yna--2020-09-22--TWICE tops Japanese weekly music album chart with latest compilation album

It is the band 's seventh album to reach the top of the most coveted music chart in Japan , @ @ @ @ @ foreign female artist to achieve the feat , following South Korean singer BoA .
The @ @ @ @ @ first full-length Japanese album `` BDZ '' ( 2018 ) .

SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- K-pop girl group TWICE finished first on a Japanese weekly album chart with its latest repackaged album "#TWICE3," its management agency said Tuesday.
Released last Wednesday, the compilation of the group's past Korean and Japanese hits scored 109,000 points to top the Oricon Daily Albums chart in its first week of release, according to JYP Entertainment.
It is the band's seventh album to reach the top of the most coveted music chart in Japan, making the group the second foreign female artist to achieve the feat, following South Korean singer BoA. The other six albums included its first full-length Japanese album "BDZ" (2018).
Only two foreign acts other than TWICE have at least seven No. 1 albums.
Last week, "#TWICE3" made a stellar debut at No. 1 on the Oricon Daily Albums chart and the Tower Records daily chart.
This image provided by JYP Entertainment shows the album cover art for K-pop girl group TWICE's new compilation album "#TWICE3" released in Japan. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)
The nine-member K-pop band, which has three Japanese singers and a Taiwanese member, commands a strong fan base in the neighboring country. The group has sold over 3.82 million albums in Japan since its 2017 official debut there.
Since debuting in South Korea in 2015 with "OOH-AHH," TWICE has become one of the biggest girl groups in the K-pop scene, churning out back-to-back hits, including "Cheer Up," "TT," "Knock Knock," "Signal," "Likey" and "Heart Shaker."
nyway@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-09-23--KDCA head listed on TIME 100 list of influential people

SEOUL , Sept. 23 ( Yonhap ) -- Jeong Eun-kyeong , South Korea 's anti-virus czar , has been included @ @ @ @ @ of the world 's most influential people , a Cheong Wa Dae official said Wednesday @

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Jeong Eun-kyeong, South Korea's anti-virus czar, has been included on the TIME 100 list of the world's most influential people, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Wednesday.
Jeong, head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), is the only South Korean figure included on this year's list.
She has been leading the country's fight against COVID-19 as head of the organization.
This file photo shows Jeong Eun-kyeong, head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-09-23--Half of virus relief money paid in card form used for dining out, grocery shopping: ministry

The ministry said 280 billion won , or 2 percent of the total handouts , was donated to the state @ @ @ @ @ failed to or voluntarily did not apply for the emergency relief fund .
The money @ @ @ @ @ the government 's expected goal of 1 trillion won , will be used to create @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Almost all of the state coronavirus relief funds that were given out in card form have been spent, and half of the money was spent mostly on dining out and grocery shopping, the interior ministry said Wednesday.
The government handed out the relief funds totaling 14.3 trillion won (US$12.27 billion) to all households from May 4 to Aug. 24 to help people cope with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Ministry of Interior and Safety said 14.2 trillion won, or 99.9 percent of the total, was given out to 22.1 million households during the period.
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.
While the money was available in the forms of credit or debit card points, prepaid cards, cash and regional gift certificates, nearly 80 percent of the total households received the relief money in card form, according to the ministry.
More than 12.06 trillion won, or 99.5 percent of such payments, were spent before the Aug. 31 deadline, mostly for grocery shopping, dining out and getting medical services, it said.
A shopper looks at a section of meat at a grocery store in Seoul on July 2, 2020. (Yonhap)
Markets and grocery stores were found to be the biggest spending destinations at 26.3 percent, followed by restaurants at 24.3 percent, hospitals and pharmacies at 10.6 percent, and gas stations at 6.1 percent.
By business size, around 64 percent of the money was spent at midsized businesses, with annual sales of 3 billion won or less.
The state relief budget was paid in the form of credit or debit card points (66.1 percent), prepaid cards (13.2 percent), cash (12.9 percent) and regional gift certificates (7.8 percent). (Yonhap)
The government gave out a combined 1.32 trillion won in cash to 2.87 million low-income families living off basic subsidies, basic pensions and disability benefits.
The ministry said 280 billion won, or 2 percent of the total handouts, was donated to the state coffers, as households either failed to or voluntarily did not apply for the emergency relief fund. The money, which fell short of the government's expected goal of 1 trillion won, will be used to create and protect jobs.
People shop for groceries at Mangwon Market in Mapo Ward, Seoul, on June 30, 2020. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-09-23--Boy band Monsta X to promote Korea cultural heritage via YouTube

The seven routes include the `` Route of Royalty , '' which connects royal heritage in Seoul and its adjacent @ @ @ @ @ Route of Antiquity '' in South Chungcheong Province , where the old capital of Baekje @ @ @ @ @ one of the three ancient kingdoms that coexisted in the Korean Peninsula until the seventh @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- K-pop band Monsta X will star in an online video series aimed at promoting treasured Korean cultural heritage overseas, according to cultural heritage authorities Wednesday.
The YouTube series, titled "Korean Heritage Travelog," will premiere next Tuesday and will feature the six-member K-pop group alongside Seo Kyoung-duk, a liberal arts professor at Sungshin Women's University and a well-known Korea promoter, according to the state-run Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA).
The series was produced as part of the "Visit Korean Heritage Campaign," co-organized by the CHA and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation. The series will be released on the campaign's YouTube channel.
This photo provided by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation shows K-pop boy band Monsta X. The group will star in a new YouTube series, titled "Korean Heritage Travelog," co-produced by the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Monsta X members will introduce a variety of heritage-themed travel routes throughout South Korea and explore and discuss the history and cultural significance of the sites and assets together with Seo. At least eight episodes are planned to be released until early November.
"It's a great honor to introduce the beautiful cultural heritage of South Korea. We hope more people can understand and feel the beauty and the heart it carries through this campaign," the boy band said.
The seven routes include the "Route of Royalty," which connects royal heritage in Seoul and its adjacent cities, and the "Route of Antiquity" in South Chungcheong Province, where the old capital of Baekje was located. Baekje was one of the three ancient kingdoms that coexisted in the Korean Peninsula until the seventh century.
Seo said that South Korea could do a better job in exposing and promoting its cultural heritage globally and promised to do his best to promote the seven heritage routes to the world.
This photo provided by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation shows Seo Kyoung-duk, a liberal arts professor at Sungshin Women's University and a well-known Korea promoter. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This image provided by the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation shows an infographic of key heritage routes in South Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-09-23--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Sep. 23 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .

(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--2020-09-23--Samsung, KDDI vet 5G networking slicing tech

SEOUL , Sept. 23 ( Yonhap ) -- Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday it has successfully verified an advanced 5G @ @ @ @ @ KDDI Corp. as the South Korean tech titan tries to expand its presence in next-generation @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday it has successfully verified an advanced 5G technology with Japanese telecom operator KDDI Corp. as the South Korean tech titan tries to expand its presence in next-generation wireless solutions.
Samsung and KDDI joined hands to demonstrate 5G network slicing technology in Tokyo with the Radio Access Network Intelligent Controller (RIC) platform that efficiently controls network resources.
Network slicing is considered a key technology for the 5G network, as it enables a physical network to be partitioned into multiple virtual networks to offer high-speed, low-latency communication.
This image provided by Samsung Electronics Co. shows the logo for 5G communication. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Samsung, the world's leading smartphone producer, said the network slicing technology allows telecom operators to provide better services in sectors such as autonomous driving, cloud gaming and industrial internet of things solutions.
With their verification test results, Samsung and KDDI said they plan to suggest international standardization bodies set standards on the 5G network slicing.
Last year, Samsung was selected by KDDI to provide 5G network solutions for the Japanese firm's 5G commercial service launch.
Samsung, along with other local mobile carriers, helped Seoul launch the world's first commercial 5G network in April 2019.
kdon@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-09-23--(Yonhap Interview) Added comfort leads to successful 2nd KBO season for Drew Rucinski

Though the Dinos are still in first place , they likely would have been enjoying a bigger cushion if left-handed @ @ @ @ @ missed so much time with an arm injury .
Koo has n't pitched since July @ @ @ @ @ been dealing with inflammation and then a fracture in his left forearm .
The Dinos @ @ @ @ @ team during Koo 's absence , only able to weather the storm thanks to Rucinski @ @ @ @ @ .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Now in his second season in South Korea, NC Dinos' right-hander Drew Rucinski feels far more comfortable being around his teammates than a year ago. He also has clearer ideas of what to expect on road trips and how to prepare himself for each start.
And that added level of comfort has had a positive impact on Rucinski's performance on the mound. Of course, it doesn't hurt when you and your team are winning a few games.
In this file photo from Sept. 11, 2020, Drew Rucinski of the NC Dinos pitches against the KT Wiz in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Through Tuesday, Rucinski was leading the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) with 15 wins. The Dinos have been in first place every day since May 13, the ninth day of the season, and with a record of 66 wins, 42 losses and three ties, they lead the Kiwoom Heroes by 2.5 games with 33 games left.
With Rucinski leading the rotation that's missing a key piece due to an injury, the Dinos are trying to win their first pennant and advance directly to the Korean Series.
"I think it's been a joy to be back here for a second year," Rucinski told Yonhap News Agency in a phone interview Tuesday. "I am just happy to be around the guys every day. We've really been able to build some team chemistry. Everything is easy when you're winning games."
In this file photo from Sept. 4, 2020, Drew Rucinski of the NC Dinos pitches against the LG Twins in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Rucinski went 9-9 with a 3.05 ERA last year in 177 1/3 innings. He's 15-3 with a 3.02 ERA in 143 innings this year. Aside from the win total, most other traditional and peripheral statistics are almost dead even, except for one notable exception. Rucinski struck out 119 last year but has already fanned 128 this year. His strikeout rate -- strikeouts divided by total batters faced -- has jumped over 5 percentage points to 21.4. He's striking out two batters more per nine innings than last year, 8.06 compared with 6.04.
The 31-year-old former big leaguer said he hasn't made any major adjustments coming into his second year: "(I just wanted to) find my routine and develop consistency."
"That's the goal every year, regardless of what hitters I'm facing," he said. "It was, 'Can I consistently throw pitches I want to throw?' Mistakes are going to happen, but (I have to) limit them and figure out how to stay away from the middle of the plate the best I can."
In this file photo from Aug. 29, 2020, Drew Rucinski of the NC Dinos pitches against the SK Wyverns in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
In terms of specific pitches, Rucinski said he wanted to get his two-seam fastball to move inside on right-handed batters, and command his cutter so that it would stay away from right-handed batters and move in on left-handed hitters.
As well as he has pitched, Rucinski also gave credit to his defense for having his back, and also to his catcher Yang Eui-ji, one of the KBO's top game callers behind the dish and among its most dangerous sluggers at the plate.
"He's such a confidence booster for all our pitchers back there," Rucinski said of Yang. "No matter what signs he's putting down, you have confidence. He sets you up for success. He's just incredible back there. His offense is such a huge part of our whole team."
In this file photo from Aug. 29, 2020, Drew Rucinski of the NC Dinos (L) bumps fists with teammate Won Jong-hyan after a 9-5 victory over the SK Wyverns in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Though the Dinos are still in first place, they likely would have been enjoying a bigger cushion if left-handed ace Koo Chang-mo hadn't missed so much time with an arm injury. Koo hasn't pitched since July 26, as he has been dealing with inflammation and then a fracture in his left forearm. The Dinos have merely been a .500 team during Koo's absence, only able to weather the storm thanks to Rucinski and the other remaining starters.
Rucinski said he and his fellow starters haven't been putting additional pressure on themselves because they were just focusing on doing their job every five or so days.
"Every guy that pitches for us, whether it's the 25th man in the bullpen or the first couple of starters, we're all aces when we go out there," Rucinski said. "Every game is important. We've done a pretty good job of battling through without (Koo)."
In this file photo from Aug. 24, 2020, Drew Rucinski of the NC Dinos pitches against the KT Wiz in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Rucinski has such tunnel vision when it comes to team victories that he doesn't really pay attention to where he stands on pitching leaderboards. He's fifth in ERA with 3.02, sixth in innings pitched with 143 and second with 18 quality starts, referring to an outing with at least six innings pitched and no more than three earned runs allowed.
Rucinski did let on that it'd be nice to top all pitchers in quality starts, though that desire is also tied to the greater team goal.
"If you have a quality start with our offense, we should have an opportunity to win that game," said Rucinski, whose Dinos lead the KBO with 685 runs scored and 143 home runs. "At the end of the day, it's how we find a way to win the game. Having the most wins by the end of the season and being in first place, that's the goal."
In this file photo from Sept. 11, 2020, Drew Rucinski of the NC Dinos returns to the dugout after completing the top of the sixth inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game against the KT Wiz at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--Service exports contribute more to S. Korea's 2019 economic growth than goods

The report , however , pointed out that the global competitiveness of South Korea 's service industry falls far short @ @ @ @ @ 's service exports came to US $ 101.5 billion last year , the 16th largest @ @ @ @ @ with goods exports of $ 542.2 billion , the seventh highest .
( END )

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's exports of services contributed more to its economic growth in 2019 than overseas shipments of goods, a report showed Wednesday.
Service exports contributed 0.5 percentage point to the 2 percent increase in the 2019 gross domestic product of Asia's fourth-largest economy, according to the report from the Korea International Trade Association (KITA).
The contribution rate of service exports was the highest since 2014 and much higher than 0.2 percentage point for exports of manufactured goods.
It marked the first time in four years for service exports to contribute more to the country's economic growth than overseas shipments of goods.
The report also showed service exports improving much more than goods exports in terms of creating jobs.
Service exports created 1.7 million jobs in 2018, accounting for 32.1 percent of the total jobs created by overall exports. Such exports were up 2.7 percentage points from 2015.
In contrast, the percentage for goods exports fell to 67.4 percent from 70.2 percent over the cited period.
The report, however, pointed out that the global competitiveness of South Korea's service industry falls far short of expectations. The country's service exports came to US$101.5 billion last year, the 16th largest in the world, compared with goods exports of $542.2 billion, the seventh highest.
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yna--2020-09-23--Global TV sales tipped to rise in Q3 amid pandemic

Samsung and LG are the top two TV vendors in the world as of the first half of 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ accounted for 31.3 percent of the world TV market in terms of value , with @ @ @ @ @ market share .

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- The global TV market is expected to expand in the third quarter of the year due to pent-up demand amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, a report said Tuesday, boding well for South Korean electronics firms.
Global TV shipments in the July-September period were estimated to reach 56.88 million units, up 2.08 million units, or 3.8 percent from a year ago, according to market researcher Omdia.
With the rising stay-at-home trend, countries' stimulus measures and TV makers' aggressive promotions are to drive TV sales in the third quarter of 2020, Omdia said.
Omdia predicted that sales of premium TVs, led by South Korean brands, will increase sharply in the third quarter.
This file photo taken April 29, 2020, shows consumers looking at TVs at an electronics store in Seoul. (Yonhap)
The global QLED TV market, led by Samsung Electronics Co., was projected to grow to 2.44 million units, up 83.9 percent from a year earlier, while the global OLED TV market, anchored by LG Electronics Inc., was tipped to expand to 904,000 units, up 35.7 percent from a year ago.
Samsung and LG are the top two TV vendors in the world as of the first half of 2020, according to Omdia. Samsung accounted for 31.3 percent of the world TV market in terms of value, with LG taking a 17 percent market share.
Omdia expected global TV shipments to reach 66.43 million units in the fourth quarter with major promotions lined up during the winter holiday season, though the estimated figure is smaller than 68.61 million units sold a year ago.
For the whole of 2020, Omdia predicted the global TV market to shrink 3.3 percent on-year to 215.56 million units.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--S. Korea to repatriate 117 sets of remains of Chinese troops next week

Of the total , 103 sets were excavated from Arrowhead Ridge inside the Demilitarized Zone ( DMZ ) that bisects @ @ @ @ @ last year , South Korea has been carrying out demining and excavation operations on the @ @ @ @ @ of the fiercest battlefields during the war .

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- The remains of 117 Chinese soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War will be sent back to their homeland next week after excavation from former battle sites, including one on the inter-Korean border, the defense ministry said Wednesday.
In 2014, Seoul pledged to repatriate the remains of fallen Chinese soldiers in a symbolic gesture of friendship, and 599 sets have since been repatriated, including 10 last year.
This year's repatriation ceremony will take place at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Sunday, according to the ministry.
Of the total, 103 sets were excavated from Arrowhead Ridge inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that bisects the two Koreas. Since last year, South Korea has been carrying out demining and excavation operations on the ridge, which was one of the fiercest battlefields during the war.
Other remains were uncovered in other parts of South Korea and later identified as Chinese soldiers.
During the war, China fought alongside North Korea against the U.S.-backed Allied forces. Nearly 1 million Chinese soldiers are believed to either have died, have been wounded or remain missing, according to Seoul government data.
Along with the remains, about 1,368 items believed to have belonged to Chinese troops will also be sent home, according to the ministry.
The repatriation was supposed to take place around March or April, but it has been delayed due to the COVID-19 situation.
"This event is expected to boost bilateral confidence and further develop their future-oriented cooperative relationship, which will deliver a message of cooperation and coordination for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the region," the ministry said in a release.
Chinese Ambassador to South Korea Qiu Guohong drapes a Chinese flag over a box containing the remains of a Chinese soldier killed in the 1950-53 Korean War, at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on April 3, 2019. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
Soldiers excavate the remains believed to be from a South Korean soldier killed in the 1950-53 Korean War at Arrowhead Ridge in the central section of the Demilitarized Zone in Cheorwon, Gangwo Province, in this photo released by the defense ministry on May 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--Fears over 'twindemic' mount on flu vaccine fiasco

The KDCA said that if the exposed vaccines pass quality tests , they will be administered to those in the @ @ @ @ @ by the older demographic .
Those tests , to be run by the Ministry of @ @ @ @ @ will take about two weeks , according to the KDCA .

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Health experts on Wednesday warned of a potential so-called twindemic during winter, and the mishandling of flu vaccines here may exacerbate the coronavirus situation.
The country's virus fight has been widely expected to face hurdles as the winter season approaches, as respiratory viruses, including influenza and COVID-19, have nearly identical symptoms, including a fever and sore throat, which makes it difficult for people to tell which virus they might have without getting tested.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) earlier also confirmed a case of the overlap of both respiratory illnesses.
A notice is put up on the entrance of a pediatrics and adolescents clinic in Seoul, informing people that children between 6 months and 18 years old nationwide can receive a flu shot for free starting Sept. 8, 2020. (Yonhap)
"As it is not easy to differentiate two diseases, people should get tested when they have symptoms," said Park Wan-beom, an infectious disease expert at the Seoul National Hospital.
Starting earlier this month, the country has provided free flu shots, mostly for young children, in an effort to increase the number of immunized people.
The government was to provide free flu shots to around 19 million people, or 37 percent of the country's population. Children between six months and 18 years old, pregnant women and those aged 62 years old or above were included.
Adding to woes, however, the KDCA on Tuesday announced that it would temporarily halt its free flu shot program, as some vaccine bottles were mishandled.
The KDCA said some of around 5 million doses of flu vaccines were partially exposed to temperatures outside the storage range.
Inactivated vaccines should be stored in refrigerators, and exposure to room temperature could result in decreased vaccine potency and increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.
The KDCA said that if the exposed vaccines pass quality tests, they will be administered to those in the 13-18 age bracket, followed by the older demographic. Those tests, to be run by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, will take about two weeks, according to the KDCA.
However, some people are still reluctant to get vaccinated due to concerns over possibly catching the COVID-19 virus while visiting neighborhood clinics. Such hesitancy is set to grow as people's trust over the efficacy of flu vaccines decreases following the storage mishap.
Still, health experts advised people, especially young children, to get vaccinated as early as possible. A flu shot's effectiveness varies depending on factors such as age, in a range from 40 to 60 percent.
The country added 110 more COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday, including 99 local infections, raising the total caseload to 23,216, according to the KDCA.
Medical staffers work at Severance Hospital in western Seoul on Sept. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--Seoul cultural center to offer 'hanji' craft kits ahead of Chuseok

The Bukchon cultural center will offer 100 kits for making paper lanterns to celebrate the full moon , according to @ @ @ @ @ kit includes decorations symbolizing Chuseok , such as a pair of rabbits on the moon @ @ @ @ @ a rice cake enjoyed during the annual holiday .

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- A cultural center in the traditional village of Bukchon in central Seoul will provide kits for making lanterns with the traditional paper of "hanji," the city government said Wednesday.
The Bukchon cultural center will offer 100 kits for making paper lanterns to celebrate the full moon, according to the city government. The kit includes decorations symbolizing Chuseok, such as a pair of rabbits on the moon and "songpyeon," a rice cake enjoyed during the annual holiday.
Interested residents can sign up at the city's website (http://hanok.seoul.go.kr) and the cultural center's social media channels starting Thursday. The kits will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
This year's Chuseok holiday runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.
This image, provided by the Seoul city government, shows a lantern made with the traditional paper "hanji." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)
This image, provided by the Seoul city government, shows a kit for making a lantern with Korea's traditional paper "hanji." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--USFK eases anti-virus restrictions except in greater Seoul area

`` Our record speaks for itself .
We will continue to monitor and assess the virus as we have done @ @ @ @ @ maintain our aggressive approach to identify , contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19 within @ @ @ @ @ communities , '' he said .

By Choi Soo-hyang
SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Wednesday it will ease anti-coronavirus restrictions for its personnel across the peninsula except for the greater Seoul region, allowing its members to dine at restaurants and conduct off-base activities other than visiting bars and clubs.
The lowering of the Health Protection Condition (HPCON) level by one notch to the second-lowest level of "Bravo" from "Charlie" is based on "South Korea's current COVID-19 situation returning to favorable conditions," the U.S. military said.
The measure is effective peninsula-wide starting Thursday 4 p.m., except for Area II defined as the greater Seoul area, it said.
The Yongsan and Songnam districts within Area II will also be subject to the eased restrictions, while all other districts within the capital area will remain in HPCON Charlie for the time being.
This photo shows a gate of the U.S. base Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Under the eased status, service members are allowed to dine at restaurants, shop offline and conduct outdoor activities as long as they adhere to basic anti-virus guidelines.
"All USFK individuals must follow South Korean rules, directives and laws regarding COVID-19, adhere to USFK core tenets and wear a mask at all times when off installation," it said.
Travel to Area II remains off limits for all USFK-affiliated personnel except for official and necessary duties, while individuals in Area II can leave the area for approved activities within HPCON Bravo areas, it said.
"Once again, the ROK government has done an exceptional job in effectively containing and suppressing the recent outbreak of COVID-19," said USFK Commander Gen. Robert Abrams, referring to South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.
"Our record speaks for itself. We will continue to monitor and assess the virus as we have done since January, and will maintain our aggressive approach to identify, contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19 within our formations, installations and communities," he said.
USFK reported 193 coronavirus infections among its population as of Monday, most of whom tested positive upon their arrivals here. USFK said it has not had an internal positive case since mid-April.
South Korea reported 110 new virus cases Wednesday, raising the total caseload to 23,216.
scaaet@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-09-23--New defense minister pushing to visit U.S. next month for first talks with Esper: officials

The visit , if realized , will also be Suh 's first overseas trip since taking office last week to @ @ @ @ @ chief .
It will also be the first time for a South Korean defense minister @ @ @ @ @ since February due to the COVID-19 pandemic .

By Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Suh Wook is likely to visit the United States next month for his first talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, officials said Wednesday.
Discussions are under way with the U.S. about the new minister traveling to Washington for annual defense ministers' talks between the two countries, known as the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), defense ministry officials said.
The visit, if realized, will also be Suh's first overseas trip since taking office last week to replace Jeong Kyeong-doo as defense chief. It will also be the first time for a South Korean defense minister to visit a foreign country since February due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Defense Minister Suh Wook delivers an address during his inauguration ceremony in Seoul on Sept. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korea and the U.S. have held SCM talks around October every year to discuss defense issues between the two countries, including threats from North Korea and the envisioned transfer of the wartime operational control of South Korean forces from Washington to Seoul.
The meeting is held alternately in each country, and it's the U.S. turn to host this year's meeting.
"We are preparing for Suh's trip to the U.S. as one option," a defense ministry official said, noting the meeting is likely to take place around late October.
"Consultations are under way with the U.S. side, and we are closely monitoring the coronavirus situation and other factors," he added.
The last bilateral meeting between the defense chiefs of the two countries was held by videoconference in July.
Amid the pandemic, the defense ministry is eyeing an option to use the country's KC-330 air refueling tanker for Suh's trip, rather than a commercial plane, another official said.
During the upcoming talks, the two sides are expected to discuss key pending issues, including how to strengthen their combined defense posture to militarily support peace efforts involving North Korea and their push for the OPCON transfer.
In the file photo taken Feb. 24, 2020, South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo (R) and U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper hold a joint press conference at the Pentagon in Washington. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--(LEAD) New virus cases bounce back to over 100 on clusters, untraceable cases

The decision also came amid concerns that the spread of the virus may accelerate again during the upcoming Chuseok holiday @ @ @ @ @ 30 to Oct. 4 .
Millions of South Koreans travel across the nation to meet @ @ @ @ @ Chuseok .

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout; CHANGES photos)
SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases rebounded to over 100 on Wednesday, snapping three consecutive days of a two-digit rise, as sporadic cluster infections, coupled with untraceable cases, continued to pop up across the country.
The country added 110 more COVID-19 cases, including 99 local infections, raising the total caseload to 23,216, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Wednesday's daily tally marks a sharp increase from 61 cases reported Tuesday, the lowest number since Aug. 13, when the comparable figure was 56. The country had reported less than 100 new virus cases for the third consecutive day since Sunday.
The country's new daily infections had been in triple digits for more than a month since Aug. 14 due to cases tied to a church in Seoul and an anti-government rally before briefly falling below 100.
Medical staffers work at Severance Hospital in western Seoul on Sept. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Health authorities said the daily new cases are showing signs of a decline but warned that it is a matter of time before the daily figures jump above the 100 threshold again due to the rising number of patients with unknown infection routes.
Over the past two weeks, 26.6 percent of the newly added cases had unknown infection routes, according to the latest data. Around 25 percent of additional patients were traced to group infections as well.
Against this backdrop, the country opted Sunday to extend the Level 2 social distancing scheme nationwide until Sept. 27.
The country operates a three-tier social distancing system. Under the second level, all indoor gatherings of 50 or more people are banned, while the ceiling is 100 for outdoor meetings.
Public facilities such as museums or libraries are closed, along with high-risk facilities such as karaoke rooms and clubs.
The decision also came amid concerns that the spread of the virus may accelerate again during the upcoming Chuseok holiday, which runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4. Millions of South Koreans travel across the nation to meet their families and relatives during Chuseok.
South Korea will also have a three-day break from Oct. 9 to 11, when Hanguel Day, which celebrates the Korean alphabet, is combined with the weekend.
Health authorities have been urging people to stay home over the holidays.
Duty-free shops at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, is nearly empty on Sept. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Chains of cluster infections especially haunted schools, residential buildings, and hospitals across the country.
Of the additional locally transmitted cases, 40 came from Seoul, and 28 were reported from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province. Incheon, located west of Seoul, added five more patients.
The southern port city of Busan reported six patients. Daegu, located 302 kilometers south of Seoul, accounted for three cases. North Gyeongsang Province added six patients as well.
Infections tied to last month's anti-government rallies came to 622 as of Tuesday, just up three from the previous day.
A sauna facility located in the Gwanak Ward of the capital city reached 13.
Fourteen more patients were also traced to a residential building in southern Seoul, raising the total to 39.
Severance Hospital in western Seoul added four more patients, bringing the related caseload to 50 as of the previous day.
In Busan, one more patient was reported from Dong-A University, raising the total number of related cases to 13.
The number of patients in serious or critical condition came to 139, down five from the previous day.
The number of imported cases came to 11.
Of the imported cases, Uzbekistan accounted for three infections. There were also patients traced to the Philippines, Qatar, Bangladesh, Britain and the United States.
The death toll remained unchanged at 388. The fatality rate came to 1.67 percent.
A total of 20,650 people have been released from quarantine after making full recoveries, up 209 from the previous day. Nearly 89 percent of the patients reported here were cured.
South Korea has carried out 2,256,899 COVID-19 tests since Jan. 3.
The country's daily COVID-19 cases peaked in February by reaching 909. Since last month, the highest figure was 441 cases added Aug. 27.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--BTS to deliver week of performances on NBC's 'Tonight Show'

`` We love having BTS on the show , '' show host Jimmy Fallon said in a statement .
He @ @ @ @ @ we had them on we took over Grand Central Terminal , so we had our @ @ @ @ @ to top that . ''

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- K-pop super group BTS will deliver performances on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" in the United States for a full week, the group's management agency said Wednesday.
Under the show's weeklong special titled "BTS Week," the seven-member boy band will showcase different music performances each night for five days starting next Monday, Big Hit Entertainment said. The members will be featured in comedy bits and virtual interviews as well throughout the week.
This photo, provided by Big Hit Entertainment on Sept. 21, 2020, shows K-pop group BTS performing on the "Tiny Desk Concert" show on National Public Radio in the United States. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
BTS appeared on the late-night show in February and presented its television debut performance of "ON," the lead track of the band's album "Map of the Soul: 7." The performance was pre-taped live at a deserted Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan, New York.
"We love having BTS on the show," show host Jimmy Fallon said in a statement. He added, "Last time we had them on we took over Grand Central Terminal, so we had our work cut out for us to top that."
The group's latest single "Dynamite" ranked second on Billboard's main singles Hot 100 chart for the second consecutive week this week after spending the first two weeks on the chart at No. 1.
The septet made history by becoming the first South Korean artist to top the Hot 100 chart last month.
BTS garnered nominations in two categories -- Top Duo/Group and Top Social Artist -- for the 2020 Billboard Music Awards set for next month in the U.S.
This image, provided by Big Hit Entertainment on Sept. 23, 2020, shows teasers for the upcoming weeklong "BTS Week" special on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on NBC. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--Hyundai unveils Sonata N Line model ahead of launch

Hyundai has applied a new design concept called Sensuous Sportiness to the upgraded model of the sixth-generation Grandeur that was @ @ @ @ @ new Sonata sedan launched last year , the all-new Avante compact launched in April and @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's biggest carmaker, on Wednesday unveiled the exterior design of the Sonata N Line model as it strives to boost sales amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The Sonata N Line model comes with a 2.5-liter gasoline turbocharged engine. Its parametric-jewel-pattern grille and three air intake holes present a stronger aesthetic right from the front, the company said in a statement.
"The company is planning to launch the model in the domestic market in the fourth quarter," a company spokesman said.
This photo provided by Hyundai Motor shows the Sonata N Line model to be launched later this year. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Hyundai has applied a new design concept called Sensuous Sportiness to the upgraded model of the sixth-generation Grandeur that was launched in 2016, the new Sonata sedan launched last year, the all-new Avante compact launched in April and the all-electric concept Prophecy.
Sensuous Sportiness is defined by the harmony between four fundamental elements in vehicle design: proportion, architecture, styling and technology.
The N Line brand sits between Hyundai's high-performance N brand and the general Hyundai brand. The N models bring full performance capability to daily driving, while the N Line brings performance-inspired elements to base model vehicles.
Hyundai already offers the Veloster N, i30 N and i30 Fastback N, as well as the i30 N Line and Avante N Line in select markets.
The company plans to add the Kona N Line model to the N Line lineup within this year.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--New virus cases bounce back to over 100 on clusters, untraceable cases

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases rebounded to over 100 on Wednesday, snapping three consecutive days of a two-digit rise, as sporadic cluster infections, coupled with untraceable cases, continued to pop up across the country.
The country added 110 more COVID-19 cases, including 99 local infections, raising the total caseload to 23,216, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Wednesday's daily tally marks a sharp increase from 61 cases reported Tuesday, the lowest number since Aug. 13, when the comparable figure was 56. The country had reported less than 100 new virus cases for the third consecutive day since Sunday.
The country's new daily infections had been in triple digits for more than a month since Aug. 14 due to cases tied to a church in Seoul and an anti-government rally before briefly falling below 100.
Medical staffers work at Severance Hospital in western Seoul on Sept. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Health authorities said the daily new cases are showing signs of a decline but warned that it is a matter of time before the daily figures jump above the 100 threshold again due to the rising number of patients with unknown infection routes.
Over the past two weeks, 26.6 percent of the newly added cases had unknown infection routes, according to the latest data. Around 25 percent of additional patients were traced to group infections as well.
Against this backdrop, the country opted Sunday to extend the Level 2 social distancing scheme nationwide until Sept. 27.
The country operates a three-tier social distancing system. Under the second level, all indoor gatherings of 50 or more people are banned, while the ceiling is 100 for outdoor meetings.
Public facilities such as museums or libraries are closed, along with high-risk facilities such as karaoke rooms and clubs.
The decision also came amid concerns that the spread of the virus may accelerate again during the upcoming Chuseok holiday, which runs from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4. Millions of South Koreans travel across the nation to meet their families and relatives during Chuseok.
South Korea will also have a three-day break from Oct. 9 to 11, when Hanguel Day, which celebrates the Korean alphabet, is combined with the weekend.
Health authorities have been urging people to stay home over the holidays.
A market place in Daegu, 302 kilometers south of Seoul, is nearly empty on Sept. 22, 2020, as fewer people went shopping outside amid the new coronavirus pandemic. (Yonhap)
Chains of cluster infections especially haunted schools, residential buildings, and hospitals across the country.
Of the additional locally transmitted cases, 40 came from Seoul, and 28 were reported from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province. Incheon, located west of Seoul, added five more patients.
Infections tied to last month's anti-government rallies came to 622 as of Tuesday, just up three from the previous day.
A sauna facility located in the Gwanak Ward of the capital city reached 13.
Fourteen more patients were also traced to a residential building in southern Seoul, raising the total to 39.
Severance Hospital in western Seoul added four more patients, bringing the related caseload to 50 as of the previous day.
In Busan, one more patient was reported from Dong-A University, raising the total number of related cases to 13.
The number of patients in serious or critical condition came to 139, down five from the previous day.
The number of imported cases came to 11.
The death toll remained unchanged at 388.
A total of 20,650 people have been released from quarantine after making full recoveries, up 209 from the previous day.
The country's daily COVID-19 cases peaked in February by reaching 909. Since last month, the highest figure was 441 cases added Aug. 27.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--(URGENT) 209 more patients released from coronavirus treatment, total now at 20,650: KDCA


yna--2020-09-23--(URGENT) S. Korea reports no additional coronavirus death, total now at 388: KDCA


yna--2020-09-23--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 110 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at  23,216: KDCA


yna--2020-09-23--(2nd LD) Opposition members propose 'drive-through' rallies on Oct. 3

`` How about we all come out in our cars that day ? ''
the People Power Party 's ( @ @ @ @ @ Jin-tae wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday .
`` It would be a comedy if @ @ @ @ @ It has nothing to do with COVID-19 if I am alone in my own car @ @

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 15-16, 21)
By Lee Haye-ah
SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Several members of the main opposition party have proposed "drive-through" rallies as an alternative to the mass anti-government protests planned for next month, drawing harsh criticism from the ruling party.
The government has banned rallies of 10 or more people on the Oct. 3 National Foundation Day due to fears of another resurgence of the infectious coronavirus.
Proponents of the idea say a drive-through will pose no risk to anti-COVID-19 efforts, while opponents blasted it as "madness."
"How about we all come out in our cars that day?" the People Power Party's (PPP) former Rep. Kim Jin-tae wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday. "It would be a comedy if they banned even that. It has nothing to do with COVID-19 if I am alone in my own car."
This file photo shows former Rep. Kim Jin-tae of the main opposition People Power Party. (Yonhap)
Former Rep. Min Kyung-wook of the PPP supported the idea and mocked the police's ban on protests involving 10 or more vehicles.
"Why don't they put a ban on nine or more cars parking in a parking lot?" he wrote on Facebook.
The proposal drew harsh criticism from the ruling Democratic Party, especially after PPP floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young appeared to endorse the idea.
Joo told reporters Tuesday that it was the protesters' "right" to stage drive-through rallies if they did not get in the way of traffic and anti-COVID-19 efforts.
Rep. Lee Won-wook of the DP accused the opposition of using drive-through rallies as an excuse for anti-government protests and "madness."
"If car rallies are expected to lead to violence and pose a threat to public safety, it is only right that they should be banned," he wrote on Facebook.
DP Rep. Woo Won-shik lamented the likely traffic jam to be caused by drive-through rallies as well as the "waste" of law enforcement and other administrative work that will go into ensuring people do not leave their cars or roll down their windows.
"What price did the entire nation pay because of the Aug. 15 rallies?" he wrote on Facebook. "We must not allow any action that harms the public's safety in any way."
Conservative groups took to the streets of Gwanghwamun in central Seoul on the Aug. 15 Liberation Day to protest against the Moon Jae-in administration. The rallies have been blamed for a recent resurgence in COVID-19 cases in the country.
As of noon Tuesday, a total of 622 confirmed cases were tied to the Aug. 15 rallies, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
But Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung, one of the leading potential presidential candidates of the DP, said drive-through rallies should be permitted unless they hamper efforts to control the coronavirus.
"There are diverse ways of assembly. If a demonstration is held in a way that minimizes or does not pose a risk of infection, there is no need to block freedom of assembly and expression," Lee told a radio talk show.
On Tuesday, President Moon urged the public to refrain from illegal rallies on Oct. 3, saying there will be zero tolerance for those who expose the country to "danger" once again.
As of Monday, police had received plans for 835 rallies for Oct. 3. Of them, those involving more than 10 people have been denied, with police planning to stop them if they go ahead.
Traffic around Gwanghwamun Square is halted as anti-government demonstrations organized by the Sarang Jeil Church and the conservative Freedom Union confront police on Aug. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
The authorities noted that organizers should report to the police before staging a protest using vehicles, citing precedents.
"But it is too early to say whether drive-through rallies will take place or affect the state-led disease control," an official from the police said. "We will come up with appropriate measures after studying previous cases and experts' opinions."
Police on Wednesday requested the prosecution to file for arrest warrants for two leading conservative activists who organized the Aug. 15 protests, according to sources.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--Warner Bros. to withdraw from S. Korean market

The South Korean production and distribution unit of the major U.S. film studio is now handling three titles , including @ @ @ @ @ remake of the 2003 Japanese drama `` Josee , The Tiger And The Fish , @ @ @ @ @ be released in November .

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Warner Bros. will pull out of the South Korean market after years of weaker-than-expected performances, officials from its local unit said Wednesday.
"We've already stopped making fresh investments in Korean films," an official from Warner Bros Korea said. "We will also wrap up projects that are in post production or in production."
The South Korean production and distribution unit of the major U.S. film studio is now handling three titles, including "Josee," a remake of the 2003 Japanese drama "Josee, The Tiger And The Fish," which is expected to be released in November.
Warner Bros. Korea made an outstanding debut in the South Korean film market with its first Korean project, "The Age of Shadows" (2016), which was a box office hit.
But it has hardly made its presence felt in the country as its subsequent pieces, like "A Single Rider" (2017) and "Illang: The Wolf Brigade" (2018), have flopped.
A poster for "The Age of Shadows" provided by Warner Bros. Korea (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--(LEAD) Opposition members propose 'drive-through' rallies on Oct. 3

(ATTN: UPDATES with figure in 16th para; ADDS more info in last 2 paras)
By Lee Haye-ah
SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Several members of the main opposition party have proposed "drive-through" rallies as an alternative to the mass anti-government protests planned for next month, drawing harsh criticism from the ruling party.
The government has banned rallies of 10 or more people on the Oct. 3 National Foundation Day due to fears of another resurgence of the infectious coronavirus.
Proponents of the idea say a drive-through will pose no risk to anti-COVID-19 efforts, while opponents blasted it as "madness."
"How about we all come out in our cars that day?" the People Power Party's (PPP) former Rep. Kim Jin-tae wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday. "It would be a comedy if they banned even that. It has nothing to do with COVID-19 if I am alone in my own car."
This file photo shows former Rep. Kim Jin-tae of the main opposition People Power Party. (Yonhap)
Former Rep. Min Kyung-wook of the PPP supported the idea and mocked the police's ban on protests involving 10 or more vehicles.
"Why don't they put a ban on nine or more cars parking in a parking lot?" he wrote on Facebook.
The proposal drew harsh criticism from the ruling Democratic Party, especially after PPP floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young appeared to endorse the idea.
Joo told reporters Tuesday that it was the protesters' "right" to stage drive-through rallies if they did not get in the way of traffic and anti-COVID-19 efforts.
Rep. Lee Won-wook of the DP accused the opposition of using drive-through rallies as an excuse for anti-government protests and "madness."
"If car rallies are expected to lead to violence and pose a threat to public safety, it is only right that they should be banned," he wrote on Facebook.
DP Rep. Woo Won-shik lamented the likely traffic jam to be caused by drive-through rallies as well as the "waste" of law enforcement and other administrative work that will go into ensuring people do not leave their cars or roll down their windows.
"What price did the entire nation pay because of the Aug. 15 rallies?" he wrote on Facebook. "We must not allow any action that harms the public's safety in any way."
Conservative groups took to the streets of Gwanghwamun in central Seoul on the Aug. 15 Liberation Day to protest against the Moon Jae-in administration. The rallies have been blamed for a recent resurgence in COVID-19 cases in the country.
As of noon Tuesday, a total of 622 confirmed cases were tied to the Aug. 15 rallies, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
Moon urged the public on Tuesday to refrain from illegal rallies on Oct. 3, saying there will be zero tolerance for those who expose the country to "danger" once again.
As of Monday, police had received plans for 835 rallies for Oct. 3. Of them, those involving more than 10 people have been denied, with police planning to stop them if they go ahead.
Traffic around Gwanghwamun Square is halted as anti-government demonstrations organized by the Sarang Jeil Church and the conservative Freedom Union confront police on Aug. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
The authorities noted that organizers should report to the police before staging a protest using vehicles, citing precedents.
"But it is too early to say whether drive-through rallies will take place or affect the state-led disease control," an official from the police said. "We will come up with appropriate measures after studying previous cases and experts' opinions."
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--Moon says military plays 'safety pin' role in tumultuous peace process

The president stressed that the military `` should play the role of a safety pin '' so that the peninsula @ @ @ @ @ war , as there could be progress , regression , suspension or even an apparent @ @ @ @ @ peace efforts , according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok .

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday South Korea's military should continue to play a "safety pin" role, based on strong defense power, to prevent the recurrence of a war throughout the tumultuous peace journey.
He made the remarks while talking with newly promoted top military generals who attended an appointment ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae. They included Gen. Won In-choul, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Nam Yeong-shin, Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Seong-yong and Gen. Kim Seung-kyum, deputy commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command.
The president stressed that the military "should play the role of a safety pin" so that the peninsula won't revert to a war, as there could be progress, regression, suspension or even an apparent dead end at times in peace efforts, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
"So far, our military has done the role well," Moon was quoted as saying.
President Moon Jae-in (4th from L) walks toward a Cheong Wa Dae room along with Defense Minister Suh Wook (2nd from L) and newly promoted top military generals following an appointment ceremony at the presidential compound in Seoul on Sept. 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
He also presented a three-point key strategy for the nation's armed forces -- introducing new technologies and equipment for the fourth industrial revolution era, keeping the South Korea-U.S. alliance robust and regaining wartime operational control (OPCON) in respect of the alliance.
In his United Nations speech delivered remotely earlier on the day, Moon proposed declaring a formal end to the Korean War that ended in 1953 in an armistice, not a peace treaty, as a starting point for complete denuclearization and a permanent peace regime.
His repeated offer of the end-of-war-declaration was aimed at putting fresh vigor into the long-stalled Korea peace process, Cheong Wa Dae officials said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--Samsung Display wins nod for quantum dot displays

South Korea stood as the world 's top player in the global display industry in 2019 , but the country @ @ @ @ @ amid the intensifying competition with Chinese players , which have narrowed their gap with local @ @ @ @ @ and organic light-emitting diode ( OLED ) displays .

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's industry ministry approved a set of business revamps among local companies Wednesday, including Samsung Display Co.'s bid to penetrate deeper into the quantum-dot industry and break away from traditional liquid-crystal display (LCD) products.
South Korea stood as the world's top player in the global display industry in 2019, but the country nevertheless has been facing hurdles amid the intensifying competition with Chinese players, which have narrowed their gap with local firms in terms of LCDs and organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays.
The latest decision will pave the way for Samsung Display to penetrate deeper into the quantum dot display market, the ministry added.
Under the country's special act on the corporate revitalization, the government reviews corporate restructurings to offer them better relevant procedures while easing regulations.
It marked the first time in more than three years for a conglomerate arm to win the approval from the ministry.
During the latest review, the ministry approved business restructuring of 15 companies, also including eco-friendly automobile firms, which are anticipated to create 2,500 more jobs and invest 1.5 trillion won (US$1.28 billion) over the next five years.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--Suspected operator of controversial 'Digital Prison' arrested in Vietnam

The police started an investigation into the website in May for sharing illegal content , and were trying to track @ @ @ @ @ requested international cooperation to arrest the suspect on intelligence that the man was in Vietnam @ @ @ @ @ had been issued for the man .

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- An alleged operator of the controversial "Digital Prison" internet site has been arrested in Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam, police said Wednesday.
The man, in his 30s, is suspected of violating privacy law by releasing personal information of alleged pedophiles, child abusers and murderers on the website that claimed to socially punish alleged perpetrators of horrendous crimes.
The website was created earlier this year to protest against what the public sees as an unfair criminal justice system, but it carries a perennial risk of punishing a falsely accused person.
The site has come under intense scrutiny after a 20-year-old university student, whose private details were made public on the site, was found dead in an apparent suicide earlier this month. In another case, a psychiatrist in Seoul was proved innocent by police after being wrongly accused in June of trying to buy sexual exploitation content online.
The police started an investigation into the website in May for sharing illegal content, and were trying to track down its operators. They requested international cooperation to arrest the suspect on intelligence that the man was in Vietnam. An Interpol red notice had been issued for the man.
The site resumed service on Sept. 11, after shutting down for several days. "We promise to release private information (of alleged criminals) only when there is damning evidence," it said on the website that day, clearly noting mounting concerns over potentially false accusations.
The suspect's detailed personal information is still unknown, the police said, adding that it will start a probe as soon as he is repatriated to Korea.
This graphic is provided by Yonhap News TV. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--U.S. needs new approach for N. Korea after election: ex-U.S. diplomat

`` I do n't know how the North Koreans will force him to take it up again , he 's @ @ @ @ @ it where it is .
That 's the quandary for North Korea , how to @ @ @ @ @ too far , '' she said .

By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- The next U.S. administration should come up with a new approach for North Korea, a former U.S. diplomat for Asia said Wednesday, stressing that sanctions have done little to steer Pyongyang in a positive direction.
Susan Thornton, former acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, made the remark during a virtual seminar as stalled nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have shown no signs of resuming anytime soon.
"Sanctions issues have not contributed to positive momentum. Whoever wins the U.S. election ... there is going to have to be a rethink to the approach to North Korea," she said during the seminar hosted by the Sejong Institute and the Council on Foreign Relations.
Thornton said that the North's situation appears to be "not good" but "it's apparently not bad enough to drive North Koreans to the negotiating table in the wake of Hanoi," referring to the no-deal summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi last year.
Even if Trump is reelected, North Korea will likely have to work hard to get his attention regardless of the "good relationship" Trump and Kim have boasted of, given Trump's unpredictable character and that North Korea could be less an important issue to him, Thornton noted.
"I don't know how the North Koreans will force him to take it up again, he's been pretty content to leave it where it is. That's the quandary for North Korea, how to get his attention without going too far," she said.
Susan Thornton, the then acting U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, speaks to reporters during a press meeting held in Seoul on April 24, 2018. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--IOC President Thomas Bach named winner of Seoul Peace Prize

Bach was named the 2020 winner of the Seoul Peace Prize on Wednesday .
The prize was established in 1990 @ @ @ @ @ the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and to celebrate the spirit of harmony and friendship @ @ @ @ @ Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation has been awarding winners every other year since .

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), will receive a South Korean award recognizing efforts to promote peace, for his contributions to a successful staging of the 2018 Winter Olympics that brought the two Koreas together.
Bach was named the 2020 winner of the Seoul Peace Prize on Wednesday. The prize was established in 1990 to commemorate the success of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and to celebrate the spirit of harmony and friendship from the competition. The Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation has been awarding winners every other year since.
This Associated Press file photo from March 25, 2020, shows International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach during an interview in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Yonhap)
The foundation said Bach was an instrumental figure in ensuring North Korea's participation in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics held south of the border.
In November 2017, with tensions on the Korean Peninsula heightened in light of a North Korean nuclear test and missile launches, Bach played a key role in the United Nations General Assembly's adoption of the "Olympic Truce," designed to ensure the peaceful running of PyeongChang 2018.
Then only weeks prior to the Olympics, Bach granted North Korean athletes special quota places so they could compete in PyeongChang, while also giving his stamp of approval to the Koreas' plans for a joint march at the opening ceremony.
In this file photo from Feb. 10, 2018, South Korean President Moon Jae-in (L) chats with Kim Yong-nam (R), North Korea's nominal head of state, with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach in the middle during a preliminary game between the unified Korean team and Switzerland in the women's hockey tournament at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics at Kwandong Hockey Centre in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. (Yonhap)
In another monumental decision, Bach gave the green light on the formation of the unified Korean women's hockey team, the first all-Korean squad in any sport in Olympic history. Though the team didn't win any games at the Olympics, it was hailed as a symbol of peace and reconciliation during the competition.
The foundation also noted Bach's role in building cooperative relationships among three Northeast Asian neighbors, South Korea, Japan and China, as hosts of Olympic Games. Following PyeongChang from two years ago, Tokyo is set to host the Summer Olympics in 2021 -- postponed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic -- and Beijing will hold the Winter Games in 2022.
On Bach's watch, the IOC has given refugee athletes a chance to compete at Olympic Games. The Refugee Olympic Team, made up of athletes originally from countries such as Ethiopia and Syria, made its debut at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics.
The foundation said Bach will receive a plaque and US$200,000 in prize money. The award ceremony will take place in Seoul later this year.
In this file photo from Feb. 25, 2018, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach speaks during the closing ceremony of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics at PyeongChang Olympic Stadium in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--SK Innovation OKs SK IE Technology's stake sale to PEF

SEOUL , Sept. 23 ( Yonhap ) -- SK Innovation Co. said Wednesday that it has decided to sign a @ @ @ @ @ fund for a pre-initial public offering ( IPO ) of its wholly owned subsidiary SK @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- SK Innovation Co. said Wednesday that it has decided to sign a deal with a private equity fund for a pre-initial public offering (IPO) of its wholly owned subsidiary SK IE Technology Co.
Under the plan, SK IE Technology will issue 6.2 million new shares -- 10 percent of its total shares -- and sell the stake to local private equity fund Premier Partners for 300 billion won (US$258 million).
The deal would reduce SK Innovation's stake in SK IE Technology to 90 percent.
The pre-IPO deal would pave the way for next year's successful IPO of SK IE Technology, a South Korean manufacturer of lithium-ion battery separator.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

Kia , the country 's second-biggest carmaker , halted the operations of two plants in Gwangmyeong , just south of @ @ @ @ @ Monday , with all of the 6,000 employees at the plants staying at home .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.
-----------------
(LEAD) Seoul stocks slightly up on bargain-hunting
SEOUL -- South Korean shares snapped a two-day losing streak to inch higher Wednesday on the back of retail investors' massive bargain-hunting. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
After choppy trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 0.65 point, or 0.03 percent, to close at 2,333.24. In the previous session, the index fell 2.38 percent.
-----------------
Moon hails lawmakers' speedy approval for 4th supplementary budget
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday it is meaningful for the National Assembly to have passed another supplementary budget bill in less than two weeks after the government submitted it.
"It's meaningful that the National Assembly has passed the supplementary budget bill in the shortest time via a compromise between the ruling and opposition parties," Moon said, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
-----------------
(LEAD) Telsa's Battery Day draws mixed reactions in S. Korea
SEOUL -- South Korean manufacturers of electric vehicle (EV) batteries on Wednesday showed mixed reactions to Telsa's ambitious road map to cut the cost of EV batteries in half.
Tesla said its new cylindrical cells would reduce the cost per kilowatt hour by 56 percent and extend its electric vehicle range by 54 percent in coming years.
-----------------
Kia Motors resumes virus-hit local plants after suspension
SEOUL -- Kia Motors Corp. said Wednesday that two of its eight domestic plants returned to normal operations following days of suspension due to coronavirus cases.
Kia, the country's second-biggest carmaker, halted the operations of two plants in Gwangmyeong, just south of Seoul, from Wednesday through Monday, with all of the 6,000 employees at the plants staying at home.
-----------------
Incheon Airport to hold another duty-free auction next month after foiled attempt
SEOUL -- Incheon International Airport, the country's main gateway, plans to auction duty-free licenses next month following its latest botched effort to draw bidders amid the protracted new coronavirus outbreak, its operator said Wednesday.
The Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC) plans to hold another auction for six duty-free sections in the airport's Terminal 1, one day after its second auction fell through. The next bidding will close on Oct. 13.
-----------------
Jeju asks people with fever symptoms not to come during Chuseok
JEJU -- The provincial government of Jeju on Wednesday asked anybody with symptoms of a fever to think twice about visiting the southern resort island during the upcoming Chuseok holiday.
Announcing a special administrative measure against COVID-19, the Jeju government said it will introduce mandatory coronavirus testing for any visitor with a body temperature higher than 37.5 C from this weekend to early next month.
-----------------
Companies spent 5.34 mln won each month to hire one worker in 2019
SEOUL -- South Korean companies on average spent 5.34 million won (US$4,584) each month to hire one worker in 2019, up 2.8 percent from the previous year, the labor ministry said Wednesday.
The figure, which includes monthly salary, severance pay, insurance fees and miscellaneous costs, came from data collected from companies that had 10 or more employees who were on a contract of at least one year. It does not include workers who were hired for less than a year.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--SK Telecom aims to commercialize mmWave 5G for businesses this year

`` We target to commercialize the 28-GHz band by the end of this year , '' Ryu Jung-hwan , SK @ @ @ @ @ in a briefing .
`` Considering the 28-GHz band 's characteristics , its is more @ @ @ @ @ business-to-business services . ''

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- SK Telecom Co., South Korea's largest mobile network provider, said Wednesday it aims to commercialize its 5G network on the 28-gigahertz (GHz) band by the end of this year, targeting businesses with faster network speeds.
Local telecom operators currently offer 5G on the 3.5-GHz band since commercializing the network in April last year. The 3.5-GHz band has slower speeds than the mmWave frequency band, which promises up to 20 times faster speeds than 4G LTE.
"We target to commercialize the 28-GHz band by the end of this year," Ryu Jung-hwan, SK Telecom vice president, said in a briefing. "Considering the 28-GHz band's characteristics, its is more appropriate to use it for business-to-business services."
The 28-GHz band has smaller coverage compared with the 3.5-GHz band, making enterprise applications more suitable, according to SK Telecom.
The vice president said the company is also working to deploy a stand-alone version of 5G , which would not require support from the 4G LTE network.
The stand-alone version would be focused on businesses as the current non-stand-alone version offered to 5G users has benefits, such as fast speeds.
SK Telecom has installed around 100,000 5G network facilities so far, and would need over 200,000 for a nationwide network.
The country's major telecom operators, including KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp., have promised to spend up to 25.7 trillion won (US$22 billion) to update network infrastructure and install a nationwide 5G network by 2022.
South Korea had nearly 8 million 5G users as of July, according to the science ministry.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--Renault Samsung to export XM3 SUV to Europe next year

Renault Samsung manufactures the XM3 at its sole plant in Busan , 450 kilometers south of Seoul , and the @ @ @ @ @ as the New ARKANA in the European market , the company said in a statement @

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Renault Samsung Motors Corp., the South Korean unit of Renault S.A., said Wednesday it will start exporting the XM3 sport utility vehicle to Europe next year.
Renault Samsung manufactures the XM3 at its sole plant in Busan, 450 kilometers south of Seoul, and the compact SUV will be sold as the New ARKANA in the European market, the company said in a statement.
The XM3 with a gasoline hybrid engine or a 1.3-liter gasoline direct-injection turbo engine will be shipped to Europe, it said.
This photo provided by Renault Samsung Motors shows the XM3 compact sport utility vehicle. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)
The company expects the planned exports of the XM3 SUV to help improve its lackluster sales amid the coronavirus outbreak.
From January to August, Renault Samsung's sales fell 27 percent to 84,158 vehicles from 114,705 units in the year-ago period due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the automobile industry.
Renault Samsung badly needed to secure export volume for the XM3 in order to offset the now halted production of the Nissan Rogue SUV at the Busan plant.
The company's current passenger car lineup includes the all-electric SM3 Z.E. sedan, the SM6 sedan, the XM3 SUV and the QM6 SUV.
Renault holds an 81 percent stake in Renault Samsung.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--Policymakers discuss plan to expand employment insurance

The expansion is aimed at protecting temporary workers and freelancers who are regarded as being in a `` blind spot @ @ @ @ @ directly employed by companies and are not covered by employment insurance .

SEJONG, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Top economic policymakers on Wednesday discussed a plan to expand coverage of state employment insurance to non-regular workers in certain types of hiring, the finance ministry said.
In South Korea, employees in certain types of hiring, including insurance agents, tutors, golf caddies, parcel delivery service workers and cargo truck drivers, have been excluded from state employment insurance.
To put them under employment insurance coverage, policymakers discussed a plan to figure out their income data, the ministry said in a statement.
Relevant ministries will step up cooperation to develop the plan, the ministry said.
In July, the labor ministry said it will put all working citizens under employment insurance coverage by 2025 as part of its ambitious policy project aimed at overcoming the new coronavirus pandemic.
With the plan, some 21 million people are forecast to be covered by the state employment insurance scheme by 2025, compared with the current figure that falls short of 14 million.
The expansion is aimed at protecting temporary workers and freelancers who are regarded as being in a "blind spot" as they are not directly employed by companies and are not covered by employment insurance.
Officials affiliated with the progressive Jinbo Party hold a press conference on swiftly expanding state employment insurance to all citizens in front of the government complex in central Seoul on Aug. 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--Hyundai Oilbank to cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 30 pct by 2050

In 2015 , South Korea pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 37 percent by 2030 from 850.6 million tons @ @ @ @ @ an amount Seoul says it would reach if it lets business run as usual .

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Oilbank Co., a major South Korean oil refiner, said Wednesday it will cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 30 percent by 2050 in the latest move for sustainable growth.
Hyundai Oilbank aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 4.99 million tons in 2050 from 6.78 million tons in 2019.
The reduction equals to the amount of carbon dioxide that can be absorbed by 12.7 million pine trees.
South Korea has been seeking to reduce its carbon footprint amid tightened regulations on greenhouse gas emissions, which scientists say are to blame for global warming.
In 2015, countries around the world adopted the Paris Agreement, a landmark environmental accord meant to combat climate change.
In 2015, South Korea pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 37 percent by 2030 from 850.6 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, an amount Seoul says it would reach if it lets business run as usual.
The logo of Hyundai Oilbank (Yonhap)
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--New JCS chairman vows to strengthen readiness posture, back peace efforts

`` The next five years will be a crucial turning point for the future of the Army and the security @ @ @ @ @ Nam said , urging all soldiers to take part in efforts to build a `` @ @ @ @ @ ''

By Choi Soo-hyang
SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- Gen. Won In-choul took office as the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) on Wednesday, vowing to ensure full readiness posture at all fronts to sternly deal with any provocations.
During his inauguration speech, the 42nd JCS chief also pledged to militarily back the government's efforts to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula and accelerate the push to retake the wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean forces from the United States.
"We will improve the completeness of our security operations in peace time and maintain capabilities and a posture to immediately and sternly respond to provocation by any enemy that threatens South Korea," he said.
President Moon Jae-in (L) and Gen. Won In-choul, new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), pose for a photo during a ceremony at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Sept. 23, 2020, to mark Won's inauguration. (Yonhap)
The former Air Force chief of staff was named last month to succeed Gen. Park Han-ki as JCS chairman.
Referring to North Korea's continued push to develop ballistic missiles, Won said the peninsula is facing "various unpredictable challenges."
"We will develop the future-oriented South Korea-U.S. military alliance, and expand the sphere of our military, security cooperation through catered international military cooperation in line with South Korea's national power and our military's strength," he said.
Won, 59, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1984 following his graduation from the Korea Air Force Academy. He has served in various commanding posts, including the JCS' vice chief and the chairman of the Air Force Operations Command.
President Moon Jae-in (L) and Gen. Nam Yeong-shin, new Army chief of staff, pose for a photo during a ceremony at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Sept. 23, 2020, to mark Nam's inauguration. (Yonhap)
Won's inauguration was part of a major military reshuffle that included the appointment of Suh Wook, former Army chief of staff, as the new defense minister.
On the same day, new Army Chief of Staff Gen. Nam Yeong-shin, new Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Lee Seong-yong and new Combined Forces Command (CFC) deputy commander Gen. Kim Seung-kyum also assumed office.
In his inauguration speech, Nam vowed utmost efforts for OPCON transition based on strong alliance with the U.S.
The Seoul government seeks to retake the wartime OPCON before the current Moon Jae-in administration's term ends in May 2022, though the transition is not time-based but conditions-based.
"The next five years will be a crucial turning point for the future of the Army and the security of South Korea," Nam said, urging all soldiers to take part in efforts to build a "strong Army that wins."
President Moon Jae-in (L) and Gen. Lee Seong-yong, new Air Force chief of staff, pose for a photo during a ceremony at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Sept. 23, 2020, to mark Lee's inauguration. (Yonhap)
Lee, who succeed Won, also pledged to back the peninsula's peace and the country's prosperity with strength.
"By maintaining a perfect air defense posture, we will firmly back military readiness posture at all fronts," Lee said.
Kim, the new CFC deputy commander, vowed to make utmost efforts to deter North Korean provocations through a strong combined defense posture.
"Based on the mutual trust our predecessors have fostered, I will strive for the OPCON transition and the future-oriented development of the South Korea-U.S. alliance," he said.
President Moon Jae-in (L) and Gen. Kim Seung-kyum, the new Combined Forces Command deputy commander, pose for a photo during a ceremony at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Sept. 23, 2020, to mark Kim's inauguration. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--Prayers, get-well wishes pour in for family of KBO pitcher Aaron Brooks

`` I will be praying for them to get better , '' Han said .
`` Even though I have @ @ @ @ @ we are both players in the KBO and that makes us colleagues .
All of @ @ @ @ @ too . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- There have been no shortage of prayers and get-well wishes for family members of Kia Tigers' ace Aaron Brooks during their recovery from a recent auto accident, prompting the pitcher to express his gratitude on social media on Wednesday.
Yang Hyeon-jong of the Kia Tigers pitches against the Kiwoom Heroes in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, on Sept. 22, 2020. He is wearing a cap with the name of teammate Aaron Brooks' son, Westin, written on it, in a show of support for Westin's recovery from injuries sustained in an auto accident in Kansas City. (Yonhap)
Brooks left his Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club Tuesday to be by his family in Kansas City, after his wife, Whitney, and their two children, Monroe and Westin, were injured in a crash caused by a driver who ran a red light.
The rest of the Tigers still had a game to play Tuesday evening. Manager Matt Williams and the rest of the coaching staff, plus the players, wore caps and helmets with initials or names of the Brooks' family members written on them, in a show of support and get-well wishes.
Park Chan-ho of the Kia Tigers is in action against the Kiwoom Heroes in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul, on Sept. 22, 2020. Park is sporting a helmet with the initials W.B. for Westin Brooks, son of Park's teammate Aaron Brooks, in a show of support for Westin's recovery from injuries sustained in an auto accident in Kansas City. (Yonhap)
The Tigers lost to the Kiwoom Heroes 2-0 Tuesday, and out of respect for the Brooks family, the Heroes had a muted celebration, even though it was a crucial victory in a tight pennant race.
Han Hyun-hee, the winning pitcher for the Heroes, said he kept Brooks and his family in his thoughts.
"I will be praying for them to get better," Han said. "Even though I haven't talked to Aaron, we are both players in the KBO and that makes us colleagues. All of our players are concerned, too."
On Wednesday, the Tigers uploaded a video clip, titled "Praying for the Brooks' family," in support of their ace and his loved ones.
Brooks found a moment in these hectic times to show his appreciation on Twitter, saying, "I love you Kia! And for everyone in South Korea that welcomed my family and I with open arms. We appreciate all the love we have gotten through this terribly unfortunate time."
Whitney tweeted earlier, "The support we've received from the Kia Tigers and their fans has been amazing to say the least. From the bottom of our hearts we appreciate all of you."
In this file photo from Sept. 13, 2020, Aaron Brooks of the Kia Tigers (C) chats with a teammate in the dugout after being pulled during the bottom of the seventh inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game against the NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--Jeju asks people with fever symptoms not to come during Chuseok

The fever-stricken tourists will also be required to self-isolate at private residences or other accommodations until the results of their @ @ @ @ @ it said .

JEJU, South Korea, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- The provincial government of Jeju on Wednesday asked anybody with symptoms of a fever to think twice about visiting the southern resort island during the upcoming Chuseok holiday.
Announcing a special administrative measure against COVID-19, the Jeju government said it will introduce mandatory coronavirus testing for any visitor with a body temperature higher than 37.5 C from this weekend to early next month.
The fever-stricken tourists will also be required to self-isolate at private residences or other accommodations until the results of their coronavirus tests are available, it said.
This file photo shows a stone mascot of Jeju Island wearing a mask as tourists pass by. (Yonhap)
Those who breach the special administrative measure and test positive for the coronavirus will face criminal punishments and be asked to pay for the relevant quarantine expenses, the government noted.
The special measure has come as nearly 200,000 tourists are expected to visit Jeju Island during the five-day weekend from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4.
Jeju officials are also on alert as a large number of tourists will again visit the island during the Oct. 9 Hangeul Day that falls on Friday and the ensuing weekend.
"The latest measure is intended to stem the spread of the coronavirus into Jeju and discourage anybody with a fever from visiting the island during the upcoming holidays," a provincial government official said.
The official said all tourists staying in Jeju from this weekend to the end of the Hangeul Day holiday will be obliged to wear masks at all times.
The provincial government also ordered all public-use facilities, including bars, karaoke rooms, buffet restaurants, performance halls, indoor sports facilities, internet cafes and public baths, to thoroughly comply with quarantine guidelines.
Despite its status as South Korea's top tourist destination, Jeju Island has remained one of the nation's least coronavirus-affected regions, with its cumulative caseload reaching just 58 as of Wednesday.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--3-term main opposition lawmaker defects from party amid corruption allegations

`` I decided to leave the People Power Party today ...
I determined that it 's right for me to @ @ @ @ @ so as not to burden the party , '' Rep. Park Duk-hyum said in a @ @ @ @ @ Assembly .

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- A three-term lawmaker defected from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) on Wednesday in the face of corruption allegations that he illegally clinched construction orders from government agencies.
"I decided to leave the People Power Party today ... I determined that it's right for me to give up my party membership so as not to burden the party," Rep. Park Duk-hyum said in a press conference at the National Assembly.
Corruption allegations raised against Park have been the source of a barrage of outside criticism of the PPP in recent weeks.
The lawmaker, whose constituency is in North Chungcheong Province, is suspected of having clinched orders worth up to 100 billion won (US$85.9 million) for construction firms operated under the names of his family members from government agencies for six years from 2012.
He was serving on the parliamentary committee on land, infrastructure and transportation that oversees the agencies when the deals were arranged.
Last week, a group of civic groups officially reported Park to police, accusing him of corruption and abuse of power.
Park again denied all the allegations during the press conference, saying, "I dare say that I have not made any special requests (for the deals) or done anything that constitutes conflicts of interest."
Park's departure will leave the PPP with 103 seats in the 300-member National Assembly.
Rep. Park Duk-hyum of the People Power Party announces his decision to leave the party on Sept. 23, 2020, amid corruption allegations. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--Doosan Heavy, power generators to join forces for gas turbine biz

Doosan Heavy and the companies will beef up their cooperation in the sectors , such as the establishment of liquefied @ @ @ @ @ combined cycle power plants , gas turbines for the plants and the education of plant-related @ @ @ @ @ in an emailed statement .

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top power plant builder Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. said Wednesday that it will join hands with five public power companies to revitalize a gas turbine business.
Doosan Heavy and the companies will beef up their cooperation in the sectors, such as the establishment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) combined cycle power plants, gas turbines for the plants and the education of plant-related technicians, the company said in an emailed statement.
The five public power companies include Korea South-East Power Co. Korea Midland Power Co., Korea Western Power Co., Korea Southern Power Co. and Korea East-West Power Co. subsidiaries of Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO).
This file photo provided by Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. shows a key part of a gas turbine for LNG combined cycle power plants. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The cooperation came five days after President Moon Jae-in visited the company's gas turbine plant in Changwon, 398 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
Doosan Heavy has been making efforts to bolster its business of gas turbine for LNG combined cycle power plant since 2013.
Last year, Doosan Heavy independently developed a turbine for LNG combined cycle power plants, making it the fifth company in the world to pull off the feat.
Cash-strapped Doosan Heavy is slated to issue new shares worth 1.3 trillion won to weather its cash crisis.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-23--(LEAD) Seoul stocks slightly up on bargain-hunting

Local analysts said investors were disappointed with Tesla 's Battery Day , a big event for global stock markets .
@ @ @ @ @ battery technology , whereas the U.S. electric vehicle maker just introduced a productivity enhancement strategy @

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares snapped a two-day losing streak to inch higher Wednesday on the back of retail investors' massive bargain-hunting. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
After choppy trading, the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 0.65 point, or 0.03 percent, to close at 2,333.24. In the previous session, the index fell 2.38 percent.
Trading volume was moderate at about 725 million shares worth some 13.4 trillion won (US$11.5 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 439 to 388.
Retail investors purchased a net 328 billion won, while foreigners sold a net 58 billion won. Institutions offloaded a net 281 billion won.
Electronic signboards at the trading room of Hana Bank in Seoul show the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,333.24 on Sept. 23, 2020, up 0.65 points or 0.03 percent from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)
Major tech stocks remained in positive terrain, but battery makers suffered a drop.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem fell 1.41 percent to 630,000 won, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI dropped 2.24 percent to 436,500 won.
Local analysts said investors were disappointed with Tesla's Battery Day, a big event for global stock markets. Investors had anticipated a new battery technology, whereas the U.S. electric vehicle maker just introduced a productivity enhancement strategy.
"The KOSPI had started bullish on Wall Street gains, but disappointed with Tesla's announcement, investors dumped related stocks," Kiwoom Securities analyst Seo Sang-young said.
Most large caps closed lower.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics added 0.69 percent to 58,600 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix jumped 2.83 percent to 83,600 won.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics dipped 3.56 percent to 705,000 won, and Celltrion shed 0.75 percent to 266,000 won.
Internet portal giant Naver jumped 4.22 percent to 296,500 won, with its rival Kakao up 3.54 percent to 365,500 won.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, closed flat at 179,500 won, while top steelmaker POSCO edged up 0.26 percent to 195,000 won.
The local currency closed at 1,164.4 won per dollar, up 0.6 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed higher. The yield on three-year Treasurys lost 1.4 basis points to 0.883 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond fell 2.8 basis points to 1.149 percent.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--Supreme Court affirms prison terms of singers in rape case

The two singers , both 31 years old , were convicted of raping women during drinking parties in Hongcheon , @ @ @ @ @ 2016 and in Daegu in March of the same year , together with other members @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a lower court's prison sentences for Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon, two South Korean singers convicted of rape and other crimes.
In May, Jung, a disgraced singer and TV personality, and Choi, a former member of boy band FT Island, were sentenced to five years and 2 1/2 years, respectively, in prison by an appeals court on charges including sexually assaulting women in 2016.
This composite file photo shows Jung Joon-young (L) and Choi Jong-hoon. (Yonhap)
Jung and Choi received prison terms of six and five years, respectively, from a Seoul district court last November. But the Seoul High Court later reduced the terms by one and 2 1/2 years, respectively.
The two singers, both 31 years old, were convicted of raping women during drinking parties in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, in January 2016 and in Daegu in March of the same year, together with other members of a mobile chat room.
Jung was given a heavier prison term, as he was additionally indicted on charges of secretly filming himself having sex with women and sharing the footage with friends on mobile chats.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--Seoul stocks sharply down late Thur. morning on Wall Street plunge

With the COVID-19 flaring up again around the world , investor sentiment worsened after U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell @ @ @ @ @ from the new coronavirus pandemic would take considerable time .

SEOUL, Sept. 24 -- South Korean shares traded sharply lower late Thursday morning, taking a cue from a Wall Street plunge over withering hopes of a quick economic recovery.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) fell 40.22 points, or 1.72 percent, to 2,293.02 as of 11:20 a.m.
Large caps extended losses, tracking key U.S. rivals that tumbled overnight.
The tech-laden Nasdaq Composite plummeted 3.02 percent to 10,632.99 on Wednesday (New York time). The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.92 percent, and the S&P 500 was down 2.37 percent.
With the COVID-19 flaring up again around the world, investor sentiment worsened after U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell reiterated that the economic recovery from the new coronavirus pandemic would take considerable time.
In Seoul, most large caps traded lower.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics lost 1.02 percent, while No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix advanced 1.32 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics fell 3.12 percent, and Celltrion shed 2.26 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver retreated 2.36 percent, with its rival Kakao dipping 3.15 percent.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem shed 0.79 percent, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI sank 4.47 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, declined 3.06 percent, and top steelmaker POSCO lost 3.08 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,169.65 won against the U.S. dollar, down 5.25 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-24--(URGENT) N. Korea poured oil over S. Korean's body, set it aflame: Seoul official

(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--2020-09-24--(URGENT) Intelligence suggests N. Korea questioned S. Korean citizen from patrol boat: Seoul officia

(URGENT) Intelligence suggests N. Korea questioned S. Korean citizen from patrol boat: Seoul official


yna--2020-09-24--(URGENT) N. Korea shot S. Korean to death after 'order from superior authority': official


yna--2020-09-24--(URGENT) S. Korea sent message to N. Korea over shooting case but received no response: military off

(URGENT) S. Korea sent message to N. Korea over shooting case but received no response: military official


yna--2020-09-24--(URGENT) Missing S. Korean appears to have tried to defect to N. Korea: military official