Saturday, October 31, 2020
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
“Businessmen are No. 2, bureaucrats No. 3, politicians No. 4!”
The late Chairman Lee Kun-hee of the Samsung Business Group in Seoul is well known for his witty remarks: “Politicians are No. 4, bureaucrats No. 3 and politicians No. 4!” Then who is “Number 1”?
The answer came on April 11, 2020 when Chairman Lee Nak-yon of the ruling Democratic Party said, “We should all try to correct this situation where there is an expression, ‘The people are No. 1 and politics are No. 3!”
Samsung Biologics opens CDO R&D center in San Francisco, the U.S.
Samsung Biologics held an online opening ceremony for the CDO R&D Center in San Francisco on Oct. 29.
In the video released on YouTube, Samsung Biologics presented its vision to become a 'Next Door CDO partner' that narrows physical distance from customers and provides prompt service.
Owing to the COVID-19 pandemics situation, the opening event was conducted in a virtual format of real-time communication between the headquarters and the San Francisco R&D Center.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
N. Korea Pins Blame on S. Korea for Shooting Death of Fisheries Official
North Korea has thrown blame at South Korea for the shooting death of a fisheries official at sea last month. The North claims that the South failed to exercise proper control over its citizen, but also said such incidents should not drive cross-border relations to a "catastrophe."
North Korea said on Friday that South Korea is the first to blame for the death of a fisheries official last month, accusing the South of "improper control" over its citizen.
Daily COVID-19 Cases Still over 100, Authorities Concerned about Halloween
With the daily COVID-19 increase in South Korea staying above 100, the government is tightening its quarantine inspection of clubs and bars ahead of Halloween this weekend. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun also asked the public to avoid mass gatherings.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency(KDCA) said as of 12:00 a.m. Friday, 114 additional people tested positive for COVID-19, raising the country’s accumulated total to 26-thousand-385.
Panel Launched to Recommend CIO Chief
The process of selecting the head of the new Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials(CIO) has officially started with the committee to recommend candidates holding its first meeting on Friday, 107 days after a related law on setting up the agency took effect.
The committee consists of seven members including Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, the chiefs of the National Court Administration(NCA) and the Korean Bar Association, and professors and lawyers recommended by the ruling and opposition parties.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Biden vows not to extort S. Korea with troop withdrawal threats
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden pledged Friday to strengthen the alliance with South Korea, rather than "extorting Seoul with reckless threats to remove our troops," and keep pressing toward North Korea's denuclearization through "principled diplomacy."
Biden made the pledge in a special article contributed exclusively to Yonhap News Agency just days ahead of the U.S. presidential election, reciting the catch phrase of the Korea-U.S. alliance, "Katchi Kapshida," or "We Go Together."
Regulator orders 6-month suspension of cable channel MBN for accounting fraud
South Korea's telecommunications regulator on Friday ordered a six-month suspension of services for cable TV channel MBN for accounting fraud in an unprecedented heavy punishment of a broadcaster in the country.
The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) said MBN manipulated its balance sheet in 2011 to conceal a portion of the capital raised under borrowed names of its employees.
MBN's move was part of its plans to raise 300 billion won, the minimum requirement to acquire a license to operate a general programming cable TV network.
PM calls for response readiness against COVID-19 on Halloween weekend
The prime minister on Friday called on state and local health authorities to maintain response readiness against potential COVID-19 cluster transmissions during the upcoming Halloween weekend.
"I ask that related agencies and local governments focus all their efforts on antivirus work so that the Halloween weekend does not end up becoming a source of a mass virus spread," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said during a government meeting.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
New social distancing plan will consider economy more, health officials say
Ahead of winter, South Korea is rethinking its priorities and amending its pandemic strategy to reflect the limits of social distancing and save the economy, public health authorities said Friday.
Korea conducted 14,253 tests on Thursday and confirmed 114 more cases of the novel coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s updates. The cumulative number of official cases is 26,385.
NK blames killing of S. Korean civilian on Seoul
North Korea on Friday blamed the Seoul government on its killing of a South Korean civilian, calling it an “accident” stemming from Pyongyang’s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID.
According to the South Korean military, North Korean soldiers found a South Korean fisheries official who drifted into North Korean waters last month, shot him to death six hours later and burned his body at sea.
President Moon pledges W20tr investment in future mobility, tours Hyundai’s Ulsan plant
President Moon Jae-in visited Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan plant on Friday for a tour of its future automobile production sites and reaffirmed the government’s strong willingness to foster eco-friendly future cars, officials said.
Moon was accompanied by Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki and the ministers of industry, environment and transportation.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
'US President Trump may go for summit with Kim Jong-un right after re-election'
With the showdown between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden just days away, the public and media here are showing an unprecedented level of anticipation regarding the result of the U.S. presidential race, which is expected to have a decisive impact on Korea's foreign affairs policies.
The question many in Korea are asking is who should they be pulling for? This was one of the most interesting questions that was discusssed during an election-themed webinar hosted by AMCHAM Korea, Thursday, with experts from the Center for Strategic and international Studies (CSIS) in Washington.
Fears growing over mass outbreak of COVID-19 ahead of Halloween
With Halloween falling on Saturday, the authorities and experts reminded the public of their concerns that gathering in large groups for celebrations over the weekend could trigger another mass COVID-19 outbreak.
"Again, we advise people to stay home and not to have any big gatherings for their safety," Sohn Young-rae, an official from the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said during a daily briefing Friday.
'Japan may seize Korean firm's assets in retaliation of forced labor ruling'
The Japanese government is considering seizing the assets of Korean businesses in Japan if Seoul follows up on a 2018 Supreme Court ruling on wartime forced labor and seizes and sells Japanese companies' assets here, the Sankei Shimbun reported Friday.
The Tokyo-based newspaper reported that the government there is also considering raising tariffs on imported Korean goods.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
S. Korea in awkward position as US opposes Nigerian candidate for WTO director-general
The US openly opposes the candidacy of former Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to become the next director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), despite the majority of WTO member states who support her. Instead, the US is rooting for South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee.
But major countries in Europe have strongly objected to the position taken by the US, which is seen as being largely responsible for hamstringing the WTO. The fracas leaves South Korea in an awkward position between the two sides.
Lee Myung-bak doesn’t deserve a pardon because he’s shown absolutely no remorse
On Oct. 19, former President Lee Myung-bak received a Supreme Court ruling upholding a 17-year prison sentence. As in the first and second trials, the Supreme Court likewise recognized Lee’s guilt regarding charges of misappropriating 25.23 billion won (US$22.23 million) into a slush fund over a 20-year period as the de facto owner of the automobile parts company DAS. Lee also accepted 8.9 billion won (US$7.84 million) in bribes from Samsung, including payments of DAS legal costs on his behalf.
Divisions in American society likely to continue after presidential election
In a recent CBS poll of voters in Florida, one of the main battleground states in the US presidential election, 59% of Trump supporters said they’re worried the US is sliding toward socialism. Meanwhile, 58% of supporters of Democratic candidate Joe Biden said they’re concerned about the US becoming a totalitarian state.
While the top election issues for Biden supporters are COVID-19 (91%, multiple answers allowed) and the candidate’s character (80%), Trump supporters prioritize the economy (96%) and immigration (79%). The gaps between the two sides on gun rights, abortion, and LGBT rights hardly need to be mentioned.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Lottery Sales Surge in Times of Coronavirus
The coronavirus epidemic has sent lottery ticket sales soaring, as is usual in dire economic times.
According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, lottery ticket sales during the first six months of this year totaled a record W2.6 trillion, up 11.1 percent on-year (US$1=W1,333).
Jang Seok-man (54), who sells lottery tickets in central Seoul, had the number "7706" written on a paper chit he handed to a customer on Tuesday. "That's the number of tickets I sold so far this week," he said.
Park's Final Appeal Expected to Conclude This Year
The grotesque saga of ex-President Park Geun-hye's fall from grace is drawing to an end as the Supreme Court is expected to rule in her final appeal before the end of this year.
Park was imprisoned on remand in March 2017, and has spent the longest time in jail of any former president, none of whom left office without dirtying their hands.
Since her operetta court collapsed amid massive street protests in 2017, there have been endless twists and turns in the court cases of Park and her toxic confidante Choi Soon-sil, who has since changed her name to Choi Seo-won.
Pampas Grass-Covered Slopes in Ulsan Best Destination to Visit in Autumn
The industrial port city of Ulsan is surrounded by mountains. One of the must-see places in the southeastern city just north of Busan, especially during the current autumn season, is the Yeongnam Alps, which afford breathtaking views of the region's fields of tall swaying pampas grasses.
Between mid-October and early November, their feathery plumes are in full bloom.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
Gov’t to invest 20 trillion won in electric and hydrogen cars by 2025
President Moon Jae-in said on Friday that the government is planning to invest more than 20 trillion won in green mobility, including electric and hydrogen cars, by 2025.
“Amid fierce global competition, the next five years will be the golden time to lead the future car market,” said President Moon while visiting Hyundai Motor’s Ulsan plant, heart of the company’s eco-friendly future car production, on Friday. The Hyundai Ulsan plant is the home of the world’s first mass-produced fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) Tucson Ix and Korea’s first mass produced electric truck Porter.
Three days from U.S. Election Day
With three days remaining until Election Day in the United States on Tuesday, the race is neck and neck in critical states. Although Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is still leading President Donald Trump, Republicans are narrowing the early voting gap in battleground states as more Trump supporters participated in early voting contrary to expectations.
Daily COVID-19 cases pass 500,000 around the worldDaily COVID-19 cases pass 500,000 around the world
Global daily coronavirus cases have reached a new high of over 500,000 with European countries and the United States experiencing second waves.
Worldometer, a reference website, reported the daily number of people who tested positive for COVID 19 was 504,419 and the death toll was 7,106 as of Wednesday. The daily new cases surpassed 500,000 just within 10 months since the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Chinese government on December 31 last year.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
President Moon Addresses the Nation on the Budget, “Economic Recovery Is Our Top Priority. We Will Ensure a Clear Rebound”
On October 28, President Moon Jae-in said, “It is time to implement measures to stimulate our economy in order to place our economy on a normal path for growth next year,” and announced, “We will further strengthen the active role of finance so we can swiftly overcome this crisis and advance toward an advanced country in the year 2021.”
“Carefully Resume Discounts for Hotels, Travel Packages and Restaurants”
On October 28, the government announced, “We will carefully resume distributing coupons for hotels, travel packages, and restaurants, which had been temporarily suspended due to the spread of COVID-19.”
First beginning this day, the government will receive applications from companies and workers who want to take part in the “employee vacation funding project” and begin presales of goods at an exclusive website. From October 30, customers will be able to book travel coupons, which provide a 30% discount on 1,112 travel packages.
Fact-checking the Inheritance Tax Controversy Surrounding Samsung: A 60% Tax Rate Only for Chairman Lee Kun-hee?
After the death of Lee Kun-hee, chairman of the Samsung Group, conservative politicians and some in the business circle argued that South Korea imposed an inheritance tax so high that it could threaten the management of a company. They also opposed the surcharge on the inheritance tax, applied to the shares of a major shareholder that are inherited or gifted.
But experts point out that South Korea provides various tax cuts and that the nation imposes a relatively low income tax. Thus we took a look into the truth and the misunderstandings concerning the inheritance tax.
Is South Korea’s Inheritance Tax Higher Than That in Advanced Countries?
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/).
LG Chem set to launch pure-play battery unit upon shareholder nod to spinout
South Korea’s LG Chem Ltd. on Friday gained a go-ahead from its shareholders to separate its burgeoning battery operation to a pure-play entity on Dec. 1 despite disapproval from its second largest shareholder National Pension Service (NPS) and individual investors.
Samsung Engineering stock jumps after it wins $3.6 bn project in Mexico
Samsung Engineering Co., the construction and engineering arm of South Korea’s Samsung Group, raised a stock frenzy after it announced a stunning 4.1 trillion won ($3.6 billion) order to build refinery facilities in Mexico.
The company disclosed on Friday that its entity in Mexico Samsung Ingenieria Manzanillo S.A. de C.V. submitted a letter of intent on Wednesday, local time, on the second phase engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of Dos Bocas New Refinery Project sourced by Pemex Transformacion Industrial (PTI-ID), an affiliate of Mexico’s state-run oil company Pemex.
Hyundai E&C wins $1.8 bn residue upgrading complex deal in Iraq
South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co. (Hyundai E&C) has won a 2.03 trillion won ($1.8 billion) deal to build a residue upgrading complex in Iraq, raising expectations for improvement in its bottom line.
Hyundai E&C announced Friday it has signed a construction project with state-run Basra Oil Co. to build residue upgrading facilities at a refining plant, 10 kilometers west of Basra in Iraq.
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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
The 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
GwangmyeongDaily 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
Le Monde www.ilemonde.com
Italy LaRepubblica 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
Colombia Reports www.colombiareports.com
Bogota Free Planet www.bogotafreeplanet.com,bfp@bogotafreeplanet.com
El Universal www.eluniversal.com.mx/english
Andes www.redaktionstest.net/andes-info-ec/
Ecuador Times www.ecuadortimes.net/
The Jordan Times www.jordantimes.com/
LSM.lv www.lsm.lv//
The Baltic Times www.baltictimes.com,lithuania@baltictimes.com,estonia@baltictimes.com,
editor@baltictimes.com
El Pais https://english.elpais.com/
Philippine Daily Inquirer www.inquirer.net/
Daily News Hungary https://dailynewshungary.com/
Budapest Times www.budapesttimes.hu/
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The Korea Post is running video clips from the different embassies.
Azerbaijan: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR8CBpcQ4WM
Sri Lanka: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hByX92Y2aGY&t=22s
Morocco: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfFmp2sVvSE
And many other countries.
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