Saturday, October 24, 2020

 Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today

The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)

Early work of novelist Han depicts dire days shortly after the Korean War
In this issue, we introduce a very special person, a noted Korean lady novelist named Han Malsook. Her early work, a short novel entitled A Cliff in Myth, is published in a Special Report section in this issue.
Novelist Han (right) poses with the then First Lady Madam Yook Young-soo (spouse of the late President Park Chung-hee). The First Family rarely meets with novelists, but Novelist Han appears to be exceptional.
The story depicts the dire days of the Republic of Korea (south) in the early 1960s when the per-GNI of the ROK was around US$80 while that of North Korea was over US$150, double that of the ROK in the south. Other reports indicate that the GNI of North Korea as nearly three times that of the South in those days.

President Moon pledges domestic development of COVID-19 vaccines, treatment
President Moon Jae-in on Oct. 15 explained the status of domestic efforts to develop a vaccine and treatment for COVID-19.
At SK Bioscience's Life Science Research Institute in Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do Province, he said, "Korea, amid fierce competition among global businesses, is also making considerable progress in that area."


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/)
Trump and Biden Collide over Kim Jong-un's ICBM Arsenal
U.S. President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden held their final debate on Thursday ahead of the poll on November 3. One of the key topics this time was North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his nuclear threat against the U.S.
Kim Bum-soo wraps up their contrasting views on North Korea.

S. Korea Reports over 30 Deaths Among People Who Received Seasonal Flu Shots
As of Friday afternoon, 36 people so far have died over a week after receiving seasonal flu shots. Meanwhile, an autopsy on a high school student in Incheon, who was the first fatality after receiving a vaccine, revealed there was no relationship between the flu shot and the death.
Sam Len reports.
The number of deaths among people who received seasonal flu shots continues to rise. The figure is feared to rise further as regional governments continue to submit updated fatality numbers each day.

Daily COVID-19 Cases Climb to Highest in 42 Days
The daily COVID-19 increase has climbed to its highest in 42 days amid an expansion of clusters linked to nursing homes and other medical facilities.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency(KDCA) said as of 12:00 a.m. Friday, 155 additional people tested positive for the virus, raising the country's accumulated total to 25-thousand-698.

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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
New virus cases spike to over 150 as cluster infections pile up
South Korea's new coronavirus cases bounced back to an over one-month high Friday as sporadic cluster infections at senior care hospitals and other risk-prone facilities continued to increase.
The country added 155 more COVID-19 cases, including 138 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 25,698, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
New virus cases stayed above 100 for the second straight day and marked the highest since Sept. 11 when the number of daily virus infections hit 176.

(2nd LD) Flu shot fears growing further as suspected deaths pile up
Concerns over seasonal flu shots grew further on Friday as deaths after vaccinations swelled to over 30, with health experts split over whether to go ahead with a state-led free shot program amid a potential "twindemic" of the new coronavirus and the flu.
Although no connection has been confirmed between the recent fatalities and vaccines, public fears have been mounting in South Korea over flu shots.
Since the first suspected death from a flu shot was reported last Friday, 36 have died as of 1 p.m. Friday, up nine from Thursday's tally at 4 p.m., according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

Biden says will meet N.K. leader if he agrees to draw down nuclear capacity
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said Thursday he would meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un only on the condition that the latter agrees to reduce his country's nuclear capabilities.
"On the condition that (Kim) would agree that he would be drawing down his nuclear capacity. To get that," Biden said when asked on what preconditions that he would agree to meet the North Korean leader.

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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
S. Korea sees highest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases in 42 days
South Korea’s new daily COVID-19 cases bounced back to a level not seen in over a month Friday, due to clusters of infections traced to senior care homes and social gatherings, as well as double-digit increases in imported cases.
Korea added 155 new coronavirus cases -- 138 locally transmitted and 17 imported from overseas -- in the 24 hours ending midnight on Thursday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

NK cyberattacks mainly target bank heists: US official
North Korea engages in cyberattacks to primarily steal money from banks, a senior US Justice Department official said Thursday.
“They’ve used it really to steal banks and money. That’s not really the behavior we see from China or Russia or even Iran despite the Iran sanctions,” John Demers, assistant attorney general for national security, told a webinar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Shoddy recovery upsets typhoon-hit N. Koreans: RFA
Displaced North Koreans hit by this year’s typhoons said new homes built by the government were still inhabitable, Radio Free Asia said Wednesday, citing anonymous sources in North Korea.
“Except the ones Kim personally directed recovery for, most homes were barely habitable because it was a job half done,” one anonymous source said, referring to leader Kim Jong-un’s personal inspection of the August recovery effort in the hardest-hit North Hwanghae Province.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
From eateries to restrooms: denied necessities amid widening digital divide
A long line of women clutching their smartphones, each with unique QR codes on their screens, as they wait for a bathroom cubicle to become vacant, may be a scene the country will witness in the near future as the state-run Korea Land & Housing Corp. (LH) pushes for the installation of a digital access system at women's restrooms.
LH announced its plan last month to introduce QR code scanners at women's restrooms in parks and public buildings as part of its efforts to tackle spycam crimes, a nationwide phenomenon that has sparked outrage in recent years. According to the plan, women can receive a one-time QR code acting as a virtual ID via a certified smartphone app, which can then be digitally scanned at the entrance.

Korean War veterans call for peace treaty
An international call to bring an end to the Korean War and replace the Armistice Agreement with a peace treaty is reemerging through the voices of veterans amid the stalemate in U.S.-North Korea denuclearization talks and the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
The Korean War Legacy Foundation, a New York-based non-profit organization sponsored by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, said it will submit a petition to the United Nations signed by Korean War veterans from 22 combatant nations by July 27, 2021. That day marks the commemoration of the 68th anniversary of the armistice that ended the 1950-53 war.

Different messages from gov't, doctors intensify confusion over flu shots
The government and a doctors' association have offered differing opinions on seasonal flu shots amid an increasing number of deaths being reported of people who received the vaccinations, aggravating the confusion among the public.
While the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) is maintaining its earlier position that the free shot program should proceed to prevent a potential "twindemic" of COVID-19 and the flu this winter, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) has urged the government to suspend the program until the cause of the recent deaths are clarified.

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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Seoul residents in their 20s and 30s who don’t own a home suffer from extreme wealth inequality, a new study finds
Soaring house prices are causing wealth inequality to intensify between those who own houses and those who do not. Seoul residents in their 20s and 30s who don’t own a home suffer from extreme wealth inequality, a new study finds.
According to a report titled “The Role of Housing in Wealth Inequality,” published by the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements on Oct. 22, the median value of total assets in the top quintile (20%) of households in terms of net assets last year was 1.27 billion won (US$1.12 million). That was 39.1 times greater than the median value for the bottom quintile, which was 32.52 million won (US$28,700).

US puts processes for OPCON transfer scheduled for 2021 on hold
The US has reportedly told South Korea that the second stage of assessing the military capability of their future Combined Forces Command (CFC) should be delayed because of insufficient preparations. The assessment of the future CFC’s full operational capability (FOC) had been scheduled to be held next year, as part of the preparations for returning wartime operational control (OPCON) to South Korea. This will almost certainly disrupt the South Korean government’s policy of carrying out the OPCON transfer on an accelerated timeline

Democratic Party leader says he demanded “transparent disclosure” of information about Fukushima water treatment
Democratic Party Lee Nak-yeon, considered one of the preeminent “Japan watchers” among South Korean politicians, requested the transparent disclosure of information about treatment of radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant during a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koji Tomita on Oct. 22.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Tomita at the National Assembly that morning, Lee said, “I stressed the need for the transparent disclosure of all information regarding treatment of water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, and told him that Japan needs to proceed with the support of the international community.”

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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
How to Combat Lockdown Weight Gain
As the nights draw in and people huddle for warms and coronavirus safety at home, weight gain becomes a problem for many.
Early nights also mean that the body releases less serotonin, which can lead to depression and a craving for comfort food.
A study of 1,031 people by the Korea Health Promotion Institute in mid-October showed that 12.5 percent said they gained weight after the coronavirus epidemic started, while 11.4 percent said they are spending less time exercising.

Flu Vaccine 'Played No Part' in Death of 18-Year-Old
The tentative results of an autopsy of an 18-year-old student who died in Incheon last weekend suggest that the cause of death was not the free flu vaccine he had been given.
A government health official who witnessed the autopsy told the Chosun Ilbo on Thursday, "A prime cause of death was confirmed during the autopsy that is not related to the vaccine. If the vaccine had been the cause, we should have seen signs of anaphylaxis or viral infection, blood poisoning or immune system ailments, but no such signs were detected."

Cold Snap Hits Korea over Weekend
Freezing weather hit northern Korea on Friday. Morning temperatures were seven to nine degrees Celsius lower than the previous day.
The Korea Meteorological Administration issued this year's first cold weather advisory for northern Gyeonggi Province and the northern part of Gangwon Province on Thursday.
Temperatures there hovered around freezing on Friday morning, compared to the normal seasonal average of 8 degrees. Elsewhere the morning low was around 5 degrees.

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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
Trump, Biden clash on N. Korea policy during presidential debate
U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden clashed on the U.S. policy toward North Korea during the last presidential debate broadcasted on Thursday (local time). The two fiercely discussed policies on six topics, including diplomacy and security, health insurance, and immigration, in a relatively calm manner without interfering or sharing harsh words as they did in the first debate.

Chinese foreign minister could visit S. Korea timed with Japan tour
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is preparing to visit Japan next month, may visit South Korea to discuss Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Seoul, it has been reported.
“Minister Wang is coordinating schedule for his Japan visit,” Japan’s Kyoto News Agency reported Thursday, suggesting November as the most likely timing.

POSCO returns to profit in 3 months
POSCO, which recorded a loss for the first time since its foundation in the second quarter of this year due to the impact of COVID-19, returned to profit in the third quarter. The recovery was thanks to the rebounding global demand for steel and steel price increase. The company is expected to continue its stable performance in the fourth quarter.

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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Nineteen More People Dead after Getting Flu Shots
In the past week, 28 people died after receiving flu shots. The deaths occurred in twelve major cities and provinces including the Seoul metropolitan area.
In the past week, 28 people died after receiving flu shots. The deaths occurred in twelve major cities and provinces including the Seoul metropolitan area.

CJ Logistics Belatedly Lowers Its Head
CJ Logistics formally apologized for the recent deaths of couriers and presented measures to prevent recurrence focusing on inputting over 4,000 support staff to sort deliveries on site. On October 20, a worker at a CJ Logistics partner firm died, raising the number of delivery workers believed to have died from an overwhelming workload to thirteen.

Nine Died after Receiving Flu Shots: Disease Control and Prevention Agency, “Can’t Verify Causation”
By October 21, nine people were reported dead after receiving flu shots. This occurred only five days after a teenager in Incheon died on October 16 after getting his flu shots. However, health authorities judged that six of the deaths had no direct connection with the influenza vaccine and decided to carry out plans to give flu shots as scheduled after considering the status of the COVID-19 outbreak. They plan to further confirm the causation concerning one case, which could have been caused by anaphylaxis shock, one of the side effects of the influenza vaccine.

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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
SK Hynix CEO denies $9 bn Intel memory buyout is overpriced given long-term outlook
SK Hynix Inc.`s $9 billion buyout of Intel Corp.`s NAND business is not overpriced, given the added value of Intel`s memory storage solutions and the deal`s contribution to raising South Korea’s chip power, SK Hynix chief said.
“Some see the $9 billion deal as exorbitant, but I don`t see the price as being too high,” said Lee Seok-hee, chief executive of the South Korean chipmaker, in an exclusive interview with Maeil Business Newspaper on Wednesday.

Posco reports black in Q3 as steel demand returns to pre-pandemic level
South Korea’s largest steelmaker Posco swung to a profit in the third quarter after reporting its first quarterly loss in two decades in the previous quarter as global steel demand and output returns to pre-Covid-19 levels.
Posco said in a regulatory filing on Friday reported an operating profit of 261.9 billion won ($231 million) on a separate basis in the July-September period, reversing from an operating loss of 108.5 billion won in the previous three months. Third quarter operating profit was still down 60.5 percent from 662.5 billion won a year ago.

Hyundai Glovis Q3 OP down 38% on year
Hyundai Glovis Co., a logistics unit of Hyundai Motor Group that is central to the auto conglomerate’s potential reorganization scheme, reported a 38.1 percent drop in its third-quarter operating profit against a year ago amid pandemic woes.
The Korean logistics company revealed Friday that it posted an operating profit of 161.4 billion won ($142.5 million) in the quarter ended September, down 38.1 percent from a year ago but up 23.6 percent from the previous three months.

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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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