Monday, November 22, 2021
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post ( www.koreapost.com )
“Bangladesh, Korea have great potential for deeper mutually beneficial collaboration”
The following article is based on an interview with newly accredited Ambassador M. Delwar Hossain of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to the Republic of Korea for publication by The Korea Post media, publisher of 3 English and 2 Korean news publications since 1985.—Ed. The year of 2021 is a special moment for Bangladesh. This year, the nation is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the independence and also in the midst of celebration of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The year also marks the official endorsement of the graduation of Bangladesh from the status of a Least Development Country to a developing one, as the country fulfilled all three eligibility criteria of the United Nations by substantial margins for the second time.
Oman Celebrates 51st National Day of the Renaissance
The event comes around at a time when Omanis ponder about the achievements made so far and brace for further accomplishments, with firm resolve, under the astute leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik who pledged to hold high the banner of Renewed Renaissance, since he assumed power in the country on 11 January 2020. The Renewed Renaissance kicked off on a high note when His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik called upon the people of Oman to do their best to enrich domestic development and foster progress in all fields. This is considered one of the major principles of Renewed Renaissance in its quest to attain the supreme national objective of “making Oman the central point in all that we strive to achieve”—an objective whose salient features already materialized in terms of updated laws and refurbished programmes of action across all sectors.
“Leading Korean companies actively take part in bilateral win-win cooperation”
Ambassador Vitaliy Fen of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Seoul said, “Today, hundreds of priority investment projects in various sectors of the economy have been implemented by leading Korean companies, and currently, about 900 enterprises with the participation of Korean investors operate in Uzbekistan.” Speaking at a gala reception hosted by Ambassador and Madam Fen at the spacious Crystral Ballroom of the Lotte Hotel in Seoul on Nov. 15, 2021 in celebrationof the 30th anniversary of Indepdence of Uzbekstan and the 29th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between teh two countreis, Ambassador Fen then added: “In total, the volume of investments attracted from Korea exceeded US$7 billion.” (Further details of the speech are toward the end of this speech.)
KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/service)
Moon Says Real Estate Issue 'Most Regrettable'
President Moon Jae-in held a town hall meeting on Sunday to answer questions about his major policies. The event, broadcasted live by KBS from 7:10 p.m., was attended by some 300 citizens that KBS selected through polling agencies. During the 100-minute event, Moon said that he has six months until his term expires, and he believes six months is a very long period of time. Moon promised to make his best efforts during the remainder of his term. Moon cited real estate issues as the most regrettable situation during his term, saying that it would have been better if the government had put more effort into supplying homes earlier. He added the government may not have time to make up for the real estate problem, but it will work to find a clue to the solution until the end of his term so that difficulties don't go over to the next government.
Samsung Electronics Likely to Announce Site of 2nd Chip Factory in US This Week
Samsung Electronics is likely to announce the site of its second chip factory in the United States early this week. According to the company on Sunday, Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong met with senior officials from the White House on Friday to discuss solutions to the global chip supply crisis and possible incentives for chip makers by the federal government. The two sides reportedly held extensive discussions on Samsung's roles in resolving the chip supply crisis. It's unknown whom Lee met with during the U.S. trip, but he appears to have finalized the plan to build a new chip facility in the U.S. and explained it to the White House. Samsung is said to be considering the Texas cities of Taylor or Austin for the new facility.
Schools Resume In-Person Classes amid Spike in Infections
Kindergartens and schools across the nation will return to full time in-person classes on Monday for the first time in some two years, amid a spike in COVID-19 cases. While the government has eased social distancing rules from November 1 under the first stage of its plan to transition into normalcy, full-fledged resumption of in-person classes has been delayed until after the national college entrance exam, which took place on Thursday. However, overcrowded schools in the capital region will be permitted to operate classes flexibly. In Seoul, offline classes can be offered to three-fourths of students in third to sixth grade of elementary school, and two-thirds of middle and high school students, according to the wishes of the students and members of the schools.
Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Police chief apologizes over bungled response to violent dispute between neighbors
Police chief Kim Chang-yong apologized Sunday for the police's bungled response to a violent dispute between neighbors that left one person unconscious. "I offer my deep apology to the victims, their family and the nation over the recent case of the Incheon Nonhyeon Police Station having failed to protect people in danger even though it is the most important mission and the calling of the police to protect the lives and safety of the people," Kim, commissioner-general of the National Police Agency, said.
How Kim Jong-un, once a young political novice, cemented power in N. Korea in 10 years
Many North Korea watchers were doubtful when Kim Jong-un, then 27, took over the Hermit Kingdom in December 2011 following the sudden death of his father, Kim Jong-il. A decade later, apparently, few question Kim's grip on power, despite a host of challenges, such as its moribund economy, amid a wide web of sanctions led by the U.N. and the U.S. against his regime. Through the past 10 years, Kim has effectively established his own leadership style using an extensive range of strategies, from building an image of a figure who cares about the lives of the people to the brutal killings of his own uncle and brother, outside watchers say.
S. Korea's 'Hellbound' debuts at No. 1 spot on Netflix
The South Korean fantasy horror "Hellbound" has topped the world's popular TV show rankings on the day after its release. According to data by streaming analytics firm FlixPatrol, the Korean-language Netflix original became the most-watched TV program on the streaming platform Saturday (U.S. time), a day after its global premier. The show placed No. 1 on the most-watched show list in 24 nations, including South Korea, Belgium and Mexico, while it finished third in several countries like the United States and Canada. It pushed down the global sensation "Squid Game," also a Korean-language original, to second place, which has long maintained the top spot.
The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Yoon Seok-youl’s election committee takes shape
The main opposition People Power Party’s presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl on Sunday finalized the leadership of his election committee, reaching across the aisle to shape his campaign. Former interim leader Kim Chong-in will head the election committee, and current and former party leaders Lee Jun-seok and Kim Byong-joon become standing committee chairmen. Former Democratic Party leader Kim Han-gil serves as chairman of the so-called New Era Preparatory Committee. Yoon revealed the results to reporters after meeting with Kim Han-gil on the day. Yoon said, “Kim Han-gil decided to promote harmony between generations and regions, including young people and middle-aged people, in achieving regime change.”
N. Korea dismisses UN human rights resolution as outcome of ‘hostile policy’
Pyongyang “strongly” condemned the recent passage of the UN draft resolution on human rights violations in North Korea and reiterated its call for the UN to investigate the US for human rights abuses, state-run media reported Sunday. North Korea claimed that the US and other “hostile forces” forcibly adopted the draft resolution, in a press statement issued by an unnamed spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The press statement was released four days after the EU-led draft resolution was passed at the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday for the 17th consecutive year by consensus, with more than 60 countries joining as co-sponsors.
BOK likely to raise interest rate to 1% amid inflationary pressure
South Korea’s central bank is expected to carry out its second rate hike in the pandemic era this week, and is likely to raise it by 25 basis points to 1 percent, experts said Sunday. The Bank of Korea in August raised its base rate to 0.75 percent from a record-low 0.5 percent, which it had slashed to in May 2020 to cushion the market from COVID-19 woes. It kept the rate anchored at 0.75 percent in the following meeting held in October. In the last monetary policy meeting of the year scheduled Thursday, the BOK’s monetary policy board is likely to carry out a rate hike due to growing concerns of inflation, putting a solid brake on the snowballing household debt and keeping pace with the nation’s fast-recovering economy, local analysts said.
The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Moon's 'talk with citizens' fails to restore public trust
President Moon Jae-in held a "town hall meeting" Sunday to answer questions about his policies, but ended up facing criticism that he only shared blind optimism and fell short of suggesting tangible plans and measures to tackle pending issues during the remainder of his presidential term. The event was televised live from broadcaster KBS's building where Moon took questions from 204 people who participated in person and 100 people joining online. During the 100-minute "town hall," the President apologized to the public for the government's real estate policies that failed to stabilize home prices in Seoul and its surrounding cities, but added his government has provided more homes than any other administration.
1 out of 3 young people undecided about presidential candidates
With less than four months left ahead of the next presidential election in March, young voters in their 20s and 30s have risen as swing voters who could play a decisive role in selecting the winner. In recent opinion polls, many in this age group have said they support neither of the candidates of the country's two major parties ― Yoon Seok-youl of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). According to a survey of 1,004 adults conducted together by four local pollsters ― Embrain Public, Kstat Research, Korea Research International and Hankook Research ― from Nov. 15 to 17, support for both Yoon and Lee were notably lower among the younger voters than among those in other age groups.
Ruling party candidate challenges Constitution with idea on unification
Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung has created a controversy by stating "it is too late to pursue the unification" between the two Koreas, as this challenges South Korea's Constitution as well as the DPK's manifesto. During a meeting with university students in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, Saturday, Lee made the statement, adding "there is no need to elevate hostility by denying each other's system and arguing over which can be absorbed by which." Lee made the remarks in answering a question about what would distinguish his North Korea policies from that of previous administrations.
Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Return to Normal Faces Major Setback
A surge in coronavirus infections in the Seoul metropolitan area has filled up more than 80 percent of beds in ICUs while over 800 patients are waiting for hospital beds to become available. Serious cases are occurring mostly among the elderly and those with chronic diseases. Out of 687 beds in the capital region's ICUs, 560 or 81.5 percent were filled on Sunday, threatening overload of the medical system and jeopardizing the country's phased return to normal. The government was taken aback by the size of the surge. A total of 517 people are being treated for serious COVID-19 symptoms in the Seoul metropolitan area, surpassing 500 for the first time on Nov. 17. But the government said it is too soon to implement a circuit-breaker lockdown.
Korea Lags Behind in Graduate Employment
Korea lags behind other wealthy countries in terms of the employment rate for university graduates, a report suggests. Many well-educated young Koreans who could be the most productive and creative workers are unemployed and lost to the economy. The Korea Economic Research Institute analyzed graduate employment among people aged 25-34 in OECD member countries and found that it stands at just 75.2 percent in Korea, far lower than the OECD average of 82.9 percent. Korea ranks 31st among 37 OECD members and pales compared to advanced countries such as the U.K. (90.6 percent), Germany (88.4 percent), France (85.2 percent), and the U.S. (84.2 percent).
S.Korea Sells W4 Trillion Worth of Missiles to UAE
South Korea is selling W4.15 trillion worth of Cheongung II intercept missiles to the UAE (US$1=W1,182). The UAE's Defense Ministry tweeted Tuesday that it plans to acquire the anti-missile M-SAM system for 12.9 billion dirhams. The system, which was developed to intercept North Korean ballistic missiles, was first deployed warfare-ready here late last year. The two governments are expected to sign the contract by the end of the year after some fine tuning. The deal covers not only intercept missiles but also a three-dimensional phased-array radar and a fire-control system, and provides a welcome boost to South Korea's defense industry.
HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
White House says US-China arms reductions discussion will not be "formal talks"
The White House National Security Council (NSC) said it plans to pursue “conversations” with China in connection with strategic security issues such as nuclear weapons. The latest remarks appear to be a clarification of remarks made the day prior on the possibility of US-China nuclear arms control talks by Jake Sullivan, the White House national security advisor. Reports by Reuters and other news outlets on Thursday quoted the NSC as saying the US aim was to pursue “conversations” with China on arms control rather than “formal talks.” Reuters quoted an NSC spokesperson as saying, “These are not arms control talks, but rather conversations with empowered interlocutors.”
Japan's derailing of diplomatic schedule over Dokdo nitpicking is regrettable
Japan called off a joint press conference with the vice foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan over a visit to Dokdo by Korea’s national police chief. While Japan has long made a territorial claim to the islets, which are controlled by Korea, it’s extremely regrettable that it made the diplomatic faux pas of abruptly canceling a multilateral diplomatic event with an allied country. Vice foreign ministers from Korea, the US and Japan were supposed to hold a joint press conference immediately after deliberations in Washington on Wednesday. But shortly before their meeting began, Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Takeo Mori announced that he couldn’t take part in the joint press conference because the head of Korea’s police had visited Dokdo. The trilateral talks were held as planned, but US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman was left hosting the press conference by herself.
Palace pavilion and bridge restored to their 19th-century glory
Leisure locales favored by Joseon-era kings and queens such as the pond at Gyeongbok Palace, Hyangwonjeong Pavilion and Chwihyanggyo Bridge have finally been restored after a three-year process. The public will be able to peer into the historic sites in the form of a special exhibition starting in April 2022. Leisure locales favored by Joseon-era kings and queens such as the pond at Gyeongbok Palace, Hyangwonjeong Pavilion and Chwihyanggyo Bridge have finally been restored after a three-year process. The public will be able to peer into the historic sites in the form of a special exhibition starting in April 2022.
The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
Yoon: ‘Moon adm. destroyed jobs, caused housing market disaster’
Yoon Seok-yul, main opposition People’s Power Party’s presidential candidate, said Sunday, “The Moon Jae-in administration is a government destroying jobs rather than creating jobs.” He also blasted the Moon administration’s real estate policy on Saturday, saying, “The administration caused a housing market disaster.” Yoon focused his campaign on suggesting messages on his policy by blasting the incumbent administration for jobs and real estate policy’ throughout the weekend. “The government injected massive amounts of taxpayers’ money and increased fake jobs by only paying attention to immediate statistical numbers,” Yoon said as he commented on the incumbent administration’s job policy in a Facebook post.
Mr. Trump awarded Taekwondo ninth Dan Black belt
Kukkiwon, the world taekwondo headquarters located in South Korea, presented former U.S. President Donald Trump a Taekwondo ninth Dan Black belt. Kukkiwon President Lee Dong-seop on Saturday made a visit to Mar a Lago, Palm Beach, Florida, a resort of Mr. Trump, to bestow him the honorary ninth dan certificate and a set of Taekwondo wear. “I heard that the Donald Trump is highly interested in Taekwondo,” Lee said, requesting his continuous support and cooperation for Taekwondo and Kukkiwon. It was reported that a South Korean resident in the United States served as a bridge to enable their meetup.
Gov’t considers administering booster shots for all normal adults
With the COVID-19 pandemic only worsening across South Korea, many experts raise their voice for the need to expand booster shot vaccination for all normal adults. Jeong Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Disease Control Agency (KDCA), acknowledged on Friday that citizens aged 18 to 49 need to get a booster shot, implying that it will be under review soon. “The rationale behind booster shots for normal adults is that it can help prevent young generations with active social contact from being infected to transmit the virus to older citizens including their parents,” said a government official on Sunday. At the center of the ongoing COVID-19 across the nation are older generations and high-risk groups who got fully vaccinated in the first half of the year.
The KyungHyangShinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
2.2 Million Platform Workers This Year: 20 and 30 Somethings Account for 55%
There were about 2.2 million platform workers who provided services to clients they found on online platforms, such as smartphone applications, according to a survey. Among these workers, twenty and thirty-somethings accounted for 55.2%. On November 18, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Korea Employment Information Service released the 2021 Survey on the Size and Work of Platform Workers. The two agencies conducted a phone and online survey of 50,001 people ages 15-69 nationwide selected randomly in August and September this year. According to the survey, approximately 2.2 million people or 8.5% of all employed workers (ages 15-69) were platform workers, who had found work and earned income after being matched with a client through online platforms, such as smartphone applications and websites, in the past three months.
UAE Charmed by Cheongung Purchases South Korean Surface-to-Air Missiles Worth 4 Trillion Won
On November 16 (local time), the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced a plan to purchase the South Korean medium range surface-to-air missile Cheongung (M-SAM). The UAE Ministry of Defence announced on Twitter this day that the country was trying to introduce the South Korean air defense system, M-SAM, for quality improvements to its defense capacity. The UAE defense ministry also mentioned that the scale of the M-SAM contract with South Korea would reach 12.9 billion dirhams (approx. 4.15 trillion won). Cheongung is an anti-ballistic missile that a South Korean defense contractor developed under the initiative of the Agency of Defense Development to replace the old medium range surface-to-air missile, Hawk.
Kim Jong-un Inspects the Samjiyon Development Project on Site: First Press Coverage of Public Schedule in 35 Days
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made a public outing for the first time in over a month when he conducted a site inspection of the Samjiyon City construction project. On November 16, the Korean Central News Agency reported that Chairman Kim visited Samjiyon to inspect the progress on phase-3 construction for a timely completion of the city’s development project. According to the coverage, the North Korean leader said, “The construction of Samjiyon is the starting point of a new revolution to help rural citizens leap toward a life of civilized material culture.” He further said, “We will actively encourage and expand the excellent experiences accumulated from the construction of Samjiyon and achieve a transition that will encourage development in rural construction and the building of a civilized general society.”
Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
KEPCO E&C sparks protest on its plan to reshuffle nuclear reactor design team
A plan to reshuffle nuclear reactor design and development team under state utility has stoked strong protest and concerns about weakening and leak in South Korea’s hard-built expertise in nuclear reactor while the government keeps to nuclear phase-out policy out of sync with the rise in nuclear reactor role across the world to meet carbon emission goals and energy security. KEPCO Engineering & Construction, a state-owned nuclear power plant design and engineering company, is reviewing to disperse its design and engineering team for operational efficiency in line with the government’s policy to phase out nuclear power plants in favor of renewable energy.
Europe’s EV battery rookie ACC seeks materials, parts partners in Korea
Automotive Cells Company (ACC), a European automotive battery provider, is looking for South Korean partners to join forces to produce batteries for 1.7 million EVs by 2030. Jean Baptiste Pernot, ACC chief operating officer (COO) said in an interview with Maeil Business Newspaper, that Korea is an industrial powerhouse with skilled work force and that the company wished to find partners in the Korean battery materials, components and equipment sectors.
Young Naver leadership to spearhead organization reshuffle oriented for global expansion
The 40-something Harvard-educated nominees to head South Korea’s top internet company Naver will be given full command over organizational reshuffle to add agility for faster overseas penetration. Naver founder and Global Investment Officer Lee Hae-jin on Thursday congratulated newly nominated CEO Choi Soo-yeon and CFO Kim Nam-sun after the stunning appointments of the Harvard Law School-educated staff to leadership. Lee advised a swift change in Naver and delegated full authority for group-wide restructuring to a Transition TF, which will be formed later this month, on a mission for accelerated global expansion and dynamic and communicative work culture.
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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 Heraldwww.smh.com.au
Colombia Reports http://colombiareports.com
Bogota Free Planet http://bogotafreeplanet.combfp@bogotafreeplanet.com
El Universal http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/english
Andes http://www.andes.info.ec/en
Ecuador Times http://www.ecuadortimes.net
The Jordan Times https://www.jordantimes.com
LSM.lv http://www.lsm.lv/en
The Baltic Times http://www.baltictimes.com lithuania@baltictimes.com, estonia@baltictimes.com, editor@baltictimes.com
El Pais http://elpais.com/elpais/inenglish.html
Philippine Daily Inquirer https://www.inquirer.net
Daily News Hungary http://dailynewshungary.com
Budapest Times http://budapesttimes.hu
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