The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Monday, December 19, 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/)

Protesters Call for Park's Immediate Resignation in 8th Weekend Rally

Hundreds of thousands of South Koreans held a massive rally on Saturday to demand scandal-hit President Park Geun-hye immediately step down and the Constitutional Court speed up its review of Park’s impeachment motion.

Acting President: No Changes to Existing Diplomatic Policies

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn will not alter existing diplomatic policies promoted by impeached President Park Geun-hye.

AI Cases Confirmed in 11 Poultry Farms

A highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza (AI) is continuing to spread across the nation.

Independent Counsel Places Travel Ban on Samsung Heir VP

The independent counsel probing the Choi Soon-sil scandal has placed a travel ban on Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong and other conglomerate chiefs.

Acting President Meets with UK Finance Minister

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn has assured Britain's Finance Minister Philip Hammond that state affairs in South Korea are normal and vowed to continue conducting key diplomatic and economic operations.

Gov't to Cut S. Korea's Growth Forecast for 2017

The government will cut its growth forecast for next year from three percent to the mid-two percent range. It will also slash its estimate for employment growth next year from 300-thousand to 200-thousand.

KCNA: Canadian Delegation Visited N. Korea to Discuss Detained Pastor

A Canadian government delegation is said to have visited North Korea to discuss the detainment of Korean-Canadian pastor Lim Hyeon-soo.

S. Korea to Develop Long-range Air-to-Ground Missile

South Korea will develop its own indigenous long-range air-to-ground missile to counter growing threats of North Korea.

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

Allegations of influence-peddling groundless, no crime committed to warrant impeachment: Park

President Park Geun-hye said Sunday her impeachment motion passed by parliament earlier this month lacked sufficient legal grounds, adding no serious crime was committed to warrant her being dismissed from office.

S. Korea to keep policy stance over N.K. despite political turmoil: minister

South Korea will maintain its current policy stance toward North Korea and make efforts to prod the country into giving up its nuclear weapons, Seoul's point man on unification said Sunday.

Actor Park Bo-gum greeted by 4,000 fans in Hong Kong

Park Bo-gum, the star of South Korean TV series "Love in the Moonlight," met about 4,000 fans in Hong Kong on the second leg of his tour of Asian countries to meet international fans, his agency said Sunday.

N. Korea in process of developing long-endurance aerial drone: gov't

North Korea is in the process of developing a long-endurance aerial drone, the government said Sunday.

Russian translation of 'Toji' released

The first-ever Russian translation of "Toji (Land)" written by the late South Korean writer Park Kyung-ni was published in October, a cultural foundation revering Park said.

S. Korea wraps up short track World Cup with 4 titles

Host South Korea picked up two more gold medals at the International Skating Union (ISU) World Cup Short Track Speed Skating on Sunday, wrapping up the three-day competition with four titles.

Different type of AI discovered

A different type of avian influenza (AI) has been discovered in the country, the government said Sunday, as it intensifies efforts to contain its spread.

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

Impeachment flawed, charges untrue and there's no evidence: Park

The parliament’s impeachment of President Park Geun-hye was a flawed process, based on false accusations with no evidence, according to the first argument made by Park’s legal representatives.

Special probe, litigation on Choi to begin

The special investigation and litigation processes into the corruption scandal surrounding President Park Geun-hye and her now-infamous friend Choi Soon-sil will begin this week, while the embattled president and the parliament prepares for the coming impeachment trial.

Top three retailers win new duty-free licenses in Seoul

Lotte Duty Free, Hyundai Department Store and Shinsegae DF have won new licenses to operate duty-free stores in the affluent Gangnam district in Seoul, the Korea Customs Service said on Saturday evening.

All of iPhone 8’s OLED version will be curved: sources

All of Apple’s iPhone 8 OLED versions will be curved, sources said Sunday, amid growing speculations over the design of the US tech giant’s upcoming flagship smartphones.

Eiffel Tower reopens after a close down of 5 days

The Eiffel Tower has reopened to the public after a closedown of five consecutive days due to workers' strike.

US Secretary of State John Kerry meets Saudi King Salman

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has met with Saudi King Salman in what likely will be his last visit as America's top diplomat.

Korean industries show mixed reactions to oil price hike

Korean industries showed mixed reactions to the rising global crude oil price over the weekend, with the ailing shipbuilders expressing relief, while aviation and shipping businesses remained cautious.

Zoos shut down as bird flu approaches Seoul

A highly pathogenic bird flu is spreading at an alarming pace toward the capital, with confirmed cases in Gimpo, west of Seoul, and another suspected case near the capital.

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

Hwang collides with opposition over his role

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, now the acting head of state, made it clear Sunday that impeached President Park Geun-hye's key diplomatic policies will remain unchanged, clashing with opposition parties which call on him to limit his role.

Korea is more stable after impeachment

The impeachment on December 9 of President Park Geun-hye was an unfortunate step for the country, but it was necessary, given the gravity of what we already know about the President's role in allowing her friend Choi Soon-sil to roam free in the corridors of power.

Strike halts Korean Air flights

Travelers who booked international flights with Korean Air during Dec. 22-26 may need to look for alternative itineraries after a pilots' strike partly shut down overseas and domestic routes on Saturday.

'Testimony conspiracy' causing stir

A controversy has erupted after a report that Rep. Lee Man-hee of the ruling Saenuri Party colluded with a witness involved in the scandal surrounding President Park Geun-hye's confidant Choi Soon-sil, in providing false answers at a hearing for the National Assembly's investigation of the scandal.

Choi may face drug abuse charge

President Park Geun-hye's confidant Choi Soon-sil, the central figure of an ongoing influence-peddling scandal, may face an additional charge of drug abuse, following evidence showing she received an addictive anesthetic at a plastic surgery clinic almost once a week for three years.

No serious crime committed to warrant impeachment: Park

President Park Geun-hye has said that no serious crime was committed to justify her removal from office, denying all allegations in the Assembly impeachment motion as "groundless."

Korean movies tops for action

The Playlist, a U.S. online independent filmmaking review, on Friday named three Korean films as having the best action sequences of 2016.

Inventor's unwavering passion for perfect nasal device

Self-made businessman Joung Jin-gu, 64, once had a thriving business that produced garments and daily household products for the U.S. market. During its peak days in the 1980s and ‘90s, his company Samjoung International had over 3,000 employees in overseas factories in 33 countries across Asia and Latin America, and posted an annual sales income of $50 million. Some of his innovative products, such as hangers and foldable laundry baskets, were a hit in the U.S. market, helping him become a corporate leader of a small but strong company.

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

Hyundai, Kia rank 1st and 4th in German quality survey

Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors have proved their qualities globally by ranking at first and fourth in a German automobile quality survey.

Professor publishes complete works of Shakespeare in a book

Marking 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death (1564-1616), Moonji Publishing has published the “Complete Works of Shakespeare,” which collects all his works of 38 plays, 154 sonnets and 6 poems excluding sonnets, into a book of more than 1,800 pages. Almost every page has notes for history, culture, myth and language to help readers better understand the story. This is the achievement by Honorary Professor Lee Sang-seop of English Literature Department at Yonsei University who has been in charge of translation for a decade.

Additional artificial fish-reef to block Chinese dragnet fishing boats

Additional artificial fish banks will be installed undersea to prohibit Chinese fishing boats from illegally operating across the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea.

Pres. Park celebrates her 4th anniversary to win presidential election

Monday marks President Park Geun-hye's fourth anniversary to win the 2012 presidential election. The mood of the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, however, is immensely gloomy as the president went into retreat her official residence after the National Assembly passed the impeachment motion on Dec. 9.

Ban Ki-moon to 'declare position on candidacy'

At a farewell reception held at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations building on Thursday (local time), UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, "Most of the crisis brought to the international society falls under the responsibility of political leaders who do not heed to the public. A leader should have compassion for the people who gave support, and pay close attention to what they have to say."

'Korean economy tol remain resilient amid a political turmoil'

“The current uncertainties associated with impeachment will mostly disappear early next year, and thus the momentum will continue for foreign investment,” Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond told reporters of the Dong-A Ilbo at the British Embassy in Korea on Friday.

Putin tops Forbes' 2016 list of most powerful people

Russian President Vladimir Putin was chosen as the world’s most influential person for four years in a row since 2013.

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

More Koreans Dine Out Alone

Koreans dine out alone 6.5 times a month on average, according to a survey, and those in their 20s 7.8 times.

Survey Shows People No Longer Embarrassed to Eat Alone

The number of people who routinely eat lunch alone has grown along with the increase in single households.

More Koreans Travel Solo

More and more Koreans are happy to travel the world on their own as traditional collective values erode.

More Koreans to Skip Year-End Festivities

An increasing number of people plan to celebrate Christmas and New Year on their own, an online poll suggests.

Internet Makes Unlikely Stars of Men Who Promote Cosmetics

The Internet has given rise to yet another unlikely kind of star -- men who promote cosmetics on YouTube. Most men were drawn to makeup after searching for products to cover up their acne.

Soldiers on Front Line of Men's Cosmetics Sales

Soldiers are emerging as a big player in the cosmetics industry.

Although Korean men traditionally tend to splurge on skincare products when they enter university or start a new job, the biggest buying frenzy these days seems to occur when they serve in the military.

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

770,000 candles still burning for Pres. Park’s immediate resignation

The eighth candlelight rally calling for the resignation of President Park Geun-hye took place in central Seoul on Dec. 17. With conservative groups holding counter protests opposing Park’s impeachment, the police worked hard to prevent a clash between the two groups.

With impeachment passed, Season Two of anti-Park protests to begin

On Dec. 17, the eighth weekend candlelight rally will be held around Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. During the second rally to be held since the National Assembly passed a motion for the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, the rally organizers will not only be demanding Park‘s immediate resignation but are also planning to start calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who is the acting president, and for the Constitutional Court to quickly review the motion of impeachment. This effectively marks the beginning of “season two” of the campaign for Park’s resignation.

75% of S. Koreans say Constitutional Court should uphold Pres. Park’s impeachment

Three out of four South Koreans think the Constitutional Court should uphold the motion of impeachment against President Park Geun-hye and end her presidency, a recent poll found.

After Choi Sun-sil scandal, blacklisted movies coming into the light

“I guess that the very fact that this movie was released means that my work is done,” said Park Jeong-woo, the day before his film “Pandora” was set to hit screens. The film had been a symbol of censorship and “external pressure.”

Crowdfunding for “A March for Being” movie

Director Park Ki-bok is crowdfunding until Jan. 10 to raise funds for “A March for Being”, a movie about the Gwangju Democratization Movement of 1980. The crowdfunding campaign started in August with the goal of raising 50 million won (US$42,800).

Spy Nation” documentary gets strong audience response, lack of space from theaters

Third in reservation rate; tenth in number of theaters. The film “Spy Nation” set an unusual record with its Oct. 13 premiere.

Special Prosecutor hoping finish all questioning of Pres. Park at once

The special prosecutor investigating the Choi Sun-sil scandal hinted on Dec. 15 that although he hoped to finish up questioning of President Park Geun-hye all at once, she could face additional questioning.

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

Lotte, Hyundai, Shinsegae win duty-free bids

Lotte World Tower’s duty-free shop is back in the game while SK Walkerhill struck out after the government handed out six new duty-free operating licenses on Saturday.

The decision by the Korea Customs Service was made amid controversy surrounding allegations of a pay-to-play scheme between conglomerates and several foundations connected to President Park Geun-hye’s confidante Choi Soon-sil. Three of the six new locations’ operators are conglomerates: Lotte, Hyundai Department Store and Shinsegae… .

Rep. Yi accused of telling witness to lie about tablet

Rep. Yi Wan-young of the ruling Saenuri Party ordered witnesses to commit perjury at a National Assembly hearing on the abuse of power scandal…

Park’s impeachment inspires young protesters

The motion to impeach President Park Geun-hye has been passed at the National Assembly and the president now faces both the judgement of the Constitutional Court…

Bottomless eats, endless headache

A sluggish economy has more diners tightening their purse strings but certainly not their belts. Among the money-conscious, all-you-can-eat restaurants…

NYC street grub finds a home in Seoul

About 150 people were lined up on the cold sidewalk at 11 a.m. Saturday, when The Halal Guys opened for business for the first time in Itaewon, central Seoul…

France-Korea business group toasts 30 years

The French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) held its 27th annual gala on Dec. 10, with this year’s celebration marking the 130th anniversary…

Papago, an app that ‘learns’ to perfectly translate

After Rep. Lee Jung-hyun, chairman of the ruling Saenuri Party, vowed on Nov. 30 to “eat his hat” if the three opposition parties succeed in impeaching President Park…

Air France-KLM upbeat on Korea

Air France-KLM, one of the earliest pioneers in the Korean aviation market, has gradually expanded its presence by implementing customized services for local travelers…

New website lists all dormant bank accounts

A man surnamed Kim recently visited Accountinfo, a website that allows individuals to find all dormant bank accounts under their names. The website was launched last week…

770,000 people protest nationwide

President Park Geun-hye’s adamant refusal last Friday to admit to the charges against her in the impeachment motion passed by the National Assembly fanned public…

Park opponent emerges as possible Saenuri head

Rep. Yoo Seong-min, an icon of resistance to President Park Geun-hye, emerged Sunday as a possible candidate to head the ruling party as interim leader…

Pyongyang announces new drone technology

Pyongyang appears to be developing a new lighter and more durable drone for real-time surveillance, South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense said Sunday…

Poor security led to military hacking by North

Earlier this month, the South Korean military accused Pyongyang of hacking South Korea’s defense intranet, and cyber experts are now pointing out holes…

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

Constitutional Court Speeds up and Demands Special Prosecutor and Prosecutors' Office to Submit Investigation Records

On December 15, the Constitutional Court requested the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, which had operated the special investigation team for the "Park Geun-hye, Choi Soon-sil scandal," and special prosecutor Park Young-soo "to send the investigation records concerning the grounds to impeach President Park Geun-hye." The Constitutional Court also asked Kweon Seong-dong, chairman of the parliamentary Legislation and Judiciary Committee, who is also the lawmaker that delivered the impeachment motion to the Constitutional Court, to submit documents to prepare for the adjudication of impeachment.

"The Park Geun-hye Government Investigated Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae

Documents including the actions of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Yang Sung-tae and novelist Lee Oi-soo were released on December 15.

Trump's Cabinet Is "Hard, Hard, Hardline," A Cold Wave to Sweep over the Korean Peninsula

Rex Tillerson, the CEO of ExxonMobil was nominated as the secretary of state in the Donald Trump administration on December 13 (local time), finishing off the appointments of the three major figures in America's foreign relations and security including the defense secretary and the White House national security advisor. The key positions in foreign affairs and security have been filled with hardliners, thus a cold wave is expected to sweep over the Korean Peninsula on issues such as the North's nuclear program. Trump's Russia-friendly stance and attempts to pressure China are also expected to heighten tensions in the Korean Peninsula.

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.

The National Assembly Must Impeach President Park

Today, the National Assembly will vote on the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. Lawmakers, who will determine whether or not to oust the chief of state affairs, and the citizens witnessing this are all facing a page in history with heavy hearts. Will we guard democracy and march toward a better country or will we betray democracy and drive the country into a crisis. The citizens have made their position clear. They are calling for the politicians to impeach President Park and establish a new country, a new order.

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

Big Corporations Unable to Complete Their 2017 Business Plans Due to Uncertainties

"There is nothing for us to do at a time like now. Things are pretty much gloomy." A large corporation chairman said to the reporter in a recent interview. Given the latest incidents like National Assembly public hearings in which corporate leaders were grilled by lawmakers, special prosecutors' investigations, and the political paralysis following the impeachment of the sitting President, it is no wonder the corporate titans are in such a gloom-and-doom mood.

Celltrion Gets de Facto Approval for Sale of Cancer Treatment Biosimilar in Europe

Celltrion, Korea's largest biosimilar drug maker, has won a de facto approval for selling CT-P10 (rituximab), the drug used to treat lymphomas, leukemias, transplant rejection, and autoimmune disorders, in the European market. With this achievement, the company will likely take the position of a fir...

No. of Laying Hens Slaughtered Reaches 10 Mil.

The number of laying hens destroyed in Korea as of December 17 has surpassed 10 million since highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N6) outbreaks have been reported in the country. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs on December 18, the number of layers culled so far fol...

SK Chemicals Succeeds in Getting Canadian Approval for Its Hemophilia Drug "Afstyla"

SK Chemicals said on December 18 that it has successfully won approval to sell its hemophilia drug called "Afstyla" from the Canadian health authorities. Afstyla is a proprietary drug to treat the rare hemophilia A condition. It was licensed out to CSL Ltd., an Australian biotech firm in 2009.Afstyl...

Hanwha, Lotte Chemical, SK Hynix to Benefit from Higher Demands for Ethylene and Computer Chips

Domestic securities firms said over the weekend that one needs to focus on stocks expected for industry recovery and individual stock performance improvement, recommending companies like Hanwha Chemical, Lotte Chemical, SK Hynix, and LG Display as promising stocks to invest.Mirae Asset Daewoo said o...

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

EXO drops two versions of music videos for 'For Life'

Boy group EXO has released two dramatized versions of music videos, Korean and Chinese, for its new track "For Life" th…

New operators for duty-free shops selected: Yonhap

South Korea's customs service announced six new operators for duty-free shops in Seoul and two other cities. The K…

S. Korea to issue multiple entry visas for rich Chinese…

South Korea said Friday that it will issue multiple entry visas for Chinese travelers who buy expensive vacation packages, the latest in a ser…

President Park distressed herself about facial scars: d…

South Korean President Park Geun-hye appeared to have distressed herself about her facial scars she got during a local election campaign ten years ag…

EXO drops teaser images for upcoming winter album

Boy group EXO has dropped a set of teaser images about a new winter-themed album "For Life", sc…

Dispute clouds future of popular TV show Running Man

An internal row over the unheralded departure of two faithful members has intensified, clouding the future of Running Man, a po…

Seoul uses unusual method for border contact with Pyong…

With their cross-border hotlines turned off, a bizarre method of communication was adopted this week between South and North Korea at the bor…

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

Lotte, Hyundai, Shinsegae win duty-free licenses in third government auction

The Korea Customs Service (KSC) picked Lotte Duty Free, Hyundai Department Store and Shinsegae DF as new operators of duty-free stores in Seoul, the Korean customs service announced on Saturday.

DSME wins order to build LNG-FSRU from Greece-based Maran Gas Maritime

Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. (DSME), South Korea’s second largest shipbuilder, won an order to build a liquefied natural gas floating storage and regasification unit (LNG-FSRU) from Maran Gas Maritime Inc., a subsidiary of Greece’s biggest shipper Angelicoussis Shipping Group, the company announced on Sunday.

Samsung Electronics push ahead global strategy meeting Dec. 19-21

Samsung Electronics Co. will hold a three-day, bi-annual global strategy meeting in South Korea this week with its key local ...

American actor Tom Cruise reportedly visits Lotte Signiel Residence on his 8th

Hollywood star Tom Cruise is reported to have an interest in Lotte’s luxury apartment Signiel Residence situated on 42nd to ...

Hyundai Motor to showcase its self-driving IONIQ in next month’s CSE in Vegas

South Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor Co. will showcase self-driving IONIQ at the largest consumer electronics show in ...

Samsung Asset Management mulling stewardship code next year

South Korea’s Samsung Asset Management Co. has become latest institutional player to join the wave of so-called stewardship ...

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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