Monday June 8, 2020
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
Association of Korean Cultural Centers of Uzbekistan
Review film about how Koreans got to Uzbekistan, how they were met by the Uzbek people.
On how Koreans live in Uzbekistan today, about the landmark opening of the Palace of Korean Culture and Art, and how the Koreans of Uzbekistan celebrate Chusok.
"Korean businesses are wanted in int'l production, industrial development, construction, more"
Among the areas where Korean companies are most wanted in the Russian Federation are international production, development of industrial capacity, construction and regional infrastruec projects. This was disclosed by Trade Representative at a recent interview with Alexander Masaltsev of the Russian Federation in Seoul. Exerpts from the interview follow:
Special notice: The Korea Post is organizing a tour for the Ambassadors and Madams to the Pyeongkang Oriental Medicine Hospital on Tuesday June 9, 2010. Ambassadors and Madams are cordially invited to the Tour where an Oriental medicine pack against COVID-19 is presented to each Excellency. In the event of absence of Invitation, please advise the Editor at The Korea Post at 010-5201-1740.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
Last Group of Students Return to School Monday
In the final phase of South Korea's school reopening, one-point-35 million students return to school on Monday amid lingering concerns about the continued spread of COVID-19.
The Education Ministry said on Sunday that first-year middle school students and fifth and sixth graders in elementary schools are returning to classrooms.
After repeated postponements, the nation has reopened schools in stages beginning with high school seniors on May 20. The country's five-point-nine million students will all be back to school when the fourth and final phase is completed on Monday.
Rival Parties Remain at Odds over National Assembly Committees
Rival parties have yet to reach an agreement on how to form standing committees of the new National Assembly as the legal deadline is set to expire on Monday.
The floor leaders of the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition United Future Party held a meeting on Sunday to discuss the matter but failed to narrow differences. The two sides, however, agreed to continue discussions.
Rrival parties plan to hold meetings of their party members on Monday to discuss negotiation strategies on the matter.
N. Korean Leader Presides over Politburo Meeting
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reportedly presided over a politburo meeting of the Workers' Party and discussed measures to develop the country's chemical industry.
The Korean Central News Agency(KCNA) and other state media reported Monday that the Political Bureau of the party's Central Committee was held on Sunday.
The reports said the meeting discussed in depth crucial issues arising in further developing the self-sufficient economy of the country and improving the people’s standard of living.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
N.K. leader holds politburo meeting, makes no mention of inter-Korean issues
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has presided over a politburo meeting of the Workers' Party and discussed measures to develop the chemical industry, but inter-Korean issues and other external matters were not on the agenda, according to state media Monday.
The meeting, held Sunday, came just two days after the North vowed to abolish an inter-Korean liaison office in anger over anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets sent from South Korea. Four items were on the agenda, but the leaflet issue was not one of them, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
Despite success, BTS members say they are no different from ordinary youths
K-pop giants BTS is unquestionably one of the biggest stars in today's global entertainment, with international sell-out concerts and multiple chart-smashing records under its belt. But at heart, the seven members, all in their 20s, say they share more commonalities with an ordinary 20-something trying to get a grasp on life than meets the eye.
"To be really, really frank, we still feel very unsure and unsettled as we speak. Just like that day we left the school gates for the last time on graduation night," BTS leader RM said in a pre-recorded video speech for YouTube's "Dear Class of 2020" event Monday.
Foreigners extend stock sell-off to 4th straight month in May
Foreign investors became net sellers of South Korean stocks in May, extending their selling spree to a fourth straight month, data showed Monday.
Foreigners sold a net 4.06 trillion won (US$3.3 billion) worth of local stocks last month, according to the data from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS).
American investors sold a net 1.8 trillion won of stocks last month, while Saudi investors net purchased 600 billion won worth of stocks, according to the FSS.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
NK leader holds politburo meeting, makes no mention of inter-Korean issue
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has presided over a politburo meeting of the Workers' Party and discussed measures to develop the chemical industry, but inter-Korean issues and other external matters were not on the agenda, according to state media Monday.
The meeting, held Sunday, came just two days after the North vowed to abolish an inter-Korean liaison office in anger over anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets sent from South Korea. Four items were on the agenda, but the leaflet issue was not one of them, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
Virtual banks come of age in COVID-19 era
Amid the lingering virus pandemic, South Korea’s online banks are expanding their foothold faster than expected, and are gearing up for IPOs and partnerships with financial behemoths.
Amid the lingering virus pandemic, South Korea’s online banks are expanding their foothold faster than expected, and are gearing up for IPOs and partnerships with financial behemoths.
Court set to decide on Samsung heir Lee’s arrest
A South Korean court will decide Monday whether Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong should be arrested over his possible involvement in a series of alleged corporate frauds surrounding a 2015 merger between two key affiliates.
The high-stakes courtroom battle will take place at the Seoul Central District Court from 10 a.m., which will be attended by Lee and two ex-executives of Samsung Group -- Choi Ji-sung, former future strategy office chief, and Kim Jong-joong, former head the strategy team. The court’s decision is expected to come out later in the day or early next morning.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Samsung chief faces showdown with prosecution on Monday
Tensions are on the rise over the prosecution's request for an arrest warrant against Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, over allegations of Lee's involvement in 2015 in a controversial merger of two group affiliates, Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries.
A Seoul court will hold a hearing to decide whether to issue the warrant at 10:30 am today. If the warrant is approved, it will be the first time since 2017 that Lee will be arrested on criminal charges, which Samsung claims will trigger a leadership crisis in the nation's biggest conglomerate.
Head of shelter for ex-sex slaves found dead
The head of a shelter for South Korean victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery was found dead in her home in an apparent suicide, according to the police Sunday.
According to the police, her body was found in her apartment in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, at 10:35 a.m., Saturday. The police didn't find any traces of intruders and ruled out the possibility of homicide.
Coronavirus survivors face mental health challenges
In early March when the country's coronavirus crisis reached its peak, especially in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, President Moon Jae-in referred to the COVID-19 pandemic as a "war," during a weekly Cabinet meeting.
Survivors of a war may struggle with a psychiatric condition known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Other life-threatening experiences may present similar challenges as seen in former patients who have recovered from serious illnesses as they learn to cope with the mental health ramifications of those experiences.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
S. Korea, Japan set to clash even further as court releases a public notice of ruling
Conflict between Japan and South Korea may worsen again following the South Korean government’s petitioning of the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Japan’s export controls and a South Korean court’s recent move to seize and liquidate the assets of a Japanese company that has failed to provide compensation to victims of forced labor. The Japanese government, for its part, has responded by saying it will “retaliate” if the South Korean government moves forward with the seizure.
Two Koreas issue statements on anti-North propaganda balloons
For the first time in a while, North and South Korean authorities exchanged words on June 4 in response to North Korean defector groups attaching propaganda leaflets to balloons and launching them over the DMZ to North Korea (in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, on May 31). The North was represented by Kim Yo-jong, sister of leader Kim Jong-un and first vice director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea. In a private “conversation,” Kim called the balloon messages “a despicable act” that was “an affront to the highest dignity,” and noted “I have always hated those that turn a blind eye to or incite bad behavior more than the actors themselves.”
2020 Cannes Film Festival selects two S. Korean movies
The 2020 Cannes Film Festival has selected two South Korean films: Yeon Sang-ho’s “Peninsula,” the sequel to the zombie thriller “Train to Busan” (2016), and Im Sang-soo’s “Heaven: To the Land of Happiness,” selected from among 2,067 candidates. On June 4, festival coordinator Thierry Fremaux and Cannes President Pierre Lescure revealed the list of 56 films for this year’s official selection.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
U.S. Official Urges Korea to Be More Flexible in Cost-Sharing
An increasingly desperate U.S. State Department has urged Seoul to be more flexible in defense cost-sharing talks as officials come under growing pressure to deliver on President Donald Trump's exorbitant demands for a hike.
Marc Knapper, a deputy assistant secretary of state, claimed in a virtual seminar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies last Thursday there has been "very important progress" in the negotiations recently.
Summer Brings New Lockdown Headaches|
Summer is approaching and with it concerns over how to enforce social distancing at swimming pools or beaches. Doctors say there is no risk of infection through the swimming pool water itself.
Eom Joong-shik at Gachon University Gil Hospital said, "Most have been disinfected with highly concentrated chlorine, so coronavirus gets exterminated. There is no risk of infection even if an infected person goes into the water."
Healthy Lifestyle, Happy Thoughts Key to Preventing Dementia
Happy thoughts and a healthy lifestyle are key to preventing or slowing the onset of dementia, doctors say.
Some 1.66 million Koreans over 65 suffer from at least mild cognitive impairment, and the number keeps growing.
Kongju National University in a report based on 2017 government data said elderly people score higher in cognitive tests if they exercise, do not smoke and drink less alcohol.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
Trump orders withdrawal of 9,500 U.S. troops from Germany
U.S. President Donald Trump directed the Department of Defense to bring 9,500 U.S. troops in Germany back home by September, said The Wall Street Journal on Friday (local time). It is expected to increase concerns among other U.S. allies including South Korea, which is currently in negotiation for defense costs.
U.S. government officials were quoted by The Wall Street Journal as saying that President Trump’s military reduction order aims to cap the number of U.S. forces stationed in Germany at any given time to 25,000 personnel – around 9,500 down from the current level of 34,500.
Are Pyongyang’s moves meant to nullify inter-Korean agreement?
Insiders and outsiders of the South Korean military said follow-up measures to the recent warning by Kim Yo Jong, the head of the United Front Department at North Korean ruling Workers’ Party, to abolish the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement could be the North’s display of forces on multiple fronts aimed at nullifying areas subject to halting of hostile activities. The buffer areas in airspace, sea and land are the centerpiece of the military agreement designed to prevent accidental skirmishes between the two Koreas. Pundits say the North could stage a string of military measures or provocative actions discarding the agreement in succession to induce the South Korean military to respond, thus escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula.
Mom and pop investors are happy with 66.5 percent in stock yields
As the Korean stock market has entered the recovery phase since stock prices were in free fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, small investors have turned out to be one of the biggest beneficiaries with high stock yields. The market has been concerned if individual investors could see a huge loss during the time flocks of overseas investors left Korea. Nevertheless, mom and pop investors, better equipped with investment skills and technics than before, have made a good profit in the stock market.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Other than Living Expenses, House of Sharing Spent Less than 1% of Donations on Elderly Victims
It was revealed that the House of Sharing, a shelter for the surviving comfort women victims who suffered in the Japanese military, spent less than 1% of its donations on cultural activities and welfare of the elderly women with the exception of basic living expenses. The House of Sharing, an establishment of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, argued that it sent 40-60 million won of the donations it received to the facilities to use for the elderly women. This was the first time that the details of how the House of Sharing spent the donations were released to the public.
Pressure on South Korea or a Signal for Dialogue? Government to Promote Bill Banning Propaganda Flyers
A statement released by Kim Yo-jong, the first deputy director of the Workers’ Party of Korea and also the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, on June 4 has put the distribution of propaganda flyers aimed at North Korea in the spotlight as an important variable in inter-Korean relations. North Korea, which had consistently ignored the South Korean government’s efforts to improve inter-Korean relations, raised the issue and appears to be pressuring the South.
Taking Advantage of 177 Seats, the Ruling Party Crosses the Line
The Democratic Party of Korea’s unrestrained flight is shaking the political circle in the early days of the twenty-first National Assembly. Internally, the ruling party is stressing teamwork and refusing to tolerate “other views,” while on the outside, it is leading the National Assembly based on its power of 177 seats. The party’s leadership argued that it was the “thoughts of the people,” but inside and outside the party, more and more people are voicing concern that the ruling party is neglecting democracy and the parliamentary system.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
Lone Star hints intent on out-of-court settlement with Seoul over KEB dispute
U.S. private equity firm Lone Star Funds suggested it was open to “amicable and sensible” out-of-court option to settle the longstanding dispute with the Korean government over its investment in now-defunct Korea Exchange Bank, a senior executive said.
“Lone Star believes it is always better to resolve differences amicably and sensibly wherever possible, rather than simply litigate,” said Michael Thomson, general counsel of Lone Star Funds, in an exclusive written interview with Maeil Business Newspaper on Thursday. “And in this case, Lone Star believes a reasonable and defensible compromise would be possible.”
SK Group in review after being approached by AirAsia for 10% equity invest
South Korea’s SK Group is said to be considering buying about 10 percent of AirAsia Group, a Malaysian low-cost carrier strapped in liquidity woes due to COVID-19.
Local media in Malaysian reported on Thursday that an investment entity set up by SK Group companies with a focus on Southeast Asia has been approached with the offer for a 10 percent stake for 100 billion won ($82 million) in total or 1 Malaysian ringgit ($0.23) per piece in AirAsia, the largest budget carrier in Asia. The budget airline reportedly has been tapping various investors for cash to solve its immediate liquidity issues caused by the coronavirus crisis.
S. Korean data exchange platform KDX employs AI to offer smarter data library
South Korea’s KDX has employed artificial intelligence for smarter sourcing and data offer.
KDX is the country’s first private-run data exchange platform. It collects data from local retail companies to provide combined and processed data to fuel data-driven marketing activities and advertising, as well as serves as a platform for trading data. It was established in December 2019 by Maeil Broadcasting Network (MBN) in consortium with local enterprises.
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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.de forum@sueddeutsche.de
AustraliaBrisbaneTime
www.brisbanetimes.com.au syndication@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Sydney Morning Heraldwww.smh.com.au
Colombia Reports http://www.colombiareports.com
BogotaFree Planet http://www.bogotafreeplanet.com,bfp@bogotafreeplanet.com
El Universal https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english
Andes https://www.redaktionstest.net/andes-info-ec/
Ecuador Times https://www.ecuadortimes.net/
The Jordan Times https://www.jordantimes.com/
LSM.lv https://www.lsm.lv//
The Baltic Times http://www.baltictimes.com lithuania@baltictimes.com, estonia@baltictimes.com, editor@baltictimes.com
El Pais https://english.elpais.com/
Philippine Daily Inquirer https://www.inquirer.net/
Daily News Hungary https://dailynewshungary.com/
Budapest Times https://www.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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