Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
"Our country, the Republic of Korea: Is she really alright?”
The citizens of the Namyangju City have given me the honorable post, the mayorship of the Namyangju City.
I have a task which I consider to be all but my ‘fate’ and it is the task that I should do my level best to make the Republic of Korea a strong country and a wealth nation.
A strong country and people of wealth!
Indian Cultural Centre, Embassy of India in Seoul organize foundation day of Indian cultural relations
The following article and pictures were provided by the Embassy of India in Seoul to The Korea Post media for publication, which own and operate 3 English and 2 Korean-language news media since 1985.—Ed
“Bangladesh is echoing the ‘Miracles of the Han River’ with remarkable developments”
By Publisher-Chairman Lee Kyung-sik of The Korea Post
Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun said, “The People’s Republic of Bangladeshis is echoing the ‘Miracles on the Han River in Seoul’ with her remarkable economic development and rapid emergence in the heart of Asia.”
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
Biden: US Needs to Invest in Semiconductor 'Infrastructure'
U.S. President Joe Biden said the United States needs to make an active investment in the chip industry amid the global shortage of semiconductors.
Biden made the remark on Monday in a video-linked meeting with 19 executives from major companies including Samsung Electronics and Intel. .
State Department: US Position on Iran Sanctions Remains Unchanged
The U.S. State Department said on Monday that the United States' position on Iran sanctions remains unchanged.
A State Department spokesperson made the remarks in response to an inquiry by Yonhap News regarding South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun's recent comment on the matter.
Five S. Korean Companies Enter Trials to Develop COVID-19 Vaccines
A handful of South Korean pharmaceutical companies have entered clinical trials to produce their own vaccines against COVID-19.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare reported to President Moon Jae-in during a special quarantine policy checkup meeting on Monday that five local companies have embarked on trials, including SK Bioscience, Eubiologics, Cellid, Genexine and Geneone Life Science.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Seoul mayor pushes for introduction of self-testing kits, extending hours for small businesses
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- Newly elected Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Monday the city will look for ways to allow small businesses, hurt by prolonged COVID-19 restrictions, to operate longer hours and asked the central government to approve COVID-19 self-testing kits to support the plan.
New virus cases back under 600 on fewer tests; curbs extended amid spring resurgence SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back below 600 for the first time in six days Monday partly due to fewer tests over the weekend, amid looming concerns over the fourth wave of the pandemic.
The country reported 587 more COVID-19 cases, including 560 local infections, raising the total caseload to 110,146, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.
Korean battery makers rally after battery dispute settlement
SEOUL, April 12 (Yonhap) -- Shares of two Korean battery makers spiked Monday as they ended a two-year legal dispute over electric vehicle (EV) battery technology, which cleared uncertainty over their businesses.
On Sunday, LG Chem-owned LG Energy Solution Ltd. and SK Innovation Co. reached a last-minute settlement in a bitter U.S. trade dispute, just one day before an import ban on SK was to take effect.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Seoul to introduce own social distancing rules to help small-business owners
Seoul plans to introduce its own social distancing system as an alternative to South Korea’s nationwide rules out of concern for small-business owners.
In a press briefing Monday, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said the Seoul Metropolitan Government is preparing to announce new social distancing rules exclusively for the city, as the current nationwide system harms small-business owners and merchants.
What next after LG-SK battery dispute end?
The dramatic reconciliation between archrivals LG Energy Solution and SK Innovation has allowed the latter to salvage its two electric vehicle battery factories in the US state of Georgia and supply batteries to Volkswagen and Ford as planned. But further challenges lie ahead, industry analysts said Monday.
Moon’s housing policy faces call for review after election defeat
The election of Seoul’s new mayor has left the central government’s housing policies in limbo, as the administration is expected to face pushback from the conservative bloc that is campaigning to ease real estate regulations.
The political realignment following the results of the by-election last week has sparked concerns over possible policy shifts for the property market.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Biden pledges more investment amid semiconductor shortage
U.S. President Joe Biden said on Monday that his country will increase its investment in infrastructure to protect its supply chains, including the supply chain of semiconductors.
His remarks came in a meeting with the top executive officers of 19 global firms, including South Korea's tech giant Samsung Electronics, to discuss ways to address the ongoing shortage of semiconductors.
Korea reaffirms no link between COVID-19 vaccinations and deaths
South Korea's health authorities on Monday said there is no causal relation between COVID-19 vaccines and 11 reported deaths after vaccinations, assuring the public of the safety of the vaccines.
An investigation was concluded on 11 out of 47 people who died within days of receiving COVID-19 vaccines by AstraZeneca and Pfizer Inc, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.
Concerns rise over Seoul mayor's proposed social distancing scheme
Concern is rising over new Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's plan for the capital to impose its own social distancing measures.
Although he said he would consult with the central government, health officials worry that his unilateral steps may weaken the antivirus measures set by the central government.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
S. Korea resumes AstraZeneca vaccine rollout for people over 30
South Korea resumed administering AstraZeneca’s (AZ) COVID-19 vaccine Monday after blood clotting cases were confirmed to be a rare side effect.
Those under the age of 30 are restricted from receiving the vaccine. The South Korean government’s decision came after calculating benefits and losses for different age groups, with stronger after-the-fact blood clot response measures to be introduced for other age groups.
[Interview] Attorney for N. Korean human rights says US only listens to politically charged defectors
Since Joe Biden took office as US president, North Korean human rights have become a major issue, reflecting Biden’s personal concern for human rights. To learn what’s behind the recent interest in North Korean human rights, how this issue should be viewed, and how it can be practically addressed, the Hankyoreh sat down with Jeon Su-mi, a North Korean human rights attorney and director of an NGO called Coalition for Reconciliation and Peace.
Airless tires may be in market next year for bicycles
Many of the new products and technology that have become so useful to our lives today emerged out of the space technology development process. Examples include microwave ovens, memory foam, LASIK surgery, home water purifiers, sunglasses, freeze-dried foods and cordless power tools.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Young Koreans Dream of Early Retirement
Two out of three young Koreans already dream about retiring early once they have saved up a sizable nest egg.
NH Investment and Securities conducted an online poll of 2,536 people on March 4-5 and found that 65.9 percent dreamed of retiring early. They want to save up W1.37 billion and retire by the time they reach the age of 51 (US$1=W1,126). That is still 10 years later than their American counterparts, where high-income earners often plan to retire in their late 30s or early 40s
AstraZeneca Jabs Limited to Over-30s
The government has decided to resume AstraZeneca vaccinations on Monday but limit them to people over 30. That means 640,000 young people who were to be inoculated in the second quarter are likely to miss out.
But about 135,000 under-30s who have already been given their first AstraZeneca jab will still be given the second shot unless they suffered blood clots in reaction to the first.
Why Singles Should Think About Who to Leave Their Money to
TV personality Park Soo-hong's revelation that he was swindled out of billions by his brother and sister-in-law may serve as a cautionary tale for many singles who put too much trust in their relatives.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
Actress Youn Yuh-jung wins BAFTA awards for best supporting actress
“Every award is meaningful but this one, especially recognized by British people, known as very snobbish people, and they approved me as a good actor, I am very happy,” said “Minari” star Youn Yuh-jung in English during her acceptance speech after winning the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) on Sunday (local time). The sound of laughter and applause came from the audience.
Growing friction between opposition parties over merger
With the country’s opposition parties discussing their merger after their victory in the April 7 by-elections, there is growing friction between the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and the minor opposition People’s Party (PP), over who should state their position first. After their by-election win, opposition parties have been blaming each other while discussing the merger. Observers say launching a platform for the 2022 presidential election will not be easy since different parties and fractions have conflicting political interests.
Kosdaq rose over 1,000 points in 20 years and 7 months
Kosdaq recovered beyond 1,000 points for the first time in roughly 21 years since the dot-com bubble in September 2000. With Kospi stuck in a box, individual investors are quickly moving to small- and mid-sized stocks.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Seoul Citizens, “Why I Turned My Back on the Democratic Party”
The citizens of Seoul turned their backs on the Democratic Party of Korea. Democratic Party candidate Park Young-sun was defeated by People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon in all 25 autonomous districts in the Seoul mayoral by-elections on April 7. The latest outcome was a complete opposite from how Moon Jae-in and Park Won-soon won the 25 districts in Seoul in the 2017 presidential election and the 2018 mayoral election, respectively.
Police Caught More than 200 People Who Entered an Unlicensed Club in Gangnam: A Violation of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act
Amid growing concerns of a fourth wave of the novel coronavirus, the police caught over 200 guests and employees of an unlicensed club in Gangnam, Seoul.
On April 11, the Seoul Suseo Police Station announced that at around 9:25 p.m. April 10, the police caught over 200 guests and employees of an unlicensed club in Yeoksam-dong, near Gangnam Station and arrested the owner for violating the Food Sanitation Act. The business operation, which was registered as a general restaurant, was run in the form of a club, with stereo systems and special lighting installed. Some of the guests dancing in the club, which spanned an area slightly over 264m2, did not follow government measures, such as wear masks and keep a distance. Reportedly, most of the guests were people in their thirties and forties who had met in a Latin dance club
Arrogant, Absorbed, and Solo: Three Reasons Why the Democratic Party Was Defeated
The 180-seat majority in the National Assembly has been cited as the fundamental reason for the Democratic Party of Korea’s defeat in the April 7 by-elections. The people granted the ruling party a powerful parliamentary authority in the twenty-first parliamentary elections last year, but in just a year, the same people harshly judged the ruling party, ironically showing that the ruling party failed to properly use or rather misused the power of 180 seats in the National Assembly.
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
S. Korea’s exports up 25% on year in first 10 days of April
South Korean exports expanded nearly 25 percent in the first 10 days of April against a year ago on robust demand for wireless telecommunications devices and petrochemical products, keeping to double-digit rebound in external trade.
Kakao to secure command over Tapas to widen presence in U.S. content market
South Korea’s largest chat platform operator Kakao Corp. will buy additional shares and secure management right in U.S. web comic publisher Tapas Media Inc. by the end of the month to bolster contents portfolio and value of its entertainment platform poised to go public.
Seegene starts review on the move to Kospi : CFO
Seegene Inc., South Korea’s largest point-of-care diagnostic kit maker, is deliberating move to main bourse Kopsi from secondary Kosdaq to address to complaints from shareholders.
Seegene’s chief financial officer Kim Jung-yong told Maeil Business Newspaper on Sunday the company is internally reviewing the shift to boost stock price and recruit outside consultancy for the outline in the second half.
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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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