Loose change for January 8, 2010

It's been nearly a week since I've done this, so it's a bit longer than usual.

 Economic news 

• Kia Motors unionists will stage a partial strike over wages next week. 
• South Korean and Japanese television manufacturers are in an intense rivalry to produce better "3D TV."
• GM is going to make its Chevrolet Aveo bigger, and not in South Korea. 
• The Kogi Truck fusion Korean taco guy is going to open up a real restaurant in Los Angeles starting in February.
• South Korean apartment prices remain stable for the fourth straight week. 
• President Lee and Park Geunhye are said to be on a collision course over Sejong City.

 North Korea news and stuff 

• Blaine Harden of the Washington Post says the recent currency reform in North Korea has led to runaway inflation. The UPI reports on the WaPo story.
• South Korea says North Korea began its uranium enrichment program no later than 1996.
• Seoul has proposed a war dead search to Pyongyang. 
• The KCNA says that North Koreans should eternally internalize the motto, "When the Party is determined, we can do anything!" I wonder if it should be changed to, "When the Party is determined, they can kill anyone." 
• Myanmar has sentenced to death two officials who leaked information about junta leaders' secret trips to North Korea and Russia. 
• Christian Today says that it's very unlikely that Robert Park's antics in visiting North Korea will help Christians in the DPRK, which is billed as the worst persecutor of Christians in the world. Meanwhile, the Christian Post says that the visit will likely lead to an increased crackdown. Also, there has been no word on Mr Park's whereabouts. 
• Is the number of North Korean defectors in China shrinking?

 Other Korea-related stuff 

• Thanks to South Korea's low fertility rate, the Health Ministry is planning a matchmaking service for public servants so they can date, mate, and procreate. 
• South Korean entrepreneurs teach Koreans to appreciate life by experiencing death through their own funerals. I suppose if they are tardy for their own funeral — a common thing in Seoul — they can indeed be late for their own funeral. Oh, I crack myself up sometimes. 
• Jinsoo Choi, the first South Korean to earn a scholarship for Division I basketball, will leave the University of Maryland to pursue a ball career in South Korea. 
• The Donga Ilbo wonders how tough the Nigerian soccer team actually is.
• More healthy bacteria has reportedly been found in kimchi, providing more fodder for the K-blogs.
• Fashionistas are braving the cold in order to keep up with the mini mini trend. God bless 'em all. I'll tell you, though, evolution favors males with a car. 
• If you don't sweep or shovel the snow in front of your house, you could be fined. Not sure what happens if you just pour hot water over it.
• A wetlands area on Chejudo has been added to the Ramsar Convention for protection.
• Japan has been asked to help recover the remains of "freedom fighter" An Chunggŭn. 
• Gay-Dragon will soon be summoned over his obscene performance. No word on whether his beard will also be asked to testify. 
• The Korea Times reports that foreigners want easier iPhone contracts. I say make it as easy as it is for foreigners in Apple's home country who don't have Social Security numbers, which is to say about as easy as it is now in South Korea. 
• Students and teachers will also be able to evaluate teachers and principals, in a new system that will bring greater scrutiny to educators.

 Miscellany 

• In a New York Times op-ed, Joseph Nye talks up the importance of the Japan-US alliance.
• In Seattle, there are many different varieties of "teriyaki," including some Korean ones.
• Here's an interesting look at the Indian car market, where South Korea enjoys a 21% market share.
• This Wall Street Journal op-ed says the world is ignoring Islamic persecution of Christians. 
• UPI columnist Marc Ellenbogen doesn't think much of President Obama's performance in his first year in office.
• Beijing has warned Washington to cancel an arms sale to Taiwan, since these arms would block China's ability to blow Taiwan back to the Stone Age. 
• The Chosun Ilbo says that the conservative Sankei Shimbun is reportedly upset that a Japanese online game has labeled the East Sea or Sea of Japan as "Mer de Coree" (Sea of Corea). 
• The Chosun Ilbo wonders about the future of the latest "world's tallest building."

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