Seismic Disturbance of Possible Third Nuclear Test Detected

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An earthquake has been detected in North Korea, after the country conducted its third nuclear test.

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At 11:57am today, a seismic disturbance was detected in the country’s Puggye-ri area in Northern Hamgyong. The Korea Meteorological Agency detected a 5.1-magnititude earthquake while the U.S. estimated it to be around 4.9. Korean authorities have reported that this was indeed Pyongyang’s third nuclear test. President Lee Myung-bak has called a National Security Council meeting at the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae.

2. Assembly Absences

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Plenary parliamentary sessions are the center stage for passing laws and processing state affairs. But lawmakers don't seem to be taking the sessions very seriously.

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[Soundbite] "The plenary session is now open. Members of the Assembly, please enter the venue as soon as possible."

On February 7 a parliamentary plenary session was held to hear the speeches of the representatives of parliamentary negotiation bodies. Five minutes after the session began many seats in the assembly were still empty. The hearing proceeded with many twists and turns, but even those lawmakers who were present from the beginning left one by one.

[Soundbite] Lawmaker : "(The meeting isn’t over yet.) Something urgent has come up."

[Soundbite] Lawmaker : "(The floor leader is giving a speech.) I’ve heard the important parts and reviewed them."

More than 50 lawmakers left during the hearing and those that remained were only Cabinet members. The situation was similar at the session held on February 5. An analysis of eight plenary sessions conducted by civic groups shows that the lawmakers' average attendance rate reached 93 percent, but less than half of them stayed until the end. Only one lawmaker stayed at all eight meetings from beginning to end.

[Soundbite]  Kim Dae-in (The Good Law Customer Association) : "We must monitor our representatives to check if they are fulfilling their parliamentary responsibilities."

Delays and empty seats have become a familiar practice at parliamentary sessions. On February 14 the National Assembly will hold an interpellation session.

3. Park's Pension Plan

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President-elect Park Geun-hye has made a controversial pledge to boost the monthly allowance provided to the elderly. Here’s a look at how the plan is proceeding.

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[Soundbite] Park Geun-hye (Saenuri Party Presidential Candidate/Nov. 5, 2012): "If the basic pension is applied, you can receive 200,000 won (US$182.37) each month without paying pension insurance."

The expansion of pension benefits in the basic pension system was president-elect Park Geun-hye's key pledge to boost welfare during last year's presidential election. But because of Park’s plan, voluntary subscribers to the national pension are dropping out of the pension plan. Subscribers argue if everyone will receive a similar amount in pensions regardless of whether they paid the monthly insurance, then they don’t see the need to pay for the pension insurance. Many are also worried that the basic pension will be financed by the National Pension Scheme, which many worry will go bankrupt in about 40 years. Amid such disputes, the presidential transition committee is considering differentiating the pension amount recievable. The committee is planning to provide senior non subscribers of the lower 70 percent income bracket with around 182 US dollars per month and less than that to subscribers. The president-elect herself said the basic pension will be funded by the taxpayers money. However, many argue that differentiating the pension amount would not meet the aim of Park's pledge and doesn't resolve the issue of fairness. Experts also add that a tax boost will be inevitable in order to fund the plan. But the transition team restated that its welfare plans do not require a tax increase. In its defense, the committee said that not everyone will be satisfied despite how hard it tries to accommodate the people, hinting that it will stick to differentiating the pension amount coverage.

4. Custody Disputes

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A court has found that children do have the right to decide who they want to live with when their parents break up.

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In the movie Kramer vs. Kramer, a divorced couple fights in court over the custody of their seven-year-old son. A similar fight occurred in Korea in 2008. The mother was given custody of the son, but in actuality, he lives with the father. The mother requested a compulsory execution to have her child back. A bailiff visited the father's home and asked the child to go to his mother's house but he said twice that he didn’t want to go. The bailiff also visited him at a child care center but he again replied that he wanted to stay with his dad. At the time, the son was seven years old. The court judged that the boy was old enough to decide and express who he wanted to live with and suspended the compulsory execution.

[Soundbite] Kim Mun-seong (Spokesman, Seoul Central District Court) : "Personal rights must be respected. Thus, if the child freely expressed his opinion, it must be considered."

The question remains whether the mother should give up custody. The court explains that the child cannot be taken to his mother by force, but if the father is found to have interfered with the custody unjustly, he could be fined up to around 9,000 US dollars or detained for as much as 30 days.

5. Rent Burden

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Students from provincial areas attending college in Seoul are having a tough time finding a place to live in the capital during their studies.

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Jeong Jae-hun is a college senior. He lives in a small studio apartment, for which he pays around 390 U.S. dollars a month in rent on top of his 4500-dollar deposit. A studio in this university neighborhood costs around 360 dollars a month in addition to a deposit of roughly 9000 dollars. The monthly rent of newly built apartments goes well over 700 U.S. dollars.

[Soundbite] Do Wu-jin (College Student): "I have to pay 400,000 won (US$364) to 500,000 won for my apartment, plus I spend 200,000 to 300,000 on food. So I need at least one million won a month."

A survey conducted by an organization dedicated to helping college students solve their housing issues shows that a single-room facility with shared bathrooms and kitchens costs more than a high-end apartment in Gangnam, which is the most affluent area in Seoul. College students living on their own or in boarding houses were found to pay approximately the same amount in rent. The Korea Land and Housing Corporation provides up to 63,000 U.S. dollars for apartment deposits. But to many college students that's just an unattainable dream, because they have a small chance of attaining the financial aid. It doesn’t help that many apartment owners prefer to have tenants who will pay rent on a monthly basis rather than a large lump sum for the deposit to avoid monthly rental fees. Some owners even raise their rents to those who receive deposit subsidies. College dormitories can only accommodate 18 percent of their students. The government is pushing for the construction of a large dormitory for college students. However, many are skeptical about the idea because when considering the construction costs, the rent will likely be far from cheap.

6. Bowing to Tradition

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Residents of a village have observed the tradition of bowing to the oldest person in the village for Lunar New Year's Day for more than four centuries. The government has provided subsidies for this year’s event for the first time.

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Dressed in the traditional Korean outfit "hanbok," people head to the village's community center. The 100 villagers gather to bow to the elders of the village on Lunar New Year's Day. The tradition was formed in 1577 and is now 436 years old. The deputy head of the village gives words of blessing to the villagers on the behalf of the chief who is 96 years old.

[Soundbite] Jo Gyu-sang (Village Deputy Head): "Thank you very much. I hope everything will go well for you. Thank you."

Women used to be just onlookers, but this year, they got to participate in the event and bow to the elders of the village.

[Soundbite] Gwon Sun-deok (Head, Female Villagers' Organization): "This is the first time in 430 years. The village chief said that since a woman has become the nation’s president, it would be good to receive a New Year's bow from female villagers."

The village received government subsidies for the event for the first time in its history. Afterwards, they enjoyed a traditional Korean performance and had a meal together.

[Soundbite] "This event is great for education. We can teach our children that we’ve kept a good tradition."

The 400-year-old event serves as a good occasion for the villagers to solidify bonds with their neighbors and recognize their roles as community members.

7. Holiday Recovery

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Many people in Korea find themselves extremely stressed out and tired after big holidays like the Lunar New Year. Here are some tips for coping with holiday stress.

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Driving for hours on congested roads or slaving in the kitchen for days to cook for the holidays is how many people spend their lunar New Year. If holiday fatigue is not relieved properly, it can cause a condition known as the post-holiday syndrome. Quick exercise and plentiful rest are some of the best ways to relieve fatigue. Stretching helps to relieve muscle tension and pain, while going to bed earlier than usual will make you feel less tired. To prevent indigestion caused by overeating and binge drinking, try to cut down on the meal itself and consume more fruits and vegetables. It is also important to drink plenty of water. The mental stress felt by couples during the holidays can also take a toll on the body.

[Soundbite] Prof. Gang Hui-cheol (Yonsei Severance Hospital): "Complimenting, encouraging and comforting each other for the hard work are important in helping people relax and recover from exhaustion."

Just a couple of warm, encouraging words can work wonders when trying to relieve holiday stress and help families to bond.

8. Senior Support

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A local government is running a program under which businesses are assigned to support senior centers in their neighborhoods.

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Health checkups are given at this community center for senior citizens. The center's sister hospital nearby is giving them free checkups.

[Soundbite] "We, grandmothers, are very old. We can't see well either. We haven’t been able to work for a long time and hope they come to examine us occasionally. "

At another center, the elderly enjoy a traditional music performance by young children.

[Soundbite] Gu Jeong-suk (Teacher, Child Care Center): "The children can only see their grandmothers once or twice a year. I think it's great that they can come here and see the elderly a lot at our sister center."

Each local business is assigned to a sister senior community center to donate their talents and support the centers. This system is bringing them back to life. Before the program was launched, the centers were barely maintained since each were run on government support of around 450 US dollars per month. In just a year and a half, all 240 senior community centers in Ansan now have sister businesses.

[Soundbite] Kim Cheol-min (Ansan City Mayor): "Because public support for senior community centers is limited we're having the private sector provide continuous support.
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Caring local businesses that are pitching in to help the lonely seniors are bringing warmth to the city.

9. Coffee and Health

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Korea is crazy for coffee and the streets teem with cafes. And studies have shown that there are health reasons to drink it.

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At lunchtime, people stand in line in a coffee shop. These days, it’s customary for people to drink coffee after their meals. A study says that drinking at least four cups of coffee a day helps reduce the risk of a stroke by 17 percent and diabetes by 28 percent. That's all thanks to various antioxidants that are contained in the drink.

[Soundbite] Prof. Lee Jeong-gwon (Samsung Medical Center): "We don’t know exactly, but the polyphenol and antioxidants in coffee are presumed to have a protecting effect."

But coffee is also known to cause acid reflux and heart palpitations. Therefore, people with acid reflux and arrhythmia should avoid drinking coffee. Caffeine, the main substance contained in coffee, also hampers calcium absorption in the body, posing health risks to postmenopausal women, who are prone to osteoporosis. The recommended daily amount of coffee is no more than four cups of brewed coffee or six cups of instant coffee. Additionally, freshly brewed black coffee offers more health benefits than coffee with added sugar or cream, which also makes the drink high in calories.

10. Making Space

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No matter how big your home is, finding enough space for storage is always a challenge. Here's how you can maximize the space efficiency in your home.

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This apartment building in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province was built 15 years ago. We visited a family that has transformed its old unit. The apartment measures around a hundred square meters in size. But it looks much more spacious thanks to its neat decor.

[Soundbite] Jo Yu-jin (Homemaker): "My home used to be untidy and lacked storage because I have three kids, who always make a mess. I want to make better use of space but I can’t."

The apartment was renovated to meet each family member's needs. The space is used to the fullest.

[Soundbite] "I want to show you something. This used to be just dead space. But we attached a hanger here to hang up clothes we wear every day. We also made a shelf up there for storage."

With three kids in the family, this home used to have no space for rest. But now it even has a small cafe.

[Soundbite] Seong Dong-myeong (Interior Expert): "Usually people store cleaning tools or other useless things in vacant spaces. But they can also make perfect private spaces if you just put a small table and chair there."

In small homes, sofas with built-in drawers can come in really handy.

[Soundbite] "I didn’t make a special room but it's good to have some extra space for me and my family by just using the leftover space."

This company produces kitchen appliances. Since it started making versatile products that can be used for different purposes, its sales have surged over 20 percent. This store sells all kinds of products that can help you get rid of clutter in your house.

[Soundbite] "I like to build things with blocks. I think I can do this easily. All you have to do is just stack them."

This storage closet for terraces looks neat thanks to its doors. It's easy to store and find things in it if you sort them out before stacking the closet.

[Soundbite] "I have lots of leftover space in my home, but it's still hard to clean it up. Items like this one can help you store small things. I like it a lot."

Another way to make the best out of the space in your apartment is by making your own furniture. It takes about a month to make a small piece of furniture on your own. You can put together anything from closets to rocking chairs. You can make any piece of furniture you want to fit snugly into your home.

[Soundbite] "It makes me happy to think that I can make furniture for my home and actually use it."

Every inch of space counts if you know how to use it right.