Thursday, March 24, 2022
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post ( www.koreapost.com )
Uzbek Embassy, Keymyung University co-host Festival of Culture of Uzbekistan
On March 21-22, 2022, as part of the events dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and South Korea, as well as on the occasion of Navruz, the “Uzbekistan Culture Festival,” was held in one of the South Korean cities, Daegu. The event was organized with the support of the Center for Silk Road and Central Asian Studies at Keimyung University in cooperation with the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul, the Representative Office of the World Youth Association of Uzbekistan in the Republic of Korea and our compatriots abroad.
Peru honors former ROK Chief of Naval Operations with Peruvian Cross of Naval Merit
On Wednesday, March 16th, the ambassador of Peru in Korea, Daúl Matute Mejía imposed the decoration of the Peruvian Navy, "Cruz Peruana al Mérito Naval” (Peruvian Cross of Naval Merit), in the degree of Grand Cross, granted by the President of the Republic and Minister of Defense, to Admiral Boo Suk-jong, former Chief of Naval Operations of the Korean Navy, for his contribution to strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries in the field of defense.
Pernod Ricard Korea recruits additional participants for a professional training on sustainable bartending
Pernod Ricard Korea, the Korean unit of the global wine and spirits company Pernod Ricard, announced on the 23rd, it will recruit participants for “The Bar World of Tomorrow” program in April and May, a professional training to establish the eco-friendly bar culture in Korea.‘The Bar World of Tomorrow’ program is a professional training created by Pernod Ricard group to establish the sustainable bar culture for bartenders and bar owners around the world. In Korea, the training began in January and currently class in March has completed.
Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
New Gov't Pledges 'Scientific Approach' to Fighting Pandemic
Ahn Cheol-soo, the head of the presidential transition team, said Tuesday that the new government will make policy decisions about the coronavirus pandemic "based on objective scientific data." Describing the Moon Jae-in administration's coronavirus response as essentially "political," Ahn added, "Many mistakes were made because lockdown decisions were often swayed by public opinion."
COVID Fatalities Surge
Coronavirus fatalities continue to rise as expected two or three weeks behind a surge in infections to reach the third highest levels in the world. The country already ranks first in the world in terms of new infections and the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases has surpassed 10 million or one-fifth of the population. About 9 million of them were reported just in the last two months. According to Our World in Data, 327 Koreans died of COVID last Saturday and 329 on Sunday, second only after Russia until the U.S. surged ahead on Monday.
Korean Marine Escapes to Fight for Ukraine
A Korean marine on furlough has made an unauthorized dash to Poland with the aim of fighting in war-torn Ukraine against the Russian invasion. The man told friends before departure that he wanted to "join the foreign legion" in Ukraine, but he was caught at the border with the help of Polish authorities before he could do any damage and will be sent home, military authorities here said Tuesday. The soldier flew from Incheon to Warsaw on Monday. That means he technically went AWOL since he was not allowed to leave the country without authorization from a senior officer.
Joongang Ilbo (https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com )
Moon names BOK chief, incoming team 'not consulted'
With only 47 days left in office, President Moon Jae-in appointed a new central bank governor. And although the Blue House said it consulted President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, Yoon's spokesperson said his transition team had "not consulted with the Blue House or made any recommendations" on the Bank of Korea (BOK) chief appointment. Park Soo-hyun, senior presidential secretary for public communication, announced at noon Wednesday that Rhee Chang-yong, director of the Asia and Pacific Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was named by Moon the next BOK governor. He was to replace Lee Ju-yeol, whose term finishes at the end of this month.
LG opens AI research center in Michigan
LG Corporation opened its first overseas research center for artificial intelligence in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to try to use advanced machine learning to take electronics devices and digital services to the next level. Lee Hong-rak, computer science professor at the University of Michigan, will head the center. The LG AI Research will be focused on more sophisticated versions of AI-based systems with the ability to reason and make judgments.“The LG AI Research Center, Ann Arbor will advance AI technologies such as Deep Reinforcement Learning, 3D Scene Understanding, and Reasoning with a Large-scale Language Model and Bias & Fairness related to AI ethics, which are the basis for creating AI that thinks and judges on its own with the talents recruited from North America,” the group said in a statement.
Omicron wave keeps on with 2nd highest case count
Despite seeing its second-highest number of Covid-19 infections Wednesday, Korea will no longer offer intensive monitoring to elderly and immunocompromised virus patients. Korea on Wednesday reported 490,881 new Covid-19 cases, a jump of nearly 140,000 from the previous day. It was the second highest count ever after 621,205 new cases registered last Thursday. As seen in previous weeks, a peak was hit in the middle of the week. Health authorities earlier predicted cases would peak and then decline from this Wednesday. In fact, cases have been lower than the previous week for four days since the weekend, with officials carefully raising hopes that the epidemic is slowly fading out.
The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
Yoon makes unusual move as President-elect
South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol will begin listening to local public sentiment before taking office. It is an unusual move for a president-elect, which is speculated to be aimed at the June 1 local election. Kim Eun-hye, the spokesperson for the president-elect, said during a briefing on Wednesday at the Korea Banking Institute in Seoul that President-elect Yoon is preparing to visit people in local areas and take a look at their livelihood, explaining that it is to express his willingness to fulfill his campaign pledges and reflect them in his national political agenda.
KHNP joins bid for nuclear reactor project in Czech Republic
With the Czech Republic launching a tender to build a new reactor at the Dukovany nuclear power plant, the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) has begun all-out efforts in the Czech Republic. The South Korean company will be competing with the U.S. and France. According to KHNP on Wednesday, it held “APR1000 Suppliers Symposium” in Prague on Tuesday (local time) jointly with the Korea Nuclear Association for International Cooperation (KNA) and the Czech chamber. The APR 1000 is a South Korean designed nuclear reactor that KHNP will propose to the Czech Republic.
‘We should not become invisible,’ says Minister Jackson
The Korean-American group suffering from hate crimes against Asians met a reliable ally. Jesse Jackson who is considered as a living godfather of black civil rights visited the Korean-American Association center in Manhattan, New York on Tuesday (local time). Jackson emphasized that immigrants should take proactive actions against racial discrimination and hate crimes during a meeting attended by the leaders of the Korean-American society, including Charles Yoon, the president of the Korean American Association of Greater New York.
Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
IMF Asia-Pacific director Rhee Chang-yong tapped as the next BOK chief
Rhee Chang-yong, a macroeconomic expert currently heading the Asia and Pacific Department of the International Monetary Fund, has been named the candidate to succeed Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol whose second term ends at the end of March, according to the presidential office Wednesday. Rhee well versed in international affairs as well as domestic economy is highly regarded, said Park Soo-hyun, presidential spokesman in a briefing, adding the appointment has been discussed with president-in-waiting Yoon Suk-yeol.
LGES considers building 2nd U.S. EV battery plant in Arizona
LG Energy Solution Ltd. (LGES), the pure-play electric vehicle battery maker under South Korea’s LG Chem, is considering building its second standalone factory in the United States in Arizona to fend off rivals through economies of scale. According to foreign media reports on Tuesday, LGES is reviewing a plan to add a battery manufacturing plant in Queen Creek, a suburb of Phoenix in the state of Arizona.
EU okays $230 mn Hungarian state aid for SK On’s EV battery plant
The European Commission has approved Hungary’s planned €209 million ($230 million) support for SK On’s third EV battery plant in the country, saying the factory addition by the South Korean battery company has a positive effect on regional development with at least 1,900 new jobs in the future. In December 2021, Hungary notified the Commission of its grant plan for South Korean EV battery maker’s project for a new lithium-ion battery cell and module plant in the Közép-Dunántúl region.
HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
Rush to ditch Blue House leaves Yoon with convoluted commute
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has decided to continue using his office in Seoul’s Tongui neighborhood even after his inauguration on May 10 while also using the Blue House’s crisis management center — an underground bunker — to respond to crisis situations. Until the relocation of the presidential office to Yongsan is completed, Yoon has no choice but to use the Blue House’s underground bunker in case of a crisis. Despite Yoon’s strong will to “never set foot in the Blue House,” he will be keeping these temporary measures in place for about two months until the new presidential office is completely ready.
Poland’s history as victim of Russian aggression spurs it to aid Ukraine
The country most terrified by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is unquestionably Poland. Due to its geopolitical position between Russia and the West, it has already lived through the deeply traumatizing historical nightmare of being twice broken apart. Poland is also the country that has been the most proactive about supporting Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24. On March 8, it proposed supplying Ukraine with 28 of its Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter aircraft, although that plan was eventually abandoned over objections by the US.
Yoon falsely accuses N. Korea of violating 2018 inter-Korean military agreement
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol erroneously argued Tuesday that recent rocket launches by North Korea were a “clear violation” of a 2018 inter-Korean military agreement, despite being unfamiliar with the details of the document. South Korea’s defense minister disagreed with Yoon, saying the launches did not violate the agreement. Yoon called the North’s launches a “clear violation” of the inter-Korean military agreement signed Sept. 19, 2018, during a meeting with his transition team on Tuesday. His remarks came after North Korea launched four projectiles into the Yellow Sea at 7:18 am on Sunday from South Pyongan Province.
The KyungHyangShinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
Why President-elect Yoon Seok-youl Can’t Back Off in the “Battle over Yongsan”
Despite several obstacles, President-elect Yoon Seok-youl is refusing to take a single step back on his decision to relocate Cheongwadae, because the “post-Cheongwadae vision” has a symbolic meaning and is one of the few projects that is realistically possible for Yoon. When Yoon enters office, he will face a National Assembly dominated by the opposition party, which holds an overwhelming majority, and from Yoon’s perspective, the relocation of the presidential office is something that he can do regardless of such a challenging situation. It is also important for the Yoon Seok-youl government, which was born under an anti-Moon Jae-in slogan, to present a vision unique to Yoon Seok-youl.
Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, “The Next Couple of Weeks Will Be the Turning Point in Overcoming Covid”
On March 23, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said, “The next 1-2 weeks will be the turning point in overcoming the covid crisis.” This day, the prime minister presided over a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in response to COVID-19 at the government office in Seoul and said, “If we patiently endure this time as we have carefully prepared for, I am confident that we can accelerate the decline of the virus at least a day sooner and minimize unfortunate sacrifices.” Prime Minister Kim also said that the government would keep the situation after the peak in mind while concentrating its efforts into minimizing deaths and patients with serious symptoms.
Government to Begin Distributing Enough Doses of the COVID-19 Pill Lagevrio for 100,000 Patients This Week
The government will begin distributing the COVID-19 pill, Lagevrio, this week, and will hand out enough doses to treat 100,000 patients. In a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting at the government office in Seoul on the morning of March 21, Jeon Hae-cheol (minister of the interior and safety), second assistant director of the headquarters made an opening comment and said, “We will begin distributing Lagevrio, a drug from Merck, and we will distribute enough doses for 100,000 patients this week.” Lagevrio is a pill to treat patients with COVID-19.
KBS(http://world.kbs.co.kr/service)
'US Has No Plan to Renegotiate with S. Korea on Steel Quota'
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo reportedly said that the United States has no plan to negotiate its import quota on South Korean steel products. According to Reuters, Raimondo said on Wednesday that South Korea struck its own deal with the last administration, opting for a quota arrangement, so renegotiating is currently not a high priority for the U.S. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai made similar remarks last week, indicating that the U.S. has no intent to enter a new round of negotiations with South Korea on the matter.
Report: S. Korea to Resume Visa-free Entry for Russians from April 1
South Korea has reportedly resumed visa-free entry for Russian travelers starting next month. Russian news agency Interfax issued the report on Wednesday quoting the South Sakhalin branch office of the South Korean Consulate General in Vladivostok. The office reportedly said that the South Korean government decided to end the suspension of visa-free entry for citizens of 25 countries, including Russia, at 12 a.m. on April 1, two years after it was put in place.
Yoon Discusses Enhanced Ties in Phone Dialogue with Vietnam's President
President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol spoke with Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc over the phone on Wednesday afternoon to discuss ways to develop ties between their countries. His spokesperson said, during the 30 minute conversation, the Vietnamese leader congratulated Yoon on his election victory and extended his hope that Yoon will produce results in various areas, such as overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, recovering the economy and enhancing Korea’s global status. Expressing his gratitude, Yoon said he was glad to see South Korea-Vietnam relations upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership to mark the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties this year.
Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Ex-President Park discharged from hospital
Former President Park Geun-hye was discharged from the hospital Thursday, saying she is grateful to people for their concerns about her heath. Park, who was pardoned while serving a 22-year prison sentence for corruption, left Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, where she has received treatment for a chronic illness since November. Park will visit the grave of her late father and former President Park Chung-hee at Seoul National Cemetery before heading to her new residence in Daegu, 302 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
Yoon to hold inauguration ceremony at National Assembly plaza in line with tradition
The inauguration ceremony of incoming President Yoon Suk-yeol will take place at a plaza in front of the National Assembly, as was the case with his predecessors, the chief of his inaugural ceremony committee said Wednesday. "As is customary, we thought it is realistically better to hold the ceremony at the National Assembly and the president-elect gladly said, do that," said Park Joo-sun, who is in charge of Yoon's inauguration preparations. "It will be held at a plaza in front of the National Assembly and if there is rain, the ceremony will then take place at the Rotunda Hall (inside the main Assembly building)."
N.K. weekend artillery firing did not breach inter-Korean accord: defense minister
Defense Minister Suh Wook on Tuesday rejected President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's claim that North Korea's weekend artillery firing violated a 2018 inter-Korean military tension reduction accord. During a parliamentary session, Suh said the North fired shots Sunday from a site "far north" of a buffer zone in the Yellow Sea that the two Koreas agreed to set up under their Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA). Earlier in the day, Yoon called the firing a "clear" violation of the CMA that stipulates the buffer zone spanning around 135 kilometers in the Yellow Sea and around 80 km in the East Sea. It bans artillery firing and naval drills in the zone.
The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
NK working with Russian cybercriminals: Sullivan
North Korea is cooperating with cybercriminals around the world, including those from Russia, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said, amid heightened cybersecurity concerns around the world due to Russia’s war with Ukraine. “All I can say, generally, is that North Korea’s cyber capabilities have been manifest in the world and they work with all kinds of cybercriminals around the world, including Russian cybercriminals,”
China says 91,900 barrels of oil, 18% of annual cap, supplied to N. Korea in 2021
China reported that it had provided around 91,900 barrels of refined petroleum to North Korea last year, tantamount to 18 percent of the UN-mandated oil import cap, while Russia claimed that it had no longer supplied oil in the same period. The UN Security Council sanctions committee on North Korea has recently updated the total amount of refined petroleum products that were exported and transferred by Beijing and Moscow to Pyongyang last and this year.
Outgoing BOK chief concerned over high inflationary pressure
South Korea’s central bank chief Lee Ju-yeol on Wednesday expressed concerns of the lingering woes stemming from COVID-19, including the high inflationary pressure, as he prepares to wrap-up eight successful years as the Bank of Korea governor.“Looking back, my past eight years as BOK governor have full of unexpected events starting with the Sewol Ferry disaster -- which happened only 15 days after I took office -- MERS, Brexit, US-China trade war, Japan’s export restrictions against Korea, COVID and most recently the Russia-Ukraine crisis,”
The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Ex-President Park discharged from hospital
Former President Park Geun-hye was discharged from the hospital Thursday, saying she is grateful to people for their concerns about her heath. Park, who was pardoned while serving a 22-year prison sentence for corruption, left Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, where she has received treatment for a chronic illness since November. Park will visit the grave of her late father and former President Park Chung-hee at Seoul National Cemetery before heading to her new residence in Daegu, 302 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
Lawyers' association calls on Korean government to accept Ukrainian refugees
A lawyers' group has called for the government to take prompt action in accepting Ukrainian refugees. On Tuesday, the Korean Bar Association (KBA) issued a statement to express concerns over human rights violations occurring in the Eastern European region due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while also calling for the Korean government actively to accept refugees from the area. "Regarding the refugee situation (in Ukraine), the Korean government announced on Feb. 28 that Ukrainians in Korea would be granted stay extensions on humanitarian grounds so that they could leave after the local situation (in Ukraine) stabilizes.
Virtual humans emerge as major trend in burgeoning metaverse
The virtual world ― or metaverse ― has been emerging as the talk of the town, especially since the coronavirus pandemic has drastically curtailed in-person interactions and led people to utilize technology for digital interaction. The global market for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) is estimated to have reached $30.7 billion in size last year, according to market and consumer data company Statista. It is projected to increase each year and rise to almost $300 billion in 2024. As the technology advances to expand the virtual world, virtual humans are rising to become the latest major trend across various industries, from entertainment to retail.
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