Public institutions will hire the largest number of employees next year, which the government hopes will ease the high youth unemployment rate in Korea. Some 300 public institutions will hire a total of 19,862 new employees next year, up 7.3 percent from the 18,518 they plan to hire this year, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance said Monday. As of the third quarter, public institutions hired 14,790, or nearly 80 percent of the goal they have set for this year, and the Finance Ministry added that they will be able to meet its target. 

Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Corporation (KHNP) are among the public institutions that will hire next year. Kepco will hire the most employees, or 1,271. “The labor market for youth continues to be sluggish and the youth unemployment rate is two times bigger than the overall unemployment rate,” said Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Il-ho at a job fair that the government hosted at COEX, in southern Seoul, on Monday. “The government will have the public institutions hire nearly 20,000 new employees next year to reduce burdens for young job seekers. We will give full support to young Koreans as we believe they are the future [of the country].” 

Finance Minister Yoo emphasized that the state-run organizations created more jobs for young people since all institutions have adopted the peak wage system. The system has been well received and has been proposed by many labor specialists, who say it could give more room for companies to hire young people by cutting costs of high-paid executives or managers. “The number of new job offers by energy and health-care sectors rose compared to the past,” said Kim Un-sung, a director at the Finance Ministry. The National Health Insurance Service will hire the second most employees next year, or 1,050, Seoul National University Hospital will hire 873 and KHNP will hire 661. A total of 298 state-run organizations will begin recruiting at the start of next year, but the government has noted that the number of employees that will be hired is subject to change. 

The government hosted its seventh annual job fair event, where recruiters from some 120 public institutions and 20,000 job seekers participated on Monday and Tuesday at COEX in eastern Seoul. The overall unemployment rate in October rose 0.3 percentage points from the previous year to 3.4 percent. During the same period, the youth unemployment rate, or the number of jobless ages 15 to 29, rose 1.1 percentage points to 8.5 percent.

China and the United States are considered rivals when it comes to talks about superpower showdowns of the world’s leading superpowers. However, the recent economic growth of India has prompted talks about it becoming a world superpower that can possibly surpass China’s status in Asia. People have their own speculations about this. Some people agree while others do not.

Believers say that many predictions have been made about the possibility that India may take over China as the fastest-growing major economy in Asia. India has experienced a rapid economic growth. In fact, it has even overtaken the Japanese economy. India’s booming economy can be credited to progress in different sectors such as tourism, energy, and food processing and production.

Also, India’s IT industry has been expanding over the years. It is even considered one of the best in the world, making India a technology superpower. The fact that the IT industry has many competent and skilled English-speaking employees makes India a leader in the services industry. It is also one of the world’s top producers of computer software.

Finally, being the world’s largest democracy has made it possible for India to improve its relations with other democratic countries.Additionally, it also managed to improve its ties with the majority of the nations in the developed world. On the other hand, China is involved in various territorial disputes that threaten its international reputation. 

Skeptics say that India couldn’t possibly surpass China as a superpower because China spends a significant amount from its GDP on developing its infrastructure. Moreover, China’s centralizedgovernment makes renovations easier. On the other hand, India spends less on building infrastructure.

Furthermore, although corruption may be present in many countries, India’s corruption problem is worse than China’s. According to reports, government funds are being misappropriated.In fact, India remains as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. On the other hand, China has taken several actions to investigate how officials spend government funds.

Finally, the case of poverty in India is worse than that of China. Poverty in India is believed to be caused by the unequal distribution of wealth. Moreover, among the effects of poverty that is so evident is malnourishment. According to the World Bank, India is one of the highest ranking countries in the world for the number of children suffering from malnutrition.

It was a long anticipated market entry, but now it looks as if Tesla Motors might not be selling its coveted electric vehicles in Korea until at least next year. According to the ministries in charge of approving imported vehicles for Korean roads, it will take at least 25 more days before the California-based automaker can officially begin selling its cars here, a letdown for avid followers who have been waiting for the 12 months since Tesla registered its Korean operation last November. “Considering the current workflow, it is hardly likely for the model that Tesla applied a license for to even finish the registration process,” said an official from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. In order for foreign cars to be sold in Korea, two approval processes are required: one involving emissions and noise level tests by the Ministry of Environment and another involving registration of the car model with the Transport Ministry. The first step was finished quickly. The Tesla S 90D model completed tests less than two weeks after the automaker applied for them in September. But Tesla has yet to begin the second step. 

The official from the Transport Ministry said it takes about 15 business days to complete the registration process for a foreign car and possibly 10 more days to receive official product numbers, which are mandatory for a sales license. Tesla has yet to submit all the documents for registration, which include self-checks that prove their vehicles comply with Korea’s road safety guidelines. The Transport Ministry official anticipates Tesla should have no problem with the process as their vehicles’ safety measures have already been proven in other countries, but the ministry is still waiting for the paperwork. After that, in order to receive a product number, automakers have to report the specifications of the models they wish to sell. This process takes roughly 10 days, and the application must be made at least 10 days before actual sales begin. “People from Tesla have visited the ministry with provisional papers [for consultation],” the Transport Ministry official said. “We have given them feedback, but they are still finalizing the registration documents.” If Tesla fails to submit all the paperwork within the next week, the chances of seeing the cars on sale here are thin, disappointing many customers who were expecting a 2016 debut. 

Shinsegae Department Store, in charge of Tesla’s Starfield Hanam showroom, said their initial objective was to open the new location by the end of December, but now they can’t guarantee it. “It is a benefit for us to open the shop as soon as possible, because it will definitely lure more visitors to our venue” a Shinsegae spokesperson said. “But the registration process isn’t done yet, and there hasn’t been a single case in Tesla Motors history of a showroom opening without the actual car inside.” The Starfield Hanam location in Gyeonggi is still covered with a sign, “Opening Soon Winter 2016,” that at this point seems optimistic. The Gangnam location in southern Seoul is nearly done with interior construction, but it, too, is still missing the most important element: the vehicle. That branch’s opening date has yet to be confirmed. Nonetheless, there are still several Tesla vehicles on Korean roads, though they went through individual certification processes. The cars were imported for private use, not for sale. One of the importers was Socar, Korea’s largest car-sharing service app. The company said Wednesday it has put a Tesla S 70D in its lineup and will provide free test rides for a month starting Tuesday. 

Even if Tesla finishes registering with the Transport Ministry on time, one more obstacle remains. Under current law, the central government provides about 14 million won ($12,000) to buyers of electric cars, part of its efforts to boost the burgeoning market. However, the subsidy is provided only to vehicles that can finish charging in less than 10 hours. The S 90D model, equipped with an 87.5 kilowatt-hour battery, takes 14 hours to fully charge, which means Korean customers will have to shell out about 100 million won for the S model.

A supporting actor or actress is someone who performs a role in a play, film, or drama that is below a lead actor or actress’ role. Supporting characters can vary from minor roles, like bit players or extras, to major roles, like a protagonist’s best friend, love interest, or nemesis. Actors or actress who used to play lead roles can have limited roles available to them because of their increasing age. Often times, they are offered to play supporting roles as they get older. In other cases, actors can switch from leading roles to secondary roles from time to time.

Sometimes, a supporting character plays an unusual, interesting, or eccentric character. In this case, such an actor is called a character actor. Character actors show distinct qualities that show contrast to the qualities of a lead actor. For example, if a lead character is tall, popular, and beautiful, a character actor may be short, unpopular, and unattractive. Also, in a story, a character actor usually goes by first name only while a lead character’s complete name is established. This is because character actors are not expected to draw audiences as much as lead characters are. 

Extras or bit players can also be considered supporting actors. They are also called background actors. Background actors are also essential in movies and dramas. They do not have to interact with the lead roles. Movies that require a large number of background performers are war films, epic films, musicals, and even zombie films. As such, they do not necessarily need to have acting backgrounds. However, many famous actors started out as background actors before they became huge stars. A perfect example is Brad Pitt.

A movie is like a picture. The subject of a photo communicates more substance with the help of the different elements in its background. It is the same for movies, plays, and TV series. They wouldn’t be complete without supporting characters just as much as they wouldn’t be complete without lead roles. A good filmmaker knows that it is important to pick the best supporting actors for his or her film because supporting roles are complements to lead roles. They make stories more compelling.

Supporting actors and background actors are still often underappreciated and undervalued. However, they work just as hard to help bring together an entertaining movie or drama for everyone to enjoy. To recognize the importance supporting actors, theater and film industries around the world have a separate category for best supporting actors and actresses.

When Gangwon FC of the second-tier K-League Challenge took down the winningest club in the top-tier K-League Classic, Seongnam FC, to earn its promotion to the top league, Choi Yun-kyum, the team’s coach, was ecstatic. The skipper had been waiting for this moment for the past four years. But more elated than the manager himself about the promotion was his son Choi Min-ho, better known by the public as singer-turned-actor Minho of K-pop boy group SHINee. When the JoongAng Ilbo met the Chois before the premiere of Minho’s latest movie “Derailed,” the first thing the actor said was how excited he was about his father’s team being promoted to the Classic. He compared it to the first time SHINee topped local music charts. “It was worth going all the way down to Busan [where Gangwon played the first round of playoffs] to watch my dad’s team play,” Minho said. “Minho came to the stadium more than 20 times this season despite his busy schedule,” the skipper of Gangwon added. “He came all the way to Chuncheon, Gangneung and Wonju [all located in Gangwon, more than 40 miles north of Seoul]. He was like my lucky charm because the matches he attended, we actually won many of them.” 

Choi Yun-kyum, a 54-year-old Daejeon native, is a former footballer himself, having played as a defender back in the days for the Yukong Elephants, the predecessor of Jeju United FC in the K-League Classic, as well as for the Korean national team. He even made an appearance in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, playing for the U-23 team as a wild card. And like his father, Minho is considered to have one of the best football skills among Korean celebrities. On the television show “Our Neighborhood Arts and Physical Education,” which features celebrities playing various sports, Minho scored two goals against the old boys of FC Seoul. Choi Tae-uk, a retired winger who played for various Classic elites including FC Seoul, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Ulsan Hyundai FC, can attest to Minho’s football skills. He was one of the FC Seoul veterans who failed to catch the actor’s two shots. “I wanted to become a professional football player like my dad,” Minho said. “But when I was a fifth grader, he told me he would kick me out of the house if I pursue that dream. That was the first time he disapproved of something I did so I decided to give up the dream.” “Frankly, I didn’t want him to follow my path,” Coach Choi said. “Back when I was playing, it was difficult to make it in that world, very abusive back in those days. I would stay home for a couple of hours and then be off to training camp. It pained me to see my son asking me to stay over for the night. “And from the football manager’s point of view, I didn’t think Minho had it in him to make it in that world,” he added. “He is strong-willed, but he had a small frame.” 

So instead of representing Korea on the football pitch, Minho went down the path of representing the country on the stage. As a global entertainer, he has four Golden Disk Awards for achievements in the Korean music industry as well as a commendation from the nation’s prime minister. But when it comes to love for the sport, Minho is second to none. Back in 2012, he was spotted attending a Queens Park Rangers match in London to watch Park Ji-sung play before retirement. “I am an Arsenal fan,” Minho said. “It’s fun when Dad and I watch a game together because he uses football nomenclature like stopper. I tell him these days that they say center back more than stopper.” Before the season earlier this year, Choi Yun-kyum promised that if Gangwon were promoted to the Classic, he would have SHINee perform a concert. The manager admitted that it was out of impulse. “I didn’t know just how busy my son was,” he conceded. 

But Minho said if the schedule allows, and if his fellow members are up for it, he would love to host a concert for his dad. And one day, just like his father, Minho says he wants to be part of a football club in Korea. “Maybe not as an owner, but at least as an executive,” he said. “But I will always be my dad’s biggest fan.”

On November 9, 2016, Donald Trump, the Republican bet for the U.S. presidency, was declared by the U.S. Electoral College as the 45th President of the United States of America. Trump won against Hillary Clinton by a significant number of electoral votes that defied predictions and pre-election polls. Trump’s victory came as a surprise to many especially to American citizens who were very vocal about their detestation towards the new president. Although some still cannot believe the result of the recent presidential election, many have moved on and are now waiting to see how Donald Trump would lead one of the world’s leading superpowers.

Donald Trump’s rhetoric during the entire period of his presidential campaign was controversial. He has given plenty of strong declarations which he later on negated, and this perplexed and made many people concerned about his real plans for the U.S.Many are waiting for his plans about key issues concerning the U.S. economy, international relations, etc.

Donald Trump gave a speech right after his opponent concededfrom the presidential race. In his speech, he reiterated his desires to “make America great again.” He said he would “bind the wounds” of the divided country and his efforts would gear towards making Americans come together to become “one united people.”

Trump is expected to focus on building a lot of new infrastructure and change a lot of policies and programs made by the Obama administration. He is expected to spend at least half a trillion U.S. dollars on building new infrastructure like major roads, bridges, airports, and highways. He is also planning to reverse more than twenty executive orders of the past administration which includes changing Obamacare, a system that has brought health insurance to Americans who cannot afford it, to a “Health Savings Account” system that would give more power to governing bodies of each state to control funds.

In terms of economy and international relations, Trump stands firm in his belief that the U.S. is “of, for, and by its people.” His view against the entry and continued stay of illegal migrants and refugees in the U.S. is something that will influence his moves as president. He is expected to become more restrictive about immigration policies because he wants to prioritize Americans especially in terms of employment and benefit acquisition. Some economic analysts say this would benefit Americans because more jobs and services will be made available to them. They add that it will not cause serious economic problems.

Many say that Donald Trump’s term as the U.S. President will be unpredictable and radical. However, Donald Trump himself assured his people that he has great plans for the country. He said that all the Americans need to do now is “just wait and see.”

Korean Air, the nation’s largest airline, will launch direct flights to the Mediterranean city of Barcelona, Spain, and add more flights to the American West Coast while cutting down on less popular routes to ramp up profitability in the increasingly competitive airline market. The new flights to Barcelona will operate three times a week starting next April. The company said it will be the first direct flight to the Spanish city from a Northeast Asian country. Barcelona is Spain’s second-largest regional economy and is renowned for its pristine beaches as well as architectural marvels by modernist Antoni Gaudi such as La Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. “We expect there will also be a growing number of business travelers headed to Barcelona, since the city has developed its automaking and pharmaceutical industries,” a company spokesperson said. 

According to a Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency report on Spain, the country is the second-largest producer of cars in Europe after Germany. Japanese carmaker Nissan has a manufacturing facility in Barcelona. Korean Air is also increasing the number of flights to cities on the American West Coast, including San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles. While there is currently one daily flight to San Francisco during the day, the airline will add an extra nighttime flight next year to meet the route’s high demand. The night flight will start operating five times a week in April and then be serviced daily starting from September. “Apart from customers directly flying between Incheon and San Francisco, some customers from the city stop by Incheon to transfer to flights bound for China or Southeast Asia,” Korean Air said in a statement Wednesday. “Increased options could enhance their convenience.” 

While routes to the United States have been doing well, the airline’s flights to Saudi Arabia have not been as popular. By the end of February, Korean Air plans to suspend flights from Incheon to Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, and the port city of Jeddah. The Saudi Arabian route was launched in 2012 with ambitions to connect Seoul to the oil-abundant country. At the time, Korean Air President Ji Chang-hoon said, “The direct flight will become a messenger to spread Korean culture in the Middle East and aid economic cooperation between the two countries.” Demand failed to reach expectations, and travel to the country has been on the decline recently, incurring losses for Korean Air. Low oil prices have burdened the Saudi Arabian economy, leading to shrinking orders for construction and oil refining projects in the country. To minimize inconvenience, Korean Air said it will expand connecting flights departing from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to other Middle Eastern countries in cooperation with Middle East-based airlines. Korean Air operates flights bound for Dubai seven times a week. Flights bound for Siem Reap, the northwestern Cambodian city famed for its Angkor Wat temple complex, will also be suspended in early February due to lack of demand. “The city’s lack of tourism infrastructure has led to annual losses on the route,” the company said in a statement. 

Meanwhile, Korean Air continues to work on developing a route to Tehran. After economic sanctions on Iran were lifted earlier this year, expectations were high for potential business opportunities. However, as dollar-based transactions are still not permitted and the country lacks infrastructure for foreign companies, Korean firms are finding it difficult to expand business there. “It doesn’t mean we are giving up on launching the service, but we will take it slow and watch market conditions,” a Korean Air spokesperson said.

On October 13, 2016, Thailand’s most respected leader, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, passed away at 88 due to his deterioratinghealth. King Bhumibol is considered the father of Thailand and hailed as a semi-divine being by Thais. He is a symbol of unity in a country that is often troubled by political turmoil and various coups. 

Upon hearing the news about his death, many of his grief-stricken followers assembled and wept outside the hospital where he died. World leaders such as President Barack Obama and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also expressed their deepest condolencesand heartfelt tribute to the late king.

Following the king’s death, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha announced that Thailand would hold a yearlong mourning period and a month-long period of subdued mood. Along with the mourning are talks about the country’s future. Many people are wondering how the passing of Thailand’s revered king would affect the country and its economy. 

Many factors affect Thailand’s economic downturn this year, and perhaps, the following years to come. Among them are the country’s mourning period, political turmoil, and most importantly, the transition to a new monarch—King Bhumibol’s heir, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. The first 30 days of mourning have already affected the forecast for the country’s economic growth this year which is at 3.1 percent.

The political turmoil is also seen as a factor that may throw offinvestors if they see that it can threaten Thailand’s stability. Finally, Prince Maha’s ascension to the throne draws a picture of uncertainty because Thais know little about him and his vision for the country. The yearlong mourning period is nevertheless a good preparation for him.

Among the things that King Bhumibol is known and will be remembered for is his Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP). It promotes the middle path and upholds moderation, reasonableness, and resiliency in all economic endeavors. Many people believe that it is possible for businesses to follow the philosophy and still make profit. In fact, some people say that the SEP had a role in Thailand’s recovery from the 1997 Asian financial crisis. It is then fair to assume that the SEP can help Thailand sustain its economy even under new leadership and amidst political instability. 

If King Bhumibol were still alive, I believe he would want his people to continue living the SEP. He would also want Thais to give his successor a chance to continue upholding his legacy. During uncertain times like this, these are two simple things that every Thai should do.

Beijing ordered local broadcasters not to air Korean dramas, movies or entertainment shows in apparent retaliation for Seoul’s rush to deploy a U.S.-led antimissile defense system in less than a year, according to multiple sources in China. If true, it would be China’s toughest ban imposed on South Korea’s entertainment business so far. Ever since Seoul and Washington jointly announced their decision on July 8 to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) system on South Korean soil, Beijing has been blacklisting Korean entertainers, though not officially. 

The Chinese government has recently ordered local broadcasters not to air Korean dramas, movies, entertainment shows or Chinese remade versions of Korean content, according to EntGroup, a Chinese entertainment market researcher, on Sunday. Korean projects that already passed all legal procedures to be aired on Chinese TV will be excluded from the new rule, the researcher quoted the government as saying, adding that broadcasters are now “waiting” for the official papers to arrive detailing the ban. A producer in Jiangsu Province received an order from the government not to hire any Korean celebrities on his show, according to Weishi Guanchasheng (Chinese for “television viewer”), a popular entertainment writer on the Chinese microblogging site Weibo. “It’s an urgent matter,” the user wrote. “All broadcasters have been spurred into action.” 

Chuanmeiquan, which translates as “media circle,” a Chinese news portal that focuses on Chinese entertainment, reported Sunday that the country’s ban on Korean acts have “finally come to light,” and that everyone in showbiz is “waiting for official government papers to arrive.” According to sources, the latest ban will block Korean companies from jointly producing dramas and entertainment shows with their Chinese counterparts, Chinese broadcasters from airing shows that feature Korean celebrities, Korean agencies from organizing idol concerts in China gathering 10,000 guests or more and Chinese companies from investing in Korean agencies. Actor Song Joong-ki, the male lead in the “Descendants from the Sun” (2016), appears to have been affected by the measure when he was swapped with a Chinese actor in a TV ad for VIVO, a leading smartphone brand in China, earlier this month. Chinese media reports indicate that cosmetics brands are also discussing whether to change their Korean models, including Kim Soo-hyun, Ahn Jae-hyun and Song Hye-kyo. Events in China with K-pop and K-drama stars, including boy band EXO, have already been cancelled, affecting the stock prices of K-pop management companies including SM, YG and JYP. In August, a Chinese TV show deleted scenes featuring Korean singer Hwang Chi-yeul or blocked his image with subtitles and pixilation. His name was also absent from the credits at the end of the show. Last week, Seoul successfully acquired the Lotte Skyhill Country Club in Seongju County, North Gyeongsang, from Lotte Group for the Thaad site, taking one step closer to deploying the battery. 

Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, said earlier this month during a military seminar in central Seoul that the anti-missile system will be deployed within eight to 10 months. Both China and Russia have expressed strong opposition to the deployment, saying it would compromise their strategic security interests. They have especially been concerned that the Thaad’s powerful X-Band radar could be used to spy on their territories.

A man who was adopted from South Korea by Americans when he was three years old landed on Thursday in his native country - one that is completely unknown to him - after he was deported from the United States, an official and his lawyer said. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had ordered Adam Crapser deported because of criminal convictions, including assault and being a felon in possession of a weapon. His life story highlights the failings of an adoption system that put him in the homes of one set of parents who abandoned him and another that physically abused him and other adopted children, his Seattle attorney, Lori Walls, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. 

ICE spokeswoman Rose Richeson told AP in an email that the 41-year-old Crapser arrived in Seoul on Thursday morning aboard a commercial airline flight escorted by ICE deportation officers. Richeson said Crapser was arrested by ICE on Feb. 8 after serving a 60-day sentence for menacing constituting domestic violence and attempted coercion. He had been held in an immigration detention center in Tacoma, Washington since then. A judge could have allowed Crapser to stay in America but decided on deportation. Crapser’s supporters said he waived an appeal because he couldn’t stand the detention center any longer. Walls said she is astonished that the fact that Crapser “was adopted, abandoned and abused ... carried relatively little weight in the decision that the immigration court made.” “The U.S. government facilitated the adoption out of Korea,” she said. “No one followed up to make sure he was safe. When that first family abandoned him to foster care he was not visible - there was no follow-up.” 

No one ever sought U.S. citizenship for him. He and his older sister were adopted by a family who lived in Michigan and who later abandoned them after they moved to Oregon, Walls said. Brother and sister were split up. Crapser was eventually adopted by parents in Oregon who assaulted him and other children in their care. His adoptive parents were convicted of multiple crimes. Crapser eventually left the home and was arrested after he broke in to retrieve some of his belongings from his orphanage in South Korea, Walls said. Crapser later got into further trouble with the law. He came under the scrutiny of federal immigration authorities after he applied for a Green Card and they saw his criminal record. “I’m hopeful Adam figures out how to make a life in that country, where he doesn’t speak the language, read the language or know anything about the culture,” Walls said. 

His birth mother in South Korea, who had put her son and daughter up for adoption because she couldn’t afford to keep him, is learning English so she can communicate with him when they’re reunited, The New York Times reported recently. “His birth mother, because of publicity in South Korea, came forward,” Walls said, adding that a DNA test proved the relationship. Walls noted that the mother is disabled, has a low income “and can’t be much help for him.” “I spoke with Adam a couple of days ago,” Walls said. “He was trying to stay positive, but I mean it was clear talking to him that he was scared. He’s going to a country where he can’t even read the street signs.” Walls said there might be legal remedies for Crapser to return to the U.S. but that it would be “an uphill battle.”