Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
“For Korean companies, there are countless opportunities in Iran for win-win cooperation”
The following are excerpts from an interview with Ambassador Saeed Badamchi Shavestari of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Seoul which was conducted by The Korea Post media on the occasion of the Victory of the Islamic Revolution Day on February 11th.—Ed.
P.M. Modi: “I wish all the people of India a Happy Republic Day. Jai Hind!”
On January 22 this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, together with other leaders of the country, wished a Happy Republic Day 2021 to the people of his country. In his special message to the nation, Prime Minister Modi tweeted, "Wishing all the people of India a Happy Republic Day. Jai Hind!”
“We greet this day with enthusiasm, respect for our flag, faith in the Constitution”
On the occasion of the Republic Day of India on Jan. 26, 2021, President Shri Ram Nath Kovind of India issued an extensive speech. The following are details of the speech kindly provided by the Embassy of India in Seoul to The Korea Post media for publication.—Ed.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
US Nominee Says N. Korea Poses Some Threat to Spaced-based U.S. Military Power
The nominee for the U.S. deputy defense chief said on Tuesday that North Korea and Iran have shown capabilities posing some threat to U.S. military power using spaced-based services.
Deputy Defense Secretary-nominee Kathleen Hicks issued the position on Tuesday in a written response prepared for her confirmation hearing.
S. Korea's Foreign Ministry Confirms Iran's Release of Detained Crew
South Korea's Foreign Ministry has confirmed Iran's decision to release the crew of a detained South Korean vessel.
A ministry official in Seoul said on Tuesday that in consideration of the friendly relations of the two nations and humanitarian grounds, Iran has agreed to release all of the crew members except the essential personnel for the vessel’s maintenance.
S. Korea's FX Reserves Post First Drop in 10 Months in January
South Korea's foreign reserves inched down in January from a month earlier, posting the first decline in ten months.
According to the Bank of Korea(BOK) on Wednesday, the nation's foreign currency reserves came to 442-point-seven billion U.S. dollars as of the end of last month, down roughly 370 million dollars from a month earlier.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Iran agrees to release sailors of seized S. Korean oil tanker except for captain for ship management
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- Iran has agreed to release all sailors of a seized South Korean oil tanker except for the captain for its management, the foreign ministry confirmed Tuesday, capping weeks of tough negotiations between the two countries.
New infections in 300s for 3rd day; this week 'critical' for eased curbs
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed in the 300s for the third straight day on Tuesday as health authorities extended tough virus curbs amid a continued rise in cluster infections.
N. Korea beefs up missile units, special forces over past years: defense ministry
SEOUL, Feb. 2 (Yonhap) -- North Korea has expanded ballistic missile units and strengthened special forces with modernized equipment and exercises of attacking strategic targets, such as South Korea's presidential office, the defense ministry said Tuesday.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Seoul again refrains from declaring North ‘the enemy’
South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense did not single out North Korea as “the enemy” in this year’s white paper, revealed Tuesday. That is the second time since 2019, when it removed the designation amid a flurry of diplomatic activity to build an inter-Korean detente.
Iran allows crew of seized Korean tanker to leave: reports
Iran said Tuesday it has allowed the crew of a South Korean oil tanker it seized last month to leave the country, according to news reports.
The MT Hankuk Chemi had 20 sailors, including five Koreans, aboard when it was seized by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps for alleged oil pollution on Jan. 4.
‘It’s time to rethink S. Korea’s pandemic response’
South Korean experts say the country’s response to the novel coronavirus pandemic needs restructuring to address the unequal cost of social distancing.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Tuesday invited a panel of experts across various fields, ranging from public health to economics, to deliver their recommendations ahead of planned revisions to its social distancing guidelines.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Iran allows crew of seized Korean tanker to leave
Iran said Tuesday it has allowed the crew of a South Korean oil tanker it seized last month to leave the country, according to news reports.
The MT Hankuk Chemi had 20 sailors, including five Koreans, aboard when it was seized by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps for alleged oil pollution on Jan. 4.
Korean firms urged to focus more on governance reforms
Korean companies are still considered poor at improving their governance structures, despite their accelerated efforts to satisfy environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) criteria, in order to follow global trends, a seasoned investor relations and corporate affairs specialist said.
Child rapist allowed to receive basic living allowance
The government of Ansan City has approved the application made by Cho Doo-soon, one of Korea's most notorious child rapists, who was released from prison in December, for the basic livelihood security program, enabling him to receive about 1.2 million won ($1,075) per month in welfare allowances, according to city officials, Tuesday.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
MOTIE releases six-page document refuting claim of top-secret N. Korean nuclear power project
On Feb. 1, South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) disclosed a document that considered the idea of building a nuclear power plant in North Korea, which the political opposition has cited in accusing the Moon Jae-in administration of an “act benefiting the enemy.”
Moon rebukes opposition for “fanning divisions” with nuclear power plant controversy
President Moon Jae-in shared a message on Feb. 1 criticizing the opposition’s “antiquated political legacy” with its allegations that the administration attempted to assist the construction of a nuclear power plant in North Korea.
PPP needs to stop with baseless nuclear plant red-baiting
For several days now, South Korea’s People Power Party (PPP) has launched a red-baiting onslaught over nuclear power plants.
On Feb. 1, PPP floor leader Joo Ho-young claimed the Moon Jae-in administration had engaged in “an act of benefiting the enemy that threatens national security” with its “attempt to give a nuclear power plant to Kim Jong-un, someone who holds nuclear weapons.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Eye Makeup Shines as Face Masks Cover the Rest
Eye makeup is booming as masks cover every other part of the face in coronavirus purdah.
One cosmetics shop near Ewha Womans University is offering eye-makeup services for just W10,000 (US$1=W1,117). Owner Shin Si-ah (46) said, "The service targets students who go into job interviews wearing face masks. Normally around 10 people a week come to be made up, but we have 20 a week during job interview season."
Jeju Braces for Lunar New Year Invasion
Jeju Island is bracing itself for a fresh tourist invasion over the Lunar New Year holiday on Feb. 11-14. Many Koreans are expected to escape to the resort island rather than visit their ancestral hometowns, where they would not be allowed to gather in groups of more than five people now the coronavirus lockdown has been extended nationwide.
Koreans Rely More on Food Deliveries
Koreans ordered food on their smartphones five times a month on average last year and frequented some 35 restaurants a year, according to food delivery app Baedal Minjok.
Some 95.2 percent of users paid for their meals on their phone instead of using their credit cards on delivery or handing over cash.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
Coronavirus fraudsters mushroom across the globe
With massive COVID-19 death tolls sweeping across the world, fraudulent criminal activities, such as fake vaccines and counterfeit documents of test certificates, are spawning.
As many countries are scrambling to secure coronavirus vaccines, fakes vaccines are springing up in China. Hong Kong-based Ming Pao Daily News reported that the Chinese police arrested some 80 criminals and confiscated 3,000 doses of fake vaccine in a COVID-19 crackdown.
Supplementary budget to be adopted for 4th round of COVID-19 aid
In a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, President Moon Jae-in said it is an inevitable task to lessen the burden on the owners of small-sized businesses and the self-employed in regard with COVID-19 relief subsidies. His remarks were aimed at stressing the need of the fourth round of disaster relief grants. Subsequently, Lee Nak-yeon, the chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, said a supplementary budget will be drawn up for another bout of aid.
Samsung Electronics ranks 49th in World’s Most Admired Companies
Samsung Electronics ranked 49th in Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies for 2021 on Monday (local time). It is the first time in two years that the South Korean tech giant was included in the top 50 since 2019.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Former UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, “South Korea Is Also Responsible for the Coup d’etat in Myanmar. The International Community Must Play Its Role”
On February 1, Lee Yang-hee, former UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar said, “The international community including South Korea played a big part in the retreat of democracy in Myanmar due to a military coup d’etat.”
The Ruling Party, Government and Cheongwadae All Strike Back at Opposition’s Attacks on “Nuclear Power Plant in North Korea”
On February 1, President Moon Jae-in said, “People are facing difficult times in their livelihoods as it is. I ask that you do not encourage confrontation with obsolete political tactics we should be throwing out causing a political setback.” The president did not directly mention it, but his words criticized the opposition party’s accusations that the government tried to secretly promote a plan to construct a nuclear power plant in North Korea.
It Is Impossible to Build a Nuclear Power Plant in North Korea: Political Attacks Cross the Line
The idea of building a nuclear power plant in North Korea is stirring controversy. The debate was triggered when news got out that the officials of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy discovered details on the construction of a nuclear power plant in North Korea among some deleted files, during an audit of Wolsong Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
South Korea mulls 4th virus relief package, ruling party proposes near $20 bn
South Korea is mulling to package a fourth Covid-19 relief fund to deliver extra funding for self-employed and small merchants by March or April.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance and related ministries have begun discussing the time and scale of fourth round of relief handouts on Tuesday.
Foreign names occupy nearly 90 percent of Korean video streaming market
The burgeoning over-the-top media and video streaming service market in Korea is under command by multinationals YouTube, Netflix, and Facebook last year, according to a survey conducted by Korea Communications Standards Commission on Tuesday.
Korean retailers gather around Celltrion in case of short-sale attack
Korean retailers are gathering around Korea’s leading bio stock Celltrion Inc., one of top foreign short-selling targets, to ready their version of battle with short sellers once the profit-taking investment tool through bet on stock price fall becomes normalized after a yearlong ban.
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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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