Thursday, November 12, 2020
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
Biden’s victory offers challenges to non-conservative Korean government now in power
It appears that it is going to be an all-new ball game—in the United States and the Republic of Korea (south). President-elect Joe Biden won a meaningful victory in the latest Presidential elections in the United States—putting an end to the administration in the U.S. led by his predecessor, Mr. Donald Trump.
Mr. Trump has long been considered a very unwelcome person among many people in Korea for a number of things, among which stands out his bombshell demand: South Korea must pay five-six times more than the present level of share of the defense cost to support the U.S. Forces stationed in Korea.
“Businessmen are No. 2, bureaucrats No. 3, politicians No. 4!”
The late Chairman Lee Kun-hee of the Samsung Business Group in Seoul is well known for his witty remarks: “Politicians are No. 4, bureaucrats No. 3 and politicians No. 4!” Then who is “Number 1”?
The answer came on April 11, 2020 when Chairman Lee Nak-yon of the ruling Democratic Party said, “We should all try to correct this situation where there is an expression, ‘The people are No. 1 and politics are No. 3!”
The late Chairman Lee died at the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul on Oct. 25, 2020 at the age of 78. The late Chairman Lee was treated for lung cancer in the late 1990s and was tested again for cancer in 2005 at the MD Anderson Medical Center in Houston, Texas, with no subsequent concerns being announced.
Hyundai Rotem receives a $67 million order for Ford’s global production facilities
Hyundai Rotem has won a total of 76.3 billion won ($67 million) order for the Ford’s transportation equipment construction project, the company said on Nov. 9.
Through the order, Hyundai Rotem will supply its transportation facilities to Ford plants in Argentina, South Africa and Thailand by 2022.
“Transportation equipment is a system that continuously transports
various automobile parts such as chassis, engine, door, body, etc. with optimum efficiency in the production line centering on the conveyor, an official of Hyundai Rotem said.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
Biden Visits Korean War Memorial on US Veterans Day
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden visited a Korean War veterans' memorial on Wednesday as the United States observed Veterans Day.
According to a pool report, Biden and his wife Jill Biden appeared at the Korean War Memorial in Philadelphia on Wednesday morning for a wreath-laying ceremony.
The visit lasted 15 minutes, during which Biden laid wreaths of flowers at the memorial. He did not offer any remarks.
Group of S. Korean Lawmakers to Visit Japan
A delegation of South Korean lawmakers will visit Japan on Thursday to seek ways to improve relations between the two nations amid strained ties over trade and historical issues.
The Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union said Rep. Kim Jin-pyo of the ruling Democratic Party(DP) will lead the seven-member delegation on a three-day trip.
In the first such visit since Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga took office in September, the lawmakers will meet with their Japanese counterparts in the Japan-South Korea Parliamentarians' Union.
Moon to Attend S. Korea-ASEAN Summit to Unveil New Southern Policy
President Moon Jae-in is set to participate in a series of summits with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN) from Thursday.
Moon is scheduled to attend the South Korea-ASEAN Summit through a video-linked conference on Thursday afternoon to discuss Seoul's cooperation with member nations in the fight against COVID-19 and other issues.
In particular, Moon plans to unveil his “New Southern Policy Plus Strategy” which consists of seven strategic directions regarding comprehensive cooperation in health and medicine.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Moon to hold phone talks with Biden soon: Cheong Wa Dae official
South Korean President Moon Jae-in plans to hold phone talks with U.S. President-elect Joe Biden this week, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Wednesday.
Cheong Wa Dae is "coordinating a time (for Moon and Biden) to have a phone call tomorrow," the official told reporters.
Moon and Biden are expected to exchange thoughts on a wide range of bilateral issues, including Seoul's Korean Peninsula peace process initiative, strengthening of their alliance through an expansion of economic cooperation and other areas, such as measures against climate change.
New virus cases at nearly 3-week high; more regions upping virus curbs amid resurgence
South Korea's new coronavirus cases rose by triple digits for a fourth day Wednesday to a nearly three-week high on sporadic cluster infections across the nation, with more cities adopting enhanced social distancing schemes.
The country added 146 more COVID-19 cases, including 113 local infections, raising the total caseload to 27,799, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The daily caseload marks the highest since the 155 cases added on Oct. 23, and a sharp rise from 100 added Tuesday and 126 cases from Monday.
Mask rule violators face fines in S. Korea
Violators of South Korea's face mask mandate may face fines starting Friday as the country seeks to better combat the new coronavirus.
The move follows an end to a 30-day grace period for the implementation of the country's revised infectious disease control and prevention act, which requires people to wear face masks on mass transportation and in public places.
People will face a fine of up to 100,000 won (about US$90) if they do not wear masks on public transportation and at demonstrations, as well as medical, religious and care facilities.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Moon holds phone talks with Biden: Cheong Wa Dae
South Korean President Moon Jae-in had a phone call with US President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday, Cheong Wa Dae said.
It marked their first conversation since Biden was declared the winner of last week's election.
Moon earlier issued a statement expressing hope for a stronger alliance between Seoul and Washington and continued bilateral partnerships in efforts for denuclearization and regional peace. (From news report)
Biden visits Korean War memorial in Philadelphia on US Veterans Day
US President-elect Joe Biden made a brief trip to a Korean War veterans' memorial in his home state of Pennsylvania on Wednesday as the United States observed its national Veterans Day.
"Biden, holding the hand of his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, and accompanied by the Mayor of Philadelphia, Jim Kenney, arrived at the black marble memorial that stands in a square. US and Korean flags flew overhead," a pool report said.
S. Korea's export prices fall for 3rd consecutive month in October
South Korea's export prices fell for the third straight month in October as oil costs declined and the local currency gained against the US dollar, central bank data showed Thursday.
The country's export price index, in terms of the local currency, dropped 2.6 percent in October from the previous month, according to the preliminary data from the Bank of Korea (BOK).
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Korea accelerates submarine development project
GEOJE, South Gyeongsang Province ― South Korea has launched its second locally-built 3,000-ton submarine, speeding up its program to develop indigenous submarines including nuclear-powered vessels.
A ceremony for the launch of the diesel-powered submarine took place at the Okpo Shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) on Geoje Island in South Gyeongsang Province, Nov. 10.
The new submarine Ahnmu is named after Gen. Ahn Mu, an independence fighter who led his forces to victories against the Japanese Imperial Army in the battles of Bongodong and Cheongsanri in northeastern China in 1920. It is the second submarine developed under the Navy's Changbogo-III (KSS-III) Batch-I submarine construction project.
In-house experts crowding out foreign consultancies
Foreign consultancies in Korea, which once flourished as the most-favored workplaces among young jobseekers, are under serious pressure from domestic companies that are aggressively strengthening their in-house experts to cut costs.
The latest example is Oliver Wyman, a U.S.-based Marsh & McLennan Companies' (MMC) consulting subsidiary specializing in banking and financial services.
According to local media reports and industry insiders, Wednesday, the second-tier consultancy decided to cease operations here in response to deteriorating revenue over the past few years. This came four years after the departure of multinational IT consultancy Accenture.
SK Nexilis spurs expansion in battery foil
SK Nexilis is expanding its production of copper foil for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, as part of the company's bid to capitalize on EVs' ascension in the global automotive market.
Betting high on the projected growth in demand, the SK Group unit has invested 240 billion won ($215.3 million) to add two new copper foil plants by 2022 at its production complex in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
The Trump era is not over
With Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s victory increasingly certain in a US presidential election that captivated the entire world, many are looking to the “post-Trump” era. Observers are asking questions about Biden’s potential policies, who will constitute the US’ new “power elite,” what effects this will have on South Korea and inter-Korean relations, and how the US and the rest of the world will change.
Economic development isn’t a guarantee for democracy
The more I see what’s happening in the world nowadays, the less confidence I have in the myth that democracy is the inevitable result of modern society’s economic development. According to this myth, once industrialization lifts the per capita national income to a certain level, modernized masses demand democracy and eventually get it.
The sociologist Seymour Martin Lipset (1922-2006) argued in 1959 that there was a causal relationship between rising income and democracy. His hypothesis that democracy develops when societies become modern and wealthy long stood as conventional wisdom in academia.
UNC restricts establishment of office of Gyeonggi vice governor for peace at Dora Observatory in DMZ
A local government near the inter-Korean border is criticizing the United Nations Command (UNC) amid an outcry over what is seen as abuse of its use of authority to control access to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), arbitrarily restricting even visits for non-military purposes.
In an emergency press conference held on the morning of Nov. 10 in front of the Unification Bridge in Paju, Gyeonggi Vice Governor for Peace Lee Jae-gang stressed that the establishment of an office for him at Dora Observatory was a “legitimate administrative act by Gyeonggi Province to open up a new path amid the strain in inter-Korean relations, including the pursuit of a declaration of resuming operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex.”
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
More Smog Expected This Winter
Seasonal smog has returned to Korea as the mercury dips below freezing. Although fine dust levels have slightly improved due to efforts to slash emissions, dust pollution from China is expected to spike this winter.
"There has been almost no rain in China and temperatures have been high, resulting in more dust storms," Ban Ki-sung at meteorological information provider Kweather said.
Moon Proposes 4-Way Summit with N.Korea to Japan
National Intelligence Service Director Park Jie-won on Tuesday met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to discuss the fractious relationship between the two neighbors and other regional issues.
They met at Suga's official residence in Tokyo, where Park laid out President Moon Jae-in's proposal of a four-way summit between the two Koreas, Japan, and the U.S. during the Tokyo Summer Olympics next July to find solutions to the North Korean nuclear issue and its abductions of Japanese citizens.
'Lockdown' Named Word of the Year
The Collins Dictionary has chosen "lockdown" as the word of the year for 2020. The dictionary defines "lockdown" as "the imposition of stringent restrictions on travel, social interaction, and access to public spaces."
"We have chosen lockdown as our word of the year because it encapsulates the shared experience of billions of people who have had to restrict their daily lives in order to contain the virus," Collins said Tuesday.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
‘America is back,’ Biden says
Joe Biden had a series of conversations over the phone with the leaders of major European countries on Tuesday. “America is back,” he said while expressing his willingness to strengthen global cooperation. While President Donald Trump is refusing to concede the election results, Biden is presenting himself as a new leader of the U.S. and sending his messages to the international stage.
Foreign minister emphasizes importance of U.S.-N. Korea summits
Speaking at a press conference, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said Tuesday that she emphasized to lawmakers and think tanks close to Joe Biden the importance of summits between the United States and North Korea. It was an indirect request to take the initiative in nuclear talks and push ahead promptly with them as President Donald Trump did through three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Half of top 10 bestselling global smartphones are Galaxy A series
Half of the top 10 models in the global smartphone market in the third quarter of the year were Galaxy A series, bolstered by stronger sales in Southeast Asia, India, Russia, and other emerging markets.
Global research firm Canalys announced Wednesday global top 10 smartphones based on sales volume for the third quarter of the year. Five of Samsung’s products including the Galaxy A21s, GalaxyA11, GalaxyA51 ranked third to fifth place.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Five Years Since the Death of the Farmer, Baek Nam-gi: Water Cannon Guidelines Still Not Established
Five years have passed since the farmer Baek Nam-gi (Nam-ki) died after being hit by a police water cannon, but the debate on the water cannon is still ongoing in South Korean society. The police are still revising internal guidelines restricting the use of water cannons. At demonstration sites, civilian organizations, such as service contractors and universities, used water hoses to shoot water at demonstrators, a modification of the water cannon. In pro-democracy demonstrations overseas, government law enforcement agencies were criticized for using South Korean water cannons.
“Industrial Hazards Are Murder” A Memorial to Be Erected in Memory of the Late Kim Yong-kyun
A monument in memory of the late Kim Yong-kyun (Yong-gyun) will be erected at Korea Western Power Co., which managed the Taean Thermal Power Plant in Chungcheongnam-do, where Kim died in an industrial accident.
The Kim Yong-kyun Foundation announced on November 10, “A memorial to the late Kim Yong-kyun, a young non-regular worker, will be erected at the Korea Western Power Co. in May 2021.” According to the foundation, the monument will be placed at the main gate of the power company.
Jeon Tae-il Meets the Labor Minister for the First Time in 50 Years
Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jae-kap visited the grave of Jeon Tae-il ahead of the fiftieth anniversary of his death. Jeon Tae-il lit himself on fire and died calling for the country to abide by the Labor Standards Act in 1970, and this was the first time since his death that an incumbent labor minister visited his grave.
According to the labor ministry on November 9, Minister Lee visited Moran Park in Maseok, Namyangju-si in Gyeonggi-do, where Jeon Tae-il’s grave is located, and mourned him on the afternoon of November 6. Minister Lee wrote in the visitor’s register, “We will continue to pursue the spirit of Jeon Tae-il and realize a society that respects labor.”
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
KDI estimates Korea’s milder growth of 3.1% 2021, advises watch on debt
South Korean economic rebound after a contradiction this year would be a modest 3.1 percent next year and may need continued stimuli, although the government would have to watch its widening deficit, said state think tank Korea Development Institute (KDI).
In gross domestic product (GDP) outlook and policy recommendation for 2021, KDI projected a 3.1 percent growth in 2021 after this year’s estimated 1.1 percent negative growth. The 2021 outlook was revised down from 3.5 percent estimated September.
Korea’s Nov 1-10 exports up 20.1% on year, biggest since pandemic
South Korea’s exports in the first 10 days of November jumped 20.1 percent from the same period last year, the biggest on-year gain since the Covid-19 outbreaks, thanks to the robust demand for chips, wireless communications devices and cars.
According to data released by the Korea Customs Service on Wednesday, the country’s exports totaled $14.1 billion in the Nov. 1-10 period, the largest since September with $14.9 billion worth exports for the same period. It was a whopping 20.1 percent higher from a year ago, marking the biggest growth for the first 10 days since February this year.
Celltrion chief says experimental antibody therapy kills coronavirus in 4-5 days
Celltrion’s investigational antibody therapy demonstrated virucidal against Covid-19, destroying the virus within four to five days in a clinical trial, the Korean drugmaking group chairman Seo Jung-jin said on Wednesday.
During a radio interview in Seoul, Seo said the results are based on interim results from a Phase 1 trial of the company’s antibody therapy of CT-P59. The therapy lowers the risk of developing severe illness or organ damage, Seo emphasized.
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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
Australia Brisbane Times www.brisbanetimes.com.au syndication@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Sydney Morning Herald www.smh.com.au
Colombia Reports www.colombiareports.com
Bogota Free Planet www.bogotafreeplanet.com,bfp@bogotafreeplanet.com
El Universal www.eluniversal.com.mx/english
Andes www.redaktionstest.net/andes-info-ec/
Ecuador Times www.ecuadortimes.net/
The Jordan Times www.jordantimes.com/
LSM.lv www.lsm.lv/
The Baltic Times www.baltictimes.com lithuania@baltictimes.com, estonia@baltictimes.com, editor@baltictimes.com
El Pais https://english.elpais.com/
Philippine Daily Inquirer www.inquirer.net/
Daily News Hungary https://dailynewshungary.com/
Budapest Times www.budapesttimes.hu/
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Azerbaijan: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR8CBpcQ4WM
Sri Lanka: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hByX92Y2aGY&t=22s
Morocco: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfFmp2sVvSE
And many other countries.
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