PRESS DIGEST - South Korean newspapers - June 2
SEOUL, June 2 (Reuters) - The following is a summary of major South Korean newspapers on Monday, prepared by Reuters in Seoul. Reuters has not checked the stories and does not guarantee their accuracy.
CHOSUN ILBO
President Lee Myung-bak's approval rating has fallen sharply to 21 percent, compared to 52 percent when he came into office in March, according to a survey conducted by the Chosun Ilbo and Gallup Korea. A fifth of those opposing Lee think that he does not acknowledge public opinion.
The government is said to have started to look into food aid to North Korea, after receiving a request from the World Food Programme, according to a Unification Ministry official.
DONG-A ILBO
Roughly 60,000 people attended a protest rally against the resumption of U.S. beef imports over the weekend in Seoul, according to police estimates. In some places protesters clashed with police, and some demonstrators attempted to enter the Blue House.
Importers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) will increase LPG prices by around by 10 percent from June, according to industry sources.
JOONGANG ILBO
President Lee Myung-bak is expected to announce a reform plan this week that will include the replacement of 4-5 ministers and some changes in the Blue House's structure in response to the controversy over U.S. beef imports, according to a high-ranking official in Lee's conservative Grand National Party.
HANKYOREH
The government is set to reintegrate six power generating units that were spun off in 2001 with Korea Electric Power Corp (015760.KS), according to an unnamed Blue House official.
KOREA ECONOMIC DAILY
Sweden's Electrolux (ELUXb.ST), the world's No.2 home appliances maker, has proposed to LG Electronics (066570.KS) a joint-takeover of General Electric Co's (GE.N) appliance unit, according to industry sources.
