Yonhap News Summary

The following is the second summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Wednesday.

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(2nd LD) S. Korea's military condemns Japanese warplane's 'provocative' close-range flight

SEOUL -- South Korea's military on Wednesday strongly condemned a Japanese warplane's low-altitude flight close to a South Korean warship, calling it a "provocative act."

At 2:03 p.m., the Maritime Self-Defense Force's patrol plane flew close to the Navy ship at an altitude of 60 to 70 meters just 540 meters away near Ieodo, a submerged rock south of Korea's southern island of Jeju, it said.

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U.S. wants S. Korea to pay $1.2 billion for USFK in one-year contract: source

SEOUL -- The U.S. government has demanded a 41 percent hike this year in South Korea's contribution toward the stationing of American troops here, while Seoul insists on a minimal increase, a diplomatic source said Wednesday.

The U.S. is also calling for a one-year contract, versus Seoul's desire for it to last three to five years.

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Moon calls for increased benefits of fair trade for consumers

SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday called for additional government efforts to expand the benefits of fair trade not just for businesses but also consumers, calling it a way to ensure innovation and growth.

"I highlighted the importance of innovation-led growth and the need to build an inclusive nation in my new year press conference, but both innovation and inclusion can be obtained when supported by fair trade," the president said in a special meeting with economy-related ministers.

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Appeals court upholds another wartime forced labor victim's compensation claim

SEOUL -- A Seoul appellate court on Wednesday upheld another compensation claim by an elderly South Korean victim of Japan's wartime forced labor, ordering Nachi-Fujikoshi Corp. to pay her 100 million won (US$88,754).

The appeals division of the Seoul Central District Court made the ruling in favor of Lee Choon-myeon, 88, who filed litigation accusing the Japanese company of forcing her to toil without pay in poor working conditions during World War II.

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(LEAD) Ex-prosecutor in 'Me Too' case gets 2 years in jail

SEOUL -- A former ranking prosecutor was sentenced to two years in jail Wednesday for unfairly disadvantaging his female junior colleague after she raised sexual misconduct allegations against him.

The Seoul Central District Court handed down the guilty verdict to Ahn Tae-geun, who last held his job as chief of criminal affairs at the Ministry of Justice. Ahn was immediately taken into custody after the court ruling.

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Marine pollution and oil spill accidents on the rise: Coast Guard

SEOUL -- The number of marine pollution and oil spill accidents in South Korea increased last year, the Korea Coast Guard (KCG) said Wednesday.

A total of 288 accidents of sea pollution were reported nationwide in 2018, up 6 percent, or 271, from the previous year, the KCG said.

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S. Korea finalizes list of 5 candidates for nat'l baseball manager

SEOUL -- South Korea on Wednesday finalized a list of five candidates for the national baseball team managerial position.

The technical committee at the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) met for its second meeting at the KBO headquarters in Seoul, chaired by technical director Kim Si-jin.

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(LEAD) Seoul shares rebound on institutional buying

SEOUL -- South Korean stocks bounced back on Wednesday as the latest developments in the trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing eased concerns among institutional investors, analysts said. The local currency firmed against the U.S. dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) advanced 10.01 points, or 0.47 percent, to finish at 2,127.78.

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