yna--2020-08-24--Untraceable infections, fast spread strain S. Korea's efforts to curb virus

`` Investigation into these cases could lead to confirmation of other cluster infections , so I would say the epidemic @ @ @ @ @ situation , and we expect the number of confirmed patients to continue to increase for @ @ @ @ @ said in a daily briefing on Sunday .

SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- New virus cases with unknown infection routes, coupled with the pace of virus spread in South Korea, are emerging as major challenges in the country's fight to curb nationwide outbreaks.
The country's daily new virus cases have been in the triple digits for 11 consecutive days. What is worrisome is that the number of untraceable virus cases has been piling up at alarming rates, further complicating health authorities' efforts to trace and isolate potential cases.
South Korea reported 397 coronavirus cases, the highest total in more than five months, on Sunday. The number of additional new coronavirus cases sharply slowed to below 300 on Monday, but the country is still bogged down with a series of cluster infections continuing in the greater Seoul area and other major cities.
Jeong Eun-kyeong, the director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), has said that the peak has yet to come citing the large number of cases with unknown infection routes as a major risk factor.
Citizens form a queue to take the coronavirus test in Seoul on Aug. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
"Investigation into these cases could lead to confirmation of other cluster infections, so I would say the epidemic is still at a critical situation, and we expect the number of confirmed patients to continue to increase for a while," she said in a daily briefing on Sunday.
The number of patients with unknown infection routes came to 451 from Aug. 9-22, or 18.5 percent of the total 2,440 cases confirmed during the cited period, according to the KCDC.
The number is up from 8.3 percent recorded in the previous two weeks, when 39 of the 470 newly confirmed COVID-19 patients had unknown transmission routes.
In the past week alone, an average of 268.4 daily cases was reported, and the ratio of untraceable cases reached 20.2 percent.
Health authorities said it is a sign that control over the virus spread may be tougher than before.
The spike in the number of elderly patients is another source of concern as they are more vulnerable to the new virus.
Of the patients identified in the past two weeks, 773, or 32 percent, were aged 65 or older.
The number of COVID-19 patients in critical condition also rose by two to 32 on Monday.
A notice on the door of McDonald's Seoul Station branch in Seoul shows that the shop is closed after a worker there tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Aug. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Since Aug. 14, the country has witnessed spiking cases in the greater Seoul area, mostly traced to a conservative protestant church in Seoul and an anti-government march on the Aug. 15 Liberation Day.
Over the past 11 days, a whopping 2,893 new cases were identified across the nation.
The latest uptick in the number of new infections has been ringing an alarm bell as they were mostly reported from Seoul and its surrounding Gyeonggi Province, home to half of the country's 51 million people.
With all of South Korea placed under Level 2 in the three-tier social distancing system now, health authorities said they will be forced to consider raising it to the highest notch unless the spread of the virus is contained this week.
"We are currently facing a serious situation on the verge of a large-scale nationwide pandemic," Jeong said, urging citizens to stay home and follow the social distancing guidelines.
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--N.K. paper says party congress will provide 'solutions' to challenges hampering march forward

January 's party congress will mark the first such meeting in about eight months .
Experts say that North Korea @ @ @ @ @ policy line on the United States during the meeting given that it is timed after @ @ @ @ @ in November .

By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's official newspaper said Monday that a rare congress of the ruling Workers' Party set for January will serve as a "milestone" in providing solutions to many problems confronting the country.
Leader Kim Jong-un told a plenary meeting of the Workers' Party last week that his five-year economic development plan failed to achieve its intended goals due to "severe" and "unexpected" challenges, and that he will unveil a new development scheme in a rare party congress in January.
He apparently referred to the impact of the crippling global sanctions on his regime, the fallout from Pyongyang's protracted struggle to stave off the coronavirus and damage caused by recent heavy rainfall.
"It is the party's intention to swiftly overcome and rectify shortcomings and in the process we will be able to raise our revolution to a higher level," the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the ruling party, said in a commentary.
"The 8th Party Congress will serve as an important milestone in tackling grim challenges and difficulties standing in our march forward," the paper added.
In a separate article, the paper said that January's party congress will serve as a "driving force" for the country's revolution and development, urging all people to devote themselves to safeguarding the party and achieving all of its tasks.
North Korea had pushed to achieve major policy objectives of the five-year economic development before the 75th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party in October. Observers, however, had suspected that the North would not be able to do so due to crippling global sanctions on its regime.
Things have been made worse as North Korea has kept tight border closure and quarantine measures in place since early this year to fight the coronavirus pandemic and has to focus on repairing damage caused by recent heavy downpours.
January's party congress will mark the first such meeting in about eight months. Experts say that North Korea could also unveil its new policy line on the United States during the meeting given that it is timed after the U.S.' presidential election in November.
The 6th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party takes place in Pyongyang on Aug. 19, 2020, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over the meeting. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--(LEAD) New virus cases slow sharply to below 300, alert still high over nationwide pandemic

Health authorities have warned that should the number of new infections not slow this week , South Korea may have @ @ @ @ @ highest level of social distancing , in which all gatherings of more than 10 people @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout; CHANGES photos)
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- The number of additional new coronavirus cases in South Korea sharply slowed to below 300 on Monday, but the country is still bogged down with a series of cluster infections continuing in the greater Seoul area and other major cities.
Of the 266 new COVID-19 cases, 258 were locally transmitted, raising the total caseload to 17,665, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Monday's daily tally marks a sharp slowdown from the 397 newly identified cases the previous day, but fewer virus tests over the weekend might have dragged down the number of new cases.
On Sunday, a total of 13,236 virus tests were conducted, compared to 15,386 tests on Saturday and 21,677 tests on Friday. On Thursday, 20,040 tests were carried out.
Since Aug. 14, the country's daily virus cases have been in triple digits, as sporadic clusters in the greater Seoul area piled up, mostly traced to a conservative protestant church in Seoul and an anti-government march on Liberation Day on Aug. 15.
Citizens wait in line to receive new coronavirus tests at a makeshift clinic in Seoul on Aug. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Over the past 11 days, a whopping 2,893 new cases across the nation were identified.
The latest uptick in the number of new infections has set alarm bells ringing, as they were mostly reported from Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, home to half of the country's 51 million people.
Of the local infections, the capital city reported 97 new cases, and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province took up 84.
Incheon, located west of Seoul, reported 20 new cases, and the central city of Daejeon added 10 new infections.
The Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul, a hotbed of the recent spike in new infections, reported 841 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday noon.
New virus cases traced to the church have also been reported from multiple office buildings, day care centers, cram schools and medical institutions, where the church members visited.
A total of 136 patients were reported from an anti-government rally held on Aug. 15 in central Seoul as of Sunday. A large number of Sarang Jeil Church members, including its pastor who was also infected with the virus, took part in the rally.
Since last week, more new virus cases have been reported in major cities and provinces across the country, with health authorities warning that the country may face a nationwide pandemic.
Commuters wearing protective masks leave a subway station in Seoul on Aug. 24, 2020. Seoul residents have been ordered to wear masks and face coverings at all times in public, except when they are eating or drinking, starting the same day. (Yonhap)
Amid grim prospects of a nationwide epidemic, the government decided to impose the Level 2 social distancing scheme outside the wider Seoul area starting Sunday.
Indoor meetings of more than 50 people and open-air gatherings of over 100 people are banned in principle. So-called risk-prone facilities, including karaoke rooms, clubs, PC cafes and buffets, have been ordered to shut down.
Starting Monday, Seoul residents must also wear masks and face coverings at all times in public, except when they are eating or drinking.
Health authorities have warned that should the number of new infections not slow this week, South Korea may have to seriously consider adopting the highest level of social distancing, in which all gatherings of more than 10 people will be banned.
The highest anti-virus curbs can be issued when the number of daily virus cases reaches a two-week average of 100-200 and the doubling of new COVID-19 cases occurs more than twice a week.
With the current level of measures already being the toughest restrictions for South Korea, which reported its first case on Jan. 20, tighter measures are expected to come at a high price in terms of the economy.
The number of imported cases came to just eight. Of them, three were from Russia, and two were from Ukraine. There were also cases from the United States, Bangladesh and India.
South Korea reported no new deaths, with the tally remaining at 309, the KCDC said. The fatality rate came to 1.75 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 14,219, up 19 from the previous day. This indicates slightly more than 80 percent of the patients reported here have been cured.
South Korea has carried out 1,804,422 tests since Jan. 3.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--New virus cases slow sharply to below 300, alert still high over nationwide pandemic

SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- The number of additional new coronavirus cases in South Korea sharply slowed to below 300 on Monday, but the country is still bogged down with a series of cluster infections continuing in the greater Seoul area and other major cities.
Of the 266 new COVID-19 cases, 258 were locally transmitted, raising the total caseload to 17,665, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Monday's daily tally marks a sharp slowdown from the 397 newly identified cases the previous day, but fewer virus tests over the weekend might have dragged down the number of new cases.
On Sunday, a total of 13,236 virus tests were conducted, compared to 15,386 tests on Saturday and 21,677 tests on Friday. On Thursday, 20,040 tests were carried out.
Since Aug. 14, the country's daily virus cases have been in triple digits, as sporadic clusters in the greater Seoul area piled up, mostly traced to a conservative protestant church in Seoul and an anti-government march on Liberation Day on Aug. 15.
Pedestrians wearing protective masks walk in central Seoul on Aug. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
Over the past 11 days, a whopping 2,893 new cases across the nation were identified.
The latest uptick in the number of new infections has set alarm bells ringing, as they were mostly reported from Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, home to half of the country's 51 million people.
Of the local infections, the capital city reported 97 new cases, and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province took up 84.
Incheon, located west of Seoul, reported 20 new cases, and the central city of Daejeon added 10 new infections.
The Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul, a hotbed of the recent spike in new infections, reported 841 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday noon.
New virus cases traced to the church have also been reported from multiple office buildings, day care centers, cram schools and medical institutions, where the church members visited.
A total of 136 patients were reported from an anti-government rally held on Aug. 15 in central Seoul as of Sunday. A large number of Sarang Jeil Church members, including its pastor who was also infected with the virus, took part in the rally.
Since last week, more new virus cases have been reported in major cities and provinces across the country, with health authorities warning that the country may face a nationwide pandemic.
A medical worker carries out a new coronavirus test at a makeshift clinic in Suncheon, 415 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
Amid grim prospects of a nationwide epidemic, the government decided to impose the Level 2 social distancing scheme outside the wider Seoul area starting Sunday.
Indoor meetings of more than 50 people and open-air gatherings of over 100 people are banned in principle. So-called risk-prone facilities, including karaoke rooms, clubs, PC cafes and buffets, have been ordered to shut down.
Starting Monday, Seoul residents must also wear masks and face coverings at all times in public, except when they are eating or drinking.
Health authorities have warned that should the number of new infections not slow this week, South Korea may have to seriously consider adopting the highest level of social distancing, in which all gatherings of more than 10 people will be banned.
The highest anti-virus curbs can be issued when the number of daily virus cases reaches a two-week average of 100-200 and the doubling of new COVID-19 cases occurs more than twice a week.
With the current level of measures already being the toughest restrictions for South Korea, which reported its first case on Jan. 20, tighter measures are expected to come at a high price in terms of the economy.
The number of imported cases came to just six.
South Korea reported no new deaths, with the tally remaining at 309, the KCDC said.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 14,219, up 19 from the previous day.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--(URGENT) 19 more patients released from coronavirus treatment, total now at 14,219: KCDC

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


yna--2020-08-24--(URGENT) S. Korea reports no additional coronavirus death, total at 309: KCDC


yna--2020-08-24--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 266 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 17,665


yna--2020-08-24--Economic recovery to remain weak amid flare-up in virus cases: BOK chief

The governor also said the BOK will keep close tabs on the development of the virus outbreak and its impact @ @ @ @ @ financial markets .

SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top central banker said Monday the momentum for economic recovery is expected to remain weak amid a recent spike in coronavirus cases.
Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Lee Ju-yeol said in a report to the National Assembly that the BOK will manage its monetary policy in an accommodative manner to prop up the local economy.
"After suffering sharp deterioration, the Korean economy showed some signs of an improvement on eased slumps in exports and consumption," Lee said.
"But as virus cases have recently resurged, the economic recovery is expected to remain weak, and economic uncertainty has further heightened," he added.
This file photo, taken June 4, 2020, shows stacks of import-export cargo containers at South Korea's largest seaport in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The South Korean economy contracted 3.3 percent in the second quarter from three months earlier, the worst performance in over two decades, as exports tumbled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
To bolster the slumping economy, the BOK slashed its key policy rate in May to a record low of 0.5 percent after delivering an emergency rate cut of half a percentage point in March.
Policymakers earlier forecast a rebound in the third quarter on the back of the country's massive budget spending and an improvement in global production.
But the possibility of nationwide virus outbreaks and another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to put downward pressure on the economic recovery.
South Korea reported more than 300 virus cases for the third straight day Sunday largely due to church-tied infections. Over the past 10 days, a total of 2,629 cases have been identified.
Experts forecast the BOK will stand pat at the key rate Thursday despite spiking virus cases, as it is expected to seek to gauge the impact of its rate cuts amid tamed inflationary pressure.
Lee said the country's consumer prices will likely move in the zero-percent range for the time being.
The governor also said the BOK will keep close tabs on the development of the virus outbreak and its impact on the local economy and financial markets.
"We will also closely monitor changes in financial stability, stemming from growing household debt amid rising home prices and excessive cash inflows to the housing market," Lee added.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--Powerful Typhoon Bavi on path toward S. Korea, affecting Jeju Tuesday

SEOUL , Aug. 24 ( Yonhap ) -- The powerful Typhoon Bavi was churning toward the Korean Peninsula on Monday @ @ @ @ @ Korea and expected to pass by the southern island of Jeju the following day .

SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- The powerful Typhoon Bavi was churning toward the Korean Peninsula on Monday from the sea south of Korea and expected to pass by the southern island of Jeju the following day.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said the season's eighth tropical storm, formed off the east coast of Taiwan, is currently some 270 kilometers off the west coast of Japan's Okinawa Island and traveling at about 9 kph.
As of 3 a.m. Monday, its central pressure was 980 hectopascals, with its highest wind speed of 102 kph.
The typhoon is forecast to pass off the west coast of the resort island of Jeju on Wednesday afternoon and likely to move nearest to Seoul early Thursday.
The KMA expected the storm, currently relatively weak in power, to gain strength and peak in force at around 3 a.m. Wednesday.
As the peninsula is forecast to come under its influence from Tuesday night till Thursday, the KMA advised safety measures be put in place before it arrives.
The weather agency warned of a peak gust reaching 144-216 kph in Jeju and the west coastal regions of the Jeolla provinces Wednesday night till Thursday. The highest instantaneous wind speed can reach 126 kph in the country's south and west areas.
While its path and size can change as the typhoon approaches the peninsula, the KMA issued safety warnings of storm surges and strong winds for low-lying coastal areas that lie in the storm's path.
The country is still reeling from the aftermath of the longest rainy season on record this summer, with torrential rains and flash floods killing dozens of people and wrecking havoc on buildings, farmlands and infrastructure nationwide.
The image provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) shows Typhoon Bavi's expected path. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--(5th LD) S. Korea warns of upping virus restrictions; citizens urged to observe strict measures

`` The COVID-19 virus became an immediate threat , and nobody is insulated from the risk of contagion , '' @ @ @ @ @ in a daily briefing .
`` We need to break the chain transmission ( of @ @ @ @ @ we can reduce virus contagion if we follow strict social distancing . ''

(ATTN: ADDS more info in last two paras)
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea warned on Monday of raising social distancing restrictions if the latest wave of new coronavirus outbreaks does not subside, urging people to strictly abide by anti-virus measures currently in place, as the country's daily new virus cases sharply slowed.
The number of additional new coronavirus cases here sharply slowed to below 300, but the country is still bogged down with a series of cluster infections continuing in the greater Seoul area and other major cities.
Of the 266 new COVID-19 cases, 258 were locally transmitted, raising the total caseload to 17,665, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Monday's daily tally marks a sharp slowdown from the 397 newly identified cases the previous day, but fewer virus tests over the weekend might have dragged down the number of new cases.
On Sunday, a total of 13,236 virus tests were conducted, compared to 15,386 tests on Saturday and 21,677 tests on Friday. On Thursday, 20,040 tests were carried out.
A medical staff member takes a short break at a public health clinic located in southern Seoul on Aug. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Since Aug. 14, the country's daily virus cases have been in triple digits, as sporadic clusters in the greater Seoul area piled up, mostly traced to a conservative protestant church in Seoul and an anti-government march on Liberation Day on Aug. 15.
Over the past 11 days, a whopping 2,893 new cases across the nation were identified.
"The COVID-19 virus became an immediate threat, and nobody is insulated from the risk of contagion," KCDC Director Jeong Eun-kyeong said in a daily briefing. "We need to break the chain transmission (of the virus), but we can reduce virus contagion if we follow strict social distancing."
The KCDC chief said the government is closely studying whether to raise social distancing restrictions to the highest level.
Health Minister Park Neunghoo also said during a parliamentary session that the government will inevitably review adopting the highest social distancing scheme in the greater Seoul area if the virus curve does not flatten this week.
Amid grim prospects of a nationwide epidemic, the government decided to impose the Level 2 social distancing scheme outside the wider Seoul area starting Sunday.
Indoor meetings of more than 50 people and open-air gatherings of over 100 people are banned in principle. So-called risk-prone facilities, including karaoke rooms, clubs, PC cafes and buffets, have been ordered to shut down.
Starting Monday, Seoul residents must also wear masks and face coverings at all times in public, except when they are eating or drinking.
The city already banned protests of more than 10 participants, with Incheon issuing the same measure on Monday.
A medical staff member works at Severance Hospital in western Seoul on Aug. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
The latest uptick in the number of new infections has set alarm bells ringing, as they were mostly reported from Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, home to half of the country's 51 million people.
Of the local infections, the capital city reported 97 new cases, and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province took up 84.
Incheon, located west of Seoul, reported 20 new cases, and the central city of Daejeon added 10 new infections.
The Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul, a hotbed of the recent spike in new infections, has reported a total of 875 COVID-19 cases as of Monday, up 34 from the previous day.
The Seoul metropolitan government said that 21.7 percent of the church members tested in the capital were confirmed to have been infected with the virus.
New virus cases traced to the church have also been reported from multiple office buildings, day care centers, cram schools and medical institutions, where the church members visited.
A total of 176 patients were reported from an anti-government rally held on Aug. 15 in central Seoul, up 40 from a day earlier. A large number of Sarang Jeil Church members, including its pastor who was also infected with the virus, took part in the rally.
The figure also includes seven police officers who were deployed at the protest.
Other church-linked cluster infections continued to grow as well, with 182 tied to Woori Jeil Church in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, and 41 to Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul.
A mother holding her child waits to receive new coronavirus tests at an elementary school in Hwasun, 343 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Some critics linked the government's designation of Aug. 17 as a temporary national holiday to a recent rise in new cases. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun admitted that the designation, intended to help allay people's weariness from the pandemic, did not help the quarantine efforts "after all."
"In that respect, I think it was very unfortunate," Chung said during a parliamentary session.
The highest anti-virus curbs can be issued when the number of daily virus cases reaches a two-week average of 100-200 and the doubling of new COVID-19 cases occurs more than twice a week.
With the current level of measures already being the toughest restrictions for South Korea, which reported its first case on Jan. 20, tighter measures are expected to come at a high price in terms of the economy.
The number of imported cases came to just eight. Of them, three were from Russia, and two were from Ukraine. There were also cases from the United States, Bangladesh and India.
In the daily tally, South Korea logged no new fatalities, with the death toll remaining at 309, the KCDC said. The fatality rate came to 1.75 percent.
Later in the day, however, a 89-year-old COVID-19 patient, a resident of Boeun County, some 180 kilometers south of Seoul, died at 6:50 p.m., after having tested positive the previous day.
The patient, who had suffered from hypertension and lung illness, did not show any symptoms when testing positive, according to reports.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 14,219, up 19 from the previous day. This indicates slightly more than 80 percent of the patients reported here have been cured.
Over the past two weeks, patients aged 60 and above accounted for 31.7 percent of newly added cases. Those in their 20s and 30s took up 25.2 percent, according to the KCDC.
South Korea has carried out 1,804,422 tests since Jan. 3.
Concerning the authorization of emergency use of blood plasma to treat COVID-19 patients by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, health authorities said the country plans to mass-produce such treatments when safety is verified.
Blood plasma, taken from patients who have recovered from the new coronavirus, is rich in antibodies and thus may help people battling the disease.
Prime Minister Chung said that South Korea is currently employing a "two-track" approach seeking to both develop COVID-19 treatment domestically and secure it from overseas.
"We are assiduously pushing to develop (treatment) so that we do not fall behind internationally," he said during the parliamentary session.
"I think that perhaps, we would be able to unveil treatment within this year," he added.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--Mando to develop ventilator for COVID-19 patients in collaboration with NASA

SEOUL , Aug. 24 ( Yonhap ) -- Mando Corp. , a South Korean auto parts manufacturer , has been @ @ @ @ @ a project being pushed by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA ) @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus patients , company officials said Monday .

SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- Mando Corp., a South Korean auto parts manufacturer, has been selected as a partner for a project being pushed by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop a ventilator for novel coronavirus patients, company officials said Monday.
Mando has become the only Asian company to collaborate with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory's (JPL) Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally project aimed at ensuring the steady supply of medical ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The South Korean company plans to develop a ventilator for personal use that can also be utilized for emergency purposes at makeshift hospitals.
"It will be a product designed to meet growing demand for ventilators amid a spike in COVID-19 patients," a Mando official said.
Mando's involvement in the ventilator development scheme comes as JPL recognized the company's expertise in so-called redundancy technology, which is designed to automatically fix malfunctions. This knowhow is critical in medical equipment that involves people's lives.
The latest move comes as the company is seeking to expand its portfolio to include medical equipment as one of its future growth engines.
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--(3rd LD) More doctors join strike amid virus resurgence, gov't steps back from hard-line stance

`` We welcome the decision for some trainee doctors to resume their COVID-19 medical services and sincerely hope that they @ @ @ @ @ as soon as possible , '' Sohn Young-rae , a senior health official , said @ @ @ @ @ said that while non-trainee doctors have joined the walkout , the government is in the @ @ @ @ @ outstanding issue so as not to disturb the timely provision of medical care .

(ATTN: ADDS info on participation rate of fellow doctors in para 4; UPDATES with more info in paras 7, 9)
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- More doctors joined an ongoing strike Monday in protest of the medical workforce reform scheme, bucking the government's offer for more talks to come back to work amid the resurgence of the new coronavirus outbreaks.
Interns and residents at major general hospitals have been staging an indefinite walkout nationwide since last week, calling for the government to scrap its plan to increase admission quotas at medical schools.
A number of physicians in fellowship training in Seoul's general hospitals also joined the walkout earlier in the day, including 288 fellow doctors at Seoul National University Hospital and more fellow doctors at Seoul Asan Medical Center.
Doctors at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul hold signs on Aug. 23, 2020, in protest of the government's plan to increase medical school admission quotas. (Yonhap)
The health ministry said 151 of the 200 medical facilities across the country with doctors on staff reported a walkout taking place. It said of the 8,679 fellow doctors in such facilities, 6,021, or 69.4 percent, were on strike.
Amid an escalated friction, the Korean Intern and Resident Association (KIRA) representing trainee doctors met with Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and Health Minister Park Neunghoo on Sunday.
During the meeting, trainee doctors agreed to participate in medical services to respond to the novel coronavirus outbreak, signaling that KIRA members will return to work on a limited basis, while trying to resolve the pending problem through negotiations with the government.
However, the Korean Medical Association (KMA), which represents 130,000 doctors, is scheduled to launch its second national walkout this week starting on Wednesday and running through Friday. Among the participants of the planned walkout include attendings at general hospitals and clinic doctors.
The government on Monday once again pleaded with young doctors, saying that they are open to any talks amid concerns that the strike can be prolonged amid a flare-up of novel coronavirus cases.
"We welcome the decision for some trainee doctors to resume their COVID-19 medical services and sincerely hope that they will return to their workplaces as soon as possible," Sohn Young-rae, a senior health official, said in a briefing. He said that while non-trainee doctors have joined the walkout, the government is in the process of trying to resolve outstanding issue so as not to disturb the timely provision of medical care.
On Monday, South Korea reported 266 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total caseload to 17,665. However, the country is still bogged down with a series of cluster infections continuing in the greater Seoul area and other major cities.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (R) talks with representatives from the Korean Intern and Resident Association at the government office complex in Seoul on Aug. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
In a bid to avert the nationwide strike, the prime minister and the health minister held another meeting with Choi Dae-zip, the head of the KMA, but it ended without tangible results.
After the 70-minute negotiations earlier in the day, Minister Park said, "There was a positive discussion," on outstanding issues.
The premier, who has consistently advocated dialogue, said that while government is willing to listen to views and make adjustments, it cannot just scrap the reform measures as demanded by doctors.
He then said that many doctors he talked to felt they were left out of the government's decision-making process, and conceded that this is something that could have been handled differently.
Reflecting the impasse, the head of the KMA said that despite the meeting, the walkout plan is still in effect.
"(The two sides) agreed to have immediate discussions on details between the health ministry and the KMA's working level," Choi said, adding that he was able to have honest talks on key issues, although participants were not able to narrow their differences.
As part of the country's medical workforce reform plan, the health ministry is planning to expand admission quotas at medical schools by 4,000 over the next 10 years, starting in 2022, and to open a new public medical school as it seeks to broaden the reach of health care services.
This will increase the number of students admitted annually to medical schools to 3,458 in the 2022-2031 period from the current 3,058, according to the plan.
They are also protesting the government's push for the establishment of public medical schools, a pilot project for supporting oriental medicine doctors and the introduction of telemedicine.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--(LEAD) Finance minister hints at offering 2nd round of virus emergency handouts

`` The government can not help but be very hesitant as it has no other option but to rely entirely @ @ @ @ @ bonds , '' Chung said during a parliamentary session .

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 5-7)
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Monday the government will review the need to provide a second round of emergency handouts if the recent resurgence of new coronavirus infections does not slow down.
Hong told lawmakers that the government has not been having "in-depth discussions" over the possibility of offering a second round of emergency handouts.
The government will make a decision on the matter as it is monitoring the resurgence's impact on the economy, Hong said.
If the government decides to offer a second round of emergency handouts, it will have no choice but to sell state debts to cover the cost, Hong said.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun echoed the view, noting the government's available resources are "very limited."
"The government cannot help but be very hesitant as it has no other option but to rely entirely on the issuance of national bonds," Chung said during a parliamentary session.
"We have a very cautious stance," he added.
In May, the government offered relief funds totaling 14.3 trillion won (US$12 billion) to all households as part of efforts to cushion the economic fallout from the new coronavirus.
The amount of the handouts varied from 400,000 won for single-person households to 1 million won for households with four or more members.
South Korea reported 266 new cases of the novel coronavirus on Monday, bringing the nation's total caseload to 17,665, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Although the number of daily new infections fell below 300 for the first time in four days, it marked the 11th consecutive day of a triple-digit increase.
Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki attends a parliamentary meeting on Aug. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--(4th LD) S. Korea warns of upping virus restrictions; citizens urged to observe strict measures

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 24-25, 30-31)
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea warned on Monday of raising social distancing restrictions if the latest wave of new coronavirus outbreaks does not subside, urging people to strictly abide by anti-virus measures currently in place, as the country's daily new virus cases sharply slowed.
The number of additional new coronavirus cases here sharply slowed to below 300, but the country is still bogged down with a series of cluster infections continuing in the greater Seoul area and other major cities.
Of the 266 new COVID-19 cases, 258 were locally transmitted, raising the total caseload to 17,665, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Monday's daily tally marks a sharp slowdown from the 397 newly identified cases the previous day, but fewer virus tests over the weekend might have dragged down the number of new cases.
On Sunday, a total of 13,236 virus tests were conducted, compared to 15,386 tests on Saturday and 21,677 tests on Friday. On Thursday, 20,040 tests were carried out.
A medical staff member takes a short break at a public health clinic located in southern Seoul on Aug. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Since Aug. 14, the country's daily virus cases have been in triple digits, as sporadic clusters in the greater Seoul area piled up, mostly traced to a conservative protestant church in Seoul and an anti-government march on Liberation Day on Aug. 15.
Over the past 11 days, a whopping 2,893 new cases across the nation were identified.
"The COVID-19 virus became an immediate threat, and nobody is insulated from the risk of contagion," KCDC Director Jeong Eun-kyeong said in a daily briefing. "We need to break the chain transmission (of the virus), but we can reduce virus contagion if we follow strict social distancing."
The KCDC chief said the government is closely studying whether to raise social distancing restrictions to the highest level.
Health Minister Park Neunghoo also said during a parliamentary session that the government will inevitably review adopting the highest social distancing scheme in the greater Seoul area if the virus curve does not flatten this week.
Amid grim prospects of a nationwide epidemic, the government decided to impose the Level 2 social distancing scheme outside the wider Seoul area starting Sunday.
Indoor meetings of more than 50 people and open-air gatherings of over 100 people are banned in principle. So-called risk-prone facilities, including karaoke rooms, clubs, PC cafes and buffets, have been ordered to shut down.
Starting Monday, Seoul residents must also wear masks and face coverings at all times in public, except when they are eating or drinking.
The city already banned protests of more than 10 participants, with Incheon issuing the same measure on Monday.
A medical staff member works at Severance Hospital in western Seoul on Aug. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
The latest uptick in the number of new infections has set alarm bells ringing, as they were mostly reported from Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province, home to half of the country's 51 million people.
Of the local infections, the capital city reported 97 new cases, and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province took up 84.
Incheon, located west of Seoul, reported 20 new cases, and the central city of Daejeon added 10 new infections.
The Sarang Jeil Church in northern Seoul, a hotbed of the recent spike in new infections, has reported a total of 875 COVID-19 cases as of Monday, up 34 from the previous day.
The Seoul metropolitan government said that 21.7 percent of the church members tested in the capital were confirmed to have been infected with the virus.
New virus cases traced to the church have also been reported from multiple office buildings, day care centers, cram schools and medical institutions, where the church members visited.
A total of 176 patients were reported from an anti-government rally held on Aug. 15 in central Seoul, up 40 from a day earlier. A large number of Sarang Jeil Church members, including its pastor who was also infected with the virus, took part in the rally.
The figure also includes seven police officers who were deployed at the protest.
Other church-linked cluster infections continued to grow as well, with 182 tied to Woori Jeil Church in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, and 41 to Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul.
A mother holding her child waits to receive new coronavirus tests at an elementary school in Hwasun, 343 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Some critics linked the government's designation of Aug. 17 as a temporary national holiday to a recent rise in new cases. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun admitted that the designation, intended to help allay people's weariness from the pandemic, did not help the quarantine efforts "after all."
"In that respect, I think it was very unfortunate," Chung said during a parliamentary session.
The highest anti-virus curbs can be issued when the number of daily virus cases reaches a two-week average of 100-200 and the doubling of new COVID-19 cases occurs more than twice a week.
With the current level of measures already being the toughest restrictions for South Korea, which reported its first case on Jan. 20, tighter measures are expected to come at a high price in terms of the economy.
The number of imported cases came to just eight. Of them, three were from Russia, and two were from Ukraine. There were also cases from the United States, Bangladesh and India.
In the daily tally, South Korea logged no new fatalities, with the death toll remaining at 309, the KCDC said. The fatality rate came to 1.75 percent.
Later in the day, however, a 89-year-old COVID-19 patient, a resident of Boeun County, some 180 kilometers south of Seoul, died at 6:50 p.m., after having tested positive the previous day.
The patient, who had suffered from hypertension and lung illness, did not show any symptoms when testing positive, according to reports.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 14,219, up 19 from the previous day. This indicates slightly more than 80 percent of the patients reported here have been cured.
Over the past two weeks, patients aged 60 and above accounted for 31.7 percent of newly added cases. Those in their 20s and 30s took up 25.2 percent, according to the KCDC.
South Korea has carried out 1,804,422 tests since Jan. 3.
Concerning the authorization of emergency use of blood plasma to treat COVID-19 patients by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, health authorities said the country plans to mass-produce such treatments when safety is verified.
Blood plasma, taken from patients who have recovered from the new coronavirus, is rich in antibodies and thus may help people battling the disease.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--(2nd LD) More doctors join strike amid virus resurgence, gov't steps back from hard-line stance

`` ( The two sides ) agreed to have immediate discussions on details between the health ministry and the KMA @ @ @ @ @ Choi said , adding that he was able to have honest talks on key issues @ @ @ @ @ able to narrow their differences .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in paras 11-15)
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- More doctors joined an ongoing strike Monday in protest of the medical workforce reform scheme, bucking the government's offer for more talks to come back to work amid the resurgence of the new coronavirus outbreaks.
Interns and residents at major general hospitals have been staging an indefinite walkout nationwide since last week, calling for the government to scrap its plan to increase admission quotas at medical schools.
A number of physicians in fellowship training in Seoul's general hospitals also joined the walkout earlier in the day, including 288 fellow doctors at Seoul National University Hospital and more fellow doctors at Seoul Asan Medical Center.
Doctors at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul hold signs on Aug. 23, 2020, in protest of the government's plan to increase medical school admission quotas. (Yonhap)
Amid an escalated friction, the Korean Intern and Resident Association (KIRA) representing trainee doctors met with Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and Health Minister Park Neunghoo on Sunday.
During the meeting, trainee doctors agreed to participate in medical services to respond to the novel coronavirus outbreak, signaling that KIRA members will return to work on a limited basis, while trying to resolve the pending problem through negotiations with the government.
However, the Korean Medical Association (KMA), which represents 130,000 doctors, is scheduled to launch its second national walkout this week. Among the participants of the planned walkout include attendings at general hospitals and clinic doctors.
The government on Monday once again pleaded with young doctors, saying that they are open to any talks amid concerns that the strike can be prolonged amid a flare-up of novel coronavirus cases.
"We welcome the decision for some trainee doctors to resume their COVID-19 medical services and sincerely hope that they will return to their workplaces as soon as possible," Sohn Young-rae, a senior health official, said in a briefing.
On Monday, South Korea reported 266 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total caseload to 17,665. However, the country is still bogged down with a series of cluster infections continuing in the greater Seoul area and other major cities.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (R) talks with representatives from the Korean Intern and Resident Association at the government office complex in Seoul on Aug. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
In a bid to avert the nationwide strike, the prime minister and the health minister held another meeting with Choi Dae-zip, the head of the KMA, but it ended without tangible results.
After the 70-minute negotiations earlier in the day, Minister Park said, "There was a positive discussion," on outstanding issues.
The premier, who has consistently advocated dialogue, said that while government is willing to listen to views and make adjustments, it cannot just scrap the reform measures as demanded by doctors.
He then said that many doctors he talked to felt they were left out of the government's decision-making process, and conceded that this is something that could have been handled differently.
Reflecting the impasse, the head of the KMA said that despite the meeting, the walkout plan is still in effect.
"(The two sides) agreed to have immediate discussions on details between the health ministry and the KMA's working level," Choi said, adding that he was able to have honest talks on key issues, although participants were not able to narrow their differences.
As part of the country's medical workforce reform plan, the health ministry is planning to expand admission quotas at medical schools by 4,000 over the next 10 years, starting in 2022, and to open a new public medical school as it seeks to broaden the reach of health care services.
This will increase the number of students admitted annually to medical schools to 3,458 in the 2022-2031 period from the current 3,058, according to the plan.
They are also protesting the government's push for the establishment of public medical schools, a pilot project for supporting oriental medicine doctors and the introduction of telemedicine.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--(3rd LD) Powerful Typhoon Bavi on path toward S. Korea, affecting Jeju Tuesday

Woo Jin-kyu from the weather agency said , while the typhoon is unlikely to grow into one from the strongest @ @ @ @ @ brace for strong winds that make it hard for people to walk straight , and @ @ @ @ @ structures .

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout)
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- The powerful Typhoon Bavi was churning toward the Korean Peninsula on Monday from the sea south of Korea and expected to pass by the southern island of Jeju the following day.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said that as of 3 p.m., the season's eighth tropical storm, formed off the east coast of Taiwan, was some 210 kilometers northwest of Japan's Okinawa Island and traveling at about 12 kph.
Its central pressure was 975 hectopascals, with its maximum sustained winds recorded at 115 km per hour.
The typhoon is forecast to advance toward the southern coast of Jeju on Wednesday. It is expected move nearest to the resort island on Wednesday afternoon and likely to make landfall in North Korea's Hwanghae Province on Thursday.
As the peninsula is forecast to come under its influence from Tuesday night till Thursday, the KMA advised safety measures be put in place before it arrives.
The satellite image provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) shows Typhoon Bavi. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Earlier in the day, the weather agency warned of a peak gust reaching 144-216 kph in Jeju and the west coastal regions of the Jeolla provinces Wednesday night till Thursday. The highest instantaneous wind speed can reach 126 kph in the country's south and west areas.
The typhoon, at its peak, is forecast to become the third strongest of the four-level system, with a peak gust of 184 kph.
Woo Jin-kyu from the weather agency said, while the typhoon is unlikely to grow into one from the strongest level, the country should brace for strong winds that make it hard for people to walk straight, and can easily topple and destroy structures.
"People should refrain from going outside, and outdoor facilities should be secured to prevent them from getting damaged by the winds."
To prepare for the approaching typhoon, the government started to run the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters and raised the crisis alert level from "attention" to "caution."
Provincial authorities and residents also braced for the typhoon.
Some 100 residents of Gageo Island in South Jeolla Province evacuated aboard a passenger boat. Coast Guard staff in South Chungcheong Province reinforced their security operations.
While its path and size can change as the typhoon approaches the peninsula, the KMA also issued safety warnings of storm surges and strong winds for low-lying coastal areas that lie in the storm's path.
The country is still reeling from the aftermath of the longest rainy season on record this summer, with torrential rains and flash floods killing dozens of people and wrecking havoc on buildings, farmlands and infrastructure nationwide.
The image provided by the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) shows Typhoon Bavi's expected path. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--Defense chief urges thorough preparations for Typhoon Bavi, readiness posture

South Korea is bracing for Typhoon Bavi , which is feared to be one of the strongest to affect the @ @ @ @ @ is advancing toward the Korean Peninsula , packing strong winds and heavy precipitation , according @ @ @ @ @ ( KMA ) .

SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo called for thorough preparations Monday to prevent possible damage to military personnel and facilities by the approaching Typhoon Bavi, his office said.
South Korea is bracing for Typhoon Bavi, which is feared to be one of the strongest to affect the peninsula in years. It is advancing toward the Korean Peninsula, packing strong winds and heavy precipitation, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).
The typhoon is forecast to reach the southern resort island of Jeju early Wednesday and move along the Yellow Sea to reach near the capital city of Seoul the following day, it added.
Minister Jeong presided over an emergency meeting involving military leaders and ordered the evacuation of service members stationed in vulnerable regions and appropriate steps to minimize possible damage to military assets such as ships and aircraft, the defense ministry said in a release.
"Each unit leader should also come up with thorough measures to prevent possible loopholes in their guard operations," Jeong stressed.
South Korea has been struggling to recover from huge damage by heavy downpours during the unusually lengthy monsoon season earlier this month.
Engineering soldiers build a makeshift bridge on a flood-damaged bridge over a stream in Inje, a town in South Korea's northeast province of Gangwon, on Aug. 12, 2020, after residents living across the stream were stranded for a week following heavy rain in the region. (Yonhap)
Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo presides over an emergency meeting of military leaders in Seoul on Aug. 24, 2020, to discuss safety steps against the approaching Typhoon Bavi, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--17 churches in Seoul caught breaching in-person worship service ban

Prior to last Wednesday , churches in the capital were only barred from holding events or gatherings , except for @ @ @ @ @ the regulations have been toughened , as infections coming from churches in the greater Seoul @ @ @ @ @ center of the recent surge in cases .

SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- A total of 17 churches in Seoul were caught for holding in-person worship services on Sunday in violation of quarantine authorities' order issued earlier to contain the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, the metropolitan government said Monday.
The Seoul government conducted on-site inspections at 3,894 churches across the capital on Sunday to verify whether they were complying with the gathering ban under the current Level 2 of the three-tier social distancing system.
This photo, provided by the Office of Gangnam Ward, shows ward officials inspecting a church in southern Seoul on Aug. 23, 2020, to enforce a ban on on-site worship services. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In the inspections, 17 churches were detected holding on-site services attended by more than 20 people in disregard of the authorities' gathering ban, it noted.
The inspected churches accounted for 56 percent of the entire 6,989 churches in Seoul.
The ban on face-to-face church services is one of the Level 2 quarantine restrictions imposed by the Seoul government last Wednesday, along with the closure of many high-risk private businesses.
According to the municipal government, 1,121, or 28.8 percent, of the inspected churches suspended Sunday services, while 2,542 churches, or 65.3 percent, shifted to online services.
The Seoul government said it plans to take punitive administrative measures against the 17 churches after carrying out further investigation into their violation of the ban on face-to-face worship services.
Prior to last Wednesday, churches in the capital were only barred from holding events or gatherings, except for the Sunday services. But the regulations have been toughened, as infections coming from churches in the greater Seoul area have been at the center of the recent surge in cases.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--FM Kang apologizes over New Zealand sexual abuse case

`` Minister Kang said during a meeting with director generals that not only has the case been a diplomatic burden @ @ @ @ @ also that she was sorry for causing concern to the public , '' her office @ @ @ @ @ .

By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha apologized Monday over sexual abuse allegations involving a South Korean diplomat once stationed in New Zealand after the ministry came under fire for mishandling the case.
A former local employee at South Korea's Embassy in Wellington has accused the senior diplomat of groping his body on three occasions in 2017, a case that has drawn attention after New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern raised the issue in last month's phone talks with President Moon Jae-in.
"Minister Kang said during a meeting with director generals that not only has the case been a diplomatic burden for the government, but also that she was sorry for causing concern to the public," her office said in a press release.
She also said that the presidential office found problems with the ministry's handling of the case.
"We received the probe outcome from Cheong Wa Dae that there were problems in the ministry's response from the beginning of the incident to the calls between the leaders. The foreign ministry will review it and promptly take appropriate measures," Kang said.
It is the first time that the foreign minister has issued an apology over the case. It is also rare for the ministry to disclose what was discussed during the regular meeting with her director generals.
The diplomat was moved to a new post in the Philippines the next year and was disciplined with a reduction in salary for a month. He recently came back home at the ministry's order after the case resurfaced.
In the meeting, Kang vowed to strengthen communication with the New Zealand side so that this case can be resolved in a fair manner.
In Monday's meeting, Kang also stressed that the ministry will apply stricter standards for sexual misconduct cases in the future, regardless of the time of the occurrence, and ordered the bolstering of related regulations and education.
Last week, the foreign ministry said it is considering resuming arbitration to settle the sexual abuse case after recently receiving a request from the complainant.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks during a diplomatic strategy meeting at the foreign ministry in Seoul on July 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--(LEAD) 6 USFK-affiliated Americans test positive for new coronavirus

Four of them arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek , some 70 kilometers south of Seoul , on U.S. @ @ @ @ @ on Aug. 10 and 19 , and the two others arrived at Incheon International Airport @ @ @ @ @ on commercial flights from the U.S. on Aug. 12 and 21 , according to the @ @

(ATTN: ADDS virus test mandate in paras 6-10)
By Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- Six American service members tested positive for the new coronavirus upon their arrivals in South Korea this month, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Monday.
Four of them arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on U.S. government-chartered flights from the U.S. on Aug. 10 and 19, and the two others arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on commercial flights from the U.S. on Aug. 12 and 21, according to the USFK.
All have since been transferred to an isolation facility designated for confirmed COVID-19 cases at the Osan base or Camp Humphreys also located in Pyeongtaek, it added.
"Thorough cleaning of all transportation assets and quarantine rooms has been completed," USFK said in a statement. "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 infections to 166, and 142 of them were confirmed upon their arrivals here. USFK said it has not had an internal positive case since mid-April.
Amid calls for tougher entry restrictions for incoming U.S. soldiers, the U.S. has required all service members heading overseas to put themselves in two weeks of self-quarantine and take coronavirus tests before departures.
But the U.S. decided to ease the requirements for those heading to South Korea, asking them only to submit a negative COVID-19 test result before departures starting on Aug. 30 without having to go into self-quarantine, according to the Stars and Stripes, a U.S. military newspaper.
"(The modification comes as) USFK already requires all affiliated individuals arriving here to undergo virus tests and be quarantined for 14 days. A second test is also a must prior to their release," an official said.
According to the Pentagon memorandum on COVID-19 force health protection guidance issued on Aug. 6, 14-day pre-travel isolation is a must if a host nation does not require a two-week movement restriction.
U.S. officers wait for American service personnel to arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on April 7, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korea has been struggling to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases, with fresh cases reported Sunday totaling a five-month high of 397. On Monday, the country reported 266 new cases, including 258 local infections, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The total caseload came to 17,665.
In the wake of the recent spread, the U.S military heightened the health protection level by one notch to the Health Protection Condition Level (HPCON) Charlie, or HPCON C, for all areas in South Korea, which reduces the number of personnel working on bases and implements tougher anti-virus regulations.
Last week, USFK Commander Gen. Robert Abrams also renewed its Public Health Emergency over the new coronavirus for another 90 days until Nov. 18 to maintain the authority to tackle the pandemic, including administering tests and quarantine for all USFK-affiliated personnel.
The commander first declared the emergency in March and renewed it in April and May.
Medical workers conduct drive-through tests for the new coronavirus at a parking lot of a culture and sports center in Hwasun, South Jeolla Province, southwestern South Korea, on Aug. 24, 2020, where students and teachers of an elementary school are to receive such tests after a teacher tested positive for the virus. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--LG Chem to build latex plant with Malaysia's Petronas Chemicals

Recently , the use of nitrile gloves has seen rapid growth in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and @ @ @ @ @ demand for nitrile gloves is at an annual average of more than 10 percent and @ @ @ @ @ 70 percent of the entire latex gloves market in 2024 , according to Petronas Chemicals @

SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- Malaysia's Petronas Chemicals said Monday it has signed a deal with South Korean chemical giant LG Chem to build a latex plant in Malaysia in a move to meet growing demand for nitrile gloves amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The construction of a nitrile butadiene latex (NBL) manufacturing plant will begin at Pengerang Integrated Complex in Johor next year and production is set to start in 2023.
The plant will have an annual NBL production capacity of 200,000 tons, according to Petronas Chemicals.
LG Chem declined to provide any details, including the amount of the investment.
LG Chem's factory in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province in South Korea (Yonhap)
NBL is a synthetic rubber that uses butadiene as the main feedstock and is a core raw material for nitrile gloves, which are widely used in such industries as healthcare, medical and food.
The two sides will work together to offer various grades and new applications of NBL as well as develop high-value added products through continuous research and development and investments, according to Petronas Chemicals.
"We are excited about this partnership. It marks a strategic step in developing PCG's specialty chemicals portfolio, underpinning PCG's position as a leading integrated chemicals producer in Malaysia," Petronas Chemicals CEO Sazali Hamzah said in comments posted on the company's website.
Recently, the use of nitrile gloves has seen rapid growth in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infections. The rising demand for nitrile gloves is at an annual average of more than 10 percent and is expected to account for 70 percent of the entire latex gloves market in 2024, according to Petronas Chemicals.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--(LEAD) TV productions halt filming of dramas, shows as precautionary step against coronavirus

But the second season of the crime opera `` Stranger , '' which has been airing since Aug. 15 , @ @ @ @ @ Record of Youth , '' set to premiere Sept. 7 will be broadcast as scheduled @ @ @ @ @ already , Studio Dragon added .

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 10, 12-15)
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korean TV studios and broadcasters halted productions of dramas and shows for about a week Monday amid the nationwide struggle to deal with a resurgence in novel coronavirus infections.
Studio Dragon, a drama production company owned by entertainment giant CJ ENM, suspended drama filming on the day.
"For the safety of cast and staff members of our productions, we will stop shooting of all shows from Aug. 24-31," it said in a statement Saturday. "Several dramas will be affected by the suspension."
It said the thrillers "The Flower of Evil" of tvN and "Missing: The Other Side" of OCN are subject to the temporary stoppage.
Starring Lee Joon-gi, the 16-episode "The Flower of Evil" is set to air its ninth episode Wednesday, while the 10-episode "Missing" will premiere this Saturday.
This combined image provided by tvN shows posters of "The Flower of Evil." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
But the second season of the crime opera "Stranger," which has been airing since Aug. 15, and the upcoming romance "Record of Youth," set to premiere Sept. 7 will be broadcast as scheduled as they have completed filming already, Studio Dragon added.
CJ ENM, meanwhile, said some of its productions like the reality show "Hometown Flex" and the live music show "M Countdown" will also have a one-week break starting this week.
Earlier, KBS decided to suspend drama productions for a week as part of its efforts to prevent further COVID-19 infections.
Five TV dramas, including the upcoming romantic comedy "Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol" to be first aired this Wednesday, will be put on hold.
In line with the precautionary measures, KBS' long-running reality show "Two Days One Night," which airs every Sunday, canceled this week's shooting schedule on Jeju Island.
KBS said the production halt can be extended if the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
SBS was not an exception, suspending shooting of popular weekend variety shows "Running Man" and "Master in the House" this week, while the romance reality show "Flaming Youth" rescheduled its filming last week.
Moreover, tightened social distancing has made broadcasters scrap plans to hold online press conferences scheduled this week for upcoming TV series.
KBS canceled the media session for "Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol," originally set for Wednesday, while tvN and OCN called off press events for "Record of Youth" on Friday and "Missing: The Other Side" on Wednesday, respectively.
The press conference was considered the last public appearance of star actor Park Bo-gum, who chose "Record of Youth" as his final project before starting his mandatory military duty in the Navy later this month.
Global media giant Netflix has also joined the move, suspending productions of its Korean original content like "Round Six" and "All of Us Are Dead."
It said it made the decision to comply with the South Korean government's social distancing guidelines and secure the safety of its film crew.
The industrywide move came as the recent spike in coronavirus cases in South Korea has swept the entertainment circle. The country has reported around 300 confirmed cases per day for about a week, most of which were from cluster infections linked to churches.
The filming of the fantasy romantic comedy "To All The Guys Who Loved Me" on KBS has been halted since an extra was confirmed to have contracted the virus last week.
And two actors, Kim Won-hae and Heo Dong-won, starring in the same theatrical play with the infected background actor, have tested positive for COVID-19.
As a result, several actors and actresses who have directly or indirectly come in contact with the patients have been tested or are under self-quarantine, affecting productions of TV series and shows.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--(2nd LD) BOK chief sees possibility of 1 pct contraction this year over pandemic

`` In May , the BOK 's growth projection was a 0.2 percent contraction .
But I think we will @ @ @ @ @ outlook , '' Lee said in a parliamentary session , when asked by a lawmaker @ @ @ @ @ the forecast to some a 1 percent fall .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with Gov. Lee's remarks throughout)
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top central banker said Monday he does not rule out the possibility of the economy contracting around 1 percent this year as downside risks have heightened amid a flare-up in virus cases.
Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Lee Ju-yeol presented the grim prospect for Asia's fourth-largest economy, saying that it will sharply lower the economic growth outlook this week over spiking virus cases.
"In May, the BOK's growth projection was a 0.2 percent contraction. But I think we will have to sharply lower the outlook," Lee said in a parliamentary session, when asked by a lawmaker if the BOK would trim the forecast to some a 1 percent fall.
The BOK will hold its rate-setting meeting and announce its revised economic outlook Thursday.
Lee said downside risks on the economy have increased, as the resurge in COVID-19 infections has prompted the government to raise the level of social distancing across the nation.
"This will likely have a negative impact on the economy significantly. It is necessary to sharply lower the economic growth look," he said.
This file photo, taken June 4, 2020, shows stacks of import-export cargo containers at South Korea's largest seaport in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The governor earlier said in a report to the National Assembly that the momentum for economic recovery is expected to remain weak amid the uptick in virus cases.
"After suffering sharp deterioration, the Korean economy showed some signs of an improvement on eased slumps in exports and consumption," Lee said.
"But as virus cases have recently resurged, the economic recovery is expected to remain weak, and economic uncertainty has further heightened," he added.
The South Korean economy contracted 3.3 percent in the second quarter from three months earlier, the worst performance in over two decades, as exports tumbled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
To bolster the slumping economy, the BOK slashed its key policy rate in May to a record low of 0.5 percent after delivering an emergency rate cut of half a percentage point in March.
Policymakers earlier forecast a rebound in the third quarter on the back of the country's massive budget spending and an improvement in global production.
But the possibility of nationwide virus outbreaks and another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to put downward pressure on the economic recovery.
South Korea reported 266 more cases of COVID-19 on Monday after its daily new virus cases topped 300 for the third straight day. The country has reported nearly 2,900 virus cases over the past 11 days.
Bank of Korea Gov. Lee Ju-yeol (R) speaks at the National Assembly in Seoul on Aug. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Experts forecast the BOK will stand pat at the key rate Thursday despite spiking virus cases, as it is expected to seek to gauge the impact of its rate cuts amid tamed inflationary pressure.
Lee said the country's consumer prices will likely move in the zero-percent range for the time being.
The governor also said the BOK will manage the monetary policy in an accommodative manner in a bid to prop up the local economy and keep close tabs on the economic repercussions of the virus outbreak.
"We will also closely monitor changes in financial stability, stemming from growing household debt amid rising home prices and excessive cash inflows to the housing market," Lee added.
Ruling party lawmakers blamed the BOK's long streak of low rates for jacking up housing prices.
The government came under public fire for its failure to stabilize the housing market despite a series of measures.
The BOK governor defended the need for monetary easing, stressing that it helped companies secure funds in the first wave of the virus outbreak in March.
"Low rates had the side effect of raising asset prices, but the accommodative policy stance had far more positive impacts (on the economy)," Lee said.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--(LEAD) Unification ministry scraps plan to allow barter deals with N.K. firm: lawmakers

`` The project in question can be seen as having been completely dropped , '' Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the @ @ @ @ @ told reporters .
`` It seems that the Unification Ministry has not carried out a @ @ @ @ @ on the firm through the National Intelligence Service . ''

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, first 2 paras; ADDS more info, including ministry's comments, in paras 6-11)
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- The unification ministry has scrapped a plan to allow barter transactions with a North Korean trading company after the firm was found to be a subject of international sanctions, lawmakers said Monday.
Vice Unification Minister Suh Ho made the report during a closed-door meeting of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee held earlier in the day, according to the lawmakers who attended the parliamentary session.
The ministry had been weighing whether to approve the 150 million-won (US$126,039) deal, forged in June between a South Korean farmers' group and the North's Kaesong Koryo Insam Trading Co., to bring in North Korean ginseng, blueberry liquors and other food products in return for South Korean sugar.
"The project in question can be seen as having been completely dropped," Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the main opposition United Future Party told reporters. "It seems that the Unification Ministry has not carried out a thorough (background) check on the firm through the National Intelligence Service."
Kaesong Koryo Insam Trading is subject to global sanctions banning economic transactions with the North. It is presumed to be a front for Bureau 39 of the North Korean Workers' Party known to be handling secret slush funds for the Kim family.
Unification Minister Lee In-young has been seeking to bring frayed inter-Korean ties back on track through cooperative projects, including the envisioned barter transaction deal, since he took office last month, saying that such small-scale trade could be a starting point for full-blown cross-border cooperation.
Lee has argued that bartering rice and medicine from the South for mineral water from Mount Kumgang and Mount Paekdu in the North can also avoid violating sanctions as it does not involve sending "bulk cash" to the North.
Later in the day, the unification ministry denied that it has scrapped the deal, adding that it is still in discussion with the South Korean farmers' group to keep the project alive.
"Kaesong Koryo Insam Trading is just one of multiple North Korean counterpart companies in the deal," the ministry said in a text message sent to reporters.
"In consideration of concerns about the firm, we are in discussion with the (farmers') group ... about possible adjustments to the terms of the contract," the ministry added.
The ministry did not elaborate but the adjustments might be intended to exclude the North Korean firm subject to sanctions from the envisioned barter transactions.
Rep. Kim Byung-kee of the Democratic Party, also a key member of the Intelligence Committee, told Yonhap News Agency over the phone that "this does not mean all of the ministry's envisioned barter transaction projects (with North Korea) have been thwarted."
Vice Unification Minister Suh Ho speaks during a session of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee in Seoul on Aug. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--(LEAD) Record number of schools close amid rapid spread of virus nationwide

According to the latest available data from the ministry , 1,040 students have been quarantined by health authorities , while @ @ @ @ @ stay at home after reporting symptoms similar to those of COVID-19 .
Another 826 have @ @ @ @ @ after showing symptoms .

(ATTN: UPDATES with minister's comments in last 3 paras; photo)
By Woo Jae-yeon
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- A resurgence of the coronavirus around the country forced hundreds of schools to shut down on Monday, with the largest number of school closures since reopening in June.
A total of 1,845 schools halted in-person classes, the Ministry of Education said, more than double the previous record of 849 from Friday, as virus infections tied to church clusters and anti-government rallies, as well as unknown transmission, are spreading nationwide. Some schools shut down as a preemptive measure.
Since schools started to reopen on May 20, 283 students and 70 faculty members and teachers have tested positive for the virus. Over the weekend, 70 and 22, respectively, have been added to the tallies.
The undated file photo shows a worker spraying disinfectant in a classroom. (Yonhap)
In Seoul, the northern ward of Seongbuk, where the new COVID-19 hotbed Sarang Jeil Church is located, was the hardest hit, with 88 schools affected, and the nearby ward of Gangbuk saw 47 schools shut down. As of Sunday noon, 841 coronavirus infections had been tied to the church.
According to the latest available data from the ministry, 1,040 students have been quarantined by health authorities, while 7,854 have been ordered to stay at home after reporting symptoms similar to those of COVID-19. Another 826 have been sent home from school after showing symptoms.
As of midnight Sunday, 243,104 tests have been conducted for students and 26,271 for educators and faculty members.
The country reported 266 new cases Monday, including 258 local infections, taking the total caseload to 17,665, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The number of daily infections has been in triple digits since Aug. 14 when 103 additional cases were reported. On Saturday, all of the country's 17 major cities and provinces reported COVID-19 cases, a grim sign that the country might have entered a national epidemic.
During the ministry's response meeting Monday, Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae sounded the alarm over the speed of COVID-19 transmission around the country.
"This week proves to be really crucial, as most schools are set to reopen after summer vacation," the minister said, adding that the ministry will act on any safety issue in a "swift and preemptive" manner and prepare for a situation where the government institutes the strictest social distancing rules.
On Saturday, the government expanded the Level Two guidelines of the three-tier system around the country amid soaring infections. Previously, it had been imposed in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.
Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae talks during a coronavirus response meeting in Seoul on Aug. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

SEOUL -- The government would have no choice but to consider the toughest social distancing requirement if the rapid spread @ @ @ @ @ the capital area is not contained within this week , the health minister said Monday @

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Monday.
----------------
(LEAD) Moon requests public efforts to avoid highest-level social distancing rules
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in appealed to the people in South Korea on Monday for help in the government's anti-coronavirus efforts, saying raising the social distancing restrictions to the highest stage is inevitable if the current Level Two campaign is unsuccessful.
"If we fail to stop (the virus spread) at this stage, we will have to elevate the social distancing (guidelines) to the third one," he said during a weekly meeting with senior Cheong Wa Dae aides.
----------------
Review of toughest distancing 'inevitable' if virus surge in capital not curbed: health minister
SEOUL -- The government would have no choice but to consider the toughest social distancing requirement if the rapid spread of the new coronavirus in the capital area is not contained within this week, the health minister said Monday.
"(The ministry) is inevitably planning to review raising (the social distancing) to Level Three if the proliferation of infections taking place in the capital area is not blocked within this week," Health Minister Park Neunghoo said during the National Assembly's budget committee session.
----------------
S. Korea scraps envisioned barter transaction deal with N. Korean firm
SEOUL -- South Korea's Unification Ministry said Monday it has scrapped a plan to have barter transactions with a North Korean trading company after the firm was found to be a subject of international sanctions.
Vice Unification Minister Suh Ho made the report during a closed-door meeting of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee, according to its leading members.
----------------
Record number of schools close amid rapid spread of virus nationwide
SEOUL -- A resurgence of the coronavirus around the country forced hundreds of schools to shut down on Monday, with the largest number of school closures since reopening in June.
A total of 1,845 schools halted in-person classes, the Ministry of Education said, more than double the previous record of 849 from Friday, as virus infections tied to church clusters and anti-government rallies, as well as unknown transmission, are spreading nationwide. Some schools shut down as a preemptive measure.
----------------
Gov't adds dozens of regions to special disaster zones
SEOUL -- The government on Monday designated dozens more regions nationwide, hit by recent heavy rains and floods, as special disaster zones eligible for speedy state assistance in recovery work and the provision of relief funds.
President Moon Jae-in approved the plan to add 20 cities, counties and districts, along with 36 smaller "eup, myeon or dong" areas by administrative standards, to the list, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
----------------
(LEAD) Apple Korea proposes measures worth 100 bln won to correct anti-competitive practices
SEJONG -- The South Korean unit of U.S. tech giant Apple Inc. offered 100 billion won (US$84 million) worth of programs for consumers and mobile phone carriers, in a move to address concerns about the company's alleged violation of competition law, the nation's antitrust regulator said Monday.
Apple Korea has been under probe by the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) over allegations that it had required the country's three mobile operators -- SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. -- to pay the cost of television advertisements and warranty service for its iPhones.
----------------
S. Korean tech group files complaint against Google's in-app payment system
SEOUL -- A group of major South Korean online companies said Monday it submitted a complaint to the country's telecommunications regulator against Google for potential changes to its app store policies that would force local developers to only use its platform's payment system.
The Korea Internet Corporations Association, which represents major local tech companies, such as top portal operator Naver Corp., said it requested the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) to launch a probe into the purported policy changes to Google's platform.
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--(LEAD) S. Korean tech group files complaint against Google's in-app payment system

`` If Google 's policy changes are made , app operators that use other payment methods will be booted from @ @ @ @ @ face more mobile content fees , '' the association said in a statement .
`` @ @ @ @ @ the broader local internet industry . ''

(ATTN: CLARIFIES attribution in para 4; ADDS more info in para 8)
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- A group of major South Korean online companies said Monday it submitted a complaint to the country's telecommunications regulator against Google for potential changes to its app store policies that would force local developers to only use its platform's payment system.
The Korea Internet Corporations Association, which represents major local tech companies, such as top portal operator Naver Corp., said it requested the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) to launch a probe into the purported policy changes to Google's platform.
Google currently limits local game companies on its platform to use its in-app payment system, which takes a 30 percent cut from all purchases, according to the association.
A spokesperson of the association said that Google is planning to expand the system to all digital content purchases in local apps and restrict other options, potentially in violation of local laws.
A spokesperson for Google said the company has made no decision related to the alleged policy changes.
Under the law, telecommunications service providers are restricted from obstructing users in selecting other services.
"If Google's policy changes are made, app operators that use other payment methods will be booted from the market and consumers will face more mobile content fees," the association said in a statement. "Google's actions may harm the broader local internet industry."
A KCC official said the regulator has received the complaint and is internally reviewing whether to launch a probe.
External payment methods, in comparison to Google's system, take at most 10 percent in fees, according to a spokesperson of the association.
The latest move from the group follows similar complaints from startups.
The Korea Startup Forum requested the KCC last week to look into Google and Apple Inc.'s platform payment policies for potential violations.
Apple currently forces all local app developers to use its in-app payment system.
The group said local firms, especially smaller startups, are helpless in the face of the platform operators' demands, as they hold a tight grip over the local app market.
Google's Play Store held a 63.4 percent share of total app store sales in the country last year at 6 trillion won (US$5 billion), followed by Apple's App Store with a 24.4 percent stake at 2.3 trillion won, according to the Korea Mobile Internet Business Association.
Civic groups, including Financial Justice, have urged the country's antitrust regulator, the Fair Trade Commission, to look into the platform operators over market dominance, while urging Google for more transparency on its policy plans.
Growing discontent from local online companies comes as U.S.-based game developer Epic Games Inc. is embroiled in legal fights with Google and Apple in the United States over disputes stemming from the tech giants' in-app payment systems.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--Top pitching prospect drafted by father's former KBO team

Jang is also the son of former Heroes ' skipper Jang Jung-suk , who managed the club from 2017 to @ @ @ @ @ brought back after the Heroes finished runners-up to the Doosan Bears in the 2019 Korean @ @ @ @ @ as a color commentator for a cable station .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- Highly touted high school pitching prospect Jang Jae-young has been drafted by the pro club that his father once managed.
The Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Monday they chose the 18-year-old right-hander with their territorial pick. Each year, the 10 KBO clubs get to pick an amateur player based in their region in the territorial draft, with another, free-for-all amateur draft to follow later in the year.
Jang is a senior at Duksoo High School in Seoul. The Heroes are one of three KBO teams based in the capital city.
In this file photo from Sept. 7, 2019, Jang Jae-young of South Korea pitches against the United States at the World Baseball Softball Confederation U-18 Baseball World Cup at Gijang-Hyundai Dream Ballpark in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Jang is also the son of former Heroes' skipper Jang Jung-suk, who managed the club from 2017 to 2019. He was not brought back after the Heroes finished runners-up to the Doosan Bears in the 2019 Korean Series and is currently working as a color commentator for a cable station.
The junior Jang has been among the hardest throwers in South Korean high school. The Heroes' scouting department noted that Jang's four-seam fastball has consistently sat around 150 kilometers per hour (93.2 miles per hour) and even touched 157 kph in an unofficial setting. Jang represented South Korea at last year's U-18 Baseball World Cup, organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation.
This photo provided by the Kiwoom Heroes on Aug. 24, 2020, shows the Korea Baseball Organization club's territorial draft pick, pitcher Jang Jae-young. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"I am honored to be picked by Kiwoom, and it's an organization I've always wanted to play for," said Jang, who grew up playing catch with the Heroes' players at their home park while his father was working in the team's baseball operations department.
"The team has some great veterans, and the player development system there is second to none in the KBO," Jang added. "I still have so much room for improvement, and I am looking forward to learning from them."
Lee Sang-won, the Heroes' head of scouting, said he has been keeping an eye on Jang since middle school.
"He has a high ceiling as the only high school pitcher to throw over 150 kph," Lee said. "We'll try to develop him into not only the top pitcher on our club, but in the entire country."
In 47 innings during his high school career, Jang pitched to a 3.64 ERA with 61 strikeouts against 29 walks.
For the territorial draft, the three worst clubs from the previous season are allowed to either select a prospect from their regional pool or pick someone from outside their local markets. This is designed to achieve more competitive balance for clubs coming off a down year.
This photo provided by the Samsung Lions on Aug. 24, 2020, shows the Korea Baseball Organization club's territorial draft pick, pitcher Lee Seung-hyeon. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The Samsung Lions, who finished eighth last year, went ahead and picked left-hander Lee Seung-hyeon from Daegu Sangwon High School in their home city of Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
The Hanwha Eagles and the Lotte Giants, who ranked ninth and 10th in 2020, chose not to select from their local pool and will instead draft a player from outside Daejeon and Busan, respectively, next Monday.
The Doosan Bears were the only club to draft a position player on Monday, as they picked Seoul High School infielder Ahn Jae-seok.
The Bears called Ahn a sleek shortstop with a strong, accurate arm and said he can also handle the bat at the plate and is a smart baserunner. Ahn is the first infielder that the Bears chose in the territorial draft since the incumbent shortstop Kim Jae-ho in 2004.
The LG Twins, SK Wyverns, KT Wiz, Kia Tigers and NC Dinos all drafted pitchers.
Gimhae High School's Kim Yoo-seong is headed to the Dinos. At the Golden Lion National Baseball Tournament in June, Kim earned the top pitcher award after posting a 1.29 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings.
This photo provided by the NC Dinos on Aug. 24, 2020, shows the Korea Baseball Organization club's territorial draft pick, pitcher Kim Yoo-seong. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-24--Record number of schools close amid rapid spread of virus nationwide

By Woo Jae-yeon
SEOUL, Aug. 24 (Yonhap) -- A resurgence of the coronavirus around the country forced hundreds of schools to shut down on Monday, with the largest number of school closures since reopening in June.
A total of 1,845 schools halted in-person classes, the Ministry of Education said, more than double the previous record of 849 from Friday, as virus infections tied to church clusters and anti-government rallies, as well as unknown transmission, are spreading nationwide. Some schools shut down as a preemptive measure.
Since schools started to reopen on May 20, 283 students and 70 faculty members and teachers have tested positive for the virus. Over the weekend, 70 and 22, respectively, have been added to the tallies.
In Seoul, the northern ward of Seongbuk, where the new COVID-19 hotbed Sarang Jeil Church is located, was the hardest hit, with 88 schools affected, and the nearby ward of Gangbuk saw 47 schools shut down. As of Sunday noon, 841 coronavirus infections had been tied to the church.
According to the latest available data from the ministry, 1,040 students have been quarantined by health authorities, while 7,854 have been ordered to stay at home after reporting symptoms similar to those of COVID-19. Another 826 have been sent home from school after showing symptoms.
As of midnight Sunday, 243,104 tests have been conducted for students and 26,271 for educators and faculty members.
The country reported 266 new cases Monday, including 258 local infections, taking the total caseload to 17,665, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The number of daily infections has been in triple digits since Aug. 14 when 103 additional cases were reported. On Saturday, all of the country's 17 major cities and provinces reported COVID-19 cases, a grim sign that the country might have entered a national epidemic.
The undated file photo shows a worker spraying disinfectant in a classroom. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-25--Seoul stocks extend gains late Tuesday morning on vaccine hopes

Investor sentiment improved after U.S. bio firm Moderna Inc. said it is close to making a deal on supplying about @ @ @ @ @ vaccines to the European Union .

SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares extended gains late Tuesday morning, as optimism for new coronavirus vaccines fueled hopes of an economic rebound.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 33.3 points, or 1.43 percent, to 2,363.13 as of 11:20 a.m.
The index is set to gain for a third consecutive session.
Investor sentiment improved after U.S. bio firm Moderna Inc. said it is close to making a deal on supplying about 80 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to the European Union.
The announcement fueled hopes for a quick economic rebound, pulling up key stock indexes on Wall Street.
The S&P 500 closed up 1 percent at a record high 3,431.28 points on Monday (New York time), with the Dow Jones Industrial Average adding 1.35 percent. The tech-laden Nasdaq advanced 0.6 percent.
COVID-19 outbreaks in South Korea, however, remained a risk for further upside moves.
The country added 280 new COVID-19 cases after peaking at 397 on Sunday.
Large caps traded mixed in Seoul.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics rose 1.07 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix jumped 2.25 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics shed 0.37 percent, and Celltrion fell 0.97 percent.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem advanced 1 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver lost 0.31 percent, and its rival Kakao stayed flat.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, surged 4.33 percent, while top steelmaker POSCO gained 1.26 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1186.2 won against the U.S. dollar, up 2.9 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-08-25--Jeju to come under direct influence of powerful typhoon Tuesday night

The Korea Meteorological Administration ( KMA ) said that as of 9 a.m. , the eighth typhoon of the season @ @ @ @ @ coast of Taiwan , was traveling northward at 16 kilometers per hour from waters 460 @ @ @ @ @ Jeju Island .
Its central pressure was 960 hectopascals , with its maximum wind speed @ @ @ @ @ second .

SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju is set to come under the direct influence of the powerful Typhoon Bavi, beginning Tuesday evening, meteorologists said.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said that as of 9 a.m., the eighth typhoon of the season, formed off the east coast of Taiwan, was traveling northward at 16 kilometers per hour from waters 460 km south-southwest of Seogwipo on Jeju Island. Its central pressure was 960 hectopascals, with its maximum wind speed recorded at 39 meters per second.
Strong waves pound the southern shores of Jeju Island on Aug. 25, 2020, as Typhoon Bavi approaches the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)
Due to the approaching typhoon, Jeju is to be hit by very powerful winds with speeds of 10 to 20 meters per second, or instantaneous maximum speeds of 40 to 60 mps, from Tuesday night, the agency warned.
Typhoon Bavi is forecast to be closest to the southern island Wednesday afternoon and move north along the nation's west coast before making landfall in North Korea's Hwanghae Province on Thursday.
The typhoon will also move nearest to Seoul Thursday morning, while bringing very strong winds and heavy rains to the entire nation, the KMA said.
Therefore, the southwestern coastal areas in the Jeolla provinces will be affected by very strong winds with maximum instantaneous speeds of 40 to 60 mps, or 144 to 216 km per hour, while the instantaneous wind speeds will also reach up to 35 mps in other western and southern coastal areas, it warned.
Hundreds of fishing vessels lie at anchor at a port on Jeju Island on Aug. 25, as Typhoon Bavi approaches the Korean Peninsula. (Yonhap)
If wind blows at speeds of between 40 to 60 mps, people cannot walk around and facilities can be blown away, damaged or broken.
The KMA cautioned that the typhoon is expected to disrupt aircraft operations in most parts of the country and deal significant damage to street and agricultural structures, among others.
Rain will gradually expand from Jeju, beginning Tuesday, to the southern regions Wednesday morning and the central regions in the afternoon. Rain will continue nationwide until Thursday.
Precipitation is forecast to reach 100 to 300 millimeters on Jeju Island and in the southwestern provinces of Jeolla over the next three days, while other areas will receive 30 mm to 150 mm in the same period, the KMA said.
The agency has already issued a typhoon alert for the high seas south of Jeju and a preliminary wind-wave alert for the seas around Jeju and the southern and southwestern coasts.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)