The Korean daily media headlines and humor

The Korean daily media headlines and humor

Friday, December 16, 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 News

“If elected, I will invite Chairman Kim Jong-un of North Korea to attend my inaugural ceremony in Seoul.”--Moon Jae-in

Presidential Hopeful Moon Jae-in of the main opposition Minju Party said, “If elected, I will invite Chairman Kim Jong-un of North Korea to attend my inaugural ceremony in Seoul as the President of the Repubic of Korea and this is the public pledge I made even during the last Presaidential election campaign period,” said Moon at an exclusive interview with leading Korean-language daily, Joong-Ang Ilbo, this morning (Dec. 16).

Left: Opposition leader Moon Jae-in the South Right: Kim Jong-un of North Korea

Moon said that South Korea should try to lead the inter-Korean relations and the South should try to secure the most up-to-the-miniute information about North Korea obtained in advance of any sophisticated satellite information of the US or Japan.

Rapport between the South and North, Moon said, is the only way that would provide a true means useful in eventually solving the problem of the livelihood of the Korean people north and south.

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Contribution of humor from a former ambassador in Seoul

Here are funny tidbits from a former Central Asian ambassador who loves his former and incumbent colleagues in Korea.—Ed.

A small argument between a couple turns violent.

Husband says: Don’t let the animal in me come out.

Wife replies: Who’s afraid of a mouse!!!

If wife wants husband’s attention, she just has to look sad and uncomfortable.

If husband wants wife’s attention, he just has to look comfortable and happy.

A Philosopher HUSBAND said: Every WIFE is a ‘Mistress’ of her Husband, “Miss” for first year and “Stress” for rest of the life…

Do you remember the tingling feeling when you took the decision to get married? That was common sense leaving your body.

Pappu: Dad, l got selected for a role in a play for annual day!

Dad: What role are you playing?

Pappu: A husband!

Dad: Stupid, ask for a role with dialogues!

Man outside phone booth: “Excuse me you are holding phone since 29 minutes and you haven’t spoken a word”.

Man inside: “I am talking to my wife”

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A very intelligent girl was asked the meaning of marriage.

She said: “Sacrificing the admiration of hundred guys, to face the criticism of one idiot.”

Position of a husband is just like a Split AC, No matter how loud he is outdoor, He is designed to remain silent indoor!

The sweetest message: -

Husband to wife: You should learn to embrace your mistakes.

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/)

Counsel Park Intends to Question President One Time

The lead investigator of the special probe into the Choi Soon-sil scandal says it's best to question President Park Geun-hye one time, face-to-face.

DP Rejects, PP Tentatively Accepts Hwang's Proposed Talks

Opposition parties have reacted differently to the Prime Minister and Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn's proposal for talks with the leaders of individual parties.

KSTAR Succeeds in Sustaining Plasma for More than 1 Minute

A South Korean fusion reactor designed to study magnetic fusion energy has set a world record in high-performance plasma operation.

Assembly Finalizes Team of Attorneys for Impeachment Case

A team of attorneys has been finalized to represent the National Assembly as the Constitutional Court reviews the Assembly's impeachment case against President Park Geun-hye.

BOK Chief Dismisses Concerns of Capital Outflows Following US Interest Rate Hike

Bank of Korea(BOK) Governor Lee Ju-yeol has dismissed concerns that the U.S. Fed's latest interest rate hike could immediately result in sharp capital outflows,

Labor Ministry Overhauls Occupations Eligible for State Help in Training Personnel

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has finalized a list for next year of industries that will receive state help in fostering and training personnel.

BOK Keeps Key Rate Unchanged at 1.25%

The nation's central bank retained the key interest rate at one-point-25 percent for the sixth straight month in the wake of the U.S. Federal Reserve's rate hike. Bae Joo-yon has more.

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

New allegations emerge from corruption hearing

New allegations surrounding an influence-peddling scandal involving South Korean President Park Geun-hye and her confidante emerged during a parliamentary hearing on Thursday, ranging from a cover-up attempt to spying on a top justice and bribery involving a deputy premier-level official.

Seongnam mayor soars in presidential polls riding anti-establishment sentiment

Just two months ago Lee Jae-myung was one of a crop of fringe aspirants for the presidency, trailing far behind political bigwigs. The mayor of Seongnam, a satellite city of Seoul, saw an unexpected rise in polls recently with his sharp words and bold actions against President Park Geun-hye and the establishment.

Additional bird flu case found in southern city

Another case of avian influenza (AI) was found in a dead bird in the southeastern city of Gyeongsan, quarantine officials said Thursday, as they struggled to contain the virus that has ravaged poultry farms across the country since mid-November.

S. Korea joins U.N. refugee agency's club of key donors: foreign ministry

South Korea has joined the U.N. refugee agency's club of key donors that pay more than US$20 million a year, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday, underscoring the country's increasing humanitarian activities.

Japan did not offer military info on N.K. missile test despite intel-sharing pact: source

Japan did not offer South Korea any intelligence on North Korea's recent test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) despite a bilateral intelligence-sharing pact that took effect last month, a government source here said Thursday.

Two S. Korean firms to purchase NASA building

A consortium of two South Korean financial firms has been picked as the preferred bidder to purchase the headquarters building of the U.S. National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) in Washington D.C., industry sources said Thursday.

Actors Hyun Bin, Kang So-ra dating

Top star Hyun Bin and actress Kang So-ra are dating, their management agencies said Thursday.

Hanwha Techwin wins $260 million weapons deal in Poland

Hanwha Techwin Co. said Thursday it has secured a 280 billion won (US$260 million) deal to build 96 K-9 self-propelled howitzers for a state-run company in Poland.

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-un 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.

N. Korea's per capita income unchanged at $1,179 last year: data

North Korea's per capita income was unchanged at 1.39 million won (US$1,179.10) last year, about one twenty-secondth of South Korea's, government data showed Thursday.

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

Hawkish Fed leaves Korea under bigger pressure

South Korea’s central bank kept its base rate at a record low for a sixth straight month Thursday, apparently agonizing over its next rate decisions in the face of the US Federal Reserve’s signaling of faster-than-expected rate hikes next year and the political crisis-hit domestic economy.

Korean market fluctuates on Fed signals to accelerate rate hikes

South Korea’s financial market fluctuated Thursday in response to the US Federal Reserve’s signal to raise its funds rate range three times next year. It was highly expected that the Fed was going to make a 0.25 percentage point hike in its December meetings that ended Thursday, but it was unexpected that the US central bank would tighten the monetary policy at such a fast rate.

Former newspaper CEO testifies government spied on top justice

A parliamentary inquiry into the scandal surrounding President Park Geun-hye and her close friend Choi Soon-sil produced a rare new testimony Thursday that the presidential office conducted a massive surveillance operation on the nation’s top justice.

Hwang seizes his political chance

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn seems to have benefited the most from President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment, suddenly rising from outgoing premier to acting president -- and a possible conservative candidate in the next presidential election.

Korean firms most concerned about protectionism, policy vacuum: survey

South Korea's major conglomerates are most worried about growing protectionism around the globe and an economic policy vacuum following the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, a survey showed Friday.

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

President Park, a 'Hikikomori'

Testimony from government officials and close associates of President Park Geun-hye have disclosed that she is a "loner," rarely meeting people unless absolutely necessary ― and sometimes even when it is necessary.

Fuse lit on household debt bomb

The U.S. Federal Reserve's rate hike and warnings of more hikes next year are heightening concerns that the upward rate spiral might light the fuse of the record household debt bomb here.

'Distort testimony or we will be dead,' says Choi Soon-sil

Choi Soon-sil ordered an associate to distort testimony to investigators of the political scandal ...

'Presidential office secretly monitored Supreme Court chief's private life'

The Presidential office looked into the private lives of Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae... 'EIGHT SECRET FILES' could spell the end for Park

Hot presidential candidates in spicy food fight

Korean foods are so rich in variety and taste that people like to compare them to public figures -...

Independent counsel team may search President's residence

The independent counsel investigating the influence-peddling scandal surrounding Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil said Thursday his special team ...

2 archaeological workers killed, 1 injured in excavation site collapse

Two archaeological workers were killed and one other injured after being buried by a collapsing mound of dirt at the site they were excavating in South Korea'...

N. Korea test-fired SLBM this month

North Korea test fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) this month, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK, Thursday.

Top court upholds tax on Lone Star

The Supreme Court upheld part of the corporate taxes levied against U.S. private equity fund Lone Star for its gains of 245 billion won ($208 million) from a ...

Opposition divided over PM's meeting proposal

The two largest opposition parties were divided over acting president, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn’s counter-proposal, Thursday, regarding the opposition blo...

Choi scandal casts shadow over hallyu

Hallyu, or the Korean wave, will sustain a major dent from the unfolding scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil, a su...

Cheong Wa Dae obstructs parliamentary probe of Park Geun-hye scandal

Cheong Wa Dae has rejected a request from a National Assembly panel to visit the presidential office, Friday, as part of its investigation into what President...

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

Putin tops Forbes' 2016 list of most powerful people

Russian President Vladimir Putin was chosen as the world’s most influential person for four years in a row since 2013.Forbes maga…

Ivanka Trump reportedly to get first lady office space at White House

Ivanka Trump, the eldest daughter of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, is likely to use the East Wing at the White House, playin…

Actor Park Jung-min starts a career as Romeo in theater

It was a delightful rediscovery for fans of actor Park Jung-min. Park’s splendid vocalization and precise pronunciations made the…

N. Korean submarine accident kills all 12 crewmen, Japanese daily reports

North Korean submarine was cut in half in an accident whose cause is unknown, with all of its 12 crew members killed.The Japanese…

Korean economy faces ‘storm’ of U.S. rate hike

The United States has raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time in one year, lowering the curtain on the global trend of ultra-low rates that have continued since the 2008 global financial crisis.

'Hand of God scoring' to disappear on the pitch

The 2016 FIFA Club World Cup, which has been running in Japan from Dec. 8, has become the first FIFA-organized competition to adopt a video referee system. Under the new system, video assistant referees (VARs) are placed in a video room inside the stadium in addition to the main and assistant judges.

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

Independent Counsel Doles Out Travel Bans in Crony Scandal

Independent counsel Park Young-soo on Thursday slapped a travel ban on President Park Geun-hye’s former chief of staff after he was caught lying to lawmakers.

Big Jump in Koreans Working Abroad

The number of Koreans heading overseas to work jumped a whopping 66 percent in the first 11 months of this year as unemployment here remains high among young people.

1st Dip in Seoul Apartment Prices in 2 Years

Apartment prices in Seoul have fallen slightly for the first time in two years as sales slowed alarmingly. The trend is being blamed on political turmoil at home and insecurities ahead of a U.S. interest rate hike.

Korea Shivers in Coldest Weather So Far This Winter

Korea was gripped by the coldest temperatures so far this winter as the mercury dipped to nearly -10 degrees in Seoul and central parts on Thursday morning.

Samsung's Notebook 9 Named Best Laptop

Samsung's Notebook 9 was named the best laptop in the 15 to 16-inch ultra-portable category by U.S. magazine Consumer Reports on Wednesday.

Footballers Gather for Charity Work

The national football team and staff gathered on Wednesday not for a match but for charity work.

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

At parliamentary hearing, picture emerging of Park as a hermit president

The veil of secrecy over President Park Geun-hye’s working habits is being lifted amid hearings by a special parliamentary investigation committee investigating her role in government inference by confidante Choi Sun-sil.

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.

Samsung had pledged to pay Jung Yu-ra more than $18 million

The money that Samsung had promised to pay Jung Yu-ra (daughter of Choi Sun-sil) for her equestrian training through 2018 adds up to 22 billion won (US$18.64 million), reports say, and 8 billion won of this was actually paid. If the Choi Sun-sil scandal had not been exposed, the remaining 14 billion won would also have been given to Choi and Jung.

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.

Korean Agency asks Apple for documents related to battery flaws

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) has asked Apple to submit documentation related to possible flaws in its products, the Hankyoreh confirmed. The agency’s request is related to recent complaints (mostly filed by customers in other countries) that the Apple iPhone has been abruptly shutting down and that its battery has been exploding. The next question is whether KATS (which is affiliated with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy) will regard the iPhone battery problems as a customer safety issue and launch a full-blown investigation as it did with the Galaxy Note 7.

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

BOK holds interest rates steady

The Bank of Korea kept its key interest at 1.25 percent Thursday in a unanimous decision as the central bank opted to pause to gauge the impact of a U.S. rate hike and the National Assembly’s decision to impeach President Park Geun-hye.

Blue House spied on all top judges, says witness

The former head of local daily Segye Ilbo made a bombshell revelation at a parliamentary hearing into the Choi-gate scandal Thursday that the Blue House spied on chief Supreme Court Justice Yang Sung-tae and another senior judge, raising questions over the Park Geun-hye administration’s commitment to the principle of separation of power.

Supreme Court affirms Lone Star 65 billion won tax bill

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Dallas-based private equity firm Lone Star must pay 64.8 billion won ($54.9 million) in corporate tax, a final ruling in a controversial case that has dragged on for more than a decade.

In search of a future, HHI will set up an R&D center

Hyundai Heavy Industries aims to make itself smarter by establishing a joint research and development center that will gradually shift the company from manufacturing to technology.

Major holder set to oppose Harman sale

A large shareholder of Harman International is poised to oppose the U.S. automotive component’s sale to Samsung Electronics on the grounds that it is worth more than the planned purchase price of about $8 billion.

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

Trump's Cabinet Is "Hard, Hard, Hardline," A Cold Wave to Sweep over the Korean Peninsula

Rex Tillerson, the CEO of ExxonMobil was nominated as the secretary of state in the Donald Trump administration on December 13 (local time), finishing off the a···

[Editorial] It Is Now More Obvious Why We Must Uncover the Truth about the Seven Hours During the Sewol Tragedy

A parliamentary hearing was held to uncover President Park Geun-hye's whereabouts during the seven hours when the Sewol accident occurred, but it only amplifie···

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 ···

"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. Key witnesses including Choi Soon-sil, Cheong Wa Dae's "doorknob trio" including the president’s former personal secretary Jeong Ho-seong, and former Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs Woo Byung-woo did not appear before the lawmakers this day.

[Impeachment of Park Geun-hye] Hwang Kyo-ahn Acting Like a Conservative President

When People Want Him to Look After the CountryThe actions of Hwang Kyo-ahn, the acting president, is concerning. Instead of focusing on managing the situation while minimizing the absence in state administr···

[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 ···

The Shamelessness of the Pro-Park Members that Ruined the Party, Step Down Along with President Park

After the National Assembly passed the impeachment vote, the battle between the pro-Park members and the non-Park members within the Saenuri Party has intensifi···

[Ha Seung-soo's Gap] To Go Beyond June of 1987

The candlelight revolution, some call it a civil revolution. But a revolution means the replacement of the system. The National Assembly passed the impeachment ···

[Editorial] The National Assembly Must Impeach President Park

Today, the National Assembly will vote on the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye. Lawmakers, who will determine whether or not to oust the chief of state af···

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

Mirae Asset Initiates 1 Tril. Won Funds Jointly with Naver, Celltrion, and GS Retail

Mirae Asset Group, jointly with Naver, Celltrion, and GS Retail, will create venture capital funds worth 1 trillion won. This is the first time for a private-sector financial service firm to initiate creating a venture ecosystem together with large corporations. It was based on the realization that ...

Gov't Raises Avian Flu Alert to Highest Level

The government has upgraded its avian flu alert status to the highest level. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs said on December 15 after a livestock disease prevention meeting that it would raise the alert status from "warning" to "critical." The ministry will announce detailed re...

Bank of Korea Keeps Interest Rate Unchanged in Dec. for 6 Consecutive Months

Even though the Bank of Korea kept this month's interest rate unchanged for six consecutive months, it is busy calculating the consequence of an interest rate hike announced by the U.S. Fed last night. The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Korea held a meeting in the morning of December 15 an...

"U.S. Interest Hike Speed Faster Than Expected"...Deputy PM

Yoo Il-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Strategy and Finance, said of an outlook the U.S. Fed may raise the interest rate three times next year on December 15, "We will keep monitoring the Fed's movement and come up with measures whenever deemed necessary."He said this in a press brief...

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

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

Seoul blames Kim's fishing order for causing starvation in sea

North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong-un should be blamed for the poor victim of starvation aboard troubled fishing boats which were rescued this week after drifting for up to two months, Seoul officials said Thursday.

Popular show 'Running Man' apologies to outcoming members

Producers of South Korea's popular TV variety show Running Man have apologized to Song Ji-hyo and Kim Jong-kook who were blindsided by a series of unexpected news that they would be expelled.

Boy group BEAST sets up independent entertainment agency

The members of boy group BEAST have established an independent entertainment agency named "Around US" to start a new life as musicians following their seven-year membership with Cube Entertainment.

YG drops comeback schedule for boy groups WINNER and iKON

South Korea's entertainment giant YG Entertainment has unveiled comeback schedules for its boy groups WINNER and iKON.

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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

Sydney Morning Herald www.smh.com.au

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