Job Focus

[Anchor Lead]

The incoming administration has said its top priority is creating jobs and helping temporary workers.

[Pkg]

Workers continue to stage rallies in front of the president-elect's transition committee building in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. The transition committee has recently been discussing labor issues in depth. During her campaign, President-elect Park Geun-hye promised to increase and protect jobs, and improve the quality of living for workers.

[Soundbite] Chin Yong(Deputy Chief, Transition Committee) : "The Ministry of Employment and Labor has reported that it will focus on achieving an employment rate of 70 percent as its top priority in state affairs."

The Labor Ministry suggests cutting work hours to increase and share jobs. Companies that agree to cooperate in job sharing will receive financial support from the government. The transition committee also discussed ways to grant a permanent employment status to temporary workers in the public sector by 2015 and expand social security for temporary employees. The Foreign Ministry's briefing outlined measures regarding North Korea's recent rocket launch and the incoming administration's summit diplomacy. Meanwhile, President-elect Park Geun-hye met with the ambassadors of the U.K. and France to Korea and urged their cooperation in helping North Korea implement changes.

[Soundbite] Park Geun-hye(President-Elect) : "North Korea can change by making the right choices. I hope that we can all cooperate in this."

On January 15 the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Fair Trade Commission presented their briefings to the transition committee.

2. Resignation Questions

[Anchor Lead]

President-elect Park Geun-hye's transition team has offered no explanation for the sudden resignation of committee member Choi Dae-seok, but speculation is rampant.

[Pkg]

Resigned presidential transition committee member, Professor Choi Dae-seok, did not appear at his house in Seoul. The transition team has not elaborated on why Choi resigned, just saying that he had offered to resign on his own and that the president-elect accepted his resignation. The transition team said that no one should suffer any damages because of personnel affairs.

[Soundbite] Yun Chang-joong(Spokesman, Transition Committee) : "It’s proper not to make additional comments on Choi’s resignation, since it’s a personal matter."

Choi is on sabbatical this year. He has no plans to participate in an academic program in a foreign university, and instead showed strong will to work in the incoming government. Partaking in overseas research programs is what professors on sabbatical usually choose to do. But Choi suddenly resigned from the transition team. An official who crafted the president-elect's campaign pledges with Choi said that Choi must have had some problems and had lost Park's confidence. People outside of the transition committee speculate that Choi might have been dropped during the candidate screening for unification minister because of his parents-in-law's wealth as well as his son's dual citizenship and exemption from the nation’s mandatory military service. Some analysts say that Choi is a soft liner on issues towards North Korea and might have been in conflict with other members who are hard liners. However, the speculation has been denied by all of the officials who were working with him in the president-elect's camp.

3. Flu Alert

[Anchor Lead]

A flu outbreak is spreading in the U.S. and a flu epidemic warning is also likely to be issued soon in Korea. Here’s a look at the differences between the flu types that are hitting the two countries.

[Pkg]

A seasonal flu is spreading in Korea, similar to the U.S., and the number of patients is growing continuously. The viruses that are spreading in both countries were compared. Both are the same type of A. But more specifically, the flu in the U.S. is subtype H3 and the one in Korea subtype H1. H3 is known to have more severe symptoms and complications such as pneumonia. As such, flu patients in Korea are showing symptoms different from those seen in the U.S. Doctors say there's no need to worry since a single vaccination can protect you from both flu viruses. However, the number of flu patients nationwide that was around 3.7 out of 1,000 last week is expected to exceed four out of 1,000 this week, in which case an epidemic warning is issued.

[Soundbite] Gwon Jun-uk(Korea Centers for Control & Prevention) : "The situation's a bit different compared to overseas. Within this week, we expect the number to grow to levels for an epidemic warning to be issued."

Although there's no worry about the flu in the U.S. hitting Korea, an epidemic is still expected in the country. Doctors advise washing your hands frequently and recommend vaccinations for the elderly and those with chronic diseases.

4. Power Drain

[Anchor Lead]

A big cause of this winter’s ongoing power shortage has been identified. It’s the rapidly spreading use of devices that are used both for heating and cooling.

[Pkg]

This is a coffee shop in Seoul. Warm air is flowing out from the air-conditioner installed on the ceiling. This middle school also had gas-run heaters that were replaced with air-conditioners with heat pumps. After the replacement, the electricity consumption jumped by 71 percent. The power consumed by the dual heating and cooling units accounted for 23 percent of the total amount of electric power used for heating in 2010, and the rate is assumed to have skyrocketed rapidly ever since. For heating, these systems consume the same amount of energy as when it cools the same space during the summer. When temperatures drop to minus ten degrees Celsius or lower, the power usage almost doubles. Furthermore, while the heating efficiency of other heaters that use gas or fuel is over 80 percent, it is a mere 35 percent for equipment running on electricity. Despite such weak points, the government promoted the distribution of the dual heating and cooling air-conditioners for the past four years since 2008, even providing subsidies amounting to around 18 million US dollars.

[Soundbite] An Seong-il(Min. of Knowledge Economy) : "Two years ago we noticed the problems of dual systems and excluded them from the list of high-efficiency products. We’ll continue to manage cooling and heating devices strictly."

Experts advise that benefits should be given for the use of heaters that run on gas or oil in order to prevent the spreading use of electric heating.

5. New Police System

[Anchor Lead]

Last weekend a thief was caught just five minutes after the victim called the police for help. Newly adopted systems are helping the police nab their targets.

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On January 12, 9:44 p.m., a police situation room in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province received an urgent call for help. A burglar broke into a karaoke shop and ran away with cash and credit cards. The suspect was caught just five minutes after the call near an ATM located 50 meters away from the crime scene. Police were able to catch the criminal this soon due to the new emergency call system under which all patrol cars in the area can listen to urgent calls in real time. When an emergency occurs and a button at the situation room is pressed, all policemen nearby the scene are able to listen to what's happening.

[Soundbite] Ins. Seon Dong-gyu(Bucheon Wonmi Police Station) : "Since all patrol cars in the area can hear the calls in real time, we can know what the situation is and rush to the scene immediately."

A police station in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province adopted a suspect tracking system where police can follow suspects while watching them on the run all in real time. The system for police arrests that was heavily blamed for the brutal murder of a woman in Suwon last year is finally being improved.

6. No Trickle Down

[Anchor Lead]

Large companies are posting record earnings but the economy is still struggling. New statistics show that the gains are no longer trickling down. An increase in large companies' earnings has been shown not to benefit low-income earners any more.

[Pkg]

This woman has been working at a large distributor for nine years. Her monthly salary was 758 U.S. dollars nine years ago. It is now barely over 947 U.S. dollars. Corporations' operating profits have jumped ten percent over the past ten years despite the economic difficulty. The growth is far higher than a seven percent increase in wages for their employees. In particular, Samsung Electronics saw its operating profit surge eight times over the past decade, but its workers' wages grew less than two-fold. Businesses' expansion in size has not led to a rise in wages and employment. It means that companies don't spend what they earned. They just save and accumulate it. The proportion of corporate income to gross national income has significantly grown while that of household income has dramatically shrunk.

[Soundbite] Kim Yeong-tae(Bank of Korea) : "Sluggish consumption and weaker domestic foundations will negatively effect domestic investments in the long run."

Some economists say that a growth in corporate income should have the effect of boosting household income, consumption, and employment. However, in reality, statistics show a different picture in today’s economic landscape.

7. Tourism Tech

[Anchor Lead]

Seoul’s Gangnam-gu Office has come up with a nifty way of helping tourists get where they want to go.

[Pkg]

Garosu-gil, or Garosu Street, in the southern Seoul district of Gangnam-gu is crowded with foreign tourists despite the cold weather. However, it’s easy for strangers to get lost in small alleys behind the main road. This tourist is looking for a traditional Korean restaurant. He pulls out his smartphone and scans the quick response code on the block. Now he has all the information he needs. The QR code provides information on how far away the restaurant is and the menu it offers.

[Soundbite] "Benjamin (Tourist)"

This mobile QR code scanning service offers detailed information for tourists from hotels to shopping centers. The service is available in English, Japanese and Chinese. Developed by the Gangnam-gu office, QR codes are printed on blocks in eight areas near Garosu-gil and the COEX Convention Center. The office is planning to provide this tourism information service in more regions in its district.

8. One Man's Impact

[Anchor Lead]

The late Father John Lee Tae-seok died three years ago while devoting his life to helping the poor in Sudan. Here's a look how he continues to influence many Koreans.

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Late Father John Lee had left Korea to help those living in one of the world's most poverty-stricken places in Sudan. Instead of guns, the Father taught the children how to play musical instruments and treated patients afflicted with Hansen's disease in a dark hut with no light. To commemorate the third anniversary of the Father's death, people are visiting the Father John Lee Tae-seok Memorial Hall, which opened last year at the university where he studied medicine. The photographs and videos of Father John Lee show the visitors the meaning of sharing and giving. The visitor's book is filled with promises to follow in his footsteps. His teachings are handed down to the university's young medical students as well. In the medical humanities course, the doctors-to-be learn about the life and faith of the late father and the meaning of medicine. In tribute to the late father, Inje University is planning to send educational support and doctors to Sudan. Though three years have passed since his death, the love and devotion late Father John Lee has exuded throughout his lifetime still remains deeply resonant in many people's hearts.

9. Power of Positivity

[Anchor Lead]

Excessive stress, unhealthy lifestyles and longer life spans have led to more and more cases of cancer. To beat the disease, medical treatment needs to be combined with the will to survive. Today we're going to introduce you to two people who overcame cancer with the help of their determination.

[Pkg]

This is former basketball coach Choe In-seon. He’s a Korean basketball legend, being the first to achieve 200 wins in the country's pro-basketball history. Choe was diagnosed with third stage colorectal cancer in 2005.

[Soundbite] Choe In-seon(Fmr. Colorectal Cancer Patient) : "There was too much stressful working in a competitive environment for a long time. And I went to a lot of drinking gatherings. So I think the alcohol and greasy foods caused the cancer."

His wife who took care of him died a year ago, so now he’s on his own. After being diagnosed with cancer, Choe began to exercise again after years of not doing so.

[Soundbite] "It’s just changing small habits and your determination. If you just do that, your life becomes much more enjoyable. I'm over 60 but I feel like This is a second life."

Choe used to enjoy meat, a well-known cause of colorectal cancer. But now his diet is mainly composed of fresh fruits and vegetables. Most cancer patients give up their jobs and careers to focus on treatment. But Choe never skipped out on his job at the basketball court after surgery. Choe believes he was able to overcome cancer by staying at the job he loves and keeping a positive attitude. Last year, he was made an honorary ambassador for colorectal cancer awareness.

[Soundbite] "Oh, you don't know how happy I am to be able to work like this. It’s like a proverb saying you can overcome cancer by keep doing what you do. Just like that saying, I'm very happy to be able to work."

Next, we're going to meet a woman who is completely cured of thyroid cancer, the most common cancer among Korean women. Park Ok-gyu says she beat thyroid cancer by making her own health food. While thyroid cancer is the most easily cured form of the disease, it also spreads easily to other organs.

[Soundbite] Park Ok-gyu(Fmr. Thyroid Cancer Patient) : "The 3rd-stage thyroid cancer spread to the lymphatic gland and so I have a dent in my shoulder."

Before she was diagnosed, her life was far from healthy.

[Soundbite] "I ran a galbi restaurant for 20 years in Suwon. After everyone else ate, I'd finally have lunch at two or three p.m. My life pattern was irregular."

But her experience running a restaurant for 20 years was helpful in curing the illness. She began to make healthy food to beat the disease. She’s now healthy enough to chair the Thyroid Patients' Association and she gives out anti-cancer foods to people around her. For her health, she and her husband also moved to a mountainside village and she shares the food she makes with her neighbors. These two people show the importance of mental determination and a positive outlook when it comes to fighting cancer.