Budget Plan

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The government and the ruling party have agreed to allocate more funding to a budget set for the economy and the public’s livelihood next year. They will also start a separate meeting for this purpose. The main opposition party has announced a plan to reduce the number of temporary workers while increasing their wages.



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The government and the ruling party will set up a separate bilateral consultative meeting to allot more budget next year for improving the people’s livelihood.



[Soundbite]Kim Gi-hyeon (Spokesman, Grand National Party): “We’re going to earmark more funds and have the budget plan ready for submission to the Assembly.”



Both sides have agreed to provide different amounts of financial aid for university students based on family income and also implement university restructuring. For the needy who are ineligible for welfare, the two sides also agreed to increase tax benefit recipients aimed at encouraging employment. Giving aid to help low income earners pay premiums of the four major insurance types will also be reviewed. The government and ruling party will also draft comprehensive measures on temporary workers as early as possible. Scrapping the ceiling on sale prices of newly redeveloped real estate areas will also be discussed at the parliamentary panel level. The main opposition Democratic Party has announced its own measures to sharply reduce the number of temporary workers by 2017.



[Soundbite]Lee In-young (Congressman, Democratic Party): “If we assume power, we’ll lower the percentage of irregular workers from current 50 percent to 30 by 2017.”



The opposition party plans to increase the number of permanent posts through financial aid and tax exemptions by correcting discriminatory workplace practices.



2. Pseudo Marketing



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The police has uncovered pseudo-marketing companies which lure and scam college students into buying their products. Thinking that the job would earn them tuition money, the students entered the scheme, which would go as far as detaining them. Let’s take a closer look.



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The police is searching a lodging facility. People living here are college students involved in multilevel marketing.



[Soundbite] “We’re the police. Students, come over here for a minute. Don’t be afraid.”



The company’s auditorium is filled with students. The police has rounded up 25 people including a company board official who have lured students into the multi-level scheme disguised as a job opportunity. Jo and others brought in students who were in need of money, saying they can make a monthly 95-hundred dollars. Once they were talked into, the students were detained and watched over.



[Soundbite](College Student (Voice Modified)): “When we’re on the phone, they can hear our conversation. They monitor us this way; they even followed us to the toilet.”



As a membership fee, the students were also forced to buy 47-hundred dollars worth of goods. The students were forced to make loans. In training sessions, they were urged to attract more students into the marketing. Some 170 people fell victim to the ploy with damages exceeding 1.6 million dollars. But the company is still in operation and more victims and losses are expected.



[Soundbite](Company Staff Member (Voice Modified)): “We’ll be dealt with by the law. So be it.”



The police is probing two more companies. It will expand the investigation to look into the multi-level marketing nationwide.



3. Stoke Alert



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A victim of a stroke must get treatment within three hours to prevent brain damage. However, a new study shows that four out of five patients miss this deadline. Here’s more on the story.



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This is the image of the cerebral blood vessels of a 70-something stroke victim. Her blood vessels have grown narrow and it’s too late to restore them. The woman cannot fully raise her right arm despite rehabilitative treatment. A university hospital survey has found that 80 percent of acute stroke victim get treatment too late, missing the critical time window of three hours after the onset of a stroke. About 90 percent of elderly stroke victims living alone miss this deadline.

[Soundbite]Prof. Park Ik-seong (Bucheon St. Mary’s Hospital): “When a patient arrives three hours after passing out, he or she may develop a speech disorder or paralysis on one side. In severe cases, they may succumb to a vegetative state or even die.”



If a tissue-type plasminogen activator is taken within three hours from the onset of symptoms, this can reverse the blockage of blood vessels and prevent brain damage. Knowing the warning signs of a stroke is crucial and medical help should be sought as soon as possible. Symptoms include a stabbing headache, inarticulate speech and numbness in arms and legs. For the elderly who live alone, having the phone numbers of people they can contact when the symptoms occur is of paramount importance.



4. K-Pop Fever



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With the K pop fever spreading worldwide, some one hundred K pop fans flew in from the U.S. As they couldn’t wait any longer for the K pop stars to hold concerts in their country, these enthusiasts came to Korea themselves to see the Korean wave stars in action.



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K-Pop fans from the U.S. have visited Korea. They say they cae to Korea because they couldn’t wait any longer for the next K-Pop concert to open in the U.S. They also sing their favorite K-Pop songs.



They pronounce the Korean words accurately.



[Soundbite] “Oh, oh, oh I love you. Ah, ah, ah so much.”



They say that K-Pop singers are equipped with outstanding singing and dancing skills.



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During their stay for six days, five nights, they’re scheduled to see the Girls’ Generation concert on the 24th and sit in at the airing of KBS K-Pop music program. They’re also to visit tour sites such as the Gyeongbok Palace and Cheonggye Stream to experience the Korean culture. The K-Pop fever spreading worldwide is luring tourists into the nation.



5. Eco-Corridors



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The incidence of roadkill within Korea’s national parks killed 700 animals last year. However, the ecological corridors that have been installed to prevent roadkill are severely lacking in number.



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An animal hit by a car lies on the road. This was late last year inside Mount Songni National Park. The animal is a gazelle, an endangered species under government protection. Just a few hundred of them remain in the country.



[Soundbite]O Geon-heung (Korea National Park Service): “It’s the first roadkill of an animal whose droppings or traces were previously not detected in the mountain.”



A combined 700 animals were struck and killed on roads inside national parks nationwide last year. KBS has surveyed a so-called ecological corridor whose purpose is to prevent roadkill and connect wildlife habitats. Traces of two wild hogs having passed by are clearly left on the footprint board. Feces of an endangered wildcat are also found. Endangered Manchurian black bears released into the wild around Mount Jiri and wildcats and martens were detected several times in the corridors. But ecological corridors are installed at just eleven of the 44 roads inside national parks. So a large number of wild animals are exposed to the threat of becoming roadkill.



6. Child Safety



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Accidents in playgrounds are increasing every year. Playgrounds are no longer safe for children to play in. Here’s more.



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This is a playground in an apartment complex in Seoul. A step on the slide is broken. Wooden facilities are also damaged and connecting parts are jutting out. The surface of this seesaw is also scratched.



[Soundbite]O Gyeong-im (Korea Consumer Agency): “The surface of this wooden facility is rough, so children may get hurt.”



This is another playground in Seoul. The rusty swing chain looks old and worn out and a piece of broken glass is found in the sand. The Korea Consumer Agency inspected 36 playgrounds in Seoul and seven out of ten wooden facilities were left damaged, and around half of metal facilities were rusty. As such, accidents at playgrounds are increasing every year, but maintenance is poor.



[Soundbite](Apartment Maintenance Official (Voice Modified)): “Since we’re going to renovate, we can fix only the necessary parts. It costs 50 million won (US$47,400). We can’t afford it.”



A law was established to have playground facilities undergo safety inspections, but its enforcement has been put off to 2015. There are roughly 50,000 playgrounds nationwide. And only 36 percent of them were tested for safety. Most playgrounds are left neglected in dangerous condition.



7. Web Camps



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Internet addiction is a serious social problem and numerous measures are being drawn up to help those addicted fight it. One effective measure is camps that help teens stop their Web addiction.



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Students enjoy a variety of activities at this camp. They had been absorbed in playing Internet games just a few days ago. The camp’s goal is to have participants reflect on themselves over the 12-day program and learn to do other fun activities instead of playing PC games. More students want to take part but the camp is open just once a year per region due to budget constraints.



[Soundbite]Bae Ju-mi (Korea Youth Counseling Institute): “Some kids need one to two months of treatment so we need more rehabilitation camps that are open at all times.”



Ten percent of Korean teens suffer from Internet addiction and need treatment. The government-run Korea Internet Addiction Center is tasked with devising measures to stop Internet addiction but cannot meet the rising demand for treatment. Internet addiction among teenagers is mostly due to family problems, so parents are advised to spend more time with their children.



8. Monk Artist



[Anchor Lead]



Jung Kwang, the Buddhist monk known widely as Geolle Seunim, meaning "Rag Monk" due to his desire to wipe out the negative energies and evils in life, passed away nine years ago. Let’s take a look at an exhibition that is out now, showcasing the artworks by the late venerable Jung Kwang.



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The painting shows an innocent smile of a child. The portrait of a young novice imposes the innocent and childlike side of Buddha. His rough strokes seem as if a child has painted the works of art. The uninhibited bold brush strokes withhold the late monk’s wish to freely fly away.



[Soundbite](Ven. Jung Kwang (1991)): “Everyone has a child-like personality. If you look at your innocence and meditate, your heart will be cleansed.”



He was more famous for his eccentric life than his artworks, having received no art education and having strayed out of the Buddhist order. His unhindered art world was more valued overseas than in Korea. Lewis R. Lancaster, a former professor at U.C. Berkeley had praised the artist as Picasso of Korea.



[Soundbite]Lee Dong-guk (Curator, Seoul Arts Center): “Jung Kwang’s message is a world where communication is free of barriers and he has practiced it himself.”



The freeman Jung Kwang had worked in various genres including calligraphy, contemporary art, film and performance art. Around 150 pieces including linework, writings, abstract artworks and oil paintings withhold his love for art.



9. Perfect Spots



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Whether you go to a baseball stadium, a concert hall or a venue for blind dates, there is usually a special place or the "perfect spot." Here are some hints for finding the perfect spot for a more comfortable and pleasant life.



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This is the Seoul Metro, which becomes a nightmare during rush hours.



[Soundbite] “I feel like I’m going to suffocate every morning whenever I take this.”



Could there possibly be a perfect spot in a crammed subway train like this one?



[Soundbite]Choe Chun-su (Manager, Internet Subway Club): “On the crowded subway train, the small space in front of the doors in between cars is the perfect spot.”



We tested a spot. The testee was not bothered by passengers getting on and off the train, and while others struggled to grab onto the handles, he comfortably played games while leaning against the wall.



[Soundbite] “I didn’t feel uncomfortable when people got off and on. It’s a perfect spot.”



Then where could the perfect spot for dining out with coworkers be? How about the seat right in front of the boss?



[Soundbite] “I’ll work hard, sir!”



The worker sitting in front of the boss seems quite busy grilling the meat.



[Soundbite] “Bon appetit!”



[Soundbite] “I was too busy grilling the meat I only had two pieces myself.”



How about sitting right next to the boss?



[Soundbite] “(Is the work too much for you?) No, sir. I’ll work harder.”



This worker doesn’t look so comfortable either having to entertain the boss by drinking and conversing with him most of the time.



[Soundbite] “It’s hard and tough because he keeps talking to me.”



If you sit at the far end, you tend to draw more attention from the boss because of the distance.



[Soundbite] “Cheers!”



Here’s the big secret. The perfect spot to sit at a business outing is the second seat next to the right hand side of the boss.



[Soundbite] “I don’t have to drink and I can eat as much as I like. He doesn’t even notice me being interviewed.”



But why the second seat to the right? The same as how people read from left to right, people tend to glance at people too first from their left to their right. As you can see, there are fewer liquor bottles on the boss’ right-hand side of the table.



[Soundbite]Lee Cheol-u (Social Psychologist): “To look at the person sitting in the second seat to his right, there’s another person in between, so his view is completely blocked. He doesn’t notice unless he intentionally turn his head to address the person.”



The worker who is sitting in the perfect spot even attempts to sneak out and the boss doesn’t even notice.



[Soundbite] “Those who have another appointment or can’t drink well should sit in the second seat to the right of the boss.”



What about the perfect spot at a cafe for blind dates?



[Soundbite] “Since the place is big, I’d sit in the center.”



Let’s see if the center of the cafe is the best spot. The man and woman are having a conversation. But they seem to have a hard concentrating due to the people passing by. They tried moving to another table in the corner of the cafe.



[Soundbite] “Since we moved, I’ll introduce myself again.”



[Soundbite] “Hello.”



The two seem to have grown closer after moving.



[Soundbite]Lee Cheol-u (Social Psychologist): “Now that they’re out of the other people’s view and the spot is less noisy, they can concentrate more on their own conversation.”



Take note of these perfect spots and make sure to use them in your everyday life!