yna--2020-12-02--(LEAD) Another soldier at Camp Casey tests positive for COVID-19

SEOUL , Dec. 2 ( Yonhap ) -- An American soldier stationed at Camp Casey , north of Seoul , @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus on Wednesday , after another service member at the base was confirmed to have @ @ @ @ @ weekend , the U.S. military said .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout with more info)
SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- An American soldier stationed at Camp Casey, north of Seoul, tested positive for the new coronavirus on Wednesday, after another service member at the base was confirmed to have contracted the virus over the weekend, the U.S. military said.
The soldier has been transferred to an isolation facility designated for confirmed COVID-19 patients at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, according to the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).
"Contact tracing is ongoing, and USFK medical teams are actively ensuring that all known Camp Casey facilities visited by the soldier are thoroughly cleaned," it said in a statement.
The new case was confirmed under the U.S. military's "surveillance testing program" conducted at the base in the city of Dongducheon after another soldier there tested positive on Saturday.
USFK said the latest infection marked the first virus case confirmed under the surveillance testing program in which more than 5,000 tests were completed peninsula-wide to prevent undetected mass spreading.
The total number of coronavirus cases reported among the USFK-affiliated population rose to 383, most of whom tested positive upon their arrival here from the United States.
As South Korea braces for another wave of infections in the winter, USFK has extended its ban on members' off-post activities at saunas, fitness facilities, internet cafes and music lessons across the country.
Travel to or within Area II defined as the Seoul metropolitan area, including the western city of Incheon, is also prohibited until further notice.
Seen in this file photo is a gate of the U.S. base Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-02--(LEAD) Fund manager sentenced to 2 yrs in prison in hedge fund scandal

The court said it considered that the amount of profit the accused personally gained from the selling of Lime Asset @ @ @ @ @ big , and the fact that his words of recommendation were not the only reason @ @ @ @ @ through Daishin Securities .

(ATTN: ADDS financial regulator's decision in last 2 paras; AMENDS dateline)
SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court sentenced a former employee of a securities firm to two years in prison Wednesday for fraudulently selling financial products of a hedge fund implicated in a massive fraud and lobbying scandal.
The former chief of a branch office of Daishin Securities Co. in southern Seoul was indicted in June for misinforming his clients while selling some 248 billion won (US$225 million) worth of funds of Lime Asset Management Co.
Lime Asset has been under probe since July last year over its alleged cover-up of huge losses and inflation of investment returns. The case turned into a political scandal as its key suspects are alleged to have lobbied high-profile politicians, officials and prosecutors to evade investigation.
This photo, provided by Yonhap News TV, shows the logo of Lime Asset Management and the Seoul Southern District Court. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The Seoul Southern District Court convicted the man, surnamed Jang, of causing clients to incur significant damages through his sales of Lime fund products while providing false information about their risk.
"The defendant increased the financial damage of (clients) by recommending the subscription to the funds even after local news outlets raised allegations against Lime Asset," the court said.
His actions severely impaired the credibility of the capital market, it added.
The sentence was far lighter than the prosecution's demand last month of a 10-year prison term and a fine of 500 million won.
The court said it considered that the amount of profit the accused personally gained from the selling of Lime Asset's funds was not that big, and the fact that his words of recommendation were not the only reason the victims bought the funds through Daishin Securities.
Last month, the Financial Supervisory Service gave penalties to former and current chief executive officers of securities firms involved in the Lime case, including Daishin Securities, Shinhan Investment Corp. and KB Securities Co.
Meanwhile, the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the nation's top financial regulator, decided to revoke the registration of Lime Asset as a hedge fund manager.
Earlier in the day, the FSC also ordered fund products under Lime Asset's management to be transferred to a private fund set up by sellers of Lime Asset's fund products.
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-02--Fund manager sentenced to 2 yrs in prison in hedge fund scandal

SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court sentenced a former employee of a securities firm to two years in prison Wednesday for fraudulently selling financial products of a hedge fund implicated in a massive fraud and lobbying scandal.
The former chief of a branch office of Daishin Securities Co. in southern Seoul was indicted in June for misinforming his clients while selling some 248 billion won (US$225 million) worth of funds of Lime Asset Management Co.
Lime Asset has been under probe since July last year over its alleged cover-up of huge losses and inflation of investment returns. The case turned into a political scandal as its key suspects are alleged to have lobbied high-profile politicians, officials and prosecutors to evade investigation.
This photo, provided by Yonhap News TV, shows the logo of Lime Asset Management and the Seoul Southern District Court. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The Seoul Southern District Court convicted the man, surnamed Jang, of causing clients to incur significant damages through his sales of Lime fund products while providing false information about their risk.
"The defendant increased the financial damage of (clients) by recommending the subscription to the funds even after local news outlets raised allegations against Lime Asset," the court said.
His actions severely impaired the credibility of the capital market, it added.
The sentence was far lighter than the prosecution's demand last month of a 10-year prison term and a fine of 500 million won.
The court said it considered that the amount of profit the accused personally gained from the selling of Lime Asset's funds was not that big, and the fact that his words of recommendation were not the only reason the victims bought the funds through Daishin Securities.
Last month, the Financial Supervisory Service gave penalties to former and current chief executive officers of securities firms involved in the Lime case, including Daishin Securities, Shinhan Investment Corp. and KB Securities Co.
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

The government and the ruling Democratic Party have been seeking to legislate a ban on the sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets @ @ @ @ @ such activity and even blew up an inter-Korean liaison office in June in anger .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.
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(LEAD) Moon names lawyer as new vice justice minister
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in has tapped a judge-turned-lawyer as new vice justice minister, Cheong Wa Dae announced Wednesday, amid a simmering controversy over the ministry's move to punish South Korea's prosecution chief over alleged ethical lapses and other misdeeds.
The nomination of Lee Yong-gu, who served as a judge for more than 20 years, came just a day after Vice Justice Minister Koh Kee-young tendered his resignation in apparent protest against Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's push for disciplinary action against Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl.
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Hyundai vehicle sales in U.S. fall 9 pct in Nov.
SEOUL -- Hyundai Motor Co. said Wednesday its vehicle sales in the United States fell 9 percent last month from a year earlier on lower demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hyundai Motor sold 55,171 vehicles in the U.S. in November, down from 60,601 units in the same period of last year, the company said in a statement.
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(4th LD) S. Korea confirms 2nd highly pathogenic bird flu case from farm
SEOUL -- South Korea on Wednesday confirmed another highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) case from local poultry farms, sparking further concerns over possible nationwide transmission of the disease.
A suspected case from an egg farm in Sangju, 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, earlier this week tested to be a highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of bird flu, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs.
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(3rd LD) New virus cases bounce back to over 500 as effect of tougher curbs yet to be felt
SEOUL -- The daily number of new coronavirus cases in South Korea bounced back to over 500 again Wednesday, adding to concerns that the country faces a bigger wave of the pandemic in winter amid tougher social distancing measures.
The country added 511 more COVID-19 cases, including 493 local infections, raising the total caseload to 35,163, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). It reported no additional coronavirus fatalities, bringing the total to 526.
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S. Korea denounces killing of Iranian nuclear scientist
SEOUL -- South Korea on Wednesday denounced the assassination of a leading Iranian nuclear scientist as a criminal act that does not help bring stability and peace in the region.
The foreign ministry's comment came after Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a nuclear weapons expert, was killed in a bomb and gun attack on a road outside Tehran last week, amplifying tensions between Iran and neighboring nations.
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Unification ministry welcomes passage of anti-leafleting bill by parliamentary committee
SEOUL -- The unification ministry on Wednesday welcomed a parliamentary committee's passage of a proposal to ban the flying of propaganda leaflets into North Korea, saying the measure will help protect residents in border regions and ease cross-border tensions.
The government and the ruling Democratic Party have been seeking to legislate a ban on the sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets after North Korea bristled at such activity and even blew up an inter-Korean liaison office in June in anger.
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(LEAD) Seoul stocks set another record high; Korean won surges
SEOUL -- South Korean stocks hit another all-time high Wednesday for the second consecutive session on the back of optimism surrounding COVID-19 vaccines and U.S. stimulus. The Korean won sharply rose to an over 29-month high against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 41.65 points, or 1.58 percent, to close at 2,675.9.
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Perry says U.S. should focus on moderating N. Korea's nuclear arsenal
SEOUL -- U.S. negotiations with North Korea should focus on moderating its nuclear arsenal and transforming the regime into a normal country less prone to provocations, former U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry said Wednesday.
Perry made the remark at a virtual conference hosted by the state-run Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS) and Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC), saying it would be "mission impossible" to get Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons.
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Naver newly invests in 2 startups in logistics, medical sectors
SEOUL -- An accelerator for tech startups operated by Naver Inc., South Korea's largest internet portal operator, said Wednesday it has made new investments in two promising tech startups.
Naver's D2 Startup Factory, also known as D2SF, said it has selected the two startups -- Techtaka Co. and Medibloc Co. -- that provide innovative technology in the logistics and health care sectors, respectively.
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Korean Air to conduct due diligence on Asiana until mid-March
SEOUL -- Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's biggest carrier, said Wednesday it will conduct due diligence on Asiana Airlines Inc. until mid-March while drawing up an integration plan for the two airlines.
Korean Air plans to raise 2.5 trillion won through rights offering early next year and spend 1.8 trillion won of the proceeds to acquire smaller local rival Asiana Airlines.
-----------------
Samsung tops smartphone production in Q3: report
SEOUL -- Samsung Electronics Co. was the top global smartphone manufacturer in the third quarter of the year, a report showed Wednesday, as demand for its mobile devices increased in advanced markets amid the pandemic.
Samsung led the industry in terms of smartphone production with 78 million units in the July-September period, up 42 percent from a quarter earlier, and accounted for 23.2 percent of the total share, according to market researcher TrendForce.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-02--Moon expects Seoul's diplomacy to capitalize on its soft power

Especially , he added , `` It will be of great help to both South Korea and the international community @ @ @ @ @ with other nations by utilizing soft power in the cultural field that 's represented by @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday that South Korea's soft power, especially in the cultural sector, is a diplomatic asset for its international cooperation.
He made the remarks during a conversation with newly appointed ambassadors to Spain, Hungary, Laos, Ecuador, Ghana and Afghanistan, according to presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok. They received letters of appointment from the South Korean president at a Cheong Wa Dae ceremony.
"Recently, our (country's) status has been greatly enhanced not just economically but also in terms of soft power including virus control, health and medical care, democracy, public perception and culture awareness," Moon was quoted as saying.
President Moon Jae-in (C) walks toward a meeting room at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul along with newly named ambassadors after giving them letters of appointment on Dec. 2, 2020. (Yonhap)
Especially, he added, "It will be of great help to both South Korea and the international community if (we) cooperate with other nations by utilizing soft power in the cultural field that's represented by the Korean Wave."
He asked the envoys to seek ways to use Seoul's soft power enough in diplomacy.
Moon also called on them to make efforts for South Korea's "bridge role" between advanced countries and developing ones in dealing with such global issues as the fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and climate change, the spokesman said.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-02--S. Korea denounces killing of Iranian nuclear scientist

`` We stress that this kind of violent criminal act is not conducive to stability and peace in the Middle @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson Choi Young-sam said in a commentary .

SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Wednesday denounced the assassination of a leading Iranian nuclear scientist as a criminal act that does not help bring stability and peace in the region.
The foreign ministry's comment came after Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a nuclear weapons expert, was killed in a bomb and gun attack on a road outside Tehran last week, amplifying tensions between Iran and neighboring nations.
"We stress that this kind of violent criminal act is not conducive to stability and peace in the Middle Eastern region," ministry spokesperson Choi Young-sam said in a commentary.
"Given the uncertainties surrounding the situation in the Middle East, our government opposes any act that amplifies tensions and affects regional stability."
Fakhrizadeh was known as the mastermind of the Islamic republic's nuclear programs. Tehran has accused Israel and Saudi Arabia of involvement in the killing.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-02--Samsung tops smartphone production in Q3: report

Apple shared the fourth spot with Huawei with a market share of 12.5 percent in the third quarter .
The @ @ @ @ @ production increased only 2 percent quarter-on-quarter to 42 million units in the third quarter due @ @ @ @ @ new iPhone 12 .

SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. was the top global smartphone manufacturer in the third quarter of the year, a report showed Wednesday, as demand for its mobile devices increased in advanced markets amid the pandemic.
Samsung led the industry in terms of smartphone production with 78 million units in the July-September period, up 42 percent from a quarter earlier, and accounted for 23.2 percent of the total share, according to market researcher TrendForce.
"This result reflects Samsung's continuing focus on specific regional markets such as North America and Europe," TrendForce said. "Owing to economic stimulus policies and subsidies, smartphone sales in the target markets have recovered somewhat."
Samsung was followed by Chinese players Oppo and Xiaomi, which had market shares of 13.4 percent and 13.2 percent, respectively.
Oppo, which includes OnePlus and Realme devices, produced 45 million smartphones in the third quarter, up 64 percent from the previous months, while Xiaomi manufactured 44.5 million smartphones, up 51 percent from the previous quarter.
This photo, taken on July 7, 2020, shows Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy S20 smartphones displayed at a store in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Apple shared the fourth spot with Huawei with a market share of 12.5 percent in the third quarter. The U.S. tech titan's iPhone production increased only 2 percent quarter-on-quarter to 42 million units in the third quarter due to the delayed release of new iPhone 12.
Global smartphone production jumped 20 percent quarter-on-quarter to 336 million units in the third quarter, TrendForce added.
Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, TrendForce projected worldwide smartphone production to reach 351 million units, up 4 percent from the previous quarter.
In the fourth quarter, TrendForce expected Apple to become the top smartphone producer with 74.1 million units for a 21.1 percent market share, followed by Samsung with 62 million units for a 17.7 percent share.
Oppo and Xiaomi were estimated to produce 47 million and 46 million smartphones, respectively, with Vivo rising as the fifth-largest smartphone producer with 35 million units in the fourth quarter.
This photo, taken on Nov. 20, 2020, shows Apple Inc.'s iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini smartphones displayed at a store in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Huawei was expected to make only around 30 million smartphones in the fourth quarter, down 30 percent from the previous quarter, due to U.S. sanctions.
Meanwhile, for the whole 2020, TrendForce expected global smartphone production to reach 1.25 billion units, down 11 percent from a year ago, due to the pandemic. However, it forecast worldwide smartphone production to increase 9 percent on-year to 1.36 billion units in 2021.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-02--(LEAD) Seoul stocks set another record high; Korean won surges

SEOUL , Dec. 2 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean stocks hit another all-time high Wednesday for the second consecutive @ @ @ @ @ optimism surrounding COVID-19 vaccines and U.S. stimulus .
The Korean won sharply rose to an @ @ @ @ @ U.S. dollar .

(ATTN: ADDS more details in para. 16, bond yields at bottom; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks hit another all-time high Wednesday for the second consecutive session on the back of optimism surrounding COVID-19 vaccines and U.S. stimulus. The Korean won sharply rose to an over 29-month high against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 41.65 points, or 1.58 percent, to close at 2,675.9.
Trading volume was high at 1.05 billion shares worth around 16.9 trillion won (US$15.3 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 475 to 353.
Foreigners bought a net 514.1 billion won, while retail investors sold a net 243.6 billion won. Institutions offloaded a net 248.1 billion won.
Electronic signboards at a Hana Bank dealing room in Seoul show the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at a new record high of 2,675.9 on Dec. 2, 2020, up 41.65 points, or 1.58 percent from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)
The benchmark index got off to a strong start, reaching as high as 2,677.26 on hopes of COVID-19 vaccines becoming available soon.
The European Medicines Agency said Tuesday it received applications for emergency approval of vaccines developed by Pfizer with BioNTech and Moderna.
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers also proposed stimulus worth $908 billion on Tuesday (U.S. time), keeping hopes of a large relief package alive.
A rosy forecast for memory chips next year further boosted investor sentiment.
"Memory chip supply is expected to decrease early next year, while demand is set to rise," Doh Hyun-woo, an analyst at NH Investment & Securities, said. "DRAM prices will start to rise from the second quarter next year."
Most large caps in Seoul ended mixed.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics jumped 2.51 percent to a new record high of 69,500 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix soared 8.46 percent to 109,000 won.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem added 3.96 percent to 841,000 won, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI rose 0.91 percent to 552,000 won.
Pharmaceutical giant Celltrion advanced 0.87 percent to 347,000 won, while Samsung Biologics dipped 0.38 percent to 790,000 won.
Internet portal giant Naver fell 0.7 percent to 283,500 won, with its rival Kakao retreating 0.4 percent to 373,000 won.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, slipped 0.54 percent to 182,500 won.
The local currency closed at 1,100.8 won per dollar, up 5.4 won from the previous session's close, the highest closing since June 15, 2018, when the comparable figure was 1,097.7 won.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed mixed. The yield on three-year Treasurys remained unchanged at 0.982 percent, while the return on the benchmark five-year government bond added 1.5 basis points to 1.35 percent.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-02--S. Korean Bond Yields on Dec. 2, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on Dec. 2, 2020

(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--2020-12-02--Korean Air to conduct due diligence on Asiana until mid-March

`` The company will look into Asiana 's cost structure , contracts and others in the 3-month-long due diligence as @ @ @ @ @ up with the post-merger integration plan by March 17 , '' Korean Air President Woo @ @ @ @ @ briefing .

By Choi Kyong-ae
SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's biggest carrier, said Wednesday it will conduct due diligence on Asiana Airlines Inc. until mid-March while drawing up an integration plan for the two airlines.
Korean Air plans to raise 2.5 trillion won through rights offering early next year and spend 1.8 trillion won of the proceeds to acquire smaller local rival Asiana Airlines.
"The company will look into Asiana's cost structure, contracts and others in the 3-month-long due diligence as it is scheduled to come up with the post-merger integration plan by March 17," Korean Air President Woo Kee-hong said in an online briefing.
This photo taken on Dec. 1, 2020, shows an Asiana passenger jet taking off from the Incheon International Airport against the background of Korean Air planes in Incheon, just west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
To proceed with the deal, Korean Air plans to submit documents to antitrust authorities in the countries to which the carrier flies by Jan. 14 for review of the merger, Woo said.
The countries include the United States, the European Union, China and Japan. "There seems to be no problems in obtaining approval from overseas for the merger of the two airlines given, bigger merger deals went smoothly in the past."
Korean Air and Asiana account for a combined 40 percent of passenger and cargo slots at Incheon International Airport, South Korea's main gateway. It does not constitute a monopoly, the executive said.
The deal, which would create the world's 10th-biggest airline by fleets, got a boost on Tuesday when a Seoul court lifted the first hurdle by dismissing an injunction filed by a local equity fund against Hanjin KAL's rights issue plan.
The Seoul Central District Court turned down the injunction filed by the Korea Corporate Governance Improvement (KCGI) against the Hanjin Group's holding company's stock sale to the KDB.
The KCGI, the biggest shareholder in Hanjin KAL, argued that the share sale to the designated third party will hurt the holding firm's existing shareholders' value.
The KCGI alliance, led by Hanjin Group and Korean Air Chairman Cho Won-tae's elder sister Hyun-ah, has been at odds with the chairman's side over management of the airline conglomerate in a family feud.
Hanjin KAL will "take a proper step" if the KCGI takes any additional legal action to hamper the Asiana deal, the president said.
As for business outlook for 2021, he said the company will draw up business plans for next year very conservatively due to uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We expect our passenger demand will be at 35 percent compared to pre-crisis levels in 2021 and cargo-carrying rates will decline as airlines rush to carry more cargo to offset dried-up travel demand," Woo said.
But there will be no forced layoffs in an integrated airline as the company does not have a plan to reduce flights, he said.
Korean Air has suspended most of its flights on international routes since March as countries strengthen their entry restrictions to stem the spread of the pandemic.
From January to September, Korean Air's net losses narrowed to 651.84 billion won from 707.14 billion won in the year-ago period as it focused on winning more cargo deals.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-02--Samsung ranks 2nd in African smartphone market in Q3: report

SEOUL , Dec. 2 ( Yonhap ) -- Samsung Electronics Co. was the second-largest smartphone vendor in the African smartphone @ @ @ @ @ of the year , a report showed Wednesday , as the South Korean tech giant @ @ @ @ @ against Chinese competitors .

SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. was the second-largest smartphone vendor in the African smartphone market in the third quarter of the year, a report showed Wednesday, as the South Korean tech giant tries to expand its presence against Chinese competitors.
Samsung accounted for 20 percent of the African smartphone market in the July-September period in terms of units, down from a 24 percent share a year ago, according to market researcher International Data Corp. (IDC).
China's Transsion continued its dominance in Africa with a unit share of 44 percent, up from 36 percent a year earlier.
Huawei came in third with a 9 percent share, followed by Xioami with 7 percent and Oppo with 4 percent.
This photo taken on Aug. 7, 2020, shows Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy Note 20 smartphones displayed at a store in Seoul. (Yonhap)
IDC said Africa's overall mobile phone market shipments declined 6 percent on-year in the third quarter of the year, with shipments of feature phones plunging 11.2 percent on-year to 29.4 million units.
However, smartphone shipments in the region increased 14.1 percent on-year to 22.9 million units due to pent-up demand amid eased COVID-19 lockdowns in the region.
IDC said mobile devices priced below US$200 accounted for 89.3 percent of smartphone shipments to Africa in the third quarter.
"Demand for entry-level smartphones was driven by e-learning requirements since smartphones are the only device offering internet access for most households in Africa," said Ramazan Yavuz, a senior research manager at IDC.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-02--Gov't strengthens anti-flood design standards for dams, rivers due to climate change

The new measures also call for doubling the amount of state compensation for those killed in flood disasters to 20 @ @ @ @ @ 18,200 ) per person and shortening the preparation period for the declaration of special disaster @ @ @ @ @ weeks to one week .

SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- The government on Wednesday announced a set of countermeasures to deal with flooding and other natural disasters anticipated due to global climate change, vowing to drastically strengthen anti-flood design standards for dams and rivers.
Under the new measures, local dams and rivers will be designed to withstand the heaviest daily rainfall over a span of 500 years in anticipation of steady increases in precipitation caused by climate change, according to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
Previously, the so-called design frequency for dams and rivers, which refers to the capacity to cope with the heaviest daily rainfall in a specific period, was set at 100 to 200 years.
The ministry said the government has sharply raised the precipitation-related design frequency as there are increasing signs that the heaviest daily rainfalls of the past 200 years could become commonplace on the Korean Peninsula.
In addition, the government will increase the number of flood warning points from 65 to 218 by 2025 and install seven more small-sized rainfall radars to better predict localized flash floods.
It also aims to triple the flood control capacity of domestic multipurpose dams.
The ministry said it has devised the anti-disaster countermeasures through consultations with 16 other ministries and agencies after the nation sustained extensive damage from this summer's record long monsoon that brought heavy downpours and caused casualties.
This year's rainy season began June 24 and continued for 54 days in the central part of the country, marking the longest monsoon season following a 49-day streak in 2013. Between June 1 and Aug. 15, South Korea received around 920 millimeters of rain, which is the second-largest amount since the weather authorities began compiling the related data in 1973.
The new measures also call for doubling the amount of state compensation for those killed in flood disasters to 20 million won (US$18,200) per person and shortening the preparation period for the declaration of special disaster zones from more than two weeks to one week.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-02--Chief prosecutor tops presidential hopeful poll amid tussle with justice minister

The veteran prosecutor has yet to announce his intention to run in the 2022 presidential election .
But he said @ @ @ @ @ late October that he would consider how to serve the nation after his retirement .
@ @ @ @ @ an indication of his willingness to enter politics .

SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl took the top position in the latest poll of potential presidential candidates released Wednesday, as his support continued to rise amid an escalating feud with Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae.
In a survey conducted by R&Search this week, 24.5 percent of respondents chose Yoon as the most favored next leader, up 9.1 percentage points from a month before.
He overtook two liberal heavyweights of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), who have dominated presidential opinion polls for months.
Lee Nak-yon, chairman of the DP, remained second with 22.5 percent, up 0.9 point. Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung, who topped the poll last month, fell to third with 19.1 percent, down 3.7 percentage points.
The gap between Yoon and Lee Nak-yon is 2 points within the margin of error of 3.1 points of the survey conducted on 1,011 voters across the country from Monday to Tuesday.
Yoon is favored largely by conservatives. He was chosen by 52.6 percent of supporters of the opposition People Power Party (PPP), while his rating was only 3.7 percent among those aligned with the DP.
In a separate poll by Realmeter released Monday, Yoon came in second behind the DP leader and ahead of the Gyeonggi governor.
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl returns to work at the Supreme Prosecutors Office in Seoul on Dec. 1, 2020, after the Seoul Administrative Court granted an injunction requested by him against Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's order to suspend him from duty. (Yonhap)
The result came amid a growing conflict between the top prosecutor and Justice Minister Choo, who have been at loggerheads over prosecution reforms and a series of high-profile cases.
On Nov. 24, Choo ordered the suspension of Yoon from duty as she sought a disciplinary measure against him over allegations of interference in politically sensitive cases.
On Tuesday, Yoon returned to work after a court granted an injunction sought by him to suspend the enforcement of the order.
The veteran prosecutor has yet to announce his intention to run in the 2022 presidential election. But he said during a parliamentary session in late October that he would consider how to serve the nation after his retirement. The remark was interpreted as an indication of his willingness to enter politics.
In the R&Search poll, the three were followed distantly by minor prospective candidates -- independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo with 5.6 percent, former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon with 4.5 percent, People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo with 2.7 percent, former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min with 2.4 percent and Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun with 2 percent. Hong, Ahn and Yoo ran in the last presidential election in 2017.
Meanwhile, President Moon Jae-in's approval rating fell 1.2 percentage points to 40.5 percent.
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--Online shopping rises 20 pct in Oct. amid pandemic

The use of online shopping has been on the rise this year amid the pandemic as people refrained from visiting @ @ @ @ @ infection risks .

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- Online shopping in South Korea grew 20 percent in October from a year earlier as the new coronavirus outbreak prompted people to buy goods via e-commerce platforms, data showed Thursday.
The value of online transactions stood at 14.2 trillion won (US$12.9 billion) in October, compared with 11.9 trillion won the previous year, according to the data from Statistics Korea.
The use of online shopping has been on the rise this year amid the pandemic as people refrained from visiting offline stores on concerns about infection risks.
Online sales of food delivery services jumped 71.6 percent from a year earlier to 1.56 trillion won in October on the back of demand by stay-at-home customers. Sales of food and beverages also soared 43.8 percent to 1.7 trillion won.
Online sales of electronic goods gained 39.6 percent on-year to 1.72 trillion won in October, the data showed.
But online sales of travel-related services and cultural and leisure services declined on-year in October due to the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sales of travel-related items declined 52.6 percent on-year to 679.6 billion won, while those of cultural and leisure services tumbled 60.4 percent to 74.2 billion won.
Purchases made through smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices rose 22.9 percent on-year to 9.54 trillion won in October, accounting for 66.9 percent of the total value of online shopping.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


S. Korea adds 600,000 jobs in 2019

Job posts for those in their 50s rose by 220,000 , and those for people in their 20s increased by @ @ @ @ @ the job market remained sluggish for young job seekers .
The number of job posts @ @ @ @ @ declined by 50,000 .

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea added around 600,000 jobs in 2019 mainly on the back of a rise in job positions in the public sector and social welfare service segment, data showed Thursday.
The country's total jobs reached 24 million in 2019, up 2.6 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.
The rise was mainly attributable to an increase in job positions provided by smaller firms and non-profit companies, the data showed.
The number of additional jobs at large businesses reached 60,000, while small and medium enterprises and non-profit businesses added 230,000 and 320,000 job posts on-year, respectively.
The government has put priority on creating more jobs as the slowing economy dented the job market. The Moon Jae-in administration has increased job posts in the public sector in a bid to prop up job growth.
This year, South Korea's job market remained bleak due to the fallout of the new coronavirus outbreak, with the country reporting job losses every month since March.
By sector, the health and social welfare service sector added 160,000 jobs on-year in 2019, and the wholesale and retail segment added 80,000 job posts. The public administration service sector also saw an increase of 80,000 jobs.
But the manufacturing industry, the backbone of the Korean economy, added just 30,000 jobs last year, while the construction sector shed 70,000 jobs.
By age, jobs for those aged 60 and older increased by the largest margin of 340,000 as the government raised temporary work positions for older people.
Job posts for those in their 50s rose by 220,000, and those for people in their 20s increased by 100,000 in an indication that the job market remained sluggish for young job seekers. The number of job posts for those in their 40s declined by 50,000.
Wearing a mask and plastic gloves, a job seeker reads a pamphlet at a job fair in Yongin, just south of Seoul, on Oct. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


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yna--2020-12-03--Seoul stocks rebound late Thur. morning on chip gains

The local currency was trading at 1,098.35 won against the U.S. dollar , up 2.45 won from the previous session @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks traded slightly higher late Thursday morning despite a resurgence in new coronavirus cases, led by strong chip advances.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 2.81 points, or 0.11 percent, to 2,678.71 as of 11:20 a.m.
The KOSPI rebounded, largely as chip shares gained on brisk November exports and rosy forecasts for next year.
Large caps traded mixed in Seoul.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics added 0.43 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix gained 0.46 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest carmaker, jumped 4.38 percent.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem shed 1.55 percent, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI retreated 1.09 percent.
Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics dropped 0.38 percent, while Celltrion rose 1.59 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver went up 0.18 percent, but its rival Kakao declined 0.67 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,098.35 won against the U.S. dollar, up 2.45 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--S. Korea's currency hits 30-month high on risk appetite, U.S. dollar's slump

The U.S. dollar has also been weakening since the U.S. Federal Reserve said in its September rate-setting meeting that it @ @ @ @ @ zero until inflation is on track to meet its 2 percent target .

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's won currency jumped to a 30-month high against the U.S. dollar Thursday, buoyed by risk appetite over coronavirus vaccine developments and the dollar's prolonged slump.
The won was quoted at 1,099.90 won per U.S. dollar as of 10:25 a.m., up 0.9 won from the previous session's close.
It was the highest level since June 15, 2018, when the risk-sensitive currency was trading at 1,087.30 won against the U.S. dollar.
The won is likely to breach the key psychological level of 1,100 won intraday, analysts said.
The won, along with other peers, has strengthened against the U.S. dollar due to optimism over vaccine developments and U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's transition to power.
The U.S. dollar has also been weakening since the U.S. Federal Reserve said in its September rate-setting meeting that it will keep interest rates near zero until inflation is on track to meet its 2 percent target.
So Byung-eun, an analyst at NH Futures, said the won is expected to strengthen Thursday because of the weaker U.S. dollar and net purchases of local stocks by foreign investors.
Last month, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said financial authorities have been closely monitoring the foreign exchange market, warning that they are ready to take action at any time to smooth out the local currency's sharp gains.
Hong voiced concerns about the Korean currency's rapid strength against the U.S. dollar, saying that excessive currency volatility is not desirable.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--Rookie girl group NiziU tops Japan music chart with debut album

`` Make You Happy '' has stormed Japanese music charts since its release in June , reaching No .
1 @ @ @ @ @ album sales chart even before the group 's official debut .

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- JYP Entertainment's new girl group NiziU has landed at No. 1 on Japan's Oricon music chart with its debut single album, the company said Thursday.
The nine-piece group's album "Step and a Step" topped the daily CD single chart on the Oricon, according to the agency.
The album, released on Wednesday, includes the lead track "Step and a Step," written by JYP chief and K-pop guru Park Jin-young, as well as the pre-debut track "Make You Happy."
"Make You Happy" has stormed Japanese music charts since its release in June, reaching No. 1 on the Oricon's weekly album sales chart even before the group's official debut.
NiziU, formed by JYP and Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, consists of nine winners of the idol survival reality show "Nizi Project."
The band's nine members -- Mako, Rio, Maya, Riku, Ayaka, Mayuka, Rima, Miihi and Nina -- were trained by JYP, which has successfully incubated K-pop girl groups like TWICE and ITZY.
This photo, provided by JYP Entertainment, shows rookie girl group NiziU. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--Korea Shipbuilding wins 100 bln won order from Liberia

The 40,000-cubic meter LPG carriers to be built by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. , a unit of Korea Shipbuilding , @ @ @ @ @ second half of 2022 , Korea Shipbuilding said in an emailed statement .

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. said Thursday it has clinched a 100 billion won (US$91 million) order to build two liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers from a Liberian company.
The 40,000-cubic meter LPG carriers to be built by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., a unit of Korea Shipbuilding, will be delivered from the second half of 2022, Korea Shipbuilding said in an emailed statement.
The company also said it is in talks with the Liberian company for an additional order of the same-sized LPG carrier.
With the latest deal, Korea Shipbuilding has taken up about 95 percent of the global LPG carrier market share for two years since 2019, obtaining orders of 16 of 17 LPG carriers.
A LPG carrier built by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. is seen in this photo provided by Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. on Dec. 3, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--(2nd LD) New virus cases over 500 for 2nd day; no letup in sight despite tough virus curbs

`` With no clear signs of a slowdown in the number of new patients , the enhanced measure in the @ @ @ @ @ to be extended into next week as well , '' Sohn Young-rae , a senior @ @ @ @ @ scheme was originally planned to run through Monday .

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout; CHANGES photos)
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases hovered above 500 for the second consecutive day Thursday as locally transmitted cases continued to pile up across the country, further raising concerns over a bigger wave of the pandemic in the winter season.
The country added 540 more COVID-19 cases, including 516 local infections, raising the total caseload to 35,703, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The capital city of Seoul accounted for 260 of the total.
The daily caseload marks the highest since 569 reported on Friday last week.
South Korea reported more than 500 daily new infections for three consecutive days through Saturday last week, before falling back to 450 cases on Sunday due to less testing over the weekend.
Thursday's virus uptick came as around 490,000 high school seniors, graduates and others took the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT).
Students are ready to take the college entrance exam at a high school on the country's southern Jeju Island on Dec. 3, 2020. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
Health authorities believe that this week will serve as a critical juncture for the nation's anti-virus fight. Should the virus curve not flatten, the country may have to further raise the level of its social distancing scheme.
South Korea adopted the Level 2 social distancing scheme in the greater Seoul area on Nov. 24 amid concerns over the growing number of patients in the region that houses around half of the nation's population.
The country operates a five-tier social distancing system. Under the second level, nightclubs and other high-risk entertainment facilities must suspend their business, while wedding and funeral halls should restrict visitor numbers to a maximum of 100.
Cafes should offer only takeout and delivery services, and restaurants are banned from serving food after 9 p.m.
With no signs of a letup, however, the country decided to add more restrictions to Level 2 starting this month, which banned the operation of sauna and indoor sports facilities. Hotels are also restricted from holding year-end parties.
South Korea can adopt Level 2.5 when the daily average number of cases hovers between 400 and 500 for a week.
The country already meets the threshold as daily new virus cases topped 450 in the past week.
Areas other than greater Seoul are currently under relatively moderate Level 1.5, although individual cities can adopt tougher measures depending on their situations. Gwangju, located 330 kilometers south of Seoul, has adopted Level 2, along with Chuncheon of Gangwon Province.
"With no clear signs of a slowdown in the number of new patients, the enhanced measure in the greater Seoul area is likely to be extended into next week as well," Sohn Young-rae, a senior health official said. The scheme was originally planned to run through Monday.
"We also need to wait until the weekend to assess the impact of the Level 2 social distancing scheme," he added.
A teacher in quarantine gear checks students' body temperatures at a high school in Masan, South Gyeongsang Province, on Dec. 3, 2020, before the nationwide college entrance exam begins. (Yonhap)
Along with 260 cases reported from Seoul, 137 cases were from Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital. Incheon, located west of Seoul, added 22 more infections.
The southeastern port city of Busan reported 15 cases, while its surrounding South Gyeongsang Province added 13 infections.
North Gyeongsang Province accounted for 19, and South Chungcheong Province had 13 more patients.
The central city of Daejeon added seven more, while its neighboring Sejong saw four more cases.
As of Wednesday, a cram school located in southern Seoul reported 18 patients, and a call center located in the same district added nine cases.
An online shopping business from western Seoul saw 18 COVID-19 cases, and a chemical firm located in Cheongju, 137 kilometers south of Seoul, reported eight cases.
The country added 24 imported cases.
Of the imported cases, the United States accounted for nine, followed by Russia with five and Italy with two.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 117, up 16 from the previous day.
South Korea reported three additional deaths, raising the total to 529.
The fatality rate came to 1.48 percent.
The number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 28,352, up 287 from a day earlier. This translates into around 79 percent of the virus patients here being cured.
South Korea has carried out 3,131,886 COVID-19 tests so far, including 24,916 from the previous day.
Citizens wait in line to receive new coronavirus tests at a makeshift clinic located in northern Seoul on Dec. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--China OKs S. Korean game for 1st time in nearly 4 years

`` China currently issues only one-tenth the video game licenses that it used to , '' Wi Jong-hyun , president @ @ @ @ @ , said in a Facebook post .
`` It would be naive to think that @ @ @ @ @ games will now receive licenses . ''

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- China's media regulator has approved a South Korean video game for the first time in nearly four years in what could be a relaxation of economic retaliation.
China's National Press and Publication Administration issued a license for "Summoners War" on Wednesday, paving the way for Com2uS Corp. to officially sell the mobile game in the Chinese market, according to the South Korean video game developer.
The decision marks a shift from China's reluctance to approve South Korean video games in apparent economic retaliation against Seoul over the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system in South Korea.
In 2017, Seoul and Washington deployed the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in South Korea to counter North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats.
China, South Korea's largest trading partner, has repeatedly pressed Seoul to withdraw the missile defense system, claiming it could hurt its security interests.
Com2uS Corp.'s popular mobile game "Summoners War" is shown in this undated image provided by the company. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Prior to the Chinese regulator's latest decision, no South Korean game had received a license since March 2017.
A Com2uS official said the company had sought approval for its game from the Chinese regulator since late 2016. "Summoners War" is Com2uS' flagship game that was globally released in June 2014.
Besides video games, other South Korean industries, such as tourism, have been hit hard by China's retaliation.
The number of Chinese tourists to South Korea fell by more than 30 percent in the 2017-2020 period from three years earlier amid the diplomatic row, according to data by the Korea Tourism Organization.
The latest video game approval raised hopes that more South Korean games could enter the Chinese market.
"The license approval for 'Summoners War' will raise expectations for the South Korean game industry to expand into the Chinese market," DB Financial Investment analyst Hwang Hyun-joon said.
Still, other game experts called for more support from the South Korean government to local game companies targeting the Chinese market.
"China currently issues only one-tenth the video game licenses that it used to," Wi Jong-hyun, president of the Korea Game Society, said in a Facebook post. "It would be naive to think that a string of South Korean games will now receive licenses."
"South Korea needs to continue to pressure (China) for more licenses," he added.
yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--(LEAD) KBO's Giants bring back ace Dan Straily for 2nd season

The 31-year-old endeared himself to his new teammates and fans by throwing himself into Korean baseball culture .
He famously @ @ @ @ @ his teammates , which then became collector 's items among Giants diehards .
Straily once @ @ @ @ @ into the dugout to liven up the bench , as KBO clubs continued to play @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .

(ATTN: ADDS Giants' earlier signings at bottom)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- After dominating the South Korean league in 2020, right-hander Dan Straily will be back for another go in 2021.
The Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Thursday that Straily has signed a new one-year deal worth US$1.2 million, which includes a signing bonus of $300,000.
The Giants said Straily will also be in line for performance-based incentives. They didn't disclose the exact amount, but U.S. media reported Thursday that he can make up to $500,000.
In this file photo from Oct. 18, 2020, Dan Straily of the Lotte Giants pitches against the NC Dinos during the bottom of the first inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Changwon NC Park in Changwon, 400 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The former major league starter went 15-4 with a 2.50 ERA in 31 starts and led the KBO with 205 strikeouts in 194 2/3 innings. Straily became the 10th pitcher, and only the second foreign hurler, in KBO history to surpass the 200-strikeout mark in a season.
Straily also led the league in walks and hits per innings pitched (WHIP) with 1.02, while ranking second in ERA and third in innings pitched. Opponents only batted .209 off Straily, the lowest number in the KBO by 23 points.
Straily posted 7.51 wins above replacement (WAR), the second-highest WAR ever by a first-year foreign pitcher in the KBO.
The 31-year-old endeared himself to his new teammates and fans by throwing himself into Korean baseball culture. He famously made T-shirts bearing images of his teammates, which then became collector's items among Giants diehards. Straily once brought a gong and clappers into the dugout to liven up the bench, as KBO clubs continued to play without fans during the coronavirus pandemic.
The KBO later asked the Giants to remove the gong, but Straily told Yonhap News Agency that the instrument kept traveling with the Giants the rest of the season and that the players strike it in the clubhouse after every win.
KBO clubs are each permitted to carry up to three foreign players, with a maximum two pitchers. Before re-signing Straily, the Giants had also retained shortstop Dixon Machado in November. Machado will make $650,000 in 2021, and if the Giants pick up their option for 2022, he will earn $800,000.
The Giants then newly acquired former major league pitcher Enderson Franco later in November on a one-year deal worth up to $500,000 with incentives.
In this file photo from Sept. 22, 2020, Dan Straily of the Lotte Giants smiles on his way back to the dugout after completing the top of the third inning of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game against the KT Wiz at Sajik Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--(2nd LD) Nat'l college entrance exam gets under way as virus surges

`` Beyond social distancing , our goal for this year 's CSAT is to clearly distinguish between general test-takers , @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 ) , those in self-quarantine and patients , and then to completely separate their @ @ @ @ @ measures at test centers to allow everyone to take the exam in a safe environment @ @ @ @ @ said .

(ATTN: UPDATES with details, virus count in paras 1-2, 5, 8-10; CHANGES headline, photos)
By Lee Haye-ah
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- Hundreds of thousands of students sat for the annual national college entrance exam Thursday while taking extra precautions to guard against the continued surge of the coronavirus.
Students arrived at their designated test facilities accompanied by their family members, but there was little of the cheer typical of the scene outside schools on exam day due to restrictions caused by the pandemic.
A proctor collects test takers' belongings at a high school in Seoul on Dec. 3, 2020, before the college entrance exam begins. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
Students are ready to take the college entrance exam at a high school on the country's southern Jeju Island on Dec. 3, 2020. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
Around 490,000 high school seniors, graduates and others signed up for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), down 10 percent from last year and the smallest number since the current exam was introduced in the 1994 school year.
That included 35 coronavirus patients and 404 people in self-quarantine as of Tuesday, according to the education ministry. Hospital beds were set up for up to 205 COVID-19 patients and special test centers for up to 3,775 people in self-quarantine.
In Seoul, the city government banned cheering at test centers and urged parents not to wait outside due to concerns about the virus.
Many students hugged their family members quietly before walking into their classrooms, and parents turned back without waiting.
Some students wiped away tears, while others laughed with friends and took selfies outside the school gate.
Osan High School in the central ward of Yongsan looked abandoned, unlike other schools, as only six students in quarantine were due to take the exam there.
In the central city of Daejeon, 164 kilometers south of Seoul, a high school teacher who had planned to serve as an examiner tested positive Wednesday, leading the local education office to replace 19 examiners, including the patient.
Meanwhile, South Korea reported 540 new coronavirus cases Thursday, including 516 local transmissions, continuing a weeklong streak of more than 400 cases a day.
A teacher in protective gear checks students' body temperatures at a high school in Masan, South Gyeongsang Province, on Dec. 3, 2020, before the nationwide college entrance exam begins. (Yonhap)
A mother encourages her son at the gate of a high school in Seoul as the student enters the school to take the college entrance exam on Dec. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Education authorities had said the exam would go ahead as planned with strict antivirus measures in place at 1,383 test centers and 31,291 classrooms nationwide, a nearly 50 percent increase from last year. The CSAT was already postponed once in November.
"Beyond social distancing, our goal for this year's CSAT is to clearly distinguish between general test-takers, those showing symptoms (of COVID-19), those in self-quarantine and patients, and then to completely separate their movements and take thorough antivirus measures at test centers to allow everyone to take the exam in a safe environment," a ministry official said.
The CSAT is the culmination of years of hard work for many students, and the government not only increases public transport to help students get to their test centers on time but also bans overhead flights during the English listening section.
A father takes a selfie with his child at the gate of a high school in Seoul as the student enters the school to take the college entrance exam on Dec. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Test-takers experiencing COVID-19 symptoms were able to get tested for the virus until 10 p.m. Wednesday at designated public health centers. If the result came back positive during the night, the student would still be able to take the exam at hospitals specializing in infectious diseases or other designated facilities.
All students were required to wear a mask and get a temperature check before entering a test center. If an examiner asked to see the student's face for identification purposes, they were required to briefly take down the mask or face suspicions of cheating if they refused.
During breaks, test-takers will be asked to refrain from gathering and talking. They were also required to bring a packed lunch to eat at their desks.
Water purifiers were not installed at test centers as an antivirus precaution, and students had to bring their own water.
Students were asked to dress appropriately to stay warm, as classrooms will be ventilated at the end of each session.
Under a two-week government campaign launched Nov. 19 to enhance antivirus measures ahead of the test, all high schools were required to conduct classes online starting Nov. 26, and all students were advised to stay home if possible and refrain from using crowded facilities.
With the increased number of test classrooms, the number of examiners and other staff on duty was also increased by around 30 percent from last year to about 120,000.
Classroom capacity was capped at 24 instead of 28, and each table was fitted with a plastic divider as an added precaution.
An ambulance enters a medical facility in Seoul that has been designated as a College Scholastic Ability Test center for COVID-19 patients taking the exam on Dec. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--7 more soldiers test positive for COVID-19

Four enlisted soldiers -- two each from the border counties of Yeoncheon and Cheorwon -- tested positive while in quarantine @ @ @ @ @ at their units , while another enlistee based in the eastern city of Wonju was @ @ @ @ @ upon returning from vacation , according to the defense ministry .

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- The military reported seven new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday.
Four enlisted soldiers -- two each from the border counties of Yeoncheon and Cheorwon -- tested positive while in quarantine after cluster infections were reported at their units, while another enlistee based in the eastern city of Wonju was confirmed to have the virus upon returning from vacation, according to the defense ministry.
In addition, an officer based at another Army unit in Yeoncheon and an officer based in Bucheon, west of Seoul, also tested positive after showing symptoms, it said.
The latest infections brought the total number of virus cases reported among the military population to 389.
Nationwide, South Korea added 540 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total caseload to 35,703.
Soldiers close the front gate of an Army boot camp in the northern county of Yeoncheon on Nov. 25, 2020, after 60 newly enlisted soldiers tested positive for the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--Samsung Electronics continues to surge on rosy chip outlook

`` DRAM demand growth in the next year is estimated to be around the high 10 percent range , but @ @ @ @ @ to be lower than that level , '' Hwang Ko-un , an analyst at KB @ @ @ @ @ DRAM prices could rebound from the end of the first quarter next year and start @ @ @ @ @ the industry . ''

By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- Shares in Samsung Electronics Co. continued to surge on the Seoul bourse Thursday on the back of rosy outlook for its semiconductor business.
Samsung shares were trading at 70,100 won (US$63) as of 11 a.m., surpassing the 70,000-won mark for the first time in its history. They reached as high as 70,500 won at one point.
Shares in Samsung have been skyrocketing recently with massive foreign buying on expectations of a big boom in the chip industry next year.
The share price of Samsung was only 57,400 won at the beginning of November, but foreigners bought more than 11.27 million shares and led the rally.
"Samsung Electronics has been anchoring foreign investors' so-called 'buy Korea' trend recently," Hwang Min-seong, an analyst at Samsung Securities, said. "Next year's earnings recovery, shareholder return policy, and its valuation will be all reflected in its share price."
This image from Yonhap News TV shows South Korean chipmakers Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
South Korea's No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix Inc. also saw its stock price rally.
SK hynix shares also hit a fresh new high during the morning session, touching as high as 114,500 won at one point. The share price of SK hynix was only 79,600 won on Nov. 2.
A recent report from the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) boosted positive outlook for the chipmaking sector and pushed up local chipmakers' share prices, analysts said.
The industry body expected the global semiconductor market to grow 5.1 percent on-year to $433 billion this year, revising its previous forecast of 3.3 percent growth, and also predicted that its growth will reach 8.4 percent in 2021.
In particular, WSTS said it expects the memory sector to post 12.2 percent growth for 2020. Samsung and SK hynix are the world's two leading memory chip makers.
Analysts said the first-quarter earnings guidance revision from Micron Technology Inc., the world's third-largest DRAM maker, also backed the positive outlook for next year's chip industry.
Micron recently raised its guidance range for adjusted earnings per share for the first quarter to 69 cents to 73 cents from 40 cents to 54 cents, while increasing its midpoint revenue guidance from $5.2 billion to $5.73 billion.
Analysts expected the DRAM industry particularly could experience supply shortage next year.
"DRAM demand growth in the next year is estimated to be around the high 10 percent range, but the supply growth is expected to be lower than that level," Hwang Ko-un, an analyst at KB Securities, said. "DRAM prices could rebound from the end of the first quarter next year and start the 'super cycle' of the industry."
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--Punishment against child prostitution toughened

The 69-year-old is set to be freed from jail on Dec. 13 after finishing a 12-year term for kidnapping and @ @ @ @ @ a church bathroom in Ansan , 42 kilometers southwest of Seoul , in December 2008 @ @ @ @ @ has caused a huge public outcry and concerns over a lack of control over freed @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- Those who engage in sex trafficking of children or youths below the age of 16 will face tougher punishment in South Korea.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said Thursday that the revised act on the protection of children and juveniles against sexual abuse passed at the parliament the previous day.
According to the law revision, purchasing sex from minors or inducing them to engage in prostitution will result in an additional penalty of up to 10 years in prison or a fine of 50 million won (US$45,000).
Previously, only prostitution of disabled children was subject to the additional punishment.
The revised law also mandates international schools, juvenile care centers and entertainment agencies to report all sexual crimes against underaged people at their institutions, if any, to the authorities, according to the ministry.
The law requires more detailed addresses of convicted sexual criminals to be open to the public as part of efforts to strengthen legal surveillance of such criminals.
The legislation comes as the release of Cho Doo-soon, one of the country's most notorious child rapists, is about a week away.
The 69-year-old is set to be freed from jail on Dec. 13 after finishing a 12-year term for kidnapping and raping an 8-year-old girl in a church bathroom in Ansan, 42 kilometers southwest of Seoul, in December 2008. But his imminent release has caused a huge public outcry and concerns over a lack of control over freed criminals like him.
In this file photo taken on Oct. 13, 2020, an official sets up a surveillance camera in a village in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province. (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Dec. 3 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .

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


yna--2020-12-03--UNC refutes allegations of hindering Tamiflu delivery to N. Korea

According to the UNC , the command gave the green light to the shipment one day after South Korea filed @ @ @ @ @ approval every day until Seoul notified the command of its cancellation of requests to cross @ @ @ @ @ , 2019 .

By Choi Soo-hyang
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- The U.S.-led United Nations Command (UNC) on Thursday rebutted allegations that it blocked South Korea's attempt to send antiviral medication to North Korea last year.
South Korea tried to send 200,000 doses of Tamiflu to the North in early 2019 as a follow-up on an agreement between their leaders to closely cooperate in fighting the spread of infectious diseases. But the plan never materialized.
In a recent media interview, Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung said the influenza medication could not be delivered as the UNC blocked the movement of trucks across the border.
Unveiling a timeline of events surrounding the failed delivery, the UNC said the report that it blocked the shipment of the medication goods across the military demarcation line (MDL) is "false."
"The fact remains that UNC rapidly approved Military Demarcation Line crossings for the delivery of Tamiflu," it said in a statement.
According to the UNC, the command gave the green light to the shipment one day after South Korea filed the request and renewed the approval every day until Seoul notified the command of its cancellation of requests to cross the MDL on Feb. 1, 2019.
The statement came as some critics called for improvements in the UNC's handling of entry requests to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating South and North Korea, saying it hampers cross-border exchanges aimed at boosting ties between the two sides.
Last month, U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Robert Abrams, who also leads the UNC, rejected speculation the U.S. might be planning to use the multinational command to maintain the American military's influence on the Korean Peninsula after Washington's envisioned transfer of wartime operational control of South Korean troops to Seoul.
"United Nations Command is not a warfighting command," he said. "There is no plan, secret plan for the UNC to somehow be a warfighting or operational headquarters in the future."
This undated file photo shows a soldier standing guard in front of the office of the United Nations Command's (UNC) Military Armistice Commission at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--S. Korea confirms highly pathogenic avian influenza case from wild birds

The country is currently carrying out investigations on droppings of wild birds gathered from Suncheon , 415 km south of @ @ @ @ @ takes a few days to find out whether they are highly pathogenic .

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Thursday confirmed another case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds, with local authorities raising their guard against its transmission into poultry farms.
The latest case came from wild birds in Buan, 280 kilometers south of Seoul in North Jeolla Province, raising the total bird flu cases here since October to 13, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
The country is currently carrying out investigations on droppings of wild birds gathered from Suncheon, 415 km south of Seoul as well. It takes a few days to find out whether they are highly pathogenic.
A quarantine official bans the entry of automobiles into a farm in Sangju, 270 km southeast of Seoul, after it reported a highly pathogenic avian influenza case from chickens.
"The virus can be transmitted through various means, including cars, people and wild birds. Local poultry farms need to carry out thorough preventive measures, including wearing different shoes for each shed," a ministry official said.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is highly contagious and can cause severe illness and even death in poultry.
South Korea reported its first highly pathogenic AI case in 32 months in late October from Cheonan, 92 km south of Seoul.
Since, the country also saw two cases from local poultry farms.
The first case was reported at a duck farm in Jeongeup of North Jeolla Province on Saturday, followed by the second infection from an egg farm in Sangju, 270 km southeast of Seoul on the previous day.
Local authorities are currently culling poultry within a 3-km radius of infected farms.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--Seoul stocks open nearly flat on valuation pressure

SEOUL , Dec. 3 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean stocks opened nearly flat Thursday on valuation pressure , after @ @ @ @ @ an all-time high the previous session despite the new coronavirus concerns .

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened nearly flat Thursday on valuation pressure, after the benchmark index closed at an all-time high the previous session despite the new coronavirus concerns.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 0.45 point, or 0.02 percent, to 2,676.35 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Stocks traded choppy, with strong advances by chipmakers offset by institutional and foreign selling.
Overnight, the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up 0.2 percent to 29,883.79 points, but the tech-laden Nasdaq Composite slid 0.05 percent. The S&P 500 climbed 0.18 percent.
Large caps traded mixed in Seoul.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics added 0.72 percent, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix gained 1.83 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest carmaker, traded flat.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem shed 0.95 percent, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI retreated 0.91 percent.
Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics climbed 0.25 percent, and Celltrion rose 1.73 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver went up 0.88 percent, but its rival Kakao declined 0.4 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,100.85 won against the U.S. dollar, down 0.05 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--(LEAD) Moon's approval rating hits all-time low of 37.4 pct: Realmeter

The liberal president 's rating lost 6.4 percentage points from last week .
It is unprecedented that his approval has @ @ @ @ @ The previous low was 41.4 percent recorded in October last year , when Moon 's @ @ @ @ @ picking Cho Kuk , one of his key confidants , as justice minister despite allegations @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: UPDATES with details in 4th, last paras; CORRECTS info in 7th para; ADDS photo, byline)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in's job approval rating has fallen to a record low of 37.4 percent, a poll showed Thursday, with a rift between the justice minister and the top prosecutor deepening and housing prices in major areas continuing to rise.
Public approval for the ruling Democratic Party (DP) also dropped to 28.9 percent, the lowest since the launch of the Moon administration in May 2017, while that of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) rose to 31.2 percent, according to Realmeter.
The pollster conducted the survey on 1,508 voters nationwide from Monday through Wednesday. The margin of error is plus and minus 2.5 percentage points.
The liberal president's rating lost 6.4 percentage points from last week. It is unprecedented that his approval has dipped below 40 percent. The previous low was 41.4 percent recorded in October last year, when Moon's leadership suffered a blow from picking Cho Kuk, one of his key confidants, as justice minister despite allegations of wrongdoings involving his family.
His rating especially plunged among liberal and swing voters, by 7.8 percentage points and 5.5 percentage points, respectively.
President Moon Jae-in takes off his mask for a commemorative photo with a group of newly appointed ambassadors during a ceremony at Cheong Wa Dae on Dec. 2, 2020. (Yonhap)
The proportion of those disapproving of Moon's job soared 5.1 percentage points to 57.3 percent, the highest since his inauguration.
The ruling party also saw its popularity dropping 5.2 percentage points. In contrast, the figure for the PPP gained 3.3 percentage points to outdo the DP for the first time in nearly four months in Realmeter's regular poll.
It is also the first time that the DP's rating has dropped below 30 percent under the Moon administration.
In its power base of liberal voters, the DP shed 9.9 percentage points to 47.3 percent.
The survey results came amid a flood of local media reports on the conflict between Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl.
Many view them as locking horns over the Moon government's push for reforming the state prosecution service often accused of having excessive authority and power.
Moon has kept mum in public on the Choo-Yoon conflict that has intensified in recent days.
This combined photo shows Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae (L) and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. (Yonhap)
Yoon's popularity among conservatives has shot up, while liberals are apparently disappointed with the slower-than-expected prosecution reform drive and unrelenting hikes in apartment prices and rent largely in Seoul and adjacent towns.
Some liberal civic groups also criticized Choo for "going too far" by suspending Yoon from duty over alleged misdeeds. The Seoul Administrative Court later issued a provisional injunction against the measure, citing the prosecution chief's two-year tenure stipulated by law.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--S. Korea seeks to nurture 100,000 talents in AI sector by 2025

`` Through AI-related graduate schools and colleges focusing on software development , the government plans to foster 100,000 key talented @ @ @ @ @ software education for students and the public , '' Hong said at a government meeting @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to nurture 100,000 talented individuals in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector by 2025 by supporting related graduate schools and colleges centering on software development, the finance minister said Thursday.
Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki also said the country plans to spend more than 23 billion won (US$21 million) next year to support software firms' marketing in and forays into overseas markets.
"Through AI-related graduate schools and colleges focusing on software development, the government plans to foster 100,000 key talented individuals by 2025 and support software education for students and the public," Hong said at a government meeting over strategy on innovative growth.
The government has campaigned for nurturing innovative growth and developing the software industry in an effort to help prop up the sagging economy, hit by the new coronavirus outbreak.
In a related effort, the government plans to foster 100 leading software companies by 2025 and convert more than five regional software clusters into software development complexes, Hong noted.
This photo, taken on Dec. 3, 2020, shows Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki presiding over a government meeting on strategies on innovative growth at the government complex building in Seoul. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--In phone call, Moon, Macron discuss cooperation on climate change initiatives

Moon also explained that he plans to cooperate with the next U.S. administration under Joe Biden to denuclearize and foster @ @ @ @ @ , to which Macron reaffirmed his support for the stability of the peninsula .

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- The leaders of South Korea and France held phone discussions Thursday on ways to cooperate in dealing with climate change and pushing forward green initiatives.
Speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron, President Moon Jae-in said South Korea will "actively cooperate with the international community" to fulfill the Paris Agreement on climate change, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
Moon explained Seoul's Korea New Deal project, which puts heavy emphasis on future-oriented digital and green projects, and the country's recent stated goal of going carbon neutral by 2050 as part of efforts to commit to the Paris Agreement.
This photo provided by Cheong Wa Dae on Dec. 3, 2020, shows South Korean President Moon Jae-in speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron over the telephone at his residence. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Macron told Moon that France would like to support various initiatives of the South Korean president and that he would actively participate in the P4G summit scheduled to be held in Seoul next year.
P4G, which stands for Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, is a public-private initiative aimed at tackling climate change and other sustainable development goals.
As part of the agreement in last month's Group of 20 summit, the two leaders also pledged to work together in the areas of development, provision and inoculation involving vaccines for the new coronavirus.
Moon also explained that he plans to cooperate with the next U.S. administration under Joe Biden to denuclearize and foster peace on the Korean Peninsula, to which Macron reaffirmed his support for the stability of the peninsula.
The South Korean president also expressed his willingness to coalesce with the French government's measures against violent extremism following recent high-profile terror incidents in France.
Macron, meanwhile, told Moon that he hoped to visit South Korea next year to discuss ways to further deepen the two countries' cooperative relationship. Moon said that he hoped to meet Macron in Seoul next year by overcoming the new coronavirus pandemic.
This file photo shows South Korean President Moon Jae-in (L) shaking hands with French President Emmanuel Macron during their talks on the margins of the Group of 20 summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 28, 2019. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--Cheong Wa Dae denies report of S. Korea-China-Japan summit postponement

The Nikkei report quoted a senior Tokyo official as saying that Seoul has not proposed a specific schedule or agenda @ @ @ @ @ leaders , and that for the summit to take place within this year , given @ @ @ @ @ be difficult .

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean presidential office on Thursday denied a news report that an annual trilateral summit between South Korea, China and Japan, which Seoul plans to host this year, will be postponed to next year.
Japan's Nikkei reported earlier in the day that the hosting of this year's annual three-way summit will be delayed as the environment in which South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga can meet in person has not been arranged.
"No decision has been made regarding the South Korea-China-Japan summit," Kang Min-seok, spokesperson for South Korea's presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae, said in a statement.
The Nikkei report quoted a senior Tokyo official as saying that Seoul has not proposed a specific schedule or agenda to be discussed between the leaders, and that for the summit to take place within this year, given the current circumstances, would be difficult.
Seoul has been seeking to host the summit, held in turns in the three countries, within the year.
Many Koreans were forced to toil at Japanese factories and mines during World War II, when Korea was under Japan's brutal colonial rule.
Japan argues that all reparation-related issues were settled in a 1965 state-to-state accord on normalizing bilateral diplomatic ties. But South Korea's Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that the individual rights to compensation remain valid. The Moon administration stated that it respects the judiciary's position.
This file photo shows South Korean President Moon Jae-in (L), Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C) and then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attending a joint press conference after a trilateral summit in Chengdu, southwestern China, on Dec. 24, 2019. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--Popular monk apologizes again over New York apartment controversy

Ven .
Haemin is a bestselling author , with his first book , `` The Things You Can See Only @ @ @ @ @ ( 2012 ) , translated into more than 35 different languages and selling more than @ @ @ @ @ to his homepage .

SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- A popular Buddhist monk, who has faced public criticism over his lifestyle that appears to contradict his preaching of non-possession, belatedly apologized Thursday over another controversy over an apartment in New York believed to be owned by him.
Ven. Haemin, also an author and teacher, has recently faced widespread criticism over his posh private home in central Seoul, and a subsequent news report claimed that he made gains by selling a building to a Buddhist organization allegedly run by him in the past.
This undated file photo shows Ven. Haemin, who has recently been engulfed in controversy over his property and lifestyle that appear to contradict his preaching of non-possession. (Yonhap)
Further allegations arose earlier this week that he had purchased an apartment complex in Brooklyn, New York, together with a foreign national in May 2011, for the price of US$610,000.
In a letter sent to Yonhap News Agency on Thursday, he again apologized over the latest revelation and said that he will try to live a monastic life, without clarifying whether he actually owns the property.
"I could not immediately respond as I was so ashamed of and embarrassed by my life, and I was also honestly scared," he said.
When news of his personal wealth broke last month, Ven. Hemin said he would stop all public activities, study Buddha's teachings again and devote himself to prayer and practice.
Born in South Korea, the Zen monk in his mid-40s studied at UC Berkeley, Harvard and Princeton and taught Asian religions at Hampshire College in Massachusetts for seven years. He is now a U.S. citizen.
Ven. Haemin is a bestselling author, with his first book, "The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down" (2012), translated into more than 35 different languages and selling more than 4 million copies, according to his homepage.
He is a social media influencer with over 1.5 million followers on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
He has run The School for Broken Hearts, a Seoul-based nonprofit meditation academy and psychological counseling center, since 2015 and has recently launched a meditation mobile app service.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--U.S. should signal willingness for dialogue with N. Korea at early date: official

Noting that it will take time for Biden 's foreign affairs team to flesh out its North Korea policy , @ @ @ @ @ now is to focus on keeping the situation under control and working with the ally @ @ @ @ @ out that message , the official said .

By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- The incoming U.S. administration of President-elect Joe Biden should signal its willingness to resolve the North Korean nuclear standoff through dialogue so as to prevent Pyongyang from undertaking provocations to grab U.S. attention, an official said Thursday.
The foreign ministry official made the case, pointing out that the Biden administration might be unable to pay enough attention to the issue of North Korea in its early months as it could be focused on domestic matters first.
"We need to send a positive message that there is willingness to resolve the issue through dialogue. Showing the North that the U.S. is interested in the issue has merit," the official said on condition of anonymity.
To deliver that message more clearly, one possible move the Biden administration can take is to announce its new point man for North Korea at an early date, the official noted.
"In that way, we could hope that the North would think that the U.S. is not uninterested in them," the official said.
Nuclear dialogue between the North and U.S. remains deadlocked after their Hanoi summit in early 2019 collapsed without a deal. They failed to bridge the gap over the scope of the North's denuclearization and concessions by Washington in return.
The official said that Pyongyang is very likely to launch a provocation when it judges that the regime is not on Biden's primary agenda.
The incoming Biden administration already faces a string of domestic problems to deal with, such as tackling the coronavirus pandemic and social division from racial injustice.
Noting that it will take time for Biden's foreign affairs team to flesh out its North Korea policy, the main task for Seoul now is to focus on keeping the situation under control and working with the ally to make sure Washington sends out that message, the official said.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--(LEAD) Seoul stocks finish record-high again on chip, auto gains; Korean won soars

SEOUL , Dec. 3 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean stocks set another all-time high Thursday despite a resurgence in @ @ @ @ @ by strong advances by chip and auto heavyweights .
The Korean won sharply rose to @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. greenback .

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks set another all-time high Thursday despite a resurgence in new coronavirus cases, led by strong advances by chip and auto heavyweights. The Korean won sharply rose to an almost 30-month high against the U.S. greenback.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 20.32 points, or 0.76 percent, to close at 2,696.22.
Stock trading hours were pushed back by 1 hour due to the nationwide college entrance exam.
Trading volume was moderate at about 810 million shares worth some 15.4 trillion won (US$14.1 billion), with gainers outnumbering losers 469 to 369.
Foreigners bought a net 212 billion won, and retail investors purchased a net 179 billion won. Institutions sold a net 388 billion won.
Electronic signboards at a Hana Bank dealing room in Seoul show the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,696.22 on Dec. 3, 2020, up 20.32 points or 0.76 percent from the previous session's close. (Yonhap)
The KOSPI gained for a third consecutive session, briefly surging as high as 2,704.02 toward the session's close.
Trading of stocks, as well as the exchange traded fund (ETF) and bond markets, closed one hour later than usual at 4:30 p.m.,due to national college entrance exam.
After a choppy morning, stocks gained ground on strong gains by South Korea's two largest chipmakers, Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. Both firms closed at their all-time highs on brisk November exports and rosy forecasts for next year.
Stellar auto shares also lifted the stock index.
"Foreigners bought auto-related stocks as carmakers reported robust vehicle sales in the domestic market in November despite the pandemic," Shinhan Financial Investment analyst Choi Yoo-joon said.
The combined domestic sales by five homegrown carmakers in November jumped 5 percent on-year, according to data from the companies.
Large caps closed higher in Seoul.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics added 0.29 percent to record 69,700 won, and No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix hiked 2.29 percent to an all-time high of 111,500 won.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest carmaker, spiked 7.67 percent, helped by expectations on its new EV platform technologies.
Leading chemical firm LG Chem moved up 0.59 percent to 846,000 won, while rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI closed unchanged at 552,000 won.
Pharmaceutical giant Samsung Biologics advanced 1.9 percent to 805,000 won, while Celltrion rose 1.15 percent to 351,000 won.
Internet portal giant Naver went up 1.23 percent to 287,000 won, with its rival Kakao gaining 0.27 percent to 374,000 won.
The local currency closed at 1,097.0 won against the U.S. dollar, up 3.8 won from the previous session's close and the highest since June 14, 2018, when the comparable figure was 1,083.1 won.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed higher. The yield on three-year Treasurys lost 0.7 basis point to 0.975 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond fell 1.3 basis points to 1.337 percent.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-12-03--(4th LD) More than 426,000 take college entrance exam as virus surges

`` Beyond social distancing , our goal for this year 's CSAT is to clearly distinguish between general test-takers , @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 ) , those in self-quarantine and patients , and then to completely separate their @ @ @ @ @ measures at test centers to allow everyone to take the exam in a safe environment @ @ @ @ @ official said .

(ATTN: UPDATES with new figures in 5th para; CHANGES headline)
By Lee Haye-ah
SEOUL, Dec. 3 (Yonhap) -- Hundreds of thousands of students took the annual national college entrance exam Thursday while taking extra precautions to guard against the continued surge of the coronavirus.
Students arrived at their designated test facilities accompanied by their family members, but there was little of the cheer typical of the scene outside schools on exam day due to restrictions caused by the pandemic.
This photo, provided by the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education, shows students preparing to take the College Scholastic Ability Test at a high school in Daejeon, 164 kilometers south of Seoul, on Dec. 3, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Health care workers deliver packed lunches to coronavirus-infected students taking the College Scholastic Ability Test at a medical facility in Pohang, 374 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Dec. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Around 490,000 high school seniors, graduates and others signed up for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), down 10 percent from last year and the smallest number since the current exam was introduced in the 1994 school year.
That included 35 coronavirus patients and 404 people in self-quarantine as of Tuesday, according to the education ministry. Hospital beds were set up for up to 205 COVID-19 patients and special test centers for up to 3,775 people in self-quarantine.
The actual number of test takers during the first period of the day-long exam stood at over 426,000, producing a record high absentee rate of 13 percent, the ministry said.
In Seoul, the city government banned cheering at test centers and urged parents not to wait outside due to concerns about the virus.
Many students hugged their family members quietly before walking into their classrooms, and parents turned back without waiting.
Some students wiped away tears, while others laughed with friends and took selfies outside the school gate.
Osan High School in the central ward of Yongsan looked abandoned, unlike other schools, as only six students in quarantine were due to take the exam there.
In the central city of Daejeon, 164 kilometers south of Seoul, a high school teacher who had planned to serve as an examiner tested positive Wednesday, leading the local education office to replace 19 examiners, including the patient.
Meanwhile, South Korea reported 540 new coronavirus cases Thursday, including 516 local transmissions, continuing a weeklong streak of more than 400 cases a day.
This footage from a closed circuit TV shows two students who have tested positive for the coronavirus taking the College Scholastic Ability Test at Seoul Medical Center on Dec. 3, 2020. (POOL PHOTO) (Yonhap)
A student taking the College Scholastic Ability Test arrives in a protective suit at a high school in Incheon, west of Seoul, on Dec. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Health authorities warned students and parents against letting down their guard after the exam, saying the pandemic is serious in the capital area.
"Please refrain as much as possible from getting together with friends or talking for long periods of time in restaurants and cafes that are in closed spaces," Son Young-rae, a health ministry spokesman, said at a background briefing with reporters.
Education authorities had said the exam would go ahead as planned with strict antivirus measures in place at 1,383 test centers and 31,291 classrooms nationwide, a nearly 50 percent increase from last year. The CSAT was already postponed once from November.
"Beyond social distancing, our goal for this year's CSAT is to clearly distinguish between general test-takers, those showing symptoms (of COVID-19), those in self-quarantine and patients, and then to completely separate their movements and take thorough antivirus measures at test centers to allow everyone to take the exam in a safe environment," an education ministry official said.
The CSAT is the culmination of years of hard work for many students, and the government not only increases public transport to help students get to their test centers on time but also bans overhead flights during the English listening section.
A student taking the College Scholastic Ability Test cries as she parts with her mother outside a high school in Busan, 453 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Dec. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
Test-takers experiencing COVID-19 symptoms were able to get tested for the virus until 10 p.m. Wednesday at designated public health centers. If the result came back positive during the night, the student could still take the exam at hospitals specializing in infectious diseases or other designated facilities.
All students were required to wear a mask and get a temperature check before entering a test center. If an examiner asked to see the student's face for identification purposes, they were required to briefly take down the mask or face suspicions of cheating if they refused.
During breaks, test-takers were asked to refrain from gathering and talking. They were also required to bring a packed lunch to eat at their desks.
Water purifiers were not installed at test centers as an antivirus precaution, and students had to bring their own water.
Students were asked to dress appropriately to stay warm, as classrooms were ventilated at the end of each period.
Under a two-week government campaign launched Nov. 19 to enhance antivirus measures ahead of the test, all high schools were required to conduct classes online starting Nov. 26, and all students were advised to stay home if possible and refrain from using crowded facilities.
With the increased number of test classrooms, the number of examiners and other staff on duty was also increased by around 30 percent from last year to about 120,000.
Classroom capacity was capped at 24 instead of 28, and each table was fitted with a plastic divider as an added precaution.
Parents pray for a good outcome on their children's College Scholastic Ability Test at Jogye Temple in central Seoul on Dec. 3, 2020. (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)