January 28, 2014


The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

  

Good morning, Excellency!
Here are The Korea Post news, African proverbs, humor from Korean-language economic dailies, and a roundup of important headlines from all major Korean-language dailies, TV and other news media this morning:
/s/
        
Lee Kyung-sik
Publisher-Chairman
Korea Post Media
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The Korea Post notice:

Is your National Day coming up soon? Or is the Head of State of your esteemed country visiting Korea soon?

You may have the portrait painting of your Head of State painted by a famed Korean portrait artist who has painted the portraits of President George W. Bush, President Lee Myung-bak at Cheong Wa Dae, President Park Chung-Hee, the then First Lady Park Geun-hye and various other most important persons of Korea and the world.
Price of the portrait painting is normally 30 million won (US$30,000) for 30 Ho (90cm x 72cm) which, however, is discounted to mere two to five million won (US$2,000 to US$5,000) for the same size because the balance is covered by the promotional coverage of the artist involved provided by the four media units of The Korea Post (one print monthly and three electronic media).

These famed Korean artists are also famous for their landscapes, figure painting (including nudes) and still life works. Please visit the following sites of The Korea Post Internet for sample paintings.

Please directly call Chairman Lee of The Korea Post at 010-5201-1740 for immediate contact with the artists.

http://koreapost.koreafree.co.kr/board/index.html?id=artgallery&no=3http://koreapost.koreafree.co.kr/board/index.html?id=artgallery&no=11http://koreapost.koreafree.co.kr/board/index.html?id=artgallery&no=1

Above photo show Pope John Paul II (left) and Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan of Korea. Cardinal Kim is among the most respected in Korea.

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Humor from Korean-language economic dailies this morning:

Seoul Kyungje

Teacher: If a lion is chasing you, what would you do?
Student: I'd climb a tree.
Teacher: If the lion climbs a tree?
Student: I will jump in the lake and swim.
Teacher: If the lion also jumps in the water and swims after you?
Student: Teacher! Are you on my side or on the lion's?

Hankuk Kyungje
US Citizenship
The couple emigrated from Greece.
Although the man received his US citizenship while his children were still young, his wife couldn’t take the time to learn English because she had to care for three daughters and four sons. At the age of 58, she finally appeared before a judge to receive her citizenship.
After reviewing the papers, the judge asked the woman why she had not applied earlier.
Pointing to her children standing next to her, she proudly responded, “Well, Your Honor, I was too busy raising seven American citizens.”
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)

S. Korea Proposes Family Reunions in N. Korea Next Month
South Korea has proposed inter-Korean family reunions for a week next month at Mount Geumgang resort in North Korea.

Prosecutors to Seek Maximum Sentence for Private Info Crimes
Prosecutors say they will now push for the maximum sentence for criminals who distribute, trade and use personal information in the wake of the nation’s largest data leak.  

KOSPI Down 1.56% Amid Global Market Sell-off
Anchor: Investors are worried emerging market instability may spread to South Korea.

New NHK Chairman Stirs Controversy with Remarks on Comfort Women
Anchor: Korean women victims of Japan’s wartime sex slavery continue to die without ever hearing a long-sought apology from Tokyo, and it often appears the elderly survivors never will.

Samsung, Google Sign Patent Cross-licensing Deal
Samsung Electronics and Google have agreed to share all existing patents and patents to be obtained in the next ten years.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

S. Korea proposes family unions with N. Korea in mid-Feb.
South Korea on Monday proposed holding reunions for families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War in mid-February as it welcomed North Korea's recent offer to stage the meetings.

SK hynix net soars in Q4
SK hynix Inc., the world's No. 2 memory chip maker, said Tuesday its net profit surged 382.1 percent in the fourth quarter from a year earlier on the back of improved sales in major product lineups.

U.S. says no 'private' call for Abe on Yasukuni issue
The U.S. government said Monday it continues to ask Japan and its neighbors to resolve their history row in a "constructive" way. 

Iranian leader willing to mediate between Koreas
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is willing to play a mediator's role in resolving difficult issues between the two Koreas, a South Korean official now visiting Iran said Monday.

All relatives of Jang executed too: sources
All relatives of the executed uncle of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, including children and the country's ambassadors to Cuba and Malaysia, have also been put to death at the leader's instruction, multiple sources said Sunday.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)

For 22 years, ex-military sex slaves rally for justice
There was a short skit followed by dancing and singing by high school students. The crowd that gathered at noon across t...

News ListEmerging market woes jolt financial markets
Discouraged by the recent financial jolt in some of the world’s emerging states, especially Ar...

Samsung, Google reach cross-licensing deal
A cross-licensing deal between Samsung Electronics and Google is expected to further reinforce ...

LG to supply batteries to Chrysler
LG Chem, a chemical firm and auto parts maker, is said to be on the verge of inking a deal to s...

Korean firms’ sentiment to remain low

FSC seeks law to block scammers’ phone ...

Park reproaches Hyun over data leak rema...

Political schism festers on social media

New bird flu-suspected case reported

South Korea takes first step toward moon...

Samsung biggest advertiser in Korea

Representing the people

Kerry expected to visit Korea, China in ...

Saenuri floats new proposal on nominatio...

Seoul proposes Feb. 17-22 reunions

Big names flock to SNU to give lectures

Korean parties demand new NHK chief resi...

KORAIL responsible for screen door death...

Cancer-causing substance found in Seoul ...
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)

ROK, US curtailing joint military drills
South Korea and the United States are scaling down their annual joint military exercises, apparently in response to a series of conciliatory moves by North Korea. “The two sides have mapped out an exercise plan that will not fea...

Samsung, Google in 10-year deal
Samsung Electronics and Google have signed a 10-year cross-licensing agreement on mobile technology patents in an extended partnership, the Korean company said Monday. On the same day, it reached a multi-year patent-sharing deal...

S. Korea proposes reunions Feb. 17-22  
South Korea has proposed an inter-Korean family reunion from Feb. 17 to 22, the Ministry of Unific...

 

Spam to be banned; cross-affiliate data sharing monitored 
The government plans to empower mobile carriers to block phone lines used for financial scams and ...

 

Korean bobsledder embraces expectations 
Bobsledding is a minority sport in Korea, but Won Yun-jong hopes to use the Sochi Winter Olympics ... 

'Heukhyeong' causes stir  
A restaurant in Itaewon caused a stir over the weekend as people debated if naming its chicken dis... 

'Holiday to determine bird flu fight'  
The upcoming Lunar New Year holiday is expected to be a watershed in the ongoing fight against the... 

International co-production frequent in musicals 
The saturation of the domestic musical market is prompting local entertainment firms to seek co-pr...

 

Rep. Lee refuses to answer at 'treason' court hearing  
Rep. Lee Seok-ki of the minor opposition Unified Progressive Party (UPP), who was indicted on char... 

Criticism against NHK boss escalates  
New NHK President Katsuto Momii said Monday he regrets his controversial remarks justifying Japan’... 

Ahn's party tentatively named 'New Politics Party'  
Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo’s preparatory committee said Monday that the tentative name for his political p...
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Dong A (http://english.donga.com)

President Park reprimands officials for making inappropriate remarks
President Park Geun-hye said on Tuesday, “It is regrettable that some official’s recent inappropriate remarks hurt the people’s minds and increased distrust. If it repeats, I will hold those invovled responsible.” The... 

President Park regrets officials` inappropriate comments
President Park Geun-hye makes opening remarks at the meeting of senior presidential secretaries on Tuesday. The president said, “It is regrettable that officials’ inappropriate remarks hurt the people.” She explicitly...

60-year-old injection needle found from elderly woman’s hip
An 84-year-old woman in Daejeon, identified by her last name Yeo, had to undergo a "hip surgery” at Kunyang University Hospital on Tuesday last week. On her visit to the hospital due to severe pain in her hip last...

Samsung, Google to share all patents for the next decade
Samsung Electronics, the world’s no.1 in IT hardware, will share all patents with the Internet giant Google for the next decade. The two IT giants will be able to share each other’s technologies. Samsung Electronics...

National ski jump team poised to do something notable
In the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Korea`s national ski jump team attracted heated attention equivalent to that toward figure skating star Kim Yu-na.

Korean currency tumbles due to ‘emerging country shock’ 
The Korean financial market widely swayed on Monday due to "emerging country shock" that hit the global financial market. Korean stock market had been expected to remain relatively stable by differentiating itself from other emerging countries saddled in financial crises.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)

Gold Items Popular Ahead of Lunar New Year
Amid steadily falling prices in the wake of the U.S. Fed's move to taper off its quantitative easing, more gold-related products are hitting the market. In particular, special gift items ahead of the Lunar New Year are popular among holiday shoppers.

U.S. to Stop Spying on Korean Leaders
Timid reforms of the U.S. National Security Agency proposed by President Barack Obama would end eavesdropping on the heads of allied nations. That means Koran presidents will no longer be spied on by the NSA, a government official here said Sunday.

Samsung Under Fire Over University Quota
The Samsung Group recently adopted a new policy of giving top priority to job applicants recommended by the presidents of their universities and allocated a quota to each university. Job applicants recommended by their university president can skip the resume screening phase.

Daft Punk, Lorde, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Win Big at Grammys
Two silent robots shared the spotlight at the 56th annual Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles. In a musical milieu usually ruled by volume and bravado, the two members of Daft...

Maryland Mall to Reopen After Fatal Weekend Shooting
A Maryland mall where a 19-year-old gunman shot and killed two young store employees before apparently taking his own life was scheduled to reopen on Monday with increased law enforcement presence, police said.

Ukraine Justice Minister Threatens State of Emergency
Ukraine's justice minister has threatened to declare a state of emergency if protesters do not leave the justice ministry in Kyiv, which they seized late Sunday. In a television...
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Hankyoreh (http://english.hani.co.kr)

Former comfort woman passes away at age 90
Hwang Geum-ja was known for her exceptional generosity, and the trauma of her wartime suffering
For the duration of the Catholic ceremony for the departed, the singing of hymns never stopped. “Watch over the soul that has departed today,” they sang. “Give her eternal peace and rest.”
A recent remark by NHK chairman Katsuto Momii that every country has had its comfort women could have disturbed Hwang Geum-ja’s passing, but in her funeral portrait, her face was at peace.

Pres. Park maintains her critical stance on North Korea
President Park Geun-hye is refusing to let her guard down against North Korea, making numerous hard-line remarks in the past few days despite repeated signals that Pyongyang wants dialogue. Just one day after North Korea accepted a proposal to hold reunions between divided families, Park was back to showing deep distrust, referring to North Korea as an “unpredictable place” waging a “campaign of conciliatory propaganda.”

Reunions of divided families could take place in mid-February 
Reunions between members of divided South and North Korean families may take place as early as mid-February.
The reunions, which have already been postponed once, appear likely to go ahead this time, but a number of key variables remain, including South Korea’s military exercises with the US and the still-idle Mt. Keumgang tourism venture.

Seoul bar being called racist for serving “Black Big Brother Chicken”
A bar in Seoul has provoked a controversy by serving a dish called “Big Black Brother Fried Chicken”, leading to allegations of racial discrimination.
Big Black Brother Fried Chicken is the name of a fried chicken dish smothered in black sauce that is on the menu at a bar in Seoul‘s Itaewon neighborhood, which is frequented by foreigners from all over the world.

Sources: S. Korea won’t be among countries wiretapped by US
The US has reportedly said that the South Korean president will not be among the leaders of close allies wiretapped by its National Security Agency.
A senior government official said on condition of anonymity on Jan. 26 that the US had confirmed through diplomatic channels that it regards South Korea as one of its close allies. This was in reference to the NSA reform package, which states that the US will not tap the phones of leaders of its close allies.
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Joong Ang (conservative): (http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/)

Kospi drops as emerging market panic spreads
Other emerging markets have high debt
Nervousness about emerging markets had a big impact on the Korean securities market despite the government’s wishful mantra that the impact would be “limited.” The Kospi, Seoul’s main bourse, opened 2.1 percent lower yesterday…

Samsung, Google agree on patent peace accord
Samsung Electronics has signed a 10-year peace treaty with Google that will prevent the two companies from waging a patent war against one another…

Seoul sends Pyongyang its dates for reunions
South Korea responded to North Korea’s offer Friday to hold reunions of families separated during the 1950-53 Korean War, proposing they take place between Feb. 17 and Feb. 22…

Hwang vows to get back to basics
KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu vowed to turn the nation’s No.2 carrier into a leading telecommunication giant by refocusing…

Northeast Seoul gets makeover plan
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon announced a development plan for four northeastern districts yesterday at City Hall…

Bluesumer list suggests 6 ideas for entrepreneurs
Even in times of economic uncertainty, there are always opportunities for entrepreneurs if they target niche markets. Statistics Korea yesterday announced…

Survey puts the heat on top-name padded coats
A 32-year-old surnamed Lee recently visited a department store in southern Seoul to buy a nice, warm padded coat to survive the remaining months of winter…

Creative economy policies are on track
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. I believe every parent raising a child fully understands this saying…

644,000 birds culled as flu spreads to Gyeonggi
With avian influenza spreading beyond North Jeolla, the government yesterday imposed a 12-hour ban on the movement of poultry farmers and their vehicles…

Airport exchange rates high? Yep
People often wonder if it is more expensive to exchange money at the airport before departure. Usually, prices are higher at tourist sites and in remote locations…

Like rest of the world, market plunges
Korean stocks dropped 1.56 percent yesterday on concerns about conditions in emerging markets due to the tapering of quantitative easing by the U.S.…

LG absorbs 2nd mobile loss
LG Electronics posted a deficit for its mobile phone business for the second consecutive quarter, despite improved sales. LG said yesterday it posted 14.9 trillion won …

Automakers roll out free inspections
Local automakers are offering free inspections at highway rest areas for the Lunar New Year holidays, starting tomorrow…
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Edaily (http://eng.edaily.co.kr/Stock/)

[US the closing price]The U.S. Dow Jones Index, -41.23p(-0.26%) slightly down.
The U.S. Dow Jones Index Closing (At 2014.01.27) The Dow closed at 15,837.88p, slightly down -41.23p(-0.2...

[Table]Exchange Rate Quotation
This is Exchange rate Quotation offered by Korea Exchange Bank. [table] Exchange Rate Quotation Offered by KEB ...

[Table]Exchange Rate Currency Crossrate
2014.01.28 08:10(Korean time), this is Currency Crossrate of major 12 countries. [table] FX Cross Currency ...

[Closed] Domestic rate of return of final bid closed. 3-year government bond up 2bp.
This is the rate of return of final bid. Quoted by Korea Financial Investment Association, domestic rate of return of final bid of 3-year government bond recorded at 2.88%, up ( 2bp) from yesterday. ...
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Maeil Kyungje (neutral-oriented conservative, economic/business): (http://news.mk.co.kr/english/)

South Korea market suffers ‘triple weak’
The US Fed’s monetary stimulus tapering is spilling into across Asia, including emerging countries. The financial crisis that erupted in Argentina last weekend is spreading into other countries. The South Korean financial market marked a ‘triple weak’ phenomenon Monday, in which stocks, the local currency and bonds all fell. The KOSPI lost 30.22 points, or 1.56 percent, to 1,910.34 from the previous close. Foreign investors sold 514.6 billion won ($..

S. Korea on emergency alert with spate of AI cases
The South Korean quarantine authorities, live stock farms and regional governments are in alert as a series of reported cases on ducks and chicken were confirmed as avian influenza (AI) before the Lunar New Year’s holiday.

S. Korea’s ‘low carbon vehicle fund’ triggers diverging responses from different carmakers
“Low carbon vehicle fund” (LCVF) is a system that imposes surcharge on new cars that emit a lot of carbon dioxide (Co2) and pays subsidy to new models that emit less. The system aims to facilitate the South Korean car market transition from gasoline-powered mid-sized and large vehicles to more eco-friendly and smaller cars.

Park reprimands finance minister over data leak remarks 
President Park Geun-hye rebuked the finance minister Monday after the minister suggested consumers are also at fault in the data leak crisis, saying she would hold anyone who makes similar hurtful remarks accountable.

KT appoints Hwang Chang-gyu as chairman
KT picked nominee Hwang Chang-gyu as its 13th chairman at the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting held at the main auditorium of the telecom’s research and development (R&D) center in Seocho District, Seoul at 10:00 am Monday.


The Korea Post notice:

Here are more portrait paintings by Artists Chung Hyung-Mo and Kim Dong-Hyun:

Above photo shows the late former President Park Chung Hee of Korea looking out the window at Cheong Wa Dae lost in contemplation over the future development of Korea. Artist Chung created the work in 1990 and the size of the painting is 100 Ho.

Above photo shows President Park Chung Hee (right) speaking with President Gerald R. Ford of the United States at the Presidential Office of Cheong wa Dae in Seoul. President Ford visited Korea in November 1974.

Right and left photos show the portrait of the late former President Park Chung Hee and the late First Lady Madam Yuk Young-soo, his wife, respectively.

Above photo shows the late former First Lady Madam Yuk (wife of President Park) looking after aged people. First Lady Yuk used to be called an 'Opposition leader inside Cheong Wa Dae' speaking to the President for the benefit of less privileged people in Korea.

Above: President Kim Dae-jung and First Lady Lee Hee-Ho.

 Former President Chun Doo-Hwan (left) and HM Emperor Hirohito of Japan.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom

Founder Chairman Lee Byung-chul of the Samsung Business Group

Sketch of President Park Chung-Hee

Artist Kim Dong-Hyun (right) poses with Cartoonist Ranan Raymond Lurie of The New York Times.

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations

The late Rev. Moon Sun-myung of the Unification Church

저작권자 © The Korea Post 무단전재 및 재배포 금지