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UK exporters to South Korea tie up deals worth ‘tens of millions’

Trade between our two nations increased by 6% to total £13 billion in the year to June 2021, and the UK exported £2 billion more to South Korea than it imported…reports Asian Lite News

UK exporters to South Korea have landed deals they estimate to be worth over £70 million following support from the Department for International Trade (DIT).

UK-made products ranging from hydrogen fuel cells and offshore wind technology to lifejackets will be supplied to the South Korean market through deals made at DIT-supported trade shows in South Korea.

In fact, UK exports to this fast-growing nation increased by 9% (or £620 million) in the year to June 2021 compared to the same period the previous year.

South Korea is the tenth-largest economy in the world and a growing market for exports of top-quality British products. The country forms a key part of the UK’s strategic tilt to the Indo-Pacific region as we look for new opportunities to trade.

Trade between our two nations increased by 6% to total £13 billion in the year to June 2021, and the UK exported £2 billion more to South Korea than it imported.

DIT’s Pavilion showcase series – which provides stalls for UK companies to exhibit at overseas tradeshows – has enabled British firms to promote their products at South Korea’s largest events.

Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan said, “As part of our Global Britain agenda we are helping businesses capitalise on the huge demand for British goods and services in South Korea. As the UK eyes future growth opportunities in the Indo-Pacific, we plan to strengthen trade ties with the region’s biggest economies. We recently negotiated the world’s most ambitious digital trade deal with Singapore, and we’re on track to join the CPTPP this year, a huge free trade area with a combined GDP of £8.4 trillion.”

The government also provided tailored export advice to improve firms’ understanding of the South Korean market and grow their network.

This year the government plans to review the Continuity Free Trade Agreement with South Korea which came into force on 1st January 2021.

The deal has already helped businesses across a wide range of sectors – including tech and clean growth – enter the South Korean market and with the growth in demand for British goods and services, there is scope to expand trade even further.

Minister for Exports Mike Freer said, “UK exports to South Korea boomed last year, with British businesses wrapping up deals worth tens of millions. We expect this trend to continue as we implement our new 12-point export strategy and build out our ambitious UK Tradeshow Programme.”

ALSO READ-S.Korean President’s annual salary set at $202,815

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COVID-19 World

South Korea’s online shopping record high in November

The November data marked the highest level since the statistics agency began compiling related data in 200…reports Asian Lite News

Online shopping in South Korea hit a fresh record high in November, data revealed Tuesday, in the latest sign that a growing number of people are using computers and mobile devices to buy things, ranging from clothes to electronic goods amid the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic.

The value of online shopping transactions stood at 17.5 trillion won ($14.7 billion) in November, up 16.5 per cent from the previous year, according to the data from Statistics Korea.

The November data marked the highest level since the statistics agency began compiling related data in 2001, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The value of online shopping exceeded the 17 trillion-won mark for the first time in November.

The agency said people boosted online purchases of food delivery services, foodstuffs, travel services and household items amid the economic recovery and eased virus curbs.

South Korea relaxed virus curbs in November under the “living with Covid-19” scheme meant to gradually return to pre-pandemic normal life.

The government also resumed discount coupon programs for dining, travel and lodging to spur private spending.

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In November, the country held an annual nationwide shopping festival, called the Korea Sale FESTA, in which more than 2,000 retailers offered big bargains both online and in stores.

Purchases made through smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices rose 22.9 per cent on-year to 12.5 trillion won. Mobile shopping accounted for 71.6 per cent of the total value of online shopping.

Online transactions of food delivery services rose 26.1 per cent on-year to 2.07 trillion won, and those of food and beverages gained 18.5 per cent to 2.09 trillion won.

Online purchases of travel-related services jumped 46.6 per cent on-year to 1.02 trillion won. Those of household items climbed 22.9 per cent to 1.54 trillion won.

South Korea is one of the most wired countries in the world, with one of the highest smartphone penetration rates.

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News World World News

S.Korean President’s annual salary set at $202,815

The annual salary of South Korean President Moon Jae-in for 2022 was set at 240.6 million won ($202,815) as the Cabinet approved the personnel and management ministry’s pay raise plan for public servants on Tuesday…reports Asian Lite News

According to the plan, public servants will get a 1.4 per cent raise for their salary for 2022.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum will get an annual salary of 186.5 million won, while deputy prime ministers and chief state auditor will receive 141.1 million won next year, reports Yonhap News Agency.

S.Korean President’s annual salary set at $202,815

The annual salary of ministers was set at 137.1 million won, while that of vice minister level officials was set at 133.2 million won.

Despite the raise, the government said high-ranking officials and political service servants, including the President and the Prime Minister, will return the increased amount of their salaries to share the burden with people suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic, meaning they will receive the same wages they received in 2021.

For public servants, the government gave a 3.5 per cent pay raise for 2017, followed by 2.6 per cent for 2018, 1.8 per cent for 2019, 2.8 per cent for 2020 and 0.9 per cent for 2021.

ALSO READ: S.Korea-US currency swap deal expires on Dec 31

Meanwhile, the monthly wage for soldiers was raised 11.1 per cent, which means an Army sergeant will make 676,100 won per month.

The government also decided to double the medical service allowance for public officials caring for Covid-19 patients at national hospitals and institutions from 50,000 won to 100,000 won per month.

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Europe World

South Korea Joins Interpol

South Korea has became the 10th country outside of Europe to join the European Union (EU) law enforcement cooperation agency that fights terrorism and other international crimes…reports Asian Lite News

The National Police Agency (NPA) joined Europol by signing a working-level agreement that was approved unanimously by the 27 EU nations on October 6. The accession is an outcome of efforts by police to strengthen cooperation with Europe since 2017, Yonhap news agency quoted officials as saying.

South Korea Joins Interpol

Under the agreement, police can now exchange information on crime and cooperate with member states of Europol — 17 European and nine non-European countries — as well as international organisations and research institutes collaborating with the agency.

The NPA said the agreement is expected to enhance police response capabilities against global crimes through sharing expertise and training programs, and working together with Europol officers.

ALSO READ: S.Korea-US currency swap deal expires on Dec 31

NPA chief Kim Chang-yong had planned to visit Europol headquarters in the Hague to attend a signing ceremony but exchanged the agreement with Europol’s Commissioner-General Catherine De Bolle through a diplomatic pouch due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Europol, established in 1992, is EU’s law enforcement agency supporting the fight against terrorism, international drug trafficking and other serious crimes.

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-Top News USA

S.Korea-US currency swap deal expires on Dec 31

The BOK said that the expiration of the currency swap deal will not have much impact on Seoul’s foreign currency market given the improved liquidity and other financial conditions…reports Asian Lite News

South Korea’s $60 billion currency swap contract with the US will expire as scheduled on December 31 as financial and economic situations at home and abroad remain stable, Seoul’s central bank said on Thursday.

The Bank of Korea (BOK) and the US Federal Reserve signed the currency swap contract in March 2020 to ease financial anxiety caused by the coronavirus pandemic and had since extended the deal three times, reports Yonhap News Agency.

“The temporary currency swap will expire as scheduled,” the BOK said in a statement.

“Since the currency swap deal was signed, domestic and global financial and economic situations have come out of a crisis and remain stable.”

The BOK said that the expiration of the currency swap deal will not have much impact on Seoul’s foreign currency market given the improved liquidity and other financial conditions, such as a sufficient amount of foreign reserves.

The central bank had earlier said that its foreign reserves came to $463.91 billion as of end-November.

The currency swap deal marked the second of its kind signed with the US after a won-dollar swap line signed in October 2008 at the height of the global financial crisis.

Except the deal with the US, South Korea has bilateral currency swap arrangements with eight countries, including Australia, Canada and China.

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-Top News World News

Moon, Morrison discuss deepening ties

Moon, who arrived in Canberra on Sunday, is the first South Korean President to pay a state visit to Australia in 12 years…reports Asian Lite News

 South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday held summit talks expected to focus on deepening bilateral ties and securing a stable supply chain of raw materials and core minerals.

Moon, who arrived in Canberra on Sunday, is the first South Korean President to pay a state visit to Australia in 12 years, reports Yonhap News Agency.

He is also the first foreign leader that the country has invited since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, officials said.

A senior presidential official said that Moon’s visit to Australia is expected to help South Korea secure key mining products, such as rare earth and lithium, amid the pandemic-hit disruption of global supply chains.

Strengthening cooperation in the fields of carbon-neutral technology, the hydrogen economy, defence industry, space and cyberspace are also expected to top the agenda.

After the summit, Moon will attend a state luncheon hosted by Australian Governor-General David Hurley.

Also on Monday, Moon will visit a monument for Australian veterans of the 1950-53 Korean War and pay his respects at the Australian National Korean War Memorial.

Australia fought alongside South Korea during the war to help defend the South from North Korea’s invasion.

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-Top News USA

South Korea, US kick off joint air exercise

North Korea has long dounced the allies’ military drills as a war rehearsal for an invasion and used them as an excuse for provocations…reports Asian Lite News.

South Korea and the US kicked off a combined annual air exercise Monday, in a low-key manner apparently to back ongoing diplomacy to resume dialogue with North Korea, a military source said.

For the five-day exercise, the allies mobilised some 100 air assets each, including F-15K and KF-16 jets from South Korea, and F-16s from the US, Yonhap News Agency quoted the source as saying, noting no military assets were deployed from the US mainland this time.

The allies have regularly held the air exercise in a scaled-down, low-key manner since they suspended the large-scale Vigilant Ace exercise to support peace efforts on the Korean Peninsula.

The South Korean Air Force declined in public to elaborate on the manoeuvers, only saying that allied exercises are carried out in a “balanced manner” under the annual plan.

“We cannot comment on the exercise as it is one that is not disclosed to the media,” an Air Force official said.

North Korea has long denounced the allies’ military drills as a war rehearsal for an invasion and used them as an excuse for provocations.

The reclusive regime recently called on the allies to drop “double standards”, slamming Seoul and Washington for defining its missile activities as “provocations” while rationalizing their own as deterrence.

Seoul to discuss resuming border tours with UN

The South Korean Unification Minister said on Monday that it will begin discussions with the US-led UN Command (UNC) to resume tours to the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom as Seoul began its “living with Covid-19” scheme meant to phase out restrictions amid a rising vaccination rate.

Tours to Panmunjom, or the Joint Security Area (JSA), were suspended in July after health authorities imposed the toughest virus curbs in the greater Seoul area, home to half of the country’s 52 million population, reports Yonhap News Agency.

“We are beginning discussions with the UNC and other related organisations on the resumption of tours to Panmunjom,” Ministry spokesperson Lee Jong-joo told reporters.

The UNC said it has also resumed armistice education seminars for units stationed at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas.

“After a Covid social distancing pause, armistice education is back in full swing,” the UNC wrote on Facebook.

“They are back on the road this week, supporting clear, consistent and transparent adherence to the terms of the armistice.”

The move is in line with South Korea’s implementation of its first step to get back to normal life Monday on the back of a rising vaccination rate at over 75 percent.

Under the living with Covid-19 policy, South Korea plans to lift most of the virus curbs in phases by the end of January.

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-Top News UAE News World

UAE, South Korea agree to boost trade ties

The delegation was received by Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Director-General of DAFZA; and Amna Lootah, Assistant Director-General of DAFZA…reports Asian Lite News

The Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) has welcomed a delegation from the Korean Economic Zone Planning Office to review future cooperation prospects, and to facilitate an improved trade and investment exchange between the UAE and South Korea.

The delegation was received by Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni, Director-General of DAFZA; and Amna Lootah, Assistant Director-General of DAFZA.

The South Korean delegation was led by Moon Byung Jun, Consul-General of the Republic of Korea, and included Choi Young Joon, Deputy Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai; Ahn Sung-il, Director General of Free Economic Zones, and a number of senior officials.

The delegation was briefed on the world-class infrastructure and facilities available at the Freezone near Dubai International Airport. It was also informed about Dubai CommerCity, the first freezone for e-commerce in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia region.

The briefing included Tradeling, the fast-growing e-market that focuses on B2B trade in the MENA region, which connects global suppliers to regional businesses, and facilitates new opportunities for companies from all over the world.

The delegation was also informed of the support provided by the World Free Zones Organization (World FZO) to its members, and its role in coordinating, conducting research, seminars and joint studies, organising workshops, creating opportunities, and exchanging ideas, leading to the development of freezones and greater awareness in economic, commercial, and investment circles.

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Al Zarooni commented, “The Dubai Airport Freezone targets all vital and important economic markets, to attract companies from around the world to expand in Dubai. During the meeting with the Korean Economic Zone Planning Office delegation, we outlined the strategic positioning of Dubai and the Dubai Airport Freezone to enhance investment opportunities as well encourage companies to expand in the Middle East.

“The Asian continent is DAFZA’s biggest trade partner, which makes up 42.6% of the overall trade conducted by the Freezone last year. We are aiming to increase this number in the coming period by launching a series of initiatives, projects, and incentive packages that act as strategic factors for attracting more Asian investments, including from South Korea, to Dubai,” he added.

The delegation’s visit included a tour of the Dubai Airport Freezone facilities, including the Dnata shipping centre and Dubai CommerCity.

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-Top News Asia News

S.Korea pins hope on end-of-war declaration

The upcoming talks will likely touch on President Moon Jae-in’s recent proposal to declare a formal end to the Korean War, which Noh has said is the most effective among confidence-building measures with North Korea…reports Asian Lite News

South Korea’s chief nuclear envoy said that a formal declaration of an end to the 1950-53 Korean War could pave the way for resuming the stalled denuclearization talks with North Korea.

Noh Kyu-duk made the remark on Saturday ahead of his meetings with his US and Japanese counterparts in Washington later this week to explore ways to bring Pyongyang back to the negotiating table, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The upcoming talks will likely touch on President Moon Jae-in’s recent proposal to declare a formal end to the Korean War, which Noh has said is the most effective among confidence-building measures with North Korea.

“I expect more in-depth discussions on various issues at the working level, including the end-of-war declaration,” Noh said during a meeting with reporters upon his arrival at the Dulles international airport.

“(The declaration) is meaningful as a gateway to talks for the complete denuclearization and lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.”

South and North Korea technically remain at war as the Korean War ended only with an armistice, not a peace treaty.’

Noh and the US special representative for North Korea, Sung Kim, are scheduled to meet bilaterally on Monday before holding a trilateral meeting with their Japanese counterpart, Takehiro Funakoshi, the following day. Noh plans to hold a separate bilateral meeting with Funakoshi on Tuesday, according to Seoul officials.

The three held their last in-person talks in September in Tokyo.

Noh said he expects to have a “constructive” discussions with Kim to come up with inducements for dialogue with the North, saying Seoul and Washington have been jointly preparing humanitarian aid for the North and it is nearly ready.

Nuclear talks between Washington and Pyongyang have remained stalled since the Hanoi summit in 2019 between then US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that ended without a deal.

ALSO READ: UAE, South Korea launch trade partnership talks

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-Top News India News

India, South Korea aim $50 bn bilateral trade by 2030

The two countries are expected to focus on ways that to strengthen political and security co-operation as well…reports Mahua Venkatesh

As life rapidly comes back to normal in India after being hit by a brutal second wave of Covid 19, economic and trade activities between India and South Korea are expected to pick up steam.

Bilateral trade between India and South Korea touched $21.5 billion only in 2018 — crossing the $20 billion mark for the first time despite the trade pact — Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CEPA) that was signed in 2010.

“The target is to touch $50 billion by 2030,” Chang Jae-bok, South Korea’s Ambassador to India told India Narrative. “South Korea and India have a special relation and we will have talks (to figure out) how to boost trade further,” he said, speaking on the sidelines of the 10-day ‘Korea fair in India’.

The two countries are expected to focus on ways that to strengthen political and security co-operation as well.

Change said that several Korean companies are interested in investing in India. “We also need Indian companies to go to Korea and invest there,” he said.

There are about 750 Korean companies operating in India. But the number is significantly lower compared to other Asian countries such as Vietnam, which has about 7000.

South Korean culture, music, food and even language are gaining popularity like never before in India.

“Korean language has been made part of the school curriculum since last year, we hope that more and more schools start teaching Korean,” Change, who assumed charge in July, said.

Just before leaving India, former South Korean ambassador to India Shin Bongkil said that Covid-19 pandemic showcased India as the next investment destination.

However, Shin also said that while many global companies across the world are looking to invest in India, the country must upgrade the essential infrastructures and be better prepared in the future to avoid any disruptions caused by any crisis.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) from South Korea into India up to September 2020 stood at $6.94 billion.

South Korean major Seoul Semiconductor in June announced its keenness to set up a research & development (R&D) facility in Haryana.

The company will expand its existing operations to cater to the needs of the Indian market and customers. Later it is expected to set up a manufacturing unit in the state. South Korean majors including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai, LG Electronics, Doosan Heavy Industries are among those that are already operating in India.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

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