South Korean President to hold press conference on scrapped airport plan

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak

S. Korea scraps plan to build new int’l airport

SEOUL, March 31 (KATAKAMI.COM)  — President Lee Myung-bak plans to hold a press conference later this week to express his position on the government’s decision to abort a major airport construction project, his aides said Thursday, amid fierce backlash from local residents, authorities and lawmakers, YONHAP NEWS AGENCY reported.

“The president is scheduled to express his position tomorrow,” a senior official at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said on the condition of anonymity. “The format will be a press conference.”

Lee made a campaign pledge to construct a new airport in the southeastern region, called “Yeongnam” in Korean, but the government announced a decision Wednesday to scrap the plan, citing a lack of expected economic benefits.

A Cheong Wa Dae source said Lee is expected to express regret over the reversal rather than offering a direct public apology. (*)

 

South Korea names new ambassadors to Austria, Indonesia

Kim Young-sun, the ministry's former spokesman, will serve as the top envoy to Indonesia

SEOUL, March 29 (KATAKAMI.COM / Yonhap) — South Korea has appointed its new ambassadors to Austria and Indonesia, the foreign ministry said Tuesday.

Kim Young-sun, the ministry’s former spokesman, will serve as the top envoy to Indonesia while Cho Hyun, the former deputy foreign minister for multilateral and global affairs, will head the country’s diplomatic mission in Austria, the ministry said in a statement. (*)

 

Photostream : Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi meets South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan

China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (R) shakes hands with his South Korean counterpart Kim Sung-hwan during their meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, March 29, 2011. REUTERS/China Daily

China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (R) gestures to his South Korean counterpart Kim Sung-hwan during their meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, March 29, 2011. REUTERS/China Daily

 

Photo : South Korean Prime Minister pays tribute to Japanese earthquake victims

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik (L in front row) pays his respects to Japanese earthquake victims during. As reported by YONHAP AGENCY NEWS om Monday, Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik paid a visit to the Japanese embassy in Seoul on Monday (3/21/2011) to express his condolences to the victims of the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated the neighboring country on March 11. "I don't know how to express my condolences," Kim told Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Masatoshi Muto (Photo : Yonhap)

 

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak stresses government's responsible role in 'risk society'

South Korean President President Lee Myung-bak

SEOUL, March 21 (KATAKAMI.COM) — South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said Monday that Japan’s nuclear crisis, albeit caused by a natural disaster that was beyond human control, showed risks posed by the science and technology that was developed for convenience and effectiveness, Yonhap News Agency reported on Monday.

 

“This reality is referred to as a ‘risk society,'” Lee said in his biweekly radio address. “We now have advanced science and technology. Still, a failure to pay due attention to every single nut and bolt could cause a large-scale accident, wreaking serious havoc on the social system.”

He said the tragedy in Japan, which is struggling to contain high-level radiation leaks from nuclear reactors crippled by a powerful earthquake and subsequent tsunami, served as a wake-up call to South Korea.

Lee affirmed that his administration will continue making efforts to ensure the safety of the people.

“I am keenly aware, indeed, that the basic obligation of the state is to overcome danger and maintain public safety,” he said. “The government will faithfully keep the promise that the safety of the people has the highest priority.”

He reiterated that South Korea is immune to the radiation released from Japan’s reactors, citing the opinion that the radioactive elements cannot be carried off by the wind to the peninsula.

“Please do not be swayed by unfounded rumors or unscientific speculations about a nuclear fallout,” Lee said.

He also said South Korea has little chance of suffering a Japanese-style nuclear crisis, as all of its 21 nuclear reactors were constructed with consideration of the biggest possible earthquake that could occur here.

But the government has already started a comprehensive safety check on all of the plants, he added.

Lee said South Koreans can learn many lessons from how the Japanese people and the media have reacted to the ongoing tragedy.

“In the extreme conditions threatening their survival, the Japanese people shared water and food with each other. In order to prevent further damage from radiation leaks, some people dashed to the dangerous scenes risking their own lives,” he said. “The international press praised the discipline, considerateness and devotion that the Japanese citizens demonstrated, saying that it represented the evolution of the human spirit.”

Lee also said he was very proud of a wave of condolences and donations by South Koreans for the neighbor in trouble.

“Through this tragedy, I believe that the two nations will become much closer to each other,” he said. “It is my earnest hope that the Japanese people will acquire the needed strength to quickly overcome their current calamities.”   (*)

 

Photostream : South Korean President Lee Myung-bak pays tribute to Japanese earthquake victims

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak (front) pays respect to Japanese earthquake victims during his visit to the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on March 18. (Yonhap)

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak (L) expresses to Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Masatoshi Muto deep condolences for Japanese earthquake victims during his visit to the Japanese embassy in Seoul on March 18. (Yonhap)

Seen here is a condolence message that South Korean President Lee Myung-bak left during his visit to the Japanese embassy in Seoul on March 18 to pay respects to Japanese earthquake victims. It reads, "We, Korean people, offer deep condolences for victims. We are confident Japan will recover at an early time, and we, as the nearest neighbor, will be with you. March 18, 2011 Lee Myung-bak." (Yonhap)

 

South Korean actor Bae Yong Joon donates $888,000 for Japan quake relief

S. Korea actor Bae Yong Joon donates $888,000 for Japan quake relief

SOUTH KOREA, March 14, 2011 (KATAKAMI.COM) —South Korean actor Bae Yong Joon has donated 1 billion won (about $888,000) to the Japanese government’s fund for earthquake relief, Yonhap News Agency reported Monday, citing his agency.

As reported by Kyodo News Agency on Monday, Bae, 38, who starred in the hit TV drama ”Winter Sonata,” is immensely popular in Japan, particularly among women.

In a message posted on his Japanese website, Bae that he was saddened by the news of the huge damage and that he would find ways to support Japan’s relief efforts.

Also Monday, Kim Hyun Joong, a member of the popular South Korean boy band SS501, donated 100 million won for earthquake relief efforts in Japan.

Bae and Kim are represented by South Korea’s celebrity management firm Keyeast.  (*)

 

South Korean President arrives in UAE after emergency landing in Incheon

March 12, SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak (R) and first lady Kim Yoon-ok pose for photographers before boarding a presidential jet bound for the United Arab Emirates, where he plans to hold a summit with his UAE counterpart and work on energy diplomacy during his four-day stay. (Yonhap)

 

 

ABU DHABI, March 12 (KATAKAMI.COM) — South Korean President Lee Myung-bak arrived Saturday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a four-day visit that would focus on economic talks and expanding cooperation with the oil-rich country, officials said.

As reported by YONHAP News Agency on Saturday, President Lee is scheduled to hold summit talks on Sunday with UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on strengthening cooperation in various sectors, including the economy, energy, construction, environment and health care, according to Cheong Wa Dae.  (*)

 

South Korean President leaves for Abu Dhabi

South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak (pictured) has left for the United Arab Emirates, the presidential Blue House said, as part of Seoul's diplomatic drive to expand economic ties with the Middle East.

March 12, 2011 (KATAKAMI.COM)— South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak has left for the United Arab Emirates, the presidential Blue House said, as part of Seoul’s diplomatic drive to expand economic ties with the Middle East.

As reported by France 24 on Saturday, President Lee and President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan will have a summit on Sunday to discuss economic cooperation, especially in energy, construction, environment and health care sectors.

“The Middle East region is important in our development. The United Arab Emirates is significant as a bridgehead,” a senior official at the Blue House was quoted as saying by Yonhap news agency.

After arriving Abu Dhabi, Lee will head to the eastern town of Al Ain, where he will meet with some 130 South Korean troops, Yonhap said.

Seoul sent the special forces unit there in January for a two-year mission to help train the Middle East country’s commando units and conduct joint drills.

The troops’ dispatch came after South Korea won a 20.4-billion-dollar contract from Abu Dhabi in 2009 to construct nuclear reactors in the country.

Lee will also attend the ground-breaking ceremony for a nuclear power plant in Braka, some 300 kilometres (190 miles) west of Abu Dhabi, which will be developed with South Korean technology, Yonhap said.

During the four-day visit, Lee, accompanied by his wife Kim Yoon-Ok, will travel to Dubai on Monday to meet South Korean residents and receive the Zayed International Prize for the Environment.

The trip will be Lee’s second visit to Abu Dhabi since taking office in 2008. His previous trip was made in December 2009 when Seoul clinched the nuclear power plant deal.  (*)

 

South Korean Defense Chief confirms North Korea behind GPS jamming last week

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin

SEOUL, March 9 (KATAKAMI.COM) — South Korea’s defense chief confirmed Wednesday that North Korea was responsible for the disruption of navigational devices using a Global Positioning System (GPS) last week, adding that he will reinforce measures to cope with future electronic attacks by the North.

 

As repordted by YONHAP News on Wednesday,  Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin told a parliamentary session that signals were detected originating from the North’s western border city of Kaesong and were also believed to be emitted from Mount Kumgang on the Korean Peninsula’s east coast.

“Besides Kaesong, Mount Kumgang is believed to be a site where the GPS jamming signals were originated,” a participant quoted Kim as saying at the closed-door session.

Seoul’s military officials have said the signals were sent from the North’s western border cities of Kaesong and Haeju, but it was the first time that Kim mentioned Mount Kumgang as a potential origin of the electronic attack.

Kim said the North’s attempt to block military communications was ineffective because most military devices use a military-only satellite navigation system.

“To cope with a future disruption of GPS signals, the ministry will step up a cooperation system among private, government and military sectors,” Kim said, according to the participant.

The North’s latest electronic attack may have been intended to disrupt the joint military exercises by South Korean and U.S. forces that run until Thursday, military officials here said.

North Korea has been thought to have been responsible for the intermittent failure of GPS receivers since last year.   (*)