yna--2020-07-07--Seoul stocks pare earlier gains late Tues. morning amid virus woes

The local currency was trading at 1,193.10 won against the U.S. dollar , up 2.70 won from the previous session @ @ @

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks swung to a loss late Tuesday morning amid growing concerns over the resurgence of the coronavirus around the globe.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 7.74 points, or 0.35 percent, to 2,180.19 as of 11:20 a.m.
Investors are increasingly worrying about spiking cases in the United States and other countries, while pinning high hopes on economic recovery.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics tumbled 1.82 percent to 54,000 won, after peaking at 55,900 won on a stellar second-quarter earnings guidance report.
No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix dipped 1.05 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics added 0.53 percent, and leading chemical maker LG Chem jumped 2.36 percent.
The country's largest automaker Hyundai Motor shed 0.49 percent, with its auto parts-making affiliate Hyundai Mobis falling 1.47 percent.
Top game publisher NCSOFT dropped 2.51 percent.
Internet giant Naver advanced 0.71 percent, and its rival Kakao spiked 4.16 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,193.10 won against the U.S. dollar, up 2.70 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--Global shipbuilding orders at historic low in H1

By country , Chinese shipbuilders clinched new orders totaling 3.51 million CGTs , or 145 ships , in the January-June @ @ @ @ @ percent of the total , trailed by South Korean shipbuilders with 1.18 million CGTs , @ @ @ @ @ Japanese players with 570,000 CGTs , or 36 ships .

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- Global new orders of ships fell to a historic low in the first half of the year amid the coronavirus pandemic, industry sources said Tuesday.
In the January-June period, global new shipbuilding orders totaled 5.75 million compensated gross tons (CGTs), or a total of 269 ships, according to data provided by global market researcher Clarkson Research Service.
The tally marks the lowest since 1996, when the market tracker began to compile related data, and a 42 percent drop from the previous year, the data showed.
This file photo, provided Samsung Heavy Industries Co., shows a crude carrier built by the shipbuilding company. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
By country, Chinese shipbuilders clinched new orders totaling 3.51 million CGTs, or 145 ships, in the January-June period, taking up 61 percent of the total, trailed by South Korean shipbuilders with 1.18 million CGTs, or 37 ships, and Japanese players with 570,000 CGTs, or 36 ships.
In June, global new shipbuilding orders came to 820,000 CGTs, or 30 ships, up 26 percent from the previous month but down 51 percent from a year earlier.
Chinese shipyards bagged orders totaling 460,000 CGTs, or 16 ships, followed by South Korean shipbuilders with 250,000 CGTs, or 4 vessels, according to the data.
As of end-June, Chinese shipbuilders had the largest order backlog at 26.13 million CGTs, accounting for 37 percent of the total, with South Korean shipbuilders having order books totaling 19.76 million CGTs and Japanese shipbuilders 9.54 million CGTs.
However, global shipbuilding orders may improve slightly as liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers were to be ordered from Russia and Mozambique, industry sources said.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--S. Korea loses footholds in Chinese market amid tightened competition: KIEP

`` In the ICT segment , South Korea has been facing tougher competition with Taiwan in China , '' the @ @ @ @ @ .
`` In terms of biotechnology , life science , and aerospace industries , the @ @ @ @ @ with the U.S. also being much more competitive . ''

By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea accounted for the biggest share of imports to China in 2019, but its slice has been shrinking in recent years due to intensifying competition with other Asian players, a think tank said Tuesday.
While South Korea accounted for 8.42 percent, the largest share, of China's overall imports in 2019, the portion marked a slight drop from 9.65 percent posted a year earlier, according to the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP).
Instead, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members expanded their presence by 1.15 percentage points over the period to 13.29 percent, while the European Union expanded its shares by 0.52 percentage point to 13.41 percent, the data showed.
Due to China's intensifying trade row with the United States, Australia, Russia, and Brazil also managed to penetrate deeper into the Chinese market.
South Korea's exports to China, its top trading partner, plunged 16 percent on-year in 2019 in the face of the intensifying Sino-American trade war, which escalated throughout this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the January-May period of 2020, outbound shipments to China slid 9.4 percent on-year as the pandemic hurt supply chains around the globe, while production lines were forced to shut down.
Exports, however, managed to rebound by 9.5 percent in June from a year earlier as the world's No. 2 economy resumed its business activities.
The KIEP said South Korea nevertheless has been losing ground in the Chinese market as Asia's No. 4 economy depended heavily on a select number of products, including memory chips.
Chips were responsible for a whopping 60 percent of the on-year losses from exports to China recorded in 2019, according to the institution.
"In the ICT segment, South Korea has been facing tougher competition with Taiwan in China," the KIEP said in a report. "In terms of biotechnology, life science, and aerospace industries, the EU overwhelmed other rivals, with the U.S. also being much more competitive."
Thus, the think tank advised South Korea to foster its competitiveness in new growth engines, while better utilizing the Seoul-Beijing free trade agreement (FTA) that went into effect in 2015.
The KIEP added South Korea also needs to make efforts to make China open more doors through the pending Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
ASEAN members and their dialogue partners -- South Korea, China, Japan, Australia and New Zealand -- effectively reached an agreement on the RCEP last November, with the goal of signing the pact within this year.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--Moon urges full probe into triathlete abuse allegations, measures to stop similar cases

`` Abuse and violence against athletes are an old-era legacy that ca n't be justified by any words .
The @ @ @ @ @ from such an obsolete and backward practice , '' Moon pointed out .

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in called Tuesday for a thorough investigation into the alleged bullying and abuse of a South Korean triathlete by her coaching staff.
Moon was speaking during a weekly Cabinet meeting about the tragic case involving Choi Suk-hyeon, 22, who apparently took her own life late last month after her repeated complaints to sporting authorities over years of abuse were ignored.
"Such an unfortunate incident shouldn't occur again," the president emphasized at the start of the Cheong Wa Dae session, which pool reporters were allowed to cover. "Reasonable punishment and responsibility should follow via a thorough investigation."
He also instructed relevant government offices to draw up measures to prevent a similar case from happening.
President Moon Jae-in speaks during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on July 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korean people are angry over revelations that Choi had long suffered abuse and harsh treatment from her senior colleague and coaching staff. She had reportedly sought help in vain from public organizations before making the ultimate choice.
"Abuse and violence against athletes are an old-era legacy that can't be justified by any words. The sports community should break away from such an obsolete and backward practice," Moon pointed out.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--(LEAD) New virus infections below 50 for 2nd day, imported cases on higher plateau

The country reported 24 additional imported cases , raising the total of such cases to 1,690 , according to the @ @ @ @ @ were detected at quarantine checkpoints , indicating that two out of three imported cases were @ @ @ @ @ ports .

(ATTN: ADDS more info throughout, photo)
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea saw its daily new virus cases hover below 50 on Tuesday for the second consecutive day, but a steady rise in both locally transmitted infections and imported cases continued to put a strain on the country's efforts to contain further spread.
The country added 44 cases, including 20 local infections, raising the total caseload to 13,181, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
It marks the first time in two weeks that the number of imported cases surpassed that of the local infections.
The tally marked a slight decrease from 61 new cases of COVID-19 reported Sunday and 63 new cases on both Friday and Saturday. The country added 48 new cases on Monday.
This photo provided by Dongdaemun Ward Office shows a person walking into a walk-thru clinic in Seoul on July 7, 2020, to be tested for the coronavirus. (Yonhap)
Of local infections, seven cases were reported in Gyeonggi Province surrounding Seoul, followed by six in the southwestern city of Gwangju, the KCDC said. Three cases were reported in Seoul, the KCDC said.
South Korea has been dogged by a rise in sporadic cluster infections in the country's southern region including Gwangju since late last week following mass infections tied to a Buddhist temple in the city.
A total of 87 cases had been tied to a Buddhist temple, named Gwangneuk, in Gwangju as of late Monday. The figure includes cases from a church, also in the city, as the two clusters were found to have connections.
The greater Seoul area has also recorded a continued rise in cluster infections in religious facilities and door-to-door businesses.
The country reported 24 additional imported cases, raising the total of such cases to 1,690, according to the KCDC.
Sixteen of them were detected at quarantine checkpoints, indicating that two out of three imported cases were entrants either from airports or ports.
South Korea has posted a double-digit number of imported cases for 12 consecutive days.
South Korea, meanwhile, reported one more death, bringing the death toll to 285. The fatality rate was 2.16 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 11,914, up 66 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 1,346,194 tests since Jan. 3.
Police officers search a trail along a stream for a man in his 60s in the southwestern city of Gwangju on July 7, 2020, after he was confirmed to have been infected with the new coronavirus and went into hiding with his smartphone turned off. (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Jul .
7 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by @ @ @ @ @ news 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--2020-07-07--S. Korea beefs up screening in airport to prevent ASF

The move raised the number of X-ray devices at Incheon International Airport to eight and is designed to prevent travelers @ @ @ @ @ that can potentially be infected with the virus , according to the Ministry of Agriculture @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Tuesday it has installed six additional X-ray devices at its main airport as it strengthens the guard against African swine fever (ASF).
The move raised the number of X-ray devices at Incheon International Airport to eight and is designed to prevent travelers from bringing in pork products that can potentially be infected with the virus, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
South Korea has been grappling with a steady rise of ASF cases among wild boars, which can potentially spark another wave of infections among domestic pigs.
The country confirmed its first-ever outbreak of the animal disease in September 2019. Local authorities have culled about 400,000 domestic pigs as part of preventive measures, virtually sweeping out areas with ASF outbreaks.
Although no additional ASF cases on farms have been reported since early October, authorities have been discovering dead wild boars carrying the disease along the inter-Korean border.
As of the end of June, South Korea has detected 655 cases of ASF from wild boars. All of the infections found here came from areas bordering North Korea.
The animal disease does not affect humans but is deadly to pigs. There is currently no vaccine, nor cure for the disease. The virus spreads through direct contact with infected animals or their remains.
This makes the efforts to prevent the influx of the virus from other countries even more important.
South Korea currently slaps a fine of 5 million won (US$4,200) for travelers bringing in pork products from ASF-infected countries without winning approval in advance. The amount can reach up to 10 million won for people violating the regulation multiple times.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--(LEAD) U.S. nuke envoy due in Seoul after N.K. spurns possibility of talks

The U.S. Department of State said Monday that Biegun will travel to Seoul and Tokyo from Tuesday to Friday `` @ @ @ @ @ '' on bilateral and other issues and to `` further strengthen coordination on the final @ @ @ @ @ the DPRK . ''
DPRK is the acronym of North Korea 's official name , @ @ @ @ @ Korea .

(ATTN: INCORPORATES details from articles slugged NK-US talks, Biegun-Seoul visit in paras 2-8; TRIMS)
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun was set to arrive in Seoul on Tuesday for talks about denuclearizing North Korea, as the communist nation again rejected the possibility of resuming negotiations with the United States.
The North made clear in a statement earlier Tuesday that it has "no intention to sit face to face" with the U.S., saying there are still people talking about such a possibility even after First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui issued a statement spurning the idea on Saturday.
Biegun, who doubles as Washington's chief nuclear envoy, is scheduled to arrive at the U.S. Osan airbase, south of Seoul, aboard a military plane for a three-day visit. Alex Wong, deputy special representative for the North, is expected to travel together with Biegun.
In Seoul, Biegun is expected to hold talks with Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's nuclear envoy, about ways to break the impasse in the nuclear negotiations. Also expected to be on the agenda are inter-Korean relations in the wake of the North's blowing up of a joint liaison office.
Other officials he is also scheduled to meet include Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young. He could also meet with Seoul's new national security adviser Suh Hoon.
The U.S. Department of State said Monday that Biegun will travel to Seoul and Tokyo from Tuesday to Friday "to continue close allied cooperation" on bilateral and other issues and to "further strengthen coordination on the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK." DPRK is the acronym of North Korea's official name, Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Nuclear talks between the U.S. and the North have stalled since the no-deal summit in Hanoi last year between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The two sides held working-level talks later that year, but no progress was made.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun leaves for Japan at the Gimpo International Airport, in western Seoul, on Dec. 17, 2019, after wrapping up his trip to South Korea for talks on North Korea's denuclearization. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--N.K.-associated hackers steal credit card information from online U.S. retail stores: security firm

Digital skimming refers to a way to intercept information of credit cards during online store purchases by implanting a malware @ @ @ @ @ been growing among hackers in recent years and mostly dominated by Russian and Indonesian-speaking hacker @ @ @ @ @ said .

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- A North Korea-sponsored hacking group has been found to have stolen credit card information of American and European shoppers from online stores of U.S. retailers for more than a year, a Dutch cyber security firm said.
Hackers associated with the "APT Lazarus/HIDDEN COBRA group" were implicated in breaking into the online stores through digital payment "skimming" from as early as May 2019, according to a report posted on the website of Sansec.
Digital skimming refers to a way to intercept information of credit cards during online store purchases by implanting a malware code. Its use has been growing among hackers in recent years and mostly dominated by Russian and Indonesian-speaking hacker groups, the security firm said.
"Previously, North Korean hacking activity was mostly restricted to banks and South Korean crypto markets, covert cyber operations," it said. "They have now extended their portfolio with the profitable crime of digital skimming."
Sansec attributed the activity to the North Korea-sponsored hacking group, saying that distinctive patterns in the malware code were identified that linked multiple hacks to the same actor.
The hacked retailers include such international fashion chain as Claire's, it said, though it did not disclose how much information has been stolen.
North Korea is known to have a large number of hackers who have been involved in cyberattacks aimed at stealing information and making money.
Last year, the U.S. sanctioned three hacking groups it accused of carrying out cyberattacks to generate revenue for North Korea, most of the money presumed to flow into Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development programs.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--(2nd LD) Samsung Q2 earnings beat estimate on chip biz, one-time gains

`` In the third quarter , the company is likely to see shipments increase in its smartphone and TV products @ @ @ @ @ could see more sales of AMOLED screens as its customers will produce new handsets , @ @ @ @ @ HI Investment & Securities .
`` The company is expected to see a decline in @ @ @ @ @ prices , but a release of new mobile devices and video consoles could lead to @ @ @ @ @ ''

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES 15th para; ADDS share price at bottom)
By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. on Tuesday expected a stronger than expected second-quarter performance as solid demand for server chips appeared to offset a slump in smartphone sales amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, while one-time gains in the display business also helped push up its bottom line.
In its earnings guidance, the South Korean tech giant expected its operating profit at 8.1 trillion won (US$6.7 billion) for the April-June period, up 22.7 percent from 6.6 trillion won a year ago.
The second-quarter operating income is far higher than the market consensus of 6.8 trillion won in the survey conducted by Yonhap Infomax, the financial arm of Yonhap News Agency, on 10 Korean brokerage houses in the last two weeks.
Samsung estimated its second-quarter sales at 52 trillion won in the three-month period, down 7.3 percent from a year earlier. The figure was slightly above the median estimate of 51.6 trillion won.
Its earnings guidance showed Samsung's operating margin may reach 15.6 percent in the second quarter, the highest since the fourth quarter of 2018.
Samsung, the world's leading memory chip and smartphone vendor, did not break down performances of its respective business divisions, saying it will announce the detailed earnings later this month.
This photo taken June 4, 2020, shows an outdoor sign of Samsung Electronics Co. at the company's office building in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Analysts here said that Samsung's semiconductor business is certain to have anchored the company's overall performance in the second quarter as demand for server chips from data centers remained solid with the pandemic-driven stay-at-home economy.
"As was seen in the first quarter, all memory chip products saw price hikes and shipments increase," said Moon Ji-hye, an analyst at Shinyoung Securities.
According to DRAMeXchange, a market tracker under TrendForce, the contract price for 8-gigabit DDR4 DRAM, a benchmark price for the category, rose for five straight months, from $2.84 in January to $3.31 in May, though its gains remained almost flat in June.
Some analysts predicted that Samsung's chip business could have logged around 5 trillion won in operating profit in the second quarter, which is expected to be the highest since the fourth quarter of 2018 when it collected 7.7 trillion won.
Samsung's mobile business was projected to suffer a decline in earnings as the pandemic dented demand for its smartphones, while its consumer electronics (CE) business was expected to see a mediocre performance in the second quarter.
But Samsung's mobile and CE units may have performed better than expected since there were signs of a recovery in demand last month after major countries started to reopen their economies, the analysts said.
This photo provided by Samsung Electronics Co. on May 21, 2020, shows the company's chip plant in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"It appears that a decline in sales is inevitable for Samsung's set business," said Lee Su-bin, an analyst at Daishin Securities. "However, both its mobile and CE business divisions could improve their operating margin by reducing marketing costs."
Samsung's visual display business was expected to return to the black as the company said it has reflected a one-time gain in the second quarter. Its visual display unit posted an operating loss of 290 billion won in the first quarter.
Analysts said Samsung's one-off gains could total 900 billion won in the second quarter, which will include compensation from its OLED screen customers, including Apple Inc. who apparently failed to take over contracted volumes of Samsung's display panels.
For the third quarter, analysts said Samsung's chip business may not continue its strong growth as its major customers could control their inventory level, but they expected a solid recovery in its mobile, display and CE businesses.
"In the third quarter, the company is likely to see shipments increase in its smartphone and TV products, while its display unit could see more sales of AMOLED screens as its customers will produce new handsets," said Song Myung-sup at HI Investment & Securities. "The company is expected to see a decline in DRAM and NAND flash chip prices, but a release of new mobile devices and video consoles could lead to a growth in shipments."
Shares in Samsung were trading 1.45 percent lower at 54,200 won as of 10:20 a.m. The earnings guidance was released before the stock market open.
This photo taken April 29, 2020, shows Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy S20 smartphones displayed at a store in Seoul. (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--New virus infections below 50 for 2nd day, imported cases on higher plateau

SEOUL , July 7 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea saw its daily new virus cases hover below 50 on @ @ @ @ @ day , but a steady rise in both locally transmitted infections and imported cases continued @ @ @ @ @ the country 's efforts to contain further spread .

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea saw its daily new virus cases hover below 50 on Tuesday for the second consecutive day, but a steady rise in both locally transmitted infections and imported cases continued to put a strain on the country's efforts to contain further spread.
The country added 44 cases, including 20 local infections, raising the total caseload to 13,181, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The tally marked a slight decrease from 61 new cases of COVID-19 reported Sunday and 63 new cases on both Friday and Saturday. The country added 48 new cases on Monday.
This photo provided by Dongdaemun Ward Office shows a person walking into a walk-thru clinic located in Seoul on July 7, 2020, to be tested for the coronavirus. (Yonhap)
Of local infections, seven cases were reported in Gyeonggi Province surrounding Seoul, followed by six in the southwestern city of Gwangju, the KCDC said. Three cases were reported in Seoul, the KCDC said.
South Korea has been dogged by a rise in sporadic cluster infections in the country's southern region including Gwangju since late last week following mass infections tied to a Buddhist temple in the city.
The country, meanwhile, reported 24 additional imported cases, raising the total of such cases to 1,690, according to the KCDC. Sixteen of them were detected at quarantine checkpoints.
South Korea has posted a double-digit number of imported cases for 12 consecutive days.
South Korea, meanwhile, reported one more death, bringing the death toll to 285. The fatality rate was 2.16 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 11,914, up 66 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 1,346,194 tests since Jan. 3.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--(Yonhap Interview) Meet Mel Rojas Jr.: KBO's top slugger and a man with a plan

In other major categories , Rojas Jr. ranked second in batting average ( .374 ) , tied for third in @ @ @ @ @ tied for second in RBIs ( 48 ) , fourth in on-base percentage ( .426 @ @ @ @ @ games ( 25 ) .
Say what you will about the Triple Crown in this @ @ @ @ @ with batting average and RBIs not being regarded with the same respect as before .
@ @ @ @ @ to win the Triple Crown this year as the league leader in batting average , @ @ @ @ @ Only two players have done so in the KBO .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- KT Wiz outfielder Mel Rojas Jr. has been one of the most dangerous sluggers so far this season in South Korean baseball. Yes, he hits with prodigious power. Yes, he also hits for average. And yes, he gets on base at an impressive rate.
But more importantly, Rojas Jr. is a man with a plan.
This is his fourth season in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), and his third full season after joining the Wiz in the middle of 2017. Few foreign hitters last that long in the KBO because their weaknesses can get exposed quickly in this relatively small, 10-team league, and because teams often keep them on a short leash and don't give them much of a runway to make midseason adjustments. Any sign of an extended slump, they're shown the door.
In this file photo from June 23, 2020, Mel Rojas Jr. of the KT Wiz watches his solo home run against the NC Dinos in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
So how has Rojas Jr. been able to sustain his success?
"I don't go out there just to see the ball and hit the ball. Whoever tells you that, that's not a good hitter," Rojas Jr. told Yonhap News Agency in a phone interview on Monday from Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, where the Wiz are scheduled to play the Kia Tigers in a three-game series starting Tuesday.
"You've got to have the plan. Every single time you go up there, you have to have the plan," he added. "You can't just go out to the plate and see the ball and hit the ball. (The pitchers) don't make very many mistakes."
Whatever that plan may be from one at-bat to the next, it clearly has worked for Rojas Jr.
Heading into Tuesday's action, Rojas Jr. was leading the league with 19 home runs in 53 games, a .720 slugging percentage, 47 runs scored, 154 total bases, and an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of 1.146. He was tied with Jose Miguel Fernandez of the Doosan Bears for the KBO lead in hits with 80.
In other major categories, Rojas Jr. ranked second in batting average (.374), tied for third in doubles (17), tied for second in RBIs (48), fourth in on-base percentage (.426) and second in multihit games (25). Say what you will about the Triple Crown in this age of advanced metrics, with batting average and RBIs not being regarded with the same respect as before. But Rojas is a threat to win the Triple Crown this year as the league leader in batting average, home runs and RBIs. Only two players have done so in the KBO.
And it takes more than just natural talent to post these gaudy numbers.
In this file photo from June 3, 2020, Mel Rojas Jr. of the KT Wiz (L) smiles after hitting a solo home run against the Doosan Bears in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
"The secret is that while (the pitchers) are trying to figure me out, I've already figured them out," he said. "That's something I do every day. I am doing my own work. I check how they pitch to me. I also see how they pitch to other guys that are similar to me."
This is surely an outstanding season, but it's not as though he's been a slouch in the past. In 2018, his first full season, Rojas Jr. launched 43 home runs and drove in 114 runs, while batting .305/.388/.590 and stealing 18 bases. He was robbed of a Golden Glove in the outfield. Then voters came to their senses and gave him the prize in 2019, when he put up a .322/.381/.530 line with 24 home runs and 104 RBIs in a season defined by the leaguewide stumbling of offensive numbers due to a de-juiced ball.
Rojas Jr., a former third round pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates, also attributed his early season success to better plate coverage.
In this file photo from June 3, 2020, Mel Rojas Jr. of the KT Wiz hits a solo home run against the Doosan Bears in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
"I've worked on some mechanics, so I could get to inside pitches and hit them better," he said. "That way, I can cover more of the plate. I used to be really good with outside pitches. Now, I am hitting inside pitches better. So I have more coverage. That has been my main focus."
He's been crushing virtually every type of pitch in every location. According to the U.S.-based data and analytics firm Sports Info Solutions, Rojas Jr. is batting .325 on inside pitches, .338 on outside pitches and .500 on pitches in the middle. He has seen six types of pitches so far -- fastballs, splitters, curveballs, sliders, changeups and cutters -- and he has batted at least .321 against all of them.
Rojas Jr. added that starting the season in May this year, as opposed to the colder month of March in past years, has contributed to his strong early numbers. Because of the coronavirus outbreak, Opening Day was pushed from March 28 to May 5 this year.
Last season, Rojas Jr. batted only .200 with zero home runs in 30 at-bats in March and then batted .298 in April. He improved that to .360 in May and .366 in June.
This year, Rojas Jr. was shot out of a cannon in May, batting .409 with six home runs. He then exploded for 11 home runs in June while batting .347 and slugging .743.
"I am not a fan of the cold weather," he said. "Definitely, starting in the warm weather has helped."
Rojas Jr. is a switch hitter who has been successful on both sides of the plate this season. On May 23, he homered from the right side and the left side in the same game for the third time in his career.
He has made it look easy, but Rojas Jr. said it's far from so.
In this file photo from May 8, 2020, Mel Rojas Jr. of the KT Wiz hits a solo home run against the Doosan Bears in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
"Honestly, It's very hard being a switch hitter because you've got to work double," he said. "Most of the time, when you feel good from one side, you don't feel good from the other side, and vice versa. It's very hard feeling good from both sides. I've done a much better job this year, feeling great from both sides."
Because there are far more right-handed pitchers than left-handers in the KBO, switch hitters can go a long stretch without facing a southpaw. Case in point: Rojas Jr. played five straight games, from June 19 to 25, batting entirely from the left side of the plate, before facing NC Dinos' left-handed starter Koo Chang-mo in the second game of a doubleheader on June 25.
There are times when he has to bat from both sides in the same game, and Rojas Jr. said, "I wish I could do that every day."
Now in his fourth year in South Korea, Rojas Jr. enjoys a certain comfort level on and off the field, so much so that he has turned down offers to go back to the United States -- where he'd reached as high as Triple-A -- to stay in the KBO. That those offers weren't guaranteed major league deals also convinced Rojas Jr. that he'd be better off staying.
He won't complain about the money here either. After playing the half of the 2017 season on US$400,000, Rojas Jr. re-signed for $1 million for the 2018 season. He got a $600,000 raise for the following year. This year, he's making $1.5 million.
In this file photo from May 8, 2020, Mel Rojas Jr. of the KT Wiz celebrates his solo home run against the Doosan Bears in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
The name may give it away: Rojas Jr. does have a father named Mel Rojas, a former major league pitcher who appeared in 525 games for five different teams over a 10-year career. His best season came in 1996, when he recorded a career-high 36 saves with a 3.22 ERA for the Montreal Expos. He retired with a 34-31 record and 126 saves with a 3.82 ERA.
The senior Rojas, a native of the Dominican Republic, is a nephew of Felipe Alou, Jesus Alou and Matty Alou, all members of the royal Dominican baseball family. Rojas Jr. is a second cousin of Moises Alou, Felipe's son and a six-time big league All-Star.
The junior said his father has helped him so much along the way that "It's almost like cheating."
"It's been a blessing to have him," he said. "It's been great to come from a baseball family."
And Rojas Jr. himself welcomed a new member to his own family last fall, with a boy named Mel Crew Alexander Rojas III, or simply Crew. He'll turn nine months next week, a bundle of joy that has given his father a new source of motivation. When Rojas Jr. hit his 100th career KBO home run on June 25, he wore cleats with the name of his son printed in both English and Korean on them.
"I think about giving my best every day for the fans, my teammates, the team and also my son," he said. "I want him to be proud of me."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--(URGENT) 66 more people released after full recoveries from coronavirus, total cured patients at 11,

(URGENT) 66 more people released after full recoveries from coronavirus, total cured patients at 11,914: KCDC


yna--2020-07-07--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 1 additional coronavirus death, total death toll at 285: KCDC


yna--2020-07-07--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 44 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 13,181: KCDC


yna--2020-07-07--SK E&C wins US$7.2 mln Uzbekistan oil refinery planning deal

Under the engineering service agreement inked with Uzbekistan 's state oil and gas company Uzbekneftegaz on Monday , the South @ @ @ @ @ conduct a front-end engineering design ( FEED ) job for the oil refinery in Bukhara @ @ @ @ @ southwest of the capital city of Tashkent .

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- SK Engineering & Construction Co. said Tuesday that it has signed a US$7.2 million deal to plan the modernization of an oil refinery in Uzbekistan.
Under the engineering service agreement inked with Uzbekistan's state oil and gas company Uzbekneftegaz on Monday, the South Korean builder is set to conduct a front-end engineering design (FEED) job for the oil refinery in Bukhara, located about 440 kilometers southwest of the capital city of Tashkent.
SK E&C said it is better positioned to win a main project worth $600 million to modernize the oil refinery, which is capable of processing 50,000 barrels of crude oil.
The project is designed to transform heavy oil into high-value-added light petroleum products.
This photo, provided by SK Engineering & Construction Co., shows Bukhara Oil Refinery in Uzbekistan. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--Cabinet OKs gov't motion to seek ratification of key ILO conventions

The conventions approved in Tuesday 's meeting are three of those -- No .
87 on freedom of association , @ @ @ @ @ right to organize and collective bargaining and No .
29 on the prohibition of forced @ @

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Cabinet on Tuesday approved a government proposal to seek parliamentary ratification of key International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions as part of ongoing efforts to improve workers' rights here.
South Korea joined the ILO in 1991, but has yet to ratify four of the eight core conventions aimed at protecting workers' basic rights.
The conventions approved in Tuesday's meeting are three of those -- No. 87 on freedom of association, No. 98 on the right to organize and collective bargaining and No. 29 on the prohibition of forced labor.
The government explained that convention No. 105 on abolition of forced labor was excluded as it clashes with local law and requires legal revision as well as a social dialogue on adopting it.
The government plans to submit the proposal to parliament this month.
A composite image showing the International Labor Organization's logo against the South Korean parliament. (Yonhap)
The liberal Moon Jae-in administration has been pushing for the approval of key ILO conventions at the National Assembly amid growing pressure from the European Union that could potentially lead to trade issues.
In December 2018, the EU urged the country to start consultations on labor issues under a dispute settlement mechanism in the Trade and Sustainable Development chapter in the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) implemented in 2011.
But the initiative has faced strong opposition from the main opposition party as well as business lobby groups who claimed that the ratification could unfairly strengthen workers in labor talks.
A submission of the bills last year was automatically scrapped with the end of the 20th parliament. This marks a new administrative procedure to submit the bills to the new parliament, where the ruling Democratic Party holds 176 of 300 seats.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--Tax revenue continues to decline in May

Tax revenue continues to decline in May

Income tax revenue amounted to 7.8 trillion won in May , down 3.5 trillion won from a year earlier , @ @ @ @ @ Economy and Finance .

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea collected 31.9 trillion won (US$26.6 billion) in taxes in May, down 13.2 trillion won from a year earlier, the finance ministry said Tuesday.
Income tax revenue amounted to 7.8 trillion won in May, down 3.5 trillion won from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Dues collected from companies reached 4.4 trillion won in the month, down 10.8 trillion won from a year earlier.
Value-added tax revenue reached 2 trillion won in May, up 1 trillion won from a year ago, the data showed.
In the first five months of the year, South Korea collected 118.2 trillion won in taxes, down 21.3 trillion won.
South Korea's total expenditures in May reached 49.8 trillion won, up 11.5 trillion won from a year earlier.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--S. Korean duel set up at start of truncated MLB season

The Jays are still waiting to hear from the government whether they 'll also be allowed to play regular season @ @ @ @ @ That will involve opposing teams flying in from the U.S. , a risky proposition for @ @ @ @ @ in COVID-19 cases south of the border .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- An all-South Korean pitcher-batter duel could happen at the start of a new Major League Baseball (MLB) season truncated by the coronavirus pandemic.
MLB announced its 60-game schedule Tuesday morning in Korean time. Following the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent negotiations over schedule and pay between owners and players that dragged on for weeks, MLB decided to cut the regular season from its usual 162 games.
There are four South Korean players in the majors at the start, and their teams will open their season in the evening of July 24 local time, or the morning of July 25 in Seoul.
In this file photo, from Feb. 28, 2020, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida. (Yonhap)
Two of them will be in the same game, as the Toronto Blue Jays visit the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, for 6:40 p.m. (Eastern Time) first pitch on July 24, or 7:40 a.m. on July 25 in Seoul.
Left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin, who signed a four-year, US$80 million deal with the Blue Jays in December, is expected to get the Opening Day nod. The Rays have a South Korean infielder in Choi Ji-man, who bats left-handed and may or may not get the start against the fellow Korean southpaw.
Veteran outfielder/designated hitter Choo Shin-soo and the Texas Rangers will open their season at 7:05 p.m. on July 24 local time, or 9:05 a.m. on July 25 in South Korea. It will be the first regular season game at the brand-new Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
In this Associated Press photo, Choi Ji-man of the Tampa Bay Rays takes a ground ball during practice at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on July 4, 2020. (Yonhap)
The St. Louis Cardinals will host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:15 p.m. on July 24 in St. Louis, or 9:15 a.m. on July 25 in Seoul. Left-hander Kim Kwang-hyun joined the Cardinals on a two-year deal last winter and he's trying to crack their starting rotation.
There are still question marks as to if even that 60-game season can be completed, as the United States continues to see surges in COVID-19 cases all over its map.
And perhaps no team faces as much uncertainty as the Blue Jays, the only team based outside the U.S. The Canada-U.S. border remains closed for all non-essential travel, and those entering Canada for non-essential purposes must quarantine for 14 days.
The Blue Jays got the green light from the Canadian government to hold their training camp in Toronto, where the players are to adhere to strict quarantine guidelines inside their bubble. They're working out at Rogers Centre and staying at the hotel attached to their home stadium.
In this Associated Press photo, Choo Shin-soo of the Texas Rangers catches a fly ball during practice at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on July 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Jays are still waiting to hear from the government whether they'll also be allowed to play regular season games at Rogers Centre. That will involve opposing teams flying in from the U.S., a risky proposition for Canadians given the recent spikes in COVID-19 cases south of the border.
"While no final decision has been made on a site for Blue Jays regular season home games, the club's preference remains Rogers Centre," the team said in a statement Monday.
If Toronto is a no go, the Blue Jays will play their home games at their spring training home, TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida.
In this UPI photo, Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during batting practice at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 5, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--Doosan Bears' hitting machine back up running with 4-hit night

Despite the mini-slump , Fernandez was still tied for the league lead with 80 hits and ranked third with a @ @ @ @ @ said he did n't have any mechanical issues last week , and he was just @ @ @ @ @ mental hump .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- It's hard to believe it sometimes, but you have to take the man's word for it. Jose Miguel Fernandez is human.
The hitting machine for the Doosan Bears in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) entered Tuesday's game against the LG Twins mired in a 0-for-14 funk. He had gone hitless in the past four games after never going more than one game without a hit all season.
Then he broke out for a 4-for-4 day at the plate at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in the capital, helping the Bears to a 9-6 victory.
"I am human. I can't be hitting well every day," Fernandez said through an interpreter. "But I am aware of high expectations from my fans. And after getting my first hit tonight, I was confident I'd get at least another one."
Despite the mini-slump, Fernandez was still tied for the league lead with 80 hits and ranked third with a .370 batting average. He said he didn't have any mechanical issues last week, and he was just trying to get over the mental hump.
This file photo, from June 26, 2020, shows Jose Miguel Fernandez of the Doosan Bears celebrating his single against the NC Dinos in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
"I started rushing things a bit at the plate," he said. "I wanted to concentrate extra hard tonight and make sure I wouldn't swing at a pitch that I couldn't get to."
Fernandez led the KBO with 197 hits last season and will challenge the 200-hit mark this year, a milestone surpassed only once before in league history.
And the Cuban star said he isn't one to tinker with mechanics when things aren't going well. He relies on his teammates and coaching staff to break out of any slump.
"I watch clips of my at-bats when I didn't get a hit and try to figure out what I did wrong," he said. "And I constantly talk to our analysts and teammates to get their perspective, too."
Fernandez had a single, a double and a home run in his first three at-bats, and came up in the bottom eighth needing a triple for his first KBO cycle. He ended up with a single instead.
He admitted he was fully aware of the situation and vowed to make it happen sometime this season.
"This was the second time this season that I came up a triple short of the cycle," Fernandez said. "They said the third time is the charm. I want to get the cycle before the end of this season."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--Doosan Bears beat LG Twins in KBO's all-Seoul showdown, again

Four Bears had multihit games , led by four-hit effort from No .
2 hitter Jose Miguel Fernandez .
After @ @ @ @ @ 1 , Fernandez had gone 0-for-14 in the next four games .
Then on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ an RBI and three runs scored while coming up a triple shy of a cycle @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- This is starting to sound like a broken record: the Doosan Bears have defeated the LG Twins in their all-Seoul meeting in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).
The Bears pounded out 14 hits in a 9-6 victory at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in the nation's capital Tuesday and enjoyed their sixth consecutive win over their Jamsil co-tenants.
The Twins beat the Bears 8-2 on Opening Day on May 5, and the Bears have won every meeting since. They improved to 32-22 and stayed in third place, while the Twins fell to 29-25.
Four Bears had multihit games, led by four-hit effort from No. 2 hitter Jose Miguel Fernandez. After a five-hit explosion on July 1, Fernandez had gone 0-for-14 in the next four games. Then on Tuesday, he was 4-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored while coming up a triple shy of a cycle.
This file photo, from July 5, 2020, shows members of the Doosan Bears celebrating a 7-4 victory over the Hanwha Eagles in their Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
The Bears didn't mess around, as their first two batters of the game each hit a single and both came home for a 2-0 lead in the bottom first.
With runners at the corners, Kim Jae-hwan drove in the first run with an infield single off the leg of LG starter Cha Woo-chan. After fielding the ball that had caromed off his leg, Cha made a wild throw to first, allowing runners to each advance a bag.
Oh Jae-il chopped a grounder to second base to bring Fernandez home from third.
Kim Hyun-soo cut the deficit in half for the Twins with a two-out double in the top third, and then the Twins took a 3-2 lead in the fourth with back-to-back solo blasts by Roberto Ramos and Kim Ho-eun.
But the Twins lost that lead in the bottom fourth and never went ahead again.
The Bears tied it up at 3-3 in the bottom fourth with Park Sei-hyok's sacrifice fly. Then they went off for four runs on five hits and a sac fly in the bottom fifth to blow the game wide open.
Heo and Fernandez had a single and a double against Cha to open the salvo, and Park Kun-woo brought in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly.
A follow-up single by Kim Jae-hwan made it 5-3 for the Bears. Cha got the second out and then gave up a double and a walk to load the bases for Park Sei-hyok.
At full count, Park knocked a single to right to cash in two more runs, giving the Bears a 7-3 lead and chasing Cha from the game.
Fernandez extended the lead to 8-3 with a solo home run in the sixth.
The Twins tried to make things more interesting in the seventh, with Hong Chang-ki's pinch-hit triple and Lee Chun-woong's RBI groundout making it an 8-5 game.
The Bears got a run back on a fielder's choice grounder by Park Kun-woo. The Twins eked out a run in the top ninth, but they couldn't get any closer.
Heo and Fernandez, from the top of the Bears' order, combined to go 7-for-8 with six runs scored.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--(4th LD) U.S. nuke envoy visits S. Korea after N.K. spurns possibility of talks

(ATTN: UPDATES with virus test in paras 3-4)
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun arrived in South Korea on Tuesday for talks about denuclearizing North Korea, as the communist nation again rejected the possibility of resuming negotiations with the United States.
Biegun, who doubles as Washington's chief nuclear envoy, landed at the U.S. Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, sources said. Alex Wong, deputy special representative for the North, is believed to have traveled with him.
Biegun and his delegation underwent COVID-19 testing upon arrival, leading to a delay in their departure for Seoul. That has reportedly led to the cancellation of a dinner that U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris had planned to host for Biegun. The test results were negative.
An embassy spokesperson earlier said they underwent testing "out of an abundance of caution and in consultation with Republic of Korea health authorities."
Biegun's three-day visit comes after the North made clear in a statement earlier in the day that it has "no intention to sit face to face" with the U.S., saying there are still people talking about such a possibility even after First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui issued a statement spurning the idea on Saturday.
Biegun is scheduled to hold talks on Wednesday with Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's nuclear envoy, about ways to break the impasse in the nuclear negotiations. Also expected to be on the agenda are inter-Korean relations in the wake of the North's blowing up of a joint liaison office.
Other officials he is also scheduled to meet include Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young. He could also meet with Seoul's new national security adviser Suh Hoon.
The U.S. Department of State said Monday that Biegun will travel to Seoul and Tokyo from Tuesday to Friday "to continue close allied cooperation" on bilateral and other issues and to "further strengthen coordination on the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK." DPRK is the acronym of North Korea's official name, Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Nuclear talks between the U.S. and the North have stalled since the no-deal summit in Hanoi last year between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The two sides held working-level talks later that year, but no progress was made.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun leaves for Japan at the Gimpo International Airport, in western Seoul, on Dec. 17, 2019, after wrapping up his trip to South Korea for talks on North Korea's denuclearization. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--(2nd LD) Biegun's team on S. Korea visit tests negative for virus

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul earlier said the U.S. envoy , members of his delegation and the military air crew @ @ @ @ @ `` out of an abundance of caution and in consultation with '' South Korea 's @ @ @ @ @ will head to Seoul upon confirmation that all have received negative test results .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout with negative test results)
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun and his delegation all tested negative for the new coronavirus upon their arrival in South Korea on Tuesday, a foreign ministry official said.
Biegun arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, around 3 p.m., on a three-day trip for talks about North Korea's denuclearization, but his departure from the base to the capital has been delayed due to the unplanned virus testing.
The U.S. Embassy in Seoul earlier said the U.S. envoy, members of his delegation and the military air crew were going through COVID-19 testing "out of an abundance of caution and in consultation with" South Korea's health authorities and that they will head to Seoul upon confirmation that all have received negative test results.
The testing procedure reportedly led to the cancellation of a dinner that U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris had planned to host for the No. 2 American diplomat.
This photo shows a plane believed to be carrying U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun and his delegation after it landed at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, south of Seoul, on July 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--Hantan River area listed as UNESCO Global Geopark

`` We will put special efforts into cooperation with related agencies for the river area 's preservation and development so @ @ @ @ @ attraction that represents South Korea , '' Gyeonggi Gov .
Lee Jae-myung said .

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- The Hantan River area near the inter-Korean border has been designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark, officials said Tuesday.
The U.N. body made the decision to add the 1,165-square-kilometer area to the list during a meeting in Paris, according to the Gyeonggi provincial government.
The designation raised the number of South Korean geoparks on the list to four, including the southern island of Jeju, Cheongsong in the southeast and Mount Mudeung in the southwest.
"We will put special efforts into cooperation with related agencies for the river area's preservation and development so that it can become an attraction that represents South Korea," Gyeonggi Gov. Lee Jae-myung said.
UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development, the U.N. agency said on its website.
Currently, some 140 sites from 40 countries are on the list.
In this file photo, taken on Aug. 1, 2019, tourists take in the sights of Bidulginang Falls, one of the attractions at Hantan River Geopark in Pocheon, 45 kilometers north of Seoul. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--USFK expresses regrets over soldiers' unruly behavior at beach

`` USFK will cooperate with Korean law enforcement authorities in their efforts to identify those responsible , and all commanders @ @ @ @ @ those service members determined to be involved in this type of behavior , '' the @ @ @ @ @ it remains committed to maintaining a strong alliance with South Korea .

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) on Tuesday expressed regrets over its soldiers' unruly behavior in the southeastern city of Busan on U.S. Independence Day last week, vowing to fully cooperate with South Korean authorities' investigation and to take appropriate disciplinary action against those involved.
The unidentified service members are accused of creating disturbances by setting off firecrackers at Haeundae Beach on Saturday night and even shooting some of them toward citizens in an apparent Fourth of July party, according to the police.
"We regret the inconvenience and disruption this behavior caused the people of Busan," the U.S. military said in a release. "This type of behavior is deeply troubling to USFK and does not represent the strong respect we hold for the Korean people, their culture, laws and regulations."
Police earlier said they received over 70 reports of complaints from Busan citizens about wild and dangerous acts by foreigners who did not wear face masks, at a time when the country is battling to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.
Over the weekend, one U.S. soldier in his 20s was briefly detained after shooting firecrackers at citizens. Another service member was referred to the U.S. military for driving under the influence of alcohol, police said.
"USFK will cooperate with Korean law enforcement authorities in their efforts to identify those responsible, and all commanders will take appropriate action for those service members determined to be involved in this type of behavior," the U.S. military said, adding it remains committed to maintaining a strong alliance with South Korea.
A group of activists holds a rally in Seoul on July 7, 2020, demanding punishment of some U.S. Forces Korea soldiers accused of unruly behavior on the U.S. Independence Day the previous week. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--(2nd LD) With key figures banned, triathlon body shifts focus to mysterious 'team doctor'

The federation 's disciplinary committee said Kim and the two athletes facing accusations appeared to have received some legal advice @ @ @ @ @ way they were denying charges and how they tried to steer clear of any wording @ @ @ @ @ court later .
They had also denied everything during a meeting of a parliamentary committee @ @ @ @ @ the National Assembly .

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 7-13)
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- With some principal figures in a snowballing abuse scandal in South Korean triathlon having been disciplined, the sport's national governing body will now turn its eyes to a largely mysterious man that athletes referred to as "doctor," despite his lack of a medical license.
Choi Suk-hyeon, a former triathlete on Gyeongju City Hall's semi-pro club, took her own life in late June but not before making allegations of physical and verbal abuse against her former coach Kim Gyu-bong, two older teammates and the so-called team doctor named Ahn Joo-hyeon.
Kim Gyu-bong, head coach of the triathlon team at Gyeongju City Hall and a central figure in an abuse scandal involving a late athlete, leaves the disciplinary committee meeting held by the Korea Triathlon Federation in Seoul on July 6, 2020. (Yonhap)
With Choi's former teammates also supporting those allegations and offering more claims themselves, the Korea Triathlon Federation on Monday banned Kim and one of the older teammates for life, while suspending the other athlete for 10 years.
Ahn, though, was not subject to punishment by the federation, because he had never been formally registered with the team and had only worked on a temporary basis for overseas training camps. Gyeongju officials also couldn't track him down when the scandal blew up last week, days after Choi's death.
The triathlon body said it will seek criminal charges against Ahn, who is reportedly undergoing treatment for cancer.
Gyeongju Sports Association also said Tuesday that it will call on local prosecutors to charge Ahn with assault and sexual crimes. It said it has heard from member triathletes who say they were assaulted and sexually harassed by Ahn.
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) said later Tuesday that Ahn reached out to a KSOC official handling Choi's case on June 23 and admitted to his physical assault while claiming Kim hadn't done anything wrong.
Ahn's acknowledgement came three days before Choi died.
According to the KSOC, Ahn said he had slapped Choi in the face a few times after having a few drinks in New Zealand, but that he didn't remember why he had struck her.
Ahn also told the KSOC that Kim tried to restrain him, and he asked that Kim be absolved of any blame in the case.
According to the KSOC, Choi filed a petition on April 8, seeking punishment against Kim and her two teammates, but not Ahn.
The KSOC said it only found out about Ahn's role in the scandal when he contacted the top sports body first.
For whatever reason, Ahn may be trying to take the fall for the abuse scandal and get everyone else off the hook.
While most triathletes assumed Ahn was a doctor, he was merely brought on board as a trainer and a therapist.
According to audio recordings Choi had made of occasions when she was being abused by her staff, Ahn appeared to have initiated most of the physical contact. Choi's former teammates have also stepped forward. According to one athlete's account, Ahn allegedly struck multiple athletes while intoxicated during the team's camp in New Zealand in March 2019.
New allegations of sexual harassment by Ahn have also emerged, with one athlete accusing him of forcibly kissing her on her cheek and another saying Ahn claimed to be a university medical professor who had performed surgeries and touched athletes' bodies against their will for the ostensible purpose of treatment.
Members of the disciplinary committee for the Korea Triathlon Federation meet in Seoul on July 6, 2020, over an abuse scandal centered on the Gyeongju City Hall triathlon team coach and athletes. (Yonhap)
One athlete said Ahn entered the dorm room she was sharing with her teammate holding a bottle of wine after dinner.
The triathlon body made an unusual move to hand down lengthy bans on Monday before the three figures were criminally charged or indicted. It said it felt allegations made by multiple athletes carried considerably more credibility than the denials by the three.
The federation's disciplinary committee said Kim and the two athletes facing accusations appeared to have received some legal advice beforehand, based on the way they were denying charges and how they tried to steer clear of any wording that could incriminate them in court later. They had also denied everything during a meeting of a parliamentary committee on sports earlier Monday at the National Assembly.
For instance, the athlete who received a 10-year ban was in full denial mode, despite accounts by Choi that he was physically and verbally abusive on her and her teammates. One committee member said the athlete wasn't even remotely contrite and said he was being wrongfully accused.
Asked if he wanted to apologize to Choi and her family, the athlete said, "I have nothing to apologize for because I didn't hit anyone."
With circumstances that led to Choi's death having become a national story, the South Korean sports community is facing its latest moment of reckoning. This is far from the first abuse scandal in Korean sports, and it is serving as a reminder that the country still has a long way to go to eliminate the abusive culture that has been pervasive in sports.
The national sports community has balked at outside authorities' attempts to reform, but it hasn't yet proven capable of cleaning up itself. The triathlon body's preemptive action in handing down lifetime bans Monday is a start.
The late South Korean triathlete Choi Suk-hyeon receives a gold medal at the 2013 National Martine Sports Games in Ulsan, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in these photos provided by Choi's surviving family on July 2, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--(LEAD) Biegun undergoing coronavirus testing upon arrival in S. Korea

`` Out of an abundance of caution and in consultation with Republic of Korea health authorities , Deputy Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ North Korea Stephen Biegun , members of his delegation , and the military air crew @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 at Osan Air Base , '' an embassy spokesperson said .

(ATTN: ADDS photo, last para)
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun and his delegation were undergoing coronavirus tests upon arriving in South Korea on Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul said.
"Out of an abundance of caution and in consultation with Republic of Korea health authorities, Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun, members of his delegation, and the military air crew are currently undergoing testing for COVID-19 at Osan Air Base," an embassy spokesperson said.
"Upon confirmation that all individuals have received negative test results, the delegation will proceed to Seoul," the official said.
Biegun's delegation landed at the U.S. Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, around 3 p.m., on a three-day trip for talks about North Korea's denuclearization.
The testing has apparently caused a delay in Biegun's departure from the air base for Seoul, reportedly leading to the cancellation of a dinner that U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris had planned to host for the No. 2 American diplomat.
This photo shows a plane believed to be carrying U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun and his delegation after it landed at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, south of Seoul, on July 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--(3rd LD) U.S. nuke envoy visits S. Korea after N.K. spurns possibility of talks

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 3-4)
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun arrived in South Korea on Tuesday for talks about denuclearizing North Korea, as the communist nation again rejected the possibility of resuming negotiations with the United States.
Biegun, who doubles as Washington's chief nuclear envoy, landed at the U.S. Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, sources said. Alex Wong, deputy special representative for the North, is believed to have traveled with him.
Biegun and his delegation underwent COVID-19 testing upon arrival, leading to a delay in their departure for Seoul. That has reportedly led to the cancellation of a dinner that U.S. Ambassador Harry Harris had planned to host for Biegun.
"Out of an abundance of caution and in consultation with Republic of Korea health authorities, Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun, members of his delegation, and the military air crew are currently undergoing testing for COVID-19 at Osan Air Base," an embassy spokesperson said.
"Upon confirmation that all individuals have received negative test results, the delegation will proceed to Seoul," the official said.
Biegun's three-day visit comes after the North made clear in a statement earlier in the day that it has "no intention to sit face to face" with the U.S., saying there are still people talking about such a possibility even after First Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui issued a statement spurning the idea on Saturday.
In Seoul, Biegun is expected to hold talks with Lee Do-hoon, Seoul's nuclear envoy, about ways to break the impasse in the nuclear negotiations. Also expected to be on the agenda are inter-Korean relations in the wake of the North's blowing up of a joint liaison office.
Other officials he is also scheduled to meet include Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Sei-young. He could also meet with Seoul's new national security adviser Suh Hoon.
The U.S. Department of State said Monday that Biegun will travel to Seoul and Tokyo from Tuesday to Friday "to continue close allied cooperation" on bilateral and other issues and to "further strengthen coordination on the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK." DPRK is the acronym of North Korea's official name, Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Nuclear talks between the U.S. and the North have stalled since the no-deal summit in Hanoi last year between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The two sides held working-level talks later that year, but no progress was made.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun leaves for Japan at the Gimpo International Airport, in western Seoul, on Dec. 17, 2019, after wrapping up his trip to South Korea for talks on North Korea's denuclearization. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--Biegun undergoing coronavirus testing upon arrival in S. Korea

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun and his delegation were undergoing coronavirus tests upon arriving in South Korea on Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul said.
"Out of an abundance of caution and in consultation with Republic of Korea health authorities, Deputy Secretary of State and Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun, members of his delegation, and the military air crew are currently undergoing testing for COVID-19 at Osan Air Base," an embassy spokesperson said.
"Upon confirmation that all individuals have received negative test results, the delegation will proceed to Seoul," the official said.
Biegun's delegation landed at the U.S. Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, around 3 p.m., on a three-day trip for talks about North Korea's denuclearization.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--S. Korea to provide US$4 mln in aid to 14 countries hit by locust swarms

In East Africa alone , more than 25 million people are estimated to be in a food crisis .
Of @ @ @ @ @ are deemed to be under the direct influence of the locusts , which are fast @ @ @ @ @ to their proliferation .

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea decided Tuesday to provide US$4 million in humanitarian aid to 14 countries suffering from food crises due to desert locusts, the foreign ministry said.
The assistance will be provided to Yemen, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Kenya and other Southwest Asian and African countries via the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), according to the ministry.
In East Africa alone, more than 25 million people are estimated to be in a food crisis. Of the total, 11 million are deemed to be under the direct influence of the locusts, which are fast spreading amid climate change favorable to their proliferation.
The aid will be spent on providing food to those countries, as well as on activities to prevent the further spread of the desert locusts, the ministry said.
"As a responsible member of the international community, the government will actively take part in its efforts to help countries and people suffering from various humanitarian crises, not just from natural disasters," the ministry said in a release.
In March, South Korea provided $200,000 in aid to Pakistan to help the country fight the spread of the locusts.
scaaet@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-07-07--Former POWs win damage suit against N. Korea and its leader

The Seoul court 's hearing on the case came to pass through the `` conveyance by public announcement '' system @ @ @ @ @ proceed without the presence of defendants who have no known address or can not receive @ @ @ @ @ public notice on the court bulletin board or in the official gazette .

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- Two South Korean men who were once prisoners of war (POWs) taken to North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War on Tuesday won a landmark damage suit filed against North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-un for the forced labor they endured while in captivity there.
The Seoul Central District Court ordered North Korea and its leader to pay 21 million won (US$17,550) each to the two former POWs, known by their surnames Han and Roh.
The two filed the suit in October 2016, claiming they had suffered enormous mental and physical damage from forced labor during about 33 months of captivity in the North in the 1950s.
It is the first time that a South Korean court has acknowledged its jurisdiction over North Korea and its people and issued a compensation order against them.
A former prisoner of war surnamed Han (C) and his legal representatives pose for photos on July 7, 2020, after winning a damage suit in Seoul against North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-un for being forced into labor in the North. (Yonhap)
The two men said they fought in the Korean War but were captured by North Korean forces. Instead of being repatriated to the South following the end of the war, they were forced to work for a North Korean government construction unit from September 1953 to June 1956.
Roh and Han escaped the North to return home in 2000 and 2001, respectively. They have already been paid financial compensation by the South Korean government.
In the lawsuit filed against Pyongyang's regime, they demanded individual compensation of about 22 million won from the North's government and leader to cover their 33 months of forced labor.
The Seoul court's hearing on the case came to pass through the "conveyance by public announcement" system, in which court hearings proceed without the presence of defendants who have no known address or cannot receive legal documents, after a public notice on the court bulletin board or in the official gazette.
No one was present at the first hearing in January this year on behalf of the defendants.
A civic group that has supported the two men said after the ruling that they plan to take legal procedures to seize North Korean assets in the South, including copyright fees payable to North Korean broadcasters.
nyway@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-07-07--Korean Air to sell in-flight catering, duty-free business amid pandemic

The move is in line with the deal the national flag carrier signed in April with the Korea Development Bank @ @ @ @ @ Export-Import Bank of Korea ( Eximbank ) to receive 1.2 trillion won in fresh liquidity @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- Korean Air Lines Co., the country's biggest carrier, said Tuesday it will sell its in-flight catering and duty-free business to a private equity fund amid the growing impact of the coronavirus on the airline industry.
Korean Air's board of directors signed a memorandum of understanding with Hahn & Company to give the home-grown equity fund exclusive negotiation rights in the deal, the company said in a statement.
The two sides will later discuss details regarding follow-up steps, such as due diligence, it said.
This undated file photo, provided by Korean Air, shows chefs preparing in-flight meals at the Korean Air Catering Center in Incheon, just west of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Korean Air reportedly plans to sell the unit for about 1 trillion won (US$836 million).
The move is in line with the deal the national flag carrier signed in April with the Korea Development Bank (KDB) and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) to receive 1.2 trillion won in fresh liquidity from the creditor banks.
The deal includes a clause requiring Korean Air to secure 2 trillion won in self-help measures. The airline is pushing to raise 1.1 trillion won through a rights offering by the end of July.
In February, Korean Air's parent firm Hanjin KAL Corp. announced its plan to sell low-profit, non-core assets to focus on the mainstay airline and logistics business and enhance shareholder value.
Korean Air's idle property in Songhyeong-dong, central Seoul, and non-core assets, such as Paradise Hotel on Jeju Island and Wangsan Leisure Development Co., a leisure company that operates the Wangsan Marina resort in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul, have been up for sale.
Credit Suisse has provided consulting services on the airline's reorganization of its business units since May.
Korean Air has suspended most of its flights on international routes since March, as more than 180 countries and territories closed their borders or imposed entry restrictions on incoming passengers amid virus fears.
Its net losses widened to 736.86 billion won in the January-March quarter from a loss of 116.95 billion won a year earlier due to suspended flights and the won's weakness that increased the value of foreign debt.
Korean Air had 70 percent of its 20,000-strong workforce take paid leave for six months starting April 16 as it strives to overcome the prolonged crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking ahead, Korean Air expects the business environment to worsen in the second quarter if the COVID-19 pandemic prolongs.
This photo, taken on July 7, 2020, shows Korean Air's planes at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, just west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-07-07--Sports ministry to cooperate with legal authorities to root out abuse in athletics

The announcement came in light of a snowballing abuse scandal in triathlon .
Choi Suk-hyeon , a 22-year-old triathlete , @ @ @ @ @ last month after enduring years of apparent physical and verbal abuse from her coaching staff @ @ @ @ @ semi-pro club in Gyeongju , 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul .

SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- The sports ministry vowed Tuesday to work closely with legal authorities to help eliminate abuse in athletics while reaffirming its commitment to zero tolerance against any misconduct.
The announcement came in light of a snowballing abuse scandal in triathlon. Choi Suk-hyeon, a 22-year-old triathlete, took her own life late last month after enduring years of apparent physical and verbal abuse from her coaching staff and older teammates on her semi-pro club in Gyeongju, 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
From right: Sports Minister Park Yang-woo, Gender Minister Lee Jung-ok and Vice Sports Minister Choi Yoon-hee bow before the start of a press briefing on the government's response to abuses in sports at the government complex in Seoul on July 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
Acting on claims made by Choi and several of her former teammates, the Korea Triathlon Federation handed down a lifetime ban on the coach, Kim Gyu-bogn, and one athlete and banned another athlete for 10 years.
Earlier Tuesday, Sports Minister Park Yang-woo met with Gender Minister Lee Jung-ok and senior officials from the Supreme Prosecutors Office, National Police Agency and National Human Rights Commission, and they discussed ways in which they can cooperate to better protect athletes.
Afterward, Park said the ministry will conduct "a thorough investigation" on why the Korea Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) was slow to act when Choi had filed a complaint in April and why other authorities failed to heed Choi's repeated calls for help.
In February, Choi pressed abuse charges against Kim and the athletes, and two months later, she contacted the KSOC and the triathlon federation about rampant abuses on her team. The federation only sanctioned the principal figures Monday, 10 days after Choi was found dead.
"We'll completely overhaul the current system to make sure we'll eradicate human rights violations in sports," Park said. "We feel this is the last opportunity to end this cycle of abuse and misconduct."
Sports Minister Park Yang-woo (R) speaks during a meeting with government, prosecution and police officials on abuses and misconduct in sports, at the government complex in Seoul on July 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
Park said he expects the new Sports Ethics Center, set to open in August with the task of ensuring transparency in sports and protecting athletes' rights, to play an important role.
"It will be an independent organization with significant authority and responsibilities," the minister said. "It will be able to conduct its own criminal investigations."
The gender ministry said it will try to protect particularly vulnerable athletes. The Supreme Prosecutors Office and the National Police Agency both pledged to create special units to handle sports-related cases.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--KBO's LG Twins set to receive reinforcements

Without Go holding down the fort , the Twins have had some adventurous moments in the bullpen .
Lee Sang-kyu @ @ @ @ @ picked up four saves as a fill-in closer in May , before a rocky June @ @ @ @ @ reins over to Jung Woo-young .
The sidearm pitcher has also had his share of @ @ @ @ @ settled down since late June .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- Slowed by injuries to key players all season, the LG Twins are set to receive welcome reinforcements by as early as the weekend.
Manager Ryu Joong-il said Tuesday that outfielder Lee Hyung-jong and closer Go Woo-suk could be back in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) by the weekend or sometime next week.
Ryu added that Lee was scheduled to play in a minor league game later Tuesday, and Go will pitch in the minors Wednesday.
In this file photo, from April 29, 2020, Lee Hyung-jong of the LG Twins (L) bumps fists with his first base coach Kim Ho after hitting a single against the Hanwha Eagles in a Korea Baseball Organization preseason game at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon, 160 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Lee has yet to play for the Twins this season since breaking his left hand on a hit-by-pitch in a preseason game on May 1. The usual right fielder can offer some gap power near the top or the middle of the lineup.
Go, who had 35 saves and a 1.52 ERA last year, went down with a knee injury after just two appearances in May this year. He underwent surgery on May 18 and was expected to be out for up to three months.
But he has been ahead of that timetable and had his first bullpen session since the operation on June 27.
Lee can provide the middling Twins offense with some jolt. He can bat virtually anywhere in the lineup, with the bulk of his plate appearances coming in the No. 3 and No. 6 spots in 2019.
"Against left-handed pitchers, Hyung-jong can also bat in the No. 2 spot," Ryu said of the right-handed batter. "We can also move him down to the fifth or sixth spot, depending on the matchup."
Lee had 13 home runs in each of the past two years. In 2019, he drove in a career-high 63 runs.
Without Go holding down the fort, the Twins have had some adventurous moments in the bullpen. Lee Sang-kyu, a hard-throwing right-hander, picked up four saves as a fill-in closer in May, before a rocky June forced Ryu to hand the reins over to Jung Woo-young. The sidearm pitcher has also had his share of rough outings but has mostly settled down since late June.
Ryu said he will not have Go close games right away.
"It'll put too much pressure on him," the manager said. "For the first couple of games, we'll try to have him in a less stressful situation."
In this file photo, from May 10, 2020, Go Woo-suk of the LG Twins pitches against the NC Dinos in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--S. Korea to step up efforts to help Uzbekistan win admission to WTO

South Korea has been making efforts to clinch FTAs with more partners as relations of the world 's two largest @ @ @ @ @ trade and the COVID-19 pandemic .
China and the U.S. accounted for nearly 40 percent @ @ @ @ @ exports in 2019 .

SEJONG, July 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's finance ministry said Tuesday it will step up bilateral and multilateral efforts for Uzbekistan to be admitted into the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki and Sardor Umurzakov, Uzbekistan's deputy prime minister for investment and foreign economic relations, held talks in Seoul earlier in the day, during which they also agreed to speed up preparations for a possible free trade agreement (FTA), the ministry said in a statement.
Hong and Umurzakov "agreed to continue bilateral and multilateral efforts for Uzbekistan's entry to WTO," the statement said.
South Korea and Uzbekistan have already completed a feasibility study on the FTA.
South Korean Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki (R) and Sardor Umurzakov, Uzbekistan's deputy prime minister, pose before holding talks in Seoul on July 7, 2020, in this photo provided by the ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Hong and Umurzakov "agreed to swiftly start domestic procedures to begin negotiations on a bilateral FTA," the statement said.
The two countries also agreed to make efforts to expand economic ties in various areas, it said.
South Korea has been making efforts to clinch FTAs with more partners as relations of the world's two largest economies have soured recently over trade and the COVID-19 pandemic. China and the U.S. accounted for nearly 40 percent of South Korea's combined exports in 2019.
The country's exports fell 10.9 percent in June marking the fourth consecutive month of decline amid the fallout from the new coronavirus pandemic, although the pace slowed as major economies around the globe slowly began to resume business activities.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--After toiling in minors, reliever savoring every moment on KBO mound

In 2014 , then a high school senior , Chae was toying with the changeup in the bullpen .
He @ @ @ @ @ of his hand , and he decided to use it in a game for the @ @ @ @ @ .
He ended up throwing a no-hitter .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- Few in South Korean baseball this year compete with the kind of urgency and even desperation that Chae Ji-seon does for the Doosan Bears.
The right-handed reliever, a 2015 draft pick, toiled in the minor league for years before finally making his Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) debut this year, well after some from his draft class had already established themselves.
It came on Opening Day on May 5, no less, and Chae gave up a run on a hit and a walk in 1/3 of an inning. He was demoted to the minors the next day and didn't come back until June.
Chae Ji-seon of the Doosan Bears pitches against the Hanwha Eagles in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on July 5, 2020. (Yonhap)
Since pitching a scoreless inning in relief on June 9, Chae hasn't been back to the minors. He thinks the next trip to the minors could be his last.
"I am pitching with the mindset that if I struggle here, I'll never be back again," Chae said Tuesday in his pregame media availability at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. The Bears were to host the LG Twins later.
"I am that desperate, but I've never lacked confidence in myself," the 24-year-old added. "The difference is that I used to feel a lot more relaxed in the minors, but every day is a battle up here. There's just so much more pressure."
Chae has been able to handle that pressure since his June call-up to emerge as a key piece in the Bears' much-maligned bullpen, which entered Tuesday's game ranked seventh among 10 KBO clubs with a 5.75 ERA.
Chae himself has a 3.29 ERA in 13 2/3 innings, with 16 strikeouts against five walks. He hasn't given up any run in each of his past four outings, a span of 4 2/3 innings.
His bread-and-butter has been the changeup. And to think: Chae began throwing that pitch by accident in high school.
In 2014, then a high school senior, Chae was toying with the changeup in the bullpen. He liked how it came out of his hand, and he decided to use it in a game for the first time that same day. He ended up throwing a no-hitter.
As a pro, Chae has had to keep polishing up that pitch. On Opening Day this year, Chae threw two wild pitches with the changeup, and he said he has been consciously trying to throw it higher in the zone.
In this file photo, from June 28, 2020, Chae Ji-seon of the Doosan Bears pitches against the NC Dinos in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
"I didn't use to think my changeup was any good, but my coaches and teammates have told me they were impressed with it," Chae said. "I think I've been throwing it better this year because of their compliments."
Before Chae met with the press, Doosan manager Kim Tae-hyoung talked about how the right-hander appears to be pitching with more confidence.
"His velocity is up, and that tells me he's pitching with more conviction," Kim said. "And he looks the part, too. He's been great for us in the setup role."
When informed of these comments, Chae smiled and said he and the manager had never talked about his importance in the bullpen.
"I think he's trying not to put too much pressure on me," Chae said. "So I am trying to do the best I can, no matter what the situation is."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--Ministry pledges to minimize inconveniences from U.S. plan to ban sojourning foreign online students

SEOUL , July 7 ( Yonhap ) -- The foreign ministry said Tuesday it will seek consultations with the United @ @ @ @ @ could arise from Washington 's plan to ban foreign students from staying in the country @ @ @ @ @ go online in the fall semester .

By Song Sang-ho
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- The foreign ministry said Tuesday it will seek consultations with the United States to minimize inconveniences that could arise from Washington's plan to ban foreign students from staying in the country if all of their classes go online in the fall semester.
On Monday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the plan as the country is struggling to contain the new coronavirus that has sickened more than 2.9 million people in the U.S., with the death toll topping 130,000.
"Regarding the announcement, the foreign ministry will make efforts to minimize inconveniences of our citizens through consultations between South Korea and the U.S.," Kim In-chul, ministry spokesman, said in a regular press briefing.
This photo, taken on March 26, 2019, shows Kim In-chul, the spokesman for the foreign ministry, speaking during a press briefing at the ministry in Seoul. (Yonhap)
The U.S. immigration authorities said the U.S. will not issue visas to students enrolled in schools or programs that are fully online for the fall semester, nor will it permit those students to enter the country.
Students who are currently in the U.S. and enrolled in online educational programs must depart the country or take other measures, such as transferring to a school with in-person instruction, the authorities said.
The measure has caused concerns among South Korean students who are currently studying or planning to study in the U.S.
"I have been living here with anxiety amid the new coronavirus outbreaks, and I feel sad at the thought of the possibility that my visa could be canceled," a South Korean student wrote in an online post.
According to a report from the U.S.-based Institute of International Education (IIE), the number of international students in the U.S. stood at 1,095,299 in the 2018-2019 academic year, with the figure for South Koreans tallied at 52,250.
China remained the largest source of international students in the U.S. with 369,548 students in undergraduate, graduate, non-degree and optional practical training programs, followed by India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Canada.
Critics argue that Washington's ban on foreign online class takers may be connected with U.S. President Donald Trump's anti-immigration tendencies and his bid to rally conservative supporters ahead of the November presidential election.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-07-07--(LEAD) Moon urges full probe into triathlete abuse allegations, measures to stop similar cases

South Koreans are outraged over revelations that Choi , a member of the Gyeongju City Hall triathlon team , had @ @ @ @ @ treatment from her senior colleague and coaching staff .
She had reportedly sought help in @ @ @ @ @ including the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee , before taking her own life .
Gyeongju @ @ @ @ @ city located 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul .

(ATTN: UPDATES with additional remarks, details from 5th para; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in called Tuesday for a thorough investigation into the alleged bullying and abuse of a South Korean triathlete by her coaching staff.
Moon was speaking during a weekly Cabinet meeting about the tragic case involving Choi Suk-hyeon, 22, who took her own life late last month after her repeated complaints to sporting authorities over years of abuse were ignored.
"Such an unfortunate incident shouldn't occur again," the president emphasized at the start of the Cheong Wa Dae session, which pool reporters were allowed to cover. "Reasonable punishment and responsibility should follow via a thorough investigation."
He also instructed relevant government offices to draw up measures to prevent a similar case from happening.
President Moon Jae-in speaks during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on July 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Koreans are outraged over revelations that Choi, a member of the Gyeongju City Hall triathlon team, had long suffered abuse and harsh treatment from her senior colleague and coaching staff. She had reportedly sought help in vain from public organizations, including the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, before taking her own life. Gyeongju is a North Gyeongsang Province city located 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
"Abuse and violence against athletes are an old-era legacy that can't be justified by any words. The sports community should break away from such an obsolete and backward practice," Moon said.
He again mentioned the issue during a closed-door session following the opening remarks he made in public, according to Cheong Wa Dae's deputy spokesman Yoon Jae-kwan.
The president noted that the victims of such abuse or sexual assault in the local sports community are mostly women.
He called on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to be quick in addressing the problem and especially ordered its female Vice Minister Choi Yoon-hee, who was a swimming star, to "play a bigger role," Yoon said at a press briefing.
South Korean activists stage a rally in front of the Gyeongju City Hall in the city of North Gyeongsang Province, 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on July 7, 2020, calling on the city government to offer a formal apology over what they claim to be its negligent handling of the Choi Suk-hyeon case. Choi, a member of the city hall's triathlon team took her own life in late June, reportedly after suffering longstanding abuse from her coaching staff. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)