yna--2020-12-13--Ulsan Hyundai FC reach AFC Champions League final

Junior , as he 's commonly called , broke the 1-1 deadlock in the final minute of the 30-minute extra @ @ @ @ @ he himself drew .
The Brazilian striker got tangled up with Kobe goalkeeper Daiya Maekawa @ @ @ @ @ loose ball , and then beat Maekawa to the bottom left corner on the ensuing @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- Ulsan Hyundai FC are off to the championship final in Asia's top club football tournament.
Junior Negrao scored an extra-time penalty as the K League 1 club defeated Vissel Kobe of Japan 2-1 in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League on Sunday.
After going down early in the second half, Ulsan rallied with two unanswered goals at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.
In this Reuters photo, Junior Negrao of Ulsan Hyundai FC (L) celebrates with teammate Bjorn Johnsen after scoring a goal against Vissel Kobe during the teams' semifinals match at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
Ulsan will go on to play Persepolis FC of Iran in the final on Saturday at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, just out of the Qatari capital. The kickoff is 3 p.m. local time and 9 p.m. in South Korea.
Ulsan are going for their second AFC Champions League title, and first since 2012.
Junior, as he's commonly called, broke the 1-1 deadlock in the final minute of the 30-minute extra period by converting a penalty he himself drew. The Brazilian striker got tangled up with Kobe goalkeeper Daiya Maekawa as he chased down a loose ball, and then beat Maekawa to the bottom left corner on the ensuing spot kick.
Junior has now scored five goals in his last six AFC Champions League matches, after scoring four in 12 previous appearances.
In this EPA photo, Kim In-sung of Ulsan Hyundai FC (R) is in action against Ryuho Kikuchi of Vissel Kobe during the teams' semifinals match at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
Vissel Kobe went up 1-0 in the 52nd minute on Hotaru Yamaguchi's goal, following a low setup by Takuya Yasui on a corner kick.
Ulsan caught a huge break in the 75th minute, when Daiju Sasaki appeared to give the Japanese side a 2-0 lead. The goal was wiped out when a video review determined that Yasui had fouled Sin Jin-ho as he stole the ball in midfield to set up the scoring play.
Then Ulsan benefited from the instant replay in the 83rd minute. Bjorn Johnsen's goal was first called off on an offside ruling, but the video assistant referee (VAR) alerted the on-field official, Nawaf Shukralla, who then overturned the original call and awarded the tying goal to Ulsan.
In this AFP photo, Park Joo-ho of Ulsan Hyundai FC (L) is in action against Kyogo Furuhashi of Vissel Kobe during the teams' semifinals match at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
Junior nearly clinched the win for Ulsan on the final play of regulation, when his header rang off the left post.
Both goalkeepers shone in extra time. Maekawa in Vissel Kobe's net denied Yoon and Johnsen on point-blank opportunities in the first half, and his counterpart Jo Su-huk robbed Dogulas of a potential winning goal.
Maekawa, though, got overzealous in his own box and committed the disastrous foul on Junior, just when the match seemed destined for a penalty shootout. Junior made him pay and sent Ulsan to the final.
Ulsan have scored at least two goals in a tournament-record eight consecutive matches.
In this AFP photo, Sin Jin-ho of Ulsan Hyundai FC (R) dribbles past Takuya Yasui of Vissel Kobe during the teams' semifinals match at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--Assembly passes revised spy agency law after eliminating opposition filibuster

It is the last of the three bills that were recently approved by the assembly as part of the Moon @ @ @ @ @ to reform so-called powerful institutions , such as the state prosecution service .

SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- The National Assembly on Sunday passed a contentious bill aimed at transferring the state spy agency's authority to conduct anti-communist investigations to the police.
It is the last of the three bills that were recently approved by the assembly as part of the Moon Jae-in administration's long-planned push to reform so-called powerful institutions, such as the state prosecution service.
In his inauguration speech in May 2017, Moon pledged efforts for such reform, saying he would "completely separate powerful institutions from domestic politics and install systems to make any such institutions unable to wield omnipotent power."
Lawmakers, led by the ruling Democratic Party (DP), passed the revision to the National Intelligence Service Korea Act, that also aims to stop the agency from meddling in domestic politics, during a plenary parliamentary session in a 187-0 vote. Lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the voting.
The voting came after the liberal ruling bloc eliminated a four-day filibuster by the PPP. The DP, which commands 174 of the 300 parliamentary seats, enlisted support from outside the party to successfully end the filibuster with 180 votes.
After passing the revision bill, National Assembly Speaker Rep. Park Byeong-seug tabled another contentious proposal, billed as the anti-Pyongyang leaflet prohibition bill, aimed at banning the launching of leaflets critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un or his political system, across the inter-Korean border.
But the PPP launched another filibuster to block voting and the DP countered it by filing a request for voting to end the filibuster.
The DP can break the filibuster with 180 votes, 24 hours after filing the request.
People Power Party lawmakers leave the main National Assembly hall in Seoul to boycott a voting on a revision bill on the National Intelligence Service Korea Act on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--(LEAD) S. Korea confirms 3 more cases of highly pathogenic bird flu in poultry

Avian influenza ( AI ) of the H5N8 strain was found in samples collected from two duck farms in Yeongam @ @ @ @ @ of Seoul , according to the Ministry of Agriculture , Food and Rural Affairs .

(ATTN: UPDATES with additional case in paras 1, 3-5; CHANGES headline)
SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Sunday confirmed three more cases of highly pathogenic bird flu at poultry farms in the southern and western regions amid growing concerns over the disease spreading nationwide despite tougher measures.
Avian influenza (AI) of the H5N8 strain was found in samples collected from two duck farms in Yeongam county, 384 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Later in the day, the ministry reported another confirmed case at a chicken farm in Gimpo, west of Seoul.
The new cases raised the country's total this year to 13.
The ministry said authorities are culling poultry within a 3-km radius of the infected farms as part of preventive measures and issuing a standstill order on nearby farms for 30 days.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is contagious and can cause severe illness and even death in poultry.
The country reported its first highly pathogenic case in 32 months in late October in Cheonan, 92 kilometers south of Seoul, from wild birds.
A truck sprays disinfectant near a duck farm in Jangseong in South Jeolla Province on Dec. 11, 2020, after an outbreak of highly pathogenic bird flu in the region. (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--More than 2 mln facilities to face restrictions under Level 3 social distancing: ministry

`` When we decide to adopt Level 3 , we will also review stronger antivirus measures that can be added @ @ @ @ @ the manual , '' Son said .
`` We would look at tougher measures for @ @ @ @ @ cluster infection trends and characteristics of the spread . ''

SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- More than 2 million multiuse facilities and businesses will face restrictions if the government raises the social distancing scheme to Level 3, the health ministry said Sunday.
Son Young-rae, a ministry spokesman, told a regular press briefing that the highest level calls for a no-assembly order on around 450,000 facilities and restricted services at around 1.57 million others.
People register for a COVID-19 test at a testing facility in Gangnam Ward, Seoul, on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korea operates a five-tier social distancing scheme, with the greater Seoul area currently under the second-highest Level 2.5 and the rest of the country under Level 2.
Calls have grown for an elevation to Level 3 amid record-setting coronavirus case tallies this weekend. On Sunday, the country added a record 1,030 daily cases, a day after adding 950, the biggest number since the country reported its first COVID-19 case in January.
"When we decide to adopt Level 3, we will also review stronger antivirus measures that can be added to what is already in the manual," Son said. "We would look at tougher measures for high-risk facilities in light of cluster infection trends and characteristics of the spread."
Level 3 bans all gatherings of 10 or more people and requires all nonessential multiuse facilities to close.
Department stores and other large stores will be subject to a no-assembly order, while other shops may be required to close after 9 p.m., Son said.
"Level 3 is the final measure we can use to curb the spread of COVID-19," he said. "There is no Level 3.5, 4 or 5."
The spokesman added that without the voluntary participation of the public, even Level 3 may not produce the desired effect.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--(4th LD) Daily coronavirus cases break 1,000 mark for 1st time; toughest distancing under review

`` It is a desperate time when ( the government ) should make all-out efforts to stave off the spread @ @ @ @ @ all virus control capabilities and administrative power , '' Moon said in an emergency anti-coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ over for the first time in about 10 months .

(ATTN: UPDATES with new Seoul tally in paras 10-11)
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's single-day coronavirus cases broke the 1,000-mark for the first time on Sunday, prompting President Moon Jae-in to warn that the country will have to consider enforcing the toughest level of social distancing unless the current spread is curbed.
The country added 1,030 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,002 local infections, raising the total caseload to 42,766, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Sunday's daily caseload jumped from the previous day's record high of 950, marking the highest since the country reported its first COVID-19 case in January.
The number of daily new cases remained around 400 to 600 earlier this month, but it shot up to over 900 on Saturday and broke through 1,000 on Sunday, raising alarm among authorities.
Cluster infections from private gatherings coupled with massive infections at a church and a hospital in the metropolitan area pushed up the tally on the weekend.
A construction worker builds a container at the Seoul Medical Center on Dec. 13, 2020, as it needs more hospital beds for COVID-19 patients amid a sharp hike in new cases in the Seoul metropolitan area. (Yonhap)
President Moon Jae-in called the current situation "the worst crisis" since South Korea saw its first COVID-19 outbreak, vowing to mobilize all resources to curb the virus spread.
"It is a desperate time when (the government) should make all-out efforts to stave off the spread of the coronavirus by concentrating all virus control capabilities and administrative power," Moon said in an emergency anti-coronavirus meeting, which he presided over for the first time in about 10 months.
"If we can't stop the spread of the virus, we have to consider raising the social distancing scheme to Level 3," he said.
Authorities raised social distancing measures to Level 2.5, the second highest under the five-tier system, in the Seoul metropolitan area earlier this week, but it has failed to slow the virus.
Acting Seoul Mayor Seo Jeong-hyup presided over a separate COVID-19 meeting later Sunday and reported an additional 170 coronavirus cases in the city during the 17 hours up to 5 p.m. That number will be included in the nationwide tally announced Monday.
"We have entered a dangerous tunnel that we've never experienced before," he said at the meeting, vowing to do everything he can to secure more hospital beds.
Moon stressed the importance of widespread testing and prompt investigations of transmission routes to detect patients at an early stage and break the chain of infection.
For that effort, the government will assign more staff in epidemiological investigations, add testing centers and secure more hospitals and treatment centers for COVID-19 patients, Moon said.
The government earlier said it plans to set up temporary testing centers at 150 places in highly populated areas, and expand drive-thru and walk-through virus test facilities.
According to the KDCA, authorities were still investigating transmission routes of over 2,000 patients, which accounts for 22.3 percent of new cases confirmed this month.
Health authorities said the current level of infections is feared to continue for a while in the winter season, urging citizens to stay home and cancel all year-end gatherings.
Calls have risen for the toughest social distancing level to cope with the outbreak, but officials have remained cautious due to its broad impact on the domestic economy.
A pedestrian passes by a church in western Seoul on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
Authorities can adopt Level 3 when locally transmitted cases surge to 800 to 1,000 or the daily tally doubles from the previous day.
The average daily cases over the past week stood at 662, falling below the requirement.
Level 3 social distancing is less stringent than the lockdown measures adopted in the United States and Europe, but it is aimed at effectively minimizing social and business activities in a wide range of areas.
The toughest virus restrictions ban gatherings of 10 people or more, including all sporting events, while schools can only offer online classes.
People are advised to stay at home as much as possible, and companies are required to have nonessential employees work from home.
As part of its antivirus campaign, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said Sunday it will require elementary schools and kindergartens in the capital to offer only online classes until the end of this year.
Currently, 62 hospital beds are available for critically ill patients nationwide, while only 13 were available in the wider Seoul area, the KDCA said.
The number of patients waiting for hospitalization and treatment centers in the Seoul metropolitan area stood at 580, adding 65 over the previous day, it noted.
To address the shortage of hospital beds, Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung said Sunday that he will seek an emergency measure to use a private university dormitory to accommodate new coronavirus patients.
People stand in line for COVID-19 testing at a screening station in Gangneung, 237 kilometers east of Seoul, on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
The greater Seoul area -- home to half of the country's 51 million population -- accounted for most of the cases.
The capital city of Seoul registered 399 new cases, while surrounding Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, west of Seoul, had 331 and 62, respectively.
In the western Seoul district of Gangseo, 39 people were newly confirmed to have contracted the virus in relation to a church to raise the total to 130. In Bucheon, west of the capital, four cases were registered from a care hospital to raise the total to 70.
Outside of the capital, the southeastern port city of Busan reported 56 additional cases, followed by the southeastern city of Daegu with 28, South Gyeongsang Province with 22 and North Gyeongsang Province with 18.
Among the confirmed cases, 28 were imported from abroad.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 179.
KDCA reported two additional deaths, raising the total to 580.
The number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 321, raising the total to 31,814.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--S. Korea confirms two more cases of highly pathogenic bird flu in poultry

Avian influenza ( AI ) of H5N8 strain was found from samples collected from two duck farms in Yeongam county @ @ @ @ @ Seoul , according to the Ministry of Agriculture , Food and Rural Affairs .

SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea confirmed two more cases of highly pathogenic bird flu at a poultry farm in a southern region on Sunday amid growing concerns over the disease spreading nationwide despite tougher measures.
Avian influenza (AI) of H5N8 strain was found from samples collected from two duck farms in Yeongam county, 384 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
It marked the country's 11th and 12th highly pathogenic AI case in domestic birds this year.
Authorities culled poultry within a 3-km radius of infected farms as part of preventive measures, and issued a standstill order in nearby farms for 30 days, the ministry said.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is contagious and can cause severe illness and even death in poultry.
The country reported its first highly pathogenic case in 32 months in late October in Cheonan, 92 kilometers south of Seoul, from wild birds.
A truck sprays disinfectant near a duck farm in Janseong in South Jeolla Province on Dec. 11, 2020, after outbreak of a highly pathogenic bird flu in the region. (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--(3rd LD) Moon says S. Korea's antivirus fight at crucial juncture, toughened social distancing may b

(3rd LD) Moon says S. Korea's antivirus fight at crucial juncture, toughened social distancing may be necessary

`` If we are truly an antivirus fight model country , it is the very time to prove it , @ @ @ @ @ the `` fundamental method '' is to track and trace infections as quickly as possible @ @ @ @ @ of spread . ''

(ATTN: UPDATES with message on virus control in 9th para, social distancing, details last 3 paras)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in called on Sunday for all-out efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 infections in South Korea, saying the country's antivirus fight stands at a "crucial phase" before deciding whether to lift the social distancing alert to the highest.
"There is nowhere to step back," he stressed during an interagency meeting on virus response at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul.
President Moon Jae-in speaks during an interagency meeting on virus response at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
He presided over the emergency session hours after local health authorities reported 1,030 additional coronavirus infections, the all-time high of daily new confirmed cases since the emergence of the novel coronavirus here.
Moon agreed that the country now faces its "biggest-ever" coronavirus crisis.
"It is a desperate time when (the government) should make all-out efforts to stave off the spread of the coronavirus by concentrating all virus control capabilities and administrative power."
Unless South Korea breaks the trend of growing virus transmissions nationwide "for now," it would have to consider raising the social distancing guidelines to Level 3, the top of the five-tier system.
"It's hard to imagine the pain and damage that (the people) are going to suffer from the elevation to Level 3," the president said.
He appealed to medical staff, healthcare officials and the public to do their best once again, although they are tired of combating the prolonged pandemic.
"If we are truly an antivirus fight model country, it is the very time to prove it," Moon said, adding the "fundamental method" is to track and trace infections as quickly as possible and cut "the link of spread."
He also urged a collective push by the government, local authorities and the private sector to secure sickbeds and treatment facilities for COVID-19 patients amid reports of strains on medical facilities.
"This is the last watershed before vaccine and treatment are used," he added. "Until then, social distancing is the strongest vaccine and treatment. Enhancing social distancing to Level 3 is the last means (to use)."
He instructed the government to thoroughly prepare for the measures and "make a bold decision" if it is deemed inevitable.
He requested the people to abide by existing social distancing regulations and refrain from going out and meeting others during the "emergency situation."
Under Level 3, almost all indoor and outdoor facilities, except essential ones, will be forced to close.
All sporting events will be prohibited, with schools switched to online learning and working from home expanded.
An interagency meeting, chaired by President Moon Jae-in, on virus response is under way at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--(3rd LD) Daily coronavirus cases break 1,000 mark for 1st time; toughest distancing under review

(ATTN: REVISES lead; UPDATES with more details, comments in paras 6-14, 21-23; ADDS photo)
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's single-day coronavirus cases broke the 1,000-mark for the first time on Sunday, prompting President Moon Jae-in to warn that the country will have to consider enforcing the toughest level of social distancing unless the current spread is curbed.
The country added 1,030 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,002 local infections, raising the total caseload to 42,766, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Sunday's daily caseload jumped from the previous day's record high of 950, marking the highest since the country reported its first COVID-19 case in January.
The number of daily new cases remained around 400 to 600 earlier this month, but it shot up to over 900 on Saturday and broke through 1,000 on Sunday, raising alarm among authorities.
Cluster infections from private gatherings coupled with massive infections at a church and a hospital in the metropolitan area pushed up the tally on the weekend.
A construction worker builds a container at the Seoul Medical Center on Dec. 13, 2020, as it needs more hospital beds for COVID-19 patients amid a sharp hike in new cases in the Seoul metropolitan area. (Yonhap)
President Moon Jae-in called the current situation "the worst crisis" since South Korea saw its first COVID-19 outbreak, vowing to mobilize all resources to curb the virus spread.
"It is a desperate time when (the government) should make all-out efforts to stave off the spread of the coronavirus by concentrating all virus control capabilities and administrative power," Moon said in an emergency anti-coronavirus meeting, which he presided over for the first time in about 10 months.
"If we can't stop the spread of the virus, we have to consider raising the social distancing scheme to Level 3," he said.
Authorities raised social distancing measures to Level 2.5, the second highest under the five-tier system, in the Seoul metropolitan area earlier this week, but it has failed to slow the virus.
Moon stressed the importance of widespread testing and prompt investigations of transmission routes to detect patients at an early stage and break the chain of infection.
For that effort, the government will assign more staff in epidemiological investigations, add testing centers and secure more hospitals and treatment centers for COVID-19 patients, Moon said.
The government earlier said it plans to set up temporary testing centers at 150 places in highly populated areas, and expand drive-thru and walk-through virus test facilities.
According to the KDCA, authorities were still investigating transmission routes of over 2,000 patients, which accounts for 22.3 percent of new cases confirmed this month.
Health authorities said the current level of infections is feared to continue for a while in the winter season, urging citizens to stay home and cancel all year-end gatherings.
Calls have risen for the toughest social distancing level to cope with the outbreak, but officials have remained cautious due to its broad impact on the domestic economy.
A pedestrian passes by a church in western Seoul on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
Authorities can adopt Level 3 when locally transmitted cases surge to 800 to 1,000 or the daily tally doubles from the previous day.
The average daily cases over the past week stood at 662, falling below the requirement.
Level 3 social distancing is less stringent than the lockdown measures adopted in the United States and Europe, but it is aimed at effectively minimizing social and business activities in a wide range of areas.
The toughest virus restrictions ban gatherings of 10 people or more, including all sporting events, while schools can only offer online classes.
People are advised to stay at home as much as possible, and companies are required to have nonessential employees work from home.
As part of its antivirus campaign, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said Sunday it will require elementary schools and kindergartens in the capital to offer only online classes until the end of this year.
Currently, 62 hospital beds are available for critically ill patients nationwide, while only 13 were available in the wider Seoul area, the KDCA said.
The number of patients waiting for hospitalization and treatment centers in the Seoul metropolitan area stood at 580, adding 65 over the previous day, it noted.
To address the shortage of hospital beds, Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung said Sunday that he will seek an emergency measure to use a private university dormitory to accommodate new coronavirus patients.
People stand in line for COVID-19 testing at a screening station in Gangneung, 237 kilometers east of Seoul, on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
The greater Seoul area -- home to half of the country's 51 million population -- accounted for most of the cases.
The capital city of Seoul registered 399 new cases, while surrounding Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, west of Seoul, had 331 and 62, respectively.
In the western Seoul district of Ganseo, 39 people were newly confirmed to have contracted the virus in relation to a church to raise the total to 130. In Bucheon, west of the capital, four cases were registered from a care hospital to raise the total to 70.
Outside of the capital, the southeastern port city of Busan reported 56 additional cases, followed by the southeastern city of Daegu with 28, South Gyeongsang Province with 22 and North Gyeongsang Province with 18.
Among the confirmed cases, 28 were imported from abroad.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 179.
KDCA reported two additional deaths, raising the total to 580.
The number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 321, raising the total to 31,814.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--(2nd LD) Moon says S. Korea's antivirus fight at crucial juncture, toughened social distancing may b

(2nd LD) Moon says S. Korea's antivirus fight at crucial juncture, toughened social distancing may be necessary

`` This is the last watershed before vaccine and treatment are used , '' he added .
`` Until then @ @ @ @ @ strongest vaccine and treatment .
Enhancing social distancing to Level 3 is the last means @ @ @ @ @ ''

(ATTN: UPDATES with additional remarks by Moon from 4th para; ADDS photo, byline)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in called on Sunday for all-out efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 infections in South Korea, saying the country's antivirus fight stands at a "crucial phase" before deciding whether to lift the social distancing alert to the highest.
"There is nowhere to step back," he stressed during an interagency meeting on virus response at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul.
President Moon Jae-in speaks during an interagency meeting on virus response at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
He presided over the emergency session hours after local health authorities reported 1,030 additional coronavirus infections, the all-time high of daily new confirmed cases since the emergence of the novel coronavirus here.
Moon agreed that the country now faces its "biggest-ever" coronavirus crisis.
"It is a desperate time when (the government) should make all-out efforts to stave off the spread of the coronavirus by concentrating all virus control capabilities and administrative power."
Unless South Korea breaks the trend of growing virus transmissions nationwide "for now," it would have to consider raising the social distancing guidelines to Level 3, the top of the five-tier system.
"It's hard to imagine the pain and damage that (the people) are going to suffer from the elevation to Level 3," the president said.
He appealed to medical staff, healthcare officials and the public to do their best once again, although they are tired of combating the prolonged pandemic.
"If we are truly an antivirus fight model country, it is the very time to prove it," Moon said.
He also urged a collective push by the government, local authorities and the private sector to secure sickbeds and treatment facilities for COVID-19 patients amid reports of strains on medical facilities.
"This is the last watershed before vaccine and treatment are used," he added. "Until then, social distancing is the strongest vaccine and treatment. Enhancing social distancing to Level 3 is the last means (to use)."
He instructed the government to thoroughly prepare for the measures and "make a bold decision" if it is deemed inevitable.
An interagency meeting, chaired by President Moon Jae-in, on virus response is under way at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--(LEAD) Moon says S. Korea's antivirus fight at crucial juncture, toughened social distancing may be

(LEAD) Moon says S. Korea's antivirus fight at crucial juncture, toughened social distancing may be necessary

SEOUL , Dec. 13 ( Yonhap ) -- President Moon Jae-in called on Sunday for all-out efforts to curb the @ @ @ @ @ South Korea , saying the country 's antivirus fight stands at a `` crucial phase @ @ @ @ @ lift the social distancing alert to the highest .

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with Moon's remarks; RECASTS headline; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in called on Sunday for all-out efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 infections in South Korea, saying the country's antivirus fight stands at a "crucial phase" before deciding whether to lift the social distancing alert to the highest.
"There is nowhere to step back," he stressed during an interagency meeting on virus response at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul.
President Moon Jae-in speaks during an interagency meeting on virus response at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
He presided over the emergency session hours after local health authorities reported 1,030 additional cases. It marks the all-time high of daily new confirmed cases since the emergence of the novel coronavirus here.
"It is a desperate time when (the government) should make all-out efforts on staving off the spread of the coronavirus by concentrating all virus control capabilities and administrative power."
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--Ruling party chief vows efforts to begin using coronavirus vaccines before March

Rep. Lee Nak-yon made the remark during a press conference marking the 100th day since he took the helm of @ @ @ @ @ will do his best to move up the use of coronavirus medicines and vaccines as @ @ @ @ @ their safety and efficacy .

SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- The chief of the ruling Democratic Party on Sunday pledged efforts to start administering coronavirus vaccines in South Korea before March.
Rep. Lee Nak-yon made the remark during a press conference marking the 100th day since he took the helm of the party, saying he will do his best to move up the use of coronavirus medicines and vaccines as much as possible while ensuring their safety and efficacy.
"We will do our best to expedite the use of coronavirus medicines and vaccines as early as possible while ensuring their effectiveness and safety," Lee said during a press conference at the National Assembly.
He also stressed that his party and the government will put all-out efforts to guarantee enough hospital beds in health facilities, including temporary clinics, residential treatment centers and intensive care units.
Lee Nak-yon (L), chairman of the ruling Democratic Party, is briefed on COVID-19 vaccine production at SK Bioscience Co. in the southeastern city of Andong on Dec. 5, 2020. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--(URGENT) Moon says S. Korea's antivirus fight at crucial juncture, toughened social distancing may b

(URGENT) Moon says S. Korea's antivirus fight at crucial juncture, toughened social distancing may be necessary

(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--2020-12-13--2 more military members test positive for COVID-19

A civilian worker for the Navy in Jinhae in the southeastern city of Changwon tested positive for COVID-19 before his @ @ @ @ @ a fellow worker was confirmed to have been infected on Dec. 1 upon returning from @ @ @ @ @ Colombia , according to the defense ministry

SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- The military reported two new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday.
A civilian worker for the Navy in Jinhae in the southeastern city of Changwon tested positive for COVID-19 before his release from quarantine, after a fellow worker was confirmed to have been infected on Dec. 1 upon returning from a recent business trip to Colombia, according to the defense ministry
In Samcheok, Gangwon Province, an Army officer was also confirmed to have been infected with the virus following his recent trip to Cheongwon of North Chungcheong Province while on vacation.
The latest infections brought the total number of virus cases among the military to 451.
This file photo, taken Oct. 12, 2020, shows a service member at Seoul Station. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--(2nd LD) Daily coronavirus cases break 1,000 mark for 1st time, toughest distancing under review

President Moon Jae-in was set to preside over an emergency anti-coronavirus meeting later Sunday for the first time in about @ @ @ @ @ that he takes the recent spike in virus cases seriously .
Such meetings have usually @ @ @ @ @ prime minister .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in paras 5, 15, 18-20; CHANGES photos)
By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's single-day coronavirus cases broke the 1,000-mark for the first time on Sunday, raising pressure on authorities to enforce the highest level of social distancing to slow down the virus spread.
The country added 1,030 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,002 local infections, raising the total caseload to 42,766, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Sunday's daily caseload jumped from the previous day's record high of 950, marking the highest since the country reported its first COVID-19 case in January.
The number of daily new cases remained around 400 to 600 earlier this month, but it shot up to over 900 on Saturday and broke through 1,000 on Sunday, raising alarm among authorities.
President Moon Jae-in was set to preside over an emergency anti-coronavirus meeting later Sunday for the first time in about 10 months in an indication that he takes the recent spike in virus cases seriously. Such meetings have usually been presided over by the prime minister.
People stand in line for COVID-19 testing at a screening station in Gangneung, 237 kilometers east of Seoul, on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
Cluster infections from private gatherings coupled with massive infections at a church and a hospital in the metropolitan area pushed up the tally from the previous day.
Health authorities raised social distancing measures to Level 2.5, the second highest under the five-tier virus restrictions, earlier this week, but it has failed to slowed the virus so far.
In response to a sharp uptick in new cases, President Moon Jae-in on Saturday referred to the COVID-19 situation as an "emergency" and ordered authorities to mobilize all resources to contain the virus.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun also said the government will have no choice but to raise the antivirus rules to the highest level unless the spread of the coronavirus is curbed.
Authorities can adopt Level 3 when locally transmitted cases surge to 800 to 1,000 or the daily tally doubles from the previous day.
The average daily cases over the past week stood at 662, falling below the requirement.
A pedestrian passes by a church in western Seoul on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
Level 3 social distancing is less stringent than the lockdown measures adopted in the United States and Europe, but it is aimed at effectively minimizing social and business activities in a wide range of areas.
The toughest virus restrictions ban gatherings of 10 people or more, including all sporting events, while schools can only offer online classes.
People are advised to stay at home as much as possible, and companies are required to have nonessential employees work from home.
As part of its antivirus campaign, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said Sunday it will require elementary schools and kindergartens in the capital to offer only online classes until the end of this year.
The greater Seoul area -- home to half of the country's 51 million population -- accounted for most of the cases.
The capital city of Seoul registered 399 new cases, while surrounding Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, west of Seoul, had 331 and 62, respectively.
In the western Seoul district of Ganseo, 39 people were newly confirmed to have contracted the virus in relation to a church to raise the total to 130. In Bucheon, west of the capital, four cases were registered from a care hospital to raise the total to 70.
Outside of the capital, the southeastern port city of Busan reported 56 additional cases, followed by the southeastern city of Daegu with 28, South Gyeongsang Province with 22 and North Gyeongsang Province with 18.
Among the confirmed cases, 28 were imported from abroad.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 179.
KDCA reported two additional deaths, raising the total to 580.
The number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 321, raising the total to 31,814.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--Gyeonggi Gov. Lee seeks emergency mobilization of college dorm to treat COVID-19 patients

The governor said that his emergency administrative order will be immediately invoked if the university refuses to turn the dormitory @ @ @ @ @ A provincial official said that the university `` shares an understanding about the need '' @ @ @ @ @ center .

SUWON, South Korea, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung said Sunday that he will seek an emergency measure to mobilize a private university dormitory to accommodate new coronavirus patients.
In a tweet, Lee announced his first such plan to mobilize a private facility to tackle the public health care crisis, as the province is running short on hospital beds and other facilities to treat the growing number of COVID-19 patients.
Earlier in the day, the provincial government sent a document to Kyonggi University in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul, to ask for its cooperation. On the day, the province reported 328 new virus cases, while the nationwide daily count was tallied at 1,030.
"As the spread of the coronavirus calls for stern measures required for a circumstance analogous to a wartime situation, we will inevitably enter into an emergency mobilization measure vis-a-vis hospital beds and residential treatment centers," Lee wrote.
"As the first step, we decided on the emergency mobilization of a dormitory in a university," he added.
The governor said that his emergency administrative order will be immediately invoked if the university refuses to turn the dormitory into a treatment facility. A provincial official said that the university "shares an understanding about the need" for a new residential treatment center.
"I believe that the university, students and their parents will sufficiently understand the seriousness of the situation and the inevitability of the administrative order," the governor said.
Lee reiterated the need to raise the social distancing restriction level to the highest in the five-tier system, while central government authorities appear more cautious amid worries that stronger curbs could further damage economic activities.
Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung speaks during a meeting with lawmakers in Suwon, some 45 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 13, 2020, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--Today in Korean history

Today in Korean history

2002 -- Candlelight vigils are held in over 70 cities in 12 countries , including South Korea and the United @ @ @ @ @ two South Korean schoolgirls who were killed in an accident involving an armored U.S. military @ @

Dec. 14
1926 -- Independence fighter Kim Koo is inaugurated as chief marshal of the Korean Provisional Government, which was set up in Shanghai, during Japan's colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910-1945.
1950 -- The United Nations approves a resolution for the establishment of a U.N. committee to work toward signing an armistice to bring a cease-fire to the Korean War.
2002 -- Candlelight vigils are held in over 70 cities in 12 countries, including South Korea and the United States, in memory of two South Korean schoolgirls who were killed in an accident involving an armored U.S. military vehicle.
2014 -- South Korea's national pension fund sells a prime office building in London to Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, reaping a profit of 960 billion won (US$871 million).
2016 -- The Seoul High Court orders the government to disclose the results of a probe on pollution detected in the water table near the U.S. Army base in Yongsan, central Seoul.
2017 -- President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping hold a summit in Beijing. The leaders reached an agreement on four basic principles in dealing with North Korea's nuclear threat, including no toleration of war on the Korean Peninsula.
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--Moon to preside over emergency anti-virus meeting

It will be the first time in about 10 months for Moon to chair an anti-virus meeting since he did @ @ @ @ @ That underlines how seriously he views the recent spike in virus cases .
Such meetings @ @ @ @ @ by the prime minister .

SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in will preside over an emergency anti-coronavirus meeting on Sunday, officials said, after South Korea's daily virus cases hit an all-time high of over 1,000.
It will be the first time in about 10 months for Moon to chair an anti-virus meeting since he did so on Feb. 23. That underlines how seriously he views the recent spike in virus cases. Such meetings have usually been presided over by the prime minister.
Cheong Wa Dae said Moon's decision to preside over the meeting is aimed at "cementing the government's determination and will to mobilize all its power to tackle the coronavirus while checking on local governments' measures in an emergency situation."
Attending the meeting will be Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and 10 Cabinet ministers, including the health minister. The heads of provincial governments and big cities will also be attending the meeting by video links, officials said.
(END)


yna--2020-12-13--POSCO to step up hydrogen production capacity by 2050

The demand for hydrogen is expected to rise from 1.94 million tons in 2030 to 5.26 million tons in 2040 @ @ @ @ @ are seeking ways to reduce their carbon emissions under tighter environmental regulations , the company @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korean steelmaker POSCO said Sunday it will expand hydrogen production capacity in the next three decades to meet growing demand for the clean energy source and foster new growth drivers.
POSCO, the world's fifth-largest steelmaker by output, said it will produce up to 5 million tons of hydrogen by 2050 to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy sources.
The company plans to launch a hydrogen business unit next month and collaborate with research agencies at home and abroad to develop related technologies.
POSCO has an annual hydrogen production capacity of 7,000 tons, mostly using natural gas and byproducts from its power plants, supplying hydrogen to its steel factories and fuel cell electric vehicles made by Hyundai Motor Co.
The company vowed to develop technologies for green hydrogen, produced by using renewable energy to split water, to get closer to zero-emission goals, setting a target of 2 million tons of annual production of green hydrogen by 2040.
POSCO said it will also make investments in hydrogen storage, distribution and related infrastructure to create new business opportunities in the emerging energy sector.
The demand for hydrogen is expected to rise from 1.94 million tons in 2030 to 5.26 million tons in 2040, as more industry players are seeking ways to reduce their carbon emissions under tighter environmental regulations, the company said.
The company's business strategy is in line with the government's move to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2050 in an effort to transform the country's fossil-fuel reliant economy into an eco-friendly one.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--Banks' loan delinquency rate inches up in October

The rate for bank loans more than 30 days overdue stood at 0.34 percent at the end of October , @ @ @ @ @ September , according to the Financial Supervisory Service ( FSS ) .

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- The delinquency rate for South Korean banks' won-denominated loans edged up in October from the previous month, but remained stable, the financial regulator said Monday.
The rate for bank loans more than 30 days overdue stood at 0.34 percent at the end of October, up 0.04 percentage point from September, according to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS).
Compared with a year earlier, the bank loan delinquency rate was down 0.12 percentage point.
The delinquency rate for corporate loans rose 0.05 percentage point on-month to 0.42 percent in October, and the figure for household loans edged up 0.01 percentage point to 0.23 percent.
For household lending, the delinquency rate for home-backed loans stayed flat at 0.16 percent, and the rate for unsecured and other household loans rose 0.04 percentage point to 0.4 percent, according to the FSS.
The corporate logos of major banks in South Korea (Yonhap)
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


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(END)


yna--2020-12-14--S. Korea ranks 10th in world arms exports: report

`` The world defense budget is expected to gradually increase , surpassing the $ 2 trillion mark in 2022 .
@ @ @ @ @ budget for arms purchases is forecast to increase 56 percent from $ 356.7 billion in @ @ @ @ @ in 2026 , '' the report said .

By Choi Soo-hyang
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea was the 10th-largest arms exporter in the 2015-2019 period, accounting for 2.1 percent of the world's total defense exports, an annual government report showed Monday.
According to the Global Defense Market Yearbook 2020 published by the Defense Agency for Technology and Quality, Britain, Iraq and Indonesia were the main buyers of South Korea's defense products during the period.
South Korea ranked 11th in last year's report.
The United States remained the top arms exporter, followed by Russia, France, Germany and China, with the five countries accounting for 76 percent of the world's total defense exports, it said.
Saudi Arabia was the largest arms importer during the period, followed by India, Egypt, Australia and China. The five countries accounted for 36 percent of the total defense imports in the world.
In this file photo, taken Nov. 18, 2020, Defense Minister Suh Wook (2nd from R) and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Nam Yeong-shin (2nd from L) look at weapons at the Defense and Security (DX) Korea 2020, an international defense industry fair, at an exhibition center in Ilsan, north of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Overall, the amount of global arms transactions increased 5.5 percent during the cited period compared with the previous five years.
Among the world's top 100 defense companies, South Korea had three on the list -- Hanwha Aerospace Co. at 46th, Korea Aerospace Industries at 60th and LIG Nex1 Co. at 67th.
The U.S. had 43 firms on the list, with their combined sales accounting for 59 percent of the total sales of the top 100 companies.
By sector, air equipment accounted the largest portion with 44.5 percent, followed by vessels with 13.2 percent, missiles with 12.7 percent and armored vehicles with 11.2 percent.
The amount of global defense spending was estimated at US$1.92 trillion last year, up 3.6 percent on-year, with the top five countries -- the U.S., China, India, Russia and Saudi Arabia -- accounting for 62 percent of the total.
The U.S. alone spent $732 billion, which accounted for 38 percent of the total. China spent $261 billion, accounting for 14 percent of the total.
"The world defense budget is expected to gradually increase, surpassing the $2 trillion mark in 2022. Of the total, the budget for arms purchases is forecast to increase 56 percent from $356.7 billion in 2020 to $555.7 billion in 2026," the report said.
In this file photo, taken Nov. 18, 2020, an armored vehicle and an unmanned combat robot take part in a joint operation in a demonstration at the Defense and Security (DX) Korea 2020, an international defense industry fair, at an exhibition center in Ilsan, north of Seoul. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--Seoul stocks trade nearly flat Monday morning amid COVID-19 concerns

The local currency was trading at 1,090.05 won against the U.S. dollar , up 0.25 won from the previous session @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded nearly flat late Monday morning, as investors remain wary of the country's spiking new coronavirus outbreaks.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 1.35 points, or 0.05 percent, to 2,771.41 as of 11:20 a.m.
Giant chipmakers and drugmakers advanced as South Korea's daily new COVID-19 cases broke the 1,000 mark for the first time Sunday.
President Moon Jae-in said Sunday that the government is mulling raising the social distancing scheme to the highest Level 3.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics added 0.68 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix advanced 1.3 percent.
Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics lost 1.1 percent, but Celltrion jumped 1.39 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver retreated 0.69 percent, while its rival Kakao climbed 0.4 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest carmaker, shed 0.26 percent, while its affiliate Hyundai Mobis spiked 7 percent, following reports about the auto part maker's acquisition of Hyundai Autron's semiconductor operation.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem declined 1.49 percent, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI lost 1.62 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,090.05 won against the U.S. dollar, up 0.25 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--Korea Shipbuilding wins 400 bln won order from Europe

The company hinted at obtaining additional orders till the end of the year , saying , `` There have been @ @ @ @ @ of ships including very large crude carriers . ''

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. said Monday that it has signed a 400 billion won (US$367 million) deal to build four crude carriers with a European company.
The 300,000-ton vessels to be built by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co., a unit of Korea Shipbuilding, will be delivered starting in May 2022, the company said.
The company hinted at obtaining additional orders till the end of the year, saying, "There have been constant inquiries about various kinds of ships including very large crude carriers."
Korea Shipbuilding has represented 68 percent, or 25 ships, of global orders of 37 very large crude carriers so far this year.
This photo, provided by Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. on Dec. 14, 2020, shows a very large crude carrier built by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., a unit of Korea Shipbuilding. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Dec. 14 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .


yna--2020-12-14--Asiana decides on capital reduction to improve financial status

Asiana was one of the airlines hit hardest by the pandemic this year .
It has suspended most flights on @ @ @ @ @ travel demand dried up and suffered snowballed debts .

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- Asiana Airlines Inc. said Monday it will cut its capital base to improve its financial status amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shareholders approved a 3:1 capital reduction plan as the airline's capital erosion rate reached 56.3 percent at the end of June, a company spokesman said.
"The company made the decision to avoid being designated as issues for administration or having its credit rating downgraded," he said over the phone.
After the reduction, the number of Asiana's overall stocks will fall from 223.2 million shares to 74.4 million shares, while its capital will decrease from 1.11 trillion won (US$1.02 billion) to 372.1 billion won.
Asiana was one of the airlines hit hardest by the pandemic this year. It has suspended most flights on international routes since March as travel demand dried up and suffered snowballed debts.
Korean Air Lines Co., the country's biggest and national flag carrier, is in the process to acquire the smaller local rival for 1.8 trillion won by June next year.
This file photo taken Dec. 1, 2020, shows an Asiana passenger jet taking off from Incheon International Airport with Korean Air planes in the foreground in Incheon, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--(LEAD) Hundreds of special forces personnel mobilized to support virus fight

The move came as the metropolitan area has reported large numbers of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks .
On Sunday @ @ @ @ @ of daily infections hit a record high of 1,030 , and nearly 80 percent of @ @ @ @ @ the western city of Incheon and Gyeonggi Province .

(ATTN: ADDS defense ministry's additional support, COVID-19 data in last 5 paras, 2nd photo)
By Oh Seok-min
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- More than 300 Special Warfare officers were dispatched to public health centers Monday to help with the government's handling of the new coronavirus, the Army said.
A total of 379 officers from the Army's Special Warfare Command were sent to 79 public health centers in Seoul and the surrounding areas to conduct diverse supporting roles, such as contact tracing, data management and transferring samples for virus tests for two months, according to the Army.
The move came as the metropolitan area has reported large numbers of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. On Sunday, the country's number of daily infections hit a record high of 1,030, and nearly 80 percent of them were from Seoul, the western city of Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.
"We will do our best to support the government's antivirus efforts just like carrying out military operations," Yang Eun-chan, who leads the Army's new coronavirus task force, said.
Ambulances are parked in front of Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on Dec. 14, 2020. The National Fire Agency mobilized vehicles and personnel from 12 regional headquarters to the South Korean capital and the surrounding areas the same day to help transport patients infected with the new coronavirus amid a spike in the number of coronavirus cases. (Yonhap)
In addition to the special forces personnel, the defense ministry plans to send 56 military doctors, 18 nurses and 486 officials to newly established makeshift testing centers in the greater Seoul area to support quarantine work.
Free virus tests are offered at the centers with a goal of having more people take tests.
On Monday, South Korea's daily virus cases fell back below 1,000 to stand at 718, including 682 local infections, raising the total caseload to 43,484, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
But the drop is believed to be owing largely to fewer tests conducted on the weekend.
The military added no new COVID-19 patients Monday for the first time in nearly a month. It has seen a drastic surge in confirmed cases due to cluster infections at barracks across the world since mid-November.
Up until Monday morning, the total caseload among the military population came to 451, according to the defense ministry.
In the file photo from July 25, 2020, soldiers carry out disinfection work at a train station in the central city of Daejeon. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--(2nd LD) New virus infections under 1,000 on fewer tests; efforts extended to find more potential ca

(2nd LD) New virus infections under 1,000 on fewer tests; efforts extended to find more potential cases

This week is anticipated to serve as a critical juncture for South Korea on whether it should adopt the highest @ @ @ @ @ scheme , which can be implemented when locally transmitted cases surge to 800 to 1,000 @ @ @ @ @ from the previous day .

(ATTN: ADDS details in last 3 paras; CHANGES photos)
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back below 1,000 on Monday on fewer tests over the weekend after topping the mark for the first time the previous day, with health authorities struggling to conduct more virus tests to rein in further spread.
The country added 718 more COVID-19 cases, including 682 local infections, raising the total caseload to 43,484, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
On Sunday, the country reported its largest daily caseload ever of 1,030 new coronavirus cases, setting yet another fresh high after reporting 950 cases Saturday.
Over the past weeks, the country has reported hundreds of daily new cases due to locally transmitted cases from the greater Seoul area, which houses around half of the nation's population.
A visitor receives a COVID-19 test at a makeshift clinic in central Seoul on Dec. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
Starting Monday, health authorities are providing free COVID-19 tests at 150 makeshift clinics in the wider Seoul area through Jan. 3, even to those who have not come into contact with patients, to keep track of asymptomatic patients.
People can also receive tests without providing personal information other than their mobile numbers.
South Korea had been touted as one of most successful countries in coping with COVID-19 despite ups and downs, maintaining most of its economic activities without a full lockdown.
After hitting the previous record of 909 on Feb. 29 due to cases traced to a minor church sect in Daegu, the daily figures were mostly in either two digits or below 400 before spiking since late November.
The country toughened social distancing measures, currently at Level 2.5, the second highest under the five-tier virus restrictions, last week, but the move has failed to curb a spike in new cases.
This week is anticipated to serve as a critical juncture for South Korea on whether it should adopt the highest level of its social distancing scheme, which can be implemented when locally transmitted cases surge to 800 to 1,000 or the daily tally doubles from the previous day.
Level 3 social distancing is less stringent than the lockdown measures adopted in the United States and Europe, but it is aimed at effectively minimizing social and business activities in a wide range of areas.
Any gatherings of 10 or more people will be banned under Level 3. All sports events will also be suspended, and schools can only offer online classes.
Ambulances are parked near Seoul Sports Complex in southern Seoul on Dec. 14, 2020. Major cities have sent their ambulances to the greater Seoul area amid the spike in the number of COVID-19 patients in the region. (Yonhap)
The Level 2.5 social distancing scheme allowed gatherings of less than 50 people and sports events without spectators.
Trains and express buses will also be obligated to fill only half of their seats. People are basically advised to stay at home as much as possible, and companies are required to have nonessential employees work from home.
South Korea, however, is cautious about adopting the highest level, as it will come at a great price in terms of the economy.
"The Level 3 social distancing scheme will become our last resort," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a meeting Monday. "Raising the social distancing measure needs a careful review, and we also need to have a strong belief over its effectiveness and earn social consensus.
"For now, it is important that all people follow the enhanced anti-virus measures currently in force," he said, pointing out the country will not hesitate to make drastic decisions when necessary.
Of the locally transmitted cases, the capital city of Seoul accounted for 217 cases, and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province took up 220. Incheon, west of Seoul, had 36 new cases.
Outside of greater Seoul, the southeastern port city of Busan reported 19 additional cases, followed by the southeastern city of Daegu with 16, South Gyeongsang Province with 26 and South Chungcheong Province with 51.
A restaurant from central Seoul reported 275 patients as of Sunday. A total of 130 patients were also traced to a church in western Seoul.
Commuters wearing protective masks walk at a subway station in western Seoul on Dec. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
Imported cases came to 36.
Among the imported cases, patients from Russia and Indonesia accounted for seven each. Six were from the United States, and four cases were traced to South Africa.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 185, up six from the previous day.
The KDCA reported seven additional deaths, raising the total to 587.
The fatality rate reached 1.35 percent.
The number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 288, raising the total to 32,102. This indicates around 74 percent of the patients reported here have been cured.
So far, 1.28 percent of COVID-19 tests here turned out to be positive, according to the KDCA data.
South Korea has carried out 3.39 million virus tests since January, with 3.26 million of them found to be negative. Around 89,000 tests are currently awaiting results.
The number of tests carried out Sunday came to 22,444, which marked a drastic decrease from 38,651 tests conducted on Friday last week, possibly indicating that the actual number of additional COVID-19 patients could be higher than thought.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--S. Korea on high alert over nationwide spread of bird flu

The country has identified 13 highly pathogenic bird flu cases across the nation so far this year , with the @ @ @ @ @ a chicken farm in Gimpo , located just west of Seoul , according to the @ @ @ @ @ and Rural Affairs .

By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Monday it is speeding up efforts to cull poultry in areas affected by highly pathogenic bird flu amid growing concerns over the nationwide spread due to migratory birds.
The country has identified 13 highly pathogenic bird flu cases across the nation so far this year, with the latest case being reported at a chicken farm in Gimpo, located just west of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
South Korea reported its first farm-related case in Jeongeup, about 290 kilometers south of Seoul, in late November.
Officials prepare to cull ducks at a farm in Naju, 355 kilometers south of Seoul, on Dec. 11, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Jeolla Province in the southwestern part of the country accounted for six cases, followed by Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital city with three. There were also infections in North Jeolla, North Gyeongsang, and North Chungcheong provinces.
In line with efforts to prevent the spread of the virus, South Korea has culled 5.8 million birds from infected farms as well as the surrounding areas, with the figure consisting of 3.3 million chickens, 863,000 ducks and 1.6 million quails.
Local authorities slaughtered poultry within a 3-kilometer radius of infected farms.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is contagious and can cause severe illness and even death in poultry.
The country reported its first highly pathogenic case in 32 months in late October in Cheonan, 92 kilometers south of Seoul, from wild birds.
Since then, a total of 25 cases have been found from wild bird habitats across the country, according to the ministry. Authorities are investigating 10 more suspected cases among wild birds.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--Auto exports dip 10 pct in Nov. amid virus jitters

Local carmakers shipped a combined 190,657 units of automobiles overseas last month , according to the data compiled by the @ @ @ @ @ and Energy .
In terms of value , exports rose 2.1 percent to US $ @ @ @

By Kang Yoon-seung
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's auto exports dropped 10.2 percent on-year in November, falling at a faster pace compared with the previous month, amid the global resurgence of new coronavirus cases.
Local carmakers shipped a combined 190,657 units of automobiles overseas last month, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. In terms of value, exports rose 2.1 percent to US$3.9 billion.
During the January-November period, the country sold 1,714,702 units of cars overseas, down 21.9 percent on-year.
Outbound shipments of cars had rebounded 14.8 percent on-year in September to snap five consecutive months of decline, helped by improved sales in North America.
Exports, however, again dipped 3.2 percent in October as the pandemic continued to strain the global demand.
Industry leader Hyundai Motor Co. saw its overseas sales drop 1.2 percent on-year in November due to the overall slump in global demand.
Hyundai's smaller sister Kia Motors Corp., on the other hand, saw its shipments advance 3.6 percent on the back of robust sales of eco-friendly models and SUVs.
Outbound shipments by GM Korea Co., the South Korean unit of General Motors Co., plunged 54.2 percent, feeling the pinch of its workers' strike.
Exports of SsangYong Motor Co. increased 71 percent, while those of Renault Samsung Motors Corp. crashed 88.7 percent on a base effect.
By destination, exports to North America advanced 7.5 percent and those to the European Union rose 2.5 percent. Shipments to Eastern European nations, however, slipped 8.3 percent.
Exports to Asian countries also decreased 4.4 percent on-year in November, the data showed.
South Korea's combined auto production fell 3.5 percent to reach 324,472 following labor disputes from GM Korea and Kia. Domestic sales inched up 7.5
percent to reach 171,228 over the period, the data showed.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--(LEAD) New virus infections under 1,000 on fewer tests; efforts extended to find more potential case

(LEAD) New virus infections under 1,000 on fewer tests; efforts extended to find more potential cases

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 15-16, last 6 paras, photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back below 1,000 on Monday on fewer tests over the weekend after topping the 1,000 mark for the first time the previous day, with health authorities struggling to conduct more virus tests to rein in further spread.
The country added 718 more COVID-19 cases, including 682 local infections, raising the total caseload to 43,484, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
On Sunday, the country reported its largest daily caseload ever of 1,030 new coronavirus cases, setting yet another fresh high after reporting 950 cases Saturday.
Over the past weeks, the country has reported hundreds of daily new cases due to locally transmitted cases from the greater Seoul area, which houses around half of the nation's population.
Citizens wait to receive new coronavirus tests at a makeshift clinic in southern Seoul on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
Starting Monday, health authorities are providing free COVID-19 tests at 150 makeshift clinics in the wider Seoul area through Jan. 3, even to those who have not come into contact with patients, to keep track of asymptomatic patients.
People can also receive tests without providing personal information other than their mobile numbers.
South Korea had been touted as one of most successful countries in coping with COVID-19 despite ups and downs, maintaining most of its economic activities without a full lockdown.
After hitting the previous record of 909 on Feb. 29 due to cases traced to a minor church sect in Daegu, the daily figures were mostly in either two digits or below 400 before spiking since late November.
The country toughened social distancing measures, currently at Level 2.5, the second highest under the five-tier virus restrictions, last week, but the move has failed to curb a spike in new cases.
This week is anticipated to serve as a critical juncture for South Korea on whether it should adopt the highest level of its social distancing scheme, which can be implemented when locally transmitted cases surge to 800 to 1,000 or the daily tally doubles from the previous day.
Level 3 social distancing is less stringent than the lockdown measures adopted in the United States and Europe, but it is aimed at effectively minimizing social and business activities in a wide range of areas.
Any gatherings of 10 or more people will be banned under Level 3. All sports events will also be suspended, and schools can only offer online classes.
Lights are switched on during the night at a makeshift clinic in southern seoul on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Level 2.5 social distancing scheme allowed gatherings of less than 50 people and sports events without spectators.
Trains and express buses will also be obligated to fill only half of their seats. People are basically advised to stay at home as much as possible, and companies are required to have nonessential employees work from home.
South Korea, however, is cautious about adopting the highest level, as it will come at a great price in terms of the economy.
"The Level 3 social distancing scheme will become our last resort," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a meeting Monday. "Raising the social distancing measure needs a careful review, and we also need to have a strong belief over its effectiveness and earn social consensus.
"For now, it is important that all people follow the enhanced anti-virus measures currently in force," he said, pointing out the country will not hesitate to make drastic decisions when necessary.
Of the locally transmitted cases, the capital city of Seoul accounted for 217 cases, and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province took up 220. Incheon, west of Seoul, had 36 new cases.
Outside of greater Seoul, the southeastern port city of Busan reported 19 additional cases, followed by the southeastern city of Daegu with 16, South Gyeongsang Province with 26 and South Chungcheong Province with 51.
A restaurant from central Seoul reported 275 patients as of Sunday. A total of 130 patients were also traced to a church in western Seoul.
Citizens receive new coronavirus tests at a makeshift clinic in southern Seoul on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
Imported cases came to 36.
Among the imported cases, patients from Russia and Indonesia accounted for seven each. Six were from the United States, and four cases were traced to South Africa.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 185, up six from the previous day.
The KDCA reported seven additional deaths, raising the total to 587.
The fatality rate reached 1.35 percent.
The number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 288, raising the total to 32,102. This indicates around 74 percent of the patients reported here have been cured.
South Korea has carried out 3,397,039 COVID-19 tests so far, including 22,444 from the previous day. The country recently carried out more than 30,000 tests daily during weekdays.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--PM says 'cautious deliberation' required in elevating distancing scheme to top level

`` ( Implementing ) the Level 3 social distancing scheme is the last resort that we can choose , and @ @ @ @ @ as it calls for confidence and social consensus on its effectiveness , '' Chung said @ @ @ @ @ top officials in charge of dealing with the pandemic .

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Monday that implementing the toughest social distancing scheme requires careful examination despite increasing calls from experts and the public to raise the level to curb the fast growth of COVID-19 cases.
"(Implementing) the Level 3 social distancing scheme is the last resort that we can choose, and it requires cautious deliberation, as it calls for confidence and social consensus on its effectiveness," Chung said during a government meeting of top officials in charge of dealing with the pandemic.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (R) presides over a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters held at Seoul City Hall on Dec. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
Calls have grown for the government to raise the distancing scheme to the highest Level 3 amid record-setting coronavirus case tallies over the weekend. On Sunday, the country added a record 1,030 daily cases, a day after adding 950, the biggest number since the country reported its first COVID-19 case in January.
South Korea operates a five-tier social distancing scheme, with the greater Seoul area currently under the second-highest Level 2.5 and the rest of the country under Level 2.
At the meeting held at Seoul City Hall, Chung said the government "won't hesitate in making a bold decision" when needed, and explained that authorities are sufficiently gathering opinions from involved ministries, local governments and experts.
Chung said what is important now is for the public to properly participate in the strengthened antivirus measures that are in place.
"Now more than ever, we must overcome the crisis by adhering to strict social distancing and practicing disease control guidelines," he said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--Hanwha Energy starts commercial production at Malaysian solar plant

Under the project , Hanwha Energy will provide about 65,000 megawatt hours of electricity , enough to power 15,000 households @ @ @ @ @ years , the company said .

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- Hanwha Energy Corp., South Korea's renewable energy company, said Monday it has completed a 48-megawatt solar power plant in Malaysia and started commercial production.
In 2017, Hanwha Energy won a US$400 million project by the state-run utility firm Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) to build the plant in Malaysia's northeastern state Perlis.
Under the project, Hanwha Energy will provide about 65,000 megawatt hours of electricity, enough to power 15,000 households, in the next 21 years, the company said.
Hanwha Energy Corp.'s 48-megawatt solar power plant in Chuping, northeastern state of Malaysia, is seen in this photo provided by the South Korean renewable energy company on Dec. 14, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--Seoul stocks open tad higher on tech gains amid COVID-19 concerns

Contact-free shares , such as giant chipmakers , drugmakers and online platform operators , advanced as South Korea 's daily @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 mark for the first time Sunday .

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened slightly higher Monday on the back of strong tech and pharmaceutical gains, but investors remain wary of the country's spiking new coronavirus outbreaks.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 3.96 points, or 0.14 percent, to 2,774.02 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Contact-free shares, such as giant chipmakers, drugmakers and online platform operators, advanced as South Korea's daily new COVID-19 cases broke the 1,000 mark for the first time Sunday.
President Moon Jae-in said the government is mulling raising the social distancing scheme to the highest, Level 3.
Large caps traded mixed in Seoul.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics added 0.27 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix advanced 1.3 percent.
Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics lost 0.73 percent, but Celltrion jumped 2.35 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver moved up 0.86 percent, with its rival Kakao climbing 1.07 percent.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem retreated 0.87 percent, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI lost 1.26 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest carmaker, shed 0.79 percent, but leading steelmaker POSCO rose 0.72 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,090.35 won against the U.S. dollar, down 0.05 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--New virus infections under 1,000 on fewer tests; efforts extended to find more potential cases

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back below 1,000 on Monday on fewer tests over the weekend after topping the 1,000 mark for the first time the previous day, with health authorities struggling to conduct more virus tests to rein in further spread.
The country added 718 more COVID-19 cases, including 682 local infections, raising the total caseload to 43,484, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
On Sunday, the country reported its largest daily caseload ever of 1,030 new coronavirus cases, setting yet another fresh high after reporting 950 cases Saturday.
Over the past weeks, the country has reported hundreds of daily new cases due to locally transmitted cases from the greater Seoul area, which houses around half of the nation's population.
Citizens wait to receive new coronavirus tests at a makeshift clinic in southern Seoul on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
Starting Monday, health authorities are providing free COVID-19 tests at 150 makeshift clinics in the wider Seoul area through Jan. 3, even to those who have not come into contact with patients, to keep track of asymptomatic patients.
People can also receive tests without providing personal information other than their mobile numbers.
South Korea had been touted as one of most successful countries in coping with COVID-19 despite ups and downs, maintaining most of its economic activities without a full lockdown.
After hitting the previous record of 909 on Feb. 29 due to cases traced to a minor church sect in Daegu, the daily figures were mostly in either two digits or below 400 before spiking since late November.
The country toughened social distancing measures, currently at Level 2.5, the second highest under the five-tier virus restrictions, last week, but the move has failed to curb a spike in new cases.
This week is anticipated to serve as a critical juncture for South Korea on whether it should adopt the highest level of its social distancing scheme, which can be implemented when locally transmitted cases surge to 800 to 1,000 or the daily tally doubles from the previous day.
Level 3 social distancing is less stringent than the lockdown measures adopted in the United States and Europe, but it is aimed at effectively minimizing social and business activities in a wide range of areas.
Any gatherings of 10 or more people will be banned under Level 3. All sports events will also be suspended, and schools can only offer online classes.
Lights are switched on during the night at a makeshift clinic in southern seoul on Dec. 13, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Level 2.5 social distancing scheme allowed gatherings of less than 50 people and sports events without spectators.
Trains and express buses will also be obligated to fill only half of their seats. People are basically advised to stay at home as much as possible, and companies are required to have nonessential employees work from home.
South Korea, however, is cautious about adopting the highest level, as it will come at a great price in terms of the economy.
"The Level 3 social distancing scheme will become an unbearable pain for self-employed people and owners of small-sized shops, who have already suffered damage for a long period," Health Minister Park Neunghoo said during a briefing the previous day.
Of the locally transmitted cases, the capital city of Seoul accounted for 217 cases, and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province took up 220. Incheon, west of Seoul, had 36 new cases.
Outside of greater Seoul, the southeastern port city of Busan reported 19 additional cases, followed by the southeastern city of Daegu with 16, South Gyeongsang Province with 26 and South Chungcheong Province with 51.
A restaurant from central Seoul reported 275 patients as of Sunday. A total of 130 patients were also traced to a church in western Seoul.
Imported cases came to 36.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 185, up six from the previous day.
KDCA reported seven additional deaths, raising the total to 587.
The number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 288, raising the total to 32,102.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--(URGENT) 288 more patients released from coronavirus treatment, total at 32,102: KDCA

(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--2020-12-14--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 7 additional coronavirus deaths, total at 587: KDCA


yna--2020-12-14--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 718 new coronavirus cases, total at 43,484: KDCA


yna--2020-12-14--Hundreds of special forces personnel mobilized to support virus fight

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- More than 300 Special Warfare officers were dispatched to public health centers Monday to help with the government's handling of the new coronavirus, the Army said.
A total of 379 officers from the Army's Special Warfare Command were sent to 79 public health centers in Seoul and the surrounding areas to conduct diverse supporting roles, such as contact tracing, data management and transferring samples for virus tests for two months, according to the Army.
The move came as the metropolitan area has reported large numbers of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. On Sunday, the country's number of daily infections hit a record high of 1,030, and nearly 80 percent of them were from Seoul, the western city of Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.
"We will do our best to support the government's antivirus efforts just like carrying out military operations," Yang Eun-chan, who leads the Army's new coronavirus task force, said.
In the July 25, 2020, file photo, soldiers carry out disinfection work at a train station in the central city of Daejeon. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--(LEAD) Moon stresses OECD's role in global economic recovery, vows Seoul's contribution

`` Thanks to the work of the OECD , we are living in a fairer and more transparent world and @ @ @ @ @ level playing field , '' he said , joining the official event to be held @ @ @ @ @ in celebration of the occasion .

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with Moon's video message; CHANGES photo)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in said Monday that the world, facing a coronavirus-caused economic crisis, is in desperate need of the multilateralism of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
"A time of global economic recession calls for the spirit of multilateralism more desperately than ever," he said in a video message to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the convention on establishing the group.
Moon expressed expectation that the OECD anniversary will serve as a "milestone for the world economy to build back better."
Moon noted that the OECD has developed more than 450 international standards
in such areas as the environment, governance, finance, investment, trade and anti-corruption.
"Thanks to the work of the OECD, we are living in a fairer and more transparent world and businesses could thrive on a level playing field," he said, joining the official event to be held online later in the day in celebration of the occasion.
President Moon Jae-in delivers a video message at his office in Seoul for the virtual event on Dec. 14, 2020, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) convention, in this photo provided by Cheong Wa Dae. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Moon pledged that Seoul will contribute to the OECD's role.
"Korea will continue to stand by the OECD on its path toward sustainable and inclusive growth," he said, citing the Korean version of the New Deal aimed at fostering digital innovation, green industries and balanced regional development.
The government has also set the goal of making the nation carbon neutral by 2050.
As a member of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee, South Korea also remains committed to international efforts to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development, he added.
"Korea will also gladly take part in the process of creating better policies for better lives."
The OECD was founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade, and South Korea became a member of the OECD in 1996.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--Assembly passes bill on banning cross-border launch of anti-Pyongyang leaflets

The conservative main opposition People Power Party ( PPP ) protested against the bill , which it said would excessively @ @ @ @ @ expression .
Leafleting , on the other hand , has been a recurring source of @ @ @ @ @ Korea , and it has also caused safety concerns among residents of border towns here @

SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- The National Assembly on Monday passed a controversial bill that prohibits the launching of anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the inter-Korean border, amid fierce opposition protests.
The revision to the Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act, billed as the anti-leaflet law, outlaws the scattering of leaflets critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un or his political system across the border. A violation could lead to a sentence of up to three years behind bars or a fine of up to 30 million won (US$27,000).
The North has long condemned the launching of such leaflets, and the two Koreas agreed to suspend leafleting and other hostile acts in the border area in the Panmunjom Declaration adopted by their leaders in 2018.
But conservative activist groups primarily led by North Korean defectors here have continued to send such leaflets. In June, the North blew up an inter-Korean liaison office in its border town of Kaesong in anger over the sending of propaganda.
The conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP) protested against the bill, which it said would excessively limit the right to free expression. Leafleting, on the other hand, has been a recurring source of tension between South and North Korea, and it has also caused safety concerns among residents of border towns here.
The bill was passed during the parliament's plenary session in a 187-0 vote, one day after PPP lawmakers staged a filibuster to block its passage.
Authorities retrieve a plastic balloon containing anti-Pyongyang leaflets in the border town of Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, on June 23, 2020, after a defector group launched it northward the previous night. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-14--(URGENT) Parliament passes bill banning floating of leaflets critical of N. Korea near border


yna--2020-12-14--(5th LD) New virus infections under 1,000 on fewer tests; efforts extended to find more potential ca

(5th LD) New virus infections under 1,000 on fewer tests; efforts extended to find more potential cases

`` With the winter being here , we are now experiencing the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic , '' @ @ @ @ @ during a daily briefing .
`` Compared with the previous waves , the latest uptick @ @ @ @ @ is traced to various sources that have been accumulated for 10 months . ''

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in 9th para)
SEOUL, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back below 1,000 on Monday on fewer tests over the weekend after topping the mark for the first time the previous day, with health authorities struggling to conduct more virus tests to rein in further spread.
The country added 718 more COVID-19 cases, including 682 local infections, raising the total caseload to 43,484, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
On Sunday, the country reported its largest daily caseload ever of 1,030 new coronavirus cases, setting yet another fresh high after reporting 950 cases Saturday.
Over the past weeks, the country has reported hundreds of daily new cases due to locally transmitted cases from the greater Seoul area, which houses around half of the nation's population.
Officials prepare to carry out COVID-19 tests at a makeshift clinic in central Seoul on Dec. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
Health authorities warned that the country's daily virus caseload may spike to 1,200 should the current pace be maintained.
The KDCA said the nation's reproduction rate for COVID-19 reached 1.28, indicating a patient infects more than one person.
"With the winter being here, we are now experiencing the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic," KDCA chief Jeong Eun-kyeong said during a daily briefing. "Compared with the previous waves, the latest uptick in the number of cases is traced to various sources that have been accumulated for 10 months."
Jeong stressed that the country can reduce the number of newly confirmed virus cases via social distancing schemes. "There is room for us to have fewer than estimated virus cases if we strictly follow toughened virus curbs and trace potential cases," she said.
As of 6 p.m., the daily number of new COVID-19 cases was reported at 582, up 55 from the same time the previous day, according to municipal governments. The greater Seoul area identified 375 new cases, accounting for 64.4 percent of the total.
The daily average number of new COVID-19 cases came to 662 over the past week, soaring from 487.7 posted a week earlier. The number of new patients aged 60 and above came to 219 over the past week, according to the KCDC.
Over the past two weeks, cluster infections accounted for 22.8 percent of additional cases. Authorities are investigating transmission routes for 23.8 percent of the newly identified infections as well.
Gatherings among families and acquaintances accounted for more than 20 percent of such cluster infections.
A teacher holds a virtual class with students at an elementary school in northern Seoul on Dec. 14, 2020. All elementary schools in Seoul are obligated to hold virtual classes by the end of this year amid the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in the greater Seoul area. (Yonhap)
Starting Monday, health authorities are providing free COVID-19 tests at 150 makeshift clinics in the wider Seoul area through Jan. 3, even to those who have not come into contact with patients, to keep track of asymptomatic patients.
People can also receive tests without providing personal information other than their mobile numbers.
South Korea had been touted as one of most successful countries in coping with COVID-19 despite ups and downs, maintaining most of its economic activities without a full lockdown.
After hitting the previous record of 909 on Feb. 29 due to cases traced to a minor church sect in Daegu, the daily figures were mostly in either two digits or below 400 before spiking since late November.
The country toughened social distancing measures, currently at Level 2.5, the second highest under the five-tier virus restrictions, last week, but the move has failed to curb a spike in new cases.
This week is anticipated to serve as a critical juncture for South Korea on whether it should adopt the highest level of its social distancing scheme, which can be implemented when locally transmitted cases surge to 800 to 1,000 or the daily tally doubles from the previous day.
Level 3 social distancing is less stringent than the lockdown measures adopted in the United States and Europe, but it is aimed at effectively minimizing social and business activities in a wide range of areas.
Any gatherings of 10 or more people will be banned under Level 3. All sports events will also be suspended, and schools can only offer online classes.
The Level 2.5 social distancing scheme allowed gatherings of less than 50 people and sports events without spectators.
Trains and express buses will also be obligated to fill only half of their seats. People are basically advised to stay at home as much as possible, and companies are required to have nonessential employees work from home.
South Korea, however, is cautious about adopting the highest level, as it will come at a great price in terms of the economy.
"The Level 3 social distancing scheme will become our last resort," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a meeting Monday. "Raising the social distancing measure needs a careful review, and we also need to have a strong belief over its effectiveness and earn social consensus.
"For now, it is important that all people follow the enhanced anti-virus measures currently in force," he said, pointing out the country will not hesitate to make drastic decisions when necessary.
Officials prepare to carry out COVID-19 tests at a makeshift clinic in central Seoul on Dec. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
Of the locally transmitted cases, the capital city of Seoul accounted for 217 cases, and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province took up 220. Incheon, west of Seoul, had 36 new cases.
Outside of greater Seoul, the southeastern port city of Busan reported 19 additional cases, followed by the southeastern city of Daegu with 16, South Gyeongsang Province with 26 and South Chungcheong Province with 51.
From west of Seoul, a religious facility added 22 more patients, raising the total to 162 as of Monday noon.
A restaurant from central Seoul reported four more patients. So far, a whopping 280 cases have been traced to the business.
A nursing home from Gyeonggi Province identified 17 more cases from the previous day, with the combined caseload reaching 18.
Cases traced to a religious facility from South Chungcheong Province came to 43, the KDCA data showed.
A medical worker carries out new coronavirus tests at a makeshift clinic in central Seoul on Dec. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
Imported cases came to 36.
Among the imported cases, patients from Russia and Indonesia accounted for seven each. Six were from the United States, and four cases were traced to South Africa.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 185, up six from the previous day.
The KDCA reported seven additional deaths, raising the total to 587.
The fatality rate reached 1.35 percent.
The number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries came to 288, raising the total to 32,102. This indicates around 74 percent of the patients reported here have been cured.
So far, 1.28 percent of COVID-19 tests here turned out to be positive, according to the KDCA data.
South Korea has carried out 3.39 million virus tests since January, with 3.26 million of them found to be negative. Around 89,000 tests are currently awaiting results.
The number of tests carried out Sunday came to 22,444, which marked a drastic decrease from 38,651 tests conducted on Friday last week, possibly indicating that the actual number of additional COVID-19 patients could be higher than thought.
The KDCA said the country plans to complete supply deals with at least two more companies by the end of this month.
"We believe that the locally produced vaccines developed by AstraZeneca will become the first batch to be provided to people, starting March (next year)," Jeong said. "We are continuing negotiations with other suppliers."
The country's health ministry said last week that the country has secured early access to COVID-19 vaccines developed by four pharmaceutical companies and from a global vaccine project for 44 million people.
South Korea said it has completed the deal with AstraZeneca Inc. and is in the process of finalizing the agreement with other suppliers, namely Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson's Janssen and Moderna.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)