The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Monday, February 19, 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.

DigiCAP secures foothold in U.S.

DigiCAP CEO & President Han Seung-woo said that he is certain that Korean-made UHD broadcast equipment will make a splash in the U.S. broadcast market. He said that Korean UHD broadcast equipment manufacturers have secured entry into the U.S. market following Korea’s world-first UHB broadcasts.

During an interview with The Korea Post, CEO Han said: “Major broadcasters tend to select broadcast equipment suppliers carefully with a view to avoiding even a single broadcast accident. They prefer technically proven firms, while trying not to dump existing suppliers.”

USFK provides UAVs to help ensure security during Olympics

The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is providing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and other assistance to help ensure security during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Sunday.

The USFK's UAVs have been mobilized for surveillance activities around all stadiums to prevent possible terrorist attacks and accidents during the Olympics and the Paralympics. The Olympics run through next Sunday, while the Paralympics will take place from March 9-18.

Moon offers encouragement to short track skaters

President Moon Jae-in on Sunday offered words of encouragement to South Korean short track skaters who garnered one gold and one bronze in their matches at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics a day earlier.

In his posts on Facebook and Twitter, Moon called them the "world's strongest," praising their efforts to "push their limits" to make it to the quadrennial games that run until next Sunday.

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

Pence Reaffirms Maximum Pressure on N. Korea

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence says that the U.S. will continue its maximum pressure campaign against North Korea until the regime completely abandons its nuclear weapons.Pence made the remarks during a speech at an America First Policies event in Dallas, Texas on Saturday. The vice president, who visited South Korea for the Winter Olympics last week, said that the U.S. made it clear that it will continue its maximum pressure until the dictatorial regime stops threatening the U.S. and abandons its nuclear and missile programs. Last week, Pence told the U.S. Internet media outlet Axios that the U.S. was open to talks but reaffirmed pressure and sanctions on North Korea will continue until the regime abandons its nuclear and missile programs. White House National Security Adviser Herbert McMaster also said on Saturday at a major international security conference in Munich, Germany that the Kim Jong-un regime must be pressured using all available tools, to ensure that the cruel dictatorship cannot threaten the world with the most destructive weapons on earth.

Lee Sang-wha Wins Silver in Women's 500m Speed Skating

South Korea’s Lee Sang-hwa won a silver medal in the women’s 500-meter speed skating event at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Sunday. In the final held at the Gangneung Ice Arena, Lee crossed the finish line with a time of 37-point-33 seconds to finish behind Japan’s Nao Kodaira.Kodaira claimed the gold with a time of 36-point-94 seconds, an Olympic record. Karolina Erbanova of the Czech Republic took the bronze medal. Lee has now picked up medals in three consecutive Winter Olympics having won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games and at the Sochi Games in 2014. Lee’s compatriots Kim Hyun-young and Kim Min-sun placed 12th and 16th respectively in the same event.

IMF: S. Korea's Potential Growth Rate to Dip to 1% Range in 2030s

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that South Korea's potential growth rate will hover at low two percent levels in the 2020s and drop to the one percent range in the 2030s.The IMF on Sunday released a report on its assessment of annual talks with South Korean policymakers.According to the report, South Korea's real growth domestic product (GDP), which expanded to three-point-two percent last year, is predicted to slowly decrease to three percent this year, two-point-nine percent next year, two-point-eight percent in 2020 and two-point-six percent in 2022.The IMF report said that the country's growth potential will shrink to two-point-two percent in the 2020s and fall to around the one percent level in the 2030s due to a decrease in the labor population.It presented the projections citing the rapidly ageing society, low productivity in the service sector and distortions in the country's labor market.The report said that South Korea needs to expand its social security net, improve its productivity and reform the labor sector.

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

Unified Korean hockey team rounds into form with time running out

The unified Korean hockey team appears to be rounding into form at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics after submitting strong efforts in back-to-back games.Unfortunately, there is only one game left for the team of 23 South Koreans and 12 North Koreans.Korea fell to Switzerland 2-0 in the first classification match at Kwandong Hockey Centre on Sunday. Sixth-ranked Switzerland defeated Korea 8-0 in their first Group B game only eight days earlier, but Korea was a vastly different side this time. Korea lost all three games in the preliminary round to fall to the classification stage. Switzerland won Group B with three wins but lost to the Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) 6-2 on Saturday to drop out of medal contention as well.While the Swiss might not have had the legs that they usually do, Korea still deserved credit for the fight it put up.For a crude comparison, the shots were 52-8 for Switzerland in their first meeting and 53-19 for Switzerland on Sunday. In the first game, Korean goalie Shin So-jung let in some goals that she'd like to have back. But in the rematch, Shin looked sharp and made some stunning saves on shots fired from close range, keeping her team in the game all day.

S. Korea's Lee Sang-hwa wins silver in women's 500m speed skating

South Korea's speed skating sprinter Lee Sang-hwa, the defending Olympic champion, won silver in the women's 500 meter race at the PyeongChang Winter Games on Sunday.

In the event's finals at the Gangneung Oval, Lee clocked in at 37.33, 0.39 second behind winner Nao Kodaira of Japan, who broke Lee's Olympic record of 37.28.

The bronze medal went to Karolina Erbanova of the Czech Republic, who finished at 37.34.

The two-time gold medalist Lee was vying for her third Olympic title at PyeongChang but finished second in her last Olympic race.

Incheon International Airport cited for most delays among major hubs: report

South Korea's main international gateway, Incheon International Airport, has been cited for having the worst on-time performance among major hub airports, a report showed Monday.

According to the report by Flightstats Inc., a global flight information service provider, the airport located west of Seoul ranked 44th in terms of departure performance by major hubs last month, with an average 50.04 percent on-time record.

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

Speedskater Lee Sang-hwa wins silver in 500 meters

South Korean speedskater Lee Sang-hwa on Sunday won silver in the women’s 500 meters. At her fourth Olympics, Lee finished the race at 37.33 to capture silver. The sprinter holds the world record in the distance at 36.36. Nao Kodaira captured gold with a new Olympic record of 36.94 in the 500m race to beat Lee's previous Sochi record of 37.28.

Former Samsung exec confesses in DAS case

Lee Hak-soo, former vice chairman of Samsung Group, confessed to acting under pressure from the Lee Myung-bak administration in allegations linking the group to the auto parts maker DAS.

DAS is a local auto parts manufacturer controlled by former President Lee Myung-bak’s eldest brother Lee Sang-eun. However, it has been alleged that the elder Lee is the company’s controlling shareholder in name only, and that the former president and his immediate family are the real owners.

Amid baby bust, firms look overseas for survival

While South Korea has a highly active baby care market with a range of high-quality products, it also suffers from one of the world’s lowest birthrates.

South Korea was ranked 219th among 224 countries, with an average woman’s total fertility rate at 1.26 in 2017, the lowest figure among OECD countries, according to CIA’s the World Factbook.

The falling birthrate, one of the gravest challenges the government faces, has been visibly hurting baby care businesses here in recent years.

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

Canada defeats Korea in men's hockey 4-0

South Korea's drought of goals continued since the team earned its first Olympic goal against Czech Republic on Saturday.

Canada defeated South Korea 4-0 in the preliminary round of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

With an assist by Chay Genomway, Christian Thomas netted Canada's first goal 7 minutes and 36 seconds after the first period began. Canada dominated the period with 18 shots, compared to South Korea's five.

2-man bobsledders fall short of expectations

Korea's bobsleigh tandem Won Yun-jong and Seo Young-woo fell short of their high expectations, placing ninth after their two heat races at the PyeongChang Winter Games two-man bobsleigh.

The duo clocked a combined time of 1:38.89, after posting 49.50 seconds in the first heat and 49.49 seconds in the second.

Leading the race so far is the German duo of Nico Walther and Christian Poser with 1:38.39, followed by Justin Kripps and Alexande Kopacz of Canada with 1:38.49 and Johannes Lochner and Christopher Weber of Germany with 1:38.58.

Lee Sang-hwa claims silver in speed skating

Korean long track speed skater Lee Sang-hwa won the silver medal at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Sunday.

At the Gangneung Oval, the 28-year-old Korean clocked 37.33 seconds in the women's 500-meter race, 0.39 seconds behind leader Nao Kodaira of Japan who set an Olympic record of 36.94 to win the gold. Karolina Erbanova finished third, clocking 37.34 seconds.

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

U.S. 'Mulling Cyber Strike Against N.Korea'

Despite talk of a "bloody nose" strike against North Korea in Washington, the initial round of warfare could be waged in cyberspace, according to Foreign Policy magazine.

"The first shot will be cyber," it quoted a former U.S. intelligence official as predicting. Quoting six former and incumbent U.S. intelligence officials, the magazine wrote, "The U.S. government for the past six months has covertly begun laying the groundwork for possible cyberattacks on North Korea in countries including South Korea and Japan."

U.S. Naval Leader Claims N.Korea Wants to Turn All Korea 'Communist'

A U.S. naval leader last week claimed the aim of North Korea's nuclear weapons program is to turn the Korean Peninsula into a communist nation.

Adm. Harry Harris, the chief of the U.S. Pacific Command who has been named by U.S. President Donald Trump as ambassador to Australia, was speaking to the U.S. House Committee on Armed Services last Wednesday.

Young and Old Adults Most Prone to Depression

The people who are most vulnerable to depression are those in their 20s and 80s.

Many in these age groups are not getting treatment, either because they fail to spot the symptoms or because they are embarrassed.

The number of patients who have been treated for depression rose more than 2.2 percent annually, from 587,860 in 2012 to 641,987 in 2016, according to the National Health Insurance Service.

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

Prosecutors raid home of former Samsung executive

A search and seizure by prosecutors on the home and Samsung Electronics offices of former Future Strategy Office director (vice chairman) Lee Hak-soo on Feb. 8 and 9 is raising questions among Samsung’s possible collusion not only with the Park Geun-hye administration (2013–16) but also the Lee Myung-bak government (2008–13). Lee Hak-soo is currently facing charges in connection with litigation costs for the return of a DAS investment in BBK.

Veterans of previous summits offer insights about the way forward for inter-Korean relations

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent his younger sister, Workers’ Party Central Committee first vice director Kim Yo-jong, to make a proposal on Feb. 10 for a “third inter-Korean summit” with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The Pyeongchang Olympics have resulted in some dramatic developments in inter-Korean dialogue, but the international community – including the US and Japan – have adhered to an approach of sanctions and pressure against Pyongyang.

Park Geun-hye likely facing a long stay in prison

The first trial verdict for Choi Soon-sil clearly named Park Geun-hye as an accomplice, suggesting a general picture of the former President’s own upcoming first trial verdict. Not only do many of the charges against Choi and Park overlap, but with the same court also trying Park’s case, the possibility of a different verdict on the major charges appears highly unlikely.

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

Moon urges U.S., North to talk

President Moon Jae-in said Saturday it is premature to talk about an inter-Korean summit, making clear that Washington and Pyongyang have to get closer to talking before that can take place.“Anticipations are high, but I think it is too impetuous,” Moon said when a reporter asked if he will hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. “It’s like the old Korean saying that you are looking for hot water from a well.”

Hwang Pyong-so comes back from being purged

Hwang Pyong-so, former director of the North Korean Army’s General Political Bureau, whom South Korea’s spy agency believed was fired from his post for “impure attitudes” toward leader Kim Jong-un, reemerged in North Korean media last week attending state events with other officials, fanning speculation he is back in the power circle, though with a lower rank.

Korea scrambles ahead of Trump steel decision

The Korean government and local steel companies are scrambling to gauge the potential impact of the U.S. government’s moves to impose steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

The U.S. commerce department recommended Friday that Donald Trump’s administration impose steep curbs on steel and aluminum imports from China and other nations including Korea in a so-called Section 232 investigation, citing risks to the country’s national security.

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

Choi Soon-sil Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison: Judgment on the Abuse of State Power

Choi Soon-sil, a key figure in the abuse of state power as the "secret heavyweight" exerting influence over former President Park Geun-hye, was sentenced to twenty years in prison in her first trial. The ruling was a strict judgment on her behavior, taking advantage of her relationship with the president for her personal interests, while threatening the public order of the nation. The court recognized most of the charges against Choi and also acknowledged that she conspired with the former president in connection to most of the allegations.

Kim Jong-un, "Let's Continue with the Good Atmosphere"

Kim Jong-un (photo), chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea showed that he was pleased with the senior delegation's visit to South Korea and said, "It is important that we take this good atmosphere to the next level and continue to accumulate excellent results." His words suggest that North Korea will continue and strengthen its efforts for peace to improve inter-Korean relations, so all eyes are now on North Korea's next move.

South Korea to Focus on Mediating "Exploratory Talks" Between North Korea and the United States

As the North Korean high-level delegation concludes their visit to South Korea, Cheong Wa Dae and the South Korean government are expected to concentrate on mediating talks between North Korea and the U.S. The government will now work toward the initial vision they had of taking advantage of North Korea's participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and to secure a platform for talks between North Korea and the U.S. In particular, Chung Eui-yong, head of the Cheong Wa Dae National Security Office is expected to visit the U.S. to share the results of the meeting with North Korea's senior delegation and to discuss future responses

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

KT demonstrates commercial use of next-generation 5G technology

Inside a glacial green-colored makeshift structure on a public plaza at the heart of Seoul, tens of people patiently stand in the queue, waiting for a glimpse at how their daily life can be changed in the future if a next-generation communication network is commercialized.

Lotte put under emergency management and collective leadership

Lotte, South Korea's fifth-largest conglomerate, was put under emergency management controlled by a body of top executives Wednesday following the unexpected imprisonment of group leader Shin Dong-bin for bribery. A collective management system involving top professional managers from four key business divisions was set up under the stewardship of Vice Chairman Hwang Gag-kyu of the group's holding company, Lotte Corp., which was launched in October last year to enhance corporate governance and transparency in management.

S. Korea's car production regresses in 2017

Struck hard by slow sales at home and abroad, especially in the United States, South Korea's car production regressed for two years in a row, industry data showed Monday.

According to the Korea Automobile Manufacturing Association's (KAMA), South Korea's total auto production was down 2.7 percent on-year to 41.1 million in 2017. In terms of production, South Korea stood 6th in the world with Mexico on its heels with 40.6 million units.

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

KT teams up with Russia’s largest state-run bank for digital healthcare biz

South Korea’s telecom giant KT Corp. is teaming up with Russia’s largest state-run bank Sberbannk to jump into the digital healthcare business in Russia.

The Korean company said on Saturday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Russian bank to jointly build an integrated system for patients’ data management by connecting Sberbannk’s mobile medical appointment service dubbed DocDoc to its mobile diagnostic system and digital platform.

Green Cross Medical Science inks $37 mn blood bag supply deal in Indonesia

South Korea’s diagnostic reagents and instruments maker Green Cross Medical Science Corp. (GCMS) said on Saturday it has clinched a 40 billion won ($37 million) worth deal from Indonesia-based PT. Mitra Global Hanindo (PT. MGH) to supply blood bags and transfer related manufacturing technologies. Thanks to the latest deal, the Korean company would take home 40 billion won amounting to 46 percent of its annual revenue in 2016 – 6.1 billion won for blood bags, 30.7 billion won for unfinished blood bags, and 3.2 billion won for technology transfer and royalties.

Lotte Group chief gets 30-month jail term for bribery charges

Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin was sentenced to a two-and-a-half year jail term for bribery charges on Tuesday, a surprising result that could put a stop to key business decisions of the country’s fifth largest conglomerate, including the planned initial public offering of its hotel unit.

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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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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.

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