Thursday, April 15, 2021
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post (http://www.koreapost.com/)
Hyundai Motor reveals STARIA MPV, seeking future of mobility with safety and versatility
Hyundai Motor launched its new STARIA multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) lineup via a digital world premiere on April 13, establishing a model for its future Purpose Built Vehicles (PBVs). STARIA will go on sale in select markets starting from the second half of 2021.
LG Chem speeds up its penetration into Chinese markets through eco-friendly materials
LG Chem has been making a strong push for its penetration into Chinese markets by introducing eco-friendly materials and technologies, such as recyclable plastic, bio-degradable plastic, bio-material based plastic, etc.
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!
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
S. Korea, China Reaffirm Opposition to Japan's Plan to Release Fukushima Water
South Korea and China on Wednesday reaffirmed their opposition to Japan's plan to release radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea and agreed to seek various response measures.
US Intelligence Chief: N. Korea May Resume Nuclear, ICBM Testing
The top U.S. intelligence official said on Wednesday that North Korea may resume its nuclear and long-range missile testing as part of efforts to drive wedges between the United States and its allies.
Avril Haines, director of National Intelligence, made the remarks before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Report: GM, LG Chem to Announce Second US Battery Plant in Tennessee
U.S. automaker General Motors(GM) and South Korean joint-venture partner LG Chem will reportedly announce a plan on Friday to build a second U.S. battery cell manufacturing plant.
According to Reuters on Wednesday, the two-point-three billion dollar plant will be built in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
New virus cases around 700 for 2nd day; further spike in offing
SEOUL, April 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed around 700 on Thursday, as sporadic infections across the country complicate antivirus efforts, prompting authorities to mull tougher virus curbs to contain the pandemic.
(LEAD) Prosecutors demand death penalty for adoptive mother in death of toddler SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- Prosecutors on Wednesday demanded the death penalty for the adoptive mother in a highly publicized child abuse case that led to the death of a 16-month-old baby girl.
Prosecutors also requested during the trial at the Seoul Southern District Court that the defendant, surnamed Jang, be ordered to wear a tracking device for 30 years and be put under a five-year probation.
Blue Jays' Ryu Hyun-jin rides cutter to impressive win over Yankees
SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- When he's on top of his game, few pitchers in baseball can be as effective and beguiling as Ryu Hyun-jin.
The Toronto Blue Jays' ace put on a pitching clinic in picking up his first win of the season against the New York Yankees at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, on Tuesday (local time). Ryu gave up a run -- unearned -- in 6 2/3 innings against his old nemesis, keeping them off balance all game, with an array of well-located fastballs setting up excellent secondary pitches
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Moon hints at legal fight against Fukushima wastewater disposal
President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday ordered his aides to review possible legal actions that can be taken against Japan’s decision to release wastewater from its Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, including bringing the issue to an international court.
Prosecutors demand death penalty for adoptive mother in death of toddler
Prosecutors on Wednesday demanded the death penalty for the adoptive mother in a highly publicized child abuse case that led to the death of a 16-month-old baby girl.
[#WeFACE] Where should Seoul’s garbage go?
A conflict over landfills has arisen with Incheon refusing to receive garbage from Seoul and Gyeonggi Province beginning in 2025. Experts say Seoul and Gyeonggi Province should look to reducing garbage to better persuade Incheon.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
North Korea may resume nuclear, ICBM testing: US intelligence chief
The top U.S. intelligence official on Wednesday maintained that North Korea may resume its nuclear and long-range missile testing as part of efforts to drive wedges between the United States and its allies.
Avril Haines, director of national intelligence (DNI), testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Hanwha, Doosan first to create synergy through hydrogen biz
Hanwha and Doosan have been leading the country in the hydrogen sector, even before Hyundai, SK and POSCO vowed to inject over 10 trillion won to help set up the country's hydrogen roadmap and infrastructure last year.
Asylum seeker leaves airport for hospital after 14 months in transit zone
A man seeking asylum status in Korea was allowed to leave Incheon International Airport and enter the country after being stuck there for 14 months, as his refugee application had been denied.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
US backing of ocean release of Fukushima water sparks controversy
The Biden administration has expressed its support for the Japanese government’s decision to discharge radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, describing the decision as being “in accordance with globally accepted nuclear safety standards.”
Japan to release Fukushima water into sea in 2 years despite opposition at home, abroad
The Japanese government decided Tuesday to start in two years with the ocean release of radioactively contaminated water currently being stored in tanks on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant site.
While South Korea, China and other neighbors of Japan strongly protested Japan's decision, the US supported the move.
[Photo] Vegan activists call for end to commercial fishing
Members of the Korean Vegetarian Union, Citizens United for Vegan World and the Vegan World held a press conference Wednesday in Seoul to call for an end to commercial fishing. The members said, “Commercial fishing has obliterated 90 percent of large fish and killed a countless number of dolphins, sharks, turtles and other sea creatures.” They also claimed that “fishing ropes, nets and other fishing-related waste account for 46% of marine waste.”
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Report Warns of N.Korea's Rapid Nuclear Buildup
North Korea will have nearly 250 nuclear weapons by 2027 and could use them on the Korean Peninsula, a report warns.
The Asian Institute for Policy Studies and the Rand Corporation made the estimate in the joint report "Countering the Risks of North Korean Nuclear Weapons" published on Tuesday
Korea, China Oppose Release of Radioactive Fukushima Water
Korea and China on Tuesday protested against Japan's decision to release over 1 million tons of radioactive water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, but the U.S. expressed support.
Netflix's Earnings in Korea Double in a Year
Netflix earned W400 billion from its streaming service in Korea last year, more than double the amount it made in 2019 (US$1=W1,125).
Sales jumped 123.5 percent in lockdown to W415.5 billion, while operating profit surged 295.2 percent over the same period to W8.82 billion.
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The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
Pres. Moon considers legal action to stop Japan’s discharge
President Moon Jae-in ordered officials on Wednesday to explore to “actively consider all potential actions including filing a case to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea” to stop Japan from discharging radioactive water into the sea,” according to presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok. Potential actions refer to provisionary measures to prevent Japan from dumping contaminated water into the sea in order to protect rights of dispute stakeholders until the Tribunal reaches a final decision.
Mounting public concerns on Japanese seafoods
Public concerns are mounting on Japanese seafoods amidst Japan’s decision to discharge contaminated water from the first nuclear plant at Fukushima as early as 2023. Japanese seafoods currently imported to Korea are caught at locations far away from Fukushima. Imports of seafoods produced from Fukushima and other adjacent prefectures have been suspended since 2013.
Side effects of the second dose of vaccine
Healthcare workers are uploading video content sharing their experience on the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, in addition to the first dose. Most of them are medical workers that have received their second Pfizer dose after getting their first shot three or four weeks earlier. Many said that the side effects were more intense, but endurable
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
“Freeze Assessed Value of Real Estate” Seoul Mayor Promotes Tax Cuts for the Rich
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon (pictured) demanded the government to “freeze the assessed value of real estate” shortly after his election victory, forcing the government to face an obstacle the very year it announced plans to adjust the assessed value of real estate to better reflect the market value last November.
U.S. to Invest in Semiconductors: Good News or a Burden for Samsung?
On April 12 (local time), U.S. President Joe Biden referred to semiconductors as major “infrastructure” and stressed aggressive investments in a virtual meeting at the White House. The business world voiced expectations that Samsung Electronics, which attended the latest meeting, might make a decision to invest in the U.S. soon after receiving direct and indirect pressure from the White House.
Large Companies Also Show a K-shaped Recovery: Samsung Accounted for 40% of Operating Profits
After the COVID-19 pandemic, a K-shaped recovery was apparent among major South Korean corporations. The nation’s reliance on a handful of businesses, such as semiconductors, increased, and 40% of the operating profits from the top fifty corporate groups were from Samsung. Samsung also accounted for over 70% of the increased compensation for executives (the top five among those earning 500 million won or more from each company).
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Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
BOK keeps rate on hold at historic low bound by Covid-19 wave
South Korea’s central bank on Thursday chose to hold interest rates at a record low of 0.50 percent, unchanged since May last year, despite alarming rise in private-sector debt and inflationary pressure as unfazed Covid-19 wave raises uncertainties for domestic economic front.
HYBE shares likely face tug-of-war in buying and selling on lockup expiry
Shares of HYBE Co., rebranded from Big Hit Entertainment, have been skidding from their April 6 peak following the company’s announcement of $1 billion buyout of American major label Ithaca Holding for $1 billion amid concerns for overhang ahead of Thursday expiry of Oct. 15 2020 IPO lockup on holdings by major shareholders and institutions.
S. Korea reports first job growth in 13 months in March
South Korea snapped a year-long losing streak in job data in March helped by revived manufacturing activity and IT and public hiring against a poor year-ago period of the first ravaging wave of Covid-19.
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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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