Wednesday May 20, 2020


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

The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
“Oriental medicine is useful in controlling the spread of COVID-19 disease”

Highly contagious disease, COVID-19, is wracking havoc on many countries around the world—claiming 308,569 deaths as of May 17, 2020. The total affected cases worldwide are 4,588,914 and 308,569 persons died--and the mortality rate is 6.72%.
In Korea, the people and government have been handling the cases vert well, and the records show 11,037 affected, 9,851 cured, and 262 dead (mortality rate: 2.37%.

Special notice: The Korea Post is organizing a tour for the Ambassadors and Madams to the Pyeongkang Oriental Medicine Hospital on Tuesday June 9, 2010. Ambassadors and Madams are cordially invited to the Tour where an Oriental medicine pack against COVID-19 is presented to each Excellency. In the event of absence of Invitation, please advise the Editor at The Korea Post at 010-5201-1740.

“United We Fight”
Corona virus has had a huge impact on humanity cutting across all boundaries, physical and social, of nations, caste, class, colour, religion and belief systems bringing the world to its knees. But united we stand, steadfastly helping, assisting, sharing knowledge, cooperating and coordinating with each other, cutting across boundaries fighting as ONE force against the Corona virus.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
'N. Korea Further Eases Travel Restrictions on Foreigners'
North Korea has eased up on travel restrictions placed on foreign residents as part of quarantine measures against COVID-19.
The Russian Embassy in Pyongyang revealed on its Facebook page on Monday that it received a notice from the North Korean Foreign Ministry’s Protocol Department addressed to all foreign embassies and international organizations in Pyongyang.

Four Nurses at Samsung Medical Center Test Positive for COVID-19
Local health authorities are on high alert after four nurses at a major hospital in Seoul have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said on Tuesday that a nurse working at a cardiothoracic surgical operating room at Samsung Medical Center was confirmed to be infected with the novel coronavirus on Monday, and that three fellow nurses also tested positive.

'Students with COVID-19 Symptoms to Be Tested Immediately'
Seoul Education Superintendent Cho Hee-yeon says every student in the capital city who shows coronavirus-like symptoms will be tested immediately and for free.
Cho made the remark in a meeting with reporters Tuesday, a day ahead of the planned physical reopening of schools nationwide, which will begin in phases first with high school seniors.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
S. Korea grapples with uptick in virus cases amid cluster infections
South Korea's new virus cases rose by the most in nine days Wednesday amid looming mass infections at a major hospital in Seoul and a steady rise in nightclub-linked cases.
The country added 32 new coronavirus cases, raising the total caseload to 11,110, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Of them, 24 were local infections.

Schools reopen for high school seniors amid lingering virus fears
Schools finally reopened Wednesday after a monthslong closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, putting to the test the government ability to control outbreaks at schools.
In a phased reopening plan, high school seniors became the first group to attend in-person classes, while the rest, including preschoolers, will follow until June 8.

S. Korea to step up efforts for post-pandemic economic recovery
South Korea will step up efforts for an economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic as the nation is returning to normal activities, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Wednesday.
Hong made the remarks at a meeting with economy-related ministers as schools reopened for high school seniors, about 80 days later than the original semester start day of March 2.
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The Korea Herald  (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Schools reopen for high school seniors Wednesday amid lingering virus fears
Schools finally reopened Wednesday after a monthslong closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, putting to the test the government ability to control outbreaks at schools.
In a phased reopening plan, high school seniors became the first group to attend in-person classes, while the rest, including preschoolers, will follow until June 8.

S. Korea to step up efforts for post-pandemic economic recovery
South Korea will step up efforts for an economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic as the nation is returning to normal activities, Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said Wednesday.
Hong made the remarks at a meeting with economy-related ministers as schools reopened for high school seniors, about 80 days later than the original semester start day of March 2.

Korean drug firms in early stage of coronavirus vaccine development
South Korean pharmaceutical firms are in the beginning stages of coronavirus vaccine development, lagging behind US rivals, industry sources said Wednesday.
No domestic companies have received the green light for clinical trials for vaccine candidates from the drug safety authorities, though US biotech firm Moderna announced Monday all participants in its coronavirus vaccine test generated antibodies.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Schools reopen for high school seniors Wednesday amid lingering
Schools finally reopened Wednesday after a monthslong closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, putting to the test the government ability to control outbreaks at schools.
In a phased reopening plan, high school seniors became the first group to attend in-person classes, while the rest, including preschoolers, will follow until June 8.
Also small schools nationwide with fewer than 60 students reopened. In the sparsely populated Gangwon Province, there are 170 such schools, including 46 elementary schools.

Korean drug firms in early stage of coronavirus vaccine development
South Korean pharmaceutical firms are in the beginning stages of coronavirus vaccine development, lagging behind U.S. rivals, industry sources said Wednesday.
No domestic companies have received the green light for clinical trials for vaccine candidates from the drug safety authorities, though U.S. biotech firm Moderna announced Monday all participants in its coronavirus vaccine test generated antibodies.

Korea grapples with uptick in virus cases amid cluster infections
South Korea's new virus cases rose by the most in nine days Wednesday amid looming mass infections at a major hospital in Seoul and a steady rise in nightclub-linked cases.
The country added 32 new coronavirus cases, raising the total caseload to 11,110, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Of them, 24 were local infections.
The daily new infections mark the largest since May 11, when the number hit 3
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://englishani.co.kr)
Moon emphasizes “May spirit” during commemorative address for Gwangju Democratization Movement’s 40th anniversary
“May spirit” was the phrase used most frequently in South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s commemorative address for the 40th anniversary of the Gwangju Democratization Movement on May 18. The expression appeared 10 times in all. The “May spirit” emphasized in his remarks that day means something more than political sense of “resistance against injustice” or “dedication to democratic values” as politicians and social activists have talked about when speaking of “Gwangju in May 1980.”

People gather to commemorate 40th anniversary of Gwangju Democratization Movement
"Time may pass, but the landscape remembers.”
The events of that day in May 1980 have once again returned to bring tears to the eyes of its survivors. As the Gwangju Democratization Movement’s 40th anniversary arrived on May 18, the city’s Geumnam Road rang out with both the tragic stories from the victims’ family members and calls for the truth to be brought to light. The atmosphere of consoling the spirits of May 18 and carrying on the spirit of unity reached its peak at the May 18th National Cemetery, where victims’ family members and citizens paid their respects all day long.

Foreigners unable to read emergency text alerts from S. Korean government
At 6 pm on May 13, an emergency alert popped up on the phone of Zaid (pseudonym), 34, an Egyptian living in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province.
“Anyone who visited the Itaewon or Nonhyeon neighborhoods of Seoul after Apr. 24 is allowed to be tested anonymously even without symptoms. Please stay at home until you’ve gotten in touch with a community health center,” the alert said, in Korean.

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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Coronavirus Speeds up Demise of Department Stores
Old-fashioned department stores are deserted due to the coronavirus epidemic, which has sent their revenues into freefall.
Lotte Department Store's first-quarter operating profit declined 82.1 percent on-year to W28.5 billion, while Hyundai Department Store's plummeted 65.3 percent and Shinsegae Department Store's 57.7 percent (US$1=W1,234).

Youth Employment Hit Hardest by Coronavirus
Koreans in their 30s account for the largest group of workers who ended up with little or no work amid the coronavirus epidemic, and those in their 20s account for the biggest number who gave up searching for jobs altogether.
The latest employment data show that the coronavirus epidemic has made employment conditions for young people even worse

Staff at Top Seoul Hospital Infected with Coronavirus
Four nurses in the surgical ward at Samsung Medical Center, one of the top five hospitals in Seoul, have tested positive for coronavirus.
The nurses were involved in thoracic and obstetric surgeries of some 25 patients and came into contact with at least 121 patients and medical staff at the hospital.
SMC also made headlines in 2015 when 85 cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome infections were reported there.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
Pres. Trump asks WHO to prove independence from China
U.S. President Donald Trump who is in an intense confrontation with China regarding the source of COVID-19 has criticized the pro-China tendency of the World Health Organization (WHO) and given an ultimatum to permanently pull funding to the organization if it fails to “commit to major substantive improvements in the next 30 days.”

South Korea’s global TV market share exceeds 50% in Q1
Domestic TV makers have had a combined market share of over 50% for the first time in the global television market.
According to market research firm Omdia on Tuesday, Samsung Electronics kept its No.1 position in the global TV market with a market share of 32.4% (based on revenue) in the first quarter, up 3.0 percentage points from the same period last year. The South Korean tech giant broke its previous record of 32.3% in the fourth quarter of last year.

Holyfield plans an exhibition fight with Tyson
Former World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, who is targeting a fight against Mike Tyson (53), has revealed his plan for the match, by saying, “I’m looking for a three-round exhibition in which there will be no winners or losers or going for knockouts.” The 57-year-old champion said he is after a three, three-minute rounds exhibition during an interview with Daily Mail on Tuesday. He said there will be “no winners or losers, or going for knockouts” since it is an exhibition boxing match.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Number of People Employed Plummeted in the First Two Months Since the Outbreak: The Drop Was 1 Million after COVID-19 > 920,000 after the Asian Financial Crisis
In the first two months since the outbreak of COVID-19, the number of people employed dropped by over a million, more serious than at the time of the Asian financial crisis in 1997. In particular, the vulnerable, such as women and senior citizens, lost more jobs.

President Moon, “Drugs and Vaccines for COVID-19 Should Be Distributed to the World as Public Goods”
On May 18, President Moon Jae-in formally proposed three ideas to the World Health Organization (WHO) including international cooperation for the development of vaccines and drugs for COVID-19 and the fair distribution of such drugs.
In a special speech for the 73rdWorld Health Assembly, which was held via video link, President Moon said, “Based on the spirit of a greater freedom for all, I would like to make three proposals for overcoming the current crisis and preparing for its aftermath.” The World Health Assembly is the highest decision making agency of the World Health Organization. President Moon’s speech was recorded on video and released before the assembly.

Not All the Military Decorations for the May 18 Gwangju Uprising Have Been Stripped Away
Records have been uncovered showing that former President Chun Doo-hwan (89) had personally awarded medals to military commanders sent to Gwangju under martial law at the time of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. All medals and honors in connection to the May 18 Uprising had been revoked by the Special Act on the May 18 Democratization Movement and revised regulations on government honors. But the orders of merit given by Chun had never been reviewed because their connection with the May 18 Uprising was never identified.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
COVID-19 slashes listed Korean firms’ OP by 30% in Q1
The combined operating income of Kospi-listed companies in South Korea plunged more than 30 percent in the first quarter from a year ago amid virus-driven economic slowdown, and there would be worse to come in the following quarter.

Korean healthcare firms turn altruistic with COVID-19 developments
Korean biopharmaceutical companies are not just eager in developing cure for global plague COVID-19, but also altruistic as they are pledging to supply treatments without any margin or even free of charge.
GC Pharma on Monday pledged unlimited free supply of GC5131A, an investigational immunoglobulin drug based on blood plasma. The company said it will cover all costs, ranging from development to commercialization, except some backed by a state fund, and there will be no limit or condition to its donation.

Demand for S. Korean antibiotics, propofol injections grow amid COVID-19 pandemic
South Korea which has become the biggest exporter of test kits on COVID-19 is being chased by multiple countries for supplement meds to treat patients infected with the fatal disease whose cure is yet to be developed.
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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.comservice@wsj-asia.com
Financial Times www.ft.com ean@ft.com
The 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
GwangmyeongDaily 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
Le Monde www.ilemonde.com
Italy LaRepubblica 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
AustraliaBrisbaneTime
www.brisbanetimes.com.au syndication@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Sydney Morning Heraldwww.smh.com.au
Colombia Reports http://www.colombiareports.com
BogotaFree Planet http://www.bogotafreeplanet.com,bfp@bogotafreeplanet.com
El Universal https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english 
Andes https://www.redaktionstest.net/andes-info-ec/
Ecuador Times https://www.ecuadortimes.net/ 
The Jordan Times https://www.jordantimes.com/
LSM.lv https://www.lsm.lv// 
The Baltic Times http://www.baltictimes.com lithuania@baltictimes.com, estonia@baltictimes.com, editor@baltictimes.com
El Pais https://english.elpais.com/
Philippine Daily Inquirer https://www.inquirer.net/
Daily News Hungary https://dailynewshungary.com/
Budapest Times https://www.budapesttimes.hu/
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The Korea Post is running video clips from the different embassies.
Azerbaijan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR8CBpcQ4WM
Sri Lanka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hByX92Y2aGY&t=22s
Morocco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfFmp2sVvSE
And many other countries.
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