Headlines, November 12, 2018

Monday, November 12, 2018

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

The Korea Post media (www.koreapost.com) in English, (www.koreapost.co.kr) in Korean.

U.S. commander supports inter-Korean military deal on reducing tension

The commander of United States Forces Korea (USFK) said on Nov. 11, 2018 he supports an inter-Korean military agreement on reducing tension. Gen. Robert B. Abrams, who took command as head of U.S. troops here last week, made the remarks as he visited the truce village of Panmunjom inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the Korean Peninsula.

Online malls enjoy sales boom with discount events

South Korea's online malls have raked in sales during massive discount campaigns held well in advance of Black Friday in the United States, according to industry insiders on Nov. 11, 2018. Major online malls and market places presented door-busting deals in early November to entice consumers even before department stores and discount chains start their year-end sales events.

S. Korea must improve competitiveness in robotics amid growing Chinese challenge

South Korea needs to improve the overall competitiveness of its robotics industry amid growing challenges posed by Chinese rivals, a state-run think tank said on Nov. 11, 2018. According to the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade (KIET) report that highlighted growth strategies of the Chinese robot industry, robotics firms in the world's No. 2 economy grew an average of 29.7 percent annually in the 2013-2018 period.

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

Auto Insurance Premiums Likely to Rise 3%

Car insurance premiums are expected to rise by around three percent in November or December. According to financial authorities and the industry, Meritz Fire and Marine Insurance, which accounts for five percent of the auto insurance market, recently requested the Korea Insurance Development Institute to examine and verify its three-percent hike plan for basic premium rates.

S. Korea's Ability to Create Jobs Expected to Hit 9-Year Low

The South Korean economy's ability to create new jobs is expected to fall to the lowest level in nine years this year. According to the Bank of Korea's estimate on Sunday, the Korean economy's gross domestic product (GDP) elasticity is expected to post point-11 this year, the lowest since 2009. The estimate would represent a sharp decrease from point-39 last year and point-72 in 2014.

Fewer Singles Consider Marriage Necessary

Recent surveys show that the percentage of unmarried South Korean men and women who believe it is necessary to get married has dropped by half in the past eight years. According to Statistics Korea's Social Survey data and a report from a group of experts advising the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy, the percentage of single men who believe marriage is necessary has fallen from 63 percent in 2010 to 36 percent this year. For unmarried women, the figure has fallen from 47 percent to 22 percent.

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

Samsung Display starts production of 65-inch UHD video wall

Samsung Display Co. said Monday it started mass production of its ultra-high-definition (UHD) video walls to meet rising demand for high-quality screens from the global digital signage industry. The wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co. said it started the production of 65-inch UHD video walls in October, providing clients with new displays with four times better resolution than Full HD products, along with a reduced bezel for improved design.

S. Korean version of lemon laws to go into effect next year

The South Korean version of U.S. lemon laws is set to go into effect next year as the government moves to strengthen consumers' rights, the transport ministry said Monday. Under the lemon laws in the United States, those who purchase cars and other consumer goods that repeatedly fail to meet standards of quality and performance are compensated by the sellers. The term "lemon" has long been used to describe defective vehicles or products in the U.S.

S. Korea's exports fall in first 10 days of Nov.

South Korea's exports fell by 4.8 percent in the first 10 days of this month from a year earlier due largely to a decline in shipments of chips and fewer working days, customs data showed Monday. The country's outbound shipments reached US$15.3 billion in the November 1-10 period, according to the data from the Korea Customs Service (KCS).

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

Kim Jong-un’s Seoul visit unlikely this year: experts

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s visit to Seoul appears to be less likely to take place this year without more progress in stalled denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington, experts said Sunday.South Korea’s Moon Jae-in administration is pushing to hold the fourth inter-Korean summit between Moon and Kim in Seoul within the year, in the hope of facilitating a breakthrough in the deadlocked US-North Korea talks.

South Korea's rush to North Korea

A new type of “gold rush” of sorts is unfolding, as the latest detente with North Korea grabs the imagination of enterprising South Koreans eyeing fresh opportunities in the North.The South Korean government, for one, is looking for the right moment to revive old business ties and form new ones with its communist neighbor rich in untapped natural resources.

Korea, Japan, China to strengthen postal service cooperation

Korea Post, South Korea’s postal service operator under the Ministry of Science and ICT, said Sunday that it signed a memorandum of understanding with its counterparts in China and Japan last week, agreeing to strengthen cooperation in postal service technology innovation and adoption.

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

Korea-Spain aircraft deal shrouded in mystery

The defense procurement agency's reported plan to sign a military aircraft swap deal with Spain is drawing attention here, as it would mark the first time for a Korean manufacturer to export trainer jets to Europe. Under the plan, Korea is expected to sell 30 KT-1 basic trainer jets and 20 T-50 advanced trainer jets, manufactured by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), to Spain. The European country also reportedly plans to sell four to six A400M Airbus transport planes to Korea as part of the aircraft exchange deal.

Online broadcaster caught livestreaming drunk driving

An online broadcaster has been caught airing her drunk driving live. Officers at Gangnam Police Station said Sunday that they are investigating an independent broadcaster of online platform Popkon TV, surnamed Im, 26, for drunk driving charges. A man who was in the car with Im, identified as Yeom, 29, was also booked for aiding and abetting the crime.

Workplace violence by superiors a serious problem

The recent case of employee abuse by Yang Jin-ho, head of online data storage platforms, shocked the nation. However, statistics and reports show workplace violence by superiors, although not as serious as Yang's, is not rare in Korean companies.Between January and August this year, the Ministry of Employment and Labor received 515 cases of violence by workplace superiors _ usually executives or those in managerial positions — according to Rep. Lee Yong-deuk of the Democratic Party of Korea, Sunday.

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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)

New USFK Chief Visits Inter-Korean Border

Gen. Robert Abrams, the new commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, paid a visit to the Joint Security Area in the border truce village of Panmunjom on Saturday, his first since he took over the post on Nov. 8. Abrams toured the area and was briefed on progress in the implementation of the latest inter-Korean military agreement.

S.Korea Sending Jeju Tangerines to N.Korea in Return for Gift of Pine Mushrooms

20,000 boxes, ten kilograms of tangerines in each, divvied up into four military cargo planes, and sent to North Korea in a total of four shipments until Monday. South Korea's Presidential Office of Cheong Wa Dae says they're a return present from the top office to North Korea after the North sent two tons of pine mushrooms to Seoul in September following the third summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which was held in Pyongyang.

New Finance Minister Keep Pursuing Moon's Key Economic Policies

President Moon Jae-in's newly appointed chief of staff for economic policy Kim Soo-hyun says he will be working hand-in-hand with Finance Minister nominee Hong Nam-ki should Hong be confirmed. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Kim said Hong will be in charge of managing forthcoming economic issues that need to be addressed.

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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)

The sole survivor of Teojinmok massacre during the Apr. 3 Jeju Uprising

There was a rattle of gunfire, and a group of people fell at Teojinmok Village of Seogwipo Township, on Jeju Island, which offers a clear view of Seongsan Ilchulbong, called “sunrise peak.” The screams were drowned in the thunder of the surf. A mother cradling a baby in her arms collapsed onto the sand. Bawling and covered in blood, the baby crawled away from its fallen mother (Hyeon Jeong-saeng, 25 years old). The police let loose another volley, unwilling to spare communists’ spawn, but the boy survived the massacre despite being shot three times. It was a miracle.

The heartbreaking tale of the slaughter of Donggwang villagers at Jeongbang Waterfall

Jan. 27, 1949, was a warm day, at least for winter. Bok-sun, who was 12 years old at the time, and her eight-year-old brother Bok-nam cried as they ran after their father (Kim I-su) and mother (Bak Sun-yeo). The family had been held at a concentration camp near the government office in Seogwipo Township, and now their parents were being taken somewhere else.

Less than half of S. Koreans believe marriage is “necessary” for first time ever

The number of South Koreans expressing the belief that marriage is “necessary” has fallen below half for the first time ever. An increasing number believe their society has become generally safer, while environmental pollution was cited as a major threat to daily safety. The number stating their willingness to shoulder costs for environmental protection has risen to more than half.

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

S. Korean military aircraft begin a tangerine lift to N. Korea

The South Korean government is sending 200 tons of Jeju tangerines to the North. The present comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gave two tons of pine mushrooms during the inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang in September. Some say the gift signifies that there is still a possibility of Kim visiting the South, including a visit to Mt. Halla on the South Korean resort island of Jeju, within this year.

Samsung to release over one million foldable phones next year

Samsung Electronics showcased the display of its first foldable phone at the Samsung Developer Conference 2018 in San Francisco on Wednesday. At a press conference in San Francisco on Thursday (local time), Samsung Electronics’ IT Mobile Division President Ko Dong-jin announced that the company will launch a foldable smartphone in the first half of next year.

First clinical trial tests iPS cell treatment for Parkinson's

A research team led by Kyoto University Prof. Jun Takahashi announced to the Japanese media in Tokyo on Friday that they have successfully conducted experiment to transplant induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells into the brain of a 50-something Parkinson's disease patient.

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JoongAng Ilbo (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)

Tons of tangerines flown to North

The Blue House has sent hundreds of tons of tangerines to Pyongyang as a special gift in return for the mushrooms that the North sent to Seoul in September.“At 8 a.m. our military cargo plane left Jeju Airport for Pyongyang Sunan Airport carrying Jeju tangerines,” said Kim Eui-kyeom, a Blue House spokesperson, in a brief text message to reporters. A total of 200 tons of tangerines were to be flown to the North over two days packed in 20,000 boxes, each weighing 10 kilograms (22 pounds).

Pence repeats call for pressure on Pyongyang

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence called on the international community to keep “the pressure campaign” on North Korea “until we achieve the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” “As I will make clear, the United States will continue to exert unprecedented diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea,” said Pence in an opinions piece published by the Washington Post Friday, strongly suggesting that Washington will not ease economic sanctions until the North shows evidence of more tangible steps toward denuclearization.

Two Koreas withdraw from 22 DMZ guard posts

South and North Korea both withdrew troops and weapons from a total of 22 guard posts in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) on Saturday, fulfilling an inter-Korean military agreement reached last month. With this first step completed, the militaries of the two Koreas will now discuss ways to decommission all DMZ guard posts, believed to total more than 200.

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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)

Phase out of Diesel Cars: "Alternate Car Days" Expands to Private Sector

The "clean diesel" policy launched by the Lee Myung-bak government will be abolished in order to reduce the number of diesel-fueled automobiles, cited as the main cause of high-density fine dust. The alternate driving system, which was enforced only in the Seoul metropolitan area, and other emergency measures to reduce fine dust will be expanded to the seventeen metropolises and provinces nationwide as well as to the private sector.

The BTS Generation: Hipsters Enjoying K-pop

The global rage over BTS, which doesn't seem likely to fade anytime soon, marks another cultural turning point in the history of K-pop, which is now entering adulthood. The formation, development and evolution of K-pop can be explained in two aspects. One is the route through which K-pop expanded geographically. This route started from Asia, moving on to North America and Europe, and from Europe to all continents including South America. The K-pop bands that contributed to the expansion of this route were TVXQ, Girls' Generation, Big Bang and BTS. One notable point is that unlike other bands, the geographic expansion of BTS occurred instantaneously, making it highly unpredictable.

Defense Security Command's Investigation of Sewol-Related Civilians Confirmed: Will the People Still Defend the Command?

On November 6, a special investigation team of the Ministry of National Defense announced the results of an investigation on the alleged monitoring of Sewol-related civilians by the former Defense Security Command. According to the investigation, the command first began investigating civilians to turn the tide after the situation around the June 4 local elections in 2014 turned against the Park Geun-hye government due to the Sewol tragedy.

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AJU Business Daily (http://eng.ajunews.com/korea)

S. Korean battery makers join hands to jointly develop core technologies

Under a government campaign to maintain global leadership, South Korea's top battery makers LG Chem joined hands with two domestic rivals to develop next-generation technology together and create a fund for joint research and startups. LG Chem, Samsung SDI and SK Innovation signed a memorandum of understanding Monday in a ceremony sponsored by the Trade, Industry and Energy Minister.

Hyundai Rotem in race to win battle tank deal in Oman

Hyundai Rotem, a South Korean company manufacturer of rolling stock, defense products and plant equipment, is in the race to win a military contract with a desert-optimized version of its K2 Black Panther battle tank. The K2 Black Panther is South Korea's main battle tank (MBT) that will replace M48 Patton tanks and earlier models of K1 tanks in service. The first batch of Black Panther tanks was put into service in June 2014.

Samsung seeks initial production of one mln foldable phones

Samsung Electronics aims to produce more than one million foldable phones if mass production begins in the first half of next year. A top official said the world's largest smartphone maker has formed a task force with Google to create an optimal user experience.

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

LG Chem teams up with Cue Biopharma for immunotherapy drugs

LG Chem announced on Monday that it has entered into a multi-target strategic collaboration with Cue Biopharma, a Nasdaq-listed U.S. immunotherapy company, to develop a novel, proprietary class of biologics to selectively modulate the human immune system to treat cancer.

Korean IT, game industry turn left amid increasing unionization

The information technology (IT) and gaming segment no longer is the untouched realm for South Korea’s hard-line union power as workers increasingly organize unions and join umbrella groups to correct overworked and underpaid environment.

Household Korean Inc. retreats in global market amid waning competitiveness

The Korean Inc. and made-in-Korea brands are fast losing presence and money on the international stage as they fail to keep up innovation edge against global names or price competitiveness against Chinese products. A study on operating margin of Korean household names in key exports - semiconductor, smartphone, automobile, steel, oil refining, IT, and cosmetics – found just one name and one segment– Samsung Electronics in chipmaking – where Korean brands make better money against global competition.

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