The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Tuesday, January 23, 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.

Millennium Seoul Hilton Lunar New Year Gift Hamper sets on sale

Lunar New Year is one of the largest gifts giving holidays in Korea, designed to help wish those important in your life all the best in the new year. To help you acquire the perfect gifts for treasured family, colleagues and business associates, Millennium Seoul Hilton is offering several luxury gift hamper sets for sale. Gift hampers go on sale from January 15th through to February 14th (February 12th for nationwide delivery excluding Jeju Island; February 13th-14th for Seoul deliveries only).

First Korean GM vows to make Millennium Seoul Hilton front runner

The Millennium Seoul Hilton is now obviously in good hands. One of the top-notch five-star hotels in Seoul on Jan. 9, 2018 announced the appointment of a seasoned Korean-born hotelier, Mr. Jong Hun (Jay) Lee, as its new General Manager—for the first time in its history in Korea.

Why is it obvious that the property is now in ‘good hands’? It became apparent at an extensive interview with him recently conducted by The Korea Post media, established 33 years ago and now owning and operating 3 English and 2 Korean-language news media outlets.

Gov't to require cryptocurrency exchanges to share user data with banks

The government plans to require cryptocurrency exchanges to share users' transaction data with banks, in a potential move to impose taxes on the transactions, an official at financial authorities said Sunday.

Currently, financial authorities ban banks from offering virtual accounts, which are needed to sell or buy cryptocurrencies, to individual customers, the latest measure to help prevent speculative investment for virtual coins.

Opening anonymous cryptocurrency accounts is also banned until banks install a system that ensures only real-name bank accounts and matching accounts at cryptocurrency exchanges to be used for deposits and withdrawals.

N. Korean delegation in S. Korea to inspect concert venues

A North Korean delegation arrived in Gangnueng, an eastern South Korean city, Sunday to check the venues for its proposed art performances at next month's PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

The trip came amid brisk inter-Korean contact on the North's participation in the Olympic Games to open in three weeks.

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

S. Korean Delegation Departs for Mt. Geumgang in N. Korea

A South Korean delegation has left for North Korea to inspect the venues for a joint cultural event and joint training of the two Koreas' ski athletes ahead of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The 12-member team crossed the inter-Korean transit office on the Donghae Line at the eastern border at around 9:30 a.m. for a three-day trip to the North. It is the first time for South Korean government officials to visit North Korea since the inter-Korean Gaeseong Industrial Complex was shut down in February 2016.

N. Korea Criticizes S. Korea for Joining Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vancouver

North Korea has criticized South Korea over its recent participation in an international foreign ministers’ meeting in Vancouver last week. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency(KCNA) said in an editorial published Monday that the South committed an “unpardonable” act by taking part in the Vancouver Group meeting, which it described as an “international conspiracy to hurt its brethren.” The KCNA claimed the international meeting was a provocation that goes against all Korean people’s wish for peace and unification, and said it was intended to intensify regional tensions.

S. Korea to Implement Real-name Transaction System for Cryptocurrency Investment

South Korea will require virtual coin investors to confirm their real name accounts as part of efforts to prevent speculative investments in virtual coins. According to financial authorities on Tuesday, six commercial banks which offer virtual accounts for cryptocurrency exchanges will provide deposit and withdrawal services for transactions with the exchanges only for individuals who confirm their real-name accounts. Investors and cryptocurrency exchanges must use the same bank for transactions.

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

U.S. issues safeguard against imported washers, solar cells

The United States on Monday issued safeguard measures on imports of large residential washing machines and solar cells, in a potential blow to South Korean manufacturers. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced the measures were approved by President Donald Trump.

"The (U.S.) ITC (International Trade Commission) found that U.S. producers had been seriously injured by imports and made several recommendations to the President," he said in a written statement. "The President's action makes clear again that the Trump Administration will always defend American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses in this regard."

S. Korea to coordinate closely with U.S. amid inter-Korean talks: envoy

South Korea will closely coordinate with the United States as it pursues dialogue with North Korea, Seoul's top envoy to the United Nations has said.

On his Facebook page Monday, Amb. Cho Tae-yul said he discussed the recent inter-Korean talks during a speech hosted by the U.N. Association of New York last week.

He noted that North Korea's agreement to participate in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics is spurring hope for eased tensions on the peninsula, an improvement in inter-Korean ties and an end to the North's nuclear weapons program.

LG Display net plunges in Q4 on weak panel prices, strong won

LG Display Co., a flat panel maker, said Tuesday its net profit slipped 94.7 percent in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, largely due to weak panel prices and a strong local currency. The company said in a regulatory filing that its net profit came to 43.6 billion won (US$40.7 million) in the October-December period, compared with 824.7 billion won a year earlier. Operating profit shrank 95.1 percent to 44.5 billion won from 904.3 billion won a year earlier, and sales declined 10.2 percent on-year to 7.13 trillion won, it said.

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

S. Korean inspection team sets off for NK

A 12-member South Korean delegation crossed the border to North Korea via Donghae Highway Transit Office at the East Sea Line at 10 a.m. Monday to inspect venues where joint South-North cultural events and sports training will be held during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The South Korean delegation led by Lee Joo-tae, director-general for the inter-Korean exchange and cooperation in the Ministry of Unification, will tour key sites such as Kumkangsan Resort and Masikryong Ski Resort, during the three-day trip. The team might also visit Kalma Airport, a military airfield which is under consideration for use by South Korean skiers on their way to training at Masikryong.

Seoul faces criticism over handling of NK delegation visit

Criticism and concerns about Seoul’s actions in dealing with North Korea continue despite Cheong Wa Dae’s attempts to allay concerns.

In a statement that began with the words “Pyongyang, PyeongChang, pyeongwha (peace in Korean)” senior presidential press secretary Yoon Young-chan on Sunday attempted to appease critics and highlight the Moon Jae-in administration’s plans. “Voices of concern over North Korea’s participation in the PyeongChang Olympics and forming a unified women’s ice hockey team are being raised by the media and the political circle,” Yoon said in the statement.

Seoul eyes ban on digital signature certificates

The South Korean government on Monday decided to push for the abolishment of the uniformly used digital signature certificates system and switch to other authentication methods to create a more user-friendly internet environment. The abolition of the digital signature certificates was included in the government’s plans to “push for hyperconnectivity of intelligence innovation” designed to improve capabilities of data, networks and artificial intelligence, during a meeting presided over by President Moon Jae-in.

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

Kim Jong-un's picture burned in protest against North Korea's Olympic participation

Conservative protesters on Monday burned a picture of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and the North's national flag, in a rally against its participation in next month's PyeongChang Winter Olympics. The activists, led by the far-right Korean Patriots Party, held a press conference in front of Seoul Station at around 11 a.m., when a group of North Korean officials arrived at the train station from the eastern city of Gangneung, on the second day of their two-day trip for inspection of performance venues. "The PyeongChang Winter Olympics is turning into 'Kim Jong-un's Pyongyang Olympics' that effectively recognizes its nuclear armaments and propagates the North Korean regime," they said.

Cheong Wa Dae urges public to restrain from provoking North Korea

South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae called on the public Tuesday to show more respect to all countries that will participate in the upcoming Winter Olympic Games, including North Korea, one day after a group of conservative activists staged a violent protest against the communist state. "North Korea too is a participating country and we ought to respect it as we would respect all the others," a ranking Cheong Wa Dae official told Yonhap News Agency. The official added that the presidential office was set to release an official commentary on the issue.

N. Korea may televise PyeongChang Olympics

North Korean media outlets will broadcast the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, according to sources familiar with Pyongyang.

If this happens, North Koreans will get a rare glimpse of South Korea's first Winter Games amid a thaw in cross-border relations.

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

N.Korean Delegation Returns Home

A North Korean delegation led by bandleader-cum-apparatchik Hyon Song-wol wrapped up their two-day inspection of potential concert venues on Monday. Hyon's Samjiyon Orchestra are likely to perform at the National Theater in Seoul when they visit South Korea for the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang next month. She visited the National Theater on Monday and spent about an hour there. She also looked around Jamsil and Jangchung gymnasiums, but only for 15 minutes each.

North Korean musical groups also performed at the National Theater back in 1985 and 1990.

N.Korea Invites U.S. TV Crew to Ski Resort

North Korea has invited NBC, one of the official broadcasters of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, to Masikryong Ski Resort, where South and North Korean skiers are expected to train together.

NBC aired a 1 minute-and-31-second teaser for an exclusive report by anchor Lester Holt.

The full report will be aired on "Nightly News" under the title "Rogue Nation's Olympic Ambitions" on Tuesday.

N.Korean Media Fudges Cross-Border Olympic Deal

North Korean media on Thursday broadcast only part of a joint press release issued after the latest cross-border talks about the North's participation in the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

The two Korea met at the truce village of Panmunjom on Wednesday and agreed to hold a celebration in the North's Mt. Kumkang resort on the eve of the Olympics and have skiers from both sides train in Maskiryong Ski Resort. But those were the only points the North Korean state media focused on.

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

IOC announces decision to allow unified Korean hockey team

The International Olympic Committee’s declaration on Jan. 20 that it will allow a unified Korean women’s hockey team to compete in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics for the first time in history and to give credentials to 46 North Koreans (22 athletes and 24 officials and team staff) shows that using sports to ease inter-Korean tensions coincides with the spirit of the Olympics.

Unified Korea team to jointly enter opening ceremonies under Korean Peninsula flag

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Jan. 20 that the country of the South and North Korean athletes entering jointly at the Pyeongchang Olympics would be listed as “Korea,” while the three-letter country code for the unified women’s hockey team would be “COR.” “During the joint entrance at the opening ceremony, the athletes will have Korean Peninsula flags on their chests and ‘Korea’ written on the back of their uniforms,” explained Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jong-hwan at a press conference soon after his arrival at Incheon Airport on Jan. 21.

Samsung Electronics and Apples being investigated by Italian Antitrust Authority

Samsung Electronics and Apple are under investigation by the Italian Antitrust Authority for unfair actions against consumers, including performance degradation during smartphone updates. The investigation’s inclusion of Samsung Electronics – which had not previously been targeted in smartphone performance degradation allegations – is drawing particular attention to the eventual outcome.

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

North Korean delegation arrives in South

A seven-member delegation from North Korea led by Hyon Song-wol, leader of the Samjiyon Orchestra, who once was rumored to be leader Kim Jong-un’s ex-girlfriend, crossed over the border Sunday morning to check local facilities for two orchestra concerts next month.

Pyongyang will send athletes to ski and skate at Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Saturday that 22 North Korean athletes will be competing in three sports and five disciplines at the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Games, promising a “door to a brighter future on the Korean Peninsula” as the international society struggles to tame the pugnacious regime with a burgeoning nuclear program.

Incheon Airport says T2 operations ‘stable’

After a rocky start that included 900 pieces of left baggage on 10 Korean Air flights, the corporation managing Incheon International Airport said Sunday that operations at its new passenger terminal were stable.

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

His Patience Pushed to the Limit, President Moon Responds Despite His Staff's Advice

On January 18, President Moon Jae-in launched an unprecedentedly fierce criticism of former President Lee Myung-bak saying, "I cannot hold back my rage." It appears to have been difficult for him to ignore the behavior of former President Lee, who tried to trigger a political battle claiming that the investigations of him and his aides was "political retaliation for the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun." President Moon's personal anger could be felt in his strong response, which he made despite concerns that it could be accepted as a "guideline" for the investigation by the Prosecution Service.

What the Declaration of a Unified Party by Ahn Cheol-soo and Yoo Seong-min Is Missing

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People's Party and Yoo Seong-min, leader of the Bareun Party held a joint press conference on January 18 and declared the unification of the two parties. The two men said, "Conservatives with vested interests and irresponsible progressives have dominated the two ends, establishing a negative structure of coexistence." They further said, "We will work to meet the people's wishes for political reforms by combining a sound new conservative group with a rational moderate group." They believed further delay of unification would hinder their momentum and officially announced the unification of the two parties ahead of the People's Party's convention scheduled for February 4.

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

Angry criticism fills cyberspace over beating of young skating prodigy

With just three weeks left to go for next month's Winter Olympics, the coach of South Korea's female short-track speed skating team was suspended this week for beating a strong gold medal favorite, disrupting the team's training and morale.

Shim Suk-hee, the 20-year-old captain and anchor of South Korean female short-track speed skaters, boycotted a training program on Tuesday and left a training camp in Jincheon, some 75 kilometers (46 miles) south of Seoul after she was beaten by her team coach, Cho Jae-beom.

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

Hoban Construction is sole bidder for Daewoo E&C

Contrary to earlier expectations, the prospect of the sale of Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co. (Daewoo E&C) has become uncertain after only one candidate, its smaller local rival Hoban Construction Co., submitted a bid to buy a 51 percent stake in the builder at 1.6 trillion won ($1.5 billion) below the asking price.

LG Chem receives approval of first biosimilar in Japan

LG Chem Ltd., chemical and battery making unit under South Korea’s leading conglomerate LG Group, said on Friday that it has received marketing approval of its biosimilar drug LBEC0101 from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

More companies seek IPO on Korean stock market this year

More companies are preparing for initial public offering on South Korean stock market this year including C&G Hi Tech Co., who plans to debut on the country’s secondary Kosdaq bourse on Jan 25.

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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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