The Korean daily media headlines and humor

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Your Excellency:

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

Very Respectfully Yours

/s/

Lee Kyung-sik

Publisher-Chairman

Korea Post Media

The Korea Post News

What’s ticking in Korea today? Here is a quick roundup of important news stories from the major Korean news media today:

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

Parliament to Hold 3rd Hearing on Choi Soon-sil Scandal

The third session of the parliamentary inquiry into the Choi Soon-sil scandal on Wednesday will zoom in on unpacking the mystery surrounding President Park Geun-hye’s seven-hour public absence on the day of the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking.

Export, Import Prices Rise Sharply

South Korea’s export and import prices have risen sharply due to a weaker local currency.

According to the Bank of Korea(BOK) on Wednesday, the export price index was estimated at 83-point-99 for November, up by four-point-one percent from October.

Statue of Korean Marathoner Sohn Ki-jung Erected in Berlin

The Korean Culture Center in Germany has unveiled a statue of Korean runner Sohn Ki-jung near the site where he won the Berlin Olympic marathon in 1936.

VANK Produces World Maps to Promote Dokdo Islets

A South Korean nongovernmental organization plans to distribute three-thousand-500 copies of world maps in Africa in an aim to promote the country's easternmost Dokdo islets. The Voluntary Agency Network for Korea hopes the maps will help raise public awareness that Dokdo is South Korean territory.

Defense Minister Meets USFK Chief on N. Korean Threats

South Korea and the United States are vowing to maintain a strong and unified defense posture to deter North Korea from engaging in provocations during the current political crisis.

Export, Import Prices Rise Sharply

South Korea’s export and import prices have risen sharply due to a weaker local currency.

According to the Bank of Korea(BOK) on Wednesday, the export price index was estimated at 83-point-99 for November, up by four-point-one percent from October.

KOSPI, KOSDAQ up; Won Strengthens

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index(KOSPI) on Tuesday rose nearly nine points to close just below two-thousand-36.

Acting President Hwang Retains Deputy PM for Economic Affairs

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has decided to retain Deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs Yoo Il-ho.

S. Korea Asks US to Send More Surveillance Assets

South Korea has asked the United States to increase surveillance and reconnaissance assets deployed here.

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

Parliament hearing focuses on Park's alleged inaction during ferry disaster

South Korea's National Assembly started the third round of hearings on the corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye on Wednesday, this time focusing on her alleged inaction at the time of a deadly ferry disaster on April 16, 2014.

New rink to host world's top short trackers in Olympic prep

A new South Korean ice rink will host the world's fastest short trackers this week in its preparations for the country's first-ever Winter Olympics.

Gov't approves S. Korea's first Internet-only bank

South Korea's financial authorities on Wednesday approved a plan to establish the country's first online-only bank, opening a new chapter in its banking history.

Asian club football champions acquire 2 defenders in 5-player trade

The Asian club football champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors said Wednesday they have acquired two defenders from fellow South Korean club Ulsan Hyundai FC in exchange for three players.

Explosion at base occurred after soldiers stepped on gunpowder: Army

South Korean Army investigators looking into an explosion at a southern military base Tuesday said the accident occurred after soldiers stepped on piles of gunpowder.

Ssangyong Motor enjoys hefty sales in sanctions-free Iran

Ssangyong Motor Co., the country's smallest automaker, said Wednesday it has shipped a total of 6,823 vehicles to Iran in the first 11 months of the year, with the figure expected to top 8,000 units this year.

Despite decade of glory, BIGBANG still fears losing affection

South Korean boy band BIGBANG named "fabulousness" as what has kept the 10-year veterans on a roll, saying the band may call it off as soon as the public begins to see them lose the glitter.

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

Third parliament hearing focuses on 'missing 7 hours' of ferry disaster

South Korea's National Assembly started the third round of hearings on the corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye on Wednesday, this time focusing on her alleged inaction at the time of a deadly ferry disaster on April 16, 2014.

Illegal dog slaughter to be banned in Moran Market

The slaughter of dogs will be abolished and butchery facilities removed from South Korea’s largest dog meat market, in a move which officials described as a step toward ending the animal welfare controversy over the industry.

Park’s downfall, Trump will have little impact on NK policy: envoys

The top nuclear negotiators of South Korea and the US on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the North Korea policy toward denuclearization despite the political transitions in both countries.

Prospect of early election shakes things up for all

With President Park Geun-hye awaiting the final decision on her impeachment, political circles are already shifting their focus to the next presidential election -- likely to take place sooner than previously expected.

Guterres sworn in as UN chief, vows change

Antonio Guterres was sworn in Monday as the ninth secretary-general of the United Nations, saying the world body must change to better confront global crises such as the war in Syria.

Loyal to the end

The ruling Saenuri Party is on the verge of a breakup. The impending implosion of the party endangers not only what has been a conservative bastion for decades but also the bipartisan system that has been buttressed by two major parties representing conservatives and liberals.

[Editorial] Untimely calls

Will South Korea see the 10th amendment to the Constitution next year? If this is attained, the revision would mark the first in 30 years since the ninth was promulgated in October 1987.

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

[LIVE] Assembly probe of Sewol tragedy, Park's beauty surgery

The third round of the parliamentary hearing of the Park Geun-hye scandal is under way at the National Assembly.

Croatian beer froths up in Korean market

Croatian beer brand Ozujsko is now available in Korea. Ozujsko is the top-selling beer in the European country with 40 percent market share, according to CKB, a liquor importer.

Wisconsin univ. professor under fire for sexist, racist remarks in Korea

A Korea-born professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is under fire in his homeland for his sexist and racist remarks in a lecture at Ewha Womans University last week.

Anti-Park Saenuri faction considering new party

A power struggle inside the ruling Saenuri Party intensified Tuesday as lawmakers aligned against President Park Geun-hye continued their offensive against Park loyalists leading the party.

Yet another blow to Absolut Vodka ad: copyright violation

A new advertisement for Absolut Vodka is dragged into deeper trouble.

Upon its release early this week, the world-famous vodka brand owned by Pernod Ricard was overwhelmed by criticism from people questioning the appropriateness of a photo of a mass anti-president protest in Seoul.

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Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com)

S. Korea, U.S., Japan agree to block N. Korea access to financial system

The chief negotiators of the six-party talks from South Korea, the U.S. and Japan met in Seoul on Tuesday and urged North Korea t…

AIDA, a musical with a feast of lights

“AIDA,” a musical that has returned in four years, is highlighted by lighting. The beautiful illumination from 900 lights and 90 …

Korea’s largest dog meat trade market likely to shut down

The controversial dog meat trade in the Moran Market in Seongnam, a city near Seoul, will likely disappear. The Seongnam city gov…

Exports to China decline, but FTA slows the pace of drop

The decrease of Korea's exports is slowing down amid sluggish world trade, as some goods benefit from the Korea-China free trade …

Trump suggests to shake up ‘One-China' policy to pressure China

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump indicated to pressure China by using relations with two Chinas (China and Taiwan) in order to p…

Constitutional court begins pretrial process on impeachment

The Constitutional Court and the prosecution’s special investigative team led by independent counsel Park Young-soo are stepping …

British rock band Coldplay to perform additionally in Korea

After a booming ticket reservations last month, British rock band Coldplay will be performing in Korea one more time.Hyundai Card…

Classics Reimagined series published in Korea

The "Classics Reimagined” series, classical novels with paintings by famous illustrators who interpreted them in a fresh perspect…

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

More Employers Accept Casual Dress in Job Interviews

A growing number of employers let applicants dress casually for job interviews, a straw poll suggests.

Young Jobseekers Embrace Seoul's Free Suit Rental

A free suit rental for young jobseekers run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government has been well received.

Dressing Right Remains Vital in Job Interviews

Hyundai started to allow job applicants to dress in casual clothes for their interviews in the second half of this year in a bid to reduce the stress of these occasions. Hanwha Chemical, SK Telecom, LG Uplus and NHN are also adopting this practice.

Ratings Firms Say Korea Will Shrug Off Political Crisis

Global ratings firms say Korea's current political turmoil will not have a lasting effect on its economy. They predict that the corruption scandal that has engulfed President Park Geun-hye and the consequent power vacuum will only lead to temporary uncertainty.

Vanished Park Aide 'Willing to Testify in National Assembly'

Former senior presidential secretary Woo Byung-woo is reportedly willing to come out of hiding and testify in the National Assembly on Dec. 22.

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HanKyoReh-Shinmoon (http://english.hani.co.kr)

Choi Sun-sil was effectively treated as Pres. Park’s husband

Concrete evidence continues to emerge that the Blue House jumped into action at a single word from Park’s confidante and powerbroker Choi Sun-sil and that the ruling Saenuri Party, the lackeys of the Blue House, were actively involved in this. While Choi had the Blue House and the entire government in the palm of her hand, President Park Geun-hye’s former Chief of Staff Kim Ki-choon was the figure in the Blue House who aggressively implemented Park’s version of Yushin rule.

With Choi Sun-sil, Blue House was run like a “family-owned company”

What the prosecutors’ special office of investigations turned up after two months of investigating Choi Sun-sil’s influence peddling was that the Blue House was run as opaquely as a family-owned company. “The only way to understand the relationships between these people - which have lasted from 20 years at the shortest to 40 years at the longest - is to see Choi Sun-sil as the authoritarian husband who gives the orders, President Park Geun-hye as the wife and the doorknob triumvirate as the cousins,” said a source in the prosecutors who read the investigation findings on Dec. 12.

After impeaching, Pres. Park to have six months of restful seclusion

President Park Geun-hye began what could be a six-month period of seclusion at home after being suspended from her duties with the National Assembly‘s approval of an impeachment motion on Dec. 9.

Pres. Park an accomplice in ordering resignation of CJ Group vice chairman

President Park Geun-hye was found to have had former Blue House Senior Secretary to the President for Economic Affairs Cho Won-dong order the resignation of CJ Group vice chairperson Lee Mi-kyung from the company’s management front lines.

Constitutional Court won’t be “selective” in assessing Pres. Park’s impeachment

The Constitutional Court has said it will not be “selective” in its review of the grounds for President Park Geun-hye‘s impeachment.

With impeachment passed, plethora of petitions seeking “new democracy”

The candlelight spirit is evolving from a focus on impeachment to a variety of petition campaigns after the National Assembly‘s passage last week of an impeachment motion against President Park Geun-hye.

With impeachment passed, more than 1 million still gather for candlelight demonstrations

The candles will never stop burning. The seventh candlelight rally that was held the day after the motion for President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment was passed was attended by 800,000 people in Seoul and 1.04 million people around South Korea.

Biggest, most damaging AI outbreak in S. Korea’s history raging on

The number of chickens and ducks culled amid the nationwide spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) is scheduled to pass 10 million, creating the possibility of the worst damages over the shortest time frame in history. The government passed a “stand still” decision for all poultry-related individuals, vehicles, and items across South Korea for a 40-hour period from midnight on Dec. 13 to midnight on Dec. 15 to stop the AI spread. It’s the third stand still order issued to date for the AI outbreak.

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JoongAng-Ilbo(conservative) (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)

New electricity pricing goes into effect

The government finalized a new household electricity billing system that will lower the average bill by 11.6 percent - and cut bills in half for some heavy users. It goes into effect with this month’s power bills.

Ordinary folk join hunt for Blue House’s missing Woo

The National Assembly is getting close to tracking down Woo Byung-woo, the former presidential secretary for civil affairs who has been on the run to avoid questioning over his role in the abuse of power scandal that led to the impeachment of Park Geun-hye.

After impeachment, calls for constitutional change spread

Former People’s Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo said Tuesday the country should begin discussions about revising the 1987 Constitution…

Gov’t focuses R&D on emerging industries

The government will scale back overall spending on research and development in technology next year, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Tuesday, but the portion taken up…

Tax collections increase by 23.7 trillion won

Despite a decline in economic growth and erosion of consumer and business confidence, the government still collected more taxes than a year ago…

Regulator plans new guidelines for loan spreads

The country’s financial watchdog will introduce new bank guidelines for calculating mortgage loan spreads amid concerns that banks are raising interest rates to make up…

Accounting firm says Hanjin should liquidate

It’s the beginning of the end for Hanjin Shipping, once the world’s seventh-largest and nation’s top container line. An accounting firm recommended…

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

[After the Impeachment Vote of Park Geun-hye] Shameless Pro-Park Politicians Going Against the Public

The pro-Park members of the Saenuri Party, who make up the party‘s mainstream, are confronting the “candlelight” public sentiment head-on. The members opted to stubbornly resist, refusing to reflect on their responsibility in the “Park Geun-hye, Choi Soon-sil scandal” and to let go of their power.

The Shamelessness of the Pro-Park Members that Ruined the Party, Step Down Along with President Park

After the National Assembly passed the impeachment vote, the battle between the pro-Park members and the non-Park members within the Saenuri Party has intensified. The pro-Park members urgently gathered late Sunday night and formed a “coalition of conservatives seeking innovation and integration” and have been attacking the non-Park members. Yesterday, Lee Jang-woo, a pro-Park member of the party‘s supreme council recalled past remarks and launched a personal attack on lawmakers Kim Moo-sung and Yoo Seong-min. He said, “Former leader Kim Moo-sung and former floor leader Yoo Seong-min, who are icons of betrayal and treachery, are simply audacious and shameless.” There have never been such shameless words, launching an attack after ruining the party by abusing their power.

[Ha Seung-soo's Gap] To Go Beyond June of 1987

The candlelight revolution, some call it a civil revolution. But a revolution means the replacement of the system. The National Assembly passed the impeachment proposal of President Park Geun-hye, but that does not mean that the president has been impeached yet, and the system that gave birth to Park Geun-hye and Choi Soon-sil remains the same. So it is too early to pour the champagne. It is not yet a revolution.

Twelve Recordings of Choi Soon-sil's Involvement in State Affairs After Park Entered Office

The investigation of the "Park Geun-hye, Choi Soon-sil scandal" by the special investigation team of the Prosecutors' Office concluded on December 11, 45 days after the team was launched. The Special Investigation Division, with 185 staff members including 44 prosecutors, questioned 412 suspects and witnesses and searched 150 places including businesses and foundations making this investigation one of the largest ever. The team submitted investigation records amounting to 20,000 pages to special prosecutor Park Young-soo's investigation team and shifted focus to supporting the prosecution of the eleven suspects who they have turned over to the court for a trial.

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

Good Days Are Over: Interest Hike to Squeeze Borrowers Further

Ahead of the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee meeting scheduled on December 14, it remains to be seen whether the monetary policy makers would indeed raise the benchmark interest rate this time. If the rate hike is made, it would likely be a signal for all other countries in the world to increase their interest rates.

Opposition Parties Demand Immediate Stop to Duty-free Shop Licensing Process

The opposition parties demanded on December 13 that the process undertaken by the Korea Customs Service to select a new round of duty-free shop operators be stopped immediately. The deliberation on the selection is set to begin on December 15 and will continue for three days.A total of 61 lawmakers ...

German Prosecutors Investigate 3 Mil. Euro Money Laundering Case Involving Choi Soon-sil

Prosecutors in Germany said they are currently investigating a money laundering case involving Choi Soon-sil and her family members. The money suspected of being laundered, whose amount is about 3 million euros (US$3.19 million), came from Korea, the prosecutors confirmed.The prosecutors' office in ...

Opposition Parties Demand Immediate Stop to Duty-free Shop Licensing Process

The opposition parties demanded on December 13 that the process undertaken by the Korea Customs Service to select a new round of duty-free shop operators be stopped immediately. The deliberation on the selection is set to begin on December 15 and will continue for three days.A total of 61 lawmakers ...

Most People No Longer Believe Social Mobility...Survey

A survey said more and more people believe that there is no more social mobility that would lift them and their children out of the bottom rung of the ladder. According to a report "Korea's Social Trend" released by the National Statistical Office on December 12, the ratio of people who consider the...

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

Fila Korea aims to become global sportswear and golf equipment maker

Fila Korea, an international sportswear maker, has been considered a success case in South Korea's fashion industry since it acquired its parent company in Italy in 2007.

Popular TV survival show 'Running Man' loses two regular members

South Korean actress Song Ji-hyo and singer Kim Jong-kook will leave Running Man, one of the most popular TV variety shows in Asia.

EXID's Hani to interact with fans through mobile platform as editor

Girl group EXID's Hani is has a well-known habit of jotting down things into her pocketbook. For next five to six weeks, the singer will make full use of her habit to communicate with fans as an editor on a mobile contents platform.

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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)

What’s ticking around the world at this second?

See what the world media around the world have to report:

USA Today: www.usatoday.com aallman@gannett.com

The New York Times: www.nytimes.com inytletters@nytimes.com

Wall Street Journal: www.wsj.com support@wsj.com ,service@wsj-asia.com

Financial Times www.ft.com ean@ft.com

times www.thetimes.co.uk help@timesplus.co.uk

The Sun www.thesun.co.uk talkback@the-sun.co.uk

Chinese People's Daily www.people.com.cn kf@people.cn

China Daily www.chinadaily.com.cn circulation@chinadaily.com.cn

Gwangmyeong Daily www.gmw.cn webmaster@gmw.cn

Japan's Yomiuri www.yomiuri.co.jp japannews@yomiuri.com

asahi www.asahi.com customer-support@asahi.com

mainichi www.mainichi.jp

lemonde www.ilemonde.com

Italy rarepupeul Rica www.quotidiano.repubblica.it vittorio.zucconi@gmail.com

Germany Frankfurter AllgemeineZeitung www.faz.net anzeigen.ausland@faz.de

SüddeutscheZeitung www.sueddeutsche.de forum@sueddeutsche.de

Australia Brisbane Times www.brisbanetimes.com.au syndication@fairfaxmedia.com.au

Sydney Morning Herald www.smh.com.au

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