yna--2020-04-29--Cigarette sales rise 4.1 pct in Q1

Cigarette sales rise 4.1 pct in Q1

Sales of vaporizer-based liquid electronic cigarettes also fell to their lowest level to 900,000 pods in the first quarter as @ @ @ @ @ not to use liquid e-cigarettes , warning that such vaping products could cause serious lung @ @ @ @

SEJONG, April 29 (Yonhap) -- Sales of cigarettes in South Korea rose 4.1 percent on-year in the first quarter of this year, data showed Wednesday, due to robust sales of traditional cigarettes.
South Korean smokers purchased 810 million 20-cigarette packs in the January-March period, compared with 780 million packs in the same period last year, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The figure represents a 13.6 percent drop from the third quarter of 2014.
South Korea increased the price of cigarettes by 80 percent in January 2015, from 2,500 won (US$2) per pack to 4,500 won, in a move to curb smoking.
The Korean government mandated that tobacco companies place graphic images depicting the harmful effects of smoking on the upper part of cigarette packs in 2016.
Sales of traditional cigarettes gained 5.7 percent on-year to 730 million packs for the first quarter.
Meanwhile, sales of heat-not-burn tobacco products fell to their lowest level to 300,000 packs in the first quarter.
Sales of vaporizer-based liquid electronic cigarettes also fell to their lowest level to 900,000 pods in the first quarter as the government strongly advised people not to use liquid e-cigarettes, warning that such vaping products could cause serious lung illness or death.
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--(2nd LD) Korea's industrial output falls 0.3 pct in March amid virus pandemic

The economy , Asia 's fourth largest , shrank 1.4 percent on-quarter in the first quarter of this year , @ @ @ @ @ the last three months of 2008 .

(ATTN: ADDS vice finance minister's remarks in last 3 paras)
SEJONG, April 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's overall industrial output fell 0.3 percent in March from a month earlier, data showed Wednesday, as the coronavirus pandemic hit exports and private consumption.
The data compiled by Statistics Korea, however, showed production in the mining, manufacturing, gas and electricity industries rose 4.6 percent from a month earlier.
From a year earlier, overall industrial output also gained 0.6 percent.
The output in the service sector declined 4.4 percent on-month, marking the sharpest drop since the agency started compiling the data in 2000.
In February, the nation's overall industrial output contracted 3.5 percent on-month, marking the sharpest decline since February 2011.
The economy, Asia's fourth largest, shrank 1.4 percent on-quarter in the first quarter of this year, the sharpest quarterly contraction since the last three months of 2008.
Exports sank 27 percent on-year in the first 20 days of April to US$21.7 billion.
March's unexpected gain in production of the mining, manufacturing, gas and electricity industries came after auto output jumped 45.1 percent on-month.
Ahn Hyung-joon, a senior official at Statistics Korea, told reporters that factory output in auto and auto parts firms soared as disruptions of the parts supply eased and auto sales rose on tax benefits.
Production of chips also increased 15.5 percent on-month, the data showed.
Local manufacturers have been facing hurdles in securing key parts as suppliers around the globe suspended their operations amid the pandemic, with global shipments of goods also being disrupted by entry bans.
The virus pandemic weighed on consumer sentiment as well, leading to a 1 percent decline in retail sales in March.
Sales of durable goods, such as cars, gained 14.7 percent, but those of nondurable ones, such as cosmetics, shed 11.9 percent, the data showed.
The so-called cyclical component of the composite leading index, which predicts the turning point in business cycles, fell by 0.6 point on-month, marking the sharpest decline since February 2008.
Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom told reporters that South Korea may post a trade balance deficit in April, in what would be the first monthly shortfall in 99 months.
In the first 20 days of April, South Korea reported a trade balance deficit of $3.5 billion.
Kim said the March data on industrial output is better than those of other nations, but the global lockdown may take a heavier toll on the nation's exports in the coming months.
kdh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Q1 net profit up 853.2 pct. to 164.9 bln won

The operating profit was 42.5 percent higher than the average estimate , according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax , @ @ @ @ @ Yonhap News Agency .
The estimate of net profit was not available .

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. on Wednesday reported its first-quarter net profit of 164.9 billion won (US$ 135.3 million), up 853.2 percent from a year earlier.
The company said in a regulatory filing that it posted 121.7 billion won in operating profit for the quarter, compared with 34.6 billion won a year ago. Sales rose 20.4 percent to 3.94 trillion won.
The operating profit was 42.5 percent higher than the average estimate, according to the survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. The estimate of net profit was not available.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange(KRX).
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--(2nd LD) Samsung expects weak results after solid Q1 performance on chip biz

SEOUL , April 29 ( Yonhap ) -- Samsung Electronics Co. on Wednesday delivered a solid first-quarter earnings performance on @ @ @ @ @ business despite the coronavirus outbreak , but its bottom line will be hurt in the @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic .

(ATTN: RECAST headline, lead; ADDS more info from 6th para, 2nd photo; UPDATES throughout)
By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. on Wednesday delivered a solid first-quarter earnings performance on the back of its chip business despite the coronavirus outbreak, but its bottom line will be hurt in the current quarter by fallout from the pandemic.
The world's leading memory chip and smartphone manufacturer said its operating income increased 3.43 percent on-year to 6.4 trillion won (US$5.2 billion) in the January-March period, and sales rose 5.61 percent on-year to 55.3 trillion won.
However, its net profit declined 3.15 percent to 4.8 trillion won over the cited period.
The figures were in line with the earnings guidance announced earlier this month that beat the market consensus.
Samsung's solid performance was led by its semiconductor business, as increased demand for server chips used for data centers and the steady rise of memory chip prices helped the company stay afloat amid the novel coronavirus crisis.
This photo, taken on April 7, 2020, shows the outdoor signage of Samsung Electronics Co. at its office building in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Revenue from the semiconductor division stood at 17.64 trillion won in the first three months of 2020, a 21.9 percent increase from a year earlier. Its operating profit from the business division declined 3.1 percent on-year to 3.99 trillion won but was higher than the fourth quarter.
"The memory business saw solid demand in the period, despite weak seasonality and the effects of COVID-19, thanks to continued investments in 5G infrastructure and increased demand from cloud applications related to remote working and online education," Samsung said.
According to industry tracker DRAMeXchange, the average contract price of 8-gigabit DDR4 DRAM, a benchmark price for the category, reached $2.94 in March, up 2.1 percent from a month earlier, extending its price hike to a third consecutive month.
The average price of 32-gigabyte server DRAM was $121 as of end-March, up 4.3 percent from a month ago, according to DRAMeXchange, while the price of 128-gigabit 16Gx8 MLC NAND flash was $4.68 last month, up 2.63 percent from a month ago.
Samsung's mobile business also had a better-than-expected first quarter earnings result despite weakening sales.
Its mobile business unit posted sales of 26 trillion won, down 4.4 percent from a year earlier, but operating profit jumped 16.7 percent on-year to 2.65 trillion won.
This photo, provided by Samsung Electronics Co., shows the company's chip plant in Hwaseong, south of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The company attributed its profit increase in the mobile business to an improved product mix with the launch of its flagship smartphone line, the Galaxy S20 series, and efficient management of marketing expenses.
Samsung's display panel business was still in red, but it narrowed down its operating loss to 300 billion won from 560 billion won a year ago. Its sales jumped from 6.12 trillion won to 6.59 trillion won in the first quarter.
"Mobile displays posted a decline in earnings amid weak seasonality and lower sales in China due to COVID-19-related shutdowns, while losses narrowed in the large panel business," the company said.
Its home appliance business division posted weak earnings. Its sales increased from 10.04 trillion won to 10.30 trillion won in the first quarter, but operating profit dropped from 540 billion won to 450 billion won over the same period.
The company blamed weaker seasonality and impact from COVID-19 for its lower earnings in the sector.
For the second quarter, Samsung said it expects the memory chip business to stay solid, but its overall earnings are likely to decline due to the fallout from the COVID-19 crisis.
In the first quarter, Samsung's capital expenditure totaled 7.3 trillion won, including 6 trillion won spent on semiconductors and 800 billion won on displays.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--Russian lawmakers quell speculation about N.K. leader Kim's health

Kazbek Taysayev , who heads the Russian State Duma group on ties with the North 's rubber-stamp parliament , said @ @ @ @ @ working '' as seen in his reported activities such as sending a message to South @ @ @ @ @ according to Tass .
The State Duma is the lower house of Russia 's legislature @

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- Two Russian lawmakers have dismissed persistent speculation over North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's health, citing their talks with diplomats from Pyongyang, according to Russian media reports.
Kim's absence from the public eye since his attendance at a ruling party politburo meeting on April 11 has spawned rumors of his failing health despite Seoul's assessment that there was "nothing unusual" in the communist state.
Kazbek Taysayev, who heads the Russian State Duma group on ties with the North's rubber-stamp parliament, said Tuesday that Kim "keeps working" as seen in his reported activities such as sending a message to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, according to Tass. The State Duma is the lower house of Russia's legislature.
"I talked to (the North Korean Embassy) today. We contact every day," Taysayev was quoted by Tass as saying. "Kim Jong-un sent his congratulations to the president of South Africa. They have a national holiday. This is his personal congratulations."
Taysayev added that he thinks the reports about Kim's deteriorating health are "wrong."
Oleg Melnichenko, the head of the Russian Federation Council's group for cooperation with the North's parliament, also downplayed speculation about Kim's health after talks with North Korean Ambassador to Russia Sin Hong-chol. The council is the upper house of the Russian legislature.
Melnichenko said that there is "no ground" to judge that Kim has a health problem, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported Tuesday.
The lawmaker also pointed out that had Kim fallen ill, Pyongyang would have "definitely" informed the Russian side.
Rumors about Kim's health surged after he apparently skipped an annual visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun on the occasion of the April 15 birthday of the late national founder and his grandfather Kim Il-sung.
Speculation varied from Kim being incapacitated after surgery to the young leader simply self-isolating over new coronavirus concerns. Officials both in Seoul and Washington dismissed suggestions that he is seriously ill.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks at a politburo meeting of the ruling Workers' Party on April 11, 2020, in this photo captured from the website of the Korean Central News Agency. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--BTS to unveil documentary 'Break the Silence' next month

`` 'Break the Silence : Docu-Series ' will bring to the fore the motive that has brought the seven members @ @ @ @ @ other as well as the shining moments BTS made with its global fans during the @ @ @ @ @ to Big Hit .

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- BTS will release next month a documentary series, "Break the Silence," which follows the band's globe-trotting 351-day concert journey last year, its management agency said Wednesday.
According to Big Hit Entertainment, the seven-episode series will be unveiled exclusively on Weverse, a mobile application for the BTS fan community, at 9 p.m. on May 12.
After the first two episodes are released on the day, each of the remaining five episodes will be available every Tuesday and Thursday till May 28, Big Hit said.
"Break the Silence: Docu-Series" is the third series documenting BTS' globe-trotting concert journey.
The latest series features BTS' previous world tours, "Love Yourself" and "Love Yourself: Speak Yourself," which kicked off in November 2018 and wrapped up in October last year.
The previous documentary series, "Burn the Stage" and "Bring the Soul," followed and recorded BTS' 2017 "Wings Tour" and parts of the "Love Yourself" tour, respectively, bringing to light backstage stories as well as the BTS members' behind-the-scenes struggles.
"'Break the Silence: Docu-Series' will bring to the fore the motive that has brought the seven members together, stories about each other as well as the shining moments BTS made with its global fans during the stadium tour," according to Big Hit.
"On top of the glamorous sides of BTS onstage, it will also provide a glimpse into the humble everyday life of the members behind the stage as well as their heart-felt feelings toward fans," it said.
These images from the new BTS documentary series "Break the Silence" are provided by Big Hit Entertainment (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--Military postpones reserve forces' training again due to coronavirus

`` We have decided not to hold training sessions in the first half considering the COVID-19 situation , '' the @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The defense ministry will continue to take measures to prevent the spread of @ @ @ @ @ a combat readiness posture . ''

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- The military has decided not to hold regular training sessions for reserve forces in the first half of this year due to the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Wednesday.
The training for the country's 2.75 million-strong forces was slated to kick off in June across the nation, after being put off twice from the original schedule in March due to COVID-19.
South Korean reservists are required to go through one training session of one to three days per year.
The ministry said it will make an announcement 45 days prior to the resumption of the training after evaluating the virus situation.
"We have decided not to hold training sessions in the first half considering the COVID-19 situation," the ministry said in a release. "The defense ministry will continue to take measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and fully prepare for a combat readiness posture."
As of Tuesday, the military had reported 39 cases of the new coronavirus in barracks, with the last infection reported in mid-March.
In this file photo, taken March 5, 2018, members of the reserve forces engage in a street fighting drill at an Army unit in Seoul's Songpa Ward after they were mobilized to participate in the year's first mandatory exercise. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--Seoul stocks open almost flat on overnight U.S. losses

On Tuesday ( local time ) , U.S. stocks gave up earlier gains to end lower on tech losses .
@ @ @ @ @ fell 0.13 percent , the S & P 500 was down 0.52 percent , and @ @ @ @ @ 1.4 percent .

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened almost unchanged Tuesday on overnight losses in Wall Street.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) inched up 2.18 points, or 0.11 percent, to 1,936.27 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
On Tuesday (local time), U.S. stocks gave up earlier gains to end lower on tech losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.13 percent, the S&P 500 was down 0.52 percent, and the Nasdaq composite index decreased 1.4 percent.
Most large-cap shares on the Seoul bourse traded in negative terrain.
Top cap Samsung Electronics lost 0.7 percent, and major pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics shed 0.51 percent,
In contrast, major chipmaker SK hynix added 0.24 percent, and No. 1 chemical firm LG Chem was up 3.25 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,219.3 won against the U.S. dollar, up 5.9 won from the previous session's close.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--Samsung Card Q1 net income down 6.7 pct. to 112 bln won

Operating income for the January-March period was 150.5 billion won , up 2.6 percent from a year ago , the @ @ @ @ @ filing .
Sales rose 3.6 percent to 912.6 billion won .

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Card Co. on Wednesday reported its first-quarter net profit of 112.2 billion won (US$ 92 million), down 6.7 percent from a year earlier.
Operating income for the January-March period was 150.5 billion won, up 2.6 percent from a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing. Sales rose 3.6 percent to 912.6 billion won.
※ This article was generated by Yonhap's proprietary algorithm using data from Yonhap Infomax and Korea Exchange(KRX).
(END)


Wednesday's weather forecast

SEOUL , April 29 ( 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--2020-04-29--Big firms cut more than 10,000 jobs over 2 months amid virus

According to CEO Score , 492 out of the country 's top 500 firms by sales had a combined 1,644,868 @ @ @ @ @ pension scheme as of end-March , down about 10,844 from January .

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- Large companies in South Korea have trimmed more than 10,000 jobs over the past two months in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, a corporate tracker said Wednesday.
According to CEO Score, 492 out of the country's top 500 firms by sales had a combined 1,644,868 employees subscribing to the national pension scheme as of end-March, down about 10,844 from January.
The decline contrasts with an increase of more than 3,400 during the same period a year earlier.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has made a big dent in business activities in Asia's fourth-largest economy as social distancing measures have sent consumer spending tumbling.
Fifteen industrial sectors out of the total 22 suffered falls with the distribution industry taking the biggest hit with a decline of slightly over 4,000.
This undated file photo shows a deserted movie theater in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Service firms came next with 1,983 job cuts, trailed by state firms with 1,871, and food and beverage makers with 1,494.
By company, CGV, South Korea's largest multiplex chain, recorded the largest job reductions of 2,331 during the two-month period as the coronavirus forced theater shutdowns.
Food service company CJ Foodville placed second with 1,629, followed by Starbucks Korea with 859 and Lotte Shopping, the operator of South Korea's biggest department store and hypermarket chain, with 827.
Despite the coronavirus outbreak, some companies have added to their payrolls to meet growing demand for services and products.
Coupang Inc., South Korea's top e-commerce company, has added the most jobs by hiring 913 more thanks to a bump in demand for delivery services.
Samsung Electronics Co., the world's top memory chip and smartphone maker, came second with 420, followed by chip giant SK hynix Inc. with 310.
(END)


KOSPI 1,936.89 UP 2.80 points (open)


yna--2020-04-29--(2nd LD) Warehouse fire kills at least 36 workers

The number of casualties may increase as the whereabouts of the majority of 78 people believed to have been working @ @ @ @ @ are not confirmed .

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more details throughout; ADDS photo)
ICHEON, South Korea, April 29 (Yonhap) -- At least 36 workers were killed and 10 others injured in a fire at a warehouse construction site in Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday, fire authorities said.
The fire occurred in Icheon, 80 kilometers southeast of Seoul, around 1:32 p.m., according to firefighters. The blaze was extinguished at around 6:42 p.m.
The number of casualties may increase as the whereabouts of the majority of 78 people believed to have been working at the time of fire are not confirmed.
Icheon is home to SK hynix Inc., the world's second-largest maker of DRAM chips, as well as a large number of warehouses and storage facilities for retailers.
Smoke billows from a warehouse construction site in the city of Icheon, southeast of Seoul, on April 29, 2020, where a fire broke out at around 1:32 p.m. the same day. (Yonhap)
Officials suspect that the fire was caused by an unexpected explosion during construction work involving urethane, a combustible chemical used for insulation work, and the installment of a freight elevator in the basement of the site.
"The fire seems to have spread extremely quickly, with the victims apparently having been unable to evacuate at all during the fire," firefighters said.
President Moon Jae-in ordered government officials to spare no effort for the search and rescue operation by mobilizing all available resources, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
Fire fighters rescue an injured worker at the site of a fire that broke out at a warehouse construction site in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, on April 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--S. Korean public firms' debt rose by most ever last year: gov't

SEOUL , April 29 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean public firms ' debt rose by the largest amount ever @ @ @ @ @ slowdown , with their debt-to-capital ratio rebounding for the first time in seven years , @ @ @ @ @ .

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korean public firms' debt rose by the largest amount ever last year amid an economic slowdown, with their debt-to-capital ratio rebounding for the first time in seven years, the finance ministry said Wednesday.
The combined debt of 337 public institutions reached 525.1 trillion won (US$430.9 billion) at the end of last year, up 21.4 trillion won from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The tally did not include data by three state-run banks, including Korea Development Bank.
The yearly increase was the largest since 2005, when the government began to compile related data.
The institutions' combined assets grew 32.8 trillion won on-year to 861.1 trillion won.
The public firms' debt ratio came to 156.3 percent in 2019, up 1.1 percentage points from the previous year.
The 2019 debt-to-capital ratio marked the first rebound in seven years.
After peaking at 220 percent in 2012, the debt ratio had declined for six consecutive years.
Meanwhile, the public firms posted a combined net profit of 600 billion won, the lowest earnings in seven years.
The Korea Electric Power Corp., the country's power monopoly, reported the first loss in 11 years, due mainly to weaker electricity sales coupled with increased financial costs. Its total debt amounted to 128.8 trillion won last year, up 14.6 trillion won a year ago.
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--(LEAD) Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings shifts to loss in Q1

Refining margins are linked to international oil prices .
Higher crude prices mean greater margins , or the difference between @ @ @ @ @ products and the cost of crude and related services .

(ATTN: UPDATES with company's comments, stock prices; ADDS image)
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings Co. said Wednesday that it swung to a net loss in the first quarter from a year earlier due to falling refining margins amid low oil prices.
For the three months that ended March 31, the company posted a net loss of 360.4 billion won (US$296 million), shifting from a net profit of 97.6 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.
The holding company of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group said the net loss is blamed on falling refining margins caused by low crude oil prices.
Refining margins are linked to international oil prices. Higher crude prices mean greater margins, or the difference between the total value of petroleum products and the cost of crude and related services.
The company also shifted to an operating loss of 487.2 billion won from an operating profit of 144.5 billion won a year earlier.
Sales fell 11.9 percent on-year to reach 5.71 trillion won over the cited period, it added.
Its affiliates include Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. and Hyundai Oilbank Co., one of major refiners in South Korea.
Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard are shipbuilding units of Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co., the subholding company of Hyundai Heavy Industries Group.
Shares in Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings rose 5.19 percent to 243,000 won on the Seoul bourse, outperforming the broader KOSPI's 0.7 percent gain.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--Late 'comfort woman' recognized for lifelong human rights activities with Amnesty Award

`` We hope the Japanese government acknowledges its past wartime crimes sometime in the future in order not to repeat @ @ @ @ @ said the organizer in a statement , adding that it would continue working `` alongside @ @ @ @ @ face up to the Japanese government in denial of history . ''

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- The late Kim Bok-dong, a former sex slavery victim-turned human rights activist, received Wednesday a posthumous award from Amnesty International in recognition of her passion for and efforts toward the human rights of sex slavery victims.
The Korean branch of the U.K.-based non-governmental organization has chosen the late activist as a recipient of the 22nd Amnesty International Korea Media Awards, acknowledging Kim's dedication to justice for sex slavery victims.
Up to 200,000 women, mostly Koreans, were forced into sexual servitude in Japanese military brothels during World War II, when the Korean Peninsula was under Japanese colonial rule, according to historians. Those sex slaves were euphemistically called "comfort women."
The picture shows the 22nd Amnesty International Korea Media Awards, which was given to Kim Bok-dong, a late human rights activist, in an ceremony held in downtown Seoul on April 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
The award ceremony took place during the decadeslong weekly protest in downtown Seoul to support the victims and condemn Japan's repeated denials of wartime atrocities.
"Activist Kim Bok-dong never gave up on committing herself to efforts to ensure that hurts and misery she had experienced would never be repeated again onto others till the day she left this world," said Shin Min-jeong, head of Amnesty International's Korean branch.
"Her work deeply moved us, gave courage throughout the world and inspired us," she said during the award ceremony. The posthumous award was given to Lee Na-young, head of The Korean Council, the organizer of the weekly protest.
The protest, which began in 1992, has been replaced by online events due to the coronavirus pandemic for the past two months, but Wednesday's event was physically attended by a small group of activists and officials.
"We hope the Japanese government acknowledges its past wartime crimes sometime in the future in order not to repeat the tragic history," said the organizer in a statement, adding that it would continue working "alongside with wartime victims who courageously face up to the Japanese government in denial of history."
An altar for the late Kim Bok-dong, a victim of Japan's wartime sexual enslavement, is set up at Severance Hospital in western Seoul on Jan. 29, 2019. Kim died of cancer the previous day. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--(2nd LD) Doosan Infracore Q1 net almost halves on decreased sales

The maker of compact loaders and compact excavators said its operating profit fell 23.4 percent on-year to 86.8 billion won @ @ @ @ @ 0.2 percent to reach 1.06 trillion won in the first quarter .

(ATTN: UPDATES with earnings of Doosan Bobcat in paras 7-9)
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- Doosan Infracore Co., South Korea's largest construction equipment maker by sales, said Wednesday that its first-quarter net profit fell 43 percent from a year earlier due to decreased sales amid the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Net profit reached 74.6 billion won (US$61.3 million) in the January-March period, down from a profit of 130.6 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.
The excavator maker said slowing overseas sales, especially in China, cut into the quarterly bottom line.
This photo provided by Doosan Infracore Co. shows its excavator working on a construction site in Europe. (Yonhap)
Doosan Infracore said exports account for more than two-thirds of its total sales.
The company said its operating profit fell 27.6 percent on-year to 181 billion won, and sales declined 7.9 percent to reach 2 trillion won in the first quarter.
Shares in Doosan Infracore rose 1.06 percent to 4,295 won on the Seoul bourse, roughly in line with the broader KOSPI's 0.7 percent gain.
Also on Wednesday, Doosan Bobcat said it posted a net profit of 33.5 billion won in the January-March period, compared with a net profit of 68.5 billion won.
The maker of compact loaders and compact excavators said its operating profit fell 23.4 percent on-year to 86.8 billion won, while sales edged up 0.2 percent to reach 1.06 trillion won in the first quarter.
Doosan Infracore holds a controlling 51.05 percent stake in Doosan Bobcat Inc.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--Five Chinese cities and provinces to allow 'fast-track' entry for S. Korean businesspeople

Before departure , they need to self-check their health for two weeks and have state-certified documents ready proving they have @ @ @ @ @ .
Once they arrive in China , they will be required to self-isolate for one @ @ @ @ @ facility designated by the provincial government and will be tested for the virus again .

By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- Five Chinese cities and provinces will start allowing expedited entry for South Korean businesspeople from next month, in exception to entry restrictions enacted due to the coronavirus outbreak, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.
South Korea and China have been seeking to establish a "fast-track" entry system to enable swift visits by business travelers so as to help them minimize the fallout from entry curbs imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The decision was finalized during a working-level meeting between the two sides held earlier in the day, led by Kang Sang-wook, director-general for Northeast Asian affairs at the foreign ministry and his Chinese counterpart, Wu Jianghao.
Under the agreement, the faster entry system is applied to 10 Chinese cities and provinces in principle, but half of those places, including Shanghai, Liaoning, Shandong, Jiangsu and Anhui, will be able to bring the system into force for now since regular flights only operate there, the ministry said.
The simplified entry system will enable South Korean businesspeople to apply for a visa upon presenting an invitation from a company based in China.
Before departure, they need to self-check their health for two weeks and have state-certified documents ready proving they have been cleared for the virus. Once they arrive in China, they will be required to self-isolate for one or two days at a facility designated by the provincial government and will be tested for the virus again.
Beijing currently bans the entry of foreigners, except for cases involving diplomats or others with essential reasons. The limited entries require at least 14 days of isolation at designated facilities.
In Wednesday's talks, the two sides agreed to continue discussions on ways to revitalize bilateral exchanges once the virus outbreak stabilizes, including restoring flight operations to facilitate travel.
They also shared assessments on the virus outbreak situations in their countries and agreed to continue cooperation in quarantine and health sectors to cope with the disease, according to the ministry.
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--(LEAD) 25 workers killed in Icheon construction site fire

A total of 25 workers were killed by the fire started at the construction site in Icheon , 80 kilometers @ @ @ @ @ 1:32 p.m. , according to firefighters .
At least seven other workers were reported injured @

(ATTN: REWRITES headline, lead; UPDATES with revised workforce figure, more details)
ICHEON, South Korea, April 29 (Yonhap) -- More than 20 workers were killed in a fire that broke out at a warehouse construction site in Gyeonggi Province on Wednesday, fire authorities said.
A total of 25 workers were killed by the fire started at the construction site in Icheon, 80 kilometers southeast of Seoul, around 1:32 p.m., according to firefighters. At least seven other workers were reported injured.
Icheon is home to SK hynix Inc., the world's second-largest maker of DRAM chips, as well as a large number of warehouses and storage facilities for retailers.
Officials suspect that the fire was caused by an unexpected explosion accident during construction work using urethane, a combustible chemical used for insulation work, in the underground level at the site.
"The fire seems to have spread extremely quickly, with the victims apparently having been unable to evacuate at all during the fire," firefighters said.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun ordered the interior and safety minister and heads of the National Fire Agency and the Korean National Police Agency to mobilize all available resource for the ongoing search and rescue operation.
Smoke billows from a warehouse construction site in the city of Icheon, southeast of Seoul, on April 29, 2020, where a fire broke out at around 1:32 p.m. the same day. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--Hard-luck batter relieved to get 1st hit in KBO

Thankfully for Motter , it went for a double .
It was Motter 's first official hit in the KBO @ @ @ @ @ bottom of the fifth inning at Gocheok Sky Dome , when the Heroes were comfortably @ @ @ @ @ no runners on base , but the bench still erupted as if Motter had knocked @ @ @ @ @ Manager Son Hyuk , in particular , broke into a huge smile , bigger than @ @ @ @ @ cleanup Park Byung-ho belted a two-run home run in the third inning .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- When he connected for a deep fly ball to center field during a preseason ball game Wednesday, the ball felt good off the bat for Taylor Motter.
But just as quickly, the new foreign hitter for the Kiwoom Heroes in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) felt resigned to his fate. He'd gone 0-for-8 in four previous games and 0-for-2 to start Wednesday's contest against the Doosan Bears. What were the odds that this one would fall for a hit?
Taylor Motter of the Kiwoom Heroes hits a double against the Doosan Bears in a Korea Baseball Organization preseason game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on April 29, 2020 (Yonhap)
"The way the game's been going for me, (I felt) it was going to be an out," Motter said. "(My initial reaction was) that the fielder was going to catch it."
Thankfully for Motter, it went for a double. It was Motter's first official hit in the KBO. It came in the bottom of the fifth inning at Gocheok Sky Dome, when the Heroes were comfortably up 8-0. There were no runners on base, but the bench still erupted as if Motter had knocked in a key run. Manager Son Hyuk, in particular, broke into a huge smile, bigger than the one he had when cleanup Park Byung-ho belted a two-run home run in the third inning.
"It's a huge weight lifted off my shoulders," Motter said. "To finally get that first hit was big."
Motter is replacing slugger Jerry Sands in the lineup. Sands led the KBO with 113 RBIs last year and then signed with the Japanese club Hanshin Tigers over the offseason. Realistically, Motter, who's long been a utility man, is unlikely to match Sands' offensive production. That Motter is the lowest-paid foreign player this season at US$350,000 perhaps reflects the level of Kiwoom's own expectations.
Motter does bring some defensive versatility. This preseason alone, he's already played third base, left field and second base.
"Most of my innings in America have been at shortstop. But I've been a utility player for six, seven years," he said. "Everywhere is okay with me. I feel like defense is one of the best things I bring to the table. Anywhere they put me, I am hoping to be the best on the field at that position."
Motter's struggles at the plate may be attributed to the fact that he's facing new pitchers every game. His first opposing pitcher was SK Wyverns submariner Park Jong-hun, and in his next game, Motter went up against soft-tossing Doosan left-hander Yoo Hee-kwan.
Taylor Motter of the Kiwoom Heroes celebrates a double against the Doosan Bears in a Korea Baseball Organization preseason game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on April 29, 2020 (Yonhap)
Most KBO pitchers don't throw as hard as the pitchers Motter had been facing in the United States, and Motter admitted it's going to take some adjustments.
His double in Wednesday's game came against reliever Lee Dong-won, who can touch 154 kilometers per hour with his fastball and is one of the hardest throwers here.
Asked if Lee's velocity made it easier for him to hit, Motter quipped, "I just got lucky."
The regular season will begin next Tuesday, leaving Motter with precious little time to get his timing down at the plate. He said he's going to be just fine.
"I am just going to keep doing what I've been doing," he said. "I've got my body where it needs to be. I feel comfortable in the box. I feel like my practice has been really good."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--(LEAD) Doosan Infracore Q1 net almost halves on decreased sales

SEOUL , April 29 ( Yonhap ) -- Doosan Infracore Co. , South Korea 's largest construction equipment maker by @ @ @ @ @ its first-quarter net profit fell 43 percent from a year earlier due to decreased sales @ @ @ @ @ novel coronavirus .

(ATTN: UPDATES with company's comments and stock prices; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- Doosan Infracore Co., South Korea's largest construction equipment maker by sales, said Wednesday that its first-quarter net profit fell 43 percent from a year earlier due to decreased sales amid the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Net profit reached 74.6 billion won (US$61.3 million) in the January-March period, down from a profit of 130.6 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.
The excavator maker said slowing overseas sales, especially in China, cut into the quarterly bottom line.
This photo provided by Doosan Infracore Co. shows its excavator working on a construction site in Europe. (Yonhap)
Doosan Infracore said exports account for more than two-thirds of its total sales.
The company said its operating profit fell 27.6 percent on-year to 181 billion won, and sales declined 7.9 percent to reach 2 trillion won in the first quarter.
Shares in Doosan Infracore rose 1.06 percent to 4,295 won on the Seoul bourse, roughly in line with the broader KOSPI's 0.7 percent gain.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--(2nd LD) LG Electronics forecasts weak Q2 earnings after stellar Q1 performance

LG said it pins big hopes on its new smartphone , LG Velvet , which will be introduced next month @ @ @ @ @ its mobile business .
The company added that it also aims for its 5G smartphones @ @ @ @ @ of its total handset sales this year , up from 13 percent last year .

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 7, 11, 18, 21-23, 3rd photo)
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc. on Wednesday delivered strong first-quarter earnings results on the back of its home appliance and TV businesses, but the company expected its bottom line in the current quarter to worsen as the novel coronavirus pandemic will significantly weigh down demand for its products.
South Korea's No. 2 tech firm said it logged a net profit of 1.08 trillion won (US$886 million) in the January-March period, nearly double its net income of 578 billion won a year earlier.
The company's operating income advanced 21.1 percent on-year to 1.09 trillion won in the first quarter, though sales declined 1.25 percent on-year to 14.73 trillion won.
It marked the second time that its first-quarter operating profit exceeded 1 trillion won. LG said its 7.4 percent operating margin was the highest ever for a first quarter in its history.
This photo, taken on April 7, 2020, shows the outdoor signage of LG Electronics Inc. at the company's headquarters in Seoul. (Yonhap)
However, the company was pessimistic about its earnings for the April-June period due to rising global uncertainties over the COVID-19 crisis, saying that its sales and profitability will decline.
"The demand slump in the global home appliance market is likely to continue and will aggravate competition," it said. "Due to the cancellation of major sporting events, the global TV market is also expected to see an extensive drop in demand."
LG said the second quarter is likely to be the most difficult period for its business, but if the COVID-19 pandemics persists, the company will also suffer a sharp decrease in its bottom line in the second half of the year.
LG said its home appliance unit posted 5.42 trillion won in sales in the first three months of 2020, down 0.9 percent from a year earlier, but its operating profit increased 3.5 percent on-year to a record 753.5 billion won.
The unit's operating margin of 13.9 percent was also the highest in its history, according to LG. Its cost-reduction efforts and increased sales of steam appliances helped deliver a strong performance in the home appliance business.
LG's home entertainment unit, which manages its TV business, also reported a solid earnings result. Its sales declined 4.8 percent on-year to 2.9 trillion won in the first quarter, but operating income surged 31.7 percent on-year to 325.8 billion won.
The company said component supply constraints and slowing global demand brought down its revenue from the TV business, but operating efficiencies and the expansion of its premium products, such as OLED TV and NanoCell TVS, pushed up the bottom line. More than 90 percent of its TV sales was from overseas, it added.
However, LG's mobile and vehicle component businesses continued to stay in the red.
This photo provided by LG Electronics Inc. on April 6, 2020, shows models promoting the company's home appliance products. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
LG said its mobile communications unit racked up only 998.6 billion won in sales in the January-March period, down 33.9 percent from a year earlier, while its operating loss widened from 203.5 billion won to 237.8 billion won over the cited period, extending its losses to 20 consecutive quarters.
The company blamed supply disruptions in China and store closures in Europe and Latin America amid lockdowns.
LG's vehicle component solutions unit saw its first-quarter sales fall 2.1 percent on-year to 1.31 trillion won, with its operating loss widening from 15.4 billion won to 96.8 billion won due to the business disruptions of North American and European automakers.
LG said its business solution unit generated revenue of 1.71 trillion won, up 3.5 percent from a year ago, while its operating profit jumped 26.3 percent on-year to 212 billion won on the back of increased solar module sales and stable profitability from information displays.
To cope with the projected demand decline in the second quarter, LG said it will closely monitor market situations and will try to expand online sales for its home appliance business.
Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, LG said it expects solid growth in the domestic market, with its sales here recovering to last year's levels in June and rising by 10 percent in the third quarter. In the first quarter, 35 percent of LG's home appliance sales came from the home turf.
This photo provided by LG Electronics Inc. on Jan. 3, 2020, shows models introducing the company's Signature OLED 8K TVs. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
For its TV business, the company said it targets expanding premium products and efficiently managing its resources.
LG said it pins big hopes on its new smartphone, LG Velvet, which will be introduced next month, for the recovery of its mobile business. The company added that it also aims for its 5G smartphones to account for 30 percent of its total handset sales this year, up from 13 percent last year.
LG revealed during a conference call that it is preparing to develop flagship smartphone products priced over $1,000 by applying a differentiated form factor.
For its vehicle component solutions unit, LG said it will check its supply chain management to improve its profitability. The company reiterated that it aims to shift its vehicle component solutions business to black next year.
LG did not provide information about its capital expenditure in the first quarter but said that it plans to increase investment in automation and cloud-related solutions following the COVID-19 crisis.
Shares in LG Electronics advanced 2.43 percent to close at 54,900 won, outperforming the KOSPI's 0.7 percent gain. The earnings results were released before the market closed.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--Korean Peninsula rattled by four quakes in three days

Throughout the month of April , eight quakes stronger than magnitude 2 occurred on the peninsula , compared with four @ @ @ @ @ February and two in March , according to the KMA .

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- The Korean Peninsula has been jolted by four earthquakes of magnitude 2.1 or larger in a span of three days this week, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said Wednesday.
A 2.4 magnitude earthquake hit North Korea's South Pyongan Province, just north of the capital Pyongyang, at 3:10 p.m. The quake occurred 18 kilometers north-northwest of the province's Songchon, with the epicenter at 39.39 degrees north latitude and 126.13 degrees east longitude.
This map shows the epicenter of a 2.4 magnitude earthquake that hit North Korea's South Pyongan Province on April 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
The KMA analyzed the Songchon earthquake as a natural seismic tremor.
Earlier this week, South Korea was rattled by three minor earthquakes in and around the southwestern region.
A 2.4 magnitude earthquake hit Geumsan of South Chungcheong Province, 198 km south of Seoul, shortly after noon Tuesday, while Mokpo, a South Jeolla port city, 410 km south of the capital, logged a 2.1 magnitude quake just before 1 p.m. on the same day.
On Monday, a 2.8 magnitude earthquake hit the North Jeolla county of Jangsu, 318 km south of Seoul. No human injury or property damage has been reported from the three quakes.
Throughout the month of April, eight quakes stronger than magnitude 2 occurred on the peninsula, compared with four in each of January and February and two in March, according to the KMA.
Officials at the KMA said the four quakes occurred around the same time but there is no connection among them.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--EXO's Chen becomes father of daughter

EXO's Chen becomes father of daughter

Chen debuted in 2012 as the main vocalist of EXO , which went on to garner a sensational number of @ @ @ @ @ Korea .

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- Chen, a member of K-pop boy band EXO, became the father of a daughter Wednesday following his surprise marriage announcement in January.
"Chen had a daughter born today as (reported)," EXO's management agency, SM Entertainment, said, confirming some media reports on the birth.
The news came about three months after the 28-year-old, whose legal name is Kim Jong-dae, made a surprise marriage announcement in January in a handwritten letter.
He said at that time that his fiancee was pregnant, announcing that he would marry the woman in a closed-door ceremony.
The decision made Chen the first of the nine EXO members to get married and become a father.
Some angry fans staged protests, demanding Chen leave the band, but SM and the team said he will retain his membership in the band.
Chen debuted in 2012 as the main vocalist of EXO, which went on to garner a sensational number of fans in and outside of Korea.
An image of EXO's vocalist Chen (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


Yonhap News Summary

SEOUL -- LG Electronics Inc. on Wednesday delivered strong first-quarter earnings results on the back of its home appliance and @ @ @ @ @ company expected its bottom line in the current quarter to worsen as the novel coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ demand for its products .

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.
-----------------
(LEAD) Moon calls for win-win effort to avoid layoffs due to coronavirus
SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in emphasized the need Wednesday for a win-win approach to keep job cuts at bay amid the prolonged coronavirus-led economic crisis, which he describes as the worst since the 1997 financial meltdown.
"The precondition for overcoming the crisis is not restructuring but maintaining employment," he said during a meeting with a group of hotel executives and workers at Grand Walkerhill Seoul, a five-star hotel in eastern Seoul
-----------------
(LEAD) Top court rules in favor of pregnant employees in unsafe work environments
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- In a key ruling that acknowledged the risks of unsafe work environments on a fetus, South Korea's top court on Wednesday ruled in favor of nurses who claimed their children's congenital heart defects should be covered by workplace accident compensation.
The Supreme Court ordered the Seoul High Court to review its decision that the nurses were not eligible to receive government compensation given to workplace accident victims.
-----------------
(LEAD) Telegram chat room accomplice indicted for leaking personal data
SEOUL -- A former social service agent was indicted Wednesday for allegedly leaking personal data to the key suspect in a high-profile sexual blackmail ring on the messaging service Telegram.
The 26-year-old, surnamed Choi, was indicted and detained on charges of breaching the Personal Information Protection Act and leaking personal data to unauthorized people, according to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office.
-----------------
(LEAD) S. Korea mulls further support for virus-hit airlines
SEOUL -- South Korea is considering further financial support for airlines hit by the coronavirus outbreak on the condition that they push for self-help measures and keep their workforces, the transport ministry said Wednesday.
Last month, the government announced it would inject 300 billion won (US$250 million) into the country's seven low-cost carriers (LCCs). Two full-service carriers also demanded emergency financial aid from the government.
-----------------
(LEAD) LG Electronics forecasts weak Q2 earnings after stellar Q1 performance
SEOUL -- LG Electronics Inc. on Wednesday delivered strong first-quarter earnings results on the back of its home appliance and TV businesses, but the company expected its bottom line in the current quarter to worsen as the novel coronavirus pandemic will significantly weigh down demand for its products.
South Korea's No. 2 tech firm said it logged a net profit of 1.08 trillion won (US$886 million) in the January-March period, nearly double its net income of 578 billion won a year earlier.
-----------------
Four workers killed in Icheon construction site fire
ICHEON -- Four workers were killed in a fire that broke out at a warehouse construction site in Gyeonggi Province Wednesday, fire authorities said.
The fire started at the construction site in Icheon, 80 kilometers southeast of Seoul, around 1:32 p.m., according to firefighters. Three other workers were reported injured.
-----------------
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--Kiwoom Heroes beat Doosan Bears in KBO preseason slugfest

The Heroes exploded for five runs in the bottom of the third against starter Choi Won-joon .
No .
2 @ @ @ @ @ the game 's first run with a double , and Lee Jung-hoo followed with a @ @ @ @ @ Byung-ho then smacked a two-run home run to the deepest part of the park in @ @ @ @ @ team up 5-0 .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- The Kiwoom Heroes outdueled the Doosan Bears 10-6 in a Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) preseason game on Wednesday, emerging victorious from a slugfest that featured some crooked numbers.
The first four batters in the Heroes' starting lineup -- Kim Hye-seong, Kim Ha-seong, Lee Jung-hoo and Park Byung-ho -- combined to go 9-for-13 with eight RBIs and eight runs scored. Kiwoom's new foreign hitter, Taylor Motter, finally had his first hit of the preseason with a fifth-inning double, which ended a 0-for-12 funk.
Park Byung-ho of the Kiwoom Heroes (R) celebrates his two-run home run with teammates Lee Jung-hoo (C) and Lee Taek-keun during a Korea Baseball Organization preseason game against the Doosan Bears at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on April 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
The teams traded 24 hits at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, with cracks of their bats echoing through some 16,000 empty seats.
All preseason games are being played without fans, due to lingering coronavirus concerns. Though a recent decline in infections has allowed the KBO to reschedule its Opening Day from March 28 to May 5, the early part of the regular season will still be played behind closed doors.
The Heroes exploded for five runs in the bottom of the third against starter Choi Won-joon. No. 2 hitter Kim Ha-seong drove in the game's first run with a double, and Lee Jung-hoo followed with a two-run single. Cleanup Park Byung-ho then smacked a two-run home run to the deepest part of the park in right center, putting his team up 5-0.
The Heroes tacked on three more runs in the fourth. Kim drove in his second run of the game with a single, and with Lee at the plate, Doosan reliever Kwon Hyuk was called for a balk that let in a run from third base.
Lee then lined a double to deep right field for an 8-0 advantage.
The Bears put up a big number of their own, as they scored six runs in the top of the sixth to make the game more interesting.
A Korea Baseball Organization preseason game between the Kiwoom Heroes and the Doosan Bears takes place at an empty Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on April 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
All six runs were scored with two outs in the inning. Jose Miguel Fernandez opened the flood gate with a bases-loaded single to cut it to 8-2. Choi Joo-hwan's single made it 8-3, and another run crossed the plate when third baseman Kim Hye-seong booted a routine grounder.
Kim Ha-seong's fielding error at shortstop allowed the Bears to creep all the way up to 8-6.
But Kim atoned for that miscue with a run-scoring single in the bottom sixth, for his third RBI of the game. Lee Ji-young then delivered a pinch-hit single for a 10-6 Heroes lead.
The Heroes rolled out their top two starters, Jake Brigham and Eric Jokisch, in the final audition for the Opening Day assignment. Brigham appeared to have won the job with three shutout innings, in which he struck out three and walked none.
Jokisch was charged with three earned runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Jake Brigham of the Kiwoom Heroes pitches against the Doosan Bears in a Korea Baseball Organization preseason game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on April 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--(LEAD) Top court rules in favor of pregnant employees in unsafe work environments

They argued that the case should be eligible for workplace accident compensation .
The government organization contended that such compensation @ @ @ @ @ workers themselves and does not extend to their children .

(ATTN: ADDS details on court's ruling in paras 5-6, 10)
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- In a key ruling that acknowledged the risks of unsafe work environments on a fetus, South Korea's top court on Wednesday ruled in favor of nurses who claimed their children's congenital heart defects should be covered by workplace accident compensation.
The Supreme Court ordered the Seoul High Court to review its decision that the nurses were not eligible to receive government compensation given to workplace accident victims.
"The mother's body and a fetus are considered a 'single unity' in interpreting the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act," the court said, stressing that female employees and fetuses should be sufficiently protected from unsafe work factors.
The court also said that work-inflicted health damages on a fetus should be seen as a workplace accident, regardless of whether the harmful work environment affected the employee's work capacity.
The court, meanwhile, underscored the importance of supporting pregnant workers, citing the Constitution, which mandates the country's responsibility in protecting motherhood.
"Since protecting motherhood is relevant to the existence and upkeep of a community, the country has a duty to lessen the burden of and support pregnancy and birth," the court said.
Four nurses who worked for Jeju Medical Center on the country's southern resort island of Jeju filed a complaint against the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service after it denied their request for work accident compensation.
The plaintiffs, who became pregnant in 2009, all suffered symptoms of miscarriage before giving birth the next year. Their four babies were all born with congenital heart defects.
The mothers claimed that the harmful work environment at the hospital, such as irregular shifts, lack of staff and grinding hazardous pills for older patients who could not swallow them, consequently affected their children's conditions.
Of the 15 pregnant nurses who were working at the same hospital, four gave birth to children with congenital heart disease and five suffered miscarriages. Only six children were born healthy.
They argued that the case should be eligible for workplace accident compensation. The government organization contended that such compensation is only eligible for the workers themselves and does not extend to their children.
A lower court ruled in favor of the nurses, while the appeals court overturned the ruling.
mlee@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--Top court confirms jail term of ex-Aekyung CEO in humidifier sterilizer case

The top court also confirmed a one-year prison term for a former senior executive vice president of Aekyung Industrial , @ @ @ @ @ for taking part in Ko 's cover-up attempt , while another former company official , @ @ @ @ @ suspended sentence of one year in jail on the same charge .

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top court on Wednesday confirmed a jail term of 2 1/2 years for a former chief of Aekyung Industrial Co., one of the local producers of deadly humidifier sterilizers in the early 2000s.
The Supreme Court upheld the jail term given by lower courts to Ko Kwang-hyun, former CEO of Aekyung Industrial, for covering up toxicity-related data on the company's disinfectant product Humidifier Mate.
The top court also confirmed a one-year prison term for a former senior executive vice president of Aekyung Industrial, identified only as Yang, for taking part in Ko's cover-up attempt, while another former company official, surnamed Lee, received a suspended sentence of one year in jail on the same charge.
The three were accused of concealing and destroying the company's documents related to the toxicity of Humidifier Mate.
This file graphic provided by Yonhap News TV shows the logo of Aekyung Industrial Co. and its former CEO Ko Kwang-hyun. (Yonhap)
"There are no mistakes in the lower courts' guilty verdicts on the accused's crimes of destruction and concealment of evidence," the top court said.
The three are among 34 former business executives indicted last July by prosecutors after an eight-month reinvestigation into one of the nation's worst scandals involving consumer products. They are accused of manufacturing and selling humidifier disinfectants containing toxic chemicals.
The humidifier disinfectant scandal came into the spotlight after four pregnant women died of lung problems in 2011.
About 6,760 people have so far been registered as victims of the humidifier sterilizer case, of whom about 1,533 have died.
ycm@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--(LEAD) Daelim Industrial Q1 net down 5.5 pct on equity losses

SEOUL , April 29 ( Yonhap ) -- Daelim Industrial Co. , a major South Korean builder , said Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ percent in the first quarter from a year earlier due to losses .

(ATTN: UPDATES with company's comments and details)
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- Daelim Industrial Co., a major South Korean builder, said Wednesday its net profit fell 5.5 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier due to losses.
Net profit for the January-March period came to 223 billion won (US$183 million), compared with 236.4 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Daelim Industrial said low oil prices cut into the bottom line.
Yeochun NCC, a 50-50 joint venture between Daelim Industrial and Hanwha Solutions, operates a naphtha cracking center in South Korea's southern industrial city of Yeosu. Naphtha is a key raw material for petrochemicals.
Still, sales rose 8 percent on-year to 2.5 trillion won in the first quarter, and operating profit jumped 20.5 percent on-year to 290 billion won.
entropy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--(LEAD) S. Korea mulls further support for virus-hit airlines

In a meeting with chief executives from the nine carriers , Vice Transport Minister Son Myoung-soo said the government will @ @ @ @ @ loans as quickly as possible , and if necessary , it will consider extending additional @ @ @ @ @ the airlines .

(ATTN: ADDS stock prices in last para)
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is considering further financial support for airlines hit by the coronavirus outbreak on the condition that they push for self-help measures and keep their workforces, the transport ministry said Wednesday.
Last month, the government announced it would inject 300 billion won (US$250 million) into the country's seven low-cost carriers (LCCs). Two full-service carriers also demanded emergency financial aid from the government.
In a meeting with chief executives from the nine carriers, Vice Transport Minister Son Myoung-soo said the government will execute all of the promised loans as quickly as possible, and if necessary, it will consider extending additional loans through local lenders to the airlines.
"The government hopes that the financial package, including tax benefits, subsidies for employment and reduction in airport usage fees, will help airlines stay afloat during the coronavirus crisis and help them maintain workers," Son said.
This file photo shows Korean Air aircraft at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
The transport ministry said airlines are expected to suffer a combined sales loss of over 6 trillion won in the first half, as 98 percent of their flights on international routes have been suspended amid virus fears.
In extended efforts to help airlines, the Korea Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of Korea -- two policy lenders -- said they will extend fresh capital worth 1.2 trillion won to Korean Air Lines Co.
The two state lenders plan to inject 1.7 trillion won into Asiana Airlines Inc. to help it stay afloat and dispel growing concerns that the creditor banks' plan to sell Asiana may fall through due to the virus impact.
On Wednesday, HDC Hyundai Development Co. said its acquisition of Asiana will be completed after May as one of five foreign regulators has yet to approve their integration.
Korean Air and Asiana agreed to take measures to improve their financial status through sales of assets and to offer job guarantees to employees in exchange for the government's support packages.
Local airlines have suspended most of their flights on international routes since March as an increasing number of countries have enacted entry restrictions amid virus fears.
South Korea has two full-service carriers -- Korean Air and Asiana -- and seven LCCs -- Jeju Air, Jin Air Co., Air Busan Co., Air Seoul Inc., Eastar Jet, T'way and Fly Gangwon.
On Wednesday, airline stocks ended mixed. Korean Air rose 0.5 percent to 19,800 won but Asiana fell 1 percent to 4,170 won. Leading budget carrier Jeju Air gained 1.2 percent to 20,450 won.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--Four workers killed in Icheon construction site fire

`` The blaze seems to have started at the underground level of the site .
We have mobilized all available @ @ @ @ @ , '' a fire official said .

ICHEON, South Korea, April 29 (Yonhap) -- Four workers were killed in a fire that broke out at a warehouse construction site in Gyeonggi Province Wednesday, fire authorities said.
The fire started at the construction site in Icheon, 80 kilometers southeast of Seoul, around 1:32 p.m., according to firefighters. Three other workers were reported injured.
Icheon is home to SK hynix inc., the world's second-largest maker of DRAM chips, as well as a large number of warehouses and storage facilities for retailers.
Authorities fear that the death toll may rise, as 14 individuals from the total workforce of 190 at the site are unaccounted for.
"The blaze seems to have started at the underground level of the site. We have mobilized all available resources to extinguish the fire," a fire official said.
Smoke billows from a warehouse construction site in the city of Icheon, southeast of Seoul, on April 29, 2020, where a fire broke out at around 1:32 p.m. the same day. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-29--(LEAD) LG Electronics forecasts weak Q2 earnings after stellar Q1 performance

SEOUL , April 29 ( Yonhap ) -- LG Electronics Inc. on Wednesday delivered strong first-quarter earnings results on the @ @ @ @ @ and TV businesses , but the company expected its bottom line in the current quarter @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus pandemic will significantly weigh down demand for its products .

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; ADDS more info from 5th para, 2nd photo)
SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc. on Wednesday delivered strong first-quarter earnings results on the back of its home appliance and TV businesses, but the company expected its bottom line in the current quarter to worsen as the novel coronavirus pandemic will significantly weigh down demand for its products.
South Korea's No. 2 tech firm said it logged a net profit of 1.08 trillion won (US$886 million) in the January-March period, nearly double its net income of 578 billion won a year earlier.
The company's operating income advanced 21.1 percent on-year to 1.09 trillion won in the first quarter, though sales declined 1.25 percent on-year to 14.73 trillion won.
It marked the second time that its first-quarter operating profit exceeded 1 trillion won. LG said its 7.4 percent operating margin was the highest ever for a first quarter in its history.
This photo, taken on April 7, 2020, shows the outdoor signage of LG Electronics Inc. at the company's headquarters in Seoul. (Yonhap)
However, the company was pessimistic about its earnings for the April-June period due to rising global uncertainties over the COVID-19 crisis, saying that its sales and profitability will decline.
"The demand slump in the global home appliance market is likely to continue and will aggravate competition," it said. "Due to the cancellation of major sporting events, the global TV market is also expected to see an extensive drop in demand."
LG said its home appliance unit posted 5.42 trillion won in sales in the first three months of 2020, down 0.9 percent from a year earlier, but its operating profit increased 3.5 percent on-year to a record 753.5 billion won.
The unit's operating margin of 13.9 percent was also the highest in its history, according to LG. Its cost-reduction efforts and increased sales of steam appliances helped deliver a strong performance in the home appliance business.
LG's home entertainment unit, which manages its TV business, also reported a solid earnings result. Its sales declined 4.8 percent on-year to 2.9 trillion won in the first quarter, but operating income surged 31.7 percent on-year to 325.8 billion won.
The company said component supply constraints and slowing global demand brought down its revenue from the TV business, but operating efficiencies and the expansion of its premium products, such as OLED TV and NanoCell TVS, pushed up the bottom line.
However, LG's mobile and vehicle component businesses continued to stay in the red.
This photo provided by LG Electronics Inc. on April 6, 2020, shows models promoting the company's home appliance products. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
LG said its mobile communications unit racked up only 998.6 billion won in sales in the January-March period, down 33.9 percent from a year earlier, while its operating loss widened from 203.5 billion won to 237.8 billion won over the cited period, extending its losses to 20 consecutive quarters.
The company blamed supply disruptions in China and store closures in Europe and Latin America amid lockdowns.
LG's vehicle component solutions unit saw its first-quarter sales fall 2.1 percent on-year to 1.31 trillion won, with its operating loss widening from 15.4 billion won to 96.8 billion won due to the business disruptions of North American and European automakers.
LG said its business solution unit generated revenue of 1.71 trillion won, up 3.5 percent from a year ago, while its operating profit jumped 26.3 percent on-year to 212 billion won on the back of increased solar module sales and stable profitability from information displays.
To cope with the projected demand decline in the second quarter, LG said it will closely monitor market situations and will try to expand online sales for its home appliance business.
For its TV business, the company said it targets expanding premium products and efficiently managing its resources.
LG said it pins big hopes on its new smartphone, LG Velvet, which will be introduced next month, for the recovery of its mobile business. The company said it also seeks to expand its budget smartphone lineup with the rise of the 5G market.
For its vehicle component solutions unit, LG said it will check its supply chain management to improve its profitability.
Shares in LG Electronics advanced 2.43 percent to close at 54,900 won, outperforming the KOSPI's 0.7 percent gain. The earnings results were released before the market closed.
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-30--(LEAD) Rescue workers continue search of fire-hit warehouse after 38 killed

Firefighters brought in excavators to search every corner of the warehouse as they struggle to confirm if any more victims @ @ @ @ @ The search and rescue operation continued overnight and was still going on as of early @ @

(ATTN: UPDATES with PM's comments in last 4 paras)
ICHEON, South Korea, April 30 (Yonhap) -- Rescue workers on Thursday combed through the charred rubble of a fire-hit warehouse in Icheon, south of Seoul, in search of any missing victims in one of the country's deadliest blazes in years that has killed at least 38 people and injured 10 others.
The fire engulfed the four-story building under construction in Icheon, 50 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Wednesday afternoon and was put out five hours later.
Most of the 38 deceased were construction workers. Eight injured people were in serious condition as of Thursday morning, while two others sustained minor injuries.
Icheon is home to SK hynix Inc., the world's second-largest maker of DRAM chips, as well as a large number of warehouses and storage facilities for retailers.
Firefighters carry out a search and rescue operation at the site of a fire at a warehouse construction site in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, on April 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
Firefighters brought in excavators to search every corner of the warehouse as they struggle to confirm if any more victims remain in the wreckage. The search and rescue operation continued overnight and was still going on as of early Thursday.
"We are continuing our search operation in order to find if there are any more victims, unaccounted for or buried somewhere," a firefighter said. "Casualties from the fire stood at 48, including 38 people dead," the official said.
Starting Thursday morning, the police, firefighting authorities and the National Forensic Service were planning to launch a joint investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Authorities were presuming that the fire started on the second underground floor during construction work involving urethane, a combustible chemical used for insulation work, and the installation of a freight elevator.
Authorities were also stepping up identification efforts, as the identity of nine of those killed remained unknown as of early Thursday with their bodies burned beyond recognition.
The city's emergency relief team plans to set up a joint memorial altar for the victims as soon as the identification process is complete, officials said.
A firefighting operation is under way at a warehouse construction site in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, on April 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun convened a meeting of government ministers Thursday to discuss the government's response to the disaster.
"We need to find a more practical solution in order to prevent the recurrence of a fire at a construction site," the prime minister noted.
He called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the recent fire and whether safety requirements were followed at the construction site.
"Above all, I pray that all the victims from the fire rest in peace and express my sincere condolences to their families," Chung said, vowing government support for the victims.
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-30--S. Korea reports 4 imported virus cases with zero local infections

SEOUL , April 30 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea reported four more cases of the new coronavirus Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ imported cases , marking the first time that local infections have fallen to zero since @ @ @ @ @ than two months ago .

SEOUL, April 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported four more cases of the new coronavirus Thursday, but all of them were imported ones, marking the first time in 75 days that local infections have fallen to zero.
The four new cases brought the total to 10,765.
It was the lowest daily increase in more than two months, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The figure peaked on Feb. 29 at 909.
Despite the signs of a slowdown, local health authorities remain on the alert over the ongoing holiday, when people are expected to make trips locally.
South Koreans celebrate Buddha's Birthday on Thursday, which will be followed by May Day on Friday and Children's Day on Tuesday next week.
The nation's death toll from COVID-19 rose by one to 247.
In total, 9,059 people in South Korea have recovered from the virus, up 137 from a day earlier.
Buddhist followers wearing protective masks attend a service at Joggye Temple in central Seoul on April 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
The rising number of imported cases is still a concern for South Korea. All four cases announced Thursday were imported, raising the country's total number of such cases to 1,065.
Daegu, the nation's worst virus-hit region located 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, added no new cases. The city accounts for 64 percent of the nation's total COVID-19 cases.
Should the number of new infections continue to plateau by the end of the holiday, South Korea plans to ease its social distancing drive.
The country eventually plans to move on to what it calls "everyday life quarantine," which means schools and workplaces will mostly return to their normal routines with precautions.
Health officials, however, earlier said they are pessimistic that things will fully go back to the days before the pandemic amid looming concerns over a second wave of infections later this year.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-30--(URGENT) S. Korea releases 137 recovered coronavirus patients, total cured people at 9,059: KCDC

(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--2020-04-30--(URGENT) S. Korea confirms one more coronavirus death, raising death toll to 247: KCDC


yna--2020-04-30--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 4 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 10,765: KCDC


yna--2020-04-30--Rescue workers continue search of fire-hit warehouse after 38 killed

ICHEON, South Korea, April 30 (Yonhap) -- Rescue workers on Thursday combed through the charred rubble of a fire-hit warehouse in Icheon, south of Seoul, in search of any missing victims in one of the country's deadliest blazes in years that has killed at least 38 people and injured 10 others.
The fire engulfed the four-story building under construction in Icheon, 50 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Wednesday afternoon and was put out five hours later.
Most of the 38 deceased were construction workers. Eight injured people were in serious condition as of Thursday morning, while two others sustained minor injuries.
Icheon is home to SK hynix Inc., the world's second-largest maker of DRAM chips, as well as a large number of warehouses and storage facilities for retailers.
Firefighters carry out a search and rescue operation at the site of a fire at a warehouse construction site in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, on April 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
Firefighters brought in excavators to search every corner of the warehouse as they struggle to confirm if any more victims remain in the wreckage. The search and rescue operation continued overnight and was still going on as of early Thursday.
"We are continuing our search operation in order to find if there are any more victims, unaccounted for or buried somewhere," a firefighter said. "Casualties from the fire stood at 48, including 38 people dead," the official said.
Starting Thursday morning, the police, firefighting authorities and the National Forensic Service were planning to launch a joint investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Authorities were presuming that the fire started on the second underground floor during construction work involving urethane, a combustible chemical used for insulation work, and the installation of a freight elevator.
Authorities were also stepping up identification efforts, as the identity of nine of those killed remained unknown as of early Thursday with their bodies burned beyond recognition.
The city's emergency relief team plans to set up a joint memorial altar for the victims as soon as the identification process is complete, officials said.
A firefighting operation is under way at a warehouse construction site in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, on April 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-30--Ex-PM Lee's popularity tops 40 pct in presidential hopeful poll

After setting a record as the longest-serving prime minister since the country adopted the direct presidential election system in 1987 @ @ @ @ @ as soon as he finished his term in office in mid-January .

SEOUL, April 30 (Yonhap) -- Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon's favorability rating as a potential presidential contender has climbed to above 40 percent, further strengthening his front-runner position, according to a survey Thursday.
The journalist-turned-politician's favorability rating stood at 40.2 percent, according to a Realmeter survey of 2,522 voting-eligible adults nationwide. The poll, commissioned by media outlet OhmyNews, was conducted from April 20-24.
The latest figure represents a 10.5 percentage point increase from a similar survey carried out by the polling agency a month ago. The former prime minister has led the polls of potential presidential candidates conducted by Realmeter for 11 consecutive months.
Lee won a parliamentary seat for the key Seoul Jongno constituency in the recent April 15 general elections and stands as one of the central leaders of the ruling Democratic Party.
After setting a record as the longest-serving prime minister since the country adopted the direct presidential election system in 1987, Lee returned to politics as soon as he finished his term in office in mid-January.
Before serving as a governor of South Jeolla Province and prime minister, he was a four-term lawmaker based in the province.
Lee was trailed by Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung with 14.4 percent and Hong Joon-pyo, a former conservative presidential candidate, with 7.6 percent.
Hwang Kyo-ahn, former head of the main opposition United Future Party, stood at fourth place with 6.0 percent, dropping two notches amid his party's landslide loss in the elections.
In this file photo, former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon campaigns as a then-candidate in Seoul's Jongno constituency on April 14, 2020, the eve of the general elections. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-30--S. Korea's southwestern region hit by another quake

Nineteen quakes , including those weaker than magnitude 2 , have occurred in the region since 12:34 a.m. on Sunday @ @ @ @ @ the KMA .

SEOUL, April 30 (Yonhap) -- A 2.4 magnitude earthquake hit the southwestern region county of Haenam on Thursday, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said.
The quake occurred at 7:13 a.m., 21 kilometers west-northwest of Haenam in South Jeolla Province, at a depth of 21 km, according to the KMA.
The epicenter was at 34.66 degrees north latitude and 126.40 degrees east longitude, the agency said.
"The earthquake was felt in the areas near the epicenter," the agency said, warning residents to take caution.
Earlier on Tuesday, a 2.1 magnitude earthquake hit the same region, 20 kilometers west-northwest of Haenam, at 12:58 a.m.
Nineteen quakes, including those weaker than magnitude 2, have occurred in the region since 12:34 a.m. on Sunday this week, according to the KMA.
Since Monday, five earthquakes stronger than magnitude 2 have occurred for four consecutive days in the Korean Peninsula and neighboring waters, the agency said.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-30--Moon notes Buddhist spirit over virus crisis, deadly blaze

`` When our neighbor is in pain , we are in pain too , '' Moon said on his social @ @ @ @ @ feel so sorry and a sense of heavier responsibility for the unfortunate incident that occurred @ @ @ @ @ efforts to overcome COVID-19 . ''

SEOUL, April 30 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in on Thursday mourned the victims of a warehouse fire that left at least 38 people dead and 10 others injured the previous day, saying the disaster has added woes to the coronavirus crisis.
"Many people were killed. It is so sad that this unfortunate accident has happened when everybody is working hard to overcome COVID-19," Moon said in a message marking Buddha's Birthday. "I deeply mourn the victims and wish those injured a quick recovery."
South Koreans observed the Vesak holiday with a solemn mood rather than celebrations this year amid the monthslong fight against COVID-19 and Wednesday's warehouse fire in Icheon, 50 kilometers southeast of Seoul, one of the deadliest blazes in years.
"When our neighbor is in pain, we are in pain too," Moon said on his social media account. "I feel so sorry and a sense of heavier responsibility for the unfortunate incident that occurred in the midst of national efforts to overcome COVID-19."
He expressed his condolences to the victims and wished the injured a quick recovery.
The president pointed out that Buddhism has played a role traditionally in uniting people at a time of national crisis in South Korea.
Buddhist followers have helped those in need through donations and sharing, he added.
"The warm heart of the Buddhist community has been always of help to the people," Moon said. "Mercy, which regards the pain of the neighbor as mine, is our strength and hope."
Moon reaffirmed the top priority of protecting the lives and safety of the people on the occasion of Vesak Day.
This file photo, from April 29, 2020, shows President Moon Jae-in speaking at a meeting with hotel workers at Grand Walkerhill Seoul. (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-04-30--(EDITORIAL from Korea Joongang Daily on April 30)

Looking back , it was appropriate for the government to think of giving emergency grants to the 50 percent of @ @ @ @ @ , as originally planned by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance last month .
Faced @ @ @ @ @ DP , Hong Nam-ki , deputy prime minister and the economy and finance minister , @ @ @ @ @ proposed payments to the 70 percent of households with the lowest incomes .
Ultimately , @ @ @ @ @ accepted by the Blue House and DP .

The donation bandwagon
The Moon Jae-in administration said it would offer emergency relief grants to the relatively poor and socially weak from the beginning to help them get through the coronavirus crisis. But that position has evolved into cash payouts to all families after political parties fiercely competed to curry favor with voters. Now that the ruling Democratic Party (DP) won a landslide victory in the April 15 parliamentary elections, the party is fueling class conflict by giving money to everyone and asking the rich to return their payments.
Looking back, it was appropriate for the government to think of giving emergency grants to the 50 percent of households with the lowest incomes, as originally planned by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance last month. Faced with opposition from within the DP, Hong Nam-ki, deputy prime minister and the economy and finance minister, took a step back and proposed payments to the 70 percent of households with the lowest incomes. Ultimately, even that suggestion was not accepted by the Blue House and DP.
On Wednesday, the National Assembly finally agreed to 1 million won ($821) in handouts to all families of four, as promised by DP floor leader Lee In-young before the general elections two weeks ago. But confusion has intensified after the government urged wealthy families to give up their handouts.
President Moon will likely be the first to return the money he is entitled to receive. The ruling party is floating the idea of "collecting trillions of won if large companies and high-income earners join the movement." A novel idea of donating additional money on top of the grants is also being discussed. Finance Minister Hong said he would not take his grant. But contributions by high government officials have become a fait accompli.
If that happens, the government cannot avoid public criticism about the credibility of government policies. The corporate sector is expressing concerns about the government's demand for "additional contributions." Isn't that compelling the rich to donate their personal wealth with a threat?
There is loose talk about donating gold as Koreans did during the Asian financial crisis in 1997-98. At the time, ordinary citizens donated gold rings in the face of a national bankruptcy. That's totally different from what the Moon administration is trying to do. If the government chooses that path, it will cause serious national division.
The rich have been paying income taxes, not to mention bearing a huge burden in terms of the national health insurance. If the government pressures the wealthy to contribute more against their will, that's not a democratic government. We hope the DP faithfully carries out its duty as a ruling party in a fair democracy.
(END)


yna--2020-04-30--(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on April 30)

The UFP is currently headed by its floor leader and acting party chief , Rep. Shim Jae-chul , after Hwang @ @ @ @ @ over the election loss .
Selecting a new leader , interim or regular , is @ @ @ @ @ and regaining the public 's trust .
Of course , it is doubtful that the @ @ @ @ @ even if installed , could normalize party operations by bringing about drastic change and innovation @ @ @ @ @ to understand why the UFP has run the risk of sinking into an abyss .

Opposition in tatters
Conservative party should change, innovate itself
The main opposition, the conservative United Future Party (UFP), is in a state of chaos as it has failed to install a new interim leader following its crushing defeat in the April 15 general election. A row over the appointment of Kim Chong-in, the former campaign chief, to lead the party hsas created the chaotic situation. This makes the reeling party's future murkier than ever.
The feud erupted after the UFP approved the nomination of Kim as head of the party's interim leadership committee during its National Committee meeting Tuesday. The problem is that the veteran politician has rejected the nomination because the party failed to guarantee him an extensive term.
Simply put, Kim has no intention of serving as an interim leader for only four months until the UFP convenes a national convention in August to elect a new leader in accordance with the party constitution. That's why he has called for a revision of the party's constitution so that he can lead the party at least until next spring. His aim is apparently is to influence the process of choosing the party's presidential candidate in the 2022 election.
But the party has failed to meet Kim's demand. Reports said that the UFP could not hold a Standing National Committee meeting to revise a party rule to push back the date of the convention this summer. The failure is a direct result of senior party members boycotting the meeting in order to bid for the party leadership in August.
Whatever the reason, the party, whose predecessor was the Saenuri Party led by impeached President Park Geun-hye, will remain rudderless and reeling from the election defeat. The UFP and its "satellite" party garnered only 103 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, compared with 180 seats won by the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and its affiliate.
The UFP is currently headed by its floor leader and acting party chief, Rep. Shim Jae-chul, after Hwang Kyo-ahn resigned from the chairmanship over the election loss. Selecting a new leader, interim or regular, is crucial in rebuilding the party and regaining the public's trust. Of course, it is doubtful that the interim leadership under Kim, even if installed, could normalize party operations by bringing about drastic change and innovation. But it is hard to understand why the UFP has run the risk of sinking into an abyss.
The reason is clear. Its party members, especially senior lawmakers, are still refusing to give up their vested interests, while engaging in old politics. They are putting their personal interests and political ambitions before the needs of the party, instead of advocating for true conservative causes. Internal fighting still persists between the pro-Park Geun-hye faction and the rest.
Without going beyond such dog-eat-dog factional strife and internal division, the UFP has no future. An opposition party is required to serve as a counterbalance to the stronger ruling party and the government. Thus the UFP should resolve the leadership dispute as soon as possible to ensure the country has democratic checks and balances. For this, it should change and innovate itself. Otherwise, it has no reason to exist.
(END)


yna--2020-04-30--Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers

Korean-language dailies -- Another man-made disaster consumes workers ( Kyunghyang Shinmun ) -- 38 dead , 10 injured from fire @ @ @ @ @ Kookmin Daily ) -- 38 dead from fire at warehouse in Icheon ( Donga llbo @ @ @ @ @ another accident 12 years ago ( Seoul Shinmun ) -- Explosion from warehouse in Icheon @ @ @ @ @ deaths ( Segye Times ) -- 38 die from fire , nothing has changed ( @ @ @ @ @ die from another tragedy in Icheon ( JoongAng Ilbo ) -- Inflammable panels lead to @ @ @ @ @ ( Hankyoreh ) -- Explosion immediately leads to fire , 38 die from warehouse in @ @ @ @ @ -- Service sector collapses to worst level in 20 years ( Maeil Business Newspaper ) @ @ @ @ @ delayed indefinitely ( Korea Economic Daily )

SEOUL, April 30 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major South Korean newspapers on April 30.
Korean-language dailies
-- Another man-made disaster consumes workers (Kyunghyang Shinmun)
-- 38 dead, 10 injured from fire catastrophe at Icheon warehouse (Kookmin Daily)
-- 38 dead from fire at warehouse in Icheon (Donga llbo)
-- Icheon catastrophe resembles another accident 12 years ago (Seoul Shinmun)
-- Explosion from warehouse in Icheon leads to at least 38 deaths (Segye Times)
-- 38 die from fire, nothing has changed (Chosun Ilbo)
-- 38 die from another tragedy in Icheon (JoongAng Ilbo)
-- Inflammable panels lead to major fire catastrophe in Icheon (Hankyoreh)
-- Explosion immediately leads to fire, 38 die from warehouse in Icheon (Hankook Ilbo)
-- Service sector collapses to worst level in 20 years (Maeil Business Newspaper)
-- HDC's Asiana takeover delayed indefinitely (Korea Economic Daily)
English-language dailies
-- Services are down 5% in March due to coronavirus (Korea JoongAng Daily)
-- At least 25 workers dead in Icheon warehouse fire (Korea Herald)
-- Service industry output suffers most from pandemic (Korea Times)
(END)


Thursday's weather forecast

SEOUL , April 30 ( Yonhap ) -- The following is the weather forecast for South Korea 's 12 major @ @ @ @ @ .


yna--2020-04-30--Train seen again at N.K. leader's coastal compound: U.S. monitor

`` While the train 's presence is clear , it is not possible to tell from the imagery whether this @ @ @ @ @ Kim Jong-un 's train or whether he was on it when it arrived , '' @ @ @ @ @ , this train station is reserved for the exclusive use of the Kim family , @ @ @ @ @ reports that Kim has been staying in the Wonsan area . ''

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, April 29 (Yonhap) -- Commercial satellite imagery from Wednesday shows a train parked at North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's compound in the coastal city of Wonsan, but it's unclear whether the train has been there since it was first spotted last week, a U.S. monitor said.
38 North, a project of the Stimson Center think tank, had said on Saturday that commercial satellite imagery showed a train probably belonging to Kim parked at a train station servicing the compound on April 21 and 23.
The news came amid conflicting reports about the North Korean leader's whereabouts, with some outlets alleging that he may be gravely ill following surgery.
This image, published by Reuters, shows what 38 North describes as a special train possibly belonging to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in April 29, 2020 satellite imagery from Planet Labs Inc and taken over Wonsan, North Korea. (Planet Labs Inc-38 North/No resales. No archives.) (Yonhap)
"While a train was first observed at this station on April 21 and again on April 23, it cannot be determined whether it has remained at the station since then," 38 North said on its website.
"On April 29, the train is situated in the same position as before," it said. "However, the engine is no longer parked alongside the south end of the train. Whether the engine car has departed or was simply moved under the station's canopy is unclear. But in either case, the train does not appear to be prepared for departure."
The monitor noted that as in the previous report, the train's presence does not prove the leader's whereabouts or indicate anything about his health.
"While the train's presence is clear, it is not possible to tell from the imagery whether this is, in fact, Kim Jong-un's train or whether he was on it when it arrived," it said. "However, this train station is reserved for the exclusive use of the Kim family, lending weight to the multiple reports that Kim has been staying in the Wonsan area."
On Tuesday, NK News, a U.S. outlet specializing in North Korea affairs, reported that satellite imagery showed the presence of boats often used by Kim moving in patterns that suggest he could be in Wonsan.
According to 38 North, there were at least two other instances in the past 12 months when a train was seen at the same station around the times Kim was reported to be in the coastal city.
The first was in July, when the North Korean leader was reported to have inspected a new submarine at the Sinpo South Shipyard, some 100 kilometers away.
The second was in November around the time Kim reportedly observed a flight contest in Wonsan.
Kim has been out of public view since April 11, when he presided over a Politburo meeting of the ruling Workers' Party.
His absence from an April 15 commemoration of the birthday of his late grandfather, North Korea founder Kim Il-sung, sparked speculation about his whereabouts and status.
South Korean officials have insisted that nothing unusual has been detected inside the regime.
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)