Headlines, July 16, 2019

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Tuesday July 16, 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.

2 firms fined 5.1 bln won over price fixing

South Korea's antitrust regulator said Monday that it has fined two companies a combined 5.1 billion won (US$4.3 million) for colluding to fix their process oil bidding prices for petrochemicals firm Kumho Petrochemical. Michang Oil Ind. Co. and Brico International colluded to fix quotations on Treated Distillate Aromatic Extract to be submitted to Kumho Petrochemical on 13 occasions between November 2011 and March 2015, according to the Fair Trade Commission.

S. Korea embraces deepening trade row as Japan considers additional measures

Trade tensions between South Korea and Japan are escalating as Tokyo seems to be preparing to expand the scope of its export controls beyond high-tech materials to a wide spectrum of areas, which could disrupt the global supply chain, industry watchers said Monday. Japan began applying stricter export rules on South Korea for three key materials needed for making chips and displays on July 4 over a wartime forced labor issue and is pushing to remove South Korea from a list of trusted buyers, which could affect the supply of other key materials needed for making smartphones, televisions, chemicals and other industrial materials.

Moon warns Japan will suffer more damage from export curbs against S. Korea

President Moon Jae-in on Monday vowed not to succumb to Japan's economic pressure, warning that the neighboring country will suffer greater economic damage should their trade stand-off continue. He stressed that Tokyo's tougher export restrictions, which target firms here, will be counterproductive and eventually backfire due to the "united power" of all South Korean people.

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

Pres. Moon Appoints Yoon Seok-youl as Prosecutor General

President Moon Jae-in appointed Yoon Seok-youl as the new prosecutor general on Tuesday. Presidential spokesperson Ko Min-jung said in a briefing that Yoon will assume the post from 12 a.m. next Thursday, immediately after the term of his predecessor, Moon Moo-il, ends The president had made a request to parliament to send a confirmation hearing report on Yoon by Monday. Moon could formally appoint him once this timeline had passed.

Far-right Party Removes Protest Tents before City Demolition

A minor far-right opposition party on Tuesday voluntarily removed tents they had erected at Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Plaza for their sit-in protests, just before a demolition crew was scheduled to descend on the scene. The move ensured there was no repeat of the violent clashes that occurred the last time the city took down the tents, but the party says it was only a strategic move.

S. Korean Forced Labor Victims to Seek Court Order to Dispose Mitsubishi Assets

Diplomatic tensions between South Korea and Japan are expected to escalate further after Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor said they will seek a court order to sell off assets seized from Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. This comes after the Japanese firm rejected proposed negotiations proposed by the victims' legal representatives.

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

Cheong Wa Dae: Japan's arbitration process offer unacceptable

A couple of days ahead of the deadline set by Japan for South Korea to respond to its offer of a formal arbitration process over historical disputes, the office of President Moon Jae-in made clear Tuesday that it won't accept the call.

Workplace anti-bullying law takes effect

A new law aimed at preventing harassment in the workplace took effect in South Korea on Tuesday, bringing the widespread but overlooked issue of bullying at work into the legal domain. A revised law on labor standards, commonly called the workplace anti-bullying law, went into effect after a six-month grace period.

Moon says prime minister entrusted with greater role in summit diplomacy

President Moon Jae-in defended Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon's ongoing overseas trip Tuesday against criticism that Lee should have focused on helping resolve the trade and diplomatic dispute with Japan instead of travelling to other countries.

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

[News Analysis] Doubts cloud Seoul’s decision to take Japan trade row to WTO

Japan’s latest moves to curb exports of key materials used in South Korea’s high-tech industry is to be an agenda at the World Trade Organization’s General Council meeting next week amid mixed forecasts about the results.

Yoon Seok-youl appointed chief prosecutor, against opposition

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday appointed Yoon Seok-youl as the new prosecutor-general, running headlong into fierce criticism from the opposition. Yoon’s term as prosecutor-general will begin July 25, replacing Moon Moo-il as the country’s top prosecutor.

[Herald Interview] How Facebook addresses beautification controversy

Over the past few years since tech companies introduced a series of camera apps, beautification apps have become some of the most sought-after items for smartphone users around the world, users in South Korea being no exception. With special effects filters and colorful stickers, the advanced camera technology can make us over for the small screen, allowing us to project the image we want. But some of the features, such as skin whitening, have prompted criticism over biased beauty standards.

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

David vs. Goliath: South Chungcheong's battle against coal

On the morning of July 4, Dangjin Energy Center Chief Lee In-soo was at a community center in the village of Daehoji in Dangjin, explaining how and why the agricultural community of 2,850 could and should switch to clean energy.

Pompeo hopes US, North Korea can be 'more creative' in nuclear talks

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Monday he hoped both North Korea and the United States could "be a little more creative" as the two sides push to restart talks aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear program. Pompeo did not say when the negotiations would begin.

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

The Grueling Life of N.Korean Reporters

North Korean photographers were captured on video overzealously snapping photos of leader Kim Jong-un during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the border truce village of Panmunjom late last month. They trained their lenses right in front of Kim's face as he shook hands with Moon, prompting the North Korean leader to shoo them away several times until they were eventually ushered away.

Moon Warns Japan Will Suffer More from Export Curbs

President Moon Jae-in on Monday called on Japan to stop making false accusations to justify export restrictions against South Korea and return to the negotiating table. In a meeting with his chief secretaries, Moon urged Japan to agree to dialogue to discuss South Korean court rulings to compensate victims of forced labor. He warned that Tokyo "will not succeed" if it tries to retaliate economically for the unrelated historical issues.

More N.Korean Ghost Ships Found in S.Korean Waters

The Navy found another North Korean ghost ship adrift in waters south of the Northern Limit Line in the East Sea on Monday. Three other wooden trawlers were found on July 13 and one on July 12. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said one unmanned wooden boat was spotted 1.1 km north of the NLL in the East Sea around 1:20 a.m. on July 13, and it drifted south of the de-facto maritime border an hour later. Two Navy speed boats were dispatched to the scene.

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

S. Korea’s export regulations more strict than Japan’s

As Japan proceeds with steps to remove South Korea from the white list of countries that enjoy fast processing of or partial exemption from export restrictions on products that could potentially be used to develop or manufacture weapons, the Hankyoreh has learned that South Korea’s “catch-all” system, which Japan has cited as the reason for its removal from the white list, is actually stricter than Japan’s. South Korean exporters are obliged to determine the end use and user of their exports and to report that information to the government, but Japan’s system is laxer. For example, Japanese companies aren’t obliged to report exports related to conventional weaponry. Critics say that Japan is quibbling in order to justify its export controls on South Korea while also avoiding the appearance of violating World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

Japanese denies implying N. Korea as reason for export controls 　

The Japanese government explained that the “inappropriate issues” it cited as a reason for its controls on South Korean exports were not a reference to smuggling to North Korea. The remarks suggest that Japan is adopting a different stance in official settings after numerous remarks from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other political figures suggesting the control measures were related to North Korea. According to the South Korean side, previous remarks could also be interpreted as indicating that the reasons behind the policies regulating exports to South Korea stem from problems with Japan’s own export management.

Japan claims S. Korea didn’t protest export controls in working-level talks

After the Japanese said that South Koreans hadn’t protest Japan’s restrictions on the exports of strategic materials in a working-level meeting between the two countries on July 12, the South Korean government criticized Japan for making what it described as an incorrect claim. Japanese officials held a press conference of their own in which they clarified that South Korea had “called for a solution to the problem but hadn’t issued a protest.” Even closed-door technical discussions appear to be provoking a bristling and irritated response from the two countries.

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

‘Japan needs to return to the stage of diplomatic resolution,’ says Moon

“Our government has not claimed that the method we proposed is the only solution," said South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday with regards to a method of resolution for the forced labor issue during Japan's colonization of the Korean Peninsula, which has led to Japan’s recent export controls. "I hope the Japanese government will retract its unilateral pressure and return to the stage of a diplomatic resolution," the South Korean president said. On the topic of Japan’s tighter export regulations against South Korea, the president said, “Japan will suffer more damage from export curbs.” In light of the upcoming deadline on Thursday for Tokyo’s request for Seoul to respond to its proposal to have a third-party arbitration panel, President Moon delivered a strong warning against Tokyo and called for bilateral communication to seek a diplomatic resolution of the forced labor issue.

Trump rejects criticism that his tweet about four minority congresswomen

U.S. President Donald Trump has come under fire for disrespectfully telling four first-time Democratic representatives of color, who have taken a critical tone against him, to leave the United States. There is growing criticism on his racist remarks at a time when controversy has been created by the president’s policies of cracking down illegal immigrants and doing a census asking citizenship issues.

Ryu Hyun-jin fails to seal his 11th win despite quality start

Ryu Hyun-jin, the South Korean starting pitcher of the Los Angeles Dodgers, kicked off the latter half of the season on Sunday (local time), successfully containing the batters of the Boston Red Sox with eight hits, a walk, six strikeouts, and only two runs. He left the mound on the Dodgers’ 4-2 lead but lost the chance to chalk up a win after the game was equalized at the hands of a relief pitcher in the bottom of the eighth inning. The game went on extra innings to the 12th where the Dodgers eventually relished a 7-4 victory.

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

President Moon Apologizes for “Failing to Keep Promise of a 10,000-won Minimum Wage”

On July 14, Cheong Wa Dae announced that President Moon Jae-in officially apologized for failing to achieve a minimum wage of 10,000 won by 2020, after a decision to raise next year’s minimum wage only slightly. Cheong Wa Dae said, "The higher minimum wage put a heavy burden on store owners and small businesses," and explained that "It was a cause of social conflict due to a battle between the weaker members of our society," and practically admitted the partial failure of their minimum wage policy.

"U.S. Agrees that Japanese Export Regulation Does Not Help Cooperation"

Kim Hyun-chong, second deputy director of the Cheong Wa Dae National Security Office conveyed on July 13 (local time) that the United States firmly agreed that the disputes between South Korea and Japan following Japan's tighter regulations on exports to South Korea did not help cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan. He also pointed out that South Korea was willing to seek a solution through trilateral dialogue, but that Japan was not yet ready.

Diplomatic Efforts to Resolve the "Semiconductor Dispute" Head to the U.S.

Kim Hyun-chong (60, pictured), second deputy director at the Cheong Wa Dae National Security Office visited the U.S. to discuss Japan's tighter export regulations. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha called U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to explain our government's position, and Minister of Trade Yoo Myung-hee will visit the U.S. next week and meet with senior U.S. trade officials. The government has launched diplomatic efforts toward the U.S. to lift Japan's tighter export control.

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

Seoul mulls cutting surtax for owner family inheriting large business

The South Korean government is mulling to lower the surtax on the inheritance tax for the largest shareholder amid criticism that family businesses cannot last long in Korea because of the world’s heaviest inheritance levy.

Korean President Moon suggests hard-line action versus Japan`s export curbs

South Korean President Moon Jae-in indicated the country won’t shy away from a head-on clash with Japan by criticizing its “unwise” move of using economic muscles to solve past historic issues.

Korea overwhelms Japan in oil refining capacity for first time

South Korean oil refiners beat their Japanese counterparts in combined crude oil refining capacity for the first time in history last year, claiming the fifth spot in the global market. According to data released from Korea Petroleum Association on Monday, Korea`s daily average refining capacity came to 3,346,000 barrels last year, elbowing out its neighboring country Japan whose figure stood at 3,343,000 barrels. The top player was the U.S. with an average oil refining capacity of 18,762,000 barrels, followed by China with 15,655,000 barrels, Russia 6,596,000 barrels and India 4,972,000 barrels.

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