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yna--2020-11-24--Main opposition to push for third round of emergency virus handouts

The government first handed out virus-related relief funds totaling 14.3 trillion won to all households from May 4 to Aug. @ @ @ @ @ with the economic impact of the pandemic .
A second round was handed out selectively @ @ @ @ @ the self-employed and small business owners from last September .

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) will push to include funds for an additional third round of coronavirus-related emergency handouts in next year's state budget, a senior party official said Tuesday.
"To help out the damaged sectors of taxi services, indoor gyms, private learning institutes and PC cafes hit by the third wave of COVID-19 and provide emergency livelihood support to households, we will provide emergency funds worth some 3.6 trillion won (US$3.23 billion) to places in need at the right time," Rep. Lee Jong-bae, head of PPP's policy committee, said during a party meeting.
The government first handed out virus-related relief funds totaling 14.3 trillion won to all households from May 4 to Aug. 24 to help people cope with the economic impact of the pandemic. A second round was handed out selectively and in phases mostly to the self-employed and small business owners from last September.
This file photo shows Rep. Lee Jong-bae of the main opposition People Power Party speaking during a meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul on Nov. 19, 2020. (Yonhap)
Lee also said the party will push to increase state budgets in six major areas of public welfare, including child care, public health and support toward the farming industry.
Specifically, the PPP will seek to distribute 200,000 won as emergency funds to all households with children as old as high school students and provide support to small business owners in sectors that are on the verge of closure.
The party also seeks to secure funds worth 1 trillion won to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for the public. It also eyes establishing five new hospitals that specialize in epidemic control and doubling the amount of meal subsidies for underfed children.
Lee also argued for "drastic cuts" in wasteful, pork-barrel programs and publicity-oriented projects in the government's New Deal initiative.
The Moon Jae-in administration has been pushing for the so-called Korean version of the New Deal aimed at promoting economic development by expanding digital infrastructure and fostering environment friendly businesses.
The government has drawn up a 555.8 trillion-won budget bill for next year, a 8.5 percent hike from this year.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--(LEAD) 1 killed, 12 injured in Busan apartment fire

One person in his or her 50s was found dead on the 12th floor , while 12 others , including @ @ @ @ @ , have been sent to a nearby hospital for smoke inhalation , according to fire @ @

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead with latest info; UPDATES photos, details throughout)
BUSAN, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- A fire broke out at an apartment building in the southeastern city of Busan on Tuesday, leaving one dead and 12 injured, fire authorities said.
The fire started at around 6:50 a.m. on the 12th floor of a 24-story apartment building in the northern ward of Geumjeong in the city, some 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
One person in his or her 50s was found dead on the 12th floor, while 12 others, including a son of the dead, have been sent to a nearby hospital for smoke inhalation, according to fire officials.
Other residents have been evacuated by firefighters who arrived at the scene, after a 13th-floor resident reported smoke coming from the lower floor.
The blaze did not spread to other rooms and was completely put out in about 40 minutes, fire officials said.
Police and fire authorities are currently investigating the exact cause of the fire.
Black smoke billows from the 12th floor of an apartment building in the southeastern port city of Busan on Nov. 24, 2020, after the building was hit by a fire, in this photo provided by the Busan Metropolitan Fire and Disaster Headquarters. The fire, which broke out at around 6:50 a.m., left one resident dead and at least 12 others injured. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This photo, provided by the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, shows the scene of a fire that broke out at an apartment building in the southeastern port city of Busan on Nov. 24, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--(2nd LD) New virus cases spike to over 300 again as greater Seoul comes under tougher virus curbs

`` Infections among people younger than 40 years old have been on the rise , as many of them do @ @ @ @ @ carry out lots of activities , adding woes to antivirus efforts already hamstrung by the @ @ @ @ @ Vice Health Minister Kang Do-tae said in a meeting with senior health officials .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details, comments in paras 16-17; CHANGES photos)
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- The number of new coronavirus cases in South Korea bounced back to over 300 on Tuesday due to a pileup of sporadic infections across the nation, with tougher antivirus rules in place in the greater Seoul area amid a virus resurgence.
The country added 349 more COVID-19 cases, including 320 local infections, raising the total caseload to 31,353, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The latest figure was sharply up from 271 on Monday, when the comparable reading fell back below to 300 for the first time in six days due to less testing on the weekend.
The daily caseload has stayed in the triple digits since Nov. 8, with the figure over 300 from Nov. 18-22.
Health authorities warned a third wave of the pandemic is under way due to cluster infections from private gatherings, public facilities, hospitals and the military, calling for stronger action before a nationwide college exam in early December.
People wait for COVID-19 tests at the National Medical Center in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Authorities said infections from gatherings of family and friends accounted for about 60 percent of total cases, making it harder for them to contain COVID-19 in winter, which is more favorable to the spread of the virus.
"Infections among people younger than 40 years old have been on the rise, as many of them do not show special symptoms and carry out lots of activities, adding woes to antivirus efforts already hamstrung by the cold weather," Second Vice Health Minister Kang Do-tae said in a meeting with senior health officials.
"To break the chain infections and prevent a nationwide pandemic, people should minimize contact with others in their daily lives."
The recent surge of the virus prompted authorities to raise the social distancing level by one notch to Level 2, the third highest in the five-tier system, in the Seoul metropolitan area for two weeks starting Tuesday.
Students go to an elementary school in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020, on the first day of Level 2 social distancing as part of antivirus efforts. (Yonhap)
The latest measure comes three days after Seoul raised distancing by one notch to Level 1.5 to urge people and business owners to take extra precautions.
Under Level 2, nightclubs and other high-risk entertainment facilities must suspend their business, while wedding and funeral halls should restrict visitor numbers to a maximum of 100.
Cafes should offer only takeout and delivery services, and restaurants are banned from serving food after 9 p.m.
Indoor sports facilities are required to halt their operations after 9 p.m., and public facilities will need to meet an admissions cap of 30 percent.
Sports events should have only 10 percent of their maximum capacity.
North and South Jeolla provinces began adopting Level 1.5 distancing, while other small cities and counties across the nation have already enforced tougher distancing rules in accordance with the recent rise in new cases.
Authorities said the upward trend in new cases will continue this week, expecting the effect of tougher distancing guidelines as early as next week.
As the Seoul metropolitan area is the main source of recent infections, upping the distancing level on a national scale will not be considered, they noted.
An Army unit in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, is closed on Nov. 23, 2020, after reporting 31 COVID-19 infections. (Yonhap)
Of the locally transmitted cases, 206 were identified in the capital area, home to nearly half of the nation's population.
The capital region registered over 200 virus cases for the fifth straight day.
Seoul added 132 more cases, while the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and western port city of Incheon reported 69 and 16 cases, respectively.
Most major cities and municipalities have reported new infections.
Gangwon Province registered 45 new cases, mainly attributable to a cluster infection at an Army unit in the border town of Cherwon.
North Jeolla Province reported 14 new patients, and North Gyeongsang Province had nine more.
The number of new imported cases came to 29, up from 16 the previous day.
The country reported one additional death from COVID-19, raising the total to 510. The fatality rate was 1.63 percent.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 79.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 26,722, up 183 from the previous day.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--Naver to spend 180 bln won to support small business owners

The platform , named Brand Connect , will show the latest activities and creative works of content creators , Naver @ @ @ @ @ to be launched in the first half of next year .

By Kim Han-joo
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- Naver Corp., the operator of South Korea's dominant Internet portal, said Tuesday it will invest 180 billion won (US$161 million) over the next two years in supporting small business owners and creators.
"Naver aims to produce a new kind of business synergy by connecting business and creative works through the latest technology," Naver CEO Han Seong-sook said in an online press conference.
This photo, provided by Naver Corp on Nov. 24, 2010, shows its CEO Han Seong-sook. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Under the new project, Naver will first develop a new data-based platform that directly connects creators and various brands.
The platform, named Brand Connect, will show the latest activities and creative works of content creators, Naver said. It is expected to be launched in the first half of next year.
"It is often difficult for small business owners and less-known creators to showcase their latest creations," Han said.
Also Naver will showcase a new program that directly connects small sellers and experts, such as customs house brokers, tax accountants and labor attorneys.
Naver said it will also support small sellers by introducing the latest artificial intelligence (AI) technology on its live-streaming platform, Shopping Live.
Live commerce, or TV home shopping-style mobile shopping, has recently emerged as a potential game changer for the retail sector amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Naver said it will hold various classes for small business owners so they can adapt better to a new kind of business environment in the post-COVID-19 era.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--Seoul stocks extend gains on recovery hopes

Investor sentiment ran high in the global financial markets , as progress in COVID-19 vaccine development fueled optimism that the @ @ @ @ @ down the road .

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks extended gains late Tuesday morning after hitting an all-time high the previous session on hopes of an economic recovery and new coronavirus vaccine development.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 7.01 points, or 0.27 percent, to 2,609.6 as of 11:20 a.m.
Investor sentiment ran high in the global financial markets, as progress in COVID-19 vaccine development fueled optimism that the economy and trade would normalize down the road.
Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.12 percent to 29,591.27 points, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite adding 0.22 percent and the S&P 500 climbing 0.56 percent.
Most large caps traded higher, led by strong chip and battery gains.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics jumped 2.07 percent, but No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix slipped 0.1 percent.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem spiked 4.01 percent, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI advanced 3.42 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest carmaker, moved up 0.56 percent. Leading steelmaker POSCO rose 1.03 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver edged up 0.18 percent, and its rival Kakao hiked 1.63 percent.
Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics retreated 1 percent, while Celltrion added 0.17 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,111.55 won against the U.S. dollar, down 1.15 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--(News Focus) Biden's pick for top diplomat expected to look to Iran formula for N.K. denuke

But Biden has said that he would push for a `` sustained , coordinated campaign '' with American allies as @ @ @ @ @ negotiations with the North , while indicating he would not favor personal diplomacy with Kim @ @ @ @ @ .

By Song Sang-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's pick for secretary of state is likely to pursue a more realistic approach to North Korea's denuclearization akin to the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal rather than too comprehensive a deal.
Antony Blinken once said the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) aimed at limiting Tehran's nuclear activities would be the "best deal" that President Donald Trump could reach with North Korea despite Trump rebuking it as the "worst deal ever negotiated."
Then Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a Senate Foreign Affairs Committee session in September 2016, in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Yonhap)
Biden's 2019 remarks for the Council on Foreign Relations that the Iran deal provides a "blueprint for an effective negotiation" with the North further reinforced the sense that his top diplomat might employ the negotiation playbook for Iran.
In 2018, the Trump administration withdrew from the Iran deal reached along with China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany, arguing it did not directly address the Islamic republic's missile development and decrying "sunset" clauses to lift restrictions on Tehran's enrichment program after 2025.
"If you look at Blinken's past opinion piece, he apparently favors a step-by-step approach to the North's denuclearization, and chances appear low that he would call for the North to first remove its nuclear program in the so-called Libyan denuclearization model," Park Won-gon, a professor of international politics at Handong Global University, said.
"But the question is whether and how North Korea would respond to that," he added.
In his op-ed piece on the New York Times on June 11, 2018, a day before the historic first-ever Singapore summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Blinken touted the Iran accord, particularly stressing the "sweeping inspections regime."
Blinken also hinted at his inclination toward an "interim" deal with the North -- in contrast to Trump's initial pursuit of a big, comprehensive deal that Pyongyang balked at.
"The administration may find merit in an interim agreement that requires North Korea to disclose all of its programs, freeze its enrichment and reprocessing infrastructure under international monitoring and destroy some warheads and missiles in return for limited economic relief," the former deputy secretary of state wrote.
"That would buy time to negotiate a more comprehensive deal, including a minutely sequenced road map that will require sustained diplomacy. That's the approach Mr. Obama took with Iran," he added.
Questions remain over whether the incoming Biden administration will lean toward a multilateral format to negotiate a nuclear deal with Pyongyang, as the Obama administration did for the Iran deal.
Critics have voiced concerns that a multi-party formula is likely to string out negotiations, with Pyongyang still intent on buying time to advance its nuclear program and thus strengthen its position to get the upper hand.
But Biden has said that he would push for a "sustained, coordinated campaign" with American allies as well as China to conduct negotiations with the North, while indicating he would not favor personal diplomacy with Kim but would empower his negotiators.
Blinken himself is known as a multilateralist and internationalist, fueling speculation about the possibility of a different approach to the North.
The Moon Jae-in administration has favored direct leader-to-leader engagement with Pyongyang to expedite progress in its drive for lasting peace on the peninsula, with its five-year term to end in May 2022.
Some observers pointed out that the approach to Iran should differ from the one for North Korea, given that Pyongyang has already developed nuclear warheads and an assortment of ballistic missiles and other delivery means.
"The Iran deal has been trumpeted as a foreign policy feat of the Obama administration, but I doubt whether the Biden government would duplicate the Obama-era policy, given that Iran is still far away from developing nuclear weapons," Kim Tae-hyung, a professor of international politics at Soongsil University, said.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--Belgium's Korean Cultural Center offers online recital program on S. Korean novels

`` We hope the videos can deliver comfort amid lockdowns in most European countries due to the resurgence of the @ @ @ @ @ Kim Jae-hwan , the director of the KCCB , said .
`` We also hope @ @ @ @ @ opportunity for European readers to read more Korean literary works . ''

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- The Korean Cultural Center in Brussels (KCCB) said Tuesday it has kicked off an online program offering recitals of South Korean novels by the authors themselves.
The program, named "Reading Theater," plans to introduce short stories by four renowned Korean writers -- Han Kang, Bae Su-ah, Kim Ae-ran and Hwang Jung-eun -- through KCCB's official YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/koreanculturalcenterbrussels).
The KCCB said it will release one recital by each author every Monday for four weeks until Dec. 14, and provide subtitles in French and Dutch.
This image, provided by the Korean Cultural Center in Brussels (KCCB), shows a scene of the "Reading Theater" program held by the center. YouTube videos on four South Korean writers reading their short stories will be shared through KCCB's official YouTube channel. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Han Kang read "Blue Stone" from her 2012 novel "A Yellow Patterned Eternity" on Monday, and Hwang Jung-eun's "Falling" from her book "Passi Enters the World" will come out next week.
On Dec. 7, Bae Su-ah's "When a Train Runs over Me" from her 2017 novel "Snake and Water" will be shared, while "The Other Side," a short story by Kim Ae-ran, published in 2017, will be introduced on Dec. 14.
It is the first time the novels are being translated into French and Dutch, according to KCCB.
"We hope the videos can deliver comfort amid lockdowns in most European countries due to the resurgence of the new coronavirus pandemic," Kim Jae-hwan, the director of the KCCB, said. "We also hope this can serve as an opportunity for European readers to read more Korean literary works."
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--Seoul Metro to provide consulting services to Sydney Metro

`` Sydney is a city with enormous growth potential , and we are pleased to take part in the first-ever @ @ @ @ @ a city railway not only in Australia but in the entire Oceania , '' said @ @ @ @ @ Seoul Metro .

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- Seoul Metro, the operator of the city's vast subway system, has signed a deal with an Australian engineering firm to provide consulting services to Sydney Metro, the Korean company said Tuesday.
Under the deal signed in mid-November, Seoul Metro and Ricardo will jointly assist Sydney Metro in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of two subway line extensions.
The West line and the Western Sydney Airport link are scheduled for completion and opening in 2030.
The three-year consulting deal is worth 7 billion won (US$6.3 million) and calls for Seoul Metro to send experts to review the project and draw up an effective operation plan for Sydney Metro.
"Sydney is a city with enormous growth potential, and we are pleased to take part in the first-ever construction and consulting project for a city railway not only in Australia but in the entire Oceania," said Kim Sang-bum, CEO of Seoul Metro.
"We will spare no effort to share the know-how we have accumulated over 50 years while operating Seoul's subway system to ensure the successful operation of Sydney's city railway system," he said.
Passengers file out of a subway train at Gwanghwamun Station in downtown Seoul on Nov. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--Panmunjom tours to remain in operation despite toughened social distancing scheme

`` We have already adjusted the number of people ( allowed to visit the area ) by half when we @ @ @ @ @ the ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity .
`` There appears to be @ @ @ @ @ to be adjusted since most places ( people visit ) are outdoors . ''

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- A recently resumed tour program to the truce village of Panmunjom will remain in operation despite this week's toughened social distancing measures against the coronavirus, as necessary preventive steps have already been enforced, a unification ministry official said Tuesday.
The tours to the Joint Security Area (JSA) and other sites inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas resumed earlier this month after more than a year of suspension due to the outbreak of African swine fever. The maximum number of people allowed to visit the area, however, was halved as part of preventive efforts against COVID-19.
Some have raised the need to further scale down or adjust the tour program as the government raised the social distancing level by one notch to Level 2 on Tuesday in the face of recent spikes in coronavirus cases.
"We have already adjusted the number of people (allowed to visit the area) by half when we resumed the tours," the ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity. "There appears to be no tour courses that need to be adjusted since most places (people visit) are outdoors."
The official, however, said the tours could be suspended again if the social distancing level is raised to the highest Level 3, two notches up from the current level, saying that the ministry will closely monitor the overall coronavirus situation.
On Tuesday, South Korea added 349 more COVID-19 cases, including 320 local infections, raising the total caseload to 31,353, according to health authorities. The daily figure has stayed in the triple digits since Nov. 8.
A group of people, including journalists, visits the truce village of Panmunjom, in this photo provided by Press Corps on Nov. 4, 2020, as a tour program resumed after more than a year of suspension due to African swine fever.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-24--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Nov. 24 ( 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--2020-11-24--S. Korea to release rice reserve amid output decline

The country will release up to 370,000 tons of reserved rice , according to the Ministry of Agriculture , Food @ @ @ @ @ detailed amount will change depending on the market situation .

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Tuesday it will release its reserved grains into the market to cope with the reduced rice output after the long rainy season this year coupled with major typhoons.
The country will release up to 370,000 tons of reserved rice, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The detailed amount will change depending on the market situation.
The rice will be released after the harvest season in different phases to minimize potential fluctuations in the market.
South Korea's production of rice came to 3.51 million tons as of mid-November, 120,000 tons less than its annual goal of 3.63 million tons.
The amount also marked a 6.4 percent decline from 2019.
It marked the lowest level since 1968, when South Korea produced 3.2 million tons of rice.
South Korea underwent a record-long rainy season this year that began June 24 and lasted for 54 days in the central part of the country. The country was also hit by powerful typhoons, including Typhoon Maysak and Haishen, until September.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--Over 7 in 10 S. Korean exporters eye more shipments in 2021: poll

`` There is a need to raise exporters ' awareness of foreign exchange risk management as the won 's strength @ @ @ @ @ for a while amid rising hopes for a U.S. stimulus package and reduced uncertainty of @ @ @ @ @ Kang Seong-eun , a KITA researcher , said .
( END )

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- More than seven in 10 South Korean exporting companies expect their overseas shipments to increase in 2021 from this year, a poll showed Tuesday.
The survey of 801 exporters, taken by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), showed 71.3 percent of the respondents anticipating an increase in their exports next year.
The poll did not give reasons for their expectations for a hike in overseas shipments in the coming year.
Exports of petroleum products are projected to climb 6 percent on-year in 2021, with those of chips and iron and nonferrous metals likely to gain 3.2 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively.
This file photo, taken on June 4, 2020, shows stacks of cargo containers at South Korea's largest seaport of Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
In contrast, overseas shipments of textiles, clothing and leather goods are forecast to decline 1.9 percent in 2021 from this year, and shipbuilders expect a 2.4 percent on-year fall.
The findings also showed nearly 43 percent of the pollees predicting the coronavirus pandemic to have the biggest impact on their management in the coming year.
Another 27 percent cited increased volatility of the won-dollar exchange rate as the biggest hurdle to their performances.
Despite an expected rise in exports, those exporting companies feared volatile foreign exchange rates could erode their profitability in the new year.
About 61 percent of small and mid-size exporting companies said that they do not manage foreign exchange risk, with the comparable figure coming to around 9 percent for large exporters.
"There is a need to raise exporters' awareness of foreign exchange risk management as the won's strength against the greenback could last for a while amid rising hopes for a U.S. stimulus package and reduced uncertainty of the global market," Kang Seong-eun, a KITA researcher, said.
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--S. Korea to develop indigenous robot for explosives detection, removal

`` Currently , the military uses potable mine detectors and imported robots of this kind .
But the detectors could @ @ @ @ @ operate the gadgets and importing the robots costs a lot , '' the procurement agency @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's arms procurement agency signed a contract commissioning a local defense firm to develop a robot capable of detecting and removing land mines and other explosives with indigenous technology, officials said Tuesday.
Under the 18 billion-won (US$16 million) project, Hanwha Defense plans to develop a robot capable of patrolling the mine-strewn Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) on the border with North Korea and other dangerous areas, detecting and eliminating explosives, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).
Hanwha has carried out preliminary research since 2017 and secured key technologies, the DAPA said
"Currently, the military uses potable mine detectors and imported robots of this kind. But the detectors could cause damage to troops who operate the gadgets and importing the robots costs a lot," the procurement agency said.
"The envisioned home-grown robot is expected to prevent loss of human life and raise chances of successfully detecting explosives so as to help boost our defense capabilities," it added.
The small, track wheel‐type robot will be equipped with advanced, diverse equipment, such as an X-ray fluoroscope, a shotgun and a cable cutting machine, and can be operated remotely, according to Hanwha.
The development is expected to be completed by June 2023 and will be put in operational deployment as early as 2024, according to officials.
This photo provided by Hanwha Defense on Nov. 24, 2020, shows a robot tasked with detecting and removing explosives. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--2 more workers at Samsung's mobile research lab test positive for COVID-19

The South Korean tech giant said two workers at its R5 lab in Suwon , south of Seoul , were @ @ @ @ @ They worked on the same floor with an employee who tested positive for COVID-19 on @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday that two more workers at its mobile research lab have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, stoking concerns of group infections at the facility.
The South Korean tech giant said two workers at its R5 lab in Suwon, south of Seoul, were infected with the virus. They worked on the same floor with an employee who tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.
"Health authorities are investigating whether they contracted the virus from the initial patient or from the outside," a Samsung official said.
Samsung, the world's largest smartphone maker, shuttered the R5 building Monday after confirming the virus case. The floor where the virus-infected employees worked are scheduled to be closed through Wednesday.
Samsung said it has ordered workers who came in close contact with the virus-infected employees to stay at home and take virus tests.
Last week, Samsung reported a worker had been infected at the R5 facility.
This file photo shows Samsung Electronics Co.'s R5 mobile research facility in Suwon, south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--(LEAD) Troops in greater Seoul area under tighter anti-coronavirus scheme

As for military officers , however , the stronger scheme is applied to all , regardless of where they are @ @ @ @ @ to stay home after work , and off-installation trips are allowed only for inevitable purposes @ @ @ @ @ necessities and going to see a doctor , according to the ministry .

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 6-8)
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry on Tuesday began enforcing tougher social distancing rules for service members in the Seoul metropolitan area in line with the government's elevation of the antivirus scheme.
Under the social distancing scheme of Level 2, vacations and one-day off-installation trips are primarily restricted. Visits to nightlife facilities continue to be banned, and service members are not allowed to visit religious facilities outside their bases, according to the ministry.
The Level 2 guidance, which is the third highest in the five-tier system, will be in place for the next two weeks, it added.
A soldier locks the front gate of a military unit in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, on Nov. 23, 2020, as COVID-19 infections broke out there. (Yonhap)
As for military officers, however, the stronger scheme is applied to all, regardless of where they are stationed. They are ordered to stay home after work, and off-installation trips are allowed only for inevitable purposes, such as buying daily necessities and going to see a doctor, according to the ministry.
"COVID-19 infections caused by enlisted service members accounted for a mere 6 percent of the total so far. Most cases have been caused by officers or civilian workers," a ministry official said.
No additional cases were reported among the military population on Tuesday. So far, 263 military members have been confirmed to have been infected, with the figure growing markedly since mid-November.
"We wrapped up virus tests for around 2,200 service members at a Cheorwon unit, and no more positive cases were found there," the official said. The unit in the border town reported nearly 40 COVID-19 patients over the past several days.
Currently, 1,710 service members are in isolation in accordance with the health authorities' guidelines, and the military has quarantined an additional 2,419 people under stricter antivirus schemes of its own as a preventive step, according to the ministry.
South Korea is struggling with the resurgent virus across the country. On Tuesday, the country reported 349 more COVID-19 cases, including 320 local infections, raising the total caseload to 31,353, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
This photo, provided by SK Bioscience on Nov. 24, 2020, shows a researcher looking into vaccine candidates. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--Korean shipbuilders' order backlogs dip 22 pct through Q3

The five shipbuilders ' financial health is relatively robust , as their net debt-to-equity ratio was 29.8 percent at the @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
The net debt-to-equity ratio , which is used to evaluate a @ @ @ @ @ is usually considered optimal when it is under 20 percent .

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- Combined order backlogs of South Korea's top five shipbuilders, led by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., fell 22 percent in the first nine months of the year from the end of last year due to decreased new orders amid the coronavirus pandemic, industry sources said Tuesday.
But their good financial health will prevent them from raking in orders at lower prices, according to Han Young-soo, an analyst at Samsung Securities Co.
The shipbuilders have 38 trillion won (US$34.2 billion) worth of order backlogs as of end-September, which will keep them busy for 1.3 years, compared with 48.8 trillion won at the end of 2019, the analyst said.
The shipbuilders are Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co., Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Samsung Heavy Industries Co. and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co.
This file photo, provided by Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. on Oct. 16, 2020, shows a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carrier built by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The five shipbuilders' financial health is relatively robust, as their net debt-to-equity ratio was 29.8 percent at the end of the third quarter, he said. The net debt-to-equity ratio, which is used to evaluate a company's financial health, is usually considered optimal when it is under 20 percent.
The new orders by the shipbuilders have been increasing, with their orders clinched during the past two months estimated to account for 59 percent of the total grabbed in the first nine months.
According to the data provided by global market researcher Clarkson Research Service, South Korean shipbuilders have order backlogs of 19.02 million compensated gross tons (CGTs), taking up 28 percent of global order backlogs of 67.34 million CGTs at the end of October.
Chinese shipbuilders' order backlogs reached 24.31 million CGTs, or 36 percent of the total, followed by Japanese shipbuilders with 8.59 million CGTs.
Global order backlogs have been on a downward path since 80.82 million CGTs in January.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--PM warns of tough disciplinary measures against public servants ignoring distancing rules

The education ministry announced last week that it will closely monitor cram schools and other business establishments used by young @ @ @ @ @ operate under strict antivirus measures until the end of the CSAT slated for Dec. 3 @

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Tuesday urged public servants to maintain the utmost level of readiness against COVID-19, warning those who contract the virus by not complying with distancing rules will face grave disciplinary measures.
"In cases of slack discipline in the public sector, such as cases where public office workers test positive by not complying with antivirus measures, we will gravely seek disciplinary measures," Chung said during a Cabinet meeting at the government complex in Seoul.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun presides over a Cabinet meeting on Nov, 24, 2020, at the government complex in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Chung noted that the year-end holiday period is when the public sector could fall prey to weaker discipline, especially from the accumulated fatigue over dealing with the pandemic throughout the year.
The prime minister ordered the public sector to actively adopt at-home remote work and refrain from holding in-person meetings, business trips and after-hour gatherings among co-workers.
Chung also reminded officials to mobilize full disease-control capacities to ensure next month's nationwide College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) is held safely.
"(CSAT) isn't simply just a college entrance exam but a major national event during which essentially the entire people, including test takers and their families, anxiously root and pray for (test takers)," said Chung.
The education ministry announced last week that it will closely monitor cram schools and other business establishments used by young students to see whether they operate under strict antivirus measures until the end of the CSAT slated for Dec. 3.
More than 490,000 high school students and others plan to take the exam simultaneously at designated places across the country.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--(LEAD) Dominant KBO season by NC Dinos culminates in Korean Series title

`` No matter how great numbers are , they are useless unless we make the most of them on the @ @ @ @ @ , who shifted aggressively against some left-handed Doosan hitters all series .
`` ( Our @ @ @ @ @ meetings with our data analysts than before , and we trust them to come up @ @ @ @ @ the club . ''

(ATTN: ADDS comments throughout, photos)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- The NC Dinos climbed to first place on May 13, the ninth day of the regular season in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), and they never came down again as they claimed their first-ever pennant.
And the Dinos were crowned the Korean Series champions on Tuesday, as their dominant year culminated in the franchise's first KBO title. With a 4-2 win on Tuesday, they knocked off the defending champions Doosan Bears in six games.
During the regular season, the bats kept the Dinos in front, while their pitching overcame some early season bullpen woes and showcased promising young arms.
Park Min-woo of the NC Dinos celebrates his two-run single against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
They led all teams with 888 runs scored in 144 games, during which they also hit a league-best 187 home runs. They were tops in team on-base percentage (.366) and slugging percentage (.462).
The Dinos also became the first team in KBO history to produce three players with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs: Yang Eui-ji (33 homers and 124 RBIs), Na Sung-bum (34 homers and 112 RBIs) and Aaron Altherr (31 homers and 108 RBIs).
Yang set a single season record for most RBIs by a catcher, while Na bounced back nicely after missing most of the 2019 season with a knee injury. Altherr, their first-year foreign hitter, was the league's most dangerous No. 8 hitter. From the eighth spot in the lineup, Altherr had 17 homers and 52 RBIs.
And those three mashers did damage in the Korean Series. Altherr smacked a three-run home run to key a 5-3 victory in Game 1, while Na went 4-for-4 in that game. After getting held hitless in Game 2, Na broke out for two more hits, including a home run, and four RBIs in Game 3. He had a three-hit effort in Game 5, and picked up another hit in Game 6.
Yang inflicted serious damage on his former Bears teammates in multiple ways. At the plate, Yang had three hits, with two doubles, in Game 2, and knocked in a winning run in Game 4. In Game 5, Yang delivered a two-run homer in a 5-0 win.
Lee Myung-ki of the NC Dinos hits an RBI single against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
And with Yang calling the shots for pitchers, the Dinos blanked the Bears in Games 4 and 5, winning by a combined 8-0.
On the mound, left-hander Koo Chang-mo was spectacular early in the regular season, with a 9-0 record and a 1.55 ERA before the Dinos deactivated him at the end of July for a breather. They first discovered left forearm inflammation, and during his rehab, the club also discovered a small fracture in the same arm. Koo ended up missing three months.
He returned in late October to make two appearances before the postseason. His second start of the Korean Series was particularly memorable, as the 23-year-old lefty fired seven shutout innings in Game 5 for a 3-0 victory.
In Koo's absence, second-year starter Drew Rucinski held down the fort and went 19-5 with a 3.05 ERA. The American right-hander was the winning pitcher in Game 1 and recorded a save in Game 4 on three days' rest. Then after only two days of break, Rucinski tossed five shutout innings in the clinching Game 6 Tuesday.
Song Myung-gi of the NC Dinos pitches against the Doosan Bears in the top of the eighth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
A 20-year-old homegrown starter Song Myung-gi was excellent down the stretch in the regular season, winning all five October starts and posting a 2.77 ERA. Song then picked up where he left off in the Korean Series, blanking the Bears for five innings of two-hit ball in a 3-0 victory in Game 4 last Saturday.
Song then came out of the bullpen to pitch a perfect eighth inning in Game 6.
NC manager Lee Dong-wook has embraced the front office's data-driven approach, and said keeping an open line of communication with the club's data analysts has been a key to success.
"No matter how great numbers are, they are useless unless we make the most of them on the field," said Lee, who shifted aggressively against some left-handed Doosan hitters all series. "(Our coaching staff) have more meetings with our data analysts than before, and we trust them to come up with information that will help the club."
Lee said players are now more receptive to advanced data than in the past, too.
"Players today won't accept your coaching if it's not accompanied by scientific data," the manager added. "I wasn't a good player, and I became a coach fairly early. I've wanted to make sure my players won't deal with the same problems that I did."
Members of the NC Dinos celebrate their Korean Series championship following a 4-2 victory over the Doosan Bears in Game 6 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Koo and Song are part of the young core that represents the Dinos' future. Their position player group isn't quite as spry, though they have a pair of 27-year-olds who've been with the Dinos since Day 1, first baseman Kang Jin-sung and second baseman Park Min-woo. The lineup could be broken up with Na expected to jump to the majors this offseason.
Yang, though he hasn't shown any signs of slowing down, will be 34 next year playing the toughest position in baseball. Shortstop No Jin-hyuk, coming off his best offensive season with 20 homers and 82 RBIs, will be 32. The 35-year-old third baseman Park Sok-min enjoyed a productive season with a .306 batting average and the league-best .436 on-base percentage, but he has also shown his age with his glove during the postseason.
The competitive window may not be as wide open as the Dinos would like, but they crashed through that this year with force.
Members of the NC Dinos celebrate their Korean Series championship following a 4-2 victory over the Doosan Bears in Game 6 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--(2nd LD) NC Dinos capture 1st Korean Series title

The Bears were trying to win their second straight championship and their fourth in six years .
After a 7-6 @ @ @ @ @ their bats froze up and never got going again .
They were shut out 3-0 @ @ @ @ @ 5-0 in Game 5 , and eked out just two runs on Tuesday .

(ATTN: ADDS comments, details)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- For the first time in franchise history, the NC Dinos are the champions of South Korean baseball.
The Dinos captured the 2020 Korean Series title over the Doosan Bears on Tuesday, thanks to a 4-2 victory in Game 6 of the best-of-seven championship round at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.
Lee Myung-ki broke the scoreless tie for the Dinos with a two-out single in the fifth, and the Dinos put up three more runs in the sixth to back starter Drew Rucinski, who tossed five scoreless innings in a gritty outing on two days' rest for his second win of the series.
Members of the NC Dinos celebrate their Korean Series championship following a 4-2 victory over the Doosan Bears in Game 6 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
NC captain Yang Eui-ji was voted the Korean Series MVP after batting .318 with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored. Yang received 36 out of 80 votes from the media, beating out Rucinski by three votes. Rucinski won two games and saved another in the series.
Yang was the 2016 Korean Series MVP for the Bears when they swept the Dinos. He is the first player to win two Korean Series MVP awards for two different clubs.
Lee Myung-ki of the NC Dinos celebrates his RBI single against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Bears were trying to win their second straight championship and their fourth in six years. After a 7-6 win in Game 3, their bats froze up and never got going again. They were shut out 3-0 in Game 4 and then 5-0 in Game 5, and eked out just two runs on Tuesday.
"I was just numb when we got the final out," NC manager Lee Dong-wook said. "This is a dream come true. Before the season, our goal was just to reach the postseason. But the players really took the initiative and made this championship possible."
With Rucinski struggling with his command early, the Bears put two runners on in the first but couldn't cash in.
Drew Rucinski of the NC Dinos pitches against the Doosan Bears in the top of the first inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
They then wasted a one-out, bases-loaded opportunity in the second.
After a three-up, three-down third, the Bears' drought reached a Korean Series-record 23 innings in most excruciating fashion in the fourth inning.
The Bears started the fourth inning with a single and a double, but those hits were followed by three straight groundouts -- the first two of which weren't deep enough for the slow-footed Jose Miguel Fernandez to score from third.
Members of the NC Dinos celebrate their Korean Series championship following a 4-2 victory over the Doosan Bears in Game 6 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Jung Soo-bin led off the Bears' fifth inning with a single and stole second to get himself into scoring position. But the next three batters went down in order.
Doosan starter Raul Alcantara did everything in his power to keep the Bears in the game, but he finally cracked in the bottom fifth against the relentless Dinos' lineup.
NC Dinos players congratulate Aaron Altherr (C) after Altherr scored a run against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
With two outs, they pieced together three straight singles to open the scoring, the third being a seeing-eye hit by Lee Myung-ki that got through the hole on the right side.
With Alcantara still on the mound, the Dinos doubled their lead in the bottom sixth. After Aaron Altherr's double off the top of the right field wall, Park Sok-min dumped a single to shallow left for a 2-0 lead. The hit knocked Alcantara out of the game.
Reliever Park Chi-guk came on and then walked two batters to load the bases for Park Min-woo, who delivered a two-run single against new pitcher Lee Seung-jin.
Park Sok-min of the NC Dinos celebrates his RBI single against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Bears slashed the deficit in half in the top seventh, while also snapping their scoreless streak at 25 innings, a postseason record.
Their first two batters both got hit by pitches, and then cleanup Kim Jae-hwan brought in the first run with a groundout.
Kim Jae-ho followed up with an RBI double that made it a 4-2 game.
But that was the extent of the Bears' offense. Song Myung-gi, the winning pitcher from Game 4, tossed a perfect eighth, and closer Won Jong-hyan locked down the save with a flawless ninth.
"I didn't want this to go seven games," NC manager Lee said, "We brought Song and (starter) Mike Wright (in the sixth) to try to finish it tonight. And it worked out perfectly."
The Dinos were founded in 2012 and joined the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in 2013.
Park Min-woo of the NC Dinos hits a two-run single against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--(LEAD) NC Dinos capture 1st Korean Series title

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 4-5, photos)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- For the first time in franchise history, the NC Dinos are the champions of South Korean baseball.
The Dinos captured the 2020 Korean Series title over the Doosan Bears on Tuesday, thanks to a 4-2 victory in Game 6 of the best-of-seven championship round at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.
Lee Myung-ki broke the scoreless tie for the Dinos with a two-out single in the fifth, and the Dinos put up three more runs in the sixth to back starter Drew Rucinski, who tossed five scoreless innings in a gritty outing on two days' rest.
Members of the NC Dinos celebrate their Korean Series championship following a 4-2 victory over the Doosan Bears in Game 6 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
NC captain Yang Eui-ji was voted the Korean Series MVP after batting .318 with a home run, three RBIs and three runs scored. Yang received 36 out of 80 votes from the media, beating out Rucinski by three votes. Rucinski won two games and saved another in the series.
Yang was the 2016 Korean Series MVP for the Bears when they swept the Dinos. He is the first player to win two Korean Series MVP awards for two different clubs.
Lee Myung-ki of the NC Dinos celebrates his RBI single against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Bears were trying to win their second straight championship and their fourth in six years. After a 7-6 win in Game 3, their bats froze up and never got going again. They were shut out 3-0 in Game 4 and then 5-0 in Game 5, and eked out just two runs on Tuesday.
With Rucinski struggling with his command early, the Bears put two runners on in the first but couldn't cash in.
Drew Rucinski of the NC Dinos pitches against the Doosan Bears in the top of the first inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
They then wasted a one-out, bases-loaded opportunity in the second.
After a three-up, three-down third, the Bears' drought reached a Korean Series-record 23 innings in most excruciating fashion in the fourth inning.
The Bears started the fourth inning with a single and a double, but those hits were followed by three straight groundouts -- the first two of which weren't deep enough for the slow-footed Jose Miguel Fernandez to score from third.
Members of the NC Dinos celebrate their Korean Series championship following a 4-2 victory over the Doosan Bears in Game 6 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Jung Soo-bin led off the Bears' fifth inning with a single and stole second to get himself into scoring position. But the next three batters went down in order.
Doosan starter Raul Alcantara did everything in his power to keep the Bears in the game, but he finally cracked in the bottom fifth against the relentless Dinos' lineup.
NC Dinos players congratulate Aaron Altherr (C) after Altherr scored a run against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
With two outs, they pieced together three straight singles to open the scoring, the third being a seeing-eye hit by Lee Myung-ki that got through the hole on the right side.
With Alcantara still on the mound, the Dinos doubled their lead in the bottom sixth. After Aaron Altherr's double off the top of the right field wall, Park Sok-min dumped a single to shallow left for a 2-0 lead. The hit knocked Alcantara out of the game.
Reliever Park Chi-guk came on and then walked two batters to load the bases for Park Min-woo, who delivered a two-run single against new pitcher Lee Seung-jin.
Park Sok-min of the NC Dinos celebrates his RBI single against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Bears slashed the deficit in half in the top seventh, while also snapping their scoreless streak at 25 innings, a postseason record.
Their first two batters both got hit by pitches, and then cleanup Kim Jae-hwan brought in the first run with a groundout.
Kim Jae-ho followed up with an RBI double that made it a 4-2 game.
But that was the extent of the Bears' offense. Song Myung-gi, the winning pitcher from Game 4, tossed a perfect eighth, and closer Won Jong-hyan locked down the save with a flawless ninth.
The Dinos were founded in 2012 and joined the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in 2013.
Park Min-woo of the NC Dinos hits a two-run single against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--(LEAD) Dynastic run likely at an end for Doosan Bears after Korean Series loss

And now , those who have held it together all these years could go their separate ways , too .
@ @ @ @ @ to take hometown discounts to stay put and try give it another go with the @ @ @ @ @ likely wo n't be able to afford all of them .

(ATTN: ADDS photo, comments at bottom)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- If indeed this was the end of the championship run for the Doosan Bears, they didn't exactly go down swinging.
They only swung and missed a lot.
The Bears' bid for a second straight Korean Series title, and the fourth title in six seasons, ended Tuesday, with a 4-2 loss to the NC Dinos in Game 6. Their offense dried up and managed just two runs while losing the last three games of the series.
Given the Bears' roster situation, it could be a while before this club is playing for the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) championship again.
The Bears have nine pending free agents, which includes their entire starting infield. Outfielder Kim Jae-hwan, who was posted for major league clubs last winter but didn't receive any offers, could try knocking on the big league doors again.
Kim Jae-ho of the Doosan Bears (R) celebrates his RBI double against the NC Dinos in the top of the seventh inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
This group has been together for the dynastic run that began with the 2015 Korean Series title. They finished in third place in the regular season that year but rolled over the competition in the postseason and then knocked off the four-time defending champions Samsung Lions in the Korean Series.
In 2016, the Bears had the best regular season record and swept the NC Dinos in the Korean Series. The following year, they played in their third straight Korean Series, but the Kia Tigers got the better of the Bears.
The Bears were back in the Korean Series in 2018, after winning a league-record 93 games in the regular season. But then they ran into an SK Wyverns buzzsaw in the championship round and lost in six games.
The Bears had their moment again in 2019. They toppled the Wyverns for the top seed on the final day of the regular season and received a bye to the Korean Series, where they then swept the Kiwoom Heroes.
Raul Alcantara of the Doosan Bears pitches against the NC Dinos in the bottom of the first inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
This year, they won their regular season finale to earn the third seed, and claimed two rounds of the postseason handily before running out of steam against the Dinos. The Bears built a 2-1 lead after taking a Game 3 marathon by 7-6, but then got shut out 3-0 and 5-0 in the next two games. They scored just two runs in the deciding Game 6.
Starter Chris Flexen did yeoman's work throughout the postseason, but he had little support from the bullpen and, in his Game 5 loss, had zero help from the lineup. Game 6 starter Raul Alcantara suffered the same fate, as he gave the Bears 5 1/3 solid innings, and the Bears' two runs came after he was already gone from the game.
The Bears hit just .219 in the Korean Series.
Some of the relievers became unplayable in the Korean Series. Closer Lee Young-ha struggled in particular, allowing six hits and a walk against nine batters he faced -- this after tossing 5 2/3 shutout innings in two previous rounds.
During their six-year run, the Bears lost some key pieces. All-Star outfielder Kim Hyun-soo left to sign with the Baltimore Orioles after the 2015 season, and when he returned home two seasons later, he signed with the Seoul rivals LG Twins. Catcher Yang Eui-ji, the 2016 Korean Series MVP, signed with the Dinos as a free agent before the 2019 season. Aces Dustin Nippert (KT Wiz) and Josh Lindblom (Milwaukee Brewers) also took their talents elsewhere after successful stints with the Bears.
Park Chi-guk of the Doosan Bears leaves the mound in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series against the NC Dinos at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
And now, those who have held it together all these years could go their separate ways, too. Even if these players offer to take hometown discounts to stay put and try give it another go with the same core, the Bears likely won't be able to afford all of them.
First baseman Oh Jae-il, second baseman Choi Joo-hwan, shortstop Kim Jae-ho and third baseman Heo Kyoung-min are all eligible for free agency. Heo is the youngest of the group at 30, and with proven contact ability and an excellent glove at the hot corner, Heo will be a coveted asset. Center fielder Jung Soo-bin, also eligible to hit the open market at 30, is a pesky contact hitter and a good defender who should also command some interest.
Doosan manager Kim Tae-hyoung has enjoyed a charmed run. He's the only manager in league history to reach the Korean Series in each of his first six seasons, and also the only manager to appear in six straight Korean Series at any point, period. That streak could end next year, when his managerial skills will be put to their sternest test yet.
Members of the Doosan Bears leave the field at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020, after losing to the NC Dinos 4-2 in Game 6 of the Korean Series. (Yonhap)
Kim said after Tuesday's loss he didn't want to dwell on the offensive drought.
"Our players did the best they could this whole season," he said. "It would have been great to have ended the season on a better note, but it is what it is. Some of the players who had a great year will now beat themselves up for the finish we had. That's really unfortunate."
Kim said he enjoyed seeing young players grow before his eyes, and he believes they can only get better next year.
"I don't know how free agency will play out," he said. "I think I have to start making some new plans."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--Dynastic run likely at an end for Doosan Bears after Korean Series loss

Starter Chris Flexen did yeoman 's work throughout the postseason , but he had little support from the bullpen and @ @ @ @ @ loss , had zero help from the lineup .
Game 6 starter Raul Alcantara suffered @ @ @ @ @ he gave the Bears 5 1/3 solid innings , and the Bears ' two runs @ @ @ @ @ gone from the game .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- If indeed this was the end of the championship run for the Doosan Bears, they didn't exactly go down swinging.
They only swung and missed a lot.
The Bears' bid for a second straight Korean Series title, and the fourth title in six seasons, ended Tuesday, with a 4-2 loss to the NC Dinos in Game 6. Their offense dried up and managed just two runs while losing the last three games of the series.
Given the Bears' roster situation, it could be a while before this club is playing for the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) championship again.
The Bears have nine pending free agents, which includes their entire starting infield. Outfielder Kim Jae-hwan, who was posted for major league clubs last winter but didn't receive any offers, could try knocking on the big league doors again.
Kim Jae-ho of the Doosan Bears (R) celebrates his RBI double against the NC Dinos in the top of the seventh inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
This group has been together for the dynastic run that began with the 2015 Korean Series title. They finished in third place in the regular season that year but rolled over the competition in the postseason and then knocked off the four-time defending champions Samsung Lions in the Korean Series.
In 2016, the Bears had the best regular season record and swept the NC Dinos in the Korean Series. The following year, they played in their third straight Korean Series, but the Kia Tigers got the better of the Bears.
The Bears were back in the Korean Series in 2018, after winning a league-record 93 games in the regular season. But then they ran into an SK Wyverns buzzsaw in the championship round and lost in six games.
The Bears had their moment again in 2019. They toppled the Wyverns for the top seed on the final day of the regular season and received a bye to the Korean Series, where they then swept the Kiwoom Heroes.
Raul Alcantara of the Doosan Bears pitches against the NC Dinos in the bottom of the first inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
This year, they won their regular season finale to earn the third seed, and claimed two rounds of the postseason handily before running out of steam against the Dinos. The Bears built a 2-1 lead after taking a Game 3 marathon by 7-6, but then got shut out 3-0 and 5-0 in the next two games. They scored just two runs in the deciding Game 6.
Starter Chris Flexen did yeoman's work throughout the postseason, but he had little support from the bullpen and, in his Game 5 loss, had zero help from the lineup. Game 6 starter Raul Alcantara suffered the same fate, as he gave the Bears 5 1/3 solid innings, and the Bears' two runs came after he was already gone from the game.
The Bears hit just .219 in the Korean Series.
Some of the relievers became unplayable in the Korean Series. Closer Lee Young-ha struggled in particular, allowing six hits and a walk against nine batters he faced -- this after tossing 5 2/3 shutout innings in two previous rounds.
During their six-year run, the Bears lost some key pieces. All-Star outfielder Kim Hyun-soo left to sign with the Baltimore Orioles after the 2015 season, and when he returned home two seasons later, he signed with the Seoul rivals LG Twins. Catcher Yang Eui-ji, the 2016 Korean Series MVP, signed with the Dinos as a free agent before the 2019 season. Aces Dustin Nippert (KT Wiz) and Josh Lindblom (Milwaukee Brewers) also took their talents elsewhere after successful stints with the Bears.
Park Chi-guk of the Doosan Bears leaves the mound in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series against the NC Dinos at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
And now, those who have held it together all these years could go their separate ways, too. Even if these players offer to take hometown discounts to stay put and try give it another go with the same core, the Bears likely won't be able to afford all of them.
First baseman Oh Jae-il, second baseman Choi Joo-hwan, shortstop Kim Jae-ho and third baseman Heo Kyoung-min are all eligible for free agency. Heo is the youngest of the group at 30, and with proven contact ability and an excellent glove at the hot corner, Heo will be a coveted asset. Center fielder Jung Soo-bin, also eligible to hit the open market at 30, is a pesky contact hitter and a good defender who should also command some interest.
Doosan manager Kim Tae-hyoung has enjoyed a charmed run. He's the only manager in league history to reach the Korean Series in each of his first six seasons, and also the only manager to appear in six straight Korean Series at any point, period. That streak could end next year, when his managerial skills will be put to their sternest test yet.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--Dominant KBO season by NC Dinos culminates in Korean Series title

And those three mashers did damage in the Korean Series .
Altherr smacked a three-run home run to key a @ @ @ @ @ , while Na went 4-for-4 in that game .
After getting held hitless in Game @ @ @ @ @ for two more hits , including a home run , and four RBIs in Game @ @ @ @ @ three-hit effort in Game 5 , and picked up another hit in Game 6 .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- The NC Dinos climbed to first place on May 13, the ninth day of the regular season in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), and they never came down again as they claimed their first-ever pennant.
And the Dinos were crowned the Korean Series champions on Tuesday, as their dominant year culminated in the franchise's first KBO title. With a 4-2 win on Tuesday, they knocked off the defending champions Doosan Bears in six games.
During the regular season, the bats kept the Dinos in front, while their pitching overcame some early season bullpen woes and showcased promising young arms.
Park Min-woo of the NC Dinos celebrates his two-run single against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
They led all teams with 888 runs scored in 144 games, during which they also hit a league-best 187 home runs. They were tops in team on-base percentage (.366) and slugging percentage (.462).
The Dinos also became the first team in KBO history to produce three players with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs: Yang Eui-ji (33 homers and 124 RBIs), Na Sung-bum (34 homers and 112 RBIs) and Aaron Altherr (31 homers and 108 RBIs).
Yang set a single season record for most RBIs by a catcher, while Na bounced back nicely after missing most of the 2019 season with a knee injury. Altherr, their first-year foreign hitter, was the league's most dangerous No. 8 hitter. From the eighth spot in the lineup, Altherr had 17 homers and 52 RBIs.
And those three mashers did damage in the Korean Series. Altherr smacked a three-run home run to key a 5-3 victory in Game 1, while Na went 4-for-4 in that game. After getting held hitless in Game 2, Na broke out for two more hits, including a home run, and four RBIs in Game 3. He had a three-hit effort in Game 5, and picked up another hit in Game 6.
Yang inflicted serious damage on his former Bears teammates in multiple ways. At the plate, Yang had three hits, with two doubles, in Game 2, and knocked in a winning run in Game 4. In Game 5, Yang delivered a two-run homer in a 5-0 win.
Lee Myung-ki of the NC Dinos hits an RBI single against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
And with Yang calling the shots for pitchers, the Dinos blanked the Bears in Games 4 and 5, winning by a combined 8-0.
On the mound, left-hander Koo Chang-mo was spectacular early in the regular season, with a 9-0 record and a 1.55 ERA before the Dinos deactivated him at the end of July for a breather. They first discovered left forearm inflammation, and during his rehab, the club also discovered a small fracture in the same arm. Koo ended up missing three months.
He returned in late October to make two appearances before the postseason. His second start of the Korean Series was particularly memorable, as the 23-year-old lefty fired seven shutout innings in Game 5 for a 3-0 victory.
In Koo's absence, second-year starter Drew Rucinski held down the fort and went 19-5 with a 3.05 ERA. The American right-hander was the winning pitcher in Game 1 and recorded a save in Game 4 on three days' rest. Then after only two days of break, Rucinski tossed five shutout innings in the clinching Game 6 Tuesday.
Song Myung-gi of the NC Dinos pitches against the Doosan Bears in the top of the eighth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
A 20-year-old homegrown starter Song Myung-gi was excellent down the stretch in the regular season, winning all five October starts and posting a 2.77 ERA. Song then picked up where he left off in the Korean Series, blanking the Bears for five innings of two-hit ball in a 3-0 victory in Game 4 last Saturday.
Song then came out of the bullpen to pitch a perfect eighth inning in Game 6.
Koo and Song are part of the young core that represents the Dinos' future. Their position player group isn't quite as spry, though they have a pair of 27-year-olds who've been with the Dinos since Day 1, first baseman Kang Jin-sung and second baseman Park Min-woo. The lineup could be broken up with Na expected to jump to the majors this offseason.
Yang, though he hasn't shown any signs of slowing down, will be 34 next year playing the toughest position in baseball. Shortstop No Jin-hyuk, coming off his best offensive season with 20 homers and 82 RBIs, will be 32. The 35-year-old third baseman Park Sok-min enjoyed a productive season with a .306 batting average and the league-best .436 on-base percentage, but he has also shown his age with his glove during the postseason.
The competitive window may not be as wide open as the Dinos would like, but they crashed through that this year with force.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--NC Dinos capture 1st Korean Series title

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- For the first time in franchise history, the NC Dinos are the champions of South Korean baseball.
The Dinos captured the 2020 Korean Series title over the Doosan Bears on Tuesday, thanks to a 4-2 victory in Game 6 of the best-of-seven championship round at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.
Lee Myung-ki broke the scoreless tie for the Dinos with a two-out single in the fifth, and the Dinos put up three more runs in the sixth to back starter Drew Rucinski, who tossed five scoreless innings in a gritty outing on two days' rest.
Lee Myung-ki of the NC Dinos celebrates his RBI single against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Bears were trying to win their second straight championship and their fourth in six years. After a 7-6 win in Game 3, their bats froze up and never got going again. They were shut out 3-0 in Game 4 and then 5-0 in Game 5, and eked out just two runs on Tuesday.
With Rucinski struggling with his command early, the Bears put two runners on in the first but couldn't cash in.
Drew Rucinski of the NC Dinos pitches against the Doosan Bears in the top of the first inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
They then wasted a one-out, bases-loaded opportunity in the second.
After a three-up, three-down third, the Bears' drought reached a Korean Series-record 23 innings in most excruciating fashion in the fourth inning.
The Bears started the fourth inning with a single and a double, but those hits were followed by three straight groundouts -- the first two of which weren't deep enough for the slow-footed Jose Miguel Fernandez to score from third.
Jung Soo-bin led off the Bears' fifth inning with a single and stole second to get himself into scoring position. But the next three batters went down in order.
Doosan starter Raul Alcantara did everything in his power to keep the Bears in the game, but he finally cracked in the bottom fifth against the relentless Dinos' lineup.
NC Dinos players congratulate Aaron Altherr (C) after Altherr scored a run against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
With two outs, they pieced together three straight singles to open the scoring, the third being a seeing-eye hit by Lee Myung-ki that got through the hole on the right side.
With Alcantara still on the mound, the Dinos doubled their lead in the bottom sixth. After Aaron Altherr's double off the top of the right field wall, Park Sok-min dumped a single to shallow left for a 2-0 lead. The hit knocked Alcantara out of the game.
Reliever Park Chi-guk came on and then walked two batters to load the bases for Park Min-woo, who delivered a two-run single against new pitcher Lee Seung-jin.
Park Sok-min of the NC Dinos celebrates his RBI single against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Bears slashed the deficit in half in the top seventh, while also snapping their scoreless streak at 25 innings, a postseason record.
Their first two batters both got hit by pitches, and then cleanup Kim Jae-hwan brought in the first run with a groundout.
Kim Jae-ho followed up with an RBI double that made it a 4-2 game.
But that was the extent of the Bears' offense. Song Myung-gi, the winning pitcher from Game 4, tossed a perfect eighth, and closer Won Jong-hyan locked down the save with a flawless ninth.
The Dinos were founded in 2012 and joined the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) in 2013.
Park Min-woo of the NC Dinos hits a two-run single against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--(2nd LD) Justice minister orders suspension of top prosecutor from duty amid feud over reforms, inve

(2nd LD) Justice minister orders suspension of top prosecutor from duty amid feud over reforms, investigations

As reasons to bar him from his duty and seek disciplinary actions , the minister cited what she called an @ @ @ @ @ a media executive , the illegal inspection of judges involved in controversial cases , interference @ @ @ @ @ to protect people close to him and damage to public trust in the political neutrality @ @ @ @ @ also cited his alleged leak of information to the press on the Supreme Prosecutors Office @ @ @ @ @ into his close aide involved in an alleged blackmail case .

(ATTN: ADDS reaction from political circle at bottom, 2nd photo; UPDATES with minor edits)
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae on Tuesday suspended Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl from his duty, in an unprecedented move amid a feud over prosecution reforms and various investigations involving Yoon's aide and family members.
"The ministry has been investigating various allegations against the top prosecutor and found out some serious misconduct," the justice minister said during a briefing.
As reasons to bar him from his duty and seek disciplinary actions, the minister cited what she called an "improper" meeting with a media executive, the illegal inspection of judges involved in controversial cases, interference with the prosecution's investigations to protect people close to him and damage to public trust in the political neutrality of the prosecution. She also cited his alleged leak of information to the press on the Supreme Prosecutors Office's launch of an audit into his close aide involved in an alleged blackmail case.
She said that Yoon violated ethics by meeting with Hong Seok-hyun, chairman of JoongAng Holdings, the media group that owns local daily JoongAng Ilbo and cable channel JTBC, in November 2018, who could be an interested party in a case being probed by prosecutors. Yoon was the chief prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office at that time. Choo didn't offer further details.
She also said Yoon had impeded the ministry's lawful probe by not responding to recent written investigation inquiries.
"As the justice minister, who has the utmost authority to oversee the prosecution, I decided that it is not tolerable to let him continue his duty," Choo said.
Shortly after the surprise announcement, Yoon called it "unfair" and said he would "take legal action."
"Reflecting on my past deeds, I have done nothing to be ashamed of as prosecutor general and have worked hard to protect the political neutrality of the prosecution," Yoon said.
The file photos shows Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae (L) and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl (R). (Yonhap)
The ongoing clash between the ministry and the prosecution largely began last year following controversial investigations into former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, a key architect of Moon's drive for prosecution reform, and his family.
Reform of the prosecution has been a key agenda of the Moon administration amid long-held public perception that the state prosecution has wielded excessive power without adequate checks and balances.
In recent months, clashes between Choo and Yoon have intensified over a series of investigations, including a financial fraud scheme at Lime Asset Management Co. and an alleged blackmail case in which prosecutor Han Dong-hoon, Yoon's close aide, was involved.
The minister has, multiple times, accused Yoon of failing to sufficiently investigate the cases or of abusing his power, or of interfering in investigations to protect his associates and family members. Yoon's wife and mother-in-law have been investigated by prosecutors in separate criminal cases.
President Moon Jae-in was briefed on the ministry's decision shortly before the announcement but did not make a comment on it, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
Following the announcement, Rep. Lee Nak-yon, the chief of the ruling Democratic Party, said he was "shocked and disappointed" by the allegations raised against the top prosecutor. Lee urged Yoon to decide his position, apparently pressuring him to step down.
Rep. Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party, called Choo's move an "abuse of power" and said the president should express his stance on the minister's decision.
A flag of the prosecution flutters outside the Supreme Prosecutors Office building in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--Dinos' Rucinski throws 5 shutout innings in gutsy performance

With runners at second and third , Rucinski induced three straight groundballs .
Jose Miguel Fernandez , not exactly fleet @ @ @ @ @ able to come home from third on the first two of those grounders .
And @ @ @ @ @ second baseman Park Min-woo made a fine sliding grab to nab Heo Kyoung-min at first @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- With his club on the verge of a championship, NC Dinos' right-hander Drew Rucinski tossed five shutout frames in a gutsy performance against the Doosan Bears on Tuesday.
In Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, the American starter pitched on just two days' rest, with the Dinos sitting one win away from their first title. He pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief in Saturday's Game 4, which came on three days of break following his Game 1 start.
Drew Rucinski of the NC Dinos pitches against the Doosan Bears in the top of the first inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Rucinski didn't look particularly sharp early in Tuesday's game and labored through the first inning with 23 pitches.
He pitched himself into more trouble in the second inning, with two singles and a hit by pitch loading the bases for the top of the order.
And Rucinski somehow wiggled out of the jam unscathed. He struck out Heo Kyoung-min looking at an inside cutter, and then Jung Soo-bin flied out to deep center field, with Aaron Altherr making the catch at the track.
Rucinski threw his first three-up, three-down inning in the third, using only 10 pitches retire the heart of the Bears' order.
Then in the fourth, Rucinski pulled off another impressive Houdini act, escaping unscathed after allowing a single and a double at the onset.
With runners at second and third, Rucinski induced three straight groundballs. Jose Miguel Fernandez, not exactly fleet of foot, wasn't able to come home from third on the first two of those grounders. And for the final out, second baseman Park Min-woo made a fine sliding grab to nab Heo Kyoung-min at first.
Drew Rucinski of the NC Dinos (L) raises his arms in celebration after getting out of a bases loaded jam against the Doosan Bears in the top of the second inning of Game 6 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Rucinski allowed a leadoff double to Jung Soo-bin in the fifth inning, but then retired the next three batters in order.
The Dinos broke the scoreless tie in the bottom fifth, putting Rucinski in line for his second win of the series.
With Rucinski having thrown 85 pitches through five, the Dinos summoned another starter, Mike Wright, from the bullpen.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--(LEAD) Justice minister orders suspension of top prosecutor from duty amid feud over reforms, invest

(LEAD) Justice minister orders suspension of top prosecutor from duty amid feud over reforms, investigations

(ATTN: ADDS more details throughout, photo)
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae on Tuesday suspended Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl from his duty, in an unprecedented move amid a feud over prosecution reforms and various investigations involving Yoon's aide and family members.
"The ministry has been investigating various allegations against the top prosecutor and found out some serious misconduct," the justice minister said during a briefing.
As reasons to bar him from his duty and seek disciplinary actions, the minister cited what she called an "improper" meeting with a media executive, the illegal inspection of judges involved in controversial cases, interference with the prosecution's investigations to protect people close to him and damage to public trust in the political neutrality of the prosecution. She also cited his alleged leak of information to the press on the Supreme Prosecutors Office's launch of an audit into his close aide involved in an alleged blackmail case.
She said that Yoon violated ethics by meeting with Hong Seok-hyun, chairman of JoongAng Holdings, the media group that owns local daily JoongAng Ilbo and cable channel JTBC, in November 2018, who could be an interested party in a case being probed by prosecutors. Yoon was the chief prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office at that time. Choo didn't offer further details.
She also said Yoon had impeded the ministry's lawful probe by not responding to recent written investigation inquiries.
"As the justice minister, who has the utmost authority to oversee the prosecution, I decided that it is not tolerable to let him continue his duty," Choo said.
Shortly after the surprise announcement, Yoon called it "unfair" and said he would "take legal action."
"Reflecting on my past deeds, I have done nothing to be ashamed of as prosecutor general and have worked hard to protect the political neutrality of the prosecution," Yoon said.
The file photos shows Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae (L) and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl (R). (Yonhap)
The ongoing clash between the ministry and the prosecution largely began last year following controversial investigations into former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, a key architect of Moon's drive for prosecution reform, and his family.
Reform of the prosecution has been a key agenda of the Moon administration amid long-held public perception that the state prosecution has wielded excessive power without adequate checks and balances.
In recent months, clashes between Choo and Yoon have intensified over a series of investigations, including a financial fraud scheme at Lime Asset Management Co. and an alleged blackmail case in which prosecutor Han Dong-hoon, Yoon's close aide, was involved.
The minister has, multiple times, accused Yoon of failing to sufficiently investigate the cases or of abusing his power, or of interfering in investigations to protect his associates and family members. Yoon's wife and mother-in-law have been investigated by prosecutors in separate criminal cases.
President Moon Jae-in was briefed on the ministry's decision shortly before the announcement but did not make a comment on it, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--(LEAD) 3 killed in POSCO plant explosion

The incident took place at around 4 p.m. with a roaring sound at its plant in Gwangyang , 420 kilometers @ @ @ @ @ a blaze that was put out in about 20 minutes , according to the officials @

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout with additional casualty; CHANGES photo)
GWANGYANG, South Korea, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- Three people were killed in an explosion that occurred at a plant operated by South Korea's top steelmaker, POSCO, on Tuesday, fire officials said.
The incident took place at around 4 p.m. with a roaring sound at its plant in Gwangyang, 420 kilometers southwest of Seoul, involving a blaze that was put out in about 20 minutes, according to the officials.
Authorities said the explosion appears to have started near a furnace while workers were handling high-pressure gas, adding that they are looking into the exact cause of the incident.
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--Justice minister orders suspension of top prosecutor from duty amid feud over reforms, investigation

Justice minister orders suspension of top prosecutor from duty amid feud over reforms, investigations

As reasons to bar him from his duty and seek disciplinary actions , the minister cited what she called an @ @ @ @ @ media executives , the inspection of judges involved in controversial cases and interference with the @ @ @ @ @ people close to him .

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae on Tuesday suspended Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl from his duty, in an unprecedented move amid a feud over prosecution reforms and various investigations involving Yoon's aide and family members.
"The ministry has been investigating various allegations against the top prosecutor and found out some serious misconduct," the justice minister said during a briefing.
As reasons to bar him from his duty and seek disciplinary actions, the minister cited what she called an "improper" meeting with media executives, the inspection of judges involved in controversial cases and interference with the prosecution's investigations to protect people close to him.
Also she said Yoon had impeded the ministry's lawful probe by not responding to recent written investigation inquiries.
"As the justice minister, who has the utmost authority to oversee the prosecution, I decided that it is not tolerable to let him continue his duty," Choo said.
Shortly after the surprise announcement, Yoon called it "unfair" and said he would take legal action.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--(URGENT) Top prosecutor pledges to take legal action against justice minister's suspension order

(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--2020-11-24--2 killed, 1 missing in POSCO plant fire

2 killed, 1 missing in POSCO plant fire

GWANGYANG , South Korea , Nov. 24 ( Yonhap ) -- At least two people were killed and another went @ @ @ @ @ broke out at a plant operated by South Korea 's top steelmaker , POSCO , @ @ @ @ @ said .

GWANGYANG, South Korea, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- At least two people were killed and another went missing in a fire that broke out at a plant operated by South Korea's top steelmaker, POSCO, on Tuesday, fire officials said.
The fire occurred at around 4 p.m. with a roaring sound at its plant in Gwangyang, 420 kilometers southwest of Seoul, according to the officials.
Authorities said the blaze appears to have started near a furnace, adding that they are looking into the exact cause of the incident.
This undated photo provided by POSCO shows its plant in Gwangyang, 420 kilometers southwest of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--(LEAD) USFK reports one COVID-19 patient at Pyeongtaek headquarters

It is the first case of COVID-19 that USFK has reported at Camp Humphreys since early last month .
The @ @ @ @ @ number of new coronavirus cases among USFK-affiliated people to 369 , most of whom tested @ @ @ @ @ the United States .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info, USFK commander's comment)
SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- An American soldier stationed at the U.S. Forces Korea headquarters in the city of Pyeongtaek tested positive for the new coronavirus Tuesday, the U.S. military said.
It is the first case of COVID-19 that USFK has reported at Camp Humphreys since early last month. The latest case brought the total number of new coronavirus cases among USFK-affiliated people to 369, most of whom tested positive upon arrival here from the United States.
"The soldier did the right thing by adhering to our core tenets by immediately seeking medical treatment when he was feeling sick," USFK Commander Gen. Robert Abrams said.
The soldier is currently in isolation at a barrack designated to house confirmed virus patients at Humphreys, the U.S. military said.
"Contact tracing is ongoing, and USFK medical teams are actively ensuring that all known Camp Humphreys facilities visited by the Soldier are thoroughly cleaned," the U.S. military said in a release.
A U.S. military officer checks the temperature of a driver in front of the main gate of U.S. Forces Korea's Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on Feb. 28, 2020, in this photo provided by the U.S. military. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--FMs of S. Korea, New Zealand discuss bilateral cooperation in phone talks

They also shared understanding that there is great potential for the two countries to work together in hydrogen-related fields , @ @ @ @ @ aim to go carbon neutral by 2050 , and agreed to expand cooperation to that @ @ @ @ @ ministry .

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap) -- The top diplomats of South Korea and New Zealand spoke over the phone Tuesday and discussed bilateral cooperation in areas including the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and green growth, Seoul's foreign ministry said.
The phone talks between Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and her counterpart, Nanaia Mahuta, marked their first since Mahuta took office early this month following New Zealand's election that earned Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern a second term.
In the talks, Kang first congratulated the new minister on assuming the post and wished Wellington success in the hosting of the Partnership for Green Growth and Global Goals (P4G) 2030, a multilateral initiative for sustainable growth, the ministry said in a release.
The two ministers agreed to cooperate in the development and fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines through the multilateral platform known as the COVAX Facility.
They also shared understanding that there is great potential for the two countries to work together in hydrogen-related fields, since both Seoul and Wellington aim to go carbon neutral by 2050, and agreed to expand cooperation to that end, according to the ministry.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks during a virtual ASEAN Plus Three meeting in this photo provided by her ministry on Sept. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--N. Korea publishes picture album featuring weapons under leader Kim Jong-un

The album also shows photos of the first test-launch of its newest submarine-launched ballistic missile ( SLBM ) , the @ @ @ @ @ and the test-firing of the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile ( ICBM ) in November 2017 @

SEOUL, Nov. 24 (Yonhap)-- North Korea on Tuesday published a picture album showing off an intercontinental ballistic missile and other weapons, amid its unusually long silence on the U.S. election results.
The 120-page album, titled "For Strengthening the National Defence Capability" published by Foreign Languages Publishing House, features the history of missile and weapons development since leader Kim Jong-un took power in 2011.
The album includes photos from his tactical training of marines in 2012 to the North's latest military parade marking the 75th founding anniversary of its ruling Workers' Party last month.
The album also shows photos of the first test-launch of its newest submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), the Pukguksong-3, in October 2019 and the test-firing of the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in November 2017.
It also featured photos of its new SLBM labeled "Pukguksong-4ㅅ" and its new ICBM unveiled at the military parade last month.
The album said that strengthening the North's weapons was part of its efforts to keep its autonomy amid protracted sanctions.
The release of the album came as the North has stayed mum for more than two weeks on Joe Biden's election as U.S. president.
It is rare for the North to continue its silence for such a long period. Pyongyang has mentioned or issued a statement within a few days of previous U.S. presidential elections.
This image shows the front cover of a photo album titled "For Strengthening the National Defence Capability" released by the North's Foreign Languages Publishing House on Nov. 24, 2020. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
This image shows the test-firing of North Korea's Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile in November 2017, featured in a photo album released by the North's Foreign Languages Publishing House on Nov. 24, 2020. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-24--(URGENT) Justice minister orders suspension of top prosecutor from duty amid feud over reform