Tuesday, November 30, 2021

 

Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today

 

The Korea Post ( www.koreapost.com )

Exchange of visits by Heads of State greatly contribute to furthering bilateral ties”

Economic & Commercial Counsellor Dario Jose Saez Mendez at the Embassy of the Kingdom Spain in Seoul said that Spain takes great interest in the promotion of relations, cooperation and friendship with Koreain the economic, commercial and many other fields. Speaking at a recent interview with The Korea Post media at his office in Seoul, Counsellor Darío Sáez said that amidst the growing ties of bilateral cooperation there was a visit by H.M. King Felipe VI of Spain toKorea on Oct. 23, 2019. Then in return, he said, President Moon Jae-in visited Spain at the invitation of H.M. King Felipe VI on June 15 this year.

 

Josun Palace introduces winter package featuring its signature limited-edition merchandise

Josun Palace, a luxury collection hotel, Seoul Gangnam is running two winter packages from Nov. 25 to Dec. 30, featuring the hotel’s signature goods items to allow its guests to enjoy a warm and cozy end-of-year celebration. In celebration of the first winter at Josun Palace, two-types of winter packages -- ‘Dear Santa Ryan’ package tailored to kids, offering the hotel’s signature goods items and ‘Graceful Winter’ package, presenting champagnes to enjoy with friends and as couples during year-end parties will be presented.

 

Development and Growth of Communication and IT Industry

Thanks to four 5-year communication industry development plans of the government that started in 1962, Korea achieved gigantic development in communication industry as a pivotal component for rapid economic growth of the nation. The number of fixed-line subscribers increased from 277,000 in 1966 to over 3 million in 1981. During this period, Korea installed scatter network between Korea and Japan, established the satellite earth station in 1970 in Geumsan, and deployed direct distance dialing (DDD) networks between Seoul and Busan in 1971. It also dualized international communication networks and modernized switching facilities across the country.

 

                                                                                                             

KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/service)

KBS Poll: Lee-Yoon in Neck-and-Neck Race

The latest presidential poll shows that ruling Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung and main opposition People Power Party's Yoon Seok-youl are in a fierce neck-and-neck race, with no one taking a noticeable lead. The KBS survey was carried out from Friday to Sunday, with just under 100 days left until the presidential election on March 9. The poll asked one-thousand people which candidate they would vote for if the election was held the next day. In the hypothetical race, Lee and Yoon both received 35-point-five percent each. Sim Sang-jeung of the progressive Justice Party secured four-point-four percent and Ahn Cheol-soo of the minor opposition People's Party won three-point-five percent.

 

Pres. Candidates Carry On Campaigning D-100 to Election Day

The two major political parties are carrying on their respective campaigning in full force, with 100 days to go to the March 9 presidential election. Ruling Democratic Party(DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung, who met with small business owners and working mothers in the southwestern city of Gwangju on Monday, highlighted that his focus will be on economic recovery and improving the people's livelihoods post-pandemic. Reiterating his regrets for how politics has been carried out as well as the failed real estate policies of the Moon Jae-in administration, Lee pledged to increase opportunities under a fair growth scheme, including fair competition between conglomerates and SMEs.


Industrial Output Posts Biggest Drop in 18 Months

Industrial output fell by nearly two percent in October from a month ago to post the largest drop in 18 months. Statistics Korea said on Tuesday that the index of the nation’s overall industrial production came to 110-point-eight in October, down one-point-nine percent from the previous month. It marks the largest drop since April of last year, when it slipped two percent. Output in manufacturing industries decreased three-point-one percent, extending the losing streak to four months. Service sector output also dropped point-three percent on-month.


                                                                                                                

 

Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)

Moon says S. Korea to halt further easing of distancing rules amid spiking infections

President Moon Jae-in said Monday that the government will halt a further easing of social distancing rules amid spiking COVID-19 infections, and speed up the administration of booster shots and secure more hospital beds over the next four weeks. Moon made the remarks while presiding over a COVID-19 response meeting, making it clear that the government will not wind down its first-phase measures aimed at returning to normalcy despite a jump in serious cases and infections, and concerns about the omicron variant. "Hospital beds are in a tight supply as the number of new patients and critically ill patients is on the rise," Moon said. "However, we can't retreat to the past by reversing the gradual return to normal life."

 

Daily virus cases below 4,000 for 2nd day; further easing of virus curbs halted

South Korea's new coronavirus cases stayed below 4,000 for the second straight day Monday due largely to fewer tests, but the continued spike in infections and high number of critically ill patients prompted the country to halt further easing of distancing rules. The country reported 3,309 new COVID-19 cases, including 3,286 local infections, raising the total caseload to 444,200, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Monday's tally was down from 3,928 reported Sunday and 4,068 on Saturday. The country reported the highest daily cases of 4,115 to date on Wednesday.

 

Arrest warrant sought for ex-lawmaker in connection with development scandal

Prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for a former opposition lawmaker on charges of accepting bribes in the form of severance pay for his son from an asset firm at the center of a massive development corruption scandal. Kwak Sang-do quit the main opposition People Power Party and ultimately gave up his parliamentary seat after it was revealed his son received 5 billion won (US$4.2 million) in severance pay from Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management. Prosecutors suspect the money was a bribe to Kwak. The previously unheard-of asset management company has been under investigation over its astronomical profits from a lucrative apartment development project in the Daejang-dong district of Seongnam City, south of Seoul.

                                                                                   

 

The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)

Home care becomes COVID-19 default

As infections surge and the capacity for beds reaches its limit, the government decided that COVID-19 patients should be treated at home -- with hospital treatment the exception. New confirmed patients, critically ill patients and deaths are all increasing, and the capacity for beds is getting tighter,” President Moon Jae-in said at the COVID-19 special quarantine inspection meeting Monday. It is the first such meeting in the Seoul metropolitan area since July 12. He said Korea could not retreat to the past by undoing the step-by-step return to normal. Instead, the nation would postpone the transition to the second stage of recovery and implement special quarantine measures for the next four weeks.

 

Leading candidates kick off regional rallies in swing region, ruling bloc stronghold

Presidential contenders pushed for support in the provinces Monday, with the opposition candidate visiting a key swing region and the ruling party candidate staying in a party stronghold. Yoon Seok-youl of the main opposition People Power Party chose the Chungcheong provinces as his first campaign destination after the formation of his election committee. I am a son of Chungcheong and I can say Chungcheong is my hometown,” Yoon said before departing, speaking at the election committee’s first regular meeting in Seoul.

 

Delving into presidential hopefuls’ N. Korea policy: What’s in the box?

North Korea policy is one of the main dividers between progressives and conservatives in South Korean politics, and the two leading presidential candidates -- Lee Jae-myung and Yoon Seok-youl -- are poles apart on how to secure stability and peace on the Korean Peninsula. They also disagree on the fundamental causes of the current strained inter-Korean relations. But Yoon and Lee both dismiss the redeployment of tactical nuclear weapons as an impractical option and endorse the idea of providing humanitarian aid to the people of North Korea irrespective of the political situation. So what are their visions for North Korea policy? What are the differences and similarities?

 

                                                                                    

 

The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)

Gov't to introduce supply shock prevention measures

The government will set up an early warning system for an acute shortage of 4,000 key import items, as part of a long-term plan to limit supply chain disruptions brought on by geopolitical volatility. The move follows a fiasco that started recently concerning the shortage of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) ― a solution critical in operation of diesel engines ― with Korea's vulnerability laid bare, as illustrated by the near-miss of the country's transport, logistics and emergency public services which almost grinded to a halt. Also prompting the need for the critical measure ― albeit belated ― are drawn-out yet heightened concerns about the U.S.-China hegemonic war recently developing into a global supply chain feud.

 

SCM will not work in Korea's favor: experts

In the lead-up to its annual defense ministerial talks with the United States, Korea is resolute to raise the issue of fixing a clear timeline for regaining wartime operational control (OPCON) of its troops from Washington. But diplomatic observers expect that the U.S. side will not be happy about this initiative and will subsequently stick to its existing position of Korea needing to meet prerequisites for a successful OPCON transition. Defense Minister Suh Wook is scheduled to sit down with his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, at the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in Seoul, Dec. 2, and the OPCON issue is highly anticipated to remain one of the most important issues ― if not the most important ― on the agenda, according to experts.

 

Samsung overhauls personnel system to nurture young leaders

Samsung Electronics said Monday it will fully overhaul its personnel management and employee evaluation system to pave the way for young, talented workers to get promoted to higher positions regardless of age and rank. To that end, the tech giant will adopt a "peer review" system to better evaluate performances of employees, a move aimed at reforming the top-down management structure and creating a more merit-based culture to make the organization more agile in responding to changes. In a statement, the company said it will introduce the Samsung Talent Exchange Program (STEP), which will allow its businesses in and outside the country to exchange young, skilled workers for a certain period of time.

 

                                                                                                               

 

Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Will Minor Opposition Parties Form Alliance?

Korea's three minor opposition candidates parties are sounding out the prospects of forming an alliance with just 100 days left until the presidential election. The three candidates are Sim Sang-jung of the Justice Party, Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party and former Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon, who is seeking to found a new party. Sim and Ahn plan to meet as early as this week to discuss a possible alliance. A People's Party source said Sunday, "We are holding working-level talks over a meeting with Sim's side." Kim is also expected to meet them. But it is difficult to predict how much of an impact the alliance will have on the direction of the presidential campaigns since the candidates have vanishingly small support ratings so far and their views diverge widely.


 

Kim Jong-un 'Building Luxury Villas for Himself'
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is building new luxury houses near his residence in Pyongyang and summer retreats in the countryside, U.S. website NK News reported on Wednesday. NK News analyzed satellite photos from Planet Labs, an American earth-imaging company. Four McMansions seem to be going up in the Workers Party compound in Pyongyang and another by a lake in Anju, South Pyongan Province. Construction of the four villas in the party compound seems to have started in September last year. Opposite the construction site is the main building of the Central Committee, and one of the villas appears to be being built on a site where former leader Kim Jong-il's movie archive once stood.
 

Korea Bans Flights from South Africa over Omicron Variant
Korea on Sunday banned flight from eight southern African countries as the Omicron variant of coronavirus, a potentially more contagious variant of COVID-19, sparked renewed panic around the world and sent stock markets and oil prices tumbling. The government in an emergency meeting on Saturday decided to ban flights from South Africa, where the Omicron variant was first detected, as well as Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Korean citizens who are arriving from those countries must spend 10 days in a government-designated quarantine center whether they are vaccinated or not, and have repeated COVID-19 tests.

 

                                                                                                

HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Biden and the window for S. Korean foreign policy

In the ten months since he took office, US President Joe Biden has been putting his foreign affairs principles into practice. He has prioritized the values of democracy and human rights with the scheduled hosting of a Summit for Democracy and a possible diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics; worked to restore alliances from their state of disarray by improving relations with NATO, preserving the Quad, establishing AUKUS; and avoided involvement in wars that do not aid the national interest by withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. A central axis in Biden’s foreign affairs approach has been the strategic rivalry between the US and China — a competition that could reasonably be called the foundation of the global order these days.

 

What the US, China mean by maintaining the status quo on Taiwan

Despite being a hotspot in today’s rivalry between the US and China, Taiwan was the last territory to be incorporated into China. The island officially came under the rule of the Qing Dynasty in 1683, after the complete suppression of Koxinga, who ruled one of the last remnants of Ming China. Koxinga — the better-known moniker of Zheng Chenggong — launched his resistance against Qing invaders on China’s southeastern coast. He eventually moved to Taiwan and established a fiefdom that was later subjugated by armies sent by the Qing. Until that time, Taiwan had never even been given a formal name in China. The island’s incorporation into China at the hands of Koxinga and its subsequent arrival on the stage of world history is tied to the Western powers’ encroachment upon Asia that began in the 15th century. Early on, the Ming Dynasty launched treasure voyages under Adm. Zheng He that had gone as far as the eastern coast of Africa, but China abruptly halted those journeys and instituted a “sea ban” on maritime activities.

 

Lee Jae-myung says he’ll meet with Biden, Kim Jong-un to work on N. Korean nuclear issue

Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, promised Thursday to tackle the North Korean nuclear issue by meeting with US President Joe Biden and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to discuss conditional sanctions relief and step-by-step, simultaneous action. The former governor of Gyeonggi Province made the comments while unveiling a plan for policy on North Korea that’s grounded in a “pragmatic line centered on the national interest” after being invited to speak at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club at the Korea Press Center in downtown Seoul. I will help the South Korean government take the lead in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue. Following the Moon administration, the next administration will need to have more agency and be more proactive in its role as a mediator and problem solver, Lee said.

 

                                                                                    

 

The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)

Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong visions ‘New Samsung’

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is bringing a major innovation in the company’s personnel management system for the first time in five years. The key is to get rid of seniority rules, such as the number of years required for promotion from one position to another. This means there will be executives in their 30s and CEOs in their 40s at Samsung, just like startup companies. The South Korean tech giant on Monday unveiled its new personnel management system, saying it is bringing innovation in personnel management system and organizational culture in order to usher in a new era and new changes.

 

Seoul City to usher in a new era of self-driving cars

The Seoul city government is set to usher in a new era of self-driving vehicles. On Monday, a “declaration ceremony for the commercial operation of autonomous vehicles” was held at S-Plex Center Building in Mapo-gu, Seoul. The service will kick off on Tuesday with three self-driving sedans hovering around the DMC metro station and the clusters of apartments and offices. Passengers can hail them by using a smartphone app. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon became the first passenger to use the service, traveling about 2.9 kilometers from the S-Plex Center to the headquarters of Gugak FM in an autonomous vehicle.

 

No preparation for 50-trillion-won cash handout pledge

There is no need to delay it until then,” said ruling Democratic Party (DP) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, mentioning the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl’s pledge to inject 50 trillion won to help small business owners and the self-employed hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lee said he is willing to take Yoon’s proposal, proposing that the plan be implemented right away. Yoon said the proposal is “desirable,” adding Lee seems to have realized the necessity of the plan belatedly since he had earlier criticized it as “populism.” Early this month, Yoon made a pledge to inject 50 trillion won throughout the first 100 days of his administration to compensate small business owners and the self-employed strained by the cut in business hours during the pandemic.

 

                                                                                                 

 

The KyungHyangShinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Designer of the Questionable Italian Healthcare Fund Established a Company in Singapore, Then Went Out of Business

Prosecutors investigating allegations surrounding the “Italian Healthcare Fund” (a.k.a. Italian Fund) confirmed that Shin, a former employee at Hana Bank who led the sales of the fund, went to Singapore immediately after the sale of the Italian Fund ended, and established a personal investment company. Earlier, the government suspended the repurchase of the fund freezing investments of nearly 110 billion won. Prosecutors suspect Shin may have established his own company for money laundering purposes. According to the Kyunghyang Shinmun coverage on November 28, the Financial Investigation Division 2 (chief prosecutor Kim Rak-hyeon) of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office confirmed that Shin had established the investment consulting firm, Advance Alpha PTE in Singapore in October 2019 and closed the business in April this year.

 

Three Decades of the Saemangeum Project: Progress Only at 43% While Nation Ushered in 7 Presidents Environmental Debate Still Ongoing

November 28 marked the thirtieth anniversary of the launch of the Saemangeum Development Project. More specifically, it was the day that workers began building the 33km-long Saemangeum Seawall, the longest in the world. So far, 8.44 trillion won has been invested into the project, which is expected to cost a total of 22.78 trillion won. Three decades have passed and Cheongwadae has welcomed seven new presidents, but at the end of last year, progress remained at 42.8%. According to the province of Jeollabuk-do on November 29, the Saemangeum Development Project first started when the Saemangeum area was noted as a site with the perfect geographical conditions for a national territory expansion project in 1970.

 

 

Lee Jae-myung, “I Will Personally Meet with Biden and Kim Jong-un to Solve the North Korean Nuclear Problem”

On November 25, Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, spoke on his policy on North Korea and said, “I believe the current appeasement policy is more effective than a hardline policy of sanctions.” As for South Korea’s relations with Japan, Lee said, “I think it best that we approach in two tracks by separating the issue of history and territory from socio-economic issues.” Lee appears to have presented a practical route centered on national interests in his foreign policy. At a debate organized by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club held at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul this day, Lee said, “If we can improve the lives of the people, there is no reason to be caught up in the black-and-white mindset of conservatives versus progressives. It’s the same in foreign affairs, national defense and the economy, as well as domestic politics.”

 

                                                                                                

 

Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)

Samsung Electronics to implement horizontal work culture

Samsung Electronics Co. on Monday unveiled a new human resource management system to create a more horizontal work culture by doing away with the conventional years of service before promotion and work title address. Under the overhaul, promotion will be "fast-tracked" and executive-level simplified to timely appoint talents regardless of the age and years of service, the company said in a statement. The revamp outline was finalized upon online debate with employees and agreement with the union, it added.

 

SK Materials plans near $2 bn to expand battery materials capacity at home and abroad

SK Materials Co., IT materials unit under South Korea’s SK Group, is planning near $2 billion investment next year to expand capacity in across-the-board materials for rechargeable batteries and renewable fuel following its planned merger with SK Inc. next month. According to multiple industry sources on Sunday, Lee Young-wook, chief executive and president at SK Materials, outlined post-merger business plans with the objective to bump up sales by five times by 2025 during a meeting with analysts of investment banks.

 

Hyundai Motor to test out self-driving cab on Seoul roads in H1 next year

South Korea’s auto giant Hyundai Motor Co. will test its first self-driving cab dubbed RoboRide on roads in Seoul in the first half of next year, the company announced at Seoul Mobility Show held at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday. The autonomous driving technology that will be applied to its unmanned robot taxi will be Level 4 self-driving technology, a fully autonomous driving technology in which the vehicle handles nearly all situations when a driver sets up the destination, the company added.

 

                                                                                                                   

 

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 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
                                                                                                               

 

The Korea Post is running video clips from the different embassies.

Azerbaijan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR8CBpcQ4WM

Sri Lanka: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hByX92Y2aGY&t=22s

Morocco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfFmp2sVvSE

And many other countries.
 

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