The Korean daily media headlines and humor

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Friday April 21, 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

What’s ticking in Korea today? Here is a quick roundup of important news stories from the major Korean news media today:

The Korea Post media (www.koreapost.com) in English, (www.koreapsot.co.kr) in Korean.

KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)

UNSC Condemns Sunday's Botched Missile Test by N. Korea

The UN Security Council(UNSC) has warned that another provocation by North Korea could be met with an additional set of international sanction measures on the regime. The warning was made as the UN body on Thursday unanimously adopted a statement strongly condemning Pyongyang over its botched ballistic missile test last Sunday denouncing the launch as a clear violation of the existing council resolutions. The statement issued by U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, the rotating chair of the UNSC for this month, said the North’s illegal ballistic-missile activities are “contributing to its development of nuclear-weapons delivery systems and are greatly increasing tension in the region and beyond.”

N. Korea Makes Raid Progress on Submarine Missile Ability

A UN report has warned that North Korea is making rapid progress in advancing technologies regarding submarine-launched ballistic missiles(SLBM) and missile-firing submarines. The Washington Free Beacon on Thursday reported on a UN report drafted by a panel of experts who conducted research on the Gorae-class North Korean submarine from which the regime previously launched an SLBM, called KN-11. The KN-11 submarine in the report showed a modification to its launch platform which is believed to have solved ejection and stability problems.

Gov't Vows to Promote Accurate View of History Globally

The government says it will work hard to promote an accurate view of history to not only the U.S. and China but around the world. The remark by Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck during a regular briefing Thursday comes amid controversy sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump who said Korea "used to be a part of China" after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Seoul Confirming if Xi Told Trump 'Korea was Part of China'

An official at Seoul's foreign ministry said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s comment that Korea was part of China does not carry any bit of worth. The official on Wednesday addressed Trump's account of Chinese President Xi Jinping's discussions about Korea and China's history during their talks as provided to the Wall Street Journal last week. While noting Korea's sovereignty for thousands of years, the official added that the irrefutable historical fact is recognized by the whole international community.

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

Trump says 'very unusual moves' made with regard to N. Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that "some very unusual moves" have been made with regard to North Korea as he praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for trying hard to rein in the communist neighbor. "I think he's working very hard. I can say that all of the pundits out there saying they've never seen China work like they're working right now," Trump said during a joint news conference with Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni at the White House, referring to Xi. "Many coal ships have been sent back. Many other things have happened. Some very unusual moves have been made over the last two or three hours. I really have confidence the president will try very hard," Trump said without elaborating on what the "very unusual moves" are.

U.N. Security Council unanimously adopts statement condemning N.K. missile launch

The U.N. Security Council on Thursday unanimously adopted a press statement strongly condemning North Korea's latest missile launch. "The members of the Security Council expressed their utmost concern over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's highly destabilizing behavior and flagrant and provocative defiance of the Security Council by conducting this ballistic-missile launch," the council said in the statement, referring to the April 15 launch. The launch ended in failure as the missile blew up right after takeoff. The press statement was issued by U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who holds this month's rotating presidency.

Trump to visit Philippines, Vietnam in November for regional summits

U.S. President Donald Trump will visit the Philippines and Vietnam in November for annual regional summits, Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday. Trump will visit the Philippines for a set of meetings hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Vietnam for a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, Pence said during a visit to the ASEAN secretariat in Jakarta.

S. Korea, Russia reach deal on fishing quota

Russia has agreed to allow South Korean fishing vessels to catch as much fish in Russian waters as they did last year, the fisheries ministry here said Thursday. The agreement came during a meeting of a bilateral fisheries committee held in Moscow from Monday through Thursday, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. Under the new quota, South Korean fishing vessels will be able to catch a total of 36,250 tons of fish inside Russia's exclusive economic zone, including 20,500 tons of pollack, 7,500 tons of mackerel pike, and 4,000 tons of cod, the ministry said. The figure reflects an on-year increase of 250 tons of cod.

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

Debate brews over Moon’s refusal to call NK ‘main enemy’

Following the second round of televised debates, South Korea’s presidential race is heating up over the all-too-familiar issue: Is North Korea the “main enemy?” During the late Wednesday session, Yoo Seong-min of the conservative splinter Bareun Party launched an offensive against front-runner Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea, asking whether he considers the communist neighbor to be South Korea’s “main enemy.”

US sends nuclear sniffer plane to Korea

The US Air Force dispatched a nuclear sniffer aircraft Thursday to the east of the Korean Peninsula amid the possibility of North Korea's imminent nuclear test, a government source said. “The WC-135 Constant Phoenix, a special-purpose US plane, made an emergency sortie today over the East Sea," the source said, requesting anonymity. Its mission is to collect samples from the atmosphere in order to detect and identity a nuclear explosion.

Korean steelmakers under pressure over anti-dumping probe by US

South Korean steelmakers struggling in saturated markets faced heavier pressure Thursday over the US government’s plan to investigate carbon and alloy steel wire rod imported to American soil, which could lead to more tariffs on their products. The Department of Commerce said it would start an investigation of the products from 10 countries, including South Korea, to look into how much the alleged dumping practices and subsidized imports contribute to the US trade deficit. The investigation will cover hot-rolled products of carbon and alloy steel under a 19 millimeters in thickness.

Law enforcing apartment guards’ responsibility over mail delivery halted

Plans to include clauses regarding security guards’ role in receiving residents’ mail to related regulations have been halted, the Korea Post said Thursday. Related clauses, which would legally bind security guards to manage postal service within residential areas, were first drafted and proposed by the Korea Post in October. The proposed changes were approved by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, but were stopped by the Korea Housing Management Association and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport before receiving legislative review.

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

Can South Korea rely on Trump?

U.S. President Donald Trump has suffered a serious dent in his credibility among South Koreans after he "lied" about the whereabouts of a U.S. Navy strike group and quoting Chinese President Xi Jinping's alleged false claim that "Korea actually used to be a part of China. "South Koreans have been familiar with Trump's credibility gap and flip-flops on many issues in the U.S. _ his use of incorrect information and data as well as unsubstantiated claims. But they have been bewildered this time as his latest remarks poses a challenge to the security of the Korean Peninsula and South Korea's national interests, according to analysts, Thursday.

'Kim Jong-un doesn't trust China'

China's ambivalent attitude toward North Korea is undermining the Beijing-Pyongyang alliance that has lasted since the Korean War, according to a former special advisor to the U.S. State Department.

"North Korea already knows, and has accepted that the U.S. and Japan are hostile, and that China is under pressure to at least become less friendly with or accommodating to North Korea," Balbina Hwang, a visiting professor at Georgetown University's Center for Security Studies, said in an interview.

Armed robber breaks into Nonghyup bank in Gyeongsan

A masked armed robber stole a sack of cash at Nonghyup bank's branch in Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, on Thursday, according to police. Police launched a manhunt in the region and are using security video footage to identify the robber. The amount of money stolen remains unknown. According to police, the incident was reported at 11:55 a.m. There were three people, all employees -- one man and two women -- in the bank.

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DongAIlbo (http://english.donga.com)

Sniffer aircraft scrambled for imminent nuclear test by Pyongyang

Speculation is raised that yet another nuclear provocation by North Korea is imminent, with a special reconnaissance plane from the U.S. air force tasked with detecting signs of a nuclear test from the North being scrambled to the East Sea of the Korean Peninsula. According to the South Korean military authorities, a Boeing WC-135 Constant Phoenix took off at the Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, on Thursday morning, zooming in a hurry towards the East Sea of Korea. “Our understanding is that the WC-13 reconnaissance plan has embarked on the activities in preparation for a nuclear test in North Korea,” said a military source.

U.S. media react sensitively to N.K. mock video showing missile attacks on mainland U.S.

A new North Korea video has shown dozens of imaginary North Korean ballistic missiles flying cross the Pacific Ocean and leaving a U.S. city and the Starts and the Stripes in flames, with North Korean soldiers cheering at the scene. The 50-second video clip was featured on the global video sharing service YouTube and the websites of major U.S. media outlets, including CNN and the Washington Post on Wednesday. It was originally unveiled at a recent musical performance in Pyongyang in honor of the North’s late founder Kim Il Sung on his April 15 birth anniversary. A large screen on the stage showed the video of the imaginary North Korean missile attack on the mainland U.S.

People magazine names Julia Roberts 'World’s Most Beautiful Woman'

Hollywood actress Julia Roberts has been named as “People’s 2017 World’s Most Beautiful Woman.” Among those chosen every year, Roberts has been appointed as the most beautiful woman for the fifth time, followed by her first time in 1991 to 2000, 2005, and 2010. At an interview for the special edition of People soon to be distributed on Friday, Roberts joked that “I am very flattered,” and added that “I’m going to mention that in my Christmas card to the Clooneys this year.” Her joke seemed to imply that she easily beat Hollywood famous actor and People’s two-time “Sexiest Man Alive” winner George Clooney.

Dream Girls brings back songs and tears of the 60s Supremes

Want to enjoy delightful songs with heartfelt story? Then the musical “Dream Girls” would be the perfect choice. Previously released as a movie with the same title in 2007, Dream Girls is currently open in Korea, with original cast members. The musical portrays conflicts, wounds, and reconciliation of three African American girls Effie, Deena, and Lorrell who realize their dreams of becoming singers. Based on the actual story of the 1960s African American R&B female group “The Supremes,” the musical made its first debut on Broadway in 1981, and grabbed six Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Choreography, and Best Lighting Design. This time, the performance was edited by both Broadway and Korean producers.

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ChosunIlbo (http://english.chosun.com)

Korea to Lure More Skilled Foreign Workers

The government will ease visa regulations and work permits for foreigners to lure more skilled workers to Korea. The measures will be implemented in the second half of this year. So far visas were only granted to the skilled workers themselves, their spouse and children, but now the parents of the couple can also get them. The scope of employment options available to foreign students who study science and engineering here will be significantly expanded. Currently they often do odd jobs as bit-part actors on TV shows, English teachers or translators, but under the plan they can go into any profession except manual labor.

Customers Complain of Red Tint in Galaxy S8 Screen

Samsung has encountered the first hurdle to the victory lap of its new flagship phone, the Galaxy S8, in the form of an annoying red tint to the screen. The company claims that the tint is due to settings rather than defective components, but complaints are piling up. IT experts have backed Samsung's claim, saying the red tint is probably not due to problems with the OLED screens. A Samsung spokesman said the screen colors can be modified by changing the settings but added, "We're looking closely into the cause of this phenomenon."

Study Shows Exercise Increases Happiness in Adolescents

Adolescents who exercise every week are more likely to be happy and feel less stressed, according to a recent study. A research team led by professor Jeon Yong-kwan at Yonsei University conducted the online survey of 370,000 adolescents from 2009 to 2013. The study found that those who exercised at least once a week were at least 41 percent more likely to feel happy and at least 26 percent more unlikely to get stressed out, compared to those who got no exercises at all.

Danish Court Rules to Extradite Choi Soon-sil's Daughter

A Danish court on Wednesday upheld a decision by prosecutors to extradite Chung Yoo-ra, the daughter of ex-President Park Geun-hye's crony Choi Soon-sil. Chung's attorney vowed to appeal the ruling. A district court in Aalborg, northern Denmark, made the decision after Chung appealed a decision by local prosecutors to send her back to Korea. But Chung reportedly does not plan to seek political asylum in Denmark.

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HanKyoRehShinmoon (http://english.hani.co.kr)

Was USS Carl Vinson deception or internal miscommunication?

The false claims about a course change by the USS Carl Vinson, an US aircraft carrier, were at the center of rumors about a crisis on the Korean Peninsula this April. The administration of US President Donald Trump ratcheted up tensions by claiming that it had suddenly changed the carrier’s direction. If intentional, this drove an ally to the brink of armed conflict; if unintentional, it opens up the Trump administration to criticism about crippling internal communication problems. The timing of the US Navy’s announcement of the USS Carl Vinson’s course change on Apr. 8 was atrocious - it was the day after the US military fired cruise missiles at a Syrian air base. It fueled speculation that Trump meant to flex his muscles, first in Syria and then in North Korea.

USS Carl Vinson was said to be heading to Korean peninsula, went in opposite direction

It turns out that the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), the US aircraft carrier that had supposedly changed course for the Korean Peninsula to prevent a nuclear test through a show of force against North Korea, was actually carrying out joint exercises with Australia in the Indian Ocean, in the complete opposite direction. Considering that the aircraft carrier’s change of course coincided with the US airstrike on Syria to raise the specter of military action against North Korea and to jack up tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the news that this change of course was a lie seems likely to have significant repercussions.

Chinese website marvels, “Americans apparently don’t always tell the truth”

The Chinese media and netizens were stunned by the news that the USS Carl Vinson, the American aircraft carrier that had stoked regional tensions with its alleged course for the waters around the Korean Peninsula, had in fact arrived at Indonesia. In an article about this development that quoted US media, Guancha.cn concluded that “Americans apparently don’t always tell the truth” and that “Trump really put one over on people this time, including the American media.” An article titled “Was the whole world fooled?” posted on the Weibo account of the website Sina Military received sarcastic comments such as “the imperialists were just a paper tiger” and “they couldn’t have fought to begin with - this was just a bluff by the American imperialists.”

Donald Trump says “Korea actually used to be a part of China”

US President Donald Trump has stirred up controversy by his reported remark that “Korea actually used to be part of China.” He made the remark after saying that Chinese President Xi Jinping had explained Chinese and Korean history to him during their Apr. 6-7 summit. Trump’s remarks were reported by the Wall Street Journal in an interview conducted in the Oval Office on Apr. 12. They were included among excerpts of specific comments Trump had made. “[Xi] then went into the history of China and Korea. Not North Korea, [all of] Korea. And you know, you’re talking about thousands of years . . . and many wars. And Korea actually used to be a part of China,” Trump was quoted as saying while discussing the summit with Xi.

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JoongAngIlbo (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)

Second debate focuses on North as ‘primary enemy state’

North Korea was the most contentious issue in the second presidential debate Wednesday. The main discussion was whether it is South Korea’s main enemy - or not. The second debate among five major candidates, which was aired live and lasted two hours from 10 p.m. Wednesday, pitted two conservative candidates, Yoo Seong-min of the Bareun Party and Hong Joon-pyo of the Liberty Korea Party (LKP), against liberal candidate Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party and centrist Ahn Cheol-soo of the People’s Party.

Trump’s Korea-China remark starts furor

U.S. President Donald Trump’s careless remark in an interview that “Korea actually used to be a part of China” has been drawing flak, the latest in a series of unpredictable and dismaying gestures upsetting the South Korea-U.S. alliance. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal last week, Trump described his recent summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping and said: “He then went into the history of China and Korea. Not North Korea, Korea. And you know, you’re talking about thousands of years… and many wars. And Korea actually used to be a part of China. And after listening for 10 minutes I realized that… it’s not so easy.”

35 products recalled in foreign lands sold locally

Products that have been recalled abroad are being sold in Korea as if they have no defects. The Korea Consumer Agency announced a list of 35 such products Thursday and ordered the manufacturers and distributors to recall them or offer free repairs. The list included a U.S.-branded dresser that was prone to tipping over. This was similar to the case last year in which Swedish furniture giant Ikea recalled some 29 million dressers in North America after the model caused the deaths of three young boys. “We conducted an inspection from January to March and found 35 products are being sold in Korea even though they were recalled overseas,” said Yoon Kyung-chun, a director at the Korea Consumer Agency. “We asked the manufacturers and distributors to act reasonably, such as offering free repairs.”

Plans for electric-powered buses pick up steam

The implementation of electric buses that emit zero gas could be a critical breakthrough for cities with worsening air pollution. That is why China’s No. 1 electric carmaker BYD sold some 200,000 plug-in electric buses last year. Mercedes-Benz is also developing the technology. Its electric “Future Bus” was able to travel 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) in August. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has also announced a plan to make electric trucks soon, implying an electric bus could be on the way. With the demand for clean buses rising globally, Hyundai Motor is poised to launch an electric-powered bus. The bus will be unveiled at the Truck & Bus Mega Fair next month at Hyundai Motor Studio in Goyang, Gyeonggi.

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The KyungHyangShinmoon (http://english.khan.co.kr/)

Solutions to THAAD and NK Nuclear Program: Candidates All Entangled in a Security Debate

Moon Jae-in of the Minjoo Party of Korea, Hong Jun-pyo of the Liberty Korea Party, Ahn Cheol-soo of the People’s Party, Yoo Seong-min of the Bareun Party, and Sim Sang-jeung of the Justice Party argued on the issue of security in the second TV debate organized by KBS on the evening of April 19. When asked about the diplomatic leverage to block the U.S. from launching a preemptive strike on North Korea, Moon said, "I think it would be better to clearly state our willingness to join the U.S. and China in implementing strong sanctions against North Korea." Hong said, "China's role is most important."

600,000 More People Spend an Hour Commuting to Work and School

The government said it would stimulate the economy, but it ended up raising the price of housing. "Rent refugees" in the Seoul metropolitan area were pushed farther from their work and school in search of cheaper housing. As a result, they suffer increased fatigue as they spend more time on the road commuting to and from work and school. This was one part of the impact that the Park Geun-hye government's real estate policy had on the lives of the people in the Seoul metropolitan area, according to the "2015 Population and Housing Census (based on a sample survey)" released by Statistics Korea on April 19.

What Happened to the Rookie Producer of Drinking Solo? "Excessive Work Load and Personal Insult Led to His Death"

The death of a rookie producer of the tvN drama Drinking Solo may have been the result of an excessive work load, personal insults, and the authoritarian culture in the company. The Youth Union and the bereaved family members formed a "committee to resolve the death of the rookie assistant producer of Drinking Solo.” The committee held a press conference on April 18 and demanded that the broadcasting company release the investigation results of the suicide of Lee Han-bit, who died last year, along with an apology and measures to prevent recurrence.

Hong Seok-hyun, “The President Twice Coerced Me into Replacing Sohn Suk-hee”

Hong Seok-hyun, former chairman of the JoongAng Daily and JTBC personally made a statement claiming that the president pressured him to replace the JTBC anchor, Sohn Suk-hee, stirring controversy. In a video titled, “The Facts about Outside Pressure on JTBC: Now We Can Talk,” posted on YouTube on April 16, Hong said, “The president (former President Park) coerced me twice.” “After the report on the tablet, the government weakened and there was no direct pressure, but we were condemned by the conservatives who argued that our coverage of the tablet PC was fabricated. What I can say, though, is that I was pressured specifically by outside figures on five to six occasions, and among them twice by the president,” Hong continued. In other words, Hong was pressured by former President Park before late October when JTBC released the report on Choi Soon-sil’s tablet. Eyes are also on why Hong released this information, which is bound to send ripples through our society, at this time, months later.

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

Presidential Hopefuls Promise to Raise Health Insurance Coverage Ratio

The health insurance coverage ratio as of 2015 was 63.4 percent, meaning that for every 1-million-won medical bill 634,000 won was covered by the health insurance scheme. According to estimates by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the health care insurance scheme's balance will likely turn to the red beginning next year. The surplus of 21 trillion won as of this year would be exhausted by 2023. That's largely because the cost of caring for senior citizens will skyrocket as the current aging trend is likely to continue unchecked.

"Basic Pension" Becomes Hot Potato in Presidential Campaign

The issue of "basic pension," the scheme by which the government pays senior citizens older than 65 years of age up to 200,000 won (US$176) a month even when they have not paid premiums, will likely become a hot potato. That's because it will be the biggest spending item of more than 10 trillion won a year. The Park Geun-hye administration decided to make the basic pension payments in different brackets depending on how much the recipient gets from the National Pension Scheme based on the judgment that the government couldn't allow the national debt to balloon because of the pension payment.

SK Chairman Shows Strong Intent to Acquire Toshiba's Memory Business

Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group which is now attempting to acquire Toshiba's memory chip business, said on April 20, "We will explore various ways to cooperate with Toshiba." These remarks represent his strong will to win in the bidding race for the acquisition of Toshiba's memory unit. After attending the "Second Social Enterprise Incentive Awards" event held at the Yonsei University 100th Anniversary Memorial Hall in Seoul on April 20, Chey said, "We will seek various options to cooperate with Toshiba in the manner of contributing to the growth of SK Hynix without harming our semiconductor clients."

Government's “Oil Import Duties” Raise Controversy

A controversy erupted as the Korean government, which is now encouraging the imports of crude oil and shale gas from the United States, is collecting “oil import duties” from refiners. The private-sector companies that import U.S. crude oil and shale gas to comply with the government policy are now raising voices of complaint. Given that the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement strictly prohibits the levy of import-related duties, this issue could be escalated into a trade conflict between Korea and the United States.

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

Jessica Alba's Honest Company growing into an Empire

One of the most gorgeous actresses of Hollywood and a mother of two children, Jessica Alba, has been a busy bee this year as Honest Company she founded is growing into an empire. The Honest Company was born from her idea she got after had her first child, Honor. She wanted to create a baby product company that does not use petrochemicals and synthetic fragrances, which can trigger allergies to sensitive babies' skins.

S. Korea cosmetics still popular in China despite missile row

Chinese consumers still favor South Korean beauty products, taking up nearly one-third of all cosmetics exported in the first quarter of this year, despite anti-Korean sentiment caused by the controversial deployment of a US missile shield on the Korean peninsula. Total exports of South Korean cosmetics soared 41 percent on-year to a record high of 3.45 billion US dollars last year, including $1.24 billion to China, according to the Korea Customs Service (KCS).

Perfect Spring in San Francisco

San Francisco, USA - California recently had the wettest winter in 122 years. The winter storms damaged many homes, flooded roads and properties, and took some innocent lives. However, it was much-needed rains for the extremely parched land of California. Most of the reservoirs also filled up to its full capacity. The state governor, Jerry Brown, announced that California is no longer in drought on April 7th. After the stormy winter, California now yields record wildflower 'super bloom' and its spring looks perfect than ever.

S. Korea's largest foreigner-only casino opens near main airport

South Korea's largest foreigner-only casino opened in an integrated resort which is under construction near Incheon International Airport, the country's gateway on Yeongjong Island west of Seoul.

The casino is on the first floor of a 10-storey hotel built as part of a large integrated resort called "Paradise City" that would be completed next year in a joint project pushed by Paradise, a local casino operator, and Japanese gaming machine maker Sega Sammy.

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

SK Telecom to start 4.5G service with five-band carrier aggregation in May

SK Telecom Co., South Korea’s largest telecommunications company said Thursday that its proprietary five-band carrier aggregation technology which expands the 4.5G LTE wireless network bandwidth to enable nearly 1 gigabit-per-second (Gbps) download speeds will service Galaxy S8, the latest premium phone of Samsung Electronics from next month. The five-band carrier aggregation, which bundles up five wireless frequency bands into one to offer high-speed gigabit wireless internet service, is considered as the core technology in the 4.5G network. It can achieve download speeds of up to 700 megabits per second (Mbps), meaning it takes only 23 seconds to download a 2-gigabyte movie.

Korea’s first integrated resort complex near capital opens up

An expansive integrated resort encompassing a hotel, foreigners-only casino and a shopping mall located in Yeonjong Island adjacent to the country’s main international gateway in Incheon opened on Thursday, its operator Paradise Group said. The Paradise City developed by Paradise Sega Sammy, a joint venture between Paradise Group and Japanese casino operator Sega Sammy Holdings, spans over 330,000 square meters of lot.

S. Korean govt raises target number of smart factories to 30,000 by 2025

The South Korean government will promote transition to 30,000 smart factories and incubate 40,000 skilled engineers to operate fully-automated manufacturing sites by 2025, said trade minister. The target for smart factories was upped from previous goal of 10,000 by 2020 in order to meet fast evolution to the fully digitalization and automation era of the fourth industrial revolution, according to the so-called Vision 2025 for Smart Manufacturing Innovation.

IPO date for ING Life Insurance Korea set on May 11, CEO says

ING Life Insurance Korea, the nation’s fifth largest life insurer, will go public on May 11 in what could be one of the biggest local initial public offerings (IPO) this year at 1.34 trillion won ($1.2 billion).

Cheong Moon-guk, chief executive officer of the life insurer, revised the date for the company’s initial public offering (IPO) to May 11 from May 8, which was reported to the Financial Supervisory Service in March, during a press conference held to announce the company`s IPO outline on Wednesday.

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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