PRESS DIGEST - South Korean newspapers - Aug 8

SEOUL, Aug 8 (Reuters) - The following is a summary of major South Korean newspapers on Friday, prepared by Reuters in Seoul. Reuters has not checked the stories and does not guarantee their accuracy.

MAEIL BUSINESS NEWSPAPER

The government revised its plan to build as many as 13 nuclear power plants and announced it will build around 10 plants from 2017 to 2030, citing high international oil prices that are expected to affect demand for electricity, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said.

The consumer expectation index in July fell 2.2 points from the previous month to 84.6, its lowest since December 2000, according to the Korea National Statistics Office.

A group of researchers led by South Korean scientist Lee Sang-kyung and Harvard Medical School's Premlata Shankar has developed a gene treatment that helps prevent HIV from growing in cells, according to the international science journal Cell.

JOONGANG ILBO

The People's Association for Measures against Mad Cow Disease, which has led two-month long candlelight protests against the resumption of U.S. beef imports, will hold its 100th and the last rally on August 15, South Korea's Independence Day, according to the member of the association.

KOREA ECONOMIC DAILY

South Korean researchers have developed a technology that transforms human stem cells into smooth muscle cells that could help treatment of cardiovascular diseases, according to team leaders.  Continued...