The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Friday, August 4 2017

You’re 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

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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.koreapost.co.kr) in Korean.

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

NIS Probe Confirms Its Online Smear Campaign in 2012

Just two days before the election, the police announced that they could not find any evidence of the online smear campaign. The intelligence agency’s own internal probe found otherwise. The NIS probe task force revealed Thursday that the state spy agency operated a few dozen units to help the then ruling party win the presidential and general elections in 2012. The units took part in online thread discussions on major online portals and Twitter. The probe task force said that the teams, dubbed the 'cyber outskirt units,' were operational between 2009 and 2012.

Scrapping Nuke-Centered Energy Policy Won't Raise Energy Price Much

Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee In-ho told reporters Thursday the government has no plan to raise electricity fees at all until 2022. He was seeking to offer reassurance that even if the Moon administration goes ahead with its pledge to move away from nuclear energy, electricity fees will rise only at a limited scale. He said he would be able to speak with more confidence about energy prices beyond 2022 once a longer term energy supply plan is confirmed.

Ahn Cheol-soo Declares Intention to Run for Party Leader

Former head of the minor People’s Party, Ahn Cheol-soo, has declared his intention to run in the party convention on August 27th that will elect the new party leader. Ahn made the declaration during a news conference at the party’s headquarters in Seoul on Thursday. Ahn said that if the People’s Party breaks down, two-party politics based on vested interests will swiftly come back to life. He said that he made the decision by placing the party before his personal interests. The two-term lawmaker said that if he had placed priority on running in the next presidential election, it would be wise to stay out of the party's leadership race and bide his time. However, Ahn said he believes that the survival of the party is more important than his future.

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A regular weekly column opinion

Written by Lee Kyung-sik (now publisher of The Korea Post)

Published by the Korea Herald

On March 31, 1978

Where I live, markets are miles away and I often have the extra chore of picking up groceries on my way home from the office.

One day my wife told me to pick up some dried laver and I visited the South Gate Market, I bought a bundle of 100 laver sheets for 800 won and went home. As she is wont to do, she inspected my purchase to make sure I got the right brand and paid the right price. She went through the laver sheets. “But, my dear, this bundle is eleven sheets short and some are ripped and even of different quality,” she said with a look of surprise and disappointment. She asked me how much I had paid and I told her 800 won.

The laver came in a transparent paper-wrapped bundle of ten small bundles each consisting of ten laver sheets. One or two sheets were missing from each small bundle and lower-quality and ripped sheets were inserted in the middle of the small bundles so the buyer would not see them.

I took the laver bundle back to the store owner the following day and asked for a new one. He refused. He said it was his rule not to accept returned merchandise. Emotional words were bandied. Then I realized that there was no sense in any more argument. I picked up the bundle and visited the Chung-gu Ward Office, which had administrative jurisdiction over the market. I met the man in charge of the industrial section and explained the situation to him. “Sir, I am very sorry that this has happened in my district,” he apologized. “Properly, the ward public health centers control foodstuffs but I shall go with you nonetheless because it has occurred in my area.” We drove to the store and met the owner. The arrogant and overbearing store owner was a helpless mouse before an angry cat.

(Please scroll down to the bottom if the article interests you…)

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

N. Korea has long way to go before talks with U.S.

The United States will not hold talks with North Korea unless the communist nation demonstrates a willingness to abandon its nuclear and missile programs, the State Department said Thursday, dismissing suggestions otherwise as "misreporting." Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made comments earlier this week that spawned reports that Washington may be willing to resume dialogue with Pyongyang to defuse tensions caused by its intercontinental ballistic missile tests last month.

U.S. sanctions campaign will never work

North Korea slammed the United States Thursday for its latest sanctions on the communist regime, saying they justify the country's development of nuclear weapons. In an interview with the North's Korean Central News Agency, a spokesman for the foreign ministry denounced the bill signed into law Wednesday that also calls for sanctions on Russia and Iran. "The U.S. adoption of sanctions law against the DPRK is no more than last-ditch efforts by those who are terrified at the series of measures taken by the DPRK in rapid succession to develop a sophisticated nuclear force," said the unnamed spokesman, according to an English dispatch from the KCNA.

Stock market shows marked polarization in cap

South Korea's bourse has seen both big-cap and small-cap companies rise considerably this year, pointing to a marked polarization in terms of market capitalization, data showed Friday. Companies with a market value of 1 trillion won (US$890 million) or more numbered 200 as of Thursday, up 17 from a year earlier, according to the data by the bourse operator Korea Exchange. Of the total, top-cap Samsung Electronics Co. and 34 other companies saw their market capitalization hover above the 10 trillion-won mark, seven more than the previous year.

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

China’s Huawei to supply key network equipment for Seoul Metro

China’s biggest network equipment manufacturer Huawei will supply core equipment for the telecommunications systems of Seoul’s major underground railways, sources said Thursday. Hyundai Information Technology, a Korean provider of Huawei-made network equipment, won a bid to supply the telecommunications equipment with a bid price of 6.97 billion won ($6.19 million). The bid was opened by Seoul Metro through the Korea ON-Line E-Procurement System and closed on July 20.

War in Korea unlikely

South Korea and the US do not consider a war on the Korean Peninsula likely, despite rising tensions, Seoul’s National Security Council chief Chung Eui-yong revealed Thursday. According to the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, Chung revealed that the US does not consider war likely, in a meeting with the party’s Floor Leader Rep. Woo Won-shik and other lawmakers at the National Assembly. “Chung reported that (Seoul) has confirmed (with the US) that war will not break out, through many channels,” Democratic Party floor spokesman Rep. Kang Hoon-sik said.

Korean scientists contribute to first gene repair of human embryos

South Korean scientists from the Daejeon-based Institute for Basic Science have contributed to safely repairing a disease-causing mutation in human embryos via gene-editing technology, marking a major step toward a viable method to prevent inherited diseases. They co-authored a study published Thursday in the scientific journal Nature, showing that a mutation linked with a deadly, hereditary heart disease can be corrected in early stage embryos using the CRISPR-Cas9 “gene editing” tool.

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

Gov't seeks to ban after-hours work via messaging apps

The Ministry of Labor and Employment said Thursday it is studying ways to improve workers' "right to disconnect" from technology as part of efforts to guarantee them full and uninterrupted rest after work.

The move reflects criticism that the "always-on" culture enabled and perpetuated by digital devices results in burnout, sleeplessness, exhaustion and depression.The ministry said various measures are under review including banning the use of Kakao Talk, a popular chatting app, to assign employees work during their time off.

Korea moves to limit E-9 visa extensions for foreign workers

Foreign workers who hold the E-9 non-professional employment visa will no longer be able to have unlimited extensions under new Korean government rules. Applicants will only be able to extend the visa once, with a maximum stay of four years and 10 months, the Ministry of Justice said, according to Yonhap news agency Thursday. The ministry is working with the Ministry of Employment and Labor to shape the policy. No date was given for its introduction.

Festivals jazz up hot summer nights

August is the month for unforgettable summer nights and summer festivals are in full swing all over Korea to cater to beachgoers. The "Busan Beach Festival" is already under way and will continue until Sunday. Events include "Rock Day," a star-studded concert featuring K-pop stars such as Coyote, DJ Koo and Daybreak on Haeundae Beach Thursday. Gwangalli Beach will have a dance festival from Friday to Sunday. It will include a music competition featuring foreign DJs and teenage bands, and the "2017 Night Race in Busan," a run from Gwangalli Beach to Bexco on Saturday night.

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

Beijing praises 'brave Tillerson' for his verbatim on N. Korea

The U.N. Security Council has once again started to discuss the resolution on bringing new sanctions on North Korea after placing Kim Jong Un on its list of banning import of crude oil and other sanctions. It was known that the reluctant Beijing changed its stance and insisted on negotiating with Washington, whose Treasury aimed to put Chinese trading companies and financial institutions on their sanction list for transacting with North Korea.


A Danish 3D paper work artist publishes his new book

On the white paper on a table is drawn a struggling man who is yanking a fishing pole. The tip of the paper is physically hooked open by the drawing of a fishing pole, and behind it is a drawing of fish. At a glimpse, this might strike you as just playful, but a closer look reveals a genuine flair of creativity employing the elasticity of paper. It is more than doodles; it is a three-dimensional image. A Danish artist named Huskmitnavn (42) has complied his works of such characteristics to publish his new book Paper Human (Book Recipe). In an email interview with the Dong-A Ilbo, he said, "I pursue playful arts. I am expecting that my drawing images will be an inspiration for people so that someone will think of an entirely original drawing method out of my works."

U.S. makes some progress in talks with China over N. Korea sanctions

It is reported that the U.S. and China are making some progress in the behind-the-scenes talks after escalated tensions between the two countries over North Korea’s nuclear issue including a military confrontation. How much the two countries can narrow down their differences in imposing additional U.N. sanctions on North Korea would determine the execution of on the U.S. plan to impose a tough economic sanction on China and a military option about North Korea.

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

Budget Carriers Boost Int'l Flights from Regional Airports

A growing number of budget carriers are starting to offer international flights from regional airports to escape intensifying competition. The move comes because the market for flights from Incheon and Gimpo international airports in the Seoul metropolitan area is saturated. T'Way Airlines started flying from Gimhae Airport in South Gyeongsang Province to Da Nang, Vietnam and Osaka, Japan on Tuesday.

Just three years ago, budget carrier Air Busan was practically the only airline offering regular international flights from Gimhae Airport, which had long been seen as a white elephant. But things began to change markedly in 2015. With T'Way just joining the ranks, five out of the country's six low-cost carriers are offering 39 international flights to 10 countries. Destinations include Guam, Saipan, Malaysia's Kota Kinabalu, Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar, and Clark in the Philippines.

Samsung Chief Passes Buck in Bribery Trial

Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong in his first testimony in his bribery trial on Wednesday denied he knew anything about the corporate machinations that cemented his control of the conglomerate.

In the first 49 court sessions since April 7, Lee only listened to the testimony of other witnesses and arguments between lawyers. Lee is charged with bribing ex-President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil to the tune of W43.3 billion to facilitate a merger of Samsung subsidiaries (US$1=W1,124).

Typhoon Noru to Hit Jeju, Busan This Weekend

This year's fifth typhoon, Noru, is expected to be the first this year to hit parts of Korea directly. Southern and eastern parts will likely be affected as Noru approaches waters off Jeju on Sunday afternoon and travels towards the East Sea. As of 3 p.m. Wednesday, the typhoon was moving northwest in waters about 820 km east of Okinawa at a speed of 9 km/h, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.

Noru is a small typhoon with a 280 km radius of gale-force winds, but its wind speed reaches up to 45 m/s. It is expected to keep moving northwest and start affecting waters off Jeju on Saturday.

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

President Moon’s THAAD flip-flopping continues with call for additional launchers

President Moon Jae-in’s solution on the THAAD issue took a hard turn toward swift completion of the deployment with his July 29 order to deploy an additional four launchers. Analysts are saying Moon, who was previously criticized by rival presidential candidates for “waffling” on the deployment after it surfaced as a major political issue last year, now appears to be throwing his lot in with accepting inter-Korean antagonisms as a given.

Seongju residents decry Pres. Moon’s plan to deploy additional THAAD lauchers

“We denounce the Moon Jae-in administration’s refusal to recognize the candlelight spirit.” “After emphasizing ‘legal procedure,’ the Moon administration decides on additional THAAD deployment. Is this for real?” A number of hand-held signs criticizing the Moon Jae-in administration were on view at the 36th Wednesday demonstration against the THAAD missile defense system deployment at 2 pm on Aug. 2 in front of the Soseong village community center in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province. Residents and Won-Buddhists have held demonstrations at the location every Wednesday since Nov. 30 of last year. The Aug. 2 demonstration was the first held since Moon announced on July 29 that he had ordered deployment of an additional four THAAD launchers.

What’s behind Tillerson’s softer tone on North Korea?

With tensions increasing on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea conducted two test launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), the US‘s top diplomat publicly stated that the US is leaving open the door for dialogue with North Korea. While the remarks seem to have been primarily aimed at containing the situation and clearing up confusion about the internal message, they are notable since the top diplomats from North Korea and the US will both be attending the ASEAN Regional Forum, which will be held next week in Manila, the Philippines.

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

Trump signs bill on North, Russia, Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law a sweeping package of sanctions on North Korea, Iran and Russia that he said reflects his administration’s resolve to “punish and deter aggressive and destabilizing behavior.” The legislation, referred to as the “Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act,” includes new measures that can effectively be considered secondary sanctions on North Korea, as Washington cranks up its pressure on the regime. A set of bills with bipartisan support was passed by a wide margin in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate last week and includes the “Korean Interdiction and Modernization of Sanctions Act.”

Government’s English websites are riddled with errors

The Korean government’s official English-language websites are full of mistakes and factual errors, with one site still written as if disgraced former President Park Geun-hye were still in power. The Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korea relations, has not updated its official English site in the nearly three months since the start of the Moon Jae-in administration and five months since Park was removed from office on March 10. The ministry repeatedly refers to the government as the “Park Administration,” even though the former president is currently standing trial on corruption charges.

China’s ban on tours takes a toll on first half statistics

Korea recorded its highest deficit in its services balance in the first half of this year as a result of the curbing of Chinese tour packages to Korea as part of Beijing’s retaliation for Seoul’s deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile shield. The Bank of Korea said on Thursday the services deficit widened in the first six months to $15.7 billion, up 37.9 percent from $9.7 billion in the second half of last year. Still, the country’s overall current account surplus was $7.01 billion in June, the 64th consecutive monthly surplus. The size of the surplus, however, was 42 percent lower than in the same period last year, according to preliminary data from the central bank.

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

More Taxes for the Chaebol and the Rich: Annual Revenue to Increase by 5 Trillion Won Including 550 Billion Won from Samsung

The corporate tax rate for chaebol conglomerates will rise 3% to 25%. This is a return to the rate at the time of the Lee Myung-bak government in 2009, and Samsung Group is expected to shoulder 550 billion won more in corporate taxes. The income tax rate for the "super rich," whose tax base exceeds 500 million won will also rise to 42%. Meanwhile, the government will provide 10% more to encourage employment, and children, from newborns to five-year-olds, will receive a monthly 100,000 won for child support. The Moon Jae-in government has launched its "rich tax," and the government is expected to collect more taxes from the chaebol and the rich first, then support small and medium-sized enterprises and low-income households.

Lee Jae-yong, "The Company Presidents and the Future Strategy Office Were Responsible for the Merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries"

On August 2, Lee Jae-yong (49), vice chairman of Samsung Electronics testified that he had never ordered the executives at Samsung's Future Strategy Office to support the equestrian training expenses of Chung Yoo-ra (21), the daughter of Choi Soon-sil (61). He also said he had never asked former President Park Geun-hye (65) to solve Samsung's problems during the private meeting. He flatly denied his charges of bribery. This is the first time that Lee expressed his position on the charges against him, after his case went to court.

Moon Jae-in Government Takes Time Out Amidst U.S.-China Conflicts

The U.S. and China show signs of a clash as North Korea test launched a couple of Hwasong-14 intercontinental ballistic missiles, and the situation has triggered changes in the South Korean government‘s policies on foreign relations and inter-Korean relations. The government is refraining from aggressively seeking dialogue with the North and is laying low on North Korea’s nuclear issue, while keeping an eye on the relationship between the U.S. and China. This follows the realization that South Korea has less room to make an independent diplomatic move due to conflicts between the U.S. and China.

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

Gov't Announces Strong Measures against Real Estate Speculators

The government will designate 11 districts of Seoul, Gwacheon (Gyeonggi), and Sejong as areas ripe for excessive real estate speculation. Once designated as such, owners of housing properties in these areas won't be able to sell their properties until fully completed. In addition, the designated areas will be subject to a regulation under which property buyers will get a less amount of loans based on their loan-to-value and debt-to-income ratios. Those owning more than three homes will be subject to a surcharge of 20 percentage points for their transfer income tax.

92% of Small Business Owners "We Will Downsize due to Minimum Wage Hike"...Survey

A survey said nine out of ten small businesses feel the need to cut back on their employees once the minimum wage level rises as announced. The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise said on August 2 that it conducted a survey on 532 small merchants and manufacturers for a week between July 21 and 28 in relation to the recent hike in minimum wages. To a question whether they will have to downsize due to a hike in the minimum wage, 92.4 percent of respondents (483) said in affirmative. Of these, 68.1 percent (356) answered in strong affirmative while 24.3 percent (127) said "Yes." As many as 478 business owners (91.0%) replied that they may have to work longer hours due to the downsizing measure. Of these, 71.5 percent (362) said by more than 12 hours and 13.8 percent (70) answered by 10-12 hours.

July Exports Rise 19.5%...Only 2.8% If Semiconductors and Ships Are Excluded

The export growth rate in July this year turned out 19.5 percent from the same month last year. This is a surprise performance after two consecutive slow months followed by a 24-percent year-on-year growth in April. Still, the growth rate except those for semiconductors and ships was mere 2.8 percent. In particular, the growth in ship exports may not be so sustainable as the growth came mostly from one-time factors. According to a report "July 2017 Export-Import Trend" published by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy on August 1, last month's exports were US$48.85 billion, up 19.5 percent from the same period last year. Exports have consistently made a two-digit growth for the past seven straight months. July's performance was somewhat a surprise given the rising trend in major export items except semiconductors such as automobiles, steel products, and petrochemical products were slowing down.

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

N. Korea missile test sokes calls for nuclear subs in S. Korea

North Korea's fresh long-range missile test stoked a public debate in South Korea on indigenous nuclear-powered submarines that could raise concerns about proliferation in Northeast Asia. It's almost hard to find negative posts on South Korea's two major search portals, Naver and Daum, over the idea of reviving a stalled nuclear submarine program, although military officials are cautious. "(We) are ready to take it into consideration," Defense Minister Song Young-moo testified at a parliamentary committee on Monday, referring to nuclear submarines, after he flatly ruled out any nuclear armament.

President Moon rolls back soft real estate policy pushed by his predecessor

The new liberal government of President Moon Jae-in rolled back an easy housing-market policy pushed by his conservative predecessor to curb a steady and excessive rise in home prices, led by apartments in Seoul, with tough lending rules and high taxes on speculative transactions. All 25 districts in Seoul and two cities including Gwacheon, a southern satellite city, and the central city of Sejong as "overheated speculative districts".

Lotte suffers group-wide setback in Q2 earnings

Lotte, South Korea's fifth-largest conglomerate, saw its group-wide earnings falling sharply in the second quarter of this year after it became the prime target of China's trade retaliation over a US missile shield.

Lotte has been battered by strong retaliatory steps such as a buyer's strike from Chinese consumers and tourists since it pushed ahead with a land swap deal to let US troops install missile interceptors at its golf course some 200 kilometers (124 miles) southeast of Seoul. The consolidated second-quarter operating profit of Lotte Shopping, one of the group's flagships, plunged 49 percent on-year to 87.3 billion won (77.4 million US dollars). Sales fell 4.3 percent to 6.92 trillion won, and net profit was down 95 percent to 4.1 billion won, according to industry data and the Financial Supervisory Service.

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

Hyundai i30N’s pre-order campaign in Germany ends in two days

The i30N, South Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor Co.’s first hatchback version in its high-performance N series, is off to a buoyant start. Its pre-order event held in Germany ended in just two days after receiving overwhelming response from the market. According to Hyundai Motor on Thursday, it recently held an event receiving pre-orders for 100 units of its new i30 in Germany to attract market’s attention prior to releasing the high-performance model in Europe later this year. The pre-order campaign ended in just two days due to sellout, said the company. All customers who made pre-orders will be invited to a special event celebrating the delivery of i30.

Tesla’s affordable Model 3 could arrive in Korea late 2018

Tesla’s much-awaited mass-market electric car Model 3 that began sales in the U.S. could become available in Korea around the end of next year. With government subsidy on EVs, the car could be carrying a reasonable price tag in the range of 20 million won ($17,750). Preorders average 1,800 units per day, Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk said in a conference call Wednesday. At this rate, the company would be selling 650,000 units within the year, according to industry experts. Musk revealed last week that preorders for Model 3 have already surpassed 500,000 units.

Samsung topples Apple as biggest smartphone maker in US in Q2

Samsung Electronics Co., who has successfully fended off its biggest rival Apple Inc. in the global smartphone market, also recovered its top position in North America in the second quarter of this year.

According to data from global market research firm Strategy Analytics (SA) on Thursday, Samsung Electronics’ smartphone shipments to North America reached 14 million units during the second quarter ended June, commanding the biggest share of 33.3 percent in the North American smartphone market.

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A regular weekly column opinion

Written by Lee Kyung-sik (now publisher of The Korea Post)

Published by the Korea Herald

On March 31, 1978

Where I live, markets are miles away and I often have the extra chore of picking up groceries on my way home from the office.

One day my wife told me to pick up some dried laver and I visited the South Gate Market, I bought a bundle of 100 laver sheets for 800 won and went home. As she is wont to do, she inspected my purchase to make sure I got the right brand and paid the right price. She went through the laver sheets. “But, my dear, this bundle is eleven sheets short and some are ripped and even of different quality,” she said with a look of surprise and disappointment. She asked me how much I had paid and I told her 800 won.

The laver came in a transparent paper-wrapped bundle of ten small bundles each consisting of ten laver sheets. One or two sheets were missing from each small bundle and lower-quality and ripped sheets were inserted in the middle of the small bundles so the buyer would not see them.

I took the laver bundle back to the store owner the following day and asked for a new one. He refused. He said it was his rule not to accept returned merchandise. Emotional words were bandied. Then I realized that there was no sense in any more argument. I picked up the bundle and visited the Chung-gu Ward Office, which had administrative jurisdiction over the market. I met the man in charge of the industrial section and explained the situation to him. “Sir, I am very sorry that this has happened in my district,” he apologized. “Properly, the ward public health centers control foodstuffs but I shall go with you nonetheless because it has occurred in my area.” We drove to the store and met the owner. The arrogant and overbearing store owner was a helpless mouse before an angry cat.

Brief questioning revealed that he had not only cheated consumers but was doing business without having had his revoked license renewed. I got a new bundle of laver.

In the early 1970s, the government set up consumer protection centers in ward offices, precinct police stations, public health centers and tax offices. Together with various women’s organizations, they have done their jobs remarkably well in protecting consumers, considering the general tendency among the people to suffer small losses rather than complain.

There has been considerable improvement in the behavior of store owners. Just a few years ago, one often saw in the market a girl or woman having an argument with a shopkeeper because she would not buy what she had tried on and then being harassed by a group of other store owners nearby. This is now a very rare sight.

Now the government wants to further promote consumer interests. Early last week, the Economic Planning Board approved the legal amalgamation of various private consumer organizations and decided to provide it with 20 million won to help its operation. Called the Council of Consumer Protection Associations (CCPA), the organization will determine the propriety of prices and the quality of merchandise and make complaints and recommendations to the government to make sure that consumers got their money’s worth.

Specifically, the CCPA will disseminate market information to consumers concerning commodity prices and quality, test goods and reporter to the government on any substandard or overpriced items it finds, collect consumer opinions, protect consumers from exaggerated or false commercial advertisements, and encourage moderate spending on the part of the people.

The CCPA will do a lot more than the government and individual consumer protection organizations have so far done to prevent undue disadvantages and losses caused to consumers. But here again, it needs full cooperation from consumers. They should realize that their remissness in keeping the CCPA informed of their encounters will result, in the long run, in continued losses to themselves.

Manufacturers have grown big by taking advantage of the fast growth-oriented government policy and in the process consumers and workers have suffered disadvantages.

A good number of oligopolistic businesses have emerged and they have price their goods almost at will. The need for checks to incur that they price their goods fairly is well indicated in the instructions of President Park Chung Hee to the monthly price trend report session March 17.

The President said, “It is important that consumers perform a direct role in controlling prices.” Then he instructed pertinent government officials to assist consumers to stage boycott campaigns to control prices when they rose unreasonably high.

The manufacturers are big and are really tough customers to the CCPA. The 20 million won it will get from the government does not even compare with what a big business expends for a few days’ television commercials for a single merchandise item.

The CCPA needs all the help it can get. Until the National Assembly passes the Basic Law on Consumer Protection, on which we had a public hearing last fall, and until the government can manage a larger appropriation, the CCPA will depend heavily on the support on consumers. Consumers, foreigners as well as Koreans, when you feel you have been overcharged or cheated on your purchase, you know where to complain. Tell it to the CCPA. It will help the consumer organization as much as it does you.

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What’s ticking around the world at this second?

See what the world media around the world have to report:

USA Today www.usatoday.com aallman@gannett.com

The New York Times www.nytimes.com inytletters@nytimes.com

Wall Street Journal www.wsj.com support@wsj.com, service@wsj-asia.com

Financial Times www.ft.com ean@ft.com

The Times www.thetimes.co.uk help@timesplus.co.uk

The Sun www.thesun.co.uk talkback@the-sun.co.uk

Chinese People's Daily www.people.com.cn kf@people.cn

China Daily www.chinadaily.com.cn circulation@chinadaily.com.cn

Gwangmyeong Daily www.gmw.cn webmaster@gmw.cn

Japan's Yomiuri www.yomiuri.co.jp japannews@yomiuri.com

Asahi www.asahi.com customer-support@asahi.com

Mainichi www.mainichi.jp

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 Herald www.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

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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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