Yonhap News Summary | Yonhap News Agency
The following is the first summary of major stories moved by Yonhap News Agency on Friday.
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■ Ruling party calls for more drilling for oil, gas prospects in East Sea
SEOUL — The interim leader of the ruling People Power Party on Friday urged further exploratory drilling for potential oil and gas reserves off the nation’s East Sea, a day after the government assessed that the project may not be economically feasible.
Kwon Young-se made the calls during an SBS radio interview, stressing the need for the government to look in the long-term and conduct more drilling into the reserves.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250207003100315?section=national/politics
Kwon Young-se, chief of the ruling People Power Party’s emergency leadership committee, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 6, 2025. (Yonhap)
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■ (LEAD) 3.1-magnitude quake hits S. Korea’s central city of Chungju; no damage reported
SEOUL — A 3.1-magnitude earthquake struck South Korea’s central city of Chungju early Friday, the state weather agency said, prompting the government to operate a disaster management body and issue the second highest quake alert.
The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said that the quake took place in an area 22 kilometers northwest of Chungju’s city hall in North Chungcheong Province, at 2:35 a.m. The epicenter was located in the town of Angseong, with a depth measured at 9 kilometers.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250207000351315?section=national/national
An image, captured from the website of the Korea Meteorological Administration, shows the epicenter of a quake that hit South Korea’s central city of Chungju on Feb. 7, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
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■ S. Korea ranks 1st in global shipbuilding orders in Jan.
SEOUL — South Korea ranked first in new global shipbuilding orders in January, outpacing its rival China, industry data showed Friday.
South Korean shipyards clinched orders totaling 900,000 compensated gross tons (CGTs) for 13 ships, accounting for 62 percent of the global total at 1.46 million CGTs last month, according to London-based Clarkson Research Services.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250207003000320?section=k-biz/index
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■ NewJeans rebrands as NJZ, set to perform in Hong Kong next month
SEOUL — K-pop girl group NewJeans has changed its name to NJZ and announced its first independent activities, including a performance at an upcoming event in Hong Kong, amid a contract dispute with its agency.
NJZ unveiled its new name and promotional photos through its official social media accounts, which have also been rebranded from “jeanzforfree” to “njz_official.”
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250207002800315?section=culture/k-pop
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■ Snow pounds South Korea for 2nd consecutive day
SEOUL — Heavy snow blanketed South Korea for the second consecutive day on Friday and is expected to continue into the weekend in many regions, with around 15 centimeters already piling up in southwestern regions, the state weather agency said.
On Friday morning, 3 to 8 centimeters of snow fell per hour in many regions, including the southwestern provinces of Jeolla, the central provinces of Chungcheong, Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, and the southern Jeju Island, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20250207002500315?section=national/national
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