The Korean daily media headlines and humor
Wednesday, February 8, 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
Major topics on The Korea Post website (www.koreapost.com) today:
BOK chief calls for steps to ride out worsening trade environment
The chief of South Korea's central bank said Wednesday that the government should cooperate with private companies to address challenges in global trade markets."Coming up with measures to ride out deteriorating trade environments should be the government's top priority," BOK Governor Lee Ju-yeol said in a meeting with trade experts and professors.
Soprano Bae Un-hee hopes to communicate
A “welcome change” is underway in the music world. Today, many musicians would like to pursue diverse genres of music instead of being devoted to one specialty, in a bid to communicate the audience directly. One of these “multiple vocalists” is soprano Bae un-hee, who was born and raised in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province. She is becoming increasingly popular as she seeks to “communicate with the audience wholeheartedly.”
10 Hanjin Shipping vessels up for sale
The state-run Korea Development Bank, the main creditor of the near bankrupt Hanjin Shipping Co., has put 10 vessels of the shipping line up for sale, to retrieve part of its extended loans, industry sources said Wednesday.
Acting president calls for 'swift, bold' quarantine efforts to contain food-and-mouth disease
Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Wednesday called for "swift and bold" quarantine and sterilization efforts to contain the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease that hit the country this week.
S. Korean shares down in late morning trading
South Korean shares traded lower late Wednesday morning, pressured by a sell-off by foreign investors. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) shed 20.40 points, or 0.98 percent, to 2,054.81 as of 11:20 a.m. Most large caps traded in negative terrain with market kingpin Samsung Electronics falling 1.29 percent, and global chipmaker SK hynix down 0.56 percent.
Hyundai Motor's donations spark doubt over transparency
Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's top automaker, didn't report cash donations to two controversial foundations to its board two years ago, sources said Wednesday, sparking questions over managerial transparency.
Families of chabol heads enjoy fast track
Members of families that control South Korea's corporate titans are on the fast track as they usually get promoted to the executive level in less than five years after entering the company, a corporate tracker said Wednesday.
House lawmakers introduce bipartisan resolution condemning N. Korea
A bipartisan group of U.S. House lawmakers has introduced a resolution condemning North Korea's development of intercontinental ballistic missiles and calling for quick deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system in South Korea.
Trump to take Abe to Florida resort after summit: White House
U.S. President Donald Trump will hold a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later this week before taking the Japanese leader to his Florida resort for the weekend, the White House said Tuesday.
N.K. sure to resume provocations after S. Korean election: Victor Cha
North Korea is exercising restraint from nuclear and missile tests to avoid galvanizing conservatives in South Korea ahead of a presidential election, and is certain to resume provocations once the leadership crisis in the South is resolved, a top U.S. expert on Korea said Tuesday.
For up-to-the-minute Korea-language news, please visit www.koreapost.co.kr. there 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/)
S. Korea-US Allied Forces to Stage THAAD Simulation Exercise
South Korea and the U.S. will stage a simulation of THAAD missile interception during the annual Key Resolve military exercise next month. The allied forces are also expected to see the participation of strategic assets such as the B-1B and B-52 strategic bombers. Our Bae Joo-yon has more.
US Lawmakers Call for THAAD Deployment
A group of U.S. congressmen introduced a resolution denouncing North Korea for the first time since the inauguration of the Donald Trump administration. While expressing concerns over the North Korean ballistic missile program, the American lawmakers called for responding to the threat with the planned THAAD deployment. Kim Bum-soo reports.
Suspected FMD Case Reported in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province
A suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease(FMD) has been reported at a dairy cattle farm in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province. Some 110 cows raised at the farm are showing FMD symptoms, such as blisters and frothing at the mouth, leading quarantine authorities to conduct in-depth examinations.
Seoul-Tokyo Ties Icier as Japan Denies Coercive Sex Slavery
Tokyo has countered a U.S. media report and denied there is any evidence Japan’s military forced women into sexual slavery during wartime. The denial comes despite a deal struck by Seoul and Tokyo more than a year ago for Japan to take responsibility for its atrocities. Park Jong-hong reports.
BOK Chief: Cannot be Optimistic About Exports With US Protectionism Evident
Bank of Governor Lee Ju-yeol has stressed that tackling worsening trade conditions, including the U.S.’s protectionist moves, is the most urgent task at hand. Lee unveiled the view on Wednesday during a meeting at the central bank on economic trends.
Acting President Heightens FMD Quarantine
Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn has ordered full-scale quarantine measures to be put in place quickly to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Hwang on Wednesday attended a civil-governmental meeting amid the FMD outbreak.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Talk of Park's appearance at impeachment trial gains traction
President Park Geun-hye has yet to make an appearance at her own impeachment trial, but speculation is rife that the time may be approaching with a Constitutional Court ruling in sight.
Samsung Pay launched in Thailand
Samsung Electronics Co. said Wednesday that its mobile-payment service, Samsung Pay, was officially launched in Thailand. The official launch in Thailand is the latest move by Samsung to expand the mobile-payment service globally.
Freestyle skiing, snowboard test events for PyeongChang 2018 start this week
Freestyle skiing and snowboard test events for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games will be staged this week, as South Korean athletes eye strong finishes at home before the quadrennial competition.
S. Korea asks China not to buy Kaesong complex goods
South Korea's unification ministry has asked China to notify its people not to buy goods produced at the now-shuttered inter-Korean industrial park in North Korea, a government official said Wednesday.
Appeals court backs expulsion of Korean-American over pro-N.K. remarks
A Seoul appeals court on Wednesday rejected a suit filed by a Korean-American woman to nullify the government's expulsion of her for making pro-North Korea remarks during her talk shows in 2014.
Shinhan Financial 2016 net rises to 2.7 tln won
Major banking group Shinhan Financial Group said Wednesday its net profit jumped more than 17 percent on-year in 2016, led by an improvement in the earnings of flagship subsidiary Shinhan Bank.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Cheong Wa Dae slams independent counsel for leaking info on timing of president's questioning
The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday lambasted special prosecutors for leaking the schedule set for investigators to question President Park Geun-hye over her role in the corruption scandal that led to her impeachment, further clouding the prospects of the unprecedented inquiry.
Families of chaebol heads enjoy fast track
Members of families that control South Korea's corporate titans are on the fast track as they usually get promoted to the executive level in less than five years after entering the company, a corporate tracker said Wednesday.
Livestock diseases feared to hamper Korea's meat exports
A series of animal and poultry disease outbreaks in South Korea is feared to be a huge drag on the country's exports of meat and other livestock products, industry sources said Wednesday.
Yun, Tillerson reaffirm ‘joint approach' to NK threats
The top diplomats of South Korea and the US reaffirmed their commitment to shoring up the alliance Tuesday, calling for a joint approach to tackle North Korea’s “imminent threats,” Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Siberian tiger Geumgang dies after move to mountains
One of two Siberian tigers brought to Korea from China has died a few days after being moved to a mountain range in Bonghwa, North Gyeongsang Province."Geumgang," 11, died of chronic renal failure on Feb. 3, nine days after being moved to Tiger Forest in the National Baekdu-daegan Arboretum, some 250 kilometers from Daejeon O World theme park in the city of Daejeon, according to the Korea Forest Service.
Why did F-15K fighter jets make emergency takeoff?
A mysterious flying object that caused two F-15K fighter jets to be scrambled on Jan. 12 was a toy balloon, according to the Korea Air Force on Tuesday. The Air Force was on alert because, just three days before, 10 Chinese fighter jets and bombers broke into South Korean airspace in an apparent protest against the plan to deploy a U.S. missile defense system on Korean soil.
N. Korea threatens pre-emptive strike against S. Korea ahead of big anniversary
North Korea has threatened a pre-emptive strike against South Korea if provoked as it marked a key military anniversary, a state media reported Wednesday. Hwang Pyong-so, director of the General Political Bureau of the Korean People's Army (KPA), made the remarks during an event in Pyongyang on Tuesday, one day before the 69th anniversary of the foundation of the armed forces. according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Han River cruise suspended for safety concerns
Eland Cruise, which runs a cruise tour on the Han River in Seoul, has indefinitely suspended the operation of its four ferries amid safety concerns, the company said Wednesday."(We) have decided to stop the operation of all cruise ships starting on Feb. 8 in order to secure their safety during the winter period," it said on its website.
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Dong-AIlbo (http://english.donga.com)
Trump faces demand for impeachment in less than 20 days after inauguration
Argument for impeachment of new U.S. President Donald Trump, who is under controversy for his anti-immigration executive order and making disparaging remarks against a federal judge, has openly emerged primarily from the Democratic Party and progressive civic groups. This has happened in less than 20 days after Trump’s inauguration.
S. Korean Air Force joins U.S. space training for the first time
The South Korean Air Force has decided to dispatch its liaison officer to the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) in 2017 for the first time since its foundation. Korean Air Force agents will also participate in U.S. Strategic Command’s space training this year.
Yun, Tillerson agree on collaborative response to N.K.’s threats
South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se held a telephone call with new U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, and reaffirmed the Seoul-Washington alliance and bilateral collaboration in North Korea policy. The call came six days after Tillerson was inaugurated as the new top U.S. diplomat after clearing the Senate confirmation hearing on February 1 local time.
US Snowboarder Chloe Kim attracts a lot of attention
The 16-year-old U.S. snowboarding phenom will participate in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Despite of her young age, Kim is called as a legend. She was a snowboarder representing the U.S. at 14 and was the youngest woman to win Women’s Snowboard Superpipe gold at X Game. She is the first athlete who claimed gold for three consecutive years under the age of 16.
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Chosun-Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Older People Slow to Catch up to Online Banking
Online and mobile banking are rapidly taking over from counter services, but senior citizens have a hard time getting comfortable with the technology.
According to the Bank of Korea, only 8.5 percent of people over 60 use online banking services. And only 5.7 percent of senior citizens use mobile banking.
Park Backs out of Questioning by Independent Counsel
President Park Geun-hye has backed out of an appointment for questioning by the independent counsel investigating the massive corruption scandal that has brought her down.
Park was at long last to be questioned in the Cheong Wa Dae compound, where she remains holed up, on Thursday. But after the media reported the schedule on Tuesday night, she backed out, claiming it was to have remained confidential.
40% of Men to Be Obese by 2020
Four out of 10 Korean men are forecast to be obese in 2020 while they will also likely suffer higher rates of suicide and hypertension. The Korea Health Promotion Institute on Monday released its tracking of public health trends.
Court Schedules More Hearings in Impeachment Trial
The Constitutional Court on Tuesday scheduled more hearings later this month to question eight out of 15 witnesses President Park Geun-hye's lawyers wanted called.
They include Park's longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil, who is at the center of the massive influence-peddling and corruption scandal that led to the president's impeachment.
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HanKyoReh-Shinmoon (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Constitutional Court impeachment trial dragging on as eight new witnesses added
The Constitutional Court’s decision to accept eight witnesses requested by representatives of Park Geun-hye in her impeachment trial and set additional dates for arguments is raising fears that it is succumbing to stalling tactics by her legal team.
[Interview] Hereditary politicians: What do Park Geun-hye and Shinzo Abe have in common?
What kind of person is Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is fundamentally dismantling the postwar Japanese system that was built during the 70-plus years since its defeat in World War II? “Three Generations of Abe,” which was published last month by Osamu Aoki, 50, an independent journalist and a former reporter with Japan‘s Kyodo News, is a book that seeks an answer to this simple yet important question.
Wolseong-1 reactor lifespan extension cancelled, but could keep operating
After a court ordered the cancellation of the extension of the operational lifespan of a reactor at Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on Feb. 7, questions are being raised about whether the reactor will keep running in the future. The group of plaintiffs promised to shut down the reactor‘s operations at once by asking the court to invalidate the permit for continuing operations at the Wolsong-1 reactor.
Former Foreign Minister warns about risks of relations with US under Trump
University of North Korean Studies president and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Song Min-soon warned on Feb. 7 that South Korea should be prepared for the possibility of the Donald Trump administration “attempting to ‘kill the chicken as a warning to the monkey” by taking advantage of Seoul’s security vulnerabilities compared to Japan or Germany.
Civic groups oppose deployment of stealth destroyer to Jeju Naval Base
After it was reported that the US navy has suggested deploying the USS Zumwalt, a stealth destroyer, at the Jeju Naval Base, civic groups in Jeju held a press conference on Feb. 7 in front of the entrance to the base to criticize the South Korean and American governments’ discussion of its deployment.
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JoongAng-Ilbo(conservative) (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)
Top envoys of U.S., Korea focus on North’s threats
Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and new U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday recognized North Korea’s nuclear program as an “immediate threat” and said it should be on the top of the agenda for upcoming bilateral talks.
Korea and Australia double their currency swap
Korea and Australia have doubled their currency swap for another three years in hopes of lowering their dependency on the U.S. dollar. The two countries have set their currency swap at 10 billion Australian dollars, which is roughly 8.7 trillion won or 7.6 billion U.S. dollars, up from 5 billion Australian dollars, the Korean Ministry of Strategy and Finance said Wednesday.
Impeachment ruling unlikely by end of Feb.
The Constitutional Court Tuesday scheduled additional hearings for the coming weeks in the impeachment trial of President Park Geun-hye, effectively slamming the door on a ruling this month.
Foot-and-mouth outbreak tied to vaccinations
As foot-and-mouth disease spreads, it has become clear that the affected farms failed to properly vaccinate their livestock.
The government announced it will vaccinate all 3 million cattle raised nationwide by Thursday.
Posco begins production of lithium carbonate
Posco, the nation’s largest steelmaker, is starting commercial production of lithium carbonate as part of its strategy to diversify its portfolio.
Lithium carbonate is a primary material in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in devices like laptops and phones. Posco’s factory will be Korea’s first lithium carbonate production plant and has the capacity to produce 2,500 tons a year, enough to make batteries for roughly 70 million laptops.
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The KyungHyang-Shinmoon(http://english.khan.co.kr/)
[Extended Operation of Wolsong Unit 1 Canceled] Nuclear Safety Commission Left out Information and Neglected Legal Safety Assessments
According to the ruling from the Seoul Administrative Court on February 7 canceling the permit to continue the operation of Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) left out data that should have been reviewed when deciding to continue operations of the unit and failed to conduct a safety assessment using the latest technology.
Hwang Kyo-ahn, "High Possibility of Provocations from the North in February": Is He Raising the Security Issue?
Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn said, "The possibility of strategic provocation is higher than ever" this month, for February 16 would have been the 75th birthday of Kim Jong-il, chairman of the National Defense Commission. "Strategic provocation" refers to a nuclear test or a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Although North Korea has expressed its intention to test fire an ICBM since its New Year's address on a number of occasions, it is unusual for Hwang to pinpoint the timing to this month.
Unusual Wind Blowing from Ahn Hee-jung's Camp: Will It Also Blow into the Party?
Support for Ahn Hee-jung (52), the Minjoo Party of Korea's governor of Chungcheongnam-do is showing a clear rise. In a number of surveys recently conducted, his approval ratings have surged into two-digit figures, placing Ahn at a stable second or third place behind former party leader Moon Jae-in. Ahn appears to have absorbed the support from the citizens of the Chungcheong region and the political moderates after former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon withdrew from the race.
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The Korea Economic Daily (http://english.hankyung.com/)
China Shuns Imports of Korean-made Cosmetics
The Chinese government has refused to approve the imports of Korean-made cosmetics in December 2016, citing poor quality as a reason. According to the list of cosmetic and food items that failed to gain import approval in December 2016, released by China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, 19 out of 68 disapproved cosmetic items were Korean-made products.
Hyundai Motor Delays Debut of Sonata EV in China
Hyundai Motor's Chinese joint venture Beijing Hyundai delayed the launching date of Sonata plug-in electric vehicle from April 2017 to February 2018. This decision came after LG Chem batteries which were supposed to be mounted on the Sonata EV are excluded for the Chinese government's EV subsidies.
SK Hynix's Possible Investment in Toshiba NAND Business Draws Positive Reviews
SK Hynix's announcement to enter into the race to acquire Toshiba's NAND flash memory chip business drew positive reviews from stock analysts. If SK Hynix succeeds in doing so, it could cope better with the challenge posed by China's increasing investment in semiconductor business, while expecting higher margins in the NAND memory market.
Home-grown Over-the-top Content Providers Prosper Despite Landing of Netflix
Domestic over-the-top content providers were in panic in September 2015 when Netflix announced that it would launch service in Korea. As announced, Netflix landed in the Korean market in January last year. But results were quite different from widely expected. Home-grown service providers saw their subscriber numbers rise fast, with the overall market expanded, all thanks to Netflix.
Jeju Air Fast Catches up with Asiana Air in Domestic Flights
Jeju Air, Korea's leading low-cost airline under the Aekyung Group affiliation, is fast catching up with Asiana Airlines in the domestic market. The airliner said on February 8 that it would launch the twice-a-day Gwangju-Jeju route beginning on March 28.
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AJU Business Daily (http://eng.ajunews.com/korea)
S. Korean police declare war on drivers playing Pokemon Go
A police officer has pulled over a car driving in zigzags, thinking the driver must be drunk, but she was found to be busy playing Pokemon Go. The case reported last Saturday highlighted the danger of playing a mobile game on the move.
S. Korea, Australia extend currency swap deal: Yonhap
South Korea's central bank said Wednesday it has extended a currency swap agreement with its Australian counterpart, a move that could further strengthen bilateral financial cooperation.
'Certification selfie' posted by doctors in cadaver dissection causes online fury
South Korean health authorities have launched a probe into a "certification selfie" showing a group of doctors standing in a cadaver dissection room with their arms folded.
Asiana pilot wins legal battle against ban on growing beard
An Asiana Airline pilot won an arduous legal battle Wednesday to nullify a ban on growing a beard, more than two years after he was punished for violating company regulations on outfits and looks of airline workers.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
Kakao forms AI development subsidiary to pit against Naver’s AI team J
South Korea’s largest mobile platform operator Kakao Corp. has jumped on the artificial intelligence (AI) bandwagon by setting up a subsidiary named Kakao Brain that will steer the development of AI-powered Kakao services.
Korea and Australia renew and double currency swap deal for another 3 yrs
South Korea and Australia agreed to extend and double bilateral currency swap arrangement for another three years amid increased volatility in the foreign exchange and global financial market.
S. Korea’s investment in U.S. hits record-high last year
South Korea’s investment in the United States is estimated to have reached a five-year high in 2016 while U.S investment to Asia’s fourth largest economy dwindled 30 percent over the same period, a data Seoul could use to argue against any charges from the Washington administration under Donald Trump about imbalances in bilateral trade.
LG Elec breaks ground on its North American HQ
South Korea’s leading electronics maker LG Electronics Inc. on Tuesday (local time) broke ground for its North American headquarters in New Jersey, which would be completed by 2019 at a cost of $300 million.
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 Timeswww.nytimes.com inytletters@nytimes.com
Wall Street Journalwww.wsj.com support@wsj.com ,service@wsj-asia.com
Financial Times www.ft.com ean@ft.com
The Timeswww.thetimes.co.uk help@timesplus.co.uk
The Sun www.thesun.co.uk talkback@the-sun.co.uk
Chinese People's Dailywww.people.com.cn kf@people.cn
China Dailywww.chinadaily.com.cn circulation@chinadaily.com.cn
GwangmyeongDailywww.gmw.cn webmaster@gmw.cn
Japan's Yomiuriwww.yomiuri.co.jp japannews@yomiuri.com
Asahi www.asahi.com customer-support@asahi.com
Mainichiwww.mainichi.jp
Lemondewww.ilemonde.com
Italy rarepupeul Rica www.quotidiano.repubblica.it vittorio.zucconi@gmail.com
Germany Frankfurter AllgemeineZeitungwww.faz.net anzeigen.ausland@faz.de
SüddeutscheZeitungwww.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 Paishttp://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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