Latest news with #SouthKoreans
New Straits Times
18 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
S.Korea's farmers beg not to be sacrificed for US trade deal
THE apples grown in the South Korean county of Cheongsong in the country's southeast are so renowned for their flavour that they are often given out in neatly-packaged gift boxes during national holidays. But apple farmers, who account for about a third of the roughly 14,000 households in the sleepy rural area, worry that their way of life could be under threat from an influx of cheap US imports. Fanning concerns, South Korea's trade minister suggested last week that Seoul could make concessions on some agricultural imports, although he said sensitive items should be protected, as part of any deal to eliminate or reduce punishing US tariffs on cars, steel and other key exports. "US apples are very cheap. We can't compete with them," said Shim Chun-taek, a third-generation farmer who has been growing apples for two decades. He now fears South Korean farmers risk being sacrificed to appease the US and support the country's manufacturing sector. The United States has long called for better market access for its farm products from beef to apples and potatoes. US President Donald Trump in April slammed steep tariffs on rice in South Korea and Japan. South Korea has taken steps to open its market and is now the top buyer of US beef and the sixth-biggest destination for US agricultural exports overall. Still, Washington has complained about persistent non-tariff barriers. South Korea's quarantine agency is still reviewing US market access requests for apples more than 30 years after they were filed, sparking calls by Washington to expedite the approval process for a range of fruits and potatoes. Any opening up of the sector would increase pressure on apple farmers already wrestling with a host of problems, from climate change to an ageing population and wildfires, which have led to rising costs, smaller harvests, and higher prices. Bank of Korea governor Rhee Chang-yong last year said runaway prices of apples and other farm goods were contributing to inflation and that there was a need to consider more imports. The central bank noted South Korea's grocery prices were higher than the average for OECD countries, with apple prices nearly three times higher than the OECD average. "I think it is difficult to justify absolute protection to certain agriculture sectors simply because of its high sensitivity," said Choi Seok-young, a former chief negotiator for the Korea-US free trade deal. It was hard to view the delayed quarantine process as "rational based on science and international norms," added Choi, who is now a senior adviser for law firm Lee & Ko. Agriculture has emerged as one of the sticking points in US trade talks with South Korea and Japan, after countries such as Indonesia and Britain agreed to allow more agricultural imports from the US in recent trade deals. Seoul has long restricted shipments of US beef from cattle older than 30 months. Massive protests from South Koreans worried about safety due to mad cow disease followed a 2008 agreement with the United States to lift the restrictions. Shim, 48, who wakes at 3am every morning to work on his orchards, said it would be impossible to find alternative crops to grow in the mountainous area. The tariff talks have already fuelled protests from farmers' groups. There could be more to come. "We oppose the imports of apples no matter what," Youn Kyung-hee, mayor of Cheongsong county, told Reuters, adding that people will not "sit still" if Seoul opens up the market.
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Koreans less satisfied with domestic travel than overseas, citing high prices
South Koreans are generally less satisfied with domestic tourism than they are with traveling overseas, according to a survey, with the top reason being high prices at local tourist spots. The Federation of Korean Industries on Tuesday announced the results of a survey it conducted on consumer satisfaction with domestic and overseas travel, which showed that local tourism received an average score of 8.3 out of 10. This was lower than the 8.7 points given to trips outside of the country. The survey was conducted on 1,000 adults who had travelled domestically and overseas in the past three years. When asked why they were not satisfied with domestic tourism, 45.1 percent blamed "high prices at tourist spots," while 19.4 percent cited a "lack of unique regional tourist attractions." The respondents were asked to evaluate domestic and overseas tourism in each of 11 categories -- accessibility, amenities, food, accommodations, historic and cultural resources, tourism programs to experience, regional festivals and other events, recreational facilities, sports and leisure activities, shopping and scenery. Domestic travel had an edge only in the three convenience-related categories -- accessibility, amenities and food -- while overseas travel was preferred in all of the other categories. While people were generally less satisfied with domestic trips, 39 percent of respondents said they are open to taking them, which was slightly higher than the 38.4 percent open to an overseas trip. This was largely due to domestic trips costing less time and money, requiring less preparation, and not presenting a language barrier. More people were planning to take trips this year within the country than abroad -- 87.6 percent versus 60.4 percent. But people spent almost four times as much on overseas trips than domestic trips -- 1.98 million won ($1,428) compared to 543,000 won.
West Australian
2 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
North Korea tours mooted as South looks to mend ties
South Korea is studying various plans to improve relations with North Korea, a spokesperson said in response to a media report that Seoul is considering allowing individual tours to North Korea. Koo Byung-sam, a spokesperson for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korea affairs, refused to comment on a "particular issue". But Koo said he understood individual tours were not in violation of international sanctions. Tourism is one of a narrow range of cash sources for North Korea that are not targeted under United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and weapons programs. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to improve strained relations with Pyongyang that have reached their worst level in years. In a bid to ease tensions, Lee suspended anti-North Korea loudspeaker broadcasts along the border and ordered a halt to leaflet campaigns criticising the North's leaders by anti-Pyongyang activists. The president has said he will discuss further plans with top security officials to resume dialogue with North Korea, which is technically at war with the South. North Korea recently opened a beach resort in the city of Wonsan, a flagship project driven by leader Kim Jong-un to promote tourism. But the tourist area is temporarily not accepting foreign visitors, according to a July 16 note by DPR Korea Tour, a website operated by North Korea's National Tourism Administration. North Korea first needs to open the area to the outside world, the Unification Ministry spokesperson said, when asked if South Koreans could travel to Wonsan. South Korea once ran tours to North Korea's Mount Kumgang area, but suspended them in 2008, when a South Korean tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
North Korea tours mooted as South looks to mend ties
South Korea is studying various plans to improve relations with North Korea, a spokesperson said in response to a media report that Seoul is considering allowing individual tours to North Korea. Koo Byung-sam, a spokesperson for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korea affairs, refused to comment on a "particular issue". But Koo said he understood individual tours were not in violation of international sanctions. Tourism is one of a narrow range of cash sources for North Korea that are not targeted under United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and weapons programs. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to improve strained relations with Pyongyang that have reached their worst level in years. In a bid to ease tensions, Lee suspended anti-North Korea loudspeaker broadcasts along the border and ordered a halt to leaflet campaigns criticising the North's leaders by anti-Pyongyang activists. The president has said he will discuss further plans with top security officials to resume dialogue with North Korea, which is technically at war with the South. North Korea recently opened a beach resort in the city of Wonsan, a flagship project driven by leader Kim Jong-un to promote tourism. But the tourist area is temporarily not accepting foreign visitors, according to a July 16 note by DPR Korea Tour, a website operated by North Korea's National Tourism Administration. North Korea first needs to open the area to the outside world, the Unification Ministry spokesperson said, when asked if South Koreans could travel to Wonsan. South Korea once ran tours to North Korea's Mount Kumgang area, but suspended them in 2008, when a South Korean tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
North Korea tours mooted as South looks to mend ties
South Korea is studying various plans to improve relations with North Korea, a spokesperson said in response to a media report that Seoul is considering allowing individual tours to North Korea. Koo Byung-sam, a spokesperson for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korea affairs, refused to comment on a "particular issue". But Koo said he understood individual tours were not in violation of international sanctions. Tourism is one of a narrow range of cash sources for North Korea that are not targeted under United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and weapons programs. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to improve strained relations with Pyongyang that have reached their worst level in years. In a bid to ease tensions, Lee suspended anti-North Korea loudspeaker broadcasts along the border and ordered a halt to leaflet campaigns criticising the North's leaders by anti-Pyongyang activists. The president has said he will discuss further plans with top security officials to resume dialogue with North Korea, which is technically at war with the South. North Korea recently opened a beach resort in the city of Wonsan, a flagship project driven by leader Kim Jong-un to promote tourism. But the tourist area is temporarily not accepting foreign visitors, according to a July 16 note by DPR Korea Tour, a website operated by North Korea's National Tourism Administration. North Korea first needs to open the area to the outside world, the Unification Ministry spokesperson said, when asked if South Koreans could travel to Wonsan. South Korea once ran tours to North Korea's Mount Kumgang area, but suspended them in 2008, when a South Korean tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier. South Korea is studying various plans to improve relations with North Korea, a spokesperson said in response to a media report that Seoul is considering allowing individual tours to North Korea. Koo Byung-sam, a spokesperson for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korea affairs, refused to comment on a "particular issue". But Koo said he understood individual tours were not in violation of international sanctions. Tourism is one of a narrow range of cash sources for North Korea that are not targeted under United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and weapons programs. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to improve strained relations with Pyongyang that have reached their worst level in years. In a bid to ease tensions, Lee suspended anti-North Korea loudspeaker broadcasts along the border and ordered a halt to leaflet campaigns criticising the North's leaders by anti-Pyongyang activists. The president has said he will discuss further plans with top security officials to resume dialogue with North Korea, which is technically at war with the South. North Korea recently opened a beach resort in the city of Wonsan, a flagship project driven by leader Kim Jong-un to promote tourism. But the tourist area is temporarily not accepting foreign visitors, according to a July 16 note by DPR Korea Tour, a website operated by North Korea's National Tourism Administration. North Korea first needs to open the area to the outside world, the Unification Ministry spokesperson said, when asked if South Koreans could travel to Wonsan. South Korea once ran tours to North Korea's Mount Kumgang area, but suspended them in 2008, when a South Korean tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier. South Korea is studying various plans to improve relations with North Korea, a spokesperson said in response to a media report that Seoul is considering allowing individual tours to North Korea. Koo Byung-sam, a spokesperson for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korea affairs, refused to comment on a "particular issue". But Koo said he understood individual tours were not in violation of international sanctions. Tourism is one of a narrow range of cash sources for North Korea that are not targeted under United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and weapons programs. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to improve strained relations with Pyongyang that have reached their worst level in years. In a bid to ease tensions, Lee suspended anti-North Korea loudspeaker broadcasts along the border and ordered a halt to leaflet campaigns criticising the North's leaders by anti-Pyongyang activists. The president has said he will discuss further plans with top security officials to resume dialogue with North Korea, which is technically at war with the South. North Korea recently opened a beach resort in the city of Wonsan, a flagship project driven by leader Kim Jong-un to promote tourism. But the tourist area is temporarily not accepting foreign visitors, according to a July 16 note by DPR Korea Tour, a website operated by North Korea's National Tourism Administration. North Korea first needs to open the area to the outside world, the Unification Ministry spokesperson said, when asked if South Koreans could travel to Wonsan. South Korea once ran tours to North Korea's Mount Kumgang area, but suspended them in 2008, when a South Korean tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier. South Korea is studying various plans to improve relations with North Korea, a spokesperson said in response to a media report that Seoul is considering allowing individual tours to North Korea. Koo Byung-sam, a spokesperson for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korea affairs, refused to comment on a "particular issue". But Koo said he understood individual tours were not in violation of international sanctions. Tourism is one of a narrow range of cash sources for North Korea that are not targeted under United Nations sanctions over its nuclear and weapons programs. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has pledged to improve strained relations with Pyongyang that have reached their worst level in years. In a bid to ease tensions, Lee suspended anti-North Korea loudspeaker broadcasts along the border and ordered a halt to leaflet campaigns criticising the North's leaders by anti-Pyongyang activists. The president has said he will discuss further plans with top security officials to resume dialogue with North Korea, which is technically at war with the South. North Korea recently opened a beach resort in the city of Wonsan, a flagship project driven by leader Kim Jong-un to promote tourism. But the tourist area is temporarily not accepting foreign visitors, according to a July 16 note by DPR Korea Tour, a website operated by North Korea's National Tourism Administration. North Korea first needs to open the area to the outside world, the Unification Ministry spokesperson said, when asked if South Koreans could travel to Wonsan. South Korea once ran tours to North Korea's Mount Kumgang area, but suspended them in 2008, when a South Korean tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier.
