South Korea: Stock Market Plunge, Police Reform, Invictus Games Hosting, and Global Heritage Call

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

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■ (2nd LD) Stocks dip over 4 pct on extended chip rout, Mideast tensions

SEOUL -- South Korean stocks closed more than 4 percent lower Monday, as artificial intelligence (AI) woes resurfaced amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The Korean won rose against the U.S. dollar.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) plunged 304.33 points, or 4.46 percent, to 6,516.27points, after falling as low as 6,472.80.

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■ Acting police chief vows to revamp entire investigation system

SEOUL -- The nation's acting police chief on Monday reiterated his commitment to overhauling the entire police investigation system amid an ongoing controversy over the alleged mishandling of a high-profile murder case in the southwestern city of Gwangju.

Yoo Jae-seong, acting commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), told reporters that the police will use the Gwangju case as an opportunity to thoroughly overhaul the entire investigation system and restore public trust.

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■ (LEAD) S. Korea's Daejeon selected as host city for 2029 Invictus Games: veterans ministry

SEOUL -- The South Korean central city of Daejeon was selected Monday to host the Invictus Games in 2029, becoming the first Asian country to stage the international sporting event for injured service members, the veterans ministry said.

The Invictus Games Foundation in Britain chose Daejeon, located about 140 kilometers south of Seoul, over Aalborg in Denmark and San Diego in the United States, to host the 2029 competition, according to the ministry.

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■ Homeplus files appeal, seeking to revive court rehabilitation proceedings

SEOUL -- Homeplus Co. on Monday filed an appeal against a Seoul court's decision to terminate its corporate rehabilitation proceedings, seeking to revive its supervised restructuring process.

The financially troubled discount store chain submitted an immediate appeal to the Seoul Bankruptcy Court on Monday afternoon, the company said in a press release.

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■ UNESCO officials call for urgent global awakening to protect heritage sites from climate change, conflicts

BUSAN -- Top UNESCO officials on Monday called for an urgent "global awakening" and collective preventive measures to safeguard the world's cultural and natural heritage from the escalating threats of climate change and armed conflicts.

Speaking at a press conference in South Korea's southeastern city of Busan, the host city of the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Nayef Al-Fayez emphasized that the ongoing destruction of heritage sites places a heavy responsibility on the global community to come together for a solution.