yna--2020-11-18--(LEAD) Bears beat Dinos 5-4 to even Korean Series behind home runs, lucky bounces

The Bears scored twice in the top second with a couple of grounders against Koo .
With runners at first @ @ @ @ @ hit a slow roller to third baseman Park Sok-min , who charged hard to field @ @ @ @ @ the ball out of his glove .
Park then made a low throw that skipped @ @ @ @ @ , and Kim Jae-ho scored from second .

(ATTN: ADDS comments throughout, photo)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Kim Jae-ho smacked his first career postseason home run and delivered an RBI single, helping the Doosan Bears beat the NC Dinos 5-4 to even the Korean Series at one game apiece.
Playing in his 79th postseason game, Kim blasted a solo home run off NC starter Koo Chang-mo in the top of the fourth inning at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. Doosan starter Chris Flexen earned his first Korean Series victory after holding the Dinos to one run over six solid innings. He scattered five hits while striking out three and walking three.
The Bears walked a tightrope in the bottom ninth and survived a three-run rally by the Dinos.
Kim Jae-ho of the Doosan Bears celebrates his solo home run against the NC Dinos in the top of the fourth inning of Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
Game 3 is back at the dome at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
The Bears scored twice in the top second with a couple of grounders against Koo. With runners at first and second, Park Kun-woo hit a slow roller to third baseman Park Sok-min, who charged hard to field it but had trouble getting the ball out of his glove. Park then made a low throw that skipped past first baseman Kang Jin-sung, and Kim Jae-ho scored from second.
Heo Kyoung-min, the next batter, hit a soft grounder to shortstop No Jin-hyuk, whose only play was at first base. Jose Miguel Fernandez came home to put the Bears ahead 2-0.
The Dinos cut the deficit in half in the bottom second thanks to Kwon Hui-dong's RBI single, but missed out on a bases-loaded opportunity later that same inning.
Flexen walked Aaron Altherr to put three men on, but Kang Jin-sung, swinging on the first-pitch cutter, grounded into a 5-3 double play.
Park Kun-woo of the Doosan Bears (L) reaches first base safely on a throwing error by NC Dinos' third baseman Park Sok-min in the top of the second inning of Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
Third baseman Heo Kyoung-min fielded the ball and stepped on the bag nearly at the same time, and threw to first to complete the twin killing.
The Bears went up 3-1 in the top fourth, as Kim Jae-ho drilled a first-pitch fastball from Koo and deposited into left field seats for a solo homer.
The Dinos tried to get something cooking in the bottom fourth, but couldn't score after loading the bases with one out.
Altherr stepped up with the bases full, and then sent a flyball to right field for what appeared to be a sacrifice fly.
But right fielder Park Kun-woo one-hopped a perfect throw to catcher Park Sei-hyok, who then tagged out Yang Eui-ji on the hand a split second before the runner could reach the plate.
The Dinos had a runner on in four of the first five innings, but they hit into five double plays, one of them more peculiar than the others.
Park Sei-hyok of the Doosan Bears (L) tags out Yang Eui-ji of the NC Dinos at home plate in the bottom of the fourth inning of Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
In the bottom sixth, with Yang Eui-ji at second, Park Sok-min drilled a line drive off Flexen's leg. The ball hung in the air and landed in the glove of first baseman Oh Jae-il for the first out. Yang had already reached third by the time Oh threw to second to complete a highly unusual double play.
Flexen sustained bruising to his right knee and left arm on the play.
The Bears took a 4-1 lead on Kim Jae-ho's single in the eighth, and Jose Miguel Fernandez, who grounded into two double plays in Game 1 loss, joined the party with a solo home run in the ninth.
Those runs loomed large, as the Dinos made things interesting against closer Lee Young-ha in the bottom ninth. With the bases loaded, Altherr drove in one run with a single. The bases were still full when Kang knocked a single to left to make it 5-4.
The hit chased Lee from the game, and new reliever Kim Min-gyu put out the fire by getting the final two outs.
Doosan manager Kim Tae-hyoung thanked his lucky stars for all of those bounces and double plays.
"You may call it fortunate, but we certainly had a lot of plays go our way in some key situations," Kim said. "(Right fielder) Park Kun-woo made that great throw in the fourth, and those things added up to help us win this game."
Koo took the loss for the Dinos after giving up three runs -- one unearned -- on seven hits and two walks in six innings.
Doosan Bears players celebrate their 5-4 victory over the NC Dinos in Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
NC manager Lee Dong-wook said he was mostly pleased with Koo's performance. The lefty had missed three months of action in the second half of the regular season, and there were lingering question marks about his durability.
"He had some trouble with his control in the first couple of innings, but he settled down after that," Lee said. "At least he gave us six innings. Even though he gave up that home run to Kim Jae-ho, he was pretty solid."
As for those double plays and tough bounces, Lee said he wasn't going to lose sleep over things that were out of his control.
"When hard-hit balls went right at fielders, there was nothing we could do about it," Lee said. "I told the guys we'd have our chance. And we did in the bottom ninth. Our players never lost their focus until the very end, and I am grateful for that. I think we should be able to build on that ninth inning in Game 3."
Chris Flexen of the Doosan Bears pitches against the NC Dinos in the bottom of the first inning of Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
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(END)


yna--2020-11-18--Veteran shortstop does damage with bat, glove in Korean Series win

In the bottom fifth inning , with Park Min-woo at first , Kim Jae-ho snared a line drive off the @ @ @ @ @ Park took off before Lee made contact , and by the time Kim caught the @ @ @ @ @ past the second base bag .
It was one of the easiest double plays Kim @ @ @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Doosan Bears' shortstop Kim Jae-ho did everything in his power to help his club even the Korean Series against the NC Dinos on Wednesday.
At the plate, Kim launched his first career postseason home run and hit an RBI single. On the field, he was part of two of five double plays that the Bears turned to snuff out one Dinos rally after another.
Kim opened the fourth inning with a solo home run off starter Koo Chang-mo. He turned on a first-pitch fastball that caught the outer part of the plate and sent it over the left-field wall.
Kim Jae-ho of the Doosan Bears hits an RBI single against the NC Dinos in the top of the eighth inning of Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
It came in Kim's 79th career postseason game and 207th at-bat. He also set a Korean Series record for most games played before hitting the first career homer: The shot came in his 37th game in the championship round.
And with the Bears nursing a 3-1 lead, Kim provided some breathing room with an RBI single in the top eighth. As pinch runner Lee Yu-chan scored, Kim tried to take second base but got thrown out.
The 35-year-old veteran, as he often does after many different types of plays, could only smile.
And Kim had much to smile about on defense, too.
Doosan Bears' shortstop Kim Jae-ho (L) completes a double play at second base against the NC Dinos in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
In the bottom fifth inning, with Park Min-woo at first, Kim Jae-ho snared a line drive off the bat of Lee Myung-ki. Park took off before Lee made contact, and by the time Kim caught the liner, Park was already past the second base bag. It was one of the easiest double plays Kim turned in his career.
The double play to end all double plays came in the sixth inning, with Flexen taking one for the team.
With Yang at second, Park Sok-min smacked one off Flexen's leg. The ball never hit the ground and instead floated in the air. First baseman Oh Jae-il settled under it and made the catch for the first out, and threw to Kim covering second base to double up Yang.
Kim batted sixth in this game, and the bottom four hitters went 7-for-14 with two home runs, three RBIs and four runs scored.
The most encouraging performance for the Bears was a two-hit night by Oh Jae-il, who was moved down from sixth to eighth in the lineup for Game 2.
Oh had gone 0-for-14 with nine strikeouts over his past four playoff games before Wednesday. After striking out in the second inning, Oh singled in each of his next two trips to the plate.
Kim Jae-ho of the Doosan Bears celebrates his solo home run against the NC Dinos in the top of the fourth inning of Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
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(END)


yna--2020-11-18--Bears beat Dinos 5-4 to even Korean Series behind home runs, lucky bounces

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Kim Jae-ho smacked his first career postseason home run and delivered an RBI single, helping the Doosan Bears beat the NC Dinos 5-4 to even the Korean Series at one game apiece.
Playing in his 79th postseason game, Kim blasted a solo home run off NC starter Koo Chang-mo in the top of the fourth inning at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. Doosan starter Chris Flexen earned his first Korean Series victory after holding the Dinos to one run over six solid innings. He scattered five hits while striking out three and walking three.
The Bears walked a tightrope in the bottom ninth and survived a three-run rally by the Dinos.
Kim Jae-ho of the Doosan Bears celebrates his solo home run against the NC Dinos in the top of the fourth inning of Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
Game 3 is back at the dome at 6:30 p.m. Friday.
The Bears scored twice in the top second with a couple of grounders against Koo. With runners at first and second, Park Kun-woo hit a slow roller to third baseman Park Sok-min, who charged hard to field it but had trouble getting the ball out of his glove. Park then made a low throw that skipped past first baseman Kang Jin-sung, and Kim Jae-ho scored from second.
Heo Kyoung-min, the next batter, hit a soft grounder to shortstop No Jin-hyuk, whose only play was at first base. Jose Miguel Fernandez came home to put the Bears ahead 2-0.
The Dinos cut the deficit in half in the bottom second thanks to Kwon Hui-dong's RBI single, but missed out on a bases-loaded opportunity later that same inning.
Flexen walked Aaron Altherr to put three men on, but Kang Jin-sung, swinging on the first-pitch cutter, grounded into a 5-3 double play.
Park Kun-woo of the Doosan Bears (L) reaches first base safely on a throwing error by NC Dinos' third baseman Park Sok-min in the top of the second inning of Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
Third baseman Heo Kyoung-min fielded the ball and stepped on the bag nearly at the same time, and threw to first to complete the twin killing.
The Bears went up 3-1 in the top fourth, as Kim Jae-ho drilled a first-pitch fastball from Koo and deposited into left field seats for a solo homer.
The Dinos tried to get something cooking in the bottom fourth, but couldn't score after loading the bases with one out.
Altherr stepped up with the bases full, and then sent a flyball to right field for what appeared to be a sacrifice fly.
But right fielder Park Kun-woo one-hopped a perfect throw to catcher Park Sei-hyok, who then tagged out Yang Eui-ji on the hand a split second before the runner could reach the plate.
The Dinos had a runner on in four of the first five innings, but they hit into five double plays, one of them more peculiar than the others.
Park Sei-hyok of the Doosan Bears (L) tags out Yang Eui-ji of the NC Dinos at home plate in the bottom of the fourth inning of Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
In the bottom sixth, with Yang Eui-ji at second, Park Sok-min drilled a line drive off Flexen's leg. The ball hung in the air and landed in the glove of first baseman Oh Jae-il for the first out. Yang had already reached third by the time Oh threw to second to complete a highly unusual double play.
Flexen sustained bruising to his right knee and left arm on the play.
The Bears took a 4-1 lead on Kim Jae-ho's single in the eighth, and Jose Miguel Fernandez, who grounded into two double plays in Game 1 loss, joined the party with a solo home run in the ninth.
Those runs loomed large, as the Dinos made things interesting against closer Lee Young-ha in the bottom ninth. With the bases loaded, Altherr drove in one run with a single. The bases were still full when Kang knocked a single to left to make it 5-4.
The hit chased Lee from the game, and new reliever Kim Min-gyu put out the fire by getting the final two outs.
Koo took the loss for the Dinos after giving up three runs -- one unearned -- on seven hits and two walks in six innings.
Chris Flexen of the Doosan Bears pitches against the NC Dinos in the bottom of the first inning of Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
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(END)


yna--2020-11-18--S. Korea bans imports of Swedish poultry following AI outbreak

The Ministry of Agriculture , Food and Rural Affairs said it began the ban on live Swedish chicks and eggs @ @ @ @ @ Sweden .

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's agriculture ministry said Wednesday it has banned poultry imports from Sweden following an outbreak of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) in the European country.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said it began the ban on live Swedish chicks and eggs after H5N8 was detected in Sweden.
The ministry recommended that locals refrain from visiting livestock farms and bringing animals from the affected region.
Highly pathogenic AI is very contagious and can make poultry very sick or even cause death.
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--Apple to reduce app store commission for small developers

According to a new program to be adopted on Jan. 1 next year , Apple will only charge a 15-percent @ @ @ @ @ annual revenue less than US $ 1 million in 2020 .

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Apple Inc. said Wednesday that it will reduce the standard commission from 30 percent to 15 percent for small-sized app developers at its app store starting next year.
Apple currently takes a 30-percent cut of the developers' revenue when iPhone or iPad users make purchases. Virtually all in-app purchases are subject to the fees.
According to a new program to be adopted on Jan. 1 next year, Apple will only charge a 15-percent fee on app developers with annual revenue less than US$1 million in 2020.
App developers with annual revenue of more than $1 million will still have pay the current 30-percent commission.
Apple said the program is aimed at helping small business owners that have been dealt a serious blow amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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(END)


yna--2020-11-18--(LEAD) Dinos' Aaron Altherr apologizes for refusing to wear mask during Korean Series

Aaron Altherr of the NC Dinos skipped the award ceremony and his postgame press conference on Tuesday , after being @ @ @ @ @ Game in the Dinos ' 5-3 victory over the Doosan Bears in Game 1 of @ @ @ @ @ hit a three-run home run at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul , but told the @ @ @ @ @ Organization ( KBO ) that he would n't be able to keep his mask on @ @ @ @ @ would have trouble breathing .

(ATTN: UPDATES with league's penalty in paras 5-7)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- An American baseball player competing in the South Korean baseball championship series apologized on Wednesday for refusing to wear a mask during official pregame and postgame functions.
Aaron Altherr of the NC Dinos skipped the award ceremony and his postgame press conference on Tuesday, after being named the Player of the Game in the Dinos' 5-3 victory over the Doosan Bears in Game 1 of the Korean Series. Altherr hit a three-run home run at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, but told the club and the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) that he wouldn't be able to keep his mask on for the events because he would have trouble breathing.
Aaron Altherr of the NC Dinos watches his three-run home run against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the fourth inning of Game 1 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Under the league health and safety protocols during the coronavirus pandemic, players must don masks for pregame and postgame events. They also must wear masks during the game, except for the time when they're on the field.
Altherr was also photographed without a mask during the Korean Series opening ceremony on Tuesday.
The KBO fined Altherr and three other NC players 200,000 won (US$180) each for their violations. Under the league rules, players receive a verbal warning for their first offense and are fined for their next offense. A third offense results in a 1 million won fine.
The KBO said Altherr and his three teammates, whom it declined to identify, were the first players to be fined for failing to wear masks.
The mask controversy put a damper on the Dinos' first Korean Series win in franchise history. A Dinos official told reporters Wednesday, prior to Game 2, that Altherr expressed his contrition.
"He recognizes the gravity of the situation," the team official said. "He said he was sorry to have caused trouble, and said he will now respect and follow health protocols."
NC manager Lee Dong-wook said in his pregame media session that he will make sure Altherr will join the rest of the team in adhering to those rules.
Asked if Altherr is particularly difficult to control, Lee said, "No, not at all."
Drew Rucinski, the winning pitcher from Game 1, was also asked about the situation in his pregame press conference, and the American pitcher said his and the team's focus is solely on baseball.
"We're here in the Korean Series and that's the first question I get. I'm not real thrilled with that," Rucinski said. "Our guys are focused on baseball. (Altherr) is focused on baseball. He's focused on hitting the baseball every day out there and playing great defense. We're going to play baseball and that's our business."
Altherr didn't respond to a text message from Yonhap News Agency sent earlier Wednesday seeking comment.
Aaron Altherr of the NC Dinos hits a three-run home run against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the fourth inning of Game 1 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
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(END)


yna--2020-11-18--Bears' manager not believing in moral victory after losing Korean Series opener

`` He still has the ability to hit for power , and we 'll stick with him , '' Kim @ @ @ @ @ n't really have anything special to say to him now , other than to tell @ @ @ @ @ much . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Chasing his fourth Korean Series championship ring as manager of the Doosan Bears, Kim Tae-hyoung isn't one to find reasons for a moral victory following a loss.
His team dropped to the NC Dinos 5-3 to start the best-of-seven series on Tuesday at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. They were down 4-0 early and cut it to 4-3, before the Dinos got an insurance run in the bottom eighth.
Asked on Wednesday if he had any positive takeaway, Kim said, "No. We lost the game. There's nothing to gain from losses."
Park Kun-woo of the Doosan Bears (R) walks off after losing to the NC Dinos 5-3 in Game 1 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Kim thought for a moment and said he was encouraged by the performance of his bullpen, which held the Dinos to one hit and one run over the final three innings. But Kim quickly added, "We still have to win games."
And trying to even the series Wednesday, Kim juggled his lineup for his third straight postseason game, dating back to the previous series.
First baseman Oh Jae-il, who is 0-for-14 with nine strikeouts in his past four playoff games, moved down from sixth to eighth. Jose Miguel Fernandez, the regular season hits king who hit into two double plays Tuesday, will bat seventh.
Kim said he has no choice but to wait on Oh to turn things around.
"He still has the ability to hit for power, and we'll stick with him," Kim said. "I don't really have anything special to say to him now, other than to tell him not to worry too much."
The Dinos' infield shifted heavily against Oh, with all infielders crowding the right side -- not that it mattered much because he struck out three times and reached once on a catcher's interference.
Kim said there's no specific solution to shifts, adding, "It's hard for those guys to suddenly start going the other way. They're going to have to make their own decisions."
Kim Jae-ho of the Doosan Bears hits a sacrifice fly against the NC Dinos in the top of the sixth inning of Game 1 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
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(END)


yna--2020-11-18--Moon congratulates pro-Korea U.S. lawmakers on reelections

Cheong Wa Dae explained that the lawmakers were well recognized for their congressional activities on Korean issues , such as @ @ @ @ @ on the strengthening of the bilateral alliance and calling for a declaration of the end @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in has formally congratulated four U.S. lawmakers on being re-elected, as they are known for supporting the bilateral alliance and the Korean Peninsula peace initiative, according to Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday.
Moon sent congratulatory telegrams to U.S. Democratic Party Sen. Ed Markey, Rep. Roh Khanna, Rep. Andy Kim and Rep. Brad Sherman, thanking them for their efforts in leading the advancement of the South Korea-U.S. relationship.
The president stated that the interest and support they have shown in the bilateral relationship have served as the foundation for the strengthening of the two countries' alliance.
Moon also asked for their continued support towards the alliance so that it can contribute to the Korean Peninsula's peace, as well as the safety and the prosperity of the international community.
Cheong Wa Dae explained that the lawmakers were well recognized for their congressional activities on Korean issues, such as submitting bills and resolutions centered on the strengthening of the bilateral alliance and calling for a declaration of the end of the Korean War.
This file photo shows President Moon Jae-in (R) shaking hands with U.S. Sen. Ed Markey at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Aug. 21, 2017. (Yonhap)
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(END)


yna--2020-11-18--Dinos' starter Rucinski embraces nervous energy for 1st Korean Series win

`` If you 're not nervous , I do n't know why you 're playing this game , honestly , @ @ @ @ @ interview at Gocheok Sky Dome on Wednesday , prior to Game 2 .
`` That @ @ @ @ @ us for the season so far , and you 've just got to find a @ @ @ @ @ do the best you can with it .
Obviously I think everyone that plays this @ @ @ @ @ they do or not , has the nerves going into the game like that .
@

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Canadian Olympic triathlon champion Simon Whitfield once said of nerves: "Don't try to get rid of the butterflies. Get them to fly in formation."
NC Dinos' right-hander Drew Rucinski probably didn't have Whitfield on his mind when he started Game 1 of the Korean Series against the Doosan Bears in Seoul on Tuesday night, but he took a similar approach in trying to handle and embrace his nervous energy.
Drew Rucinski of the NC Dinos celebrates after getting out of a bases-loaded jam against the Doosan Bears in the top of the fifth inning of Game 1 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
He was successful in that regard, as he threw 5 1/3 solid innings for a 5-3 victory. Rucinski was the winning pitcher in the Dinos' first Korean Series win in franchise history.
"If you're not nervous, I don't know why you're playing this game, honestly," Rucinski said in an interview at Gocheok Sky Dome on Wednesday, prior to Game 2. "That was the biggest game for us for the season so far, and you've just got to find a way to harness those and do the best you can with it. Obviously I think everyone that plays this game, whether they say they do or not, has the nerves going into the game like that."
Rucinski gave up three runs but only one was earned. He struck out four while giving up five hits and three walks.
"It's exciting to finally get to be playing baseball again," Rucinski said, after the Dinos had 16 days off between games because they earned a bye to the Korean Series as the regular season champions. "You're not going to have your best stuff every night out there and strike everyone out. You just got to go out there and find ways to get out and keep the team in the game. I feel like I did a good job at that."
Drew Rucinski of the NC Dinos speaks to reporters before Game 2 of the Korean Series against the Doosan Bears at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Rucinski pitched himself out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning. He fielded a comebacker off the bat of Jose Miguel Fernandez. He turned toward second base to start a double play, but shortstop No Jin-hyuk directed him toward home instead. Rucinski calmly threw home to get the force, and the slow-footed Fernandez was out by half a step at first for the inning-ending double play.
He said winning the first game is all nice but he also realizes there is much more baseball left to play.
"That's a great start for us, but that's all it is. It is a start," he said of the best-of-seven series. "We got a ways to go here, and we got to keep competing and keep doing our best we can. But to get a win in the first one is huge for us, and I'd love to see the competitiveness of our guys out there. Hopefully, we can keep that rolling today."
Drew Rucinski of the NC Dinos pitches against the Doosan Bears in Game 1 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

The Seoul High Court sentenced Ahn Joon-young , the producer of the audition program `` Produce , '' to two @ @ @ @ @ of 37 million ( US $ 30,000 ) , and chief producer Kim Yong-beom to @ @ @ @ @ the same punishments ruled in May by the Seoul Central District Court .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.
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Celltrion eyes emergency authorization for COVID-19 treatment next month
SEOUL -- South Korean pharmaceutical giant Celltrion Inc.'s coronavirus treatment is likely to file for emergency authorization use from local drug authorities next month, the company's chief said Wednesday.
CT-P59, anti-COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment, is currently undergoing a phase two clinical trial locally after successfully completing a phase one clinical trial on healthy volunteers who had not contracted COVID-19.
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(LEAD) Korean Air chief vows no job cuts in Asiana acquisition
SEOUL -- Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's biggest carrier, will proceed with the deal to acquire its smaller local rival Asiana Airlines Inc. without job cuts, the company's chairman said Wednesday.
"The company made a decision to acquire (Asiana Airlines) to make a contribution to the development of the country's airline industry," Korean Air Chairman Cho Won-tae told reporters after attending a South Korea-U.S. business leaders' meeting in Seoul.
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(LEAD) Growing COVID-19 cases deepen worries over potential disruption to college entrance exam
SEOUL -- A recent surge in coronavirus cases has increased anxiety about whether the national college entrance exam, the biggest academic event of the year, can be held safely in South Korea next month.
Education authorities are on high alert ahead of the Dec. 3 event, having postponed the exam, originally slated for Nov. 19, in late March, when the country was hit by the first wave of the pandemic.
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(LEAD) Suh, Miller reaffirm efforts to strengthen Korea-U.S. alliance
WASHINGTON -- South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook and acting U.S. Defense Secretary Christopher Miller spoke by phone and reaffirmed their commitment to the alliance between the two countries, the Pentagon said Tuesday.
Miller also reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to South Korea's defense in his first phone call with Suh since taking office earlier this month after President Donald Trump fired Miller's predecessor, Mark Esper, just a few months before leaving office.
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(LEAD) Appeals court upholds prison terms for producers of Mnet's 'Produce' series over vote-rigging
SEOUL -- An appellate court on Wednesday maintained prison terms for two disgraced producers of the popular music channel Mnet for rigging the vote results of a popular audition program.
The Seoul High Court sentenced Ahn Joon-young, the producer of the audition program "Produce," to two years in prison and forfeiture of 37 million (US$30,000), and chief producer Kim Yong-beom to 20 months in prison, the same punishments ruled in May by the Seoul Central District Court.
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Dinos' Aaron Altherr apologizes for refusing to wear mask during Korean Series
SEOUL -- An American baseball player competing in the South Korean baseball championship series apologized on Wednesday for refusing to wear a mask during official pregame and postgame functions.
Aaron Altherr of the NC Dinos skipped the award ceremony and his postgame press conference on Tuesday, after being named the Player of the Game in the Dinos' 5-3 victory over the Doosan Bears in Game 1 of the Korean Series.
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(LEAD) Seoul stocks hit nearly 3-year high; Korean won at 29-month high
SEOUL -- South Korean shares hit the highest in 33 months Wednesday on a rally in bio stocks amid concerns over a flare-up of new coronavirus outbreaks. The Korean won surged to a 29-month high against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 6.49 points, or 0.26 percent, to close at 2,545.64. The reading marks the highest closing since 2,568.54 points on Feb. 1, 2018.
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--(2nd LD) Korean Air chief vows no job cuts in Asiana acquisition

Asked about the possibility that the integrated airline will sharply raise airfares using its monopolistic position after acquisition , the @ @ @ @ @ may be such concerns in the markets but there will be no sharp increase in @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS KCGI's injunction against KDB's plan in 13th para, stock prices in last para)
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's biggest carrier, will proceed with the deal to acquire its smaller local rival Asiana Airlines Inc. without job cuts, the company's chairman said Wednesday.
"The company made a decision to acquire (Asiana Airlines) to make a contribution to the development of the country's airline industry," Korean Air Chairman Cho Won-tae told reporters after attending a South Korea-U.S. business leaders' meeting in Seoul.
Korean Air and Asiana have redundant routes and workforce. But it is possible to utilize all the routes and workers if an integrated company expands routes and diversifies business, he said.
This photo taken on Nov. 18, 2020, shows Korean Air Chairman Cho Won-tae receiving questions from reporters on the company's plan to acquire Asiana Airlines after attending the 32nd Korea-U.S. business leaders' meeting at the Federation of Korean Industries building in Yeouido, Seoul. (Yonhap)
Cho rejected allegations that the government gave a special favor for the deal.
He said the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB), the main creditor of Asiana, first asked him if he has an interest in acquiring Asiana and , "I said yes. We met several times to initiate the deal."
His remarks came a day after the KDB signed an agreement with Hanjin KAL Corp., the owner of Korean Air, to inject 800 billion won (US$723 million) into the parent firm through a rights offering and convertible bonds. Hanjin KAL will then participate in a 2.5 trillion-won stock sale by Korean Air that will used to acquire Asiana.
Korean Air plans to raise 2.5 trillion won via rights offering early next year. Of the proceeds, it will spend 1.5 trillion won to buy new shares to be sold by Asiana and 300 billion won worth of Asiana perpetual bonds.
KDB will have a 10.66 percent stake in Hanjin KAL after investing the 800 billion won in the holding firm and is widely expected to help Chairman Cho and his related parties in fending off offensives from an activist fund attempting to take control of its stake in Hanjin KAL.
Cho also serves as chairman of Hanjin KAL, the holding firm of airline conglomerate Hanjin Group.
This illustrated image shows Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae (R) and his elder sister Hyun-ah with Hanjin Group's logo in the background. (Yonhap)
The 44-year-old chairman had sparred with his elder sister Hyun-ah, 45, as she formed an alliance with homegrown equity fund Korea Corporate Governance Improvement (KCGI) and local builder Bando Engineering & Construction Co. in January. The alliance argued that inviting a professional manager would help improve Hanjin Group's management, financial status and shareholder value.
But the three-party alliance failed to dethrone the chairman and is widely expected to make another attempt at Hanjin KAL's shareholders meeting in March next year.
The alliance has recently increased its combined stake in Hanjin KAL to 46.71 percent, higher than the 41.3 percent held by Won-tae, his mother, younger sister, related parties, Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Kakao Corp., the operator of the country's leading messaging app.
On Wednesday, the KCGI filed an injunction against the KDB's plan to participate in Hanjin KAL's rights offering on the grounds that the share sale to the designated third party will damage the holding firm's existing shareholders' value.
Hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines have suspended most of their flights on international routes since March and have struggled with poor earnings results as travel demand dried up.
South Korea's antitrust regulator will review the deal over the issue of monopoly. If things go smoothly, the deal is expected to be completed by June next year.
Asked about the possibility that the integrated airline will sharply raise airfares using its monopolistic position after acquisition, the chairman said, "There may be such concerns in the markets but there will be no sharp increase in airfares."
The majority 30.77 percent stake in Asiana is currently held by Kumho Industrial Co., an affiliate of airline-to-petrochemical conglomerate Kumho Asiana Group.
Korean Air, currently the world's 18th-largest airline by fleet, will become Asiana's biggest shareholder with a 63.9 percent stake if the acquisition is completed.
Korean Air and Asiana collectively have 247 aircraft, exceeding Air France's 220 and falling slightly behind Lufthansa Deutsche Lufthansa AG's 280.
Korean Air had 22.46 trillion won in debt on assets worth 25.51 trillion won as of the end of September, while Asiana held debts worth 11 trillion won on assets worth 12.34 trillion won at the end of June.
In the process of the deal, Asiana's heavy debts remain a major worry for Korean Air.
On Wednesday, Hanjin KAL fell 0.4 percent to 74,600 won, Korean Air declined 2.7 percent to 23,900 won and Asiana Airlines plunged 10 percent to 5,220 won on profit taking, all underperforming the broader KOSPI's 0.3 percent gain.
The graphic image shows an Asiana Airlines' passenger jet against the background of the Kumho Asiana Group and Korean Air headquarters buildings. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--BTS' 'Map of the Soul: 7' goes platinum in U.S.

BTS is the first South Korean musical act to have two platinum album certificates .
`` Love Yourself : Answer @ @ @ @ @ 2018 repackaged album , became a platinum seller in January .
No South Korean musician @ @ @ @ @ platinum-certified album at the moment .

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- K-pop superstar BTS has earned its second platinum album certificate in the United States with its studio album "Map of the Soul: 7" in an unprecedented feat for a South Korean musical act.
The group's fourth full-length Korean-language album, released in February, achieved platinum status on Monday (U.S. time), according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
BTS is the first South Korean musical act to have two platinum album certificates. "Love Yourself: Answer," the septet's 2018 repackaged album, became a platinum seller in January. No South Korean musician other than BTS has a platinum-certified album at the moment.
RIAA gives platinum certificates to albums that have achieved more than one million certified unit sales based on album sales, downloads and streaming activities.
The band also has three platinum certificates for their digital singles "MIC Drop," "Boy With Luv" and "Idol."
This image, provided by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), shows that BTS' full-length album "Map of the Soul: 7" has received a platinum certificate from RIAA on Nov. 16, 2020 (U.S. time). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--Diplomats of S. Korea, Japan hold Middle East policy consultation in Tokyo

Seoul and Tokyo have held the policy talks to share information on security and other issues in the Middle East @ @ @ @ @ living in the region , ensure the stable supply of energy and promote their national @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Diplomats of South Korea and Japan held regular talks on Middle East policies in Tokyo on Wednesday, the foreign ministry said, in an effort to deepen cooperation in their diplomacy toward the region crucial for energy supplies, economic exchanges and security.
Kok Kyung-sok, the ministry's director general for African and Middle Eastern affairs, and his Japanese counterpart, Katsuhiko Takahashi, led the eighth consultative meeting, a working-level dialogue platform launched in 2014.
Seoul and Tokyo have held the policy talks to share information on security and other issues in the Middle East to better protect their citizens living in the region, ensure the stable supply of energy and promote their national interests.
On Thursday, Koh plans to meet Mikio Mori, the director general of the African Affairs Department in the Japanese foreign ministry, to discuss bilateral cooperation.
Koh's trip came as Seoul is reinforcing diplomacy toward Tokyo to restore bilateral ties strained over wartime history and trade, ahead of the inauguration of the Biden administration in Washington, which is expected to tighten its regional alliance network to handle global challenges.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--Dinos' Aaron Altherr apologizes for refusing to wear mask during Korean Series

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- An American baseball player competing in the South Korean baseball championship series apologized on Wednesday for refusing to wear a mask during official pregame and postgame functions.
Aaron Altherr of the NC Dinos skipped the award ceremony and his postgame press conference on Tuesday, after being named the Player of the Game in the Dinos' 5-3 victory over the Doosan Bears in Game 1 of the Korean Series. Altherr hit a three-run home run at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, but told the club and the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) that he wouldn't be able to keep his mask on for the events because he would have trouble breathing.
Aaron Altherr of the NC Dinos watches his three-run home run against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the fourth inning of Game 1 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Under the league health and safety protocols during the coronavirus pandemic, players must don masks for pregame and postgame events. They also must wear masks during the game, except for the time when they're on the field.
Altherr was also photographed without a mask during the Korean Series opening ceremony on Tuesday.
The mask controversy put a damper on the Dinos' first Korean Series win in franchise history. A Dinos official told reporters Wednesday, prior to Game 2, that Altherr expressed his contrition.
"He recognizes the gravity of the situation," the team official said. "He said he was sorry to have caused trouble, and said he will now respect and follow health protocols."
NC manager Lee Dong-wook said in his pregame media session that he will make sure Altherr will join the rest of the team in adhering to those rules.
Asked if Altherr is particularly difficult to control, Lee said, "No, not at all."
Drew Rucinski, the winning pitcher from Game 1, was also asked about the situation in his pregame press conference, and the American pitcher said his and the team's focus is solely on baseball.
"We're here in the Korean Series and that's the first question I get. I'm not real thrilled with that," Rucinski said. "Our guys are focused on baseball. (Altherr) is focused on baseball. He's focused on hitting the baseball every day out there and playing great defense. We're going to play baseball and that's our business."
Altherr didn't respond to a text message from Yonhap News Agency sent earlier Wednesday seeking comment.
Aaron Altherr of the NC Dinos hits a three-run home run against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the fourth inning of Game 1 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--S. Korea votes in favor of U.N. resolution on suspending death penalty

`` The question of whether to abolish the death penalty is a serious issue that has to do with the @ @ @ @ @ punitive powers , so we will study it carefully based on an overall analysis of @ @ @ @ @ in criminal policy , public opinion and domestic and overseas situations , '' the ministry @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has for the first time voted in favor of a United Nations resolution calling for the suspension of the death penalty, the justice ministry said Wednesday.
The resolution at the U.N. Third Committee, which oversees humanitarian issues, expresses concern about the continued execution of the death penalty and calls for gradually limiting its execution, in addition to declaring a moratorium with its eventual abolition in mind.
The U.N. adopted similar resolutions seven times between 2007 and 2018, but South Korea abstained each time due to apparent concerns about creating controversy over the possible abolition of the death penalty.
The ministry said South Korea voted in favor of the resolution this year because the country is recognized by the international community as having effectively scrapped the death penalty and because of the growing number of U.N. member states voting in its favor.
"The question of whether to abolish the death penalty is a serious issue that has to do with the foundations of the state's punitive powers, so we will study it carefully based on an overall analysis of the death penalty's role in criminal policy, public opinion and domestic and overseas situations," the ministry said.
South Korea last executed the death penalty on Dec. 30, 1997.
This file photo shows neon signs calling for the abolition of the death penalty, installed by civic groups at Seodaemun Prison History Hall in Seoul, on Nov. 29, 2019. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--(LEAD) Appeals court upholds prison terms for producers of Mnet's 'Produce' series over vote-rigging

`` The candidates who were eliminated from the competition because of the fraud will live with the traumatic experience for @ @ @ @ @ , and TV viewers proud of voting for their idols were left with a bitter @ @ @ @ @ the court said during the ruling .

(ATTN: ADDS Mnet's response in paras 6-8)
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- An appellate court on Wednesday maintained prison terms for two disgraced producers of the popular music channel Mnet for rigging the vote results of a popular audition program.
The Seoul High Court sentenced Ahn Joon-young, the producer of the audition program "Produce," to two years in prison and forfeiture of 37 million (US$30,000), and chief producer Kim Yong-beom to 20 months in prison, the same punishments ruled in May by the Seoul Central District Court.
The two were convicted of manipulating the vote outcome to put certain contenders in favorable positions to debut as members of an idol group.
They were also found guilty of taking bribes from talent agencies that fielded candidates for the show.
"The candidates who were eliminated from the competition because of the fraud will live with the traumatic experience for the rest of their lives, and TV viewers proud of voting for their idols were left with a bitter sense of betrayal," the court said during the ruling.
During the sentencing hearing, the list of 12 victims was revealed, which included Kang Dong-ho, more widely known by his stage name Baekho, a member of the boy group NU'EST.
"Right from the outset (of the scandal), we figured out who the victims were, and have been discussing compensation with them," the music network said, adding that the process is ongoing. It gave no details.
"We sincerely apologize for the pain we have caused the trainees and their families," it said.
The "Produce" series, which went on air from 2016 to 2019, became a mega hit. It enabled television viewers to vote via text messages for a contestant they supported. The series consists of "Produce 101," "Produce 101 Season 2," "Produce 48" and "Produce X 101."
Through its four seasons, the show spawned four high-profile K-pop bands -- I.O.I, Wanna One, IZ*ONE and X1. Among the four, only IZ*ONE is currently active in the K-pop scene.
The court, meanwhile, issued suspended sentences for the executives of the talent agencies accused of conspiring in the fraud, saying that the fines that they were given by the district court were too lenient for their crimes.
Producer Ahn Joon-young leaves the Seoul Central District Court in handcuffs on Nov. 5, 2019, after attending a court review of his arrest warrant on charges of manipulating the text message-based vote results of "Produce X 101," a fan-voted K-pop competition show that ran on local cable channel Mnet. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--Celltrion eyes emergency authorization for COVID-19 treatment next month

`` Celltrion is currently wrapping up the phase two clinical trial of the antibody treatment and we will try our @ @ @ @ @ from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety by the end of the year , @ @ @ @ @ Jung-jin said .

By Kim Han-joo
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korean pharmaceutical giant Celltrion Inc.'s coronavirus treatment is likely to file for emergency authorization use from local drug authorities next month, the company's chief said Wednesday.
CT-P59, anti-COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment, is currently undergoing a phase two clinical trial locally after successfully completing a phase one clinical trial on healthy volunteers who had not contracted COVID-19.
This photo provided by South Korean pharmaceutical company Celltrion Inc. on Nov. 6, 2020, shows its coronavirus antibody treatment substance. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"Celltrion is currently wrapping up the phase two clinical trial of the antibody treatment and we will try our best to receive conditional authorization from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety by the end of the year," Celltrion Group Chairman Seo Jung-jin said.
Experimental drugs under clinical trial are sometimes granted approval for emergency usage in cases where diseases are life-threatening and there is no other treatment option.
The company earlier announced that CT-P59 shortened the recovery time of patients with no reported side effect. The company also said that the drug kills the coronavirus within 4-5 days, effectively protecting patients with mild symptoms from developing a severe case.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--GM executive warns of possible exit from S. Korea amid strikes: report

SEOUL , Nov. 19 ( Yonhap ) -- An executive of General Motors Co. , the parent company of GM @ @ @ @ @ could withdraw from South Korea if workers at the Korean unit continue to go on @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 pandemic , a news report said Thursday .

(ADDS: ADDS 2nd photo, GM Korea's confirmation of GM executive's comments)
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- An executive of General Motors Co., the parent company of GM Korea Co., said the U.S. automaker could withdraw from South Korea if workers at the Korean unit continue to go on strike for wage hikes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to GM Korea Thursday.
GM Korea workers have been staging several rounds of partial strikes since Oct. 30, demanding an end to a wage freeze and a new vehicle production plan at its No. 2 Bupyeong plant in Incheon, just west of Seoul.
The persistent industrial action has cost the company 17,000 vehicles in lost production, and the number is expected to reach 20,000 by the end of the week, Steve Kiefer, president of GM's international operations, told Reuters.
"We're basically being held hostage in the short term by lack of vehicle production. That's having a very significant short-term financial impact," he was quoted as saying,
He said the strikes would basically make it impossible for the Detroit carmaker to allocate any further investments or new products to Korea.
"It's making the country non-competitive. It's going to have long-term effects if we can't get this resolved in the coming weeks," he said.
This file photo, taken on Feb. 17, 2020, shows GM Korea's Bupyeong plant in Incheon, just west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The union's extended strikes come after the company said early this month that it will reconsider investing in the main Bupyeong plant for the production of a next-generation vehicle for export if the union continues to strike and affect production.
GM Korea already suffered over 60,000 vehicles in production losses in the first half amid the pandemic, with output losses caused by the partial walkouts through Friday estimated at 20,000 units.
The state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB), the second-biggest shareholder in GM Korea, has said an extended strike will thwart the company's efforts to put its business back on track.
GM owns a 67 percent stake in GM Korea, and the KDB holds a 17 percent stake in the Korean unit.
At stake is the company's proposal to have wage talks every two years, not once a year, to reduce uncertainties ahead. The proposal was rejected by the union, which wants to stick to a one-year deal.
The company suggested providing a revised 8 million won (US$7,200) in cash bonuses per person in 2020 and 2021 if the union accepts the biennial wage talks proposal.
The union asked the company to raise the basic pay by 120,000 won per worker and offer four months of salary as a bonus and 6 million won in cash, while demanding a new vehicle production plan at the No. 2 Bupyeong plant after 2022.
The union argues there should be a new vehicle to replace the Trax compact SUV and Malibu midsize sedan currently being produced at the plant.
But the company has balked at the demands, citing the unfavorable business environment caused by the pandemic and steady demand for the models in global markets.
The Detroit carmaker has three Korean plants -- two in Bupyeong and one in Changwon -- whose combined output capacity reaches 630,000 units a year.
GM Korea's operating losses narrowed to 332 billion won in 2019 from 615 billion won a year earlier. It sold 417,226 vehicles last year, and sales stood at 300,352 units in the January-October period this year.
This year's sales are expected to fall far short of the 2019 sales figure due to production losses driven by strikes.
In May 2018, GM and the KDB signed a binding agreement that will permit a combined 7.7 trillion-won lifeline -- 6.9 trillion won from GM and 810 billion won from the state lender -- to keep the Korean unit afloat amid low production rates and poor sales.
Under the deal, GM is banned from selling any of its stake in GM Korea until 2023 and is required to keep its holding in the unit above 35 percent until 2028.
It would be hard for GM to quit South Korea in the short term, but the long-term future is in doubt, Kiefer said.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--S. Korea's net foreign assets touch new high in Q3

The nation 's external financial assets came to $ 1.81 trillion at the end of September , up $ 66 @ @ @ @ @ , according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea ( BOK ) .

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's net overseas assets hit an all-time high in the third quarter, mainly due to increased stock investments, central bank data showed Thursday.
The nation's external financial assets came to $1.81 trillion at the end of September, up $66 billion from a quarter earlier, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).
Net international investment position came to US$553.1 billion as of the end of September, down $100 million from a year earlier, the data showed.
The position refers to the difference between Korea's external financial assets and the domestic assets owned by foreigners. It serves as a measure of a country's external solvency.
South Korea's external debt stood at $461.4 billion as of end-September, $11.6 billion more than a quarter earlier.
Short-term foreign debt, which matures within one year, fell by $10.1 billion over the cited period, with long-term debt growing by $18.1 billion.
South Korea's short-term external debt accounted for 28.2 percent of its outstanding external liabilities.
The ratio of short-term foreign debt to foreign reserves stood at 34.3 percent at the end of September, down 3.3 percentage points from a quarter earlier.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--Savings banks' 9-month profit grows on interest income

A key barometer of financial health , the ratio measures the proportion of a bank 's total capital to its @ @ @ @ @ for International Settlements , an international organization of central banks based in Basel , Switzerland @ @ @ @ @ a ratio of 8 percent or higher .

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean savings banks reported 9 percent growth in their combined net profit for the first nine months of this year, supported by a modest rise in interest income, data showed Thursday.
The combined net income of the 79 savings banks stood at 1.02 trillion won (US$918 million) for the January-September period, compared with a profit of 935.7 billion won a year ago, according to the data by the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS).
Their interest income rose 8.9 percent on-year to 4.8 trillion won, while loan-loss provisions jumped 24.4 percent on-year to 1.1 trillion won.
Their loan delinquency ratio edged up 0.1 percentage point to 3.8 percent at the end of September, according to the data.
The average capital adequacy ratio of the savings banks reached 14.61 percent at the end of September, down 0.22 percentage point from nine months earlier.
A key barometer of financial health, the ratio measures the proportion of a bank's total capital to its risk-weighted assets. The Bank for International Settlements, an international organization of central banks based in Basel, Switzerland, advises lenders to maintain a ratio of 8 percent or higher.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--Households' wage income dips for 2nd quarter in Q3 amid pandemic

But hit by the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic , household income earned through wages declined 1.1 percent on-year , @ @ @ @ @ fall in the second quarter , according to the data .
Income from business operations @ @ @ @ @ the cited period .

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean households saw their income earned through wages decline for the second straight quarter in the third quarter as the new coronavirus outbreak dealt a blow to the job market, data showed Thursday.
The average household earned 5.31 million won (US$4,774) per month in the July-September period, up 1.6 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.
But hit by the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, household income earned through wages declined 1.1 percent on-year, following a 5.3 percent on-year fall in the second quarter, according to the data. Income from business operations lost 1 percent on-year in the cited period.
The statistics agency said the fall in wage income is mainly attributable to the sluggish labor market amid the pandemic.
"Hit by the virus outbreak, the job market deteriorated and the self-employed faced tough business conditions," Chung Dong-myung, a senior Statistics Korea official, said at a press briefing.
The country has reported job losses every month since March, when the nation posted the first on-year job loss since 2009 due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to a separate report.
This photo, taken on Sept. 20, 2020, shows a sign about the temporary closure of a store in Seoul's shopping district of Myeongdong over the COVID-19 pandemic. (Yonhap)
Households' expenditure declined in the third quarter from a year earlier, after rebounding in the second quarter on the effect of emergency handouts designed to cushion the virus fallout.
The average household spent 3.99 million won in the third quarter, down 2.2 percent from a year earlier. It compared with a 1.4 percent on-year gain in the second quarter, aided by the government's emergency handouts.
Meanwhile, the income gap between the haves and have-nots widened in the third quarter as the employment situation of the low-income bracket worsened, according to the data.
The average monthly income of the bottom 20 percent income bracket declined 1.1 percent on-year to 1.63 million won in the third quarter.
In comparison, households in the upper 20 percent income range earned 10.39 million won per month, up 2.9 percent from a year earlier.
As a result, the country's distribution ratio for disposable income, a key barometer of earnings equality, reached 4.88 in the third quarter, up from 4.66 a year earlier. A higher ratio means increased inequality in income distribution.
The South Korean economy grew 1.9 percent on-quarter in the third quarter on improving exports, after two straight quarters of contractions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


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yna--2020-11-19--Seoul stocks trade bearish late Thur. morning on valuation pressure, virus concerns

The number of daily new coronavirus cases in South Korea hovered above 300 for the second consecutive day Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ potential wave of the pandemic .

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded lower late Thursday morning after hitting a nearly three-year high the previous session due to valuation pressure, and concerns of surging COVID-19 cases offset vaccine hopes.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 9.76 points, or 0.38 percent, to 2,535.88 as of 11:20 a.m.
Stocks fared weak after hitting a 33-month high in the previous session. Investor wariness increased over valuation pressure and rising coronavirus cases.
The number of daily new coronavirus cases in South Korea hovered above 300 for the second consecutive day Thursday, with authorities warning of another potential wave of the pandemic.
Large caps traded mixed in Seoul.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics shed 1.08 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix lost 0.82 percent.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem added 1.83 percent, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI jumped 2.99 percent.
Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics shed 0.49 percent, while Celltrion gained 1.37 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver dropped 0.36 percent, but its rival Kakao climbed 0.27 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest carmaker, rose 0.28 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,112.4 won against the U.S. dollar, down 8.6 won from the previous session's close.
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--Trump to join virtual summit of APEC this week: Cheong Wa Dae official

It remains unconfirmed whether Trump will take part in the two-day Group of 20 ( G20 ) summit to begin @ @ @ @ @ well , the official added .

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump plans to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held via video links this week, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Thursday.
"As far as we know, President Trump is participating (in it)," the official told reporters on the condition of anonymity.
President Moon Jae-in is also scheduled to join the session that will open on Friday night (Seoul time).
APEC groups together 21 member countries in the Asia-Pacific, including China.
It remains unconfirmed whether Trump will take part in the two-day Group of 20 (G20) summit to begin on Saturday via videoconference as well, the official added.
The outgoing U.S. president skipped the virtual East Asia Summit event last weekend, as his national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, represented the nation.
An image of U.S. President Donald Trump in a photo provided by Yonhap News TV (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--Seoul soaked by heaviest daily rainfall on record for November

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration ( KMA ) , 68.2 millimeters of rain fell in Seoul as of 8 @ @ @ @ @ previous daily record of 67.4 mm set on Nov. 7 , 1916 .
It is @ @ @ @ @ in the capital during the month of November since modern weather observation began here in @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- Seoul and central South Korean regions were soaked with unseasonable heavy rain Thursday, with the capital receiving the heaviest daily precipitation on record for November, the local weather agency said.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA), 68.2 millimeters of rain fell in Seoul as of 8 a.m., surpassing November's previous daily record of 67.4 mm set on Nov. 7, 1916. It is the heaviest daily precipitation recorded in the capital during the month of November since modern weather observation began here in 1907.
A road in central Seoul is flooded after heavy rainfall on Nov. 19, 2020. (Yonhap)
Precipitation is forecast to further increase for the rest of the day, as Seoul and central regions, including parts of Gangwon and South Chungcheong provinces, are being hit by strong rain of about 20 mm per hour, accompanied by thunder and lightning, the KMA said.
For the rest of the nation, the rainfall amounted to around 5 mm, it added.
"The humid and warm air created by the low atmospheric pressure clashed with cold air coming from the northwest, resulting in heavy rainfall," a KMA official explained, adding the rain belt is to move toward the southern regions in the afternoon.
Despite the unusually heavy rain, Seoul's morning low was 17.1 C, the highest on record for November, the KMA said, noting the previous high was 16.4 C recorded on Nov. 5, 2011.
After the rain stops later in the day, however, temperatures will dive by more than 15 C in the central and southern regions on Friday, the agency predicted.
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--(LEAD) U.N. rapporteur sends letters to two Koreas calling for info provision on fisheries official

(LEAD) U.N. rapporteur sends letters to two Koreas calling for info provision on fisheries official killing

In October , the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in Seoul called on both Koreas to @ @ @ @ @ impartial '' probe and urged Pyongyang to engage with Seoul to facilitate the return of @ @ @ @ @ and his personal belongings to his family .

(ATTN: ADDS defense ministry's confirmation of receipt of letter in paras 6-7)
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- The U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights situation has sent the two Koreas letters calling for sufficient information on the North's killing of a South Korean fisheries official in September, a diplomatic source said Thursday.
On Tuesday, Tomas Ojea Quintana handed the "joint communication" letters to the diplomatic missions of the two Koreas in Geneva, Switzerland, as Pyongyang has yet to respond to Seoul's call for a joint probe into the official's death, with his family calling for a U.N. investigation.
The 47-year-old official was shot to death at sea by the North Korean military after drifting into North Korean waters, Seoul officials have said, tentatively concluding he attempted to defect to the North. His family has rejected the possibility of his defection.
The foreign ministry refused to comment on the content of the letter but said it plans to send a reply two months later as Quintana requested.
"We cannot disclose the content of the letter, but the U.N. special rapporteur is supposed to make public both the letter and our reply sixty days later," a ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
The defense ministry said it received the letter via the foreign ministry on Wednesday.
"Based on related law, we will respond to the U.N. request in close coordination with other government agencies," defense ministry spokesperson Col. Moon Hong-sik said during a regular press briefing.
In October, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in Seoul called on both Koreas to conduct a "prompt, impartial" probe and urged Pyongyang to engage with Seoul to facilitate the return of the remains of the deceased and his personal belongings to his family.
This file photo shows Tomas Ojea Quintana, the U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights situation. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--Tougher distancing regulations take effect, limiting crowds at public facilities

The South Korean government earlier decided to raise the five-tier social distancing scheme by one notch to Level 1.5 in @ @ @ @ @ surrounding Gyeonggi Province ; Incheon ; Gwangju , some 330 kilometers south of Seoul ; @ @ @ @ @ eastern province of Gangwon .

By Kim Boram
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- As a tougher social distancing scheme took effect on Thursday in the greater Seoul area and some other areas where COVID-19 infections have soared recently, high-risk multiuse facilities, such as restaurants and movie theaters, face restrictions in operation.
The South Korean government earlier decided to raise the five-tier social distancing scheme by one notch to Level 1.5 in the capital city; the surrounding Gyeonggi Province; Incheon; Gwangju, some 330 kilometers south of Seoul; and a region in the eastern province of Gangwon.
The Level 1.5 alert is largely aimed at limiting the number of people in closed areas and mass gatherings to curb the spread of the virus.
A nightclub in Seoul is relatively empty on Nov. 19, 2020, when Level 1.5 social distancing takes effect. (Yonhap)
In facilities with higher risk of virus infection, including bars, clubs, indoor concert halls, restaurants and cafes, the maximum capacity is reduced to one person per 4 square meters.
People are not allowed to dance or move to other tables in nightclubs, while eating and drinking are prohibited during concerts.
Owners of restaurants and coffee shops bigger than 50 square meters should keep a 1-meter distance between tables or install partitions.
Tables and chairs are piled up at a coffee shop in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020, a day before tightened social distancing goes into effect. (Yonhap)
Such limited capacity and spacing between seats are also required at regular facilities, including fitness centers, internet cafes, private academies, wedding halls, funeral homes and public bathhouses.
At cinemas and theaters for musicals and classical concerts, a vacant seat should be placed between groups of friends or families.
The number of people allowed to assemble for religious and sports events is limited to 30 percent of full capacity.
Rallies and demonstrations as well as large-scale concerts and festivals, which involve "high-risk" activities such as chanting and singing, are subject to a cap of under 100 people.
Business operators and rally organizers who violate the upgraded rules will face up to 3 million won (US$2,700) in fines.
A street in the popular nightlife district of Hongdae in western Seoul is relatively empty on Nov. 19, 2020. (Yonhap)
The social distancing measures came as health authorities are grappling with another potential wave of the pandemic in the Seoul metropolitan area, home to nearly half of the nation's population of 50 million.
On Thursday, the country reported nearly 350 new coronavirus cases, reaching the highest level since late August due to sporadic infections in community settings across the nation. About 180 infections were from the greater Seoul area.
The government is closely monitoring the coronavirus situation for a decision on whether to raise the social distancing guidelines by another notch.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--S. Korea to wrap up this year's war remains excavation work inside DMZ

Over the seven-month period from April , the military found 330 bone pieces believed to have belonged to 143 troops @ @ @ @ @ according to the ministry .
Of them , 67 sets of remains are presumed to @ @ @ @ @ 64 others are believed to belong to Chinese troops .

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will wrap up this year's war remains excavation work at a former battlefield on the border with North Korea, the defense ministry said Thursday, with Pyongyang remaining unresponsive to calls to work together as agreed.
Under a military tension reduction accord signed Sept. 19, 2018, South and North Korea agreed to launch a joint project to retrieve remains of soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War from Arrowhead Ridge, one of the fiercest battlefields inside the Demilitarized Zone separating the two sides.
But the South carried out the work alone since last year as the North has stonewalled calls for joint work. Excavation work is carried out usually between April and November, and this year's work is scheduled to end Friday.
Over the seven-month period from April, the military found 330 bone pieces believed to have belonged to 143 troops killed in the war, according to the ministry. Of them, 67 sets of remains are presumed to be of Koreans, while 64 others are believed to belong to Chinese troops.
The military also found a total 17,598 articles that belonged to the deceased soldiers, including badges, U.S. bulletproof jackets and Chinese gas masks, the ministry said.
This year, South Korea identified six soldiers killed in the war from the remains recovered from the former battlefield, in addition to three identified last year.
The ministry said South Korea will resume the work next year to bring back home the war dead who remain buried inside the DMZ, and continue efforts to encourage the North to take part in the project.
Around 140,000 South Korean troops were killed in action and some 450,000 others injured during the three-year war. The number of fallen South Korean troops whose remains have yet to be recovered stands at around 123,000.
In this file photo provided by the defense ministry, South Korean troops excavate the remains and items believed to be from soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War at Arrowhead Ridge in the central section of the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas. The ministry said the military will wrap up this year's excavation work on Nov. 20, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Nov. 19 ( 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--2020-11-19--Global press photo exhibition illustrates life during COVID-19

`` The exhibited photos confirm that humanity is in the same boat despite differences like country , region , ethnicity @ @ @ @ @ hope ) this photo exhibition can help provide comfort and hope to everyone who is @ @ @ @ @ , '' Choi Jang-heon , the museum 's acting director , said in a release @

By Lee Minji
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- An exhibition of press photos zooming in on life during the new coronavirus is set to begin at a Seoul museum next week, offering visitors a chance to see how the world is coping with the unprecedented pandemic, organizers said Thursday.
The exhibition, titled "At the Scenes of the Pandemic," features 120 photos taken by photographers at 47 news agencies around the world. It is scheduled to open at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in central Seoul on Tuesday, according to the organizers.
This photo, provided by Dave Hunt of the Australian Associated Press, shows a girl drawing and writing letters with chalk at a house in the Gold Coast. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)
The exhibition, co-hosted by the national museum and Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's key newswire, is designed to share a message of hope and alliance during the bleak times.
The photos were curated into four themes: A Beginning Without an End; Control vs. Freedom; World in Standstill, Contact-free is New Norm; and Cooperation, Togetherness.
This photo, taken by Lim Hwa-young of South Korean newswire Yonhap News Agency, shows a health worker resting outside a hospital building in the southern city of Daegu. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This photo, provided by Juancho Torres of Turkish newswire Anadolu Agency, shows a student in Colombia wearing a handmade gas mask in class. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The photos taken in 70 cities around the world -- ranging from Prague to Marrakesh -- portray how people are living their lives and engaging in acts of care and devotion despite the risks of infection and death.
One photo, taken in the central South Korean city of Daegu, shows an exhausted health worker taking a rest, while another photo taken at a care home at the Spanish city of Valencia, shows an elderly mother and her son embracing through a plastic curtain.
"The exhibited photos confirm that humanity is in the same boat despite differences like country, region, ethnicity and religion. (We hope) this photo exhibition can help provide comfort and hope to everyone who is struggling through this difficult time," Choi Jang-heon, the museum's acting director, said in a release.
The exhibition, which is also available online (www.much.go.kr), ends on March 1. Admission is free.
This photo, provided by Biel Alino of Spanish newswire Agencia EFE, shows a mother and son embracing at a care home in Valencia, Spain. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap).
This image, provided by the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, shows the poster for the upcoming exhibition "At the Scenes of the Pandemic." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--Ministry, carriers in gridlock over bandwidth redistribution price

Earlier this week , the government said it wants at least 3.2 trillion won ( US $ 2.9 billion ) @ @ @ @ @ Telecom Co. , KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. -- for the 2G , 3G @ @ @ @ @ for redistribution next year , nearly double their proposal of around 1.65 trillion won .

By Chae Yun-hwan
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- As past generation network frequency bands used by South Korea's major telecom operators are set to expire next year, the ICT ministry and the three carriers are locked in a fierce debate over their redistribution price.
Earlier this week, the government said it wants at least 3.2 trillion won (US$2.9 billion) from the carriers -- SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. -- for the 2G, 3G, 4G frequency bands up for redistribution next year, nearly double their proposal of around 1.65 trillion won.
The logos of South Korea's three major carriers -- KT Corp. (L), SK Telecom Co. (C) and LG Uplus Corp. (R) -- are shown in this file photo taken July 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
The price offer is also conditional upon the carriers each having over 150,000 5G base stations by the end of 2022. It had initially estimated a 4.4 trillion won price tag for the reallocation.
"Following the launch of 5G, 4G LTE sales have decreased, leading to less demand for 4G LTE bands," the Ministry of Science and ICT said. "There's a need for optional pricing based on the level of installation of the 5G network."
Depending on the number of base stations installed by 2022, the redistribution price could reach up to 3.9 trillion won.
The announcement stirred backlash from carriers that view the government's offer as overpriced and unrealistic, considering the current number of 5G base stations.
As of August, the three carriers had each installed around 40,000 to 50,000 5G base stations over the past two years, according to government data.
At a similar installation rate, carriers will likely have about 100,000 base stations by 2022.
Given the wide gap between the carriers and the government for the redistribution cost, the telecom operators are reportedly considering taking legal action against the government's move.
The government said it will finalize the price by the end of this month to start taking applications for redistribution next month.
Analysts still expect heavy spending by the carriers next year, given the government's offer.
"Even by conservative estimates, total capital expenditure by the three mobile carriers will likely reach over 8 trillion won next year," Hana Financial Investment analyst Kim Hong-sik said in a report.
Despite the growing number of 5G users in the country, 4G LTE users consisted of 77 percent of South Korea's total 70 million mobile subscriptions as of September.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--Doosan Heavy teams up with SK Engineering on floating wind farm

In July , the government said it plans to start building the floating offshore wind farm to generate about 6 @ @ @ @ @ in the East Sea off the coast of Ulsan , 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul @ @ @ @ @

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean power plant builder Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. said Thursday that it will team up with local builder SK Engineering Construction Co. to develop floating wind farms.
SK Engineering will carry out a project to develop the floating wind farm, while Doosan Heavy will provide technologies for key equipment of the farm, the power plant builder said in an emailed statement.
This image provided by the Korea National Oil Corp. shows a floating offshore wind farm to be built in the East Sea off the coast of Ulsan, 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In July, the government said it plans to start building the floating offshore wind farm to generate about 6 gigawatts of electricity per year in the East Sea off the coast of Ulsan, 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul, starting in 2023.
Doosan Heavy has joined in the floating offshore wind farm project after creating a consortium with local power-generating company Korea South-East Power and renewable energy developer Jeju Energy Corp. in May.
Last September, Doosan Heavy signed a preliminary deal with the Korea National Oil Corp. (KNOC) to provide floating wind turbines.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--Seoul city program reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 247,000 tons

The Eco-Mileage program gives miles for cutting back the use of electricity , water and gas , which can then @ @ @ @ @ used to pay taxes or utility fees or to buy eco-friendly products .

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul city government said Thursday its energy saving program reduced greenhouse gas emissions by over 247,000 tons from April through September.
Members of Seoul's "Eco-Mileage" program reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 247,137 tons, up 70 percent from the same period last year, creating the same effect as planting 37.4 million 30-year-old pine trees each absorbing 6.6 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year, the city government said.
The Eco-Mileage program gives miles for cutting back the use of electricity, water and gas, which can then be redeemed in cash or used to pay taxes or utility fees or to buy eco-friendly products.
As of September, some 2.09 million individuals and 78,000 organizations were members of the program, according to the city government.
By district, the central Jung Ward reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 11.4 percent compared to the average of the last two years, the highest of all 25 wards.
The average across all wards was 4.5 percent.
The city government attributed the reductions to citizen's efforts and less economic activity due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"We will combine Eco-Mileage with (another program that gives miles for less travel by car), and expand it to bicycle use and recycling to encourage reductions of greenhouse gas emissions," Kim Yeon-ji, a city official overseeing environmental policy, said.
This illustrated image depicts carbon dioxide emissions. (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--Gov't launches 2-week special monitoring of antivirus measures for college admissions test

The Ministry of Education said it will closely monitor cram schools and other business establishments used by young students to @ @ @ @ @ strict antivirus measures until the end of the College Scholastic Ability Test ( CSAT ) @ @ @ @ @ More than 490,000 high school students and others plan to take the exam simultaneously at @ @ @ @ @ .

By Woo Jae-yeon
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean government instituted a two-week special campaign Thursday aimed at ensuring that students nationwide take the annual state college entrance exam safely amid growing concerns about sharp hikes in new COVID-19 cases.
The Ministry of Education said 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 College Scholastic Ability Test (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.
A poster with instructions on entry is posted on the door of a cram school in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
During the precautionary period, the education ministry, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation are monitoring the situation of the pandemic. Education offices and local health care centers are also running a real-time response team.
Private institutes, study facilities, internet cafes and karaoke facilities should thoroughly follow state health protocols to curb COVID-19 infections among students. In the case of an outbreak, the names of cram schools and transmission routes will be temporarily made public on the ministry's website.
Starting next Thursday, cram schools will be strongly advised against running in-person classes from Nov. 26, and students will also be urged not to attend them. All high schools and other schools to be used as testing sites will switch to online-only teaching.
High school seniors take a mock test in Daegu, South Korea, on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
The move came as the country has experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases recently, putting educators, students and parents on alert over the worsening pandemic in the run-up to the important national event.
For the first 17 days of this month, a daily average of 5,093 high school students were not able to attend in-person classes, as they were either in self-isolation or showed symptoms of COVID-19. The tally is higher than 4,357 recorded in September and 4,008 in October.
In order to contain transmissions, Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, Gwangju, southwest of Seoul, and part of Gangwon Province enforced the second-lowest restrictions under the country's five-tier system.
A student works at a study cafe in Seoul on Nov. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
"We can't let our guard down even the slightest bit," Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae said during a meeting with educational superintendents from around the country earlier this week, asking the ministry and education offices to prepare for the worsening of the pandemic situations.
"So far, the ministry has prepared separate testing places that can serve up to 120 patients and 3,800 students in self-isolation," she said, "Given the recent spread of COVID-19, however, the number of those in self-isolation could grow."
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--U.N. rapporteur sends letters to two Koreas calling for info provision on fisheries official killing

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- The U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights situation has sent the two Koreas letters calling for sufficient information on the North's killing of a South Korean fisheries official in September, a diplomatic source said Thursday.
On Tuesday, Tomas Ojea Quintana handed the "joint communication" letters to the diplomatic missions of the two Koreas in Geneva, Switzerland, as Pyongyang has yet to respond to Seoul's call for a joint probe into the official's death, with his family calling for a U.N. investigation.
The 47-year-old official was shot to death at sea by the North Korean military after drifting into North Korean waters, Seoul officials have said, tentatively concluding he attempted to defect to the North. His family has rejected the possibility of his defection.
The foreign ministry refused to comment on the content of the letter but said it plans to send a reply two months later as Quintana requested.
"We cannot disclose the content of the letter, but the U.N. special rapporteur is supposed to make public both the letter and our reply sixty days later," a ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
In October, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in Seoul called on both Koreas to conduct a "prompt, impartial" probe and urged Pyongyang to engage with Seoul to facilitate the return of the remains of the deceased and his personal belongings to his family.
This file photo shows Tomas Ojea Quintana, the U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights situation. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--Two more service members test positive for new coronavirus

The airman in the central city of Seosan showed symptoms while being quarantined after his unit reported a cluster infection @ @ @ @ @ ministry .
The total number of COVID-19 cases at the Air Force unit came to @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- One soldier and an airman have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the latest in a series of infections reported recently at barracks, the defense ministry said Thursday.
The airman in the central city of Seosan showed symptoms while being quarantined after his unit reported a cluster infection recently, according to the ministry. The total number of COVID-19 cases at the Air Force unit came to 12.
The soldier stationed in the border town of Paju was confirmed to have been infected after coming into contact with a colleague who earlier tested positive, the ministry said.
"The authorities are conducting virus tests for all members of the Paju unit," a ministry official said.
The latest cases brought the total number of confirmed cases among the military population to 206.
The number has been on the rise since last week following an infection cluster at the military's Welfare Agency. Cluster infections continue at military units across the country.
Currently, 1,231 service members are in isolation in accordance with the health authorities' guidelines, and the military has quarantined an additional 1,745 people under stricter antivirus schemes of its own as a preventive step.
Nationwide, the country added 343 more COVID-19 cases, including 293 local infections, raising the total caseload to 29,654, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Citizens line up in front of the National Medical Center in Seoul on Nov. 19, 2020, to undergo COVID-19 tests. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--Starting salary for white-collar workers at large firms averages 33 mln won

The ratio of the average wages of workers with a high school diploma or lower to the wages of workers @ @ @ @ @ or higher was 70.2 percent at companies with more than 500 employees , which was @ @ @ @ @ of smaller size , the ministry said .
The corresponding ratio was smallest , at @ @ @ @ @ with 100 to 299 employees , it added .

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korean university graduates who land white-collar jobs at large corporations are paid an average of about 33 million won (US$29,700) in annual starting salary as of June this year, government data showed Thursday.
According to the data released by the labor ministry, local companies with more than 500 employees pay 33.47 million won on average to a worker who holds a job in business administration or accounting for less than one year after obtaining a bachelor's degree or higher.
The average annual salary rises to 86.51 million won for large company employees with the same conditions and a career spanning longer than 10 years, the ministry said, speculating that seniority seems to be an important part of corporate wage increases.
It also noted that wage gaps between university and high school graduates were smallest at large conglomerates.
The ratio of the average wages of workers with a high school diploma or lower to the wages of workers with a bachelor's degree or higher was 70.2 percent at companies with more than 500 employees, which was higher than at any companies of smaller size, the ministry said. The corresponding ratio was smallest, at 59.2 percent, in companies with 100 to 299 employees, it added.
The ministry disclosed the detailed corporate salary data on its wage information system (www.wage.go.kr), which was launched in February this year as part of efforts to ease wage disparities in the private sector.
The salary comparison website makes public detailed salary brackets of private sector employees by six criteria -- corporation size, type of business, occupation, work experience, gender and academic background -- to help corporate employees find information on salaries earned by workers doing similar jobs in the same fields.
The labor ministry said it has analyzed corporate wage data from 2017 to 2019 to compile the estimated salaries as of June this year, adding that overtime pay was excluded from the data.
Some critics are concerned that the disclosure of wage information by the government may have many adverse effects, including a worsening of labor-management conflict over wages.
But ministry officials said the disclosure of transparent salary information will lead to a spontaneous reduction in wage gaps, as underpaid laborers are expected to step up calls for raises.
They also said the salary comparison website may also be utilized by companies wanting to shift to a performance-based pay system from the seniority-based system.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--Defense ministry seeks support for Korea peace process at ASEAN security meeting

Kim Sang-jin , director general of the ministry 's international policy bureau , explained Seoul 's various peace initiatives for @ @ @ @ @ ASEAN Defense Senior Officials ' Meeting Plus ( ADSOM-Plus ) , which brought together officials @ @ @ @ @ the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations , the United States @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry on Thursday drummed up support for Seoul's efforts to build peace on the Korean Peninsula during a videoconference held among defense officials from Southeast Asian and other major powers, the ministry said.
Kim Sang-jin, director general of the ministry's international policy bureau, explained Seoul's various peace initiatives for the Korean Peninsula at the ASEAN Defense Senior Officials' Meeting Plus (ADSOM-Plus), which brought together officials from 18 countries, including the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the United States, China and Japan.
Kim also explained the military's involvement in the nation's battle against the new coronavirus and Seoul's cooperation with the international community to overcome the pandemic.
"The meeting served as a chance to strengthen the momentum for defense cooperation to effectively respond to mutual security threats in the region, despite the COVID-19 situation," the ministry said in a release.
The session was held ahead of the annual ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), which is slated for Dec. 10 in a videoconference.
The ADMM-Plus was launched in 2010 for consultations on major regional security issues, counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
This photo, taken on Nov. 19, 2020, and provided by the defense ministry, shows Kim Sang-jin, director general of the ministry's international policy bureau, during the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials' Meeting Plus held in a videoconference. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-19--Suhyup chief demands Japan cancel plan to release radioactive water

Im Joon-taek , chairman of the federation , also known as Suhyup , met with Masato Nagai , a councilor @ @ @ @ @ at the organization 's headquarters in eastern Seoul and expressed his opposition to Tokyo 's @ @ @ @ @ water , according to Suhyup .

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- The head of South Korea's National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives on Thursday demanded that Tokyo withdraw its plan to discharge radioactive water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Im Joon-taek, chairman of the federation, also known as Suhyup, met with Masato Nagai, a councilor from the Japanese embassy, at the organization's headquarters in eastern Seoul and expressed his opposition to Tokyo's plan to release the contaminated water, according to Suhyup.
According to Suhyup, the meeting was arranged at the request of the Japanese embassy.
Nagai reportedly told Im that Japan's processing and handling of the radioactive water was deemed scientifically safe and asked for understanding from the South Korean fishing industry.
Members of an environmental activist group, the Korean Federation for Environmental Movement, stage a rally in Seoul on Oct. 26, 2020, to call on the Japanese government to retract its plan to release water containing radioactive materials stored at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. The plant has been crippled since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. (Yonhap)
During the meeting, Im warned that Suyup will take strong action if Tokyo does end up releasing the water, by uniting with members of the International Cooperative Fisheries Organisation under the International Cooperative Alliance.
Im also said the decision on handling of the Fukushima water should not be made unilaterally by the Japanese government but should undergo a process of sufficient scientific verification from the international community.
The councilor reportedly responded by saying that Tokyo "will communicate with neighboring nations."
Amid public concern over Japan's handling of the radioactive water, Seoul has repeatedly called for Tokyo to transparently share related information and stressed its "foremost priority" on the safety of citizens.
Last month, Tokyo was expected to finalize its plan to dispose of the tritium-laced water. But it apparently postponed an announcement on its decision amid strong protests.
Members of civic groups stage a rally in Seoul on Nov. 9, 2020, to announce that they will launch a campaign against the consumption of fishery products from Japan if the Japanese government implements its plan to release water containing radioactive materials stored at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. The plant has been crippled since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
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