yna--2020-10-20--Regulator decides to cancel biz certificate of asset management firm

Cancellation of the business certificate is the strongest penalty that can be given to a financial company for any illegal @ @ @ @ @ of penalty are caution against institution , warning against institution , correction order and suspension @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's financial regulator said Tuesday it has decided to cancel the business registration certificate of a local asset management company due to an illegal act.
The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) said Lime Asset Management Co. has been accused of providing inaccurate information about its fund products sold to customers through banks and securities firms.
Banks and brokerages have been also under fire for selling Lime's fund products without thoroughly vetting the information.
Cancellation of the business certificate is the strongest penalty that can be given to a financial company for any illegal acts. Four other levels of penalty are caution against institution, warning against institution, correction order and suspension of operation.
The FSS also demanded Lime Asset to dismiss detained CEO Won Jong-jun from his position.
The Financial Services Commission will determine whether to confirm the cancellation and penalize Won as early as next month, the FSS said.
Founded in 2012 as an investment advisory, Lime Asset was granted a license to operate private funds in 2015.
The company was managing a record high of 5.7 trillion won (US$4.8 billion) as of June last year. In October last year, the company froze withdrawals, citing an inability to liquidate enough assets to meet the redemption requests.
The Financial Supervisory Service's headquarters in Yeouido, western Seoul (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--Moon requests support from 2 nations for S. Korean candidate's WTO chief bid

Moon held separate phone calls with Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and said that @ @ @ @ @ Myung-hee is the `` right person '' with vision and capability to protect the free @ @ @ @ @ in it through reform of the WTO , according to the presidential office .

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday asked his counterparts in Italy and Luxembourg to support the South Korean candidate to become the next leader of the World Trade Organization, the presidential office said, in the latest diplomatic push in pursuit of the top post.
Moon held separate phone calls with Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and said that South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee is the "right person" with vision and capability to protect the free trade system and restore trust in it through reform of the WTO, according to the presidential office.
Yoo has vowed to focus on rebuilding trust in the multilateral trading system by making it more relevant, resilient and responsive if she gets picked as the new director-general.
Yoo is competing with Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in the third and final stage for the top post of the global trade body.
The final result -- which is to be determined through consensus among 164 member countries -- is widely expected to be delivered in early November.
Moon has also sought support for Yoo's bid from the leaders of New Zealand, Australia, Russia, Germany, Brazil and Malaysia since July.
This photo, taken on Oct. 20, 2020, and provided by Cheong Wa Dae, shows President Moon Jae-in speaking by telephone with Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, requesting support for Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee's bid to become the director general of the World Trade Organization, at the presidential office in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--(LEAD) Reluctance to get flu shots simmering in S. Korea after 3 suspected deaths

The public health agency said the teenage boy was administered with one of the vaccines shipped by Shinsung Pharm Co. @ @ @ @ @ bottles that were exposed to room temperature during shipments as part of a nationwide free @ @ @ @

(ATTN: RECASTS throughout with third suspected death, minor edits in headline)
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- Public anxiety is growing over the safety of flu vaccines in South Korea as three people have died after receiving flu shots.
On Tuesday, a 78-year-old woman was found dead at her home in Gochang, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul, after receiving a flu shot a day earlier, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
On the same day, an 82-year-old man was found dead at his house in the central city of Daejeon after getting the shot earlier in the day.
The public health agency also said a 17-year-old boy in Incheon, just west of Seoul, died on Friday after receiving the shot two days earlier.
The KDCA said no connection has been established between the three people's deaths and their flu vaccinations and a related investigation is under way.
The deaths have stoked public anxiety over the safety of the vaccines and made some people reluctant to get vaccinated.
The public health agency said the teenage boy was administered with one of the vaccines shipped by Shinsung Pharm Co., a distributor of vaccine bottles that were exposed to room temperature during shipments as part of a nationwide free flu shots program.
The authorities earlier said the mishandled vaccines have passed quality tests and concluded that there is no safety issue. They have collected some 539,000 doses that were shipped by Shinsung Pharm.
The KDCA said a total of 32 people have received the vaccine shots from the same hospital as the teenage boy, yet no abnormal reactions have been reported.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--N. Korean leader vows to further develop ties with China

Kim said he would make positive efforts with Chinese President Xi Jinping to `` further consolidate and develop the traditional @ @ @ @ @ the North 's Korean Central News Agency reported , using the acronym of the North @ @ @ @ @ Democratic People 's Republic of Korea .

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has pledged to further boost friendly relations with China, the North's state media said Tuesday.
Kim said he would make positive efforts with Chinese President Xi Jinping to "further consolidate and develop the traditional DPRK-China friendly relations," the North's Korean Central News Agency reported, using the acronym of the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Kim made the remarks on Monday in a reply message to Xi, who sent a congratulatory letter to Kim earlier this month to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the North's ruling Workers' Party.
Xi expressed China's intent to "successfully defend, consolidate and develop" the bilateral relations.
China is North Korea's most important trading partner and a key source of food, arms, and fuel, giving Beijing significant leverage over Pyongyang.
Earlier this month, North Korea showcased a new intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking any part of the continental U.S. during a military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the Workers' Party.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--KBO's postseason to begin Nov. 1

KBO's postseason to begin Nov. 1

The No .
4 team and the No .
5 team from the regular season will square off in that @ @ @ @ @ club will go in with a built-in victory and will move on to the next @ @ @ @ @ or a tie in the first game .
The lower-seeded team , on the other @ @ @ @ @ straight games to advance .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean baseball postseason will begin on Nov. 1 and will be completed by Nov. 25 at the latest.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) on Tuesday announced its playoff schedule for the coronavirus-interrupted season. After the start of the regular season was pushed back by more than a month to early May because of the pandemic, the postseason will begin in November, instead of the usual October, for the first time in league history.
The regular season will conclude on Oct. 30 and the postseason will start two days later with the Wild Card Game.
The No. 4 team and the No. 5 team from the regular season will square off in that opening stage. The higher-seeded club will go in with a built-in victory and will move on to the next round with either a win or a tie in the first game. The lower-seeded team, on the other hand, must win two straight games to advance.
The winner of that series will play the No. 3 seed from the regular season in the best-of-three first round. That series will start on Nov. 4.
Fans take in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game between the home team LG Twins and the Kia Tigers at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Oct. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
The winning team will then move on to the best-of-five second round and face the No. 2-ranked club from the regular season. That series will begin on Nov. 9.
The regular season champions will advance directly to the best-of-seven Korean Series and will await the winning club of the second round. The Korean Series starts on Nov. 17, and if it goes the distance, it will conclude on Nov. 25.
Considering cold weather this time of the year, all postseason games from the second round and onward will be played at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, the country's only domed ballpark, as the neutral venue. It is the home of the Kiwoom Heroes, who have qualified for the postseason with two games to play.
Teams will each be able to carry extra players to their 30-man postseason rosters, and call them up to replace any player who tests positive for COVID-19 or who has to be quarantined after coming in contact with coronavirus patients.
Starting with this year's postseason, the umpire crew chief will be able to initiate his own replay review of all reviewable plays, even if managers from either side don't ask for it.
Fans take in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game between the home team LG Twins and the Kia Tigers at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Oct. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--KBO star Mel Rojas Jr. to be tested for COVID-19

Rojas Jr. was ruled out of Tuesday 's home game against the LG Twins at KT Wiz Park in Suwon @ @ @ @ @ Seoul , after his fever reached 37.2 degrees Celsius earlier in the day .
He @ @ @ @ @ to receive an intravenous injection but the fever did n't drop , according to the @ @

SUWON, South Korea, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- A leading MVP candidate in South Korean baseball will be tested for the novel coronavirus later Tuesday after developing a high fever.
The KT Wiz of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said Tuesday that slugging outfielder Mel Rojas Jr. will undergo a test for COVID-19, with the result expected sometime Wednesday.
In this file photo from Oct. 11, 2020, Mel Rojas Jr. of the KT Wiz hits a solo home run against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the fifth inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Rojas Jr. was ruled out of Tuesday's home game against the LG Twins at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul, after his fever reached 37.2 degrees Celsius earlier in the day. He went to a local hospital to receive an intravenous injection but the fever didn't drop, according to the Wiz.
In this file photo from Oct. 4, 2020, Mel Rojas Jr. of the KT Wiz rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the LG Twins in the bottom of the first inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Rojas Jr. has played in all 136 games of the season so far and is leading the KBO in all Triple Crown categories, with 46 home runs, 132 RBIs and a .353 batting average.
The Wiz entered Tuesday's game in third place with 76 wins, 59 losses and one tie, and are on the verge of reaching the postseason for the first time in their sixth KBO season.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--S. Korea state pension partners with Dutch fund for joint investments

In their first achievements , the two pension funds made a 50:50 investment in an Australian university dormitory facility in @ @ @ @ @ in Portugal 's biggest expressway operating company in October , the statement said .

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's state pension fund said Tuesday it has partnered with its Dutch counterpart to make joint investments in overseas assets.
The National Pension Service (NPS) has recently joined hands with APG Asset Management, which runs the biggest Dutch pension fund, to explore investment opportunities in global markets, the NPS said in a statement.
The partnership came as the Korean pension fund increases the ratio of alternative investments in global markets amid low rates and an extended slowdown, it said.
In their first achievements, the two pension funds made a 50:50 investment in an Australian university dormitory facility in August and another 50:50 investment in Portugal's biggest expressway operating company in October, the statement said.
The NPS is the world's third-largest pension fund, with 752 trillion won (US$648 billion) under its management as of June.
APG Asset Management managed assets worth 538 billion euros ($630 billion) as of the end of 2019.
This file photo shows the headquarters of the National Pension Service Investment Management in Jeonju, southwestern South Korea. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--Hyundai launches facelifted Genesis G70 in S. Korea

They include the multi-collision brake system that automatically stops a car when the driver loses control in a collision accident @ @ @ @ @ system that puts the passenger seat back to a right position to protect a person @ @ @ @ @ case of a frontal collision or sudden braking .

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's biggest carmaker, on Tuesday launched the upgraded G70 sedan under its independent Genesis brand in the domestic market to boost sales amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The facelifted G70 comes with a 2.0-liter gasoline turbocharged engine, a 2.2 diesel engine or a 3.3 gasoline turbocharged engine, the company said in a statement.
The upgraded version of the first-generation G70 underwent major design changes and features a wide and deep crest grille, quad headlamps and larger front air intakes, it said.
The three versions basically come with 10 airbags and a set of advanced safety features.
They include the multi-collision brake system that automatically stops a car when the driver loses control in a collision accident and the preactive safety seat system that puts the passenger seat back to a right position to protect a person next to the driver in case of a frontal collision or sudden braking.
The latest G70 model sells at the starting price of 40 million won (US$35,000), with prices going up to 46 million won depending on the type of engine and options.
This file photo provided by Hyundai Motor shows the upgraded G70 sedan. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--(2nd LD) Court upholds revocation of S. Korea's first for-profit hospital's license

Despite the dispute over the conditional approval , the court said , the hospital had to open within three months @ @ @ @ @ under the medical service act , but it refused to do so without providing due @ @

(ATTN: ADDS details in para 7, 11-17)
JEJU, South Korea, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- A court on the southern island of Jeju on Tuesday upheld the local government's revocation of the business license of what would have been the nation's first for-profit hospital.
The operator of the Greenland International Medical Center, owned by a Chinese real estate developer, filed a lawsuit in May 2019 against the provincial government's decision to cancel the approval after the hospital missed the deadline for opening.
The company, Greenland Jeju Healthcare Town Co., also lodged a suit in February 2019, seeking to nullify government's order that the medical center treat only foreigners as a condition for the approval of the first investor-owned medical institution in the country.
This photo taken Oct. 20, 2020, shows Greenland International Medical Center on Jeju Island. (Yonhap)
The Jeju District Court ruled in favor of the Jeju government over the invalidation of the license.
Despite the dispute over the conditional approval, the court said, the hospital had to open within three months of the permit's issuance under the medical service act, but it refused to do so without providing due reasons.
The court, however, postponed its verdict on the limitation of patients until after the ruling on the license withdrawal is confirmed by higher courts.
South Korea permits profit-seeking hospitals only in Jeju and eight Free Economic Zones. Such entities must be at least 50 percent foreign-owned or be foreign medical instutions with US$5 million in capital.
The Jeju medical center, owned by the Shanghai-based Greenland Group, received approval on Dec. 5, 2018, on condition that the hospital does not treat domestic patients. The measure was taken to minimize the impact the commercial hospital may have on the nation's medical service system.
The local unit of the Chinese group insisted that it is against the national medical law to limit the scope of patients of a hospital. The Jeju government defended its decision, saying the approval was made under its own autonomous law.
As the hospital failed to open by the deadline in March 2019, the government cancelled the approval on April 17.
Jeju Gov. Won Hee-ryong welcomed the ruling.
"The conditional permit was intended to prevent its impact on the local medical system," he said in a statement.
"With the dismissal of the suit, the judiciary recognized Jeju Island's step was justifiable," he added.
Kim Jong-pil, a lawyer for Greenland, criticized the ruling.
"If commonsensical judgments cannot be expected from Korean courts, Greenland cannot but seek a judgement by an international legal institution," he said.
The group has been expected to pursue an investor-state dispute (ISD) settlement under the South Korea-China free trade agreement if it loses the suit.
ISD process allows a foreign company or investor to seek international arbitration against a country in case of losses from violations of international investment treaty obligations.
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--(LEAD) Courier dead in apparent suicide over financial difficulties

In the letter that starts with `` I feel victimized , '' the man , whose identity was withheld , @ @ @ @ @ financially and complained about overwork and mistreatment from his company , such as having been @ @ @ @ @ heat and verbal insults being hurled at him .

(ATTN: CHANGES lead; ADDS details in first 5 paras, photos)
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- A delivery man took his own life in Busan early Tuesday, police and a courier labor union said, as apparent deaths from overwork and poor working conditions among couriers have surfaced as a social issue.
The man, 50, working for Logen Logistics Co., died of suicide at around 3 a.m., some 30 minutes after he sent a handwritten note to his colleague via cell phone messenger.
In the letter that starts with "I feel victimized," the man, whose identity was withheld, said he had been struggling financially and complained about overwork and mistreatment from his company, such as having been ordered to work in extreme heat and verbal insults being hurled at him.
The police said the man had been sharing difficulties from work with his colleagues and had often expressed his economic hardships.
The photo provided by a courier labor union shows the handwritten note left by a delivery man who took his own life on Oct. 20, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Not including the latest case, 10 courier company workers have died so far this year, mostly in cases believed to be related to overwork, according to an advocacy group, as the new coronavirus outbreak triggered a surge in online shopping and parcel volumes.
During a parliamentary audit of affiliated agencies of the Ministry of Labor, Rep. Yang Yi Won-young from the ruling Democratic Party said the dead courier paid a hefty premium to work as a courier and was paying a debt of around 1.2 million won (US$1,052) a month. He earned less than 2 million won per month, she said.
"The demand for parcel delivery will continue to increase as people prefer contactless shopping. The Environment and Labor Committee should make an effort to prevent deaths of delivery men," she said.
The undated file photo shows people mourning for dead couriers. (Yonhap)
On Monday, the government said it will inspect major package delivery companies to check whether they abide by safety measures, including the prevention of overwork.
"We will conduct emergency inspections of 40 major sub-terminals and 400 branches of CJ Logistics, Hanjin Express and others regarding safety and health measures aimed at preventing health problems, such as overwork, from Oct. 21 to Nov. 13," Labor Minister Lee Jae-kap said during a government meeting on employment and labor issues.
The ministry plans to interview some 6,000 delivery workers contracted with those offices.
"The government will take appropriate legal actions if violations are confirmed," he added.
This Sept. 23, 2020, file photo shows CJ Logistics workers busy at a terminal in Gimpo, outside of Seoul, ahead of the annual Chuseok holiday. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--(2nd LD) Septuagenarian found dead one day after getting flu vaccine shot

`` Public officials called all of the 99 vaccine recipients and 94 of them said they have not experienced any @ @ @ @ @ .
The five others did n't answer the phone or live in other cities and @ @ @ @ @ now trying to check their health as soon as possible , '' the health center @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in last two paras)
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- A septuagenarian was found dead inside her home in the southwestern province of North Jeolla on Tuesday after getting a flu vaccine shot at a neighborhood clinic the previous day, provincial officials said.
The 78-year-old resident of Gochang, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul, was discovered dead at her rural home by one of her neighbors around 7:35 a.m.
The woman reportedly received a seasonal flu vaccine shot from a neighborhood clinic at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, prompting local quarantine authorities to investigate any causality between her death and the vaccine shot.
The vaccine in question is said to be a Boryung Fluvaccine produced by local vaccine producer Boryung Biopharma.
The incident came after a teenage boy in Incheon, west of Seoul, died last Friday after being administered a seasonal flu vaccine two days earlier. The cause of the boy's death has not yet been determined, triggering public anxiety over the safety of flu vaccines. Last month, a local drug distributor came under fire for exposing some of its flu vaccine bottles to room temperatures during shipping.
A health official at the North Jeolla provincial government said any link between the Gochang resident's death and her flu vaccine shot has not been determined and a related investigation is still under way.
"It has been found that the deceased had suffered from several chronic diseases, including high blood pressure and diabetes, and took blood pressure medications before her death. It's too early to tell if the flu vaccine was a direct cause of her death," the official said.
"The case was reported to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and other people who received the same vaccine product are under monitoring. No other cases of abnormal reactions from the same vaccine have been identified so far," the official said.
He said the flu vaccines given to the woman and the boy are different brands and that Boryung Fluvaccine was not among the products accidentally exposed to room temperatures.
Discussions about an autopsy are also under way with her bereaved family to determine the exact cause of her death, the official added.
Police ruled out the possibility of foul play, as no external injury was found on her body.
According to Gochang's community health center, 99 people received the same flu vaccine from the same clinic on the same day as the deceased woman and 94 of them have not shown any abnormal reactions.
"Public officials called all of the 99 vaccine recipients and 94 of them said they have not experienced any abnormal reactions or health problems. The five others didn't answer the phone or live in other cities and provinces and the officials are now trying to check their health as soon as possible," the health center said.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--(2nd LD) Wolsong-1 reactor's economic viability unreasonably undervalued: watchdog

The watchdog , however , said it decided not to press charges or reprimand the ministry officials who were subject @ @ @ @ @ it plans to forward the findings on Paik to the administration to be referenced in @ @ @ @ @ as potential re-employment in the private sector .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details, political reactions in paras 9-10, at bottom)
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- The economic viability of South Korea's second-oldest nuclear reactor was unreasonably undervalued in determining the facility's early closure, state auditors said Tuesday.
In its audit report on the early closure of the Wolsong-1, the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) concluded that a June 2018 projection report from a third-party accounting firm commissioned by the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) included sales figures that were deflated.
BAI concluded that KHNP employees were aware of this but allowed the accounting firm to proceed with the survey as was. The government watchdog also said officials from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, which oversees KHNP, were involved in the decision process.
This photo taken on Oct. 20, 2020, shows the now-decommissioned Wolsong-1 nuclear reactor (R) in Gyeongju, 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The watchdog also determined that KHNP overestimated the potential cost reduction benefit following the closure of the reactor.
BAI questioned the general credibility of the process in calculating economic numbers of the reactor, singling out former Industry Minister Paik Un-gyu in particular as one of the lead figures responsible for the mishandling of the assessment.
"(Industry ministry officials) undermined the credibility (of the report) by involving themselves in the economic evaluation so as to sway the results in favor of shutting down operation," the report said. It added that Paik either knew about the officials' involvement or willingly allowed them tamper with the survey.
BAI, however, said it could not determine whether the reactor's early closure was justifiably warranted or not, as its audit focused only on assessing the veracity of the economic viability report on the reactor.
"Besides the economic factor, other general aspects were considered (in the early closure), including safety and acceptance by the local community," the BAI report said. "Safety and region-based elements were excluded from the scope of this audit."
The watchdog, however, said it decided not to press charges or reprimand the ministry officials who were subject to the audit. But it plans to forward the findings on Paik to the administration to be referenced in future personnel developments, such as potential re-employment in the private sector.
For those who allegedly attempted to obstruct the audit through means such as deleting sensitive documents, BAI said it will transfer relevant records to law enforcement.
The closure of Wolsong-1 has remained a hot-button topic in domestic politics since President Moon Jae-in decided in 2017 to decommission the reactor earlier than scheduled in line with his energy policy.
Employees at the National Assembly in central Seoul review an audit report on the early closure of the Wolsong-1 nuclear reactor disclosed by the Board of Audit and Inspection on Oct. 20, 2020. (Yonhap)
The initial 30-year operational life cycle of Wolsong-1 ended in 2012 but was extended during the past conservative Park Geun-hye administration for another 10 years to 2022. Until its early closure during the Moon administration, Wolsong-1 was the nation's oldest reactor after Kori-1, which was retired in June 2017.
For more than a year, BAI has been looking into whether the shutdown decision by the state-run power company was based on independent research, as opposed to being predetermined or politically influenced by the administration.
The audit was commissioned by the National Assembly in September 2019 amid heated public debate on the early closure.
Environmental activists stage a protest in front of the Board of Audit and Inspection in central Seoul on Oct. 20, 2020, arguing in favor of the early shutdown of the Wolsong-1 nuclear reactor. (Yonhap)
Critics of the administration's energy policy have argued that the KHNP has flip-flopped on its earlier decision to extend the reactor's life cycle -- claiming that the company intentionally deflated numbers to lower anticipated profits -- especially after having invested 700 billion won (US$609 million) for repairs between 2009 and 2011.
The industry ministry insisted that it has exerted no pressure on the KHNP's assessment on Wolsong-1.
The agency was required to submit a final report to parliament within a five-month period that ended on Feb. 29 but was eight months overdue from the mandated deadline.
Amid BAI's audit disclosure, a senior industry ministry official said the government will stick to its current nuclear phase-out policy.
"The early decommission of the Wolsong-1 was based on a comprehensive evaluation of its economics, safety and community receptiveness," the official said. "Our current plan will be pursued regardless of BAI's audit results."
Reactions from observers and political parties were sharply divided.
Shin Yeong-dae, spokesman for the ruling Democratic Party, claimed that the audit "did not indicate that the economic evaluation was at fault in general." He also urged the opposition party to stop the self-devouring debate over the legitimacy of the administration's energy policy.
Yoon Hee-seok, spokesman of the main opposition People Power Party, interpreted the audit results as a "virtual death sentence" for the administration's nuclear phase-out policy.
"It's now the government's turn to respond," Yoon said, "The audit results have revealed the truth. The justification of the government's nuclear phase-out policy has vanished."
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--Consumer watchdog recommends telcos compensate users over 5G network quality

The People 's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy ( PSPD ) , which negotiated with the companies on behalf of the @ @ @ @ @ advised the operators to provide 18 of them with between 50,000 won ( US $ @ @ @ @ @ in compensation .
Of the 21 , three have dropped out .

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- A consumer advocacy group has recommended South Korea's three major telecom operators compensate users for the mediocre quality of their 5G services, a civic group said Tuesday.
Since last December, 21 5G subscribers filed for mediation from the Korea National Council of Consumer Organizations (KNCCO), taking issue with the accessibility to the latest mobile network provided by SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp.
The People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), which negotiated with the companies on behalf of the users, said the KNCCO advised the operators to provide 18 of them with between 50,000 won (US$44) and 350,000 won in compensation. Of the 21, three have dropped out.
Officials of People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy hold a news conference at the group's headquarters in Seoul on Oct. 20, 2020. (Yonhap)
"Under the Act on the Regulation of Terms and Conditions, mobile carriers have a duty to notify customers there could be blind spots in the 5G service," the mediation proposal said. "The contracts of the carriers, however, presumably offered insufficient explanation and information on the 5G coverage."
Among the 18 applicants, only three have accepted the settlement, according to PSPD. The others' rejections indicate their demand that proper compensation be provided to more 5G users, Moon Eunok, an official at the PSPD, said.
"The three telecom operators have only compensated some consumers (who filed for dispute settlement), despite having responsibility for their mis-selling," Cho Hyung-soo, a lawyer and PSPD activist, said.
This file photo, taken on July 8, 2020, shows the logos of the country's three major telecom operators. (Yonhap)
According to a government report released in August, the average coverage of 5G network provided by SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus was at around 70 percent in Seoul. In subways, over 19 percent of 5G users have experienced a network change to 4G LTE.
"The government approved the terms and conditions of 5G service in a hasty manner to make it the first country to commercialize the cutting edge technology," PSPD said, calling for the establishment of standard compensation guidelines for the users with quality complaints.
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

The statement is seen as an expression of support for Choo amid tensions between the minister and Prosecutor-General Yoon Seok-youl @ @ @ @ @ allegedly implicated politicians of both the ruling and opposition parties .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Tuesday.
-----------------
Cheong Wa Dae calls justice minister's order in fund scandal probe 'unavoidable'
SEOUL -- Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday it was "unavoidable" for Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae to order the nation's top prosecutor to recuse himself from an ongoing investigation into a hedge fund scandal because the probe needs to be swift and fair.
The statement is seen as an expression of support for Choo amid tensions between the minister and Prosecutor-General Yoon Seok-youl over the scandal that has allegedly implicated politicians of both the ruling and opposition parties.
-----------------
(LEAD) Wolsong-1 reactor's economic viability unreasonably undervalued: watchdog
SEOUL -- The economic viability of South Korea's second-oldest nuclear reactor was unreasonably undervalued in determining the facility's early closure, state auditors said Tuesday.
In its audit report on the early closure of the Wolsong-1, the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) concluded that a June 2018 projection report from a third-party accounting firm commissioned by the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) included sales figures that were deflated.
-----------------
(LEAD) Court upholds revocation of S. Korea's first for-profit hospital's license
JEJU -- A court on the southern island of Jeju on Tuesday upheld the local government's revocation of the business license of what would have been the nation's first for-profit hospital.
The operator of the Greenland International Medical Center, owned by a Chinese real estate developer, filed a lawsuit in May 2019 against the provincial government's decision to cancel the approval after the hospital missed the deadline for opening.
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(LEAD) Septuagenarian found dead one day after getting flu vaccine shot
SEOUL -- A septuagenarian was found dead inside her home in the southwestern province of North Jeolla on Tuesday after getting a flu vaccine shot at a neighborhood clinic the previous day, provincial officials said.
The 78-year-old resident of Gochang, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul, was discovered dead at her rural home by one of her neighbors around 7:35 a.m.
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KDB raises US$1 bln via overseas bond sale
SEOUL -- The state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB) said Tuesday it has raised US$1 billion by selling bonds overseas.
The $500 million worth of bonds with a 3-year maturity were sold at 0.585 percent, while the other bonds worth $500 million with maturities of five years and six months were priced at 0.852 percent.
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(LEAD) N.K. fast narrowing missile technology with S. Korea: defense development agency chief
SEOUL -- North Korea is developing its missile capabilities at a pace much faster than expected, significantly narrowing the gap in weapons technology with South Korea, the chief of a state-run defense development agency said Tuesday.
Nam Sae-kyu, head of the Agency for Defense Development, made the remark during a parliamentary audit session, providing an analysis on the weapons the North unveiled in a recent military parade.
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S. Korean defense chief, U.S. commander vow strong cooperation for N.K. denuclearization
SEOUL -- Defense Minister Suh Wook and Adm. Phil Davidson, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, discussed the security situation on the Korean Peninsula Tuesday and vowed a stronger combined readiness posture to support diplomacy to denuclearize North Korea, Seoul's defense ministry said.
The U.S. commander arrived here Monday for a two-day visit as part of his trip to Asia.
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Hyundai Motor's brand value ranks 5th worldwide
SEOUL -- Hyundai Motor Co. said Tuesday its brand value was ranked fifth among global automakers on its efforts to evolve into a future mobility solutions provider.
Hyundai Motor's brand value rose 1 percent to US$14.3 billion in 2020 from $14.1 billion a year earlier, the company said, citing global brand consulting firm Interbrand's top 100 brand rankings for this year.
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yna--2020-10-20--South Korea's MMCA to hold joint exhibitions with Guggenheim, LACMA, ZKM

Under the plan , the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art ( MMCA ) will be opening exhibitions at @ @ @ @ @ and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art ( LACMA ) in the United States @ @ @ @ @ of China and the ZKM Center for Art and Media in Germany in 2021 and @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's national museum of modern and contemporary art on Tuesday announced plans to hold exchange exhibitions with key art museums and galleries around the world over the next two years.
Under the plan, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) will be opening exhibitions at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in the United States, the National Art Museum of China and the ZKM Center for Art and Media in Germany in 2021 and 2022.
A relay exhibition highlighting South Korea's experimental art scene in the 1960s and 70s will take place at MMCA and the Guggenheim in 2022, while an exhibition on modern Korean arts is scheduled for the fall of 2022 at LACMA.
MMCA said it plans to hold an exchange exhibition and academic symposium with its Chinese counterpart in 2022 to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Seoul and Beijing.
The plan also includes holding the exhibition "Soungui Kim: Lazy Clouds" at ZKM in Karlsruhe, Germany, while holding a retrospective of Peter Weibel at MMCA's Seoul gallery.
The scheduled exhibitions are the latest in the art museum's move to promote Korean arts abroad. Most recently, MMCA held a retrospective of South Korean artist Yun Hyong-keun at Palazzo Fortuny in Venice in 2019.
This photo, provided by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, shows Korean artist Lee Quede's work "Self-portrait in Traditional Coat." The piece is scheduled to be exhibited at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in the United States in 2022. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This photo, provided by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), shows a photo taken during the exhibition "Soungui Kim: Lazy Clouds" at MMCA in Seoul. The work is scheduled to be showcased at the ZKM Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe, Germany. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--S. Korea, EU seek to boost cooperation on 'Green New Deal'

The ministry said the two sides shared the latest developments related to the plan and focused on expanding it to @ @ @ @ @ at the second P4G summit , which South Korea plans to host next year .

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- Environment officials of South Korea and the European Union on Tuesday discussed expanding cooperation on Seoul's plan for a "Green New Deal," the environment ministry said.
The discussions, the second of their kind, took place during a virtual meeting led by Ahn Se-chang, a ministry official overseeing climate change policy, and Astrid Schomaker of the European Commission's Directorate General for the Environment.
The Green New Deal is a government-wide project being pushed by Seoul to achieve sustainable growth through eco-friendly policies.
The ministry said the two sides shared the latest developments related to the plan and focused on expanding it to the global level, including at the second P4G summit, which South Korea plans to host next year.
P4G, which stands for Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, is a public-private initiative aimed at tackling climate change and other sustainable development goals.
The logo of the Ministry of Environment (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--Courier dead in apparent suicide over financial difficulties

She said the man , whose identity was withheld , was struggling financially as he had paid a hefty premium @ @ @ @ @ and was paying a debt of around 1.2 million won ( US $ 1,052 ) @ @ @ @ @ less than 2 million won per month , she said .

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- A delivery man took his own life in Busan early Tuesday, a lawmaker said, as apparent deaths from overwork and poor working conditions among couriers have surfaced as a social issue.
During a parliamentary audit of affiliated agencies of the Ministry of Labor, Rep. Yang Yi Won-young from the ruling Democratic Party said the man in his 40s, working for Logen Logistics Co., died of suicide early in the morning in the southern port city.
She said the man, whose identity was withheld, was struggling financially as he had paid a hefty premium to work as a courier and was paying a debt of around 1.2 million won (US$1,052) a month. He earned less than 2 million won per month, she said.
He is said to have left a suicide note, in which he complained about mistreatment from his company.
"The demand for parcel delivery will continue to increase as people prefer contactless shopping. The Environment and Labor Committee should make an effort to prevent deaths of delivery men," she said.
Not including the latest case, 10 courier company workers have died so far this year, mostly in cases believed to be related to overwork, according to an advocacy group, as the new coronavirus outbreak triggered a surge in online shopping and parcel volumes.
On Monday, the government said it will inspect major package delivery companies to check whether they abide by safety measures, including the prevention of overwork.
"We will conduct emergency inspections of 40 major sub-terminals and 400 branches of CJ Logistics, Hanjin Express and others regarding safety and health measures aimed at preventing health problems, such as overwork, from Oct. 21 to Nov. 13," Labor Minister Lee Jae-kap said during a government meeting on employment and labor issues.
The ministry plans to interview some 6,000 delivery workers contracted with those offices.
"The government will take appropriate legal actions if violations are confirmed," he added.
This Sept. 23, 2020, file photo shows CJ Logistics workers busy at a terminal in Gimpo, outside of Seoul, ahead of the annual Chuseok holiday. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--Cheong Wa Dae calls justice minister's order in fund scandal probe 'unavoidable'

A Cheong Wa Dae official who declined to be named explained that while the president oversees government agencies as chief @ @ @ @ @ presidential office follows the principle of not getting involved in the work of the justice @ @ @ @ @ to their need for independence .

SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday it was "unavoidable" for Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae to order the nation's top prosecutor to recuse himself from an ongoing investigation into a hedge fund scandal because the probe needs to be swift and fair.
The statement is seen as an expression of support for Choo amid tensions between the minister and Prosecutor-General Yoon Seok-youl over the scandal that has allegedly implicated politicians of both the ruling and opposition parties.
"We believe orchestrating the investigation is unavoidable given the circumstances," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok said during a press briefing. "This is because (the case) requires a swift and strict investigation without any sanctuaries."
This file photo shows Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok speaking during a briefing at the presidential office in Seoul on Sept. 24, 2020. (Yonhap)
Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae arrives at the government complex in Seoul on Oct. 20, 2020. (Yonhap)
Choo's order on Monday called for the top prosecutor to recuse himself from both the investigation centered on Lime Asset Management Co., which is suspected of covering up massive losses and subsequently suspending fund redemption worth an estimated 1.6 trillion won (US$1.39 billion), and a separate probe into alleged irregularities involving Yoon's family.
The rare directive came a day after the justice ministry raised allegations that Yoon was not investigating opposition politicians and prosecutors as thoroughly as a former key aide to President Moon Jae-in, all of whom have alleged connections to the Lime case.
Choo said the top prosecutor's possible involvement in the Lime case could not be "completely ruled out" and that his recusal was necessary to guarantee that the investigations are conducted in a "fair and independent" manner.
The Supreme Prosecutors Office, which is headed by Yoon, dismissed the allegations against the top prosecutor but quickly followed the minister's order, saying in a statement that he has "become unable" to orchestrate the investigation into Lime.
On the case involving his family, the SPO said Yoon was never involved or briefed on the investigation and therefore had no comment to make.
The prosecution is looking into allegations that Yoon's wife was involved in manipulating stocks in Deutsch Motors and that her company took bribes disguised as donations.
Kang said Cheong Wa Dae was not behind the minister's directive and was not informed of her decision.
A Cheong Wa Dae official who declined to be named explained that while the president oversees government agencies as chief of the administration, the presidential office follows the principle of not getting involved in the work of the justice minister or investigation agencies due to their need for independence.
It was because of this that Moon earlier called on presidential officials to actively cooperate with investigations into the massive investment fraud scandal also involving Optimus Asset Management, the official added.
This photo shows Prosecutor-General Yoon Seok-yeol arriving at the Supreme Prosecutors Office in southern Seoul on Oct. 20, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-20--Doosan Heavy wins US$787 mln power plant order from Vietnam

Under the deal with VAPCO , a Vietnamese unit of the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. ( KEPCO ) , @ @ @ @ @ the plant and provide equipment including boilers from March 2021 to February 2025 , the @ @ @ @ @ filing .

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Oct. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korean power plant builder Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. said Tuesday it has signed a US$787 million deal to build a coal-fired power plant in northeastern Vietnam.
Under the deal with VAPCO, a Vietnamese unit of the state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO), Doosan Heavy Industries will build the plant and provide equipment including boilers from March 2021 to February 2025, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Early this month, the board of KEPCO decided to take part in the $2.2 billion Vung Ang 2 project to build the 1,200-megawatt power plant, holding a 40 percent stake in VAPCO.
Japan's Mitsubishi Group will also hold a 40 percent stake in KEPCO's Vietnamese unit, and South Korean builder Samsung C&T Corp. will participate in the project along with Doosan Heavy Industries.
KEPCO struck a preliminary deal with Vietnam's industry ministry in April 2009 for the project.
This photo provided by Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. on June 18, 2011, shows a coal-fired power plant built by the company in Thailand. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--S. Korean, Australian military chiefs agree to beef up cooperation

During the talks held at the request of Campbell , the chief of Australia 's Defense Force , the two @ @ @ @ @ issues , the coronavirus pandemic and ways to improve their bilateral relations , according to @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Won In-choul held a video call with his Australian counterpart, Gen. Angus Campbell, on Wednesday and vowed to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries, the JCS said.
During the talks held at the request of Campbell, the chief of Australia's Defense Force, the two military leaders discussed regional security issues, the coronavirus pandemic and ways to improve their bilateral relations, according to the JCS.
Won said Australia is South Korea's strong ally that supported it during the 1950-53 Korean War and is a partner in an evolving relationship.
Campbell congratulated Won on his inauguration as the JCS chief and asked to continue cooperation for the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.
"The video call was held as part of efforts to maintain friendly cooperation between the militaries of South Korea and Australia through senior-level communication," the JCS said in a release.
Won took office as the 42nd chairman of South Korea's JCS last month.
Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Won In-choul holds video talks with Australian chief of Defense Force, Gen. Angus Campbell, at his office in Seoul on Oct. 21, 2020, in this photo provided by the JCS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--S. Korean amb. to China apologizes over alleged credit card misuse while in academia

`` That was what happened when I was a research center chief ( at the university ) , and I @ @ @ @ @ I am sorry to the members of Korea University and citizens about ( the card @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .

BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Ambassador to China Jang Ha-sung apologized Wednesday over allegations that he inappropriately used a university credit card while in academia.
Jang made the apology during a video-linked parliamentary audit session, following revelations that 13 Korea University professors, including Jang, misused the credit card to pay a total of 66.93 million won (US$59,031) at an entertainment establishment from 2016-2019.
"That was what happened when I was a research center chief (at the university), and I would like to say that I am sorry to the members of Korea University and citizens about (the card) not being used appropriately," he said.
South Korea's Ambassador to China Jang Ha-sung speaks during a video-linked parliamentary audit session on Oct. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
Jang explained that he used the credit card six times to pay a total of 2.79 million won during his stint at the research center from 2016-2017.
But the ambassador stressed that the money was spent not at an entertainment establishment but at a restaurant, and that he has returned all the money that critics said had been inappropriately spent.
Jang, former presidential chief of staff for policy from 2017-2018, had taught at the university's business administration department since 1990. He retired from the university last year.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--Justice minister demands apology from top prosecutor over fund scandal probe

She said Kim was `` questioned and appeased '' by investigators 66 times since he was arrested on April 23 @ @ @ @ @ allegedly pressed to divulge tips about ruling party politicians .
But the prosecution failed to @ @ @ @ @ or to the SPO 's anti-corruption probe team on the development of its investigation into @ @ @ @ @ bribed opposition politicians and some prosecutors , she said .

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae on Wednesday demanded an apology from Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl over what she believes was a bungled investigation into a massive fund scam case.
Choo wrote on her Facebook page that the Supreme Prosecutors Office (SPO) "deceived" the public regarding its investigation into Kim Bong-hyun, a key suspect in the financial fraud case involving Lime Asset Management Co., allegedly covering up huge losses and suspending fund redemption worth an estimated 1.6 trillion won (US$1.39 billion).
"I sincerely hoped that the prosecution was serious about reform, but I am very disappointed to see that my trust and hope have been destroyed," she wrote, referring to how, in her opinion, the prosecutors inadequately and insufficiently handled the case.
This combined photo shows Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae (L) and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. (Yonhap)
She said Kim was "questioned and appeased" by investigators 66 times since he was arrested on April 23, during which he was allegedly pressed to divulge tips about ruling party politicians. But the prosecution failed to report either to the ministry or to the SPO's anti-corruption probe team on the development of its investigation into Kim's claims that he bribed opposition politicians and some prosecutors, she said.
"The prosecution was only busy with collecting information by using him, while it outwardly claimed that it would break away from unfair investigation tactics," she wrote, adding that "I sincerely apologize to the people for the current situation as a supervising minister."
She said Yoon should have issued an apology as the chief prosecutor, regardless of his knowledge of the prosecution's "insufficient" investigation into the case.
Earlier this week, she raised speculation that Yoon failed to properly investigate the case, and ordered him to recuse himself from the ongoing investigation, in the latest display of tension between the two over a prosecutorial investigation. The SPO initially protested but eventually accepted the order.
Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae heads to attend a cabinet meeting at the government complex in Seoul on Oct. 20, 2020. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--N. Korea develops mobile payment service: propaganda outlet

Meari , one of the North 's propaganda websites , said that a joint research team from the central bank @ @ @ @ @ charge of information technology has `` developed a mobile payment service and is introducing it @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has introduced a payment service that allows people to purchase goods on mobile phones without having to carry around cash or plastic cards, a propaganda outlet said Wednesday.
Meari, one of the North's propaganda websites, said that a joint research team from the central bank and a government agency in charge of information technology has "developed a mobile payment service and is introducing it in everyday lives."
"The mobile phone electronics payment system is a new type of transaction method that allows users to transfer payment including service fees or other fees using their smartphones," it said.
The website stressed that the mobile payment method will also play a significant role in preventing the spread of the virus and other germs.
It did not reveal whether the new system uses near field communication (NFC) technology or a barcode payment method.
Mobile phone use appears to be on the rise in North Korea, though most of the users are presumed to be in its capital Pyongyang.
Experts say that around 6 million mobile phones are being used in North Korea, which represents around a quarter of the total population.
Credit and debit cards are used mainly in Pyongyang, though cash is the major method of payment, according to a 2019 report by the state-run Korea Development Bank.
In this image taken from a video aired by North Korea's propaganda website DPRK Today, North Korean people wearing masks shop at Taesong Department Store in Pyongyang on May 13, 2020. The airing of the video appears to show that North Korea, which claims it has no coronavirus cases, has successfully handled the global pandemic. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--Main opposition to press criminal charges against those responsible for early closure of Wolsong-1

`` ( The party ) will report ( to the law enforcement ) all related officials who obstructed the inspection @ @ @ @ @ unfair closure , abused authority and destroyed official documents on criminal charges , '' Rep. @ @ @ @ @ leader of the People Power Party ( PPP ) , said in a party meeting @

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition party said Wednesday it will press criminal charges against those who were involved in the controversial early closure of a nuclear power plant and the alleged obstruction of the state audit into the case.
"(The party) will report (to the law enforcement) all related officials who obstructed the inspection in the process of the unfair closure, abused authority and destroyed official documents on criminal charges," Rep. Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the People Power Party (PPP), said in a party meeting.
On Tuesday, the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) announced the result of its audit into the early closure of the Wolsong-1 nuclear power plant in Gyeongju, 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
The government watchdog concluded that the economic viability of the country's second-oldest nuclear reactor was unreasonably undervalued serving as a factor in determining the reactor's early closure.
Last week, the BAI chief Choe Jae-hyeong told lawmakers during a regular parliamentary audit of his agency that trade ministry officials obstructed its audit of the case by destroying related official documents.
Joo said, "The fact that government officials, including former Industry Minister Paik Un-gyu, discarded 444 reactor-related documents on the eve of an inspection symbolically shows that the closure was the wrong decision."
He said President Moon Jae-in's alleged single remark in 2018 to one of his aides, "When will Wolsong-1 come to a stop?" set off the process leading to the "unlawful, unwarranted" closure of the reactor.
"If (Moon) is found to have any culpability (for the closure), he will be unable to evade it even after his retirement," he noted.
Rep. Joo Ho-young of the main opposition People Power Party speaks during a party meeting on Oct. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
The initial 30-year operational life cycle of Wolsong-1 terminated in 2012. But the nuclear power plant was brought back into operation to run for another 10 years to 2022 during the previous Park Geun-hye administration.
The Moon administration, however, decided in 2017 to decommission it earlier than scheduled in line with the president's nuclear-free energy policy vision, triggering a fierce spat with pro-nuclear energy politicians and experts.
This photo taken Oct. 20, 2020, shows the now-decommissioned Wolsong-1 nuclear reactor (R) in Gyeongju, 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--Ill KBO player tests negative for COVID-19

Behind Rojas ' production , the Wiz are on the verge of qualifying for their first-ever postseason .
They are @ @ @ @ @ and final postseason spot at 76-60-1 ( wins-losses-ties ) .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- KT Wiz star outfielder Mel Rojas Jr. has tested negative for the novel coronavirus, his Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) club said Wednesday.
The Wiz said Rojas Jr., who developed a fever reaching 37.2 C Tuesday, is still not 100 percent, and the team will determine his availability for Wednesday's game later in the day.
Before missing Tuesday's game, Rojas Jr. had played all 136 games this season. The slugger has emerged as the leading MVP candidate by leading the KBO in the Triple Crown categories, with 46 home runs, 132 RBIs and a .353 batting average.
Behind Rojas' production, the Wiz are on the verge of qualifying for their first-ever postseason. They are holding on to the fifth and final postseason spot at 76-60-1 (wins-losses-ties).
In this file photo from Oct. 11, 2020, Mel Rojas Jr. of the KT Wiz watches his solo home run against the Doosan Bears in the bottom of the fifth inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--(2nd LD) New virus cases under 100 for 6th day; untraceable, cluster infections still worrisome

`` This week , there has been no sharp increase in the number of new cases .
But there are @ @ @ @ @ facilities , such as nursing homes and door-to-door sales businesses , '' Kim Gang-lip , @ @ @ @ @ said during a daily briefing .

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases rose by double digits for the sixth day on Wednesday, marking nearly a week of low numbers, but untraceable and sporadic cluster infections continued to put strain on the country's virus fight. Imported cases also reached an almost three-month high.
The country added 91 more COVID-19 cases, including 57 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 25,424, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The figure marked a sharp increase from 58 cases added on Tuesday and 76 reported Monday.
Medical workers carry out new coronavirus tests at a makeshift clinic located in southern Seoul on Oct. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
"This week, there has been no sharp increase in the number of new cases. But there are still cluster infections from risk-prone facilities, such as nursing homes and door-to-door sales businesses," Kim Gang-lip, a senior health official, said during a daily briefing.
"It is worrisome that the number of new cases from the greater Seoul area is not showing signs of a clear slowdown," he added.
Health authorities said they plan to carry out intensive on-site investigation over the next two weeks to check whether entertainment establishments strictly follow anti-virus rules. Any violations of key measures will result in fines and operation bans, they added.
South Korea plans to apply additional regulations on entertainment establishments should they become responsible for major cluster infections.
The country will also inspect readiness of hospitals and nursing homes.
South Korea suffered a resurgence in the number of daily COVID-19 cases in August, mostly traced to a church in northern Seoul and an anti-government rally, reporting a whopping 441 cases on Aug. 27.
Compared to mid-August and early September, when the figures rose by triple digits, the country has relatively brought the COVID-19 pandemic under control. Health authorities consider daily increases of below 100 as manageable.
The country eased its social distancing scheme to the lowest last week, allowing people to normalize most of their daily routines with some infection prevention restrictions in place.
Under the lowest level, even risk-prone facilities, such as bars and karaoke rooms, are allowed to operate as long as they keep entry logs and follow basic sanitary measures.
Previously, the country adopted the Level 2 social distancing scheme, which banned indoor gatherings of 50 or more people, while clubs were shuttered.
Health authorities, however, also warn that the country may suffer another uptick at any time considering that sporadic cluster infections at high-risk facilities such as nursing homes are lingering nationwide.
Cases with unknown infection routes, along with rising imported cases, are hindering the country's virus fight as well.
Seats at the venue of the Busan International Film Festival, are arranged for keeping safe distances in the southern port city of Busan on Oct. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
Over the past two weeks, 13.7 percent of the total cases reported here had unknown infection routes. The proportion of cluster infections reached 23.3 percent, the latest KCDA data showed.
Of the newly identified local infections, 13 cases were reported in Seoul, 21 cases in Gyeonggi Province and six cases in the western port city of Incheon. The greater Seoul area accounts for around half of the nation's population.
The southern port city of Busan added 10 more cases and the central city of Daejeon saw four more patients.
Infections among a group of acquaintances in southern Seoul increased by nine as of noon Tuesday, raising the total tally to 10 after the first patient was reported last week.
A hospital in Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, added seven more patients, raising the total to 70. Another hospital from Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, has reported 63 patients so far.
The number of cases traced to a nursing home in Busan, south of Seoul, reached 74.
Those in critical or serious condition came to 70, down one from the previous day.
Imported cases reached 34, the highest in nearly three months in line with a resurgence in virus cases overseas.
France took up 10 of the newly added imported cases, followed by Russia which accounted for eight patients. The United States and Myanmar added three cases each.
Other countries included Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, India and Iraq.
South Korea reported three more deaths, raising the total death toll to 450. The fatality rate reached 1.77 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 23,584, up 118 from the previous day. More than 92 percent of the COVID-19 patients reported here have been cured.
South Korea has carried out 2,503,491 COVID-19 tests so far, including 12,180 form the previous day.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--American soldier stationed in S. Korea dies during aviation training in U.S.

`` The team is deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and teammate .
We send our deepest condolences @ @ @ @ @ and loved ones , '' commander Col. Aaron Martin said .
`` His efforts will @ @ @ @ @ the Soldiers he devotedly mentored and trained , and our operations in Korea . ''

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- An American service member stationed in South Korea died earlier this week while taking part in aviation training at a U.S. airfield, the U.S. military said Wednesday.
Craig Mulder, a 39-year-old chief warrant officer 2, was found unresponsive in the water off Tybee Island in Georgia and was later pronounced dead on Sunday, when he was taking part in routine aviation training at Hunter Army Airfield, according to the 2nd Infantry Division.
The helicopter pilot was affiliated with the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade at Camp Humphreys in the South Korean city of Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the division.
The exact cause of his death is not immediately known.
He joined the Army in 2005 and was assigned to South Korea in November 2018.
"The team is deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and teammate. We send our deepest condolences and prayers to his friends and loved ones," commander Col. Aaron Martin said. "His efforts will have a lasting impact on the Soldiers he devotedly mentored and trained, and our operations in Korea."
This photo shows helicopters at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on Feb. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--Seoul stocks extend gains late Wed. morning on U.S. stimulus hope

Local stocks got a boost from their U.S. peers , despite lingering uncertainties from the ongoing talks for the new @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks extended gains late Wednesday morning on hopes for progress in the U.S. stimulus talks.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 7.14 points, or 0.3 percent, to 2,365.55 as of 11:20 a.m.
Local stocks got a boost from their U.S. peers, despite lingering uncertainties from the ongoing talks for the new U.S. virus relief package.
In Seoul, most large caps traded mixed.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics added 0.33 percent, but No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix dropped 1.29 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics edged up 0.15 percent, while Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, declined 1.19 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver jumped 2.41 percent, with its rival Kakao adding 0.85 percent.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem lost 0.48 percent, but rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI rose 0.12 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,133.55 won against the U.S. dollar, up 5.85 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--Another Jeju resident reports larvae in tap water

As the number of reports has increased , the Ministry of Environment on Wednesday convened an emergency virtual meeting with @ @ @ @ @ to discuss their response to the apparent outbreak .

JEJU, South Korea, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- A resident of Jeju Island on Wednesday reported seeing larvae in tap water, the latest in a string of similar reports this week.
The resident of Daepo-dong, Seogwipo, said he checked his shower filter Tuesday night after seeing the news on the previous reports.
He said he then discovered what appeared to be larvae and reported the case to the local waterworks authorities Wednesday.
The earlier reports came from two other neighborhoods in Seogwipo on Monday and Tuesday, prompting the waterworks authorities to carry out on-site inspections of the homes.
The authorities confirmed the presence of thread-like larvae in shower filters and traced the source to a local water purification facility, which supplies water to some 31,000 residents on the east side of Seogwipo.
The authorities plan to send the larvae to the National Institute of Biological Resources for analysis.
As the number of reports has increased, the Ministry of Environment on Wednesday convened an emergency virtual meeting with Jeju officials and waterworks authorities to discuss their response to the apparent outbreak.
On Tuesday, the ministry sent a 23-member inspection team to Jeju to survey the sites, including three experts who handled a similar outbreak in Incheon, west of Seoul, in July.
This photo, provided by a reader, shows what appears to be larvae found in a shower filter at a home in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, on Oct. 20, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-10-21--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Oct. 21 ( 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--2020-10-21--Seoul subway stations to get parking facilities for electric scooters

The two-wheeled vehicles , also called electric kickboards and mostly operated by ridesharing companies , have emerged as a popular @ @ @ @ @ recent years but have often been at the center of public criticism due to the @ @ @ @ @ such as being left everywhere on the streets blocking paths of pedestrians .

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- Seoul Metro said Wednesday that it is working to install parking and charging facilities for shared electric scooters around subway stations in the city to help enhance the safety of its citizens.
The two-wheeled vehicles, also called electric kickboards and mostly operated by ridesharing companies, have emerged as a popular means of urban transport in recent years but have often been at the center of public criticism due to the potential dangers they pose, such as being left everywhere on the streets blocking paths of pedestrians.
To cope with such problems, Seoul Metro signed a business agreement contract with KST Intelligence Inc. (KSTI), a mobility software developer, on Oct. 13, its officials said. Under the contract, KSTI plans to build parking and charging stations for shared electric scooters and helmet rental shops for their riders on locations around some subway stations run by Seoul Metro.
This illustrated image, provided by Yonhap News TV, shows parking facilities for shared electric scooters. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Seoul Metro, the major operator of the capital's subway lines, will offer land and other infrastructure for the project and consult with related authorities for project approval.
"The electric scooter facilities will be installed at one to five subway stations on a trial basis next year and could be expanded further if there are positive effects," a Seoul Metro official said.
Seoul Metro will also push to offer discounts in kickboard rental fees for subway and bus passengers. To that end, KSTI plans to develop a specialized platform that combines reservation and payment functions of different ridesharing companies.
nyway@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-10-21--LG Electronics unveils eye skin care device in S. Korea

The eyewear device is designed to care for skin tone and elasticity around eyes , as well as dark circles @ @ @ @ @ uses red LED and near infrared LED lights and a pad with microcurrent therapy technology @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc. on Wednesday unveiled an eye skin care device in South Korea as the company tries to expand its presence in the beauty and health care sector amid the pandemic-driven stay-at-home trend.
Preorders for LG Pra.L EyeCare will run until Oct. 29 with a price tag of 599,000 won (US$530), according to the company.
It is the eighth product launched under LG's beauty appliance brand PRA.L., whose lineup includes an LED face mask and a hair growth helmet.
The eyewear device is designed to care for skin tone and elasticity around eyes, as well as dark circles and eye bags. It uses red LED and near infrared LED lights and a pad with microcurrent therapy technology to improve skin conditions.
The goggles, which weigh 125 grams, offer six types of skin care modes.
The product comes with an eye shield to protect eyes from glare and has a sensor to detect whether users have properly worn the device for their safety.
LG said the device met the safety standards for non-medical LED mask products from South Korea's drug safety ministry and commerce ministry.
This photo provided by LG Electronics Inc. on Oct. 21, 2020, shows models promoting LG's new eye skin care device. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-10-21--S. Korea expands presence in U.S. import market amid Sino-America dispute

Other Asian nations enjoyed improved exports to the U.S. as well by taking advantage of the trade row , with @ @ @ @ @ advancing 1.3 percentage points and 1.04 percentage points , respectively , to take up 3.22 @ @ @ @ @ the market .

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea expanded its presence in the U.S. market for intermediate goods over the first six months of 2020 from two years earlier, data showed Wednesday, apparently on the back of the prolonged Sino-America trade row.
South Korea accounted for 5.29 percent of the U.S. market for imported intermediate goods in the January-June period, up 1.16 percentage points from two years ago, according to the data compiled by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA).
South Korea's outbound shipments of goods affected by the Washington-Beijing trade dispute to the U.S. also advanced to take up 3.94 percent of the market, up 0.87 percentage point over the cited period.
Other Asian nations enjoyed improved exports to the U.S. as well by taking advantage of the trade row, with those of Vietnam and Taiwan advancing 1.3 percentage points and 1.04 percentage points, respectively, to take up 3.22 percent and 2.95 percent of the market.
On the other hand, China's exports of such goods to the world's largest economy dipped 4.04 percentage points to 13.21 percent, the data showed.
KITA added the COVID-19 pandemic will further induce U.S. firms to diversify their suppliers.
In September, South Korea's exports to the U.S. advanced 23.2 percent on-year. Shipments to China also expanded 8.2 percent.
The two countries accounted for 40 percent of South Korea's combined exports in the month.
colin@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-10-21--Mobile carriers sharpen AI services for corporate clients amid pandemic

The telecom operators ' new focus in AI services comes as worldwide spending on artificial intelligence is expected to reach @ @ @ @ @ 2024 , more than double the $ 50.1 billion forecast to be spent this year @ @ @ @ @ International Data Corp .

By Chae Yun-hwan
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- As the business appetite for cloud and remote work services grows amid the pandemic, South Korean telecom operators are expanding artificial intelligence (AI) services to help companies cope with the shift to new technologies.
While the country's three major carriers -- SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. -- have traditionally focused on AI services for subscribers, such as virtual assistants, they have recently targeted corporate clients to help them deal with growing network issues surrounding remote work technology.
Telecom giant KT said last week it developed an AI service that can detect both wired and mobile network problems and fix issues on its own.
The AI engine compares the network's status with its database of learned network equipment issues and is able to take necessary steps automatically if problems arise, according to the telecom operator.
Top mobile carrier SK Telecom is also shifting its AI focus to companies and is launching a service that detects cost irregularities in cloud services.
In the photo provided by SK Telecom Co. on Oct. 13, 2020, Bespin Global workers analyze cloud data. The two companies launched a cloud analysis service that detects cost irregularities. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)
The service launch comes as the pandemic has boosted global cloud spending as companies adopt work-at-home policies.
SK Telecom said the new service can help companies cut any unnecessary costs stemming from the increasing use of cloud services.
Local rival LG Uplus partnered with global public cloud service operator Google Cloud last month to develop 5G technologies, geared for companies, using AI.
Under the partnership, Google Cloud will provide its artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to develop new services that utilize mobile edge computing (MEC) technology on the telecom operator's 5G network.
The file photo provided by LG Uplus Corp. on Sept. 18, 2020, shows the mobile carrier's and Google Cloud's logos. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
MEC is a key technology that delivers ultra-low latency data in 5G networks and is expected to boost upcoming services, such as smart factories, autonomous cars and cloud gaming. It minimizes latency by providing a "shortcut" for data transmission through small-scale data centers.
The telecom operators' new focus in AI services comes as worldwide spending on artificial intelligence is expected to reach US$110 billion in 2024, more than double the $50.1 billion forecast to be spent this year, according to industry researcher International Data Corp.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-10-21--KBO veteran Kim Tae-kyun retires after 18 seasons with Hanwha Eagles

`` If I were to play just because I am retiring , then someone has to come off the active @ @ @ @ @ .
`` That one game could be a life-altering opportunity for someone else .
When @ @ @ @ @ teammates , I just ca n't do that . ''

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- Kim Tae-kyun, one of the most productive hitters in South Korean baseball history, has decided to call it a career after 18 seasons with one franchise.
The Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Wednesday that Kim, 38, will retire at the end of the season. Kim is scheduled to hold a press conference before a home game against the Kia Tigers at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon, 160 kilometers south of Seoul, on Thursday. The regular season ends on Oct. 30.
In this file photo from May 5, 2020, Kim Tae-kyun of the Hanwha Eagles celebrates his RBI single against the SK Wyverns during the top of the second inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at SK Happy Dream Park in Incheon, 40 kilometers west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The team will prepare a retirement ceremony for the veteran first baseman early next season. Kim will serve as a special assistant to the general manager beginning next season, the Eagles said.
Kim will retire with a career .320/.421/.516 line, plus, 2,209 hits, 311 home runs and 1,358 RBIs in 2,014 games. Kim ranks third in league history in hits, third in RBIs and fifth in batting average among hitters with at least 3,000 plate appearances. The veritable on-base machine is also second all-time with 1,141 walks, and holds the record by reaching base safely in 86 consecutive games during the 2017 season.
Kim played in just 67 games this year with a career-worst batting average of .219. He has been sidelined since August with a left elbow injury. While Kim was rehabbing in the Eagles' minor league facility, two minor leaguers tested positive for the novel coronavirus, forcing Kim, who had come in contact with both, into quarantine.
With his rehab disrupted and recovery slowed, Kim wasn't going to be able to return this season and decided it was time for him to go. That the Eagles have spent most of the season in last place likely made that decision easier.
In this file photo from June 14, 2020, Kim Tae-kyun of the Hanwha Eagles (L) celebrates his single against the Doosan Bears during the bottom of the fifth inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon, 160 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Kim burst on the scene in 2001, capturing the Rookie of the Year award thanks to 20 home runs, 54 RBIs and a .335/.436/.649 line in 88 games. He quickly established himself as a dangerous hitter armed with power, contact ability and great eye at the plate.
Kim had batted at least .300 every year from 2008 to 2019, with the 2010-2011 seasons spent with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan.
After the end of last season, Kim signed a new one-year deal with the Eagles at 500 million won (US$440,295), plus another 500 million won in signing bonus, even though the club had offered him a two-year deal with the same amount of annual salary and signing bonus.
Kim explained at the time that he wanted to see how he would fare for one season, and if he wasn't pleased with himself, he would retire.
Kim said he made up his mind sometime during September while serving his quarantine.
"I thought the time has come for me to leave and let younger guys try to take my spot," Kim said.
When Kim told the Eagles about his retirement plans this week, they asked him if he'd be interested in appearing in one last home game before fans. Kim nixed that idea.
"If I were to play just because I am retiring, then someone has to come off the active roster," Kim said. "That one game could be a life-altering opportunity for someone else. When I think about my younger teammates, I just can't do that."
In this file photo from July 8, 2020, Kim Tae-kyun of the Hanwha Eagles hits a two-run double against the Lotte Giants during the bottom of the eighth inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Hanwha Life Eagles Park in Daejeon, 160 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--Gov't to inspect nationwide senior care hospitals' outbreak response systems: PM

The government will begin looking into the disease control management capacities of some 8,000 senior care hospitals across the country @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said in a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held @ @ @ @ @ Sejong .

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- State health authorities will examine all senior care hospitals in the country this week over their virus outbreak response systems following a recent cluster outbreak at one, the prime minister announced Wednesday.
The government will begin looking into the disease control management capacities of some 8,000 senior care hospitals across the country Thursday for two weeks, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said in a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the government complex in Sejong.
Chung said health authorities started examining the health conditions of some 160,000 workers and patients at such hospitals this week.
A patient is loaded into an ambulance at Haeddeurak Hospital in the southern city of Busan on Oct. 14, 2020, after dozens of patients and workers at the senior-care facility were diagnosed with COVID-19. (Yonhap)
The measure was announced in light of a recent cluster outbreak at a hospital in the southeastern port city of Busan, where 73 tested positive.
Highlighting cases in which commuting hospital workers ended up serving as conduits of the virus' travel into hospital buildings, the prime minister ordered authorities to devise ways to block transmissions caused by outside factors.
Chung also stated that the government will actively support mask exports by local producers, noting that the volume in domestic mask production has climbed substantially.
Effective Friday, the government will lift the export ban on nonwoven fabrics that are used to produce protective masks as the domestic supply of the materials and masks stabilized.
The ban was imposed earlier this year when the country ran out of melt-blown nonwoven fabric filters amid soaring demand for protective masks at the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks during a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting at the government complex in Sejong, central South Korea, on Oct. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-10-21--FM meets brother of S. Korean official killed by N. Korea

The Seoul office of the U.N. human rights body interviewed Lee last week for its own analysis on the case @ @ @ @ @ on the two Koreas to conduct an investigation into the incident in line with international @ @ @ @

By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Wednesday met with the elder brother of a South Korean fisheries official killed by North Korea near the western sea border last month.
Kang's meeting with Lee Rae-jin, the brother of the deceased official, came amid criticism that her ministry has been lukewarm about the family's calls to bring international attention to delve deeper into the incident.
"I am here to protest about North Korea and (talk about) China's cooperation and the U.N. General Assembly, and hear the foreign ministry's position on the matter," Lee told reporters before the closed-door meeting with the minister.
The 47-year-old official was fatally shot by the North Korean military on Sept. 22 while adrift in North Korean waters. An interim government probe found that the official attempted to defect to the North.
But his family, including the brother and the late official's son, has strongly questioned the probe outcome and appealed to the United Nations for an investigation.
Kang said in a parliamentary audit session earlier this month that she was willing to meet the bereaved family in person. The foreign ministry has said the case needs further review and discussions within the government.
North Korea apologized over the incident but has not responded to Seoul's calls for a joint probe.
The Seoul office of the U.N. human rights body interviewed Lee last week for its own analysis on the case. The office has called on the two Koreas to conduct an investigation into the incident in line with international human rights law.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is seen in this photo taken on Oct. 19, 2020. (Yonhap)
Lee Rae-jin, brother of a deceased South Korean fisheries official, holds up a letter he received from President Moon Jae-in during a press meeting in Incheon, west of Seoul, on Oct. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-10-21--Busan film fest kicks off amid COVID-19 pandemic

The Japanese animated film `` Josee , the Tiger and the Fish , '' directed by Tamaru Kotaro , will @ @ @ @ @ remake of the 2003 film with the same title is about an ailing girl who @ @ @ @ @ outer world as she learns what love is .

By Kim Boram
SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- This year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) kicked off Wednesday in a reduced format amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The festival will run through Oct. 30 at the Busan Cinema Center in the southern port city of Busan, some 453 kilometers southeast of Seoul, featuring 192 films from 68 countries.
This file photo shows the closing ceremony of the 2019 Busan International Film Festival. (Yonhap)
The 25th edition was pushed back for two weeks and scaled back sharply in terms of the number of films to be screened and its affiliated events due to the protracted COVID-19 epidemic and strengthened social distancing guidelines.
The opening ceremony with international silver screen stars and filmmakers walking down the red carpet was canceled, as well as the closing ceremony.
Other on-stage greetings like the "Open Talk" fan meetings and other guest meeting events were all put off or shifted online.
Social distancing measures are in place at a theater in the Busan Cinema Center, the main venue of the 25th Busan International Film Festival, in Busan, some 453 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Oct. 20, 2020. (Yonhap)
In theaters, all tickets must be booked in advance and online, with only 25 percent of their normal seating capacity allowed.
And audiences should comply with hygiene rules, such as two-meter distancing and wearing a mask, and go through mandatory personal information checks before entering the hall.
The festival's opener is "Septet: The Story of Hong Kong."
An omnibus film by seven renowned directors -- Sammo Hung, Ann Hui, Patrick Tam, Yuen Wo Ping, Johnnie To, Ringo Lam, and Hark Tsu -- it tells the history of Hong Kong through their unique artistic visions from the mid-20th century.
The film, one of the official selections of this year's Cannes Film Festival, will have its world premiere at BIFF.
This image by the secretariat of the 25th Busan International Film Festival shows a scene from the opening film "Septet: The Story of Hong Kong." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The Japanese animated film "Josee, the Tiger and the Fish," directed by Tamaru Kotaro, will close the festival. A remake of the 2003 film with the same title is about an ailing girl who opens her mind to the outer world as she learns what love is.
Among the 192 invitees are films that have been screened or awarded at major international film festivals including Cannes, Berlin and Venice.
"Minari," by Korean-American director Lee Isaac Chung, which won a prize at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, was chosen, as were 23 Cannes-selected films, including Yeon Sang-ho's "Peninsula" and Naomi Kawase's "True Mothers."
brk@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-10-21--LG Display signs partnership with Disney affiliate on OLED tech

LG Display said it already installed its 88-inch LG Signature OLED 8K TV at Marvel Studios , best known for @ @ @ @ @ , so that filmmakers can use it for editing and post-production processes .

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- LG Display Co., a major display panel maker in South Korea, said Wednesday it has signed a partnership deal with an affiliate of U.S. entertainment conglomerate Walt Disney Co. to better promote its OLED technology.
Under the deal with Disney's StudioLAB, a technology hub focused on studying advanced filming and editing technologies, LG Display will provide OLED TVs designed for content production to Disney's video tech specialists for the next three years.
LG Display, the world's leading large-size OLED panel maker, will first supply its content development-use OLED TVs to Walt Disney Studios, which owns film production companies like Marvel Studios, Pixar and Lucasfilm.
LG Display said it already installed its 88-inch LG Signature OLED 8K TV at Marvel Studios, best known for making "Avengers" movies, so that filmmakers can use it for editing and post-production processes.
The two sides also plan to launch various collaborative projects that combine LG Display's OLED technology and Disney content, including setting up an experience zone at Disney-run facilities that showcases LG Display's transparent OLED technology.
They will also seek a promotion campaign together that highlights OLED display's low blue light emission and flicker-free operation.
OLED, or organic light-emitting diode, is highlighted by self-illuminating pixels that deliver perfect black, and offers greater design flexibility.
This image provided by LG Display Co. on Oct. 21, 2020, shows logos of LG Display and Disney's studioLAB. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-10-21--(2nd LD) S. Korea takes issue with Chinese official over suspension of BTS goods delivery

`` As there was a related news report again today , we had a phone call with the Chinese customs @ @ @ @ @ that the news about BTS was a wild rumor , '' he added , referring @ @ @ @ @ authorities ' restrictions on the imports of BTS-related goods .

(ATTN: ADDS remarks on Xi Jinping's S. Korea visit plan in last 3 paras)
BEIJING, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Ambassador to China Jang Ha-sung said Wednesday that he has taken issue with a senior Beijing official over the reported suspension of the delivery of some merchandise featuring K-pop superband BTS.
Jang made the remarks during a video-linked parliamentary audit session following reports that the Chinese logistics firm, Yunda Express, and other firms have boycotted the shipments of goods related to BTS.
The boycott came after BTS faced online rebukes in China earlier this month following its member's remarks honoring the sacrifices of South Koreans and Americans during the 1950-53 Korean War, in which Chinese troops fought in support of North Korean forces.
"The day after the related situation was first reported in the media, I directly communicated with a high-level official in the Chinese government," Jang said, stressing he will seriously watch and respond to the related developments.
South Korean Ambassador to China Jang Ha-sung speaks during a video-linked parliamentary audit session at his embassy in Beijing on Oct. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
The ambassador added that his embassy has also been communicating with the parcel delivery companies and Chinese customs authorities to verify the facts, and that after the parliamentary audit session, he would again raise the issue with senior Chinese officials.
"We have been seriously responding to this matter as this is a very sensitive issue and could hurt the sentiment of the people in both countries," he said.
"As there was a related news report again today, we had a phone call with the Chinese customs office, and they said that the news about BTS was a wild rumor," he added, referring to the speculation about customs authorities' restrictions on the imports of BTS-related goods.
In a statement later in the day, Wang Wei, the spokesman of the Chinese Embassy, also said that rumors about the restrictions by the customs office are untrue.
"The Chinese side regards the China-South Korea relations as crucial, and cherishes the deep friendship between the two countries, which has been forged in the process of jointly responding to COVID-19," he said.
"(China) will work together with the South Korean side to safeguard the good atmosphere of the bilateral relationship and continue to achieve the new, greater development of bilateral ties," he added.
Chinese pushback flared up after RM, a BTS member, made the Korean War-related remarks during an Oct. 7 ceremony giving the boy band an award for its contributions to the relations between South Korea and the United States.
BTS fans and others also hit back, arguing that his seemingly innocuous comments with no tinge of political intentions have been interpreted through the prism of nationalism and different historical perspectives.
Meanwhile, the envoy said Chinese President Xi Jinping would have traveled to South Korea earlier this year if not for the coronavirus outbreak.
"China's authorities have made clear that (Xi) would visit South Korea first once the coronavirus situation is stabilized," Jang said.
He added Seoul and Beijing are in continued consultations regarding that via his embassy.
Is China fighting a losing battle against BTS? : BTS merchandise delivery service halted in China Youtube https://youtu.be/wpFPUpvzaPc
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-21--S. Korea provides emergency coronavirus aid to Ethiopia

Under the package , South Korea is providing medical equipment and other supplies , as well as dispatching infectious disease @ @ @ @ @ medical facilities to fight the COVID-19 pandemic , officials said .

SEOUL, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has provided Ethiopia with US$5 million worth of emergency aid to help overcome a major health crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.
Ham Sang-wook, deputy foreign minister for multilateral and global affairs, attended a ceremony in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Tuesday (local time) to present the package program, the ministry said.
Under the package, South Korea is providing medical equipment and other supplies, as well as dispatching infectious disease experts and helping build temporary medical facilities to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.
The ministry said Han also held talks with Lia Tadesse, Ethiopia's health minister, on the sidelines to discuss ways to cooperate in the health sector.
This photo, provided by South Korea's foreign ministry, shows Ham Sang-wook (L), deputy foreign minister for multilateral and global affairs, and Lia Tadesse, Ethiopia's health minister, posing for a commemorative photo during a ceremony held in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Oct. 20, 2020 (local time). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
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