Mar. 3, 2016

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Thursday, Mar. 3, 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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A quick roundup of major news stories from Korean media:

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

UNSC Adopts Toughest Sanctions on N. Korea

The United Nations Security Council has adopted a new set of sanction measures on North Korea for its nuclear and...

Parliament Approves Anti-terror Legislation

'Chinese Banks Halt Remittance to N. Korea'

National Assembly Approves N. Korean Human Rights Act

Parliament Approves Anti-terror Legislation

UNSC Adopts Toughest Sanctions on N. Korea

31 S. Koreans Listed on Forbes' 2016 Billionaire List

Stock Market Sees Rises Wednesday

US to Impose 6.9% Antidumping Duties on S. Korean Cold-Rolled Steel

China Begins Banning Mineral Imports from N. Korea in Dandong

KCNA: Detained American Apologized for His Crimes

Gov't: N. Korea Slandering S. Korean President is Nat'l Shame

'Chinese Banks Halt Remittance to N. Korea'

Japan to Compensate Dutch POW over Nagasaki Bombing

N. Korea Declares Boycott of UNHRC Sessions

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

U.N. Security Council unanimously adopts harshest-ever sanctions on North Korea

The U.N. Security Council adopted the harshest-ever sanctions on North Korea on Wednesday, punishing Pyongyang for its defiant nuclear and missile tests and seeking to put curbs on the weapons programs through what could amount to a land, sea and air blockade designed to dry up key revenue sources.

Park goes hitless, Oh tosses 1 perfect inning in MLB preseason debuts

The Minnesota Twins' Park Byung-ho struck out three times in three at-bats in his first preseason appearance in Major League Baseball (MLB) in Florida on Wednesday.

Corporate direct financing down 1 pct in Jan.

Sales of stocks and bonds by South Korean companies fell 1 percent in January from a month earlier due mainly to the scarcity of initial public offering cases, the financial watchdog said Thursday.

Korean investment in overseas securities jumped nearly 28 pct in 2015

The amount of foreign securities held by South Korean institutional investors jumped nearly 28 percent from a year earlier in 2015, central bank data showed Thursday.

European nations welcome new U.N. sanctions on N. Korea

The European Union and other major European countries welcomed the new U.N. sanctions resolution on North Korea, urging Pyongyang to cease its nuclear and missile development.

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

Doosan chief offers to quit, taps nephew as successor

Doosan Group plans to elect Park Jeong-won, head of Doosan Corp., as the industrial conglomerate’s new chairman when it...

More single women freeze eggs

Lee Soo-jin (not her real-name), a single woman in her mid-30s in Seoul, recently decided to fr...

Assembly passes antiterrorism bill despite oppositions’ pushback

The National Assembly on Wednesday gave final approval to the legislation granting the...

U.N. passes toughest sanctions against North Korea

The U.N. Security Council adopted a new resolution encompassing strong sanctions against North ...

Spaceman back from record year flight

Astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth on Wednesday after an unprecedented year in space for NASA, landi...

Efficacy of sanctions

The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to vote on whether to adopt a resolution for new sanc...

KOSPI’s confinement

South Korea saw its benchmark KOSPI touch 2,000 points for the first time in July 2007. But ...

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

4 N. Korean officials blacklisted by UN council

The U.N. Security Council (UNSC) has blacklisted four senior North Korean officials in charge of nuclear and ballistic missile programs as the council is set to pass a new resolution on sanctions against the isolated state. The ...

Over 100 students join Education Abroad program 

Over 100 high school graduates and university students have embarked on a one-year course with the...

Korea caught in $20,000 income trap 

President Park Geun-hye said that her administration will set up a foundation for the era of $40,000 per capita income, but economic players are finding it a ... 

Part-timers call for McDonald's to scrap 45-second rule on making burgers 

Lee Ga-hyun, 22, has a burn on her arm, which she sustained while working for a year at a McDonald... 

Parties shifting focus to general election 

With the political turmoil over the filibuster and the anti-terrorism bill subsiding, rival politi... 

It's GFriend's time 

K-pop girl group GFriend of Source Music may not be well known abroad yet, but they are undoubtedl...

After UN resolution, Seoul to focus on NK human rights 

South Korea is stepping up efforts to address North Korea’s abysmal human rights record in context of worldwide opinion, in conjunction with a new U.N. Securi...

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

Clinton, Trump win landslide victories on Super Tuesday

Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump have won landslide primary victories in their parties' presidential candidat…

Doosan Group to enter fourth-generation management

Doosan Group Chairman Park Yong-man will soon hand over group management to Park Jung-won, chairman of Doosan Corp., the group's …

Pres. Park commits to pressure North Korea in presidential speech

President Park Geun-hye has confirmed her determination to continue the hardline policy against North Korea on Tuesday. “South Ko…

Bernard Werber named as Korea's most beloved author

French author Bernard Werber is reportedly the most beloved author in Korea during the recent 10 years. Kyobo Bookstore said on We…

POSCO to build FINEX steel mill in Iran

POSCO Group will construct an integrated steel mill in Iran by using FINEX, its new steel-making technology.

Incheon airport wins ASQ Awards for 11 consecutive years

Incheon International Airport has topped the annual Airport Service Quality surveys conducted by the Airports Council Internatio…

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

China Halts Remittances to N. Korea

China has frozen remittances to North Korea and halted imports of North Korean coal ahead of UN Security Council sanctions on Pyongyang over its nuclear test and rocket launch. On Wednesday, banks in the Chinese border town of Dandong suspended all money transfers to North Korea. >> Full Text

Korean Clothing Businesses Pin Hopes on China

Korean clothing companies are rushing to China to compensate for a rapidly waning fashion market at home amid the ongoing slump. In China, despite slowing growth, the fashion market is still burgeoning. Chinese consumers view Korean clothes as fashionable and good quality. >> Full Text

Hotel Shilla's Restaurant Named Among Asia's 50 Best

Hotel Shilla's Korean restaurant La Yeon has been named among Asia's 50 Best Restaurants for the second straight year. The annual list is published by William Reed Business Media, best known for the Restaurant magazine. >> Full Text

Ssangyong Unveils New Compact SUV at Geneva Motor Show

Smaller Korean Cosmetics Firms Storm the Citadel

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

Civic groups say opposition filibuster wasn’t in vain

Opposition facing criticism for calling off filibuster, but citizens say it was useful for political engagement

Civil society unleashed an outpouring of criticism toward the political opposition over the decision by The Minjoo Party of Korea (TMPK) to end a filibuster against a controversial anti-terror bill on Mar. 1 - and toward the ruling Saenuri Party (NFP) for its stubbornness in pushing the legislation through. Representatives of 46 civic groups opposed to the legislation, including People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) and the Korean Progressive Network Center (Jinbonet), voiced their outrage in a press conference that morning in front of the National Assembly in Seoul.

[Analysis] No new messages in Pres. Park’s Independence Movement Day address

President Park Geun-hye offered nothing new in the way of policies or messages on the North Korean nuclear issue, inter-Korean relations, or the comfort women issue in her address for the 97th Independence Movement Day on Mar. 1. Instead, she stressed the need to keep up pressure and sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear program, while urging Tokyo to fully implement the terms of the two countries’ agreement on the comfort women issue last Dec. 28. .

Opposition to end record-breaking eight-day filibuster

The Minjoo Party of Korea (TMPK) decided on Mar. 1 to end a more than seven-day-long filibuster to stop the passage of anti-terror legislation. TMPK floor leader Lee Jong-kul delivered the news in a statement that morning.“On this meaningful date of Mar. 1 [Independence Movement Day], TMPK plans to end its filibuster on the so-called ‘anti-terror bill’,” Lee wrote, adding that the party “will be issuing a more detailed statement of gathering opinions at a general lawmakers’ meeting.” .

Going to see “Spirits’ Homecoming” becoming much more than just a trip to the movies

The film “Spirit’s Return,” which tells the story of young girls who were dragged off to be comfort women for the Imperial Japanese Army, has become a hit at the box office, selling more than a million tickets within the first five days of its release. The “Spirit’s Return” phenomenon

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

Sanctions blacklist excludes Kim Jong-un

The United Nations Security Council on Wednesday was set to vote on a new resolution expanding sanctions on Pyongyang that would target more individuals and entities than ever before - but would exclude North Korean leader Kim Jong-un…

Filibuster is called off, vote on terror bill to follow

As a historic nine-day filibuster by opposition lawmakers ended Wednesday evening, the ruling party started preparations to pass…

New generation of leader takes control at Doosan Group

Doosan Group announced Wednesday that Park Yong-maan is resigning as chairman and his nephew Park Jeong-won will succeed him.…

Retailers wage battle over diaper prices

There’s a new battleground in the price war between major retailers and e-commerce giants: diapers.…

Samsung’s latest phones won’t feature usual logos

The upcoming Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge smartphones from Samsung Electronics won’t feature Samsung’s logo on the front or the carrier’s logo…

SK Chairman tells his troops to make exports top priority

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won has ordered an increase in the group’s overall exports…

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

President Park Calls for Judgment on the Opposition Again Following Her Praise of the Comfort Women Agreement

Yesterday in a speech commemorating the March 1 Independent Movement, President Park Geun-hye explained the details behind South Korea's agreement with Japan o···

Utility Pole Falls Building a Village Community

The 27 and 28 tong (districts) in Doksan 4-dong, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul are a neighborhood crowded with multi-family residences. On January 15, a transit mixer···

[Terrorism Prevention Act] Filibuster Becomes a 'School for Democracy,' Public Gallery Full over the Weekend

The citizens are raving about the filibuster carried out by opposition lawmakers to block a vote on the Terrorism Prevention Act, proposed by the chairman of th···

How to Use a Lawmaker

The filibuster was fresh. To some, it was the cause of a quarrel, but to many it came as a "festival." The filibuster in South Korea was a news topic for the ···

[Editorial] Court Decides Search and Seizure of KakaoTalk Was Illegal, Showing the Dangers of the Terrorism Prevention Act

The court ruled that a search and seizure of the conversations of some KakaoTalk users carried out by the prosecutors and the police without informing the relev···

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

All Major Economic Indicators Turn to Negative...Statistical Bureau

In January, the all-industry production index has turned to a negative realm within only a month. Other major economic indicators including mining and manufacturing output, consumer spending, and plants and equipment investment have all shrunk for the month. According to a report "January 2016 Indus...

Wage Gap between Large and Small Businesses Hit Record-high Level

The wage gap between large and small companies widened to the highest level since the data were compiled. According to the National Statistics Office on March 1, the monthly wages of workers in Korean companies with more than 300 full-time workers, averaged at 5.01 million won last year, up 3.9 perc...

Doosan Infracore Finally Sells Its Machine Tool Unit to MBK Partners

Doosan Infracore has finally decided to sell off its machine tool unit to MBK Partners, a homegrown private equity firm. The price tag for the deal is estimated at 1,130.8 billion won (US$922.9 million)

Doosan had originally made an asking price of 1.3 trillion won to which MBK made a counter-offer ...

Samsung Keeps Top Spot in TV Market for 10 Years

Samsung Electronics kept the leading position in the global TV market for ten straight years. According to market research firm IHS on March 1, Samsung Electronics grabbed a share of 27.5 percent in the global TV market last year (in sales revenue terms), ranking No. 1 among major TV makers. Even in...

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

Anti-terrorism bill passed through South Korean parliament

[Photo by Namkung Jin-woong] South Korea's parliament endorsed an anti-terrorism bill as cross-border tensions escalated over tough United Nations sanctions to punish North Korea for pushin…

North Korea leader inspects missile factory

[Courtesy of Xinhua News] ? North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has inspected a missile parts factory as South Korea flexed its muscle Wednesday for a sea blockade ahead of United Nations sanction

Detained US student confesses to stealing political slogan

Conservative activists burn an effigy of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un[Photo by Yoo Dae-kil ] A US student held in North Korea has confessed to stealing a propaganda slogan from his hotel, de…

New naval base built on South Korea's southern island

[Courtesy of Republic of Korea Armed Forces] South Korea on Friday celebrated the completion of a major naval base on the southern resort island of Jeju, showing off its bolstered naval power t…

Massive special loans for firms in Kaesong

South Korean government officials wait in an office to support firms in Kaesong.[Photo by Yoo Dae-gil] South Korea decided Thursday to extend 550 billion won (445 million

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

Major Smartphone Manufacturers Set to Compete Against Each Other

Competition for Smartphones between Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Apple has started. New Smartphones by these 3 businesses are produced to defend their ma...

LG Innotec’s LEC Business at a Crossroad between Opportunities and C...

It is predicted that LG Innotec¡?s LED Business Department is going to be at a crossroad once again as there are possibilities of opportunities and crisis...

Dispute on RGBW 4K Quality Settles Down for Time Being

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics and LG Display that had been

360° Camera Receives Spotlight Again Due to VR Devices

As VR (Virtual Reality) emerges as the hottest topic in electronic and IT industries, 360¡Æ camera businesses that produce VR contents are receiving the spotlight. 360¡Æ cameras that used to be seen

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

S. Korea’s Doosan Group chairman to hand over helm to his nephew Park Jeong-won

Park Yong-maan, chairman of South Korea’s conglomerate Doosan Group, indicated in a board meeting on Tuesday that he was ready to step down, paving the way for fourth- generation succession in management. Heir-apparent Park Jeong-won, chairman of Doosan Corp. and nephew of the elder Park, will be voted to take the helm of the country’s oldest conglomerate in a shareholders’ meeting on March 25. The chair of the Doosan Corp., the de facto holding company for the group, traditionally co-heads the group.

NPS to put pressure on companies with low dividend yields

The National Pension Service (NPS) will hold a fund operation committee on Wednesday to call for more dividend payments this ...

Samsung Electronics sets new milestone in global TV market

South Korea’s tech giant Samsung Electronics Co. dominated the global TV market for the tenth consecutive year in 2015 both in ...

Fund invested by Hyundai Motor Group’s Haevichi unit to purchase $122 mn

A real estate private equity fund invested by Haevichi Hotel & Resort Co., a unit under South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, and ...

Hotel Shilla’s La Yeon named as one of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for second

Hotel Shilla Co., South Korea’s leading operator of luxury hotels, said on Tuesday that La Yeon - a high-end Korean restaurant ...

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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:

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Send your news releases and feedback:

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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.

President Koh 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 other hospitals 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 rehabilitation centers and cell treatment centers for the treatment of the local patients.

At present, the Hospital has coordinators who speak fluent foreign languages such 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 Institute is 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 YoniseiSarang Hospital are 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 Solanco Quiros of Costa Rica, Vikram Kumar Doraiswami of India and Dato Rohanabinti Ramli 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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