yna--2020-01-26--Mobile carriers boost marketing for children ahead of new school season

SK Telecom said its ZEM mobile application has been upgraded this year with better parental controls .
Now , parents @ @ @ @ @ light levels of their kids ' smartphones through the app .

By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's major mobile carriers are rolling out various marketing programs targeting children, industry insiders said Sunday, as they aim to secure their future customers ahead of the new academic year.
The mobile carriers unveiled new promotions and mobile phone products for kids this month, hoping they can win parents' custom before the new school season starts in March.
This photo taken by SK Telecom Co. on Jan. 21, 2020, shows models promoting the telecom firm's ZEM mobile subscription plan for children. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Targeting primarily elementary school students, SK Telecom said it is offering a 50 percent discount on monthly charges for three months when children aged 12 or younger subscribe one of its "ZEM" monthly plans.
The country's largest mobile carrier plans to launch a new handset exclusively designed for its ZEM children's service next month. The company already has a well-established mobile phone lineup for kids, which includes the LG X2 ZEM smartphone.
SK Telecom said its ZEM mobile application has been upgraded this year with better parental controls. Now, parents can even manage the blue light levels of their kids' smartphones through the app.
This photo provided by LG Uplus Corp. on Jan. 16, 2020, shows models promoting the company's Kakao Little Friends Phone 3 designed for children at an event in Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
LG Uplus Corp., the nation's No. 3 mobile carrier, last week launched its Kakao Little Friends Phone 3, a Samsung Galaxy A10e smartphone modified for children.
The handset's design is based on the emoticon characters of Kakao Talk, the country's most popular mobile messenger app. The mobile device is priced at 239,800 won (US$205) at LG Uplus stores.
LG Uplus also offers a range of children's content, from education to entertainment. Its mobile phone for kids also features various parental control functions, including an alarm service that tracks phone usage.
KT Corp., South Korea's No. 2 mobile carrier, launched a promotion named Our Children's First Smartphone earlier this month.
It offers a maximum 11,000 won discount on monthly charges for six months when children aged 12 or under subscribe to the monthly plan.
kdon@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-01-26--S. Korea to host winter sports games marking 2nd anniversary of PyeongChang

The organization will host the games as part of the Play Winter campaign , which was launched jointly by the @ @ @ @ @ in December to commemorate the successful PyeongChang Games and promote winter sports in the country @ @ @ @ @ took place in PyeongChang and Gangneung from Feb. 9-25 .

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is set to host a series of winter sports events in commemoration of the second anniversary of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.
The PyeongChang 2018 Legacy Foundation said the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Men's Under-20 Championship matches will be held at the Gangneung Hockey Center in Gangneung on Jan. 28.
The International Bobsleigh Skeleton Federation (IBSF) Intercontinental Cup Skeleton races will also be held at the Olympic Sliding Center in PyeongChang on Jan. 31 and the International Ski Federation (FIS) Snowboard World Cup will be held at Phoenix PyeongChang on Feb. 22.
This image provided by All That Sports shows a poster for winter sports events to be held in South Korea in commemoration of the second anniversary of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The organization will host the games as part of the Play Winter campaign, which was launched jointly by the foundation and KB Financial Group in December to commemorate the successful PyeongChang Games and promote winter sports in the country. The 2018 Winter Olympics took place in PyeongChang and Gangneung from Feb. 9-25.
The first event under the initiative was the Asian Luge Championships held in PyeongChang in December.
The upcoming games are expected to be testing grounds for Korea's emerging winter sports athletes.
In skeleton, Jung Seung-gi, who finished ninth in the 2018/19 IBSF World Championships, and Kim Eun-ji, who topped the 2019/20 IBSF North America Cup, will compete in the games.
Snowboarder Lee Sang-ho, who won a silver medal at the PyeongChang Games, will participate in the FIS Snowboard World Cup.
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yna--2020-01-26--S. Korea's trade deficit with Japan falls to 16-year low in 2019: data

According to Korea International Trade Association ( KITA ) , Seoul had a trade deficit of US $ 19.16 billion @ @ @ @ @ It was the fifth consecutive year that South Korea 's trade deficit with Japan was @ @ @ @ @ country .

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's trade deficit with Japan dropped to its lowest point in 16 years in 2019 due to a tumble in imports, data showed Sunday.
According to Korea International Trade Association (KITA), Seoul had a trade deficit of US$19.16 billion with Tokyo in 2019. It was the fifth consecutive year that South Korea's trade deficit with Japan was larger than with any other country.
But it was the lowest since the $19.03 billion deficit reported 2003.
KITA said South Korea's imports of Japanese goods fell 12.9 percent from 2018 to 2019, while exports shrank 6.9 percent over the same period.
Japan's imposition of restrictions on exports to South Korea appears to have led to the decrease in the trade deficit.
Last July, Japan put a curb on exports of three key industrial materials critical for South Korea's chip and display industries. The move was an apparent protest against the South Korean Supreme Court's rulings ordering Japanese firms to compensate Korean victims of wartime forced labor. Japan partially lifted its restrictions in December.
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yna--2020-01-26--Tottenham's Son Heung-min scores for 2nd straight match

`` We were the better team .
We had more chances than the other team , '' Son told Spurs @ @ @ @ @ to play another game at home .
It 's not going to be an easy @ @ @ @ @ what happens . ''

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- After suffering through a seven-match goalless drought, Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min has now scored in back-to-back contests.
Son had the team's lone goal in a 1-1 draw against Southampton in the fourth round of the FA Cup at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, England, on Saturday (local time).
In this Reuters photo, Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur (R) celebrates his goal against Southampton during the fourth round match of the FA Cup at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, England, on Jan. 25, 2020. (Yonhap)
The South Korean attacker had previously scored in a Premier League match against Norwich City on Wednesday, ending a personal scoreless drought that had covered four league matches, one UEFA Champions League match and two FA Cup games since early December.
Son now has 12 goals in 29 appearances across all competitions this year, nine away from matching his career high set in the 2016-2017 season.
Son's goal, off Erik Lamela's pass in the 58th minute, gave Spurs a 1-0 lead. But Sofiane Boufal tied the score in the 87th to force a replay on Feb. 5 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Through the fourth round at the FA Cup, fixtures ending in a draw after 90 minutes set up a rematch. If that replay is still tied, then the teams will go to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout.
Son said coming away with only a draw after outplaying Southampton was "quite disappointing."
"We were the better team. We had more chances than the other team," Son told Spurs TV. "We have to play another game at home. It's not going to be an easy game. We'll see what happens."
Tottenham also had a replay in the third round, needing two matches to get past Middlesbrough.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-01-26--Household debt grows at slower but steady pace in 2019

Outstanding loans to local households extended by banks here came to 888.3 trillion won ( US $ 762 billion ) @ @ @ @ @ 60.7 trillion won from a year earlier , according to the data from the Bank @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- Bank loans extended to South Korean households continued to grow at a steady but slightly slower rate from a year earlier in 2019, central bank data showed Sunday, amid government efforts to further rein in the rise in household debt.
Outstanding loans to local households extended by banks here came to 888.3 trillion won (US$762 billion) as of end-2019, up 60.7 trillion won from a year earlier, according to the data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).
The on-year increase marks a slight slowdown from a 60.8 trillion-won gain in 2018.
The file photo, taken Nov. 3, 2019, shows a passerby walking past bank posters in Seoul offering new low interest rates on personal and household loans following two base rate reductions by the Bank of Korea in July and October the same year. (Yonhap)
The rate of increase has been on a steady decline since 2017, when household bank loans added 90.3 trillion won following a 123.4 trillion-won spike the year before.
The central bank has partly attributed the slowing rate of increase to government efforts to curb real estate speculation.
The incumbent Moon Jae-in administration has introduced 18 sets of anti-speculation measures since coming into power in May 2017.
Despite government efforts to curb household debt, overall household borrowing has also been on a steady increase, reaching a new record high of 1,572 trillion won as of end-September.
Household credit, which includes credit card spending, breached the 1,500 trillion-won mark for the first time in the country's history in the third quarter of 2018.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-01-27--S. Korea confirms more wild boars infected with African swine fever

So far , all confirmed cases among both domestic and wild pigs have been reported in border areas .
Pyongyang @ @ @ @ @ ASF at a pig farm near its border with China in May .

SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korean quarantine authorities said Monday they have found more wild boars infected with the deadly African swine fever (ASF) virus in areas near the border with North Korea, bringing the number of such cases to 115.
Nine additional wild boars found dead north of Seoul tested positive for the disease, according to the National Institute of Environmental Research.
South Korea confirmed its first-ever outbreak of the animal disease in September last year. To prevent the spread of the virus, local authorities have culled nearly 400,000 domestic pigs as a preventive measure.
Although no additional ASF cases on farms have been reported since early October, authorities continue to discover dead wild boars carrying the disease, mostly along the inter-Korean border.
The virus has been haunting pig farms across the country as there are currently no vaccines or cures.
So far, all confirmed cases among both domestic and wild pigs have been reported in border areas. Pyongyang reported its first outbreak of ASF at a pig farm near its border with China in May.
The disease spreads through direct contact with infected animals or their remains, unlike other animal diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, which is airborne.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


Monday's weather forecast

SEOUL , Jan. 27 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .

(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--2020-01-27--Return of A-list bands to heat up K-pop scene this spring

After setting a record for most album sales with `` Map of the Soul : Persona '' last year , @ @ @ @ @ drop `` Map of the Soul : 7 '' on Feb. 21 , the second @ @ @ @ @ of the Soul '' album series .

SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- The return of a group of A-list K-pop bands will heat up the music scene here this spring.
After setting a record for most album sales with "Map of the Soul: Persona" last year, K-pop super band BTS will drop "Map of the Soul: 7" on Feb. 21, the second issue in the "Map of the Soul" album series.
The upcoming album is likely to rewrite some K-pop records after BTS made K-pop history by winning three No. 1s on the Billboard 200 in a span of one year last year.
Pre-orders for the new album hit an all-time high of 3.42 million copies within a week after it became available on Jan. 9, hinting at a surefire megahit.
This image of BLACKPINK was provided by YG Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Roaring girl band BLACKPINK is also on its way to unveil a new album, the first music release since the sensational success of the EP "Kill This Love," released in April 2019.
Late last year, BLACKPINK became the first K-pop band to score 1 billion YouTube views after its 2018 song "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" surpassed the threshold in November.
The music video of "Kill This Love," the title track of the namesake EP, also topped 700 million views in early January in less than one year of its release.
The band's agency said the four-piece girl band will return with a new album in early 2020, although it did not specify the timing.
"BLACKPINK is recording several new songs with an eye to releasing a new album in early 2020," YG Entertainment said.
In April, another high-profile boy band, BIGBANG, will return to the public eye with performances during an American music festival.
BIGBANG is scheduled to appear at this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, on April 10 and 17, according to YG.
It will be the first full-lineup appearance of BIGBANG as a four-member team in years. Seungri left the band last year amid a series of criminal investigations.
The four current members were recently discharged from the military after the compulsory national defense duty put the band on a hiatus in 2017.
A photo of South Korean band BIGBANG provided by YG Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Ahead of the three bands, beloved girl band GFriend will release a new EP, "回: Labyrinth," on Feb. 3, the band's first album since its label Source Music was merged into Big Hit Entertainment, the label of BTS, last year.
pbr@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-01-27--Korean economy may pull of slower-than-expected growth in 2020

`` We expect the South Korean economy to grow at around 2.1 percent in 2020 .
We maintain our growth @ @ @ @ @ that we did not see a clear sign of recovery in private consumption , '' @ @ @ @ @ economist at Hana Financial Investment .

SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's economy is expected to rebound this year from the slowest growth in a decade last year, but it may continue to face many economic headwinds, including sluggish demands at home and abroad, analysts said Monday.
Asia's fourth-largest economy grew 2 percent from a year earlier in 2019, the slowest since 2009, as its exports and facility investment remained weak, the Bank of Korea said last week.
Earlier, the country's finance ministry expected the economy to grow in the lower 2 percent range. The Bank of Korea also projected the economy to expand 2.3 percent this year.
"We expect the South Korean economy to grow at around 2.1 percent in 2020. We maintain our growth estimate for this year in that we did not see a clear sign of recovery in private consumption," said Chun Kyu-yeon, an economist at Hana Financial Investment.
The file photo, taken May 14, 2019, shows stacks of export containers being loaded onto a ship at South Korea's largest seaport in Busan, located some 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul. (Yonhap)
In 2019, fiscal spending jumped 6.5 percent on-year, making up shortfalls in other sectors, while private consumption grew 1.9 percent, slowing from 2.8 percent a year earlier.
"First of all, private spending may somewhat slow down. It is positive that consumer sentiment is improving based on an outlook for better economic conditions and that employment is rising on the government's aggressive job policy," Chun said.
"Only, in terms of job quality, we are only seeing a rise in employment in the service sector while employment in the manufacturing and construction sectors remain sluggish, which could work as a limiting factor in boosting consumption," she added.
Lee Young-hwa, an analyst at Kyobo Securities, also forecast a 2.1 percent on-year expansion for the Korean economy this year.
"The Korean economy is expected to post an annual growth of 2.1 percent in 2020 with a steady current account surplus, rate reductions, stimulus measures, such as an extra budget, and quantitative easing by most major economies working as positive factors supporting its economic growth," Lee said.
For the year, outbound shipments are expected to rebound 3 percent from last year's 10.3 percent on-year decline, on reduced uncertainties stemming from a trade row between the United States and China, and a rebound in prices of semiconductors, a key export item.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--S. Korea's SNS use dips in 2019 for first time: data

Meanwhile , TV was No .
1 in terms of devices watched by people with average viewing hours reaching around @ @ @ @ @ This was followed by mobile phones at just under two hours and fixed line phones @ @ @ @ @ The average time a person sat before a computer stood at slightly longer than an @ @ @ @ @ getting just 29 minutes .

SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Koreans' social networking service (SNS) use dipped for the first time in 2019, amid the waning popularity of sharing platforms, such as Facebook, data showed Monday.
According to the data from the Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI), 47.7 percent of people surveyed used SNS last year, down from 48.2 percent in the previous year.
Usage numbers had been rising steadily since the first tally was carried out in 2011, when it stood at 16.8 percent. This surpassed the 30 percent range in 2013 and topped the 40 percent mark in 2015.
The survey was conducted on 10,864 people nationwide, with Facebook being the most favored platform at 29.6 percent followed by KakaoStory and Instagram at 26.3 percent and 19.3 percent, respectively.
Naver Band and Twitter trailed the front-runners with 10.6 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively, in the one-year period.
Meanwhile, TV was No. 1 in terms of devices watched by people with average viewing hours reaching around three hours per day. This was followed by mobile phones at just under two hours and fixed line phones at over five minutes. The average time a person sat before a computer stood at slightly longer than an hour, with paper publications getting just 29 minutes.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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yna--2020-01-27--Museum to open website with versions of oldest metal-printed book in multiple languages

The book , written by Ven .
Baegun about the Zen teachings of great Buddhist priests , was printed by @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2001 , `` Jikji '' was confirmed by UNESCO as the world 's @ @ @ @ @ metal types and was included in its Memory of the World Program .

CHEONGJU, South Korea, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean museum plans to open a website this year featuring versions of "Jikji," the world's oldest existing metal-printed book, in multiple languages, officials in the central city of Cheongju said Monday.
The book, written by Ven. Baegun about the Zen teachings of great Buddhist priests, was printed by his two disciples in 1377. In 2001, "Jikji" was confirmed by UNESCO as the world's oldest book printed with movable metal types and was included in its Memory of the World Program.
The city said Early Printing Museum of Cheongju will translate the ancient Chinese text into Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, French, Spanish, Arabic and Italian. Those versions will be displayed in its new global website.
It plans to build the site by the end of August and launch it during the annual Jikji Korea International Festival to be held from Sept. 4-8.
"We will create a website in various languages to effectively promote 'Jikji' to the world," a museum official said.
The central government and the city government will allocate 270 million won (US$231,000) and 540 million won, respectively, to the project, the city of Cheongju said.
This file photo shows "Jikji," the world's oldest existing metal-printed book. (Yonhap)
jjhwang@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin well on track for healthy season: trainer

Kim Yong-il spent the 2019 season with Ryu when he was still with the Los Angeles Dodgers , but he @ @ @ @ @ to stay in South Korea and spend more time with his family in 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ Kim Byung-gon , who had worked with the pitcher after his first major league season @ @ @

SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- Toronto Blue Jays' South Korean ace Ryu Hyun-jin has been one of the best in the game -- when healthy, that is.
There have been times over his major league career when the left-hander had trouble staying on the field. In fact, he missed the entire 2015 season and made just one start in 2016 with shoulder and elbow injuries. He has also missed time with injuries to his groin, hip and neck.
But this history doesn't necessarily mean Ryu will be hampered by more injuries in the future, his personal trainer says.
This file photo provided by Kim Byung-gon, a personal trainer for the Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin, on Jan. 8, 2020, shows the veteran trainer. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
"Ryu Hyun-jin takes great care of his body, and I'll try to make sure he'll have a healthy season," said Kim Byung-gon, who was hired as Ryu's trainer after the pitcher signed a four-year, US$80 million deal with the Blue Jays in December.
Kim spoke last week, after he and Ryu returned from two weeks of workouts in Okinawa, Japan. Kim, who has worked with the South Korean national baseball teams in past international tournaments, is replacing Kim Yong-il.
Kim Yong-il spent the 2019 season with Ryu when he was still with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but he told the pitcher he wanted to stay in South Korea and spend more time with his family in 2020. Ryu then reached out to Kim Byung-gon, who had worked with the pitcher after his first major league season in 2013.
The new trainer said Ryu is poised for a healthy first season in Toronto.
"Physically, he's about 80 percent ready, and considering the amount of time we have left until the Opening Day (on March 26), he's on a very good pace," Kim said. "He should be able to begin the season without a hitch."
Kim also said Ryu threw off flat ground in Okinawa "at about 50 percent effort" and added, "He will start throwing off the mound in February."
The Blue Jays' camp opens in mid-February, with pitchers and catchers reporting first to Dunedin, Florida, on Feb. 13.
In this Canadian Press file photo via the Associated Press from Dec. 27, 2019, South Korean pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin listens to a question during his introductory press conference with the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto. (Yonhap)
In 2019, Ryu led all of baseball with a 2.32 ERA, which helped him finish second in the National League Cy Young voting. He parlayed the best season of his career into the lucrative deal -- the largest free agent deal for a pitcher in Blue Jays' history -- and, barring injuries during spring, Ryu should be the team's Opening Day starter.
Living up to that contract while leading a revamped rotation -- the Blue Jays went through 21 starters in 2019 and had a 5.25 ERA to rank 22nd out of 30 teams -- could be a daunting challenge for Ryu. But Kim believes his client is up for it.
"When you're in your 20s, your body can hold up, but once you reach your 30s, you have to manage your body," Kim said. "Ryu understands it really well."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--Extra!: S. Korea beat Saudi Arabia in extra time to take Asian U-23 football crown

In the next minute , Oh Se-hun drew a foul that set up the free kick from outside the left @ @ @ @ @ Lee Dong-gyeong sent a floating cross toward the goalmouth , and Jeong , the tallest @ @ @ @ @ 194 centimeters , jumped over defender Abdulbaset Al-Hindi and headed in the ball to provide @ @ @ @

BANGKOK, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea defeated Saudi Arabia 1-0 in extra time to capture their first Asian men's football title in the under-23 age group on Sunday.
Defender Jeong Tae-wook headed in the winner in the 113th minute in the final of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, breaking a deadlock after the two sides had fired blanks.
This was the fourth edition of the biennial tournament, and the first title won by South Korea, who had one runner-up finish sandwiched by a pair of fourth-place showings prior to this year.
Coached by Kim Hak-bum, South Korea won all six matches at this event -- three in the group stage, followed by victories in the quarterfinals, semifinals and final -- by a combined score of 10-3.
Jeong Tae-wook of South Korea (No. 5 in red) scores a header against Saudi Arabia during the final of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Jan. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
The final had an anticlimactic feel, for both contestants had already accomplished their main goal -- qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
This tournament doubled as the Asian Olympic qualifying event, and the top three teams punched their tickets to Tokyo. South Korea and Saudi Arabia got their spots sealed by reaching the final, while Australia joined them by knocking off Uzbekistan 1-0 in Saturday's third-place match.
South Korea will be making a record ninth consecutive appearance in the Olympics. Their only medal came in the form of bronze at London 2012.
Jeong Woo-yeong of South Korea (R) takes a shot past Saud Abdulhamid of Saudi Arabia during the final of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Jan. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
South Korea and Saudi Arabia traded few chances in the quiet, almost passive first half. In the 20th, South Korean winger Jeong Woo-yeong got deep into the left side of the box and rolled the ball through the legs of Saud Abdulhamid before taking a shot, only to have it kicked aside by goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Yami.
Saudi Arabia had their best opportunity about nine minutes later. Khalid Al-Ghannam stole a Jeong Tae-wook pass deep in the South Korean zone and fed the ball to Abdullah Al-Hamdan, whose shot went off defender Lee Sang-min and then hit the Saudi forward before going out of bounds.
With about four minutes before the break, Jeong had a wide open look at the net after a smart Kim Jin-ya cross, but the SC Freiburg midfielder sent the shot flying over the target.
Though it didn't seem possible, there was even less action in the second half. But substitute South Korean midfielder Lee Dong-jun fired a left-footed shot from the center of the box that was tipped out by the diving Al-Yami in the 57th.
Oh Se-hun of South Korea (L) tries to beat Abdulbaset Al-Hindi of Saudi Arabia to the ball during the final of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Jan. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
After maintaining possession in and around the Korean box for what seemed like an eternity, Abdulrahman Ghareeb launched a hard shot from the top of the box in the 87th minute that went high and wide of the net.
Not much happened in the extra time until Lee Dong-gyeong rolled a left-footed shot that forced a diving stop by Al-Yami in the 110th minute.
In the next minute, Oh Se-hun drew a foul that set up the free kick from outside the left side of the box. Lee Dong-gyeong sent a floating cross toward the goalmouth, and Jeong, the tallest player on the pitch at 194 centimeters, jumped over defender Abdulbaset Al-Hindi and headed in the ball to provide the winning margin.
Kim Dong-hyun (L) and Kang Yoon-sung (R) of South Korea guard Abdullah Al-Hamdan of Saudi Arabia during the final of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Jan. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


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yna--2020-01-26--(6th LD) S. Korea reports 3rd Wuhan coronavirus case, tightens quarantine rules

The Seoul city government convened an emergency meeting of senior officials to check its response procedures to handle outbreaks and @ @ @ @ @ be taken to ensure the safety of its citizens .
Gyeonggi Province said it has @ @ @ @ @ that can help to contain outbreaks and coordinate work to isolate and treat people who @ @ @ @ @ virus .
It said hospitals have been notified to prepare for contingencies that could include @ @ @ @ @ South Chungcheong Province also said that it has canceled a group tour by some 3,000 @ @ @ @ @ were not from Wuhan .

(ATTN: UPDATES with minor edits in paras 6-8, 14-17, 21)
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Sunday reported its third confirmed case of the Wuhan coronavirus and said it will tighten quarantine rules amid mounting fears over the spread of the pneumonia-like illness throughout China and other parts of the world.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), a 54-year-old South Korean resident of Wuhan who arrived back home on Monday showing no symptoms tested positive for the new strain of the virus that has killed 56 people so far.
"Upon arrival at the airport, he showed no signs of illness and was not aware he had been infected until he started suffering from fever, chills and muscle cramps on Wednesday. His condition seems to have improved for a few days before getting worse again, at which time he contacted health authorities and was placed in isolation on Saturday for tests and treatment," the KCDC said.
A notice placed at Myongji Hospital in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, asks people who recently visited China to use a separate entrance as a precautionary step following the announcement by the KCDC that a third Wuhan coronavirus case has been discovered in the country on July 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
Authorities said that in the latest case, the man had engaged in normal activities after flying into Incheon International Airport late Monday from Wuhan via Qingdao. It said officials are checking where he visited and the people he may have been in contact with so as to inform them of health risks and ask them to report any signs of illness.
On a broader level, Seoul said it has decided to revise its rules on checking and isolating people who may have contracted the disease. It said all of China will be classified as a "coronavirus risk area," with travelers coming in from the country required to fill out detailed health questionnaires upon arrival.
Starting on Tuesday, if a person from Wuhan or nearby areas shows signs of fever or has breathing issues, he or she will be placed in quarantine, while those from other parts of China that seem to have pneumonia will be isolated as well.
Previously, Seoul had kept people in quarantine only if they had been to Wuhan in the recent past and were feeling ill, with those with no or very mild symptoms not being restricted and only advised to stay at home.
It said that for other milder symptoms, people who have not been to Wuhan will be placed on an active monitoring list.
Common symptoms of the coronavirus, thought to have originated in Wuhan, central China, include fever, sore throat and breathing difficulties, with more acute cases bringing chills and muscle pain.
"If a person under observation manifests symptoms of the new virus strain, that individual will be placed under quarantine immediately," KCDC chief Jung Eun-kyeong said at a press conference in Sejong, 130 kilometers south of Seoul.
The KCDC said it will receive around 200 additional personnel from the police, local governments and the military to man checkpoints and asked citizens to be understanding of inconveniences that tighter screening may cause.
The latest case follows Seoul confirming two incidents of the new coronavirus strain on Monday and Friday, respectively, with health workers checking on the conditions of those that have come in contact with such people. In the first incident, the KCDC discovered 45 people who came into contact with the 35-year-old Chinese woman, while in the second case, involving a 55-year-old South Korean man, a total of 75 people have been identified and have been monitored, with the 11 people tested for having cold-like symptoms all testing negative for the virus.
KCDC head Jung Eun-kyeong holds a press conference in Sejong, 130 kilometers south of Seoul, on Jan. 26, 2020, in this photo provided by the health ministry after South Korea reported the third confirmed case of the Wuhan coronavirus. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Health authorities said that of the two people who were earlier confirmed to have been infected, the Chinese woman is being treated for pneumonia, with the man in stable condition.
KCDC said that overall it has checked a total of 47 people who have shown symptoms so far, with all testing negative for the illness. The tally of people screened was 32 on Saturday.
South Korea's foreign ministry, which raised the travel advisory level for Wuhan and the Hubei region to "red alert" the previous day, has recommended its citizens evacuate the region. "Red alert" is the third highest in the country's four-tier travel warning system.
The South Korean government is also considering evacuating its citizens from Wuhan on a chartered plane. About 500 South Koreans are said to be staying in and around Wuhan.
According to South Korean residents, the South Korean Consulate General in the city recently polled them about chartering a plane out of Wuhan. More than 400 people said they would board the flight if one became available.
Official sources said that talks are under way with Beijing and other related organizations to evacuate people.
Reflecting the concerns raised by the coronavirus, airports across South Korea have set up checkpoints to screen passengers for signs of illness, with local authorities accelerating quarantine efforts to contain the virus as people visit relatives at home or travel abroad.
The Seoul city government convened an emergency meeting of senior officials to check its response procedures to handle outbreaks and what additional measures need to be taken to ensure the safety of its citizens. Gyeonggi Province said it has set up a situation room that can help to contain outbreaks and coordinate work to isolate and treat people who have tested positive for the virus. It said hospitals have been notified to prepare for contingencies that could include a spike in patients. South Chungcheong Province also said that it has canceled a group tour by some 3,000 Chinese nationals even though they were not from Wuhan.
Health workers stressed citizens should follow strict personal hygiene rules whether they are in the country or traveling abroad, especially since large numbers of Chinese tourists are visiting South Korea during the holiday period. The Lunar New Year is celebrated by both Korean and Chinese people.
They said people feeling ill should immediately contact its emergency call center by dialing "1339."
On the issue of ferreting out people who are not feeling ill even though they have been infected with the virus, the Korean Medical Association issued a declaration earlier in the day that Seoul needs to actively consider checking everyone who has come from Wuhan and the Hubei region of China, and that in the worst case scenario, it may be necessary to ban all arrivals from the neighboring country if things get worse.
Local businesses, meanwhile, said that with the spread of the coronavirus, many have halted all trips by employees to Wuhan and the nearby area.
SK Global Chemical Co. and steelmaker POSCO said they have stopped all trips to the most-affected areas, while oil refiner SK Innovation Co. announced that only critical personnel will be permitted to visit.
China announced that besides the deaths, 2,005 people are confirmed infected. It said that of those infected, over 300 were in critical condition.
Beijing, in addition, is thought to be contemplating a move to extend the New Year holiday that runs from Jan. 24 through Jan. 30 by nine days, and to keep schools closed till the middle of February. The move could help stem the spread of the illness.
Outside China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Macao, Hong Kong, France, Australia and the United States have reported confirmed cases of the new coronavirus strain, and there are media reports of a new case in Canada.
This image created by Yonhap News Agency shows the travel route taken by three people who have been confirmed to have contracted the Wuhan coronavirus as of Jan. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-26--(5th LD) S. Korea reports 3rd Wuhan coronavirus case, tightens quarantine rules

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more details in paras 2-3, 5-11, 30; ADDS 2nd photo)
SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Sunday reported its third confirmed case of the Wuhan coronavirus and said it will tighten quarantine rules amid mounting fears over the spread of the pneumonia-like illness throughout China and other parts of the world.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), a 54-year-old South Korean resident of Wuhan who arrived back home on Monday showing no symptoms tested positive for the new strain of the virus that has killed 56 people so far.
"Upon arrival at the airport, he showed no noticeable signs of illness and was not aware he had been infected until he started suffering from fever, chills and muscle cramps on Wednesday. His condition seems to have improved for a few days before getting worse again, at which time he contacted health authorities and was placed in isolation on Saturday for tests and treatment," the KCDC said.
A notice placed at Myongji Hospital in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, asks people who recently visited China to use a separate entrance as a precautionary step following the announcement by the KCDC that a third Wuhan coronavirus case has been discovered in the country on July 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
Authorities said that in the latest case, the man had engaged in normal activities after flying into Incheon International Airport late Monday from Wuhan via Qingdao. It said officials are checking where he visited and the people he may have been in contact with so as to inform them of health risks and ask them to report any signs of illness.
On a broader level, Seoul said it has decided to revise its rules on checking and isolating people who may have contracted the disease. It said all of China will be classified as a "coronavirus risk area," with travelers coming in from the country required to fill out detailed health questionnaires upon arrival.
Starting on Tuesday, if a person from Wuhan or nearby areas shows signs of fever or has breathing issues, he or she will be placed in quarantine, while those from other parts of China that seem to have pneumonia will be isolated as well.
It said that for other milder symptoms, people who have not been to Wuhan will be placed on an active monitoring list.
Common symptoms of the coronavirus, thought to have originated in Wuhan, central China, include fever, sore throat and breathing difficulties, with more acute cases bringing chills and muscle pain. Health experts said that elderly people and those with underlying disorders should be more careful.
Previously, Seoul had kept people in quarantine only if they had been to Wuhan in the recent past and were feeling ill, with those with no or very mild symptoms not being restricted and only advised to stay at home.
"If a person under observation manifests symptoms of the new virus strain, that individual will be placed under quarantine immediately," KCDC chief Jung Eun-kyeong said at a press conference in Sejong, 130 kilometers south of Seoul.
The KCDC said it will receive around 200 additional personnel from the police, local governments and the military to man checkpoints and asked citizens to be understanding of inconveniences that tighter screening may cause.
The latest case follows Seoul confirming two incidents of the new coronavirus strain on Monday and Friday, respectively, with health workers checking on the conditions of those that have come in contact with such people. In the first incident, the KCDC discovered 45 people who came into contact with the 35-year-old Chinese woman, while in the second case, involving a 55-year-old South Korean man, a total of 75 people have been identified and have been monitored, with the 11 people tested for having cold-like symptoms all testing negative for the virus.
KCDC head Jung Eun-kyeong holds a press conference in Sejong, 130 kilometers south of Seoul, on Jan. 26, 2020, in this photo provided by the health ministry after South Korea reported the third confirmed case of the Wuhan coronavirus. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Health authorities said that of the two people who were earlier confirmed to have been infected, the Chinese woman is being treated for pneumonia, with the man in stable condition and being monitored around the clock.
KCDC said that overall it has checked a total of 47 people who have shown symptoms so far, with all testing negative for the illness. The tally of people screened was 32 on Saturday.
South Korea's foreign ministry, which raised the travel advisory level for Wuhan and the Hubei region to "red alert" the previous day, has recommended its citizens evacuate the region.
"Red alert" is the third highest in the country's four-tier travel warning system.
The South Korean government is also considering evacuating its citizens from Wuhan on a chartered plane. About 500 South Koreans are said to be staying in and around Wuhan.
According to South Korean residents in Wuhan, the South Korean Consulate General in the city recently polled them about chartering a plane out of Wuhan. More than 400 people said they would board the flight if one became available.
A ministry source said that talks are under way with Beijing and other related organization to evacuate people.
Reflecting the concerns raised by the coronavirus, airports across South Korea have set up checkpoints to screen passengers from China and other countries for signs of illness, with local authorities accelerating quarantine efforts to contain the virus as people visit relatives at home or travel abroad.
The Seoul city government convened an emergency meeting of senior officials to check its response procedures to handle outbreaks and what additional measures need to be taken to ensure the safety of its citizens. Gyeonggi Province said it has set up a situation room that can help to contain outbreaks and coordinate work to isolate and treat people who have tested positive for the virus. It said hospitals have been notified to prepare for contingencies that could include a spike in patients. South Chungcheong Province also said that it has canceled a group tour by some 3,000 Chinese nationals even though they were not from Wuhan.
"We contacted the travel agency that arranged the tour and reached an agreement to cancel the trip," a provincial official said. He said the move reflected local concerns about the illness.
Health workers stressed citizens should follow strict personal hygiene rules whether they are in the country or traveling abroad, especially since large numbers of Chinese tourists are visiting South Korea during the holiday period. The start of the Lunar New Year is celebrated by both Korean and Chinese people.
They said people feeling ill should immediately contact its emergency call center by dialing "1339."
It also asked people to wash their hands frequently, cover their mouths when coughing and, if they have respiratory problems, wear a mask.
On the issue of ferreting out people who are not feeling ill even though they have been infected with the virus, local doctors said that the government may have to broaden what it is checking for to detect those with the new coronavirus.
Kim Woo-joo, a professor of medicine at Korea University, said that there are people who do not seem to show signs of pneumonia at all.
"This requires authorities to expand their checklist and check for even minor telltale signs," he said.
The Korean Medical Association issued a declaration earlier in the day that Seoul needs to actively consider checking everyone who has come from Wuhan and the Hubei region of China, and that in the worst case scenario, it may be necessary to ban all arrivals from the neighboring country if things get worse.
Local businesses, meanwhile, said that with the spread of the coronavirus, many have halted all trips by employees to Wuhan and the nearby area.
SK Global Chemical Co. and steelmaker POSCO said they have stopped all trips to the most-affected areas, while oil refiner SK Innovation Co. announced that only critical personnel will be permitted to visit.
China announced that besides the deaths, 2,005 people are confirmed infected amid concerns that the virus is spreading quickly and widely. It said that of those infected, over 300 were in critical condition.
Outside China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Macao, Hong Kong, France, Australia and the United States have reported confirmed cases of the new coronavirus strain, and there are media reports of a new case in Canada.
This image created by Yonhap News Agency shows the travel route taken by three people who have been confirmed to have contracted the Wuhan coronavirus as of Jan. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--(LEAD) Military doctors, nurses, soldiers to be mobilized for coronavirus quarantine efforts

The military personnel have been assigned to 21 checkpoints set up at seaports and airports across the country and will @ @ @ @ @ and other quarantine efforts , the ministry said .

(ATTN: ADDS ministry's launch of response team in paras 3-5, photo)
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- About 100 military doctors, nurses and ordinary soldiers will be mobilized for quarantine operations aimed at preventing the spread of the new type of coronavirus, the defense ministry said Monday.
The military personnel have been assigned to 21 checkpoints set up at seaports and airports across the country and will help with body temperature checks and other quarantine efforts, the ministry said.
After the government raised its infectious disease alert level by one notch to "orange," the third highest, on the day, the ministry set up a control center on its own led by Vice Defense Minister Park Jae-min.
"During its initial meeting, the center pledged to continue to seek diverse measures to proactively support nationwide countermeasures by mobilizing military personnel, equipment and facilities," the ministry said in a release.
The center will also focus on all-out efforts to prevent the virus from spreading to barracks, it added.
Meanwhile, the military is checking all soldiers who have recently visited China, but none have so far shown any symptoms, according to officials.
This photo taken on Jan. 27, 2020, shows the emergency treatment facility at Boramae Medical Center in Seoul. (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--(2nd LD) S. Korea considering sending chartered flight to evacuate citizens from Wuhan

`` We are aware of the urgency of the situation , and we are also consulting with China on the @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` There are many things to prepare as a package , such as @ @ @ @ @ in case South Koreans arrive from there . ''

(ATTN: UPDATES 2nd para; ADDS more details in paras 4-8)
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is considering sending a chartered flight to the Chinese city of Wuhan to bring its citizens home from the epicenter of the outbreak of a deadly new coronavirus, government sources said Monday.
Officials from the foreign ministry, the interior ministry, the health ministry and the transport ministry held a meeting to discuss safety measures for South Koreans remaining in Wuhan, estimated at around 600, including mobilizing a chartered flight to bring them home, the sources said.
"We are aware of the urgency of the situation, and we are also consulting with China on the issue," an official said. "There are many things to prepare as a package, such as strengthening the local quarantine system in case South Koreans arrive from there."
The government is pushing to send the flight as early as Thursday, though the schedule will be fixed later following consultations with China, according to the Korean consulate general in the Chinese city.
All trains and flights from Wuhan have been suspended, and all roads out of the city have also been blocked since last week.
So far, more than 500 South Koreans in Wuhan have expressed their desire to come home, and no confirmed or suspected cases among the Koreans there have been reported.
Those with Chinese citizenship will not be allowed to take the flight even if they are family members of South Korean nationals, and those who show suspected symptoms of the virus cannot board it, according to the consular office.
Taking the incubation period into consideration, the entrants are expected to be quarantined for about 14 days at designated facilities, the office said, adding that those who use the charter plane to evacuate would cover the cost of the flight.
"We will make and announce a final decision on the issue after holding a meeting of ministers concerned tomorrow afternoon," another government official said, adding that the government has been looking into related details, such as exactly when to send possible flights and how to quarantine the entrants.
Other countries like the United States are also planning to arrange charter flights.
The U.S. plans to use chartered flights to evacuate about 1,000 American citizens, including personnel at its consulate, while Japan is expected to arrange a charter flight as early as Tuesday, Kyodo News cited a government official as saying on Monday.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--(2nd LD) S. Korea seeks to trace all visitors from Wuhan, send chartered plane for its nationals the

(2nd LD) S. Korea seeks to trace all visitors from Wuhan, send chartered plane for its nationals there

`` Though the World Health Organization ( WHO ) discussed the matter , it did not call for the entry @ @ @ @ @ to take measures that go beyond WHO decisions at the current stage , '' the @ @ @ @ @ now , we are keeping a close watch on overall situations . ''

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details; CHANGES headline)
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in ordered his government Monday to attempt to trace all people who have flown into the country recently from the Chinese city of Wuhan as part of "preemptive" measures against the spread of a new coronavirus, Cheong Wa Dae said.
The government is also moving to send a chartered plane to Wuhan, which is under lockdown, with the virus thought to have originated from a local food market.
Speaking at a meeting with his senior Cheong Wa Dae aides, Moon stressed the need to "take all possible measures" to prevent the virus from sprawling through secondary infection, according to Yoon Do-han, senior secretary for public communication.
"(We) should take preemptive steps against the worsening (of the situation) via secondary infection," the president was quoted as saying, as South Korea reported its fourth confirmed case of the virus earlier in the day.
The president ordered the government's "push" for tracing all of those who stayed in Wuhan before entering South Korea lately, as the virus often shows no immediate symptoms, according to Yoon.
This composite image shows President Moon Jae-in with a screenshot of a post he wrote on Facebook on the coronavirus on Jan. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
He called for the mobilization of military doctors and nurses as well as utilizing military facilities if it's necessary to support the campaign to contain the virus.
Moon highlighted the importance of communication, ordering the transparent and timely distribution of information to the public.
On Sunday, the president issued a special public message, pledging all-out efforts by relevant authorities to fight the virus. He also asked the people not to be "excessively concerned" about the burgeoning pandemic, drawing a sharp political attack from the opposition bloc.
The Cheong Wa Dae secretary made clear that Cheong Wa Dae is the "control tower" of the pan-governmental fight against the outbreak of the virus here, and the office of the prime minister is in charge of "managing the situation."
A government official later told reporters that Prime Minister Chung Sye-kun is scheduled to preside over an emergency meeting of ministers on Tuesday.
Following the session, the government plans to announce specific ways to evacuate South Koreans in Wuhan, which include sending a chartered plane, the official said.
Currently, around 600 South Koreans are believed to be staying in Wuhan, and more than 500 of them have expressed their desire to take the plane home, according to the Korean consulate general in the city.
A separate economy-related ministers' meeting will be held on Tuesday, presided over by Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki, to review the virus's impact on the local economy and discuss how to minimize it.
Meanwhile, the president has postponed briefings, slated for Thursday, from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on their major policy goals this year.
On online petitions calling for a temporary entry ban on people from China, a Cheong Wa Dae official said there's no plan for such a measure yet.
"Though the World Health Organization (WHO) discussed the matter, it did not call for the entry ban. We are unlikely to take measures that go beyond WHO decisions at the current stage," the official said. "For now, we are keeping a close watch on overall situations."
The WHO has delayed deciding whether to label the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus a "public health emergency of international concern."
Earlier Tuesday, Seoul raised its infectious disease alert level by one notch to "orange," the third highest, after a 55-year-old South Korean man who returned from Wuhan on Jan. 20 tested positive.
A medical staff member stands by the quarantine area of Boramae Medical Center in Seoul on Jan. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--SM Entertainment chief producer makes Billboard's '2020 Impact List'

`` SuperM , the 'supergroup ' recruited from members of other Korean boy bands and described by Lee as his @ @ @ @ @ ' became the first Korean act to debut its first album on the Billboard 200 @ @ @ @ @ its blurb .

SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- Lee Soo-man, founder and chief producer of South Korea's biggest K-pop label, SM Entertainment, was listed by Billboard as one of the world's influential music industry leaders, the agency said Monday.
Lee was the only South Korean chosen to be on "The 2020 Billboard Impact List" that recognizes 22 individuals for their influence over the future of the global music industry, according to SM.
"SuperM, the 'supergroup' recruited from members of other Korean boy bands and described by Lee as his 'new vision for K-pop,' became the first Korean act to debut its first album on the Billboard 200," Billboard said in its blurb.
It also mentioned that Lee stressed that SM's dedication to "culture first, economy next" shapes his partnership with Global Citizen to hold the charity concert "Global Goal Live: The Possible Dream" in Seoul in September.
Other figures on the list include Melissa Ormond of U.S.-based AEG Presents, who has produced concerts for such artists as Katy Perry and Alicia Keys, as well as Alex Garllardo, who heads Sony Music Latin.
SM, which Lee established in 1995, is home to a slew of prominent K-pop artists, including Super Junior, Girls' Generation, Shinee, Exo and Red Velvet.
This photo provided by SM Entertainment on Jan. 27, 2020, shows the introduction for Lee Soo-man on Billboard's "2020 Impact List." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--(3rd LD) Additional Wuhan coronavirus cases put S. Korea on extreme alert

What is worrisome is that the third and fourth patients were not filtered upon their arrivals as they had not @ @ @ @ @ means that other citizens they were in contact with could have inadvertently been exposed to @ @ @ @

(ATTN: COMBINES with emergency meeting, evacuation articles in paras 7, 16-19)
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is on extreme alert on Monday as additional confirmed cases of the Wuhan coronavirus case were detected here amid mounting concerns the pneumonia-like illness may spread across the country despite stepped-up quarantine inspections.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), a 55-year-old South Korean man who returned from the Chinese city of Wuhan on Jan. 20 tested positive for the new strain of the virus that has killed 80 people so far.
The patient did not show any signs of illness on entry and only visited a local clinic a day after returning home when he showed signs of a cold. His condition worsened, and when he complained of muscle cramps and ran a fever doctors started to actively monitor the man before finally placing him in quarantine on Sunday, the health safety agency said.
Staff at the National Medical Center in downtown Seoul check the temperature of a person entering its emergency care center on Jan. 27, 2020, as South Korea reported its fourth case of the China coronavirus. (Yonhap)
"Health authorities are in the process of following his movements in the country," the KCDC said.
The country reported three confirmed cases of the new coronavirus strain on Jan. 20, Friday and Sunday and is keeping close tabs on those that may have come in contact with the patients.
The third patient, a 54-year-old Korean man who also showed no signs of illness when he arrived from China last week, had been in contact with 74 people, although none have shown symptoms of the coronavirus so far.
What is worrisome is that the third and fourth patients were not filtered upon their arrivals as they had not shown any symptoms, which means that other citizens they were in contact with could have inadvertently been exposed to the new virus.
The KCDC said that in addition to the four Wuhan coronavirus-infected patients, it has checked 57 suspected cases so far, with 56 proving negative and one still undergoing detailed tests.
Common symptoms of the coronavirus, thought to have originated in Wuhan, central China, include fever, sore throat and breathing difficulties, with more acute cases bringing chills and muscle pain.
As the country reported additional cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, President Moon Jae-in ordered a thorough check of all entrants from the Chinese city of Wuhan, stressing the need for "preemptive measures" to prevent the situation from worsening through secondary infection.
Chinese internet service company Baidu said some 5 million residents of Wuhan have left the city since the outbreak, with 6,430 probably traveling to South Korea.
As part of stepped-up efforts, the health ministry raised the country's infectious disease alert level one notch to "orange," the third highest, from "yellow."
On Sunday, health authorities announced measures to further tighten rules on screening people with symptoms and to keep more people in quarantine and under close observation. The whole of China has been categorized as a "coronavirus risk area," and Seoul has strongly advised its citizens not to visit the central Chinese city at the epicenter of the disease.
Airports across South Korea have set up checkpoints to screen passengers from China and other countries for signs of illness, with local authorities accelerating quarantine efforts to contain the virus as people return from visiting relatives and from foreign travels.
Quarantine officials said that checkpoints at airports and seaports across the country will be reinforced by more manpower provided by the military, police and regional governments to better screen entrants.
The foreign ministry, moreover, said it will dispatch a chartered planed to Wuhan as early as Thursday to bring back the 500 to 600 citizens in the city. Only Korean nationals will be allowed on, with people suspected of having been infected barred from boarding.
It said the consulate in the city will take requests until the end of Monday, with those using the plane to be quarantined for two weeks to make certain they are not ill.
Concerned about the fallout, the government said it will proactively take steps, if necessary, to minimize downside risks for Asia's fourth-largest economy and in particular local consumption.
"Currently, the outbreak has not yet had a visible impact on the economy," Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said during a meeting of senior policymakers. "However, we cannot rule out the possibility of the spread having negative effects on the economy."
Economic policymakers said that while there has been a rise in uncertainty, South Korea showed extraordinary resilience in dealing with outbreaks like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in the past.
Foreign tourists wearing masks arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Jan. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
China, meanwhile, has confirmed 2,744 infected people, 461 of whom are in a critical condition. Chinese authorities added that some of the new cases involve people in their 30s and 40s, with a 9-month-old baby also testing positive for the infection.
The total number of infected cases worldwide has reached 2,794. Outside China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal, Macao, Hong Kong, France, Australia and the United States have reported confirmed cases of the new virus.
The Wuhan coronavirus, first reported on Dec. 31, 2019, was originally believed to be passed to humans from animals but is now known to be transmissible person to person, although victims may be contracting the virus by coming in contact with saliva and other bodily fluids rather than through airborne factors.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--(LEAD) Hwacheon ice fishing festival kicks off

`` My children are having so much fun since there are many other activities to enjoy besides ice fishing .
@ @ @ @ @ , not too cold , '' said Hong Young-gi from Incheon , west of Seoul @ @ @ @ @ his two children .

(ATTN: ADDS visitor tally in 12th para)
HWACHEON, South Korea, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- The 2020 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival officially kicked off Monday after being delayed twice due to unseasonably warm weather.
The ice fishing festival was initially scheduled to open on Jan. 4 on a frozen river in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, 120 kilometers northeast of Seoul, but was postponed after warm weather stoked safety concerns.
Sancheoneo is a species of trout that lives only in clean fresh water.
Visitors enjoy ice fishing at the 2020 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, on Jan. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Officials said the frozen ice was 20 centimeters in thickness. The distance between fishing holes was also widened for safety, they added.
Visitors filled the festival venue from early morning to enjoy the annual winter fishing event.
Ice slides and sleds were also set up for children on the sidelines of the main fishing area.
"My children are having so much fun since there are many other activities to enjoy besides ice fishing. The weather is also perfect, not too cold," said Hong Young-gi from Incheon, west of Seoul, who was there with his two children.
Visitors enjoy ice sledding on the sidelines of the 2020 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, on Jan. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Some visitors braved the winter chill to enjoy hand fishing in short sleeves and shorts.
A cooking area was also set up so people could cook and eat the fish they caught.
"We thank visitors for waiting despite the event being postponed twice. We will focus on managing a safe festival," Hwacheon Mayor Choi Moon-soon said.
"We will also strive for visitors to stay longer to contribute to the local economy," he added.
On the first day alone, around 85,000 people enjoyed the festival. If including foreigners who visited the zone reserved for international visitors that opened earlier this month, the figure stood at 157,427, according to the organizer.
Launched in 2003, the event was chosen as the nation's best festival by the culture ministry in 2010 and has developed into one of the world's four major winter festivals.
Visitors enjoy ice fishing at the 2020 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, on Jan. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--(LEAD) S. Korea considering sending chartered flight to evacuate citizens from Wuhan

`` We will make and announce a final decision on the issue after holding a meeting of ministers concerned tomorrow @ @ @ @ @ official said , adding that the government has been looking into related details , such @ @ @ @ @ flights , how to quarantine the entrants and who will cover the cost .

(ATTN: ADDS more details in paras 6-7)
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is considering sending a chartered flight to the Chinese city of Wuhan to bring its citizens home from the epicenter of the outbreak of a deadly new coronavirus, government sources said Monday.
Officials from the foreign ministry, the interior ministry, the health ministry and the transport ministry held a meeting to discuss safety measures for South Koreans remaining in Wuhan, estimated at around 500 to 600, including mobilizing a chartered flight to bring them home, the sources said.
"We are aware of the urgency of the situation, and we are also consulting with China on the issue," an official said. "There are many things to prepare as a package, such as strengthening the local quarantine system in case South Koreans arrive from there."
Another official said, however, that it seems unlikely a charter flight will be arranged immediately.
All trains and flights from Wuhan have been suspended, and all roads out of the city have also been blocked since last week.
"We will make and announce a final decision on the issue after holding a meeting of ministers concerned tomorrow afternoon," another government official said, adding that the government has been looking into related details, such as when to send possible flights, how to quarantine the entrants and who will cover the cost.
So far, more than 500 South Koreans in Wuhan have expressed their desire to come home, and no confirmed or suspected cases among the Koreans there have been reported so far, according to the Korean consulate general in the city.
Other countries like the United States are also planning to arrange charter flights.
The U.S. plans to use chartered flights to evacuate about 1,000 American citizens, including personnel at its consulate, while Japan is expected to arrange a charter flight as early as Tuesday, Kyodo News cited a government official as saying on Monday.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--(LEAD) Moon orders coronavirus checks on all entrants from Chinese city of Wuhan

`` Though the World Health Organization ( WHO ) discussed the matter , it did not call for the entry @ @ @ @ @ to take measures that go beyond WHO decisions at the current stage , '' the @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS more details in paras 7-10, photo)
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in on Monday ordered a thorough check of all entrants from the Chinese city of Wuhan amid growing concern over the new coronavirus, with a fourth case confirmed earlier in the day.
In a meeting with senior secretaries, Moon urged the need to "take all possible measures" to prevent the virus from worsening through secondary infection, according to Yoon Do-han, senior secretary for public communication.
As part of the measures, Moon ordered his staff to mobilize military doctors and nurses and utilize military facilities, if necessary.
He also urged close monitoring of the coronavirus' impact on the economy. The finance minister is set to hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday, according to Yoon.
Moon highlighted the importance of communication, ordering the transparent and timely distribution of information to the public.
He also urged staff to step up promotion of ways to prevent the virus and reporting to the government hotline "1339" when symptoms are detected.
This composite image shows President Moon Jae-in with a screenshot of a post he wrote on Facebook on the coronavirus on Jan. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
As for whether to send a chartered flight to bring home South Koreans who remain in Wuhan where the virus originated from, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters that a meeting to make the decision has been under way involving ministries concerned.
Currently, around 600 South Koreans are believed to be staying in Wuhan, and more than 500 of them have expressed their desire to take the plane home, according to the Korean consulate general in the city.
Asked if the government is mulling temporarily banning Chinese from entering the country, the official said the option has not been on the table so far.
"Though the World Health Organization (WHO) discussed the matter, it did not call for the entry ban. We are unlikely to take measures that go beyond WHO decisions at the current stage," the official stated.
Earlier in the day, Seoul raised its infectious disease alert level by one notch to "orange," the third highest, after a 55-year-old South Korean man who returned from Wuhan on Jan. 20 tested positive.
A medical staff member stands by the quarantine area of Boramae Medical Center in Seoul on Jan. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--S. Korea considering sending chartered flight to evacuate citizens from Wuhan

SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is considering sending a chartered flight to the Chinese city of Wuhan to bring its citizens home from the epicenter of the outbreak of a deadly new coronavirus, government sources said Monday.
Officials from the foreign ministry, the interior ministry, the health ministry and the transport ministry held a meeting to discuss safety measures for South Koreans remaining in Wuhan, estimated at around 500 to 600, including mobilizing a chartered flight to bring them home, the sources said.
"We are aware of the urgency of the situation, and we are also consulting with China on the issue," an official said. "There are many things to prepare as a package, such as strengthening the local quarantine system in case South Koreans arrive from there."
Another official said, however, that it seems unlikely a charter flight will be arranged immediately.
All trains and flights from Wuhan have been suspended, and all roads out of the city have also been blocked since last week.
Other countries like the United States are also planning to arrange charter flights.
The U.S. plans to use chartered flights to evacuate about 1,000 American citizens, including personnel at its consulate, while Japan is expected to arrange a charter flight as early as Tuesday, Kyodo New cited a government official as saying on Monday.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--(LEAD) Seoul to take steps to minimize economic fallout from Wuhan coronavirus

South Korea reported the fourth confirmed case of the virus earlier in the day , and what is worrisome is @ @ @ @ @ patients were not filtered upon their arrivals as they had not shown any symptoms , @ @ @ @ @ they were in contact with could have been highly exposed to the new virus .

(ATTN: RECASTS throughout with details; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Monday it will take actions, if necessary, to minimize any economic fallout from the Wuhan coronavirus amid concerns that the spread of the new deadly virus could pose downside risks to Asia's fourth-largest economy, in particular local consumption.
The country has reported four confirmed cases of the Wuhan coronavirus so far, with the third and fourth patients not screened at airports, raising concerns that the virus could spread across the country.
"Currently, the outbreak has not yet had a visible impact on the economy," Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said during an emergency meeting. "However, we cannot rule out the possibility of the spread having negative effects on the economy."
Hong said South Korea will continue to closely monitor the financial markets at home and abroad and take necessary measures to reduce any market volatility and economic fallout.
Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki (C) speaks during an emergency meeting over economic fallout from the spread of the China coronavirus in Seou, Jan. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
The spread of the virus has been rattling Asian financial markets as well as the U.S. stock market since its outbreak.
The Bank of Korea also said flights to safer assets have been increasing amid concerns over the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus across the globe, with prices of gold rising and oil prices plunging by more than 4 percent over the past four sessions.
"We need to remain vigilant as financial markets can experience increased volatility," BOK Gov. Lee Ju-yeol said in a meeting with his staff.
The central bank said earlier it is keeping a watchful eye on the international financial market around the clock to brace for a possible hard landing of the global economy.
South Korea's financial market, meanwhile, has been closed since Friday to mark the Lunar New Year holiday. It will reopen Tuesday.
The country is on extreme alert on Monday as additional confirmed cases of the Wuhan coronavirus were detected here amid mounting concerns the pneumonia-like illness may spread across the country despite stepped-up quarantine inspections.
South Korea reported the fourth confirmed case of the virus earlier in the day, and what is worrisome is that the third and fourth patients were not filtered upon their arrivals as they had not shown any symptoms, which means that other citizens they were in contact with could have been highly exposed to the new virus.
As the country reported additional cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, President Moon Jae-in ordered a thorough check of all entrants from the Chinese city of Wuhan, stressing the need for "preemptive measures" to prevent the situation from worsening through secondary infection.
China, meanwhile, has confirmed 2,744 infected people, 461 of whom are in a critical condition.
The total number of infected cases worldwide has reached 2,794. Outside China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal, Macao, Hong Kong, France, Australia and the United States have reported confirmed cases of the new virus.
The Wuhan coronavirus, first reported on Dec. 31, 2019, was originally believed to be passed to humans from animals but is now known to be transmissible from person to person, although victims may be contracting the virus by coming in contact with saliva and other bodily fluids rather than through airborne factors.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--N.K. state media swiftly report on worldwide spread of coronavirus

The country 's main Rodong Sinmun newspaper carried an article on Monday saying that concerns have risen after the new @ @ @ @ @ in South Korea .
It provided details , saying one patient contracted the virus after @ @ @ @ @ of Wuhan and some others were put into isolation .

SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- North Korean state media have been swiftly reporting on the worldwide spread of a deadly new coronavirus in an indication that the communist regime is on alert against a possible outbreak of the pneumonia-like illness.
The country's main Rodong Sinmun newspaper carried an article on Monday saying that concerns have risen after the new type of coronavirus broke out in South Korea. It provided details, saying one patient contracted the virus after visiting the central Chinese city of Wuhan and some others were put into isolation.
The paper also reported on the global outbreaks of the virus.
It said that U.S. health authorities confirmed a second case of the virus on Jan. 24 and that a patient in the state of Illinois showed symptoms just days after returning from Wuhan on Jan. 13.
The paper also reported on the outbreaks in Japan, France, Australia, Malaysia and Nepal.
The North's Korean Central Television Station put together a special program on the virus. Titled "Special, the rapidly spreading new type coronavirus," the program is scheduled to be broadcast around 10 p.m. Monday.
Since the illness broke out in China, the North has reportedly shut down its borders with China.
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--(2nd LD) Additional Wuhan coronavirus cases put S. Korea on extreme alert

What is worrisome is that the third and fourth patients had been not filtered upon their arrivals as they had @ @ @ @ @ which means that other citizens they were in contact with could be highly exposed to @ @ @ @

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more details in paras 3, 5, 7-11, 15-16, 20; CHANGES photos)
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is on extreme alert on Monday as additional confirmed cases of the Wuhan coronavirus case were detected here amid mounting concerns the pneumonia-like illness may spread across the country despite stepped-up quarantine inspections.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), a 55-year-old South Korean man who returned from the Chinese city of Wuhan on Jan. 20 tested positive for the new strain of the virus that has killed 80 people so far.
The patient did not show any signs of illness on entry and only visited a local clinic a day after returning home when he showed signs of a cold. His condition worsened, and when he complained of muscle cramps and ran a fever doctors started to actively monitor the man before finally placing him in quarantine on Sunday, the health safety agency said.
Staff at the National Medical Center in downtown Seoul check the temperature of a person entering its emergency care center on Jan. 27, 2020, as South Korea reported its fourth case of the China coronavirus. (Yonhap)
"Health authorities are in the process of following his movements in the country," the KCDC said.
The country reported three confirmed cases of the new coronavirus strain on Jan. 20, Friday and Sunday and is keeping close tabs on those that may have come in contact with the patients.
The third patient, a 54-year-old Korean man who also showed no signs of illness when he arrived from China last week, had been in contact with 74 people, although none have shown symptoms of the coronavirus so far.
What is worrisome is that the third and fourth patients had been not filtered upon their arrivals as they had not shown any symptoms, which means that other citizens they were in contact with could be highly exposed to the new virus.
The KCDC said that in addition to the four Wuhan coronavirus-infected patients, it has checked 57 suspected cases so far, with 56 proving negative and one still undergoing detailed tests.
Common symptoms of the coronavirus, thought to have originated in Wuhan, central China, include fever, sore throat and breathing difficulties, with more acute cases bringing chills and muscle pain.
As the country reported additional cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, President Moon Jae-in ordered a thorough check of all entrants from the Chinese city of Wuhan, stressing the need for "preemptive measures" to prevent the situation from worsening through secondary infection.
Chinese internet service company Baidu said some 5 million residents of Wuhan have left the city since the outbreak, with 6,430 probably traveling to South Korea.
As part of stepped-up efforts, the health ministry raised the country's infectious disease alert level one notch to "orange," the third highest, from "yellow."
On Sunday, health authorities announced measures to further tighten rules on screening people with symptoms and to keep more people in quarantine and under close observation. The whole of China has been categorized as a "coronavirus risk area," and Seoul has strongly advised its citizens not to visit the central Chinese city at the epicenter of the disease.
Airports across South Korea have set up checkpoints to screen passengers from China and other countries for signs of illness, with local authorities accelerating quarantine efforts to contain the virus as people return from visiting relatives and from foreign travels.
Quarantine officials said that checkpoints at airports and seaports across the country will be reinforced by more manpower provided by the military, police and regional governments to better screen entrants.
Foreign tourists wearing masks arrive at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Jan. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
China, meanwhile, has confirmed 2,744 infected people, 461 of whom are in a critical condition. Chinese authorities added that some of the new cases involve people in their 30s and 40s, with a 9-month-old baby also testing positive for the infection.
The total number of infected cases worldwide has reached 2,794. Outside China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal, Macao, Hong Kong, France, Australia and the United States have reported confirmed cases of the new virus.
The Wuhan coronavirus, first reported on Dec. 31, 2019, was originally believed to be passed to humans from animals but is now known to be transmissible person to person, although victims may be contracting the virus by coming in contact with saliva and other bodily fluids rather than through airborne factors.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--(LEAD) BTS becomes first K-pop act to perform at Grammys

`` Last year , we said we will be back but did n't think it would actually happen ... the @ @ @ @ @ stage for every artist , so we are really grateful and happy that we have @ @ @ @ @ BTS said via Big Hit Entertainment , the band 's management agency .

(ATTN: ADDS statement from BTS in last two paras)
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- K-pop super band BTS has performed at the Grammys, becoming the first South Korean act to do so, in the latest in a series of milestones the band has accomplished in Korean music history.
The septet teamed up with rapper Lil Nas X to take the stage at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony held Sunday at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The band's rappers -- RM, J-Hope and Suga -- joined the American rapper to perform his record hit "Old Town Road" with lines from the remix "Seoul Town Road."
The 2019 remix, featuring RM, features the lyrics "I got the homis in my bag," and "Homis made of steel, from Korea, they're the be-e-est," referring to "homi," a Korean handheld hoe.
Jin, V, Jimin and Jung Kook also joined in, singing and dancing to the Billboard-topping hit.
In 2019, BTS made history by becoming the first Korean act to present at the music awards.
BTS voiced gratitude, saying it was an "honor" to perform at the ceremony.
"Last year, we said we will be back but didn't think it would actually happen ... the Grammy Awards is a dream stage for every artist, so we are really grateful and happy that we have reached that dream," BTS said via Big Hit Entertainment, the band's management agency.
In this photo from the Associated Press, BTS performs "Old Town Road" with American rapper Lil Nas X during the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, on Jan. 26, 2020. (Yonhap)
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--Food manufacturers eye growing meal kit market

The market is expected to skyrocket to 700 billion won in five years , according to the data , mainly @ @ @ @ @ growing number of people living alone who do not have time for grocery shopping and @ @ @ @ @ quantities of ingredients .

By Kim Han-joo
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's leading food manufacturers and retailers have set their sights on developing indigenous meal kits to dominate the booming, highly competitive market, industry sources said Monday.
A meal kit contains all the ingredients and directions needed for consumers to cook a meal.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation, the local market for meal kits came to 20 billion won (US$17 million) in 2018.
This undated photo provided by E-mart Inc. shows three of its Peacock brand meal kits. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The market is expected to skyrocket to 700 billion won in five years, according to the data, mainly on the back of the growing number of people living alone who do not have time for grocery shopping and want to avoid buying large quantities of ingredients.
CJ Cheiljedang Corp., the country's leading food manufacturer, launched its own brand, Cookit, by joining hands with star chefs.
Cookit currently comprises 60 products, including Korean, Japanese, and Italian dishes, CJ Cheiljedang said, adding that it aims to increase the number to about 200 in two years.
The company said it currently receives around 2,000 orders every day and aims to hit 100 billion won in sales in the next three years.
E-mart Inc., the country's largest hypermarket chain, recently recruited five chefs with experience of working at five-star hotels for its Peacock packaged foods brand.
The latest line-up includes various kinds of meal kits such as steak with red wine sauce, with a price tag of around 12,000 won, E-mart said.
Another leading player, Korea Yakult Co., recently recruited two star chefs -- Nam Seong-ryeol and Cheong Ji-sun -- so customers can enjoy similar dishes for its meal kit brand, EatsOn.
Its seven products allow customers to cook meals that were previously exclusive at the chefs' restaurants, such as Nam's signature spicy pork with red pepper paste.
Other rivals include GS Retail Co.'s Simply Cook, Hyundai Department Store's Chef Box and Gourmet 494 from Hanwha Galleria.
This undated photo provided by GS Retail Co. shows items from its meal kit brand, Simply Cook. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--(LEAD) S. Korea raises alert level amid additional cases of Wuhan coronavirus

The authorities stressed that stepped-up quarantine inspections are needed to prevent the entry of the virus into the country as @ @ @ @ @ were not screened at airports and have been in contact with local citizens , raising @ @ @ @ @ virus could spread across the country .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; ADDS new information from 4th para; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Monday raised its infectious disease alert level one notch to "orange," the third highest, amid rising concern over the spread of the Chinese coronavirus in the country.
The heightened alert level came as the country reported its fourth confirmed case of the novel virus that has resulted in 80 deaths so far in China. The new coronavirus has infected 2,794 people in 14 countries worldwide.
"The health authorities are fully committed to containing the inflow and spread of the new coronavirus," Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo said in a hastily arranged meeting.
The authorities stressed that stepped-up quarantine inspections are needed to prevent the entry of the virus into the country as the third and fourth patients were not screened at airports and have been in contact with local citizens, raising concerns that the new deadly virus could spread across the country.
Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo (R) chairs a meeting of senior government officials in Sejong City, 130 kilometers south of Seoul, on Jan. 27, 2020, to discuss ways to counter the spread of the China coronavirus in the country. (Yonhap)
The ministry said local medical facilities have been advised to enhance their capability to deal with the outbreak going forward, with specialized treatment centers to be set up across the country.
More personnel from public health organizations as well as military and police forces will be mobilized for quarantine checkpoints at the nation's airports and seaports to better screen inbound travelers for any sign of sickness.
It then asked people to take extra care to look after their personal hygiene.
Common symptoms of the coronavirus, thought to have originated in Wuhan, central China, include fever, sore throat and breathing difficulties, with more acute cases bringing chills and muscle pain. Health experts said that elderly people and those with underlying disorders should be more careful.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--Moon orders coronavirus checks on all entrants from Chinese city of Wuhan

He also urged close monitoring of the coronavirus ' impact on the economy .
The finance minister is set to @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday , according to Yoon .

SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in on Monday ordered a thorough check of all entrants from the Chinese city of Wuhan amid growing concern over the coronavirus, with a fourth case confirmed earlier in the day.
In a meeting with senior secretaries, Moon stressed the need for "preemptive measures" to prevent the situation from worsening through secondary infection, according to Yoon Do-han, senior secretary for public communication.
As part of the measures, Moon ordered his staff to mobilize military doctors and nurses and utilize military facilities, if necessary.
He also urged close monitoring of the coronavirus' impact on the economy. The finance minister is set to hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday, according to Yoon.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--(URGENT) Moon orders coronavirus checks on all entrants from Chinese city of Wuhan

(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--2020-01-27--S. Korea raises infectious disease alert level amid spread of Wuhan coronavirus

The decision reached at an emergency response meeting chaired by Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo , came on @ @ @ @ @ its fourth case of the novel virus that has resulted in 80 deaths so far @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus has infected 2,794 people in 14 countries worldwide .

SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's government on Monday raised its infectious disease alert level one notch to "orange" amid rising public concern over the spread of the Chinese coronavirus in the country.
The decision reached at an emergency response meeting chaired by Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo, came on the same day Seoul announced its fourth case of the novel virus that has resulted in 80 deaths so far in China. The new coronavirus has infected 2,794 people in 14 countries worldwide.
Orange alert is the third highest readiness level in the four-tiered system and signifies the limited spread of a disease in the country. Previously the country was on "yellow" alert.
"There will be a redoubling of quarantine inspections with more efforts made to prevent the entry of the virus and tighter management of people suspected of having been infected," the Ministry of Health and Welfare said.
It said more personnel from public health bodies as well as defense and police forces will man quarantine checkpoints at the nation's airports and seaports to better screen inbound travelers for any sign of the illness.
A notice warning people about Wuhan coronavirus is posted at the entrance of a hospital in Bundang, south of Seoul, on Jan. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-27--Military doctors, nurses, soldiers to be mobilized for coronavirus quarantine efforts

SEOUL, Jan. 27 (Yonhap) -- About 100 military doctors, nurses and ordinary soldiers will be mobilized for quarantine operations aimed at preventing the spread of the new type of coronavirus, the defense ministry said Monday.
The military personnel have been assigned to 21 checkpoints set up at seaports and airports across the country and will help with body temperature checks and other quarantine efforts, the ministry said.
The ministry discussed the measure during a meeting presided over by Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the military is checking all soldiers who have recently visited China, but none have so far shown any symptoms, officials said.
(END)


yna--2020-01-28--S. Korea remains watchful of economic fallout from Wuhan coronavirus cases

The Wuhan coronavirus , first reported on Dec. 31 , 2019 , was originally believed to be passed to humans @ @ @ @ @ known to be transmissible from person to person , although victims may be contracting the @ @ @ @ @ with saliva and other bodily fluids rather than through airborne factors .

SEOUL, Jan. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Tuesday it would spare no efforts to tackle with potential economic fallout from the Wuhan coronavirus, while vowing to take steps, if necessary, to minimize any negative impact.
"We are closely examining the impact of the spread (of the virus) in China on its consumption and production, along with the global economy and our exports," Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said during an emergency meeting held with related ministries.
"For now, it has had a limited impact on South Korea's domestic consumption and economic activities, but we will still need to closely monitor the issue," Hong added.
South Korea will take cues from similar cases in the past, including the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in 2015, which claimed nearly 40 lives here and hit Asia's fourth-largest economy hard, Hong added.
Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki speaks during an emergency meeting held in Seoul on Jan. 28, 2020, over the spread of Wuhan coronavirus in South Korea. (Yonhap)
Amid rising concerns that the spread of the new deadly virus could pose downside risks to the domestic consumption, Hong said the issue has not yet had a significant impact on sentiment, although Seoul will continue to monitor the situation.
The country said it will spend 20.8 billion won (US$17.6 million) immediately to beef up its quarantine operations and increase the amount if necessary.
South Korea has been on extreme alert as the fourth confirmed case of virus was detected here on Monday.
Earlier this week, President Moon Jae-in ordered a thorough check of all entrants from the Chinese city of Wuhan, stressing the need for "preemptive measures" to prevent the situation from worsening through secondary infection.
As of Monday, the total number of cases worldwide had reached nearly 3,000, with the number of deaths exceeding 80.
Outside China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal, Macao, Hong Kong, France, Australia and the United States have reported confirmed cases of the new virus.
The Wuhan coronavirus, first reported on Dec. 31, 2019, was originally believed to be passed to humans from animals but is now known to be transmissible from person to person, although victims may be contracting the virus by coming in contact with saliva and other bodily fluids rather than through airborne factors.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-01-28--Seoul stocks open sharply lower amid Wuhan coronavirus woes

In Seoul , market heavyweights lost ground across the board , amid the concerns the virus may have an adverse @ @ @ @ @ globe , and lead to further jitters in the global financial market .

SEOUL, Jan. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened sharply lower Tuesday, the first trading session after the four-day Lunar New Year's holiday, as the fast-spreading Wuhan coronavirus around the globe sapped investor sentiment.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index fell 57.43 points, or 2.56 percent, to 2,188.70 in the first 15 minutes of trading. The local stock market was closed Friday and Monday.
South Korea on Monday reported its fourth confirmed Wuhan coronavirus case amid mounting concerns the pneumonia-like illness is fast spreading to other parts of the world from China despite concerted quarantine efforts.
The total number of infected cases worldwide has reached nearly 3,000, with the number of deaths above 80 as of Monday.
In Seoul, market heavyweights lost ground across the board, amid the concerns the virus may have an adverse impact on consumption around the globe, and lead to further jitters in the global financial market.
Top market cap Samsung Electronics dipped 2.96 percent, and its smaller tech rival LG Electronics moved down 3.33 percent. No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix slipped 2.84 percent.
Carmakers also started lower, with leading Hyundai Motor falling 1.92 percent and Kia Motors decreasing 2.88 percent. Auto parts maker Hyundai Mobis shed 2.19 percent.
Chemical shares also lost ground, with industry leader LG Chem plunging 3.44 percent and LG Household & Health Care moving down 6.23 percent. Top oil refiner SK Innovation fell 3.85 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,176.40 won against the U.S. dollar, down 7.70 won from the previous session's close.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)