yna--2020-12-10--Moon's approval rating dips again, reaches new low of 37.1 pct: poll

It also comes as the number of new virus cases approached 700 for the second straight day on Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ pile up beyond the greater Seoul area , further putting health authorities on edge .

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in's job approval rating has dropped again this week, dipping further from last week's all-time low figure, a poll showed Thursday, with a rift between the justice minister and the top prosecutor deepening and new virus cases soaring across the nation.
In a Realmeter survey on 1,509 voters nationwide from Monday through Wednesday, 37.1 percent of respondents said they supported Moon.
The figure represents a 0.3 percentage point dip from the 37.4 percent approval rating from last week, when Moon lost 6.4 percentage points in support to fall below the 40 percent mark in favorability for the first time during his presidency.
This image provided by Realmeter on Dec. 10, 2020, shows the latest trend in approval and disapproval ratings of President Moon Jae-in. (Yonhap)
The proportion of those disapproving of Moon's job, meanwhile, climbed 0.8 percentage point to reach a new high of 58.2 percent. The rate of those who said they weren't sure stood at 4.7 percent, down 0.5 percentage point.
The president's rating especially plunged among liberal and swing voters, by 6 percentage points and 2.2 percentage points, respectively.
The ruling Democratic Party, however, saw its popularity inch up 1.7 percentage points to 31.4 percent. In contrast, the figure for the main opposition People Power Party slid 0.8 percentage point to 30.5 percent.
The survey results came amid the escalating conflict between Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, with the justice ministry planning to discuss disciplinary measures against Yoon over alleged irregularities later in the day.
Many view them as locking horns over the Moon government's push to reform the state prosecution service often accused of having excessive authority and power.
It also comes as the number of new virus cases approached 700 for the second straight day on Thursday, as new infections continued to pile up beyond the greater Seoul area, further putting health authorities on edge.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--Samsung unveils new 110-inch Micro LED TV

Samsung first launched its Micro LED display in 2018 under the brand named The Wall for commercial use , but @ @ @ @ @ deliver the product for home cinema use as well .

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. on Thursday unveiled a new Micro LED TV as the South Korean tech giant targets high-end consumers seeking a better home entertainment experience.
Samsung's 110-inch Micro LED TV will be priced at 170 million won (US$156,400) here. Preorders for the latest luxury TV will begin later this month, with the official launch slated for the first quarter of 2021.
A Micro LED TV uses micrometer-sized LED chips as singular pixels that can also self-illuminate, providing better resolution and higher clarity. But unlike organic light-emitting diode displays, it uses inorganic material that minimizes luminance decay concerns.
Samsung first launched its Micro LED display in 2018 under the brand named The Wall for commercial use, but it has been trying to deliver the product for home cinema use as well.
The world's largest TV maker added it has applied advanced transfer technology for LED chips to commercialize the new Micro LED TV and that it has secured solutions to make smaller Micro LED TVs.
This photo provided by Samsung Electronics Co. on Dec. 10, 2020, shows the company's new 110-inch Micro LED TV. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Samsung said its 110-inch Micro LED TV used more than 8 million RGB LED chips in a 3.3 square-meter area, securing 4K resolution quality. The product is also equipped with a Micro AI Processor, which uses artificial intelligence algorithms to deliver better upscaling qualities.
Its latest Micro TV features a 4Vue function, in which users can split the 110-inch display into four different 50-inch screens and enjoy multiple content at the same time.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--ADB expects S. Korean economy to retreat less than expected in 2020

The South Korean economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace of 2.1 percent in the July-September period from three months earlier @ @ @ @ @ economy retreated for the second straight quarter in the second quarter of the year amid @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday revised up the economic outlook for the South Korean economy this year, citing robust exports of tech products and a mild recovery in private consumption.
The ADB expected Asia's fourth-largest economy to retreat 0.9 percent this year, compared with its September forecast of 1 percent contraction. The Manila-based bank predicted the Korean economy will grow 3.3 percent next year, the same as its earlier forecast.
The ADB said the Korean economy is forecast to contract less than earlier projected in 2020 "on stronger information technology exports, some recovery in private consumption, continuing fiscal and monetary support and improved growth in major export markets."
The bank's outlook is better than the latest forecasts by South Korea's central bank, the Bank of Korea (BOK), and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The BOK and the Paris-based OECD expected Asia's fourth-largest economy to contract 1.1 percent this year.
The South Korean economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace of 2.1 percent in the July-September period from three months earlier on improving exports. The economy retreated for the second straight quarter in the second quarter of the year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The country's exports, which account for half of the economy, grew 4 percent in November on-year on the back of strong sales of chips, rebounding for the first time in two months.
On inflation, the ADB maintained its 2020 and 2021 outlook for South Korea as the country's inflationary pressure remains muted amid falling oil prices and subdued domestic demand.
The bank forecast South Korea's consumer prices to grow 0.5 percent this year and pick up to 1.3 percent next year.
The ADB, meanwhile, forecast developing Asian countries to contract 0.4 percent this year and grow 6.8 percent next year.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--E-scooters allowed to use bike lanes amid safety concerns

Until next April , authorities will carry out tougher crackdowns on those who violate the related laws , including people @ @ @ @ @ operate the vehicles with two or more passengers or use them under the influence of @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- Electric scooters and other motor-based personal transportation vehicles will be allowed to start using bicycle lanes across the country Thursday, the government said.
Under the amended laws on road traffic and bicycle use approved by the National Assembly in May, personal mobility devices, which refer to transporters that weigh below 30 kilograms and have a maximum speed of 25 kph, like electric scooters, are permitted on bike lanes.
Those below the age of 13 are banned from riding them for safety. The laws also authorize the government to designate parts of the cycling paths as no-personal mobility device zones for safety.
This image, provided by Yonhap News TV, shows people riding electric scooters. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Civic activists call for a revision bill to ensure a safe riding environment for e-scooters and pedestrians in Seoul on Nov. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
On Wednesday, the assembly passed an additional revision on the Road Traffic Act to only allow people with licenses for motorized transporters to use personal mobility devices, which will be implemented next April due to a legal grace period.
The new amendment came as public concern over the safety of electric scooters and other similar devices rose in the light of multiple accidents involving them.
Until next April, authorities will carry out tougher crackdowns on those who violate the related laws, including people who ride without helmets, operate the vehicles with two or more passengers or use them under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Meanwhile, a consultative body made up of the central government, municipal authorities and 15 rental companies said it will continue to require rental riders be at least 18 years old, prohibiting unlicensed minors from using the services.
The group also plans to table a bill to create a licensing system for urban transport, similar to the driver's license test, while devising rules for its general management to further improve safety of the service.
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--New virus cases near 700 for 2nd day; nationwide resurgence accelerating

Under the new guideline , anyone can take a virus test free of charge at screening centers under Level 2 @ @ @ @ @ a separate notice is issued , regardless of whether they have any symptoms of the @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new virus cases approached 700 for the second straight day on Thursday as new infections continued to pile up beyond the greater Seoul area, further putting health authorities on edge.
The country reported 682 new virus cases, including 646 domestically transmitted ones, raising the total caseload to 40,098, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Of the 682 new virus cases, 489 were reported in the greater Seoul area that covers Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, just west of Seoul.
The figure showed a slight decrease from 686 the previous day, but it hit the third-highest mark since January, when the country's first case was reported.
The number of confirmed cases hit a record high of 909 on Feb. 29. and the second-highest mark on Wednesday.
Eight additional coronavirus deaths were reported, raising the death toll to 564.
There is little traffic on a street in front of Hongik University, usually one of the busiest streets in Seoul, on the night of Dec. 9, 2020, when new virus cases recorded the second-highest mark of 686 since January. (Yonhap)
As the virus infections continued to rise, health authorities urged people to thoroughly follow the enhanced social distancing guidelines under the second-strongest virus curbs in the greater Seoul area, which have been in place since Tuesday.
"In the current situation, the capacity of disinfection and health systems is at risk of reaching the limit down the road," Health Minister Park Neunghoo said at a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.
More than 3,000 new infections were identified across the country over the past week as the greater Seoul area was a hotbed of the current wave of the pandemic, reporting record highs of new virus cases, Park said.
Health authorities will bring all our available resources to bear upon the task to put the virus spread under control, he said.
On Wednesday, Central Disease Control Headquarters came up with another guideline to expand the number of people being tested for the virus.
Under the new guideline, anyone can take a virus test free of charge at screening centers under Level 2 or higher, or if a separate notice is issued, regardless of whether they have any symptoms of the coronavirus.
In addition, health authorities decided to increase the number of residential treatment centers and clinics fully dedicated to treating COVID-19 patients to brace for a possible shortage of hospital beds.
By region, 251 confirmed cases were reported in Seoul and 201 from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province. Incheon, west of Seoul, added 37 more cases. The greater Seoul area is home to about half of the country's 51.6 million population.
The number of imported cases reached 36, up from 24 the previous day. They include 19 from the United States and seven from Europe.
The number of COVID-19 patients with serious symptoms across the country amounted to 172, up from 149 on Wednesday.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 30,637, up 460 from Wednesday.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--National Assembly set to vote on contentious bill on new investigative organ

But voting on the bill is again expected to be delayed by the PPP planning to launch another round of @ @ @ @ @ to relocate the state spy agency 's authority to conduct anti-communist investigations to the police @ @ @ @ @ block its meddling in domestic politics .

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- The National Assembly is on track to vote on a contentious bill Thursday that would expedite the launch of a new investigative body handling high-profile corruption cases.
The revision bill on the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) law will be put to a vote at a plenary session slated for 2 p.m.
The proposal was tabled at the last plenary meeting of the regular parliamentary session Wednesday, but the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) thwarted parliamentary voting on it by launching a filibuster.
The bill aims to remove veto power held by the two PPP-side members of the seven-person committee entrusted to select candidates for the inaugural chief of the CIO.
Due to their veto, the committee failed to reach an agreement in its three rounds of meetings last month, stalling the launch of the investigative organ championed by President Moon Jae-in and the ruling Democratic Party (DP).
After processing the bill at the plenary session, the National Assembly, where the DP holds a majority, plans to table another contentious bill -- a revision to the National Intelligence Service Korea Act.
But voting on the bill is again expected to be delayed by the PPP planning to launch another round of filibuster. The bill aims to relocate the state spy agency's authority to conduct anti-communist investigations to the police, in a bid to block its meddling in domestic politics.
The two bills, combined with a revision to the national police act, which passed the assembly earlier this week, will back up Moon's push to reform so-called power institutions including the state prosecution service, if they finally win a parliamentary nod.
One more contentious bill on prohibiting the launch of anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the inter-Korean border also remains pending at the assembly due to opposition protests.
The DP plans to first push the spy agency bill through the National Assembly on Friday, as it can break a filibuster with 180 votes, 24 hours after it began.
People Power Party lawmakers stage a protest against a revision bill on the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) law at the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--(LEAD) S. Korea on alert over spreading bird flu, more highly pathogenic cases likely in store

Another duck farm from the same town confirmed a highly pathogenic bird flu case the previous day .
If found @ @ @ @ @ a test , it will become the third such case from South Jeolla Province alone @

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; ADDS details in paras 7-8, photo)
By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported yet another suspected highly pathogenic avian influenza case from a poultry farm Thursday, raising concerns that the bird flu outbreak is spreading nationwide despite enhanced measures.
Authorities are investigating the suspected case in Naju, 355 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The samples were gathered from a slaughter house.
The farm had killed all of its 22,000 ducks to be sold at market, but they were discarded after the suspected case.
Quarantine officials prepare to cull ducks at a farm in Naju, 355 kilometers south of Seoul, on Dec. 9, 2020. (Yonhap)
Another duck farm from the same town confirmed a highly pathogenic bird flu case the previous day. If found to be seriously contagious in a test, it will become the third such case from South Jeolla Province alone.
So far, South Korea has reported seven highly pathogenic avian influenza cases from poultry farms across the country, including two from Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital city.
There were also infection cases from North Chungcheong, North Gyeongsang and North Jeolla provinces.
South Korea completed the culling of more than 4 million poultry from affected farms late Wednesday, covering 2.42 million chickens, 1.01 million quails and 572,000 ducks.
Authorities cull poultry within a 3-km radius of infected farms. Birds at farms with suspected cases are also destroyed.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is contagious and can cause severe illness and even death in poultry.
The country reported its first highly pathogenic case in 32 months in late October in Cheonan, 92 kilometers south of Seoul, from wild birds.
Since then, a total of 22 cases have been found from wild bird habitats across the country, according to the latest data provided by the ministry. Health authorities are investigating more than 10 suspected cases among wild birds.
Quarantine officials prepare to cull ducks at a farm in Naju, 355 kilometers south of Seoul, on Dec. 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--Seoul stocks open lower on Facebook lawsuit, allergy cases in British vaccination

The fall was led by shares of tech giants , tracking a 1.94 percent overnight plunge on the Nasdaq composite @ @ @ @ @ Commission 's antitrust lawsuit against Facebook dropped investor appetite for tech heavyweights .

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's benchmark stock index opened sharply lower Thursday on overnight Wall Street tech losses and reports of allergy cases related to the vaccinations in Britain.
The Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 26.77 points, or 0.97 percent, to 2,728.7 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
The fall was led by shares of tech giants, tracking a 1.94 percent overnight plunge on the Nasdaq composite. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's antitrust lawsuit against Facebook dropped investor appetite for tech heavyweights.
Overnight, the tech-heavy Nasdaq dipped 1.94 percent to 12,338.95 points. The Dow Jones Industrial Average retreated 0.58 percent, with the S&P 500 losing 0.79 percent.
Two allergic reactions observed in the British COVID-19 mass vaccination also drove down investor sentiment.
Market behemoth Samsung Electronics dropped 1.49 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix shed 2.49 percent.
Chemical firm LG Chem lost 1.56 percent, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI fell 1.41 percent.
Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics retreated 0.61 percent, while Celltrion moved up 0.42 percent.
Internet giant Naver shed 0.87 percent, with its rival Kakao declining 1.33 percent.
Top automaker Hyundai Motor retreated 0.52 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,086.0 won against the U.S. dollar, down 1.2 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--(LEAD) Ulsan blank Beijing to reach AFC Champions League semifinals

`` It 's been a long year , and we 'll try to win our next two matches ( semifinals @ @ @ @ @ go home , '' said Kim , whose team finished in second place in both @ @ @ @ @ the Korean FA Cup .
`` We 're not feeling any pressure .
I think @ @ @ @ @ .
Even though they 're confined to their hotel ( due to COVID-19 restrictions ) @ @ @ @ @ keep things light and fun .
I think it will lead to good plays on @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS comments in paras 16-19)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai FC have reached the semifinals of Asia's top club football tournament.
Forward Junior Negrao netted two goals in the first half, as Ulsan defeated Beijing Guoan 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League in Qatar on Thursday.
The Brazilian striker converted a penalty in the 21st minute and then scored with a thunderous midrange strike in the 42nd minute at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, just south of Doha.
Ulsan, the K League 1 runners-up this year, are trying to win their second AFC Champions League title, and first since 2012. They set the AFC Champions League record by scoring at least two goals in their seventh straight match.
In this EPA photo, Junior Negrao of Ulsan Hyundai FC celebrates after converting a penalty against Beijing Guoan during the teams' quarterfinals match at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
Another K League side, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, will play in the quarterfinals later Thursday at the same venue, against Vissel Kobe.
Prior to Thursday, Beijing had given up only four goals in seven matches. Ulsan became the first team to score more than one goal against Beijing at this year's tournament.
Ulsan opened the scoring with the benefit of the video assistant referee (VAR) system, which is in play from the quarterfinals and on.
In the 16th minute, Junior Negrao's volley inside the box went off the right hand of Beijing defender Kim Min-jae. When no violation was immediately called, the VAR alerted the on-field referee, Mohammed Abdulla Hassan, to review the play for a possible handball. Hassan checked his monitor and awarded Ulsan the penalty, while Kim, the Korean-born defender, was shown the yellow card.
In this Reuters photo, Junior Negrao of Ulsan Hyundai FC (L) celebrates his second goal against Beijing Guoan with teammate Lee Chung-yong during the teams' quarterfinals match at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
Junior took the spot kick himself and beat goalkeeper Hou Sen to the bottom right corner.
Renato Augusto tried to level the score for Beijing with chances in the 25th and then 32nd minutes, but Ulsan ended up getting the next goal, courtesy of Junior in the 42nd minute.
This time, Junior needed no replay help, as he fired a shot from outside the box and sent it past the diving Hou.
Junior's hat trick bid was foiled in the 59th minute, when his header was stopped by Hou on the short side.
Beijing kept pushing for a goal, and nearly got one in the 64th minute, when Jonathan Viera's shot from the center of the box beat goalkeeper Jo Su-huk but not the left goal post.
In this EPA photo, Park Joo-ho of Ulsan Hyundai FC (L) and Wang Gang of Beijing Guoan vie for the ball during the teams' quarterfinals match at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
Two minutes Later, Jo came up big to deny Augusto on a close-range header.
Ulsan played some dogged defense the rest of the way to keep Beijing off the board.
Ulsan head coach Kim Do-hoon thanked his players for their determined effort and said he was proud of the way they battled.
"It's been a long year, and we'll try to win our next two matches (semifinals and final) before we go home," said Kim, whose team finished in second place in both the K League 1 and the Korean FA Cup. "We're not feeling any pressure. I think the players are enjoying this. Even though they're confined to their hotel (due to COVID-19 restrictions), they're trying to keep things light and fun. I think it will lead to good plays on the pitch."
Junior, the offensive hero for Ulsan, said a win such as this can only help with the team's confidence moving forward.
"We went up against some great players today, and the fact that we beat them shows we're competing at a high level," Junior said. "We learned from our shortcomings in the K League and the FA Cup, and we're putting those lessons into practice here. We're trying to put those losses behind us and to make sure we don't make the same mistakes."
In this AFP photo, Dave Bulthuis of Ulsan Hyundai FC (R) battles Renato Augusto of Beijing Guoan for the ball during the teams' quarterfinals match at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
The AFC Champions League kicked off in February but went into a hiatus in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. The "West Zone" teams in Groups A to D, from the likes of Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, completed the rest of their group stage in September and also played all the knockout matches in their half of the bracket -- all of them in Qatar. Persepolis FC of Iran are waiting in the final scheduled for Dec. 19.
The "East Zone" clubs in Groups E to H, from South Korea, China, Australia and Japan, returned to action in November in Qatar.
The semifinals match is Sunday, back at Al Janoub Stadium. The kickoff is 1 p.m. local time and 7 p.m. in Seoul.
In this Associated Press photo, Kim Tae-hwan of Ulsan Hyundai FC (R) and Alan Carvalho of Beijing Guoan battle for the ball during the teams' quarterfinals match at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--(3rd LD) Biegun says diplomacy 'best' and 'only' course to resolving N.K. challenges

`` The war is over .
The time for conflict has ended , and the time for peace has arrived @ @ @ @ @ succeed , we must work together -- the United States , the Republic of Korea @ @ @ @ @ he said , referring to the North 's official name , the Democratic People 's @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS Biegun's dinner in 26th para, 2nd photo)
By Song Sang-ho and Yi Wonju
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said Thursday that diplomacy remains the "best" and "only" course to address the North Korean nuclear quandary, calling for Pyongyang to return to dialogue.
Biegun, who doubles as Washington's top nuclear envoy, made the remarks during a lecture in Seoul recapping his yearslong, unfinished negotiations with the North, which he cast as being marked by "setbacks, disappointments and missed opportunities."
"As we look to the future, I remain convinced that diplomacy remains the best course, indeed the only course, to solving our challenges with North Korea," he said during the lecture at the local think tank Asan Institute for Policy Studies.
"Pyongyang has some pivotal events coming up, in particular the eighth party congress in January. We strongly encourage North Korea to use the time between now and then to set a path for the resumption of diplomacy," he added.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun speaks during a lecture at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
The U.S. envoy was referring to next month's key session of the North's ruling Workers' Party, at which Pyongyang could unveil a new national strategy to ride out a series of challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, global sanctions pressure and economic travails.
Asked about Washington's rejection of Pyongyang's offer to dismantle its mainstay Yongbyon nuclear complex during their summit in Hanoi early last year, Biegun stressed that it does not represent the entirety of the North Korean nuclear program.
"Of course, Yongbyon remains a great interest to the United States of America, and that's a historic center of the North Korean nuclear weapons program. It still retains great importance in any process of the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he said.
"But the challenge that we faced in Hanoi, the challenge we face to this day, is it is not all of North Korea's nuclear weapons program," he added.
The deputy secretary, however, pointed out that the U.S. has "never expected one side has to do everything before the other side does anything."
As for the "key" lesson from the no-deal summit in Hanoi, Biegun underscored that his North Korean counterparts were "not empowered" to discuss serious negotiation topics.
"We didn't have enough time in Hanoi to fully explore the limits of what might be possible, in part because the negotiating team that arrived before the summit was not empowered to discuss those issues," he said.
The U.S. envoy also expressed regrets over North Korean counterparts missing opportunities just in "search for obstacles."
"Regrettably, much opportunity has been squandered by our North Korean counterparts over the past two years, who too often have devoted themselves to the search for obstacles to negotiations instead of seizing opportunities for engagement," he said.
"Yet, remarkably, the potential of the Singapore Summit is still fully present, despite our failure to advance what was agreed."
At the landmark 2018 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore, they agreed to work toward the "complete" denuclearization of the peninsula, seek to build new bilateral ties and make joint efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the peninsula.
But their nuclear talks have been stalled since last year's Hanoi summit. Inter-Korean cooperation has also come to a standstill as Washington keeps tough sanctions in place against the North.
Biegun reiterated that Washington welcomes inter-Korean cooperation to help catalyze lackluster peace efforts.
"We also continue to welcome mutually beneficial inter-Korean cooperation as an important tool to cultivate trust and build cooperation on the Korean Peninsula, and people-to-people exchanges in the fields of education, music, culture and sports would be beneficial to all," he said.
Touching on the bilateral alliance, Biegun stressed that the two countries are "democratic anchors in the Indo-Pacific region."
"The U.S.-ROK Alliance could advance a Pax Indo-Pacifica, a region at peace, protected and made prosperous in equal measure by those who comprise the Indo-Pacific," he said, referring to South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.
"This is our purpose, this is our interest, and with strong and visionary leadership, this will be our destiny," he added.
Wrapping up his speech, he enumerated some points he will deliver to his successor in the incoming Joe Biden administration.
"The war is over. The time for conflict has ended, and the time for peace has arrived. If we are to succeed, we must work together -- the United States, the Republic of Korea and the DPRK," he said, referring to the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"And when we do, we will at long last be able to bring to this peninsula the lasting peace and prosperity that all the Korean people so richly deserve," he added.
Earlier in the day, Biegun stressed Seoul's role and the importance of inter-Korean relations in building peace on the Korean Peninsula during his talks with Unification Minister Lee In-young and said the door to dialogue with North Korea remains open, officials here said.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun (2nd from R), South Korea' First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun (2nd from L) and other officials have dinner at a chicken soup restaurant in Seoul on Dec. 10, 2020 in this photo provided by the foreign ministry. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Biegun had dinner with Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun with at a restaurant in central Seoul that serves his favorite Korean chicken stew, "dakhanmari."
Biegun arrived here on Tuesday for what could be his last visit in his current capacity as the State Department's No. 2 official and its point man on the North.
He will depart for the United States on Saturday morning.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--(3rd LD) S. Korea confirms 8th case of highly pathogenic bird flu in poultry

Since then , a total of 22 cases have been found from wild bird habitats across the country , according @ @ @ @ @ by the ministry .
Health authorities are investigating more than 10 suspected cases among wild @ @

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead with new case; ADDS more details in paras 2-5)
By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea confirmed another case of highly pathogenic bird flu in poultry on Thursday, amid growing concerns over the disease's nationwide spread despite tougher measures.
Avian influenza (AI) of H5N8 strain was found from samples collected from a duck slaughterhouse in Naju, 355 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
It marked the country's eighth highly pathogenic AI case in domestic birds this year, and the third such case in South Jeolla Province.
The authorities destroyed around 44,000 ducks at the slaughterhouse, all of which came from a single farm, officials said.
The farm is not currently raising any poultry and investigation is under way into exact infection routes, they added.
Quarantine officials disinfects a farm in Naju, 355 kilometers south of Seoul, on Dec. 10, 2020, to prevent the spread of bird flu, in this photo provided by a reader. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Earlier in the day, a separate suspected case was identified from a duck farm in Jangseong in the same province, about 310 kilometers south of Seoul.
There were also infection cases from North Chungcheong, North Gyeongsang and North Jeolla provinces.
South Korea completed the culling of more than 4 million poultry from affected farms late Wednesday, covering 2.42 million chickens, 1.01 million quails and 572,000 ducks.
Authorities cull poultry within a 3-km radius of infected farms. Birds at farms with suspected cases are also destroyed.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is contagious and can cause severe illness and even death in poultry.
The country reported its first highly pathogenic case in 32 months in late October in Cheonan, 92 kilometers south of Seoul, from wild birds.
Since then, a total of 22 cases have been found from wild bird habitats across the country, according to the latest data provided by the ministry. Health authorities are investigating more than 10 suspected cases among wild birds.
Quarantine officials prepare to cull ducks at a farm in Naju, 355 kilometers south of Seoul, on Dec. 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--(2nd LD) Moon declares carbon neutrality vision in televised statement

`` The climate crisis -- just as COVID-19 has done -- will hurt the most vulnerable areas , groups and @ @ @ @ @ up inflicting pain on all of our lives , '' he pointed out .
`` @ @ @ @ @ about by what we did yesterday , we can change our tomorrow depending on what @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: REPLACES photo)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in pledged a strong push for carbon neutrality "in all areas of industry, the economy, and society," as he declared the 2050 vision in a statement broadcast live Thursday.
"Carbon neutrality is a difficult but unavoidable task," he said during the evening event, titled "Republic of Korea's Declaration of 2050 Carbon Neutrality: Before It's Too Late."
In the statement from Cheong Wa Dae, Moon announced that the country's principal energy source will be shifted mainly to renewable energy.
"The government will foster three new energy industries: renewable energy, hydrogen and energy IT," he said. "Second, we will strive to create a low-carbon industry ecosystem."
President Moon Jae-in announces the government's plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 in a televised speech at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korea aims to "actively innovate and lead the international community by seizing the global climate crisis response as an opportunity for an inclusive, sustainable growth," he added. "It is also about creating a healthy and prosperous future for our children."
Moon emphasized the urgency of joining hands to cope with the challenge facing the world.
"The climate crisis -- just as COVID-19 has done -- will hurt the most vulnerable areas, groups and people first and will end up inflicting pain on all of our lives," he pointed out. "Just as our today came about by what we did yesterday, we can change our tomorrow depending on what we do today."
The president, first, and briefly, unveiled the ambitious scheme for South Korea to go carbon neutral by 2050 during his budget speech at the National Assembly in October. It made South Korea, one of the world's most fossil fuel-reliant economies, the latest country to commit to net-zero carbon dioxide emissions.
He has since made relevant comments in public several times, including during a virtual summit of Group of 20 nations in November.
He also announced a plan to establish a presidential panel of government officials and private experts for the implementation of related policies.
The initiative is in line with the Moon administration's push for the Green New Deal campaign, which is a key pillar of the so-called Korean-version New Deal together with the Digital New Deal.
"We will establish carbon neutrality-friendly fiscal programs and actively promote green financing and funds so that the people can enthusiastically participate in the Green New Deal," Moon said.
Moon delivered the speech, wearing a necktie made of eco-friendly materials using plastic waste, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--Ulsan blank Beijing to reach AFC Champions League semifinals

The AFC Champions League kicked off in February but went into a hiatus in March because of the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ '' teams in Groups A to D , from the likes of Iran , Qatar @ @ @ @ @ the rest of their group stage in September and also played all the knockout matches @ @ @ @ @ bracket -- all of them in Qatar .
Persepolis FC of Iran are waiting in @ @ @ @ @ 19 .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai FC have reached the semifinals of Asia's top club football tournament.
Forward Junior Negrao netted two goals in the first half, as Ulsan defeated Beijing Guoan 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League in Qatar on Thursday.
The Brazilian striker converted a penalty in the 21st minute and then scored with a thunderous midrange strike in the 42nd minute at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, just south of Doha.
Ulsan, the K League 1 runners-up this year, are trying to win their second AFC Champions League title, and first since 2012. They set the AFC Champions League record by scoring at least two goals in their seventh straight match.
In this EPA photo, Junior Negrao of Ulsan Hyundai FC celebrates after converting a penalty against Beijing Guoan during the teams' quarterfinals match at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
Another K League side, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, will play in the quarterfinals later Thursday at the same venue, against Vissel Kobe.
Prior to Thursday, Beijing had given up only four goals in seven matches. Ulsan became the first team to score more than one goal against Beijing at this year's tournament.
Ulsan opened the scoring with the benefit of the video assistant referee (VAR) system, which is in play from the quarterfinals and on.
In this Reuters photo, Junior Negrao of Ulsan Hyundai FC (L) celebrates his second goal against Beijing Guoan with teammate Lee Chung-yong during the teams' quarterfinals match at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
In the 16th minute, Junior Negrao's volley inside the box went off the right hand of Beijing defender Kim Min-jae. When no violation was immediately called, the VAR alerted the on-field referee, Mohammed Abdulla Hassan, to review the play for a possible handball. Hassan checked his monitor and awarded Ulsan the penalty, while Kim, the Korean-born defender, was shown the yellow card.
Junior took the spot kick himself and beat goalkeeper Hou Sen to the bottom right corner.
In this EPA photo, Park Joo-ho of Ulsan Hyundai FC (L) and Wang Gang of Beijing Guoan vie for the ball during the teams' quarterfinals match at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
Renato Augusto tried to level the score for Beijing with chances in the 25th and then 32nd minutes, but Ulsan ended up getting the next goal, courtesy of Junior in the 42nd minute.
This time, Junior needed no replay help, as he fired a shot from outside the box and sent it past the diving Hou.
Junior's hat trick bid was foiled in the 59th minute, when his header was stopped by Hou on the short side.
Beijing kept pushing for a goal, and nearly got one in the 64th minute, when Jonathan Viera's shot from the center of the box beat goalkeeper Jo Su-huk but not the left goal post.
Two minutes Later, Jo came up big to deny Augusto on a close-range header.
Ulsan played some dogged defense the rest of the way to keep Beijing off the board.
In this AFP photo, Dave Bulthuis of Ulsan Hyundai FC (R) battles Renato Augusto of Beijing Guoan for the ball during the teams' quarterfinals match at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
The AFC Champions League kicked off in February but went into a hiatus in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. The "West Zone" teams in Groups A to D, from the likes of Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, completed the rest of their group stage in September and also played all the knockout matches in their half of the bracket -- all of them in Qatar. Persepolis FC of Iran are waiting in the final scheduled for Dec. 19.
The "East Zone" clubs in Groups E to H, from South Korea, China, Australia and Japan, returned to action in November in Qatar.
The semifinals match is Sunday, back at Al Janoub Stadium. The kickoff is 1 p.m. local time and 7 p.m. in Seoul.
In this Associated Press photo, Kim Tae-hwan of Ulsan Hyundai FC (R) and Alan Carvalho of Beijing Guoan battle for the ball during the teams' quarterfinals match at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--(3rd LD) Justice ministry holds disciplinary session over prosecution chief's alleged wrongdoing

The committee will decide among five levels of punishment , with dismissal the heaviest and reprimand the lightest .
If @ @ @ @ @ salary reduction -- the second-lightest punishment -- or heavier , it will be the president @ @ @ @ @ action against Yoon .

(ATTN: UPDATES with closure in 6th para)
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- The Ministry of Justice held a meeting Thursday to discuss disciplinary measures against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl over alleged irregularities, after delaying the session twice amid backlash.
Last month, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae suspended Yoon for six counts of alleged wrongdoing, including surveillance of the judiciary, the first time a justice minister has taken such a step in the country's history.
Yoon, who fiercely refuted all allegations against him, has been restored after winning a court's injunction. But Choo protested the court's decision and has taken the case to a higher court for review.
Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae enters the government complex in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
The disciplinary committee was convened at 10:30 a.m. at the Gwacheon Government Complex, but was adjourned after Yoon's legal team took issue with the committee's four members over fairness, and asked them to recuse themselves from deliberation.
The committee in the afternoon rejected Yoon's request for replacement of the four members, reportedly calling his demand "abuse of his right to file for recusal." One of the members recused himself.
The panel concluded the first round of deliberation at 8 p.m. The next meeting will be held next Tuesday.
The committee and Yoon's team have been locked in fierce debate on almost every issue on the table, including procedural legitimacy and the impartiality of committee members, making a swift resolution on the high-profile case seem like a distant prospect.
The committee will decide among five levels of punishment, with dismissal the heaviest and reprimand the lightest. If the committee goes with a salary reduction -- the second-lightest punishment -- or heavier, it will be the president who will execute the disciplinary action against Yoon.
The committee is composed of seven field experts, including the justice minister. It needs more than four members in attendance to proceed with deliberation, from which Choo recused herself, as she is the one who sought to discipline Yoon.
These photos show Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae (L) and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl (R). (Yonhap)
The chief prosecutor decided not to attend the meeting in apparent protest against what he claimed to be procedural errors and lack of cooperation from the ministry over sharing information regarding the matter. Yoon's three legal advisers attended.
The controversial meeting was twice delayed amid protest both from Yoon, who strongly complained about unconstitutionality of the process and lack of time to prepare, and from rank-and-file and senior prosecutors, who voiced concern about infringement on the prosecution's core value of political neutrality.
The flag of the prosecution service is unfurled at the Supreme Prosecutors Office in Seoul on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--U.S. Amb. Harris calls S. Korea 'original home' of kimchi

Harris made the remarks in a tweet , unveiling his plan to learn how to make the fermented cabbage dish @ @ @ @ @ one of the most popular Korean traditional side dishes .

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Harry Harris on Thursday described South Korea as the "original home" of kimchi, amid a controversy over Chinese media's claim that Beijing led the development of a global standard for the staple Korean dish.
Harris made the remarks in a tweet, unveiling his plan to learn how to make the fermented cabbage dish, which has long been one of the most popular Korean traditional side dishes.
"So great to be here in the original home of #Kimchi -- South Korea!" he wrote on Twitter.
"I'm excited to learn how to make the most authentic, delicious & 'Made-in-Korea' #Kimchi from Chef 'Big Mama' Hye Jung Lee next Tues. at 11 am!," he added.
A Chinese media outlet claimed that Beijing had won a certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for its kimchi making process -- a charge immediately refuted by South Korea.
Seoul's agriculture ministry said that Beijing won ISO certification for "pao cai," another type of pickled vegetable consumed in China, which "has nothing to do with kimchi."
This photo, taken on Aug. 18, 2020, shows U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris speaking during a meeting with Unification Minister Lee In-young at the unification ministry in Seoul. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--Full text of President Moon Jae-in's statement on South Korea's 2050 carbon neutrality vision

By 2050 – when this year 's newborn babies turn 30 – day-to-day routines on the Korean Peninsula will once @ @ @ @ @ .
Summers will grow longer while winters will shorten .
Such extreme climate events as @ @ @ @ @ will intensify .
If these are coupled with outbreaks of pests and diseases , yields @ @ @ @ @ will likely decrease sharply .
Raising livestock will also become more difficult .
Korean firs @ @ @ @ @ of the valley on Sobaeksan Mountain , which are unique to the Peninsula , may @ @ @ @ @ We may no longer hear even the croaking of green frogs .

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- The following is an unofficial translation of President Moon Jae-in's declaration of South Korea's 2050 carbon neutrality vision. It was provided by his office, Cheong Wa Dae.
Fellow Koreans,
Throughout this year, everyone has struggled really hard. I extend my sympathy to all of those who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 and patients who are battling the virus at this moment. My heartfelt respect goes out to everyone who has joined forces for epidemic prevention and control while enduring inconveniences and disadvantages. I also extend my gratitude to the countless unsung heroes who are quietly working hard, committed to protecting their neighbors and relatives.
Fellow Koreans,
Many scientists have long warned that a climate crisis and ensuing new infectious diseases would come to threaten humanity.
However, these warnings have failed to touch us deeply as we've gone about our busy daily lives. We have felt regret when viewing images of calving glaciers or stranded polar bears, but we have regarded the crisis as something in the distant future. Nevertheless, imperceptibly, the climate crisis has drawn very near to our day-to-day lives. Over the past decade, record-breaking extreme weather events – so-called "once-in-a-century occurrences" – have swept the Korean Peninsula every year: a 100-year torrential rain, a 100-year high temperature and a 100-year drought as well as heat waves, typhoons and the worst fine dust ever.
By 2050 – when this year's newborn babies turn 30 – day-to-day routines on the Korean Peninsula will once again be different from now. Summers will grow longer while winters will shorten. Such extreme climate events as heat waves and tropical nights will intensify. If these are coupled with outbreaks of pests and diseases, yields of rice and other crops will likely decrease sharply. Raising livestock will also become more difficult. Korean firs on Hallasan Mountain and lilies of the valley on Sobaeksan Mountain, which are unique to the Peninsula, may remain only in photos. We may no longer hear even the croaking of green frogs.
Korea is in a relatively good situation. If we look abroad, we can find abnormal global weather conditions already causing humanity a lot of pain in many parts of the world. The climate crisis – just as COVID-19 has done – will hurt the most vulnerable areas, groups and people first and will end up inflicting pain on all of our lives.
Fellow Koreans,
The gloomy future that I envisioned is not a foregone conclusion but something that will become reality if humanity continues to live like this without changing. Just as our today came about by what we did yesterday, we can change our tomorrow depending on what we do today.
Our people already started taking steps to preserve the environment 30 years ago. In 1990, daily per capita household waste amounted to 2.3kg, but it began to decrease from 1995 once disposal fees based on volume were fully adopted. As of now, it hovers consistently around 1kg. Over the past two decades, our recycling rate has seen a sharp increase, which has helped significantly lower the amount of garbage buried or incinerated. The people are already participating in saving the earth through their everyday practices, including cutting back on food waste and the use of disposable products as well as separating garbage for recycling.
To date, the Government has made efforts to cope with climate change in cooperation with the people, and these endeavors have led to various achievements. Greenhouse gas emissions, which have been on a steady rise in line with industrial development, began to decline for the first time last year and are expected to fall further this year. The Korean Government has boldly reduced our reliance on coal for power generation, for instance, by completely suspending construction of new coal power plants and working to shut down ten aged plants earlier than scheduled. On top of this, we have also strived to expand utilization of renewable energy, reduce pollution from old diesel cars and supply eco-friendly vehicles.
Local businesses are also actively investing in such areas as solar power generation, electric cars and hydrogen-powered vehicles – leading industries that represent decarbonization – and taking the lead in the global market. They also boast the largest market share in electric car batteries and energy storage systems.
Nonetheless, one deep concern is the fact that climate change is accelerating. The Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, which was unanimously adopted at the 48th General Assembly of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change held in Korea in 2018, warned that global warming of more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels would put the lives of numerous human beings at risk due to rising sea levels, extreme weather and other changes. The crisis is already approaching before our eyes. This is why each country is scrambling to declare "2050 Carbon Neutrality" as their goal.
Countries around the world and multinational companies are cooperating to achieve common goals for humanity while speeding up innovations to secure competitiveness befitting a new era. Starting with the European Union, major countries have already made it a fait accompli to introduce a carbon border tax. There is a growing movement to limit transactions and investments primarily to eco-friendly companies, and international economic regulations and the trade environment are rapidly changing. Such challenges are never easy for Korea as we are heavily dependent on manufacturing and have many high energy-consuming industries such as steel and petrochemicals.
However, nothing is impossible given the potential of our people: they have overcome the ravages of war and accomplished economic growth by continuously developing light, heavy, chemical and ICT industries, starting from an agriculture-based society. We have excellent low-carbon technologies related to batteries and hydrogen, and we are taking the lead in digital technology and the ability to innovate. Whereas our country began to industrialize as many as 200 years later than others, we are starting to pursue "carbon neutrality" on a relatively equal starting line; this is an opportunity for Korea to emerge as a pacesetter.
The Green New Deal unveiled in July is our first bold step toward a carbon neutral society by 2050. Taking it a step further, we have put together the "2050 Republic of Korea Carbon Neutrality Vision" that will help simultaneously achieve carbon neutrality and economic growth while improving the quality of life. Our goal is to actively innovate and lead the international community by seizing the global climate crisis response as an opportunity for inclusive, sustainable growth. It is also about creating a healthy and prosperous future for our children.
First, the Government will make a strong push for carbon neutrality in all areas of industry, the economy and society. Principal energy sources will be shifted mainly to renewable energy, and we will foster three new energy industries: renewable energy, hydrogen and energy IT.
Second, we will strive to create a low-carbon industry ecosystem. Promising companies in new low-carbon industries will receive assistance so that they can secure a commanding position in the global market ahead of others. An ecosystem for innovation will be formed by establishing a platform where entities from large companies to startups can work together. We will expand the reuse and recycling of raw materials, products and wastes to promote a circular economy that helps minimize energy consumption.
Third, the Government will pursue a just transition so that no class or region is marginalized. We will help generate jobs and profits for local residents through strategies tailored to different areas and by fostering locally led green industries.
The Government's responsibilities are heavy. We will make bold investments so that my Administration can lay the groundwork to achieve the three aforementioned objectives. We will expand technological development and significantly strengthen R&D assistance.
To achieve the 2050 carbon neutrality goal, technological advancement is paramount. We have to reduce energy transition costs through technological advancement. The Government will provide firm support so that our signature technologies can lead the world and become future growth engines. We will establish carbon neutral-friendly fiscal programs and actively promote green financing and funds so that the people can enthusiastically participate in the Green New Deal.
We will host the second P4G Summit in Seoul next May. Together with the international community, we will take the initiative to achieve carbon neutrality. During my term in office, a solid foundation for a carbon neutral society will be established.
Fellow Koreans,
Carbon neutrality is a difficult but unavoidable task. However, if it is difficult for us, it must be so for other countries. If other countries can do it, so can we. We are at the forefront of global efforts while surmounting the COVID-19 pandemic. Korea's response to COVID-19 has become a global standard, and the country's economic recovery is the world's fastest.
I believe that the 2050 Carbon Neutrality Vision will be able to set yet another example for the world when it is accompanied by small actions taken by each and every citizen. We can save the earth and change our lives and those of our neighbors and children by taking tiny steps on a daily basis. Before it is too late, let's start right now.
Thank you.
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--(LEAD) Moon declares carbon neutrality vision in televised statement

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with Moon's speech)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in pledged a strong push for carbon neutrality "in all areas of industry, the economy, and society," as he declared the 2050 vision in a statement broadcast live Thursday.
"Carbon neutrality is a difficult but unavoidable task," he said during the evening event, titled "Republic of Korea's Declaration of 2050 Carbon Neutrality: Before It's Too Late."
In the statement from Cheong Wa Dae, Moon announced that the country's principal energy source will be shifted mainly to renewable energy.
"The government will foster three new energy industries: renewable energy, hydrogen and energy IT," he said. "Second, we will strive to create a low-carbon industry ecosystem."
This file photo from Nov. 27, 2020, shows President Moon Jae-in speaking at a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on South Korea's goal of going carbon neutral by 2050. (Yonhap)
South Korea aims to "actively innovate and lead the international community by seizing the global climate crisis response as an opportunity for an inclusive, sustainable growth," he added. "It is also about creating a healthy and prosperous future for our children."
Moon emphasized the urgency of joining hands to cope with the challenge facing the world.
"The climate crisis -- just as COVID-19 has done -- will hurt the most vulnerable areas, groups and people first and will end up inflicting pain on all of our lives," he pointed out. "Just as our today came about by what we did yesterday, we can change our tomorrow depending on what we do today."
The president, first, and briefly, unveiled the ambitious scheme for South Korea to go carbon neutral by 2050 during his budget speech at the National Assembly in October. It made South Korea, one of the world's most fossil fuel-reliant economies, the latest country to commit to net-zero carbon dioxide emissions.
He has since made relevant comments in public several times, including during a virtual summit of Group of 20 nations in November.
He also announced a plan to establish a presidential panel of government officials and private experts for the implementation of related policies.
The initiative is in line with the Moon administration's push for the Green New Deal campaign, which is a key pillar of the so-called Korean-version New Deal together with the Digital New Deal.
"We will establish carbon neutrality-friendly fiscal programs and actively promote green financing and funds so that the people can enthusiastically participate in the Green New Deal," Moon said.
Moon delivered the speech, wearing a necktie made of eco-friendly materials using plastic waste, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--(3rd LD) 3rd wave of pandemic 'bigger and long-lasting,' new virus cases set to further spike

In relation to the executive order signed Tuesday by President Donald Trump that prioritizes vaccinating Americans , `` Vaccines developed @ @ @ @ @ be less affected by the U.S. executive order as they are slated to be produced @ @ @ @ @ Yoon Tae-ho , a senior health official , said during the briefing .

(ATTN: UPDATES with new tally in 8th para)
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- The third wave of the pandemic currently in progress in South Korea will be bigger than previous ones and long-lasting, health authorities warned on Thursday, as the number of new coronavirus cases neared 700 for the second straight day.
Health authorities said they will expand virus tests in the greater Seoul area from Monday over the next three weeks to curb the virus flare-ups in the densely populated area.
The country reported 682 new virus cases, including 646 domestically transmitted ones, raising the total caseload to 40,098, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Of the 682 new virus cases, 489 were reported in the greater Seoul area that covers Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, just west of Seoul.
The figure showed a slight decrease from 686 the previous day, but it hit the third-highest mark since January, when the country's first case was reported.
The number of confirmed cases hit a record high of 909 on Feb. 29. and the second-highest mark on Wednesday.
Eight additional coronavirus deaths were reported, raising the death toll to 564.
The country is expected to report more than 600 additional cases on Friday as health authorities confirmed 507 new cases Thursday as of 6:00 p.m., with 374 cases from the greater Seoul area. The country announces its official tally of the previous day at 9:30 a.m.
About 150 temporary screening centers will be set up in the Seoul metropolitan area, the authorities said, adding that the current wave of virus infections is the longest and largest wave since January, when the first confirmed case was reported here.
Students line up to take virus tests at a high school in Gwangju, 329 kilometers south of Seoul, on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
As the virus infections continued to rise, health authorities urged people to thoroughly follow the enhanced social distancing guidelines under the second-strongest virus curbs in the greater Seoul area, which have been in place since Tuesday.
"In the current situation, the capacity of disinfection and health systems is at risk of reaching the limit down the road," Health Minister Park Neunghoo said at a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.
More than 3,000 new infections were identified across the country over the past week as the greater Seoul area was a hotbed of the current wave of the pandemic, reporting record highs of new virus cases, Park said.
Health authorities will bring all our available resources to bear upon the task to put the virus spread under control, he said.
Health authorities said 506 COVID-19 patients were unable to be taken to hospitals due to bed shortages in the greater Seoul area as of Wednesday.
In relation to the executive order signed Tuesday by President Donald Trump that prioritizes vaccinating Americans, "Vaccines developed by AstraZeneca are expected to be less affected by the U.S. executive order as they are slated to be produced in South Korea," Yoon Tae-ho, a senior health official, said during the briefing.
He also said it remains to be seen the effect the order will have as it is not yet fully known.
The country's health ministry said Tuesday it secured early access to COVID-19 vaccines developed by four pharmaceutical companies -- AstraZeneca Inc., Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson's Janssen and Moderna -- for 34 million people. The ministry has signed a deal to buy vaccines for 1 million people with AstraZeneca.
Under the new guidelines issued by health authorities Wednesday, anyone can take a virus test free of charge at screening centers under Level 2 or higher, or if a separate notice is issued, regardless of whether they have any symptoms of the coronavirus.
Stores are shut down in Myeongdong in downtown Seoul on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
In addition, health authorities decided to increase the number of residential treatment centers and clinics fully dedicated to treating COVID-19 patients to brace for a possible shortage of hospital beds.
Of the 682 new cases announced early in the day, 251 were reported in Seoul and 201 from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province. Incheon, west of Seoul, added 37 more cases. The greater Seoul area is home to about half of the country's population of 51.6 million.
The number of imported cases reached 36, up from 24 the previous day. They include 19 from the United States and seven from Europe.
The number of COVID-19 patients with serious symptoms across the country amounted to 172, up from 149 on Wednesday.
In particular, 10 percent of people aged over 60 who were infected developed serious symptoms, health authorities said, advising those in their 60s or older to be careful not to catch the virus.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 30,637, up 460 from Wednesday.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--(LEAD) Hyundai Heavy picked as preferred bidder for Doosan Infracore

SEOUL , Dec. 10 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea 's power plant builder Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. @ @ @ @ @ tapped a consortium led by Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings Co. ( HHIH ) as the @ @ @ @ @ of its 35.4 percent stake in Doosan Infracore Co .

(ATTN: RECASTS with comments by Doosan Heavy and HHIH in paras 3-4)
By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's power plant builder Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. said Thursday that it has tapped a consortium led by Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings Co. (HHIH) as the preferred bidder for the sale of its 35.4 percent stake in Doosan Infracore Co.
Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction said in an emailed statement it will conclude the deal with the consortium led by HHIH to sell its entire stake in Doosan Infracore. It did not provide a specific time frame.
"We will do our best to strike the final deal for the stake," HHIH said.
HHIH, the holding firm of the country's largest shipbuilder, has the country's second-largest construction equipment maker Hyundai Construction Equipment Co. under its wing.
On Nov. 24, the consortium of Korea Development Bank Investment (KDBI), a unit of the state-run KDB, and HHIH submitted its final bid for the stake, with ready-mixed concrete maker Eugene Group also submitting a bid.
This photo shows the logo of Doosan Group, to which Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. belongs, in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
GS Engineering & Construction Corp. and three local private equity funds -- Glenwood PE, MBK Partners and Eastbridge Partners -- joined in the preliminary bid for the stake but dropped their final bid.
Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction put its stake in Doosan Infracore for sale as part of its self-rescue plan.
The deal may fetch up to 1 trillion won (US$900 million), according to the companies.
Last March, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction obtained a cash injection of 3 trillion won from its creditors, including the KDB, to prepare itself for its short-term debts worth 4.2 trillion won, which should be paid within this year.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--(2nd LD) Justice ministry holds disciplinary session over prosecution chief's alleged wrongdoing

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in 5-6 paras; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- The Ministry of Justice held a meeting Thursday to discuss disciplinary measures against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl over alleged irregularities, after delaying the session twice amid backlash.
Last month, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae suspended Yoon for six counts of alleged wrongdoing, including surveillance of the judiciary, the first time a justice minister has taken such a step in the country's history.
Yoon, who fiercely refuted all allegations against him, has been restored after winning a court's injunction. But Choo protested the court's decision and has taken the case to a higher court for review.
Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae enters the government complex in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
The disciplinary committee was convened at 10:30 a.m. at the Gwacheon Government Complex, but was adjourned after Yoon's legal team took issue with the committee's four members over fairness, and asked them to recuse themselves from deliberation.
The committee in the afternoon rejected Yoon's request for replacement of the four members, reportedly calling his demand "abuse of his right to file for recusal." One of the members recused himself.
The committee and Yoon's team have been locked in fierce debate on almost every issue on the table, including procedural legitimacy and the impartiality of committee members, making a swift resolution on the high-profile case seem like a distant prospect.
The committee will decide among five levels of punishment, with dismissal the heaviest and reprimand the lightest. If the committee goes with a salary reduction -- the second-lightest punishment -- or heavier, it will be the president who will execute the disciplinary action against Yoon.
The committee is composed of seven field experts, including the justice minister. It needs more than four members in attendance to proceed with deliberation, from which Choo recused herself, as she is the one who sought to discipline Yoon.
These photos show Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae (L) and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl (R). (Yonhap)
The chief prosecutor decided not to attend the meeting in apparent protest against what he claimed to be procedural errors and lack of cooperation from the ministry over sharing information regarding the matter. Yoon's three legal advisers attended.
The controversial meeting was twice delayed amid protest both from Yoon, who strongly complained about unconstitutionality of the process and lack of time to prepare, and from rank-and-file and senior prosecutors, who voiced concern about infringement on the prosecution's core value of political neutrality.
The flag of the prosecution service is unfurled at the Supreme Prosecutors Office in Seoul on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--Seoul city announces measures to root out sexual misconduct at work

The city government has also revised its sexual violence reporting process to be favorable to the victims .
Four different @ @ @ @ @ the process of counseling , receiving reports , investigating and giving penalties for sexual violence @ @ @ @ @ now on , a women 's rights official at the department for policies on women @ @ @ @ @ responsible for the whole process .

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul city government on Thursday unveiled a set of special measures to eradicate sexual misconduct in municipal offices, five months after former Mayor Park Won-soon was found dead after being accused of sexual harassment at work.
The special measures include the elimination of a sleeping room within the mayor's office, prohibition in principle of private labor instructions for secretaries, implementing the principle of gender equality in manpower arrangement and regular field surveys and consulting on workplace sexual discrimination and harassment.
Song Da-young, a senior Seoul city official who oversees the municipal government's women and family-related policies, speaks at a press conference held at Seoul City Hall in central Seoul on Aug. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
In July, a municipal official who had formerly worked as a mayoral secretary filed a complaint with the police, accusing Park of having sexually harassed her over several years.
Park was found dead in an apparent suicide on the hills of a Seoul mountain two days after the complaint was filed. He left a note saying "sorry" to everyone but did not elaborate on the sexual harassment case.
"The city government has focused on examining the overall working culture leading to sexual harassment and discrimination and devising solutions rather than investigating the truth behind Park's death," said Song Da-young, a senior official who oversees the city's women and family-related policies in a news conference.
Under the new measures, the city government will close the sleeping room within the mayoral office and create a working guideline for the secretaries to prevent them from receiving private orders from the mayor or his or her family.
The measures also call for conducting an annual survey on sexual discrimination and harassment within the city government and correcting the hierarchical and dismissive culture through consultations with expert bodies.
The city government has also revised its sexual violence reporting process to be favorable to the victims. Four different departments have been involved in the process of counseling, receiving reports, investigating and giving penalties for sexual violence in the workplace. From now on, a women's rights official at the department for policies on women and family will be fully responsible for the whole process.
In addition, sexual violence cases involving the head of the local government will be superintended by the police or the national human rights watchdog, not the internal investigative authority, according to the city government.
Civic activists and citizens take part in a march to demand a proper investigation into sexual harassment allegations raised against late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon in front of Seoul City Hall in central Seoul on July 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--10 U.S. service members test positive for new coronavirus upon arrival in S. Korea

Four service members arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek , some 70 kilometers south of Seoul , on U.S. @ @ @ @ @ , while the six others arrived here on commercial flights via Incheon International Airport , @ @ @ @ @ between Nov. 26 and Tuesday , according to the USFK .

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- Ten American service members have tested positive for the new coronavirus upon arrival in South Korea over the past few weeks, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Thursday.
Four service members arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on U.S. government-chartered flights earlier this month, while the six others arrived here on commercial flights via Incheon International Airport, west of the capital, between Nov. 26 and Tuesday, according to the USFK.
Eight of them tested positive on their first mandatory COVID-19 test prior to entering quarantine, and the remainder were confirmed to have contracted the virus on their second mandatory test.
All USFK-affiliated individuals arriving in South Korea are required to undergo a virus test and quarantine for 14 days. Medical personnel administer a second test prior to their release.
"Thorough cleaning of all transportation assets and quarantine rooms has been completed," USFK said, adding that none of the new arrivals have interacted with anyone residing within USFK installations or the local community.
The latest cases brought the total number of USFK-related coronavirus infections to 418.
U.S. officers wait for American service personnel to arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on April 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--Defense chief seeks support for peace on peninsula at ministerial meeting

Top defense officials from the participating countries agreed to work together to tackle common security threats , such as the @ @ @ @ @ said , adding that the meeting served as a chance to enhance momentum for defense @ @ @ @ @ the region despite the pandemic .

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Suh Wook on Thursday asked for the international community's support to bring peace on the Korean Peninsula, saying it will also be conducive to building peace in the region.
Suh made the appeal during the 7th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) held via a video link. The meeting brought together top defense officials from 18 countries, including the United States, China and Japan.
"Eased tension on the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of trust will greatly contribute to resolving security threats in the Asia Pacific region and ensuring co-prosperity," he said.
The annual ministerial meeting was originally planned to take place in Vietnam this year, but was changed to a videoconference due to the coronavirus situation.
The minister also shared his country's efforts to fight COVID-19 together with the international community.
South Korea has provided some US$10 million worth of medical equipment to ASEAN countries, as well as 1 million units of face masks to foreign veterans in 22 countries who fought alongside the South during the 1950-53 Korean War, Suh said.
During the meeting, the minister also said South Korea will expand participation in multinational combined exercises led by the ASEAN countries as part of its efforts to bolster regional cooperation.
"We will expand the size of participation during various command post and field training exercises," the minister said.
Top defense officials from the participating countries agreed to work together to tackle common security threats, such as the new coronavirus, the ministry said, adding that the meeting served as a chance to enhance momentum for defense cooperation with major countries in the region despite the pandemic.
Launched in 2010, the ADMM-Plus has been a venue for consultations on major regional security issues. It had been held every two or three years but became an annual event from 2018.
Defense Minister Suh Wook speaks during the 7th ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-PLUS) held via a video link on Dec. 10, 2020, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--Hyundai Heavy picked as preferred bidder for Doosan Infracore

SEOUL , Dec. 10 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea 's No .
1 construction equipment maker Doosan Infracore Co. @ @ @ @ @ creditors led by Korea Development Bank ( KDB ) have tapped a consortium led by @ @ @ @ @ ( HHIH ) as the preferred bidder for a 36 percent stake up for sale @

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's No. 1 construction equipment maker Doosan Infracore Co. said on Thursday that its creditors led by Korea Development Bank (KDB) have tapped a consortium led by Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings Co. (HHIH) as the preferred bidder for a 36 percent stake up for sale.
HHIH, the holding firm of the country's largest shipbuilder, has the country's second-largest construction equipment maker Hyundai Construction Equipment Co. under its wing.
On Nov. 24, the consortium of Korea Development Bank Investment (KDBI), a unit of the state-run KDB, and HHIH submitted its final bid for the stake held by Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., with ready-mixed concrete maker Eugene Group also submitting a bid.
This photo shows the logo of Doosan Group, to which Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. belongs, in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
GS Engineering & Construction Corp. and three local private equity funds -- Glenwood PE, MBK Partners and Eastbridge Partners -- joined in the preliminary bid for the stake but dropped their final bid.
Doosan Infracore has been up for sale as part of its cash-strapped parent Doosan Heavy's self-rescue plan.
The deal may fetch up to 1 trillion won (US$900 million), according to the companies.
Last March, Doosan Heavy obtained a cash injection of 3 trillion won from its creditors, including the KDB, to prepare itself for its short-term debts worth 4.2 trillion won, which should be paid within this year.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--KBO's Bears retain free agent 3B Heo Kyoung-min

Heo was one of seven Doosan players to hit the open market this winter , joined by the rest of @ @ @ @ @ their financial trouble of late , the Bears were n't expected to be able to @ @ @ @ @ and Heo in particular was considered a hot commodity .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- One of the biggest dominoes in South Korean baseball's free agency fell on Thursday, as the Doosan Bears retained All-Star third baseman Heo Kyoung-min with a lucrative deal that could stretch to seven years.
The Bears said they've signed Heo to a four-year deal worth 6.5 billion won (US$5.9 million), with a three-year option for 2 billion won that Heo can pick up after the 2024 season.
Heo Kyoung-min of the Doosan Bears (R) bumps fists with club president Chun Poong at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul after signing a free agent contract to stay with the club, in this photo provided by the Bears on Dec. 10, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The 30-year-old has spent his entire nine-year career with the Bears and has evolved into a defensively sound third baseman with speed and some gap power. Heo leads all third basemen with 146 doubles since 2015, when he became a full-time player.
Heo was one of seven Doosan players to hit the open market this winter, joined by the rest of the starting infield. Given their financial trouble of late, the Bears weren't expected to be able to retain most of them, and Heo in particular was considered a hot commodity.
Instead, Heo has signed perhaps the last free agent deal of his career to stay with the only KBO team he has known.
"Ever since I became a pro, I've taken a lot of pride being a member of the Bears," Heo said. "I'd like to thank the team for making me this offer. I feel a huge sense of responsibility, and I'll keep pushing myself every game."
In this file photo from Nov. 9, 2020, Heo Kyoung-min of the Doosan Bears celebrates his RBI single against the KT Wiz in the top of the eighth inning of Game 1 of the Korea Baseball Organization second-round postseason series at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

SEOUL -- The third wave of the pandemic currently in progress in South Korea will be bigger than previous ones @ @ @ @ @ warned on Thursday , as the number of new coronavirus cases neared 700 for the @ @ @ @

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Thursday.
-------------------------------
(LEAD) Biegun says diplomacy 'best' and 'only' course to resolving N.K. challenges
SEOUL -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said Thursday that diplomacy remains the "best" and "only" course to address the North Korean nuclear quandary, calling for Pyongyang to return to dialogue.
Biegun, who doubles as Washington's top nuclear envoy, made the remarks during a lecture in Seoul recapping his yearslong negotiations with the North, which he cast as being marked by "setbacks, disappointments and missed opportunities."
-------------------------------
(2nd LD) Hyundai Motor to invest 60 tln won by 2025 for EV growth
SEOUL -- South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. said Thursday it will invest 60.1 trillion won (US$55.5 billion) by 2025 for future mobility to gain a bigger share in the rapidly evolving global automobile markets.
Hyundai Motor said it will strengthen its electrified vehicle lineup to compete with its rivals, such as General Motors Co. and Volkswagen Group, and achieve a market share of 8 to 10 percent
-------------------------------
(2nd LD) 3rd wave of pandemic 'bigger and long-lasting,' new virus cases set to further spike
SEOUL -- The third wave of the pandemic currently in progress in South Korea will be bigger than previous ones and long-lasting, health authorities warned on Thursday, as the number of new coronavirus cases neared 700 for the second straight day.
Health authorities said they will expand virus tests in the greater Seoul area from Monday over the next three weeks to curb the virus flare-ups in the densely populated area.
-------------------------------
(2nd LD) Nat'l Assembly passes contentious bill on new investigative organ amid opposition protests
SEOUL -- The National Assembly passed a contentious bill Thursday that would expedite the launch of a new investigative body handling high-profile corruption cases amid fierce protest from conservative opposition lawmakers.
The revision bill on the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) law passed a plenary session in a 187-99 vote. One lawmaker abstained.
-------------------------------
(LEAD) Moon hails passage of bill on anti-corruption investigative body
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in welcomed the passage of a bill Thursday on facilitating the launch of a non-prosecution body tasked with investigating corruption among senior government officials.
He said it's "fortunate" that the way has been opened for the speedy establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
-------------------------------
(2nd LD) S. Korea on alert over spreading bird flu, more highly pathogenic cases likely in store
SEOUL -- South Korea on Thursday reported more suspected highly pathogenic avian influenza cases from poultry farms, raising concerns that the bird flu outbreak is spreading nationwide despite enhanced measures.
Authorities are investigating a suspected case in Naju, 355 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The samples were gathered from a slaughterhouse.
-------------------------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks close lower on foreign selling spree amid volatility
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks closed lower Thursday, roiled by an overnight Wall Street tech plunge and vaccine concerns amid uncertainties over the quadruple expiration of key stock derivatives. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
After choppy trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 9.01 points, or 0.33 percent, to close at 2,746.46.
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--Virus-hit Jeju Air to receive state funding for survival

Jeju Air , the country 's biggest low-cost carrier , is required to take steps , such as maintaining its @ @ @ @ @ to improve its financial status , suspending payments of dividends to shareholders , the statement @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will inject 32.1 billion won (US$29 million) into the virus-hit budget carrier Jeju Air Co. to help it stay afloat amid the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, a state lender said Thursday.
The Key Industry Stabilization Fund will extend 25.7 billion won in loans to Jeju Air and invest 6.4 billion won in the carrier's convertible bonds, the state-run Korea Development Bank, which operates the fund, said in a statement.
Jeju Air, the country's biggest low-cost carrier, is required to take steps, such as maintaining its current workforce, making efforts to improve its financial status, suspending payments of dividends to shareholders, the statement said.
In the January-September period, Jeju Air's net losses deepened to 268.81 billion won from 17.5 billion won a year earlier as travel demand dried up amid virus fears.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-10--(2nd LD) Biegun says diplomacy 'best' and 'only' course to resolving N.K. challenges

(ATTN: ADDS byline; UPDATES throughout; TRIMS)
By Song Sang-ho and Yi Wonju
SEOUL, Dec. 10 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said Thursday that diplomacy remains the "best" and "only" course to address the North Korean nuclear quandary, calling for Pyongyang to return to dialogue.
Biegun, who doubles as Washington's top nuclear envoy, made the remarks during a lecture in Seoul recapping his yearslong, unfinished negotiations with the North, which he cast as being marked by "setbacks, disappointments and missed opportunities."
"As we look to the future, I remain convinced that diplomacy remains the best course, indeed the only course, to solving our challenges with North Korea," he said during the lecture at the local think tank Asan Institute for Policy Studies.
"Pyongyang has some pivotal events coming up, in particular the eighth party congress in January. We strongly encourage North Korea to use the time between now and then to set a path for the resumption of diplomacy," he added.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun speaks during a lecture at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
The U.S. envoy was referring to next month's key session of the North's ruling Workers' Party, at which Pyongyang could unveil a new national strategy to ride out a series of challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, global sanctions pressure and economic travails.
Asked about Washington's rejection of Pyongyang's offer to dismantle its mainstay Yongbyon nuclear complex during their summit in Hanoi early last year, Biegun stressed that it does not represent the entirety of the North Korean nuclear program.
"Of course, Yongbyon remains a great interest to the United States of America, and that's a historic center of the North Korean nuclear weapons program. It still retains great importance in any process of the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he said.
"But the challenge that we faced in Hanoi, the challenge we face to this day, is it is not all of North Korea's nuclear weapons program," he added.
The deputy secretary, however, pointed out that the U.S. has "never expected one side has to do everything before the other side does anything."
As for the "key" lesson from the no-deal summit in Hanoi, Biegun underscored that his North Korean counterparts were "not empowered" to discuss serious negotiation topics.
"We didn't have enough time in Hanoi to fully explore the limits of what might be possible, in part because the negotiating team that arrived before the summit was not empowered to discuss those issues," he said.
The U.S. envoy also expressed regrets over North Korean counterparts missing opportunities just in "search for obstacles."
"Regrettably, much opportunity has been squandered by our North Korean counterparts over the past two years, who too often have devoted themselves to the search for obstacles to negotiations instead of seizing opportunities for engagement," he said.
"Yet, remarkably, the potential of the Singapore Summit is still fully present, despite our failure to advance what was agreed."
At the landmark 2018 summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore, they agreed to work toward the "complete" denuclearization of the peninsula, seek to build new bilateral ties and make joint efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the peninsula.
But their nuclear talks have been stalled since last year's Hanoi summit. Inter-Korean cooperation has also come to a standstill as Washington keeps tough sanctions in place against the North.
Biegun reiterated that Washington welcomes inter-Korean cooperation to help catalyze lackluster peace efforts.
"We also continue to welcome mutually beneficial inter-Korean cooperation as an important tool to cultivate trust and build cooperation on the Korean Peninsula, and people-to-people exchanges in the fields of education, music, culture and sports would be beneficial to all," he said.
Touching on the bilateral alliance, Biegun stressed that the two countries are "democratic anchors in the Indo-Pacific region."
"The U.S.-ROK Alliance could advance a Pax Indo-Pacifica, a region at peace, protected and made prosperous in equal measure by those who comprise the Indo-Pacific," he said, referring to South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.
"This is our purpose, this is our interest, and with strong and visionary leadership, this will be our destiny," he added.
Wrapping up his speech, he enumerated some points he will deliver to his successor in the incoming Joe Biden administration.
"The war is over. The time for conflict has ended, and the time for peace has arrived. If we are to succeed, we must work together -- the United States, the Republic of Korea and the DPRK," he said, referring to the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"And when we do, we will at long last be able to bring to this peninsula the lasting peace and prosperity that all the Korean people so richly deserve," he added.
Earlier in the day, Biegun stressed Seoul's role and the importance of inter-Korean relations in building peace on the Korean Peninsula during his talks with Unification Minister Lee In-young and said the door to dialogue with North Korea remains open, officials here said.
Biegun arrived here on Tuesday for what could be his last visit in his current capacity as the State Department's No. 2 official and its point man on the North.
He will depart for the United States on Saturday morning.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-11--Seoul City Hall to be lit up in green to mark 5th year of Paris Agreement

The event aims to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement adopted by 195 countries in 2015 at the @ @ @ @ @ the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to combat climate change .
Parties to @ @ @ @ @ the average increase of global temperature to below 2 degrees C , preferably to 1.5 @ @ @ @ @ levels , by 2100 .

SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul metropolitan government said Friday it will light up its city hall in green this weekend as part of a global event to mark the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement.
The main building of the Seoul City Hall complex will glow green for an hour from 6 p.m. Saturday, according to the city government.
A total of 96 cities around the world, including Paris, New York and Los Angeles, will bathe their landmark buildings in green that night, joining an event hosted by the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a network of the world's 40 megacities committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Seoul is part of the group.
The event aims to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement adopted by 195 countries in 2015 at the 21st Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to combat climate change. Parties to the treaty pledged to limit the average increase of global temperature to below 2 degrees C, preferably to 1.5 C, compared to pre-industrial levels, by 2100.
"Seoul city has declared it will work to go carbon neutral by 2050 as part of efforts to help the Paris Agreement reach its goal," said Lee Dong-ryul, a senior official overseeing the city's environmental policy.
"(The city government) will light the city hall building in green to show that it will work together (with other countries) to prevent the acceleration of climate change," he added.
This photo, provided by the Seoul city government, shows its city hall building glowing in green. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-11--Novice opposition lawmakers to join filibuster to block contentious bill's passage

The National Assembly law allows a filibuster to continue indefinitely , while the DP can break it with 180 votes @ @ @ @ @ begins .
But the ruling party has announced that it will not invoke its right @ @ @ @ @ respect the opposition 's right to sufficient parliamentary debate .

SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Yonhap) -- A group of novice lawmakers from the conservative main opposition party said Friday they will join the party's ongoing filibuster to block the parliamentary passage of a contentious bill.
The participation pledged by all of the People Power Party's 58 first-term lawmakers in the filibuster raises the possibility that the marathon debate the party launched Thursday could continue throughout the current extraordinary parliamentary session's one-month run.
The main opposition party began filibustering Thursday afternoon to stop a revision bill on the National Intelligence Service (NIS) law from passing through the National Assembly, where the ruling Democratic Party commands a majority.
People Power Party Rep. Lee Chul-gyu drinks water during his nearly nine-hour filibuster speech at the National Assembly on Dec. 10, 2020. (Yonhap)
The bill primarily aims at transferring the state spy agency's authority to conduct anti-communist investigations to the police.
It is one of the two remaining bills the main opposition is campaigning to block due to what the party says is their unconstitutionality. The other bill centers on prohibiting the launching of anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the inter-Korean border.
"Starting today, all 58 of us will begin (to join) the overnight filibuster," the group of novice lawmakers said in a press conference.
"We greatly anticipate that our desperation and sincerity would appeal to the people, albeit a very little," the lawmakers said, indicating that they will push for their party's ongoing filibuster to continue till the last day of the extra parliamentary session on Jan. 8.
The National Assembly law allows a filibuster to continue indefinitely, while the DP can break it with 180 votes, 24 hours after it begins. But the ruling party has announced that it will not invoke its right to halt the filibuster to respect the opposition's right to sufficient parliamentary debate.
A group of first-term People Power Party lawmakers announces a decision to join the party's filibuster during a press conference on Dec. 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-11--KBO's Twins bring back ace Casey Kelly for 3rd season

In 2020 , he went 15-7 with a 3.32 ERA in 173 1/3 innings over 28 starts .
He was @ @ @ @ @ in the second half , with an 11-1 mark and a 2.22 ERA in his @ @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Dec. 11 (Yonhap) -- American right-hander Casey Kelly will be back in South Korea for a third season in 2021.
The LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Friday they've re-signed Kelly to a new one-year deal worth US$1.4 million. The 31-year-old will make $700,000 in salary, $300,000 as a signing bonus and another $400,000 in incentives.
In this file photo from Nov. 2, 2020, Casey Kelly of the LG Twins pitches against the Kiwoom Heroes in the top of the second inning of the Wild Card game of the Korea Baseball Organization postseason at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Kelly has gone 29-19 with a 2.93 ERA across 57 starts over the past two seasons.
In 2020, he went 15-7 with a 3.32 ERA in 173 1/3 innings over 28 starts. He was one of the best pitchers in the second half, with an 11-1 mark and a 2.22 ERA in his final 13 starts.
The Twins have decided to part ways with another American pitcher from this past season, Tyler Wilson. They're trying to bring back first baseman Roberto Ramos, who slugged 38 home runs in 117 games in his first KBO season.
KBO teams can each sign up to three foreign players, but no more than two pitchers.
In this file photo from Nov. 2, 2020, Casey Kelly of the LG Twins celebrates the completion of the top of the fourth inning against the Kiwoom Heroes in the Wild Card game of the Korea Baseball Organization postseason at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)