Yonhap News Summary

After the country doled out its first COVID-19 response handouts in May , the need for another round of emergency @ @ @ @ @ since mid-August following a recent surge in virus transmissions nationwide , especially in Seoul and @ @ @ @

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday.
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NK leader's sister in control of key Workers' Party unit, Seoul's defense chief says
SEOUL -- South Korea's defense minister said Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, seems to be in control of a key Workers' Party unit, as she is apparently in charge of South Korea and U.S. affairs.
Keen attention is being paid to the role and authority of Kim, whose official title is first vice department director of the Workers' Party Central Committee.
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(News Focus) Calls grow for strongest anti-virus measures amid nationwide pandemic fears
SEOUL -- The rapid spread of the new coronavirus across South Korea and the increasing number of cases with unknown infection routes are raising the need to increase the country's anti-virus curbs to the highest.
Over the past 12 days, a whopping 3,175 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed here, with infections reported in all of the nation's 17 provinces and municipalities, according to data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
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Finance minister says too early to say whether 4th extra budget is needed
SEOUL -- Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Tuesday it is too early to say whether a fourth extra budget is needed, as the nation battles to contain a resurgence of the new coronavirus.
Asked by a lawmaker about whether the government should draw up a fourth extra budget to help support low-income people hit by the resurgence, Hong replied, "At this stage, it is so impetuous to judge that a fourth extra budget is necessary."
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(LEAD) Political debate brewing over second round of emergency handouts
SEOUL -- As South Korea is on the cusp of a potential second wave of mass new coronavirus infections, a debate is brewing over whether and to whom the government needs to provide a second round of emergency handouts.
After the country doled out its first COVID-19 response handouts in May, the need for another round of emergency financial support has been floated since mid-August following a recent surge in virus transmissions nationwide, especially in Seoul and its surrounding cities.
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Prosecution vows maximum penalty against quarantine violators
SEOUL -- South Korea's top prosecution office said Tuesday it has ordered prosecutors nationwide to seek the severest possible penalty for coronavirus quarantine violators amid growing fears of a new wave of the pandemic.
According to the Supreme Prosecutors Office (SPO), all prosecution offices across the country have been instructed to demand the maximum sentence allowed by law during court trials against anyone caught disrupting quarantine authorities' efforts to halt the spread of COVID-19.
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Coronavirus resurgence raises specter of big-firm shutdowns
SEOUL -- A recent resurgence of coronavirus infections at home and abroad has sparked concern over possible factory shutdowns by major South Korean companies, industry sources said Tuesday.
Several large enterprises were forced to shutter domestic and overseas plants in the thick of the coronavirus pandemic between February and April.
Electronics giant LG Electronics Inc. is one of the latest victims. According to the sources, LG Electronics recently shut down its plant in western Indonesia after 200 workers were infected with the novel coronavirus.
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No mask, no ride in Seoul taxis as virus spreads
SEOUL -- Passengers without face masks will not be allowed in taxis in Seoul, the government announced Tuesday, as part of measures aimed at increasing safety in the greater Seoul area amid a resurgence in COVID-19 cases.
"Seoul plans to tighten quarantine measures at public transportation and logistics facilities," Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health official, said in a daily press briefing.
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14 new coronavirus cases confirmed at Suncheon fitness center, stirring concerns about cluster infection
SUNCHEON, South Korea -- Fourteen new coronavirus cases linked to a fitness center in the southwestern city of Suncheon were confirmed Tuesday, three days after a member was found to have contracted the disease, health officials said.
The outbreak at Cheongam Fitness and Spa, with more than 340 members, sparked concerns about a possible cluster infection, as South Korea is struggling with new spikes in COVID-19 cases. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the day reported 280 new cases across the country, raising the total caseload to 17,945.
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yna--2020-08-25--Abrams says USFK keeps new arrivals under strict anti-virus control

`` We just need to be aware of it , and what I 've asked our staff to do is @ @ @ @ @ decision and is to sort of lay out what that means in plain terms .
@ @ @ @ @ , we can continue to be good guests here and abide by their government 's @ @ @ @ @ .

By Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has implemented aggressive anti-coronavirus procedures for new members arriving in South Korea to ensure they pose no risk to local communities, Commander Gen. Robert Abrams said Tuesday.
During a radio program of American Forces Network (AFN) Korea, the commander also said he is "absolutely confident" that South Korea will put the recent wave of COVID-19 under control and that USFK will continue to adhere to the host nation's anti-virus guidelines.
"As for new arrivals, they are under strict control, never have access to our community, never have access to the Korean people, completely safe because we segregate them until they are cleared," Abrams said.
All USFK-affiliated individuals arriving in South Korea are required to undergo a virus test and are quarantined for 14 days. A second test is also a must to be released from isolation, the commander stressed.
From around July, USFK reported a drastic increase in confirmed cases among incoming service members and related military individuals. Out of 166 total USFK-related infections so far, 142 were confirmed upon their arrivals here.
Amid growing calls for tougher entry restrictions, the U.S. has required all service members heading overseas to put themselves in two weeks of self-quarantine and take coronavirus tests before departures.
But the U.S. decided to ease the requirements for those heading to South Korea, asking them only to submit a negative COVID-19 test result before departures starting on Aug. 30 without having to go into self-quarantine, according to Stars and Stripes, a U.S. military newspaper.
"The modification is to ensure that the newcomers only have to do one 14-day quarantine," a USFK official said earlier.
U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Robert Abrams wears a mask while attending a funeral for the late Korean War hero Paik Sun-yup at a Seoul hospital on July 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
USFK's recent elevation of its health protection level is a preemptive step, and the tougher guidance has well been implemented, according to the commander.
"The threat outside the bubble is growing, while we are doing an excellent job maintaining a suppressed COVID environment on our bases. So, out of the abundance of caution to protect our people, we go to HPCON Charlie," Abrams said, citing the Health Protection Condition Level (HPCON) Charlie, or HPCON C.
South Korea has seen a drastic surge in the number of new coronavirus patients since mid-August. On Tuesday, the country reported 280 new virus cases, including 264 local infections, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
"I have 100 percent absolute confidence that, the KCDC and the ROK government, they will get this recent outbreak suppressed. I have got no doubt about it," Abrams said, praising South Korea's anti-virus operation center that "rivals any military operation center."
USFK is also assessing the local situation regarding its possible increase of the country's social distancing scheme to the highest, or Level 3, the commander stated.
"We just need to be aware of it, and what I've asked our staff to do is in anticipation of a potential decision and is to sort of lay out what that means in plain terms. So when it does happen, we can continue to be good guests here and abide by their government's guidance," Abrams said.
A street in Myeongdong, one of the top tourist hot spots in Seoul, is almost deserted on Aug. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-08-25--NK leader's sister in control of key Workers' Party unit, Seoul's defense chief says

`` No matter what the situation is , ( the military ) will do its best to protect the security @ @ @ @ @ , the lives and property of the people , '' he added , using the @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's defense minister said Tuesday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, seems to be in control of a key Workers' Party unit, as she is apparently in charge of South Korea and U.S. affairs.
Keen attention is being paid to the role and authority of Kim, whose official title is first vice department director of the Workers' Party Central Committee.
Asked by a lawmaker during a National Assembly session if she has a substantial grip on the Organization and Guidance Department of the committee, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said he thinks so.
But Kim Jong-un is believed to maintain his sole control of the party, the regime and the military, while he has delegated some "roles and responsibilities" to his aides, the minister said.
On a view that Kim's sister oversees Pyongyang's strategy on Seoul and Washington, the minister said, "It appears to be true, as she expressed so."
A file photo of Kim Yo-jong, younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (Yonhap)
Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo attends a National Assembly session in Seoul on Aug. 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
Jeong said there's no unusual activity by North Korea in connection with the possibility of a provocative move.
On a question about whether taking a military measure is an option to counter the North's possible provocation, he replied yes.
"No matter what the situation is, (the military) will do its best to protect the security of the Republic of Korea, the lives and property of the people," he added, using the formal name of South Korea.
During a separate parliamentary committee meeting, Suh Choo-suk, deputy director of national security at Cheong Wa Dae, said North Korea is known to be suffering the triple troubles of sanctions, COVID-19 and flood damages.
He predicted that North Korea's worsening economic situation will serve as a "foundation" for its push for "new changes."
Suh Choo-suk, deputy director of national security at Cheong Wa Dae, in a file photo (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-08-25--(2nd LD) Seoul city reports 134 new cases, infections with unknown routes on rise

The recent spike in infections with unidentified transmission routes was attributed to a rise in elderly patients , who are @ @ @ @ @ instead of credit cards and may have memory difficulties , making it tougher for health @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES details, photos throughout)
SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Yonhap) -- New coronavirus cases in Seoul reached 134 on Tuesday, marking a triple-digit figure due to a continued rise in cluster infections across the capital and cases coming from unknown transmission routes.
South Korea reported 280 new COVID-19 cases, including 264 local infections, raising the total caseload to 17,945, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Of the locally transmitted cases, 134 were identified in Seoul, bringing the city's total COVID-19 caseload to 3,120.
Since hitting 146 on Aug. 15, new infections have stayed at triple digits each day except for two days, including Sunday when the number of screening tests conducted was lower than usual, according to the city government's data.
A health worker assists people waiting to get tested for the new coronavirus at a screening center set up in front of the National Medical Center in central Seoul on Aug. 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
Cases coming from Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul account for around one-sixth of all infections in the capital. Infections have also been reported at other religious facilities, as well as an educational institution, a theater group and a child care center.
Of the 3,120 cases, there were more than 480 cases coming from unknown infection routes.
Some one-third of such cases were reported between Aug. 16 and 22 alone, putting authorities on alert over the infectious virus silently spreading across the city.
A pedestrian wears a mask in central Seoul on Aug. 25, 2020. Seoul city has mandated masks starting earlier this week. (Yonhap)
The recent spike in infections with unidentified transmission routes was attributed to a rise in elderly patients, who are more prone to using cash instead of credit cards and may have memory difficulties, making it tougher for health workers to trace their routes.
In efforts to stop the virus from further spreading in South Korea's biggest city, the city government has mandated face masks at most indoor and outdoor venues starting Monday. It has also banned rallies of more than 10 people.
On Tuesday, the government announced additional anti-virus measures for Seoul, such as mandating face masks in taxis and restricting the use of same work outfits, such as vests, at logistics facilities.
A health worker prepares to conduct screening tests at a community health center in the southwestern Seoul ward of Gwanak on Aug. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-08-28--(LEAD) S. Korea to retain Level 2 social distancing, consider restrictions on restaurants, cafes: PM

Starting Aug. 19 , the government placed the capital area under Level Two social distancing guidelines , the second highest @ @ @ @ @ for two weeks , banning indoor gatherings of 50 or more people and outdoor events @ @ @ @ @ .
The government expanded the distancing level to affect all of South Korea last weekend @

(ATTN: RECASTS headline; UPDATES with more info in paras 2, 5-7, 10-16; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will retain its Level Two social distancing requirements in Seoul and its surrounding areas for another week despite the recent surge in COVID-19 transmissions in the area, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Friday.
The government will instead consider ways to restrict the operations of restaurants and cafes in its latest countermeasures to curb the rapid spread of the coronavirus, he said.
"The government will extend the Level Two social distancing, set to expire this weekend, by one more week (to the following Sunday)," the prime minister said in a regular government COVID-19 response meeting.
He said there are growing calls to elevate the distancing requirements to the highest Level Three, but it remains "the choice of last resort given its economic and social repercussions."
"For now, (we) need to maximize the effectiveness of the Level Two distancing currently in place," he added.
Starting Aug. 19, the government placed the capital area under Level Two social distancing guidelines, the second highest in a three-tier system, for two weeks, banning indoor gatherings of 50 or more people and outdoor events of 100 or more people. The government expanded the distancing level to affect all of South Korea last weekend.
In tandem with the latest decision, the distancing requirements for regions other than the capital area are expected to be kept at the current level.
Level Three calls for restricting all outdoor activities except for essential social and economic purposes. Gatherings of 10 or more people are not permitted, and all sports events are suspended.
A masked customer enters a cafe in Seoul on Aug. 24, 2020, where a QR code-based registry is being compiled for quarantine purposes. (Yonhap)
The prime minister also urged Protestant churches to suspend worship services, ordering "stern law enforcement" on those churches that push ahead with Sunday services in violation of administrative orders banning them.
"I ask the local governments in charge to thoroughly inspect whether churches should (shift to online) services this Sunday and to strictly deal with any violations of the administrative orders," he said.
The prime minister also appealed to the public to "stay at home from this weekend onward, except for essential economic activities, and stay away from contact with other people."
On Friday, South Korea reported 371 new COVID-19 cases, bringing its total caseload to 19,077, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The daily tally is a sharp drop from the previous day's six-month high of 441, but it marks the 15th day in a row that the daily number has been in the triple digits.
Of all cases reported Friday, 284 were in the capital area, including 145, in Seoul, many of them linked to infection clusters in church communities. With the recent surges, the accumulated cases in the capital area, home to half of the country's 51 million population, soared to 7,200.
On the back of the resurgence centering on Protestant churches, the government announced on Aug. 18 a decision to prohibit all church activities, including Sunday services, in the capital area, and local governments followed suit with their own administrative orders.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks during a regular government COVID-19 response meeting on Aug. 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-08-28--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Aug. 28 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .

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


yna--2020-08-28--Army soldier, civilian worker for military test positive for new coronavirus

The number of COVID-19 infections has been on the rise nationwide at an alarming rate since mid-August .
On Friday @ @ @ @ @ more cases , mostly in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area , according to the @ @ @ @ @ and Prevention ( KCDC ) .

SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- An Army soldier and a civilian worker for the military tested positive for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Friday.
The service member stationed in the eastern coastal county of Goseong, about 160 kilometers northeast of Seoul, has been quarantined upon returning from vacation earlier this month and undertook a virus test after his mother tested positive Wednesday, according to the ministry.
Some 70 people who had close contact with the soldier all tested negative, it added.
Since last week, the ministry has restricted all service members from vacationing and off-installation trips to stem the spread of the virus.
Another patient is a civilian employee in the city of Yangju, north of Seoul, who tested positive earlier in the day after the infection of his father, the ministry said.
"Contact tracing is under way, and around 60 people of his base are taking virus tests," the ministry said in a message to reporters.
The total number of COVID-19 patients among military members stood at 99 as of 10 a.m. Friday.
Currently, 1,153 service members are in isolation in accordance with the health authorities' guidelines, and the military has quarantined an additional 2,781 people under stricter anti-virus schemes of its own as a preventive step.
The number of COVID-19 infections has been on the rise nationwide at an alarming rate since mid-August. On Friday, South Korea reported 371 more cases, mostly in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Members of the Sunglim Baptist Church in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, get tested for the coronavirus on Aug. 25, 2020. Health authorities said some 30 members tested positive for COVID-19 as of the following day. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-08-28--(LEAD) New virus cases drop below 400, tougher distancing extended in greater Seoul area

Under the Level 2 distancing , indoor gatherings of 50 or more people and outdoor gatherings of 100 or more @ @ @ @ @ Sports events must be held without crowds , while facilities with high infection risks , @ @ @ @ @ cafes , have to suspend their businesses .
The government also banned in-person church services @

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 3, 12, 18-20, 2nd photo; CHANGES 1st photo)
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- The number of daily new coronavirus cases in South Korea dropped to below 400 on Friday, but sporadic cluster infections are still putting the country's virus fight at risk as health authorities decided to extend tougher social distancing measures in the greater Seoul area for one more week.
The country reported 371 new COVID-19 cases, including 359 local infections, raising the total caseload to 19,077, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Friday's daily tally marks a sharp drop from the previous day when the country's new virus cases spiked to a nearly six month high of 441. But fewer virus tests on the previous day might have dragged down the number of new cases as some outdoor virus screening clinics suspended operation due to Typhoon Bavi.
Still, the number of daily virus cases has stayed in the triple digits for more than two weeks. Since Aug. 14, more than 4,300 cases have been reported in South Korea, mostly tied to a conservative church in northern Seoul and the Aug. 15 Liberation Day rally in Seoul.
Health workers conduct virus tests at a drive-through COVID-19 screening clinic in Seoul on Aug. 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
Of the 359 locally transmitted cases, 284 were identified in the capital area, home to half of the country's 51 million population. Seoul added 145 more cases, while the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and western port city of Incheon reported 112 and 27 cases, respectively.
Other major cities reported additional infections, with the southwestern city of Gwangju adding 17 cases and the southeastern port city of Busan confirming eight more cases. All of the country's 17 provinces and municipalities reported additional virus cases.
Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul -- a hotbed of the recent spike in new infections -- has so far reported 959 COVID-19 cases. The church-linked cases also led to infections in at least 23 locations, with cases reported in nine different provinces and municipalities outside the greater Seoul area.
At least 273 patients have been reported from the Aug. 15 demonstration in central Seoul, with cases identified in 10 different provinces and municipalities outside the greater Seoul area.
South Korea had been getting the virus under control, with the daily new cases staying in double-digit figures, until early August. Multiple cluster infections in the greater Seoul area then started to break out and put a strain on the country's virus fight efforts.
To stem the virus spread, health authorities first applied Level 2 social distancing in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province for two weeks starting Aug. 16. The western port city of Incheon was put under the measures three days later before the government expanded the scheme nationwide on Sunday.
Health workers prepare to work as citizens wait in line at a virus screening clinic in Gwangju on Aug. 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
However, since the virus cases in the greater Seoul area showed no signs of letup, the government on Friday decided to extend the Level 2 distancing for one more week through the first weekend of September.
The accumulated number of COVID-19 cases in the greater Seoul area has now reached 7,200, which exceeds that of the city of Daegu -- once the country's virus hotspot following a massive outbreak tied to followers of minor religious sect Shincheonji.
Under the Level 2 distancing, indoor gatherings of 50 or more people and outdoor gatherings of 100 or more people are strongly restricted. Sports events must be held without crowds, while facilities with high infection risks, such as bars and internet cafes, have to suspend their businesses. The government also banned in-person church services.
In addition to the Level 2 measures, the capital city also decided to ban the use of public transportation for those not wearing masks. Rallies of 10 or more people are restricted in Seoul.
Health authorities said they are looking into options of moving to the toughest Level 3 distancing but are cautious over the plan as it could heavily undermine people's social and economic activities.
If the current restrictions are elevated to the highest level, gatherings of more than 10 people will be banned. Not only high-risk facilities, such as clubs, but also mid-risk facilities, including movie theaters, wedding halls and cafes, would be advised to suspend their operations.
The number of newly identified imported cases stood at 12, with eight of them detected at quarantine checkpoints at airports and harbors. The country's total number of imported cases is now at 2,782.
South Korea reported three more death from the coronavirus, raising the death toll to 316. The country's virus fatality rate is now at 1.66 percent.
But the country could see more deaths from the virus as the number of critically ill COVID-19 patients reached 58, up 12 from a day earlier.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 14,551, up 90 from the previous day, with 4,210 people isolated for COVID-19 treatment, up 278 from a day ago.
kdon@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-08-28--Hanwha Q Cells to build solar plant in Portugal by 2024

Hanwha Q Cells has obtained the `` business right '' to build a solar power and energy storage system plant @ @ @ @ @ megawatts of electricity a year for residents in the Alentejo and Algarve regions , the @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- Hanwha Q Cells, a solar solutions unit of chemicals-to-construction conglomerate Hanwha Group, said Friday it will build a solar power plant in Portugal by 2024.
Hanwha Q Cells has obtained the "business right" to build a solar power and energy storage system plant, which can generate 315 megawatts of electricity a year for residents in the Alentejo and Algarve regions, the company said in a statement.
The project is in line with the Portuguese government's plan to replace the country's overall energy resources with renewable energy by 2030, it said.
The solar power plant combined with an energy storage system will be the first of its kind in Portugal, a company spokesman said.
He said the value of the project will be decided later.
This undated file photo provided by Hanwha Q Cells shows a solar power plant built by the company in Brandenburg, Germany. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
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yna--2020-08-28--Refined oil shipments to N. Korea from China, Russia halved: UN report

North Korea has claimed to be coronavirus-free , but it keeps closing its border and enforcing strict quarantines that might @ @ @ @ @ goods and people from the two neighboring countries .

SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- Oil shipments to North Korea from China and Russia have halved this year, a U.N. report showed Friday, amid Pyongyang's border closure put in place to ward off the new coronavirus.
According to the report by the U.N. Security Council's North Korea sanctions committee, a combined 17,000 tons of refined oil was brought in to North Korea from the two neighboring countries during the January-July period, down from 34,000 tons tallied a year earlier.
The report did not provide reasons for the sharp decline but it might be attributable to Pyongyang's strict border control put into place since early this year as part of its anti-epidemic efforts.
North Korea has claimed to be coronavirus-free, but it keeps closing its border and enforcing strict quarantines that might be slowing the flow of goods and people from the two neighboring countries.
Under U.N. Resolution 2397, adopted in 2017 after the North's missile provocations, the annual amount of oil provided to North Korea cannot exceed 500,000 barrels, which is equivalent to some 60,000-70,000 tons.
Member countries are asked to report their oil shipments to the North.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-08-28--Nationwide second wave of infections feared as more cases reported in provinces

South Korea had brought the virus spread under control until early August , but more than 4,300 new cases have @ @ @ @ @ two weeks , mostly tied to a conservative church in northern Seoul and an anti-government @ @ @ @ @ Liberation Day on Aug. 15 .

SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- New coronavirus cases in South Korea are spreading fast to provinces, raising concerns over a possible nationwide second wave of infections.
Of 359 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases reported here Friday, 75, or 21 percent, were from regions other than the greater Seoul area, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
On the previous day, the figure rose to 28 percent, compared to 15 percent on Aug. 14 when the country started to witness a resurgence in virus cases with triple-digit daily new cases.
South Korea had brought the virus spread under control until early August, but more than 4,300 new cases have been identified in the past two weeks, mostly tied to a conservative church in northern Seoul and an anti-government march in the capital on Liberation Day on Aug. 15.
Health authorities said provincial residents confirmed with COVID-19 after visiting the church or the rally appear to be serving as virus spreaders in the regions.
Of 959 patients linked to the Sarang Jeil Church as of Thursday, 66, or 7 percent, were from regions other than the metropolitan area. Among 273 related to the demonstration, 112, or 41 percent, were from provinces.
"The number of new patients is increasing all across the nation. The pace of the spread is at a very grave situation," Kwon Joon-wook, KCDC deputy director, said.
To prevent further spread of the virus, the government has asked all participants of the rally to go through the virus test regardless of whether they have symptoms or not.
Adding to woes is the growing portion of untraceable cases that poses a major challenge to the authorities' efforts to trace and isolate potential cases.
Of the patients newly confirmed Thursday, 30 percent had untraceable routes.
Amid no signs of the virus spread letting up, the government decided Friday to extend the Level 2 social distancing scheme currently in place for another week.
South Korea raised social distancing rules to Level 2 in the three-tier system earlier this month following the spike in the number of the new virus cases.
Under the Level 2 scheme, South Koreans are allowed to maintain most of their daily routines, but outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people are banned. Sports events are allowed without spectators, and indoor meetings of 50 or more people are also prohibited.
Workers in full protective gear disinfect a bus in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 27, 2020, after a driver working for the bus company tested positive for the novel coronavirus. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-08-28--Resurgence of virus infections likely to dampen recovery hopes: vice minister

But the daily virus cases reached 103 on Aug. 14 and have been staying in the triple digits since .
@ @ @ @ @ , more than 3,800 cases have been reported in South Korea , mostly tied to @ @ @ @ @ Seoul and the Aug. 15 Liberation Day rally in Seoul .

SEJONG, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's vice finance minister voiced worries Friday that the recent resurgence of coronavirus infections is likely to weaken the recovery momentum in private consumption.
The government will draw up financial and taxation measures to help low-income households and self-employed people minimize the economic impact of the resurgence ahead of the Chuseok holiday in late September, Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom said.
The resurgence could hamper the economy's recovery momentum at a time when consumption and investment showed signs of a rebound, Kim said.
South Korea had been getting the virus under control, when the daily new cases stayed in double-digit figures, until early August.
But the daily virus cases reached 103 on Aug. 14 and have been staying in the triple digits since. Over the past two weeks, more than 3,800 cases have been reported in South Korea, mostly tied to a conservative church in northern Seoul and the Aug. 15 Liberation Day rally in Seoul.
Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom speaks at a meeting with senior ministry officials on Aug. 28, 2020, in this photo provided by the ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Kim said advanced countries imposed lockdown measures to prevent the spread of the virus, but such measures did not end the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
Instead, lockdown measures had an "extreme aftereffect" on economic activities, Kim said.
Earlier this week, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said the government will review the need to provide a second round of emergency handouts if the recent resurgence of new coronavirus infections does not slow down.
In May, the government offered relief funds totaling 14.3 trillion won (US$12 billion) to all households as part of efforts to cushion the economic fallout from the new coronavirus.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-28--New virus cases drop below 400, tougher distancing extended in greater Seoul area

SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- The number of daily new coronavirus cases in South Korea dropped to below 400 on Friday, but sporadic cluster infections are still putting the country's virus fight at risk as health authorities decided to extend tougher social distancing measures in the greater Seoul area for one more week.
The country reported 371 new COVID-19 cases, including 359 local infections, raising the total caseload to 19,077, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Friday's daily tally marks a sharp drop from the previous day when the country's new virus cases spiked to a nearly six month high of 441. Still, the number of daily virus cases has stayed in the triple digits for more than two weeks.
Since Aug. 14, more than 4,300 cases have been reported in South Korea, mostly tied to a conservative church in northern Seoul and the Aug. 15 Liberation Day rally in Seoul.
A health worker disinfects a bus in Gwangju on Aug. 27, 2020, after a bus driver tested positive for the novel coronavirus. (Yonhap)
Of the 359 locally transmitted cases, 284 were identified in the capital area, home to half of the country's 51 million population. Seoul added 145 more cases, while the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and western port city of Incheon reported 112 and 27 cases, respectively.
Other major cities reported additional infections, with the southwestern city of Gwangju adding 17 cases and the southeastern port city of Busan confirming eight more cases. All of the country's 17 provinces and municipalities reported additional virus cases.
Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul -- a hotbed of the recent spike in new infections -- has so far reported 959 COVID-19 cases. The church-linked cases also led to infections in at least 23 locations, with cases reported in nine different provinces and municipalities outside the greater Seoul area.
At least 273 patients have been reported from the Aug. 15 demonstration in central Seoul, with cases identified in 10 different provinces and municipalities outside the greater Seoul area.
South Korea had been getting the virus under control, with the daily new cases staying in double-digit figures, until early August. Multiple cluster infections in the greater Seoul area then started to break out and put a strain on the country's virus fight efforts.
To stem the virus spread, health authorities first applied Level 2 social distancing in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province for two weeks starting Aug. 16. The western port city of Incheon was put under the measures three days later before the government expanded the scheme nationwide on Sunday.
However, since the virus cases in the greater Seoul area showed no signs of letup, the government on Friday decided to extend the Level 2 distancing for one more week through the first weekend of September.
Under the Level 2 distancing, indoor gatherings of 50 or more people and outdoor gatherings of 100 or more people are strongly restricted. Sports events must be held without crowds, while facilities with high infection risks, such as bars and internet cafes, have to suspend their businesses. The government also banned in-person church services.
In addition to the Level 2 measures, the capital city also decided to ban the use of public transportation for those not wearing masks. Rallies of 10 or more people are restricted in Seoul.
Health authorities said they are looking into options of moving to the toughest Level 3 distancing but are cautious over the plan as it could heavily undermine people's social and economic activities.
If the current restrictions are elevated to the highest level, gatherings of more than 10 people will be banned. Not only high-risk facilities, such as clubs, but also mid-risk facilities, including movie theaters, wedding halls and cafes, would be advised to suspend their operations.
The number of newly identified imported cases stood at 12, with eight of them detected at quarantine checkpoints at airports and harbors. The country's total number of imported cases is now at 2,782.
South Korea reported three more death from the coronavirus, raising the death toll to 316.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 14,551, up 90 from the previous day.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-28--(URGENT) 90 more patients released from coronavirus treatment, total now at 14,551: KCDC


yna--2020-08-28--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 3 additional coronavirus deaths, total at 316: KCDC


yna--2020-08-28--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 371 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 19,077: KCDC


yna--2020-08-28--(2nd LD) Ryu Hyun-jin's start for Blue Jays postponed in protest of racial injustice in U.S.

`` The continued police brutality and social inequity demand immediate attention and focus from all of us -- not only @ @ @ @ @ We fully respect the decision of our players to bring further awareness to the systemic @ @ @ @ @ violence against Black , Indigenous and people of color in our communities , '' the @ @ @ @ @ look forward to getting back on the field , and using our strongest platform , @ @ @ @ @ our message demanding meaningful change . ''

(ATTN: ADDS other postponed games in paras 7-8)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- A scheduled start by the Toronto Blue Jays' South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin against the Boston Red Sox has been postponed, with the clubs joining other Major League Baseball (MLB) teams in protest against a recent police shooting of a black man in Wisconsin.
The Blue Jays were to host the Red Sox at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, at 6:37 p.m. Thursday (local time), or 7:37 a.m. Friday in Seoul. Ryu was going for win No. 3 in his seventh start of 2020.
But a couple of hours prior to first pitch, The Boston Globe reported that the Red Sox decided not to play as part of their protest to the shooting of Jacob Blake last weekend.
In this USA Today Sports photo via Reuters, the scoreboard at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, flashes the word "Equality" prior to a Major League Baseball regular season game between the home team Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 27, 2020. The game was postponed in the clubs' protest of a recent police shooting of a black man in Wisconsin. (Yonhap)
The clubs later issued a joint statement confirming the postponement of their game.
"The continued police brutality and social inequity demand immediate attention and focus from all of us -- not only Black Americans and Canadians. We fully respect the decision of our players to bring further awareness to the systemic racism that contributes to police violence against Black, Indigenous and people of color in our communities," the statement read. "We look forward to getting back on the field, and using our strongest platform, our game, to amplify our message demanding meaningful change."
Citing a source, Sportsnet in Toronto reported that the Blue Jays had decided to play the game following a team meeting but respected the Red Sox's decision not to take the field, which led to the game's postponement.
Two other South Korean players had their games postponed for the same reason. Choo Shin-soo and the Texas Rangers supported the decision by the Oakland Athletics not to play the game in support of protests. The Tampa Bay Rays and Choi Ji-man made a joint decision with the Baltimore Orioles to postpone their game too.
South Korean pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun started for the St. Louis Cardinals earlier in the day, pitching six strong innings for a no-decision in a 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
A police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, shot Blake seven times in the back just outside his vehicle, as they tried to arrest him following what Wisconsin law enforcement officials said was a domestic dispute. The shooting, which left Blake paralyzed from the waist down, sparked a wave of demonstrations across America in the ensuing days.
Professional athletes have joined the protest by refusing to play games and seeking to raise awareness of police brutality and systemic racism.
The Milwaukee Bucks, whose home arena is about 64 kilometers north of Kenosha, led the movement with their boycott of a National Basketball Association (NBA) playoff game against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. Two other games that day were also postponed. All three NBA playoff games slated for Thursday, including the second-round opener between the defending champions Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics, were reportedly all postponed, too, though NBA players will resume playoffs at some point.
Several MLB games were also scrapped on Wednesday and Thursday. In a statement released Wednesday, MLB said it "remains united for change in our society and we will be allies in the fight to end racism and injustice."
The National Hockey League (NHL), which caught flak for proceeding with playoff games Wednesday, has postponed all games scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
In this Getty Images photo, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays in the bottom of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Aug. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Thursday's game against the Red Sox would have been the rubber match of a three-game series for the Blue Jays, who will next host the Baltimore Orioles for a weekend series beginning Friday. The first pitch for that game is 6:37 p.m. local time, with Ryu likely to take the mound on an extra day's rest.
Ryu has been in fine form in August, with a 2-0 record and a 1.23 ERA, plus 24 strikeouts against five walks over 22 innings. For the season, Ryu is 2-1 with a 3.19 ERA.
It wasn't immediately clear when the Blue Jays-Red Sox game will be made up.
This year, the Blue Jays will be playing home games at Sahlen Field, home of their Triple-A affiliate, with quarantine rules during the COVID-19 pandemic preventing them from competing in Toronto.
In this USA Today Sports photo via Reuters, the outfield wall at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, displays the slogan "Black Lives Matter" prior to a Major League Baseball regular season game between the home team Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 27, 2020. The game was postponed in the clubs' protest to a recent police shooting of a black man in Wisconsin. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-28--(LEAD) After 3 big league starts, Kim Kwang-hyun looking comfortable in Cardinals' rotation

That lone run by the Pirates was unearned , as it came after a throwing error by St. Louis third @ @ @ @ @ fourth inning .
Kim induced a routine grounder off the bat of Cole Tucker for @ @ @ @ @ inning 's first out .
Instead , Miller 's errant throw put Tucker at second @ @ @ @ @ around to score on a two-out single by Jacob Stallings .

(ATTN: ADDS comments in paras 15-20)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- After beginning his first Major League Baseball (MLB) season as the closer for the St. Louis Cardinals, the South Korean left-hander Kim Kwang-hyun now has three starts to his credit.
He now looks the part of a big leaguer starter too.
Kim tossed another fine outing for the Cardinals on Thursday in St. Louis, giving up only a run in six innings on three hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium. Kim settled for a no-decision after leaving the game with the score tied at 1-1. The Pirates won 4-3.
In this Getty Images photo, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Aug. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
That lone run by the Pirates was unearned, as it came after a throwing error by St. Louis third baseman Brad Miller in the fourth inning. Kim induced a routine grounder off the bat of Cole Tucker for what should have been the inning's first out. Instead, Miller's errant throw put Tucker at second base, and he came around to score on a two-out single by Jacob Stallings.
That was the only blemish in this game for Kim. In three starts covering 15 2/3 innings, Kim has surrendered just one earned run on nine hits. He has struck out seven and walked four in those three outings.
Though Kim had been a high-end, MVP-winning starter in his 13 years in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), the Cardinals unexpectedly named him their closer at the start of the season in July. He made his MLB debut on Opening Day, no less, and picked up a save over the Pirates despite allowing two runs -- one unearned -- in the ninth inning of a 5-4 victory.
The Cardinals were forced into a two-week quarantine following a COVID-19 outbreak within the team. When they resumed action, Kim joined the rotation, with multiple starters going down with injuries.
In his first start against the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 17, Kim looked a little nervous and anxious. He even pitched the first inning wearing the batting practice cap. He also forgot to bring back his rosin bag after that opening frame and had to sprint back to the hill after nearly reaching the dugout.
In this Getty Images photo, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Aug. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
The 32-year-old pitcher has since settled in nicely, with the proper cap on for every inning. Kim's comfort level with the future Hall-of-Fame catcher Yadier Molina is such that Kim wastes very little time throwing to hitters once Molina puts down his signs. The pitcher has rarely shaken off Molina, if at all.
Kim earned his first MLB victory over the Cincinnati Reds last Saturday thanks to six shutout innings, and the game took a brisk two hours and 15 minutes. During Thursday's game, Jose Osuna, the Pirates' No. 8 hitters, stepped out of the box multiple times during his at-bat against Kim. Perhaps Osuna was trying to disrupt Kim's rhythm, but it didn't work as he went 0-for-2 with two flyouts.
Kim escaped another jam in the sixth, which opened with another error, this time by second baseman Kolten Wong. Kim got Josh Bell to bounce into a double play and retired Bryan Reynolds on a fly ball to right field.
Those two errors aside, Kim did get some help from the outfield.
Left fielder Tyler O'Neill made two outstanding catches. In the second inning, he made a jumping grab right at the wall to rob Stallings of an extra-base hit. Then in the fourth, O'Neill crashed into the fence after a running catch on a deep fly off the bat of Kevin Newman.
Right fielder Dexter Fowler joined the party with a jumping catch on Osuna to start the fifth inning.
In his postgame interview, Kim thanked O'Neill and Fowler for their highlight-reel catches, saying those plays were almost as important as his teammates launching home runs for him.
As for the error that led to the Pirates' run, Kim insisted it's ultimately up to the pitcher not to give up a run after a runner reaches on a miscue.
"Whenever there's a defensive error, I always try not to allow any run in that inning," Kim said. "But I gave up a run today after that first error (by Miller). It increased my pitch count, and we had to play catch-up from there."
Kim said pitchers, by the nature of their job, always receive help from the defense behind, and he has thought long and hard about how he can help his defenders in return.
"I try to work fast and help my teammates get off the field quickly," Kim said. "And when a fielder makes an error, I try to keep that runner from scoring so that my teammate doesn't beat himself up."
Kim continued to use his full repertoire of pitches, though Kim acknowledged that his command was "a little off" compared to his previous outing. Of his 80 pitches against the Pirates, Kim threw 33 fastballs, 26 sliders, 12 curveballs and nine changeups.
All three of his strikeouts were swinging. Kim had first-pitch strikes on 13 of 23 batters he faced.
Kim is the only current starter in the majors with a win and a save this year.
In this Associated Press photo, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Aug. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-28--Seoul stocks open higher on U.S. gains

Seoul stocks open higher on U.S. gains

Investor sentiment strengthened on an overnight speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell , signaling that the Fed would keep @ @ @ @ @ a longer time .

SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares opened higher Friday, taking a cue from overnight gains on Wall Street, despite concerns over the rising new COVID-19 cases at home.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 13.12 points, or 0.56 percent, to 2,357.57 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Stocks traded bullish, after the index plunged 1.05 percent the previous session due to spreading new COVID-19 cases.
Investor sentiment strengthened on an overnight speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, signaling that the Fed would keep the policy rate low for a longer time.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.57 percent to close at 28,492.27 on Thursday (New York time), and the S&P 500 advanced 0.17 percent.
China's improving car and home sales in the first three weeks this month also boosted optimism for the global economic rebound.
Large caps traded mixed in Seoul.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 0.9 percent, while No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix lost 0.88 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver retreated 1.63 percent, and its rival Kakao dipped 2.07 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics gained 0.37 percent, but Celltrion stayed flat.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem edged up 0.13 percent, while rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI contracted 1.07 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, jumped 2.75, and top steelmaker POSCO hiked 1.06 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,186.65 won against the U.S. dollar, down 1.65 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-28--S. Korea to retain Level 2 social distancing for one more week, consider restricting operations of r

S. Korea to retain Level 2 social distancing for one more week, consider restricting operations of restaurants, cafes: PM

He said there are growing calls to elevate the distancing requirements to the highest Level Three , but it remains @ @ @ @ @ resort given its economic and social repercussions . ''

SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will retain its Level Two social distancing requirements in Seoul and its surrounding areas for another week from Sunday despite the recent surge in COVID-19 transmissions in the area, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Friday.
"The government will extend the Level Two social distancing (rules), set to expire this weekend, by one more week," the prime minister said in a regular government COVID-19 response meeting.
He said there are growing calls to elevate the distancing requirements to the highest Level Three, but it remains "the choice of last resort given its economic and social repercussions."
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks during a regular government COVID-19 response meeting on Aug. 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
Instead, the government will discuss ways to further stiffen everyday quarantine measures, including limiting the business hours of restaurants or cafes and regulating the way they operate, Chung noted.
The prime minister also urged Protestant churches to suspend worship services, ordering "stern law enforcement" on those churches that push ahead with Sunday services in violation of administrative orders banning them.
On Thursday, South Korea reported 441 new COVID-19 cases, the first time the daily tally has soared over 400 in nearly six months.
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-28--K-pop group BTS to release two more remix versions of 'Dynamite'

BTS is scheduled to perform the new single at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday ( U.S. time @ @ @ @ @ performance on the awards show .
Due to the virus situation , the band will @ @ @ @ @ Seoul .

SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- K-pop giant BTS plans to release two additional remix tracks of its hit single "Dynamite" on Friday, according to its label-management agency Big Hit Entertainment.
BTS will drop the "Tropical Remix" and "Poolside Remix" of the song digitally at noon (Korea time) on major streaming services, Big Hit announced on the Weverse, a fan community-mobile commerce platform for the company's artists.
Rearrangements of the two new remixes will present vibrant and refreshing summery atmospheres, according to Big Hit.
The new remixes bring the total number of "Dynamite" versions up to five. Besides the original disco-pop track released last Friday, the band dropped two other remixes, acoustic and electronic dance versions, on Monday.
Upon its release, "Dynamite" has been met with raving global responses, with its first week metrics on various fronts pointing toward a potential No. 1 debut on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for next week.
The highest-charting South Korean artist ever on Billboard's main chart was PSY with his 2012 viral hit "Gangnam Style," which peaked at the No. 2 spot.
With "Dynamite," BTS became the first K-pop act to debut at No. 1 on Spotify's Global Top 50 index. It also earned the biggest Spotify song debut of the year so far.
BTS is scheduled to perform the new single at the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday (U.S. time) in its first-ever stage performance on the awards show. Due to the virus situation, the band will deliver the performance virtually from Seoul.
This photo, released by Big Hit Entertainment via social media on Aug. 19, 2020, shows a teaser for global K-pop band BTS' new song "Dynamite." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-28--After 3 big league starts, Kim Kwang-hyun looking comfortable in Cardinals' rotation

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- After beginning his first Major League Baseball (MLB) season as the closer for the St. Louis Cardinals, the South Korean left-hander Kim Kwang-hyun now has three starts to his credit.
He now looks the part of a big leaguer starter too.
Kim tossed another fine outing for the Cardinals on Thursday in St. Louis, giving up only a run in six innings on three hits against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium. Kim settled for a no-decision after leaving the game with the score tied at 1-1. The Pirates won 4-3.
In this Getty Images photo, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Aug. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
That lone run by the Pirates was unearned, as it came after a throwing error by St. Louis third baseman Brad Miller in the fourth inning. Kim induced a routine grounder off the bat of Cole Tucker for what should have been the inning's first out. Instead, Miller's errant throw put Tucker at second base, and he came around to score on a two-out single by Jacob Stallings.
That was the only blemish in this game for Kim. In three starts covering 15 2/3 innings, Kim has surrendered just one earned run on nine hits. He has struck out seven and walked four in those three outings.
Though Kim had been a high-end, MVP-winning starter in his 13 years in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), the Cardinals unexpectedly named him their closer at the start of the season in July. He made his MLB debut on Opening Day, no less, and picked up a save over the Pirates despite allowing two runs -- one unearned -- in the ninth inning of a 5-4 victory.
The Cardinals were forced into a two-week quarantine following a COVID-19 outbreak within the team. When they resumed action, Kim joined the rotation, with multiple starters going down with injuries.
In his first start against the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 17, Kim looked a little nervous and anxious. He even pitched the first inning wearing the batting practice cap. He also forgot to bring back his rosin bag after that opening frame and had to sprint back to the hill after nearly reaching the dugout.
In this Getty Images photo, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Aug. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
The 32-year-old pitcher has since settled in nicely, with the proper cap on for every inning. Kim's comfort level with the future Hall-of-Fame catcher Yadier Molina is such that Kim wastes very little time throwing to hitters once Molina puts down his signs. The pitcher has rarely shaken off Molina, if at all.
Kim earned his first MLB victory over the Cincinnati Reds last Saturday thanks to six shutout innings, and the game took a brisk two hours and 15 minutes. During Thursday's game, Jose Osuna, the Pirates' No. 8 hitters, stepped out of the box multiple times during his at-bat against Kim. Perhaps Osuna was trying to disrupt Kim's rhythm, but it didn't work as he went 0-for-2 with two flyouts.
Kim escaped another jam in the sixth, which opened with another error, this time by second baseman Kolten Wong. Kim got Josh Bell to bounce into a double play and retired Bryan Reynolds on a fly ball to right field.
Those two errors aside, Kim did get some help from the outfield.
Left fielder Tyler O'Neill made two outstanding catches. In the second inning, he made a jumping grab right at the wall to rob Stallings of an extra-base hit. Then in the fourth, O'Neill crashed into the fence after a running catch on a deep fly off the bat of Kevin Newman.
Right fielder Dexter Fowler joined the party with a jumping catch on Osuna to start the fifth inning.
Kim continued to use his full repertoire of pitches. Of his 80 pitches against the Pirates, Kim threw 33 fastballs, 26 sliders, 12 curveballs and nine changeups.
All three of his strikeouts were swinging. Kim had first-pitch strikes on 13 of 23 batters he faced.
Kim is the only current starter in the majors with a win and a save this year.
In this Associated Press photo, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the top of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Aug. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-28--(2nd LD) N.K. leader visits typhoon-hit area, calls for all-out recovery efforts

`` It is one of top-priority tasks to be surely carried out by our party to go among the people @ @ @ @ @ them when they are in trouble and feel difficult and the Central Committee of the @ @ @ @ @ them both when they are in weal and woe , '' Kim said , according @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS official newspaper's report on damage in paras 8-10)
By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a typhoon-hit area in the country's southwestern province of Hwanghae and called for all-out efforts to minimize damage to farming fields and a reduction in harvests, state media reported Friday.
Kim's trip to South Hwanghae Province, which came after Typhoon Bavi passed along the North's western coastline Thursday, is seen as aimed at highlighting his image as a leader caring for the lives of his people as they have been reeling from recent back-to-back natural disasters.
Kim Jong-un: Typhoon damage in N. Korea is smaller than expected Youtube https://youtu.be/D6GgUipWOXc
During the visit, Kim said that the scale of damage is smaller than expected and "positively appraised national crisis control system against natural disasters taking up proper shape and the ability to counter the crisis making remarkable improvement," the Korean Central News Agency said.
He stressed the need to "direct efforts to minimizing the damage in the agricultural field in particular and reduction in the harvest," while urging "an all-out campaign" of completing the recovery so that the country can mark the 75th founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party next month "with proud of achievement."
Hwanghae Province is one of the largest rice-producing areas of the country.
"It is one of top-priority tasks to be surely carried out by our party to go among the people and encourage and sincerely help them when they are in trouble and feel difficult and the Central Committee of the party should always be with them both when they are in weal and woe," Kim said, according to the KCNA.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects typhoon-stricken areas of South Hwanghae Province, in this photo disclosed by the Korean Central News Agency on Aug. 28, 2020. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
The KCNA did not reveal when his trip took place, but it appears to have come hours after Typhoon Bavi made landfall in South Hwanghae Province early Thursday.
The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, said that the typhoon hit farming areas of Hwanghae Province, in particular, dealing a blow to corn stalks, rice paddies and other crops.
Hundreds of acres of farming land in North Hwanghae Province were affected, the paper said, reporting on broken trees, flooded houses and roads in the region. Damage in areas near Pyongyang was also reported. The paper, however, did not mention any casualties.
In an unusual move, the country's state TV network has provided real-time coverage of damage caused by wind gusts and rainfalls in recent days, showing the sense of urgency and efforts to provide updated info on the storm to people.
North Korea had stayed on high alert as it feared the typhoon could be stronger than Typhoon Lingling that devastated many areas of the country last summer.
Kim held a politburo meeting Tuesday, calling for stepped-up efforts to brace for the approaching typhoon and minimize damage.
North Korea has been facing multiple challenges, including the fallout from its protracted antivirus campaign and floods caused by recent heavy downpours.
North Korea has claimed to be coronavirus-free, but it keeps a high level of border control and quarantine, which appear to be taking a toll on its already fragile economy under the strain of crippling global sanctions.
Making matters worse is that it was hit hard by recent heavy downpours, which reportedly wrought havoc on its rice-producing areas, raising worries that its chronic food shortage problem could worsen.
Last week, leader Kim unusually acknowledged failure in implementing his five-year economic development plan, citing "severe" and "unexpected" challenges. He said that he will unveil a new development scheme in a rare party congress to be held in January.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


KOSDAQ 841.76 UP 5.36 points (open)


yna--2020-08-28--Seoul stocks open higher on U.S. Fed's dovish signal

Investor sentiment strengthened on an overnight speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell .
He said the Fed may continue @ @ @ @ @ economy even if U.S. inflation exceeds its target level of 2 percent , which global @ @ @ @ @ of a prolonged low-interest rate .

SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares extended gains late Friday morning despite resurgence in new COVID-19 cases, largely on a U.S. Fed Reserve's signal to keep the policy rate low for a longer time.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 25.14 points, or 1.07 percent, to 2,369.59 as of 11:20 a.m.
Stocks traded bullish, after the index plunged 1.05 percent the previous session due to spreading new COVID-19 cases.
Investor sentiment strengthened on an overnight speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. He said the Fed may continue efforts to support the pandemic-hit economy even if U.S. inflation exceeds its target level of 2 percent, which global markets hailed as a sign of a prolonged low-interest rate.
China's improving car and home sales in the first three weeks this month also boosted optimism for the global economic rebound.
Large caps traded mixed in Seoul.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 0.72 percent, while No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix lost 0.76 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver retreated 1.04 percent, and its rival Kakao dipped 1.34 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics gained 0.12 percent, and Celltrion inched up 0.16 percent.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem rose 0.79 percent, while rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI inched up 0.11 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, jumped 5.81 percent, and top steelmaker POSCO advanced 1.86 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,185.15 won against the U.S. dollar, down 0.15 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-28--(LEAD) Doctors' strike enters last day despite widened return-to-work order

Meanwhile , out of the 32,787 clinics in the country , 8.9 percent , or 2,926 , were closed , @ @ @ @ @ is less than the 33 percent participation rate by practitioners tallied in the first walkout @ @ @ @ @ by around 600 from the previous day .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES with more info throughout; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- Doctors entered the last day of their three-day nationwide strike Friday in protest of the government's medical reform scheme despite a widened return-to-work order.
Tens of thousands of practitioners have joined interns and resident doctors at general hospitals for the walkout, raising their voice against the government's move to increase the number of medical students.
Earlier in the day, the government ordered not only trainee doctors in the wider Seoul area but all across the country to return to their work, warning of possible prison terms as it would cause major difficulties when the country is faced with spiking novel coronavirus cases.
This photo, taken Aug. 27, 2020, shows Severance Hospital, a major general hospital in Seoul. (Yonhap)
The strike is the second of its kind and organized by the Korean Medical Association (KMA), which has some 130,000 members.
The widened order came after the government earlier ordered striking junior doctors at 95 trainee hospitals in the Seoul area to return to work.
The government said it has filed a complaint with police against 10 trainee doctors working at emergency rooms in the metropolitan area for not following the order.
However, the Korean Intern and Resident Association (KIRA) representing the trainee doctors, as well as fellow doctors, at major general hospitals have said they will continue their indefinite walkout as planned.
The KIRA has made clear on numerous occasions that its members will not return to work unless the government reconsiders its plans, and a number of trainee doctors have submitted letters of resignation.
The government said the number of trainee doctors that have walked out stood at 6,070, or 68.8 percent, of the 8,825 interns and residents in the country as of late Thursday,
Among fellow doctors, 28.1 percent, or 549, of 1,954 physicians did not report to work during the day, it said.
Meanwhile, out of the 32,787 clinics in the country, 8.9 percent, or 2,926, were closed, it said. The figure is less than the 33 percent participation rate by practitioners tallied in the first walkout earlier this month and down by around 600 from the previous day.
Concerns are looming over service disruptions at major general hospitals as trainee doctors have vowed to continue their collective actions indefinitely.
The walkout has forced major general hospitals in the greater Seoul area to reduce working hours, delay some scheduled surgeries and cancel appointments, routine checkups and tests.
Other medical workers, including nurses, have complained of their overloaded schedule, pleading that the government and the medical circle both find a breakthrough.
The walkout by practitioners at neighborhood clinics also caused some discomfort, but no major disruptions were reported due to the relatively low number of striking doctors.
. Those who do not follow the government order without probable cause could have their licenses revoked and even face imprisonment of less than three years or a fine of less than 30 million won (US$25,000).
As part of the country's medical workforce reform plan, the health ministry is planning to expand admission quotas at medical schools by 4,000 over the next 10 years, starting in 2022, and to open a new public medical school, as it seeks to broaden the reach of health care services.
This will increase the number of students admitted annually to medical schools to 3,458 in the 2022-2031 period from the current 3,058, according to the plan.
Kim Hyun-sook (L), head of the health ministry's medical resources policy department, enters the Seoul Metropolitan Agency on Aug. 28, 2020, to submit a complaint against trainee doctors who were refusing to return to work. Tens of thousands of doctors went on a three-day strike nationwide on Aug. 26 in protest of the government's medical workforce reform. The walkout, the second of its kind, was organized by the association, which has some 130,000 members. (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-28--Sports ministry seeks dismissal, probe of officials in triathlon abuse scandal

The ministry said Friday it has also warned the president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee ( KSOC ) @ @ @ @ @ his organization 's poor handling of rampant abuse in triathlon .
The ministry 's announcement @ @ @ @ @ the triathlon scandal , which surfaced in early July following the death of former Gyeonggju @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- In the fallout from an abuse scandal in triathlon, the South Korean sports ministry is demanding that officials at relevant organizations be sacked and probed by legal authorities.
The ministry said Friday it has also warned the president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), Lee Kee-heung, for his organization's poor handling of rampant abuse in triathlon. The ministry's announcement came following its investigation into the triathlon scandal, which surfaced in early July following the death of former Gyeonggju City Hall triathlete Choi Suk-hyeon.
The late South Korean triathlete Choi Suk-hyeon receives a gold medal at the 2013 National Maritime Sports Games in Ulsan, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in these photos provided by Choi's surviving family on July 2, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Choi, who was found dead in her home in late June, alleged that her former head coach and teammates physically and verbally abused her. Since Choi's passing, her former teammates have stepped forward with their own allegations, leading to the arrests of the principal figures in the scandal.
The KSOC and the Korea Triathlon Federation (KTF) also caught flak for not acting on Choi's pleas for help earlier this year.
"Because the KSOC and other organizations failed to take proper steps in time, an athlete who needed help couldn't be saved," the ministry said in a statement.
In addition to warning Lee, the ministry is seeking the dismissal of KSOC's secretary general, Kim Seung-ho. It has asked legal authorities to launch an investigation into possible misconduct by three KTF officials.
The ministry has also relieved the head of its sports department of his duties.
The ministry's special task force, headed by the Second Vice Minister Choi Yoon-hee, interviewed some 30 officials from the KSOC, KTF and Gyeongju and studied related documents.
In this file photo from Aug. 5, 2020, South Korean triathlete Jang Yun-jung leaves the Daegu District Court in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, after attending a hearing over a request for an arrest warrant for her as part of an investigation into an abuse scandal. (Yonhap)
The ministry said it will empower the Sports Ethics Center, which opened on Aug. 5 with the task of ensuring transparency in sports and protecting athletes, with more investigative authority.
Choi said the ministry will seek to eliminate the "win-at-all-costs" mentality and address persistent human rights abuse in South Korean sports.
In this file photo from July 2, 2020, Kim Seung-ho (L), secretary general of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), bows in apology over the death of South Korean triathlete Choi Suk-hyeon, who took her own life after enduring years of apparent abuse on her team, during a visit by Vice Sports Minister Choi Yoon-hee (R) at the KSOC headquarters in Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-28--Releases of homegrown, Hollywood blockbusters postponed again due to coronavirus pandemic

Distributor Merry Christmas said Thursday that it will put off the premier of the science-fiction adventure `` Space Sweepers , @ @ @ @ @ to hit screens Sept. 23 .
The company did not elaborate on the exact date @ @ @ @ @ release .

SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- A recent spike in new coronavirus cases has dealt another heavy blow to the South Korean film industry, pushing distributors to postpone the release of titles set to hit theaters next month.
Distributor Merry Christmas said Thursday that it will put off the premier of the science-fiction adventure "Space Sweepers," which was originally scheduled to hit screens Sept. 23. The company did not elaborate on the exact date of the film's next release.
Starring Song Joong-ki and Kim Tae-ri, "Space Sweeper" is one of the most anticipated blockbusters in the fall season in South Korea. It features a group of space scavengers who hunt for debris to make money in the year 2092 in a fictional universe.
A teaser image of "Space Sweepers" provided by Merry Christmas (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Earlier, the openings of the homegrown comedy-crime film "The Golden Holiday" and the horror-thriller animated film "Beauty Water" were also put on hold. The two titles were set to hit screens Aug. 19 and next Wednesday, respectively.
Hollywood films have been also shelved from their original opening schedules for this fall.
The Walt Disney Company Korea, the local distributing unit of the U.S. entertainment giant, said it will delay the release of the live action film "Mulan" to Sept. 17 from Sept. 10.
Starring Chinese actress Liu Yifei, "Mulan," which was first set to be released worldwide in March, has changed its opening schedules several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The release of "The New Mutants," an American superhero film based on Marvel Comics, was also pushed back to Sept. 10 from next Thursday.
The move came as South Korea has been struggling with a resurgence in the number of daily new COVID-19 patients across the country.
It has reported around 300 new virus cases every day for weeks due to sporadic cluster infections, with a nearly six-month high of 441 new infections reported Thursday.
The film industry, which has experienced a turnaround in the number of moviegoers since July after a monthslong slump, was hit hard by the looming second wave of infections.
The spy film "Tenet" was released Wednesday in South Korea, but its box-office pace has been slower than expected due to the coronavirus.
Director Christopher Nolan's latest movie attracted 137,000 moviegoers on its opening day, but the number dropped to 78,000 the next day.
The action crime film "Deliver Us From Evil" posted 340,000 admissions on Aug. 5, its first day of run, and 285,000 on Aug. 6.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-28--Gov't extends order nationwide for striking doctors to return to work

In a joint briefing held at the government complex in Seoul by the Ministry of Health and Welfare , the @ @ @ @ @ National Police Agency , Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said the extension and seeking of @ @ @ @ @ '' to `` safeguard people 's lives and safety , '' as the resurgence of @ @ @ @ @ great threat to public safety and doctors ' walkout added more trouble to already strained @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's government on Friday extended the executive order nationwide for doctors who have been on strike to return to work immediately.
It also said it planned to report to police 10 doctors later in the day for violating the executive order issued earlier this week in the Seoul region, making good on its repeated warnings of strong legal action against those who failed to come back to hospitals.
On Wednesday, the government ordered striking trainee doctors and fellows working at training hospitals in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon to return to work amid the rapid spread of new coronavirus cases in the capital area.
Those who do not follow the government order without an adequate reason could have their licenses revoked and even face imprisonment of less than three years or a fine of less than 30 million won (US$25,000).
In a joint briefing held at the government complex in Seoul by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Justice and the National Police Agency, Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said the extension and seeking of legal action were "inevitable" to "safeguard people's lives and safety," as the resurgence of the coronavirus was posing a great threat to public safety and doctors' walkout added more trouble to already strained hospitals around the country.
Tens of thousands of practitioners, interns and resident doctors have launched a walkout in protest of the government's medical reform measure to increase the number of medical students.
The three-day strike was to end Friday, but the Korean Intern and Resident Association (KIRA) representing the trainee doctors, as well as fellow doctors, at major general hospitals have said they will continue their walkout indefinitely unless the government reconsiders its plans.
The government said the number of trainee doctors that have walked out stood at 6,070, or 68.8 percent, of the 8,825 interns and residents in the country as of late Thursday.
Among fellow doctors, 28.1 percent, or 549, of 1,954 physicians did not report to work during the day, it said.
As part of the country's medical workforce reform plan, the health ministry is planning to expand admission quotas at medical schools by 4,000 over the next 10 years, starting in 2022, and to open a new public medical school, as it seeks to broaden the reach of health care services.
This will increase the number of students admitted annually to medical schools to 3,458 in the 2022-2031 period from the current 3,058, according to the plan.
This photo, taken Aug. 27, 2020, shows Severance Hospital, a major general hospital in Seoul. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-08-28--(4th LD) New virus cases drop below 400, enhanced antivirus curbs to take place in greater Seoul are

(4th LD) New virus cases drop below 400, enhanced antivirus curbs to take place in greater Seoul area

(ATTN: UPDATES with with more info in paras 5-6; ADDS latest fatality numbers in paras 30-31)
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- The number of daily new coronavirus cases in South Korea dropped to below 400 on Friday, but health authorities decided to enforce tougher social distancing measures in the greater Seoul area for one more week with enhanced guidelines to further stem another nationwide wave of infections.
The country reported 371 new COVID-19 cases, including 359 local infections, raising the total caseload to 19,077, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Friday's daily tally marks a sharp drop from the previous day when the country's new virus cases spiked to a nearly six-month high of 441. But fewer virus tests on the previous day might have dragged down the number of new cases, as some virus screening clinics suspended operation due to Typhoon Bavi.
Still, the number of daily virus cases has stayed in the triple digits for more than two weeks. Since Aug. 14, more than 4,300 cases have been reported in South Korea, mostly tied to a conservative church in northern Seoul and the Aug. 15 Liberation Day rally in central Seoul.
Health workers conduct virus tests at a drive-thru COVID-19 screening clinic in Seoul on Aug. 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
Of the 359 locally transmitted cases, 284 were identified in the capital area, home to half of the country's 51 million population. Seoul added 233 more cases as of 6 p.m., compared to the day before, with the total number of people infected standing at 3,620.
The surrounding Gyeonggi Province and western port city of Incheon reported 112 and 27 cases, respectively. Gyeonggi, in particular, said 38 percent of all people infected were over 60, making them more at risk of developing serious health problems.
Other major cities reported additional infections, with the southwestern city of Gwangju adding 17 cases and the southeastern port city of Busan confirming eight more cases. All of the country's 17 provinces and municipalities reported additional virus cases.
Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul -- a hotbed of the recent spike in new infections -- has reported 978 COVID-19 cases. The church-linked cases also led to infections in at least 25 locations, with 66 cases reported in nine different provinces and municipalities outside the greater Seoul area.
At least 294 patients have been reported from the Aug. 15 demonstration in central Seoul, with 116 cases identified in 10 different provinces and municipalities outside the greater Seoul area.
The number of cases traced to a door-to-door business establishment in Seoul jumped to 66, with 49 of them detected in South Jeolla Province. In the southeastern city of Gwangju, a table tennis club reported 14 COVID-19 cases.
South Korea had been getting the virus under control, with the daily new cases staying in double-digit figures, until early August. But multiple cluster infections in the greater Seoul area, from churches to office buildings, started to break out simultaneously and put a strain on the country's virus fight efforts.
In August, a total of 1,460 COVID-19 cases were reported from 12 churches, according to the KCDC.
"Infectious disease experts forecast that if the current virus situation persists, the daily number of virus cases could go up to 800, or even 2,000 next week," said KCDC chief Jeong Eun-kyeong. "We urge people to cancel or postpone unnecessary meetings and activities outside their homes."
Jeong added the virus reproduction rate, which reflects the average number of people infected by a patient, in the country is currently estimated between 1.5 and 2.5.
Health workers prepare to work as citizens wait in line at a virus screening clinic in Gwangju on Aug. 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
To stem the virus spread, health authorities first applied Level 2 social distancing in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province for two weeks starting Aug. 16. The western port city of Incheon was put under the measures three days later before the government expanded the scheme nationwide Sunday.
However, since the country's virus situation showed no signs of letup, the government decided to extend the Level 2 distancing for one more week Friday, with tighter antivirus measures to take place from Sunday to Sept. 6 in the greater Seoul area.
Under the new guidelines, in-person dining at restaurants and bakeries in the greater Seoul area will not be allowed between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Franchise coffee shops will only be able to provide takeout and delivery services.
The government will also issue an administrative order banning gatherings at indoor sports facilities, such as gyms and billiard clubs, in the nation's capital area. Stricter virus prevention measures will be also applied to cram schools and elderly care centers.
One-third of workers at government and public institutions are advised to work from home.
"We see the virus situation in the greater Seoul area as very serious and will make all-out efforts to stem the spread of virus there," Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said.
A health worker collects a swab sample from a citizen at a virus screening clinic in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, South Korea, on Aug. 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
The accumulated number of COVID-19 cases in the greater Seoul area has reached 7,200, which exceeds that of the city of Daegu -- once the country's virus hotspot following a massive outbreak tied to followers of the minor religious sect Shincheonji in late February.
Under the Level 2 distancing, indoor gatherings of 50 or more people and outdoor gatherings of 100 or more people are strongly restricted. Sports events must be held without crowds, while facilities with high infection risks, such as bars and internet cafes, have to suspend their businesses. The government also banned in-person church services.
Some municipalities have already adopted tighter measures in advance. For example, the capital city has mandated its citizens to wear face masks. Rallies of 10 or more people are restricted in Seoul.
Health authorities said should the virus situation not improve even with enhanced Level 2 guidelines, the country has no choice but to enforce the toughest Level 3 distancing.
The government has been cautious of implementing the Level 3 distancing, as it could heavily undermine people's social and economic activities.
"The Level 3 distancing is our last resort," Park said. "But we will need to be prepared if the country has to move into the Level 3 distancing."
A sign at a church in Nowon Ward, northern Seoul, states the building is closed due to virus infections on Aug. 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
Under Level 3, gatherings of more than 10 people are banned. Not only high-risk facilities, such as clubs, but also mid-risk facilities, including movie theaters, wedding halls and cafes, are advised to suspend their operations.
All sports events are banned, and public facilities are ordered to close. Schools are required to shift to remote learning.
The number of newly identified imported cases stood at 12, with eight of them detected at quarantine checkpoints at airports and harbors. The country's total number of imported cases is now at 2,782.
South Korea reported three more deaths from the coronavirus, raising the death toll to 316, though three more fatalities were confirmed for the day. The three were all residents of Gyeonggi and seniors, with the oldest being 82. The latest deaths will be tallied when the government releases the latest daily COVID-19 update Saturday.
The country's virus fatality rate currently stands at 1.66 percent.
But the country could see more deaths from the virus as the number of critically ill COVID-19 patients reached 58, up 12 from a day earlier.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 14,551, up 90 from the previous day, with 4,210 people isolated for COVID-19 treatment, up 278 from a day ago.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-28--(5th LD) Doctors' strike enters last day; another walkout imminent

In a joint briefing held at the government complex in Seoul by the Ministry of Health and Welfare , the @ @ @ @ @ National Police Agency , Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said the extension and seeking of @ @ @ @ @ '' to `` safeguard people 's lives and safety , '' as the resurgence of @ @ @ @ @ great threat to public safety and the doctors ' walkout added more trouble to already @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: UPDATES with strike participation rate of doctors in paras 11-13)
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean doctors entered the last day of their three-day nationwide strike Friday to protest the country's medical reform scheme, with another walkout looming in early September amid the deepening tension between the government and physicians.
Tens of thousands of practitioners have joined interns and resident doctors at general hospitals for the walkout, raising their voice against the government's move to increase the number of medical students.
Earlier in the day, the government ordered not only trainee doctors in the wider Seoul area but all across the country to return to their work, warning of possible prison terms as it would cause major difficulties when the country is faced with spiking novel coronavirus cases.
This photo, taken Aug. 27, 2020, shows Severance Hospital, a major general hospital in Seoul. (Yonhap)
The strike is the second of its kind and organized by the Korean Medical Association (KMA), which has some 130,000 members.
The widened order came after the government earlier ordered striking junior doctors at 95 trainee hospitals in the Seoul area to return to work.
The government also reported to police 10 doctors for violating the order issued earlier this week in the Seoul region, making good on its repeated warnings of strong legal action against those who failed to come back to hospitals.
On Wednesday, the government ordered striking trainee doctors and fellows working at training hospitals in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon to return to work amid the rapid spread of new coronavirus cases in the capital area.
Those who do not follow the government order without an adequate reason could have their licenses revoked and even face imprisonment of less than three years or a fine of less than 30 million won (US$25,000).
In a joint briefing held at the government complex in Seoul by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Justice and the National Police Agency, Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said the extension and seeking of legal action were "inevitable" to "safeguard people's lives and safety," as the resurgence of the coronavirus was posing a great threat to public safety and the doctors' walkout added more trouble to already strained hospitals around the country.
However, the Korean Intern and Resident Association (KIRA) representing the trainee doctors, as well as fellow doctors, at major general hospitals has said it will continue its indefinite walkout as planned.
KIRA has made clear on numerous occasions that its members will not return to work unless the government reconsiders its plans, and a number of trainee doctors have submitted letters of resignation.
The government said the number of trainee doctors that have walked out stood at 6,593, or 75.8 percent, of the 8,825 interns and residents in the country as of Friday.
Among fellow doctors, 35.9 percent did not report to work during the day, it said.
Meanwhile, out of the 32,787 clinics in the country, 6.5 percent, or 2,141, were closed.
S. Korea's doctors on nationwide strike despite uptick in COVID-19 cases Youtube https://youtu.be/ZNWfUAy2mCc
The justice ministry also reiterated that those who do not follow the government's order will face legal consequences. Doctors who are sentenced to a prison term are at risk of their medical license being revoked.
Choi Dae-zip, president of the Korean Medical Association, called the government's reporting of doctors to police "harsh oppression" in a press conference in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
Late Friday, the KMA said it plans to launch an indefinite strike starting Sept. 7 if its demands are not met.
Meanwhile, the government said the national exam that tests medical students' clinical skills, slated to take place from Sept. 1 until Oct. 27, will proceed as scheduled, although 2,823 out of 3,172 medical students boycotted the test in protest.
Concerns are looming over service disruptions at major general hospitals, as trainee doctors have vowed to continue their collective actions indefinitely.
The walkout has forced major general hospitals in the greater Seoul area to reduce working hours, delay some scheduled surgeries and cancel appointments, routine checkups and tests.
Internal medicine at Seoul National University, one of the country's major general hospitals, said clinic hours will be shortened starting next week in a move to lessen the work of professor-level doctors.
Other medical workers, including nurses, have complained of their overloaded schedule, pleading that the government and the medical circle both find a breakthrough.
The walkout by practitioners at neighborhood clinics also caused some discomfort, but no major disruptions were reported due to the relatively low number of striking doctors.
Those who do not follow the government order without probable cause could have their licenses revoked and even face imprisonment of less than three years or a fine of less than 30 million won (US$25,000).
As part of the country's medical workforce reform plan, the health ministry is planning to expand admission quotas at medical schools by 4,000 over the next 10 years, starting in 2022, and to open a new public medical school, as it seeks to broaden the reach of health care services.
This will increase the number of students admitted annually to medical schools to 3,458 in the 2022-2031 period from the current 3,058, according to the plan.
Professors of the Seoul National University Hospital released a joint statement later in the day that filing complaints against doctors will further paralyze the country's medical system.
"We need to prevent creating a serious vacuum in the country's medical system by driving young doctors into a corner," they said.
Medical professors of Korea University also expressed support for the strike, hinting they are willing to take group action as well.
Kim Hyun-sook (L), head of the health ministry's medical resources policy department, enters the Seoul Metropolitan Agency on Aug. 28, 2020, to submit a complaint against trainee doctors who were refusing to return to work. Tens of thousands of doctors went on a three-day strike nationwide on Aug. 26 in protest of the government's medical workforce reform. The walkout, the second of its kind, was organized by the association, which has some 130,000 members. (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)