Thursday, October 22, 2020
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
Hyundai, Kia Motors expand recall-related provisions due to engine defects
Hyundai and Kia Motors have decided to reflect the quality costs of about 3.4 trillion won ($3 billion) in their third-quarter earnings, the companies said on Oct. 19.
Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors will set aside 2.13 trillion won ($1.8 billion) and 1.25 trillion won ($1.64 billion), respectively. The amount of provisions for quality assurance is the largest ever.
The decision to build up a large amount of recall-related provisions reflects the fact that the cost of the engine recall is higher than expected and that the period of operation of vehicles is significantly increasing.
POSCO to create 'Smart Green City' with KT, Mystech
POSCO will join hands with KT and Mystech to build a" smart green city." POSCO signed a "business cooperation" with KT and Mystech, a maker of eco-friendly street facilities, at POSCO Center to build a "smart green city" on Oct. 21.
POSCO said that "Smart Green City" is a project being promoted by the Ministry of Environment as part of the Green New Deal policy. Through this agreement, the three companies will propose “smart street facilities" to local governments and form a task force to promote joint marketing.
Samsung Electronics' brand value makes the first entry to top 5 in the world
Samsung Electronics' brand value rose to fifth in the world for the first time. The company has solidified its status as one of the top global IT companies after Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Google. Samsung is the only non-U.S. company among the top five.
According to the "100 Global Brands" released by Interbrand, a global brand consulting firm, on Oct. 20, Samsung Electronics' brand value is estimated to be $62.3 billion, the largest ever.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
11 People Have Died after Getting Flu Shots
The number of South Koreans who have died after receiving flu vaccinations has increased to eleven, raising concerns about the safety of free flu shots.
According to Daejeon City, a woman in her 70s in the city died at around 1:10 a.m. on Thursday after receiving a flu shot at a local clinic on Monday morning.
The 79-year-old woman reportedly showed symptoms of severe vomiting and fever from Monday evening and had difficulty breathing the next day.
Daily COVID-19 Increase Climbs Back to Triple Digits
The daily COVID-19 increase in South Korea climbed back to triple digits amid an expansion of infection clusters linked to nursing homes and other medical facilities.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency(KDCA) said as of 12:00 a.m. Thursday, 121 additional people tested positive for the virus, raising the country's accumulated total to 25-thousand-543.
Key Suspect in Fraud Scandal Makes Fresh Allegations
A key suspect in a massive financial fraud scandal made fresh allegations against state prosecutors on Wednesday on the eve of a parliamentary audit of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
Kim Bong-hyun, the former chairman of Star Mobility and a key suspect in the fraud scandal involving Lime Asset Management, sent a letter to KBS on Wednesday.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Local virus cases at 1-month high, cluster infections biggest hurdle in virus fight
The number of daily local coronavirus cases in South Korea spiked again to over 100 for the first time in nearly one month Thursday, as sporadic cluster infections at senior care hospitals and other facilities continued to climb amid eased virus restrictions.
The country added 121 more COVID-19 cases, including 104 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 25,543, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
Flu shot program remains unfazed by rising suspected deaths: authorities
South Korea's health authorities reaffirmed Thursday that the state-initiated seasonal flu shot program will continue despite more suspected deaths.
As of noon Thursday, at least 17 people have died after being vaccinated in recent days, up from eight a day ago. The country has been pushing for a state free flu shot scheme to inoculate some 19 million people, including teenagers and senior citizens, to curb the possible "twindemic."
N.K. leader pays respects to fallen Chinese soldiers
The defense ministry on Thursday brought non-weapon materials and construction equipment onto a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) base in central South Korea after riot police dispersed protesters opposed to the deployment of the American anti-missile defense system.
The shipments transported into the base for the THAAD system in the central town of Seongju, about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, included daily necessities for base troops and construction equipment and materials to be used to improve their living facilities, according to the ministry.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
S. Korea reports 121 new COVID-19 cases
South Korea saw a triple-digit increase in new daily COVID-19 cases for the first time in a week on Thursday, as the country battles an uptick in both locally transmitted and imported cases.
Korea added 121 new coronavirus cases -- 104 locally transmitted and 17 imported from overseas -- in the 24 hours ending midnight on Wednesday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
Top prosecutor fires back at justice minister, denying biased investigation allegation
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl Thursday lashed out at Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, who had accused him of bias and lack of sincerity, saying she has no legal authority to deprive him of his powers to lead investigations.
During a parliamentary inspection of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, Yoon said Choo’s decision to sideline him in high-profile investigations into a sprawling financial fraud scandal allegedly involving politicians and incumbent prosecutors was “unlawful and unjust.”
S. Korean, Canadian defense chiefs vow to boost security cooperation
The defense chiefs of South Korea and Canada discussed security situations on the Korean Peninsula and other issues Thursday, and vowed to continue to enhance cooperation against various security challenges, Seoul's defense ministry said.
During the telephone talks, South Korea's Defense Minister Suh Wook and his Canadian counterpart, Harjit Singh Sajjan, shared the notion that non-traditional security threats, such as COVID-19, cannot be overcome by efforts by a single nation.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
'Star Trek' writer shares his obsession with King Sejong, Korean alphabet
King Sejong of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) is one of the most admired historic figures in Korea. During his 1418-1450 reign, he churned out achievements in almost every field, including science, agriculture, astronomy and music.
However his most outstanding achievement was the creation of Hangeul with the help of a team of scholars. Hangeul is the writing system for the Korean language, which eventually promoted the high literacy level of the general public.
Flu shot program to continue despite rising suspected deaths: authorities
South Korea's health authorities reaffirmed Thursday that the state-initiated seasonal flu shot program will continue despite more suspected deaths.
As of noon Thursday, at least 17 people have died after being vaccinated in recent days, up from eight a day ago. The country has been pushing for a state free flu shot scheme to inoculate some 19 million people, including teenagers and senior citizens, to curb the possible "twindemic."
"There were more reported cases of death; yet, it is the experts' opinion that there is no direct link between the deaths and the vaccination," Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), said during a parliamentary hearing.
Filmmaker explores pressure of Korea's rigid beauty standards
Director Christina Yoon's short film "Mirror" explores Korea's "unrealistic" beauty standards which make women desperate to achieve aesthetic perfection. Although the movie is about Korean women, Yoon said the topic she deals with is a universal problem that anyone can empathize with.
The 12-minute film tells the story of Yeona Song (played by Spring Kim), a female Korean immigrant who is self-conscious because of a large scar on her right cheek.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Choo-Yoon clash is rooted in power struggle between Blue House and prosecutors
Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae’s invocation of her investigative authority over Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl in the Lime Asset Management case and a case involving Yoon’s own family members is a lawful measure based on Article 8 of the Prosecutors’ Office Act, which specifies terms concerning the justice minister’s direction and supervision powers.
“The Minister of Justice shall, as a chief superintendent to supervise prosecutorial affairs, direct and supervise prosecutors in general, and with respect to specific cases, direct and supervise only the Prosecutor General,” the article states.
SK Hynix acquires Intel’s NAND unit on way to becoming world’s 2nd biggest flash memory chipmaker
SK Hynix’s acquisition of Intel’s memory semiconductor (NAND flash) unit is a literal “big deal” that will mean changes to both the global semiconductor industry and the South Korean business world. The acquisition propels Hynix to second place globally in both the DRAM and NAND flash markets. Previously hot on the Hyundai Group’s heels, the SK Group stands a very good chance of shooting straight up to second place in the South Korean corporate hierarchy with this deal.
Jeju governor threatens to sue Japan if it releases radioactive water into Pacific
Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong clarified on Oct. 20 that he will take stern measures if the Japanese government releases contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean, including filing civil lawsuits and criminal complaints.
“If the Japanese government pushes ahead with releasing contaminated water from Fukushima into the ocean, Jeju Island will take the lead in filing lawsuits in both the South Korean and Japanese courts and at international tribunals. Jeju Island and the Republic of Korea will not tolerate a single drop of contaminated water from Fukushima,” Won said during a press conference at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Deaths After Flu Vaccination on the Rise
Fear is spreading around Korea as 17 people died after free flu vaccinations. Seven more deaths were reported nationwide on Wednesday alone. One of them died just two-and-a-half hours after the flu shot. Seven more deaths were reported on Thursday morning and the number keeps rising.
Most of them were over 70 but the first, who died on Oct. 17, was a teenager. The vaccines they received are no longer limited to one manufacturer. The victims were given vaccines manufactured by Boryeong, GC Pharma, Korea Vaccine and SK Bioscience.
30-Somethings Buy Most Apartments in Seoul
A record proportion of people in their 30s bought apartments in Seoul last month.
According to the Korea Appraisal Board Wednesday, 30-somethings bought 1,790 apartments in Seoul in September, accounting for a whopping 37.3 percent of all purchases.
But the overall number of purchases fell sharply from a month earlier due to harsh government curbs on home buyers.
Korean Display Makers Lose Monopoly on iPhone Screens
Korean display makers have lost their monopoly on the supply of OLED panels for Apple's iPhones.
Taiwan's DigiTimes reported on Tuesday that Chinese display maker BOE Technology "will start shipping 6.1-inch OLED panels, albeit in small volume, for the just released iPhone 12 in the second half of October," gradually increasing next year.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
U.S. says OPCON transfer will be impossible by 2022
The United States reportedly informed South Korea during the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) recently held in Washington, D.C. that the second phase of a three-phase verification process of South Korea’s operation capability required for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) cannot be carried out by next year. Seoul had been pushing ahead with a plan to complete the second and third verification processes by the end of next year so that the transfer can be completed before President Moon Jae-in’s term ends.
Samsung SDS advances video conferencing technology
Samsung SDS is advancing the technology behind “Brity Works,” which is the company’s cloud-based corporate collaboration solution equipped with differentiated security features. The demand for video conferencing is growing due to the spread of COVID-19 but security threats from hackers are also on the rise.
Busan becomes ‘sea of films’ once again
“The pandemic cannot stop our passion to communicate by films” (Chinese film director Jia Zhangke)
“I’m sure that we will be connected in any way.” (Japanese film director Hirokazu Koreeda)
Many film directors around the world have sent messages of encouragement to the Busan International Film Festival, which has opened on Wednesday after reducing in scale for the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Moon Government Manages to Avoid a Fatal Blow, But Will It Be Smoothing Sailing for Plans to Phase out Nuclear Power Amid Opposition from Nuclear Power Supporters?
On October 20, the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) released the results of an audit indicating problems with the assessment of economic benefits when the government decided to shut down a reactor, Wolsong-1, at the Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant, but the results are not likely to trigger major changes in the Moon Jae-in government’s plans to phase out nuclear power. The government announced its official position and explained that the decision to shut down Wolsong-1 was made after a comprehensive review of the plant’s safety and local acceptance as well as economic benefits.
Even When Injured on the Job, Cleaning and Security Workers at Korea Southern Power Subsidiary Cannot Take Sick Leave
Cleaning and security workers at a Korea Southern Power Corporation (KOSPO) subsidiary faced discrimination, having trouble taking sick leave even when they were injured on the job.
At around 7 a.m. on October 6, A (48) a cleaning worker employed by KOSPO Service, a subsidiary of Korea Southern Power Corporation’s Samcheok thermal power plant, had her leg caught when it fell through a hole in the floor, while cleaning the area near the boiler on the sixth floor.
Boiling Rage at the String of Deaths of Couriers. NGO Claims, “Murder by Late Night Deliveries”
A number of deaths of couriers has triggered more voices to demand improvements in the working environment in the logistics industry. The Ministry of Employment and Labor will conduct an emergency inspection of major logistics firms.
A group seeking measures to prevent deaths of couriers from an excessive workload held a press conference in front of the Hanjin Logistics head office in Jung-gu, Seoul on October 19 and said, “A courier who had no chronic diseases died at a young age. It was clearly and undeniably due to an overwhelming workload.”
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
Korean watchdog proposes to kick Lime Asset out of business
South Korea’s financial watchdog on Wednesday proposed the hardest punitive action against Lime Asset Management, the scandal-ridden local hedge fund accused of causing investors nearly $1 billion in damages, by kicking it out of business and having it hand over its remaining funds.
The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) recommended revoking Lime’s license, the state’s toughest administrative penalty, citing “serious social ramifications.”
SoCar stages comeback after shutdown of van-hailing service Tada
South Korean car-sharing service provider SoCar is making a fierce comeback by joining hands with taxis and individual drivers following the shutdown of its main van-hailing service Tada.
The company said Tuesday that a new designated driver service called “Tada Daeri” would be available on its Tada platform on Oct. 28.
Korean won hits 18-mo high with room to go higher
The Korean won hit an 18-month high, tracking the strengthening Chinese currency, and analysts are betting that it may break the 1,120 won mark depending on the upcoming U.S. presidential election results.
The Korean won finished Tuesday up 2.5 at 1,139.5 versus the greenback, closing for the first time at 1,130 levels since April 2019. On Wednesday morning, the won rose 0.32 percent, or 3.60, to 1,135.40.
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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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