yna--2020-11-17--Coronavirus-infected nat'l football players to return home from Austria on chartered flight

Six players and two staff members on the national team tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend while in Austria @ @ @ @ @ and Qatar .
One player , SC Freiburg midfielder Kwon Chang-hoon , has returned to @ @ @ @ @ .
The remaining players , two staffers and team medical officials will be flown back @ @ @ @ @ the Korea Football Association ( KFA ) said Tuesday .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- Members of the South Korean national football team infected with the novel coronavirus will return home from Austria on a chartered flight, the sport's governing body said Tuesday.
Six players and two staff members on the national team tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend while in Austria for international friendlies against Mexico and Qatar. One player, SC Freiburg midfielder Kwon Chang-hoon, has returned to Germany in a quarantine vehicle. The remaining players, two staffers and team medical officials will be flown back on a chartered flight, the Korea Football Association (KFA) said Tuesday.
South Korean men's national football team players train at BSFZ-Arena at Maria Enzersdorf-Sudstadt in Maria Enzersdorf, Austria, on Nov. 16, 2020, in this photo provided by the Korea Football Association. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The five other infected players are: Kim Moon-hwan and Lee Dong-jun of Busan IPark, Na Sang-ho of Seongnam FC, Jo Hyeon-woo of Ulsan Hyundai FC and Hwang In-beom of FC Rubin Kazan.
Though Hwang is based in Russia, the KFA said it is in talks with Hwang's club to have him travel back to South Korea on the same chartered flight.
South Korea will play Qatar near Vienna at 2 p.m. Tuesday local time, or 10 p.m. Tuesday in Seoul. Aside from Hwang, other Europe-based players will go back to their clubs' homes on Wednesday. One exception will be Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min, who will board a team charter at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Austria time to return to London.
Among other national team players, members of K League clubs competing in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League will travel back to Qatar to join their teammates in the Doha bubble. Those teams are: Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Ulsan Hyundai FC and FC Seoul. Two Qatar Stars League players, Jung Woo-young and Nam Tae-hee of Al Sadd, will also fly directly back to the Middle Eastern nation.
The remaining players and coaches will fly commercial back to South Korea and land here on Thursday.
Paulo Bento, head coach of the South Korean men's national football team, directs his players during practice at BSFZ-Arena at Maria Enzersdorf-Sudstadt in Maria Enzersdorf, Austria, on Nov. 16, 2020, in this photo provided by the Korea Football Association. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
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yna--2020-11-17--Moon congratulates 4 Korean-Americans on recent House election victories

`` Above all , Koreans living in the U.S. must feel reassured by their presence .
Going forward , I @ @ @ @ @ all for enhancing ROK-U.S. bilateral relations as well , '' Moon noted .
ROK is @ @ @ @ @ 's official name , the Republic of Korea .

SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday congratulated four Korean-Americans on their recent election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
"Delighted and thrilled! Together with the Korean people, I extend my congratulations to newly elected Congresswomen Young Kim, Michelle Park Steel, and Marilyn Strickland, and Congressman Andy Kim who won a second term," Moon tweeted.
"They have friendly Korean names – Young-oak, Eunjoo, and Sun-ja," Moon said, adding "Today, your friendly Korean names sound all the more glamorous."
Republicans Young Kim and Michelle Park Steel won the 39th and 48th districts in Orange County, California, respectively, in the U.S. general elections earlier this month, joining Democrat Marilyn Strickland, who won the 10th district in Washington, to become the first Korean American women to serve in Congress in its 230-year history.
Democrat Andy Kim won his race in New Jersey's 3rd district.
"I am truly encouraged to see four Korean Americans having made to U.S. Congress all at the same time," Moon said in the Twitter message uploaded both in Korean and English.
"Above all, Koreans living in the U.S. must feel reassured by their presence. Going forward, I hope to work with you all for enhancing ROK-U.S. bilateral relations as well," Moon noted. ROK is the acronym for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.
On Twitter, Moon also briefly referred to the contributions the four electees have made in improving South Korea-U.S. relations and other sectors.
"Representative-elect Young Kim, working as a host of Korean shows, has played a bridging role between Korean American community and American mainstream society," Moon said.
President Moon Jae-in (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-17--Korean Air parent company signs agreement with KDB for Asiana acquisition

Under the deal , Hanjin KAL is required to select three of its outside directors and members of an audit @ @ @ @ @ be designated by the KDB .

SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- Hanjin KAL, the parent company of Korean Air Lines Co., on Tuesday signed an agreement with Asiana Airlines Inc.'s main creditor Korea Development Bank for its acquisition of the smaller carrier.
The investment agreement calls for the KDB to inject 800 billion won (US$723 million) into Hanjin KAL through a rights offering and convertible bonds.
Under the deal, Hanjin KAL is required to select three of its outside directors and members of an audit committee, which will all be designated by the KDB.
Currently, Hanjin KAL has three executive directors and eight outside directors.
Hanjin KAL is also mandated to hold prior consultations with the KDB and acceded to the state-run bank's positions on major issues.
The mandatory clauses are meant to give oversight powers to the KDB -- which will have a 10.66 percent stake in Hanjin KAL -- over the holding company of airline conglomerate Hanjin Group.
The deal came a day after Korean Air's announcement that it will acquire Asiana Airlines in a deal valued at 1.8 trillion won. The deal would create the world's 10th-biggest airline by fleets.
Korean Air plans to raise 2.5 trillion won via rights offerings early next year. Of the proceeds, it will spend 1.5 trillion won to buy new shares to be sold by Asiana and 300 billion won worth of Asiana perpetual bonds, the company said in a statement.
Hanjin KAL is set to participate in the 2.5 trillion won worth of stock sale by Korean Air early next year.
Korean Air, currently the world's 18th largest, will become Asiana's biggest shareholder with a 63.9 percent stake if the acquisition is completed.
On Monday, Kim Sang-do, deputy minister for civil aviation at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said it is an "inevitable decision" to integrate the country's two biggest airlines to prevent them from making bigger losses amid the extended COVID-19 pandemic.
Hit hard by the unprecedented pandemic, airlines have suspended most of their flights on international routes since March, and travel demand has dried up.
South Korea's antitrust regulator will review the deal over the issue of monopoly. If things go smoothly, the deal is expected to be completed by June next year.
entropy@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-17--Over 30 million doses of coronavirus vaccines under negotiations: health minister

Last week , the government said it seeks to purchase coronavirus vaccines to cover 60 percent of the population by @ @ @ @ @ it plans to purchase 10 million doses through the global vaccine supply platform , COVAX @ @ @ @ @ through separate negotiations with vaccine companies .

SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- More than 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been offered to South Korea for purchase, the health minister said Tuesday.
"The combined amount (of vaccines) offered by (vaccine) companies to us surpasses 30 million doses," Health Minister Park Neunghoo said in a parliamentary session.
He was responding to Rep. Kim Mi-ae of the main opposition People Power Party who called on the minister to hasten the purchase of coronavirus vaccines.
"In contact with individual companies, the government is currently negotiating the volumes and the prices (of vaccines)," Park noted, adding that the government is bargaining for "reasonable prices."
He said the two U.S. companies -- Moderna Inc. and Pfizer Inc. -- asked South Korea to quickly sign purchase contracts of COVID-19 vaccines, which he described as contrary to expectations.
On Monday, Moderna said its vaccine candidate was 94.5 percent effective. The news came just days after Pfizer announced that its experimental vaccine developed with BioNTech SE is more than 90 percent effective in preventing COVID-19.
South Korea "is not in an unfavorable situation in terms of vaccine procurement," the minister added.
Last week, the government said it seeks to purchase coronavirus vaccines to cover 60 percent of the population by this year. It said it plans to purchase 10 million doses through the global vaccine supply platform, COVAX Facility and another 20 million through separate negotiations with vaccine companies.
Health Minister Park Neunghoo (L) attends a parliamentary session in Seoul on Nov. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-17--Top U.S. general in S. Korea hold talks with lawmakers on alliance

`` Today 's engagements confirmed to the National Assembly that we stand postured and ready to deter aggression , defend @ @ @ @ @ and if necessary , defeat any adversary who would oppose us , '' Abrams said @ @ @ @ @ official name , during a meeting at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek , some 70 kilometers @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- The top U.S. general in South Korea on Tuesday met with several South Korean lawmakers during their rare visit to the headquarters of U.S. Forces Korea, the U.S. military said.
Gen. Robert Abrams, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, had roundtable discussions with members of the parliamentary defense committee on how to deepen the alliance between the two countries, according to the U.S. military.
Abrams emphasized the importance of the alliance and maintenance of a strong combined defense posture to ensure peace, security and stability on the Korean Peninsula, it said.
"Today's engagements confirmed to the National Assembly that we stand postured and ready to deter aggression, defend the Republic of Korea, and if necessary, defeat any adversary who would oppose us," Abrams said, using South Korea's official name, during a meeting at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul.
The lawmakers also toured the U.S. Army's largest overseas installation and had a luncheon with service members, the U.S. military said.
The U.S. stations some 28,000 troops in South Korea to deter North Korean aggression, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.
This photo provided by U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) shows South Korean lawmakers and USFK Commander Gen. Robert Abrams having discussions at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on Nov. 17, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
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yna--2020-11-17--Vice FM Choi calls for peace road map including end-of-war declaration, denuclearization

`` I would like to use this occasion to extend my heartfelt thanks to Deputy Secretary Biegun , and I @ @ @ @ @ a glass of 'soju ' and eat chicken together in the near future , '' @ @ @ @ @ the popular Korean alcoholic drink .

By Song Sang-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun called Tuesday for a road map for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, including the declaration of a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War, and pledged to work closely with the incoming U.S. government to that end.
Choi made the remarks in his keynote speech during a gathering of South Korean and U.S. business leaders in Seoul, which was hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
"Going forward, South and North Korea, along with the United States and neighboring countries, should craft a road map for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of a peace regime, which includes the end-or-war declaration, and should implement it," Choi said.
"We should meticulously make preparations and work to create opportunities. When opportunities arise, we will have to move boldly," he added.
Touching on growing skepticism about on-again and off-again engagement with Pyongyang, the vice minister stressed that Seoul will stay the course and take "steady steps forward to achieve sustainable peace."
Choi, in addition, reiterated Seoul's commitment to closely cooperating with the incoming Joe Biden government to work toward the "shared goals" of peace and prosperity on the peninsula.
He also used his speech to thank U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, Washington's pointman for nuclear talks with the North, for his efforts to advance the peace efforts.
"The Republic of Korea can rest assured as Deputy Secretary of State Biegun, who doubles as the special representative for North Korea, is at the heart of this process," the vice minister said, using South Korea's official name.
"I would like to use this occasion to extend my heartfelt thanks to Deputy Secretary Biegun, and I hope that we will drink a glass of 'soju' and eat chicken together in the near future," he added, referring to the popular Korean alcoholic drink.
Biegun, who was attending the session via video links, welcomed Choi's invitation, referring to his favorite Korean chicken stew, "dakhanmari" -- a dish that has now become a symbol of his affection to Korean cuisine.
"I want to give special thanks to my colleague, my counterpart, Choi Jong-kun and don't worry, I heard your remarks and I look forward to that bowl of 'dakhanmari' when I am in Seoul later," Biegun quipped.
First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun (R) and his U.S. counterpart, Stephen Biegun, pose for a photo before their talks at the State Department in Washington on Sept. 11, 2020 in this photo provided by the foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-17--Deja vu all over again for Bears' ex-Korean Series MVP

`` I 'd love to be the hero again , '' Jung said .
`` I always want to take @ @ @ @ @ .
But it 's hard for everyone to play well at the same time .
@ @ @ @ @ player to do some damage , and the momentum will be on our side .
@ @ @ @ @ well , someone will have my back . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- When the Doosan Bears won the Korean Series to become the South Korean baseball champions in 2015, they won two playoff rounds to reach the final round as the No. 3 seed, and knocked down the top seed Samsung Lions.
This year, the Bears are once again the third seed. They've won two rounds to get to the Korean Series and set up a date with the No. 1 seed NC Dinos.
Jung Soo-bin of the Doosan Bears speaks to reporters before Game 1 of the Korean Series against the NC Dinos at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
It feels all familiar for Doosan outfielder Jung Soo-bin, the 2015 Korean Series MVP.
"We're trying to play with the same mindset as back then," Jung said Tuesday ahead of Game 1 against the Dinos at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. "We won the title as the third seed, and we're trying to recreate the same vibe this year."
Jung batted 8-for-14 with a home run, three doubles and five RBIs to be voted the MVP of the 2015 series. He is a career .329 hitter in the Korean Series.
"I'd love to be the hero again," Jung said. "I always want to take center stage in our victories. But it's hard for everyone to play well at the same time. All it takes is one player to do some damage, and the momentum will be on our side. If I don't play well, someone will have my back."
After leading off in earlier postseason games, Jung will start the Korean Series batting ninth. His manager Kim Tae-hyoung said earlier in the day he wasn't pleased with the way Jung had been swinging the bat.
"It doesn't matter where I hit in the lineup," Jung said. "I'll try to do what I am supposed to do. In huge games like this, sometimes you have to try things you haven't done before and force the other team to make tough plays."
Jung Soo-bin of the Doosan Bears prepares for a bunt against the KT Wiz in the bottom of the first inning of Game 4 of the second round in the Korea Baseball Organization postseason at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-17--(LEAD) Dinos' manager confident in offensive depth in Korean Series

`` Soo-bin is n't swinging the bat well .
Kun-woo is n't doing that much better , but at least @ @ @ @ @ a couple of hits , '' Kim said in his pregame media availability .
`` @ @ @ @ @ n't that important for us now .
I just hope everyone will start hitting .
@

(ATTN: ADDS more comments at bottom, photos)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- It's a luxury that few baseball managers get to enjoy, when a lineup is so deep that a 30-homer slugger is batting eighth in a championship series game.
NC Dinos' manager Lee Dong-wook has been doing this for most of the year in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), and he has inserted Aaron Altherr into the No. 8 spot in his deep lineup for Tuesday's Game 1 of the Korean Series against the Doosan Bears.
NC Dinos' manager Lee Dong-wook speaks to reporters before Game 1 of the Korean Series against the Doosan Bears at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Altherr blasted 17 of his 31 regular season home runs from the eighth spot, while batting .325/.405/.685, by far his best triple slash line in any spot of the lineup.
Altherr began his first KBO season batting second or cleanup, but sensing that the former major leaguer was pressing too much at the plate amid early struggles, Lee moved him down to eighth in late May. He has mostly stayed there since.
And it's not just Altherr's presence that makes the bottom third of the Dinos' lineup dangerous. Kwon Hui-dong, an outfielder with power, will bat seventh. He batted 6-for-12 with two home runs against Doosan's Game 1 starter, Raul Alcantara. And first baseman Kang Jin-sung, who batted .309 with a career-high 70 RBIs, will bat ninth.
"I moved Hui-dong from No. 2 to No. 7 to strengthen the bottom part of our lineup," Lee said in his pregame media session at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. "And the guys at the top of our lineup hit well with runners on."
The Dinos earned a bye to the Korean Series after posting the best regular season record. They haven't played since their final regular season game on Oct. 31, and some of their rust may come into play early.
"I think it's important for our hitters to get their timing right in their first at-bats," Lee said. "That was my point of emphasis with them."
In this file photo from Sept. 23, 2020, Kwon Hui-dong of the NC Dinos tosses his bat after hitting a three-run home run against the Samsung Lions in the bottom of the second inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The Bears' manager Kim Tae-hyoung also juggled his lineup for Game 1, but for different reasons. They batted just .213/.259/.299 as a team in a four-game victory over the KT Wiz in the previous round, and Kim moved players around in hopes of generating some spark.
Oh Jae-il, the 2019 Korean Series MVP, will bat sixth. He was moved down from third to eighth during that KT Wiz series and ended up batting only 1-for-15 with six strikeouts then.
The Bears had previously sent five left-handed batters in a row at the top, but Kim decided to spread them out a bit against the Dinos' left-handed relief pitching.
Right-handed Park Kun-woo will lead off, and the left-handed Jung Soo-bin will move down to No. 9 spot.
Park Kun-woo of the Doosan Bears celebrates his RBI single against the LG Twins in the top of the fourth inning of Game 2 of the Korea Baseball Organization first-round postseason series at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Nov. 5, 2020. (Yonhap)
"Soo-bin isn't swinging the bat well. Kun-woo isn't doing that much better, but at least he can still give us a couple of hits," Kim said in his pregame media availability. "The batting order really isn't that important for us now. I just hope everyone will start hitting."
As for his pitching staff, Kim said right-hander Choi Won-joon, his Game 3 starter, could come out of the bullpen Tuesday if necessary. He also praised the work of his no-name, youthful bullpen and said a reliever could get the starting assignment for Game 4.
Doosan Bears' manager Kim Tae-hyoung smiles at the Korean Series media day at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-17--Young ace ready to enjoy Korean Series experience in 2nd trip

`` Four years ago , I was just a rookie and everything felt new and exciting , '' Koo said @ @ @ @ @ at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul .
He 's expected to get the starting assignment @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday or Game 3 on Friday .
`` Now , I am going to try @ @ @ @ @ And I feel a bigger sense of responsibility now than four years ago , because @ @ @ @ @ pitcher and I 'll have to set the tone for the whole team . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- Four years in a baseball player's career can feel like an eternity. Back in 2016, NC Dinos' left-hander Koo Chang-mo was still just 19 when he made his Korean Series debut. He made two mostly forgettable relief appearances as the Dinos got swept by the Doosan Bears.
Now in 2020, the Dinos are the favorites over the Bears in the Korean Series starting Tuesday, and Koo has evolved into one of the best starters in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Coming off an injury-marred second half of the regular season, Koo said he is fully recovered and ready to go.
Koo Chang-mo of the NC Dinos speaks to reporters before Game 1 of the Korean Series against the Doosan Bears at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
"Four years ago, I was just a rookie and everything felt new and exciting," Koo said Tuesday in his pregame presser at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. He's expected to get the starting assignment for either Game 2 on Wednesday or Game 3 on Friday. "Now, I am going to try to enjoy the experience. And I feel a bigger sense of responsibility now than four years ago, because I will be a starting pitcher and I'll have to set the tone for the whole team."
Koo was one of the most dominant pitchers in the first half, going 9-0 in his first 13 starts with a 1.55 ERA. The club shut him down in late July to give him a breather, but then discovered inflammation, followed by a fracture, in his left arm. He ended up missing three months and came back for a relief appearance and a start in the final week of October.
"I am pain-free now. I think I've reached a point where I could throw 100 pitches," said Koo, whose season high for a pitch count is 115 from July 26. "I think I still need to get my feel back but I am almost there."
Koo said he followed the Bears' march through the postseason closely, as they had to win two rounds to reach the Korean Series as the No. 3 seed, while the Dinos were awaiting their opponents with a bye to the Korean Series.
"I think they weren't swinging for the fences as much as they did during the regular season, and they were mostly trying to make good contact," Koo said. "Games often came down to one pitch."
As for how the Dinos could avenge their sweep against the Bears, Koo said, "We're all going to come together as one and play only for the victory of our team. That's the definition of NC Dinos baseball."
In this file photo from Oct. 24, 2020, Koo Chang-mo of the NC Dinos pitches against the LG Twins in the top of the sixth inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-17--Seoul to extend visas for ethnic Koreans stranded by coronavirus

Under the temporary deregulation , only one family member with the H-2 work and visit visa can make a round @ @ @ @ @ home country for extension of stay here on behalf of other family members , the @ @ @ @ @ visas can be extended for up to 90 days .

SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- Ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality stranded in South Korea due to the protracted outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic will be allowed to extend their stay here more conveniently, the Ministry of Justice said Tuesday.
According to the Korea Immigration Service under the ministry, only one member of an ethnic Korean family can now leave the country and visit their home country as a representative before applying for visa extension for the rest of his or her family members.
This file photo shows a foreign passport. (Yonhap)
Previously, all family members had to leave for their home countries to extend their visas in South Korea.
Under the temporary deregulation, only one family member with the H-2 work and visit visa can make a round trip to his or her home country for extension of stay here on behalf of other family members, the agency said, adding those visas can be extended for up to 90 days.
The special measure came as some ethnic Koreans of foreign nationality have been stranded in South Korea due to global travel restrictions caused by COVID-19 and are in danger of slipping into illegal status.
The agency explained that the special measure will be applied to H-2 visa holders' spouses and underage children who are residing here with the F-1 family visitor visa.
If the family representative fails to return with a new visa within 90 days, however, the remaining family members will not have their visas extended and will be asked to leave the country, it noted.
ycm@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-17--(LEAD Ex-Navy officer sentenced to 18 months in prison for secret leak in destroyer project

Two other civilians were sentenced to three years in prison , suspended for five years each , for leaking confidential @ @ @ @ @ procurement businesses .
The court said it took into consideration that they did n't get @ @ @ @ @ acts .

(ATTN: CORRECTS headline, lead, throughout to clarify that former officer, not incumbent officer, was sentenced to prison per defense ministry's correction)
SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- A former Navy officer was sentenced to a year and a half in prison on Tuesday for leaking confidential information related to a project to build a next-generation destroyer, the defense ministry said.
A general military court under the ministry said the former officer is guilty of leaking to defense company officials classified information related to the Korea Destroyer Next Generation (KDDX) project to build a 6,000 ton-class Aegis destroyer while in active service, according to the ministry.
The defendant, along with other officials, was indicted over allegations of having allowed Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. officials to secretly film confidential documents related to the project in 2014.
Yet the court acquitted an incumbent officer of similar charges, citing a lack of evidence.
This undated file photo, provided by the Navy, shows Sejong the Great, a 7,600-ton Aegis-equipped destroyer. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Despite the info leak controversy, the country's arms procurement agency said last month it will pick Hyundai as a preferred bidder for the project.
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., which is also vying for the 21 billion-won (US$17.6 million) project, filed for a court injunction, but a Seoul court dismissed the application, saying it is unclear if Hyundai actually used the information that it illegally acquired.
"We will do our best to continue the project without a hitch in accordance with due procedures and regulations," an agency official earlier said.
South Korea plans to complete the design of the destroyer by the second half of 2023 and begin its construction in 2024.
On the same day, another Navy officer was sentenced to 18 months in prison for leaking confidential information related to a submarine project.
Two other civilians were sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for five years each, for leaking confidential information related to other arms procurement businesses. The court said it took into consideration that they didn't get any financial rewards for their acts.
scaaet@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-17--(2nd LD) IHO reaches agreement on identifying seas with numbers amid East Sea naming row

`` Assembly Chair Marc Van der Donck said in the closing remarks that during the development of the new standards @ @ @ @ @ with unique numerical identifiers , the S-23 will be kept available as an IHO publication @ @ @ @ @ from the analogue to the digital era , and he concluded the proposal by consensus @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .

(ATTN: ADDS more details in paras 4, 12-13, 16)
By Song Sang-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) has reached agreement on a proposal to mark global sea areas with unique numerical identifiers rather than specific names, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.
The consensus, likely to be finalized early next month, capped decades of diplomatic efforts by Seoul to revise the existing IHO guidelines referring to the body of water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan only as the Sea of Japan, rather than the South Korean name East Sea.
During a virtual session of the IHO Assembly on Monday, 65 member states joined the discussions on the proposal to adopt a new digital dataset, known as S-130, as a standard for a world map of oceans, as the current one, dubbed S-23, remains outmoded.
IHO Secretary General Mathias Jonas has made the proposal late last year after informal consultations with the two Koreas, Japan and other concerned countries.
East Sea or Sea of Japan? Numbers to replace specific names of seas Youtube https://youtu.be/VYYUM3HAqtM
"Assembly Chair Marc Van der Donck said in the closing remarks that during the development of the new standards designating geographical sea areas only with unique numerical identifiers, the S-23 will be kept available as an IHO publication to demonstrate the evolutionary process from the analogue to the digital era, and he concluded the proposal by consensus," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry stressed that the participants accepted by consensus the original version of the IHO secretary general's proposal that the S-23 will be kept available not as a valid standard but only as a publication displaying the evolutionary transition to a new one.
The ministry dismissed as "distortion" a Japanese news report that, based on the outcome of this week's IHO Assembly discussions, the Sea of Japan will continue to be used for international nautical charts, with the numerical identifiers used only for digital charts.
At this week's session, a North Korean representative did not make any remarks. But Pyongyang earlier responded positively to the IHO secretary general's proposal of the numerical system.
A ministry official said the draft document on the outcome of the Assembly discussions is expected to be circulated among member states on Sunday, with the process of collecting their opinions to end around Wednesday next week. The document is likely to be finalized on Dec. 1 (Korea time).
After the finalization of the Assembly outcome, discussions on the timeline to formulate the S-130 standard are likely to ensue, the official said. But it remains uncertain how long the development process will take, though any progress may be reported to the next Assembly session slated for April 2023.
The IHO agreement this week is forecast to boost Seoul's diplomatic drive to promote the use of the East Sea name both on paper and online because Japan will no longer be able to cite the IHO standards to make the case for the Sea of Japan.
"In line with the transition to the era of digital marine charts, (the agreement) effectively removes S-23, which was a stumbling block to the efforts to promote the East Sea name, and lays the groundwork for a new framework to spread the name," Lee Jae-woong, the ministry's deputy spokesman, told a regular press briefing.
Along with the shift to the new standard, the status of the Sea of Japan name will be "downgraded," Lee added.
The Seoul government is currently developing a system to monitor how the East Sea is described in online materials as part of efforts to publicize the name long overshadowed by the S-23 standard.
The sea naming issue is a source of diplomatic friction between South Korea and Japan.
Seoul had argued that both names -- the East Sea and the Sea of Japan -- should be juxtaposed on global maps, as its views were not reflected in the current third edition of the S-23 published in 1953 when the country was in the grip of the Korean War and not an IHO member.
S-23 is designed for consistent nautical cartography and safe maritime navigation. The IHO had sought to update the current third edition but failed to do so amid differences among nations over sea naming and other complex issues.
These photos that appeared in the Argentine newspaper Weekend on Dec. 12, 2019, and were provided by the Korean Cultural Center based in Argentina show the name change of the sea waters between South Korea and Japan from Sea of Japan to Straits of Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-17--Korean economy maintaining recovery momentum amid pandemic: finance minister

The top economic policymaker explained the country 's proposed fiscal rules to S & P as efforts to bolster fiscal @ @ @ @ @ unveiled the proposal that will limit its debt to 60 percent of GDP and its @ @ @ @ @ from 2025 .
The new rule is subject to parliamentary approval .

SEOUL, Nov. 17 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean economy is maintaining its recovery momentum amid the fallout of the new coronavirus outbreak, the country's chief economic policymaker said Tuesday.
During a conference call with global credit appraiser Standard & Poor's (S&P) earlier in the day, Hong discussed the country's overall economic situation and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Every year, delegations from key global credit rating agencies visit South Korea for a meeting to evaluate the country's economic conditions and credit status. But this year, S&P held a conference call with the finance ministry and other institutions due to the virus outbreak.
The South Korean economy grew 1.9 percent on-quarter in the third quarter on improving exports, after two consecutive quarters of contraction.
This photo, provided by the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Nov. 17, 2020, shows Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki holding a conference call with global credit appraiser Standard & Poor's (S&P) for an annual meeting to assess the country's economic situation and credit status. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Hong said that the country's debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio has risen due to aggressive fiscal spending in response to the pandemic, but a rise in the debt ratio is a global trend.
The country's debt is likely to reach a record 846.9 trillion won (US$765.4 billion) this year as the government sold deficit-covering bonds to finance four supplementary budgets, according to the finance ministry.
The nation's debt-to-GDP ratio will reach an all-time high of 43.9 percent this year, up 6.2 percentage points from the end of last year.
The top economic policymaker explained the country's proposed fiscal rules to S&P as efforts to bolster fiscal soundness. South Korea recently unveiled the proposal that will limit its debt to 60 percent of GDP and its fiscal deficit to 3 percent from 2025. The new rule is subject to parliamentary approval.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

The Korea Baseball Organization ( KBO ) had been admitting crowds at 50 percent of the stadium capacity during the @ @ @ @ @ the social distancing scheme moves from Level 1 to Level 1.5 in the new five-tier @ @ @ @ @ for all games played after that must be limited to 30 percent of the capacity @ @ @ @

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday.
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(3rd LD) Distancing level raised to 1.5 in greater Seoul, Gwangju, effective this week, as virus cases rise
SEOUL -- The government decided Tuesday to raise the social distancing level by one notch to 1.5 in the greater Seoul area and Gwangju, amid a resurgence of new COVID-19 cases in the regions.
The measure will go into effect on Thursday in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, while it will take effect from Monday in Incheon, given relatively less severe COVID-19 outbreaks in the city. Incheon's Ganghwa Island and Ongjin County will continue to remain under the Level 1 distancing.
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(4th LD) S. Korea adopts tougher distancing in greater Seoul as new cases over 200 for 4th day
SEOUL -- South Korea is set to raise the social distancing scheme in the greater Seoul area by one notch to rein in the upward trend of coronavirus infections as the number of new cases hovered above 200 for the fourth consecutive day Tuesday.
The country added 230 more COVID-19 cases, including 202 local infections, raising the total caseload to 28,999, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
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(LEAD) Moon to join virtual summits of APEC, G20 this week
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in will participate in back-to-back major multilateral summits to be held via video links this week, Cheong Wa Dae announced Tuesday.
He is scheduled to attend an annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting on Friday, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
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(LEAD) Seoul stocks down as investors lock in gains
SEOUL -- South Korean shares snapped their two-day gains Tuesday after hitting a nearly three-year high the previous session, as valuation pressure offset optimism over Moderna's experimental COVID-19 vaccine. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
After choppy trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 3.88 points, or 0.15 percent, to close at 2,539.15.
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(LEAD) Defense minister meets U.S. Army chief, discusses alliance, cooperation
SEOUL -- Defense Minister Suh Wook met with U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville Tuesday and discussed ways to further boost military cooperation and the bilateral alliance, Seoul's defense ministry said.
McConville arrived in South Korea late Monday for a three-day stay as part of his Asian trip, according to military officials.
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Health authorities on alert over sharp hikes in coronavirus infections among younger people
SEOUL -- South Korean health authorities are on alert over an increasing number of younger people infected with the coronavirus, which they fear could spawn a fresh wave of outbreaks in coming weeks.
The proportion of those under 50 in all new cases increased 10.8 percentage points to 49.1 percent between Oct. 11 and Nov. 7, according to data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) released Monday.
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N. Korea seen following social distancing measures at theaters
SEOUL -- North Koreans left every other seat empty at theaters this week in an apparent social distancing measure against the coronavirus pandemic, according to state media photos.
Photos released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday showed several performances in Pyongyang marking Mother's Day on Nov. 16, with empty seats in between audience members as part of social distancing measures.
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(LEAD) Gov't committee virtually scraps new Gimhae airport project
SEOUL -- A state committee established to review the feasibility of expanding Gimhae International Airport in southeastern South Korea on Tuesday effectively scrapped the plan, citing safety and environmental issues and a lack of thorough communication with the local government in the decision-making process.
"The new Gimhae airport plan needs substantial supplementation in areas of safety, facility management, demand, environment and noise and as of now remains insufficient in dealing with future changes," said Kim Soo-sam, head of the review committee under the prime minister's office, while delivering a briefing on the committee's findings at the government complex in Seoul.
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Mask-related violations most reported among breaches of virus control measures: data
SEOUL -- People in South Korea are violating mask-wearing rules more than any other regulations in place against COVID-19, government data showed Tuesday.
Restaurants are where such breaches of antivirus restrictions occur most frequently, followed by indoor gyms and religious facilities, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
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Upcoming romance 'Josee' designed to create new variation of Japanese original: director
SEOUL -- The director of the upcoming romance film "Josee" said Tuesday that he intended to create a new love story based on the famous Japanese original movie with Korean emotion and sentiment.
Starring Han Ji-min and Nam Joo-hyuk, "Josee" is a Korean adaptation of the 1985 Japanese short story, "Josee, the Tiger and the Fish," by Seiko Tanabe and the 2003 Japanese romance drama of the same title, directed by Isshin Inudo.
-----------------
(LEAD) Baseball postseason crowd to be reduced under tighter social distancing rules
SEOUL -- With the announcement on Tuesday that the social distancing rules will be tightened in the greater Seoul area due to a spike in new coronavirus cases, the size of the crowd in the baseball championship series will be reduced starting this week.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) had been admitting crowds at 50 percent of the stadium capacity during the ongoing postseason. But as the social distancing scheme moves from Level 1 to Level 1.5 in the new five-tier system effective Thursday, crowds for all games played after that must be limited to 30 percent of the capacity.
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--S. Korea unveils huge investment plan for biohealth industry

South Korea 's biohealth industry has been growing rapidly in recent years .
Exports of medicines and medical equipment rose @ @ @ @ @ 2019 from $ 8.28 billion in 2018 and $ 7.23 billion in 2017 .
Exports @ @ @ @ @ as of end-October this year on strong shipments of coronavirus test kits and new drug @ @ @ @ @ 10 billion mark for the first time .

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea announced a large-scale investment plan for the biohealth industry on Wednesday in an effort to nurture what it sees as a future growth engine.
Under the plan, 36 pharmaceutical makers and five venture capital firms, including Samsung Biologics Co. and Celltrion Inc., will invest a combined 10 trillion won (US$9.04 billion) by 2023 to hone their competitiveness and technological capabilities.
The largest 8.4 trillion won will be spent on developing medicines, followed by investments in startups with 1.4 trillion won. The remainder will be earmarked for medical equipment and digital health care sectors.
In line with the strategy, the government will sharply increase its spending on research and development (R&D) and take other measures to help promote the biohealth industry.
The government has set its biohealth R&D budget for next year at 1.7 trillion won, up approximately 30 percent from this year.
In particular, the government will spend 640 billion won on pan-ministerial cooperation projects in 2021, more than double the amount set for this year.
A biohealth manpower training center will be opened at Yonsei University's International Campus in Songdo, west of Seoul, this year with the aim of producing 2,000 skilled workers per year from 2024.
The government will establish an artificial intelligence-based medicine manufacturing innovation center to help pharmaceutical firms cut the duration and cost of developing new drugs.
The government will provide support for medical equipment makers' efforts to boost domestic sales, seek to promote their exports, set up a big data platform to hone the digital health care sector and make concerted efforts to further foster three major biohealth clusters.
In addition, the government signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a world-class biohealth ecosystem with Yonsei University, bio firms and equipment makers, including Samsung Biologics and Celltrion.
Should the investment plan go off without a hitch, the government forecast the local biohealth industry's output to expand at an annualized rate of about 20 percent till 2023, with some 9,300 new jobs to be created.
South Korea's biohealth industry has been growing rapidly in recent years. Exports of medicines and medical equipment rose to $8.91 billion in 2019 from $8.28 billion in 2018 and $7.23 billion in 2017. Exports came to $10.77 billion as of end-October this year on strong shipments of coronavirus test kits and new drug technologies, passing the $10 billion mark for the first time.
The number of workers hired by the health care industry stood at 941,000 as of end-September, compared with 920,000 at the end of last year.
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--Residents' FX deposits hit record high in Oct.

Outstanding foreign currency-denominated deposits held by residents amounted to US $ 93.32 billion as of end-October , up $ 7.87 @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Bank of Korea ( BOK ) .

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Foreign currency deposits at banks in South Korea rose to a record high in October as exporters raised dollar holdings amid the country's improving exports, central bank data showed Wednesday.
Outstanding foreign currency-denominated deposits held by residents amounted to US$93.32 billion as of end-October, up $7.87 billion from the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).
The tally rebounded from September, when the FX deposits declined for the first time since February.
Residents include local citizens, foreigners staying here for more than six months and foreign companies. The data excludes interbank foreign currency deposits.
The BOK said companies increased dollar holdings amid improving overseas shipments and that securities firms managed more short-term offshore investment funds.
In October, the country's exports fell 3.8 percent on-year, but per-day exports gained 5.4 percent from a year earlier as this year's working days in October were fewer than a year earlier due to the Chuseok fall harvest holiday.
The dollar-denominated deposits gained $6.85 billion on-month to $80.32 billion, and the euro-denominated deposits rose $540 million to $4.4 billion.
Companies' holdings of FX deposits amounted to $74.73 billion as of end-October, up $7.2 billion from the previous month. Deposits held by individuals rose $670 million on-month to $18.6 billion, the BOK said.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--1 in 3 S. Koreans picks COVID1-19 outbreak as No. 1 social anxiety factor

The poll by Statistics Korea showed that 32.8 percent of those surveyed said they consider the outbreak of a new @ @ @ @ @ to society , sharply up 29.9 percentage points from 2.9 percent tallied two years earlier @

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- One in three South Koreans picked the outbreak of a new disease as the biggest source of social anxiety this year, a survey showed Wednesday, underscoring people's jitters over the new coronavirus pandemic.
The poll by Statistics Korea showed that 32.8 percent of those surveyed said they consider the outbreak of a new disease as the biggest threat to society, sharply up 29.9 percentage points from 2.9 percent tallied two years earlier.
Regardless of sex, age, education and income levels, the emergence of a new disease was chosen as the No. 1 factor that threatens society.
The survey showed unstable economic situations ranked second with 14.9 percent, followed by crimes with 13.2 percent.
The statistics agency conducted the biennial social survey on some 38,000 people aged 13 or older over family, education, crime and other social issues between May 13 and May 28.
A heath worker conducts a coronavirus test on a citizen at a screening center in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
The outcome reflects South Koreans' fatigue over the protracted COVID-19 pandemic since the country reported its first confirmed case on Jan. 20.
South Korea reported 313 more coronavirus cases, including 245 local infections, on Wednesday, raising the total to 29,311, according to health authorities.
Meanwhile, three in five South Koreans think that couples can live together without being married, the survey showed.
The poll said 59.7 percent of those surveyed support cohabitation, up from 56.4 percent tallied two years earlier.
Views for pro-cohabitation have been on the rise since 2012, when the corresponding rate came to 45.9 percent.
The survey also showed 30.7 percent think they can have a baby without being married, up from 30.3 percent in 2018.
The portion of South Koreans who think that marriage is necessary came to 51.2 percent this year, up 3.1 percentage points from two years ago.
But more Koreans have become open to divorce, with the portion of people who oppose divorce falling to 30.2 percent in 2020 from 33.2 percent in 2018, the survey said.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--No. of holding companies in S. Korea declines in 2020

The average assets of the holding firms came to 1.99 trillion won as of the end of September , up @ @ @ @ @ year earlier .
The number of holding firms with assets of 1 trillion won or @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- The number of holding companies in South Korea declined this year from a year earlier due largely to a fall in mid-sized holding firms, the country's antitrust regulator said Wednesday.
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said a total of 167 holding companies were registered with the country's antitrust regulator as of end-September, down from 173 the previous year.
The registered holding companies consist of 157 general holding firms and 10 financial ones.
A fall in the number of small and mid-sized holding companies with assets of less than 500 billion won (US$451.8 million) outweighed a rise in the number of holding firms affiliated with large business groups, according to the KTFC.
The number of smaller holding firms fell to 82 this year from 94, while that of holding companies controlled by conglomerates rose to 43 from 39.
The average assets of the holding firms came to 1.99 trillion won as of the end of September, up from 1.89 trillion won a year earlier. The number of holding firms with assets of 1 trillion won or more reached 48.
The debt-to-equity ratio reached an average of 33.9 percent this year, down from 34.2 percent a year ago.
Heads of conglomerates and their family members owned a combined stake of 49.5 percent on average in holding companies, the antitrust regulator said.
South Korea's conglomerates, called chaebol, have been under fire for years, as they largely rely on controversial cross-shareholding arrangements among their affiliated companies to strengthen their owner families' control over the entire group.
The government has encouraged such big-name business groups to convert themselves into holding companies to resolve the cobweb-like family-run governance structure.
Most conglomerates have adopted holding company structures, but the scheme is being used as a tool to strengthen the grip of founding families over affiliated firms, rather than to improve the transparency of management.
Conglomerates' holding companies are also heavily reliant on intra-group trading, and expanded their presence in so-called second-tier and third-tier subsidiaries in their multiple levels of affiliates, instead of increasing investment in their first-tier subsidiaries, the KFTC said.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--KT maintains top spot in pay TV market in H1: data

The mobile carrier and its satellite TV unit KT Skylife Co. had a combined 31.4 percent share of the market @ @ @ @ @ , in the January-June period , followed by LG Uplus Corp. and its pay TV @ @ @ @ @ a total 25.1 percent , according to the Ministry of Science and ICT .

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- KT Corp., a South Korean telecom giant, and its affiliate had the most number of pay TV subscribers in the country in the first half of this year, maintaining the top status in terms of market share, ministry data showed Wednesday.
The mobile carrier and its satellite TV unit KT Skylife Co. had a combined 31.4 percent share of the market, or 10.7 million subscribers, in the January-June period, followed by LG Uplus Corp. and its pay TV unit LG HelloVision Corp. at a total 25.1 percent, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT.
SK Telecom Co.'s internet protocol TV (IPTV) subsidiary SK Broadband Co. held a 24.5 percent market share.
The logos of KT Corp. (L), SK Telecom Co. (C) and LG Uplus Corp. (R) are shown in this file photo taken July 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
The science ministry said the country's total pay TV subscribers stood at 34 million in the first half of this year, up around 350,000 from the second half of last year.
SK Broadband's market share rose 9 percentage points over the same period following its merger with cable TV operator t-broad Co. earlier this year.
LG Uplus and LG HelloVision's total rose 0.2 percentage point, while KT's combined market share edged down 0.1 percentage point.
The country's three major telecom operators have been in fierce competition for a larger share of the pay TV market through mergers and acquisitions.
Last year, LG Uplus took over the country's largest cable TV firm, CJ Hello Co., now named LG HelloVision.
KT's No. 1 position is set to further increase as KT Skylife signed a deal last month to acquire cable TV operator Hyundai HCN Co.'s broadcasting business for 491 billion won (US$443.8 million) by July next year.
Hyundai HCN had 1.3 million subscribers and a 3.84 percent share of the local pay TV market in the first half of this year, ministry data showed.
The ministry compiles data on pay subscribers to system operators (SO), satellite broadcasting services and IPTV service providers every six months.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


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(END)


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

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

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- An appellate court on Wednesday maintained prison terms for two disgraced producers of the popular music channel Mnet for rigging the vote results of a popular audition program.
The Seoul High Court sentenced Ahn Joon-young, the producer of the audition program "Produce," to two years in prison and forfeiture of 37 million (US$30,000), and chief producer Kim Yong-beom to 20 months in prison, the same punishments ruled in May by the Seoul Central District Court.
The two were convicted of manipulating the vote outcome to put certain contenders in favorable positions to debut as members of an idol group.
They were also found guilty of taking bribes from talent agencies that fielded candidates for the show.
"The candidates who were eliminated from the competition because of the fraud will live with the traumatic experience for the rest of their lives, and TV viewers proud of voting for their idols were left with a bitter sense of betrayal," the court said during the ruling.
The "Produce" series, which went on air from 2016 to 2019, became a mega hit. It enabled television viewers to vote via text messages for a contestant they supported. The series consists of "Produce 101," "Produce 101 Season 2," "Produce 48" and "Produce X 101."
Through its four seasons, the show spawned four high-profile K-pop bands -- I.O.I, Wanna One, IZ*ONE and X1. Among the four, only IZ*ONE is currently active in the K-pop scene.
The court, meanwhile, issued suspended sentences for the executives of the talent agencies accused of conspiring in the fraud, saying that the fines that they were given by the district court were too lenient for their crimes.
Producer Ahn Joon-young leaves the Seoul Central District Court in handcuffs on Nov. 5, 2019, after attending a court review of his arrest warrant on charges of manipulating the text message-based vote results of "Produce X 101," a fan-voted K-pop competition show that ran on local cable channel Mnet. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--Seoul stocks trade slightly higher on bio gains amid virus flare-up

Stocks traded choppy despite vaccine hopes , as South Korea 's new coronavirus cases hit a nearly 3-month high Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ infections may further increase due to cluster infections in greater Seoul .

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares traded slightly higher late Wednesday morning on an advance in bio stocks amid concerns over the flare-up of new coronavirus outbreaks.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 3.1 point, or 0.12 percent, to 2,542.25 as of 11:20 a.m.
Stocks traded choppy despite vaccine hopes, as South Korea's new coronavirus cases hit a nearly 3-month high Wednesday, with authorities warning that infections may further increase due to cluster infections in greater Seoul.
Strong gains by bio and battery heavyweights kept the KOSPI in positive terrain, while chip and auto top caps retreated.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics shed 1.22 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix lost 1.02 percent.
Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics soared 5.04 percent, with Celltrion adding 1.74 percent.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem rose 2.04 percent, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI moved up 1.32 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest carmaker, shed 1.64 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver jumped 2.36 percent, and its rival Kakao climbed 1.1 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,106.85 won against the U.S. dollar, down 0.25 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--World No. 1 Ko Jin-young wants to 'win again' ahead of belated 2020 LPGA debut

`` I ca n't play right now at the CME , but it 's my goal to play there , @ @ @ @ @ I want to do my best this week and then the next two tournaments .
@ @ @ @ @ feel on the course .
It 's tough but it 's getting better and better @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- It's taken her nearly the entire year, and Ko Jin-young, world No. 1 in women's golf, will finally make her LPGA season debut this week in Florida.
Ko is in the field for the inaugural Pelican Women's Championship, which will begin Thursday at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida.
"I am happy to be back here. I missed the LPGA Tour," Ko said in her pretournament press conference held Tuesday (U.S. local time) in Florida. "I missed the competition. I want to win again."
Ko Jin-young of South Korea hits a shot at the third hole during the third round of the Hana Financial Group Championship on the KLPGA Tour at Sky 72 Golf & Resort's Ocean Course in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, on Nov. 7, 2020, in this photo provided by the tournament organizing committee. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
It will be Ko's first LPGA tournament of the coronavirus-plagued 2020 season. She had planned to make her season debut in March before the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the early portion of the tour schedule starting in mid-February. LPGA returned at the end of July, but Ko stayed home and ended up playing in six tournaments on the KLPGA Tour with four top-10 finishes.
Ko had an outstanding 2019 season in LPGA, grabbing two majors, the money title and the scoring title en route to earning the Player of the Year award.
After this week, Ko will only have two more tournaments, Volunteers of America Classic from Dec. 3-6, and then the major, the U.S. Women's Open from Dec. 10-13, for a chance to qualify for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. Only the top 60 players on the "Race to the CME Globe" points list gain entry. And that's where Ko has set her sights.
"I can't play right now at the CME, but it's my goal to play there," Ko said. "I want to do my best this week and then the next two tournaments. I need to find my feel on the course. It's tough but it's getting better and better."
Ko said she is pain free from an ankle injury that had nagged her at the end of last year and also said she underwent a swing change.
"I wanted to see how my new swing would play at a course on the LPGA Tour," she said. "I've played for over 17 years, so it's tough to change the swing. I just made small changes. I want to become more consistent from 100 meters and in."
Ko, who said she spent her downtime cooking and meditating in South Korea, admitted she is "a little nervous" about her return and added, "I have to accept that feeling, so I will enjoy this week."
Ko Jin-young of South Korea walks off the ninth green during the first round of the Hana Financial Group Championship on the KLPGA Tour at Sky 72 Golf & Resort's Ocean Course in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, on Nov. 6, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--(2nd LD) S. Korea faces another potential virus spike as infections near 3-month high

The latest measure comes as the daily average number of patients in the greater Seoul area , which houses around @ @ @ @ @ population , stood at 113.3 over the past week , surpassing the threshold for Level @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 6-9; CHANGES photos)
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases hovered above 300 on Wednesday to reach the highest level since late August, setting alarm bells ringing over another potential wave of the pandemic.
The country added 313 more COVID-19 cases, including 245 local infections, raising the total caseload to 29,311, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The daily figure exceeded 300 for the first time since Aug. 29, with the daily caseload hovering over 200 in the last four days.
Cluster infections from private gatherings, public facilities and hospitals continued to occur in several parts of the nation, making it harder for health authorities to pin down potential cases and curb the spread of the virus.
A sports facility, a sauna and a factory in Seoul have each reported more than 10 cases. A facility for the disabled in Cherwon, Gangwon Province, was linked to 17 infections, and a university hospital in Gwangju had 26 more.
Citizens wearing masks wait for a traffic light in downtown Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
Health authorities said they will step up antivirus measures and inspect "high-risk" workplaces such as call centers in the Seoul metropolitan area and other regions to see whether the business operators properly carry out health guidelines.
South Korea has nearly completed negotiations with international bodies and global pharmaceutical companies for vaccine purchases and plans to announce a detailed vaccination program later this month, Kang Do-tae, a senior health ministry official, said.
"The government has set a goal of providing (COVID-19) vaccines for 30 million people next year," Kang said in a briefing.
The country plans to purchase 10 million doses through the global vaccine supply platform, COVAX Facility, and another 20 million through separate negotiations with vaccine companies, Kang said.
To slow down the fast spread of COVID-19, health authorities raised the social distancing by one notch to Level 1.5 under a new five-tier scheme in the Seoul metropolitan area and southern city of Gwangju, effective starting Thursday.
It will take effect starting Monday in Incheon, west of Seoul, considering the less severe outbreak in the city, while some remote counties will remain under the Level 1 distancing.
The latest measure comes as the daily average number of patients in the greater Seoul area, which houses around half of the nation's population, stood at 113.3 over the past week, surpassing the threshold for Level 1.5 for the region.
Some cities, including Cheonan and Asan in South Chungcheong Province; Wonju in Gangwon Province; and Suncheon, Gwangyang and Yeosu in South Jeolla Province, have already adopted Level 1.5 to cope with rising cases in the regions.
People are still allowed to carry on with most of their daily routines under Level 1.5, but business operators and people are required to follow toughened public health regulations.
Under Level 1.5, facilities with higher risk of virus infection, such as bars, clubs and indoor concert halls, are required to adopt stricter quarantine measures, such as keeping a distance between tables and setting up partitions.
Passengers on a Seoul bus wear masks on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
Among the locally transmitted cases, the capital city of Seoul accounted for 91 cases, and Gyeonggi Province that surrounds Seoul reported 81. Incheon, west of Seoul, had nine more.
The average daily number of new cases in the greater Seoul area, which houses around half of the nation's population, stood at 125.6 over the past week.
Provinces outside of Seoul also saw a hike in new infections from various occasions and places.
South Jeolla Province reported 15 additional cases, followed by North Gyeongsang Province with 12 and the southern city of Gwangju and South Gyeongsang Province with nine each.
The country added 68 imported cases, sharply up from 28 the previous day. Twenty-three were from the United States, 18 were from Russia and 11 were from Mexico.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 67, up from 60 on Tuesday.
The KDCA reported two additional deaths, raising the total to 496. The fatality rate was 1.69 percent.
The number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 113, raising the total to 25,973.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-18--Growing COVID-19 cases deepen worries over potential disruption to college entrance exam

There will be separate testing rooms for students who show COVID-19 symptoms on the testing day .
Those rooms can @ @ @ @ @ , but if the room is spacious enough to ensure students can sit two meters @ @ @ @ @ can use the same room .

By Woo Jae-yeon
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- A recent surge in coronavirus cases has increased anxiety about whether the national college entrance exam, the biggest academic event of the year, can be held safely in South Korea next month.
Education authorities are on high alert ahead of the Dec. 3 event, having postponed the exam, originally slated for Nov. 19, in late March, when the country was hit by the first wave of the pandemic.
They have already launched a two-week special precautionary period, preparing for the test to be taken by hundreds of thousands of students and others.
The government on Tuesday raised the virus alert level by one notch to Level 1.5, effective Thursday, in the capital area, amid a resurgence of COVID-19.
The measure is partly to "create a safe testing environment for students," said Park Neunghoo, vice head 1 of the central countermeasure headquarters, when announcing the decision.
Under the new measure, the operation of multiuse and high-risk facilities will be restricted, and the attendance cap in schools is placed at two-thirds of the total student body.
High school seniors take a mock test in Daegu, South Korea, on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
The College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) is the country's most important annual academic event, and the whole country almost grinds to a halt for the smooth administration of the test. Public institutions and the stock markets open an hour late to reduce traffic congestion so that students arrive at testing sites on time.
A student walks in a neighborhood with many cram schools in Seoul on Nov. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
On Sunday, the Ministry of Education said it will closely monitor whether cram schools and study facilities thoroughly follow health protocols. Also, cram schools are strongly advised against running in-person classes starting Nov. 26, and the names of schools will be made public in the case of an outbreak.
Last month, the ministry unveiled detailed guidelines to safely administer the CSAT for around 480,000 students.
Testing sites, 1,185 in total, will be set up in accordance with quarantine protocols, with a maximum capacity of 24 students per testing room, down from the usual 28, to ensure social distancing. Spaced out desks will be installed with plastic dividers. Face masks will be mandatory, and there will be fever checks.
Students infected with the virus are allowed to take the test in hospitals or other government institutes. Those in self-quarantine should travel by car or ambulance to take the exam at separate testing sites.
Candles are being lit by parents who wish good luck for their children when they take the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) in a cathedral in Daegu, South Korea, on Nov. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
There will be separate testing rooms for students who show COVID-19 symptoms on the testing day. Those rooms can house up to four students, but if the room is spacious enough to ensure students can sit two meters apart, more than four can use the same room.
The ministry also said the exam papers of COVID-19 patients, as well as those in self-isolation or showing symptoms, will be disinfected to prevent possible transmission.
From a week before the test, all high schools and other schools to be used as testing sites will switch to online-only teaching for the disinfecting process.
Mothers pray for their children's success in the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) at a temple in Seoul on Nov. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Since Nov. 8, more than 100 daily new infections have been reported. On Wednesday, the tally hit 313, the highest number since Aug. 29, when the country logged 323 new cases.
With the absence of a single, large source of infection, new cases have been spotted at multiple locations and occasions throughout the country, making it harder for health authorities to implement their trace-and-isolate program to effectively slow down the spread.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-18--S. Korea to spend over 80 tln won to boost defense industry in 5 yrs: minister

SEOUL , Nov. 18 ( Yonhap ) -- Over 80 percent of South Korea 's 100 trillion won ( US @ @ @ @ @ set aside for boosting defense capabilities over the next five years will be spent on @ @ @ @ @ hardware , rather than imports , to help boost the local defense industry , Defense @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Over 80 percent of South Korea's 100 trillion won (US$90 billion) budget set aside for boosting defense capabilities over the next five years will be spent on buying locally made weapons and hardware, rather than imports, to help boost the local defense industry, Defense Minister Suh Wook said Wednesday.
Suh made the remark in a congratulatory message at a defense expo, DX Korea 2020, held in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul, calling the industry a driving force for economic growth and a basis for strong national defense.
In August, the government announced a defense blueprint for 2021 to 2025 to spend a combined 300 trillion won, with a third of the total allocated for improving defense capabilities. The remainder was set aside for force management.
"We will actively push for policies to nurture the defense industry and beef up tech cooperation between the private sector and the military for development of eight core defense strategic technologies, including the intelligent command and control system," the minister said.
Hosted by the Association of the Republic of Korea Army, the three-day expo, which will run through Friday, specializes in displaying land forces equipment with the participation of some 200 companies from 11 countries, organizers said.
Defense Minister Suh Wook speaks during a seminar in Seoul on Nov. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-18--Korean Air chief vows no job cuts in Asiana acquisition

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

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's biggest carrier, will proceed with the deal to acquire its smaller local rival Asiana Airlines Inc. without job cuts, the company's chairman said Wednesday.
"The company made a decision to acquire (Asiana Airlines) to make a contribution to the development of the country's airline industry," Korean Air Chairman Cho Won-tae told reporters after attending a South Korea-U.S. business leaders' meeting in Seoul.
Korean Air and Asiana have redundant routes and workforce. But it is possible to utilize all the routes and workers if an integrated company expands routes and diversifies business, he said.
This photo taken on Nov. 18, 2020, shows Korean Air Chairman Cho Won-tae receiving questions from reporters on the company's plan to acquire Asiana Airlines after attending the 32nd Korea-U.S. business leaders' meeting at the Federation of Korean Industries building in Yeouido, Seoul. (Yonhap)
Cho rejected allegations that the government gave a special favor for the deal.
He said the state-run Korea Development Bank, the main creditor of Asiana, first asked him if he has an interest in acquiring Asiana and , "I said yes. We met several times to initiate the deal."
His remarks came a day after the KDB signed an agreement with Hanjin KAL Corp., the owner of Korean Air, to inject 800 billion won (US$723 million) into the parent firm through a rights offering and convertible bonds. Hanjin KAL will then participate in a 2.5 trillion-won stock sale by Korean Air that will used to acquire Asiana.
Korean Air plans to raise 2.5 trillion won via rights offerings early next year. Of the proceeds, it will spend 1.5 trillion won to buy new shares to be sold by Asiana and 300 billion won worth of Asiana perpetual bonds.
Korean Air, currently the world's 18th-largest airline by fleet, will become Asiana's biggest shareholder with a 63.9 percent stake if the acquisition is completed.
Hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines have suspended most of their flights on international routes since March and have struggled with poor earnings results as travel demand dried up.
South Korea's antitrust regulator will review the deal over the issue of monopoly. If things go smoothly, the deal is expected to be completed by June next year.
Asked about the possibility that the integrated airline will sharply raise airfares using its monopolistic position after acquisition, the chairman said, "There may be such concerns in the markets but there will be no sharp increase in airfares."
The majority 30.77 percent stake in Asiana is currently held by Kumho Industrial Co., an affiliate of airline-to-petrochemical conglomerate Kumho Asiana Group.
Korean Air and Asiana collectively have 247 aircraft, exceeding Air France's 220 and falling slightly behind Lufthansa Deutsche Lufthansa AG's 280.
Korean Air had 22.46 trillion won in debt on assets worth 25.51 trillion won as of the end of September, while Asiana held debts worth 11 trillion won on assets worth 12.34 trillion won at the end of June.
In the process of the deal, Asiana's heavy debts remain a major worry for Korean Air.
The graphic image shows an Asiana Airlines' passenger jet against the background of the Kumho Asiana Group and Korean Air headquarters buildings. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-18--Samsung Engineering wins US$135 mln plant deal in Hungary

The plant , South Korean copper foil maker Doosan Corporation Europe 's second , is set to be completed in @ @ @ @ @ in 2022 and will have an annual production capacity of 15,000 tons of battery copper @ @ @ @ @ of electric vehicle batteries .

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Engineering Co. said Wednesday it has clinched a 150 billion won (US$135) order to build a battery copper foil plant in Hungary.
The plant, South Korean copper foil maker Doosan Corporation Europe's second, is set to be completed in Tatabanya Industrial Park in Hungary in 2022 and will have an annual production capacity of 15,000 tons of battery copper foil, a key component of electric vehicle batteries.
In April, Doosan Corporation Europe, a wholly owned subsidiary of South Korea's Doosan Solus, began mass production of battery copper foil in its first plant.
The first plant, built by Samsung Engineering, has an annual production capacity of 10,000 tons of battery copper foil.
Doosan Solus said it plans to increase the plants' annual production capacity to 75,000 tons of battery copper foil, enough for batteries for about 3 million electric vehicles.
Global carmakers have been racing to go electric amid tightened regulations on emissions of greenhouse gases, which scientists say are to blame for global warming.
entropy@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-18--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Nov. 18 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .

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


yna--2020-11-18--S. Korea has largest share of wafer capacity dedicated to below 20nm process: report

The country , home to major chipmakers like Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc. , is more leading-edge focused @ @ @ @ @ with 66 percent of its wafer capacity dedicated to below 20-nanometer ( nm ) process @ @ @ @ @ researcher IC Insights .

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has the highest concentration of wafer capacity dedicated to advanced technology nodes, a report showed Wednesday, underscoring its leadership in the chip manufacturing sector.
The country, home to major chipmakers like Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc., is more leading-edge focused than any other nation, with 66 percent of its wafer capacity dedicated to below 20-nanometer (nm) process geometries, according to market researcher IC Insights.
"Given Samsung and SK hynix's emphasis on high-density DRAM, flash memory and Samsung's applications processors, it is not a surprise that the country has the highest concentration of wafer capacity dedicated to leading-edge processes," IC Insights said.
The market researcher added that Taiwan, home to world's largest foundry firm TSMC, has its sub-20nm capacity standing at more than 35 percent.
This photo taken on July 31, 2019, shows wafers displayed at an exhibition hall at Samsung Electronics Co.'s office building in Seoul. (Yonhap)
A wafer is a thin slice of semiconductor substance used as a base for fabricating integrated circuits. Wafer capacity is considered a gauge for chip production by a manufacturer.
A smaller process node means finer circuitry, allowing manufacturers to make chips boasting higher speed and lower power consumption as well as producing them at lower cost per unit area.
IC Insights said that 48 percent of all wafer capacity in 2020 is estimated to be used for devices having minimum nodes smaller than 20nm, with sub-10nm process accounting for 10 percent.
It predicted that sub-10nm process technology will continue to increase its presence down the road, with estimated shares of 22.6 percent in 2022 and 29.9 percent in 2024.
Samsung's foundry unit can currently mass produce 5nm chips, and it plans to roll out 3nm chips in the upcoming years.
When it comes to DRAM, the company is working to produce chips with fourth-generation 10nm-class technology, also known as 1a-nm, with extreme ultraviolet (EUV) equipment.
SK hynix is currently trying to expand sales of its second-generation DRAM using 1y-nm technology, or mid-10nm class nodes. It is currently preparing to mass-produce third-generation DRAM with 1z-nm technology, or low-10nm class nodes.
The country's No. 2 chipmaker recently said it expects to develop 1a-nm chips next year with EUV technology.
This photo provided by Samsung Electronics Co. on May 21, 2020, shows the company's chip plant in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-18--Three more service members test positive for new coronavirus

An Army officer stationed in the border town of Paju tested positive after showing symptoms while being on vacation , @ @ @ @ @ the central country of Eumseong was also confirmed to have COVID-19 , with the exact @ @ @ @ @ to be known .

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Two Army officers and an airman tested positive for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Wednesday, raising concerns over the fast spread of the virus at barracks.
The airman in the central city of Seosan was confirmed to have been infected after coming into contact with colleagues who earlier tested positive, according to the ministry. The total number of patients at this Air Force unit grew to 11.
An Army officer stationed in the border town of Paju tested positive after showing symptoms while being on vacation, and another Army officer in the central country of Eumseong was also confirmed to have COVID-19, with the exact route of his infection yet to be known.
The latest cases brought the total number of confirmed cases among the military population to 204.
The number has been on the rise since last week following an infection cluster at the military's Welfare Agency. The authorities on Tuesday toughened the social distancing rules for units in the greater Seoul area and the eastern province of Gangwon for two weeks.
Currently, 386 service members are in isolation in accordance with the health authorities' guidelines, and the military has quarantined an additional 2,916 people under stricter antivirus schemes of its own as a preventive step.
Nationwide, the country added 313 more COVID-19 cases, including 245 local infections, raising the total caseload to 29,311, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Wednesday's figure marked the highest since Aug. 29.
Medical workers and military officers prepare for a drive-thru center for the new coronavirus inside the defense ministry compound in Seoul on Nov. 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-18--Legislation introduced to boost female share on corporate boards

As of the first quarter of this year , there were a total of 147 companies that would become subject @ @ @ @ @ passes through the National Assembly .
The ratio of female executives at those companies stood @ @ @ @ @ 0.8 percentage point from a year earlier .

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- A lawmaker proposed a bill Wednesday requiring a quota of female executives on the boards of major listed companies in a bid to help women rise beyond a corporate glass ceiling.
The bill submitted by Rep. Yang Kyung-sook of the ruling Democratic Party proposes a revision to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act in a way that ensures a certain ratio of female members on the boards of stock market-listed companies whose assets surpass 2 trillion won (US$1.8 billion).
Nine other lawmakers also sponsored it.
The bill, however, did not spell out the proposed quota, instead leaving it up to the government to fix the ratio through a prime ministerial ordinance.
The bill also did not contain any terms for penalties for companies failing to live up to the quota, only aiming to give favors to conforming companies when they seek to clinch commercial deals for government-funded projects.
"The government needs to provide active support for the private sector to voluntarily attain the culture of gender equality," the female lawmaker noted.
As of the first quarter of this year, there were a total of 147 companies that would become subject to the bill if it passes through the National Assembly. The ratio of female executives at those companies stood at 4.5 percent, up 0.8 percentage point from a year earlier.
This illustrated image shows a woman in a high-profile position. (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-18--Ex-President Chun put on list of habitual tax delinquents for five years in a row

The 89-year-old Chun , a former Army general , seized power in a 1979 coup and served as president from @ @ @ @ @ has been deprived of privileges as a former president due to his criminal punishment on @ @ @ @ @ ordered by local courts to forfeit more than 220 billion won .
Refusing to pay @ @ @ @ @ , Chun made a well-known comment in a court hearing in 2003 that he had @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Former President Chun Doo-hwan has been included in the list of habitual tax delinquents for the fifth consecutive year, officials in Seoul said Wednesday.
The Seoul government disclosed on its website (http://www.seoul.go.kr) the names and identities of 15,032 habitual tax evaders, who had more than 10 million won (US$9,030) in delinquent local taxes as of Jan. 1, 2020, for longer than one year.
A total of 1,050 individual tax delinquents with 83.2 billion won in arrears and 283 corporate tax delinquents with 24.1 billion won in arrears were listed for the first time this year, the government said, adding their delinquent taxes averaged about 80 million won.
This file photo shows former President Chun Doo-hwan. (Yonhap)
Chun has been on the list for five straight years since 2016, and his delinquent local taxes amounted to 974 million won, it said, marking an increase of 50 million won from the previous year.
The 89-year-old Chun, a former Army general, seized power in a 1979 coup and served as president from 1980 to 1988. He has been deprived of privileges as a former president due to his criminal punishment on treason and bribery charges and ordered by local courts to forfeit more than 220 billion won. Refusing to pay the bulk of his forfeit, Chun made a well-known comment in a court hearing in 2003 that he had only 290,000 won.
The Seoul government said the number of local tax delinquents with more than 100 million won in arrears was 208, or 15 percent of the total.
Oh Moon-cheol, former chairman of Bohae Mutual Savings Bank, topped the list with 14.7 billion won in unpaid local taxes, it said, vowing to step up efforts to collect the delinquent taxes through house raids, property seizures and imposition of exit ban and business restrictions.
ycm@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-18--S. Korean, U.S. armies stage combined training exercises in California

Initially , the Army was scheduled to send troops to the training center earlier this year , but the plan @ @ @ @ @ global COVID-19 pandemic .
The NTC had been closed for months to prevent the spread @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Dozens of South Korean troops visited a U.S. military training center in California and staged combined training exercises with American service members, officials said Wednesday.
Around 50 Army members, including those from a reconnaissance unit, carried out various joint maneuvers with the U.S. troops at the U.S. Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC) for about a month from mid-October, according to the officials.
They returned home Tuesday and have been quarantined for the new coronavirus, they added.
Initially, the Army was scheduled to send troops to the training center earlier this year, but the plan was postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The NTC had been closed for months to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
"The visit was made after careful consideration of diverse circumstances and close coordination between the two sides," an Army officer said. "The two sides conducted combined exercises to check a readiness posture and strengthen relations."
Located in the Mojave Desert, the NTC is one of the major training areas for the U.S. military and is designed to provide realistic joint and combined arms training.
This photo, captured from the U.S. Fort Irwin National Training Center's Twitter account on Nov. 13, 2020, shows a large-scale contingency training exercise. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-18--Two more COVID-19 infections reported from S. Korean nat'l football team

They are the ninth and the 10th COVID-19 patients in the national team , which has been in Vienna since @ @ @ @ @ against Mexico and Qatar .

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Two more COVID-19 infections have been reported from the South Korean men's national football team on its European trip, the sport's governing body said Wednesday.
Hwang Hee-chan, who plays as a forward for German Bundesliga club RB Leipzig, tested positive for the novel coronavirus after a friendly against Qatar in Austria on Tuesday, according to the Korea Football Association (KFA).
At the same time, one national team staff member also tested positive.
They are the ninth and the 10th COVID-19 patients in the national team, which has been in Vienna since last week for friendly matches against Mexico and Qatar.
In the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test last week, four players, including goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo for the South Korean club Ulsan Hyundai FC, and one staff member were confirmed to be infected with the virus.
Two more players and one more staff member also tested positive in subsequent tests.
Hwang Hee-chan of South Korea (C) celebrates after scoring against Qatar in the teams' football friendly match at BSFZ Arena Admiral Stadium in Maria Enzersdorf, Austria, on Nov. 17, 2020, in this photo provided by the Korea Football Association. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-18--(LEAD) Veteran shortstop does damage with bat, glove in Korean Series win

`` Back in the days , I used to think that I did n't want to be the one making @ @ @ @ @ blame , '' Kim said .
`` Now , my mindset is I do n't @ @ @ @ @ not , as long as the team wins .
So we do n't have guys @ @ @ @ @ bad game . ''

(ATTN: ADDS comments throughout)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- Doosan Bears' shortstop Kim Jae-ho did everything in his power to help his club even the Korean Series against the NC Dinos on Wednesday.
At the plate, Kim launched his first career postseason home run and hit an RBI single. On the field, he was part of two of five double plays that the Bears turned to snuff out one Dinos rally after another.
Kim opened the fourth inning with a solo home run off starter Koo Chang-mo. He turned on a first-pitch fastball that caught the outer part of the plate and sent it over the left-field wall.
Kim Jae-ho of the Doosan Bears hits an RBI single against the NC Dinos in the top of the eighth inning of Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
It came in Kim's 79th career postseason game and 207th at-bat. He also set a Korean Series record for most games played before hitting the first career homer: The shot came in his 37th game in the championship round.
And with the Bears nursing a 3-1 lead, Kim provided some breathing room with an RBI single in the top eighth. As pinch runner Lee Yu-chan scored, Kim tried to take second base but got thrown out.
The 35-year-old veteran, as he often does after many different types of plays, could only smile.
And Kim had much to smile about on defense, too.
Doosan Bears' shortstop Kim Jae-ho (L) completes a double play at second base against the NC Dinos in the bottom of the sixth inning of Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
In the bottom fifth inning, with Park Min-woo at first, Kim Jae-ho snared a line drive off the bat of Lee Myung-ki. Park took off before Lee made contact, and by the time Kim caught the liner, Park was already past the second base bag. It was one of the easiest double plays Kim turned in his career.
The double play to end all double plays came in the sixth inning, with Flexen taking one for the team.
With Yang at second, Park Sok-min smacked one off Flexen's leg. The ball never hit the ground and instead floated in the air. First baseman Oh Jae-il settled under it and made the catch for the first out, and threw to Kim covering second base to double up Yang.
After being named the Player of the Game, Kim, a three-time Korean Series champion, sounded as giddy as a rookie playing in his first postseason.
"This feels great. There are a lot of things I did for the first time tonight," Kim said. "Other guys have been doing their part with the bats. I wanted to try to hit a home run for a change, and luckily, I got a good pitch to hit."
Kim said he has never once thought he wanted to take center stage in postseason games, because he is always perfectly happy to play a supporting role.
Now playing in his sixth straight Korean Series, Kim said his perspective on the game has changed over the years.
"Back in the days, I used to think that I didn't want to be the one making outs and get all the blame," Kim said. "Now, my mindset is I don't care if I hit or not, as long as the team wins. So we don't have guys beating themselves up after a bad game."
Kim batted sixth in this game, and the bottom four hitters went 7-for-14 with two home runs, three RBIs and four runs scored.
The most encouraging performance for the Bears was a two-hit night by Oh Jae-il, who was moved down from sixth to eighth in the lineup for Game 2.
Oh had gone 0-for-14 with nine strikeouts over his past four playoff games before Wednesday. After striking out in the second inning, Oh singled in each of his next two trips to the plate.
Jose Miguel Fernandez, the regular season hits king who had been 3-for-20 in his past five games, left his usual No. 2 spot to bat seventh. He hammered a solo shot in the top of the ninth as part of his two-hit night.
Doosan manager Kim Tae-hyoung said he was heartened to see Oh swing the bat with more conviction.
"He looked really confident at the plate today," Kim said. "I don't know if he'll be able to keep it up in Game 3 (on Friday) but it was great to see him get a couple of hits."
Kim Jae-ho of the Doosan Bears celebrates his solo home run against the NC Dinos in the top of the fourth inning of Game 2 of the Korean Series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-11-18--S. Korea to formally propose talks with N. Korea if pandemic wanes: minister

`` I can not say that there is no possibility ( of provocations ) because there were cases in the @ @ @ @ @ ... but I think it is more likely that the North will take a flexible @ @ @ @ @ this time . ''

SEOUL, Nov. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Unification Minister Lee In-young said Wednesday he will make a formal offer for talks with North Korea once the coronavirus pandemic wanes, saying that he is ready for "the best dialogue."
Lee made the remarks during an interview with broadcaster KBS as U.S. President-elect Joe Biden is expected to focus on cooperating with allies and working-level diplomacy to deal with North Korea's nuclear program.
"I am ready to exchange the best dialogue at any place and at any time if North Korea accepts the offer. I plan to make a formal proposal to North Korea for talks once the COVID-19 situation eases," the minister said.
Lee also reiterated his calls for inter-Korean cooperation on fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
"If the two Koreas can cooperate in coronavirus treatment and vaccine, it will provide an opportunity for the North to overcome the economic challenges it faces from antivirus measures," he said.
He urged the North to refrain from provoking the new U.S. administration and to take "a flexible approach," recalling that the North conducted a nuclear test during the first year of former U.S. President Barack Obama's administration.
"I cannot say that there is no possibility (of provocations) because there were cases in the past under the Obama administration ... but I think it is more likely that the North will take a flexible approach than a belligerent approach this time."
Lee dismissed speculation on the possibility of any high-level talks or sending envoys to Pyongyang, saying that the decision is up to President Moon Jae-in's "political judgment."
He added that the ministry has "not made any informal contact" with North Korea since it blew up a joint liaison office in its border town of Kaesong in June in protest of anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent from the South.
The North has since cut all cross-border communications lines and has not responded to Seoul's calls for their restoration.
Nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang remain stalled after the 2019 summit in Hanoi between the two leaders ended without a deal. The two sides were far apart over how far Pyongyang should denuclearize in order for Washington to offer concessions.
Unification Minister Lee In-young speaks during a meeting of the ministry at the government complex in Seoul on July 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
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