The Korean daily media headlines and humor
Wednesday, December 20, 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 do the major Korean-language dailies say in their editorials this morning?
DongA Ilbo, Dec. 20, 2017
The Trump Doctrine
U.S. President Donald Trump has defined China and Russia as revisionist powers that “challenge American power, influence, and interests, attempting to erode American security and prosperity” in the National Security Strategy (NSS) on Monday (local time).
(http://english.donga.com/List/3/0501/26/1163934/1)
Korea Joongang Daily, Dec 20,2017
It’s all about the future
There is something wrong if President Moon Jae-in meeting business leaders is big news. The ruling power and businessmen can meet anytime as long as they meet transparently and the press can cover it upon the newsworthiness of the meeting.
(http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3042316)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Round-up of important news stories from major Korean dailies today:
The Korea Post media (www.koreapost.com) in English, (www.koreapost.co.kr) in Korean.
Gov't eyes economic growth in 3 pct range in 2018
The government expects the economy to grow in the 3 percent range in 2018 following an estimated expansion of more than 3 percent this year, informed sources said Wednesday.
It would mark the first time in seven years that Asia's fourth-largest economy will likely achieve a growth rate of 3 percent or more for two straight years.
Korean Air to add CS300 aircraft to fleet
Korean Air Lines Co. said Wednesday it will add two CS300 aircraft to its fleet by January, becoming the first Asian passenger carrier to adopt the fuel-efficient plane.
The first 127-seat CS300 will arrive at Gimpo International Airport on Dec. 25, with the second one scheduled to be delivered on Jan. 1, Korean Air said in a statement.
Big firms hold stakes in 10 companies on average: data
More than 200 big South Korean companies have invested in 10 other firms or funds on average as part of their efforts to secure technology and expand their businesses, a market tracker said Wednesday.
The data compiled by CEO Score, a website that tracks conglomerates and financial firms, showed that 208 major companies hold stakes in 2,144 firms or funds.
S. Korea to expand women's role in military
South Korea will more than double the number of its female soldiers to 2,450 by 2022 as part of defense reform, the ministry of National Defense said Wednesday.
Currently, there are 1,100 active-duty female troops, 5.5 percent of the country's 625,000-strong armed forces.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
People's Party Chief Proposes Ballot on Merger with Bareun Party
People’s Party chief Ahn Cheol-soo has proposed a ballot to decide on a merger with the minor conservative Bareun Party.
In a news conference at the National Assembly on Wednesday, he said that he would like to ask the opinion of all party members on the merger.
S. Korea Likely to Target 3% Growth Next Year
South Korea is likely to set its growth target at three percent or higher next year.
According to sources in the Finance Ministry on Wednesday, the government will unveil its 2018 economic policy next Wednesday, which may target an economic growth rate of three percent or higher.
S. Korea to Build More Solar, Wind Power Plants by 2030
South Korea will spend 110 trillion won to build more solar and wind power plants by 2030.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Wednesday held a policy meeting in Seoul and released its action plan to implement "renewable energy 3020," which aims to increase the country's dependency on renewable energy sources to 20 percent by 2030 from seven percent in 2016.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Gov't to focus on job creation, innovative growth next year
South Korea will implement its economic policy next year in an effort to boost job creation, innovative growth and tackle the country's chronic low birth numbers, Seoul's chief economic policymaker said Wednesday.
"The government is fine-tuning details on its economic policy for next year with its priority placed on creating jobs, boosting innovative growth and addressing the low birthrate," Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon said in a economy-related ministers meeting.
People's Party chief stakes job on proposed centrist merger
The leader of the center-left opposition People's Party on Wednesday proposed an internal vote on a merger with the conservative Bareun Party, a move to step up his middle-of-the-road campaign despite intense pushback from party seniors.
Ahn Cheol-soo staked his chairmanship on the outcome of the vote on the merger, which he apparently believes would strengthen his party's parliamentary foothold ahead of the gubernatorial and mayoral elections slated for next June.
S. Korea's greenhouse gas emissions rise 0.2 percent in 2015
South Korea's greenhouse gas emissions rose 0.2 percent in 2015 from a year ago, marking the fourth year the carbon emissions grew slower than the country's gross domestic product, the government announced Wednesday.
The country emitted 690.2 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent of such heat-trapping gases, up 1 million tons from 2014, according to data compiled by the greenhouse gas information center under the Office for Government Policy Coordination.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Moon says Korea, US could review postponing military drills before Olympics
South Korea and the United States may consider postponing their joint military exercise as part of efforts to reduce tension and invite North Korea to the Winter Olympic Games to be held in South Korea, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday.
Moon, however, said the move really depends on the way North Korea behaves.
Coast Guard fires 180 shots to chase off Chinese fishing boats
MOKPO, South Korea -- The Coast Guard fired around 180 gunshots to chase off dozens of Chinese boats illegally fishing in South Korean waters off the west coast earlier this week, officials said Wednesday.
The incident happened Tuesday morning when some 40 Chinese fishing boats violated South Korea's exclusive economic zone off the southwest island of Hongdo, officials said.
Korea to expand women's role in military
South Korea will more than double the number of its female soldiers to 2,450 by 2022 as part of defense reform, the ministry of National Defense said Wednesday.
Currently, there are 1,100 active-duty female troops, 5.5 percent of the country's 625,000-strong armed forces.
.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Ride on presidential 'Train One'
Have you ever heard of "Train One"? If you haven't, don't be disappointed. The special train for the President was introduced in 1979 but never has it been opened to the leader and his entourage.
That changed when President Moon Jae-in invited sports editors and a selected number of citizens Tuesday to travel with him to promote the PyeongChang Winter Olympics that begin on Feb.9. The trip started at Seoul Station and ended in Gangneung. It then returned to Seoul. This train service will be the key to transportation for Olympic guests.
We may have white Christmas but brace for heavy snow tonight
Temperatures have gone up to more comfortable levels after a chilly morning that saw the mercury down to minus 8 degrees Celsius in Seoul.
But don't be duped by the "warmer" weather that will likely turn into a nasty cold spell.
Korea, Japan remain apart over sex slavery deal
The top diplomats of Korea and Japan remained poles apart during their talks in Tokyo, Tuesday, regarding the controversial agreement reached between the two sides in 2015 over "comfort women."
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha sought Japan's understanding about an ongoing investigation by a Korean fact-finding team into the 2015 deal over Japan's imperial-era mobilization of Korean women as sex slaves.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DongA Ilbo (http://english.donga.com)
Moon hopes N. Korea’s participation in PyeongChang Olympics
“We, along with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), are continuously encouraging North Korea to participate. We believe that there is a possibility that North Korea may participate and we will be waiting with patience,” said President Moon Jae-in as he disclosed his plan for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics when publicized a private train for the president for the first time in 38 years.
SK Holdings receives dividend from Eureka Midstream
SK Holdings, the holding unit of SK Group, has received its first dividend in two months after making an investment in a U.S.-based shale gas company. This is the first time the company has received dividends by making a foreign investment.
Trump: N. Korea nuclear issue will be taken care of
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new national security strategy (NSS), which specifies North Korea’s nuclear and biochemical weapons as an actual threat in 11 months since his inauguration. President Trump finished his strategic blueprint of his “America first” policies by indicating China as a “competitor” and including economic security in the NSS for the first time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Moon Still Determined to Lure N.Korea to Winter Olympics
President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday said he is continuing to persuade North Korea to take part in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
"We'll continue to persuade North Korea until then," he said. "Our government is waiting patiently." Moon added South Korea and the U.S. will probably postpone joint military drills until the Olympics are over.
Park Aide Makes Tearful Plea in Court
Former presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon made a tearful plea during his appeals court sentencing hearing on Tuesday.
Kim (78), an ancient retainer to the Park family, appealed to the court's sentiment by referring to his eldest son, who has been in a coma since a car accident.
Jong-hyun's Suicide Exposes Cutthroat Nature of K-Pop Business
Jong-hyun of boy band SHINee, who died on Monday in an apparent suicide, joined talent management agency SM Entertainment in 2005 to train as a performer when he was just 16.
A bass guitarist for his high-school rock band, Jong-hyun was talent-spotted at a song contest and put through three years of grueling training until the band's debut in 2008.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Foreign Minister identifies three primary international challenges facing South Korea
South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said that South Korea would “suppress additional provocations by North Korea with the international community and strengthen its deterrence against North Korea through the South Korea-US alliance.” Kang made these remarks during the 2017 conference of the heads of overseas diplomatic missions that was held on Dec. 18 at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Seoul’s Doryeom neighborhood.
KORUS FTA negotiations likely to be partial revision rather than complete overhaul
South Korea’s Office of the Minister for Trade expects that the negotiations to revise the South Korea-US Free Trade Agreement, known as the KORUS FTA, will not be a complete overhaul but rather a partial revision, called a “small package.” It also predicted that the US might ask for additional liberalization of agriculture and livestock as a way of putting pressure on South Korean negotiators.
Chinese military aircraft enter Korean Air Defense Identification Zone
Five Chinese military aircraft entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) south of Ieo Island for a period of over three hours on Dec. 18 before returning home. China explained the aircraft’s presence as part of a “routine exercise.” In an announcement texted to regular reporters that day, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff wrote, “Five Chinese military aircraft were detected at around 10:10 today entering the KADIZ to the southwest of Ieo Island, and South Korean Air Force aircraft were scrambled [in response].”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JoongAng Ilbo (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)
Moon says S. Korea, U.S. could review postponing military drills before Olympics
South Korea and the United States may consider postponing their joint military exercise as part of efforts to reduce tension and invite North Korea to the Winter Olympic Games to be held in the South, President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday.
Moon, however, said the move really depends on the way North Korea behaves.
Emissions cap for next year finally decided on
The government set a cap on carbon emissions for next year of 538.5 million tons, the same as the amount permitted between 2015 and 2017 and 85.18 percent of the 632.2 million tons of greenhouse gas expected to be emitted in 2018.
The decision was made on Tuesday during a cabinet meeting and will affect 591 companies.
Chief of staff’s UAE trip still roils Blue House
The presidential chief of staff’s suspicious trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remained in the headlines Tuesday after it was revealed that a senior intelligence official, who once served as an adviser for Korea’s state-run energy company, was a member of his entourage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
"If the U.S. Wants FTA Changes Concerning Agricultural Products, We Will Also Make Demands in Areas that the U.S. Is Sensitive to"
On December 18, the government reaffirmed its principle not to open the market on additional agricultural products in the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with the U.S. The government decided to ask the U.S. to tear down non-tariff barriers and to consider the option of abandoning the FTA altogether if the U.S. makes excessive demands.
Bacteria Detected in the Blood of 3 Dead Infants
According to the results of an epidemiological investigation released on December 18, bacteria was found in the blood of three of the four newborn infants who died at Ewha Womans University Medical Center in Mokdong, Seoul on December 16. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Protection is currently conducting an investigation with the possibility of deaths due to bacterial infections in mind. The primary autopsy of the dead infants carried out by the police and the National Forensic Service this day failed to clearly pinpoint a cause of death.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Korea Economic Daily (http://english.hankyung.com/)
Tourism and Duty-free Industries Hopeful about Improving Korea-China Relations
As Korea 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.
Korea Investment buys China Airlines-leased aircraft for $165 mn
Korea Investment & Securities Co. Ltd. has acquired a Boeing aircraft leased by Taiwan-based China Airlines for around 180 billion won ($165 million), which may signal domestic investors’ return to the aviation financing market in more than a half year.
Hyundai Investments raises $162 mn for US debt securitization fund
Hyundai Investments Co. Ltd. has collected $162 million from five South Korean institutional investors to invest in a $2 billion US real estate debt securitization fund, as it is keen to introduce new types of alternative assets to the country’s biggest asset owners seeking to further diversify portfolios.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AJU Business Daily (http://eng.ajunews.com/korea)
Jonghyun complains about extreme depression in alleged suicide note
SHINee member Kim Jong-hyun complained about extreme mental fatigue and depression in his letter sent to his friend before he was found dead in an apparent suicide
In a police search Monday at the request of Kim's sister who reported that her brother was trying to commit suicide, the 27-year-old, better known as Jonghyun, was found unconscious at a rented studio apartment in southern Seoul at 6:10 pm (0900 GMT).
First CS300 jet airliner to be delivered to Korean Air next week
A CS300 jet airliner produced by Canada's Bombardier Aerospace will be delivered to South Korea's top flag carrier, Korean Air Lines, next week for use on its domestic and short-distance international routes.
The 127-seat narrow-body plane will fly into South Korea on December 25, Korean Air said, adding it would be the first Asian carrier to operate a fleet of CS300s.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
Cheil Worldwide to double dividend payout from this year’s earnings
South Korea’s leading advertising agency Cheil Worldwide Inc. has decided to nearly double its dividend payout ratio to 60 percent this year from last year’s 34.4 percent.
The decision passed board meeting on Wednesday, the ad agency affiliated to Samsung Group said in a disclosure statement.
Korea’s energy imports from the U.S. more than double this year
South Korea’s energy imports from the United States more than doubled this year as the country tried to diversify import sourcing away from the Middle East and address trade deficit with the U.S. through energy commerce.
According to the Korea International Trade Association on Wednesday, Korea imported $4.09 billion in fuel from the U.S. from January to November this year, up whopping 148.2 percent from the same period last year.
Korean startup SendBird draws $16 mn mega fund from Silicon Valley
A South Korean startup has raised $16 million in fresh funding from Silicon Valley, the first Korean company of its kind in recent years to attract a multimillion-dollar funding in the U.S.
SendBird, an in-app messaging solution provider headquartered in Redwood City, said its first round of financing, or series A funding, was led by Shasta Ventures and August Capital along with existing investors FundersClub and Y Combinator.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
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 Heraldwww.smh.com.au
Colombia Reports http://colombiareports.com
Bogota Free Planet http://bogotafreeplanet.combfp@bogotafreeplanet.com
El Universal http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english
Andes http://www.andes.info.ec/en
Ecuador Times http://www.ecuadortimes.net
The Jordan Times https://www.jordantimes.com
LSM.lv http://www.lsm.lv/en
The Baltic Times http://www.baltictimes.comlithuania@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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO ERR ON THE SAFER SIDE!
I trust that Your Excellency may be aware that we are ready to fully meet ALL the information dissemination-acquisition requirements of the Embassies—free of charge.
Please visit the following URLs and order us:
Real time-updated Korean Internet news http://www.koreapost.co.kr/
Real time-updated English Internet news http://www.koreapost.com/
20-page Korean-language newspaper http://www.koreapost.co.kr/pdf/list.php
English E-daily http://www.koreapost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=5504
English monthly magazine The Korea Post http://www.koreapost.com/cover/coverList.html
To satisfy your information dissemination-acquisition requirements, please drop a line at edt@koreapost.com, pub@koreapost.com or yeskoreapost@gmail.com
The publisher-chairman of The Korea Post media is serving the Diplomatic Community for more than 40 years, 32 years with The Korea Post and 10 years with The Korea Herald as the Cultural Editor who covered the Diplomatic Community.
For quick response, call Chairman Lee directly at 010-5201-1740 or reporters at 010-3388-1682 or 010-7584-5873.