Tomorrow’s Headlines

Stuff I noticed while scanning the papers and portals:

• Ye Olde Chosun is reporting that two Haitai snacks produced in China tested positive for melamine. Imports have been suspended.
• Remind me never to borrow money from the accountant of CJ Group CEO Lee Jay-hyun.
• The Oranckay will be happy to note that the Korea National Police plans to revise traffic ordinances to make life easier on bicyclists. Police are coming under fire, however, for quickly dropping a planned legal revision that would punish bicyclists biking drunk after its announcement caused controversy. The beleagered KNP commissioner said in terms of public sentiment, extending the crack down on drunk driving to bicycles was premature. Apparently, the police were thinking of fining drunk bicyclists up to 300,000 won. Interestingly, only 14.4% of Koreans have bikes, which make up only 3% of transportation, compared to 56.9% and 25% in Japan and 74% and 26% in Germany.
• Seems like Jogyesa Temple is playing the same role as Myeongdong Cathedral did in the 80s — the Chosun reports that the temple has been put in a difficult position with so many anti-government fugitives taking refuge there.
• French cultural critic and LMB advisor Guy Sorman slammed Korea’s labor unions today in a lecture at the Lotte Hotel. He also criticized the beef protests, saying many of the participants were politically motivated, and said Korea’s complex and uncertain labor market was the real reason many foreign companies hold on investing in Korea.
• Actress Lee Na-yeong’s and actor Bae Yong-jun’s management company is denying rumors that the two will wed. I guess there really is a God.
• How much did businessmen put on their company cards for room salons, night clubs and other entertainment costs last year? 1.4 trillion won, according to material submitted by the tax authorities to a GNP lawmaker.
• Oh boy, Korea and the US are discussing another cost-sharing arrangement for USFK.
• Gee, you’d think LMB doesn’t trust the ‘Net — since Lee took office, the police, prosecutors and NIS have greatly stepped up their interecepts of private posts and emails, with Daum’s Hanmail coming under particular scrutiny.
• Of course, maybe LMB ain’t so bad after all — at a meeting with Cheong Wa Dae secretaries today, President Lee may or may have not ordered authorities to lighten up on the War on Prostitution, depending on how you interpret what he said. If the Great Crackdown fades, you’ll know why.
• Korea may double wheat imports for feed to replace expensive US corn, with the Ukraine a major source of imports.

And then there was North Korea:

• North Korea has barred international inspectors from the Yongbyon reprocessing facility and announced it would restart activity there in a week. I’m led to believe this is not a good thing.
• South Korea’s spy chief says KJI is feeling a bit better… in case you were worried. Like everyone else — including the South Korean press — I wonder where the NIS director is getting his information.
• Policy wonks will want to check out the Council on Foreign Relation’s report on “North Korea after Kim,” which quotes many of your favorite North Korea specialists.
• If it seems like I’m going through the motions here with North Korea, it’s because I am — like many people who actually live here, I’ve grown desensitized to the never-ending bullshit. How Joshua keeps his interest up, I have no idea. I’m just happy “Nip/Nuck” is on OCN. Doug Bandow, however, does a good job of reminding us what a crappy little thugocracy the DPRK is.

Around the blogs:

• Returning to the “Why (insert group here) complain about Korea,” GI Korea looks at why GIs bitch about Korea.
• Both Stafford and Brian have issues with the Korean Internet. Frankly, nowadays, I actually find myself pleasantly surprised by how much easier it is to sign up for sites now — I had no problem signing up with Naver, for instance. Granted, my relative contentness is mostly a function of how bad the situation was before.
• Kemek from Japundit visited Korea and put together a collection of sounds from our happy little peninsula.