Thursday, April 9, 2020

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

The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)

‘Khoka, then a little boy, removed all the darkness, odds from Bangladesh’
The following article was contributed by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in Seoul for publication on the occasion of the Independence Day of Bangladesh on March 26, 2020.—Ed. It was 1920, a century ago. It was a late spring evening, March the 17th. It was dark all around. It was one of the thousands of villages in Bangladesh - Tungipara at the present Gopalganj district. Born there was a baby boy, affectionately called ‘Khoka‘ - meaning a little boy - by his parents, who half a century later removed all the darkness and odds; changed the history of the Bengali nation and the world; created an independent and sovereign Bangladesh in 1971.

“Senegal, like Korea, is a model country in Africa controlling COVID 19”
BBC reported on April 4, 2020: “Senegal has cancelled giant celebrations to mark its 60th Anniversary of Independence because of coronavirus. The West African nation has 140 active cases of Covid-19, 66 people have recovered and one person has died over the last month. Senegal has become one of the countries in Africa leading the fight against coronavirus.” Korea is rated as a model country in the world in properly controlling the CORONA cases and so is considered Senegal. At this juncture, The Korea Post, publisher of 3 English and 2 Korean news media since 1958, recently had an exclusive interview with Ambassador Mamadou Guyeye Faye of Senegal in Seoul.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

S. Korean Schools Begin New Semester with Online Classes
Seniors at middle and high schools across the nation will begin the 2020 academic year with online classes Thursday following repeated postponements due to the novel coronavirus. The Education Ministry announced last month that the new academic year for elementary, middle and high schools will begin gradually with online classes to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. After preparations for a week, middle and high school students in their third and final year will start online Thursday.

S&P: Rating Downgrades for S. Korean Firms to Continue Amid Pandemic
Global credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s(S&P) says credit rating downgrades for South Korean firms will likely continue for the time being. S&P on Wednesday said a third of South Korean firms subject to its ratings are expected to be slapped with a “negative” outlook or put on “credit watch negative.” The agency said the downgrading is a continuation from a trend observed last year, but now it's being facilitated by the damaging spread of the novel coronavirus. It said it would likely hold up further given the prospect of local companies’ worsening profitability in the first half of this year.

'Extra Budget for COVID-19 Relief Aid to Be Submitted Next Week'
Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki says a supplementary budget plan to finance a one-off coronavirus relief fund for the public will be drafted based on the pre-announced eligibility criterion. His remark on Wednesday came as political parties urged the government to provide the emergency relief money to every household or citizen, instead of only those in the bottom 70 percent of household income. At a media briefing after the fourth emergency economic meeting presided over by President Moon Jae-in, Hong said there was no discussion about the eligibility criteria for the emergency aid, adding they were nearly done drafting the bill.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

S. Korean schools to resume classes online as virus woes linger
In an unprecedented plan, middle schools and high schools in South Korea are set to open online on Thursday as students stay home to avoid the coronavirus that has infected more than 10,000 here. The government had earlier postponed the new school year, which usually starts in March, by five weeks to April 6. The plan was once again updated as unexpected cluster infections broke out in various parts of the country. Last week, the government announced plans to first resume online classes for seniors at middle schools and high schools before expanding the remote learning program to other graders.

New virus cases hover around 50 for 3rd day amid strict social distancing
South Korea's new coronavirus cases hovered around 50 for the third straight day Wednesday, but the nation marked the grim milestone of 200 virus deaths. Health authorities renewed calls for people to maintain social distancing to curb the spread of the virus, as cluster infections at churches and hospitals, as well as new cases coming from overseas, are still rising steadily. The 53 new cases, detected Tuesday and up from 47 new cases a day ago, brought the nation's total number of infections to 10,384, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

S. Korea may suffer job losses amid pandemic: finance minister
South Korea's job creation may suffer a decline, as the coronavirus pandemic has strained the country's economy and business activities, the nation's chief economic policymaker said Thursday. "There is a possibility that unemployment may increase among part-time workers or small business owners," Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said during a meeting with economy-related ministers. "The number of applicants for unemployment allowances is estimated to have increased in March from a year earlier," he added.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

COVID-19 deaths surpass 200; 53 more infections reported
South Korea’s death toll from the novel coronavirus rose above 200 on Wednesday, with patients aged 80 or older making up the largest proportion of the deceased. After seeing fewer than 50 new infections for two consecutive days, new cases inched up 53 from the previous day, bringing the total to 10,384 as of Wednesday at 12:01 a.m., according to figures from the Korea Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

Seoul orders nightclubs, discos to close until April 19
The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Wednesday ordered the closure of entertainment establishments such as nightclubs and room salons until April 19, amid mounting concerns that mass infections may have occurred at a bar in the city. Mayor Park Won-soon announced the measure, which bans people’s gatherings at such entertainment venues, not the business itself, to last until April 19, when the country’s social distancing measures are due to be lifted.

Seoul to suspend visa waivers for countries that ban entry on South Koreans
South Korea will temporarily stop visa waiver programs for countries that bar entry to Koreans, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced Wednesday, amid concerns over a growing number of coronavirus infections coming from overseas.  The government will also step up entry restrictions on foreigners traveling for reasons that are not essential or urgent, the prime minister said. “While we maintain the principle of openness, the government will strengthen (entry) restrictions in accordance with the principle of reciprocity,” said Chung during a pan-government meeting on COVID-19, calling for related ministries to come up with follow-up measures for implementation.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Visa waivers to be suspended on 'reciprocal' basis
The government will temporarily suspend visa-free entry and visa waiver programs with countries that have taken similar actions against Korea, in its ongoing efforts to prevent COVID-19 cases of foreign origin, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Wednesday. The administration will also minimize the issuance of new visas. "The government will expand entry restrictions for foreigners whose visit to Korea is not essential and urgent," Chung said during a pan-government COVID-19 meeting.

Seoul orders shutdown of all bars, clubs
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon ordered the shutdown of all room salons, clubs, bars and discos across the city until April 19, Wednesday, after a coronavirus infection was reported at a room salon in the affluent Gangnam district. Previously, the city government recommended the shutdown to all 2,146 such outlets, but 422 were still up and running. The government has the authority to shut down businesses in times of national crisis.

Confusion continues over online classes
Teachers, parents and students were still unsure about what to expect from upcoming online classes, Wednesday, a day before the start of the unprecedented online-only spring semester for high school students and middle school seniors. Last week, the Ministry of Education said schools from elementary to high school will open Thursday but lectures should be offered virtually in an effort to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, plunging teachers, students and parents into panic.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

S. Korean defense minister urges US defense secretary to resolve unpaid leave of USFK employees
South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo recently suggested to US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper that the two find a way to quickly end the unpaid leave on which the US military has placed its South Korean employees. But the Hankyoreh could not immediately confirm how Esper had responded to Jeong’s proposal. “Defense Minister Jeong spoke on the phone with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper for about 20 minutes, starting around 8:30 pm on Monday.

S. Korea to pursue prosecution of quarantine violations with prison sentences
In an attempt to prevent people under self-quarantine from leaving their homes without permission, the South Korean government considered the option of forcing them to wear an electronic wristband linked to a smartphone application. A day later, however, officials shelved the idea in the face of criticism that it might be an excessive infringement of human rights. Instead, the government will take a tougher approach to punishment by having prosecutors ask that those who break quarantine rules be sent to prison.

S. Korea reports first successful case of convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19 patients
On Apr. 7, South Korea reported its first successful case of a COVID-19 patient in critical condition being treated with convalescent plasma. The country’s disease control authorities will soon be releasing a finalized version of guidelines for convalescent plasma therapy. Though no treatment has been developed for the coronavirus so far, plasma therapy is quickly becoming a leading candidate.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Samsung Posts Bumper Earnings Despite Epidemic
Samsung Electronics' first-quarter operating profit rose 2.73 percent to W6.4 trillion despite the coronavirus epidemic (US$1=W1,218). Sales jumped 4.98 percent to W55 trillion. The epidemic had a negative impact on smartphone and home appliance sales, but sales remained strong in the semiconductor division, the electronics giant said Tuesday. Market watchers had expected Samsung's overall operating profit to plummet, but the impact of the epidemic was smaller than expected.

Passenger Traffic at Incheon Airport at Historic Low
A mere 4,581 passengers traveled through Incheon International Airport on Monday, the fewest since the aviation hub opened in 2001. The lull came as 53 new coronavirus infections were confirmed in the country on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 10,384, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New infections slightly rose again after dropping below 50 on Monday for the first time in 46 days. The government set fewer than 50 new infections a day as the standard for flattening the curve.

Record-Low Turnout as Many Expats Robbed of Vote
Overseas voter turnout in the general elections has hit a record low as most expatriate Koreans were robbed of their franchise by the coronavirus epidemic. About a half of all eligible expats were completely barred from voting because Korean missions in their area were closed for voting. Of 171,959 expats eligible for overseas voting ahead of the April 15 general elections, almost half were unable to vote, while only 40,858 actually cast their ballots, a turnout of a dismal 23.8 percent, the National Election Commission said Tuesday.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

ILO says 81% of global workforce are impacted by COVID-19
Four out of five workers in the global workforce have been reportedly impacted by COVID 19 such as having lost jobs or working less hours. According to the International Labor Organization on Tuesday, 81 percent in the global workforce, 2.64 billion, are currently affected by full or partial workplace closures. Some 1.25 billion people have been impacted in the Asia Pacific region alone as a result of government measures to restrict travel and shutdown of commercial stores.

Lee Nak-yeon mentions new airports in Busan
In his visit to Busan on Wednesday to show support for his party, Lee Nak-yeon of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, who is in charge of the COVID-19 response committee, said he would resolve the issue surrounding the building of a new airport in the Southeast of the country.  “Busan is the second largest city in South Korea, and ensuring growth that matches its size is important not only for Busan but also for the entire nation,” said Lee at the Seomyeon station in Busan’s Busanjin District.

Companies switch up their logos to encourage social distancing
On the Splash screen of KakaoTalk appeared Kakao character Ryan wearing a face mask instead of the service’s usual speech bubble logo from March 26 to Sunday. Kakao said it temporarily changed the screen image of its services, including KakaoTalk, to participate in the social distancing campaign. With the South Korean government extending its social distancing campaign until April 19 due to the spread of the coronavirus, information technology (IT) companies have begun to participate in the campaign by temporarily changing their homepage images, company logos, or characters.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

System “Shuts Down” on the Day of Remote Class Inspections and a Day’s Class Material Accidently Gets Deleted
“The EBS Online Class server collapsed. What am I doing now, trying to book a (concert) ticket?” On the morning of April 6, three days before online classes begin for ninth graders and high school seniors, a string of posts appeared on social media from students who did not know what to do after they failed to log in to the EBS Online Class. This day, some schools had conducted an inspection of the remove learning system ahead of the online opening of schools. Meanwhile, a day’s class material posted by teachers nationwide in preparation for the online classes were deleted from the Cyber Learning System in the process of expanding the system, forcing the Korea Education and Research Information Service to post an apology on its website.

Local Governments Develop Food Delivery App Without Fees
South Korea’s number one restaurant delivery application, Baedal Minjok (Baemin) began implementing a new system for restaurant fees this month, but this led to opposition from restaurant owners, who witnessed their fees nearly double. In this situation, local governments have decided to develop a “good delivery app” without any commissions. Local governments decided to develop a public application to protect self-employed storeowners suffering from poor sales due to COVID-19 and from the burden of commissions. Among the local governments, Gunsan-si in Jeollabuk-do was the first to develop and launch a public delivery app, Baedal Myeongsu, last month. In Seoul, Gwangjin-gu is developing the application, Gwangjin Narumi, and Gyeonggi-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do have also launched the development of a public food delivery application.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

S. Korea vows extra stimulus package to aid exporters, local spending
The South Korean government will prepare another coronavirus relief package worth total 53.7 trillion won ($43.9 billion) aimed to bolster exports and domestic demand amid growing fears that the pandemic-driven economic fallout could be worse than during the previous financial crashes. During the fourth emergency economic council session held at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday, President Moon Jae-in vowed the government will provide 36 trillion won in trade finance for domestic exporters and 17.7 trillion won to promote domestic consumption, saying that the previous relief measures are not yet enough to weather the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.

S. Korea halts visa waivers and visa-free entry for countries banning Koreans
The Seoul government will temporarily halt visa waiver and visa-free entry programs for countries that forbid entry of South Koreans to restrict non-essential entries by foreigners. “While keeping the basis of openness, we will tighten (entry) restrictions based on a principle of reciprocity,” Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at a meeting held on Wednesday to explore ways to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The government will discuss stricter measures to prevent coronavirus cases being imported from other countries, Chung said, urging related ministries to set up their own plans.

New game pipeline from Korea packed in Q2 to dominate stay-at-home pastime
South Korean game developers are speeding up launch of new titles in the second quarter to capitalize on the stay-at-home lifestyle across the globe under pandemic threat. The country’s leading game developer Netmarble Corp. and Kosdaq-listed mobile game publisher Com2uS Corp. have already released new labels and many other companies are preparing launches, according to industry sources.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What are you waiting for?
Use us!
The Korea Post media are more than eager to be used, and to serve you—with the following five news outlets, 35 years old this year!

Korean-language Internet edition: http://www.koreapost.co.kr
English-language Internet edition: http://www.koreapost.com
Korean-language print newspaper:
http://pdf.koreapost.co.kr/38/3801.pdf
http://pdf.koreapost.co.kr/38/3802.pdf
http://pdf.koreapost.co.kr/38/3803.pdf
http://www.koreapost.co.kr/pdf/list.php?category=&syear=2018&smonth=03&sday=26&hosu=40
English E-daily: http://www.koreapost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=20600
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

저작권자 © The Korea Post 무단전재 및 재배포 금지