Commentary: K-pop without the âKâ just wonât pop
NEW YORK: K-pop is betting that it can reverse its slowing global growth by becoming less Korean. This is a mistake: Without the “K”, the music is plain pop, undistinguishable from – and unable to compete with – the dominant American kind.
There is no question the K-pop wave is waning. Bang Si-hyuk, whose Hybe is behind such acts as BTS and NewJeans, believes the industry is in crisis. South Korean customs data shows that K-pop album exports in 2022 grew just 4.8 per cent to over US$230 million, compared with 62.1 per cent in 2021 and 82.6 per cent in 2020.
This is in no small part because of BTS, far and away the industry’s biggest act, went into hiatus at the end of 2022, to allow the seven band members to fulfil their mandatory military service and pursue solo projects.
At the time, there were fears of a decline in the US market, where BTS accounted for a third of all K-pop sales and streams. The US is K-pop’s second-biggest export market, behind Japan.
But overall album exports in the first half of last year were up a respectable 17 per cent. Jungkook, a BTS member, scored a huge hit with his solo album Golden, and the single Seven garnered a billion streams on Spotify – faster than any song previously.
So Bang’s warnings about a K-pop crisis seem a little premature.
School chief shunted after food furore
Pic of paltry portion on plate goes viral
PUBLISHED : 13 Jan 2024 at 05:03
MAE HONG SON: A school director in Mae La Noi district is reportedly set to be transferred after a group of students protested against her because she filed a police complaint against one of them for complaining about the quality of a school lunch on social media.
On Friday, a group of students gathered at their Rat Prachanukhro 21 School at 8.30am to prevent school director Sineenat Rodkrue from entering the school after she filed a complaint on Thursday with Mae La Noi police against the student for breaching the Computer Crimes Act.
According to the “Watchdog.Act” Facebook page, the student posted a picture and commented on the poor quality of the school lunch, complaining that all they received was rice, a boiled egg and chilli paste.
The post by the student grabbed the attention of Thai netizens and sparked criticism of irregularities in school lunches.
In response, Mae Hong Son provincial governor Chettha Mosikarat on Friday instructed his deputy to immediately investigate the matter to prevent any discontent in a school which educates more than 500 students from various ethnic groups.
However, an urgent order sent by his superior demanded the school director be transferred elsewhere within 24 hours.
Mr Chettha said many at the school had opposed the severity of the action of the school director. The information was disseminated and shared by the Watchdog.Act Facebook page and had led to scrutiny of the school in online discussions.
Pol Lt Col Somphet Phankab, deputy superintendent of Mae La Noi Police, told the media that more than 20 students and parents visited the police station to protest against the school director’s complaint at 7pm on Thursday.
Police negotiated with students, parents and the school director until she agreed to withdraw her complaint and pledged to improve the school lunch quality, Pol Lt Col Somphet said.
The school director also alleged the picture that the student posted might have been taken somewhere else, and had sullied the reputation of her school.
The student group also complained to the media yesterday, asking whether the present budget of 30 baht per student should result in such poor-quality lunches.
The group added the quality of the food had declined since the director arrived last October.
Taiwan Votes 2024: As polling gets underway, the world awaits the election outcome and its impact on key issues
President Tsai Ing-wen is ineligible to seek re-election after serving two straight terms.
The hopefuls have been busy through the 28 days of formal campaigning, staging rallies and taking part in televised debates as they seek to win people’s hearts and minds – and secure their votes.
CNA has been on the ground – here are the key issues that have emerged in this election.
CROSS-STRAIT TENSIONS
The issue has been at the forefront as China steps up military and economic pressure on Taiwan. Beijing has framed the election as a choice between war and peace across the Taiwan Strait, as well as between prosperity and recession.
While China has not publicly stated its preferred candidate, it has clearly signalled who’s not in its favour, calling the DPP’s Lai a “separatist” and “troublemaker”.
Mr Lai was previously outspoken in his support for Taiwan independence – which China sees as a red line – but has since distanced himself from this. He has pledged to prioritise the status quo, saying only Taiwan’s people can decide the island’s future.
Mr Hou of the KMT has portrayed the presidential ballot as a choice between war and peace with China, mirroring Beijing’s warning. He has said he will restart talks with China, starting with lower-level events such as cultural exchanges. Still, he rejects Beijing’s “one country, two systems” model of bringing Taiwan under its control.
As for the TPP’s Dr Ko, how exactly he will conduct cross-strait policy remains unclear. He has touted his party as offering a “middle way” between the DPP and KMT on the matter of China, while offering few details.
We talked to analysts to find out the likely trajectories of cross-strait relations under each of the three men, and the best- and worst-case scenarios for Taiwan depending on who takes office.
SECURITY
Like previous elections, defence has remained a key issue, arguably gaining greater prominence this election cycle as an increasingly assertive China looms large.
In a sign of the times, a Chinese satellite launch triggered alarm in Taiwan just earlier this week after authorities sent out an emergency message notifying the public.
An English-language version announced it as “[Air raid alert], Missile flyover Taiwan airspace, be aware”. The island’s defence ministry later apologised, saying the reference to a missile in the message was inaccurate.
The three presidential candidates have all laid out their planned defence policies should they be elected. A common factor is to uphold defence spending, with the TPP’s Dr Ko going further to suggest raising the budget to 3 per cent of the island’s gross domestic product.
Taiwan will see a record-high overall defence budget of NT$606.8 billion (US$19.1 billion) this year, or about 2.5 per cent of its GDP. This would mark the seventh consecutive on-year increase in the island’s defence spending.
The candidates are also aligned on the extension of military conscription to one year, taking effect this month. It’s a rare consensus in a campaign trail which has seen the hopefuls locking horns on an array of issues.
The move has been met with broad public support. Still, reservations have been expressed over perceived lapses in training and equipment. Questions have also been raised over whether longer military service will translate to stronger national defence.
Why an empty house in Japan could be your next investment buy
In 1997, he begun leading some Walk Japan tours, a company that was started by two Hong Kong University professors to provide academic excursions. Christie became a partner five years later. After several years of personal endeavours to contribute back to his local community in Kunisaki, Walk Japan’s Community Project arm was formalised in 2007 with the aim of revitalising the region, which, like most other rural regions in Japan, was faced with an ageing population and declining job opportunities. The akiya purchases are one initiative that shores up this Project, which also includes programmes like working with local rice and shiitake mushroom farmers, maintaining public land and forestry work.
“I saw these purchases as a way to contribute to the local community because if we did not buy them, chances are they would continue to stay empty. At the same time, at the back of my head, because they were priced reasonably, I thought they may eventually offer some returns,” said Christie.
Today, Christie owns seven properties in the area, of which five have been repurposed as family housing, rental and guest accommodation and offices. He is often consulted by staff and family members who are also seeking out their own akiya. He lives with his Japanese wife and four sons in a beautifully renovated akiya in a farming hamlet close to the small coastal city of Kitsuki. Just across the road, they have a spacious guest house with tatami-mat where they host friends, families and VIPs, most recently, the British ambassador to Japan, Julia Longbottom and her husband Richard Sciver.
Democrat chief says no ties to pork suspect
PUBLISHED : 13 Jan 2024 at 04:00
Democrat Party leader Chalermchai Sri-on on Friday denied a rumour that he has family ties with a prime suspect in a pork-smuggling saga worth billions of baht.
Mr Chalermchai insisted he is not related to Li Sheng Jiao, alias “Hia Kao” (Brother Kao), one of the four people wanted by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for a raft of charges including tax evasion, customs act violations and money laundering.
The arrest warrants were issued for four people this week as DSI officers raided five locations in Bangkok, including private shipping firms and cold-storage facilities, to seize crucial evidence.
Among the items found during the search were photos of Mr Li with senior civil servants from many agencies, high-ranking police, politicians and former cabinet ministers.
According to some media reports, Mr Li is the half-brother of a well-known politician and chairman of a trade association while his son, Karin Piyapornpaiboon, another suspect, has the same surname as Wirat Piyapornpaiboon, Mr Chalermchai’s elder brother.
Li Sheng Jiao, alias “Hia Kao”. (Screen capture)
Mr Chalermchai said he had neither blood ties nor a close connection with Mr Li, although he admitted meeting him at an event attended by businessmen and politicians.
He said Mr Li’s son had asked to use his brother’s last name, and that was all he knew.
“Even if the suspects were my relatives or close associates, they must face punishment. I wouldn’t protect them. Don’t politicise the matter,” he said.
He said when he served as agriculture minister, he instructed the Livestock Department to tighten control of imported pork and pork products. Any products without proper documents must be destroyed, he said.
Agriculture Minister Capt Thamanat Prompow on Friday urged the DSI to speed up its investigation into the case, which has been widely panned for its slow progress.
Capt Thamanat noted the suspect is the chairman of a trade association and it is not unusual for such people to take photos with politicians.
The DSI’s investigation followed the seizure of 161 shipping containers holding 4,025 tonnes of pork at Laem Chabang Port in mid-2023.
Dem chief says no ties to pork suspect
PUBLISHED : 13 Jan 2024 at 04:00
Democrat leader Chalermchai Sri-on yesterday denied a rumour that he has family ties with a prime suspect in a pork-smuggling saga worth billions of baht.
Mr Chalermchai insisted he is not related to Li Sheng Jiao, alias “Hia Kao” (Brother Kao), one of the four people wanted by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for a raft of charges including tax evasion, customs act violations and money laundering.
The arrest warrants were issued for four people this week as DSI officers raided five locations in Bangkok, including private shipping firms and cold-storage facilities, to seize crucial evidence.
Among the items found during the search were photos of Mr Li with senior civil servants from many agencies, high-ranking police, politicians and former cabinet ministers.
According to some media reports, Mr Li is the half-brother of a well-known politician and chairman of a trade association while his son, Karin Piyapornpaiboon, another suspect, has the same surname as Wirat Piyapornpaiboon, Mr Chalermchai’s elder brother.
Mr Chalermchai said he had neither blood ties nor a close connection with Mr Li, although he admitted meeting him at an event attended by businessmen and politicians.
He said Mr Li’s son had asked to use his brother’s last name, and that was all he knew.
“Even if the suspects were my relatives or close associates, they must face punishment. I wouldn’t protect them. Don’t politicise the matter,” he said.
He said when he served as agriculture minister, he instructed the Livestock Department to tighten control of imported pork and pork products. Any products without proper documents must be destroyed, he said.
Agriculture Minister Capt Thamanat Prompow yesterday urged the DSI to speed up its investigation into the case, which has been widely panned for its slow progress.
Capt Thamanat noted the suspect is the chairman of a trade association and it is not unusual for such people to take photos with politicians.
The DSI’s investigation followed the seizure of 161 shipping containers holding 4,025 tonnes of pork at Laem Chabang Port in mid-2023.
MPs denied access to Thaksin
Details sought on ex-PM’s hospital stay
Members of the House committee on police affairs were not allowed to see convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra during their inspection of the Police General Hospital yesterday.
They sought to find out whether Thaksin was indeed receiving treatment at the hospital following the approval of the visit on Monday.
Committee chairman and Democrat MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat Chaichana Detdecho and other panel members arrived at the hospital in Pathumwan district at 10am.
The panel had contacted the hospital to arrange the inspection and assess the treatment of prisoners, including 74-year-old Thaksin.
Thaksin was reportedly admitted to the 14th floor of the hospital’s building on his return to Thailand on Aug 22.
Mr Chaichana said the inspection was conducted under Section 129 of the Constitution, granting the committee the authority to investigate issues that raise public doubt.
He sent a letter to the national police chief, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol, who oversees the hospital, seeking permission for the inspection.
The committee chairman said in the letter that the panel wanted to examine the procedures for treating inmates at the hospital and ensure equal treatment for all prisoners.
He added that the visit aimed to address lingering public doubts about Thaksin’s treatment since his reported admission to the hospital. The MP said the committee would strictly adhere to the legal framework during their visit.
“We [the panel] intend to inspect the hospital to the extent permitted, and that is all,” said Mr Chaichana. “If the information we obtain can clear all public doubts, our task is finished. If the answers are incomplete, relevant agencies — the Police General Hospital and the Department of Corrections — must explain to society.”
He insisted the panel’s visit was not politically motivated but aimed at addressing public concerns. He added that clear explanations from the two agencies were necessary to avoid them being viewed badly by the public.
A source said the committee members went to the 14th floor but stopped short of visiting Thaksin. They spoke with hospital officials at a front desk counter before proceeding to the 7th floor to visit other patients.
The source added that the committee members also met a nurse who told them that Thaksin was also diagnosed with heart valve regurgitation, in addition to several other illnesses.
Pol Col Sirikul Srisanga, spokeswoman for the Police General Hospital, previously said that the hospital would not allow members of the House committee to go to the 14th floor where Thaksin is staying.
They would be only allowed to inspect the standards and procedures for the detention of prisoners outside the prison at the hospital, but their visit must not infringe upon patients’ rights, she said.
Thaksin has been allowed by the Department of Corrections (DoC) to stay on at the Police General Hospital despite reaching the maximum allowed 120 days of inpatient care on Dec 22.
A day before the House panel’s visit, the DoC said the former prime minister was seriously ill and must remain in the hospital as putting him back in jail could endanger his life.
The department said on Thursday that it moved Thaksin to the hospital on Aug 23 because he needed continuous treatment and observation for many illnesses that required close monitoring.
Demonstrators led by the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand gathered outside the Government to protest Thaksin’s extended hospital stay.
Protest leader Phichit Chaimongkol said the group is keen to know what illnesses he is suffering from. “Are the illnesses so critical he needs treatment outside prison?” he asked.
Thaksin returned to Thailand on Aug 22 after 15 years of self-imposed exile. He was immediately sentenced to eight years in prison in three cases, later reduced to one year by a royal pardon.
He was sent from Bangkok Remand Prison to the Police General Hospital on Aug 23 for health reasons and has been there since.
Raids net call centre gang’s assets
PUBLISHED : 13 Jan 2024 at 04:00
The police, in partnership with the Digital Economy and Society Ministry (DES) and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo), have seized more than 1.2 billion baht’s worth of assets believed to be linked to a call centre gang operated by a woman identified as Thararat, who has been prosecuted in multiple fraud cases.
The assets were confiscated on Thursday during raids on 13 locations in Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi and Bangkok, said Prasert Chantararuangthong, the DES minister.
Among the assets seized were 77 rare antique cars, 84 land title deeds, cash, gold, two houses and luxury watches, he said. About 50 such cars were seized in Chiang Mai alone and owned by a man linked to Thararat.
Prior to the crackdown, Amlo had confiscated around 924 million baht’s worth of assets connected to the gang, Mr Prasert said.
However, more than 3 billion baht had already been transferred to operators of online gambling websites and laundered into money orders and property.
According to police investigations, the gang lured victims via phone calls, SMS messages or the Facebook messenger app, pretending to be a state official and duping the victims into transferring money to the gang’s accounts, explained Mr Prasert.
The authorities have found that the gang also scammed victims into investing in Chinese yuan and Chinese import product ventures. At least 54 people have lodged complaints about such scams with the police.
Thararat, along with other gang members, is now being prosecuted for acts of fraud in Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen and Bangkok. More raids are expected in the future, he said.
Police nab 130 alleged gamblers
PUBLISHED : 13 Jan 2024 at 04:00
Nakhon Si Thammarat: Almost 130 people were arrested, and about 1 million baht in assets seized during a raid on a gambling den in Muang district on Thursday evening.
Ansit Sampantarat, director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration (Dopa), made the raid order after authorities were tipped off about a gambling den in Soi Kru Somboon on Saphan Yao Road in Tambon Na Kian.
A Dopa special unit, led by department inspector-general Ronnarong Thipsiri, surrounded a warehouse with high walls. The team found the premises were heavily guarded by security personnel. More than 20 cars and 50 motorbikes were parked at the site.
During the raid, police arrested 120 suspected gamblers and seven alleged operators. They also seized some gambling paraphernalia and 279,005 baht in cash. Seven mobile phones and 800,000 baht in cash were also discovered inside a white Toyota Fortuner.
More than 1 million baht was found circulated in the network’s bank account each day. All seized items were taken to Muang police for legal proceedings.
On Thursday night, all suspects were fingerprinted for an arrest record at the City Hall. At about 3am yesterday, all suspects were taken to Muang police before being released on bail due to insufficient space at the station.
Investigators will summon them for questing later before submitting a case summary to prosecutors to seek charges related to illegal gambling dens, police said. The gambling operators’ bank accounts have been frozen. Police will subsequently work with the Anti-Money Laundering Office to investigate the transaction route.
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Kittirat Phanphet has ordered Pol Lt Gen Surapong Thanomjit, the Provincial Police Region 8 commissioner, to launch an investigation to find out if local police were involved in the operation of the gambling den.
4 MFP MPs quit bridge panel
PUBLISHED : 13 Jan 2024 at 04:00
Four MPs of the Move Forward Party (MFP) have quit a House committee studying the 1-trillion-baht Land Bridge megaproject, saying they do not want to rubber-stamp a project they disagree with.
Julapong Yukate, another MFP MP, said the committee held its final meeting yesterday to endorse a study on the project despite him having protested over several issues, such as the lack of oil pipelines and no study on environmental changes having been conducted.
He said a report from the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) also contradicts another study by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).
While the OTP said the project would yield a return of 17%, the NESDC suggested it is not worth investing in, Mr Julapong said, adding the House committee has given more weight to the OTP’s report.
He said the MFP MPs have protested, but four equated to a minority, so they decided to quit the committee, effective yesterday.
Deputy party leader Sirikanya Tansakun, one of the MPs who quit, said that during a meeting on Dec 22, they asked the OTP to clarify the project’s cost-effectiveness, the type of ships that would use the services provided by the project, and the volume of goods that are expected to go through ports.
However, the OTP did not give a reply.
The committee held its final meeting yesterday, but the chairman failed to invite OTP representatives to give clarifications and tried to get committee members to endorse the OTP’s report, Ms Sirikanya said, adding she could not endorse the report because the information was incomplete.
Suphanat Minchaiynunt, an MFP MP who also quit the committee, said the party’s MPs wanted to verify whether the project would benefit the economy as claimed.
“But we still cannot find an answer after 90 days of studying the project, and why is the OTP’s report different from that of the NESDC?
“The government is using one-sided information from a state agency [OTP] to woo investors. The committee is being used to rubber-stamp the project,” Mr Suphanat said.
The 1-trillion-baht megaproject aims to develop a logistics network connecting Ranong to Chumphon.
The project comprises deep-water ports in both provinces, a motorway cutting across the land to connect the two provinces and a railway system.