PRESS DIGEST - South Korean newspapers - July 1

SEOUL, July 1 (Reuters) - The following is a summary of major South Korean newspapers on Tuesday, prepared by Reuters in Seoul. Reuters has not checked the stories and does not guarantee their accuracy.

CHOSUN ILBO

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency raided the office of a civic group that has led the ongoing protests against the resumption of U.S. beef imports. Meanwhile, the country's Prosecutor General Lim Chae-jin said it is time to put an end to candlelit vigils tarnished by illegitimacy and violence.

MAEIL BUSINESS NEWSPAPER

The government is set to vote on a free trade deal with the United States in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday and will propose the deal to the National Assembly, an official at the Prime Minister's office said.

South Korea's trade surplus toward China has decreased by more than 20 percent over the past three years, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said.

Chinese President Hu Jintao will visit South Korea around August 27, according to diplomatic sources in Beijing.

DONG-A ILBO

14 groups representing small retailers called for a halt in candlelit demonstrations and strict measures by the government to contain them, saying that lengthy and violent protests are threatening their livelihoods.

The Catholic Priests' Association for Justice joined Monday's candlelit vigil in Seoul and held a prayer session demanding renegotiation on American beef imports, with about 8,000 people attending.

KOREA ECONOMIC DAILY

The National Pension Fund, the world's fifth-largest pension fund, has decided to pump 14.5 trillion won ($13.80 billion) into the South Korean stock market in 2009 and 8.7 trillion won into overseas stock markets, representing 30 percent of its expected total investment.

Samsung Group is pursuing a plan that will see affiliates Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) and Samsung SDI (006400.KS) combine their plasma display panel (PDP) businesses, according to an official at Samsung Electronics.

North Korea is planning a large-scale construction project known as the "Pyongyang Global City Plan" for 2012, the 70th birthday of Kim Jong-il and the 100th anniversary of Kim Il-sung's birth, according to a source familiar with North Korea.