PRESS DIGEST - South Korean newspapers - Mar 25

SEOUL, March 25 (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 National Human Rights Commission will intensify investigations into torture of North Korean refugees who are forcefully repatriated to their country, an official from the independent body said.

A number of oil refiners, including the country's top five, have received excessive rebates, using irregular means, from the government which mount up to roughly 138 billion won ($138.4 million), according to the Board of Audit and Inspection of Korea.

MAEIL BUSINESS NEWSPAPER

Allianz Life Insurance Co Ltd, a German insurance group is taking steps to lay off or reprimand 160 of its branch managers in the country for illegally taking part in a union labour strike.

KOREA BUSINESS DAILY

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd (005930.KS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) will begin operating in the second quarter a joint 300-millimetre-wafer factory in Singapore with Siltronic, a German company which ranks third in producing silicon wafers in the world, a company official said. Samsung currently relies on outside suppliers for wafers which are used in semiconductor manufacturing.

($1=996.9 Won)