The Korean daily media headlines and humor
Friday, December 22, 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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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.
U.N. to vote on new N.K. sanctions Friday: report
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to vote Friday on new sanctions against North Korea, including further restrictions on its imports of oil, according to a news report. The measures come in response to North Korea's latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile on Nov. 29, which the communist regime claimed is capable of delivering a nuclear weapon to anywhere in the United States.
Foreign-bought stocks shine on main market
South Korean stocks heavily bought by foreign investors shined on the main stock market, while such issues fared far worse on the tech-heavy secondary market, sources said Friday. The average return of the 10 most heavily purchased stocks by offshore investors stood at a whopping 66.5 percent in the year to Wednesday, nearly triple the overall 22.7 percent yield of the main bourse.
Death toll rises to 29 from fire at gym building
The death toll jumped to 29 as rescue workers searched a scorched, smoke-filled commercial building in the southern city of Jecheon on Thursday after a fire engulfed the building, firefighters said.
The fire started from a vehicle in the first floor parking lot of an eight-story building in the city, 168 kilometers southeast of Seoul, according to the authorities.
Seoul denies China's reported reimpostion of ban on S. Korean tours
The South Korean foreign ministry on Thursday denied news reports that China reimposed a ban on group tours to South Korea. News reports said earlier that the China National Tourism Administration's Shandong Province branch notified local tour agencies of the ban starting on Jan. 1.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
'UN to Vote on New Sanctions on N. Korea'
The UN Security Council will reportedly vote this week on new sanctions on North Korea in response to its latest launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile(ICBM).
Reuters said on Thursday that the vote will be held as early as Friday local time.
Gov't Opens KTX Line Linking Seoul, Gangneung
The government has celebrated the opening of a new high-speed train line commuting between Seoul and Gangwon Province. Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon attended the dedication ceremony for the KTX Gyeonggang line at the line’s easternmost destination, Gangneung, at 2 p.m. along with the officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Tourism.
At Least 29 Dead in North Chungcheong Fire
At least 29 people have been killed and 26 other injured by a large fire at a sports center in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province Thursday. Authorities say fire apparently was started in the afternoon by a vehicle parked in the underground parking lot of the eight-story building.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
N.K. can pose 'substantial' nuclear threat to U.S.: leader
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said his country has become a strategic nation capable of posing a "substantial" nuclear threat to the United States, state media said Friday. Kim made the remark as North Korea declared last month that it has completed its nuclear armament after firing a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which it claims can put the whole U.S. mainland within its range.
Satellite imagery shows little evidence of long gas lines in N. Korea: U.S. think tank
Satellite imagery shows little evidence that new sanctions caused a shortage of petrol in North Korea, forcing North Koreans to stand in long lines at gas stations, a U.S. think tank said Thursday. In September U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that long gas lines were forming in North Korea, a remark that came after the U.N. Security Council imposed restrictions on the regime's oil imports over its nuclear test earlier that month.
Journey to freedom by N. Korean victims of human trafficking
When Park Chun-mi (an alias) crossed the Yalu River into China one night in August 2009, she thought that she would not be hungry anymore and be able to make money to support herself. Her dreams, however, were soon shattered. At 23 years old, she was sold by human traffickers to a poor Chinese farmer in a rural area in Inner Mongolia just days later, an unexpected turn of events that upended her life for the next nine years.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
29 dead in fire at building in Jecheon
At least 29 people were killed and 26 were injured in a fire that engulfed a commercial building in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, on Thursday afternoon, firefighters said. They said the fire started from a vehicle in the basement parking lot of the eight-story building that houses several leisure facilities, inclduing a fitness club, sauna, restaurants and an indoor golf practice facility, in the city, about 170 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
US-China contingency plans on NK: what do they mean for South Korea?
In November 1950, the United States and China went to war. It was five months into the Korean War when US troops crossed the 38th parallel, marched toward North Korea and clashed with the Chinese troops coming to the rescue of their communist ally. The war continued for about three years, costing the lives of 36,000 American troops and more than a quarter of a million Chinese troops.
Gunfire erupts in DMZ as another NK soldier defects to South
A North Korean solider defected to South Korea on Thursday through the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas, prompting the two countries to fire warnings shots at each other, South Korea’s military said.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
29 dead in Jecheon fire
Twenty-nine people were killed and more than 20 injured Thursday in an afternoon blaze in a building in Jecheon, some 170 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The Chungbuk Fire Service Headquarters said the blaze began in the basement parking lot of an eight-story building at 3:53 p.m. The fire quickly spread through the building housing a fitness center, driving range, public sauna and restaurants.
North Korean soldier crosses border to defect to South
A North Korean soldier defected to South Korea across the mid-western border Thursday, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). "A low-ranking soldier defected to our GP (guard post) across the mid-western border at 8:04 a.m.," a JCS official said, asking not to be named.
'Korean boxers juggling 2-3 jobs to finance dreams'
Won Woo-min, a Korean super lightweight boxing champion, has trained himself to be an early morning person. Here in Korea, diligence is a must for all aspiring world champions before they can make their dreams come true because they need jobs so they can finance their dreams. He wakes up early at 6 a.m. and runs 10 kilometers for training every day. His next Asian title match is just around the corner ― he is set to fight Japanese contender Noriaki Sato on Feb. 10.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
At Least 29 Dead in Fitness Center Blaze
At least 29 people were killed and dozens injured when a fire broke out in a fitness center in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province on Thursday afternoon.
More than 20 of the fatalities occurred in a public bath on the second floor that was enclosed in a wall of plate glass, which trapped the smoke inside.
Olympics Organizers Worry About Icy Weather at Opening
Organizers of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang are more concerned about forecasts of freezing weather for the outdoor opening ceremony than about North Korean provocations and low ticket sales.
On Tuesday, the weather was punishingly cold in Daegwallyeong in Pyeongchang, where the opening and closing ceremonies are scheduled.
Stress from External Causes More Likely to Lead to Suicide
News of the suicide of Jong-hyun of SHINee on Monday came as a shock to many. Reasons for suicide are always complex, but one current trend is to group the most common factors together as "adjustment disorder." Adjustment disorder is a broad church and covers essentially any serious trouble coping with a major life event, from divorce and bankruptcy to change of job, typically within three months of the event.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Decision expected soon on postponing joint military exercises
Signs indicate that the training will likely be delayed until after the Olympics. Discussions toward postponing joint South Korea-US military exercises are gathering steam ahead of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics on Feb. 9–25 and Paralympics on Mar. 9–18.
US should adhere to request to postpone joint military exercise during Olympics
On Dec. 19, South Korean President Moon Jae-in announced that he had proposed delaying the South Korea-US joint military exercises until after the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, which are now only 50 days away. Moon also asked North Korea to refrain from committing any provocations until the Olympics are over.
Declassified diplomatic documents shed light on Japan-China relations in 1980s
Former Japanese Prime Minister had wanted to improve bilateral relations with North Korea. Diplomatic documents declassified by the Japanese Foreign Ministry on Dec. 20 show that former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, 99, told China in the 1980s that the South Korean government was willing to establish diplomatic relations.
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JoongAng Ilbo (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)
Another soldier defects at DMZ
A low-ranking North Korean soldier defected to the South Thursday morning through the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), prompting gunfire from both sides as the North’s border guards approached the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) in pursuit of the fugitive, said South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
Blue House changes story on murky UAE trip
Opposition parties are threatening a parliamentary investigation into the presidential chief of staff’s unusual visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the Blue House replaces one dubious explanation with another. President Moon Jae-in sent chief of staff Im Jong-seok to the UAE and Lebanon from Dec. 9 to 12. Im was accompanied by senior officials including the vice minister of defense and the first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service.
Samsung SDI must sell holding company stake
The Fair Trade Commission announced Thursday that Samsung SDI will have to sell its stake in Samsung Group’s de facto holding company Samsung C&T. Samsung SDI owns 4 million shares of Samsung Group’s construction arm, worth about 500 billion won ($460 million) at current values.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Boldly Flashing the "PyeongChang Card" by Putting "Peace on the Korean Peninsula" First
President Moon Jae-in publicly announced his plans to postpone the ROK-US joint military exercises during the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games to create an atmosphere encouraging dialogue between North Korea and the U.S. and between the two Koreas. The president clearly showed his understanding of the security crisis on the Korean Peninsula and expressed his intention to make the best of the assets that South Korea has to shift the situation toward dialogue.
Gender Ministry Abandons “Gender Equality” Due to Protest by Conservative Protestants
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family announced the “Second Basic Plan for Policies on Equality Between the Two Genders,” which will be implemented from next year to 2022. The second basic plan aims to seek equality in women's employment and social participation, to promote balance between work and life, and to improve women's safety and health. Specifically, the plan will disclose the wage information of businesses according to gender, strengthen punishment for online sexual crimes and stalking, and expand paid maternity leave for spouses
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AJU Business Daily (http://eng.ajunews.com/korea)
S. Korea plans strong regulations over cryptocurrency exchanges
South Korea promised to impose tight regulations on domestic cryptocurrency exchanges, alerted by a series of attacks by hackers that led to the shutdown and bankruptcy of Youbit, a Seoul-based exchange, this week.
AI expert warns of insurmountable technology gap with China
Helped by a massive injection of state money and unlimited long-term support, China is forecast to become a global leader in artificial intelligence probably ahead of the United States and other tech powers, a South Korean AI expert said.
Fire kills 29 people at building for public sauna and fitness center
At least 29 people died and 26 others were injured Thursday in a fire that engulfed an eight-story building housing a fitness center, a public sauna and restaurants in a southeastern provincial city. The fire started at 3:35 pm (0635 GMT) from a vehicle parked on the first-floor parking lot, spreading swiftly through the stair passages of the building in Jecheon, about 115 kilometers (71 miles) southeast of Seoul, firefighters said.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
S. Korea’s Shinhan Investment manages first IPO in Indonesia
South Korea’s Shinhan Investment Corp. has successfully pulled off its first offshore initial public offering (IPO) of a local firm on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). According to Shinhan Investment Corp. on Wednesday, its overseas unit in Indonesia oversaw IPO of Campina Ice Cream Industry, Indonesia’s second-largest ice cream maker.
Lotte to acquire Indonesian plastic material companies
Lotte Advanced Materials Co., the chemical unit of South Korean conglomerate Lotte Group, has decided to acquire two troubled plastic makers in Indonesia as part of its vision to turn the Southeast Asian country into its global chemical outpost.
Celltrion`s blood cancer drug Truxima to debut in Middle East
South Korea’s Celltrion will debut its blood cancer and autoimmune disease biosilimar drug Truxima in the Middle East and North Africa. According to industry sources on Thursday, Celltrion Healthcare, Celltrion’s marketing and distribution subsidiary, recently signed a contract with Jordan-based drug company Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC over exclusive rights to distribute and market the copy of Roche`s blockbuster medicine Rituxan/MabThera in 18 countries, including Jordan and Saudi Arabia..
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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
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
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And many other countries.
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