Mar. 31, 2015

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Tuesday, March 31, 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:

Your Excellency:

Please advise The Korea Post of the contact information of the Student Association of your country in Korea. Our email address is: edt@koreapost.com.

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Today’s humor:

Humor from a generous former Asian ambassador

Wives will be wives

Bob returned from a doctor's visit and told his wife Alma that the doctor said he only had 24 hours to live.

Wiping away her tears, he asked her to make love to him.

"Of course," she said and they made passionate love.

Six hours later, Bob went to her again, and said, "Honey, now I only have 18 hours left to live. Maybe we could make love again?"

Alma agreed and again they made love.

Later, Bob was getting into bed when he realized he now had only eight hours of life left.

He touched Alma's shoulder and said, "Honey Please? Just one more time before I die."

She agreed, then afterwards she rolled over and fell asleep.

Bob, however, heard the clock ticking in his head, and he tossed and turned until he was down to only four more hours.

He tapped his wife on the shoulder to wake her up. "Honey, I only have four hours left! Could we...?"

His wife sat up abruptly, turned to him and said, "Listen Bob, I have to get up in the morning for your funeral but you don't have to get up !!!

Ethnic humor

Three guys, one Irish, one English, and one Scottish, are out walking along the beach together one day.

They come across a lantern and a Genie pops out of it.

"I will give you each one wish, that's three wishes in total," says the Genie.

The Scottish guy says, "I am a fisherman, my Dad's a fisherman, his Dad was a fisherman and my son will be one too. I want all the oceans full of fish for all eternity."

So, with a blink of the Genie's eye FOOM! the oceans were teaming with fish.

The Englishman was amazed, so he said, "I want a wall around England, protecting her, so that no one will get in for all eternity."

Again, with a blink of the Genie's eye POOF! there was a huge wall around England.

The Irishman asks, "I'm very curious. Please tell me more about this wall."

The Genie explains, "well, it's about 150 feet high, 50 feet thick, protecting England so that nothing can get in or out."

The Irishman says, "Fill it up with water."

Hankuk Kyungje

Psychiatrist

I see you were last employed by a psychiatrist,” said the employer to the applicant.

“Why did you leave?”

“Well,” she replied, “I just couldn’t win. If I was late to work, I was hostile. If I was early, I had an anxiety complex. And if I was on time, I was compulsive.”

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Top headlines of major news media of Korea this morning:

KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)

Gyeonggi Innovation Center Opens

The government has opened a creative economy innovation center in Pangyo, south of Seoul, which will nurture the nation’s IT-based industries such as gaming and healthcare.

Finance Minister: Economic Sentiment is Improving

Foreign Minister: No Need to Waver if Decision is Right for Korea

'Park's Condolence Diplomacy Deepens Ties with Singapore, ASEAN'

Park: Gyeonggi Innovation Center to Guide Small Firms

Foreign Minister: No Need to Waver if Decision is Right for Korea

Farming Industry to be given Financial Boost

BOK to Consider Macro Factors First in Determining Key Rate

Finance Minister: Economic Sentiment is Improving

Gov’t Not Sending Envoy to North for Release of Detained S. Koreans

Unification Ministry Expresses Deep Regret over N. Korea's Denunciation of Park's Speech

N. Korea Denounces S. Korea's Decision to Join AIIB

Abe Tells Park of Hope to Hold S. Korea-China-Japan Summit

Pentagon Weapons Tester Finds Issues with THAAD MD System

Park, Abe Touch on S. Korea-China-Japan Relations

Management, Labor, Government Face Deadline

Parliament, Safety Ministry, KBS Sign Safety Campaign

Car Accident in Nepal Kills 4 S. Koreans

Libraries to Run Special Programs for

Bae Doona Wins AFA Best Actress Award

Concert Held at Deoksu Palace For 1st Time

S. Korea Launches New Multipurpose Satellite into Space

S. Korea's New Science Satellite Launched into Space

S. Korean Researchers Develop Artificial Fingerprint

S. Korea's Curling Teams Win 1st Round Games in Deaflympics

Lee Sang-soo Wins Gold in Combat Sambo

Rhythmic Gymnast Son Yeon-jae Wins Silver in Hoop

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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

Samsung Electronics to launch flexible work hour system next month

South Korea's tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. said Tuesday it will implement a full-fledged flexible work hour system starting in April, adding it will also be applied to overseas branches in the near future.

S. Korean banks' loan delinquency rate climbs in Feb.

The delinquency rate on loans extended by South Korean banks, including household borrowing, rose for a second consecutive month in February amid concerns that snowballing household debts in the country could pose a threat to much-hoped economic expansion, the financial watchdog said Tuesday.

S. Korea not in dilemma over rivalry between U.S., China: FM

It could be a blessing rather than a dilemma for South Korea to be in the middle of the U.S. and China's growing rivalry over economic and militaristic developments in the Asia Pacific region, the foreign minister said Monday.

S. Koreans dead, 1 man injured in bus accident in Nepal

SEOUL, March 30 (Yonhap) -- Four South Koreans died and one was seriously injured on Monday as a bus carrying them collided with another bus in Nepal, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

2015/03/30 20:27

U.S. defense chief to visit S. Korea next week: source

Koreas trade accusations amid no signs of dialogue

Chinese firms propose non-tariff trade of cheap goods with..

N. Korea denounces S. Korea for AIIB, THAAD

N. Korea slams Park's Cheonan speech

Dollar opens at 1,108.0 won UP from 1,104.9 won

Ssangyong Motor begins overseas shipments of Tivoli

S. Korea to host New Zealand in veteran defender's ..

S. Korea's sovereign fund in talks to buy stake in ..

EXO releases 2nd full-length album

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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)

KAI named preferred bidder for KF-X project

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) was selected Monday as the preferred bidder for a contract to manufacture an indigenous fighter jet, codenamed KF-X, announced the arms procurement agency. The 8.6 trillion won ($7.7 billion) pro...

Seoul's 'Mr. Green'

Residents of Gangdong in eastern Seoul are getting their hands dirty in the district’s urban farms. They’ve begun planting lettuce, chicories, potatoes, tomatoes, radishes and 50 other crops as a hobby. These urban farmers, who ...

Top official defies drive against graft 

The government’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign may dampen corporate activity, and discourage bu... 

Four dead in car accident 

Four Korean tourists have died and another was seriously injured in a car accident in Nepal, accor... 

Not everybody complains about Metro 9 extension 

Commuters packed the Metro 9 subway carriages during rush hours on Monday, taking advantage of the...

POSCO E&C probe extends to politicians 

Prosecutors are investigating a group of politicians and former government officials who allegedly peddled their influence to give favors to POSCO, Dongguk St... 

Parents furious over governor's decision to end free school lunches 

Parents in South Gyeongsang Province are protesting against the provincial government’s scheduled ...

Seoul to help foreigners set up nonprofit organizations 

The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) plans to make it easier for foreigners to set up nonprofit organizations.

Cherry blossom festival planned in Yeouido 

One of the country’s largest flower festivals will be held from April 10-15 in Yeouido, Seoul.

Samsung stresses partnerships over M&As 

Samsung Electronics has put more emphasis on solidifying relationships with vendors in the mobile and enterprise segments, rather than pursuing mergers and ac...

April brings hurdles for President Park 

President Park Geun-hye will find herself in a position to display effective leadership as a range of challenges are ahead next month.

N. Korea criticizes South on THAAD, AIIB 

North Korea alleged Monday that South Korea has complied with the United States to allow deployment of an anti-ballistic missile system on the Korean peninsul... 

Top executives' payroll to be disclosed today 

LG Display CEO Han Sang-beom received 1.46 billion won, including a 362 million won bonus last yea...

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DongA Ilbo (http://english.donga.com)

`Love calls from US and China are not dilemma but blessing,` says foreign minister

Korea is being courted by the U.S. and China both due to Korea’s strategic values. This situation is not dilemma or a headache, but a blessing. Korean government will make efforts to develop the Korea-U.S. alliance and... 

Son Yeon-jae`s medal-winning streak to 12 consecutive World Cup events

Son Yeon-jae (21) acquired the silver medal at the finals of the hoop competition at the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup at the Municipal Sports Complex Casal Vistoso in Lisbon, Portugal on Monday (Korea time). The...

Police to introduce uniforms with the Korean national flag

Police is set to introduce uniforms with the Korean national flag, following suit of the military. “We are positively considering attaching Taegeukgi on police uniforms,” Kang Shin-myung, the National Police Agency...

Japan applies 11 forced labor sites for UNESCO heritage

The 28 sites of the industrial revolution during Japan’s Meiji era, which the Japanese government applied for the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, are scattered across eight prefectures in Kyushu and Yamaguchi. As the...

Will Ji Dong-won seize last chance after 4-year hiatus?

Ji Dong-won (24, FC Augsburg) was dubbed "post-Park Chu-young" five years ago. As soon as he made his professional debut by joining the Chunnam Dragons in 2010, he scored 10 goals, drawing massive attention. In the next...

Who is lyricist of Korean national anthem: Ahn Chang-ho or Yoon Chi-ho

Is it Ahn Chang-ho, or Yoon Chi-ho? The long-running heated controversy over the true lyricist of Korean national anthem will be reproduced in a debate organized by the Young Korean Academy on Tuesday. Marking the...

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 

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 

Japanese police on 14-year manhunt for cruel murderer

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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)

Samsung Adapts Marketing Strategy for New Smartphone

Samsung has pulled out all the stops for a desperate global marketing blitz for the new Galaxy S6 smartphone, whose success or failure may determine the company's fate. Samsung launched a world tour to promote the phone in Dubai last Tuesday. >> Full Text

N.Korea 'Poised to Deploy Long-Range Missiles'

North Korea has taken steps to deploy road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland, U.S. intelligence authorities claim. The North has already taken steps toward deploying the KN-08 missiles warfare-ready, even though it has not test-fired them yet. >> Full Text

LG Sounds Alarm on Fake G3 Phones from China

LG Electronics is alerting consumers about Chinese-made fake smartphones after a man visited its repair service center with a knock-off G3 phone he bought in China. The company said that the man bought the phone while in China because it was cheaper there, and didn't suspect for a moment that it might not be genuine. >> Full Text

Abe Describes WWII Sex Slaves as 'Trafficking Victims'

Park, Abe Brush Shoulders at Lee Kuan Yew Funeral

S.Korea, U.S. Discuss Missile Defense

10 Koreans Evacuated from War-Torn Yemen

S.Korean Pastor Held for Spying in N.Korea

Son Yeon-jae Off to Good Start in Lisbon World Cup

Simple Tips for Healthy, Rich Hair

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Hankyoreh Shinmoon (http://english.hani.co.kr)

New sex-ed guidelines forbid teaching about homosexuality

Ministry guidelines are garnering criticism for failing to consider students with alternative sexual identities, due to pressure from conservative groups

The Ministry of Education introduced standards for sex education at South Korean schools for the first time this year in the hopes of providing systematic education in the subject, but the standards contain controversial sections that block education about homosexuals and other sexual minorities.

One Hyundai worker suffers through 16 piecemeal contracts in 23 months

An irregular worker was kept on staff at Hyundai Motors’ Ulsan plant for 23 months under 16 separate piecemeal contracts before ultimately being let go, it was recently alleged.

In the process, the company established contracts for working periods as short as 13 days. The revelations are drawing criticisms of the world‘s fifth-ranked automaker is encouraging unstable labor practices at a time when the issue of piecemeal contracts is the focus of harsh denunciations.

Vietnam War massacre survivors making their first visit to South Korea

Two survivors of civilian massacres in South Korean troop regions during the Vietnam War are coming to South Korea.

The visit was announced on Mar. 28 by the Peace Museum, a foundation chaired by Lee Hae-dong.

“For the 70th anniversary of South Korean independence and the 40th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, we have invited the war victims Nguyen Tan Lan, 64, and Nguyen Thi Thanh, 55, and Ho Chi Minh City War Remnants Museum director Huynh Ngoc Van, 53,

US official hints at bilateral intelligence sharing agreement between Seoul and Tokyo

A senior Pentagon official hinted that South Korea, the US, and Japan are looking to sign an additional agreement that would go beyond the MOU that the three countries signed in December of last year, in which they agreed to share intelligence about the North Korean nuclear weapons and missile programs

In joining AIIB, Seoul could be giving China one thing and the US another

On Mar. 27, the South Korean government decided to join the China-led Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), suggesting that the real tug-of-war between participating countries over shares in the bank and other economic advantages is about to begin.

International body postpones for a third time ranking S. Korean Commission

The International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions (ICC) is again postponing a rating decision for the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) for another year.

Swimmer Park Tae-hwan says “all of my efforts just made me a junkie”

“All of my honors over the past 10 years have come to nothing,” Park Tae-hwan said, his voice trembling, “and all of my efforts just made me a junkie.” The swimmer was unable to keep going, on the verge of tears.

Government top ranks skewed by officials’ huge wealth

Half of the senior officials in South Korea’s executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government rank in the country’s top five percent for assets, data show.

There are concerns associated with the side effects of having the government‘s highest ranks skewed toward a particular income group, including the possible overrepresentation of that segment’s interests in the execution of duties that involve coordinating the interests of earners at various different levels.

Government now seeking to chip away at size and budget of Sewol investigation

After delaying passage of an organization and budget plan for the special committee investigating last April‘s Sewol ferry sinking for more than a month, the administration presented a final plan with large reductions in scale from what was originally requested by the committee.

Sewol families now going to the public, instead of the President

“We’re not going to beg President Park Geun-hye for a meeting anymore. What we plan to do now is to meet with more members of the public and call for an investigation into the Sewol tragedy.”

This was the message from Chun Myung-sun, chairman of the group 4/16 Sewol Families for Truth and a Safer Society, as the one-year anniversary approaches for the ferry sinking that claimed over 300 lives in April 2014.

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JoongAng Ilbo (conservative): (http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/)

Revamped line No. 9 still chaotic

Commuting hours appeared just as poor as expected on Monday, the first weekday after the newly extended section of subway line No. 9 first began operations over the weekend.Subway line No. 9, which traverses Seoul horizontally beneath the Han River, is notorious for its high traffic during rush hour…

Two accidents reignite concerns over road safety

Underground cavities in two of the most crowded areas in Seoul resulted in two accidents on Sunday, once again leading to fears over public safety.…

KT creative economic center opens in Pangyo

The nation’s eighth Center for Creative Economy and Innovation opened its doors on Monday in Pangyo, …

Safety concerns overshadow milestone

The view from the 100th floor of the Lotte World Tower can be unsettling, as the skyscrapers that normally tower above are now well below…

Record low savings, loan rates reflect cut by BOK

While the central bank unexpectedly lowered its benchmark rate to another all-time low of 1.75 percent earlier this month, interest rates on savings deposits…

Chung will face his former party in by-elections

Chung Dong-young, who ran for president as an opposition candidate in 2007, declared that he will run for by-elections next month. …

JTBC rated top in cable TV survey

A local think tank announced Monday that JTBC, the broadcasting affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, ranked No. 1…

Balance with Washington, China is seen as a ‘blessing’

With Korea straddling Washington and Beijing on several sensitive key issues, specifically the deployment of a U.S.-led anti-ballistic missile system…

Raid uncovers ton of evidence in defense probe

Prosecutors investigating Ilgwang Group Chairman Lee Kyu-tae over corruption allegations in the defense industry found a literal ton of concealed evidence…

KAI selected bidder in KF-X project

The procurement authority on Monday selected the state-funded Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) as its preferred bidder for the country’s largest-ever military project…

Struggling banks to boost hiring

In a decision that caught many by surprise, commercial banks coping with shrinking profit margins due to record low interest rates have decided to expand…

Market falls below 2,020, closes 0.51% up

Although Seoul’s main bourse fell below 2,020 because of declining international oil prices, it closed at 2,030.04 on Monday…

Carriers compete on S6 freebies

With two days left until pre-orders begin for the new Samsung Electronics Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, mobile service providers SK Telecom,…

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Maeil Kyungje (neutral-oriented conservative, economic/business): (http://news.mk.co.kr/english/)

IEEE approves policy to limit Qualcomm’s patent abuse

Korean smartphone makers like Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics will be relieved of the burden from patent fees demanded by Qualcomm, Inter Digital and other paten.. ...

Gov’t looking to shut down areas where brothels are clustered

South Korea would push ahead with the shutdown of areas laden with brothels. These areas refer to those having ten or more brothels. The Ministry of Gender Equality .. ...

S. Korea business confidence flagging except large exporters

South Korean corporate sentiment on economic conditions remains depressed for most companies except large exporters. According to the ‘Business Sentiment Index (BSI.. ...

Park, Abe talk at reception for Lee funeral

South Korean President Park Geun-hye met with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, on Sunday, on the sidelines of visiting Singapore to attend the state funeral of form.. ...

Banks to start to recruit new employees from middle of next month

South Korea’s major commercial banks would start to recruit new employees from the middle of next month. As banks would double the scale of recruiting from last year,.. ...

Lee Jae-yong says China would not study S. Korea any more

Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, showed his sense of crisis for China pulling ahead. Meeting with the Maeil Business Newspaper reporter on Sunday, h.. ...

LG Electronics to invest $1.5 bn in plant in Vietnam

LG Electronics would make Vietnam its largest factory. This is the South Korean company’s strategy to nurture Vietnam into its top three global production base follow.. ...

Park calls for pioneering Silk Road for agricultural exports

South Koran President Park Geun-hye had a luncheon meeting with heads of organizations for agriculture, livestock and fishery on Friday and called on them to pioneer t.. ...

Interview with Ssangyong E&C chairman

Ssangyong Engineering & Construction on Thursday emerged from a court receivership in a year and three months since December 2013, laying the groundwork for restoring .. ...

Chinese retail giant eyeing S. Korea’s online shopping market

Richard Liu, chairman of JD.com or Jingdong Mall, paid a visit to South Korea for the first time Thursday. JD.com is the China’s second largest electronic commerce co.. ...

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The Kyunghyang Shinmoon (http://english.khan.co.kr/)

Supreme Court, 'Invoking the Emergency Measure Was Not Illegal'

An Indulgence to Dictatorship The Supreme Court judged that although the emergency measure was a violation of the Constitution, President Park Chung-hee's issuing of Emergency Measure Numbe···

70% of Senior Officials Increased Their Wealth

While ordinary citizens tightened their belts amid a long-term recession, senior officials and lawmakers apparently were living in another world. In the past ye···

Kim Soo-hyun in China, Lee Kwang-soo in South East Asia, Psy in South America: Selling the Korean Wave, Marketing Strategy Customized for Each Country

"I'll take them (black spots, freckles and fatigue) away for your skin. You should be pretty." The alien Do Min-jun did not just steal the hearts of TV viewe···

Removing Facilities and Agencies Responsible for Major Accidents Will Not Guarantee Safety

There is a big flaw in the response to safety accidents by the Park Geun-hye government and the Saenuri Party. They tend to focus on makeshift measures rather t···

How the Park Geun-hye Government Responds to Disasters: Close It or Remove It

On March 24, the government and the Saenuri Party decided to promote measures to close down unregistered camping sites after a fatal fire broke out at a camping···

Happiness

In the book, In Search of Happiness: Understanding an Endangered State of Mind, American clinical psychologist John F. Schumaker criticizes the formula that con···

Japan, 'Abe Statement, a Separate Issue from the South Korea, China, Japan Trilateral Summit'

Japan expressed its discomfort after South Korea and China cited the contents of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's statement on the 70th anniversary of the e···

[Editorial] A Look at the Justice Party which Adopted a Progressive Platform Based on 'Reality'

South Korea has a political system dominated by two major parties. The two parties show little difference in ideology and political views, yet South Korean poli···

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