yna--2020-09-27--(LEAD) 407 people injected with mishandled flu vaccines: authorities

SEOUL , Sept. 27 ( Yonhap ) -- More than 400 South Koreans have been injected with seasonal flu vaccines @ @ @ @ @ administered due to storage problems , but no side effects have been reported , health @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS details in last 3 paras, photo)
SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- More than 400 South Koreans have been injected with seasonal flu vaccines that should not have been administered due to storage problems, but no side effects have been reported, health authorities said Sunday.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said 407 people received the vaccines that were not supposed to be administered after being exposed to room temperature.
The figure marked a hike from Saturday, when the agency reported 324 people received the flu shots.
Still, none of the people injected with such vaccines have showed abnormal reactions, the agency said.
Last week, the KDCA temporarily halted its plan to offer free seasonal flu vaccines after some of about 5 million doses of flu vaccines were partially exposed to temperatures outside the storage range.
Inactivated vaccines should be stored in refrigerators, and exposure to room temperature could result in decreased vaccine potency and increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.
But the safety of those vaccines exposed to room temperature has yet to be determined.
(END)


yna--2020-09-27--407 people injected with mishandled flu vaccines: authorities

SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- More than 400 South Koreans have been injected with seasonal flu vaccines that should not have been administered due to storage problems, but no side effects have been reported, health authorities said Sunday.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said 407 people received the vaccines that were not supposed to be administered after being exposed to room temperature.
The figure marked a hike from Saturday, when the agency reported 324 people received the flu shots.
Still, none of the people injected with such vaccines have showed abnormal reactions, the agency said.
(END)


yna--2020-09-27--(2nd LD) Cheong Wa Dae calls for joint probe with N. Korea on shooting incident, restoration of mili

(2nd LD) Cheong Wa Dae calls for joint probe with N. Korea on shooting incident, restoration of military communication line

In an ensuing formal notice to Seoul , however , Pyongyang said its troops had fired more than 10 shots @ @ @ @ @ but they did not find his body , though they burned a `` floating object @ @ @ @ @ accordance with related border control and anti-coronavirus rules , according to Cheong Wa Dae .

(ATTN: UPDATES with background info, other details from 5th para; ADDS photo, byline)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- Cheong Wa Dae called Sunday on North Korea to conduct a joint investigation with South Korea into the recent killing of a South Korean fisheries official and to reopen the bilateral military communication line for related work.
Cheong Wa Dae made the statement shortly after President Moon Jae-in had an emergency security-related ministers' meeting on the incident.
Briefing media on the results of the 90-minute session, Suh Choo-suk, deputy director of the national security office, said the government "positively" evaluates the North's "speedy apology" and promise to prevent the recurrence of a similar case.
Suh Choo-suk, deputy director of Cheong Wa Dae's national security office, holds a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Sept. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
But there are differences in the two sides' accounts of what happened in connection with the fatal shooting of the 47-year-old man by North Korean troops near the disputed western sea border last week.
Last Thursday, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that the official at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in charge of overseeing fishing activities had been shot dead after crossing the sea border, and the North's military set his body on fire.
In an ensuing formal notice to Seoul, however, Pyongyang said its troops had fired more than 10 shots, apparently killing him, but they did not find his body, though they burned a "floating object" that carried him in accordance with related border control and anti-coronavirus rules, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
The notice also included an apology from the North's leader Kim Jong-un over what he called the "unsavory" incident.
Suh said the government is requesting a joint probe aimed at finding related facts with an "open attitude" at an early date, without being restricted by last week's announcement and notice.
He called for the restoration and reopening of the military communication line between the two sides for relevant consultations.
South Korea's coast guard officials search for the belongings of a fisheries official, killed by North Korea's military, near the western sea border on Sept. 27, 2020, in this photo provided by the Incheon station of the Korea Coast Guard. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Suh, who doubles as chief of the secretariat of the National Security Council (NSC), stressed that the first and foremost task is to retrieve the official's body and belongings to help find the truth behind the case and also in "humanitarian" consideration of his bereaved family members.
He also asked Chinese authorities and fishing vessels operating near the inter-Korean sea border, called the Northern Limit Line (NLL), to help with the work.
Attendees at the emergency meeting presided over by Moon included Defense Minister Suh Wook, National Intelligence Service chief Park Jie-won, Noh Young-min, presidential chief of staff, and Suh Hoon, director of national security at Cheong Wa Dae.
Earlier Sunday, the North issued a warning against the South over its search operation around the NLL, saying it may lead to escalation of tensions.
"We don't care whether the south side conducts any kind of search operation in its territorial waters or not," the North said via its state news agency, the KCNA. "But we can never overlook any intrusion into our territorial waters, and we seriously warn the south side against it."
It urged the South to immediately stop the "intrusion" across the NLL.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(MORE)


yna--2020-09-27--(3rd LD) Daily new virus cases stay below 100, but gov't on high alert ahead of key holiday

The number of imported cases stood at 22 as of midnight , bringing the total cases from overseas to 3,183 @ @ @ @ @ overseas cases , 18 came from Asian countries except for China , followed by three @ @ @ @ @ Africa , the KDCA said .

(ATTN: ADDS official's remarks in paras 11-13)
By Choi Kyong-ae
SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 95 more cases of the new coronavirus Sunday, staying below 100 for the second straight day but up 34 from a day earlier, as health authorities remain on high alert on possible mass infections during the upcoming Chuseok holiday.
The new COVID-19 cases break down to 73 local infections and 22 imported cases, and brought the country's total caseload to 23,611, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The number of daily coronavirus cases bounced back to over 100 Wednesday and stayed above the mark Thursday and Friday. The number fell to 61 on Saturday as health authorities focus on reducing further sporadic cluster infections and untraceable cases in the greater Seoul area.
New virus cases had been in the triple digits for more than a month since Aug. 14 due to cases tied to a church in Seoul and an anti-government rally before briefly falling below 100.
A medical worker helps a woman at the National Medical Center in Seoul on Sept. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
The number of imported cases stood at 22 as of midnight, bringing the total cases from overseas to 3,183. Of the newly confirmed overseas cases, 18 came from Asian countries except for China, followed by three from Europe and one from Africa, the KDCA said.
Cluster infections continued to be reported at workplaces, nursing homes, churches and day care centers, especially in the greater Seoul area.
Untraceable cases accounted for about 25 percent of the daily new cases, according to the KDCA.
Seoul added 34 new virus cases, and nearby Gyeonggi Province and Incheon saw 21 and nine new patients, respectively.
The Seoul city government said it will allow public outdoor sports and cultural facilities to partially resume operations from Sept. 28 to Oct. 11 when the Korean version of Thanksgiving holiday and the Hangeul, or Korean alphabet, proclamation day fall on Wednesday to next Sunday and Oct. 9, respectively.
To stem the spread of the virus, those facilities are required to sharply reduce the number of customers through advance reservation, the city government said, adding all rallies are banned on National Foundation Day on Oct. 3 and Hangeul Day on Oct. 9.
Sohn Young-rae, a senior official at the health ministry, told reporters that the government will make utmost efforts to bring the spread of the virus under control during the two-week period.
Health authorities have said the local medical system can bring the outbreak under control if daily new infections stay below 100.
The government will make a decision on whether to adjust social distancing rules after the Chuseok holiday if the virus is under control, Sohn said.
Two additional deaths were reported, raising the toll to 401. The fatality rate came to 1.7 percent.
Imported cases nearly doubled to 22 from Saturday's 12. Of the total, six cases were from Uzbekistan, followed by five each from the Philippines and India, and one each from Nepal, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Britain and the United States, the KDCA said
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients stood at 124 as of midnight, up two from the previous day, according to the authorities.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 21,248, up 82 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 2,296,517 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3, the KDCA said.
A man passes by a flower shop near a graveyard in Paju, just north of Seoul, on Sept. 27, 2020, with the number of visitors to their ancestral graves sharply down this year compared with a year earlier amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Yonhap)
The biggest, imminent challenge is to prevent a potential rebound in new virus cases around the Chuseok holiday, which traditionally entails mass movements of people and family gatherings across the country.
This year's fall harvest holiday runs from Wednesday through next Sunday.
With a goal to minimize the potential impacts of the holiday, the government decided to designate a special two-week period for strong antivirus efforts starting Monday, while maintaining the Level 2 social distancing guidance.
At the current level, indoor gatherings of 50 or more people are banned, and outdoor meetings of 100 or more people are also prohibited. Sports events are allowed without spectators.
Under the two-week campaign, the operation of 11 types of "high-risk" facilities, including clubs, bars and buffets, will be suspended in the greater Seoul area for two weeks. As for non-metropolitan areas, five kinds of risk-prone facilities, such as nightlife establishments will be ordered to shut down for a week.
The authorities also called for the strengthening of quarantine measures further at public facilities, such as restaurants, cafes and theaters, in Seoul and the surrounding areas during the period.
The pandemic, which started in China late last year, has killed more than 994,000 people worldwide and infected nearly 33 million as of Sunday, a tally from Johns Hopkins University showed.
This illustration published on Sept. 25, 2020, calls on people to refrain from visiting their hometowns for this year's Chuseok fall harvest holiday. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-27--(LEAD) Cheong Wa Dae calls for joint probe with N. Korea on shooting incident, restoration of milita

(LEAD) Cheong Wa Dae calls for joint probe with N. Korea on shooting incident, restoration of military communication line

Suh , who doubles as chief of the secretariat of the National Security Council ( NSC ) , stressed the @ @ @ @ @ 's body and belongings to help find the truth behind the case and also in @ @ @ @ @ his bereaved family members .

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details; ADDS photo)
SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- Cheong Wa Dae called Sunday on North Korea to conduct a joint investigation with South Korea into the recent killing of a South Korean fisheries official and to reopen the bilateral military communication line for related work.
Cheong Wa Dae made the statement shortly after President Moon Jae-in had an emergency security-related ministers' meeting on the incident.
Briefing media on the results of the 90-minute session, Suh Choo-suk, deputy director of the national security office, said the government "positively" evaluates the North's "speedy apology" and promise to prevent the recurrence of a similar case.
Suh Choo-suk, deputy director of Cheong Wa Dae's national security office, holds a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Sept. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
But there are differences in the two sides' accounts of what happened in connection with the fatal shooting of the 47-year-old man by North Korean troops near the disputed western sea border last week.
Suh said the government is requesting a joint probe aimed at finding related facts with an "open attitude" at an early date.
He called for the restoration and reopening of the military communication line between the two sides for relevant consultations.
Suh, who doubles as chief of the secretariat of the National Security Council (NSC), stressed the importance of retrieving the official's body and belongings to help find the truth behind the case and also in "humanitarian" consideration of his bereaved family members.
He also asked Chinese authorities and fishing vessels operating near the inter-Korean sea border to help with the work.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(MORE)


yna--2020-09-27--Cheong Wa Dae calls for joint probe with N. Korea on shooting incident, restoration of military comm

Cheong Wa Dae calls for joint probe with N. Korea on shooting incident, restoration of military communication line

SEOUL , Sept. 27 ( Yonhap ) -- Cheong Wa Dae called on North Korea to conduct a joint investigation @ @ @ @ @ recent killing of a South Korean fisheries official and to reopen the bilateral military communication @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- Cheong Wa Dae called on North Korea to conduct a joint investigation with South Korea into the recent killing of a South Korean fisheries official and to reopen the bilateral military communication line for related work.
Cheong Wa Dae made the statement Sunday shortly after President Moon Jae-in had an emergency security-related ministers' meeting on the incident.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(MORE)


yna--2020-09-27--(URGENT) Cheong Wa Dae calls on N. Korea to reopen military communication line with S. Korea

(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--2020-09-27--(URGENT) Cheong Wa Dae calls for two Koreas to conduct joint probe into killing of South Korean fish

(URGENT) Cheong Wa Dae calls for two Koreas to conduct joint probe into killing of South Korean fisheries official


yna--2020-09-27--(URGENT) Moon convenes emergency security-related ministers' meeting on N. Korea: Cheong Wa Dae


yna--2020-09-27--(LEAD) PM Chung renews warnings against illicit Oct. 3 rallies amid virus fight

`` Practicing social distancing that you have done well so far is the best way to ensure the health and @ @ @ @ @ Please think that not visiting your parents this year is the way for filial piety @ @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 6-8)
SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun renewed warnings Sunday against illegal anti-government rallies planned by some conservative groups, amid worries that the mass gatherings could undercut the nation's fight against the new coronavirus.
During a session of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, Chung vowed to take a zero-tolerance policy against any unsanctioned demonstrations on the Oct. 3 National Foundation Day, warning illegal participants will face immediate arrests.
Regarding the possibility of "drive-through" rallies, the prime minister said demonstrators using their cars could have their driver's licenses suspended.
"The government will sternly respond to all illegal rallies that take place on National Foundation Day for the sake of our community's safety," Chung said.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks during a session of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul on Sept. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Touching on the concerns that the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic could loosen during the Chuseok autumn harvest holiday set to begin Wednesday, Chung urged citizens to refrain from face-to-face family reunions.
In a separate address to the nation later, Chung made an appeal for citizens to refrain from traveling to their hometowns during the holiday to ensure the safety of their parents and elderly relatives.
"We should not forget that we are in a quasi-war situation," Chung said.
"Practicing social distancing that you have done well so far is the best way to ensure the health and safety of the elderly ... Please think that not visiting your parents this year is the way for filial piety," he added.
On Sunday, South Korea's health authorities reported 95 additional COVID-19 cases, with the daily figure staying below 100 for the second straight day.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-27--Main bourse to offer English filing services starting Monday

The KRX has decided to provide the translation services for the filings as the value of listed shares held by @ @ @ @ @ the overall market capitalization on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index ( KOSPI ) market @ @ @ @ @ a statement .

SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's main bourse Korea Exchange (KRX) said Sunday it will begin offering English translation services for regulatory filings of 54 major listed firms starting Monday.
The KRX has decided to provide the translation services for the filings as the value of listed shares held by foreigners reaches 35 percent of the overall market capitalization on the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) market, the KRX said in a statement.
The subjected companies include Samsung Biologics, a pharmaceutical unit of Samsung Group, the country's top online search engine Naver Corp., leading steelmaker POSCO, the country's sole aircraft manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries Co. and leading tiremaker Hankook Tire & Technology Co.
Last year, only 5.9 percent of Korean regulatory filings were translated to English for foreign investors, the statement said.
(END)


yna--2020-09-27--PM Chung renews warnings against illicit Oct. 3 rallies amid virus fight

During a session of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters , Chung vowed to take a zero-tolerance policy against @ @ @ @ @ Oct. 3 National Foundation Day , warning illegal participants will face immediate arrests .

SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun renewed warnings Sunday against illegal anti-government rallies planned by some conservative groups, amid worries that the mass gatherings could undercut the nation's fight against the new coronavirus.
During a session of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, Chung vowed to take a zero-tolerance policy against any unsanctioned demonstrations on the Oct. 3 National Foundation Day, warning illegal participants will face immediate arrests.
Regarding the possibility of "drive-through" rallies, the prime minister said demonstrators using their cars could have their driver's licenses suspended.
"The government will sternly respond to all illegal rallies that take place on National Foundation Day for the sake of our community's safety," Chung said.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun speaks during a session of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul on Sept. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Touching on the concerns that the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic could loosen during the Chuseok autumn harvest holiday set to begin Wednesday, Chung urged citizens to refrain from face-to-face family reunions.
On Sunday, South Korea's health authorities reported 95 additional COVID-19 cases, with the daily figure staying below 100 for the second straight day.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-27--(LEAD) U.S. trade panel supports LG Chem in battery case with SK Innovation

`` On the same day , the ITC submitted its opinion toward the legal dispute ( between the two Korean @ @ @ @ @ ITC stance is only based on LG Chem 's arguments , '' SK Innovation said @ @ @ @

(ATTN: ADDS SK Innovation's response in paras 6-9)
SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has voiced support for LG Chem Ltd.'s call for sanctions on its rival SK Innovation Co. in connection with a legal dispute over battery patents, LG Chem said Sunday.
In response to LG Chem's request for the issuance of an order sanctioning SK Innovation, the investigative staff of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has supported LG Chem ahead of a crucial verdict over their electric vehicle (EV) battery patent case next month.
In the motion it filed with the ITC in August, LG Chem claimed that SK Innovation destroyed "highly relevant evidence" after its litigation against SK Innovation began.
LG Chem said in the motion that SK Innovation's "spoliation was targeted to the destruction of relevant LG Chem information" in SK Innovation's possession.
In April last year, LG Chem filed a complaint with the U.S. trade panel that SK Innovation misappropriated its EV battery trade secrets.
This image, captured from the U.S. International Trade Commission's website. shows LG Chem's motion against SK Innovation. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
SK Innovation said Sunday the ITC's stance in favor of LG Chem does not reflect "facts of its rebuttal opinion" submitted to the ITC on Sept. 11.
"On the same day, the ITC submitted its opinion toward the legal dispute (between the two Korean firms). So the ITC stance is only based on LG Chem's arguments," SK Innovation said in a statement.
On Sept. 4, SK Innovation denied it destroyed documents related to an EV battery patent case, claiming it developed the 994 patent, while LG Chem asserted its A7 battery cell is prior art to the 994 patent. A7 battery cells were used in the Chrysler Pacifica minivan in 2013.
SK Innovation has said it "has no reason whatsoever to delete documents and it did not delete them."
LG Chem and SK Innovation have been at loggerheads over EV battery-related trade secrets since last year, filing multiple lawsuits in the United States and South Korea.
LG Chem has said it can settle the dispute with SK Innovation over their EV battery trade secret case in the U.S. if SK Innovation offers a "reasonable level" of compensation on an objective basis.
In February, the ITC made a preliminary ruling in favor of LG Chem's argument that SK Innovation had misappropriated and used its EV battery trade secrets.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-27--(LEAD) Coast Guard, Navy continue search for deceased fisheries official despite N.K. warning

Meanwhile , the authorities are not ruling out the possibility that the ill-fated official drifted into the North Korean waters @ @ @ @ @ to the North , though the bereaved family denies that possibility .

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 9-10)
INCHEON, South Korea, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Coast Guard and Navy continued their search Sunday for the body and belongings of a fisheries official shot to death by the North Korean military at sea last week despite Pyongyang's warnings against "intrusion" into its waters.
The authorities mobilized 39 vessels, including 16 naval ships, and six aircraft for their operations in the front-line areas near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), a de facto inter-Korean sea border, where the 47-year-old official went missing Monday.
The South claims the North shot the official to death and set his body on fire Tuesday, whereas the North argues its military shot at the "illegal intruder" but burned a "floating material" rather than his body.
The Coast Guard and Navy conduct an operation to search for the body of a fisheries official near the de facto inter-Korean sea border, in this photo provided by the Coast Guard. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The search operations near the border island of Yeonpyeong came as the North urged the South to immediately halt the search operations, arguing the operations are encroaching upon its territorial waters in a denial of the NLL.
"We can never overlook any intrusion into our territorial waters and we seriously warn the south side against it," the North's official Korean Central News Agency said in a report
"We urge the south side to immediately halt the intrusion across the military demarcation line in the west sea that may lead to escalation of tensions," it added.
The North has long disputed the NLL, arguing the boundary was unilaterally set by the then commander of the U.S.-led U.N. Command after the 1950-53 Korean War. It argues the boundary should be redrawn farther south.
A South Korean Coast Guard official stressed that the search operations have been taking place strictly in waters south of the NLL.
A Seoul military official also said the maritime search is proceeding "normally."
"We are also carrying out activities to monitor dozens of Chinese fishing vessels as they are operating near the NLL," the official said.
Meanwhile, the authorities are not ruling out the possibility that the ill-fated official drifted into the North Korean waters with an intention to defect to the North, though the bereaved family denies that possibility.
They are currently carrying out a digital forensic probe on a computer on the fishery patrol ship, which the official had boarded, to find out if there are any search records related to North Korea.
The investigators have also restored two surveillance cameras, which had been out of order since Sept. 18, to check if anybody broke them on purpose.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-27--(2nd LD) Daily new virus cases stay below 100, but gov't on high alert ahead of key holiday

(ATTN: CHANGES headline and lead, first 2 photos; ADDS details in paras 9-10, last para)
By Choi Kyong-ae
SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported 95 more cases of the new coronavirus Sunday, staying below 100 for the second straight day but up 34 from a day earlier, as health authorities remain on high alert on possible mass infections during the upcoming Chuseok holiday.
The new COVID-19 cases break down to 73 local infections and 22 imported cases, and brought the country's total caseload to 23,611, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The number of daily coronavirus cases bounced back to over 100 Wednesday and stayed above the mark Thursday and Friday. The number fell to 61 on Saturday as health authorities focus on reducing further sporadic cluster infections and untraceable cases in the greater Seoul area.
New virus cases had been in the triple digits for more than a month since Aug. 14 due to cases tied to a church in Seoul and an anti-government rally before briefly falling below 100.
A medical worker helps a woman at the National Medical Center in Seoul on Sept. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
The number of imported cases stood at 22 as of midnight, bringing the total cases from overseas to 3,183. Of the newly confirmed overseas cases, 18 came from Asian countries except for China, followed by three from Europe and one from Africa, the KDCA said.
Cluster infections continued to be reported at workplaces, nursing homes, churches and day care centers, especially in the greater Seoul area.
Untraceable cases accounted for about 25 percent of the daily new cases, according to the KDCA.
Seoul added 34 new virus cases, and nearby Gyeonggi Province and Incheon saw 21 and nine new patients, respectively.
The Seoul city government said it will allow public outdoor sports and cultural facilities to partially resume operations from Sept. 28 to Oct. 11 when the Korean version of Thanksgiving holiday and the Hangeul, or Korean alphabet, proclamation day fall on Wednesday to next Sunday and Oct. 9, respectively.
To stem the spread of the virus, those facilities are required to sharply reduce the number of customers through advance reservation, the city government said, adding all rallies are banned on National Foundation Day on Oct. 3 and Hangeul Day on Oct. 9.
Two additional deaths were reported, raising the toll to 401. The fatality rate came to 1.7 percent.
Imported cases nearly doubled to 22 from Saturday's 12. Of the total, six cases were from Uzbekistan, followed by five each from the Philippines and India, and one each from Nepal, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Britain and the United States, the KDCA said
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients stood at 124 as of midnight, up two from the previous day, according to the authorities.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 21,248, up 82 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 2,296,517 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3, the KDCA said.
A man passes by a flower shop near a graveyard in Paju, just north of Seoul, on Sept. 27, 2020, with the number of visitors to their ancestral graves sharply down this year compared with a year earlier amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Yonhap)
The biggest, imminent challenge is to prevent a potential rebound in new virus cases around the Chuseok holiday, which traditionally entails mass movements of people and family gatherings across the country.
This year's fall harvest holiday runs from Wednesday through next Sunday.
With a goal to minimize the potential impacts of the holiday, the government decided to designate a special two-week period for strong antivirus efforts starting Monday, while maintaining the Level 2 social distancing guidance.
At the current level, indoor gatherings of 50 or more people are banned, and outdoor meetings of 100 or more people are also prohibited. Sports events are allowed without spectators.
Under the two-week campaign, the operation of 11 types of "high-risk" facilities, including clubs, bars and buffets, will be suspended in the greater Seoul area for two weeks. As for non-metropolitan areas, five kinds of risk-prone facilities, such as nightlife establishments will be ordered to shut down for a week.
The authorities also called for the strengthening of quarantine measures further at public facilities, such as restaurants, cafes and theaters, in Seoul and the surrounding areas during the period.
The pandemic, which started in China late last year, has killed more than 994,000 people worldwide and infected nearly 33 million as of Sunday, a tally from Johns Hopkins University showed.
This illustration published on Sept. 25, 2020, calls on people to refrain from visiting their hometowns for this year's Chuseok fall harvest holiday. (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-27--Kia reports 3 additional virus cases at local plant

Kia has eight plants in Korea -- two in Gwangmyeong , three in Hwaseong and three in Gwangju -- and @ @ @ @ @ in China and one each in the United States , Slovakia , Mexico and India @ @ @ @ @ 3.84 million units .

SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp. said Sunday three assembly line workers at one of its domestic plants tested positive for the new coronavirus, and a decision on whether to suspend the plant's operations will be made soon.
"The plant is not in operation as it is Sunday. The company will make a decision on whether to (temporarily) halt the Sohari plant in Gwangmyeong tomorrow," a company spokesman said over the phone.
Kia, the country's second-biggest carmaker, halted the operations of the Sohari plant in Gwangmyeong, from Wednesday through Monday, with all of the 6,000 employees at the plants staying at home.
Kia Motors Corp.'s plant south of Seoul (Yonhap)
The plant's operations returned to normal last week as no more infections were reported at the plants. Eleven assembly line workers were infected with the virus last time, with the number of related cases reaching 18.
The company did not provide the value of production losses due to the suspension. The two plants in Gwangmyeong have a combined capacity of 320,000 units a year.
Kia produces the K9 flagship sedan, the Stinger sports car and the Carnival minivan at the No. 1 plant in Gwangmyeong and the Pride subcompact and the Stonic subcompact SUV at the No. 2 plant.
Kia has eight plants in Korea -- two in Gwangmyeong, three in Hwaseong and three in Gwangju -- and seven overseas ones -- three in China and one each in the United States, Slovakia, Mexico and India. Their overall capacity is 3.84 million units.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-27--Seoul city to begin renovation project on Gwanghwamun Square next month

The city government plans to plant more trees and flowers at the pedestrian plaza to transform it into a park @ @ @ @ @ dropped an earlier plan to relocate the statues of the Joseon dynasty figures King Sejong @ @ @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- The Seoul city government said Sunday it will redesign Gwanghwamun Square and the road around it in an effort to transform the square into a city-center park with more trees and flowers.
The sweeping plan calls for removing the western side of the 10-lane Sejongro boulevard to expand the Gwanghwamun Square currently located in the middle of the road, while expanding the eastern-side boulevard to accommodate traffic on both sides.
Finalization of the plan has been delayed as activists and other critics expressed concern about traffic congestion worsening as the currently 10-lane boulevard will be reduced to a seven-lane road running past the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.
The city government plans to take various steps to keep the average traffic speed at the current level.
Construction will begin in late October to expand the eastern side of the boulevard, officials said.
The city government plans to plant more trees and flowers at the pedestrian plaza to transform it into a park for citizens. It also dropped an earlier plan to relocate the statues of the Joseon dynasty figures King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
The city stressed the plan was finalized after discussing the matter with the central government, the national heritage agency and residents.
This photo, provided by the Seoul metropolitan government on Sept. 27, 2020, shows a bird's-eye view of the envisioned new Gwanghwamun Square. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
This photo, provided by the Seoul metropolitan government on Sept. 27, 2020, shows a bird's-eye view of the envisioned new Gwanghwamun Square. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)
Traffic around Gwanghwamun Square is halted as anti-government demonstrations organized by the Sarang Jeil Church and the conservative Freedom Union confront police on Aug. 15, 2020. (Yonhap)
julesyi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-27--Parliamentary speaker embarks on trip to Sweden, Germany

In Stockholm on Monday , Park plans to pay a courtesy call on King Carl XVI Gustaf and meet Foreign @ @ @ @ @ the Swedish Embassy in Seoul said .
The following day , he will meet Prime @ @ @ @ @ Speaker Andreas Norlen .

SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug has embarked on a trip to Sweden and Germany as part of his parliamentary diplomacy aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, officials said Sunday.
From Sunday through Tuesday, Park plans to visit Sweden, becoming the first South Korean parliamentary chief to visit the country since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1959.
In Stockholm on Monday, Park plans to pay a courtesy call on King Carl XVI Gustaf and meet Foreign Trade Minister Anna Hallberg, the Swedish Embassy in Seoul said. The following day, he will meet Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and Parliamentary Speaker Andreas Norlen.
Park also plans to meet Kent Harstedt, Sweden's special envoy for the Korean Peninsula, and Swedish Ambassador to North Korea Joachim Bergstrom.
On Wednesday, the speaker will begin his three-day visit to Germany.
Park plans to meet top government and parliamentary officials, including President Frank-Walter Steinmeier; Wolfgang Schauble, head of the Bundestag, the parliament's lower house; and Dietmar Woidke, the head of the Bundesrat, the parliament's upper house.
In meetings with German parliamentary leaders, Park is expected to talk about Germany's unification experience and issues related to the North Korean nuclear issue and the decades-old division on the Korean Peninsula.
Park also plans to use his trip to call for the European countries' support for South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee's campaign for the director-generalship of the World Trade Organization.
Park's delegation includes Reps. Park Wan-joo and Cho Eung-cheon of the ruling Democratic Party, and Rep. Lee Che-ik of the main opposition People Power Party.
This photo, taken Sept. 24, 2020, shows National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug attending a full floor session of the parliament at its main chamber in Seoul. (Yonhap)
sshluck@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-27--U.S. trade panel supports LG Chem in battery case with SK Innovation

In response to LG Chem 's request for the issuance of an order sanctioning SK Innovation , the investigative staff @ @ @ @ @ Commission ( ITC ) has supported LG Chem ahead of a crucial verdict over their @ @ @ @ @ battery patent case next month .

SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has voiced support for LG Chem Ltd.'s call for sanctions on its rival SK Innovation Co. in connection with a legal dispute over battery patents, LG Chem said Sunday.
In response to LG Chem's request for the issuance of an order sanctioning SK Innovation, the investigative staff of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has supported LG Chem ahead of a crucial verdict over their electric vehicle (EV) battery patent case next month.
In the motion it recently filed with the ITC, LG Chem claimed that SK Innovation destroyed "highly relevant evidence" after its litigation against SK Innovation began.
LG Chem said in the motion that SK Innovation's "spoliation was targeted to the destruction of relevant LG Chem information" in SK Innovation's possession.
In April last year, LG Chem filed a complaint with the U.S. trade panel that SK Innovation misappropriated its EV battery trade secrets.
LG Chem and SK Innovation have been at loggerheads over EV battery-related trade secrets since last year, filing multiple lawsuits in the United States and South Korea.
LG Chem has said it can settle the dispute with SK Innovation over their EV battery trade secret case in the U.S. if SK Innovation offers a "reasonable level" of compensation on an objective basis.
In February, the ITC made a preliminary ruling in favor of LG Chem's argument that SK Innovation had misappropriated and used its EV battery trade secrets.
This image, captured from the U.S. International Trade Commission's website. shows LG Chem's motion against SK Innovation. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-27--Ruling party's leader urges N. Korea to swiftly agree to joint probe into killing

South Korea said the North shot and killed the fisheries official drifting in its waters before burning his body .
@ @ @ @ @ what it set on fire was a `` floating material '' the `` intruder '' @ @ @ @ @ official 's body could not be found after he was shot .

SEOUL, Sept. 27 (Yonhap) -- The leader of the ruling Democratic Party on Sunday urged North Korea to swiftly agree to a joint investigation with South Korea into the shooting death of a South Korean fisheries official in North Korean waters.
Rep. Lee Nak-yon made the remark in a Facebook posting, saying the North's account of what happened is different from South Korea's findings, including whether the body of the 47-year-old official was set on fire or not.
South Korea said the North shot and killed the fisheries official drifting in its waters before burning his body. But the North claimed that what it set on fire was a "floating material" the "intruder" was relying on and the official's body could not be found after he was shot.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un apologized over the killing, saying an unfortunate incident that should not have happened has happened, and he was very sorry for giving President Moon Jae-in and the South Korean people a big sense of disappointment.
Earlier Sunday, however, the North warned it will never overlook the South violating the western sea border in searching for the body of the ill-fated official, saying it will search for the body on its own and hand it over if it is found.
"As the South and the North are searching respective waters, I hope the body will be recovered as soon as possible," Lee said.
Lee also expressed "deep regret" over the killing, saying it is "unacceptable" for any reason to shoot an unarmed civilian drifting at sea.
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--Seoul stocks extend gains late Mon. morning on Wall Street rally

The local currency was trading at 1,173.6 won to the U.S. dollar , down 1.3 won from the previous session @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks extended gains late Monday morning, taking a cue from U.S. stock rallies seen last week.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 30.8 points, or 1.35 percent, to 2,309.59 as of 11:20 a.m.
Local stocks soared above the 2,300 level, tracking strong advances in U.S. tech giants, such as Apple, Microsoft and Tesla.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.26 percent to 10,913.56 the previous session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.34 percent, with the S&P 500 adding 1.6 percent.
Most large caps traded higher in Seoul.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics rose 0.86 percent, while No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix shed 0.24 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver gained 1.53 percent, with its rival Kakao up 2.99 percent.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem remained flat, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI rose 1.58 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics climbed 2.07 percent, and Celltrion advanced 0.58 percent.
Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automaker, jumped 3.24 percent, and top steelmaker POSCO added 1.29 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,173.6 won to the U.S. dollar, down 1.3 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--Creditor invites preliminary bidders for Hanjin Heavy

KDB said it plans to sell at least a 63.44 percent stake in Hanjin Heavy Industries and decide on whether @ @ @ @ @ owned by the financial institutions before the end of the final bidding .

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- Cash-squeezed Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co. said Monday its main creditor Korea Development Bank (KDB) has invited preliminary bidders in order to sell its controlling stake in the shipyard.
KDB plans to finalize the preliminary bidding by Oct. 26 to sell all or part of the 83.45 percent stake in Hanjin Heavy Industries, the shipbuilder said in a regulatory filing.
The 83.45 percent stake is owned by seven local financial institutions including KDB and three Filipino financial institutions that include Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation via debt-to-equity swap, KDB said in a separate statement.
KDB said it plans to sell at least a 63.44 percent stake in Hanjin Heavy Industries and decide on whether it sell the whole stake owned by the financial institutions before the end of the final bidding.
KDB picked local accounting firm Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers and KDB's mergers and acquisitions consulting team as sale managers for the stake sale, the state-run bank said.
This file photo shows a shipyard of Hanjin Heavy Industries Co. in Busan, 453 kilometers south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
ksnam@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--Local streaming service provider Wavve tops 10 mln in subscribers

`` We will constantly invest our proceeds into content creation as a way to become a platform that contributes to @ @ @ @ @ media industry , '' said Lee , the Wavve CEO .
`` We will increase @ @ @ @ @ demand for our original content . ''

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- The number of subscribers of the local video streaming service giant Wavve has topped 10 million on rising demand for a wide variety of content, the company said Monday.
Wavve was launched last year by South Korea's top mobile carrier, SK Telecom Co., and terrestrial broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS.
"Despite a slight slowdown in the first half of this year, our memberships have been on a strong rise since July thanks to new releases of Wavve original series and exclusive foreign titles," Wavve CEO Lee Tae-hyun said in an online press conference.
As of end-August, the combined number of Wavve's paid and unpaid subscribers reached 9.9 million and surpassed the 10 million threshold two weeks ago, he added.
According to the latest survey by market researcher Nielsen KoreanClick, Wavve posted 3.88 monthly active users last month, slightly behind the previous peak of 4 million tallied in November last year. Monthly active users refer to customers who use a company's service at least once a month.
The number had declined for four straight months through March amid the aggressive expansion by U.S. media giant Netflix.
Wavve said the latest rebound in subscriptions has been driven by plenty of eye-catching content from home and abroad.
Its original Korean-language dramas and variety shows, including the historical romantic comedy "The Tale of Nokdu," the comedy drama "Kkondae Intern" and the sci-fi romance "Alice," were more popular this year.
The company said a total of 12 original series, including seven dramas, will be available by the end of this year. Most of the programs also will be sold overseas.
At the same time, it has stockpiled 6,000 movies and offered popular foreign-made TV series like "The Handmaid's Tale."
"We will constantly invest our proceeds into content creation as a way to become a platform that contributes to the development of the Korean media industry," said Lee, the Wavve CEO. "We will increase investment to meet customers' demand for our original content."
This image provided by Wavve shows a list of Wavve's original series. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--Nearly 1 mln to travel by air during Chuseok despite gov't advisory

The projected drop in the rate of airport usage is also smaller than March and April figures , when the @ @ @ @ @ wave of mass outbreaks centered around Daegu .
During the two months , the rate @ @ @ @ @ than 50 percent on-year to 285,400 and 251,700 , respectively .

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- Nearly 1 million people are expected to travel by air during the Chuseok fall harvest holiday despite the government's advisory asking people to remain at home to help contain the spread of COVID-19, transportation authorities said Monday.
The Korea Airports Corp. (KAC) estimated that some 963,000 people will use domestic airports, excluding Incheon International Airport, during this year's extended Chuseok holiday, which starts Wednesday and ends Sunday.
The figure represents a 25 percent drop from last year's tally of 1.29 million. But the projection is by no means considered low and comes as a concern, as state health authorities remain in a hard battle against a new wave of local transmissions that broke out in mid-August.
Tourists arrive at Jeju International Airport on Sept. 26. 2020. The provincial government has strengthened sanitation and distancing regulations to prevent the spread of the coronavirus ahead of the Chuseok holiday starting Sept. 30. (Yonhap)
The projected drop in the rate of airport usage is also smaller than March and April figures, when the country went through its first wave of mass outbreaks centered around Daegu. During the two months, the rate of air travel plummeted more than 50 percent on-year to 2.85 million and 2.52 million, respectively.
The government has designated Monday to Oct. 11 as a special period for strengthened virus curbs. Health authorities have been urging people to stay home over the holidays, but to better contain local transmissions, they have unveiled more tailored guidelines under the Level 2 distancing in the country's three-tier social distancing scheme.
This photo, taken at Seoul Station on Sept. 27, 2020, shows a KTX train crowded with passengers ahead of the Chuseok holiday. (Yonhap)
Airports also remain on heightened alert as the facilities may end up serving as conduits for new local transmissions.
"Strict measures are needed during holidays more than ever. We ask travelers to maintain personal hygiene and follow disease control guidelines to prevent transmissions," a representative at Seoul's Gimpo International Airport said.
The country added 50 more COVID-19 cases Monday, including 40 local infections, bringing the total caseload to 23,661. The daily new cases are the lowest in 48 days when 34 cases were reported on Aug. 11.
Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul is crowded with travelers on Sept. 27, 2020, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, set to begin Sept. 30. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--S. Korea closely watching for additional word from N.K. over death of its citizen: ministry

On Sunday , Seoul 's presidential office demanded North Korea agree to a joint probe into the death of the @ @ @ @ @ South claims that the North shot the official to death early last week and burned @ @ @ @ @ in its territorial waters .

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- The unification ministry said Monday it is closely watching for additional word from North Korea about the recent killing of a South Korean citizen.
On Sunday, Seoul's presidential office demanded North Korea agree to a joint probe into the death of the 47-year-old fisheries official. The South claims that the North shot the official to death early last week and burned his body after spotting him in its territorial waters.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un apologized for the killing in a message on Friday. Pyongyang, however, provided an account with major discrepancies with Seoul's explanation and has not responded to the request for a joint investigation.
"The unification ministry is looking at the current situations very gravely and reviewing them carefully, while closely watching for an additional response from North Korea," Yoh Sang-key, the ministry's spokesperson, said during a regular press briefing.
The ministry had pursued expanding cross-border exchanges in humanitarian areas despite stalled inter-Korean relations before the deadly incident.
Kim's rare and swift apology raised cautious optimism for the ties to move forward, but critics say that Pyongyang should first cooperate with Seoul to figure out what actually happened to ease public outrage.
North Korea earlier warned South Korea not to violate its western sea border in searching for his body, saying it will hand it over if it's found.
Yoh Sang-key, the spokesman of the unification ministry, gives a briefing on North Korea's shooting of a South Korean official at the ministry in Seoul on Sept. 24, 2020. The official belonging to the West Sea Fishery Management Service (WSFMS), an organ of the fisheries ministry, went missing from a WSFMS fishery guidance boat on Sept. 21 while on duty in waters off the western border island of Yeonpyeong. Earlier in the day, the South Korean defense ministry said North Korea had shot the man and burned his body after finding him in its waters, in an apparent antivirus measure. The official is presumed to have jumped into the sea in a suspected attempt to defect to the North and had drifted into North Korean waters. He reportedly had financial problems. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--N. Korea unresponsive to S. Korea's call for reopening military hotline

South Korea believes that a joint probe with the North is necessary because there are key discrepancies between the two @ @ @ @ @ to the ill-fated official , including whether his body was set on fire .

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- An inter-Korean military communication line remained inoperative as of Monday morning, the defense ministry said, a day after South Korea called for reopening the line for communication related to a proposed joint probe into North Korea's killing of a South Korean fisheries official.
On Sunday, South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae urged the North to restore the military hotline for communication about Seoul's proposal to conduct a joint investigation into the North's killing of the fisheries official drifting in its waters.
"With regard to the military communication line, it has not been restored yet," deputy ministry spokesperson Col. Moon Hong-sik said during a regular press briefing.
South Korea believes that a joint probe with the North is necessary because there are key discrepancies between the two sides as to what happened to the ill-fated official, including whether his body was set on fire.
The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff announced Thursday that the official in charge of overseeing fishing activities had been shot dead by the North's troops after crossing the sea border and that the North's military set his body on fire.
North Korea confirmed the killing of the "intruder" in a message to the South the following day, but it said what they set on fire was a floating material that carried the official, not his body.
The military hotline has been out of operation since North Korea severed all inter-Korean communication lines in June in anger over anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent across the border by activists here.
Previously, the military authorities of the two Koreas had regular telephone calls twice a day -- at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. -- via their eastern and western communication lines.
A South Korean fishing boat leaves the western border island of Yeonpyeong on Sept. 26, 2020. A South Korean official was killed by North Korean soldiers in the North's waters near the de facto maritime border on Sept. 22. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--The Korea Interbank Offered Rates (KORIBOR)

SEOUL , Sep. 28 ( Yonhap ) -- The Korea Interbank Offered Rates ( KORIBOR ) as posted by Yonhap @ @ @ @ @ and information arm of Yonhap News Agency , at 11:00 a.m .

(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--2020-09-28--Biz sentiment for Oct. still remains weak on virus impact: survey

The business survey index of the country 's top 600 companies by sales came to 84.6 for October , slightly @ @ @ @ @ September , the Korea Economic Research Institute ( KERI ) said in a statement .

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- Business sentiment in South Korea remains weak for October due mainly to the new coronavirus' impact on major industries, a local think tank said Monday.
The business survey index of the country's top 600 companies by sales came to 84.6 for October, slightly up from the 83.5 for September, the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI) said in a statement.
A reading below 100 means pessimists outnumber optimists, while a figure above the benchmark means the opposite.
The BSI has stayed below 100 for 29 consecutive months after reaching 100.3 in May 2018, said KERI, a research institute under the Federation of Korean Industries, the country's biggest business lobby.
KERI's analysis for this month gave an index of 84, up from 79.8 a month earlier as the pandemic prolongs, it said.
KERI said 358 out of the 600 companies responded to the survey, which was conducted from Sept. 15-22.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--Seoul city to run public transport until 2 a.m. during Chuseok holiday

SEOUL , Sept. 28 ( Yonhap ) -- The operation time of public transport in the capital will be extended @ @ @ @ @ week , the Seoul city government said Monday , a measure to enhance the safety @ @ @ @ @ their hometowns in other parts of the country during the upcoming Chuseok holiday .

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- The operation time of public transport in the capital will be extended to 2 a.m. later this week, the Seoul city government said Monday, a measure to enhance the safety of its citizens returning from their hometowns in other parts of the country during the upcoming Chuseok holiday.
The measure comes as South Korea will soon enter the extended three-day Chuseok holiday, one of the biggest traditional holidays here, Wednesday. The demand for late-night public transport services is high during this period as many people visit family members and relatives living in other cities.
To satisfy the traveling demand, the city government will stretch the timetable of public transport, including buses and subways, to 2 a.m. on Thursday and Friday and reduce the number of operations during the daytime.
Bus-only roads will also operate until 1 a.m on Thursday and Friday while nighttime bus and taxi services will continue as usual all through the holiday period.
Operation of express and intercity buses departing from Seoul will also increase by 708 times per day on average from Tuesday to Sunday. The maximum number of daily users will be some 89,000, up 19,000, or 27 percent from before.
This photo, taken at Seoul Station on Sept. 27, 2020, shows a KTX train crowded with passengers ahead of the Chuseok holiday. (Yonhap)
Buses that have stops at city-run cemeteries, however, will not see denser timetables as the government has recommended people refrain from visiting their ancestors' graves and plans to close down indoor charnel houses to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, according to the city government.
As part of the anti-COVID-19 measures, the city government will also beef up disinfection activities in public transport and, in particular, place a greater number of quarantine officials at major subway stations that connect railways, express buses and flights.
The government vowed to exert all efforts to reduce virus fears among passengers by reinforcing crackdowns on those who do not wear face masks and reporting to police those who refuse to wear masks or disturb operations.
This file photo taken in a rural village in Boseong, southwestern South Korea, on Sept. 14, 2020, shows a banner written by village elders to urge their urban sons and daughters not to visit their hometowns during the Chuseok holiday due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Yonhap)
nyway@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--(LEAD) Rangers' Choo Shin-soo bunts for single in final at-bat of 2020

The 38-year-old outfielder/designated hitter had been out since Sept. 7 , after hurting his right hand on a slide home @ @ @ @ @ to play again this year , but the Rangers made sure Choo would n't end @ @ @ @ @ his Texas tenure -- on the injured list , by activating him for Sunday .

(ATTN: ADDS comments, final score in paras 8-13)
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- If indeed this was his final at-bat for the Texas Rangers, South Korean veteran Choo Shin-soo has gone out in the only way he knows how: playing hard.
With his family watching from the stands, Choo came off the injured list and put a bunt down for a single against the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday (local time).
In this USA Today Sports photo via Reuters, Choo Shin-soo of the Texas Rangers bunts for a single against the Houston Astros during the bottom of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Sept. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Choo was lifted for a pinch runner after spraining his left ankle on that play.
The 38-year-old outfielder/designated hitter had been out since Sept. 7, after hurting his right hand on a slide home. He wasn't expected to play again this year, but the Rangers made sure Choo wouldn't end the year -- and likely his Texas tenure -- on the injured list, by activating him for Sunday.
Choo batted in his customary leadoff spot, which he offered to cede to younger players earlier in the season so the Rangers could develop his successor. Choo's wife, Ha Won-mi, and their three children were on hand to witness what turned out to be Choo's last at-bat of 2020.
In this USA Today Sports photo via Reuters, Choo Shin-soo of the Texas Rangers (R) beats out a throw for a bunt single against the Houston Astros during the bottom of the first inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Sept. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
The Astros had the shift on for Choo, and third baseman Alex Bregman was positioned far off the bag, toward the second base side. Choo bunted down the third base line and beat Bregman's throw to first.
Choo took a tumble after getting his left foot down on the first base bag, and Willie Calhoun replaced him as the pinch runner.
Back in the dugout, Choo received hugs from teammates. The Rangers went on to win 8-4.
"I will never forget today," Choo was quoted as saying by MLB.com. "I know 2020 was a hard time for everybody in the world, but I think today, I will never forget this."
Choo was thinking of getting a pinch-hit appearance on Sunday, but manager Chris Woodward instead inserted him into the starting lineup. Choo acknowledged he wasn't even healthy enough to "hold the bat with one hand," but he still wanted to get out there and send a message to young players.
General manager Jon Daniels invited Choo's family as a surprise for the veteran. No fans have been allowed at major league games this season because of the coronavirus pandemic, but there they were, wearing masks, appearing on the scoreboard when Choo came to the plate.
"I really appreciate it," Choo said. "I walked in the batter's box, and I saw the scoreboard. They showed my family, so it made me very emotional. But I told myself to focus. I was really focused on that at-bat."
Choo said he would have stayed in the game and even tried to steal second base if he hadn't hurt his ankle on the bunt single.
Choo ended the season with a .236/.323/.400 line in 33 games, with five home runs, 15 RBIs and six steals
This is the final year of Choo's seven-year deal with the Rangers. The free agent-to-be has said he feels he can still play in the bigs, though the rebuilding Rangers may not have a spot for him in 2021.
In this USA Today Sports photo via Reuters, Choo Shin-soo of the Texas Rangers (R) embraces a teammate after an 8-4 victory over the Houston Astros in a Major League Baseball regular season game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Sept. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--Moon names new Cheong Wa Dae secretary for personnel affairs

Many predict that the president will change some of his Cabinet members before the end of this year , as @ @ @ @ @ of senior officials at Cheong Wa Dae in recent months .

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in has picked his new secretary for personnel affairs, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday, amid media reports that he is expected to carry out another Cabinet reshuffle within this year.
Yoon Ji-hoon, deputy secretary for personnel affairs, has been promoted to the position, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.
Yoon earlier worked at Cheong Wa Dae's state affairs monitoring office.
Many predict that the president will change some of his Cabinet members before the end of this year, as he has replaced a number of senior officials at Cheong Wa Dae in recent months.
Moon is apparently endeavoring to maintain the momentum of his presidency with about 1 1/2 years left in office.
Yoon Ji-hoon, new secretary to President Moon Jae-in for personnel affairs, in a photo provided by Cheong Wa Dae (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--Top mobile payment tool Kakao Pay eyes IPO next year

`` Although there may be stock market conditions and other variables , it is true that we are making preparations @ @ @ @ @ public in the first half of next year , '' a Kakao Pay official said @

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's No. 1 mobile payment service provider, Kakao Pay, is pushing for an initial public offering during the first half of next year, industry sources said Monday.
To that end, Kakao Pay has recently chosen local brokerage KB Securities as the lead manager and is preparing to win approval from the Financial Supervisory Service.
Kakao Pay is reportedly seeking to list its shares on either the main KOSPI market or the secondary tech-heavy bourse as the company thinks it meets IPO requirements for both bourses.
"Although there may be stock market conditions and other variables, it is true that we are making preparations with the aim of going public in the first half of next year," a Kakao Pay official said.
The corporate logo of Kakao Pay (Yonhap)
Launched in 2014, Kakao Pay is the country's leading mobile payment service provider with 34 million users, with the amount of payments reaching 29.1 trillion won (US$24.8 billion) in the first half of the year.
The payment tool allows users to request and send money to people in their messenger contacts without bank account numbers.
Kakao Corp., the operator of South Korea's top messenger app KakaoTalk, is the largest shareholder in Kakao Pay, with China's leading mobile payment platform Alipay owning the second-largest stake of 43.9 percent.
This year, Kakao Pay has broken into the brokerage business and is pushing to establish a digital non-life insurance company.
Kakao Pay is targeting to become the second Kakao subsidiary to go public. Kakao Games, the game developing unit of Kakao, made a high-profile debut on the secondary KOSDAQ market early this month.
Kakaopage, a webtoon and internet social media platform under Kakao, has recently picked an IPO manager, and Kakao Bank, South Korea's top internet-only lender, has decided to go public.
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--Incheon United climb out of K League cellar; Jeonbuk pull even with Ulsan in points

The last-place club at the season 's end will be relegated to the K League 2 for 2021 , and @ @ @ @ @ in Final B could suffer that fate .
Seongnam FC , who have now dropped @ @ @ @ @ one point above Incheon and Busan .
Suwon Samsung Bluewings defeated FC Seoul 3-1 Saturday @ @ @ @ @ of breathing room , though they 're still just three points clear of the relegation @ @

By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- One matchday into the final round of the South Korean football season and there are already changes at both ends of the table.
Incheon United moved out of the K League 1 cellar on Sunday, setting a club scoring record in a 6-0 rout of Seongnam FC. Stefan Mugosa scored his second hat trick of the month for Incheon.
Stefan Mugosa of Incheon United (L) celebrates his goal against Seongnam FC during a K League 1 match at Tancheon Sports Complex in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on Sept. 27, 2020, in this photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Incheon improved to 21 points. Busan IPark, who lost to Gangwon FC 2-0 the same day, remained stuck at 21 points. Incheon and Busan are also tied in the first tiebreaker, goals scored, at 21 apiece, but Incheon have the edge in the goal difference tiebreaker, minus 9 to minus 12.
Incheon, who began the season on a 15-match winless skid, had been in last place among 12 clubs since June 7.
They enjoyed a man advantage for all but two minutes of the match. Seongnam defender Yeon Je-woon was sent off with a direct red card in just the second minute after his foul on Mugosa. He received a yellow card at first, but following a review from the video assistant referee, it was upgraded to the red.
Yeon Je-woon of Seongnam FC leaves the field after receiving a direct red card during a K League 1 match against Incheon United at Tancheon Sports Complex in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on Sept. 27, 2020, in this photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
It was the second-fastest direct red issued in K League history.
Mugosa scored his first goal with a header in the 18th and added two more in the final seven minutes of the match for the trifecta.
This past weekend marked the opening of the final stretch of the 2020 season, after teams were split into two tiers. The top six clubs after 22 matches ended up in Final A, and the rest were grouped in Final B. Teams will play four more matches within their own groups to close out the season.
Adam Taggart of Suwon Samsung Bluewings (2nd from R) celebrates his goal against FC Seoul during a K League 1 match at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, 45 kilometers south of Seoul, on Sept. 26, 2020, in this photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
The last-place club at the season's end will be relegated to the K League 2 for 2021, and any of the six clubs in Final B could suffer that fate. Seongnam FC, who have now dropped three straight, sit just one point above Incheon and Busan. Suwon Samsung Bluewings defeated FC Seoul 3-1 Saturday to give themselves a bit of breathing room, though they're still just three points clear of the relegation zone.
At the top of the table, the two-horse race for the title between Ulsan Hyundai FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors got even tighter on Sunday.
Park Han-bin of Daegu FC (R) celebrates his goal against Ulsan Hyundai during a K League 1 match at DGB Daegu Bank Park in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Sept. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Ulsan blew a late lead and settled for a 2-2 draw with Daegu FC and moved to 51 points. Jeonbuk pulled even in points with 51 following a 1-0 win over Sangju Sangmu.
Ulsan remain ahead in first place thanks to their edge in goals scored, 47-39. Ulsan led Jeonbuk by five points just two weeks ago.
Junior Negrao netted his league-leading 25th goal for Ulsan, a 27th-minute marker that leveled the score at 1-1. Ulsan then took the lead on Kim Tae-hwan's goal five minutes into the second half. In the 90th minute, though, Park Han-bin scored the equalizer for Daegu and helped the underdogs steal one point that must have felt like three points.
Against Sangju, Jeonbuk made Lee Seung-gi's 70th-minute marker stand as the winner and kept the pressure on Ulsan.
Jeonbuk are going for an unprecedented fourth straight championship. Ulsan's last title came in 2005.
The final round will resume Friday with a match between Ulsan and Gwangju FC, with two more matches on Saturday and three on Sunday to follow.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--Joint probe on N.K. shooting incident should be conducted swiftly: PM

`` Like it or not , ( the two Koreas ) can not but foster peace through communication .
In @ @ @ @ @ from developing into a serious hindrance , a fact-finding probe must be conducted as soon @ @ @ @ @ Minister Chung Sye-kyun said in a radio interview .

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- A joint inter-Korean investigation into a recent killing of a South Korean fisheries official by North Korean soldiers should be carried out as soon as possible, the South's prime minister said Monday.
"Like it or not, (the two Koreas) cannot but foster peace through communication. In order to prevent this incident from developing into a serious hindrance, a fact-finding probe must be conducted as soon as possible," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said in a radio interview.
On Tuesday, North Korean troops shot a 47-year-old South Korean fisheries official who was adrift in its waters and incinerated his body, according to the South Korean military. He went missing the previous day while on duty near the Yellow Sea border island of Yeonpyeong.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un apologized for the incident Friday in a message sent by the United Front Department, a key espionage agency handling inter-Korean affairs. The North, however, claimed that what it set on fire was not his body but an object he was using to stay afloat.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announces a special statement addressed to the nation on Sept. 27, 2020, at the government complex in Seoul, urging the public to remain vigilant against transmissions of COVID-19 during the upcoming Chuseok autumn harvest holiday. (Yonhap)
South Korea's presidential office on Sunday called on the North to conduct a joint investigation and to reopen the severed bilateral military communication line for related work.
The prime minister said: "Both sides would accept the results if the probe is conducted jointly. I see no reason why it can't be carried out jointly."
Chung also stressed the importance of restoring severed South-North communication channels.
"The tragic incident may have been prevented had the military communication line, which was used to prevent military conflict, remained open. Restoring South-North communications channels, including the military line, is needed for both sides," he said.
Regarding plans by some hard-line conservatives to hold anti-government rallies this week, Chung said that the people's right to protest "isn't more important than people's lives and safety."
On Sunday, Chung warned the government will take a zero-tolerance policy against any unsanctioned demonstrations on National Foundation Day on Saturday, warning illegal participants will face immediate arrest.
South Korean Marines patrol a beach of the western border island of Yeonpyeong on Sept. 25, 2020, amid tensions over North Korea's killing of a South Korean official in its waters on Sept. 22. (Yonhap)
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--(LEAD) New virus cases lowest in 48 days, virus curbs in place ahead of major holiday

The daily new number is also sharply down from 95 a day earlier , but the fall in daily virus @ @ @ @ @ tests tend to be fewer over the weekend than weekdays .

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info and health minister's remarks throughout)
SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases increased by the smallest number in nearly two months Monday as the country steps up its virus fight ahead of Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving.
The country added 50 more COVID-19 cases, including 40 local infections, bringing the total caseload to 23,661, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The daily new cases are the lowest in 48 days since Aug. 11 when 34 cases were reported.
The daily new number is also sharply down from 95 a day earlier, but the fall in daily virus cases also came as virus tests tend to be fewer over the weekend than weekdays.
A medical worker helps a woman at the National Medical Center in Seoul on Sept. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
Daily new local infections stayed in double digits for the fourth straight day after the country reported 95 on Friday, 49 on Saturday and 73 on Sunday, the KDCA said.
The number of daily new infections bounced back to over 100 Wednesday and stayed over 100 Thursday and Friday. The number fell below 100 Saturday.
New virus cases had been in the triple digits for more than a month since Aug. 14 due to cases tied to a church in Seoul and an anti-government rally before briefly falling below 100.
The government has designated Monday to Oct. 11 as a special period for strengthened virus curbs as many people are expected to travel during the Chuseok holiday, which runs from Wednesday to Sunday.
The biggest, imminent challenge is to prevent a potential rebound in new virus cases around the upcoming Chuseok holiday, which traditionally entails mass movements of people and family gatherings across the country.
The country also has a three-day break from Oct. 9 to 11, when Hangeul Day, which celebrates the Korean alphabet, is combined with the weekend.
"The number of local infections is on a downward trend but is still fluctuating," Health Minister Park Neunghoo said in a regular government COVID-19 response meeting.
Health authorities have been urging people to stay home over the holidays, but to better contain local transmissions of COVID-19, they unveiled more tailored guidelines last week under the Level 2 distancing in the country's three-tier social distancing scheme.
At the current level, indoor gatherings of 50 or more people are banned, and outdoor meetings of 100 or more people are also prohibited. Sports events are allowed without spectators.
By region, Seoul added 19 new virus cases, and nearby Gyeonggi Province and Incheon saw 13 and one new patients, respectively, according to the KDCA.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with North Gyeongsang Province reporting four new cases and the southeastern port city of Busan adding one new case, the KDCA.
Cluster infections continued to be reported at workplaces, nursing homes, churches and day care centers, especially in the greater Seoul area.
Cases traced to a nursing hospital in Seoul's northern ward of Dobong came to 24 as of Sunday, with 24 cases from a gym in Seoul's western ward of Gwanak, the KDCA said.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients stood at 120 as of midnight, down four from the previous day, according to the authorities.
The country also reported 10 new imported cases, sharply down from 22 a day earlier, the KDCA said.
South Korea reported five additional deaths, raising the death toll to 406. The fatality rate was 1.72 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 21,292, up 44 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 2,301,303 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--Kia's local plant unfazed by 3 new cases

Kia has eight plants in Korea -- two in Gwangmyeong , three in Hwaseong and three in Gwangju -- and @ @ @ @ @ in China and one each in the United States , Slovakia , Mexico and India @ @ @ @ @ 3.84 million units .

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- Kia Motors Corp. said Monday most of its domestic plants are in operation as three new coronavirus cases reported Sunday were not related to assembly line workers.
Kia said Sunday three assembly line workers in the Sohari plant in Gwangmyeong, south of Seoul, were infected with the coronavirus but corrected the information the following day.
"The three confirmed cases turned out to be related to relatives of the plant's assembly line workers. So the plant's operation was not affected by the cases," a company spokesman said.
This file photo shows Kia Motors' Sohari plant in Gwangmyeong, south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
Kia halted the operations of the Sohari plant from Sept. 16-21 after some of its workers tested positive for COVID-19, with all of the 6,000 employees at the plants staying at home.
The plant's operations returned to normal last week as no more infections were reported at the plants. Eleven assembly line workers were confirmed to have been infected with the virus, with the number of related cases reaching 18.
The company did not provide the value of production losses due to the suspension. The two plants in Gwangmyeong have a combined capacity of 320,000 units a year.
Kia produces the K9 flagship sedan, the Stinger sports car and the Carnival minivan at the No. 1 plant in Gwangmyeong, and the Pride subcompact and the Stonic subcompact SUV at the No. 2 plant.
Kia has eight plants in Korea -- two in Gwangmyeong, three in Hwaseong and three in Gwangju -- and seven overseas ones -- three in China and one each in the United States, Slovakia, Mexico and India. Their overall capacity is 3.84 million units.
kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--LG launches new voice-controlled massage chair

Previously , the chair provided massage services from neck to hip , but that coverage has now expanded from neck @ @ @ @ @ model .

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- LG Electronics Inc., South Korea's major home appliance maker, on Monday unveiled a new massage chair with a voice control feature as it aims to boost health care products amid the pandemic-driven stay-at-home trend.
The new model of LG's HealingMe massage chair, MH60G, comes with a voice-activated system with which users can set massage courses and strength control, the company said.
It also automatically detects users' shoulder width and leg length to set a comfortable position for massages, the company added.
Previously, the chair provided massage services from neck to hip, but that coverage has now expanded from neck to thigh with the new model.
The MH60G offers a total of 10 massage courses. It is also equipped with a Bluetooth speaker and heating seat function.
The new massage chair will go on sale in South Korea on Tuesday with a price tag of 4.4 million won (US$3,750).
This photo provided by LG Electronics Inc. on Sept. 28, 2020, shows the company's new HealingMe massage chair MH60G. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--Samsung tipped to log strong Q3 earnings on solid chip biz, mobile sales recovery

`` It appears that Samsung has performed well amid Huawei 's struggle and Apple 's new iPhone launch delay , @ @ @ @ @ from a stay-at-home trend , '' said Song Myung-sub , an analyst at Hi Investment @ @ @ @ @ decreased marketing costs amid the pandemic , the mobile business unit 's operating margin is @ @ @ @ @ percent in the third quarter . ''

By Joo Kyung-don
SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Electronics Co. is expected to report strong third-quarter earnings, analysts here said Monday, as its mainstay semiconductor business remained solid despite a decline in memory prices, while its mobile and home appliance sales soared on pent-up demand amid the pandemic.
Samsung was projected to log 63.95 trillion won (US$54.5 billion) in sales in the July-September period, up 3.1 percent from a year earlier, while operating profit was estimated to surge 33.7 percent on-year to 10.4 trillion won over the period, according to Yonhap Infomax, the financial news arm of Yonhap News Agency, which compiled data from 17 brokerage houses.
Should Samsung meet the consensus, the tech giant will post its best quarterly performance since the fourth quarter of 2018, when it logged an operating profit of 10.8 trillion won.
An outdoor sign of Samsung Electronics Co. at the company's office building in Seoul (Yonhap)
Compared with the previous quarter, the estimated figure suggests Samsung seeing a 20.7 percent increase in sales and a 27.6 percent jump in operating profit.
Samsung, the world's leading memory chip and smartphone producer, is expected to announce its third-quarter earnings guidance next week.
Analysts have been raising their earnings outlook for Samsung in recent weeks after they assessed that its chip business is not likely to suffer a big drop in sales despite a decline in memory prices prompted by an excess in inventory.
Server DRAM products in the third quarter were projected to suffer a 10-15 percent price drop in the third quarter, according to market researcher TrendForce, which also estimated that prices for mobile DRAM and consumer DRAM chips to see up to an 8 percent and maximum 10 percent decline, respectively.
However, rush orders from Huawei Technologies Co., the world's top telecom equipment maker and No. 2 smartphone producer, apparently helped Samsung's chip business to stay afloat.
Analysts predicted Samsung's chip business to post an operating profit of around 5 trillion won in the third quarter of the year.
This photo provided by Samsung Electronics Co. on Aug. 30, 2020, shows the company's LPDDR5 mobile DRAM. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Huawei, one of Samsung's five largest customers, has been aggressively procuring semiconductors ahead of the U.S. export restrictions that have been in place since Sept. 15.
"Bit growth for DRAM and NAND flash is expected to mark 3 percent and 12 percent quarter-on-quarter increases, respectively, better than its previous guidance," said Kim Kyung-min, an analyst at Hana Financial Investment.
"Rush orders from its Chinese client, along with a better yield rate and increased wafer input from the expansion of its Xian plant, pushed up the growth," she said.
Analysts also predicted that Samsung's foundry business logged growth in the third quarter. The company reportedly secured orders from Qualcomm and Nvidia to manufacture their latest chips.
Samsung's mobile business was tipped to see a big improvement in its earnings with increased smartphone sales and reduced marketing costs.
Many analysts here predicted that Samsung's mobile business logged 4 trillion won in operating profit in the third quarter, more than double its second-quarter operating profit of 1.95 trillion won.
Samsung's Galaxy smartphone sales were estimated to be around 80 million units in the third quarter, about a 50 percent increase from the previous quarter, while that of tablets reached 10 million units, roughly 45 percent higher than the second quarter, analysts added.
This file photo taken Aug. 7, 2020, shows Samsung Electronics Co.'s Galaxy Note 20 smartphones displayed at a store in Seoul. (Yonhap)
"It appears that Samsung has performed well amid Huawei's struggle and Apple's new iPhone launch delay, while its tablet sales benefited from a stay-at-home trend," said Song Myung-sub, an analyst at Hi Investment & Securities. "With decreased marketing costs amid the pandemic, the mobile business unit's operating margin is expected to be around 10.5 percent in the third quarter."
Samsung's home appliance business was also tipped to get a boost from pent-up demand amid the pandemic-driven stay-at-home economy with a sharp increase in its TV sales.
Some analysts even predicted the company's consumer electronics unit to post over 1 trillion won in operating profit in the third quarter, its best quarterly performance since the second quarter of 2016.
"Considering TV shipments in July and August, it appears that Samsung's third-quarter TV shipments have posted a better growth than the company's earlier estimate of a 40 percent increase from the previous quarter," said Lee Seung-woo, an analyst at Eugene Securities.
According to a recent report from market tracker Omdia, the global QLED TV market, led by Samsung, was projected to grow to 2.44 million units in the third quarter, up 83.9 percent from a year earlier.
Samsung's display business was projected to post mediocre earnings in the third quarter due to the delayed launch of Apple's new iPhone 12 series.
This file photo taken April 29, 2020, shows a customer looking at Samsung Electronics Co.'s QLED TVs at a store in Seoul. (Yonhap)
kdon@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--New virus cases lowest in 48 days, virus curbs in place ahead of major holiday

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases increased by the smallest number in nearly two months Monday as the country steps up its virus fight ahead of Chuseok, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving.
The country added 50 more COVID-19 cases, including 40 local infections, bringing the total caseload to 23,661, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The daily new cases are the lowest in 48 days since Aug. 11 when 34 cases were reported.
The daily new number is also sharply down from 95 a day earlier, but the fall in daily virus cases also came as virus tests tend to be fewer over the weekend than weekdays.
The number of daily new infections bounced back to over 100 Wednesday and stayed over 100 Thursday and Friday. The number fell below 100 Saturday.
New virus cases had been in the triple digits for more than a month since Aug. 14 due to cases tied to a church in Seoul and an anti-government rally before briefly falling below 100.
A medical worker helps a woman at the National Medical Center in Seoul on Sept. 27, 2020. (Yonhap)
The government has designated Monday to Oct. 11 as a special period for strengthened virus curbs as many people are expected to travel during the Chuseok holiday, which runs from Wednesday to Sunday.
The biggest, imminent challenge is to prevent a potential rebound in new virus cases around the upcoming Chuseok holiday, which traditionally entails mass movements of people and family gatherings across the country.
The country also has a three-day break from Oct. 9 to 11, when Hangeul Day, which celebrates the Korean alphabet, is combined with the weekend.
Health authorities have been urging people to stay home over the holidays, but to better contain local transmissions of COVID-19, they unveiled more tailored guidelines last week under the Level 2 distancing in the country's three-tier social distancing scheme.
At the current level, indoor gatherings of 50 or more people are banned, and outdoor meetings of 100 or more people are also prohibited. Sports events are allowed without spectators.
By region, Seoul added 19 new virus cases, and nearby Gyeonggi Province and Incheon saw 13 and one new patients, respectively, according to the KDCA.
The country also reported 10 new imported cases, sharply down from 22 a day earlier, the KDCA said.
South Korea reported five additional deaths, raising the death toll to 406. The fatality rate was 1.72 percent.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 21,292, up 44 from the previous day.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--Seoul stocks open sharply higher on Wall Street gains

The local currency was trading at 1,173.1 won to the U.S. dollar , down 0.8 won from the previous session @ @ @

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks opened sharply higher Monday, taking a cue from U.S. stock rallies during the weekend.
The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) gained 19.48 points, or 0.85 percent, to 2,298.27 in the first 15 minutes of trading.
Local stocks got off to a strong start, tracking strong advances by U.S. tech giants such as Apple, Microsoft and Tesla.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.26 percent to 10,913.56 the previous session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.34 percent, with the S&P 500 adding 1.6 percent.
Most large caps traded higher in Seoul.
Market kingpin Samsung Electronics rose 0.35 percent, while No. 2 chipmaker SK hynix shed 1.21 percent.
Internet portal giant Naver gained 1.69 percent, with its rival Kakao up 2.7 percent.
Leading chemical maker LG Chem edged up 0.32 percent, and rechargeable battery maker Samsung SDI rose 0.97 percent.
Top pharmaceutical firm Samsung Biologics climbed 0.59 percent, and Celltrion advanced 0.58 percent.
The local currency was trading at 1,173.1 won to the U.S. dollar, down 0.8 won from the previous session's close.
jwc@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--(3rd LD) New virus cases lowest in 48 days; virus curbs in place ahead of major holiday

The daily new number is also sharply down from 95 a day earlier , but the fall in daily virus @ @ @ @ @ tests tend to be fewer over the weekend than on weekdays .

(ATTN: ADDS details throughout)
SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's new coronavirus cases increased by the smallest number in nearly two months Monday, but the country continues to step up its virus fight ahead of a major holiday later this week.
The country added 50 more COVID-19 cases, including 40 local infections, bringing the total caseload to 23,661, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The daily new cases are the lowest in 48 days since Aug. 11 when 34 cases were reported, just before a new cluster of infections emerged from a church and an anti-government rally in Seoul on Aug. 15.
Medical staff members get ready to carry out new coronavirus tests at a makeshift clinic in the southern city of Gwangju on Sept. 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
The daily new number is also sharply down from 95 a day earlier, but the fall in daily virus cases also came as virus tests tend to be fewer over the weekend than on weekdays.
Daily new local infections stayed in double digits for the fourth straight day after the country reported 95 on Friday, 49 on Saturday and 73 on Sunday, the KDCA said.
The number of daily new infections bounced back to over 100 Wednesday and stayed over 100 Thursday and Friday. The number fell below 100 Saturday.
Despite the fall in new virus cases, health authorities still remain vigilant just ahead of the Chuseok holiday, the Korean equivalent of Thanksgiving, later this week when tens of millions of people are expected to travel across the country.
The government has designated Monday to Oct. 11 as a special period for strengthened virus curbs as many people are expected to travel during the holiday that runs from Wednesday to Sunday.
"There are concerns over possible new outbreaks during the holiday through family gatherings and travel," KDCA Director Jeong Eun-kyeong said in a press briefing.
The country also has a three-day break from Oct. 9 to 11, when Hangeul Day, which celebrates the Korean alphabet, is combined with the weekend.
"The number of local infections is on a downward trend but is still fluctuating," Health Minister Park Neunghoo said in a regular government COVID-19 response meeting earlier in the day.
Health authorities have been urging people to stay home over the holidays, but to better contain local transmissions of COVID-19, they unveiled more tailored guidelines last week under the Level 2 distancing in the country's three-tier social distancing scheme.
At the current level, indoor gatherings of 50 or more people are banned, and outdoor meetings of 100 or more people are also prohibited. Sports events are allowed without spectators.
By region, Seoul added 19 new virus cases, and nearby Gyeonggi Province and Incheon saw 13 and one new patients, respectively, according to the KDCA.
Later in the day, the capital city said eight new cases were confirmed Monday, which were not yet reflected on the official tally.
Cases with unknown infection routes accounted for 20.9 percent of the newly added infections over the past two weeks. Cluster infections took up 33.1 percent, the KCDA data showed.
Other municipalities reported new infections, with North Gyeongsang Province reporting four new cases and the southeastern port city of Busan adding one new case.
Cluster infections continued to be reported at workplaces, nursing homes, churches and day care centers, especially in the greater Seoul area.
An elderly man talks with his family members via KT Corp.'s Narle service, a high-definition group video chat service, at a nursing home amid the global coronavirus pandemic, in this photo released by the telecommunication service provider on Sept. 28, 2020. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Cases traced to a nursing hospital in Seoul's northern ward of Dobong came to 27, up three from a day earlier, the authorities said. Five more infections tied to a gym in Seoul's western ward of Gwanak were recorded, bringing the total to 29.
Health authorities also cautioned against a potential so-called twindemic as the winter season approaches, as respiratory viruses, including influenza and COVID-19, have nearly identical symptoms.
A total of three people were confirmed to have both the COVID-19 virus and seasonal flu virus, but their symptoms are mild, they said.
The number of seriously or critically ill COVID-19 patients stood at 120 as of midnight, down four from the previous day, according to the authorities.
The country also reported 10 new imported cases, sharply down from 22 a day earlier, the KDCA said.
South Korea reported five additional deaths, raising the death toll to 406. The fatality rate was 1.72 percent.
The KDCA said 18 people have died from COVID-19 over the past one week, with 17 of them aged 60 or older.
The total number of people released from quarantine after making full recoveries stood at 21,292, up 44 from the previous day.
The country has carried out 2,301,303 coronavirus tests since Jan. 3.
khj@yna.co.kr
(END)


yna--2020-09-28--S. Korea, Mekong nations vow closer ties amid COVID-19 pandemic

`` Today , we are faced with an unprecedented global pandemic that has disrupted our lives on all fronts , @ @ @ @ @ Still , I am very relieved to note that the Mekong-ROK cooperation has not stalled @ @ @ @ @ acronym for South Korea 's offical name , the Republic of Korea .

SEOUL, Sept. 28 (Yonhap) -- The top diplomats of South Korea and the five Mekong River nations on Monday vowed to forge deeper economic ties while rolling out joint efforts to fight the new coronavirus pandemic, the foreign ministry said.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha participated in the 10th South Korea-Mekong foreign ministers' meeting, held virtually with countries located around the Mekong River: Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand.
"Today, we are faced with an unprecedented global pandemic that has disrupted our lives on all fronts," Kang said. "Still, I am very relieved to note that the Mekong-ROK cooperation has not stalled." ROK is the acronym for South Korea's offical name, the Republic of Korea.
During the meeting, Kang said that South Korea and the Southeast Asian nations should expand cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and seeking an economic recovery.
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha speaks during a session of the foreign affairs and unification committee of the National Assembly in Seoul in Sept. 28, 2020. (Yonhap)
The five countries also expressed gratitude to South Korea for providing them with various medical supplies to help them fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I am also very pleased that in recognition of the importance of Mekong-ROK partnership, Korea was able to increase its contribution to the Mekong-ROK Cooperation Fund (MKCF) to US$3 million this year," Kang said. "We are committed to continually increasing our annual contribution to the MKCF."
South Korea and the Southeast Asian countries vowed to make joint efforts to ease entry restrictions for essential travelers.
The minister reaffirmed Seoul's commitment to pursue peace on the Korean Peninsula despite various hurdles, saying it is important for the talks among Seoul, Pyongyang and Washington to resume soon.
The Mekong nations echoed the view, pointing out that they also support South Korea's efforts to resume talks with North Korea.
South Korea also promised to play an active role in preserving the biodiversity of the region.
In 2019, President Moon Jae-in and the leaders of the Mekong nations held their first summit in the southern port city of Busan. They adopted a joint declaration centering on enhancing their economic development cooperation in resources, farming and environment, by sharing Korea's experience of its rapid post-war growth.
South Korea and the five Southeast Asian countries held their first meeting of foreign ministers in 2011.
(END)