Migrant workers' struggles, pregnant women vaccination uncertainties, and high profile N Korean defector speaks to the BBC.
K-NEWS BITES
Tue 2021-10-12 (KST)
[Us and Them] Migrant workers’ struggles in Korea continue despite better awareness (4 min read)
“To better accommodate migrant workers and make Korea a country of choice for newcomers, officials say that South Korea’s conservative, sometimes hostile attitude towards migrant workers must be changed.”
Disagreement on North Korea sanctions feared to weaken Seoul-Washington alliance (4 min read)
"There is definitely disagreement in Seoul and Washington over sanctions relief, and I doubt the Biden administration is going to change that position anytime soon.” (U.S. Naval War College Professor Terence Roehrig )
Pregnant women get conflicting messages about COVID-19 vaccine (3 min read)
“Pregnant women are uncertain whether or not to get COVID-19 vaccinations, as some doctors have been giving advice that contradicts the government's message as well as insisting that the vaccination of mothers-to-be should undergo more extensive review.”
New cases under 2,000 for 3rd day on fewer tests; potential upticks still worrisome (2 min read)
“The country added 1,297 more COVID-19 cases, including 1,284 local infections, raising the total caseload to 332,816… The country added eight more deaths from COVID-19, raising the death toll to 2,583. The fatality rate was 0.78 percent.”
General COVID Information for residents in Korea:
Ministry of Health and Welfare, South Korea
Coronavirus Statistics for South Korea
South Korea looks to Germany for reunification pointers (5 min read)
“... with Germany as one of the very few countries with recent experience of a similar amalgamation of two states, Unification Minister Lee In-young is traveling to Europe to discuss what can be learned from the events leading up to German reunification in 1990 and subsequent developments.”
Drugs, arms, and terror: A high-profile defector on Kim's North Korea (10 min read)
“... the former senior colonel has decided to tell his story to the BBC. It's the first time such a senior military officer from Pyongyang has given an interview to a major broadcaster.” (I’ll leave it up to you whether you think this guy is legit).
N. Korean Leader Pledges to Resolve Basic Necessity Issues in Next 5 Yrs. (1 min read)
“North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged to resolve the country's chronic shortages of basic necessities such as clothing, food and housing over the next five years, marking the 76th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party.”
LG wins best TV award in Australia (1 min read)
“. LG said it received the Best TV Brand 2021 title for the sixth consecutive year by Australia's leading consumer magazine, CHOICE.”
Samsung partners with renowned directors to produce films with Galaxy devices (1 min read)
“Joe Wright, who is best known for directing the romantic drama film ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ is the first participant of the campaign…”
Koreans dominate both PGA, LPGA for first time on same day (6 min read)
“Two Koreans, for the first time ever, won both the PGA title and the LPGA title on the same day Sunday as PGA golfer Im Sung-jae and LPGA golfer Ko Jin-young each took home a win at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and the Cognizant Founders Cup, respectively.”
DP: Netflix's South Korean show exposing the military's dark side (1 min read)
“A military recruit is casually slapped in the face, while another is brutally beaten by a higher-rank soldier just because he feels like doing it. These are scenes from the Netflix series DP, a South Korean drama which has generated buzz for exposing the dark side of the country's mandatory military service since launching on the platform.”
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