The Korean daily media headlines and humor
Thursday, January 3, 2019

Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today

The Korea Post media (www.koreapost.com) in English, (www.koreapost.co.kr) in Korean.
Trump says he received 'great letter' from N.K. leader
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he received a "great letter" from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and expects the two will have another meeting soon.
Kim said in his New Year's address Tuesday that he is ready for a second meeting with Trump at any time and is committed to "complete denuclearization."

Ambassador Fen of Uzbekistan, Chairman Kim of KUBC open Korea-Uzbek business center in Incheon
“Close cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea is very important and introduction of the new technologies and cooperation in that area between the two countries is also very important for the benefit of the two countries,” said Ambassador Vitaliy Fen of Uzbekistan in Seoul on Nov. 9, 2018 at the opening of the Korea-Uzbekistan Business Center (KUBC) in Songdo, Incheon, xx miles east of Seoul. The Korea-Uzbek Business Center was located 35.8 miles east of Seoul.

Korea, Myanmar share similar experiences but now are poised for a high economic jump
The people of Myanmar, who had lived in successive kingdoms of magnificence and dignity for millennia, became a colony in the late 19th century when the colonialism had a strong influence all over the world. In 1885, Myanmar lost its independence but all the people took up arms and fought for independence with genuine patriotism and Union Spirit. It led to regained country’s independence and sovereignty on Jan. 4, 1948. This year, on 4 January 2019, marks the 71st anniversary of the Independence Day of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
Seoul Demands Tokyo's Apology in Military Radar Dispute

Refuting Tokyo's claims in the ongoing military radar dispute, Seoul is calling for an apology for what it calls a Japanese aircraft’s threatening flight against a South Korean warship.

S. Korean Victims of Forced Labor Seek Court Order to Seize Assets
South Korean victims of forced labor during Japan’s colonial rule have begun taking steps to seize the assets held in South Korea by a Japanese firm implicated in the Japan’s wartime crime. The lawyers for Lee Chun-sik and three other South Koreans forced to work for Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corporation recently asked a local court in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province to issue a writ of execution to have the company's assets in the country seized.

S. Korea, US Discuss New Year Direction for Denuclearization
Seoul and Washington's top nuclear envoys have discussed the current situation and plans regarding North Korea's denuclearization.
According to Seoul’s Foreign Ministry, Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon and U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun made their first contact of the year via a telephone meeting on Wednesday morning.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Pro-N. Korean paper calls for sanctions lifting before 2nd summit with U.S.

The United States should first drop its push for sanctions and pressure against North Korea if a second summit between the two countries is going to happen, a pro-North Korean newspaper in Japan said Wednesday.

Court questions suspect in alleged murder of doctor
A Seoul court held a hearing Wednesday to decide whether to issue an arrest warrant for a man on charges that he killed a doctor while receiving treatment at a general hospital.
The 30-year-old suspect, only identified by his surname Park, is said to have wielded a knife at his psychiatrist, Lim Se-won, while receiving treatment at Seoul's Kangbuk Samsung Hospital on Monday.

Korean peace process at crucial juncture in 2019: minister
Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha on Wednesday emphasized the importance of pulling off a significant accomplishment this year in the nascent peace process on the peninsula.

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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Korean businesses vow to face 2019 with toughness, innovation

Putting a tough year behind them, a year full of accusations of unfair business practices and shortcomings in performance, South Korea’s leading business groups are vowing stringent measures to overcome the challenges that lie ahead in 2019. They say they will make ceaseless efforts to achieve innovation, hopefully on the back of a more favorable regulatory environment.

Moon says peace will open new horizons for Korean economy
President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday once again stressed the importance of peace on the peninsula, saying peace will lay the foundations for economic expansion for South Korea.
“The peace that we have now is a tentative peace. In the new year, (I) will do my best to make the flow of peace an irreversible wave,” Moon said in his New Year’s speech at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Seoul.

Here’s what to expect in Korea’s green car market in 2019
After commanding significant attention last year, green cars are set to expand their presence in the auto industry even further this year thanks to higher government subsidies and the plans of import carmakers to release new eco-friendly models.

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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
US-North Korea talks may gain fresh momentum

U.S. President Donald Trump has welcomed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's willingness to hold the second Washington-Pyongyang summit, renewing hopes for a possible breakthrough in their stalled denuclearization dialogue.

Moon seeks to boost economic vitality
President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday he will take measures to boost the economy but keep his signature "income-led" growth policy alive despite ongoing controversies regarding its effectiveness.

Elderly women have 'second youth' as puppet performers
DANGJIN, South Chungcheong ― The Second Youth Troupe is a rare puppet troupe, comprised of eight mostly widowed elderly women with an average age of 80.
The ragtag troupe, led by Moon Young-mi, head of local children's educational theater company Naesoong, was formed last January in the small mid-western rural town of Sanseong-ri, South Chungcheong Province, by the voluntary participation of women aged between 72 and 85, who have harbored curiosity of what Moon was up to with the kids.

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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Koreans Embrace Online Charity Donations

Online donations to charitable and other causes are growing increasingly popular in Korea.
Internet portal Naver said some 778,000 people had participated in donation drives on its online donation platform "Happy Bean" as of the end of last year and pledged W1.57 billion (US$1=W1,114). A year earlier, donations totaled only W1.29 billion.

N.Korea 'Could Acquire 100 Nuclear Warheads by 2020'
North Korea could acquire up to 100 warheads by 2020 despite stopping nuclear and missile tests this year, NBC quoted an expert as speculating Friday.
"North Korea continues to produce fissile material and develop missile bases around the country, according to experts and analysis of detailed satellite images," NBC said.

Korea's Mainstay Exports Dwindle
Ten out of 13 main exports decreased last month compared to a year earlier, with semiconductors suffering the first on-year fall in 27 months.
Total exports last year stood at US$605.5 billion, up 5.5 percent from the previous year, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Tuesday, surpassing W600 billion for the first time. Korea also posted a trade surplus of $70.5 billion largely due to brisk sales of semiconductors, general machinery and petrochemicals.

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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Almost half of S. Koreans see need for second declaration of independence

Around half of South Koreans agreed on the need for a “second declaration of independence” for the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement, a survey shows.
Most of the respondents agreed the new declaration should include content expressing a desire for peace on the Korean Peninsula and throughout the world.

SK Telecom achieves 1st live 5G broadcast via smartphone
A live television broadcast was recently sent over a commercial 5G mobile communication network.
The successful transmission of the broadcast without delays, interruptions, or expensive broadcasting equipment suggests 5G communication is poised to have a major impact on the broadcasting industry.

New York State to institute official day to honor Yu Gwan-sun and Mar. 1 movement
The US state of New York reportedly plans to institute an official day in honor of Korean independence activist Yu Gwan-sun (1902–1920) for the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement, for which Yu was one of the key organizers.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
New York State to designate March 1 as Yu Gwan-sun Day

It is expected that the State of New York will designate March 1 as a commemorative day for Yu Gwan-sun, who participated in the March 1, 1919, independence movement against Japanese colonial rule in Korea and died in prison at 17.

LG launches ‘Tromm Plus’ with 5-direction turbo shot tech
LG Electronics released on Tuesday the Tromm Plus, new 21-kilogram-capacity front-loading washer driven by five-direction turbo shot technology, which boasts off shorter washing time and greater performance.
Five-direction turbo shot technology sprinkles high pressure water currents evenly. It enables laundry to be pounded, mixed and shaken inside just as it is hand-washed. The 4-kilogram-capacity "Tromm Mini Wash" is optionally added beneath the Tromm Plus.

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JoongAng Ilbo (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)
Moon promises better economy in 2019

President Moon Jae-in devoted nearly all of his New Year’s address on Wednesday promising a brighter future for employers and employees alike, vowing to make 2019 the year when members of the general public can personally feel the positive effects of his economic policies.

Whistle-blower says he heard Blue House phone orders
The controversy between an ex-bureaucrat whistle-blower and the government is entering a new phase.
The 32-year-old former employee of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Shin Jae-min, held a press conference Wednesday in which he disclosed the name of the former Blue House secretary who pressured the Finance Ministry to keep the national debt-to-GDP ratio high to make the previous Park Geun-hye administration look bad.

Chaebol heads look for profits and more in 2019
Chief executives of top Korean conglomerates focused on future growth engines and long-term sustainability in their New Year’s messages on Wednesday.
Local companies are in for a difficult year, facing uncertainty on the economic front - both globally and domestically - and a trade war between the United States and China. The situation isn’t much better for large conglomerates that heavily depend on exports.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Laid-off Ssangyong Motor Workers Return to Work: A Time to Reflect on the Value of Social Agreement

On December 31, 71 workers returned to work at the Ssangyong Motor factory in Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do after 9 years since they were laid off by the company. The company began implementing the agreement reached by the labor, management and government--the current Ssangyong Motor Company union and the Ssangyong Motor chapter of the Korea Metal Workers' Union consisting of laid-off workers, Ssangyong Motor management, and the Economic, Social and Labor Committee directly under the president--last September. At the time, the tripartite panel reached a social agreement to reinstate in stages all the remaining 119 laid-off workers. The workers who were not reinstated this day will return to their workplace in the first half of this year. In 2009, Ssangyong Motor Company notified over 2,600 workers of the restructuring of the company, which triggered the "Ssangyong Motor issue." It was the worst labor problem in the history of South Korea, which led to the death of thirty laid-off workers and family members in the past nine years. The conclusion of this tragic event, which decorated the last day of 2018, was heart-warming news that melted away the bitter year-end cold.


Police Officers Bribed to Serve Samsung
Two police officers will stand in court for allegedly receiving 10 million won from Samsung and looking after the company in the case of the "body-snatching" of Yeom Ho-seok, a member of the Samsung Electronics Service union. Yeom took his own life while protesting the company's oppression of the labor union. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office announced on December 30, that they prosecuted Ha, the former manager of intelligence and Kim, the former senior officer in charge of intelligence at Yangsan Police Station in Gyeongsangnam-do for abusing their authority, drawing up false official documents and receiving bribes after engaging in irregularities. The snatching of Yeom's body was one of the major cases of union oppression by Samsung, which insisted on a “no union policy.” It is devastating to hear that the police, which should have been strictly enforcing the law, actually served the company.

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AJU Business Daily (http://www.ajudaily.com)
Indonesia makes delayed payment as partner in S. Korea's fighter project

Indonesia made its delayed payment as a business partner with South Korea's sole aircraft maker, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), dispelling concerns about its possible withdrawal from a costly military project to develop home-made fighter jets by 2026.

Kolmar Korea urges domestic firms to respond quickly to market changes
South Korean cosmetics firms may face a critical year in 2019 unless they reduce their heavy reliance on Chinese consumers and come up with diverse and innovative products in response to market changes, the research head of Komla Korea, a beauty and pharmaceutical company, said.

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Maeil Business News Korea ( http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
Class action against BMW Korea builds up as more owners seek damages

BMW faces a potentially costly legal battle in South Korea as more owners join the collective suit demanding compensation for driving fire-prone cars even if they did not directly catch fire.
More than 3,000 BMW car owners have signed up for damage suits against the German automaker demanding 10 million won ($8,956) to 50 million won.

Hyundai Motor to trial self-driving taxis by 2021 in mobility push
South Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor Group aims to test-run unmanned cab services by 2021, electrify 44 models by 2025 and commercialize fuel-cell vehicles by 2030, its vice chair Chung Eui-sun said Tuesday as part of the group’s mid- to long-term goals.
“We face entirely new game rules,” Chung told employees at the company’s New Year kickoff meeting. “We must muster our capabilities and expand investment for the future to lead the march into the fourth industrial revolution.”

Kakao M names new CEO, adds Lee Byung-hun, Gong Yoo under management
Kakao M, an entertainment unit of South Korea’s top mobile messenger operator Kakao Corp., appointed Kim Sung-soo, former chief of the nation’s leading entertainment firm CJ ENM Co. as its new CEO and acquired multiple agencies managing top stars like Lee Byung-hun and Gong Yoo.

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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.cn kf@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.com lithuania@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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