The Korean daily media headlines and humor

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Monday, Dec. 21, 2015

Your Excellency:

Here The Korea Post news and a roundup of important headlines from all major Korean-language dailies, TV and other news media of Korea 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.

The Korea Post news

At press conference at National Assembly this morning

Ahn pledges all efforts for the transfer of control of government

By Kim Hyung-dae

Rep. AhnCheol-soodeclared that he will do everything he can in his power to achieve the transfer of the control of government. Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec. 21, 2015, Ahnpledged that he will fight for the people who are discriminated against in society where the rich become richer and the poor poorer. Excerpts from the remarks of Ahn follow:

Rep. AhnCheol-soo (second from left) pledges all efforts to effect change of government

for the sake of honest, hard-working majority. (The Korea Post photo)

The new party we are going to form has two main objectives:

The first aim is that we will achieve the takeover of the control of government at all cost. The government of President Lee Myung-bak promised ‘An Era of Success for the People’ but it never came about. The Park Geun-hye government has promised ‘An Era of People’s Happiness.’ Has she kept this promise? No.

The big businesses and the wealthy people have become wealthier and happier.

In contrast, the majority of people greatly suffered during the two administrations. Most of the people in all strata of society and in all age groups have suffered more than before.
The new party we are going to form will fight for the benefit of all the common people. We will fight for the sake of the young generation who are angry with the present state of their country. We will fight for a society where the people will no longer be angry. We will carry out the transfer of the control of government at all cost.
Secondly, we will try to effect the transfer of government that the people want. We will carry out the transfer of the control of government for the future of the Republic of Korea. We will do so to change the politics in Korea. We will change the government so that all the talented people in Korea will take part in the administration of the affairs of the country. We need all the people even though they may have a different view.

We should change the government so that we can find solutions to the problems instead of just talking about them.

I promise that we will form a party where we will not collaborate with those whom we should shun. We will form a party that will take a resolution action against corruption. We will form a party where talented people will gather and join. We will keep our door wide open to the young generation. We will form a party that will talk with all the peopleswho may have a different view from ours.

However, I will not work with any people whom we must shun as they do not think of the interests of the people first.

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A round-up of the latest news published by the Korean media:

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

Trade Ministry: FTAs with China, Vietnam, New Zealand to Boost GDP

The government expects free trade agreements (FTAs) with China, Vietnam and New Zealand to boost the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) by one percent over the next ten years.

Average Household Debt Tops W60 Mln for 1st Time

Rep. AhnCheol-soo Vows to Launch New Party before Lunar New Year

Presidential Office Calls for Passage of Structural Reform Bills

Rival Parties Fail to Agree on Contentious Bills

Average Household Debt Tops W60 Mln for 1st Time

KOSPI on Track to Record 1st Net Foreign Selling in 4 Years

Finance Minister Calls on Parliament to Pass Structural Reform Bills

Japan’s Sexual Slavery to be Taught in California Schools

Gov't to Consider Global Concern in Dealing with Geumgang Tours

US Ambassador LippertRevists Site of Attack

Another S. Korean Killed in Philippines

S. Korea's T-50 Crashes in Indonesia, Killing 2 Pilots

Asiana Airlines Takeoff Delayed due to Bird Strike

S. Korean Police to Investigate Murder in Philippines

Endangered Wild Goats Released in Songnisan National Park

Former JCS Chief Indicted for Bribery Charges

Law Schools Likely to Introduce Night Classes

College Graduates Face Increasing Difficulty Finding Jobs

Teachers Protest State-authored History Textbooks

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

Moody's rating upgrade to better cushion S. Korea from U.S. rate woes

Moody's Investor Service's latest upgrade of South Korea's credit rating is expected to better insulate the country from a recent U.S. interest rate hike and other external uncertainties, Seoul's top economic policymaker said Sunday.

Hyundai Motor to jack up stake in auto financing JV this week: sources

South Korea's carmaking giant Hyundai Motor Group will take over a 23 percent stake in its auto financing joint venture from its U.S. partner this week, industry sources said Monday.

T-50 trainer jet crashes at Indonesian air show, killing 2 pilots

A T-50 trainer jet fighter crashed during an air show in Indonesia on Sunday, killing two pilots aboard, local media reported.

U.S. approval of IMF reforms to expand S. Korea's global role

A U.S. move to approve reforming the International Monetary Fund (IMF) opens the door for South Korea and large emerging economies to play a greater role in global economic affairs, sources said Sunday.

2015/12/20 16:46

WTO members to end all farm export subsidies by 2023

All members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) must halt farm export subsidies by 2023 as part of an ongoing effort to lower trade barriers and increase cross-border commerce, the government said Sunday.

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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)

Korea enters into 3 new free trade pacts

Korea on Sunday entered into free trade pacts with three economies, including its largest trade partner and one of today...

WTO agrees to end farm subsidies

The member countries of the World Trade Organization agreed to end agricultural export subsidie...

Does Cheong WaDae fear the people?

On the afternoon of Nov. 14, Cheong WaDae and its surrounding areas were empty, quiet and sere...

Samsung Pay, Apple Pay set to compete head on in China

Rival mobile-payments services Samsung Pay and Apple Pay will compete head to head in the all-i...

'Force Awakens' crosses $250M globally

``Star Wars'' fever has spread through movie theaters around the globe, even reaching the White H...

Mutual trust

Mutual trust and confidence are essential for maintaining a robust military alliance like th...

Four years on

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a mausoleum in Pyongyang on Thursday to pay respects...

Genesis EQ900: Car is good, work to do on market positioning

There was much hype surrounding the Genesis EQ900, the first flag...

Kazakhstan, Korea deepen partnership

The Kazakh Embassy on Tuesday marked the country’s founding on Dec. 16, 1991, and burgeoning t...

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

Ahn says he will found new party in Feb.

AhnCheol-soo, former co-chairman of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) said Monday that he will create a new political party by February, which will carry out the fight for the young generation. Ahn’...

Bidding for Daewoo Securities ends 

Four entities have placed bids to buy the country's second-largest brokerage house Daewoo Securities Co. in a deal that could be a possible game changer for a...

Four major chaebol have varied focus for 2016 

The overseas business environment for next year is uncertain at best, darkened by the slowdown of China and other emerging economies, the U.S. monetary squeez...

Korea cautiously welcomes Moody's upgrade 

The upgrade of Korea’s sovereign credit rating by Moody’s Investor Service Saturday to Aa2, the highest ever for the nation, was good news from abroad. Howeve... 

Image of Korea in trouble abroad 

President Park Geun-hye recently said she has been spending sleepless nights due to wo... 

Rival parties fail again on electoral map 

The ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) failed... 

Korean society 'chaotic' in 2015 

“Chaotic” was the word that most aptly characterized Korean society in 2015, a group of professors...

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DongAIlbo (http://english.donga.com)

Moody`s gives Korea `Aa2` for the first time

Korea has received its highest credit rating from international ratings agency Moody`s. This new rating will certainly be helpful for Korea to pull through the impact of the increase in U.S. interest rate. The LG... 

AhnCheol-soo officially declares to form a new party on Monday

Independent lawmaker AhnCheol-soo formally declares on Monday that he would form a new party. It has been two years and a month since November 2013 when he declared to form a new party. Ahn plans to reveal that he...

‘Golden Culture of Shilla’ exhibition opens in Chuncheon

A special exhibition dubbed "Golden Culture of Shilla," which will showcase glory of gold culture in the Shilla Kingdom, recently opened at the Chuncheon National Museum, and will continue through January 24. The...

Ambassador Lippert attends KCRC event to keep promise

“Good morning, everyone. I am Se-jun’s father.” U.S. Ambassador to Korea Mark Lippert attended a breakfast meeting hosted by the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation at a hotel in central Seoul on Friday....

Breach of trust is more dangerous than anthrax spores

It has been learned that the United States Forces Korea (USFK) brought anthrax samples into Korea not just once in April but a total of 16 times. According to the result of a Korea-U.S. joint fact-finding probe into the...

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ChosunIlbo (http://english.chosun.com)

S.Koreans Live 12 Years Longer Than N.Koreans

South Koreans live about 12 years longer than their compatriots in North Korea, recent figures show. The life expectancy of South Koreans is 78.2 years for men and 85 for women this year, but in North Korea it is 66 years for men and 72.7 for women. >> Full Text

Moody's Raises Korea's Credit Rating

Moody's on Friday raised Korea's sovereign credit rating by a notch from Aa3 to Aa2. The credit rating firm classifies ratings into 21 categories, and Aa2 is the third-highest. This is the highest rating Korea has ever received from any of the three global rating firms. >> Full Text

Safe Ways to Keep Your Home Warm, Moist in Winter

Use of heating appliances increases in winter. Electric blankets, hot water mattresses, hot packs and hot water bottles are all useful for keeping warm. However, it is important to be aware of the risk of low-temperature burns. >> Full Text

UN Condemns N.Korea's Human Rights Abuses

Samsung Reaps Fraction of Apple's Phone Profits

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HankyorehShinmoon (http://english.hani.co.kr)

Police charge union leader with sedition, first such charge in 29 years

Civic groups and labor unions planning another large-scale rally in locations around the country, where protestors will wear “loud” masks

Police have asked prosecutors to charge Han Sang-gyun, president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU), with sedition, an additional charge. The decision to charge leaders of the KCTU with sedition

AhnCheol-soo’s defection dividing the ruling party and the opposition

AhnCheol-soo’s defection from the opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) is having an unintended consequence: Instead of just triggering the expected divisions in the opposition, it appears to be dividing the ruling Saenuri Party (NFP) as well.Many are now watching to see if the lawmaker and software mogul’s defection will usher in the arrival of a new “third way” moderate party to challenge the deeply rooted two-party political terrain. .

Ruling party leader tells African student he “the same color as coal”

Saenuri Party leader Kim Moo-sung was seen by several people on Dec. 18 telling a black exchange student carrying charcoal briquettes as part of a volunteer activity that the student’s face “is the same color as that coal.”The comment toward the African student was made around noon during a “caring coal delivery” service activity organized by the party’s youth committee in the Samseong neighborhood of Seoul’s Gwanak district that day. .

Speaker of the House has harsh words for Blue House bullying

The speaker of the National Assembly delivered a harsh criticism of the Blue House’s repeated efforts to pressure him into ex officio proposals of contentious legislation, which he described as “undermining parliamentary democracy and the separation of powers.”Meanwhile, President Park Geun-hye continued her demands for the National Assembly to pass her pet legislation, including five labor-related bills.

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JoongAngIlbo(conservative): (http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/)

Another rep defects from NPAD to join Ahn

An opposition lawmaker on Sunday followed AhnCheol-soo in quitting the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), the fifth representative to abandon the party and the Moon Jae-in leadership. At a press conference announcing his departure from the party, Rep. Kim Dong-cheol made clear he was walking away from the NPAD…

Moody’s upgrades Korea’s rating

Despite pretty dire outlooks for the economy next year, Korea received its highest-ever sovereign credit rating by an international agency…

Pentagon denies lying about anthrax in May

The U.S. Department of Defense adamantly denied accusations that it lied to Korea about the number of anthrax samples shipped to the country…

EQ900 is not only for ‘chairmen’

CHUNCHEON, Gangwon - The Equus, Hyundai Motor’s first top-of-the-line luxury sedan, became known as the “chairman’s car” …

FTAs with China, New Zealand and Vietnam start

After free trade agreements (FTAs) with China, Vietnam and New Zealand came into force at midnight on Saturday…

Korea’s guys get into Black Friday’s savings

Kim Do-yun recently bought a 48-inch LED TV for his mother. Buying it from the U.S.-based online retailer Amazon.com…

No final decision on electoral map

The leaders of the ruling and opposition parties failed again on Sunday to agree on how to redraw the electoral map for the April general election…

Funerals downsize as households, attitudes shift

When Mr. Kim lost his mother in March to complications from chronic heart disease, he and his siblings agreed to fulfill her final wishes.…

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

Moody’s upgrades S. Korea’s ratings to Aa2

Moody’s Investors Service upgraded South Korea’s sovereign credit rating from Aa3 to Aa2, the highest-ever rating that the fourth largest Asian economy has received from the big three credit rating agencies ? Moody’s, S&P and Fitch Ratings.

Samsung chases Apple in second-hand smartwatch market

More and more consumers pay attention to the second-hand smartwatch market, a natural phenomenon that follows an increase in ...

Hyundai Motor EQ900 sales in high gear

Hyundai Motor Co.’s new premium luxury vehicle EQ900, to be sold under the name of the G90 in overseas markets, is drawing ...

S. Korea approves its first foreign for-profit hospital in Jeju

The South Korean government on Friday approved the opening of the country’s first foreign-owned for-profit hospital.According to the ...

Samsung Elec declares crisis management, mulls flexible pricing policy for

Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co. plans to minimize expenses and be flexible in pricing and marketing to brace up for a tough year ...

More than half of experts in Korea believe BOK would hike policy rate next year

Three out of 10 economic and financial experts in Korea believe the Korean central bank will raise the base rate from current record ...

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The KyunghyangShinmoon(http://english.khan.co.kr/)

Court, "No Intention to Slander President Park with False Information"

"It was not appropriate for the defendant (Tatsuya Kato) to caricature an individual with an article. However, since we are a democratic nation, the freedom of···

[U.S. Raises Base Rate: Impact on South Korean Economy] If Interest Rate Rises and Housing Prices Fall, It Can Impact Household Debt of 1.2 Qn Won

The U.S. has ended the "zero interest rate" era after seven years, and the South Korean economy now faces a new change. The base rate hike was pretty much alr···

No Special Treatment for Chaebol This Time Despite Plea for Mercy Due to Health Issues and Contribution to the Economy

On December 15, the Seoul High Court sentenced Chairman Lee Jay-hyun (55) of CJ Group to two years and six months in prison in a case that was remanded by the S···

Reality in the Labor Market Where 23-Year-Olds Are Pressured to Resign

Doosan Infracore, a key affiliate of the Doosan Group, asked its employees to consider a voluntary resignation, and in the process plainly revealed the "two fa···

President Park's Key Pledge, 'Economic Democratization' Disappears after Three Years

"Economic Democratization," which put President Park Geun-hye in Cheong WaDae in 2012 disappeared just three years after the president entered office.···

[Editorial] Cheong WaDae Threatens the Chairman of the National Assembly to Follow President's Orders

Cheong WaDae publicly demanded Chung Ui-hwa, chairman of the National Assembly to bring up controversial bills including the five labor-related bills, e···

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The Korea Economic Daily(http://english.hankyung.com/)

Samsung Group Breaks Ground for 850 Bil. Won Biosimilar Plant in Songdo

Samsung Group will build the world's largest biosimilar plant in Incheon's Songdo at the cost of 850 billion won. With this investment, it is likely that Samsung Biologics will become the world's No. 1 contract manufacturing organization for drugs. Samsung Biologics held a groundbreaking ceremony on...

Household Debt Balance Rises 2.1% to 61.81 Mil. Won

A survey said the average balance of household debt is continuously on the rise. According to a survey conducted jointly by the National Statistical Office, the Bank of Korea, and the Financial Supervisory Service, as much as 25 percent of disposable income is used to pay for principal and interest ...

National Pension Fund to Increase Its Alternative Investment Share to 35% by 2020

In order to improve the rate of return of the National Pension Fund whose balance has increased over 500 trillion won (US$423 billion), the government will allow the fund to invest more in overseas assets and alternative investment assets such as infrastructures, hedge funds, and private equity fund...

Hanwha Techwin Signs $3.8 Bil. Engine Parts Supply Deal with Pratt & Whitney

Hanwha Techwin said on December 21 in a regulatory filing that it signed a risk and revenue sharing program deal with America's Pratt & Whitney to jointly develop the Geared Turbofan (PW1000G) engines. Under the RSP arrangement, the two companies will share risk and revenue from the development stag...

China's Hua'an Group to Invest $18 Bil.to Build Koreatown in Yantai

A large-scale Koreatown will be built in Yantai, a city of 7 million in northeastern Shandong Province, China. With residential complexes housing 200,000 inhabitants as well as 1,000 businesses and 10,000 commercial establishments, the town will play the central role in cementing the business relati...

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AJU Business Daily(http://eng.ajunews.com/korea)

South Korea’s first for-profit hospital to open in Jeju Island despite criticism

South Korea's health ministry has approved the project for a Chinese state company to run a for-profit hospital in Jeju Island despite critici…

Seoul City opens website for medical tourists

Seoul Metropolitan government opened a website which provides information on medical t…

Acquittal of Japanese journalist likely to soothe strained ties between Seoul and Tokyo

A South Korean court has cleared Tatsuya Kato, the former Seoul…

South Korea to upgrade its Patriot air-defense batteries

The Pentagon said on Monday Lockheed Martin Corp has won a contract to build PAC-3 missiles for the U.S. Army, South Korea, Qatar and Saudi Arabia for use in Ra…

South Korean politics sees ‘big bang” in opposition camp

A prominent South Korean opposition leader, AhnCheol-soo, has bolted from the main …

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ETNEWS(http://english.etnews.com/)

Daewoo Information Buys Samsung SDS’ Affiliate Nuri Solution

Daewoo Information System bought Samsung SDS¡? affiliate Nuri Solution that is a financial software (SW) business. By strengthening capabilities in financial ...

Your fingers are your earphones. The `Tip-Talk` goes to CES…commercializ...

A Korean start-up will commercialize the ¡®human body sound transmission technology¡? for using fingers as earphones next year. You can hear sound on...

ETRI Introduces 5G SNS Technologies for the First Time

5G SNS technologies are introduced for the first time. Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI, Director Lee Sang-hoon) made an announcement on t...

LG Chemicals Once Again Postpones Its Plan of Extending LCD Glass Substrate Factories

LG Chemicals is postponing its plan of extending LCD glass substrate factories due to global economy and worsened LCD market conditions. This is the second time it is putting off its plan of extension after it did so in 2014, and possibilities of withdrawal are also being brought up. According to industries on the 20th, LG Chemicals is temporarily postponing ...

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Special Notices:

Photo shows President Soon-Heung Chang of Handong Global University (fifth from left, front row) with ambassadors and other visiting members of the Seoul Diplomatic Corps (SDC), including Ambassador MmeNatalliaZhylevich of Belraus (dean of the visiting members of the SDC), fourth from left the same row With Ambassador and Mrs. SylvestreKouassi Bile of Cote d’ Ivoire (third and second from left, front row).

And Ambassador Roballo of Argentina (sixth from left, same row) and Ambassadors Mohamed Abdi Gello of Kenya (on the right of the rear row).

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