Monday, February 15, 2021
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
Is Gov. Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi-do a 'surest bet' for Korea’s President after Moon?
The popularity rating of Governor Lee Jae-myung of the Gyeonggi Province has risen to a whopping 32.5% in one of the latest polls on the Presidential hopefuls for the 2022 Presidential race—by-far surpassing Prosecutor General Yoon Suk-yeol (17.5%), Chairman Lee Nak-yeon of the ruling Democratic Party (13%), Chairman Ahn Chul-soo of the People’s Party (5%), and outspoken conservative National Assemblyman Hong Joon-pyo (3.9%).
Korea Chapter of SPIC MACAY opens in Seoul with Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre
The Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth (SPIC MACAY) in association with Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Embassy of India, launched its Korea Chapter on 07 February 7, 2021, the Embassy of India in Seoul said on Feb. 9, SPIC MACAY’s newly launched Chapter in Republic of Korea is one of its several global centres worldwide.
Renault Vice Chairman Los Mozos calls for 3 goals to ensure XM3's successful entry into Europe
Jose Vicente de Los Mozos, executive vice president, manufacturing & supply chain of Group Renault, delivered a video message to executives and employees of Renault Samsung Motors' Busan plant on Feb. 9 to ensure XM3's successful entry into Europe.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
Social Distancing Rules, Business Restrictions Eased
The government enforced eased social distancing rules on Monday, while keeping the ban on personal gatherings of five or more people.
Beginning Monday, the government will apply Level Two, the third-highest in the country's five-tier social distancing scheme, for the greater metro area and Level One-point-Five for the rest of the country.
Foreign Ministry: No Reports of S. Koreans hit by Strong Quake in Japan
The Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that there were no reports of South Koreans hit by a strong earthquake that struck off the coast of northeastern Japan the previous night.
According to Japanese media, the seven-point-three magnitude quake occurred at around 11 p.m. off the coast of Japan's Fukushima Prefecture, injuring over 100 people.
S. Korea, US Likely to Hold Combined Military Exercise in Mid-March
South Korea and the United States are likely to hold their annual springtime combined military exercise in mid-March.
According to military sources on Sunday, military authorities of both countries agreed to hold the exercise in the second week of next month and discussions are under way to decide the schedule and other details.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
New infections in 300s for 2nd day ahead of eased distancing
South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed in the 300s for a second straight day on Sunday on fewer tests on the Lunar New Year holiday, with eased social distancing measures in store this week. The country reported 326 more COVID-19 cases, including 304 local infections, raising the total caseload to 83,525, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.
Air passenger traffic dips 68 pct in 2020 amid pandemic
South Korea's air passenger traffic plunged 68 percent last year in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, the transport ministry said Sunday. In 2020, the number of passengers on domestic and international routes fell to 39.4 million from 123.3 million a year earlier as countries strengthened entry restrictions to stem the spread of COVID-19, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement.
Fine dust advisory to be issued Sunday in greater Seoul, western regions
A fine dust advisory will be issued for greater Seoul and western regions of South Korea on Sunday, environmental authorities said. Fine dust concentrations are expected to remain at the highest level of "very bad" in the southern part of Gyeonggi Province, which surrounds the country's capital, on Sunday, according to the National Institute of Environmental Research on Saturday, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Environment.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Korea reports first COVID-19 fatality involving patient in 20s
A patient in his or her mid-20s died Friday, becoming the youngest in Korea and the first under 30 to die with COVID-19, health officials said over the weekend. The Busan patient, who had preexisting complications from a cerebrovascular disease, died just a day after being confirmed with COVID-19, according to the city office. Before symptoms appeared Thursday, the day of diagnosis, the patient had yielded negative results in PCR tests for the third consecutive day on Wednesday.
South Korea, US will start military drills
South Korea and the US will begin their biannual joint military exercises in the second week of March, carrying out computer simulations of war against North Korea for nine days, sources said Sunday. Seoul and Washington, which have held them to deter aggression from Pyongyang since the 1953 Korean War armistice, now take part in computer-based war games rather than all-out field exercises.
Gyeonggi governor stays on top of presidential preference survey
Gyeonggi Province Gov. Lee Jae-myung is firmly at the top of the recent presidential preference survey, widening the gap with two other high-profile figures, ruling Democratic Party Chairman Rep. Lee Nak-yon and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, a poll showed Sunday.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Foreigners with advanced degrees from Korea struggle to find jobs
Foreigners who obtained an advanced degree in Korea are having difficulties finding work due to insufficient employment information and a lack of Korean language skills, according to the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training.
In post-COVID era, Korea urged to capitalize on Serbia 2025 development project
Serbia's push to use the 30th anniversary of its ties with Korea in 2019 to improve bilateral relations seemed likely to lose steam when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out last year.
However, the two countries rather witnessed their potential for a broader partnership through health and medical cooperation against the coronavirus, says Charge d'Affaires ad interim Aleksandar Dordevic at the Serbian Embassy in Seoul
Korea, US step closer to restoring alliance
South Korea and the United States are stepping closer to getting their security alliance back on track, with accelerated defense cost-sharing talks and combined military exercises in the spring planned to resume in March.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Seochon’s small-scale indie bookstores leave big impact
Traditionally, the Seoul neighborhood of Seochon has been closely connected to people committed to self-expression and creativity, including writers, artists, musicians, stage performers, visual artists and cartoonists.
Consider these lines from “Old Seoul,” co-authored by Choi Jong-hyeon and Kim Chang-hee: “They all lived here, from the nobility versed in writing during the Joseon era to the commoner poets, from contemporary calligraphers such as Kim Jeong-hui to great painters like Jeong Seon. It’s hard to say whether Seochon made people like that or whether people like that heeded its call.”
S. Korea’s judiciary crisis rooted in failure to address judges’ misconduct
It has emerged that Lim Seong-geun, a Busan High Court senior judge impeached for his role in a judicial misconduct scandal, attempted to avoid that fate by tendering his resignation. There have also been revelations of improper conduct, including false statements by current Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Myeong-soo in the process of rejecting Lim’s resignation, and the disclosure of a recording of his meeting with Lim.
US State Department to stress being on “same page” with S. Korea, other allies on N. Korea policy
The administration of US President Joe Biden reiterated the importance of staying on the “same page” with South Korea and other allies when formulating North Korea policy. During a Feb. 9 press briefing, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price was asked whether the Biden administration was “concerned at all that a delay of engaging with the North Koreans could result in them doing something to get the United States’ attention [such as] testing a nuclear weapon or launching a [missile] delivery system.”
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Matchmakers Thrive in Epidemic
Matchmaking apps are booming in spite of the coronavirus epidemic, and some have generated record sales. As face-to-face meetings became difficult due to the epidemic, matchmaking apps' subscribers have grown sharply. Market leader Duo generated estimated sales of more than W30 billion last year, which would be a record for the industry (US$1=W1,106). Membership plunged 28 percent on-year in the first quarter of 2020, just after the epidemic erupted, and another six percent in the second quarter.
Some Koreans Welcome Lunar New Year Lockdown
Some Koreans more or less secretly welcome the extension of lockdown over the Lunar New Year holiday -- mainly because it allows them to escape the nagging family or relatives. By ancient convention, elderly relatives must ask lots of prying questions about marriage and job prospects, and some young people are glad they can now cite government fiat to avoid them, especially if they are unemployed, single or experiencing other difficulties in life.
Koreans Brace for Yet Another Locked-Down Holiday
Koreans are getting ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year in lockdown. The ban on gatherings of more than five people effectively scotches the main tradition of the holiday, which is to gather with extended families in their ancestral hometowns.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
S. Korea should prioritize improving its relations with Japan, says gov. official
It is said that the restoration of diplomatic relations with Japan will be a top priority for the Moon Jae-in administration and could be considered a prerequisite for improving inter-Korean relations. With the Biden administration emphasizing the importance of close cooperation among Washington, Seoul and Tokyo in resolving issues related to Beijing and Pyongyang, improving relations with Tokyo could make it easier for South Korea to coordinate policies towards North Korea with the United States.
Coupang founder Kim Bom-seok gets ‘super stocks’
Coupang founder and CEO Kim Bom-seok can exercise 29 votes per stock after the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. It is to have stable management rights through dual class shares. Korea's largest e-commerce company announced Sunday that Kim would exclusively own class B stocks which give him 29 times more votes per stock.
Restaurant, bar owners remain discontent despite extension of opening hour
The South Korean government has eased social distancing to Level 2.5 to 2 and decided to extend opening hours for restaurants and bars in the Seoul metropolitan region from Monday. However, restaurant and bar owners are expressing discontent about the measure, saying, “There is no clear evidence, while effect is uncertain.”
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong Takes the Mound in the Ninth Inning: First Pitch Is Cooperation with the U.S.
On February 9, Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong began his official duties. Chung launched his official schedule by paying his respects at the Seoul National Cemetery. He then attended a simple inauguration ceremony at the ministry office in Doryeom-dong, Seoul and went straight to work.
Human Rights Commission, “Transgender People Are Exposed to Hatred and Discrimination in All Places”
“What is your sex?” The only options are female and male. The second half of the resident registration number, which begins with 1, 3 or 2, 4, and bathrooms marked with infographics signifying men and women are a symbol of gender dichotomy. On February 9, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea announced that transgender people were exposed to hatred and discrimination in all places, including the home, school, work, the military, hospitals, etc. in the Survey on Hatred and Discrimination Against Transgender People.
“We Will Begin Receiving the AstraZeneca Vaccine for 750,000 People on Feb. 24 and Begin Inoculation Immediately”
The government will begin receiving 1.5 million doses (for 750,000 people) of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine manufactured at the SK Bioscience factory in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do on February 24. On February 8, disease control authorities obtained data from the United Kingdom, where the vaccine is being administered to people of all ages, to analyze how effective the AstraZeneca vaccine is in preventing the virus among the elderly.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
Korean e-commerce giant Coupang heads to NYSE for IPO with dual-class shares
South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang Inc. headed to New York for its initial public offering with expected valuation of over $50 billion will list shares with different voting rights, enabling Kim Bom-suk, Coupang’s chief executive and founder, to maintain his strong grip on the firm.
Korea’s “resting” population hit record high in Jan, with over a quarter in their 20s and 30s
South Korea’s “resting” population reached a record high in January with the prime workforce of those in their 20s and 30s making up more than a quarter, as the Covid-19 continued to take its toll on the job market. Data by the Korean Statistical Information Service showed Sunday that a total of 2.72 million people were “resting” in January, meaning that they were economically inactive and not willing to work. The figure is the highest since 2003, when the statistics agency began compiling related data.
KT eyeing M&As in fintech, contents for big-tech evolution: CEO
KT Corp. is eyeing fintech and content enhancement through M&As to drive its evolution from a traditional teleco to “digico” offering various services based on new-generation wireless infrastructure and big data, according to its chief executive and president Ku Hyeon-mo.
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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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The Korea Post is running video clips from the different embassies.
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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