yna--2020-05-22--(EDITORIAL from Korea Herald on May 22)

(EDITORIAL from Korea Herald on May 22)

He set forth a vision for South Korea to take the initiative in the post-pandemic global economy on the basis @ @ @ @ @ sectors of information and communications technology and bio-health .
To achieve the ambitious vision , @ @ @ @ @ what he described as the Korean version of the New Deal , which will focus @ @ @ @ @ designed to establish digital infrastructure and create more jobs .

Senseless restraint
More flexible work hours needed to make the economy fit for post-coronavirus era
In a speech marking the third anniversary of his inauguration earlier this month, President Moon Jae-in vowed all-out efforts to turn the ongoing COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity to enhance the country's economic vitality.
He set forth a vision for South Korea to take the initiative in the post-pandemic global economy on the basis of its prowess in the sectors of information and communications technology and bio-health. To achieve the ambitious vision, he pledged to push for what he described as the Korean version of the New Deal, which will focus on a future-oriented preemptive investment designed to establish digital infrastructure and create more jobs.
It will take concrete and swift actions, not any additional rhetoric, to prove he is really serious about revitalizing the country's economy, which was already faltering before the novel coronavirus outbreak.
The Moon government should accelerate efforts to forge a more corporate-friendly environment. It needs to abandon or readjust ill-conceived policies that have dampened corporate activity and are now hampering local businesses from coping with difficulties caused by COVID-19.
The first and foremost thing that should be redressed is the rigid implementation of the shortened workweek.
The country's labor act was amended in February 2018, reducing the maximum weekly working hours to 52 from 68.
The reduced workweek came into force for companies with 300 or more employees in July last year. At the outset of this year, it became applicable to small and medium-sized enterprises with 50 to 299 workers. All companies in the nation will have to comply with the revised rules beginning in July next year.
Flaws in the shortened workweek system were dramatically revealed earlier this year when local face mask makers could not increase production to meet demand amid the spread of the coronavirus. At the time, the government exempted them from the workweek rules.
Research and development work in the materials and equipment industries was exempted from the rules last year after Japan imposed curbs on the export of some high-tech items to Korea. But the government remains opposed to similar exemptions for other sectors.
It is inefficient and unreasonable for the government to make case-by-case decisions on whether to grant exemptions from the workweek rules.
Easing the rigid workweek system is essential to carry out the Korean version of the New Deal.
In his speech on May 10, Moon said his government would strive to turn the country into a "digital powerhouse" with innovative business ventures and startups serving as the main driving force. Held back by the inflexible workweek system, local innovative businesses could hardly hope to realize their potential and move ahead of their competitors from other major advanced economies.
A more flexible workweek system is also needed to bring home Korean manufacturing firms running factories abroad.
The Moon government is stepping up efforts to induce more local manufacturers to transfer their overseas production back to the country. Under consideration are measures to help finance the cost of reshoring, offer tax incentives and subsidies and ease regulations on building factories in the Seoul metropolitan area.
But most companies cite the shortened workweek and other excessive labor regulations as the main reasons they hesitate to return home. They are particularly concerned that such restraints would make it difficult to deal with overseas orders by the delivery deadline.
A fundamental way to cushion the negative effects of the shortened workweek system is to revise the law to expand an existing provision on the flexible application of the rules. It allows for adjusting the maximum working hours to 52 on average within a certain period by letting employees work longer during busy times and later go on deferred leave.
The local business community has called for such flexibility to be built into the system on a yearly basis instead of the current three months.
Parliamentary deliberation on a bill aimed at expanding flexibility for employers has stalled for more than a year, as the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea remains passive amid objections from labor organizations.
The ruling party, which secured a dominant majority in last month's parliamentary election, should be more active in enacting the measure when the next National Assembly begins its four-year term late this month.
President Moon needs to come forward to persuade ruling party lawmakers and labor organizations to accept the flexible application of the workweek system. Doing so would prove the sincerity of his pledge to make the country's economy fit for the post-coronavirus era.
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on May 22)

(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on May 22)

Now both sides should try to find an exit from the ever-escalating confrontation .
There will be no winners in @ @ @ @ @ More than anything else , Seoul and Tokyo must work together to resolve history-based conflicts @ @ @ @ @ .
Moon and Abe need to exercise their leadership to narrow differences between the two @ @ @ @ @ toward reconciliation , friendship and co-prosperity .
( END )

Mend ties with Japan
Seoul and Tokyo should resolve historical disputes
The coronavirus pandemic is bringing a significant change to our way of thinking and way of life, turning what was seen as impossible into possible. But if there is one thing we still cannot change, that could be relations between South Korea and Japan.
Some pundits suggest that Seoul and Tokyo step up cooperation in their response to COVID-19. They believe collaboration could set the stage for the two neighbors to mend their soured ties which have hit rock bottom mainly due to history-related issues.
However, leaders of the two countries have yet to make any meaningful efforts to work together in the face of the global public health crisis and its devastating economic consequences. They are certainly not ready to turn the crisis into an opportunity by making joint efforts to contain the virus and avoid a looming economic recession.
Nevertheless, it is not necessary to be overly pessimistic. We have to look for a silver lining in the diplomatic and trade row. Japan's latest annual diplomatic book seems to signal a change in its attitude toward South Korea, although Tokyo repeated its territorial claims to our easternmost islets of Dokdo.
The Japanese government referred to South Korea as an "important neighbor" in the book. The favorable expression came after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe used a similar phrase in parliamentary sessions last October and early this year. Such an expression, however, cannot be interpreted as a sign of Japan easing its hardline stance on Korea. Yet it can be hoped that the conciliatory term will be translated into action.
In the 2017 diplomatic book, the Asian giant touted Korea as a country that "shares strategic interests." But the nationalist Abe administration deleted this phrase in 2018 and 2019 amid its tilting further toward the right and its stalled ties with Korea's liberal government under President Moon Jae-in.
The Moon administration, which was inaugurated in May 2017, virtually nullified the 2015 Seoul-Tokyo deal aimed at resolving the wartime sex slavery issue, calling for Japan's sincere apology and proper legal compensation. In 2018, the Korean Supreme Court ordered Japanese firms to pay compensation to surviving South Korean victims of wartime forced labor. The ruling has also strained relations between the two countries, leading to Japan's export restrictions on key industrial materials essential for Korean firms to make semiconductors and display panels last July. Tokyo also excluded Korea from a list of favored trading partners, further worsening bilateral ties.
Now both sides should try to find an exit from the ever-escalating confrontation. There will be no winners in this tit for tat. More than anything else, Seoul and Tokyo must work together to resolve history-based conflicts and forge a future-oriented partnership. Moon and Abe need to exercise their leadership to narrow differences between the two countries and take realistic steps toward reconciliation, friendship and co-prosperity.
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers

Korean-language dailies -- Monthly income gap widens further ( Kyunghyang Shinmun ) -- S. Korea maps out universal employment insurance @ @ @ @ @ U.S. calls on S. Korea to keep pace for denuclearization , allies differ over May @ @ @ @ @ ) -- 6 out of 10 proposals by lawmakers go nowhere ( Seoul Shinmun ) @ @ @ @ @ close purses , widens income gap ( Segye Times ) -- U.S. urges S. Korea @ @ @ @ @ ( Chosun Ilbo ) -- Coronavirus deepens income polarization ( JoongAng Ilbo ) -- Ruling @ @ @ @ @ of parliament , power agencies , education ( Hankyoreh ) -- Bashing China will lead @ @ @ @ @ world at 'Trump risk ' ( Hankook Ilbo ) -- Moon : 'Now is chance @ @ @ @ @ sharing pain ' ( Maeil Business Newspaper ) -- Japan eases inheritance tax , succession @ @ @ @ @ times ( Korea Economic Daily )

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major South Korean newspapers on May 22.
Korean-language dailies
-- Monthly income gap widens further (Kyunghyang Shinmun)
-- S. Korea maps out universal employment insurance (Kookmin Daily)
-- U.S. calls on S. Korea to keep pace for denuclearization, allies differ over May 24 sanctions (Donga llbo)
-- 6 out of 10 proposals by lawmakers go nowhere (Seoul Shinmun)
-- Coronavirus forces people to close purses, widens income gap (Segye Times)
-- U.S. urges S. Korea to join anti-China economic initiative (Chosun Ilbo)
-- Coronavirus deepens income polarization (JoongAng Ilbo)
-- Ruling party to push for reform of parliament, power agencies, education (Hankyoreh)
-- Bashing China will lead to election victory, whole world at 'Trump risk' (Hankook Ilbo)
-- Moon: 'Now is chance for great social consensus by sharing pain' (Maeil Business Newspaper)
-- Japan eases inheritance tax, succession of family businesses spikes 10 times (Korea Economic Daily)
English-language dailies
-- Income gap grows, spending falls as effects of virus felt (Korea JoongAng Daily)
-- Samsung to break ground for 2nd cutting edge chip line in Pyeongtaek (Korea Herald)
-- Samsung to build new local foundry line (Korea Times)
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--BTS' Suga releases new mixtape 'D-2'

BTS' Suga releases new mixtape 'D-2'

The singer , who is also a seasoned producer for both BTS and his solo projects , has collaborated with @ @ @ @ @ K-pop queen IU and soulful veteran singer Lee So-ra , as well as American pop @ @ @

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- Suga, a member of Korean pop sensation BTS, released his new mixtape "D-2" and the music video for the title track "Daechwita" on Friday.
The term "daechwita" refers to a genre of Korean traditional music where percussion instruments are used to play music at a king's parade and other military ceremonies.
Big Hit Entertainment, one of the largest music labels in South Korea and home to K-pop darlings BTS, unveiled Suga's second mixtape in four years following his first album "Agust D" in August 2016.
The new album "D-2" has a total of 10 tracks covering various genres. The video for "Daechiwita" shows Suga rapping against the background of palaces, traditional markets and temples, alternating between black and blonde hairdos.
The singer, who is also a seasoned producer for both BTS and his solo projects, has collaborated with other Korean artists, including K-pop queen IU and soulful veteran singer Lee So-ra, as well as American pop singer Halsey.
In this file photo provided by Big Hit Entertainment, BTS member Suga waves at reporters during a press conference at the Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) in southern Seoul on Feb. 24, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--KEB Hana, Woori appeal regulator's penalty decision

The banks are accused of misselling DLF products by failing to provide adequate information or explain the high risks involved @ @ @ @ @ the FSC telling the heads of the two lenders in advance that they may face @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- KEB Hana Bank and Woori Bank said Friday they have appealed the levying of penalties by state financial authorities on the lenders' improper sale of derivatives-linked products.
The two lenders have raised an objection to the Financial Services Commission (FSC), which imposed fines of 19.71 billion won (US$16 million) on Woori Bank and 16.78 billion won on KEB Hana Bank on Jan. 30.
"We filed the objection to the financial authorities as we want the court to review this case," a KEB Hana Bank source said.
The so-called derivatives-linked fund (DLF) products were designed to return large profits when the interest rates of specific countries, including Britain and Germany, stayed above a certain level.
Many South Korean consumers have reported losses of up to or over 90 percent of their investments after interest rates or bond yields in the major economies plunged.
The banks are accused of misselling DLF products by failing to provide adequate information or explain the high risks involved to their consumers, with the FSC telling the heads of the two lenders in advance that they may face "serious" disciplinary actions.
The FSC recommended that the banks provide compensation for up to 80 percent of their customers' losses from the misselling of derivatives linked to overseas interest rates.
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--(2nd LD) Samsung Biologics inks manufacturing deal with GSK

The two latest deals push up the number of orders won by the pharmaceutical firm to four , with the @ @ @ @ @ to just under 1.1 trillion won ( US $ 887 million ) , which is @ @ @ @ @ its contracts signed for the whole of 2019 .

(ATTN: ADDS contract with U.S.-based company in paras 5-6)
SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top pharmaceutical firm, Samsung Biologics Co., said Friday it has signed a tieup deal with multinational drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline Plc. (GSK) to manufacture a GSK biosimilar product.
Under the contract manufacturing organization (CMO) agreement, Samsung Biologics will commercially produce GSK's lupus treatment, Benlysta, starting in 2022.
The eight-year contract is valued at more than US$231 million, Samsung Biologics said, adding both sides could expand the partnership if need be.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which a person's immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues and organs.
The local drugmaker also said it secured a $150 million CMO deal with a U.S. partner to make biodrugs. Samsung said details on this contract will be made public on Dec. 31, 2023, in accordance with the nondisclosure agreement reached. It said depending on further talks, the total size of the pact could rise to $222 million.
The two latest deals push up the number of orders won by the pharmaceutical firm to four, with the value of those deals coming to just under 1.1 trillion won (US$887 million), which is 156 percent larger than all its contracts signed for the whole of 2019.
Samsung Biologics, a biopharmaceutical unit of South Korea's largest conglomerate Samsung Group, was established in 2011 and was listed on the main bourse five years later.
Along with CMO, Samsung Biologics engages in contract development organization (CDO) and contract research organization (CRO) sectors. It has three plants in Incheon, west of Seoul, which can crank out 362,000 liters of biosimilars per year, the world's largest production capacity.
Shares in Samsung Biologics rose 1.48 percent to close at 618,000 won ($499) on the Seoul bourse, outperforming the broader KOSPI's 1.41 percent decline. The deal's announcement was made before the market closed.
The headquarters of Samsung Biologics Co. in Seoul (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--(LEAD) Main opposition selects its former election campaign chief as new interim leader

`` I will pour all my power to reviving the party and the country , '' he told reporters after @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I am determined to work with utmost efforts to bring the party back @ @ @ @ @ period . ''

(ATTN: UPDATES with development in paras 4-6; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's main opposition party, straining to shake off last month's crushing electoral defeat, on Friday elected its former election campaign chief as interim leader, hoping to restructure and resuscitate itself.
Kim Chong-in, who steered the conservative United Future Party (UFP) during the election campaign for the April 15 parliamentary elections, was chosen with overwhelming support to be the new interim leader during a meeting of the party's lawmaker-elects, according to Rep. Joo Ho-young, the party's floor leader.
The lawmaker-elects also agreed to retain the emergency leadership till the by-elections on April 7 next year, Joo said.
Kim, later in the day, accepted the leadership post.
"I will pour all my power to reviving the party and the country," he told reporters after meeting Joo in his office. "I am determined to work with utmost efforts to bring the party back on track during the given period."
Kim served five National Assembly terms and led the ruling Democratic Party's emergency leadership committee in 2016.
After losing big in the general elections, the main opposition party has sought to form an emergency leadership body to salvage and reform the party.
Kim, once in power again, may also control another opposition party, Future Korea Party, a satellite entity of UFP that was created as part of an election strategy.
Holding a meeting of senior members on the same day, the Future Korea Party resolved to pursue a merger with the umbrella party before the opening of the National Assembly's new term on May 30.
Kim Chong-in shakes hands with United Future Party floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young in his office in Seoul on May 22, 2020, after accepting the post as the head of the party's emergency leadership body. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--(LEAD) Seoul suspends 'coin noraebang' to contain virus

`` ( The city ) issues the no-assembly administrative order since it is difficult to manage these facilities under quarantine @ @ @ @ @ many cases in which coin noraebang are operated unmanned and are hard to ventilate , @ @ @ @ @ in a press release .

(ATTN: ADDS details in paras 3-6, 8-9)
SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- In its latest effort to contain the new coronavirus, the Seoul city government on Friday ordered all coin-operated karaoke rooms in the city to suspend business ahead of the weekend.
Under the administrative order which has taken effect, 569 "coin noraebang" will be banned from hosting guests until further notice.
The city government said businesses and visitors that breach the order may face fines of up to 3 million won (US$2,420). It also plans to file compensation suits against them for treatment and quarantine costs.
City authorities and police are scheduled to conduct on-site inspections of the karaoke facilities between May 25 and 31, it added.
A notice on business suspension is seen at the entrance of a "coin noraebang" in the northeastern Seoul ward of Dobong on May 22, 2020, where infections were reported. (Yonhap)
"(The city) issues the no-assembly administrative order since it is difficult to manage these facilities under quarantine guidelines, as there are many cases in which coin noraebang are operated unmanned and are hard to ventilate," Mayor Park Won-soon said in a press release.
Park also urged other karaoke facilities to strictly follow quarantine guidelines even though they were excluded from Friday's measure.
On Thursday, the city government of Incheon, west of Seoul, also ordered a two-week closure of such facilities after infections were reported.
A number of infections have been reported at coin-operated karaoke facilities in Seoul and surrounding areas, putting health authorities on alert over additional infections in closed venues -- such as bars and internet cafes -- that are popular among the younger generation.
Of the country's 11,142 cases of COVID-19 infections, 27.9 percent involve patients in their twenties.
A coin noraebang is a type of karaoke room where people pay per song using coins.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--Coronavirus result of reckless development, ecological destruction: Buddhist leader

According to the Jogye Order 's guidelines , Jongjeong is the highest authority in the Buddhist sect , but does @ @ @ @ @ The position must be chosen among Daejongsa who are aged 70 or older with 45 @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- The spiritual leader of South Korea's largest Buddhist sect on Friday labeled the new coronavirus pandemic a product of reckless development and ecological destruction caused by mankind, calling for harmony between humans and nature.
"The coronavirus disease that has broken out globally is the product of ecological destruction and pollution from mankind's reckless development, and also extreme greed and avarice," said Ven. Jinje, Supreme Patriarch, or Jongjeong, of the Jogye Order, in a sermon released ahead the order's Buddha's Birthday event.
This year's Buddha's Birthday was on April 30 but related ceremonies were postponed to May 30 due to the outbreak.
Ven. Jinje added, "Global handling of the pandemic has been futile, with the spiritual culture of the East attracting attention amid the helplessness shown by science technology."
The religious leader also stressed the importance of reaching harmony with nature.
"Heaven and earth and I are all of one root. All beings are of one body. We cannot exist without our neighbors, nor can we live without stepping on the earth," Ven. Jinje said.
Born in 1934 in Namhae, an island 495 kilometers south of Seoul, Ven. Jinje became a Buddhist monk at the age of 19.
The religious leader has led a campaign to popularize Buddhism as the spiritual leader of the Donghwa Temple in Daegu and as the Jogye Order's "Daejongsa," meaning "most eminent monk."
According to the Jogye Order's guidelines, Jongjeong is the highest authority in the Buddhist sect, but does not oversee its administration. The position must be chosen among Daejongsa who are aged 70 or older with 45 or more years of service.
In this file photo, Ven. Jinje gives a sermon at the Jogye Temple in Seoul on March 27, 2017, after he started his second term as the head of South Korea's largest Buddhist order of Jogye. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--(2nd LD) Samsung sends 300 more workers to China for chip factory expansion

Samsung said the workers will be exempted from 14-day mandatory isolation under the `` fast-track '' entry system approved by @ @ @ @ @ but they still need to be quarantined for three days even after they all test @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with visit to China by SK Innovation and Kia Motors workers in last para)
SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co., the world's largest memory chipmaker, said Friday that it has sent 300 more South Korean engineers and workers to China to complete the expansion of its second chip manufacturing facility there amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Samsung said engineers and workers, including some from its subcontractors, left for the Chinese city of Xian on a chartered flight earlier in the day.
The move came a month after Samsung dispatched 200 engineers to the Xian plant in Shaanxi Province.
This photo provided by Samsung Electronics Co. on May 18, 2020, shows Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong (C) inspecting the company's chip production facility in Xian, China. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Samsung said the workers will be exempted from 14-day mandatory isolation under the "fast-track" entry system approved by South Korea and China, but they still need to be quarantined for three days even after they all test negative for the virus.
Earlier this week, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong returned home from his trip to the Xian plant.
The Xian plant is Samsung's only foreign memory chip factory that makes 3D NAND flash products. The South Korean tech giant last year revealed it will invest an additional US$8 billion in the plant for expansion.
Also Friday, SK Innovation Co. and Kia Motors Corp. sent a combined total of 220 workers to their manufacturing facilities in Yancheng, in the northeastern Jiangsu province, through the fast-track entry system.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--Seoul suspends 'coin noraebang' to contain virus

In a press release , the city government said it has issued the administrative order ahead of the weekend `` @ @ @ @ @ frequently visited by students and that infections have occurred at such facilities . ''

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- In its latest effort to contain the new coronavirus, the Seoul city government on Friday ordered all coin-operated karaoke rooms in the city to suspend business ahead of the weekend.
Under the administrative order which has taken effect, 569 "coin noraebang" will be banned from hosting guests until further notice.
The city government said it plans to file compensation suits against businesses where infections occur. Those who visit such facilities and later test positive will also have to pay for medical treatment.
A notice on business suspension is seen at the entrance of a "coin noraebang" in the northeastern Seoul ward of Dobong on May 22, 2020, where infections were reported. (Yonhap)
In a press release, the city government said it has issued the administrative order ahead of the weekend "given that coin noraebang are frequently visited by students and that infections have occurred at such facilities."
On Thursday, the city government of Incheon, west of Seoul, also ordered a two-week closure of such facilities after infections were reported.
A coin noraebang is a type of karaoke room where people pay per song using coins.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

`` Based on our strength as a technology powerhouse and our status as a medical powerhouse , which was highlighted @ @ @ @ @ we would like to contribute to reinforcing the medical capabilities of peacekeeping operation units that @ @ @ @ @ under various difficult conditions , '' Kang said .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Friday.
----------------
S. Korean baseball games to be available in 130 countries
SEOUL -- International exposure will grow even more now for South Korean baseball.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Friday that, in addition to the United States and Japan, its games will be broadcast in 130 countries, including Canada, Mexico and the Netherlands.
The rest of Europe, parts of Asia, the Middle East and Africa will also have access to live KBO games via ESPN networks and affiliates in these countries, the league office here said.
----------------
Competition for trot music shows heating up among TV networks
SEOUL -- Television networks are doubling down on shows centered around the recent trot-music hype -- launching new shows and snatching up stars who are becoming increasingly high in demand.
SBS TV is currently airing "Here Comes Trot God," and TV Chosun has two shows, "Call Center of Love" and "Bbongsoongah School," in its regular programming.
TV Chosun is credited with ushering in the renaissance of trot -- a soulful genre with repetitive rhythm, simple chords and no-nonsense lyrics -- with the success of its past two shows: "Miss Trot" and "Mr. Trot."
----------------
S. Korea urges ADB to expand support for developing nations combating coronavirus
SEJONG -- South Korea's finance minister called Friday for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to expand financial support for developing nations to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
In the first virtual meeting of the ADB members, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki also stressed tougher containment measures to fight the virus, while ensuring some public movement and economic activities.
"The conventional social safety net has shown its limitations for assisting low-income and vulnerable groups, who are exposed to greater risks during this unforeseen crisis," Hong said.
----------------
FM Kang pledges to use S. Korea's medical, technological savvy to back U.N. peacekeeping
SEOUL -- Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Friday that South Korea will capitalize on its medical and technological savvy to make "substantive" contributions to U.N. peacekeeping operations.
Kang made the remarks during the first session of the government's panel tasked with preparing for Seoul's hosting of the U.N. Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference slated to take place in April next year.
"Based on our strength as a technology powerhouse and our status as a medical powerhouse, which was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to contribute to reinforcing the medical capabilities of peacekeeping operation units that are performing their challenging duties under various difficult conditions," Kang said.
----------------
(LEAD) Samsung sends 300 more workers to China for chip factory expansion
SEOUL -- Samsung Electronics Co., the world's largest memory chipmaker, said Friday that it has sent 300 more South Korean engineers and workers to China to complete the expansion of its second chip manufacturing facility there amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Samsung said engineers and workers, including some from its subcontractors, left for the Chinese city of Xian on a chartered flight earlier in the day.
The move came a month after Samsung dispatched 200 engineers to the Xian plant in Shaanxi Province.
----------------
Biocore wins FDA nod for coronavirus test kit
SEOUL -- South Korean molecular diagnostics firm Biocore Co. said Friday it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use of its coronavirus test kit.
Biocore said it has become the seventh South Korean COVID-19 test kit manufacturer that has garnered emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. agency.
Other South Korean companies that received EUA status include Osang Healthcare, Seegene, SD Biosensor, Seasun Biomaterials, LabGenomics and GeneMatrix.
----------------
(LEAD) Prosecutors raid branches of religious group at center of coronavirus outbreak
SEOUL -- Prosecutors raided facilities of Shincheonji, a minor religious sect, on Friday as part of their ongoing probe into allegations that the group hindered state efforts to contain the new coronavirus in the early stages of the pandemic.
Some 100 investigators took part in the raids into the secretive group's branches nationwide, to seize materials in connection with the charges brought against the group's founder, Lee Man-hee. The branches include the group's headquarters in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, and facilities in the cities of Busan, Gwangju and Daejeon.
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--KBO to meet Monday to determine fate of troubled ex-MLB player eyeing return

Kang received a suspended jail term in 2017 for driving into a guardrail in Seoul while under the influence and @ @ @ @ @ December 2016 .
It was his third drunk driving arrest .
He ended up missing @ @ @ @ @ as he was unable to obtain his work permit , and appeared in only three @ @ @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean baseball league will open disciplinary proceedings on Monday to determine the fate of a former major leaguer seeking a return to Seoul despite his checkered past.
The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) announced Friday that it will hold a disciplinary committee meeting to discuss a possible penalty for Kang Jung-ho, a one-time Pittsburgh Pirate who has applied for a return to the South Korean league.
Because of his three drunk driving cases in the past, mostly recently in 2016, Kang, 33, may face a suspension of up to three years, according to the league rule book.
In this Getty Images file photo from May 11, 2019, Kang Jung-ho of the Pittsburgh Pirates waits in the on-deck circle during a Major League Baseball regular season game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. (Yonhap)
On Thursday, he filed for reinstatement from the "voluntarily retired" list. He was placed there when his former KBO club, Nexen (currently Kiwoom) Heroes, posted him for interested big league clubs after the 2014 season. Kang signed with the Pirates in January 2015.
But Kang's big league career essentially ended last summer following the Pirates' release.
Kang received a suspended jail term in 2017 for driving into a guardrail in Seoul while under the influence and then fleeing the scene in December 2016. It was his third drunk driving arrest. He ended up missing the entire 2017 season, as he was unable to obtain his work permit, and appeared in only three games in 2018.
Kang's four-year deal with the Pirates expired in 2018, but the team gave him a second chance by handing him a new one-year deal for the 2019 season.
Kang led the majors with seven home runs in spring training, but in the regular season, Kang stumbled to a .169/.222./.395 line in 65 games with 10 home runs and 24 RBIs. He struck out 60 times in 172 at-bats, and the Pirates released him on Aug. 4.
Kang briefly worked out with the Milwaukee Brewers' Triple-A team, but no new deal came out of it.
The KBO rule on DUI cases was instituted in 2018, and the disciplinary committee will decide if the rule will be applied retroactively to Kang's 2016 arrest, which happened when he wasn't a KBO player.
In this file photo from Oct. 31, 2014, Kang Jung-ho of the Nexen Heroes celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the LG Twins in a Korea Baseball Organization postseason game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
If the KBO ends up penalizing Kang for only the first two DUI cases, committed while he was playing in South Korea, then the ban could be 90 games or more, along with a fine and community service hours.
Drafted out of high school as a catcher, Kang carved out an All-Star career at shortstop for the Heroes. In his last season before moving to the majors, Kang established a new KBO record for most home runs in a season by a shortstop with 40.
In 2015, Kang finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting, thanks to a .287/.355/.461 line, 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 126 games.
The following season, Kang slugged at a .513 clip while setting career highs with 21 dingers and 62 RBIs in 103 games. But the wheels came off that winter, and Kang hasn't been the same since.
Since Kang wasn't a free agent when he first signed with the Pirates in 2015, the Heroes still hold their reserve right to Kang. The Heroes must agree to take Kang off the voluntarily retired list, but Kang has yet to contact the Heroes about a potential return.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--(LEAD) Seoul stocks snap 5-day winning streak on U.S.-Sino dispute

The analyst , however , noted the renewed dispute between the world 's two largest economies may not lead to @ @ @ @ @ also needs to boost the economy for his reelection , apparently implying such efforts would @ @ @ @ @ .

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks closed lower Friday, ending a winning streak of five consecutive sessions on an escalating dispute between the United States and China that may further undermine the country's exports. The Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 28.18 points, or 1.41 percent, to close at 1,970.13. Trading volume was moderate at about 832 million shares worth some 9.3 trillion won (US$7.5 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 719 to 157.
Electronic signboards at a KEB Hana Bank trading room in Seoul show the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) having lost 28.18 points, or 1.41 percent, to close at 1,970.13 on May 22, 2020, while the Korean won fell against the U.S. dollar. (Yonhap)
Foreigners sold a net 468 billion won, ending a three-day buying streak, while retail investors purchased a net 939 billion won. Institutions offloaded a net 456 billion won.
South Korean stocks had closed higher for five consecutive sessions, joining other global stock markets in a rally sparked by hopes of a quick economic recovery and the development of COVID-19 vaccines.
The New York stock market finished lower Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump renewed his attack against China, saying a "wacko" in China was blaming everybody other than China for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
"Trump seems to be poised to continue tackling China as part of his strategy for reelection, and this will be an issue that pulls down stock prices," KB Securities analyst Lee Eun-taek said.
The analyst, however, noted the renewed dispute between the world's two largest economies may not lead to a full-blown conflict as Trump also needs to boost the economy for his reelection, apparently implying such efforts would require improved ties with China.
Most large caps finished in negative terrain.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics plunged 2.40 percent to 48,750 won, while No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix tumbled 2.52 percent to 81,300 won.
Leading pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics added 1.48 percent to 618,000 won, but Celltrion slipped 1.14 percent to 216,000 won.
Top automaker Hyundai Motor lost 2.78 percent to 94,500 won, with its smaller affiliate Kia Motors shedding 1.63 percent to 30,100 won.
The local currency closed at 1,237.0 won per dollar, down 6.10 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed higher. The yield on three-year Treasurys lost 1.9 basis points to 0.837 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond slipped 1.5 basis points to 1.082 percent.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--Five more foreigners deported for breaching self-isolation rules

The Polish national entered here March 10 and was ordered to self-isolate after one of the person 's acquaintances contracted @ @ @ @ @ took a walk in a public park almost every day from March 13 before testing @ @ @ @ @ The authorities issued a departure order for the Polish national , instead of deportation , @ @ @ @ @ paid his or her own medical bill totaling 21 million won ( US $ 17,000 @ @

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- Five more foreign nationals have been deported from South Korea after getting caught violating self-isolation rules, the Ministry of Justice said Friday.
The violators -- two Chinese nationals and one each from Pakistan, Poland and Britain -- have been ordered to leave for their home countries after failing to comply with Seoul's mandatory self-isolation rule aimed at containing the new coronavirus.
Three of the five, who entered South Korea after April 1, when the mandatory self-isolation order took effect, were slapped with fines in addition to the deportation order, the ministry said, without identifying those fined.
Under the compulsory quarantine measures, all entrants from overseas -- both Koreans and foreigners -- are obliged to self-isolate at their residences or government-designated facilities for 14 days. Foreigners refusing to accept the two-week self-isolation are denied entry to the country, while rule violators are fined and deported.
With the additions of the five, a total of 17 foreign nationals have been deported for breaching self-isolation rules. Including those penalized for refusing to accept self-isolation, 24 foreigners have so far been deported.
The ministry said nine other foreigners have been caught violating self-isolation rules unintentionally and were allowed to stay in the country after paying fines due to their low risk of spreading coronavirus.
According to the ministry, the deported Pakistani tested positive for COVID-19 after inviting friends to his self-isolation place for dinner on April 27, one day after he arrived here.
One Chinese national was caught escaping from a self-isolation place 11 times from April 14-28, each time after leaving his or her mobile phone behind to avoid being tracked.
Another Chinese national was accused of leaving a self-isolation place for 11 minutes on April 23 for a smoke. The person was also criticized for hindering self-isolation monitoring by intentionally hanging up or avoiding calls from civil servants.
The Polish national entered here March 10 and was ordered to self-isolate after one of the person's acquaintances contracted coronavirus. But the European took a walk in a public park almost every day from March 13 before testing positive on March 26. The authorities issued a departure order for the Polish national, instead of deportation, as the person had personally paid his or her own medical bill totaling 21 million won (US$17,000).
The British national was deported after being caught visiting a screen golf room one day after taking a coronavirus test on March 23 without wearing a face mask.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--Main opposition selects party's former election campaign chief as new interim leader

Kim Chong-in , who steered the conservative United Future Party ( UFP ) during the election campaign for the April @ @ @ @ @ chosen with overwhelming support to be the new interim leader during a meeting of the @ @ @ @ @ to Rep. Joo Ho-young , the party 's floor leader .

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's main opposition party, straining to shake off last month's crushing electoral defeat, on Friday elected its former election campaign chief as interim leader, hoping to restructure and resuscitate itself.
Kim Chong-in, who steered the conservative United Future Party (UFP) during the election campaign for the April 15 parliamentary elections, was chosen with overwhelming support to be the new interim leader during a meeting of the party's lawmaker-elects, according to Rep. Joo Ho-young, the party's floor leader.
The lawmaker-elects also agreed to retain the emergency leadership till the by-elections on April 7 next year, Joo said.
After losing big in the general elections, the main opposition party has sought to form an emergency leadership body to salvage and reform the party.
Joo plans to convey the party's latest decision to Kim during the day and ask him to accept the party leadership post.
Party officials see a high chance that he accepts the offer, since he has shown his conditional interest in the position.
Kim, once in power again, may also control another opposition party, Future Korea Party, a satellite entity of UFP that was created as part of an election strategy.
Holding a meeting of senior members on the same day, the Future Korea Party resolved to pursue a merger with the umbrella party before the opening of the National Assembly's new term on May 30.
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--S. Korean Bond Yields on May. 22, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on May. 22, 2020

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


yna--2020-05-22--(LEAD) Samsung sends 300 more workers to China for chip factory expansion

Samsung said the workers will be exempted from 14-day mandatory isolation under a fast-track entry system approved by South Korea @ @ @ @ @ still need to be quarantined for three days even after they all test negative for @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS details in lead, paras 4, 6)
SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co., the world's largest memory chipmaker, said Friday that it has sent 300 more South Korean engineers and workers to China to complete the expansion of its second chip manufacturing facility there amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Samsung said engineers and workers, including some from its subcontractors, left for the Chinese city of Xian on a chartered flight earlier in the day.
The move came a month after Samsung dispatched 200 engineers to the Xian plant in Shaanxi Province.
Samsung said the workers will be exempted from 14-day mandatory isolation under a fast-track entry system approved by South Korea and China, but they still need to be quarantined for three days even after they all test negative for the virus.
Earlier this week, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong returned home from his trip to the Xian plant.
The Xian plant is Samsung's only foreign memory chip factory that makes 3D NAND flash products. The South Korean tech giant last year revealed it will invest an additional US$8 billion in the plant for expansion.
This photo provided by Samsung Electronics Co. on May 18, 2020, shows Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong (C) inspecting the company's chip production facility in Xian, China. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--Itaewon-linked infections continue to rise, total at 215

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had reported 20 new cases nationwide from the previous day , with @ @ @ @ @ community transmission .
Most of the local infections were concentrated in Seoul and the surrounding @ @ @ @ @ in Gyeonggi Province , surrounding the capital .

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea saw new coronavirus infections linked to nightspots continue to rise Friday, with a party venue just outside of Seoul emerging as another transmission site.
Cases traced to nightclubs and bars in the Seoul neighborhood of Itaewon totaled 215 as of noon, adding another eight cases over the past 12 hours, according to health authorities.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had reported 20 new cases nationwide from the previous day, with 11 of them coming from community transmission. Most of the local infections were concentrated in Seoul and the surrounding area, with six reported in Gyeonggi Province, surrounding the capital.
Health workers check a person for the new coronavirus at a community health center in Bucheon, just outside of Seoul, on May 19, 2020. (Yonhap)
Some of the latest club-linked cases were traced to a buffet restaurant in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, just outside of Seoul.
People who had attended a birthday party for a 1-year-old tested positive, with a photographer who took photos during the event suspected of spreading the infectious virus.
The photographer, who doubles as a taxi driver, is believed to have been infected at a coin-operated karaoke facility in Incheon, a port city west of Seoul, where patients who were infected by an Itaewon clubber visited.
Health authorities urged people who visited the restaurant on May 9, 10 and 17 to be tested for the virus.
The number of cases involving Itaewon clubbers appears to be slowing, but chain transmissions at karaoke facilities, bars and internet cafes have continued to rise, putting health authorities on alert.
"We've seen cases in which those infected at cram schools, karaoke facilities and bars transmit the (virus) to their families and acquaintances," Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said in a press briefing. "Health authorities are closely monitoring this situation, while striving to minimize additional infections in the metropolitan area."
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--Summary of inter-Korean news this week

Summary of inter-Korean news this week

The ministry has been in talks with the United Nations Command ( UNC ) , which controls access to the @ @ @ @ @ the screening process , an official said , amid criticism it is unfair for South @ @ @ @ @ a long security clearance process while an average of three days is needed for foreigners @

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of inter-Korean news this week.
------------
Entry screening for Panmunjom tours to be shortened to 3 days: unification ministry
SEOUL, May 18 (Yonhap) -- The up-to-two-week screening process required for South Koreans wishing to visit the truce village of Panmunjom on the border with North Korea is likely to be shortened to three days, the unification ministry said.
The ministry has been in talks with the United Nations Command (UNC), which controls access to the border area, to shorten the screening process, an official said, amid criticism it is unfair for South Koreans to go through such a long security clearance process while an average of three days is needed for foreigners.
"Last Friday, the UNC told us it can shorten the period to three days " Yoh Sang-key, the unification ministry's spokesperson, said in a press briefing.
------------
S. Korea postpones joint maritime live-fire drills after N.K. protest
SEOUL, May 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has decided to postpone a major maritime firing exercise, initially scheduled for this week, due to adverse weather conditions, the defense ministry said Monday, rejecting allegations the decision was aimed at avoiding angering North Korea.
The Army, the Air Force and the Navy had planned to carry out their biannual live-fire drill off the southeastern coast of Uljin on Tuesday, involving major assets, such as ballistic missiles, combat ships and fighter jets.
But the military decided to put off the maneuvers, sparking speculation officials were overly concerned about possible protests from North Korea, as the decision came after the North's military reacted angrily to a Navy-Air Force joint drill in the Yellow Sea earlier this month.
------------
N. Korea again denies abducting S. Koreans in 1969
SEOUL, May 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has denied allegations that it is forcibly holding South Koreans in the country after abducting them in a 1969 plane hijacking, in a letter released Monday by the United Nations human rights agency.
In 1969, North Korea hijacked a Korean Air plane carrying 50 people and redirected it to the communist nation. Of them, 39 were sent back to the South two months later, but the other 11 are believed to still be in the North.
The North rejected the allegations of abductions, claiming the pilots voluntarily defected.
------------
N. Korea faces 860,000-ton grain shortage: unification ministry
SEOUL, May 19 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is presumed to be facing a shortage of around 860,000 tons of grain this year amid worries that the coronavirus pandemic could aggravate the situation, a unification ministry official said Tuesday.
The projection is based on an earlier estimate by a local state-run institute that the North produced around 4.64 million tons of grain last year, which was below the 5.5 million tons widely believed to a minimum amount needed to feed its 25 million people.
"This year, the North will likely face a shortage of some 860,000 tons of grain," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
------------
Unification ministry launches 'fake news response' section on official website
SEOUL, May 20 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's unification ministry has launched a new section on its website featuring "fake news" as part of efforts to prevent the spread of groundless rumors about North Korea and inter-Korean affairs.
It is the first time that a government agency has launched such a fake news section on its homepage. The move came amid growing worries that the spread of unsubstantiated rumors and speculation about the secretive North could cause confusion and instability in society and financial markets.
Fake News Response, which has been in service since early this month, is designed to provide correct information on fabricated news and the ministry's countermeasures, officials said.
------------
S. Korea sees 2010 sanctions on N. Korea as no hindrance to inter-Korean exchange
SEOUL, May 20 (Yonhap) -- A set of sanctions slapped on North Korea over its deadly sinking of a South Korean warship in 2010 has since been softened and no longer poses any obstacle to inter-Korean exchanges, the unification ministry said Wednesday.
Ministry spokesman Yoh Sang-key made the remark as South Korea marked the 10th anniversary of the sweeping sanctions that the South imposed on the North after the communist nation sank the South Korean warship Cheonan and killed 46 sailors.
"Previous governments have taken a flexible approach and allowed exceptions (in implementation of the sanctions)," Yoh Sang-key, the ministry's spokesperson, told a regular press briefing. "A large part of the sanctions has virtually lost its effect."
------------
Unification minister refutes speculation over possible lifting of 2010 sanctions on N. Korea
SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- Just because sanctions imposed on North Korea following its deadly sinking of a South Korean naval ship in 2010 have mostly lost their effect does not mean that Seoul is considering the possibility of lifting them, Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said Thursday.
On Wednesday, Yoh Sang-key, the ministry's spokesperson, told reporters that much of the sanctions have mostly lost their intended effect and pose no obstacle in expanding "room" in inter-Korean relations, as previous governments have made various "exceptions" in implementation.
He made the remarks as South Korea marked the 10th anniversary of the sweeping sanctions imposed on the North after the communist nation sank the South Korean warship Cheonan and killed 46 sailors, spawning speculation that Seoul might be considering their lifting.
------------
Moon to push ahead with inter-Korean projects despite U.S.-N.K. stalemate: former top aide
SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in will forge ahead with inter-Korean cooperative projects to revive the Korean peace process amid the stalemate in nuclear talks between North Korea and the United States, his former top aide said Thursday.
In an interview with a local magazine, Im Jong-seok, a former chief of staff, also called for a summit between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to break through the current impasse in relations.
"If there is no progress between the United States and North Korea this year, President Moon will try to push ahead to get things done, while sufficiently communicating with the U.S., even though there are negative views," said Im, Moon's first chief of staff who served until January 2019.
------------
Seoul closely monitoring N. Korea as leader out of public view again
SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is closely watching the whereabouts of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the unification ministry said Friday, as his absence from public view has stretched to three weeks once again.
A swirl of global rumors about Kim's heath and even the possibility of his death came to an end when he attended the completion ceremony of a fertilizer factory with a broad smile on May 1 after a 20-day absence from public view.
Speculation over his whereabouts has resurfaced as he has been out of public view for three weeks.
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--Summary of external news of North Korea this week

`` While the COVID-19 pandemic is devastating lives , public health systems , livelihoods and economies across the world , @ @ @ @ @ contexts and those whose resilience has been eroded by previous crises are particularly exposed to @ @ @ @ @ report said .

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of external news of North Korea this week.
------------
Pentagon says too early to fully restore U.S.-S. Korea military drills
WASHINGTON, May 15 (Yonhap) -- It is still too early to resume all military exercises between South Korea and the United States in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, the Pentagon said Friday.
The allies postponed their springtime combined military exercises slated for March amid growing concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in South Korea.
U.S. Forces Korea said Friday it is maintaining current restrictions on service members' off-post activities following an increase in new infections in the country.
------------
N. Korea among 47 countries facing food shortages due to global pandemic: U.N. agency
SEOUL, May 19 (Yonhap) -- Around 183 million people in 47 countries, including North Korea, are facing the possibility of severe food insecurity as border closures and disruptions in global supply chains have restricted their access to farming products, a U.N. food agency said.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also estimated in the report that around US$350 million will be needed this year to provide necessary assistance to those countries facing a looming crisis.
"While the COVID-19 pandemic is devastating lives, public health systems, livelihoods and economies across the world, populations living in food crisis contexts and those whose resilience has been eroded by previous crises are particularly exposed to its effects," the report said.
------------
U.N. raises US$1.3 mln to aid N. Korea's antivirus fight
SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- The United Nations has raised US$1.3 million to provide assistance for North Korea's efforts to prevent the outbreak of the new coronavirus, a U.N. report showed Friday.
The fund, whose latest tally was as of Wednesday, represented some 3 percent of $39.7 million estimated to be required to support the North's antivirus efforts, according to the report by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The report said some $900,000 in aid was sent to support North Korea's fight against COVID-19.
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--Key developments on North Korea this week

SEOUL , May 22 ( Yonhap ) -- The following are key developments regarding North Korea this week .

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- The following are key developments regarding North Korea this week.
------
May 15 -- Pentagon says too early to fully restore U.S.-S. Korea military drills
19 -- S. Korea says N. Korea faces 860,000-ton grain shortage this year
20 -- S. Korea says 2010 sanctions on N. Korea no hindrance to inter-Korean exchange
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--Summary of domestic news in North Korea this week

`` If you see any fields and paddies and sit down with farmers , you can find a very high @ @ @ @ @ the paper quoted a party official of the province as saying .
He also vowed @ @ @ @ @ a place where the party 's agricultural development plans can be perfectly realized .

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- The following is a summary of domestic news in North Korea this week.
------------
N. Korean paper calls for strong belief in own power amid sanctions, global pandemic
SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's official newspaper called Sunday for strong conviction in building socialism in the face of challenges, saying that there is no challenge that cannot be overcome if one has a strong belief in one's own power.
North Korea has intensified calls for self-reliance in many areas as the country appears to be facing a double whammy of crippling global sanctions and the fallout from the global coronavirus pandemic.
"Our people's conviction and will are firm and strong to open the path toward a new victory of building socialism against harsh crisis under the leadership of our party," the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North's ruling party, said.
------------
N.K. propaganda outlet slams those responsible for Gwangju uprising on 40th anniversary
SEOUL, May 18 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean propaganda outlet on Monday slammed a former South Korean president over the bloody crackdown on a 1980 pro-democracy uprising, urging fair punishment for an atrocity "worse than that of the German Nazis."
Uriminzokkiri, one of the North's propaganda websites, made the accusation as South Korea marks the 40th anniversary of the May 18 uprising in the southwestern city of Gwangju quelled ruthlessly by the military junta led by then Gen. Chun Doo-hwan.
The crackdown left more than 200 people killed and 1,800 others wounded..
------------
N. Korean paper highlights provincial efforts to increase rice production
SEOUL, May 18 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's official newspaper on Monday highlighted intensifying efforts in a provincial area to increase rice production as the country is striving to achieve "food self-reliance" amid worries about chronic food shortages cause by extreme weather and global sanctions.
The Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North's ruling party, carried comments made by local party officials in South Hwanghae Province, known as one of the country's breadbaskets, featuring their strong will and ongoing efforts to expand farming production.
"If you see any fields and paddies and sit down with farmers, you can find a very high level of spirit," the paper quoted a party official of the province as saying. He also vowed to turn the province into a place where the party's agricultural development plans can be perfectly realized.
------------
N. Korea's official paper calls for localization to defend dignity
SEOUL, May 20 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's official newspaper Wednesday urged the use of locally made products over imported goods, stressing that localization is key to safeguarding the sovereignty and survival of the communist nation.
North Korea has emphasized localization as part of efforts to build a self-reliant economy amid bleak outlooks for any immediate sanctions lifting due to a stalemate in denuclearization negotiations with the United States.
"Localization is our republic's war to defend dignity to the last death," the Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North's ruling party, said. "Without one's own and with weak power, it would bow to others and eventually lose its right to autonomy and survival."
------------
N. Korea's official paper denies leaders can magically contract space
SEOUL, May 21 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's official newspaper denied its leaders can magically contract space, a long tradition used to idolize founder Kim Il-sung and late leader Kim Jong-il, in the latest sign of a change in the regime's myth-making efforts.
The Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North's ruling party, carried an article on Wednesday denying its leaders can practice "chukjibeop," a hypothetical method of folding space and traveling far distances in a short period of time that has been used by the North to deify its leaders.
"In realistic terms, a person cannot suddenly disappear and reappear by folding space," the article said.
(END)


yna--2020-05-23--(URGENT) 32 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,19

(URGENT) 32 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,194: KCDC


yna--2020-05-23--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 2 more virus deaths, death toll now at 266: KCDC


yna--2020-05-23--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 23 more cases of new coronavirus, total at 11,165: KCDC


yna--2020-05-23--Korean telcos promote baseball content to attract fans at home amid pandemic

As fans are not allowed to see games from the stands , the country 's three major telecom operators -- @ @ @ @ @ Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. -- have been bolstering their streaming services to satisfy the @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, May 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean telecommunication firms said Saturday they have released various services and content related to the country's professional baseball league as they try to attract baseball fans at home amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The new Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season started May 5 after South Korea managed to flatten the curve of new virus cases, but games have been played without spectators due to infection risks.
As fans are not allowed to see games from the stands, the country's three major telecom operators -- SK Telecom Co., KT Corp. and LG Uplus Corp. -- have been bolstering their streaming services to satisfy the needs of baseball watchers.
This undated photo provided by SK Telecom Co. shows the company's multiview baseball game streaming service on its over-the-top (OTT) platform Wavve. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
SK Telecom, the country's largest mobile carrier, introduced an upgraded online streaming service for the KBO league through its over-the-top (OTT) service platform Wavve, which enabled users to watch a game from a maximum 12 different angles, including a close-up angle of players and a live camera view of cheerleaders.
The company, affiliated with the KBO club SK Wyverns, said it applied S-Tile technology, which allows users to arrange real-time multiple video sources on their mobile device screens into a tile format, for the first time for the live broadcast of professional sports.
SK Telecom also said it is offering a KBO baseball theme for its augmented reality (AR) service, Jump AR, so that users can better express support for their baseball clubs.
KT, which owns the KT Wiz in the KBO, also upgraded its OTT platform, Seezn, to provide better baseball viewing experience to fans.
The telecom operator said Seezn users can enjoy a live chat with others while watching the game and can see multiple games simultaneously.
The company said Seezn users can also get various baseball data for the KBO league, including pitching charts and result predictions.
This undated photo provided by LG Uplus Corp. shows a model promoting the company's mobile application for the pro baseball league in South Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
LG Uplus said the number of unique users for its U+ Pro Baseball mobile application increased by 22 percent compared with a year earlier.
The app also offers real time online chatting and games, and can show a baseball game from multiple angles that allows users to enjoy one multiview video on their mobile device.
The company, connected with the LG Twins in the KBO, said its virtual mobile ticketing promotion, in which users book a seat inside a virtual baseball stadium and can apply for a gift giveaway, also has been successful.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-23--S. Korean stocks likely to stay range-bound next week

Its exports again nose-dived after the spread of the new coronavirus peaked here , with around 900 new infection cases @ @ @ @ @ and early March .
The number of daily new infection cases has slowed to around @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, May 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks are expected to remain in a tight range next week as growing concerns over a renewed U.S.-China dispute put on downward pressure, while hopes of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus will likely support their advance, analysts said Saturday.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 1,970.13 on Friday, up 42.85 points, or 2.2 percent, from 1,927.28 a week earlier.
An electronic signboard at a KEB Hana Bank in Seoul shows the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index down 1.41 percent to close at 1,970.13 points on May 22, 2020. (Yonhap)
Hopes of a quick economic recovery and development of vaccines for COVID-19 sparked global stock market rallies this week, with South Korean stocks closing higher for five consecutive sessions until Thursday.
"Clinical tests of COVID-19 vaccines will likely limit the downward movement of stocks even in the case of increased volatility in the future by promoting hopes for an early termination of the pandemic," NH Investment & Securities analyst Noh Dong-kil said.
The pledges by Washington and the U.S. Federal Reserve to take additional steps to support the economy will also continue to have a positive impact on global investors, Noh added.
The growing discord between the United States and China over the pandemic, however, may spook investor sentiment here, said Park Seok-hyun, an analyst at KTB Investment & Securities, noting the U.S.-China dispute may further escalate down the road.
"China has steadily pursued policies aimed at narrowing its (economic) gap with the U.S. and appears to have sought to turn the COVID-19 pandemic into such an opportunity since its shock has been relatively smaller," Park said.
"Hence the U.S. appears to be seeking to isolate China by not limiting its dispute with China to trade issues and expanding it to various other areas," Park added.
In his latest attack, U.S. President Donald Trump insisted it was the "incompetence of China" that led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands globally.
South Korea's exports dipped for 14 consecutive months between December 2018 and January 2020 amid the prolonged trade conflict between the world's two largest economies.
South Korean exports rebounded 4.5 percent on-year in February, shortly after Washington and Beijing signed an initial trade agreement, bringing their prolonged trade dispute to a pause.
Its exports again nose-dived after the spread of the new coronavirus peaked here, with around 900 new infection cases per day in late February and early March. The number of daily new infection cases has slowed to around 30 or less since mid-April.
This week, foreigners were net sellers, dumping a net 40 billion won. Retail investors offloaded a net 109 billion won, while institutions scooped up a net 131 billion won.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-23--(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on May 23)

(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on May 23)

His remarks seemed to imply that the initiative is part of the U.S. policy of containing China not only in @ @ @ @ @ also in diplomacy and security .
The EPN plan is taking more concrete shape , @ @ @ @ @ the novel coronavirus which originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December .
@ @ @ @ @ provided further momentum for the initiative because the U.S. has suffered from the disruption of @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .

US initiative against China
Korea faces risks from superpower rivalry
South Korea is carefully watching a new U.S. initiative aimed at sidelining China from global supply chains in the wake of the escalating confrontation between the two superpowers over the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic. Seoul is taking a cautious approach to Washington's push for the "Economic Prosperity Network" (EPN) which is still at an initial stage.
Yet the country cannot help but worry about the envisioned network described as an alliance of "trusted partners." The reason is because the U.S. indicated that South Korea could be among its targeted members of the network. This indication could be seen as U.S. pressure on its Asian ally to join the initiative apparently designed to isolate China and reduce its global dominance.
Korea seems to feel that it is increasingly forced to choose between the U.S. and China. As things stand now, it is difficult to make such a choice because Korea is dependent on America for its defense and security, while relying on China for economic growth. For this reason, Seoul has been trying to walk a fine line between the G2 countries.
Against this background, the creation of the U.S.-led economic bloc to contain a rising China is a serious cause for concern on the part of Korea. A Seoul official said that the Moon Jae-in administration has no "conclusive" position on the U.S. initiative as it is still in the planning stages. But it was reported that the two countries have already exchanged broad ideas about the EPN.
Korea's semi-official Yonhap News Agency quoted Keith Krach, undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, as saying that officials of both countries talked about the initiative during their Senior Economic Dialogue (SED) in Seoul last November. On Wednesday, Krach also said the EPN consists of like-minded countries, companies and civil societies that will operate under "democratic values."
His remarks seemed to imply that the initiative is part of the U.S. policy of containing China not only in trade and economically, but also in diplomacy and security. The EPN plan is taking more concrete shape, especially in the face of the novel coronavirus which originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December. The pandemic appears to have provided further momentum for the initiative because the U.S. has suffered from the disruption of global supply chains due to COVID-19.
But the Trump administration is giving the impression that it is taking advantage of the global public health crisis to trigger a new Cold War with China. Recently he even threatened to cut off ties with China. The Commerce Department also announced new restrictions to deny Huawei, China's maker of network equipment and smartphones, access to key U.S. semiconductor technologies.
The raging superpower rivalry may pose a risk to South Korea because it could be caught in the crossfire. It reminds Koreans of China's economic retaliation against Seoul's decision to allow the U.S. to deploy its anti-missile battery here in 2017. Thus the Moon administration should work out new strategies to avoid any possible entanglements in the rising U.S.-China conflict. This is no easy task. But we cannot be a victim of a new Cold War.
(END)


yna--2020-05-23--Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers

Korean-language dailies -- S. Korea forced to choose either U.S. or China ( Kyunghyang Shinmun ) -- Prosecutors raid Shincheonji @ @ @ @ @ obstruction of coronavirus quarantine efforts ( Kookmin Daily ) -- White House calls China 'pillage @ @ @ @ @ Cold War ( Donga llbo ) -- U.S. , China clash over Hong Kong laws @ @ @ @ @ comes ( Segye Times ) -- China , world 's growth engine , fails to @ @ @ @ @ Chosun Ilbo ) -- Application for emergency relief fund highlights digital divide ( JoongAng Ilbo @ @ @ @ @ nat ' l security laws for Hong Kong , U.S. warns of strong responses ( @ @ @ @ @ Min-sik law of school zone traffic offenses ?
'It is meant to protect children ' @ @ @ @ @ China comes up with super-strong stimulus of 1,250 tln won ( Maeil Business Newspaper ) @ @ @ @ @ hits all-time high ( Korea Economic Daily )

SEOUL, May 23 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major South Korean newspapers on May 23.
Korean-language dailies
-- S. Korea forced to choose either U.S. or China (Kyunghyang Shinmun)
-- Prosecutors raid Shincheonji offices for probe into alleged obstruction of coronavirus quarantine efforts (Kookmin Daily)
-- White House calls China 'pillage economy,' declares new Cold War (Donga llbo)
-- U.S., China clash over Hong Kong laws, 'new Cold War' comes (Segye Times)
-- China, world's growth engine, fails to present economic growth goal (Chosun Ilbo)
-- Application for emergency relief fund highlights digital divide (JoongAng Ilbo)
-- China presents new nat'l security laws for Hong Kong, U.S. warns of strong responses (Hankyoreh)
-- Controversy over Min-sik law of school zone traffic offenses? 'It is meant to protect children' (Hankook Ilbo)
-- China comes up with super-strong stimulus of 1,250 tln won (Maeil Business Newspaper)
-- Price of Korean beef hits all-time high (Korea Economic Daily)
English-language dailies
-- Itaewon virus outbreak deepens generational rift (Korea Times)
(END)


Saturday's weather forecast

SEOUL , May .
23 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 @ @ @ @ @ Saturday .


yna--2020-05-23--Night tours of royal palaces to reopen next week

The administration had suspended nearly all tour and cultural events at royal palaces , including the changing of the royal @ @ @ @ @ February when the South Korean government raised its coronavirus alert to the highest level .

SEOUL, May 23 (Yonhap) -- The popular nighttime tours of royal palaces in South Korea will resume next week, months after their suspension due to novel coronavirus fears, the cultural heritage authority said Saturday.
The Gyeongbokgung Starlight Tour will start on Wednesday and go through June 8, while the Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour will open from Thursday until June 21, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA).
Tickets for the nocturnal programs are available for purchase at the e-commerce website Auction (ticket.auction.co.kr).
A special program named Gyeongbokgung Saenggwabang, which provides tourists a chance to experience a traditional tea ceremony and enjoy dessert, will start its one-month run on Wednesday.
Music concerts will be also held at the royal palace of Gyeongbok every weekend from May 30 to July 12.
At the same time, the changing of the royal guard ceremony at Gyeongbok Palace already restarted on Wednesday, the administration added.
In June, more events including weekday concerts at Gyeongbok Palace and royal kitchen tours will begin.
CHA said that under strict quarantine guidelines to prevent possible COVID-19 infections, all visitors will have their temperatures checked and be required to wear face masks at all times.
The administration had suspended nearly all tour and cultural events at royal palaces, including the changing of the royal guard ceremony, since late February when the South Korean government raised its coronavirus alert to the highest level.
This photo provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration shows the royal palace Changdeok in Seoul during the Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-23--TWICE set for June comeback with 9th EP 'More & More'

The title song , which shares the same name as the EP itself , was produced by JYP founder and @ @ @ @ @ Park is behind several of TWICE 's past hits , such as `` What is @ @ @ @ @ '' and `` Feel Special . ''

SEOUL, May 23 (Yonhap) -- Popular girl group TWICE will make a comeback with its ninth EP, "More & More," next month, the first in a series of major K-pop comebacks expected to heat up the early summer chart race.
JYP Entertainment's nine-piece multinational team will release its new record on June 1. It will be the band's first collection of songs since the previous EP, "Feel Special," from September of last year.
The title song, which shares the same name as the EP itself, was produced by JYP founder and chief producer Park Jin-young. Park is behind several of TWICE's past hits, such as "What is Love," "Signal" and "Feel Special."
Aside from Park, a team of international songwriters and producers, including MNEK of Britain, Zara Larsson of Sweden and American singer-songwriter Julia Michaels, also joined the production.
Several members of the group also chipped in creatively for the first time, with Nayeon writing the lyrics for "Make Me Go," and Jeongyeon and Chaeyeong involved in the lyrics and rap segment for "Sweet Summer Day."
The title track "More & More," according to JYP, is a tropical house number, with lyrics on intensifying emotions as romantic relations move forward.
The return will bring back together all nine members after Mina, one of the group's three Japanese members, had been absent since late 2019 due to health issues.
TWICE's return signals the start of major female K-pop comebacks this summer, with rival girl group BLACKPINK of YG Entertainment also set to release a new single in June. SM Entertainment also plans to launch a duo sub-unit of its female act, Red Velvet, next month.
A publicity file photo of K-pop act TWICE, provided by JYP Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


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yna--2020-05-22--Audi halts sales of latest model of A6 sedan in S. Korea

Its overall sales from January to April more than tripled to 9,519 units of the four brands from 3,122 in @ @ @ @ @ to the Korean Automobile Importers and Distributors Association .

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- Audi Volkswagen Korea said it suspended sales of its latest A6 gasoline-powered sedan starting Friday at the request of its German parent company.
"We are checking with Audi's German headquarters over the reason for the suspension request," a Seoul-based spokeswoman for the carmaker said over the phone.
The sales suspension has nothing to do with the transport ministry's recent preliminary probe into the A6 model's power outages while being driven, she said.
This file photo provided by Audi Volkswagen Korea shows the eighth-generation A6 gasoline model. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
In January, Audi Volkswagen Korea halted sales of the A6 and A8 sedans due to their malfunctioning rear seat safety belt warning systems after reporting the problem to the transport ministry.
The company launched the eighth-generation A6 sedan in the Korean market in October and sold 1,500 units of the model's gasoline and diesel versions through April.
Audi Volkswagen Group resumed sales in South Korea in early 2018 after suspending normal operations in 2016 following an emissions cheating scandal that hurt consumer confidence in the brand.
The German auto group sells four brands -- Audi, Volkswagen, Lamborghini and Bentley -- in the country.
Its overall sales from January to April more than tripled to 9,519 units of the four brands from 3,122 in the year-ago period, according to the Korean Automobile Importers and Distributors Association.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--(5th LD) S. Korea reports 20 new virus cases amid efforts to contain sporadic infections

The new cases raised South Korea 's total caseload to 11,142 , with the nation 's death toll at 264 @ @ @ @ @ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( KCDC ) .
Two more fatalities , involving @ @ @ @ @ and another in his late 60s , were reported later in the day but not @ @ @ @ @ update .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info on church infections in paras 22-23)
SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 20 more cases of the new coronavirus Friday as health officials are trying to contain sporadic group infections following the mass spread of the virus tied to Seoul's nightlife district of Itaewon.
The new cases raised South Korea's total caseload to 11,142, with the nation's death toll at 264, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Two more fatalities, involving a man in his 80s and another in his late 60s, were reported later in the day but not included in the official daily update.
Itaewon has emerged as a hotbed for infections as a 29-year-old man tested positive for COVID-19 on May 6 following his visits to multiple clubs and bars in Itaewon. As of noon, 215 infections were connected to the case.
To avoid a second wave of infections, South Korea has been carrying out more than 77,000 tests on those who visited affected clubs between April 24 and May 6.
South Korea has not yet identified the origin of the virus that struck Itaewon, although health authorities assume it came from either North America or Europe.
A worker disinfects a police station in Gwangju, 330 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on May 22, 2020, after a suspect under investigation showed symptoms of the new coronavirus, in this photo provided by a reader. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The number of imported cases rose by nine from a day earlier, reaching 1,200. More than 88 percent of such patients were South Korean nationals returning from overseas.
Authorities said the country is expected to experience a gradual increase in the number of imported cases, as it is inevitable for South Korea to maintain at least limited exchanges with other countries.
The fatality rate came to 2.37 percent. South Korea has not yet reported any deaths from patients aged 29 and younger.
It has also not yet seen a coronavirus-related syndrome among children as observed overseas.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,162, up 27 from the previous day. The latest figures indicate that more than 90 percent of confirmed patients have fully recovered from the virus.
South Korea has carried out tests on 802,418 people since Jan. 3, including 13,734 from a day earlier.
The health authorities say they remain vigilant over sporadic group infections across the nation, though they say it is safe to deem the club-linked cases as now being under control.
A fire department located in Gimpo, just west of Seoul, is closed on May 22, 2020, after a firefighter working there was tested positive for the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
"The cases from Itaewon did not lead to a massive proliferation of the virus, but we are still experiencing local infections in the Seoul metropolitan area," Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said during a daily briefing, hinting that karaoke rooms, PC cafes and bars are still among places vulnerable to the virus.
Earlier this week, four nurses at Samsung Medical Center, one of the country's five major general hospitals, tested positive. Exactly how they became infected with the COVID-19 virus was not immediately known, but authorities say they have not found connections to the clubgoers.
Health authorities reported two more infections linked to a nurse at the hospital in southern Seoul.
The capital city said that as of 6 p.m., 761 citizens have contracted the infectious illness so far.
Dozens of high schools in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds Seoul ordered students to return home on Wednesday. Two high school students tested positive for COVID-19 in Incheon, in what could be infections tied to Itaewon.
Another vocational school, in Daegu, once the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, also closed down on Thursday after a student in a dormitory tested positive. A family member of the student was also infected, although other school workers and students tested negative.
School authorities said 240 students were sent to COVID-19 screening centers during the day after showing symptoms like fever. Since Wednesday when some schools reopened, a total of 629 students have been taken out of classrooms as a precaution, although not all have been tested for infection.
South Korea, which normally starts the new school year in March, allowed high school seniors to return to classrooms on Wednesday, with a goal of having students of other grades gradually resume normal routines by early June.
Health authorities said they are currently working to draw up new guidelines for students, as the upcoming summer heat is anticipated to make it more difficult for them to wear masks at all times.
Nine infections were also reported from a buffet located in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, while a small church in Namyangju, in the eastern outskirts of the capital city, had six confirmed cases in the last three days, including the pastor and her immediate family members.
Both cases are being examined in detail, with health authorities conducting contact tracing and scrambling to see how the infections occurred.
"The COVID-19 pandemic can never be eradicated unless there's a vaccine," Kim added. "We will continue to experience sporadic infections in different corners of our daily lives."
The vice minister, however, said South Korea can nevertheless curb the pandemic if people continue to follow basic sanitary guidelines.
KCDC Director Jeong Eun-kyeong especially warned that South Koreans in their 20s should be more concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic, as the patients in the age group may not show any symptoms and yet infect other vulnerable groups.
More than 40 percent of some 335 virus cases reported since May 6 were from those in their 20s, according to health authorities.
"We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a lot of stress for young South Koreans, who faced troubles in continuing their studies and job searches amid the social-distancing plan," Jeong said. "However, it is important that the young people take the safety of their community into consideration."
A worker disinfects a taxi in a parking lot in Incheon, west of Seoul, on May 22, 2020, to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--S. Korea seeks close ties with central Europe on trust built up over COVID-19 cooperation

During the talks , Kim noted the level of close exchange Seoul has maintained with the countries to help its @ @ @ @ @ country and allow businesspeople to make essential business trips despite strict quarantine measures that have @ @ @ @ @ most travelers .

SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is seeking to expand cooperation with central European countries based on trust built up through joint efforts in tackling the coronavirus outbreak, the foreign ministry here said Friday.
In a videoconference with chiefs of South Korean missions in the region, Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gunn said that Seoul wants closer relations with Visegrad Group countries -- Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic -- to overcome the COVID-19 scourge and ensure the health crisis does not adversely affect bilateral economic ties, according to the ministry.
During the talks, Kim noted the level of close exchange Seoul has maintained with the countries to help its citizens return to their home country and allow businesspeople to make essential business trips despite strict quarantine measures that have been put in place for most travelers.
This photo taken on May 22, 2020, and provided by the foreign ministry shows Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gunn (R) and other Seoul-based officials holding a videoconference with heads of diplomatic missions to four central European countries -- Poland, Hungary, Solvakia and the Czech Republic -- at the ministry in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"Such cases of cooperation are well representative of win-win cooperation and mutual trust between the two sides," Kim was quoted by the ministry as saying.
Twenty percent of South Korean exports to Europe go to the Visegrad Group of four central European states. Korean companies' investments in the four nations soared to US$1.91 billion in 2019 from $63 million in 2015.
The Seoul government has said it is committed to backing the global fight against the coronavirus by sharing its anti-virus know-how and experience.
The country will maintain its anti-virus strategy based on the principles of "openness, transparency and democracy" and share information related to the pandemic with the international community, the ministry said.
(END)


yna--2020-05-22--(4th LD) S. Korea reports 20 new virus cases amid efforts to contain sporadic infections

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in paras 2, 15-16, 19)
SEOUL, May 22 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 20 more cases of the new coronavirus Friday as health officials are trying to contain sporadic group infections following the mass spread of the virus tied to Seoul's nightlife district of Itaewon.
The new cases raised South Korea's total caseload to 11,142, with the nation's death toll at 264, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Two more fatalities, involving a man in his 80s and another in his late 60s, were reported later in the day but not included in the official daily update.
Itaewon has emerged as a hotbed for infections as a 29-year-old man tested positive for COVID-19 on May 6 following his visits to multiple clubs and bars in Itaewon. As of noon, 215 infections were connected to the case.
To avoid a second wave of infections, South Korea has been carrying out more than 77,000 tests on those who visited affected clubs between April 24 and May 6.
South Korea has not yet identified the origin of the virus that struck Itaewon, although health authorities assume it came from either North America or Europe.
A worker disinfects a police station in Gwangju, 330 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on May 22, 2020, after a suspect under investigation showed symptoms of the new coronavirus, in this photo provided by a reader. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The number of imported cases rose by nine from a day earlier, reaching 1,200. More than 88 percent of such patients were South Korean nationals returning from overseas.
Authorities said the country is expected to experience a gradual increase in the number of imported cases, as it is inevitable for South Korea to maintain at least limited exchanges with other countries.
The fatality rate came to 2.37 percent. South Korea has not yet reported any deaths from patients aged 29 and younger.
It has also not yet seen a coronavirus-related syndrome among children as observed overseas.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,162, up 27 from the previous day. The latest figures indicate that more than 90 percent of confirmed patients have fully recovered from the virus.
South Korea has carried out tests on 802,418 people since Jan. 3, including 13,734 from a day earlier.
The health authorities say they remain vigilant over sporadic group infections across the nation, though they say it is safe to deem the club-linked cases as now being under control.
A fire department located in Gimpo, just west of Seoul, is closed on May 22, 2020, after a firefighter working there was tested positive for the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
"The cases from Itaewon did not lead to a massive proliferation of the virus, but we are still experiencing local infections in the Seoul metropolitan area," Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said during a daily briefing, hinting that karaoke rooms, PC cafes and bars are still among places vulnerable to the virus.
Earlier this week, four nurses at Samsung Medical Center, one of the country's five major general hospitals, tested positive. Exactly how they became infected with the COVID-19 virus was not immediately known, but authorities say they have not found connections to the clubgoers.
Health authorities reported two more infections linked to a nurse at the hospital in southern Seoul.
The capital city said that as of 6 p.m., 761 citizens have contracted the infectious illness so far.
Dozens of high schools in Gyeonggi Province that surrounds Seoul ordered students to return home on Wednesday. Two high school students tested positive for COVID-19 in Incheon, in what could be infections tied to Itaewon.
Another vocational school, in Daegu, once the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, also closed down on Thursday after a student in a dormitory tested positive. A family member of the student was also infected, although other school workers and students tested negative.
School authorities said 240 students were sent to COVID-19 screening centers during the day after showing symptoms like fever. Since Wednesday when some schools reopened, a total of 629 students have been taken out of classrooms as a precaution, although not all have been tested for infection.
South Korea, which normally starts the new school year in March, allowed high school seniors to return to classrooms on Wednesday, with a goal of having students of other grades gradually resume normal routines by early June.
Nine infections were also reported from a buffet located in Bucheon, just west of Seoul.
Health authorities said they are currently working to draw up new guidelines for students, as the upcoming summer heat is anticipated to make it more difficult for them to wear masks at all times.
"The COVID-19 pandemic can never be eradicated unless there's a vaccine," Kim added. "We will continue to experience sporadic infections in different corners of our daily lives."
The vice minister, however, said South Korea can nevertheless curb the pandemic if people continue to follow basic sanitary guidelines.
KCDC Director Jeong Eun-kyeong especially warned that South Koreans in their 20s should be more concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic, as the patients in the age group may not show any symptoms and yet infect other vulnerable groups.
More than 40 percent of some 335 virus cases reported since May 6 were from those in their 20s, according to health authorities.
"We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a lot of stress for young South Koreans, who faced troubles in continuing their studies and job searches amid the social-distancing plan," Jeong said. "However, it is important that the young people take the safety of their community into consideration."
A worker disinfects a taxi in a parking lot in Incheon, west of Seoul, on May 22, 2020, to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-23--Remains of 4 S. Korean teachers killed in Annapurna avalanche return home

As international arrivals , three South Chungcheong officials will have isolate themselves for two weeks .
But the surviving family @ @ @ @ @ been granted exemption from quarantine .
If he tests negative , he will not have @ @ @ @ @ ( END )

INCHEON, May 23 (Yonhap) -- The remains of four South Korean teachers found dead in an avalanche in the Himalayas returned home Saturday.
The four victims, all of them school teachers in South Chungcheong Province, had left South Korea on Jan. 13 for volunteering work in Nepal. Four days later, they went missing in a deadly avalanche while trekking in Annapurna.
Two bodies were first discovered on April 25, and a third was found two days later. The body of the fourth teacher was spotted on May 1.
The remains of four South Korean teachers killed in an avalanche in the Annapurna region in the Himalayas are carried through Incheon International Airport in Incheon, west of Seoul, on May 23, 2020. (Yonhap)
Their remains were sent to a hospital in Kathmandu. Following surviving family members' consent, their bodies were cremated two weeks ago.
Three staffers from South Chungcheong's provincial education office and a surviving family member were dispatched to Nepal to bring the remains home. But with travel restrictions in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, they had difficulty finding a flight back to South Korea.
They arrived home with help from the Japanese government. The South Korean foreign ministry recently learned that Japan planned to send a chartered flight to Nepal to bring Japanese nationals home, and asked its Tokyo counterpart to allow South Chungcheong officials and the family member to board the flight to Japan.
As international arrivals, three South Chungcheong officials will have isolate themselves for two weeks. But the surviving family member had applied for and been granted exemption from quarantine. If he tests negative, he will not have to go into self-isolation.
(END)