Aid to Haiti

[Anchor Lead]

An emergency relief team departed for Haiti today to help out victims of the earthquake. The government has confirmed that no Koreans in the area were injured and has begun evacuating them.

 

[Pkg]

An emergency relief team composed of 35 including rescue crew members, Korea International Cooperation Agency workers and doctors has departed for Haiti Friday. The relief team is to travel to Haiti by land after getting to the Dominican Republic. The team will help with searching for missing residents, restoring facilities and treating the injured. The government has also decided to provide relief supplies worth a million dollars for earthquake damages. Separate relief supplies will also be sent to ethnic Koreans living in the region.

[Soundbite] Kim Yeong-seon (Spokesperson, Min. of Foreign Affairs & Trade) : “The total amount of support will be even more when private financial aid is added.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says some 70 Koreans residing in the area have been confirmed to be safe. But one Korean American on a business trip to Haiti has been reported to be still missing. Some ethnic Koreans have evacuated to the Dominican Republic, and the rest are staying in temporary shelters. Voicing security concerns after the disaster, the government has restricted traveling to Haiti and has gone into procedures to evacuate ethnic Koreans.

2. Tour Talks

[Anchor Lead]

North Korea has proposed inter-Korean working-level talks on the resumption of tours to Mount Gumgang and Gaesong. The tours were suspended a year and a half ago after a North Korean soldier shot and killed a South Korean tourist.

 [Pkg]

North Korea’s Asia-Pacific Peace Committee has proposed an inter-Korean working-level meeting on resuming the Mount Gumgang and Gaesong tours. Pyongyang expressed regret over the suspension of the tours, which has lasted for one and a half years. The committee wants to hold the talks at Mount Gumgang January 26th and 27th. An official with the South Korean Unification Ministry says Seoul is considering Pyongyang’s proposal. The tour to the scenic mountain was halted in July 2008 after a South Korean tourist was shot dead in the area by a North Korean soldier. Pyongyang has since indirectly asked Seoul to resume the tour through Hyundai Asan Corporation. But this is first direct proposal made to the Unification Ministry. Seoul has reiterated the three conditions for resuming the Mount Gumgang tour: a probe into the tourist shooting, Pyongyang’s pledge to prevent a recurrence, and safety guarantees for tourists.

 3. Sejong MOUs

[Anchor Lead]

Former plans of making Sejong City into a new administrative center have been changed into a scheme to build an education and science oriented economic hub. The government has signed MOUS with firms who’ve decided to move in. Here’s more.

[Pkg]

Business groups Samsung, Hanwha, Woongjin and Lotte and Korea University and Korea Advanced Inst. of Science and Technology signed MOUs with the government for Sejong City Plan. The government asked for their cooperation promising systematic support.

[Soundbite] Chung Un-chan (Prime Minister) : “Active cooperation from firms and universities is important as well as governmental efforts to improve law and order.”

Investors suggested that the project related laws must first be passed.

[Soundbite] Kim Seung-tae (V. Pres., Samsung Electronics) : “We want the government to quickly carry out the plan. Then we’ll try our best to move in as schedule.”

The MOUs include the government’s plans to realize the revised city plan including land incentives for businesses and plans for investment by firms and universities in each sector. The government says persuading the public is at the top of the list to pass the rectified city plan. It’s hoping that signing the MOUs will help achieve the goal. The government will give a preliminary legislation announcement next week and is aiming to have related laws passed in April.

4. IED Training

[Anchor Lead]

The military is strengthening training against attacks using improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, as more terrorists in the Middle East are using such devices to attack troops. The Korean Dongmyeong Unit is preparing for such attacks ahead of its deployment to Lebanon.

[Pkg]

This is the frightening power of an improvised explosive device, or IED. The weapon is made of explosives, metal shards and a simple detonator. The number of attacks using these easy-to-make IEDs jumped in Afghanistan last year, killing some 1-hundred-60 foreign troops. The Korean military is also conducting extensive training against IEDs for soon-to-be-deployed units. These are troops from the Dongmyeong unit scheduled for deployment to Lebanon at the end of the month. They discover an object suspected to be a bomb in a reconnaissance mission.

[Soundbite]

“Suspicious object detected.”

A bomb squad is immediately deployed to the scene. A remote-controlled robot approaches the suspected bomb. The bomb is checked with a camera and then carefully disassembled. The entryway to the base is S-shaped and blocked with obstacles to deter car bomb attacks. Outside visitors will be thoroughly checked before they enter the base. The inspection will also cover the undersides of their vehicles.

[Soundbite] Gang Jeong-deok (Lieutenant Colonel, Dongmyeong Unit) : “We’re fully prepared. We’ve gone through strict discipline and have strong teamwork.”

The Korean military will also give extensive IED training to troops set for deployment to Afghanistan in July.

5. Tough Job Market

[Anchor Lead]

Forecasts say employment in both the public and private sectors will decrease this year compared to last. It seems finding a job will still be tough this year despite improving economic conditions. Here’s more.

[Pkg]

GS Engineering and Construction has decided to hire 230 college graduates this year. The number has been doubled compared to last year’s. This is because of the hike of oil refinery plant orders from countries including Iran and Saudi Arabia.

[Soundbite] Kim Hye-man (GS E&C) : “We need more workers as we’re getting more orders overseas. We’ll hire more this year, particularly those with experience in the field.”

But besides some construction companies and companies in the financial sector, the number of new job offers for college graduates is expected to drop compared to last year. According to a survey by the Korean Chamber of Commerce, 256 companies out of the country’s top 500, are planning to hire roughly 16,800 new workers. The figure is 5.6% less than the last year’s. Firms in the textile and paper industries are planning to hire more than 33% less than last year. And those in the food and beverage, distribution, electronics, and machinery are to hire up to 14% less. Among the top 30 firms, 14 that have replied to the poll said they were to hire around 6,800 workers this year, to expand the number by 0.9% year-on-year. The government is also planning cut the number of new workers by 680. Public corporations which have to reduce the number of regular staff by up to 13% by 2012 are also hesitating to hire new workers.

6. Tourism Hub

[Anchor Lead]

Jeju Island has emerged as a favorite destination for Southeast Asian tourists looking for beautiful snowscapes. Tourism officials from Southeast Asian countries have visited the island to design tour packages.

[Pkg]

People from Southeast Asia look at snow piled high in front of Seongsan Sunrise Peak on Jeju Island. They throw snowballs at each other like children, and take numerous photos to capture these magical moments. 

[Soundbite] Singaporean Travel Agent

These eight people work for the tourism industries of Singapore and Malaysia. They’re visiting Jeju for three days to design travel packages on the island. Roughly 68-thousand Southeast Asians visited Jeju Island last year, up 26 percent from the previous year. Word of the beautiful snow on Jeju Island has spread among foreign tourists. The island has also received a PR boost after being named a UNESCO World Natural Heritage.

[Soundbite] O Chang-hyeon (Jeju Tourism Organization) : “As the number of tourists from Southeast Asia increases, the region is emerging a market with great growth potentials.”

Chinese and Japanese have traditionally been the most frequent foreign visitors to Jeju.

But the island’s tourism industry will diversify its tourist base by attracting more visitors from Southeast Asia.

7. Chilly Korea

[Anchor Lead]

The weather is freezing these days in Korea. The recent cold spell is especially hard to endure for foreign workers from warmer climates. Let’s hear about their new winter experience.

[Pkg]

This man came from Thailand to work in Korea last year. He works on construction sites from early in the morning. Wearing multiple layers of clothes is not enough to keep himself warm in the cold these days.

[Soundbite] Ssian (Thai Employee) : “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. 7 layers!”

He says his heart and body thaws at the thought of his family back home.

[Soundbite]

“I send about $700 home and keep about $270 for myself.”

Virginia has moved to Korea to get away from the civil war in her home country Congo.

She has lived in Korea for ten years now, but the biting cold reminds her of her warm homeland.

[Soundbite] Virginia (Congolese Employee)

Yen Tan who works as a counselor at a foreign residents’ center stays right next to the stove with her coat on and a blanket. But she says the winter in Korea is not always so bad.

[Soundbite] Yen Tan (Vietnamese Worker) : “My friends think Korea’s winter is amazing. They tell me they want to come here when I send them photos of myself in the snow.”

People from warmer countries miss their homes particularly more in the winter season. But at the same time, they’re getting used to Korea’s cold winter little by little.

8. Junam Wildcats

[Anchor Lead]

The wildcat has emerged as the king of the jungle following the disappearance of tigers in Korea. The wildcat rules at Junam Reservoir in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, amid the freezing weather.

[Pkg]

Strong winds blow over a reed field at Junam Reservoir in Changwon under a tense mood. A wildcat appears after a little while. The feline is designated an endangered species by the Environment Ministry. The wildcat’s light steps are no different than those of a field cat, but its fur patterns and sharp eyes are clearly those of the tiger family. A family of three wildcats has been discovered at the reservoir, the first time the cat has been sighted there since 2006. The agile wildcats can listen and read the sound of the wind. They constantly look for prey even while sitting down and resting in a sunny spot. Wildcats are born hunters. They can take down swans, a bird protected by the government and three times its size.  Tigers and leopards have disappeared from the Korean ecosystem, making way for wildcats as the new ruler.

[Soundbite] Prof. Yi Su-il (Natural Study Center) : “If species like wildcats at the top of the food chain go extinct, it’ll destroy the ecological balance. They must be protected.”

The wildcats will spend the winter at the reservoir and return deep into the mountains when migratory birds fly off in the spring.

9. Winter Camping

[Anchor Lead]

The continuing cold spell is making some people happier than ever. These folks have fallen in love with winter camping. They say the colder the better. We joined them for a night out.

[Pkg]

The weather is freezing and this camp site is covered with snow. Kids play in the snow while the adults busily set up the tent. Most people try to avoid even venturing outside these days, but this family has come to camp out in the winter cold.

[Soundbite] “We came here to let the kids enjoy the cold weather and make a big snowman.”

 They cook up a meal with rice they’ve prepared and a stew. It’s a humble menu, but no one complains.

 [Soundbite]

“Everything tastes great in nature.”

They melt snow to do the dishes. The whole family cozies up around the camp fire. This intimate atmosphere is the essence of camping in the winter cold.

[Soundbite]

“We keep coming whether it’s cold or hot. It’s really hard to forget the experience.”

Another group of people walk up a snow covered mountain. It’s a slippery path.

[Soundbite] “We’re going to sleep out in the mountains.”

 They’ve come to bivouac, that is, sleep in the open without a tent.

 [Soundbite] Park Jeong-hwan (Bivouac Club Member) : “Walking down the snow-covered hills is more thrilling than walking on ordinary trails.”

 They finally arrive at a quiet, remote forest of pine trees. All they need to do to go to bed is spread out their sleeping bags.

[Soundbite] Jeon Yong-hun (Bivouac Club Member) : “This is a five-star spot. It’s the best spot ever.”

Utensils are a necessity for preparing meals. The frozen stream has to be broken to get water.

[Soundbite] Jo Jae-mun (Bivouac Club Member) : “I’m breaking up the ice to find water. It’s for all of us to drink.”

A tree branch is all you need to make a dining room. The temperature falls even further at night.

[Soundbite] “It’s -8 degrees right now. It’ll fall to -12 to 15 at dawn. It’s perfect for bivouacing.”

Just being out in the elements isn’t enough for some of these folks. Some of them strip down and jump into the icy water. The freezing bath has helped make the chilly weather endurable.

[Soundbite] Kim Mun-seong (Bivouac Club Member) : “It’s very refreshing. I feel great!”

Sleeping bags are spread over a mat to block the chill from the ground. The key here is to leave your face uncovered and out in the open.

[Soundbite] Kim Dong-cheon (Bivouac Club Member) : “Keeping my face out makes me feel closer to nature and the wilderness.”

Winter camping is emerging as another way to enjoy the coldest season the natural way.