Dec. 17, 2015
The Korean daily media headlines and humor
Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015
Your Excellency:
Here areThe Korea Post news, humor from one of the former ambassadors who served in Korea and a roundup of important headlines from all major Korean-language dailies, TV and other news media of Korea this morning:
Lee Kyung-sik
Publisher-Chairman
Korea Post Media
P.S.: 1. To see the desired site, press down the Control key and click the blue URL of the media.
2. If received by a person other than the intended recipient, please kindly convey the mail to His/Her Excellency.
The Korea Post news
Mayor Yoo calls for increased international cooperation of GAOK
Among the local governments of the world for mutual benefit
Mayor YooJeong-bok of the Incheon Metropolitan City said that the Governors Association of Korea (GAOK) has been contributing greatly to the promotion of exchange and cooperation between Korea's local governments and those of other countries by establishing a close network with foreign missions in Korea.
Speaking at the 6th annual Luncheon Meeting with Foreign Mission Chiefs in Korea at Grand Hyatt Seoul on Dec. 15, 2015, Mayor Yoo said, "Currently, Korea's 232 local autonomies are actively pursuing global cooperation by establishing friendly relations with a total of 1,089 local autonomies of over 73 different countries of the world, and the level of cooperation is increasing.” (See excerpts from his speech toward the end of this Article.)
The GAK meeting was attended by an estimated total of 130 representatives from the Korean local autonomous organizations and foreign missions in Korea, including an estimated total of over 60 foreign mission chiefs, among them Ambassadors Michel IdiaquezBaradat of Honduras, Mark Lippert of the United States, Fabien Penone of France and Koro Bessho of Japan. (See partial list at the end of this Article.)
Mayor YooJeong-bok of the Incheon Metropolitan City (center) receives Ambassador Gabor Csaba of Hungary in Seoul.
In response to Mayor Yoo’s welcome remarks, AmbassadorIdiaquezBaradat of Honduras said on behalf of the Seoul Diplomatic Corps as well as for himself that the local governments are gradually gaining importance in the country since the local governments that grow based on flexibility and diversity have the capability to understand and meet the needs of different groups of people. (See further details /news/view.html?section=161&category=181&no=1146)
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Humor from a generous donor from a Central Asian country
All men are brave.Horror movies don't scare them.
But 5 missed calls from wife...surely do?
One smart guy invented a "WhatsApp."
His wife added a feature in it called'last seen at'
Thank god she didn’t add 'last seen with'
Punch of D Day...?
Once aman asked God: "Why all girls are so cute andsweet, and all the wivesare always angry.
God answered: Girls are made by me... And you make them wife!!!Your problem?
What's marriage?
Answer: Marriageis the 7th sense of humans.
That destroys all the six senses
And makes the person nonsense.
Definition of happy couple:
Hedoes what shewants…
Shedoes what she wants.
Wife: Dear, this computer is not working as per my command.
Husband: Exactly darling! It’s a computer, not a husband..!!
“Laughing at your own mistakes can lengthen your life"--Shakespear
"Laughing at yourwife's mistakes,can shorten yourlife"--Shakespear'swife
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A round-up of the latest news published by the Korean media:
KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
Vice Finance Minister: US Rate Hike Not to Take Toll on S. Korean Economy
Anchor: On the heels of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s announcement that it would raise its short term rate for the first...
BOK Expects Limited Impact from US Rate Hike
US Federal Reserve Raises Key Interest Rate
'N. Korea Could Deploy Powerful Hydrogen Bomb by 2020'
S. Korea Selects Lockheed Martin as New Contractor for KF-16 Upgrade Project
Three More Lawmakers Defect from NPAD
NPAD Floor Leader Calls on Speaker to Withdraw Forced Vote on Redistricting Bill
Five Lawmakers Win Awards for Legislation
BOK Expects Limited Impact from US Rate Hike
Government Committee Recommends Change to Private Sector-Driven Economy
Vice Finance Minister: US Rate Hike Not to Take Toll on S. Korean Economy
Kim Jong-un Has Replaced 73% of Top Officials
Gov't Dismisses N. Korea's Claim about Mt. Geumgang Tours
Seoul Official Dismisses Report of Postponement of N. Korea's Party Convention
'N. Korea Could Deploy Powerful Hydrogen Bomb by 2020'
'Korean-Canadian Pastor Detained in N. Korea Sentenced to Life Imprisonment'
Yasukuni Suspect Again Testifies to Installing Suspicious Device
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
U.S. rate hike to have little impact on S. Korea: official
The U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to raise its interest rates for the first time in nine years will have little impact on South Korea, a senior government official said Thursday.
Three opposition lawmakers quit party
Three opposition lawmakers quit their party on Thursday, dealing another blow to the opposition in the disarray following a high-profile departure of its former co-chairman.
Free agent outfielder Kim Hyun-soo leaves for U.S. amid speculation over MLB future
South Korean free agent outfielder Kim Hyun-soo departed for Washington on Thursday, amid speculation over his future in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Asia Culture Center says it not only hosts, but creates content
Asia's largest cultural center in the southwestern city of Gwangju said Thursday that it not only exhibits cultural content but produces it, too.
U.S. rate hike to have little impact on S. Korea: official
The U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to raise its interest rates for the first time in nine years will have little impact on South Korea, a senior government official said Thursday.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
U.S. Fed raises key rates for first time in 9 years
The U.S. Federal Reserve raised key interest rates for the first time in nine years Wednesday, a landmark turnaround tha...
Regulation-free zones planned
The government Wednesday disclosed its 2016 economic policy directions aimed at revitalizing th...
Doosan chairman backpedals on layoffs
Doosan Group chairman Park Yong-maan has ordered Doosan Infracore, the industrial conglomerate’...
Sex trade exploits legal loopholes
It’s been some 10 years since South Korea enacted its antiprostitution law, but new forms of s...
U.N. watchdog decides to close nuclear weapo...
The U.N. nuclear watchdog's 35-nation board decided on Tuesday to close its investigation into whether Ir...
Beating around bush
President Park Geun-hye has been repeatedly urging the National Assembly, particularly the N...
Jejudo and Sydney
Land and apartment prices on Jejudo Island have shot up in the wake of active Chinese invest...
Seoul book club hosts four Korean writers
The Seoul Book and Culture Club will be hosting an event with four writers who will be introduc...
LG Chem gains upper hand in lithium battery race
Battery-maker LG Chem said Wednesday that it has inked a deal with the world’s largest energy ...
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Speaker snubs Park's call on economic bills
National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa rejected a call from Cheong WaDae, Wednesday, to exercise his authority to call a parliamentary vote on a set of pending economic and labor bills proposed by the government. Chung, a forme...
'Kim Hyun-soo agrees to two-year, $7 million deal with Baltimore Orioles'
South Korean free agent outfielder Kim Hyun-soo has agreed to a two-year deal worth $ 7 million de...
[Breaking] Three lawmakers leave opposition party
Reps. Moon Byeong-ho, Yoo Sung-yup and Hwang Joo-hong of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) have decided to leave the party, follo...
US rate hike to have little impact on Korea
The U.S. Federal Reserve's decision to raise its interest rates for the first time in nine years will have little impact on Korea, a senior government officia...
Aide to notorious swindler Cho says his boss died in 2011
Kang Tae-yong, 54, the “number two” man of Cho Hee-pal, a notorious conman who allegedly swindled ...
'I will become a teacher to help children like me'
Becoming an elementary school teacher will be a step toward helping young children from multicultu...
Lockheed will upgrade KF-16 jets
The nation’s arms procurement agency said Wednesday that it has concluded a deal with U.S. defense...
Teachers issue another statement against state-authored textbook
More than 16,000 teachers have expressed their opposition to the government's move for state-autho...
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DongAIlbo (http://english.donga.com)
40 victims of Kanto Earthquake identified by Korean government
The Korean government has officially identified 40 Korean after verifying the list of Korean victims from the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, during which a massive genocide on the people of Joseon took place under the...
Hundreds of thousands of dollar-funds raised for Olympic golf players
It is expected that the Korean golf players to win medals in the 2016 Summer Olympic in Rio de Janeiro will enjoy a handsome amount of financial rewards. The male and female gold medalists will each get 300 million won...
Putin’s odd walking style indicates ‘KGB career,`say researchers
A new analysis suggests that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s odd walking style is related with training that he received as an agent for KGB, the Russian secret service. When walking, Putin rarely sways his right...
Conflicts in the Korean Peninsula could become ‘trans-regional’
Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Monday that any armed conflict in the Korean Peninsula is likely to expand into a "trans-regional" war. He said at a seminar on national defense held by...
Orioles make two-year offer to Korean outfielder Kim Hyun-soo
Will Kim Hyun-soo (27) be wearing the uniform of the Baltimore Orioles in the Major League baseball? Citing a report in the Baltimore Sun, U.S. media outlets reported en masse on Tuesday that Baltimore has offered a...
Francisco Tarrega and Gran Vals
Last week, I traveled the central and southern parts of Spain. I watched the Regoletto at the Teatro Real in Madrid, and I saw Lacia di Lammeromoor at the Gran TeatredelLiceu in Barcelona. In particular, the Regoletto...
Leaflets sent to N.K. using drone from Chinese border
English badminton couple takes winners’ podium
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ChosunIlbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Female Graduates Outnumber Men in Job Market
Nine in every 10 novice elementary school teachers in Seoul were women early this year, up from 8.5 five years ago. This means that many more women than men passed the recruitment test. >> Full Text
Authors of Official Textbooks Anonymous?
IKEA Celebrates 1st Bumper Year in Korea
Swedish furniture giant IKEA will open five more stores here by 2020, IKEA Korea retail manager Andre Schmidtgall told reporters Wednesday. Speaking on the first anniversary of the first IKEA store here, Schmidtgall said the decision was prompted by its better-than-expected performance. >> Full Text
What Movie Ticket Sales Say About Tastes Across the Country
Seoul citizens made up 24 percent of cinemagoers in the country this year. Films which see a flood of advance ticket sales tend to have a high percentage of audiences from Seoul, mainly due to a more established culture of booking tickets. >> Full Text
Retired Seoul Citizens Often Hard Up
N.Korea Sentences Missionary to Life of Hard Labor
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HankyorehShinmoon (http://english.hani.co.kr)
A time of regression: S. Korea’s democratic rankings slide
International watchdogs drop S. Korea in assessments of democracy, at a time of political disengagement
It’s a time of regression. Basic rights are being trampled; institutions are backsliding. Political freedoms are shrinking while young people shiver in deprivation, their dreams dashed. The despairing lamentations of today‘s “Hell Joseon” - a new coinage meaning “Hell Korea” - brim with hate and hostility, while the political system that is supposed to resolve conflicts has long since fallen into a state of suspended animation.
Liberals arts grads look set to remain jobless
It looks like South Korean netizens will have to keep using the online slang term “munsonghamnida” - an abbreviation of a Korean sentence meaning “Sorry I’m a liberal arts major” - as a self-deprecatory nod at the difficulty of finding a job. South Korean government projections show that the job crunch for students in the humanities, social sciences, and education will continue for the time being. .
In 2016, South Korean economy faces five major risks
Next year holds five major risks that South Korea needs to watch out for, analysts say. These are the China risk, declining competitiveness of exports, interest rate policies after the US interest rate hike, corporate restructuring, and structural reforms.On Dec. 15, the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI), which is affiliated with the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), held a seminar titled “Five Major Issues for the Korean Economy in 2016: Projections and Responses” at the FKI building in Seoul. .
Job seekers asked, “What kind of newspaper do you read?”
Job applicants are up in arms over questions about their political leanings and philosophy at recent interviews.Questions posed to applicants in final interviews for new employees by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) on Dec. 7 included items asking for their “opinion on the recent popular indignation rallies” and inquiring what newspapers they read. .
South Korea and Japan fail to reach breakthrough on comfort women issue
The governments of South Korea and Japan have effectively failed in their effort to resolve the issue of the comfort women before the end of the year.On Dec. 15, Lee Sang-deok, director of the Northeast Asian Affairs Bureau at South Korea’s Foreign Ministry, met KimihiroIshikane, director of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau at Japan’s Foreign Ministry,
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JoongAngIlbo(conservative): (http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/)
Gov’t pulls out stops to get 3% growth in 2016
The government will make an all-out effort to reach 3 percent GDP growth next year, the final year for the Park Geun-hye administration to conclude its three-year economic reform plan.The Ministry of Strategy and Finance announced on Wednesday that it aims to achieve 3.1 percent growth in real GDP in 2016 by boosting domestic consumption and investment...
Doosan unit sheds young workers
Doosan Infracore, a machinery subsidiary of Doosan Group that has been slashing its workforce this year, came under fire for offering buyouts…
Reshuffles in North slowing down
Since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un assumed power in late 2011, 72.5 percent of high-level positions have been reshuffled, a South Korean government analysis showed…
‘Free zones’ set up to boost local economy
The government will establish “regulation-free zones,” or “free zones,” in 14 cities and provinces across the nation - except for the Seoul metropolitan area…
Gov’t focuses on overseas projects in 2016 policies
The government will push the establishment of industrial complexes in countries like China and Vietnam to help the Korean small and midsize…
Ssangyong gets 860 billion won piece of pie in Dubai
Ssangyong Engineering & Construction, which is searching for momentum for its revival, has won a 860 billion won ($730 million) share of three major projects in Dubai…
Speaker won’t force vote on bills
National Assembly Speaker Chung Ui-hwa said he will not wield his authority to put pending bills to a vote, snubbing multiple Blue House requests…
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MaeilKyungje (neutral-oriented conservative, economic/business): (http://news.mk.co.kr/english/)
S. Korea to establish 14 regulation-free zones across the country
As part of efforts to boost domestic demand and nurture next-generation growth engines, the South Korean government plans to set up ...
SK Telecom creates media business
South Korea’s biggest wireless carrier SK Telecom Co. created a media team and appointed Lee In-chan, CEO of SK Broadband Co., as ...
IKEA Korea sales tops $262mn, plans to add 6 outlets
IKEA recorded 308 billion won ($262 million) in sales in South Korea where it opened its store a year ago for the first time and ...
Is the sun setting on Korea’s cable TV industry?
The sun may be setting on the Korean cable TV industry in the advent of mobile media and Internet of Things age. Subscription rate at ...
Korean govt to promote sales of hydrogen fuel cars through price cuts
From 2018, Koreans will be able to buy a hydrogen-fueled car in the price range of 30 million won ($25,000) - in the same price offer ...
Samsung Electronics debuts faster PRO Plus memory card
Samsung Electronics Co. will launch the PRO Plus 128 GB micro SD card, which is designed to meet consumers’ needs for ...
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The KyunghyangShinmoon(http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Cheong WaDae Threatens the Chairman of the National Assembly to Follow President's Orders
Cheong WaDae publicly demanded Chung Ui-hwa, chairman of the National Assembly to bring up controversial bills including the five labor-related bills, e···
No Special Treatment for Chaebol This Time Despite Plea for Mercy Due to Health Issues and Contribution to the Economy
On December 15, the Seoul High Court sentenced Chairman Lee Jay-hyun (55) of CJ Group to two years and six months in prison in a case that was remanded by the S···
[One Year after the Sewol] First Session of the Sewol Hearing: Anger Boils at Excuses
On December 14, 19 months after the Sewol accident and 13 months after the enactment of the Special Act on the Sewol Disaster, the first session of the hearing ···
[Editorial] We Welcome the Provisional Agreement at Ssangyong Motor to Reinstate Laid off Workers after 7 Years
Fortunately, the management and labor union of Ssangyong Motor Company reached a provisional agreement on reinstating laid off workers, seven years after they w···
[Main Opposition Party Splits Up] Main Opposition Party Separates Four Months Before the General Election: A 'Big Bang' in the Opposition
On December 13, former leader of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy AhnCheol-soo (53) announced, "I am leaving the New Politics Alliance for Democracy to···
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The Korea Economic Daily(http://english.hankyung.com/)
Higher Interest Rates May Push Commodity Prices Further down
The rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board is triggering a warning signal in the primary commodities market as well. That's because the fundamental cause for the weak commodity prices has been a strong dollar even though the slowdown in the Chinese economy was a factor too. Market analystssai...
Samsung Tops List of U.S. Utility Patent Application and Registration
Samsung is highly likely to climb up to the No. 1 position in terms of the number of utility patent application and registration in the United States this year, according to a U.S. data analysis site Scoop on December 14. Scoop said the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s utility patent app...
Samsung Engineering Formulates 2016 Blueprint
Samsung Engineering which recently has been mired in sluggish performance, declared to achieve a turnaround in 2016 by posting more than 200-billion-won profit. The company announced on December 15 that it set next year’s order-booking, sales, and operating profit targets at 6.0 trillion won, 7.1 t...
Even Newly Hired Workers Fall Victim to Voluntary Retirements
It is now known that among those who become targets of the voluntary retirement program which Doosan Infracore is now carrying out, there are a 23-year-old and a handful of new recruits who joined the company last year. This is a rare case where young and new employees fall victim to the voluntary r...
Gloomy Job Outlook for College Graduates
Korea may not have enough jobs for up to 790,000 college graduates by 2024. The four-year college graduates with majors in economics, business administration, and education would have difficulty in finding jobs. In contrast, there would be plenty of jobs available for those with engineering majors i...
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AJU Business Daily(http://eng.ajunews.com/korea)
South Korea to upgrade its Patriot air-defense batteries
[Courtesy of Raytheon Company] The Pentagon said on Monday Lockheed Martin Corp has won a contract to build PAC-3 missiles for the U.S. Army, South Korea, Qatar and Saudi Arabia for use in Ra…
South Korean politics sees ‘big bang” in opposition camp
A prominent South Korean opposition leader, AhnCheol-soo, has bolted from the main …
High-level inter-Korean talks end in stalemate
Gaesung industrial complex, North Korea [Courtesy of Gaesung Industry Support Foundation] ? High-level talks between North and South Korea have broken up without an agreement, dimming prospect…
North Korea pop band Moranbong cancels Beijing concert. Why?
[Courtesy of Xinhua News Network] ? North Korea's all-female premier pop group has abruptly cancelled a scheduled Beijing concert and headed home, triggering speculation over what caused t…
White House doubts about North Korea’s H-bomb claim
Kim Jung-un [Courtesy of Xinhua News Network] The White House said on Thursday it was doubtful that North Korea had developed a hydrogen bomb, as its leader Kim Jung Un had apparently cla…
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ETNEWS(http://english.etnews.com/)
Google Focuses Its Major Capabilities on Data and Connectivity
Google is responding to fast change of speed in IT and processes information systematically and connect and expand information to information, things to information,...
Voice Recognition System Is Developed with South Korean Technologies
Recognition system that changes voice to texts is commercialized. Because it is developed with just South Korean technologies, substitution effect for profit is expec...
Commercialized Product that Diagnoses Alzheimer’s Disease with Just a Dro...
Technology that can differentiate Alzheimer¡?s Disease with just a drop of blood will be commercialized. It is expected that a regular person can easily ma...
LG Uplus Releases Huawei’s ‘Y6’
Number of releases of Smartphones that are targeting low and medium-priced phone markets that are spread out everywhere after implementation of mobile terminal distribution act is increasing. This is because prices of phones is now major competitive edge in markets as functions of Smartphones are pretty much standardized due to development of technologies. Huawei release...
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Special Notices:
Photo shows President Soon-Heung Chang of Handong Global University (fifth from left, front row) with ambassadors and other visiting members of the Seoul Diplomatic Corps (SDC), including Ambassador MmeNatalliaZhylevich of Belraus (dean of the visiting members of the SDC), fourth from left the same row With Ambassador and Mrs. SylvestreKouassi Bile of Cote d’ Ivoire (third and second from left, front row).
And Ambassador Roballo of Argentina (sixth from left, same row) and Ambassadors Mohamed Abdi Gello of Kenya (on the right of the rear row).
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(2) A Korean Internet (http://www.koreapost.co.kr/),
(3) An English Internet (/main/index.html),
(4) An English print monthly (http://koreapost.koreafree.co.kr/magazine/index.html?page=2), and
(5) An English e-daily (/rankup_module/rankup_notice/notice_detail.html?no=327)
/news/view.html?section=161&category=181&no=1119.
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(3) An English Internet (/main/index.html),
(4) An English print monthly (http://koreapost.koreafree.co.kr/magazine/index.html?page=2), and
(5) An English e-daily (/rankup_module/rankup_notice/notice_detail.html?no=327)
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