yna--2020-10-31--KBO's SK Wyverns re-sign infielder, acquire 2 new pitchers

Font split his 2019 season with the Blue Jays , Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets , going 4-5 @ @ @ @ @ 95 strikeouts in 84 1/3 innings across 48 games , including 17 starts , as @ @ @ @ @ as an opener .
The Wyverns said they liked his mix of a hard fastball @ @ @ @ @ per hour ( 95.6 miles per hour ) with a slider , a curveball and @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- The SK Wyverns wasted no time filling up their foreign player quota for next season, as they retained a veteran Canadian infielder and newly acquired two pitchers less than 24 hours after finishing up a disappointing 2020 campaign.
The Wyverns announced Saturday, one day after their final Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season game, that they have re-signed first baseman Jamie Romak for his fifth season. Then they added right-handers Wilmer Font and Artie Lewicki to their staff.
In this file photo from Oct. 11, 2020, Jamie Romak of the SK Wyverns celebrates his double against the Kia Tigers during the top of the ninth inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The signings come on the heels of a 51-92-1 (wins-losses-ties) season for the Wyverns, who finished ninth among 10 teams only two years after winning the Korean Series.
Romak agreed to a US$1.15 million deal. Font signed for one year at $1 million, which includes a $150,000 signing bonus. Lewicki inked a one-year deal worth $750,000, including a $100,000 signing bonus and a $100,000 incentive.
Font, a 30-year-old from Venezuela, went 1-3 with a 9.92 ERA in 21 relief appearances for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2020. He has spent parts of six major league seasons with six clubs. His debut came with the Texas Rangers in 2012.
Wilmer Font, a new pitcher for the SK Wyverns, poses after signing his contract with the Korea Baseball Organization club, in this photo provided by the Wyverns on Oct. 31, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Font split his 2019 season with the Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets, going 4-5 with a 4.48 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 84 1/3 innings across 48 games, including 17 starts, as the Blue Jays utilized him as an opener. The Wyverns said they liked his mix of a hard fastball that can touch 154 kilometers per hour (95.6 miles per hour) with a slider, a curveball and a forkball.
Lewicki, a 28-year-old American, appeared in two games for the Arizona Diamondbacks this year, posting a 5.40 ERA in 3 1/3 innings without recording wins or losses. The 2014 draft pick by the Detroit Tigers has 19 big league games to his credit.
In this Associated Press file photo from Aug. 29, 2020, Wilmer Font of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the Baltimore Orioles during the top of the ninth inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York. (Yonhap)
The Wyverns said they liked Lewicki's command and deceptive delivery. He can get his fastball up to 151 kph, and he also throws a slider, a curve and a changeup.
Romak, 35, will become the longest-serving foreign player in Wyverns' history next season. Following a sluggish start to this season, Romak enjoyed a second-half power surge, batting .316 with 19 home runs and 55 RBIs over his final 68 games. He finished with a .282 average, 32 home runs and 91 RBIs. For the second half, Romak was tied for the third most home runs and posted the third-best on-base plus slugging percentage with 1.073.
The Wyverns said they recognized Romak's contribution over the past four seasons and that he should be able to help the two new foreign players with their adjustments to the new league.
Artie Lewicki (R), a new pitcher for the SK Wyverns, signs his contract with the Korea Baseball Organization club, in this photo provided by the Wyverns on Oct. 31, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
KBO clubs can each sign three foreign players, but no more than two pitchers.
The Wyverns began the 2020 season with Romak and two new foreign pitchers, Ricardo Pinto and Nick Kingham. Kingham was cut in July after making only two appearances in an injury-plagued season. Pinto went 6-15 with a 6.17 ERA in 30 starts and will not be brought back.
After Kingham was gone, the Wyverns signed infielder Tyler White, but he lasted only nine games as he suffered broken bones in both hands.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--S. Korea confirms 3rd MIS-C cases

S. Korea confirms 3rd MIS-C cases

It refers to children and adolescents under 19 who show symptoms of a fever of 38 C or above lasting @ @ @ @ @ with inflammation and multisystem involvement of two or more organs in severe clinical condition requiring @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- An additional case of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) has been confirmed in South Korea, bringing the total caseload to three, health authorities said Saturday.
The 14-year-old girl was admitted to a hospital and recovered from the disease earlier this year, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
KDCA has conducted an investigation into eight suspected MIS-C cases and confirmed that a total of three children had the syndrome that affects several organs and systems in the body.
The symptoms of MIS-C include inflammation of the blood vessels, swollen hands and feet, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
The girl first had contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient and was admitted to a hospital for treatment in September, the KDCA said.
She was later readmitted for other symptoms and confirmed to be an MIS-C case in mid-October, the authorities said. The girl is currently in stable condition.
The KDCA earlier published a case definition for the disease.
It refers to children and adolescents under 19 who show symptoms of a fever of 38 C or above lasting 24 hours or longer, with inflammation and multisystem involvement of two or more organs in severe clinical condition requiring hospitalization.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--3 killed, 19 injured in fishing boat collision with bridge

Three out of the four men found unconscious by the Coast Guard were pronounced dead at hospitals , while the @ @ @ @ @ critical condition , said Lee Sung-il , a Coast Guard spokesman in the western coastal @ @ @ @

TAEAN, South Korea, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- Three South Koreans were killed and 19 others were injured after their fishing boat collided with a bridge pier on the country's west coast earlier Saturday, the Korea Coast Guard said.
The accident occurred at around 5:41 a.m. when the 9.77-ton boat carrying 21 recreational fishermen and a skipper collided with one of the piers of a bridge connecting Anmyeon Island and Wonsan Island.
Three out of the four men found unconscious by the Coast Guard were pronounced dead at hospitals, while the fourth remained unconscious and in critical condition, said Lee Sung-il, a Coast Guard spokesman in the western coastal county of Taean.
This photo, provided by the Coast Guard on Oct. 31, 2020, shows a recreational fisherman being rescued after a fishing boat accident. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Lee said 19 other men, including a 42-year-old skipper identified only by his family name Woo, are being treated at nearby hospitals for serious and minor injuries such as broken bones.
The Coast Guard plans to question the skipper as soon as he is released from the hospital on charges of professional negligence resulting in death, Lee said.
Lee said the skipper is believed to have failed to see a bridge pier due to darkness as his boat was traveling at between 15 and 18 nautical miles (27 and 33 kilometers) per hour.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--(2nd LD) New virus cases above 100 for 4th day, cluster infections in focus

Of the newly identified local infections Friday , 51 cases were reported in Seoul , 23 cases in Gyeonggi Province @ @ @ @ @ three cases in Incheon , west of Seoul .
The greater Seoul area is home @ @ @ @ @ nation 's 51.6 million population .

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with the latest tally)
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases rose by triple digits for the fourth straight day Saturday as cluster infections across the country continued to pile up amid eased social distancing measures.
The country added 127 more COVID-19 cases, including 96 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 26,511, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
It marked a rise from 103 new cases reported Wednesday, 125 on Thursday and 114 on Friday, it said.
Pedestrians line up in front of a coronavirus-prevention gate at the entrance to the main street in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, on Oct. 30, 2020, as health authorities strengthen efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 one day before Halloween. To pass through the gate, people must sanitize their hands, get temperature checks and register with smartphone QR codes. (Yonhap)
The latest upticks were mostly traced to senior nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities, but sporadic group infections continued to rise at small gatherings, including family meetings not only in the greater Seoul area but across the country.
Since the country eased the social distancing scheme by one notch to the lowest level of a three-tier system on Oct. 12, the daily figures have shown ups and downs, hovering around 100.
Health authorities warned that the country's virus cases may further pile up on a potential resurgence in virus infections as people travel to enjoy autumn vacations.
Halloween, which falls on Saturday, is also a major concern for health authorities as people could gather at entertainment facilities, potential hotbeds for cluster infections.
The country reported more than 270 COVID-19 cases tied to clubs in the nightlife district of Itaewon in western Seoul in early May.
Of the newly identified local infections Friday, 51 cases were reported in Seoul, 23 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital and three cases in Incheon, west of Seoul. The greater Seoul area is home to around half of the nation's 51.6 million population.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's southeastern city of Daegu adding nine cases and the southern port city of Busan adding two cases.
Virus cases traced to a nursing facility in Dongdaemun Ward in Seoul added eight new cases, it said.
A sauna in the Gangnam Ward of Seoul reported five more patients as of noon Thursday, raising the total caseload to 33.
A hospital in Songpa Ward in Seoul had eight more patients, bringing the total number to nine, the authorities said.
Cases traced to a fabric plant in Namyangju, northeast of Seoul, reached 28, up six from the previous day. The facility was put under cohort isolation.
Cases at a hospital in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, reached 150, up three from a day earlier.
The country, meanwhile, added 31 imported cases, up from 21 a day earlier, the KDCA said. Six cases came from the United States, two from Europe and 23 from Asia, excluding China.
South Korea reported one additional death, raising the death toll to 464. The fatality rate was 1.75 percent.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 54 as of midnight, up from 51 the previous day.
KDCA said a total of 715 COVID-19 patients in critical condition have been given remdesivir, an experimental drug conventionally used for Ebola.
The medication developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences Inc. started to be supplied to treat COVID-19 patients here in early August.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 24,311, up 84 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 2,624,492 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3, including 12,261 tests the previous day.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-31--U.N. panel says N. Korean mortar apparently used in terrorist attack in Somalia

`` Two unexploded 60-mm mortar rounds ( were ) found in the aftermath of the attack on 17 February 2020 @ @ @ @ @ with a 60-mm HE type 63 mortar round , manufactured in the Democratic People 's @ @ @ @ @ the panel said in a final report posted on the U.N. website , using North @ @ @ @ @

By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- The al-Shabab Islamic extremist group used what appears to be a North Korean mortar in an apparent attack against the United Nations compound in Somalia earlier this year, a U.N. panel has said, in a sign of possible arms deals between the two sides.
The al-Qaida-linked group carried out six separate mortar attacks on the international airport in the Somalian capital, Mogadishu, between February and May.
One of the attacks involved four 60-mm mortar rounds that were fired in the direction of the U.N. compound within Aden Adde International Airport on Feb. 17, the U.N. Panel of Experts on Somalia said in a final report dated Sept. 28.
"Two unexploded 60-mm mortar rounds (were) found in the aftermath of the attack on 17 February 2020. One has characteristics consistent with a 60-mm HE type 63 mortar round, manufactured in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," the panel said in a final report posted on the U.N. website, using North Korea's official name.
The development suggested that North Korea may have been involved in arms deals with al-Shabab extremists.
This photo, posted on the U.N. website, shows a mortar whose characteristics are consistent with a 60-mm HE type 63 mortar round, manufactured in North Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The report came weeks after North Korea renewed its opposition to terrorism.
"It is the consistent stance of the government of the DPRK to oppose terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and any support to it," an unidentified North Korean diplomat said in a U.N. session earlier in October.
In June, the U.S. State Department said North Korea has failed to take action to address historical support for acts of international terrorism.
The United States first designated North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism in 1988 for its 1987 bombing of a South Korean airliner that killed all 115 people aboard.
Washington removed Pyongyang from its list in 2008 in exchange for progress in denuclearization talks.
In 2017, the U.S. redesignated North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism after determining that the North Korean government "repeatedly" provided support for acts of international terrorism.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--S. Korean Marines announce first female chopper pilot

Lieutenant Cho Sang-ah , 27 , was assigned to Marine Corps ' 1st Division 1st Battalion as a chopper pilot @ @ @ @ @ of training .
This marks the first time a female helicopter pilot was stationed at @ @ @ @ @ years since its 1949 establishment .

SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- A female Marine Corps officer has been assigned to an aviation battalion after completing training as a helicopter pilot, becoming the Marines' first-ever female chopper pilot, officials said Sunday.
Lieutenant Cho Sang-ah, 27, was assigned to Marine Corps' 1st Division 1st Battalion as a chopper pilot after successfully completing 9 months of training. This marks the first time a female helicopter pilot was stationed at the Marines in the 71 years since its 1949 establishment.
Commissioned in 2017, Cho began her military life as an armament ammunition register and applied to become a flight officer this year after she showed keen interest while participating in landing exercises.
She will be dispatched to operations after completing additional training on Marineon utility choppers.
Cho vowed to become a Marine pilot with "the necessary capabilities required to complete any given mission with pride as the first female helicopter in the Marine Corps."
This photo provided by the Marines on Nov. 1, 2020, shows Cho Sang-ah posing for a photo on a Marineon utility chopper. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--Moon appoints new minister for food and drug safety

SEOUL , Nov. 1 ( Yonhap ) -- President Moon Jae-in on Sunday appointed Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip as @ @ @ @ @ food and drug safety ministry .

SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in on Sunday appointed Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip as the new head of the food and drug safety ministry.
Moon also appointed 11 other vice minister level officials, including Vice Labor Minister Lim Seo-jeong as senior presidential secretary for jobs.
This file image shows the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--(3rd LD) Exports decline again in Oct. on fewer days; virus lockdowns set to weigh down shipments

The pace of recovery may be moderate for the trade-driven economy because new waves of coronavirus infections recently gripped the @ @ @ @ @ , it added .

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout)
By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's outbound shipments dipped 3.6 percent in October from a year earlier on fewer working days and virus resurgence, snapping the previous month's brief rebound, data showed Sunday.
Outbound shipments came to US$44.9 billion last month, compared to $46.6 billion a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Imports moved down 5.8 percent to $39 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $5.9 billion.
The latest figure roughly falls in line with market expectations. According to a poll by Yonhap Infomax, the financial arm of Yonhap News Agency, the country's October exports were expected to have decreased 3.12 percent on-year.
The ministry attributed the decrease to the fewer number of working days in the month.
"Segments which suffered from the pandemic, such as displays, electronics, steel and auto parts, are slowly recovering, giving a positive signal on the recovery of exports down the road," Industry Minister Sung Yun-mo said in a statement.
But global trade is anticipated to face more jitters from the virus pandemic, which will result in weaker business sentiment and trade.
European nations have resumed adopting travel restrictions and lockdowns as the number of new patients has increased at an alarming rate recently.
Over the past week, Europe added 1.5 million new patients, with some countries even feared to run out of hospital beds.
The United States has also reported more than 9 million new coronavirus patients so far, soaring 1 million from two weeks earlier.
Around the globe, more than 45 million COVID-19 cases have been reported, according to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
On Sunday, South Korea added 124 more virus cases as well, raising the total caseload to 26,635.
By sectors, exports of chips rose on-year for the fourth consecutive month, advancing 10.2 percent to $8.6 billion. They took up roughly 20 percent of the country's overall exports last month.
The increase mainly came as major firms around the globe have expanded their investments in servers.
Exports of cars moved up 5.8 percent on-year to $4 billion on the back of the robust sales of sports utility vehicles.
Outbound shipments of displays also gathered ground for the first time in 26 months by advancing 5.2 percent on strong demand from high-end smartphones, including foldable models.
Overseas sales of computers edged up 5.3 percent as more people worked from home amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Those of home appliances rose 14.7 percent on improved sales of TVs.
Other major winners included biohealth products, which shot up 47.4 percent on-year in October.
Exports of foodstuffs moved up 6.1 percent on stronger demand from Asian nations, the data showed.
Exports of petrochemical products, on the other hand, slipped 14.2 percent to $2.9 billion, and those of petroleum halved over the period due to the weak global oil prices.
Exports of ships moved down 22 percent on-year to $1.4 billion due to the sluggish global economy.
By destinations, exports to China, the top trading partner, decreased 5.7 percent on-year in October. The ministry attributed the decline to an eight-day holiday in China, which limited operation of its factories.
Shipments to the United States, in contrast, gained 3.3 percent, led by robust sales of chips and electronics.
The two countries accounted for 40 percent of South Korea's monthly exports.
Sales to the European Union shot up 9.5 percent on chips and mobile devices, although the latest uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases is anticipated to weigh down the figure down the road.
Exports to Japan lost 19.2 percent over the period on weak facility investment, the data showed.
Outbound shipments of Southeast Asian nations slipped 5.8 percent over the period, as the prolonged economic fallout from the virus pandemic disrupted their business activities.
The country enjoyed a 4.5 percent rise in its outbound shipments in February, the first on-year rebound in 14 months, before it suffered full-fledged economic fallout from the pandemic.
Exports fell again in March as the number of COVID-19 cases around the globe escalated and the pace of decline further accelerated, plunging 25.5 percent in April and 23.6 percent in May.
Asia's fourth-largest economy extended its slump in exports to a sixth month in August, as the new coronavirus around the globe continued to strain business activities, before rebounding 7.7 percent in September.
The pace of recovery may be moderate for the trade-driven economy because new waves of coronavirus infections recently gripped the United States and European nations, it added.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--(LEAD) New virus cases above 100 for 5th day on cluster infections

The revision aims to change the current social distancing steps applied across the country into new ones tailored to each @ @ @ @ @ has asked for the revision of the nationwide steps due to their ineffectiveness .

(ATTN: ADDS more details from 10th para, photo)
By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed in triple digits for the fifth straight day on Sunday amid concerns that new infections could spike in the wake of Halloween celebrations held in the middle of eased social distancing steps.
The country added 124 more COVID-19 cases, including 101 local infections, as cluster infections in greater Seoul rose at a rapid clip, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The total caseload rose to 26,635.
The figure marked the fifth triple-digit rise after 103 new cases reported on Wednesday, 125 on Thursday, 114 on Friday and 127 on Saturday.
Citizens enjoying Halloween pass by a medic gate installed in Itaewon, central Seoul, to prevent the spread of new coronavirus infections on Oct. 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
Since the country eased its three-tier social distancing measures by one notch to the lowest level on Oct. 12, the daily figures have shown ups and downs, hovering around 100.
The latest growth came mostly from senior nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities, but sporadic community infections have been on the rise at small gatherings including family meetings across the country.
Halloween, which fell on Saturday, is a major concern for health officials as young people gathered in the popular areas of Hongdae, Itaewon and Gangnam in Seoul.
The country's peak season for autumn foliage trips has been cited as another concern for a rise in local infections.
As the pandemic is prolonged, health authorities will announce revised social distancing steps later in the day, four months after they made public the three-tier social distancing steps on June 28.
The revision aims to change the current social distancing steps applied across the country into new ones tailored to each region, as the public has asked for the revision of the nationwide steps due to their ineffectiveness.
By region, 45 new virus cases were reported in Seoul, 36 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital and three cases in Incheon, west of Seoul.
The greater Seoul area is home to around half of the nation's 51.6 million population.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the southeastern province of South Chungcheong adding nine cases.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 51 as of midnight, up from 54 the previous day.
The country added 23 imported cases coming mainly from Asian countries, up from 31 a day earlier, KDCA said.
South Korea reported two additional deaths, raising the death toll to 466. The fatality rate was 1.75 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 24,357, up 46 from the previous day.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--Hyundai Motor sells over 380,000 units of Genesis overseas

In the first nine months , sales of the all models of Genesis were tallied at 85,524 units , while @ @ @ @ @ units , the G80 at 39,472 units , the G90 at 9,059 units and the @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co. sold over 380,000 units of its premium brand Genesis in overseas markets over the past five years since the brand launched in November 2015, industry sources said Sunday.
Sales of Genesis came to a combined 384,471 units in September this year, showing its steady sales in the global passenger car market, they said.
This file photo provided by Hyundai Motor shows the GV70 SUV. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The current Genesis lineup is composed of the G70, G80 and G90 sedans and the GV80 SUV.
In the first nine months, sales of the all models of Genesis were tallied at 85,524 units, while the G70 stood at 11,994 units, the G80 at 39,472 units, the G90 at 9,059 units and the GV80 SUV at 24,999 units.
Among the Genesis lineup, the best-selling car in overseas and local markets was the G80 sedan over the past five years, with its combined domestic sales reaching 160,564 units and its combined overseas sales at 41,308 units.
Given the recent sales growth, sales of Genesis are likely to top the 400,000 mark down the road, the sources said.
Last Thursday, Hyundai Motor unveiled the design of the GV70 SUV under its independent Genesis brand, with the aim of launching it in the domestic market during the fourth quarter.
The GV70 SUV and an all-electric car will be added to the company's Genesis lineup by 2021.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--(2nd LD) Exports decline again in Oct. on fewer days; virus lockdowns set to weigh down shipments

Sales to the European Union shot up 9.5 percent on chips and mobile devices , although the latest uptick in @ @ @ @ @ is anticipated to weigh down the figure down the road .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; ADDS details throughout; ADDS photo)
By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's outbound shipments dipped 3.6 percent in October from a year earlier on fewer working days and virus resurgence, snapping the previous month's brief rebound, data showed Sunday.
Outbound shipments came to US$44.9 billion last month, compared to $46.6 billion a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Imports moved down 5.8 percent to $39 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $5.9 billion.
The latest figure roughly falls in line with market expectations. According to a poll by Yonhap Infomax, the financial arm of Yonhap News Agency, the country's October exports were expected to have decreased 3.12 percent on-year.
The ministry attributed the decrease to the fewer number of working days in the month.
"Segments which suffered from the pandemic, such as displays, electronics, steel and auto parts, are slowly recovering, giving a positive signal on the recovery of exports down the road," Industry Minister Sung Yun-mo said in a statement.
But global trade is anticipated to face more jitters from the virus pandemic, which will result in weaker business sentiment and trade.
European nations have resumed adopting travel restrictions and lockdowns as the number of new patients has increased at an alarming rate recently.
Over the past week, Europe added 1.5 million new patients, with some countries even feared to run out of hospital beds.
The United States has also reported more than 9 million new coronavirus patients so far, soaring 1 million from two weeks earlier.
Around the globe, more than 45 million COVID-19 cases have been reported, according to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
On Sunday, South Korea added 124 more virus cases as well, raising the total caseload to 26,635.
By sectors, exports of chips rose on-year for the fourth consecutive month, advancing 10.2 percent to $8.6 billion won. They took up roughly 20 percent of the country's overall exports last month.
The increase mainly came as major firms around the globe have expanded their investments in servers.
Exports of cars moved up 5.8 percent on-year to $4 billion won on the back of the robust sales of sports utility vehicles.
Outbound shipments of displays also gathered ground for the first time in 26 months by advancing 5.2 percent on strong demand from high-end smartphones, including foldable models.
Overseas sales of computers edged up 5.3 percent as more people worked from home amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Those of home appliances rose 14.7 percent on improved sales of TVs.
Other major winners included biohealth products, which shot up 47.4 percent on-year in October. Exports of foodstuffs moved up 6.1 percent on stronger demand from Asian nations, the data showed.
Exports of petrochemical products, on the other hand, slipped 10.6 percent to $3.9 billion won, and those of petroleum halved over the period due to the weak global oil prices.
By destinations, exports to China, the top trading partner, decreased 5.7 percent on-year in October. The ministry attributed the decline to an eight-day holiday in China, which limited operation of its factories.
Shipments to the United States, in contrast, gained 3.3 percent, led by robust sales of chips and electronics.
Sales to the European Union shot up 9.5 percent on chips and mobile devices, although the latest uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases is anticipated to weigh down the figure down the road.
Exports to Japan lost 19.2 percent over the period on weak facility investment, the data showed.
Outbound shipments of Southeast Asian nations slipped 5.8 percent over the period, as the prolonged economic fallout from the virus pandemic disrupted their business activities.
The country enjoyed a 4.5 percent rise in its outbound shipments in February, the first on-year rebound in 14 months, before it suffered full-fledged economic fallout from the pandemic.
Exports fell again in March as the number of COVID-19 cases around the globe escalated and the pace of decline further accelerated, plunging 25.5 percent in April and 23.6 percent in May.
Asia's fourth-largest economy extended its slump in exports to a sixth month in August, as the new coronavirus around the globe continued to strain business activities, before rebounding 7.7 percent in September.
The pace of recovery may be moderate for the trade-driven economy because new waves of coronavirus infections recently gripped the United States and European nations, it added.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--Court orders online mall to compensate 2,400 customers for data leak

`` ( Interpark ) informed the plaintiffs 14 days after it became aware of the personal data leak , causing @ @ @ @ @ to swiftly respond , '' Judge Han Seong-soo said in the ruling .

SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court has ordered a major online shopping mall to compensate more than 2,400 customers 100,000 won (US$88) each for a data leak in 2016, legal sources said Sunday.
The Seoul Central District Court handed a partial victory to the customers of Interpark Corp., who had demanded 300,000 won each in compensation for the breach.
The information of more than 10 million customers, including IDs, passwords, mobile phone numbers and addresses, was compromised in May 2016.
"(Interpark) informed the plaintiffs 14 days after it became aware of the personal data leak, causing them to miss the opportunity to swiftly respond," Judge Han Seong-soo said in the ruling.
"There is no evidence to determine additional violations of legal interests," the judge added, explaining the reason for the partial victory.
The Korea Communications Commission, the nation's telecoms watchdog, fined Interpark 4.5 billion won in December 2016 for its failure to protect customer information.
The company filed an administrative suit to have the fine canceled, but the Supreme Court struck it down in March of this year.
This file photo shows an office building used by online shopping mall Interpark Corp. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--N. Korea's anti-virus law imposes requirements on foreigners

The law also bans foreigners from making unauthorized visits to border regions , while stipulating that the bodies of those @ @ @ @ @ should be handled according to related regulations , according to the Minju Joson newspaper as @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- An emergency anti-virus law that North Korea recently enacted requires not only its citizens, but also foreigners, to unconditionally obey anti-virus measures, including a ban on entering the sea, according to a state newspaper report.
The law also bans foreigners from making unauthorized visits to border regions, while stipulating that the bodies of those who die in an epidemic should be handled according to related regulations, according to the Minju Joson newspaper as obtained by Yonhap News Agency.
These rules are required of North Korean nationals as well, but it is noticeable that the law specifically calls for foreigners to ensure absolute obedience to anti-virus measures while stipulating a list of requirements they should meet.
In addition to the ban on entering border regions and the sea, the regulations also require foreigners to avoid unnecessary trips to other regions, eating food in groups or holding entertainment events in public.
Foreigners are also required to wear masks and avoid shaking hands. In case of encountering suspicious items or dead animals, they must immediately report it to authorities while staying away from them, according to the regulations.
An official disinfects a bus in Pyongyang amid the coronavirus pandemic, in this undated photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 4, 2020. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--N.K. leader sends congratulatory message to pro-North Korean residents in Japan

He then called on members to launch a `` vigorous struggle '' to encourage their children to enjoy using the @ @ @ @ @ , saying they `` should not spare time and efforts to bring up the children @ @ @ @ @ pillars , who will carry forward the baton of Chongryon and patriotism . ''

SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a message to pro-North Korean residents in Japan encouraging them to continue friendly relations with Japan and make sure to be safe from the coronavirus, state media said Sunday.
"All the branches should ... create an external environment favorable for the existence and development of the community of the Koreans resident in Japan by taking the initiative in conducting activities for friendship with the Japanese people," Kim said in the letter released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Kim also urged members of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, or Chongryon, to put forth all efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Chongyron is closely linked to Pyongyang and is considered the North's de facto embassy in Tokyo.
"In particular, they should make the perfect preparations more perfect and devote themselves lest a single family of the compatriots would suffer from the heartbreaking pain due to the malignant infectious disease sweeping the world," he said.
He then called on members to launch a "vigorous struggle" to encourage their children to enjoy using the Korean language and preserve traditions, saying they "should not spare time and efforts to bring up the children of the Korean compatriots into pillars, who will carry forward the baton of Chongryon and patriotism."
"They should build all the branches into durable bases for maintaining the national identity," it added.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--New virus cases above 100 for 5th day on cluster infections

SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed in triple digits for the fifth straight day on Sunday amid concerns that new infections could spike in the wake of Halloween celebrations held in the middle of eased social distancing steps.
The country added 124 more COVID-19 cases, including 101 local infections, as cluster infections in greater Seoul rose at a rapid clip, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The total caseload rose to 26,635.
The figure marked the fifth triple-digit rise after 103 new cases reported on Wednesday, 125 on Thursday, 114 on Friday and 127 on Saturday.
Since the country eased its three-tier social distancing measures by one notch to the lowest level on Oct. 12, the daily figures have shown ups and downs, hovering around 100.
The latest growth came mostly from senior nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities, but sporadic community infections have been on the rise at small gatherings including family meetings across the country.
Halloween, which fell on Saturday, is a major concern for health officials as young people gathered in the popular areas of Hongdae, Itaewon and Gangnam in Seoul.
The country's peak season for autumn foliage trips has been cited as another concern for a rise in local infections.
As the pandemic is prolonged, health authorities will announce revised social distancing steps later in the day, four months after they made public the three-tier social distancing steps on June 28.
The revision aims to change the current social distancing steps applied across the country into new ones tailored to each region, as the public has asked for the revision of the nationwide steps due to their ineffectiveness.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--Seoul city to fine non-mask-wearers 100,000 won starting Nov. 13

`` The purpose is not to levy fines but to stop the spread of COVID-19 by following social distancing guidelines @ @ @ @ @ official said , adding that offenders will be given a warning before they are issued @ @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul metropolitan government will begin imposing fines of 100,000 won (US$88) on those who do not wear face masks in public next week, a measure aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
Enforcement of mandatory mask wearing will begin Nov. 13 after a one-month trial period, officials said.
This photo shows a poster at a bus stop explaining that mask wearing is mandatory in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Exceptions will be made for children under the age of 14, the disabled and those diagnosed with a medical condition that makes it difficult for them to breathe through a mask.
All others can also get a 20 percent reduction if they provide a reason for the violation by a deadline.
The city government said it will enforce the rule on a wider scale than required by the central government, including at internet cafes and movie theaters.
The five main areas of enforcement will be multiuse facilities subject to restrictions on assembly, public transportation, demonstration and rally sites, medical facilities and nursing homes.
Of the multiuse facilities, the rule will apply to not only bars, karaoke rooms and buffet restaurants that are limited-entry establishments under the government's Level 1 social distancing guidelines, but also 16 "medium-risk" facilities including private academies, arcades, houses of worship and indoor wedding halls.
"The purpose is not to levy fines but to stop the spread of COVID-19 by following social distancing guidelines," a city government official said, adding that offenders will be given a warning before they are issued a fine.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--(URGENT) 46 more patients released from coronavirus treatment, total now at 24,357: KDCA

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


yna--2020-11-01--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 2 additional coronavirus deaths, total now at 466: KDCA


yna--2020-11-01--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 124 more cases of new coronavirus: KDCA


yna--2020-11-01--(LEAD) Exports decline again in Oct. on virus resurgence

Exports fell again in March as the number of COVID-19 cases around the globe escalated and the pace of decline @ @ @ @ @ percent in April and 23.6 percent in May .

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout)
By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's outbound shipments dipped 3.6 percent in October from a year earlier, snapping the previous month's brief rebound, data showed Sunday, due to the resurgence of new coronavirus cases around the globe and fewer working days.
Outbound shipments came to US$44.9 billion last month, compared to $46.6 billion a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Imports moved down 5.8 percent to $39 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $5.9 billion.
The latest figure roughly falls in line with market expectations. According to a poll by Yonhap Infomax, the financial arm of Yonhap News Agency, the country's October exports were expected to have decreased 3.12 percent on-year.
The ministry attributed the decrease to the fewer number of working days in the month.
By segment, South Korea's exports of chips rose on-year for the fourth consecutive month, while those of automobiles also increased for the second straight month.
Outbound shipments of displays also gathered ground for the first time in 26 months, according to the ministry.
Exports of petrochemical and petroleum products, on the other hand, lost ground due to falling global oil prices.
By destinations, exports to China, the top trading partner, decreased 5.7 percent on-year in October.
Shipments to the United States, in contrast, gained 3.3 percent, and those to the European Union also shot up 9.5 percent.
Exports to Japan lost 19.2 percent over the period, the data showed.
The country enjoyed a 4.5 percent rise in its outbound shipments in February, the first on-year rebound in 14 months, before it suffered full-fledged economic fallout from the pandemic.
Exports fell again in March as the number of COVID-19 cases around the globe escalated and the pace of decline further accelerated, plunging 25.5 percent in April and 23.6 percent in May.
Asia's fourth-largest economy had extended its slump in exports to a sixth month in August, as the new coronavirus around the globe continued to strain business activities, before rebounding 7.7 percent in September.
The pace of recovery may be moderate for the trade-driven economy because new waves of coronavirus infections recently gripped the United States and European nations, it added.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--Exports decline again in Oct. on virus resurgence

By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's outbound shipments dipped 3.6 percent in October from a year earlier, snapping the previous month's brief rebound, data showed Sunday, due to the resurgence of new coronavirus cases around the globe and fewer working days.
Outbound shipments came to US$44.9 billion last month, compared to $46.6 billion a year earlier, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Imports moved down 5.8 percent to $39 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $5.9 billion.
The latest figure roughly falls in line with market expectations. According to a poll by Yonhap Infomax, the financial arm of Yonhap News Agency, the country's October exports were expected to have decreased 3.12 percent on-year.
The country enjoyed a 4.5 percent rise in its outbound shipments in February, the first on-year rebound in 14 months, before it suffered full-fledged economic fallout from the pandemic.
Exports fell again in March as the number of COVID-19 cases around the globe escalated and the pace of decline further accelerated, plunging 25.5 percent in April and 23.6 percent in May.
Asia's fourth-largest economy had extended its slump in exports to a sixth month in August, as the new coronavirus around the globe continued to strain business activities, before rebounding 7.7 percent in September.
The pace of recovery may be moderate for the trade-driven economy because new waves of coronavirus infections recently gripped the United States and European nations, it added.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


Sunday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Nov. 1 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


yna--2020-11-01--(URGENT) S. Korea's exports down 3.6 pct to US$44.9 bln in Oct.


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(END)


yna--2020-11-01--Apple recalls AirPods Pro for faulty sound issues

`` AirPods Pro will be examined prior to any service to verify that they are eligible for this program .
@ @ @ @ @ right or both ) with a confirmed issue will be replaced , '' free of @ @ @ @ @ in a notice posted on its website on Friday .

SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- Apple Inc. has announced a global recall of AirPods Pro wireless earbuds for faulty sound issues, such as crackling or static sounds.
Apple said it has determined that a small percentage of AirPods Pro may experience sound issues, adding that affected units were manufactured before October 2020.
The U.S. tech giant said problems of an affected AirPods Pro included crackling or static sounds that increase in loud environments, with exercise or while talking on the phone.
This photo, provided by Apple, shows its AirPods Pro wireless earbuds. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
It also said active noise-canceling is not working as expected, such as a loss of bass sound, or an increase in background sounds, such as street or airplane noise.
"AirPods Pro will be examined prior to any service to verify that they are eligible for this program. AirPods Pro (left, right or both) with a confirmed issue will be replaced," free of charge, the company said in a notice posted on its website on Friday.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--(3rd LD) PM announces new 5-level social distancing scheme

The prime minister said that under the new scheme facilities will be grouped into `` priority '' and `` regular @ @ @ @ @ the application of antivirus rules , while mask wearing and other key rules that were @ @ @ @ @ high-risk '' facilities will now apply to all facilities .

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in paras 5, 11)
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Sunday announced a new social distancing scheme based on five levels instead of three, saying the new plan aims to improve anti-virus measures in a tailored fashion amid criticism the current system is too broad-brush.
The scheme will take effect Saturday and break up the current three levels into Levels 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3. The government has divided the nation into seven zones, with the level of each zone determined based on the average number of daily infections per week.
"We are trying to improve effectiveness and adherance to anti-virus rules by reconstructing anti-virus measures in a tailored fashion," he said during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters.
The prime minister said that under the new scheme facilities will be grouped into "priority" and "regular" sites in terms of the application of antivirus rules, while mask wearing and other key rules that were previously mandatory only at "high-risk" facilities will now apply to all facilities.
The areas, where mask mandates will go into effect, also include venues of rallies, indoor sports facilities, hospitals, call centers, logistics centers as well as gatherings of more than 500 people.
The announcement came as South Korea reported triple-digit new case numbers for the fifth straight day, bringing the total caseload to 26,635.
Level 1 signifies a controllable level of transmission that allows people to carry out their ordinary lives while wearing masks and following social distancing rules at designated facilities.
Under Level 1.5, use of multi-use facilities is restricted. At Level 2, the pandemic is considered to be spreading nationwide and nonessential outdoor visits and gatherings are discouraged in the affected zones.
Level 2.5 is considered to be exceeding the health system's routine response levels, and the government will urge the public to remain at home.
At Level 3, which will be issued in the event that more than 800 new daily cases are reported for a week, the nation will effectively be placed on lockdown.
Eating at restaurants will be only allowed until 9 p.m. at Level 2, 2.5 and 3. Restaurants will be permitted to offer only takeout and delivery after 9 p.m.
Chung warned against becoming complacent, stressing that the revised scheme is not intended to boost the economy by easing anti-virus measures but rather to tighten them.
Speaking to next month's college admission exams, he said the government is making preparations to allow COVID-19 patients to take the test.
He called on the education ministry to step up implementation of social distancing rules and asked students and parents to strictly adhere to them.
This photo shows Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun delivering remarks during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters at the main government complex in Seoul on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--'No more cramps': S. Korean football's top scorer walks off with 8th title

`` I got to hoist the trophy on my last day , and this was just the kind of happy @ @ @ @ @ about , '' Lee said .
`` I was pretty touched by the standing ovation @ @ @ @ @ saw that a lot of fans stayed for the retirement ceremony .
I spotted a @ @ @ @ @ the stands . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- The greatest goal scorer in South Korean club football history collected his eighth championship trophy in his last match, enjoying a storybook ending to an illustrious career that spanned over two decades.
Lee Dong-gook Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors retired from the K League 1 on Sunday, following his club's 2-0 victory over Daegu FC that clinched a record fourth consecutive championship. And for the first time this year, the 41-year-old forward played the full 90 minutes.
Lee Dong-gook of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors hoists the K League 1 championship trophy during his retirement ceremony at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
Lee, who made his K League debut in 1998, is leaving with 228 career goals, more than any other player so far in the league's 38-year history.
Lee didn't get to add to that gaudy total on Sunday at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, but winning his eighth title -- all of them coming with Jeonbuk -- was still a neat sendoff present.
Lee, the only four-time MVP in K League history, was feted in a postmatch retirement ceremony at the stadium, He also had his No. 20 retired, meaning no Jeonbuk player will be able to wear that number.
Lee Dong-gook of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors poses with his family and teammates during his retirement ceremony at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
A sellout crowd of 10,251 -- clubs can only accept a crowd of about 30 percent of stadium capacity, due to the coronavirus pandemic -- gave Lee a standing ovation at the 20th minute mark, in a nod to the number on his back.
Lee said afterward he would've liked to score one last time, though lifting the trophy more than makes up for his lack of goals.
Lee Dong-gook of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (C) poses with his wife and five children during his retirement ceremony at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
"I got to hoist the trophy on my last day, and this was just the kind of happy ending that I'd dreamed about," Lee said. "I was pretty touched by the standing ovation during the game. I saw that a lot of fans stayed for the retirement ceremony. I spotted a lot of my jerseys in the stands."
Lee had a cramp near the end, and as soon as the final whistle blew, he dropped to the pitch.
"I poured everything I had into this match," Lee said. "I tried to let my mind control my body."
Then he quipped, "My plan now is to never play another sport that causes leg cramps."
Lee had a couple of decent chances at the net but couldn't convert them. Instead, the 22-year-old forward Cho Gue-sung scored both of Jeonbuk's goals in the first half -- a symbolic passing of the torch from Lee to the youngster who is expected to succeed Lee as Jeonbuk's top attacking option.
Lee said with Cho's continued growth, Jeonbuk's future is in good hands.
"He's learning so much on this team, and I think he demonstrated today how far he has come," Lee said. "He is a hard-working player and has so much upside. You should all keep an eye on him."
Lee Dong-gook of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors holds up a framed jersey to have his No. 20 retired during a ceremony at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--(4th LD) New virus cases above 100 for 5th day on cluster infections

Under the new regulations , facilities will be grouped into `` priority '' and `` regular '' sites in terms @ @ @ @ @ rules , while mask wearing and other key rules that were mandatory only at high-risk @ @ @ @ @ all facilities , Chung said .

(ATTN: UPDATES with death toll in 27th para, minor edits in 12th para)
By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed in triple digits for the fifth straight day on Sunday amid concerns that new infections could spike in the wake of Halloween celebrations held in the middle of eased social distancing steps.
The country added 124 more COVID-19 cases, including 101 local infections, as cluster infections in greater Seoul rose at a rapid clip, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The total caseload rose to 26,635.
The figure marked the fifth triple-digit rise after 103 new cases reported on Wednesday, 125 on Thursday, 114 on Friday and 127 on Saturday.
Citizens enjoying Halloween pass by a medic gate installed in Itaewon, central Seoul, to prevent the spread of new coronavirus infections on Oct. 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
Since the country eased its three-tier social distancing measures by one notch to the lowest level on Oct. 12, the daily figures have shown ups and downs, hovering around 100.
The latest growth came mostly from senior nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities, but sporadic community infections have been on the rise at small gatherings including family meetings across the country.
Halloween, which fell on Saturday, is a major concern for health officials as young people gathered in the popular areas of Hongdae, Itaewon and Gangnam in Seoul.
The country's peak season for autumn foliage trips has been cited as another concern for a rise in local infections.
As the pandemic is prolonged, health authorities said they will expand social distancing steps to five tiers from the current three to effectively cope with the spread of the pandemic.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a government COVID-19 meeting that the new five-tier regulations will help efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The revision came four months after the government made public the three-tier social distancing steps on June 28.
Under the new regulations, facilities will be grouped into "priority" and "regular" sites in terms of the application of antivirus rules, while mask wearing and other key rules that were mandatory only at high-risk facilities will now apply to all facilities, Chung said.
At a press briefing held after the announcement, Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said the government made the new regulations to brace for the prolonged virus fight.
Experts expect the pandemic to continue at least till the first half of next year or the end of next year, he said.
The new scheme will take effect from next Saturday, Park added.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announces South Korea's new five-tier social distancing measures during a government COVID-19 meeting held on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
By region, 45 new virus cases were reported in Seoul, 36 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital and three cases in Incheon, west of Seoul.
In Seoul, confirmed cases from a high school stood at 16 after the first case was reported last Thursday.
A nursing home in Dongdaemun Ward reported two additional cases, bringing the total number of its confirmed cases to 10.
Six additional cases were reported at a hospital in Songpa Ward, increasing its confirmed cases to 15.
A sauna in Gangnam Ward added three new cases to raise the number of its confirmed cases to 36.
Nine additional cases were reported at a middle school, with its confirmed cases reaching 34.
At a rehabilitation center in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, three additional cases were found, increasing the number of its confirmed cases to 41.
A nursing home in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, had nine additional patients to bring the number of confirmed cases to 57.
The greater Seoul area is home to around half of the nation's 51.6 million population.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the southeastern province of South Chungcheong adding nine cases.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 51 as of midnight, up from 54 the previous day.
The country added 23 imported cases coming mainly from Asian countries, up from 31 a day earlier, KDCA said.
As of 6 p.m., South Korea reported two additional deaths of COVID-19 patients since midnight Saturday, raising the death toll to 468.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 24,357, up 46 from the previous day.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--(LEAD) Jeonbuk show championship mettle in taking record-breaking K League title

Of Jeonbuk 's past four championship squads , this year 's team may have been the least talented group .
@ @ @ @ @ 27 matches this season ( five ) than they did over 38 matches last year @ @ @ @ @ acquired reigning league MVP , midfielder Kim Bo-kyung , over the winter but he did @ @ @ @ @ an impact on offense that he 'd been expected to .
Midfielder Moon Seon-min , @ @ @ @ @ in last year 's MVP voting , left Jeonbuk temporarily to begin his mandatory military @ @ @ @ @ was joined in the military by defender Kwon Kyung-won .
Attacking midfielder Ricardo Lopes signed @ @ @ @ @ with Jeonbuk .

(ATTN: ADDS comments, photos)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- The terms "heart of a champion" and "championship DNA" are often thrown around with abandon in sports, though it's essentially impossible to quantify their value. It also presents a chicken-or-egg question: Do you develop that heart by winning multiple championships? Or do you win titles because you have the heart of a champion?
In K League football, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, more than other clubs, have earned the right to be credited with having that heart and those championship pedigrees. Capturing their fourth consecutive title and their eighth overall -- both of them league records -- on Sunday further solidified their case as one of the country's greatest professional teams in any sports.
Lee Dong-gook of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (C) hoists the K League 1 championship trophy in a ceremony at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
Jeonbuk defeated Daegu FC 2-0 to finish at the top of the K League 1 with 60 points. For the second straight year, Ulsan Hyundai FC ended in second place behind Jeonbuk, at 57 points.
Of Jeonbuk's past four championship squads, this year's team may have been the least talented group. They lost more often in 27 matches this season (five) than they did over 38 matches last year (three). They acquired reigning league MVP, midfielder Kim Bo-kyung, over the winter but he didn't make as much of an impact on offense that he'd been expected to. Midfielder Moon Seon-min, who finished runner-up to Kim in last year's MVP voting, left Jeonbuk temporarily to begin his mandatory military service this season. He was joined in the military by defender Kwon Kyung-won. Attacking midfielder Ricardo Lopes signed in China after four seasons with Jeonbuk.
Cho Gue-sung of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (L) high-fives teammate Lee Dong-gook after scoring his second goal against Daegu FC during a K League 1 match at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
One of the key offseason arrivals, Lars Veldwijk, also didn't pan out, leading to his midseason departure in July.
Ulsan, on the other hand, stayed busy in the offseason as they tried to topple Jeonbuk. National team goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo came over from Daegu, and veteran midfielder Lee Chung-yong ended his European stint to take a shot at his first K League title with Ulsan.
Jeonbuk's offense looked stagnant at times early on, but they started showing signs of life after Gustavo and Mo Barrow arrived in July.
And it was in three meetings against Ulsan this season that Jeonbuk showed their heart and their unsurpassed ability to win matches that matter the most.
Cho Gue-sung of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors scores against Daegu FC during a K League 1 match at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
Jeonbuk beat Ulsan in all three showdowns this year, including a 1-0 victory last Sunday that essentially sealed Ulsan's fate and sent Jeonbuk on a clear path to the title.
That's nine points that Jeonbuk pocketed in matches against Ulsan. To wit: Ulsan lost only four times all season, and three of those losses came against Jeonbuk.
The two clubs had been tied with 54 points entering that last meeting, and Barrow scored the winning goal to put Jeonbuk up by three points, 57-54, with one match to play.
Ulsan might have had more talent on paper. But whenever they faced Jeonbuk, they seemed to shrink under pressure and rush plays that they would normally make with ease. Jeonbuk, on the other hand, were always the picture of cool, calm and collected, as they methodically picked apart Ulsan's defense.
Last Sunday's result meant Jeonbuk only needed a draw against Daegu FC in the finale. Ulsan had to beat Gwangju FC, something they hadn't done all season, and also hope that Daegu would upset Jeonbuk, another thing that hadn't happened all year.
Members of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors celebrate their 2020 K League 1 championship in a ceremony at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
Odds were stacked against Ulsan, and Jeonbuk made it all moot by beating Daegu handily. Ulsan took care of their own business with a 3-0 win over Gwangju FC, but it wasn't enough.
Jeonbuk head coach Jose Morais, who has now won two titles in his two seasons in South Korea, said winning never gets tiring.
"Last year, we needed some help (from other clubs' results) to win, and this year, we just had to take care of our business," Morais said. "Our players were a confident bunch, and my coaching staff never doubted that we would win the championship. Without that mindset, it would've been difficult to win."
Jeonbuk allowed the fewest goals in the K League 1 this season behind goalkeeper Song Bum-keun, one of the club's youngest players at 23. He came up especially huge against Ulsan, allowing just one goal -- via a penalty -- in three matches.
Midfielder Son Jun-ho has been shortlisted for the league MVP award, and he is the only South Korean among four candidates. His offensive numbers -- two goals and five assists -- don't jump off the page, but the 28-year-old developed into the key cog in midfield, ably handling both attacking and defending responsibilities.
Winger Han Kyo-won led Jeonbuk and all South Korean players in the league this season with 11 goals.
Then there was Lee Dong-gook, who will retire after playing his final K League match on Sunday at age 41. The forward scored four times in 10 matches this season while missing time with a knee injury, but his contribution came from elsewhere.
His Jeonbuk teammates have often spoken about how Lee's mere presence has helped steady the ship throughout the season. Though Lee will not be around next season, championship seeds have already been sown.
Lee played the full match for the first time this season. Morais said he sat down with Lee before the game and the two agreed that Lee would stay on for all 90 minutes if the opportunity presented itself.
"He wasn't in any shape to play 90 minutes, but he promised he would give his 100 percent in this match," the coach said. "And other players wanted to send him off on a great note."
Members of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors celebrate their 2020 K League 1 championship in a ceremony at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--(LEAD) Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors claim record-setting 4th consecutive K League title

`` Our goal all along has been to win the championship , and we all came together as one to @ @ @ @ @ Jeonbuk head coach Jose Morais said .
`` We felt we got some help from @ @ @ @ @ year 's title .
We wanted to make sure we would help ourselves this year @ @ @ @ @ .
I am happy with the way things played out . ''

(ATTN: ADDS photos, comments)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors have captured a record fourth consecutive K League 1 football championship.
Jeonbuk defeated Daegu FC 2-0 in their season finale on Sunday to collect an unprecedented fourth consecutive title in the top division in South Korean club football.
This was their eighth title overall (2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020), breaking a tie with Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (currently Seongnam FC) for the most in league's 38-year history.
Members of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors celebrate their 2020 K League 1 championship in a ceremony at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
Jeonbuk finished with 60 points from 19 wins, three draws and five losses. Ulsan Hyundai FC finished in second place with 57 points from 17 wins, six draws and four losses.
Jeonbuk entered Sunday at the top with 57 points, three points ahead of Ulsan. Jeonbuk only needed a draw to capture the title, but forward Cho Gue-sung grabbed a brace in the first half to take out all the suspense.
Members of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors celebrate their 2020 K League 1 championship in a ceremony at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
The title is also a perfect sendoff gift for Jeonbuk's retiring forward Lee Dong-gook. The all-time leading scorer in the K League with 228 goals, Lee announced his plan to retire on Monday at age 41. He got the starting nod on Sunday and played the entire match for the first time this season.
"I want to thank my teammates for making this a great ending to my career," Lee said. "I hope Jeonbuk will continue to win championships without me."
Cho Gue-sung of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors celebrates his goal against Daegu FC during a K League 1 match at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
Cho headed home a Choi Chul-soon cross in the 26th to put Jeonbuk on the board, and doubled that lead in the 40th minute by scoring from near the penalty spot, after Daegu failed to clear the ball out of their own box.
The second half played out like a formality, as Jeonbuk appeared content to maintain their two-goal advantage for the final 45 minutes.
"Our goal all along has been to win the championship, and we all came together as one to accomplish this goal," Jeonbuk head coach Jose Morais said. "We felt we got some help from other teams to win last year's title. We wanted to make sure we would help ourselves this year and really earn the trophy. I am happy with the way things played out."
Lee Dong-gook of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (C) hoists the K League 1 championship trophy in a ceremony at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
Ulsan had to beat Gwangju FC and needed Daegu to upset Jeonbuk. They held up their end of the bargain by beating Gwangju 3-0, but Jeonbuk were too good against Daegu.
Ulsan had been at the top for most of the season but fell to second place after losing to Jeonbuk 1-0 last weekend. Ulsan now have nine runner-up finishes, more than any other club in K League history. They haven't won a championship since 2005.
Lee Dong-gook of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors takes a shot against Daegu FC during a K League 1 match at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--Pandemic-plagued K League 1 season ends with familiar face on top

Though both teams had some personnel changes over the winter , they entered the 2020 season as the biggest title @ @ @ @ @ the season played out that way for the most part , as it was either @ @ @ @ @ top spot virtually every week .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- For the fourth straight year, the K League 1 football season ended with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' name at the top of the table.
And it was their sixth title in the past seven seasons, and Jeonbuk's title was one thing that felt normal in a season that was anything but.
The kickoff to the new season was pushed back by more than two months, from Feb. 29 to May 8, because of the coroanavirus outbreak. The length of the season was shortened from 38 to 27 matches.
Members of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors celebrate their 2020 K League 1 championship in a ceremony at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
And the 12 teams in the K League 1 played most of the season without supporters in the stands, due to COVID-19 infection concerns. They only enjoyed a brief window in the summer and then in the final weeks of the season when fans were allowed to attend matches.
Jeonbuk blanked Daegu FC 2-0 on Sunday to lock down their eighth championship overall, with Ulsan Hyundai FC finishing in second place behind Jeonbuk for the second straight season, despite beating Gwangju FC 3-0.
Though both teams had some personnel changes over the winter, they entered the 2020 season as the biggest title contenders once again. And the season played out that way for the most part, as it was either Jeonbuk or Ulsan occupying the top spot virtually every week.
Though Ulsan came up short of a title, their striker Junior Negrao enjoyed a memorable season. He scored a goal in his final match on Sunday and led the K League 1 this year with 26 goals in 27 matches. No one else even had 20 goals. The Brazilian marksman had more goals than four teams.
Ulsan Hyundai FC players react to their 3-0 victory over Gwangju FC to clinch second place in the K League 1 at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, 415 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
At the bottom of the table, Incheon United opened their season with a 15-match winless skid, costing head coach Lim Wan-sup his job. His replacement, Jo Sung-hwan, oversaw a late-season push that kept Incheon from getting relegated to the K League 2 next season.
Busan IPark, who only earned their promotion from the K League 2 last winter, will be down there again in 2021, as they finished in 12th and last place for automatic relegation.
Busan lost their final two matches of the season to suffer ignominy. They blew a 1-0 lead against Incheon United and lost 2-1 on Oct. 24, and followed the same script against Seongnam FC on Saturday, scoring first and then giving up two straight goals for a 2-1 loss.
Sangju Sangmu, a military club that will relocate to Gimcheon in 2021, will be the other team getting relegated to the K League 2 for next year. It was part of an agreement that will see the team move from one city in North Gyeongsang Province to another.
Jeju United players celebrate their 3-2 victory over Seoul E-Land in a K League 2 match to earn a promotion to the K League 1 at Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, on Nov. 1, 2020, in this photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Though Sangju had little to play for in 2019, they spent most of the season in the top three, behind only Jeonbuk and Ulsan, before eventually finishing in fourth place.
Incheon and Busan both went through coaching changes, but not to the extent of FC Seoul.
After a sluggish start, FC Seoul coach Choi Yong-soo stepped down in July and his top assistant, Kim Ho-young, took over as caretaker boss. Kim lasted only nine matches before quitting, and another assistant, Park Hyuk-soon, finished off the season. They avoided relegation by posting four points ahead of Busan, a letdown after finishing in third place in 2019.
Seoul's main rivals, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, also toiled in the bottom half of the table for most of the season. The derby between Seoul and Suwon had come to be called the "Super Match," but their rivalry lost much glow this year.
Jeju United will be promoted to the K League 1 next year after clinching the K League 2 title on Sunday with one match remaining. Teams ranked second, third and fourth in the K League 2 will battle in two rounds of the promotion playoffs for one final promotion spot later this month.
Elisa Aguilar of Incheon United (L) is congratulated by teammate Ji Eon-hak after scoring a goal against FC Seoul during a K League 1 match at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul on Oct. 31, 2020, in this photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--(2nd LD) PM announces new 5-level social distancing scheme

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in paras 2,3, 6-12)
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Sunday announced a new social distancing scheme based on five levels instead of three, saying the new plan aims to improve anti-virus measures in a tailored fashion amid criticism the current system is too broad-brush.
The scheme will take effect Saturday and break up the current three levels into Levels 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3. The government has divided the nation into seven zones, with the level of each zone determined based on the average number of daily infections per week.
"We are trying to improve effectiveness and adherance to anti-virus rules by reconstructing anti-virus measures in a tailored fashion," he said during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters.
The prime minister said that under the new scheme facilities will be grouped into "priority" and "regular" sites in terms of the application of antivirus rules, while mask wearing and other key rules that were previously mandatory only at "high-risk" facilities will now apply to all facilities.
The announcement came as South Korea reported triple-digit new case numbers for the fifth straight day, bringing the total caseload to 26,635.
Level 1 signifies a controllable level of transmission that allows people to carry out their ordinary lives while wearing masks and following social distancing rules at designated facilities.
Under Level 1.5, use of multi-use facilities is restricted. At Level 2, the pandemic is considered to be spreading nationwide and nonessential outdoor visits and gatherings are discouraged in the affected zones.
Level 2.5 is considered to be exceeding the health system's routine response levels, and the government will urge the public to remain at home.
At Level 3, which will be issued in the event that more than 800 new daily cases are reported for a week, the nation will effectively be placed on lockdown.
Chung warned against becoming complacent, stressing that the revised scheme is not intended to boost the economy by easing anti-virus measures but rather to tighten them.
Speaking to next month's college admission exams, he said the government is making preparations to allow COVID-19 patients to take the test.
He called on the education ministry to step up implementation of social distancing rules and asked students and parents to strictly adhere to them.
This photo shows Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun delivering remarks during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters at the main government complex in Seoul on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--Jeonbuk show championship mettle in taking record-breaking K League title

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- The terms "heart of a champion" and "championship DNA" are often thrown around with abandon in sports, though it's essentially impossible to quantify their value. It also presents a chicken-or-egg question: Do you develop that heart by winning multiple championships? Or do you win titles because you have the heart of a champion?
In K League football, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, more than other clubs, have earned the right to be credited with having that heart and those championship pedigrees. Capturing their fourth consecutive title and their eighth overall -- both of them league records -- on Sunday further solidified their case as one of the country's greatest professional teams in any sports.
Jeonbuk defeated Daegu FC 2-0 to finish at the top of the K League 1 with 60 points. For the second straight year, Ulsan Hyundai FC ended in second place behind Jeonbuk, at 57 points.
Cho Gue-sung of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (L) high-fives teammate Lee Dong-gook after scoring his second goal against Daegu FC during a K League 1 match at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
Of Jeonbuk's past four championship squads, this year's team may have been the least talented group. They lost more often in 27 matches this season (five) than they did over 38 matches last year (three). They acquired reigning league MVP, midfielder Kim Bo-kyung, over the winter but he didn't make as much of an impact on offense that he'd been expected to. Midfielder Moon Seon-min, who finished runner-up to Kim in last year's MVP voting, left Jeonbuk temporarily to begin his mandatory military service this season. He was joined in the military by defender Kwon Kyung-won. Attacking midfielder Ricardo Lopes signed in China after four seasons with Jeonbuk.
One of the key offseason arrivals, Lars Veldwijk, also didn't pan out, leading to his midseason departure in July.
Ulsan, on the other hand, stayed busy in the offseason as they tried to topple Jeonbuk. National team goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo came over from Daegu, and veteran midfielder Lee Chung-yong ended his European stint to take a shot at his first K League title with Ulsan.
Jeonbuk's offense looked stagnant at times early on, but they started showing signs of life after Gustavo and Mo Barrow arrived in July.
And it was in three meetings against Ulsan this season that Jeonbuk showed their heart and their unsurpassed ability to win matches that matter the most.
Cho Gue-sung of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors scores against Daegu FC during a K League 1 match at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
Jeonbuk beat Ulsan in all three showdowns this year, including a 1-0 victory last Sunday that essentially sealed Ulsan's fate and sent Jeonbuk on a clear path to the title.
That's nine points that Jeonbuk pocketed in matches against Ulsan. To wit: Ulsan lost only four times all season, and three of those losses came against Jeonbuk.
The two clubs had been tied with 54 points entering that last meeting, and Barrow scored the winning goal to put Jeonbuk up by three points, 57-54, with one match to play.
Ulsan might have had more talent on paper. But whenever they faced Jeonbuk, they seemed to shrink under pressure and rush plays that they would normally make with ease. Jeonbuk, on the other hand, were always the picture of cool, calm and collected, as they methodically picked apart Ulsan's defense.
Last Sunday's result meant Jeonbuk only needed a draw against Daegu FC in the finale. Ulsan had to beat Gwangju FC, something they hadn't done all season, and also hope that Daegu would upset Jeonbuk, another thing that hadn't happened all year.
Odds were stacked against Ulsan, and Jeonbuk made it all moot by beating Daegu handily. Ulsan took care of their own business with a 3-0 win over Gwangju FC, but it wasn't enough.
Jeonbuk allowed the fewest goals in the K League 1 this season behind goalkeeper Song Bum-keun, one of the club's youngest players at 23. He came up especially huge against Ulsan, allowing just one goal -- via a penalty -- in three matches.
Midfielder Son Jun-ho has been shortlisted for the league MVP award, and he is the only South Korean among four candidates. His offensive numbers -- two goals and five assists -- don't jump off the page, but the 28-year-old developed into the key cog in midfield, ably handling both attacking and defending responsibilities.
Winger Han Kyo-won led Jeonbuk and all South Korean players in the league this season with 11 goals.
Then there was Lee Dong-gook, who will retire after playing his final K League match on Sunday at age 41. The forward scored four times in 10 matches this season while missing time with a knee injury, but his contribution came from elsewhere.
His Jeonbuk teammates have often spoken about how Lee's mere presence has helped steady the ship throughout the season. Though Lee will not be around next season, championship seeds have already been sown.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors claim record-setting 4th consecutive K League title

Ulsan had been at the top for most of the season but fell to second place after losing to Jeonbuk @ @ @ @ @ now have nine runner-up finishes , more than any other club in K League history @ @ @ @ @ a championship since 2005 .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors have captured a record fourth consecutive K League 1 football championship.
Jeonbuk defeated Daegu FC 2-0 in their season finale on Sunday to collect an unprecedented fourth consecutive title in the top division in South Korean club football.
This was their eighth title overall (2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020), breaking a tie with Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (currently Seongnam FC) for the most in league's 38-year history.
Jeonbuk finished with 60 points from 19 wins, three draws and five losses. Ulsan Hyundai FC finished in second place with 57 points from 17 wins, six draws and four losses.
Jeonbuk entered Sunday at the top with 57 points, three points ahead of Ulsan. Jeonbuk only needed a draw to capture the title, but forward Cho Gue-sung grabbed a brace in the first half to take out all the suspense.
Cho Gue-sung of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors celebrates his goal against Daegu FC during a K League 1 match at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
The title is also a perfect sendoff gift for Jeonbuk's retiring forward Lee Dong-gook. The all-time leading scorer in the K League with 228 goals, Lee announced his plan to retire on Monday at age 41. He got the starting nod on Sunday and played the entire match for the first time this season.
Cho headed home a Choi Chul-soon cross in the 26th to put Jeonbuk on the board, and doubled that lead in the 40th minute by scoring from near the penalty spot, after Daegu failed to clear the ball out of their own box.
The second half played out like a formality, as Jeonbuk appeared content to maintain their two-goal advantage for the final 45 minutes.
Ulsan had to beat Gwangju FC and needed Daegu to upset Jeonbuk. They held up their end of the bargain by beating Gwangju 3-0, but Jeonbuk were too good against Daegu.
Ulsan had been at the top for most of the season but fell to second place after losing to Jeonbuk 1-0 last weekend. Ulsan now have nine runner-up finishes, more than any other club in K League history. They haven't won a championship since 2005.
Lee Dong-gook of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors takes a shot against Daegu FC during a K League 1 match at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--(3rd LD) New virus cases above 100 for 5th day on cluster infections

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details of new regulations in paras 10-13)
By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed in triple digits for the fifth straight day on Sunday amid concerns that new infections could spike in the wake of Halloween celebrations held in the middle of eased social distancing steps.
The country added 124 more COVID-19 cases, including 101 local infections, as cluster infections in greater Seoul rose at a rapid clip, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The total caseload rose to 26,635.
The figure marked the fifth triple-digit rise after 103 new cases reported on Wednesday, 125 on Thursday, 114 on Friday and 127 on Saturday.
Citizens enjoying Halloween pass by a medic gate installed in Itaewon, central Seoul, to prevent the spread of new coronavirus infections on Oct. 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
Since the country eased its three-tier social distancing measures by one notch to the lowest level on Oct. 12, the daily figures have shown ups and downs, hovering around 100.
The latest growth came mostly from senior nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities, but sporadic community infections have been on the rise at small gatherings including family meetings across the country.
Halloween, which fell on Saturday, is a major concern for health officials as young people gathered in the popular areas of Hongdae, Itaewon and Gangnam in Seoul.
The country's peak season for autumn foliage trips has been cited as another concern for a rise in local infections.
As the pandemic is prolonged, health authorities said they will expand social distancing steps to five tiers from the current three to effectively cope with the spread of the pandemic.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a government COVID-19 meeting that the new five-tier regulations will help efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The revision came four months after the government made public the three-tier social distancing steps on June 28.
Under the new regulations, facilities will be grouped into "priority" and "regular" sites in terms of the application of antivirus rules, while mask wearing and other key rules that were mandatory only at high-risk facilities will now apply to all facilities, Chung said.
At a press briefing held after the announcement, Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said the new regulatios were made to brace for the prolonged virus fight.
Experts expect the pandemic to continue at least till the first half of next year or the end of next year, he said.
The new scheme will take effect from next Saturday, Park added.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announces South Korea's new five-tier social distancing measures during a government COVID-19 meeting held on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
By region, 45 new virus cases were reported in Seoul, 36 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital and three cases in Incheon, west of Seoul.
In Seoul, confirmed cases from a high school stood at 16 after the first case was reported last Thursday.
A nursing home in Dongdaemun Ward reported two additional cases, bringing the total number of its confirmed cases to 10.
Six additional cases were reported at a hospital in Songpa Ward, increasing its confirmed cases to 15.
A sauna in Gangnam Ward added three new cases to raise the number of its confirmed cases to 36.
Nine additional cases were reported at a middle school, with its confirmed cases reaching 34.
At a rehabilitation center in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, three additional cases were found, increasing the number of its confirmed cases to 41.
A nursing home in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, had nine additional patients to bring the number of confirmed cases to 57.
The greater Seoul area is home to around half of the nation's 51.6 million population.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the southeastern province of South Chungcheong adding nine cases.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 51 as of midnight, up from 54 the previous day.
The country added 23 imported cases coming mainly from Asian countries, up from 31 a day earlier, KDCA said.
South Korea reported two additional deaths, raising the death toll to 466. The fatality rate was 1.75 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 24,357, up 46 from the previous day.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--(LEAD) PM announces new 5-level social distancing scheme

(ATTN: UPDATES with details from 2nd para)
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Sunday announced a new social distancing scheme based on five levels instead of three, saying the new plan aims to improve anti-virus measures in a tailored fashion amid criticism the current system is too broad-brush.
"We are trying to improve effectiveness by reconstructing antivirus measures in a tailored fashion," he said during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters.
The prime minister said that under the new scheme facilities will be grouped into "priority" and "regular" sites in terms of the application of antivirus rules, while mask wearing and other key rules that were previously mandatory only at "high-risk" facilities will now apply to all facilities.
The announcement came as South Korea reported triple-digit new case numbers for the fifth straight day, bringing the total caseload to 26,635.
This photo shows Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun delivering remarks during a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters at the main government complex in Seoul on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--(LEAD) KBO postseason game postponed due to rain

As the No .
4 seed , the Twins only need a tie or a win in the first meeting @ @ @ @ @ round .
The Heroes , the No .
5 seed , must win two straight @ @ @ @ @ the next stage .

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 6-9)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- The first game of the 2020 South Korean baseball postseason was postponed on Sunday due to rain.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) Wild Card game between the LG Twins and the Kiwoom Heroes will instead be played on Monday at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. The first pitch will be at 6:30 p.m.
The infield at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul is covered with a tarp ahead of a Korea Baseball Organization Wild Card game between the LG Twins and the Kiwoom Heroes on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
As the No. 4 seed, the Twins only need a tie or a win in the first meeting to advance to the next round. The Heroes, the No. 5 seed, must win two straight games to move on to the next stage.
If the Twins knock off the Heroes on Monday, the first round of the postseason will begin as scheduled on Wednesday.
However, if the Heroes win Monday and force another Wild Card game on Tuesday, then the start of every remaining series will be pushed back by one day.
The starting pitching matchup will not change for Monday. The Twins will send right-hander Casey Kelly to the mound, and the Heroes will counter with right-hander Jake Brigham.
Kelly went 15-7 with a 3.32 ERA for the year and was one of the league's top starters in the second half, with a 11-1 record and a 2.22 ERA.
Kelly was 3-0 with a 1.42 ERA in three starts against the Heroes.
Brigham was 9-5 with a 3.62 ERA in the regular season, but only 1-2 with a 5.74 ERA in three starts versus the Twins.
Sunday's game was scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., and the league officials waited out for more than an hour before deciding to postpone the game.
The Doosan Bears, who finished third in the regular season, are awaiting the Wild Card winner in the next round, which is a best-of-three series.
Fans in the stands at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul wait out a rain delay ahead of a Korea Baseball Organization Wild Card game between the LG Twins and the Kiwoom Heroes on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--(2nd LD) New virus cases above 100 for 5th day on cluster infections

As the pandemic is prolonged , health authorities said they will expand social distancing steps to five tiers from the @ @ @ @ @ with the spread of the pandemic .

(ATTN: UPDATES with new regulations in paras 8-10, more details in paras 12-18, photo)
By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed in triple digits for the fifth straight day on Sunday amid concerns that new infections could spike in the wake of Halloween celebrations held in the middle of eased social distancing steps.
The country added 124 more COVID-19 cases, including 101 local infections, as cluster infections in greater Seoul rose at a rapid clip, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The total caseload rose to 26,635.
The figure marked the fifth triple-digit rise after 103 new cases reported on Wednesday, 125 on Thursday, 114 on Friday and 127 on Saturday.
Citizens enjoying Halloween pass by a medic gate installed in Itaewon, central Seoul, to prevent the spread of new coronavirus infections on Oct. 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
Since the country eased its three-tier social distancing measures by one notch to the lowest level on Oct. 12, the daily figures have shown ups and downs, hovering around 100.
The latest growth came mostly from senior nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities, but sporadic community infections have been on the rise at small gatherings including family meetings across the country.
Halloween, which fell on Saturday, is a major concern for health officials as young people gathered in the popular areas of Hongdae, Itaewon and Gangnam in Seoul.
The country's peak season for autumn foliage trips has been cited as another concern for a rise in local infections.
As the pandemic is prolonged, health authorities said they will expand social distancing steps to five tiers from the current three to effectively cope with the spread of the pandemic.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a government COVID-19 meeting that the new five-tier regulations will help efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The revision came four months after the government made public the three-tier social distancing steps on June 28.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announces South Korea's new five-tier social distancing measures during a government COVID-19 meeting held on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
By region, 45 new virus cases were reported in Seoul, 36 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital and three cases in Incheon, west of Seoul.
In Seoul, confirmed cases from a high school stood at 16 after the first case was reported last Thursday.
A nursing home in Dongdaemun Ward reported two additional cases, bringing the total number of its confirmed cases to 10.
Six additional cases were reported at a hospital in Songpa Ward, increasing its confirmed cases to 15.
A sauna in Gangnam Ward added three new cases to raise the number of its confirmed cases to 36.
Nine additional cases were reported at a middle school, with its confirmed cases reaching 34.
At a rehabilitation center in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, three additional cases were found, increasing the number of its confirmed cases to 41.
A nursing home in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, had nine additional patients to bring the number of confirmed cases to 57.
The greater Seoul area is home to around half of the nation's 51.6 million population.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the southeastern province of South Chungcheong adding nine cases.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 51 as of midnight, up from 54 the previous day.
The country added 23 imported cases coming mainly from Asian countries, up from 31 a day earlier, KDCA said.
South Korea reported two additional deaths, raising the death toll to 466. The fatality rate was 1.75 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 24,357, up 46 from the previous day.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-01--PM announces new 5-level social distancing scheme

Chung made the announcement during a government COVID-19 meeting , saying the new plan will help efforts to stop the @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on Sunday announced a new social distancing scheme based on five levels instead of three.
Chung made the announcement during a government COVID-19 meeting, saying the new plan will help efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
This photo shows Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun delivering remarks during a government COVID-19 meeting at the main government complex in Seoul on Nov. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)