yna--2020-10-07--GS Caltex to acquire stake in Vietnamese startup VI Automotive Service

Under the deal signed in a videoconference Tuesday , GS Caltex is set to acquire a 16.7 percent stake in @ @ @ @ @ as administrative procedures are wrapped up in Vietnam .

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- GS Caltex Corp., South Korea's second-largest refiner by sales, said Wednesday that it has signed a deal worth 39 billion Vietnamese dong (US$1.6 million) with Vietnamese startup VI Automotive Service in its first investment in the emerging country.
Under the deal signed in a videoconference Tuesday, GS Caltex is set to acquire a 16.7 percent stake in VI Automotive Service as soon as administrative procedures are wrapped up in Vietnam.
VietWash, a subsidiary of VI Automotive Service, operates about 50 car washes in Vietnam.
GS Caltex also said it plans to sell lubricant products in the Southeast Asian country.
GS Caltex is a 50:50 joint venture between GS Energy and Chevron Corp, the second-largest U.S. oil producer.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--Samsung to launch Galaxy Fit2 band in S. Korea this week

The Fit2 wristband , which was unveiled last month , can automatically track up to five different types of activities @ @ @ @ @ such as calories burned , heart rate and distance .
It also monitors and analyzes @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. said Wednesday its new wristband will be launched in South Korea this week as the tech firm tries to boost sales of wearable devices.
The Galaxy Fit2 will hit local shelves Thursday with a price tag of 49,500 won (US$42), according to the company.
The Fit2 wristband, which was unveiled last month, can automatically track up to five different types of activities and provides fitness information, such as calories burned, heart rate and distance. It also monitors and analyzes users' sleep patterns.
The band features a 1.1-inch AMOLED display in 3-D glass and offers more than 70 different face options. It comes in two colors: black and scarlet.
Samsung said Fit2 can run up to a maximum of 21 days on a single charge depending on settings and conditions.
According to market researcher International Data Corporation (IDC), Samsung was the fourth-largest wearables vendor with a market share of 8.3 percent in the second quarter of the year.
This photo provided by Samsung Electronics Co. on Oct. 7, 2020, shows the Galaxy Fit2 wristband. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--S. Korea adopts tougher safety measures at ASF-hit farms

`` As the virus can spread by automobiles , people or other mediums , it is necessary to enforce sanitary @ @ @ @ @ from contacting the virus , '' the Ministry of Agriculture , Food and Rural Affairs @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Wednesday it has set up new guidelines for pig farms hit by African swine fever (ASF) as they are gradually preparing for reopening after the disease swept the inter-Korean border area last year.
"As the virus can spread by automobiles, people or other mediums, it is necessary to enforce sanitary measures to prevent the farms from contacting the virus," the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said in a statement.
The new measures center on providing detailed guidelines on how farms can prevent contagious diseases.
Under the rules, farms that experienced an ASF case within five years must install fences standing at least 1.5 meter high. They also need to install a disinfection gate for visitors, along with equipment to properly handle animal remains.
Last year, ASF swept through pig farms in the inter-Korean border area, covering Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces, prompting South Korea to cull about 400,000 pigs nationwide as part of preventive measures. A total of 14 farms were infected.
Although no new ASF cases have been reported from local farms since October last year, the virus nevertheless has been prevailing among wild boars, which can potentially again infect domestic pigs through contact.
So far, South Korea has reported 756 cases of ASF from wild boars from the border areas, according to the latest data. Yeoncheon, located north of Seoul, accounted for 284, followed by the neighboring Paju with 98 cases.
The country, meanwhile, is currently preparing to allow virus-hit farms to resume their operations this month.
ASF does not affect humans but is deadly to pigs. There is currently no vaccine or cure for the disease.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--(LEAD) Fitch keeps S. Korea's credit rating at 'AA-,' outlook stable

The rating agency said the COVID-19 pandemic has weighed on South Korea 's economic growth and public finances , but @ @ @ @ @ has helped limit the deterioration of the economic situation compared with other advanced economies and @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details from para 3; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- Global credit appraiser Fitch Ratings said Wednesday it has maintained South Korea's credit rating at "AA-" with a stable outlook.
Fitch's rating for South Korea has been AA-, the fourth-highest level of the agency's sovereign ratings, since 2012.
"Korea's rating balances robust external finances, steady macroeconomic performance and sufficient fiscal headroom going into the coronavirus pandemic against geopolitical risks related to North Korea and medium-term structural challenges from ageing demographics and moderate productivity growth," Fitch said in a statement posted on its website.
The rating agency said the COVID-19 pandemic has weighed on South Korea's economic growth and public finances, but its response to the outbreak has helped limit the deterioration of the economic situation compared with other advanced economies and "AA" peers.
The South Korean economy is expected to contract by a modest 1.1 percent this year, the agency said. Its forecast is not as sharp as the Bank of Korea's projection of a 1.3 percent retreat.
Fitch Ratings said the country's exports will keep a continued recovery, but downside risks to Asia's fourth-largest economy still linger due to the pandemic.
"Risks to the growth outlook remain tilted to the downside because of the considerable uncertainty around the spread of the virus globally and domestically in Korea," Fitch said.
The agency said the country's fiscal deficit is forecast to widen to 4.4 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), up from a 0.6 percent shortfall in 2019, due to the country's aggressive fiscal spending.
It also forecast South Korea's government debt-to-GDP ratio to rise to 44.4 percent this year, up from 37.7 percent last year. In 2022, the ratio is likely to reach 51.1 percent.
"The higher debt burden presents some risks to Korea's public finances, given spending pressures from an ageing population," Fitch added.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--BLACKPINK sets record album sales for K-pop girl group in 1st week

The group 's first full-length album , which includes the main track `` Lovesick Girls , '' as well as @ @ @ @ @ Like That '' and `` Ice Cream , '' was released online Friday before the @ @ @ @ @ week .

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- BLACKPINK has sold the most albums in the first week of an album release for a K-pop girl group, its agency said Wednesday.
Sales of BLACKPINK's latest album "The Album" reached roughly 590,000 following the album's hard copy release Tuesday, YG Entertainment said, citing music sales tracker Hanteo Chart.
The group's first full-length album, which includes the main track "Lovesick Girls," as well as prereleased hits "How You Like That" and "Ice Cream," was released online Friday before the hard copy was released this week.
This photo, provided by YG Entertainment, shows K-pop group BLACKPINK. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
YG expected actual sales to be bigger considering the data excludes sales in Europe and the United States.
The agency earlier said preorders for the four-member band's studio album have reached 1 million, including 340,000 from overseas.
The quartet's prereleased songs "How You Like That" and "Ice Cream" have made the Billboard Hot 100, with the latter debuting at No. 13, the highest position ever by a female K-pop act.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--Imported car sales rise 15 pct in Sept. amid pandemic

In July last year , Japan tightened regulations on exports to South Korea of three high-tech materials critical for the @ @ @ @ @ .
In August 2019 , it removed South Korea from its list of countries given @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- Sales of imported vehicles in South Korea rose 15 percent in September from a year earlier due to strong demand for German cars, an industry association said Wednesday.
The number of newly registered foreign vehicles rose to 21,839 units last month from 20,204 a year earlier, the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA) said in a statement.
The three bestselling models were Mercedes-Benz's E300 4MATIC sedan and A 220 sedan, and the Audi A6 45 TFSI sedan, the statement said.
From January to September, foreign carmakers sold 191,747 autos, up 15 percent from 167,093 in the same period of last year, KAIDA said.
In the first nine months, German brands -- Audi-Volkswagen Korea, BMW Group Korea and Mercedes-Benz Korea -- sold a total of 128,903 units, up 34 percent from 96,363 in the year-ago period, it said.
Seven out of 10 imported vehicles sold in Asia's fourth-biggest economy last month were from Germany.
But Japanese brands -- Toyota Motor Corp. and its luxury brand Lexus, Honda Motor Co., and Nissan Motor Co. and its premium brand Infiniti. -- continued to struggle over a protracted trade spat between Seoul and Tokyo despite aggressive marketing.
Their combined sales plunged 49 percent to 14,528 units in the January-September period from 28,657 a year earlier.
Nissan is set to withdraw its operations from South Korea by December due to the worsening business environment amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In July last year, Japan tightened regulations on exports to South Korea of three high-tech materials critical for the production of semiconductors and displays. In August 2019, it removed South Korea from its list of countries given preferential treatment in trade procedures.
Seoul views Tokyo's moves as retaliation against 2018 Supreme Court rulings here ordering Japanese companies to compensate Korean victims of forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
Imported brands accounted for 19 percent of the Korean passenger vehicle market in August, up from 15 percent a year ago. Their market share for September will be available next month, KAIDA said.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--Over 280 mln individual records leaked from public, private entities since 2012

Under the current law , information and communication service providers with more than 50 million won ( US $ 43,000 @ @ @ @ @ previous year and a daily average of over 10 million users in the last three @ @ @ @ @ are obliged to buy liability insurance to compensate for personal information leakage .

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- More than 280 million personal data records have been leaked from public and private organizations over the past eight and a half years, a ruling party lawmaker said Wednesday, calling for reinforcing relevant liability insurance regulations.
Rep. Kim Byung-wook of the Democratic Party, citing data from the Personal Information Protection Commission, said about 280,440,000 individual records were leaked from public institutions, private companies and information and communication service providers from 2012 to August this year.
In the public sector, 38 institutions reported the leakage of 2,089,000 personal data records, including names, resident registration numbers, mobile numbers and addresses, while 245 private companies exposed 225,606,000 individual records.
The number of personal data records leaked from 199 information and communication service providers from 2016 to August this year totaled 52,745,000.
Despite the enormous scale of personal information leakage, the number of liability insurance contracts signed up to compensate for related damage stood at a mere 11,813 as of the end of August, Kim said, demanding the scope of mandatory insurance subscription be expanded.
The lawmaker noted that public and private institutions are not subject to compulsory liability insurance subscription for personal information leakage, while there are difficulties in identifying information and communication service providers subject to mandatory insurance subscription.
Under the current law, information and communication service providers with more than 50 million won (US$43,000) in sales in the previous year and a daily average of over 10 million users in the last three months of the previous year are obliged to buy liability insurance to compensate for personal information leakage.
But the Personal Information Protection Commission has had difficulties in obtaining accurate business details on individual information and communication service providers, Kim pointed out.
"Public and private institutions should be subject to mandatory liability insurance to strengthen their compensation for the victims of personal information leaks," Kim said.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--N. Korea tries to manage situation over killing of S. Korean official: defense ministry

`` Since the incident , no unusual movements by the North Korean military have been detected .
It has made @ @ @ @ @ from damage by recent heavy rains and typhoons to wrap it up before the founding @ @ @ @ @ ' Party that falls on Oct. 10 , '' according to the ministry .

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's quick apology for its killing of a South Korean fisheries official last month was an indication that the regime attempted to "manage the situation" to avoid turning public opinion in the South against it, the defense ministry said Wednesday.
On Sept. 22, the 47-year-old fisheries official was fatally shot by the North Korean military while being adrift in North Korean waters, according to the South Korean military. He went missing the previous day while on duty near the Yellow Sea border island of Yeonpyeong.
"Conscious of public opinion in the South regarding the incident, North Korea has attempted to manage the situation," the defense ministry said in a report for a parliamentary audit, pointing to leader Kim Jong-un's apology for the incident in response to Seoul's demand for an explanation.
The rare apology was unusually quick, coming only a day after South Korea demanded it.
"Since the incident, no unusual movements by the North Korean military have been detected. It has made all-out efforts for recovery work from damage by recent heavy rains and typhoons to wrap it up before the founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party that falls on Oct. 10," according to the ministry.
North Korea's explanations about the deadly shooting differ from Seoul's assessment in key parts. The South Korean military said the North is presumed to have incinerated the official's body, but the North claimed that what it set on fire was not his body but a floating material he used.
The communist country remains mum on the South's call for a joint investigation into the case and the restoration of the inter-Korean military hotlines that the North severed in June in anger over anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent across the border by activists here.
The military and the Coast Guard continue to search for the body of a South Korean fisheries official, who was shot to death by North Korean troops last month, in waters off the western border island of Yeonpyeong on Oct. 3, 2020, in this photo provided by the Coast Guard. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--Fitch keeps S. Korea's credit rating at 'AA-,' outlook stable

Fitch 's rating for South Korea has been AA- , the fourth-highest level of the agency 's sovereign ratings , @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- Global credit appraiser Fitch Ratings said Wednesday it has maintained South Korea's credit rating at "AA-" with a stable outlook.
Fitch's rating for South Korea has been AA-, the fourth-highest level of the agency's sovereign ratings, since 2012.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--(LEAD) T'way Air to start flights to Japan next month

With an approval from the Korean and Chinese aviation authorities , the carrier plans to operate the Wuhan route until @ @ @ @ @ season .
For the winter season from late October through end-March , it plans to @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 4-5, 11-12)
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- T'way Air, a South Korean low-cost carrier, said Wednesday it will begin flights to Japan next month mainly to meet business travel demand.
T'way Air will resume services on the routes from Incheon to Osaka and Tokyo on Nov. 5 and Nov. 6, respectively, with a plan to eventually provide flights on routes to Nagoya and Fukuoka, the company said in a statement.
The budget carrier said it will initially offer one flight a week on the routes to Osaka and Tokyo as the new coronavirus outbreak continues to weigh on travel demand.
This file photo provided by T'way Air shows a B787-800 passenger jet flying in the sky. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The move comes as Japan agreed to allow businesspeople from South Korea to enter the country without a 14-day coronavirus quarantine starting Thursday.
The special entry procedure comes about seven months after Tokyo slapped entry restrictions on Seoul in early March to stem the spread of COVID-19, further straining the bilateral relations already frayed over wartime history and trade.
T'way Air suspended most of its international routes in March as more than 180 countries and territories strengthened entry restrictions to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
T'way began flights to the Chinese city of Wuhan on Sept. 16, marking the reopening of the air service to the epicenter of the virus outbreak after eight months.
With an approval from the Korean and Chinese aviation authorities, the carrier plans to operate the Wuhan route until Oct. 24 for the summer season. For the winter season from late October through end-March, it plans to seek approval from the authorities.
T'way was originally scheduled to begin services on the Wuhan route on Jan. 21, but the outbreak of the deadly respiratory illness temporarily suspended the plan.
T'way resumed flights to Yanji on Aug. 20 to meet business demand, while operating a sharply reduced number of flights on domestic routes since March.
Among other carriers, Korean Air Lines Co. and Asiana Airlines Inc., the country's two biggest and full-service carriers, currently offer flights from Incheon to Tokyo and Osaka.
Budget carriers Jeju Air Co. and Jin Air Co. also provide flights to Tokyo and Osaka.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--Surprise LPGA major champion working on long game in pursuit of 2nd big win

`` There are some things that I 'm working on , and I 'm still continuing to work on them @ @ @ @ @ keep those in mind as I play , '' she said through an interpreter at @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday ( local time ) .
`` I 've been working hard enough where a @ @ @ @ @ my long game and my downswing .
I 'm still trying to work on the @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korean LPGA player Lee Mi-rim chipped and putted her way to a stunning major title last month, and ahead of another major tournament this week, she has been working on her long game.
Lee is entering the KPGA Women's PGA Championship, set to open at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, on Thursday (local time), as a player to watch. She won the ANA Inspiration in a playoff last month for her first career LPGA major title, and she chipped in for two birdies and an eagle in the final round en route to the unexpected victory.
In this Getty Images file photo from Sept. 13, 2020, Lee Mi-rim of South Korea holds the championship trophy after winning the ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. (Yonhap)
The 29-year-old isn't done trying to get better.
"There are some things that I'm working on, and I'm still continuing to work on them, so I'll just keep those in mind as I play," she said through an interpreter at her pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday (local time). "I've been working hard enough where a lot has improved, particularly my long game and my downswing. I'm still trying to work on the follow-through."
The KPGA Women's PGA Championship would have been played in June, if not for the coroanvirus pandemic that has turned the LPGA schedule upside down. Lee said the 6,577-yard course may play even longer than its actual length, which will put a premium on the long game.
"I don't know if I'll be able to see a lot of birdies," she said. "The course does seem to be playing a lot longer, so I think I'm going to have to focus on my long irons and my long game."
Following her ANA Inspiration victory, Lee soared from 94th to 21st in the world rankings. She's currently at No. 22.
For the first round, Lee has been paired with fellow South Korean Amy Yang and Azahara Munoz of Spain.
There are 13 South Koreans in the field.
In this Getty Images photo, Lee Mi-rim of South Korea hits her third shot on the third hole during the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic on the Bay Course at Seaview Hotel and Golf Club in Galloway, New Jersey, on Oct. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--N.K. at final stage of preparations for military parade: defense ministry

The Oct. 10 anniversary of the party 's founding 75 years ago has drawn attention as the North could showcase @ @ @ @ @ occasion in what could be seen as messages to the United States , or South @ @ @ @ @ talks .

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is at the final stage of preparing for a military parade expected to be held in Pyongyang this weekend to mark the founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party, the defense ministry said Wednesday.
The Oct. 10 anniversary of the party's founding 75 years ago has drawn attention as the North could showcase new strategic weapons on the occasion in what could be seen as messages to the United States, or South Korea, amid stalled denuclearization talks.
"North Korea is at the final stage of preparing for events, including a military parade, to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party," the ministry said in a parliamentary audit report.
North Korea tends to mark every fifth or 10th anniversary with larger-scale events, such as military provocations, including missile launches, or parades of troops, newly developed strategic weapons and other military hardware.
In his New Year's message, leader Kim Jong-un said he will showcase a "new strategic weapon," which could be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), according to experts and observers.
This satellite image, taken by Planet Labs on Aug. 31, 2020, and made public by 38 North on Sept. 1, shows the Mirim Airport in Pyongyang, where preparations for a large-scale military parade are under way to celebrate the 75th anniversary of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--Over 4 in 10 Koreans want ruling party to win 2022 presidential race: poll

In a survey by Korea Research conducted from Saturday to Sunday on 1,000 adults nationwide , the preference toward a @ @ @ @ @ candidate stood at 44 percent .
The poll was commissioned by the daily Kyunghyang Shinmun @ @ @ @ @ error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points and a confidence level of 95 percent @

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- Over 4 out of 10 South Korean adults want the current ruling party to stay in power by winning the upcoming 2022 presidential race, a poll showed Wednesday.
In a survey by Hankook Research conducted from Saturday to Sunday on 1,000 adults nationwide, the preference toward a win by a ruling party candidate stood at 44 percent. The poll was commissioned by the daily Kyunghyang Shinmun and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points and a confidence level of 95 percent.
Of the respondents, 37 percent said they favor an opposition candidate's victory for a change of government. The remaining 19 percent said they were not sure which party to vote for.
Preference toward the ruling party was especially strong among those their 30s, 40s and 50s. Support toward the ruling party's candidate among those in their 40s stood at 62 percent, while that toward an opposition candidate remained at 25 percent.
The level of preferences toward both sides were nearly identical among those aged 18-29, at 33 percent and 34 percent for the ruling party and the opposition, respectively. Preference toward the opposition was stronger among those above 60.
By region, those based in Seoul showed a stronger inclination toward the opposition at 42 percent. Support toward a ruling party candidate in the capital stood at 40 percent.
South Korea is scheduled to host two high-profile national elections in the first half of 2022 -- the presidential election in March and local elections in June. President Moon Jae-in's five-year term ends in May 2022.
A file photo of the National Assembly of South Korea (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--Gaming firm Krafton's planned IPO drawing investor interest

Details about Krafton 's IPO have yet to be unveiled , but market focus is already on whether its share @ @ @ @ @ money than the three predecessors .

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korean online gaming company Krafton Inc.'s planned initial public offering (IPO) is drawing keen interest from potential investors following a recent series of highly successful share sales, industry sources said Wednesday.
The market craze follows megahit IPOs by Big Hit Entertainment, the management agency of K-pop phenoms BTS; mobile game giant Kakao Games; and biopharmaceutical blue chip SK Biopharmaceuticals.
Krafton, famous for the shooter game "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds," has recently started its IPO process by inviting bids for lead managers from local securities companies.
Details about Krafton's IPO have yet to be unveiled, but market focus is already on whether its share sale will attract more investor money than the three predecessors.
Big Hit Entertainment lured 58.4 trillion won (US$50.1 billion) in subscription deposits from retail investors, while investor deposits for Kakao Games stood at 58.5 trillion won.
SK Biopharmaceuticals and Kakao Games debuted on the local bourse in July and September, respectively, closing at more than double their IPO prices on the first day of trading.
Market analysts say Krafton is superior to Kakao Games in terms of profits and ability to develop games.
Krafton registered an operating profit of 513.7 billion won on sales of 887.2 billion won in the first half of the year, much better than Kakao Games' 28.7 billion operating profit on sales of 202.9 billion won.
Krafton posted the second-largest operating income for the January-June period after Nexon's 773 billion won.
Chinese IT giant Tencent is Krafton's second-largest shareholder with a 13.2 percent stake.
According to industry sources, several other companies, including South Korea's top internet-only lender Kakao Bank, are looking to go public down the road.
In late September, Kakao Bank, a subsidiary of local internet portal behemoth Kakao, decided to take itself public and pick lead managers within the year.
South Korea's No. 1 mobile payment service provider Kakao Pay, another Kakao unit, has already chosen local brokerage KB Securities as the lead manager for its IPO.
In July, South Korean vaccine maker SK Bioscience Co. tapped NH Investment Securities Co. as the lead manager and Korea Investment Co. as the co-lead manager to sell its shares on the Seoul bourse.
In addition, South Korea's leading chemical company LG Chem Ltd. is pushing for an IPO of its planned spin-off battery business unit -- tentatively named LG Energy Solutions -- next year.
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--T'way Air to start flights to Japan next month

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- T'way Air, a South Korean low-cost carrier, said Wednesday it will begin flights to Japan next month mainly to meet business travel demand.
T'way Air will resume services on the routes from Incheon to Osaka and Tokyo on Nov. 5 and Nov. 6, respectively, with a plan to eventually provide flights on routes to Nagoya and Fukuoka, the company said in a statement.
The budget carrier said it will initially offer one flight a week on the routes to Osaka and Tokyo as the new coronavirus outbreak continues to weigh on travel demand.
This file photo provided by T'way Air shows a B787-800 passenger jet flying in the sky. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
T'way Air suspended most of its international routes in March as more than 180 countries and territories strengthened entry restrictions to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
T'way began flights to the Chinese city of Wuhan on Sept. 16, marking the reopening of the air service to the epicenter of the virus outbreak after eight months.
With an approval from the Korean and Chinese aviation authorities, the carrier plans to operate the Wuhan route until Oct. 24 for the summer season. For the winter season from late October through end-March, it plans to seek approval from the authorities.
T'way was originally scheduled to begin services on the Wuhan route on Jan. 21, but the outbreak of the deadly respiratory illness temporarily suspended the plan.
T'way resumed flights to Yanji on Aug. 20 to meet business demand, while operating a sharply reduced number of flights on domestic routes since March.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--S. Korean defense minister to visit U.S. next week for first talks with Pentagon chief

The planned visit will be his first overseas trip since taking office last month .
It will also be the @ @ @ @ @ Korean defense minister to visit a foreign country since February due to the new coronavirus @

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook said Wednesday he plans to visit the United States next week for his first talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
The annual defense ministers' talks between the two countries, known as the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), are scheduled to take place in Washington on Oct. 14, the minister said during the parliamentary audit of the ministry.
The planned visit will be his first overseas trip since taking office last month. It will also be the first time for a South Korean defense minister to visit a foreign country since February due to the new coronavirus.
Key agenda items include the assessment of security circumstances on the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. Forces Korea-related issues and the envisioned transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean troops from Washington to Seoul, the minister stated.
The defense ministry has said that discussions are under way with the U.S. on when and how to hold the regular meeting amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The last bilateral meeting between the defense chiefs of the two countries was held by videoconference in July.
Defense Minister Suh Wook delivers an address during his inauguration ceremony at the defense ministry in Seoul on Sept. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--(LEAD) NIS official at LA consulate general returns home after sexual harassment allegations: lawmak

(LEAD) NIS official at LA consulate general returns home after sexual harassment allegations: lawmaker

When asked about the case during the audit , Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said the case was closed as the @ @ @ @ @ for the assailant , adding that the ministry is working to draw up new guidelines @ @ @ @ @ misconduct

(ATTN: ADDS info on revelation of another sexual misconduct case at diplomatic mission in Nigeria in last 3 paras)
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- A senior intelligence official has been recalled from South Korea's consulate general in Los Angeles following accusations that he sexually harassed a female employee at the mission, an opposition lawmaker said Wednesday.
According to Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), the National Intelligence Service (NIS) official sexually harassed the woman at the diplomatic mission in late June. She immediately filed a complaint with local police.
The official returned home in late July under a ministry order and went back to the NIS. He has not reportedly been given any disciplinary measures over the allegations other than being sidelined from his duties.
South Korean police have conducted an investigation and referred the case to the prosecution with a recommendation that the official be indicted on charges of sexual harassment.
The case came in the wake of a high-profile sexual harassment case involving a South Korean diplomat once posted at the embassy in New Zealand.
During the parliamentary audit Wednesday, another sexual misconduct case was addressed, in which a former Korean employee at the South Korean Embassy in Nigeria allegedly sexually harassed a Nigerian female cleaner in August, according to Rep. Lee Tae-kyu of the PPP.
It was found out that the embassy never probed the case and did not report the incident to the foreign ministry in Seoul. The staff quit the job the following month.
When asked about the case during the audit, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said the case was closed as the victim did not seek punishment for the assailant, adding that the ministry is working to draw up new guidelines for diplomatic missions against sexual misconduct
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--(LEAD) Finance chief renews calls for creating rules for fiscal soundness

Also Wednesday , Hong said the government will mobilize all policy tools available for an economic recovery , though he @ @ @ @ @ an economic recovery amid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and trade disputes between the @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS minister's remarks, details in last 3 paras)
SEJONG, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki on Wednesday renewed calls to establish rules to ensure fiscal soundness as he voiced concerns about South Korea's debt and fiscal deficit.
Hong made his case for the rules during a parliamentary annual inspection of the ministry, citing a looming hike in South Korea's debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio.
The ratio is expected to reach 43.9 percent this year as South Korea drew four rounds of extra budgets meant to ease the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki (L) speaks during a parliamentary annual inspection of the Ministry of Finance and Economy at the ministry's building in Sejong, an administrative hub about 130 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Oct. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
The ratio is expected to reach 51.2 percent in 2022 before rising to 55 percent in 2023 and 58.6 percent in 2024, according to the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
On Monday, the ministry unveiled details of the rules that will keep South Korea's debt-to-GDP ratio at 60 percent and its consolidated fiscal balance at minus 3 percent in 2025.
If the fiscal deficit exceeds the limit, the government will be required to draw up measures to ensure fiscal soundness, the ministry said.
However, such rules will be exempted in a time of crisis, like the coronavirus pandemic, the ministry said.
The rules are subject to parliamentary approval.
Also Wednesday, Hong said the government will mobilize all policy tools available for an economic recovery, though he said there is uncertainty of an economic recovery amid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and trade disputes between the United States and China.
South Korea's economy has plunged into a recession as its GDP shrank 3.3 percent in the second quarter after a 1.3 percent on-quarter retreat three months earlier.
Record low interest rates and excess liquidity, which has been pumped into the market to help revive the virus-hit economy, have contributed to soaring home prices, analysts said.
Despite the government's efforts to cool home prices, Hong said the government may review a measure to give financial benefits to first-time home buyers. The measure could soften mortgage rules for first-time home buyers, Hong told a parliamentary audit session.
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--Defense chief says military exemption for BTS members not under consideration

`` Various social consensus should be formed , but at this stage , we are not considering an exception to @ @ @ @ @ Suh told lawmakers during a parliamentary audit .

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry is not considering granting South Korean K-pop boy band BTS an exemption of mandatory military service, but a deferral could be an option, Defense Minister Suh Wook said Wednesday.
"Various social consensus should be formed, but at this stage, we are not considering an exception to the military duties," Suh told lawmakers during a parliamentary audit.
His remark came amid a growing debate over whether the seven-member group, with an unprecedented Billboard-topping hit, should warrant such special treatment for their worldwide achievements.
Suh said that the ministry may be able to look into the option of allowing a postponement of their enlistment.
"Considering the period of time of their performances and their career, I believe that a deferral might be worth considering," he added.
Talk of the possible military duty exemption for BTS gained traction after a ruling party lawmaker advocated the idea in media, citing the exemption granted for South Korean footballer Son Heung-min of the English Premier League's Tottenham Hotspur.
Son secured an exemption in September 2018, when the Korean national team defeated Japan to win the gold medal at the Asian Games.
All able-bodied South Korean men between the ages of 18 and 28 are ordered to serve in the military for about two years for defense against North Korea.
No prominent pop celebrities have been exempted.
By law, the country's military offers special treatment, such as exemptions or deferrals, to international award-winning athletes and classical musicians for their roles in elevating the country's overseas reputation.
This photo, provided by Big Hit Entertainment on Oct. 3, 2020, shows K-pop group BTS singing "Dynamite," its latest Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit, for the "BTS Week" special on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in the United States. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--(LEAD) FM reaffirms push for end-of-war declaration despite killing of fisheries official

`` Everyone is aghast that our citizen 's life was lost so brutally and absurdly .
But I do not @ @ @ @ @ course of the big trend toward peace because of the one single incident , '' @ @ @ @ @ whether it 's appropriate to discuss the war declaration with the United States following the @ @

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; ADDS paras 2-5 with FM's remarks from parliamentary audit)
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha reaffirmed Wednesday that the government will continue its push for the declaration of a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War despite the killing of a South Korean official.
She made the remark during a parliamentary audit as criticism has grown over the engagement policy for North Korea after the North's fatal shooting last month of a South Korean fisheries official at sea.
"Everyone is aghast that our citizen's life was lost so brutally and absurdly. But I do not think that we should change course of the big trend toward peace because of the one single incident," she told lawmakers when asked whether it's appropriate to discuss the war declaration with the United States following the killing.
"The end-of-war declaration that we've been pursuing should continue to be pursued as part of the peace process," she said.
Kang also offered sympathy to the bereaved family of the late official, saying that she was willing to meet the family members.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha attends a parliamentary audit session at the National Assembly in Seoul on Oct. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
In a policy report for the parliamentary audit, the ministry stressed its steadfast focus on resuming dialogue with the North and cross-border cooperation.
It said it will also continue efforts to lay the groundwork for lasting peace on the peninsula, while noting it had "sternly" dealt with the September incident.
The fatal shooting renewed skepticism over engagement with a recalcitrant Pyongyang, though North Korean leader Kim Jong-un issued a rare apology over it in a message to the South's presidential office.
"While considering the status of inter-Korean relations, the ministry will continuously seek cooperation with the international community for the declaration of an end to the war on the Korean Peninsula, COVID-19-related public health and quarantine cooperation, and the realization of the proposal to turn the Demilitarized Zone into an international peace zone," it said.
The ministry also said it would continue strategic coordination with the United States in preparation for the possible resumption of long-stalled nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang.
"Based on close cooperation between the South and the U.S., the ministry will explore an active role to promote dialogue between the two Koreas and the U.S.," the ministry said.
"The ministry will continue to pursue comprehensive consultations (with the U.S.) that deal with denuclearization, relations between the two Koreas and between the North and the U.S., and the peace regime," it added.
During the parliamentary report, the ministry also said that as of Oct. 1, the government helped a total of 49,356 overseas citizens return home from 120 countries hit by the new coronavirus.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--(2nd LD) N.K. at final stage of preparations for military parade: defense ministry

The regime unveiled the new submarine , believed to be a 3,000-ton one , in July 2019 , which has @ @ @ @ @ naval base in Sinpo on its east coast .
It is widely known to be @ @ @ @ @ four SLBMs .

(ATTN: ADDS defense minister's remarks on new submarine in last 3 paras, photo)
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is at the final stage of preparing for a military parade expected to be held in Pyongyang this weekend to mark the founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party, the defense ministry said Wednesday.
The Oct. 10 anniversary of the party's founding 75 years ago has drawn attention as the North could showcase new strategic weapons on the occasion in what could be seen as messages to the United States, or South Korea, amid stalled denuclearization talks.
In a report to the parliament for an annual audit, the ministry said North Korea is "at the final stage of preparing for events, including a military parade, to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party."
"(North Korea) appears to be preparing for various events ... and our assessment is that it is expected to engage in a show of force involving strategic weapons," Defense Minister Suh Wook said during the audit session.
North Korea tends to mark every fifth or 10th anniversary with larger-scale events, such as military provocations, including missile launches, or parades of troops, newly developed strategic weapons and other military hardware.
In his New Year's message, leader Kim Jong-un said he will showcase a "new strategic weapon," which could be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), according to experts and observers.
This satellite image, taken by Planet Labs on Aug. 31, 2020, and made public by 38 North on Sept. 1, shows the Mirim Airport in Pyongyang, where preparations for a large-scale military parade are under way to celebrate the 75th anniversary of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Asked about the military's assessment about the North's construction of a new submarine, the defense minister said that it is believed to be capable of carrying "more SLBMs" than existing 2,000-ton Gorae-class subs that can launch one ballistic missile.
"Our analysis shows that North Korea continues to have evolved it into new shapes, so we are closely monitoring related activities," Suh said.
The regime unveiled the new submarine, believed to be a 3,000-ton one, in July 2019, which has been under construction at its naval base in Sinpo on its east coast. It is widely known to be capable of carrying three to four SLBMs.
This photo, released by the Korean Central News Agency on July 23, 2019, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) inspecting a newly built submarine. As is customary, the agency didn't provide the date and location. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--CJ Logistics considers selling Chinese unit CJ Rokin

SEOUL , Oct. 7 ( Yonhap ) -- CJ Logistics Corp. , the logistics unit of South Korea 's food @ @ @ @ @ has been considering selling one of its Chinese units , CJ Rokin , a company @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- CJ Logistics Corp., the logistics unit of South Korea's food and entertainment conglomerate CJ, has been considering selling one of its Chinese units, CJ Rokin, a company official said Wednesday.
The move is a part of the company's adjustment of its business portfolio in China, according to the official.
CJ Rokin was set up in 2015 after CJ Logistics acquired a 71.4 percent stake in Rokin, then the biggest refrigerated shipment service firm in China.
This undated photo provided by CJ Logistics Corp. shows one of its delivery men and a customer posing for a photo. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--(4th LD) S. Korea initially saw slim chance of missing official crossing into N.K.: defense chief

The Seoul military said that the citizen was presumed to have jumped into the sea in a suspected attempt to @ @ @ @ @ noting that he wore a life jacket , he left behind his shoes on the @ @ @ @ @ intelligence indicates that the man expressed such a desire to the North Korean side .

(ATTN: ADDS more comments in paras 7-8)
By Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's military initially saw little possibility of a missing fisheries official ending up in North Korean waters, Defense Minister Suh Wook said Wednesday, as his family questions the government's assessment that he attempted to defect to the North.
On Sept. 22, the 47-year-old official was fatally shot by the North Korean military while adrift in the North Korean side of the Yellow Sea, according to the South Korean military. He went missing the previous day while on duty near the western border island of Yeonpyeong.
The Seoul military said that the citizen was presumed to have jumped into the sea in a suspected attempt to defect to the North, noting that he wore a life jacket, he left behind his shoes on the boat and the analysis of intelligence indicates that the man expressed such a desire to the North Korean side.
Announcing its interim probe results, the Coast Guard added that the analysis of the tidal current on the day of the incident led to the conclusion that the official could not have reached where he was found unless he swam to get there.
"On the first day, we didn't think he could cross into North Korea and did not check communication lines with the North," Suh said during a parliamentary audit after lawmakers criticized the ministry for its failure to swiftly seek North Korea's cooperation in searching for the official on the day he went missing.
"I was briefed that the chances were slim of him drifting into North Korean waters on the first day. We learned later through the analysis of intelligence that the official ended up in North Korean waters," Suh added.
The defense chief also stated that a civilian boat that belongs to a North Korean fishing firm was believed to have first spotted the official, and he expressed his defection intention to those aboard the boat.
"The vessel was then trying to haul him to land after hours of some procedures, but they missed the official," Suh said, adding that the North Korean navy then retrieved the official and later issued the order to kill him.
Whether he tried to defect to the North is one of the most contentious issues, as the bereaved family has strongly protested against the government's assessment and called for an additional probe and the disclosure of related information.
The family also called for a U.N. investigation into the case.
The military and the Coast Guard continue to search for the body of a South Korean fisheries official, who was shot to death by North Korean troops last month, in waters off the western border island of Yeonpyeong on Oct. 3, 2020, in this photo provided by the Coast Guard. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Suh made it clear that all responsibilities regarding the incident lie with North Korea, stressing the need for a joint probe, as the North's explanations differ from Seoul's assessment in key parts.
The South Korean military said the North is presumed to have incinerated the official's body, but Pyongyang claimed that what it set on fire was not his body but a floating material he used.
"We are analyzing those differences," Suh said. "As of now, however, we stick with our analysis."
Military tensions are continuing between the two Koreas since the incident, as Pyongyang issued threats over Seoul's normal search operations without responding to calls for a joint investigation, according to the minister.
The communist country warned the South on Sept. 27 not to intrude into its waters in the search for the body of the official. Pyongyang has long disputed the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto inter-Korean maritime boundary, turning the front-line waters into a major flashpoint of the peninsula.
North Korea expressed an apology for the incident and vowed to take steps to prevent recurrences, which indicates that the regime attempted to "manage the situation" to avoid turning public opinion in the South against it, the ministry noted. The rare apology by leader Kim Jong-un in a message from the North's United Front Department was unusually quick, coming only a day after South Korea demanded it.
"Since the incident, no unusual movements by the North Korean military have been detected," the ministry said. "It has made all-out efforts for recovery work from damage by recent heavy rains and typhoons to wrap it up before the founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party that falls on Oct. 10."
As for concerns raised by a lawmaker over the disclosure of classified military information acquired by South Korean and U.S. assets regarding the incident, Minister Suh said that U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Robert Abrams "voiced some concerns" about the excessive exposure.
The communist country remains mum on the South's call for a joint investigation into the case and the restoration of the inter-Korean military hotlines that the North severed in June in anger over anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent across the border by activists here.
South Korean marines patrol a beach on the western border island of Yeonpyeong on Sept. 28, 2020, amid tensions over North Korea's killing of a South Korean official in its waters on Sept. 22. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--Former Lime Asset executive gets 5-year prison term in fund scam case

The Star Mobility owner , Lime 's former CEO Won Jong-jun and former vice president Lee Jong-pil have also been @ @ @ @ @ and violation of capital market and financial investment laws in connection with the hedge fund @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- A former executive of Lime Asset Management Co., a scandal-ridden hedge fund based in Seoul, was sentenced to five years in prison by a local court on Wednesday for illegally investing about 20 billion won (US$17.3 million).
The Seoul Southern District Court convicted the former Lime executive, surnamed Kim, who served as head of the fund's alternative investment division, of breach of trust and other crimes and handed down the five-year prison term and a fine of 3.5 billion won.
This file photo shows the former head of Lime Asset Management Co.'s alternative investment division, identified only as Kim. (Yonhap)
Kim was arrested in April on charges of investing 19.5 billion won of Lime's funds into Star Mobility, an entity owned by private entrepreneur Kim Bong-hyun and believed to be the main financial source for Lime, in January this year.
The former Lime executive was also accused of helping the Star Mobility owner misuse the invested funds in return for membership at a golf club in Yongin, some 50 kilometers south of Seoul.
The Star Mobility owner, Lime's former CEO Won Jong-jun and former vice president Lee Jong-pil have also been indicted on charges of fraud and violation of capital market and financial investment laws in connection with the hedge fund's massive financial scam.
They were allegedly involved in the firm's cover-up of massive losses and subsequent suspension of fund redemption worth an estimated 1.6 trillion won.
Founded in 2012 as an investment adviser, Lime Asset was granted a license to operate private funds in 2015. The company was managing a record high of 5.7 trillion won as of June last year.
In October, however, the company froze withdrawals, citing an inability to liquidate enough assets to meet redemption requests, prompting the nation's financial watchdog to conduct a probe and conclude the company duped investors by concealing losses and continuing sales of related products.
"Financial company executives and employees are on par with public servants in terms of the duty of integrity, as their work and business have a great impact on society," Seoul district court said.
"The defendant incurred a huge loss (to Lime Asset) through breach of trust, though he had an obligation to wisely manage the assets of investors," the court said.
The court also convicted Kim of evading a personal loss of 1.1 billion won by disposing of all of his shares in a Lime-financed Kosdaq company before its bad news was publicly announced.
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--Cardinals' Kim Kwang-hyun comes home following successful rookie campaign

Kim was the surprise Game 1 starter against the San Diego Padres in the best-of-three National League Wild Card Series @ @ @ @ @ of more established big leaguers , Adam Wainwright and Jack Flaherty .
Kim gave up @ @ @ @ @ innings in the Cardinals ' 7-4 victory .
The Cardinals , though , dropped the @ @ @ @ @ sent home from the postseason , and Kim never got another chance to redeem himself @ @ @ @ @ performance .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- He has come home again.
After a whirlwind but outstanding rookie season with the St. Louis Cardinals, South Korean pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun returned home Wednesday, four days after his club was eliminated from the first round of the postseason.
Kim will be reunited with his family after serving his mandatory 14-day quarantine. Kim's wife and two children greeted him at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, though they couldn't get close to one another because of quarantine regulations.
Following 13 largely successful years with the SK Wyverns in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), Kim signed a two-year, US$8 million contract with the Cardinals last December. During the regular season, Kim was a perfect 3-0 with a 1.62 ERA in eight appearances, seven of them starts. He even recorded a save on Opening Day on July 24 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun waves to the crowd gathered at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, just west of Seoul, after arriving back from the United States on Oct. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
Kim was the surprise Game 1 starter against the San Diego Padres in the best-of-three National League Wild Card Series, getting the nod ahead of more established big leaguers, Adam Wainwright and Jack Flaherty. Kim gave up three runs in 3 2/3 innings in the Cardinals' 7-4 victory. The Cardinals, though, dropped the next two games to be sent home from the postseason, and Kim never got another chance to redeem himself after the mediocre Game 1 performance.
Despite Kim's strong pedigree as an MVP-winning starter, his role entering spring training was up in the air. Kim said all the right things -- that he would do whatever the club asked him to do -- and the Cardinals, falling short of guaranteeing Kim a spot in their rotation, promised him an opportunity to earn his spot.
Kim did his part by pitching eight scoreless innings across four spring training games, including two starts, while recording 11 strikeouts against just one walk.
In this Getty Images file photo from Sept. 30, 2020, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the San Diego Padres during the bottom of the first inning of Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series at Petco Park in San Diego. (Yonhap)
Just as Kim appeared poised to make the rotation, the coronavirus hit Major League Baseball (MLB), and spring training came to an abrupt halt. The regular season only started in late July.
When clubs reconvened for a brief summer camp, Kim emerged as a bullpen option, and the Cardinals named him their closer at the start of the regular season.
He picked up a nervy save against the Pirates, giving up two runs -- one unearned -- in the ninth inning for a 5-4 victory.
The Cardinals ran into another obstacle, however, as they were forced to go on a two-week hiatus following an outbreak inside their clubhouse. And when they returned to action, Kim was thrust into the rotation because of injuries to multiple starters.
Kim pounced on that opportunity. Following an abbreviated start against the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 17, when he pitched just 3 2/3 innings and gave up a run, Kim strung together 24 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run over his next four starts. He lowered his ERA to 0.63.
The St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun (L) waves to his family at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, just west of Seoul, after arriving back from the United States on Oct. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
The 32-year-old then had to overcome his own health issues. While in Chicago for a road trip in early September, Kim suffered a kidney ailment and spent a night at a local hospital. He was on the injured list for 12 days.
And as had been the theme all season, Kim bounced back nicely. On Sept. 14, in his first start back from the health scare, Kim tossed seven shutout innings against the Milwaukee Brewers and struck out a season-high six batters in his best start of 2020.
Though Kim's miniscule ERA took a beating over his final two starts, when he served up five earned runs over 10 1/3 innings, it didn't put a damper on his fine rookie campaign.
Though Kim only pitched 39 innings, not enough to qualify for the ERA title, he will likely receive some down-ballot Rookie of the Year votes.
In this Associated Press file photo from Sept. 30, 2020, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals reacts to a pitch thrown against the San Diego Padres during the bottom of the first inning of Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series at Petco Park in San Diego. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--(LEAD) BLACKPINK music video to be edited following nurse outfit row: agency

The agency stressed that it did not have `` any intention '' to sexualize the profession and did not expect @ @ @ @ @ , saying it will take the recent controversy as a chance to learn deeply and @ @ @ @ @ offended .

(ATTN: UPDATES with reaction from nurses' association)
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's latest music video "Lovesick Girls" will be edited and replaced, its agency said Wednesday, following a controversy over scenes that nurse groups criticized for sexualizing the profession.
"We have decided to delete all scenes with the nurse uniform in BLACKPINK's 'Lovesick Girls' music video and plan to replace the video as soon as possible," YG Entertainment said in an emailed statement.
The agency stressed that it did not have "any intention" to sexualize the profession and did not expect such controversy to break out, saying it will take the recent controversy as a chance to learn deeply and apologized to nurses who felt offended.
The move came after local nurses took issue with a 5-second scene from the music video where member Jennie appears wearing a hair cap, a white dress and red high heels.
Sharing hashtags such as "nurse is a profession" and "a nurse is not a costume" on Twitter, nurses criticized the outfit for being unrealistic and sexualizing nurses, claiming such representation could lead to wrong perceptions of the profession, which they have long been fighting against.
"While nurses are health workers and professionals in the medical field, they had to suffer portrayals that doubt their profession or sexualize them just because of the fact that there are many women in the industry," an umbrella union representing nurses said in a statement Monday.
"This kind of situation only worsens if pop culture keeps repeating distorted images of nurses," it said, asking YG to take responsibility.
This screenshot from K-pop group BLACKPINK's latest music video "Lovesick Girls" shows member Jennie wearing a hair cap, a white dress and red high heels. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Following the agency's announcement, the Korean Nurses Association released a statement welcoming the decision.
"We hope the decision will serve as an opportunity to raise alarm bells on our society's climate of sexually objectifying sex or certain jobs, not only nurses," it said.
The organization thanked YG "for swiftly deciding to replace" the video and said the country's 440,000 nurses will be rooting for BLACKPINK's global career.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--(LEAD) Rival parties lock horns over hot button issues on 1st day of parliamentary audit

Despite the vindication , the PPP has continued to take aim at the issue and put it on the table @ @ @ @ @ of the parliamentary audit , with rival lawmakers on the legislation and health and welfare @ @ @ @ @ it .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout)
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- Rival parties clashed over hot-button issues, including the recent shooting death of a South Korean fisheries official, on Wednesday, the first day of the annual parliamentary inspection.
The National Assembly kicked off the annual inspection of the government and state agencies for a 20-day run, the first parliamentary audit since the incumbent 21st assembly's new four-year term began in late May.
The audit began as rival parties have been locked in a spat over two thorny issues -- the shooting death of the South Korea civil servant by the North Korean military in late September and the alleged extension of medical leave granted to Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's son during his mandatory military service in 2017.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha attends a hearing by the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee on the first day of the annual parliamentary inspection in Seoul on Oct. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
Ruling and main opposition lawmakers with the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and unification locked horns as soon as the committee opened an inspection hearing earlier in the day.
At issue was whether the outspoken elder brother of the slain 47-year-old fisheries official should be called in to take the witness stand for the committee's inspection hearing.
The elder brother has asked the United Nations to investigate the controversial shooting death of the younger brother and volunteered to testify during the National Assembly inspection.
"It is rightful to accept the bereaved family's request to give testimony (at the assembly)," Rep. Chung Jin-suk of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) said during the foreign affairs committee hearing earlier in the day.
Rep. Kim Young-ho of the ruling Democratic Party spurned the call, however, saying that having the elder brother testify to the incident on the foreign affairs committee would be of "little effectiveness."
Similar bickering weighed on the hearing of the agriculture and fisheries committee on the first day of its parliamentary audit.
The proceeding of the National Defence Committee's inspection hearing was temporarily paralyzed as lawmakers of the rival parties clashed and hollered at each other over the alleged preferential treatment case involving the justice minister's son.
Rep. Min Hong-chul (L), the chairman of the National Defense Committee, presides over a committee hearing on the first day of the annual parliamentary inspection in Seoul on Oct. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
PPP lawmakers on several parliamentary committees, including the national defense committee, have sought to bring dozens of people involved in the case, including Choo's son himself, into the parliamentary inspection hearings as witnesses, only to be blocked by the ruling party.
Late last month, prosecutors handling the case cleared Choo and the son of charges that the former used her influence as the then leader of the Democratic Party in 2017 to gain the special favor from the military for her son.
Despite the vindication, the PPP has continued to take aim at the issue and put it on the table again on the first day of the parliamentary audit, with rival lawmakers on the legislation and health and welfare committees also locking horns over it.
The two hot-button issues are expected to dominate the parliamentary audit through the 20-day course to its end on Oct. 26.
Flimsy remote learning systems also came under intense scrutiny during the hearing of the Health and Welfare Committee Wednesday after most school classes took place online amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jeong Eun-kyeong, the head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), attends a hearing by the Health and Welfare Committee on the first day of the annual parliamentary inspection in Seoul on Oct. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
As the parliamentary inspection is conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, some proceedings have been scheduled in videoconference format, including the Health and Welfare Committee's inspection set for Thursday.
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--(2nd LD) Fitch keeps S. Korea's credit rating at 'AA-,' outlook stable

`` South Korea 's aggregate growth rate for this year and the following year is projected to reach 2.1 percent @ @ @ @ @ nations , '' said Lee , adding that Turkey , the United States and Germany @ @ @ @ @ growth of 1 percent , 0.2 percent and minus 0.8 percent , respectively .

(ATTN: UPDATES with comments from presidential office at bottom)
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- Global credit appraiser Fitch Ratings said Wednesday it has maintained South Korea's credit rating at "AA-" with a stable outlook.
Fitch's rating for South Korea has been AA-, the fourth-highest level of the agency's sovereign ratings, since 2012.
"Korea's rating balances robust external finances, steady macroeconomic performance and sufficient fiscal headroom going into the coronavirus pandemic against geopolitical risks related to North Korea and medium-term structural challenges from ageing demographics and moderate productivity growth," Fitch said in a statement posted on its website.
The rating agency said the COVID-19 pandemic has weighed on South Korea's economic growth and public finances, but its response to the outbreak has helped limit the deterioration of the economic situation compared with other advanced economies and "AA" peers.
The South Korean economy is expected to contract by a modest 1.1 percent this year, the agency said. Its forecast is not as sharp as the Bank of Korea's projection of a 1.3 percent retreat.
Fitch Ratings said the country's exports will keep a continued recovery, but downside risks to Asia's fourth-largest economy still linger due to the pandemic.
"Risks to the growth outlook remain tilted to the downside because of the considerable uncertainty around the spread of the virus globally and domestically in Korea," Fitch said.
The agency said the country's fiscal deficit is forecast to widen to 4.4 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), up from a 0.6 percent shortfall in 2019, due to the country's aggressive fiscal spending.
It also forecast South Korea's government debt-to-GDP ratio to rise to 44.4 percent this year, up from 37.7 percent last year. In 2022, the ratio is likely to reach 51.1 percent.
"The higher debt burden presents some risks to Korea's public finances, given spending pressures from an ageing population," Fitch added.
Lee Ho-seung, senior secretary for economic affairs at Cheong Wa Dae, assessed Fitch's steady rating on South Korea as a "reconfirmation of South Korea's external credit worthiness."
He also said South Korea's economy is expected to see the highest growth rate among members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for 2020, as well as 2020 and 2021 combined.
"South Korea's aggregate growth rate for this year and the following year is projected to reach 2.1 percent, the highest among OECD nations," said Lee, adding that Turkey, the United States and Germany are expected to follow with growth of 1 percent, 0.2 percent and minus 0.8 percent, respectively.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--(LEAD) Gov't bill to allow abortion until 14th week of pregnancy provokes heated debate

According to the two articles of the country 's Criminal Act , which was made into law in 1953 , @ @ @ @ @ her own miscarriage through the use of drugs or other means '' shall be punished @ @ @ @ @ one year or by a fine of up to 2 million won ( US $ @ @ @ @ @ doctor who performs an abortion with a patient 's consent can be slapped with imprisonment @ @ @ @ @ and up to three years if performed without permission .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; ADDS more details in last 7 paras; photos)
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- The government made public its plan Wednesday to revise laws to allow abortion until the 14th week of pregnancy, reigniting a heated debate over restricting women's abortion rights.
The revisions also conditionally allow abortion until the 24th week of pregnancy based on social, economic and health concerns.
The government said the changes to the Criminal Act and the Mother and Child Health Act were made in close consultation with medical and legal experts and as a follow-up to a Constitutional Court ruling in April last year.
The court ruled that two provisions of the Criminal Act that ban all abortion, at any stage of pregnancy, are unconstitutional as they severely violate women's right to choose, and it gave the National Assembly until the end of this year to revise the law.
Activists demand the abolishment of anti-abortion laws in front of the National Assembly in Seoul on Oct. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
Currently, abortion is a crime punishable by up to three years in prison and is only legally allowed in case of rape or when carrying out the pregnancy is likely to put the expectant mother's health at great risk.
The Justice Ministry said in a joint release by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety that no criminal charges should be filed for abortion until the 14th week of pregnancy under the revisions.
Until the 24th week into pregnancy, abortion is still possible under extenuating circumstances, such as rape, as well as for social and economic reasons. In the latter cases, a woman should go through mandatory counseling and a 24-hour "consideration period." The clause of getting consent from a partner for abortion was deleted out of concern that it violates a woman's right to choose.
The public will have around 40 days to submit their opinions about the revisions before the revisions are sent to the National Assembly for approval.
People protest against the government's plan to allow abortion to be conducted at an early stage of pregnancy in front of the National Assembly in Seoul on Oct. 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
Revising, not abolishing, the anti-abortion law, however, is likely to invite strong protest from women's rights advocacy groups.
In August, the Committee of Gender Equality under the Ministry of Justice recommended that the ministry recognize women's right to choose as a basic human right and repeal the decades-old laws.
"Women's voices and experiences should be actively considered (in policymaking)," the committee said in a press release. It added that the right to choose is guaranteed "by the Constitution, the Framework Act of Gender Equality and the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women."
According to the two articles of the country's Criminal Act, which was made into law in 1953, a woman who "procures her own miscarriage through the use of drugs or other means" shall be punished by imprisonment of up to one year or by a fine of up to 2 million won (US$1,685). Also a doctor who performs an abortion with a patient's consent can be slapped with imprisonment of up to two years and up to three years if performed without permission.
Women's rights activists have been arduously calling for the abolishment of the act, arguing that making it a criminal offense only worsens situations in which a medical procedure to terminate a pregnancy takes place anyway and that many women face greater health risks during the illegal process.
In April, a coalition of women's groups held a press conference in front of the National Assembly in commemoration of the first anniversary of the court's ruling, calling for swift action to repeal the law.
This file photo taken on Sept. 20, 2020, shows women's rights activists holding a press conference in downtown Seoul calling for repealing the anti-abortion law. (Yonhap)
On Wednesday, both pro-life and pro-choice groups held separate protests in front of the National Assembly for what they considered as excessive or lack of restraints on abortion.
"Since the Constitutional Court's ruling, there has been no indiscriminate abortion taking place, contrary to concerns," Park Su-jin, a lawyer at Duksu Law Offices in Seoul, said. "The government's plan to punish abortion after the 24th week of pregnancy is like turning back the clock."
Seo Ji-hyun, a prosecutor and a gender equality adviser for the justice ministry, also opposed allowing abortion conditional to how far along a woman is in her pregnancy, and called the planned changes "a revival of the anti-abortion law."
"Abolishing the anti-abortion law is not the same as encouraging abortion. There is not a single woman who would not get an abortion out of fear of punishment. There are only women who suffer from illegal abortions," she wrote on her Facebook page. "The toothless anti-abortion law should be replaced with effective policies in order to save precious lives, and that's what we need," she said.
Meanwhile Kim Cheon-soo, a law professor at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, claimed that the revisions were perfectly in line with the Constitutional Court's ruling. He opposed the complete abolition of the law, saying that abortion after the 24th week of pregnancy was "tantamount to legalizing the murder of an unborn child."
"The revisions excessively expanded the criteria under which abortions are permitted. Given most abortions take place within 12 weeks of pregnancy, the revisions will practically allow all abortions," said a group of 174 female professors around the country in a statement. "It is a serious act that completely disregards a fetus' right to life."
Politicians have also expressed mixed opinions depending on where they fit into the ideological spectrum. The ruling Democratic Party (DP) took a cautious approach considering the sensitivity of the matter.
"This has been a difficult issue for a long time that generates highly divisive voices," Hur Young, the party's spokesman, said. "The government should gather sufficient opinions from all walks of life before sending it the National Assembly," he said.
The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) did not issue an official statement on the matter.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--(3rd LD) S. Korea initially saw slim chance of missing official crossing into N.K.: defense chief

`` On the first day , we did n't think he could cross into North Korea and did not check @ @ @ @ @ , '' Suh said during a parliamentary audit after lawmakers criticized the ministry for its @ @ @ @ @ Korea 's cooperation in searching for the official on the day he went missing .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; ADDS more details in paras 2-7; RESTRUCTURES)
By Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's military initially saw little possibility of a missing fisheries official ending up in North Korean waters, Defense Minister Suh Wook said Wednesday, as his family questions the government's assessment that he attempted to defect to the North.
On Sept. 22, the 47-year-old official was fatally shot by the North Korean military while adrift in the North Korean side of the Yellow Sea, according to the South Korean military. He went missing the previous day while on duty near the western border island of Yeonpyeong.
The Seoul military said that the citizen was presumed to have jumped into the sea in a suspected attempt to defect to the North, noting that he wore a life jacket, he left behind his shoes on the boat and the analysis of intelligence indicates that the man expressed such a desire to North Korean troops.
Announcing its interim probe results, the Coast Guard added that the analysis of the tidal current on the day of the incident led to the conclusion that the official could not have reached where he was found unless he swam to get there.
"On the first day, we didn't think he could cross into North Korea and did not check communication lines with the North," Suh said during a parliamentary audit after lawmakers criticized the ministry for its failure to swiftly seek North Korea's cooperation in searching for the official on the day he went missing.
"I was briefed that the chances were slim of him drifting into North Korean waters on the first day. We learned later through the analysis of intelligence that the official ended up in North Korean waters," Suh added.
Whether he tried to defect to the North is one of the most contentious issues, as the bereaved family has strongly protested against the government's assessment and called for an additional probe and the disclosure of related information.
The family also called for a U.N. investigation into the case.
The military and the Coast Guard continue to search for the body of a South Korean fisheries official, who was shot to death by North Korean troops last month, in waters off the western border island of Yeonpyeong on Oct. 3, 2020, in this photo provided by the Coast Guard. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Suh made it clear that all responsibilities regarding the incident lie with North Korea, stressing the need for a joint probe, as the North's explanations differ from Seoul's assessment in key parts.
The South Korean military said the North is presumed to have incinerated the official's body, but Pyongyang claimed that what it set on fire was not his body but a floating material he used.
"We are analyzing those differences," Suh said. "As of now, however, we stick with our analysis."
Military tensions are continuing between the two Koreas since the incident, as Pyongyang issued threats over Seoul's normal search operations without responding to calls for a joint investigation, according to the minister.
The communist country warned the South on Sept. 27 not to intrude into its waters in the search for the body of the official. Pyongyang has long disputed the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto inter-Korean maritime boundary, turning the front-line waters into a major flashpoint of the peninsula.
North Korea expressed an apology for the incident and vowed to take steps to prevent recurrences, which indicates that the regime attempted to "manage the situation" to avoid turning public opinion in the South against it, the ministry noted. The rare apology by leader Kim Jong-un in a message from the North's United Front Department was unusually quick, coming only a day after South Korea demanded it.
"Since the incident, no unusual movements by the North Korean military have been detected," the ministry said. "It has made all-out efforts for recovery work from damage by recent heavy rains and typhoons to wrap it up before the founding anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party that falls on Oct. 10."
As for concerns raised by a lawmaker over the disclosure of classified military information acquired by South Korean and U.S. assets regarding the incident, Minister Suh said that U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Robert Abrams "voiced some concerns" about the excessive exposure.
The communist country remains mum on the South's call for a joint investigation into the case and the restoration of the inter-Korean military hotlines that the North severed in June in anger over anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent across the border by activists here.
South Korean marines patrol a beach on the western border island of Yeonpyeong on Sept. 28, 2020, amid tensions over North Korea's killing of a South Korean official in its waters on Sept. 22. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--LS Cable buys land in Poland for possible expansion of plants

A company official said no decision has been made yet on building production facilities on the new site , which @ @ @ @ @ 's second plant in the southwestern Polish town of Dzierzoniow .

SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- LS Cable & System Ltd., South Korea's leading wire and cable manufacturer, said Wednesday it has purchased a 30,000-square-meter plot of land in Poland for a possible expansion of its operations.
A company official said no decision has been made yet on building production facilities on the new site, which is next to LS Cable's second plant in the southwestern Polish town of Dzierzoniow.
The second plant, which is yet to be completed, will produce parts for electric vehicle batteries.
Last year, LS Cable built its first plant near the second plant and began producing parts for electric vehicle batteries.
Currently, LS Cable supplies its parts for electric vehicle batteries to South Korean chemical giant LG Chem's battery cell production facility in Poland.
LS Cable has been expanding its presence in Poland in recent years.
In 2017, the company established a subsidiary for electric vehicle battery parts production and then set up an optical cable production subsidiary in February 2018.
LS Cable & System's main office in Anyang, south of Seoul (Yonhap)
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

On Sept. 22 , the 47-year-old fisheries official was fatally shot by the North Korean military while being adrift in @ @ @ @ @ to the South Korean military .
He went missing the previous day while on duty @ @ @ @ @ island of Yeonpyeong .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.
-----------------
Former N.K. envoy voluntarily came to S. Korea in July 2019, lawmaker confirms
SEOUL -- A senior North Korean diplomat who went missing in Italy in late 2018 has been living in South Korea since July last year, the head of the South Korea's parliamentary intelligence committee confirmed Wednesday.
"Former acting Ambassador Jo (Song-gil) came to South Korea voluntarily in July 2019," Rep. Jeon Hae-cheol, chairman of the National Assembly's intelligence committee, told reporters. "He had repeatedly expressed his wish to come to South Korea."
-----------------
S. Korea denies report on Seoul's efforts to arrange U.S. visit by N.K. leader's sister
SEOUL -- The foreign ministry on Wednesday dismissed as "untrue" a Japanese news report that South Korea sought to arrange a visit to the United States by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister before the U.S. presidential election in November.
Citing sources from South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported that Seoul had planned to arrange high-level talks between Kim Yo-jong and senior Washington officials before the Nov. 3 vote.
-----------------
(2nd LD) Military tensions with N. Korea continue over killing of S. Korean citizen: defense minister
SEOUL -- Military tensions are continuing between the two Koreas over North Korea's killing of a South Korean fisheries official, as Pyongyang issued threats over Seoul's search operations without responding to calls for a joint probe, Seoul's Defense Minister Suh Wook said Wednesday.
On Sept. 22, the 47-year-old fisheries official was fatally shot by the North Korean military while being adrift in North Korean waters, according to the South Korean military. He went missing the previous day while on duty near the Yellow Sea border island of Yeonpyeong.
-----------------
Finance chief renews calls for creating rules for fiscal soundness
SEJONG -- Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki on Wednesday renewed calls to establish rules to ensure fiscal soundness as he voiced concerns about South Korea's debt and fiscal deficit.
Hong made his case for the rules during a parliamentary annual inspection of the ministry, citing a looming hike in South Korea's debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio.
-----------------
(News Focus) 'Wall of buses' stirs up debate over how far police can go to stop rallies amid pandemic
SEOUL -- The rare sight of hundreds of police buses packing downtown Seoul last Saturday has ignited a debate over whether such a display of force was justified in light of the coronavirus pandemic to stop mass anti-government rallies from being held.
The debate comes ahead of another set of rallies planned for Friday, a national holiday celebrating the creation of the Korean alphabet, hangeul, which police have threatened to block again with buses.
-----------------
(LEAD) Singer files lawsuit against S. Korean diplomatic mission in LA again for not granting visa
SEOUL -- A Korean American singer has filed a lawsuit against South Korea's diplomatic mission in Los Angeles for refusing to grant him a visa despite winning a court battle earlier this year, legal sources said Wednesday.
In the suit filed with the Seoul Administrative Court against the South Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles, Steve Yoo, better known as Yoo Seung-jun here, reportedly claimed that he was refused a visa to visit to South Korea even though he won litigation connected to the case in March.
-----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks extend winning streak to 6th day on lingering U.S. stimulus hopes
SEOUL -- South Korean shares extended their winning streak to a sixth session Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump kept hopes for a stimulus package alive after postponing negotiations for the deal. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 21.04 points, or 0.89 percent, to close at 2,386.94.
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--KBO to wrap up regular season on Oct. 30

The start of the regular season was delayed by the coronavirus outbreak , from March 28 to May 5 , @ @ @ @ @ the usual 144-game schedule .
There was no annual All-Star break in July , and @ @ @ @ @ postponed by a year due to the pandemic , the 18-day midseason Olympic break was @ @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean baseball league announced Wednesday that its regular season will wrap up on Oct. 30, with the postseason expected to begin on the first day of November.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) unveiled the schedule for 34 makeup games, to be played from Oct. 20 to Oct. 30. Those games were rained out earlier in the year.
Games that are canceled due to inclement weather during the Oct. 20-30 period will be rescheduled as doubleheaders or will be pushed to designated open days on the league calendar. Teams will not be asked to play more than eight straight days.
This file photo from Aug. 20, 2020, shows Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, during a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game between the home team Kia Tigers and the NC Dinos. (Yonhap)
The KBO also said rained-out regular season games that have no bearing on the postseason picture could be made up on travel days during the playoffs.
The start of the regular season was delayed by the coronavirus outbreak, from March 28 to May 5, but the league stuck to the usual 144-game schedule. There was no annual All-Star break in July, and with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics postponed by a year due to the pandemic, the 18-day midseason Olympic break was also wiped out.
Trying to squeeze those 144 games into a tighter-than-usual window, the KBO also adopted doubleheaders and asked teams to play makeup games on Monday, the off day in a normal season.
The postseason, which typically starts two days after the conclusion of the regular season, will begin with a wild card round, followed by the best-of-three first round, the best-of-five second round and the best-of-seven Korean Series.
The KBO is hoping to crown the Korean Series champions before the end of November. The latest conclusion to a season came in 2018, when the SK Wyverns won the Korean Series on Nov. 12. The season included a midseason break during the Asian Games.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--(LEAD) Seoul stocks extend winning streak to 6th day on lingering U.S. stimulus hopes

The index got off to a weak start , tracking overnight losses on Wall Street after U.S. President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ Democrats for a stimulus plan until after next month 's U.S. presidential election .

(ATTN: ADDs bond yields at bottom; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares extended their winning streak to a sixth session Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump kept hopes for a stimulus package alive after postponing negotiations for the deal. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 21.04 points, or 0.89 percent, to close at 2,386.94.
Trading volume was moderate at 722.8 million shares worth 8.8 trillion won (US$7.6 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 483 to 309.
Retail investors offloaded a net 347.6 billion won worth of shares, while foreigners sold a net 94.4 billion won. Institutions bought a net 430.9 billion won.
Traders at the trading room of KB Kookmin Bank in Seoul look at an electronic signboard that shows the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index's (KOSPI) close at 2,386.94 on Oct. 7, 2020, up 21.04 points or 0.89 percent from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)
The index got off to a weak start, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street after U.S. President Donald Trump pushed back talks with the Democrats for a stimulus plan until after next month's U.S. presidential election.
The local index ended higher as investor sentiment improved after Trump later urged Congress to approve support for airlines and small businesses and said he would approve a stand-alone bill for stimulus checks.
In Seoul, most large caps closed higher.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics jumped 1.53 percent to 59,900 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix rose 0.48 percent to 83,400 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics added 1.26 percent to 721,000 won, and Celltrion rose 0.97 percent to 260,500 won.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem climbed 0.89 percent to 680,000 won, and battery maker Samsung SDI rose 0.69 percent to 439,500 won.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, inched up 0.27 percent to 183,000 won.
Internet portal giant Naver remained unchanged at 305,000 won, and its rival Kakao fell 0.26 percent to 380,500 won.
The local currency closed at 1,158.20 won per dollar, up 2.80 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys rose 0.5 basis point to 0.910 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond added 0.1 basis point to 1.200 percent.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-07--S. Korean Bond Yields on Oct. 7, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on Oct. 7, 2020

(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--2020-10-08--N. Korea's media-carried criticism against South jumped more than sixfold last year: data

The annual number represents a increase of more than sixfold , compared with the corresponding 152 pieces the three media @ @ @ @ @ daily , the Korean Central News Agency and the Uriminzokkiri website -- published in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's issuance of media-carried criticism against South Korea soared more than sixfold last year from a year ago amid frosty inter-Korean relations, government data showed Thursday.
According to the unification ministry data submitted to Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon of the main opposition People Power Party, North Korea's three mainstream media outlets carried a total of 981 news pieces critical of Seoul in 2019.
The annual number represents a increase of more than sixfold, compared with the corresponding 152 pieces the three media outlets -- the Rodong Sinmun daily, the Korean Central News Agency and the Uriminzokkiri website -- published in 2018, according to the data.
Including those, the three news platforms issued a total of 1,733 news pieces denouncing the South since 2018 up till Wednesday. This translates as a monthly average of 51, or a daily average of 1.7 news pieces.
This year alone, North Korea has issued some 600 such news pieces, of which 239 were published in June, according to the data.
That month, the two Koreas were locked in a fierce spat over South Korean activist groups' launching of anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border to the North.
The spat later led to North Korea's blowing up of an inter-Korean liaison office in the country's border area.
Following the culmination of tensions in June, the North's media-carried criticism declined to fewer than 10 pieces a month in the July-October period.
North Korea has published only one article critical of South Korea in relation with the controversial shooting death of a South Korean fisheries official by the North Korean military near the maritime boarder last month.
Of the three cited news platforms, the propaganda website, Uriminzokkiri, carried nearly 67 percent of all the criticism published during the cited near three-year period, according to the data.
This North Korean video clip critical of South Korea was captured from the North Korean propaganda website, Uriminzokkiri. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-08--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Oct. 8 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .


yna--2020-10-08--Men's nat'l football teams set for rare exhibition matches

Kim called up most of the other members from the AFC title-winning squad , and also selected a few members @ @ @ @ @ team that finished runner-up at the FIFA U-20 World Cup that year .
Joining this @ @ @ @ @ emerging attacking ace Song Min-kyu , a 21-year-old who is tied for most K League @ @ @ @ @ this season with 10 .
Song has never played for any national team in any @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korean football fans will be treated to a pair of exhibition matches between their two men's national teams this month, with the first showdown set for Friday, the Hangeul Day holiday.
The senior national team will face the under-23 Olympic squad at 8 p.m. Friday at Goyang Stadium. The second match is back at the same venue next Monday, also an 8 p.m. kickoff. These are the first meetings of the senior team and the U-23 team in 24 years.
The senior team boss Paulo Bento and his counterpart, Kim Hak-bum, will each take a 23-man roster to these matches, with the aggregate score determining the winner. The victorious side will donate 100 million won (US$86,340) in its name to help the nation's fight against the novel coronavirus.
Members of the South Korean men's senior national football team train at the National Football Center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 5, 2020, ahead of two exhibition matches against the under-23 men's national team. (Yonhap)
With the pandemic causing havoc on sports competitions around the world, Bento's senior team hasn't played any match in 2020. The last action for Kim's squad came in January at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship in Thailand.
These exhibitions will serve multiple purposes: quenching thirst for fans who haven't seen their national team in action all year, while also giving the coaches a closer look at candidates for next year's FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and the Summer Olympics.
Bento's team would have completed the second round of the Asian World Cup qualifying tournament this year, had it not been for COVID-19. Typically, rosters for international matches are largely filled with players based in Europe, such as Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min, and those from the domestic K League are picked as complementary pieces.
Paulo Bento (L), head coach of the South Korean men's senior national football team, smiles during practice at the National Football Center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 5, 2020. (Yonhap)
For these exhibitions, though, overseas-based stars weren't called up, as the mandatory, 14-day quarantine for all inbound travelers to South Korea ruled out their selections. Bento instead built his entire 23-man lineup with players from the K League, and these players will have an opportunity to make an impression on the national team boss.
Bento also plucked three players from the U-23 talent pool, including midfielder Won Du-jae, the MVP of the AFC U-23 Championship in January who is enjoying a fine season with the K League-leading Ulsan Hyundai FC. The Korea Football Association (KFA) had to step in as a mediator before Bento could take any more youngsters and leave Kim with slim pickings. Bento eventually agreed to take no more than three U-23 players.
Members of the South Korean men's under-23 national football team train at the National Football Center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 5, 2020, ahead of two exhibition matches against the men's senior national team. (Yonhap)
Bento also named some national team veterans: Ulsan defender Hong Chul (30 caps), FC Seoul midfielder Je Se-jong (26 caps) and Busan IPark striker Lee Jeong-hyeop (24 caps),
Kim called up most of the other members from the AFC title-winning squad, and also selected a few members from the 2019 U-20 national team that finished runner-up at the FIFA U-20 World Cup that year. Joining this group is Pohang Steelers' emerging attacking ace Song Min-kyu, a 21-year-old who is tied for most K League goals among South Korean players this season with 10. Song has never played for any national team in any age group.
Goalkeepers from the K League 1's two best clubs will represent each side for the exhibitions: Jo Hyeon-woo from Ulsan for Bento and Song Bum-keun of second-place Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors for Kim.
Kim Hak-bum, head coach of the South Korean men's under-23 national football team, controls the ball during practice at the National Football Center in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on Oct. 5, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)