Dec. 19 2014

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Friday December 19, 2014

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 today.

/s/

Lee Kyung-sik

Publisher-Chairman

Korea Post Media

-------------------------------------------

The Korea Post notice:

There is only one week left to the Year-end Gala Dinner and Concert hosted by the Korea United Culture Foundation behind the Ritzcarlton Hotel at 6:30 Friday 26 December 2014. Excellencies who have not yet made a reservation, please advise us at 2298-1740/2, 1745/6, Mobile 010-3388-1685 (Korean callers), 010-3481-1101 (English) and/or 010-5201-1740 (Chairman Lee Kyung-sik). Please scroll down to the bottom for Invitation and location map.

-------------------------------------------

Do you have a press release for the Korean audience? Send the Korean-language version to edt@koreapost.com for publication (free of charge, of course!).

The Korea Post now has a full-fledged Korean-language Internet newspaper (www.koreapost.co.kr) that is, like the English-language edition, at the disposal of Your Excellency for the promotion of understanding, cooperation and friendship between your esteemed country and Korea.

-------------------------------------------

Thank you, Excellencies, you keep The Korea Post ticking and growing

I express my deepest gratitude to the Excellencies and other distinguished readers for their kind renewing of their annual subscription to The Korea Post.

The Korea Post is an independent publication receiving no subsidy or any other form of financial support or assistance whatsoever from the government or any other organization in Korea or around the world. The Korea Post magazine, English and Korean Internet dailies and this e-daily are published solely with revenues from subscription and advertisement.

The subscription rate has not been raised since 2008 when it was last updated to the present rate, and this is the last chance for subscription to the old rates as they will have to be raised soon due to the continuously rising prices of commodities and other charges.

For renewal of annual subscription, the amount is 120,000 won (discounted from 144,000 won) and the bank account information is:

Name of Bank: Kookmin Bank

Account Number: 095-01-0172-594

Account Holder: The Korea Post

Subscription by the Excellencies and other distinguished readers keep The Korea Post going along with its sister publications, The Korea Post Online (www.koreapost.com), The Korea Post Korean Online (www.koreapost.co.kr) and the Korean Daily Media Headlines.

And, again my heart-felt gratitude for the kind support and assistance always given us by Your Excellency!

-------------------------------------------

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

New Resolution on N. Korea's Human Rights Issue Passed at UN General Assembly

A new resolution that condemns North Korea’s human rights conditions has passed at the UN General Assembly after receiving overwhelming support. At the...

Xi Says Will Play Constructive Role in Denuclearizing Korean Peninsula

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to play a constructive role in achieving denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

S. Korea Finance Ministry to Step Up Int'l Financial Market Monitoring

South Korea’s Finance Ministry held an internal meeting Thursday to assess the impact of the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee meeting and the Russian economic crisis. The ministry plans to step up monitoring of international financial markets and may hold a joint meeting with financial authorities as early as next week for a more extensive review.

Our Kim In-kyung has more.

E-government Exports This Year Doubles From 2012

IKEA Opens First Store in S. Korea, Local Merchants Stage Protest

S. Korea Finance Ministry to Step Up Int'l Financial Market Monitoring

New Resolution on N. Korea's Human Rights Issue Passed at UN General Assembly

US Media: US Confirms N. Korea Behind Sony Hacking

Nihon Keizai: S. Korea, US, Japan Close to Deal on Military Info Sharing

50 Elders Recommend Japan's Peace Constitution as Nobel Prize Candidate

Seoul City Holds Int'l Migrants Day Campaign for 1 Week

Gov’t Raises FMD Alert for Pigs

-------------------------------------------

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

U.N. General Assembly formally adopts landmark resolution on N.K. human rights

The U.N. General Assembly on Thursday formally adopted a landmark resolution calling for referring North Korea to the International Criminal Court for human rights violations.

White House: N. Korea is different from Cuba

The United States has no intention of seeking the kind of diplomatic engagement it pursued with Cuba in dealing with North Korea because Pyongyang has nuclear and missile programs, the White House said Thursday.

White House calls cyber-attack on Sony 'serious national security matter'

The White House said Thursday it is taking the cyber-attack on Sony Pictures as a "serious national security matter" amid deepening suspicions North Korea was behind the hack that scared the moviemaker into canceling the planned release of a comedy film.

Seoul hails adoption of U.N. resolution on NK human rights

South Korea's foreign ministry welcomed on Friday the passage of a United Nations resolution on North Korea's dismal human rights conditions at the world body's plenary session, calling for the North to take concrete action to improve its situation.

China's Xi to keep playing 'constructive role' in denuclearizing N. Korea

Chinese President Xi Jinping told the visiting National Assembly speaker of South Korea that he will continue to play a "constructive role" in persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear capability, reaffirming Beijing's long-standing commitment to the North Korean nuclear issue, a South Korean official said Thursday.

-------------------------------------------

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

Incentives proposed for conscripts

A panel to reform the culture of the military recommended Thursday that the Defense Ministry consider simplifying enlist...

U.S., Cuba agree to revive diplomatic ties

WASHINGTON ― The United States and Cuba moved to end five decades of Cold War hostility Wednes...

President Park under pressure to replace key staff

President Park Geun-hye was widely rumored Wednesday to be considering a major reshuffle soon i...

Aekyung forays into hotel business

Aekyung Group, a midsize retailer and household goods manufacturer, on Thursday opened its Novo...

NPAD chief mired in nepotism accusation

The chief of the country’s main opposition party has come under fire after local court papers on Tuesday...

Dealing with nuclear was...

The much awaited nuclear waste facility in Gyeongju will begin operations next year followin...

Reviving local markets

The Seoul High Court has ruled that the restrictions on large retailers’ operations were un...

'Dutch education fosters open-mindedness’

Leo Chung, chief representative officer at Nuffic Neso Korea, says his biggest goal was to get ...

Bringing Joseon treasure to light

ANDONG, North Gyeongsang Province ― Scholar Lim No-jig was born in Andong, home to hundreds of...

-------------------------------------------

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

Nut case eclipses `memogate'

Which woman is now more in the spotlight - President Park Geun-hye or former Korean Air Vice President Heather (Korean name Cho Hyun-ah)? By conventional wisdom, President Park, as Korea’s head of state, should be the winner han...

Park declares 'new renaissance' for exports  

President Park Geun-hye declared Thursday that it was time for a “new renaissance” for exporters. 

'Nuclear plants caused thyroid cancer'  

In a small town near the Gori Nuclear Plant in Busan, 15 of 711 residents have thyroid cancer. In ... 

Honda calls Abe tactics 'nonsense'  

U.S. Rep. Mike Honda called Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s attempt to whitewash Japan’s wart...

E-6 visa holders vulnerable to sexual abuse 

A 22-year-old Filipina, who refused to be named, came to Korea last year with the dream of becoming a singer. Her Korean visa agent said she would be paid han...

Constitutional Court to decide on disbanding of UPP  

The Constitutional Court will today rule on whether the Unified Progressive Party (UPP) should be disbanded because it pursued pro-North Korean activities in ...

Korean Air executives questions  

Some Korean Air executives are being questioned for allegedly destroying and manipulating evidence regarding the “nut rage” incident involving the daughter of... 

-------------------------------------------

Dong A (http://english.donga.com)

.S.-Cuba d?tente leaves North Korea alone

U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday declared an end to 53-year-long hostility with Cuba, saying that the United States will restore full diplomatic relations with Cuba. The speech was broadcast live throughout the... 

U.S.-Cuba d?tente leaves North Korea alone

U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday declared an end to 53-year-long hostility with Cuba, saying that the United States will restore full diplomatic relations with Cuba. The speech was broadcast live throughout the...

Interstellar’ expected to join 10 million club this weekend

Christopher Nollan’s sci-fi movie ‘Interstellar’ is likely to join the ’10 million club’ this weekend at earliest. According to Korea Box Office Information System, the science fiction film has drawn 9.78 million...

Female soldiers seem reluctant to report sexual abuse crimes

The Ministry of National Defense received only three reports of sex crimes against female troops in a recent campaign for the entire female troops. Following an Army two-star general’s sexual molestation of a female...

Major League Baseball teams upbeat about flood of Cuban baseball talent 

Who will win the 2014 FIFA Ballon d`Or? 

Minor opposition UPP starts outdoor demonstration with 108 bows 

Court to determine fate of minor opposition UPP on Friday 

Ryu Hyun-jin included at Dodgers` starting pitchers for 2015

-------------------------------------------

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

N.Korea Seeks Wage Hikes at Kaesong Complex

The joint-Korean Kaesong Industrial Complex faces yet another problem as North Korea seeks to hike wages for its workers there. The North on Tuesday refused to accept a letter from South Korea protesting against its revision of rules on workers' wages. >> Full Text

Lockheed Martin in Line to Upgrade Korea's Fighter Jets

Korea is set to change the contractor for a massive fighter jet upgrade project from the U.K.'s BAE Systems to American defense firm Lockheed Martin. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration presented the plan in a meeting on Wednesday. >> Full Text

Korean Air Heiress Denies Flouting Aviation Laws

Korean Air heiress Cho Hyun-ah appeared before prosecutors on Wednesday to answer charges of violating aviation laws by forcing an aircraft to change course in a notorious "nut rage" incident. She bowed and apologized for the scandal in front of throngs of reporters before entering the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office. >> Full Text

N.Korea Marks 3rd Anniversary of Kim Jong-il's Death