Wednesday July 01, 2020
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
Chungju City signs investment accord with Mighty Water, Cheonam Food sign KWN14.9 billion
The Chungju City government has signed investment agreements with promising start-ups companies who begin new businesses in the region, invigorating the local economy, which has stagnated due to the spread of COVID-19 epidemics.
The province and the Chungju City signed an investment agreement worth KWN14.9 billion won with two companies, Mighty Water Co., Ltd. and Cheonam Food Co., Ltd., at the central tower conference room at the Chungju City Hall on June.
http://www.koreapost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=20994
Yoga is an ancient Indian practice for physical, mental, spiritual well-being
Question: What is the meaning and significance of Yoga?
Answer: Yoga is an ancient Indian practice for physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. Strongly rooted in ancient Indian philosophy, it means to ‘unite’ signifying the union of the mind, body and soul to the universe. According to yogic scriptures, the practice of Yoga leads to the union of individual consciousness with the universal consciousness. One who experiences this oneness of existence is said to be in “Yoga” as is termed as a “Yogi” who has attained a state of freedom.
http://www.koreapost.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=20992
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
South Korea Reports 51 COVID-19 Cases, Including 12 in Gwangju
South Korea’s daily COVID-19 cases have bounced back to over 50 as clusters showed continuing signs of spreading beyond the Seoul metropolitan area.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(KCDC) added 51 cases from the past 24 hours ending 12 a.m. on Wednesday, lifting the tally to 12-thousand-851.
Of the new cases, 36 were local infections with 20 reported from the wider Seoul area, including 11 in Gyeonggi Province and nine in the capital city.
Yomiuri: Biegun Trying to Deliver Trump's Message to Pyongyang
A Japanese daily reported that U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, who is also Washington's point man on North Korea, is trying to deliver a message from President Donald Trump to Pyongyang.
The Yomiuri Shimbun said Wednesday that Biegun is expected to attempt a meeting with the North Koreans at the truce village of Panmunjeom through South Korea's mediation when he visits Seoul early this month.
Ruling Camp Moves to Implement Extra Budget, Anti-Corruption Agency
Amid a prolonged boycott of parliamentary proceedings by the main opposition United Future Party, the ruling Democratic Party is pushing forward with key state-sponsored bills by using its status as a majority.
While moving quickly to pass the largest ever extra budget, the liberal party also seeks to convene another extra session to handle a plan regarding the creation of an agency to investigate corruption by high-profile public figures. Meanwhile, the conservative party is mulling ways to keep the ruling camp in check.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
New virus cases rebound; cluster infections simmering beyond capital area
The number of new virus cases in South Korea bounced back Wednesday as cluster infections continued to increase in areas beyond the Seoul metropolitan area amid a sustained rise in imported cases.
The country added 51 cases, including 36 local infections, raising the total caseload to 12,850, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Seoul still open for talks over trade row with Tokyo
South Korea said Wednesday it is still open to talks with Japan to settle the yearlong trade spat with the Asian neighbor but hinted that it has no intention to drop its complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO).
"We are always open to talks and communications with Japan. But we have not yet received any requests from Tokyo," Na Seung-sik, deputy minister for trade and investment at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, said during a meeting with reporters.
U.S. nat'l security adviser calls on N. Korea to stop provocations, return to dialogue
U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien on Tuesday called on North Korea to refrain from provocations and return to dialogue.
O'Brien's comment comes after North Korea blew up an inter-Korean liaison office in anger over anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets sent by defectors but then suspended plans to take military action against South Korea.
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Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
S. Korea reports 51 new cases of coronavirus infection
The number of new virus cases in South Korea bounced back Wednesday as cluster infections continued to increase in areas beyond the Seoul metropolitan area amid a sustained rise in imported cases.
The country added 51 cases, including 36 local infections, raising the total caseload to 12,850, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
Thinner, anti-droplet masks available at offline outlets
South Korean retailers began to sell thinner anti-saliva face masks at their offline outlets on Wednesday as demand for the masks designed to fight the new coronavirus is growing amid hot weather.
Anti-droplet masks hit the shelves at major department stores, discount outlets and convenience stores in a full-fledged manner as mask producers have sharply increased the supply of such masks.
New era of military service begins
The nation's nearly 70-year-long conscription policy has entered a new stage, Tuesday, with the military allowing alternatives to mandatory military service.
The change became possible following a June 2018 Constitutional Court ruling that found a relevant law unconstitutional for failing to institute measures for alternative public services for conscientious objectors who refuse military service for religious or other ideological reasons.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Chaebols perform better when management misconduct is properly punished by law
South Korea is known for its chaebol, the sprawling conglomerates owned and controlled by dynastic families. But what if the owners aren’t behind the wheel — does that endanger chaebol management and cause stock prices to fall?
Blue House criticizes Japan’s opposition to S. Korea’s inclusion in expanded G7
On June 29, the Blue House expressed strong displeasure with the Japanese government for making negative comments about South Korea attending the G7 summit. This appears to be calculated criticism of Tokyo for dragging out its export controls for a year now and for stubbornly obstructing the Korean Peninsula peace process, as recounted in the memoir by former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton.
Unification Ministry completes hearing on revoking non-profit status of groups attempting balloon
The Ministry of Unification (MOU) announced on June 29 that it had completed its hearings on the question of revoking the non-profit status for the North Korean defector groups Fighters for Free North Korea (FFNK, chairperson Park Sang-hak) and Keun Saem (“Big Spring,” chairperson Park Jung-oh), which have been using large balloons and plastic water bottles to disseminate propaganda leaflets in North Korea.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Public Payroll Costs Surpass W30 Trillion
Public payrolls have surpassed W30 trillion for the first time ever as the government continues to give all temporary workers permanent contracts (US$1=W1,204).
At the same time new hires have either been halted or reduced as staff costs increase at cash-strapped state-run companies, including those involved in new-energy projects.
According to data from the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Tuesday, the total public payroll budget has increased by W2.7 trillion from last year to W30.29 trillion. The cost was only W21.1 trillion in 2015.
Coronavirus Drug Available Only for Severe Cases
The antiviral drug Remdesivir, which has been used with some success to treat coronavirus patients in the U.S., is now available here but only for severe case, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.
A day earlier the KCDC said the experimental antiviral drug will not be available till later this year for ordinary patients with milder symptoms. Kwon Jun-wook, the deputy chief of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, "At present, all supplies of Remdesivir appear to be focused in the U.S. Negotiations for supplies outside of the U.S. appear to be possible after August."
Small Religious Gatherings to Remain Banned
Health authorities have warned they could ban religious gatherings as spate of infections occurred at small churches in the Seoul metropolitan region and at a Buddhist temple in Gwangju.
Kwon Joon-wook, the deputy chief of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told reporters on Tuesday, "We've confirmed that infections occurring through religious services or gatherings have spread to a variety of groups in communities."
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
US-China tensions escalate
China passed the Hong Kong security law, and, in response, the United States ended arms exports to Hong Kong and restricted the territory’s access to hi-tech products on Monday (local time) as it moves to strip away the special status of the territory. Amid rising tensions between Washington and Beijing, Hong Kong’s future is as uncertain as ever.
Former Daimler engineering head joins Hyundai Motor Group
Hyundai Motor Group said on Tuesday that it has appointed Martin Zeilinger, former head of Pre-Development of Daimler Trucks, as Executive Vice President and head of Commercial Vehicle (CV) Development Tech Unit. Zeilinger, who starts his first day at Hyundai today, will be in charge of research and development (R&D) of eco-friendly commercial vehicles, such as hydrogen-powered trucks and buses.
South Koreans can travel Europe again from July 1
South Koreans can travel Europe again from July 1. News outlets including BBC reported Monday (local time) that the European Union allowed entry of citizens from 14 countries including Korea.
Countries allowed into the European Union are South Korea, Japan, Australia, Canada, Algeria, Georgia, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay and more. According to BBC, these countries had less COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the previous two weeks, which is why the EU decided that it was safe to allow entry.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
“Not Like This” Nurses Head to Cheong Wa Dae
On June 29, nurses in surgical gowns carried picket signs and appeared in front of Cheong Wa dae in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Shin Dong-hun, a nurse who works at Jeju National University Hospital flew all the way to Seoul this day to hold a one-person protest. The sign he held read, “Establish Public Hospitals! The Proportion of Public Hospital Beds in South Korea Is Among the Lowest in the OECD.”
For Better or Worse, Now the Responsibility All Lies with the Democratic Party
The negotiations on committee members and chairs for the first half of the twenty-first National Assembly eventually collapsed. In a parliamentary session on June 29, the Democratic Party of Korea unilaterally elected the chairs of eleven standing committees with the exception of the Intelligence Committee. This was the first time in 32 years that the ruling party practically occupied the chairs of all standing committees since the thirteenth National Assembly in 1988, when the lawmakers first began negotiations to form parliamentary committees. The United Future Party criticized the ruling party for “parliamentary dictatorship” and warned of political confrontation as the opposition lawmakers refused the assignment to standing committees determined by the chairman of the National Assembly, Park Byeong-seug.
Despite the Recommendation by the Investigation Review Committee, Prosecutors Lean Toward Indicting Lee Jae-yong
At present, all eyes are on the Prosecution Service to see if the prosecutors will prosecute Lee Jae-yong (Jay Y. Lee, 52, pictured), vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, allegedly involved in various illegal acts in the process of merging Samsung C&T with Cheil Industries.
On June 26, the investigation review committee at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office recommended the Service drop the charges against Lee, but it is still very likely for the prosecutors to indict the vice chairman of Samsung.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
S. Korea exports in June down 10.9%, but rate of decline slows
South Korean exports in June dipped 10.9 percent from a year ago, falling for the fourth straight month but at a slower pace as global business activity started to resume amid easing of coronavirus lockdowns.
Outbound shipments in June totaled $39.21 billion, down 10.9 percent from the same month a year earlier, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Wednesday.
For Better or Worse, Now the Responsibility All Lies with the Democratic Party
The negotiations on committee members and chairs for the first half of the twenty-first National Assembly eventually collapsed. In a parliamentary session on June 29, the Democratic Party of Korea unilaterally elected the chairs of eleven standing committees with the exception of the Intelligence Committee. This was the first time in 32 years that the ruling party practically occupied the chairs of all standing committees since the thirteenth National Assembly in 1988, when the lawmakers first began negotiations to form parliamentary committees.
Despite the Recommendation by the Investigation Review Committee, Prosecutors Lean Toward Indicting Lee Jae-yong
At present, all eyes are on the Prosecution Service to see if the prosecutors will prosecute Lee Jae-yong (Jay Y. Lee, 52, pictured), vice chairman of Samsung Electronics, allegedly involved in various illegal acts in the process of merging Samsung C&T with Cheil Industries.
On June 26, the investigation review committee at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office recommended the Service drop the charges against Lee, but it is still very likely for the prosecutors to indict the vice chairman of Samsung.
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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 Herald www.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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