Headlines, June 27, 2019

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Thuresday June 27, 2019

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.

Hyundai signs MOU with Saudi Aramco on hydrogen energy

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's leading carmaker, said Wednesday it has signed an initial pact with Saudi Arabia's national oil company, Saudi Aramco, to cooperate on hydrogen energy. On Tuesday, Hyundai Motor Executive Vice Chairman Chung Euisun signed a memorandum of understanding with Ahmad A. Al-Sa'adi, senior vice president of technical services at Saudi Aramco, to seek a strategic partnership in hydrogen energy, advanced non-metallic materials and future technologies, the company said in a statement.

U.S. nuke envoy Biegun set to visit S. Korea ahead of Trump's trip

U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun was set to visit South Korea on Thursday ahead of President Donald Trump's trip to the Asian ally aimed at exploring ways to bring North Korea back to the dialogue table. On Friday, Biegun is expected to meet his South Korean counterpart, Lee Do-hoon, to discuss the nuclear issue and the North Korea portion of the agenda for Sunday's summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Trump.

Woongjin Group to resell water purification unit amid cash crunch

Woongjin Group, a midsize conglomerate in South Korea, said Thursday it has decided to resell its water purification affiliate in order to improve the group's financial health. The group said it plans to sell a 25.08 percent stake in Woongjin Coway, the nation's largest home appliance rental service provider.

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

Moon to Depart for G20 Summit

President Moon Jae-in will embark on a three-day trip to Japan on Thursday to attend the Group of 20 summit and hold a a series of bilateral summits with global leaders. The president is scheduled to attend the G20 summit slated for Friday and Saturday in Osaka.

Trump Says He Won't Meet Kim This Weekend; May Speak to Him in 'Different Form'

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he will not be meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his trip to Asia this week but may speak to him "in a different form." Reuters said Trump made the remarks as he left the White House for Japan, where he will attend the Group of 20 summit before traveling to South Korea on Saturday.

S. Korea's Business Sentiment Edges up in June

The business sentiment of South Korea's private sector improved slightly in June, but pessimism about the future continues to persist. According to the Bank of Korea on Thursday, the business sentiment index(BSI) for all industries came to 74 this month, up one point from a month earlier.

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

Moon: N. Korea-U.S. in dialogue on 3rd summit, peace process making steady progress

President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday that North Korea and the United States are in "behind-the-scenes talks" on another bilateral summit with the peace process on the Korean Peninsula making steady progress. "Both sides have been engaged in dialogue in regard to a third summit," he said in a written interview with Yonhap News Agency and six other global news agencies.

Trump says he may speak to Kim in 'different form' on Asia trip

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will not be meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on his trip to Asia this week but may speak to him "in a different form." Trump made the remarks as he left the White House for Osaka, Japan, where he will attend the Group of 20 summit before traveling to South Korea on Saturday.

Corporate direct financing drops 30 pct in May

South Korean companies' stock and bond offerings dropped 29.5 percent on-month in May, due mainly to a sharp decline in sales of corporate debts, data showed Thursday. Local companies raised a combined 13.9 trillion won (US$11.9 billion) through sales of stocks and bonds last month, down 5.8 trillion won from a month earlier, according to the data from the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS).

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

Korea, Saudi seek closer cooperation, sign MOUs, deals worth $8.3b

President Moon Jae-in and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia met in Seoul on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in a wide range of areas. The crown prince arrived in Seoul earlier in the day and was met by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon before moving on to Cheong Wa Dae for a welcoming ceremony followed by a meeting with Moon and his top aides.

Seoul to replace aged pipes amid ‘reddish tap water’ crisis

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said Wednesday that the city will bring forward plans to replace aged water pipes by securing extra funds, amid growing concerns over contaminated tap water reported in Seoul, Incheon and other cities. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it would begin replacing 138 kilometers of the old pipes within the year, earlier than as scheduled in 2020. For the 1.75-kilometer pipe that contaminated tap water in Mulle-dong, the replacement will be completed by the end of this year.

S. Korea to inject W70tr to foster underdeveloped service sector

The South Korean government said Wednesday it will inject 70 trillion won ($60.5 billion) into service industries over the next five years, centered on stimulating research and development and reducing the discrimination with the manufacturing sector. “The advancement of the service sector is a matter of vitality in order for our economy to take a leap forward,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki, citing the high potential of the service industries in terms of added value and job creation.

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

FSS to focus on narrowing down digital divide

The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) will seek to narrow down the digital divide as part of efforts to reduce risks arising in an era where finance and technology are merging, the chief of the regulator said Wednesday. "We need to create more programs to encourage seniors and financially vulnerable consumers to get more access to the benefits of digital banking," FSS Governor Yoon Suk-heun said at a forum on digital transformation hosted by The Korea Times in Seoul, Wednesday.

Kim Jong-un is flexible, resolute: Moon

President Moon Jae-in has expressed hope that Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang will be a "turning point" in the suspended denuclearization dialogue between the United States and North Korea. In a joint written interview with six news agencies, Moon said South Korea and China "frequently consult" with each other on ways to achieve complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Moon, Saudi crown prince agree to expand bilateral ties

President Moon Jae-in and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have agreed to expand economic cooperation and bilateral ties, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday. "Saudi Arabia is the largest oil supplier to South Korea and it is also South Korea's top trading partner in the Middle East," Moon said at the start of his meeting with the prince, according to Cheong Wa Dae press pool reports.

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

HIV Infections on the Rise in N.Korea

HIV infections are reportedly on the rise in North Korea despite boasts by the regime that the impoverished country is completely free of the virus. According to the U.S. magazine Science, infections often spread through the use of dirty syringes and are exacerbated by a lack of antiretroviral drugs.

Double-Income Families Increase

The number of double-income families in Korea increased four percent last year as many older women found jobs to help make the ends meet amid a prolonged economic slump. According to Statistics Korea on Tuesday there were 5.68 million double-income households last year, up from 5.46 million from the previous year, and the rise was the sharpest on record.

'Aladdin' on Track to Join Top 10 Foreign Films Ever in Korea

The musical fantasy film "Aladdin" surpassed the 7 million viewer mark on Tuesday, 34 days after its release, according to the Korean Film Council. The film continues to dominate the local box office thanks to strong word of mouth.

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

Trump and Moon likely to focus on trade and economic issues during Seoul summit

North Korea’s denuclearization along with trade and economic issues will most likely form the core agenda for the summit between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump on June 30. A high-level US official said that there will be no “surprise meeting” between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. In regards to Trump’s visit to South Korea from June 29 to 30, Joy Yamamoto, head of the Korea desk at the US State Department, said, “There’s no question that this [North Korea’s denuclearization] is the most important issue that’s facing both the ROK and the United States, and there’s no question that this will be the number-one topic for President Moon’s meetings with President Trump.” Her comments were made at the ROK-US Strategic Forum, which was hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Korea Foundation on June 24.

Blue House confirms no S. Korea-Japan summit in Osaka

The Blue House announced on June 25 that South Korean President Moon Jae-in will not hold a summit meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the upcoming G20 summit, which is set to take place in Osaka on June 28-29. With a series of conflicts over a judgment by the South Korean Supreme Court in October last year regarding compensation for Korean victims of forced labor under the Japanese colonial occupation, the targeting radar incident, and the import of maritime products from Fukushima, Korea-Japan relations are forecasted to remain icy for the time being. On this day, a senior official from the Blue House met with the press and said, “It does not appear that a Korea-Japan summit meeting will take place,” adding, “We are prepared to meet, but Japan does not seem to be ready. There was no response from the Japanese side.” However, he left the door open and put the ball in Japan’s court by saying, “If Japan requests a meeting at the venue [of the G20 summit], we can meet with Prime Minister Abe at any time.” Conflict over the judgment on compensation for victims of forced labor had a substantial impact on the failure to hold a summit meeting.

Samsung has come under fire worldwide for its union-busting tactics

“Close monitoring of problem employee (MJ).” “Dismiss ringleaders at time of union establishment and create ‘loyalist union’ to prevent spreading.”

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

Tragedy at the Mexican border: Reminiscent of Aylan Kurdi

It happened on the riverbanks of Rio Grande of Mexico Matamoros, just a kilometer away from Brownsville, Texas on Sunday afternoon. A young father from El Salvador in his twenties was seen in this area where there are many Latin Americans seeking to cross the border to the U.S. He placed his 23- month-old daughter under his T-shirt. The child wrapped her arms around her father as well. When they reached halfway across the river, they were swept away by the strong water currents. Their dead bodies were found the next day, looking just as they did on the day they went missing. This photo taken by Mexican daily La Jornada, has touched the hearts of people all over the world. It is a photograph of Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez (age 25) and his daughter Valeria. “The photo recalls the 2015 image of a 3-year-old Syrian boy who drowned in the Mediterranean near Turkey,” reported The Associated Press.

Presidential office does not deny speculation on new justice minister nominee

The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said on Wednesday that it had nothing to confirm‎ before making a final decision on the possibility that President Moon Jae-in will nominate Cho Kuk, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, as justice minister. Considering that Cheong Wa Dae has immediately denied inaccurate media reports on the president’s personnel affairs, it seems that the screening process for Cho’s nomination is already under way. Opposition parties, including the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, are preparing to launch a massive political offensive against Cho’s nomination, calling it a “declaration of war” on them. Asked whether the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, who is responsible for screening minister candidates, would screen himself if he becomes one, a Cheong Wa Dae official refused to answer the question based on an assumption. Cho neither confirmed nor denied the possibility at an internal meeting.

SK Hynix becomes first chipmaker to 128-layer 4D NAND flash memory chips

SK Hynix Inc. has become the world’s first chipmaker to mass produce 128-layer 4D NAND flash chips, the company’s new product in the NAND flash chip market where it has relative disadvantage amid a global downturn in the semiconductor market. The company said Wednesday that it started mass-producing the industry’s highest vertically stacking 4D NAND flash chips, just eight months after developing the 96-layer 4D NAND flash chips.

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

I Should Not Have Written These Articles

The corruption in the bidding process of the Supreme Court’s e-court, which involved over 129 billion won, was revealed by the investigative reporting that the Kyunghyang Shinmun launched last year. The National Court Administration received a large amount of bribes for purchasing 170,000-won audio and video equipment for 2.2 million won from a company owned by a former employee of the administration. In the ruling of the first trial this month, the Seoul Central District Court announced that the investigation was launched by the press report, and the Kyunghyang Shinmun articles were also at the top of the list of evidence submitted by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in January. Last summer, when the Kyunghyang Shinmun began publishing the articles, the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su distributed false information to the press claiming that the report was not true. At the time, with Jeong Jae-heon, director of the Electronic Information Management Bureau at the head, Park Jin-ung, the press secretary distributed the false information. This incident was also connected to a poorly conducted audit by Kim Heung-jun, the ethics auditor. The employees of the Electronic Information Management Bureau, who created the false information, were sentenced to ten years in prison in the first trial. Chief judge Song In-gwon said, "When the crime ... was made public by the press report, the defendant concealed the truth and even tried to manipulate the statements of related people in preparation for the investigation. The defendant continued to deny his crime with excuses difficult to understand in the process of the investigation conducted by the court and the prosecutors. And there was no change in his attitude even in this court, as he continued to deny his crime until just before the final hearing." The court then sentenced Kang Han-su, the manager of computerization support at the bureau to ten years in prison and a fine of 720 million won. The court also sentenced Son Chang-wu, the manager of cyber safety to ten years in prison and a fine of 520 million won.

Seungri and the “Police Commissioner” Both Indicted without Being Detained: Details of Sexual Entertainment and Illegitimate Relations with the Police Remain Hidden

The case of singer Seungri (29, Lee Seung-hyun, pictured) was handed over to the Prosecution Service on June 25 along with recommendations for prosecution on seven charges including the arrangement of prostitution. Inspector Yun referred to as "police commissioner" and who is suspected of keeping "cozy" ties with the singer and his business associates, was also handed over to the prosecutors on charges of interfering with the exercise of authority by abusing one's authority. The police concluded the five-month investigation on the club Burning Sun, which they launched claiming to "put their fate on the line," without fully explaining the allegations of sexual services and questionable relations with the police.

Liberty Korea Party Agreed to Resume Parliamentary Affairs, Then Threw the Opportunity Out the Window

Discussions to resume parliamentary affairs had nearly reached an agreement on June 24, but ultimately collapsed when the Liberty Korea Party overturned the agreement during a general meeting of the party's lawmakers. The floor leaders of the ruling party and two opposition parties announced an agreement on the Fast Track bills, the supplementary budget and a roundtable discussion on the economy. However, Liberty Korea Party lawmakers failed to ratify the agreement, which ended up as a bundle of paper in the garbage can in just two hours. Public criticism of the irresponsible behavior by the major opposition party, which overturned an agreement they publicly announced and opted to extend a National Assembly that refused to work, is growing.

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

Saudi Aramco mulling partnership in hydrogen sector with Korea’s Hyundai Motor

Saudi Arabia’s national oil company Saudi Aramco sees great potential in developing hydrogen from crude oil and is willing to work with Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co., an eager investor in fuel cell economy, the chief of the Saudi oil giant said Tuesday. “We have just started looking into producing hydrogen from oil,” Amin Nasser, president and chief executive of Aramco, told Maeil Business Newspaper in an interview in Seoul.

Game companies in Korea to revise unfair terms upon FTC’s request

Major game companies in South Korea will make changes to their terms and conditions of service that prevent consumers from withdrawing subscriptions and receiving refunds upon request from the country’s antitrust watchdog that completed review of the terms over the last three months amid mounting complaints about them. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said on Wednesday that it looked into the terms and conditions of service of 10 local and foreign game companies operating in Korea and found some “unfair clauses.” The 10 companies – Blizzard Entertainment, Riot Games Korea, NCSoft, Nexon Korea, Netmarble, Kakao Games, Neople, Pubg, Smilegate RPG, and Webzen – said they will amend the clauses and apply new terms next month to comply with the FTC’s order.

Samsung Elec, Deutsche Telekom to enhance cooperation in 5G, ICT

Samsung Electronics Co. and Deutsche Telekom chief executives agreed to strengthen ties in next-generation mobile communication technologies, suggesting the Korean technology giant may have won over the German wireless player to sell its 5G wireless equipment as it makes fast ascend in the market at a time Chinese rival Huawei is weighed down by U.S.-led sanctions. Samsung’s vice chair Jay Y. Lee met with Timotheus Hottges, chief executive of the Europe’s biggest telecommunications company, in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss ways to enhance partnership, according to sources from the business circle.

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