yna--2020-11-05--Korean Air Q3 losses deepen on virus impact

Korean Air has suspended most of its flights on international routes since March as travel demand dried up amid virus @ @ @ @ @ , Frankfurt , Paris , Amsterdam , London , Moscow and U.S. cities , except @ @ @ @ @ , are currently available on long-haul routes .

By Choi Kyong-ae
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's biggest carrier, said Thursday its net losses widened in the third quarter from a year earlier amid the pandemic.
Net losses widened to 385.93 billion won (US$343 million) in the three months that ended in September from 211.85 billion won in the same period of last year, the company said in a statement.
Korean Air has suspended most of its flights on international routes since March as travel demand dried up amid virus fears. Flights to Tokyo, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, London, Moscow and U.S. cities, except for Hawaii and Las Vegas, are currently available on long-haul routes.
This photo, taken July 7, 2020, shows Korean Air planes at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
To ride out the unprecedented pandemic, Korean Air put up its non-core assets for sale to secure operating capital and began to carry cargo in cargo seat bags, which attach to the seats of passenger jets.
In September, the carrier added two converted B777-300ER planes on U.S. routes to transport cargo.
The move is in line with global peers, which are now using their passenger planes for cargo flights, either by using cargo seat bags or removing seats.
The company expects passenger demand will continue to remain low in the fourth quarter as the COVID-19 pandemic prolongs, but seasonal cargo delivery demand for semiconductors, auto parts and e-commerce goods will help support the bottom line.
Operating profit plunged 94 percent to 7.59 billion won in the third quarter from 117.88 billion won a year ago. Sales fell 53 percent to 1.55 trillion won from 3.28 trillion won over the cited period.
The quarterly earnings results are parent-based ones. Consolidated financial results will be released next week, the company said.
From January to September, net losses also deepened to 915.55 billion won from 626.86 billion won in the year-ago period.
Operating profit fell 44 percent to 91.7 billion won in the first nine months from 164.63 billion won a year ago. Sales declined 41 percent to 5.55 trillion won from 9.35 trillion won during the cited period.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-05--(3rd LD) SK Telecom's Q3 net up over 40 pct on media biz growth, equity gains

Last month , SK Telecom said it decided to spin off its mobility business , which will set up a @ @ @ @ @ ride-hailing company by the first half of next year .
The carrier said it will @ @ @ @ @ for its new spinoff , tentatively named T map Mobility Co .

(ATTN: ADDS photo and more details in paras 7, 8, 15-18)
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- SK Telecom Co., South Korea's largest mobile carrier, said Thursday its net income rose more than 40 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier on the back of robust growth in its media business.
The telecom operator's net income stood at 395.7 billion won (US$350.5 million) in the July-September period, up 44.2 percent from 274.4 billion won the previous year, according to a regulatory filing.
Operating income reached 361.5 billion won, up 19.7 percent over the cited period, while sales rose 3.7 percent to 4.7 trillion won.
SK Telecom said its media business through its internet protocol TV subsidiary SK Broadband Co. saw robust growth in the third quarter as sales stood at 966.8 billion won, up 20.3 percent from the previous year.
The mobile carrier said its mobile network business also continued to grow, with sales reaching 2.94 trillion won, up 1 percent from a year earlier, thanks to a pickup in 5G subscribers despite its move to end 2G services.
The carrier said it had 4.26 million 5G subscriptions as of end of the third quarter, up 27.3 percent from the previous quarter.
In a conference call, SK Telecom said it expects its 5G subscribers to reach 5 to 6 million by the end of this year.
The company added that it is reorganizing its 5G phone pay plans to be more competitive as early as the end of this year, which will likely lead to faster user growth and reach 9 million 5G subscribers in end-2021.
SK Telecom said a strong performance from its chipmaking affiliate SK hynix Inc. also boosted its bottom line.
Equity gains totaled 265.9 billion won in the third quarter, compared with 121.3 billion won a year earlier, according to the company.
SK Telecom holds a 20 percent stake in the memory chipmaker, which reported Wednesday that net income more than doubled in the third quarter on-year.
The carrier said its non-telecom businesses saw strong growth in the third quarter as the company seeks to move beyond its traditional focus in network-related businesses.
SK Telecom's security units ADT Caps and SK infosec reported combined sales of 353.3 billion won in the July-September period, up 15.5 percent from the previous year.
Its commerce business, which include home shopping firm SK stoa Co. and e-commerce company 11Street Co., saw total sales reach 206.6 billion won, rising 18.7 percent over the same period.
This undated file photo shows a sign of SK Telecom Co.'s logo at the company headquarters in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
The carrier also drummed up expectations for its new technology businesses, such as its mobility spinoff in partnership with Uber Technologies Inc. and app market subsidiary ONE Store.
Last month, SK Telecom said it decided to spin off its mobility business, which will set up a joint venture with the U.S. ride-hailing company by the first half of next year. The carrier said it will pursue an initial public offering for its new spinoff, tentatively named T map Mobility Co.
The company said its app market subsidiary ONE Store recorded nine consecutive quarters of growth and that it aims to publicly list the firm next year.
SK Telecom's shares closed 2.06 percent higher to 223,000 won, roughly in line with the broader KOSPI's rise of 2.4 percent.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

The deaths have stoked public anxiety over the safety of such vaccines , but the Korea Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ 87 of those deaths have very limited relation with the flu shots .
Another seven @ @ @ @ @

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Thursday.
-----------------
94 suspected flu shot deaths reported in S. Korea: authorities
SEOUL -- South Korea's public health agency said Thursday that a total of 94 people, most of whom were elderly, died after receiving seasonal flu vaccines.
The deaths have stoked public anxiety over the safety of such vaccines, but the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said 87 of those deaths have very limited relation with the flu shots. Another seven cases are under investigation.
-----------------
(2nd LD) LG Uplus downplays Huawei risk, Q3 net nearly quadruples
SEOUL -- LG Uplus Corp., a major South Korean telecom operator, downplayed concerns Thursday over its use of network equipment by Huawei Technologies Co. amid U.S. pressure to sever ties with the Chinese company, citing the completion of equipment installation and a healthy backlog for maintenance.
The United States has repeatedly pressed the South Korean carrier to stop using Huawei's 5G equipment, claiming the Chinese telecom equipment maker poses a security risk and could compromise the country's internet communications infrastructure.
-----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks jump over 2 pct amid U.S. presidential election uncertainties
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks jumped over 2 percent Thursday on massive foreign buying amid uncertainties over the U.S. presidential election results. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 56.47 points, or 2.4 percent, to close at 2,413.79.
-----------------
Probe launched into allegations against top prosecutor's wife over bribery and stock manipulation
SEOUL -- The prosecution has launched a probe into allegations that Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's wife was involved in bribery and stock manipulation cases, judicial sources said Thursday.
According to the sources, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office has assigned the cases to an anti-corruption investigation team to look into the allegations raised by Rep. Choe Kang-wook of the minor Open Democratic Party and a civic organization earlier this year.
-----------------
FM Kang to hold talks with Pompeo in U.S. next week
SEOUL -- Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will travel to the United States early next week for talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, her office said Thursday.
She will make a four-day visit to Washington starting Sunday, and the talks with Pompeo will take place Monday (U.S. time), the foreign ministry said.
-----------------
School child care workers plan nationwide strike to demand better working conditions
SEJONG -- After-school child care workers at elementary schools across the country plan to stage a strike this week, according to a workers' rights group Thursday, raising concerns of a national void in after-school child care for young elementary school students with working parents.
According to a national rights advocacy group for non-regular school workers, some 6,000 after-school child care workers plan to participate in a one-day strike Friday to demand better working conditions. The number of participants represents roughly half of the country's after-school child care workers.
-----------------
(LEAD) Gritty midfielder named MVP of S. Korean football
SEOUL -- Son Jun-ho, who served as a rock in the midfield for the South Korean football champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, was voted the MVP of the K League 1 on Thursday.
Son, 28, earned the highest individual honor in the league after leading Jeonbuk to a record-setting fourth consecutive championship and eighth overall this year.
-----------------
(LEAD) (Yonhap Interview) Young filmmaker questions S. Korea's cutthroat education in documentary
SEOUL -- Koo Yun-joo, 28, was once a "science prodigy."
The "good girl," who always aced her classes and was a reliable big sister, made her parents beam with pride when she passed a rigorous test that gave child prodigy status to a selected few.
(END)


yna--2020-11-05--Retiring KBO veteran doesn't want career to end with postseason elimination

`` Looking back , I feel embarrassed that I used to talk about making the postseason , '' Park said @ @ @ @ @ , the goal should always be to win a championship .
Even after I leave @ @ @ @ @ will always tell fans that their goal is to win the title and then put @ @ @ @ @ that . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- After spending his entire 19-year professional career with one team, LG Twins' veteran designated hitter Park Yong-taik could see it all come to an end Thursday.
His Twins are one loss away from being eliminated in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) postseason. They dropped to the Doosan Bears 4-0 on Wednesday in Game 1 of their best-of-three first-round series. Park grounded out in his lone pinch-hit at-bat.
Park Yong-taik of the LG Twins speaks to reporters before Game 2 of the Korea Baseball Organization first-round playoff series against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Nov. 5, 2020. (Yonhap)
The 41-year-old, the career leader with 2,504 regular season hits, is still looking for his first Korean Series championship ring. Park had long announced his plan to retire after this season, and he doesn't even want to think of the possibility that his career could come to an end Thursday.
"I am trying to picture myself stepping up to the plate on the day we win the Korean Series," Park said in his pregame media session Thursday at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. "And I want that to be the last moment of my career."
Park said he told his wife Wednesday night that he could be having his last breakfast as a baseball player Thursday.
"Then she told me it wasn't going to be the case," Park said with a laugh. "And I also don't think this will be my last game tonight."
The Twins reached the Korean Series during Park's rookie year in 2002 but lost to the Samsung Lions. They haven't made it to the championship round since.
Park Yong-taik of the LG Twins grounds out to second base against the Doosan Bears during the top of the fifth inning of Game 1 of the Korea Baseball Organization first-round playoff series at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Nov. 4, 2020. (Yonhap)
Park's teammates have been trying to rally around their departing teammate and send him off with his first title. Park said he himself should have been aiming higher earlier in his career.
"Looking back, I feel embarrassed that I used to talk about making the postseason," Park said. "As a pro, the goal should always be to win a championship. Even after I leave, I hope LG players will always tell fans that their goal is to win the title and then put in the work to achieve that."
If the Twins win Thursday, they will force a deciding Game 3 for Saturday. Park said his family is scheduled to attend that game, and he wants to give them the opportunity to see him.
Park also had one other immediate goal: make it to the postgame press conference as the Player of the Game.
"I'll see you all back here later tonight," Park cracked as he left.
Park Yong-taik of the LG Twins speaks to reporters before Game 2 of the Korea Baseball Organization first-round playoff series against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Nov. 5, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-05--Foreign ministry to unveil 'highly tightened' rules on sexual misconduct: vice minister

A local employee at the Korean Embassy in New Zealand accused a senior diplomat posted at the mission of groping @ @ @ @ @ .
The case resurfaced in July when New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern raised it @ @ @ @ @ Moon Jae-in .

SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- The foreign ministry will soon announce highly tightened rules against sexual misconduct committed by foreign service officials posted overseas, a vice foreign minister said Thursday.
"(The foreign ministry) has decided to unveil sexual misconduct-related rules that are highly tightened from the existing ones," First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun said during a plenary meeting of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.
He was responding to Rep. Lee Tae-kyu of the main opposition People Power Party, who zeroed in on a recent string of sexual misconduct cases reported at overseas Korean diplomatic missions.
"(The ministry) is in the process of laying out new regulations," Choi noted.
The foreign ministry has come under fire for a succession of sexual molestation cases at its overseas embassies and diplomatic missions, including the embassy in New Zealand.
A local employee at the Korean Embassy in New Zealand accused a senior diplomat posted at the mission of groping him multiple times in 2017. The case resurfaced in July when New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern raised it during phone talks with President Moon Jae-in.
After probing the case, Seoul's human rights watchdog recommended in September that the foreign ministry improve "shortcomings" in its handling of the sexual misconduct case such as the absence of related guidelines.
First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-05--Doosan Solus to change its name to Solus Advanced Materials

SEOUL , Nov. 5 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean battery foil maker Doosan Solus Co. said Thursday that it @ @ @ @ @ name to Solus Advanced Materials Co. at its shareholders meeting to be held on Nov. @ @

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korean battery foil maker Doosan Solus Co. said Thursday that it has decided to change its name to Solus Advanced Materials Co. at its shareholders meeting to be held on Nov. 20.
The decision came after cash-strapped Doosan Group's holding company Doosan Corp. and its key shareholders sold a 52.93 percent stake in Doosan Solus to private equity fund SkyLake Investment Co. for 698 billion won (US$619 million) in September.
Doosan and key shareholders of Doosan Solus, including the group's Chairman Park Jeong-won, sold their stake in the battery foil maker to tide over the cash shortage caused by the group's power plant builder Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co.
After the stake sale, Doosan's stake in Doosan Solus was lowered to 2.84 percent.
Doosan Solus will also include the production and online sales of cosmetics into its business, which ranges from battery foil to raw materials for cosmetics, it said in a regulatory filing.
This photo, provided by Doosan Corp. on Oct. 30, 2020, shows a Hungary battery copper foil plant of Doosan Solus Co. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-05--Probe launched into allegations against top prosecutor's wife over bribery and stock manipulation

According to the sources , the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office has assigned the cases to an anti-corruption investigation team @ @ @ @ @ raised by Rep. Choe Kang-wook of the minor Open Democratic Party and a civic organization @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- The prosecution has launched a probe into allegations that Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's wife was involved in bribery and stock manipulation cases, judicial sources said Thursday.
According to the sources, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office has assigned the cases to an anti-corruption investigation team to look into the allegations raised by Rep. Choe Kang-wook of the minor Open Democratic Party and a civic organization earlier this year.
Kim Keon-hee, the top prosecutor's wife and CEO of Covana Contents, is accused of accepting bribes last year disguised as sponsorships to the art exhibition operator from companies that were under the prosecution's probe.
She is also suspected of being involved in an alleged stock manipulation case in Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealing company here, and of buying stocks of its affiliate Deutsch Financial on preferential terms.
This file photo shows Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl on the left and his wife during an appointment ceremony at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on July 25, 2019. (Yonhap)
Last month, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae said the prosecution has been dragging its feet on investigating the allegations against Kim for far too long.
She ordered a speedy investigation and asked the top prosecutor to stay away from the investigation, citing concerns over the fairness of the probe.
Yoon accepted the recusal request, but later called the minister's exercise of investigative command "absurd" and accusations against his family as "groundless" during a parliamentary audit session on the prosecution.
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--Manufacturers' domestic supply declines for 2nd straight quarter amid pandemic

The third-quarter tally compared with a 4.5 percent on-year drop in the second quarter , when the index fell at @ @ @ @ @ third quarter of 2018 amid the COVID-19 pandemic .

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korean manufacturers' domestic supply declined for the second straight quarter in the third quarter, as production remained sluggish amid the new coronavirus outbreak, data showed Friday.
The manufacturing domestic supply index stood at 102.7 in the July-September period, down 0.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the data from Statistics Korea.
The third-quarter tally compared with a 4.5 percent on-year drop in the second quarter, when the index fell at the sharpest pace since the third quarter of 2018 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The index, which measures both locally produced goods and imports, serves as a major indicator of the trend of domestic demand.
The index declined for the second consecutive quarter amid the virus outbreak, but the pace of fall eased as production and exports improved, according to the statistics office.
The index of capital goods -- which refers to machinery used in industrial sectors -- rose 5 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier, after growing 11.4 percent in the second quarter.
The supply for consumer goods added 1.2 percent on-year in the cited period on demand for medicine and autos, compared with a 1.4 percent gain in the second quarter.
But the supply of intermediate goods fell 2.2 percent on-year in the third quarter after sharply falling 10.6 percent three months earlier.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


(Copyright)

The use of the content for any other purposes other than personal and noncommercial use is expressly prohibited without the @ @ @ @ @ News Agency .

All information carried by the Yonhap News Agency, including articles, photographs, graphics, audio and video images, and illustrations (collectively, the content) is owned by the Yonhap News Agency.
The use of the content for any other purposes other than personal and noncommercial use is expressly prohibited without the written consent of the Yonhap News Agency.
Any violation can be subject to a compensation claim or civil and criminal lawsuits.
Requests to use the content for any purpose besides the ones mentioned above should be directed in advance to Yonhap's Information Business Department at 82-2-398-3557 or 82-2-398-3552.
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--China hopes for no confrontation with incoming U.S. gov't: top envoy

`` China hopes that no matter who becomes ( the next president ) , we wo n't have to stand @ @ @ @ @ he told reporters .
`` I would like the two countries not to confront each @ @ @ @ @ for our peoples and human society , '' he said .

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- China hopes that it will not have to confront the United States regardless of who becomes the next U.S. president, the Chinese ambassador to Seoul said Friday.
Ambassador Xing Haiming made the remark on the sidelines of an ongoing forum on the southern island of Jeju when asked about Beijing's position in relation to the upcoming U.S. election outcome amid the growing rivalry between the two superpowers.
The rivalry between Beijing and Washington has posed major challenges to Seoul on various fronts ranging from diplomacy and security to the economy.
"China hopes that no matter who becomes (the next president), we won't have to stand against each other," he told reporters. "I would like the two countries not to confront each other but to cooperate together for our peoples and human society," he said.
Xing also expressed hope that through dialogue, the relationship between China and the United States will contribute to world prosperity.
The ambassador was scheduled to attend a session of foreign ambassadors later in the day.
Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Xing Haiming speaks to reporters on the sidelines of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, hosted by the Jeju city government on the southern island on Nov. 6, 2020. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--Aggravated penalties for promise of bribery by financial employees ruled constitutional

The Constitutional Court said the imposition of the same penalties on promises of bribery and actual acceptance of bribes does @ @ @ @ @ of equality .
Five justices ruled the law unconstitutional , and four others issued the @ @ @ @ @ court has made the final ruling , as the number of unconstitutional opinions fell short @ @ @ @ @ six justices .

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- An anti-corruption law equating a promise of bribery by financial services company employees with actual bribery does not run counter to the nation's Constitution, the Constitutional Court ruled Friday.
Under the aggravated punishment of specific economic crimes act, executives and employees of local financial services companies caught receiving or requesting 30 million won (US$26,650) or more in job-related bribes are subject to increased punishments according to the amount.
Notably, the standing law stipulates the same punishments for financial services employees charged with just promising to accept job-related bribes above the threshold amount, reflecting the high standard of integrity required in the financial services sector.
The Constitutional Court said the imposition of the same penalties on promises of bribery and actual acceptance of bribes does not violate the constitutional principle of equality. Five justices ruled the law unconstitutional, and four others issued the opposite verdict, but the court has made the final ruling, as the number of unconstitutional opinions fell short of the legal quorum of six justices.
The ruling came in response to a petition filed by a financial company employee, who was indicted for making a promise with a client to sell his land for a price 80 million won above the market value in exchange for a loan of 1.8 billion won.
The petitioner, whose identity was withheld, argued that the equal punishment for promises of bribery and actual bribe-taking is unconstitutional.
"The punishment for the promise of giving and receiving bribes is based on the judgment that there has already been a marked violation of the integrity of financial services employees. The promise of bribery cannot be regarded as smaller than actual bribery in terms of the scale of illegality and responsibility," the court said.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--Moon says Seoul to continue to seek denuclearization, permanent peace on Korean Peninsula

`` Even though the Armistice Agreement was signed , without a peace treaty in place , the Korean War has @ @ @ @ @ neither has the pain and sorrow of the war , '' Moon said in a @ @ @ @ @ Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity , an annual international peace forum , held at @ @ @ @ @ Jeju .

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in said Friday that South Korea will never give up efforts for the denuclearization of the peninsula and establishment of permanent peace in the region, as he underlined the need to revitalize the Korea peace process.
"Even though the Armistice Agreement was signed, without a peace treaty in place, the Korean War has not ended yet, and neither has the pain and sorrow of the war," Moon said in a prerecorded speech delivered at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, an annual international peace forum, held at the southern resort island of Jeju.
Moon added, "Korea will never cease its efforts to end the war for good, achieve denuclearization and establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula."
Moon's offer is seen as aimed at revitalizing the Korea peace process, which has lost steam since U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un failed to produce a deal in their Hanoi summit early last year.
This time, however, the president did not make a direct mention of a political declaration on ending the 1950-53 Korean War, which he repeatedly suggested in previous speeches on the global stage.
This file photo shows President Moon Jae-in delivering a speech at the Liberation Day ceremony at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on Aug. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
Inter-Korean relations have been in a deadlock despite a series of summit talks between Moon and Kim in 2018. The two Koreas, which fought each other in the Korean War, remain technically in a state of conflict, as the war ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.
Moon noted that South Korea's hosting of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, which the North made a surprise decision to participate in, demonstrated how resolute decisions by the two Koreas, together with multilateral cooperation, "can bring peace to the Korean Peninsula and contribute to world peace."
The president also repeated calls to launch a regional initiative for cooperation on infectious disease control in Northeast Asia -- first proposed in Moon's United Nations General Assembly speech in September -- which would include the two Koreas.
"Having gone through human-to-human and domestic animal infectious diseases and natural disasters together, the South and the North have been repeatedly reminded that the two are a single community of life and safety," Moon said.
Moon argued that the initiative, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, would help save lives while also paving the path toward peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia and beyond.
The president also explained Seoul's efforts in tackling climate change, highlighting the country's recently announced goal of going carbon neutral by 2050.
"By investing over 73 trillion won (US$65 billion) in total in the Green New Deal for climate action and a greener economy until 2030, Korea will continue to walk unwaveringly toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2050," he said.
Moon also explained Seoul's plan to contribute $10 million to the COVID-19 Vaccines Advance Market Commitment, a multilateral platform designed to fund coronavirus vaccine distribution to developing countries.
"Although it is hard to predict when the pandemic will come to a complete end, we will not be free of the coronavirus until the entire humanity becomes immune to the virus through vaccination," Moon said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--(LEAD) S. Korea to maintain Level 1 social distancing under revised restriction measures

The new system groups facilities into `` priority '' and `` regular '' sites in terms of the application of @ @ @ @ @ wearing and other key rules that were previously mandatory only at `` high-risk '' facilities @ @ @ @ @ facilities .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES with more details, comments in paras 7-8; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will maintain Level 1 social distancing regulations under a revised five-tier scheme as the number of new cases remains below 100 this week, the health authority said Friday.
The new five-tier scheme, which takes effect Saturday, breaks the current three levels into five -- 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 -- based on the average number of daily infections per week, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The new system divides the nation into seven zones to allow provincial governments to decide the level of their own social distancing in accordance with the new infections in the regions.
This image shows the new five-tier social distancing scheme for COVID-19. (Yonhap)
The new system groups facilities into "priority" and "regular" sites in terms of the application of antivirus rules, while mask wearing and other key rules that were previously mandatory only at "high-risk" facilities will now apply to all facilities.
Starting Nov. 13, those who don't wear masks in public spaces and transportation will be subject to fines of up to 100,000 won (US$88.3), and business owners who violate the public health regulations will be slapped with a maximum fine of 3 million won.
The KDCA said the revised rule is aimed at effectively containing COVID-19, also alleviating its impact on daily lives and business activities.
The health authority said it will maintain Level 1 social distancing guidelines under a new five-tier scheme, as the average number of new cases across the nation stood at 92.1 over the past week.
"The revised social distancing scheme is aimed at turning antivirus efforts a more effective and sustainable way, not relieving quarantine measures," Sohn Young-rae, a senior health official, said in a briefing. "It is most desirable that people abide by antivirus rules while maintaining the current Level 1 social distancing."
Level 1 signifies a controllable level of transmission that allows people to carry out their ordinary lives while wearing masks and following social distancing rules at designated facilities.
The lowest level is imposed when the daily new cases remain below 100 for a week for the Seoul metropolitan area and 30 for other regions.
Under Level 1.5, the use of multipurpose facilities is restricted. At Level 2, the pandemic is considered to be spreading nationwide and nonessential outdoor visits and gatherings are discouraged in the affected zones.
Level 2.5 is adopted when the health system's routine response capability cannot easily handle the situation, and the government will urge the public to remain at home.
At Level 3, which will be issued in the event that more than 800-1,000 new daily cases are reported across the nation for a week, the nation will effectively be placed on lockdown.
In the file photo taken Oct. 29, 2020, Seoul city officials monitor a visitor check-in system at a restaurant in Itaewon in Seoul ahead of Halloween on concerns over the spread of COVID-19. (Yonhap)
The number of new cases across the nation slightly exceeded 100 for the third straight day Friday, due to sporadic cluster infections from senior nursing homes, hospitals and workplaces.
Health authorities remain on guard ahead of the winter season when people stay longer indoors and cold, dry weather provides a more favorable environment for the virus.
On Thursday, South Chungcheong Province raised the Level 1 to a level equivalent to Level 1.5, after 20 more cases from a call center in Cheonan, 92 kilometers south of Seoul, raised alarms over the spread of the virus in the region.
The municipal government shut down the call center's building and has been conducting virus tests on over 160 people who work at the same building.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--(LEAD) After-school child care workers launch strike over working conditions

On Thursday , the education ministry urged union members to cancel the strike in consideration of parents and children , @ @ @ @ @ talks , especially at a time when many are already suffering due to the pandemic @

(ATTN: UPDATES with start of strike, press conference, other details in paras 1-11; CHANGES headline, photo)
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- Hundreds of after-school child care workers at elementary schools began a one-day strike Friday, raising concerns about a void in child care for young students with working parents.
More than 6,000 after-school child care workers, about half their total number in the country, plan to take part in the strike, according to a national rights advocacy group for non-regular school workers.
During a press conference outside the headquarters of the ruling Democratic Party, members of a national labor union for non-regular school workers demanded that the education ministry withdraw a bill that transfers responsibility for the after-school program from schools to local governments.
This photo shows striking after-school child care workers holding a rally outside the headquarters of the ruling Democratic Party in Seoul on Nov. 6, 2020. (Yonhap)
They said the local governments could then commission the private sector to provide the services, leading to poorer working conditions for them.
"If the government continues to increase after-school programs in a haphazard manner, these programs will become a breeding ground for corruption, just like private kindergartens, even with the enormous investment of the state," the union said.
The union members also demanded an elevation in their employment status from part time to full time, saying they have been working longer hours without additional pay amid increased demand for their services due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Union members plan to hold rallies throughout the day outside the education ministry and the education offices of each municipal and provincial government.
They have threatened to repeat the strike with more people for longer than a day unless their demands are properly addressed.
On Tuesday, the education ministry proposed holding talks through a consultative body made up of union members, parents' associations and education officials, but the National Council of Governors of Education refused to join without the participation of the health and gender equality ministries.
The education authorities have asked school officials to volunteer their services to continue the child care program during the strike and use the services of local community centers if necessary.
The authorities also plan to mobilize non-striking workers and have asked parents not to use the program Friday unless it is absolutely necessary.
On Thursday, the education ministry urged union members to cancel the strike in consideration of parents and children, and resolve their grievances through talks, especially at a time when many are already suffering due to the pandemic.
Around 200,000 elementary school students benefit from the program. Over 80 percent of them are either first- or second-grade students.
Students arrive at an elementary school in Seoul on Nov. 6, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--Seoul stocks trim gains late Fri. morning on tech, auto losses

SEOUL , Nov. 6 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean stocks trimmed most of their earlier gains late Friday morning @ @ @ @ @ by tech and auto losses , amid the eased uncertainties over U.S. election results .

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks trimmed most of their earlier gains late Friday morning on profit-taking, mostly led by tech and auto losses, amid the eased uncertainties over U.S. election results.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 0.42 points, or 0.02 percent, to 2,414.21 as of 11:20 a.m.
Trading turned choppy after a strong start, following a four-session winning streak.
Overnight, the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite jumped 2.59 percent, and both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 advanced 1.95 percent.
Most large caps traded mixed in Seoul.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 0.83 percent, but No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix edged up 0.23 percent.
Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics retreated 0.9 percent, while Celltrion gained 2.39 percent.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem spiked 6.06 percent, but Hyundai Motor, the country's largest carmaker, shed 1.43 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver climbed 0.5 percent, and its rival Kakao advanced 2.89 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,126.15 won against the U.S. dollar, up 2.05 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--(2nd LD) New virus cases above 100 for 3rd day on chains of cluster infections

Cheonan and Asan of South Chungcheong Province already decided this week to issue the Level 1.5 alert amid the soaring @ @ @ @ @ .
This puts more restrictions on the size of gatherings and requires people to wear @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus infections rose by triple digits for a third straight day Friday, due to an increase of cluster infections across the country, putting the country's virus fight at risk amid the approaching winter season.
The country added 145 more COVID-19 cases, including 117 local infections, raising the total caseload to 27,195, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
It marked a slight rise from 125 added Thursday and 118 identified Wednesday.
The number of domestic transmissions was also the highest since Oct. 23, when 138 new cases were reported.
Models wear protective masks during a fashion show in Daegu, South Korea, on Nov. 5, 2020. (Yonhap)
Recently, South Korea has seen an uptick in the number of daily cases due to sporadic cluster infections from senior nursing homes and hospitals.
Health authorities remain vigilant as such group transmissions were reported from private gatherings of families and friends as well.
"The latest cases are not limited to high-risk facilities but are also observed in different corners of daily lives as well," said Son Young-rae, a senior health official, during a daily briefing.
Starting Saturday, South Korea will adopt the Level 1 social distancing scheme under revised five-tier antivirus restrictions aimed at mitigating the impact on businesses.
Restaurants and cafes will be obligated to adopt electronic entry log systems with a grace period of a month. Other risk-prone business establishments, such as clubs and bars, will need to keep track of visitors via the electronic system immediately starting Saturday.
In-person class attendance is capped at two-thirds of the student body, while worship services are allowed, with every other seat left empty. Group meals and non-worship gatherings are not recommended.
While the country is set to maintain the Level 1 social distancing scheme, each city is allowed to operate its own virus infection preventive system depending on the virus situation.
Cheonan and Asan of South Chungcheong Province already decided this week to issue the Level 1.5 alert amid the soaring number of COVID-19 cases there. This puts more restrictions on the size of gatherings and requires people to wear masks at more places.
Health authorities warned that the distancing measure can also be revised up in the greater Seoul area should the number of new cases not flatten. The region houses around half of the nation's population.
Of the new local infections, 38 cases were reported in Seoul and 34 cases were from Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital. A whopping 25 cases also came from Chungcheong Province, along with 13 from South Gyeongsang Province.
The number of patients in the capital city could go up after a reporter covering the late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee's funeral at the Samsung Medical Center last month in Seoul was diagnosed with the virus.
The health authorities estimated over 1,000 people, including politicians, senior government officials, business leaders and journalists, visited the hospital on Oct. 26, urging them to receive virus tests.
As of Thursday noon, the KDCA said a total of seven patients were traced to the funeral.
A brokerage house in western Seoul also reported 11 patients so far, after identifying its first patient on Monday.
In southern Seoul, a total of 42 patients were traced to a sauna facility.
From Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, a rehabilitation hospital has reported 106 COVID-19 cases.
Medical workers at a makeshift clinic in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, gather around a heater on Nov. 5, 2020. (Yonhap)
The country added 28 imported cases.
Among the imported cases, the United States accounted for 12. Three cases each also came from Russia and Indonesia, while Australia and Germany were responsible for two cases each.
Other countries included Uzbekistan, India, Myanmar and Turkey.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 50, down one from Thursday.
Health authorities said the number is at a manageable level, pointing out that the country can immediately accommodate around 140 patients under such conditions.
South Korea reported one additional death, raising the total to 476.
The fatality rate came to 1.75 percent.
The number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 24,821, up 86 from the previous day. This indicates around 91 percent of the patients reported here have been cured.
The country has carried out 2,686,314 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3, including 12,608 tests from a day earlier.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--Unification minister urges N.K. not to heighten tensions to test incoming U.S. administration

`` It is not a desirable choice at all if North Korea creates or escalates tension on the Korean Peninsula @ @ @ @ @ the next U.S. administration before it formulates policies , '' he said , recalling that @ @ @ @ @ test during the first year of former U.S. President Barack Obama 's administration .

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- Unification Minister Lee In-young on Friday urged North Korea not to escalate tensions in an attempt to test the incoming U.S. administration, saying it is an "undesirable choice" in bringing peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Lee made the remarks during his speech at a peace forum in Seoul, urging North Korea to abide by and implement its agreements with the U.S. and South Korea regardless of whether President Donald Trump is reelected or Democratic candidate Joe Biden becomes the new president.
"It is not a desirable choice at all if North Korea creates or escalates tension on the Korean Peninsula to explore the intentions of the next U.S. administration before it formulates policies," he said, recalling that the North conducted a nuclear test during the first year of former U.S. President Barack Obama's administration.
Lee said the North will also be "keeping a close eye on" the U.S. election results.
Lee vowed to maintain a consistent policy toward North Korea regardless of the election results, pointing out the challenges in the past when policies changed as a new administration in South Korea or the U.S. took office.
"This time, we will continue the peace process on the Korean Peninsula unwaveringly regardless of which administration comes in," he said.
South Korea will also cooperate closely with the new U.S. administration and deliver its stance as soon as possible, he said.
"We will maintain our firm position that it is desirable for South Korea and the U.S. to work together and pursue a consistent policy toward North Korea and in seeking a peaceful solution through dialogue," he said.
The minister called on the North to cooperate with South Korea in the areas of public health and natural disasters, as well as in restoring the inter-Korean communication channels that were severed in June.
Unification Minister Lee In-young answers a lawmaker's questions during a plenary session of the National Assembly's foreign affairs and unification committee in Seoul on Sept. 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--S. Korea calls for U.S.-N. Korea talks in high-level security consultations

SEOUL , Nov. 6 ( Yonhap ) -- A top South Korean national security official stressed the need Friday for @ @ @ @ @ North Korea and the United States , pointing out that the U.S. presidential election has @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- A top South Korean national security official stressed the need Friday for the resumption of dialogue between North Korea and the United States, pointing out that the U.S. presidential election has come to an end.
Suh Hoon, director of national security at the presidential office, made the call during a virtual consultation session with his American and Japanese counterparts, Robert O'Brien and Shigeru Kitamura, Cheong Wa Dae said.
They had discussions on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, establishing permanent peace in the region and other security-related issues, according to presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok,
They exchanged assessments of the recent security conditions on the peninsula and talked about ways for "engaging with North Korea" to restart dialogue.
They agreed that trilateral security cooperation should go on "with no vacuum" regardless of the current situation related to this week's U.S. presidential polls, Kang said in a press release.
"In particular, our side emphasized that efforts for North Korea-U.S. dialogue should be resumed at an early date, as the U.S. presidential election has finished," he added.
The three parties also agreed to strengthen cooperation and international solidarity for the development and supply of COVID-19 vaccines and treatment.
This file photo shows Suh Hoon, director of Cheong Wa Dae's national security office. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--Kolon Industries Q3 net income down 18.6 pct. to 12.8 bln won

The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted 28.7 billion won in operating profit for the quarter , @ @ @ @ @ a year ago .
Sales fell 10.3 percent to 957.5 billion won .
( END @

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- Kolon Industries Inc. on Friday reported its third-quarter net profit of 12.8 billion won (US$11.4 million), down 18.6 percent from a year earlier.
The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted 28.7 billion won in operating profit for the quarter, compared with 51.6 billion won a year ago. Sales fell 10.3 percent to 957.5 billion won.
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--GM Korea workers continue strikes amid pandemic

The union asked the company to raise the basic pay by 120,000 won per worker and offer four months of @ @ @ @ @ 6 million won in cash , while demanding a new vehicle production plan at the @ @ @ @ @ after 2022 .

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- Unionized workers at GM Korea Co. have entered another round of partial strikes for higher wages amid the extended coronavirus pandemic, the company said Friday.
GM Korea's daytime and night-duty workers plan to stage a four-hour strike per person on Friday, Monday and Tuesday, while continuing to refuse to work overtime during the week and on the weekend, union spokesman Roh Hyung-rae said over the phone.
The daytime and night workers already held a partial strike last Friday and Monday at the No. 2 Bupyeong plant in Incheon, just west of Seoul.
"The union will decide Tuesday whether to continue strikes if the company does not make any concessions in this year's wage and collective agreement deal," he said.
This file photo, taken on Feb. 17, 2020, shows GM Korea's Bupyeong plant in Incheon, just west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
At stake is the company's proposal to have wage talks every two years, not once a year, to reduce uncertainties ahead, which was rejected by the union.
The company suggested providing 7 million won (US$6,200) in cash bonuses per person if the union accepts the biennial wage talks proposal.
GM Korea, the South Korean unit of General Motors Co., held 21 rounds of negotiations with its union since July, but they have yet to narrow differences over the size of bonuses and future vehicle allocation plans.
The union asked the company to raise the basic pay by 120,000 won per worker and offer four months of salary as a bonus and 6 million won in cash, while demanding a new vehicle production plan at the No. 2 Bupyeong plant after 2022.
The union argues there should be a new vehicle to replace the Trax compact SUV and Malibu midsize sedan currently being produced at the plant.
But the company has balked at the demands, citing the unfavorable business environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and steady demand for the models in global markets.
The Detroit carmaker has three Korean plants -- two in Bupyeong and one in Changwon -- whose combined output capacity reaches 630,000 units a year.
This file photo, taken on April 27, 2020, shows Kia Motors' plant in Gwangmyeong, just south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Other carmakers have already sealed this year's wage deals or have yet to complete them.
Last week, unionized workers at Kia Motors Corp. voted for a possible strike, as they have yet to reach a wage deal with the company for this year.
Kia workers demanded the company increase their monthly basic pay by 120,000 won per person and offer 30 percent of its annual operating profit in performance-based pay.
From January to September, Kia's operating profit plunged 45 percent to 784.85 billion won from 1.42 trillion won in the year-ago period.
The 30,000-strong union also expressed concerns about a possible reduction in workforce due to Hyundai Mobis Co.'s plan to build an auto parts plant for environment friendly vehicles.
Hyundai Mobis is a key affiliate of Hyundai Motor Group, along with Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors.
Renault Samsung Motors Corp., the South Korean unit of Renault S.A., halted negotiations with its union in September as it suspended its sole plant in Busan, 450 kilometers south of Seoul, from Sept. 24 to Oct. 18 to control inventories amid the pandemic.
The Busan plant also stopped operations from Nov. 2-3 for the same reason.
"The company is expected to resume talks with a new union leadership, as the election is under way to select new union leaders this month," a union spokesman said.
Renault Samsung's new union leadership will be launched next month, he said.
Hyundai Motor Co. and SsangYong Motor Co. already sealed this year's wage agreements with their unions.
In September, Hyundai workers accepted the company's proposal that included a freeze in basic pay, a one-off bonus amounting to 1 1/2 months of salary and 1.2 million won in special COVID-19 allowance.
It is the third time Hyundai and its union agreed on a wage freeze, after the 1998 Asian financial crisis and the 2009 global financial crisis. They also reached a wage deal without a strike for the second consecutive year.
SsangYong workers agreed on a wage freeze in April, as they see stable labor-management relations as the key to putting the company back on track amid virus worries.
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., which owns a 74.65 percent stake in SsangYong, said in August it will give up its status as the biggest shareholder of SsangYong if it finds a new investor.
This file photo provided by Renault Samsung shows the carmaker's sole plant in Busan, 450 kilometers south of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Nov. 6 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .

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


yna--2020-11-06--(URGENT) S. Korea to maintain Level 1 social distancing scheme across the country under revised anti

(URGENT) S. Korea to maintain Level 1 social distancing scheme across the country under revised antivirus measures.


yna--2020-11-06--U.N. chief Guterres calls for intensified efforts to engage with N. Korea

`` In the spirit of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations , I call on parties to intensify efforts @ @ @ @ @ said , pointing to an `` important step '' that the leaders of the two @ @ @ @ @ made in 2018 to build an atmosphere for dialogue through summitry and other efforts .

SEOUL/JEJU, South Korea, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres called Friday for intensified efforts to foster dialogue with North Korea, saying diplomatic engagement is the "only best way" to achieve the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Guterres delivered a video speech during the opening ceremony of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, amid a prolonged impasse in nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang, which has stalled inter-Korean dialogue.
"In the spirit of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, I call on parties to intensify efforts," the U.N. chief said, pointing to an "important step" that the leaders of the two Koreas and the United States made in 2018 to build an atmosphere for dialogue through summitry and other efforts.
"Diplomatic engagement is the only best way to sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he added.
Underscoring the need for multilateralism in addressing regional and global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Guterres voiced hope that inter-Korean cooperation will "lead the way in building bridges and establishing enduring habits of cooperation."
"This year saw the Korean Peninsula face the pandemic, floods and typhoons," he said. "And it is crucial that the two Koreas address current and future challenges together."
The U.N chief also expressed appreciation for Seoul's efforts to share the lessons learned from its antivirus efforts and President Moon Jae-in's proposal for the Northeast Asia Initiative for Infectious Disease Control and Public Health.
"I also commend your country for sharing its lessons learned during this health crisis and proposing further regional action on infectious disease control and public health," he said.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--Jeju Gov. Won urges Japan to treat Fukushima water as 'human, environmental security issue'

The governor made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity , amid public @ @ @ @ @ discharge of the tritium-laced water in the ocean .

SEOUL/JEJU, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- Jeju Gov. Won Hee-ryong called Friday for Japan to deal with the contaminated radioactive water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant as a "human, environmental security issue."
The governor made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, amid public concerns over Tokyo's possible discharge of the tritium-laced water in the ocean.
"On Japan's decision to release radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean, I urge Japan to treat this as a human and environmental security issue and engage in multilateral cooperation," Won said.
"This is not only Japan's problem but a common problem of the entire world," he added.
Amid public concerns over Japan's handling of the radioactive water, Seoul has repeatedly called for Tokyo to transparently share related information and stressed its "foremost priority" on the safety of citizens.
Last month, Tokyo was expected to finalize its plan to dispose of the tritium-laced water. But it apparently postponed an announcement on its decision amid strong protests.
Jeju Gov. Won Hee-ryong speaks during the opening ceremony of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity on the southern island of Jeju on Nov. 6, 2020, in this photo provided by the forum. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--Defense minister meets brother of S. Korean official killed by N. Korea

On Sept. 22 , North Korea fatally shot the 47-year-old official , who was adrift on its side of the @ @ @ @ @ his body , according to the South Korean military .
He went missing the previous @ @ @ @ @ the western border island of Yeonpyeong .

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- Defense minister Suh Wook on Friday met with the elder brother of a South Korean fisheries official killed by North Korea near the western sea border as the bereaved family raised doubts about the government's finding that the slain official attempted to defect to the North.
On Sept. 22, North Korea fatally shot the 47-year-old official, who was adrift on its side of the Yellow Sea, and burned his body, according to the South Korean military. He went missing the previous day while on duty near the western border island of Yeonpyeong.
Suh's meeting with Lee Rae-jin, the brother of the deceased official, came days after the government decided not to provide military intelligence collected in the course of the incident to the bereaved family due to the confidentiality of the information.
Lee has asked the defense ministry to disclose the audio file of a wiretapped conversation among North Korean troops, strongly protesting the government's announcement that his brother is believed to have attempted to defect to the North.
Lee said his attorney is preparing to request the ministry disclose the information again.
"I will ask what the defense minister has ordered (the military to do) after receiving reports (on the incident)," Lee told reporters before the closed-door meeting with the minister, denouncing the government for failing to protect the South Korean citizen.
Lee Rae-jin, the elder brother of a South Korean official killed by North Korean soldiers while drifting in its waters in September, speaks to reporters at the defense ministry building in Seoul on Nov. 6, 2020, before a closed-door meeting with Defense Minister Suh Wook. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--KBO's Wyverns hire new manager

KBO's Wyverns hire new manager

The Wyverns finished in ninth place among 10 teams this season at 51-92-1 ( wins-losses-ties ) and played most of @ @ @ @ @ Park Kyung-oan as their interim skipper .
Manager Youm Kyoung-youb fell ill during a game @ @ @ @ @ sidelined for all but five games for the rest of the season .
Both Youm @ @ @ @ @ at the end of the regular season .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- The SK Wyverns announced the hiring of their former coach Kim Won-hyong as their new manager Friday.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club said Kim, 48, signed a two-year deal worth 700 million won (US$622,650), which includes a 200 million-won signing bonus.
This photo provided by the SK Wyverns on Nov. 6, 2020, shows the Korea Baseball Organization club's new manager, Kim Won-hyong. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Kim is currently serving as pitching coach for the Doosan Bears, who are playing in the postseason. While clubs typically don't announce managerial hirings during playoffs -- especially when it involves an active coach on another team -- the Bears gave their blessings and let the Wyverns announce Kim's arrival.
The Bears clinched a spot in the second round Thursday and will next play Monday. The Wyverns said Kim will leave the Bears on Saturday and join the Wyverns on Monday.
The Wyverns finished in ninth place among 10 teams this season at 51-92-1 (wins-losses-ties) and played most of the season with bench coach Park Kyung-oan as their interim skipper. Manager Youm Kyoung-youb fell ill during a game on June 25 and was sidelined for all but five games for the rest of the season. Both Youm and Park left the club at the end of the regular season.
Kim was an original member of the Wyverns in 2000, when the franchise replaced the Ssangbangwool Raiders. He was drafted out of high school by the Raiders before the 1991 season and became the youngest KBO pitcher to throw a no-hitter at age 20 in 1993 -- a record that still stands to date.
Kim spent 11 seasons with the Wyverns and captained their very first championship team in 2007. In his post-playing career, Kim has been a coach with the Wyverns, the Lotte Giants and then the Bears.
"SK is a home for me. I'm honored to have this opportunity to manage the club," Kim said in a statement released by the Wyverns. "I am taking on an important responsibility of rebuilding this team. I will try to help the players regain their confidence and start playing winning baseball."
Kim also thanked the Bears for letting him take the new job in the middle of their postseason run.
This photo provided by the SK Wyverns on Nov. 6, 2020, shows the Korea Baseball Organization club's new manager, Kim Won-hyong. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--S. Korea investigating 4 more suspected cases of bird flu

South Korea later found two more suspected cases in the southwestern city of Gunsan and Yangju City , just north @ @ @ @ @ later found to be low pathogenic avian flu , according to the ministry .

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Friday that it is looking into four suspected cases of avian influenza found from wild bird droppings.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said it could take about five days to determine whether the virus is a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu.
In October, South Korea reported two outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian flu in Yongin, just south of Seoul, and the neighboring city of Cheonan, marking the first outbreak in 32 months.
South Korea later found two more suspected cases in the southwestern city of Gunsan and Yangju City, just north of Seoul, which were later found to be low pathogenic avian flu, according to the ministry.
Highly pathogenic avian flu is very contagious and can make poultry very sick and even cause death.
Quarantine officials have recently launched investigations at 10 major habitats for migratory birds and have bolstered preventive measures at nearby poultry farms.
The officials are carrying out thorough monitoring at more than 65,000 small-sized poultry farms in the country and have completed surveillance on around half of them.
Separately, South Korea said there have been no additional suspected cases of African swine fever from domestic pigs.
Authorities confirmed two ASF cases from Gangwon Province last month, marking the first outbreak of the animal disease since October 2019.
Last year, ASF swept through pig farms, prompting authorities to cull about 400,000 pigs nationwide as part of preventive measures. A total of 14 farms were infected.
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--2020-11-06--(5th LD) (US election) Biden overtakes Trump in Pennsylvania with few votes left before victory

They noted that Democrats had urged their supporters to vote early and by mail if possible , partly to avoid @ @ @ @ @ new coronavirus , while Trump had encouraged his voters to show up in person , @ @ @ @ @ over the validity of mail-in ballots .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead paras; UPDATES with latest vote counts in paras 2-6)
By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden made a surprising comeback to overtake President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania on Friday, further bolstering his chances of clinching the presidency after flipping Georgia hours earlier.
As of 8:50 a.m., Biden had 5,587 more votes than Trump in Pennsylvania. He came from more than 600,000 votes behind.
The former vice president is currently projected to have secured 253 electoral votes, 17 votes short of the 270 needed to win the White House. Trump has 213 electoral votes. The numbers have remained unchanged since late Wednesday.
State officials of Pennsylvania have said tens of thousands of votes still remain uncounted, but should Biden win the state, its 20 electoral votes alone will carry him over the finish line to the presidency.
Four other states -- Alaska, Arizona, Georgia and Nevada -- have yet to finish their vote counts, but Biden is now leading in all but Alaska after flipping Georgia earlier in the day.
Trump, on the other hand, will lose all chance of winning the election if he loses Georgia or Pennsylvania.
The image provided by Yonhap News TV shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. American voters began hitting the polls on Nov. 3, 2020, to elect the next U.S. president. (Yonhap)
Most outstanding votes being counted now are early, mail-in votes, which, according to election watchers here, tend to be "heavily skewed toward the Democrat."
They noted that Democrats had urged their supporters to vote early and by mail if possible, partly to avoid the danger of contracting the new coronavirus, while Trump had encouraged his voters to show up in person, partly by repeatedly raising questions over the validity of mail-in ballots.
More than 101 million Americans are reported to have voted early either by mail-in ballots or in-person voting, marking the highest number in the country's history.
Many states also accept mail-in ballots for days after Election Day, as long as they are postmarked on or before the election day.
Trump has called late, mail-in votes illegal and vowed to launch lawsuits against states that accept them.
"If you count the legal votes, I easily win. If you count the illegal votes, they can try to steal the election from us, if you count the votes that came in late," he said in a White House press conference on Thursday.
He also claimed that what he called the "election apparatus" was being run by Democrats, even in states with Republican governors, and that they were running "secret count rooms" to count "mystery" and "illegal" votes.
He argued he had won the states of Michigan and Wisconsin but that his lead in the states got "miraculously whittled down."
Trump earlier accused the Democrats of "dumping" ballots in key battleground states, where he said his earlier leads tended to "magically" disappear.
He has filed lawsuits in Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania to have their vote counting halted, partly on grounds of alleged vote-counting irregularities.
The Trump campaign has also said it will demand a recount of votes in Wisconsin, where the president is projected to have lost to Biden by a margin of less than 1 percentage point.
Trump also continued to question the validity of vote counts, saying, "Stop the fraud!" in one Twitter message and then repeating "STOP THE COUNT!" in at least two other tweets.
The captured image from the White House website shows U.S. President Donald Trump holding a press conference at the White House on Nov. 5, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Biden, on the other hand, expressed his faith in the system, saying, "The process is working.
"The count is being completed, and we will know very soon," he said at a brief press conference in Wilmington, Delaware, that was also attended by his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California.
"We have no doubt that when the count is finished, Sen. Harris and I will be declared the winners. So I ask everyone to stay calm, all people to stay calm," he added.
Biden earlier said he will not be hasty in declaring victory, noting vote counting must continue until each and every vote is counted.
Still, he has expressed confidence over his win.
"It's clear that we're winning enough states to reach 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency," he said at a press conference on Wednesday.
The captured image from the website of U.S. cable news network C-Span shows Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaking at a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware, on Nov. 5, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Should the two presidential candidates split the electoral votes exactly in half, the decision will go to the new House of Representatives to be formed early next year.
The Democratic Party is widely expected to maintain its house majority as the result of general elections held simultaneously with the presidential election this week.
However, in a presidential runoff vote by the House of Representatives, each state is given one vote and thus how each state votes depends on the number of Republican and Democratic representatives from each state.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--(4th LD) (US election) Biden overtakes Trump in Georgia, further closing in on presidency

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead paras; UPDATES with latest vote counts, minor edits throughout; RESTRUCTURES)
By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden made a dramatic comeback to overtake President Donald Trump in Georgia on Friday, which if he wins, will leave him only one electoral vote short of winning the White House.
As of 8 a.m., Biden had 1,096 more votes than Trump in Georgia. He came from more than 12,000 votes behind Trump to overtake the president.
With more votes left to be counted in Georgia and four other states -- Arizona, Alaska, Nevada and Pennsylvania -- Biden is projected to have secured 253 electoral votes out of the total 538, against Trump's 213. The numbers have remained unchanged since late Wednesday.
Should Biden win Georgia and secure its 16 electoral votes, the former vice president will have secured 269 or exactly half of all the electoral votes, meaning he will at least not lose.
In the U.S. presidential election, a winner-takes-all method is used, meaning anyone with the most popular votes from any given state takes all electoral votes allotted to that state.
Anyone who wins a majority of the total 538 electoral votes -- 270 or more -- wins the presidency.
Trump will have to win all four other states that are still counting votes just to be on par with his Democratic rival.
Biden continues to lead in Arizona but by a razor-thin margin that also continues to dwindle as the vote count progresses.
Trump leads in Pennsylvania, but his margin of votes has dwindled from a one-time high of over 600,000 to just over 18,000 votes as of 8 a.m.
The image provided by Yonhap News TV shows U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. American voters began hitting the polls on Nov. 3, 2020, to elect the next U.S. president. (Yonhap)
Most outstanding votes being counted now are early, mail-in votes, which, according to election watchers here, tend to be "heavily skewed toward the Democrat."
They noted that Democrats had urged their supporters to vote early and by mail if possible, partly to avoid the danger of contracting the new coronavirus, while Trump had encouraged his voters to show up in person, partly by repeatedly raising questions over the validity of mail-in ballots.
More than 101 million Americans are reported to have voted early either by mail-in ballots or in-person voting, marking the highest number in the country's history.
Many states also accept mail-in ballots for days after Election Day, as long as they are postmarked on or before the election day.
Trump has called late, mail-in votes illegal and vowed to launch lawsuits against states that accept them.
"If you count the legal votes, I easily win. If you count the illegal votes, they can try to steal the election from us, if you count the votes that came in late," he said in a White House press conference on Thursday.
He also claimed that what he called the "election apparatus" was being run by Democrats, even in states with Republican governors, and that they were running "secret count rooms" to count "mystery" and "illegal" votes.
He argued he had won the states of Michigan and Wisconsin but that his lead in the states got "miraculously whittled down."
Trump earlier accused the Democrats of "dumping" ballots in key battleground states, where he said his earlier leads tended to "magically" disappear.
He has filed lawsuits in Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania to have their vote counting halted, partly on grounds of alleged vote-counting irregularities.
The Trump campaign has also said it will demand a recount of votes in Wisconsin, where the president is projected to have lost to Biden by a margin of less than 1 percentage point.
Trump also continued to question the validity of vote counts, saying, "Stop the fraud!" in one Twitter message and then repeating "STOP THE COUNT!" in at least two other tweets.
The captured image from the White House website shows U.S. President Donald Trump holding a press conference at the White House on Nov. 5, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Biden, on the other hand, expressed his faith in the system, saying, "The process is working.
"The count is being completed, and we will know very soon," he said at a brief press conference in Wilmington, Delaware, that was also attended by his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris of California.
"We have no doubt that when the count is finished, Sen. Harris and I will be declared the winners. So I ask everyone to stay calm, all people to stay calm," he added.
Biden earlier said he will not be hasty in declaring victory, noting vote counting must continue until each and every vote is counted.
Still, he has expressed confidence over his win.
"It's clear that we're winning enough states to reach 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency," he said at a press conference on Wednesday.
The captured image from the website of U.S. cable news network C-Span shows Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaking at a press conference in Wilmington, Delaware, on Nov. 5, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Should the two presidential candidates split the electoral votes exactly in half, the decision will go to the new House of Representatives to be formed early next year.
The Democratic Party is widely expected to maintain its house majority as the result of general elections held simultaneously with the presidential election this week.
However, in a presidential runoff vote by the House of Representatives, each state is given one vote and thus how each state votes depends on the number of Republican and Democratic representatives from each state.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--S. Korea, China agree to cut fishing in EEZs

Under the agreement , which was reached during a meeting of fisheries officials , the number of boats allowed to @ @ @ @ @ EEZs will be reduced to 1,350 next year from this year 's 1,400 , according @ @ @ @ @ of Oceans and Fisheries .

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and China agreed on Friday to cut the number of their boats fishing in the two country's exclusive economic zones (EEZs) by 50 units each as they seek to preserve maritime resources, South Korea's ocean ministry said.
Under the agreement, which was reached during a meeting of fisheries officials, the number of boats allowed to fish in each other's EEZs will be reduced to 1,350 next year from this year's 1,400, according to South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
The reduction in Chinese fishing boats includes 10 bull trawlers causing conflicts with South Korean fishermen due to their huge fish catches, 32 drift net boats and eight squid fishing boats, the ministry said.
The reduction came after the two sides began cutting the number of their boats allowed to fish in their EEZs from 1,600 in 2016.
A Chinese fishing boat is sent to South Korea's western port city of Incheon under the escort of a coastal guard ship on allegations of illegal fishing in seas off Socheong Island on Oct. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korea and China also discussed ways to prevent Chinese boats' illegal fishing in waters off the South's East Sea and West Sea near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto inter-Korean sea border.
If the South's coast guard provides information on Chinese fishing boats returning home after illegal fishing in the seas of North Korea, China has agreed to inspect those vessels, the ministry said.
The Chinese fishing boats will be punished by China's law if they are found to have illegally fished in the North's seas.
South Korean and Chinese fishing boats have been allowed to fish in the maritime zones under the bilateral fishery agreement reached in 2000.
In addition, South Korea and China reached an agreement to beef up their crackdown on illegal fishing near the maritime zones.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--S. Korea bans imports of Japanese poultry after bird flu outbreak

`` As highly pathogenic AI has been found in the Netherlands , Britain and even Japan recently , we will @ @ @ @ @ live poultry being imported , '' a ministry official said .

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's government said Friday that it has banned imports of Japanese poultry following the outbreak of bird flu at a poultry farm there.
Japan earlier confirmed the outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of avian influenza at a poultry farm in Mitoyo City in Kagawa Prefecture.
According to Seoul's agriculture ministry, the imports ban will be applied to poultry goods, including chickens and eggs produced in Japan.
"As highly pathogenic AI has been found in the Netherlands, Britain and even Japan recently, we will conduct in-depth investigation into all live poultry being imported," a ministry official said.
"We will also strengthen efforts for information collection and analysis with regards to overseas outbreaks of animal diseases," the official added.
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--Manager for KBO club Twins resigns

Manager for KBO club Twins resigns

In his first year , they missed the postseason by finishing eighth among 10 clubs .
In both 2019 and @ @ @ @ @ in the regular season to qualify for the first round of the playoffs , but @ @ @ @ @ that stage in both years .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- Ryu Joong-il, manager of the South Korean baseball club LG Twins, resigned on Friday, less than 24 hours after his team's postseason elimination.
The Twins said Ryu had expressed his intent to step down on Thursday, immediately after getting swept by the Doosan Bears in their best-of-three, first-round postseason series in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). The club then accepted Ryu's resignation on Friday.
LG Twins manager Ryu Joong-il speaks to reporters before Game 2 of the Korea Baseball Organization first-round playoff series against the Doosan Bears at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Nov. 5, 2020. (Yonhap)
Ryu had just completed the final year of his three-year contract. The Twins said they were going to "carefully consider" bringing back the 57-year-old but decided to respect Ryu's decision to quit on his own terms.
"I'd like to thank fans of the LG Twins for their support, and I apologize for our disappointing season," Ryu said in a statement released by the team. "I felt it was time for me to leave."
Ryu led the Samsung Lions to four straight Korean Series championships from 2011 to 2014. Then in October 2017, he signed a three-year deal with the Twins worth 2.1 billion won (US$1.9 million), the largest contract for a manager in the KBO at the time.
The former star shortstop couldn't end the Twins' title drought, which has now reached 26 years.
In his first year, they missed the postseason by finishing eighth among 10 clubs. In both 2019 and 2020, they ranked fourth in the regular season to qualify for the first round of the playoffs, but they failed to get past that stage in both years.
Members of the LG Twins salute their fans after losing to the Doosan Bears 9-7 to be eliminated from the first round of the Korea Baseball Organization postseason on Nov. 5, 2020, at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--S. Korea opens consulate office in Da Nang

The Consulate General of South Korea in Da Nang held a ceremony to mark the launch of the diplomatic mission @ @ @ @ @ the Vietnamese city and went into operation .

HANOI, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea opened a consulate general in Da Nang on Friday as part of efforts to meet the growing needs of its people traveling the eastern city of Vietnam.
The Consulate General of South Korea in Da Nang held a ceremony to mark the launch of the diplomatic mission at the Hilton Hotel in the Vietnamese city and went into operation.
The ceremony was attended by Park Noh-wan, the South Korean ambassador to Vietnam, and other diplomats from the two countries.
The opening has been needed to meet the consular needs of a growing number of tourists from South Korea in recent years.
South Korean conglomerates, including Doosan Group and Hyosung Group, have been expanding their presence in the Vietnamese city.
A ceremony is held on Nov. 6, 2020, to mark the launch of the Consulate General of South Korea in Da Nang, with Park Noh-wan (2nd from L), South Korean ambassador to Vietnam, in attendance, in this photo provided by the diplomatic mission. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--BTS' Suga to take break following shoulder surgery: agency

The announcement included a message from Suga , who said he is `` very aware of how concerned and worried @ @ @ @ @ and knows how sad the fans must feel , '' asking fans to `` understand @ @ @ @ @ chance to prepare to meet you again strong and healthy . ''

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- Suga, a member of K-pop megastar BTS, will take a break from official activities, including promotion for an upcoming album, to fully recover from a recent shoulder surgery, the band's agency said Friday.
"Suga underwent surgery to repair his torn shoulder labrum on November 3," Big Hit Entertainment said in an announcement posted on fan community Weverse, adding that the BTS member is resting well following the successful surgery.
The agency said Suga has suffered from shoulder-related symptoms for years and made the decision to undergo surgery "to restore himself to good health to prepare for his mandatory military service as well as his post-service musical career."
BTS’ Suga to take break after shoulder surgery Youtube https://youtu.be/wIOxfBx84h8
Suga might not participate in BTS's activities for the time being for full recovery, Big Hit said, adding he might be absent from promotion for the band's upcoming album.
"Suga will be unable to participate in most official activities so that he may fully focus on his recovery ... It may be difficult for Suga to meet his long-awaited fans for some time, including for the upcoming BTS 'BE' album promotional activities," the agency said.
The announcement included a message from Suga, who said he is "very aware of how concerned and worried the fans must be, and knows how sad the fans must feel," asking fans to "understand this time as being my chance to prepare to meet you again strong and healthy."
BTS, which achieved historic musical milestones with its latest single "Dynamite," is set to return with its new album "BE" on Nov. 20.
This photo, provided by Big Hit Entertainment, shows BTS member Suga. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This photo, provided by Big Hit Entertainment, shows K-pop septet BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--(3rd LD) S. Korea to maintain lowest level of social distancing amid potential resurgence

Only 30 percent and 20 percent of the total seats can be used under Level 1.5 and Level 2 , @ @ @ @ @ banned from having meals together .
Under the two highest levels , religious facilities are @ @ @

(ATTN: CORRECTS "the number" to "the average daily number" in lead)
SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will maintain Level 1 social distancing regulations under a revised five-tier scheme as the average daily number of new cases remains below 100 this week, the health authority said Friday.
The new five-tier scheme, which takes effect Saturday, breaks the current three levels into five -- 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 -- based on the average number of daily infections per week, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The new system divides the nation into seven zones to allow provincial governments to decide the level of their own social distancing in accordance with the new infections in the regions.
This image shows the new five-tier social distancing scheme for COVID-19. (Yonhap)
The new system groups facilities into "priority" and "regular" sites in terms of the application of antivirus rules, while mask wearing and other key rules that were previously mandatory only at "high-risk" facilities will now apply to all facilities.
Starting Nov. 13, those who don't wear masks in public spaces and transportation will be subject to fines of up to 100,000 won (US$88.3), and business owners who violate the public health regulations will be slapped with a maximum fine of 3 million won.
The KDCA said the revised rule is aimed at effectively containing COVID-19, also alleviating its impact on daily lives and business activities.
The health authority said it will maintain Level 1 social distancing guidelines under a new five-tier scheme, as the average number of new cases across the nation stood at 92.1 over the past week.
"The revised social distancing scheme is aimed at turning antivirus efforts a more effective and sustainable way, not relieving quarantine measures," Sohn Young-rae, a senior health official, said in a briefing. "It is most desirable that people abide by antivirus rules while maintaining the current Level 1 social distancing."
Level 1 signifies a controllable level of transmission that allows people to carry out their ordinary lives while wearing masks and following social distancing rules at designated facilities.
The lowest level is imposed when the daily new cases remain below 100 for a week for the Seoul metropolitan area and 30 for other regions.
Under Level 1.5, the use of multipurpose facilities is restricted. At Level 2, the pandemic is considered to be spreading nationwide and nonessential outdoor visits and gatherings are discouraged in the affected zones.
Level 2.5 is adopted when the health system's routine response capability cannot easily handle the situation, and the government will urge the public to remain at home.
At Level 3, which will be issued in the event that more than 800-1,000 new daily cases are reported across the nation for a week, the nation will effectively be placed on lockdown.
In case of the highest level of social distancing, gatherings of over 100 people are banned, and multiuse facilities, except essential facilities such as hospitals, are closed.
From Level 2.5, companies and organizations are required to recommend that over one-third of employees work from home. Level 3 makes it mandatory for all employees except those in essential services, including security, military and postal services, to work from home.
Under the highest level, schools should offer online classes only.
Religious facilities are allowed to have offline services under Level 1, maintaining a distance between seats.
Only 30 percent and 20 percent of the total seats can be used under Level 1.5 and Level 2, respectively, and churchgoers are banned from having meals together. Under the two highest levels, religious facilities are shut down.
A health official helps visitors to a screening station at the National Medical Center in Seoul on Nov. 6, 2020. (Yonhap)
The number of new cases across the nation exceeded 100 for the third straight day Friday, due to sporadic cluster infections from senior nursing homes, hospitals and workplaces.
Health authorities remain on guard ahead of the winter season when people stay longer indoors and cold, dry weather provides a more favorable environment for the virus.
"The number of locally infected patients has been rising, which could surpass the government's goal for COVID containment," Sohn said. "If the average number of new cases rises over 100 for a week in the Seoul metropolitan area, the government could raise the level to Level 1.5."
On Thursday, South Chungcheong Province raised the Level 1 to a level equivalent to Level 1.5, after 20 more cases from a call center in Cheonan, 92 kilometers south of Seoul, raised alarms over the spread of the virus in the region.
The municipal government shut down the call center's building and has been conducting virus tests on over 160 people who work at the same building.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--(LEAD) Participants in Jeju forum call for 'reinventing' multilateralism in tackling COVID-19, globa

(LEAD) Participants in Jeju forum call for 'reinventing' multilateralism in tackling COVID-19, global challenges

`` We have to show that addition and multiplication are much better than subtraction and division in making politics and @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We need to show that life is a positive sum game , which @ @ @ @ @ win , someone else has to win too . ''

(ATTN: ADDS more info in last 3 paras)
By Song Sang-ho
SEOUL/JEJU, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- Former and current U.N. chiefs, leading politicians and scholars made emphatic calls Friday to strengthen multilateralism in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic and other transnational challenges, calling it an essential value in times of crisis.
During the opening ceremony of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, the participants highlighted the pressing need for multilateral cooperation, which has been eroded by a great-power rivalry, nationalism, protectionism and unilateralism in some quarters of the world.
Participants included U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, his predecessor Ban Ki-moon, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former Singaporean Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Jeju Gov. Won Hee-ryong.
"Cooperation is fundamental to addressing all these challenges of all times: working for peace: extending universal health coverage; delivering on the sustainable development goals; and preventing disasters and crises of all kinds," Guterres said in a video message at the opening ceremony of the annual forum.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivers a video message at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity on Nov. 6, 2020, in this photo provided by the forum. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The U.N. chief decried division as a danger to everyone, stressing the need for a more "inclusive, effective, networked" multilateralism and voiced concerns that today's multilateralism lacks "scale, vision and teeth."
"A new network of inclusive, effective multilateralism based on the enduring values of the United Nations Charter could snap us out of our sleepwalking status and stop the slide towards ever greater danger," he said.
"Political leaders around the world need to come together to address the world's fragilities, strengthen our capacity for global governance, and draw from the power of unity and solidarity to overcome the biggest test of all times," he added.
Former U.N. chief Ban said the world can swiftly overcome the pandemic only when humans and countries all decide to "work together."
"After all, cooperation between humans and between countries is not a matter of choice but a necessity," Ban said. "Restoring the spirit of multilateral cooperation is essential to overcome the crisis."
Former U.N. Secretary_General Ban Ki-moon delivers a speech at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity on Nov. 6, 2020, in this photo provided by the forum. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Noting that the pandemic and its aftermath proved "we live in an age defined by our interdependence," former U.S. President Clinton pointed out the need for "collective action and will."
"We have to show that addition and multiplication are much better than subtraction and division in making politics and policies," he said. "We need to show that life is a positive sum game, which in order for us to win, someone else has to win too."
Touching on a set of global challenges, such as climate change, Clinton called for the world to "do it together."
"We've seen before how with collective action and collective will and collective resources to support it, we can make big differences on these issues in a short term," he said.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton delivers a video message at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity on Nov. 6, 2020, in this photo provided by the forum. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Stressing international cooperation as the key to battling COVID-19, Jeju Gov. Won voiced hope that the new U.S. leadership to take office after the Nov. 3 election will embrace "inclusive" multilateral cooperation to overcome the difficulties facing humanity.
Pointing to the U.S.-China strategic rivalry as a "disruptive structural force" facing the world, former Singaporean Prime Minister Goh warned that if the major powers play a "negative sum game," the world would suffer.
"No country wants to be lorded over by another country, nor does it want to be trampled like the grass beneath two warring elephants," he said.
"Concerned leaders and opinion makers should therefore speak out against unilateralism and destructive rivalry and advocate multilateralism, rule of law, constructive international conduct and cooperation."
Participants join the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity on Nov. 6, 2020, in this photo provided by the forum. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Later in a separate session, Tarja Halonen, former president of Finland, called attention to the role of small countries in fostering multilateralism, noting small countries tend to be naturally "internationalists."
"We can play an important role in displaying what open and democratic nations, that support multilateralism and international cooperation, can achieve," she said.
"We should not underestimate our power of example. When it comes to COVID-19 response, many countries could learn a lot from the Republic of Korea, for example," she added.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-11-06--S. Korea, Japan need to create environment for leaders' summit to take place: Japanese ambassador

The ambassador said that a new government also gives the two countries an opportunity to look at the situation anew @ @ @ @ @ way for an opening for better dialogue .

JEJU/SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Japan need to create a proper environment if a summit of their leaders is going to take place, the Japanese ambassador said Friday, apparently calling for efforts to resolve a protracted row over wartime forced labor.
Ambassador Koji Tomita made the remark during a forum held on the southern island of Jeju, as the relations between Seoul and Tokyo remain chilled over the issue of compensating Korean forced labor victims and Tokyo's export curbs.
Since Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga took office in September, expectations rose over the possibility that Suga and President Moon Jae-in could hold talks on the margins of the trilateral summit with China that Seoul is trying to host before year's end.
"Given the prevailing sentiment surrounding our bilateral relations, I think there is certain expectation from the people of both countries when the two leaders would meet," Tomita said at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity.
"So the challenge is to create an environment where the two leaders can meet and respond to that kind of expectation held by the people in both countries."
Seoul has said that no date has been fixed yet for the three-way summit.
Tomita said that their meeting, if realized, will no doubt be very instrumental in achieving the goal of establishing very close personal contact, which is also vital in resolving the prolonged row.
The ambassador said that a new government also gives the two countries an opportunity to look at the situation anew, which could pave the way for an opening for better dialogue.
He also thanked Seoul for trying to engage with the new administration at an early stage.
"We're making a good start, and the challenge is to make concrete progress on that basis of a good start. It's up to both countries to work toward that direction," he added.
Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Koji Tomita (C) speaks during a session of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Security held on the southern island of Jeju on Nov. 6, 2020. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)