The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Tuesday, January 17, 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

On suspiciion of involvement in the alleged blacklisting cultural figures classified ‘critical of the government’

Culture minister, ex-presidential chief of staff grilled over artist blacklist

The culture minister and a former Presidential chief of staff of the Republic of Korea were questioned by a team of special investigators on this morning over allegations that the Park Geun-hye government blacklisted cultural figures classified as critical of the government.

Minister Cho Yoon-sun and former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon appeared at the office of the special prosecutor looking into an influence-peddling scandal that led to the president's impeachment last month.

"I will fully cooperate with the special prosecutor's investigation," Cho told reporters while entering the building. "I hope the truth to be revealed through the investigation." She declined to comment further.

Cho served as the senior presidential secretary for political affairs from 2014 to 2015 and became the culture minister last year.

설명: Kim Ki-choon (C), former presidential chief of staff, arrives at the special investigation team's office in southern Seoul on Jan. 17, 2017, to undergo questioning. Kim is suspected of creating and managing a blacklist of cultural figures deemed critical of the Park Geun-hye administration. (Yonhap)

Former Presidential Chief Secretary Kim Ki-choon (center) walks into the quzzing room.

Kim Ki-choon (C), former presidential chief of staff, arrives at the special investigation team's office in southern Seoul on Jan. 17, 2017, to undergo questioning. Kim is suspected of creating and managing a blacklist of cultural figures deemed critical of the Park Geun-hye administration. (Yonhap)

Kim, who served as the presidential chief of staff from 2013 to 2015, declined to comment on the allegations as he arrived at the building.

The investigation team suspects that the two were the masterminds behind the alleged creation and management of the blacklist intended to block artists critical of the government from receiving state support.

The list is known to have nearly 10,000 people on it, including author Han Kang, winner of the Man Booker International Prize in 2016, and director Park Chan-wook, who won the grand prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004.

Also on Tuesday, Kim Young-jae, head of a plastic surgery clinic, was grilled by the investigators over suspicions he treated Park with injections, based on his personal ties with Park's longtime friend Choi Soon-sil, without going through due security checks.

설명: Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun arrives at the special prosecutor's office in southern Seoul on Jan. 17, 2017, to undergo questioning. Cho was summoned as a suspect over allegations she created and managed a blacklist of artists deemed critical of the government. (Yonhap)

Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun walking into the investigation room appears somewhat worried and nervous.

Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun arrives at the special prosecutor's office in southern Seoul on Jan. 17, 2017, to undergo questioning. Cho was summoned as a suspect over allegations she created and managed a blacklist of artists deemed critical of the government. (Yonhap)

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

Sri Lanka has a long string of impressive events to mark 50th anniversary of diplomatic realtions

Korea and Sri Lanka celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Seoul has a long string of very interesting events slated for this year to celebrate the special occasion. This was disclosed at arecent interview with Ambassador Madam Manisha Gunasenkera of Sri Lanka in Seoul. Details of the interview follow

Culture minister, ex-presidential chief of staff grilled over artist blacklist

SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's culture minister and a former presidential chief of staff were questioned by a team of special investigators on Tuesday over allegations the Park Geun-hye administration blacklisted cultural figures deemed critical of the government.

Daewoo Shipbuilding CEO grilled over accounting fraud

SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- The head of cash-strapped Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. was questioned by prosecutors Tuesday over allegations the company cooked the books to cover up its losses.

Statistics show working elderly still in poverty

SEJONG, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- The poverty rate for working low-income elderly people reached close to 62 percent in 2015, according to government statistics on Tuesday, showing that some of the aged population cannot sustain themselves even when they have jobs.

Samsung urges court not to approve arrest warrant against Lee

Samsung Group and business circles on Tuesday urged a Seoul court not to approve the arrest warrant against the group's de facto leader, Lee Jae-yong, a day before the court reviews the special prosecutors' request for his arrest.

Gov't to spend additional 170 bln won to support bird flu-hit farms

The South Korean government on Tuesday endorsed a plan to spend an additional 168.7 billion won (US$142.2 million) to support local farmers who have been suffering from massive losses stemming from the worst outbreak of avian influenza in the country, the finance ministry here said.

Presidential hopeful Moon publishes book on policy pledges

Moon Jae-in, a leading presidential candidate from the opposition bloc, on Tuesday published a book on his campaign pledges, taking further steps to generate support ahead of this year's election.

Kumho Asiana Group chief confident of taking back tire-making affiliate

The chief of Kumho Asiana Group, parent of Asiana Airlines Co., said Tuesday that he will exercise his right to buy back a tire-making unit from its creditors currently up for sale.

S. Korea confirms 18th Zika virus infection

South Korea has confirmed another case of the Zika virus infection, raising the number of people infected with the virus here to 18, health authorities said Tuesday.

GM Korea unveils all new Chevrolet Cruze

GM Korea Co., the South Korean unit of U.S. automaker General Motors Co., introduced the all new Chevrolet Cruze here Tuesday, calling it the first of its kind in what it said will be a brand new segment of semi-mid size cars.

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/)

China Retaliation Freezes Lotte from THAAD Site Swap

Concerns have been rising that the deployment of U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense(THAAD) missile interceptors in South Korea could be delayed due to China’s actions deemed to be taken in retaliation. Lotte Group, which owns the property designated as the candidate site for the THAAD battery, is holding back on a land swap deal with the South Korean military, apparently due to its concern over China’s possible retaliatory measures.

S. Korea, Iraq Agree to Further Facilitate Economic Cooperation

Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn and Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari have exchanged opinions about cooperation between the two countries.

S. Korea to Boost Investment in Technologies for Intelligence Information Society

South Korea is planning to expand investment in the latest information technologies shaping society, including artificial intelligence, the Internet of things(IoT), virtual reality and autonomous driving.

THAAD Issue Takes Center Stage in Korean Politics

A political debate over the decision to host a U.S. THAAD battery on the Korean Peninsula was reignited among potential presidential candidates. Former chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party Moon Jae-in recently told a local media outlet that he doesn't think an agreement between the South Korea-U.S. alliance can be canceled, a remark that backpedaled from his previous stance.

S. Korea's Currency Production Costs Top 150Bln Won

South Korea spent more than 150 billion won last year to produce banknotes and coins.

Foreign Stock Ownership Tops 480 Trillion Won

Foreign ownership of South Korean stocks surpassed 480 trillion won, or 408 billion U.S. dollars, last year for the first time.

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

Trump reiterates accusations allies free-riding on U.S. security commitments

Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his campaign accusations that many allies are free riding on American security commitments in an indication he could make good on his campaign pledges to pressure allies to pay more.

Ex-U.N. chief expected to join political party before long

Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday he will soon decide whether to join a political party, as he is apparently seeking to run in South Korea's presidential election this year.

AmorePacific, SK hynix, POSCO most favored by foreign investors in 2016

AmorePacific Co., POSCO and SK hynix Inc. were among the top picks by foreign investors last year, while offshore investors trimmed their holdings of top market cap Samsung Electronics Co., Hyundai Mobis Co. and Samsung Life Insurance Co., industry data showed on Tuesday.

Trump should first get tough on N.K. nuclear program before resuming talks: U.S. expert

The incoming U.S. administration of Donald Trump should first send a clear and tough message to North Korea that its nuclear program will be opposed "in word and deed," rather than hastily resuming negotiations, a senior U.S. expert said.

IMF lowers S. Korea's economic outlook below 3 pct

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised down its growth forecast for the South Korean economy this year to below 3 percent, according to its new report Monday.

Confidante Choi denies economic ties to Park

President Park Geun-hye's friend who is at the center of a national corruption scandal on Monday denied being economically tied to the president as special prosecutors moved to prove suspicions that the two took bribes from Samsung.

China's Doublestar likely to win bid for Kumho Tire: sources

The creditors of Kumho Tire Co. are expected to pick China's Doublestar Tyre Co. as the preferential bidder for the second-biggest tire maker in South Korea, industry sources said Monday.

Presidential hopeful Moon publishes book on policy pledges

Moon Jae-in, a leading presidential candidate from the opposition bloc, on Tuesday published a book on his campaign pledges, taking further steps to generate support ahead of this year's election.

Financial minister vows to stabilize food prices before holiday

Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho said Tuesday that the government will double the supply of fresh vegetables and promote discounts of agricultural produce to ease household burdens ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

Only way out might be to freeze nuke program, resume talks with N.K.: expert

The current sanctions-oriented approach to North Korea has proved to be a "failure" and a possible alternative might be to try to freeze the country's nuclear program and resume negotiations right away, a North Korea expert said.

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

Samsung's Lee faces arrest on suspicion of bribery

After days of review, a special investigation team sought an arrest warrant for Samsung heir apparent Lee Jae-yong on Monday, initiating a long and high profile legal battle over his alleged shady business exchanges with President Park Geun-hye and her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil.

Choi defends Park in impeachment trial

Choi Soon-sil vehemently defended President Park Geun-hye and denied her alleged meddling in state affairs during Park’s impeachment trial Monday.

Presidential race is already on, while date remains uncertain

No one would say it out loud just yet, but the competition for the next presidency has already begun.

Artists seek legal action against government

A group of cultural figures in Korea on Monday announced it would file a lawsuit against the Park Geun-hye administration for the “blacklist” it kept of anti-government artists.

Korea confirms 18th Zika virus infection

South Korea has confirmed another case of the Zika virus infection, raising the number of people infected with the virus here to 18, health authorities said Tuesday.

Presidential hopeful Moon publishes book on policy pledges

Moon Jae-in, a leading presidential candidate from the opposition bloc, on Tuesday published a book on his campaign pledges, taking further steps to generate support ahead of this year's election.

GM Korea unveils all new Chevrolet Cruze

GM Korea Co., the South Korean unit of US automaker General Motors Co., introduced the all new Chevrolet Cruze here Tuesday, calling it the first of its kind in what it said will be a brand new segment of semi-mid size cars.

Financial minister vows to stabilize food prices before holiday

Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho said Tuesday that the government will double the supply of fresh vegetables and promote discounts of agricultural produce to ease household burdens ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

Gift preferred over real estate inheritance for tax purposes

Real estate inheritance in the form of a gift is being used as a means of saving on taxes among family members, especially for non-residential properties, a market analysis indicated Tuesday.

Trump reiterates accusations allies free-riding on US security commitments

Incoming US President Donald Trump has reiterated his campaign accusations that many allies are free riding on American security commitments in an indication he could make good on his campaign pledges to pressure allies to pay more.

Ex-UN chief expected to join political party before long

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday he will soon decide whether to join a political party, as he is apparently seeking to run in South Korea's presidential election this year.

AmorePacific, SK hynix, POSCO most favored by foreign investors in 2016

AmorePacific Co., POSCO and SK hynix Inc. were among the top picks by foreign investors last year, while offshore investors trimmed their holdings of top market cap Samsung Electronics Co., Hyundai Mobis Co. and Samsung Life Insurance Co., industry data showed on Tuesday.

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

Arrest warrant requested for Samsung chief in corruption scandal

The independent counsel team sought an arrest warrant for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Monday, on charges of bribery, embezzlement and perjury in the corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil.

Plastic surgery influences personality: study

Can plastic surgery change one's personality? According to a recent research paper, the answer is "yes."

Korean language becomes college entrance exam subject in France

Korean has been designated an official foreign language subject for college entrance exam in France, according to the French Embassy in Korea.

Attempt to hack special prosecution team computer

There has been an attempt to hack into a laptop belonging to the special investigation team probing President Park Geun-hye's political scandal.

Court backs foreign worker fired for absence

A foreign worker fired for taking a leave without notice can return to work, after a court ruled in his favor on Sunday.

IKEA Korea offers unique table settings for Lunar New Year

IKEA Korea has begun to introduce Scandinavian-style table settings, holding discount events this month for its products and restaurant menu in time for the Lunar New Year, the Korean branch of the Swedish home furnishing company said Monday.

THAAD decision made hastily: Moon

Moon Jae-in, a leading presidential hopeful, has expressed a cautious view on deploying a U.S. anti-missile battery here, saying the Park Geun-hye administration's decision in July last year was too "hasty and unilateral."

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

Korea is vulnerable to Trump diplomatic storm

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will inaugurate three days later, but Korea is defenseless to the foreign policy fallout that the Trump administration will bring about. Under the current acting president system of South Korea, the political sector is neglecting pending diplomatic security issues as they are obsessed in the upcoming presidential election.

Despite suspected doping, Sotnikova eyes 2018 Winter Olympics

Adelina Sotnikova (21) of Russia, the gold medalist in women’s single figure skating competition at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics who is suspected of doping, has expressed her intention to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Hollywood actress Milla Jovovich visits DMZ

Hollywood actress Milla Jovovich has showed her affection on Korea during her visit to the country.

Former Somali refugee to a Canadian minister

“Please help us settle here,” a 23-year-old Somali refugee said to an official at Regent Park, a multi-ethnic neighborhood in Toronto, Canada in 1999. Living in the public housing would allow him to get a student loan to go to college. The BBC reported on Sunday that the Somali youth, who struggled to get residency in the public housing 18 years ago, has become Canada’s new minister of immigration.

Korea to install advanced CCTVs at key military facilities

South Korea will install advanced security cameras at key military facilities such as airfields to complement surveillance soldiers. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) held a meeting with some 100 attendees including military officials of military forces, and Kocom, a local system provider, to launch the project to install surveillance systems at key military facilities and the meeting was held at the headquarter of Kocom in Gimpo city, Gyeonggi Province. Kocom is the main contractor of the first phase of the project.

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

Jeju, Gangwon Province Home to Most Obese People

Jeju Island and Gangwon Province have the highest proportion of obese people in the country despite boasting some of the greenest environments.

Election Watchdog OKs Ban Ki-moon's Presidential Bid

The National Election Commission on Sunday said former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is eligible to run for president despite not having lived here for the last decade.

More Chinese Smartphone Makers Partner with Korean Telecoms

Chinese smartphone makers are launching a wide range of affordable handsets in Korea under tie-ups with local telecoms.

Top Officials Face Questioning Over Blacklist of 'Hostile' Artists

The independent counsel investigating the crony scandal hopes to question two witnesses this week over a blacklist of "hostile" artists drawn up by Cheong Wa Dae.

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

On her 100th birthday, former comfort woman can only say “Thank you for your help”

“Thank you. Thank you so much for your help,” said Kim Bok-deuk, lying in her sickbed and struggling with each breath, in response to Song Do-ja when Song asked her toward the end of her 100th birthday party to say a word to all the well-wishers at the party. Song, the head of the Tongyeong and Geoje Civic Group That Stands With the Comfort Women, had organized the party.

Special Prosecutor requests arrest warrant for Lee Jae-yong

The team of Special Prosecutor Park Young-soo requested an arrest warrant for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Jan. 16 on charges of bribe offering.

Japan welcomes Foreign Minister Yun’s remarks on Dec. 28 agreement

Japanese media and politicians reacted positively to remarks that South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se made on Jan. 13 about the comfort woman statue in Busan and are interpreting them in a way that is favorable to Japan.

Both leading presidential candidates turn to the right on THAAD deployment

Former Minjoo Party of Korea leader Moon Jae-in sounded a realist note on Jan. 15 on the issue of renegotiating the Korean Peninsula deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, which he said was effectively impossible.

Poll: Support for Moon Jae-in surges to 31%, over Ban Ki-moon’s 20%

A poll by Gallup Korea tracking support for presidential frontrunners in the second week of January found that Moon Jae-in, former leader of the opposition Minjoo Party, remained ahead of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and had increased his lead to more than 10 percentage points.

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

Choi Soon-sil finally takes the stand at Park’s trial

The impeachment trial of President Park Geun-hye had a star witness on Monday: her controversial friend Choi Soon-sil, nicknamed Korea’s “female Rasputin.”

Counsel asks for Samsung’s Lee to be detained

An independent counsel asked a local court on Monday to issue a warrant to detain Lee Jae-yong, the third-generation leader of Samsung Group, on charges of offering bribes to a longtime friend of President Park Geun-hye in return for the president’s influence to support a controversial merger at the country’s largest conglomerate.

Taiwan cabbie allegedly drugged two Koreans

A taxi driver was detained Sunday by Taiwanese authorities for allegedly trying to drug three young Korean women touring Taipei and sexually assaulting at least one of them.

LG air-conditioners fitted with AI

LG Electronics on Monday unveiled an air-conditioner that learns its owners’ habits and about its surroundings and shoots cool waves of air where it thinks it should.

FTC fines Denso, NGK 1.78B won for collusion

The Korean antitrust watchdog slapped a 1.78 billion won ($1.5 million) fine on two Japanese auto parts suppliers for colluding to fix prices in a bid for a General Motors deal that included vehicles manufactured from its plants here in Korea.

Dollar deposits shrink on jitters

Despite the recent appreciation of the U.S. greenback, the dollar-denominated bank account has actually shrunk as many are concerned about the foreign-exchange volatility.

Entertainment earnings show large imbalance

The glitz of show business isn’t the same for everyone in the industry, where earnings are heavily imbalanced between A-listers and those who are not, income tax filings for 2015 showed Monday.

Gov’t expands eligibility for loan programs

The country’s financial regulator will ease access to government-backed loans for low-income borrowers this year and overhaul Korea’s credit rating system in the near future to more accurately measure individuals’ creditworthiness, the Financial Services Commission said Monday.

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

Moon Jae-in, Former Leader of the Minjoo Party of Korea, "Aren't There Too Many Moon Supporters to Speak of a Pro-Moon Hegemony?"

On January 7, former leader of the Minjoo Party of Korea Moon Jae-in said, "Compared to the last presidential election, I am much more desperate to change the world with a new government and better prepared." This day, Moon spoke with the Kyunghyang Shinmun for a New Year's interview at a hotel in Mapo-gu, Seoul and said, "If we have early elections, the new president will have to immediately tend to the tasks without a transitional committee phase. I am fully prepared."

As for the so-called "hegemony of the pro-Moon," he said, "I think the people use that as a way to attack me. I think the people who think that the Republic of Korea should become a better country, a proper democratic republic are the Roh and Moon supporters."

Seongnam-si Mayor Lee Jae-myung, "We Need a Revolutionary Change... A Tough Field Commander Should Lead"

Mayor of Seongnam-si Lee Jae-myung (53, Minjoo Party of Korea), who has emerged as a strong presidential candidate from the opposition through the "candlelight demonstrations" said on January 3, "Others all talk about growth and growth, but that is populism. We need to fairly distribute economic opportunities and resources and restore fairness in our economic order." This day during an interview of presidential candidates in the Kyunghyang Shinmun reception room, Lee also added, "The best way is to strengthen the labor unions like President Roosevelt, who had the National Guard support the union strikes."

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"

This day, Ahn presented "a new government, a new generation and a new era" as the defining ideas of the upcoming presidential election and claimed his ideas on the new government were the key direction of a new era in a New Year's interview of presidential candidates at the Kyunghyang Shinmun studio. His ideas appear to be plans for a coalition government or joint government in a four-party system where the ruling party is a minority in the National Assembly.

Ahn said, "We can't act like we are creating the world anew each time a new government enters office and begins running the country for five years. Reforming and improving the existing system is a change of government. I plan to inherit the Lee Myung-bak government's green policies and the Park Geun-hye government's creative economy and innovation strategies."

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

Special Prosecutors Choose Justice over Keeping Economy on an Even Keel

The corporate sector is in shock after the special prosecution team issued an arrest warrant to Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong on January 16. Given Samsung Group's 14 publicly traded affiliates make 330 trillion won in annual sales, business leaders worry that repercussions may be profound throughout the economy while raising questions about the wisdom of the decision as there is little possibility of the corporate titan running away or destroy incriminating evidence while on the loose.

43 Bil. Won: Was It a Bribe or Something Forcefully Taken away from Samsung?

The special prosecution team led by specially appointed head prosecutor Park Young-soo has finally opted to raise the stakes by arresting Samsung Electronics vice chairman Lee Jae-yong. The prosecutors requested on January 16 for an arrest warrant to Samsung's Lee for charges including bribe giving, embezzlement, and perjury in relation to testimonies in the National Assembly. It was a decision made three days after they questioned Lee for 22 straight hours on the 12th.

Content Industry Tops 100 Tril. Won Mark in Annual Sales Last Year

Korea's content industry topped the 100-trillion-won mark in annual sales last year, first in its history. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and the Korea Creative Contents Agency on January 15, the nation's content revenues amounted to 105.2 trillion won (tentative figures) last year, up 5.7 percent from a year ago. The growth rate was higher than 4.8 percent in 2015.

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

[FOCUS] Samsung's public image in crisis due to Lee's possible imprisonment

Samsung, the world's leading microchip and smartphone maker, turned pale after special prosecutors sought a court-issued warrant to arrest its de facto head for his role in a corruption scandal that has fueled widespread public fury.

Solo artist Rain drops comeback music video

Solo artist Rain has finally released a music video for his comeback track "The Best Present", featuring Psy, a South Korean singer who gained international fame with hit global hit song "Gangnam Style".

Lotte group delays deal with defense ministry on US missile shield

South Korea's Lotte group has balked at a property swap to transfer its golf course as the site for the deployment of an advanced US missile shield, citing technical reasons.

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

Korean indie counsel seeks arrest warrant for Samsung’s Jay Y. Lee on multiple charges

South Korea’s independent counsel is seeking an arrest warrant for Jay Y. Lee, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics Co., for handing over around 43 billion won ($36 million) to President Park Geun-hye’s confidant Choi Soon-sil in exchange for business favors and perjury for having denied the allegation during parliamentary testimony held in December last year.

Hyosung to up focus on heavy industries and IT under new leadership

Cho Hyun-joon on Monday started in his new position as chairman of Hyosung Group, a South Korean industrial conglomerate specializing in textiles, industrial materials and chemicals, with an inauguration ceremony that coincided with the anniversary of the death of his grandfather and the group’s founder.

Kumho Petrochemical fears for its bottom line due to spike in rubber raw material

South Korean rubber makers face serious dent in their bottom line due to spike in the key raw material butadiene. The blow could be heavy for Kumho Petrochemical Co. as rubber-making generates half of its revenue.

Samsung Eng’s Saudi power plant construction called off before completion

South Korea’s Samsung Engineering said Monday it won’t be seeing through the construction of a $3 billion, 3,100-megawatt power and desalination plant in Saudi Arabia before its completion after its Saudi client terminated the contract due to difference over the final construction terms.

Hyundai Motor becomes bestselling car brand in Chile last year

South Korea`s top automaker Hyundai Motor Co. has become the best-selling brand in Chile for the first time.

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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