yna--2020-04-27--USFK dependent tests positive for coronavirus; total infections at 26

The dependent of the service member at Camp Walker , who is a U.S. citizen , returned from the United @ @ @ @ @ to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek , some 70 kilometers south of Seoul , where he @ @ @ @ @ to USFK .

SEOUL, April 27 (Yonhap) -- A family member of an American soldier stationed in the southeastern city of Daegu tested positive for the coronavirus Monday, U.S. Forces Korea said, bringing the total number of infections among its population to 26.
The dependent of the service member at Camp Walker, who is a U.S. citizen, returned from the United States last week and transited to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, where he underwent mandatory testing, according to USFK.
All USFK-affiliated individuals arriving in South Korea from overseas must conduct a 14-day quarantine, be monitored for symptoms and complete two COVID-19 tests with confirmed negative results to exit quarantine.
"Despite the confirmed cases, USFK remains at a high level of readiness ... and continues to maintain a robust combined defense posture to protect the Republic of Korea against any threat or adversary while maintaining prudent preventive measures to protect the force," USFK said in a release.
This photo, captured from the U.S. Army Garrison Daegu Facebook page, shows U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. Robert Abrams (C) inspecting the commissary of Camp Walker in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on March 2, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-27--Korea Petro Chemical Ind turns to loss in Q1

The operating profit was 1545.5 percent higher than the average estimate , according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax , @ @ @ @ @ Yonhap News Agency .
The estimate of net profit was not available .

SEOUL, April 27 (Yonhap) -- Korea Petro Chemical Ind Co. on Monday reported its first-quarter net loss of 30.2 billion won (US$ 24.6 million), shifting from a profit of 57.8 billion won a year earlier.
The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted an operating loss of 45.7 billion won for the January-March period, compared with a profit of 56.9 billion won a year ago. Sales fell 3.9 percent to 496 billion won.
The operating profit was 1545.5 percent higher than the average estimate, according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. The estimate of net profit was not available.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange (KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-04-27--Renault Samsung to suspend plant for 11 days on virus impact

This month , the company 's 1,700-member union voted to accept a wage freeze and cash bonuses of 8.88 million @ @ @ @ @ ) per person for 2019 .
The company and the union agreed to make joint @ @ @ @ @ of the virus outbreak on the automobile industry .

SEOUL, April 27 (Yonhap) -- Renault Samsung Motors Corp., the South Korean unit of Renault S.A., said Monday it will suspend its sole plant for 11 days, as the coronavirus outbreak has affected production and sales.
Renault Samsung will halt operations at its plant in Busan, 453 kilometers southeast of Seoul, from Thursday through May 8 "to give an extended holiday to its employees in the family month," a company spokesman said.
The carmaker stopped the Busan plant for four days in February due to lack of parts from its Chinese suppliers as the COVID-19 outbreak hit supply chains.
This month, the company's 1,700-member union voted to accept a wage freeze and cash bonuses of 8.88 million won (US$7,320) per person for 2019. The company and the union agreed to make joint efforts to weather the impact of the virus outbreak on the automobile industry.
From January to March, its sales fell 28 percent to 28,390 vehicles from 39,210 units in the same period a year ago.
The company's current lineup includes the SM3 compact, the all-electric SM3 Z.E. sedan, the QM3 small SUV, and the SM5, SM6 and SM7 sedans.
French auto giant Renault has an 80 percent stake in the car producer.
This file photo shows the car assembly line at Renault Samsung's Busan plant, 453 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

`` COVID-19 is not over yet , '' he emphasized , speaking at a weekly meeting with his top Cheong @ @ @ @ @ presidential compound in Seoul .
`` The situation is that we have to get prepared @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus with a longtime war in mind . ''

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Monday.
-----------------
(2nd LD) Moon says S. Korea to seek 'realistic, practical' ways for inter-Korean ties
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in said Monday his government will move ahead with "realistic and practical" cooperation with North Korea despite international constraints, holding out expectations for a fresh breakthrough in the coronavirus pandemic.
He was apparently referring to U.N.-led sanctions on Pyongyang as he spoke on the occasion of the second anniversary of his historic Panmunjom summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
-----------------
Moon warns about protracted war against coronavirus
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in said South Korea needs to brace for a longer-term war against the coronavirus, warning the public not to lower its guard too early.
"COVID-19 is not over yet," he emphasized, speaking at a weekly meeting with his top Cheong Wa Dae aides at the presidential compound in Seoul. "The situation is that we have to get prepared for living uncomfortably with the coronavirus with a longtime war in mind."
-----------------
(LEAD) Ex-President Chun appears in court amid protest by activists
GWANGJU -- Former President Chun Doo-hwan appeared in court on Monday, facing charges of making slanderous statements about a late activist priest's eyewitness accounts of a brutal crackdown in his controversial memoir.
The 89-year-old, who led an authoritarian government from 1980-1988, appeared at the Gwangju District Court, about 330 kilometers south of Seoul, on Monday afternoon. He was accompanied by his wife and former first lady Lee Soon-ja.
-----------------
Chinese amb. vows efforts to expedite entry exception system for S. Korean biz people
SEOUL -- Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming said Monday he will try to bring into force as early as May "fast-track" entry for South Korean businesspeople into China in exception to current entry restrictions over the coronavirus.
His remark comes as Seoul and Beijing are discussing details to create the special entry system for businesspeople to minimize the fallout caused by entry curbs in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
-----------------
(4th LD) Loose social distancing looms large as new virus cases stay low
SEOUL -- In a sign of the containment of the new coronavirus, South Korea reported just 10 new cases Monday, but health authorities remain vigilant over the upcoming holidays, which could potentially lead to cluster infections.
It marked the fifth day in a row that the number of new infections stayed at 10 or below, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,738, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
-----------------
Police launch probe into former Busan mayor's sexual harassment case
BUSAN -- Police on Monday announced the launch of an investigation into former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don who resigned four days ago after admitting to sexual harassment.
The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency said a 24-member police team has been formed to investigate Oh's case after two civic groups filed criminal complaints against the former mayor Friday.
-----------------
S. Korea has never sounded out Japan about sending masks: ministry
SEOUL -- The foreign ministry denied a news report Monday that South Korea has expressed a willingness to provide Japan with face masks to help the neighboring country cope with the coronavirus outbreak.
A local newspaper reported earlier in the day that the government suggested the idea to some senior officials of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party through an unofficial channel, and Tokyo has not responded to the offer yet.
-----------------
BOK offers additional US$1.2 bln to banks via U.S. currency swap
SEOUL -- The Bank of Korea (BOK) said Monday it will deliver an additional US$1.26 billion to local banks under its currency swap deal with the U.S. Fed in a move to help stabilize the local foreign exchange market.
The BOK held its fifth online auction to provide up to $4 billion.
-----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks rebound 1.8 pct on stimulus hopes, eased virus woes
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks closed 1.79 percent higher Monday as the country continued to see the novel coronavirus outbreak wane. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) jumped 33.76 points to close at 1,922.77. Trading volume was moderate at 725 million shares worth 8 trillion won (US$6.5 billion), with gainers far outpacing losers 738 to 126.
-----------------
ESPN nearing deal to broadcast S. Korean baseball games: source
SEOUL -- The U.S. sports media giant ESPN is nearing a deal to broadcast South Korean baseball games to its American audience this season, an industry source told Yonhap News Agency on Monday.
The source, who requested anonymity because the deal wasn't finalized as of Monday afternoon, said ESPN could air multiple Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) games per week. The exact duration of the deal and proposed financial terms weren't immediately clear.
(END)


yna--2020-04-27--(LEAD) Samsung Heavy Q1 net losses widen on FX losses

Samsung Heavy said the won 's weakness against the U.S. dollar drove up the evaluation losses from its forward exchange @ @ @ @ @ drill ships .

(ATTN: UPDATES with company's comments, stock prices; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, April 27 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Heavy Industries Co., a major South Korean shipbuilder, said Monday that its net losses widened in the first quarter from a year earlier due to evaluation losses of dollar-denominated assets.
For the January-March quarter, net losses deepened to 227 billion won (US$185 million) from a loss of 102.6 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Samsung Heavy said the won's weakness against the U.S. dollar drove up the evaluation losses from its forward exchange contracts meant to resell five drill ships.
Samsung Heavy Industries' shipyard on South Korea's southern island of Geoje (Yonhap)
Operating losses widened to 47.8 billion won from a loss of 33.3 billion over the cited period, and sales jumped 25.3 percent on-year to reach 1.82 trillion won, it said.
Earlier this month, Samsung Heavy received a 253.6 billion-won (US$208 million) order to build two very large crude oil carriers for a Bermudan shipper.
With the latest deal, Samsung Heavy has won orders worth $5 billion for five vessels so far this year, achieving 5.9 percent of its annual order target of $8.4 billion.
Shares in Samsung Heavy rose 0.12 percent to 4,175 won on Monday, underperforming the broader KOSPI's 1.79 percent gain.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-27--ESPN nearing deal to broadcast S. Korean baseball games: source

If completed , the deal would represent a turnaround from last week , when talks between ESPN and Eclat , @ @ @ @ @ to KBO games , reached a stalemate over ESPN 's demand for free games .
@ @ @ @ @ the time that ESPN was seeking monthly deals , rather than a longer deal that @ @ @ @ @ season .
Those month-to-month deals would allow ESPN to drop KBO games once Major League @ @ @ @ @ currently on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic , begins its season .

By Yoo Jee-ho and Shin Chang-yong
SEOUL, April 27 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. sports media giant ESPN is nearing a deal to broadcast South Korean baseball games to its American audience this season, an industry source told Yonhap News Agency on Monday.
The source, who requested anonymity because the deal wasn't finalized as of Monday afternoon, said ESPN could air multiple Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) games per week. The exact duration of the deal and proposed financial terms weren't immediately clear.
A Korea Baseball Organization preseason game takes place at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul between the Doosan Bears and the KT Wiz on April 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
The KBO's regular season will begin on May 5, pushed back by more than a month from the original March 28 Opening Day due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be the second pro baseball league to begin during the pandemic, after the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan.
If completed, the deal would represent a turnaround from last week, when talks between ESPN and Eclat, which holds international distribution rights to KBO games, reached a stalemate over ESPN's demand for free games. Sources had told Yonhap at the time that ESPN was seeking monthly deals, rather than a longer deal that would cover the whole 2020 season. Those month-to-month deals would allow ESPN to drop KBO games once Major League Baseball (MLB), currently on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, begins its season.
Both the KBO and Eclat balked at the initial ESPN demand for free rights. One source said there was "a feeling of being disrespected among KBO ranks." One KBO official said the league would rather not have Eclat shoulder production costs just to put games on ESPN.
Since then, ESPN has apparently changed its stance. ESPN first indicated interest in KBO games earlier this month amid its struggles to fill dead air, with the coronavirus pandemic having put all professional and amateur sports on hold.
When reached by Yonhap on Monday, an Eclat official declined to provide specifics of the potential deal, saying negotiations were still ongoing.
A South Korean television cameraman shoots a Korea Baseball Organization preseason game between the Doosan Bears and the Kiwoom Heroes at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on April 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-27--(2nd LD) Moon says S. Korea to seek 'realistic, practical' ways for inter-Korean ties

He recalled the moment of briefly stepping over the Military Demarcation Line into the North together with Kim two years @ @ @ @ @ took place at the DMZ truce village of Panmunjom , leading to a joint statement @ @ @ @ @ bring lasting peace on the peninsula .

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in paras 10-12, 18)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, April 27 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in said Monday his government will move ahead with "realistic and practical" cooperation with North Korea despite international constraints, holding out expectations for a fresh breakthrough in the coronavirus pandemic.
He was apparently referring to U.N.-led sanctions on Pyongyang as he spoke on the occasion of the second anniversary of his historic Panmunjom summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Moon stressed that South Korea won't sit idle until the external conditions improve, with the Pyongyang-Washington denuclearization talks in a drawn-out stalemate.
"(We) will explore the most realistic and practical ways for South-North cooperation," he said during a weekly meeting with his senior Cheong Wa Dae aides.
Moon said the COVID-19 crisis could provide the two Koreas with a new opportunity for bilateral partnerships.
"For now, it's the most urgent and desperate task," he said. "South and North constitute a single life community, which would serve as the foundation for moving toward a peace community."
President Moon Jae-in speaks at a meeting with his senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on April 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Beginning with anti-coronavirus efforts, the two sides would be able to work together to cope with infectious diseases in animals, disasters in border areas and climate change, Moon added.
He also said South Korea will do what it can in connection with the project to relink inter-Korean railways.
Earlier in the day, Seoul's unification ministry in charge of Pyongyang affairs, held its own symbolic ceremony to reaffirm a commitment to the project to modernize and reconnect a pair of railroads across the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
The North has long been subjected to tough sanctions for its nuclear and missile tests. The South plans to prioritize resuming inter-Korean programs that would not undermine the sanctions or getting conditional exemptions.
The Moon administration spent most of last year waiting for a tangible outcome from Pyongyang-Washington dialogue, to no avail.
Moon's remarks reflect his resolve to get inter-Korean cooperation back on track and help move forward nuclear negotiations, though it depends on the unpredictable communist neighbor's attitude.
He recalled the moment of briefly stepping over the Military Demarcation Line into the North together with Kim two years earlier. Their first-ever summit took place at the DMZ truce village of Panmunjom, leading to a joint statement on a concerted campaign to bring lasting peace on the peninsula.
"The Panmunjom Declaration open the door of irreversible peace," but the past two years have shown that peace won't be achieved overnight, Moon said.
Little progress so far in implementing the summit accord is not due to the lack of the two Koreas' commitment to actions but because of a failure to overcome the existing international restrictions, he said
"We can't just wait for the conditions to improve," Moon stressed. "We must continue to do even small things that we can do amid realistic constraints."
As soon as the coronavirus is brought under control, Seoul plans to push for the reunification of families living on the other side of the DMZ, and the two sides should continue the joint war remains excavation project, he said.
Moon also reaffirmed a push to turn the DMZ into a global peace zone, noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War.
He made no comments on media-driven speculation that the North Korean leader, who has gone out of public view for more than two weeks, seems to be critically ill.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--(LEAD) With lax social distancing in store, virus curve flattens for days

Authorities have been urging South Koreans to refrain from making group tours during the holiday , saying this week will @ @ @ @ @ paving the way for the country to move on to an `` everyday life quarantine @ @ @ @

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; lead; ADDS details throughout, photo)
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported fewer than 15 cases of the new coronavirus for the 10th day in a row Tuesday, with the upcoming holidays set to be crucial in whether the country can go ahead with a lax social distancing drive next week.
The country reported 14 new virus cases, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,752, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Health authorities, however, warned that the COVID-19 pandemic is still "persisting" in the country amid the rising number of imported cases and concerns over cluster infections.
Of the newly added cases announced Tuesday, 12 were imported, raising the country's total number of such cases to 1,056.
The nation's death toll from COVID-19 rose by one to 244.
Medical workers prepare to work a shift at Keimyung University Daegu Dongsan Hospital, where coronavirus patients are hospitalized, in the southeastern city of Daegu on April 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
The fatality rate came to 2.27 percent, with victims aged 80 and above accounting for more than half of the reported deaths.
No deaths were reported among those aged 29 and below, though the age group accounted for a third of confirmed patients.
In total, 8,854 people in South Korea have recovered from the virus, up 90 from a day earlier. More than 80 percent of the COVID-19 patients have been cured.
Daegu, the nation's worst virus-hit region located 300 kilometers south of Seoul, added just two cases. The city accounts for 64 percent of the nation's total COVID-19 cases.
South Korea has carried out 608,514 tests for the coronavirus since Jan. 3, including 6,854 tests carried out a day earlier. The country reported its first COVID-19 case on Jan. 20.
Cheerleaders perform during a baseball practice event at a stadium without any spectators in Gwangju, about 330 kilometers south of Seoul, on April 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Local health authorities remain vigilant ahead of the upcoming long holiday, when a large number of people are expected to make short domestic trips.
South Korea will celebrate Buddha's Birthday on Thursday, followed by May Day on Friday and Children's Day on May 5.
Authorities have been urging South Koreans to refrain from making group tours during the holiday, saying this week will play a decisive role in paving the way for the country to move on to an "everyday life quarantine" in May.
The country nevertheless has been gradually easing social distance guidelines in sync with the falling number of new COVID-19 cases.
It plans to announce new guidelines for schools by early May, with options that include having students come to school at different times.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--Minister says N.K. media reports suggest Kim executes state affairs normally

Kim Jong-un has stayed out of public view for about two weeks since he was last seen in a political @ @ @ @ @ Workers ' Party on April 11 , but North Korean media outlets have reported on @ @ @ @ @ according to the minister .

By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- North Korean state media have continued reports on leader Kim Jong-un's work in an indication that he is handling state affairs normally, Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said Tuesday, amid persisting speculation about the leader's health.
Kim Jong-un has stayed out of public view for about two weeks since he was last seen in a political bureau meeting of the ruling Workers' Party on April 11, but North Korean media outlets have reported on his daily routine schedule, according to the minister.
"North Korean media outlets have put out reports related to Chairman Kim's work since his attendance of a politburo meeting, suggesting that he has been carrying out state affairs in a normal way," he told lawmakers.
North Korean state media have recently carried reports on Kim's schedule, such as sending diplomatic letters and conveying gifts to honored citizens, but they have not provided information on Kim's whereabouts or health conditions.
The official Korean Central News Agency said late Monday that Kim sent a congratulatory telegram message to the South Africa president in the latest report on the leader's management of state affairs.
Speculation about Kim's health has spread since he apparently skipped an annual visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the occasion of the April 15 birthday of the late founder and his grandfather Kim Il-sung.
Unconfirmed media reports have since speculated that Kim might be "in grave danger" after surgery, but South Korean officials have repeatedly disputed these claims, saying no unusual signs have been detected from North Korea.
Some said that Kim appears to be staying in the eastern coastal town of Wonsan. U.S monitoring website 38 North earlier reported that commercial satellite imagery showed a train probably belonging to Kim was spotted in the region since at least April 21.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--S. Korea reports 14 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 10,752

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 14 more cases of the new coronavirus Tuesday, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,752.
It marked the 10th day in a row that the number of new infections stayed at 15 or below, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Health authorities, however, warned that the COVID-19 pandemic is still "persisting" in the country amid the rising number of imported cases and concerns over cluster infections.
Of the newly added cases announced Tuesday, 12 were imported, raising the country's total number of such cases to 1,056.
The nation's death toll from COVID-19 rose by one to 244.
Medical workers prepare to work a shift at Keimyung University Daegu Dongsan Hospital, where coronavirus patients are hospitalized, in the southeastern city of Daegu on April 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
In total, 8,854 people in South Korea have recovered from the virus, up 90 from a day earlier.
Daegu, the nation's worst virus-hit region located 300 kilometers south of Seoul, added just two cases. The city accounts for 64 percent of the nation's total COVID-19 cases.
Local health authorities remain vigilant ahead of the upcoming long holiday, when people are expected to make short domestic trips.
South Korea will celebrate Buddha's Birthday on Thursday, followed by May Day on Friday and Children's Day on May 5.
Authorities have been urging South Koreans to refrain from making group tours during the holiday, saying this week will play a decisive role in paving the way for the country to move on to an "everyday life quarantine" in May.
The country nevertheless has been gradually easing social distance guidelines in sync with the falling number of new COVID-19 cases.
It plans to announce new guidelines for schools by early May, with options that include having students come to school at different times.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--(LEAD) Amorepacific Q1 net almost halves on virus fallout

Net profit reached 67 billion won ( US $ 54.6 million ) on a consolidated basis in the January-March period @ @ @ @ @ won for the previous year , the company said in a regulatory filing .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; ADDS more info from 2nd para, photo; COMBINES with a story slugged Amorepacific Group-Q1 earnings)
By Kim Han-joo
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean cosmetics company Amorepacific Corp. said Tuesday that its net income for the first quarter dipped 45.2 percent from a year earlier, hit by the coronavirus outbreak
Net profit reached 67 billion won (US$ 54.6 million) on a consolidated basis in the January-March period, compared with 122 billion won for the previous year, the company said in a regulatory filing.
This undated photo, provided by AmorePacific Corp., shows the company's headquarters in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The company said that it posted 60.9 billion won in operating profit for the quarter, compared with 186.6 billion won a year ago. Sales fell 22.1 percent on-year to 1.13 trillion won.
The operating profit was 13.6 percent lower than the average estimate, according to a survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency.
The company attributed the weak performance to losses incurred in major Asian markets, including China, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amorepacific, however, said sales at its online outlets jumped nearly 80 percent on-year during the cited period.
The combined operating income of Amorepacific Group, which includes smaller brands like Innisfree and Etude House, fell 66.8 percent on-year to 67.9 billion won in the cited period. Sales also decreased 22.1 percent on-year to 1.27 trillion won.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--Tomorrow X Together to return with new 'The Dream Chapter' album next month

`` The Dream Chapter : Eternity , '' the band 's second EP set for release on May 18 , @ @ @ @ @ the `` The Dream Chapter '' series following the second , `` The Dream Chapter @ @ @ @ @ full-length album dropped in October .

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- Boy band Tomorrow X Together will drop a new album, "The Dream Chapter: Eternity," next month, returning to dazzle the K-pop scene, its management agency said Tuesday.
"The Dream Chapter: Eternity," the band's second EP set for release on May 18, is the third album under the "The Dream Chapter" series following the second, "The Dream Chapter: Magic," a full-length album dropped in October.
Continuing from the previous albums, "Eternity" will depict stories of growth by young boys as represented by the five band members, according to Big Hit Entertainment.
Tomorrow X Together, also known as TXT, debuted with EP "The Dream Chapter: Star" in March last year and collected 10 rookie of the year awards from local music events last year, capturing the spotlight of the local music scene.
An image of Tomorrow X Together, provided by Big Hit Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--(URGENT) S. Korea releases 90 recovered coronavirus patients, total cured people at 8,854: KCDC

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


yna--2020-04-28--(URGENT) S. Korea confirms 1 more coronavirus deaths, raising death toll to 244: KCDC


yna--2020-04-28--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 14 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 10,752


yna--2020-04-28--(URGENT) S. Korean economy faces further negative momentum in Q2: Moon


yna--2020-04-28--(LEAD) Daewoo E&C Q1 net rises 25.3 pct on cost-cutting efforts

The builder 's operating profit rose 22.7 percent to 120.9 billion won in the first three months of 2019 .
@ @ @ @ @ 1.98 trillion won from 2.03 trillion won during the same period , it said .

(ATTN: UPDATES with company's comments and details; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co. said Tuesday its first-quarter net profit jumped 25.3 percent from a year earlier due to cost-cutting efforts.
In the three months ending March 31, Daewoo E&C posted a net profit of 61.9 billion won (US$50.5 million), compared with 49.4 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.
The company said cost-cutting efforts in its civil business division and plant division contributed to the hike in net profit.
The builder's operating profit rose 22.7 percent to 120.9 billion won in the first three months of 2019. Sales fell 2.2 percent to 1.98 trillion won from 2.03 trillion won during the same period, it said.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--(LEAD) Samsung Electro-Mechanics Q1 net inches up

The operating profit was 10 percent higher than the market consensus compiled by Yonhap Infomax , the financial news arm @ @ @ @ @ The median estimate for net profit was not available .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout)
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean electronic components maker Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. said Tuesday its first-quarter net profit edged up from a year ago amid solid sales.
Net income came to 133.2 billion won (US$108.6 million) in the January-March period, up 0.1 percent from a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Sales climbed 7.9 percent on-year to 2.22 trillion won during the three-month period, but operating profit tumbled 32.1 percent to 164.6 billion won.
The operating profit was 10 percent higher than the market consensus compiled by Yonhap Infomax, the financial news arm of Yonhap News Agency. The median estimate for net profit was not available.
Samsung Electro-Mechanics attributed the fall in first-quarter operating profit to falling prices of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCC), a core component used in almost every electronics items, such as digital cameras, computers and TVs.
Yet operating profit soared 19 percent from the previous quarter on increased sales of high-end camera modules for smartphones and rising prices of MLCC for PCs and other industrial products, it said.
The company, affiliated with tech giant Samsung Electronics Co., predicted its second-quarter sales will drop somewhat from the first three months due to a global economic slowdown stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.
This photo, provided by Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. on April 28, 2020, shows its multilayer ceramic capacitors. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--LG unveils specs of new smartphone

LG unveils specs of new smartphone

LG said the new handset will be launched in South Korea on May 15 , but it did not reveal @ @ @ @ @ date for other countries .
Sources here predicted the new mobile device will be priced @ @ @ @ @ $ 650 ) .

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc. on Tuesday unveiled specifications of its new smartphone ahead of its official launch event as the South Korean tech firm aims to boost its handset sales amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
LG is scheduled to introduce its mass-market premium smartphone LG Velvet on May 7 through an online event, but it decided to release the specifications and other information about the new mobile device to attract consumers' attention.
LG Velvet has a triple rear camera setup highlighted by its "raindrop" design features. It houses a 48-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens and a 5-megapixel depth sensor, according to the company. On the front of the device, there will be a 16-megapixel selfie camera.
LG said the new smartphone, whose design also features front-back symmetrical curves, will have a 6.8-inch FullVision display with a 20.5:9 aspect ratio. It will pack a 4,300-mAh battery.
This photo provided by LG Electronics Inc. shows the company's new smartphone LG Velvet. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
LG Velvet will be powered by the 5G-supporting Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 chipset, according to the company, with 8 gigabytes of RAM. It comes with 128 gigabytes of internal storage but will have a microSD card slot that supports up to 2 terabytes.
The new device also sports an in-display fingerprint sensor and autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) recording system with two high-performing microphones. It will be available in four colors: aurora green, aurora gray, aurora white and illusion sunset.
Dual screen and stylus pen accessories will be available for the new smartphone, the company added.
LG said the new handset will be launched in South Korea on May 15, but it did not reveal the price and the release date for other countries. Sources here predicted the new mobile device will be priced around 800,000 won (US$650).
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--SK Networks remains in red in Q1

SK Networks remains in red in Q1

SEOUL , April 28 ( Yonhap ) -- SK Networks Co. on Tuesday reported its first-quarter net loss of 5.3 @ @ @ @ @ 4.3 million ) , remaining in the red compared with a year ago .

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- SK Networks Co. on Tuesday reported its first-quarter net loss of 5.3 billion won (US$ 4.3 million), remaining in the red compared with a year ago.
The company said in a regulatory filing that operating profit for the January-March period rose 18.1 percent on-year to 41.2 billion won. Sales decreased 4.9 percent to 2.87 trillion won.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange(KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--Brokerages' Q1 earnings tumble on market rout

Kyobo Securities Co. estimated the combined net profit of six such brokerages houses , including Mirae Asset Securities Co. , @ @ @ @ @ and Samsung Securities Co. , will shrink 60.5 percent from a year ago .

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- Major South Korean securities companies racked up weak earnings in the first quarter mainly due to the market rout caused by the coronavirus outbreak, industry data showed Tuesday.
Of the major brokerage houses, KB Securities Co. posted an operating loss of 20.8 billion won (US$17 million) in the January-March period, swinging from last year's operating profit of 117.6 billion won.
The firm logged a net loss of 14.7 billion won, compared with a profit of 87.3 billion won a year ago.
Shinhan Investment Corp. saw its quarterly operating profit drop 18 percent on-year to stand at 58 billion won, with its net profit down 34.1 percent to 46.7 billion won.
Hana Financial Investment Co.'s operating profit fell 24.97 percent to 64.1 billion won, and net profit slid 25.07 percent to stand at 46.7 billion won.
The tumble was attributed mainly to the losses incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as plunging asset values and postponed IPOs.
The coronavirus has also cast a gloom on other big-name securities firms that have not released their earnings yet.
Kyobo Securities Co. estimated the combined net profit of six such brokerages houses, including Mirae Asset Securities Co., NH Investment & Securities Co. and Samsung Securities Co., will shrink 60.5 percent from a year ago.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--(LEAD) LG Chem Q1 sinks 83 pct on currency losses

Cha Dong-seok , chief financial officer at LG Chem , said the company 's efficiency would improve and it would @ @ @ @ @ future growth , though there could be uncertainties over the COVID-19 pandemic and falling oil @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with company's comments and details; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- LG Chem Ltd., South Korea's leading chemical firm, said Tuesday that its net profit tumbled 83 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier due to currency-related losses.
Net income came in at 36.3 billion won (US$30 million) in the January-March period, a sharp decline from last year's first-quarter net profit of 212 billion won, the company said in a regulatory filing.
LG Chem said the won's weakness against the euro is mainly to blame for the sharp decline in net profit, adding that it borrowed a lot of euros in the first quarter.
This undated file photo shows LG Chem's factory in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. (Yonhap)
Sales rose 7.5 percent on-year to 7.11 trillion won, and operating profit dropped 15.9 percent on-year to 236 billion won.
The company said its petrochemical business unit logged an operating income of 242.6 billion won in the first quarter on sales of 3.69 trillion won.
But its battery unit suffered an operating loss of 51.8 billion won on sales of 2.26 trillion won due to new investments in electric vehicle (EV) batteries and the suspension of plants over the spreading novel coronavirus.
LG Chem said it expects sales in its battery unit to go up in the second quarter due to increased output of EV batteries and cylindrical batteries.
Cha Dong-seok, chief financial officer at LG Chem, said the company's efficiency would improve and it would continue to make investments for future growth, though there could be uncertainties over the COVID-19 pandemic and falling oil prices.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--Delivery of Cheongung anti-aircraft guided missile system to military completed

Dubbed the `` Korean Patriot , '' the system has been deployed since 2015 , after the Agency of the @ @ @ @ @ in 2011 , according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration .

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's first locally developed anti-aircraft guided missile system has all been delivered to the military, the arms procurement agency said Tuesday.
Cheongung, the first indigenously developed mid-range surface-to-air guided missile, is capable of striking a hostile aircraft at an altitude of up to 40 kilometers.
Dubbed the "Korean Patriot," the system has been deployed since 2015, after the Agency of the Defense Development completed its development in 2011, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.
"We have built a foundation to protect our sky with a weapons system that we have developed," the administration chief Wang Jung-hong said.
"By succeeding in developing a system to intercept ballistic missiles based on the radar technology additionally secured in the process of developing Cheongung, we have established a base to build a Korean-style missile defense system," he said.
In this undated photo, provided by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, a guided missile is fired from a launcher of the Cheongung anti-aircraft missile defense system. On April 28, 2020, the arms procurement agency said the delivery of Cheongung, the first indigenously developed mid-range surface-to-air guided missile, to the military was completed in the month. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--Seoul stocks open higher on Wall Street rally

On Monday ( local time ) , U.S. stocks ended higher as investor sentiment was boosted by efforts to normalize @ @ @ @ @ Jones Industrial Average rose 1.51 percent , the S & P 500 added 1.47 percent @ @ @ @ @ index was up 1.11 percent .

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened higher Tuesday, tracking overnight gains on Wall Street, despite falling oil prices.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 12.45 points, or 0.65 percent, to 1,935.22 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
On Monday (local time), U.S. stocks ended higher as investor sentiment was boosted by efforts to normalize economic activities. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.51 percent, the S&P 500 added 1.47 percent, and the Nasdaq composite index was up 1.11 percent.
Most large-cap shares on the Seoul bourse traded mixed.
Top cap Samsung Electronics lost 0.1 percent, and No. 1 portal operator Naver was down 0.51 percent.
In contrast, major chipmaker SK hynix added 0.73 percent, major pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics gained 1.19 percent, and No. 1 chem firm LG Chem was up 3.25 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,223.1 won against the U.S. dollar, up 3.1 won from the previous session's close.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--Duty-free shops suffer sharp drop in sales amid coronavirus outbreak

`` Duty-free shops are expected to take a harder hit in April as entrants are under mandatory self-isolation measures , @ @ @ @ @ '' said an official of the local duty-free shop who asked not to be named @

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean duty-free stores saw their sales drop sharply in March due to the spread of the new coronavirus, industry data showed Tuesday.
Combined sales of local duty-free shops shrank 1.3 percent on-month to 1.8 trillion won (US$1.5 billion) last month, according to the data from the Korea Duty Free Shops Association. The number is down 46.2 percent from January, the data showed.
The number of visitors at duty-free outlets came to 587,879 last month, also down from 1.75 million in February, with foreigners accounting for 45 percent of the total.
This photo, taken April 23, 2020, shows a downtown outlet of SM Duty-Free Shop in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Industry sources voiced concerns that duty-free shops may see their sales shrink in April, given flight suspensions and travel bans across the globe.
"Duty-free shops are expected to take a harder hit in April as entrants are under mandatory self-isolation measures, coupled with flight suspensions," said an official of the local duty-free shop who asked not to be named.
Sales of duty-free shops have been hurt by the fast spread of COVID-19 since late January, which has made it impossible for small-scale Chinese vendors, their major customers, to visit South Korea.
Those Chinese vendors sell their duty-free purchases in large quantities, mostly cosmetic products, to consumers back home.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


Tuesday's weather forecast

SEOUL , April 28 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


KOSPI 1,931.25 UP 8.48 points (open)


yna--2020-04-28--(LEAD) SK Innovation to build 2nd EV battery plant in U.S.

SK Battery America is set to break ground on the second EV plant with a capacity of 11.7 gigawatt-hours in @ @ @ @ @ whose location has yet to be determined , is scheduled to begin mass-producing EV batteries @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with context; ADDS photo)
By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- SK Innovation Co., South Korea's leading refiner and chemical company, said Tuesday that it will invest US$727 million in building its second electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in the United States.
The investment in SK Battery America, which is wholly owned by SK Innovation, is meant to further boost production of EV batteries to meet soaring demand for all-electric vehicles amid a global push for zero emissions.
The EV battery market has been on a roll as automakers around the world race to go electric due to tightened regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.
This file photo, provided by SK Innovation Co., shows its researchers holding battery cells for electric vehicles. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
SK Battery America is set to break ground on the second EV plant with a capacity of 11.7 gigawatt-hours in July. The plant, whose location has yet to be determined, is scheduled to begin mass-producing EV batteries in 2023.
SK Innovation has already invested 1.9 trillion won in building its first EV battery plant with a capacity of 9.8 GWh in the U.S. state of Georgia. The first plant is on track to begin mass-producing EV batteries in 2022.
The move would raise SK Innovation's global output capacity to 71 GWh, enough to supply batteries to more than 1.4 million electric vehicles.
SK Innovation said it aims to boost its capacity to 100 GWh by 2025.
Currently, SK Innovation has three plants in operation in South Korea, China and Hungary.
SK Innovation is South Korea's leading refiner, but it has moved into the EV battery business since 2008 as part of its efforts to diversify its operations and find new revenue sources.
SK Innovation's announcement comes as the U.S International Trade Commission (ITC) plans to make its final ruling in early October on an EV battery trade secret case that LG Chem Ltd. filed against SK Innovation.
In February, the ITC made a preliminary ruling in favor of LG Chem and made a default judgment without having additional hearings or investigations.
In November, LG Chem asked the ITC to make an early decision on the case and recognize that SK Innovation misappropriated and used its EV battery trade secrets.
LG Chem claimed that SK Innovation spoiled evidence in the case and is guilty of civil contempt, saying that its local rival did not follow the ITC's digital forensics orders.
LG Chem and SK Innovation have been at loggerheads over EV battery-related trade secrets since last year, filing multiple lawsuits in the United States and South Korea.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--SK Innovation to build 2nd EV battery plant in U.S.

By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- SK Innovation Co., South Korea's leading refiner and chemical company, said Tuesday that it will invest US$727 million in building its second electric vehicle (EV) battery plant in the United States.
The investment in SK Battery America, which is wholly owned by SK Innovation, is meant to further boost production of EV batteries to meet soaring demand for all-electric vehicles amid a global push for zero emissions.
The EV battery market has been on a roll as automakers around the world race to go electric due to tightened regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.
SK Battery America is set to break ground on the second EV plant with a capacity of 11.7 gigawatt-hours in July. The plant, whose location has yet to be determined, is scheduled to begin mass-producing EV batteries in 2023.
SK Innovation has already invested 1.9 trillion won in building its first EV battery plant with a capacity of 9.8 GWh in the U.S. state of Georgia. The first plant is on track to begin mass-producing EV batteries in 2022.
The move would raise SK Innovation's global output capacity to 71 GWh, enough to supply batteries to more than 1.4 million electric vehicles.
SK Innovation said it aims to boost its capacity to 100 GWh by 2025.
Currently, SK Innovation has three plants in operation in South Korea, China and Hungary.
SK Innovation is South Korea's leading refiner, but it has moved into the EV battery business since 2008 as part of its efforts to diversify its operations and find new revenue sources.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--(2nd LD) BTS to reschedule world tour amid coronavirus

The sensational seven-member K-pop group had planned to kick off the tour in Seoul earlier this month .
But it @ @ @ @ @ for April 11-12 and April 18-19 , amid concerns about the virus .
The band @ @ @ @ @ to perform in 17 other cities , including those in the United States , Canada @ @ @ @ @ Germany and Spain .

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in last 2 paras)
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- BTS, a South Korean boy band, has decided to reschedule its upcoming world tour due to the coronavirus pandemic, its agency said Tuesday.
Bit Hit Entertainment announced the decision to indefinitely put off the BTS Map of the Soul Tour, saying it was made in "foremost consideration" of the health and safety of the artists and fans.
In a notice posted on the fan community Weverse, the agency said it "will completely reschedule the tour and provide a new tour schedule to our fans as soon as it becomes clear when the tour can begin."
This may require considerable time as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, it added.
It promised to endeavor to ensure BTS can meet fans as early as possible and provide them with relevant updates.
"We will also create new ways for our artists to engage with our fans and respond to the 'new normal' while we wait to resume our activities halted by COVID-19," the agency said.
The sensational seven-member K-pop group had planned to kick off the tour in Seoul earlier this month. But it canceled its concerts, slated for April 11-12 and April 18-19, amid concerns about the virus. The band was scheduled to move on to perform in 17 other cities, including those in the United States, Canada, Japan, Britain, Germany and Spain.
An image of BTS in a photo provided by its agency, Bit Hit Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--(LEAD) BTS to reschedule world tour amid coronavirus

In a notice posted on the fan community Weverse , the agency said it `` will completely reschedule the tour @ @ @ @ @ schedule to our fans as soon as it becomes clear when the tour can begin @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- BTS, a South Korean boy band, has decided to reschedule its upcoming world tour due to the coronavirus pandemic, its agency said Tuesday.
Bit Hit Entertainment announced the decision to indefinitely put off the BTS Map of the Soul Tour, saying it was made in "foremost consideration" of the health and safety of the artists and fans.
In a notice posted on the fan community Weverse, the agency said it "will completely reschedule the tour and provide a new tour schedule to our fans as soon as it becomes clear when the tour can begin."
This may require considerable time as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, it added.
It promised to endeavor to ensure BTS can meet fans as early as possible and provide them with relevant updates.
The group had planned to launch the Map of the Soul Tour in Seoul this month. The tour was to involve at least 38 concerts in 18 cities, including those in the United States, Canada, Japan, Britain, Germany and Spain.
An image of BTS in a photo provided by its agency, Bit Hit Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--BTS to reschedule world tour amid coronavirus

Bit Hit Entertainment announced the decision to indefinitely put off the BTS Map of the Soul Tour , saying it @ @ @ @ @ it will get under way .

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- BTS, a South Korean boy band, has decided to reschedule its upcoming world tour due to the coronavirus pandemic, its agency said Tuesday.
Bit Hit Entertainment announced the decision to indefinitely put off the BTS Map of the Soul Tour, saying it's hard to predict when it will get under way.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--FM Kang says 13 pct hike in Seoul's cost for American troops is 'maximum'

During a special budget settlement committee session of the National Assembly , Rep. Ki Dong-min of the ruling Democratic Party @ @ @ @ @ true that Trump has spurned Seoul 's plan to raise its financial contribution by 13 @ @

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Tuesday that South Korea has put forward its "maximum" offer in defense cost-sharing talks with the United States and confirmed that President Donald Trump rejected it.
Trump earlier stated that he had turned down Seoul's proposal of "a certain amount of money."
A news report then said South Korea suggested a 13 percent increase from the 2019 share of US$870 million for the presence of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea.
During a special budget settlement committee session of the National Assembly, Rep. Ki Dong-min of the ruling Democratic Party asked Kang if it's true that Trump has spurned Seoul's plan to raise its financial contribution by 13 percent.
"In fact, I think, the amount was the highest possible level for us," the minister said.
She added that the government is striving to reach a "reasonable" deal that can be approved by the parliament.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks at a National Assembly session on April 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--(2nd LD) Politician rejects opposition party's pick as caretaker head in tenure dispute

But the party failed to hold the Standing National Committee to revise its constitution , under which it must hold @ @ @ @ @ a new leader by the end of August , so Kim would have to quit @ @ @

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; UPDATES lead paras with Kim's response)
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's main opposition party on Tuesday picked its former campaign chief, Kim Chong-in, as its caretaker leader, but the veteran politician virtually rejected the decision, taking issue with its failure to guarantee an extensive term.
The United Future Party (UFP), reeling from the shock of a crushing parliamentary election defeat, convened its National Committee and approved the nomination of Kim as head of the party's interim leadership committee.
But the party failed to hold the Standing National Committee to revise its constitution, under which it must hold a national convention to elect a new leader by the end of August, so Kim would have to quit by then.
Kim led the UFP's campaign for the April 15 general elections.
"The remaining issue is whether Kim will work as a manager-style chairman of the emergency committee until Aug. 31. His position is that he won't do so," Choi Myung-gil, a key aide to Kim, said.
Kim apparently wants to head the party through the spring of next year in order to wield clout in the process to select its candidate to run in the 2022 presidential election.
In a media interview last week, Kim said he would accept the UFP's proposal on the condition that it guarantee an open-ended term and power equivalent to that of a regular party chairman.
Shortly after the committee meeting, Rep. Shim Jae-chul, the UFP's floor leader, told reporters, "(I plan to) tell the details of the vote to Kim again and ask him to accept the post ... I hope he will accept."
Kim has engaged in campaigning and crisis management in both conservative and liberal parties during his decadeslong career.
In the recent election seen as a referendum on President Moon Jae-in, the main opposition and its satellite party managed to secure only 103 seats in the 300-seat parliament. The liberal Democratic Party (DP) and its affiliate party won 180 seats.
Former UFP chief Hwang Kyo-ahn immediately stepped down after losing to DP heavyweight and former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon in a key constituency in Seoul.
The United Future Party's former campaign chief, Kim Chong-in, is seen at his office near Gwanghwamun in central Seoul on April 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--(LEAD) Jeju Air's Eastar Jet takeover delayed due to overseas regulatory hurdle

`` The payment is expected to be made next month as Vietnam and Thailand have yet to approve the combination @ @ @ @ @ '' a company spokesman said over the phone .
The takeover plan was approved earlier @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: ADDS details and debt sale plan in paras 5-7)
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- Jeju Air Co., South Korea's leading low-cost carrier, said Tuesday its acquisition of smaller local rival Eastar Jet Co. will be finalized next month as foreign regulators are still reviewing their merger.
Jeju Air signed a deal to acquire a controlling 51.17 percent stake in Eastar Jet from its parent Eastar Holdings Inc. for 54.5 billion won (US$45 million) in March in its expansion strategy.
Jeju Air already paid 11.95 billion won to Eastar Holdings last month, with the remainder originally scheduled to be paid Wednesday.
"The payment is expected to be made next month as Vietnam and Thailand have yet to approve the combination of the two carriers," a company spokesman said over the phone. The takeover plan was approved earlier this month in South Korea.
This file photo taken Dec. 19, 2019, shows planes operated by Jeju Air and Eastar Jet at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul. (Yonhap)
Once the two Southeast Asian countries approve the deal, South Korea's two state lenders -- the Korea Development Bank and the Korea Export-Import Bank of Korea -- are expected to inject 170 billion won into Jeju Air to help it continue operations amid the growing impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
In other efforts to ride out the COVID-19 fallout, Jeju Air said Tuesday it will raise 10 billion won by issuing convertible bonds with rights to convert into Jeju Air stocks between June 30, 2021, and May 30, 2025.
Eastar Holdings will purchase the convertible bonds to be issued by Jeju Air on June 30, and the bonds can converted into Jeju Air equities at 25,520 won per share during the four-year period.
Jeju Air has said the acquisition will help it gain a bigger market share and strengthen the company's competitiveness in global markets.
South Korea has two full-service carriers -- Korean Air and Asiana Airlines Inc. -- and seven low-cost carriers -- Jeju Air, Jin Air, Air Busan Co., Air Seoul Inc., Eastar Jet, T'way and Fly Gangwon.
Two more LCCs -- Air Premia Co. and Aero K Airlines Co. -- are expected to join the market next year, bringing the country's total number of LCCs to nine.
AK Holdings, the holding firm of South Korean retail conglomerate Aekyung Group, holds a 59.93 percent stake in Jeju Air.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--(3rd LD) Army discloses identity of enlistee over online sex crime case

`` The committee had in-depth discussions about the human rights violation that the suspect and his family would suffer but @ @ @ @ @ public interest in terms of the people 's right to know and the prevention of @ @ @ @ @ other crimes , '' it added .

(ATTN: ADDS Army chief's meeting, background info in last 5 paras, photo)
By Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- The Army on Tuesday disclosed the name, photo and age of an enlisted soldier accused of involvement in a high-profile sexual exploitation case, marking the first time that the military has revealed the identity of a soldier suspect.
The 19-year-old private first class, named Lee Won-ho, is suspected of distributing content of women performing gruesome sex acts under coercion in collaboration with the so-called Nth room case's prime suspect, Cho Ju-bin.
The disclosure decision was made after an hourslong deliberation session held earlier in the day by a seven-member panel, which was headed by a military prosecutor and also consisted of four outside experts, including a law professional, professor and cleric, according to the Army.
This photo provided by the Army on April 28, 2020, shows 19-year-old private first class Lee Won-ho, who is accused of involvement in a high-profile sexual exploitation case. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"He played an active role in recruiting participants of the 'Baksabang' chat room and making and distributing sex exploitation materials, and enough evidence has been secured as the prosecution issued an arrest warrant," the Army said in a release.
"The committee had in-depth discussions about the human rights violation that the suspect and his family would suffer but determined that the disclosure meets public interest in terms of the people's right to know and the prevention of any recurrences of similar and other crimes," it added.
Lee was put under pretrial detention earlier this month and has been under investigation by the military prosecution for his role in the case.
Article 25 of the country's Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes stipulates that the disclosure of suspects' identities is allowed even before a guilty verdict in cases where there is sufficient evidence and the disclosure is deemed right for public interest.
Earlier, police disclosed the identities of the 24-year-old Cho and another co-conspirator, 18-year-old Kang Hun, on the same grounds.
In preparation for a possible similar move, the military authorities last week devised new guidelines regarding the issue, according to officials.
The main culprit, Cho, is accused of luring and threatening victims into producing sexual content and distributing those materials via Telegram chat rooms. He was indicted earlier this month.
So far, 25 women, including eight underage girls, have been confirmed to be victims of the case, according to the prosecution.
During a meeting with major commanders, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Suh Wook pledged to make discipline tightening a top priority so as to win public confidence in the Army.
The military has come under fire for a series of lax discipline cases, such as insults by superiors and sexual violence cases.
"After having further discussions involving all service personnel, we will come up with detailed measures to eradicate those irregularities at the barracks," the Army said.
Last week, the defense ministry said an Army corporal was under a probe over allegations of hitting a female captain with a folding shovel earlier this month, inflicting injuries requiring two weeks of medical treatment.
Military police are also looking into suspicions that four Army noncommissioned officers sexually harassed a superior officer last month.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Suh Wook (L) holds a meeting involving major commanders to discuss ways to tighten discipline in the wake of a series of lax discipline cases by service personnel on April 21, 2020, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--Baseball league to allow expanded roster in more games than past

The 2020 season was initially set to begin on March 28 , but the coronavirus outbreak forced the KBO to @ @ @ @ @ 5 .
The KBO has determined that teams will still play the usual 144 games @ @ @ @ @ tighter this year and doubleheaders and games on Monday , a designated off day in @ @ @ @ @ necessary .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean baseball league announced Tuesday that its clubs in 2020 will be allowed to carry extra players on their rosters in more than twice as many games as in the past, a major change brought on by a compressed schedule.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said its 10 clubs will be able to expand their rosters from 28 to 33 players in 54 games this season, up from the usual 26. Teams are scheduled to play 144 games this year.
The decision, among others, was reached during the KBO's meeting with its executive committee, made up of teams' general managers.
A Korea Baseball Organization preseason game between the home team Doosan Bears and the KT Wiz takes place at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on April 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
The 2020 season was initially set to begin on March 28, but the coronavirus outbreak forced the KBO to move Opening Day to May 5. The KBO has determined that teams will still play the usual 144 games, though the window is tighter this year and doubleheaders and games on Monday, a designated off day in normal seasons, will be necessary.
Half of the league's managers have openly criticized the move, saying they're concerned about injury risks for players, especially pitchers.
Apparently in response to growing displeasure, the KBO will let teams field larger rosters for more games than previous seasons.
In other changes, the trade deadline has been pushed back from July 31 to Aug. 15. In a normal season, any new foreign players signed during the season must be on the active roster by Aug. 15 to be eligible for the postseason, but that deadline has been pushed to Sept. 1.
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the KBO recommended that all clubs travel as a group on the team bus during road trips and minimize separate traveling by individual players. If players do have to travel individually, they'll be discouraged from using public transit.
Visiting players will be prohibited from using saunas at their road hotels, and they must put on masks and plastic gloves at hotel fitness centers.
Snuff will be snuffed out during games, and both first base and third base coaches must wear masks on the field.
Ryu Dae-hwan (C), secretary general of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), presides over an executive committee meeting with clubs' general managers at the KBO headquarters in Seoul on April 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--(2nd LD) Army discloses identity of enlistee over online sex crime case

(ATTN: ADDS more details in paras 4-8)
By Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- The Army on Tuesday disclosed the name, photo and age of an enlisted soldier accused of involvement in a high-profile sexual exploitation case, marking the first time that the military has revealed the identity of a soldier suspect.
The 19-year-old private first class, named Lee Won-ho, is suspected of distributing content of women performing gruesome sex acts under coercion in collaboration with the so-called Nth room case's prime suspect, Cho Ju-bin.
The disclosure decision was made after an hourslong deliberation session held earlier in the day by a seven-member panel, which was headed by a military prosecutor and also consisted of four outside experts, including a law professional, professor and cleric, according to the Army.
This photo provided by the Army on April 28, 2020, shows 19-year-old private first class Lee Won-ho, who is accused of involvement in a high-profile sexual exploitation case. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"He played an active role in recruiting participants of the 'Baksabang' chat room and making and distributing sex exploitation materials, and enough evidence has been secured as the prosecution issued an arrest warrant," the Army said in a release.
"The committee had in-depth discussions about the human rights violation that the suspect and his family would suffer but determined that the disclosure meets public interest in terms of the people's right to know and the prevention of any recurrences of similar and other crimes," it added.
Lee was put under pretrial detention earlier this month and has been under investigation by the military prosecution for his role in the case.
Article 25 of the country's Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes stipulates that the disclosure of suspects' identities is allowed even before a guilty verdict in cases where there is sufficient evidence and the disclosure is deemed right for public interest.
Earlier, police disclosed the identities of the 24-year-old Cho and another co-conspirator, 18-year-old Kang Hun, on the same grounds.
In preparation for a possible similar move, the military authorities last week devised new guidelines regarding the issue, according to officials.
The main culprit, Cho, is accused of luring and threatening victims into producing sexual content and distributing those materials via Telegram chatrooms. He was indicted earlier this month.
So far, 25 women, including eight underage girls, have been confirmed to be victims of the case, according to the prosecution.
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--Hyundai's debt offerings draw strong response

Hyundai will sell the debt with a maturity period of three to seven years on May 8 , to secure @ @ @ @ @ has driven down vehicle production and sales in major markets .

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co.'s planned 300 billion won (US$240 million) worth of corporate bond sales have received a strong market response despite the coronavirus impact on the automobile sector, financial sources said Tuesday.
Hyundai will sell the debt with a maturity period of three to seven years on May 8, to secure operating capital, as COVID-19 has driven down vehicle production and sales in major markets.
According to the sources, Hyundai Motor's debt offerings have received 1.41 trillion won worth of orders, more than three times higher than the planned issuance.
Hyundai is expected to double the value of corporate bond issuance to 600 billion won, he said.
This photo, taken on April 23, 2020, shows a traffic light turning red against the background of Hyundai Motor's headquarters building in Yangjae, southern Seoul. (Yonhap)
The debt issuance is handled by Mirae Asset Daewoo, KB Securities Co. and NH Investment & Securities Co.
The maker of the Sonata sedan and the Palisade sport utility vehicle has suspended most of its overseas plants, as governments have demanded manufacturers temporarily suspend production until the COVID-19 outbreak slows down.
Hyundai sold 300 billion won worth of corporate bonds with a five-year maturity in October 2016 to raise necessary funds.
Hyundai's net profit for the January-March period fell 42 percent to 552.68 billion won from 953.79 billion won a year earlier.
It sold a total of 904,746 vehicles in the first three months, down 11 percent from 1,021,391 units in the same period of last year.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--Jeju Air's Eastar Jet takeover delayed due to overseas regulatory hurdle

`` The payment is expected to be made next month as Vietnam and Thailand have yet to approve the combination @ @ @ @ @ '' a company spokesman said over the phone .

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- Jeju Air Co., South Korea's leading low-cost carrier, said Monday its acquisition of smaller local rival Eastar Jet Co. will be finalized next month as foreign regulators are still reviewing their merger.
Jeju Air signed a deal to acquire a controlling 51.17 percent stake in Eastar Jet from its parent Eastar Holdings Inc. for 54.5 billion won (US$45 million) in March in its expansion strategy.
Jeju Air already paid 11.95 billion won to Eastar Holdings last month, with the remainder originally scheduled to be paid Wednesday.
"The payment is expected to be made next month as Vietnam and Thailand have yet to approve the combination of the two carriers," a company spokesman said over the phone.
Jeju Air has said the acquisition will help it gain a bigger market share and strengthen the company's competitiveness in global markets.
South Korea has two full-service carriers -- Korean Air and Asiana Airlines Inc. -- and seven low-cost carriers -- Jeju Air, Jin Air, Air Busan Co., Air Seoul Inc., Eastar Jet, T'way and Fly Gangwon.
Two more LCCs -- Air Premia Co. and Aero K Airlines Co. -- are expected to join the market next year, bringing the country's total number of LCCs to nine.
AK Holdings, the holding firm of South Korean retail conglomerate Aekyung Group, holds a 59.93 percent stake in Jeju Air.
This file photo taken Dec. 19, 2019, shows planes operated by Jeju Air and Eastar Jet at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--(LEAD) Opposition picks ex-campaign chief to lead embattled party

`` ( I plan to ) tell the details of the vote to Kim again and ask him to accept @ @ @ @ @ he will accept , '' Shim told reporters after the committee meeting .

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 4-7; RECASTS 3rd para)
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's main opposition party, which suffered a crushing defeat in the April 15 elections, on Tuesday picked a veteran politician to lead its interim leadership committee.
In a 177-84 vote, delegates of the United Future Party (UFP) picked Kim Chong-in, who shaped its election campaign in the recent general elections, to chair the party's interim leadership committee.
Kim is expected to officially take the post once floor leader and acting party chief Shim Jae-chul approves the result.
"(I plan to) tell the details of the vote to Kim again and ask him to accept the post ... I hope he will accept," Shim told reporters after the committee meeting.
But there is a chance the veteran politician may reject the offer for the post, which is tentatively set to expire at the end of August.
In an interview last week, Kim said he would accept the UFP's proposal on the condition that it guarantee an indefinite term and the same power as a regular party chairman.
Kim has engaged in campaigning and crisis management in both conservative and liberal parties during his decadeslong career.
In the recent election seen as a referendum on President Moon Jae-in, the main opposition and its satellite party managed to secure only 103 seats in the 300-seat parliament. The liberal Democratic Party (DP) and its affiliate party won 180 seats.
Former UFP chief Hwang Kyo-ahn immediately stepped down after losing to DP heavyweight and former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon in a key constituency in Seoul.
The United Future Party's former campaign chief, Kim Chong-in, is seen at his office near Gwanghwamun in central Seoul on April 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--S. Korean league to open new season under new rules

Changes for this season include : the goalkeeper is warned for the first offense at penalty kicks and receives a @ @ @ @ @ ; an offense by the goalkeeper is not penalized if a penalty kick misses the @ @ @ @ @ goal without a touch from the goalkeeper , unless the offense clearly affected the kicker @ @ @ @ @ handball by an attacking player or teammate is only penalized if it occurs immediately before @ @ @ @ @ opportunity .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean men's football league will open its new season next month under a new set of international rules, the sport's national governing body said Tuesday.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) said the top-flight K League 1, when it kicks off on May 8, will "likely be the first competition" to adopt the 2020-2021 Laws of the Game, as announced on April 7 by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
This photo, provided by the Korea Football Association on April 28, 2020, shows referees at a K League 1 match. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The IFAB determines rules that govern association football. The 2020-2021 Laws of the Game were set to take effect on June 1, but leagues that begin their seasons in April or May can start applying them immediately, according to the KFA.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, major European leagues remain on hold. The K League season was to have kicked off on Feb. 29, but the start has been pushed back by more than two months.
Changes for this season include: the goalkeeper is warned for the first offense at penalty kicks and receives a yellow card for further offenses; an offense by the goalkeeper is not penalized if a penalty kick misses the goal or rebounds from the goal without a touch from the goalkeeper, unless the offense clearly affected the kicker; and "accidental" handball by an attacking player or teammate is only penalized if it occurs immediately before a goal or clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Won Chang-ho, director of the KFA's referees committee, said these were not considered substantial changes and K League referees should have little trouble applying the new rules properly in the new season.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--(LEAD) Army discloses identity of enlistee over online sex crime case

The disclosure decision was made after an hourslong deliberation session held earlier in the day by a seven-member panel , @ @ @ @ @ military prosecutor and also consisted of four outside experts , including a law professional , @ @ @ @ @ to the Army .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead with Army's decision; UPDATES paras 2-4 with fresh info; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- The Army on Tuesday disclosed the name, photo and age of an enlisted soldier accused of involvement in a high-profile sexual exploitation case, marking the first time that the military has revealed the identity of a soldier suspect.
The 19-year-old private first class, named Lee Won-ho, is suspected of distributing content of women performing gruesome sex acts under coercion in collaboration with the so-called Nth room case's prime suspect, Cho Ju-bin.
The disclosure decision was made after an hourslong deliberation session held earlier in the day by a seven-member panel, which was headed by a military prosecutor and also consisted of four outside experts, including a law professional, professor and cleric, according to the Army.
The solider was put under pretrial detention earlier this month and has been under investigation by the military prosecution for his role in the case.
Earlier, police disclosed the identities of the 24-year-old Cho and another co-conspirator, 18-year-old Kang Hun, saying the decision was to guarantee people's right to know and to prevent similar crimes.
In preparation for a possible similar move, the military authorities last week devised new guidelines regarding the issue, according to officials.
The main culprit, Cho, is accused of luring and threatening victims into producing sexual content and distributing those materials via Telegram chatrooms. He was indicted earlier this month.
So far, 25 women, including eight underage girls, have been confirmed to be victims of the case, according to the prosecution.
This photo provided by the Army on April 28, 2020, shows 19-year-old private first class Lee Won-ho, who is accused of involvement in a high-profile sexual exploitation case. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--TWICE wants to send message of hope with upcoming YouTube original documentary

`` Back then , the future looked very uncertain , and I was weighed down , thinking if I would @ @ @ @ @ a debut .
After debut , I also suffered when my body aches and is @ @ @ @ @ my mind as seen in the documentary , '' she said .

By Park Boram
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- An upcoming YouTube original series documenting K-pop girl group TWICE's struggles before its debut up till its record-setting global ascent could give a message of hope, the band said Tuesday.
The eight-episode documentary series, "TWICE: Seize the Light," will hit YouTube on Wednesday as the global video streaming service's first original program featuring a K-pop girl group. It will be available in 81 countries and territories.
The series is a tribute to the nine-member multinational band's struggles and success, with the anonymous teenage trainees growing into global K-pop icons.
TWICE took the least time for a non-Japanese act to stage its first solo concert at the highest-profile Japanese concert venue of Tokyo Dome.
The docuseries spotlights the band's first globe-trotting tour, "TWICELIGHTS," which was launched in May last year and encompassed three American cities, including turbulent behind-the-scenes stories from the concert journey.
"So far, we have shown only cheerful sides of us. But we wanted to come up with more honest stories as well through the upcoming documentary," TWICE member Dahyun said in a media and fan event streamed online Tuesday.
"It will tell the story of our growth as well as our struggles and the process to overcome and laugh off the struggles together with other team members," she said.
"Eventually, we wanted to talk about having hope. I hope we can send out a message of hope through our story of never giving up and going all the way," according to her.
Member Nayeon recalled her pre-debut life as a teenage trainee as the darkest time of her show business career.
"Back then, the future looked very uncertain, and I was weighed down, thinking if I would ever be able to make a debut. After debut, I also suffered when my body aches and is unable to keep up with my mind as seen in the documentary," she said.
Including the successes and difficulties the female band has experienced in its five-year career, the documentary carries "the start, the present and the future of TWICE," according to member Jeongyeon.
"Through the documentary, I felt once again that we could overcome difficulties and make it happen because we are together," Japanese member Sana said.
Another Japanese member, Momo, said the documentary will remain as a major landmark to the band members.
Member Chaeyoung noted the band's pleasure at having contributed to the global ascent of K-pop, saying, "I hope TWICE will be one of the many pillars when K-pop posts further development."
Taiwanese member Tzuyu said, "Going forward, TWICE wants to make further growth."
The first 20-minute episode of "TWICE: Seize the Light" will hit the girl group's YouTube channel at 11 p.m Wednesday (Korean time). Each of the remaining seven episodes will be released every Wednesday over the following seven weeks.
For YouTube premium members, the whole package of eight episodes will be immediately available at once Wednesday.
An image of TWICE during an online streaming event on April 28, 2020, provided by JYP Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

South Korea and China have been in talks to arrange Xi 's visit to Seoul in the first half of @ @ @ @ @ officials said after a meeting between Xi and President Moon Jae-in in Beijing in December @ @ @ @ @ certain to visit South Korea in the first half of this year

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday.
-----------------
(LEAD) Virus hurts possibility of Xi's visit to S. Korea in first half of year: FM
SEOUL -- Chances of Chinese leader Xi Jinping visiting South Korea in the first half of the year have become more unlikely due to the coronavirus pandemic, Foreign Minister Kang Kyug-wha said Tuesday.
South Korea and China have been in talks to arrange Xi's visit to Seoul in the first half of the year. South Korean officials said after a meeting between Xi and President Moon Jae-in in Beijing in December that the Chinese leader is certain to visit South Korea in the first half of this year
-----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks up for 2nd day on hopes for economic rebound
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks closed higher for the second straight day Tuesday amid hopes for an economic rebound, offsetting concerns over the fallout from the novel coronavirus outbreak. The Korean won gained ground against the U.S. dollar.
After a choppy session, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 11.32 points, or 0.59 percent, to close at 1,934.09. Trade volume was heavy at 1.16 billion shares worth 10.3 trillion won (US$8.4 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 487 to 343.
-----------------
(LEAD) Top nuclear envoys of S. Korea, U.S. assess peninsula situation amid rumors about N.K. leader's health
SEOUL -- The top nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States exchanged their assessments of the situation on the Korean Peninsula in a phone call Tuesday, the foreign ministry said, amid speculation about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's health.
The phone talks between Lee Do-hoon and his U.S. counterpart, Stephen Biegun, came as media reports about Kim's weekslong absence from the public eye spawned rumors about his health conditions despite Seoul's assessment that there was "nothing unusual" in the communist state.
-----------------
Abrams: USFK to monitor S. Korea's easing of social distancing before deciding whether to follow suit
SEOUL -- U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Robert Abrams said Tuesday that he will closely monitor the coronavirus situation in South Korea over the next couple of weeks before making a decision on a possible loosening of its virus-related guidelines.
USFK has implemented the Health Protection Condition Level of Charlie for all USFK installations, which limits non-necessary off-post activities to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Last week, it also renewed the current Public Health Emergency for a month to be in effect through May 23.
-----------------
(3rd LD) With lax social distancing in store, virus curve flattens for days
SEOUL -- South Korea reported fewer than 15 cases of the new coronavirus for the 10th day in a row Tuesday, with the upcoming holidays set to be crucial in whether the country can go ahead with a lax social distancing drive next week.
The country reported 14 new virus cases, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,752 in 100 days, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The country reported its first COVID-19 case on Jan. 20.
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--(2nd LD) Virus hurts possibility of Xi's visit to S. Korea in first half of year: FM

The foreign minister said the defense ministry is leading efforts to help settle wages for the furloughed workers , while @ @ @ @ @ ultimately resolve the issue by reaching a deal on the cost-sharing agreement .
Starting this @ @ @ @ @ have been placed on indefinite furloughs as talks over a new Special Measures Agreement ( @ @ @ @ @ progress .
The SMA stipulates how much Seoul would pay for the upkeep of the @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS details in 10, 13-14; UPDATES minor detail in para 5)
SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- Chances of Chinese leader Xi Jinping visiting South Korea in the first half of the year have become more unlikely due to the coronavirus pandemic, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Tuesday.
South Korea and China have been in talks to arrange Xi's visit to Seoul in the first half of the year. South Korean officials said after a meeting between Xi and President Moon Jae-in in Beijing in December that the Chinese leader is certain to visit South Korea in the first half of this year.
But questions have arisen about whether the visit will take place in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
On Tuesday, Kang acknowledged the virus situation has hurt the prospect.
"The possibility of Chinese President Xi Jinping visiting the country in the first half of the year has become lower due to the COVID-19 crisis," she told lawmakers in a parliamentary session.
Kang said that both sides are still committed to realizing Xi's visit at an early date.
"The Chinese side has announced long before that it is earnestly considering a visit in the first half, and we are on the same page (with China)," foreign ministry spokesperson Kim In-chul told a press briefing later in the day.
"Given the current pandemic situation of COVID-19, both sides are watching the situation closely and continuing discussions on the specific timing of the visit to South Korea," he said.
During the parliamentary session, the foreign minister also said the two countries are in consultations over granting entry ban exemptions or fast-tracking entry for businesspeople.
President Moon Jae-in and government officials have been ramping up efforts to ease entry bans on businesspeople to minimize the economic fallout from the contagious virus.
Regarding ongoing efforts to advance wages for furloughed Korean workers at the United States Forces Korea (USFK), Kang said Washington has denied a proposal suggested by Seoul, citing lack of legal grounds.
The foreign minister said the defense ministry is leading efforts to help settle wages for the furloughed workers, while the government is seeking to ultimately resolve the issue by reaching a deal on the cost-sharing agreement.
Starting this month, around 4,000 employees have been placed on indefinite furloughs as talks over a new Special Measures Agreement (SMA) have shown little progress. The SMA stipulates how much Seoul would pay for the upkeep of the 28,500-strong USFK.
The previous one-year SMA, under which Seoul agreed on an 8.2 percent increase, expired at the end of 2019.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks to lawmakers at a parliamentary session held at the National Assembly in Seoul on April 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-28--Another rate freeze in offing, BOK minutes show

`` However , it appears to be more appropriate to keep the key rate frozen at the current level of @ @ @ @ @ the effect of policy steps taken so far , along with changes in the economic @ @ @ @ @ and abroad , '' the board member added .

SEOUL, April 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's economy may face further difficulties down the road due to the global spread of COVID-19 that may require additional policy maneuvers, but an immediate step is not on the table, Bank of Korea (BOK) minutes suggested Tuesday.
According to the minutes from the BOK's latest rate-setting meeting, held April 9, several members of the BOK monetary policy board stressed the need to keep room for additional monetary policy for now.
"The problem is that when the spread of the contagious disease, which is the cause of the global shock, will be meaningfully controlled still remains uncertain," a BOK member was quoted as telling the board that voted 5-2 to keep the policy rate frozen at 0.75 percent.
In the photo, provided by the Bank of Korea (BOK), BOK Gov. Lee Ju-yeol (L) holds a BOK monetary policy board meeting in Seoul on April 9, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"However, it appears to be more appropriate to keep the key rate frozen at the current level of 0.75 percent and closely monitor the effect of policy steps taken so far, along with changes in the economic and financial conditions at home and abroad," the board member added.
The latest board meeting was held about three weeks after the BOK delivered its first emergency rate cut in over a decade on March 16, slashing the policy rate by half a percentage point to send it below the 1 percent mark for the first time in its history.
Another BOK member also noted the possible need for an additional rate cut down the road, but stressed the need to keep the option until the last moment.
"Under such a crisis, I believe more aggressive monetary policy may be necessary to deal with the crisis, but there is also a need to first see the outcome of the steps we have taken so far," the member said.
"Also, considering that the key rate is already nearing the effective lower boundary, I believe we must also thoroughly prepare to start using non-conventional monetary policy measures," the member added, according to the minutes.
A third member voiced the need to take any and all steps available to the central bank in the future to minimize the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic while voting in favor of a rate freeze in April.
"If necessary for the stabilization of the local economy and the financial system in the future, we must take appropriate steps while keeping open all possible options available to the central bank," the member said.
The BOK will hold its next rate-setting meeting on May 28.
Meanwhile, four members of the 7-member board have been replaced since the latest meeting after their four-year terms expired.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--Defense chiefs of S. Korea, Canada vow to cooperate against coronavirus

During the conversation with his Canadian counterpart Harjit Sajjan , Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo shared South Korea 's response to @ @ @ @ @ has been playing a role in preventing the spread of the virus , the ministry @ @

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- The defense chiefs of South Korea and Canada held phone talks Wednesday and vowed to cooperate against the new coronavirus and boost broader defense ties, the defense ministry said.
During the conversation with his Canadian counterpart Harjit Sajjan, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo shared South Korea's response to COVID-19 and how the military has been playing a role in preventing the spread of the virus, the ministry said.
Sajjan praised South Korea for setting a model for the world by successfully responding to the virus, and expressed gratitude for sharing related information with Canada, according to the ministry.
Jeong also expressed thanks to Sajjan over Canadian veterans who fought in the 1950-53 Korean War. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the conflict.
"The two ministers ... vowed to mutually work for further vitalization of defense cooperation between the two countries, including a joint response against the COVID-19 situation," the ministry said in a release.
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--S. Korea reports 9 more virus cases, total now at 10,761

Thus , South Korea is setting details on ways to coexist with the virus for the time being .
It @ @ @ @ @ for schools by early May , with options that include having students come to school @ @ @ @

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported nine more cases of the new coronavirus Wednesday, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,761.
It marked the 11th day in a row that the number of new infections stayed at 15 or below, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The figure peaked on Feb. 29 at 909.
Health authorities, however, remain vigilant as a long holiday begins this week, which could potentially lead to another cluster infection. Mass infections account for more than 80 percent of COVID-19 cases here.
South Koreans will celebrate Buddha's Birthday on Thursday, followed by May Day on Friday and Children's Day on May 5.
The rising number of imported cases is another concern for South Korea. Of the newly added cases announced Wednesday, five were imported, raising the country's total number of such cases to 1,061.
Quarantine officials from the Army disinfect a high school classroom located in Daegu, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on April 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
The nation's death toll from COVID-19 rose by two to 246.
In total, 8,922 people in South Korea have recovered from the virus, up 68 from a day earlier.
Daegu, the nation's worst virus-hit region located 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, added just three cases. The city accounts for 64 percent of the nation's total COVID-19 cases.
South Korea is due to apply a lax social distancing drive after the holidays should the numbers continue to plateau until Tuesday.
The country eventually plans to move on to what it calls "everyday life quarantine," although it remains pessimistic that things will go back to the days before the pandemic amid looming concerns over a second wave of infections later this year.
Thus, South Korea is setting details on ways to coexist with the virus for the time being. It plans to announce new guidelines for schools by early May, with options that include having students come to school at different times.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--N.K. leader believed to be running state affairs 'normally': S. Korean military

`` In an answer to questions from some lawmakers of the National Assembly 's defense committee about Kim 's health @ @ @ @ @ the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the intelligence authorities conveyed their assessment that Kim has @ @ @ @ @ , '' a source said .

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korean military and intelligence authorities believe that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is handling state affairs normally, sources said Wednesday, amid mounting speculation about his health.
Kim's absence from public view, particularly at the ceremony to mark the birthday of the national founder and his grandfather, Kim Il-sung, has sparked rumors about his health.
But the South Korean government has said no unusual movement has been detected in the regime.
"In an answer to questions from some lawmakers of the National Assembly's defense committee about Kim's health, the defense ministry, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the intelligence authorities conveyed their assessment that Kim has been running his country normally," a source said.
Kim last appeared publicly in its state media on April 11, when he presided over a meeting of the Politburo of the ruling Workers' Party.
Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul made the same assessment during a parliamentary meeting Tuesday, saying that North Korean media outlets' reports on the leader's work, such as sending diplomatic letters, suggest that he has been carrying out state affairs in a normal way.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) inspects a pursuit assault plane group under the Air and Anti-Aircraft Division in the western area, in this file photo released April 12, 2020, by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--(URGENT) S. Korea releases 68 recovered coronavirus patients, total cured people at 8,922: KCDC

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


yna--2020-04-29--(URGENT) S. Korea confirms 2 more coronavirus deaths, raising death toll to 246: KCDC


yna--2020-04-29--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 9 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 10,761: KCDC


yna--2020-04-29--Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Q1 net profit up 71.8 pct. to 41.1 bln won

The operating profit was 15.1 percent higher than the average estimate , according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax , @ @ @ @ @ Yonhap News Agency .
The estimate of net profit was not available .

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. on Wednesday reported its first-quarter net income of 41.1 billion won (US$ 33.7 million), up 71.8 percent from a year earlier.
The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted 33.6 billion won in operating profit for the quarter, compared with 26.2 billion won a year ago. Sales rose 10.3 percent to 777.3 billion won.
The operating profit was 15.1 percent higher than the average estimate, according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. The estimate of net profit was not available.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange(KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--LG files patent suit against Turkish firm over steam technology

LG said Beko infringed its patent regarding user interface , particularly with a technology that suspends the steam function even @ @ @ @ @ putting heat-sensitive fabrics in the washing machine .

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc. said Wednesday it has filed a patent lawsuit against a Turkish home appliance maker over infringements on its steam technology applied in washing machines.
The South Korean tech firm filed the patent lawsuit against Beko, an affiliate of Turkish consumer electronics giant Arcelik A.S., with the Mannheim District Court in Germany.
LG said Beko infringed its patent regarding user interface, particularly with a technology that suspends the steam function even if consumers select it after putting heat-sensitive fabrics in the washing machine.
This is not the first time that LG has started a legal battle against Beko over patents.
Last September, LG filed patent lawsuits against Beko, Arcelik and Grundig, also an affiliate of Arcelik, over infringements on its ice-making technology applied in freezers.
This image provided by LG Electronics Inc. shows the company's corporate logo. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)