Mar. 24, 2015
The Korean daily media headlines and humor
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Your Excellency:
Here are The Korea Post notice, humor from a generous former Asian ambassador and a roundup of important headlines from all major Korean-language dailies, TV and other news media this morning:
Lee Kyung-sik
Publisher-Chairman
Korea Post Media
P.S.: 1. To see the desired site, press down the Control key and click the blue URL of the media.
2. If received by a person other than the intended recipient, please kindly convey the mail to His/Her Excellency.
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The Korea Post notice:
Invitation to Dangjin Gijisi Tug-of-War Festival
Your Excellecency:
I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that Mayor Kim Hong-jang of the Dangjin City of Chungcheongnam-do Province, 87.5 miles (1 1/2 hours run) southwest of Seoul, cordially invites Your Excellency and Madam, together with other Ambassadors and Madams, to the Opening Ceremony of the Dangjin Gijisi Tug-of-War Culture Festival on Friday April 10, 2015 and a tour of the Hyundai Steel Plant, Cultural Assets of the Dangjin City and hands-on experience in various folk events. Two Deluxe 28-seat Limousine Buses have been reserved for the Excellencies and Madams for comfortable traveling.
Formal invitation has already been sent to each Excellency. In the vent of our transmission failure, please advise us at edt@koreapost.com, tel 2298-1740/2 or 010-5201-1740 for re-sending.
Note: Story and photos of the Dangjin Festival is at:
Very Respectfully Yours
/s/
Lee Kyung-sik
Publisher-Chairman
The Korea Post phones: 2298-1745 or 2298-1740/2, mobiles 010-3388-1682 (Korean) and 010-5201-1740 (Chairman Lee Kyung-sik).
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Today’s humor:
Humor from a generous former Asian ambassador
Marriage jokes
After bob died, everyone gathered at his funeral. Then the minister started to speak: "He was a model husband, a decent man, a terrific father..."
The widow then makes a motion for her son to come to her.
"What is it mother?" he whispers.
"Dear, go check the casket, I think we're at the wrong funeral..."
Naive husband
"The new neighbors are so in love," remarks Susan to her husband," he hugs her, kisses her and strokes her hair. Why don't you do that?"
"Because I don't know her that well."
Knock on the door.
"Hello sir, would you like to contribute something to the old folks’ home?"
"Yes, actually." beams the old man. Then said to his wife: "Inge, put your jacket on and pack a suitcase!"
Chain
An elderly couple is walking in the city, hand in hand, when they pass a jewelry store.
The wife turns to her husband with a smile: "Love, would you buy me a chain?"
"Why?" asks the husband, "Tired of being free?"
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Top headlines of major news media of Korea this morning:
KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
S. Korea-New Zealand FTA Signed after Seoul Summit
South Korea and New Zealand officially signed their bilateral trade pact following a summit in Seoul on Monday. At the talks, President Park Geun-hye and New Zealand’s Prime Minister John Key also agreed to boost human exchanges.
Korean, N. Zealand Biz Officials Attend Networking Event to Utilize FTA
S. Korea-New Zealand Summit Held on Monday
UNSC North Korea Sanctions Committee to Meet March 30
Civic Group Suspends Leaflet Campaign
S. Korea, Bulgaria Exchange Messages on 25 Years of Diplomatic Ties
JCS: THAAD not on Official Agenda of JCS Chiefs' Meeting
Cash Reserves at S. Korea's 10 Conglomerates Surpass 500 Trillion Won
S. Korean Shares Change Little on Monday
Korean, N. Zealand Biz Officials Attend Networking Event to Utilize FTA
Fire in DMZ Blocks Inter-Korean Transit Office
Gov't to Take Steps if Leaflet Campaign Threatens Residents
U.S. State Department Urges N. Korea to Give Up Nuclear Program
Japanese Evenly Divided over Use of Apologetic Expressions in Abe Statement
Seoul Ranked World's 7th Most Competitive Financial Center
56,000 Chinese Received Plastic Surgery in Korea Last Year
S. Korea Concludes Relief Activities in Sierra Leone
S. Korea to Classify Restaurants for Muslim
Dictionary of Historical Terms Published
KBS1, KBS2 Rank First and Second in TV
Lunar Eclipse to be Visible on April 4
CO2 Levels on Korean Peninsula Reach New High
Disgraced Scientist Hwang Woo-suk to Clone Mammoth
Kim Hyo-joo Wins LPGA Founders Cup
Hearing for Swimmer Park to Open Monday
S. Korea Loses Out to France on 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
N. Korea says no apology for 2010 warship sinking
North Korea on Tuesday rejected South Korea's call to apologize for the deadly sinking of a South Korean naval ship five year ago, further dimming the prospects for improved ties between the two sides anytime soon.
China should work harder to help address N.K. threats if concerned about THAAD: U.S. experts
China should work harder to help address North Korean nuclear and missile threats if it is concerned about the THAAD missile defense system the United States wants to deploy to South Korea, a former Pentagon official said Monday.
U.S. announces Abe's visit, signals grandiose welcome
The United States officially announced Monday that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit the White House late next month for talks with President Barack Obama, signaling a grandiose red-carpet welcome for a leader expected to help address U.S. security and economic needs.
Firefighting in inter-Korean border stops after sunset
Firefighters and military officials from South Korea have stopped fighting a fire after sunset, which broke out in the North and spread to the South Korean side of the inter-Korean border on Monday, South Korean authorities said.
N. Korea says no apology for 2010 warship sinking
China should work harder to help address N.K. threats if c..
Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers
U.S. urges N.K. to abandon nuclear weapons after N.K. amba..
Firefighting in inter-Korean border stops after s..
S. Korea defense chief vows stern response against ..
Fire spreads from N. Korea to inter-Korean border
KOSDAQ 640.50 UP 0.21 points (open)
KOSPI 2,035.08 DN 1.51 points (open)
Dollar opens at 1,106.0 won DN from 1,114.6 won
BOK governor expects Korean economy to improve
Tuesday's weather forecast
Samsung Lions pundits' consensus pick to repeat, with Nexe..
Wild-card game, speed-up rules among changes for 2015 KBO ..
New-look KBO to start 34th season as Samsung Lions eye fif..
Olympic swimming champ Park Tae-hwan suspended for ..
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Swimmer Park Tae-hwan suspended 18 months for doping.
Former Olympic swimming champion Park Tae-hwan was suspended 18 months for doping. In a doping hearing session in Lausanne, Switzerland, Tuesday, the world swimming governing body FINA handed down Park the ban for being tested p...
NK refuses to apologize over warship sinking
North Korea refused to apologize over its torpedo attack on warship Cheonan, calling for the South to reinvestigate the case, the regime's top ruling body said on Tuesday. “Pyongyang has nothing to do with the incident,” the Nor...
Doubts still remain in HSBC case
Doubts still remain over a suspected bribery case involving the Korea National Oil Corp. (KNOC) and a Kurdistan oil minister, even after the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) released information about related transactions. “T...
Korea, New Zealand seal FTA deal
Korea formally signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with New Zealand, Monday. President Park Geun-hye and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key marked the signing of the free deal between the two countries during a summit at Cheong...
Singapore's first PM Lee Kuan Yew dies at 91
Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who transformed the nation into a global financial ...
Kim Hyo-joo wins Founders Cup
Kim Hyo-joo clinched her first LPGA Tour victory of the season Monday, continuing Korean women's d...
New passage to open for airport train users at Seoul Station
A transfer passage for passengers who use airport trains and subway lines No. 1 and 4 will open at...
Chaebol sitting on record cash reserve
The nation’s top 10 conglomerates are sitting on record cash reserves despite the government’s pressure on them to share their profits through dividends and i...
Gov't to issue 'halal' certificates to restaurants
The government plans to issue “halal” certificates to at least 140 restaurants nationwide, where Muslims can eat food without worrying about the ingredients.
Activist to suspend anti-NK leaflet campaign
The leader of an anti-North Korean activist group said Monday that the organization will suspend s...
Blaze roars across DMZ
A fire broke out on North Korea's side of the heavily guarded demilitarized zone (DMZ) on Monday a...
'Chimney protest' ends
A “chimney protest” that highlighted the plight of 187 workers laid off by Ssangyong Motor in 2009...
Canned beer prohibited at KBO games
With the new baseball season just around the corner, fans can no longer pop open a can of ice-cold...
Kumho Tire's design recognized
Kumho Tire, Korea’s major tire manufacturer, has won numerous international awards over the years ...
Moon struggles to turn Gwangju voters' attention from Chun
New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) Chairman Moon Jae-in, ramped up the party’s election campaign in Gwangju, Sunday, in a bid to deter independent can...
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DongA Ilbo (http://english.donga.com)
Singapore`s founding father Lee Kuan Yew dies at 91
With the death of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore`s first prime minister, his family is gaining spotlight as they are wielding power and wealth in Singapore society. The founding father of Singapore and his wife Kwa Geok Choo...
Guardian appoints first ever female editor-in-chief
The Guardian, a center-left British national daily newspaper, named the first female editor-in-chief in its 194-year history. On Friday, the newspaper announced its decision that current deputy editor Katharine Viner...
Civic groups postpone sending propaganda flyers to N.Korea
South Korean activist groups will postpone the plan conditionally. The groups planned to send propaganda flyers to the North to mark the fifth anniversary of North Korea’s torpedo attack on the naval corvette Cheonan on...
Paganini’s Caprice No.24 is a strong cultural gene
I listened to Paganini’s “24 Caprices” for a solo violin every day for four days from last Wednesday. The “11th Seoul International Music Competition with LG” is held for violin this year, and its first round of...
Foreign ministers vow efforts to hold early trilateral summit
Foreign ministers of South Korea, China and Japan have agreed that they exert efforts to hold a three-nation summit at the earliest convenient time. Attention is focusing on whether three-way summit, which has not taken...
Hyundai Motor introduces all new Sonata sedan in China
Beijing Hyundai Motor, the Chinese affiliate of Hyundai Motor, held a ceremony to launch the "Chinese version of the new Sonata" in Shenzhen in Guangdong Province on Friday, and started sales in earnest. Hyundai has...
Controversies over N. Korean leader’s call for ‘highest-level’ talks
Ki Sung-yueng, Son Heung-min as promising Korean soccer players
New year’s wishes change over time
France drops its super tax on millionaires
Samsung’s mobile phone beats Apple to top ACSI
Actor Lee Jung-jae reported to be in a relationship with Daesang heiress
N. Korean leader shows willingness to hold inter-Korean summit
U.S. military base in Yongsan bans civilian drones, model aircrafts
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Youth Unemployment Worsens
Unemployment among young Koreans has soared to levels last seen during the 1997 Asian financial crisis, and the situation in the southeastern city of Ulsan provides a grim example. Ulsan is a sprawling industrial city that is home to several major factories by Hyundai Motor as well as hundreds of subcontractors. >> Full Text
Many Women Suffer Depression After Childbirth, But Few Seek Treatment
Women often experience depression four to six weeks after giving birth, but only a few of them visit hospital, a survey reveals. According to the survey of 2,790 women by Cheil General Hospital, 341 were found to be suffering from postpartum depression. >> Full Text
Asiana Meets Opposition to Budget-Carrier Plans
Asiana Airlines plans to set up another low-cost carrier but rival budget airlines are fiercely opposed. Asiana already owns budget carrier Air Busan. Jeju Air, Eastar Jet and T'way Air sent a letter to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation last week calling on the government to block the new budget airline. >> Full Text
N.Korea Threatens to Shoot Down Propaganda Balloons
Korean Firms Don't Benefit from Japan's Recovery
More Foreigners Learn Korean
Hyundai Launches Localized Sedan for Chinese Market
Asiana to Launch Flights to Rome in June
Group Tree-Hug Rewrites Record Books
Chilly Weather, Dirty Air to Blanket Korea
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Hankyoreh Shinmoon (http://english.hani.co.kr)
At trilateral meeting, S. Korea, China and Japan agree to restart summit framework
Summit unlikely to be decided until much later this year, after Japan’s August statement on 70th anniversary of World War II surrender
The foreign ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan agreed at a trilateral meeting in Seoul on Mar. 21 to work toward an early resumption of the trilateral summit framework, which has been halted since a May 2012 meeting in in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province.
Seoul’s decision on whether to join China-led AIIB looming this month
South Korea’s share in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the organization’s governing structure are emerging as potential issues as the deadline looms for Seoul’s decision on whether to join.
China has suggested South Korea state whether it plans to become a founding AIIB member by the end of this month, while the South Korean government plans to make an announcement as soon as this week,
On visit to Seoul, no mention of THAAD by Chinese Foreign Minister
During his visit to South Korea to participate in the trilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of South Korea, China, and Japan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi did not make a single mention of the issue of deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system on the Korean Peninsula.
He appears to have refrained from mentioning the issue, taking into account that the meeting brought together the chief diplomats of the three countries.
North Korea threatens to shoot down leaflet balloons
On Mar. 22, just four days before the fifth anniversary of the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan warship, North Korea responded to plans by North Korean refugee groups to launch propaganda leaflet balloons by threatening to carry out a physical strike if more leaflets were launched. North Korea also instructed residents in the area to evacuate, increasing tensions with South Korea.
Government pushing hard for “results” from anti-corruption campaign
The Park Geun-hye administration is sounding the alarm for “results” from its third-year crusade to root out corruption.
Office for Government Policy Coordination minister Choo Kyung-ho announced the administration’s plans to “root out vices in the three chief areas of the public sector, welfare, and economics/finance” at a Mar. 20 meeting of “corruption eradication-related organizations” at the Central Governmental Complex in Seoul. Officials at the vice ministerial or vice director level were called in for the meeting from various inspection agencies.
Young people scoff at Pres. Park’s plan for another “Middle East boom”
“Try to make it so that the young people of Korea all empty out of the country. That way, when people ask where they went, you can say they’re in the Middle East.” Young people - who were the target of this comment made by President Park Geun-hye during the 7th Trade and Investment Promot...
Man under investigation for leaflets critical of Pres. Park sends diapers to police
An activist who scattered dog food to protest a police investigation into leaflets that criticized President Park Geun-hye has now sent the police some baby diapers. On Mar. 19, Park Seong-soo, 41, mailed diapers to the Yeonje Police Department in Busan from a post office in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province.
While Park Seong-soo was in the post office to mail the diapers, he took a picture of the pack of diapers and a placard he had written on, which he had placed next to each other on a table, and uploaded the picture to his social media accounts.
China intensifying its opposition to deployment of THAAD in S. Korea
China is ratcheting up the tenor of its opposition to the possible deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on the Korean peninsula in the wake of a recent visit by Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Jianchao.
Meanwhile, South Korea and the US are responding on increasingly firm notes. After previously sending the cautious message that nothing had been decided or discussed, they are now bluntly insisting that Beijing keep out the matter.
The future of IPTV and digital cable TV
Subscribers to IPTV reached ten million in August 2014. The milestone was achieved in just six years since the launch of IPTV in 2009. IPTV’s rapid growth has brought various impacts to the film industry. Some people predict that its growth will make a seismic change in film screenings beyond bringing about an increase in film sales. Some say that IPTV will be a new platform to replace theaters.
Another Hollywood flick for Lee Byung-hun
Lee Byung-hun’s management company BH Entertainment announced on March 20th that Lee has been cast for the newest Hollywood film, Beyond Deceit. He recently fled to USA for the production and will return to Korea around April in time for the birth of his first child.
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JoongAng Ilbo (conservative): (http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/)
New Zealand FTA is Korea’s 13th
Direct intervention by leaders brought talks back from the brink
Korea signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with New Zealand Monday following a summit of the two countries’ leaders and after years of tough negotiations about agricultural and dairy products. President Park Geun-hye met with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key at the Blue House and declared…
The promise that Park didn’t keep
This is the ninth in a series of articles on the life and times of Kim Jong-pil, a two-time prime minister, based on extensive interviews with the 89-year-old…
Wireless era dawns but there’s still a ways to go. The wireless charging that Samsung Electronics is offering on its latest smartphones, the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, will change the way we live with our wireless devices…
Corruption probes frighten many, convince few
The most curious thing about prosecutors’ probes of major corporations, which began with Posco Engineering and Construction and Keangnam Enterprises,…
FTA winners include smaller manufacturers
The largest beneficiaries of new Korea-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will be auto parts manufacturers, builders and makers of petrochemical products,…
Hyundai’s focus is growth in China
Hyundai Motor has announced plans to increase its presence in its biggest market, China. According to the industry, the nation’s leading automaker will open…
Mobile shopping receipts soar to 13 trillion won
Revenue from mobile shopping reached a record 13.1 trillion won ($11.7 billion) last year as smartphones have become the main platform for purchasing goods online…
After threat, leaflet campaign suspended
A defector-turned-activist said Monday he will halt his campaign of sending anti-Pyongyang propaganda via balloons over the demilitarized zone into North Korea after …
Korean, Japanese leaders exhort Abe to make up with Seoul
TOKYO - A group of veteran Korean political leaders met with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on Monday to request his efforts in improving bilateral ties to bring…
Capital putting roads underground in four areas
The local government announced on Tuesday that it plans to turn a 3-kilometer (1.86-mile) stretch of road on Olympic Daero from southern Yeongdong Bridge to Jamsil Sports Complex…
FSC rolls out cut-rate mortgages
Sixteen commercial banks will launch a new government-designed mortgage program today to help borrowers reduce interest payments as part of efforts to make…
Profit taking takes steam out of the Kospi
Although Seoul’s primary market opened above the 2,040 mark thanks
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Maeil Kyungje (neutral-oriented conservative, economic/business): (http://news.mk.co.kr/english/)
S. Korea, New Zealand hail free trade deal
South Korean President Park Geun-hye and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on Monday had a summit meeting and their respective ministers signed a free trade agreemen.. ...
Opposition party draws up bill to impose 50% tax on the rich
The South Korean opposition party presented a bill to revise the Income Tax Act, which calls for levying a 50 percent tax on those in the high income bracket who make .. ...
Experts suggest invalidating mandatory closing of big box stores to boost..
Nielsen, a global information analysis company, looked into consumer confidence indices from 60 nations around the world late last year. Korea’s consumer confidence i.. ...
Ruling party calls on opposition to make a decision on civil servant pensi..
With just four days being left for the grand compromise committee dedicated to public servant pension reforms to finish its operation, the ruling Saenuri Party called .. ...
SKC and Mitsui Chemicals to set up joint venture
SKC, a South Korean petrochemical company, and a Japan-based Mitsui Chemicals are working to form a polyurethane joint venture, which is due for launch on July 1. The.. ...
KERI cuts S. Korea’s economic growth forecast to 3.4 percent
The Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI) revised down its forecast on the country’s economic growth rate for this year by 0.3 percentage points from the existing .. ...
Hyundai launches ‘LF Sonata’ tailed for Chinese consumers
Hyundai Motor Beijing has launched its novice model, the ‘LF Sonata,’ designed to target China’s middle-income class. Hyundai Motor’s Chinese joint venture, Beij.. ...
S. Korea sees exodus of professional gamers to China
South Korea’s electronic sports status is in danger now. Recently, the country’s 13 representative professional gamers received enormous transfer fees and fled to ov.. ...
S. Korea, China, Japan summit hinges on ‘spirit of facing history squarel..
At Hotel Shilla for the joint press release of South Korea-China-Japan foreign ministers’ meeting on March 21, Japan’s envoy suspiciously checked the phrase in the j.. ...
Yellow dust causes huge economic loss in S. Korea
Some sectors suffer from yellow dust while others do not. Those hit hardest by yellow dust include retail and leisure sectors. According to a research by the team led .. ...
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The Kyunghyang Shinmoon (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
South Korea, China, Japan Come out Empty-handed: Just Reconfirmed General Principles at the First Ministerial Meeting in Three Years
The foreign ministers of South Korea, China and Japan, which have repeatedly stood in confrontation and conflict with each other due to different interpretation···
New Party Platform of the Justice Party 'Progressive in Reality Rather than in Ideology'
On March 22, the Justice Party enacted a new party platform. At the center of the party's creed, the Justice Party realistically and specifically stated the di···
South Korea, China, Japan at the Diplomatic Table: Will They Be Able to Start Restoring Trilateral Cooperation?
A meeting of the foreign ministers of South Korea, China and Japan which had been suspended since April 2012 will be held in Seoul on March 21,and all eyes are ···
What We Ask of the U.S. Currently Promoting Prime Minister Abe's Address before Congress
Reportedly, the U.S. is planning to give Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe an opportunity to address the joint session of the House and Senate when he visits t···
Foreign Affairs and National Security Policies Once the Government's Favorite Child, Now a Problem Child
The Park Geun-hye government's foreign affairs and security policy has hit a brick wall. In the past, the president had maintained her approval ratings by opti···
[Editorial] The Joint Committee of North and South Korea Should Discuss Wages at Kaesong Industrial Park
North Korea unilaterally notified North Korean workers in the Kaesong Industrial Park that it would raise wages in March, and the South Korean government is fig···
Businesses Refuse to Respond to North Korea's 'Summon':
Crisis in the Kaesong Industrial The ten-year-old Kaesong Industrial Park is now facing its biggest crisis. Two years ago, the industrial compound almost shut down due to tense inter-Korean rel···
[Editorial] Studying the Response of Other Countries and Buying Time: Park Geun-hye's Uneasy Diplomacy
On Monday, China's Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Jianchao said, "We would appreciate it if South Korea could consider China's interest and concer···
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