yna--2020-08-09--Local virus cases on high plateau due to rising church-traced infections

South Korea had been banning church members from having gatherings other than regular worship services amid the soaring number of @ @ @ @ @ decided to lift the regulation on July 24 .

SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases hovered above 30 for the second straight day on Sunday, as local infections traced to religious gatherings continued to rise amid a fall in cases coming in from overseas.
The country identified 36 virus cases, including 30 local infections, raising the total caseload to 14,598, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The tally marked a fall from 43 additional cases reported Saturday.
The Seoul metropolitan area has accounted for most of the newly added virus cases this month.
Of the locally transmitted cases, 25 were reported in densely populated Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas, where around half of the country's 50-million population resides.
In particular, many cases were tied to church gatherings in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul.
Concertgoers at Olympic Park in eastern Seoul read precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus infections on Aug. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
Two churches in Goyang have emerged as an epicenter of cluster infections that have spread to a day care center in the city.
South Korea had been banning church members from having gatherings other than regular worship services amid the soaring number of related patients, but it decided to lift the regulation on July 24.
Cases coming in from overseas fell to a single digit after increasing by double-digit numbers for 43 consecutive days. Among the 6 additional cases, one was detected at a quarantine checkpoint at an airport.
The country suffered a sharp increase in the number of such cases due to South Korean workers returning home from Iraq, along with sailors from Russian ships docked at its port.
Since June, 94 seafarers from nine Russia-flagged ships docked in Busan have tested positive for COVID-19.
The country reported one more virus death, keeping the number of fatalities at 305, according to the KCDC. The fatality rate reached 2.09 percent.
The number of patients fully cured of the virus reached 13,642, up 13 from the previous day. This indicates 93.45 percent of patients reported here have recovered.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--30 killed, 6,000 displaced due to weeklong heavy downpours; further heavy rains in store on typhoon

SEOUL , Aug. 9 ( Yonhap ) -- Heavy downpours , landslides and floods in South Korea have killed at @ @ @ @ @ several days , but the death toll may rise further as more than 10 people @ @ @ @ @ heavy rains are forecast in the southern part of the country due to an approaching @ @

SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- Heavy downpours, landslides and floods in South Korea have killed at least 30 in the past several days, but the death toll may rise further as more than 10 people have gone missing. More heavy rains are forecast in the southern part of the country due to an approaching typhoon.
Torrential rains have wreaked havoc across the country since Aug. 1 amid the prolonged monsoon season.
According to the data by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, the country's death toll stood at 30 as of Sunday, leaving 12 people missing and eight wounded.
Over the past three days, 13 people have died, two gone missing and one injured nationwide, according to the headquarters.
The death toll did not count the casualties from three capsized vessels at Uiam Dam in Chuncheon, 85 kilometers east of Seoul, which left three dead and three missing on Sunday. It was categorized as a marine accident.
A village in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province, is submerged by overflow from the Seomjin River on Aug. 8, 2020, due to two days of torrential rain. (Yonhap)
More than 5,900 people from 11 provinces and cities left their homes, and some 4,600 of them remain at temporary shelters following warnings of disasters.
Some 9,300 hectares of farmland were swamped or buried, while 9,500 cases of damage to public and private facilities were reported. Repair work has been completed for 73.2 percent of the damage cases, according to the authorities.
Typhoon Jangmi, the season's fifth typhoon, is expected to hit the southern region of the Korean Peninsula from Monday, bringing about more rain in the flood-hit areas.
The state weather agency said the tropical storm will probably arrive in waters off Busan, the southern port city, some 325 kilometers southeast of Seoul, around 3 p.m. Monday. It asked the people in the affected areas to be fully prepared for possible flooding or landslides.
The agency said seven railways across the country have been blocked as of Sunday morning, while 10 flights in Gwangju Airport have been canceled.
The heavy rainfall has pummeled the southern part of the country in the past few days.
A total of 612 mm of rain was reported in the county of Damyang in South Jeolla Province during the three-day period, with 533.7 mm in Gwangju and 517.5 mm in Hwasun County.
In a landslide that buried a house in the county of Jangsu, North Jeolla Province, two more people were found dead on Sunday, after two were found to have died the previous day.
A man in his 70s went missing as he was swept away by a strong current in Damyang.
The disaster control center said 3,749 people have been left homeless over the three-day period, most of which are still staying at temporary shelters due the flooding of the Seomjin River in Namwon City, North Jeolla Province, and Gurye and Damyang counties, both located in South Jeolla Province.
Nearly 3,300 cases of property damages were reported over the cited period, including to 2,233 public facilities, while damage was also reported to 287 residences and 1,180 hectares of farmland.
Some roads and bridges were destroyed by the heavy rain, which also caused 65 floods at local streams and 11 landslides.
Rescue workers search for a person trapped in the debris of a landslide at a village in Gokseong, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 8, 2020. Four people were dead and one missing after the landslide triggered by heavy rain. (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--Asiana deal at critical juncture, leaning toward collapse

But HDC has demanded an additional 12 weeks of due diligence on the debt-laden carrier beginning in mid-August , claiming @ @ @ @ @ shoulder Asiana 's heavy debts if it acquires the airline without looking into its current @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic .

SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- Creditors of embattled Asiana Airlines Co. are drawing up a set of countermeasures against the potential rupture of a deal to sell the country's No. 2 carrier, as local property developer Hyundai Development Co. is leaning toward withdrawing from the 2.5 trillion-won (US$2.1 billion) deal, industry sources said Sunday.
The state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB) last week warned that HDC should proceed with the deal to buy Asiana Airlines, rejecting HDC's request for another round of due diligence on the country's No. 2 air carrier.
In December, the HDC-Mirae Asset Daewoo consortium signed the deal to acquire the carrier from Kumho Industrial, a construction unit of Kumho Asiana Group, as well as new Asiana shares to be issued and Asiana's six affiliates, for 2.5 trillion won.
HDC has completed seven weeks of due diligence on Asiana Airlines.
But HDC has demanded an additional 12 weeks of due diligence on the debt-laden carrier beginning in mid-August, claiming it will be forced to shoulder Asiana's heavy debts if it acquires the airline without looking into its current financial conditions hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
The creditors think Tuesday is the deadline for HDC to show its stance of whether to push ahead with its acquisition of Asiana Airlines as all requirements for the deal are met.
KDB and other creditors are also looking at various options, including creditor-led management of the airline, in case the deal falls through.
Meanwhile, Asiana delivered an earnings surprise for the second quarter of the year on the back of robust cargo business.
Asiana said Friday it shifted to a net profit in the second quarter from a year earlier as cargo-carrying volumes offset lower travel demand amid the new coronavirus outbreak.
The country's second-biggest carrier swung to a net profit of 116.15 billion won in the April-June quarter from a net loss of 183.14 billion won in the same period last year, the company said in a statement.
Asiana also shifted to an operating profit of 115.08 billion won in the second quarter from an operating loss of 107.03 billion won a year ago. Sales fell 45 percent to 818.6 billion won from 1.48 trillion won.
Asiana has suspended most of its flights on international routes since March, as more than 180 countries and territories closed their borders or imposed entry restrictions on incoming passengers amid virus fears.
From January to June, net losses widened to 432.9 billion won from 267.4 billion won in the year-ago period. Operating losses fell 33 percent to 2.04 trillion won from 3.04 trillion won during the same period.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--(URGENT) 13 more patients released from coronavirus treatment, total now at 13,642: KCDC

(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--2020-08-09--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 1 more coronavirus deaths, death toll at 305: KCDC


yna--2020-08-09--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 36 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 14,598: KCDC


yna--2020-08-09--BLACKPINK's 'How You Like That' tops 400 mln YouTube views

The feat makes it the fastest to reach the mark among all K-pop music videos on YouTube .
The previous @ @ @ @ @ This Love , '' another hit by the four-member act , which took 63 days @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- The music video for BLACKPINK's hit song "How You Like That" topped the milestone of 400 million YouTube views Sunday.
The music video surpassed the threshold only 43 days after its release on June 26.
The feat makes it the fastest to reach the mark among all K-pop music videos on YouTube. The previous record was by "Kill This Love," another hit by the four-member act, which took 63 days to garner the view total.
"How You Like That" is the first of two pre-release singles that will become part of BLACKPINK's first studio album, coming out on Oct. 2.
The second single will be rolled out on Aug. 28, the group's management agency YG Entertainment said.
BLACKPINK debuted in 2016, topping multiple music charts with the hip-hop tracks "Whistle" and "Boombayah."
This image of "How You Like That" by BLACKPINK was provided by YG Entertainment on Aug. 9, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--Next year's budget forecast to rise 8 pct to 550 tln won

Still , the ministry 's latest forecast is higher than projections by other agencies .
South Korea 's economy contracted @ @ @ @ @ what had been expected in the second quarter , delivering the worst performance in over @ @ @ @ @ pandemic hammered outbound shipments and private spending in Asia 's fourth-largest economy , central bank @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- The government is drawing up a budget for next year, with its size likely to top 550 trillion won (US$463 billion), up 8 percent from this year's, as the country is drumming up efforts to boost the pandemic-hit economy, sources said Sunday.
According to the sources, the finance ministry is set to report next year's budget draft to President Moon Jae-in this week.
This year's budget was set at 512.3 trillion won, but the government has drawn up three rounds of supplementary budgets to shield Asia's fourth-largest economy from fallout from COVID-19 outbreaks, pushing the country's total spending for the year to 546.9 trillion won.
The final draft for next year's budget will come out later this month after consultations with related government agencies, according to the sources.
In June, government ministries and state agencies requested a 6 percent hike in their budgets for next year, as they want to spend more on welfare, research and development.
Earlier, South Korea pledged stimulus packages worth 250 trillion won, or 13 percent of its gross domestic product, to cushion the economic blow from the pandemic.
The economy is expected to grow 0.1 percent this year, a sharp cut from 2.4 percent growth the ministry had predicted last December. It would mark the lowest growth in about two decades, according to the ministry.
Still, the ministry's latest forecast is higher than projections by other agencies.
South Korea's economy contracted at a sharper rate than what had been expected in the second quarter, delivering the worst performance in over two decades, as the pandemic hammered outbound shipments and private spending in Asia's fourth-largest economy, central bank data showed Thursday.
In the April-June period, the country's real gross domestic product (GDP) shrank 2.9 percent from the same period last year, marking the slowest growth since a 3.8 percent on-year contraction in the last three months of 1998, according to advance data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).
This file photo, taken May 1, 2020, shows stacks of import-export cargo at South Korea's largest seaport in Busan, 450 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--Seoul stocks set for further gains this week, stimulus packages in focus

`` The PER multiples are likely to remain high throughout the year , as the stimulus measures in major economies @ @ @ @ @ a considerable while , '' KTB Investment & Securities analyst Park Seok-hyun said .

By Chung Joo-won
SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks have room to rise further this week, helped by ample liquidity and expectations that the U.S. stimulus package is nearing a deal.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,351.67 points on Friday, up 4.55 percent from 2,249.37 points a week ago.
The last session marked the highest reading in nearly two years since Sept. 27, 2018.
The index gained every session this week, largely on U.S. stimulus hopes and estimate-beating earnings by Kakao, SK Telecom and other large caps.
Retail investors raked in a net 2 trillion won worth of local stocks from the KOSPI market Monday through Friday.
Electronic signboards at a Hana Bank dealing room in Seoul show the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,351.67 on Aug. 7, 2020, up 9.06 points, or 0.39 percent, from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)
Local analysts mostly expected the KOSPI to continue to climb this week, despite investor worries that the high price-earnings ratio (PER) may peg the index's further hike.
"The PER multiples are likely to remain high throughout the year, as the stimulus measures in major economies are expected to last for a considerable while," KTB Investment & Securities analyst Park Seok-hyun said.
Among key data set to be released this week, South Korea will announce the July unemployment rate on Wednesday.
China's July retail sales and the eurozone's gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter are set to be released on Friday (Korea time).
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


Sunday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Aug. 09 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


yna--2020-08-09--(Yonhap Feature) Samsung seeks more vibrant marketing via collaborations with BTS, other 'hallyu' st

(Yonhap Feature) Samsung seeks more vibrant marketing via collaborations with BTS, other 'hallyu' stars

Marketing experts said Samsung 's recent collaboration with BTS is aimed at more than just boosting its gadget sales instantly @ @ @ @ @ .
They pointed out it is more of an investment as the tech giant wants @ @ @ @ @ who could become its loyal customers in the future .

By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- Park Sung-hwan has been an ARMY, a fan of K-pop sensation BTS, for only about seven months, and when Samsung Electronics Co. announced the launch of BTS-themed gadgets, he didn't hesitate to buy one.
Park, whose wife and daughter are also ARMYs, went to the Weverse Shop, the official online merchandising store of BTS, in June and ordered the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus BTS Edition wireless earbuds.
"I bought them because I'm a BTS fan," Park said. "I found that Samsung has really cared about fans of BTS and released products that can be meaningful to ARMY."
As "hallyu," or the Korean Wave, which refers to the global popularity of Korean pop culture, sweeps across the globe, Samsung, South Korea's largest company, is also trying to ride the phenomenon as it has reinforced marketing with homegrown celebrities and launched star-inspired products.
This photo, provided by Samsung Electronics Co., shows an ad featuring BTS using the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus and S20 Plus BTS Edition, released on July 9, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
It is not unusual for South Korean companies to work with famous hallyu stars to advertise their products, but when it comes to promoting its mobile devices, Samsung has rarely used celebrities in recent years, focusing more on explaining the technologies and qualities of their handsets.
Marketing experts said Samsung's recent collaboration with BTS is aimed at more than just boosting its gadget sales instantly amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. They pointed out it is more of an investment as the tech giant wants to attract more young people who could become its loyal customers in the future.
"BTS is arguably the best idol in the world for the so-called MZ Generation, and Samsung had to do something with the next-generation consumers," said Suh Yong-gu, a professor who teaches marketing at Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul.
The MZ Generation encompasses millennials and Generation Z, referring to those born between 1980 and 2010.
"Consumers aged between 30 and 50 are the largest buyers of electronics products," Suh said. "For those who are to enter their 30s, BTS is the most popular star. BTS is like a bridge connecting Samsung and young consumers."
Unlike Samsung's previous celebrity branding strategy, the company appears to be focusing more on sustainable partnerships with stars this time, rather than one-time promotional efforts, Suh added.
This image captured from Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy Unpacked event on Aug. 5, 2020, shows BTS members introducing the Galaxy Z Fold 2 smartphone. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Before unveiling the BTS-themed gadgets, Samsung supported the augmented reality (AR) docent service of the boy band's exhibitions. It also provided BESPOKE refrigerators for "House of BTS," the pop-up store of BTS, last year.
"The relationship between Samsung and BTS appears to be more than just an advertiser and an endorser," Suh said. "This is an example of a co-branding strategy, where the two sides are pursuing a win-win success for sustainability."
BTS has been also actively engaging in Samsung's recent events. The boy band appeared at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked online event Wednesday and introduced the Galaxy Z Fold 2 foldable smartphone.
Samsung said it joined hands with BTS because they share the same value: defying barriers to deliver meaningful experiences to people.
"We believed that a together-growing partnership will be created, bringing synergy that has never been possible," said Stephanie Choi, head of the global marketing team of Samsung's mobile communications business. "Samsung is pursuing a true, authentic partnership, which we can leverage to highlight each parties' strength and unique aspiration."
ARMY members are apparently satisfied with Samsung's collaboration with BTS. They think it is way more fan-oriented compared with other companies as Samsung's products better reflect the theme of the seven-member K-pop group.
In fact, Samsung is not the first smartphone maker to work with BTS. In 2018, Samsung's local rival, LG Electronics Inc., released its G7 ThinQ BTS Edition smartphone in collaboration with the boy band.
This image, provided by Samsung Electronics Co., shows the company's Galaxy S20 Plus BTS Edition smartphone. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
But Samsung's BTS collaboration is more appealing than LG's, according to a BTS fan surnamed Yoon, who runs a blog under ID "Melonchoco."
"There are unique symbols that BTS and ARMY can recognize, such as purple color, milky way and whale," said Yoon, who has been following BTS for four years. "I didn't expect Samsung to put those things in its product, so I was really impressed when it released the BTS edition."
Yoon, who purchased the BTS edition of the Galaxy S20 Plus smartphone and Galaxy Buds Plus earbuds, said she knows many companies are releasing products endorsed by BTS, but many of them will not last long as they just offer posters and photo cards of BTS members as giveaways.
"Samsung analyzed what fans of BTS really want," she said. "I believe that the rumor that Samsung developed the BTS edition gadgets with employees who are fans of BTS is true."
Industry observers predicted Samsung may introduce more collaboration projects with hallyu stars even if its target market is small.
This image provided by Samsung Electronics Co. shows the company's Galaxy A80 smartphone, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds products inspired by K-pop girl group BLACKPINK. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Last year, Samsung released the limited edition of its Galaxy A80 smartphone, Galaxy Watch smartwatch and Galaxy Buds in collaboration with K-pop girl band BLACKPINK for the Southeast Asian market.
In Vietnam, the company launched a special edition of the Galaxy S10 Plus smartphone inspired by South Korean football coach Park Hang-seo, who became a national hero there after leading the Vietnamese men's national football team to victories at tournaments.
"When it comes to advertising, global firms need to think about both standardization and localization," said Kim Byoung-hee, a professor of advertising and public relations at Seowon University. "Samsung is a big, global company, and obviously it will not pick a random star to promote its products."
As hallyu supporters grow worldwide, collaborations with Korean stars are also likely to boost sales of Samsung's products.
Samsung did not provide how many BTS-inspired products were sold and how much they contributed to its profitability, but market watchers said considering BTS' massive fan base, which is estimated to have millions of followers around the globe, the impact of the collaboration cannot be ignored.
"Fans think that buying Samsung's BTS-themed products is a way of helping BTS," said Koh Jung-min, a professor at the Graduate School of Arts and Cultural Management at Hongik University. "That is why fans feel satisfied when they buy star-themed products."
Koh believes that more South Korean companies, including Samsung, will expand their hallyu marketing.
This image provided by Samsung Electronics Co. shows the company's special edition of the Galaxy S10 Plus inspired by South Korean football coach Park Hang-seo who leads the Vietnamese national football team. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"The power of hallyu got bigger compared to the past," he said. "Previously, hallyu marketing was focused on other Asian countries, but now it is targeting Europe and the United States."
Samsung hinted that it will further push its marketing with hallyu stars and content.
"The Korean wave, such as K-pop, K-dramas and K-movies, impacts global pop culture and Gen Z's lifestyle," said Choi from Samsung's mobile communications business.
"The momentum behind the Korean Wave comes from its power to bring people together around shared cultural experiences but also personal connections to cultural moments, and that's why hallyu is important and valuable to us."
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


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(END)


yna--2020-08-08--(3rd LD) Death toll from heavy rain rises to 28

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said 28 people had died and 11 gone missing due to heavy rains @ @ @ @ @ 7:30 p.m. Saturday , as five more people were killed in a landslide that hit @ @ @ @ @ about 400 kilometers south of Seoul , the previous day .

(ATTN: ADDS report of additional casualties in 5th para)
SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Yonhap) -- The death toll from weeklong heavy rain in South Korea rose to 28 on Saturday. Eleven people went missing and eight were injured while nearly 4,500 were displaced, according to the national disaster control center and local governments.
Torrential rains have wreaked havoc across the country since Aug. 1 amid the prolonged monsoon season.
President Moon Jae-in on Friday designated seven devastated areas as special disaster zones, making them eligible for state support in recovery efforts.
Cars are stranded on a flooded road in the southern city of Gwangju on Aug. 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said 28 people had died and 11 gone missing due to heavy rains over the week as of 7:30 p.m. Saturday, as five more people were killed in a landslide that hit a village in Gokseong, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul, the previous day.
The official figure of victims is set to rise, as fire authorities in North Jeolla Province said late Saturday that two people were killed after a landslide buried their house in the county of Jangsu.
Saturday's death toll did not include the casualties from three capsized vessels at Uiam Dam in Chuncheon, 85 kilometers east of Seoul, which left one dead and five missing on Thursday. It was categorized as a marine accident.
On Saturday afternoon, two of the missing people -- one policeman and a rescue worker -- were found dead.
The agency also said 4,466 people in 11 cities and provinces have been left homeless as of 7:30 p.m., adding that more than 3,100 others remain at temporary shelters following warnings of disasters.
A total of 9,491 cases of property damage was reported, including 5,257 public facilities. Repair work has been completed for 73.2 percent of the damage cases.
The agency said 109 roads and five railways across the country were blocked as of Saturday evening.
Heavy rain also led to the cancellation of multiple flights across the country, and all KTX bullet train services in South and North Jeolla Provinces came to a halt, according to the authorities.
Damage is feared to grow further, as more rain is forecast to come next week.
The Korea Meteorological Administration said the central regions, in particular, are expected to receive heavy downpours of up to 500 millimeters along with strong winds, which could continue into early Monday, calling for extra caution against flooding and landslides.
A road in the southern city of Jeonju is inundated due to heavy rain on Aug. 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-08--(3rd LD) Southwestern areas evacuated after rivers overflow, bank collapses

The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast more rains in Gwangju and the Jeolla provincial areas through Sunday morning .
It said @ @ @ @ @ and the eastern province of Gangwon are bracing for heavy rains again as well amid @ @ @ @ @ will march toward the peninsula later this week .

(ATTN: ADDS latest info on landslide in paras 2, 9-10, photo; RESTRUCTURES)
SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Yonhap) -- Major rivers and streams in the southwestern region of South Korea overflowed or came close to flooding in some places Saturday due to torrential rains, forcing local residents to evacuate and disrupting transportation.
Heavy rain also triggered a landslide in North Jeolla Province, killing two people, according to the authorities.
A village in Namwon, South Jella Province, is flooded due to overflow from a stream on Aug. 8, 2020 in this photo provided by a local resident. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Two days of downpours caused the flooding of the Seomjin River in Gokseong and Gurye counties, both located in South Jeolla Province.
A stretch of the river's bank in Namwon, adjacent to Gurye, collapsed at around 12:50 p.m.
The local office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said an estimated damage scope reaches 50-100 meters. It's still hard to gain exact information due to the inaccessibility of the site, officials added.
As vast swathes of farmland and houses were inundated, local authorities said earlier they have ordered residents in affected areas to evacuate immediately.
Around 300 people left villages near the bank, where at least 70 houses submerged.
The water level of the Yeongsan River, another key river in the province, approached the threshold, as a stream in Gwangju, 270 kilometers south of Seoul, ran over some banks. River authorities released dam water, leaving dozens of villagers temporarily isolated.
A house in the county of Jangsu, North Jeolla Province, collapses due to a landslide, in this photo provided by the Jeonbuk Fire Service. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
According to local authorities, a landslide occurred at around 4:42 p.m. in the county of Jangsu, North Jeolla Province, and buried one house.
Two people -- a 59-year-old man and his wife -- were found dead, they said, though it is not known exactly how many people were buried. Officials earlier said that around two to three were presumed missing.
The Korea Forest Service elevated the landslide warning level to "serious," the highest in its four-tier alert system, in 16 provinces and metropolitan cities nationwide except for Jeju Island.
The Seomjin River is on the verge of overflowing in Gurye, South Jeolla Province, on Aug. 8, 2020, in this photo provided by the Gurye county office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
A village in Muju, North Jeolla Province, is inundated due to heavy rains on Aug. 8, 2020, in this photo provided by a local resident. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Due to heavy rain, 12 flights at Gwangju International Airport were cancelled, as parts of the runway were inundated, according to the authorities.
The rainfall also put some villages in the western part of South Gyeongsang Province under water and hampered a number of train operations. All KTX bullet train services between Iksan, North Jeolla Province, and Yeoju, South Jeolla Province, came to a halt.
The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast more rains in Gwangju and the Jeolla provincial areas through Sunday morning. It said the central province of Chungcheong and the eastern province of Gangwon are bracing for heavy rains again as well amid the possibility that a typhoon will march toward the peninsula later this week.
The government held an interagency meeting, presided over by Minister of the Interior and Safety Chin Young, to check damages and discuss ways to prevent additional damage.
Train officials work to restore a rain-damaged railway in North Jeolla Province on Aug. 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-08--(2nd LD) Death toll from heavy rain rises to 28

(ATTN: UPDATES headline, paras 1, 4-8 with latest figures, details; ADDS weather forecast in paras 10-12)
SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Yonhap) -- The death toll from weeklong heavy rain in South Korea rose to 28 on Saturday. Eleven people went missing and eight were injured while nearly 4,500 were displaced, according to the national disaster control center and local governments.
Torrential rains have wreaked havoc across the country since Aug. 1 amid the prolonged monsoon season.
President Moon Jae-in on Friday designated seven devastated areas as special disaster zones, making them eligible for state support in recovery efforts.
Cars are stranded on a flooded road in the southern city of Gwangju on Aug. 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters said 28 people had died and 11 gone missing due to heavy rains over the week as of 7:30 p.m. Saturday, as five more people were killed in a landslide that hit a village in Gokseong, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul, the previous day.
The death toll did not include the casualties from three capsized vessels at Uiam Dam in Chuncheon, 85 kilometers east of Seoul, which left one dead and five missing on Thursday. It was categorized as a marine accident.
On Saturday afternoon, two of the missing people -- one policeman and a rescue worker -- were found dead.
The agency also said 4,466 people in 11 cities and provinces have been left homeless as of 7:30 p.m., adding that more than 3,100 others remain at temporary shelters following warnings of disasters.
A total of 9,491 cases of property damage was reported, including 5,257 public facilities. Repair work has been completed for 73.2 percent of the damage cases.
The agency said 109 roads and five railways across the country were blocked as of Saturday evening.
Heavy rain also led to the cancellation of multiple flights across the country, and all KTX bullet train services in South and North Jeolla Provinces came to a halt, according to the authorities.
Damage is feared to grow further, as more rain is forecast to come next week.
The Korea Meteorological Administration said the central regions, in particular, are expected to receive heavy downpours of up to 500 millimeters along with strong winds, which could continue into early Monday, calling for extra caution against flooding and landslides.
A road in the southern city of Jeonju is inundated due to heavy rain on Aug. 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-08--(2nd LD) Southwestern areas evacuated after rivers overflow, bank collapses

(ATTN: RECASTS lead to add more info; ADDS latest figures, details of landslide in paras 6, 8, 10-11)
SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Yonhap) -- Major rivers and streams in the southwestern region of South Korea overflowed or came close to flooding in some places Saturday due to torrential rains, forcing local residents to evacuate and disrupting transportation.
Two days of downpours caused the flooding of the Seomjin River in Gokseong and Gurye counties, both located in South Jeolla Province.
A stretch of the river's bank in Namwon, adjacent to Gurye, collapsed at around 12:50 p.m.
The local office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said an estimated damage scope reaches 50-100 meters. It's still hard to gain exact information due to the inaccessibility of the site, officials added.
As vast swathes of farmland and houses were inundated, local authorities said earlier they have ordered residents in affected areas to evacuate immediately.
Around 300 people left villages near the bank, where at least 70 houses submerged.
A village in Namwon, South Jella Province, is flooded due to overflow from a stream on Aug. 8, 2020 in this photo provided by a local resident. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The water level of the Yeongsan River, another key river in the province, approached the threshold, as a stream in Gwangju, 270 kilometers south of Seoul, ran over some banks. River authorities released dam water, leaving dozens of villagers temporarily isolated.
Due to heavy rain, 12 flights at Gwangju International Airport were cancelled, as parts of the runway were inundated, according to the authorities.
The rainfall also put some villages in the western part of South Gyeongsang Province under water and hampered a number of train operations. All KTX bullet train services between Iksan, North Jeolla Province, and Yeoju, South Jeolla Province, came to a halt.
The Seomjin River is on the verge of overflowing in Gurye, South Jeolla Province, on Aug. 8, 2020, in this photo provided by the Gurye county office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
A village in Muju, North Jeolla Province, is inundated due to heavy rains on Aug. 8, 2020, in this photo provided by a local resident. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Heavy downpours triggered a landslide at around 4:42 p.m. in the county of Jangsu, North Jeolla Province, and buried at least one house, according to local authorities.
Around three people are presumed missing and rescue operations are under way, they added.
The Korea Forest Service elevated the landslide warning level to "serious," the highest in its four-tier alert system, in 16 provinces and metropolitan cities nationwide except for Jeju Island.
The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast more rains in Gwangju and the Jeolla provincial areas through Sunday morning. It said the central province of Chungcheong and the eastern province of Gangwon are bracing for heavy rains again as well amid the possibility that a typhoon will march toward the peninsula later this week.
The government held an interagency meeting, presided over by Minister of the Interior and Safety Chin Young, to check damages and discuss ways to prevent additional damage.
Train officials work to restore a rain-damaged railway in North Jeolla Province on Aug. 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-08--S. Korea provides emergency relief items to explosion-hit Lebanon

A total of 6,000 sets of medical supplies and other relief items were handed over by the Dongmyung Unit to @ @ @ @ @ ministry said , adding that 4,000 more packages will be delivered soon .

SEOUL, Aug. 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's military unit based in Lebanon provided emergency relief items to the Middle Eastern country on Saturday to help recovery from a recent deadly explosion, Seoul's defense ministry said.
A total of 6,000 sets of medical supplies and other relief items were handed over by the Dongmyung Unit to Lebanese military authorities, the ministry said, adding that 4,000 more packages will be delivered soon.
If the Lebanese government makes a request, the South Korean unit will proactively review additional support, including equipment and other supplies for recovery, according to the military.
The 280-strong Dongmyung unit, based in the southern city of Tyre, close to the border with Israel, has been operating as part of the U.N. Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) since 2007.
The South Korean government also plans to provide US$1 million worth of emergency relief aid to Lebanon, according to the foreign ministry.
Tuesday's blast at a waterfront warehouse in Beirut killed more than 150 people and wounded thousands others, according to news reports.
Col. Kim Do-young (R) who commands South Korea's Dongmyung Unit in Lebanon, delivers emergency relief items to Lebanese officers on Aug. 8, 2020, to help the country recover from a recent massive explosion, in this photo provided by South Korea's defense ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--(6th LD) 31 dead, 11 missing as heavy rain falls across S. Korea

Typhoon Jangmi , the season 's fifth typhoon , is forecast to hit the southern region of the peninsula on @ @ @ @ @ the southernmost island of Jeju and arrive in waters off the southern port city of @ @ @ @ @ the typhoon is likely to bring a rainfall of up to 300 mm .

(ATTN: UPDATES figures in headline, lead and 6th para; RECASTS 11th para)
SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- Floods and landslides triggered by heavy downpours in South Korea's central and southwestern regions have killed 31 people and left 11 others missing in just over a week, forcing more than 6,000 to evacuate, authorities said Sunday.
The country remains on high alert as search and recovery efforts continue and is bracing for an approaching typhoon likely to reach the peninsula early this week.
Torrential rains that started on Aug. 1 have wreaked havoc on Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi Province; the central Chungcheong and southwestern Jeolla Province, causing massive flooding and destroying roads, houses and farmland.
According to data from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, as of 7:30 p.m., 13 people have been killed since Friday in accidents caused by the rain and two others have gone missing. More than 3,700 people have been displaced.
A village in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province, is submerged by overflow from the Seomjin River on Aug. 8, 2020, due to two days of torrential rain. (Yonhap)
The death toll did not count the casualties from three capsized vessels at Uiam Dam in Chuncheon, 85 kilometers east of Seoul, which left three dead and three missing on Sunday. It was categorized as a marine accident.
Some 23,000 hectares of farmland were swamped or buried, while 13,370 cases of damage to public and private facilities were reported, according to the authorities.
Typhoon Jangmi, the season's fifth typhoon, is forecast to hit the southern region of the peninsula on Monday, passing waters off the southernmost island of Jeju and arrive in waters off the southern port city of Busan. The KMA said the typhoon is likely to bring a rainfall of up to 300 mm.
An underground parking lot of an apartment complex in Gwangju, 329 kilometers south of Seoul, is flooded on Aug. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
The KMA advised people on the southeastern seaside to take extra precautions and be prepared for dangerous tides, possible flooding or landslides.
On Sunday, a landslide buried a house in the county of Jangsu, North Jeolla Province, killing two people. A man in his 70s went missing as he was swept away by a strong current in Damyang, South Jeolla Province.
In the southwestern city of Gwangju, rain flooded the basement of a private ossuary where some 1,800 urns were deposited. Little damage was done to the urns as the windows remained intact, according to officials.
The disaster authorities said seven railways across the country were blocked as of Sunday morning. All flights at Gwangju Airport resumed early Sunday after having been suspended.
As downpours continued to trounce the country's metropolitan and central regions, parts of Seoul's major expressways along the Han River were closed to traffic.
The river's water level rose to dangerous levels due to the increased discharge of water from dams, including Paldang Dam, in upper reaches.
The disaster control center expanded landslide warnings and advisories to 81 counties and cities across the nation as heavy rains continued to batter the country. The Korea Forest Service said 667 landslides have been reported so far.
A trail alongside Yangjae Stream in Seoul is inundated due to heavy rain on Aug. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
Since Friday, Seoul has received more than 150 mm of rain, with Damyang recording 612 mm, 533.7 mm in Gwangju and 517.5 mm in Hwasun County.
The disaster control center said 3,749 people have been left homeless over the three-day period, most of which are still staying at temporary shelters due the flooding of the Seomjin River in Namwon City, North Jeolla Province, and Gurye and Damyang counties, both located in South Jeolla Province.
Nearly 3,300 cases of property damages were reported over the cited period, including to 2,233 public facilities, while damage was also reported to 287 residences and 1,180 hectares of farmland.
Rescue workers search for a person trapped in the debris of a landslide at a village in Gokseong, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 8, 2020. Four people were dead and one missing after the landslide triggered by heavy rain. (Yonhap)
Last week, the government designated seven cities and counties in central South Korea, including Anseong of Gyeonggi Province, Cheorwon of Gangwon Province and Chungju of North Chungcheong Province, as special disaster zones due to heavy rainfall.
Those regional governments are eligible for state financial support for their disaster recovery efforts, while residents can receive reductions in utility bills, health insurance premiums and other public charges.
On Sunday, the governor of South Jeolla Province asked the central government to designate some cities of the province hit by recent downpours as special disaster zones as well.
brk@yna.co.kr
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--(5th LD) 30 dead, 12 missing as heavy rain falls across S. Korea

(ATTN: ADDS more details in paras 14-17; CLARIFIES para 11; TRIMS)
SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- Floods and landslides triggered by heavy downpours in South Korea's central and southwestern regions have killed 30 people and left 12 others missing in just over a week, forcing more than 6,000 to evacuate, authorities said Sunday.
The country remains on high alert as search and recovery efforts continue and is bracing for an approaching typhoon likely to reach the peninsula early this week.
Torrential rains that started on Aug. 1 have wreaked havoc on Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi Province; the central Chungcheong and southwestern Jeolla Province, causing massive flooding and destroying roads, houses and farmland.
According to data from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, as of 4:30 p.m., 13 people have been killed since Friday in accidents caused by the rain and two others have gone missing. More than 3,700 people have been displaced.
A village in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province, is submerged by overflow from the Seomjin River on Aug. 8, 2020, due to two days of torrential rain. (Yonhap)
The death toll did not count the casualties from three capsized vessels at Uiam Dam in Chuncheon, 85 kilometers east of Seoul, which left three dead and three missing on Sunday. It was categorized as a marine accident.
Some 9,300 hectares of farmland were swamped or buried, while 9,500 cases of damage to public and private facilities were reported, according to the authorities.
Typhoon Jangmi, the season's fifth typhoon, is forecast to hit the southern region of the peninsula on Monday, passing waters off the southernmost island of Jeju and arrive in waters off the southern port city of Busan. The KMA said the typhoon is likely to bring a rainfall of up to 300 mm.
An underground parking lot of an apartment complex in Gwangju, 329 kilometers south of Seoul, is flooded on Aug. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
The KMA advised people on the southeastern seaside to take extra precautions and be prepared for dangerous tides, possible flooding or landslides.
On Sunday, a landslide buried a house in the county of Jangsu, North Jeolla Province, killing two people. A man in his 70s went missing as he was swept away by a strong current in Damyang, South Jeolla Province.
In the southwestern city of Gwangju, rain flooded the basement of a private ossuary where some 1,800 urns were deposited. Little damage was done to the urns as the windows remained intact, according to officials.
The disaster authorities said seven railways across the country were blocked as of Sunday morning. All flights at Gwangju Airport were suspended.
As downpours continued to trounce the country's metropolitan and central regions, parts of Seoul's major expressways along the Han River were closed to traffic.
The river's water level rose to dangerous levels due to the increased discharge of water from dams, including Paldang Dam, in upper reaches.
The disaster control center expanded landslide warnings and advisories to 81 counties and cities across the nation as heavy rains continued to batter the country. The Korea Forest Service said 667 landslides have been reported so far.
A trail alongside Yangjae Stream in Seoul is inundated due to heavy rain on Aug. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
Since Friday, Seoul has received more than 150 mm of rain, with Damyang recording 612 mm, 533.7 mm in Gwangju and 517.5 mm in Hwasun County.
The disaster control center said 3,749 people have been left homeless over the three-day period, most of which are still staying at temporary shelters due the flooding of the Seomjin River in Namwon City, North Jeolla Province, and Gurye and Damyang counties, both located in South Jeolla Province.
Nearly 3,300 cases of property damages were reported over the cited period, including to 2,233 public facilities, while damage was also reported to 287 residences and 1,180 hectares of farmland.
Rescue workers search for a person trapped in the debris of a landslide at a village in Gokseong, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 8, 2020. Four people were dead and one missing after the landslide triggered by heavy rain. (Yonhap)
Last week, the government designated seven cities and counties in central South Korea, including Anseong of Gyeonggi Province, Cheorwon of Gangwon Province and Chungju of North Chungcheong Province, as special disaster zones due to heavy rainfall.
Those regional governments are eligible for state financial support for their disaster recovery efforts, while residents can receive reductions in utility bills, health insurance premiums and other public charges.
On Sunday, the governor of South Jeolla Province asked the central government to designate some cities of the province hit by recent downpours as special disaster zones as well.
brk@yna.co.kr
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--(4th LD) 30 dead, 12 missing as heavy rain falls across S. Korea

According to data from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters , as of 4:30 p.m. , 13 people have @ @ @ @ @ accidents caused by the rain and two others have gone missing .
More than 3,700 @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead, paras 2-4; ADDS paras 22 with rainfall tallies)
SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- Floods and landslides triggered by heavy downpours in South Korea's central and southwestern regions have killed 30 people and left 12 others missing in just over a week, forcing more than 6,000 to evacuate, authorities said Sunday.
The country remains on high alert as search and recovery efforts continue and is bracing for an approaching typhoon likely to reach the peninsula early this week.
Torrential rains that started on Aug. 1 have wreaked havoc on Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi Province; the central Chungcheong and southwestern Jeolla Province, causing massive flooding and destroying roads, houses and farmland.
According to data from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, as of 4:30 p.m., 13 people have been killed since Friday in accidents caused by the rain and two others have gone missing. More than 3,700 people have been displaced.
A village in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province, is submerged by overflow from the Seomjin River on Aug. 8, 2020, due to two days of torrential rain. (Yonhap)
The death toll did not count the casualties from three capsized vessels at Uiam Dam in Chuncheon, 85 kilometers east of Seoul, which left three dead and three missing on Sunday. It was categorized as a marine accident.
More than 5,900 people from 11 provinces and cities left their homes, and some 4,600 of them remain at temporary shelters following warnings of disasters.
Some 9,300 hectares of farmland were swamped or buried, while 9,500 cases of damage to public and private facilities were reported. Repair work has been completed for 73.2 percent of the damage cases, according to the authorities.
Typhoon Jangmi, the season's fifth typhoon, is expected to hit the southern region of the Korean Peninsula from Monday, bringing about more rain in the flood-hit areas.
Formed early Sunday southwest of Okinawa, the typhoon is moving northeast and expected to pass waters off Jeju Island around 10 a.m. Monday, according to the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA).
The state weather agency said the tropical storm will probably arrive in waters off Busan, the southern port city, some 453 kilometers southeast of Seoul, around 3 p.m. Monday.
An underground parking lot of an apartment complex in Gwangju, 329 kilometers south of Seoul, is flooded on Aug. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
The KMA said the central area is projected to receive a rainfall of 100-300 mm, and the southern regions will see rainfall of 100-200 mm. It will rain up to 300 mm in some regions close to the typhoon's trajectory, it said.
As it coincides with the astronomical high tide period, the KMA advised people on the southeastern seaside to take extra precautions and be prepared for dangerous tides.
It also asked the people in the affected areas to be fully prepared for possible flooding or landslides.
The disaster control center also expanded landslide warnings and advisories to 81 counties and cities across the nation as heavy rains continued to batter the country.
Landslide warnings were issued for 24 regions, including the northern part of Gwangju and Namwon, Muju and Jangsu in North Jeolla Province, while advisories were posted for 57 areas, including cities in the provinces of Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, North and South Jeolla and North and South Gyeongsang.
The Korea Forest Service said 667 landslides have been reported so far this month due to prolonged rains in southern regions.
It asked people to leave dangerous places when they are warned, as heavy rain can cause landslides.
As downpours continued to trounce the country's metropolitan and central regions Sunday afternoon, some sections of the Olympic Expressway in Seoul, alongside the southern part of Han River, have been closed to traffic.
The water level of the Han River, which runs through the capital, rose to dangerous levels due to the increased discharge of water from dams, including Paldang Dam, in upper reaches.
A trail alongside Yangjae Stream in Seoul is inundated due to heavy rain on Aug. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
The disaster authorities said seven railways across the country have been blocked as of Sunday morning, while 10 flights in Gwangju Airport have been canceled.
Rainfall pummeled the country over the weekend, with the central region, including Seoul, receiving more than 150 mm on a cumulative basis, and 612 mm in the southern county of Damyang in South Jeolla Province, with 533.7 mm in Gwangju and 517.5 mm in Hwasun County.
In a landslide that buried a house in the county of Jangsu, North Jeolla Province, two more people were found dead on Sunday, after two were found to have died the previous day.
A man in his 70s went missing as he was swept away by a strong current in Damyang.
The disaster control center said 3,749 people have been left homeless over the three-day period, most of which are still staying at temporary shelters due the flooding of the Seomjin River in Namwon City, North Jeolla Province, and Gurye and Damyang counties, both located in South Jeolla Province.
Nearly 3,300 cases of property damages were reported over the cited period, including to 2,233 public facilities, while damage was also reported to 287 residences and 1,180 hectares of farmland.
Some roads and bridges were destroyed by the heavy rain, which also caused 65 floods at local streams and 11 landslides.
Rescue workers search for a person trapped in the debris of a landslide at a village in Gokseong, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 8, 2020. Four people were dead and one missing after the landslide triggered by heavy rain. (Yonhap)
Last week, the government designated seven cities and counties in central South Korea, including Anseong of Gyeonggi Province, Cheorwon of Gangwon Province and Chungju of North Chungcheong Province, as special disaster zones due to heavy rainfall.
Those regional governments are eligible for state financial support for their disaster recovery efforts, while residents can receive reductions in utility bills, health insurance premiums and other public charges.
On Sunday, the governor of South Jeolla Province asked the central government to designate some cities of the province hit by recent downpours as special disaster zones as well.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--(2nd LD) New daily virus cases at 36 as church-linked community spread continues

`` We have implemented the measures ( to prevent church clusters ) and we 're discussing whether to bring that @ @ @ @ @ with a new and stronger regulation , '' he said .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, ADDS updated info in para 10-11, 15-17)
SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases hovered above 30 for the second straight day on Sunday, as local infections traced to religious gatherings in the capital and a nearby city continued to rise.
The country identified 36 virus cases, including 30 local infections, raising the total caseload to 14,598, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The tally marked a fall from 43 additional cases reported Saturday.
The Seoul metropolitan area has accounted for most of the newly added virus cases this month.
Of the locally transmitted cases, 25 were reported in densely populated Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas, where around half of the country's 50-million population resides.
In particular, many cases were tied to church gatherings in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul.
Concertgoers at Olympic Park in eastern Seoul read precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections on Aug. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
Two churches in Goyang have emerged as an epicenter of cluster infections that have spread to a day care center in the city.
Confirmed cases at one church in Goyang rose by eight to a total of 24, while the other church in the same city saw its confirmed cases rise by two to 20.
At a church in western Seoul, one additional case was also reported, with related cases standing at five.
In a regular press briefing later Sunday, Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said the government is considering strengthening measures to prevent church-linked cluster infections or reinstating the ban on unnecessary church gatherings.
"We have implemented the measures (to prevent church clusters) and we're discussing whether to bring that in again or come up with a new and stronger regulation," he said.
South Korea had banned church members from having gatherings other than regular worship services amid the soaring number of related patients, but it decided to lift the regulation on July 24.
Cases coming in from overseas fell to a single digit after increasing by double-digit numbers for 43 consecutive days. Among the six additional cases, one was detected at a quarantine checkpoint at an airport.
A health official conducts coronavirus tests at a drive-through test center in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, on Aug. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
The country suffered a sharp increase in the number of such imported cases due to South Korean workers returning home from Iraq, along with sailors from Russian ships docked at its port.
By average, the local infection trend has improved in the past two weeks compared with 14 days earlier, with the number of daily new cases coming down to 12.1 from 19.9, according to government data.
Imported cases stood at 21.4, down from 31.4 in the same period, a decline largely attributable to the change in the quarantine policy requiring foreigners from six high-risk countries to submit negative virus test results before being admitted, officials said.
But untraceable infection cases accounted for 8.5 percent of the total, up from 6.4 percent tallied in that period, putting authorities on alert for blindspots.
The country reported one more virus death, keeping the number of fatalities at 305, according to the KCDC. The fatality rate reached 2.09 percent.
The number of patients fully cured of the virus reached 13,642, up 13 from the previous day. This indicates 93.45 percent of patients reported here have recovered.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--Dismissed N. Korean official confirmed as 1st vice director of key ruling party body

He made a speech in a ceremony to deliver supplies , including rice , to people in Kaesong , a @ @ @ @ @ , as `` member of the Political Bureau and first vice department director of the @ @ @ @ @ the North 's key official media Korean Central News Agency reported on Sunday .

SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean high-ranking official who was dismissed in February has been confirmed as the first vice director of the country's party central committee.
Ri Man-gon was removed from the post of the head of Organization and Guidance Department, a key office in charge of party cadres, in late February. The reason for his dismissal has not been revealed.
He made a speech in a ceremony to deliver supplies, including rice, to people in Kaesong, a city near the inter-Korean border, as "member of the Political Bureau and first vice department director of the WPK Central Committee," the North's key official media Korean Central News Agency reported on Sunday.
The WPK stands for the Workers' Party of Korea, the North's ruling party.
North Korea sealed off the border city on July 24 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, claiming a defector suspected to have shown virus symptoms returned to the city from South Korea.
Ri Man-gon, former head of Organization and Guidance Department of the Central Committee of the WPK in a red circle sits at the Supreme People's Assembly meeting held on April 12, 2020. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--S. Korea to overhaul subsidy scheme for EVs

Tesla took up 90 billion won ( US $ 76 million ) , or 43 percent , of the 209 @ @ @ @ @ out by the central and local governments in the January-June period , according to the @ @ @ @ @ Manufacturers Association ( KAMA ) .

SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's environment ministry said Sunday that it will revamp a subsidy scheme for electric vehicles (EVs), with the current proposal centering on excluding high-priced EVs from the subsidy recipients.
The country's fat subsidies for EVs have been a major contributor to the popularity of eco-friendly cars.
The overhaul under review includes the exclusion of high-priced EVs, a category that includes vehicles produced by Tesla Motors Inc., from the list of beneficiaries, according to the ministry.
The ministry plans to complete the overhaul plan for EV subsidies by October.
This undated file photo provided by GS Caltex Co. shows an electric vehicle charger. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The annual review of the EV subsidy scheme came amid controversy that Tesla has taken the lion's share of the state subsidies for EVs.
Tesla took up 90 billion won (US$76 million), or 43 percent, of the 209 billion won in subsidies doled out by the central and local governments in the January-June period, according to the data from the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association (KAMA).
On the back of fat subsidies, Tesla sold a total of 7,079 vehicles in the Korean imported passenger car market from January to June, a whopping increase from 422 units in the same period of last year, according to data from Tesla.
In June, the U.S. electric carmaker said it delivered a record 2,827 units on a monthly basis, sharply up from 121 units a year ago, helped by higher demand for the Model 3.
Tesla Korea sells models such as the Model 3, Model S and Model X in South Korea.
The Model 3, Model S and Model X are available at the starting prices of 54 million won (US$44,000), 114 million won and 121 million won, respectively.
Customers can purchase the models at lower prices with a central government subsidy of 8 million won and a provincial government subsidy worth up to 10 million won.
Tesla electric vehicles are parked in a row at a charging station in Seoul on May 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--(3rd LD) At least 30 killed due to weeklong heavy downpours; further heavy rain in store on typhoon

SEOUL , Aug. 9 ( Yonhap ) -- Heavy downpours , landslides and floods in South Korea have killed at @ @ @ @ @ several days , but the death toll may rise further as more than 10 people @ @ @ @ @ heavy rains are also forecast in the southern part of the country due to an @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS more details in last 3 paras)
SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- Heavy downpours, landslides and floods in South Korea have killed at least 30 in the past several days, but the death toll may rise further as more than 10 people have gone missing. More heavy rains are also forecast in the southern part of the country due to an approaching typhoon.
Torrential rains have wreaked havoc across the country since Aug. 1 amid the prolonged monsoon season.
According to the data by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, the country's death toll stood at 30 as of Sunday, leaving 12 people missing and eight wounded.
A village in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province, is submerged by overflow from the Seomjin River on Aug. 8, 2020, due to two days of torrential rain. (Yonhap)
Over the past three days, 13 people have died, two gone missing and one injured nationwide, according to the headquarters.
The death toll did not count the casualties from three capsized vessels at Uiam Dam in Chuncheon, 85 kilometers east of Seoul, which left three dead and three missing on Sunday. It was categorized as a marine accident.
More than 5,900 people from 11 provinces and cities left their homes, and some 4,600 of them remain at temporary shelters following warnings of disasters.
Some 9,300 hectares of farmland were swamped or buried, while 9,500 cases of damage to public and private facilities were reported. Repair work has been completed for 73.2 percent of the damage cases, according to the authorities.
Typhoon Jangmi, the season's fifth typhoon, is expected to hit the southern region of the Korean Peninsula from Monday, bringing about more rain in the flood-hit areas.
Formed early Sunday southwest of Okinawa, the typhoon is moving northeast and expected to pass waters off Jeju Island around 10 a.m. Monday, according to the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA).
The state weather agency said the tropical storm will probably arrive in waters off Busan, the southern port city, some 453 kilometers southeast of Seoul, around 3 p.m. Monday.
Due to the typhoon, Jeju Island and South Gyeongsang Province will experience strong winds and torrential rain in the coming days, while the rest of the country will experience heavy rainfall.
An underground parking lot of an apartment complex in Gwangju, 329 kilometers south of Seoul, is flooded on Aug. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
The KMA said the central area is projected to receive a rainfall of 100-300 mm, and the southern regions will see rainfall of 100-200 mm. It will rain up to 300 mm in some regions close to the typhoon's trajectory, it said.
As it coincides with the astronomical high tide period, the KMA advised people on the southeastern seaside to take extra precautions and be prepared for dangerous tides.
It also asked the people in the affected areas to be fully prepared for possible flooding or landslides.
The disaster control center also expanded landslide warnings and advisories to 81 counties and cities across the nation as heavy rains continued to batter the country.
Landslide warnings were issued for 24 regions, including the northern part of Gwangju and Namwon, Muju and Jangsu in North Jeolla Province, while advisories were posted for 57 areas, including cities in the provinces of Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, North and South Jeolla and North and South Gyeongsang.
The Korea Forest Service said 667 landslides have been reported so far this month due to prolonged rains in southern regions.
It asked people to leave dangerous places when they are warned, as heavy rain can cause landslides.
As downpours continued to trounce the country's metropolitan and central regions Sunday afternoon, some sections of the Olympic Expressway in Seoul, alongside the southern part of Han River, have been closed to traffic.
The water level of the Han River, which runs through the capital, rose to dangerous levels due to the increased discharge of water from dams, including Paldang Dam, in upper reaches.
A trail alongside Yangjae Stream in Seoul is inundated due to heavy rain on Aug. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
The disaster authorities said seven railways across the country have been blocked as of Sunday morning, while 10 flights in Gwangju Airport have been canceled.
The heavy rainfall has pummeled the southern part of the country in the past few days.
A total of 612 mm of rain was reported in the county of Damyang in South Jeolla Province during the three-day period, with 533.7 mm in Gwangju and 517.5 mm in Hwasun County.
In a landslide that buried a house in the county of Jangsu, North Jeolla Province, two more people were found dead on Sunday, after two were found to have died the previous day.
A man in his 70s went missing as he was swept away by a strong current in Damyang.
The disaster control center said 3,749 people have been left homeless over the three-day period, most of which are still staying at temporary shelters due the flooding of the Seomjin River in Namwon City, North Jeolla Province, and Gurye and Damyang counties, both located in South Jeolla Province.
Nearly 3,300 cases of property damages were reported over the cited period, including to 2,233 public facilities, while damage was also reported to 287 residences and 1,180 hectares of farmland.
Some roads and bridges were destroyed by the heavy rain, which also caused 65 floods at local streams and 11 landslides.
Rescue workers search for a person trapped in the debris of a landslide at a village in Gokseong, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 8, 2020. Four people were dead and one missing after the landslide triggered by heavy rain. (Yonhap)
Last week, the government designated seven cities and counties in central South Korea, including Anseong of Gyeonggi Province, Cheorwon of Gangwon Province and Chungju of North Chungcheong Province, as special disaster zones due to heavy rainfall.
Those regional governments are eligible for state financial support for their disaster recovery efforts, while residents can receive reductions in utility bills, health insurance premiums and other public charges.
On Sunday, the governor of South Jeolla Province asked the central government to designate some cities of the province hit by recent downpours as special disaster zones as well.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--Doosan Bears infielder Hur Kyoung-min voted KBO's top player for July

He received 19 out of 30 votes cast by the media , and collected 43,910 out of 234,257 online votes @ @ @ @ @ converted total of 41.04 points .
Lotte Giants starter Dan Straily came next with 35.75 @ @ @ @ @ the fan voting with 136,287 votes .

SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- Doosan Bears infielder Hur Kyoung-min has been voted the best player in the South Korean professional baseball league for July, the sport's governing body said Sunday.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Hur was named the Player of the Month for July, following voting from fans and the media.
It is his first monthly MVP award since he joined the Doosan Bears in the KBO League in 2009.
The infielder, who plays both as a third baseman and shortstop, batted .494/.538/.554 in July, with the league-most 41 hits and six stolen bases in 22 games last month.
He received 19 out of 30 votes cast by the media, and collected 43,910 out of 234,257 online votes from fans, for a converted total of 41.04 points. Lotte Giants starter Dan Straily came next with 35.75 points, though he led the fan voting with 136,287 votes.
Hur will receive 2 million won (US$1,670) in prize money and a gold bar worth 600,000 won, courtesy of the league's main sponsor, Shinhan Bank.
This file photo, taken on July 5, 2020, shows Doosan Bears infielder Hur Kyoung-min. (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--(LEAD) Local virus cases on high plateau due to rising church-traced infections

Confirmed cases at one church in Goyang rose by eight to a total of 24 , while the other church @ @ @ @ @ its confirmed cases rise by two to 20 .

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in paras 8-9; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases hovered above 30 for the second straight day on Sunday, as local infections traced to religious gatherings continued to rise amid a fall in cases coming in from overseas.
The country identified 36 virus cases, including 30 local infections, raising the total caseload to 14,598, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The tally marked a fall from 43 additional cases reported Saturday.
The Seoul metropolitan area has accounted for most of the newly added virus cases this month.
Of the locally transmitted cases, 25 were reported in densely populated Seoul and nearby metropolitan areas, where around half of the country's 50-million population resides.
In particular, many cases were tied to church gatherings in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul.
Concertgoers at Olympic Park in eastern Seoul read precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections on Aug. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
Two churches in Goyang have emerged as an epicenter of cluster infections that have spread to a day care center in the city.
Confirmed cases at one church in Goyang rose by eight to a total of 24, while the other church in the same city saw its confirmed cases rise by two to 20.
At a church in western Seoul, one additional case was also reported, with related cases standing at five.
South Korea had been banning church members from having gatherings other than regular worship services amid the soaring number of related patients, but it decided to lift the regulation on July 24.
Cases coming in from overseas fell to a single digit after increasing by double-digit numbers for 43 consecutive days. Among the 6 additional cases, one was detected at a quarantine checkpoint at an airport.
A health official conducts coronavirus tests at a drive-through test center in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, on Aug. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
The country suffered a sharp increase in the number of such cases due to South Korean workers returning home from Iraq, along with sailors from Russian ships docked at its port.
The country reported one more virus death, keeping the number of fatalities at 305, according to the KCDC. The fatality rate reached 2.09 percent.
The number of patients fully cured of the virus reached 13,642, up 13 from the previous day. This indicates 93.45 percent of patients reported here have recovered.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--N. Korea sends relief supplies to Kaesong under virus lockdown

In a separate report on Wednesday , state media said over 550,000 relief items of more than 30 kinds have @ @ @ @ @ the start of the city 's blockade .

SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's ruling party has delivered relief supplies including rice to Kaesong, the North's city near the western inter-Korean border under lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the country's main news outlet said Sunday.
A train carrying special supplies such as rice provided by the Workers' Party of Korea arrived at Kaesong station late Friday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
The provision was made two days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered special aid to the border city at a meeting of an executive policy bureau of the party held in Pyongyang on Wednesday.
This photo captured from the Rodong Sinmun, the newspaper of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party, shows party officials inspecting rice bags that arrived at Kaesong station on Aug. 7, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
North Korea sealed off the city on July 24, claiming a defector suspected to have shown virus symptoms returned to the city.
In addition, special money for the living expenses of citizens in the city was included in the special aid, the KCNA said.
In a separate report on Wednesday, state media said over 550,000 relief items of more than 30 kinds have been sent to Kaesong since the start of the city's blockade.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--(LEAD) BLACKPINK's 'How You Like That' tops 400 mln YouTube views

The feat makes it the fastest to reach the mark among all K-pop music videos on YouTube .
The previous @ @ @ @ @ This Love , '' another hit by the four-member act , which took 63 days @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: ADDS details in last 4 paras)
SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- The music video for BLACKPINK's hit song "How You Like That" topped the milestone of 400 million YouTube views Sunday.
The music video surpassed the threshold only 43 days after its release on June 26.
The feat makes it the fastest to reach the mark among all K-pop music videos on YouTube. The previous record was by "Kill This Love," another hit by the four-member act, which took 63 days to garner the view total.
"How You Like That" is the first of two pre-release singles that will become part of BLACKPINK's first studio album, coming out on Oct. 2.
The second single will be rolled out on Aug. 28, the group's management agency YG Entertainment said.
Upon its release, "How You Like That" instantly stormed to the No. 1 spot on Apple's singles charts in 60 countries and territories.
The song also ranked second on Spotify's Global Top 50 singles chart.
BLACKPINK debuted in 2016, topping multiple music charts with the hip-hop tracks "Whistle" and "Boombayah."
"Boombayah" is nearing 1 billion views on YouTube, with "Whistle" topping 500 million views.
This image of "How You Like That" by BLACKPINK was provided by YG Entertainment on Aug. 9, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--(LEAD) Typhoon Jangmi set to hit southern part of S. Korea with heavy rain

The southern part of the country will be directly affected by the typhoon , with estimated precipitation of 100-200 mm @ @ @ @ @ It will rain up to 300 mm in some parts of the region along the @ @ @ @ @ to the KMA .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; ADDS more info in paras 2-3, 5, 7-8)
SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will come under the direct influence of Typhoon Jangmi, the season's fifth typhoon, which will bring heavy rain to the country's southeastern region already hammered by downpours and floods, the state weather agency said Sunday.
Formed early Sunday southwest of Okinawa, the tropical storm with a radius of 200 kilometers started to move northeast at a speed of 34 kilometers per hour, with an atmospheric pressure of 1,000 hectopascals at its center and a maximum wind speed of 18 meters per second.
It is expected to pass waters 350 km south of Jeju Island around 10 a.m. Monday, according to the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA).
Around 3 p.m. on the same day, it is predicted to arrive in waters 50 km southwest of Busan, some 325 km southeast of Seoul, it said.
It will be this summer's first typhoon to come to the Korean Peninsula. The name of Typhoon Jangmi was contributed by South Korea and means "rose" in Korean.
This image provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration shows the predicted course of Typhoon Jangmi as of 10 a.m. on Aug. 9, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
South Korea will experience rain over the coming days, while the typhoon will strike the southeastern region of South Gyeongsang Province and Jeju Island, with strong winds and heavy downpours.
The KMA said the central region will receive rainfall of 100-300 mm for the next two days due to a seasonal rain front and Typhoon Jangmi. Some areas are expected be battered by heavy downpours of up to 500 mm.
The southern part of the country will be directly affected by the typhoon, with estimated precipitation of 100-200 mm over the cited period. It will rain up to 300 mm in some parts of the region along the typhoon's trajectory, according to the KMA.
The KMA advised people on the southeastern seaside to take extra precautions and be prepared for dangerous tides.
South Korea has been suffering from dayslong torrential rain amid the prolonged monsoon season that started in late June.
Over the last nine days, about 30 people have been killed and 12 have gone missing due to floods and landslides.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--(2nd LD) At least 30 killed due to weeklong heavy downpours; further heavy rain in store on typhoon

(ATTN: RECASTS headline; UPDATES with new info in paras 12, 15-20)
SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- Heavy downpours, landslides and floods in South Korea have killed at least 30 in the past several days, but the death toll may rise further as more than 10 people have gone missing. More heavy rains are also forecast in the southern part of the country due to an approaching typhoon.
Torrential rains have wreaked havoc across the country since Aug. 1 amid the prolonged monsoon season.
According to the data by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, the country's death toll stood at 30 as of Sunday, leaving 12 people missing and eight wounded.
A village in Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province, is submerged by overflow from the Seomjin River on Aug. 8, 2020, due to two days of torrential rain. (Yonhap)
Over the past three days, 13 people have died, two gone missing and one injured nationwide, according to the headquarters.
The death toll did not count the casualties from three capsized vessels at Uiam Dam in Chuncheon, 85 kilometers east of Seoul, which left three dead and three missing on Sunday. It was categorized as a marine accident.
More than 5,900 people from 11 provinces and cities left their homes, and some 4,600 of them remain at temporary shelters following warnings of disasters.
Some 9,300 hectares of farmland were swamped or buried, while 9,500 cases of damage to public and private facilities were reported. Repair work has been completed for 73.2 percent of the damage cases, according to the authorities.
An underground parking lot of an apartment complex in Gwangju, 329 kilometers south of Seoul, is flooded on Aug. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
Typhoon Jangmi, the season's fifth typhoon, is expected to hit the southern region of the Korean Peninsula from Monday, bringing about more rain in the flood-hit areas.
Formed early Sunday southwest of Okinawa, the typhoon is moving northeast and expected to pass waters off Jeju Island around 10 a.m. Monday, according to the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA).
The state weather agency said the tropical storm will probably arrive in waters off Busan, the southern port city, some 453 kilometers southeast of Seoul, around 3 p.m. Monday.
Due to the typhoon, Jeju Island and South Gyeongsang Province will experience strong winds and torrential rain in the coming days, while the rest of the country will experience heavy rainfall.
The KMA said the central area is projected to receive a rainfall of 100-300 mm, and the southern regions will see rainfall of 100-200 mm. It will rain up to 300 mm in some regions close to the typhoon's trajectory, it said.
As it coincides with the astronomical high tide period, the KMA advised people on the southeastern seaside to take extra precautions and be prepared for dangerous tides.
It also asked the people in the affected areas to be fully prepared for possible flooding or landslides.
The disaster control center also expanded landslide warnings and advisories to 81 counties and cities across the nation as heavy rains continued to batter the country.
Landslide warnings were issued for 24 regions, including the northern part of Gwangju and Namwon, Muju and Jangsu in North Jeolla Province, while advisories were posted for 57 areas, including cities in the provinces of Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, North and South Jeolla and North and South Gyeongsang.
The Korea Forest Service said 667 landslides have been reported so far this month due to prolonged rains in southern regions.
It asked people to leave dangerous places when they are warned, as heavy rain can cause landslides.
As downpours continued to trounce the country's metropolitan and central regions Sunday afternoon, some sections of the Olympic Expressway in Seoul, alongside the southern part of Han River, have been closed to traffic.
The water level of the Han River, which runs through the capital, rose to dangerous levels due to the increased discharge of water from dams, including Paldang Dam, in upper reaches.
A trail alongside Yangjae Stream in Seoul is inundated due to heavy rain on Aug. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
The disaster authorities said seven railways across the country have been blocked as of Sunday morning, while 10 flights in Gwangju Airport have been canceled.
The heavy rainfall has pummeled the southern part of the country in the past few days.
A total of 612 mm of rain was reported in the county of Damyang in South Jeolla Province during the three-day period, with 533.7 mm in Gwangju and 517.5 mm in Hwasun County.
In a landslide that buried a house in the county of Jangsu, North Jeolla Province, two more people were found dead on Sunday, after two were found to have died the previous day.
A man in his 70s went missing as he was swept away by a strong current in Damyang.
The disaster control center said 3,749 people have been left homeless over the three-day period, most of which are still staying at temporary shelters due the flooding of the Seomjin River in Namwon City, North Jeolla Province, and Gurye and Damyang counties, both located in South Jeolla Province.
Nearly 3,300 cases of property damages were reported over the cited period, including to 2,233 public facilities, while damage was also reported to 287 residences and 1,180 hectares of farmland.
Some roads and bridges were destroyed by the heavy rain, which also caused 65 floods at local streams and 11 landslides.
Rescue workers search for a person trapped in the debris of a landslide at a village in Gokseong, about 400 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 8, 2020. Four people were dead and one missing after the landslide triggered by heavy rain. (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--(LEAD) S. Korea sees growing signs of economic recovery: KDI

South Korea 's daily new virus cases spiked more than 900 in late February , but the COVID-19 curve has @ @ @ @ @ months .
The decline in infections has moderated the contraction in domestic demand .

(ATTN: ADDS more details in last 4 paras)
SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's economic sluggishness has eased on diminishing negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic, a state-run think tank said Sunday.
South Korea's daily new virus cases spiked more than 900 in late February, but the COVID-19 curve has since flattened sharply in recent months. The decline in infections has moderated the contraction in domestic demand.
"The positive signs of an economic recovery are growing, but external uncertainties remain persistent," the Korea Development Institute (KDI) said in its English-language Monthly Economic Trends publication.
It said internal and external economic sentiments are rebounding, reflecting expectations for a recovery as some consumption-related data improved in major countries.
Still, the institute said the growing number of new COVID-19 cases worldwide and intensifying disputes between the United States and China could pose a constraint to a global economic recovery.
In July, South Korea's exports fell 7 percent on-year to US$42.8 billion, extending their on-year decline to a fifth consecutive month amid the fallout of the new coronavirus, but the pace of decline slowed sharply due to reopening.
July's pace marked a sharp slowdown from the 10.9 percent drop in June and the 23.7 percent decline in May.
Facility investment maintained high growth led by semiconductor-related industries.
Separately, the KDI said 20 South Korean economic experts expect the country's economy to contract 0.9 percent in 2020, down by 0.6 percentage point from the last survey in April.
The South Korean economy contracted 3.3 percent in the second quarter from a quarter earlier, the slowest on-quarter growth since the first quarter of 1998, when it contracted 6.8 percent.
Last year, South Korea's gross domestic product expanded 2 percent from a year earlier, the slowest on-year growth since 2009.
Next year, the economy is expected to grow 2.8 percent, higher than the previous estimate of 2 percent made in April.
The country's outbound shipments are expected to decline 5.8 percent this year, following last year's decline of more than 10 percent.
South Korea's current account surplus for the year is estimated at $42.5 billion, also lower than April's estimate of $54.2 billion, according to the survey.
The experts surveyed projected that South Korea's benchmark rate will stay at the current record low level of 0.5 percent throughout 2021.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--HMM tipped to report profit in Q2 for 1st time in 5 years on rising freight rates

`` The rosy outlook of its second-quarter earnings came from the sailing of large-scaled container ships by HMM under circumstances @ @ @ @ @ not sailing their ships , '' said Lee Han-joon , an analyst at KTB Investment @ @ @

SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's leading shipper HMM Co. is forecast to return to the black in the second quarter of the year, snapping its 21 consecutive quarters of net losses, on the back of a rise in shipping charges and decreasing fuel costs, industry sources said Sunday.
"The rosy outlook of its second-quarter earnings came from the sailing of large-scaled container ships by HMM under circumstances in which its rivals are not sailing their ships," said Lee Han-joon, an analyst at KTB Investment Securities Co.
Global shippers have been reducing operations of ships amid the pandemic in the face of still lower demand, which in turn raises freight rates.
This photo provided by Pusan Newport Co. (PNC) shows a 24,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit container carrier of HMM entering the Port of Busan in the city of Busan, 453 km southeast of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
THE Alliance, one of the world's three shipping alliances, has said it will maintain its decision to decrease the number of container carriers on its shipping lines linking Asia and North America due to woes over falling shipping demand caused by COVID-19.
Amid reduced fleets around the globe, HMM has put a total of nine container carriers on its shipping lines since April, with seven of the nine carrying full loads, according to the shipper.
However, it is unclear whether HMM will maintain the upward trend in its earnings in the second half of the year, analysts said, citing increased competition from its overseas rivals.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--(LEAD) Asiana deal at critical juncture, leaning toward collapse

But HDC has demanded an additional 12 weeks of due diligence on the debt-laden carrier beginning in mid-August , claiming @ @ @ @ @ shoulder Asiana 's heavy debts if it acquires the airline without looking into its current @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic .

(ATTN: ADDS more details in paras 6-7)
SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- Creditors of embattled Asiana Airlines Co. are drawing up a set of countermeasures against the potential rupture of a deal to sell the country's No. 2 carrier, as local property developer Hyundai Development Co. is leaning toward withdrawing from the 2.5 trillion-won (US$2.1 billion) deal, industry sources said Sunday.
The state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB) last week warned that HDC should proceed with the deal to buy Asiana Airlines, rejecting HDC's request for another round of due diligence on the country's No. 2 air carrier.
In December, the HDC-Mirae Asset Daewoo consortium signed the deal to acquire the carrier from Kumho Industrial, a construction unit of Kumho Asiana Group, as well as new Asiana shares to be issued and Asiana's six affiliates, for 2.5 trillion won.
HDC has completed seven weeks of due diligence on Asiana Airlines.
But HDC has demanded an additional 12 weeks of due diligence on the debt-laden carrier beginning in mid-August, claiming it will be forced to shoulder Asiana's heavy debts if it acquires the airline without looking into its current financial conditions hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
HDC said earlier in the day that it wants to hold a face-to-face meeting with Kumho Group, Asiana's parent, to discuss the proposed additional due diligence on the carrier.
Kumho Group and the creditors have called on HDC to come to the table for a breakthrough in the stalled acquisition.
The creditors think Tuesday is the deadline for HDC to show its stance of whether to push ahead with its acquisition of Asiana Airlines as all requirements for the deal are met.
KDB and other creditors are also looking at various options, including creditor-led management of the airline, in case the deal falls through.
Meanwhile, Asiana delivered an earnings surprise for the second quarter of the year on the back of robust cargo business.
Asiana said Friday it shifted to a net profit in the second quarter from a year earlier as cargo-carrying volumes offset lower travel demand amid the new coronavirus outbreak.
The country's second-biggest carrier swung to a net profit of 116.15 billion won in the April-June quarter from a net loss of 183.14 billion won in the same period last year, the company said in a statement.
Asiana also shifted to an operating profit of 115.08 billion won in the second quarter from an operating loss of 107.03 billion won a year ago. Sales fell 45 percent to 818.6 billion won from 1.48 trillion won.
Asiana has suspended most of its flights on international routes since March, as more than 180 countries and territories closed their borders or imposed entry restrictions on incoming passengers amid virus fears.
From January to June, net losses widened to 432.9 billion won from 267.4 billion won in the year-ago period. Operating losses fell 33 percent to 2.04 trillion won from 3.04 trillion won during the same period.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-09--S. Korea sees growing signs of economic recovery: KDI

SEOUL, Aug. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's economic sluggishness has eased on diminishing negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic, a state-run think tank said Sunday.
South Korea's daily new virus cases spiked more than 900 in late February, but the COVID-19 curve has since flattened sharply in recent months. The decline in infections has moderated the contraction in domestic demand.
"The positive signs of an economic recovery are growing, but external uncertainties remain persistent," the Korea Development Institute (KDI) said in its English-language Monthly Economic Trends publication.
It said internal and external economic sentiments are rebounding, reflecting expectations for a recovery as some consumption-related data improved in major countries.
Still, the institute said the growing number of new COVID-19 cases worldwide and intensifying disputes between the United States and China could pose a constraint to a global economic recovery.
In July, South Korea's exports fell 7 percent on-year to US$42.8 billion, extending their on-year decline to a fifth consecutive month amid the fallout of the new coronavirus, but the pace of decline slowed sharply due to reopening.
July's pace marked a sharp slowdown from the 10.9 percent drop in June and the 23.7 percent decline in May.
Facility investment maintained high growth led by semiconductor-related industries.
Separately, the KDI said 20 South Korean economic experts expect the country's economy to contract 0.9 percent in 2020, down by 0.6 percentage point from the last survey in April.
The South Korean economy contracted 3.3 percent in the second quarter from a quarter earlier, the slowest on-quarter growth since the first quarter of 1998, when it contracted 6.8 percent.
Last year, South Korea's gross domestic product expanded 2 percent from a year earlier, the slowest on-year growth since 2009.
The experts surveyed by the KDI projected that South Korea's key rate will stay at the current level of 0.5 percent throughout 2021.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-10--Seoul stocks extend gains late Monday morning

The index got off to a muted start after rising by nearly 5 percent on hopes for additional stimulus measures @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Aug. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares extended gains late Monday morning, led by gains in autos, EV battery makers and financials.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 20.33 points, or 0.86 percent, to 2,372.00 as of 11:20 a.m.
The index got off to a muted start after rising by nearly 5 percent on hopes for additional stimulus measures in the United States.
Auto-related shares spiked on expectations of a sales jump at home, while tech and chemical shares remained in negative terrain.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, skyrocketed 11.22 percent, with its smaller affiliate Kia Motors jumping 5.56 percent.
Hyundai Mobis, the top auto parts maker, also surged 5.56 percent.
Investor caution grew on tech shares amid increased U.S. warnings against popular Chinese apps, such as TikTok and WeChat, over national security reasons.
Other large caps traded mixed.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics gained 0.52 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix edged up 0.12 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics lost 0.78 percent, while Celltrion climbed 0.16 percent.
Internet giant Naver dipped 0.64 percent, but its rival Kakao added 0.42 percent.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem lost 3.22 percent, with EV battery maker Samsung SDI retreating 1.84 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,187.60 won against the U.S. dollar, down 2.90 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)