Yonhap News Summary

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

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Moon seeks advice from former ambassadors ahead of meeting with Trump

SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in was set to hold a rare meeting Monday with the country's former top diplomats to the United States, in an apparent move to seek advice on important topics and the best ways to deal with his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.

The meeting comes two days before the president is set to head to Washington, where he is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with the new U.S. head of state.

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Moon's rating falls for 2nd straight week amid disputes over personnel choices

SEOUL -- President Moon Jae-in's approval rating dropped last week for the second consecutive week amid disputes over his personnel choices and his policy adviser's security remarks, a survey showed Monday.

In the survey conducted from last Monday through Friday by local pollster Realmeter, Moon's support was tallied at 74.2 percent, down 1.4 percentage points from a week earlier.

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(LEAD) Bank heads eye improving economy, rising rates in H2

SEOUL -- Chiefs of South Korea's five major banks on Monday predicted the recovery of the country's economy to continue in the second half amid an uptrend in market interest rates.

The heads of KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori, KEB Hana and NH Nonghyup hinted they will tighten credit in the latter half to brace for a situation where rising market rates may lead to an increase in soured loans extended to troubled households and companies.

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Earnings outlook cut for refiners, chemicals on falling oil prices

SEOUL -- The earnings outlook for South Korean oil refiners and chemicals firms has been downgraded out of concerns that oil prices may leave a stain on their earnings, industry data showed Monday.

Oil prices in New York have been sliding for weeks, hovering at the mid-US$40 level per barrel, which represents the lowest level in almost one year.

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First cargo of U.S. shale gas to arrive next month

SEOUL -- The state-run Korea Gas Corp. (KOGAS) said Monday that the first cargo of U.S. shale gas will arrive here next month.

In 2012, KOGAS signed a deal with the Texas-based Cheniere to bring in 2.8 million tonnes of LNG annually for 20 years starting this year.

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Samsung's Galaxy S8 advert wins Cannes Lions awards

SEOUL -- Samsung Electronics Co.'s advertisement of its flagship Galaxy S8 smartphone won seven awards from the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the company said Monday.

The South Korean tech giant said it has won three gold, two silver and two bronze prizes from the festival with its advertisement dubbed "the dream of an ostrich."

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(2nd LD) S. Korean Ryu So-yeon captures 2nd LPGA win of 2017

SEOUL -- South Korean golfer Ryu So-yeon has picked up her second LPGA win of the season in Arkansas, rising to the No. 1 spot in world rankings in the process.

Ryu claimed the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas, on Sunday (local time) with a three-round total of 18-under 195. Ryu shot a two-under 69 in the final round to set a tournament record in relation to par, and beat fellow South Korean Amy Yang and Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand by two strokes.

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Lee Hyo-ri to pre-release 'Seoul' this week

SEOUL -- K-pop diva Lee Hyo-ri will pre-release a new song from her upcoming comeback album this week, her agency said Monday.

Kiwi Media Group, which represents the former girl group FIN.K.L member, announced on its social media that Lee will pre-release "Seoul" on Wednesday. The rest of the album is scheduled to come out July 4.

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Actress Jun Ji-hyun expecting second child in January

SEOUL -- South Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun is pregnant with her second child, according to her agency Monday.

"Jun Ji-hyun visited the hospital last week and learned that she's 10 weeks pregnant. The baby is due in January," Culture Depot said.
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