The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Friday, January 12, 2018

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.

Satellite imagery shows tunneling at N.K. nuclear test site

North Korea has carried out significant tunneling on the west side of its main nuclear test site, indicating the potential for another bomb detonation, a U.S. website said Thursday. 38 North, which monitors the reclusive state, said recent satellite imagery of the Punggye-ri nuclear test site shows increased activity around the West Portal through December last year.

Finance minister holds meeting to support innovative growth

Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon on Friday held the first meeting on the ministry's new policy to lend budget and tax support to private sector efforts toward innovative growth. During the meeting, Kim and senior ministry officials discussed ways to promote innovative growth in 20 industrial areas, the ministry said in a statement.

Samsung Elec, LG Display get spotlight at CES

New products from South Korea's Samsung and LG received rave reviews from multiple foreign media after their showcase at the Consumer Electronics Show under way here Thursday. Samsung Electronics' "The Wall," the first MicroLED TV, and the rollable display from LG Display stood out the most, being selected for recommendation by most of the media.

Shutdown of cryptocurrency exchanges under consideration: minister

South Korea's justice ministry is drawing up legislation aimed to curb overheating in the virtual currency market, including a complete shutdown of all cryptocurrency exchanges in the country, its minister said Thursday.

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

'N. Korea's Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site Shows Significant Tunneling Activity'

The U.S.-based Web site 38 North reports that significant tunneling excavation is under way at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site, suggesting the area is being prepared for a future nuclear test. The North Korea monitoring site said on Thursday that throughout December 2017, there were "mining carts and personnel" as well as what appeared to be a "spoil pile" that had been greatly expanded at the test facility's west portal.

Tillerson to Attend N. Korea Talks in Canada

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will attend a meeting of foreign ministers from 16 countries in Canada next week to discuss diplomatic efforts on the Korean Peninsula. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement on Thursday that the meeting will bring together nations from across the globe to demonstrate international solidarity against North Korea's dangerous and illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

WSJ: US Fed Likely to Raise Key Rates in March, June

Wall Street analysts expect the U.S. Federal Reserve will raise its key interest rates in March and June. According to the Wall Street Journal's survey of 68 economists, 93 percent of the respondents predicted the Fed will conduct this year's first rate hike in March.

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

Kim Jong-un visits science academy in his first inspection this year

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited a state science academy in his first public outing since the New Year address and praised the country's scientific forces as the backbone of overcoming international sanctions, the North's state news agency said Friday.

S. Korea orders companies to save power for 2nd day amid cold spell

South Korea ordered local companies to cut their power use to maintain a stable electricity reserve rate as a continuing cold spell caused a spike in heating demand for the second day in a row, the state-run power exchange said Friday.

Many teens use mobile phones to access obscene sites: survey

Nearly 3 out of 10 adolescents access Internet sites with obscene content using mobile gadgets, a survey showed Friday. About 27 percent of those in their teens visited such sites, according to the survey of 10,000 people conducted by consulting firm Beyond The Research at the request of the Korea Communications Standards Commission (KOCSC) during the first half of last year.

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

Cryptocurrencies plunge upon Seoul’s ‘all-out ban’ warning

Cryptocurrency markets at home and abroad responded quickly and radically Thursday on signals by South Korea’s Ministry of Justice that it would seek to shut down all exchanges for digital assets. In a press conference Thursday, Justice Minister Park Sang-ki said the government was drawing up a bill against overheating in the virtual currency market, perhaps even intending to ban cryptocurrency trades in Korea completely.

Korail puts PyeongChang passengers second for Seollal

The original version of this story said Koreans would be able to buy Seollal-period rail tickets on Tuesday, but tickets to PyeongChang for the period are not on sale until Wednesday. We apologize for any confusion. -- Ed.

Samsung, Harman gear up for self-driving automobiles

During the Consumer Electronics Show 2018, Samsung and Harman together unveiled a new, advanced automotive platform, “digital cockpit,” the first fruits of their joint development of automotive electronics technology since the Korean tech giant bought Harman in March last year.

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

Moon, Xi reaffirm joint efforts on North Korea nuclear issue

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to increase cooperation to help the ongoing inter-Korean talks lead to a peaceful resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue, according to Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday.

Bitcoin collapses as South Korea threatens to ban trading

The prices of bitcoin and other virtual currencies plummeted more than 10 percent after South Korea floated the idea of banning cryptocurrency trading. The announcement on Thursday triggered an immediate selloff of cryptocurrencies on Korean and offshore exchanges. As of 4 p.m., the price of bitcoin dropped 11.62 percent to 14.15 million won ($13,205).

Freeze warning for Friday: temperatures to tumble further

More ferocious winter weather will hit the country Friday. Temperatures will drop to minus 15 degrees Celsius in Seoul in the morning. Temperatures in other regions will not be much higher, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

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

North and South Korean Sports Officials to Meet Next Week

Sports officials from North and South Korea will meet with International Olympic Committee officials to discuss the North’s participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. They will meet in Lausanne, Switzerland on Jan. 20, the IOC said Thursday.

Nearly All Teachers Oppose Mobile Phone Use in School

Nearly all teachers oppose the use of mobile phones by pupils in class, according to a survey out on Wednesday. The Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations asked 1,645 teachers at primary and secondary schools nationwide if they think mobile phones should be allowed during school hours and found that a whopping 97 percent are against the idea.

Adverts for Unhealthy Food and Drinks Remain Restricted

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Tuesday said restrictions on advertising for fattening products like carbonated drinks and fast foods will be maintained. The Cabinet approved guidelines that ban commercials for fattening food from TV from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. when many children are watching.

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

North Korean Olympic delegation expected to number between 400 and 500 people

Group set to include athletes, cheerleaders, observers, reporters, and performance groups. On Jan. 10, South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said that North Korea is expected to send a massive delegation to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, numbering between 400 and 500 people.

President Moon renews commitment to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula

Improvements in inter-Korean relations can contribute to resolving the NK nuclear issue. In a New Year’s address and press conference on Jan. 10, President Moon Jae-in shared his commitment to using the resumption of dialogue and improved inter-Korean relations to achieve denuclearization and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Defense Ministry begins preparing for military talks with North Korea

Dialogue likely to be held in tandem with inter-Korean dialogue concerning Olympics. Following the agreement reached in the high-level inter-Korean talks, South Korea’s Defense Ministry has begun the basic preparations for holding military talks.

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

Moon briefs both Trump and Xi on talks with North

U.S. president says he will send Mike Pence to Olympic Games. Basking in the success of the first inter-Korean talks in two years, President Moon Jae-in talked to the leaders of the United States and China to discuss efforts to drag the Kim Jong-un regime into negotiations over its denuclearization.

Snow, cold snap lead to airport chaos in Jeju

Snow in Jeju Thursday morning led to more than 100 canceled or delayed flights and left over 5,000 people stranded for hours as a cold spell hit the country. From around 8:30 a.m. to 11:10 a.m., nearly 90 flights were canceled and 30 were delayed at Jeju International Airport, which had to dispatch some 10 snowplows to clear runways covered with more than 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches) of snow.

Hyundai Mobis plans auto-parking system

Korea’s top auto parts producer Hyundai Mobis will develop an automated valet parking system within this year, the company said Thursday while unveiling its latest technologies at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

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

National Tax Service Launches Tax Investigation on Bithumb and Coinone

The government is putting the pressure on virtual currency exchanges in all directions. The police have begun an investigation following the financial authority’s announcement to "thoroughly investigate" the exchanges, and the National Tax Service has launched a tax investigation.

Trump, “The U.S. Is Open to Talks” If North Korea Wants to Talk

On the night of January 10, President Moon Jae-in spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump (photo) over the phone, and the two men shared the opinion that the inter-Korean talks could go beyond a discussion on North Korea's participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games and naturally lead to dialogue between Pyongyang and Washington on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, according to Cheong Wa Dae press secretary Yoon Young-chan.

Opened the Way to Ease Tensions Using PyeongChang as Priming Water

On January 9, North and South Korea agreed on measures to ease military tension on the Korean Peninsula in addition to North Korea's participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in a high-level government meeting. South Korea also requested additional military talks to ease military tensions and asked to resume dialogue to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue.

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

American investor Rogers predicts gloomy future on cryptocurrencies

Jim Rogers, a prominent American investor, predicted "sustainable" growth in the global digital currency market, but he painted a gloomy picture on its future saying cryptocurrencies would eventually become state money controlled by government officials.

Billionaire investor Rogers advises young people to travel abroad and find passion

World famous investor Jim Rogers advised young people in South Korea to look into their own life, pursue what they love instead of trying to find safe and secure jobs, and broaden the scope of knowledge by going abroad.

Significant tunneling detected at N. Korea's nuclear test site: 38 North

Satellite imagery showed that North Korea has stepped up tunnel excavation for future nuclear testing at its test site near the border with China, according to 38 North, the website of a U.S. research institute.

The North Portal, where North Korea has conducted the last five nuclear tests, remained dormant, but tunnel excavation has been stepped up at the West Portal, 38 North said.

Prosecutors in hunt for evidence related to ex-president's corruption

Prosecutors raided the head office of DAS, an auto parts supplier for Hyundai Motor, to find evidence related to a secret fund allegedly stacked for South Korea's former president Lee Myung-bak. Lee, a businessman-turned conservative politician who served as president from 2008 to 2013, has been frequently mentioned as the next target of prosecution after his jailed successor, Park Geun-hye, who is on trial for her role in a corruption scandal.

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

Hyundai Motor dives into Southeast Asian ride-hailing market

South Korea’s top automaker Hyundai Motor Co. that is ardently seeking to stay competitive in a race to develop next-generation mobility technology has teamed up with Southeast Asia’s largest car-hailing service provider Grab.

SK Telecom forms partnership with Sinclair Broadcast Group for next-gen broadcasting biz opportunity

South Korea’s SK Telecom and Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest owner of local television stations in the U.S, will jointly develop a new broadcasting platform based on the U.S. next-generation TV standard ATSC 3.0.

S. Korean gov’t to strengthen regulations on foreign IT firms

The South Korean government seeks to implement new regulatory measures against foreign information technology (IT) companies providing services in the country without having a local branch office in response to their Korean peers’ complaints for unfairly lax supervision on their wrongdoings.

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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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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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