Security Meeting

[Anchor Lead]

President Lee Myung-bak has held a meeting of top military commanders, and is the country’s first head of state to do so. He has also announced the establishment of a new presidential task force for reviewing national security.



[Pkg]

President Lee says he will immediately set up a presidential task force to review national security. The new body will conduct an overall assessment of national military readiness and devise improvement measures. President Lee will also appoint a special presidential security adviser. The crisis situation center at the presidential office will be upgraded to a crisis management center. On defense reform, President Lee asked the commanders to consider the country’s unique situation as the world’s only divided nation in reassessing the military’s combat readiness. He also emphasized stronger cooperation among the armed forces to carry out multilateral tactics and maximize synergy in fighting power. President Lee says a strong military comes not from powerful weapons, but from a strong mentality. He urged the commanders to reflect on whether the military has grown too complacent or idealistic in national defense. On the sinking of the Cheonan, President Lee reiterated his pledge of firm action against those responsible once the multinational investigation determines the cause.



2. Kim in China



[Anchor Lead]

It has been confirmed that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is indeed visiting China, and he is expected to arrive in Beijing today. Photographed by a journalist on Monday night, Kim did not appear to be in good health.



[Pkg]

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il’s train rumbled across the border into China at Dandong. Then Kim arrived in Dalian later that day and was photographed in front of a hotel. His steps looked unstable as he walked into the hotel surrounded by bodyguards. He had a bad limp in his left leg, an apparent aftereffect of a stroke. Kim didn’t look to be in good health even when photographed during the daytime. He was dressed in his signature kahki-colored jumpsuit and wearing sunglasses. Much of his hair was noticeably lost. Kim leaves for Beijing today after attending a welcoming dinner hosted by Chinese Vice Premier in Dalian Monday night. It takes about 12 hours for the special train carrying Kim to reach Beijing from Dalian via Shenyang. Kim is expected to arrive in Beijing sometime late Tuesday night. In the Chinese capital, Kim will hold a summit with Chinese President Hu Jintao and likely talk about the sinking of the South Korean destroyer, Cheonan. Also on the top agenda will be North Korea’s possible return to the six-party nuclear talks and subsequent food and energy aid. Kim is also likely to meet with Premier Wen Jiabao and other top Chinese officials. Tension runs high in Beijing as emergency has been declared in the city’s train stations since Monday to prepare for the arrival of Kim and his delegation.



3. MagLev Transit



[Anchor Lead]

Korea has unveiled the Urban Transit MagLev, its next-generation green means of transportation. Short for magnetic levitation train, Korea’s MagLev is the world’s second such train, and is expected to go into operation in three years.



[Pkg]

This is an urban magnetic levitation train, also known as MagLev, running without wheels. Lifted by the magnetic force, the train runs suspended one centimeter above the rail. This train has been developed solely by local technology and nears completion. Once commercialized, the unmanned train can speed up to 110 kilometers per hour. The environmentally friendly unwheeled transit doesn’t generate dust caused by the friction between the wheels and the rail. The absence of abrasion also cuts maintenance costs. Low vibration and noise are also its strengths. MagLev registers 65 decibels at its noisiest, which is ten decibels quieter than conventional trains.



[Soundbite] Sin Byeong-cheon (Center for Urban Maglev Program) : “If the level of noise of conventional trains is comparable to that of a shopping mall, MagLev’s is equivalent to that of an office.”



Its construction costs about 36 million dollars per kilometer, similar to that of the light rail transit. In total a little over 400 million dollars are needed for commercialization. If all goes well as planned, Korea’s MagLev will be operated for the second time in the world, following Japan, in the Incheon International Airport by 2013. The MagLev technology is expected to be exported as a new urban mass transit system.



4. Travel Balance



[Anchor Lead]

The number of Koreans traveling overseas rose 30 percent in the first quarter of this year. This is driving the travel balance further into the red. The national travel deficit is expected to exceed 10 billion U.S. dollars this year.



[Pkg]

Incheon International Airport is crowded with travelers. This is a weekday afternoon. But many Koreans are going on overseas trips.



[Soundbite]

“The economy is recovering, so my family is going on an overseas trip.”



[Soundbite]

“We’re going to travel abroad with our friends.”



The number of outbound Korean travelers jumped 31 percent to nearly three million in the first quarter this year. This raised the travel deficit to two billion dollars in the first quarter. Korea had posted a surplus of 520 million dollars in the same period last year. The year-on-year jump is the biggest in the country’s history. The surging value of the Korean won is the biggest reason behind higher demand for travel abroad. The won’s value has risen more than 20 percent over the one-year period. The stronger Korean currency means things are cheaper abroad for Korean travelers.



[Soundbite] Jo Il-sang (Hana Tour) : “In the second quarter of this year, the number of outbound travelers will increase further to the highest-ever level of 2008.”



The travel deficit is expected to reach 11 billion dollars this year, which would be Korea’s third largest in history. Experts warn that the huge travel deficit could hinder the government’s goal of a current surplus of 15 billion dollars this year.



5. Smart Shops



[Anchor Lead]

The government has launched the Smart Shop project to boost the competitiveness of small neighborhood grocery stores against large supermarket chains.



[Pkg]

This is the first renovated Smart Shop opened in South Gyeongsang Province. Promotional products are placed in the front and the food items are arranged to optimize customer traffic flow. The signs are neater and the cashiers have become faster and more accurate.



[Soundbite] Jeong Myeong-suk (Customer) : “Products are well-organized. It’s very different from before.”



The Small and Medium Business Administration has started the Smart Shop project to renovate neighborhood grocery stores, so that they can compete against large corporate-run supermarkets. The project makes low-interest renovation loans of up to almost 900 thousand dollars for supermarkets smaller than 300 square meters. It also advises them on store operation.



[Soundbite] Jang Yeong-sang (Owner, Smart Shop No.1) : “I didn’t know a lot about displaying merchandise even after running it for a decade. It’s great to discuss it with counselors.”



Product purchase cost will also be lowered through joint purchasing to the level of large supermarkets.



[Soundbite] Choi Cheol-an (Small and Medium Business Admin.) : “Merchants are trained to be competitive and a joint logistics system will be established.”



The plans to set up roughly 10 thousand Smart Shops nationwide by 2012, it’s giving hope to small grocery stores struggling against giant supermarkets.



6. Aviation Show



[Anchor Lead]

A drunken pilot steals a plane and puts on an acrobatic air show. But this is what’s called a "surprise show" prepared by organizers of G-Global Aviation in the southern Seoul suburb of Ansan.



[Pkg]

A man wobbles toward a plane with a liquor bottle in hand. He gets past a security guard and boards the plane. The plane wobbly spins around as if drunk, then soars into the sky. The plane loses its balance and descends toward the audience. Spectators are shocked and terrified.



[Soundbite] An Byeong-ui (Audience Member) : “The plane looked as if it was crashing into the ground. It landed over there. Many people were terrified.”



But this is a so-called surprise show prepared by organizers. Police cars and fire engines are on the scene. So certain spectators express embarrassment and fright, believing the situation is real.



[Soundbite] Chae Chang-hun (Audience Member) : “Fire engines and fire helicopters were on the scene. I thought something went wrong for sure.”



Organizers say this type of surprise show is common abroad, adding most spectators known that it’s just a show.



[Soundbite] Kim Wan-ho (Coordinator, G-Global Aviation) : “Many different performances are featured n air shows in abroad, but some surprise performances seem unacceptable in Korea.”



But complaints have prompted organizers to halt the surprise performance over the remaining period of the air show.



7. Zoo Experiences



[Anchor Lead]

Zoo cages where visitors can watch beasts of prey like tigers and lions up close have opened for the first time in Korea. In the run-up to Children’s Day on Wednesday, zoos are preparing a range of different events. Let’s have a look.



[Pkg]

Children stand face to face with lions. Children are having fun looking at a lion scratching on the glass wall. The young visitors can’t take their eyes off of the lions eating behind the glass.



[Soundbite]

“The fur looks so soft from here.”



[Soundbite] Lee Jae-yong (Director, Children’s Grand Park) : “Visitors were asked to stay at least eight meters away from the cage. Now you can see every little detail through the 34mm thick glass wall.”



The Ring-tailed Lemurs are friendly animals.



[Soundbite]

“It touched my hand.”



They’re also very gluttonous. Some pull children’s clothes and snatch food. Hippos are having meals right in front of the visitors. Visitors also get a rare chance to see and touch animals from Africa they had only seen in storybooks.



[Soundbite]

“Feeing and tough them can be more educational than just seeing them in books.”



Animals, settled in their new homes, are ready to greet young visitors on the Children’s Day.



8. Deaf Shooter



[Anchor Lead]

A hearing impaired man has joined the national shooting team. Kim Tae-yeong is a competitor who communicates with the outside world through his sport.



[Pkg]

Most shooters dislike the sound of firing. But shooter Kim Tae-yeoung loves this sound more than anything in the world. This is because the sound is the only thing he can hear.



[Soundbite] Kim Tae-yeong (Shooter) : “People think it must be hard for me because I’m deaf, but I can hear the gun shot.”



Kim has not let his hearing impairment prevent him from competing with ordinary people. He finally made the national shooting team last month.



[Soundbite] Kim Seon-il (Coach) : “He’ll be a good shooter if he works on his shortcomings.”



Maintaining concentration is difficult for Kim because of his disability. But he is giving world pistol shooting champion Jin Jong-oh a run for his money.



[Soundbite] Jin Jong-oh (KT Corporation) : “It must be hard for him to maintain his balance.”



Kim has overcome his disability through shooting.



[Soundbite]

“My goal was to become a member of the national shooting team. Now I’m working to make it into the London Olympic Games.”



His next goal is to compete in the Olympics and Asian Games.



9. Green Prairies



[Anchor Lead]

The green barley fields of Gochang in southwestern Korea are getting ready for the summer harvest in just a couple of months. The fields make a great travel destination that satisfies all the senses. Here’s what you can expect to experience before the barley harvest begins.



[Pkg]

These vast, rolling fields of barley are located in Gochang, North Jeolla Province. The bright sunshine and the revitalizing smell of ripening barley are big attractions for visitors.



[Soundbite]

“I feel like I’m back in my childhood days.”



[Soundbite]

“I’ve never been to a barley field before. I feel so refreshed.”



These children have never seen barley before. Their curiosity leads them through the fields. The adults are just as excited about the barley as children.



[Soundbite]

“They’ve grown so well. Pictures come out very nice here.”



The barley field brings to mind an unforgettable plaything of the past - the barley pipe. A barley stem is transformed into a musical instrument.



[Soundbite]

“It’s the first time in 30 years. It’s fun to think back to my childhood.”



Children try to play the pipe, but it’s not as easy as it looks.



[Soundbite]

“I couldn’t make any sound, but now I can play it after practicing a couple of times.”



Riding a bike on the path cut through the fields is another way to enjoy the warm breeze and the picturesque view. The barley field is a source of pleasure for not only your eyes, but also your taste buds. Barley is the main ingredient of that favorite Korean treat, ddeok. Barley powder, barley leaves, and rice powder are mixed to make flat barley gaeddeok. Chidlren enjoy taking part in making the green treat.



[Soundbite]

“I made it like this.”



The barley gaeddeok is steamed on the spot. The healthy, tasty treat is a hit among people of all ages.



[Soundbite]

“It’s barley cake. It’s really nutty and delicious.”



Next, they try their hand at making barley cookies with puffed barley, rice, and black beans. Barley cookies make a nutritious snack for children. They love the crispy texture and nutty flavor.



[Soundbite]

“It’s better than cookies.”



But the real delicacy here is barley bibimbap. No other dish can rival the nostalgic flavor of barley sprouts mixed with rice and seasonings.



[Soundbite]

“Yummy!”



[Soundbite]

“I ate too much today, almost twice as much as the usual. Barley bibimbap is the great.”



It’s the perfect time to recharge in the spring barley fields.