yna--2020-05-29--KBO manager wary of opposing lineup's explosive potential

`` Every team has its ups and downs , and the Giants ' lineup can be really explosive , '' @ @ @ @ @ media availability at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul .
`` So we have to keep that @ @ @ @ @ them .
Our pitchers have to be on their toes . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- The Lotte Giants have scored a grand total of five runs in their past four games in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) heading into their weekend series against the Doosan Bears starting Friday.
But when the Bears' manager Kim Tae-hyoung looks across the diamond and into the opposing dugout, he sees a lineup that can go off at any moment.
"Every team has its ups and downs, and the Giants' lineup can be really explosive," Kim said in his pregame media availability at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. "So we have to keep that in mind when we face them. Our pitchers have to be on their toes."
Jose Miguel Fernandez of the Doosan Bears (C) is forced out at second base against the SK Wyverns in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
Kim didn't single out any hitters, but the Giants, on paper, should be a better hitting team than their .255/.325/.381 line shows. Their on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS), .706, puts them in eighth place among 10 clubs.
Their lineup tends to be top heavy, with Min Byung-hun, Jeon Jun-woo, Son Ah-seop, Lee Dae-ho and An Chi-hong, five All-Stars with strong track records, often batting one through five.
Of the bunch, Jeon has hit a team-best four home runs but none since May 17. Lee, the franchise icon, is stuck at one home run, though he's leading the team with a .360 batting average. New shortstop Dixon Machado, regarded as a defense-first acquisition, has surprised with four home runs and a team-leading 15 RBIs, but he's only slashing .206/.286/.441.
Still, with the Bears ranking last in team ERA with 6.20, Kim doesn't want to poke the sleeping bear and have the Giants' offense come alive against his team.
And the manager has his own lineup to worry about: They were held hitless in 4 2/3 innings against SK Wyverns' starter Lee Geun-wook in Thursday's 6-1 loss, and managed just three hits for the game.
"I felt that we weren't swinging the bat with any sort of energy last night," Kim said. "Even the hits that we had didn't come on good contact."
In this file photo from May 15, 2020, Doosan Bears' manager Kim Tae-hyoung stands for the national anthem before the start of a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game against the Kia Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field in Gwangju, 330 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--Budget carrier's flight operation permit suspended amid virus fallout

`` We notified Eastar of the air operator certificate ( AOC ) suspension last Friday .
If an airline 's @ @ @ @ @ is not permitted to provide flight services until the ministry renews the AOC through safety @ @ @ @ @ '' a ministry official said over the phone .

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's transport ministry said Friday it has suspended a budget carrier's flight operation permit, as its services have not run for a certain period.
Eastar Jet Co. has suspended all flights on international routes since March 9 and all domestic flights since March 24 in light of lockdowns and reduced passengers. It plans to halt operations until June 25, the company said.
"We notified Eastar of the air operator certificate (AOC) suspension last Friday. If an airline's AOC is suspended, it is not permitted to provide flight services until the ministry renews the AOC through safety checks on its planes," a ministry official said over the phone.
But the AOC suspension does not mean the suspension of Eastar's business license, the official said.
It takes at least three weeks for the ministry to conduct on-spot safety checks on planes and to renew the operator certificate, he said.
This photo, taken on May 15, 2020, shows planes of Eastar Jet and other airlines at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--(4th LD) S. Korea struggling to contain cluster-traced virus spread in greater Seoul area

SEOUL , May 29 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea reported more than 50 new virus cases for the second @ @ @ @ @ in the Seoul metropolitan area due to logistics center-tied cluster infections , putting renewed strain @ @ @ @ @ further spread in the densely populated region .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info in para 19)
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported more than 50 new virus cases for the second consecutive day Friday, all in the Seoul metropolitan area due to logistics center-tied cluster infections, putting renewed strain on health authorities to contain further spread in the densely populated region.
South Korea reported 58 more additional COVID-19 cases, raising the total caseload to 11,402, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Of them, 55 were local infections.
Friday's tally marks a drop from the nearly two-month high of 79 the previous day.
All new infections were reported in Seoul and the surrounding area, home to half of the country's population of more than 50 million, putting health authorities on edge.
A distribution facility run by e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, has emerged as a new cluster infection here as health authorities have been grappling with mass infections tied to nightclubs and bars in Seoul's nightlife neighborhood this month.
This photo, taken May 27, 2020, shows a statement about the suspension of operations at a logistics center run by e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon, west of Seoul, over the new coronavirus outbreak. (Yonhap)
As of noon, 102 cases have been traced to the distribution center since the first patient was confirmed last week, according to the KCDC.
The logistics center cluster has brought to the fore the vulnerability of workplaces where many people work in a close environment without strictly complying with quarantine measures.
Coupang and Market Kurly, an online grocery delivery platform, also reported virus infections at their logistics centers in Goyang, north of Seoul and in eastern Seoul, respectively.
The KCDC said if the logistics facility-linked outbreaks are not contained at an early stage, it could lead to mass infections in Seoul and its adjacent areas.
According to health authorities, virus cases in the greater Seoul area accounted for 88.4 percent of the 181 local infections reported over the past seven days.
"The next two weeks will be a critical juncture in gauging whether the virus outbreak will spread through the metropolitan area," Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said in a briefing.
Health authorities are conducting virus tests on 4,351 people, including some 3,600 workers, in connection with the facility in Bucheon.
The government plans to conduct emergency inspections of 32 logistics centers run by three major online commerce operators until Monday. It checked the three facilities the previous day where the virus outbreak occurred.
Medical workers prepare to conduct new coronavirus tests on citizens at a temporary clinic in the Seosomun history park in Seoul's central Jung Ward on May 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
A series of mass infections have jeopardized health authorities' drive over the past few weeks to bring the virus outbreak under control, with another cluster tied to nightclubs and bars in the capital city's Itaewon district.
The total caseload linked to Itaewon clubs and bars had reached 266 as of noon, according to the KCDC.
The resurgence in new virus cases also put South Korea's "everyday life quarantine" in peril, as the outbreak of more than 50 new daily cases poses a threat to health authorities' plan to stick to the scheme.
After 45 days of stricter social distancing, the country switched to the scheme on May 6 to enable citizens to carry out social and economic activities under quarantine rules amid a slowdown in virus infections.
But the country opted to impose a tighter social distancing campaign in the capital and densely populated metropolitan area over the next two weeks through June 14, instead of going back to strict social distancing.
Health authorities called on citizens to comply with strict hygiene measures and refrain from having mass gatherings, including religious events, this weekend.
Despite concerns over further community spread, the education ministry also said it will proceed with the phased school reopening as planned.
South Korea has reopened schools, starting with classes for high school seniors on May 20 after monthslong closures due to the virus.
The country, meanwhile, added three imported cases and reported no additional deaths, with the total death toll staying at 269. The fatality rate was 2.36 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,363, up 23 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 885,120 tests since Jan. 3.
This photo, taken May 29, 2020, shows a statement about the temporary suspension of the operation of the War Memorial of Korea in central Seoul, as the government has beefed up quarantine measures against the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--N.K. food shortages not catastrophic this year despite coronavirus impact: U.S. monitor

SEOUL , May 29 ( Yonhap ) -- North Korea 's food production is expected to be low this year @ @ @ @ @ , but the situation is unlikely to be `` catastrophic , '' a U.S. expert @ @ @ @ @ that the coronavirus has further aggravated food insecurity in an economy already faltering under sanctions @

By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's food production is expected to be low this year just as in previous years, but the situation is unlikely to be "catastrophic," a U.S. expert said, challenging many forecasts that the coronavirus has further aggravated food insecurity in an economy already faltering under sanctions.
Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein, an associate scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute specializing in the North Korean economy, made the case in a report released by the U.S.-based think tank 38 North.
"Judging by current conditions, food production this year may well be low, but probably not catastrophically so, or really much out of the ordinary compared to the past few years," Silberstein said.
The expert claimed that South Korea's predictions on the North's food production are misleading.
Earlier, the unification ministry said the North's food situation is expected to worsen this year as last year's harvest level was lower than the three-year average.
The U.S. expert said, however, that the 4.64 million-ton harvest from last year, although lower than the three-year-average, is still an increase from the estimate of the previous year's harvest of 4.55 million tons.
He also refuted the World Food Program's predictions last year that warned against large-scale shortages in the North.
North Korea may also get food provisions through foreign aid, the expert said, pointing out that Russia donated 25,000 tons of wheat earlier this month and that China is in the process of providing substantial aid to the North. Such food provisions will mitigate the effects of the coronavirus.
The expert also noted, however, that food prices in the market were higher than usual over the past few months, reflecting instability in the market due to the border closure and the awareness of shortages of fertilizers and farming equipment among the general public.
Goods including fertilizer and seeds required for the planting season have "reportedly been stuck in containers waiting to cross into North Korea from China."
The North closed its border with China late in January in a precautionary move to prevent the flow of the virus, while toughing quarantine criteria on inbound goods and people.
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--(LEAD) Seoul stocks end higher on finance minister's FX intervention comments

The main index opened lower amid escalating U.S.-China political tensions .
U.S. President Donald Trump said he will on Friday @ @ @ @ @ announce a series of countermeasures in response to China 's passage of a new national @ @ @ @ @ limit the liberty of Hong Kong .

(ATTN: ADDS bond yields at bottom, photo)
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- Seoul stocks ended slightly higher Friday, after South Korea's finance minister hinted at possible intervention in case of volatility in the local currency markets. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 1.06 points, or 0.05 percent, to close at 2,029.60. Trading volume was moderate at about 1.08 billion shares worth some 13.8 trillion won (US$11.2 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 461 to 384.
Foreigners sold a net 204.1 billion won, while retail investors purchased 193.4 billion won more than they sold. Institutions offloaded a net 20.7 billion won.
Electronic signboards at a KEB Hana Bank trading room in Seoul shows the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) up 1.06 points, or 0.05 percent, to close at 2,029.60 on May 29, 2020, while the Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar. (Yonhap)
The main index opened lower amid escalating U.S.-China political tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump said he will on Friday (New York time) announce a series of countermeasures in response to China's passage of a new national security law that can severely limit the liberty of Hong Kong.
The morning losses were trimmed, however, by the afternoon announcement by Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki's criticism of the local foreign exchange market's "herd behavior" and speculative trading.
Hong said the ministry will "act boldly with its market stabilization measures if herd behavior becomes excessive in the foreign exchange market."
"(Hong) has shown strong willingness to defend the foreign exchange rates of Korean won currency (from high volatility), which seems to have had a positive impact on investor sentiment," Samsung Securities analyst Seo Jeong-hoon said.
In Seoul, most large-cap stocks were mixed.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics advanced 0.60 percent to 50,700 won, top pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics climbed 1.80 percent and leading chemical maker LG Chem rose 0.51 percent to 622,000 won.
Among decliners, No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix slipped 2.86 percent to 81,500 won. internet portal giant Naver plunged 6.03 percent to 226,000 won, with its local rival Kakao went down 1.31 percent to 263,500 won.
The local currency was trading at 1,238.50 won against the U.S. dollar, up 1.10 won from the previous session's close.
Bond prices, which move inversely to yields, closed lower. The yield on three-year Treasurys gained 0.8 basis points to 0.826 percent, and the return on the benchmark five-year government bond added 2.1 basis points to 1.097 percent.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--Producers of Mnet's 'Produce' series sentenced to prison for vote-rigging

The `` Produce '' series , which went on air from 2016 to 2019 , became a mega hit .
@ @ @ @ @ vote via text messages for a contestant they support .
The series consists of `` @ @ @ @ @ Produce 101 Season 2 , '' `` Produce 48 '' and `` Produce X 101 @ @

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- A Seoul court on Friday handed down prison terms to two disgraced producers of the popular music channel Mnet for rigging the vote results for a popular audition program.
The Seoul Central District Court sentenced Ahn Joon-young, the producer of the audition program "Produce," to two years in prison and forfeiture of 37 million (US$30,000), and chief producer Kim Yong-beom to 20 months in prison.
The two were convicted of manipulating the vote outcome to put certain contenders in favorable positions to debut as members of an idol group.
They were also found guilty of taking bribes from talent agencies that fielded candidates for the show.
The "Produce" series, which went on air from 2016 to 2019, became a mega hit. It enabled television viewers to vote via text messages for a contestant they support. The series consists of "Produce 101," "Produce 101 Season 2," "Produce 48" and "Produce X 101."
Through its four seasons, the show spawned four high-profile K-pop bands -- I.O.I, Wanna One, IZ*ONE and X1. Among the four, only IZ*ONE is currently active in the K-pop scene.
Producer Ahn Joon-young leaves the Seoul Central District Court in handcuffs on Nov. 5, 2019, after attending a court review of his arrest warrant on charges of manipulating the text message-based vote results of "Produce X 101," a fan-voted K-pop competition show that ran on local cable channel Mnet. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--Moon seeks to hold regular meetings with party leaders

SEOUL , May 29 ( Yonhap ) -- President Moon Jae-in has instructed his office to seek to set up @ @ @ @ @ party leaders , Cheong Wa Dae said Friday , a day after his luncheon meeting @ @ @ @ @ the two largest parties .

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in has instructed his office to seek to set up a regular meeting with political party leaders, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday, a day after his luncheon meeting with the floor leaders of the two largest parties.
The move is in line with Moon's efforts to secure a standing channel to better communicate with them, according to presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok.
On Thursday, Moon met with Kim Tae-nyeon of the ruling Democratic Party and Joo Ho-young of the main opposition United Future Party at Cheong Wa Dae ahead of the opening of the new parliament.
In the meeting, Moon requested bipartisan support for the government's plan to allocate a third supplementary budget in response to the economic fallout of the new coronavirus pandemic.
President Moon Jae-in (C) poses for a commemorative photo with Kim Tae-nyeon (R), floor leader the ruling Democratic Party, and Kim's counterpart from the main opposition United Future Party, Joo Ho-young, at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--Lawmaker-elect denies allegations over donations for 'comfort women'

Among the allegations reported by media were her purchase of a shelter , called a `` healing center , '' @ @ @ @ @ just south of Seoul , at a price higher than market value and use of @ @ @ @ @ financial donations during the funeral of an aged victim .
Suspicions have also been raised @ @ @ @ @ own apartment purchase in 2012 .

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean lawmaker-elect who is a longtime activist for "comfort women" forced into wartime sexual slavery by Japanese troops on Friday denied allegations that she misappropriated donations for the surviving victims, while offering a public apology for causing a related controversy.
Speaking on the eve of the start of her four-year term at the National Assembly, Yoon Mee-hyang of the ruling Democratic Party rejected calls to give up her parliamentary seat.
"I will work (as lawmaker) in a responsible manner," she told reporters at the National Assembly. She was elected in the April 15 parliamentary elections.
In response to various suspicions, largely driven by local news reports, Yoon claimed that the donations raised by her civic group on three occasions from 1992 till 2016 have been evenly distributed to the victims.
The nongovernmental organization is now named the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan. She had long headed the organization at the forefront of a campaign both at home and abroad to raise awareness of Japan's World War II crimes against humanity.
Democratic Party lawmaker-elect Yoon Mee-hyang speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul on May 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
She admitted "wrongdoing" in the use of her personal bank accounts to receive some donations.
Yoon added she would come clean on all of the relevant suspicions, as she is facing a probe by state prosecutors. Last week, investigators raided the headquarters of the NGO and its facilities.
Earlier this month, a well-known victim, Lee Yong-soo, publicly accused Yoon of dubiously managing donated funds.
Among the allegations reported by media were her purchase of a shelter, called a "healing center," for victims in Anseong, just south of Seoul, at a price higher than market value and use of personal bank accounts in collecting financial donations during the funeral of an aged victim. Suspicions have also been raised over the financing of her own apartment purchase in 2012.
Yoon appealed to the public not to link the scandal involving her with the purity of the civic group's campaign for the dignity and rights of the victims. For three decades, it has demanded that Japan formally apologize for its wartime atrocities.
"I will thoroughly clarify (the allegations), and if there's a fault, I will take responsibility," she said. "But please stop denigrating or distorting the accomplishments the group, the victims and the public achieved together (so far)," Yoon said.
Some 200 journalists attend a press conference by Democratic Party lawmaker-elect Yoon Mee-hyang at the National Assembly in Seoul on May 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--S. Korean Bond Yields on May. 29, 2020

S. Korean Bond Yields on May. 29, 2020

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


yna--2020-05-29--Seoul stocks end higher on finance minister's FX intervention comments

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- Seoul stocks ended slightly higher Friday, after South Korea's finance minister hinted at possible intervention in case of volatility in the local currency markets. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 1.06 points, or 0.05 percent, to close at 2,029.60. Trading volume was moderate at about 1.08 billion shares worth some 13.8 trillion won (US$11.2 billion), with losers outnumbering gainers 461 to 384.
Foreigners sold a net 204.1 billion won, while retail investors purchased 193.4 billion won more than they sold. Institutions offloaded a net 20.7 billion won.
The main index opened lower amid escalating U.S.-China political tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump said he will on Friday (New York time) announce a series of countermeasures in response to China's passage of a new national security law that can severely limit the liberty of Hong Kong.
The morning losses were trimmed, however, by the afternoon announcement by Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki's criticism of the local foreign exchange market's "herd behavior" and speculative trading.
Hong said the ministry will "act boldly with its market stabilization measures if herd behavior becomes excessive in the foreign exchange market."
"(Hong) has shown strong willingness to defend the foreign exchange rates of Korean won currency (from high volatility), which seems to have had a positive impact on investor sentiment," Samsung Securities analyst Seo Jeong-hoon said.
In Seoul, most large-cap stocks were mixed.
Market bellwether Samsung Electronics advanced 0.60 percent to 50,700 won, top pharmaceutical firm Samsung BioLogics climbed 1.80 percent and leading chemical maker LG Chem rose 0.51 percent to 622,000 won.
Among decliners, No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix slipped 2.86 percent to 81,500 won. internet portal giant Naver plunged 6.03 percent to 226,000 won, with its local rival Kakao went down 1.31 percent to 263,500 won.
The local currency was trading at 1,238.50 won against the U.S. dollar, up 1.10 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--S. Korea to lease Korean Air's B747-8i as new presidential plane

`` Purchasing a presidential plane is an issue that can surely be considered , given our national status .
Though @ @ @ @ @ it right now , when there is a change in circumstances , such as the @ @ @ @ @ think that we need to review a purchase , '' he said .

By Choi Soo-hyang
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea signed a five-year contract with Korean Air Lines Co. on Friday to lease a Boeing 747-8i jet as the next presidential plane, the defense ministry said.
Under the 300 billion won (US$242.3 million) deal, the country's No. 1 air carrier will provide pilots, crew members, mechanics, as well as a back-up plane of the same type for the president's overseas trips, according to the ministry.
The plane will enter service in November next year after going through remodeling work and necessary inspection, it said.
The lease period for the current presidential jet, B747-400, was originally planned to expire in March after a five-year operation, but has been extended until October next year as the government failed to find a new contractor in time.
After three failed bids, Korean Air won the contract as a solo bidder, the ministry said.
The contract amount is nearly double the 141 billion won South Korea paid for the previous five-year deal for the B747-400.
Of the total contract amount, three-fifths are for maintenance services, while the price of the plane itself accounts for one-third of the sum, officials said.
The new plane will be equipped with various security and communication devices, as well as hardware to improve its defense against outside attacks, such as missiles.
"The defense ministry will do its best to thoroughly manage the business to make sure key government figures can stably carry out their duties," it said in a release.
There had been speculation that the government was pushing to purchase an aircraft.
A ministry official said while a purchase option is not currently on the table, the government can consider buying one when circumstances are met.
"Purchasing a presidential plane is an issue that can surely be considered, given our national status. Though we are not looking into it right now, when there is a change in circumstances, such as the available budget, I do think that we need to review a purchase," he said.
In this file photo, President Moon Jae-in disembarks from the presidential jet. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--S. Korea reports 39 new virus cases amid drive to prevent new wave of infections

Saturday 's daily count was down from the nearly two-month high of 79 on Thursday , but the authorities remained @ @ @ @ @ recent bouts of infections could hamper efforts to return to normal after months of the @ @ @ @ @ that has disrupted daily life and dented economic growth .

SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea logged 39 more coronavirus cases Saturday due largely to cluster infections traced to a distribution center just west of Seoul, as the country strives to fend off a potential new wave of infections.
The latest infection tally, including 27 local cases, brought the total caseload to 11,441, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Saturday's daily count was down from the nearly two-month high of 79 on Thursday, but the authorities remained on high alert amid concerns recent bouts of infections could hamper efforts to return to normal after months of the grueling fight against the pandemic that has disrupted daily life and dented economic growth.
Many of the new infections were thought to be tied to a distribution facility of e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon, which has emerged as a focus of the authorities' containment efforts following mass infections traced to clubs and bars in tthe nightlife district of Itaewon in central Seoul.
As of noon Friday, 102 virus cases were linked to the Coupang center; the first patient was confirmed last week, the KCDC and local governments have said, urging citizens to avoid large crowds and outdoor activities over the weekend.
The cases from the logistics center have laid bare the vulnerabilities of enclosed workplaces, particularly those where social distancing protocols are loosely applied due to heavy workloads.
Alarmed by the spike in virus cases, health authorities opted to impose a tighter social distancing campaign in the densely populated metropolitan area -- Seoul and the surrounding areas -- which is home to half of the country's population of more than 50 million, over the next two weeks through June 14.
As of noon Friday, the total caseload linked to Itaewon clubs and bars reached 266, an increase of five from the previous day, according to the KCDC.
The country, meanwhile, added 12 imported cases and reported no additional deaths, with the total death toll staying at 269.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,398, up 35 from the previous day.
This photo, taken on May 29, 2020, shows medical workers collecting samples from people for new coronavirus tests at a temporary clinic in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--(URGENT) 35 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,39

(URGENT) 35 more people released after full recovery from coronavirus, total cured patients at 10,398: KCDC


yna--2020-05-30--(URGENT) S. Korea reports no additional virus death, death toll now at 269: KCDC


yna--2020-05-30--(URGENT) S. Korea reports 39 more cases of new coronavirus, total now at 11,441: KCDC


yna--2020-05-30--N. Korea backs China's Hong Kong security legislation as 'legitimate step'

`` Since Hong Kong issue is an issue pertaining thoroughly to the internal affairs of China , any country or @ @ @ @ @ say this or that about the issue .
We categorically oppose and reject the outside @ @ @ @ @ and the social and economic development of Hong Kong , '' the official added .

SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- A spokesperson of North Korea's foreign ministry backed China's controversial security legislation for Hong Kong Saturday, calling it a "legitimate step" and voicing opposition to "outside interference."
In an answer to a question from the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the spokesperson also said that any country has no right to "say this or that" about the issue concerning the semiautonomous Chinese territory.
On Thursday, China's legislature approved a proposal for the security law legislation, which critics fear could pave the way for Beijing to tighten its grip on Hong Kong and weaken the territory's autonomy by bolstering security operations there.
"It is a legitimate step that China has adopted a decision for establishing and perfecting a legal system and an enforcement mechanism based on the Constitution of China and the Basic Law of Hong Kong," the spokesperson was quoted by KCNA as saying.
"Since Hong Kong issue is an issue pertaining thoroughly to the internal affairs of China, any country or force has no rights to say this or that about the issue. We categorically oppose and reject the outside interference detrimental to the security and the social and economic development of Hong Kong," the official added.
China pressed ahead with the legislation despite the U.S. warnings that it could revoke Hong Kong's trade privileges. The legal push is expected to further escalate geopolitical tensions, posing a tricky diplomatic challenge to countries, like South Korea, that want to maintain good ties with both major powers.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--Duty-free operators to close outlets in cities amid virus pandemic

SEOUL , May 30 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korean duty-free operators said Saturday they will temporarily close some of @ @ @ @ @ next month in line with a drastic fall in visitors amid the new coronavirus outbreak @

SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korean duty-free operators said Saturday they will temporarily close some of their outlets in cities starting next month in line with a drastic fall in visitors amid the new coronavirus outbreak.
Industry leader Lotte Duty Free said it will suspend the operation of its outlet on the southern tourist island of Jeju starting Monday.
Since February, the company has reduced operating hours for the branch in the city on Jeju as it has suffered faltering revenue.
The resumption will depend on how the virus outbreak unfolds in the future, it added.
This photo, taken on April 4, 2020, shows the duty-free store of Hotel Shilla on the southern island of Jeju. (Yonhap)
Another major duty-free operator, Hotel Shilla, also plans to close its duty-free store on the island for one month starting Monday.
Hotel Shilla's Jeju store has already been suspended during weekends and holidays, as the number of international flights to the island has sharply fallen amid air travel restrictions.
Duty-free shops in Jeju saw a boom in business due mainly to demand from foreign travelers, mostly from China, before the pandemic hit the country in late January.
The number of foreign tourists visiting the island declined 99.2 percent on-year to 1,159 in April, according to industry data.
Shinsegae Duty Free said it will close its branches in the posh district of Gangnam and in the southern port city of Busan every Sunday and Monday.
Hit by the virus outbreak, local duty-free operators have suspended the operations of their outlets at major airports either partially or wholly.
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on May 30)

(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on May 30)

The health authorities have rightly suspended operation of the Seoul Metropolitan area 's public facilities through June 14 , and @ @ @ @ @ of logistics centers associated with online retailers .
The government also capped the number of @ @ @ @ @ schools in the metropolitan area , but said it will proceed with a third opening @ @ @ @ @ .
However , it has stopped short of fully returning to strict social distancing , @ @ @ @ @ will prove that carrying out `` pockets '' of this can be effective .

Be humble before COVID-19
:Time to review our fight against pandemic
The latest infections at "contact-free" business facilities illustrate that the COVID-19 pandemic will leave no aspect of our lives untouched. It's a dampening realization since the public was just getting over the Itaewon night club infections. But it can serve as a timely juncture to review and readjust the battle against the unknown.
Responsible for staving off a buying frenzy in the initial days of the coronavirus outbreak, leading e-commerce companies such as Coupang and Market Kurly are seeing infections at their facilities grow. The authorities announced Friday that new daily infections had reached 58. This is the second consecutive day of new infections surpassing 50 cases daily, the standard Korea set to relax social distancing to "everyday life quarantine."
In particular, the authorities tallied more than 100 infections linked to Coupang since the first case was reported six days ago. The infections are broadly spread out among business outlets, cram institutes and schools, with a majority linked to the early May outbreaks at Itaewon nightclubs.
The health authorities have rightly suspended operation of the Seoul Metropolitan area's public facilities through June 14, and have started an across-the-board inspection of logistics centers associated with online retailers. The government also capped the number of students in different grades attending schools in the metropolitan area, but said it will proceed with a third opening of schools on June 3. However, it has stopped short of fully returning to strict social distancing, a cautious step that hopefully will prove that carrying out "pockets" of this can be effective.
If the worst comes to worst, we must go back to social distancing. But in the meanwhile, we can put more effort into striking a balance between life versus virus vigilance, and business versus virus vigilance.
When it shifted to everyday life quarantine, the government issued guidelines covering 31 aspects of work, everyday life and leisure. Yet applying them on site eluded us because so much remains unknown about COVID-19. Calls are growing for the authorities ― whose stellar dedicated work has made South Korea a model of quarantine ― to ensure to a certain extent that the guidelines are kept.
It's hard to deny that Korea has been lax since the May 6 easing of social distancing. At this time, we would do well to ask ourselves if there was an over-reliance on our ability to test and wear masks.
COVID-19 seems poised to live with us for a long time. We need to exercise humility before this unprecedented virus, like it or not.
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers

Korean-language dailies -- Yoon Mee-hyang denies suspicions of misusing donations , will not give up parliamentary seat ( Kyunghyang Shinmun @ @ @ @ @ all allegations , will work as lawmaker ( Kookmin Daily ) -- THAAD equipment replaced @ @ @ @ @ 'security threat ' ( Donga llbo ) -- Yoon says 'no , no wrongdoings ' @ @ @ @ @ ( Segye Times ) -- Despite military 's claims it sought China 's understanding prior @ @ @ @ @ China strongly pushes back ( Chosun Ilbo ) -- Yoon says there is some fault @ @ @ @ @ up parliamentary seat ( JoongAng Ilbo ) -- Yoon Mee-hyang denies all suspicions , but @ @ @ @ @ ( Hankyoreh ) -- Yoon says did n't misuse donations , will not give up @ @ @ @ @ ) -- All 58 new virus cases confirmed in Seoul metropolitan area ( Maeil Business @ @ @ @ @ of cooperation emerging from Samsung ( Korea Economic Daily )

SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- The following are the top headlines in major South Korean newspapers on May 30.
Korean-language dailies
-- Yoon Mee-hyang denies suspicions of misusing donations, will not give up parliamentary seat (Kyunghyang Shinmun)
-- Yoon Mee-hyang rejects all allegations, will work as lawmaker (Kookmin Daily)
-- THAAD equipment replaced, China pushes back against 'security threat' (Donga llbo)
-- Yoon says 'no, no wrongdoings' in her denial of suspicions (Segye Times)
-- Despite military's claims it sought China's understanding prior to THAAD equipment replacement, China strongly pushes back (Chosun Ilbo)
-- Yoon says there is some fault, but will not give up parliamentary seat (JoongAng Ilbo)
-- Yoon Mee-hyang denies all suspicions, but falls short of presenting evidence (Hankyoreh)
-- Yoon says didn't misuse donations, will not give up parliamentary seat (Hankook Ilbo)
-- All 58 new virus cases confirmed in Seoul metropolitan area (Maeil Business Newspaper)
-- New era of cooperation emerging from Samsung (Korea Economic Daily)
English-language dailies
-- Activist-turned lawmaker denies allegations against her (Korea Times)
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Saturday's weather forecast

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


yna--2020-05-30--S. Korea's parliament opens new 4-year term amid pandemic crisis

Another thorny issue is the opposition party 's call for the resignation of Yoon Mee-hyang , a ruling party lawmaker @ @ @ @ @ she misused donations for the victims of Japan 's sexual enslavement of Korean women during @ @ @ @

SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's National Assembly kicked off its new four-year term Saturday amid the urgent task of containing the COVID-19 pandemic and curbing its economic fallout.
The ruling Democratic Party dominates the 300-member parliament with 177 seats, while the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) holds 103 seats.
But public calls have grown for the rival parties to cooperate in handling pending issues.
"The 21st National Assembly kicks off with pressing tasks to overcome the national crisis and prepare for the post-corona (situation)," DP Chairman Lee Hae-chan said.
UFP floor leader Joo Ho-young also vowed efforts for a bipartisan approach on the coronavirus crisis.
Among the foremost tasks is handling the government's push for a third round of supplementary budget to help minimize the economic impact from the coronavirus.
The two sides, however, have yet to reach a deal on the chairs of 18 standing committees at the parliament.
Another thorny issue is the opposition party's call for the resignation of Yoon Mee-hyang, a ruling party lawmaker under probe over allegations that she misused donations for the victims of Japan's sexual enslavement of Korean women during World War II.
An image of the National Assembly in Seoul (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--Grieving pitcher trying to find solace on mound

`` I only got on the mound a few times since I came out of quarantine .
My expectations were @ @ @ @ @ he said .
`` Off the bat , the command was there .
I was @ @ @ @ @ pitches .
The first inning could n't have gone any better with three strikeouts .
@ @ @ @ @ happy with it . ''

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- It's not quite a month since Lotte Giants' pitcher Adrian Sampson lost his father, David, to cancer, and the new American right-hander in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) is still struggling to process the tragic loss, despite his claims otherwise.
Speaking to South Korean reporters on Friday for the first time since his father's passing on May 3, the junior Sampson at first said talking about his late father would actually help him move on.
Within moments, though, Sampson was overcome with emotions.
Adrian Sampson of the Lotte Giants pitches against the Samsung Lions in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Sajik Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
"He loved baseball. He loved watching me play," the former major leaguer said, his voice trembling. "It was the way my family connected."
Adrian's brother, Julian, also played professional baseball and spent four years in the Philadelphia Phillies system. Julian, two years older than Adrian, played his last game in independent ball in 2012, the same year that Adrian was drafted in the fifth round by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
David enjoyed watching his two boys in pro ball, and Adrian also described him as "just a good person."
"He worked hard, and he worked his whole life," Sampson said. "And he never complained about anything."
The Giants sent Sampson back home to Seattle so he could be with his ailing father. After his father passed away, Sampson returned to South Korea to rejoin the Giants soon after the funeral. He was in South Korea on May 7.
Sampson didn't give himself much time to grieve the loss with the rest of his family. But knowing that he had to be quarantined for two weeks upon arriving back in South Korea, in accordance with the government mandate here, Sampson decided he might as well return soon and try to put the tragedy behind him.
"I could've stayed there longer. But the longer I stayed home, the longer it'd take for me to get back," Sampson said. "There wasn't much else I could do at home. I could sit there and be sad. But getting back to baseball was what I wanted to do. That was the best treatment for me."
Adrian Sampson of the Lotte Giants pitches against the Samsung Lions in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Sajik Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
After his two weeks were up, Sampson returned to the Giants' rotation for Thursday's game against the Samsung Lions. He was charged with the loss in a 3-1 defeat, after allowing two runs on three hits in 3 1/3 innings. In an abbreviated start, Sampson made 59 pitches.
As Sampson tries to get stretched out for a normal, fuller workload, the process was more important to him than the result.
"I only got on the mound a few times since I came out of quarantine. My expectations were a little low," he said. "Off the bat, the command was there. I was able to locate all three pitches. The first inning couldn't have gone any better with three strikeouts. Overall, I was pretty happy with it."
Sampson, who has 41 big league games to his credit, said he noticed "very good hand-eye coordination" among KBO hitters.
"They don't strike out a whole lot. They put the ball in play with two strikes," Sampson said. "When they want to, they can hit with power."
Sampson said his goal is to keep increasing his workload by 20 pitches until he can start pitching without restriction.
For him, the challenge this spring has been more mental than physical.
Adrian Sampson of the Lotte Giants pitches against the Samsung Lions in a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Sajik Stadium in Busan, 450 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on May 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
"Just coming back from America, the quarantine process was hard," he said. "But it was necessary to quarantine right now. I think Korea is doing a very good job of having this mandatory quarantine. That's why we're able to play baseball right now."
In Sampson's absence, the Giants roared out of the gate by winning their first five games of the season. They have come down to earth, and following a 4-2 loss to the Doosan Bears on Friday, they are 10-11.
Sampson said the Giants have to start playing for each other again.
"We went 5-0 and there was no pressure on one person. Everyone picked each other up," Sampson said. "I think, after that, people started putting more pressure on themselves and not trusting the guy next to them to pick them up. We lost our way a little bit. I think we need to get back to trusting one another and just take pressure off ourselves."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--Object visible at N.K. shipyard linked to new submarine: U.S. monitor

`` Its purpose is unknown , and there are no vehicles or equipment around it , '' the monitor said @ @ @ @ @ reports have indicated South Korean intelligence is looking closely at the shipyard for the possible @ @ @ @ @ missile submarine .

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, May 29 (Yonhap) -- An unidentified object is visible in recent satellite imagery of a North Korean shipyard where construction of a new ballistic missile submarine is under way, a U.S. monitor said Friday.
The linear object is approximately 16 meters long and situated on the quay of the secure boat basin at the Sinpo shipyard on North Korea's east coast, 38 North said, citing May 27 imagery.
"Its purpose is unknown, and there are no vehicles or equipment around it," the monitor said, noting that recent news reports have indicated South Korean intelligence is looking closely at the shipyard for the possible launch of a new ballistic missile submarine.
The report it pointed to was a recent Yonhap News Agency story about the next steps North Korea could take to bolster its nuclear deterrence, a topic discussed during a Central Military Commission meeting presided over by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over the weekend.
The Yonhap story quoted a military source as saying that the new 3,000-ton submarine, capable of carrying three submarine-launched ballistic missiles, appears almost ready to be deployed, with South Korean intelligence authorities watching closely for a launching ceremony.
38 North said "no notable activity" has been observed at the construction and finishing halls or their associated parts yard.
"While the awning at the secure boat basin obscures whether or not a submarine is berthed there, the submersible barge is partially visible," it added.
This photo, released by the Korean Central News Agency on July 23, 2019, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) inspecting a newly built submarine. As is customary, the agency didn't provide the date and location. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--Key N.K. uranium plant continues to be updated: U.S. monitor

`` While it is unclear if the subject came up during the abortive February 27–28 , 2019 Hanoi Summit , @ @ @ @ @ to the second meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un @ @ @ @ @ the Pyongsan Uranium Concentrate Plant should be an essential component to any meaningful future 'complete @ @ @ @ @ ' nuclear agreement between the United States and North Korea . ''

By Lee Haye-ah
WASHINGTON, May 29 (Yonhap) -- A major North Korean uranium plant remains operational and continues to be updated, a U.S. think tank said Friday, citing recent satellite imagery.
The Pyongsan Uranium Concentrate Plant, 45 kilometers from the demilitarized zone dividing the Koreas, is critical because it is the only known source of material used for production of highly enriched uranium for North Korea's nuclear weapons program, the Center for Strategic and International Studies said in a preview of a report to be published next month.
It said that based on activity observed in the March 22 images, the plant is "highly likely to remain active for the foreseeable future."
According to CSIS, the facility has produced uranium concentrate, or yellowcake, since the mid-1990s and holds significance for the North Korean leadership and the country's nuclear weapons program.
That, it said, "is attested to by the fact that scarce human and financial resources have been consistently allocated to actively maintain, refurbish or modernize the plant since 2003, and probably since its construction."
The plant's "production tempo" has varied depending on the needs of the North's nuclear programs, maintenance and modernization work, the operational status of its reactors and gas centrifuge plants, as well as the availability of electricity, but it has "proceeded relatively steadily," according to the think tank.
The report comes as nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea have stalled for over a year due to differences over the scope of North Korea's denuclearization and U.S. concessions, including sanctions relief.
"While it is unclear if the subject came up during the abortive February 27–28, 2019 Hanoi Summit," CSIS said, referring to the second meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, "the dismantlement of the Pyongsan Uranium Concentrate Plant should be an essential component to any meaningful future 'complete, verifiable, irreversible dismantlement' nuclear agreement between the United States and North Korea."
hague@yna.co.kr
(END)


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yna--2020-05-29--(5th LD) S. Korea struggling to contain cluster-traced virus spread in greater Seoul area

SEOUL , May 29 ( Yonhap ) -- South Korea reported more than 50 new virus cases for the second @ @ @ @ @ in the Seoul metropolitan area due to logistics center-tied cluster infections , putting renewed strain @ @ @ @ @ further spread in the densely populated region .

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout)
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported more than 50 new virus cases for the second consecutive day Friday, all in the Seoul metropolitan area due to logistics center-tied cluster infections, putting renewed strain on health authorities to contain further spread in the densely populated region.
South Korea reported 58 more additional COVID-19 cases, raising the total caseload to 11,402, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Of them, 55 were local infections.
Friday's tally marks a drop from the nearly two-month high of 79 the previous day.
All new infections were reported in Seoul and the surrounding area, home to half of the country's population of more than 50 million, putting health authorities on edge.
A distribution facility run by e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, has emerged as a new cluster infection here as health authorities have been grappling with mass infections tied to nightclubs and bars in Seoul's nightlife neighborhood this month.
This photo, taken May 27, 2020, shows a statement about the suspension of operations at a logistics center run by e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon, west of Seoul, over the new coronavirus outbreak. (Yonhap)
As of noon, 102 cases have been traced to the distribution center since the first patient was confirmed last week, according to the KCDC.
The logistics center cluster has brought to the fore the vulnerability of workplaces where many people work in a close environment without strictly complying with quarantine measures.
Coupang and Market Kurly, an online grocery delivery platform, also reported virus infections at their logistics centers in Goyang, north of Seoul and in eastern Seoul, respectively.
So far, South Korea has carried out tests on more than 1,000 workers of the Goyang warehouse. No further confirmed cases have been reported yet.
The KCDC said if the logistics facility-linked outbreaks are not contained at an early stage, it could lead to mass infections in Seoul and its adjacent areas.
According to health authorities, virus cases in the greater Seoul area accounted for 88.4 percent of the 181 local infections reported over the past seven days.
"The next two weeks will be a critical juncture in gauging whether the virus outbreak will spread through the metropolitan area," Vice Health Minister Kim Ganglip said in a briefing.
Health authorities are conducting virus tests on 4,351 people, including some 3,600 workers, in connection with the facility in Bucheon.
The government plans to conduct emergency inspections of 32 logistics centers run by three major online commerce operators until Monday. It checked the three facilities the previous day where the virus outbreak occurred.
Medical workers prepare to conduct new coronavirus tests on citizens at a temporary clinic in the Seosomun history park in Seoul's central Jung Ward on May 29, 2020. (Yonhap)
A series of mass infections have jeopardized health authorities' drive over the past few weeks to bring the virus outbreak under control, with another cluster tied to nightclubs and bars in the capital city's Itaewon district.
The total caseload linked to Itaewon clubs and bars had reached 266 as of noon, according to the KCDC.
The resurgence in new virus cases also put South Korea's "everyday life quarantine" in peril, as the outbreak of more than 50 new daily cases poses a threat to health authorities' plan to stick to the scheme.
After 45 days of stricter social distancing, the country switched to the scheme on May 6 to enable citizens to carry out social and economic activities under quarantine rules amid a slowdown in virus infections.
But the country opted to impose a tighter social distancing campaign in the capital and densely populated metropolitan area over the next two weeks through June 14, instead of going back to strict social distancing.
Health authorities called on citizens to comply with strict hygiene measures and refrain from having mass gatherings, including religious events, this weekend.
Despite concerns over further community spread, the education ministry also said it will proceed with the phased school reopening as planned.
South Korea has reopened schools, starting with classes for high school seniors on May 20 after monthslong closures due to the virus.
Health authorities remain vigilant over possible group transmissions among school students. Hundreds of schools have already postponed in-person classes due to such concerns.
Later in the day, a high school student tested positive in the southern city of Busan, although it was not included in the official tally.
The country, meanwhile, added three imported cases and reported no additional deaths, with the total death toll staying at 269. The fatality rate was 2.36 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,363, up 23 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 885,120 tests since Jan. 3.
This photo, taken May 29, 2020, shows a statement about the temporary suspension of the operation of the War Memorial of Korea in central Seoul, as the government has beefed up quarantine measures against the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
sooyeon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--(LEAD) Ex-Samsung worker ends one-year protest atop 25-meter tower

Kim Yong-hee , a former employee of the now-defunct Samsung Techwin Co. , has been involved in a dispute with @ @ @ @ @ fired in 1995 .
He claimed he was illegally expelled for his activity to organize @ @ @ @ @ had been virtually banned by the family-controlled conglomerate until recently .

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 1-8; CHANGES photo)
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- A fired worker of Samsung Group ended his nearly one-year protest atop a 25-meter tower in southern Seoul on Friday, after South Korea's largest conglomerate apologized and promised to resolve what he claims to be his unlawful dismissal.
Kim Yong-hee, a former employee of the now-defunct Samsung Techwin Co., has been involved in a dispute with the group since he was fired in 1995. He claimed he was illegally expelled for his activity to organize a labor union, which had been virtually banned by the family-controlled conglomerate until recently.
After 24 years of struggle demanding Samsung's apology and his reinstatement, he climbed up a traffic surveillance tower on June 10, 2019, and continued a sit-in for 355 days.
Samsung Techwin, a defense equipment maker, was sold to Hanwha Group in 2015.
"The agreement was reached yesterday afternoon after a monthlong negotiation with Samsung from April 29," Im Mi-ri, a professor who co-heads a group supporting Kim, told reporters after he came down from the tower near Gangnam Station in Seoul.
"Mr. Kim's honor was restored as Samsung apologized for failing to resolve his midair sit-in early," she added.
In a statement read by Im, Samsung acknowledged that it had failed to adequately put forth efforts to actively resolve Kim's pain stemming from the conflict with the company since his dismissal.
"I have endured the time on top of the tower thinking of the people who have joined hands and visited Gangnam Station to show support," Kim told reporters.
"I have nothing to wish any more if Samsung establishes a new relationship between the management and its workers through my protest," the 61-year-old activist added.
Kim Yong-hee, a fired Samsung worker, comes down from a 25-meter traffic camera tower in southern Seoul on May 29, 2020, after he ended a 355-day sit-in protest there against what he claims is unlawful dismissal over his labor union activity in 1995. (Yonhap)
Earlier this month, Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong made a rare public apology over various controversies over the management of the conglomerate and vowed to scrap the group's "no labor union" policy. The group later made an apology for failing to promptly settle the dispute with Kim.
Samsung's actions came after the group's independent compliance committee urged Lee to make a public apology and improve Samsung's behavior regarding the issue of Lee's managerial succession, labor union relations and communication with civil society.
The belated apology also came as Lee faces an investigation into a controversial merger between two Samsung units, Samsung C&T Corp. and Cheil Industries Inc., in 2015.
Lee was summoned by the prosecution Friday for the second time this week in the investigation. Prosecutors suspect Samsung's top management was involved in efforts to facilitate Lee's managerial succession from his ailing father, Lee Kun-hee, and may have intentionally lowered the value of Samsung C&T prior to its merger with Cheil Industries to help benefit Lee Jae-yong.
He also faces a new trial in a bribery case in connection with a scandal that led to the ousting of former President Park Geun-hye.
He was initially sentenced to five years in prison in 2017 but was freed a year later after the Seoul High Court reduced the sentence to 2 1/2 years, suspended for four years, dismissing most of the bribery charges against him. The Supreme Court last year sent the case back to the Seoul High Court for a retrial.
Kim Yong-hee (C), a fired Samsung worker, speaks to supporters after coming down from a 25-meter traffic camera tower in southern Seoul on May 29, 2020, ending a 355-day sit-in protest there against what he claims is unlawful dismissal over his labor union activity in 1995. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-29--(LEAD) Doosan Bears beat Lotte Giants to avoid back-to-back losses

Doosan starter Raul Alcantara scattered nine hits across six innings for his team-high fourth win of the season , while @ @ @ @ @ hitters , Heo Kyoung-min and Park Kun-woo , combined to drive in three of the @ @ @ @ @ Jamsil Stadium in Seoul .

(ATTN: ADDS comments, details)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- The Doosan Bears defeated the Lotte Giants 4-2 on Friday to avoid losing consecutive games for the first time in the current Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season.
Doosan starter Raul Alcantara scattered nine hits across six innings for his team-high fourth win of the season, while the team's bottom two hitters, Heo Kyoung-min and Park Kun-woo, combined to drive in three of the team's four runs at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul.
This file photo from May 27, 2020, shows members of the Doosan Bears after a Korea Baseball Organization regular season game at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
The Bears were coming off a 6-1 loss to the SK Wyverns from Thursday. They improved to 13-8 and have not yet lost back-to-back games this season.
The Giants, who opened the season 5-0, dropped to 10-11.
The Bears opened the scoring with two runs in the bottom third. Heo led off the inning with a single and stole second, before coming home on Park's double.
Two batters later, Jose Miguel Fernandez cashed in Park with a single to right for a 2-0 lead.
The Giants cut the deficit in half in the top fourth thanks to Son Ah-seop's two-out, RBI single.
But the Bears regained their two-run lead in the bottom fourth, as Park hit a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded.
The Giants tried to make the game more interesting in the top sixth, with two straight singles putting men at the corners with nobody out for Dixon Machado, the team leader with 15 RBIs.
Machado picked up another RBI, though it came on a fielder's choice grounder to shortstop. The next batter, Min Byung-hun, hit into an inning-ending, 6-4-3 double play to take the wind out of the Giants' sails.
Heo's solo home run off reliever Oh Hyoun-taek to open the bottom seventh gave the Bears more breathing room at 4-2.
The Giants outhit the Bears 10-5 in the loss, a microcosm of their season-long inability to hit with runners aboard.
Heo and Park, batting eighth and ninth, went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored combined.
Heo said that when he was ahead in the count at 1-0 against Oh, he correctly guessed the right-hander would come back with a slider, his best pitch.
"I was sitting on that pitch and it worked in my favor," Heo said. "This is my lucky day."
Neither starter looked particularly sharp. Alcantara allowed a hit in each of his six innings and also issued three walks, but the Giants failed to capitalize on their chances.
After Alcantara, three Doosan relievers gave up just one hit over three shutout innings, with left-hander Ham Deok-ju recording his fourth save.
Doosan manager Kim Tae-hyoung said Alcantara more than did his job by holding his ground despite traffic on the base paths, and he was encouraged by the strong performance of his much-maligned bullpen.
The Bears' relief corps entered Friday's game with a KBO-worst 8.32 ERA.
Lotte starter Noh Kyung-eun took the loss after giving up three runs on four hits and three walks in six innings.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--(5th LD) S. Korea's daily COVID-19 tally drops below 40 amid push to contain logistics center cluste

(5th LD) S. Korea's daily COVID-19 tally drops below 40 amid push to contain logistics center cluster infection

`` We are conducting tests on and putting into self-quarantine all the employees who have worked at the logistics center @ @ @ @ @ Kwon said , adding that the number of infections may go up when considering that @ @ @ @ @ and that the incubation period of the coronavirus is 14 days .

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 13, 18, photos)
SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily number of new coronavirus cases dropped below 40 Saturday, amid a stepped-up push to contain cluster infections traced to a distribution center just west of Seoul and fend off a potential virus resurgence.
The country logged 39 additional COVID-19 cases, down 19 from the previous day, bringing the total caseload to 11,441, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The latest tally marked a drop from the nearly two-month high of 79 on Thursday. But the authorities remained on high alert amid concerns recent bouts of infections could hamper efforts to return to normal after months of the grueling fight against the pandemic that has disrupted daily life and dented economic growth.
A mask-wearing visitor attends a ceremony marking Buddha's Birthday at a temple on the southern resort island of Jeju on May 30, 2020. (Yonhap)
In a renewed plea for public cooperation, KCDC Deputy Director Kwon Joon-wook said that the next two weeks will be a "crucial juncture" in flattening the infection curve.
"We need to take greater caution, particularly in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area," he told a regular press briefing.
"When the scale of COVID-19 infections grows, the virus could infiltrate medical, welfare and religious facilities where there are many vulnerable classes of people," he added.
He also said that there could "inevitably" be long-term restrictions imposed on operations of facilities that have not properly practiced everyday social distancing.
The slowdown in new infections appears to be attributable to the health and quarantine officials' aggressive campaign to stop the spread of infections from a distribution center of e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon.
The facility has emerged as a focus of the country's containment campaign following mass infections traced to clubs and bars in the nightlife district of Itaewon in central Seoul.
As of 11 a.m. Saturday, the number of virus cases traced to the Coupang center was 108, an increase of six from a day earlier, the KCDC said, urging citizens to avoid large crowds and outdoor activities over the weekend.
All of the 108 cases were confirmed in Seoul and its surrounding areas. Of them, 73 patients are employees of the center with the remainder being people that came into close contact with them.
The number of infections linked to Itaewon clubs reached 269 as of noon Saturday, up three from the previous day, according to the KCDC.
"We are conducting tests on and putting into self-quarantine all the employees who have worked at the logistics center since May 12," Kwon said, adding that the number of infections may go up when considering that tests are still under way and that the incubation period of the coronavirus is 14 days.
The cases from the logistics center have laid bare the vulnerabilities of enclosed workplaces, particularly those where social distancing protocols are loosely applied due to heavy workloads.
Health workers disinfect a classroom at a high school in the southeastern port city of Busan on May 30, 2020, after a senior at the school tested positive for the new coronavirus earlier this week. (Yonhap)
The drop in new cases in Saturday's tally was a relief for the quarantine authorities fretful over the possible new wave of infections.
Late last week, the daily number of new cases hovered a little over 20 and then dropped below 20 early this week. But the figure shot up to 40 on Wednesday and to 79 the following day, with Friday's tally standing at 58.
Despite the slowdown, the health authorities remain wary of additional transmission, as a high-school third grader in the southeastern city of Busan was confirmed to have contracted the virus on Friday, the first case since schools recently started phased reopenings.
Authorities have yet to identify the high school senior's infection route, with screening tests of 125 people who were found to have contacted the student under way.
The KCDC said that 27 of Saturday's new cases were confirmed in Seoul and its surrounding areas, while the southern cities of Daegu and Gwangju reported two new cases each. Busan, South Jeolla Province and Gwangwon Province added one case apiece.
The country, meanwhile, added 12 imported cases and reported no additional deaths, with the total death toll staying at 269.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,398, up 35 from the previous day.
In related news, the defense ministry said that one of the 12 COVID-19 patients in the military, whose infections are linked to the Itaewon district, fully recovered from the infectious disease in the first such recovery case related to the cluster infection.
A student walks into a coronavirus testing center in the southeastern port city of Busan on May 30, 2020. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--Seoul temperature peaks at yearly high

Seoul temperature peaks at yearly high

The average temperature in Seoul touched 29.9 C as of 4 p.m. , compared with the previous yearly high of @ @ @ @ @ according to the Korea Meteorological Administration ( KMA ) .
This is more than 4 @ @ @ @ @ average of 25.3 C on May 30 .

SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- The temperature in Seoul hit a record high for this year on Saturday, with the mercury topping 30 C in some parts of the capital and surrounding areas.
The average temperature in Seoul touched 29.9 C as of 4 p.m., compared with the previous yearly high of 27.6 C on Friday, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). This is more than 4 C higher than the 30-year average of 25.3 C on May 30.
The temperature was especially high in some parts of the metropolitan area, such as 32.1 C in the southern Seoul neighborhood of Sadang and 31.9 C in Goyang, northwest of the capital.
"Clear weather was seen in the central region due to the influence of a migratory anticyclone in the East Sea ... the temperature rose to 30 C as heat accumulated due to hot sunlight," a KMA official said.
Other areas outside of Seoul also recorded their highest temperatures of the year. The temperature in Yeongwol, 204 kilometers east of Seoul, reached 30.2 C, while the temperature in Suwon, south of Seoul, touched 29.7 C.
But the weather in the southern region stayed relatively cool, with the temperature in the southwestern city of Gwangju reaching 26.1 C and the southeastern port city of Busan at 22 C.
The weather agency forecast daytime temperatures to peak at over 30 C next week.
"There are likely to be many places in the southern inland area where the temperature will exceed 30 C. Some inland areas in North Gyeongsang Province are forecast to be very hot, with the mercury reaching around 32 C," the KMA said.
People sit in the shade by a stream in central Seoul on May 30, 2020. (Yonhap)
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--2 USFK soldiers test positive for coronavirus; total infections at 30

The service members arrived here on Wednesday on a U.S. government-arranged charter flight and were in mandatory quarantine at Camp @ @ @ @ @ 70 kilometers south of Seoul , according to USFK .

SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- Two American soldiers newly assigned to South Korea have tested positive for the coronavirus, United States Forces Korea (USFK) said Saturday, bringing the total number of infections among its population to 30.
The service members arrived here on Wednesday on a U.S. government-arranged charter flight and were in mandatory quarantine at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, according to USFK.
After testing positive, the soldiers were moved to other places inside the base reserved for COVID-19 patients for treatment, it added.
All USFK-affiliated individuals arriving in South Korea from overseas should be tested for the coronavirus and then quarantined for 14 days.
"USFK health professionals determined there was limited contact tracing due to the soldiers being immediately quarantined and conducted thorough cleaning of the plane, bus and their quarantine rooms," USFK said in a release.
A military guard at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, checks the temperature of a driver to screen entrants to the compound for the novel coronavirus on Feb. 28, 2020, in this photo provided by United States Forces Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
graceoh@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--(4th LD) S. Korea's daily COVID-19 tally drops below 40 amid push to contain logistics center cluste

(4th LD) S. Korea's daily COVID-19 tally drops below 40 amid push to contain logistics center cluster infection

The latest tally marked a drop from the nearly two-month high of 79 on Thursday .
But the authorities remained @ @ @ @ @ recent bouts of infections could hamper efforts to return to normal after months of the @ @ @ @ @ that has disrupted daily life and dented economic growth .

(ATTN: RECASTS paras 2-3; ADDS more info in paras 4-6; RESTRUCTURES)
SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily number of new coronavirus cases dropped below 40 Saturday, amid a stepped-up push to contain cluster infections traced to a distribution center just west of Seoul and fend off a potential virus resurgence.
The country logged 39 additional COVID-19 cases, down 19 from the previous day, bringing the total caseload to 11,441, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The latest tally marked a drop from the nearly two-month high of 79 on Thursday. But the authorities remained on high alert amid concerns recent bouts of infections could hamper efforts to return to normal after months of the grueling fight against the pandemic that has disrupted daily life and dented economic growth.
In a renewed plea for public cooperation, KCDC Deputy Director Kwon Joon-wook said that the next two weeks will be a "crucial juncture" in flattening the infection curve.
"We need to take greater caution, particularly in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area," he told a regular press briefing.
"When the scale of COVID-19 infections grows, the virus could infiltrate medical, welfare and religious facilities where there are many vulnerable classes of people," he added.
He also said that there could "inevitably" be long-term restrictions imposed on operations of facilities that have not properly practiced everyday social distancing.
The slowdown in new infections appears to be attributable to the health and quarantine officials' aggressive campaign to stop the spread of infections from a distribution center of e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon.
The facility has emerged as a focus of the country's containment campaign following mass infections traced to clubs and bars in the nightlife district of Itaewon in central Seoul.
As of 11 a.m. Saturday, the number of virus cases traced to the Coupang center was 108, an increase of six from a day earlier, the KCDC said, urging citizens to avoid large crowds and outdoor activities over the weekend.
All of the 108 cases were confirmed in Seoul and its surrounding areas. Of them, 73 patients are employees of the center with the remainder being people that came into close contact with them.
The number of infections linked to Itaewon clubs reached 269 as of noon Saturday, up three from the previous day, according to the KCDC.
"We are conducting tests on and putting into self-quarantine all the employees who have worked at the logistics center since May 12," Kwon said.
The cases from the logistics center have laid bare the vulnerabilities of enclosed workplaces, particularly those where social distancing protocols are loosely applied due to heavy workloads.
The drop in new cases in Saturday's tally was a relief for the quarantine authorities fretful over the possible new wave of infections.
Late last week, the daily number of new cases hovered a little over 20 and then dropped below 20 early this week. But the figure shot up to 40 on Wednesday and to 79 the following day, with Friday's tally standing at 58.
Despite the slowdown, the health authorities remain wary of additional transmission, as a high-school third grader in the southeastern city of Busan was confirmed to have contracted the virus on Friday, the first case since schools recently started phased reopenings.
The KCDC said that 27 of Saturday's new cases were confirmed in Seoul and its surrounding areas, while the southern cities of Daegu and Gwangju reported two new cases each. Busan, South Jeolla Province and Gwangwon Province added one case apiece.
The country, meanwhile, added 12 imported cases and reported no additional deaths, with the total death toll staying at 269.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,398, up 35 from the previous day.
In related news, the defense ministry said that one of the 12 COVID-19 patients in the military, whose infections are linked to the Itaewon district, fully recovered from the infectious disease in the first such recovery case related to the cluster infection.
A student walks into a coronavirus testing center in the southeastern port city of Busan on May 30, 2020. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--(3rd LD) S. Korea's daily COVID-19 tally drops below 40 amid push to contain logistics center cluste

(3rd LD) S. Korea's daily COVID-19 tally drops below 40 amid push to contain logistics center cluster infection

The latest tally was down from the nearly two-month high of 79 on Thursday .
But the authorities remained on @ @ @ @ @ bouts of infections could hamper efforts to return to normal after months of the grueling @ @ @ @ @ has disrupted daily life and dented economic growth .

(ATTN: UPDATES in paras 6-10; CHANGES photo; TRIMS)
SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily number of new coronavirus cases dropped below 40 Saturday, amid a stepped-up push to contain cluster infections traced to a distribution center just west of Seoul and fend off a potential virus resurgence.
The country logged 39 additional COVID-19 cases, including 27 local cases, bringing the total caseload to 11,441, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The latest tally was down from the nearly two-month high of 79 on Thursday. But the authorities remained on high alert amid concerns recent bouts of infections could hamper efforts to return to normal after months of the grueling fight against the pandemic that has disrupted daily life and dented economic growth.
The slowdown appears to be attributable to the health and quarantine officials' aggressive campaign to stop the spread of infections from a distribution center of e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon.
The facility has emerged as a focus of the country's containment campaign following mass infections traced to clubs and bars in the nightlife district of Itaewon in central Seoul.
As of 11 a.m. Saturday, the number of virus cases traced to the Coupang center was 108, an increase of six from a day earlier, the KCDC said, urging citizens to avoid large crowds and outdoor activities over the weekend.
All of the 108 cases were confirmed in Seoul and its surrounding areas. Of them, 73 patients are employees of the center with the remainder being people that came into close contact with them.
The number of infections linked to Itaewon clubs reached 269 as of noon Saturday, up three from the previous day, according to the KCDC.
"We are conducting tests on and putting into self-quarantine all the employees who have worked at the logistics center since May 12," KCDC Deputy Director Kwon Joon-wook told a press briefing.
Voicing concerns over sporadic virus cases, Kwon said that there could "inevitably" be long-term restrictions imposed on operations of facilities that have not properly practiced everyday social distancing.
The cases from the logistics center have laid bare the vulnerabilities of enclosed workplaces, particularly those where social distancing protocols are loosely applied due to heavy workloads.
The drop in new cases in Saturday's tally was a relief for the quarantine authorities fretful over the possible new wave of infections.
Late last week, the daily number of new cases hovered a little over 20 and then dropped below 20 early this week. But the figure shot up to 40 on Wednesday and to 79 the following day, with Friday's tally standing at 58.
Despite the slowdown, the health authorities remain wary of additional transmission, as a high-school third grader in the southeastern city of Busan was confirmed to have contracted the virus on Friday, the first case since schools recently started phased reopenings.
The KCDC said that 27 of Saturday's new cases were confirmed in Seoul and its surrounding areas, while the southern cities of Daegu and Gwangju reported two new cases each. Busan, South Jeolla Province and Gwangwon Province added one case apiece.
The country, meanwhile, added 12 imported cases and reported no additional deaths, with the total death toll staying at 269.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,398, up 35 from the previous day.
In related news, the defense ministry said that one of the 12 COVID-19 patients in the military, whose infections are linked to the Itaewon district, fully recovered from the infectious disease in the first such recovery case related to the cluster infection.
A student walks into a coronavirus testing center in the southeastern port city of Busan on May 30, 2020. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--S. Koreans mark Buddha's birthday after monthlong delay due to COVID-19

`` The world where the minds of mercy will bloom will open after you share with others the Buddhist merit @ @ @ @ @ built through prayers , '' Moon said .

SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- South Koreans celebrated the Buddha's birthday Saturday after a one-month delay caused by the new coronavirus outbreaks, with many praying for the Buddha's wisdom to help weather the pandemic.
Congregants held celebrations at more than 20,000 temples across the nation to mark the Buddha's 2,564th birthday after a monthlong session to pray for the world to quickly emerge from the COVID-19 scourge.
At the Jogye Temple, the headquarters of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism in central Seoul, some 1,000 people gathered, including religious leaders and top officials from the government, presidential office Cheong Wa Dae and political parties.
Among the participants were Culture Minister Park Yang-woo, Kim Geo-sung, senior presidential secretary for social affairs and Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, and Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the main opposition United Future Party.
In a congratulatory message read out by the culture minister, President Moon Jae-in pointed out that the celebrations followed a one-month prayer session to overcome the COVID-19 crisis and recover from it.
"The world where the minds of mercy will bloom will open after you share with others the Buddhist merit and virtue that you have built through prayers," Moon said.
Ven. Wonhaeng, senior official of the Jogye Order, expressed his appreciation to frontline health care workers, the government and citizens for their support in paving the way for the celebrations.
"The Buddha's birthday ceremony is something that the entire nation has made possible. I thank all citizens," he said. "I wish citizens and worshipers the Buddha's mercy all the time."
Ven. Wonhaeng, senior official of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, speaks during a ceremony marking the Buddha's birthday at the Jogye Temple in central Seoul on May 30, 2020. (Yonhap)
The number of participants at the ceremony in the Jogye Temple was much lower than 15,000 recorded last year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Temple officials put in place strict anti-virus measures, such as fever checks and hand sanitization. But congregants were seen sanding close to each other, raising concerns about viral transmission among the crowds.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--Today in Korean history

Today in Korean history

2004 -- Kim Sun-il , who worked for Cana General Trading Corp. , a South Korean supplier for the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ presumed to have been kidnapped by Muslim militants in the Middle East country .
He @ @ @ @ @ militants , who demanded that South Korea reverse its troop dispatch plan .

May 31
1886 -- Ewha Womans University is established in Seoul on the initiative of Mary Scranton, an American missionary from the Methodist Episcopal Church. The school's name, Ehwa, was bestowed by Korean Emperor Gojong.
1895 -- Emperor Gojong issues an order to use the Korean language for official documents, which were previously written only in Chinese.
1948 -- The National Assembly of southern Korea, established earlier that year separately from northern Korea, appoints Rhee Syng-man as its first speaker. Rhee became South Korea's first president in July that year.
1996 -- The world's football governing body, FIFA, names South Korea and Japan co-hosts of the 2002 World Cup.
1998 -- North Korea and the United States hold a goodwill basketball game in Pyongyang.
2002 -- The 2002 World Cup kicks off as South Korea and Japan co-host the quadrennial tournament.
2004 -- Kim Sun-il, who worked for Cana General Trading Corp., a South Korean supplier for the U.S. military in Iraq, is presumed to have been kidnapped by Muslim militants in the Middle East country. He was later killed by the militants, who demanded that South Korea reverse its troop dispatch plan.
2014 -- South Korea records its highest voter turnout for advance voting, with more than 4.74 million South Koreans going to polling stations across the country to participate in the two-day advance voting period for the June 4 local elections.
2016 -- North Korea launches a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile from its eastern coastal town of Wonsan, but the launch ended in failure.
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--N.K. newspaper belatedly reports on death of Army general

The Rodong Sinmun , the daily of the North 's ruling Workers ' Party , reported that Ri Song-guk , @ @ @ @ @ in charge of defending the areas near the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea @ @ @ @ @ , died in October 2018 .
He was 52 .

SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- A North Korean newspaper carried a report Saturday on the 2018 death of a senior military officer who led an Army corps linked to the deadly artillery shelling of a South Korean border island a decade ago.
The Rodong Sinmun, the daily of the North's ruling Workers' Party, reported that Ri Song-guk, who led the 4th Corps in charge of defending the areas near the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea, the inter-Korean maritime boundary, died in October 2018. He was 52.
Ri, who took command of the corps in early 2013, had received treatment at a hospital in Pyongyang and another overseas after having caught an incurable disease in 2018, according to the newspaper.
The Army unit that mounted an artillery attack against the South's border island of Yeonpyeong in November 2010, killing four South Koreans, including two civilians, falls under the command of the North's 4th Corps.
But during Ri's stint at the helm of the corps, there were not major provocations.
Ri is known to be a close aide to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as he was seen accompanying Kim during the leader's field inspections of major military installations, including those in the western border areas, from 2015 through 2017.
Ri rose to three star rank in April 2017.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L), accompanied by Ri Song-guk (R), then a chief of the 4th Corps, inspects a frontline artillery unit in November 2016 in this photo captured from the North's Korean Central Television. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--(2nd LD) S. Korea's daily COVID-19 tally drops below 40 amid push to contain logistics center cluste

(2nd LD) S. Korea's daily COVID-19 tally drops below 40 amid push to contain logistics center cluster infection

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 8-10, 14)
SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily number of new coronavirus cases dropped below 40 Saturday, amid a stepped-up push to contain cluster infections traced to a distribution center just west of Seoul and fend off a potential virus resurgence.
The country logged 39 additional COVID-19 cases, including 27 local cases, bringing the total caseload to 11,441, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The latest tally was down from the nearly two-month high of 79 on Thursday. But the authorities remained on high alert amid concerns recent bouts of infections could hamper efforts to return to normal after months of the grueling fight against the pandemic that has disrupted daily life and dented economic growth.
The slowdown appears to be attributable to the health and quarantine officials' aggressive campaign to stop the spread of infections from a distribution center of e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon.
The facility has emerged as a focus of the country's containment campaign following mass infections traced to clubs and bars in the nightlife district of Itaewon in central Seoul.
As of noon Friday, 102 virus cases were linked to the Coupang center, with the first infection there confirmed last week, the KCDC has said, urging citizens to avoid large crowds and outdoor activities over the weekend.
The cases from the logistics center have laid bare the vulnerabilities of enclosed workplaces, particularly those where social distancing protocols are loosely applied due to heavy workloads.
Alarmed by the spike in virus cases earlier this week, health authorities opted to impose a tighter social distancing campaign in the densely populated metropolitan area -- Seoul and the surrounding areas -- over the next two weeks through June 14.
The drop in new cases in Saturday's tally was a relief for the quarantine authorities fretful over the possible new wave of infections.
Late last week, the daily number of new cases hovered a little over 20 and then dropped below 20 early this week. But the figure shot up to 40 on Wednesday and to 79 the following day, with Friday's tally standing at 58.
The KCDC said that 27 of Saturday's new cases were confirmed in Seoul and its surrounding areas, while the southern cities of Daegu and Gwangju reported two new cases each. Busan, South Jeolla Province and Gwangwon Province added one case apiece.
The country, meanwhile, added 12 imported cases and reported no additional deaths, with the total death toll staying at 269.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,398, up 35 from the previous day.
In related news, the defense ministry said that one of the 12 COVID-19 patients in the military, whose infections are linked to the Itaewon district, fully recovered from the infectious disease in the first such recovery case related to the cluster infection.
This photo, taken on May 29, 2020, shows medical workers collecting samples from people for new coronavirus tests at a temporary clinic in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--KBO's Kiwoom Heroes release struggling Taylor Motter

Motter also stirred controversy on social media .
His wife traveled to South Korea earlier this month to join him @ @ @ @ @ 14-day quarantine at a government facility .
She tweeted a lengthy complaint about food , @ @ @ @ @ while calling on help from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul .
Motter later deleted the @ @ @ @ @ Heroes and fans for causing trouble .

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean baseball club Kiwoom Heroes announced Saturday they've decided to part ways with their slumping American player Taylor Motter.
The Heroes said they've asked the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) to place Motter on waivers. Once Motter is put on the waiver wire by the league -- a mere formality after the Heroes made their request -- he can be picked up by another club within the next seven days. Whichever clubs acquires Motter must pay the Heroes 3 million won (US$2,435).
If Motter clears waivers, meaning if he doesn't get selected by any other team, he then becomes a free agent. But in that case, Motter won't be eligible to play in the KBO during the same season.
In this file photo from April 17, 2020, Taylor Motter of the Kiwoom Heroes takes a break during practice at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. (Yonhap)
Motter signed with the Heroes last December on a US$350,000 deal, the cheapest contract among all 30 foreign players in the KBO. The former big leaguer stumbled out of the gate, batting just 3-for-27 in his first eight games before getting demoted to the minors.
In two games since his return to the KBO, Motter went 1-for-8 with three strikeouts, as the Heroes' patience ran out.
He leaves with a .114/.135/.200 line with 10 strikeouts in 37 plate appearances.
Though Motter was mostly viewed as a defensive-minded acquisition -- he can play all infield positions and appeared at first base, third base and right field for the Heroes during the regular season -- the club could certainly have used more offensive production from him.
Through Friday's action, the Heroes were in fourth place among 10 clubs at 11-11, with a league-average offense.
Motter also stirred controversy on social media. His wife traveled to South Korea earlier this month to join him and was ordered into mandatory 14-day quarantine at a government facility. She tweeted a lengthy complaint about food, and Motter retweeted the message while calling on help from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. Motter later deleted the message and apologized to the Heroes and fans for causing trouble.
The Heroes acknowledged it'll be difficult to scout a new foreign player during the coronavirus pandemic, especially with the major and minor leagues in the United States on hold, and added they'll use their own data and international networks to find Motter's replacement.
In this file photo from April 29, 2020, Kiwoom Heroes' second baseman Taylor Motter makes a throw to first base during a Korea Baseball Organization preseason game against the Doosan Bears at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--Seoul stocks to move in tight range amid escalating U.S.-China tensions

The KOSPI extended gains on Tuesday , closing above the psychologically significant 2,000-point mark for the first time since March @ @ @ @ @ on the renewed Sino-American trade dispute .

SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korean shares are expected to move in a tight range next week amid escalating U.S.-China tensions, analysts said Saturday.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) closed at 2,029.60 points on Friday, up 3 percent from a week ago.
The index closed higher Monday on hopes for an extra stimulus measure and earlier-than-expected development of a coronavirus vaccine.
The KOSPI extended gains on Tuesday, closing above the psychologically significant 2,000-point mark for the first time since March 6, before sliding again on the renewed Sino-American trade dispute.
Dealers at Hana Bank in central Seoul watch monitors on May 29, 2020. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 1.06 points, or 0.05 percent, to finish at 2,029.60. (Yonhap)
The two world powers are also haggling over Beijing's passing of a new national security law that is expected to severely undermine the civil liberties of Hong Kong citizens.
The stock index will continue to rest heavily on the development of Sino-American frictions next week, analysts said.
NH Investment & Securities analyst Noh Dong-kil said expectations for economic recovery and additional global stimulus are positive factors for the index.
"But the escalating Sino-American tensions may continue to dent investor sentiment," Noh said.
Hana Financial Investment analyst Kim Yong-koo said despite heavy valuation pressures, the local stock market may move in positive terrain with rollbacks of major economies' lockdowns.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-05-30--(LEAD) S. Korea's daily COVID-19 tally drops below 40 amid push to contain logistics center cluster

(LEAD) S. Korea's daily COVID-19 tally drops below 40 amid push to contain logistics center cluster infection

(ATTN: CHANGES headline, lead; UPDATES throughout)
SEOUL, May 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily number of new coronavirus cases dropped below 40 Saturday, amid a stepped-up push to contain cluster infections traced to a distribution center just west of Seoul and fend off a potential virus resurgence.
The country logged 39 additional COVID-19 cases, including 27 local cases, bringing the total caseload to 11,441, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The latest tally was down from the nearly two-month high of 79 on Thursday. But the authorities remained on high alert amid concerns recent bouts of infections could hamper efforts to return to normal after months of the grueling fight against the pandemic that has disrupted daily life and dented economic growth.
The slowdown appears to be attributable to the health and quarantine officials' aggressive campaign to stop the spread of infections from a distribution center of e-commerce leader Coupang in Bucheon.
The facility has emerged as a focus of the country's containment campaign following mass infections traced to clubs and bars in the nightlife district of Itaewon in central Seoul.
As of noon Friday, 102 virus cases were linked to the Coupang center, with the first infection there confirmed last week, the KCDC has said, urging citizens to avoid large crowds and outdoor activities over the weekend.
The cases from the logistics center have laid bare the vulnerabilities of enclosed workplaces, particularly those where social distancing protocols are loosely applied due to heavy workloads.
Alarmed by the spike in virus cases, health authorities opted to impose a tighter social distancing campaign in the densely populated metropolitan area -- Seoul and the surrounding areas -- over the next two weeks through June 14.
The KCDC said that 27 of Saturday's new cases were confirmed in Seoul and its surrounding areas, while the southern cities of Daegu and Gwangju reported two new cases each. Busan, South Jeolla Province and Gwangwon Province added one case apiece.
The country, meanwhile, added 12 imported cases and reported no additional deaths, with the total death toll staying at 269.
The total number of people released from quarantine after full recoveries stood at 10,398, up 35 from the previous day.
This photo, taken on May 29, 2020, shows medical workers collecting samples from people for new coronavirus tests at a temporary clinic in central Seoul. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)