Friday July 10, 2020
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
“Labor, management, government should share sufferings to beat COVID-19, enhance mutual benefits”
President Moon Jae-in said, “Together our efforts to protect jobs and businesses, the government desires that labor and management agree to share suffering and work together for mutual benefits.”
Speaking at the 35th Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Masnion of Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on July 7, 2020, President Moon then stated that the resentatives from labor, management and the Government reached a tentative agreement at the meeting convened to help overcome the COVID-19 crisis, but they failed to arrive at a final deal due to the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ last-minute absence at the signing ceremony.
Korea hosts Plaque of Peace presentation ceremony to thank the U.N. veterans of Korean War
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (Minister Park Sam-duck) hosted a presentation ceremony of “Plaque of Peace” at the Seokjojeon at the Deoksu-gung Palace in Seoul on July 7, 2020, to express Korea’s gratitude to the service and sacrifice of the United Nations Forces veterans who participated in the Korean War (1950-3).
The day coincides with July 7, 1950 when the U.N. resolution was adopted to create the United Nations Command, the ceremony will take place at Deoksu-gung, the base of the Korean Empire’s diplomacy.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon Found Dead after Being Reported Missing
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon was found dead hours after he was first reported missing.
Police said on Friday that Park’s body was found around midnight near Sukjeong Gate at Mount Bukak in northern Seoul, where he was last seen alive. It is believed he committed suicide.
The police search started after the mayor’s daughter reported his disappearance at 5:17 p.m. Thursday, saying he had not been reached since he left home four or five hours earlier, reportedly after he said something she believed sounded like last words.
Kim Yo-jung: Another US Summit Won't Take Place This Year
The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has dismissed the possibility of a summit with the United States this year, but left the door open for talks.
In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo-jong said it's her personal opinion, but any summit between North Korea and the U.S. will not take place this year. Kim, however, added that people "never know" what will happen.
Chief Prosecutor Concedes to Justice Minister's Order over High-Profile Case
Anchor: Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl has effectively accepted Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae's order to stay away from a controversial case involving one of Yoon's key aides. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office revealed the decision on Thursday, shortly before the deadline the justice minister set in her 24-hour ultimatum.
Kim Bum-soo has more on the ongoing power struggle between the administration and the prosecution.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Seoul mayor found dead hours after reported missing: police
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon was found dead in Seoul on Friday, hours after he was reported missing, police said.
A police search team found his body in the forested hills of Mount Bukak near his official residence, one minute after midnight. He is presumed to have taken his own life.
Police plan to investigate the exact cause of his death.
Tougher anti-infection measures set to be implemented at churches
South Korea will begin Friday to ban churches from holding small gatherings other than regular worship services in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus tied to religious facilities.
Churches should also use QR-code based entry logs as part of anti-infection measures, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters.
S. Korea to spend big on development of COVID-19 vaccine, drug
South Korea will spend 197 billion won (US$162 million) on supporting vaccine and treatment drug development for COVID-19, the health ministry said Thursday.
Of the total, 57.6 percent, or 111.5 billion won, will be used to find vaccines and treatment drugs.
Local biopharmaceutical firms, such as Celltrion Inc. and Korea Green Cross Corp., are developing antibody and blood plasma drugs, respectively, with actual clinical trials on humans to begin before late August.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Seoul mayor found dead hours after reported missing: police
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon was found dead in Seoul on Friday, hours after he was reported missing, police said.
A police search team found his body in the forested hills of Mount Bukak near his official residence, one minute after midnight. He is presumed to have taken his own life.
'Digital Prison' reveals identities of child porn site operator and judges who released him
The operator of "Digital Prison," an overseas-based website, has revealed the identities of infamous child porn site operator Son Jong-woo and three judges who recently rejected the U.S. government's extradition request for him.
The unidentified operator says the purpose of creating the site was to "punish the criminals with the punishment they would fear the most ― exposing their identities."
Ball is again in North Korea's court
With the U.S. reaffirming its willingness for talks with North Korea, all eyes are on whether Pyongyang will step back from its hostile stance and come back to negotiations over sanctions relief for denuclearization.
Washington's renewed efforts to resume talks are seen as a move to coordinate the conditions for a balanced agreement that is conducive to peace on the Korean Peninsula.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Biegun expresses support for inter-Korean cooperation during Seoul visit
While visiting South Korea after half a year’s absence, US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun said, “The United States strongly supports inter-Korean cooperation, and we believe this plays an important component in creating a more stable environment on the Korean Peninsula.”
While Biegun, the US’ special representative for North Korea, didn’t send Pyongyang a forward-looking message, the fact that he emphasized the importance of inter-Korean cooperation over denuclearization suggests a subtle shift in Washington’s attitude.
S. Korean government tries to sooth public anger at housing crisis by forcing public officials to sell off excess property
The South Korean government and ruling Democratic Party are trying to soothe public anger by calling on senior government officials who own multiple houses to sell their superfluous property. This measure, which aims to produce an emotional response rather than tackle the root cause of the anger, appears to reflect the ruling party’s sense of urgency and desperation.
During a meeting of the government’s COVID-19 task force at the Central Government Complex in Seoul on July 8, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun instructed government ministries and local governments to quickly determine how many residential properties are owned by senior public servants and have them sell off their extra properties.
Wednesday demonstrations converted into “press conferences” to abide by assembly ban
The weekly Wednesday demonstrations in front of the Statue of Peace in Seoul calling for an apology and compensation from Japan to former comfort women are being converted into “press conferences” to abide by disease prevention measures that ban public assemblies. It press conference involved people from all over the world sharing images of Statues of Peace from 78 sites around Korea and 12 sites abroad, using an app developed by AR firm Doodle. (Park Jong-shik, staff photographer)
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon Found Dead
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon was found dead around midnight after a seven-hour search.
Police said Park's daughter reported him missing late Thursday afternoon after he had not been seen since leaving his home in the morning.
Records show the mayor spoke with someone at 2:42 p.m. in Seoul's Jongno district and his mobile phone signal ended at a golf range in Mt. Bukak at around 4 p.m., where the body was eventually found by sniffer dogs.
Kim Jong-un in Belated Visit to Grandfather's Mausoleum
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Wednesday visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to pay his respects at the embalmed corpse of his grandfather Kim Il-sung on the 26th anniversary of his death.
Earlier, Kim Jong-un sparked furious speculation about his health by failing to visit the mausoleum on his grandfather's birthday on April 15.
North Korean state media said Kim junior was accompanied by senior party, government, and military officials, such as Choe Ryong-hae, the head of the rubberstamp parliament, and Premier Kim Jae-ryong.
All Small Religious Gatherings to Be Banned
All small religious gatherings like retreats, prayer meetings, Bible studies and choir practice will be banned from Friday, health authorities said Wednesday. Even during larger services, congregants including the choir must wear masks.
The move was prompted by a spate of new coronavirus infections centered on small religious gatherings. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Wednesday, "All small gatherings and supply of meals at churches will be banned and churches must keep an entry log."
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
Satellite imagery shows activity at N. Korea’s nuclear facility
Signs have been detected that North Korea is developing nuclear warheads in Wollo-ri near the capital city of Pyongyang. This is the first time that a facility presumed to be designed for fabricating warheads has been uncovered in the North. As the disclosure comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his willingness to have another summit meeting with Kim Jong Un, experts are wondering how this will affect the meeting of the two heads of state before the U.S. presidential re-election in November.
KakaoTalk has more users than Naver, says a June analysis
It has been analyzed in a report that South Korean mobile application KakaoTalk surpassed Korea’s largest portal Naver in the number of users and usage time in June.
Big data analytics business IGAworks on Thursday carried out an analysis of Android-run mobile devices that are used in South Korea to study MAU, Monthly Active User, using its data analytics program “Mobile Index” last month.
S. Korean student in France seriously injured from racial terror attack
A South Korean student in his 20s was ridiculed racially and seriously injured after being stabbed in southern French. The hatred toward Asians following the spread of COVID-19 is causing concerns among the South Korean community in Europe.
The South Korean Embassy in France and local media reported that a South Korean student aged 29 was assaulted and stabbed by three local teenagers at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday in front of opera house Corum in the center of Montpellier.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
“‘Private’ Punishment Is Our Only Option” An Incapable State Gives Rise to a Digital Prison
The Digital Prison, which releases the personal details of violent criminals, such as sex offenders, child abusers and murderers, is gaining public support. Behind the rise of the Digital Prison lies the disappointment and distrust in the current judicial system, which seems incapable of “justly” punishing sex offenders.
Hwang Da-ye (27), currently seeking employment, argued that the existence of the Digital Prison showed how lightly our society viewed sex crimes. She said, “I can’t say that there are no legal problems, but as a woman I want to support it. Since the criminals posted on the website violated the rights of women by carelessly selling and buying their sexuality, I actually think it is, in a way, just punishment. There are many women who opted to take their lives because of online sex crimes.”
A Worker Infected with COVID-19 at Coupang Logistics Center Requests Recognition of Industrial Accident
A worker who was infected with COVID-19 while working at the Coupang logistics center in Bucheon was the first to request recognition of an industrial accident.
On July 8, a committee to help workers who fell victim to COVID-19 at Coupang said, “We received a request from a worker who was infected with COVID-19 while working at the Coupang Bucheon Logistics Center to recognize this as an industrial accident.”
A Blind Trust for the Real Estate of Senior Public Officials with Multiple Properties Could Be an Alternative
A movement to restrict the possession of multiple properties by senior public officials and politicians with laws and institutions is spreading among the ruling and opposition parties as well as the civil society. On July 7, Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong suggested that the United Future Party “adopt a blind trust for real estate as a party platform.” He argued that for the government and the National Assembly to draw up policies and regulations on real estate, “They have to clean their hands first.” Earlier on July 5, Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung first made the suggestion and said, “Let’s ban senior public officials from owning homes other than the one they reside in just like the blind trust for stocks.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
S. Korean ruling party to propose 8.2% maximum property ownership tax
South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party is preparing to propose a steep increase – up to 8.2 percent – in property ownership tax for multiple home ownership to clamp down speculative housing bubble in the country.
According to sources from the ruling party and related government ministries on Thursday, Park Hong-keun of the ruling Democratic Party is expected to submit a revised bill of the country’s property ownership tax law that proposes to raise property ownership tax for multiple home ownership to maximum 8.2 percent to curb speculative property investment in the country at the National Assembly early next week.
Hyundai Motor opens year-round hiring for overseas talents
South Korea’s largest automaker Hyundai Motor Co. will be opening year-around recruitment for overseas talents starting this month as it seeks to enhance brain power in new technologies behind future mobility.
Those studying abroad for higher and specialized degrees are invited to apply anytime through the corporate webpage. Applicants can be Korean native or foreign nationals who have a master’s or doctor’s degree in the area from schools outside Korea or work experience equivalent to that, the company announced Wednesday.
Initial welfare claims in Korea by May near full 2019 count amid virus fallout
More than 100,000 South Koreans have filed initial claims for social welfare by May this year, near the full count for 2019, reflecting the pandemic’s devastating toll on the bottom class living off precarious earnings.
Enrollment in monthly state subsidies for basic living expenses totaled 1,999,388 as of May, up 109,764 from January, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Thursday.
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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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