Headlines, May 14, 2019

Spring has come to Korea!
Accordingly, there are many important events where the Ambassadors and Spouses cordially invited.
At this time, there are two prestigious events where the Ambassadors and Spouse are invited:

Invitation for Ambassadors and Spouses to the 6th Annual Declaration of World Peace Luncheon
Saturday May 25, 2019

Chairman Man-hee Lee of the Heavenly Culture, World Peace Restoration of Light Program, in cooperation with The Korea Post media, cordially invites Your Excellency and Madam to a Gala Luncheon at the La Seine Restaurant at the Lotte Hotel Jamsil in Seoul at 12:00 hours, Saturday May 25, 2019.
The Luncheon follows the 6th Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace and Peace Walk starting at 9:45 a.m. of the same day. Participation in the walk is not a requirement for the Ambassadors and Madams.
The Korea Post media, publisher of five media outlets, including www.koreapost.com and www.koreapost.co.kr, fully cover the event for the promotion of understanding, relations and cooperation between the esteemed country of Your Excellency and Korea.
We would greatly appreciate it if we could be advised of the convenience of Your Excellency for that day
At edt@koreapost.com and/or Tels 2298-1740/2 at 010-5201-1740.
Dress Code: Optional
RSVP: Tels 2298-1740/2 at 010-5201-1740, edt@koreapost.com, Ms. Hwang at 010-7200-1269 or Mr. Lee at 010-5201-1740.
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Invitation for Ambassadors and Spouses to a Tour of Ulsan and Gyeongju for Ambassadors and Madams
Friday May 31-June 1, 2019

I am pleased to inform Your Excellency that The Korea Post organizes a tour for the ambassadors and spouses to visit the Cheomman-sa Buddhist Temple in Ulsan and meet the mayor of Ulsan and Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do Province in a one-night, two-day program on May 31-June 1, 2019 in celebration of the Buddha’s Birthday in May.
The Ambassadors’ Tour will be fully covered by all five media outlets of The Korea Post, including www.koreapost.com (English) and www.koreapost.co.kr (Korean). The schedule is as follows:
Official invitation has already been transmitted to the Ambassadors.
RSVP: Tels 2298-1740/2 at 010-5201-1740, edt@koreapost.com, Ms. Hwang at 010-7200-1269 or Mr. Lee at 010-5201-1740.

Very Respectfully Yours

/s/

Lee Kyung-sik
Publisher-Chairman
The Korea Post media

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Tuesday, May 14, 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.

U.S. follows diplomacy with N. Korea: Pentagon chief

The Pentagon chief said, the US has focused on diplomacy about the denuclearization of North Korea, although its military will be prepared in the event that effort fails. Patrick Shanahan, U.S. Defense Secretary said in an interview, "The strategy with North Korea hasn't changed," two days after U.S. President Donald Trump nominated him to be the secretary. "It's a diplomatic one, but it's about full denuclearization." A Pentagon spokesman said the projectiles were determined to be ballistic missiles, which the North is banned from launching under U.N. Security Council resolutions. But the S. Korean military has yet to offer details on the type of weapon.

Lotte group chairman meets Trump at White House

U.S. President Donald Trump met at the White House on Monday with Shin Dong-bin, Chairman of Lotte Group, which constructed a chemical site in the US. Shin went to the U.S. to attend a ceremony for the completion of ethylene plant built by Lotte's chemicals arm in Louisiana, which worths a 3.6 trillion-won (US$3.1 billion), becoming the first Korean conglomerate leader hosted in White House. Lotte holds a 88 percent stake in the project, with Westlake Chemical Corp., a U.S. partner.

Half of Koreans think gov't should follow dialogue with N. Korea: poll

Half of South Koreans say their government should seek dialogue with North Korea, a survey showed, as inter-Korean ties remained stalled amid the deadlocked nuclear talks between the US and North Korea. Of the 1,003 adults surveyed in April, 51.4 percent of people said the government should follow talks with Pyongyang, according to the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification. It marked the first time for the tally to surpass 50 percent since the institute included the question in the annual survey in 2016.

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

Moon, WFP Head Agree to Closely Cooperate on N. Korea Food Aid

President Moon Jae-in and the head of the UN World Food Program(WFP) have agreed to closely cooperate on providing food aid to North Korea. Presidential spokeswoman Ko Min-jung said in a written statement that WFP Executive Director David Beasley paid a visit to President Moon on Monday. In the meeting, Beasley briefed Moon on a recent report jointly produced by the WFP and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization on the North's food shortage.

Pentagon Chief: US Strategy with N. Korea Remains Focuses on Diplomacy

Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said that his country remains focused on diplomacy to dismantle North Korea's nuclear weapons program. In an interview with Fox News that aired on Monday, Shanahan said the diplomatic strategy with North Korea, which aims for full denuclearization hasn't changed. He added that his job is to make sure that the military is prepared in the event diplomacy fails, stressing that there's no change to the force posture, preparation and readiness.

S. Korea's New Ambassador to Tokyo Meets Top Japanese Diplomat

South Korea’s new ambassador to Tokyo met with Japan's top diplomat to discuss the relations of the two nations. Ambassador Nam Gwan-pyo, who took office last Friday, paid a visit on Monday to Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono at the Japanese Foreign Ministry in Tokyo. Nam, former deputy chief of the presidential National Security Office, said he feels great responsibility as he took up the post of ambassador to Tokyo when bilateral relations are facing a critical time.

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

9 Korean Confucian academies recommended for UNESCO World Heritage list

Nine South Korean Confucian academies have been recommended for addition to the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) said Tuesday. According to CHA, UNESCO's International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), an advisory group to UNESCO, suggested nine "Seowon," or Korean neo-Confucian academies, be listed.

WFP head 'very concerned' about N. Korea's food shortages

The head of a U.N. food agency said Monday he is "very concerned" about food shortages in North Korea and called for donations to the impoverished communist nation, affirming that the agency will try to make sure aid will reach those intended. World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley made the remarks to reporters after he met with South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul to discuss North Korea's worsening food situation.

S. Korea vows to beef up missile defense system against N.K. threats

South Korea will continue to strengthen its missile defense capabilities to better counter all kinds of threats, including North Korea's short-range missiles, the defense ministry said Monday. The pledge came in response to growing concerns over the country's missile defense capabilities after North Korea fired two short-range missiles last week, just five days after the launch of a barrage of projectiles into the East Sea.

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

Lotte chief meets Trump at White House after plant opening

Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin met with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, becoming the first South Korean conglomerate leader to have such a meeting. Shin was in the US to attend a ceremony marking the completion of a 3.6 trillion-won ($3.1 billion) ethylene plant built by Lotte's chemicals arm in Louisiana. Lotte Chemical Corp. holds a 88 percent stake in the project, with its US partner, Westlake Chemical Corp., owning the rest.

Moon urges political parties to change with times

President Moon Jae-in on Monday emphasized the importance of change, and urged political parties to move with the times. Speaking at the weekly meeting with senior aides, Moon said that the country has undergone dramatic changes since he took office, but political parties have changed little.

Gov’t asks bus drivers call off strike

The government on Monday pressed unionized bus drivers across the country to call off this week’s general strike as it offered a set of incentives to bus companies. Bus companies “should not stop providing bus services,” Hong Nam-ki, the minister of economy and finance, said during a meeting with leaders of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Korea Automobile & Transport Workers‘ Federation.

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

Minister backs sharing of probe power

The prosecution has recently voiced its opposition to the government-led judiciary reform to share its exclusive supervisory role over investigations with police. They claim the government and the National Assembly are pushing ahead with the plan without taking their views into consideration. Justice Minister Park Sang-ki, however, made it clear that prosecutors cannot "design" their own investigations as this is the government's right.

Seoul prudent about North Korea humanitarian aid

The government will only provide humanitarian food aid to North Korea after establishing a national consensus, Cheong Wa Dae said Monday. This shows the government is becoming prudent in providing aid after Pyongyang lambasted the plan through its propaganda media outlets Sunday. "President Moon Jae-in said in a recent televised talk show on KBS that the government needs to win public consensus and hold discussions with the National Assembly before pushing ahead with the plan," Cheong Wa Dae spokeswoman Ko Min-jung told reporters in a media briefing.

Bus fares likely to increase nationwide

Faced with mounting pressure to prevent a planned strike by bus drivers, Wednesday, the central government is leaning toward a resolution that would raise bus fares. "The central government will provide financial support and public charter buses to tackle problems due to reduced working hours for bus drivers, such as the need to hire more people. Nonetheless, from a realistic standpoint, the ministries agreed that they may also need to raise bus fares," the transport and labor ministries said in a press statement after a joint meeting of their ministers Sunday.

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

Can N.Korea's New Missile Be Shot Down?

South Korea was confused last week whether it would be able to shoot down the short-range Iskander-class missiles North Korea tested. A Defense Ministry official on Sunday said it would. "The latest Patriot PAC-3 MSE anti-missile system operated by U.S. troops in South Korea is capable of shooting down North Korea's latest missile." He added the South Korea military plans to deploy PAC-3 MSE systems starting in 2021.

Hostages Rescued in Burkina Faso Flown to France

Two French hostages, a Korean woman and an American who were rescued from Islamists in a daring military operation in the West African nation of Burkina Faso were taken to France on Saturday. But the hostages face public criticism in France for violating government warnings to travel to the dangerous region and indirectly causing the death of two soldiers during the rescue mission.

Shorter Working Week to Cut Bus Routes in Suburbia

City bus operators are set to adopt the maximum 52-hour working week this July, which is expected to result in closures or shortened routes in the suburbs. Gyeonggi Province officials recently compared the business plans submitted by bus operators province-wide ahead of the reduced working week. They show that bus operators propose to shut down 49 out of 2,185 routes and shorten another 317. On some 653 routes the frequency of services will be reduced.

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

Defense Ministry categorizes NK projectiles as “new ballistic missile using solid fuel” 　

A short-range missile similar in form to the ones test-launched by North Korea on May 4 and 9 has been categorized by the South Korean Ministry of National Defense (MND) as a “new ballistic missile using solid fuel,” it was confirmed on May 12. Many military experts are speculating the missiles were a model commonly referred to as the “North Korean Iskander.” But military officials reserved judgment on the matter, claiming that the two missile types were identical and calling for additional analysis of the flight characteristics, range, speed, and altitude to determine whether the recently launched missiles were ballistic missiles.

N. Korean official denounces US statement on N. Korea’s human rights violations 　

A North Korean Foreign Ministry official denounced a North Korean human rights statement recently issued by the US State Department as “a sophistry full of falsehoods and fabrications.” In a May 11 response to questions from a reporter with the North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the policy research director of the ministry’s Institute for American studies described the statement issued by the State Department on May 6 as “stem[ming] from a sinister political purpose to tarnish the dignified image of the DPRK.”

Japanese chief cabinet secretary says Japan is ready to “break shell of mutual distrust” with NK

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said in a recent US visit that Japan “is prepared to break the shell of mutual distrust with North Korea and get off to a new start.” Speaking at a New York symposium on the afternoon of May 10 organized by the Japanese government on the issue of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea, Suga said that North Korea “can draw a bright future for itself” if it “chooses the right path,” adding that Japan would be “unsparing in its support,” Kyodo News reported. The remarks about “unsparing support” suggested that Japan could provide North Korea with economic support if diplomatic relations are normalized between the two sides. Previous plans for economic cooperation were declared following the normalization of relations in the 2002 Pyongyang Declaration by then-Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il during the former’s visit to North Korea.

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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)

S. Korean ambassador to Japan holds first press conference

New South Korean Ambassador to Japan Nam Gwan-pyo said Monday that he will deal with the pending issues and historical disputes separately to prevent the Seoul-Tokyo relations from being swayed by historical feuds. He also pledged to strengthen practical cooperation between the two neighboring countries. “We can’t eliminate historical disputes that already exist, but we should manage and stop them from intensifying by respecting and trying to understand each country’s different stances,” Nam said in a meeting with South Korean correspondents in Tokyo Monday at the Embassy of South Korea in Tokyo. “I’ll clearly convey the South Korean government’s position to Japan, and also deliver various views voiced within Japan to South Korea.”

Samsung regains No.1 spot in India’s premium smartphone market share

Samsung Electronic regained No.1 spot in India’s premium smartphone market share in the first quarter of this year thanks to strong sales of the Galaxy S10 series. Market research firm Counterpoint Research said on Monday that Samsung Electronics captured the biggest market share of 45 percent in India’s premium smartphone segment, retaking the No.1 spot held by China’s OnePlus for three consecutive quarters. The figure is up by 17 percentage points from 28 percent of the previous quarter.

In-flight paper cups and napkins go eco-friendly

Yoo Ha-young in charge of flight quality management at Jeju Air received an unexpected call. Yoo has sponsored the JJ Polar Bear Project where Jeju Air pilots join efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Even when a particular promotion period does not open, not a small number of pilots make a voluntary call to engage in the carbon reduction campaign, according to Yoo.

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

Two Years of Moon Jae-in: Economic Policies Not Likely to Succeed if Government Fails to Control Polarization and Inequality

President Moon Jae-in said he would create a world where "people come first" and "a country where the people are the owners," when he entered office. At the same time, the Moon Jae-in government presented income-driven growth as its main economic policy. When money enters the pockets of the low-income and ordinary people, they consume more and sales increase. When the increased sales lead to investment, the government expected this to trigger economic growth. The government believed that a growth policy centered on large corporations and exports over the past fifty years had widened the gap between the rich and the poor and created an underprivileged group of people, and they attempted to shift the paradigm. They believed it difficult to overcome the slow growth and polarization with the existing framework. They vowed to build a country where the low-income and vulnerable people alienated from fast growth could also live happily.

Public Opinion Emerges as the Primary Gateway for Food Aid to North Korea: Government Expected to Adjust the Speed

Despite North Korea's short-range missile launch, U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed his trust in North Korea, and the South Korean government plans to promote food aid to North Korea as scheduled. However, new tasks have emerged: domestic public opinion on food aid has deteriorated after a series of military protests by the North, and it is uncertain as to whether North Korea will accept the assistance. Stressing the need for humanitarian aid, the government plans to collect public opinion, so it appears the government will naturally adjust its speed in providing food assistance to the North.

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

Mirae Asset invests $5 mn in India’s food delivery service Shadowfax

South Korea’s financial conglomerate Mirae Asset Financial Group has invested $5 million in Indian food delivery service startup Shadowfax, betting on the growth potential of the world’s second most populated market. According to industry sources on Sunday, Mirae Asset Group has joined a $22 million funding round for Shadowfax with offshore investors Nokia and Qualcomm. The Korean investors chipped in $5 million through its two separate funds dedicated to investing in emerging technologies and businesses.

Korea’s self-employed delinquency rates surge in second-tier banks

More self-employed borrowers in second-tier savings banks are defaulting on their loans in South Korea, posing another financial risk to the Korean economy faced with multiple whammies. The loan delinquency rate of the self-employed in domestic savings banks jumped to 4.4 percent in the first quarter from 2.93 percent three months ago, according to a Financial Supervisory Service report released by Ji Sang-wook, a lawmaker of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party, on Sunday.

Bitcoin price doubles over 2 months, setting fresh 2019 high

Cryptocurrency fever revived in Korea after lengthy lull on increasing offshore mainstream employment of the virtual coin. The bitcoin price has doubled over the recent two months, surpassing the fresh yearly high of 8.6 million won ($7,300) on Sunday. It is the highest level since the end of July last year.

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Lee Kyung-sik edt@koreapost.co.kr