Wednesday, July 14, 2021

 

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

 

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

Why should we fight against Feto resolutely?”

The international community frequently expresses its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and its determination to fight terrorism. This is an appropriate attitude, as terrorism remains a major threat to the common security, well-being, values and prospects for a brighter future of all humanity. The phenomenon of terrorism has undergone a transformation in recent years. In the process, as the aims and means of terrorist organizations have expanded, their actions have taken on new dimensions. Terrorist organizations are trying to adapt themselves to social, economic and technological developments and a rapidly evolving international environment. Some of the terrorist groups are not clearly visible and are hidden behind a slyly designed propaganda tool. This case also requires a review of our global counterterrorism strategy.

 

Cooperation between Czech Republic and Korea can produce future leaders”

The following article was contributed by Mr. Jiri Havel, a graduate student of Economics at Yonsei University in Seoul.—Ed. Cooperation between Czech Republic and Korea can produce future leaders. Czech Republic is a small country that is highly dependent on international trade with other countries. With most of its trade partners, Czech Republic has a trade surplus, which means that the value of exports from the country exceeds its imports. A notable exception to Czech Republic’s trade surplus is the Republic of Korea (south). From the UN trade statistics, it is reported that the value of imports from the ROK to Czech Republic is nearly five times the value of exports to South Korea.

In other words, Korean firms sell many products to Czech customers but very few Czech firms sell to Korean customers. Why does this trade imbalance happen? Are Czech products not attractive to Korean customers?

 

JC Global represents distribution-specialized Co. in Jeollabuk-do

CEO Kim Gyung-rea of JC Global (Wonjin Ecotech's distribution company) established the company in the Jeollabuk-do Province. Since then, the company has been growing by leaps and bounds. For a long time, he composed songs under the theme of ‘Muju Arirang’ in the Jeollabuk-do Province. Youn Ki-sik, the CEO of Wonjin Eco-Tech, is a considered a true engineer and an established environmental protector who quietly researches and develops technologies, even at great risk to his own life. "In order for our economy to be as stable as an unshakable tree, it is crucial to discover and foster strong venture companies to secure numerous technological skills and patents." says CEO Kim Gyung-rea of JC Global.

                                                                                                                

 

KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)

S. Korea Posts Job Growth for 4th Straight Month in June

South Korea posted job growth for the fourth consecutive month in June.  Statistics Korea said on Wednesday that the number of employed people stood at 27-point-63 million last month, up 582-thousand from a year earlier. The nation posted job growth for four straight months since March after losing jobs for the previous 12 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Job additions hit 652-thousand in April to post the largest on-year growth in six years and eight months, but slowed to 619-thousand in May and 582-thousand in June. The employment rate for those aged 15 or older rose by point-nine percentage points from a year earlier to 61-point-three percent. The jobless rate dropped point-five percentage points on-year to three-point-eight percent.

 

US: Dokdo Dispute is for S. Korea, Japan to Resolve Peacefully

The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday that the issue of sovereignty of the Dokdo islets is for South Korea and Japan to resolve peacefully. A department spokesperson issued the position in response to an inquiry by Yonhap News about Seoul's protest of Japan's latest claim to the islets. The spokesperson said that the United States does not take a position regarding the sovereignty of the Liancourt Rocks, referring to the Dokdo islets. The spokesperson added the question of sovereignty of the islands is for the two nations to resolve peacefully. South Korea strongly protested on Tuesday Japan's renewed claims to the islets outlined in Tokyo's annual defense white paper, calling in a Japanese diplomat to lodge a complaint.

 

S. Korea Aims to Nab 5 Olympic Gold Medals on July 24

Whether South Korea achieves its goal of top 10 finish at the Tokyo Olympics will likely be decided on July 24. According to the Korean Sports and Olympic Committee, Team Korea will vie for up to five gold medals in archery, shooting, fencing and taekwondo on that day alone. South Korea has set a goal of winning a total of seven gold medals to rank in among the top ten nations during the Olympic Games. Korea will have the earliest result of the day in shooting. Four-time Olympic gold medalist Jin Jong-oh will seek his fifth Olympic gold in men’s 10-meter air pistol event, scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. Archery, a sport at which South Korea has shown exceptional results in previous Games, could yield another gold with the final of the inaugural mixed team event set to kick off at 4:45 p.m. South Korea seeks to sweep all five gold medals up for grabs in archery at the Tokyo Games.

                                                                                                                 

 

Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

Uptick in delta variant cases in store amid 4th wave of pandemic

South Korea has confirmed 536 more cases of four major contagious variants of the new coronavirus over the past week, including 374 cases of the highly transmissible delta variant, health authorities said Tuesday. The caseload of such infections reached 3,353 here, with the number of delta cases first reported in India tallied at 790, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Of the newly confirmed variant cases over the cited period, there were 395 local infections and 141 imported cases, the KDCA said.

 

Jailed Samsung heir's trial put off as top court advises courts be adjourned to control COVID-19

Samsung Group heir Lee Jae-yong's trial has been postponed after the Supreme Court advised last week that court proceedings be suspended in the greater Seoul area for two weeks amid record-setting coronavirus cases. The vice chairman of Samsung Electronics has been on trial over a controversial merger of two Samsung affiliates and alleged accounting fraud since October last year. In September, he was charged with unfair trading, stock manipulation and breach of trust in relation to the 2015 merger between Cheil Industries Inc. and Samsung C&T, seen as a key step toward his succession, and alleged accounting fraud at the pharmaceutical unit of Samsung Biologics. The trial, slated for Thursday, was rescheduled to July 22 but it remains unclear whether it can proceed as scheduled.


Uptick in delta variant cases in store amid 4th wave of pandemic

South Korea has confirmed 536 more cases of four major contagious variants of the new coronavirus over the past week, including 374 cases of the highly transmissible delta variant, health authorities said Tuesday. The caseload of such infections reached 3,353 here, with the number of delta cases first reported in India tallied at 790, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Of the newly confirmed variant cases over the cited period, there were 395 local infections and 141 imported cases, the KDCA said. Health authorities said the country will witness more cases of the highly transmissible delta variant down the road.

                                                                                   

 

The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)

2022 minimum wage set at 9,160 won, falling short of Moon’s campaign promise

South Korea has set its minimum wage level for 2022 at 9,160 won ($8) per hour, up 5.05 percent from this year’s 8,720 won, after labor and business presented vastly different views on how the rate should be set to assist those suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minimum Wage Commission chose the middle ground. Yet the agreement reached late Monday was not well received, drawing fire from both labor and business representatives. The commission consists of 27 members, nine each from labor, business and the general public. It had until mid-July to settle on a new rate for 2022, which by law is to be formally announced by Aug. 5 and officially takes effect Jan. 1.

 

UN says 42 percent of North Koreans undernourished

Around 42 percent of North Koreans were undernourished last year, a UN report said Tuesday, as the impoverished nation faces acute food insecurity amid the prolonged pandemic and severe weather conditions, compounded by international sanctions. As many as 10.9 million people in North Korea, or 42.24 percent of the population, were undernourished from 2018 to 2020, according to the report jointly published by five UN agencies, including the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Program and the World Health Organization. The UN defines undernourishment as habitual food consumption being “insufficient to provide the dietary energy levels that are required to maintain a normal active and healthy life.”

 

Park Jin from opposition party to run for president

With the race for the presidential election kicking into gear, a string of senior lawmakers from the main opposition People Power Party are announcing their candidacies one after another. Four-term lawmaker Park Jin on Tuesday declared his bid, becoming the third current lawmaker from the People Power Party to enter the fray, following Ha Tae-keung and Yun Hee-suk. Considered a diplomacy expert in the National Assembly, Park is known to be close to US President Joe Biden. He visited the US in May as part of a vaccine delegation to make contact with the US administration, including Sung Kim, acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, as well as the US Congress, think tanks and the pharmaceutical industry.

                                                                                    

 

The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)

New minimum wage draws backlash from both labor union, business

The country's hourly minimum wage for 2022 has been set at 9,160 won ($7.98), a 5.1 percent increase from the current 8,720 won, which did not satisfy either the union or business sectors. Unions expressed anger over President Moon Jae-in's unfulfilled campaign pledge to hike the minimum wage to 10,000 won per hour during his five-year-term, as this year's negotiations were the last to be held during his term. Representatives from business were equally unsatisfied, as they had been calling for a virtual freeze of the minimum wage considering the problems facing small- and medium-sized enterprises due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Trump says he will 'blow up' Korea-U.S. alliance if reelected: book

Former U.S. President Donald Trump had indicated to his close aides that he would "blow up" the U.S.-South Korea alliance in his second term as president, excerpts from an upcoming book showed Tuesday. The book, "I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump's Catastrophic Final Year," alleges that Trump also wanted to withdraw the United States from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). "In fact, Trump had privately indicated that he would seek to withdraw from NATO and to blow up the U.S. alliance with South Korea, should he win reelection," says the book, according to excerpts carried by the Washington Post. The book is co-authored by two Washington Post journalists ― Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker ― and is set to be published next Tuesday.

 

Is it safe to go to hospitals during pandemic?

Park, a high school student living at a small town in rural area, tried to go to an emergency room due to his high fever of 41 degrees Celsius. But the hospital refused to let him in, instead suspecting that he had COVID-19, and instructed him go to a bigger hospital. His parents then had to drive more than three hours to the emergency center of a university hospital in Seoul. He was admitted after being tested negative for the coronavirus disease, but he died thereafter of aggravated pneumonia. Amid the pandemic, the lives of some patients of illnesses other than the COVID-19 are being exposed to greater risks ― or even lost ― as hospitals fail to provide them with the proper timely treatment. In many other cases, the patients themselves are reluctant to go to hospitals.

                                                                                                               

 

Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Coronavirus Spreads Quickly Outside Seoul

Coronavirus infections are spreading more quickly outside the locked-down Seoul metropolitan region. The proportion of infections in areas outside of the capital region has risen from 22.1 percent to 27.1 percent over the last weekend. At this rate, health authorities warned Monday that daily infections could surpass 2,000 by mid-August. Health officials fear a continued surge as people flee the capital region to spend their summer holidays in other parts of the country where lockdown is less stringent. "If this situation continues, the total number of cases could rise to 2,331 by mid-August, until they start to drop," the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency warned. But if the toughened lockdown in the Seoul metropolitan region proves effective, the number of daily cases could drop to around 600 by late August, it added.

 

UNESCO Warns Japan Not to Distort Wartime Atrocities

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has expressed "strong regret" over Japan's failure to fulfill its promise not to distort the grim wartime history of industrial sites where Korean slave labor was used, the Foreign Ministry here said Monday. It is unusual for the UN culture body to criticize any country directly over the way they handle their World Heritage sites, especially since Japan is its major donor. But Japan has ignored UNESCO recommendations for six years running to clearly signpost wartime atrocities it committed at Hashima Island, also known as "Battleship Island," and other Meiji-era industrial heritage sites.

 

Minimum Wage to Rise Another 5% Next Year

The minimum wage for next year was set amid dramatic scenes on Monday at W9,160 for next year, an increase of a substantial 5.1 percent (US$1=W1,148). The sum is lower than the W10,000 President Moon Jae-in promised in his election campaign, but businesses still say they are struggling. The increase has been steep over the last few years, jumping a whopping 41.6 percent from W6,470 an hour in 2017. The new wage was set by the Employment and Labor Ministry's minimum wage committee amid fierce wrangling between employer and worker lobbies. Labor representatives demanded a 16.4 percent hike to W10,000 while business representatives wanted something nearer 1.5 percent, saying small business owners can no longer afford to pay their staff.

                                                                                                 

 

HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
UNESCO “strongly regrets” Japan’s failure to recognize Korean victims of forced labor in Hashima Island

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee said it “strongly regrets” that Japan has failed to adequately implement a recommendation to tell the whole story about how Koreans were drafted into forced labor in the 1940s at industrial facilities in Japan, including Hashima Island, also known as Battleship Island, in Nagasaki Prefecture. The international organization is in effect calling Japan out for not keeping the promise it made when the facilities in question were registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This criticism appeared in a decision (44COM/7B.Add.2) by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee assessing Japan’s implementation of follow-up measures to the registration of its modern industrial facilities as a World Heritage site. The decision, which was made public by South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, will be tabled at the 44th meeting of the World Heritage Committee, which will convene virtually on Friday. The decision is expected to be adopted on July 22-23.

 

Why are S. Korea, Japan touchy over how long potential Moon-Suga summit would be?

South Korean and Japanese diplomatic officials are in a tense tug-of-war over whether South Korean President Moon Jae-in will visit Japan for the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Summer Olympics on July 23. On the surface, the two sides’ argument is about protocol. But behind the scenes, the real problem is their inability to bridge differences in their views on longstanding issues such as compensation to victims of forced labor mobilization. Diplomatic officials on both sides have been holding behind-the-scenes talks to coordinate a visit by Moon for the Olympics opening ceremony after a “pull-aside” summit between him and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga failed to come about during the G7 summit in England’s Cornwall region on June 12–13. It was South Korea that was first to go on record about what had until then been top-secret discussions over the Japan visit.

 

S. Korean business owners call for resumption of Mt. Kumgang tourism

Thirteen years after South Korean tours to Mt. Kumgang were halted, investors are calling for tours to be resumed and for their damages to be compensated. A committee representing the owners of companies involved in inter-Korean business projects called for resuming tours to Mt. Kumgang during a press conference at the Odusan Unification Observatory, in Goseong County, Gangwon Province, on Monday. The Ministry of Unification needs to take the lead in actively promoting the resumption of inter-Korean economic cooperation and tours to Mt. Kumgang,” the committee said. The committee urged the South Korean government to move forward with inter-Korean economic cooperation by linking roads and railroads between the two sides, which would enable Koreans to travel to Mt. Kumgang or even as far away as Europe. The committee also wants the Kaesong Industrial Complex to be reopened so that businesspeople involved in inter-Korean economic cooperation can return to work at the complex, which has been closed for several years.

                                                                                     

 

The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)

More people become concerned about environment-friendly consumption

A college student named Kim Soo-bin in Seogwipo, Jeju Island has been plogging – a term for a combination of jogging with picking up litter – on the island’s beaches since last October. It was her efforts to protect the environment, which were inspired by a large number of disposable products from increased deliveries since the outbreak of COVID-19. Kim tries to cook, rather than getting food deliveries, and uses reusable bottles and containers for coffee or take-outs. A special team of reports at the Dong-A Ilbo conducted research on changes in consumer awareness caused by COVID-19, along with a big data analysis company, VAIVcompany, and SM C&C’s survey platform, Tillion Pro.

 

Italy football team wins European Championship

Italy’s football team returned home on Tuesday after winning the European Championship in 53 years. The team was welcomed at Rome Leonardo da Vinci Airport by a banner that said, “Grazie Azzurri.” Captain Giorgio Chiellini and coach Roberto Mancini hoisted the trophy high over their heads and cheered at more than 200 people that had waited for them from early in the morning. The team marched the streets of Rome around the Piazza Venezia on a double-decker. Some players hoisted the trophy and waved at the crowd wearing a crown that symbolized victory. Many Italians came out to the streets despite the pandemic. They sang songs and applauded the football team.  

 

Unclear disease control guidelines for COVID-19 add confusion

The unprecedented Level 4 social distancing has been implemented in Seoul and nearby regions since Monday but the government’s unclear guidelines are adding confusion. When the Central Disaster Management Headquarters said on Friday that three work colleagues should not get a ride in the same taxi because it is considered as a private gathering, some people criticized why a taxi is not allowed even if a bus or subway is. Then, the headquarters changed their words on Monday. “It should be reviewed case by case. If a colleague gets off the taxi one by one on their way home, it is not a private gathering. If they are sharing a ride to go to a gathering, it is considered as one,” said Son Yeong-rae, the head of the social strategy department of the Central Disaster Management Headquarters.

                                                                                                 

 

TheKyungHyangShinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Lee Jun-seok Changes His Mind due to Opposition from His Party after Agreeing to Hand out Disaster Relief Fund to All Citizens

People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok and Democratic Party of Korea leader Song Young-gil agreed to a universal disaster relief fund for all citizens with stronger support for small business owners, but the opposition leader practically changed his mind due to opposition from his own party. Lawmakers are criticizing Lee’s communication and leadership skills, leading experts to predict a rocky aftermath. On the night of July 12, Lee explained his agreement with Song on social media and wrote, “We agreed to review the need to expand the disaster relief fund to all citizens from the current bottom 80% in terms of income, after considering the situation in disease control, if there are any financial resources remaining.” This led to attacks that he practically took back his agreement on a universal pay out. Earlier this day, Lee announced that he had agreed to a universal disaster relief fund after a dinner meeting with Song.

 

Record-breaking 1,316 New Cases of COVID-19: Seoul Metropolitan Area to Enforce Level-4 Distancing

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight July 9, authorities confirmed 1,316 new cases of the novel coronavirus. This is the largest number of cases confirmed in a day since the first case of COVID-19 was detected in South Korea, and it is also the first time that authorities confirmed more than 1,300 cases in one day. The fourth wave of the virus is fiercely sweeping over the country as authorities continue to confirm record-breaking numbers of new cases following 1,275 cases the previous day. Among the new cases, 1,236 were locally transmitted and 80 entered from overseas. A regional analysis showed that 80% (963) of the cases occurred in the greater Seoul area with 495 cases in Seoul, 396 in Gyeonggi, and 72 in Incheon. In other areas, authorities confirmed 53 cases in Busan, 16 in Daegu, 3 in Gwangju, 28 in Daejeon, 16 in Ulsan, 1 in Sejong, 23 in Gangwon, 13 in Chungcheongbuk-do, 51 in Chungcheongnam-do, 8 in Jeollabuk-do, 5 in Jeollanam-do, 9 in Gyeongsangbuk-do, 17 in Gyeongsangnam-do and 30 in Jeju.

 

Special Prosecutor Park Young-soo, “I Received King Crabs and Gwamaegi from Kim, a Marine Products Dealer, on 3-4 Occasions”

Park Young-soo (69, 10th class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute), the special prosecutor who led the team that investigated Park Geun-hye and Choi Seo-won (formerly Choi Soon-sil) and their abuse of state authority admitted that he received gifts of king crabs, etc. on 3-4 occasions from Kim (43, arrested), a businessman selling marine products suspected of bribing prosecutors, police officers, journalists, and politicians. Park released a statement on July 5 and said, “I received king crabs and gwamaegi as gifts on 3-4 occasions during the holidays, but I did not think the gifts were expensive or problematic.” He further said, “It was my mistake for being careless and simply thinking of him as an acquaintance of Song, who is well trusted by those who know him.

 

                                                                                   

 

Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)

Foreign crypto exchanges with Korean won settlement to be under FIU’s scrutiny

Foreign cryptocurrency exchanges allowing traders to settle their transactions in Korean currency must register their business with South Korea’s anti-money laundering body even if they operate outside of the country, a top financial regulator said Tuesday. Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Eun Sung-soo made the remark when asked by a lawmaker whether Binance, the world`s largest cryptocurrency exchange, should also register with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Korea’s anti-money laundering office under the FSC, to continue to serve Korean customers like its Korea-based peers.

 

Korea may face LNG supply cliff or pay hefty price after long-term supplies run out

State utility Korea Gas Corp. hurriedly on Monday signed a long-term contract with Qatar’s state-owned Qatargas for annual LNG supplies of 2 million tons from 2025 until 2044 amid growing concerns about supply insecurity and spike in LNG prices that could translate into a jump in electricity bills amid the country’s scheme to wean away from coal and nuclear-powered generation. LNG has become the primary source of power for Korea as of April, compared with the third place after coal and nuclear power three years ago, due to the government’s accelerated migration to non-nuclear green fuel.

 

Korean fin min puts foot down on renewed talk on universal relief handout

South Korea’s finance minister reiterated opposition to the idea of offering universal handout in Covid-19 relief funds after chiefs of rivaling parties made a verbal agreement to tweak the program during parliamentary review. I don’t agree,” said the country’s finance minister and deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki, referring to the agreement between the ruling Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil and main opposition People Power Party’s Lee Jun-seok on the universal relief handout financed by the second supplementary budget.

 

                                                                                                                  

 

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 Heraldwww.smh.com.au

Colombia Reports http://colombiareports.com

Bogota Free Planet http://bogotafreeplanet.combfp@bogotafreeplanet.com

El Universal http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english

Andes http://www.andes.info.ec/en

Ecuador Times http://www.ecuadortimes.net

The Jordan Times https://www.jordantimes.com

LSM.lv http://www.lsm.lv/en

The Baltic Times http://www.baltictimes.com lithuania@baltictimes.com, estonia@baltictimes.com, editor@baltictimes.com

El Pais http://elpais.com/elpais/inenglish.html

Philippine Daily Inquirer https://www.inquirer.net

Daily News Hungary http://dailynewshungary.com

Budapest Times http://budapesttimes.hu

 

                                                                                                                

 

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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