yna--2020-08-01--(4th LD) S. Korea reports 31 more cases of new coronavirus

(ATTN: ADDS more info in last 3 paras)
SEOUL, Aug. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases dipped slightly to around 30 on Saturday, amid the country's stepped-up efforts to curb imported infections and local transmissions among vacationers at campsites.
The country reported 31 additional cases, including 23 imported ones, bringing the total caseload to 14,336, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The number of new locally transmitted cases stood at eight.
The latest tally marked a slight decrease from 36 new cases reported Friday. But health authorities tightened vigilance amid concerns about continued inflows of the virus from abroad and local contagion during the summer vacation season.
The country's imported cases have recently risen due to infections among South Korean workers returning home from Iraq and Russian sailors. Imported cases, which hit a record high of 86 on July 25, have increased by double-digit numbers for more than a month.
Of the new imported cases, 14 were from Iraq, two from Uzbekistan, and one each from the Philippines, Russia, Pakistan, Vietnam, Poland, Brazil and Senegal.
The 14 cases from Iraq are those among the 72 South Korean workers who arrived back home from the Middle East country Friday. They tested positive upon arrival, while four more of the workers got positive results Saturday.
Of the 293 workers who returned home from Iraq on July 24, a total of 77 were found to have contracted the virus.
Virus cases traced to Russian ships docked in Korean ports have also emerged as a new source of cluster infections. Starting Monday, sailors aboard ships from Russia will be required to submit a certificate showing they have tested negative for COVID-19.
South Korea also began on-board quarantine inspections on not only ships coming from Russia but also vessels departing from six high-risk countries -- Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines and Uzbekistan.
In a comforting development for the quarantine authorities, the number of locally transmitted cases fell back below 10. Of the new eight cases, five were from Gyeonggi Province, two from Seoul and one from North Gyeongsang Province.
The health authorities have recently been reinforcing efforts to stop transmissions at campsites and other vacationing sites.
As of noon Saturday, the number of infections linked to a campsite in Hongcheon, 100 kilometers east of Seoul, remained at nine.
The authorities have conducted virus tests on 102 people who came in contact with the nine cases. Sixty-eight of them tested negative, while tests on the rest have yet to be completed.
The country reported no additional fatalities, leaving the death toll at 301, according to the KCDC.
The number of patients fully cured of the virus reached 13,233, up 50 from the previous day.
South Korea has carried out 1,571,830 tests since Jan. 3.
Meanwhile, the health authorities said they had provided remdesivir, an imported emergency treatment for COVID-19 patients, to 106 people who are in serious condition at 32 hospitals across the country.
The KCDC also announced that the production process of a locally developed COVID-19 plasma treatment for clinical trials is expected to be completed by Aug. 10. Researchers plan to conduct the clinical trial process to check its safety and efficacy.
Amid Korea's own push for the virus treatment, its quarantine authorities voiced concerns about an excessive global race to secure a vaccine and called for the World Health Organization's "active intervention and mediation."
"Amid the health care crisis of historic proportions that we are facing for the first time in 100 years, we need to respond in solidarity and share information to control the pandemic and minimize damage," Kwon Jun-wook, deputy director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, told a press briefing.
"It is a time that calls for love for humankind, through which we use the vaccine and treatments as public goods," he added.
People wait at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on July 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-01--(3rd LD) S. Korea reports 31 more cases of new coronavirus

In a comforting development for the quarantine authorities , the number of locally transmitted cases fell back below 10 .
@ @ @ @ @ , five were from Gyeonggi Province , two from Seoul and one from North Gyeongsang @ @

(ATTN: ADDS more info in last para)
SEOUL, Aug. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases dipped slightly to around 30 on Saturday, amid the country's stepped-up efforts to curb imported infections and local transmissions among vacationers at campsites.
The country reported 31 additional cases, including 23 imported ones, bringing the total caseload to 14,336, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The number of new locally transmitted cases stood at eight.
The latest tally marked a slight decrease from 36 new cases reported Friday. But health authorities tightened vigilance amid concerns about continued inflows of the virus from abroad and local contagion during the summer vacation season.
The country's imported cases have recently risen due to infections among South Korean workers returning home from Iraq and Russian sailors. Imported cases, which hit a record high of 86 on July 25, have increased by double-digit numbers for more than a month.
Of the new imported cases, 14 were from Iraq, two from Uzbekistan, and one each from the Philippines, Russia, Pakistan, Vietnam, Poland, Brazil and Senegal.
The 14 cases from Iraq are those among the 72 South Korean workers who arrived back home from the Middle East country Friday. They tested positive upon arrival, while four more of the workers got positive results Saturday.
Of the 293 workers who returned home from Iraq on July 24, a total of 77 were found to have contracted the virus.
Virus cases traced to Russian ships docked in Korean ports have also emerged as a new source of cluster infections. Starting Monday, sailors aboard ships from Russia will be required to submit a certificate showing they have tested negative for COVID-19.
South Korea also began on-board quarantine inspections on not only ships coming from Russia but also vessels departing from six high-risk countries -- Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines and Uzbekistan.
In a comforting development for the quarantine authorities, the number of locally transmitted cases fell back below 10. Of the new eight cases, five were from Gyeonggi Province, two from Seoul and one from North Gyeongsang Province.
The health authorities have recently been reinforcing efforts to stop transmissions at campsites and other vacationing sites.
As of noon Saturday, the number of infections linked to a campsite in Hongcheon, 100 kilometers east of Seoul, remained at nine.
The authorities have conducted virus tests on 102 people who came in contact with the nine cases. Sixty-eight of them tested negative, while tests on the rest have yet to be completed.
The country reported no additional fatalities, leaving the death toll at 301, according to the KCDC.
The number of patients fully cured of the virus reached 13,233, up 50 from the previous day.
South Korea has carried out 1,571,830 tests since Jan. 3.
Meanwhile, the health authorities said they had provided remdesivir, an imported emergency treatment for COVID-19 patients, to 106 people who are in serious condition at 32 hospitals across the country.
The KCDC also announced that the production process of a locally developed COVID-19 plasma treatment for clinical trials is expected to be completed by Aug. 10. Researchers plan to conduct the clinical trial process to check its safety and efficacy.
People wait at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on July 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-01--(LEAD) Heavy rain alerts issued for Seoul, central, northern regions

Heavy rain warnings are made when an area is projected to record at least 90 mm of precipitation for three @ @ @ @ @ 12 hours .
The advisories are issued when a region is forecast to see 60 @ @ @ @ @ hours or 110 mm for 12 hours .

(ATTN: RECASTS throughout; UPDATES throughout)
SEOUL, Aug. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's weather agency issued heavy rain alerts for Seoul, its surrounding areas and other regions Saturday, putting the country's key disaster management body in an emergency mode.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said that rains of 30 millimeters to 50 millimeters per hour have hit some affected regions with strong gusts, thunder and lightning.
The heavy rain warnings were applied to Seoul, and Yeoncheon and Paju in Gyeonggi Province. The KMA also issued downpour advisories for other parts of Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, as well as swaths of Gangwon, Chungcheong and Jeolla provinces.
Some parts of the areas under the alerts could see precipitation ranging from 50 mm to 80 mm between Saturday and noon on Sunday, the KMA said.
At 10 a.m., the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters went into emergency mode, directing relevant officials to prepare for possible floods in vulnerable spots, such as underground paths and riverside parking lots.
The interior ministry officials called for restrictions on citizens' access to mountain valleys, as well as riverside and coastal areas, to prevent any accidents from torrential rains.
They also asked those who may use temporary shelters after being displaced by floods to keep complying with quarantine rules to prevent COVID-19 contagion.
Heavy rain warnings are made when an area is projected to record at least 90 mm of precipitation for three hours or 180 mm for 12 hours. The advisories are issued when a region is forecast to see 60 mm of rain for three hours or 110 mm for 12 hours.
Cars move slowly on a partially submerged road in central Seoul on Aug. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-01--(2nd LD) S. Korea reports 31 more cases of new coronavirus

(ATTN: UPDATES in paras 6-7, 12-14)
SEOUL, Aug. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases dipped slightly to around 30 on Saturday, amid the country's stepped-up efforts to curb imported infections and local transmissions among vacationers at campsites.
The country reported 31 additional cases, including 23 imported ones, bringing the total caseload to 14,336, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The number of new locally transmitted cases stood at eight.
The latest tally marked a slight decrease from 36 new cases reported Friday. But health authorities tightened vigilance amid concerns about continued inflows of the virus from abroad and local contagion during the summer vacation season.
The country's imported cases have recently risen due to infections among South Korean workers returning home from Iraq and Russian sailors. Imported cases, which hit a record high of 86 on July 25, have increased by double-digit numbers for more than a month.
Of the new imported cases, 14 were from Iraq, two from Uzbekistan, and one each from the Philippines, Russia, Pakistan, Vietnam, Poland, Brazil and Senegal.
The 14 cases from Iraq are those among the 72 South Korean workers who arrived back home from the Middle East country Friday. They tested positive upon arrival, while four more of the workers got positive results Saturday.
Of the 293 workers who returned home from Iraq on July 24, a total of 77 were found to have contracted the virus.
Virus cases traced to Russian ships docked in Korean ports have also emerged as a new source of cluster infections. Starting Monday, sailors aboard ships from Russia will be required to submit a certificate showing they have tested negative for COVID-19.
South Korea also began on-board quarantine inspections on not only ships coming from Russia but also vessels departing from six high-risk countries -- Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines and Uzbekistan.
In a comforting development for the quarantine authorities, the number of locally transmitted cases fell back below 10. Of the new eight cases, five were from Gyeonggi Province, two from Seoul and one from North Gyeongsang Province.
The health authorities have recently been reinforcing efforts to stop transmissions at campsites and other vacationing sites.
As of noon Saturday, the number of infections linked to a campsite in Hongcheon, 100 kilometers east of Seoul, remained at nine.
The authorities have conducted virus tests on 102 people who came in contact with the nine cases. Sixty-eight of them tested negative, while tests on the rest have yet to be completed.
Meanwhile, the health authorities said they had provided remdesivir, an imported emergency treatment for COVID-19 patients, to 106 people who are in serious condition at 32 hospitals across the country.
The country reported no additional fatalities, leaving the death toll at 301, according to the KCDC.
The number of patients fully cured of the virus reached 13,233, up 50 from the previous day.
South Korea has carried out 1,571,830 tests since Jan. 3.
People wait at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on July 31, 2020. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-01--(LEAD) 2.0 magnitude quake hits southern N. Korea, central S. Korea

The quake occurred at 2:58 a.m. , 29 kilometers north-northwest of Pyonggang County in Kangwon Province , at a depth @ @ @ @ @ to the KMA .
Pyonggang is located just across the border from South Korea 's @ @ @ @ @ of Seoul .

(ATTN: UPDATES with quake in central South Korea in last 3 paras; CHANGES headline; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Aug. 1 (Yonhap) -- A 2.0 magnitude earthquake hit North Korea's southeastern region close to the inter-Korean border Saturday, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said.
The quake occurred at 2:58 a.m., 29 kilometers north-northwest of Pyonggang County in Kangwon Province, at a depth of 17 km, according to the KMA. Pyonggang is located just across the border from South Korea's Cheorwon, 90 km northeast of Seoul.
This map shows the epicenter of a 2.0 magnitude earthquake that hit southeastern North Korea on Aug. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
The epicenter was at 38.65 degrees north latitude and 127.16 degrees east longitude, the agency said, noting that damage is not expected from the quake.
The maximum magnitude measured by regional observation equipment was 1, it added.
"No damage is expected from the quake," a KMA official said, adding, "It is analyzed to be a natural one."
On Saturday afternoon, a quake of the same magnitude struck the central South Korean county of Yecheon, the KMA said.
The quake occurred at 1:15 p.m., 13 km north of the North Gyeongsang Province county, at a depth of 19 km, it said. Yecheon is 250 km southeast of Seoul.
The epicenter was at 36.77 degrees north latitude and 128.48 degrees east longitude, the agency said, adding that no damage is expected from the quake.
This map shows the epicenter of a 2.0 magnitude earthquake that hit central South Korea on Aug. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-01--Today in Korean history

Today in Korean history

2010 -- The Guinness World Records certifies South Korea 's Saemangeum dike as the longest man-made sea barrier in the @ @ @ @ @ South Korean government .
The world 's leading authority on record-breaking achievements officially confirmed that @ @ @ @ @ km longer than the dike at the Zuiderzee Works in the Netherlands .

Aug. 2
1953 -- The U.S. military command moves its headquarters to Yongsan in central Seoul.
1980 -- Color television sets become available for the first time in South Korea.
1993 -- Chang Kang-je, the publisher and owner of the Hankook Ilbo-Korea Times group, dies after a long illness. He was 48.
2010 -- The Guinness World Records certifies South Korea's Saemangeum dike as the longest man-made sea barrier in the world, according to the South Korean government. The world's leading authority on record-breaking achievements officially confirmed that the 33.9-kilometer-long seawall is 1.4 km longer than the dike at the Zuiderzee Works in the Netherlands.
2011 -- Seoul demands Tokyo correct its defense document that lays claim to the South Korean islets of Dokdo. Japan's defense white paper has referred to the islets in the East Sea as Japanese territory since 2005.
2019 -- South Korea and Japan decide to delist each other as trusted trading partners after Tokyo's rejection of Seoul's repeated appeals for a negotiated resolution over the issue of forced labor compensation. The move further worsened their row over trade and wartime history.
(END)


yna--2020-08-01--Heavy rain advisories issued for Seoul, central, northern regions

The Korea Meteorological Administration ( KMA ) said that rains of 30 millimeters to 50 millimeters per hour have hit @ @ @ @ @ in the central and northern parts of the country -- with strong gusts , thunder @ @ @

SEOUL, Aug. 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's weather agency issued heavy rain advisories for Seoul, its surrounding areas and other regions Saturday, putting the country's key disaster management body in an emergency mode.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said that rains of 30 millimeters to 50 millimeters per hour have hit the affected regions -- many in the central and northern parts of the country -- with strong gusts, thunder and lightning.
The advisories were applied to the capital city, Incheon, and parts of Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungcheong and Jeolla Provinces, and the five northwestern islands near the inter-Korean maritime border.
At 10 a.m., the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters went into emergency mode, directing relevant officials to prepare for possible floods in vulnerable spots, such as underground paths and riverside parking lots.
The interior ministry officials called for restrictions on citizens' access to mountain valleys, as well as riverside and coastal areas, to prevent any accidents from torrential rains.
They also asked those who may use temporary shelters after being displaced by floods to keep complying with quarantine rules to prevent COVID-19 contagion.
Cars move slowly on a partially submerged road in central Seoul on Aug. 1, 2020. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


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(END)


yna--2020-08-02--(LEAD) S. Korea reports 30 new virus cases, single-digit number of local infections for 2nd day

Of the imported cases , 11 were South Koreans and 11 foreigners .
Seventeen of them tested positive for the @ @ @ @ @ at either an airport or a seaport , while the five others were confirmed to @ @ @ @ @ self-quarantine , according to the public health agency .

(ATTN: UPDATES with details; ADDS photo)
By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 30 new cases of the coronavirus Sunday, with 22 of them imported cases, marking the second day in a row that local infections have increased by a single-digit figure.
The new cases raised South Korea's total cases of COVID-19 to 14,366, and the nation's death toll remained at 301, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The number of new cases has been in the 30s since Friday when South Korea reported 36 new virus cases. The number fell to 31 on Saturday.
Of the new cases, local infections stood at eight, while the rest are imported cases.
This undated file photo shows two people, wearing protective masks and a full gown, spraying disinfectants around chairs at a selected clinic for COVID-19. (Yonhap)
Of the local infections, Seoul accounted for the largest share with five, raising the total cases in the capital city to 1,607.
Of the imported cases, 11 were South Koreans and 11 foreigners. Seventeen of them tested positive for the virus in the screening process at either an airport or a seaport, while the five others were confirmed to have the virus while under self-quarantine, according to the public health agency.
The accumulated number of imported cases reached 2,441 in South Korea.
The KCDC said South Korea's fatality rate of people infected with the virus was 2.1 percent. The rate was 24.92 percent for those aged 80 and above.
It said 4,656 people aged less than 30 have contracted the virus, but none of them died.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-02--N.K. propaganda outlets slam S. Korea over revised missile guidelines

`` The phrase South Korean authorities have said the most so far is probably 'dialogue and peace ' ... they @ @ @ @ @ of us but as soon as they turn their back they act in a completely @ @ @ @ @ said .

By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korean propaganda outlets on Sunday lashed out at South Korea over a recent U.S. decision to lift restrictions on Seoul's use of solid fuel for its space rockets, slamming the move as being contrary to the South's calls for peace.
Seoul and Washington revised the missile guidelines between the two countries Tuesday to lift a decades-old ban on the South from using solid fuel for space rockets, a move expected to lead to the country developing space rockets and launching spy satellites to monitor North Korea.
Meari, one of the North's propaganda websites, denounced the revised guidelines, saying Seoul "has revealed its evil intentions for contention, saying the solid fuel-propelled space rockets allow the launch of low-orbit reconnaissance satellites, or that it will talk with the U.S. on lifting restrictions on the range of ballistic missiles."
South Korea is still prohibited from firing solid-fuel ballistic missiles with the range of over 800 kilometers under the alliance accord first signed in 1979. On Wednesday, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said the country will make continued efforts to "secure complete missile sovereignty."
Another propaganda outlet, Uriminzokkiri TV, criticized South Korea's move to increase military capabilities as a "contradictory attitude."
"The phrase South Korean authorities have said the most so far is probably 'dialogue and peace'... they keep repeating this in front of us but as soon as they turn their back they act in a completely different manner," it said.
The articles mark the first time North Korean media outlets have reacted to the South's revised missile guidelines, but media reports still remain limited to propaganda outlets and official state media, such as the Korean Central News Agency or the Rodong Sinmun remaining silent on the issue.
The North has toned down its criticism of the South on state media since it announced plans to suspend military action against Seoul in June, after blowing up the inter-Korean liaison office building in the North's border town of Kaesong.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-02--S. Korea reports 30 new virus cases, number in 30s for 3rd straight day

SEOUL , Aug. 2 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea reported 30 more cases of the new coronavirus Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ cases , marking the third consecutive day that the number has been in the 30s @

SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 30 more cases of the new coronavirus Sunday, with 22 of them imported cases, marking the third consecutive day that the number has been in the 30s.
The new cases raised South Korea's total cases of COVID-19 to 14,366, and the nation's death toll remained at 301, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The number of new cases has been in the 30s since Friday when South Korea reported 36 new virus cases. The number fell to 31 on Saturday.
Of the 30 new cases Sunday, local infections stood at eight, while the rest are imported cases.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-02--Heavy rain pummels central S. Korea, leaving 1 firefighter missing

The firefighter , identified by his surname Song , 29 , was standing next to a stream in the central @ @ @ @ @ swollen waters when the ground suddenly collapsed and caused him to fall into the stream @ @ @ @

By Park Boram
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- Heavy rains pummeled central South Korea on Sunday, flooding homes, triggering mudslides, and forcing the suspension of train services and road closures. One firefighter went missing after being swept away in a flash flood, officials said.
The firefighter, identified by his surname Song, 29, was standing next to a stream in the central city of Chungju to check swollen waters when the ground suddenly collapsed and caused him to fall into the stream around 7:30 a.m.
A search operation is under way, officials said.
Torrential rain of up to 60 millimeters per hour soaked northern parts of North Chungcheong Province overnight, including Chungju, about 105 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and adjacent areas that include Cheongju, Jecheon and the county of Danyang.
More than 80 houses in Chungju were flooded, forcing some 120 residents to evacuate early Sunday morning.
Train services on all routes of three train lines running in the central and eastern parts of the country -- the Chungbuk, Taebaek and Jungang lines -- were suspended due to mudslides and flooding.
The Chungbuk Line runs from the central city of Sejong to Jecheon, the Taebak Line from Jecheon to the Gangwon Province city of Taebaek and the Jungang Line from Seoul to the southeastern city of Gyeongju.
Mudslides also caused a number of roads in the regions to close.
An undated photo taken by a reader shows the aftermath of a mudslide on an expressway running through Jecheon. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The national railway operator, the Korea Railroad Corp. (Korail), advised travelers in the affected regions to opt for other means of transportation as it may take considerable time to fix the train services.
The country's capital area, including cities in Gyeonggi Province encircling Seoul, also reported flooded houses and cases of property damage after heavy rain of around 60 mm per hour hit the areas.
A railway running through Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, is submerged due to heavy rain, in this photo provided by the Korea Railroad Corp. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-02--(URGENT) 26 more released from coronavirus treatment, total now at 13,259: KCDC

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


yna--2020-08-02--(URGENT) S. Korea reports no additional coronavirus deaths, death toll at 301: KCDC


yna--2020-08-02--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 30 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 14,366: KCDC


yna--2020-08-02--S. Korea's growth rate second highest among 14 major countries

In comparison , the U.S. economy shrank 9.5 percent in the second quarter compared with the preceding three months .
@ @ @ @ @ and Spain also suffered double-digit declines in their economic growth due to the fallout of @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's economy contracted 3.3 percent in the second quarter from a quarter earlier, but it fared well compared with other major economies, data showed Sunday.
South Korea's gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate was the second highest among the 14 countries that included the United States, China, Germany and France, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a group of 36 mostly rich and advanced nations.
The OECD has released GDP growth rates for 13 out of 36 member states, as well as six other major economies -- China, Russia, India, Indonesia, Brazil and South Africa.
Among the 14 countries, China topped the list as its economy rose 11.5 percent in the April-June period from the previous quarter.
In comparison, the U.S. economy shrank 9.5 percent in the second quarter compared with the preceding three months. Germany, France, Italy and Spain also suffered double-digit declines in their economic growth due to the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The German economy contracted 10.1 percent, the French economy fell 13.8 percent, and the Spanish economy shrank 18.5 percent.
On average, the economies of the 14 countries decreased 9.5 percent on-quarter.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


Sunday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Aug. 2 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


yna--2020-08-02--Public libraries in S. Korea increase to 1,134 nationwide in 2019

According to a recent statistical survey by the Ministry of Culture , Sports and Tourism and its affiliated Korea Culture @ @ @ @ @ number of public libraries reached 1,134 as of 2019 .

SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea saw the addition of 38 new public libraries nationwide last year thanks to the government's efforts to enhance access to libraries in recent years.
According to a recent statistical survey by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and its affiliated Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, the number of public libraries reached 1,134 as of 2019.
This is in line with the annual 3.8 percent increase on average in the number of public libraries, registered since 2016.
The number first surpassed 1,000 in 2016, when an increase of 32 public libraries was reported, according to the survey.
The latest 2019 figure means there are one public library per every 45,723 South Koreans, a slight improvement from a year earlier.
The populous Gyeonggi Province encircling Seoul has the most public libraries at 277, followed by Seoul's 180.
There were 72 in South Gyeongsang Province and 70 in South Jeolla, 66 in North Gyeongsang and 63 in South Chungcheong.
The size of public library's collections grew by 3.3 percent to a total of some 115 million books last year, which translates to 101,486 books per library.
Public libraries together received 284.4 million visitors last year, up 2.4 percent from a year earlier.
A culture ministry official in charge of the issue said the ministry plans to ramp up online book-lending services in the face of the emerging contactless lifestyle amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
A public library in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-02--S. Korea, Iran agree to launch working group on humanitarian trade

In April , Washington approved a special license for Seoul to resume some humanitarian transactions with Tehran even if they @ @ @ @ @ subject to U.S. sanctions .
In late May , Seoul sent to Tehran $ 500,000 @ @ @ @ @ diseases in the first such shipment to the Middle Eastern country .

By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and Iran have agreed to launch a working group on expanding humanitarian trade as part of efforts to maintain bilateral partnership within the scope of a U.S.-approved sanctions exemption, a source close to the matter said Sunday.
The director general-level consultation aims to discuss on a regular basis how to match Iran's demand for medicine and medical equipment with what South Korean exporters can offer, the source said.
The first working group talks will likely be held early next month.
The two sides reached the agreement during their higher-level virtual talks held earlier this week. In the talks, the Iranian side expressed intent to purchase several hundred millions of dollars worth of South Korean products, according to the source.
South Korea has been seeking to expand humanitarian exports to Iran, including coronavirus test kits, amid the worsening COVID-19 outbreak there, as well as other essential medicine, like flu vaccines and antidiabetics.
Expanding humanitarian trade with Tehran is also expected to help the two countries settle the issue of Iran's assets -- known to be worth up to US$7 billion -- frozen in two Korean bank accounts since last year due to Washington's tightened sanctions against Tehran.
The two countries had used the won currency-based accounts to continue Korea's oil imports from Iran and exports of goods to Iran upon the U.S. waiver of sanctions limiting dollar-based financial transactions with Tehran. But Washington refused to extend the sanctions waiver.
In April, Washington approved a special license for Seoul to resume some humanitarian transactions with Tehran even if they involve Iran's central bank subject to U.S. sanctions. In late May, Seoul sent to Tehran $500,000 worth of medicine for hereditary diseases in the first such shipment to the Middle Eastern country.
The Seoul government has also launched an interagency task force to step up humanitarian trade with Iran and hosted a series of briefing sessions for local companies to help them resume trade with Tehran.
This undated photo, provided by Seoul's foreign ministry, shows boxes of medicine for hereditary diseases sent to Iran as part of humanitarian trade with the Middle East country. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


(Copyright)


yna--2020-08-02--(3rd LD) S. Korea reports 30 new virus cases, single-digit number of local infections for 2nd day

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 6-7)
By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 30 new cases of the coronavirus Sunday, with 22 of them imported cases, marking the second day in a row that local infections have increased by a single-digit figure.
The new cases raised South Korea's total cases of COVID-19 to 14,366, and the nation's death toll remained at 301, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The number of new cases has been in the 30s since Friday when South Korea reported 36 new virus cases. The number fell to 31 on Saturday.
Of the new cases, local infections stood at eight, while the rest are imported cases.
This undated file photo shows two people, wearing protective masks and a full gown, spraying disinfectants around chairs at a selected clinic for COVID-19. (Yonhap)
Of the local infections, Seoul accounted for the largest share with five, raising the total cases in the capital city to 1,607.
As of noon on Sunday, nine new cases have been confirmed at a coffee shop and a restaurant, both of them located in southern Seoul, since the first infection was reported in the former place earlier last week.
Health officials said that a person who visited the coffee shop appears to have spread the virus to the restaurant. They are not sure where the first patient had contracted the disease.
Of the imported cases, 11 were South Koreans and 11 foreigners. Seventeen of them tested positive for the virus in the screening process at either an airport or a seaport, while the five others were confirmed to have the virus while under self-quarantine, according to the public health agency.
The accumulated number of imported cases reached 2,441 in South Korea.
The KCD said South Korea's fatality rate of people infected with the virus was 2.1 percent. The rate was 24.92 percent for those aged 80 and above.
It said 4,656 people aged less than 30 have contracted the virus, but none of them died.
The government said the number of daily infection cases has been on the decline in recent weeks, though cluster infections are being reported sporadically in Seoul and its surrounding area.
According to health officials, daily infections averaged at 16.9 from July 19 to Saturday, lower than the 21.4 tallied during the previous two-week period. They also said community infections in provincial areas have been "markedly" subsiding.
The government still urged people to stay on high alert, saying that handling possible infections during the peak summer vacation season would serve as a "watershed" in the fight against COVID-19. It advised people to stay home or avoid crowded places if they go on vacation.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-02--(2nd LD) S. Korea reports 30 new virus cases, single-digit number of local infections for 2nd day

(ATTN: ADDS more info in last 3 paras)
By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 30 new cases of the coronavirus Sunday, with 22 of them imported cases, marking the second day in a row that local infections have increased by a single-digit figure.
The new cases raised South Korea's total cases of COVID-19 to 14,366, and the nation's death toll remained at 301, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The number of new cases has been in the 30s since Friday when South Korea reported 36 new virus cases. The number fell to 31 on Saturday.
Of the new cases, local infections stood at eight, while the rest are imported cases.
This undated file photo shows two people, wearing protective masks and a full gown, spraying disinfectants around chairs at a selected clinic for COVID-19. (Yonhap)
Of the local infections, Seoul accounted for the largest share with five, raising the total cases in the capital city to 1,607.
Of the imported cases, 11 were South Koreans and 11 foreigners. Seventeen of them tested positive for the virus in the screening process at either an airport or a seaport, while the five others were confirmed to have the virus while under self-quarantine, according to the public health agency.
The accumulated number of imported cases reached 2,441 in South Korea.
The KCDC said South Korea's fatality rate of people infected with the virus was 2.1 percent. The rate was 24.92 percent for those aged 80 and above.
It said 4,656 people aged less than 30 have contracted the virus, but none of them died.
The government said the number of daily infection cases has been on the decline in recent weeks, though cluster infections are being reported sporadically in Seoul and its surrounding area.
According to health officials, daily infections averaged at 16.9 from July 19 to Saturday, lower than the 21.4 tallied during the previous two-week period. They also said community infections in provincial areas have been "markedly" subsiding.
The government still urged people to stay on high alert, saying that handling possible infections during the peak summer vacation season would serve as a "watershed" in the fight against COVID-19. It advised people to stay home or avoid crowded places if they go on vacation.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-02--(4th LD) Heavy rains lash S. Korea, leaving 5 dead, 8 missing

In Chungju , some 105 km southeast of Seoul , a firefighter went missing after being swept away in strong @ @ @ @ @ identified by his surname Song , was standing next to a stream to check swollen @ @ @ @ @ collapsed and caused him to fall into the stream around 7:30 a.m .

(ATTN: UPDATES headline, lead; ADDS more info in paras 25-26)
By Park Boram
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- Heavy rains triggered a string of mudslides and flooding in central South Korea on Sunday, leaving at least five people dead and eight others missing, and forcing the suspension of train services and road closures.
A landslide engulfed a chicken farm in the Gyeonggi Province city of Anseong, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, around 7:10 a.m. and killed a 58-year-old man. Rescue workers found his body buried in the mud at 9:18 a.m. after two hours of searching.
In Chungju, some 105 km southeast of Seoul, a firefighter went missing after being swept away in strong currents. The 29-year-old, identified by his surname Song, was standing next to a stream to check swollen waters when the ground suddenly collapsed and caused him to fall into the stream around 7:30 a.m.
A search operation is under way, officials said.
This photo, provided by the National Fire Agency, shows a collapsed road in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, which left one firefighter missing, on Aug. 2, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Also in Chungju, a 56-year-old woman was killed after a landslide enveloped a cowshed and sparked a gas explosion around 10:30 a.m.
A separate landslide in Chungju left another 76-year-old woman dead around 8 a.m., with one more man, aged 59, found dead near a fishing spot in Eumseong, North Chungcheong, at around 11 a.m. He reportedly drowned in a flooded stream, according to officials.
A 62-year-old resident of Eumseong was also swept away in torrents and went missing at 8:30 a.m.
In Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, a 42-year-old camper was found buried in mudslides early Sunday morning. The camper was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead.
This photo, provided by a reader, shows a road in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, destroyed by heavy rains on Aug. 2, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In nearby Danyang, three people -- a woman, her daughter and son-in-law -- went missing after being engulfed by torrents. Officials said the couple were trying to save their mother being swept away by a flash flood while working in a farming field.
Two more people were reported missing in North Chungcheong after a landslide hit fishing grounds in Chungju and rapid torrents capsized a canoe in a flooded stream in the nearby county of Goesan, according to officials.
Torrential rain of up to 60 millimeters per hour soaked northern parts of North Chungcheong Province overnight, including Chungju, and adjacent areas that include Cheongju, Jecheon and the county of Danyang.
More than 80 houses in Chungju were flooded, forcing some 120 residents to evacuate early Sunday morning.
Train services on three train lines running in the central and eastern parts of the country -- the Chungbuk, Taebaek and Jungang lines -- were disrupted due to mudslides and flooding.
The Chungbuk Line runs from the central city of Sejong to Jecheon, the Taebak Line from Jecheon to the Gangwon Province city of Taebaek and the Jungang Line from Seoul to the southeastern city of Gyeongju.
Mudslides also caused a number of roads in the regions to close.
This image provided by the city of Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, shows a chicken farm that collapsed on Aug. 2, 2020 in a landslide triggered by heavy rains. The mudslide left a 58-year-old man dead. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The national railway operator, the Korea Railroad Corp. (Korail), advised travelers in the affected regions to opt for other means of transportation as it may take considerable time to fix the train services.
Evacuation alerts were also issued for nearly 5,000 residents of the county of Eumseong, North Chungcheong, due to flooding risks involving a reservoir and streams there.
Some 200 residents of a village in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, evacuated their houses submerged in the rain.
The country's capital area, including cities in Gyeonggi Province encircling Seoul, also reported flooded houses and cases of property damage after heavy rains of around 70 mm per hour hit the areas.
In Seoul, Jamsu Bridge, linking the capital's southern and northern parts over the Han River, was closed to pedestrians, as heavy rains pushed up the river's water level to over 5.5 meters.
Vehicle traffic on the bridge will be blocked if the water level rises further, officials said.
The weather agency retained its heavy rain warnings for many parts of North Chungcheong, including Cheongju, Chungju and Jecheon, as well as other central regions.
As of Sunday afternoon, the entire Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, as well as some parts of Gangwon Province, were also placed under heavy rain alerts, which are issued when precipitation of 90 mm or more is forecast for the duration of three hours.
According to the agency, the central regions may continue to receive heavy rains throughout the day till Tuesday as the country comes under the influence of Typhoon Hagupit.
With heavy downpours expected to continue, the government put the country on the highest alert for disasters caused by rain, as of 3 p.m.
The government also instructed officials of relevant agencies to mobilize all possible resources to ensure the safety of citizens and advised people to stay clear of danger-prone areas, including low-lying regions.
From Sunday night till Monday night, the regions may experience downpours of up to 50 mm to 80 mm per hour as Typhoon Hagupit places the country's central regions under the influence of massive amounts of water vapor.
North Chungcheong Province, in particular, may receive as much as 200 mm more rain in total between Sunday afternoon and Monday, a regional branch of the weather agency noted. In some parts of the province's northern regions, precipitation could go up to a combined 300 mm during the period, the agency said, urging extra caution.
A house in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, is destroyed by heavy rains on Aug. 2, 2020. (Yonhap)
A railway running through Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, is submerged due to heavy rain, in this photo provided by Korea Railroad Corp. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-02--(3rd LD) Heavy rains lash S. Korea, leaving 5 dead, 7 missing

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in para 10, last 9 paras; ADDS photos)
By Park Boram
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- Heavy rains triggered a string of mudslides and flooding in central South Korea on Sunday, leaving at least five people dead and seven others missing, and forcing the suspension of train services and road closures.
A landslide engulfed a chicken farm in the Gyeonggi Province city of Anseong, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, around 7:10 a.m. and killed a 58-year-old man. Rescue workers found his body buried in the mud at 9:18 a.m. after two hours of searching.
In Chungju, some 105 km southeast of Seoul, a firefighter went missing after being swept away in strong currents. The 29-year-old, identified by his surname Song, was standing next to a stream to check swollen waters when the ground suddenly collapsed and caused him to fall into the stream around 7:30 a.m.
A search operation is under way, officials said.
This photo, provided by the National Fire Agency, shows a collapsed road in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, which left one firefighter missing, on Aug. 2, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Also in Chungju, a 56-year-old woman was killed after a landslide enveloped a cowshed and sparked a gas explosion around 10:30 a.m.
A separate landslide in Chungju left another 76-year-old woman dead around 8 a.m., with one more man, aged 59, found dead near a fishing spot in Eumseong, North Chungcheong, at around 11 a.m. He reportedly drowned in a flooded stream, according to officials.
A 62-year-old resident of Eumseong was also swept away in torrents and went missing at 8:30 a.m.
In Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, a 42-year-old camper was found buried in mudslides early Sunday morning. The camper was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead.
This photo, provided by a reader, shows a road in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, destroyed by heavy rains on Aug. 2, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In nearby Danyang, three people -- a woman, her daughter and son-in-law -- went missing after being engulfed by torrents. Officials said the couple were trying to save their mother being swept away by a flash flood while working in a farming field.
Two more people were reported missing in North Chungcheong after a landslide hit fishing grounds in Chungju and rapid torrents capsized a canoe in a flooded stream in the nearby county of Goesan, according to officials.
Torrential rain of up to 60 millimeters per hour soaked northern parts of North Chungcheong Province overnight, including Chungju, and adjacent areas that include Cheongju, Jecheon and the county of Danyang.
More than 80 houses in Chungju were flooded, forcing some 120 residents to evacuate early Sunday morning.
Train services on three train lines running in the central and eastern parts of the country -- the Chungbuk, Taebaek and Jungang lines -- were disrupted due to mudslides and flooding.
The Chungbuk Line runs from the central city of Sejong to Jecheon, the Taebak Line from Jecheon to the Gangwon Province city of Taebaek and the Jungang Line from Seoul to the southeastern city of Gyeongju.
Mudslides also caused a number of roads in the regions to close.
This image provided by the city of Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, shows a chicken farm that collapsed on Aug. 2, 2020 in a landslide triggered by heavy rains. The mudslide left a 58-year-old man dead. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The national railway operator, the Korea Railroad Corp. (Korail), advised travelers in the affected regions to opt for other means of transportation as it may take considerable time to fix the train services.
Evacuation alerts were also issued for nearly 5,000 residents of the county of Eumseong, North Chungcheong, due to flooding risks involving a reservoir and streams there.
Some 200 residents of a village in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, evacuated their houses submerged in the rain.
The country's capital area, including cities in Gyeonggi Province encircling Seoul, also reported flooded houses and cases of property damage after heavy rains of around 70 mm per hour hit the areas.
In Seoul, Jamsu Bridge, linking the capital's southern and northern parts over the Han River, was closed to pedestrians, as heavy rains pushed up the river's water level to over 5.5 meters.
Vehicle traffic on the bridge will be blocked if the water level rises further, officials said.
The weather agency retained its heavy rain warnings for many parts of North Chungcheong, including Cheongju, Chungju and Jecheon, as well as other central regions.
As of Sunday afternoon, the entire Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, as well as some parts of Gangwon Province, were also placed under heavy rain alerts, which are issued when precipitation of 90 mm or more is forecast for the duration of three hours.
According to the agency, the central regions may continue to receive heavy rains throughout the day till Tuesday as the country comes under the influence of Typhoon Hagupit.
From Sunday night till Monday night, the regions may experience downpours of up to 50 mm to 80 mm per hour, as Typhoon Hagupit places the country's central regions under the influence of massive amounts of water vapor.
North Chungcheong Province, in particular, may receive as much as 200 mm more rain in total between Sunday afternoon and Monday, a regional branch of the weather agency noted. In some parts of the province's northern regions, precipitation could go up to a combined 300 mm during the period, the agency said, urging extra caution.
A house in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, is destroyed by heavy rains on Aug. 2, 2020. (Yonhap)
A railway running through Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, is submerged due to heavy rain, in this photo provided by Korea Railroad Corp. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-02--Creditors of Asiana Airlines mull counterproposal over due diligence

In its self-help measures , Asiana has had all of its 10,500 employees take unpaid leave for 15 days a @ @ @ @ @ circumstances normalize .
Asiana 's executives have also agreed to forgo 60 percent of their @ @ @ @ @ time frame was given for how long the pay cuts will remain in effect .

SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- Creditors of Asiana Airlines Inc. are considering making a counterproposal to sharply cut the period of another round of due diligence on the debt-laden carrier, an official of the creditors said Sunday.
The move came more than a week after HDC Hyundai Development Co., a major property developer, demanded additional due diligence on Asiana Airlines for 12 weeks beginning in mid-August.
HDC has claimed it will be forced to shoulder Asiana's heavy debts if it acquires the airline without looking into its current financial condition hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
HDC Hyundai Development Co.'s company logo (L), and Asiana Airlines planes at an airport in South Korea (Yonhap)
Asiana has suspended most of its flights on international routes, as more than 180 countries have strengthened entry restrictions amid virus fears this year.
Asiana's net losses for the the January-March quarter deepened to 683 billion won (US$572 million) from 89.18 billion won a year earlier. It is widely expected to report widened losses for the second quarter.
Meanwhile, Kumho Industrial Co., which signed a deal with the HDC-led consortium in December to sell its entire 30.77 percent stake in Asiana, has demanded that HDC complete the deal by mid-August.
Kumho Industrial has expressed regrets about HDC's request, saying it has provided all required documents and financial information to the construction company since December.
It remains unclear how HDC will react if the creditors counter-propose to sharply cut additional due diligence on the carrier, the creditor official said.
The state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB), Asiana's main creditor bank, is set to announce its stance on the stalled Asiana deal later this week.
To help Asiana stay afloat, the KDB and the Export-Import Bank of Korea plan to inject a combined 1.7 trillion won into Asiana. Last year, the creditors extended a total of 1.6 trillion won to the carrier.
In its self-help measures, Asiana has had all of its 10,500 employees take unpaid leave for 15 days a month since April until business circumstances normalize. Asiana's executives have also agreed to forgo 60 percent of their wages, though no specific time frame was given for how long the pay cuts will remain in effect.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-02--S. Koreans' nonessential spending plummets amid coronavirus

It is the first time that the proportion of essential spending in total household expenditures surpassed 40 percent since the @ @ @ @ @ when the corresponding figure came to 40.29 percent .

SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean consumers purchased far fewer nonessential items in the first quarter than normal due to economic uncertainty sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, data showed Sunday.
The combined essential spending came to 84.81 trillion won (US$71 billion) in the January-March period, accounting for 40.56 percent of total household expenditures, according to the data released by the Bank of Korea.
It is the first time that the proportion of essential spending in total household expenditures surpassed 40 percent since the fourth quarter of 1999, when the corresponding figure came to 40.29 percent.
Essential spending includes groceries, utility bills, rent and health services.
The development is the latest reminder that South Korean consumers closed their wallets for nonessential goods and services, such as entertainment, as they are grappling with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-02--(2nd LD) Heavy rain pummels S. Korea, leaving 5 dead, 5 missing

(ATTN: UPDATES headline, paras 1, 6-11, 18; ADDS photo)
By Park Boram
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- Heavy rains triggered a string of mudslides and flooding in central South Korea on Sunday, leaving at least five people dead and five others missing, and forcing the suspension of train services and road closures.
A landslide engulfed a chicken farm in the Gyeonggi Province city of Anseong, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, around 7:10 a.m. and killed a 58-year-old man. Rescue workers found his body buried in the mud at 9:18 a.m. after two hours of searching.
In Chungju, some 105 km southeast of Seoul, a firefighter went missing after being swept away in strong currents. The 29-year-old, identified by his surname Song, was standing next to a stream to check swollen waters when the ground suddenly collapsed and caused him to fall into the stream around 7:30 a.m.
A search operation is under way, officials said.
Also in Chungju, a 56-year-old woman was killed after a landslide enveloped a cowshed and sparked a gas explosion around 10:30 a.m.
A separate landslide in Chungju left another 76-year-old woman dead around 8 a.m., with one more man, aged 59, found dead near a fishing spot in Eumseong, North Chungcheong, at around 11 a.m. He reportedly drowned in a flooded stream, according to officials.
A 62-year-old resident of Eumseong was also swept away in torrents and went missing at 8:30 a.m.
In Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, a 42-year-old camper was found buried in mudslides early Sunday morning. The camper was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead.
This photo provided by the National Fire Agency shows a collapsed road in Chungju, which left one firefighter missing on Aug. 2, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In nearby Danyang, three people -- a woman, her daughter and son-in-law -- went missing after being englufed by torrents. Officials said the couple were trying to save their mother being swept away by a flash flood while working in a farming field.
Torrential rain of up to 60 millimeters per hour soaked northern parts of North Chungcheong Province overnight, including Chungju, and adjacent areas that include Cheongju, Jecheon and the county of Danyang.
More than 80 houses in Chungju were flooded, forcing some 120 residents to evacuate early Sunday morning.
Train services on three train lines running in the central and eastern parts of the country -- the Chungbuk, Taebaek and Jungang lines -- were disrupted due to mudslides and flooding.
The Chungbuk Line runs from the central city of Sejong to Jecheon, the Taebak Line from Jecheon to the Gangwon Province city of Taebaek and the Jungang Line from Seoul to the southeastern city of Gyeongju.
Mudslides also caused a number of roads in the regions to close.
A photo taken by a reader shows the aftermath of a mudslide on an expressway running through Jecheon. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The national railway operator, the Korea Railroad Corp. (Korail), advised travelers in the affected regions to opt for other means of transportation as it may take considerable time to fix the train services.
Evacuation alerts were also issued for nearly 5,000 residents of the county of Eumseong, North Chungcheong, due to flooding risks involving a reservoir and streams there.
The country's capital area, including cities in Gyeonggi Province encircling Seoul, also reported flooded houses and cases of property damage after heavy rain of around 60 mm per hour hit the areas.
The weather agency retained its heavy rain warnings on many parts of North Chungcheong, including Cheongju, Chungju and Jecheon, as well as other central regions.
According to the agency, North Chungcheong may continue to receive heavy rain throughout the day till Monday, with precipitation expected to rise up to 80 mm per hour at some points.
Gyeonggi and Gangwon Province were also under heavy rain alerts as of Sunday morning where the amount of rainfall is forecast to go up to 50 mm per hour with possible thunder and lightning between Sunday and Monday.
A house in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, was destroyed in heavy rains on Aug. 2, 2020. (Yonhap)
A railway running through Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, is submerged due to heavy rain, in this photo provided by the Korea Railroad Corp. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-02--Today in Korean history

Today in Korean history

1983 - Samsung Electronics Co. declares that it is the world 's third firm to develop 64K dynamic random access @ @ @ @ @ companies in the United States and Japan .

Aug. 3
1983 - Samsung Electronics Co. declares that it is the world's third firm to develop 64K dynamic random access memory (DRAM) after companies in the United States and Japan.
2005 - A Seoul National University research team, led by Hwang Woo-suk, announces the cloning of a dog, which was independently verified through genetic testing. The dog, an Afghan hound, was named Snuppy.
2013 - Kim Euong-yong, a renowned South Korea pro baseball manager, logs his 1,500th victory in the Hanwha Eagles' 4-2 win over the NC Dinos.
(END)


yna--2020-08-02--Doosan Heavy pays back 120 bln won to its creditors

It is the first time that Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction has paid back part of its debts to its @ @ @ @ @ won from two state-run banks -- the Korea Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. said Sunday it has paid back about 120 billion won (US$100.5 million) to its creditors in the first repayment of part of its fresh debts of 3 trillion won.
The move came after the cash-strapped company sold a 27-hole golf course Club Mow to a consortium led by Hana Financial Investment Co. for 185 billion won.
It is the first time that Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction has paid back part of its debts to its creditors after receiving 3 trillion won from two state-run banks -- the Korea Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of Korea -- earlier this year.
This undated file photo shows a passerby walking past a logo of Doosan Group in front of the group's building in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Separately, the Export-Import Bank of Korea has rolled over the power plant builder's 600 billion won of debt.
Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction has said it plans to repay about 1 trillion won of its debts within this year by selling assets, including its 36 percent stake in construction equipment maker Doosan Infracore Co.
Doosan Corp., the parent of the power plant maker, also plans to sell its business divisions, including oil pressure machine maker Doosan Mottro, and its affiliates, such as copper foil maker Doosan Solus Co. and venture capital firm Neoplux Co.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-02--(LEAD) Heavy rain pummels S. Korea, leaving 1 man dead, 2 missing

(ATTN: UPDATES headline, paras 1-5, 14, 16-18; ADDS photo)
By Park Boram
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- Heavy rains flooded homes and triggered a string of mudslides in central South Korea on Sunday, leaving at least one person dead and two others missing, as well as forcing the suspension of train services and road closures.
A landslide engulfed a chicken farm in the Gyeonggi Province city of Anseong, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, around 7:10 a.m. and killed a 58-year-old man. Rescue workers found his body buried in the mud at 9:18 a.m. after two hours of searching.
A 73-year-old woman also went missing after a mudslide at her home in Anseong around 7:50 a.m. Up to 100 millimeters of rain per hour fell in the city overnight.
In the central city of Chungju, some 105 km southeast of Seoul, a firefighter went missing in a flash flood.
The firefighter, identified by his surname Song, 29, was standing next to a stream in the central city of Chungju to check swollen waters when the ground suddenly collapsed and caused him to fall into the stream around 7:30 a.m.
A search operation is under way, officials said.
This photo provided by the National Fire Agency shows a collapsed road in Chungju, which left one firefighter missing on Aug. 2, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Torrential rain of up to 60 millimeters per hour soaked northern parts of North Chungcheong Province overnight, including Chungju, and adjacent areas that include Cheongju, Jecheon and the county of Danyang.
More than 80 houses in Chungju were flooded, forcing some 120 residents to evacuate early Sunday morning.
Train services on all routes of three train lines running in the central and eastern parts of the country -- the Chungbuk, Taebaek and Jungang lines -- were suspended due to mudslides and flooding.
The Chungbuk Line runs from the central city of Sejong to Jecheon, the Taebak Line from Jecheon to the Gangwon Province city of Taebaek and the Jungang Line from Seoul to the southeastern city of Gyeongju.
Mudslides also caused a number of roads in the regions to close.
An undated photo taken by a reader shows the aftermath of a mudslide on an expressway running through Jecheon. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The national railway operator, the Korea Railroad Corp. (Korail), advised travelers in the affected regions to opt for other means of transportation as it may take considerable time to fix the train services.
Evacuation alerts were also issued for more than 1,000 residents of the county of Eumseong, North Chungcheong, due to flooding risks involving a reservoir and a stream there.
The country's capital area, including cities in Gyeonggi Province encircling Seoul, also reported flooded houses and cases of property damage after heavy rain of around 60 mm per hour hit the areas.
The weather agency retained its heavy rain warnings on many parts of North Chungcheong, including Cheongju, Chungju and Jecheon, as well as other central regions.
According to the agency, North Chungcheong may continue to receive heavy rain throughout the day till Monday, with precipitation expected to rise up to 80 mm per hour at some points.
Gyeonggi and Gangwon Province were also under heavy rain alerts as of Sunday morning where the amount of rainfall is forecast to go up to 50 mm per hour with possible thunder and lightning between Sunday and Monday.
A railway running through Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, is submerged due to heavy rain, in this photo provided by the Korea Railroad Corp. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--Seoul city to launch anti-sexual abuse panel following alleged abuse by late mayor

The panel will focus on finding measures to help the victim return to work and prevent victimization .
It will @ @ @ @ @ to create a more gender-equal workplace by educating employees and improving work customs that can @ @ @ @ @ to the city government .

By Lee Minji
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul city government on Monday announced plans to form a committee to look into its work culture, which has been partly blamed for a high-profile sexual harassment case involving a late mayor and a former secretary.
In July, a public servant who worked as a mayoral secretary filed a complaint with the police, accusing Mayor Park Won-soon of sexually harassing her over several years. In the process, she claimed that her calls for help to around 20 colleagues went unanswered.
Park, meanwhile, was found dead in an apparent suicide on the hills of a Seoul mountain two days after the complaint was filed. He left a note saying "sorry" to everyone but did not elaborate on the sexual harassment case.
Under the plan announced Monday, the city government said it plans to organize a 15-member committee of city officials and outside experts. Acting mayor Seo Jeong-hyup and Kim Eun-sil, a gender studies professor at Ewha Womans University, will co-chair the panel.
Also included on the panel are women representatives of the city government's labor union as well as Lee Eun-eui, a former Samsung employee-turned-lawyer who took on the giant conglomerate for sexual harassment in 2005.
The panel will focus on finding measures to help the victim return to work and prevent victimization. It will also attempt to find ways to create a more gender-equal workplace by educating employees and improving work customs that can be sexually discriminative, according to the city government.
Members of civic groups and the public take part in a march to demand a proper investigation into sexual harassment allegations raised against late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon in front of Seoul City Hall in central Seoul on July 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
"The (city government) has tried to prepare measures and programs to prevent sexual violence. But we've found there were still areas that remain in a blind spot," said Song Da-young, who oversees the city's women and family-related policies.
Song said the city will also form a separate internal committee of the city's lower-ranking employees, including women and those who have worked as secretaries, to receive feedback and discuss sexually discriminative policies within the city government.
The announcement comes after civic groups representing the victim rejected the city's proposal to launch an independent investigative committee, saying that the city should be the subject of the probe instead of organizing it.
Song Da-young, a senior Seoul city official who oversees the city government's women and family-related policies, speaks at a press conference held at Seoul City Hall in central Seoul on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--Military on standby over heavy rains, ready to extend support to civilians

The defense ministry has been running its own disaster management team since late last month in the wake of forecasts @ @ @ @ @ officials currently on the second stage of emergency duty that calls for the full preparedness @ @ @ @ @ in contingencies .

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- The military has put service personnel on emergency standby to fully prepare for possible damage from heavy rains and to extend support to civilians, the defense ministry said Monday.
Torrential rains have pounded South Korea's central areas since late last week, leaving six people dead and eight others missing, according to the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.
The defense ministry has been running its own disaster management team since late last month in the wake of forecasts of heavy downpours, with officials currently on the second stage of emergency duty that calls for the full preparedness to evacuate troops and equipment in contingencies.
"Each military unit has sought safety measures, including evacuation procedures in case of possible flooding or other unexpected situations," deputy defense ministry spokesperson Col. Moon Hong-sik told a regular briefing, adding that no major damage has been reported among military members and other assets.
The military is planning to mobilize around 300 service members and more than a dozen military equipment to help civilians prevent and recover from damage, the official added.
On Sunday, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo held a meeting of major commanders and called for measures to ensure the safety of service personnel and a firm readiness posture. He also ordered the military to closely watch out for land mines being washed away from North Korea.
Officials look around a site hit by a landslide in Ansung, Gyeonggi Province, on Aug. 2, 2020, in this photo provided by the Korea Forest Service. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--Process to sell assets of Japanese firm involved in wartime forced labor to clear one legal hurdle T

Process to sell assets of Japanese firm involved in wartime forced labor to clear one legal hurdle Tuesday

In June last year , the court sent a letter seeking a response from the Japanese firm about a potential @ @ @ @ @ avail .
Under Korean law , a court , in principle , can order a @ @ @ @ @ is overseas .
But the court took a prudent position in this case to hear @ @ @ @ @ firm .
If there is still no response , the court is likely to use @ @ @ @ @ Service by Public Notice '' again .

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- A local court's decision to pave the way for liquidating seized assets of a Japanese firm that has ignored a ruling to compensate wartime forced laborers is set to take effect at midnight, as the legal document instituting proceedings will be considered as having been delivered.
The Pohang branch of Daegu District Court in southeastern Korea decided in June to begin the procedure of "Service by Public Notice," as the Japanese foreign ministry has failed to pass the document containing the Korean court's asset seizure ruling to Japan's Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp.
Under the Hague Conventions, the court ruling is considered to have been delivered to a defendant in another country if the defendant fails to respond purposely or if the delivery fails due to an invalid address.
Since the June decision, there has been no response from the Japanese side as of Aug. 3, a day ahead of the deadline. If the Japanese firm does not take any action for a 7-day grace period until next Tuesday, the decision for the asset seizure will be fixed.
Yang Geum-duk (L), a South Korean victim of wartime forced labor in Japan, and other participants chant slogans demanding Japan's apology during a rally in front of the foreign ministry in Tokyo on Jan. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
The assets in question are 194,794 shares, worth around 973 million won (US$799,400), in PNR, a joint venture set up by Nippon Steel and South Korean steelmaker POSCO, which recycles byproducts from steelmaking.
In October 2018, South Korea's Supreme Court ordered Nippon Steel to pay compensation to four South Koreans for their forced labor and unpaid work during World War II. Korea was under Japan's colonization at that time.
After the firm refused to comply with the ruling, the plaintiffs requested asset seizure, which was approved by the court in Pohang.
Last year, the Japanese foreign ministry received the court decision but returned it to Korea. The court sent it again and has received no response since.
The plaintiffs claimed that Japan violated the Hague Conventions that say a nation can refuse to accept "the document instituting proceedings" only when it is deemed to violate its "sovereignty or security" and that it asked the court to use the method of "Service by Public Notice" to continue the legal battle.
Liquidating the seized assets, however, will take time, as a court's separate approval is needed.
In June last year, the court sent a letter seeking a response from the Japanese firm about a potential sell-off, but to no avail. Under Korean law, a court, in principle, can order a sell-off in case a defendant is overseas. But the court took a prudent position in this case to hear an opinion from the Japanese firm. If there is still no response, the court is likely to use the lengthy procedure of "Service by Public Notice" again.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--Seoul stocks trim losses on battery makers' rally

LG Chem , the fifth-largest cap on the KOSPI , spiked 8.45 percent to an all-time high thanks to improved @ @ @ @ @ SDI and SK Innovation also joined the EV battery rally .

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares traded lower late Monday morning amid the rising new coronavirus toll globally but erased some earlier losses on gains in electric vehicle (EV) battery makers.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 4.62 points, or 0.21 percent, to 2,244.75 as of 11:20 a.m.
The local stock market remained bearish amid the resurgence of COVID-19 infections around the world. Global cases have topped 18 million.
The political feud between the United States and China, South Korea's two largest trade partners, also sapped investor sentiment.
The index partially erased losses, however, thanks to an advance in EV battery-related shares.
LG Chem, the fifth-largest cap on the KOSPI, spiked 8.45 percent to an all-time high thanks to improved EV battery output. Samsung SDI and SK Innovation also joined the EV battery rally.
Large caps traded mixed.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 1.04 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix retreated 1.21 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics shed 1.23 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, slid 0.40 percent, and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors dipped 2.35 percent.
Among gainers, rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI jumped 2.26 percent, with SK Innovation advancing 1.18 percent.
Internet giant Naver hiked 2.49 percent, with its rival Kakao adding 4.37 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,193.70 won against the U.S. dollar, down 2.40 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--(LEAD) New virus cases drop to 23, local infections at 3-month low

Of the imported cases , 14 were South Koreans and six foreigners , with 14 of them testing positive for @ @ @ @ @ process at either an airport or a seaport , while the six others were confirmed @ @ @ @ @ under self-quarantine , according to the public health agency .

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 5-8, 11, photo)
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 23 more cases of the new coronavirus Monday, with local infections at a nearly three-month low, health authorities said.
The new cases, including 20 imported cases, raised South Korea's total cases of COVID-19 to 14,389, with local infections at three, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The number of new COVID-19 cases had been in the 30s since Friday when South Korea reported 36 new virus cases. The number fell to 31 on Saturday and 30 on Sunday.
The number of domestically transmitted cases marks the lowest since May 8 when the country reported just one local infection.
This undated file photo shows two people, wearing protective masks and a full gown, spraying disinfectant around chairs at a selected clinic for COVID-19. (Yonhap)
The number of daily new local infection cases briefly fell to four on July 20 but has since remained between 10 and 30 due to sporadic cases in Seoul and the surrounding area.
Of the local infections Monday, Seoul accounted for the largest share with two and one from Gyeonggi Province surrounding the capital city, the KCDC said.
As of late Sunday, nine new cases have been confirmed at a coffee shop and a restaurant, both of them located in southern Seoul.
Health officials said a person who visited the coffee shop appears to have spread the virus to the restaurant. They are not sure where the first patient had contracted the disease.
Of the imported cases, 14 were South Koreans and six foreigners, with 14 of them testing positive for the virus in the screening process at either an airport or a seaport, while the six others were confirmed to have the virus while under self-quarantine, according to the public health agency.
The accumulated number of imported cases reached 2,461 in South Korea.
Health authorities said that imported cases may continue given resurgence in other nations, but ruled out the possibility that such infections may lead to local infections.
Health authorities are staying vigilant over another wave of virus outbreaks in the summer amid sustained rises in local infections and cases coming in from overseas.
The country reported no additional deaths, with the death toll remaining at 301, according to the KCDC.
The KCDC said South Korea's fatality rate of people infected with the virus was 2.09 percent.
The number of patients fully cured of the virus reached 13,290, up 21 from the previous day.
South Korea has carried out 1,579,757 tests since Jan. 3.
This photo, taken Aug. 3, 2020, shows a closed elementary school in the southern city of Gwangju empty due to the coronavirus. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--Unification ministry denies probe into civic groups targets N.K. defectors

The ministry earlier said that it plans to begin inspecting 25 civic groups registered with the ministry , including 13 @ @ @ @ @ defectors , in mid-August to see if they are operating according to their declared business @ @

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- The unification ministry denied speculation Monday that an upcoming probe into civic groups is intended to target North Korean defector organizations after revoking the licenses of two such entities over their sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets.
The ministry earlier said that it plans to begin inspecting 25 civic groups registered with the ministry, including 13 organizations run by North Korean defectors, in mid-August to see if they are operating according to their declared business purposes.
"The standard by which we chose the 25 groups is based on their annual performance reports," Yoh Sang-key, the ministry's spokesperson, told a regular press briefing in response to a question as to whether the probe was intended to target defector groups.
"We chose the groups whose performances had been poor or which had not submitted required materials," he said.
The remarks came amid speculation that the planned probe is targeting North Korean defectors after cross-border tensions spiked over the sending of leaflets by activists in South Korea to the North.
Pyongyang blew up a liaison office in its border town of Kaesong in June in anger over the leafleting, calling it a violation of inter-Korean agreements.
South Korea has promised to seek measures to block such activity, including through legislation. The ministry recently canceled the licenses of two defector groups for engaging in such activity.
Last week, U.N. Special Rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana held a cyber meeting with ministry officials and asked the planned probe to be carried out in a way that does not undermine their efforts to improve the North's human rights situation.
Members of Fighters for Free North Korea, an organization of defectors from North Korea, send balloons carrying anti-North leaflets across the border from the South Korean border city of Paju, in this file photo dated April 2, 2016. On June 4, 2020, South Korea called for a halt to a civic campaign to send anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets into North Korea, hours after the North threatened to scrap a military tension reduction agreement and exchange projects unless Seoul stops the campaign. (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--Kolon Industries Q2 net income up 11.7 pct. to 17 bln won

The company said in a regulatory filing that operating profit for the April-June period fell 40.3 percent on-year to 36.8 @ @ @ @ @ 18 percent to 942.3 billion won .

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- Kolon Industries Inc. on Monday reported its second-quarter net income of 17 billion won (US$ 14.2 million), up 11.7 percent from a year earlier.
The company said in a regulatory filing that operating profit for the April-June period fell 40.3 percent on-year to 36.8 billion won. Revenue decreased 18 percent to 942.3 billion won.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange(KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--Seoul child care centers to reopen as virus woes ease

A total of 5,420 child care centers in the capital have been officially closed since Feb. 25 due to the @ @ @ @ @ than 14,000 here .

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul city government said Monday it plans to lift a monthslong suspension on child care centers here amid the new coronavirus.
Under the city government's plan, the child care centers will start running Aug. 18. Ward offices, however, can separately impose bans according to circumstances.
A total of 5,420 child care centers in the capital have been officially closed since Feb. 25 due to the virus that has infected more than 14,000 here.
While the facilities continued to provide child care services for parents who request them, they had remained officially closed for more than 170 days.
The city government said that child care centers that reopen will be advised to strictly follow anti-infection measures, such as restricting attendance of students who show symptoms, sanitizing educational materials and running daily fever checks.
The city government plans to hire 675 workers to provide disinfection and cleaning services for child care centers.
This file photo taken May 25, 2020, shows a health worker disinfecting a child care center in the southeastern Seoul ward of Songpa. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--S. Korean box office rises for third month in row in July on blockbusters

But the July figure tumbled nearly 75 percent on-year from 21.92 million tallied in the same month of 2019 .
@ @ @ @ @ for the month since the KOFIC started to compile box-office data in 2004 .

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- The number of moviegoers rose for the third straight month in July on the back of summer blockbusters, data showed Monday.
Total admissions reached 5.62 million in July, up 45.4 percent from the previous month's 3.86 million, according to data by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC).
The on-month gain was led by the release of summer tent poles including the zombie action film "Peninsula," which has attracted 3.44 million viewers since its first run on July 15.
Another zombie thriller, "#Alive," released on June 26, also lent support to the July growth, posting a total of 1.9 million admissions.
Hitting rock bottom in April with an all-time low of 970,000 due to the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the monthly box office rebounded to 1.53 million in May and 3.86 million in June.
But the July figure tumbled nearly 75 percent on-year from 21.92 million tallied in the same month of 2019. It also marked the lowest for the month since the KOFIC started to compile box-office data in 2004.
Insiders expect the upside trend to continue in August as big-name homegrown and foreign films are set to hit South Korean screens.
The action thriller "Deliver Us From Evil," starring Hwang Jung-min and Lee Jung-jae, will open Wednesday, while the American spy film "Tenet," directed by Christopher Nolan, will be released on Aug. 26.
In this photo taken on July 19, 2020, a Seoul movie theater is crowded with people. (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--LG Chem becomes No. 1 EV battery supplier in H1

Meanwhile , two other South Korean EV battery makers -- Samsung SDI Co. and SK Innovation Co. -- came in @ @ @ @ @ a 6 percent market share and a 3.9 percent one , respectively .

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- LG Chem Ltd., South Korea's leading chemical firm, became the largest supplier of electric vehicle (EV) batteries in the first half of the year, data showed Monday.
Based on the global usage of EV batteries, LG Chem's market share stood at 24.6 percent in the January-June period, up from 10.4 percent from a year earlier, according to market tracker SNE Research.
The data showed that 10.5 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of LG Chem's EV batteries were used in the first half of this year, compared with 5.7 GWh from a year earlier.
This composite image shows logos of South Korean electric vehicle battery makers. (Yonhap)
SNE Research attributed the hike to robust sales of the Tesla Model 3, the Renault Zoe EV and the Audi e-tron EV, which are all powered by LG Chem's EV batteries.
China's CATL came in second in the first half of the year with a 23.5 percent market share, down slightly from 25.1 percent from a year earlier.
Meanwhile, two other South Korean EV battery makers -- Samsung SDI Co. and SK Innovation Co. -- came in fourth and sixth place with a 6 percent market share and a 3.9 percent one, respectively.
The strong performance of the Korean EV battery makers came despite a sharp decline in the global usage of EV batteries due to the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
The combined global usage of EV batteries came to 42.6 GWh in the January-June period, down 23 percent from 55.3 GWh from a year earlier.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--Samsung to unveil 5 new mobile devices this week amid pandemic

Samsung will introduce the second generation of its book-like , out-folding foldable phone .
The name of the device is @ @ @ @ @ Z Fold 2 instead of the Galaxy Fold 2 as the company apparently pushes to @ @ @ @ @ the Z brand .

By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. will introduce five new mobile devices later this week as the company aims to boost its gadget sales amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Samsung will hold the Galaxy Unpacked event on Wednesday to unveil its latest mobile devices. It will broadcast live starting at 11 p.m. here, or 10 a.m. Eastern Time, on Samsung's website.
The South Korean tech titan has not disclosed which devices it will reveal at the event, but industry insiders expect that the company will showcase five products -- the Galaxy Note 20 phablet, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Watch 3 smartwatch, the Galaxy Buds Live wireless earbuds and the Galaxy Tab S7 tablet.
In this photo taken on July 24, 2020, outdoor digital signage at COEX in Seoul shows a teaser for Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy Unpacked event. (Yonhap)
The new devices come as Samsung's mobile business tries to increase its sales from the fallout from the pandemic.
In its earnings announcement last week, Samsung said it sold 57 million units of handsets in the April-June quarter, down 26 million units from a year earlier.
The company also dropped to the second spot in global smartphone shipments in the second quarter of the year as China's Huawei Technologies Co. overtook the top spot, according to reports from market researchers International Data Corp. and Canalys.
Samsung has yet to confirm specification about new devices, but some foreign tech reviewers have already leaked information and images of the products.
Market watchers said the Galaxy Note 20 series will likely come out with two models -- the Note 20 with a 6.7-inch flat screen offering a 60Hz refresh rate and the Note 20 Ultra with a 6.9-inch curved-edge display supporting a 120Hz refresh rate
The Note 20 is expected to sport a triple rear camera setup with a 12-megapixel (MP) main sensor, a 64MP telephoto camera and a 12MP ultrawide lens. It is likely to pack a 4,300-mAh battery.
The Note 20 Ultra is projected to have a 108MP main sensor as well as 12MP telephoto and ultrawide cameras on the back. It is expected to support a maximum zoom range of 50x, instead of the 100x that was featured in the Galaxy S20 Ultra smartphone.
Both models are likely to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 Plus, or the Samsung Exynos 990 chipset, depending on the market. The S Pen is expected to have only 9 milliseconds of latency and could be used a laser pointer.
This photo taken on April 29, 2020, shows Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy S20 smartphones. (Yonhap)
Samsung will introduce the second generation of its book-like, out-folding foldable phone. The name of the device is likely to be the Galaxy Z Fold 2 instead of the Galaxy Fold 2 as the company apparently pushes to put its foldable smartphones under the Z brand.
The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is expected to feature a 7.6-inch screen when unfolded, while having a 6.23-inch cover display, both larger than its predecessor's 7.3-inch and 4.6-inch displays. The inner display is likely to support a 120Hz refresh rate.
It reportedly sports a 12MP ultrawide lens, a 12MP wide-angle sensor and a 64MP telephoto camera.
The Galaxy Watch 3 smartwatch has been tapped to be released with two models -- a 45mm version with a 1.4-inch screen and a 41mm variant with a 1.2-inch display.
Both models reportedly come with Samsung's classic rotating bezel instead of the touch bezel used in the Active series. It has been also rumored that Samsung could release a titanium variant in addition to models using aluminum and stainless steel materials.
The Galaxy Buds Live are the successor to the Galaxy Buds Plus wireless earbuds. They are expected to have a bean-shaped design to offer a more comfortable fit.
They are likely to be the first Samsung wireless earbuds to feature active noise cancellation (ANC) technology. Each earbud reportedly weighs 5.6 grams and offers a maximum battery life of 7.5 hours.
The Galaxy Tab S7 tablet is expected to be released with two models -- the Tab S7 with an 11-inch LCD screen and the Tab S7 Plus with a 12.4-inch AMOLED display.
The smaller one is likely to pack a 7,040-mAh battery, with the bigger variant to have a 10,090-mAh battery.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Aug. 3 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .

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


yna--2020-08-03--S. Korea, China seek to boost trade amid pandemic

SEOUL , Aug. 3 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea and China on Monday held a meeting to update and @ @ @ @ @ bilateral free trade agreement ( FTA ) , which took effect around five years ago @ @ @ @ @ joint efforts to overcome economic jitters sparked by the new coronavirus pandemic .

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and China on Monday held a meeting to update and expand the scope of their bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), which took effect around five years ago, and vowed to make joint efforts to overcome economic jitters sparked by the new coronavirus pandemic.
The two countries held a virtual meeting to discuss ways to better utilize their FTA and boost bilateral trade amid the new coronavirus pandemic, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Seoul and Beijing implemented the deal in December 2015. On the back of the FTA, trade between the two advanced 18.2 percent from 2015 to 2018.
During the meeting, South Korea and China agreed to establish a new committee centering on the online commerce industry to overcome disruptions in business activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seoul requested that China protect the intellectual rights of its exporters.
In November 2019, China implemented a new law in which its authorities can ban registrations of trademarks when the applicants are deemed to have malicious intent of exploiting foreign firms.
The two also agreed to speed up negotiations to lift more barriers in the service and investment segments.
South Korea and China vowed to boost their trade amid the new coronavirus pandemic and agreed to keep the "fast-track" entry system to minimize travel restrictions for business officials.
Seoul plans to simplify application procedures for officials of small- and medium-sized companies.
Trade with China reached US$243.4 billion in 2019, slightly down from $268.6 billion posted the previous year amid global economic uncertainties, the ministry data showed.
Outbound shipments to China increased for the second consecutive month by rising 2.5 percent on-year in July. The growth was led by petrochemical products and steel goods as Chinese factories gradually resumed their operations.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--Most COVID-19 patients under 50 recover sans oxygen therapy: study

The mortality rate for COVID-19 patients aged under 50 amounted to zero 28 days after showing symptoms .
Comparable figures @ @ @ @ @ in their 50s , 0.9 percent for those in their 60s , 5.8 percent for @ @ @ @ @ octogenarians .

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- An absolute majority of South Korea's new coronavirus patients aged under 50 have recovered from the disease without receiving oxygen therapy, a study showed Monday.
The study of 3,060 COVID-19 patients across South Korea, conducted by the National Medical Center, said only 1.2 percent of patients below the age of 50 required supplemental oxygen therapy 14 days after showing symptoms.
In contrast, 17.3 percent of coronavirus patients aged 50 or older had to be treated on ventilators or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machines.
The study is based on an analysis of patients admitted to 55 hospitals across South Korea between Jan. 20, when the country's first case was reported, and May 31.
The findings also showed 1.5 percent of patients aged under 50 required oxygen therapy 28 days after showing symptoms. The comparable figure for those aged 50 or older came to 13.2 percent.
The mortality rate for COVID-19 patients aged under 50 amounted to zero 28 days after showing symptoms. Comparable figures were 0.5 percent for patients in their 50s, 0.9 percent for those in their 60s, 5.8 percent for septuagenarians and 14 percent for octogenarians.
The study appeared in the latest edition of the Journal of Korean Medical Science, an international journal published by the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.
The novel coronavirus has so far infected nearly 14,400 South Koreans, with the death toll reaching 301.
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--New virus cases drop to 23, local infections at 3-month low

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 23 more cases of the new coronavirus Monday, with local infections at a nearly three-month low, health authorities said.
The new cases, including 20 imported cases, raised South Korea's total cases of COVID-19 to 14,389, with local infections at three, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The number of new COVID-19 cases had been in the 30s since Friday when South Korea reported 36 new virus cases. The number fell to 31 on Saturday and 30 on Sunday.
The number of domestically transmitted cases marks the lowest since May 8 when the country reported just one local infection.
This undated file photo shows two people, wearing protective masks and a full gown, spraying disinfectant around chairs at a selected clinic for COVID-19. (Yonhap)
Of the local infections, Seoul accounted for the largest share with two, raising total local cases in the capital city to 1,269.
Of the imported cases, 14 were South Koreans and six foreigners, with 14 of them testing positive for the virus in the screening process at either an airport or a seaport, while the six others were confirmed to have the virus while under self-quarantine, according to the public health agency.
The accumulated number of imported cases reached 2,461 in South Korea.
Health authorities are staying vigilant over another wave of virus outbreaks in the summer amid sustained rises in local infections and cases coming in from overseas.
The country reported no additional deaths, with the death toll remaining at 301, according to the KCDC.
The KCDC said South Korea's fatality rate of people infected with the virus was 2.09 percent.
The number of patients fully cured of the virus reached 13,290, up 21 from the previous day.
South Korea has carried out 1,579,757 tests since Jan. 3.
(END)


yna--2020-08-03--UNC supports S. Korea's survey of ancient kingdom ruins inside DMZ

The project came as the two Koreas agreed to work on the peaceful use of the heavily fortified region under @ @ @ @ @ .
President Moon Jae-in also vowed to turn the no man 's land into a @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) -- The United Nations Command has said it helped South Korea's cultural agency conduct an on-site survey of an ancient castle site inside the Demilitarized Zone last week as part of a project to promote the border regions as a global peace zone.
The Cultural Heritage Administration has been surveying the ruins of Cheorwon Castle of the Taebong Kingdom (901-918) inside the DMZ, and UNC personnel supported the survey, the command said in a Facebook post uploaded on Friday.
UNC administers the inter-Korean border areas.
"This continues the Peace Zone project started last month to document significant sites & artifacts inside the DMZ," UNC said.
The short-lived kingdom established by King Gung Ye, also called Later Goguryeo, became the Goryeo Kingdom (918-1392).
According to Seoul officials, a group of cultural and natural heritage experts launched comprehensive research in June on various resources inside the DMZ.
The project came as the two Koreas agreed to work on the peaceful use of the heavily fortified region under the 2018 inter-Korean summit deal. President Moon Jae-in also vowed to turn the no man's land into a global peace zone.
This photo uploaded on the United Nations Command's Facebook page on Aug. 1, 2020, shows South Korean Cultural Heritage Administration officials surveying the Cheorwon Castle ruins of the Taebong Kingdom inside the Demilitarized Zone supported by UNC officers. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)