Security Focus

[Anchor Lead]

President Park Geun-hye has ordered her administration to stay vigilant on national security following the execution of North Korean politician Jang Song-thaek.

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President Park Geun-hye held her fourth diplomatic and national security meeting since taking office. Discussions took place over the political situation in North Korea following the recent execution of its high-ranking official Jang Song-thaek. President Park stressed that the government must be ready for any contingency due to the gravity of the situation. She also ordered to set up a permanent bureau in the National Security Council that was abolished by the Lee Myung-bak administration. The president wants to bolster the functions of her national security office in order to respond to security issues on the Korean Peninsula in a more pro-active and efficient way. Park also told her administration to beef up the Korea-U.S. joint defenses and continue collaborating with the international community to deal with North Korea. At a meeting of chief presidential secretaries, the president also emphasized that the public, the government and the military must be prepared at all times.

[Soundbite] Park Geun-hye(President) : "It's unclear how things in North Korea will turn out. We can't rule out reckless provocations."

The president ordered its national security office to watch the developments in North Korea closely, and the military and police to bolster their security. She also launched an emergency system for public officials. Park urged the government to do its best so that the public can carry on with their lives normally. She also asked the political circles to pay particular attention to the situation.

2. Power Elites

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made his fourth public appearance since his uncle’s execution at the wake for Worker’s Party official Kim Kuk-tae. Changes in his entourage indicate changes in party leadership.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was accompanied by top-ranking military officials Choe Ryong-hae and Kim Won-hong as well as Hwang Byong-so, a deputy director of the Worker's Party Organization and Guidance Department. Hwang in particular appeared to have emerged as a top party elite, as he accompanied the young leader in all four of Kim's public appearances since Jang Song-thaek's execution. The Worker's Party Organization and Guidance Department is divided into three sections - the party, military and administration. In charge of the personnel matters and oversight of these powerful branches of the North Korean regime, the department has been at the center of power since Kim Jong-il's reign. But in 2007, Jang had set up an independent administrative department supervising the cabinet, law enforcement agencies, and money-making projects abroad. Since then there has been friction between the two government organizations. In 2010, ahead of Kim Jong-un's rise to power, Ri Je-kang, first deputy director of the Organization and Guidance Department and Jang's political foe, died in a mysterious car accident. The Organization and Guidance Department had been under personal supervision of Kim Jong-il and his successor Kim Jong-un. So the Administrative Department's apparent impudence could not have been ignored.

[Soundbite] Jeong Seong-jang(Senior Researcher, Sejong Institute) : "If the administrative department refused the organization and guidance department's instructions, it could have been seen as an offense against the party leadership and cause for a purge."

Following the execution of Jang and his close associates, the Organization and Guidance Department is likely to absorb the Administrative Department and take back its title as North Korea's most powerful government organization.

3. Racing Interest

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The popularity of Korean culture in Southeast Asia has spread to horse racing. Races on Korean tracks can be found live on TV, while Korean ticketing equipment is now being exported across the region.

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A horse race begins and the animals speed ahead with all they've got. Only the ones that won the top spots this year are qualified to compete in this match for the grand prize. The event is aired live at a racecourse park in Singapore. It's the first pilot testing since the Korea Racing Authority exported the broadcasting rights.

[Soundbite] Sung Tsuming(CEO, Kranji Racecourse) : "From the results yesterday we really think that Korea has potential."

In return, the Korea Racing Authority receives 2-3 percent of the bets made by spectators. More than 540 races are aired each year. The profits are expected to surpass two million U.S. dollars. Korean ticketing equipment and computer programs to racecourse parks that will be exported to Vietnam next year are expected to bring in 950,000 US dollars. Over the past two years Korea exported 11 racing horses to Macau and Malaysia reaping in over 140,000 dollars

[Soundbite] Hyeon Myeong-gwan(Chairman, Korea Racing Authority) : "We’ll build a network with countries where horse racing is advanced and indirectly expand our presence there."

The Korea Racing Authority is poised to expand its overseas market by selling the broadcasting rights to Canada and north Africa as well.

4. Health Breakthrough

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In a headline that sounds like science-fiction, Korean scientists have developed a bacteria-based cancer-fighting nanobot that can selectively kill cancerous cells. Here’s more on this incredible development in health.

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Salmonella is known to cause food poisoning and intestinal inflammation. Normally harmful to the human body, the bacteria, nonetheless has a tendency to seek out cancer cells. This is what a team of scientists at Chonnam National Univeresity was focusing on. The researchers removed the salmonella toxin by modifying the bacteria's genes. They then attached the salmonella to a capsule containing cancer-fighting drugs using a protein with high adhesive properties. The result was the so-called Bacteriobot. The Bacteriobot swims toward the cancer cells and then the capsule bursts to release the drugs at the site. This is the first such technology in the world. It was tested on a mouse with colon cancer. You can clearly see the nanobot moving toward a cancer cell.

[Soundbite] Prof. Min Jeong-jun(Chonnam National University) : "The biggest strength of the Bacteriobot is that it can deliver high dosages of drugs to a tumor located far away from the blood vessels."

The research team has secured the core technology by applying for ten international patents in the United States and Europe.

[Soundbite] Park Jong-o(Director, Chonnam Nat’l Univ.’s Robot Research Inst.) : "The medical nanobot is a new, cutting-edge technology with a huge market potential."

The research has been published in the online edition of Scientific Reports, the sister magazine of leading science journal Nature.

5. Political Statement

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A Korean college student has sparked controversy in this wired society with a timeless mode of expression: a political poster. His criticism of young Koreans’ disinterest in social issues has drawn a firestorm.

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This hand-written poster says, "How are you doing?" It urges college students to take interest in social issues, such as the railway strike, the spy agency's meddling in elections, and the construction of power transmission towers in Milyang. It was written by a Korea University senior, who also happens to be a member of a progressive political party. At Korea University some 60 posters responding to the original have gone up.

[Soundbite] Sin Yeong-cheol(University Student) : "I put up the poster because such unfairness could take place in the future for the community I will be working for."

The poster has sparked controversy in some 60 colleges across the nation, including Seoul National, Yonsei and ChungAng Universities. Some posters are rebuttals to the original. They argue that not taking sides on a hotly debated issue does not necessarily mean that they aren't interested in current affairs.

[Soundbite] Park Sang-hyeon(University Student) : "I made the poster because I wasn't happy with the people who just thoughtlessly repeated what they read on other people's blogs."

This latest debate uses the old-fashioned method - through poster boards on college campuses.

6. Part-time Troubles

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A significant number of teenagers have part-time jobs, but a government survey shows that more than 84 percent of business sites employing teenagers do not write work contracts, or fail to pay.

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This high school student has been working part-time at this restaurant after passing her college exams last October. But her employer didn't write up a work contract for her and would fail to pay her salary on time every now and then. Some employers pay teenagers less than the minimum hourly wage of 4,860 won, which is slightly over four US dollars. An inspection conducted on some 2,800 business sites employing teenagers by the Ministry of Employment and Labor between January and November this year revealed that more than 84 percent of them violated standard labor practices. Most of them deliberately did not write up work contracts or didn't pay properly because the teenagers lacked experience. The authorities say teenagers should demand written work contracts stipulating their terms and conditions in order to receive proper treatment from their employers.

[Soundbite] Park Hae-jeong(Seoul Regional Min. of Employment & Labor Official) : "Under the Labor Standard Act, employers who fail to write work contracts are subject to a fine of 5 million won (US$4,750.)"

Teenagers who have been mistreated by their employers can receive help from their regional labor offices and job safety centers located in some schools.

7. Helping Hands

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Cleaners are extending a helping hand to those in need. While at work, they collect and sell recyclable items to raise donations. It’s a little extra effort, but they say it’s a fulfilling way to reach the needy.

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A cleaners’ employee carries bags of garbage to a dumping ground. Several employees are there sorting out recyclable items. They rummage through garbage bags to find more recyclable items, such as disposable cups and plastic bottles. The work lasts for some two hours. But they don't tired or even frustrated.

[Soundbite] Kim Yong-hwa(Cleaner, Jung District Office) : "We first spent what we earned on ourselves. But later, we decided to save the money and donate it to the needy."

They earn some nine U.S. dollars and 50 cents a day by selling their collected items. They use their earnings for themselves, but the workers instead donate some 285 U.S. dollars to a charity organization each month. They've offered more than 17-thousand U.S. dollars over the past three years. Even temporary workers who earn a monthly salary of US$760 volunteered to participate in the charity activity even though usually have to work early in the morning.

[Soundbite] Kim Myeong-sun(Temporary Worker) : "It is really good if I can help others, even if it means lending my time and giving up my comfort."

These nine cheerful givers are out warming hearts in a harsh and cold winter.

8. Entertainment News

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In entertainment news, the three-piece Indie group Busker Busker has announced it will temporarily suspend its activities.

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The agency for "Busker Busker" says the band will suspend its activities as a team but each member will concentrate on their own individual projects. The agency explained that each of the three members are pursuing different musical goals. The leader and vocalist of the group, Jang Beom-jun, will participate in cultural projects in addition his work as a musician. Bass guitarist Kim Hyung-tae will establish a media art studio. Drummer Brad will start with independent musical projects. Busker Busker rose to stardom on the audition program “Superstar K3” in 2011. It has been enjoying huge popularity with mega-hit songs such as "Cherry Blossom Ending" and "Yeosu Night Sea." Singer Psy has ranked first on an online ticket reservation site in terms of ticket sales for his year-end concert. Veteran singer Lee Mun-se came in second. Musical "Les Miserables" was chosen as this year's most popular show.

9. Dust Pollution

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Dust pollution has become a serious environmental and health issue in Korea. Here's more on how to protect your health from fine dust.

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On December 4, downtown Seoul was shrouded in dust. Hospitals are packed with patients as a result of the smog. This woman in her 20s sought medical help for her cold. Fine dust irritates the respiratory organs and nearly doubles the amount of inflammatory substances in the air. In fact, smog aggravates the symptoms of rhinitis and asthma.

[Soundbite] Dr. Lee Yeong-mok(Internal Medicine) : "The number of patients with rhinitis and coughing symptoms has increased 1.5 to 2 times recently. Fine dust usually causes rhinitis, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, conjunctivitis and dermatitis."

Prolonged exposure to fine dust raises the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The dust permeates the blood, as the lungs can't filter it out. Fine dust contains substances that can be fatal to the body. And you'll find fine dust everywhere throughout the city. It's almost invisible, particles measure only one-40th the width of a hair. You can only see them through an electronic microscope.

[Soundbite] Jeong Suk-nyeo(Seoul Research Institute of Public Health & Environment) : "Fine dust is hard to see through a scientific microscope because the particles are so small. If you look at them through an electronic microscope, the particles are less than 2.5 micrometers in size."

Fine dust particles are much smaller than average dust particles.

[Soundbite] Choe Yong-seok(Seoul Research Institute of Public Health & Environment) : "Fine dust contains all kinds of substances such as carbon, heavy metals and ionic substances. In winter when people use their heat, dust is produced and its density rises. The amount of dust coming from China has surged recently as well because of heating."

Fine dust contains carcinogenic substances such as carbon. Sales of masks have skyrocketed in recent months. Choosing the right kind of mask is critical for protecting your body. The test results show that the filtration efficiency can vary from product to product. Masks that have been approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety can filter out 97 percent of fine dust. Other masks may filter as little as half of that.

[Soundbite] Chae Seung-su(Occupational Safety & Health Research Institute) : "The filtration efficiency rate must be over 80%. Masks with a rate of under 80% are inappropriate as dust masks."

Maintaining the right humidity levels indoors and avoiding carpets is also important. Carpets are known for their tendency to trap fine dust. On days with heavy smog, refrain from opening the windows. Instead, use air-purifying plants to keep the air in your home clean. These tips may help keep you healthy even on the dustiest of days.