PRESS DIGEST - South Korean newspapers - Oct 1

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

KOREA ECONOMIC DAILY

26 South Korean companies are facing bankruptcy as they are unable to cover currency options agreements with local banks due to the weakening won KRW=, Democratic Party lawmakers said.

President Lee Myung-bak said that impact of the global financial turmoil on domestic prices and stock and currency markets was relatively small compared to some countries in Europe. KOREA TIMES

While South Korea ranked seventh among eight Asian countries in terms of attractive tourism spots, its average five-star hotel rates were the second-highest after Hong Kong, a Grand National Party lawmaker said.

CHOSUN ILBO

The number of monthly unsold homes hit its highest in July since the government started collecting figures in 1993, according to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.

MAEIL BUSINESS NEWSPAPER

South Korea will offer obese children in primary schools vouchers worth 40,000 won for diet and fitness programs, according to the 2009 budget plan.

A South Korean consortium including Korea Electric Power Corp (015760.KS) has signed a memorandum of understanding on joint uranium exploration in Russia with Russian state-owned mining firm ARMZ.

DONG-A ILBO

South Korea is set to lift restrictions by 2020 on development in a restricted areas around the country called "green belts" that combined are about half as big as Seoul, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs said.

JOONGANG ILBO

South Korea and Russia have signed a contract to build a exclusive factory site for South Korean companies near Moscow, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Moscow government announced.