The Korean daily media headlines and humor
Monday, January 22, 2018
Your Excellency:
Here are The Korea Post notices and a roundup of important headlines from all major Korean-language dailies, TV and other news media of Korea today:
Very Respectfully Yours
/s/
Lee Kyung-sik
Publisher-Chairman
Korea Post Media
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Round-up of important news stories from major Korean dailies today:
The Korea Post media (www.koreapost.com) in English, (www.koreapost.co.kr) in Korean.
S. Korea's twin curlers share golden dream for Olympics
South Korea's twin curlers Lee Ki-bok and Lee Ki-jeong have different personalities, but when it comes to curling, the two share the same dream of winning the country's first medal in the sport at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
"My older brother smiles while playing, but I tend to be a little serious," Ki-jeong of South Koreas's mixed doubles team said, claiming that the difference nevertheless brings "balance" between the two. Ki-bok will compete for the men's team at the Feb. 9-25 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
Gov't to require cryptocurrency exchanges to share user data with banks
The government plans to require cryptocurrency exchanges to share users' transaction data with banks, in a potential move to impose taxes on the transactions, an official at financial authorities said Sunday.
Currently, financial authorities ban banks from offering virtual accounts, which are needed to sell or buy cryptocurrencies, to individual customers, the latest measure to help prevent speculative investment for virtual coins.
N.K Olympic participation to ease tensions, S. Korean presidential office says
South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Sunday that North Korean athletes' participation in the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics will help ease tensions on the peninsula and serve as a stepping stone to establishing peace.
"The PyeongChang Winter Olympics will work to lay the groundwork for the easing of tensions and the establishment of peace on the Korean peninsula in addition to the reconciliation of the two Koreas," Yoon Young-chan, chief press secretary to President Moon Jae-in, said in a statement.
N. Korean delegation in S. Korea to inspect concert venues
A North Korean delegation arrived in Gangnueng, an eastern South Korean city, Sunday to check the venues for its proposed art performances at next month's PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
The trip came amid brisk inter-Korean contact on the North's participation in the Olympic Games to open in three weeks.
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KBS (http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/)
N. Korean Delegation Heads to Seoul to Check Concert Venues
A North Korean delegation departed to Seoul on Monday to continue inspections of possible venues for its proposed art performances during next month's PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
The seven-member delegation, which arrived in South Korea on Sunday and checked candidate venues for the upcoming performances in Gangneung, will inspect concert halls in Seoul.
Two Koreas Ready for Exchange of Olympic Delegates
South and North Korea have finalized the members and schedules of their delegations which will visit each other this week to prepare for the upcoming Winter Olympics.
North Korea consented on Sunday to South Korea's plan to send an advance team this week to prepare for a joint cultural event at Mount Geumgang and for joint training sessions of the two Koreas' ski athletes at a North Korean ski resort.
S. Korea to Beef up Quarantine Efforts to Prevent FMD Ahead of Olympics
South Korea will beef up quarantine efforts to prevent the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease ahead of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said on Sunday that it will further enhance its quarantine efforts of the highly contagious animal disease until May.
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Yonhap (http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr)
N. Korean delegation wraps up 1st day of concert venue inspection
A North Korean delegation on Sunday wrapped up its first day of checking venues for its proposed art performances at next month's PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
The delegation arrived in Gangnueng, an eastern South Korean city, earlier in the day after crossing the land border between the two Koreas. The two-day trip came amid brisk inter-Korean contact on the North's participation in the Olympic Games to open in three weeks.
(PyeongChang Prospects) S. Korea's twin curlers share golden dream for Olympics
South Korea's twin curlers Lee Ki-bok and Lee Ki-jeong have different personalities, but when it comes to curling, the two share the same dream of winning the country's first medal in the sport at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
"My older brother smiles while playing, but I tend to be a little serious," Ki-jeong of South Koreas's mixed doubles team said, claiming that the difference nevertheless brings "balance" between the two. Ki-bok will compete for the men's team at the Feb. 9-25 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
Gov't to collect 24.2 pct of taxes on income by virtual currency exchanges
The government said Monday it will collect up to 24.2 percent of corporate and local income taxes from South Korea's cryptocurrency exchanges this year.
The Seoul government has been striving to rein in the virtual currency frenzy in Asia's fourth-largest economy while contemplating a bill to ban cryptocurrency exchanges.
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The Korea Herald (http://www.koreaherald.com)
NK delegation heads to Seoul for second leg of trip
A North Korean delegation inspecting possible venues here for arts performances will arrive in Seoul on Monday for the second day of its two-day visit. The delegation will return to North Korea later in the day.
The seven-member team, led by the head of the North‘s Samjiyon Orchestra, Hyon Song-wol, is to arrive in Seoul by KTX bullet train from Gangneung, Gangwon Province, to look around candidate venues in Seoul.
Speculation rises that inter-Korean military talks may not occur until Olympics
With the two Koreas taking steps toward an Olympics detente through inter-Korean talks for North Korea’s participation into the PyeongChang Olympics, expectations are high over when they will sit down and discuss specific measures to ease cross-border tensions.
In a rare inter-Korean talk held for the first time in about two years on Jan. 9, South and North Korea agreed to hold military dialogue and additional high-level meetings, with Pyongyang agreeing to send its delegates of athletes and a cheering squad to the Olympics.
‘Alternate no-driving day’ policy to be implemented in Seoul during Olympics
Amid worsening air quality, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced proposals for a mandatory “alternate no-driving day” program on days of high particulate matter levels, during which half of vehicles in the city would be banned from using the roads.
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The Korea Times (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr)
2 Koreas speed up exchanges of Olympic delegates
A North Korean delegation headed by Moranbong Band leader Hyon Song-wol arrived in South Korea, Sunday, to discuss preparations for performances by the North's top arts troupes during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
This was the first visit by North Korean officials to the South since October 2014 when three aides of leader Kim Jong-un -- Hwang Pyong-so, Choe Ryong-hae and Kim Yang Gon -- attended the closing ceremony for the Incheon Asian Games.
Joint ice hockey team turns young South Koreans hostile toward North
Young South Koreans have a growing sense of hostility toward North Korea, viewing a recent decision by the two Koreas to form a joint ice hockey team as giving the North a "free ride" in the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
According to an opinion poll by Gallup Korea, President Moon Jae-in's approval rating dropped to 67 percent last week (Jan. 16 to 18), the lowest in 16 weeks, largely affected by the controversy over the joint ice hockey team.
N. Korea may televise PyeongChang Olympics
North Korean media outlets will broadcast the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, according to sources familiar with Pyongyang.
If this happens, North Koreans will get a rare glimpse of South Korea's first Winter Games amid a thaw in cross-border relations.
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Chosun Ilbo (http://english.chosun.com)
N.Korean Delegation Makes Splash on Arrival in S.Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's rumored ex-girlfriend Hyon Song-wol turned many heads on arrival in South Korea on Sunday ahead of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
Some 1,000 police and security personnel were mobilized to protect her as she and her six-member entourage traveled by train from Seoul Station to Gangneung in Gangwon Province.
Seoul City Stands to Lose W25 Billion from Free Rides
Seoul city stands to lose nearly W25 billion from free subway and bus rides in a bid to reduce pollution from private cars in the rush hour (US$1=W1,072).
The measure was first implemented this year at the urging of the city's populist Mayor Park Won-soon.
N.Korean Media Fudges Cross-Border Olympic Deal
North Korean media on Thursday broadcast only part of a joint press release issued after the latest cross-border talks about the North's participation in the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
The two Korea met at the truce village of Panmunjom on Wednesday and agreed to hold a celebration in the North's Mt. Kumkang resort on the eve of the Olympics and have skiers from both sides train in Maskiryong Ski Resort. But those were the only points the North Korean state media focused on.
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HanKyoReh Shinmun (http://english.hani.co.kr)
South Korean silence on Vietnam War atrocities akin to Japanese treatment of comfort women
Those who prosper through the misfortune of others often seek in their arrogance to disregard that suffering. Just as Japan has ignored a resolution to the military comfort women issue, so South Koreans tend to be unwilling to confront the massacres of Vietnamese civilians as a mirror of the truth and justice they demand from Japan. The only “apology” to yet come from Seoul is then-President Kim Dae-jung’s remarks in 2001 about feeling “troubled by the suffering unwittingly caused to the Vietnamese by our participation in an unfortunate war.”
KCTU will participate in Tripartite Commission of labor, management and government
After the new executives of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, they announced their intention to participate in tripartite negotiations among labor, management and the government. This greatly increased the likelihood of bringing both of South Korea’s national trade union centers back into social dialogue for the first time in 19 years.
Samsung Electronics and Apples being investigated by Italian Antitrust Authority
Samsung Electronics and Apple are under investigation by the Italian Antitrust Authority for unfair actions against consumers, including performance degradation during smartphone updates. The investigation’s inclusion of Samsung Electronics – which had not previously been targeted in smartphone performance degradation allegations – is drawing particular attention to the eventual outcome.
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JoongAng Ilbo (http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/)
North Korean delegation arrives in South
A seven-member delegation from North Korea led by Hyon Song-wol, leader of the Samjiyon Orchestra, who once was rumored to be leader Kim Jong-un’s ex-girlfriend, crossed over the border Sunday morning to check local facilities for two orchestra concerts next month.
Pyongyang will send athletes to ski and skate at Olympics
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Saturday that 22 North Korean athletes will be competing in three sports and five disciplines at the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Games, promising a “door to a brighter future on the Korean Peninsula” as the international society struggles to tame the pugnacious regime with a burgeoning nuclear program.
Incheon Airport says T2 operations ‘stable’
After a rocky start that included 900 pieces of left baggage on 10 Korean Air flights, the corporation managing Incheon International Airport said Sunday that operations at its new passenger terminal were stable.
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The KyungHyang Shinmun (http://english.khan.co.kr/)
His Patience Pushed to the Limit, President Moon Responds Despite His Staff's Advice
On January 18, President Moon Jae-in launched an unprecedentedly fierce criticism of former President Lee Myung-bak saying, "I cannot hold back my rage." It appears to have been difficult for him to ignore the behavior of former President Lee, who tried to trigger a political battle claiming that the investigations of him and his aides was "political retaliation for the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun." President Moon's personal anger could be felt in his strong response, which he made despite concerns that it could be accepted as a "guideline" for the investigation by the Prosecution Service.
What the Declaration of a Unified Party by Ahn Cheol-soo and Yoo Seong-min Is Missing
Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People's Party and Yoo Seong-min, leader of the Bareun Party held a joint press conference on January 18 and declared the unification of the two parties. The two men said, "Conservatives with vested interests and irresponsible progressives have dominated the two ends, establishing a negative structure of coexistence." They further said, "We will work to meet the people's wishes for political reforms by combining a sound new conservative group with a rational moderate group." They believed further delay of unification would hinder their momentum and officially announced the unification of the two parties ahead of the People's Party's convention scheduled for February 4.
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AJU Business Daily (http://eng.ajunews.com/korea)
Angry criticism fills cyberspace over beating of young skating prodigy
With just three weeks left to go for next month's Winter Olympics, the coach of South Korea's female short-track speed skating team was suspended this week for beating a strong gold medal favorite, disrupting the team's training and morale.
Shim Suk-hee, the 20-year-old captain and anchor of South Korean female short-track speed skaters, boycotted a training program on Tuesday and left a training camp in Jincheon, some 75 kilometers (46 miles) south of Seoul after she was beaten by her team coach, Cho Jae-beom.
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Maeil Business News Korea ( http://www.pulsenews.co.kr/)
Hoban Construction is sole bidder for Daewoo E&C
Contrary to earlier expectations, the prospect of the sale of Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co. (Daewoo E&C) has become uncertain after only one candidate, its smaller local rival Hoban Construction Co., submitted a bid to buy a 51 percent stake in the builder at 1.6 trillion won ($1.5 billion) below the asking price.
LG Chem receives approval of first biosimilar in Japan
LG Chem Ltd., chemical and battery making unit under South Korea’s leading conglomerate LG Group, said on Friday that it has received marketing approval of its biosimilar drug LBEC0101 from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
More companies seek IPO on Korean stock market this year
More companies are preparing for initial public offering on South Korean stock market this year including C&G Hi Tech Co., who plans to debut on the country’s secondary Kosdaq bourse on Jan 25.
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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.cnkf@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.comlithuania@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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Morocco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfFmp2sVvSE
And many other countries.
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