Rail Arrest

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The Seoul Western District court issued arrest warrants for leaders of the railway labor union Thursday. The leaders are accused of masterminding the recent rail workers’ strike.

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Four railway labor union leaders are now under arrest, including its chief, Kim Myung-hwan. The Seoul Western District Court issued warrants for their arrests with charges of masterminding the railway workers' strikes and obstructing railway operations. The court explained that the charges were clear enough and that the four could escape if they weren't detained, given their positions and roles in the demonstrations and also their actions after the strikes were withdrawn. It's the first time for the railway union leaders to have been arrested. The hearing session on the issuance of their arrest warrants began yesterday morning and lasted till late into the evening.

[Soundbite] Kim Myung-hwan(Chairman, Korea Railroad Workers’ Union) : “I hope the labor and management will resume their negotiations quickly and settle this in a peaceful manner.”

Kim and his three accomplices said that the right to go on strike was one of the three privileges guaranteed by the Constitution, but the court rejected their claim. Prior to the hearing session, the attorneys requested that the four be investigated without being physical detained. This was supported by a petition signed by more than 3,000 people, including some 30 lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties. Meanwhile, the court turned down the request for issuing arrest warrants for five other railway union leaders, as they had a low possibility of escape.

2. Summit in India

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President Park Geun-hye met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for summit talks on her state visit to India. The two leaders talked economics on President Park’s first stop on her foreign tour.

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President Park Geun-hye and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh adopted a joint statement that promotes stronger bilateral economic cooperation. The two leaders agreed to improve the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to boost the tariff removal rate and initialed an agreement to prevent double taxation on companies doing business in each other's countries.

[Soundbite] Park Geun-hye(President) : “We agreed to do our best to complete the upgrades to the CEPA as soon as possible.”

Park and Singh also agreed to establish an industrial complex exclusively for Korean businesses and increase the number of flights to and from India.

[Soundbite] Manmohan Singh(Indian Prime Minister) : “Cooperation in the fields of foreign affairs and security as well as science and technology will be further strengthened by concluding a pact to protect classified military information and establishing a council to discuss information and communications policies. President Park then met with India's Vice President Mohammad Ansari and then with Sushma Swaraj, who is Leader of the Opposition. She also attended a state dinner hosted by President Pranab Mukerjee with Korean business leaders and emphasized the need to boost cooperation and exchanges between the two countries.”

3. Mood Swings

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Dramatic swings in rhetoric coming from North Korea yesterday: first, fierce criticism of the upcoming joint ROK-U.S. military exercises, then a proposal for talks.

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In a so-called major proposal North Korea demanded a halt to all activities that maligned both sides. In its second proposal, Pyongyang demanded a stop to all hostile military activities and told Seoul to immediately scrap the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle Exercises. The North then urged the South to not involve America's nuclear strike capabilities in dealing with the Korean Peninsula. But Pyongyang never mentioned its own nuclear issues. The regime blasted South Korea's Key Resolve and Foal Eagle joint military exercises like this yesterday, and then before the day ended issued what it called important proposals. The regime may be giving the impression of wanting to engage in talks but North Korean experts say this is just the regime trying to justify its future actions.

[Soundbite] Prof. Go Yu-hwan(Dongguk University) : “North Korea might be trying to justify itself before taking hard-line measures if South Korea continues on with the military exercises. They can say they had first urged the South for peace to save face.”

A South Korean Ministry of National Defense official rejected North Korea's offers, saying that the terms cannot be accepted by the South.

4. UN Security Council

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The UN Security Council consists of five permanent member-nations. Ten non-permanent members serve two year terms: Korea is one of them. Middle powers like Korea stand in opposition to expansion of permanent seats to countries like Japan.

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When the United Nations was launched in 1945, it had 51 members. Now it has over 190 members. That's why calls demanding reforms in the UN Security Council have been gaining strength recently. The key issues are whether or not the number of permanent members should be increased and whether their veto power should be expanded. Germany and Japan, which make the second and third largest financial contributions to the UN respectively, as well as India and Brazil want to become permanent members of the UN Security Council. Meanwhile, 12 middle powers including South Korea set up the UfC to oppose the expansion of permanent members. South Korean government officials are to attend a UfC vice-ministerial meeting opening in Mexico today to discuss ways to prevent the UN Security Council from accepting more permanent members. President Park Geun-hye said in her recent interview with the Indian media that she's opposed to increasing the number of permanent member-nations. Seoul says it's not opposing any specific nation. But its diplomatic interests do include hampering Japan from becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Seoul firmly believes that Japan is not qualified to become an international leader unless it apologizes for its past wrongdoings.

5. Observing Dust

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As concerns are raised over the impact of fine dust particles on health, Seoul will respond with the launch of a high-tech geostationary satellite to trace the spread of pollution coming from China.

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When observing dust pollution and smog, two types of equipment are used: ground-based observatories and low-earth orbit satellites. But trying to check the oceans or the conditions in other countries from land is impossible, and the satellites that pass over the Korean Peninsula do so every two minutes, making continuous observations difficult. These are reason why the government launched the development of a geostationary multi-purpose satellite in cooperation with a U.S. artificial satellite developer. The device weighs three tons and is 8.9 meters long. It can observe the Korean Peninsula at 36,000 kilometers above the ground around the clock and throughout the year because it rotates at the same speed as the Earth. Its mission is to find where the air pollutants originate from and where they are heading by the use of atmospheric light analysis.

[Soundbite] Go Dae-ho(Korea Aerospace Research Institute) : “It analyzes not only the light but also the spectra to capture the location and density of air pollutants.”

The satellite can observe the seas off the Korean Peninsula and trace air pollutants coming from China, Russia, Japan and even India. It is to be launched in 2018.

6. World Cup Training

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With the FIFA World Cup in Brazil just a few months away, the Korean national football team has opened its first training session in Brazil. Competition for a spot on the national roster is fierce.

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The sun is blazing and temperatures are soaring above 30 degrees Celsius. But these players run 20-meter sprints with heart monitors strapped to their chests. Even though they're out of breath, they can't let up because the national team coach Hong Myung-bo is watching. As soon as the physical test is over, a practice game follows. Since star players playing in the European leagues are joining the team, those belonging to teams in the Korean league must work that much harder to make the final roster.

[Soundbite] Yeom Ki-hun(National Football Player) : “I don't know who's going to win, but I'm going to try my best till the end.”

Even the conditions at the Korean team's base camp are made to simulate the World Cup. The chefs who will prepare the team's meals in the games have already joined them. Their meal plans are going to help boost the players' energy and maximize their performance.

[Soundbite] Sin Dong-il(Chef, National Football Training Center): “In Paju I realized that after a rigorous training session, the players were able to unwind by eating. So I'm trying to make the meals as delicious as possible.”

Coach Hong Myung-bo is going to watch the week-long base camp workouts before fine-tuning his strategies for the World Cup.

7. Twilight Childcare

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The term “twilight childcare” was coined to describe the growing number of grandparents looking after their grandchildren. Companies have picked up on the trend with a line of new products.

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This 60-year-old grandmother changes a baby's diapers with ease. She enjoys babysitting for her grandson while the parents make a living, but she gets tired at times.

[Soundbite] Jeon Mi-ja(Grandparent) : “It was fine when I looked after the older kids. Now I get tired so I have to take care of myself and I take supplementary pills. I have to be healthy to look after the baby.”

At a recent baby products fair, products catering to seniors grab particular attention. This baby carriage is designed to fold with the push of a button and anyone can use it. This baby bottle changes colors according to the food temperature which makes it easier for grandparents to prepare baby food. The scale is marked on the inside of this pot so anyone can adjust the measurements.

[Soundbite] O Jun-hwa(Baby Fair Official): “It's not only baby products. The trend is spreading across the board in education, publications and culture such as with performances for the elderly.”

Many grandparents now have a second career babysitting their grandchildren. Markets catering to their needs are also on the rise.

8. Holographic Hall

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In entertainment, Seoul’s Dongdaemun district is now home to a holographic performance hall where audiences can see their favorite K-Pop stars like never before.

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The group Big Bang has numerous fans around the world. Their singing and dancing appears so real as if it's a performance in a real concert hall. Hologram technology is shooting laser beams into an empty space to reproduce a third dimensional imagery. The screen opens up 270 degrees. The acoustics, lights and laser are comparable to an actual concert hall. An array of special effects perfect an awesome stage production. This is a newly opened hologram hall in Dongdaemun in Seoul where visitors can enjoy performances by K-pop stars that are close to the real deal. It especially targets foreign tourists and fans of the Korean Wave. Performances will be held eight times a day. Outside the hall are various interactive digital zones where fans can take photos with their favorite stars' holograms.

[Soundbite] Lee Seung-won(Min. of Science, ICT & Future Planning Official) : “The new hall is expected to help foster a new Korean Wave craze overseas and attract foreign tourists to Korea.”

Similar hologram centers which combine K-pop and the latest digital technology will also open in Seoul's Myeongdong area and Jeju Island as well as other spots in Japan, China and Southeast Asia.

9. Indoor Exercise

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Exercising in the comfort of your home when it's chilly outside is easier than ever these days thanks to a variety of indoor exercise equipment.

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Exercising outdoors during the winter isn't easy thanks to cold weather and air pollution. Here's how to exercise at home in the most effective way. Consumers these days can choose from a wide variety of exercise equipment. Many people think that exercising indoors is less effective, but that's not necessarily true. This woman has succeeded in shaping her body by exercising at home.

[Soundbite] Jang Yun-jeong(Homemaker) : “In winter exercising at home is very convenient. You can do it whenever you have time. You can stay in shape even when it's cold outside. I have lost nine to ten kilograms this way.”

But many of those who buy exercise equipment don't know how to use it properly. Oftentimes they just stop using it altogether. Finding the right kind of indoor exercise is important if you want to benefit from exercising at home. Here are the three most commonly used kinds of exercise equipment. One of them is the treadmill. It helps alleviate spinal pressure and allows you to train muscles evenly. Experts recommend exercising on a treadmill four times a week forty minutes at a time. Running on a treadmill for 10 minutes at 6 kilometers an hour helps burn 50-65 calories. If you have an exercise bike, use it three times a week for no longer than an hour. A ten-minute exercise at a moderate pace will help you burn 65 calories.

[Soundbite] Prof. Jin Yeong-su(Asan Medical Center) : “Those who can’t walk well because of knee pain or obesity can improve their cardiovascular endurance and lose weight with the help of indoor exercise bikes.”

This is known as a stepper. It's great for people who have weak legs. You should land each step on the sole of your feet. After a ten minute workout, you will have burned 60 calories. Don't forget to take a break every five minutes because this exercise requires more strength than you might think. Using a hula-hoop helps improve circulation and digestion. If you're a beginner, your hula-hoop shouldn't weigh more than two kilograms. Before and after exercising at home don't forget to perform warm-up and cool-down exercises. Here's how.

[Soundbite] “This helps relieve muscle tension in the neck.”

Pull your chin down toward the shoulders three or four times to stretch your stiff neck and shoulders. This also helps increase joint flexibility and relieve muscle tension in the back. If you're worried your legs are weak, lie down on your side and lift your legs backward. When it comes to exercising at home, implementing your plan is the hardest part. Oftentimes, exercising at home is simply boring. To spice things up, turn on invigorating music or watch TV while exercising. Using the same equipment for a long time can also get tedious. Renting exercise equipment can solve this problem. You can rent all kinds of equipment for a low fee. In winter demand for exercise equipment rises 40 percent. By choosing the right type of exercise and equipment you can keep fit even when it's freezing outside.