Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Round-up of important news from major Korean dailies and from international media today

 

The Korea Post ( www.koreapost.com )

New ambassador of Azerbaijan has 24 years of professional work experience
The Republic of Korea now has a new ambassador from the Republic of Azerbaijan who was accredited to Korea in August 2022. The new ambassador is H.E. Ramin Hasanov. The Korea Post interviewed Ambassador Hasanov at the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Seoul on March 3, 2023, and learned the following details:  Prior to this appointment, Ambassador Hasanov has served as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Federal Republic of Germany.

 

"We will create greater and stronger synergy through 4+1 administration"
"In order to be converted into a ‘city of revival,’ Nonsan City should be established as a mecca for the military industry," Nonsan City Mayor Baek Seong-hyun said. In an interview with the Korea Post media, which has published three English and two Korean-language news publications since 1985, he said, "We will make Nonsan a creative city suitable for the convergence era with bolder and more challenging aspirations in 2023." The followings are excerpts from an interview with Nonsan City Mayor Baek Seong-hyun.


Uzbekistan's labor market in international assessments
International rankings and indexes assess the economic and political freedom, well-being of life, human rights, education, health care system, etc. of various countries. In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated 02.06.2020, key performance indicators (KPIs) were defined for priority international ratings and indices for the Republic of Uzbekistan, a number of which, as well as 16 sub-indicators, are directly related to the labor market. This article highlights sub-indicators related to the labor market that affect the position in international indices, as well as measures that need to be implemented in the labor market to improve the position of Uzbekistan in international comparisons.

 


Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
Korea Proposes Solution to Compensating Forced Laborers
The government has come up with a proposal to compensate Koreans who were forced to work in Japanese munitions factories and mines in World War II in a bid to improve fraught relations with Japan. The government announced Monday that it will compensate the victims from a government foundation instead of direct payment from responsible Japanese businesses like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nippon Steel, which were ordered by the Supreme Court here in 2018 to compensate them.


China Stops COVID Tests on Arrival for Korean Visitors
China has scrapped COVID tests on arrival for travelers from Korea after Seoul stopped the requirement for visitors from China last week. But all arrivals in China including Koreans still have to present a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of their departure. The two countries also agreed to increase flights to pre-pandemic levels, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport here. China slashed flights between the two countries from about 1,100 a week in 2019 to just 60 at the moment.


Apartments Become More Affordable for Salaried Workers
A drop in apartment prices has reduced the time salaried workers need to save up to buy their own home in Seoul. According to KB Kookmin Bank, the price-to-income ratio (PIR) in Seoul stood at 11.9 times at the end of last year, a drastic reduction from 19 times a year ago. PIR is used to gauge housing affordability, and a PIR of 11.9 times means it takes 12 years' worth of salaries to afford a mid-priced apartment in the capital.

 

 

Joongang Ilbo (https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com )

Public foundation to compensate Japan's forced labor victims
The Korean government announced a plan Monday to compensate Japan's wartime forced labor victims through a public foundation funded by domestic companies, aimed at mending bilateral relations which have frayed in recent years. Some victims and local civic groups immediately protested the plan because it didn't involve direct payments from the Japanese companies who were ordered to compensate the forced labor victims by Korea's top court in 2018. 

  

U.S. Chips Act requirements 'concerning': Korean trade minister
The recently released requirements for the U.S. chip manufacturing subsidy program are “concerning,” the trade minister said Monday, promising to negotiate with the United States on the details of the conditions. The requirements for receiving funding from the U.S. chip subsidy program are uncertain and cover too many areas,” said Lee Chang-yang, minister of Trade, Industry and Energy on Monday during a press meeting. There are also several clauses that require submitting information related to the fundamental business operations,” that may harm the business activities of Korean companies, Lee said.


52-hour-workweek rules to be tweaked if bill passes
Maximum working hours could be increased to 69 hours a week from 52 under a bill proposed by the government. If the law is passed by the National Assembly, people who work longer per week will get extra time off later. The Ministry of Employment and Labor on Monday announced the proposal, saying that it hopes the new law will allow for more flexibility and give companies more options, especially small companies. Under the bill, total working hours will remain at 52 a week.

 

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

Gov’t plans to add flexibility to workweek system
The government announced on Monday that it would be overhauling the 52-hour workweek system. Instead of managing work hours weekly, which had been in place for 70 years, the government will introduce monthly, quarterly, bi-annual, and annual working allowances to promote flexibility. Employees working overtime or on holidays will be able to convert those extra work hours to vacation time. Such change requires law amendment, however, and with opposition parties, including the Democratic Party and Justice Party, against the change, it is unclear whether the new law can be passed.
 

B-52H bomber capable of nuclear armament deployed to S. Korea
The U.S.’ B-52H bomber flew to the Korean Peninsula on Monday and conducted joint air drills with South Korean Air Force’s fighter planes. It has been three months since the last mobilization of B-52H capable of nuclear armament to the peninsula. On Friday, the unmanned aerial vehicle MQ-9 Reaper, known as the ‘assassin in the sky,’ and the B-1B strategic bomber, also called the ‘swan of death,’ were simultaneously deployed.

Israle’s fighter pilots boycott to protest against ‘judicial overhaul’
Amidst growing opposition to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed legislation to curtail the powers of the country's judicial system, airplane pilots have now joined the boycott of the Prime Minister's plane. The legislation, if enacted, could result in a significant reduction of the judiciary's powers. El Al, the national airline of Israel, announced on Sunday that there were no applicants for the positions of pilot or crew member for the prime minister's plane.

 

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

South Korea to bring more flexibility to its 52-hour workweek system
The Korean government Monday announced a set of measures to overhaul the 52-hour workweek system, allowing workers to work up to 69 hours during busy periods, giving more flexibility and choice in work hours. The new measure facilitates companies to manage overtime not only weekly but on a monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly basis, allowing them to choose more hours during weeks with heavy workloads and fewer hours during weeks with less work, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor.


Korea’s inflation eases to below 5% for first time in 10 months in Feb.
South Korea’s inflation eased to below 5 percent for the first time in 10 months in February on a decline in the prices of oil and agricultural products, although utility prices continued an upward trend. According to data released by Statistics Korea on Monday, the country’s consumer price index (CPI) rose 4.8 percent year over year in February, slowing by 0.4 percentage point from the gain in January. It is the first time for the country’s inflation to fall under the pace of 5 percent since April last year.

 

IBD patients no longer tied to hospital thanks to new formulation meds
New medicines that can be self-injected at home drew attention at this year’s European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization (ECCO) conference held in Copenhagen, Denmark last week. Patient convenience in administration is especially prioritized for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which causes unknown diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting and bloody stools. This digestive disease mainly affects people in their 20s to 40s.

 

 

HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)

Yoon Suk-yeol’s plan for forced labor compensation is a complete victory for Japan
The Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s recently unveiled framework for a resolution to the issue of compensation for victims of forced labor during Japanese occupation revolves around the “overlapping assumption of obligation,” by a Korean foundation and developing “future-oriented” ties. Yet it does not include a direct apology from the Japanese government for forced labor, nor does it include apologies and reparations from Japanese companies who committed war crimes in their mobilization of Korean forced labor.
 

The first year of war in Ukraine
On Feb. 24, the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to commemorate the occasion with a speech. There wasn’t much for Putin to celebrate. The invasion had failed to dislodge the government of Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv or incorporate all of Ukrainian territory into greater Russia. Over the last year, the Russian military has suffered 60,000-70,000 fatalities plus nearly 200,000 injuries. It has lost half of its fleet of tanks, and monthly it continues to lose approximately 150 tanks while only managing to replace 20 of them from the country’s only tank factory.

 

Victims, advocates rebuke roundabout plan for addressing Japan’s wartime forced labor use
Victims of Japanese colonial era forced mobilization are strongly protesting the government’s plan for compensating them, calling it a “diplomatic disaster worse than the 2015 ‘comfort women’ agreement.” The government on Monday announced its plans for a compensation deal for the victims involving funds raised through donations from the private sector, including domestic companies, instead of direct payment from liable Japanese firms.



The KyungHyangShinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)

Office of the President Staff Asked PPP Member to “Spread” Content Promoting Kim Gi-hyeon
An official under the senior secretary for civil and social agenda in the Office of the President asked a People Power Party (PPP) member to share and spread content supporting Kim Gi-hyeon, a candidate for PPP leader, in KakaoTalk group chatrooms. The latest news of a presidential staff engaging in activities that directly support a particular candidate is expected to trigger a heated debate over any irregularities concerning the Office of the President’s alleged intervention in the party convention.


Government to Expand Units for Managing Extended Work Hours from a Weekly Basis to Quarterly, Half-Yearly and Yearly Bases
The government will expand units for managing extended work hours to include six-month and one-year units. It will also extend the period allowed for the flexible work system to three months and introduce a work hour savings account system. On March 6, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho presided over an emergency ministerial meeting on the economy at the government office in Seoul and announced these decisions. Deputy Prime Minister Choo announced, “We will increase the unit for managing extended work hours, which is currently restricted to a weekly basis, to monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and yearly bases and offer more choices to industrial worksites.”


People Power Party Cries “Internal Cartel” after KT Selects New CEO Candidates
People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers of the parliamentary Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee held an emergency press conference on March 2 and fiercely criticized the KT board of directors for recommending only KT insiders as CEO candidates, accusing them of forming “a cartel of interests” and “a league of their own.” Some politicians suggested that the ruling PPP was trying to have one of their own people as the next CEO of KT. The criticism seemed to have taken the telecommunications company by surprise, but KT is expected to appoint its new CEO as scheduled.

 



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

US Welcomes S. Korea's Solution to Forced Labor Issue
The United States has welcomed South Korea's announcement of its plan to resolve the long-disputed issue of compensation for Korean victims of Japan's wartime forced labor. U.S. State Department Press Secretary Ned Price said on Monday that the U.S. welcomes the "historic" announcement, saying that bilateral discussions between South Korea and Japan to resolve sensitive historical issues have concluded.


S. Korea-US Military Activities Will be Met with Overwhelming Action’
Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, reportedly said that North Korea is ready to take overwhelming action against the military activities of South Korea and the U.S. The younger Kim issued the warning in a statement carried by the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency on Tuesday, noting that Pyongyang is closely watching the military activities of South Korea and the U.S., ready to act swiftly and overwhelmingly at any time.

 

Labor Unions Criticize Gov't Reform Plan on Workweek System
South Korea's two major umbrella labor organizations criticized the government's plan to overhaul the country's workweek system, saying that the measures will force laborers to work long hours and don't guarantee the workers' right to rest. The employment and labor ministry on Monday unveiled a set of plans to reform the current 52-hour workweek system.


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

Yoon says forced labor decision aimed at moving toward future-oriented relationship with Japan
President Yoon Suk Yeol said Monday that South Korea's decision to compensate wartime forced labor victims without Japanese firms' involvement was a determination aimed at moving toward a future-oriented relationship with Japan, his spokesperson said. Yoon made the remark during his weekly meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo after the foreign ministry announced the plan to compensate the victims through a foundation supported by South Korean businesses, not the Japanese firms accused of forced labor during World War II.


U.S. will continue to strengthen cooperation with S. Korea, Japan: State Dept.
The United States will continue to strengthen its trilateral cooperation with South Korea and Japan, a state department spokesperson said Monday, shortly after Seoul and Tokyo announced steps aimed at improving their bilateral ties. Department Press Secretary Ned Price said the U.S. welcomes the "historic" steps taken by the two U.S. allies. "The United States welcomes the historic announcement that bilateral discussions between the Republic of Korea and Japan to resolve sensitive historical issues have concluded,"

 

N. Korea set to take 'overwhelming' actions against U.S.-S. Korea military drills, Kim Yo-jong says
Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned Tuesday the North is ready to take "overwhelming" actions against military activities by the United States and South Korea, as its rivals are staging joint military drills involving American strategic assets. Kim also warned the North will regard any U.S. attempt to intercept a missile that it will fire as a "clear declaration of war" against the reclusive nation, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

 


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

S. Korean foundation to compensate victims of Japan’s forced labor
South Korea said Monday it will compensate Korean victims forced to work for Japanese companies during World War II while awaiting Japanese participation in a potential fund meant to bolster ties, a decision that comes as Seoul looks to project global power by moving beyond a regional rivalry. The settlement, revealed by Foreign Minister Park Jin, is a “practical compromise” in the face of Japan’s refusal to uphold Korea’s 2018 Supreme Court ruling holding Japanese companies liable for damages. Fighting the global challenges pressing South Korea, like North Korea’s nuclear threats and the US-China tech rivalry, requires closer Seoul-Tokyo relations, according to President Yoon Suk Yeol, a conservative leader that openly champions a quick deal.

 

Work longer, rest longer: Korea to add flexibility to 52-hour workweek
The government on Monday unveiled a set of plans to revise the current 52-hour workweek to give workers greater flexibility in their working hours. The current system, introduced in 2018, limits workers to working up to 52 hours a week. The new plan will allow them to manage the time they work not only on a weekly basis but also on a monthly, quarterly and yearly basis, giving them the option to work up to 69 hours in a week, provided they work fewer hours in other weeks.


Military to make menus more flexible to suit soldiers’ tastes
South Korea’s Defense Ministry on Monday announced a new food service modernization program for this year that meets more of soldiers’ preferences, so that they could enjoy more varied options at barracks starting from the next month. The new plan seeks to end the previous military policy of providing meals to around 500,000 enlisted soldiers based on standardized menus and ingredients that were unilaterally imposed by the military authorities without considering soldiers’ predilections for food.

 

 

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

NK set to take 'overwhelming' actions against US-S. Korea military drills: Kim Yo-jong
Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned Tuesday the North is ready to take "overwhelming" actions against military activities by the United States and South Korea, as its rivals are staging joint military drills involving American strategic assets. Kim also warned the North will regard any U.S. attempt to intercept a missile that it will fire as a "clear declaration of war" against the reclusive nation, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

 

Korea pushes to raise cap on maximum weekly work hours
The pro-business Yoon Suk Yeol administration seeks to extend a mandatory 52-hour cap on the workweek, introduced by the previous Moon Jae-in government, following long-standing complaints raised by employers over what they claim is a lack of flexibility of working hours and difficulties in meeting deadlines. The core of the revised measures announced by the government, Monday, is to enable companies to increase the maximum weekly work hours to 69 and allow workers to take longer vacations.

 

Wall Street holds steady ahead of potentially big week
Stocks were mixed in quiet trading Monday as Wall Street stays in a holding pattern ahead of a potentially big week. The SP 500 rose 2.78 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4,048.42 after coming off its first winning week in the last four. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 40.47, or 0.1 percent, to 33,431.44, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 13.27, or 0.1 percent, to 11,675.74. The stock market has found some footing over the last week after a roller-coaster start to the year where a swift rise gave way to a sharp tumble.

 

 

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

Gwangmyeong Daily 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.com, bfp@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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