THE Korean business chamber said that the death of a South Korean businessman in police custody undermines the Philippine growth story, and warned that this may drive away tourists and potential investors that are now becoming more concerned for their safety here.
AFP FILE PHOTO South Korea and Japan are likely to hold director general-level talks in Seoul next week to discuss the issue of Japan‘s wartime sexual enslavement of Korean women, Seoul government sources said Saturday. South Korea and Japan have been trying to set up a director-level meeting to try to resolve a series of pending issues arising from their shared history. Seoul reportedly wants the meeting, if held, to focus on the so-called “comfort women” issue while Japan insists that the topic should include territorial and other issues as well. “The talks will likely be held next week and South Korea is in the final process of discussion to fix the date of the director level-talks with the Japanese side,” one government source said, requesting anonymity. Other sources said that the meeting is likely to be held on Tuesday. Japan’s Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported that the sexual enslavement issue will be the main topic of the talks which also are likely to include North Korea as a side issue. The talks, if held, will be the first official attempt by the two governments to tackle the “comfort women” issue. Historians believe that up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea, as well as China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Taiwan, were forced to become sex slaves in Japanese army brothels.Grievances among a group of old-aged South Korean women who were sexually enslaved to serve at front-line Japanese military brothels during World War II have been a vexing source of diplomatic tension Read More …
By Tina G. SantosPhilippine Daily Inquirer 4:39 pm | Friday, November 8th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—Immigration authorities have arrested in Boracay a South Korean national facing a multimillion dollar embezzlement case in his country, the authorities said Friday. The fugitive was identified as Kim Jin Soo, 25, who is now being held at the Bureau of Immigration’s detention center in Bicutan, Taguig City. He faces deportation upon the issuance of an order from the Bureau’s Board of Commissioners. The Korean, who has been overstaying since December last year, was initially arrested by tourist policemen in Boracay for allegedly failing to pay his hotel bill and was turned over to immigration officials. The bureau of Immigration said the South Korean embassy had sought its assistance in locating the fugitive so he could be made to answer embezzlement charges against him in South Korea. Follow Us Recent Stories: Complete stories on our Digital Edition newsstand for tablets, netbooks and mobile phones; 14-issue free trial. About to step out? Get breaking alerts on your mobile.phone. Text ON INQ BREAKING to 4467, for Globe, Smart and Sun subscribers in the Philippines. Tags: Boracay , Bureau of Immigration , Deportation , Embezzlement , fugitive , Korean Factual errors? Contact the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s day desk. Believe this article violates journalistic ethics? Contact the Inquirer’s Reader’s Advocate. Or write The Readers’ Advocate: c/o Philippine Daily Inquirer Chino Roces Avenue corner Yague and Mascardo Streets, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Or fax nos. +63 2 8974793 to 94
By Niña P. CallejaPhilippine Daily Inquirer 9:27 pm | Tuesday, August 13th, 2013 EDSA. File photo MANILA, Philippines — The mayor of Seoul — a human rights activist and lawyer who earned the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2006 — met with Metro Manila officials on Tuesday to foster long-term partnerships in addressing urban development issues. Mayor Park Won Soon received a warm welcome from several Metro Manila mayors and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino at the MMDA headquarters in Makati City, in arrival rites complete with a brass band and MMDA employees waving the South Korean flag. In a two-hour meeting with the mayors, Park offered his government’s help to Metro Manila, inviting Philippine officials to come to Seoul for them to learn in detail how the Philippine capital could handle common problems facing megacities, such as traffic jams and flooding. Among the best practices and projects he cited were Seoul’s modern transport solutions, including a 115-kilometer bus transit system, a 327-kilometer urban railway system, and government efforts to make mass transport not only efficient but also environment friendly. Asked what he could recommend for Metro Manila’s perennial traffic mess, Park proposed an interconnected metro system and the construction of a subway. “The subway is the most efficient (mode of) transportation from the outskirts of Seoul to downtown. I recommend that you have consultations with international traffic experts for the establishment of a metro system,” Park said. “The cost may be very high but it will be Read More …
SEJONG, South Korea — South Korea raised its growth forecast on Thursday to reflect the boost from government stimulus spending. The finance ministry said in a statement that South Korea’s economy will expand 2.7 percent this year, compared with its 2.3 percent estimate three months ago. South Korea’s parliament approved a $15 billion stimulus plan in May as companies are reluctant to step up investments amid an uncertain global economic outlook. In 2012, South Korea’s economic growth hit its lowest level in three years at just 2 percent. The ministry said the risks that could dent the country’s economy have been reduced compared with three months earlier. But the upward revision does not mean the export-reliant economy is set to enjoy a full-fledged recovery, the finance ministry said. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 “If you look at the speed of recovery, it is gradual and moderate,” ministry director general Choi Sang-mok told reporters. Exports have improved but continue to be weighed down by the weak yen which has reduced Japan’s demand for South Korean products. Big companies such as Samsung and Hyundai, which dominate South Korea’s economy, are yet to scale up their capital expenditures, indicating that the recovery still largely relies on government stimulus. Another worry for South Korea’s economy is the impending withdrawal of monetary stimulus in the U.S. But Choi said improvement in the U.S. economy could be a positive factor for South Korea’s economy even though financial markets had been rattled by Read More …
By Tetch Torres INQUIRER.net 2:57 pm | Monday, February 4th, 2013 MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Immigration has ordered the deportation of a South Korean national allegedly wanted in his country for robbery, extortion and illegal drugs. Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. identified the Korean national as Bang Gi II, 49. He was picked up by immigration agents at the Manila City Jail last Jan. 29 after a local court dismissed the kidnapping case against him. A summary deportation was issued against Bang after the Korean government canceled his passport. Lawyer Jose Carlitos Licas, BI intelligence assistant chief, said Bang is the subject of two arrest warrants for violating South Korea’s narcotics control act. He said the fugitive was charged with consuming the illegal drug called Philopon and for asking a fellow Korean national to smuggle from Manila more than 35 grams of the drug into Korea on Oct. 13, 2010. Licas also cited a report from the Korean embassy stating that on Aug. 26, 2009, Bang was convicted and sentenced to one-year imprisonment by a district court in Incheon, South Korea, also for possession of illegal drugs.