Yonhap News Summary

The following is the first summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Monday.

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Seoul shares down 1.61 pct in late morning trade

SEOUL -- South Korean stocks traded 1.61 percent lower late Monday morning as U.S.-oriented growth concerns dampened investor sentiment here.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) lost 35.13 points to trade at 2,151.82 as of 11:20 a.m.

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S. Korea's ruling party chief heads to Vietnam for 3-day trip

SEOUL -- The chief of South Korea's ruling party embarked on a three-day trip to Vietnam on Monday to seek ways to promote cooperation with Hanoi at the party and state levels.

Before departing at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, Lee Hae-chan, chairman of the Democratic Party (DP), told reporters he plans to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with his counterpart in Vietnam's ruling party to enhance exchange and cooperation.

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(LEAD) Ko Jin-young rallies for 3rd career LPGA victory

SEOUL -- South Korean Ko Jin-young has pulled off an impressive comeback for her third career LPGA victory.

Ko rallied from a four-shot deficit to take the Bank of Hope Founders Cup at Wildfire Golf Club at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix on Sunday (local time). Ko carded a bogey-free final round of seven-under 65 to finish at 22-under 266, beating Liu Yu of China and three others by one stroke.

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N.K. denounces Seoul over slow progress in implementing inter-Korean deals

SEOUL -- North Korean propaganda outlets lashed out at South Korea on Monday over its stance of pushing forward with cross-border cooperation projects only within the framework of sanctions imposed on the communist nation.

Pyongyang has been ramping up calls for full-scale economic cooperation with South Korea, as their joint projects have hit a wall following the breakdown of the second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump in Hanoi last month.

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S. Korean economy seems to be slowing down: BOK chief

SEOUL -- South Korea's central bank chief said Monday that Asia's fourth-largest economy seems to losing steam amid signs of a global economic downturn.

"The South Korean economy saw its growth pace fall due to sluggish exports," Bank of Korea (BOK) Gov. Lee Ju-yeol said in a parliamentary session. "Uncertainties stemming from external downside risks are also high and affecting the country's growth."

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(2nd LD) Dozens of S. Korean officials head to joint liaison office after N. Korea's abrupt pullout

SEOUL/PAJU -- Dozens of South Korean officials headed to an inter-Korean liaison office in North Korea on Monday, the unification ministry said, despite Pyongyang's abrupt pullout of its staff from the office last week.

Around 40 South Korean officials crossed the western land border on their way to the liaison office in the North's border town of Kaesong, according to the ministry. Together with about two dozen people already there, about 60-70 South Korean officials are expected to staff the office this week, officials said.

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(Yonhap Interview) American slugger back in KBO bigger, hopefully better

SEOUL -- There is little doubt that Jared Hoying had an outstanding first season in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) with the Hanwha Eagles in 2018. His numbers speak for themselves: a .306 batting average, 30 home runs, 110 RBIs, 23 steals and a league-high 47 doubles. Hoying was the only KBO player with at least 30 homers and 20 steals in 2018, as he helped the Eagles reach their first postseason in 11 years.

Those stats could have been even better, had it not been for a significant weight loss in the second half that saw him sputter toward the finish line. Hoying batted .266 in September, his lowest mark for a full month, and in his final six regular season games in October, he went just 3-for-23 with zero home runs and one RBI.
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