May 12, 2014

The Korean daily media headlines and humorMonday, May 12, 2014

Here are The Korea Post news, notice, 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 news:

▲ North Korea seen from the Chilseong-dae Observatory of the Hwacheong County.

The Korea Post organizes a tour for the Ambassadors and their spouses to the 3rd World Peace and Security Literature Festival in Hwacheon County of Gangwon Province (one and half hours from Seoul) on Friday June 6, 2014. It includes a visit to the Seven Star Observatory on the DMZ where the guests can look over what’s going on in North Korea north of the DMZ through large, special binoculars. For further details, please visit /news/view.html?section=161&category=181&no=534For application for DMZ entry clearance, the host would appreciate an early confirmation of acceptance of invitation. For further details on registration and reservation, please call Ms. Kim Jeong-mi (Korean) or David (English) at 2298-1740/2 or 1745/6.
Individual Invitation has already been faxed to each Excellency and we would appreciate it if the RSVP at the bottom of the invitation would be filled in and faxed back to us at the earliest convenience.
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What’s in store in the April issue of The Korea Post?

There are many interesting stories and photos, including untold stories and photos on:

Will South Korea go nuclear?

Who killed President Park Chung-Hee and Dr. Benjamin W. Lee? To what stage had President Park and Dr. Lee arrived in their development of nuclear weapons? Why did they die a sudden mysterious death in connection with their effort to make nuclear weapons?

Many wives of the ambassadors are floral artists. See their wonderful works at the Garden Club meeting.

Scroll down to the bottom for further details on the contents of the controversial stories in the April issue of The Korea Post.
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Humor from Korean economic dailies:

Seoul Kyungje

Seems an elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years.
He went to the doctor and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed the gentleman to hear 100%.
The elderly gentleman went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, "Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased you can hear again."
To which the gentleman said, "Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will five times!"

Hankuk Kyungje

Dog vs Mother-in-Law
A man who claimed income tax deduction for both his mother-in-law and his dog was curtly told by the tax office that in no circumstances was a dog an allowable deduction.
Undaunted, the man wrote back deploring the injustice of such a ruling, since he had spent $500 more on his dog than on the mother-in-law.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)

Parliament to Hold Extraordinary Session, Cooperate on Ferry Disaster
Korea's ruling and opposition parties have agreed to hold an extraordinary session in May to discuss follow-up measures for the sinking of the Sewol ferry.

Stormy Weather Stops Underwater Search for Sewol Victims for Second Day
The underwater search for victims who were aboard the ferry Sewol when it sank 26 days ago came to a stop on Sunday due to the stormy weather, keeping divers out of the water and rendering mid-air searches impossible.

Samsung Elec Chairman Lee Kun-hee Recovering After Heart Surgery
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee was hospitalized after receiving emergency heart surgery following signs of cardiac infarction, according to company officials on Sunday.

Korea Ranks 1st in World in Credit Card Usage

Elderly Koreans Not Living in Korea No Longer Eligible for National Pension Payments

Kia Motor's 2015 Sorento Named Best Family Vehicle

Religious Liberty Partnership to Seek Improvement in N. Korea Human Rights

S. Korea Confirms Drones Sent From N. Korea

S.Korea Reaffirms Position Against Lifting NK Sanctions

S.Korea, U.S., Japan Looking at Holding Ministerial Talks in Late May

Egypt Charges 200 People With Terrorist Attacks
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

Prosecutors to question eldest son of sunken ferry's owner
Prosecutors said Sunday they will summon the eldest son of the de-facto owner of a passenger ferry that capsized and sank off the southwest coast last month as part of their investigation into alleged corruption by the owner family.
Yoo Dae-kyun is the first son of Yoo Byeong-eun, the former chairman of Semo Group who is believed to own Chonghaejin Marine Co., the operator of the ferry Sewol.

Samsung chief Lee Kun-hee receives emergency heart treatment
Samsung Electronics Co. chairman Lee Kun-hee underwent an emergency medical procedure after showing symptoms of heart failure and has been hospitalized, company officials said Sunday.

N. Korea again denies S. Korea's accusation of drone incursions
Pyongyang on Sunday again denied its involvement in, and called for a joint probe into, the deployment of small drones found crashed near the inter-Korean border, which Seoul has said were sent from North Korea.

S. Koreans' credit card use ranks top among major countries
South Korea ranked No. 1 among major countries in the frequency of credit card usage, industry date showed Sunday, but the amount per use was far below the average, industry data showed Sunday.

U.S. activist on N. Korea wins ticket for November congressional election
Suzanne Scholte, a well-known U.S. activist on the North Korean human rights problem, has become a Republican candidate for November's congressional el..

N. Korea threatens to respond mercilessly to S. Korean, U.S. provocations
North Korea on Saturday warned it will respond mercilessly to all South Korean and U.S. provocations related to its recent artillery and missile firing exercises. The Ro..

Samsung chief Lee Kun-hee receives emergency heart treatment
Samsung Electronics Co. chairman Lee Kun-hee underwent an emergency medical procedure after showing symptoms of heart failure and has been hospitalized, company officials ..

S. Korea to propose lower trade barrier to clean energy at ministerial meeting
South Korea plans to call for lowering trade barriers to products and services related to renewable energy as a way of promoting its global use, the government said Sunda..
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)

Samsung on alert over chief’s heart problem
Samsung Group chairman Lee Kun-hee, who is recovering from a heart stent placement early this morning at Samsung Medical...

Brother, aide of ferry firm owner grilled over corruption
Yoo Byung-il, the older brother of Semo Group chairman Yoo Byung-eon, arrives Sunday at the Inc...

Parties agree to hold extra session

The rival parties agreed Sunday to convene an extraordinary legislative session this month to d...

Korean cosmetics exports hit record high on hallyu boom
The Korean cosmetics brand zone of a Lotte duty free shop in downtown Seoul is packed with Chin...

Boko Haram ordeal keeps girl from school
One of the teenagers who escaped from Islamic extremists who abducted more than 3...

Bracing for strong won
The steep appreciation of the Korean won in recent months is unnerving both the government a...

Overhaul Coast Guard
The Sewol tragedy has exposed many problems within the government regarding its anti-disaste...

Korea ranks low on OECD life satisfaction index
Koreans’ overall life satisfaction has remained at a relatively low level among the 34 member countries surveyed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.Koreans’ life satisfacti...

Expat rock band New Blue Death looking to break into underground scene
As the Korean music market begins to receive more international recognition, the local band sce...

A savvy bike for the savvy rider
Elaine Ramirez test-rides on the BMW Motorrad R nineT in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul. (BMW Korea...
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)

Lee Kun-hee suffers from heart attack
Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Kun-hee received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) late Saturday night in a Seoul hospital after suffering a heart attack, according to company officials Sunday. The 73-year-old business tycoon...

Yoo's eldest son to be called in
The prosecution will call in Yoo Dae-gyun, the eldest son of the former Semo Group Chairman Yoo Byung-eun, for questioning today. He is the largest stakeholder of Chonghaejin Marine, the operator of the sunken ferry Sewol. His f...
Independence marker due in Xian  
China will unveil a monument to Korean independence fighters who fought against Japanese imperiali... 

Mobility affects Korean IT landscape 
Korean Internet services companies are losing ground to their foreign rivals on their home turf du... 

Taurus Systems to open Seoul office this week 
Taurus Systems said Sunday that it will open an office in Seoul on Tuesday - the company’s first o... 

Parties agree to open session  
Rival parties agreed Sunday to convene an extraordinary session of the National Assembly later thi... 

KBS President under pressure to quit  
KBS President Gil Hwan-young is under pressure to step down over allegations that he has attempted... 

NK again denies drone deployment  
North Korea on Sunday refuted a recent announcement from Seoul that three aerial drones which cras... 

Yu indicted again on illegal money transfer  
Yu Woo-sung, an ethnic Korean Chinese man cleared of an espionage charge at the high court last mo... 
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Dong A (http://english.donga.com)

Retired officials take control of government-affiliated organizations
The number of “Gwanfia (a term coined by combining Gwan meaning officials in Korean and mafia),” high-ranking officials who used to work at the government ministries and are currently hired by government-affiliated... 
Won reaches the highest level in almost six years
The electronic notice board shows won/dollar exchange rate at the 1,022 range Wednesday afternoon at the Korea Exchange Bank headquarters in central Seoul. The won closed at 1,022.5 per dollar, reaching the highest...
Samsung Chairman Lee hospitalized after cardiac procedure
Lee Kun-hee, chairman of Samsung Electronics, received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) due to symptoms of cardiac arrest Saturday night. According to Samsung Group on Sunday, Chairman Lee suffered sudden short...

China to unveil monument for Korean Liberation Army in Xi`an
A memorial stone commemorating the former barracks of Korea’s Liberation Army will be erected in Xi`an, Shaanxi Province, the center of China’s western territory development, as early as late this month. The erection of...

E-book market is dominated by ‘Adults Only’ rated romance novels
A 37-year-old office worker identified by her surname Lee has recently found a “secret joy” on her way to work. She enjoys reading Adults Only (AO) rated romance novels on her tablet PC at a subway train. She said that...
Who will be captain of national soccer team? 

Korea announces 2014 World Cup squad 

Lee Yong-dae joins national badminton team to recover reputation 

U.S, Britain belatedly set out to help rescue kidnapped Nigerian girls 
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)

Where Chinese and Japanese Tourists Shop
Chinese tourists prefer Dongdaemun Market, while Japanese visitors like Namdaemun Market, a recent survey by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry of 300 Chinese and Japanese tourists suggests. >> Full Text

Korean Market Heats Up for Smartphone Makers
Korea's smartphone market is heating up after Pantech and Sony unveiled their latest strategic smartphones on Thursday, while LG Electronics plans to roll out its newest model later this month. >> Full Text

Hyundai Genesis Passes U.S. Safety Test with Flying Colors
Hyundai's new Genesis sedan received top ratings in all 29 categories of a safety test by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The IIHS' safety rating serves as a barometer for most consumers in the U.S. It rates vehicles in four groups -- good, acceptable, marginal, and poor -- based on five crash tests. >> Full Text

Chinese Trawlers Take Advantage of Ferry Disaster

Investigation Traces N.Korean Drones to Departure Points

Investigators Confirm Ownership of Ferry Operator

Solemn Mood After Ferry Disaster to Cut Growth Rate

World Cup Squad to Begin Training on Monday
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Hankyoreh (http://english.hani.co.kr)

Chaos of Sewol tragedy grips the Blue House
Blue House trying to shrug off criticism over inept response to Sewol, as agitation by “subversives”
Tension briefly gripped the Blue House on May 9 when family members of victims from the Sewol ferry sinking traveled almost to the front courtyard in a protest visit to demand a meeting with President Park Geun-hye.
Park herself did not answer the calls. Instead, two senior secretaries were sent out to hear the demands from the family members, who had been facing off with police in front of the Blue House since early in the morning. Many inside the Blue House reportedly opposed a direct meeting on the grounds that it could set a precedent requiring personal presidential apologies for everything that occurs during a disaster recovery.

Why are Sewol families so angry with the media?
The reason grief-stricken family members of victims in the Sewol ferry sinking headed for the Blue House on May 9, carrying portraits of their children, was remarks by KBS newsroom chief Kim Si-gon that triggered an explosion of pent-up distrust and frustration with the media’s reporting on the disaster and its aftermath. What sent the relatives into the streets was a combination of repeatedly inaccurate reporting, the failure to cover family members’ criticisms of the government’s irresponsible behavior, and boorish behavior by reporters at the scene.

White House objects to N. Korea calling Obama a “monkey”
The White House responded strongly to a recent report by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency comparing US President Barack Obama to a “monkey.”
White House National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden responded to the report with an email to journalists on May 8 in which she said, “While the North Korean government-controlled media are distinguished by their histrionics, these comments are particularly ugly and disrespectful.”

Japan could expand exercise of collective self-defense
The Japanese government does not plan to limit the scope of its exercise of collective self-defense to situations involving the US, a recent report suggests.
If true, this would mean Japan’s Self-Defense Forces could regard South Korea as a potential focus of collective self-defense in the event of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula.

For heartbroken Sewol families, the harshest Parents’ Day ever
The anguished parents sat and waited. If their 17-year-old boy made it home, they planned to give him one of the newest smartphones for Children’s Day - even though he was mischievous and caused his parents heartache. But that day, which he would most likely have spent off with his friends, came and went. Then, cruelly, so did Parents’ Day two days later.

Sewol victims’ families bring their protest to the Blue House
Bereaved families of victims of the Sewol ferry are holding their ground in front of Cheongwoon Hyojadong Community Service Center encircled by police who have been closing off the street to the ...
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Joong Ang (conservative): (http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/)

Former politician questioned in case against Yoo
The authorities investigating Yoo Byung-eun, the de facto owner of the sunken Sewol ferry operator Chonghaejin Marine Company, are summoning a former politician …

Park to reveal new safety plan
President Park Geun-hye is set to deliver an address, this week at the earliest, to apologize for the Sewol ferry disaster. …

North air show quells speculation of Choe purge
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his wife, Ri Sol-ju, attended a rare combat flight contest …

Personal use apps bring Big Data to daily life
Big data, which has been regarded as the purview of large corporations, is becoming pervasive in daily life …

Researchers raise flag over ever-stronger won
Researchers have expressed concern that the ongoing strengthening of the won could depress Korea’s economic growth rate …

10-year study charts popularity of plastic
Korea ranked first in the number of credit card transactions per capita in 2012 and third in the total value of annual transactions in a study of 18 large economies.Korea had 147 credit card transactions per capita for the year, followed by 89.8 for Canada and 83.5 for the United States. The average

Gov’t ups aid to offset Sewol effect
The government has decided to more than triple assistance to tourism service providers and small business owners …
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Edaily (http://eng.edaily.co.kr/Stock/)

[Table] Today’s Stock Market Brief
This is a stock market brief of Today. [table] Total stock market id="" width="570...

[Closed]KOSPI 1,934.94p( 15.42p) slightly up, KOSDAQ 546.83p( 5.04p) slightly up
KOSPI & KOSDAQ Index Closed KOSPI closed slightly up 15.42p( 0.80%) at 1,934.94p from yesterday. KOS...

[Table]Currently Index of Major Country in ASIA
This is Index of Major Country in ASIA. [table] Index of Major Country in ASIA ...

[Midday]KOPSI 1,931.41p( 11.89p) slightly up, KOSDAQ 546.56p( 4.77p) slightly up
KOSPI & KOSDAQ Index KOSPI slightly up 0.62%(11.89p) to 1,931.41p at 14:01. KOSDAQ slightly up 0....

[Table]Currently Index of Major Country in ASIA
This is Index of Major Country in ASIA. [table] Index of Major Country in ASIA ...
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Maeil Kyungje (neutral-oriented conservative, economic/business): (http://news.mk.co.kr/english/)

Fingerprint recognition to authenticate cardholders’ identity for online payment
South Korea’s card firm will adopt fingerprint recognition service to authenticate cardholders’ identity when making online payments via credit cards. This is the first-ever of its kind in the nation’s financial industry. Shinhan Card will use finger recognition system as an alternative to digitally-signed certificate for payments at domestic and overseas online shopping malls, according to sources in the financial industry Sunday. A financial indu.....

Gov’t to inject liquidity to buoy economy in Q2

Frail consumption imperils Korean economy

Economic indicators paint mixed picture..

Poll: 53% of experts predict jump in ho..

2014 Seoul Money Show attendants expect..

Intellectual property rights account de..

S. Korean manufacturing faces ‘perfect..
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The Korea Post News:
 
Highlight topics in the April issue of The Korea Post
- Will South Korea go nuclear?
- 2017 Presidential Hopeful Chung Mong-joon forefront in demanding S. Korea’s nuclear armament.
- Polls show 64% of South Koreans wanting independent nuclear armament while 28% say no.
- With whom will China take sides between North Korea and NE Asian US allies in the face of imminent 4th N. Korean nuclear test?
- Pres. Park Chung-hee almost finished nuclear weapons in 1979, but he was killed. Who was behind the assassin widely suspected as henchman?
- How correct is the book, “Mugungwa Flowers Have Now Come Out,” concerning the collaboration between President Park Chung-Hee and noted Korean-born nuclear physicist, Dr. Benjamin W. Lee, and the real cause of their mysterious deaths?
- “South Korea can persuade the US, allies to acquiesce at its development of nuclear weapons as it’s for self-defense and survival from N. Korea nuke attack.”
- Wives of ambassadors show off their outstanding live flower arrangement works at Seoul Garden Club exhibition.
- Ambassadors, spouses attend Wangin Culture Festival of Baekje Dynasty (BC18-AD660) in Yeongam County, Jeollanam-do Province.
- Ambassadors, spouses join Dangjin Tug-of-War Culture Festival, visit Hyundai Steel and Catholic martyr Sacred Land.
- National Day, Armed Forces Day, wine-tasting, tourism promotion and various other functions hosted by Poland, Slovakia, Oman, Myanmar, Senegal and Bulgaria.
- President Park Geun-hye has a summit meeting with President Obama of the United States in Seoul for increased ROK-US cooperation.
- Korea and Australia are set to increase bilateral cooperation in trade and security areas.
- President Park: Korea plans to build a ‘Korea Street’ in Dresden in Germany.
- President Park visits the Netherlands and Germany
- President Park discloses plans for peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula.
- “The Demilitarized Zone will become the symbol of peace in Korea and the world: President Park.
- KEPCO dedicates 433MW gas-burning power plant in Mexico.
- SK Hynix develops world’s first highest-density module.
- Korea Agro-fisheries & Food Trade Corps set to increase export.
- Do you wish to have windmill power plants in your country? Why not cooperate with Korea Wind Energy Industry Association for technology and investment?
- Ambassador Krzysztov Majka of Poland receives an honorary doctorate from Keimyung University in Daegu.
- Gwangyang Port is equipped with such optimal environment for logistics business for domestic and international business organizations.
- Azerbaijan: Armenia invades Kalbajar of Azerbaijan, kills 511, captures 321, and displaces 58,000 persons.
- Simone Hearts of Vision Chamber Orchestra presents performance.
- Traveltalk: BBQ Happy Hour at the Oak Room Garden at Millennium Seoul Hilton?
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For subscription to the April 2014 issue of The Korea Post on Nuclear Armament of the Republic of Korea, please deposit US$12.00 (or KWN12,000) per copy in Kookmin Bank (KB), Account Number 095-01-0172-594, Account Holder: The Korea Post.
Also save US$24.00 (KWN24,000) by annual subscription which discounts the price to US$120.00 (KWN120,000) from the original price of US$144.00 (KWN144,000).
The regular subscribers who have already paid the subscription, need not apply for subscription until the expiry date.
Inquiries: Tel 02-2298-1740/2, 1745/6; Fax 02-2298-9506; Email edt@koreapost.com or korpost@chol.com.
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The Korea Post notices:

We have stories and photos on the following events:
Yeongam Wangjin Culture Festival: /news/view.html?section=161&category=181&no=504Dangjin Tug-of-War Festival in English: /news/view.html?section=165&category=192&no=503Dangjin Tug-of-War Festival in Korean: http://koreapost.co.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=Korea_tour&wr_id=57Live Flower Arrangement Exhibition: /news/view.html?section=162&category=182&no=497

Is your National Day coming up soon? Or is the Head of State of your 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.
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.
For more photos, please visit:
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

▲ H.M. Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman.

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

The late former President Jiang Zemin of China

▲ Women picking oisters

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