Bright Outlook

1. Bright Outlook

[Anchor Lead]

The International Monetary Fund has raised Korea's growth forecast the most among Group of 20 economies. But experts say it's too early for optimism, citing obstacles to recovery such as the surging value of the won against the U.S. dollar.

[Pkg]

Cars cram a harbor at Incheon waiting to be loaded and shipped for export. The volume of cargo shipped in and out of Incheon dropped 40 perent early this year. But economic recovery has led to a rebond in cargo traffic.

[Soundbite] Lee Hong-sik(V. Pres., Incheon Port Authority): “Imports and exports fell 30% last year due to the financial crisis. But we expect to recover the average level by the end of this year thanks to the economic recovery and aggressive marketing strategies.”

The International Monetary Fund has raised its growth projection for Korea this year from minus three percent to minus one percent considering the pace of recovery. This is the fund's biggest raise for a member of the Group of 20 economies. The IMF has also raised Korea's growth forecast for next year from the 1.1-percent projection in August to 3.6 percent, the second-biggest raise for a G20 member after Turkey. But the fund says its upgrade of Korea's growth prospects doesn't mean everything is rosy with the Korean economy.

[Soundbite] Roberto Cardarelli(Asia & Pacific Dept., IMF)

Korea's economy is heavily dependent on exports, so there's a limit to the export-based recovery given that consumption in advanced economies remains sluggish. The IMF advises Korea to restructure its economy and expand domestic demand to ensure consistent growth.

2. Fever Checks


[Anchor Lead]

With the nationwide college entrance exam just two days away, local schools are checking all test takers for fever. Here are some precautions being taken by educational authorities to prevent the spread of flu among students.

[Pkg]

H1N1 influenza has severely affected local schools. High schools with seniors getting ready to take the college entrance exam have started temperature checks nationwide from Monday. All students, including high school seniors and test re-takers, will be subject to fever-checks on Wednesday when they assemble at respective testing schools for preliminary briefing. Test takers who are diagnosed with the new flu and taking Tamiflu or other anti-viral drugs must notify the administrators. When a doctor diagnoses a student of having the new flu symptoms, the student will be assigned to separate testing area.

[Soundbite] Choi Su-tae(Min. of Education, Science & Tech.): “Infected students must wear masks and shouldn't come in contact with other students at the testing area or during lunch time.”

Students in the isolated rooms will be kept one to two meters apart and use restrooms and facilities separate from other applicants. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology asked all test-takers to cover their mouths and noses with tissue when coughing and wash their hands afterward.

3. Dog Detectives

[Anchor Lead]

A contest in Seoul has awarded top dog status to canines working for the military, police and customs. Let's take a look at these animals trained to find explosives and narcotics.

[Pkg]

A detection dog roams about boxes and electronic home appliances. The dog stops in front of an electronic product and keeps sniffing it. An explosive is found inside the item. A U.S. Army team won this dog contest last year, and says it's confident over winning this year.

[Soundbite] Ricky Caravona(U.S. Army Staff Sergeant)

Eleven dogs used by the military and police competed this year in the explosive detection category. Dogs had to find five explosives hidden in the warehouse and parking lot in 20 minutes.

[Soundbite] Kim Jeong-hwa(Korean Army Dog Trainer): “We conduct customized training from breeding to birth so the dogs can fulfill their duties.”

Six cloned dogs trained in narcotics detection performed in a demonstration with their mother. They started duty two months ago. The first of the six dogs singles out the person with narcotics in just one minute.

[Soundbite] Choi Dong-gwon(Korea Customs Service): “They're just like their mother and show a high level of concentration and curiosity.”

Some 23 dog teams formed by university students took part in the hurdle competition to show off stunts and tricks.

4. Five Heroines
[Anchor Lead]

Stereotypically, firefighters are thought of as men. But here are some female firefighters who put their lives on the line to protect the lives of others.

[Pkg]

Firefighter Oh Ji-hye rushes to the fire site. The blaze shoots up and threatens dozens of cattle inside the shed. She sprays water on the burning bales of hay, but the fire still rages on. She came too close to the fire when she fluffed up the hay to put out the flames burrowing deep into the center. After four hours of dangerous work, the fire is finally gone. Even male firefighters have a hard time putting out fire, but she is proud to be a woman firefighter and part of the team.

[Soundbite] Oh Ji-hye(Cheongju Seobu Fire Station): “I won't step back just because I'm a woman. I'm prepared for any disaster.”

Many women firefighters admit that they are often afraid to face fire, but they overcome their fears with their commitment to protecting the lives and properties of others.

[Soundbite] Park Ju-hui(Cheongju Dongbu Fire Station): “I often get scared. But I feel proud of myself when I can help others in danger.”

The first woman firefighter was hired in 2001. Now there are some 200 of them working in local fire stations.

[Soundbite] Oh Hui-seong(Cheongju Seobu Fire Station): “Women firefighters are proactive and care for the safety of others first. But I sometimes feel sorry for them.”

These brave women firefighters protect the lives of others with the commitment fiercer than the deadly fire they fight.

5. Choo Shin-soo at School

[Anchor Lead]

Slugger Choo Shin-soo of the Cleveland Indians has visited a school for deaf students in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province. He and the school's baseball team played a game versus entertainers who appear on the KBS show "Invincible Baseball Team." Here's a look at Choo's day at the school.

[Pkg]

Young baseball players at this school for the deaf look forward to meeting slugger Choo Shin-soo.

[Soundbite] Choo Shin-soo(Cleveland Indians): “Don't focus too much on hitting a home run, just hit it naturally to make it over the infielders and outfielders.”

They flood the Cleveland Indians outfielder with questions.

[Soundbite] “What's most meaningful is that I became the first Asian payer in the MLB to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases in a single season.”

Members of the so-called "Invincible Baseball Team" named after a KBS show listen carefully as Choo gives playing tips.

[Soundbite] “Don't step forward to catch the ball. Wait for a ball to fly in and catch it as if you are embracing it.”

Choo commits an error in fielding. He then hits the ball left-handed instead of his natural right, drawing wows from the entertainer team. Choo is hit by a pitch but doesn't take the automatic base. He instead stays at the plate and hits a triple, drawing a round of applause.

[Soundbite] Im Han-gu(Chungju Sungsim School): “He's handsome and tall. I hope he'll visit us again and teach us more about playing baseball.”

The deaf students received a big dose of confidence thanks to the visit of baseball hero Choo Shin-soo.

6. Ninja Assassin

[Anchor Lead]

Korean pop singer Rain, or Jeong Ji-hoon, will take a step forward in his acting career with his new film "Ninja Assassin." He's the first Korean to play the lead in a Hollywood film. Rain says he trained hard for eight months to do his own stunts without wires or computer graphics.

[Pkg]

Rain is back on the silver screen after his Hollywood debut in "Speed Racer." He's the first Korean to play the lead in a Hollywood film. He worked with the Wachowski brothers, who directed "The Matrix" trilogy. "Ninja Assassin" is about an orphaned boy who is kidnapped and trained as an assassin. He is assigned to kill the ninjas who trained him. The title "Ninja Assassin" hints at lots of thrilling action. Rain says training for the role was crucial, as he did most of his stunts without wires or CGI.

[Soundbite] Jung Ji-hoon(Lead Actor, "Ninja Assassin"): “I trained six days a week and eight hours a day for eight months.”

He says he was also unfazed by criticism over starring in a ninja film.

[Soundbite] “Since it was my first main role, I couldn't be too picky about what character would play. I didn't want to miss a golden opportunity.”

Rain says he wants to become a world action star like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li. "Ninja Assassin" is set for simultaneous release in Korea, the U.S. and Canada November 26th.

7. Live English

[Anchor Lead]

For Korean students, learning conversational English can be tough due to the lack of English-speaking teachers at public schools. But a new remote video learning system is allowing students at understaffed schools to learn English from native speakers.

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This English class begins when students at five schools log on to a computer system. The students and a native English instructor are connected by the Internet and Web cameras. When the teacher asks them a question, the students write down their answers and hold them up in front of the camera. The teacher then corrects the answers. The students repeat after the teacher on the screen. The English class is offered before the school day starts. Students from others schools take part online.

[Soundbite] Kim Do-hyeon(Kunpo-shinhung Elementary School): “We study harder because we compete against students from other schools.”

They linked up with students in Japan and New Zealand once a month to hold joint classes and learn about each other's culture. The remote video learning program started in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, last year. The program has grown so popular, more than 3-thousand students from 23 schools in Korea are taking part.

[Soundbite] Oh Chan-suk(Gyeonggi Education Dept.): “The course is on a real-time basis. So teachers can get feedback from the student reactions and teach the class effectively.”

Educational authorities say the online course will help boost the effectiveness of foreign language education and cut private education costs.

8. Mobile Maps

[Anchor Lead]

Online maps are now giving more information than ever, almost transporting you to your planned destination. Let's take a look.

[Pkg]

A click of a certain point on the map opens up a mountain trail. Users can rotate the view 360 degrees to have a complete look around the places they're to visit. The trail has been filmed to be provided on the online map so users can check signs and obstacles before visiting.

[Soundbite] Nam Se-jeong(Online Map Company): “We're making online maps for those unfamiliar with the places. We focus on walkers rather than drivers.”

Portable devices help users find their way around unfamiliar places. People can find their way to subway stations, banks and restaurants checking the signs on the spot.

[Soundbite] “Since I can check the sings in advance, I feel much familiar with the places.”

With this real-time data, Internet maps are becoming more and more realistic.

9. Close Up - Seaside Coffee

[Anchor Lead]

As the weather gets more and more chilly, people tend to crave a hot cup of coffee. And just in time, Korea's first coffee festival has been held in Gangneung. There were all kinds of different events to enjoy and you could even get your own coffee Plants. Let's go get a closer look at this seaside coffee festival.

[Pkg]

The cresting waves of Gangneung are said to wash away all your worries and stress.
[Soundbite] “It's so beautiful!”

The seaside is pleasant and romantic despite the chilly weather, and just recently, there was another delight to enjoy at the shore.

[Soundbite] “Coffee shops here are holding various events. So we're setting off on a coffee trip.”

A map of some 100 coffee shops in the seaside area acts as a guide to coffee pleasure. The first stop is a coffee plant that processes 44 different kinds of coffee from 20 countries around the world. Here, visitors can expand their knowledge of the global coffee scene.

[Soundbite] “It smells great!”

[Soundbite] “We found this place on this map. It's nice because it smells great and we can learn more about coffee here.”

Coffee trees greet visitors at the greenhouse. They were planted three months ago. The coffee beans sprout and the stem grows thicker and thicker. You can get a tree for free with a purchase of coffee beans.

[Soundbite] “I didn't know coffee come from trees. It's amazing that we can purchase coffee plants. I want to taste coffee from my own tree.”

At the bar in one corner of the plant you can get a taste of three different kinds of coffee.

[Soundbite] “Doesn't it smell great? Isn't it even better because you're with me?”
(It's excellent and perfect for the season.)

Now, let's head to a coffee shop on the shore. Here you can enjoy a cup of joe along with a view of the sea. Inside you can roast your own beans.

[Soundbite] “Let me show you how to roast the beans.”

Visitors see how the color and fragrance differs according to how long the beans are roasted.

[Soundbite] “The color and flavor vary depending on the temperature. I'll remember this fragrance.”

You can have the beans ground to take home or taste the coffee on the spot.
[Soundbite] “It tastes great. I guess that's because it's fresh out of the machine.”

It's a bit early, but a group of Santas have appeared at the seaside.

[Soundbite] “We're on the way to give out candies to those visited the coffee festival.”

They roam around and stop by at coffee shops during the festival to entertain visitors.

[Soundbite] “Have some candy and have a great time!”

[Soundbite] “It's fun to see Santa though it's not Christmas yet.”

At this shop, the owner draws caricatures of his customers.

[Soundbite] “Thank you! It's awesome!”

The events that accompany the festival give an even richer taste to the coffee.

[Soundbite] “I'm here with my family for the weekend. It's lovely to have a cup of coffee and look at the sea. It's been a fantastic trip.”

[Soundbite] “Come to Gangneung and have fun at the festival.”

The festival ended on Sunday, but the coffee shops are open all year round. If you happen to pass by, don't forget to stop by at Gangneung for a hot cup of coffee by the sea.