12/12/2021 Korean News and Commentary

Informal Institute for National Security Thinkers and Practitioners

Quotes of the Day:

"If you want peace, understand war - particularly the guerrilla and subversive forms of war."

- Liddel Hart

"It does not matter what's the color of your skin, what language do you speak, what religion you believe in. It is that we should all consider each other as human beings and we should respect each other and we should all fight for our rights, for the rights of children, for the rights of women and for the rights of every human being."

- Malala Yousafzai

"Persuasion is often more effectual than force."

- Aesop

1. Ball in Kim Jong-un's court for 'end of war' declaration

2. New US sanctions on North Korea to dampen momentum for end-of-war declaration

3. Biden imposes first sanctions on North over human rights

4. Moon embarks on visit to Australia to deepen ties, secure supply chain

5. S. Korean economy forecast to grow 2.8 pct in 2022: think tank

6. GM in final stage of 3rd US battery plant agreement with LGES

7. How South Korea Uses ‘Hallyu’ to Not Only Redefine Itself but Further Strategic Interests

8. Serenity in Chaos: The (Political) Ecology of Korea's DMZ

9. China looms large as South Korea uses visit to seek Australia’s help

10. Declaration of the end of the war - We must first look at North Korea's intentions

11. E10 The Reality Of Threats To South Korea

12. E11 The Importance Of Alliances

1. Ball in Kim Jong-un's court for 'end of war' declaration

This is the problem with most pundits and analysts who support an end of war declaration. They are not really pushing for mutual threat reduction measures. They are offering major alliance concessions, two of the worst being ending ROK/US combined readiness exercises that are absolutely necessary to ensure deterrence and the ability to defend the ROK from an attack from the north. They are offering an end to ROK military modernization which is necessary for the defense of the ROK in the face of the north's increasing capabilities. If an end of war declaration process ends with these two conditions it will not reduce tension or the threat because Kim Jong-un will assess success for his political warfare strategy and blackmail diplomacy and was the alliance reduces its military capabilities and readiness the chances of conflict rise as Kim Jong-un believes he is developing a military advantage by weakening alliance defenses.

But sending a New Year's letter to Kim is an interesting and potentially useful action. My sense is that his response will be that for him to agree to an end of war declaration the US will have to end its hostile policy and the first step in doing that will be lifting of sanctions. He will then demand the concessions above. He will not change his behavior or his intent to dominate the Korean peninsula and instead will double down on his political warfare strategy. No one seems to recognize the regime's hostile policy and no one seems to be calling for north Korean force reductions as a pre-condition for an end of war declaration. While the ROK/US alliance does not have the intention of starting a war the Kim family regime continues to demonstrate its intent to do so. We should not enter into a mutually agreed upon declaration of the end of the war unless and until the north significantly reduces its frontline forces and shifts to a defensive posture and not an offensive one. But if Moon sends a letter and Kim responds with a demand for concessions first we should be able to acknowledge that he is in fact bent on continuing to execute his political warfare strategy that will support the ultimate course of action which is to reunify the peninsula under northern domination, by force if necessary.

Excerpts:

Against this backdrop, experts said mutual threat reduction measures should be considered in order to attract the North for talks on the declaration and further moves toward a peace treaty.

"For example, if North Korea freezes its nuclear program and accepts inspections of its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon, South Korea and the U.S. may respond by halting their joint military exercises," said Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Center for North Korean Studies at the Sejong Institute.

"If the North accepts a phased shutdown of its nuclear facilities, South Korea can respond by controlling its military expansion and the U.S. can join by promising a non-aggression pact. Both South Korea and the U.S. should seriously consider these options, and the involved countries (the two Koreas, the U.S. and China) should come up with plans to have four-way, high-level talks to discuss the options."

Ball in Kim Jong-un's court for 'end of war' declaration

The Korea Times · December 6, 2021

North Korea leader Kim Jong-un gestures during a speech at the third plenary meeting of the Eighth Politburo of the Workers' Party of Korea, which closed June 18, in this June 19 photo carried by the Korean Central News Agency.

Yonhap

Moon may send letter to persuade North Korea to join end-of-war declaration

By Nam Hyun-woo

President Moon Jae-in's proposal of declaring an official end to the 1950-53 Korean War now appears to hinge on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, as the U.S. and China seem to have indicated their support for such a quadrilateral declaration, which could entice Pyongyang to return to talks on its denuclearization.

During a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Thursday, Moon said, "Our administration has proposed the end-of-war declaration in order to pass on a situation, in which the U.S., South Korea and North Korea are in talks, to the next administration. Close cooperation between Seoul and Washington is more important than anything else."

In a separate meeting between Austin and his South Korean counterpart Suh Wook, also on Thursday, the two sides shared the two countries' ideas on the declaration, sources said, though it was not mentioned in a joint statement released after their meeting.

The meetings over declaring an end to the war come amid signs that consultations between South Korea and the U.S. over a draft version of the declaration are picking up speed.

A senior official at the Ministry of Unification said Nov. 24 that the Seoul-Washington negotiations over the clauses of an end-of-war declaration "had entered their final stage," adding, "it will be a major step forward if the declaration helps build trust without incurring a radical change in the current situation."

The comment was interpreted as South Korea and the U.S. seeking to include a clause that the declaration will not affect the armistice status of the two Koreas, thus allowing the United Nations Command in South Korea and U.S. Forces Korea to remain as they are today.

U.S. news outlet Politico also reported that the two sides were in the final stages of parsing the language of the declaration, and were narrowing their differences over a clause related to denuclearization.

South Korea's National Security Advisor Suh Hoon, left, poses with Chinese Communist Party head of foreign affairs Yang Jiechi during their meeting at a hotel in Tianjin, China, Thursday. Joint Press CorpsChina has also expressed its interest in Moon's proposal. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Moon's national security advisor Suh Hoon had a meeting with Chinese Communist Party head of foreign affairs Yang Jiechi, Thursday, and the latter expressed China's "support on the end-of-war declaration, which will contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."

Given Beijing's relations with North Korea, China's support could be leverage in persuading North Korean leader Kim to join in the discussions for the declaration. Since China is seeking to have the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics as a vehicle showcasing messages of peace, the situation is becoming favorable regarding Moon's proposal.

Then-U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and North Korea leader Kim Jong-un shake hands as South Korean President Moon Jae-in watches on during their meeting at Panmunjeom, June 30, 2019. YonhapWith three out of the four parties involved in the Korean War showing their interest in the end-of-war declaration, Seoul is now escalating its efforts to bring North Korea forward for talks.

The vernacular Kookmin Ilbo newspaper reported Monday that Cheong Wa Dae plans to deliver a New Year celebration letter from Moon to Kim that will share the current status of the end-of-war discussions with the U.S. and China.

The presidential office neither confirmed nor denied the report, reiterating a previous stance of: "The presidential office is making various efforts with the U.S. and other partners for the end-of-war declaration."

Against this backdrop, experts said mutual threat reduction measures should be considered in order to attract the North for talks on the declaration and further moves toward a peace treaty.

"For example, if North Korea freezes its nuclear program and accepts inspections of its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon, South Korea and the U.S. may respond by halting their joint military exercises," said Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Center for North Korean Studies at the Sejong Institute.

"If the North accepts a phased shutdown of its nuclear facilities, South Korea can respond by controlling its military expansion and the U.S. can join by promising a non-aggression pact. Both South Korea and the U.S. should seriously consider these options, and the involved countries (the two Koreas, the U.S. and China) should come up with plans to have four-way, high-level talks to discuss the options."

The Korea Times · December 6, 2021

2. New US sanctions on North Korea to dampen momentum for end-of-war declaration

For those opposed to sanctions do you support not holding human rights abusers who are conducting crimes against humanity accountable? Do you think we should avoid sanctions and condone such malign behavior?

And do you assume that by not imposing these sanctions Kim will be enticed to come to the negotiating table?

New US sanctions on North Korea to dampen momentum for end-of-war declaration

The Korea Times · December 12, 2021

gettyimagesbankBy Nam Hyun-woo

Ri Yong-gil, North Korea's minister of People's Armed ForcesA fresh set of U.S. sanctions against North Korea is feared to dampen the momentum for South Korean President Moon Jae-in's proposal to declare an official end to the Korean War, as it comes as a virtual rejection of Pyongyang's demand for the U.S. to withdraw its "hostile policies" against it, which is a precondition that the bellicose regime set for end-of-war declaration talks.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on Friday (local time) that it has designated 15 individuals and 10 entities "for their connection to human rights abuse and repression in several countries around the globe, pursuant to multiple sanctions authorities."

Among those designated are North Korea's Central Public Prosecutors Office, the Scientific and Educational Film Studio of Korea and Ri Yong-gil, minister of People's Armed Forces who was until recently minister of social security.

The OFAC accused the prosecutors' office and Ri of human rights violations in policing activities.

"The DPRK Central Public Prosecutors Office and court system reportedly are used to prosecute and punish persons for political wrongdoing in a legal process involving fundamentally unfair trials. These trials sometimes end in sentencing to the DPRK's notorious prison camps, run by the Ministry of State Security and the Ministry of Social Security," the OFAC said in a press release. The DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

North Korea's Ministry of Social Security is a policing organization monitoring not only North Koreans but also foreign residents. The OFAC mentioned the death of U.S. college student Otto Warmbier as an example of the ministry's human rights abuses.

The sanctions were the first U.S. sanctions targeting North Korea since U.S. President Joe Biden took office. The Biden administration extended a travel ban in September and retained North Korea in the list of countries of particular concern regarding religious freedom last month, but those were not additional sanctions.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Del., Saturday (local time). AP-Yonhap

The Biden administration had been reaching out to North Korea without imposing additional sanctions while calling for talks "without preconditions." As Pyongyang remains unresponsive, however, the U.S. appears to be elevating its North Korea stance a step hawkish with the new sanctions.

This is interpreted as negative news for the Moon administration, which is pursuing an end-of-war declaration between the two Koreas, the U.S. and China as its achievement in Moon's last months as President.

Since the 1950-53 war ended in an armistice, as opposed to a peace treaty, the two Koreas are technically still at war. As part of his initiative to facilitate a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, Moon resurrected his proposal for a non-binding declaration on the official end of the war in September, in the belief that it will be a powerful enticement to bring the North back to stalled denuclearization talks.

After Moon floated the idea, North Korea has set up two preconditions ― withdrawal of hostile policies and double standards on the regime's weapons programs. The first was interpreted as North Korea's demand for lifting of sanctions.

As the U.S. turned down the first precondition with the new sanctions, North Korea is anticipated to show a hostile response.

Pyongyang has yet to release its official comments or statements regarding the sanctions, but its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday condemned the European Union's Dec. 6 extension of human rights sanctions on the regime, saying the set of sanctions "which has nothing to do with protection and promotion of genuine human rights, is indeed a politically motivated smear campaign targeting the countries which the EU view as differing from their values."

"South Korean government's attempt to rekindle the inter-Korean peace mood through the end-of-war declaration is losing its momentum," said Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification.

"North Korea sets up its strategic keynotes for next year in the year-end and New Year season, and the additional sanctions at this time cannot be a positive sign," Hong said. "Since the North sees no changes in U.S. actions more than seven months after the Biden administration announced the completion of its North Korea policy review, the regime is expected to strengthen its assertive actions next year. Along with the recent U.S. diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the situation is turning against the Moon government."

After the U.S. announced its diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics last week, experts said chances are slim for reaching an end-of-war declaration during the sporting event, as the boycott means not just a loss of declaration venue, but an escalation to the conflict between the U.S. and China. Since China strongly wants to join the end-of-war declaration talks as part of its bid to counter the U.S., experts say Seoul has to pull off a very difficult job of bringing the conflicting superpowers to the negotiation table in order to make a four-way declaration.

The remaining opposition to the end-of-war declaration among U.S. lawmakers is also a factor dampening Moon's initiative. Thirty-five GOP House lawmakers led by Rep. Young Kim delivered a letter to White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan last week and claimed the declaration could undermine regional security if it is signed without North Korea's denuclearization.

The Korea Times · December 12, 2021

3. Biden imposes first sanctions on North over human rights

Sunday

December 12, 2021

Biden imposes first sanctions on North over human rights

https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2021/12/12/national/northKorea/sanctions-North-Korea-Treasury/20211212185452983.html

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to media after delivering closing remarks to the virtual Summit for Democracy at the White House in Washington Friday. The U.S. Treasury announced new sanctions on North Korean, Chinese and Russian individuals and entities for human rights violations on the same day. [AP/YONHAP]

The United States imposed fresh sanctions on Pyongyang’s new Defense Minister Ri Yong-gil, animation studios and other people and entities in North Korea, China and Russia for human rights violations Friday.

The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 15 individuals and 10 entities in several countries around the globe including Myanmar and Bangladesh, issuing financial sanctions and visa bans “for their connection to human rights abuse and repression."

This marked the first new sanctions on North Korea over rights issues since the launch of the Joe Biden administration and coincided with International Human Rights Day.

The latest designations highlighted the rights abuses of law enforcement agencies in North Korea and foreign companies and institutions that hired North Korean workers, including a Russian university.

The Treasury blacklisted North Korea's Central Public Prosecutors Office for conducting unfair trials and using prison camps. Ri Yong-gil, the former North Korean minister of social security, was recently appointed as minister of the People’s Armed Forces, a UN- and U.S.-designated entity.

North Korean individuals, according to OFAC, are “often subjected to forced labor, constant surveillance, and severe restrictions on their exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

It added that the North Korean prosecutors office and court system “reportedly are used to prosecute and punish persons for political wrongdoing in a legal process involving fundamentally unfair trials.”

The Treasury pointed to foreigners who have been victims of the North’s “fundamentally unfair justice system” such as American university student Otto Warmbier, who was arrested in 2016 and died less than a week after his release in 2017.

North Koreans often work in other countries “for the purpose of generating foreign currency earnings that the DPRK can use to support its unlawful weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs,” added the OFAC.

DPRK is the acronym for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The Treasury’s list included the European Institute Justo, a Russian university based in Moscow, and its provost, Dmitry Yurevich Soin, accused of sponsoring “hundreds of student visas for DPRK construction workers in Russia.” Some of these workers were affiliated with entities linked to North Korea’s WMD program, according to OFAC, and the revenue they earned could be siphoned back home to support its nuclear weapons development.

SEK Studio, a Pyongyang-based state-run animation studio with workers in North Korea and China, was also designated for allegedly having “utilized an assortment of front companies to evade sanctions targeting the [North Korean government] and to deceive international financial institutions.”

Chinese animation companies Nings Cartoon Studio based in Chongqing and Moxing Cartoon in Shanghai were designated for direct or indirect involvement with SEK Studio. Lu Hezheng, a senior employee at Nings Cartoon Studio and the sole shareholder Shanghai Hongman Cartoon and Animation Design Studio, was also blacklisted.

The Treasury said that foreign companies involved in the employment of North Korean labor “contribute to the poor treatment workers endure, which can include being subjected to constant surveillance, forced to work long hours, and having a significant portion of their wages confiscated by the regime.”

It noted that in the past several years, there has been an increase in the “abuse” of student and tourist visas, to enable North Koreans to enter and work in countries such as China and Russia. Under UN Security Council Resolution 2375 in 2017, countries were prohibited from issuing new work permits to North Korean overseas workers, aimed at reducing North Korea’s source of foreign revenue.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on the latest Treasury sanctions, “These designations underscore our support for human rights and commitment to promoting accountability for human rights abusers and violators the world over.”

The latest actions are a part of coordinated efforts with Canada and Britain and also came on the heels of Biden’s Summit for Democracy held Thursday and Friday.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said in a statement, “Our actions today, particularly those in partnership with the United Kingdom and Canada, send a message that democracies around the world will act against those who abuse the power of the state to inflict suffering and repression.”

The sanctions could deal another blow on South Korea’s efforts to revive diplomacy between the North and the United States, including a proposal for a declaration to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War to help move along denuclearization talks.

Pyongyang has especially prickled over attacks on its human rights situation.

North Korea has called for the United States to withdraw its "double standards" and "hostile policy" toward it, in reference to sanctions and joint military drills with the South as a condition for a return to negotiations. The Biden administration in its latest sanctions targeted the human rights situation, rather than the nuclear issue, signaling North Korea will no longer be an exception to its fight for accountability for human rights.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]

4. Moon embarks on visit to Australia to deepen ties, secure supply chain

A wink and a nod to AUKUS? It will be interesting to see if and how China responds to this.

Moon embarks on visit to Australia to deepen ties, secure supply chain | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by 김덕현 · December 12, 2021

By Kim Deok-hyun

SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in left for Australia on Sunday for a four-day state visit that is expected to focus on deepening bilateral ties and securing a stable supply chain of raw materials and core minerals.

Moon is the first South Korean president to pay a state visit to Australia in 12 years. He is also the first foreign leader that the country has invited since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.

In Canberra on Monday, Moon will hold a summit with Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Strengthening cooperation in the fields of carbon-neutral technology, the hydrogen economy, defense industry, space and cyberspace is 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.

On Tuesday, Moon will visit Sydney, where he will meet with Anthony Albanese, leader of the opposition Australian Labor Party, and hold a meeting with Australian business leaders on a supply chain issue of key mining products, Park said.

It will be the first time in 12 years for a South Korean president to pay a state visit to Australia.

South Korea and Australia mark the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties this year.

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-related disruption of global supply chains.

"The value of strategic cooperation with Australia is significant as demand for key mining products, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earth, are expected to jump," the official said on the condition of anonymity.

Australia also hopes that it will expand exports of key minerals to South Korea, the official said.

The two nations will upgrade their relations to a "comprehensive strategic relationship" in the wake of Moon's visit, the official said.

Moon will return home on Wednesday.

kdh@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by 김덕현 · December 12, 2021

5. S. Korean economy forecast to grow 2.8 pct in 2022: think tank

S. Korean economy forecast to grow 2.8 pct in 2022: think tank | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by 오석민 · December 12, 2021

SEOUL, Dec. 12 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean economy is expected to expand 2.8 percent on-year in 2022, slower than this year's projected 3.9 percent growth, amid weaker private consumption and global demand, a local think tank said Sunday.

The projection by the LG Economic Research Institute (LGERI) is lower than that by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of 3.3 percent and the 3.0 percent estimate by both the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Bank of Korea.

"The export-led growth is likely to lose steam next year, as global demand boosted by a post-pandemic recovery is expected to get weakened," the institute, affiliated with South Korea's fourth-largest conglomerate LG Group, said.

During the first 11 months of this year, the country's cumulative exports logged the highest ever figure of $583.8 billion, on the back of strong global demand for chips and petroleum products. The yearly figure is expected to hit an all-time high by beating the previous record of $604.9 billion set in 2018, according to government data.

The institute forecast the South Korean economy to increase 3.9 percent on-year this year, but the figure could fall further to around 2 percent after 2023.

Private consumption is expected to mark a 3.1 percent on-year rise in 2022, compared to 3.4 percent this year, according to the report.

Employment in such service sectors as food and accommodation is likely to increase to lead the overall gain, but not as much as previous levels due to the COVID-19 pandemic and continued growth in unmanned stores, it showed.

Consumer prices are to grow 2.2 percent in 2022, compared to 2.4 percent this year, as global oil prices are forecast to stabilize and overall demand slows down, the institute said.

LGERI also predicted the global economy to grow 3.9 percent next year, slower than this year's 5.8 percent growth.

graceoh@yna.co.kr

(END)

en.yna.co.kr · by 오석민 · December 12, 2021

6. GM in final stage of 3rd US battery plant agreement with LGES

GM in final stage of 3rd US battery plant agreement with LGES

The Korea Times · December 12, 2021

GM Chair and CEO Marry Bara, left, and LGES CEO Kwon Young-soo / Korea Times fileBy Kim Yoo-chul

General Motors (GM) is in the last stage of finalizing key outstanding issues regarding its planned and scheduled investments in two electric vehicle(EV)-related manufacturing facilities in the U.S. state of Michigan ― one with its Korean partner LG Energy Solution (LGES), two local investment banking sources told The Korea Times, Sunday.

"It's totally GM's call. Yes, GM is in the last stage of finalizing all specifics regarding the construction of its new battery plant near the city of Lansing in the state of Michigan. Both GM and LGES will have an equal stake in the soon-to-be-announced battery joint venture (JV), as each one of them is set to invest $1 billion, which means that the total amount of the spending will reach $2 billion, initially, in the forthcoming project," one of the sources said by telephone.

Several key factors ― such as the extent of tax breaks, talent pool and the extended duration of an amendment to tax-sharing affecting existing and new GM plants ― will influence the new decision, the conditions of which still need to be fine-tuned, according to the source.

The question is how and when to announce its multi-billion-dollar investment plan. Sources familiar with the issue said that GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra could specify the relevant details of the plan at January's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), to be held in the desert city of Las Vegas.

The core reasoning behind this expectation is that Barra will return in-person to the keynote stage during the upcoming Las Vegas technology fair. At the event, she is expected to highlight the company's commitment to move forward with zero crashes, zero emissions and its shift toward electrification.

Thus, GM's partnership with LGES holds great importance, because any decision could encourage the continued adoption of EVs and electrification with the help of its Korean business partner. GM already operates a JV with LGES in Ohio, with the two entities in the process of constructing their second battery plant in Tennessee.

"GM's scheduled additional investment plan is mandated to receive approvals from Lansing city and Delta Township, as most financial incentives are closely related to the electricity charges, water and labor supply for the proposed plant. But no major hurdles are expected in terms of hampering its cash-intensive plan," said another source in the local investment banking industry.

Safety issues and LGES's IPO

Now, from LGES's standpoint, securing financing for another battery manufacturing plant is how it will win back the trust of investors at its initial public offering (IPO), slated for late January of next year.

A Chevrolet Suburban is displayed for sale at a Chevrolet dealership, Aug. 4, in Glendale, California. AFP-YonhapDespite its recent settlement with GM over faulty battery packs and modules managed by LGES and LG Electronics, which cost the two LG affiliates a lot, investors were still concerned over the safety of LG-manufactured batteries. After a brief halt in production due to these issues, LGES resumed production of batteries for use in GM's line of vehicles in September, with GM in charge of handling the programs for enhancing battery quality for greater consumer confidence moving forward.

A senior fund manager at a Europe-based investment bank in Seoul, who invested millions of dollars in LGES, said the company is tasked with ending its planned IPO as a "huge success" so as to soothe investors' concerns regarding the future course of battery safety.

"If LGES raises more than 12.5 trillion won in its January KOSPI listing, then that will provide the company with a second chance to rise as the world's most trusted battery supplier and help it move forward with automakers other than GM for battery JVs," the manager said by telephone, asking not to be named, as he wasn't officially authorized to speak to the media.

LGES was expecting to raise up to 12.8 trillion won from the IPO as its preferred stock sale price per ordinary share (ORD) has been set between 257,000 won and 300,000 won. The value currently varies from 60 trillion won and 70.2 trillion won, making it the country's third most valuable after tech heavyweight Samsung and SK hynix.

Its CEO, Kwon Young-soo, who played a significant role in helping LG Display win 1 trillion won in investment support from Holland-based Philips when he was the chief executive at the world's top-tier display maker, has been sent to lead the group's battery unit by Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, in the wake of various growing uncertainties at the time of its blockbuster IPO.

"LGES will respond to the demand for secondary batteries, the market of which is expected to see a rapid growth trajectory, both thoroughly and pre-emptively, through the planned IPO," Vice Chairman and CEO Kwon said. It has battery manufacturing facilities in Poland, China, Indonesia, Korea and the United States. LGES is also in "advanced talks" with the Ontario regional government in Canada to build another battery plant there, as it recently signed a preliminary JV agreement with Stellantis.

The Korea Times · December 12, 2021

7. How South Korea Uses ‘Hallyu’ to Not Only Redefine Itself but Further Strategic Interests

Soft and smart power. But it is not a silver bullet.

Excerpts:

However, while Hallyu has played a role in changing the image of South Korea, it cannot and should not be seen as a silver bullet to a diplomatic image. For instance, it will not erase the fact that the country is at war with its neighbour DPR Korea. As a country with military conscription, men between 18 and 28 must serve in the military. With several K-pop stars in that age category, there is a clash between the country’s primary focus and global identity. While an age extension has been made possible, complete exemption would lead to a slippery slope for the rest of South Korean society.

Additionally, it showcases Korean society as is. Like other countries, South Korea also faces skewed growth, with the rich growing richer and the poor poorer. The quotidian lives of Korean society are the backdrop of K-Dramas such as ‘Squid Games’ (which includes references to real-life crackdowns on democratic protests) and movies like ‘Parasite’ that deeply engage with the class inequalities and income disparities.

In an article for Harvard’s Belfer Center in 2009, Joseph Nye spoke of the potential of South Korean soft power. South Korea was slowly emerging as an important middle-ranking power for a nation that had been “dealt a weak hand” by geography. For Nye, “South Korea has the resources to produce soft power, and its soft power is not prisoner to the geographical limitations that have constrained its hard power throughout its history”, highlighting Korean culture as one of its many resources to gain soft power. Twelve years later, Hallyu is perhaps the most successful of the various resources South Korea has used to reinvent itself.

How South Korea Uses ‘Hallyu’ to Not Only Redefine Itself but Further Strategic Interests

news18.com · December 12, 2021

With its ubiquitous presence, it is hard to not be exposed to media and culture from South Korea. From television and cinema to music, food, skincare, and lifestyle, there is a growing Korean cultural influence in various sectors.

Joseph Nye defines “soft power” as “the ability to get what you want through attraction rather than coercion or payments. It arises from the attractiveness of a country’s culture, political ideals and policies”. By making the world see through K-tinted lenses, South Korea has created ‘Hallyu’—a Chinese word for South Korea’s cultural wave. Through it, it has attempted to not only redefine—if not completely change—its international image, but also create strategic assets that further South Korean visibility world over. To understand Hallyu, it is crucial to understand the history of South Korea, specifically from the Sixth Republic.

Under the Sixth Republic

The Sixth Republic, considered to have begun in 1988, saw the country shift from a series of authoritarian regimes to a democratic one. The country opened up its economy, its press, and its borders. It also began to thaw its relationship with its neighbour North Korea. However, this growth met with a hurdle in 1997 during the Asian financial crisis, which was remedied by restructuring measures brought about by a bailout package given by the International Monetary Fund.

South Korea, thus, had two mutually compatible goals. The first, to generate revenue to help grow the South Korean economy, and second, to change its image globally while building relations with nations across the world. South Korea emerged out of its isolationist cocoon in the 1990s, and Hallyu was both a solution to several of its issues and crucial to the new identity that the country wanted to project.

For South Korea, Hallyu has ensured long-term viability and visibility across sectors. The letter “K” precedes several key industries today, turning it from a cultural one-off to a brand. South Korea does not hesitate to extend this brand to other sectors, with the South Korean President Moon Jae-in calling the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine a K-Quarantine. This has meant that Hallyu is not only destined to a similar fate as the many social media fads that came before it and will after, but it can also be seen as something that the world will engage with for time to come. This long-term engagement is sustained by Hallyu’s close ties with the government. Hallyu is a state invention and has relied and continues to rely on the government’s support and incentive. Last year, the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that it would be establishing a Hallyu department under its ambit. However, while the Korean government attempts to showcase its ideal image through Hallyu, it would be hard to argue that it is only what the Korean government wants to show the world.

And this is, perhaps, why Hallyu has stood the test of global consumption. Usually, most cultural exports go through several levels of dilution to make them palatable to the world. The primary language of dissemination changes, tastes are changed and often, even names are changed to make it easier on the global mind and tastebuds. This has not been the case with Korean exports. Instead, the number of people learning the Korean language has gone up exponentially. Even food has survived, with kimbap not being conflated with sushi. An excellent example is the induction of 26 Korean words into the Oxford English Dictionary – including Hallyu. President Jae-in called the Korean language “Hangeul”, the country’s “soft power” in response to these additions.

Today, Hallyu has not just served its intended purpose but has gone several steps further. It is being used as a weapon in North Korea, both overtly, when several concerts took place in the run-up to the 2018 peace talks; and covertly, as a tool to share the South Korean way of life. The popular band, BTS, performed and spoke at the United Nations General Assembly, promoting the 2030 SDGs as special presidential envoys. Such exposure is part of the Public Diplomacy Plan that was announced in 2017.

Reaping Economic Benefits

The total economic benefits of Hallyu are hard to estimate, given that it includes both the earnings that are directly through Hallyu and its indirect impact and the related effect on other industries such as through tourism, or an increase in sales of products promoted by Hallyu stars.

A study by the Korean Foundation has shown that the direct impact of Hallyu has doubled from 2016 to 2019 and remains consistently on the rise and so has the indirect value (exports of consumer goods and tourism). The South Korean economy has been gaining from Hallyu and will continue to do so in the coming years.

The “BTS effect”—used to summarise the effect that Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS, the leading K-Pop band) has had can be easily used to understand Hallyu’s impact on the Korean economy. Forbes estimated BTS’ contribution to South Korea’s GDP to be higher than that of the GDP of Fiji, Maldives, and Togo individually. A study by the Hyundai Research Institute in 2018 estimated BTS’s direct economic value per year to be US $3.54 billion and indirect impact to be US $1.26 billion. In 10 years, the economic impact is expected to cross that of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics held in 2018, with almost zero investment compared to the Olympics. Further, one in every 13 foreign tourists visits South Korea because of BTS. The Seoul City administration credited BTS for the revival of its tourism industry after a dip in Chinese tourism caused by installing the THAAD system.

Hallyu and its various aspects have become so popular today that their global network of fans (or Army, as the BTS Fanclub is called) often drives action and activism, despite some groups themselves remaining apolitical. During the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in the United States, fans’ hashtags stormed racist surveillance networks, shared information and awareness, and collectively donated over US $1 million. The Chilean government blamed ongoing demonstrations and civil unrest on international K-Pop fans, given their role in questioning deaths, mentioning human rights violations and criticising silences. K-Pop is also now being used by the United Nations and other refugee agencies as a conversation starter amongst Syrian refugees in Algeria.

The article was first published in ORF

Sitara Srinivas currently works as the Executive Assistant to the President. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication.

Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here.

news18.com · December 12, 2021

8. Serenity in Chaos: The (Political) Ecology of Korea's DMZ

"Political ecology." Perhaps a new academic discipline?

I can attest the DMZ has long been quite an effective nature preserve.

Can it be used as a catalyst for peace? While I applaud the intent and effort, we must not ever overlook that nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime and proceed accordingly based on that understand and knowledge about the regime.

Excerpts:

However, a pristine picture of serenity has emerged in the midst of this chaos. The DMZ’s unique combination of varied geography and virtual isolation for almost three quarters of a century has turned the region into a natural, unregulated park teeming with wildlife. Through what may be seen as a silver lining to the cloud that is the physically and politically destructive Korean conflict, biodiversity flourishes. Rare species that had previously been on the brink of extinction, including the rare Amur leopard, are, ironically, able to thrive in a region that lies in the shadow of its history of violence. This has also allowed for the region to be seen in a new light. Since the 1990s, scientists have proposed turning the DMZ into a protected area for wildlife, bringing researchers and ecotourists alike into the area and redefining its effect on the Korean conflict.

Presently, scientists seeking to perform research on the DMZ’s wildlife are generally restricted from entering. They are often forced to conduct their studies from the Civilian Control Zone, also known as the CCZ, which is an additional buffer of the DMZ. However, these scientists, many of whom are motivated by the desire to understand how the area’s wildlife can be protected if the DMZ were to become widely inhabited again in the event of future Korean reunification, believe a biosphere reserve would provide greater access. Their efforts have even received the financial backing of media mogul Ted Turner and the moral backing of both North and South Korea, who have agreed that the area should remain protected in the event of reunification. But the politics of the region have unfortunately limited the success of initiatives that reach across the border. The South Korean government attempted to create a UNESCO recognized biosphere reserve in the DMZ in 2011 through UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Reserve Programme. However, this was postponed due to objections from North Korea, who claimed that it violated the Korean Armistice Agreement.

Nonetheless, the movement has made progress not only in its goal of promoting conservation, but also in developing the region as a catalyzer of peace. In 2019, the South Korean government established the Gangwon Eco-Peace Reserve along the southern boundary of the DMZ. Aside from being a dedicated site for ecological research, it also provides an opportunity for the study of “relics” of the Korean War, opening up dialogue about the war’s impacts and potential for future peace. To the end of promoting peace, the South Korean Ministry of Reunification has also taken efforts to bring civilians into peacemaking efforts, working alongside the United Nations Command to launch the “Peace Trail” project. Recognizing that the region “is the world’s last war-induced national division and at the same time is a reservoir of biodiversity with a rich ecosystem,” the initiative holds that its rapidly expanding base of hiking tours showing off the region’s wildlife will “provide conditions for turning the DMZ into a peace zone while solidifying peace in the DMZ.” While the scope of this project is currently largely limited with only a few citizens able to participate, it points to a greater trend aimed at utilizing the region’s resources, both physical and sentimental, to reduce tensions.

Serenity in Chaos: The (Political) Ecology of Korea's DMZ

hir.harvard.edu · December 10, 2021

635,000 is a number that is hard to comprehend. But it was very real for those residing in the Korean peninsula from 1950 to 1953, when 635,000 tons of bombs were dropped on the peninsula by the United States. These bombs—including 32,500 tons of napalm—outnumbered those used by the United States in the entire Pacific Theater during World War II and physically destroyed much of the region’s environment through scorched earth tactics. Although many Americans consider the Korean War, sandwiched in public memory between World War II and the Vietnam War, to be “forgotten,” it is unforgettable for the Koreans who lived through those years, and those who experience its lasting effects. Many explosives from the era are still being uncovered in modern day. Current estimates indicate that it will take at least another century for all bombs to be discovered, continuing to cause Korean deaths on both sides of the 38th parallel as precarious explosive recovery efforts continue.

More recently, though, the war’s tensions have moved into the realm of diplomacy. Much of today’s conflict is predicated on a series of agreements made as a result of previous physical engagements. Following Joseph Stalin’s death nearly 70 years ago, the physical conflict on the peninsula ended with the Korean Armistice Agreement, contentious from its beginning. Although it still stands on paper, its efficacy has been greatly weakened through recent actions on the peninsula, including North Korea’s six statements that it would not abide by the agreement. According to the South Korean government, North Korea has violated the agreement 221 times since its inception in 1953, including through bombings on Yeonpyeong Island and attempted assassinations of South Korean leaders. North Korea makes similar accusations of the South. There have been a considerable number of attempts at peace and reconciliation on the peninsula, ranging from the 1954 Geneva Conference to the 1994 US-North Korea Agreed Framework to the 2000 Joint Declaration on Peace, but each has seemed to erode in its efficacy, either almost immediately or over time. Fortunately, direct confrontations have decreased and tensions have remained manageable in recent years, especially following the Panmunjom Declaration brokered in 2018. Yet summits following Panmunjom have failed and, ultimately, there is still no formal peace agreement on the peninsula, meaning that the Korean War officially continues.

Despite the Armistice Agreement’s fluctuating efficacy, one of its most enduring features is the Demilitarized Zone, more commonly known as the DMZ. This 250 km long, 2.5 km wide strip of land acts a buffer between North and South Korea, and has historically been a place for manifestations of diplomatic tension. Recent developments in the wake of the Panmunjom Declaration have resulted in a reduction of violence in the region through additional buffer zones, no-fly zones, and Yellow Sea peace zones intended to limit aggressive military actions. Additionally, a bilateral effort to remove guard posts and mines from the region was completed in 2018. Nonetheless, these agreements remain tentative and the DMZ continues to be an incredibly dangerous place, filled with enough military officials, barbed wire, and explosives to be deemed the “scariest place on Earth.”

Of course, there remain significant issues resulting from the dual goal of promoting peace and conservation. Some argue that the development of peacekeeping operations will pose a significant threat to the area’s wildlife. Clearly, the potential for military violence may threaten the region's environment. However, researchers like Jung Suyoung argue that actions like demining the region, a show of solidarity between the two nations and the antithesis of the military violence, could harm biodiversity by uprooting plants. Similarly, other activities meant to limit military action often bring an extensive number of people into the area, inadvertently causing damage to the environment through external exposure. This creates an unfortunate predicament for decision makers: while supporters aim to protect the region’s wildlife with a biosphere reserve, they also attempt to use the reserve to promote peace, a goal that could undermine their first priority. This creates a morally ambiguous question about what can, and should, be done to address both pressing issues.

Kim Seung-ho, head of the DMZ Ecology Research Institute, has stated that “if you were to do an experiment on how new species could be restored when the Earth has gone to ruins, the DMZ would be the best place.” Perhaps this quote could also be a reflection on the politics of the Korean peninsula. Although the region remains a source of great tension, recent developments provide hope that shared sentiments towards a topic as universal as the protection of nature may provide the impetus for long-term peace. However, an observation of present debates regarding whether a biosphere reserve should exist and if so, what its role should be, points to an interesting conclusion—nature thrives without human intervention and human conflict. Perhaps we could take a cue from nature’s guidance as we look towards a peaceful resolution.

hir.harvard.edu · December 10, 2021

9. China looms large as South Korea uses visit to seek Australia’s help

How will China respond against South Korea.? Or will it bide its time and wait for an opportune time?

China looms large as South Korea uses visit to seek Australia’s help

The Age · by Eryk Bagshaw · December 11, 2021

Singapore: South Korean President Moon Jae-in will use his visit to Australia to show his country can be a partner to the United States in the region amid fears Asia’s fourth-largest economy is being left behind by the members of the Quad.

The Quad – which includes Japan, India, Australia, and the United States – has evolved into a security grouping designed to manage the rise of China, but is now becoming a platform for economic co-operation, COVID-19 vaccine distribution and infrastructure investment.

Moon’s visit, which starts on Sunday, will be only the second by a world leader since New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern after the pandemic began in 2020.

South Korea has adopted a more cautious approach than neighbouring Japan to China’s increasingly assertive foreign policy because of its reliance on Beijing to negotiate any future peace deal with communist North Korea.

That has left it out of key negotiations in an increasingly febrile international environment.

Jae Jok Park, an assistant professor at the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul, said Moon would look to carve out a bigger role for South Korea in the Indo-Pacific during his visit while attempting to balance its immediate security concerns.

“Australia can be a very good partner,” he said. “The US has been pressing South Korea to contribute to infrastructure building in this region. What is important from South Korea’s perspective is the enhanced security co-operation with Australia in order to strengthen South Korean co-operation with the US.”

Unlike Japan which has seen the conservative Liberal Democratic Party in power for much of the last 50 years, South Korea’s presidency has oscillated between conservative and liberal leaders for the past two decades.

The more liberal Democratic Party has favoured keeping China on side to enable negotiations with the North, while the conservative People Power Party has taken a harder line and is more likely to move closer to the Japanese LDP if it wins the presidential election in March.

Seoul sent its regards to Beijing on Tuesday ahead of the Winter Olympics and said it hoped the Games could contribute to the peace and stability of north-east Asia. Other countries including Australia and the United States have since announced diplomatic boycotts of the Games.

“We have noted and applaud the Republic of Korea’s remarks,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin.

Park said Moon’s Democratic Party believed China’s strategic position should be taken into consideration.

“If the conservative party wins there is going to be enhanced security co-operation between South Korea and Japan,” he said. “There is going to be a change of atmosphere.”

The timing of Moon’s visit will allow him to speak more freely about South Korea’s international outlook as his presidential term is due to finish in May.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the relationship would continue to grow.

“[It is] underpinned by trade, shared values, common regional strategic interests and a commitment to an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” he said.

The discussions will also centre on hydrogen and rare earth supply chains. Australia has large natural reserves of both resources but limited manufacturing capability.

The two leaders are expected to lock in a clean energy agreement that would allow for the use of hydrogen to make steel in South Korea’s booming steel sector and transform the iron ore export industry. Korean carmaker Hyundai has also been harnessing hydrogen in its latest fleet of electric cars.

Moon is scheduled to meet half-a-dozen senior Australian business leaders at the Australia-Korea Business Council on Tuesday night.

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Eryk Bagshaw is the North Asia correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via Twitter or email.