Agreement At Last

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Three weeks after the launch of the new administration, the parties have finally reached an agreement on the controversial plan to reorganize the government.

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The ruling and opposition parties have finally reached a consensus on the government reorganization bill. It came 47 days after the bill was submitted to the National Assembly. From the onset, both parties placed priority in reaching an agreement, which they did after two hours of negotiating. The parties have agreed to let the Ministry of Future Creation and Science oversee media-related matters, including cable TV and system operators. The ministry must obtain the permission of the Korea Communications Commission before issuing and renewing permits with regards to the new media, enacting regulations and amending them. The parties also decided to set up a special committee to ensure media fairness, finally ending their prolonged standoff. The Democratic United Party will head the committee, which will have the same number of members from both parties and will be operated for six months. The Ministry of Future Creation and Science will also oversee matters related to Internet-protocol TV, as was originally scheduled, but IPTV program providers will be banned from operating news channels. The KCC and the Ministry will oversee the wave frequencies and the broadcast promotion funds by classifying them into those for broadcasting and for communications. The KCC will also maintain its status as a central administrative institution run according to a council system. The parties also agreed to enact a measure allowing authorities to cancel permits and approvals issued to system operators if they align their channels unfairly.

2. Parliamentary Probes

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On top of the reorganization bill, the parties have also agreed to launch parliamentary investigations into a spy agency staffer's involvement in December's presidential election as well as the government-driven four river renovation project.

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Rival parties have reached an agreement on the operation of the National Assembly, in addition to the government reorganization bill. They agreed to launch a parliamentary probe into a National Intelligence Service employee's posting of comments to promote the ruling Saenuri Party during last year's presidential election as soon as prosecutors wrap up their investigation into the case. The National Assembly will also work to hold a parliamentary investigation into the government-led four river restoration project if the Board of Audit and Inspection's probe is thought to fall short of expectations. The parties agreed to review the qualifications of Unified Progressive Party representatives Lee Seok-ki and Kim Jae-yeon as lawmakers. Ruling and opposition parties have also decided to revise the law on confirmation hearings for Cabinet member nominees in the first half of this year. Both parties are taking credit for reaching the deal, saying that they are the ones who have made the concessions for the agreement. However, some of the agreements are not related to the government’s reorganization. The ruling and opposition parties were negotiating over issues that could have been discussed separately from the government reorganization bill. As a result, the negotiations took the longest-ever 47 days and the opposition party succeeded in having most of its major demands accepted. Observers say that the negotiations between rival parties were too exhausting, given the confusion in the management of state affairs and political conflict that continued for three weeks even after the new government took office. The National Assembly will approve the government reorganization bill and other agreements at the plenary session on Wednesday.

3. Soldiers Gone Wild

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Some drunken American soldiers caused public disturbances over the weekend where the police ended up getting involved. A recent spat of such incidents has Korea’s Foreign Ministry urging U.S. Forces Korea to prevent a recurrence.

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At 3 a.m. Sunday, a man enters a restroom at a restaurant in the district near Hongik University. Some time later, police appear and take the man away. It was a drunken U.S. private who caused the disturbance. The U.S. soldier was brought under police custody after a violent resistance. He smacked a Korean police officer in the face.

[Soundbite] Pol. Mun Yeong-cheol(Seoul Mapo Police Station) : "He punched me in the face and broke my glasses. He grabbed me and tore my uniform."

A U.S. sergeant was detained by Korean police after making a fuss in front of the police station in the Hongik University area at 5 a.m. on Sunday. Both of them were investigated and handed over to the U.S. Military Police. A series of violent cases by U.S. soldiers were reported over the weekend. Those in question drank and caused the disturbance outside their units during military curfew hours. Korea's Foreign Ministry has contacted a USFK official and urged him to devise measures to prevent similar cases.

4. Chemical Castration

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Chemical castration of sex offenders will likely be expanded in Korea after a Constitutional Court decision on whether it violates human rights.

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Libido-suppressing hormone medications were originally developed for treating prostatic diseases, but they have also been found effective in reducing one’s sex drive. Regarding this, the use of the medication for chemical castration was legalized in Korea in August 2011. But until now, it was conducted only once. Accordingly, Seoul decided to expand chemical castration in the country starting Tuesday. This decision was made regarding the brutal sex crimes that had occurred last year in Tongyeong, Naju and Seoul. Until now, chemical castration was restricted to rapists whose victims were 16 years old or younger. But from Tuesday, it will be applied to all sex offenders, regardless of their victim’s age. Rapists who were convicted earlier can also be subject to chemical castration if they have not received their sentences yet.

[Soundbite] Lee Cheol-hui(Ministry of Justice) : "According to the revised law, we will actively request psychiatric tests and treatments for sex criminals."

Meanwhile, some are arguing that since a consent from the rapist is not required, the court will not easily sentence chemical castrations to sex offenders as it may view the injection as a violation of human rights.

[Soundbite] Sin Su-gyeong(Human Rights Solidarity for New Society) : "There are still disputes on its effect in reducing and preventing crimes as well as medical controversies."

The court which is in charge of giving the final approval for chemical castration has requested an adjudication on the injection’s constitutionality last month. Many are doubtful about whether the government will be able to expand chemical castration as planned because even if prosecutors request the medical treatment, the court is likely to hold off on its approval.

5. Smoking Nation

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Korea has the highest smoking rate and lowest cigarette prices of any country in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Political parties have decided to introduce a bill that would require tobacco manufacturers to place photos warning of the dangers of smoking on cigarette packs.

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The Korean tobacco market is estimated to be more than 4.4 billion U.S. dollars. To survive the cutthroat competition, manufacturers are striving to attract smokers' attentions with eye-catching designs on their cigarette packs It’s all part of their marketing strategies. This goes against the global trend of discouraging smoking through raising cigarette prices and issuing stronger warning labels.

[Soundbite] Prof. Kim Won-nyeon(Korea University) : "Korea has the lowest cigarette prices and highest smoking rate among OECD member countries"

To bring down the nation's high smoking rate, the ruling and opposition parties introduced a bill to raise cigarette prices by about one U.S. dollar and 80 cents per pack and have also initiated a bill to change the designs of cigarette packs. The bill, to be introduced this week, will require tobacco companies to cover more than 50 percent of packs with photo warnings against the dangers of smoking. Firms will also be banned from using potentially confusing phrases, such as "mild and light," which may mislead consumers into thinking that the products are less harmful. The bill also stipulates that medical treatment to help smokers quit be covered by health insurance, which the U.S. and Japan are already doing.

[Soundbite] Rep. Kim Jae-won(Saenuri Party) : "The most important purpose of the anti-smoking bill is to bring down the nation's smoking rate. This is the only way to promote public health."

Stronger anti-smoking policies were nipped in the bud several times due to tobacco companies' strong resistance and concerns about the greater financial burden for ordinary people. Many are saying that this year is the best time to push forward the measures, since it marks the first year of the new government with no other major elections.

6. Going Smart

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Buildings in Korea are going "smart" these days. It’s the first place in the world to have a smart hotel and hospital where all services are accessible via smartphone.

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After a customer checks into a hotel, she is given a smartphone instead of a card key. The room door is unlocked by holding the smartphone against a sensor device. With the smartphone, the guest can operate and control all of the room’s facilities, including the lights, the heating and cooling systems, and even the TV. Room services, like morning wake up calls, can also be requested through the smartphones.

[Soundbite] Ayako Hashimoto(Japanese Tourist) : "There's no place that does this in Japan. Seeing Korea, an IT powerhouse, do this, they’re really fast."

The room's air conditioning and heating systems can also be remote-controlled from outside. There's also a hospital that applied the smart technology to it's medical services. If you download the hospital application onto your smartphone, you don't have to wait in a long line to register. The application also guides you around the hospital and to the nearest pharmacy. You can also pay your medical fees using the app.

[Soundbite] Prof. Hwang Hui(Seoul National University Bundang Hospital) : "When patients arrive, the hospital application automatically directs them where to go and what to do."

This was made possible by applying cutting-edge IT technologies, such as wireless communication and bluetooth, to the former network system. Such smart building businesses are mainly run by domestic mobile service providers. Recently, the technology is being expanded for use in airports, schools and factories.

7. Himalayan Help

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A group of Koreans has visited a remote village in the Himalayas to volunteer and help out the school children there. Here's a look at their journey.

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After a 16 hour flight, a plane nears the Himalayas. But the team still has a long way to go up a steep and curvy path. They walk onward for hours. Some members suffer from elevation sickness.

[Soundbite] Yun Byeong-hui(Himalayan School Expedition Team) : "I'm sleepy and exhausted. (How's your breathing?) I'm out of breath."

They press on even in the stark dark of the night. Finally, they arrive at the Himalayan mountain village located 3,800 meters above sea level. The villagers greet them with their traditional dance. The expedition team hands out school supplies and soccer balls and plays games with the school children. For the past nine years, the expedition team provided books and materials to schools in the remote mountains. The team is comprised of 35 members of all ages from 16 to 75. They're working as civil envoys spreading love and affection to some of the world's most isolated regions.

8. Spring Festivals

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As spring begins, there are festivals happening across the peninsula to greet the new season.

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Water is scooped up from a jar. The water is acer mono sap, which is known to be rich in minerals and good for the bones. The festival was not held for the last two years because of foot-and-mouth disease and a small yield of sap. Tourists are happy to see the festival open again this year. People drink the sap and feel how spring has finally arrived after the long cold winter.

[Soundbite] "Hwagae Market was famous for ages. It's great tasting the gorosoe and looking around the festival."

In Jinhae, preparations are underway for the cherry blossom festival. The pale pink buds on tree branches seem as if they'll soon go into full bloom. The 51st Jinhae Gunhangje begins on April 1st. From April 5th through the seventh, various events will be held, including fireworks, a ceremony commemorating Joseon Dynasty naval commander Yi Sun-sin's victory against the Japanese army, a military band parade and other performances. In addition, spring flower festivals will be held in Hadong and Changnyeong, and drama and music festivals will take place in Hamyang and Tongyeong respectively.

9. Small Voices

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On today’s Closeup, we’re taking a look into the world of indie broadcasting in Korea. We’re going to meet some people who are bringing their communities closer together with their programs.

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Near Cheongju's Gagyeong Bus Terminal, there's a market. Twice a week, the atmosphere is more lively than usual. It's when the marketplace's radio show begins at one p.m.

[Soundbite] "Your energizing, merry, refreshing, and pleasant Gagyeong Terminal Marketplace radio show Geotjeoli is now starting."

The show was launched in September 2010 to make the day at the marketplace more enjoyable for both merchants and customers. The vendors and locals working in cultural fields take turns DJing the show. The number of customers has more than doubled since the show was launched. The show is over but the DJ's job isn’t over yet. Listeners who give the correct answers to quizzes given out during the show get coupons as prizes. The coupons are for free admission into lectures given by local artists.

[Soundbite] "(Congratulations.) Thank you. I got coupons! I feel great because today I got more coupons. I'm going to give them to my customers."

[Soundbite] "It's original, lively and fresh. I come often to listen to music."

Next, we're going to meet someone who airs a show all by himself without a studio. Taxi driver Im I-taek airs his live one-man Internet show while driving his cab around Seoul. His show suddenly found itself in the spotlight in 2010 when K-pop singer IU boarded his taxi. He has no script. His show is just about everyday life driving the streets of the capital.

[Soundbite] Lim I-taek(Taxi Driver) : "I talk about everyday life and social issues. Tourists from abroad who usually get on at Seoul landmarks such as 63 City, Mt. Nam or Namdaemun Market seem to find it very odd."

Cooking shows are also going online these days. This guy isn’t actually a soldier. He's just dressed like a military cook for his show. But he did work in the kitchen during his military service. He says his show’s popularity is rising. The Internet cooking show host broadcasts himself live tasting the food he cooked at the Han River Park in Seoul dressed in his uniform.

[Soundbite] Choe Ji-hwan(Internet Cooking Show Host) : "I want to keep airing my show since I can have a great time communicating and sharing good things with others."

Next, we're heading to a studio in Seoul’s Dongjak-gu. A community radio show was launched here in January. Nine local residents record seven programs in advance and air them everyday online.

[Soundbite] Seo Nan-jeong(Radio DJ, Dongjak Community) : "Our show is called Dongjak FM's Cheapy Coffee. It's a radio show open to anyone. Anyone can listen in to stories of people's lives and take part as well."

The show also invites local guests to talk about life in the neighborhood.

[Soundbite] Gang Jin-seok(Radio DJ, Dongjak Community) : "The radio show for the neighborhood is great since we can discuss about what's happening to our neighbors and ourselves."

Podcasts haven’t fully taken off in Korea, but small-scale neighborhood radio and Internet shows like these deliver local news and bring communities closer together. At a time when many of us don't even know our next door neighbors, these shows are creating a much-need sense of community.