Nut Rage Cover-Up

[Anchor Lead]

Circumstantial evidence has emerged showing that Korean Air tried to cover up the "nut rage" incident. Whether the carrier's former vice president Cho Hyun-ah was involved in this move will be the focus of the prosecution's investigation.

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The prosecution summoned for the second time on Thursday, an executive at Korean Air who's charged with playing a role in the company's attempt to cover up the so-called nut rage incident. This official was present when chief purser Park Chang-jin was being questioned by the transport ministry.

[Soundbite] Park Chang-jin(KAL Chief Purser (KBS Interview, Dec. 17)) : "A company official said the transport ministry inquiry was not a big deal because it's neither the prosecution nor the police."

As Korean Air's alleged attempts to destroy evidence have been confirmed to some degree, now attention draws on whether the carrier's former vice president Cho Hyun-ah was involved in this move and gave orders. Prosecutors were issued warrants on Wednesday to seize and search communication records of Cho and other Korean Air staff members. The records indicating the time and date of phone calls held between Cho and other officials are expected to clarify Cho's involvement. Prosecutors intend to call in Cho for more questioning if necessary. If Cho's involvement in the cover-up is confirmed, an arrest warrant may likely be requested on charges of destroying evidence.

2. Investigation Audit

[Anchor Lead]

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has come under fire for its investigation into the so-called nut rage case. Minister Suh Seung-hwan has ordered a special audit on the investigation into the airline. Here is more.

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Park Chang-jin, Chief flight attendant in Korean Air's so-called 'nut-rage' incident, was questioned by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport on December 8th. He refused to appear for a second round of questioning a week later.

[Soundbite] Park Chang-jin(KAL Chief Purser) : "I rejected the second round of questioning, because I concluded that I could not trust the investigation."

The ministry's investigative panel on the incident summoned flight attendants through Korean Air, giving company executives a chance to force the cabin crew to lie about what had happened. The panel made it difficult for the cabin crew to respond honestly by questioning them in the presence of Korean Air executives, or allowing executives to hear what the cabin crew said. The investigative panel asked Korean Air executives to have the cabin crew confirm their statements. Chief flight attendant Park was thus forced to revise his statement as many as ten times to make it favorable for former Korean Air vice president Cho Hyun-ah. With evidence surfacing of a skewed investigation with preferential treatment, Minister Suh Seung-hwan belatedly ordered a special audit on the investigative panel, a shift from his stance that he completely trusted the fairness of the probe. Amid criticism against the belated audit, prosecutors plan, if necessary, to summon and question ministry investigators regarding their role in Korean Air executives' attempts to pass false evidence.

3. NK Human Rights

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The U.N. General Assembly has passed a new landmark resolution on the North Korean human rights situation. It's the strongest resolution of its kind to date and calls for the case to be referred to the International Criminal Court.

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A total of 116 nations voted in favor of the resolution with 20 objections and 53 abstentions. The difference between votes for and against is much wider than when the resolution was put to a vote in the General Assembly's Third Committee last month. The latest resolution calls on the UN Security Council to bring the North Korean human rights issue to the International Criminal Court in order to sanction the North Korean officials responsible for crimes against humanity. It's the very first time a UN resolution on the North's human rights has called for an ICC referral. With the strongest-ever resolution on the matter passing the General Assembly and potentially targeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the global consensus is that the international community must take stern action. On news of its passage, North Korea immediately rejected the resolution, calling it an attempt to destroy its regime and an insult to the Supreme Leader's dignity.

[Soundbite] Ahn Myong-hun(N. Korea's Deputy Amb. to the UN)

Accepting a joint proposal made by ten of its permanent and non-permanent members, the UN Security Council is scheduled on Monday to discuss the North's human rights issue as an official agenda item for the first time in the council's history.

4. Health Policy

[Anchor Lead]

From next year, patients having private medical insurance policies for actual loss will have to pay twice as much as they do now when they go to hospitals. The price raise is aimed at discouraging patients from using hospitals excessively. However, there is criticism that the hike will shift the financial loss of insurance companies to the subscribers’ shoulders.

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Insurance policies for actual loss cover the medical expenses of patients. Patients can pay just 10 percent of their medical bills, if they pay approximately 9 to 18 U.S. dollars in insurance premiums a month.

[Soundbite] Son Byeong-doo(Financial Services Commission) : "Low payments by patients have led to a moral hazard for both hospitals and contractors, especially in cases of excessive treatment or expensive examinations."

The Financial Services Commission explained that it has decided to raise the amount paid by patients with actual loss medical insurance from the current 10 percent to 20 percent next year. The commission said that the hike is aimed at discouraging people from seeking excessive treatment. However, consumers' organizations are protesting the raise, saying that it will increase the burden placed on patients who receive expensive examinations like MRI or CT scans.

[Soundbite] Cho Yeon-haeng(Chief, KFCF) : "It is unfair for insurance companies to place a bigger burden on consumers for their own financial losses."

32 million people currently have private medical insurance policies for actual loss. Insurance companies have come under fire for shifting their financial losses to consumers, rather than working to reduce their deficits through self-rescue efforts or managerial reform.

5. Lotte World Accident

[Anchor Lead]

A worker was recently killed at the 2nd Lotte World construction site, and speculation that there was a cover-up attempt has intensified as there is no record of an emergency 1-1-9 call at the time of the accident. Circumstantial evidence shows that a report to emergency authorities was deliberately avoided.

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At the 2nd Lotte World on Tuesday at around 1 p.m., a worker identified by his surname Kim suffered a ten-meter plunge onto the construction site of the complex's concert hall. He was in critical condition, but not dead. Some 20 other workers were on site, but no one called 1-1-9 to report the accident. Instead, calls were made to a fire safety inspector, safety manager and eventually to an official of Lotte's designated hospital. It took 45 minutes to take Kim to a nearby university hospital on an ambulance provided by the designated hospital. Kim's co-workers claimed the company routinely told them not to make reports to the 119 emergency authorities.

[Soundbite] Co-worker(Voice Modified) : "During safety class, we were told not to call 119, but our designated doctors for emergencies."

The second Lotte World site covers a huge expanse of construction highly prone to accidents big and small. But not one 119 call for rescue or first aid was made for the entire year. Calls only went to Lotte's designated hospital, which only owns one ambulance and is located two times farther than the 119 center. Lotte explained its rule is to report any incidents to both the designated hospital and the 119 center. It complained that its affiliates and partner firms may have sometimes deviated from the company-wide measure.

6. Market Programs

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Some traditional outdoor markets are attracting customers with special hands-on programs or cultural events. It is their strategy to sharpen their competitive edge in the face of various business challenges.

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On the coldest day of the winter so far carols played by a military band captivate the eyes and ears of shoppers. Merchants dressed in Santa outfits walk through the market handing out gifts.

[Soundbite] Jeon So-yoon(Gwangmyeong Resident) : "It's great. We have fun together and there are many things to show. The people are also friendlier than those at large supermarkets."

This is the only traditional outdoor market to hold a Christmas festival. It hosts more than 100 special events throughout the year.

[Soundbite] Ahn Kyeong-ae(Chairwoman, Gwangmyeong Market Cooperative) : "There's a songpyeon festival for chuseok, and a rice cake event for New Year's Day. We also offer discount coupons on the 2nd and 4th Sundays each month."

Colorful, beautiful traditional Korean hanbok garments are on display. This is a 100-year-old hanbok market in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Just upstairs, visitors can participate in various hands-on cultural classes, like pottery and calligraphy. There is also an exhibition of items donated by merchants. Traditional outdoor markets are being reborn as settings for first-hand cultural experience. They have embraced the change as a strategy to compete with large supermarket chains.

7. Painting Exhibition

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An exhibition of Korea's most acclaimed modern painters is taking place in Seoul. It's a rare feast for the eyes of much celebrated artworks.

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A dynamic-looking bull is drawn in thick, rough lines, making the muscular definitions look like bones. The bull appears to be a fighter, but it's actually a hard-working Korean traditional ox. This is the painting that defines Korean oil painter Lee Jung-seob. Painter Park Soo-keun's "Cottage Near the Well" depicts an ordinary village scene with the distinctive use of colors and textures. Kim Ki-chang portrayed himself as a bird that swallowed the sun. An exhibition featuring the masterpieces of Korea's most renowned painters is underway in Seoul.

[Soundbite] Shin Eun-jeong(Visitor) : "Looking at famous paintings up close is a good opportunity to feel the brush strokes and sense of color."

Korea's female artists are represented by Na Hye-sok, Korea's first female western-style painter who had opened a solo exhibition during the Japanese colonial period and Chun Kyung-ja, who projected herself in her paintings. The exhibition features some 70 pieces of artworks, including the monotone paintings currently in demand in Europe. The combined value of these paintings is estimated at way over 27.3 million U.S. dollars.

[Soundbite] Ahn Byung-gwang(Seoul Museum Founder) : "We need to discover young artists so that they can stand side by side with masters from Korea and abroad."

The paintings of the 36 masters illustrate the path and changes Korean modern art has taken throughout the 20th century.

8. Entertainment News

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Many Koreans are still hurting over the loss of late rock star Shin Hae-chul. In remembrance of his life and music career, KBS will place a spotlight on Shin at the 2014 KBS Song Festival to be aired on December 26th. This and more show biz news coming up shortly.

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A commemorative stage for the late Shin Hae-chul will be featured at the 2014 KBS Song Festival to be aired on December 26th. The memorial segment will be hosted by the rock band NEXT in which Shin was the lead vocalist. NEXT members said that they decided to appear in the show because they felt a connection to the festival's theme, "Music Is Love." Director Youn Je-kyun's "Ode to My Father" has been officially invited to the Panorama section of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival scheduled for next February. One of the festival's official categories, the Panorama section introduces films that aptly combine both artistry and popular appeal. In the past Director Hong Sang-soo's "Woman on the Beach" and Director Ryoo Seung-wan's "The Unjust" had been invited to the same category. Male duo TVXQ and idol group Super Junior have both topped Japan's Oricon Daily Charts. TVXQ shot to the number one spot on the Oricon daily album chart on December 17th, the day its new album "With" was released. On that very day Super Junior introduced its new single "Mamacita-Ayaya" and took first place on the Oricon daily singles chart.

9. Blue Jeans

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There is a fashion item that seems to enjoy undying popularity across generations: jeans. An exhibition on the history of blue jeans is now open in Seoul. Today's closeup is all about jeans: let's take a look.

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It's safe to say that jeans are staples in wardrobes around the world. Once regarded as a symbol of youth and freedom, jeans are always a popular fashion item. A special exhibition in now open at the National Folk Museum of Korea. Everything about jeans from their history to related pop culture is on display. Among the exhibits are music, TV commercials and news reports on jeans, offering young people glimpses into the past while making older people feel nostalgic.

[Soundbite] "Jeans became popular after school uniforms were abolished."

[Soundbite] "What kind of jeans did you prefer?"

[Soundbite] "I liked washed jeans most."

Many people have good memories with jeans. That's part of the reason why their popularity never dies. Jeans have been regarded as a representative off-the-rack fashion item. However, you can order your own custom-made jeans here.

[Soundbite] Lee Jeong-hwan(Gangnam District, Seoul) : "I want to have jeans that fit my body. I want to order a pair that looks good on me."

The production of custom-made jeans begins from selecting fabric you like. They are more expensive than ready-made jeans. But more and more people opt to get custom-made jeans fitting their own tastes. As they are tailored for each customer, every procedure requires special attention. This pair of jeans cannot be found anywhere else. It may not look special. But only the owner can tell the difference.

[Soundbite] "It's good. The fabric is different. The jeans were made with the fabric I chose and fits my taste so I'm really satisfied."

You can recycle your older pairs of jeans into completely new things. They transform old jeans into trendy styles or household items like bags, pillows or aprons.

[Soundbite] Lee Na-yeon(Repairer) : "Many people want to remake jeans into skirts, vests or bags."

It is a good idea to recycle old clothes into new things that express your own style. Jeans are some of the most popular, embraced and worn pieces of clothing in the world. With customization and repurposing, we may never see jeans' popularity disappear.