Lithium Deal

[Anchor Lead]

Korea has signed an agreement on lithium development with Bolivia, which has the world’s largest stocks of the metal. Lithium is a key product in the production of high-tech digital products



[Pkg]

President Lee Myung-bak has held a summit with visiting Bolivian President Evo Morales in Seoul. Bolivia is rich in natural resources and possesses nearly half of the world’s lithium, a key metal for next-generation power cells. The two leaders have signed a memorandum of understanding on lithium development.



[Soundbite] President Lee Myung-bak : I hope cooperation between the two countries will bring advancement to both sides.



Seoul and La Paz will organize a joint committee for research on industrializing lithium. A Korean consortium will also suggest projects for lithium cell industrialization and take part in pilot plant studies. Morales also mentioned Bolivia’s oil-rich eastern jungles and says they require Korea’s investment. Korea is the sole country among lithium developing economies that the Bolivian president has visited. The Korean presidential office says a big economic effect is expected through building a cooperative system with Bolivia.



2. Demand Rising



[Anchor Lead]

Demand for lithium and other rare elements is surging. They might sound unfamiliar but are key components in high-tech industries.



[Pkg]

The Nei Mongol area in China is a barren land but contains the world’s most expensive rare earth elements. The elements have various rare metals and are essential for making eco-friendly and state-of-the-art products. China produces 97 percent of the world’s reserves of rare earth elements but will cut exports 40 percent. This has caused the cost of cerium to jump nine-fold since early this year.



[Soundbite] Bok Geo-seong (Public Procurement Service) : China’s share of the resource market is forecast to expand beyond imagination.



This is a famous salt flat in Bolivia. The world’s largest reserves of lithium at 5.4 million tons lie under this gigantic lake. Lithium is a key component for secondary batteries used in cell phones, notebook computers and electric cars. The surging demand for lithium is heating up global competition to secure this rare metal. This has prompted Korea to sign a memorandum of understanding on lithium development with Bolivia. Korea has 260-thousand tons of rare metal reserves, enough to last just 48 days. Seoul will announce next month measures to secure rare metals.



3. Sleep Disorders



[Anchor Lead]

Many people suffer from sleep disorders these days. They have difficulty falling asleep or they still feel tired after sleeping. The number of sleep disorder patients is increasing by 20 percent every year. Serious sleep disorders can even lead to heart or brain diseases.



[Pkg]

This man tosses and turns in his bed for a good while, attempting to sleep. He snores heavily. This young girl gasps while sleeping, struggling from shallow sleep. A growing number of people go see doctors due to sleep disorders.



[Soundbite] I can’t fall asleep easily. It’s painful.



The number of sleep disorder patients surged more than 20 percent annually over the past five years from 110-thousand in 2004 to over 260-thousand last year. Sleep disorders are caused by heavy stress, depression and obesity. The number of female patients is one-point-five times more than that of male ones. People become inefficient at work if they don’t get sufficient sleep. Sleep disorders can also lead to serious diseases.



[Soundbite] Han Jin-kyu (Sleep Doctor) : Sleep disorders can lead to hypertension and cerebrovascular diseases.



If you suffer from insomnia, it is necessary to see a doctor and diagnose the exact reason for the sleeping problem. For example, snoring or restless legs syndrome prevent people from having sound sleep. Drinking seems to help people fall fast asleep. But it hampers people from having sound sleep and eventually causes a sleep disorder. Sleeping pills can be helpful for acute insomnia, since people don’t get addicted to the drug if they use it on a short-term basis, not more than a month.



4. Gojong’s Office



[Anchor Lead]

The former office of the Joseon Dynasty Emperor Gojong at Deoksu Palace in Seoul has been restored to its original form. Jungmyeongjeon will be unveiled Sunday, the day Japan formally annexed Korea a century ago.



[Pkg]

This two-story brick building stands in the rear section of the Deoksu Palace compound. The facility was built in 1897 as Korea’s first Western-style library. The Joseon Dynasty Emperor Gojong used the library as his office after a fire at the palace. Japan in 1905 then forced him to sign the Eulsa Treaty, which deprived Korea of its rights to diplomacy. Gojong also held talks with secret emissary Lee Jun here. Lee was then sent to the Hague in 1907 to tell the world that the treaty with Japan was invalid. Because of this action, Japan forced Gojong to abdicate from his throne.



[Soundbite] Kim Ji-hyeong (Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation) : He was forced to step down from the throne here against his will.



Between the time of Korean liberation and the foundation of the Korean government, the building was used for social gatherings by foreigners. The facility was then used as a parking lot after being sold to a civilian in the 1970s. After two and a half years of restoration work, Jungmyeongjeon has now recovered its original form. The red bricks and arched corridors have been restored. The building’s interior, including Gojong’s office, has been decorated to the form of the old days. This is intended to let visitors experience history and feel their ancestors’ drive to free their country. The building will be unveiled to the public on Sunday, the day Korea was annexed by Japan one century ago.



5. Ad Festival



[Anchor Lead]

An advertising event has begun in Korea’s second-largest city. This year’s Busan International Advertising Festival is expected to draw a record number of participants.



[Pkg]

This public advertisement says neglect makes it harder for victims of sexual abuse. The Busan International Advertising Festival is showcasing global advertising trends. The clever and cutting-edge ads can make people laugh and occasionally end with a twist. They receive good responses from viewers.



[Soundbite] A lot of them were made using really common things in life. I’ve really learned a lot from this.



The third edition of the annual festival has received more than 5-thousand-400 ads from 41 countries. Among them, 951 are in the competition. Craft was added this year to the list of categories like products, services and public goods to evaluate the technical comprehensiveness of ads. Unlike other global festivals of its kind, the Busan event is open to anyone and charges no fee for participation. This makes the festival’s potential for growth greater.



[Soundbite] Eugene Cheong (Jury President)



Winning works will be displayed at subway stations and beaches in Busan. The three-day festival will end Saturday.



6. Group Deals



[Anchor Lead]

The smartphone phenomenon has affected many aspects in life. Making affordable group purchases using smartphones or Twitter is also changing consumer culture.



[Pkg]

This woman shows her cell phone to the cashier and gets more than 50 percent off discount.



[Soundbite] If you buy a 10,000 won [US $8] coupon, you get a 20,000 won discount.



She had downloaded a discount coupon on her phone. Using such coupons, office worker Baek Jeong-mi was able to receive a half price discount on a travel package.



[Soundbite] Joint Package Deal Customer : 499,000 won [US $418] is really cheap for a five-star hotel.



Joint group purchases of products and services through smartphone and Twitter are growing popular these days. Discount offers vary by the day. If a certain number of buyers are gathered for the day, the product is sold at half price.



[Soundbite] Kim Sin-yeong (Discount Store Owner) : We sell to about 320 people a day. With no marketing costs, the advertising is really effective.



This marketing strategy has been a big success in the U.S. and Japan. Also in Korea, more than 20 online portals conducting these collective purchases have opened in the past couple of months.



[Soundbite] Yun Seon-ju (Agency selling discount offers for vendors) : We only put out one product a day at a very steep discount which attracts customers.



By helping people with smart consumer choices, smartphones are altering our spending culture.



7. Global Peppers



[Anchor Lead]

A hot pepper festival is spicing up the atmosphere in Goesan County, North Chungcheong Province. The event is showcasing a wide variety of peppers from around the world.



[Pkg]

This yellow, span-long pepper comes from Israel. This dark-red, cherry tomato-like pepper is a product of Burkina Faso in Africa. This long and slim pepper is a necessity for spicy Russian dishes. Vietnamese peppers are know for their unique flavors.



[Soundbite] Hwang Ji-hyeon (Vietnamese Immigrant) : I want to make Vietnamese dishes with these peppers.



Mexican and Indian peppers are notoriously hot despite their small size.



[Soundbite] Lee Gyu-hui (Goesan Agricultural Tech & Extension Center) : Mexican peppers are 100 times as spicy as Korean ones.



The festival features 100 kinds of hot peppers from 50 countries. The Goesan Pepper Festival will run through Sunday.



8. Big in Japan



[Anchor Lead]

The first generation Korean Wave was created by television dramas, but now a new wave is washing over Japanese youth. Korean girl pop groups are doing bigger and bigger business in the neighboring nation.



[Pkg]

The Korean girl group "Girls’ Generation," has drawn 22,000 Japanese fans to the heart of Tokyo.



Originally, the group had planned to perform once but soon had to make changes to do three sessions.



[Soundbite]

I’ll keep supporting you! Go for it!

I love you Girls’ Generation! I love you!



NHK even reported the concert as its top news of the day in its prime time news.



[Soundbite] NHK News : I can understand why young people adore their songs, dancing and style. I get how girl fans can be attracted to girl entertainers.



Another Korean girl group "KARA" released their first Japanese album recently and has already rosen to stardom. "4 Minute" and the "Brown Eyed Girls" are also advancing into Japan. Japanese male fans are increasing due to the new Korean wave formed by these girl groups. The era of neo-Korean wave is soon to arise in Japan.



9. Sample Savings



[Anchor Lead]

The small cosmetic samples you get when you buy makeup can last for a long time. Some frugal Koreans even get samples of food or electronic appliances, and it can really help save money. Let’s see how it’s done.



[Pkg]

Prices are soaring, making times tough for many consumers.



[Soundbite] Welcome!



But this woman doesn’t seem worried at all.



The minimum monthly cost of maintaining a four-member family is around eleven hundred U.S. dollars. But her family only spends about 750 dollars a month. What’s her secret?



[Soundbite] My secret to spending less is... sample products!



There are more than 50 different sample products she uses, from cosmetics to basic necessities. The water purifier, stove and computer are all samples as well.



[Soundbite] Sample products used to be restricted to small bottles of cosmetics but now even electronic appliances come as samples too.



How do you get your hands on such samples? Companies give out samples of their new products. You can apply online to get them.



[Soundbite]You don’t just ask for samples. You need to tell them why you need them, how you’re going to use them and why you’re applying.



Even farms are adopting the sampler marketing system. It’s been applied to agricultural products like sweet potatoes, strawberries, and rice. For September, tomato samples are being given out.



[Soundbite] Park Sun-ok (Tomato Farmerf) : We’re confident with our product. It’s much more effective to let consumers taste it than to advertise.



Produce samples can be applied for online as well. Seasonal specialties of each region are listed for sampler events every month on a Web site. This program is building consumer trust in domestically grown produce.



[Soundbite] The samples were fresh and of good quality. So I recommended the produce to others and continued buying it.



At this store, there’s an event held in the clothing department that’s particularly popular among female shoppers. It’s the sample bargain sale, where sample clothes are sold at discount prices. These samples of new designs are made once or twice a year. But supplies are limited, so you have to act fast. It’s certainly worth it. The prices don’t even compare with regular items. This top normally costs about 125 U.S. dollars. But the identical sample product is sold at just over 16 dollars. You can get several items for the price you’d often pay for just one.



[Soundbite] Two skirts, three jackets and one blouse. That will be 100,000 won [US$83].



People often associate such sales with products that have been used or have gone out of style, but here it’s the latest designs.



[Soundbite] You can’t buy samples anywhere else. I wouldn’t miss the chance.



Times are hard, but searching for samples can take a big financial weight off of your family’s shoulders.