Feb. 22, 2016

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Monday, Feb. 22, 2016

Your Excellency:

Here are The Korea Post news and 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.

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The following humor was contributed by a kind-hearted former ambassador in Seoul from a Central Asian country:

Height of insult!!!!
Man surfing channels asks his wife: "Darling, can I watch cricket?"
Wife: “For God’s sake, watch porn. You already know how to play cricket...!”

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Editor’s note: Excellencies have a juicy piece of humor? Share it with your colleagues?and English-speaking Korean friends.

Send it to edt@koreapost.com or korpost@chol.com

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A quick roundup of major news stories from Korean media:

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

S. Korean, US Marines to Train on Massive N. Korea Operations

The South Korean and U.S. Marine Corps. will bolster an annual amphibious training exercise to improve infiltrating deep into North Korean territory.

WSJ: US and N. Korea Engaged in Peace Talks Before Nuke Test

Rhythmic Gymnast Son Yeon-jae Wins Two Silvers, Two Bronzes in Moscow

S. Korean, US Marines to Train on Massive N. Korea Operations

S. Korea Deploys M-SAM Missiles

Navy Wraps up Search for N. Korean Missile Fragments

Gov't Expected to Expand Credit Support for Troubled Firms

WTO: S. Korea's Exports Falling Steeper than Brazil, China, Japan

FSC to Abolish Duty to Use One-Time Passwords

'N. Korean Military Elite Blindly Obeying Kim Jong-un to Survive'

N. Korea Fires Artillery Shots Near Border Island

[Exclusive] 2006 N. Korean Documents Reveal Plans for Gaeseong Asset Freeze

4 S. Koreans Dead, 2 Injured in Laos Car Crash

WSJ: US and N. Korea Engaged in Peace Talks Before Nuke Test

'US to Increase Budget Support for N. Korean Defector Groups'

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

U.S., N. Korea had exchanged views over peace treaty talks: source

The United States had exchanged views with North Korea over Pyongyang's proposal to hold peace treaty talks, but no agreement was reached as Washington insisted that denuclearization should be the top priority for such talks, a diplomatic source said Sunday.

Household loan default hits 8-year low in 2015

The default rate on South Korean bank's household loans dropped to the lowest level in more than eight years in 2015 as low interest rates helped reduce debt service burdens, data showed Monday.

Hyundai Motor to unveil Ioniq trio at Geneva Motor Show

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's leading carmaker, plans to showcase all three electric vehicle models to be launched under the name of the Ioniq at a motor show in Geneva next month, industry sources said Monday.

K.J. Choi posts second top-five finish on PGA Tour in Feb.

South Korean veteran Choi Kyoung-ju tied for fifth at the Northern Trust Open on the PGA Tour in California on Sunday, the second time he's ranked in the top five on the tour this month.

Senior U.S. diplomat to visit S. Korea for possible THAAD talks

A senior U.S. diplomat handling missile defense will visit Seoul next week for meetings with defense, foreign affairs and American military officials, the State Department said, suggesting the trip is related to the proposed deployment of the THAAD missile defense system to the South.

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

IS blasts kill more than 140 as US, Russia press Syria truce

A string of suicide bombings near a Shiite shrine outside Syria's capital and in Homs claimed by jihadists kille...

China’s increasing presence in Korean entertainment

China is increasing its investments in joint film productions with Hollywood studios, from 3-D ...

Exports outlook looks grim on weak global demand

South Korea’s outbound shipments are expected to fall by up to 0.5 percent in 2016 from a year...

Korean-only bars trigger controversy

On a chilly Friday night last month, 24-year-old U.S. citizen Megan Stuckey had one of her most...

Trailblazer with a knack for straig...

Five years ago Christine Lagarde smashed through the glass ceiling at one of the world’s leading institu...

Military lip service

The South Korean military is reportedly planning retaliatory countermeasures to the forewarn...

BOK and household debt

The market is focusing on the latest data of outstanding loans to households as of December ...

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

LG unveils G5 at MWC

BARCELONA, Spain - LG Electronics unveiled its latest premium G5 smartphone at Sant Jordi Club, Sunday (Seoul time), a day before the opening of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), here. LG pins its hopes for a rebound in its marke...

New weapon against North Korea: flash drives 

Campaigner urges South Koreans to donate USB memory sticks. THAAD talks will begin this week 

New weapon against North Korea: flash drives 

Campaigner urges South Koreans to donate USB memory sticks. THAAD talks will begin this week 

Park facing calls to add finance minister to NSC

President Park Geun-hye is facing calls to include economic policymakers on the National Security Council (NSC) to benefit decisions that affect major economi... 

NK rejects demand to return USS Pueblo 

North Korea will not return the USS Pueblo, an American spy ship seized off the North’s east coast...

N. Korean military officials obey to stay alive 

In constant fear of purges by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, his top military aides are acting in blind obedience to survive, a defense institute said Sunda...

Industrial unions likely to lose members 

Industrial union branches are likely to form independent company groups following a Supreme Court ruling Friday that allowed members to set up individual unio...

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DongAIlbo (http://english.donga.com)

China's biggest bank freezes N. Korean accounts

It has been confirmed that some Chinese banks in northeastern China, including the Dandong, Liaoning Province branch of Industria…

Refugee crisis documentary 'Fire at sea' wins the Golden Bear

A refugee crisis documentary has clinched the top prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. The festival said on Saturday …

'Leo Martinez signs with Turkish volleyball team,' says Turkish media

Controversy continues over Leonardo Leyva Martinez, a Cuban volleyball player (aged 26) who played for the Samsung Fire Bluefangs…

Samsung ranks 7th in U.S. corporate reputation survey

South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. ranked among the top-10 companies in a latest corporate reputation survey in the …

Free trade crusader’ Kim Hyun-jong’s joining Minjoo Party

In early 2003, then president-elect Roh Moo-hyun called in Kim Hyun-jong, a senior attorney for the World Trade Organization, and…

Redraw electoral constituencies first before handling other bills

Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Byung-kee, Senior Secretary for Policy Coordination Hyun Jung-taik and Senior Political Secretary…

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ChosunIlbo (http://english.chosun.com)

High Earners Are More Stressed

High earners, men and double-income families are more stressed than low earners, women and single-income families, a survey says. The findings come from interviews with 7,000 adults over 19 by a team led by Lee Sang-young of the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs last August and September. >> Full Text

N. Korea Conducts Coastal Artillery Drill

North Korea conducted a coastal artillery drill on Saturday morning, firing rounds westwards from Jangsan Cape near the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border. No rounds crossed the NLL, but residents on nearby Baeknyeong Island were tense amid the boom of the gunfire and muzzle flash some 15 km away. >> Full Text

Seoul to Become 'Super-Aged' City in 10 Years

Seoul will have a predominantly aged population by 2019 and a super-aged population by 2026. The UN classifies a society as aging if people over 65 account for seven to 14 percent of the total population. >> Full Text

Octogenarian Hardliner Named New N.Korean Army Chief

4 Koreans Killed in Laos Bus Crash

Another Former Sex Slave Dies Without Closure

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HankyorehShinmoon (http://english.hani.co.kr)

Where is South Korea’s Bernie Sanders?

With another election approaching in South Korea, no captivating candidate like Sanders has yet emerged The phenomenon of Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders is heating up the US presidential race. He has risen from an outsider with 5% support to a major force that sheds light on the future of the US. The Sanders phenomenon is fuelled by voters’ disgust with vested interests and establishment politics, many pundits say.

For more S. Koreans, working conditions matter more than money

More South Koreans are focusing on working hours and other job conditions rather than wages as the standard of a good job, a recent survey suggests. According to an online survey about “good jobs” that was carried out over the past three months by the Hope Institute, 48% of respondents - 7,320 out of a total of 15,399 - said that the most important aspect of a good job was its working conditions, including hours and stress level.

Number of elderly people living alone skyrockets more than 1,300%

The number of single-person households composed of people 65 years or older has multiplied 13 times over the past 25 years, a government report says. According to a recent report titled “Changes in Marriage and Childbirth Behavior Resulting from Family Changes and Policy Recommendations,” the number of elderly single-person households increased by 1,320% between 1985 and 2010.

A long time has passed, but S. Koreans remain fixated on looks

A lot can change in ten years. But one thing that hasn’t changed in the past two decades is South Korea’s emphasis on physical appearance. According to surveys on perceptions regarding appearance and cosmetic surgery conducted every ten years by Gallup Korea between 1994 and 2015, the percentage of South Koreans rating appearance as having a “somewhat” or “very” important influence on quality of life has remained steadily high over the years at rates of 87% in 1994 and 2004 and 86% in 2015.

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JoongAngIlbo(conservative): (http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/)

Broadcasts an earful for border folk

South Korean residents in the towns nearest the border have gotten more than they bargained for in the form of noise pollution since Seoul and Pyongyang stepped up their respective loudspeaker campaigns in the wake of North Korea’s fourth nuclear test. The resumption of the propaganda broadcasts, a form of psychological warfare, has carried on now for more than a month…

Samsung jumps on board the auto IT market

Samsung Electronics has finally joined the automotive IT accessory market. The world’s largest smartphone manufacturer introduced Samsung Connect Auto on Sunday…

Comfort woman’ and activist dies at 90; 44 remain

Kim Kyung-soon, who survived sexual enslavement at the hands of the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, died Saturday at Asan Medical Center in Seoul…

Military forces set to strengthen amphibious drill

The South Korean and U.S. Marine Corps plan to drastically bolster their joint amphibious drill amid increased military tensions with Pyongyang…

JAJU continues quiet battle with Muji

The flagship store of JAJU, a retail brand by Shinsegae International, is all clean lines, muted colors and minimalist goods.…

Peak wage system in use at 11 major firms: study

Eleven out of 25 major conglomerates in Korea have completed the implementation of the government-promoted “peak wage system” as of January…

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The KyunghyangShinmoon(http://english.khan.co.kr/)

Cyber Attacks, Toxic Chemicals, Kidnapping, Destruction of Facilities: Government Comes up with All Kinds of Terrorist Activities Urging Lawmakers to Pass Terrorism Prevention Act

On February 18, the National Intelligence Service said that North Korea was preparing a reconnaissance mission after First Secretary of the Workers' Party of K···

[Editorial] [April 13, 2016 General Elections] Ruling Party Engages in Battle over Candidate Nominations after Heightening Tensions in and Outside the Country

Foreign affairs, security and the economy: all of these aspects are unstable in and outside the country. Much of this anxiety is due to the mistakes of the ruli···

[After Stating the “Collapse” of North Korea] Failure to Maintain Diplomatic Balance in Northeast Asia: Domestic Politics Falls into the Black Hole of North Korea

President Park Geun-hye's speech before the National Assembly on February 16 has triggered not so small side effects. The security crisis on the Korean Pen···

U.S. F-22 Displays Fighting Power, Two Will Remain in Osan

The stealth fighter, the F-22 Raptor flew low over the Korean Peninsula. On February 17, the U.S. sent a formation of F-22 stealth fighters, U.S. strategic w···

[Editorial] Inter-Korean Relations Severed after 3 Years of the Park Geun-hye Government: President's Speech Full of Sophistry, Excuses and Lack of Measures on North Korean Nuclear Program

Yesterday, in a speech before the National Assembly, President Park Geun-hye announced responses to North Korea's nuclear and rocket provocations and explained···

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The Korea Economic Daily (http://english.hankyung.com/)

Samsung Electronics Unveils 7th Galaxy

Samsung Electronics' seventh Galaxy S was unveiled on February 21 (local time). Samsung's Unpack event held in Barcelona, Spain, is set to catch the eyes of the people around the world with a real-time 360-degree video. One day before the grand opening of the world's largest mobile technology exposi...

Supreme Court Hands down Verdict against Industry Unions

A verdict was handed down in the Supreme Court that permitted any chapter in an industry union like the Metalworkers' Union to break away and switch to a corporation-level union as long as the chapter is viable enough to stand alone. This overturns the previous legal precedence that didn't allow suc...

Chinese Finance Minister Denies Possibility of New Plaza Accord 

Lou Jiwei, Chinese Minister of Finance, dismissed flatly a possibility of finance ministers from 20 major economies in the upcoming G20 meeting in Shanghai striking a deal to revalue the yuan. According to the China Business News and other news outlets on February 21, Lou said in an interview held a...

Hyundai Motor Focuses on Brand Image to Make Bigger Presence in China

Chung Eui-sun, vice chairman of Hyundai Motor, showed strong will to gain a larger share in the Chinese market by inviting about 1,000 influential Chinese people to Korea. Beijing Hyundai, a Chinese unit of Hyundai Motor, held the 2016 Beijing Hyundai Dealer Convention for five days from February 18...

LG Electronics to Show off G5 at MWC 2016

LG Electronics is set to show off its brand-new smartphone G5. On February 21, one day before the opening of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2016, expectations are growing about the LG G5 which will cut the tape first in the smartphone big match. This is the first time for LG Electronics to unveil i...

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AJU Business Daily(http://eng.ajunews.com/korea)

Pyongyang's state media confirms new military chief

North Korea's state media has confirmed that a new military chief was named following South Korean media reports that his predecessor had been executed. On Sunday Ri Myong-…

Soldier's death sentence upheld for border shooting rampage

South Korea's highest court upheld a death sentence Friday for an army sergeant who killed five fellow soldiers in a shooting rampage at his camp near the borde…

US and South Korean troops to stage biggest joint exercise

South Korea's defense chief said Thursday that US and South Korean troops will stage their annual joint exercise this spring at its biggest, as the allies flex their muscle ag…

North Korea ready for nuke test with little or no warning: 38 North

North Korea is always ready to conduct a fresh nuclear test with little or no warning, although satellite imagery has yet to reveal any signs of test …

China vetoes THAAD deployment in South Korea

A diplomatic row intensified Tuesday between Beijing and Seoul after a senior Chinese envoy expressed strong opposition to the suggested deployment of a US missile

Pyongyang accused of staging cyber attack on South Korea

South Korea's police chief on Monday blamed North Korean hackers for staging a cyber attack with malicious e-mails after the nuclear-armed count

Seoul accuses Pyongyang of diverting Kaesong wages to leader's fund

A shadowy body controlling North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un's slush fund was thrown into the spotlight Monday after Seoul accused Pyongyang of diverting

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ETNEWS(http://english.etnews.com/)

Drogen Attracts Investments from Chinese Funds

South Korean sports drone business was able to attract international investments as one of China¡?s top 3 funds has decided to invest in Drogen. By att...

Telit Develops IoT Modules with South Korean Technology

IoT communication modules that is made with South Korean technology has come out. A global business called Telit Wireless Solution¡?s Korean Research Institute...

South Korean PC Market Has Slowed Down while Ultra-Slim Laptop Market ...

Last year¡?s South Korean PC market decreased 7.8%

TV LCD Panel Manufacturers Decrease Supplies for Samsung and LG and Increase Supplies for Chinese TV Manufacturers

South Korean and other foreign display panel manufacturers have decreased their supplies of TV LCDs that are supplied to Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics. On the other hand, supplies for Chines

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MaeilBusinessNewsKorea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/ )

Foreign exchange authorities determined to cope with exchange rates going to extreme

As the value of the Korean currency plunged in the South Korean foreign exchange market, the foreign exchange authorities immediately moved to intervene in the market to slow the decrease.

Kumho Tire creditors to choose legal advisor for sale of the tire maker

Korea Development Bank (KDB) and creditors of Kumho Tire Co. are expected to embark on the process to offload their holdings in ...

S. Korea’s big investors to invest $16 mn in world’s largest infrastructure

South Korea’s big investors including the Public Officials Benefit Association (POBA) will invest about 200 billion won ($16 ...

Korea’s National Pension Service’s investment return at 4.57% in 2015, down

South Korea’s largest institutional investor National Pension Service (NPS) managed to turn out a yield of 4.57 percent in its ...

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The Korea Post is at your service.

The Korea Post is 31 years old this year and has 5 media units. They are all at your service.

The Korea Post, established 31 years ago in 1985, operates five news media outlets, two in the Korean language and three in English. They are all at your service. You can email all your English and Korean press releases and feedback for free publication to edt@koreapost.comor korpost@chol.com. The five media outlets are:

(1) A Korean print newspaper (http://www.koreapost.co.kr/pdf/list.php),

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(5) An English e-daily (/rankup_module/rankup_notice/notice_list.html)

Send your news releases and feedback:

Send the Embassy news releases to edt@koreapost.comfor publication by all its five media units, including one Korean (www.koreapost.co.kr) and one English (www.koreapost.com) Internet dailies, which are updated real-time.(Call 010-5201-1740 for further details.)

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The Korea Post news:

Diplomatic functions:

Ambassador Gerhard Sabathil of the European Union Delegation (16th from left) and Mayor Park Won-soon of the Seoul Metropolitan City (13th from left) pose with other EU ambassadors at a luncheon he hosted in Seoul yesterday.

First such meeting in four years

Amb.Sabathil of EU hosts informal luncheon for Mayor Park of Seoul, EU envoys

Ambassador Gerhard Sabathil of the European Union Delegation in Seoul hosted an informal luncheon in Seoul yesterday (Feb. 7, 2016) for the 22 ambassadors of the member countries or the EU as well as Mayor Park Won-sun of the Seoul Metropolitan City.

No details of the meeting were immediately available as it was an undisclosed meeting.

However, it was learned that the participating ambassadors of Europe and Mayor Park had a round of free discussions on a wide range of topics related with environment, culture and various other topics with an eye to increasing cooperation between the participating countries and the Seoul City.

This is the first such meeting since the last one hosted by the former EU ambassador in Seoul in 2012.

3D customized total replacement and stem cell treatment

YonseiSarang Hospital stands out in specialized treatment of joint patients

What part of the body is most frequently used in man’s every-day life?

Perhaps it comes in the order of neck, waist, shoulders and legs. Many people complain pain in the neck that comes from the fast-increasing use of smart phones. Then come the patients who complain pain in the neck that comes also from excessive use of smart phones.

Also on the fast increase are people suffering from obesity from lack of exercise who complain pain in the waist and knee joints. People who spend much time on computers also complain pain in the shoulders.

(The Korea Post is organizing a tour of for the ambassadors and madams to this Hospital on Friday March 4, 2106 where the diplomats are offered a free medical check-up. Please scroll down to the end of this article for a detailed itinerary. Please scroll down to the end for a detailed article and more photos on the Hospital?Ed.)

                               Dr. Koh Yong-gon, CEO and president of YonseiSarang Hospital

These working people are treated at the neurosurgery and orthopedic departments of the hospitals.

There are so many hospitals in Korea that treat patients suffering from joint and spine problems and naturally competition among them is very keen.

Among them is the YonseiSarang Hospital in Seoul. This hospital was established by the graduates of Yonsei University in Seoul, a most prestigious private university in Korea, and has been growing very fast in spite of the keen competition among hospitals. YonseiSarang specializes in the treatment of patients suffering from joint and spine problems. The Hospital is one of the largest in Korea that specialize in the treatment of patients suffering from joints and spine.

Established in 2003, the Hospital has a motto and slogan reading, “We provide the best treatment and give hopes to the patients!” Thus the Hospital tries to free the patients from the pains and worries of their spine and joint.

The YonseiSarang Hospital is well known not only among the Seoulites but also the people in the countryside. This is why a large number of patients visit the Hospital also from all parts of the country.

PresidentKoh Yong-gon (M.D.) of the Hospital makes it a rule to visit the patients in the countryside once or twice each month, who have undergone treatment at his hospital, to see how they are faring after their treatment at his hospital as well as providing the local people with medical consultation.

The Hospital has doctors specializing in the many different fields such as knees, shoulders, feet, spine and various other parts of the human body and this is why the Hospital is so widely known among the patients for fast recovery from their problems.

The YonseiSarang Hospital is located in the Gangnam District south of the Han River in Seoul, and has a staff of a total of over 300 persons, including 20 doctors.

Two main buildings of the YonseiSarang Hospital in Gangnam District in Seoul

The Hospital makes substantial investments in R&D, which makes distinction from otherhospitals covering spine and joints.

President Dr. Koh says: “We have developed a ‘3D customized total replacement system’ which has substantially improved the existing system--solving various problems in the existing system.” He said, “Furthermore, the YonseiSarang Hospital is known for the largest number of papers published overseas on the subject of ‘autologous adipose stem cell’ which is a system where cell is extracted from the patient’s buttocks, abdomen and thighs (where there is much fat) and injecting them into the knee joint.”

“Thus,” says Dr. Koh, “We have successfully differentiated ourselves from other hospitals in terms of superiority of the doctors’ competence and skills.”

Furthermore, the YonseiSarang Hospital has an International Medical Treatment Team making itself an internationalized hospital and public relations efforts are being made for a wider dissemination of this information.

Dr. Francesco Perdisa from Bologna University in Italy (fourth from right) poses with the doctors of the YonseiSarang Hospital at the time of his visit to the Hospital for a joint research on stem cell.

As a result of this development, an increasing number of patients are visiting from various countries of the world, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China and the United States. The Hospital is also preparing to establish in various countries of the world rehabilitationcenters and cell treatment centers for the treatment of the local patients.

At present, the Hospital has coordinators who speak fluent foreign languagessuch as Russian and Mongolian as well as English, which greatly helps in eliminating languages barriers faced at the time of treating patients of different nationalities.

CEO Dr. Koh (right) poses with Dr. Allan Mishra from Stanford University during a joint research

Also, doctors come to the Yonsei Hospital from various countries of the world, including Indonesia, Germany and Mongolia to learn the advanced medical skills from Yonsei. The YonseiSarang Hospital also concluded a medical cooperation agreement with various hospitals in Italy, Japan, China and Malaysia.

The YonseiSarang Hospital plans to establish for the first time among the joint-spine hospitals in Korea a Stem Cell Institute to free the knee-joint patients from their pain and anxiety and to help them have new hopes. At this hospital, cell is extracted from the fatty part of the human body such as buttocks and abdomen and injected into the joints of the patients, especially the senior citizens, who suffer much pain due to aged and over-taxed cartilage. The injected cells cause regeneration of the cartilage. Extensive studies and researches are being conducted at the Hospital in that area.

At present, the new method is being used for the patients suffering from knee bone problems but the range of its use is expected to be expanded to the shoulders, spine and other parts of the human body.

A researcher of Stem Cell Instituteis doing an experiment.

Another epochal development of treatment method is through the use of ‘tailor-made’ 3D man-made joint, which was developed for the first time in Korea. The artificial joint enhances the accuracy of operation as it is done after completely checking the state of the patient.

In contrast with the existing man-made joint where the ready-made joints are used, the newly developed 3D order-made joints are created through the use of a new method where the joint of the patient is ‘reconstructed’ based on MRI photography where the patient’s knee bone is reconstructed through 3D printing. This helps the creation of an artificial knee bone that is best fit to the patient.

The new method reduces the possible complication to the minimum compared with the existing method, and substantially reduces the operation time. The life span of the man-made joint, too, is more than 25 years compared with the 15 years of the existing ones. This is why the new artificial joints at the YoniseiSarangHospitalare very popular among the knee patients.

Patients from Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan at the entrance of the YonseiSarang Hospital

Too, the YonseiSarang Hospital is equipped with special rehabilitation center facilities where the patients experience much shorter period of rehabilitation compared with other hospitals. This greatly helps the patients shorten the period of rehabilitation as well as the recovery period of the patents after operation. The patents greatly appreciate this and many of them have written letters of appreciation to the doctors who have treated them.

The RehabilitationCenterof the YonseiSarang Hospital is making preparations to enter Ulan Baatar, the capital city of Mongolia, in 2016 and this will be extended to Kazakhstan and Russia.

Mongolian staff members at the YonseiSarang Hospital booth at the 2015 Mongolian International Health Fair.

The Hospital has been selected by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as a Joint-specializing Hospital and a Globalized Hospital for Overseas Operations.

The Hospital has also won a Grand Prize in the field of joints for three consecutive years in the Medical Korea program organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare from 2009 to 2011.

The YonseiSarang Hospital continues to make extended efforts to maintain the status of the most qualified hospital in the treatment of joints and spine.

Rehabilitation Center at the YonseiSarang Hospital

A doctors from Siloamal Int'l Hospital in Indonesia visited the YonseiSarang Hospital to discuss the possibility of a joint research with the YonseiSarang Hospital.

Invitation to the Ambassadors and Spouses to the Tour of YonseiSarang Hospital

CEO & Doctor Koh Yong-gon of YonseiSarang Hospital in Kangnam District south of the Hann river cordially invites

the Ambassadors and their Spouses to a tour of various facilities of his Hospital on Friday March 4, 2026. Itinerary follows:

10:00-1200 Hours: Arrive at Hospital, introduction between the host and guests, presentation of a memorable gift to each

Ambassador, video showing on Hospital, tour of hospital facilities, medical check-up for diplomats,

question and answer session and various other interesting programs for the ambassadors and madams.

10:10-1330 Hours: Luncheon hosted by the CEO-President for the ambassadors and madams

1330-1700 Hours:Tour of various facilities of the Hospital and medical consultations.

For questions on the Tour, please call Ms. Kim Jung-mi at 2298-1740/2, 010-3388-1682, or

Chairman Lee Kyung-sik at 010-5201-1740 (English)

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At the Iranian National Day reception

Korean guests more than double the number at other functions

“We were informed that President Park Geun-hye has been planning her visit to Iran in the near future, which is going to be the first-ever such a state visit in the long record of relations between the two countries,” said Ambassador Hassan Taherian of Iran in Seoul at the National Day reception he hosted at Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Feb. 16, 2016. Then he said that the Presidential visit will surely open a new chapter in the bilateral relations and will provide ample opportunities for better understanding between two countries and have a positive impact on Iran-Korea cooperation as well (excerpts from the speech toward the end of this article).

The luncheon reception to celebrate the 37th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution was attended by an estimated 700 Korean and international guests as well as most of the ambassadors in Seoul, which, in the case of the Korean guests, was nearly double the number guests at previous such functions.

Why the sudden increase of interest in Iran in Korea?

Korea used to enjoy the so-called ‘Middle East Boom’ through the construction companies and trading firms and Iran was one of the prominent countries in the Middle East where the Korean companies actively took part in the economic development in the region.

The unusually large attendance of the Korean and international guests at the party is also partly due to the personal popularity of Ambassador Taherian who has a long and close connection with Korea. Also he is accredited to North Korea as Iranian ambassador and is in a good position to help improve the inter-Korean relations.

Attending the reception were many prominent Korean government and business leaders. Among them were Minister Chung Chin-youb of Health and Welfare, President Sung Nak-in of Seoul National University, Chairman Lee Hae-dong of the Busan Metropolitan Council, Directors-General Park Young-sik of the Ministry of Health & Welfare and Lee Sang-jin of the Ministry of Trade Industry & Energy, Director Kim Jae-jeong of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure & Transportation, and leaders of many leading Korean business companies (see list at the end of this article).

From the Seoul Diplomatic Corps came many ambassadors with their spouses (see list at the end of this article).

Excerpts from the speech of Ambassador Taherian of Iran:

I am honored to welcome you at the celebration of the National Day of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

We meet today to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of Iran that falls on 11th of February.

37 years ago, the people of my country in a series of massive demonstrations and popular political movements under the wise leadership of Imam Khomeini overthrew the dictatorial regime of Pahlavi and elected and established the new system of the Islamic Republic which is based on modern Iranian-Islamic civilization and religious democracy.

Significantly this year, the anniversary of the victory of our Islamic Revolution has coincided with another victory for the Iranian nation and government in the international scene. This new achievement is the success of our government to manage and conclude one of the most complicated diplomatic crisisof this decade which was the Iran nuclear program dossier. Iran succeeded to reach a historical nuclear accord with six world power, turning the Iran nuclear program from an unnecessary crisis into a platform for cooperation. By putting some limitations on its nuclear activities and accepting the highest level of transparency and inspection on its nuclear program, Iran once again demonstrated clearly that never ever intended to build atomic bomb.

The negotiation settlement to the Iran nuclear program is a Victory for diplomacy and helped to remove the shadows of war and pseudo threats from our region. Most importantly, this settlement provides the opportunity for the region to focus its attention on current real and dangerous threat which is terrorism and violent extremism, which threatens everybody.

By the relocation of the economic sanction, the amount of interest in Iran has been unbelievable. We have hosted more than 50 foreign trade delegations to Iran during the last two or three months.

Located in the central part of Eurasia, Iran, blessed with rich civilization and culture, has long enjoying of geostrategic importance because of its central location in Eurasia and Western Asia and its proximity to the Strait of Hormoz. Iran with a diversified economy and broad industrial base, huge natural resource, young and educated population, large domestic market, access to the regional market and increasingly sophisticated infrastructure providing the foundation for an emerging economy which offers endless investment opportunities to local and international investors.

Iran and Korea established the diplomatic relations in 1962. Throughout these years, the two countries maintained a relatively friendly and strong relationship. The presence of the Tehran Street in Gangnam district of Seoul as well as the Seoul Street in North of Tehran, are the symbol and remainder of long friendship between the two countries.

We have had a number of official meetings recently, among them, the last year visit of the South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to Tehran. Fortunately, we were informed that Her Excellency, President Park, Geun-Hye, has been planning her visit to Iran in near future. This is going to be the first ever such a state visit in the long record of relations between the two countries. Surely, the upcoming presidential visit will open a new chapter in the bilateral relation and will provide ample opportunities for better understanding between officials and will have a positive impact on Iran-Korea cooperation, as well.

As far as the trade relation between the two countries is concerned, we always value and support particularly business relations between our two countries. Korean companies have a long record of involvement and successful activity in Iranian market and working in many infrastructure and construction projects in Iran. They enjoy a very good reputation as the reliable and confident partner and this is a valuable asset for their future activity in the Iranian market.

By the end of this month, on February 29, the Korea-Iran Joint Economic Commission is scheduled to be held in Tehran. Simultaneously and alongside with this Commission, there is going to be a Business Forum by the participation of huge number of businessmen from the private sector of both countries.

I believe the lifting of the sanctions, provides a plenty of opportunities for Korean firms to resume or increase their activities in the Iranian market. 

We welcome and will encourage the Korean companies to boost their business in Iran.

In closing, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of you for your attendance in our reception and hope you enjoy your time with us today.

Ambassador Hassan Taherian of Iran (third from left) cuts the celebration cake with Ambassador Hong Jong-Kyung of  Gyeongsangbuk-do Province for International Relations and Minister Chung Chin-youb of Health and Welfare (left and second from left),

Chairman Lee Hae-dong of Busan Metropolitan council, President & CEO Kim Jung-rae of Korea National Oil Corp. and CEO Jeon Sang-heon of Chungbuk Free Economic Zone Authority (four to sixth from left)

Ambassador Hassan Taherian of Iran and Minister Chung Chin-youb of Health and Welfare (seventh and eighth from right, respectively, at front row)

pose with the ambassadors at the reception.

From left: Ambassador Dato Paduka Haji ModhRosli Bin Haji Sabtu of Brunei Darussalam, Publisher-Chairman Lee Kyung-sik of The Korea Post,

Ambassadors Rodolfo SolancoQuiros of Costa Rica, Vikram Kumar Doraiswami of IndiaandDatoRohanabintiRamli of Malaysia;

Chief Executive Counselor Choi Soon-hong of LS IS and AmbassadorSylvestreKouassi Bile of Cote d'Ivoire

Attractive figurines and other art objects on display at the reception venue

Mrs. Mah Manesh Taherian (spouse of the ambassador of Iran) and their son, Mahdi Taherian

Partial list of ambassadors attending the reception:

Ambassadors Mohammad SaleemSayeb of Afghanistan, Derragui Mohammed Elamine of Algeria, Albino Malungo of Angola, Elisabeth Bertagnoli of Austria, RamziTeymurov of Azerbaijan, Md. Zulfiqur Rahman of Bangladesh, NatalliaJhylevich of Belarus, Guadalupe Palomeque de Taboada of Bolivia, DatoPaduka Haji ModhRosli Bin Haji Sabtu of Brunei Darussalam , PetarAndonov of Bulgaria, Tito Saul PinillaPinilla of Colombia, Rodolfo SolancoQuiros of Costa Rica, SylvestreKouassi Bile of Cote d'Ivoire, GreciaFiodaliciaPichardo of Dominican Republic, Oscar Gustavo Herrera Gilbert of Ecuador, Milton Alcides Magana Herrera of El Salvador , Gerhard SABATHIL of Delegation of The Europan Union,  MattiHeimonen of Finland, Carlos Victor Boungou of Gabon, Rolf Mafael of Germany, NikolozApkhazava of Georgia, Gabor Csaba of Hungary, Vikram Kumar Doraiswami of India, Bessho Koro of Japan, Omar Al Nahar of Jordan, Mohammed Chraibi of Morocco, DatoRohanabintiRamli of Malaysia, Mohamed Salim Alharthy of Oman, ZahidNasrulah Khan of Pakistan, Irineo Raul SilveroSilvagni of Paraguay, Raul S. Hernandez of the Philippines, Krzysztof Majka of Poland, Calin Fabian of Romania, Alexander AndreevichTomonin of Russia, MamadouNdiaye of Senegal, Zoran Kazazovic of Serbia, Milan Lajciak of Slovak Republic, Nozuko Gloria Bam of South Africa, Gonzalo Ortiz Diaz-Tortosa of Spain, Niroshani Manisha Dias AbeywickremaGunasekera of Sri Lanka, JoergAloisReding of Switzerland, KiromovSalohiddin of Tajikistan (CDA), Mohamed Ali Nafti of Tunisia, HakanOkcal of Turkey, Andrea Veronica BaisGastaldi (CDA) of Uruguay, BotirjonAsadov of Uzbekistan, Ms. Yadira Hidalgo de Ortiz of Venezuela (CDA), Mumba Smyth Kapumpa of Zambia

Partial list of Korean guests attending the reception:

Chairman & CEO B.S. Park of Korea Registry of Shipping, President & CEO Kim Jung-rae of Korea National Oil Corp., General Manager Son Jin-seck of Daewoo Shipping & Marine Engineering, President SohnMyong-sei of Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, Chairman Cho Hae-hyeong of Nara Holdings Corp., Head of Team Lim Tae-hoon of Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Vice President Heo, Sun-haeng of GS E&C, President & Chief Executive / Civil & Infra Lee, Sahng-ki of GS E&C / Seoul, President Kim, Kwang-min of Union Flow Control System Group, Director Kim, Jae jeong of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation, CEO Jeon, Sang-heon of Chungbuk Free Economic Zone Authority, Chairman & CEO Shin, Jae Hyun of West Aisa Economic Forum, Vice President Kim, Young ho of KCC, President Lee, Young chan of Korea Health Industry Development Institute, President Sung, Nak-in of Seoul National University, CEO Park, No hwang of The Yonhap News Agency, Director Joon Lee of LOTTE Engineering & Construction, Director General Hwang, Hyeon-gyu of KHIDI, CEO Kim, Jae-sik of Hyundai Development Co., Director Lee Kap-soo of Korea Times, President Lee Jin-sook of MBC, Daejeon, President & CEO Kim, Jae-sik of Hyundai Development Company, President Choi, Du-youlof FTE(Fluid Thermal Engineering), Vice President Lee, Soo-yeon of DAELIM, Executive Vice President Yun, Won-sok of KOTRA, Director General Park, Young-sik of Ministry of Health & Welfare, Chairman Lee, Hae-dong of BUSAN METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, Director General Lee Sang-jin of Ministry of Trade Industry & Energy

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Many countries lock horns to woo sanction-lifted country

Korea should try to show how she can do best for Iran

By Lee Kyung-sik

Publisher of The Korea Post

Following the lifting of sanctions against Iran, many countries of the world are seen locking horns with one another to be the first to enter the country for economic cooperation.

The first and obviously the most active country seems to be France who invited President Hassan Rouhani to visit France on Jan. 28, 2016. Korean-language media reports indicate that the leaders of Iran and France signed contracts totaling some 30 billion Euro (about 40 trillion Korean Won), including the purchase of 118 Airbuses.

According to an article by former President Joohum Lee of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA) published by MaeilKyungje on Feb. 15, 2016, President Rouhani of Iran has also visited Italy, in advance of his French contacts, and singed contracts totaling some 16 billion Euro (22 trillion Korean Won). According to Lee, Iran has special relations with France and Italy.

In 1997, Italy invited former President Mohammed Khatami of Iran to visit Italy and has thenceforth been pursuing a pro-Iran policy.

France provided political asylum to the late former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeiny of Iran in 1979, and has been maintaining close ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Approaching Iran for increased cooperation are not limited to France and Italy. Germany, the United States and China are also making extensive efforts to join the ‘Iran rush.’ Among the three stands out China. President Xi Jinping of China wants to rebuild a ‘New Silk Road’ to connect the Arab world and Europe through Iran.

As soon as the international sanction was lifted on Iran, President Xi visited Iran before any other head of state. Xi did not ask for money but traded automobiles, missile parts and textile goods for Iranian oil. The arrangement helped China make a big jump to the status of Iran’s biggest trade partner.

In contrast, the United Kingdom, who had monopolized the Iranian oil market until the 1950s, has become a target of total disregard. Reports say that the UK failed to change the negative image of its old ‘oil majors’ in the new surroundings.

So what should Korea do in this situation?

Former President Lee of KNDA suggests that Korea should try not to lose time. Korea should realize that she is neither a very close country to Iran nor one who is so far away. Korea should try to come up with attractive offers for Iran compared those of the competitors. For this purpose, Korea needs a systemized vision. Korea should come up with a concerted plan of cooperation with all the competent business companies to show Iran an attractive picture that other countries can’t.

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