Thursday, September 9, 2021

 

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

 

The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)

Malaysia, Korea share National Day in August, are headed for increased cooperation”

Charge d’Affaires Ahmad Fahmi Ahmad Sarkawi of the Republic of Malaysia in Seoul said, “The 31st day of August is the official National Day of Malaysia and it marks the day when Malaysia became free from British colonial rule.” It is the happy day for the people of Malaysia like the Korean people who enjoys the 15th of August when they won their independence in 1945. To mark the auspicious occasion, The Korea Post media (publisher of 3 English and 2 Korean news publications since 1985) recently had a special interview with CDA Sarkawi of Malaysia at his office in Seoul. Details of the interview follow:  Question: Please introduce your National Day in full detail. Answer: The 31st day of August is the official national day of Malaysia. It commemorates the Malayan Declaration of Independence on 31 August 1957, marking the day Malaya is free from British colonial administration. This year's Independence Day is the 6th anniversary. 'Malaysia Prihatin' which literally means Malaysia Cares, is retained as the theme for this year's Independence Day.


Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung says, “We will achieve a hydrogen society by 2040”

Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun said on Sept. 7, “We will achieve a hydrogen society in which hydrogen energy can be used by anyone, everything, and anywhere by 2040.” It is an official declaration that 2040 will be the first year of the popularization of hydrogen. There is an observation that Hyundai Motor Group's hydrogen move will be more aggressive. Chairman Chung unveiled the group's hydrogen business vision and world-class hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen mobility plans at the “Hydrogen Wave” global online event on the same day. He emphasized, “It is impossible to respond to climate change without hydrogen energy. The transition to a hydrogen society is not something that individual companies can do, but Hyundai Motor Group has decided that it can no longer watch it.”

 

Is President Moon turning a bit business-friendly for the Korean economy?

This is the first installment in a series of special feature articles of The Korea Post media on the leading business conglomerates of Korea, which sheds light on the past, present and future prospects of the company.—Ed. In Korea whenever a new political party comes into power, big businesses called Jaebeol, all but invariably, undergo the ordeal of having to adjust themselves to the new surroundings under the new government. Here in the ‘Land of the Morning Calm,’ there is a very often-used old adage, “When you dust a person, there is not a single one who is clean!” However, President Moon Jae-in seems to be trying to differentiate himself from some of his predecessors, and recently released Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong of Korea’s top business conglomerate, Samsung, in a parole measure for a number of prison-term servers on the occasion of the Liberation Day of Korea on Aug. 15, 2021.

 

                                                                                                             

KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/service)

N. Korea Appears to Have Staged Nighttime Military Parade

North Korea appears to have staged a night-time military parade to mark the 73rd anniversary of the national founding. The military parade reportedly started at 12 a.m. on Thursday at Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang. An official from South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said there have been signs that the North carried out the parade and that the South Korean military is closely analyzing those signs. Online media outlet NK News quoted multiple sources as saying that they heard military jets flying over the capital city and fireworks started around 1 a.m. Thursday, suggesting the event took place during that time.

 

IOC Suspends N. Korea from Beijing Olympics for Tokyo No-Show

The International Olympic Committee(IOC) has suspended North Korea’s National Olympic Committee(NOC) through the end of 2022 for its unilateral decision not to participate in this summer’s Tokyo Olympics. IOC President Thomas Bach announced the suspension on Wednesday in a news conference, saying that the North's NOC was the only national Olympic committee that did not participate in the Summer Games. Bach reportedly said that the NOC will not receive any financial support from the IOC during the suspension. Foreign media said that the decision will bar North Korea from competing in next year's Winter Olympics in Beijing. However, Bach reportedly said that individual athletes from North Korea who qualify to compete in Beijing could still be accepted by a separate decision in the future.

 

Conglomerates Launch Consultative Body to Expand Hydrogen Economy

Leaders in the domestic auto, chemical and steel industries have joined forces to launch a consultative body with the aim of advancing the country's hydrogen economy. Fifteen entities, including ten conglomerates, attended the inaugural general assembly of the Korea H2 Business Summit on Wednesday. Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, and Posco Group Chairman Choi Jeong-woo were in attendance. The Hyundai Motor chairman expressed his hope that the summit will not only play a role in building corporate competitiveness but also be a platform for the development of the country's hydrogen economy and enhance its global competitiveness by bringing together business, policy and finance.

                                                                                                                

 

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

Court again rules against family of wartime forced labor victim

A Seoul court on Wednesday again dismissed a damages suit filed by the bereaved family of a victim of World War II forced labor against a Japanese company citing expiration of the statute of limitations. Four children of the late worker, surnamed Jeong, filed a suit in April 2019 seeking 200 million won (US$171,940) in compensation from Japan's Nippon Steel Corp. Jeong had claimed he was conscripted to forced labor in a Nippon Steel plant in Japan from 1940-42. The Korean Peninsula was occupied by imperial Japan from 1910-45. Judge Park Sung-in of the Seoul Central District Court ruled against the plaintiffs, saying the statute of limitations had passed in May 2015.

 

IOC suspends N. Korean Olympic committee for not participating in Tokyo Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided Wednesday to suspend North Korea's national Olympic committee for unilaterally deciding not to take part in the Tokyo Olympic Games, a suspension that will bar the North from participating in next year's Beijing Winter Games. "The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee today decided to suspend the Olympic Committee of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (PRK NOC) until the end of 2022, as a result of the NOC's unilateral decision not to participate in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020," the IOC said on its website, referring to North Korea by its official name.


Xi, Putin vow efforts to advance relations with N. Korea on founding anniversary

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed efforts to advance relations with North Korea in messages sent to leader Kim Jong-un to congratulate him on his country's 73rd founding anniversary Thursday, Pyongyang's state media reported. "I and Comrade General Secretary have maintained close communication and led the bilateral relations for them to develop in a stable way and, thus steadily made good success, which further enriched the traditional bilateral friendship," Xi was quoted as saying by the Korean Central News Agency."I highly value the development of the China-DPRK relations and intend to develop these ties of friendship and cooperation on a long-term basis and in a stable way," he added, using the acronym of the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
                                                                                   

 

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

Tycoons unite for hydrogen future

Leaders of major South Korean conglomerates including Hyundai Motor and SK officially launched the Korea H2 Business Summit on Wednesday to coordinate their efforts in bringing forth a hydrogen society. A local equivalent of the global CEO-led initiative Hydrogen Council, the coalition launched with 15 founding members, holding its inaugural meeting at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Posco Group Chairman Choi Jeong-woo were elected as co-chairs.

 

Yoon Seok-youl denies alleged political meddling

Presidential hopeful Yoon Seok-youl on Wednesday denied involvement in snowballing allegations that he had tried to meddle in politics. Speculation has swirled around him for a week after online news outlet Newsverse reported on Sept. 2 that Yoon ordered Rep. Kim Woong of the main opposition People Power Party to file a complaint with the prosecution against politicians and journalists linked to the ruling Democratic Party of Korea ahead of last year’s general elections. In a press briefing Wednesday afternoon, Yoon said, “I stood in front of you today because I thought it is pathetic that an election is held every time with this kind of maneuver and instigation.”

 

Seoul downplays Pyongyang’s Yongbyon activity

South Korea appears to be downplaying renewed tensions over North Korea’s apparent restarting of its nuclear activity, possibly in an attempt to leave room for dialogue with the reclusive regime amid a flurry of diplomacy efforts among allies. Asked if the restarting of the Yongbyon complex is a violation of inter-Korean agreements made in summit talks in 2018, First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun said during a parliamentary session Tuesday: “I don’t think so.” Tangible measures the North has taken since the summit talks are still put in place,” he added, referring to the shutdown of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site and the Dongchang-ri engine test and missile launch site.

                                                                                    

 

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

'Money or freedom': Is South Korea safe from China's infiltration?

In a highly globalized world, cultural, economic and diplomatic interactions between countries are inevitable, especially when a certain country "pays well" with lucrative business opportunities. But what if doing business with that country requires the counterpart to make considerable concessions in areas regarding key values such as freedom and sovereignty? What if the collision of money and freedom is seen as inevitable as a result of interaction with that country? These are the questions some nations, particularly those in the West, have been grappling with in recent years since they learned that China's rise as the world's second-largest economy has come at the cost of freedom. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has flexed its muscles in every key decision behind the scenes to redirect the global order.

 

Kyobo, Affinity set to escalate lawsuit despite ICC arbitration

With the high-profile lawsuit between Kyobo Life Insurance and Affinity Equity Partners going back to square one, both sides are expected to reignite legal proceedings against each other, amid their stark disagreement regarding the Korean insurer's pre-initial public offering (IPO) valuation. Affinity, a Hong Kong-based private equity firm, is a major financial investor in Kyobo. Earlier, both parties had signed a put option agreement, through which the Affinity-led consortium could withdraw its invested capital from the insurer if Kyobo went public by 2015. But after the insurer delayed the plan, the investors demanded that Kyobo Life Insurance Chairman Shin Chang-jae buy back their shares for 409,000 won ($351) per share. Kyobo, however, argued that this amount was overpriced, and declined to do so.

 

Expert discussion on 'fake news' bill faces complications

A consultative body created by the country's two major parties held its first meeting, Wednesday, to discuss details of the ruling party's contentious revision bill to penalize publishers of alleged "fake news." The likelihood of the body reaching an agreement, however, appears slim as the participants have clearly different opinions on the issue. Wide speculation is that they will end up with no results and the clash between the parties will resume ahead of the planned National Assembly plenary vote on the bill on Sept. 27. The eight-member consultative body is comprised of four lawmakers, two each from the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP), and four media experts, two recommended by each party.

                                                                                                               

 

Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
N.Korea Promotes Ex-Army Chief to Top Body

The North Korean regime has abruptly promoted Pak Jong-chon, the recently demoted Army chief, to the presidium of the Workers Party Politburo, the top decision-making body. The yoyo-ing hints that internal power struggles between the military and the party are far from over as the regime groans under the twin strains of international sanctions and a total border lockdown. Pak had been demoted as recently as June for the regime's failure to get coronavirus under control, but North Korean leader Kim Jong-un likes to keep officials sharp and loyal with such abrupt reversals. Pak was replaced as Army chief by Gen. Rim Kwang-il, the former chief of the General Reconnaissance Bureau.

 

Samsung's Brand Value Drops out of Global Top 10

Samsung has dropped out of the world's top 10 in terms of brand value. According to U.K.-based Future Brand, Samsung ranked No. 13 in the world among the top 100 brands in 2021. Last year it ranked third. Dutch chip-manufacturing equipment maker ASML ranked a surprising first, followed by Apple. Dutch tech investment company Prosus, the biggest shareholder of China's Tencent, ranked third, followed by U.S.' Danaher and Next Era Energy. Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC, a rival to Samsung, ranked sixth. The rankings were assembled by 3,000 experts in July based on the brand awareness of the world's top 100 companies and their future business potential. The main reason Samsung's ranking dropped is that there were more skeptics among the experts than in previous years about its future growth potential.

 

Ghani Says He Fled Afghanistan to Avoid Kabul Bloodshed

Former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani said Wednesday he fled his country last month for the United Arab Emirates to avoid bloodshed in the streets of the capital of Kabul as Taliban insurgents took control. He denied plundering government funds as he left. "I left at the urging of palace security, who advised me that to remain risked setting off the same horrific street-to-street fighting the city had suffered during the civil war of the 1990s," Ghani said in a statement. "Leaving Kabul was the most difficult decision of my life, but I believed it was the only way to keep the guns silent and save Kabul and her 6 million citizens." The 72-year-old Ghani said he had worked for 20 years to create a democratic government in Afghanistan but acknowledged he had failed to ensure "stability and prosperity," the same outcome as for other Afghan governments for decades.

 

                                                                                                

 

HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
S. Korean Navy sailor dies by suicide after reporting bullying to captain

A sailor on a South Korean naval destroyer killed himself four months after entering the service due to verbal abuse and group bullying by senior sailors, the Center for Military Human Rights Korea (CMHRK) said Tuesday. While the sailor messaged the captain on his mobile phone to alert him about what was happening, the situation was allowed to fester for more than 20 days without the victim even being separated from his tormentors. Once the military launched an investigation, the navy made the decision to send the captain and other main subjects of the investigation on an overseas assignment. The CMHRK, a human rights group, provided information about the suicide in a press conference at its office in Seoul.

 

No UK-style “with COVID-19” for Korea, government says

With the South Korean government expected to begin discussing a full-scale loosening of COVID-19 control measures after the extended Chuseok holiday this month, disease control authorities announced plans to explore approaches for a “gradual return to everyday life,” while stressing that this would not be a “with COVID-19” approach along UK lines. The term ‘with COVID-19’ is used in different senses, and we sometimes hear it used to refer to getting rid of distancing and regarding confirmed cases as unimportant,” said Son Young-rae, director of the Central Disaster Management Headquarters social strategy group, in a briefing Monday. The same day, the administration eased some of its disease control measures, increasing the number of people permitted to take part in private gatherings while also extending the current social distancing levels for another four weeks.

 

Gradual return to normal life anticipated by end of October, officials say

The head of South Korea’s disease control agency said that South Korea would begin a gradual return to normal in late October on Tuesday, noting that masks would still be required indoors until the final stage of easing social distancing. Jeong Eun-kyeong, commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), was asked if Korea would allow a return to regular routines at the end of October during a plenary session of the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Budgets and Accounts on Tuesday. Right now, we’re assuming that’s an option we can consider,” Jeong said.

                                                                                    

 

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

Stranded by COVID-19, Seoulites’ travel down by 18%

At the end of 2020, when COVID-19 third wave hit the country, people either living or working and studying in Seoul were reported to travel less during nighttime, compared with pre-pandemic level, down by a maximum of 50%. According to the Seoul city government’s analysis of communications and transportation with big data released on Wednesday regarding travel patterns of the Seoul city both pre- and post-pandemic, generational differences were observed in the frequency of travel, with a decrease in travel by people younger than 25, including kids and adolescents, by more than half, while those older than 65 showed only a decline of 26% during the same period.

 

Restarting Yongbyon nuclear reactor is not violation of inter-Korean agreements, says Seoul official

South Korean First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong-kun said North Korea restarting its nuclear reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear complex in early July is not a violation of inter-Korean agreements. At a plenary session of the National Assembly's foreign affairs and unification committee on Tuesday, Choi was asked if the North’s restarting of nuclear facilities in Yongbyon is a violation of the agreements made at the inter-Korean summit held at Panmunjom in 2018. Choi answered that he does not think so. “There are visible measures taken by North Korea, which are still in progress, from the agreements reached through the April 27 Panmunjom Declaration and the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration,” he said, citing the closing of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site and the Dongchang-ri missile test site as examples.

 

Hyundai Motor won’t sell ICE vehicles in Europe from 2035

Hyundai Motor Company announced a vision to reduce its net carbon emission to zero by 2045 to achieve carbon neutrality. The company also plans to increase the share of its electric vehicles in sales from three percent in 2020 to 30 percent in 2030. Hyundai Motor Company announced its environment-friendly strategy, including such a vision, at IAA Mobility 2021 held in Munich, Germany on Monday (local time). "Under our company's vision, Progress for Humanity, Hyundai Motor is determined to do the right thing for the world. " CEO of Hyundai Motor Company Chang Jae-hoon said in a recorded video.

 

                                                                                                 

 

The KyungHyangShinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Kim Woong Speaks on the Alleged Accusation Report, “I Might Have Delivered the Document after Receiving It from Son”

People Power Party lawmaker Kim Woong held a press conference at the National Assembly on September 8 and spoke on the alleged accusation report. He said, “I clearly state that I did not write the report (on questionable relations between prosecutors and the press).” He further explained, “In the conversation (with the Newsverse reporter), I revealed that I was the first in the party to raise the issue of lawmaker Choe Kang-wook. I had nothing to do with the actual accusation report.” Kim also spoke about the allegation that he received the report from an official in the Prosecution Service and delivered it to the party. He said, “I don’t remember if I received the report, and there is no way to check.” He continued and said, “If it (the report by Newsverse) is true, based on the circumstances, I might have received the document from Son (Prosecutor Son Jun-sung) and delivered it to the party.” But he added, “Some have suggested the possibility of fabrication and the borrowing of my name.”

 

Appalled at the Extension of Distancing Measures,” Storeowners to Launch Nationwide Demonstrations in Cars Tonight

The National Emergency Committee for Small Business Owners will launch a demonstration in vehicles throughout the nation simultaneously on September 8. They are calling for disease control authorities to withdraw the decision to further extend the current distancing measures. The committee announced that from 11 p.m. this day until 1 a.m. September 9, storeowners would engage in a one-man demonstration in cars departing from the provincial government offices and city halls in each region. So far, the committee has decided to hold the demonstration in ten cities and provinces: Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Busan, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, Chungcheongbuk-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, Jeollabuk-do and Gangwon.

 

More Benefits for Fully Vaccinated People ahead of Chuseok: Disease Control Efforts in the Next Thirty Days Will Determine the Future of Life with COVID

The nation will enter a test period to determine the possibility of life with COVID, the coexistence of our daily lives with the novel coronavirus, as the government eases restrictions on private gatherings for people who have been fully vaccinated with Chuseok approaching. The nation is taking a step towards a return to daily life along with the rising vaccination rate. The success or failure of disease control efforts in the next thirty days will determine the nation’s direction in future disease control measures. The government extended the current distancing levels (level 4 in the greater Seoul area and level 3 in other areas) for four more weeks from September 6 until October 3, but at the same time expanded benefits in restrictions on private gatherings for people who have been fully vaccinated.

 

                                                                                                

 

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

Team Korea on hydrogen economy draws 15 inaugurating members

Korea H2 Business Summit, an industry council for hydrogen economy initiated by Hyundai Motor, SK, and Posco in March, has gained momentum with 12 other conglomerates joining as the founding members to back the promotion of hydrogen fuel and value chain. The Korean version of the Hydrogen Council, a global CEO-led coalition working to accelerate the energy transition through hydrogen, officially kicked off on Wednesday with an inaugural meeting held on the sideline of the H2 Mobility + Energy Show at KINTEX in Ilsan, north of Seoul.

 

Posco, GS team up in battery, hydrogen biz, betting big on green innovation

South Korea’s top steel maker Posco and energy-to-construction conglomerate GS Group have joined hands in battery recycling, hydrogen and biofuel businesses, laying the foundation for cooperation in rapidly growing clean energy markets. The two groups signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday to work together in five new sectors—secondary battery recycling, hydrogen, venture investment, eco-friendly biofuel research and environmental, social and governance (ESG) management. The partnership between the country’s sixth-largest conglomerate Posco and eight-largest GS comes in 13 years after their failed joint attempt to acquire Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.

 

Hyundai Motor in talks with Xiaomi and others for its 2nd plant sale in Beijing

Hyundai Motor Group has put its second Beijing factory up for sale as part of its wider efforts to realign its China strategy by shifting focus to electric vehicles and luxury lineup to make a turnaround in the world’s biggest car market after years of sluggish sales. South Korea’s top automaker is in talks with potential buyers to sell the site of the No.2 Beijing plant that produces Sonata, Avante and Tucson SUV, according to sources familiar with the matter. Hyundai is reportedly in talks with several EV makers in China for its second plant, including Xiaomi which has jumped into the EV market with its EV subsidiary Xiaomi EV set up last month.

                                                                                                                 

 

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

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

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

Sydney Morning Heraldwww.smh.com.au

Colombia Reports http://colombiareports.com

Bogota Free Planet http://bogotafreeplanet.combfp@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
 

                                                                                                               

 

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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