Dec. 15, 2015
The Korean daily media headlines and humor
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015
Your Excellency:
Here areThe Korea Post news,humor from one of the former ambassadors who served in Korea and a roundup of important headlines from all major Korean-language dailies, TV and other news media of Korea this morning:
Lee Kyung-sik
Publisher-Chairman
Korea Post Media
P.S.: 1. To see the desired site, press down the Control key and click the blue URL of the media.
2. If received by a person other than the intended recipient, please kindly convey the mail to His/Her Excellency.
The Korea Post news
Supporters of Ahn’s bolting from NPAD nearly double opponents
On who’s wrong, 44% say Moon while 12% pick Ahn
Some 54.4% of the Korean people supported the resignation of former Co-Chairman AhnCheol-soo of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) from the party while 29% said it was wrong to do so. This was disclosed by Korea’s leading Korean-language daily Joong-AngIlbo on Dec. 15, 2015 as a result of a survey conducted on a total of 800 men and women in Korea.
On the question, “Who is responsible for the division of the NPAD and the resultant departure of Ahn from the party,” 44% of the respondents said Chairman Moon Jae-in of the NPAD was responsible for the division of the party while only 12% found Ahn responsible.
However, the responses were different from the above when the same questions were asked the supporters of the NPAD.
On the question who was responsible for the division, 54% of the respondents said Ahn was wrong while only 35 supported Ahn’s bolting from the party.
On the question, “Who was responsible for the division in the NPAD,” too, 24% said Ahn was wrong while 21% found Moon wrong
Rep. AhnCheol-soo (left) and Chairman Moon Jae-in of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy.
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Humor from a generous donor from a Central Asian country
What a coincidence
A chicken farmer went to the local bar. He sat next to a woman and ordered champagne.
The woman said: "How strange, I also just ordered a glass of champagne."
"What a coincidence," said the farmer, who added, " It is a special day for me. I am celebrating."
"It is a special day for me too, I am also celebrating!" said the woman.
"What a coincidence!" said the farmer.
While they toasted, the farmer asked, "What are you celebrating?"
"My husband and I have been trying to have a child for years, and today, my gynecologist told me that I was pregnant."
"What a coincidence," said the man. "I am a chicken farmer and for years all my hens were infertile, but now they are all set to lay fertilized eggs."
"This is incredible," said the woman. "What did you do for your chickens to become fertile?"
"I used a different rooster," he said.
The woman smiled and said, "What a coincidence.
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A round-up of the latest news published by the Korean media:
KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
Preliminary Candidate Registrations Open for General Election
Preliminary candidate registrations for the 20th general elections open Tuesday.
Finance Minister Stresses Need to Overcome Low Birthrate
BOK to Take Stabilization Measures in Case of Excessive Market Volatility
Preliminary Candidate Registrations Open for General Election
S. Korean Shot and Killed in L.A.'s Koreatown
S. Korea, China to Hold Talks on Overlapping EEZs
S. Koreans' Burden of Social Welfare Costs to Increase up to 50% by 2040
BOK to Take Stabilization Measures in Case of Excessive Market Volatility
KOSPI Dives Further South
Seoul Hopes Pyongyang Will Respond Positively to Follow-up Talks
S. Korea Declines to Link Family Reunions to Tourism Resumption
N. Korea Blames S. Korea for Unproductive Inter-Korean Talks
S. Korean Man Found Dead in Thailand
Virginia to Use East Sea in Textbooks
N. Korean Officials Remain Silent over Cancellation of Moranbong Concert
Finance Minister Stresses Need to Overcome Low Birthrate
Study says Alcohol Dangerous for 40% of S. Koreans
Police Launch Crackdown on Election Crimes
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Auto sales to shrink in South Korea next year, but foreign brands keep advancing: report
Car sales in South Korea are expected to contract for the first time in three years in 2016 with foreign brands likely to keep expanding their market share, a report by Hyundai Motor Group's think tank showed Tuesday.
Canceled concerts display uncertainty of China's diplomacy with N. Korea
China's diplomacy with its key ally North Korea displayed uncertainty after the sudden cancellation of the concerts in Beijing by an all-female band formed by the North's leader Kim Jong-un, multiple diplomatic sources and analysts said.
S. Korea-U.S. alliance kept firm despite series of challenges
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States kept their alliance firm and solid throughout this year as they wisely took care of a series of sensitive issues that, if mishandled, could have been hurtful, including the strengthening of Seoul's relations with China.
Diversity defines S. Korean movies, music in 2015
The year 2015 has been one of the most diverse years for South Korean movies and music, as both Korean and non-Korean films topped the local box-office chart and a wave of nostalgia brought on by TV series set in the 1980s and 90s took South Koreans down musical memory lane.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Korean banks to tighten home loan standards
Korean banks are expected to tighten credit standards for home loans starting from February next year, amid concerns ove...
Ahn exit divides opposition party dissenters
The defection of the main opposition party’s former leader Rep. AhnCheol-soo appeared to leav...
Korean firms brace for emissions target
The South Korean business community agreed on the inevitability of the new climate change pact ...
Instagram posts fastest growth in Korea
The number of subscribers for Facebook-owned social-networking service Instagram in Korea gre...
After warm-up, SK chief may return to board
SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won is reportedly considering rejoining the board of three affiliates includin...
Low carbon age
The historic agreement 195 nations endorsed to curb global warming should be hailed by all o...
Bad bet
AhnCheol-soo’s decision to leave the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy a...
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
'US is currency manipulator'
The United States should blame itself for ballooning deficits with its trading partners because they are a result of “excessive” market interventions since the global financial crisis in 2008, according to a global m...
'Samsung asks U.S. Supreme Court to overturn patent award it was ordered to pay Apple'
Singapore plugs loophole in NK's arms trade
North Korea is expected to find it more difficult to smuggle arms using non-North Korean facilitators after a Singapore-based firm was convicted o...
Rules on mortgages toughened
The financial regulator said Monday that it will toughen rules on mortgages by ordering banks to e...
NPAD split to change political map
At least three lawmakers of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) are exp...
New MMCA director pledges to protect freedom of expression
Bartomeu Mari, the newly-appointed director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art ...
Ssangyong tentatively agrees to rehire dismissed workers
A six-year-long dispute over massive layoffs made by Ssangyong Motor in 2009 appears to be close to reaching a settlement after labor unions and the company t...
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DongAIlbo (http://english.donga.com)
French voters` quiet extreme right wind
The extreme right National Front Party was completely defeated at a French regional election final vote on Sunday, which took place one month after the November 13 serial terrorist attacks. The party rose to No. 1 at...
English badminton couple takes winners’ podium
Chris Adcock (26) and Gabrielle Adcock (25) are a husband and wife, who won the title in the mixed double competition of the BWF World Super Series Finals, this year’s final event that determines ‘the king of kings’ in...
Francisco Tarrega and Gran Vals
Last week, I traveled the central and southern parts of Spain. In Madrid, I saw the Regoletto by Giuseppe Verdi at the Teatro Real, and in Barcelona, I saw Lacia di Lammeromoor by Gaetano Donizetti at the Gran Teatre...
Leaflets sent to N.K. using drone from Chinese border
An organization of North Korean defectors is found to have been distributing memory devices containing information on outside world using a drone from China since April. The organization named ‘No Chain’ loaded about...
US Army Garrison Yongsan to relocate to Pyeongtaek in 2017
The US Army Garrison in Yongsan and the 2nd Infantry Division in northern Gyeonggi (which is one of the main units) will relocate to Pyeongtaek in 2017. This change of schedule delays the plan for one year. The ROK-US...
GOP leadership considers `brokered convention` amid Trump’s success
As Donald Trump takes the lead in the Republican primary despite his offensive comments, the Republican Party is considering a “brokered convention.” If a single candidate cannot win majority of delegates in the first...
Japanese male figure skater makes history by topping 330 points
2016 Kia K7 selected by most of Samsung`s new executives
AhnCheol-soo leaves NPAD in 21 months
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ChosunIlbo (http://english.chosun.com)
2/3 of Big Businesses to Throttle Back Next Year
Two out of three big businesses s in Korea will be retrenching next year as ongoing developments dampen their outlook. An imminent U.S. interest rate hike, low oil prices and weak domestic demand all persuaded about half of them to cut down on investment. >> Full Text
USFK Relocation Delayed Till End-2017
The epic relocation of U.S. Forces Korea headquarters from Yongsan in Seoul to Pyeongtaek will not be completed by the 2016 deadline. Construction is 86 percent complete, with builders still busy buildings, roads, water supply and drainage. >> Full Text
A Snapshot of Korea's Squeezed Middle
Eight out of every 10 middle-class Koreans feel they are poor, and a majority of them face falling into poverty after retirement. Few have the capacity to save up for their retirement due to the high cost of living and education of their children. >> Full Text
N.Korean Girl Band Abruptly Cancels Beijing Concert
Feces Posted to Korean Consulate in Yokohama
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HankyorehShinmoon (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Two developments could have big repercussions on Korean peninsula
Sudden cancellation of Moranbong concerts in Beijing happens on same day as breakdown of inter-Korean talks
Only a few hours apart on the afternoon of Dec. 11, there were two developments that could reverse the trend toward improving relations on the Korean Peninsula seen over the past few months.One of these was the abrupt return to Pyongyang of North Korea’s Moranbong Band, just before it was scheduled to perform in Beijing in “concerts of amity between China and North Korea”
[Analysis] History shows opposition needs unity to win elections
The New Politics Alliance for Democracy’s (NPAD) fears are growing in the wake of software mogul and lawmaker AhnCheol-soo’sdefection.“We could lose even traditional strongholds if they get flooded with candidates who split the opposition vote, and we‘ll be helpless to avoid defeat in disadvantageous districts,” fretted the head of one of the party’s extraparliamentary committees in the greater Seoul area. .
Relocation of US forces delayed a year past original target date
The relocation of US forces in South Korea (USFK) to the new base in Pyeongtaek is expected to be completed in 2017, one year later than originally planned.The announcement was made by Kim Kie-soo, director of the office for USFK relocation at South Korea‘s Defense Ministry, and Lt. Gen. Bernard Champoux, commander of the US’s Eighth Army. The two officials spoke to reporters on Dec. 10 at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, .
GM Korea seeking voluntary resignations as sales tumble
GM Korea is facing a backlash from its labor union with new plans to accept additional voluntary resignations from clerical workers this year.The move comes in the wake of two previous rounds of voluntary resignations from the same group last year, leading some to speculate that US parent company General Motors (GM) is attempting to further cut its production output in South Korea.
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JoongAngIlbo(conservative): (http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/)
China censors news of North’s gone girl group
Fueling speculation about the cause of the sudden cancellation of a much-anticipated performance by the Moranbong Band in Beijing, Chinese authorities started censoring posts on portal sites and social networking services related to the North Korean girl band. North Korea’s Moranbong Band was scheduled to perform at Beijing’s National Center…
Business worries about Paris accord
Korea’s biggest airline, Korean Air, has been involved in a project planting trees in China and Mongolia to combat desertification…
Monitoring of debt to tighten as rates may rise
From February, banks in the Seoul metropolitan area will scrutinize borrowers’ ability to repay their debt under stricter rules…
Rocky road to 3% growth
What would it take for Korea to maintain the 3 percent growth it craves so desperately? According to a study by the Bank of Korea released on Monday…
Plan launched to plug tech leaks
The government has rolled out a three-year plan to protect Korean companies from an increasing number of technology leaks overseas.…
Dirty box left at Korea consulate
A suspicious box was discovered in front of the Korean consulate in Yokohama, Japan, over the weekend, with a note claiming…
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MaeilKyungje (neutral-oriented conservative, economic/business): (http://news.mk.co.kr/english/)
Kia Motors’ K7 gains popularity as executive vehicle
The new K7 sedan of Kia Motors Corp., South Korea’s second largest carmaker, has come to the front as a car for executives in South ...
Planned sale of Korea’s DSME head office falls through
The attempted sale of the headquarters building of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. (DSME) located in central Seoul, as ...
For Real to expand global footprint with 4-D motion chairs
South Korea’s start-up For Real Co. will supply its motion chairs, which allow movie goers to have a fully immersive 4-D experience, ...
DST Robot to export 50 service robots for Chinese phone retailer
DST Robot Co., a Kosdaq-listed company producing industrial and service robots, will supply 50 mobile robots to China’s largest ...
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The KyunghyangShinmoon(http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Main Opposition Party Separates Four Months Before the General Election: A "Big Bang" in the Opposition
On December 13, former leader of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy AhnCheol-soo (53) announced, "I am leaving the New Politics Alliance for Democracy to···
Moranbong Band Cancels Performance: Are They Complaining about the "Low" Ranking of the Chinese Audience?
The Beijing concert of the Moranbong Band, First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong-un's favorite band, was abruptly canceled, and now all eyes···
Han Sang-gyun Walks Out of Jogyesa Temple after 24 Days
Han Sang-gyun (53), head of the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions left Jogyesa Temple, where he had been taking refuge, and voluntarily appeared before the po···
Moon Jae-in 'Pruning' for a Greater Cause, Requests Han Myeong-sook to Leave Party
On December 10, New Politics Alliance for Democracy leader Moon Jae-in (62) asked former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, currently in prison after the Su···
[Paris Climate Change Conference] Na Kyung-won Presents a Speech for South Korea at Climate Change Conference: South Korean Government 'Missing'
At the high-level segment of the Climate Change Conference in Paris, France on December 8 (local time), Na Kyung-won, chairperson of the Foreign Affairs and Uni···
[Editorial] We Need 'Park Geun-hye-nomics,' Not 'Choi-nomics'
As Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Choi Kyung-hwan'(photo)s resignation is imminent due to his bid in next year's general elections, an asse···
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The Korea Economic Daily(http://english.hankyung.com/)
Ratio of National Debt to GDP Estimated to Rise over 40% in 2016
A study said the ratio of national debt to the gross domestic products will likely exceed the 40-percent level for the first time in history next year. In addition, next year's budget will have less counter-cyclical effect than before as the portion of social overhead capital expenditures in totali...
"Interest in Eco-friendly Cars Heightened after Paris Climate Agreement"...KB Inv.
KB Investment & Securities said that the COP21 Paris climate deal agreed by the world's 196 nations on December 14 will likely raise the interest in eco-friendly cars further and that will lead to a rise in prices of auto parts stock. Shin Jung-gwan, analyst with KB Investment, said, "The latest Par...
Samsung Eng. Ready to Apply for ISDS Process for Losses in the Middle East
Samsung Engineering will file an investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) suit against a Saudi Arabian company worth US$118 million in relation to a plant construction project undertaken in the Middle Eastern country. The Korean company had filed a similar suit in July this year against the Omani go...
Shinhan Bank Increases Its Credit Card Members in Vietnam by 30 Times in 4 Years
Shinhan Bank is doing quite well in Vietnam's credit card market. For the past four years since jumping into the Vietnamese market in 2011, its number of card members and the transaction volume have increased by 30 folds and 60 folds respectively. This year, Shinhan was ranked No. 1 in terms of cred...
Daegu City Signs JV Deal with Chinese Firms for Wastewater Treatment Business
The Daegu metropolitan city government will move into the wastewater treatment business in China by establishing a joint venture among Chinese and Korean companies and a Chinese local government. The city government said on December 14 that a signing ceremony for the 400-million-yuan (US$62-million)...
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AJU Business Daily(http://eng.ajunews.com/korea)
South Korean politics sees ‘big bang” in opposition camp
AhnCheol-soo leaves the parliament buildig after a press conference [NamkungJin-wung=timeid@ajunews.com] A prominent South Korean opposition leader, AhnCheol-soo, has bolted from the main …
High-level inter-Korean talks end in stalemate
Gaesung industrial complex, North Korea [Courtesy of Gaesung Industry Support Foundation] ? High-level talks between North and South Korea have broken up without an agreement, dimming prospect…
North Korea pop band Moranbong cancels Beijing concert. Why?
[Courtesy of Xinhua News Network] ? North Korea's all-female premier pop group has abruptly cancelled a scheduled Beijing concert and headed home, triggering speculation over what caused t…
White House doubts about North Korea’s H-bomb claim
Kim Jung-un [Courtesy of Xinhua News Network] The White House said on Thursday it was doubtful that North Korea had developed a hydrogen bomb, as its leader Kim Jung Un had apparently cla…
Two Koreas hold high-level talks in Kaesong
[Courtesy of Ministry of Unification] South and North Korea holds high-level talks on Friday in their latest attempt to improve their frosty ties. The vice-ministerial meeting at a
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ETNEWS(http://english.etnews.com/)
Commercialized Product that Diagnoses Alzheimer’s Disease with Just a Dro...
Technology that can differentiate Alzheimer¡?s Disease with just a drop of blood will be commercialized. It is expected that a regular person can easily ma...
Total Amount of R&D’s New Budget for Semiconductor and Display Is C...
Total amount of next year¡?s national budget for semiconductor and display¡?s R&D on new businesses is cut and this is totally opposite of Chi...
Samsung Electronics Makes Strategic Partnership with American Medical De...
Samsung Electronics has made a strategic partnership with Medtronic, which is a professional medical device industry in the U.S., and it will co-develop solutions for ...
Sales for Samsung’s and LG’s Washing Machines Make New Records Due to Premium Effect
Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics replaced their past sales records with each business¡?s new application products this year. Sales for Samsung Electronics¡? electrical automatic washing machines has increased 60% compared to last year due to positive effects from Active Wash. LG Electronics¡? Tromm Twin Wash surpassed daily record ...
Heavy Ion Accelerator Business Group Succeeds in Withdrawing Heavy Ion Beam for the First Time in South Korea
Institute for Basic Science(IBS)'s Heavy Ion Accelerator Construction Business Group made an announcement on the 13th that it succeeded in withdrawing
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Special Notices:
Photo shows President Soon-Heung Chang of Handong Global University (fifth from left, front row) with ambassadors and other visiting members of the Seoul Diplomatic Corps (SDC), including Ambassador Mme Natallia Zhylevich of Belraus (dean of the visiting members of the SDC), fourth from left the same row With Ambassador and Mrs. SylvestreKouassi Bile of Cote d’ Ivoire (third and second from left, front row).
And Ambassador Roballo of Argentina (sixth from left, same row) and Ambassadors Mohamed Abdi Gello of Kenya (on the right of the rear row).
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“Why not try to change the world?”
Ambassadors, senior diplomats visit Handong Global University in Pohang
Ambassadors NatalliaZhylevich of Belarus, Kouassi Bile of Cote d’Ivoire, Jorge Roballo of Argentina and Mohamed Abdi Gello of Kenya and 20 other senior diplomats, including the charges d’affaires, visited Handong Global University in Pohang City on the Southeast Coast of Korea on Nov. 12, 2015 at the invitation of President Soon-Heung Chang of the University.
The tour, organized by The Korea Post, included also a visit to POSCO and a cruise ride around the harbor of the Pohang City.
The Korea Post has been organizing tours for the ambassadors and other senior members of the Seoul Diplomatic Corps for the past 30 years, but it must be said that the one hosted by Handong Global University is one of the most impressive in terms of the interest on the part of the host who met the guests with a true heart and warm welcome.
President Soon-Heung Chang of the University made such an excellent arrangement out of respect and special regard for the distinguished international guests by asking his Vice President Simon Kang(Administrative Affairs) and Professor JinwonAhn (School of Management and Economics) to come all the way from Pohang to Seoul to welcome and escort the ambassadors and other senior diplomats to comfortably visit his University.
The tour of the Handong Global University was a truly memorable one where many outstanding features of the University continuously surprised the visiting ambassadors and the other senior diplomats. For further details, visit:
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