Monday, April 6, 2020
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
Five ways to protect health workers during the COVID-19 crisis
In many cities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak a nightly ritual has been taking place whereby people applaud and bang pots and pans from their windows and their balconies to show gratitude to the many health workers braving the battle against COVID-19.
“We should try to step up cooperation, coordination to protect human life and economic recovery”
Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Yoo Myung-hee attended the G20 Extraordinary Trade and Investment Ministers Meeting through videoconference on March 30, and called for collaboration of member countries to facilitate mobility of businesspeople and maintain global supply chain.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
Daily Number of Chinese Travelers to and from S. Korea Posts 'Zero'
Amid tightened entry regulations to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak, South Korea had zero Chinese travelers arriving in or departing from the country on Saturday. It marks the first time since August 1992, when the two countries formed diplomatic relations. According to immigration data from the Justice Ministry, not a single Chinese national arrived from China or departed for China from South Korea on Saturday.
220 S. Koreans Return Home from India
Over 200 South Koreans have returned home from India on a special flight amid rising concerns about the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus in the country. According to the South Korean Embassy in India, the Korean Air KE482 flight with about 220 South Koreans aboard took off from Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi at 7:40 p.m. Sunday. The plane landed at Incheon International Airport on Monday morning. The passengers went through fever and health checks before boarding. Upon arrival in South Korea, most passengers will be required to self-isolate at home for 14 days.
S. Korean Student to Face Punishment for Hiding Symptoms at Quarantine Check
A teenage South Korean student that arrived from the United States is likely to face stern punishment for passing airport quarantine checks after taking medicine for a fever to hide symptoms of the coronavirus. Kwon Jun-wook, deputy director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(KCDC), vowed strict consequences for the act during a press briefing on Sunday. Kwon said that in accordance with relevant laws, the government will take steps to ensure stern punishment for the student's "illegal and wrongful" act that could have caused massive damage to public health.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
New infections again on decline; nearly half of new cases coming from overseas
South Korea saw a continued decline in new coronavirus cases Sunday, but Seoul and its surrounding areas reported a continued rise in virus infections due to cluster transmission and imported cases. The 81 new cases of COVID-19, detected Saturday, was slightly down from 94 new cases on Friday, brought the country's total cases to 10,237 and marked the 24th consecutive day that new infections have hovered around 100, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Gov't to further suspend checkups for potential draftees due to coronavirus
Physical checkups for potential draftees will be further postponed as part of efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus at military barracks, the military manpower agency said Monday. The Military Manpower Administration (MMA) had planned to resume the checkup next Monday, which has been halted since Feb. 24 over the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but decided to extend the suspension for another week. "It is in line with the government's social distancing guidelines," the agency said in a release. "But those who are subject to reexamination or who are supposed to join the military next month can go through the checkup."
Exports of sanitary goods surge amid virus woes
Exports of sanitary goods such as hand sanitizers and coronavirus test kits surged last month in line with growing demand from overseas for such Korean-made goods, data showed on Sunday. According to the data compiled by the trade ministry, outbound shipments of hand sanitizers surged sevenfold to reach US$5.69 million last month, which is equivalent to 84 percent of last year's $6.78 million in total.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Foreign residents shut out of virus relief funds
South Korea’s government and municipalities are introducing direct cash payments to citizens here to help them cope with the economic fallout of a prolonged coronavirus crisis. Some details are still unresolved, but the government has said that foreign nationals, whether they pay taxes here or not, will largely be excluded from the assistance programs unless they are married to Korean citizens.
Korea’s virus fight ‘may drag on for months, years’
A long, grim road is ahead in South Korea’s war against the novel coronavirus. The message from the government was clear Saturday when Health Minister Park Neung-hoo admitted for the first time that ending the novel coronavirus outbreak was “a near impossibility” within a short time frame. “This fight may drag on for months, or even years,” he said. Infectious disease specialist Kim Woo-joo of Korea University Hospital in Seoul’s Guro-gu said that despite a recent slowdown, a rosy outlook was ill-founded and Korea was still lacking contingency plans for every scenario -- including a health care system breakdown as witnessed overseas and in Daegu.
1st, 2nd graders to begin new school year with TV lessons, rather than online classes
In a new learning environment in South Korea created by the coronavirus outbreak, getting glued to the television screen won't be such a bad thing for young students. The education ministry announced on Sunday that, starting on April 20, first and second graders in elementary school will be following instructions offered in TV programs and handout materials, rather than through live online classes like older students. Those programs will air on the state-run Educational Broadcasting System (EBS).
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Mahindra hurls SsangYong ultimatum at Moon gov't
Mahindra & Mahindra said it cannot deliver promised aid to its cash-strapped unit SsangYong Motor, in what is seen as an ultimatum to the government, demanding it to provide aid from the state coffers. Mahindra's move is interpreted as a demand for the Moon Jae-in administration to choose between a bailout from state-run lenders or the collapse of SsangYong, which is a conundrum for the government and the ruling party wanting to avoid any job-related dent in their campaign ahead of the April 15 general election.
With world lauding Korea's virus responses, rival parties adopt new campaign strategies
The rival parties are using new campaign strategies for the April 15 general election, after Korea has emerged as an exemplar in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) had called for the need to support the party and the government when the country became one of the worst-hit countries after the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak in January. The DPK is now underscoring how reliable and dependable the party and the government are, as Korea is being lauded by other countries for its swift implementation of a mass-scale testing regimen as well as its consistent, transparent messaging to the public throughout the arc of the crisis.
More people caught violating two-week self-quarantine
While tens of thousands of people here have been ordered to self-quarantine to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, violations of the order continue to be reported, disrupting the health authorities' desperate fight against the outbreak, officials said Sunday. In a bid to cope with refusals to obey orders, the government strengthened the punishment of violators, starting Sunday ― Korean citizens who break self-quarantine can be jailed for up to one year and fined up to 10 million won ($8,000), while foreigners can be immediately deported. Previously, violators faced a fine of up to 3 million won.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Over 5,000 Jeju Massacre victims’ remains have yet to be found
“I came here because I had heard that my uncle went missing in Incheon Prison, but the ‘Additional Jeju April 3 Incident Investigation Report’ says differently. Is this record correct?” Kim Jeong-yong, a 64-year-old resident of Uigwi village in the Namwon township of Seogwipo, had a flushed expression on his face as he inquired about his uncle’s whereabouts on Apr. 1. Previously, Kim had been told that his uncle Kim Yun-il went missing while incarcerated at Incheon Prison during the events of the Jeju Massacre of April 3.
As airlines suffer losses, so do their subcontractors and partners
On the morning of Apr. 2, all was quiet at Korean Air’s airline meal production center, a three-story building near Incheon International Airport, in Incheon’s Jung District. There were no signs of the usual hustle and bustle of food preparation. The carts used to carry airline meals were stacked and empty; the long line of waiting refrigerated trucks that would have driven those carts to the airplanes was nowhere to be seen. Most of the freezers on the first floor that typically stored airline meals after preparation were marked with notices that said, “not in operation”; a few of them were even being used to store other items.
The quest to rediscover Jeju’s lost towns and villages
The 72nd anniversary of the Jeju Massacre of April 3, also known as the Jeju Uprising, has arrived. The camellias blossomed without fail, but nothing has changed. The “special Jeju April 3 act,” which among other things would have invalidated the military courts-martial against prisoners from the incident, was ultimately not approved by the 20th National Assembly. As another election season arrives, who can be said to be uncovering the truth of Jeju April 3 or assuaging the bitterness of the family members left behind? In this three-part series, we will be looking at the issues that remain unresolved 72 years later: the investigation, the missing, and compensation.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Koreans Tired of Prolonged Social Distancing
Koreans have been practicing strenuous social distancing for almost two months to stem the spread of the coronavirus and are growing increasingly impatient. Many people have begun to fill indoor spaces as well as the balmy outdoors, raising the risk of a renewed spike in infections. Everland amusement park just south of Seoul was packed with visitors on Wednesday afternoon. They were wearing masks and had their temperature checked at the entrance and were seated relatively far apart on the rides, but the size of the crowds was almost normal for a spring afternoon. On some popular rides people had to wait for 40 minutes to board.
Many Kids in Grandparents' Care as Schools Stay Closed
Four out of 10 office workers are getting help from their parents or relatives taking care of their housebound children amid the coronavirus epidemic. Schools are closed indefinitely and classes only begin online next week. In a straw poll of 500 workers released by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on Wednesday, 42.6 percent of respondents said that their children are being taken care of by their grandparents or other relatives.
Face Masks Invade Fashion
Face masks are making fashion history as the coronavirus epidemic invades every aspect of people's lives. "If there is a symbol of the current confusion and fear, the misinformation and anxiety, generated by the spread of the new coronavirus, it is the surgical face mask," says the New York Times. Manufacturers started running off fashionable visors two or three years ago, with designers featuring face masks as symbols of resistance with an apocalyptic tinge as fine-dust pollution became a major concern.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
Japan may likely issue state of emergency
There is growing concern across Japan that increasing COVID-19 cases will turn Tokyo into a new epicenter of the pandemic just as New York in the United States. With 118 new cases added to the total number on Saturday alone, Tokyo saw over 100 patients a day for the first time, NHK reported on Sunday. The daily new cases almost doubled from last week’s 63 cases. A total of 891 confirmed cases have been reported in Tokyo, making the capital city account for more than a fifth of the national tally of 4,209 cases.
Free Joseon helped Jo Song Gil with his defection
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that anti-North Korean group Free Joseon was involved in the defection of Jo Song Gil, a former North Korean acting ambassador to Italy who disappeared in November 2018. Quoting multiple sources who are familiar with the matter, the WSJ said Jo and his wife never came back from their morning walk, claiming that a Free Joseon driver took the couple.
Hyundai Motor Group offers special promotions in China after coronavirus
In an effort to find new customers and increase sales, Hyundai Motor Group has launched a major promotion in China, the only overseas market left as the coronavirus sweeps the entire world. The South Korean automaker announced Sunday that Beijing Hyundai and Dongfeng Yueda Kia began promotions from this month. Both companies will allow exchanges within a year of receipt if the customer has a change of heart or their financial situation changes.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Residents in “Exam Villages” Put Their Lives Up for Collateral
The rooms in the majority of gosiwons--dormitory-like rooms originally for people preparing for state examinations--in Seoul turned out to be half the size of the minimum standard for a residence. There were many rooms that did not have a separate window, bathroom, and heating and air conditioning. On April 2, the housing committee of the Seoul chapter of the Workers’ Party for Social Reforms held a press conference in front of the Gwanak-gu Office in Seoul and announced the result of the “2019 Survey of Gosiwons in Gwanak-gu.” The committee said, “The gosiwon residents have no housing rights, no right to life and no right to health,” and argued, “In a majority of these ‘exam rooms,’ people shared bathrooms and showers.
Sending Hand Sanitizers to North Korea: First COVID-19-Related Aid to the North
A private South Korean organization will deliver 100 million won worth of hand sanitizers to North Korea to support its fight against COVID-19. This is the first official aid to North Korea in connection to the novel coronavirus. On April 2, the Ministry of Unification announced that on March 31, it gave the approval for the transportation of goods out of the country to one private organization, which applied to deliver aid to North Korea after meeting all the requirements. North Korea is engaging in fierce quarantine to stop the spread of COVID-19, and eyes are on whether the latest approval will signal the beginning of support for North Korea’s quarantine efforts.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
COVID-19 puts airlines and aviation-related biz at risk of chain bankruptcy
The ripple from the devastation in the Korean air travel industry due to a global pandemic has developed into a shockwave, putting at least 250,000 jobs on the line and pushing a wide range of service businesses to the brink of bankruptcy. The catering center at the Incheon International Airport servicing Korean Air Lines, for one, packages just 3,000 in-flight meals a day, compared with 72,000 meals a year ago. Out of 1,300 usual workforce, 350 now report to work. At least 500 to 600 have been given the redundancy notice.
Korean duty free stores shutter more outposts amid virus spread
Major duty free store operators in Korea have chosen to shutter as air gateways stay idle amid coronavirus pandemic. Shilla Duty Free said on Thursday that it decided to close its Jeju store on weekends and holidays during this month. The latest restrictions to store operations, which under normal circumstances open 365 days a year, underline the impact the coronavirus is having on the travel retail industry in Korea.
NCSoft enforces four-day workweek in April for social distancing vs virus
South Korea’s leading online game developer and publisher NCSoft Corp. which has been most aggressive in social distancing practice amid virus threat by sending its entire work force on paid leave in late February will enforce four-day workweek in April. From next week to the final day of April, its entire 4,000-strong staff will report to work four days a week. On the weeks with holidays – April 15 for election and April 30 for Buddha’s birthday – they will come to work only three days. Work hours can be decided by individuals.
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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.deforum@sueddeutsche.de
Australia Brisbane Times www.brisbanetimes.com.au, syndication@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Sydney Morning Herald www.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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