yna--2020-02-17--S. Korea's monetary policy must maintain accommodative stance: regional think-tank

`` Overall macroprudential policy mix should remain tight to guard against the buildup of financial imbalances , although certain measures @ @ @ @ @ more targeted to allow more credit expansion in supporting the economy , '' it said @

SEJONG, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea must maintain its accommodative policy stance as it seeks to prop up a slowing economy amid muted inflationary pressure, a regional think-tank said Monday.
"Given ample fiscal space, the fiscal stance should remain expansionary in the near term with more spending allocated toward restructuring the economy," the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) said in a report.
"At the same time, monetary policy should be accommodative in view of moderating economic growth and muted inflationary pressure," it said.
The region covers the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its three Northeast Asian dialogue partners -- South Korea, China and Japan.
The Singapore-based organization added that South Korea should employ expansionary fiscal and monetary policies to support the economy as it is buffeted by strong external headwinds.
"Overall macroprudential policy mix should remain tight to guard against the buildup of financial imbalances, although certain measures could be refined to be more targeted to allow more credit expansion in supporting the economy," it said.
South Korea's economy grew 2 percent last year, its slowest growth in a decade. The nation's finance ministry expects the economy to grow 2.4 percent this year.
Hit by a trade war between the United States and China, South Korea's exports fell 10.3 percent on-year in 2019 to $542.4 billion.
Concerns are growing over South Korea's export performance down the road amid the new coronavirus crisis.
It is widely feared that the outbreak and spread of the COVID-19 virus, which is believed to have originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, will dampen China's economic growth in the first quarter.
China is South Korea's top trading partner, with slightly over 25 percent of its overseas shipments going to the world's second-largest economy after the United States.
The AMRO report, which was based on statistics from November last year, made no mention of the economic impact of the coronavirus.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--S. Korea unveils support measures for airlines amid coronavirus

The moves come one week after Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee said her ministry will take some steps to help airlines @ @ @ @ @ caused by the coronavirus outbreak in terms of the number of air passengers is much @ @ @ @ @ resulted from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in 2015 @

By Choi Kyong-ae
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's transport ministry on Monday outlined a set of measures to help airlines weather the impact of the spreading coronavirus outbreak.
The government will extend loans worth a total of 300 billion won (US$250 million) to airlines facing a liquidity crunch due to the impact of the COVID-19 virus outbreak through the state-run Korea Development Bank and allow them to pay airport usage fees later, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement.
In other measures, the ministry plans to take administrative measures to not only allow airlines to change their business plans and set up alternative routes to offset lower demand on Chinese routes but also to allow them to operate irregular flight schedules depending on market demand.
In this photo taken on Feb. 10, 2020, and provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee talks to airline business leaders amid the spreading coronavirus outbreak at a meeting held at the Korea Airports Corp. in western Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The moves come one week after Transport Minister Kim Hyun-mee said her ministry will take some steps to help airlines as the pace of decline caused by the coronavirus outbreak in terms of the number of air passengers is much faster than the decrease that resulted from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in 2015.
Given the number of airlines has jumped nearly fivefold since 2003, from two full-service carriers to nine airlines now, and the number of international air passengers is four times higher, the airline business is likely to face a bigger blow from the potentially fatal virus, she said.
Eight of the country's nine airline companies sharply reduced the number of their combined flights to China to 162 per week on 59 routes in the second week of February, down 70 percent from 546 on the same routes in the first week of January, the ministry said.
South Korea has two full-service carriers -- Korean Air and Asiana Airlines Inc. -- and seven low-cost carriers (LCCs) -- Jeju Air, Jin Air, Air Busan Co., Air Seoul Inc., Eastar Jet, T'way and Fly Gangwon.
Fly Gangwon operates two routes from Yangyang, Gangwon Province, to Taipei and Jeju Island.
Two more budget carriers -- Air Premia Co. and Aero K Airlines Co. -- are expected to enter the market later this year after obtaining approval from the transport ministry over the safety of their planes, bringing the country's total number of LCCs to nine.
Starting this month, airlines began to suspend some of their flights on Chinese routes or reduce the number of flights to China due to a sharp decline in travel demand to the neighboring country.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--S. Korea to bolster support for shippers and passenger ship operators amid coronavirus

The transport of cargo and passengers to China by sea has been partially or fully shut down over the past @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 that has claimed more than 1,700 lives there so far .

By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Monday it will provide local shipping firms and passenger line operators with financial support of around 60 billion won (US$50 million) along with other incentives to minimize the economic fallout of the new coronavirus.
The measures aim at supporting the firms facing hurdles due to the COVID-19 virus epidemic in China that has dealt a harsh blow to consumer sentiment and business activities in the world's No. 2 economy, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said in a statement.
The transport of cargo and passengers to China by sea has been partially or fully shut down over the past few weeks amid an outbreak of COVID-19 that has claimed more than 1,700 lives there so far.
A ferry ticket office at Incheon Port International Passenger Terminal, located in Incheon, west of Seoul, is empty in this file photo taken on Feb. 2, 2020. (Yonhap)
Under the steps, South Korea will provide low-interest loans worth 30 billion won for local passenger line operators, whose routes to China have been suspended since the end of last month due to the deadly virus.
South Korea plans to fully exempt the firms of port dues until their schedules to China are normalized. It will also provide discounts even after routes are partially resumed until the spread of the virus is fully eradicated.
The companies will also be eligible to apply for financial subsidies to maintain their employment of staff amid the downturn.
Port cargo handling firms will receive low-interest loans worth 30 billion won, along with discounts on their port fees. China accounted for around 17 percent of South Korea's combined outbound and inbound cargo in 2019.
"Through the emergency measures, we plan to lift business uncertainties for related industries and maintain the maritime transportation system," Oceans Minister Moon Seong-hyeok said. "The country will continue to establish countermeasures for a possible drawn-out slump."
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--Kia unveils design of new Sorento, launch scheduled in March

The fourth-generation SUV adopts a new design concept , Borderless Gesture , which is defined by a combination of the @ @ @ @ @ of its predecessors and the `` refined and delicate feel '' of a sedan , @ @ @ @ @ statement .

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp. on Monday unveiled the design of the all-new Sorento SUV ahead of its domestic launch next month as it strives to boost SUV sales further.
The fourth-generation SUV adopts a new design concept, Borderless Gesture, which is defined by a combination of the "strong design heritage" of its predecessors and the "refined and delicate feel" of a sedan, the company said in a statement.
The new Sorento's powertrain and other details will be released later, it said.
This photo provided by Kia Motors shows the exterior design of the new Sorento SUV. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This photo provided by Kia shows the interior design of the new Sorento SUV. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Kia has strengthened its SUV lineup with competitive models to take advantage of rising demand for recreational vehicles.
Its SUV lineup is composed of the flagship Telluride and Mohave, midsize Sorento, compact Sportage, subcompact Stonic, Soul boxcar and Niro hybrid models. The Telluride, produced in Kia's Georgia plant, was launched in the U.S. last year and sold only in North American markets.
For the whole of 2019, Kia's net profit jumped 58 percent to 1.83 trillion won (US$1.6 billion) from 1.16 trillion won a year earlier.
In 2020, the company aims to sell 2.96 million vehicles globally, up 4.9 percent from 2.77 million units it sold last year.
To help achieve the sales target, it plans to launch the new Sorento SUV in the U.S. market this year.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 1 more case of novel coronavirus, total now at 30.

(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--2020-02-17--BTS unveils new album's tracklist led by main song 'ON'

`` Black Swan , '' `` Interlude : Shadow '' and `` Outro : Ego , '' which were prereleased @ @ @ @ @ official release , will be some of the new songs , as well as `` @ @ @ @ @ than bombs , '' `` UGH ! ''
`` OO : OO ( Zero O'Clock @ @ @ @ @ Child , '' `` Respect '' and `` We are Bulletproof : the Eternal , @ @ @ @ @ ON . ''

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- K-pop super band BTS unveiled Monday the tracklist of its much-anticipated upcoming album, which includes the main track, "ON," and an accompanying digital version of the song featuring Australian singer Sia.
According to the image of the tracklist posted on the website of the band's agency, Big Hit Entertainment, the upcoming album, "Map of the Soul: 7," set for official release Friday, has 20 tracks.
The fourth full-length album by BTS comes with 15 new songs plus five hit songs from its previous EP, "Map of the Soul: Persona."
"Black Swan," "Interlude: Shadow" and "Outro: Ego," which were prereleased in the runup to the official release, will be some of the new songs, as well as "Filter," "Louder than bombs," "UGH!" "OO:OO (Zero O'Clock)," "Inner Child," "Respect" and "We are Bulletproof: the Eternal," as well as "ON."
This image of the tracklist of "Map of the Soul: 7" is provided by Big Hit Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The tracks from "Persona" include "Boy With Luv," featuring Halsey, "Make It Right," "Dionysus" and "Jamais Vu."
On the sidelines of the album release, BTS will separately drop a digital version of "ON," featuring Sia, according to Big Hit.
The collaboration was arranged after Sia "willingly accepted" BTS' proposal for the joint work, Big Hit said. The digital song will be released on global platforms Friday for North American promotion before officially hitting the online music stores at the band's home country of South Korea on Feb. 28, it said.
Another Australian pop star, Troye Sivan, also participated in the composition of "Louder than bombs," according to Big Hit.
A "kinetic manifesto film" matching the main track "ON" will also be unveiled, along with the official worldwide release of "Map of the Soul: 7," at 6 p.m. on Friday, according to Big Hit.
This promotional image of BTS for "Map of the Soul: 7" is provided by Big Hit Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
As the second leg of BTS' "Map of the Soul" album series, inspired by the theories of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung, "7" has 20 tracks, the most in the band's seven-year career.
Prereleasing "Black Swan" last month, Big Hit said the song deals with BTS' exploration of their deep inner selves as artists, continuing on the broader theme of exploring one's ego in the "Map of the Soul" album series.
The debut performance of "ON," meanwhile, is scheduled for "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," a U.S. late night show, on Feb. 24 (U.S. time).
With the new album, the band is gearing up to make another round of major pop history, having won three No. 1s on the Billboard 200 within the span of one year as the first band since the Beatles.
Preorders for the new album, which began in January, topped 3.42 million copies in the first week, accounting for the biggest preorder volume ever for a South Korean album.
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--(2nd LD) S. Korea to extend emergency loan to budget carriers amid virus fallout

With uncertainty lingering about the peak of the coronavirus , which has killed more than 1,700 people and infected 70,000 @ @ @ @ @ South Korea is stepping up efforts to minimize the economic impact of the disease .

(ATTN: ADDS remarks, details in last 6 paras)
By Kim Deok-hyun
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will provide 300 billion won (US$253.5 million) in emergency loans to local budget carriers, which have been suffering from the economic fallout of the spread of the new coronavirus, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Monday.
Budget carriers will also be exempted from paying airport usage fees, Hong told a meeting with economy-related ministers earlier in the day.
Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki speaks at a meeting with economy-related ministers on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korea's tourism and aviation sectors are expected to take a harder hit from the COVID-19 virus outbreak, as a large proportion of visitors come from China.
More than 80 percent of flights between South Korea and China have been halted or cut due to concerns over the spread of the virus.
The government will set up a fund of 60 billion won to help support the nation's shipping industry, Hong said.
The government will encourage banks to offer 50 billion won in loans with an annual interest rate of 1 percent to small tourism companies, Hong said.
The country has reported 29 confirmed cases of the virus so far, with nine patients fully recovered from the illness.
With uncertainty lingering about the peak of the coronavirus, which has killed more than 1,700 people and infected 70,000, mostly in China, South Korea is stepping up efforts to minimize the economic impact of the disease.
The government said it will provide 20 billion won worth of loans with lower interest rates and guarantees worth 100 billion won with preferable conditions.
Hong and the ministers also discussed countermeasures against Japan's export curbs.
The Japanese restrictions have had no visible impact on South Korea's production of semiconductors and displays so far, Hong said, calling for Tokyo to swiftly lift the export curbs.
Last July, Tokyo imposed tighter regulations on exports to Seoul of three materials that are critical for the production of semiconductors and flexible displays -- resist, etching gas and fluorinated polyimide.
Japan later removed South Korea from its list of trusted trading partners.
South Korea views the Japanese moves as retaliation against South Korean Supreme Court rulings ordering Japanese firms to compensate South Korean victims of forced labor during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--Seoul stocks open lower on tech, auto losses

U.S. stocks were mixed Friday amid the spread of the COVID-19 virus around the globe .
The Dow Jones industrial @ @ @ @ @ but the Nasdaq composite gained 0.2 percent .

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- Seoul stocks opened lower Monday, led by losses in tech and auto stocks, amid lingering concerns over the outbreak of the new coronavirus.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 13.33 points, or 0.59 percent, to reach 2,230.26 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
U.S. stocks were mixed Friday amid the spread of the COVID-19 virus around the globe. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 0.09 percent, but the Nasdaq composite gained 0.2 percent.
In Seoul, tech and auto shares suffered a weak start.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics shed 0.65 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix lost 0.48 percent. Major home appliance maker LG Electronics dropped 1.04 percent.
Top carmaker Hyundai Motor slid 0.37 percent, while its sister company Kia Motors dived 0.60 percent. Auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis declined 0.21 percent.
However, pharmaceutical giant Celltrion surged 2.49 percent, and leading mobile SK Telecom advanced 0.22 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,182.90 won against the U.S. dollar, up 0.10 won from the previous session's close.
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--(LEAD) S. Korea to extend emergency loan to budget carriers amid virus fallout

SEOUL , Feb. 17 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea will provide 300 billion won ( US $ 253.5 million @ @ @ @ @ local budget carriers , which have been suffering from the economic fallout of the spread @ @ @ @ @ Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Monday .

(ATTN: ADDS remarks, details, photo from para 3)
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will provide 300 billion won (US$253.5 million) in emergency loans to local budget carriers, which have been suffering from the economic fallout of the spread of the new coronavirus, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Monday.
Budget carriers will also be exempted from paying airport usage fees, Hong told a meeting with economy-related ministers earlier in the day.
Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki speaks at a meeting with economy-related ministers on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korea's tourism and aviation sectors are expected to take a harder hit from the COVID-19 virus outbreak, as a large proportion of visitors come from China.
More than 80 percent of flights between South Korea and China have been halted or cut due to concerns over the spread of the virus.
The government will set up a fund of 60 billion won to help support the nation's shipping industry, Hong said.
The government will encourage banks to offer 50 billion won in loans with an annual interest rate of 1 percent to small tourism companies, Hong said.
The country has reported 29 confirmed cases of the virus so far, with nine patients fully recovered from the illness.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


Monday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Feb. 17 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


KOSPI 2,243.07 DN 0.52 points (open)


KOSDAQ 690.35 UP 1.44 points (open)


yna--2020-02-17--Dollar opens at 1,183.0 won EQ from 1,183.0 won


yna--2020-02-17--S. Korea to extend emergency loan to budget carriers amid virus fallout

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will provide 300 billion won (US$253.5 million) in emergency loans to local budget carriers, which have been suffering from the economic fallout of the spread of the new coronavirus, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Monday.
Budget carriers will also be exempted from paying airport usage fees, Hong told a meeting with economy-related ministers earlier in the day.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--(LEAD) Oscar-winning 'Parasite' tops Japanese box office

`` We are calculating its exact box office revenue for the weekend , '' the film 's Japanese distributer , @ @ @ @ @ `` It is the first Korean film to rise to No .
1 on the @ @ @ @ @ No .
5 . ''

(ATTN: INSERTS 4th para with information about the film's box office revenue in Japan)
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- The Oscar-winning film "Parasite" topped the Japanese box office over the weekend, becoming the most-watched Korean movie in the neighboring country in 15 years.
According to Japanese box-office tracker Kogyo Tsushinsha, director Bong Joon-ho's black comedy "Parasite" stood atop the box office for the Saturday-Sunday period in Japan. The war film "1917" placed second.
"We are calculating its exact box office revenue for the weekend," the film's Japanese distributer, Bitters End, said. "It is the first Korean film to rise to No. 1 on the box office after debuting at No. 5."
Japanese news reports said later the South Korean film earned about 300 million yen (US$2.73 million) in ticket sales over the weekend to take the top spot. Its accumulated box office revenue came to 2.49 billion yen as of Sunday, according to the reports.
"Parasite" made its Japanese debut on Jan. 10 in fifth place but soared to the top last week when it won four Oscar titles, including best picture.
It is the first time that a South Korean film has placed first at the Japanese box office since 2005, when the melodrama "A Moment to Remember" achieved the feat.
"A Moment to Remember" (2004) starring Jung Woo-sung and Son Ye-jin, is the highest grossing South Korean film in Japan, earning 3 billion yen (US$27.3 million), followed by "April Snow" (2005) with 2.7 billion yen and "Windstruck" (2004) with 2 billion yen.
Meanwhile, "Parasite," a parable of two families at the extremes of society, has been on a roll in the United States thanks to the Oscar boost.
It raked in $5.5 million over the weekend, up 234 percent from the previous week, with its total gross reaching $43 million stateside.
A scene from "Parasite" provided by CJ Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--(3rd LD) 3 dead, 43 injured in multiple expressway pileups

`` We are still unable to determine the exact cause of the accident , but the road near the accident @ @ @ @ @ than usual due to heavy snow that began early in the morning , '' a @ @ @ @

(ATTN: CHANGES number of fatalities to 3 in headline and lead; UPDATES with additional information in paras 3-5, 12)
JEONJU/NAMWON, South Korea, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- At least three people were killed and 43 others injured Monday in two expressway pileups in southwestern South Korea following heavy snow, authorities said.
At least six of the 43 hurt were said to be in critical conditions.
The first accident occurred at 12:23 p.m. when a tank truck carrying nitric acid reportedly ran into a small pile of cars involved in an earlier accident inside a tunnel on a highway connecting Suncheon and Wanju in North Jeolla Province.
About a dozen other vehicles ran into the truck, which had spilled its load and caught fire, according to police and rescue officials.
The third and latest victim was found in a car crushed under the tank truck. Those injured have been taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Police officers work at the scene of a multi-vehicle pileup in a tunnel on a highway connecting the southwestern South Korean cities of Suncheon and Wanju on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
The exact cause of the accident has yet to be identified, but the officials note the truck and the other cars may have skidded on snow or ice patches on the road.
"We are still unable to determine the exact cause of the accident, but the road near the accident site was far more slippery than usual due to heavy snow that began early in the morning," a police official said.
The area near the site of the accident received about 5.9 cm of snow as of 1 p.m., as the entire nation was under snow warning or alert.
The second accident took place almost simultaneously with the first one, inside another tunnel located just a few hundred meters from the site of the first accident, according to the police.
The police had to completely shut down the tunnels, partly due to a large number of vehicles piled up inside but also because of toxic gas coming from the fire.
"Rescue efforts are quite tough as black gas has covered the accident site," a police officer said.
Officials said the exact cause of the accidents will be investigated once the tunnels are cleared, adding there were still at least seven vehicles left inside one of the tunnels as of 8 p.m.
This photo, provided by a reader, shows the site of the pileup that occurred on a highway connecting Suncheon and Wanju in North Jeolla Province on Feb. 17, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--(2nd LD) Moon urges all-out efforts to minimize virus impact, reinvigorate economy

His call apparently reflects the government 's confidence that it can contain the virus in the near future .
A @ @ @ @ @ have been reported , with no deaths .
Several patients have been declared fully cured @ @ @ @ @ hospitalized and in a relatively stable condition .

(ATTN: UPDATES with additional remarks from President Moon in paras 6-7; RESTRUCTURES)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in instructed his economy team Monday to take "strong" measures to minimize the effects of the coronavirus outbreak and create "tangible changes" in the overall economy and people's livelihoods this year.
He warned of the possibility that the slump in South Korea's economy will be prolonged, saying economic damage from the COVID-19 outbreak is worse than that resulting from MERS in 2015.
If that is the case, it would wreak havoc not just on the national economy but also on people's lives, Moon stressed, speaking at the outset of a Cheong Wa Dae session to receive briefings on key policy plans for this year from four economy-related ministries.
"Literally, it's an emergency and a grave situation," he said in remarks that were broadcast live.
President Moon Jae-in (C) speaks at a Cheong Wa Dae session on this year's economic policy on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
He pointed out Asia's fourth-largest economy has suffered as domestic consumption and people's leisure activities have diminished due to "overblown fear and anxiety" over the novel coronavirus, which originated in China.
"It is regrettable that the country's business and consumer sentiments have drastically worsened as fears and anxiety have been excessively exaggerated by (reports from) some news outlets," the president told the meeting, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
Moon insisted the best way to deal with exaggerated fears was to enhance transparency, Kang said in a press release.
The president earlier asked the public to have faith in the government's quarantine measures and to resume their daily activities.
"It is time to focus all-out efforts on revitalizing the economy, while maintaining the people's safety," the president stressed. "The government will remain vigilant and do its best in terms of quarantine steps until the end."
His call apparently reflects the government's confidence that it can contain the virus in the near future. A total of 30 confirmed cases have been reported, with no deaths. Several patients have been declared fully cured, while the remainder are hospitalized and in a relatively stable condition.
President Moon Jae-in makes his opening comments during a Cheong Wa Dae session on South Korea's 2020 economic policy on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
"This year, the economy ministries have a vital task to show tangible changes in the people's livelihoods and the economy," Moon emphasized. "Their shoulders have become heavier due to the recent COVID-19 incident."
The four economy-related governmental bodies are the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Financial Services Commission.
He said they have done well so far.
In 2019, in particular, South Korea made a foothold for its economic recovery through expansionary fiscal policy and preemptive policy steps in the face of such external challenges as a global economic slump and Tokyo's export curbs against Seoul, according to Moon.
"On the other hand, (we) have run without halting on the path of innovation, inclusiveness and fairness for the fundamental transformation of economic structure and strengthening of fundamentals," he added.
Among the economy team's achievements last year, Moon said, the most significant was the response to Japan's export control.
South Korea has overcome the difficulty on the basis of a unity of government, business and the people, he said.
"We have reduced dependence on Japan for the supply of three major industrial items (affected by the export control) and gained confidence over homegrown production of materials, parts and equipment. It was a good example of turning a crisis into an opportunity."
He called on the economy team to maintain its close teamwork to minimize the effects of the virus and take "strong measures" to put vigor back into the economy.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--(2nd LD) 2 dead, 43 injured in multiple expressway pileups

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with additional information, minor changes throughout; ADDS photo)
JEONJU/NAMWON, South Korea, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- At least two people were killed and 43 others injured Monday in two expressway pileups in southwestern South Korea following heavy snow, authorities said.
At least six of the 43 hurt were said to be in critical conditions.
The first accident occurred at 12:23 p.m. when a tank truck carrying nitric acid overturned inside a tunnel on a highway connecting Suncheon and Wanju in North Jeolla Province.
Some 20 other vehicles ran into the truck, which had spilled its load and caught fire, according to police and rescue officials.
Police officers work at the scene of a multi-vehicle pileup in a tunnel on a highway connecting the southwestern South Korean cities of Suncheon and Wanju on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
The exact cause of the accident has yet to be identified, but the officials note the truck and the other cars may have skidded on snow or ice patches on the road.
"We are still unable to determine the exact cause of the accident, but the road near the accident site was far more slippery than usual due to heavy snow that began early in the morning," a police official said.
The area near the site of the accident received about 5.9 cm of snow as of 1 p.m., as the entire nation was under snow warning or alert.
The second accident took place almost simultaneously with the first one, inside another tunnel located just a few hundred meters from the site of the first accident, according to the police.
The police had to completely shut down the tunnels, partly due to a large number of vehicles piled up inside but also because of toxic gas coming from the fire.
"Rescue efforts are quite tough as black gas has covered the accident site," a police officer said. "(It seems that) the exact scope of the damage can be confirmed after the fire is extinguished."
This photo, provided by a reader, shows the site of the pileup that occurred on a highway connecting Suncheon and Wanju in North Jeolla Province on Feb. 17, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--UAE gives nod to operation of 1st reactor of Barakah nuclear plant

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation approved the operation of the unit-1 reactor of the Barakah nuclear plant , the @ @ @ @ @ nuclear plant , according to the sources .

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s nuclear watchdog on Monday approved the operation of the first reactor at the Barakah nuclear plant built by South Korean companies, industry sources said.
The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation approved the operation of the unit-1 reactor of the Barakah nuclear plant, the Middle East country's first nuclear plant, according to the sources.
The nuclear plant will commence its official operation after test runs, they said.
Shown in the file photo provided by the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) on March 29, 2016, shows the construction site of the Barakah nuclear plant located 270 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
South Korea's state-run Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) won the project to build four APR-1400 reactors in Barakah, located 270 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi, in 2009.
The APR-1400 is an advanced pressurized water nuclear reactor designed by KEPCO. The first reactor was completed in 2018.
The combined output of 5,600 megawatts at the power plant will supply up to 25 percent of the UAE's electricity needs.
Last year, a South Korean consortium also secured a five-year maintenance deal for the Barakah nuclear plant, which centers on providing maintenance services and experienced manpower to Nawah Energy Company, the operator of the UAE nuclear plant.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--(5th LD) S. Korea back on alert over community transmission, 1 more virus case brings total to 30

As part of its ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 , it has called on all 1,470 convalescent @ @ @ @ @ the country to bar all workers who have traveled to Wuhan , China , the @ @ @ @ @ , from working and to screen all caregivers who look after patients for travel abroad @ @ @ @ @ not inadvertently infect people who are in poor health .
Caregivers are usually not employees @ @ @ @ @ by patients and their families .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 5, 8-14)
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Monday identified another case of the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections to 30, with the latest two cases forcing the health authorities to actively take steps to prevent community transmission.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), the country's latest patient is the 68-year-old wife of the 29th infected person, who tested positive for the virus Sunday.
The 82-year-old man is not known to have made contact with the country's other patients with the coronavirus or recently traveled abroad. He had volunteered to transport lunch boxes to elderly people living alone and to senior centers through a regional welfare organization and was only diagnosed with the illness when he visited a hospital after visiting two clinics, drug stores and a hospital.
The KCDC said that the man had previous respiratory problems that caused doctors not to suspect he was infected with the coronavirus. The patient has been confirmed to have made contact with 114 people, with 76 of them being those in the emergency center at a Seoul hospital.
A notice placed on the entrance of Seoul National University Hospital in downtown Seoul warns people of restrictions placed on visitors to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Both the man and his wife are in quarantine, with the woman having a mild fever. The couple probably started showing some signs of infection around Feb. 5-6, with health authorities vetting the two weeks before they started showing symptoms to see how they contracted the virus.
"In light of the highly contagious nature of the virus, even when an infected person shows almost no symptoms, authorities must maintain the highest level of vigilance and take proactive measures," Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said in a press conference.
Kim said that every movement of the couple needs to be scrutinized before determining if they were infected through unknown routes.
Details of those who have been in contact with the couple and places they visited will be made public later.
The KCDC said the number of people being checked for the virus and under quarantine came to 708 as of Monday afternoon. South Korea has screened 8,718 people for COVID-19 since Jan. 3, with 7,980 testing negative and 10 people having been released from quarantine after making full recoveries.
The latest patient discharged from a hospital is a 30-year-old Chinese woman who had shown no signs of being sick even when she was diagnosed with the infection on Feb. 11.
On broader efforts to deal with the spread of the virus, the country is considering testing those who suffer from pneumonia due to unknown causes for the potential COVID-19 virus at the discretion of medical personnel.
South Korea also said it plans to greatly increase the number of COVID-19 tests it can conduct on a daily basis from the current 5,000 to 10,000 by the end of the month so as to better identify and isolate infected people.
The country is also mulling a move to change the country's virus screening rules once again to make it possible to check more people who may have been infected.
Quarantine workers in protective suits and masks disinfect a library in Seongdong Ward in Seoul on Feb. 16, 2020, in this photo provided by the ward office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
As part of its ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, it has called on all 1,470 convalescent hospitals and similar institutions in the country to bar all workers who have traveled to Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the current outbreak, from working and to screen all caregivers who look after patients for travel abroad and symptoms so they do not inadvertently infect people who are in poor health. Caregivers are usually not employees of hospitals but are hired by patients and their families.
"Everyone who has traveled to infected areas must be placed in self-quarantine for 14 days," Seoul's health ministry said. All convalescent homes will moreover be required to check people for any signs of fever, it added.
The country said earlier it will take extra steps to keep close tabs on Chinese students who are enrolled in South Korean schools, with all local educational institutions to take charge of such people and report any signs of illness.
It said that South Korean nationals who are currently on a cruise ship in Japan and allowed to return home after being screened by Japanese authorities will still be required to remain in mandatory quarantine for two weeks after arrival as a precautionary move.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--Oscar-winning 'Parasite' tops Japanese box office

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- The Oscar-winning film "Parasite" topped the Japanese box office over the weekend, becoming the most-watched Korean movie in the neighboring country in 15 years.
According to Japanese box-office tracker Kogyo Tsushinsha, director Bong Joon-ho's black comedy "Parasite" stood atop the box office for the Saturday-Sunday period in Japan. The war film "1917" placed second.
"We are calculating its exact box office revenue for the weekend," the film's Japanese distributer, Bitters End, said. "It is the first Korean film to rise to No. 1 on the box office after debuting at No. 5."
It is the first time that a South Korean film has placed first at the Japanese box office since 2005, when the melodrama "A Moment to Remember" achieved the feat.
"Parasite" made its Japanese debut on Jan. 10 in fifth place but soared to the top last week when it won four Oscar titles, including best picture.
"A Moment to Remember," starring Jung Woo-sung and Son Ye-jin, is now the highest grossing South Korean film in Japan, earning 3 billion yen (US$27.3 million), followed by "April Snow" (2005) with 2.7 billion yen and "Windstruck" (2004) with 2 billion yen.
Meanwhile, "Parasite," a parable of two families at the extremes of society, has been on a roll in the United States thanks to the Oscar boost.
It raked in $5.5 million over the weekend, up 234 percent from the previous week, with its total gross reaching $43 million stateside.
A scene from "Parasite" provided by CJ Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--(LEAD) 2 dead, 37 injured in multiple expressway pileups

`` Rescue efforts are quite tough as black gas has covered the accident site , '' a police officer said @ @ @ @ @ that ) the exact scope of the damage can be confirmed after the fire is @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES lead, headline, dateline and details throughout)
JEONJU/NAMWON, South Korea, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- At least two people were killed and 37 others injured in two expressway pileups in the country's southwestern region following heavy snow, authorities said Monday.
The accident occurred as around 20 vehicles piled up on a snowy road at 12:23 p.m. in a tunnel on a highway connecting Suncheon and Wanju in North Jeolla Province, according to police and fire authorities.
In a separate case, five other cars piled up in a tunnel several hundred meters away from the accident site.
The weather agency has issued snow warnings or alerts across the country, with Jeonju in North Jeolla Province receiving 5.5 cm of snow.
Six of the 37 hurt are known to have suffered serious injuries.
Police have sealed the accident site and rescue efforts are under way, but casualties are expected to rise as a tank truck carrying chemicals caught on fire, causing a toxic gas leak.
The truck was reportedly carrying sodium hydroxide, which absorbs water and produces heat when exposed to air.
"Rescue efforts are quite tough as black gas has covered the accident site," a police officer said. "(It seems that) the exact scope of the damage can be confirmed after the fire is extinguished."
This photo, provided by a reader, shows the site of the pileup that occurred on a highway connecting Suncheon and Wanju in North Jeolla Province on Feb. 17, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--(LEAD) Merger bid among 3 minor parties hits snag, but joint negotiation group formed

`` The creation of a new party based in the Honam areas can never become a new thing .
( @ @ @ @ @ regionalism for the elections can not be our choice , '' Sohn said at a @ @ @ @ @ leadership council .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, UPDATES with more info from last 4 paras; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- A proposal to merge three minor parties hit a snag Monday as the chief of the opposition Bareunmirae Party (BP) suspended the review of its approval, claiming that the move could deepen regionalism.
The BP, the Party for Democracy and Peace and the New Alternative Party jointly announced a plan Friday to unite for the April 15 parliamentary elections, eyeing becoming the third-largest political bloc sharing support bases in the southwestern provinces of North and South Jeolla.
But BP chairman Sohn Hak-kyu rejected the approval of their agreement to launch the tentatively named Democratic Unity Party, saying that drawing moderate and reform-minded younger faces should be prioritized.
Sohn Hak-kyu (2nd from L), chief of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party, speaks at a meeting of the party's leadership council at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
"The creation of a new party based in the Honam areas can never become a new thing. (A move to spark) regionalism for the elections cannot be our choice," Sohn said at a meeting of the party's leadership council.
But Sohn's remarks will inevitably draw criticism as he was the one who proposed the merger to the two other parties.
The BP has 17 lawmakers and the PDP has four National Assembly seats. The New Alternative Party holds seven parliamentary seats.
The BP has been dwindling since Rep. Yoo Seong-min left the party with seven other lawmakers. Ahn Cheol-soo, a former presidential candidate, also defected from the BP to create his new party.
Despite Sohn's effective veto, 21 lawmakers of the three minor parties agreed to form a joint negotiation bloc in the unicameral parliament, which requires at least 20 parliamentary seats.
"We've decided to create a formal negotiating body to push for the merger of the three parties and prevent the National Assembly from being loosely operated due to two major parties' hostile co-existence," they said in a statement.
"We will push for bills that take into account people's lives, fairness, justice and reform at an extraordinary parliamentary session."
Rep. You Sung-yop of the New Alternative Party will serve as the floor leader of the joint negotiation group.
Lawmakers of the Bareunmirae Party, the Party for Democracy and Peace and the New Alternative Party pose for a photo at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 17, 2020, before a meeting to discuss ways to form a joint negotiation body. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--Air Force takes part in COPE North multinational exercise

South Korea sent two CN-235 transport aircraft , as well as 30 service personnel , this year , which is @ @ @ @ @ mobilized in the past , according to Seoul 's Air Force officials .
South Korea @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean Air Force took part in a multinational exercise in Guam designed to boost joint air operations capabilities among partner nations for humanitarian assistance, officials said Monday.
The Exercise COPE North 2020 kicked off at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam on Feb. 12 to run until Feb. 28. The exercise also brought together the U.S., Australian and Japanese air forces, according to the U.S. Pacific Air Forces.
South Korea sent two CN-235 transport aircraft, as well as 30 service personnel, this year, which is similar to what it has mobilized in the past, according to Seoul's Air Force officials. South Korea has attended the exercise biennially.
The U.S. Pacific Air Force, however, did not mention South Korea's participation in the exercise in its related news release.
COPE North aims to hone skills to increase combat readiness and interoperability for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, according to the U.S. force.
Beginning in 1978 as a quarterly bilateral exercise held in Japan, COPE North moved to Guam in 1999 and has been staged as one of the Pacific Air Forces' largest multilateral exercise.
This photo captured from the website of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces shows members of the U.S., Australian and Japanese air forces standing in formation to start Exercise Cope North 20 (CN20), at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on Feb. 12, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--(LEAD) Seoul stocks close nearly flat on foreign sell-offs

After opening lower , the index reached an intraday high of 2,250.05 points in the morning session on news that @ @ @ @ @ to cut the interest rate on its medium-term loans to stimulate its economy against the @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS photo, bond yields at bottom)
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed nearly flat Monday as foreigners dumped local shares amid lingering concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped 1.42 points, or 0.06 percent, to close at 2,242.17. Trading volume was moderate at 453 million shares worth 5.5 trillion won (US$4.6 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 488 to 319.
After opening lower, the index reached an intraday high of 2,250.05 points in the morning session on news that China's central bank decided to cut the interest rate on its medium-term loans to stimulate its economy against the novel coronavirus outbreak.
This file photo taken on Feb. 7, 2020, shows dealers at a KEB Hana Bank branch in Seoul. (Yonhap)
However, the index lost steam later and hovered around the flat line.
"Although the Chinese stock market advanced more than 1 percent, investors here apparently remained cautious and locked in recent gains," said Seo Sang-young, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities said.
Foreign investors sold a net 229.5 billion worth of local shares, while institutions scooped up a net 15 billion won. Retail investors bought a net 195 billion won.
Large caps were mixed at the close.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics fell 0.49 percent to 61,500 won, but No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix advanced 0.48 percent to 105,000 won.
Leading carmaker Hyundai Motor rose 1.50 percent to 135,500 won, while auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis increased 0.84 percent to 239,000 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Celltrion spiked 2.76 percent to 186,000 won, but the country's No. 1 steelmaker POSCO slipped 0.46 percent to 218,500 won.
The local currency closed at 1,183.9 won against the dollar, down 0.90 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed higher. The yield on three-year Treasurys fell 1.0 basis point to 1.320 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond dropped 1.9 basis points to 1.435 percent.
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--S. Korean Bond Yields on Feb. 17, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on Feb. 17, 2020

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


Yonhap News Summary

The measures came amid rising concerns that the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus around the globe will delay the recovery @ @ @ @ @ which were earlier estimated to expand 3 percent in 2020 , according to the Ministry @ @ @ @ @ Energy .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Monday.
----------------
(LEAD) Moon urges all-out efforts to minimize virus impact, reinvigorate economy
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in instructed his economy team Monday to take "strong" measures to minimize the effects of the coronavirus outbreak and create "tangible changes" in the overall economy and people's livelihoods this year.
He warned of the possibility that the slump in South Korea's economy will be prolonged, saying economic damage from the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic is worse than that resulting from MERS in 2015.
----------------
(LEAD) S. Korea to draw up further measures to contain economic impact of coronavirus
SEJONG -- South Korea's finance minister said Monday the government will draw up a package of comprehensive measures to preemptively contain the economic impact of the novel coronavirus, which is expected to threaten the fragile Chinese and global economies.
In a policy report to President Moon Jae-in, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said the measures, including policy tools to support exports, consumption and investment, will be introduced by the end of this month.
----------------
(4th LD) S. Korea back on alert over community transmission, 1 more virus case brings total to 30
SEOUL -- South Korea on Monday identified another case of the novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections to 30, with the latest two cases prodding the health authorities to actively take steps to prevent community transmission.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), the country's latest patient is the 68-year-old wife of the 29th infected person, who tested positive for the virus Sunday.
----------------
Moody's cuts S. Korea's 2020 growth outlook to 1.9 pct over virus fallout
SEOUL -- Ratings agency Moody's on Monday cut its forecast for South Korea's 2020 economic growth to 1.9 percent from 2.1 percent, citing the economic fallout of the new coronavirus.
The latest forecast by Moody's is lower than the Bank of Korea's prediction of 2.3 percent expansion for this year.
The spread of COVID-19 in China and around the world is expected to have a negative impact on tourism and industrial production in Asian nations, including South Korea and Japan, Moody's said.
----------------
S. Korea to boost exports by expanding portfolio, clinching more FTAs
SEOUL -- South Korea on Monday pledged to spare no efforts in fostering new growth engines for exports, including hydrogen cars and non-memory chips, in line with efforts to diversify its industrial portfolio and overcome pending uncertainties, including the new coronavirus.
The measures came amid rising concerns that the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus around the globe will delay the recovery of South Korean exports, which were earlier estimated to expand 3 percent in 2020, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
----------------
S. Korea's key sectors unfazed by Japan's export curbs: minister
SEOUL -- South Korea said Monday that its key industrial sectors suffered no disruptions over the past eight months after Japan imposed restrictions on exports to Seoul of three key industrial materials critical for chip and display industries.
"There was not a single disruption in the country's production (of affected goods) despite the abrupt export restrictions by Tokyo," Industry Minister Sung Yun-mo said during a policy report to President Moon Jae-in.
----------------
(LEAD) Main opposition, 2 minor parties launch new merged party for April elections
SEOUL -- The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and two minor parties officially launched their new merged party Monday, a move to integrate conservatives ahead of the April parliamentary elections.
The United Future Party (UFP) set sail as the LKP approved a move to unify with the New Conservative Party and Onward for Future 4.0 last week.
----------------
POSCO International discovers prospective gas field off Myanmar
SEOUL -- POSCO International Corp., a South Korean general trading company, said Monday that it has discovered a prospective gas field off the western coast of Myanmar.
A drill stem test in the Mahar exploration well in Block A-3 in December showed that the area is expected to produce about 38 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas, according to POSCO International.
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--S. Korea to provide 40 tln won to promising companies

The Financial Services Commission said that the government plans to select more than 1,000 innovative companies for a package of @ @ @ @ @ company for three years .

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's financial authorities said Monday that they will provide up to 40 trillion won (US$34 billion) in financial support to promising companies in the latest move to boost innovative sectors.
The Financial Services Commission said that the government plans to select more than 1,000 innovative companies for a package of financial assistance tailored for each company for three years.
The move comes as South Korea has been pushing to foster artificial intelligence, fifth-generation network services, the Internet of Things and other innovative sectors as its new growth engines amid slowing exports and investment.
The proposed assistance program is composed of investments worth 15 trillion won, loans worth 15 trillion won and guarantees of 10 trillion won, according to the commission.
Separately, South Korea will help another 30 companies with high growth prospects attract large-scale investments from both South Korean and foreign venture capital firms.
Small and medium-sized enterprises account for 99 percent of local businesses in terms of numbers, but they have relative difficulty in acquiring loans from financial institutions compared with conglomerates.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--(LEAD) Main opposition, 2 minor parties launch new merged party for April elections

But lawmakers from the New Conservative Party , who previously pushed for Park 's impeachment , do not want to @ @ @ @ @ or loyalists for Park .
The word was coined after Park 's supporters held street @ @ @ @ @ release , carrying the Taegeukgi , the national flag .

(ATTN: RECASTS English name of new party throughout; UPDATES with more info throughout; ADDS photos)
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and two minor parties officially launched their new merged party Monday, a move to integrate conservatives ahead of the April parliamentary elections.
The United Future Party (UFP) set sail as the LKP approved a move to unify with the New Conservative Party and Onward for Future 4.0 last week.
The move is aimed at mustering conservatives to challenge the liberal Moon Jae-in government for the April 15 elections.
The merger came about three months after LKP Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn announced an ambitious bid for conservative parties to join forces to seek an election victory.
Hwang, who will lead the UFP as chairman, called for efforts to move toward an election victory against the liberal government.
"Our integration has ignited the passion for judging the government. Let's muster the force of unity and overthrow the Moon administration," Hwang said at a ceremony to mark the creation of the party.
Hwang Kyo-ahn, chief of the United Future Party, speaks at a ceremony to mark the launch of the new merged party at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
The conservative bloc in South Korean politics has been split, stung by the fallout of the 2017 ouster of scandal-ridden President Park Geun-hye, once a darling of the political right.
The New Conservative Party was launched in early January by Rep. Yoo Seong-min and seven other lawmakers who defected from the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party (BP). Yoo previously left the Saenuri Party, the predecessor of the LKP, over Park's scandal.
Onward for Future 4.0 was created by Rep. Lee Un-ju, a former BP lawmaker.
The merger allowed the new party to hold 113 seats in the 295-member National Assembly. The ruling Democratic Party (DP) controls 129 seats.
The main task for the new party will be to attempt to shed the image of being associated with the legacy of the scandal-hit former President Park and attract moderate voters.
The pro-Park faction and some LKP members seeking a "grand integration" raised the need to join hands with the ultra-right Our Republican Party, which strongly supports Park.
But lawmakers from the New Conservative Party, who previously pushed for Park's impeachment, do not want to embrace the Taegeukgi forces, or loyalists for Park. The word was coined after Park's supporters held street rallies to call for her release, carrying the Taegeukgi, the national flag.
It still remains to be seen whether the country's second-largest party will join hands with Ahn Cheol-soo, a former presidential candidate who seeks to create a new middle-of-the-road party.
Ahn, once popular with his "new politics" mantra, defected from the minor BP last month. He has rejected the idea of joining hands with the LKP.
The governing DP and other opposition parties cast doubts that the creation of the UFP would amount to nothing but the return of the Saenuri Party.
The DP said it anticipates the launch of the UFP to become the starting point of overhaul and reform in the conservative bloc.
"But if the party wants to show the overhaul and reform and impress the people, it should not become a political party hastily made for the election and return to the Saenuri Party," Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo, DP spokesman, said in a statement.
The minor New Alternative Party said the UFP should give a clear answer over how it will overcome the stigma stemming from Park's impeachment.
Hwang Kyo-ahn (C), chief of the main opposition United Future Party, and other members of the new party, unveil the name of the party at a ceremony to mark the launch of the merged conservative party at the National Assembly on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--Seoul stocks close nearly flat on foreign sell-offs

After opening lower , the index reached an intraday day high of 2,250.05 points in the morning session on news @ @ @ @ @ decided to cut the interest rate on its medium-term loans to stimulate its economy against @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed nearly flat Monday as foreigners dumped local shares amid lingering concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) dropped 1.42 points, or 0.06 percent, to close at 2,242.17. Trading volume was moderate at 453 million shares worth 5.5 trillion won (US$4.6 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 488 to 319.
After opening lower, the index reached an intraday day high of 2,250.05 points in the morning session on news that China's central bank decided to cut the interest rate on its medium-term loans to stimulate its economy against the novel coronavirus outbreak.
However, the index lost steam later and hovered around the flat line.
"Although the Chinese stock market advanced more than 1 percent, investors here apparently remained cautious and locked in recent gains," said Seo Sang-young, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities said.
Foreign investors sold a net 229.5 billion worth of local shares, while institutions scooped up a net 15 billion won. Retail investors bought a net 195 billion won.
Large caps were mixed at the close.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics fell 0.49 percent to 61,500 won, but No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix advanced 0.48 percent to 105,000 won.
Leading carmaker Hyundai Motor rose 1.50 percent to 135,500 won, while auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis increased 0.84 percent to 239,000 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Celltrion spiked 2.76 percent to 186,000 won, but the country's No. 1 steelmaker POSCO slipped 0.46 percent to 218,500 won.
The local currency closed at 1,183.9 won against the dollar, down 0.90 won from the previous session's close.
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--Zico's 'Any Song' rules S. Korean music charts backed by viral cover dance videos

The challenge also went viral with K-pop fans from in and outside of the country , with some 100,000 videos @ @ @ @ @ challenge uploaded in the first ten days since the song 's official release .

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- Zico, a rapper and music producer, became the latest K-pop sensation as his latest hip-hop number, "Any Song," topped weekly domestic music charts for the fourth week in a row.
The hypnotic song topped the Gaon weekly digital chart, operated by the Korea Music Content Association, for the week of Feb. 2-8, securing its fourth week atop the chart.
Since its release on January, "Any Song" has stayed on top of daily digital song charts of major online music streaming services, including Genie Music, Naver Music and Melon, almost every day. The move is unusual as K-pop music charts are often monopolized by idol groups.
The song that the singer himself participated in composing and writing the lyrics for is characterized by its bouncy digital tunes and airy lyrics, going seamlessly back and forth between the artist's trendy rapping and singing voices.
The song also ranked ninth on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart for the week of Feb. 15, its fourth consecutive week on the chart, expanding its home success to outside of the country.
This cover image of Zico's latest single "Any Song" is provided by Koz Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
What drove the sensational hit has been, in addition to the song's ingenuity, a star-studded cover dance challenge that went viral on the social networking service.
Ahead of the song's official release, Zico dropped Tik Tok videos of himself and K-pop female artists Hwasa and Chungha dancing to "Any Song."
The videos became sensational, inviting other K-pop stars like boy band WINNER's Mino, K-pop diva Lee Hyori, Crush and other high-profile Korean stars to film and upload their own dance videos covering the song.
The challenge also went viral with K-pop fans from in and outside of the country, with some 100,000 videos of fans taking the dance challenge uploaded in the first ten days since the song's official release.
So far those challenge videos have drawn nearly 800 million views in total as the star-studded challenge video collection and its easy-to-follow choreography resonated widely with fans.
Zico added to the fad, having uploaded a pajama version of his song the day after the song's release and ascent to chart No. 1s, in accordance with his pledge to fans.
Culture critic Jung Min-jae said the marketing of the dance challenge smartly employed the mobile-centered entertainment culture of today's young generations.
"The song's dance is simple and easy enough for ordinary people to copy after seeing it only a few times," the critic said. "Its challenge videos involving many celebrities might also have encouraged many (fans) to follow suit."
These photos of fans' challenge videos covering "Any Song" are provided by Koz Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--1 dead, 28 injured in expressway pileup

1 dead, 28 injured in expressway pileup

JEONJU, South Korea, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- At least one person was killed and 28 others injured in an expressway pileup in the country's southwestern region, authorities said Monday.
Around 20 vehicles piled up in the accident that occurred at 12:23 p.m. in a tunnel on a highway connecting Suncheon and Wanju in North Jeolla Province, according to police and fire authorities.
Police have sealed the accident site and rescue efforts are under way, but casualties are expected to rise as a tank truck carrying chemicals caught on fire, causing a toxic gas leak. The exact details of the chemical substance are yet unknown.
"Rescue efforts are quite tough as black gas has covered the accident site," a police officer said. "(It seems that) the exact scope of the damage can be confirmed after the fire is extinguished."
This photo, provided by a reader, shows the site of the pileup that occurred on a highway connecting Suncheon and Wanju in North Jeolla Province on Feb. 17, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--Hwacheon ice fishing festival closes after overcoming warm weather

The annual festival hosted by Hwacheon , a mountainous county close to the inter-Korean border about 120 kilometers northeast of @ @ @ @ @ worldwide , with thousands of tourists trying to catch `` sancheoneo , '' a species @ @ @ @ @ holes cut into the surface of a vast frozen river and taking part in bare-hand @ @ @ @ @ soccer and other events .

HWACHEON, South Korea, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- This year's Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, a popular winter event hosted by the Gangwon Province county of Hwacheon, northeast of Seoul, drew to a close on Sunday, after more than 400,000 tourists from home and abroad enjoyed 21 days of ice fishing, bare hand fishing and other winter activities.
The 2020 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival kicked off on Jan. 27 after being postponed twice due to unseasonably warm weather and came to a close at 6:30 p.m. Sunday with a closing ceremony and a fireworks display.
Organizers estimated that about 430,000 tourists visited this year's ice fishing festival and related events, which included a street lantern festival. Attendance had exceeded 1.5 million for each of the preceding three years.
This photo provided by Hwacheon County Office shows tourists enjoying river fishing in Hwacheon, northeast of Seoul, during the 2020 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The number of foreign visitors is estimated at 100,000 this year, they noted.
Last year, an all-time high of over 1.8 million tourists, including 146,000 foreigners, participated in the Hwacheon festival.
The annual festival hosted by Hwacheon, a mountainous county close to the inter-Korean border about 120 kilometers northeast of Seoul, has made headlines worldwide, with thousands of tourists trying to catch "sancheoneo," a species of mountain trout, through holes cut into the surface of a vast frozen river and taking part in bare-hand fishing, sledding, ice soccer and other events.
This year's sancheoneo festival was originally scheduled to kick off on Jan. 4 but had to be postponed twice due to the insufficient formation of ice on the main ice fishing venue.
Thanks to the return of the winter cold, the festival finally opened on Jan. 27, drawing a stream of tourists to Hwacheon's festival sites.
This file photo provided by Hwacheon County Office shows tourists enjoying bare hand fishing in Hwacheon, northeast of Seoul, during the 2020 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The festival organizers and county officials attributed the significant fall in visitor numbers to the relatively warm weather, lack of ice and the new coronavirus outbreak.
Ice on the main ice fishing venue melted after 75 millimeters of rain fell ahead of the initial opening date of Jan. 4. Festival officials and civil servants worked day and night to pump rain water out of the ice fishing venue and mobilized snowplows to lower the water temperature, but their efforts were not successful.
Due to the unusual weather, the organizers were unable to operate the ice fishing site for most of the festival's three-week run.
Instead, they quadrupled the size of freshwater fishing sites, allowing 1,200 people to enjoy fishing at the same time.
Tourists cast fishing lines into the flowing river water and caught mountain trout with shouts of victory, while the organizers steadily released tons of sancheoneo into the river to help visitors maximize their chances. People could also grill their catch and eat it at a nearby cooking zone.
Fireworks illuminate the sky over Hwacheon during the closing ceremony of the 2020 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival in Hwacheon, northeast of Seoul, on Feb. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Bare hand fishing was also very popular with visitors, and tourists showed interest in the bobsleigh experience hall and the indoor ice sculpture square, both first introduced to the festival this year.
County officials and the organizers took all possible precautions to protect festival visitors from the coronavirus. Throughout the festival site, hand sanitizer and face masks were available.
County officials said they will continue to operate the river water fishing sites for the time being to help reduce the festival's sancheoneo inventory of over 20 tons and revitalize the regional economy.
"This year's attendance fell short of last year's but the earnest efforts displayed by Hwacheon residents and civil servants have impressed the nation. We'll prepare for next year's ice fishing festival through more thorough preparations and brainstorming," Hwacheon Mayor Choi Moon-soon said.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-17--POSCO International discovers prospective gas field off Myanmar

The affiliate of South Korean steel giant POSCO said it will carry out appraisal drillings in the Mahar exploration well @ @ @ @ @ details in coming years for exploration of the prospective gas field .

By Kim Kwang-tae
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- POSCO International Corp., a South Korean general trading company, said Monday that it has discovered a prospective gas field off the western coast of Myanmar.
A drill stem test in the Mahar exploration well in Block A-3 in December showed that the area is expected to produce about 38 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas, according to POSCO International.
The affiliate of South Korean steel giant POSCO said it will carry out appraisal drillings in the Mahar exploration well next year before working out details in coming years for exploration of the prospective gas field.
This map, provided by POSCO International Co., shows the Mahar exploration well in Block A-3 off the western coast of Myanmar. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The Mahar exploration well is located about 30 kilometers south of the Shwe gas field in Myanmar.
Currently, POSCO International sells natural gas produced from Shwe and Mya offshore fields to China and Myanmar through a 793-kilometer-long land-based pipeline.
The company said phase 2 development of its gas project is under way in Myanmar, with production scheduled to begin at Shwe gas field and at Shwe Phyu gas field in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-18--Seoul stocks open lower on tech, auto losses

The local currency was trading at 1,187.50 won against the U.S. dollar , down 3.60 won from the previous session @ @ @ @ @ )

SEOUL, Feb. 18 (Yonhap) -- Seoul stocks opened lower Tuesday, led by a drop in tech and auto stocks.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 17.39 points, or 0.78 percent, to reach 2,224.78 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
In Seoul, most big name shares suffered a weak start.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics plunged 1.30 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix lost 0.95 percent.
Top carmaker Hyundai Motor dived 1.48 percent, while its sister company Kia Motors slid 0.24 percent. Auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis declined 1.05 percent.
Pharmaceutical giant Celltrion lost 0.27 percent, and Samsung BioLogics shed 0.96 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,187.50 won against the U.S. dollar, down 3.60 won from the previous session's close.
(END)


Tuesday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Feb. 18 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


KOSPI 2,225.98 DN 16.19 points (open)


KOSDAQ 691.42 DN 1.17 points (open)


yna--2020-02-18--Dollar opens at 1,184.5 won UP from 1,183.9 won


yna--2020-02-18--1 more dead in expressway pileup

1 more dead in expressway pileup

The exact cause of the accident has yet to be identified , but the officials note the truck and the @ @ @ @ @ on snow or ice patches on the road as the entire nation was under a @ @ @ @ @

NAMWON, South Korea, Feb. 18 (Yonhap) -- The number of fatalities in a multiple-vehicle collision on an expressway that occurred in the country's southwestern region has increased by one, bringing the total number of deaths to four, rescue officials said Tuesday.
Rescue officials said they found the victim at around 1:10 a.m. in one of the cars near a tank truck that was carrying nitric acid in a tunnel on a highway connecting Suncheon and Wanju in North Jeolla Province.
The accident occurred Monday afternoon when the tank truck reportedly ran into a small pile of cars involved in an earlier accident inside the tunnel.
Around a dozen other vehicles ran into the truck, which had spilled its load and caught fire, according to police and rescue officials.
In addition to the four who died from the fatal pileup, 43 were known to be injured as of 6 a.m.
The exact cause of the accident has yet to be identified, but the officials note the truck and the other cars may have skidded on snow or ice patches on the road as the entire nation was under a snow warning or alert.
Rescue official plans to resume investigation and further search the site later in the day.
Debris from damaged vehicles are piled up in a tunnel on a highway connecting the cities of Suncheon and Wanju in North Jeolla Province on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-02-18--Samsung Group's market cap increases 10.2 pct this year

The combined market capitalization of Samsung Electronics Co. and 15 other listed firms belonging to South Korea 's top conglomerate @ @ @ @ @ ( US $ 443 billion ) as of Friday , up 10.2 percent from end-December @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Feb. 18 (Yonhap) -- The market value of Samsung Group units has risen more than 10 percent this year on a strong rally in tech-focused affiliates, a market tracker said Tuesday.
The combined market capitalization of Samsung Electronics Co. and 15 other listed firms belonging to South Korea's top conglomerate came to 524.2 trillion won (US$443 billion) as of Friday, up 10.2 percent from end-December, according to FnGuide.
Samsung Electronics, the world's top memory chip manufacturer, and seven other Samsung units saw their market caps rise over the cited period, with the remainder suffering setbacks.
The market value of top-cap Samsung Electronics, also the No. 1 smartphone maker in the world, climbed 10.8 percent to 368.9 trillion won.
Major rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI posted the biggest gain of 42.8 percent. Samsung BioLogics, Samsung C&T and Samsung Electro-Mechanics saw their market caps expand at a double-digit rate.
The combined market cap of SK Group edged up 2.6 percent to 133.5 trillion won, with chip giant SK hynix Inc. logging an 11.1 percent increase amid expectations for an improvement in chip business.
LG Group saw the total market value of its 13 listed units grow 10.1 percent to slightly over 93 trillion won.
Other top 10 groups suffered declines. The combined market value of Hyundai Motor Group units fell 1.2 percent to 86.9 trillion won, while its flagship Hyundai Motor registered a 10.8 percent rise.
Earlier this month, Hyundai Motor briefly halted production at its domestic plants due to a shortage of China-sourced parts amid the new coronavirus crisis.
Stung by the COVID-19 outbreak, the retail and food conglomerate Lotte Group chalked up the largest drop, with its market cap sinking 10.2 percent to 18.6 trillion won.
(END)


yna--2020-02-18--N. Korea reaffirms no new coronavirus infection

Speculation , however , is increasing that the North might be concealing an outbreak of the virus that originated in @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan and has been widely spreading through its neighboring country with which it shares a @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Feb. 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's official newspaper reaffirmed Tuesday that there has been no confirmed case of the new coronavirus on its soil amid speculation that Pyongyang might be concealing an outbreak.
The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, carried an article in which a public health official emphasized that there has been "no single confirmed case" of COVID-19 infection.
He said the nationwide preventive measures, including the swift implementation of an emergency quarantine system launched immediately after the outbreak in China have paid off in blocking the flow of the highly contagious virus.
"As a result, we have no confirmed case of the new coronavirus so far," he was quoted as saying.
North Korea has repeatedly emphasized that there has been no confirmed outbreak of the highly contagious virus on its soil, though it suggested that there are people showing suspected symptoms.
The World Health Organization's office in Pyongyang recently told the Voice of America that it "has not received any report of coronavirus cases" from North Korea's health ministry.
North Korea has tightened its border with China and increased the mandatory quarantine period for high-risk people to 30 days. North Korean officials and citizens in Pyongyang were seen wearing face masks in photos released by state media.
Speculation, however, is increasing that the North might be concealing an outbreak of the virus that originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan and has been widely spreading through its neighboring country with which it shares a long and porous border.
North Korea is also known for weak medical infrastructure and a lack of key supplies needed to test and treat people infected with such an infectious disease. Experts worry that once the new coronavirus flows into the country, it could get out of control.
This photo, captured from North Korea's Korean Central TV on Jan. 31, 2020, shows transport workers wearing masks in a report on efforts to prevent the spread of the deadly new coronavirus. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-18--Latest LPGA champion Park In-bee moves closer to Olympic spot

Park , the 2016 Olympic gold medalist , is trying to earn a chance to defend that title in Tokyo @ @ @ @ @ field will feature 60 golfers , and those inside the top 15 in the rankings @ @ @ @ @ will automatically qualify .
But there is a limit of four players per country , @ @ @ @ @ to the deepest talent pool in women 's golf , currently has five players inside @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Feb. 18 (Yonhap) -- Fresh off her 20th career LPGA title, South Korean golfer Park In-bee has climbed closer to an Olympic berth in the world rankings.
Park, who captured the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open on Sunday, jumped six spots to reach No. 11 in the latest rankings announced Tuesday.
Park, the 2016 Olympic gold medalist, is trying to earn a chance to defend that title in Tokyo this summer. The Olympic field will feature 60 golfers, and those inside the top 15 in the rankings at the end of June will automatically qualify. But there is a limit of four players per country, and South Korea, thanks to the deepest talent pool in women's golf, currently has five players inside the top 15.
In this EPA photo, Park In-bee of South Korea kisses the trophy after winning the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open at Royal Adelaide Golf Club in Adelaide, Australia, on Feb. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
Park is the fifth-highest ranked South Korean, behind Ko Jin-young (No. 1), Park Sung-hyun (No. 3), Kim Sei-young (No. 6) and Lee Jeong-eun (No. 9). Park In-bee leapfrogged Kim Hyo-joo, who slipped from No. 12 to No. 13 this week.
Park began the season at No. 16. In order to crack the top 15, she opened her season at the very first tournament of the year, Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champion, in January. It was Park's earliest start to a season in four years.
Park lost in the playoff in that tournament and then missed the cut in her next two starts, dropping to No. 17 as a result.
But the victory in Australia catapulted her back into the mix. The world rankings award points based on the strength of the field and evaluate players' performances over a rolling two-year period. An extra emphasis is placed on results from the 13 most recent weeks.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-18--(Spring Training) (Yonhap Interview) Ryu signing an opportunity to 'embrace' Korean fans in Toronto:

(Spring Training) (Yonhap Interview) Ryu signing an opportunity to 'embrace' Korean fans in Toronto: Blue Jays' CEO

`` I think we were cognizant and aware that the market was going above where we expected it to go @ @ @ @ @ `` So we factored that into our decision-making .
I think we feel like , @ @ @ @ @ the age and the time frame , we did n't have to feel the sense @ @ @ @ @ .
We could wait and explore multiple junctures .
If it did n't happen through @ @ @ @ @ , we could look at trades or multiple midlevel free agents .
It was just @ @ @ @ @ do the best we could to impact the roster as positively as we could .
@

By Yoo Jee-ho
DUNEDIN, United States, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- When the Toronto Blue Jays were pursuing free agent left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin during the offseason, they were doing so from multiple perspectives.
In baseball terms, for one, they wanted to address their need in starting pitching, and they felt Ryu, the reigning major league leader in ERA and runner-up in the National League Cy Young Award voting, could provide an answer. In less tangible ways, the Blue Jays were also looking at how Ryu's presence could galvanize Toronto's substantial Korean community.
Toronto Blue Jays CEO and President Mark Shapiro poses for a photo in front of the club's logo at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
And the pitcher's arrival in the city, on a four-year, US$80 million contract, will allow the Blue Jays to reach out to a new fan base and expand their brand, club CEO and president Mark Shapiro said Monday.
"This could be a meaningful opportunity for us to tap into a group of fans that we haven't previously had following the Blue Jays," Shapiro told Yonhap News Agency on Monday in an interview at TD Ballpark, home of the Jays' spring training in Dunedin, Florida.
"We're excited about that. We're going to embrace that," he added. "We're going to seek to learn and understand those fans, and listen to those fans. We'll create opportunities for them to make Blue Jays experiences and Blue Jays games special events for the Korean community in Toronto."
According to the 2016 census, Toronto is home to some 73,000 people of South Korean descent. Shapiro said it is one of the strongest Korean communities in North America, and there are several other ethnicities well represented in a diverse city that is Toronto.
"First and foremost, Toronto is an international city. It's not just Korea that's represented. It's a city that is built upon accepting and embracing all nationalities," Shapiro said. "And you can't walk around the city without feeling a sense of understanding that it's a truly world class international city. Any international player adds to that dynamic that's already a point of identity for the city of Toronto and really, the whole country of Canada."
The Blue Jays, coming off a 67-95 season in which they went through 21 starters, obviously didn't sign Ryu just to sell tickets to Korean fans. He went 14-5 with a 2.32 ERA in 29 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Ryu would have ranked first on the Blue Jays in wins and ERA, and tied for first in starts with Trent Thornton.
Toronto Blue Jays CEO and President Mark Shapiro speaks to Yonhap News Agency in an interview at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
Shapiro said he's counting on Ryu to duplicate that kind of success, health permitting.
"He's competed and succeeded in environments that we want our team to get to. I think that level of experience and his ability to both thrive in those circumstances as well as not be overwhelmed by them is positive, should we continue to progress to those moments," he said. "We feel like, when he's healthy, he's going to be a very good starting pitcher. I guess our goal would be to work with him to keep him healthy because I feel like there's not a lot of question how good he can be when he's healthy."
Ryu has dealt with a litany of injuries over the first seven years of his major league career. He missed the entire 2015 season due to a shoulder injury and made just one start in 2016 before shutting it down because of elbow problems. He has also been sidelined with injuries to his groin, hip and neck.
Ryu stayed healthy for the most part in 2019, which allowed him to throw 182 2/3 innings, the second-highest total of his career after going 192 innings as a rookie in 2013.
Ryu had managed just 82 1/3 innings in 2018. The sudden uptick in the workload for a pitcher with a history of injuries could raise a red flag for some, but Shapiro said he wasn't worried about the situation.
"We're more concerned about the fact that there were injuries that didn't let him get a bigger workload earlier," he said. "As we build trust with him, and we understand and learn more about him, I think one of the primary goals behind the scenes will be working with him to keep him healthy. The rest, he can take care of himself."
Asked what the Blue Jays liked the most about Ryu as they tried to sign him, Shapiro said it was Ryu's "multifaceted" ways to attack hitters.
"(His approach) isn't dependent just on a good fastball or an out-pitch breaking ball. He's an athletic, creative pitcher with multiple weapons and has the ability to attack different types of hitters," he said. "It makes him effective against all kinds of lineups. He can change speeds, locate, use a full arsenal. His competitiveness, his athleticism and his creativity were things we liked."
Toronto Blue Jays CEO and President Mark Shapiro speaks to Yonhap News Agency in an interview at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
In addition to Ryu's on-field skills, the Blue Jays did a lot of digging on Ryu the person, and they came away impressed.
"He's a good teammate, which is very important to us," Shapiro said. "And we felt like he'd be a cultural fit for our organization as well."
The Blue Jays began the offseason with what they called "financial flexibility," hoping to leverage it to add assets to complement their talented young core. In the early going, they went after other free agent pitchers like Zack Wheeler, Rick Porcello and Jake Odorizzi, only to see them sign elsewhere.
As the clock ticked toward the end of 2019, the pressure was mounting on the front office to get something, anything, done. But Shapiro said such pressure is part of the job, and he didn't let it affect his decision-making process.
"I think we were cognizant and aware that the market was going above where we expected it to go," he said. "So we factored that into our decision-making. I think we feel like, where our roster is and the age and the time frame, we didn't have to feel the sense of needing to do something. We could wait and explore multiple junctures. If it didn't happen through a top line free agent, we could look at trades or multiple midlevel free agents. It was just a matter of trying to do the best we could to impact the roster as positively as we could."
The rebuilding Blue Jays overcame a dismal May (7-21) and nearly played .500 baseball over the final two months of the season (24-28). Shapiro said he expects the club to win more games this year than the last, though projecting an exact number is difficult.
Toronto Blue Jays CEO and President Mark Shapiro poses for a photo in front of the club's logo at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
"Certainly, we have our range of expected wins objectively. But I don't want to limit us to those expected number of wins," he said. "Development is not linear. It's not a smooth line. So there will be some ups and downs with young players. That's just the nature of young players. But adding some veteran starting pitching will certainly help stabilize things as well as allow us to develop the rest of our young pitchers more naturally and not rush them to the big leagues."
Ryu is part of that newly added veteran starting pitching. Several Blue Jays players have spoken throughout spring training about how excited they were with Ryu's signing and how they felt the acquisition was a sign of confidence that the front office had in the young team.
Shapiro said he wasn't necessarily trying to send any message. Instead, it was the other way around, with the players nudging the front office to go after big-ticket free agents.
"I look at the progress (the players) made, and their belief in each other and their belief in our team emboldened us and empowered us to sign a contract that may not be that comfortable," Shapiro said. "When you look at the starting pitching free agent market, it's a tough market. You don't go to those dollars lightly. But knowing that our internal starting pitching prospects lagged behind our position players, we needed to bring in some starters. Ryu is certainly the premier one at the top of the rotation."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-18--(Spring Training) S. Korean connection runs in family of Blue Jays' infielder

`` Those guys are really talented .
They 're super young and to get to the big leagues that young @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Vlady is still 20 years old , and I was still in @ @ @ @ @ says a lot about those guys and how talented they are .
I have no @ @ @ @ @ guys will continue to progress and get better .
I am hoping to learn as @ @ @ @ @ other way around . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
DUNEDIN, United States, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- Back in the summer of 2001, Travis Shaw was an 11-year-old boy, a future major leaguer running around the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse, while his father, Jeff Shaw, was closing out games en route to his second and last All-Star appearance of his 12-year career.
Whenever the young Travis was there, South Korean pitcher Park Chan-ho always took time to play with him. Park also made the 2001 All-Star Game in Seattle, and the two Shaws and Park shared some special moments, with no other Dodger present at the Midsummer Classic.
This photo provided by Toronto Blue Jays' infielder Travis Shaw on Feb. 17, 2020, shows Shaw (C) standing between his father Jeff Shaw (L) and South Korean pitcher Park Chan-ho, two Los Angeles Dodgers representatives at the 2001 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Seattle. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Turn the clock forward to 2020. Travis, 29, is a big leaguer himself, with nearly 600 games to his credit. He signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as a free agent in December, a few days after South Korean left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin joined the club on his own free agent contract.
Sharing the clubhouse with a Korean player -- with their lockers only meters apart -- brought back some memories for the junior Shaw on Sunday.
"(Park) used to mess around with me a lot. I remember he was one of the guys that was always nice to me," Shaw told Yonhap News Agency with a smile inside the clubhouse at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida. "I have a couple of pictures with him on my phone. I remember Chan-ho pretty well."
Shaw shared one such photo from the All-Star Game. In it, Jeff Shaw and Park are decked out in their National League All-Star Team jerseys, and Travis, with his arms folded across the Dodgers logo in front of his purple uniform, is standing in front of the two big leaguers.
The son grew to become a major leaguer and made his debut as a member of the Boston Red Sox against the Blue Jays in May 2015. Shaw was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in December 2016, and he blossomed into a dangerous slugger there, belting out 31 homers in 2017 and 32 more in 2018.
A swing change that went awry led to the worst season of his career in 2019, as Shaw batted only .157 with seven home runs in 86 games. He was allowed to walk as a free agent, and the Blue Jays, in need of a left-handed bat and some defensive stability in infield, got both in Shaw.
Toronto Blue Jays' infielder Travis Shaw fields the ball during spring training at the Player Development Complex, outside TD Ballpark, in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Blue Jays are counting on Shaw to bounce back. And Shaw said he's gone back to the swing that made him a 30-homer man, and he feels "pretty good" with his stroke.
"A change of scenery is sometimes needed. For me, it's a fresh start," he said. "Last year, it is well-documented, the struggles I had. I am ready to put that behind me. Having a new start makes it a little bit easier to do that. I am excited to reenergize myself."
Shaw can handle first base, second base and third base. Manager Charlie Montoyo said Shaw's primary position will be first base, and he can also spell Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at third base.
Shaw and Guerrero Jr., whose father, Vladimir Guerrero, is in the Hall of Fame, are joined in the infield by two other sons of former major leaguers: Cavan Biggio, son of Hall of Famer Craig, at second base, and Bo Bichette, son of All-Star outfielder Dante, at shortstop.
"It's pretty unique. I am assuming this has never happened before, the whole infield of second-generation guys," Shaw said. "Not only that, all the dads had extreme success in the big leagues. It's pretty cool. That molded me into who I am today, and I am sure they can say the same thing about their experiences."
As the oldest player of the bunch and the only one with postseason experience, Shaw is expected to show his teammates the ropes.
Toronto Blue Jays' infielder Travis Shaw (L) tosses the ball during spring training at the Player Development Complex, outside TD Ballpark, in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
But Shaw said learning will go both ways.
"Those guys are really talented. They're super young and to get to the big leagues that young is impressive," he said. "Vlady is still 20 years old, and I was still in college at 20. That says a lot about those guys and how talented they are. I have no doubt in my mind those guys will continue to progress and get better. I am hoping to learn as much from them as the other way around."
Shaw must also get things done at the plate and having Ryu as a teammate, as opposed to facing him as an opponent, should help in that regard.
"Ryu is a great pitcher. I thought he was one of the toughest guys on the Dodgers roster," said Shaw, who has gone 0-for-4 with two strikeouts against Ryu. "He knows what he's doing. He has pinpoint control. I am excited that I don't have to worry about facing him anymore."
Travis Shaw of the Toronto Blue Jays speaks to reporters at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-02-18--(Spring training) Blue Jays' manager pleased with Ryu Hyun-jin's leadership

`` You get a guy of Ryu 's caliber , and now my lefties are asking him , 'How do @ @ @ @ @ how do you throw that ? '
'' Montoyo told reporters at TD Ballpark in @ @ @ @ @ first day of full workout for position players .
`` That 's great .
That @ @ @ @ @ 're going to get better -- not just by him pitching but also teaching the @ @ @ @ @ the game and how he pitches . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
DUNEDIN, United States, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- As the highest-paid pitcher in franchise history, Toronto Blue Jays' left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin is obviously expected to do well on the mound.
So far in his first spring training with the club in Florida, the South Korean veteran has also taken on a leadership role, a move that has made manager Charlie Montoyo a happy man.
Toronto Blue Jays' manager Charlie Montoyo speaks to reporters at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
"You get a guy of Ryu's caliber, and now my lefties are asking him, 'How do you throw this, and how do you throw that?'" Montoyo told reporters at TD Ballpark in Dunedin on Monday, the first day of full workout for position players. "That's great. That's why I know we're going to get better -- not just by him pitching but also teaching the other kids how he approaches the game and how he pitches."
Montoyo was referring to the scene after Ryu's bullpen session Sunday, when the 32-year-old was approached by a pair of young starters, Trent Thornton and Ryan Borucki, about pitch grips. Even though Thornton is a right-hander, the 26-year-old was still trying to pick Ryu's brain about throwing the cutter. Borucki, a soft-tossing left-hander like Ryu, told Yonhap News Agency last week that he felt that he and Ryu had similar stuff, and he considered the arrival of Ryu a great learning opportunity.
With position players joining pitchers and catchers, whose workout began last Thursday, Montoyo had his full squad for the first time this spring. He held a team meeting before his daily media availability and said his message was simple: he and the coaching staff are excited about what's in store in 2020 for the young club.
The Jays had a 67-95 record to finish fourth in the American League East last year but had a solid finish, with a 12-13 mark in September.
"We're going to go in there and play to win," Montoyo said. "And the good thing about it is (the young players) know the league. They know who they're going to be facing. We're going to play to win, for sure."
Toronto Blue Jays' manager Charlie Montoyo (C) speaks to reporters at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)