Thursday, August 12, 2022
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today
The Korea Post ( www.koreapost.com )
Colorful films to help audience sense, explore ties between film, music
JIMFF bares 10 ‘must-see’ music films on opening day tomorrow. Time is running out and, alas, it is tomorrow when the 18th Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF) starts (on August 11, 2022)! The host has disclosed the presentation of 10 more film recommendations selected by the Festival's programmer. This year’s edition of the festival features 139 music films from 39 countries, which is the highest number in the festival’s history.
The “forest chief” scheme leads to lusher mountains in central China's Hunan province
Changsha, the capital of central China's Hunan province, is a "furnace" in midsummer, whose temperature may rise to 40 degrees Celsius. For Changsha citizens, the Dawei Mountain, some 130 km east of the metropolis, is an ideal place to escape the summer heat. The winding mountain looks like a green belt interspersed with wetlands and valleys. This gorgeous scenery couldn't have been shaped without the meticulous efforts made by "forest rangers and chiefs." Changsha introduced a “forest chief” scheme in 2021,
Busy ports mirror China's economic pickup
The Rugao port in east China's Jiangsu province is seeing a busy scene these days. Containers are constantly hoisted by travelling bridge cranes and various types of cargo are being unloaded from gigantic vessels in the water. As of July 15, the Suzhong international terminal of the Rugao port had handled 300,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) this year, up 6.8 percent from a year ago. Ports are a barometer of foreign trade and the national economy. Apart from the Jiangsu port, major ports along China's coastline are all prospering.
Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
1/3 of Koreans Lost Income in Pandemic
Nearly one-third of Koreans lost income in the coronavirus pandemic, while one out of eight in their 40s and 50s borrowed money to make ends meet, a poll suggests. The findings were released on Sunday by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs based on a survey of 3,923 people between June and September last year.Some 31.4 percent of respondents said they suffered a decline in their income since the pandemic started. Among self-employed people the figure was a whopping 76.6 percent and among temporary and day laborers 49 percent.
N.Korea to Send Workers to Russian Puppet State Donetsk
In a sign of solidarity between global pariahs, North Korea is discussing the dispatch of laborers to the Donetsk People's Republic, founded by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, to rebuild infrastructure there. Denis Pushilin, the head of the DPR, told a local TV station that Donetsk is in discussion with North Korea over the dispatch of workers and an advance team from North Korea will visit Donetsk soon to make a final decision on what they could do there.
1/3 of CEOs Hired Externally
More than three in 10 chief executives at Korea's largest companies were recruited externally for their positions. Corporate tracker Leaders Index surveyed the country's 500 largest companies late last month and found that 196 out of 607 incumbent CEOs, except those who refused to respond to the survey, were recruited from outside the companies, accounting for 32.3 percent.
Joongang Ilbo (https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com )
One district in Seoul dug itself out of floods
Yangcheon District in southwestern Seoul came through the unprecedented rains of this week better than most parts of Seoul. The reason: a deep underground rainwater tunnel located in Sinwol-dong, near the Mok-dong Rainwater Pumping Station in Yangcheon District, completed only a couple of years ago. On Monday and Tuesday, Gangnam District and surrounding areas in southern Seoul saw some of the worst flooding following the heaviest rainfall in around a century.
Beijing wags finger at Seoul on Thaad, Three No's
Just a day after a foreign ministers meeting Korea hailed as friendly and frank, the Chinese Foreign Ministry rekindled the debate on a U.S.-led antimissile system — and told Seoul to keep to past promises. “Previously, the Republic of Korea’s government officially announced its policy of 'Three No’s and One Restriction,’” said Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry in a press briefing on Wednesday. It was the first time the Chinese government added the expression “one restriction” to the Three No’s policy pledged by the Korean government five years ago.
Discount shopping coupons offered by government, stockpiles released
Discount coupons will be issued by the government and stockpiles released in order to keep prices low amid the worst rainfall in a century and ahead of the holiday season. A total of 65 billion won ($50 million) of coupons for agriculture, fishery and livestock products will be disbursed, with public funds covering the discounts. "We need to control rising consumer prices," President Yoon Suk-yeol said Thursday at a Hanaro Mart in Yangje, Seoul.
The Dong-A Ilbo (http://english.donga.com/)
Justice Ministry revises legislation bypassing prosecution reform bill
With the enforcement of the prosecution reform bill, which is designed to strip away the prosecution’s investigative powers only a month ahead, the Ministry of Justice will push for a new legislation redefining the existing crimes related to public officials and election practices as “corruption crimes”, giving the prosecution the authority to investigate them directly. The Ministry of Justice said Thursday that it will make a pre-announcement of this new revised bill called ‘the regulation on the scope of crimes subjected to the prosecution’s investigation (presidential decree)’ from August 12 to 29.
Kim Yo Jong: COVID-19 introduced to N. Korea due to propaganda leaflets
Kim Yo Jong, vice-department director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party (pictured), the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said, "We should take strong retaliatory measures,” as she blamed South Korea for the outbreak of COVID-19 on its soil. She said that the introduction of the coronavirus disease to the North was due to propaganda leaflets, money, sloppy booklets, and some stuff sent by the South, adding it will hold it accountable.
Trump took Fifth Amendment for five and a half hours
Former U.S. President Donald Trump refused to answer questions on Wednesday based on his Fifth Amendment right during the first probe by New York Attorney General Letitia James since he left the White House. Reportedly, he ducked questions for five and a half hours while refusing to answer more than 440 times on allegations that the Trump Organization was involved in accounting frauds and tax avoidances.
Maeil Business News Korea (http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
Seoul readies Team Korea to win Saudi megacity and nuclear reactor projects
The government is readying Team Korea to vie for multibillion-dollar desert megacity and reactor projects of Saudi Arabi, hoping for a push through a visit from the Saudi Crown Prince behind the ambitious urban and green development campaigns. According to multiple sources from the construction and plant industries on Wednesday, the Saudi Arabian government is expected to place procurements for constructions related to the Line (Mirror City) project at the end of this year or early next year.
Samsung unveils 4th-Gen foldables with enhanced features at capped prices
Samsung Electronics has unveiled fourth-generation Galaxy Z Flip4 and Galaxy Z Fold4 in enhanced camera and player experience, multitasking, battery life, and display quality at capped prices to lead mass market in foldable handsets. “Last year, we saw almost 10 million foldables smartphones shipped worldwide (increasing more than 300 percent from 2020). The segment that has not existed three years ago has become a key form (in the premium sector),” said Roh Tae-moon,
S. Korea adds another $8 bn in trade deficit as of Aug 10 amid losses in trade with China
South Korea has already incurred near $8 billion deficit in trade in the first 10 days of August, or almost $23 billion so far in the year as it continues to lose money in bilateral commerce with its largest trade partner China this year for the first time since normalization of ties, while imports towered over exports regardless of double-digit growth.
HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
China challenges S. Korea’s line on THAAD, says use restrictions were pledged
One day after a dialogue between the South Korean and Chinese foreign ministers, the Chinese government emerged with calls for a new approach to the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) issue — one that would go a step farther from its previous “three noes” position by imposing additional restrictions. It also presented a list of five demands that it insisted Seoul would have to meet for the two sides to further develop their “strategic partnership.”
Truth commission advises kidnapped man be given chance to meet family in N. Korea
“Because I was big while my younger siblings were small, [the soldiers] just took me. They were holding guns. I came to Baengnyeong Island, then went to the Oryu neighborhood [in Seoul’s Guro District]. I stayed in Oryu like that [for four years]. I want nothing more than to be able to contact my family [in North Korea]. Even now, once I start thinking [about my family], I stay up the entire night.” In October 1956, immediately after the Korean War had come to an end, Kim Ju-sam was kidnapped by three South Korean spies on the coast of Hwanghae Province in North Korea.
China’s unprecedented “five requests” won’t improve S. Korea-China relations
The talks between South Korean and Chinese foreign ministers on Tuesday in Qingdao, China, clearly showed the two sides’ differences on the issues of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system and the “Chip 4” semiconductor dialogue. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi unilaterally stressed China’s position, insisting on “five requirements” in South Korea-China relations. This necessitates a strategic response from Seoul, which has to manage relations on a stable footing while making it clear that the two sides are equal neighbors who respect one another.
The KyungHyangShinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
“The Presidential Office Must Be the President’s ‘Anti-fan,’” Promotional Poster Used a Picture Taken at the Site of a Tragic Disaster
Controversy refuses to die down concerning President Yoon Suk-yeol’s response to the downpour that pounded central South Korea since August 8. The Office of the President created a promotional poster and “card news” using pictures taken at the site where a family of three died after their house was flooded with rainwater drawing attacks. As controversy intensified, the presidential office deleted the problematic posts on August 10.
Disaster Relief and Recovery, Affairs for the Vulnerable: The “Disaster Inequality” Revealed by the Downpour
“The workers on site were probably all thinking about reoperating the trains. We thought that was the natural thing to do. Still, we’re human. I was afraid making my way through the pouring rain to get to work.” The record-breaking downpour that pounded central South Korea since August 8 was a disaster that A had never experienced during her years cleaning subway stations. A was assigned to the cleanup operation at the Line 9 Dongjak Station in Seoul, which was shut down due to the heavy rains. She met with the reporter on August 10 and said, “Sand and mud was piled up all over the platform.
Lee Jae-myung, “The Police Summoned Kim Hye-kyung. We Will Cooperate with the Investigation”
Kim Hye-kyung, the wife of lawmaker Lee Jae-myung, who is running for the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was summoned by an investigative agency for her alleged misuse of a corporate credit card. On August 9, the office of lawmaker Lee posted on social media, “Ms. Kim Hye-kyung received a request from the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency this day to appear before the police.”
KBS(http://world.kbs.co.kr/service)
US Repeats Warning of Possibility of N. Korea's 7th Nuclear Test
The United States has repeated its warning of the possibility of a seventh nuclear test by North Korea. U.S. State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel on Thursday said in a press briefing over the phone that Washington has assessed that North Korea is preparing its Punggye-ri nuclear test site for its seventh nuclear test. The spokesperson said this assessment is consistent with the North's own public statements.
PM Orders Swift Steps to Designate Storm-affected Areas as Special Disaster Zone
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said on Friday that the government will move swiftly to designate areas hit hard by this week's heavy rains as a special disaster zone. The prime minister made the remarks while presiding over a government meeting to check responses to the recent downpours and the COVID-19 situation. Prime Minister Han said the government will make the utmost effort to stabilize the lives of residents in the affected areas and provide support for a swift recovery.
Death Toll from Heavy Downpours Rises to 13
The death toll from this week's heavy rains that battered the nation’s central region has climbed to 13 while six others remain missing. According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, as of 6 a.m. Friday, a total of 13 people are confirmed dead – eight in Seoul, three in Gyeonggi Province and two in Gangwon Province. Eighteen people – 16 in Gyeonggi and two in Seoul – were injured, while six others remain unaccounted for.
Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
Yoon says pardons aim to help people's livelihoods, economic recovery
President Yoon Suk-yeol said Friday that people's livelihoods and economic recovery are the focus of his special pardons to be granted ahead of Liberation Day. The pardons will be approved during an extraordinary Cabinet session presided over by Yoon later Friday and announced by Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon. Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong is widely expected to be among the beneficiaries, along with other business leaders.
U.S. concerned by N. Korea's 'strengthened rhetoric' around its nuclear program: State Dept.
The United States is preparing for all contingencies amid signs of a potential North Korean nuclear test but is concerned by Pyongyang's "strengthened rhetoric" around its nuclear program, a state department spokesperson said Thursday. Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the department, said Pyongyang is continuing to prepare for what will be its seventh nuclear test.
Gov't to swiftly take steps to designate rain-hit areas as special disaster zone
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Friday instructed the government to swiftly take steps to designate areas that were hit by heavy rains early this week as a special disaster zone. If designated, the rain-hit areas will be eligible for the government's financial support in recovery work, relief funds for victims and other benefits. "The government will make its utmost efforts to stabilize the lives of residents in the affected areas and to support a swift recovery," Han said during a disaster response meeting.
The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
Korea to expand food supply to tame prices ahead of Chuseok
Economic policymakers said Thursday that they would seek to stabilize consumer prices ahead of the Chuseok holiday by greatly expanding supply and issuing discount coupons for agricultural, livestock and fishery products. They also decided to provide support funds worth 42.6 trillion won ($32.6 billion) for small- and mid-sized enterprises and small merchants before the Chuseok holiday period, Sept. 9-12.
Govt. to swiftly take steps to designate rain-hit areas as special disaster zone
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Friday instructed the government to swiftly take steps to designate areas that were hit by heavy rains early this week as a special disaster zone. If designated, the rain-hit areas will be eligible for the government's financial support in recovery work, relief funds for victims and other benefits. "The government will make its utmost efforts to stabilize the lives of residents in the affected areas and to support a swift recovery," Han said during a disaster response meeting.
By 2025, half of Samsung’s premium phone shipment will be foldables
Samsung Electronics mobile head, Roh Tae-moon, said the South Korean tech giant looks to target wider audiences with its Galaxy foldable phones in a bid to address the sluggish growth of its premium smartphones and macroeconomic headwinds, in a press conference held Wednesday, in New York. As the clamshell-type Galaxy Z Flip and book-type Galaxy Z Fold evolve,
The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
Korean firms asked to consult with indigenous peoples prior to searching for renewable energy resources
A coalition of indigenous peoples around the world has expressed concerns about Korean companies operating globally charging forward with renewable energy initiatives, warning that the processes involved might violate their basic rights to sustaining their lives and protecting their cultural heritage. The message came from Secure Indigenous People's Rights in a Green Economy, or the SIRGE Coalition, a coalition of groups of advocates for indigenous peoples and clean energy transition worldwide,
Late Samsung chairman's collection highlights painter Lee Jung-seop as family man
While touted as one of the most iconic modern artists of Korea, whose paintings of bulls letting out spirited cries came to symbolize Korean national identity, Lee Jung-seop (1916-56) was, ultimately, a family man. The painter's desperate yearning for a reunion with his wife and two sons, who had crossed the sea to Japan in 1952, after leading a life of destitution in war-torn Korea, is reflected in a rather unusual yet somehow fitting material of the time: crumpled aluminum foil pulled from cigarettes packets found in his pocket or trash cans dotting the street.
Defense minister refutes China's claim on THAAD
South Korea's defense minister said, Thursday, a U.S. anti-missile shield, currently deployed on the Korean Peninsula, cannot operate to Washington's advantage, rejecting China's claim that the system's radar can spy on its military maneuvers and undermine its security interests. In addition, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup vowed to speed up efforts to transform the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) base in South Korea into a permanent structure.
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