The Korean daily media headlines and humor
Friday, January 13, 2017

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

In the latest opinion survey on the Presidential hopefuls published by Dong-A Ilbo

Moon tops with 31% support followed by Ban with 20%

Clockwise, from top left: main opposition Minjoo Party leader Moon Jae-in, former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Mayor Lee Jae-myung of the Seongnam City, former President Ahn Cheol-soo of the People’s Party, former National Assemblyman Sohn Hak-kyu, splinter opposition conservative Barun Party leader Yoo Seung-min, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, and Governor Ahn Hee-jung of the Chungcheongnam-do Province

Presidential Hopeful Moon Jae-in of the main opposition Minjoo Party won a 31% support rating followed by former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with 20% and Mayor Lee Jae-myung of Seongnam City with 12%. This was reported by popular Korean-language independent daily, Dong-A Ilbo, this morning.

Lee was followed by former President Ahn Cheol-soo of the People’s Party with 7%, Governor Ahn Hee-jung of Chungcheongnam-do Province with 6%, incumbent Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn with 5%, Rep. Yoo Seung-min of the newly formed splinter conservative Barun Party with 3% and former National Assemblymen Sohn Hak-kyu with 2%. Of the total, 14% reserved their opinion and 2% supported people other than the listed Presidential hopefuls.

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Other major topics on The Korea Post website (www.koreapost.com) this morning:

Opposition parties differ on Ban's presidential ambitions

SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- Former U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon's homecoming heated up presidential politics in South Korea on Friday as party reactions ranged from ignorance to rebukes and to wholehearted welcome.

Ban reiterated his presidential ambitions upon arriving home on Thursday after serving two terms as secretary general.

Samsung heir returns home after being grilled in corruption probe

SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Group's de facto leader, returned home Friday morning after being grilled in connection with a corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her longtime friend.

The special probe team, led by Independent Counsel Park Young-soo, called in Lee, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., on Thursday for questioning over allegations that the country's largest conglomerate gave undue financial support to Park's jailed friend Choi Soon-sil in return for the state-run pension fund's support for a merger of two Samsung affiliates.

Samsung braces for possible leadership vacuum after questioning of VC Lee

SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- Samsung Group, South Korea's biggest business conglomerate, is bracing for a possible leadership vacuum as the group's de facto chief, Lee Jae-yong, was questioned as a suspect in the corruption scandal that led to the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.

Biden: N. Korea will pose significant challenge to Trump administration

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- Outgoing U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has called for full implementation of sanctions on North Korea, warning the communist nation will pose one of the most significant challenges the next administration will face.

US CIA chief nominee says NK is one of biggest threats to U.S.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- The nominee for CIA director Mike Pompeo on Thursday pointed to North Korea as one of the biggest threats to the United States, along with terrorism, China and Russia.

Mattis: U.S. is stronger when upholding treaty obligations

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary said Thursday the U.S. is "stronger when we uphold our treaty obligations," a remark that runs directly counter to Trump's campaign suggestion the U.S. should consider ending protection of allies unless they pay more.

BOK holds key rate steady at 1.25 pct in Jan.

SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's central bank on Friday held its key rate steady for the seventh straight month as it remains cautious about financial stability amid slowing growth.

For up-to-the-minute Korea-language news, please visit www.koreapost.co.kr. ther major topics on The Korea Post website (www.koreapost.com)

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/)

Bank of Korea Keeps Key Rate at 1.25%

The Bank of Korea(BOK) has kept its key rate steady for the month of January at one-point-25 percent.

Samsung Heir Admits Feeling Pressure from President to Fund Choi Soon-sil Projects

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong was released early Friday morning after being questioned by special prosecutors for about 22 hours over bribery allegations in the Choi Soon-sil scandal.

Trade Minister to Take Issue with China's Retaliation over THAAD

South Korea is planning to confront China regarding what appears to be Beijing's actions taken in retaliation for Seoul's push to deploy a U.S. THAAD antimissile system.

US Defense Secretary Nominee: No Plans for USFK Pull out

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, retired Gen. James Mattis says he is unaware of any plans to pull out American troops from South Korea, stressing rather the importance to work in close cooperation with its Asian ally in order to deter North Korean threats. During his Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, Mattis also voiced unequivocal support for the NATO alliance.

CIA Director Nominee Identifies N. Korea as 1 of 4 Biggest Threats

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Central Intelligence Agency(CIA) director has listed North Korea as one of the four biggest threats to the U.S. along with terrorists, China and Russia.

Seoul Denounces Terrorist Attacks in Afghanistan

The South Korean government has denounced deadly terrorist attacks in Afghanistan that killed dozens of people early this week, including diplomats from the UAE.

US Eggs to Hit Shelves From Next Week at Earliest

Some two-thousand eggs arrived from the U.S. in South Korea on Thursday as a first step to ease the shortage in the country's egg supply due to the bird flu outbreak.

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

Samsung heir returns home after being grilled in corruption probe

SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Group's de facto leader, returned home Friday morning after being grilled in connection with a corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her longtime friend.

(3rd LD) Mattis: U.S. is stronger when upholding treaty obligations

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary said Thursday the U.S. is "stronger when we uphold our treaty obligations," a remark that runs directly counter to Trump's campaign suggestion the U.S. should consider ending protection of allies unless they pay more.

(LEAD) CIA chief nominee picks N. Korea as one of biggest threats to U.S

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- The nominee for CIA director Mike Pompeo on Thursday pointed to North Korea as one of the biggest threats to the United States, along with terrorism, China and Russia.

Biden: N. Korea will pose significant challenge to Trump administration

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- Outgoing U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has called for full implementation of sanctions on North Korea, warning the communist nation will pose one of the most significant challenges the next administration will face.

US Eggs to Hit Shelves From Next Week at Earliest

Some two-thousand eggs arrived from the U.S. in South Korea on Thursday as a first step to ease the shortage in the country's egg supply due to the bird flu outbreak.

Lunar New Year holiday overseas travelers picking short-distance destinations

Lunar New Year holiday travel makers are picking short-distance destinations overseas this year because of the relatively short holiday period, industry tallies showed Friday.

S. Korean league All-Star replaces MLB player on nat'l team

SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korean league All-Star Son Ah-seop was added to the national team for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) on Friday.

Watchdog to categorize children's cosmetics

SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean food and drug safety watchdog said Friday that it will officially add the category of children's cosmetics later this year in an effort to better monitor such products.

FSS pays record cash rewards for reporting violations

SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's state financial watchdog said Friday it paid more than 120 million won (US$100,000) last year in cash rewards for helping punish violators of capital market rules.

S. Korea defense chief stresses alliance with U.S. amid N.K. threats

SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's defense chief pledged Friday to strengthen the already strong alliance with the United States to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula amid growing threats from North Korea.

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

Ban Ki-moon returns, poised for presidential bid

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, upon returning to his home country on Thursday, once again hinted that he would run in the forthcoming presidential election, underlining his past 10 years of experience as the chief official of the international organization.

Samsung heir questioned over Park scandal

Samsung heir apparent Lee Jae-yong was questioned by special investigators as a bribery suspect Thursday, putting not only himself, but also the tech giant deeper into the quagmire that centers on the corruption charges of President Park Geun-hye and her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil.

Key witness refuses to testify about Park-Choi ties in impeachment trial

President Park Geun-hye’s bodyguard remained quiet on key issues surrounding Park’s relationship to her close confidante Choi Soon-sil and her alleged negligence of duty over the Sewol ferry disaster during the impeachment trial on Thursday, citing national security and a confidentiality clause.

Sulli unfazed despite controversy

Singer-turned-actress Sulli on Thursday once again updated her Instagram with suggestive photos, stoking controversy.

BOK holds key rate steady at 1.25% in Jan.

South Korea's central bank on Friday held its key rate steady for the seventh straight month as it remains cautious about financial stability amid slowing growth.

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

Samsung chief questioned as bribery suspect

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong was questioned by the independent counsel team Thursday as a bribery suspect for allegedly giving money to President Park Geun-hye's longtime friend Choi Soon-sil in return for business favors from the President.

Ban awaits UN opinion over presidential bid

Ban Ki-moon said upon his arrival here Thursday that he is awaiting the United Nations' opinion about whether it is a violation of a U.N. rule if he runs for the Korean presidency.

Ban Ki-moon's return will fire up presidential campaigning

Campaigning for the 2017 presidential election has begun — unofficially — after former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, one of the two prominent possible presidential hopefuls, returned home Thursday.

Korean political, business leaders not seen on Trump schedule

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has met with international heavyweights both in politics and business since his surprise victory in November.

'Trump will not give up THAAD'

Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump is unlikely to give up deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea despite growing protests from China, according to a U.S. security expert, Thursday.

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

U.S. Treasury adds N. Korean leader's sister on sanctions list

Incumbent and newly appointed U.S. politicians, who are experiencing much fraction in the process of power transition, sent a flurry of messages in unison against North Korea and China.

U.S. deploys high-tech radar against N. Korean missile threat

The United States has deployed high-tech sea-based X-band radar (SB-X) to keep watch for a potential North Korean long-range-missile launch, CNN reported Thursday. The move was Washington’s first response to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s claim in his New Year’s address that the test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile is in its final stages.

Father and son reunite as comrades in Korea

A father and his son have been deployed to the same troop of the U.S. Forces in Korea. Most American military servicemen live apart from their family for a long time. But they reunited during their overseas service as comrades.

54 items added to the Seoul Future Heritage list

The annual bell-ringing ceremony at the Bosingak pavilion in Seoul, marking the end of a year and the beginning of a new year, and "The Dove of the Seongbukdong (1969),” a poet written by Kim Gwang-seob have been placed on the list of Seoul’s Future Heritage.

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

Tablet PC Provides Paper Trail for Choi Soon-sil's Slush Funds

Independent counsel Park Young-soo on Wednesday showed reporters a tablet PC with e-mails allegedly exchanged between President Park Geun-hye's longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil and Samsung Group.

China Asks Visa Applicants to Take Off Glasses for Photos

People applying for visas to China must remove their glasses when posing for ID photos starting this year. Already a number of people have had their visa requests denied because they wear glasses, hats or scarves in their pictures.

Ban Ki-moon's Brother, Nephew Indicted for Bribery in New York

Former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon's younger brother and nephew have been indicted in New York over a tale of influence-peddling gone pathetically wrong.

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

2016 Defense White Paper estimates North Korea has 50kg of plutonium

In the 2016 Defense White Paper that was released on Jan. 11, South Korea’s Defense Ministry concluded that North Korea has enhanced its nuclear capability by increasing its plutonium holdings to than 50kg.

Kim Kwan-jin says THAAD deployment will go ahead despite objections from China

Blue House National Security Office chief Kim Kwan-jin reaffirmed Seoul’s plans to go ahead with deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system despite Beijing’s pressure tactics against South Korea.

Samsung Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong to be questioned as criminal suspect

On the morning of Jan. 12, Samsung Vice President Lee Jae-yong will be called in for questioning on bribery charges by the investigative team led by Special Prosecutor Park Young-soo. Though several chaebol have been implicated in the Choi Sun-sil scandal, Lee is the first member of one of their controlling families to be questioned by investigators as a criminal suspect.

[Memory of Selig Harrison] The passing of a good American, and a staunch voice for peace

When I learned of the passing of Selig Harrison, my first feeling was one of deep regret. I felt like I really had been thoughtless. In my 11 years as Washington correspondent for the Hankyoreh, he was the American I met most frequently and got to know the best - yet I had forgotten him almost completely since 2008. True, it had been a harsh time for me, when powerful institutions under the Lee Myung-bak administration (2008-2013) had been mobilized to hound me out of my post as KBS president and politically biased prosecutors subjected me to judicial torture with false charges of “breach of trust.” Still, it was not the kind of relationship where we should have simply fallen out of touch. Hearing that he had passed away, the news left my heart feeling as empty as an ashen autumn field.

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

Ban says he knows how to save a nation

Former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon returned to Korea on Thursday after 10 years of service in New York, putting himself at the center of a political drama that is unfolding ahead of a presidential election likely to be held much sooner than originally scheduled.

Indie counsel grills Samsung’s Lee on bribery allegations

Lee Jae-yong, the third-generation leader of Samsung Group, was grilled Thursday by an independent counsel over allegations that he used company money to bribe President Park Geun-hye through a controversial friend.

Korea braces for new era of trade rules under Trump

Concerns over protectionism are mounting after President-elect Donald J. Trump had tough words about trading partners in his first press conference since the election in November, vowing to put America’s interests first.

In marathon trip, minister reassures investors

The executive offices of the Sejong government complex have been rather quiet lately.

For the past two weeks, the country’s top financial policy officials, including Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho, have been traveling overseas to assuage foreign investors’ concerns about the Korean economy and explain the government’s fiscal policies.

China extends duties to Korean fiber optics

China’s commerce ministry has extended its punitive duties to Korean optical fibers, a trade agency here said Thursday, in what could be viewed as its latest move to retaliate against Seoul for its decision to install a U.S. missile defense system.

Household debt growth slows

The rapid growth of Korea’s household debt slowed in December with fewer mortgages taken out, providing rare relief for the government as it continues to try and contain ballooning household debt.

Deutsche Bank grants new dads 4 months off

Deutsche Bank in Asia-Pacific unveiled Thursday a set of measures to create an environment where more male employees can take paternity leave.

Amid trial, Samsung shares soar

Shares of Samsung Electronics again closed at an all-time high of 1,940,000 won ($1,637) on Thursday, ascending 1.36 percent. It’s an unusual record, considering the company’s de facto chief and Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong was being questioned by prosecutors as a suspect in a graft scandal surrounding the impeached President Park Geun-hye and her confidants.

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

[Exclusive] The Blacklist Started with the Sewol

The Park Geun-hye government created the blacklist of cultural figures to restrict the activities of individuals in the cultural and arts circle who honored the memory of the 2014 Sewol victims. The special prosecutor temporarily concluded that the list was drawn up to block anti-government views from spreading among the public after the Sewol accident.

Ahn Hee-jung, Governor of Chungcheongnam-do, "Putting a New Government in Office Is Not Creating the World All Over Again. We Need to Reform and Improve"

On January 11, Ahn Hee-jung, the governor of Chungcheongnam-do said, "I will tend to state administration in a cabinet-centered method that the current Constitution will allow (if I enter office). The prime minister and the cabinet will be shared in union with the majority party in the National Assembly."

UN Secretary-General and Political Rookie "The Two Edges of a Sword," A Typhoon or a Breeze?

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (73) will return on January 12. He is practically just seconds away from entering the ring of a presidential race as a strong outside candidate. The message he presents on national reforms and leadership is expected to determine whether the "Ban Ki-moon phenomenon" will be typhoon or an illusion.

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

3 Chinese Bidders Offer Price Close to 1 Tril. Won to Buy Kumho Tire

Three Chinese companies have taken part in a bidding to acquire Kumho Tire, Korea's No. 2 tire supplier, with the highest bidding price reaching as high as 1 trillion won. If Kumho Asiana Group chairman Park Sam-koo exercises his right of first refusal at the highest bidding price, he may be able to take back the controlling rights to Kumho Tire after he handed over the ownership to the creditors in seven years.

People's Leisure Time Shrinks...Leisure Spending Rises Slightly

A survey said people's leisure time has declined while their spending on leisure has increased. According to a report "2016 Leisure Activity Survey" published by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on January 12, the hours spent on leisure during weekdays and weekends were 3.1 hours and 5.0 hours, respectively, down from 3.6 hours and 5.8 hours in 2014.

U.S. Imposes Anti-dumping Duties on Samsung and LG Washing Machines Made in China

Anti-dumping duties ranging from 30 to 50 percent will be imposed on the washing machines that Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics produced in China and sold to the United States.

SK Group's Three Flagship Units Unveil Aggressive Investment Plans

SK group's major affiliated companies are making a string of aggressive investment. SK Hynix released a plan of making an investment of 2.2 trillion won in 3D NAND flash memory chips in December. Under this plan, SK Hynix intends to set up a new NAND flash plant in Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province by June 2018.

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

Samsung's de facto head questioned over alleged bribery and perjury

The de facto head of South Korea's top conglomerate, Samsung Group, apologized with a nervous look Thursday as he appeared for questioning by special investigators over alleged bribery and perjury.

Samsung's de facto head released from gruelling marathon interrogation

The de facto head of South Korea's top conglomerate, Samsung Group, was released Friday from a grueling marathon investigation over his alleged role in a corruption scandal that has roiled South Korea for more than two months.

Former UN chief urges end to political wrangling in homecoming speech

Ban Ki-moon, a top contender in South Korea's presidential election, called for a change in South Korea's political paradigm, urging politicians to end their wrangling and heal a social division, as he returned home Thursday after completing a 10-year tenure as UN secretary general.

A guide dog's Gopro camera captures the cruel discriminations blind man and guide dog face

Having a disability is not a sin and it is not a contagious disease. It neither degrades a person's value nor prevents people with disabilities from feeling especially the insults targeted at them.

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

Lineage 2: Revolution’ to hit $85 mn in sales one month after release

The much-hyped new mobile game Lineage 2: Revolution will be the first Korean mobile game that marks 100 billion won ($84.6 million) in sales just one month after its launch.

Korean govt to promote trust business to expand asset management options

South Korean government will amend financial regulations to promote the trust business in a bid to broaden asset management options in the rapidly aging society and the era of low interest rates.

S. Korea to invest $24.4 bn in road construction by 2020

The South Korean government will invest total 28.9 trillion won ($24.4 billion) in road infrastructure by 2020 on hopes that its social overhead projects will not only alleviate traffic congestion across the country but also prop up the country’s sluggish economy.

S. Korea approves recall plan of Volkswagen’s Tiguan

German carmaker Volkswagen AG finally received the South Korean government’s approval for its plan to recall 27,000 units of Tiguan sport utility vehicles (SUVs) sold in the county in 14 months after the Korean government first found the company’s cars to have manipulated emission tests from its own inspection.

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

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

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

Süddeutsche Zeitung www.sueddeutsche.de forum@sueddeutsche.de

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

Sydney Morning Herald www.smh.com.au

Colombia Reports http://colombiareports.com

Bogota Free Planet http://bogotafreeplanet.com bfp@bogotafreeplanet.com

El Universal http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english

ANDES http://www.andes.info.ec/en

ECUADOR TIMES http://www.ecuadortimes.net

The Jordan Times https://www.jordantimes.com

LSM.lv http://www.lsm.lv/en

The Baltic Times http://www.baltictimes.com lithuania@baltictimes.com , estonia@baltictimes.com, editor@baltictimes.com

El Pais http://elpais.com/elpais/inenglish.html

PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER https://www.inquirer.net

Daily News Hungary http://dailynewshungary.com

Budapest Times http://budapesttimes.hu

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