[Anchor Lead]
North Korea has called for unconditional talks with South Korea in a joint statement by its government, political parties and social organizations. But Seoul says it cannot take Pyongyang’s request seriously.
[Pkg]
North Korea has released a joint declaration of its government, political parties and social organizations requesting unconditional inter-Korean talks. The declaration urged authorized figures from each side to soon discuss easing tension and promoting peace, reconciliation and solidarity. Pyongyang also requested inter-Korean cooperation projects.
[Soundbite](NK Central TV): “The North and South need to transcend political interests and discuss important matters to try to come to an agreement.”
Pyongyang also wants each side to stop blasting each other, saying provocative actions will only harm inter-Korean relations and risk another military clash. But an official of South Korea’s Unification Ministry says the declaration is merely something the North regularly announces every year. The official says the declaration is just a tactic of the North’s reunification strategy and cannot be taken seriously as a proposal for dialogue. Pyongyang holds a joint meeting every January of the government, political parties and social organizations. The agenda of the dialogue is policy toward South Korea in the New Year and the meeting’s results were announced in the form of a declaration. But this practice was stopped in 2008.
2. Economic Gap
[Anchor Lead]
The economic gap between the two Koreas is growing larger and larger. The South’s gross national income has grown from 28 times greater than the North to 37 times greater in the past ten years.
[Pkg]
In the recent Winter Asian Games in Guangzhou that ended last November, South Korea reaped 76 gold medals while the North only won six. That’s about 13 times more gold medals compared to the North. The economic gap between the two Koreas is even bigger. South Korea’s national profit per capita is about 18 times greater than that of the North. As the population in the South is double of the North’s, South Korea’s GNI is 37 times greater than the North. The number of registered vehicles in the South has increased by 6.1 million compared to 2001, whereas the number has dropped by 14,000 in the North. As for private jets, the number has increased by 220 in the South and only one in the North. Many are concerned that such a wide economic gap will not be helpful for the inter-Korean reunification.
[Soundbite]Dong Yong-seung (Samsung Economics Research Institute): “The bigger the gap, the greater the funds that go to the North will be.”
Meanwhile, North Korea is doing better than the South in some fields. The North’s potential mineral value amounts to more than 6.2 trillion U.S. dollars, which is 24 times greater than that of the South. North Korea produces ten times more coal and has a 1.5 times longer railroad system than the South.
3. Biz Investment
[Anchor Lead]
With an eye to bolstering their global competitiveness and promoting growth, the nation’s major conglomerates have launched aggressive strategies this year.
[Pkg]
Samsung has announced a bold investment strategy for this year. The group will invest more than 38 billion U.S. dollars. Nearly 27 billion dollars will go into facility investment, more than 10 billion dollars into R&D, and 980 million dollars in capital investment. Samsung will hire 25-thousand employees, up 11 percent from last year.
[Soundbite]Suh Dong-myun (Dir, Samsung Group): “We’ll make the biggest investment and hire more people than ever to bolster our competitiveness and contribute to national development.”
LG Group will plunk down more than 18 and a half billion dollars, up nearly 12 percent from last year, despite sluggish sales of its smartphones. The investment figure is the highest in LG’s history. Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group will raise investment and hiring, and focus on the development of eco-friendly cars. SK Group will invest 712 million dollars in R&D this year and has unveiled a 10-year investment plan.
[Soundbite]Lee Ga-geun (Hana Daetoo Securities): “We posted all-time high results in 2009 and 2010. We’ll invest vigorously not only this year but also next year.”
Aggressive strategies by conglomerates are expected to stimulate corporate investment and secure a competitive edge over foreign rivals.
4. Satellite Control
[Anchor Lead]
It is not easy to quickly figure out the scope of damage caused by heavy snow or torrential rains. Satellites will be used to aid in estimating the damage caused by natural disaster.
[Pkg]
Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province was hit by heavy snow on Monday. A weather observatory in downtown Pohang estimated the snowfall at 28.7 centimeters. But next day, snow of more than 50 centimeters fell in a part of the major port city. The damage swelled ten times from the first day. It’s difficult to get the clear picture of the situation when the nation is hit by heavy rain. But satellite images help understand the situation more quickly. These satellite images show that farming land has been flooded, following heavy rain. The scope of damage can be seen without visiting the site. Korea’s Chollian and Arirang satellites will make the remote damage estimation possible.
[Soundbite]Jeong Sang-man (Dir., National Disaster Prevention Inst.): “If we use satellite images, we can estimate and respond to disaster damage more quickly.”
The government also plans to use more satellite relay vehicles. They immediately send images from disaster-hit regions and act as emergency communication networks. The use of satellites will make countermeasures against natural disasters more effective.
5. Smartphone Era
[Anchor Lead]
Smartphones are enjoying massive popularity among people of all age groups. More and more are subscribing to a service package that offers unlimited Internet despite the higher price.
[Pkg]
Smartphone fever is sweeping Korea.
[Soundbite] “I can find answers to my questions right away.”
[Soundbite] “I can book concerts or shows on my smartphone. I use the Internet to get information I need.”
The percentage of teen smartphone users has doubled over the past six months. That of smartphone users in their 40s and 50s has grown six times over the same period. Growing smartphone use by housewives also stands out.
[Soundbite] “I use apps to get recipes. I just type in the ingredients and I can use them to make dishes.”
[Soundbite] “Smartphone is a daily necessity; I can get information whenever I need.”
People use smartphones an average of 114 minutes a day. About an hour of that time is spent surfing the Internet. So 29 percent of smartphone users have subscribed to service packages offering unlimited Internet.
[Soundbite] “Though it’s expensive, I want to use the Internet anytime I want to. But the number of Wi-Fi areas are limited; I went for unlimited data usage.”
But tech service remains an obstacle. More than 80 percent of smartphone users complain over complicated procedures to have their devices repaired.
6. IPTV Classes
[Anchor Lead]
Korean parents have an additional financial burden to shoulder during vacation times because their kids go to private institutes during the break. Some districts in Seoul are offering free online lecture programs via IPTV to help ease the weight on parents.
[Pkg]
This is an online middle school English class. The video lecture contains songs and jokes to attract students’ attention.
[Soundbite]Kim Ha-neul (Middle School Student): “This class is fun so I can concentrate more easily. It’s really helpful and I like it.”
Parents are relieved. They worried about additional tuition needed to send their children to private institutions over the winter break.
[Soundbite]Jang Yun-tae (Parent): “Private education fees are enormous. The IPTV education program helps cut expenditures on private education.”
The Gangseo District spent more than 124,000 dollars to produce online education programs that air via the district office’s IPTV channel. Twelve famous instructors were selected through auditions and perform 150 lectures on five subjects.
[Soundbite]No Hyeon-song (Gangseo-gu Mayor): “The IPTV education program helps ease the burden on parents from private education fees. It’ll also give equal education opportunities to all students regardless of their wealth.”
The Gangseo District will run the IPTV education program on a trial basis during vacation. And it will expand the program to all schools in the district starting in March.
7. Drunken Driving
[Anchor Lead]
The number of habitual drunk drivers is increasing despite tighter supervision and tougher punishment. Authorities are trying to combat this problem through a new drunk driving simulation program.
[Pkg]
A drunk driver hits and kills pedestrians waiting in line for taxis. This accident has set a dark cloud over the future of a 20-something policeman. The number of drunk drivers caught at least three times continues to grow every year.
[Soundbite](Drunk Driver): “I don’t think I drank that much. (Isn’t half a bottle of soju dangerous?) I’m not sure.”
The thought that a couple of drinks can’t hurt is wrong. This is a test of a drunk driving simulation program. After three shots of soju, a driver cannot keep in his lane. The driver crashes into other cars on the street after drinking a bottle of soju or more. Pedestrians are also in danger. Had this been a real situation, many people would be rushed to the emergency room.
[Soundbite] Baek Yu-seon (Testee): “I gave it a try after drinking a little. Now I understand the situation could be serious if I were more drunk than that.”
Drunk driving kills many people every year. Traffic authorities hope to get rid of habitual drunk drivers through this simulation program.
8. Winter Training
[Anchor Lead]
As the cold spell continues on the peninsula, special unit soldiers are getting intense training to overcome the biting cold. Let’s take a look.
[Pkg]
Special warfare soldiers are going under special training in a mountainous area for a winter survival training session watched over by Army’s Chief. Amid the biting cold weather, they roll in the snow bare chested. This is to help them get ready to fend off any advances or provocation. The training site on Mount Hwangbyeong stands 900 meters above sea level. They’re training in below freezing temperatures of between minus ten and twenty degrees Celsius. Their average sensory temperature is about minus 30 degrees, but they take the bath in ice cold water. Then came strategic training. They take onto ski, fully armed. They need to be capable of moving swiftly on snow while completely armed with all equipment weighing nearly 30 kilograms in total.
[Soundbite]Sgt. Jeong Gwan-seung (Special Warfare Command): “We’re doing intensive training to prepare for any advance from the enemy. We’re trying to have the spirit that anything is possible.”
The winter training that goes on for nine days in the mountains is a mandatory course for special warfare soldiers to enhance their physical and survival abilities.
9. Craftwork
[Anchor Lead]
Nowadays, most knit products are machine-made and store-bought. But more and more people are falling in love with the art of knitting and sewing. Let’s see what they’re making.
[Pkg]
This wide range of items has been carefully knitted by hand.
[Soundbite] “It’s amazing to know that you can make all these things by knitting.”
Some trendy pieces like mufflers, leggings and long knitted tops are popular these days.
[Soundbite]Song Yeong-ye (Owner, Knitting Workshop): “There used to be more patterns, but nowadays people go for simple colors and designs.”
This knitting workshop is always filled with people who’ve come to learn how to knit and to make their own items.
[Soundbite] “Knitting is very attractive because you make something out of nothing.”
Knitting a gift is a great way to show that you care, especially in winter.
[Soundbite] “I think of my granddaughters when I knit their scarves and imagine how pretty they’ll look and how much they’ll like them.”
Here, an exhibition is showcasing works of sewing and quilting. Quilting, the art of sewing together pieces of cloth of different sizes, colors and shapes, is used to make all kinds of things from dolls and bags to different types of accessories.
[Soundbite] “It’s amazing to see every stitch of things I couldn’t even imagine.”
[Soundbite] “It’s lovely.”
These works are drawing lots of attention.
[Soundbite] “It’s incredible.”
[Soundbite] “They’re all like works of art. It’s like an art exhibition.”
There are three-dimensional flower works, landscapes and even abstract art made from common cloth. Sewing has become an artistic medium.
[Soundbite] “It’s amazing to see what would have been done with paint expressed with needle and thread.”
This young artist is drawing the spotlight for his quilt work.
[Soundbite]Jeong Min-gi (Painter): “Quilting has a natural and cozy feeling that I like. That’s why I decided to give it a try.”
If you lack time and skill, you can try a quilting kit. You just follow the instructions and sew together the pieces and you can make a doll or purse in just three hours.
[Soundbite] “I think I did a great job. I’m going to use it as a pouch.”
[Soundbite] “I’m so proud that I made it myself. I’m going to give it to my aunt and I know she’ll love it.”
It’s a great season for staying indoors and trying a new hobby, and with knitting you get something that can also keep you warm through the winter.
North Korea has called for unconditional talks with South Korea in a joint statement by its government, political parties and social organizations. But Seoul says it cannot take Pyongyang’s request seriously.
[Pkg]
North Korea has released a joint declaration of its government, political parties and social organizations requesting unconditional inter-Korean talks. The declaration urged authorized figures from each side to soon discuss easing tension and promoting peace, reconciliation and solidarity. Pyongyang also requested inter-Korean cooperation projects.
[Soundbite](NK Central TV): “The North and South need to transcend political interests and discuss important matters to try to come to an agreement.”
Pyongyang also wants each side to stop blasting each other, saying provocative actions will only harm inter-Korean relations and risk another military clash. But an official of South Korea’s Unification Ministry says the declaration is merely something the North regularly announces every year. The official says the declaration is just a tactic of the North’s reunification strategy and cannot be taken seriously as a proposal for dialogue. Pyongyang holds a joint meeting every January of the government, political parties and social organizations. The agenda of the dialogue is policy toward South Korea in the New Year and the meeting’s results were announced in the form of a declaration. But this practice was stopped in 2008.
2. Economic Gap
[Anchor Lead]
The economic gap between the two Koreas is growing larger and larger. The South’s gross national income has grown from 28 times greater than the North to 37 times greater in the past ten years.
[Pkg]
In the recent Winter Asian Games in Guangzhou that ended last November, South Korea reaped 76 gold medals while the North only won six. That’s about 13 times more gold medals compared to the North. The economic gap between the two Koreas is even bigger. South Korea’s national profit per capita is about 18 times greater than that of the North. As the population in the South is double of the North’s, South Korea’s GNI is 37 times greater than the North. The number of registered vehicles in the South has increased by 6.1 million compared to 2001, whereas the number has dropped by 14,000 in the North. As for private jets, the number has increased by 220 in the South and only one in the North. Many are concerned that such a wide economic gap will not be helpful for the inter-Korean reunification.
[Soundbite]Dong Yong-seung (Samsung Economics Research Institute): “The bigger the gap, the greater the funds that go to the North will be.”
Meanwhile, North Korea is doing better than the South in some fields. The North’s potential mineral value amounts to more than 6.2 trillion U.S. dollars, which is 24 times greater than that of the South. North Korea produces ten times more coal and has a 1.5 times longer railroad system than the South.
3. Biz Investment
[Anchor Lead]
With an eye to bolstering their global competitiveness and promoting growth, the nation’s major conglomerates have launched aggressive strategies this year.
[Pkg]
Samsung has announced a bold investment strategy for this year. The group will invest more than 38 billion U.S. dollars. Nearly 27 billion dollars will go into facility investment, more than 10 billion dollars into R&D, and 980 million dollars in capital investment. Samsung will hire 25-thousand employees, up 11 percent from last year.
[Soundbite]Suh Dong-myun (Dir, Samsung Group): “We’ll make the biggest investment and hire more people than ever to bolster our competitiveness and contribute to national development.”
LG Group will plunk down more than 18 and a half billion dollars, up nearly 12 percent from last year, despite sluggish sales of its smartphones. The investment figure is the highest in LG’s history. Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group will raise investment and hiring, and focus on the development of eco-friendly cars. SK Group will invest 712 million dollars in R&D this year and has unveiled a 10-year investment plan.
[Soundbite]Lee Ga-geun (Hana Daetoo Securities): “We posted all-time high results in 2009 and 2010. We’ll invest vigorously not only this year but also next year.”
Aggressive strategies by conglomerates are expected to stimulate corporate investment and secure a competitive edge over foreign rivals.
4. Satellite Control
[Anchor Lead]
It is not easy to quickly figure out the scope of damage caused by heavy snow or torrential rains. Satellites will be used to aid in estimating the damage caused by natural disaster.
[Pkg]
Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province was hit by heavy snow on Monday. A weather observatory in downtown Pohang estimated the snowfall at 28.7 centimeters. But next day, snow of more than 50 centimeters fell in a part of the major port city. The damage swelled ten times from the first day. It’s difficult to get the clear picture of the situation when the nation is hit by heavy rain. But satellite images help understand the situation more quickly. These satellite images show that farming land has been flooded, following heavy rain. The scope of damage can be seen without visiting the site. Korea’s Chollian and Arirang satellites will make the remote damage estimation possible.
[Soundbite]Jeong Sang-man (Dir., National Disaster Prevention Inst.): “If we use satellite images, we can estimate and respond to disaster damage more quickly.”
The government also plans to use more satellite relay vehicles. They immediately send images from disaster-hit regions and act as emergency communication networks. The use of satellites will make countermeasures against natural disasters more effective.
5. Smartphone Era
[Anchor Lead]
Smartphones are enjoying massive popularity among people of all age groups. More and more are subscribing to a service package that offers unlimited Internet despite the higher price.
[Pkg]
Smartphone fever is sweeping Korea.
[Soundbite] “I can find answers to my questions right away.”
[Soundbite] “I can book concerts or shows on my smartphone. I use the Internet to get information I need.”
The percentage of teen smartphone users has doubled over the past six months. That of smartphone users in their 40s and 50s has grown six times over the same period. Growing smartphone use by housewives also stands out.
[Soundbite] “I use apps to get recipes. I just type in the ingredients and I can use them to make dishes.”
[Soundbite] “Smartphone is a daily necessity; I can get information whenever I need.”
People use smartphones an average of 114 minutes a day. About an hour of that time is spent surfing the Internet. So 29 percent of smartphone users have subscribed to service packages offering unlimited Internet.
[Soundbite] “Though it’s expensive, I want to use the Internet anytime I want to. But the number of Wi-Fi areas are limited; I went for unlimited data usage.”
But tech service remains an obstacle. More than 80 percent of smartphone users complain over complicated procedures to have their devices repaired.
6. IPTV Classes
[Anchor Lead]
Korean parents have an additional financial burden to shoulder during vacation times because their kids go to private institutes during the break. Some districts in Seoul are offering free online lecture programs via IPTV to help ease the weight on parents.
[Pkg]
This is an online middle school English class. The video lecture contains songs and jokes to attract students’ attention.
[Soundbite]Kim Ha-neul (Middle School Student): “This class is fun so I can concentrate more easily. It’s really helpful and I like it.”
Parents are relieved. They worried about additional tuition needed to send their children to private institutions over the winter break.
[Soundbite]Jang Yun-tae (Parent): “Private education fees are enormous. The IPTV education program helps cut expenditures on private education.”
The Gangseo District spent more than 124,000 dollars to produce online education programs that air via the district office’s IPTV channel. Twelve famous instructors were selected through auditions and perform 150 lectures on five subjects.
[Soundbite]No Hyeon-song (Gangseo-gu Mayor): “The IPTV education program helps ease the burden on parents from private education fees. It’ll also give equal education opportunities to all students regardless of their wealth.”
The Gangseo District will run the IPTV education program on a trial basis during vacation. And it will expand the program to all schools in the district starting in March.
7. Drunken Driving
[Anchor Lead]
The number of habitual drunk drivers is increasing despite tighter supervision and tougher punishment. Authorities are trying to combat this problem through a new drunk driving simulation program.
[Pkg]
A drunk driver hits and kills pedestrians waiting in line for taxis. This accident has set a dark cloud over the future of a 20-something policeman. The number of drunk drivers caught at least three times continues to grow every year.
[Soundbite](Drunk Driver): “I don’t think I drank that much. (Isn’t half a bottle of soju dangerous?) I’m not sure.”
The thought that a couple of drinks can’t hurt is wrong. This is a test of a drunk driving simulation program. After three shots of soju, a driver cannot keep in his lane. The driver crashes into other cars on the street after drinking a bottle of soju or more. Pedestrians are also in danger. Had this been a real situation, many people would be rushed to the emergency room.
[Soundbite] Baek Yu-seon (Testee): “I gave it a try after drinking a little. Now I understand the situation could be serious if I were more drunk than that.”
Drunk driving kills many people every year. Traffic authorities hope to get rid of habitual drunk drivers through this simulation program.
8. Winter Training
[Anchor Lead]
As the cold spell continues on the peninsula, special unit soldiers are getting intense training to overcome the biting cold. Let’s take a look.
[Pkg]
Special warfare soldiers are going under special training in a mountainous area for a winter survival training session watched over by Army’s Chief. Amid the biting cold weather, they roll in the snow bare chested. This is to help them get ready to fend off any advances or provocation. The training site on Mount Hwangbyeong stands 900 meters above sea level. They’re training in below freezing temperatures of between minus ten and twenty degrees Celsius. Their average sensory temperature is about minus 30 degrees, but they take the bath in ice cold water. Then came strategic training. They take onto ski, fully armed. They need to be capable of moving swiftly on snow while completely armed with all equipment weighing nearly 30 kilograms in total.
[Soundbite]Sgt. Jeong Gwan-seung (Special Warfare Command): “We’re doing intensive training to prepare for any advance from the enemy. We’re trying to have the spirit that anything is possible.”
The winter training that goes on for nine days in the mountains is a mandatory course for special warfare soldiers to enhance their physical and survival abilities.
9. Craftwork
[Anchor Lead]
Nowadays, most knit products are machine-made and store-bought. But more and more people are falling in love with the art of knitting and sewing. Let’s see what they’re making.
[Pkg]
This wide range of items has been carefully knitted by hand.
[Soundbite] “It’s amazing to know that you can make all these things by knitting.”
Some trendy pieces like mufflers, leggings and long knitted tops are popular these days.
[Soundbite]Song Yeong-ye (Owner, Knitting Workshop): “There used to be more patterns, but nowadays people go for simple colors and designs.”
This knitting workshop is always filled with people who’ve come to learn how to knit and to make their own items.
[Soundbite] “Knitting is very attractive because you make something out of nothing.”
Knitting a gift is a great way to show that you care, especially in winter.
[Soundbite] “I think of my granddaughters when I knit their scarves and imagine how pretty they’ll look and how much they’ll like them.”
Here, an exhibition is showcasing works of sewing and quilting. Quilting, the art of sewing together pieces of cloth of different sizes, colors and shapes, is used to make all kinds of things from dolls and bags to different types of accessories.
[Soundbite] “It’s amazing to see every stitch of things I couldn’t even imagine.”
[Soundbite] “It’s lovely.”
These works are drawing lots of attention.
[Soundbite] “It’s incredible.”
[Soundbite] “They’re all like works of art. It’s like an art exhibition.”
There are three-dimensional flower works, landscapes and even abstract art made from common cloth. Sewing has become an artistic medium.
[Soundbite] “It’s amazing to see what would have been done with paint expressed with needle and thread.”
This young artist is drawing the spotlight for his quilt work.
[Soundbite]Jeong Min-gi (Painter): “Quilting has a natural and cozy feeling that I like. That’s why I decided to give it a try.”
If you lack time and skill, you can try a quilting kit. You just follow the instructions and sew together the pieces and you can make a doll or purse in just three hours.
[Soundbite] “I think I did a great job. I’m going to use it as a pouch.”
[Soundbite] “I’m so proud that I made it myself. I’m going to give it to my aunt and I know she’ll love it.”
It’s a great season for staying indoors and trying a new hobby, and with knitting you get something that can also keep you warm through the winter.
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- Talk Request
-
- 입력 2011-01-06 17:47:37
[Anchor Lead]
North Korea has called for unconditional talks with South Korea in a joint statement by its government, political parties and social organizations. But Seoul says it cannot take Pyongyang’s request seriously.
[Pkg]
North Korea has released a joint declaration of its government, political parties and social organizations requesting unconditional inter-Korean talks. The declaration urged authorized figures from each side to soon discuss easing tension and promoting peace, reconciliation and solidarity. Pyongyang also requested inter-Korean cooperation projects.
[Soundbite](NK Central TV): “The North and South need to transcend political interests and discuss important matters to try to come to an agreement.”
Pyongyang also wants each side to stop blasting each other, saying provocative actions will only harm inter-Korean relations and risk another military clash. But an official of South Korea’s Unification Ministry says the declaration is merely something the North regularly announces every year. The official says the declaration is just a tactic of the North’s reunification strategy and cannot be taken seriously as a proposal for dialogue. Pyongyang holds a joint meeting every January of the government, political parties and social organizations. The agenda of the dialogue is policy toward South Korea in the New Year and the meeting’s results were announced in the form of a declaration. But this practice was stopped in 2008.
2. Economic Gap
[Anchor Lead]
The economic gap between the two Koreas is growing larger and larger. The South’s gross national income has grown from 28 times greater than the North to 37 times greater in the past ten years.
[Pkg]
In the recent Winter Asian Games in Guangzhou that ended last November, South Korea reaped 76 gold medals while the North only won six. That’s about 13 times more gold medals compared to the North. The economic gap between the two Koreas is even bigger. South Korea’s national profit per capita is about 18 times greater than that of the North. As the population in the South is double of the North’s, South Korea’s GNI is 37 times greater than the North. The number of registered vehicles in the South has increased by 6.1 million compared to 2001, whereas the number has dropped by 14,000 in the North. As for private jets, the number has increased by 220 in the South and only one in the North. Many are concerned that such a wide economic gap will not be helpful for the inter-Korean reunification.
[Soundbite]Dong Yong-seung (Samsung Economics Research Institute): “The bigger the gap, the greater the funds that go to the North will be.”
Meanwhile, North Korea is doing better than the South in some fields. The North’s potential mineral value amounts to more than 6.2 trillion U.S. dollars, which is 24 times greater than that of the South. North Korea produces ten times more coal and has a 1.5 times longer railroad system than the South.
3. Biz Investment
[Anchor Lead]
With an eye to bolstering their global competitiveness and promoting growth, the nation’s major conglomerates have launched aggressive strategies this year.
[Pkg]
Samsung has announced a bold investment strategy for this year. The group will invest more than 38 billion U.S. dollars. Nearly 27 billion dollars will go into facility investment, more than 10 billion dollars into R&D, and 980 million dollars in capital investment. Samsung will hire 25-thousand employees, up 11 percent from last year.
[Soundbite]Suh Dong-myun (Dir, Samsung Group): “We’ll make the biggest investment and hire more people than ever to bolster our competitiveness and contribute to national development.”
LG Group will plunk down more than 18 and a half billion dollars, up nearly 12 percent from last year, despite sluggish sales of its smartphones. The investment figure is the highest in LG’s history. Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group will raise investment and hiring, and focus on the development of eco-friendly cars. SK Group will invest 712 million dollars in R&D this year and has unveiled a 10-year investment plan.
[Soundbite]Lee Ga-geun (Hana Daetoo Securities): “We posted all-time high results in 2009 and 2010. We’ll invest vigorously not only this year but also next year.”
Aggressive strategies by conglomerates are expected to stimulate corporate investment and secure a competitive edge over foreign rivals.
4. Satellite Control
[Anchor Lead]
It is not easy to quickly figure out the scope of damage caused by heavy snow or torrential rains. Satellites will be used to aid in estimating the damage caused by natural disaster.
[Pkg]
Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province was hit by heavy snow on Monday. A weather observatory in downtown Pohang estimated the snowfall at 28.7 centimeters. But next day, snow of more than 50 centimeters fell in a part of the major port city. The damage swelled ten times from the first day. It’s difficult to get the clear picture of the situation when the nation is hit by heavy rain. But satellite images help understand the situation more quickly. These satellite images show that farming land has been flooded, following heavy rain. The scope of damage can be seen without visiting the site. Korea’s Chollian and Arirang satellites will make the remote damage estimation possible.
[Soundbite]Jeong Sang-man (Dir., National Disaster Prevention Inst.): “If we use satellite images, we can estimate and respond to disaster damage more quickly.”
The government also plans to use more satellite relay vehicles. They immediately send images from disaster-hit regions and act as emergency communication networks. The use of satellites will make countermeasures against natural disasters more effective.
5. Smartphone Era
[Anchor Lead]
Smartphones are enjoying massive popularity among people of all age groups. More and more are subscribing to a service package that offers unlimited Internet despite the higher price.
[Pkg]
Smartphone fever is sweeping Korea.
[Soundbite] “I can find answers to my questions right away.”
[Soundbite] “I can book concerts or shows on my smartphone. I use the Internet to get information I need.”
The percentage of teen smartphone users has doubled over the past six months. That of smartphone users in their 40s and 50s has grown six times over the same period. Growing smartphone use by housewives also stands out.
[Soundbite] “I use apps to get recipes. I just type in the ingredients and I can use them to make dishes.”
[Soundbite] “Smartphone is a daily necessity; I can get information whenever I need.”
People use smartphones an average of 114 minutes a day. About an hour of that time is spent surfing the Internet. So 29 percent of smartphone users have subscribed to service packages offering unlimited Internet.
[Soundbite] “Though it’s expensive, I want to use the Internet anytime I want to. But the number of Wi-Fi areas are limited; I went for unlimited data usage.”
But tech service remains an obstacle. More than 80 percent of smartphone users complain over complicated procedures to have their devices repaired.
6. IPTV Classes
[Anchor Lead]
Korean parents have an additional financial burden to shoulder during vacation times because their kids go to private institutes during the break. Some districts in Seoul are offering free online lecture programs via IPTV to help ease the weight on parents.
[Pkg]
This is an online middle school English class. The video lecture contains songs and jokes to attract students’ attention.
[Soundbite]Kim Ha-neul (Middle School Student): “This class is fun so I can concentrate more easily. It’s really helpful and I like it.”
Parents are relieved. They worried about additional tuition needed to send their children to private institutions over the winter break.
[Soundbite]Jang Yun-tae (Parent): “Private education fees are enormous. The IPTV education program helps cut expenditures on private education.”
The Gangseo District spent more than 124,000 dollars to produce online education programs that air via the district office’s IPTV channel. Twelve famous instructors were selected through auditions and perform 150 lectures on five subjects.
[Soundbite]No Hyeon-song (Gangseo-gu Mayor): “The IPTV education program helps ease the burden on parents from private education fees. It’ll also give equal education opportunities to all students regardless of their wealth.”
The Gangseo District will run the IPTV education program on a trial basis during vacation. And it will expand the program to all schools in the district starting in March.
7. Drunken Driving
[Anchor Lead]
The number of habitual drunk drivers is increasing despite tighter supervision and tougher punishment. Authorities are trying to combat this problem through a new drunk driving simulation program.
[Pkg]
A drunk driver hits and kills pedestrians waiting in line for taxis. This accident has set a dark cloud over the future of a 20-something policeman. The number of drunk drivers caught at least three times continues to grow every year.
[Soundbite](Drunk Driver): “I don’t think I drank that much. (Isn’t half a bottle of soju dangerous?) I’m not sure.”
The thought that a couple of drinks can’t hurt is wrong. This is a test of a drunk driving simulation program. After three shots of soju, a driver cannot keep in his lane. The driver crashes into other cars on the street after drinking a bottle of soju or more. Pedestrians are also in danger. Had this been a real situation, many people would be rushed to the emergency room.
[Soundbite] Baek Yu-seon (Testee): “I gave it a try after drinking a little. Now I understand the situation could be serious if I were more drunk than that.”
Drunk driving kills many people every year. Traffic authorities hope to get rid of habitual drunk drivers through this simulation program.
8. Winter Training
[Anchor Lead]
As the cold spell continues on the peninsula, special unit soldiers are getting intense training to overcome the biting cold. Let’s take a look.
[Pkg]
Special warfare soldiers are going under special training in a mountainous area for a winter survival training session watched over by Army’s Chief. Amid the biting cold weather, they roll in the snow bare chested. This is to help them get ready to fend off any advances or provocation. The training site on Mount Hwangbyeong stands 900 meters above sea level. They’re training in below freezing temperatures of between minus ten and twenty degrees Celsius. Their average sensory temperature is about minus 30 degrees, but they take the bath in ice cold water. Then came strategic training. They take onto ski, fully armed. They need to be capable of moving swiftly on snow while completely armed with all equipment weighing nearly 30 kilograms in total.
[Soundbite]Sgt. Jeong Gwan-seung (Special Warfare Command): “We’re doing intensive training to prepare for any advance from the enemy. We’re trying to have the spirit that anything is possible.”
The winter training that goes on for nine days in the mountains is a mandatory course for special warfare soldiers to enhance their physical and survival abilities.
9. Craftwork
[Anchor Lead]
Nowadays, most knit products are machine-made and store-bought. But more and more people are falling in love with the art of knitting and sewing. Let’s see what they’re making.
[Pkg]
This wide range of items has been carefully knitted by hand.
[Soundbite] “It’s amazing to know that you can make all these things by knitting.”
Some trendy pieces like mufflers, leggings and long knitted tops are popular these days.
[Soundbite]Song Yeong-ye (Owner, Knitting Workshop): “There used to be more patterns, but nowadays people go for simple colors and designs.”
This knitting workshop is always filled with people who’ve come to learn how to knit and to make their own items.
[Soundbite] “Knitting is very attractive because you make something out of nothing.”
Knitting a gift is a great way to show that you care, especially in winter.
[Soundbite] “I think of my granddaughters when I knit their scarves and imagine how pretty they’ll look and how much they’ll like them.”
Here, an exhibition is showcasing works of sewing and quilting. Quilting, the art of sewing together pieces of cloth of different sizes, colors and shapes, is used to make all kinds of things from dolls and bags to different types of accessories.
[Soundbite] “It’s amazing to see every stitch of things I couldn’t even imagine.”
[Soundbite] “It’s lovely.”
These works are drawing lots of attention.
[Soundbite] “It’s incredible.”
[Soundbite] “They’re all like works of art. It’s like an art exhibition.”
There are three-dimensional flower works, landscapes and even abstract art made from common cloth. Sewing has become an artistic medium.
[Soundbite] “It’s amazing to see what would have been done with paint expressed with needle and thread.”
This young artist is drawing the spotlight for his quilt work.
[Soundbite]Jeong Min-gi (Painter): “Quilting has a natural and cozy feeling that I like. That’s why I decided to give it a try.”
If you lack time and skill, you can try a quilting kit. You just follow the instructions and sew together the pieces and you can make a doll or purse in just three hours.
[Soundbite] “I think I did a great job. I’m going to use it as a pouch.”
[Soundbite] “I’m so proud that I made it myself. I’m going to give it to my aunt and I know she’ll love it.”
It’s a great season for staying indoors and trying a new hobby, and with knitting you get something that can also keep you warm through the winter.
North Korea has called for unconditional talks with South Korea in a joint statement by its government, political parties and social organizations. But Seoul says it cannot take Pyongyang’s request seriously.
[Pkg]
North Korea has released a joint declaration of its government, political parties and social organizations requesting unconditional inter-Korean talks. The declaration urged authorized figures from each side to soon discuss easing tension and promoting peace, reconciliation and solidarity. Pyongyang also requested inter-Korean cooperation projects.
[Soundbite](NK Central TV): “The North and South need to transcend political interests and discuss important matters to try to come to an agreement.”
Pyongyang also wants each side to stop blasting each other, saying provocative actions will only harm inter-Korean relations and risk another military clash. But an official of South Korea’s Unification Ministry says the declaration is merely something the North regularly announces every year. The official says the declaration is just a tactic of the North’s reunification strategy and cannot be taken seriously as a proposal for dialogue. Pyongyang holds a joint meeting every January of the government, political parties and social organizations. The agenda of the dialogue is policy toward South Korea in the New Year and the meeting’s results were announced in the form of a declaration. But this practice was stopped in 2008.
2. Economic Gap
[Anchor Lead]
The economic gap between the two Koreas is growing larger and larger. The South’s gross national income has grown from 28 times greater than the North to 37 times greater in the past ten years.
[Pkg]
In the recent Winter Asian Games in Guangzhou that ended last November, South Korea reaped 76 gold medals while the North only won six. That’s about 13 times more gold medals compared to the North. The economic gap between the two Koreas is even bigger. South Korea’s national profit per capita is about 18 times greater than that of the North. As the population in the South is double of the North’s, South Korea’s GNI is 37 times greater than the North. The number of registered vehicles in the South has increased by 6.1 million compared to 2001, whereas the number has dropped by 14,000 in the North. As for private jets, the number has increased by 220 in the South and only one in the North. Many are concerned that such a wide economic gap will not be helpful for the inter-Korean reunification.
[Soundbite]Dong Yong-seung (Samsung Economics Research Institute): “The bigger the gap, the greater the funds that go to the North will be.”
Meanwhile, North Korea is doing better than the South in some fields. The North’s potential mineral value amounts to more than 6.2 trillion U.S. dollars, which is 24 times greater than that of the South. North Korea produces ten times more coal and has a 1.5 times longer railroad system than the South.
3. Biz Investment
[Anchor Lead]
With an eye to bolstering their global competitiveness and promoting growth, the nation’s major conglomerates have launched aggressive strategies this year.
[Pkg]
Samsung has announced a bold investment strategy for this year. The group will invest more than 38 billion U.S. dollars. Nearly 27 billion dollars will go into facility investment, more than 10 billion dollars into R&D, and 980 million dollars in capital investment. Samsung will hire 25-thousand employees, up 11 percent from last year.
[Soundbite]Suh Dong-myun (Dir, Samsung Group): “We’ll make the biggest investment and hire more people than ever to bolster our competitiveness and contribute to national development.”
LG Group will plunk down more than 18 and a half billion dollars, up nearly 12 percent from last year, despite sluggish sales of its smartphones. The investment figure is the highest in LG’s history. Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group will raise investment and hiring, and focus on the development of eco-friendly cars. SK Group will invest 712 million dollars in R&D this year and has unveiled a 10-year investment plan.
[Soundbite]Lee Ga-geun (Hana Daetoo Securities): “We posted all-time high results in 2009 and 2010. We’ll invest vigorously not only this year but also next year.”
Aggressive strategies by conglomerates are expected to stimulate corporate investment and secure a competitive edge over foreign rivals.
4. Satellite Control
[Anchor Lead]
It is not easy to quickly figure out the scope of damage caused by heavy snow or torrential rains. Satellites will be used to aid in estimating the damage caused by natural disaster.
[Pkg]
Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province was hit by heavy snow on Monday. A weather observatory in downtown Pohang estimated the snowfall at 28.7 centimeters. But next day, snow of more than 50 centimeters fell in a part of the major port city. The damage swelled ten times from the first day. It’s difficult to get the clear picture of the situation when the nation is hit by heavy rain. But satellite images help understand the situation more quickly. These satellite images show that farming land has been flooded, following heavy rain. The scope of damage can be seen without visiting the site. Korea’s Chollian and Arirang satellites will make the remote damage estimation possible.
[Soundbite]Jeong Sang-man (Dir., National Disaster Prevention Inst.): “If we use satellite images, we can estimate and respond to disaster damage more quickly.”
The government also plans to use more satellite relay vehicles. They immediately send images from disaster-hit regions and act as emergency communication networks. The use of satellites will make countermeasures against natural disasters more effective.
5. Smartphone Era
[Anchor Lead]
Smartphones are enjoying massive popularity among people of all age groups. More and more are subscribing to a service package that offers unlimited Internet despite the higher price.
[Pkg]
Smartphone fever is sweeping Korea.
[Soundbite] “I can find answers to my questions right away.”
[Soundbite] “I can book concerts or shows on my smartphone. I use the Internet to get information I need.”
The percentage of teen smartphone users has doubled over the past six months. That of smartphone users in their 40s and 50s has grown six times over the same period. Growing smartphone use by housewives also stands out.
[Soundbite] “I use apps to get recipes. I just type in the ingredients and I can use them to make dishes.”
[Soundbite] “Smartphone is a daily necessity; I can get information whenever I need.”
People use smartphones an average of 114 minutes a day. About an hour of that time is spent surfing the Internet. So 29 percent of smartphone users have subscribed to service packages offering unlimited Internet.
[Soundbite] “Though it’s expensive, I want to use the Internet anytime I want to. But the number of Wi-Fi areas are limited; I went for unlimited data usage.”
But tech service remains an obstacle. More than 80 percent of smartphone users complain over complicated procedures to have their devices repaired.
6. IPTV Classes
[Anchor Lead]
Korean parents have an additional financial burden to shoulder during vacation times because their kids go to private institutes during the break. Some districts in Seoul are offering free online lecture programs via IPTV to help ease the weight on parents.
[Pkg]
This is an online middle school English class. The video lecture contains songs and jokes to attract students’ attention.
[Soundbite]Kim Ha-neul (Middle School Student): “This class is fun so I can concentrate more easily. It’s really helpful and I like it.”
Parents are relieved. They worried about additional tuition needed to send their children to private institutions over the winter break.
[Soundbite]Jang Yun-tae (Parent): “Private education fees are enormous. The IPTV education program helps cut expenditures on private education.”
The Gangseo District spent more than 124,000 dollars to produce online education programs that air via the district office’s IPTV channel. Twelve famous instructors were selected through auditions and perform 150 lectures on five subjects.
[Soundbite]No Hyeon-song (Gangseo-gu Mayor): “The IPTV education program helps ease the burden on parents from private education fees. It’ll also give equal education opportunities to all students regardless of their wealth.”
The Gangseo District will run the IPTV education program on a trial basis during vacation. And it will expand the program to all schools in the district starting in March.
7. Drunken Driving
[Anchor Lead]
The number of habitual drunk drivers is increasing despite tighter supervision and tougher punishment. Authorities are trying to combat this problem through a new drunk driving simulation program.
[Pkg]
A drunk driver hits and kills pedestrians waiting in line for taxis. This accident has set a dark cloud over the future of a 20-something policeman. The number of drunk drivers caught at least three times continues to grow every year.
[Soundbite](Drunk Driver): “I don’t think I drank that much. (Isn’t half a bottle of soju dangerous?) I’m not sure.”
The thought that a couple of drinks can’t hurt is wrong. This is a test of a drunk driving simulation program. After three shots of soju, a driver cannot keep in his lane. The driver crashes into other cars on the street after drinking a bottle of soju or more. Pedestrians are also in danger. Had this been a real situation, many people would be rushed to the emergency room.
[Soundbite] Baek Yu-seon (Testee): “I gave it a try after drinking a little. Now I understand the situation could be serious if I were more drunk than that.”
Drunk driving kills many people every year. Traffic authorities hope to get rid of habitual drunk drivers through this simulation program.
8. Winter Training
[Anchor Lead]
As the cold spell continues on the peninsula, special unit soldiers are getting intense training to overcome the biting cold. Let’s take a look.
[Pkg]
Special warfare soldiers are going under special training in a mountainous area for a winter survival training session watched over by Army’s Chief. Amid the biting cold weather, they roll in the snow bare chested. This is to help them get ready to fend off any advances or provocation. The training site on Mount Hwangbyeong stands 900 meters above sea level. They’re training in below freezing temperatures of between minus ten and twenty degrees Celsius. Their average sensory temperature is about minus 30 degrees, but they take the bath in ice cold water. Then came strategic training. They take onto ski, fully armed. They need to be capable of moving swiftly on snow while completely armed with all equipment weighing nearly 30 kilograms in total.
[Soundbite]Sgt. Jeong Gwan-seung (Special Warfare Command): “We’re doing intensive training to prepare for any advance from the enemy. We’re trying to have the spirit that anything is possible.”
The winter training that goes on for nine days in the mountains is a mandatory course for special warfare soldiers to enhance their physical and survival abilities.
9. Craftwork
[Anchor Lead]
Nowadays, most knit products are machine-made and store-bought. But more and more people are falling in love with the art of knitting and sewing. Let’s see what they’re making.
[Pkg]
This wide range of items has been carefully knitted by hand.
[Soundbite] “It’s amazing to know that you can make all these things by knitting.”
Some trendy pieces like mufflers, leggings and long knitted tops are popular these days.
[Soundbite]Song Yeong-ye (Owner, Knitting Workshop): “There used to be more patterns, but nowadays people go for simple colors and designs.”
This knitting workshop is always filled with people who’ve come to learn how to knit and to make their own items.
[Soundbite] “Knitting is very attractive because you make something out of nothing.”
Knitting a gift is a great way to show that you care, especially in winter.
[Soundbite] “I think of my granddaughters when I knit their scarves and imagine how pretty they’ll look and how much they’ll like them.”
Here, an exhibition is showcasing works of sewing and quilting. Quilting, the art of sewing together pieces of cloth of different sizes, colors and shapes, is used to make all kinds of things from dolls and bags to different types of accessories.
[Soundbite] “It’s amazing to see every stitch of things I couldn’t even imagine.”
[Soundbite] “It’s lovely.”
These works are drawing lots of attention.
[Soundbite] “It’s incredible.”
[Soundbite] “They’re all like works of art. It’s like an art exhibition.”
There are three-dimensional flower works, landscapes and even abstract art made from common cloth. Sewing has become an artistic medium.
[Soundbite] “It’s amazing to see what would have been done with paint expressed with needle and thread.”
This young artist is drawing the spotlight for his quilt work.
[Soundbite]Jeong Min-gi (Painter): “Quilting has a natural and cozy feeling that I like. That’s why I decided to give it a try.”
If you lack time and skill, you can try a quilting kit. You just follow the instructions and sew together the pieces and you can make a doll or purse in just three hours.
[Soundbite] “I think I did a great job. I’m going to use it as a pouch.”
[Soundbite] “I’m so proud that I made it myself. I’m going to give it to my aunt and I know she’ll love it.”
It’s a great season for staying indoors and trying a new hobby, and with knitting you get something that can also keep you warm through the winter.
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