1. Dollar Drop
[Anchor Lead]
The U.S. dollar has fallen to its lowest level against the Korean won this year. Korean exporters are seeing smaller profit margins and the trade surplus is expected to plummet 50 percent next year.
[Pkg]
The Korean won closed at nearly 11-55 to the dollar Monday. The rate is this year's record low. Dollars being used in the dollar carry trade are the apparent culprit behind the fall in the dollar's value. Dollar carry trade refers to borrowing dollars to invest in overseas projects with high profitability. Korea is also expected to post a record high surplus in trade and foreign exchange reserves, indicating the abundance of dollars.
[Soundbite] Kim Du-hyeon (Korea Exchange Bank) : “Once the rate fell below ￦1,155, exporters who predicted additional rate fall started selling their dollars, accelerating the slide.”
But the rapid depreciation of the dollar could undermine the Korean economy. Imports tend to overtake exports in Korea when the won surges in value, so the trade surplus is likely to shrink. Most experts say next year's trade surplus will be just half of this year's. Others even predict that a 10-percent drop in the dollar's value could lower the economic growth rate more than one percentage point. Attention is on how Korea's foreign currency authorities will respond to the falling dollar and prevent the trade balance from going into the red.
2. Industry Boost
[Anchor Lead]
Mobile phones and LCD monitors may be Korea's signature export items, but their key components are mostly Japanese-made. To boost the local parts and materials industry, the government has decided to invest nearly 2.3 billion dollars in the sector over the next ten years.
[Pkg]
This film increases the reflection rate of liquid crystal used in mobile phones. The entire supply used to be imported from Japan. But now local films are used since a domestic ink manufacturer has developed the film for the first time in Korea. The electronic ink, based on nano technology, is instrumental in printing electrical circuits just like on paper.
[Soundbite] Jeong Gwang-chun (Parts Manufacturer) : “We invested nearly $30 million over seven years from 2002 to 2009.”
The government will invest around 2.3 billion dollars until 2018 to promote the development of key parts and materials with world-class competitiveness. In order to address the labor shortage in small and medium parts developers, the government will recruit workers from the state-funded organizations and pay for 70% of their wages. Twenty products eligible for government subsidy will be determined early next year. The government will also enroll these companies in an insurance program that compensates for any problems that may rise during the use of these parts and materials.
3. Cruise Project
[Anchor Lead]
The Seoul city government will start running a 5-thousand-ton cruise ship linking the city to China from 2012. Critics say the project will cost too much, and lacks proper measures to protect the environment and the safety of passengers.
[Pkg]
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon says the city government will launch in 2012 a 5,000-ton cruise ship on the Han River. The vessel will be ten times bigger than existing cruise ships running in the Han. The cruise ship will link Seoul and China, as the route will be connected to the Gyeongin Canal. The city government will build a cruise terminal and the nation's first floating hotel in an international business zone in Seoul's Yongsan district.
[Soundbite] Kim Jin-hyo (Seoul Gov't ) : “The plan has been drawn up to promote tourism industry in Seoul by linking China and Japan.”
But the bottom of the river needs to be dug up to make the water deep enough for the giant cruise vessel. The depth must be expanded from an average five meters to 6.3 meters. The project also requires massive construction work that could threaten the ecosystem near the Han River.
[Soundbite] Yi Hyeon-jeong (Environmental Movement Fed.) : “The project can destroy the Han River ecosystem. The floating hotel plan lacks safety measures in case of floods.”
The estimated cost of the cruise ship project is more than 190 million U.S. dollars.
4. Job Creators
[Anchor Lead]
Local residents are teaming up to establish companies and create jobs in their local communities with new, unique business models. The firms are also turning a profit. Let's take a look at this new community business trend.
[Pkg]
Park Ok-hui is working as an assistant in a kimchi-making event. She got this new job last month.
[Soundbite] “Put stuffing in the middle of the cabbage.”
She is pleased to make money while working for her community.
[Soundbite] “I'm happy to be able to make money while working for my community.”
Her employer is a local farming company. Fifty local residents invested 11,260 dollars to establish the company. The firm has increased its employment of local residents, as its profit has been growing since its opening in October.
[Soundbite] Yu Yeong-bae (Andeok Farming Corp.) : “We sold more than $20,000. We have 6 workers now.”
This kind of resident company owned and operated by local entrepreneurs is emerging as a new business model and a job creator. These companies pursue profitability, so they are different from campaigns to revive local economies and social contributions companies.
[Soundbite] Park Yong-kyu (Samsung Economic Research Inst.) : “Resident-operated companies pursue both public interest and profitability. They also aim to help reinvigorate the local economy.”
With the success of some resident-operated companies, local governments are beginning to show interest in them. The central government will support local communities to create a system to subsidize these companies.
5. Global Envoys
[Anchor Lead]
Korean peacekeeping forces in Lebanon have celebrated Korean Day with residents there. The Dongmyeong Unit is not only protecting peace in the region, but is also working to improve Korea's image in the world.
[Pkg]
Strong shouts accompany martial arts moves. They jump, roll and break tiles. Lebanese nationals are awestruck at the powerful and precise movements of Korean elite troops. A Korean tightrope walker and a merry traditional band are all members of the Dongmyeong Unit. The Korean military compound hosted Korea Day to promote Korea to residents of the Lebanese area and fellow U.N. peacekeeping forces.
[Soundbite] Lebanon Resident : “I was amazed at the strength and capability of Korean troops. They're also very respectful of local residents. I'll pray for their safety.”
The unit has suffered no terrorist attacks or accidents in its two-year deployment despite being in a dangerous area. The reason is apparently Dongmyeong's close relationship with the residents. One-third of the residents in the region have received medical treatment from Korean troops. By helping Lebanese residents, the Dongmyeong Unit is raising the level of its military performance and boosting Korea's global reputation.
6. Brand Makgeolli
[Anchor Lead]
Famous wine labels have the year of production and place of origin marked on them. Now, the same goes for the traditional Korean alcoholic beverage, makgeolli. The drink is being labeled so consumers will know more about where it comes from. Here's more.
[Pkg]
Fresh makgeolli from a brewery run for generations is delivered by a refrigerated truck every day at dawn. This is to keep the alcoholic beverage containing yeast and lactic acid bacteria as fresh as possible. Some 30 different kinds of brand makgeolli are being sold here including ginseng makgeolli that costs nearly 22 dollars per bottle and makgeolli fermented in a 70-year-old clay jar.
[Soundbite] Park Gwan-won (Makgeolli Master Brewer) : “I never though fresh makgeolli could be sold at department stores. It's great.”
Customers love new kinds of makgeolli including a less strong kind that comes in pretty bottles and colorful makgeolli cocktail drinks.
[Soundbite] “I love it!”
[Soundbite] “I bought some for my parents.”
The so-called makgeolli Nouveau is selling about five times better than the famous Beaujolais Nouveau. A fresh makgeolli brand has been exported to the U.S. for the first time this month to be sold at 20 dollars per bottle.
[Soundbite] Gang Hwan-gu (Makgeolli Exporter) : “It's great to export makgeolli made of Korean rice. We're getting more orders.”
A makgeolli expo is to open for four days from the 19th to showcase some 150 kinds of famous makgeolli from nationwide.
7. Digital Goguryeo
[Anchor Lead]
The ancient kingdom of Goguryeo ruled the northern part of the Korean Peninsula and had major influence in Northeast Asia. The kingdom also served to balance power in the region through active diplomacy with Central Asian countries. Now digital technology has recreated the visits of Goguryeo envoys to the central part of the Silk Road 13 centuries ago.
[Pkg]
The people of the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo people have been revived through digital images. They have long knives and wear a jougwan, a hat decorated with bird feathers. Murals depicting the lives of the Goguryeo people had been found only in what is now North Korea. But one was discovered in Afrasiab, an ancient city in present-day Uzbekistan whose present name is Samarkand. The mural was seriously damaged, but a copy was drawn when it was found in 1965. The copy clearly shows a group of Goguryeo envoys. The Afrasiab mural created a sensation in academic circles when it was found. The work has since undergone digital restoration.
[Soundbite] Park Jin-ho (Advanced Inst. of Science & Tech) : “We wanted to prove ancient Korean people's advance into the international stage through digitally restoring the Afrasiab mural.”
[Soundbite] Min Byeong-hun (Nat'l Museum of Korea) : “The mural shows that Goguryeo maintained political and military alliance with Central Asian countries.”
Ancient relics found on the Silk Road offer glimpses of Goguryeo's dauntless will to expand its influence throughout Asia.
8. Films of Fables
[Anchor Lead]
Hollywood blockbusters have flooded Korean theaters ahead of the winter peak season after some slow summer months. But the local film industry is ready for the onslaught of big Hollywood films with a lineup of traditional Korean heroes like Hong Gil-dong and Jeon Woo-chi.
[Pkg]
Hollywood disaster film "2012" reportedly cost more than 260 million dollars to produce. The blockbuster featuring spectacular computer graphics and interesting plot drew 1.6 million moviegoers in the first week of release. "2012" was Hollywood's first movie aimed at the holiday season. This is Korean superstar Rain's first starring role in a Hollywood film. It features endless sequences of spectacular action.
[Soundbite] Jung Ji-hoon (Actor, "Ninja Assassin") : “It's an action film. So you won't be able to take your eyes off the screen for 90 minutes.”
Korean movies are holding up against the Hollywood movies with traditional Korean characters. This film based on an old Korean novel about Korean hero Hong Gil-dong seeks to provide both inspiration and amusement.
[Soundbite] Jeong Yong-ki (Dir., "Descendants of Hong Gil-dong") : “It was hard to create the excitement of the original film.”
The first Korean-style super hero film, "The Taoist Wizard," was inspired by a Joseon-era tale of mischievous Jeon Woo-chi. These films based on Korean heroes are up against Hollywood big-budget films. Local theaters are keeping its eyes on which film will win the hearts of Korean moviegoers.
9. Close Up - Persimmon Tour
[Anchor Lead]
This is the season for persimmons. Rural villages in Korea offer a variety of hands-on programs to folks from the city, allowing them to pick persimmons and turn them into a range of different food items. Let's go along on one of these trips.
[Pkg]
This rural village in central Korea is steeped in deep orange in late fall. Ripe persimmons hang heavy from the trees. The village sees an increasing number of visitors around this time of the year.
[Soundbite] “Let's go!”
With the village looking like a page out of a picture book, a stroll around the town makes for a lovely excursion. Visitors get a chance to pick ripe persimmons. There's a secret to picking the fruit.
[Soundbite] “Keep twisting.”
Grab a branch with the end of a pole and give it a sharp turn. No one can pass up the opportunity to taste the delicious fruit.
[Soundbite] “It's sweet. It's like ice-cream.”
[Soundbite] “It tastes like the soft persimmon I had with my grandfather and father when I was little. Now that I pick them with my son, I remember the exact taste. I'm so happy.”
The residents of this village are busy peeling and drying the persimmons to make gotgam, or Korean dried persimmon. Visitors take part in a contest to help out with the gotgam-making. It's a contest to see who can make the longest persimmon peel.
[Soundbite] “If the peel breaks off, then you're out.”
This peel looks pretty long. But unfortunately it breaks just as it is being measured.
[Soundbite] “125cm”
[Soundbite] “130cm”
The first place winner gets persimmon tree branches with fruit still hanging from them.
[Soundbite] “It's great! I'll hang these for decoration. My kids love persimmons. I want to share these with my kids.”
The persimmons are hung out to dry, and will be transformed into chewy and sweet gotgam in about 50 days. Rich in vitamins, gotgam is an indispensable ingredient in the traditional Korean beverage, sujeonggwa. It's made with ginger and cinnamon, and is great for warding off colds. Richly textured walnut and gotgam ddeok helps lower the cholesterol. Here's something that is the most popular among homemakers. It's persimmon vinegar. Just store permissions in an urn covered with a cotton cloth and after a year it turns into natural persimmon vinegar. You can drink it as is or mix it with milk.
[Soundbite] “It's like a good energy booster.”
Warmed up with a drink of persimmon vinegar, this child suddenly takes off her socks. She's ready to take a warm foot bath. The ingredients are persimmon leaves and peels. Persimmon leaves contain as much as twenty times more vitamin C than the fruit itself. The leaves are great for restoring energy and smoothing your skin.
[Soundbite] “I was tired from picking persimmons. But after the foot bath, I feel much better. I want to try it at home.”
In the city, a persimmon dessert buffet is offered throughout the month of November. People can try fourteen different kinds of persimmon desserts from persimmon cheese cake to persimmon mousse and tartlets. Don't miss out on a chance to relish the sweetness of persimmons in the city or in the country.
[Anchor Lead]
The U.S. dollar has fallen to its lowest level against the Korean won this year. Korean exporters are seeing smaller profit margins and the trade surplus is expected to plummet 50 percent next year.
[Pkg]
The Korean won closed at nearly 11-55 to the dollar Monday. The rate is this year's record low. Dollars being used in the dollar carry trade are the apparent culprit behind the fall in the dollar's value. Dollar carry trade refers to borrowing dollars to invest in overseas projects with high profitability. Korea is also expected to post a record high surplus in trade and foreign exchange reserves, indicating the abundance of dollars.
[Soundbite] Kim Du-hyeon (Korea Exchange Bank) : “Once the rate fell below ￦1,155, exporters who predicted additional rate fall started selling their dollars, accelerating the slide.”
But the rapid depreciation of the dollar could undermine the Korean economy. Imports tend to overtake exports in Korea when the won surges in value, so the trade surplus is likely to shrink. Most experts say next year's trade surplus will be just half of this year's. Others even predict that a 10-percent drop in the dollar's value could lower the economic growth rate more than one percentage point. Attention is on how Korea's foreign currency authorities will respond to the falling dollar and prevent the trade balance from going into the red.
2. Industry Boost
[Anchor Lead]
Mobile phones and LCD monitors may be Korea's signature export items, but their key components are mostly Japanese-made. To boost the local parts and materials industry, the government has decided to invest nearly 2.3 billion dollars in the sector over the next ten years.
[Pkg]
This film increases the reflection rate of liquid crystal used in mobile phones. The entire supply used to be imported from Japan. But now local films are used since a domestic ink manufacturer has developed the film for the first time in Korea. The electronic ink, based on nano technology, is instrumental in printing electrical circuits just like on paper.
[Soundbite] Jeong Gwang-chun (Parts Manufacturer) : “We invested nearly $30 million over seven years from 2002 to 2009.”
The government will invest around 2.3 billion dollars until 2018 to promote the development of key parts and materials with world-class competitiveness. In order to address the labor shortage in small and medium parts developers, the government will recruit workers from the state-funded organizations and pay for 70% of their wages. Twenty products eligible for government subsidy will be determined early next year. The government will also enroll these companies in an insurance program that compensates for any problems that may rise during the use of these parts and materials.
3. Cruise Project
[Anchor Lead]
The Seoul city government will start running a 5-thousand-ton cruise ship linking the city to China from 2012. Critics say the project will cost too much, and lacks proper measures to protect the environment and the safety of passengers.
[Pkg]
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon says the city government will launch in 2012 a 5,000-ton cruise ship on the Han River. The vessel will be ten times bigger than existing cruise ships running in the Han. The cruise ship will link Seoul and China, as the route will be connected to the Gyeongin Canal. The city government will build a cruise terminal and the nation's first floating hotel in an international business zone in Seoul's Yongsan district.
[Soundbite] Kim Jin-hyo (Seoul Gov't ) : “The plan has been drawn up to promote tourism industry in Seoul by linking China and Japan.”
But the bottom of the river needs to be dug up to make the water deep enough for the giant cruise vessel. The depth must be expanded from an average five meters to 6.3 meters. The project also requires massive construction work that could threaten the ecosystem near the Han River.
[Soundbite] Yi Hyeon-jeong (Environmental Movement Fed.) : “The project can destroy the Han River ecosystem. The floating hotel plan lacks safety measures in case of floods.”
The estimated cost of the cruise ship project is more than 190 million U.S. dollars.
4. Job Creators
[Anchor Lead]
Local residents are teaming up to establish companies and create jobs in their local communities with new, unique business models. The firms are also turning a profit. Let's take a look at this new community business trend.
[Pkg]
Park Ok-hui is working as an assistant in a kimchi-making event. She got this new job last month.
[Soundbite] “Put stuffing in the middle of the cabbage.”
She is pleased to make money while working for her community.
[Soundbite] “I'm happy to be able to make money while working for my community.”
Her employer is a local farming company. Fifty local residents invested 11,260 dollars to establish the company. The firm has increased its employment of local residents, as its profit has been growing since its opening in October.
[Soundbite] Yu Yeong-bae (Andeok Farming Corp.) : “We sold more than $20,000. We have 6 workers now.”
This kind of resident company owned and operated by local entrepreneurs is emerging as a new business model and a job creator. These companies pursue profitability, so they are different from campaigns to revive local economies and social contributions companies.
[Soundbite] Park Yong-kyu (Samsung Economic Research Inst.) : “Resident-operated companies pursue both public interest and profitability. They also aim to help reinvigorate the local economy.”
With the success of some resident-operated companies, local governments are beginning to show interest in them. The central government will support local communities to create a system to subsidize these companies.
5. Global Envoys
[Anchor Lead]
Korean peacekeeping forces in Lebanon have celebrated Korean Day with residents there. The Dongmyeong Unit is not only protecting peace in the region, but is also working to improve Korea's image in the world.
[Pkg]
Strong shouts accompany martial arts moves. They jump, roll and break tiles. Lebanese nationals are awestruck at the powerful and precise movements of Korean elite troops. A Korean tightrope walker and a merry traditional band are all members of the Dongmyeong Unit. The Korean military compound hosted Korea Day to promote Korea to residents of the Lebanese area and fellow U.N. peacekeeping forces.
[Soundbite] Lebanon Resident : “I was amazed at the strength and capability of Korean troops. They're also very respectful of local residents. I'll pray for their safety.”
The unit has suffered no terrorist attacks or accidents in its two-year deployment despite being in a dangerous area. The reason is apparently Dongmyeong's close relationship with the residents. One-third of the residents in the region have received medical treatment from Korean troops. By helping Lebanese residents, the Dongmyeong Unit is raising the level of its military performance and boosting Korea's global reputation.
6. Brand Makgeolli
[Anchor Lead]
Famous wine labels have the year of production and place of origin marked on them. Now, the same goes for the traditional Korean alcoholic beverage, makgeolli. The drink is being labeled so consumers will know more about where it comes from. Here's more.
[Pkg]
Fresh makgeolli from a brewery run for generations is delivered by a refrigerated truck every day at dawn. This is to keep the alcoholic beverage containing yeast and lactic acid bacteria as fresh as possible. Some 30 different kinds of brand makgeolli are being sold here including ginseng makgeolli that costs nearly 22 dollars per bottle and makgeolli fermented in a 70-year-old clay jar.
[Soundbite] Park Gwan-won (Makgeolli Master Brewer) : “I never though fresh makgeolli could be sold at department stores. It's great.”
Customers love new kinds of makgeolli including a less strong kind that comes in pretty bottles and colorful makgeolli cocktail drinks.
[Soundbite] “I love it!”
[Soundbite] “I bought some for my parents.”
The so-called makgeolli Nouveau is selling about five times better than the famous Beaujolais Nouveau. A fresh makgeolli brand has been exported to the U.S. for the first time this month to be sold at 20 dollars per bottle.
[Soundbite] Gang Hwan-gu (Makgeolli Exporter) : “It's great to export makgeolli made of Korean rice. We're getting more orders.”
A makgeolli expo is to open for four days from the 19th to showcase some 150 kinds of famous makgeolli from nationwide.
7. Digital Goguryeo
[Anchor Lead]
The ancient kingdom of Goguryeo ruled the northern part of the Korean Peninsula and had major influence in Northeast Asia. The kingdom also served to balance power in the region through active diplomacy with Central Asian countries. Now digital technology has recreated the visits of Goguryeo envoys to the central part of the Silk Road 13 centuries ago.
[Pkg]
The people of the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo people have been revived through digital images. They have long knives and wear a jougwan, a hat decorated with bird feathers. Murals depicting the lives of the Goguryeo people had been found only in what is now North Korea. But one was discovered in Afrasiab, an ancient city in present-day Uzbekistan whose present name is Samarkand. The mural was seriously damaged, but a copy was drawn when it was found in 1965. The copy clearly shows a group of Goguryeo envoys. The Afrasiab mural created a sensation in academic circles when it was found. The work has since undergone digital restoration.
[Soundbite] Park Jin-ho (Advanced Inst. of Science & Tech) : “We wanted to prove ancient Korean people's advance into the international stage through digitally restoring the Afrasiab mural.”
[Soundbite] Min Byeong-hun (Nat'l Museum of Korea) : “The mural shows that Goguryeo maintained political and military alliance with Central Asian countries.”
Ancient relics found on the Silk Road offer glimpses of Goguryeo's dauntless will to expand its influence throughout Asia.
8. Films of Fables
[Anchor Lead]
Hollywood blockbusters have flooded Korean theaters ahead of the winter peak season after some slow summer months. But the local film industry is ready for the onslaught of big Hollywood films with a lineup of traditional Korean heroes like Hong Gil-dong and Jeon Woo-chi.
[Pkg]
Hollywood disaster film "2012" reportedly cost more than 260 million dollars to produce. The blockbuster featuring spectacular computer graphics and interesting plot drew 1.6 million moviegoers in the first week of release. "2012" was Hollywood's first movie aimed at the holiday season. This is Korean superstar Rain's first starring role in a Hollywood film. It features endless sequences of spectacular action.
[Soundbite] Jung Ji-hoon (Actor, "Ninja Assassin") : “It's an action film. So you won't be able to take your eyes off the screen for 90 minutes.”
Korean movies are holding up against the Hollywood movies with traditional Korean characters. This film based on an old Korean novel about Korean hero Hong Gil-dong seeks to provide both inspiration and amusement.
[Soundbite] Jeong Yong-ki (Dir., "Descendants of Hong Gil-dong") : “It was hard to create the excitement of the original film.”
The first Korean-style super hero film, "The Taoist Wizard," was inspired by a Joseon-era tale of mischievous Jeon Woo-chi. These films based on Korean heroes are up against Hollywood big-budget films. Local theaters are keeping its eyes on which film will win the hearts of Korean moviegoers.
9. Close Up - Persimmon Tour
[Anchor Lead]
This is the season for persimmons. Rural villages in Korea offer a variety of hands-on programs to folks from the city, allowing them to pick persimmons and turn them into a range of different food items. Let's go along on one of these trips.
[Pkg]
This rural village in central Korea is steeped in deep orange in late fall. Ripe persimmons hang heavy from the trees. The village sees an increasing number of visitors around this time of the year.
[Soundbite] “Let's go!”
With the village looking like a page out of a picture book, a stroll around the town makes for a lovely excursion. Visitors get a chance to pick ripe persimmons. There's a secret to picking the fruit.
[Soundbite] “Keep twisting.”
Grab a branch with the end of a pole and give it a sharp turn. No one can pass up the opportunity to taste the delicious fruit.
[Soundbite] “It's sweet. It's like ice-cream.”
[Soundbite] “It tastes like the soft persimmon I had with my grandfather and father when I was little. Now that I pick them with my son, I remember the exact taste. I'm so happy.”
The residents of this village are busy peeling and drying the persimmons to make gotgam, or Korean dried persimmon. Visitors take part in a contest to help out with the gotgam-making. It's a contest to see who can make the longest persimmon peel.
[Soundbite] “If the peel breaks off, then you're out.”
This peel looks pretty long. But unfortunately it breaks just as it is being measured.
[Soundbite] “125cm”
[Soundbite] “130cm”
The first place winner gets persimmon tree branches with fruit still hanging from them.
[Soundbite] “It's great! I'll hang these for decoration. My kids love persimmons. I want to share these with my kids.”
The persimmons are hung out to dry, and will be transformed into chewy and sweet gotgam in about 50 days. Rich in vitamins, gotgam is an indispensable ingredient in the traditional Korean beverage, sujeonggwa. It's made with ginger and cinnamon, and is great for warding off colds. Richly textured walnut and gotgam ddeok helps lower the cholesterol. Here's something that is the most popular among homemakers. It's persimmon vinegar. Just store permissions in an urn covered with a cotton cloth and after a year it turns into natural persimmon vinegar. You can drink it as is or mix it with milk.
[Soundbite] “It's like a good energy booster.”
Warmed up with a drink of persimmon vinegar, this child suddenly takes off her socks. She's ready to take a warm foot bath. The ingredients are persimmon leaves and peels. Persimmon leaves contain as much as twenty times more vitamin C than the fruit itself. The leaves are great for restoring energy and smoothing your skin.
[Soundbite] “I was tired from picking persimmons. But after the foot bath, I feel much better. I want to try it at home.”
In the city, a persimmon dessert buffet is offered throughout the month of November. People can try fourteen different kinds of persimmon desserts from persimmon cheese cake to persimmon mousse and tartlets. Don't miss out on a chance to relish the sweetness of persimmons in the city or in the country.
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- Dollar Drop
-
- 입력 2009-11-17 19:28:26
1. Dollar Drop
[Anchor Lead]
The U.S. dollar has fallen to its lowest level against the Korean won this year. Korean exporters are seeing smaller profit margins and the trade surplus is expected to plummet 50 percent next year.
[Pkg]
The Korean won closed at nearly 11-55 to the dollar Monday. The rate is this year's record low. Dollars being used in the dollar carry trade are the apparent culprit behind the fall in the dollar's value. Dollar carry trade refers to borrowing dollars to invest in overseas projects with high profitability. Korea is also expected to post a record high surplus in trade and foreign exchange reserves, indicating the abundance of dollars.
[Soundbite] Kim Du-hyeon (Korea Exchange Bank) : “Once the rate fell below ￦1,155, exporters who predicted additional rate fall started selling their dollars, accelerating the slide.”
But the rapid depreciation of the dollar could undermine the Korean economy. Imports tend to overtake exports in Korea when the won surges in value, so the trade surplus is likely to shrink. Most experts say next year's trade surplus will be just half of this year's. Others even predict that a 10-percent drop in the dollar's value could lower the economic growth rate more than one percentage point. Attention is on how Korea's foreign currency authorities will respond to the falling dollar and prevent the trade balance from going into the red.
2. Industry Boost
[Anchor Lead]
Mobile phones and LCD monitors may be Korea's signature export items, but their key components are mostly Japanese-made. To boost the local parts and materials industry, the government has decided to invest nearly 2.3 billion dollars in the sector over the next ten years.
[Pkg]
This film increases the reflection rate of liquid crystal used in mobile phones. The entire supply used to be imported from Japan. But now local films are used since a domestic ink manufacturer has developed the film for the first time in Korea. The electronic ink, based on nano technology, is instrumental in printing electrical circuits just like on paper.
[Soundbite] Jeong Gwang-chun (Parts Manufacturer) : “We invested nearly $30 million over seven years from 2002 to 2009.”
The government will invest around 2.3 billion dollars until 2018 to promote the development of key parts and materials with world-class competitiveness. In order to address the labor shortage in small and medium parts developers, the government will recruit workers from the state-funded organizations and pay for 70% of their wages. Twenty products eligible for government subsidy will be determined early next year. The government will also enroll these companies in an insurance program that compensates for any problems that may rise during the use of these parts and materials.
3. Cruise Project
[Anchor Lead]
The Seoul city government will start running a 5-thousand-ton cruise ship linking the city to China from 2012. Critics say the project will cost too much, and lacks proper measures to protect the environment and the safety of passengers.
[Pkg]
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon says the city government will launch in 2012 a 5,000-ton cruise ship on the Han River. The vessel will be ten times bigger than existing cruise ships running in the Han. The cruise ship will link Seoul and China, as the route will be connected to the Gyeongin Canal. The city government will build a cruise terminal and the nation's first floating hotel in an international business zone in Seoul's Yongsan district.
[Soundbite] Kim Jin-hyo (Seoul Gov't ) : “The plan has been drawn up to promote tourism industry in Seoul by linking China and Japan.”
But the bottom of the river needs to be dug up to make the water deep enough for the giant cruise vessel. The depth must be expanded from an average five meters to 6.3 meters. The project also requires massive construction work that could threaten the ecosystem near the Han River.
[Soundbite] Yi Hyeon-jeong (Environmental Movement Fed.) : “The project can destroy the Han River ecosystem. The floating hotel plan lacks safety measures in case of floods.”
The estimated cost of the cruise ship project is more than 190 million U.S. dollars.
4. Job Creators
[Anchor Lead]
Local residents are teaming up to establish companies and create jobs in their local communities with new, unique business models. The firms are also turning a profit. Let's take a look at this new community business trend.
[Pkg]
Park Ok-hui is working as an assistant in a kimchi-making event. She got this new job last month.
[Soundbite] “Put stuffing in the middle of the cabbage.”
She is pleased to make money while working for her community.
[Soundbite] “I'm happy to be able to make money while working for my community.”
Her employer is a local farming company. Fifty local residents invested 11,260 dollars to establish the company. The firm has increased its employment of local residents, as its profit has been growing since its opening in October.
[Soundbite] Yu Yeong-bae (Andeok Farming Corp.) : “We sold more than $20,000. We have 6 workers now.”
This kind of resident company owned and operated by local entrepreneurs is emerging as a new business model and a job creator. These companies pursue profitability, so they are different from campaigns to revive local economies and social contributions companies.
[Soundbite] Park Yong-kyu (Samsung Economic Research Inst.) : “Resident-operated companies pursue both public interest and profitability. They also aim to help reinvigorate the local economy.”
With the success of some resident-operated companies, local governments are beginning to show interest in them. The central government will support local communities to create a system to subsidize these companies.
5. Global Envoys
[Anchor Lead]
Korean peacekeeping forces in Lebanon have celebrated Korean Day with residents there. The Dongmyeong Unit is not only protecting peace in the region, but is also working to improve Korea's image in the world.
[Pkg]
Strong shouts accompany martial arts moves. They jump, roll and break tiles. Lebanese nationals are awestruck at the powerful and precise movements of Korean elite troops. A Korean tightrope walker and a merry traditional band are all members of the Dongmyeong Unit. The Korean military compound hosted Korea Day to promote Korea to residents of the Lebanese area and fellow U.N. peacekeeping forces.
[Soundbite] Lebanon Resident : “I was amazed at the strength and capability of Korean troops. They're also very respectful of local residents. I'll pray for their safety.”
The unit has suffered no terrorist attacks or accidents in its two-year deployment despite being in a dangerous area. The reason is apparently Dongmyeong's close relationship with the residents. One-third of the residents in the region have received medical treatment from Korean troops. By helping Lebanese residents, the Dongmyeong Unit is raising the level of its military performance and boosting Korea's global reputation.
6. Brand Makgeolli
[Anchor Lead]
Famous wine labels have the year of production and place of origin marked on them. Now, the same goes for the traditional Korean alcoholic beverage, makgeolli. The drink is being labeled so consumers will know more about where it comes from. Here's more.
[Pkg]
Fresh makgeolli from a brewery run for generations is delivered by a refrigerated truck every day at dawn. This is to keep the alcoholic beverage containing yeast and lactic acid bacteria as fresh as possible. Some 30 different kinds of brand makgeolli are being sold here including ginseng makgeolli that costs nearly 22 dollars per bottle and makgeolli fermented in a 70-year-old clay jar.
[Soundbite] Park Gwan-won (Makgeolli Master Brewer) : “I never though fresh makgeolli could be sold at department stores. It's great.”
Customers love new kinds of makgeolli including a less strong kind that comes in pretty bottles and colorful makgeolli cocktail drinks.
[Soundbite] “I love it!”
[Soundbite] “I bought some for my parents.”
The so-called makgeolli Nouveau is selling about five times better than the famous Beaujolais Nouveau. A fresh makgeolli brand has been exported to the U.S. for the first time this month to be sold at 20 dollars per bottle.
[Soundbite] Gang Hwan-gu (Makgeolli Exporter) : “It's great to export makgeolli made of Korean rice. We're getting more orders.”
A makgeolli expo is to open for four days from the 19th to showcase some 150 kinds of famous makgeolli from nationwide.
7. Digital Goguryeo
[Anchor Lead]
The ancient kingdom of Goguryeo ruled the northern part of the Korean Peninsula and had major influence in Northeast Asia. The kingdom also served to balance power in the region through active diplomacy with Central Asian countries. Now digital technology has recreated the visits of Goguryeo envoys to the central part of the Silk Road 13 centuries ago.
[Pkg]
The people of the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo people have been revived through digital images. They have long knives and wear a jougwan, a hat decorated with bird feathers. Murals depicting the lives of the Goguryeo people had been found only in what is now North Korea. But one was discovered in Afrasiab, an ancient city in present-day Uzbekistan whose present name is Samarkand. The mural was seriously damaged, but a copy was drawn when it was found in 1965. The copy clearly shows a group of Goguryeo envoys. The Afrasiab mural created a sensation in academic circles when it was found. The work has since undergone digital restoration.
[Soundbite] Park Jin-ho (Advanced Inst. of Science & Tech) : “We wanted to prove ancient Korean people's advance into the international stage through digitally restoring the Afrasiab mural.”
[Soundbite] Min Byeong-hun (Nat'l Museum of Korea) : “The mural shows that Goguryeo maintained political and military alliance with Central Asian countries.”
Ancient relics found on the Silk Road offer glimpses of Goguryeo's dauntless will to expand its influence throughout Asia.
8. Films of Fables
[Anchor Lead]
Hollywood blockbusters have flooded Korean theaters ahead of the winter peak season after some slow summer months. But the local film industry is ready for the onslaught of big Hollywood films with a lineup of traditional Korean heroes like Hong Gil-dong and Jeon Woo-chi.
[Pkg]
Hollywood disaster film "2012" reportedly cost more than 260 million dollars to produce. The blockbuster featuring spectacular computer graphics and interesting plot drew 1.6 million moviegoers in the first week of release. "2012" was Hollywood's first movie aimed at the holiday season. This is Korean superstar Rain's first starring role in a Hollywood film. It features endless sequences of spectacular action.
[Soundbite] Jung Ji-hoon (Actor, "Ninja Assassin") : “It's an action film. So you won't be able to take your eyes off the screen for 90 minutes.”
Korean movies are holding up against the Hollywood movies with traditional Korean characters. This film based on an old Korean novel about Korean hero Hong Gil-dong seeks to provide both inspiration and amusement.
[Soundbite] Jeong Yong-ki (Dir., "Descendants of Hong Gil-dong") : “It was hard to create the excitement of the original film.”
The first Korean-style super hero film, "The Taoist Wizard," was inspired by a Joseon-era tale of mischievous Jeon Woo-chi. These films based on Korean heroes are up against Hollywood big-budget films. Local theaters are keeping its eyes on which film will win the hearts of Korean moviegoers.
9. Close Up - Persimmon Tour
[Anchor Lead]
This is the season for persimmons. Rural villages in Korea offer a variety of hands-on programs to folks from the city, allowing them to pick persimmons and turn them into a range of different food items. Let's go along on one of these trips.
[Pkg]
This rural village in central Korea is steeped in deep orange in late fall. Ripe persimmons hang heavy from the trees. The village sees an increasing number of visitors around this time of the year.
[Soundbite] “Let's go!”
With the village looking like a page out of a picture book, a stroll around the town makes for a lovely excursion. Visitors get a chance to pick ripe persimmons. There's a secret to picking the fruit.
[Soundbite] “Keep twisting.”
Grab a branch with the end of a pole and give it a sharp turn. No one can pass up the opportunity to taste the delicious fruit.
[Soundbite] “It's sweet. It's like ice-cream.”
[Soundbite] “It tastes like the soft persimmon I had with my grandfather and father when I was little. Now that I pick them with my son, I remember the exact taste. I'm so happy.”
The residents of this village are busy peeling and drying the persimmons to make gotgam, or Korean dried persimmon. Visitors take part in a contest to help out with the gotgam-making. It's a contest to see who can make the longest persimmon peel.
[Soundbite] “If the peel breaks off, then you're out.”
This peel looks pretty long. But unfortunately it breaks just as it is being measured.
[Soundbite] “125cm”
[Soundbite] “130cm”
The first place winner gets persimmon tree branches with fruit still hanging from them.
[Soundbite] “It's great! I'll hang these for decoration. My kids love persimmons. I want to share these with my kids.”
The persimmons are hung out to dry, and will be transformed into chewy and sweet gotgam in about 50 days. Rich in vitamins, gotgam is an indispensable ingredient in the traditional Korean beverage, sujeonggwa. It's made with ginger and cinnamon, and is great for warding off colds. Richly textured walnut and gotgam ddeok helps lower the cholesterol. Here's something that is the most popular among homemakers. It's persimmon vinegar. Just store permissions in an urn covered with a cotton cloth and after a year it turns into natural persimmon vinegar. You can drink it as is or mix it with milk.
[Soundbite] “It's like a good energy booster.”
Warmed up with a drink of persimmon vinegar, this child suddenly takes off her socks. She's ready to take a warm foot bath. The ingredients are persimmon leaves and peels. Persimmon leaves contain as much as twenty times more vitamin C than the fruit itself. The leaves are great for restoring energy and smoothing your skin.
[Soundbite] “I was tired from picking persimmons. But after the foot bath, I feel much better. I want to try it at home.”
In the city, a persimmon dessert buffet is offered throughout the month of November. People can try fourteen different kinds of persimmon desserts from persimmon cheese cake to persimmon mousse and tartlets. Don't miss out on a chance to relish the sweetness of persimmons in the city or in the country.
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