Friday, November 1, 2019
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
Moon declares S. Korea's AI-gov't vision, with 'AI national strategy' in the making
President Moon Jae-in presented South Korea's vision Monday for taking the lead in the global artificial intelligence (AI) sector, as his government is striving hard to foster innovative growth in response to the fourth industrial revolution. Addressing a major tech conference in Seoul, he announced a push for the "AI-government" project based on the country's signature e-government system. "Artificial intelligence is approaching us as a new civilization beyond the advance of science and technology," Moon said during the DEVIEW 2019 conference held at the COEX convention center in southern Seoul.
S. Korea to approve 7th low-cost carrier
South Korea's transport ministry said Monday it will permit Fly Gangwon, the country's seventh low-cost carrier, to begin operations next month, a move that could further heat up competition in South Korea's aviation market. An air operator certificate to be issued to Fly Gangwon on Tuesday will allow the carrier to offer two flights a day on the Yangyang-Jeju route beginning in November, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement. "The aviation authorities will closely monitor the new airline's flight preparations, pilot schedules, airplane repairs and maintenance, and others during the first month of operations," a ministry official said.
ABS issuance dips 11.9 pct in Q3
The issuance of asset-backed securities (ABSs) in South Korea slipped 11.9 percent on-year in the third quarter because of a decline in sales of government-led mortgage funds, data showed Monday. The value of ABSs issues stood at 9.6 trillion won (US$8.1 billion) during the July-September period, down 1.3 trillion won from a year ago, according to the data from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
7 Missing in Helicopter Crash Near Dokdo
Seven South Koreans are missing after a helicopter crashed into waters near the Dokdo islets in the East Sea on Thursday night.
Authorities said on Friday that dozens of Navy and Coast Guard vessels and response helicopters were mobilized for overnight search operations but failed to find the missing persons as of 6 a.m. Friday.
N. Korea Says it Conducted 'Successful' Multiple Rocket Launcher Test
North Korean state media said on Friday that the country conducted another test of "super-large" multiple rocket launchers the previous day, calling it a success.
The Korean Central News Agency and the Rodong Sinmun said that the North's Academy of Defense Science succeeded in their test-firing of the launchers, verifying that the "continuous fire system" of the launchers is able to "totally destroy" a group target of the enemy by a surprise strike.
US Envoy for N. Korea Picked to be No. 2 State Dept. Official
U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun has been nominated to the State Department's number two post.
The White House said U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday nominated the top U.S. negotiator on North Korea's nuclear weapons program as the deputy secretary of state.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Archives show Japan studied forcible mobilization of Korean labor during World War II
Japan implemented research on the extent of Korean labor resources on the Korean Peninsula that could be forcibly taken overseas during World War II as part of its war efforts, according to documents released by the National Archives of Korea on Thursday.
The Japanese Government General of Korea sent an official document to provinces in March through September of 1940 that instructed them to implement a study on the usable labor resources across the peninsula. Korea was under Japan's colonial rule from 1910-45.
S. Korea's consumer inflation unchanged in October
South Korea's consumer inflation remained unchanged in October compared with a year earlier as decreased prices of agricultural products offset increased utility prices, the statistics agency said Friday.
The consumer price index was unchanged in October from a year earlier amid an economic slowdown, Statistics Korea said in a statement.
Ex-justice minister's brother arrested
The South Korean court on Thursday arrested former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's younger brother with a court-issued warrant over his alleged wrongdoing involving a private school foundation run by the family.
Following a six-hour hearing, the Seoul Central District Court said judges granted the arrest warrant for the 52-year-old, saying the probe developments, additional charges and submitted documentation indicate a need and cause for arrest.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Moon’s diplomacy plans derailed by APEC summit cancellation
President Moon Jae-in’s diplomacy plans appear to have been foiled by Chile’s decision to cancel the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit which was scheduled to be held in Santiago on Nov. 16-17.
On Wednesday, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced the cancellation of the APEC meeting, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which were to be held in November and December, respectively.
N. Korea fires two short-range projectiles toward East Sea: JCS
North Korea fired two short-range projectiles from a western region toward the East Sea on Thursday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, amid a lack of progress in denuclearization talks with the United States and chilled inter-Korean ties.
The projectiles were fired at 4:35 p.m. and 4:38 p.m. from areas in the city of Sunchon, South Pyongan Province, toward the East Sea, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.
Korea to shorten travel time with underground roads, high-speed trains by 2030
South Korea is seeking to reduce travel time in heavily congested metropolitan areas by building deep underground roads and adding new high-speed train services by 2030, officials said Thursday.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced its vision for “metropolitan transportation 2030,” presenting three goals: to shorten travel time in major regional hubs to 30 minutes, cut down travel costs by up to 30 percent, and reduce by 30 percent the time people spend transferring between vehicles or train lines.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
'Korea will set diplomatic milestone in summit with ASEAN'
At a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty amid a global economic downturn, Southeast Asia is emerging as a new hub for growth with its massive trading and demographic potential.
South Korea also hopes to latch on to this by solidifying partnerships with countries in the region, in a more sustainable manner, to tackle its sluggish economy.
Pope Francis, Kim Jong-un send condolences to Moon
Pope Francis and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shared their sorrow over the passing of President Moon Jae-in's mother as they sent condolence messages to the President, Cheong Wa Dae said Thursday. Kim's unexpected gesture, however, was quickly overshadowed by North Korea's firing of two short-range projectiles later on the same day.
'Kim wants US recognition as nuclear power'
President Moon Jae-in will mark the halfway point of his five year presidency on Nov. 9. Cheong Wa Dae has trumpeted Moon's "outcomes" in inter-Korean relations as some of the key achievements of his presidency, but the public assessment of Moon in this regard is turning considerably negative despite his three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in 2018 and the beginning of unprecedented U.S.-North Korea summit diplomacy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Foreign Ambassadors Pay Respects to Moon's Mother
A private funeral was held in Busan on Thursday for President Moon Jae-in's mother Kang Han-ok, who died on Tuesday of old age.
Moon asked officials not to attend the funeral, and some who tried to pay their respects on Wednesday were turned back by presidential security guards. But he made an exception for diplomats and leaders of opposition parties.
USFK Raises Concerns About Solar Megaproject
Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power has rejected concerns from the U.S. Forces Korea that light reflecting off solar panels at Korea's largest photovoltaic panel facility could affect fighter pilots.
The government is constructing a 4GW solar and wind farm in the Saemangeum land reclamation area in the southwest slated for completion in 2022. The solar panels are being set up on a 38 sq. km area, 13 times the size of the financial district of Yeouido, at a cost of W569 billion to the government and W10 trillion to private investors (US$1=W1,167).
Pohang Residents Protest in Seoul for Earthquake Compensation
Some 2,000 residents of Pohang rallied in Seoul on Wednesday demanding compensation for victims of a series of earthquakes that rattled the southeastern port city some two years ago.
The protesters gathered in front of the National Assembly and demanded a special law to compensate them for the physical, financial and psychological damage they suffered.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
S. Korea should consider senior-level talks or sending an envoy to N. Korea
North Korea has rejected a proposal from the South to holding working-level talks about developing tourism at Mt. Kumgang. In its message on Oct. 29, Pyongyang stuck to its position that the matter should be discussed “through the exchanging of documents.” This also increases the chances of a monkey wrench being thrown into Seoul’s plan to use the tourism issue as an opportunity to restore inter-Korean economic cooperation. We are deeply dismayed by North Korea’s insistence on a document-based approach, and we hope North Korea belatedly agrees to face-to-face talks.
Forced labor victims submit petition to UN regarding Japan’s human rights violations
Oct. 30 marking one year since a South Korean Supreme Court ruling on forced labor mobilization, survivors announced plans to send a message to the UN and international community calling for a restoration of their human rights and an apology and compensation from the Japanese government.
US deploys reconnaissance plane to air base in Japan
The US Air Force deployed an RC-135U reconnaissance plane from Offutt Air Force base in Nebraska to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, on Oct. 29, according to aircraft tracking site Aircraft Spots. Aircraft Spots posted a photograph of the aircraft at Kadena Air Base after its arrival.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
U.S. releases images from al-Baghdadi raid
The U.S. Department of Defense released part of the video filmed during its operation to remove Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the now-deceased leader of the Islamic State (IS), an armed Sunni extremist group.
According to the U.S. media, including CNN, Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., the commander of U.S. Central Command, gave a play-by-play of the special operations forces raid sharing the video and images taken with a drone at a briefing session held at Pentagon on Wednesday.
Samsung posts 7 trillion won operating profit in Q3
The Q3 operating profit of Samsung Electronics reached the mark of 7 trillion won for the first time this year thanks to strong smartphone sales. Since its historic 10.8 trillion won record in fourth quarter of last year, Samsung’s quarterly operating profit struggled this year, hovering around 6 trillion won.
Texas Rangers is observing Ryu’s post-season game performance
Would it be possible to see Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Choo Shin-soo of the Texas Rangers play in the same team of Major League Baseball?
As “Korean Monster” Ryu Hyun-jin who recently has become a free agent after the last season, is garnering attention regarding his next move, the Texas Rangers, which has South Korean outfielder Choo Shin-soo, is being mentioned as a possibility.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
A Year after the Court Ruling on Forced Labor During Japanese Occupation: Korea and Japan Wasted Time Sticking to “Principles”
A year has passed since the South Korean Supreme Court ruled for Japanese companies to compensate the victims of forced labor during the Japanese occupation. The ruling showed that the "1965 system," which had served as a foundation supporting bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan after diplomatic ties were established with the Treaty on Basic Relations Between the Republic of Korea and Japan and the claims agreement in 1965, had reached its limits and simultaneously raised a fundamental question on the future of relations between the two countries.
President Moon Expresses Hope for a Summit with Japan in His Letter, But Japanese Press Say No Summit in November
On October 24, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon delivered a letter from President Moon Jae-in to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the letter expressed hopes for a summit between the two countries. However, the Japanese press reported that Prime Minister Abe decided against a meeting with President Moon, whom he is expected to meet on a multilateral diplomatic stage in November.
BTS Reaches Final Destination of World Tour after Writing History of the "First" and the "Best"
"It's comfortable even if we don't talk. It's my home because you are here." (Lyrics of BTS’s "Home")
In the past year and two months, BTS met a total of over two million people in 62 concerts in 23 cities in 13 countries. As the records show, it was a journey extraordinary just as the many "firsts" that modified their feat. And at the end, there was a warm and welcome home, just as when they had first left.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maeil Business News Korea ( http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
Naver OP snaps losing streak in Q3, to launch fintech entity next month
South Korea’s internet giant Naver Corp. began to reap fruit from its heavy spending in data-based new growth, with operating profit surging 57.5 percent on quarter in the third quarter, and geared up to expand to fintech by establishing separate entity Naver Financial next month.
Hyundai Motor launches full-change ix25 compact SUV in china
South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor Co. on Wednesday has officially released its all-new ix25 compact sport utility vehicle at a launching event in China in hopes that the strategic model made for Chinese consumers would boost its sales in the world’s largest auto market.
Korean markets boosted by Fed’s third rate cut, strong earnings of local firms
The South Korean markets on Thursday were buoyed by the U.S. Federal Reserve’s third rate cut this year and indication that return to tightening won’t come for some time, but stock gains were erased by heavy profit-taking from retail investors.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are you waiting for?
Use us!
The Korea Post media are more than eager to be used, and to serve you—with the following five news outlets, 34 years old this year!
Korean-language Internet edition: http://www.koreapost.co.kr
English-language Internet edition: http://www.koreapost.com
Korean-language print newspaper:
http://pdf.koreapost.co.kr/38/3801.pdf
http://pdf.koreapost.co.kr/38/3802.pdf
http://pdf.koreapost.co.kr/38/3803.pdf
http://www.koreapost.co.kr/pdf/list.php?category=&syear=2018&smonth=03&sday=26&hosu=40
English E-daily: http://www.koreapost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=10308
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------