Headed Home

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After 582 days as hostages of Somali pirates, the crew of a captured cargo ship will finally be arriving back home in Korea on December 5.

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Four Korean crew members of the cargo ship "MT Gemini", who were rescued after remaining in captivity by Somali pirates are to depart for Korea on December 4. They were held by the Somali hijackers for one year and seven months. The rescued members received medical checkups in Mombasa, Kenya and are healthy enough for the long-distance flight back home.

[Soundbite] Lee Sang-hun(Engineer) : "I lost 10 kilograms. Overall, I don't have any serious illnesses."

Upon arriving at the Port of Mombasa, the crew members could not hide their joy.

[Soundbite] Kim Hyeong-eon(Chief Engineer) : "I felt as if I went from hell to heaven."

They vividly remember the moment of great relief when a helicopter came to their rescue on December 1, after a rescue ship had to turn back due to bad weather.

[Soundbite] "I saw the Korean flag clearly marked on the helicopter and then the Korean Navy insignia. I thought, "Now we’re safe."

When asked about their future plans, the seamen said that the experience was so excruciating that they may never consider boarding a ship again. They added that they would like to get some rest for the time being. The sailors endured and survived the 582 painful days of life-and-death thinking about their families with whom they will finally be reunited with on December 5.

Corruption Continues

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And the prosecution problems keep on coming. In the wake of corruption and sex scandals that rocked the institution to its core and resulted in the resignation of the prosecutor general, now a prosecutor has allegedly been found to have acted as a broker between a law firm and a suspect.

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Officials of the audit department of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office marched into a law firm in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul on December third. At the office, prosecutors confiscated files relating to the cases the law firm had taken on. The office of a prosecutor, who is only identified by his surname Park, was also searched. Park serves in the hard crime division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office. While investigating a case on the illegal administration of propofol in 2010, Park allegedly recommended that the suspect, a doctor whose surname is Kim, refer his case to a law firm where Park's brother-in-law worked. Kim testified that he was asked by the law firm to pay a large fee. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office is therefore looking into whether Park took part of the law firm's commission fee and whether he made favors in the form of demanding a reduced sentence for the doctor. The prosecutors were issued a warrant to trace Park's bank accounts on December third and have since been working on it. Park and his lawyer brother-in-law are also expected to be called in for questioning soon. Irregularities in the prosecution branch appear to have no end. The prosecutor in question in the latest allegations serves in the key hard crime division at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office. Prosecutors across the board are in for another shock. Prosecutor General Han Sang-dae also admitted failure in reforming the prosecution due to internal corruption in the organization. The prosecutors, mired in scandals and divisions, have lost the public’s trust. They have numerous obstacles to overcome in the fight against the current crisis.

Presidential Debate

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The presidential candidates are finally going to go head to head in a TV debate as this month’s election looms.

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Ruling Saenuri Party presidential candidate Park Geun-hye and her opposition counterpart Moon Jae-in of the Democratic United Party are to meet in a televised debate for the first time on the evening of December 4. The debate is to cover topics such as measures for abolishing power-based corruption and inter-Korean and diplomatic policies. Each candidate will first give his or her answers to the question and have a one-on-one debate afterwards. The conservative female candidate is planning to promote herself as a well-prepared and experienced candidate capable of drawing up good and effective policies.

[Soundbite] Park Sun-kyu(Spokesman, Park Campaign) : "She will focus not on winning the debate but try to reveal her heart to the people."

Meanwhile, Democratic United Party candidate Moon is to highlight that he is the one cut out for applying new change.

[Soundbite] Park Yong-jin(Spokesman, Moon Campaign) : "Moon will focus on matters of stability like inter-Korean policies, foreign affairs and national security."

The Unified Progressive Party presidential candidate Lee Jung-hee is planning to differentiate herself from the two other candidates by concentrating her questions on key agendas like the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. Meanwhile, Park paid her second visit to the mortuary of her close aide Lee Chun-sang, who died in a car accident while on a campaign tour. Moon held a campaign rally once more at the Gwanghwamun Plaza to stress the importance of the change of administration claiming that both Park and President Lee Myung-bak were responsible for the worst five years Korea had to go through. All three candidates have no other campaign schedules on December 4 and are putting their focus on the evening's televised debate.

Ahn Speaks

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Former independent presidential hopeful Ahn Cheol-soo has half-heartedly reaffirmed his support for DUP candidate Moon Jae-in. But he blasted both the ruling and opposition campaigns for their mudslinging.

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Former independent presidential contender Ahn Cheol-soo made a public appearance after ten days since he withdrew from the race. He reaffirmed his support for Moon Jae-in.

[Soundbite] Ahn Cheol-soo(Fmr. Presidential Candidate) : "I requested that you support Moon Jae-in. I believe my supporters will now sincerely accept my wish."

But he didn't say when and in what way he will support Moon on the campaign trail. His spokesman Yoo Min-young explained that since Ahn clearly conveyed his will to assist Moon, a decision will be made soon and he will take a moment later to talk about it. In particular, Ahn Cheol-soo vehemently criticized that the current race, which is stained with mudslinging, smear campaigns and political dogfights, slaps the public in the face with what it hopes for. He stressed that the election must aim to provide hope for unifying the public and reforming politics. He said the disbanding of his election camp is not an end but a new beginning. He made it clear he will continue his stride in politics. Rival parties were split in their responses to Ahn's interview. Opposition candidate Moon Jae-in thanked Ahn and vowed to repay his support by achieving a transfer of power. However, ruling party candidate Park Geun-hye downplayed Ahn's statement by saying that it was more about the emphasis on new politics rather than about his endorsement for Moon.

Creating Cooperatives

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A law that makes it easier to establish cooperative organizations has gone into effect in a move that’s hoped to take away some of the sting of tough economic times.

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A new window is open at Seoul City Hall for those who want to set up cooperatives. Chauffeurs were the first ones to report the establishment of a cooperative. So far, there have only been agricultural and consumer cooperatives in Korea. Now, they can be established in all sectors if at least five people participate. Cooperatives pursue the common interest of their members, unlike corporations that operate to make a profit. Since they can set their own labor conditions such as working hours and wages, cooperatives are expected to help create stable jobs and promote the welfare of communities. Small business owners and employees who fear job insecurity, such as chauffeurs and deliverymen, will likely be quick to set up cooperatives. In Busan, neighborhood grocery stores are going to establish a cooperative as a way to counter business challenges set by large supermarkets. However, some cooperatives do not receive tax cuts and government benefits, which are given to existing businesses instead. At least 13 laws must be revised to ensure fairness for cooperatives. The government will devise measures to boost cooperatives with the goal of creating 40,000 to 50,000 jobs.

Curbing Obesity

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One in three Koreans is obese. Today we’ve got some tips on how to eat healthy and keep the whole family’s waistlines under control.

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The table is set with a meal that is plentiful with fiber-rich vegetables and only a half bowl of rice made with various grains. The middle school students, who are in their critical growth stage, love to eat steak. However, this steak is actually made out of beans. You can eat these low calorie foods to your heart's desire. Thanks to the adjusted diet plan, the weight of the members of this family went down as much as ten kilograms in the past three years. Drinking warm water half an hour before each meal can also help fill you up faster while you eat. Visual effects also help. A US study shows that just by plating food on large, weighty tableware, people will eat about 20 percent less. In order to feel full for a longer period of time, one should consume protein. Plant proteins, such as beans, are better than animal protein since the latter contains fat, which results in more calories.

[Soundbite] Prof. Choe Hwan-seok(Seoul St. Mary's Hospital) : "Protein makes you feel fuller. In particular proteins from vegetables are a great alternative."

Also, experts advise people to eat slowly by making the meal last for at least 15 minutes. This move alone will help you feel as though you had a full and satisfying meal.

Sex Offender System

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Ten years ago, a system was introduced in Korea to publicize the personal information of sex offenders as a way to curb sex crimes. Now, the results of a survey on its effectiveness have been revealed.

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Eight former sex offenders live in this neighborhood. Residents were alarmed after receiving mails of the personal information of former sex offenders living in their neighborhood. A survey shows that 93 percent of those living in the same neighborhood as sex offenders try to stay safe by applying at least one of the following safety measures, which include: making sure all doors are locked, avoiding dangerous spots, and getting home as early as possible. 78 percent support expanding the system to reveal more of the sex offenders’ personal information. However, most offenders are pessimistic about the effectiveness of this system. Only 24 percent of sex criminals say that the revelation of their private information helps discourage them from committing another sex crime.

[Soundbite] Kim Ji-seon(Researcher, Korean Institute of Criminology) : "The sex offenders' pessimism about the system shows they take it as a threat to them."

The Korean Institute of Criminology conducted the survey for the first time since introducing the system. The survey also shows that both citizens and sex offenders agree on the need for running medical programs to treat sex criminals.

Bullying Hits TV

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School violence is a grave problem in Korean society. Now, a TV drama is attempting to depict what is going on at Korean schools.

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A high school boy forcefully resists a female teacher who seizes a cell phone from him. Nowadays, many students do not respect the teachers' authority in the classroom. A classroom is also not a safe haven for students who fall victim to school violence. The KBS drama series "School 2013" depicts what is really going on inside a typical classroom. The drama began on December 3rd. In the series, popular actress Jang Na-ra is a temporary teacher who finally becomes a homeroom teacher. The producer says that depicting the school life as realistically as possible is one of the best ways to find, address, and resolve the problems in the classroom.

[Soundbite] Lee Min-hong(Director) : "I hope the drama will help students, teachers and parents come together to talk about how to settle the issue."

The series is expected to deliver a powerful message and to provide hope to the discouraged and disappointed students who are currently struggling.

Hobbies to Jobs

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Everyone dreams of doing what they love as a job, but making that actually happen is no easy feat. Today we’re going to meet some lucky people who have turned their hobbies into side jobs.

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This is a fish market in Noryangjin, Seoul, early in the morning.

[Soundbite] Jo Hui-chik(Owner, Japanese Restaurant) : "I came here to buy fish for my restaurant. I run a Japanese restaurant specializing in Osaka cuisine."

Jo Hui-chik is Korean-Japanese.

He was born in Japan, but he came to Korea at age 18. Seven years ago, he opened a Japanese restaurant specializing in Osaka-style cuisine, which he grew up with.

[Soundbite] "I’ve been living in Korea for more than 30 years. There’s no Japanese restaurant that offers good Osaka cuisine. That’s why I opened it."

The restaurant venture isn’t making him rich, but he says it makes him happy to be able bring Japanese food culture to Korea.

[Soundbite] "I trust him. I expect the restaurant to be cleaner and more hygienic. Because He’s a doctor, he’ll do a better job."

But Jo is not only a restaurateur. He’s also a doctor, and has been running a clinic for 20 years.

[Soundbite] Dr. Jo Hui-chik(Family Medicine) : "I’ve been running a family medicine clinic for 20 years."

As he works on a reservation-only basis in both his clinic and his restaurant, he’s able to juggle the two jobs.

[Soundbite] "I feel a sense of accomplishment at the clinic when I treat patients and they recover, and at the restaurant when customers say the food is delicious and come frequently. It makes it worthwhile and makes me want to work harder."

This asset management consultant who works for a foreign insurance company also has a side job.

[Soundbite] "He’s reliable. I always get help from him. My assets have nearly doubled. Thank you."

Lee Du-wang has a hectic work schedule during the day. But he gets even busier at night, as he moonlights as the owner of a fried chicken restaurant.

[Soundbite] Lee Du-wang(Works Two Jobs) : "First, I like chicken so I do two things. I meet many customers while working as an asset management consultant. I also meet many customers while doing this side job. I really enjoy it."

He says that rather than being exhausted by having two jobs, the extra gig helps him feel fulfilled.

[Soundbite] "I’ve been doing two jobs for 13 months. I'm satisfied. I'd be willing to do three."

Here is another person with two jobs.

[Soundbite] Jeon Mi-suk(Works Two Jobs) : "I'm a barista who makes and serves good coffee at this cafe."

Jeon Mi-suk's other job is completely unrelated to coffee. Her other workplace is this salsa club. She began learning how to salsa dance seven years ago as a hobby. She fell in love with it and eventually became an instructor. This way, she makes some extra money doing what she loves.

[Soundbite] Jeon Mi-suk(Works Two Jobs) : "I can double my income through my main and side job. It helps me financially. It’s quite helpful."

Turning your passion into cash is no easy feat, but these people have managed to make extra additions to their regular lives that allow them to follow their dreams.