Thursday September 24, 2020
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
“We try to make Nowon-gu where people will say they won’t leave”
Chairperson Choi Yoonnam of the Nowon District Council in Seoul said, “Many people make great efforts to increase their happiness index and it is the fixed aim of our district to it one where the people would say: ‘I do not want to leave the Nowon-gu District where I wish to stay for good’.”
This statement by Chairperson Choi was made at a recent interview with The Korea Post media, publisher of 3 English and 2 Korean-language media publications since 1985. Details of the interview follow:
Embassy of India hosts a 10-day online workshop with globally renowned experts
Indian Cultural Centre, Embassy of India, Seoul organized a ten-day online workshop on ‘Facets of Modern India’ by globally renowned experts from India - a truly master class of ideas of India, by top class, best and brightest minds from India.
Indian Cultural Centre in Seoul has been a pioneer, in fact a first, in starting this truly intellectual enterprise among all the Indian Cultural Centres worldwide. The sole mission was to develop a rich and nuanced understanding of Modern India, the civilization, the state, in all its diverse manifestations amongst audiences abroad that always wanted to know more and more about India.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
New COVID-19 Cases Top 100 Again
South Korea's new COVID-19 cases have topped 100 for two consecutive days.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency(KDCA) said 125 cases were confirmed in the 24 hours to 12 a.m. Thursday, raising the accumulated total to 23-thousand-341.
Of the new cases, 110 were community infections while 15 were imported.
The country's new daily infections had been in triple digits for 37 days from mid-August, but fell to below 100 from Sunday to Tuesday.
Missing S. Korean Official Likely Shot Dead by N. Korea
A South Korean official who went missing near the de facto inter-Korean border in western waters is presumed to have been shot dead by North Korean soldiers.
According to government sources on Wednesday, South Korean authorities presume North Korean officials shot the man to death in accordance with the "shoot-to-kill orders" imposed in the border area to prevent the outbreak of COVID-19.
The body was reportedly retrieved and cremated by the North.
Pompeo Likely to Visit S. Korea in Early October
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will likely visit South Korea early next month.
A government source in Seoul said on Wednesday that Pompeo will probably come to South Korea on October 7 for a two-day visit. Another source said Pompeo will also travel to Japan to meet with new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
Talks are reportedly underway between Seoul and Washington to coordinate Pompeo's trip, including the size of his entourage and schedule in South Korea.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
New virus cases over 100 for 2nd day, sporadic cluster infections still worrisome
South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed over 100 for the second straight day Thursday, as sporadic cluster infections continued to strain the country's virus fight ahead of major holidays.
The country added 125 more COVID-19 cases, including 110 local infections, raising the total caseload to 23,341, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
South Korea had reported less than 100 new virus cases for three straight days from Sunday before the daily tally bounced back to over 100 Wednesday.
PM says gov't won't permit any forms of mass rallies on national holiday
The government will not permit any modified forms of mass rallies in central Seoul on a national holiday early next month, the prime minister said Thursday as the country is bracing for a potential flare-up of COVID-19 cases ahead of the extended traditional holiday.
The remark is seen as directed at "drive-thru" rallies proposed by some main opposition party members as an alternative to the prohibited mass outdoor rallies at Gwanghwamun in central Seoul on the Oct. 3 National Foundation Day.
Missing official near sea border likely shot dead by N. Korea
A South Korean official who went missing near the de facto maritime border this week is presumed to have been shot dead by North Korean soldiers while trying to defect to the North, sources from Seoul's spy agency said Wednesday.
The 47-year-old official's body was retrieved and cremated by the North, while the exact reason of the shooting is still unknown, according to the sources.
The official affiliated with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries disappeared from the 500-ton boat before noon Monday when it was patrolling around 10 kilometers south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL).
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
S. Korean president urges for end-of-war declaration during 75th UN General Assembly
South Korean President Moon Jae-in asked the international community to support a declaration of the end of the Korean War. Moon expressed his commitment to restarting the Korean Peninsula Peace Process, which has ground to a halt. He also extended an overture to North Korea, asking it to help set up a Northeast Asia body to cooperate on disease control and public health.
“An end-of-war declaration would open the door to a permanent peace regime, along with denuclearization, on the Korean Peninsula. It is a first step by which we can confirm our mutual `commitment to peace,” Moon said during his keynote address at the 75th UN General Assembly on Sept. 22, delivered via video link.
Why has Suga been so cold toward S. Korea thus far?
“When I joined the world of politics in Yokohama 45 years ago, without any relatives here or other connections to the region, I found myself at your office, Mr. Okonogi.”
On Sept. 21, a Japanese holiday known as Respect for the Aged Day, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga paid a visit to the grave of his benefactor, Hikosaburo Okonogi, former minister of construction. In 1975, Suga was hired as Okonogi’s secretary, a position he held for the next 11 years. After that, he served on the Yokohama city council, which proved to be his launchpad for a seat in Japan’s House of Representatives in 1996.
Cisco may be first target for China’s retaliation against US sanctions, WSJ reports
As China develops a plan to retaliate against UN sanctions on Chinese companies such as Huawei and TikTok, the Chinese authorities are reportedly mulling over which American companies to target. Amid speculation that major American IT firms such as Apple, Qualcomm, and Cisco could face retaliation, a new report says that telecommunications equipment firm Cisco appears to be included on China’s list. China is expected to release its blacklist of companies facing retaliation after the US presidential election on Nov. 3 in consideration of political repercussions.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Low Marriage Rate Made Worse by Coronavirus
Marriages have dwindled even more drastically amid the coronavirus epidemic this year.
According to Statistics Korea on Wednesday, only 126,367 couples tied the knot from January to July, the fewest since statistics began in 1981.
In previous years around 150,000 couples were married during the same period.
In July 17,080 couples married, down 10.9 percent on-year.
Most Jobseekers to Look for Work over Chuseok
Most jobseekers will keep looking for work over Chuseok or Korean Thanksgiving, a straw poll suggests.
Employment search portal Saramin polled 2,266 jobseekers about their plans for Chuseok and found that 62.2 percent will be looking for work. Some 52.6 percent said they do not plan to meet up with their family and relatives.
Asked why, 64.6 percent said they did not want to miss any opportunities at a time when job offers are so scarce.
Suicide Remains Biggest Cause of Death Among Young People
Korea still has the most suicides in the OECD and their numbers are rising despite government efforts to reduce them.
According to Statistics Korea's 2019 data on causes of death released Tuesday, the country's suicide rate stood at 26.9 per 100,000 people last year, up 0.9 percent from the year before.
The rate fell from 28.5 in 2013 to 24.3 in 2017 but then rose again.
Suicide deaths increased from 12,463 in 2017 to 13,799 people last year or a daily average of 38. That made suicide was the country's fifth leading cause of death in all age groups but the leading cause among young people.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
Jung Eun-kyeong, Bong Joon-ho make it to TIME’s 100 Most Influential People
Jung Eun-kyeong, the commissioner of Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), and director Bong Joon-ho have made it to U.S. weekly news magazine TIME’s 100 Most Influential People 2020. This year’s list features heavily people related to COVID-19, and Jung has been listed along with Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who is in charge of responding to the pandemic in the United States.
NK gearing up for massive parade : New ICBM TELs spotted
The US estimates that the DPRK is preparing for a massive parade on Oct 10 which will likely involve as many as 20000 people. The Donga Ilbo has learned that North Korea regime has recently moved new ICBM transporter-erector-launcher(TEL)s and KN15s to Mirim Airfield in preparation for the parade.
The recent findings are the following:
▲Approximately 2 to 4 new ICBM TELs, with upgraded chassis and a launch mechanism, have also reportedly been spotted in Mirim airfield. These new TELs are believed to be from Sain Ri motor plant, South PyungAhn province.
Prof. Hyun Taek-hwan stands good chance of winning Nobel Prize
Chemical and biological engineering chair professor Hyun Taek-hwan of Seoul National University (SNU) has been listed on a list of candidates considered likely to win the Nobel Prize.
Clarivate Analytics, a research data analytics company, announced on Wednesday 24 highly cited researchers for 2020 based on citations in about 50 million papers produced by researchers all around the world. The list includes four physiologists, seven physicians, six chemists and seven economists, among whom 19 work at U.S. research centers. Professor Hyun is the only Korean scientist who made it to the list.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
S Korea’s SK Telecom defends investment and faith in Nanox tech
South Korea’s SK Telecom Co., the second-largest shareholder of publicly-shamed Nanox, defended its investment in the Nasdaq-trading company and stood by its faith in the Israeli medical imaging startup’s novel invention dubbed to replace conventional X-rays.
The top Korean mobile carrier on Wednesday called the shaming from the U.S. short seller Muddy Waters Research “a rite of passage for emerging growth companies” and claimed major investors had already verified Nanox’s technology and recognized its potential.
SK Innovation pledge 2,600 jobs in EV battery sector in U.S.
South Korean battery maker SK Innovation Co. announced it would hire more than 2,600 workers by 2024 at its U.S.-based electric vehicle battery plants planned in northeast Georgia.
It plans to hire 1,000 skilled local workers first by the end of 2021 to deploy them in one of its two battery plants in Commerce, a city 70 miles, or 113 kilometers northeast of Atlanta, Georgia, the company said.
EDGC to sell CB worth $51.5 mn first time as S. Korean bio company
EONE Diagnomics Genome Center Co. (EDGC), South Korea-based clinical diagnostic testing services provider, will issue convertible bonds worth 60 billion won ($51.5 million) in a public offering for the first time as a Korean bio company, announced the company on Wednesday.
It will issue 60 billion won worth convertible bonds at a conversion price of 15,500 won apiece with a 20 percent refix option that allows readjustment of conversion or acquisition price when the stock price falls. Its investors are also guaranteed principle and yield in early repayment, the company explained.
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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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