The Korean daily media headlines and humor

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Friday, November 3, 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

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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.

S. Korea, U.S. leaders to discuss military options against N. Korea: McMaster

Military options against North Korea will be on the table when the U.S. and South Korean leaders meet next week, a top U.S. official said Thursday. "It would be irresponsible not to talk about the potential for military efforts within the alliance," H.R. McMaster, national security adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, said. "The reason why that topic must be on the agenda is because of the behavior of this rogue regime and the threat that (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un poses," he said in a roundtable interview with news outlets from the five Asian nations Trump will be visiting starting Friday.

Police seek arrest warrant for Korean Air chief for 2nd time

Police said Thursday they requested an arrest warrant for Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho for the second time over suspected fund misappropriation for his home renovation. Cho, who doubles as CEO of South Korea's top airline, faces allegations that he siphoned off 3 billion won (US$2.7 million) from company funds to pay for his house remodeling expenses between May 2013 and August 2014. Police requested the warrant last month on possible charges of breach of trust, but the prosecution turned down their request citing that further investigation is needed to substantiate the charges.

GS Group looks to India for new growth drivers

GS Group, a South Korean energy and construction conglomerate, is looking to India as it seeks new business opportunities in the rapidly growing market, it said Thursday.In an executive meeting held in New Delhi from Wednesday to Thursday, GS Group Chairman Huh Chang-soo said India's domestic market grows an average of 7 percent annually and is strategically important for South Korean companies, as it plays a bridgehead role for them in moving into the Middle East and Europe."GS Group needs to advance to new businesses in India based on the experience and trust it has built there," he was quoted as saying during the meeting.

Doosan Infracore Q3 net more than doubles on hefty sales

Doosan Infracore Co., South Korea's top construction equipment maker, said Thursday that its third-quarter earnings more than doubled from a year earlier on the back of increased sales in emerging markets such as China.Net profit reached 77.2 billion won (US$69.3 million) in the July-September period, compared to a loss of 35.7 billion won a year earlier, the company said in a regulatory filing. Operating income was tallied at 144 billion won, up 36.1 percent from a year earlier, while sales surged 21.7 percent on-year to reach 1.59 trillion won. Doosan Infracore said sales of its construction equipment such as excavators in emerging markets and China helped it rack up decent earnings.

S. Korea's top fair trade regulator calls for tougher biz reform

The head of South Korea's antitrust watchdog urged local business heavyweights Thursday to put more effort into achieving fair competition and coexistence with smaller companies and regaining public confidence."I know our businesses have tried to make changes and helped smaller companies share the fruit (of our success)," Fair Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Kim Sang-jo said before talks with leaders of the five top conglomerates. "But from ordinary people's point of view, there is still a long way to go." The members of the roundtable talks were Lee Sang-hoon, president of Samsung Electronics Co.; Chung Jin-hang, president of Hyundai Motor Co.; Park Jung-ho, president of SK Telecom Co.; Ha Hyun-hwoi, president of LG Corp.; and Hwang Kag-gyu, president of Lotte Corp.

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

US B-1B Bombers Fly Near Korean Peninsula

United States B-1B Lancer bombers flew near the Korean Peninsula on Thursday night ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's Asia trip next week. The U.S. Air Force said in a statement that two B-1B Lancer bombers from Anderson Air Force Base in Guam carried out an exercise with South Korean and Japanese fighter jets. The Air Force said that the continuous bomber presence(CBP) mission was planned in advance and was not in response to any current event.

'N. Korea Threat Will be Top Agenda of Trump's Asia Trip'

U.S. President Donald Trump's top security adviser has stressed the need to deepen the isolation of North Korea and resolve the North Korean nuclear issue without war. National Security Adviser Herbert McMaster made the remark on Thursday during an interview with news outlets from the five Asian nations Trump will be visiting starting Friday. McMaster said that North Korea's nuclear program will be the top agenda during Trump's Asia trip.

Olympic Flame Burning Strong on Jeju Island

The flame for the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games is burning strong on Jeju Island on Thursday, a day after it arrived in South Korea to be passed throughout the country on a 100-day journey to the opening ceremony of the games. As part of the Olympic torch relay, the Olympic flame, stored safely in a security lamp, was transported from Incheon to Jeju Wednesday evening. The arrival of the flame was celebrated at Jeju International Airport with the attendance of Governor of Jeju Won Hee-ryong who expressed hope for the success of the upcoming Olympics. Jeju International Airport is the site where the Olympic flame landed in South Korea from Greece 30 years ago when Seoul hosted the Summer Olympic Games.

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

NATO chief calls for increased pressure on N. Korea

The chief of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) said Thursday North Korea poses "a clear and present danger" and called for increased diplomatic and economic pressure to end its threat peacefully. "NATO is always ready to respond to and counter any attack from any direction. That's the way NATO has handled ballistic threats for decades ... that's the way we respond to nuclear threats today also when they are coming from North Korea," Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a press conference in Seoul.

S. Korea, U.S. leaders to discuss military options against N. Korea: McMaster

U.S. flies B-1B bombers over Korea ahead of Trump's Asia trip

The United States flew two B-1B bombers over the Korean Peninsula on Thursday, its Air Force said, ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's planned visit to Asia. The pair of bombers conducted sequenced bilateral missions with South Korean fighters and Japanese fighters, the U.S. Pacific Air Forces said in a statement. "The two B-1B Lancers took off from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and transited south of Korea and west of Japan to integrate with Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) fighters," it said. "The Lancers then transited overland to Korea to integrate with Republic of Korea fighters in the Yellow Sea. Upon completion of bilateral integration, the aircraft returned to their respective home stations."

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

Google strikes back at Naver: we do pay tax

Google, which has long faced flak for not revealing how much money it makes in South Korea, has struck back at public accusations made by its local rival Naver this week.In response to politicians’ intense criticism of Naver during a parliamentary audit on Wednesday, the Korean firm’s founder claimed that Google and Facebook made huge profits in Korea without paying any tax or creating jobs. Google Korea released a statement Thursday saying that it fully abides by local tax regulations and contributes to job creation, but did not state how much tax it paid in Korea.

'No secret agreement over THAAD': Foreign Ministry

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday there was no secret agreement with Beijing over a US missile shield deployment, denying claims Seoul made security concessions to restore economic ties with China.
The ministry’s spokesperson Noh Kyu-duk said Seoul did not make any backroom deals with Beijing ahead of Tuesday’s South Korea-China joint statement. In the statement, the two sides vowed to repair their knotty relationship following Seoul’s decision to deploy the US’ Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery.

FTC to look into chaebol charities

The head of the nation’s antitrust watchdog told the leaders of the five top conglomerates on Thursday that the nature of their nonprofit foundations would be tested as part of the new government’s chaebol reform.
“We will check whether the foundations for public welfare under large businesses are operating the way they are supposed to, and seek ways to limit their voting rights,” said Kim Sang-jo, chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, while meeting CEOs from Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor and SK. The attendees also included the presidents of LG Corp. and Lotte, as well as Lee Dong-geun, vice chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

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

Some defectors moving to form North Korean government-in-exile

About a year ago, So Jae-pyung, managing director of the North Korean Defectors' Association in Seoul, received a letter from a U.S. -based group asking for So and his organization to join hands to form a North Korean government in exile. In the soliciting letter, the senders introduced themselves as a group of activists striving to end dictatorship in North Korea and prepare for the Post-Kim Jong-un Era in case contingency occurs there.

North Korea working on additional nuclear, missile tests: spy agency

North Korea might carry out a new nuclear test alongside missile launches, as brisk activity has been spotted at its research facilities, South Korea's spy agency said during a parliamentary audit Thursday. During the audit, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) said Pyongyang could likely begin the work of reprocessing spent fuel rods at its main nuclear complex in Yongbyon late this year. "The North will carry out an additional nuclear test and continue to push for the development of miniaturized, diversified nuclear warheads," the NIS was quoted as saying by lawmakers who attended the audit, according to Yonhap.

FTC chief sends warning to chaebol over reform

Fair Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Kim Sang-jo has once again sent a warning to the country's top five chaebol — either they change on their own or the antitrust regulator will do it for them. This is FTC chief's second caution following his first meeting with executives from Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, SK Telecom, LG Corp. and Lotte last June. Kim said in their second meeting Thursday that the government will not just wait and be patient to see if they are pursuing self-reform on their own timetable.

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DongA Ilbo (http://english.donga.com)

GM Korea launches diesel-powered All New Cruise

GM Korea has launched a diesel-powered model of “All-New Cruise.” The All-New Cruise offers the 1.6-liter diesel engine and has improved its rigidity by 27 percent and reduced the weight by 110 kilograms. The length of the diesel-powered All-New Cruise is approximately 100 mm longer than its competitors such as Hyundai Motor’s Avante, but the new compact sedan has achieved both robustness and weight reduction by using 74.6 percent of high intensity material such as ultra-high strength steel, the automaker said on Wednesday.

Arrest of serial murderer shocks Japan

Japanese police have arrested a 27-year-old man who is suspected to have murdered nine people over a period of two months, luring some of the victims via social media for a suicide pact. Investigators found nine dismembered bodies including severed heads and bones. According to the Asahi Shimbun daily newspaper and other Japanese media outlets, Tokyo police arrested Takahiro Shiraishi in apartment in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture. He is suspected to have murdered four in their late teens and five in their 20s since August 22, when he moved into the apartment. One victim was a male, while the others were female.

Continued talks of S. Korea-China top diplomats bear fruit

On July 6, after Korean President Moon Jae-in and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping sat down for their first bilateral summit in Berlin, Germany, Chung Eui-yong, the head of the National Security Office at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae, and Yang Jiechi, China’s top diplomat, met in utmost secrecy. In the following 90-minute-long meeting, the two foreign policy chiefs had an intense argument over the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in Korea, which had triggered a diplomatic row between the two neighbors. Their July meeting did not yield any immediate breakthrough, but was the start of bilateral efforts to come up with an agreement to improve South Korea-China relations Tuesday.

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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)

U.S. Stealth Bombers Practice Hitting N.Korean Targets
The U.S. military conducted bombing drills recently in the mountains of Missouri to practice hitting targets in North Korea. According to U.S. website the Aviationist on Tuesday, the U.S. Air Force practiced night-time air raids at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri involving three B-2 stealth bombers, while radio communication was overheard referring to "North Korea's leadership." David Cenciotti, who runs the website, said, "Was the exercise aimed at simulating a raid on a North Korean 'VIP'? Most probably yes."

Korea Predicted to Finish 6th at Pyeongchang Olympics
Korea is predicted to place 6th, with 7 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze medals at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, according to sports data specialists Gracenote on Wednesday. Gracenote's forecast is based on the analysis of players stats from previous Olympics and other world-class events with higher credits placed on recent events, meaning the forecast may see minor changes before the Pyeongchang Olympics start in February. In a previous analysis in May, Gracenote forecast that Korea would garner 7 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medals.

Moon Calls for Referendum on Constitutional Revision
President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday called for a referendum on constitutional changes that would strip presidents of some of their regal powers and make it possible for them to seek re-election. "I think it would be good timing to hold a referendum in tandem with regional elections in June next year," Moon told the National Assembly. "I ask you to start working on it so that we don't miss that time."

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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)

President Moon lays out five principles for a peaceful Korean Peninsula

During his address proposing next year’s budget plan at the National Assembly on Nov. 1, South Korean President Moon Jae-in unveiled five principles for achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula. These principles highlight a selection of the key elements from Moon’s congratulatory address on Liberation Day in August and his speech before the Korber Foundation in Germany (the Berlin declaration) in July, in which he called for South Korea to play a leading role in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula. The Moon administration appears to have nailed down its policy for the Korean Peninsula.“The Korean Peninsula is the place where the Korean people live and will continue to do so. It must be kept safe and peaceful, and making sure this happens is a responsibility vested in the President by the Constitution,” Moon declared in his speech.

Trump to stress international cooperation to maximize pressure on North Korea

The White House announced that US President Donald Trump would emphasize cooperation with the international community to put pressure on North Korea during his visit to South Korea on Nov. 7 and 8 and that the issue of trade would also be on the agenda for his summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in.“During his address to South Korea’s National Assembly on Nov. 8, President Trump will commemorate the continuing alliance and friendship between South Korea and the US and will call on the international community to participate in maximizing pressure on North Korea,” a senior US government official said on Oct. 31 during a preliminary briefing about Trump’s trip to Asia.

South Korea’s “three no’s” announcement key to restoring relations with China

The recent agreement to restore relations between South Korea and China was achieved by having South Korea assuage China’s security concerns through public pronouncement of the “three no’s” – no additional THAAD deployment, no participation in the US’s missile defense network and no establishment of a trilateral military alliance with the US and Japan. But since the situation is liable to change with conditions on the Korean Peninsula and the interests of the countries concerned, it’s hard to say how the government’s promise of the “three no’s” will play out.

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JoongAng Ilbo (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)

Samsung names Kwon Oh-hyun as its chairman

Samsung Electronics announced Thursday that it named Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun as chairman of the tech giant.Yoon Boo-keun, president and CEO who led the consumer electronics division, was named vice chairman responsible for external relations, and Shin Jong-kyun, president and CEO of the IT and mobile communications division, vice chairman devoted to nurturing Samsung’s future leaders. The company also unveiled a list of seven new presidents.

Cargo truck crash creates fireball that kills 3

CHANGWON, South Gyeongsang - A 5-ton cargo truck carrying drums of machine lubricants smashed into a concrete guardrail early Thursday afternoon in South Gyeongsang, setting off a fireball that engulfed nearby vehicles and caused three deaths, including the driver of the truck. The truck, which was heading west through the Changwon Tunnel in South Gyeongsang at 1:23 p.m. on Thursday, was carrying thirty 200-liter (52.8-gallon) barrels and forty 20-liter plastic drums of lubricants when it drove into the guardrail. The drums exploded like bombs and flew into neighboring lanes.

Xi responds to Pyongyang’s congratulations

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for sound and stable ties between Beijing and Pyongyang in a message to the regime’s leader Kim Jong-un, according to North Korean state-run media Thursday. “I wish that under the new situation the Chinese side would make efforts with the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] side to promote relations between the two parties and the two countries to sustainable soundness and stable development,” Xi said in the message dated Wednesday, according to the North’s official news agency Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), “and thus make a positive contribution to… defending regional peace and stability and common prosperity.”

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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)

Mentioned "People" 70 Times, Sought "Multipartisan Cooperation on a People’s Budget and the Five Principles of Security "
President Moon Jae-in addressed the National Assembly and the keywords of his speech were the "people's economy" and "security." To stimulate the economic activities of the people, finances would have to play a more active role. This was the message that the president conveyed throughout his speech.

Is Naver Following the Patriotic Marketing of Existing Chaebol?
"Europe and China are trying to build businesses that can compete with companies like Facebook and Google. When it comes to the Internet, you have to look at the entire market, not just the domestic market."
This is what Lee Hae-jin, Naver's former chairman said after a two-day parliamentary inspection at the National Assembly on October 31. Although his words were based on the premise that he and his company had failed to do their utmost, his brief final statement reflected his honest thoughts on the criticism from inside and outside the nation. In other words, he wanted to say, "Now is a time to compete with foreign companies, so it is time to support us, not criticize us."

China Chooses Practical Interests from Strategic Cooperation, THAAD Pushed Aside for Now
South Korea and China announced the results of discussions on closer bilateral relations, launching efforts to improve a relationship at its worst since the placement of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on the Korean Peninsula. According to the announcement this day, the two countries have not changed their positions on the THAAD deployment, but they have decided to push this issue aside for now and expand cooperation and communication.

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

Tourism and Duty-free Industries Hopeful about Improving Korea-China Relations

AsKorea and China are set to improve their relationship that was rocked by thecontroversy over the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballisticmissile system, Korea's tourism and duty-free shopping industries are raisingtheir hopes of better days.Thetourism industry believes that the Chinese government's group tour ban to Koreawould be relaxed soon. A travel agency in Hebei posted an Internet ad recentlyfor a group tour program to Korea in November at the price of 1,480 yuan(US$223). China's largest online travel agency Ctrip also put out group tourprograms to Korea for the first time in seven months.

Just 1 Hour away from Seoul Downtown by Airport Train

Beachgoingis not just for the summer. Nothing is romantic than walking on the beach witha loved one. What about the beach in the autumn? Walking on the beach on a coolbreeze and sitting in a café with an ocean view may be something you don't wantto miss. Ifyou long for a place where you can see the autumn sea and uninhabited islands,all you need to do is take the Airport Train from Seoul station or GimpoAirport station. Within one hour, it will take you to Yeongjong Island. If youstart early in the morning, it is more than enough for a day trip.

Gov't Decides to Give $8 Mil. Aid to North Korea...Timing to Be Announced Later

The government has decided to give support to North Korea worth US$8 million in programs helping its vulnerable people including children and pregnant women indirectly through international organizations. It, however, has not decided when to start sending money and exactly how. This is interpreted as a choice to deflect criticism that it is undertaking an aid project at a time when North Korea is causing an international storm by launching a series of missile tests.

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

S. Korea and China agree on early turnaround in strained ties

South Korea and China agreed on an early turnaround in relations that have been soured by the deployment of an American missile shield, saying they would try to find a solution through a channel of military dialogue.The agreement was announced simultaneously by Seoul and Beijing in the form of a press statement published on the websites of their foreign ministries. "The two sides agreed to expeditiously put the development of exchanges and cooperation in all fields back on a normal track, sharing the view that strengthening exchanges and cooperation between South Korea and China serve their interests," the South's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Drug ministry warns misuse of ADHD drugs on students could get critical

In South Korea, known for an educational fever, students spend studying most of their 12 years of education just to earn good marks in state scholastic ability testing as if their whole life depends on it.Because the annual test determines which university they will be granted into, parents and students do anything to get good marks, reflecting public stereotypes that judge people by their academic background.Some parents risk breaking the law by allowing their children to take "smart drugs" which have been misused widely to help them concentrate, although they are actually the cure for ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder).

U.S. student faces hate crime charges after smearing her bodily fluid on a black student

An 18-year-old student, Brianna Brochu, from the University of Hartford in Connecticut was arrested after her roommate, Chennel "Jazzy" Rowe, reported unexplainable pain in her throat and Brochu systematically poisoning and tampering her personal items. Brochu is accused of spitting in coconut oil that belonged to her roommate who is black. She allegedly put moly clam dip in her lotion and rubbed used tampons on her roommate's backpack.

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

Samsung Elec completes executive lineup with 50s at the forefront

South Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co. on Thursday promoted Kwon Oh-hyun, the outgoing vice chairman and chief executive, as the chairman of Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology, in a follow-up to a recent leadership reshuffle that appointed new division heads. The company’s president and chief executive Yoon Boo-keun was promoted to vice chairman responsible for external corporate relations and Shin Jong-kyun to vice chairman for human resources development.

Hyundai Motor to open mobility, AI tech R&D center in Israel

South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group announced on Thursday that it will set up a research and development center in Israel to develop future car technology and discover startups armed with promising mobility and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The company aims to open the center, dubbed Open Innovation Center, in Israel early next year and recruit local talents. The center will mainly play a role in building a network with local businesses and academia, analyzing the latest trend in auto technology, and unearthing local startups focusing on the development of future car technology.

Korea Investment & Securities to invest $40 mn in Asia buyout funds

Korea Investment & Securities Co. will invest a combined $40 million in Asia buyout funds run by U.S.-based private equity firms Carlyle Group and TPG Capital. According to the investment banking industry on Wednesday, the company will put up $25 million and $15 million each in Asia buyout funds readied by Carlyle Group and TPG Capital. Local commercial banks have often been involved as syndicate investors in multinational funds, but Korea Investment will be the first among domestic brokerage houses to pose as a limited partner in offshore funds.

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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.cnkf@people.cn

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

GwangmyeongDaily www.gmw.cn webmaster@gmw.cn