yna--2020-03-09--(2nd LD) No. of coronavirus cases in military remains unchanged at 36

Of the total COVID-19 cases , 20 were in the Army , 12 in the Air Force , two in @ @ @ @ @ one each in the Navy and a unit under the direct control of the ministry @ @ @ @ @ ministry .

(ATTN: ADDS latest info, defense chief's comments in paras 3, 5-11)
SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- The military reported no additional cases of the new coronavirus among its population Monday, with the total number of infections standing at 36.
Of the total COVID-19 cases, 20 were in the Army, 12 in the Air Force, two in the Marine Corps, and one each in the Navy and a unit under the direct control of the ministry, according to the defense ministry.
Thirty-one patients are active-duty service members and the remaining five are civilians working for the military, it added.
As preventive steps, around 2,580 service members are quarantined at their bases. Of them, around 340 have either shown symptoms or had direct contact with infected patients, while the remainder recently visited the southeastern city of Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province or other virus-hit foreign nations, including China.
As of Thursday, South Korea had 7,478 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, including 51 deaths, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Of the total, more than 90 percent have occurred in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.
Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo presided over a meeting with top commanders Monday, and called for continued, utmost efforts to stop the virus from spreading further into the military, as well as for the military to best support the government-wide anti-virus battle.
The commanders discussed whether to further delay the resumption of trainings for reserve forces, according to the ministry. Last month, the ministry decided to postpone this year's drills, set to begin on March 2, until April 17.
But the ministry said officials are considering staging now-suspended outdoor drills by active-duty troops in cases where they can be held without contact with civilians.
Jeong also instructed officials to take advantage of military assets as much as possible if they are necessary in distributing quarantine-related supplies or bringing back South Korean nationals quarantined in foreign nations.
"In this situation of crisis when we face military threats posed by North Korea's missile provocations and the non-military threat of COVID-19, the military should be committed to the protection of the people's lives, and their safety, in an proactive and preemptive manner," Jeong said.
On Monday, the communist country fired three short-range projectiles as part of its wintertime drills, about a week after launching two projectiles from its "super-large" multiple rocket launcher system.
Members of the Army Second Operational Command sterilize a retail outlet in Daegu, the epicenter of South Korea's coronavirus outbreak, on March 5, 2020, in this photo provided by the command. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The Military Manpower Administration (MMA) extended the suspension of medical examinations of potential conscripts for another two weeks until March 20. The examinations are meant to determine whether the young men are fit for mandatory military service.
But the enlistment of draftees residing in Daegu and the adjacent county of Cheongdo resumed Monday after the two-week suspension, according to the MMA.
About 320 new enlistees will be quarantined for two weeks at a temporary boot camp and then will be transferred to their bases for training, it added.
In a move to support the government's anti-virus efforts, the ministry on Monday mobilized dozens more service personnel as well as military vehicles to package and distribute face masks to Daegu and North Gyeongsang regions.
South Korea has been struggling with mask shortage problems and has come up with diverse measures to boost its production and ensure their even distribution.
"We are reviewing mobilizing military aircraft to reach remote areas, such as Jeju," the ministry said in a release, citing the country's southern island.
Currently, more than 1,870 soldiers and ministry officials, including 102 military doctors, are assigned to major checkpoints and health facilities across the country for quarantine efforts, according to the ministry.
Boxes carrying face masks are loaded onto a military truck from the Transportation Command at a logistics center in Nonsan, 213 kilometers south of Seoul, on March 9, 2020, in this photo provided by the defense ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--No. of Incheon airport passengers falls to lowest amid virus concerns

Based on reservation data , the airport operator estimated 318 people will travel on the day between the two countries @ @ @ @ @ is only 0.86 percent of the 2018 average , and the actual number is expected @ @ @ @

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- The number of passengers using Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, fell to the lowest level ever on Monday due to coronavirus concerns, its operator said.
Incheon International Airport Corp. said the number is estimated to total 21,241 -- 11,335 outbound and 9,906 inbound.
It is lower than the previous record low of 26,773, registered on May 20, 2003, when international travel was hit by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
The figure is also one-ninth of 2018's daily average of 187,000.
The decline came as South Korea and Japan began to enforce tougher travel restrictions on each other on the day.
Based on reservation data, the airport operator estimated 318 people will travel on the day between the two countries via the airport. It is only 0.86 percent of the 2018 average, and the actual number is expected to be lower.
In the morning, only eight passengers, all foreigners, were aboard a Korean Air flight that left Incheon for Japan's Osaka, while the company expected 66 passengers to board. A Korean Air flight that arrived in Incheon from Osaka carried only 25, fewer than originally estimated 33.
Passengers from Japan undergo a special entry procedure at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on March 9, 2020. In tit-for-tat measures, South Korea and Japan introduced tougher entry procedures against each other's people at the same time on the day, citing the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--Samsung Display asks Vietnam to approve entry of its staff: source

`` Samsung Display has asked Vietnamese authorities to issue visas for some 700 engineers from Samsung Display and its partner @ @ @ @ @ to undergo the two-week quarantine period after arriving in Vietnam , '' a person with @ @ @ @ @ told Yonhap News Agency .

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Display Co., one of the world's leading display panel makers, has called on Vietnam to permit the entry of engineers for the renovation of its plant in the Southeast Asian country, an industry source said Monday.
Vietnam stopped issuing visas for visitors from South Korea on Feb. 29 and has been putting people flying in from Korea into a 14-day quarantine period at designated facilities to check for COVID-19.
"Samsung Display has asked Vietnamese authorities to issue visas for some 700 engineers from Samsung Display and its partner companies even if they have to undergo the two-week quarantine period after arriving in Vietnam," a person with direct knowledge of the matter told Yonhap News Agency.
Samsung Display, which is 85 percent owned by Samsung Electronics Co., needs to send at least 700 engineers to renovate its flexible organic light emitting diode (OLED) module plant to help upgrade the production lines, the person said.
In a meeting with local reporters on Friday, South Korean Ambassador to Vietnam Park Noh-wan said Samsung Display has to bring 1,000 experts from South Korea to Vietnam for the project there.
Samsung Display produces OLED products used in smartphones and TVs in the Vietnam plant. It has seven production facilities -- two in South Korea, four in China and one in Vietnam.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(2nd LD) Mask rationing system kicks off, confusion in some areas

Under the new system , those born in years ending in one and six can buy masks on Mondays , @ @ @ @ @ , three and eight on Wednesday , four and nine on Thursdays and five and @ @ @ @ @ who did n't buy masks on weekdays can get them on weekends .

(ATTN: UPDATES figures in final para; ADDS photo)
SEOUL/Daegu, March 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Monday launched a mask rationing system aimed at stabilizing supply amid the coronavirus outbreak, but confusion was reported in some areas as consumers adjusted to the new system.
Under the measure that took effect earlier in the day, citizens can only buy up to two protective masks per week from pharmacies, on designated days of the week, depending on the final digit of their year of birth.
Public frustration has built up due to a mask supply crunch, triggered by growing demand for the protective wear as well as excessive price surges and hoarding by some sellers and consumers.
On the first day of the system, confusion was reported in several areas as both the public and pharmacies adjusted to the rationing program, which supplies up to 250 masks to each pharmacy on a daily basis.
People wait in a line to buy masks at a pharmacy in the southeastern port city of Busan on March 9, 2020, the first day of the government's new mask rationing system. (Yonhap)
In Daegu, which has been most hit by the contagious virus, elderly citizens voiced frustration after visiting pharmacies on the wrong day of the week.
"(The pharmacist) told me to come on Wednesday since my birth year ends in eight," said a Daegu resident in her seventies, "My son told me not to leave the house since it's dangerous, so it's inconvenient that I would have to visit again."
Under the new system, those born in years ending in one and six can buy masks on Mondays, two and seven on Tuesdays, three and eight on Wednesday, four and nine on Thursdays and five and zero on Fridays. Those who didn't buy masks on weekdays can get them on weekends.
"We started selling masks at 8 a.m. and they sold out. Around 10 to 20 percent of customers had to leave empty-handed since they came on the wrong day. Most of them were elderly," said a pharmacist at Seoul's Seodaemun Ward.
A notice on the government's mask rationing system is posted on the door of a pharmacy in the southern city of Ulsan on March 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
Some parents who visited pharmacies to buy masks for children also voiced frustration.
"I have three kids whose last digit of birth are all different. This means that I have to visit the pharmacy on three different days," said a father in his thirties, "It'd be better if I could buy them at once."
For those 10 years or younger or 80 years or older, family members can purchase the masks on their behalf when submitting their identification cards with government-issued housing resident registers.
But in line with the system policy, family members can only purchase the masks on the day of the person's birth year falls on.
Meanwhile, some have said there needs to be a system that does not require queuing.
"There was a long line in front of the pharmacy as usual. If masks continue to be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, it will be difficult for people who are working to get them," said a 29-year-old resident who lives in Seoul's Gwanak Ward.
A screenshot of the government's promotional image posted on the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety's website. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it supplied around 7 million masks through public channels on Monday, including 5.6 million that were distributed through nationwide pharmacies.
A total of 500,000 were sent to Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, which have been hit hardest by the contagious virus, while another 593,000 were distributed to medical facilities. The remainder were distributed through local post offices and supermarkets run by a farm cooperative.
The mask rationing system is the latest in Seoul's efforts to better fight the COVID-19 virus. The country has reported 7,478 infections since its first confirmed case on Jan. 20.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--S. Korea's Olympic football qualifying matches rescheduled for April

These matches were initially scheduled for March 6 in South Korea and March 11 in China .
The Chinese leg @ @ @ @ @ due to COVID-19 concerns .
Then the South Korean host city of Yongin declined to @ @ @ @ @ the football federations of the two countries asked the AFC to move the series to @ @ @ @ @ Association has been adamant that its home leg must stay in the country , even @ @ @ @ @ an empty stadium for safety reasons .

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- Postponed Olympic women's football qualifying matches between South Korea and China have been rescheduled for April in light of the coronavirus outbreak in both countries.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced Monday that the home-and-home playoff series between these nations will be played on April 9 and 14. Venues will be determined later.
In this file photo from Feb. 9, 2020, South Korean players celebrate their 3-0 victory over Vietnam in their Group A match in the third round of the Asian qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo, Jeju Island. (Yonhap)
These matches were initially scheduled for March 6 in South Korea and March 11 in China. The Chinese leg was first moved to Australia due to COVID-19 concerns. Then the South Korean host city of Yongin declined to stage the match, and the football federations of the two countries asked the AFC to move the series to April. The Korea Football Association has been adamant that its home leg must stay in the country, even if it is played in an empty stadium for safety reasons.
Virtually all Asian football action in China and South Korea, both heavily hit by the virus, has been wiped off the calendar from February and March. The continental governing body has been scrambling to reschedule AFC Champions League matches, and Asian FIFA World Cup qualifiers scheduled for March have been pushed back.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(5th LD) S. Korea's virus cases near 7,500, but pace of new infections slows

Virus cases in Busan were unchanged at 96 , with 34 patients linked to a Christian church in the Dongnae @ @ @ @ @ linked to Shincheonji .
The 34 patients of the Oncheon church in Busan are tied @ @ @ @ @ retreat that ended on Feb. 17 , officials said .
It is still unclear how @ @ @ @ @ virus .

(ATTN: UPDATES with KCDC's latest toll in first 5 paras; ADDS details in paras 20-21; AMENDS headline)
SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's coronavirus caseload approached 7,500 on Monday, but the pace of new infections slowed after the extensive testing of members of a religious sect at the center of the disease's rapid spread was completed. Still, health authorities remained on high alert over new clusters of infections.
The 96 new cases, which were identified between midnight Sunday and 4 p.m., brought the nation's total number of infections to 7,478, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.
The additional infections followed the 248 new cases detected on Sunday -- also far below the daily increases of 500 or more last week and the lowest daily number since Feb. 26. On Saturday, 367 new cases were identified, 438 were found on Friday and 518 were reported on Thursday.
So far, 51 people, mostly elderly patients with underlying illnesses, have died in South Korea from the respiratory virus that emerged in China late last year, the KCDC said. Two more fatalities have been reported, but they have not been included in an official update.
Starting Tuesday, the KCDC said it will announce the daily number of new infections once a day at 10:00 a.m.
Until now, the KCDC has announced tallies twice a day. A morning update is based on the number of new infections detected a day earlier, while an afternoon update is based on the number detected over the first 16 hours of the day.
About 63 percent of confirmed cases have been linked to a branch of the Shincheonji religious sect in Daegu, which, with a population of 2.5 million, is the country's fourth-largest city.
This graphic image, provided by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) on March 9, 2020, shows daily new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The pace of daily new inflections has shown signs of slowing down in recent days as health authorities have completed extensive testing of 210,000 Shincheonji followers who are at the center of the rapid spread, but authorities are still on high alert over new clusters of infections.
Of the 248 new cases, which were detected on Sunday, 190 are in Daegu and 26 are in North Gyeongsang, the KCDC said. The total number of infections in Daegu and North Gyeongsang stood at 5,571 and 1,107, respectively.
With Daegu and North Gyeongsang still accounting for some 90 percent of daily new infections, other major provinces and cities have also reported some infections.
Aside from Daegu and North Gyeongsang, cases of community spread with unknown origins, mostly cluster and sporadic outbreaks, are gradually on the rise. Seoul's confirmed cases rose by 10 to 130, with 14 cases linked to Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital in Eunpyeong Ward. Another 13 cases in Seoul came from an apartment building in Seongdong Ward.
Virus cases in Busan were unchanged at 96, with 34 patients linked to a Christian church in the Dongnae district and another 11 patients linked to Shincheonji. The 34 patients of the Oncheon church in Busan are tied to the church's three-day retreat that ended on Feb. 17, officials said. It is still unclear how they were infected with the virus.
In South Chungcheong Province, which includes the city of Cheonan, 92 of the total 102 patients were tied to a Zumba dance class last month in Cheonan, the KCDC said.
Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said in a daily briefing that the spread of COVID-19 is showing signs of a slowdown, but the number of sporadic cases outside Daegu and North Gyeongsang is growing.
"It's a time when we should focus on making all-out efforts to decrease the number of new infections," Kim said.
Kim also warned against cases of the new coronavirus coming from abroad as global virus cases topped 110,000.
A 24-year-old Korean man tested positive for the virus on Sunday after he recently traveled to Italy, which has become the most virus-affected country after China.
South Korea will continue to step up efforts to halt the local transmission of the virus, while containing the importation of infections, Kim said.
A box containing pieces of disposable wooden chopsticks for pressing elevator buttons is set next to an elevator at the city hall in Gangneung on South Korea's east coast on March 9, 2020, as part of preventive measures against the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
More than 15 million people in Italy, including those in Venice and financial hub Milan, were put under lockdown as the spread of the virus worsened.
The Korean government has no plans to bring its citizens back to Korea via a charter plane because of Italy's advanced medical system, Kim said.
Iran has become another epicenter, with the number of confirmed cases surpassing 6,500 on Sunday. An official at South Korea's foreign ministry said the government plans to bring home citizens via a charter flight from Iran this week.
Among about 220 South Koreans in Iran, some 80 citizens have applied to take the flight, the official said.
Kim also expressed concerns over Japan's relatively hands-off approach to combating the virus, with media reports saying that the number of infections in Japan could be higher than reported.
"As for Japan, it is worrisome because aggressive identification of patients is insufficient there," Kim said, adding that there is a risk of local transmission in Japan.
Kim said the government will expand its entry bans from virus-hit nations if the global situation worsens.
KCDC Director-General Jeong Eun-kyeong told reporters that the number of new daily infections has declined but that, "It's not a situation where (authorities) feel at ease."
Clusters of infections accounted for about 80 percent of total confirmed cases as of Monday, Jeong said.
Most sporadic cases outside Daegu and North Gyeongsang came from people who came into contact with virus patients, Jeong said, adding that authorities will focus on preventing the virus from spreading into hospitals, nursing homes and religious facilities.
Since raising the virus alert level to "red," the highest level, on Feb. 23, health authorities have focused on halting the spread of the virus in Daegu and North Gyeongsang.
After the first outbreak on Jan. 20 in South Korea, the pace of infections had not been alarming until Feb. 18, when a 61-year-old woman who is tied to the Daegu branch of the Shincheonji sect tested positive for the virus.
Since then, the nation has seen an explosion in infections as it has accelerated virus tests on potential cases.
Health authorities have yet to find the "index cases," or people among the sect's followers who triggered mass infections among Shincheonji followers.
Medical workers monitor screens showing negative pressure quarantine rooms at Seoul Medical Center on March 9, 2020, where patients infected with the new coronavirus are being treated. (Yonhap)
In a clue that could explain why infections spread widely among Shincheonji followers, 46 virus patients were confirmed at an apartment building in Daegu. Out of 140 residents of the building, all 46 patients are Shincheonji followers, and some of them had lived in the same homes. The building has been under a lockdown since last Saturday.
South Korea has released 166 fully recovered novel coronavirus patients from hospitals as of Sunday, up 36 from a day earlier, the KCDC said.
The number of people being checked for the virus and under quarantine came to 17,458 as of Sunday, down 1,918 from the day before, it said. The country has tested a total of 189,236 suspected cases, with 171,778 testing negative.
Currently, there is no evidence that the new coronavirus is airborne. The World Health Organization said the virus is transmitted through droplets or close contact.
Meanwhile, South Korea began a rationing system for face masks on Monday. Despite the government's quarantine efforts, demand for face masks far surpasses supply, drawing complaints from people who have been waiting in long lines for hours to buy masks provided via public channels.
Under the new measure that went into effect Monday, citizens are able to buy only two protective masks per week from pharmacies, on designated days of the week, depending on the final number of their year of birth.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--N.K. paper warns against reliance on imports

`` Being attached to and relying on imports , at a time when prolonged confrontation with our enemies has become @ @ @ @ @ the hostile forces is becoming even more vicious , means that the person is not @ @ @ @ @ , '' the paper added .

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's official newspaper on Monday warned against reliance on outside help as the country continues to face crippling international sanctions led by the United States.
North Korea has repeatedly called for "self-reliance" in all possible areas as prospects for any easing of sanctions remain slim amid a protracted stalemate in nuclear talks with the United States.
"Getting rid of the disease of relying excessively on imports is a critical political problem related to maintaining the dignity and protecting the rights of our nation and people," the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, said.
"Being attached to and relying on imports, at a time when prolonged confrontation with our enemies has become a fact and pressure from the hostile forces is becoming even more vicious, means that the person is not willing to join the revolution," the paper added.
The paper criticized the way of thinking that manufacturing and construction cannot be done independently without imports, calling it a "malicious tumor."
Denuclearization talks have been stalled since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump failed to reach an agreement in February last year.
Pyongyang has sought to develop the North's tourism in an effort to beef up an economy faltering under international sanctions.
But the new COVID-19 virus appears to have dealt a blow to North Korea's tourism, which depends on Chinese visitors, as Pyongyang has recently tightened its border with China to prevent the virus from spreading into the country.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

As of 2 p.m. , Grenada and Barbados , island nations in the Caribbean , were added to the list @ @ @ @ @ requiring or recommending self-quarantine and imposing stricter immigration controls for people who have been in @ @ @ @ @ past two weeks , according to the ministry website .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Monday.
----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks dip more than 4 pct to 6-month low on virus fears, oil crash
SEOUL -- South Korean shares tumbled by more than 4 percent on Monday as foreign investors went on a massive selling spree in the face of growing coronavirus concerns and a crash in oil prices. The Korean won sharply fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) plunged 85.45 points, or 4.2 percent, to 1,954.77, its lowest point since August 29 last year, when the index closed at 1,933.41 points.
----------------
Foreign stock sell-off hits record high amid growing virus angst, oil crash
SEOUL -- Foreign investors' sell-off of South Korean stocks reached a record high on Monday as investors rushed to pull out of emerging markets amid the growing coronavirus scare and a sharp decline in oil prices, according to the country's bourse operator.
Offshore investors sold a net 1.31 trillion won (US$1.09 billion) worth of South Korean stock, the largest daily sell-off since the Korea Exchange (KRX) began tracking the data in 1999.
----------------
S. Korea to use chartered flight to bring home about 80 citizens from coronavirus-hit Iran
SEOUL -- South Korea plans to use a chartered flight to bring home about 80 citizens from Iran this week as the Middle Eastern country has seen a sharp rise in new coronavirus cases amid a shortage of medicine and protective gear, a foreign ministry official said Monday.
Among about 220 South Koreans in Iran, some 80 citizens have applied to take the flight, the official said, as the number of COVID-19 cases in the country reportedly exceeded 6,500, with nearly 200 deaths as of Sunday.
-----------------
China to send relief items to S. Korea amid anti-virus efforts
SEOUL -- China is preparing to send masks and other relief items to South Korea to help the neighboring country fight the coronavirus, the foreign ministry said Monday.
China plans to send about 1 million medical masks, 100,000 general face masks and 10,000 items of protective clothing to Korea through the Red Cross, the ministry said in a release. The two countries are discussing details, it said.
-----------------
(LEAD) S. Korea, Japan enforce mutual entry restrictions, casting clouds over bilateral ties
SEOUL -- South Korea and Japan began enforcing entry restrictions against each other's citizens ostensibly over new coronavirus concerns Monday, casting a pall over their relations already frayed by a protracted row over trade and wartime history.
Tokyo suspended its visa waiver program for South Koreans and started asking them to stay at designated facilities for two weeks and refraining from using public transportation. Moreover, it allows flights from Korea to land only in Narita Airport near Tokyo and Osaka's Kansai Airport.
-----------------
(LEAD) 106 countries, territories restricting entry from virus-hit S. Korea
SEOUL -- Two more countries have joined the list of countries and territories imposing entry restrictions or tougher quarantine procedures on people from South Korea over coronavirus concerns, putting the tally at 106, foreign ministry data showed Monday.
As of 2 p.m., Grenada and Barbados, island nations in the Caribbean, were added to the list of 47 countries and territories requiring or recommending self-quarantine and imposing stricter immigration controls for people who have been in Korea at least in the past two weeks, according to the ministry website.
-----------------
Virus patients to face fines over info concealment
SEOUL/SEJONG -- South Korean health authorities warned Monday that any new coronavirus patients will face fines for concealing their travel history, residences and other important information.
The measure comes as a 78-year-old patient at a Seoul hospital was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Sunday. But despite repeated inquiries, the virus patient misled the hospital staff and gave incorrect information about her residence and other details.
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 96 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 7,478

(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--2020-03-09--(2nd LD) 106 countries, territories restricting entry from virus-hit S. Korea

Lee said that the high number of COVID-19 cases in South Korea is rather a testament to the Korean government @ @ @ @ @ '' diagnostic screenings , and that Seoul has strictly controlled any possible outflow of the @ @ @ @ @ conducting fever checks on all outbound passengers and barring anyone who has been in close @ @ @ @ @ going abroad .

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 9-10)
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- Two more countries have joined the list of countries and territories imposing entry restrictions or tougher quarantine procedures on people from South Korea over coronavirus concerns, putting the tally at 106, foreign ministry data showed Monday.
As of 2 p.m., Grenada and Barbados, island nations in the Caribbean, were added to the list of 47 countries and territories requiring or recommending self-quarantine and imposing stricter immigration controls for people who have been in Korea at least in the past two weeks, according to the ministry website.
Thirty-eight countries and territories barred the entry of travelers from all of Korea, including Oman, which was moved to the list late Sunday as it toughened the restriction from a 14-day home quarantine.
Japan has expanded its entry ban to seven other regions in Korea that are located near Daegu city and Cheongdo County -- the two epicenters of the COVID-19 outbreaks here -- along with a temporary suspension of no-visa entry programs and other toughened quarantine procedures.
Five other countries were implementing similar partial entry bans for Korea and other virus-affected countries.
A total of 15 countries and territories, including 19 Chinese provinces, are currently quarantining people from South Korea or other virus-affected countries at designated facilities.
Sri Lanka was added to this list late Sunday as it was set to quarantine foreigners flying in from Korea, Iran and Italy starting Monday at noon. The Chinese province of Henan has also joined the list.
As of early Monday, 1,634 South Koreans were being quarantined around the world, a foreign ministry official told reporters. Of them, 1,149 people were in China and 451 others were in Vietnam.
In a briefing for foreign reporters, Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho renewed Seoul's calls for countries to reconsider restrictive measures against visitors from Korea.
Lee said that the high number of COVID-19 cases in South Korea is rather a testament to the Korean government's "thorough and rapid" diagnostic screenings, and that Seoul has strictly controlled any possible outflow of the virus through such measures as conducting fever checks on all outbound passengers and barring anyone who has been in close contact with confirmed patients from going abroad.
On Sunday, South Korea added 248 new infections cases, bringing the total tally to 7,382, with 51 deaths.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(LEAD) Seoul stocks dip more than 4 pct to 6-month low on virus fears, oil crash

The market rout came as COVID-19 disease continues to spread across the world , while Saudi Arabia , the world @ @ @ @ @ has triggered an oil price war with Russia by slashing its selling prices and pledging @ @ @ @ @ to markets already suffering lower demand amid an economic slowdown .

(ATTN: CHANGES photo; ADDS more details in paras 9-12, decliners in 15th para, bond yields at bottom)
SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares tumbled by more than 4 percent on Monday as foreign investors went on a massive selling spree in the face of growing coronavirus concerns and a crash in oil prices. The Korean won sharply fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) plunged 85.45 points, or 4.2 percent, to 1,954.77, its lowest point since August 29 last year, when the index closed at 1,933.41 points.
Trading volume was heavy at 6 million shares worth 8.7 trillion won (US$7.2 billion), with losers far outnumbering gainers 866 to 33.
This photo taken on March 9, 2020, shows the dealing room of KEB Hana Bank in central Seoul, when the KOSPI ended down 4.2 percent at 1,954.77. (Yonhap)
The market rout came as COVID-19 disease continues to spread across the world, while Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, has triggered an oil price war with Russia by slashing its selling prices and pledging to unleash its pent-up supply to markets already suffering lower demand amid an economic slowdown.
Saudi Arabia's move is aimed at punishing Russia as it balked at production cuts proposed by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) amid the spreading coronavirus outbreak, analysts said.
"The newly added uncertainties jolted investor confidence and sparked fears of a worldwide recession, resulting in crashes in global equities," NH Investment & Securities Co. analyst Noh Dong-kil said.
As of 3 p.m., Brent crude futures had fallen by 26 percent to $33 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down 28 percent to $29 a barrel, according to the Korea National Oil Corp.
North Korea's launching of three unidentified projectiles off its east coast early on Monday had little impact on local stocks, analysts said.
Foreigners and institutions sold a combined 1.34 trillion won worth of stocks, a record high since the country's bourse operator began tracking the data in 1999.
Foreigners were net sellers for a third consecutive session, dumping a combined 2.02 trillion won amid concerns over the fast-spreading COVID-19.
Since the first confirmed case of the new coronavirus here on Jan. 20, foreigners have sold a net 7.77 trillion won worth of local stocks.
Retail investors, meanwhile, scooped up a net 1.27 trillion won worth of local stocks on Monday, hoping for an overall rebound. Since Jan. 20, they bought a net 11.1 trillion won worth of stocks.
South Korea had reported a total of 7,382 confirmed coronavirus cases and 51 deaths as of Monday.
Most large-cap stocks retreated across the board.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics Co. plunged 4.1 percent to 54,200 won, No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix plummeted 6.2 percent to 86,900 won, top carmaker Hyundai Motor Co. shed 5.9 percent to close at 104,000 won, and Hanjin KAL Corp., parent firm of Korean Air Lines Co., was down 10 percent at 63,400 won.
Refiners and petrochemical firms fell sharply due to falling oil prices. Leading refiner SK Innovation Co. plunged 8.2 percent to 99,100 won, No. 3 refiner S-Oil Corp. declined 9.8 percent to 58,000 won, and Lotte Chemical Corp. was down 2.6 percent at 171,500 won.
Among gainers, state-run utility Korea Electric Power Corp. rose 8.1 percent to 22,800 won.
The local currency closed at 1,204.20 won against the U.S. dollar, down 11.90 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed higher. The yield on three-year Treasurys fell 4.0 basis points to 1.038 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond declined 5.5 basis points to 1.127 percent.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--Foreign stock sell-off hits record high amid growing virus angst, oil crash

`` The short-term fall in the KOSPI is shaking off the investor sentiment , '' Daishin Securities analyst Lee Kyung-min @ @ @ @ @ government 's ) strengthening policy measures are likely to become a key variable in this @ @ @ @ @ '' he added .

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- Foreign investors' sell-off of South Korean stocks reached a record high on Monday as investors rushed to pull out of emerging markets amid the growing coronavirus scare and a sharp decline in oil prices, according to the country's bourse operator.
Offshore investors sold a net 1.31 trillion won (US$1.09 billion) worth of South Korean stock, the largest daily sell-off since the Korea Exchange (KRX) began tracking the data in 1999.
In the face of the massive foreign selling binge, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) crashed 4.19 percent to close at 1,954.77 points, the lowest reading after 1,933.41 on Aug. 29 last year.
Foreigners were net sellers for a third consecutive session, dumping a combined 2.02 trillion won amid concerns over the fast-spreading COVID-19.
Since the first confirmed case of the new coronavirus here on Jan. 20, foreigners had net sold 7.77 trillion won worth of local stocks.
Retail investors, meanwhile, scooped up a net 1.27 trillion won worth of local stocks on Monday, hoping for an overall rebound. Since Jan. 20, they net bought 11.1 trillion won worth of stocks.
"The short-term fall in the KOSPI is shaking off the investor sentiment," Daishin Securities analyst Lee Kyung-min said. "(The government's) strengthening policy measures are likely to become a key variable in this year's financial market," he added.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--China to send relief items to S. Korea amid anti-virus efforts

China offered to provide the assistance when Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming met with Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gunn on Friday @ @ @ @ @ The stocks are expected to reach the areas in need within the next few days @

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- China is preparing to send masks and other relief items to South Korea to help the neighboring country fight the coronavirus, the foreign ministry said Monday.
China plans to send about 1 million medical masks, 100,000 general face masks and 10,000 items of protective clothing to Korea through the Red Cross, the ministry said in a release. The two countries are discussing details, it said.
The move came after South Korea delivered four batches of relief goods to a number of the virus-hit regions in China, including Wuhan, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in January and February.
China offered to provide the assistance when Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming met with Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gunn on Friday, the ministry said. The stocks are expected to reach the areas in need within the next few days.
"Ambassador Xing delivered the Chinese government's plan to provide the relief items in light of its support for the South Korean government and the citizens' efforts against the coronavirus," the ministry said.
Kim thanked the Chinese side for its willingness to provide "the warm support," it added.
South Korea has reported 7,382 cases of the coronavirus infections, with 51 deaths. China's cumulative infection tally exceeds 80,700 and it has reported more than 3,100 deaths.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--Chart-smashing rookie band ITZY returns with new album 'IT'z ME'

`` The title song , 'Wannabe , ' is a track that best represents the overall color of the new @ @ @ @ @ that , ' I wan na be me and I am valuable in my own @ @ @ @ @ Yeji said in a written Q & A released to the media ahead of the @ @ @ @ @ Monday evening .

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- Roaring rookie girl band ITZY on Monday returned with its new album "IT'z ME," a seven-track record led by the main song "Wannabe."
The lead track has a fusion groove, mixing EDM with other trendy music genres. The song is another collaboration between the five-piece girl band and Galactika, the music production team that produced the band's breakout 2019 debut single "Dalla Dalla."
"The title song, 'Wannabe,' is a track that best represents the overall color of the new album, with a message that, 'I wanna be me and I am valuable in my own right,'" member Yeji said in a written Q&A released to the media ahead of the album's release set for Monday evening.
An image of ITZY provided by JYP Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The song was inspired by the band's conversation with the production team at the time of the recording of "Dalla Dalla."
"The lyricist asked us, 'What kind of artists would you wanna be?' We responded that, 'We just wanna be ourselves,' and the lyricist was impressed by that," Yeji said.
ITZY's response turned into an addictive refrain -- "I wanna be me, me, me" -- for the lead track of the new album.
ITZY debuted in February last year with "Dalla Dalla" and made a smashing hit out of the debut single, winning a handful of "Rookie of the Year" awards for 2019.
The band made another breakout hit last summer with the single "ICY."
The new single, "Wannabe," will be the most powerful of the band's songs in terms of stage performance, according to member Ryujin.
"We wanted to make the performance of the new song in a way that makes people forget the passage of time while watching it," she said.
The new album, set to hit major online music stores at 6 p.m. on Monday, has seven tracks, including "Ting Ting Ting with Oliver Heldens," That's a No No," "Nobody like You" and "24HRS."
ITZY will showcase two of the new album's tracks -- "Wannabe" and "24HRS" -- in a live broadcast show on Naver's V Live at 8 p.m. on Monday, without an on-site showcase event due to ongoing coronavirus outbreaks.
An image of ITZY provided by JYP Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(2nd LD) Virus patients to face fines over info concealment

`` Tests for the COVID-19 virus are conducted on any patient or medical staff suspected of having been in contact @ @ @ @ @ the safety of all patients and staff , '' Oh Sang-hoon , a director at @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS police agency and Seoul city government's stances in paras 11-14, photo; CHANGES hospital name)
SEOUL/SEJONG, March 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korean health authorities warned Monday that any new coronavirus patients will face fines for concealing their travel history, residences and other important information.
The measure comes as a 78-year-old patient at a Seoul hospital was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Sunday. But despite repeated inquiries, the virus patient misled the hospital staff and gave incorrect information about her residence and other details.
The patient, a resident in the southeastern city of Daegu -- the epicenter of the virus outbreak here -- also denied her multiple trips to the city during hospitalization.
Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital in downtown Seoul has temporarily closed its emergency room since Sunday.
Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip speaks during a press conference at the government complex in Sejong, central South Korea, on March 9, 2020, about the spread of the new coronavirus that has hit the country.
"The government can impose fines under 10 million won if patients do not tell the truth about their travel history to health authorities," Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said in a daily briefing. The amount is equivalent to US$8,296.
According to the hospital, the patient hid her residence as she was previously denied entry to another general hospital in Seoul.
Health authorities and hospital officials said they are looking into the patient's records and CCTV footage to check anyone who had contact with her.
All medical staff and doctors who had previous contact are currently under self-quarantine, according to the hospital.
"Tests for the COVID-19 virus are conducted on any patient or medical staff suspected of having been in contact with the confirmed patient for the safety of all patients and staff," Oh Sang-hoon, a director at Paik Hospital, said.
Kim said the government will take administrative measures against hospitals that deny patients from Daegu without clear medical reasons.
Police and hospital officials are seen at Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital in central Seoul on March 9, 2020. The hospital was closed after a patient from Daegu was diagnosed with COVID-19. (Yonhap)
In a written statement to reporters, National Police Agency chief Min Gab-ryong said police are looking into the case and will "swiftly and sternly" deal with any irregularities.
The police have so far received over 10,000 reports relating to the virus and are probing 20 cases that allegedly breached public health law, according to Min.
In a separate press briefing, Seoul city government's civil health bureau director, Na Baeg-ju, said the city will look into the case and seek legal advice.
Na added that the patient did not show typical symptoms of the virus, such as fever.
The country has so far reported a total of 7,382 virus cases as of Monday, with an additional 248 new cases identified on Sunday.
So far, 51 people, mostly elderly patients with underlying illnesses, have died in South Korea from the respiratory virus that emerged in China late last year, the KCDC said.
khj@yna.co.kr
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-10--(2nd LD) N. Korea says leader Kim oversaw long-range artillery strike drill

On Monday , South Korea 's military said the North fired three short-range projectiles off its east coast in what @ @ @ @ @ its artillery strike drill involving multiple rocket launchers .
It marked the second time in @ @ @ @ @ has tested weapons .

(ATTN: ADDS photos, byline)
By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Tuesday that leader Kim Jong-un supervised a long-range artillery strike drill a day earlier to inspect his forces' "sudden military counterattack capability."
On Monday, South Korea's military said the North fired three short-range projectiles off its east coast in what appears to be part of its artillery strike drill involving multiple rocket launchers. It marked the second time in a week that the North has tested weapons.
Kim "guided another firepower strike drill of long-range artillery sub-units of the Korean People's Army on the front," the Korean Central News Agency said.
"The purpose of the firepower strike drill was to inspect the sudden military counterattack capability of the long-range artillery units on the front," it added.
At Kim's order, the artillery men fired all at once and they "hit the target with excellent marksmanship," the KCNA said.
Kim expressed "great satisfaction" with the result, urging the unit to "go on in the direction of further strengthening the artillery training," it noted.
It, however, did not provide other details on the weapons tested and where the drill took place.
This photo disclosed by the Korean Central News Agency on March 10, 2020, shows Kim Jong-un watching a long-range artillery strike drill. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
According to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the latest projectiles were fired northeastward from areas near its eastern town of Sondok with some of them flying around 200 kilometers and reaching a maximum altitude of around 50 km.
Monday's firings came a week after the North test-fired two short-range projectiles, which Pyongyang later claimed to be part of a long-range artillery firing drill overseen by Kim.
The latest firings also came five days after Kim sent a personal letter to President Moon Jae-in and wished him and other South Koreans good health amid the massive outbreak of the novel coronavirus in an apparent reconciliatory gesture amid chilled inter-Korean relations.
South Korea's presidential office on Monday accused North Korea of raising tensions, saying such military exercises do not help efforts to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea conducts a long-range artillery strike drill in this photo disclosed by the Korean Central News Agency on March 10, 2020. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
The U.S. State Department also called on North Korea to avoid provocations and return to nuclear talks after the latest firings.
North Korea conducted missile tests 13 times last year, with the latest on carried out in November in show of force and frustration over stalemated denuclearization talks with Washington.
Nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington have stalled since the no-deal summit between Kim and Trump in February last year.
Kim told a party meeting late in December that he does not feel bound anymore by his self-imposed moratorium on testing long-range ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, saying that the world will witness a "new strategic weapon" in the near future.
A projectile blasts off during North Korea's long-range artillery strike exercise in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency on March 10, 2020 (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-10--(EDITORIAL from Korea JoongAng Daily on March 10)

Does the minister really want to drive a nail into the hearts of mourning families ?
It would be shameless @ @ @ @ @ before the battle is over .
A doctor-turned-television personality ridiculed the government for `` declaring @ @ @ @ @ number of infection tests in the world even when the country shows the largest number @ @ @ @ @ '' Covid-19 could become a pandemic , as seen in the more than 110,000 cases @ @ @ @ @ .
The virus can re-enter Korea anytime .
Every citizen faces an uphill battle .
@ @ @ @ @ it 's over .
( END )

Popping champagne corks
Optimism is palpable from the Moon Jae-in administration after new infections of the coronavirus (Covid-19) are slowing. We wonder if government officials really want to repeat the same mistakes President Moon made when he said last month that the spread of the lethal virus would come to an end pretty soon. In a nutshell, it is too early to be optimistic about the course of the outbreak. The government must prepare for a time when the number of people infected tops 10,000.
It is fortunate that confirmed cases of infection in Korea declined to less than 300 on a daily basis given the 909 infections reported on Feb. 29. However, ominous signs still exist. Despite a noticeable decrease in infections among followers of the Shincheonji church, small-scale group infections started to occur in small hospitals and nursing homes. As group infections account for approximately 80 percent of the patients, cram schools, noraebang (singing rooms), nightclubs and internet cafes are particularly vulnerable.
The government's critical failure in supplying face masks to the public bodes ill for the battle against Covid-19. If the central and local governments do not want to repeat the fumbles of the past, they must find enough medical staff and sickbeds to fight the virus.
Nevertheless, the government is busy patting itself on the back. On Sunday, Moon praised Korea for being a "model in fighting the disease" while Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun expressed strong hopes for a "turning point soon." But the timing is not good.
Such a rush to self-praise is linked to the need for the government to win in the April 15 parliamentary elections. Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo boasted that Korea has emerged as an exemplary case in the war against viruses. How can the health minister make such a comment when 50 Koreans have died already and our confirmed cases of infection rank second or third after China due to the government's incompetency to deal with the virus in the initial stages.
Does the minister really want to drive a nail into the hearts of mourning families? It would be shameless to pop the champagne even before the battle is over. A doctor-turned-television personality ridiculed the government for "declaring victory citing Korea's largest number of infection tests in the world even when the country shows the largest number of infections per 100,000." Covid-19 could become a pandemic, as seen in the more than 110,000 cases of infections around the globe. The virus can re-enter Korea anytime. Every citizen faces an uphill battle. It ain't over till it's over.
(END)


yna--2020-03-10--(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on March 10)

This also bodes ill for possible inter-Korean cooperation in fighting the virus .
North Korea has not yet reported a @ @ @ @ @ are suspicions that the virus may be already spreading there considering its long , porous @ @ @ @ @ to medical experts , the North is more vulnerable to the new virus as it @ @ @ @ @ to test and treat infected people .
If the situation becomes serious in the North @ @ @ @ @ to the South and the international community for help .

Stop raising tension
: North Korea's rocket launches cannot be justified
North Korea fired three short-range projectiles into the East Sea, Monday, in what appeared to be a test of a new multiple rocket launcher.
This came a week after the North's military launched two short-range projectiles, March 2, with its leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, drawing criticism from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and some European countries. It was the North's first weapons test in three months.
Pyongyang should stop elevating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. These acts are even more deplorable because South Korea is currently struggling to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, and the world is gripped by fears of a global pandemic. The North should realize that raising military tensions at this time is not justifiable at all, and will only alienate itself further.
This also bodes ill for possible inter-Korean cooperation in fighting the virus. North Korea has not yet reported a COVID-19 infection, but there are suspicions that the virus may be already spreading there considering its long, porous border with China. According to medical experts, the North is more vulnerable to the new virus as it lacks medical supplies and infrastructure to test and treat infected people. If the situation becomes serious in the North, it may reach out to the South and the international community for help.
The latest provocation also raises doubts over the seriousness of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's commitment to inter-Korean reconciliation. Last week, Cheong Wa Dae said Kim had sent a personal letter to President Moon Jae-in, expressing his best wishes to the South in its fight against the virus outbreak, and reaffirming his "friendship and trust" toward Moon. He also reportedly expressed his "candid thoughts and positions" on the situation surrounding the peninsula, according to the presidential office.
North Korea's two-faced approach toward the South is nothing new. But what makes the situation more complicated is the rapid spread of the new virus. The North may claim the latest launches were meant to boost its self-defense capabilities, but they give the impression that it is obsessed with threatening tactics while other countries are struggling to fight the virus.
Of course, we should also pay attention to the new weapon the North is developing. According to the South Korean military, the projectiles were launched from Sondok on the North's east coast, and flew northeast before falling in waters between the North and Japan. They flew around 200 kilometers, reaching a maximum altitude of around 50 kilometers. Pyongyang has fallen short of describing the projectiles as ballistic missiles, but they are viewed as de facto guided short-range ballistic missiles in violation of UNSC resolutions, which requires a strong international response.
(END)


yna--2020-03-10--(EDITORIAL from Korea Herald on March 10)

If he is sincere about deregulation to promote innovation-driven growth , Moon should veto the amended law and ask lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ .
If not , he should make it clear that he puts the protection of @ @ @ @ @ growth .
This may at least help avoid consumptive confusions like the one over Tada @ @ @ @ @ future .

Moment of truth
: Moon under pressure to veto revised law feared to stifle ride-hailing service
President Moon Jae-in faces a moment of truth that will test the sincerity of his repeated pledge to promote innovation-led growth through sweeping deregulation.
He will probably find it hard to keep mum after last week's parliamentary passage of a controversial bill that effectively bans Tada, a popular ride-hailing service.
Calls are rising from the local venture and startup business communities for him to veto the legislation and send it back to the National Assembly.
Launched in October 2018, Tada, which means "to ride" in Korean, has become the nation's leading service provider in the category, attracting 1.7 million subscribers while employing 12,000 drivers and other workers.
With the ride-sharing service using privately-owned passenger cars not permitted here, Tada's business is based on a legal provision that allows rental vans with 11-15 seats to be offered with drivers.
But taxi drivers have fiercely protested against Tada, condemning it as an illegal call taxi service. They have claimed that the new mobility platform business violates the Passenger Transport Service Act that forbids rental vehicles from offering rides in exchange for money.
The revised law passed by the parliament Friday calls for restricting the outsourcing of drivers for rental vans to tourism purposes only. Vehicles should also be rented for at least six hours and must be returned at airports or seaports.
The revised law also includes a proposal made by the Transport Ministry in July to oblige ride-hailing services like Tada to chip in a certain proportion of earnings to a state-managed fund to be established for the purchase of taxi driver licenses in oversupply.
The measure will take effect one year after it is proclaimed with a six-month grace period.
Lawmakers and Transport Ministry officials now claim that it will help ease social conflicts while allowing various mobility platform operators to stably push for innovative business within legal boundaries.
But the restrictions on service hours and location amount to a ban on Tada. Lee Jae-woong, chief of SoCar, which owns the operator of Tada, claimed that the revised law would force the service out of business.
The legislation will undermine the impetus of deregulation at a time when Korea is pushing to foster innovative sectors as its new growth engines.
It will set a precedent whereby an innovative services provider cannot take root in a field if existing players oppose its entry. More desirably, disputes between existing players and new entrants in an industry should be left to the market.
The amended act failed to reflect public interest and the growth potential of an innovative business in the era of new mobility platforms.
The legislation came after a Seoul court last month ruled that Tada was a legitimate rental car service based on a mobile application, acquitting its executives of charges of violating the transport act.
Lawmakers apparently passed the controversial bill to avoid irking the country's 250,000 taxi drivers ahead of the general election on April 15. It is deplorable that legislators from the main opposition United Future Party changed their stance against the bill at the last minute and joined ruling party lawmakers to approve it.
President Moon has said he would do his utmost to enable innovative businesses like Tada to make inroads while guaranteeing the interests of taxi drivers.
He can no longer placate both sides with eloquent and vague rhetoric.
SoCar head Lee has appealed to the president to exercise his right to veto the law revision, which he argues not only blocks innovation but also prevents one from even dreaming of innovation.
If he is sincere about deregulation to promote innovation-driven growth, Moon should veto the amended law and ask lawmakers to deliberate on it again. If not, he should make it clear that he puts the protection of existing businesses ahead of innovative growth. This may at least help avoid consumptive confusions like the one over Tada service being repeated in the future.
Moon should not address the need to accelerate regulatory reforms to bolster the economy if he hesitates to overcome vested interests to take a very basic step forward in the country's sharing economy that lags far behind the global trend.
(END)


yna--2020-03-10--Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers

Korean-language dailies -- Pan-ruling party block in intensifying war for parliamentary proportional representation seats ( Kyunghyang Shinmun ) -- Oil @ @ @ @ @ amid coronavirus fears ( Kookmin Daily ) -- Global stock markets tank amid pandemic fears @ @ @ @ @ Stock markets plunge , exchange rates surge , oil prices dive in 'Monday shock ' @ @ @ @ @ N. Korea fires projectiles again , 5 days after Kim sent personal letter ( Segye @ @ @ @ @ markets plunge amid coronavirus and oil shocks ( Chosun Ilbo ) -- Seoul on alert @ @ @ @ @ infected with virus at Shindorim call center ( JoongAng Ilbo ) -- Global oil prices @ @ @ @ @ , largest drop since Gulf War ( Hankyoreh ) -- Global stock markets suffer 'Black @ @ @ @ @ and oil prices plunge ( Hankook Ilbo ) -- Oil prices drop more than 30 @ @ @ @ @ suffer 'Black Monday ' ( Maeil Business Newspaper ) -- Stock markets and oil prices @ @ @ @ @ in coronavirus fears ( Korea Economic Daily )

SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major South Korean newspapers on March 10.
Korean-language dailies
-- Pan-ruling party block in intensifying war for parliamentary proportional representation seats (Kyunghyang Shinmun)
-- Oil prices, stock markets nose-dive amid coronavirus fears (Kookmin Daily)
-- Global stock markets tank amid pandemic fears (Donga llbo)
-- Stock markets plunge, exchange rates surge, oil prices dive in 'Monday shock' (Seoul Shinmun)
-- N. Korea fires projectiles again, 5 days after Kim sent personal letter (Segye Times)
-- Global stock markets plunge amid coronavirus and oil shocks (Chosun Ilbo)
-- Seoul on alert for mass infections with 22 infected with virus at Shindorim call center (JoongAng Ilbo)
-- Global oil prices dive more than 30 pct, largest drop since Gulf War (Hankyoreh)
-- Global stock markets suffer 'Black Monday' amid pandemic fears and oil prices plunge (Hankook Ilbo)
-- Oil prices drop more than 30 pct, global stock markets suffer 'Black Monday' (Maeil Business Newspaper)
-- Stock markets and oil prices nose-dive, global economy convulses in coronavirus fears (Korea Economic Daily)
English-language dailies
-- Travel between Korea and Japan all but severed (Korea JoongAng Daily)
-- South Korea incentivizes mask monopolizers to turn themselves in (Korea Herald)
-- New cases of infections drop for third day (Korea Times)
(END)


yna--2020-03-10--(LEAD) N. Korea says leader Kim oversaw long-range artillery strike drill

On Monday , South Korea 's military said that North Korea fired three short-range projectiles off its east coast in @ @ @ @ @ of its artillery strike drill involving multiple rocket launchers .
It marked the second time @ @ @ @ @ North has tested weapons .

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout)
SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Tuesday that leader Kim Jong-un supervised a long-range artillery strike drill a day earlier to inspect his forces' "sudden military counterattack capability."
On Monday, South Korea's military said that North Korea fired three short-range projectiles off its east coast in what appears to be part of its artillery strike drill involving multiple rocket launchers. It marked the second time in a week that the North has tested weapons.
Kim "guided another firepower strike drill of long-range artillery sub-units of the Korean People's Army on the front," the Korean Central News Agency said.
"The purpose of the firepower strike drill was to inspect the sudden military counterattack capability of the long-range artillery units on the front," it added.
At Kim's order, the artillery men fired all at once and they "hit the target with excellent marksmanship," the KCNA said.
Kim expressed "great satisfaction" with the result, urging the unit to "go on in the direction of further strengthening the artillery training," it noted.
It, however, did not provide other details on the weapons tested and where the drill took place.
According to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff, the latest projectiles were fired northeastward from areas near its eastern town of Sondok with some of them flying around 200 kilometers and reaching a maximum altitude of around 50 km.
Monday's firings came a week after the North test-fired two short-range projectiles, which Pyongyang later claimed to be part of a long-range artillery firing drill overseen by Kim.
The latest firings also came five days after Kim sent a personal letter to President Moon Jae-in and wished him and other South Koreans good health amid the massive outbreak of the novel coronavirus in an apparent reconciliatory gesture amid chilled inter-Korean relations.
South Korea's presidential office on Monday accused North Korea of raising tensions, saying such military exercises do not help efforts to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula.
The U.S. State Department also called on North Korea to avoid provocations and return to nuclear talks after the latest firings.
North Korea conducted missile tests 13 times last year, with the latest on carried out in November in show of force and frustration over stalemated denuclearization talks with Washington.
Nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington have stalled since the no-deal summit between Kim and Trump in February last year.
Kim told a party meeting late in December that he does not feel bound anymore by his self-imposed moratorium on testing long-range ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, saying that the world will witness a "new strategic weapon" in the near future.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-10--N. Korea says leader Kim oversaw long-range artillery strike drill

The latest projectiles were fired northeastward from areas near its eastern town of Sondok with some of them flying around @ @ @ @ @ maximum altitude of around 50 km , according to Seoul 's Joint Chiefs of Staff @

SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- North Korea said Tuesday that leader Kim Jong-un supervised a long-range artillery unit's strike drill a day earlier to inspect its "sudden military counterattack capability."
On Monday, South Korea's military said that North Korea fired three short-range projectiles off its east coast in what appears to be part of its artillery strike drill involving multiple rocket launchers.
Kim "guided another firepower strike drill of long-range artillery sub-units of the Korean People's Army on the front," the Korean Central News Agency said.
"The purpose of the firepower strike drill was to inspect the sudden military counterattack capability of the long-range artillery units on the front," it added.
Kim expressed "great satisfaction" with the result of the drill, urging the unit to "go on in the direction of further strengthening the artillery training."
The latest projectiles were fired northeastward from areas near its eastern town of Sondok with some of them flying around 200 kilometers and reaching a maximum altitude of around 50 km, according to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Monday's firings came a week after the North test-fired two short-range projectile, which Pyongyang later claimed to be part of a long-range artillery firing drill overseen by Kim.
They also came five days after Kim sent a personal letter to President Moon Jae-in and wished him and other South Koreans good health amid the massive outbreak of the novel coronavirus in an apparent reconciliatory gesture amid chilled inter-Korean relations.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-10--(URGENT) N. Korea says leader Kim oversaw long-range artillery strike drill


yna--2020-03-10--Florida tells travelers from S. Korea to self-isolate over virus

Under the new CDC measures , the department said it is mandatory for those who have traveled to `` Level @ @ @ @ @ for 14 days and practice social distancing upon returning to the U.S .

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, March 9 (Yonhap) -- The Florida Department of Health said Monday that all travelers from South Korea and three other countries hit hardest by the novel coronavirus must self-isolate for 14 days.
The department issued the updated travel advisory, citing new guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An earlier version had advised all individuals who have traveled internationally to self-isolate for 14 days in the U.S.
Under the new CDC measures, the department said it is mandatory for those who have traveled to "Level 3" countries to self-isolate for 14 days and practice social distancing upon returning to the U.S.
The CDC has classified South Korea, Iran, China and Italy as Level 3 countries over COVID-19, and recommended that Americans avoid all nonessential travel there.
Social distancing includes "avoiding going out in public and close personal interactions," the department said. As of Monday morning, 12 Florida residents had tested positive for COVID-19, with two deaths.
South Korea reported 96 new infections on Monday, bringing the total in the country to 7,478. The pace of new infections has slowed in recent days.
On Thursday, New York City asked residents returning from South Korea, China, Iran, Italy and Japan to self-isolate for 14 days.
This photo by Tampa Bay Times photo, published via AP, shows (from L) Florida Deputy Secretary for Health Dr. Shamarial Roberson, state Senator Janet Cruz, state Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez, Governor Ron DeSantis, looking on while Andrew Cannons, Laboratory Director at the Bureau of Public Health Laboratories explains the testing procedures of potential coronavirus cases at the Florida Department of Health Laboratory in Tampa, Florida, on March 2, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-10--Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin posts scoreless spring start against division rivals

The Rays put two men on with a pair of singles against Ryu in the top third , but Kiermaier @ @ @ @ @ time against the southpaw , this time looking at a 3-2 fastball on the outside @ @

SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays has thrown his first scoreless outing of spring training.
In his second Grapefruit League start, Ryu held the Tampa Bay Rays to three hits over 4 1/3 innings at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Monday (local time). The South Korean lefty struck out four, before leaving the game with 64 pitches in the books, 44 of them for strikes.
For this spring, Ryu has held opponents to a run over 6 1/3 innings, with six strikeouts and zero walks.
In this file photo from Feb. 27, 2020, Ryu Hyun-jin of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the Minnesota Twins in a Major League Baseball spring training game at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida. (Yonhap)
In his spring debut with the Blue Jays on Feb. 27, Ryu allowed a run over two innings on three hits with two strikeouts against the Minnesota Twins. He made a couple of unofficial starts in intrasquad games prior to Monday's appearance.
The 2019 major league ERA champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers joined the Blue Jays on a four-year, US$80 million free agent deal in December. As the highest-paid pitcher in franchise history, Ryu is expected to get the Opening Day nod against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre in Toronto on March 26.
Ryu made a quick work of the Rays in the top of the first inning, needing only eight pitches to retire the side in order. Kevin Kiermaier struck out swinging on a 0-2 curveball for the final out of the inning.
Ryu gave up a leadoff double to Willy Adames in the second, but sat down the next three batters in a row to keep the Rays off the board.
The Rays put two men on with a pair of singles against Ryu in the top third, but Kiermaier struck out for the second time against the southpaw, this time looking at a 3-2 fastball on the outside corner.
Ryu enjoyed a clean fourth inning with a groundout flanked by a couple of pop outs. He came back out to start the top fifth, and after retiring Michael Perez on a grounder to first in a 10-pitch battle, Ryu was lifted for Wilmer Font.
The Blue Jays' plan was to get Ryu four innings and about 65 to 70 pitches.
As the American League East foes, the Jays and the Rays will face each other 19 times this year. Having spent his seven previous years in the National League West, Ryu has never pitched against the Rays in the regular season.
The Rays' South Korean first baseman, Choi Ji-man, didn't get the start against Ryu. Choi bats left-handed and has struggled against southpaws all his career.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-10--Cardinals' Kim Kwang-hyun tosses 3 shutout innings in 2nd spring start

Kim took on perhaps the most lethal lineup he 'd faced all spring , with five 30-homer sluggers from last @ @ @ @ @ , leadoff man Max Kepler , struck out looking at a fastball to begin the @ @ @ @ @ Donaldson , he of 37 dingers with the Atlanta Braves in 2019 , fanned on @ @ @ @ @ 's second consecutive strikeout .

SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- An impressive spring training continues for the St. Louis Cardinals' South Korean pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun.
Making his second spring start, the left-hander pitched three shutout innings against the Minnesota Twins at CenturyLink Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Florida, on Monday (local time). He extended his scoreless streak in the Grapefruit League to eight frames across four outings -- two in starts and two in relief.
Kim struck out four and pitched around two singles on Monday, and now has 11 Ks against one walk and five hits -- all singles -- in eight spring innings.
An MVP-winning starter in South Korea, Kim is battling for a rotation spot with the Cardinals in his first big league camp. And he seems to be moving closer to one with each passing outing.
This file photo by Reuters via USA Today Sports from March 5, 2020, shows Kim Kwang-hyun of the St. Louis Cardinals pitching against the New York Mets in a spring training game at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. (Yonhap)
He threw 46 pitches in this one, with 31 of them going for strikes.
Kim took on perhaps the most lethal lineup he'd faced all spring, with five 30-homer sluggers from last year. One of them, leadoff man Max Kepler, struck out looking at a fastball to begin the bottom first. Then Josh Donaldson, he of 37 dingers with the Atlanta Braves in 2019, fanned on a high fastball for Kim's second consecutive strikeout.
Kim got Jorge Polanco to ground out back to the mound for an easy, 1-2-3 inning.
Kim cruised along in the second inning. He struck out the ever-dangerous Nelson Cruz, coming off a 41-home run season, with a slider. Eddie Rosario flied out to right after a seven-pitch battle, and Miguel Sano grounded out to shortstop for another three-up, three-down inning for Kim.
After striking out Marwin Gonzalez to open the bottom third, Kim got into trouble by giving up consecutive singles to Alex Avila and Gilberto Celestino.
But the left-hander kept the Twins off the board by retiring Kepler on a flyout and Donaldson on a fielder's choice groundout.
Three returning starters for the Cardinals, Jack Flaherty, Adam Wainwright and Dakota Hudson, are locked into the rotation. At the start of camp, there was only one available spot, but an elbow injury to an incumbent Miles Mikolas opened up another.
A handful of pitchers are in the running. Kim is jostling with Carlos Martinez, a two-time All-Star as a starter who's eyeing a return to the rotation after serving as the closer in 2019. Austin Gomber, John Gant and Genesis Cabrera have also received spring starts.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


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yna--2020-03-09--U.S. calls on N. Korea to avoid provocations, return to talks

The back-to-back launches come as denuclearization negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington have stalled for more than a year , with @ @ @ @ @ how much the North should denuclearize before it receives sanctions relief and other concessions from @ @ @

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, March 9 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. State Department called on North Korea Monday to avoid provocations and return to nuclear talks, after Pyongyang fired three short-range projectiles into the sea.
South Korea's military said the launches on Monday appeared to be part of an artillery strike drill, with characteristics similar to the firing of two short-range projectiles a week earlier.
This AFP file photo shows the U.S. Department of State in Washington. (Yonhap)
South Korean military officials say these projectiles, fired from rocket launchers, are little different from short-range ballistic missiles, which the North is banned from testing under U.N. Security Council resolutions.
"We continue to call on North Korea to avoid provocations, abide by obligations under U.N. Security Council Resolutions, and return to sustained and substantive negotiations to do its part to achieve complete denuclearization," a State Department spokesperson told Yonhap News Agency.
On Sunday night (local time), a senior U.S. government official said Washington was "aware of reports" of the launch.
The U.S. continues to monitor the situation and is consulting with its allies, South Korea and Japan, the official said.
The back-to-back launches come as denuclearization negotiations between Pyongyang and Washington have stalled for more than a year, with the two sides apart on how much the North should denuclearize before it receives sanctions relief and other concessions from the U.S.
Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had no reaction to the projectile launches, saying they were "short-term missiles."
Trump has downplayed the threat of short-range ballistic missiles while taking credit for the regime's suspension of nuclear and long-range missile tests.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(6th LD) S. Korea's virus cases near 7,500, but pace of new infections slows

So far , 51 people , mostly elderly patients with underlying illnesses , have died in South Korea from the @ @ @ @ @ China late last year , the KCDC said .
Three more fatalities have been reported @ @ @ @ @ been included in an official update .
The most recent deaths all involve seniors in @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details on infection tally in para 4, lifting of cohort isolation in para 33-34)
SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's coronavirus caseload approached 7,500 on Monday, but the pace of new infections slowed after the extensive testing of members of a religious sect at the center of the disease's rapid spread was completed. Still, health authorities remained on high alert over new clusters of infections.
The 96 new cases, which were identified between midnight Sunday and 4 p.m., brought the nation's total number of infections to 7,478, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.
The additional infections followed the 248 new cases detected on Sunday -- also far below the daily increases of 500 or more last week and the lowest daily number since Feb. 26. On Saturday, 367 new cases were identified, 438 were found on Friday and 518 were reported on Thursday.
So far, 51 people, mostly elderly patients with underlying illnesses, have died in South Korea from the respiratory virus that emerged in China late last year, the KCDC said. Three more fatalities have been reported, but they have not been included in an official update. The most recent deaths all involve seniors in their 70s and 80s.
Starting Tuesday, the KCDC said it will announce the daily number of new infections once a day at 10:00 a.m.
Until now, the KCDC has announced tallies twice a day. A morning update is based on the number of new infections detected a day earlier, while an afternoon update is based on the number detected over the first 16 hours of the day.
About 63 percent of confirmed cases have been linked to a branch of the Shincheonji religious sect in Daegu, which, with a population of 2.5 million, is the country's fourth-largest city.
This graphic image, provided by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) on March 9, 2020, shows daily new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The pace of daily new inflections has shown signs of slowing down in recent days as health authorities have completed extensive testing of 210,000 Shincheonji followers who are at the center of the rapid spread, but authorities are still on high alert over new clusters of infections.
Of the 248 new cases, which were detected on Sunday, 190 are in Daegu and 26 are in North Gyeongsang, the KCDC said. The total number of infections in Daegu and North Gyeongsang stood at 5,571 and 1,107, respectively.
With Daegu and North Gyeongsang still accounting for some 90 percent of daily new infections, other major provinces and cities have also reported some infections.
Aside from Daegu and North Gyeongsang, cases of community spread with unknown origins, mostly cluster and sporadic outbreaks, are gradually on the rise. Seoul's confirmed cases rose by 10 to 130, with 14 cases linked to Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital in Eunpyeong Ward. Another 13 cases in Seoul came from an apartment building in Seongdong Ward.
Virus cases in Busan were unchanged at 96, with 34 patients linked to a Christian church in the Dongnae district and another 11 patients linked to Shincheonji. The 34 patients of the Oncheon church in Busan are tied to the church's three-day retreat that ended on Feb. 17, officials said. It is still unclear how they were infected with the virus.
In South Chungcheong Province, which includes the city of Cheonan, 92 of the total 102 patients were tied to a Zumba dance class last month in Cheonan, the KCDC said.
Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said in a daily briefing that the spread of COVID-19 is showing signs of a slowdown, but the number of sporadic cases outside Daegu and North Gyeongsang is growing.
"It's a time when we should focus on making all-out efforts to decrease the number of new infections," Kim said.
Kim also warned against cases of the new coronavirus coming from abroad as global virus cases topped 110,000.
A 24-year-old Korean man tested positive for the virus on Sunday after he recently traveled to Italy, which has become the most virus-affected country after China.
South Korea will continue to step up efforts to halt the local transmission of the virus, while containing the importation of infections, Kim said.
A box containing pieces of disposable wooden chopsticks for pressing elevator buttons is set next to an elevator at the city hall in Gangneung on South Korea's east coast on March 9, 2020, as part of preventive measures against the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
More than 15 million people in Italy, including those in Venice and financial hub Milan, were put under lockdown as the spread of the virus worsened.
The Korean government has no plans to bring its citizens back to Korea via a charter plane because of Italy's advanced medical system, Kim said.
Iran has become another epicenter, with the number of confirmed cases surpassing 6,500 on Sunday. An official at South Korea's foreign ministry said the government plans to bring home citizens via a charter flight from Iran this week.
Among about 220 South Koreans in Iran, some 80 citizens have applied to take the flight, the official said.
Kim also expressed concerns over Japan's relatively hands-off approach to combating the virus, with media reports saying that the number of infections in Japan could be higher than reported.
"As for Japan, it is worrisome because aggressive identification of patients is insufficient there," Kim said, adding that there is a risk of local transmission in Japan.
Kim said the government will expand its entry bans from virus-hit nations if the global situation worsens.
KCDC Director-General Jeong Eun-kyeong told reporters that the number of new daily infections has declined but that, "It's not a situation where (authorities) feel at ease."
Clusters of infections accounted for about 80 percent of total confirmed cases as of Monday, Jeong said.
Most sporadic cases outside Daegu and North Gyeongsang came from people who came into contact with virus patients, Jeong said, adding that authorities will focus on preventing the virus from spreading into hospitals, nursing homes and religious facilities.
Since raising the virus alert level to "red," the highest level, on Feb. 23, health authorities have focused on halting the spread of the virus in Daegu and North Gyeongsang.
After the first outbreak on Jan. 20 in South Korea, the pace of infections had not been alarming until Feb. 18, when a 61-year-old woman who is tied to the Daegu branch of the Shincheonji sect tested positive for the virus.
Since then, the nation has seen an explosion in infections as it has accelerated virus tests on potential cases.
Health authorities have yet to find the "index cases," or people among the sect's followers who triggered mass infections among Shincheonji followers.
Medical workers monitor screens showing negative pressure quarantine rooms at Seoul Medical Center on March 9, 2020, where patients infected with the new coronavirus are being treated. (Yonhap)
In a clue that could explain why infections spread widely among Shincheonji followers, 46 virus patients were confirmed at an apartment building in Daegu. Out of 140 residents of the building, all confirmed cases are members of Shincheonji, with some of them having lived in the same homes.
The building has been under lockdown since last Saturday, although authorities lifted the cohort isolation late Monday after the infected were moved to a community treatment facility. The 38 residents who are not affiliated with the church and have not been infected have been released from quarantine, although 48 Shincheonji churchgoers who tested negative for infection will have to remain in self isolation for the time being.
South Korea has released 166 fully recovered novel coronavirus patients from hospitals as of Sunday, up 36 from a day earlier, the KCDC said.
The number of people being checked for the virus and under quarantine came to 17,458 as of Sunday, down 1,918 from the day before, it said. The country has tested a total of 189,236 suspected cases, with 171,778 testing negative.
Currently, there is no evidence that the new coronavirus is airborne. The World Health Organization said the virus is transmitted through droplets or close contact.
Meanwhile, South Korea began a rationing system for face masks on Monday. Despite the government's quarantine efforts, demand for face masks far surpasses supply, drawing complaints from people who have been waiting in long lines for hours to buy masks provided via public channels.
Under the new measure that went into effect Monday, citizens are able to buy only two protective masks per week from pharmacies, on designated days of the week, depending on the final number of their year of birth.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--Seoul ward reports new cluster infection at insurance company call center

The ward said that at least 15 people at the Ace Insurance office in Sindorim tested positive for COVID-19 , @ @ @ @ @ of an employee .
It said the 12-story building was closed with disinfection carried out @ @ @ @ @ or so employees of the insurance firm , including trainees that work at the building @ @ @ @ @ go into self-quarantine , with coronavirus tests to be conducted on all of them by @ @

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- Guro Ward in southwestern Seoul on Monday reported a new infection cluster at an insurance company call center, prompting public health authorities to shutter an entire building and screen people for the novel coronavirus.
The ward said that at least 15 people at the Ace Insurance office in Sindorim tested positive for COVID-19, along with one family member of an employee. It said the 12-story building was closed with disinfection carried out immediately. The remaining 190 or so employees of the insurance firm, including trainees that work at the building, have been told to go into self-quarantine, with coronavirus tests to be conducted on all of them by Tuesday.
The case comes after a 56-year-old woman employee at the call center was confirmed to be infected on Sunday, with a co-worker and her husband also testing positive earlier in the day, the ward office said.
The new cluster brings the total number of confirmed viral infections identified by the Seoul metropolitan government to 145 as of 9 p.m, up from 130 tallied at 10 a.m.
Public health workers disinfect a center for visually impaired people in Dongjak Ward, southern Seoul, on March 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--(LEAD) Small-scale cluster infections set authorities on edge amid case slowdown

Of those , 15 employees of an insurance company call center that operated out of a building in Guro Ward @ @ @ @ @ of the city , have tested positive .
Local authorities and one family member of @ @ @ @ @ the virus , with the 12-story building being closed for disinfection .
It said other @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .

(ATTN: ADDS info on small infectious cluster in Seoul in para 12)
SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- The pace of daily new cases of the novel coronavirus has shown signs of slowing down, but alarming small-sized cluster infections have still been reported across the country in recent days, putting health authorities on edge.
The country reported 248 new cases of the COVID-19 virus on Monday, bringing the nation's total infections to 7,478, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said. Of the 248 new cases, which were detected on Sunday, 190 are in Daegu and 26 are in North Gyeongsang, the epicenter of the local outbreak.
It marks the first time since Feb. 26 that daily new COVID-19 cases dropped to the 200-level, as the country reported an average of more than 400 new patients every day over the past 10 days.
Medical workers in protective gear raise their fists in a gesture of solidarity before heading to negative pressure quarantine rooms at Seoul Medical Center on March 9, 2020, where patients infected with the new coronavirus are being treated. (Yonhap)
However, other major provinces and cities reported small-scale cluster infections over the weekend.
Gyeonggi Province surrounding Seoul saw its confirmed cases rise by 11 to 152 as of early Monday with numerous cluster infections.
As of late Sunday, a total of 13 people, including six patients, six medical staff and one visitor, at Bundang Jaesaeng General Hospital, south of Seoul, have tested positive for the virus, the KCDC said.
The confirmed patients previously came into contact with a 77-year-old cancer patient who was admitted to the hospital on March 1 and tested positive for the virus on Thursday.
"It is true that additional cases are slowing down, but it is hard to say that things are getting better," Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said in a daily briefing.
The official said many new virus cases are still being reported in Daegu and neighboring North Gyeongsang Province, and sporadic and small-scale mass infections are on a steady rise.
"It is the time to put in more efforts to make new cases sharply drop ... and further tighten nationwide quarantine," he said.
Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip speaks during a press conference at the government complex in Sejong, central South Korea, on March 9, 2020, about the spread of the new coronavirus in the country. (Yonhap)
Seoul has also reported a total of 75 COVID-19 patients who are linked to clusters of infections resulting from so-called community spread as of late Sunday, KCDC said.
Of those, 15 employees of an insurance company call center that operated out of a building in Guro Ward, in the southwestern part of the city, have tested positive. Local authorities and one family member of the call center also contracted the virus, with the 12-story building being closed for disinfection. It said other employees will be checked on Tuesday.
Besides this, a new cluster of infections was reported in Dongdaemun Ward, where a couple in their 60s and their daughter in her 30s, along with her four-week-old infant, all tested positive for the virus.
Also, a small cluster infections linked to a religious sect related to most cases in the country occurred in Daegu over the weekend.
Out of 140 residents at an apartment building in Daegu, 46 patients are Shincheonji followers, and some of them had lived in the same homes. The building has been under a lockdown since last Saturday.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-03-09--S. Korea raises travel advisory for northern, central Italy

The foreign ministry issued a `` yellow warning , '' which calls for travel restraint and is the third highest @ @ @ @ @ for Piedmont and Marche in the country 's northwest and central east , respectively , @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea raised the travel advisory for two provinces in northern and central Italy on Monday as the infectious coronavirus spreads rapidly in the European country.
The foreign ministry issued a "yellow warning," which calls for travel restraint and is the third highest on a four-level scale, for Piedmont and Marche in the country's northwest and central east, respectively, according to the ministry website.
South Korea issued the travel alert for areas of northern Italy -- Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto -- last month.
The ministry called for South Korean nationals residing in the areas to take extra caution to protect their health and safety, while advising those planning trips there to carefully consider their visits.
Italy had reported 7,375 infections of the COVID-19 virus as of Sunday, the third most confirmed cases after China and South Korea.
The Rome government has imposed a lockdown on most of its northern regions in an effort to prevent further spreading.
This graphic image, provided by Seoul's foreign ministry on March 9, 2020, shows a map of Italy with northern and central eastern parts of the country marked yellow to indicate new travel warnings, following a spike in new coronavirus cases in three areas. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-03-10--Daewoo Shipbuilding swings to 2019 net loss on lower orders

`` The company began to build ships that were ordered ( years ago ) in low-priced deals and with fixed @ @ @ @ @ decline in new orders , there has been a deterioration in profitability , '' the @ @ @

SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., the world's third-largest shipbuilder by order value, said Tuesday it swung to a net loss in 2019 from a year earlier on lower orders and higher costs.
For all of 2019, Daewoo Shipbuilding shifted to a net loss of 46.5 billion won (US$39 million) from a net profit of 320 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.
"The company began to build ships that were ordered (years ago) in low-priced deals and with fixed costs increasing due to a decline in new orders, there has been a deterioration in profitability," the filing said.
Moreover, the company put aside an additional provision in case it loses a damage suit filed by its shareholders. This is also weighing on the bottomline, it said.
Daewoo Shipbuilding expected uncertainties in global markets will continue to grow and shipbuilders will have difficult times for the time being.
Operating profit plunged 71 percent to 292.8 billion won in 2019 from 1.02 trillion won a year ago. Sales fell 13 percent to 8.36 trillion won from 9.64 trillion won during the same period, it said.
The company aims to achieve $7.21 billion worth of orders in 2020, up from $6.88 billion orders last year.
This photo taken on Jan. 12, 2020, shows a very large container carrier being built in Daewoo Shipbuilding's shipyard in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)