1. BILATERAL/MULTILATERAL ISSUES

Some of Democratic Party Members Propose Compromise for ratification of KORUS FTA [Korean: BYK]

http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/view/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001652967

Summary: Forty assemblymen from the Democratic Party signed a petition and sent it to the leaders of the party.  In addition to the forty that signed the petition, 15 other party members are reported to have given a verbal agreement.  The essence of the petition is to agree on ratification of the KORUS FTA as long as the government can get an agreement to negotiate the ISD with the United States. 

2. LIVESTOCK ISSUES

Violators of Beef Traceability Systems Becomes Smarter [Korean: BYK]

http://www.asiatoday.co.kr/news/view.asp?seq=552427

Summary: More and more people that violated the beef traceability system were found to have neglected to keep records of the purchase and selling records, while those using false labels were found to be dropping.  Among the violations, negligence in record keeping increased from 4% in 2009 (7 out of 169 violations) to 9.7% in 2010 (107 out of 1,108 violations).  Total number of stores that was checked for compliance with the traceability regulations in 2009 was 13,677 stores and in 2010 it was 81,444 stores.  The government has checked 38,709 stores as of end of August, 2011 and has found 512 violators.

U.S. was promised that additional beef negotiations would take place within 6 months after the implementation of the KORUS FTA [Korean: BYK]

http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/view/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001650267

Summary: Senator Baucus claimed in a conference call with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association that there will be additional negotiations for further liberalization of the Korean beef market within 6 months after the implementation of the KORUS FTA.  This articles also carries copies of USTR letter to Senator Baucus, etc.

3. MARKETING ISSUES

Making customers happy is Starbucks CEO’s priority [English, MGF]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2011/11/123_98354.html

Much ink has been spilled about homegrown competitors eclipsing the local Starbucks, a joint venture between Shinsegae Group and the Seattle-based company, as the country’s top coffee chain in numbers. The country’s largest coffee chain is Caffe Bene, which has nearly 700 branches, and even low-cost rival Ediya has surpassed Starbucks’s 408. Last year, Starbucks generated 242 billion won in revenue up from 204 billion won the year before. Its net income rose to 16.9 billion from 12.4 billion won   Local rivals, when it comes to revenue, do not come close yet. Caffe Bene, even with its numerical dominance and heavy celebrity-centered promotion, trails at 105 billion won, last year. The net income for the same period was 11.0 billion won.

E-Mart to Sell Roasted Coffee Beans at ‘Fair Price’ that It Imports Directly from Growers [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/Economy/Market/3/0108/20111108/41734489/1

Summary: E-Mart, the leading discount grocery retailer in Korea, announced on November 8 that it would soon launch a line of roasted coffee beans under its own store brand.  The first product will be  ‘Brazil Seradu Rosted Coffee Beans’.  E-Mart has developed a partnership with Jardin, a leading roaster in Korea, to roast the green beans that it imports from various regions around the world.  The Brazil Seradu beans will be sold at 17,900 won per 1 kilogram bag, which is as much as 76 percent cheaper than similar products currently sold in Korea.  E-Mart will continue to introduce roasted beans from more diverse origins in the coming months.  According to E-Mart, sales of roasted coffee beans in the store have increased by over 30 percent through October this year from same period last year.

 “Korea Is an Expensive Country”, Consumer Price Survey Tells that the Same Chilean Wine is Sold in Korea at 44,000 Won and in Germany at 22,196 Won [Korean, OSY]

http://news.donga.com/Economy/Market/3/0108/20111108/41734522/1

Summary: According to a price survey by a Korean consumer organization, many consumer products are currently sold at much higher prices in Korea than in other markets around the world.  Products that are sold at much higher prices in Korea include Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, Heineken beer, whole milk, Levies blue jeans, and Australian sirloin steak cut.  For example, Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon is sold at the highest price among all markets surveyed.

4. NORTH KOREA ISSUES

Seoul to send medical aid to N. Korea through UN / / Private Organization Monitor Aid Distribution in N. Korea [English, MGF]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/11/116_98364.html

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_IK_detail.htm?lang=e&id=IK&No=85785&current_page=

South Korea will send medical supplies to North Korea through the United Nations’ health body, an official said Tuesday amid an ongoing warming of cross-border ties.   The donation worth $6.94 million will be made through the World Health Organization (WHO) and go toward supplying basic equipment and facilities, an official of the Ministry of Unification said on condition of anonymity.  The Unification Ministry says officials from private organizations are monitoring how relief aid is being distributed at two different areas in North Korea.

FAO: NK Crop Yield to Increase Somewhat from Last Year [English, MGF]

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_IK_detail.htm?No=85875&id=IK

Voice of America reported on Tuesday that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates in its November Food Outlook report that North Korea’s crop yield this year will increase.  The report expects that despite flooding in the North, its farms are better equipped with farming equipment, which should increase the crop yield slightly.  The FAO is expected to announce a specific estimate of the North’s crop yield in mid-November.

Unification Ministry: No Plans to Send Food to N. Korea [English, MGF]

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_IK_detail.htm?lang=e&id=IK&No=85873&current_page=

Despite the Unification ministry's decision to resume humanitarian aid to vulnerable North Koreans, including infants, by providing medicine and medical equipment through the WHO, the official said that the ministry is not reviewing support through the World Food Program, which has been active in providing food to the North.

5. OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES

Sea Anemone Silk Produced for First Time by S. Korean Research Team [English, MGF]

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Sc_detail.htm?No=85866&id=Sc

A South Korean research team has succeeded in producing silk from sea anemones for the first time in the world.

The team’s success marks the first time that silk has been produced by a maritime creature.  The university team said sea anemone protein is superb in elasticity and strength. It added it hopes the substance's versatility will lead to its use in bio and tissue engineering and in therapeutic agents or bulletproof materials.

Marine Life form New to S. Korean Territory Found [English, MGF]

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Sc_detail.htm?lang=e&id=Sc&No=85733&current_page=

The Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Ministry said it has found in coastal waters off Jeju Island four variations of dinoflagellates, unicellular organisms found in semitropical regions. The ministry said this is biological evidence that sea temperatures are rising in waters off South Korea, as the microorganisms have not been recorded inhabiting Korean territory before.

Korea Food Expo Kicks Off [English, MGF]

http://www.tbs.seoul.kr/eNews/news.do?method=efmNewsInfo&n_idx=53070

The Korea Food Expo kicks off at the COEX Convention Center today, hosted by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. About 1,000 companies will present their products from today through November 12th. Visitors can receive information on food products, food packaging, kitchen gadgets and restaurant cuisine. Meanwhile, the Makgeolli Expo, the Korea Alcohol & Liquor Expo and the Asian Food Forum are being held on the sidelines of the event.

Imports of Candies and Chocolates Show a Rapid Increase [Korean, OSY]

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/economy/2011/11/08/0318000000AKR20111108077500002.HTML?audio=Y

According to the Korea Customs Office, imports of candies and chocolates through October this year have increased by 29 percent and 21 percent respectively (total $259 million) compared to same period last year.  The Customs Office added that the imports are likely to show higher growth for the rest of the year as local consumption of candies and chocolates usually increase significantly around Christmas.

6. MIFAFF PRESS RELEASES

►   MIFAFF to hold 16th Farmers’ Day Ceremony on November 11th at RDA

►   MIFAFF to hold freshwater fish promotion at COEX from November 9 – 12, 2011

►  Total agriculture and fishery exports exceeds 2010 level.  As of end of October, 2011, total exports of agricultural and fishery products marked $5.9 billion, an increase of 27.2% over the same period in 2010. 

► MIFAFF selects 9 fishery specialists as leaders in the fishery industry.

► Korea Food Expo 2011 to be held at COEX from November 9 – 12, 2011

► “2011 Return to Farming Festival” successfully held from November 4-6.  About 25,000 people living in the urban area participated in the festival that provided information on how to return to the rural sector and begin farming.

► MIFAFF tries to improve the quality of water used in farming, in collaboration with provincial governments.