to "orange," and put 16 other metropolises and provinces across the country on the second-highest "yellow" level.
Several regional governments, especially in southern regions where the impact of the typhoon was expected to be hardest, are also bracing for the arrival of Maysak.
The province government of Jeju is stepping up security inspection of some 90 high-risk facilities in cooperation with the coast guard, including ports, while putting patrol ships on standby for an emergency dispatch.
Fishing boats are moored at Jeju Island's Seogwipo port on Sept. 1, 2020, as the powerful Typhoon Maysak approaches the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)
The city of Busan plans to activate its emergency disaster response team upon Maysak's landfall. It is also increasing its inspection of facilities vulnerable to landslides and other typhoon aftereffects.
The government of South Gyeongsang Province also entered into an emergency mode as its coastal cities could be prone to menacing tidal waves.
"Officials should prioritize the prevention of casualties and do their best to ensure anti-disaster measures operate properly," Interior and Safety Minister Chin Young said, calling for citizens to follow the government's related guidelines to minimize damage.
High waves crash onto Songjeong Beach in Busan on Sept. 1, 2020, as Typhoon Maysak approaches the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)
Heavy clouds are in the air over the Port of Busan on Sept. 1, 2020, as the powerful Typhoon Maysak approaches the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)
North Korea is also on alert as the typhoon is forecast to affect the country still reeling from the aftermath of Typhoon Bavi and recent heavy downpours.
According to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the country has put in place various measures to minimize damage. Officials have inspected buildings, streets and railways, and checked their water drainage and electrical facilities.
Workers of the party and the government have launched intensive projects to raise awareness about the importance of preventive measures and crisis management methods, KCNA said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (2nd from R) inspects an area damaged by Typhoon Bavi in South Hwanghae Province, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency on Aug. 28, 2020. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--(LEAD) S. Korea on high alert as powerful typhoon approaches

(ATTN: MODIFIES headline; ADDS more details in paras 8-9, 14, photos)
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's provincial governments are on high alert Tuesday as another typhoon forecast to be more powerful than one that hit the country last week is approaching the country and expected to affect their regions.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, Typhoon Maysak was traveling north-northeastward at a speed of 16 kilometers per hour from waters some 220 kilometers west of Japan's Okinawa Island as of 3 p.m.
This image, provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration, shows the expected route of Typhoon Maysak as of 3 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The central pressure of the season's ninth typhoon was 935 hectopascals, with its radius of maximum wind at 380 km and its maximum wind speed at 49 meters per second.
The weather agency predicted the typhoon will come close to Jeju Island on Wednesday before landing along the south coast of South Gyeongsang Province early Thursday.
It will move further north to pass through cities like Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongju before moving back to waters along the east coast on Thursday evening, according to the weather authorities.
At its peak, the typhoon could bring powerful winds with speeds of up to 180 kilometers per hour, the agency said, adding that Maysak may be stronger in force than Typhoon Bavi, which hit the country last week.
As the typhoon is approaching the Korean Peninsula, the entire South Korea is likely to come under its influence by Thursday. It was forecast to start raining on Jeju Island and in South Jeolla Province on Tuesday. Heavy rains of up to 400 millimeters and strong wind have also been predicted for the entire country between Wednesday and Thursday.
As of 6 p.m., the central disaster management headquarters raised the storm and flood warning by one notch to the third-highest level of "orange" on its four-tier scale, and heightened its emergency response mode to the second-highest stage on the three-tier scale.
The Korea Forest Service also raised the landslide warning for Jeju to "orange," and put 16 other metropolises and provinces across the country on the second-highest "yellow" level.
Several regional governments, especially in southern regions where the impact of the typhoon was expected to be hardest, are also bracing for the arrival of Maysak.
The province government of Jeju is stepping up security inspection of some 90 high-risk facilities in cooperation with the coast guard, including ports, while putting patrol ships on standby for an emergency dispatch.
Fishing boats are moored at Jeju Island's Seogwipo port on Sept. 1, 2020, as the powerful Typhoon Maysak approaches the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)
The city of Busan plans to activate its emergency disaster response team upon Maysak's landfall. It is also increasing its inspection of facilities vulnerable to landslides and other typhoon aftereffects.
The government of South Gyeongsang Province also entered into an emergency mode as its coastal cities could be prone to menacing tidal waves.
"Officials should prioritize the prevention of casualties and do their best to ensure anti-disaster measures operate properly," Interior and Safety Minister Chin Young said, calling for citizens to follow the government's related guidelines to minimize damage.
High waves crash onto Songjeong Beach in Busan on Sept. 1, 2020, as Typhoon Maysak approaches the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)
Heavy clouds are in the air over the Port of Busan on Sept. 1, 2020, as the powerful Typhoon Maysak approaches the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Two U.S. Forces Korea aircraft fly near capital area

North Korea has not shown major military actions in recent weeks , as it has been struggling with a variety @ @ @ @ @ as COVID-19 and damage from recent heavy downpours .
It carried out summertime drills in @ @ @ @ @ with those issues .

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) flew two aircraft near the capital area Tuesday, a civilian aviation tracker said, on an apparent mission to maintain readiness against potential threats by North Korea.
U-2S Dragon Lady surveillance aircraft and A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter jet were spotted in the skies over near the cities of Hwaseong and Seongnam, south of Seoul, earlier in the day, No Callsign tweeted.
They appear to have carried out regular missions, including monitoring North Korea, according to military sources here.
U-2S is known to have conducted a surveillance mission over areas surrounding the heavily fortified inter-Korean border to monitor North Korea's front-line military activities.
Dubbed a "tank killer," the A-10 has been one of the key air assets for the U.S. military in South Korea in deterring a potential provocation by the communist country.
North Korea has not shown major military actions in recent weeks, as it has been struggling with a variety of internal challenges, such as COVID-19 and damage from recent heavy downpours. It carried out summertime drills in an adjusted manner to deal with those issues.
A U.S. Air Force spy plane lands at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on June 18, 2020, after completing a mission. The U-2S, called the Dragon Lady, is equipped with various sensors that are able to collect high-grade signal, image and electronic intelligence. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Unification minister calls for Japan's support in improving inter-Korean relations

`` I am aware that within Japan , or in some parts of it , there are those who voice @ @ @ @ @ in improving inter-Korean relations ...
I believe bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula by improving @ @ @ @ @ peace and stability in Northeast Asia and will be very beneficial for Japan as well @ @ @ @ @

By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Unification Minister Lee In-young called Tuesday for Japan's support in improving inter-Korean relations, saying it will be "very beneficial for Japan as well."
Lee made the remark during his first meeting with Japanese Ambassador Koji Tomita after his inauguration in July, stressing the need for the two countries to maintain cooperation in the wake of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's recent decision to step down.
"Prime Minister Abe has announced his decision to step down due to health concerns. Our government is sorry to hear about this and wishes him a speedy recovery," Lee said at the start of the meeting.
"Our government will continue to cooperate with the new Japanese administration and we expect to maintain close cooperation especially in achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula and peace in the Northeast Asia region," he said.
Lee also called on Japan to support South Korea's efforts to improve inter-Korean relations "with a broad perspective and open mind."
"I am aware that within Japan, or in some parts of it, there are those who voice concerns over the rapid move in improving inter-Korean relations ... I believe bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula by improving inter-Korean relations will lead to peace and stability in Northeast Asia and will be very beneficial for Japan as well," he said.
Tomita agreed on the need to resume denuclearization talks but emphasized that several issues remain for Tokyo and Pyongyang to resolve first, including the abduction of Japanese citizens by the North in the 1970s and 1980s to train its spies on Japanese language and culture.
The abduction issue has been one of the key hurdles for diplomatic normalization between North Korea and Japan for decades.
"North Kora's kidnapping (of the Japanese) was an important task under the Abe administration ... it will remain an important task under the new administration as well," he said.
Inter-Korean relations have been stalled since the no-deal nuclear summit between the North and the U.S. early last year. The ties worsened recently when North Korea blew up a joint liaison office in its border town of Kaesong in anger over anti-Pyongyang leaflets flown from the South.
South Korean Unification Minister Lee In-young (R) poses with Japanese Ambassador Koji Tomita at his office in Seoul on Sept. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Pentagon official calls for distributing 'heavily concentrated' U.S. troop presence from Northeast A

Pentagon official calls for distributing 'heavily concentrated' U.S. troop presence from Northeast Asia

`` We 'd like to be able to make our presence more geographically distributed , more operationally resilient , '' @ @ @ @ @ , the future is going to be less about bases and more about places -- @ @ @ @ @ a multiplicity of locations , which give us the flexibility and the agility to respond @ @ @ @ @ threats and challenges . ''

By Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- U.S. troops are concentrated in Northeast Asia and should be distributed to better respond to evolving security challenges, including China, a senior Pentagon official has said.
"We are heavily concentrated in Northeast Asia," David Helvey, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific affairs, said, according to a news report by the U.S. Department of Defense news on Monday.
"We'd like to be able to make our presence more geographically distributed, more operationally resilient," Helvey said. "Maybe, the future is going to be less about bases and more about places -- being able to operate across a multiplicity of locations, which give us the flexibility and the agility to respond to a variety of different threats and challenges."
His comments came when the U.S. has been pushing for greater "strategic flexibility" for its forces deployed around the world amid speculation that it could consider pulling some troops out of South Korea.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said earlier that he wants to pursue more rotational force deployments into theaters as it give the U.S. greater strategic flexibility in terms of responding to challenges around the globe, though he stressed that he has not issued an order to withdraw forces from the Korean Peninsula.
South Korea's defense ministry also made it clear that any reduction of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has not been discussed between the two sides. Currently, around 28,500 U.S. service members are stationed in South Korea.
This photo taken on Feb. 27, 2020, shows the U.S. Forces Korea's Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap)
Helvey then said that the flexible presence is to ensure the U.S. is resilient in the face of a variety of threats, including China.
"One of the key things in our strategy is talking about putting the relationship with China on a trajectory of transparency and non-aggression," the official said. "That's going to require a sustained, open channels of communication with the Chinese — the secretary has talked to his Chinese counterpart a number of times already."
The U.S. and China may have issues of common interest where they could work together, such as North Korea and COVID-19.
"There's other areas where we may have opportunities to cooperate based on shared interest, but that's something we have to work in with Chinese to identify," he said.
This photo taken on Oct. 20, 2019, shows David Helvey, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific affairs. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--KBO games to go on as scheduled following minor leaguer's positive COVID-19 test

Even without any positive test until this week , the KBO season had been on the brink .
The country @ @ @ @ @ of the three-tier social distancing scheme , and should it be raised to Level 3 @ @ @ @ @ stop .
The government is exploring that possibility , though it is regarded as the @ @ @ @ @ adverse impact on the economy .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- All five South Korean baseball games will be played Tuesday as scheduled, a day after a minor league player tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said it received the green light from the national health authorities, following their epidemiological survey.
Members of the Hanwha Eagles enter Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul for a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game against the Doosan Bears on Sept. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
A Hanwha Eagles minor league pitcher, Shin Jung-rak, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, becoming the first professional athlete in South Korea to be infected. Two recent call-ups who had recently been in contact with Shin, and their two teammates tested negative earlier Tuesday. Also, 40 players, coaches and staff members for the Eagles' minor league affiliate in Seosan, 150 kilometers south of Seoul, tested negative for the virus. The Eagles said 36 other players and staffers are undergoing tests.
Shin, a former LG Twins draft pick, also recently came in contact with members of the Twins' minor league team, prompting the Twins to have their minor leaguers go through COVID-19 tests.
Minor league games involving the Eagles and the Twins on Tuesday were postponed. Then following negative tests earlier in the day, the KBO awaited the final word from health officials before deciding the status of the Eagles' KBO game against the Doosan Bears in Seoul.
A Hanwha Eagles player has his temperature checked before entering the clubhouse at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul for a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game against the Doosan Bears on Sept. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
"We fully cooperated with health officials' epidemiological survey and tried to ensure the safety of players in games," the KBO said. "We'll take any additional step necessary, as determined by health authorities."
Shin's positive case is the first major scare for a league whose season has experienced a few ups and downs.
The regular season began on May 5, pushed back from the original Opening Day of March 28 by the coronavirus pandemic. To prevent the spread of the virus, teams opened the season without fans in the stands.
Stadium gates opened back up on July 26, with the spread of the virus stabilized for weeks leading up to that point. At first, teams were only allowed to take in 10 percent of the capacity crowd at their respective ballparks. Then starting in the week of Aug. 10, the cap was raised to 25 percent.
This photo, taken on Sept. 1, 2020, shows the Futures League training facility for the Korea Baseball Organization club Hanwha Eagles in Seosan, 150 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Later that same week, though, the government decided to apply tighter social distancing rules in Seoul and the surrounding regions in response to a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases. The measure was soon applied to the rest of the country, forcing all KBO teams to shut their stadiums once again.
Even without any positive test until this week, the KBO season had been on the brink. The country is currently under Level 2 of the three-tier social distancing scheme, and should it be raised to Level 3, all professional sports must stop. The government is exploring that possibility, though it is regarded as the last resort, given its adverse impact on the economy.
The KBO has prepared a contingency plan in which the schedule will be shortened from the current 144 games to as few as 126 games if the league is forced to press pause in midseason.
In this file photo, from Aug. 24, 2020, a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game between the LG Twins and the Hanwha Eagles is being played in front of empty stands at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Regional gov'ts on high alert as 'more powerful' typhoon approaches

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's provincial governments are on high alert Tuesday as another typhoon forecast to be more powerful than one that hit the country last week is approaching the country and expected to affect their regions.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, Typhoon Maysak was traveling north-northeastward at a speed of 16 kilometers per hour from waters some 220 kilometers west of Japan's Okinawa Island as of 3 p.m.
The central pressure of the season's ninth typhoon was 935 hectopascals, with its radius of maximum wind at 380 km and its maximum wind speed at 49 meters per second.
The weather agency predicted the typhoon will come close to Jeju Island on Wednesday before landing along the south coast of South Gyeongsang Province early Thursday.
It will move further north to pass through cities like Busan, Ulsan and Gyeongju before moving back to waters along the east coast on Thursday evening, according to the weather authorities.
At its peak, the typhoon could bring powerful winds with speeds of up to 180 kilometers per hour, the agency said, adding that Maysak may be stronger in force than Typhoon Bavi, which hit the country last week.
As the typhoon is approaching the Korean Peninsula, the entire South Korea is likely to come under its influence by Thursday. It was forecast to start raining on Jeju Island and in South Jeolla Province on Tuesday. Heavy rains of up to 400 millimeters and strong wind have also been predicted for the entire country between Wednesday and Thursday.
Several regional governments, especially in southern regions where the impact of the typhoon was expected to be hardest, are bracing for the arrival of Maysak.
The province government of Jeju is stepping up security inspection of some 90 high-risk facilities in cooperation with the coast guard, including ports, while putting patrol ships on standby for an emergency dispatch.
Fishing boats are moored at Jeju Island's Seogwipo port on Sept. 1, 2020, as the powerful Typhoon Maysak approaches the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)
The city of Busan plans to activate its emergency disaster response team upon Maysak's landfall. It is also increasing its inspection of facilities vulnerable to landslides and other typhoon aftereffects.
The government of South Gyeongsang Province also entered into an emergency mode as its coastal cities could be prone to menacing tidal waves.
Heavy clouds are in the air over the Port of Busan on Sept. 1, 2020, as the powerful Typhoon Maysak approaches the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--S. Korea's 5G users near 8 million in July: data

Analysts expect local 5G subscriptions to grow considering new 5G phone releases in the second half of the year such @ @ @ @ @ Galaxy Note 20 and the new iPhone from Apple Inc .

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's 5G users reached nearly 8 million in July after the country first offered the service in April last year, government data showed Tuesday.
As of July, the country had 7.86 million 5G users, up 487,190 from the previous month, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Users on the latest generation network accounted for 11.3 percent of the 69.8 million mobile subscriptions in total in a country of 51.8 million people.
Total mobile accounts grew by 174,197 from the previous month thanks to the increase in 5G users.
Samsung Electronics Co.'s 5G phone, the Galaxy Note 20, is shown in this photo taken on Aug. 7, 2020, at a company store in southern Seoul. (Yonhap)
The country's 4G users still accounted for the vast majority of mobile subscriptions at 54.9 million in July, down just 15,054 from the previous month.
The growth in 5G users comes as the country races to deploy nationwide coverage of the high-speed network by 2022.
Major telecom operators have promised to spend up to 25.7 trillion won (US$21.7 billion) to update infrastructure and meet the deadline.
The government has also met with the telecom operators to expand 5G coverage in remote rural areas by sharing their networks.
Analysts expect local 5G subscriptions to grow considering new 5G phone releases in the second half of the year such as Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy Note 20 and the new iPhone from Apple Inc.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Four in 10 coronavirus patients in S. Korea symptomless, lawmaker says

As of Aug. 25 , a total of 17,945 people had tested positive for the virus , with health authorities @ @ @ @ @ them had relevant symptoms at the time of being listed as confirmed cases .

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Nearly 40 percent of people in South Korea diagnosed with the new coronavirus are asymptomatic, a lawmaker said Tuesday, citing recent official data.
As of Aug. 25, a total of 17,945 people had tested positive for the virus, with health authorities having checked whether 9,756 of them had relevant symptoms at the time of being listed as confirmed cases.
Among them, 3,856, or 39 percent, were symptomless, Rep. Park Dae-chul of the main opposition United Future Party said on the basis of data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
It is the first time that the country's formal statistics on coronavirus patients with no specific symptoms has been made public. The revelation adds to concerns about coronavirus cases that are hard to trace.
Park also expressed worries over symptomatic patients who don't know that they have been infected.
"We need to review the existing anti-virus system that starts from symptomatic patients," he told Yonhap News Agency over phone.
Earlier Tuesday, the KCDC announced 235 new confirmed infections, which bring the total caseload to 20,182.
Rep. Park Dae-chul of the main opposition United Future Party in a file photo (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Back in dugout, KBO manager apologizes for missing time with illness

`` I am sorry that I 've let down people , '' said Youm , who did n't take questions @ @ @ @ @ I will try to give our fans more hope from now on and show them @ @ @ @ @ be taking in the future .
I think that 's my responsibility as manager , @ @ @ @ @ opportunity for me . ''

INCHEON, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Back in action on Tuesday after missing over two months with an illness, SK Wyverns' manager Youm Kyoung-youb hasn't changed. He was still the same, demanding bench boss who put all the blame for a disastrous season on his own shoulders, though it's that kind of exacting and critical mindset that had stressed him out in the first place.
SK Wyverns' manager Youm Kyoung-youb speaks at a press conference before a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game against the LG Twins at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, on Sept. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
Youm rejoined the Wyverns' dugout for the first time since falling ill during a game on June 25. The 52-year-old briefly lost consciousness and was immediately transported to a nearby hospital. Youm was the first KBO manager to collapse in the middle of a game. Doctors cited Youm's lack of sleep, insufficient diet and excessive stress as reasons for his poor health conditions. They recommended Youm stay out of baseball for at least two months. His bench coach Park Kyung-oan served as interim boss.
Reading from a statement in his pregame press conference, Youm apologized for being away from the club during such a difficult stretch.
SK Wyverns' manager Youm Kyoung-youb speaks at a press conference before a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game against the LG Twins at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, on Sept. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
"I'll try to put the team back on track," Youm said at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul. "I spent the past two months thinking about what had gone wrong, and reflecting on my life in general."
Youm added he is "wholly responsible" for the Wyverns' dismal performance this year. The Wyverns were 32-63-1 (wins-losses-ties) entering Tuesday's action, in ninth place among 10 clubs. With 48 games remaining, they were 18.5 games behind the KT Wiz for the fifth and final playoff spot.
In this file photo from Aug. 12, 2020, SK Wyverns players celebrate their 11-2 victory over the KT Wiz in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
"I am sorry that I've let down people," said Youm, who didn't take questions from the media. "I will try to give our fans more hope from now on and show them the direction that we'll be taking in the future. I think that's my responsibility as manager, and it's also an opportunity for me."
In this file photo from Aug. 16, 2020, SK Wyverns players bow toward the stands after losing to the Kia Tigers 8-5 in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Buddhist temples to suspend services, small gatherings for two weeks amid coronavirus spread

SEOUL , Sept. 1 ( Yonhap ) -- The South Korean Buddhist community said Tuesday that it will suspend all @ @ @ @ @ meetings for two weeks , joining the nationwide social distancing campaign to fight against a @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean Buddhist community said Tuesday that it will suspend all religious services, classes and meetings for two weeks, joining the nationwide social distancing campaign to fight against a recent spike in the novel coronavirus.
The suspension will take effect Thursday at all temples under the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism across the country, the order said.
"Buddhist temples are practicing strengthened social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 for the sake of the lives and safety of people," it said.
Around 300 daily coronavirus cases have been reported for weeks in South Korea, leading the government to tighten social distancing to bring the virus spread under control.
It is the second time that the Jogye Order, the biggest Buddhist sect in South Korea, has suspended religious events due to the virus spread this year.
All temples were shut down for about two months in February, when South Korean experienced the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
The sermon hall of Jogye Temple in central Seoul, the main temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, is nearly empty on Feb. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

Lee , the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics , was charged with unfair trading , stock manipulation , breach of @ @ @ @ @ 2015 merger between two Samsung affiliates seen as a key step toward his succession , @ @ @ @ @ the pharmaceutical unit of Samsung Biologics .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday.
----------------
(4th LD) Samsung heir Lee indicted in high-profile succession case
SEOUL -- Prosecutors indicted Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong without physical detention Tuesday for his role in a controversial merger and alleged accounting fraud, in the latest development of the tumultuous legal saga that has dogged him for years.
Lee, the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, was charged with unfair trading, stock manipulation, breach of trust in relation to the 2015 merger between two Samsung affiliates seen as a key step toward his succession, and alleged accounting fraud at the pharmaceutical unit of Samsung Biologics.
----------------
(LEAD) Samsung heir braces for yet another legal battle; Samsung on alert over uncertainties
SEOUL -- Samsung Group was once again on alert Tuesday after its heir apparent Lee Jae-yong was indicted for his alleged role in a controversial merger and fraudulent accounting.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office indicted Lee, the de facto leader of South Korea's top conglomerate, without detention on charges of violation of capital market laws and occupational breach of trust after investigating a controversial merger between two Samsung affiliates a few years ago.
----------------
(2nd LD) With 'Dynamite,' BTS becomes 1st S. Korean artist to top Billboard Hot 100
WASHINGTON -- BTS became the first South Korean artist to land at No. 1 on Billboard's main singles chart in the United States on Monday.
"BTS achieves its first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, as 'Dynamite' debuts at the summit," Billboard reported Monday, one day before its chart will be refreshed.
----------------
(LEAD) Moon congratulates BTS on Billboard feat, says it writes new K-pop history
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that BTS has written a "new chapter in K-pop history" by topping the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for the first time as a South Korean artist.
"It is truly amazing. It is a splendid feat that further raises pride in K-pop," he said on his social media account.
----------------
(3rd LD) New virus cases under 300 for 3rd day, total tops 20,000
SEOUL -- The number of daily new coronavirus cases in South Korea stayed under 300 for the third consecutive day Tuesday, but health authorities remain vigilant over a rise in patients in critical condition and cases with unknown transmission routes.
The country reported 235 new COVID-19 cases, including 222 local infections, raising the total caseload to 20,182, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
----------------
(News Focus) S. Korea gears up for long virus battle as infection cases top 20,000
SEOUL -- South Korea is bracing for a prolonged virus combat as the number of cases involving unknown transmission routes and critically ill patients increases, with the country's infection cases surpassing the grim 20,000 mark.
South Korea, once praised for its successful containment of COVID-19, reported 235 new cases Tuesday, raising the nation's total to 20,182.
----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks rebound on bargain hunting, massive budget proposal
SEOUL -- South Korean shares rebounded Tuesday from a decline of over 1 percent the previous session, largely due to investors' bargain hunting for undervalued heavyweights and the government's record budget proposal for next year. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 23.38 points, or 1.01 percent, to close at 2,349.55.
----------------
(LEAD) Gov't, striking doctors still sparring over reform plan
SEOUL -- The government urged striking doctors on Tuesday to end their walkout amid the resurgence of coronavirus outbreaks in the country as a plan to increase admission quotas has been unconditionally put on hold.
Earlier this week, a Korean Intern and Resident Association (KIRA) task force voted in favor of an indefinite walkout of its members. Thousands of trainee doctors working at general hospitals began the strike on Aug. 21 to protest the government's medical reform scheme.
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--Carmakers' Aug. sales fall 11 pct on pandemic

They originally planned to launch Hyundai 's Tucson sport utility vehicle , the Genesis GV80 SUV and G80 sedan and @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. later this year , but they are still awaiting shipment to the U.S. @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean carmakers' vehicle sales fell 11 percent last month from a year earlier as the new coronavirus outbreak continued to affect consumer sentiment, industry data showed Tuesday.
The five carmakers in South Korea -- Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Motors Corp., GM Korea Co., Renault Samsung Motors Corp. and SsangYong Motor Co. -- sold a combined 573,279 vehicles in August, down from 640,850 units a year ago, according to data from the companies.
A reduction in a special excise tax on purchases of passenger cars and decreased overseas demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic drove down their monthly sales results, the companies said.
These photos show logos of the country's five carmakers: (clockwise from top L) Hyundai Motor, Kia Motors, SsangYong Motor, GM Korea and Renault Samsung Motors. (Yonhap)
The five carmakers' domestic sales fell 5.6 percent to 111,847 units in August from 118,479 a year ago.
Their overseas sales declined 12 percent to 461,432 from 522,371 during the same period, with the pandemic showing no signs of slowdown, particularly in advanced countries such as the United States.
In August, Hyundai's sales fell 14 percent to 312,990 autos from 364,590, while Kia's dropped 5.2 percent to 216,945 from 228,741 during the same period.
Hyundai and Kia, the country's two biggest carmakers, suspended operations of their major overseas plants until late May, and overseas parent firms of the three other carmakers reduced production to control inventories amid the pandemic.
Production at the five carmakers' plants has fallen short of the levels before the coronavirus hit the automobile industry early this year.
Hyundai and Kia said they will continue to make efforts to minimize the negative impact of the coronavirus on vehicle sales in global markets while focusing on securing stable sales networks despite the virus.
Given the carmakers sold a total of 3,841,524 units in the January-August period, they look set to miss their sales target of 7.54 million cars for this year.
The two carmakers had planned to focus on boosting sales in the U.S. market this year to offset sluggish demand in China, the world's biggest automobile market.
They originally planned to launch Hyundai's Tucson sport utility vehicle, the Genesis GV80 SUV and G80 sedan and Kia's Sportage SUV in the U.S. later this year, but they are still awaiting shipment to the U.S. due to the pandemic.
This photo taken on April 8, 2020, shows vehicles lined up at Hyundai Motor's port in Ulsan, about 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Renault Samsung and SsangYong Motor also performed poorly amid the virus crisis.
Renault Samsung's sales plunged 42 percent to 7,570 units last month from 12,987 a year earlier. SsangYong Motor's declined 20 percent to 8,027 from 10,015 during the same period.
To revive sales, Renault Samsung has yet to secure export volume for the XM3 compact SUV from its French parent Renault S.A. to replace the now-suspended output volume of Nissan Motor Co.'s Rogue SUV at its sole plant in Busan, 450 kilometers south of Seoul.
Renault Samsung used to produce about 100,000 Rogues a year for export under a manufacturing contract with Nissan. But the production stopped in March, as Nissan cut the output allocation to the plant, citing output losses caused by labor strikes.
SsangYong's Indian parent Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.'s recent decision not to invest in the Korean unit dealt a bigger blow to the SUV-focused carmaker's sales.
In contrast, GM Korea reported an increase in sales last month.
GM Korea's sales rose 13 percent in August to 27,747 from 24,517 a year ago helped by increased exports of the Trailblazer sport utility vehicle.
From January to August, the five carmakers sold a total of 4,219,034 autos, down 18 percent from 5,150,052 in the same period of last year.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--(LEAD) Moon congratulates BTS on Billboard feat, says it writes new K-pop history

It is more meaningful that the seven-member boy band has made the achievement with the song `` Dynamite , '' @ @ @ @ @ hope and consolation for the people in the world suffering amid the COVID-19 pandemic , @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with BTS's reply in last 4 paras; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that BTS has written a "new chapter in K-pop history" by topping the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for the first time as a South Korean artist.
"It is truly amazing. It is a splendid feat that further raises pride in K-pop," he said on his social media account.
It is more meaningful that the seven-member boy band has made the achievement with the song "Dynamite," which contains a message of hope and consolation for the people in the world suffering amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the president.
The success "will bring huge consolation to Koreans suffering from the national crisis caused by COVID-19. I offer my heartfelt congratulations," he added.
President Moon Jae-in, in a file photo released by Cheong Wa Dae. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In response, BTS tweeted, "Thank you for the warm words of congratulation this time as well."
"It's a difficult time, but we hope that our song can give (the people) even a little comfort and positive energy," it said.
The group added it would concentrate on the music it "can do well," with the belief that South Korea and other countries around the world can "regain vigor with bright light."
In 2018, Moon issued a congratulatory message for its first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, calling its members the "Seven Music-loving Boys."
A huge ad board, featuring K-pop sensation BTS members, set up in downtown Seoul (yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-01--(LEAD) Seoul stocks rebound on bargain hunting, massive budget proposal

SEOUL , Sept. 1 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean shares rebounded Tuesday from a decline of over 1 percent @ @ @ @ @ due to investors ' bargain hunting for undervalued heavyweights and the government 's record budget @ @ @ @ @ The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar .

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares rebounded Tuesday from a decline of over 1 percent the previous session, largely due to investors' bargain hunting for undervalued heavyweights and the government's record budget proposal for next year. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 23.38 points, or 1.01 percent, to close at 2,349.55.
Trading volume was high at about 1.1 billion shares worth some 16.1 trillion won (US$13.6 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 567 to 279.
Foreigners dumped a net 209 billion won, selling for a fourth consecutive session, while retail investors purchased a net 241 billion won. Institutions offloaded a net 55 billion won.
Electronic signboards at a Hana Bank dealing room in Seoul show the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,349.55 on Sept. 1, 2020, up 23.38 points, or 1.01 percent, from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)
"Investors seem to have taken on a bargain hunting drive after stocks sank yesterday due to the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) index rebalancing," said Lee Young-gon, an analyst at Hana Financial Investment.
Local analysts also said investor sentiment strengthened as the government proposed a record 555.8 trillion-won (US$469.8 billion) budget for 2021.
A recent surge in new COVID-19 cases, however, still poses a risk for local financial markets.
The country's total caseload surpassed the 20,000 mark for the first time since the country reported its first case on Jan. 20.
In Seoul, most large caps traded higher.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics added 0.37 percent to 54,200 won, with No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix edging up 0.13 percent to 75,200 won.
Internet portal giant Naver went up 0.62 percent to 324,500 won, while its rival Kakao lost 1.35 percent to 401,500 won.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem gained 0.41 percent to 743,000 won, and EV battery maker Samsung SDI advanced 0.44 percent to 454,500 won.
Top pharmaceutical company Samsung Biologics rose 0.39 percent to 781,000 won, and Celltrion added 0.34 percent to 298,000 won.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, jumped 1.98 percent to 180,000 won, and top steelmaker POSCO gained 1.08 percent to 186,500 won.
The local currency was trading at 1,183 won against the U.S. dollar, up 4.8 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys rose 3.7 basis points to 0.977 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond added 6.3 basis points to 1.273 percent.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)