German Tour

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President Park Geun-hye continues her German tour with a stop in Dresden in former East Germany, where she will announce her vision of Korean reunification at an address to the Dresden University of Technology.

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President Park Geun-hye arrived in Dresden earlier today, the second stop in her state visit to Germany. She is the first Korean president to visit Dresden located in former East Germany. Her first public appearance in Dresden was at the Church of Our Lady, an icon of peace and reconciliation. The church was destroyed in the bombing of Dresden during World War II but was recently restored. Then she met with Saxony Minister-President Stanislaw Tillich at the state building and attended a state dinner at Dresden Castle.

[Soundbite] PARK GEUN-HYE (President) : "The state of Saxony, which achieved an exemplary economic growth since unification, provides a blueprint for the reunification of Korea."

President Park is to give an address at the Dresden University of Technology tonight after receiving an honorary doctorate degree there. She is expected to present her visions of reunification, a set of unification ideas more concrete than what she announced earlier this year. Prior to her visit to Dresden, President Park toured the Berlin Wall and a photo exhibition marking the 25th anniversary of its fall, and wished for Korea to have the same experience. She also met with the government officials who played key roles in the German unification, including the German finance minister and the Prime Minister of former East Germany. They advised her on unification negotiations and currency integration. President Park plans to learn from Germany's experience and build networks of cooperation to facilitate the unification of the Korean Peninsula.

2. Unification Experience

[Anchor Lead]

More talk about unification on the President’s trip to Germany. She met with German business leaders to discuss bilateral cooperation, investment in Korea and help with the economic integration of the two Koreas after unification.

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President Park Geun-hye met with business leaders of Korea and Germany and applauded the significant contributions made by German businesses in integrating the economies of East and West Germany following their unification. She also asked the German entrepreneurs to play meaningful roles in integrating the South and North Korean economies when the two Koreas reunite.

[Soundbite] PARK GEUN-HYE (President) : "I hope that German businesses will contribute to the economic integration of a reunified Korea and create new opportunities for themselves through more investments and economic cooperation."

President Park proposed more mutual investments as a concrete way to boost bilateral economic cooperation.

[Soundbite] "I hope that German businesses will place their faith in Korea's potential and the Korean government's commitment and that they make investments in order to grow together with Korea."

She also asked them to strengthen cooperation to realize a creative economy and to get ready for the Korean Peninsula's reunification. Then President Park visited Siemens' gas turbine plant and saw the effectiveness of the integration efforts for the old East and West German economies. Siemens played a vital role in economic integration after the two sides came together by hiring workers from East Germany. President Park will visit Frankfurt tomorrow to meet with Korean expats, including the miners and nurses who were sent to work in Germany in the 1960s and 70s, before returning to Seoul.

3. Harsh Rhetoric

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Tough talk from Pyongyang: North Korea has unleashed harsh criticism of President Park Geun-hye’s remarks at the Nuclear Security Summit in the Netherlands earlier this week.

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Pyongyang is harshly criticizing President Park Geun-hye for her remarks made at the latest Nuclear Security Summit. North Korea even mentioned Park's name in disparaging remarks.

[Soundbite] Korean Central TV (Mar. 27) : "Park Geun-hye attended the 3rd nuclear security meeting in the Netherlands, where she brought up our nuclear issue in an absurd manner and made extremely ludicrous remarks."

Pyongyang took issue with President Park's statement saying "a nuclear-free world should begin with North Korea's abandonment of its nuclear program." The Stalinist state called it an "ignorant statement." The North even called Park "a woman who's saying nonsense in her room." Pyongyang unleashed its criticism for the first time after the meeting of high-ranking South and North Korean officials last month. Seoul strongly urged Pyongyang to stop its rude behavior and obscene remarks targeting the legitimate diplomatic activities of the head of state.

[Soundbite] KIM UI-DO (Spokesman, Ministry of Unification) : "Not only that this is a very serious violation of the inter-Korean agreement, but also an act of acrimony."

Meanwhile, sources say the North Korean military has been conducting drills by producing and attacking the mock-ups of South Korean guard posts.

4. Smoking Lawsuit

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The National Health Insurance Service has filed a lawsuit over damages caused by smoking. The estimated total so far: around 46 million U.S. dollars, and that could grow even larger during the trial.

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When estimating the scope of compensation in its lawsuit over smoking-related damages, the National Health Insurance Service took into account three factors. The first one is its chance of winning the suit. Back in 2011, the Seoul High Court of Justice said in its verdict that certain cases of lung and larynx cancers could have been related to smoking. The individuals who filed the suits at the time had smoked for more than 30 years. They smoked a pack of cigarettes on a daily basis for at least two decades. The National Health Insurance Service selected some 3,400 patients with similar backgrounds based on the results of cancer prevention research. The health care costs for these patients over ten years exceeded 50 million U.S. dollars.

[Soundbite] LEE JEONG-HO (National Health Insurance Service Official) : "These people mostly have white-collar jobs, so it’s unlikely that they were exposed to other cancer-causing factors besides smoking."

The NHIS also took into consideration the effect of smoking-related lawsuits on smoking cessation. It's the first smoking-related lawsuit to be filed by a public agency. The NHIS will soon select its legal representatives and submit a petition next month. The amount of compensation that the NHIS is aiming for could grow further during the trial because the current suit doesn't cover all of the damages in smoking-related cases.

5. Family Feud

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Family feuds are not uncommon among family owned conglomerates in Korea. The latest sibling dispute over management erupted between the Park brothers of Kumho Asiana Group.

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When Kumho Asiana Group Chairman Park Sam-koo was about to be named as the director of Asiana Airlines, the representatives of his younger brother and Kumho Petrochemical Chairman Park Chan-koo spoke up in protest. They argued that the older Park cannot exercise his right to vote as Asiana Airlines director, because Kumho Asiana Group and Asiana Airlines have more than 10% of each other's shares.

[Soundbite] KIM CHEOL-HO (Legal Representative, Kumho Petrochemical) : "Kumho Asiana Group's shares of Asiana Airlines are considered by commercial law as the shares in mutual ownership. So he doesn't have the right to vote."

If Park Sam-koo's voting right is restricted, the younger sibling could become the largest shareholder. The representatives of the older Park said that Asiana Airlines sold off some of the Kumho Asiana Group shares last month, which exempted him from the voting right restriction. His appointment as director was approved as planned.

[Soundbite] YUN YEONG-DU (Fmr. CEO, Asiana Airlines) : "I declare that the director appointment is approved as in the original bill."

The disagreement between the two sides raged on even after the general shareholders' meeting concluded.

[Soundbite] LEE SUNG-GI (Legal Representative, Kumho Petrochemical) : "We plan to take issue with the validity of the appointment, because the declaration of approval was made after the inclusion of the non-voting shares."

[Soundbite] GANG SANG-YONG (PR Manger, Asiana Airlines) : "Creditors have made their decision and they're exercising responsible management."

Kumho Petrochemical has filed for injunction to block the enforcement of the decision made at the general shareholders' meeting.

6. Classified History

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A highly classified U.S. document details disputes between Washington and late Korean President Park Chung-hee in the 1970s over South Korea’s nuclear development. Here’s more.

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These highly classified documents describe a diplomatic conflict between South Korea and the United States in the 1970s. They say that the high-ranking officials from both nations squared off because the U.S. was trying to stop Korea's nuclear development. A report drafted by the CIA says that there's clear evidence that President Park Chung-hee authorized the development of nuclear weapons in 1974. In August 1975, the U.S. defense secretary personally told President Park at President Gerald Ford's order that South Korea's nuclear development would provide "the Soviets with justification for threatening" the South with nuclear weapons. Documents that have been disclosed by the U.S. Wilson International Center and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Professor Park Jin also say that U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who strongly opposed the Park Chung-hee administration's Emergency Decree No. 9, threatened to withdraw the U.S. troops from Korea, and that Seoul stopped the pullout by threatening to launch nuclear development.

[Soundbite] Prof. PARK JIN (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies) : "They squared off over President Park Chung-hee's nuclear program. As a result, Washington decided to stop its plans to withdraw its troops and the bilateral ties were restored."

The recently disclosed documents show how sensitively Washington reacted to Seoul's nuclear development.

7. Suspicious Purchase

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A KBS investigation has revealed that the president of Korea’s largest entertainment agency used a paper company to purchase a posh coastal villa in Los Angeles, U.S.A. He’s currently under a National Tax Service investigation for tax evasion.

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Luxurious mansions of noted personalities and billionaires including the likes of Steven Spielberg are lined up here on the Malibu coast near Los Angeles. President of SM Entertainment Lee Soo-man bought a villa in this area in April 2007. He came to the villa whenever he visited the states.

[Soundbite] Lee’s Acquaintance (Voice Modified) : "He would drop by to have wine or a meal. Hollywood stars would come as well."

The price tag for this place was 4.8 million dollars. For an individual, the investment limit for an overseas property was 3 million dollars at the time. Lee couldn't afford the place on his own. The purchase was done jointly with a Hong Kong firm paying more than half of the price. The name of the Hong Kong firm has been confirmed as well as its address which was identical to the Hong Kong affiliate of SM Entertainment that's in charge of SM's performance projects at home and abroad.

[Soundbite] Diretor (Polex Development Limited)

SM is mum on why this firm made the joint purchase of the villa with Lee. Authorities have launched a major tax probe into SM based on intelligence that the entertainment giant diverted a portion of profits of its singers earned from their overseas performances to the Hong Kong based paper company for tax evasion purpose. SM says the Hong Kong firm is irrelevant to Mr. Lee and that it will reveal the source of the money during the tax investigation.

8. 100 Million Views

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Boy band phenomenon Big Bang’s music video for “Fantastic Baby” has topped the Youtube view milestone of 100 million views. This and more in entertainment.

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The music video of Big Bang's hit song "Fantastic Baby," known for its mesmerizing beat and dynamic dance has surpassed 100 million views on YouTube. The milestone comes two years after the music video was released on YouTube in March 2012. Big Bang has become the third Korean singer or band after PSY and Girls' Generation to have a music video with over 100 million YouTube hits. Singer Lim Chang-jung will hold his first nationwide solo concert tour since his debut this May. He recently released his 12th regular album after a five year hiatus. The concert will first be held in Seoul on May 23rd and 24th in the handball arena at Jamsil Olympic Park. The concert will continue in Daejeon, Jeonju and Incheon in June and July. Lim will showcase his previous hits as well as his latest numbers "Ordinary Song" and "Look Like Me."

9. Spring Destination

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We’re enjoying the mild spring weather now in Seoul, but if you’re looking for a place to make the best out of the season, look no further than Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang Province.

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A trip to Cheongdo begins at the train station. It offers a special amenity to tourists. It's a bucolic thatched-roof house that reminds visitors of the good old days. Inside you can get a gander at traditional home furnishings from long ago. The nostalgic atmosphere of this place catches the eye of everyone who happens to pass by.

[Soundbite] KIM SEON-YONG (Vice Stationmaster, Cheongdo Station) : "The Traditional Culture Hall of the Cheongdo Station was launched in 2009. Every year some 50,000 children visit it. Passengers can tour the facility free of charge."

There's one more place in Cheongdo that bears the traces of the nostalgic past. It's Cheongdoeupseong Fortress. Its circumference measures 1.9 kilometers, and it's a nice place for spring strolls. The fortress was built during the Joseon period to protect the area from invaders. This spot surrounded by the high walls is an ancient prison. It has special equipment for corporal punishment: the leg-screw and a paddle for flogging. Visitors usually begin their tour here.

[Soundbite] "Hey, you! How can you think of treason? You should get beaten right now!"

You can pretend to be a criminal to see what it was like to get punished in the Joseon era.

[Soundbite] "How many times should I hit you?"

[Soundbite] "Three times would do."

It's a nice place to learn about history and have fun as well.

[Soundbite] YUN JI-HYE (Visitor) : "I didn't expect it to be so good, because it's not very famous, but strolling here I began to recall the good old days. It's a good place to learn for children."

Cheongdo is known for its delicious herb called the water dropwort, which is in season now. A field of fresh herbs swaying in the wind looks like one big green sea. Local farmers harvest about ten tons of water dropwort daily during this time of year. They are flooded with orders.

[Soundbite] "Ma'am, more water dropwort, please!"

Water dropwort growing in Cheongdo is unusually crunchy because after harvest the farmers plow up the land before sowing seeds again. You can try the local water dropwort with pork barbecue at a greenhouse. You can roast pork right on the spot and eat it with the crunchy herbs. It also tastes good when chunks of fragrant water dropwort are placed over the pork when it turns golden.

[Soundbite] "Pork eaten with water dropwort and bean sauce tastes amazing."

Pork belly and water dropwort are a perfect combination of flavors.

[Soundbite] "You can only try this in Cheongdo. Come visit us to try this delicacy!"

This time, we visited a picturesque village where festivities are held year-round. Every evening after the sunset, this village transforms into a festival venue. It's a festival of lights. Thousands of lights mesmerize tourists at night by creating a romantic atmosphere. Perhaps that's why this place is so popular among couples.

[Soundbite] "Hey, Su-min, I love you. Will you marry me!"

[Soundbite] "I love you."

You could be the next one to make a love confession here.

[Soundbite] "We’ll live happily ever after!"

Cheongdo always welcomes visitors with open arms as a prime travel destination in early spring.