Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post ( www.koreapost.com )
“Seeing is better than one hundred times of hearing”
The Embassy of the Republic of Mongolia in Seoul hosted an impressive photo exhibition at the Design Plaza Gallery in Seoul on Dec. 24, 2022 with the attendance of many Korean and international guests as well as important persons from the host Embassy. Many interesting photos were on display and the visits were all obviously impressed greatly by the wonderful picture showing Mongolia.
“We will make Uijeongbu a business hub of our region offering many good jobs!”
Mayor Kim Dong-geun of the Uijeongbu City said, “We will try to make Uijeongbu a business hub city Korea that offers many good jobs! “Speaking at recent interview with The Korea Post media, Mayor Kim stressed' “Uijeongbu is a city that is good for business and a region offering many, good jobs.” “Even though the Uijeongbu City is the central city of the northern Gyeonggi region, there is not a single large business company that can represent our region,” Kim said remorsefully. “It is a city where only typical residential facilities are concentrated,” he said.
President Yoon, first lady Kim attend Xmas Mass, worship service
President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee attended Christmas Mass and a church worship service on Dec. 25. The Office of the President said that the president and his wife in the morning attended a Christmas Day service at Youngam Presbyterian Church in Seongbuk-dong, Seoul. President Yoon attended the church from the first to seventh grade and returned there for the first time in 49 years. He also spent time with his former teachers at Daegwang Elementary School.
Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Critical COVID Cases Hit 4-Month High
The number of severely ill COVID patients in hospital has hit a four-month high amid icy winter weather. According to health authorities, critical COVID cases stood at 592 as of early Sunday morning, up 58 from the previous day and the most since late August. Seventy patients died, the most in about three months. Critical COVID cases were highest on March 31 with 1,315. But new infections are falling, probably because fewer people are getting tested.
Hyundai Celebrates 15 Millionth Car Sold in U.S.
Hyundai's cumulative sales in the U.S. have surpassed 15 million cars in the 36 years since it entered the market. Hyundai said on Thursday that it delivered its 15 millionth car, a Tucson SUV, to a customer in New York. The carmaker first made inroads in the U.S. market with the compact Excel in 1986 and sold 168,000 of them. At the time drivers could get two Excels for less than the average price of a new American car.
N.Korea Has 1,000 Military Drones
North Korea has an estimated 1,000 unmanned aerial vehicles capable of reconnaissance and attack missions. The most prolific drones are the Banghyon I and II, which are modified versions of the Chinese D-4 UAV. The North has around 300 for deception missions or target practice. They are 3.23 m long and can travel up to 50 km for two hours at an altitude of more than 3 km. Some of them can even be mounted with bombs weighing 20-30 kg and travel at a speed of 160 km/h.
Joongang Ilbo (https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com )
South Korea's military apologizes for failure against North's UAVs
The South Korean military apologized for failing to shoot down any of the five North Korean drones that flew on Monday for hours over Incheon, Gyeonggi and parts of Seoul. “We are sorry about the lack of military preparedness,” Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Director of Operations Kang Shin-chul said Tuesday. Of the five unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that entered South Korean airspace on Monday morning, one entered northern Seoul via Paju and returned across the border after three hours.
Actor Lee Jung-jae, director Hwang Dong-hyuk receive Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit
Squid Game actor Lee Jung-jae and director Hwang Dong-hyuk received the Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit from President Yoon Suk-yeol Tuesday.
Yoon held a ceremony to award the Emmy winners at the presidential office in Yongsan District. The merit recognizes their contributions to the improvement of national culture. Lee and Hwang of Netflix’s 2021 dystopian hit series “Squid Game” won the prizes for Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Directing, respectively, in a Drama Series at the 74th Emmy Awards in September.
Special pardons granted to Lee Myung-bak, Kim Kyoung-soo, politicians
President Yoon Suk-yeol granted special pardons to politicians along the party lines including former President Lee Myung-bak and former South Gyeongsang Gov. Kim Kyoung-soo Tuesday, ahead of the New Year. After a Cabinet meeting earlier in the day, Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon revealed in a press conference the final shortlist of 1,373 individuals granted year-end pardons by the president including Lee and Kim. Han said the presidential pardons were in the spirit of "reconciliation, inclusiveness and widespread national unity."
The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
Buffalo residents help each other amid historic snowstorm
"We were heading to New York from Toronto and were stranded by the worst snowstorm. Joe from the "Alabama Hotel" came to the rescue and saved us." "I was heading back home in Toronto and got stuck on the road. I don't know what would have happened to us if it were not for Joe." These are just a few of the thank-you notes on the Google Review on Monday to the Alabama Hotel, a restaurant with a deceiving name, located in a small city of Basom between Buffalo and Rochester, New York.
Jeonju's 'Good Samaritan’ returns again
‘A Good Samaritan’ in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province has returned again this year. The person has been delivering warmth to neighbors in need around Christmas every year since 2000. According to Jeonju City on Tuesday, a phone call came at the Nosong-dong Community Service Center in Wansan-gu around 11:01 a.m. that day. “I put a box under the vehicle of a kindergarten near Seongsan Church,” a middle-aged man with a thick voice said. “Please spend it for those in need.”
Expected inflation lowered to 3%
Inflation expectations, consumers' expectations of inflation for the next year, fell to the 3% level in six months. As raw material prices, such as international oil prices, fell and the won-dollar exchange rate stabilized around 1,300 won, expectations for a slowing upward price trend grew. According to the results of a consumer trend survey announced by the Bank of Korea on Tuesday, inflation expectations for December were posted at 3.8%, down 0.4% MoM (4.2%).
Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
President Yoon orders accounting disclosure system for labor unions
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called for an accounting disclosure system for labor unions to boost transparency and prevent corruption that would help to enhance industry competitiveness and workers’ welfare.“The measure of establishing an accounting disclosure system for labor unions like Data Analysis, Retrieval and Transfer System (DART) operated by the Financial Supervisory Service, should be reviewed,”
Hyundai Motor Group gears for second-hand car business in 2023
Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. are in the final preparations to enter the second-hand car market next year to inspect, certify and sell used cars with their own names to local customers. According to sources on Monday, the South Korean car-manufacturing group is reviewing Yangsan, Gyeongnam Province as a potential site for car storage and distribution, while working on a new website as a channel for trade. All details are undecided as of now except that sales will begin in earnest in the second half of the year, according to a group official.
South Korea’s DB Group restructures businesses, reshuffles executives
South Korea’s DB Group restructured its businesses in insurance, financial and manufacturing and named new executives to create synergy among its affiliates. DB Group announced Monday that it rearranged its corporate structure into insurance, financial and manufacturing service groups and appoirhdnnted new heads of these divisions and named new chief executive officers of major affiliates.
HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
“You are not alone”: Sister of Sewol ferry tragedy victim’s letter to Itaewon survivors
The Hankyoreh is publishing a letter of consolation and solidarity to those who survived the tragic crowd crush in Itaewon on Oct. 29. The Hankyoreh and the 10.29 Itaewon Disaster Citizens’ Action Group also plan on arranging an opportunity for victims' families, survivors, witnesses and rescuers to gather and talk about the Itaewon tragedy, and the various issues that have ensued.
Names floated for Yoon’s special pardons lack balance, standard
As speculation and interest mounts surrounding who will be the recipients of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s second set of special pardons, politicians are raising a debate over whether the representation in terms of positions, crimes and sentences aligns with the purported justification of achieving “national unity.” Many critics derided the show of “token unity” as the administration threw in a few opposition figures whose crimes were relatively minor or whose sentences were already coming to an end, while pardoning and reinstating numerous ruling party figures who enlisted state institutions to commit serious crimes under past conservative administrations.
If Japan wants to protect its people, preemptive strikes aren’t the way
Japan’s government and ruling parties are currently pushing forward with fundamental security policy changes by deciding to revise the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Program Guidelines, and the Mid-term Defense Program by the end of the year. Among the policy changes being proposed, the current defense plan includes a call to increase defense spending from the current 25 trillion yen (US$189.5 billion) over five years to 43 trillion yen over the next five years. There are also proposals to increase Japan’s current counterstrike capabilities by allowing the country to attack enemy bases preemptively.
The KyungHyangShinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
New Year’s Pardon for a Large Number of Politicians Including MB and Kim Kyoung-soo
The government will finalize the list of people granted a special pardon in time for the New Year in a cabinet meeting chaired by President Yoon Suk-yeol on December 27. The president is expected to pardon former president Lee Myung-bak (MB) and former governor of Gyeongsangnam-do Kim Kyoung-soo according to the review by the pardon review board in the Ministry of Justice on December 23. Lee, who is expected to be pardoned and reinstated, was sentenced to seventeen years in prison for embezzlement and bribery in October 2020, but at present, his sentence has been suspended due to health issues.
North Korean Drone Infiltrates Northern Seoul: What Is Pyongyang’s Intention Behind the Drone Provocation that Caught South Korea Off Guard?
On December 26, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) invaded South Korean airspace using five drones. Experts believe the mission was conducted for various purposes, such as to test the South’s military preparedness and to oppose the reconnaissance activities of U.S. Forces. This was the first time in five years and six months, since June 2017, that authorities confirmed a North Korean drone infiltrating South Korean airspace. The last time, a North Korean drone spied a base in Seongju where the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system of the U.S. Forces Korea was placed.
Chey Tae-won Questions Effectiveness of a Uniform Corporate Tax Cut
Chey Tae-won (pictured), chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the nation’s largest economic organization, said, “I wonder if it is good to lower the corporate tax for all businesses,” and asked why the government should cut taxes for businesses that do not invest when taxes are lowered. He called for customized tax cuts after closely considering investment effects against tax rates instead of a uniform corporate tax cut.
KBS(http://world.kbs.co.kr/service)
N. Korean Leader Presents Goals for Bolstering Defense Capabilities in Party Meeting
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has presented goals for bolstering the country's defense capabilities next year during a key meeting of the ruling Workers' Party. According to the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency(KCNA) on Wednesday, Kim made the announcement during the sixth plenary meeting of the eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party, which convened for a second day on Tuesday.
Parliamentary Special Committee Approves 73 Witnesses for Itaewon Crush Probe
The special parliamentary committee investigating the deadly Itaewon crowd crush has approved witnesses for its probe. The committee adopted a list of 73 witnesses on Tuesday after receiving the first round of briefings from eight government ministries and agencies. The special committee initially planned to hold three rounds of hearings next Monday, Wednesday and Friday, but ultimately agreed to hold two rounds after a disagreement between parties over witnesses forced the panel to cancel the Monday session.
Business Sentiment in December Hits 26-Month Low
Business sentiment dropped to its lowest level in over two years amid lingering economic uncertainties and weak domestic demand. According to the Bank of Korea on Wednesday, the business survey index(BSI) for all industries dropped by one point on-month to stand at 74 for December, marking the lowest in 26 months since October 2020 when it also posted 74. With a reading below 100 indicating that pessimists outnumber optimists, sentiment continued to slide toward pessimism for the fourth straight month after rising to 80 in July and 81 in August.
Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Yoon berates defense minister over botched operation against N.K. drones
President Yoon Suk Yeol berated Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup over the military's failed operation against five North Korean drones that entered South Korean airspace earlier this week, officials said Wednesday. Yoon met with Lee on Tuesday morning and was briefed on the military's response to the North's violation of South Korean airspace the previous day. The drones flew across the Military Demarcation Line separating the two Koreas, with one flying over northern parts of Seoul, but the South Korean military failed to shoot them down.
'Avatar 2' surpasses 6 mln admissions in S. Korea in two weeks
"Avatar: The Way of Water" has drawn over 6 million viewers in the first two weeks of its theatrical release in South Korea, data showed Wednesday. Released on Dec. 14, the sequel to James Cameron's sci-fi blockbuster "Avatar" (2009) had amassed 6.01 moviegoers as of 8 a.m., according to the data from the Korea Film Council (KOFIC). It became the fifth film to top the 6 million mark this year and the second foreign movie following "Top Gun: Maverick" to accumulate 8.17 million admissions.
N.K. leader sets goals for bolstering self-defense for next year in 2nd-day session of party meeting
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has presided over the second-day session of a major party plenary and laid out goals for strengthening self-defense for next year, Pyongyang's state media reported Wednesday. During the meeting held the previous day, Kim delivered a report analyzing the "new challengeable situation" created on the Korean peninsula and the current international political situation, according to the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Korean companies suffer from weakening stability, fiscal health
South Korean companies have seen revenue growth this year, but their fiscal health has deteriorated due to increased debt and lowered profitability, according to a report from a major business lobby group Monday. Despite their growing revenue, the slowdown in the growth rate, inventory piling up and soaring borrowing costs draw concerns as the country’s economy is largely expected to see headwinds next year, with sluggish exports and uncertainties in the global market.
Yoon berates defense minister over botched operation against NK drones
President Yoon Suk-yeol berated Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup over the military's failed operation against five North Korean drones that entered South Korean airspace earlier this week, officials said Wednesday. Yoon met with Lee on Tuesday morning and was briefed on the military's response to the North's violation of South Korean airspace the previous day. The drones flew across the Military Demarcation Line separating the two Koreas, with one flying over northern parts of Seoul, but the South Korean military failed to shoot them down.
Outreach key in reminding Japan of pacifism: experts
South Korea should engage more proactively with Japan and through their common ally, the US, as Japan’s pursuit of its largest military buildup since its post-World War II pacifism days heralds a new phase of military competition, according to experts. The outreach would help prevent the kind of arms buildup reminiscent of Japan’s wartime aggression, they said Tuesday. Tokyo’s five-year $322 billion defense strategy, unveiled two weeks ago, is twice the amount spent in the last five years.
The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Yoon stresses military readiness to fix weak spots in air defense system
President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday criticized the military's response to North Korean drones that intruded across the inter-Korean border the previous day, saying the incident exposed some problems with South Korea's readiness. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Yoon said the military should be better prepared for such intrusions by North Korean drones and vowed to create a military unit specializing in unmanned aerial vehicles as part of efforts to strengthen South Korea's air defense capabilities.
Living in fear: why these foreign actors chose to leave the Korean entertainment industry
Since he arrived in Seoul in 2011, Kentucky-born actor Kenneth Fibbe had actively pursued his acting career with an E-6-1 visa ― a special permit for foreigners seeking to engage in profitable activities in the field of music, acting and the arts, among others. Fibbe appeared in a plethora of hit series like "Descendants of the Sun" (2016), starring A-list actors Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, and also on the music video of K-pop diva, HyunA. It looked as if he was living a life that many people would envy. After a few years, however, he left Korea and returned to his home country. For Fibbe, life in Korea was no longer tolerable.
Korea aims to export nuclear reactors to Poland, Czech Republic
The government will facilitate the exports of Korea-developed APR1400 nuclear reactors to Poland and the Czech Republic, as part of a broader policy drive to advance and normalize the often-demonized source of energy, the energy ministry said Tuesday. Korea will maintain close high-level intergovernmental communication channels with the Philippines, the U.K. and Turkey as well as other countries in Africa, Asia and Europe, with tailored strategies for meeting their energy demands, as outlined by the nuclear export initiative under President Yoon Suk-yeol.
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El Universal http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english
Andes http://www.andes.info.ec/en
Ecuador Times http://www.ecuadortimes.net
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Philippine Daily Inquirer https://www.inquirer.net
Daily News Hungary http://dailynewshungary.com
Budapest Times http://budapesttimes.hu
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