PRESS DIGEST - South Korean newspapers - Aug 18
SEOUL, Aug 18 (Reuters) - The following is a summary of major South Korean newspapers on Monday, prepared by Reuters in Seoul. Reuters has not checked the stories and does not guarantee their accuracy.
DONG-A ILBO
North Korea has told the South to reduce the number of staff at the Mount Kumgang resort to below 200, following its earlier announcement that it would expel people deemed "unnecessary," according to Hyundai Asan, which operates tours to the resort.
South Korea and the United States are holding the joint Ulchi Freedom Guardian military exercise today, with South Korean forces taking the lead for the first time in preparation for the takeover of wartime operational command from the United States in 2012, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
South Korea's agriculture ministry has declared the country free of avian influenza after a series of outbreaks earlier this year.
KOREA ECONOMIC DAILY
The amount of money South Koreans spent on studies abroad in the first half of the year has declined for the first time in seven years due to the sluggish domestic economy and exchange rates, according to the Bank of Korea.
Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) has increased its share of the North American LCD TV market with its new HD LCD TV model, the company said.
MAEIL BUSINESS NEWSPAPER
South Korea won the gold medal in the badminton mixed doubles at the Olympics, beating Indonesia.
STX Group (067250.KS) has raised its stake in Norwegian shipbuilder Aker Yards AKY.OL to over 70 percent through a public tender, the company said.
The South Korean government plans to announce measures to ease regulations on the reconstruction and sale of real estate assets before the Chuseok holiday, a Blue House official said.
