Day: March 19, 2024

SEOUL, Kakao Mobility Corp., South Korea's top taxi-hailing service operator, has been pushing for plans to reappoint its CEO, despite the state financial regulator's recommendation to replace him amid allegations of accounting fraud, industry sources said Tuesday. In a general shareholders' meeting slated for next week, Kakao Mobility will carry out a vote on reelecting Ryu Geung-seon as the CEO, following the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS)'s recommendation to dismiss him over the alleged accounting fraud, according to the sources. Kakao Mobility has allegedly inflated its sales figure by receiving 20 percent of its taxi drivers' profit as a membership fee, and returning about 80 percent of the fee to the drivers. Last month, the FSS issued a prior notice to Kakao Mobility that it will refer the company and key officials to the prosecution over the allegations and impose a 9 billion-won (US$6.7 million) fine. Additionally, the FSS also recommended Ryu step down from his position. In apparent effor ts to deflate its sales, Kakao Mobility recently amended its accounting standards, resulting in a 400 billion-won reduction in its annual sales last year to 600 billion won from over 1 trillion won. The company said Ryu's reappointment as the company's CEO has yet to be confirmed, but noted he has successfully led the company during his tenure. Kakao Mobility and its parent, Kakao Corp., have been at the center of public criticism since last year over suspicions of unfair business practices and moral hazard of their executives, including stock manipulation allegations. Source: Yonhap News Agency

King Power Rangnam, "Settha" wears a loincloth pattern shirt. Walk around King Power Rangnam, Bangkok, showcasing Thai products at shopping centers for foreigners. Mr. Settha Thavisin, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, wearing a khao ma pattern shirt, visited the booth 'Thainess Station, Thai products united for the community' by King Power Group, bringing loincloth products from the community to expand and enhance the products of Thai local wisdom. Coming from various provinces which are displayed and sold, such as products from loincloths Basketry made from krajood and indigo cloth The Prime Minister visited the loincloth products with interest. Ready to praise Ready to give an interview that Loincloth can be used for many things. Both will be worn as towels, which have a variety of designs. It is a good thing that Thai people already have popularity. Most recently I went to France and Germany during the spring. Therefore, the loincloth was used as a scarf instead of wool. In return for the love an d connection that fellow citizens bring when they go to other provinces. This will help strengthen the identity of Thai Go International for foreigners to recognize. Including King Power supporting the distribution of various loincloth products, including scarves and neck pillows, brought to the department store for foreigners to shop and buy. If they go to any province, they will push products from that province. continuously, such as Sakon Nakhon loincloth In the south, there will be krajood bags. We will continue to push Thai community products. Source: Thai News Agency

King Power Rangnam, "Settha" wears a loincloth pattern shirt. Walk around King Power Rangnam, Bangkok, showcasing Thai products at shopping centers for foreigners. Mr. Settha Thavisin, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, wearing a khao ma pattern shirt, visited the booth 'Thainess Station, Thai products united for the community' by King Power Group, bringing loincloth products from the community to expand and enhance the products of Thai local wisdom. Coming from various provinces which are displayed and sold, such as products from loincloths Basketry made from krajood and indigo cloth The Prime Minister visited the loincloth products with interest. Ready to praise Ready to give an interview that Loincloth can be used for many things. Both will be worn as towels, which have a variety of designs. It is a good thing that Thai people already have popularity. Most recently I went to France and Germany during the spring. Therefore, the loincloth was used as a scarf instead of wool. In return for the love an d connection that fellow citizens bring when they go to other provinces. This will help strengthen the identity of Thai Go International for foreigners to recognize. Including King Power supporting the distribution of various loincloth products, including scarves and neck pillows, brought to the department store for foreigners to shop and buy. If they go to any province, they will push products from that province. continuously, such as Sakon Nakhon loincloth In the south, there will be krajood bags. We will continue to push Thai community products. Source: Thai News Agency

SEOUL, South Korea's foreign ministry said Tuesday the ongoing third Summit of Democracy in Seoul is not aimed at a specific country in a thinly veiled reference to China. Seoul's reaction came in response to Chinese opposition against Taiwan's participation in the U.S.-led annual summit meant to strengthen democracy and confront authoritarianism around the world. "The Summit of Democracy is held to contribute to promoting democracy and human rights, and is not aimed at a specific country," foreign ministry spokesperson, Lim Soo-suk, told a regular press briefing. "Our government's policy on respecting the One China policy remains unchanged," he added, stressing that democracy is an issue of the "universal values of mankind." On Monday, Taiwan's Minister of Digital Affairs Audrey Tang participated in the summit in a video message after Beijing urged Seoul to abide by the "One China" principle and opposed inviting Taiwanese officials to the meeting. Before delivering her message, Tang was introduced by a presenter as speaking in a "private capacity." Lim said the decision to play Tang's video message was made after "comprehensive" consideration, including the fact that the minister also participated in both the first and second summits. A ministry official also said South Korea had communicated with the "relevant countries" before the summit regarding the invitation. Source: Yonhap News Agency

SEOUL, South Korea's foreign ministry said Tuesday the ongoing third Summit of Democracy in Seoul is not aimed at a specific country in a thinly veiled reference to China. Seoul's reaction came in response to Chinese opposition against Taiwan's participation in the U.S.-led annual summit meant to strengthen democracy and confront authoritarianism around the world. "The Summit of Democracy is held to contribute to promoting democracy and human rights, and is not aimed at a specific country," foreign ministry spokesperson, Lim Soo-suk, told a regular press briefing. "Our government's policy on respecting the One China policy remains unchanged," he added, stressing that democracy is an issue of the "universal values of mankind." On Monday, Taiwan's Minister of Digital Affairs Audrey Tang participated in the summit in a video message after Beijing urged Seoul to abide by the "One China" principle and opposed inviting Taiwanese officials to the meeting. Before delivering her message, Tang was introduced by a presenter as speaking in a "private capacity." Lim said the decision to play Tang's video message was made after "comprehensive" consideration, including the fact that the minister also participated in both the first and second summits. A ministry official also said South Korea had communicated with the "relevant countries" before the summit regarding the invitation. Source: Yonhap News Agency

Udon Thani, Before its time, a summer storm hit Phen District, Udon Thani Province, causing the villagers to be caught off guard. Never had I seen strength like this before. It is thought that the storm will come on March 19-20 according to the Meteorological Department warning. Around 5:00 p.m. yesterday (March 18, 2024), a heavy storm hit Phen District, Udon Thani Province, especially in the market. The villagers were caught off guard. Because at first I thought the storm would come today and tomorrow (March 20) according to the warning announcement from the Meteorological Department. But the storm hit before the appointment. The roofs of the shops were piled up on the road. The tents flew in all directions, toppling over. Even the large tents were blown over 40 meters away. The strength of the wind also blew several cars upside down. Reporters went to the area to survey the market. and surrounding area You can still see signs of damage throughout the area. The roofs of many houses were blown open by the wind. Villagers rush to repair Strengthen The villagers all said the same thing. I've never seen a storm this strong before. At first the sky was sunny, but suddenly it became overcast. Both the rain and the wind came very quickly. Then there was a violent tornado. The wind hit back and forth, sending more than 50 shops lined up along with the storm. Tents were blown apart. They were so shocked they ran away in chaos. Some people crouched on the ground. Hug the pole so it doesn't blow away in the wind. Some people were injured when sticks were thrown at their heads. - Source: Thai News Agency

Udon Thani, Before its time, a summer storm hit Phen District, Udon Thani Province, causing the villagers to be caught off guard. Never had I seen strength like this before. It is thought that the storm will come on March 19-20 according to the Meteorological Department warning. Around 5:00 p.m. yesterday (March 18, 2024), a heavy storm hit Phen District, Udon Thani Province, especially in the market. The villagers were caught off guard. Because at first I thought the storm would come today and tomorrow (March 20) according to the warning announcement from the Meteorological Department. But the storm hit before the appointment. The roofs of the shops were piled up on the road. The tents flew in all directions, toppling over. Even the large tents were blown over 40 meters away. The strength of the wind also blew several cars upside down. Reporters went to the area to survey the market. and surrounding area You can still see signs of damage throughout the area. The roofs of many houses were blown open by the wind. Villagers rush to repair Strengthen The villagers all said the same thing. I've never seen a storm this strong before. At first the sky was sunny, but suddenly it became overcast. Both the rain and the wind came very quickly. Then there was a violent tornado. The wind hit back and forth, sending more than 50 shops lined up along with the storm. Tents were blown apart. They were so shocked they ran away in chaos. Some people crouched on the ground. Hug the pole so it doesn't blow away in the wind. Some people were injured when sticks were thrown at their heads. - Source: Thai News Agency

SEOUL, President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Tuesday to abolish a real estate policy adopted by the previous administration to stabilize home prices, saying it only caused greater suffering to the people. Yoon was referring to a 2020 policy under which the government of then President Moon Jae-in decided to gradually raise the declared prices of apartments and other types of real estate to 90 percent of their market prices by 2035. In South Korea, the government uses the declared prices as the basis for various property taxes, and the aim of the measure was to levy "fairer" taxes and bring soaring house prices under control. "Our government will completely abolish the rash plan to make declared prices realistic so that the people can stop being anxious," Yoon said during a government-public debate at Seoul Art Space Mullae, a multi-purpose creative space in western Seoul. "It would be great if we could amend the law, but even before revising the law, we will use various policy tools to produce the effect of an a bolition," he said. Yoon claimed the Moon administration tried to tamp down skyrocketing house prices caused by its own policy failures by imposing "punitive" taxes, but that they only led to a sharp increase in the housing burdens of ordinary people owning one home. "The side effects were enormous and the people's suffering only increased," he said. In addition, Yoon said the government will purchase 100,000 units of newly built small to medium-sized homes over the next two years to lease to vulnerable people for low rent. He also vowed to carry out a major urban regeneration project in Seoul's old city center, including the western Yeongdeungpo Ward where the debate was held. The "New Village Project" will see the renovation of old single-family homes and multi-home residential buildings into modern town houses, with the help of 10 trillion won (US$7.47 billion) in government investment over the next 10 years, he said. Source: Yonhap News Agency