Refusal to Resign

1. Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung made quiet yet historic visit to North Korea's Kaesong Complex

[Anchor Lead]

Cardinal Andrew Yeon Soo-jung made a visit to the Kaesong Industrial Complex in North Korea yesterday. He is the first South Korean Roman Catholic leader to enter the North.

[Pkg]

Cardinal Yeom returned to the South through the Dorasan Inter-Korean Transit Office at around 5:20 p.m. He said that he wanted to make a quiet visit to the North Korean industrial compound and that his visit to the inter-Korean venture gave him hope that the two Koreas can overcome their pain and sadness. Cardinal Yeom added that he did not meet with any North Korean officials or hold mass because the visit was simply aimed at encouraging the people working at the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

2. Refusal to Resign

[Anchor Lead]

KBS President Gil Hwan-young says he has no plans to resign. He also pledged to dish out punishment for any illegal activities carried out by KBS reporters. Meanwhile, the two labor unions at KBS are taking vote on whether to go on strike in a bid to oust the president.

[Pkg]

KBS President Gil Hwan-young says he will never resign due to instigation and violence staged for political reasons. He also vowed to strictly punish any illegal activities that place his post at stake. The KBS president denied the speculations that he followed Cheong Wa Dae's orders to meddle in news reporting and personnel management and to apologize to the bereaved families of the Sewol disaster victims in Hyoja-dong.

[Soundbite] GIL HWAN-YOUNG(President, KBS) : "Neither Cheong Wa Dae nor any other institution has the power to censor media in today's era."

But Gil's statement only further angered the KBS reporters. So far, 242 of KBS high-ranking executives have resigned, and 14 of KBS news anchors are refusing to do their jobs.

[Soundbite] IM JANG-WON(Journalist, KBS) : "He's guilty of creating a stifling organization, seriously undermining freedom of news production and ruining everything with his personnel choices."

While some 20 special correspondents have made a statement demanding that Gil leaves his post. Two of the broadcaster's labor unions have launched a vote on whether to stage a general strike to oust the president. Meanwhile, the KBS board of directors will hold a meeting next week to introduce a bill demanding Gil's resignation.

3. KBS journalists: President Gil 's office received reports from the newsroom in attempt to wield influence

[Anchor Lead]

Reporters at KBS claim that KBS President Gil Hwan-young received reports on news show cue sheets in progress and other pending issues in the newsroom through an unofficial line.

[Pkg]

As evidence for their claim, the KBS reporters' association points to fax records revealing communications from the newsroom's digital news bureau to the president's office. A total of 12 documents were faxed to the president's office over the past month. The reporters' association claims that President Gil received the reports in an attempt to wield influence over news production. An official at the digital news bureau explained that it is impossible to find out who sent the copies, as the fax machine is used by many staffers. The president's office made no comment on the suspicion.

4. Raid on Geumsuwon

[Anchor Lead]

Prosecutors investigating corruption allegations regarding the Sewol ferry’s owner, Yoo Byung-eon, raided his religious facility in Gyeonggi Province yesterday but failed to locate Yoo or his eldest son.

[Pkg]

Some 80 prosecutors and investigators from the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office entered the compound of Yoo Byeong-eon's religious facility, Geumsuwon, in seven vehicles. They had already received arrest warrants for Yoo and his eldest son, and had a search warrant for Yoo's religious facility. However, they failed to find Yoo and his son. Both of them didn't respond to the prosecutors' summons and interrogations. The prosecutors have reportedly obtained surveillance camera footage showing Yoo's secret ranch in the vicinity of Geumsuwon where he had been hiding until recently. The prosecutors are zeroing in on finding evidence of the Yoos' crimes and hiding places. Members of Yoo's religious sect, who strongly protested the prosecutors' entrance into the facility, stopped their protests after they were notified that Yoo and his religious sect had nothing to do with the mass suicides of the religious sect called Odaeyang in 1987.

[Soundbite] LEE TAE-JONG(Spokesman, Evangelical Baptist Church) : "We have protested the misunderstanding that we had been sheltering Chairman Yoo, but now we’ll step back."

The prosecutors presume that Yoo escaped from Geumsuwon on May 17 during a large-scale religious service and is hiding out in one of his member’s house in Seoul. Meanwhile, since Yoo's younger son and and eldest daughter did not show up for questioning, citing their stay overseas, arrest warrants have been issued for them and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accepted the prosecutors' request to order them to turn in their passports.

5. Aerial View

[Anchor Lead]

For a closer look at the religious compound of Geumsuwon, we go to the skies. Here are some aerial views of the facility from the day of the raid.

[Pkg]

Geumsuwon is situated in the mountains in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. Tensions are rising, as some one-thousand-200 police officers are gathered around the compound. Reporters are also on standby to cover a prosecutors' raid into Geumsuwon. As they are not allowed into the compound, the reporters are quick to move their equipment to locations where they can have a better look. Fire engines, ambulances and police cars form a long line along a nearby road. Finally, the prosecutors enter Geumsuwon. Some investigators carry boxes containing seized materials. Other investigators even comb through nearby hills. They are looking for Yoo Byung-eon and his eldest son who are believed to be hiding out in the compound. A large hall inside Geumsuwon is said to accommodate five-thousand people. In front of the hall, some 200 devotees to the religious sect gathered to watch the raid. The reclusive religious compound is mostly made up of farms and buildings.

6. Sonar search efforts around Sewol ferry sinking site so far unsuccessful

[Anchor Lead]

The use of the underwater acoustic search technique sonar in the search of missing Sewol ferry passengers has so far proven ineffective.

[Pkg]

The government task force in charge of Sewol disaster management said underwater the acoustic search was performed from May 1 to the 16 in the area of the ferry sinking spanning 284 square kilometers, but produced no results. The divers also searched the surrounding area spanning hundreds of square kilometers but failed to find any bodies. Currently divers are searching an area located over 15 kilometers northwest from the site of the disaster and the entrance to the Maenggol Strait.

7. Undetonated flares from nighttime search operations pose a risk to local residents

[Anchor Lead]

Flares are being used throughout night time operations in the search of missing passengers of the Sewol ferry, but some are falling back to earth unexploded, posing a threat to people living in the area.

[Pkg]

The government emergency control headquarters says that out of the 13-thousand flares dropped over the past month, 800 did not explode. It is asking local residents to tell the police or military if they find undetonated flares.

8. Prosecution to launch extensive investigation to root out corruption: focus on "bureaucratic mafia"

[Anchor Lead]

The prosecution plans to launch an extensive investigation to root out corruption in the public service sector and sever the collusive ties between government agencies and civilian organizations.

[Pkg]

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office held a meeting of chief prosecutors to discuss how to proceed with the probe. The prosecutors are expected to focus on the so-called "bureaucratic mafia," a group of public servants in oversight agencies who get post-retirement employment at government affiliates or relevant civilian organizations and exert pressure on their former junior employees. This practice has hurt the supervisory and regulatory duties of government oversight agencies.

9. Backstage Pass

[Anchor Lead]

Have you ever had the chance to step backstage at a show? It's an exciting experience that few people ever get to enjoy. Today, follow us for a tour of these off-limit spaces.

[Pkg]

This is a performance hall in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. Rehearsal is under way for the next day's show. Let's take a look. It's not only the cast but the stage set, lights and sound effects that all come together to make the show special. But these back stage, behind the scene areas are usually off limits to the audience. Why is this?

[Soundbite] GANG HYEON-HO(Stage Director) : "A lot of preparation goes into making the show 100% perfect. Public access to back areas can hinder preparations and the performance."

The back stage area is completely off limits. But this performance hall has introduced a special program to quench audience curiosity. Spectators are allowed back stage for a rare experience.

[Soundbite] HAN DONG-JUN(Audience Member) : "I always watch the stage so I wondered what it would be like backstage. So I applied for this tour.'

This is an exclusive actors only area. You can step out onto the stage to view the seats in the auditorium.

[Soundbite] NO YONG-GUK(Audience Member) : "I always wanted to stand on stage like this when I was young. I'm nervous just to look into an empty audience so I'd better give up my dream of performing."

You can even touch the machines and equipment. This special backstage tour is held on the last Thursday of each month. It's open to anyone for free.

[Soundbite] JEONG HYE-RIM(Audience Member) : "You rarely ever get to see the backstage. It was my first chance to learn how the lights and sounds actually worked. It was enlightening."

Here is a theme park in Seoul. We heard they offer participatory, interactive programs here. Shall we take a look? This dressing room filled with unique props is usually off limits to anyone other than related officials. Filled with character costumes, what goes on in this room? Then enters a group of children. They dress up in the same place as the actors and transform into Snow White and Prince Charming.

[Soundbite] HWANG MI-SUK(Visitor) : "My kids are in the parade. We hope to create wonderful memories."

The children are now princesses and princes but it doesn't end here. They practice some moves for the show. They must be a bit nervous. The parade, a key part of any theme park, now begins. Spectators are excited by the music and fancy performance. The children, in costume, also step out in a carriage. With just a ticket into the theme park, any child can take part in this parade for free. Competition for a spot is said to be intense, but a dance with Tinkerbell will create fine memories.

[Soundbite] KIM EUN-GYEONG(Visitor) : "It's unique and great the children can take part. When she gets older, I want her to do the parade, too."

Our last visit today is a zoo safari park. Here you can meet a wealth of animals such as the elephant, lion and giraffe on a ride. But you may want an even closer look at the animals.

[Soundbite] LEE JAE-DEOK (Visitor) : "I did think it would be nice if we can view the animals more closely."

So we are here now again in an off limits area. How can you get in?

[Soundbite] YU DAE-HYEON(Tour Guide) : "It's a 15 member group. We run on reservations."

So what kind of place is this that even requires a reservation?

[Soundbite] LEE DONG-EON(Visitor) : "It's called a backside tour. You can see and feed a giraffe at a close distance."

People are granted a close look at the animals' daily life as a caretaker. But the off limits sign is visible again.

[Soundbite] "Let's read out loud altogether. What does it say? (It’s authorized personnel only.)"

Excitement runs high. The first furry friend to encounter is the giraffe.

[Soundbite] "Hi giraffe!"

This giraffe is known to be the daddy of nearly all the giraffes in Korea. What's it like to see him this close?

[Soundbite] SONG U-HEON(Visitor) : "This is a very intimate experience than what I expected. It's wonderful."

Carrots are fed to the giraffe. Children and grownups alike are amazed. It's also an educational time as an expert trainer talks about the giraffe's lifestyle. For this special visit, you can make a reservation through the zoo's Web site.

[Soundbite] LEE U-HYEON(Visitor) : "It’s so pretty. I love you, giraffe."

The second animal to get cozy with is the rhino. Despite its large intimidating frame, the rhino is actually a plant eating animal that munches on veggies. It also likes the carrots.

[Soundbite] YUN NA-RA(Visitor) : "My kid loves to actually see the animal and Feed it food. It's so fun."

Rare access to the normally restricted back stage areas is a wonderful experience for the whole family. Give it a try.