The Korean daily media headlines and humor

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Your Excellency:

Here are The Korea Post notices and a roundup of important headlines from all major Korean-language dailies, TV and other news media of Korea today:

Very Respectfully Yours

/s/

Lee Kyung-sik

Publisher-Chairman

Korea Post Media

The Korea Post notice

All the participants in The Korea Post tours have received their Plaque of Appreciation.

However, those for the following recipients remain unclaimed.

We hope that recipients would kindly advise us when they would claim the Plaque:

H.E. Ambassador Adel Adaileh, of Jordan

Chargé d'Affaires of Nigeria Mr. Sheidu Omeiza MoMoh,

Mr. Gabriel da Silva Guimarães of Angola

Mr. Akito Nishiuch, First Secretary of Japan

Mrs. Perla Garcia Cristaldo, Minister of Paraguay

Mr. Tran Anh Vu, Deputy Chief of Mission of Viet Nam

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The above photo is one of the eight photographs that accompany our extensive Korean-language coverage of the National Day celebration of Qatar. An English ersion will be published soon.

http://www.koreapost.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=18390

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What’s ticking in Korea today? Here is a quick roundup of important news stories from the major Korean news media today:

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

Doctor Gave Pres. Park Placenta Injections 2 to 3 Times

The former head of Green Cross I-Med unveiled on Wednesday that before he was named President Park Geun-hye’s medical consultant, he had given the president placenta injections at the presidential office.

Foreign Holdings of S. Korean Bonds Decrease Sharply

Foreign investors have dumped a considerable portion of their South Korean bonds this year.

According to industry sources, foreign holdings of bonds issued by local listed firms were valued at a total of 89 trillion won, or 76-point-two billion U.S. dollars, as of Tuesday. The amount is down by 12 trillion won from the end of last year.

Heavy Snow Blankets Gangwon Province

Heavy snow has blanketed Gangwon Province as snow advisories were issued for 16 cities and counties of the province.

4th Parliamentary Inquiry to Spotlight Choi Soon-sil Family

South Korean lawmakers probing the Choi Soon-sil scandal on Thursday will delve into suspicions surrounding Choi's ex-husband and their daughter but the questioning will likely proceed without many key witnesses.

Assembly Speaker Asks Acting President to Accept Policy Consultative Body

National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun has asked Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn to accept calls from parliament to create a consultative body between the government and rival parties to handle major policies.

S. Korea's Household Loans Continue to Soar

South Korea's household loans extended by local banks rose eleven-point-five percent in November from a year earlier, despite a series of measures to curb household debts.

S. Korea's Youth Employment Abroad Tops 3,000

More young South Koreans are seeking jobs abroad due to tough job market.

Data released by the Ministry of Employment and Labor on Wednesday showed the number of young South Koreans working abroad reached about three-thousand-300 in the first eleven months of the year, up nearly 66 percent year-on-year.

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

Hyundai Heavy says 2 trillion won order canceled

Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. said Wednesday a 2.16 trillion won (US$1.8 billion) order to build an offshore facility has been canceled, but there are no losses for the shipbuilder.

Parliament to hold fourth hearing on influence-peddling scandal

South Korea's National Assembly will hold the fourth round of hearings on Thursday to investigate a corruption scandal surrounding President Park Geun-hye and her confidante Choi Soon-sil

Trump should send oral message to N.K. leader to propose resumption of talks: U.S. expert

Incoming U.S. President Donald Trump should send an oral message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il shortly after taking office to propose a preparatory meeting between the two countries in a first step toward reopening formal denuclearization negotiations, a U.S. expert suggested Wednesday.

SK hynix mulls over partnership with U.S.-based Seagate

SK hynix Inc., the world's second-largest producer of memory chips, said Wednesday it was considering teaming up with a U.S. hard disk drive maker to strengthen its competitiveness.

Asian champions Jeonbuk take 5th place at FIFA Club World Cup

The Asian club football champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors took fifth place at the FIFA Club World Cup after defeating South African side the Mamelodi Sundowns 4-1 on Wednesday.

Court orders gov't to disclose result of U.S. base pollution probe

A South Korean appeals court on Wednesday ordered the government to disclose the results of a probe on pollution detected in the water table near a U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) garrison in Seoul.

Finance minister vows stronger fiscal intervention

South Korea's chief economic policymaker on Wednesday reaffirmed his pledge for stronger fiscal intervention to prop up Asia's fourth-largest economy facing downside pressures at home and abroad.

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

Fed raises key interest rate and foresees 3 hikes in 2017

The Federal Reserve has raised a key interest rate in response to a strengthening U.S. economy and expectations of higher inflation, and it foresees three more rate hikes in 2017.

The Fed's move will mean modestly higher rates on some loans.

Lawmakers grill Park's security chief on president's 'missing 7 hours'

Lawmakers from ruling and opposition parties on Wednesday scrutinized President Park Geun-hye’s handling of the rescue operation during the Sewol ferry disaster, questioning presidential aides about what the president was doing amid the nation’s worst maritime disaster in 2014.

Trump’s foreign policy lineup mounts challenges for Seoul

With an atypical pick for secretary of state, US President-elect Donald Trump is forecast to abate his predecessor’s refocus toward Asia while toughening the stance against North Korea over its nuclear program.

Trump will push pragmatic trade policies: ex-president

Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said Thursday that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to roll out pragmatic trade policies based on his entrepreneur background, amid concerns that the incoming U.S. administration will lean toward protectionism.

Youth unemployment hits 13-year high for Nov.

The unemployment rate among young South Koreans hit a 13-year high for the month of November, as manufacturers reduced new hires amid the prolonged economic downturn, the government said Wednesday.

Korean shares open lower on Wall Street losses

South Korean stocks opened lower Thursday, tracking overnight losses on Wall Street following a U.S rate hike.

Jun Ji-hyun stands out on 10 best actors list

Jun Ji-hyun of “The Legend of the Blue Sea” was the only woman who made it on the list of the 10 best actors of 2016, compiled by Gallup Korea.

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

'Park often received beauty treatments secretly'

Doctors connected to Choi Soon-sil performed cosmetic treatments on President Park Geun-hye multiple times without the knowledge of the presidential doctor or her security team, according to testimony given at a National Assembly hearing, Wednesday.

Kim Jong-un's alcoholic blackout leaves officers crying

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's drunken rage ― followed by a total blackout ― has caused fear and tears among high-ranking North Korean military officials, according to Tokyo Shimbun, a Japanese daily, Tuesday.

Minor quake rattles Gyeongju

A moderate 3.3-magnitude earthquake rattled Gyeongju at 5:20 p.m. Wednesday.

PM Hwang playing tug-of-war with opposition

The acting president, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, said Wednesday he will actively communicate with lawmakers amid the opposition parties' criticism that he is excessively intervening in state affairs despite his temporary position.

Jobless rate for young hits 13-year high

The jobless rate for young people aged between 15 and 29 hit a 13-year high in November, while the manufacturing sector hired less, reflecting the deteriorating quality of the job market.

Director Kim Ki-duk wants to make honest movies

Kim Ki-duk is a Korean filmmaker though his movies are perhaps more popular abroad. His recently released the film "Stop"deals with the Fukushima nuclear accident of 2011. It was only seen by 241 viewers according to the Korean Film Commission as of Tuesday.

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

Korean artificial sun records world’s longest operation

Also known as Korean artificial sun, the Korean fusion experimental reactor “KSTAR (Photo)” recorded the world’s longest operations as it operated for 70 seconds at high functional mode (H-mode). The record comes as a meaningful success for Korean scientists who found a breakthrough in commercializing nuclear fusion technology to gain 1 gram of hydrogen fuel, which is equivalent to 8 tons of petroleum.

Channel A dramas go global via Netflix

Netflix, the world’s leading internet television network, will start airing Channel A dramas from December 15.

N. Korean sailors rescued in 3 ships adrift in East Sea

Three North Korean ships including fishing boats have been discovered in succession by South Korean military and police, while they were adrift. While undergoing investigation, the rescued crewmembers testified that a number of their fellow crewmembers died of hunger while their boats were adrift.

Ssangyong Motor exports 6,823 units of Tivoli to Iran this year

Iran has emerged as the biggest export market for Ssangyong Motor’s small SUV Tivoli, as Western countries lifted economic sanctions against the Middle East nation last year.

Opposition parties should show due respect to acting president

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn said during his meeting on Wednesday with National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun that he would make efforts to stabilize the political situation by ensuring "sufficient communication" with parliament.

Opposition parties should show due respect to acting president

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn said during his meeting on Wednesday with National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun that he would make efforts to stabilize the political situation by ensuring "sufficient communication" with parliament. Chung asked the acting president to positively consider a parliamentary proposal to set up a joint policy consultative body. At a time of national crisis in which President Park Geun-hye has been impeached by the National Assembly, it is meaningful that the acting president and the National Assembly speaker met with each other and promised to cooperate with state affairs.

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

Record Numbers of Poultry Culled in Bird Flu Outbreak

A record 14.45 million chickens and ducks have been culled across the country in the latest bird flu outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Wednesday.

1 Million Chickens and Ducks Culled Over Bird Flu

More than 1 million chickens and ducks have been culled because of suspected bird flu outbreaks.

Over 10 Million Chickens and Ducks Culled in Bird Flu Outbreak

More than 10 million ducks and chicken have been slaughtered so far after a fresh case of bird flu was detected in South Jeolla Province on Nov. 16.

Korean Bird Flu Mutated from China

The highly pathogenic bird flu strain that is fast spreading in Korea is mutation of a virus once prevalent in China and Hong Kong.

Court to Raffle Admission Tickets to Choi Soon-sil Trial

The Seoul Central District Court has decided to hold a raffle on Friday for admission tickets to the first hearing in the trial of President Park Geun-hye's long-time crony Choi Soon-sil.

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HanKyoReh-Shinmoon (http://english.hani.co.kr)

Special prosecution team seeking to prove bribery charges against Park Geun-hye

The investigation team led by Special Prosecutors Park Young-soo, who is investigating the scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and Choi Sun-sil, finished moving into its office in the Daechi neighborhood of Seoul’s Gangnam District and began preparing for the investigation on Dec. 13. Ahead of the country’s first-ever criminal investigation of a sitting president, the next question is who will be in the special prosecutor’s crosshairs.

With impeachment passed, plethora of petitions seeking “new democracy”

The candlelight spirit is evolving from a focus on impeachment to a variety of petition campaigns after the National Assembly‘s passage last week of an impeachment motion against President Park Geun-hye.

With Choi Sun-sil, Blue House was run like a “family-owned company”

What the prosecutors’ special office of investigations turned up after two months of investigating Choi Sun-sil’s influence peddling was that the Blue House was run as opaquely as a family-owned company. “The only way to understand the relationships between these people - which have lasted from 20 years at the shortest to 40 years at the longest - is to see Choi Sun-sil as the authoritarian husband who gives the orders, President Park Geun-hye as the wife and the doorknob triumvirate as the cousins,” said a source in the prosecutors who read the investigation findings on Dec. 12.

[Interview] At first public statement, Pres. Park wore an outfit made by Choi Sun-sil

Even as President Park Geun-hye was telling the public on Oct. 25 that she had only received help from Choi Sun-sil at the beginning of her presidency, she was wearing an outfit that Choi had made. It was a purple jacket with a raised collar stitched with patterns.

“I’m not sure about the outfits Park wore during her second and third public statements since she has a lot with that style, but the outfit she wore for her first public statement was the one I designed for her trip abroad last year,” said a designer only identified by the letter K, who worked for two years (from Nov. 2014 until last month) in a dressmaking studio run by Choi Sun-sil.

The interview with K took place at the Hankyoreh office on Dec. 12. K has been facing difficulties because she can be seen in footage of the studio shot by Ko Young-tae, 40, a former fencer and associate of Choi‘s.　

[Editorial] Even with Pres. Park impeached, candles will continue to burn for a better society

On Dec. 9, the motion for the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye passed the National Assembly by an overwhelming margin. The National Assembly – which is to say, the people – cast a vote of no confidence against a leader who had turned her back on the people. This historic decision was made possible by millions of candles that glowed in public squares. It is indeed marvelous that public sentiment was able to confirm once again Article 1 of the South Korean Constitution, which says that the Republic of Korea is a democratic republic and that all political power emanates from the people.

Three Six Party Talks representatives reaffirm “unswerving” cooperating

The senior South Korean, US, and Japanese representatives to the Six-Party Talks reaffirmed their commitment to “unswerving” trilateral coordination and cooperation on North Korea and its nuclear program in a meeting on Dec. 13 at Seoul’s Lotte Hotel.

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JoongAng-Ilbo(conservative) (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)

Park’s doctors smuggled into Blue House

President Park Geun-hye secretly invited doctors from outside clinics to treat her at the Blue House, witnesses at a National Assembly hearing said Wednesday.

Jobs being shed in many sectors of the economy

As the economy faces a 2017 full of challenges, large scale turnaround plans are being instituted in industries outside the troubled shipping and shipbuilding industries…

After impeachment, Yoo calls for stability

Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho reaffirmed his commitment as the nation’s chief economic policymaker after Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, the acting president…

Actors, execs skip taxes

Sewol ferry owner Chonghaejin Marine; former Ilgwang chairman Lee Kyu-tae, who was sentenced for defense contract-related corruption; actress Shin Eun-kyoung…

Bird flu outbreak leads to egg price hike

A recent outbreak of avian influenza in the nation’s chicken farms has sent retailers scrambling to raise egg prices, which will likely lead to a price increase…

Despite scandal, duty-free licenses to be issued Saturday

The Korea Customs Service will begin evaluations for the much coveted duty-free licenses today, and the winners will be announced Saturday…

Starbucks’ 1,000th Korean branch is upscale

Startbucks Korea opened its 1,000th establishment in Korea Wednesday, 17 years after the Seattle-based coffee giant first entered the Korean market in 1999…

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The KyungHyang-Shinmoon(http://english.khan.co.kr/)

Meeting for Reforms Canceled, National Assembly Calls for Disbandment: Federation of Korean Industries Cornered

The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), currently facing a life-or-death crisis, is seeking a way to survive, but is crashing into obstacles all over. After being cited as the key link encouraging the cozy relations between the political circle and businesses, a series of member companies have declared their departure from the federation, and as the remaining members take caution, the federation is facing problems in even collecting opinions. On top of that, the National Assembly is calling for the disbandment of the federation and talking about withdrawing the government's permission of incorporation, driving FKI to a corner.

[Impeachment of Park Geun-hye] Hwang Kyo-ahn Acting Like a Conservative President When People Want Him to Look After the Country

The actions of Hwang Kyo-ahn, the acting president, is concerning. Instead of focusing on managing the situation while minimizing the absence in state administration after the National Assembly passed the impeachment vote on President Park Geun-hye, Hwang is seeking to expand his dominance in state administration. This has led some people to ask whether Hwang is dreaming of becoming a "conservative president."

[After the Impeachment Vote of Park Geun-hye] Shameless Pro-Park Politicians Going Against the Public

The pro-Park members of the Saenuri Party, who make up the party‘s mainstream, are confronting the “candlelight” public sentiment head-on. The members opted to stubbornly resist, refusing to reflect on their responsibility in the “Park Geun-hye, Choi Soon-sil scandal” and to let go of their power.

"Choi Soon-sil Purchased 100 Outfits and 40 Handbags for the President"

The second hearing in the parliamentary investigation of the Choi Soon-sil case was conducted by a special parliamentary committee at the National Assembly on December 7.

[Hearing on the Park Geun-hye, Choi Soon-sil Scandal] “I Recommended a Minister to Choi and It Went Through... I Wondered If There Could Be Such a Person”

Cha Eun-taek (47), former head of the Creative Economy Initiative and also a close acquaintance of Choi Soon-sil (60) said that he realized the power of Choi after he witnessed a person he recommended to Choi be appointed as minister during a hearing of the parliamentary investigation of the Park Geun-hye, Choi Soon-sil scandal at the National Assembly on December 7.

President Park Had Her Hair Done When the Sewol Sank

On December 6, it was confirmed that President Park Geun-hye had summoned her personal hair stylist to Cheong Wa Dae and had her hair done before visiting the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the day of the Sewol accident. Cheong Wa Dae admitted that the president "had her hair trimmed for twenty minutes." This revealed that Cheong Wa Dae's previous explanation, that no outsider had entered the presidential residence on the day of the accident, was false.

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

Self-employed Entrepreneurs Owe 520 Tril. Won in Loans

Worries are mounting over the prospect of the debt owed by self-employed businesspeople, whose balance is in excess of 500 trillion won, would trigger a household debt crisis. A study by the Bank of Korea said the number of marginal small business enterprises that would go bankrupt if the interest r...

"Self-employed Debt Time Bomb" May Go off Any Time Soon

Korea is indeed a land of shopkeepers. A fifth of households rely for their livelihood on self-employed family businesses such as restaurants, coffee shops, and fried chicken joints. This is not just for those who are in their 50s or older but for young people in their 20s and 30s who are unable to ...

U.S. Rate Hikes Expected to Be Limited to Twice Next Year...HI Investment

HI Investment & Securities said on December 15 that the U.S. Fed may raise its benchmark rate in two occasions next year. The securities house added it is highly unlikely the central bank would increase the rate before June next year.The Fed said on the same day in a statement after two days of Fede...

K-Bank Clears Regulatory Hurdle...to Launch Internet-only Service in Jan. Next Year

As the Financial Services Commission gave a go-ahead to Korea's first Internet-only bank "K-Bank" led by KT, the era of Internet banks has opened up. K-Bank, whose shareholders include 21 companies such as GS Retall, Woori Bank, NH Investment & Securities, and Hanwha Life, as well as KT, said it wou...

Most People No Longer Believe Social Mobility...Survey

A survey said more and more people believe that there is no more social mobility that would lift them and their children out of the bottom rung of the ladder. According to a report "Korea's Social Trend" released by the National Statistical Office on December 12, the ratio of people who consider the...

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

Girl group EXID to make debut in China amid freeze on Hallyu

Popular girl group EXID will release the Chinese version next week of "Cream" from the group's first studio album, the group's management agency said Wednesday amid growing jitters in South Korea at a ban imposed by Beijing on K-pop contents.

S. Korea freezes prime rate after US rate hike

South Korea's central bank froze its prime interest rate at 1.25 percent, acting against the US Federal Reserve which raised a key interest rate.

New season of TV survival show 'Running Man' hits snag

The new season of South Korea's popular TV survival show "Running Man" hit a snag Thursday after popular show host and comedian Kang Ho-dong reversed his decision to join the show.

S. Korea rescues eight N. Korean sailors off east coast: Yonhap

South Korea's Navy and Coast Guard rescued three North Korean fishing boats drifting in waters off its east coast early this week, a government source said Thursday.

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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)

What’s ticking around the world at this second?

See what the world media around the world have to report:

USA Today: www.usatoday.com aallman@gannett.com

The New York Times: www.nytimes.com inytletters@nytimes.com

Wall Street Journal: www.wsj.com support@wsj.com ,service@wsj-asia.com

Financial Times www.ft.com ean@ft.com

times www.thetimes.co.uk help@timesplus.co.uk

The Sun www.thesun.co.uk talkback@the-sun.co.uk

Chinese People's Daily www.people.com.cn kf@people.cn

China Daily www.chinadaily.com.cn circulation@chinadaily.com.cn

Gwangmyeong Daily www.gmw.cn webmaster@gmw.cn

Japan's Yomiuri www.yomiuri.co.jp japannews@yomiuri.com

asahi www.asahi.com customer-support@asahi.com

mainichi www.mainichi.jp

lemonde www.ilemonde.com

Italy rarepupeul Rica www.quotidiano.repubblica.it vittorio.zucconi@gmail.com

Germany Frankfurter AllgemeineZeitung www.faz.net anzeigen.ausland@faz.de

SüddeutscheZeitung www.sueddeutsche.de forum@sueddeutsche.de

Australia Brisbane Times www.brisbanetimes.com.au syndication@fairfaxmedia.com.au