Friday, December 18, 2020
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
“We consult very closely with our clients to insure maximum satisfaction to them”
Vice Chairperson Joy Cho of The Korea Post media interviewed Director Ms. Jung Eu-Mi of the Dental Laboratory of the MINISH Dental Hospital in Seoul. She had a total of 18 years of experience in the field of CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer aided manufacturing), and has been working with CEO Kang Jung-ho of the MINISH Dental Hospital for the past 10 years. The CAD/CAM system was introduced to Korea about 15 years ago. Here are excerpts from an interview with Director Jung:
CAD/CAM does a lot of work. We consult and communicate with our patents with an aim to provide with the best quality of service. We also converse and communication with the patients through the medium of images because harmony and balance between the face and teeth are very important.
Then, too, we make analysis of the image of the face of the person when he/she makes a smile.
Dongwon Group Honorary Chairman Kim donates 50 billion won to KAIST
Kim Jae-chul, honorary chairman of Dongwon Group, has decided to donate 50 billion won ($46 million) in private funds to KAIST to foster talent in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector in Korea.
Kim announced on Dec. 16 that he would donate 50 billion won in private funds according to the annual plan for the next 10 years at a donation ceremony held at the of Jeong Geun-mo conference hall at KAIST in Daejeon.
KAIST President Shin Sung-chul and other KAIST officials, Kim Nam-koo, chairman of Korea Investment Holdings, and Kim Nam-jung, vice chairman of Dongwon Group, attended the signing ceremony.
Approval rating for President Moon Jae-in plunges to the lowest level of 36.7%
The approval rating for President Moon Jae-in has fallen to 36.7%, the lowest ever, the Realmeter said in its survey on Dec. 14. President Moon's highest positive assessment since taking office was 84 percent in the first week of June 2017.
According to a five-day survey (Dec. 7~11) of 2,531 people aged 18 or older conducted by Realmeter at the request of YTN, the approval rating for President Moon (positive assessment) was 36.7 percent, down 0.7 percentage points from the previous week.
On the contrary, the negative assessment rose by 0.8 percentage points to 58.2 percent. Unanswered or not-knowing answers were down 0.1 percentage point to 5.1 percent.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
COVID-19 Cases Surpass 1,000 for 4th Time This Week
Daily COVID-19 cases surpassed one-thousand for the third consecutive day and the fourth time this week.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency(KDCA) said that as of 12:00 a.m. Friday, one-thousand-62 additional people tested positive, raising the total caseload to 47-thousand-515. Of the new cases, one-thousand-36 were domestic infections while 26 were imported.
The greater Seoul metro area registered 757 cases, including 393 in Seoul, 300 in Gyeonggi Province and 64 in Incheon. Though the capital city’s tally slipped 27 from the previous day, it continued to hover around 400.
Gov't to Seek COVID-19 Formal Vaccine Deals with Janssen, Pfizer, Moderna
The South Korean government will seek to finalize deals to purchase COVID-19 vaccines with Johnson and Johnson's Janssen and Pfizer this month, and with Moderna next month.
According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on Friday, Seoul is expected to reach a formal agreement with Janssen as early as next week to secure enough doses for four million people.
The government is seeking to conclude a deal on doses for ten million people with Pfizer, and for another ten million people with Moderna.
Top Prosecutor Takes Legal Action against Suspension
South Korea's chief prosecutor filed for a court injunction on Thursday to halt his two-month suspension from duty.
Yoon's lawyer Lee Wan-kyu said in a message to reporters that the chief prosecutor lodged a suit with the Seoul Administrative Court at around 9:20 p.m., calling for the withdrawal of the punishment and an injunction.
The legal action came a day after President Moon Jae-in endorsed a Justice Ministry panel's disciplinary action against Yoon upon recommendation from Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Daily virus cases above 1,000 for 3rd day, toughest curbs still under review
South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases topped the 1,000 mark for the third day Friday on continued cluster infections nationwide and increased tests, but health authorities remain cautious about adopting the toughest virus restrictions due to the far-reaching economic impact.
The country added 1,062 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,036 local infections, raising the total caseload to 47,515, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
It is the first time that the daily number has stayed above 1,000 for the third consecutive day. The country reported record high daily virus cases of 1,078 on Wednesday, and the figure slightly fell to 1,014 the previous day.
S. Korea pushes to strike COVID-19 vaccine deals with Janssen, Pfizer this month
South Korea said Friday it will push to sign COVID-19 vaccine procurement contracts with Johnson & Johnson's Janssen and Pfizer later this month and ink another deal with Moderna next month.
The health ministry last week said it has secured early access of the vaccines developed by four pharmaceutical companies and from a global vaccine project for 44 million people, enough to cover 88 percent of the nation's population.
The government has formally struck a purchase deal with AstraZeneca, and made an advance payment of 85 billion won (US$77.6 million) in October to the World Health Organization's global vaccine project, known as COVAX.
Gov't to make 'bold' decision on social distancing when necessary: PM
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Friday the government will thoroughly prepare for the potential toughening of social distancing restrictions and make a swift and "bold" decision when it's necessary.
"While making meticulous preparations, the government will make a bold decision at a time when (an elevation of the distancing rule) is deemed necessary," Chung said during an interagency meeting on the COVID-19 pandemic response at Seoul City Hall.
Health authorities raised social distancing measures to Level 2.5, the second highest in the five-tier system, in the greater Seoul area early last week, with most other regions under Level 2, but the virus has continued to spread across the nation.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Daily virus cases above 1,000 for 3rd day, toughest curbs still under review
South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases topped the 1,000 mark for the third day Friday on continued cluster infections nationwide and increased tests, but health authorities remain cautious about adopting the toughest virus restrictions due to the far-reaching economic impact.
The country added 1,062 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,036 local infections, raising the total caseload to 47,515, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
It is the first time that the daily number has stayed above 1,000 for the third consecutive day. The country reported record high daily virus cases of 1,078 on Wednesday, and the figure slightly fell to 1,014 the previous day.
‘Prosecutor General’s legal counterattack is against President Moon’
Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl has taken aim at the president in the latest of his ongoing conflict with the incumbent administration and its close officials.
Yoon’s defense told reporters Thursday that Yoon is fighting the “illegal and unfair” two-month suspension from his post with a lawsuit against President Moon Jae-in, as he is the one who signed and approved the disciplinary action.
“This lawsuit is a complaint against an action from the president, so this is a lawsuit against the president,” said Lee Wan-kyu, a legal representative for the prosecutor general.
Prime minister says ‘social consensus necessary’ to raise distancing rules to Level 3
With growing interest in whether social distancing rules will be raised to Level 3 after the daily average number of confirmed cases in Korea surpassed 900 this week, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said Friday social consensus should be achieved sufficiently before moving to stricter rules.
The government would “make a bold decision” when it deemed it necessary, he added.
“We are collecting opinions from related ministries, local governments and experts as we need to quickly decide on raising the distancing level depending on the circumstances,” Chung said at a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, which was presided over by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Daily virus cases above 1,000 for 3rd day; toughest curbs still under review
South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases topped the 1,000 mark for the third day Friday on continued cluster infections nationwide and increased tests, but health authorities remain cautious about adopting the toughest virus restrictions due to the far-reaching economic impact.
The country added 1,062 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,036 local infections, raising the total caseload to 47,515, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
It is the first time that the daily number has stayed above 1,000 for the third consecutive day. The country reported record high daily virus cases of 1,078 on Wednesday, and the figure slightly fell to 1,014 the previous day.
Korea pushes to strike COVID-19 vaccine deals with Janssen, Pfizer this month
South Korea said Friday it will push to sign COVID-19 vaccine procurement contracts with Johnson Johnson's Janssen and Pfizer later this month and ink another deal with Moderna next month.
The health ministry last week said it has secured early access of the vaccines developed by four pharmaceutical companies and from a global vaccine project for 44 million people, enough to cover 88 percent of the nation's population.
The government has formally struck a purchase deal with AstraZeneca for 10 million people, and made an advance payment of 85 billion won (US$77.6 million) in October to the World Health Organization's global vaccine project, known as COVAX.
Korean artists receive attention in Turkey
Contemporary Istanbul (CI), Turkey's leading art fair, will open a virtual edition Dec. 21, featuring works of renowned Korean artists, including Chun Kwang-young.
The event, which was scheduled to take place this week at the Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center, saw a change in plan after the COVID-19 pandemic failed to subside. The organizers decided to go two-track, hosting a virtual edition of the event from Dec. 19 to Jan. 6 and pushing back the physical event to April 2021.
The fair's director Melih Ismail Inan said the virtual edition will try to reproduce the same experience as visiting a physical fair.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Moon approves 2-month suspension of Yoon Seok-youl
On Dec. 16, South Korean President Moon Jae-in approved a recommendation to suspend Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl for two months. Immediately after presenting Moon with the decision of the prosecutorial disciplinary board, Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae tendered her resignation.
Choo’s decision was political, aimed at preventing confusion from dragging on amid Yoon’s promise to litigate his suspension following the disciplinary board’s decision. Choo’s tender of resignation is likely to put pressure on Yoon, whose suspension took effect at 6:30 pm following Moon’s approval of the board’s decision, to step down along with her.
“This afternoon, Moon approved the disciplinary board’s decision on the recommendation of the minister of justice. Under the Act on Discipline of Prosecutors, the president has no prerogative but to approve and execute [that decision],” said Chung Man-ho, the Blue House senior secretary for public affairs, during a briefing on Wednesday evening.
S. Korea reports its highest daily caseload yet at 1,078
On Dec. 16, South Korea reported 1,078 cases of COVID-19, the country’s highest daily caseload to date. The virus has been spreading at a fearsome rate, with new cases within the last month accounting for 29% of the total number of patients diagnosed thus far. The average daily caseload has exceeded 800 for the past week, meeting the standard for imposing Level 3 social distancing measures.
In anticipation of a possible Level 3 upgrade, the government is strongly considering closing all businesses other than those selling daily essentials, which would limit restaurants strictly to takeout and delivery.
According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), South Korea reported 1,054 new domestic cases and 24 cases from overseas on Dec. 16. After crossing the 1,000 mark on Dec. 13 at 1,030 cases, the number of new diagnoses dipped briefly to the 700-900 range but ascended above 1,000 after three days. This also marked the first time the number of community transmissions (excluding cases from overseas) exceeded 1,000. Among domestic infections, 71.8% (757) were in the Seoul Capital Area (SCA): 373 in Seoul, 320 in Gyeonggi Province, and 64 in Incheon.
S. Korea says it will soon secure vaccines from Pfizer and Janssen
On Dec. 16, the South Korean government announced that it is on the verge of concluding contracts to security supplies of COVID-19 vaccines from the US company Pfizer and Belgian-based Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). South Korea has recently signed a deal with the British company AstraZeneca.
In a regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) that day, Son Young-rae, director of the Central Disaster Management Headquarters (CDMH) strategy and planning team, said that “discussions toward contracts [for COVID-19 vaccine] supplies with Pfizer and Janssen are proceeding smoothly.”
“Barring any major setbacks, we should be able to finalize the contracts and announce their terms shortly,” he added.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
30-Somethings' Debt Growing Faster Than Anyone Else's
Koreans in their 30s are getting faster into debt than any other age group. According to Statistics Korea households led by people in their 40s ranked at the top in terms of the amount of debt averaged W113.3 million, but those in their 30 are catching up fast and have more debt at W100.8 million than those in their 50s with W99.15 million (US$1=W1,094).
The debt of 30-somethings increased 13.1 percent this year, compared to 8.8 percent among those in their 20s and just around six percent among those in their 40s and 50s.
Younger Koreans took out hefty loans to buy homes as real estate prices soar after government attempts to tame them backfired. They also took out loans to invest in the white-hot stock market.
Ex-Busan Mayor Faces Fresh Sexual Harassment Charge
Prosecutors in Busan have charged disgraced ex-mayor Oh Keo-don with sexually harassing another female public servant in the southern port city.
Oh resigned as mayor of Korea's second-biggest city in April after admitting he sexually harassed a female civil servant in his office, but now he is accused of harassing a different woman in November and December 2018.
When Busan police forwarded the case to prosecutors in August, Oh had only been charged with sexually assaulting a female civil servant at his office in early April. Police began investigating after Oh admitted the offense and resigned.
Most Koreans Buy and Sell Secondhand Goods
Seven out of 10 Koreans have bought or sold secondhand goods, a straw poll by employment search portal Job Korea suggests.
The portal recently polled some 1,158 people, and 69.3 percent of them said they have experiences to either sell or buy used products, mostly using mobile apps.
The most popular secondhand were clothes and shoes, followed by books, home appliances and cosmetics.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
FT People of the Year are BioNTech’s co-founders
Ozlem Tureci and Ugur Sahin, co-founders of German biotechnology company BioNTech that developed a COVID-19 vaccine with U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer, have been selected as “Financial Times (FT) People of the Year.”
The FT explained on Thursday that the couple developed a vaccine in less than a year, enabling a safe and effective inoculation.
The vaccine they developed in collaboration with Pfizer is being administered in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. “We were nervous,” said Dr. Sahin. “It is different when people are vaccinated for the first time outside a trial, in the real world setting.”
Bitcoin blasts above 20,000-dollar mark
Bitcoin has broken through the 20,000-dollar ceiling for the first time. The world’s largest cryptocurrency is enjoying a steep rally with the big shot institutional investors jumping back on the virtual wagon.
According to CoinDesk on Thursday afternoon, Bitcoin was traded at 21,880 dollars. The price almost trebled from 7,251 dollars from late last year. Bithumb, a South Korean cryptocurrency exchange, saw the prices of Bitcoin soaring up to 23.88 million Korean won at 3:33 p.m. Thursday. Unlike stock market, the exchange for Bitcoin runs 24 hours a day.
Experts say Bitcoin’s recent surge is attributable to the “money pumping” by governments and central banks. They say Bitcoin is emerging as new alternative investment in the ranks of gold and national bonds as a massive influx of liquidities is dragging down the value of physical currencies.
China’s Chang’e-5 mission returns with Moon samples
China’s “Chang’e-5” mission returned to Earth with Moon samples early on Thursday morning. This is the first lunar sample collection since the Soviet Luna mission brought its samples home 44 years ago. Chinese media celebrated the achievement, saying that the nation has joined the ranks of space powers.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the Chang’e-5 spacecraft landed on a high volcanic region called “Mons Rümker.” Being relatively new, rock and soil from this terrain are expected to help understand the volcanic activity on the Moon. Chinese state media Global Times reported the Chang’e-5 mission has become the “first” venture that explored the terrain after the Chang’e-4 mission became the first probe to land on the far side of the Moon in January last year.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
President Approves Suspension of Prosecutor General Yoon and Justice Minister Choo Opts to Resign: Yoon Warns of Legal Action
On December 16, President Moon Jae-in approved the justice ministry’s decision to suspend Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl from his duties for two months. Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae expressed her intention to step down when reporting the disciplinary measure against Yoon to the president this day. President Moon is expected to accept Choo’s resignation. Thus the extreme confrontation between Choo and Yoon, which had lasted longer than expected, is nearing an end. However, Yoon warned of legal action in response to the disciplinary measure. In addition, there is fierce opposition on the latest measure from the opposition party as well as the Prosecution Service, so the aftermath is likely to remain volatile for some time.
This afternoon at Cheongwadae, after Minister Choo reported the decision by the justice ministry’s disciplinary panel to the president, the president gave his approval, according to Chung Man-ho, senior Cheongwadae secretary for public communication at a press briefing.
President Moon said, “As the one who appointed the prosecutor general, I feel a heavy responsibility for the first ever disciplinary action against the prosecutor general,” and added, “I sincerely apologize to the people.”
Another Courier Collapses Despite Promises to Ease the Workload by Hanjin Logistics
Another courier collapsed on duty. He was making deliveries at an apartment complex in Seoul. His fellow worker said that he usually worked fourteen hours a day, six days a week.
On December 16, a group seeking solutions to prevent the death of couriers from an excessive workload announced that A (58), a courier working for Hanjin Logistics, collapsed from a stroke and was transported to a hospital, while making deliveries at an apartment in Amsa-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul on December 14.
According to this group, the apartment security guard saw the delivery truck parked inside the complex--A was in charge of deliveries in this complex--for an extended period of time. Finding it odd, the security guard approached the truck and found A unconscious in the driver’s seat. A was transported to a nearby hospital and was admitted to the ICU after surgery.
Kim Chong-in, “The Mistakes by Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye Were Our Fault”
On December 15, Kim Chong-in (80), head of the People Power Party emergency committee apologized to the nation for the wrongdoings of former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, currently in prison. The apology came four years after the National Assembly voted to impeach former President Park.
Kim’s apology included fierce criticism. He defined the wrongdoings of the two former presidents as questionable relations with businesses and the abuse of state authority, then pointed out that the ruling party at the time was responsible for such misconduct. Hong Joon-pyo, former leader of the Liberty Korea Party apologized for the abuse of state authority by Choi Soon-sil in April 2017, but this was the first time that the leader of a conservative party publically apologized mentioning the judicial process against the two former presidents.
This day, Kim held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly and said, “The dark shadow of questionable relations between politics and business was cast over the mistakes of the two former presidents. They either obtained unfair profits by siding with a certain company or provided favors in the succession of management,” and further explained, “A person who was never granted public responsibility intervened in state affairs, upsetting law and order and monopolizing state affairs.”
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
S. Korea signs CEPA with Indonesia for near tariff-free trade
South Korea signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Indonesia on Friday, achieving fruition in eight years after the two countries launched negotiations in 2012 to pave the way for Korean companies to gain stronger foothold in the world’s fourth-most populous country and the largest economy in Southeast Asia.
Under the accord signed by Sung Yun-mo, Korea’s minister of trade, industry and energy, and his counterpart Agus Suparmanto, in Seoul, Korea will eliminate tariffs on 95.8 percent of Indonesian goods and Indonesia 94.8 percent of Korean goods - 1.6 percentage points and 3.3 percentage points higher, respectively, greater than the terms of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP).
Naver takes telemedicine banned in Korea to Japan
South Korean internet giant Naver Corp. has launched remote healthcare services in Japan to help patients avail consultation, prescription, and payment without visiting a healthcare facility to try its hand in telemedicine that remains virtually banned on home turf.
LINE, Naver’s Tokyo-based messenger app operator, announced on Thursday that its telemedicine service LINE Doctor is now available with partner hospitals and clinics near Tokyo through its joint venture Line Healthcare.
Users can make reservations and payment and receive video consultations over the LINE app.
Posco wins right to life-of-mine supply of graphite mines in Tanzania
South Korea’s biggest steel producer Posco is set to acquire a 15 percent stake in Australian graphite developer Black Rock Mining to secure an offtake right for up to 100 percent of graphite fine output from Mahenge graphite project in Tanzania, earning comfortable raw material supplies for its battery business.
The Australian company disclosed Thursday that it has reached a conditional agreement with Posco to sell a 15 percent stake for $7.5 million.
Once the deal is finally approved, Posco would obtain the right to life-of-mine offtake supply of 100 percent of graphite fines from Mahenge Module One in Tanzania, plus the right to nominate a director to the board of Black Rock Mining.
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Chinese People's Daily www.people.com.cn kf@people.cn
China Daily www.chinadaily.com.cn circulation@chinadaily.com.cn
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Sydney Morning Herald www.smh.com.au
Colombia Reports www.colombiareports.com
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Andes www.redaktionstest.net/andes-info-ec/
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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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