Abrupt End

[Anchor Lead]

A few short weeks ago he was considered North Korea’s second-most powerful man: now, Jang Song-thaek is dead. Tried at a special military tribunal, Kim Jong-un’s once-powerful uncle was sentenced to death.

[Pkg]

The Korean Central News Agency of North Korea aired breaking news at six o'clock this morning to report Jang Song-thaek's execution. North Korea's state news agency said that a special tribunal by the State Security Department was held yesterday and that Jang was sentenced to death, according to Article 60 of North Korea's penal code. The execution was carried out immediately. Last Sunday he was fired from all his posts on four charges, including having been engaged in anti-party and factional activities, and was expelled from the Worker's Party. His execution came just four days after this. The KCNA said Jang committed high treason by undermining the succession of leadership in order to realize his ambition for supreme power. Jang was also found to have placed his affiliates and sycophants inside party departments and that they looked to him as their overlord. This was official confirmation that Jang was conspiring to overthrow the regime. Two of his top aides have already been shot publicly and in the wake of the prompt execution of Jang, it's being speculated that more of his close associates will be brought to trial and purged. With the second anniversary of the death of Kim Jong-il only four days away, the Kim Jong-un regime is expected to guard against internal unrest by forcing his people to express their loyalty toward the young leader and denounce Jang and his associates.

2. Trade Partnership

[Anchor Lead]

Seoul and Washington are in the midst of preliminary talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Washington has outlined its preconditions, putting the pressure on Seoul if it wants to join the partnership.

[Pkg]

High-ranking officials from Korea and the United States presented their stances on Korea's potential participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Officials from the U.S. Trade Representative welcomed Korea's interest in joining the partnership, but they also outlined several preconditions.

[Soundbite] Wendy Cutler (Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative)

Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler also added that Korea must resolve issues such as the transfer of financial service data, funding for low-carbon dioxide vehicles and the recognition of U.S. organically processed foods. She made it clear that if Korea joins the TPP talks, it will have to discuss issues that were not tackled at the Korea-U.S. FTA talks, such as funding for state-run companies and affiliates.

[Soundbite] Ahn Ho-young (Korean Ambassador to U.S.)

Seoul says it will consider Washington's requirements because there have been no serious trade issues since the conclusion of their bilateral free trade pact.

3. Off the Rails

[Anchor Lead]

The Korea Railroad Corporation, or KORAIL, says a cargo train that derailed on Wednesday had a cracked wheel. Meanwhile, the labor union strike continues, and KTX bullet train operations are to be scaled back.

[Pkg]

The train compartment is lifted, but its wheel is nowhere to be seen. The wheel was made 14 years ago, became cracked, and had fallen off.

[Soundbite] Jang Jin-bok (Spokesman, Korea Railroad Corporation): "We think it's a case of outdated wheels that can occur naturally."

Since cargo trains usually carry heavy loads of cement, oil and containers, pressure on the wheels is that much greater. A study found that putting pressure on the wheel particularly in winter can damage it. Therefore checking for cracks in these areas is crucial. Though employees used to examine the wheels in the past by tapping them, this is no longer the case. Instead, just a visual check is conducted. But with the ongoing rail strike, the government is looking into whether even a visual checkup was carried out. Meanwhile KORAIL announced that its services including that of the high speed KTX would be reduced beginning next week due to a shortage of labor. Those presently working are taking on more workload and could tire themselves out. The government is bracing for a prolonged strike as it said the metropolitan subway system might also be scaled down. The state run rail operator already dismissed around 76-hundred workers including 860 on Thursday alone. But it says if mere participants of the strike return back to work, the discharge will be canceled immediately.

4. NIS Reform

[Anchor Lead]

The National Intelligence Service has briefed parliament on its self-reform plan, which include a ban on its agents’ access to the National Assembly or party offices. The political parties stand divided on the plan.

[Pkg]

The key to the National Intelligence Service's self-reform plan reported to parliament is banning political interference. The NIS says it will prohibit its agents from entering parliament, party offices and media firms at any time. All of its employees will pledge to not meddle in politics. A center and committee will also be set up through which employees can reject any orders they may receive that involve political engagement. The NIS says it will also clearly identify the boundary of its psychological warfare activities, which triggered the ongoing electioneering scandal in the first place. It will also prohibit issuing any remarks related to the political parties and their lawmakers. Rival parties are split on the agency's reform plan.

[Soundbite] Rep. Kim Jae-won (Member, Special NIS Reform Committee): "The reform plan reflects the NIS' considerable efforts to overhaul itself."

[Soundbite] Rep. Moon Byeong-ho (Member, Special NIS Reform Committee): "Our party believes the plan is very disappointing."

Regarding the NIS budget, the spy agency's chief Nam Jae-joon said budgetary concerns are even regulated by the Assembly now and that there's no intelligence agency in the world that discloses its budget. He added that existing laws are sufficient in protecting whistleblowers. From the looks of things, political discussion on revamping the spy agency is not off to a smooth start.

5. Creative Spaces

[Anchor Lead]

A website called the Creative Economy Town launched this September to help people turn their ideas into startups. Soon, the government will start opening real, physical creative economy towns.

[Pkg]

This unusual bike with a 3D screen makes you feel as if you're riding outdoors. This "hand grip" clip clamped onto milk packs stops the milk from spilling even when its upside down. All these inventions are from up-and-coming venture firms. Turning ideas into merchandise, starting a business and creating jobs are the main ideas of the creative economy. The government has decided to set up such real-life creative economy towns across the nation to promote this cause.

[Soundbite] Park Geun-hye (President): "We must transfer the online success offline and apply this to all aspects of the Korean economy."

The government is poised to establish such centers in each region using ingenuous ideas to come up with new products. It will also provide funding in the form of small-amount collective investments to those who submit original ideas.

[Soundbite] Kim Dong-yeon (Chairman, Korea Finance Platform): "People will make their dreams come true and start a business using this new type of financial investment."

The government will also set up a task force this year to promote the creative economy in cooperation with the private sector and provide quick support to those that need it.

6. Patent Failure

[Anchor Lead]

Samsung Electronics has lost its second patent lawsuit, filed with a domestic court against Apple. The court said in its verdict that two out of the three Samsung patents were not unique.

[Pkg]

Last year Samsung Electronics won its first patent lawsuit filed in Korea against Apple. But it lost the second one. The court has ruled that none of the three Samsung's patents were infringed upon. The court added that two of the patents even lacked innovation. Samsung claimed that Apple copied its app switcher technology that enables smartphone users to search contact numbers while typing text messages without losing the typed content. Another contentious point is whether Apple infringed upon the technology that enables users to view new text messages that appear on the screen by clicking on them. But the court ruled that any technician can invent such technologies based on the ones that were developed in the 1990s. Samsung switched its legal strategy in a bid to avoid the so-called "fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory" terms, which call for allowing everyone in the industry to use standard patents. But its claim wasn't recognized. Samsung Electronics expressed its regret over the ruling and said it will use any legal measures to protect its patents.

7. Education Crunch

[Anchor Lead]

Budget shortfalls have put education welfare projects at risk of suspension. As a stopgap measure, various cuts allowed those projects to continue this year, but next year looks tight as well.

[Pkg]

Parents of physically challenged students gather in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Council where budget deliberations are being held for the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. They are protesting the 950-thousand dollar budget cut to open up a special needs school. Other areas for next year also got slashed including those for honorary retiree teachers, foreign language education and boosting science and technology education for students. The total budget remains the same even with the cuts because various welfare budgets have increased. The free mandatory schooling for five-year-olds and under called the Nuri curriculum will see an additional 78.9 million dollars. Increases to key education welfare programs such as free school meals and after school elementary classes total some 130 million dollars. Superintendents are demanding that subsidies for provincial educational finance be raised from the current 20 percent to 25 of inland duties.

[Soundbite] Go Yeong-jin (Superintendent, S. Gyeongsang Provincial Education Office): "Increasing subsidies for provincial educational funding is urgently needed to meet the fiscal demand."

0ther educational projects have been revamped so that more finances can be allocated to urgent areas but there are concerns this makeshift approach might weaken the overall educational capacity.

8. Music Diplomacy

[Anchor Lead]

Despite the chilled political relations between Korea and Japan, bilateral cultural exchanges are still booming. Politicians of both countries could learn a thing or two from Japanese musicians working in Korea.

[Pkg]

Sweet sounds of a ukulele accompany a soulful melody. A Korean singer sings a song from the 1930s. But the ukulele player is Mr. Hachi, who is originally from Japan. He was a guitarist in a popular Japanese band in the 1970s, but has been working in Korea for nearly 20 years after he was captivated by Korean music. He had worked with a number of famed Korean singers, such as the rock band Wild Chrysanthemum, rock singers Kang San-ae and Hahn Dae-soo. He attributes his close relationships with those musicians to honesty.

[Soundbite] Hachi (Japanese Musician): "I liked how my Korean friends expressed their thoughts."

There are other Japanese musicians performing in Korea. Hasegawa plays the guitar for Jang Ki-ha and the Faces and three Japanese musicians have formed a rock band called Gopchang Jeongol. They were able to blend in because Koreans made an effort to understand these Japanese musicians.

[Soundbite] Choe Eun-jin (Korean Singer): "There are some differences. I felt it at first, too, but I don't anymore because we understand each other."

Perhaps Korean and Japanese politicians can learn from these musicians about how sincerity and honesty can bring people together and understand each other.

9. Hearing Loss

[Anchor Lead]

As people get older, hearing is one of the first things to go. One of the most critical things you can do for your health as you age is to detect signs of hearing loss early on.

[Pkg]

Korean society is aging fast. The number of elderly people suffering from poor hearing has soared. Seven out of ten seniors in the nation who are 70 and older have experienced age-related hearing loss. Most of them think of the condition as a natural part of the aging process. This senior is one of many diagnosed with age-related hearing loss.

[Soundbite] Kim Hae-sun (Hearing Loss Patient): "My sister told me that when she speaks to me on the phone in a public place, she has to scream. She told me to get a checkup. I thought it was due to my old age. I decided to get a doctor's opinion."

The condition occurs as hearing nerves and the cochlea age. People who are often exposed to noise are especially vulnerable to early hearing loss.

[Soundbite] Dr. Bae Seong-cheon (Otolaryngology): "Many people use earphones these days or work in a noisy environment. They develop noise-induced hearing loss at a young age, and have a high risk of developing age-related hearing loss earlier than others. More and more people with noise-induced hearing loss end up with age-related hearing loss."

Those with age-related hearing loss may have a hard time communicating with others on a daily basis. This can be challenging for both parties. It can also lead to social anxiety and even severe depression. What's more, hearing loss also raises the risk of dementia as it becomes harder to assess what's happening around you. Many people are unaware of their hearing problems. That's why the help and attention families can provide are critical. This senior was able to identify his hearing problems with the help of his son.

[Soundbite] Choe Yun-ho (Patient’s Son): "Over the past three years my father has had a hard time understanding what others say and had a ringing in his ears. I was worried and took him for a medical examination. He's receiving professional help now."

Here's how to check if your loved ones suffer from hearing loss.

[Soundbite] (Mal.) Dal.(Bal.) Bal, Balmok.

People with hearing problems can't distinguish the difference between words that sound similar. They perceive words almost as mumbling and may experience a ringing in their ears, which is also a sign of hearing loss. If someone in your family has these symptoms, they should seek medical help before the condition aggravates further.

[Soundbite] Dr. Oh Jae-guk (Otolaryngology): "At an early stage of hearing loss you can hear sounds but can’t distinguish words. When this happens, seek medical help as soon as possible to undergo checkups and accurately examine your hearing ability."

Keeping tabs on your hearing is key to preventing age-related hearing loss. Avoid loud noise the best you can, and speak clearly in a low-pitched voice. When talking to others, the distance between you and your conversation partner should be 70-100 centimeters. Catching the early signs of age-related hearing loss and addressing them as soon as possible will help you and your loved ones live life to the fullest.