yna--2020-10-16--(LEAD) 11 cases of possible remdesivir side effects reported in S. Korea

By type of side effects , there were three cases of acute increase in liver enzymes , three of skin @ @ @ @ @ and two case of premature contraction of the ventricles in the heart .
One case @ @ @ @ @ showed .

(ATTN: UPDATES 5th para; ADDS more info in 6th para)
SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- At least 11 cases of possible remdesivir side effects have been reported in South Korea, data showed Friday, amid global controversy surrounding the antiviral drug being used for novel coronavirus treatment.
As of end-September, a total of 11 cases of possible remdesivir adverse effects has been reported after the drug was used to treat COVID-19 patients in South Korea, according to data of Seoul's drug safety ministry released by Rep. Jung Choun-sook of the ruling Democratic Party.
By type of side effects, there were three cases of acute increase in liver enzymes, three of skin rash, two of hives and two case of premature contraction of the ventricles in the heart. One case reported vomiting, the data showed.
The medication developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences Inc. has been supplied to South Korea for COVID-19 patients since July after the country's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved its special import.
This undated file photo shows remdesivir, an experimental drug conventionally used to treat Ebola and developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Gilead Sciences Inc. (Yonhap)
Health authorities in South Korea said 611 virus patients have been administered with remdesivir as of Thursday.
In South Korea, remdesivir use is only allowed for virus patients with pneumonia who need oxygen treatment, such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
The drug safety ministry said there has not been a major side effect case reported in South Korea, and yet it cannot determine whether adverse effects are directly caused by remdesivir, which is conventionally used for Ebola treatment.
The latest data came as a World Health Organization (WHO) study showed remdesivir had little or no effect on COVID-19 patients' mortality rates or on reducing the length of their hospital stays.
According to WHO's "Solidarity" trial, four potential drug regimens, including remdesivir, showed disappointing results in helping with treatment of COVID-19. The other three drug regimens were hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir and interferon.
WHO said the randomized trial of the drugs involved 11,266 patients at 405 hospitals across more than 30 countries. Of them, some 2,750 people were given remdesivir.
However, WHO added that the study has not yet been peer-reviewed.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

The ministry also said the government has been handling the issue under a vice-ministerial inter-agency dialogue platform , amid public @ @ @ @ @ reports that Tokyo has decided to release it into the sea with an official announcement @ @ @ @ @ as this month .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Friday.
-----------------
Mandatory masks, no meals together: plans unveiled for safe environment for university entrance exam
SEOUL -- Students without face masks won't be allowed to enter a testing site for the national university entrance exam slated for December, the education ministry said Friday, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus during the test.
The Ministry of Education unveiled detailed guidelines to safely hold the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), the country's biggest academic event of the year.
-----------------
Moon requests support for S. Korea's WTO chief bid in meeting with foreign envoys
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in sought support for South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee's bid to become the head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) as he received credentials from six new top foreign envoys on Friday.
They were the German, Vietnamese, Austrian, Chilean, Pakistani and Omani ambassadors to South Korea.
-----------------
11 cases of possible remdesivir side effects reported in S. Korea
SEOUL -- At least 11 cases of possible remdesivir side effects have been reported in South Korea, data showed Friday, amid global controversy surrounding the antiviral drug being used for novel coronavirus treatment.
As of end-September, a total of 11 cases of possible remdesivir adverse effects has been reported after the drug was used to treat COVID-19 patients in South Korea, according to data of Seoul's drug safety ministry released by Rep. Jung Choun-sook of the ruling Democratic Party.
-----------------
S. Korea reiterates priority on citizens' health in handling Fukushima water issue
SEOUL -- South Korea's foreign ministry reiterated its "foremost priority" to protect its citizens' health and safety Friday in dealing with Japan's potential discharge of contaminated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.
The ministry also said the government has been handling the issue under a vice-ministerial inter-agency dialogue platform, amid public safety concerns over Japanese media reports that Tokyo has decided to release it into the sea with an official announcement likely to come as early as this month.
-----------------
Civic group cancels outdoor worship service after ban on rallies
SEOUL -- A conservative civic group said Friday it has canceled plans to hold a 1,000-person outdoor worship service this weekend in response to a police ban on large-scale rallies.
Choi In-sik, secretary general of the August 15 People's Emergency Response Committee, said the Sunday service was canceled because any legal steps to reverse the ban would likely not be processed in time.
-----------------
(Yonhap Interview) AKMU's Su-hyun says debut solo single shows her unique, natural side
SEOUL -- Lee Su-hyun of the K-pop duo AKMU, which is known for witty lyrics with fresh takes on life, said Friday that she wanted to show her unique and natural self with her upcoming debut solo single.
The 21-year-old is set to release her first solo single "ALIEN" later in the day after years of singing with her elder brother and songwriter Lee Chan-hyuk since they first appeared on a reality audition program in 2012.
-----------------
Over 20 sitting lawmakers indicted on illegal election campaigning charges
SEOUL -- More than 20 sitting lawmakers face trials on charges of violating the public election law while campaigning for the previous parliamentary elections in April.
Prosecutors said Thursday they indicted seven lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and 10 of the main opposition People Power Party and several others on charges of breaching the Public Official Election Act during their campaigns for the April 15 parliamentary elections.
-----------------
(END)


(Copyright)

The use of the content for any other purposes other than personal and noncommercial use is expressly prohibited without the @ @ @ @ @ News Agency .

All information carried by the Yonhap News Agency, including articles, photographs, graphics, audio and video images, and illustrations (collectively, the content) is owned by the Yonhap News Agency.
The use of the content for any other purposes other than personal and noncommercial use is expressly prohibited without the written consent of the Yonhap News Agency.
Any violation can be subject to a compensation claim or civil and criminal lawsuits.
Requests to use the content for any purpose besides the ones mentioned above should be directed in advance to Yonhap's Information Business Department at 82-2-398-3557 or 82-2-398-3552.
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--Choi Ji-man strikes out as pinch hitter in Rays' 3rd straight ALCS loss

With the South Korean first baseman benched , the Rays fell to the Houston Astros 7-4 in Game 6 of @ @ @ @ @ in San Diego on Friday ( local time ) .
After winning the first three @ @ @ @ @ , the Rays have dropped three in a row to be pushed into the do-or-die @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- Choi Ji-man of the Tampa Bay Rays struck out in his only plate appearance as his club suffered its third straight loss in the American League Champions Series (ALCS).
With the South Korean first baseman benched, the Rays fell to the Houston Astros 7-4 in Game 6 of the ALCS at Petco Park in San Diego on Friday (local time). After winning the first three games of the best-of-seven series, the Rays have dropped three in a row to be pushed into the do-or-die Game 7.
The series-deciding game will be at 5:37 p.m. Saturday local time, or 9:37 a.m. Sunday in South Korea.
The Astros started left-hander Framber Valdez, and Choi, who bats left-handed and has struggled against same-handed pitchers, began the game on the bench. Choi also didn't play Game 1 with Valdez on the mound at the start. Yandy Diaz, the right-handed hitting infielder, batted cleanup and played first base in Choi's stead.
In this EPA photo, Choi Ji-man of the Tampa Bay Rays (L) celebrates with teammate Willy Adames after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the top of the eighth inning of Game 5 of the American League Championship Series at Petco Park in San Diego on Oct. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
Diaz went 0-for-2 with a walk, and Choi pinch-hit for him with one out in the bottom eighth and the Rays down 7-2. Facing reliever Cristian Javier, Choi struck out looking on an outside fastball.
Choi stayed in the game and took over first base in the top of the ninth.
Choi is batting 3-for-10 in the ALCS with a home run, an RBI, two runs scored and three walks.
The Rays opened the scoring in the bottom second, but the Astros came back with seven unanswered runs en route to evening the series.
Only one club in major league history has rallied from a 3-0 series deficit to take a postseason round: the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees in the 2004 ALCS. The Red Sox went on to win the World Series that year, too.
Choi is the first South Korean position player to appear in any LCS and is trying to become the first batter from the country to play in the World Series.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--(LEAD) New virus cases in double digits for 2nd day; cluster infections worrisome

Daily infections had been in the triple digits for more than a month since Aug. 14 .
New virus cases @ @ @ @ @ the back of weekslong stricter virus curbs put in place in late August .

(ATTN: REWRITES headline, lead; UPDATES with more info throughout)
SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases rose by a double-digit number for the second straight day Saturday, but health authorities remain alert over an increase in sporadic cluster infections amid eased virus curbs.
The country added 73 more COVID-19 cases, including 62 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 25,108, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
It marked a rise from 47 daily cases Friday but a decline from 110 cases Thursday, when more than 50 reported cases were tied to a nursing home in the southern port city of Busan.
Citizens line up to receive coronavirus tests at a hospital in eastern Seoul on Oct. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
New virus cases dropped below the 50 mark for the first time since Sept. 29 on Friday, but health authorities remain vigilant about a potential spike in sporadic cluster infections.
The country has reported cluster infections tied to a nursing home, a hospital and other facilities following the latest Chuseok fall harvest holiday in early October. At least 17 cases have been traced to a rehabilitation hospital south of Seoul.
On Monday, the country relaxed its tougher virus curbs by one notch to the Level 1 social distancing measures in its three-tier scheme as new virus cases slowed down after a resurgence.
Daily infections had been in the triple digits for more than a month since Aug. 14. New virus cases have largely slowed down on the back of weekslong stricter virus curbs put in place in late August.
This month, daily infections underwent ups and downs, with virus cases rising above 100 sometimes. Health authorities called on people not to lose their guards as a flare-up in virus infections can happen anytime with sporadic outbreaks.
Of the newly identified local infections, 17 cases were reported in Seoul and 32 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital. Incheon, west of Seoul, reported one more case.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's largest port city of Busan adding six cases and Gangwon Province reporting three new cases.
The country, meanwhile, added 11 imported cases, increasing the total to 3,487. Three cases came from Poland, followed by two from India and another two from Russia.
South Korea reported two additional deaths, raising the death toll to 443. The fatality rate was 1.76 percent.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 84 as of midnight, down one from the previous day.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 23,258, up 78 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 2,468,527 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3.
This photo, taken on Oct. 16, 2020, shows citizens walking around Hongdae, a college neighborhood in Seoul known for its busy nightlife. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--New virus cases bounce back above 50; sporadic cluster infections worrisome

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases rebounded above 50 on Saturday on cluster infections, putting health authorities on alert over a potential uptick in daily infections amid eased virus curbs.
The country added 73 more COVID-19 cases, including 62 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 25,108, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
It marked a rise from 47 daily cases Friday but a decline from 110 cases Thursday, when more than 50 reported cases were tied to a nursing home in the southern port city of Busan.
Citizens line up to receive coronavirus tests at a hospital in eastern Seoul on Oct. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
New virus cases dropped below the 50 mark for the first time since Sept. 29 on Friday, but health authorities remain vigilant about a potential spike in sporadic cluster infections.
On Monday, the country relaxed its tougher virus curbs by one notch to the Level 1 social distancing measures in its three-tier scheme as new virus cases slowed down after a resurgence.
Daily infections had been in the triple digits for more than a month since Aug. 14. New virus cases have largely slowed down on the back of weekslong stricter virus curbs put in place in late August.
This month, daily infections underwent ups and downs, with virus cases rising above 100 sometimes. Health authorities called on people not to lose their guards as a flare-up in virus infections can happen anytime with sporadic outbreaks.
Of the newly identified local infections, 17 cases were reported in Seoul and 32 cases in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds the capital. Incheon, west of Seoul, reported one more case.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's largest port city of Busan adding six cases and Gangwon Province reporting three new cases.
The country, meanwhile, added 11 imported cases, increasing the total to 3,487. Three cases came from Poland, followed by two from India and another two from Russia.
South Korea reported two additional deaths, raising the death toll to 443. The fatality rate was 1.76 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 23,258, up 78 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 2,468,527 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3.
This photo, taken on Oct. 16, 2020, shows citizens walking around Hongdae, a college neighborhood in Seoul known for its busy nightlife. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--(Yonhap Feature) COVID-19 adds to S. Korea's plastic headache as waste spikes amid pandemic

`` While we ca n't directly compare figures since we opened during the pandemic , there is definitely more interest @ @ @ @ @ zero waste movement recently , '' said Yang Rae-gyo , one of the co-owners of @ @ @ @ @ substance '' in Korean .

By Lee Minji
SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- From the millions of plastic gloves voters wore during South Korea's general elections to the face masks that have emerged as a daily essential, the new coronavirus has been accompanied by another plight: plastic waste.
South Korea was already one of the world's biggest plastic-consuming countries per capita before the pandemic -- with people on average using 11.5 kilograms of plastic each year. That includes 96 plastic bottles, 65 plastic cups and 460 plastic bags per person, according to a 2019 report by Greenpeace and professor Jang Yong-chul at Chungnam National University in Daejeon.
But as more people stuck at home started relying on online shopping and delivery food, as well as opting for single-use goods, due to worries over infection, plastic waste has been piling up at an alarming rate.
This Sept. 24, 2020, photo shows waste piled up at a city-run recycling center in the southwestern port city of Busan. (Yonhap)
Jenna Lee, a Seoul-based office worker, said boxes and wrappers tend to fill up her house more quickly compared with last year since she orders delivery food when she gets tired of cooking and gets groceries from online retailers after she began to work from home.
"I get worried when I see plastic wrappers, ice packs and paper boxes piling up from all the deliveries, but there's not many options at a time like this," the 32-year-old said in a recent interview when the greater Seoul area was under tougher antivirus rules.
"Paper boxes are at least relatively easy to recycle, but the plastic wrappers and ice packs are really annoying," she said.
This Sept. 24, 2020, photo shows waste piled up at a city-run recycling center in the southwestern port city of Busan. (Yonhap)
Despite a June statement by more than 100 health experts from around the world that "reusable systems can be used safely by employing basic hygiene," the notion that disposable cups are safer than reusable ones has worsened the issue.
Many local branches of the U.S. coffee franchise Starbucks, for instance, serve drinks in single-use cups unless customers ask for a reusable cup. Things are not much different at smaller cafes.
"Some customers say they feel safer using single-use cups. We can't really say no to them at a time when there are so few customers," said an owner of a small cafe in the eastern Seoul ward of Seongdong.
"Also, it's even OK by law these days," he added, referring to a temporary change in the government's plastic policy.
Under a plan to phase out disposable plastic cups and straws and replace them with reusable ones by 2027, the government last year rolled out a policy to fine cafes that provide single-use plastic cups without checking whether the customer will eat in or out up to 2 million won (US$1,742).
But starting in February, the environment ministry temporarily relaxed the policy at cafes, allowing some businesses to use disposable cups and cutlery, if deemed necessary.
This Feb. 6, 2020, photo shows disposable cups provided to customers by a cafe in Naju, South Jeolla Province. The cafe was located in a grocery store where people infected with the new coronavirus had visited. (Yonhap)
While annual data and comprehensive data comparing the country's plastic waste before and after the pandemic are not yet available, plastic waste is expected to have surged in the past few months.
"Data by some provincial governments that release monthly data show that plastic waste has jumped roughly 20 percent since the pandemic broke out. Most workers in the waste management industry also say that waste has definitely increased," Baek Na-yoon, an activist at the Korea Federation for Environmental Movements, told Yonhap News Agency.
"It's not just a matter of a rise in the sheer volume of plastic waste. But it could lead to a bigger issue involving the waste management industry -- more so, since the online shopping trend is probably here to stay," she said.
This Aug. 25, 2020, photo shows food wrapped in plastic containers and bags for delivery at a restaurant in Seoul. (Yonhap)
But even in bleak situations like this, there is a silver lining. People are now paying attention to the plastic they consume and waste.
"After seeing all the waste pile up, I tried to at least cut down on the number of times I order online. Still, I feel bad," the office worker Lee said.
To ease her guilt, Lee said she has been trying to cook more often and use reusable cups. She has also started to order more from retailers that use recyclable or less package wrappings.
For consumers like Lee, a small number of eco-friendly shops are helping them live a greener lifestyle.
Earth Us, a cafe in western Seoul, for instance, strictly sticks to a no-plastic policy. It does not use any disposable good -- including napkins, straws and single-use containers. The cafe encourages customers who want to takeaway food to bring personal containers and cups.
Almang Market is another store promoting the "zero waste" and "no plastic" ethos.
The store, made by three environments who teamed up to cut plastic waste, sells makeup and laundry detergent without containers. Visitors can pump out the amount they need in reusable bottles that they bring or borrow from the shop and take them home.
"While we can't directly compare figures since we opened during the pandemic, there is definitely more interest in the environment and the zero waste movement recently," said Yang Rae-gyo, one of the co-owners of the store that means "substance" in Korean.
Yang said the new coronavirus seems to have served as an eye-opener for some.
"People used to think zero waste is something for sensitive people, but now they seem to realize that it's something that affects all of us," Yang said.
Containers carrying a variety of makeup products are on display at Almang Market in western Seoul on Sept. 22, 2020. Shoppers can pump the amount they need into reusable containers and take them home. (Yonhap)
Yang Rae-gyo, a co-owner of Almang Market in western Seoul, stands in front of the store's selection of eco-friendly products on Sept. 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Baek agreed.
"We've increasingly been getting more inquiries coming in from people that recently got interested in the plastic waste issue. COVID-19 has definitely served as an eye-opener in that sense."
But both of them emphasize that these individual movements -- however positive they are -- are not enough to prevent a looming plastic pandemic on a national scale.
"It's really not sustainable to rely on people's lifestyle changes. The move should happen in line with changes led by companies and the government. It has to go together," Yang stressed.
Fortunately, a growing number of companies are moving to reduce waste for waste-conscious customers.
McDonald's Korea is aiming to replace all of its packaging with eco-friendly material by 2025 and introduce no-straw lids for drinks. Retailers like SSG encourage customers to use reusable bags to receive deliveries and some like Market Kurly have introduced water packs that can be more naturally disposed compared with ice packs.
This photo, provided by online retailer SSG, shows eco-friendly ice packs that can be more easily recycled. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The environment ministry said it understands the gravity of the issue.
"We will push for a paradigm shift in waste management by fundamentally reducing waste and preparing resident-friendly waste management facilities," Minister Cho Myung-rae said during a recent parliamentary audit session, referring to a waste management master plan released in September.
The government plans to cut South Korea's single-use goods by 35 percent and plastic waste by 10 percent by 2022.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--Seoul shares likely to move in tight range in coming week; U.S. election in focus

`` The earlier market consensus was that the COVID-19 vaccine would come out between the fourth quarter this year and @ @ @ @ @ , '' said KTB Investment & Securities analyst Park Seok-hyun .

By Chung Joo-won
SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares are likely to move in a tight range in the coming week amid rising uncertainties from the presidential election and stimulus talks in the United States, analysts said on Saturday.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,341.53 points on Friday, dropping 2.11 percent from the previous Thursday, the last session before the holiday weekend.
Local analysts attributed the KOSPI's weekly decline to the resurgence in COVID-19 outbreaks at home.
South Korea added 47 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, marking a steep fall from 110 the day before, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Electronic signboards at a Hana Bank dealing room in Seoul show the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,341.53 on Oct. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
In the coming week, South Korean stocks are likely to stay boxed within a tight range, largely on uncertainties from the U.S. markets, analysts said.
"The U.S. stimulus talks are undergoing a difficult phase, making investors anxious about a possible vacancy in key fiscal policies," said NH Investment & Securities analyst Noh Dong-kil.
"Moreover, the election uncertainties may flare up again in the upcoming final debate," he added.
Analysts also picked the slower-than-expected progress in COVID-19 vaccine development as a potential drawback.
"The earlier market consensus was that the COVID-19 vaccine would come out between the fourth quarter this year and the first quarter next year," said KTB Investment & Securities analyst Park Seok-hyun.
"Of the 10 drugmakers engaged in their third-phase clinical trials, some halted the tests," sapping hopes for early development of the vaccine, he added.
A flurry of earnings reports by global firms, including Microsoft, Amazon, Tesla and Netflix, are scheduled for the coming week.
On Monday, China will post its gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter, September retail sales and industrial output.
The final televised debate for the U.S. presidential election is set for Thursday (Korea time).
The October manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index of the U.S., Germany and the eurozone will come out on Friday.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--(2nd LD) Two S. Koreans kidnapped in Ghana released

The incident came two months after five Korean sailors were abducted in waters off Benin in western Africa .
They @ @ @ @ @ Panofi Frontier when it was attacked by an armed group on June 24 .
They @ @ @ @ @ a month later .
Earlier in May , a Korean shrimp fisherman was kidnapped off @ @ @ @ @ was released the following month .

(ATTN: UPDATES with foreign ministry's announcement in paras 6-8)
SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- Two South Korean fishermen kidnapped in waters off Ghana in August have been released, their company said Saturday.
The two were abducted on Aug. 28 when their Ghanaian-flagged fishing vessel was attacked by a group of armed militants in waters 200 kilometers southeast of Ghana.
The boat had a total of 50 crew members, but the militants had only taken the two South Koreans hostage, Seoul officials said earlier.
"The crew members were released just now," an official from their employer, BSK, told Yonhap News Agency, adding the two are now in Nigeria.
A computer-generated image of a fishing vessel in western Africa provided by Yonhap News TV (PHOTO NOR FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Their health conditions are not yet known, the official said, noting that the South Korean Embassy in Nigeria has supported negotiations for their release.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release in Seoul, saying the freed fishermen are in relatively good health and have been sent to a safe place arranged by the South Korean Embassy in Nigeria.
"The Koreans were released at 4:30 a.m. on Oct. 17 (Korean time) or 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 16 (Nigerian time). In accordance with their will, they will move to Ghana, where they were stationed, as soon as a flight is secured," the ministry said.
The ministry said it arranged telephone calls between the freed fishermen and their families soon after their release and that it plans to offer all possible consular support for their safe return to Ghana.
Their release came 50 days after their abduction.
The two South Koreans and 48 Ghanaian crew members were aboard the 500-ton vessel AP 703 at 8:04 a.m. on the August day when the attack occurred. The pirates took only the Koreans and headed toward Nigeria. The Ghanaian crew members all returned to their country.
The incident came two months after five Korean sailors were abducted in waters off Benin in western Africa. They were aboard the Ghanaian vessel Panofi Frontier when it was attacked by an armed group on June 24. They were released in southern Nigeria a month later. Earlier in May, a Korean shrimp fisherman was kidnapped off the coast of Gabon and was released the following month.
Following repeated abductions in waters off West Africa, calls have been mounting for the government to craft stronger safety measures, such as restricting fishing or other operations in the perilous waters.
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--(URGENT) 78 more patients released from coronavirus treatment, total now at 23,258: KDCA

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


yna--2020-10-17--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 2 additional coronavirus deaths, total now at 443: KDCA


yna--2020-10-17--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 73 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at  25,108: KDCA


yna--2020-10-17--(LEAD) Two S. Koreans kidnapped in Ghana released

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details from 5th para; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- Two South Korean fishermen kidnapped in waters off Ghana in August have been released, their company said Saturday.
The two were abducted on Aug. 28 when their Ghanaian-flagged fishing vessel was attacked by a group of armed militants in waters 200 kilometers southeast of Ghana.
The boat had a total of 50 crew members, but the militants had only taken the two South Koreans hostage, Seoul officials said earlier.
"The crew members were released just now," an official from their employer, BSK, told Yonhap News Agency, adding the two are now in Nigeria.
A computer-generated image of a fishing vessel in western Africa provided by Yonhap News TV (PHOTO NOR FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Their health conditions are not yet known, the official said, noting that the South Korean embassy in Nigeria has supported negotiations for their release.
Their release came 50 days after their abduction.
The two South Koreans and 48 Ghanaian crew members were aboard the 500-ton vessel AP 703 at 8:04 a.m. on the August day when the attack occurred. The pirates took only the Koreans and headed toward Nigeria. The Ghanaian crew members all returned to their country.
The incident came two months after five Korean sailors were abducted in waters off Benin in western Africa. They were aboard the Ghanaian vessel Panofi Frontier when it was attacked by an armed group on June 24. They were released in southern Nigeria a month later. Earlier in May, a Korean shrimp fisherman was kidnapped off the coast of Gabon and was released the following month.
Following repeated abductions in waters off West Africa, calls have been mounting for the government to craft stronger safety measures, such as restricting fishing or other operations in the perilous waters.
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers

Korean-language dailies -- Key suspect in Lime financial fraud case claims he lobbied prosecutors , opposition lawmakers ( Kyunghyang Shinmun @ @ @ @ @ Lime financial fraud scandal insists he lobbied prosecutors , opposition lawmakers ( Kookmin Daily ) @ @ @ @ @ financial fraud scandal claims he lobbied prosecutors , opposition lawmakers ( Donga llbo ) -- @ @ @ @ @ market policy during parliamentary audit ( Segye Times ) -- Audit agency to file complaint @ @ @ @ @ early closure of nuclear reactor : sources ( Chosun Ilbo ) -- Wearing surgical masks @ @ @ @ @ college exam day ( JoongAng Ilbo ) -- Another delivery worker dies while on duty @ @ @ @ @ -- Incumbent presidential aide allegedly involved in hedge fund scandal ( Hankook Ilbo ) -- @ @ @ @ @ to secure liquidity ( Maeil Business Newspaper ) -- SK Telecom partners with Uber in @ @ @ @ @ Economic Daily ) ( END )

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major South Korean newspapers on Oct. 17.
Korean-language dailies
-- Key suspect in Lime financial fraud case claims he lobbied prosecutors, opposition lawmakers (Kyunghyang Shinmun)
-- Key figure in Lime financial fraud scandal insists he lobbied prosecutors, opposition lawmakers (Kookmin Daily)
-- Jailed businessman tied to financial fraud scandal claims he lobbied prosecutors, opposition lawmakers (Donga llbo)
-- Opposition lawmakers criticize gov't housing market policy during parliamentary audit (Segye Times)
-- Audit agency to file complaint against former industry minister over early closure of nuclear reactor: sources (Chosun Ilbo)
-- Wearing surgical masks to be permitted on national college exam day (JoongAng Ilbo)
-- Another delivery worker dies while on duty amid pandemic (Hankyoreh)
-- Incumbent presidential aide allegedly involved in hedge fund scandal (Hankook Ilbo)
-- Banks seek to sell properties to secure liquidity (Maeil Business Newspaper)
-- SK Telecom partners with Uber in mobility biz spinoff (Korea Economic Daily)
(END)


Saturday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Oct. 17 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


yna--2020-10-17--Tteokbokki voted No. 1 comfort food amid pandemic

One voter from Incheon was quoted as saying they chose tteokbokki because it releases stress and tastes good , and @ @ @ @ @ `` sundae '' ( Korean blood sausage ) and fried seafood and vegetables , it @ @ @ @ @ their troubles and focus on enjoying the act of eating .

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- "Tteokbokki," a popular Korean snack made from rice cakes and red chili pepper sauce, has been voted the No. 1 food to lift people's spirits during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Seoul city government said Saturday.
In an online survey in September, the government asked people to name their favorite comfort food and got more than 10,000 responses from across the country.
This file photo shows a dish of Tteokbokki. (Yonhap)
Tteokbokki topped the list, followed by fried chicken, kimchi stew, pork belly, "samgyetang" (chicken and ginseng soup), instant noodles, "doenjang" (soybean paste) stew, cake, beef, and chicken feet.
Other foods that didn't make it into the top 10 included pizza, ice cream, "galbijjim" (beef rib stew), kimchi, and seaweed soup, the government said.
The survey was carried out as part of Taste of Seoul, a culinary event that will run across the capital city from Nov. 11-15.
More than half, or 57 percent, of participants were women, with people in their 20s and 30s accounting for the largest age group at 61 percent. By region, Seoul was the most common at 32.6 percent followed by Gyeonggi Province at 23 percent.
The city government said voters gave various reasons for choosing their favorite comfort foods.
One voter from Incheon was quoted as saying they chose tteokbokki because it releases stress and tastes good, and that if eaten together with "sundae" (Korean blood sausage) and fried seafood and vegetables, it can help them forget all their troubles and focus on enjoying the act of eating.
This file photo shows fried chicken. (Yonhap)
The government also noted that among the 50 foreigners in Seoul who took part in the vote, the result wasn't much different.
Aiyanyo Titi of Nigeria said she has tteokbokki often and once cried like an actress in a Korean TV drama because it was so spicy.
Sara Rousalova from the Czech Republic also chose tteokbokki, saying it's her go-to food whenever she feels sad or lonely.
"It's a great food to get rid of all negative thoughts," she was quoted as saying. "It gives me the spiciness, warmth and smoothness I need when I am feeling depressed."
Details of Taste of Seoul will be posted online on Monday at www.tasteofseoul.visitseoul.net and on Facebook (www.facebook.com/tasteofseoul2020) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/tasteofseoul2020).
"We decided to try something new to add vitality to Seoul tourism in the age of the coronavirus, when many things are paused, distanced, and different," Joo Yong-tae, a city official overseeing tourism, said.
"As the saying goes, good food can provide comfort when no one and nothing can," he added. "We hope that through food we will be able to encourage each other and experience the true taste of gastronomic Seoul."
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--Two S. Koreans kidnapped in Ghana released

`` The crew members were released just now , '' an official from their employer , BSK , told Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ two are now in Nigeria .
( END )

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- Two South Korean fishermen kidnapped in waters off Ghana have been released, their company said Saturday.
The two were abducted late August when their Ghanaian-flagged fishing vessel was attacked by a group of armed militants in waters 200 kilometers southeast of Ghana.
The boat had a total of 50 crew members, but the militants had only taken the two South Koreans hostage, Seoul officials said earlier.
"The crew members were released just now," an official from their employer, BSK, told Yonhap News Agency, adding the two are now in Nigeria.
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--(URGENT) Two S. Koreans kidnapped in Ghana released


yna--2020-10-17--U.S. security adviser sees chance to resume talks with N. Korea around 2021 Olympics

`` I think the North Koreans are interested in participating in the Olympics in Tokyo .
There might be a @ @ @ @ @ during or after the Olympics , where the parties could come together and have some @ @ @ @ @ prosperity and better economic times for the North Korean people , people of the DPRK @ @ @ @ @

By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 (Yonhap) -- U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said Friday that there may be a chance to resume denuclearization talks with North Korea around next summer's Olympic games.
"You know there may be an opportunity next year if, and I think we are all hoping that with COVID, potentially maybe next year, we can have the Olympics in Tokyo," the top security adviser said in a webinar hosted by a Washington-based nonprofit organization, the Aspen Institute.
"I think the North Koreans are interested in participating in the Olympics in Tokyo. There might be a season, either before, during or after the Olympics, where the parties could come together and have some negotiations that lead to some prosperity and better economic times for the North Korean people, people of the DPRK," he added.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is North Korea's official name.
The Tokyo Olympic Games have been delayed from this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and are now set for July 23-Aug. 8.
U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien (L) poses with his South Korean counterpart, Suh Hoon, during their meeting at the White House in Washington on Oct. 14, 2020, in this photo taken from the U.S. National Security Council's Twitter account. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
O'Brien's remarks come amid long stalled negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang on ending the North's nuclear weapons program.
U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have met three times, but their talks have stalled since their second bilateral summit, in Hanoi in February 2019, ended without a deal.
Their first summit, which also marked the first-ever U.S.-North Korea summit, was in Singapore in June 2018.
O'Brien insisted the North will see no other option but to resume the dialogue after the Nov. 3 U.S. presidential election, and if Trump is reelected.
"So you've got this interesting situation where the president has had very cordial communications with Kim Jong-un, Chairman Kim, but at the same time, we've had a maximum pressure campaign on North Korea to let the North Koreans know that we are very serious about our concern with their ballistic missile program, their nuclear program," said O'Brien.
"I am hopeful that after the election, once the North Koreans realize that there is no other option, then we'll have a chance to negotiate," he added.
The national security adviser also praised Trump for having achieved what no other U.S. administration had, partly referring to the communist state's ongoing moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests.
"This has been a problem that has bedeviled every administration," said O'Brien. "I think that the president has achieved results that no one thought he could because we've had the toughest sanctions in history on North Korea that are being enforced."
Pyongyang has maintained its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and long-range missile tests since November 2017, when it last test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile test had followed the country's sixth and last nuclear test in September that year.
Kim, however, has said he no longer feels bound by the self-imposed ban on weapons testing.
O'Brien said he did not want to speculate on what would happen if the North resumed its weapons testing, only saying the U.S. appreciates the fact that there have been no such tests for more than two years.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--N Korea uncovers ancient mural tomb in western province: KCNA

But it is the first time a tomb with murals of the Sasindo , the four guardian deities , has @ @ @ @ @ area , adding to its historical and academic value , according to state media .

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has discovered another ancient tomb, with mural paintings, believed to be from the sixth century Koguryo era (37B.C.-A.D.668), state media said Saturday.
A research group from its cultural heritage agency found the tomb on a hillside in Undok area of Ryonggang County in the western city of Nampo, South Pyongan Province, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
The tomb consists of a burial chamber and passage, with a stone gate of about 125 centimeters tall and 60 meters wide. It was found not far from the existing Ryonggang tombs listed as a world heritage site, the KCNA said.
But it is the first time a tomb with murals of the Sasindo, the four guardian deities, has been found in the Ryonggang area, adding to its historical and academic value, according to state media.
The four guardian deities refer to divine animal gods that were believed to serve as guardian spirits that lead the dead to the afterlife or protected the burial chamber from evil spirits.
KCNA also quoted the research officials as saying that its stone gate with "metal door pulls preserved in their original state" adds to its academic significance.
This photo, released by North Korean state media on Sept. 3, 2020, shows a mural painting on an ancient tomb from the Koguryo Kingdom (37B.C.-A.D.668), discovered in a county in South Hwanghae Province. [For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution] (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--Yoon orders probe into prosecutors over suspected connection with Lime scandal

Yoon 's order comes after Kim Bong-hyun , a key suspect in a financial fraud case involving Lime Asset Management @ @ @ @ @ that he spent 10 million won ( US $ 8,726 ) to throw a drinking @ @ @ @ @ prosecutors last year , and one of them took part in the investigation into the @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutor-General Yoon Seok-youl ordered the launch of an investigation into allegations that at least three former and sitting prosecutors were lobbied in connection with a hedge fund scandal, his office said Saturday.
Yoon's order comes after Kim Bong-hyun, a key suspect in a financial fraud case involving Lime Asset Management Co., revealed on Friday that he spent 10 million won (US$8,726) to throw a drinking party for former and incumbent prosecutors last year, and one of them took part in the investigation into the Lime scandal.
Yoon ordered a swift investigation into the allegations so as to strictly and thoroughly determine the criminal charges, according to the Supreme Prosecutors Office.
On Friday, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae also ordered immediate inspections of prosecutors following Kim's revelation.
Kim, the owner of Star Mobility, is believed to be the main financial source for Lime and was arrested in April on charges of embezzlement.
Lime Asset is under probe over its alleged cover-up of massive losses and subsequent suspension of fund redemption worth an estimated 1.6 trillion won.
The company is accused of having concealed investment losses and inflating investment returns in a bid to keep its customer base.
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--N.K. leader sends message in response to retired Cuban leader, reaffirms close ties

Kim 's message was sent earlier this week in response to a congratulatory letter he received from the first secretary @ @ @ @ @ of the Communist Party , on the occasion of the North 's 75th state founding @ @ @ @ @ Party of Korea , the Korean Central News Agency ( KCNA ) reported .

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a message to retired Cuban leader Raul Castro, thanking him for congratulating the North's ruling party anniversary, state media said Saturday.
Kim's message was sent earlier this week in response to a congratulatory letter he received from the first secretary of Cuba's Central Committee of the Communist Party, on the occasion of the North's 75th state founding anniversary of the Workers' Party of Korea, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
In the message, Kim expressed his "belief that the comradely and fraternal relations of friendship and cooperation between the two parties would steadily develop," according to the KCNA.
Kim also wished the secretary good health.
Raul Castro, the younger brother of the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro, stepped down as Cuban president in 2018 but is still considered the de facto leader.
North Korea and Cuba have maintained close relations since establishing diplomatic ties in 1960, and they have recently stepped up efforts to strengthen bilateral ties.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presides over an enlarged meeting of the political bureau of the Workers' Party's central committee in Pyongyang on Aug. 25, 2020, to discuss issues involving COVID-19 and the approaching Typhoon Bavi, in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--TWICE's Jeongyeon to be absent from 2nd album promotion due to anxiety issues: agency

`` Jeongyeon is very anxious and nervous about the comeback schedule at this stage and we decided to have her @ @ @ @ @ talking with the other members , '' the agency said .

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- Jeongyeon, a member of popular South Korean girl group TWICE, will not take part in promotional activities for their upcoming second album due to anxiety issues, her agency said Saturday.
The JYP Entertainment made the announcement on the official TWICE fanclub community site, saying that her absence will be temporary.
"Jeongyeon is very anxious and nervous about the comeback schedule at this stage and we decided to have her stop all activities, after talking with the other members," the agency said.
She will get professional help while taking a break, it added.
TWICE will work as an eight-member group for the time being.
TWICE is set to release its new album, "Eyes Wide Open," later this month.
TWICE’s Jeongyeon takes a break : Why K-pop stars suffer from anxiety disorder? Youtube https://youtu.be/dLYCtaRc4_4
This undated photo shows TWICE member Jeongyeon. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--Fishing boat returns after accidentally crossing into N. Korean waters

The 4.59-ton vessel briefly crossed the Northern Limit Line ( NLL ) , the de facto maritime border with the @ @ @ @ @ p.m. , when it was at about 11.4 kilometers northwest of an islet near Yeonpyeong @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Coast Guard in charge of the central region .

INCHEON/SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean fishing boat returned after accidentally crossing into North Korean waters around the western maritime border, officials said Saturday.
The 4.59-ton vessel briefly crossed the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border with the North, at about 1 p.m., when it was at about 11.4 kilometers northwest of an islet near Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea, according to the Coast Guard in charge of the central region.
Two Vietnamese and one Chinese crewmen were reportedly aboard the ship without their captain.
Coast Guard officials said the boat is believed to have mistakenly crossed into the northern side of the NLL, as it stayed in the North Korean waters very briefly and returned straight away.
The captain, who was reportedly monitoring the boat from outside, discovered that the boat was moving in the wrong direction and told his crewmen to change course, according to Coast Guard officials.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed the crossing had occurred and said that they are looking into the incident to find out what exactly happened.
"We are working with related agencies and investigating the overall circumstances, such as how the vessel came to cross the border," the JCS said. "We will brief further when we have the investigation result."
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--Nation's first urban national arboretum opens in Sejong

Only 5,000 visitors will be admitted at the same time as part of anti-coronavirus quarantine measures .
Social distancing , @ @ @ @ @ will be thoroughly observed throughout the arboretum , its operator said , adding the number @ @ @ @ @ exhibition greenhouse will be limited to 300 per hour .

SEJONG, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- The Sejong National Arboretum, the nation's first urban arboretum located in the center of the central administrative city, was opened to the public on Saturday after eight years of project preparation and construction.
The 65-hectare arboretum in Sejong, about 120 kilometers south of Seoul, is South Korea's third national arboretum after ones in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, and Bonghwa, North Gyeongsang Province. The Sejong arboretum, the size of 90 football fields, is also the first national arboretum situated in an urban center.
The Sejong National Arboretum, South Korea's first urban national arboretum, is opened to the public on Oct. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
It features 1.72 million plants of 2,834 species in 20 various thematic exhibition gardens, where visitors can experience both Korean traditional and modern garden culture.
Opening hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Tuesday to Sunday. Admission is free during its test operation set to last until Dec. 31.
Only 5,000 visitors will be admitted at the same time as part of anti-coronavirus quarantine measures. Social distancing, disinfection and other quarantine guidelines will be thoroughly observed throughout the arboretum, its operator said, adding the number of admissions to the four-season exhibition greenhouse will be limited to 300 per hour.
Cosmos flowers are in full bloom around the Sejong National Arboretum's four-season exhibition greenhouse on Oct. 17, 2020. (Yonhap)
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--(2nd LD) New virus cases in double digits for 2nd day; cluster infections worrisome

`` We can not lower our guard against the virus as cluster infections continued to pop up at facilities in @ @ @ @ @ that surrounds Seoul ) , '' Kwon Joon-wook , deputy director of the Central Disease @ @ @ @ @ a press briefing .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more details throughout; CHANGES photos)
SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases rose by a double-digit number for the second straight day Saturday, but health authorities remain alert over an increase in sporadic cluster infections amid eased virus curbs.
The country added 73 more COVID-19 cases, including 62 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 25,108, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
It marked a rise from 47 daily cases Friday but a decline from 110 cases Thursday, when more than 50 reported cases were tied to a nursing home in the southeastern port city of Busan.
Wearing protective gear, quarantine officials stand in front of a rehabilitation hospital in Gwangju, just south of Seoul, on Oct. 17, 2020, where at least 32 COVID-19 cases were reported. (Yonhap)
New virus cases dropped below the 50 mark for the first time since Sept. 29 on Friday, but health authorities remain vigilant about a potential spike in sporadic cluster infections amid relaxed social distancing measures.
"We cannot lower our guard against the virus as cluster infections continued to pop up at facilities in Busan and Gyeonggi Province (that surrounds Seoul)," Kwon Joon-wook, deputy director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said in a press briefing.
He expressed concerns that young people may spread the virus quietly through visits to entertainment facilities and restaurants.
On Monday, the country relaxed its tougher virus curbs by one notch to the Level 1 social distancing measures in its three-tier scheme as new virus cases slowed down after a resurgence.
Daily infections had been in the triple digits for more than a month since Aug. 14. New virus cases have largely slowed down on the back of weekslong stricter virus curbs put in place in late August.
This month, daily infections underwent ups and downs, with virus cases rising above 100 sometimes. Health authorities called on people not to lose their guards as a flare-up in virus infections can happen anytime with sporadic outbreaks.
Health authorities are concerned about a potential uptick in virus cases as people are expected to travel during the peak autumn foliage season.
Of the newly identified local infections, 17 cases were reported in Seoul and 32 cases in Gyeonggi Province. Incheon, west of Seoul, reported one more case.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's largest port city of Busan adding six cases and Gangwon Province reporting three new cases.
A teacher at an elementary school in central Seoul prepares for soon-to-be resumed offline classes on Oct. 16, 2020, as the education ministry eased attendance caps for schools amid relaxed virus curbs. (Yonhap)
The country has continued to report cluster infections tied to nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities following the latest Chuseok fall harvest holiday in early October.
Cases tied to a discount store chain in eastern Seoul came to eight as of noon, up one case from the previous day.
Infections traced to a rehabilitation hospital south of Seoul reached 32, up one case over the past 24 hours. Virus tests are being conducted on 244 people.
Cases related to a nursing home in Busan added one case to 59.
Untraceable cases accounted for 16.5 percent of the total cases reported over the past two weeks, down from 16.8 percent the previous day.
The country, meanwhile, added 11 imported cases, increasing the total to 3,487. Three cases came from Poland, followed by two from India and another two from Russia.
South Korea reported two additional deaths, raising the death toll to 443. The fatality rate was 1.76 percent.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients came to 84 as of midnight, down one from the previous day.
The country has so far administered remdesivir, an experimental drug conventionally used for Ebola, to 618 coronavirus patients in critical condition here, according to the KDCA.
Health authorities said they do not see the need to immediately revise the guidelines on the use of remdesivir amid global controversy over its efficacy in treating coronavirus patients.
At least 11 cases of possible remdesivir side effects have been reported in South Korea.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 23,258, up 78 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 2,468,527 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3.
This photo, taken on Oct. 16, 2020, shows citizens walking around Hongdae, a college neighborhood in Seoul known for its busy nightlife. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--S. Korea voices 'deep regrets' over Suga's offering to Yasukuni war shrine

`` Our government strongly called on responsible Japanese leaders to respond to calls for the future-oriented development of South Korea-Japan @ @ @ @ @ and humbly reflecting on and genuinely atoning for past history through actions on the occasion @ @ @ @ @ new Cabinet , '' it added .

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea voiced "deep regrets" on Saturday over Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's sending of a ritual offering to a war shrine seen as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.
Earlier in the day, Suga sent a "masakaki" tree to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo in line with an annual autumn festival.
It marked the first time that Suga sent such an offering to the war shrine since he took office in September. He succeeded his predecessor Shinzo Abe, who resigned due to health issues.
"We express deep regrets that Japanese government and parliamentary leaders sent offerings again to the Yasukuni Shrine that glorifies Japan's history of wars of invasion and honors war criminals," Seoul's foreign ministry said in a statement.
"Our government strongly called on responsible Japanese leaders to respond to calls for the future-oriented development of South Korea-Japan relations by facing history squarely and humbly reflecting on and genuinely atoning for past history through actions on the occasion of the launch of the new Cabinet," it added.
Yasukuni Shrine honors Japan's war dead, including 14 Class A war criminals. Visits to the shrine by Japanese leaders have been a key source of tension in the region as Asian neighbors view the visits as an attempt to beautify the country's militaristic past.
Abe visited the shrine last month for the first time in nearly seven years. He had not visited Yasukuni as prime minister since his last visit in 2013 sparked criticism from South Korea and China, which suffered Japanese aggression in the 20th century.
This photo, taken and provided by Kyodo News on April 21, 2020, shows an offering sent by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Yasukuni Shrine on the day marking the spring festival in the country. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-10-17--Today in Korean history

Today in Korean history

1979 -- Martial law is declared in Busan and Masan after a series of violent anti-government protests in the southern @ @ @ @ @ spread nationwide , and eight days later on Oct. 26 , then President Park Chung-hee @ @ @ @ @ chief , Kim Jae-kyu .

Oct. 18
1979 -- Martial law is declared in Busan and Masan after a series of violent anti-government protests in the southern coastal region. The tension spread nationwide, and eight days later on Oct. 26, then President Park Chung-hee was assassinated by his intelligence chief, Kim Jae-kyu.
2000 -- South Korea signs an extradition treaty with China.
2005 -- Subway Line No. 2 opens in the city of Daegu, 302 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The opening was delayed by three years due to the Asian financial crisis.
2016 -- South Korea expresses deep concern over Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's sending of ritual offerings to the Yasukuni Shrine and the visit by a group of lawmakers to honor the war dead.
2018 -- President Moon Jae-in meets Pope Francis to deliver a verbal invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for the pope to visit Pyongyang. The pope was reported to have said he may visit the North Korean city following an official invitation.
(END)


(Copyright)

The use of the content for any other purposes other than personal and noncommercial use is expressly prohibited without the @ @ @ @ @ News Agency .

All information carried by the Yonhap News Agency, including articles, photographs, graphics, audio and video images, and illustrations (collectively, the content) is owned by the Yonhap News Agency.
The use of the content for any other purposes other than personal and noncommercial use is expressly prohibited without the written consent of the Yonhap News Agency.
Any violation can be subject to a compensation claim or civil and criminal lawsuits.
Requests to use the content for any purpose besides the ones mentioned above should be directed in advance to Yonhap's Information Business Department at 82-2-398-3557 or 82-2-398-3552.
(END)


yna--2020-10-18--(LEAD) New virus cases under 100 for 3rd day; cluster infections still drag in virus fight

New virus cases fell below the 50 mark for the first time since Sept. 29 on Friday , but a @ @ @ @ @ cases indicates that cases with unknown transmission routes are still lurking .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with details in paras 3, 10-11, 15-16, 19; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases rose by double digits for a third consecutive day Sunday, but sporadic cluster infections across the country put more strain on the country's virus fight.
The country added 91 more COVID-19 cases, including 71 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 25,199, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The figure marked a rise from 73 daily cases Saturday and 47 on Friday as a series of sporadic mass infection cases are hampering the country's efforts to stem further spread of the virus.
A notice reading "no visitors allowed" is shown in the lobby of a building in Seoul on Oct. 18, 2020, where a large-scale cluster infection is reported. (Yonhap)
New virus cases fell below the 50 mark for the first time since Sept. 29 on Friday, but a steady rise in new daily cases indicates that cases with unknown transmission routes are still lurking.
Last week, the country lowered its social distancing level to the lowest in the three-tier infection preventive measure as new daily virus cases showed a slight decrease.
Under the eased measures, operations of 10 kinds of high-risk facilities, such as karaoke rooms, gyms, buffets and large-scale cram schools with more than 300 registered students, have been allowed.
People still must follow antivirus measures such as wearing face masks and keeping entry logs.
Crowds of up to 30 percent of stadium capacity have been allowed at sports events, such as in the professional soccer and baseball leagues.
But health authorities remain alert over a possible rise in new virus cases due to growing sporadic cluster infections and increasing travelers as the country is in the height of the autumn foliage season.
They are also concerned about the eased in-person classes of students from this week.
The Ministry of Education raised the attendance cap to two-thirds for all schools last Sunday, in line with the relaxed social distancing rules nationwide.
The 2020 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, South Korea's biggest rock concert, is held without an audience in the western port city of Incheon on Oct. 17, 2020, due to COVID-19, in this photo provided by the organizer. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This week, health authorities plan to conduct virus tests for 160,000 people in senior hospitals, mental hospitals and senior care facilities in greater Seoul as new virus cases rose in the facilities.
They will decide on whether to expand the tests to other facilities after assessing the situation.
Of the newly identified local infections, 18 cases were reported in Seoul, 48 cases in Gyeonggi Province and one case in the western port city of Incheon.
Cluster infections were reported at a call center in Gangnam in southern Seoul, with related cases standing at 18.
New virus cases in a rehabilitation hospital in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, surged to 48, two days after the first case was reported on Friday.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's largest port city of Busan adding two cases and Gangwon Province reporting one more case.
The country also reported 20 new imported cases, up from 11 a day earlier, the KDCA said.
Ten cases came from Russia, with three from Nepal and one each from the Philippines, Uzbekistan, India, Kuwait, Turkey, the United States and Mexico.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 23,312, up 54 from the previous day.
One additional death was reported, raising the death toll to 444. The fatality rate was 1.76 percent.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-18--N.K. media slams S. Korea over alleged nuclear fuel purchase plan

Meari , one of the North 's propaganda websites , called a visit by Kim Hyun-chong , South Korea 's @ @ @ @ @ and his alleged talks with Washington , an `` extremely dangerous '' act that `` @ @ @ @ @ Korean Peninsula , heightens tension and triggers an arms race . ''

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean propaganda outlet on Sunday slammed South Korea over a media report that Seoul approached Washington to purchase nuclear fuel for a nuclear-powered submarine.
Meari, one of the North's propaganda websites, called a visit by Kim Hyun-chong, South Korea's deputy national security adviser, and his alleged talks with Washington, an "extremely dangerous" act that "destroys the peace of the Korean Peninsula, heightens tension and triggers an arms race."
Early this month, South Korea's daily newspaper Donga Ilbo reported that Kim traveled to Washington in mid-September and expressed Seoul's wish to buy nuclear fuel from the United States to run a nuclear submarine.
The paper said Washington officials denied the request, citing its nonproliferation policy.
Cheong Wa Dae did not confirm the report and said Kim's visit to Washington from Sept. 16-20 was to discuss bilateral and geopolitical issues with various officials in Washington.
North Korean people stage a mass rally on Oct. 14, 2020, vowing to wage an 80-day economic development campaign to mark the ruling party's 75th founding anniversary that fell on Oct. 10, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency on Oct. 15. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-18--Trial in Samsung heir's high-profile succession case to begin this week

On Sept. 1 , Lee was charged with unfair trading , stock manipulation , breach of trust in relation to @ @ @ @ @ Samsung affiliates and alleged accounting fraud at the pharmaceutical unit Samsung Biologics .
The merger @ @ @ @ @ as key steps toward his succeeding his bedridden father as leader of the group .

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- A trial will begin this week for Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong in a high-profile succession case, less than two months after he was formally charged with violation of capital market laws.
The Seoul Central District Court will hold a session on Thursday, calling both parties -- the prosecution and Lee, the vice chairman of Samsung Electronics -- to present their opinions and key arguments, a process aimed at enhancing the efficiency of an upcoming trial.
On Sept. 1, Lee was charged with unfair trading, stock manipulation, breach of trust in relation to the 2015 merger between two Samsung affiliates and alleged accounting fraud at the pharmaceutical unit Samsung Biologics. The merger and fraud were widely seen as key steps toward his succeeding his bedridden father as leader of the group.
Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics (Yonhap)
Prosecutors suspect that Lee was involved in a companywide scheme for the merger of the two units -- Cheil Industries Inc. and Samsung C&T -- and fraud in a way to take over control of the country's biggest conglomerate from his ailing father, Lee Kun-hee, who suffered a heart attack in 2014.
They, in particular, believe that the value of Cheil, of which Lee was the largest shareholder with a stake of 23.2 percent, was inflated and that of Samsung C&T was lowered intentionally prior to the merger.
Lee is also suspected of being part of the alleged plan to inflate the value of Samsung Bioepis, a joint venture between Samsung Biologics, a subsidiary of Cheil Industries, and the U.S.-based Biogen Inc.
The filing of charges against Lee came two months after the prosecution's independent panel recommended in June not to do so, citing difficulties substantiating some of the prosecution's claims.
But prosecutors said that judicial judgment was necessary in the case, given "the clear-cut facts supported by evidence, the gravity of the case and the need to resolve the public's suspicions surrounding the case."
Lee has consistently denied the allegations since the investigation started in November 2018, arguing that the merger was a "lawful management activity."
Lee is up against yet another round of tough trials after he was released from prison in February 2018 on a suspended sentence in a corruption case that led to the ouster of former President Park Geun-hye.
He was arrested and charged in February 2017 for giving bribes to then-President Park's friend Choi Soon-sil in return for the government's backing of the 2015 merger.
Given great public interest in the trial, the court will draw lots on Wednesday to choose spectators. As it is not mandatory for a defendant to be physically present, Lee is not expected to attend the session.
This photo, provided by Samsung Electronics on June 30, 2020, shows Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong (2nd from L) listening to an executive's briefing during a visit to a production facility of Semes Co., a Samsung group affiliate that makes semiconductor and display manufacturing equipment, in Cheonan, some 90 kilometers south of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-18--Samsung heir to visit Vietnam this week after returning from Europe

According to the sources , Lee will depart for Vietnam on Tuesday and probably meet Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan @ @ @ @ @ the Southeast Asian nation to discuss possible investment plans .

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, the de facto leader of South Korea's top conglomerate, plans to visit Vietnam this week, his second overseas business trip this year after returning from Europe last week, industry sources said Sunday.
According to the sources, Lee will depart for Vietnam on Tuesday and probably meet Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc during his trip to the Southeast Asian nation to discuss possible investment plans.
Lee's planned visit to Vietnam marks the first since Oct. 2018.
Vietnam has decided to adopt a fast-track entry program for South Korean diplomats and businesspeople, exempting them from its mandatory self-isolation against COVID-19.
If Lee visits Vietnam, he is expected to inspect Samsung's research and development center under construction in Hanoi, as well as the company's plants there.
Industry insiders said Japan, which allows South Korean businesspeople to enter the country without a two-week quarantine from Thursday, could also be Lee's next destination.
Lee visited Japan last year after Tokyo imposed restrictions on exports of three key industrial materials critical for chip and display industries.
Last week, Lee returned home after meeting with top executives from ASML Holding N.V., the world's leading photolithography equipment maker, in the Netherlands.
Lee met with ASML CEO Peter Wennink and ASML Chief Technology Officer Martin van den Brink at the ASML headquarters in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong arrives at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul following his business trip to Europe on Oct. 14, 2020. (Yonhap)
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-18--S. Korea's virus cases tipped to reach 34,000 this year: data

The figures include those who are covered under the state insurance policy , and South Korea fully or partially covers @ @ @ @ @ who do not have an insurance policy here depending on whether their home country covers @ @ @ @ @ , based on the principle of reciprocity .

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- The number of new coronavirus cases in South Korea is expected to swell to some 34,000 by the end of the year, a state-run medical insurance agency said Sunday.
As of Sunday, the country reported a total of 25,199 COVID-19 cases since its first confirmed virus outbreak on Jan. 20, which can translate into some 120 new cases being reported a day until the end of the year.
The National Health Insurance Service said the country is expected to spend a total of 320 billion won (US$279 million) on virus tests and treatment for those confirmed to be infected with the illness.
The agency estimated that the country will conduct virus tests on 3.38 million people.
The figures include those who are covered under the state insurance policy, and South Korea fully or partially covers costs of foreign virus patients who do not have an insurance policy here depending on whether their home country covers treatment costs for South Koreas, based on the principle of reciprocity.
People wait in line to receive coronavirus tests at a makeshift virus screening clinic in Seoul on Oct. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-18--With eased attendance cap, 1st graders at elementary schools to return to classrooms almost every da

With eased attendance cap, 1st graders at elementary schools to return to classrooms almost every day

The ministry said schools in the greater Seoul area , where half of the country 's 51 million people live @ @ @ @ @ follow the new mandate , while those in the rest of the country will have @ @ @ @ @ caps depending on the level of pandemic .

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korean students will take in-person classes more often starting this week, as attendance cap restrictions in schools have been eased amid a recent drop in new coronavirus cases.
The Ministry of Education raised the attendance cap, currently at one-third in elementary and middle schools, and two-thirds in high schools, to two-thirds for all schools last Sunday, in line with the government's relaxed social distancing rules nationwide. The new measure goes into effect on Monday.
A teacher prepares for classes at Itaewon Elementary School in Seoul on Oct. 16, 2020. (Yonhap)
The ministry said schools in the greater Seoul area, where half of the country's 51 million people live, are required to strictly follow the new mandate, while those in the rest of the country will have more leeway to adjust attendance caps depending on the level of pandemic.
First graders of elementary schools, including those in the greater Seoul area, are expected to attend in-person classes almost every day to help them get accustomed to school life, which has been largely absent since the start of the pandemic in spring. The country's academic year starts in March.
Loosening anti-virus restrictions for schools reflects a growing concern that learning gaps have been widening among young students due to differences in their self-directed learning capabilities and that in-person instruction is necessary to reduce the gap.
To reduce classroom crowding and serve more students at the same time, schools are expected to implement various measures, including staggered classes and split sessions between morning and afternoon.
Last week, Education Minister Yoo Eun-hae called for cooperation from regional education offices to narrow learning gaps among students and to create a safe school environment for students.
An in-person class takes place at Hansan Elementary School in Seoul on Sept. 21, 2020. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-18--Tesla further expands presence in S. Korea on EV demand

Other global automakers have been scurrying to expand their presence in the country 's EV market but look pale in @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- Tesla Motors Inc. posted explosive sales growth in South Korea this year on the back of growing appetite for electric vehicles and fat subsidies, industry data showed on Sunday.
Tesla sold a total of 10,518 vehicles here from January to September, accounting for a whopping 79.6 percent of the country's EV sales, according to the data.
In September alone, the U.S. electric carmaker sold 2,056, making up more than 91 percent of the total EV sales here.
Other global automakers have been scurrying to expand their presence in the country's EV market but look pale in comparison with Tesla.
This file photo provided by Tesla shows the Model 3 launched in South Korea on Aug. 13, 2019. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Tesla Korea sells models such as the Model 3, Model S and Model X in South Korea.
The Model 3, Model S and Model X are available at the starting prices of 54 million won (US$44,000), 114 million won and 121 million won, respectively.
Customers can purchase the models at lower prices with a central government subsidy of 8 million won and a provincial government subsidy worth up to 10 million won.
Since it entered the Korean market in March 2017, Tesla has built about 450 slow-charging stations and 32 superchargers across the country.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-18--New virus cases in double digits for 3rd day; cluster infections still drag in virus fight

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed in double digits for the third consecutive day Sunday, but sporadic cluster infections at nursing homes and rehabilitation hospitals continued to put strain on the country's virus fight.
The country added 91 more COVID-19 cases, including 71 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 25,199, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The figure marked a rise from 73 daily cases Saturday, but a series of sporadic mass infection cases are hampering the country's efforts to stem further spread of the virus.
The 2020 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, South Korea's biggest rock concert, is held without an audience in the western port city of Incheon on Oct. 17, 2020, due to COVID-19, in this photo provided by the organizer. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
New virus cases fell below the 50 mark for the first time since Sept. 29 on Friday, but a steady rise in new daily cases indicates that cases with unknown transmission routes are still lurking.
Last week, the country lowered its social distancing level to the lowest in the three-tier infection preventive measure as new daily virus cases showed a slight decrease.
Under the eased measures, operations of 10 kinds of high-risk facilities, such as karaoke rooms, gyms, buffets and large-scale cram schools with more than 300 registered students, have been allowed.
People still must follow antivirus measures such as wearing face masks and keeping entry logs.
Crowds of up to 30 percent of stadium capacity have been allowed at sports events, such as in the professional soccer and baseball leagues.
But health authorities remain alert over a possible rise in new virus cases due to growing sporadic cluster infections and increasing travelers as the country is in the height of the autumn foliage season.
This week, health authorities plan to conduct virus tests for 160,000 people in senior hospitals, mental hospitals and senior care facilities in greater Seoul as new virus cases rose in the facilities.
They will decide on whether to expand the tests to other facilities after assessing the situation.
Of the newly identified local infections, 18 cases were reported in Seoul, 48 cases in Gyeonggi Province and one case in the western port city of Incheon.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's largest port city of Busan adding two cases and Gangwon Province reporting one more case.
The country also reported 20 new imported cases, up from 11 a day earlier, the KDCA said.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 23,312, up 54 from the previous day.
One additional death was reported, raising the death toll to 444. The fatality rate was 1.76 percent.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-18--PGA tournament CJ Cup to return to S. Korea in 2021

The tournament is currently being played at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas .
It was scheduled to be @ @ @ @ @ resort island of Jeju for the fourth straight October .
But travel restrictions brought on @ @ @ @ @ the tour and the title sponsor to temporarily relocate the tournament to Nevada .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- The PGA Tour tournament CJ Cup will return to South Korea next year, after being staged in the United States during the pandemic-interrupted 2020-2021 season.
The PGA Tour and the CJ Group announced Sunday that the tournament, which was inaugurated in 2017 as the only PGA event in South Korea, will be played at Haesley Nine Bridges Golf Club in Yeoju, 105 kilometers southeast of Seoul, next year.
The tournament is currently being played at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas. It was scheduled to be played on the Korean southern resort island of Jeju for the fourth straight October. But travel restrictions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic forced the tour and the title sponsor to temporarily relocate the tournament to Nevada.
This photo provided by CJ Group on Oct. 18, 2020, shows the first green at Haesley Nine Bridges Golf Club in Yeoju, 105 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In a statement, CJ Group said the 2021 tournament, should it be open to fans, is likely to draw a bigger crowd than in the past, given the new course's proximity to Seoul. The three years in Jeju attracted over 40,000 fans.
The group added that staying close to the capital city will present a greater number of corporate partners with more marketing opportunities and also help the local economy in the process.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-18--Korean economy's trade reliance at 3-yr low: data

The country 's exports rebounded for the first time in seven months in September amid the coronavirus pandemic , helped @ @ @ @ @ and automobiles as major trade partners gradually resumed their business activities amid the pandemic .

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's reliance on trade reached the lowest in three years last year due to a slump in overseas sales, data showed on Sunday.
According to the data compiled by Statistics Korea, the reliance on trade, measured by dividing the country's total trade by gross domestic product, stood at 63.51 percent last year, down 2.57 percentage points from a year earlier.
The 2019 tally marks the lowest since 2016, when the comparable figure was 60.11 percent, the data showed.
The country's reliance on exports also fell to 32.94 percent last year, the lowest since 2007 when the reading was 31.68 percent.
South Korea's reliance on trade is higher than advanced countries such as the United States and Japan, which means that Asia's fourth-largest economy is vulnerable to external shocks.
Last year, the country's outbound shipments dropped 10.3 percent to US$542.4 billion, the sharpest decline in a decade, amid the escalating trade row between the United States and China, the nation's top two trading partners.
South Korea's exports were earlier anticipated to rebound throughout 2020 on the back of a recovery in sales of memory chips.
The COVID-19 pandemic, however, splashed cold water on that notion, straining the export-oriented economy.
The central bank data showed the economy shrank 3.2 percent in the April-June period from the previous quarter, the biggest on-quarter drop since a 3.3 percent retreat posted in the last three months of 2008.
The country's exports rebounded for the first time in seven months in September amid the coronavirus pandemic, helped by increased shipments of chips and automobiles as major trade partners gradually resumed their business activities amid the pandemic.
sam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-10-18--(URGENT) 54 more patients released from coronavirus treatment, total now at 23,312: KDCA

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


yna--2020-10-18--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 1 additional coronavirus deaths, total now at 444: KDCA


yna--2020-10-18--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 91 more cases of new coronavirus. total now at 25,199: KDCA


Sunday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Oct. 18 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


yna--2020-10-18--Korean-born adoptee in U.S. finds her biological family after 44 years

It was the first case where a Korean-born adoptee found the biological family after the government began providing a DNA @ @ @ @ @ to help them be tested and register their information without having to come to South @ @

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- A 47-year-old Korean-born woman adopted by an American family 44 years ago has reunited with her biological family after conducting a DNA test through a South Korean mission in the United States, the foreign ministry said Sunday.
On Thursday, Yoon Sang-ae, now an American citizen, had a tearful video call with her 78-year-old biological mother, Lee Eung-soon, her twin sister, Yoon Sang-hee, and brother, Yoon Sang-myung.
Yoon Sang-ae was three years old when she went missing while at a market in Seoul with her grandmother. She was flown to the United States months later.
She registered her DNA information in search of her family when she visited South Korea in 2016. Her biological mother also registered her DNA the next year to find her daughter.
Korean adoptee in U.S. finds her long lost birth family after 44 years Youtube https://youtu.be/pMzEBXU82rA
After the National Forensic Service found the two to be in biological relation, Yoon had to go through another DNA test to confirm the results.
Instead of flying back to South Korea, she sent her DNA sample via a South Korean mission in Boston, according to the ministry.
It was the first case where a Korean-born adoptee found the biological family after the government began providing a DNA test service for overseas adoptees to help them be tested and register their information without having to come to South Korea.
The program, which was launched in January, is available in 34 South Korean missions in 14 overseas countries.
"We will do our best so that Korean adoptees overseas can more easily and conveniently find their biological parents, families through our missions there," a ministry official said.
Yoon Sang-hee (C), twin sister of Yoon Sang-ae, a Korean-born adoptee who is now an American citizen, holds a photo and a poster during a reunion held via a video call in Seoul on Oct. 15, 2020, 44 years after the younger Yoon went missing. Next to Yoon is their older brother Yoon Sang-myung (L) and mother Lee Eung-soon. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-10-18--Ruling party chief holds talks with Japanese politician

While noting that he was aware of the criticism from South Korea and China over the issue , Kawamura said @ @ @ @ @ has been kept from before the new prime minister took office .

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- The head of ruling Democratic Party, Lee Nak-yon, met with a senior Japanese politician, Takeo Kawamura, on Sunday and discussed ways to improve bilateral ties, Lee said.
During the 40-minute closed-door meeting in Seoul, Lee expressed regrets over Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's sending of a ritual offering to a war shrine seen as a symbol of Japan's past militarism the previous day.
It was Suga's first offering to the war shrine since he took office in September. He succeeded Shinzo Abe, who resigned due to health issues.
While noting that he was aware of the criticism from South Korea and China over the issue, Kawamura said it was a custom that has been kept from before the new prime minister took office.
A former chief Cabinet secretary, Kawamura is a senior member of the Japanese side of a cross-party parliamentary union that promotes South Korea-Japan relations.
Lee asked Japan to support South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee's bid to become the next director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Sunday's meeting was also attended by Rep. Kim Jin-pyo of the ruling party who was recently elected to lead the South Korean side of the union.
Japanese politician Takeo Kawamura (L) arrives at the National Assembly in Seoul to hold closed-door talks with South Korea's ruling Democratic Party leader, Rep. Lee Nak-yon, on Oct. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-10-18--(LEAD) S. Korea to resume distribution of coupons for museums, theaters, sports facilities

For movies , booking at a 6,000 won discount will be available starting Oct. 28 , which can be used @ @ @ @ @ for sports facilities , people who spend more than 80,000 won between Nov. 2-30 will @ @ @ @ @ from their card companies through a draw .

(ATTN: ADDS quotes, more info in paras 4, 8-10)
SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- The government will begin distribution of a series of discount coupons this week to spur consumption in the live performance, film and sports industries hit-hard by the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Sunday.
From Thursday, the government will gradually provide discount coupons, starting with 40 percent discounts for entrance to museums, 1,000 won (US$0.87) to 3,000 won discounts for art exhibitions and 8,000 won discount for performances, according to the authorities.
For movies, booking at a 6,000 won discount will be available starting Oct. 28, which can be used from Oct. 30, while for sports facilities, people who spend more than 80,000 won between Nov. 2-30 will get a 30,000 won refund from their card companies through a draw.
Accommodation, travel and restaurant businesses were not included in the 85 billion won discount scheme, as virus concerns linger.
The move comes as the government eased the social distancing guidelines to the lowest level last week after new daily COVID-19 cases showed a slight sign of decrease.
South Korea originally planned to distribute the coupons in August, but suspended the plan due to a resurgence in virus cases, mostly traced to a conservative church in northern Seoul.
Officials said the coupons will be distributed only to those who agree to follow due anti-virus measures, such as wearing face masks. Authorities will also begin inspecting the facilities Thursday to see whether they are strictly following infection prevention guidelines.
"It is time for us to find the balance between our daily lives and anti-virus efforts for self-employed people," Health Minister Park Neunghoo said during a press briefing, referring to the economic difficulties they had to suffer when the government heightened the social distancing rules to minimize citizens' outdoor activities.
As the coupons are centered on the cultural and leisure sector, the government expects them to boost businesses while also helping citizens relieve stress, Park said.
"We are providing the coupons while keeping the current situation stably under control," he said.
On Sunday, South Korea reported 91 new virus cases, raising the total caseload to 25,199.
This file photo, taken on Feb. 11, 2020, shows movie posters on an electronic board at a CGV theater in Seoul. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-10-18--S. Korea to resume distribution of coupons for museums, theaters, sports facilities

SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- The government will begin distribution of a series of discount coupons this week to spur consumption in the live performance, film and sports industries hit-hard by the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Sunday.
From Thursday, the government will gradually provide discount coupons, starting with 40 percent discounts for entrance to museums, 1,000 won (US$0.87) to 3,000 won discounts for art exhibitions and 8,000 won discount for performances, according to the authorities.
For movies, booking at a 6,000 won discount will be available starting Oct. 28, which can be used from Oct. 30, while for sports facilities, people who spend more than 80,000 won between Nov. 2-30 will get a 30,000 won refund from their card companies through a draw.
Accommodation, travel and restaurant businesses were not included in the discount scheme, as virus concerns linger.
The move comes as the government eased the social distancing guidelines to the lowest level last week as new daily COVID-19 cases showed a slight sign of decrease.
South Korea originally planned to distribute the coupons in August, but suspended the plan due to a resurgence in virus cases, mostly traced to a conservative church in northern Seoul.
Officials said the coupons will be distributed only to those who agree to follow due anti-virus measures, such as wearing face masks. Authorities will also begin inspecting the facilities Thursday to see whether they are strictly following infection prevention guidelines.
On Sunday, South Korea reported 91 new virus cases, raising the total caseload to 25,199.
This file photo, taken on Feb. 11, 2020, shows movie posters on an electronic board at a CGV theater in Seoul. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-10-18--(3rd LD) New virus cases under 100 for 3rd day; cluster infections still drag in virus fight

(ATTN: ADDS more details in paras 14-17)
SEOUL, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases rose by double digits for a third consecutive day Sunday, but sporadic cluster infections across the country put more strain on the country's virus fight.
The country added 91 more COVID-19 cases, including 71 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 25,199, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The figure marked a rise from 73 daily cases Saturday and 47 on Friday as a series of sporadic mass infection cases are hampering the country's efforts to stem further spread of the virus.
A notice reading "no visitors allowed" is shown in the lobby of a building in Seoul on Oct. 18, 2020, where a large-scale cluster infection is reported. (Yonhap)
New virus cases fell below the 50 mark for the first time since Sept. 29 on Friday, but a steady rise in new daily cases indicates that cases with unknown transmission routes are still lurking.
Last week, the country lowered its social distancing level to the lowest in the three-tier infection preventive measure as new daily virus cases showed a slight decrease.
Under the eased measures, operations of 10 kinds of high-risk facilities, such as karaoke rooms, gyms, buffets and large-scale cram schools with more than 300 registered students, have been allowed.
People still must follow antivirus measures such as wearing face masks and keeping entry logs.
Crowds of up to 30 percent of stadium capacity have been allowed at sports events, such as in the professional soccer and baseball leagues.
But health authorities remain alert over a possible rise in new virus cases due to growing sporadic cluster infections and increasing travelers as the country is in the height of the autumn foliage season.
They are also concerned about the eased in-person classes of students from this week.
The Ministry of Education raised the attendance cap to two-thirds for all schools last Sunday, in line with the relaxed social distancing rules nationwide.
The 2020 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival, South Korea's biggest rock concert, is held without an audience in the western port city of Incheon on Oct. 17, 2020, due to COVID-19, in this photo provided by the organizer. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This week, health authorities plan to conduct virus tests for 160,000 people in senior hospitals, mental hospitals and senior care facilities in greater Seoul as new virus cases rose in the facilities.
They will decide on whether to expand the tests to other facilities after assessing the situation.
Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said in a briefing that sporadic cluster infections at nursing facilities and rehabilitation hospitals still threatens the country's efforts to prevent coronavirus spread.
But there were no major virus outbreaks tied to the Chuseok fall harvest holiday and the following Hangeul Day earlier this month, Park said.
Over the past two weeks, the country reported a daily average 61.8 virus cases, down from 66.5 the previous two weeks.
Also, the portion of untraceable cases against total cases fell to 16.5 percent from 17.4 percent over the cited period, according to health authorities.
Of the newly identified local infections, 18 cases were reported in Seoul, 48 cases in Gyeonggi Province and one case in the western port city of Incheon.
A total of 33 cases were traced to a call center and medical devices store in Gangnam in southern Seoul as of noon Sunday, up 17 cases from a day earlier.
New virus cases in a rehabilitation hospital in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, surged to 51, up 19 cases from a day earlier, after the first case was reported on Friday.
At a casino bar in the western port city of Incheon, one more case was added, with a total of 16 cases tied to the facility.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with the country's largest port city of Busan adding two cases and Gangwon Province reporting one more case.
The country also reported 20 new imported cases, up from 11 a day earlier, the KDCA said.
Ten cases came from Russia, with three from Nepal and one each from the Philippines, Uzbekistan, India, Kuwait, Turkey, the United States and Mexico.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 23,312, up 54 from the previous day.
One additional death was reported, raising the death toll to 444. The fatality rate was 1.76 percent.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)