Memo Leak Investigation

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The prosecution continues its investigation into the presidential memo leak alleging that the president's former aide meddled in state affairs. Today key witnesses faced questioning once again.

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Police Superintendent Park Gwan-cheon, who allegedly wrote the memo accusing former presidential aide Jeong Yun-hoe of meddling in state affairs, has again, been questioned by the prosecution. He left the Prosecutors Office building early Wednesday morning after being grilled about the source and authenticity of the memo.

[Soundbite] (Supt. Park Gwan-cheon) : "Did informant Mr. Park say the source was a private report when he mentioned the secret meetings? I can't answer that because I'm being investigated by the prosecution. I told the prosecutors all the facts, so let's just keep an eye on how the probe goes."

Prosecutors also summoned Mr. Park who had informed he police officer of the report and questioned him late into the night. The prosecution reportedly grilled the two men about where they got the information alleged in the report. According to Superintendent Park's testimony, he heard from informant Mr.Park that Cheong Wa Dae administrative officer Kim Choon-sik spoke of the memo. Mr. Park,on the other hand, claimed that he had just delivered what he read in a private report and circulating rumors, but could not provide any proof substantiating his claim. The prosecution tentatively concluded that there are no other informants other than Mr. Park and is leaning toward the possibility that what's written in the leaked memo is fake. The Prosecutors Office is likely to draw its conclusion early next week, after questioning Jeong Yun-hoe whether he attended secret meetings to wield his influence on state matters.

2. Korean Air VP Resigns

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The Korean Air vice president who made headlines for delaying an international flight over the improper service of nuts has resigned. But, she is retaining some of her titles and responsibilities within the Hanjin conglomerate, raising criticism that her resignation from Korean Air was just for show.

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The decision to have Korean Air Vice President Cho Hyun-ah resign was made immediately after her father and Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho returned from a business trip to Paris on Tuesday afternoon. At an executive meeting held at Incheon International Airport, Cho Hyun-ah apologized for causing a social disturbance and said she would resign from all her posts. Her father accepted her resignation. However, critics say Cho's announcement was made only for show because she will maintain her titles as "vice president" and "director," and will continue to act as the CEO of Hanjin Travel and the KAL Hotel. Foreign media also harshly criticized Cho. The U.K.'s BBC reported that "a nut rage delayed a Korean Air plane." The Guardian wrote that "the Korean Air executive could face legal action following the nuts-rage incident" and even quoted readers who said they would never again use Korean Air's services. The National Assembly is demanding punishment for Cho.

[Soundbite] Suh Seoung-hwan (Land, Infrastructure & Transport Minister) : "I believe that if there was any legal violation, she must of course be punished strictly and accordingly. "

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will continue its investigation into the scandal regardless of Cho's decision to step down.

3. Water Tank Leak

[Anchor Lead]

It has been reported that a water tank at the Lotte World Aquarium inside the new Lotte World Tower has been leaking for a week. However, the company did not disclose the leak to visitors, claiming that there were no problems with safety.

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It's moist at the spot where the giant aquarium's transparent acrylic and concrete walls meet. Apparently, water has leaked out of a seven-centimeter long and one-millimeter wide tear in the silicon packing that was used to seal the seam. Several liters of water are presumed to have leaked through this tear over the past week. Lotte World Tower and the company responsible for installing the water tank made the repair last weekend and the facility was deemed safe by the Seoul city government and Songpa Fire Station after an emergency inspection. However, special precautionary measures are needed to prevent another water leak, since the 154,000-volt Songpa electrical substation is located in the basement levels below the aquarium. It's hard to predict what catastrophe will occur if a sudden accident causes the 5,000 tons of water in the tank to spill into the substation. Also, the fact that Lotte did not disclose the leak to visitors fueled the controversy.

[Soundbite] (Lotte World Aquarium Visitor) : "Have you heard about the water leak? Is the water leaking? No, it's the first time I heard about it."

The Ministry of Public Safety and Security plans to conduct a joint safety inspection of Lotte World Aquarium with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Songpa Fire Station.

4. Europe's K-Fever

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A growing number of people in Eastern Europe are showing an interest in Korea with the rising popularity of K-pop. But textbooks, teaching materials and teaching personnel are in short supply.

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Comenius University is a top-tier national college in Slovakia. These students reading Korean books are majoring in Korean Studies. In addition to the Korean language, they are also comprehensively learning about Korean society and culture.

[Soundbite] 3rd Year Student (Dept. of Korean Studies) : "History must be difficult for you. It's okay because I like history and Chinese characters, but the grammar is quite difficult."

When the Department of Korean Studies first opened in 2012, only 40 students were accepted. Most of them were fans of K-pop and Korean TV shows.

[Soundbite] "Novels. Oh novels? I like to read. I also want to translate because I am fond of the Korean language."

But Korean books and materials are in short supply, as are teachers who can guide graduate school students with their research. Some are calling on the private sector to play a more proactive role in promoting Korean studies abroad. Currently the Korean government provides only a fifth of the amount provided by the Chinese and Japanese governments to overseas colleges, which reaches approximately 180 million U.S. dollars annually.

5. Ski Season Safety

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The winter has arrived and the long-awaited ski season is here. Since skiing and snowboarding are sports that involve a lot of speed, many skiers and snowboarders get injured each year. Here's how you can prevent accidents on the slopes.

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A snowboarder falls because he couldn't slow down. This skier fails to avoid another skier and they collide. It's easy to get injured while skiing or snowboarding because both sports thrive on speed. The Korea Consumer Agency analyzed about 1,200 accidents that occurred on ski slopes over the past four years and found that about 81% of all accidents were unforced falls in which skiers or snowboarders fell on their own. Percentages of collisions with other people or injuries from equipment failure were relatively low. Skiers tended to hurt their knees, feet, and legs the most because their legs are often spread wide apart when they fall. Snowboarders try to break their falls with their hands, thereby injuring their arms and shoulders most often. It should also be noted that snowboarders suffered concussions or brain hemorrhages two times more than skiers.

[Soundbite] Oh Heung-wuk (Consumer Product Safety, KCA) : "When you stop in the middle of the slope, you're very likely to get into a collision. So move over to the side to prevent accidents."

Skiers and snowboarders are advised to wear helmets as well as knee and wrist guards, and go on slopes that suit their skill levels.

6. Winter Pains

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Many people suffer from muscle pain when the weather gets cold. Muscle pain usually occurs after hunching your body over because of the cold or when you move your muscles too much in spite of feeling stiff.

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This kindergarten teacher in her 40s has been suffering from back pain, and recently it's become worse.

[Soundbite] Moon Ju-myung (Cheongju Resident) : "I get a sharp, tightening sensation when bending and stretching my back. It's even worse when the weather gets cold."

This woman also sought medical help because of a similar pain in her neck and shoulders, which has lasted for around two weeks.

[Soundbite] Muscle Pain Patient (Voice Modified) : "My shoulders and neck have stiffened since the weather became cold, and I can't move my head freely."

The number of patients complaining of muscle pain has been on the rise since temperatures dropped to subzero levels, because people tend to move less when it's cold and their muscles lose flexibility. If the symptoms of muscle pain are overlooked, the condition may deteriorate and take longer to treat. What's more, it can even develop into spinal disc problems.

[Soundbite] Dr. Kim Jin-ho (Neurosurgeon) : "In winter, Rehabilitation takes longer and pain is more severe because the involuntary nervous system, in order to keep the body warm, doesn't supply enough blood to reach the peripheral blood vessels."

Experts recommend keeping the body warm when going outside and performing simple stretching exercises frequently to relieve muscle tension.

7. Inmate Production

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Inmates at the Cheongju Women's Correctional Institution, the only female-only prison in the country, have staged a musical performance. We bring you scenes from the emotional event.

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The Korean film "Harmony" was a warm story about female prisoners bonding through music. This has actually taken place in real life. Eight inmates at the Cheongju Women's Correctional Institution performed an a cappella musical, combining beautiful melodies and dance moves. The musical is about the inmates' stories inside the prison as well as their dreams once completing their terms.

[Soundbite] Kim Eung-bun (Chief, Rehabilitation) : "We chose the theme 'dream', hoping the inmates can lead more meaningful, rewarding lives."

Over the past six months, they practiced eight hours a day. During that time, they were able to break down walls and open up.

[Soundbite] Inmate Performer (Voice Modified) : "I still clash with others, but now I try to be more understanding."

The whole experience was about comforting their wounds and seeking their dreams. The performance was a heartrending year-end present conveying the values of love and life.

8. Entertainment News

[Anchor Lead]

Singer PSY's popularity on YouTube continues even long after his blockbuster hit "Gangnam Style." His follow-up hit "Hangover" has also been named as the most-watched K-pop music video in the world. This and much more in today’s entertainment news.

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"Hangover," singer PSY's ambitious follow-up to his first blockbuster hit "Gangnam Style," also proved to be a success, living up to his reputation. "Hangover" has been named the K-pop music video most watched around the world. It's been viewed 164 million times on YouTube in just six months since its release. This is a whopping 120 million more than the second ranking most globally watched K-pop music video posted on YouTube this year, "Overdose" by the idol group Exo. The new KBS Monday and Tuesday drama series the "Healer" that began airing this week posted ratings of 7.8 percent on Monday. In the first episode, a journalist for an online media agency was shown struggling to meet a legendary man known for executing tough errands for others, who went by the name "Healer." Ratings on rival channels were 9.8 percent for the MBC drama "Pride and Prejudice" and 4.3 percent for the SBS series "Secret Door." Police officials investigating the death of singer Shin Hae-chul, allegedly involving a medical accident, have issued a request to the Korean Medical Association for an appraisal of whether the hospital that operated on Shin should be held responsible. The police will also request a separate appraisal by the Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency. It is expected that at least a month will be needed for appraisal results to be released by the two agencies.

9. Christmas Tree Tips

[Anchor Lead]

The holiday season is just around the corner, with Christmas trees decorating cities all over Korea. If you want to create a holiday atmosphere in your house, a nice Christmas tree might be the answer. Here's more.

[Soundbite] "Five, four, three, two, one!"

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It's the Christmas season again, and Christmas trees are in high demand.

[Soundbite] Ji Ok-nam (Seoul Resident) : "Even though it's cold outside, the Christmas tree makes me feel warm."

The Christmas tree tradition originated from Germany. Tree decorations symbolize people's wishes for abundance, while the tree itself serves as a blessing for the newborn baby Jesus. Christmas trees also have their trends. Let's learn more about this year's trends.

[Soundbite] Hong Mi-kyung (Merchant, Interior Deco. Shop) : "The basic traditional colors were always green and red, but this year the northern European style with pastel shades such as gray is in fashion."

You can make a one-of-a-kind Christmas tree firsthand. First, stick juniper branches in a long mold to create the shape of a tree. Then leave the branches to dry. Their color may become faded with time, but they won't wither. Then decorate your tree using pine cones and LED garlands. Your tree will stay intact for as long as six months without requiring any special care.

[Soundbite] Kwon Hye-jeong (Gyeonggi Prov. Resident) : "It's easier than I thought and more cost-effective because it stays fresh for over six months."

You don't need any special materials to make a Christmas tree firsthand. Just a sheet of white traditional paper "hanji" and a marker can do the trick. Dye the paper using a marker and some water, let it dry and fold it into a fan. Then cut out a star from a beverage can and attach it to the paper decorations. Next, cut the lids of disposable cups, wind them with yarn and tie up tree twigs with a fishing line.

[Soundbite] Kil Sung-shin (Recycling Craftswoman) : "I am making a Christmas tree with discarded tree branches to decorate the wall."

If you don't have enough room for a Christmas tree in your home, you can decorate the walls. Place tree branches onto the wall in the shape of a tree and decorate them as you want. Add some garlands to create a warm atmosphere. By recycling things instead of throwing them away, you can make a one-of-a-kind Christmas decoration. With these tips, you can create a holiday mood in your home and celebrate the holiday season with your loved ones.