Seeking Death Penalty

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Prosecutors are seeking the death sentence for the captain of the ill-fated Sewol ferry, Lee Joon-seok. They also demanded life sentences and prison terms of up 30 years for other crew members. The court will make a final decision on the fate of the Sewol crew.

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With grave looks on their faces, the 15 crew members of the sunken Sewol ferry head to court. Prosecutors sought the death sentence for captain Lee Joon-seok at the final trial on Monday, on charges of homicide and lethal negligence. They also demanded life sentences for the first and second mates and the chief engineer on charges of homicide, as well as prison terms ranging from 15 to 30 years for the 11 other crew members. Prosecutors said that the Sewol ferry accident was an occasion of great shame for the safety of the nation. They stressed that the failure of the captain and other crew members to rescue passengers and their decision to abandon ship calls for severe punishment. In their final statements, defendants begged in tears for leniency, saying that they are deeply apologetic. However, the captain denied the charges against him to the very end, saying that he had no intention to let the passengers die. The families of the Sewol victims were outraged by prosecutors' decision to seek life sentences for three defendants who were indicted on charges of homicide.

[Soundbite] KIM Ki-ung (Family Member of Sewol Victim): "We expected the prosecutors to grant the death penalty to at least four defendants, including the chief engineer. This is not what we expected."

All that remains for the five-month-long Sewol trial is for the court to issue its final judgments on the key issues. The sentencing will be delivered on November 11th after reviewing all related materials for 15 days.

2. Guilty Verdict

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Former Seoul councilman Kim Hyung-sik was sentenced to life in prison for contracting the murder of a businessman in his sixties. Nine jury members delivered a unanimous guilty verdict after six days of deliberation.

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Kim Hyung-sik's jury trial unprecedently lasted for more than a week. The nine-member jury watched the prosecutors and defense lawyers battle it out in court before unanimously finding Seoul councilman Kim guilty. Despite Kim's steady claim of innocence, the jury decided that there was enough evidence to prove that Kim ordered his friend, known only by his surname Paeng, to kill businessman Mr. Song. The Seoul Southern District Court presiding over the first-round trial upheld the jury's opinion and Kim was sentenced to life. The court explained that the daily record and promissory notes of the murdered businessman, only known as Mr. Song, were highly credible as evidence and that the records proved that Kim received nearly 500,000 dollars in kickback from Song. In addition, text messages and notes from prison passed between Kim and his friend Paeng before and after the crime supported Paeng's testimony that Kim had instigated the killing. The court concluded that heavy punishment was inevitable, given that Kim had shown no remorse for his wrongdoing but on the contrary, made suggestions to Paeng to commit suicide in order to destroy evidence. After the trial, Kim's defense team said it would file for an immediate appeal.

[Soundbite] JEONG Hun-tak (Defense Attorney): "False media spin has planted a firm belief about the defendant's guilt in the minds of jury members and the public."

Meanwhile, Paeng, who was indicted for murder, was given 25 years in prison, a lighter sentence than Kim.

3. Hidden Assets

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The prosecution investigating the hidden assets of former Daewoo Group Chairman Kim Woo-choong has discovered suspicious transactions in golf resort shares, which allegedly belong to Kim under a borrowed name. The government now shifts its focus to collecting unpaid fines.

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Former Daewoo Group Chairman Kim Woo-choong appeared eager to get back into action, judging from the publication of a book, titled "A Dialogue with Kim Woo-choong", as well as a series of lectures. But the prosecution put that to a halt, after an investigation uncovered Kim's alleged suspicious business dealings. During the probe, prosecutors received a tip that Kim sold a 2% stake of A-One Country Club in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province using a borrowed name. The sale of the supposedly hidden asset was made under the watch of Chairman Kim's attorney in 2010. The buyer of the 2% share, valued at nearly 820,000 U.S. dollars, turned out to be Adonis, another golf resort owned by Kim's family. With the purchase, Adonis ended up securing managing rights by owning 51% of A-One shares. Since then, Adonis has deposited hundreds of thousands of dollars into the accounts of Chairman Kim's wife and second son. The prosecution believes that the information about Kim's attorney keeping the asset under a false name and selling it later is quite credible. Thus, prosecutors are looking into related financial transactions. Given that the Daewoo founder has paid very little of his fines, the prosecution added that it could probe further into any suspicious assets at anytime. Kim was sentenced in 2006 with a prison term and a fine of roughly 17 billion dollars for accounting fraud committed by Daewoo Group, but so far has paid only a little over 84 million dollars, merely 0.5% of the total amount.

4. Revising IT Policy

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In a parliamentary inspection of the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, lawmakers have called for a revision to the government's current policy on radio frequencies, which favors telecommunications companies. The minister agreed to revise the Gwanggaeto communication plan.

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Under the Gwanggaeto Plan 2.0, immense radio frequencies, including 700 megahertz, will be set aside for telecommunication services. Critics have panned the plan as a policy which ignores new needs, like communication networks for disaster response and ultra-high definition broadcasting.

[Soundbite] Rep. SIM Hag-bong (Saenuri Party): "It appears the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning either misunderstood or is ignoring the president's clear message."

The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning was criticized for adhering excessively to a policy for no other reason than its own implementation earlier.

[Soundbite] Rep. CHOI Min-hee (New Politics Alliance for Democracy): "It is not fixed or permanent, is it?"

[Soundbite] CHOI Yang-hee (Science, ICT & Future Planning Minister): "No. It is possible to review the plan based on changes in demand. (I don't like to hear vague roundabout answers. Yes. Revisions are possible."

Ruling and opposition lawmakers alike called in unison for the drafting of a Gwanggaeto Plan version 3.0, to better promote public interest.

[Soundbite] Rep. JUN Byung-hun (New Politics Alliance for Democracy): "It is important to comprehensively review changes and effectively distribute and manage resources."

[Soundbite] Rep. CHO Hae-jin (Saenuri Party): "The existing Gwanggaeto Plan 2.0 should be upgraded if an alternative is prepared."

In the face of harsh criticism from lawmakers, the minister took a step back, promising to revise the current plan.

[Soundbite] "We will closely discuss with the Korea Communications Commission about the remaining bands and report to the National Assembly."

Analysts found that that the radio frequency policy, devised from a wholly capitalistic viewpoint and without transparent procedures, was brought into the public debate by the parliamentary inspection.

Inter-Korean Talks

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The launch of anti-North Korean leaflets by South Korean civic groups has led to conflict over the second round of high-level talks between the two Koreas. Pyongyang has sent a wire implying that it could reconsider the high-level meeting.

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Following last Saturday's failed launch of anti-North Korea leaflets from Imjingak, near the demilitarized zone, some members of conservative groups moved to Gimpo to send some 20,000 leaflets across the border. North Korea took issue with the launch in their latest communication with South Korea. Pyongyang said although the balloons carrying anti-regime leaflets were stopped earlier in the day, Seoul ignored the incident that took place later in the evening. North Korea accused the South Korean government of refusing to meet the North's demands to improve inter-Korean relations and expressed skepticism about whether a high-level meeting could take place under such circumstances.

[Soundbite] MOON Sung-muk (Research fellow, Korea Research Inst. for Strategy): "North Korea will do whatever to achieve its goals because it intends to control the South Korean government as it wishes, using means of dialogue."

Seoul replied that its position remains unchanged about having no legal grounds to restrict the activities of civic groups, which includes the launch of balloons. It also urged Pyongyang to make its position clear about the second round of high-level talks, which had been agreed upon by both sides with the date and place proposed by South Korea.

[Soundbite] Lim Byeong-cheol (Spokesman, Ministry of Unification): "The South Korean government will wait for North Korea to announce its stance and has no additional measures to take at this point."

The prospect for improved inter-Korean relations looks cloudy, as North Korea's pressure against leaflet launches mounts and as Seoul continues to demand Pyongyang honor the agreement to hold high-level talks.

6. Faulty Construction

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The National Forensic Service has confirmed that faulty construction was behind the deadly concert accident that claimed the lives of 16 people after a ventilation grate collapsed in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province. Here’s more.

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The National Forensic Service's analysis shows that flawed construction work in installing the ventilation grate was at least partially responsible for the deadly concert disaster.

[Soundbite] ROH Dong-yeol (Gyeonggi Provincial Police Agency): "The National Forensic Service's analysis shows that construction of the ventilation grate used faulty parts, potentially leading to greater deformation of the supports."

The analysis found that the supports of the grate were bent and broken under the weight of people who were standing on it, and faulty construction work facilitated their deformation. The cover of the ventilation grate was held up by three horizontal supports crossing the grate, and supports fixed to the concrete wall. The wall supports should have been fixed adjacent to the concrete, but they were not during construction. Eleven out of 40 bolts used to fix the supports to the wall were also faulty and inappropriately welded. Police believe that the ventilation grate was built without a proper design or inspection.

[Soundbite] Construction Company Employee (Voice Modified): "The ventilation grate is fan-shaped in the ground plan. It was initially supposed to use 12 covers. But with the round edge, one more was cut out and the number became 13."

Police will soon book officials involved with the construction, design and inspection of the grate. Six people involved the accident, including officials of the Gyeonggi Institute of Science and Technology Promotion, were booked on Monday on charges of professional negligence resulting in death.

7. Icon Passes Away

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The Korean entertainment industry mourns as veteran singer Shin Hae-chul passed away yesterday while receiving medical treatment. His colleagues, fans and many others flocked to his altar to pay tribute.

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Singer-songwriter Shin Hae-chul was pronounced dead yesterday at 8:19 p.m. He was 46-years old. The singer underwent surgery for intestinal atresia on October 17 at a hospital in Seoul and was released. But at dawn on October 20, he was admitted to the emergency room. Two days later, he suffered cardiac arrest, but was resuscitated after CPR was performed. He was then transported to a larger hospital and underwent emergency surgery, but fell into a coma and was placed in the intensive care unit until his death. The news of Shin's unexpected death shocked his colleagues and fans with many expressing their condolences on the Internet and social media. They also mourned the loss of the musician by listening to the his songs. Shin Hae-chul debuted in 1988, when he and his band won a singing contest at Seogang University, where he attended school. He launched his singing career as a solo artist and as a member of the group NEXT. Shin was lauded for his contributions to popularizing rock music in Korea in the 1990s. The singer's altar has been set up at the Seoul Asan Hospital.

8. Assistive Devices

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Thanks to assistive devices, more and more people with disabilities can live fuller, richer lives with more convenience. Take a look at an exhibition in Seoul that showcased the latest developments in assistive technology.

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At the push of a button, this device turns the pages of a book for the user. Its development was welcomed by disabled people who cannot turn pages without someone else's help.

[Soundbite] RYU Heung-joo (Pastor): "I am glad I can read books and turn pages by myself, rather than have someone else read them for me or give up on reading altogether."

This car was remodeled to enable people in wheelchairs to get into the backseat without getting out of the wheelchair. There are even devices that help lift disabled people when they board a vehicle. The physically challenged can also use computers without moving their hands - all with the help of a diffused reflection sticker attached to their face. Assistive technology for physically disabled users is becoming more advanced each year. Companies that hire employees with disabilities can apply for funding to purchase such devices. This year some six thousand people received funding amounting to approximately 7.6 million U.S. dollars.

[Soundbite] KWON Ki-seong (Korea Employment Agency for the Disabled): "Starting this year, we will provide up to 15 million won (US$14,200) to pay for vehicle modifications to help people with severe disabilities commute to work."

However, the number of disabled people in Korea who use assistive technology falls far behind those in more developed nations.

[Soundbite] Dennis HONG (Director, Robotics & Mechanisms Laboratory, UCLA): "People with disabilities don't know what kinds of assistive technology can help them. That sort of publicizing is most important."

The Korea Assistive Technology Device Fair, which showcased the products of 46 companies, ends today.

9. Local Regional Food

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One of the best things about traveling is visiting great local restaurants. But living in the capital city, you may often feel like you’re missing out on regional specialties. Here are some of the most famous local dishes found right here in Seoul.

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The area near Hongik University is famous for a variety of restaurants. Now there is one local specialty food that has captured the taste buds of Seoulites.

[Soundbite] YUN Da-eun (Customer): "I came to try pouch. This is it."

She's here for this big tofu pouch. The tofu pocket is filled with glass noodles and vegetables and tied off with a stalk of green onion. Just one of these well-seasoned tofu pouch is all you need for a meal. Just dig into a tofu pouch added on to a bowl of rice with an egg. It's a simple meal made perfect. You must wonder where in Korea this savory and filling tofu pocket is from.

[Soundbite] LEE Ji-man (Tofu Restaurant Owner): "The tofu pouch is a Busan specialty, from a market in Nampo-dong."

Cheap and filling, the tofu pouch was perfect for people without much money. It was originally enjoyed with fish cakes. But when the specialty was introduced in Seoul, it underwent a makeover. Tofu pouches were added to other dishes like udon or ramyeon. Customers loved it! What is it about tofu pouches and various noodle dishes that captivated people's palates?

[Soundbite] JEONG Sang-hyeok (Customer): "The tofu pouch makes it taste milder."

In Mapo-gu, Seoul, there is a restaurant drawing a number of Seoul residents with an offering that originated from another region. This octopus-chicken dish draws applause from the diners with its mouthwatering colors.

Let's go into the kitchen to find out how the octopus-chicken dish is made. Chicken is being deep-fried. Fried chicken goes well with beer, but chicken is not the star here.

[Soundbite] HONG Nan-yeong (Octopus-Chicken Restaurant Owner): "Chicken is a side dish and octopus is the main menu."

Are you curious about where this dish originated?

[Soundbite] "Octopus-chicken is from Daegu."

Octopus-chicken is supposedly delicious enough to replace fried chicken as the best food to accompany beer. First, an octopus is deep-fried in oil. Then the octopus and chicken are roasted in the oven. The ingredients have to be cooked twice like this to give it just the right flavor and texture to match Daegu's famed specialty.

[Soundbite] "Food is cooked a second time in a 500℃-plus oven to render out the fat."

What makes it even better is that the octopus-chicken combo comes with various side dishes like green onion strips and french fries. There is enough here to please any finicky eater. But the star of this dish is obviously the octopus-chicken.

[Soundbite] KANG Do-yeong (Customer): "I thought it would taste fishy, but it didn't. The fried chicken was crispy and the two went well together."

How about enjoying your next beer with this Daegu specialty instead of the usual fried chicken. Local specialties have succeeded in satisfying demanding Seoul customers. It would be fun to try these dishes, for you might feel like you've toured the whole country without leaving the city.