Headlines, May 7, 2020

Thursday May 7, 2020

Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today

The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
The flood has proved a bitter lesson for us: The situation in Uzbekistan is stabilizing
At the start of a video conference on May 5, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev expounded once more on the efforts in progress in our country to combat the coronavirus infection as well as on the disasters in Bukhara and Syrdarya regions. The head of state noted in particular:
What we all observe today is how humanity is struggling with both the coronavirus and equally the resulting economic crisis.

Crown Prince of the UAE discusses with President Moon ways to contain COVID-19
The following details were provided by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Seoul to The Korea Post for publication.—Ed. To prevent the wide spread of novel coronavirus, international cooperation have been important. The UAE has been in close collaboration with international and regional organizations and other nations, including the Republic of Korea. It was one of the first countries to stand by China in this critical period. It also supported other nations including Afghanistan, Iran and Italy, to mention a few.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
S. Korea Reports Fewer than 5 New COVID-19 Cases for Third Straight Day
South Korea reported just four new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the third straight day the country has reported fewer than five new cases and the 20th straight day it has reported fewer than 20.
Three of Thursday's four new cases were imported from overseas. One, however, has been classified as a community infection, the first in four days.

S. Korea's Current Account Surplus Rises in Q1
South Korea posted a surplus in its current account in the first quarter amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to tentative data by the Bank of Korea on Thursday, the country's current account surplus came to 13-point-six billion dollars in the January-March period, up one-point-42 billion dollars on-year. The figure has remained in the black for 32 straight quarters.
The country's goods account surplus narrowed to 15-point-three billion dollars to hit a seven-year low in the first quarter as exports dropped at a faster rate than imports.

Ruling Party Holds Vote on Merger with Satellite Party
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea has started a vote on a merger with its satellite entity Together Citizens' Party.
The online poll, which started at 6 a.m. on Thursday, will be held for 24 hours.
The ruling party will decide on whether to merge with the satellite party by polling members who pay monthly party membership fees.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
S. Korea reports 4 new virus cases amid lax social distancing
South Korea reported four more cases of the new coronavirus on Thursday, including a local one for the first time in four days, amid relaxed social distancing.
The new infections brought the nation's total cases of COVID-19 to 10,810, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Three of the new cases are imported.
The country decided to lift its strict social distancing scheme that had been put in force since early March starting Wednesday, amid a slowdown in the number of new infections that had peaked at 909 in late February.

S. Korea's current account surplus widens in March on investment gains
South Korea's current account surplus widened from a year earlier in March as a sharp increase in primary income helped offset a slight drop in its goods account surplus, central bank data showed Thursday.
The country's current account surplus came to US$6.23 billion in the month, compared with a $5.04 billion surplus the same month last year, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).
South Korea has posted a current account surplus for 11 consecutive months.

S. Korea to offer 1.5 tln won in subsidies to temporary workers affected by coronavirus
South Korea will provide 1.5 trillion won (US$1.2 billion) in subsidies to temporary workers who lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Thursday.
The move is the government's latest measure to protect the nation's job market as the pandemic is expected to force an economic contraction this year.
Temporary or freelance workers who lost their jobs will be eligible for the subsidies, and they will receive a total of 1.5 million won each, Hong said.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
S. Korea reports 4 new virus cases amid lax social distancing
South Korea reported four more cases of the new coronavirus on Thursday, including a local one for the first time in four days, amid relaxed social distancing.
The new infections brought the nation's total cases of COVID-19 to 10,810, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Three of the new cases are imported.

S. Korea's current account surplus widens in March on investment gains
South Korea's current account surplus widened from a year earlier in March as a sharp increase in primary income helped offset a slight drop in its goods account surplus, central bank data showed Thursday.
The country's current account surplus came to $6.23 billion in the month, compared with a $5.04 billion surplus the same month last year, according to preliminary data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).

S. Korea to offer W1.5tr in subsidies to temporary workers affected by coronavirus
South Korea will provide 1.5 trillion won ($1.2 billion) in subsidies to temporary workers who lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Thursday.
The move is the government's latest measure to protect the nation's job market as the pandemic is expected to force an economic contraction this year.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Korean travelers sleeping in cars instead of hotels
Many South Koreans are heading outdoors as the COVID-19 coronavirus shows signs of stabilizing and the government lifts social distancing guidelines. But the pandemic may have a lasting impact on consumer behavior ― instead of using hotels, many travelers are now sleeping in cars.
Social commerce platform WeMakePrice said Wednesday sales of in-vehicle sleeping pads jumped more than sixfold last month, compared to a year before.

Korean Air to reopen dozens of int'l routes in June
Korean Air Lines Co., South Korea's biggest carrier by sales, said Thursday it will reopen dozens of its international routes next month amid signs the coronavirus epidemic may have passed its peak.
Korean Air plans to resume flights on 19 international routes on June 1 as the country's top flag carrier strives to offset a sharp decline in passenger travel demand with an increased demand for cargo deliveries, the company said in a statement.
The reopening routes include Washington, D.C., Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto, Frankfurt, Singapore, Beijing and Kuala Lumpur, the statement said.

S. Korea reports 4 new virus cases amid lax social distancing
South Korea reported four more cases of the new coronavirus on Thursday, including the first local case in four days, amid relaxed social distancing.
The new infections brought the nation's total cases of COVID-19 to 10,810, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
The new local COVID-19 case came from Gyeonggi Province, surrounding Seoul, with the other three new cases having been imported, the KCDC said.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://englishani.co.kr)
N. Korea fires 4 shots across DMZ at S. Korean GP: provocation or accident?
On May 3, four bullets fired by North Korean troops struck the wall of a South Korean guard post in the DMZ. The incident prompted South Korea’s conservative politicians and press to criticize North Korea for failing to apologize after committing such a provocation. But South Korea’s military leaders have consistently maintained since the incident occurred that it was not a provocation but an accident.

S. Korean experts say remdesivir not suitable for administering to all patients
South Korea’s disease control authorities said that while the Ebola drug remdesivir may help mitigate the symptoms of patients with severe cases of COVID-19, it’s not effective enough to be administered broadly to all patients.
The decision on whether and how it will actually be used is to be made after a careful examination of the results of clinical trials currently underway in South Korea and overseas.

Daegu to require masks for anyone on public transportation; violators will be fined
The city of Daegu, which was the epicenter of South Korea’s COVID-19 outbreak in February and March, has made it mandatory for anyone riding public transportation to wear a mask. Violators will face a fine starting May 13. At a press conference held in Daegu City Hall, Mayor Kwon Young-jin announced he’d given an administrative order to require anyone riding public transportation to wear a mask, adding that it was important for the city to be thorough so as to prevent another outbreak rather than rush back into things.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
N.Korea Building Missile Hangar Near Pyongyang
North Korea is close to completing a missile storage facility near Pyongyang Sunan International Airport.
The facility is "almost certainly related to North Korea's expanding ballistic missile program," the Beyond Parallel website at the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported Tuesday.

Low-Income Women Hit Hardest by Epidemic
Middle-aged women in low-paid menial jobs have been hit the hardest by the fallout of the coronavirus epidemic.
Small restaurants and food stalls across the country have laid off kitchen and serving staff, while many households have terminated contracts with maids due to fears of infection, and these jobs are predominantly done by women in their 50s and 60s.

Ride-Hailing Service TADA Sues Gov't for Discrimination
The operator of ride-hailing app TADA has filed a complaint with the Constitutional Court against the National Assembly's recent decision to ban the business.
Users, drivers and eight other staff of VCNC, which runs the app, said lawmakers violated their civil and property rights by limiting the purpose of ride-sharing services to "tourism," duration of service to six hours and pick-up and drop-off locations to air and sea ports.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
N. Korea to complete new military base in Sinri, says a report
It has been reported that North Korea is nearing the completion of a new missile base, which allows the simultaneous assembly of up to four Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). North Korea seems to be accelerating its sophistication of nuclear weapons and missiles to put more pressure on the U.S. and obtain a bargaining chip for future denuclearization talks as South Korea and the U.S. are looking to gain momentum to resume talks with the North.

Hyundai Motor launches the 2020 upgrade model of Palisade
Hyundai Motor Company launched Wednesday the new 2020 Hyundai Palisade, a large sport utility vehicle (SUV).
The new model of Hyundai’s flagship SUV will be available in the highest trim level “Calligraphy.” Donned with a radiator, grilles and wheels exclusively designed for the new Palisade, the SUV has an exceptional exterior design while its interior is complete with luxurious leather seats. It also features various equipment for convenience such as a 12.3-inch LCD cluster and a head up display (HUD).

Seoul City to inject 39.2 billion won to treat dementia patients
Seoul City is expected to have over 200,000 dementia patients by 2027. The Seoul Metropolitan Government has injected a total of 39.2 billion won for its dementia management plan to help lessen the burden of a fast-increasing number of dementia patients and their families. The city is set to introduce new programs, such as rehabilitation therapy using smart devices, such as virtual reality (VR) robots and special training courses related to dementia.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Air Conditioning: Apprehensive with It ON, But Stuffy with It OFF
The nation is expected to face an unprecedented hot summer and air-conditioners have emerged as a new problem in the government’s quarantine measures against COVID-19. There are concerns that the air circulation function of air conditioners can distribute respiratory droplets. At the same time, the nation faces realistic constraints: it will be difficult to sit in offices and classrooms without air conditioning with masks on as the heat approaches. Classes will begin in schools starting with the high school seniors on May 13, and students and parents want to know whether schools will be able to use air conditioners in the classroom, a closed space.

Government to Ease Regulations on the Use of Personal Information Using COVID-19 as an Excuse
The government stirred controversy after it began promoting measures that will allow companies to utilize personal information linked to individual privacy, such as the political view, political party or labor union membership, and medical records of the individual. The latest move triggered criticism that the government was recklessly easing regulations in the name of responding to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Democratic Party of Korea drew the line between the government and the party and said, “There has been no discussion with the party.” But experts point out that the latest action was expected when the National Assembly passed the so-called “three data bills,” an initiative of the ruling party that significantly eased regulations on personal information.

“Shift to ‘Everyday Quarantine’ on May 6” Government Lifts Strict Distancing after 45 Days
The nation’s quarantine system to stop the spread of COVID-19 will change to “everyday quarantine (keeping a distance in everyday life)” beginning May 6, 45 days after the country began “strict physical (social) distancing” on March 22. The government will also gradually lower the nation’s infectious disease alert, which is currently at “serious,” and open schools beginning with classes for high school seniors.
In a meeting at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters on May 3, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said, “Despite that we have held a parliamentary election with a record high voter turnout, local transmission of the virus remains low and group transmission has greatly reduced.” He further said, “Based on the high level of civic engagement the people have displayed, we plan to continue maintaining distance in our everyday lives.”
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
Korea’s current account surplus grows in March as virus has yet to fully hit exports
South Korea’s current account balance kept up its surplus streak in March as exports have yet to take a devastating hit from the pandemic.
The country posted a current account surplus of $6.23 billion in March, up from $5.04 billion in the same month a year ago, according to Bank of Korea data released Thursday.
Goods account surplus narrowed to $7 billion from $8.34 billion a year earlier as exports slowed.

Samsung heir to end family succession at Korea’s corporate empire
Jay Y. Lee, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co. and de-facto head of Samsung Group, pledged not to pass down management control of South Korea’s corporate empire to his children in a public apology for corruption scandals and union sabotage attempts.
“All of the problems surrounding me and Samsung basically stemmed from this succession issue,” Lee said during a nationally televised news conference on Wednesday. “From now on, I will make sure that no controversy happens again regarding succession issues.”

SK Innovation $1.4 bn in the red Q1, 10 times bigger than 2014 annual loss
In line with expectations, South Korea’s oil refiner SK Innovation Co. reported over $1 billion loss - its poorest performance in 58 years in the refining business - in the first quarter when economic activities came to a standstill under virus impact along with crashes in the oil prices.
The company disclosed Wednesday that it recorded 1.77 trillion won ($1.44 billion) in operating loss during the quarter ended March this year, compared with an operating profit of 122.4 billion won in the previous quarter and 328.1 billion won a year ago. Sales dipped 5.31 percent from the previous three months and 12.6 percent from a year-ago period to 11.16 trillion won.
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Lee Kyung-sik edt@koreapost.com

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