The Korean daily media headlines and humor
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Your Excellency:
Here are The Korea Post notices and a roundup of important headlines from all major Korean-language dailies, TV and other news media of Korea today:
Very Respectfully Yours
/s/
Lee Kyung-sik
Publisher-Chairman
Korea Post Media
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What’s tickling in Korea today? Here is a quick roundup of important news stories from the major Korean news media today:
The Korea Post media (www.koreapost.com) in English, (www.koreapost.co.kr) in Korean.
S. Korean president embarks on trip to China
South Korean President Moon Jae-in left for China Wednesday for a four-day state visit that will include talks with President Xi Jinping.
The two leaders plan to hold their third bilateral summit on Thursday focusing on North Korea's growing threats and ways to improve bilateral ties, according to South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
S. Korea's jobless rate edges up in Nov.
South Korea's jobless rate rose slightly in November as the construction sector hired fewer temporary workers than before amid relatively cold weather, government data showed Wednesday.
The unemployment rate stood at 3.2 percent last month, up 0.1 percentage point from a year earlier, according to the report compiled by Statistics Korea.
Surplus cash of top 100 firms plunges on more investment
South Korea's top 100 firms by market capitalization saw their surplus cash tumble nearly 35 percent this year from a year earlier due largely to increased investment, a market tracker said Wednesday.
The leading listed companies had a combined surplus cash flow of 34.1 trillion won (US$31.2 billion) as of the end of September, down 34.7 percent from the end of last year, according to CEO Score.
Tillerson: U.S. willing to hold talks with N.K. without preconditions
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Tuesday that Washington is willing to begin talks with North Korea without preconditions.
Tillerson's remark came as tensions have increased over North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs with its latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile on Nov. 29.
Online malls suffer losses in keen competition despite growing sales: sources
South Korea's online shopping malls are expected to post a combined 1 trillion won (US$915 million) operating loss this year as they offer excessive discounts in a competition with rivals to dominate the growing market, industry sources said Wednesday.
The rising losses over the past few years come amid growing sales by the online retailers, which have been trying to win over consumers in the new market despite falling profitability on a short-term basis, the sources said.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
Tillerson: US Willing to Talk to N. Korea Without Preconditions
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Tuesday that Washington is willing to begin talks with North Korea without preconditions.
Tillerson made the remark on Tuesday during a forum hosted by U.S. think tank Atlantic Council in Washington.
Moon Departs for State Visit to China
President Moon Jae-in headed to China on Wednesday for a four-day state visit and summit talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The president will begin his China trip with a meeting with Korean nationals in Beijing on Wednesday and a speech at a business forum of South Korean and Chinese business leaders.
On Thursday, he will attend an official welcome ceremony in the Great Hall of China's National People's Congress and hold a summit with Xi.
Court Rejects Arrest Warrants for Former Aides of Moon and Ex-Pres. Lee
A local court has rejected arrest warrants for a former top aide of ex-President Lee Myung-bak and a former senior secretary of President Moon Jae-in accused of involvement in bribery and election-meddling scandals.
The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday turned down the prosecution's request to issue an arrest warrant for Moon's former senior secretary for political affairs Jun Byung-hun over bribery charges.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
S. Korean president embarks on trip to China
South Korean President Moon Jae-in left for China Wednesday for a four-day state visit that will include talks with President Xi Jinping.
The two leaders plan to hold their third bilateral summit on Thursday focusing on North Korea's growing threats and ways to improve bilateral ties, according to South Korean presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
Starbucks Korea to open its largest store in Seoul
Starbucks Coffee Korea Co. said Wednesday it will open its largest store in central Seoul next week amid its growing popularity among local consumers.
The 1,097-square-meter store at Jongno Tower, set to open on Dec. 20, will have about 100 coffee and tea items on the menu -- 30 percent more than the options provided at its other chains -- along with some 60 bakery products, according to the local unit of the U.S. coffee giant.
Tillerson: U.S. willing to hold talks with N.K. without preconditions
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Tuesday that Washington is willing to begin talks with North Korea without preconditions.
The remark came as tensions have increased over North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, including its latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile on Nov. 29.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Tillerson: US willing to hold talks with NK without preconditions
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Tuesday that Washington is willing to begin talks with North Korea without preconditions.
Tillerson's remark came as tensions have increased over North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs with its latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile on Nov. 29.
NK ghost ships, dead bodies and sanctions
On Dec. 5, two empty wooden boats were found adrift in waters near Niigata Prefecture in Japan.
Soon the Japanese Coast Guard also detected two dead bodies presumed to be from the boats.
LG gifts new government with W19tr investment, jobs plan
LG Group on Tuesday pledged to invest 19 trillion won ($17.4 billion) in new businesses pivoting on electric vehicle parts and next-generation displays, and hire around 10,000 new employees next year in a bilateral meeting with the country’s economy chief Kim Dong-yeon on Tuesday.
It was the first one-on-one meeting between the top economy policymaker and a conglomerate leader.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
N. Korea prepping for another nuclear test
North Korea appears to be preparing for another nuclear test despite probable aftershocks from its sixth and largest nuclear test, Sept. 3, still occurring, according to American experts on Pyongyang.
In a joint analysis released Monday, Frank Pabian, Joseph Bermudez Jr. and Jack Liu, citing satellite imagery, said there has been a "consistently high level of activity" at North Korea's main nuclear test site in Punggye-ri.
'Japan prison officers assaulted Korean inmate'
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the Japanese government, Tuesday, to open an investigation into allegations that a Korean was beaten and harassed by Japanese prison guards.
The ministry is seeking transfer of Chon Chang-han, 29, in accordance with an international prisoner transfer treaty.
Moon seeks to tackle THAAD dispute with China
President Moon Jae-in has said he understands China's concerns over a U.S. anti-missile system deployed here, and has requested China to understand South Korea's situation facing North Korea's missile threats.
In an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) aired late Monday evening, Moon said Seoul and Washington guarantee the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery would not spy on China's military activities.
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DongA Ilbo (http://english.donga.com)
N. Korean defector reveals human rights violations at UN
“North Korea is a terrifying prison, and the Kims are carrying out a vast massacre,” said North Korean defector Ji Hyeon-a at an event titled “The Terrifying Experience of Forcibly Repatriated North Korean Women” held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Monday. Having been repatriated three times to North Korea after being caught in China, Ji tearfully described horrifying experiences she had to go through at the Jeungsan Camp, South Pyongan Province.
Hyundai Motor to establish a joint venture in Indonesia
Hyundai Motor will establish a joint venture in Indonesia to branch into the Southeast Asian market and foster a new growth engine. Indonesia is the largest auto market in Southeast Asia, where Japanese carmakers remain the dominant players.
Attempted terrorist attack in New York City leaves four injured
A bomb attack in New York City on Monday morning was confirmed to have been carried out by a “lone wolf” immigrant. The man partially detonated a pipe bomb prematurely inside the station, leaving four people including himself injured. Though no fatalities have been reported, the country is in shock yet again that the suspect attempted to execute a possible mass murder attack in a place where a large crowd of commuters pass by during the Monday morning rush hour.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
N.Korea Named 'Top-Tier' Risk in 2018
The U.S. Council on Foreign Relations on Monday named a possible military conflict with North Korea a "top-tier" risk facing the U.S. and the world in 2018.
A photo of the North's latest ballistic missile launch also made the front page of the annual report, illustrating a survey of about 7,000 U.S. government officials and foreign policy experts that ranks potential global conflicts for the next year.
U.S. Won't Halt Drills During Pyeongchang Olympics
The U.S. is refusing to reschedule annual joint drills with Korea so they do not overlap with the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
The drills usually kick off in late February or early March, but the Paralympics do not end until March 18. Seoul asked for the drills to be rescheduled but Washington "is against it," a diplomatic source said Monday.
More Documents Prove Japan Rounded up Sex Slaves in World War II
Newly found documents add further proof that the imperial Japanese government forced women into sexual slavery on the Chuuk Islands in the South Pacific in World War II.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
KORUS FTA having negative impact on South Korean agriculture
In proposed amendments for the South Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (known as the KORUS FTA), Seoul has declared the agricultural sector off limits and has announced that it will exclude it from the negotiations. But with damage to South Korea’s agro-livestock industry increasing over the five years since the KORUS-FTA took effect, some critics say that South Korea ought to be asking the US to adjust the tariff concessions in this sector.
South Korea’s trade deficit with US in agro-livestock products continues to grow
With imports of American agro-livestock products increasing every year since the South Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) took effect in Mar. 2012, South Korea’s trade deficit with the US in agro-livestock products continues to grow as well.
Former world leaders call for negotiations over North Korean nuclear program
With North Korea declaring the “completion of the state nuclear force” after its Nov. 29 test-launch of the new Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), experts at a Dec. 11 conference agreed the only solution to the nuclear and missile crisis lies in diplomacy, dialogue, and negotiation. Some maintained that while the risk of rising tensions between Pyongyang and Washington leading to a military clash on the Korean Peninsula is not high, it is also not small enough to be ignored. Experts also argued that the Six-Party Talks remain a valid framework for resolving the nuclear issue.
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JoongAng Ilbo (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)
Moon approaches Beijing gently
President Moon Jae-in made a last-ditch effort Monday to settle a diplomatic row with China over Korea’s decision to host a U.S. antimissile system, asking Beijing to walk a mile in Seoul’s shoes to understand its position.
“Korea and China each has a different position on the Thaad [Terminal High Altitude Area Defense antimissile system] issue,” Moon said in an interview aired by China’s state-run CCTV on Monday night. “We need to use the wisdom to walk a mile in each other’s shoes and take time to address a problem that cannot be resolved instantly.”
Kim’s defense meeting thumbs nose at world
North Korea made a rare move Tuesday of publicizing a military conference presided over by leader Kim Jong-un, in what Seoul analyzed to be a demonstration that it was unfazed by international pressure and would carry on with its nuclear weapons development.
Gov’t wrestles with how to regulate bitcoin
The top financial regulator drafted regulations that would restrict trading of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin to exchanges that meet certain criteria.
According to the draft, any trading of cryptocurrencies outside those exchanges will be illegal and subject to fines of up to 50 million won ($46,000) and imprisonment of less than five years.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
“Integration” “Solidarity” Lots of Talk, But Only Empty Talk
A powerful earthquake is followed by dozens of aftershocks. This is the process of the tectonic plates that have shifted finding their way back to equilibrium. Politics is similar. The conservatives have fallen after the impeachment of Park Geun-hye and the launch of a new government, but we still have a three-party system with the opposition holding the majority of the seats in the National Assembly. The instability of this system is caused by the inconsistency between the candlelight public and the power in the National Assembly and by the failure of the three parties to establish values and direction.
Amendments to the “Kim Young-Ran Act,” Why the Hurry?
On December 11, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission reviewed and passed the amendment of the Enforcement Decree of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act (a.k.a. Kim Young-ran Act). According to the amendment, public officials can receive gifts valued at up to 100,000 won on condition that the gifts are agricultural products or processed goods with more than 50% of agricultural content. The amendment also lowered the maximum amount of cash gifts to 50,000 won. As a result, the upper limit for meals, gifts, and cash gifts has been adjusted to 30,000 won, 100,000 won (for agricultural gifts), and 50,000 won respectively from the previous 30,000 won, 50,000 won,
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The Korea Economic Daily (http://english.hankyung.com/)
Tourism and Duty-free Industries Hopeful about Improving Korea-China Relations
As Korea and China are set to improve their relationship that was rocked by the controversy over the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system, Korea's tourism and duty-free shopping industries are raising their hopes of better days. The tourism industry believes that the Chinese government's group tour ban to Korea would be relaxed soon. A travel agency in Hebei posted an Internet ad recently for a group tour program to Korea in November at the price of 1,480 yuan(US$223). China's largest online travel agency trip also put out group tour programs to Korea for the first time in seven months.
Korea's MBI to Establish EV Plant in Vietnam
MBI, a Korean manufacturer specializing in making transmissions, will build an electric car plant in Hanoi, Vietnam, jointly with local firm N&G Group. The two companies will invest a total of US$1 billion for the next seven years.The companies said on September 21 that the heads of the two companies signed an agreement to establish a joint venture called Viko Motors in South Hanoi next month. Earlier in June this year, MBI was promised by the Vietnamese government and the Hanoi city government for a 20-year free land lease, high-tech investment incentive, preferential tariffs, and designation of MBI-held patented technologies as Vietnamese standards.
Gov't Decides to Give $8 Mil. Aid to North Korea...Timing to Be Announced Later
The government has decided to give support to North Korea worth US$8 million in programs helping its vulnerable people including children and pregnant women indirectly through international organizations. It, however, has not decided when to start sending money and exactly how. This is interpreted as a choice to deflect criticism that it is undertaking an aid project at a time when North Korea is causing an international storm by launching a series of missile tests.
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AJU Business Daily (http://eng.ajunews.com/korea)
S. Korean brokerage takes over Indonesia's Danpac brokerage
Korea Investment & Securities Co., one of South Korea's major brokerages, has acquired Danpac Sekuritas, a mid-sized Indonesian securities firm, as part of efforts to become an international player.
Korea Investment said Tuesday that a contract to acquire a 75 percent stake in Danpac for 40 billion won (36.6 million US dollars) was signed in Jakarta. The company said it would turn Danpac into its overseas branch to provide financial services in the first half of next year.
S. Korea picks BMW 520d as this year's safest car
BMW's 520d sedan was selected as this year's safest car in South Korea, followed by Mercedes-Benz's E220d and Stinger, a high-performance car produced by Kia Motors as a strategic model to compete with foreign brands on its home turf.
The three cars scored high points in the annual safety checking of four imported and seven home-made cars selected by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Hyundai agrees to set up commercial vehicle joint venture in Indonesia
South Korea's Hyundai Motor forged a deal with Indonesia's Artha Graha (AG) Group to set up a joint venture in Jakarta that would assemble trucks and other commercial vehicles targeting Southeast Asia.
Under the deal, signed Tuesday at the Indonesian embassy in Seoul, Hyundai will provide engines and other key parts for the complete knock-down (CKD) factory capable of producing about 2,000 vehicles a year. Terms have yet to be fixed, but the joint venture will be formally established in May next year.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
Samsung Elec, Amazon.com team up in stream premium video content
South Korea’s tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. said on Tuesday that it will join hands with the world’s largest e-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc. to introduce industry’s first premium video content streaming service applying high dynamic range 10 plus (HDR10+) technology.
Shinhan Financial to spend $248 mn on nobles oblige activities by 2020
South Korea’s top Shinhan Financial Group pledged to boost its spending on philanthropic activities and inject 270 billion won ($248.4 million) for the next three years to help support income activity of underprivileged and low-income families and growth of small- and mid-size companies.
Japan’s Daiichi Institution to spend $10 mn to build factory in Busan
Daiichi Institution Industry Co., a mid-size engineering and construction services company in Japan, will invest $10 million to build a new production facility in Busan, becoming the first Japanese business in two years to promote facility investment in South Korea’s largest port city.
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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.cnkf@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.comlithuania@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
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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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The publisher-chairman of The Korea Post media is serving the Diplomatic Community for more than 40 years, 32 years with The Korea Post and 10 years with The Korea Herald as the Cultural Editor who covered the Diplomatic Community.
For quick response, call Chairman Lee directly at 010-5201-1740 or reporters at 010-3388-1682 or 010-7584-5873.