Cabinet Priorities

입력 2015.07.08 (14:00) 수정 2015.07.08 (14:29)

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[Anchor Lead]

President Park Geun-hye ordered swift measures to address pending economic concerns such as approving the supplementary budget during Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. However, she did not bring up political matters including the issue of ruling Saenuri Party's beleaguered floor leader Yoo Seung-min.

[Pkg]

President Park Geun-hye chaired a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, 12 days after she vetoed a disputed revision to the National Assembly Act. During the meeting, she focused on the economy and public livelih
ood instead of politics. She ordered officials to quickly push for the supplementary budget to minimize adverse effects from the Greek debt crisis, and draft support measures for the MERS outbreak and the prolonged drought situation.

[Soundbite] Park Geun-hye (President) : " I urge related ministries to fully cooperate with parliament deliberations so the extra budget bill can be swiftly approved. The administrative branch should also make all out preparations to execute the budget as soon as it's approved."

She also called for a grand compromise among the labor management and government, stressing that youth employment can't be resolved under the current outdated and inflexible labor market structure. She also called on Cabinet members to do their best for the economy and people's lives with dedication and a serving attitude.

2. Ending MERS Outbreak

[Anchor Lead]

No new cases of MERS have been reported for two straight days, prompting public health authorities to prepare a comprehensive set of measures to control infections in hospitals

[Pkg]

No additional cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrom have been reported for two straight days. However, nine of 35 people in treatment still remain in unstable condition. The number of people placed under quarantine, which peaked near 7,000 in mid-June, has now declined to roughly 670. Among the confirmed cases, a police officer from Pyeongtaek has recovered from the disease but is still being treated for complications.

[Soundbite] Jeong Eun-gyeong (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) : "He still needs to be treated for complications from pneumonia. But he's out of isolation and staying in the general ward."

With the MERS outbreak coming under control, public health authorities are preparing a comprehensive set of measures to contain infections in hospitals. The measures aim to discourage patients from favoring emergency rooms at large hospitals and reduce the so-called "hospital shopping" phenomenon by normalizing the medical service delivery system among clinics and both small and large hospitals. In addition, the number of multi-occupancy hospital rooms will be slashed, while general hospital rooms will be separated from wards for patients with infectious diseases. Authorities also plan to provide detailed criteria for the distance between hospital beds and ventilation systems.

3. Samsung & the Economy

[Anchor Lead]

Samsung Electronics has released a tentative tally on its second quarter earnings. Operating profits gradually recovered but stopped short of market expectations. Prospects on the Korean economy for the remainder of the year remain dim due to exchange rate vulnerabilities and the fallout from the MERS outbreak.

[Pkg]

Early estimates show Samsung Electronics posted an operating profit of around 6 billion U.S. dollars in the second quarter. That's about 881 million dollars, or at least 15 percent, higher compared to the first quarter. The electronic giant's operating profit has recovered for the third straight quarter after hitting the bottom in the third quarter of last year. But the prevailing view in the market is that the pace of recovery is slow.

[Soundbite] So Hyeon-cheol (Researcher, Shinhan Investment Corp.) : "Samsung Electronics' operating profit logged 10-20% lower due to competition with Apple in advanced markets and rivalry with Chinese smartphone makers in emerging economies."

One encouraging fact is that operating profits in semiconductors surpassed 2.6 billion dollars to push up the overall profit level. But pundits believe a strong rebound for Samsung won't be easy as the global smartphone market has reached its saturation point and the company struggles to uncover new growth engines. The fallout from the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, which hit the tourism and cosmetics sectors the hardest, is likely to continue through the third quarter. Anxiety over a U.S. Fed rate hike, the slowing Chinese economy and the Greek debt crisis are also dampening prospects on the Korean economy.

4. Ginseng Approval

[Anchor Lead]

Ginseng has been officially recognized as a food product by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. This is the second Korean food, following kimchi, that's been approved on the international standard. The decision is expected to make it easier to export ginseng.

[Pkg]

This is a red ginseng shop located in a downtown Seoul duty free store. A large number of foreigners visit the shop as ginseng is widely known to boost health.

[Soundbite] Li Hungyang (Chinese Tourist) : "I'm going back to China soon. I'm buying a lot of red ginseng, because it's famous in China and my friends asked me to buy it for them as gifts."

However, since ginseng is classified as medicine in several countries, ginseng products are subjected to strict customs clearance procedures, complicating the expansion of ginseng exports.

[Soundbite] Yun Hyeong-su (Korea Ginseng Corporation) : "Medicine production processes are very challenging. So the market entry barrier is much higher than that for food."

In an encouraging development, Korea's production method for ginseng products was approved by the CODEX Alimentarius as a global food standard. That means that ginseng products produced in a manner unique to Korea are now officially recognized as food products available to anyone around the globe. The latest development is expected to reinforce Korea's reputation as a major ginseng producer and broaden the avenues of ginseng export to Europe and Latin America.

5. Gang Member Bust

[Anchor Lead]

A large number of organized gang members based in southern Gyeonggi Province have been rounded up by police. They may have a romanticized view of the gangster lifestyle as depicted in the movies, but they were nothing more than thugs who bullied ordinary citizens.

[Pkg]

In the early morning hours of a day in late April a chief member of the Bukmun gang in the city of Suwon was released from prison. Some 30 gangsters gathered in the port city of Busan to welcome their discharged leader, offering courteous bows and handing him a slice of tofu, a customary gesture for those having served time. The members, often dressed in nice suits, flaunt their loyalty for the gang as they look after personal life events of other members. But in normal times, their main source of income is sex trafficking. They also threaten and extort small scale vendors. They demand free meals, free booze and kickbacks for so-called protection.

[Soundbite] Victimized Vendor (Voice altered) : "We couldn't ask for money even when they left without paying for liquor. They said they'd protect us from thugs while they're thugs themselves."

They also wield violence against passers-by over trifling reasons.

[Soundbite] Former Gangster (Voice altered) : "Gangs look really cool in movies and stuff. But these days, it's a bit embarrassing."

A police investigation has unveiled some 170 counts of criminal charges, including violence, blackmail and fraud, attributed to ten criminal gangs based in southern Gyeonggi Province. The police have rounded up 120 gang members, arresting 16.

6. Insurance Scammer

[Anchor Lead]

Police have arrested a man in his 60s who intentionally caused car accidents to claim cash and insurance payments. The man supposedly caused more than 100 intentional accidents, a record number for a single person.

[Pkg]

As a taxi in the next lane over tries to move into the lane of this car the car doesn't slow down and collides into the cab. This car crashed into yet another vehicle, which steered into the next lane in a no lane change zone. These are intentional accidents caused by a 60-year-old cab driver surnamed Yun in order to claim insurance money.

[Soundbite] Victim of Intentional Accident (Voice altered) : "I was building up my driving experience to become a private cab driver. He told me not to call the police or the insurance company and deal with the accident in cash, as if he was trying to be considerate."

When other drivers, suspecting an intentional accident, became furious and swore at him, Yun recorded the outburst, which he threatened to report as verbal abuse, and demanded a cash settlement. Since 2008, he has caused 105 intentional accidents, a record high for a single person, and claimed nearly 106,000 U.S. dollars. In order to prevent such fraudulent accidents, drivers are advised to drive defensively and install vehicle black box cameras to prove that the accidents were caused on purpose.

7. Rare Film Unveiled

[Anchor Lead]

Few Korean movies that were produced before the 1940s have survived to this day. A rare movie about Korean society shortly before the establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948 has been uncovered, shedding some light on the period.

[Pkg]

The movie "Sea Gull" is a work of director Lee Kyu-hwan, one of the renowned Korean filmmakers of the colonial era along with Na Un-kyu. It was released in 1948. "Sea Gull" depicts Seoul and Busan shortly before the establishment of the Republic of Korea, featuring shots of Seoul Station, Sungnyemun Gate and streetcars.

[Soundbite] Prof. Kim Jong-won (Korea Nat'l Univ. of Arts) : "It's fun to see how impoverished we were and what kind of clothes we wore. Clothes made using U.S. military uniforms look like kindergarten kids' uniforms."

"Sea Gull" is the debut film of the silver-screen star Cho Mi-ryeong, who was popular in the 1950s and 60s.

[Soundbite] Cho Mi-ryeong (Actress, Hawaii Resident) : "After the Korean War, we lost everything. That was my debut film. It has a special meaning to me."

The film was kept by a Japanese film archive that had bought it from an antiques dealer in 2011. It was discovered recently by the Korea Film Archive and disclosed to the public for the first time in 67 years. A total of 230 films were produced in Korea until the 1940s, but only 21 of them have been preserved to this day. The discovery of "Sea Gull" is expected to shed light on the history of Korean cinema in the 1940s.

8. Entertainment News

[Anchor Lead]

Singer Sean, who is widely known for his philanthropic activities, has made a meaningful donation yet again by earning around 8,800 dollars cycling a thousand kilometers. He donated the money to treating people who suffer from rare diseases. Here's more from the world of culture.

[Pkg]

Singer Sean showed off his impressive athletic skills in the cycling edition of the KBS TV2 show "Cool Kiz on the Block." Sean set his goal at donating around 9 dollars per kilometer by cycling. He completed a one-thousand-kilometer course, earning over 8,000 dollars and donating the money to a foundation that has been raising funds to build a nursing facility for people suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. Girl group Girls' Generation has released its new single album and music video. The group's new song "Party" is an exciting dance track that matches the summer mood and showcases the diverse charms of its members. All of the three songs included in the album were selected for release as singles. The Seoul International Food Film Festival, the first movie festival in Korea to be dedicated to the subject of food, will kick off for a four-day run on Thursday. More than 30 films about food from around the world, including classics and new releases alike, will be screened at the festival.

9. The Right Sunglasses

[Anchor Lead]

Since sunlight is the major source of ultraviolet rays, UV radiation is a particular risk in the summer. Sunglasses provide protection from the sun's UV rays, so let's find out more about the types of sunglasses best suited to each occasion and your face shape.

[Pkg]

Shoppers are captivated by an array of sunglasses with unique and stylish designs. The latest trend in sunglasses is mirrored shades coated with a reflective optical material that makes them look like small mirrors.

[Soundbite] Hwang Yun-geong (Shopper) : "It has a wider field of vision than I expected and is comfortable and nice-looking."

Consumers have a wider variety of lens colors and frame materials to choose from.

[Soundbite] Park Jin-woo (Sunglass Designer) : "People tend to look for sophisticated styles, so combination frames that use both metal and plastic are popular."

So how can you tell which shades best suit the shape of your face? People with oval faces look great with any frame, so why not try a pair with an elaborate design? If you have a round, plump face, frames with sharp angular lines are recommended. Such faces appear slimmer if the eyeware has big lenses instead of smaller ones, which tend to show your facial curves. People with square-shaped faces look best when sporting shades with round or curved frames. Sunglasses should also provide full protection for your eyes from the sunlight. So it's important to choose lens colors fit for different occasions. Gray-tinted lenses are said to be most comfortable for the eyes, so they're good when engaging in outdoor activities for a long time. Orange lenses are effective in protecting the eyes when you suffer from eye disease or are recovering from cataract surgery. If you're going to the beach, try brown lenses which block out the glare from the water surface. Green lenses are good for driving, particularly in cities.

[Soundbite] Park Seon-ja (Consumer) : "I'm going to keep wearing sunglasses to keep my eyes healthy."

Sunglasses tend to get corroded from the salt in your perspiration or seawater. Here is how to wash your shades so that you can wear them for a long time. Soak the sunglasses in soapy water for just 30 seconds and rinse under running water before drying them with a soft cloth. Also, don't forget to replace the lenses with new ones every three or four years to keep your eyes in the best shape.

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  • Cabinet Priorities
    • 입력 2015-07-08 13:52:32
    • 수정2015-07-08 14:29:54
    News Today
[Anchor Lead]

President Park Geun-hye ordered swift measures to address pending economic concerns such as approving the supplementary budget during Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. However, she did not bring up political matters including the issue of ruling Saenuri Party's beleaguered floor leader Yoo Seung-min.

[Pkg]

President Park Geun-hye chaired a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, 12 days after she vetoed a disputed revision to the National Assembly Act. During the meeting, she focused on the economy and public livelih
ood instead of politics. She ordered officials to quickly push for the supplementary budget to minimize adverse effects from the Greek debt crisis, and draft support measures for the MERS outbreak and the prolonged drought situation.

[Soundbite] Park Geun-hye (President) : " I urge related ministries to fully cooperate with parliament deliberations so the extra budget bill can be swiftly approved. The administrative branch should also make all out preparations to execute the budget as soon as it's approved."

She also called for a grand compromise among the labor management and government, stressing that youth employment can't be resolved under the current outdated and inflexible labor market structure. She also called on Cabinet members to do their best for the economy and people's lives with dedication and a serving attitude.

2. Ending MERS Outbreak

[Anchor Lead]

No new cases of MERS have been reported for two straight days, prompting public health authorities to prepare a comprehensive set of measures to control infections in hospitals

[Pkg]

No additional cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrom have been reported for two straight days. However, nine of 35 people in treatment still remain in unstable condition. The number of people placed under quarantine, which peaked near 7,000 in mid-June, has now declined to roughly 670. Among the confirmed cases, a police officer from Pyeongtaek has recovered from the disease but is still being treated for complications.

[Soundbite] Jeong Eun-gyeong (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) : "He still needs to be treated for complications from pneumonia. But he's out of isolation and staying in the general ward."

With the MERS outbreak coming under control, public health authorities are preparing a comprehensive set of measures to contain infections in hospitals. The measures aim to discourage patients from favoring emergency rooms at large hospitals and reduce the so-called "hospital shopping" phenomenon by normalizing the medical service delivery system among clinics and both small and large hospitals. In addition, the number of multi-occupancy hospital rooms will be slashed, while general hospital rooms will be separated from wards for patients with infectious diseases. Authorities also plan to provide detailed criteria for the distance between hospital beds and ventilation systems.

3. Samsung & the Economy

[Anchor Lead]

Samsung Electronics has released a tentative tally on its second quarter earnings. Operating profits gradually recovered but stopped short of market expectations. Prospects on the Korean economy for the remainder of the year remain dim due to exchange rate vulnerabilities and the fallout from the MERS outbreak.

[Pkg]

Early estimates show Samsung Electronics posted an operating profit of around 6 billion U.S. dollars in the second quarter. That's about 881 million dollars, or at least 15 percent, higher compared to the first quarter. The electronic giant's operating profit has recovered for the third straight quarter after hitting the bottom in the third quarter of last year. But the prevailing view in the market is that the pace of recovery is slow.

[Soundbite] So Hyeon-cheol (Researcher, Shinhan Investment Corp.) : "Samsung Electronics' operating profit logged 10-20% lower due to competition with Apple in advanced markets and rivalry with Chinese smartphone makers in emerging economies."

One encouraging fact is that operating profits in semiconductors surpassed 2.6 billion dollars to push up the overall profit level. But pundits believe a strong rebound for Samsung won't be easy as the global smartphone market has reached its saturation point and the company struggles to uncover new growth engines. The fallout from the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, which hit the tourism and cosmetics sectors the hardest, is likely to continue through the third quarter. Anxiety over a U.S. Fed rate hike, the slowing Chinese economy and the Greek debt crisis are also dampening prospects on the Korean economy.

4. Ginseng Approval

[Anchor Lead]

Ginseng has been officially recognized as a food product by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. This is the second Korean food, following kimchi, that's been approved on the international standard. The decision is expected to make it easier to export ginseng.

[Pkg]

This is a red ginseng shop located in a downtown Seoul duty free store. A large number of foreigners visit the shop as ginseng is widely known to boost health.

[Soundbite] Li Hungyang (Chinese Tourist) : "I'm going back to China soon. I'm buying a lot of red ginseng, because it's famous in China and my friends asked me to buy it for them as gifts."

However, since ginseng is classified as medicine in several countries, ginseng products are subjected to strict customs clearance procedures, complicating the expansion of ginseng exports.

[Soundbite] Yun Hyeong-su (Korea Ginseng Corporation) : "Medicine production processes are very challenging. So the market entry barrier is much higher than that for food."

In an encouraging development, Korea's production method for ginseng products was approved by the CODEX Alimentarius as a global food standard. That means that ginseng products produced in a manner unique to Korea are now officially recognized as food products available to anyone around the globe. The latest development is expected to reinforce Korea's reputation as a major ginseng producer and broaden the avenues of ginseng export to Europe and Latin America.

5. Gang Member Bust

[Anchor Lead]

A large number of organized gang members based in southern Gyeonggi Province have been rounded up by police. They may have a romanticized view of the gangster lifestyle as depicted in the movies, but they were nothing more than thugs who bullied ordinary citizens.

[Pkg]

In the early morning hours of a day in late April a chief member of the Bukmun gang in the city of Suwon was released from prison. Some 30 gangsters gathered in the port city of Busan to welcome their discharged leader, offering courteous bows and handing him a slice of tofu, a customary gesture for those having served time. The members, often dressed in nice suits, flaunt their loyalty for the gang as they look after personal life events of other members. But in normal times, their main source of income is sex trafficking. They also threaten and extort small scale vendors. They demand free meals, free booze and kickbacks for so-called protection.

[Soundbite] Victimized Vendor (Voice altered) : "We couldn't ask for money even when they left without paying for liquor. They said they'd protect us from thugs while they're thugs themselves."

They also wield violence against passers-by over trifling reasons.

[Soundbite] Former Gangster (Voice altered) : "Gangs look really cool in movies and stuff. But these days, it's a bit embarrassing."

A police investigation has unveiled some 170 counts of criminal charges, including violence, blackmail and fraud, attributed to ten criminal gangs based in southern Gyeonggi Province. The police have rounded up 120 gang members, arresting 16.

6. Insurance Scammer

[Anchor Lead]

Police have arrested a man in his 60s who intentionally caused car accidents to claim cash and insurance payments. The man supposedly caused more than 100 intentional accidents, a record number for a single person.

[Pkg]

As a taxi in the next lane over tries to move into the lane of this car the car doesn't slow down and collides into the cab. This car crashed into yet another vehicle, which steered into the next lane in a no lane change zone. These are intentional accidents caused by a 60-year-old cab driver surnamed Yun in order to claim insurance money.

[Soundbite] Victim of Intentional Accident (Voice altered) : "I was building up my driving experience to become a private cab driver. He told me not to call the police or the insurance company and deal with the accident in cash, as if he was trying to be considerate."

When other drivers, suspecting an intentional accident, became furious and swore at him, Yun recorded the outburst, which he threatened to report as verbal abuse, and demanded a cash settlement. Since 2008, he has caused 105 intentional accidents, a record high for a single person, and claimed nearly 106,000 U.S. dollars. In order to prevent such fraudulent accidents, drivers are advised to drive defensively and install vehicle black box cameras to prove that the accidents were caused on purpose.

7. Rare Film Unveiled

[Anchor Lead]

Few Korean movies that were produced before the 1940s have survived to this day. A rare movie about Korean society shortly before the establishment of the Republic of Korea in 1948 has been uncovered, shedding some light on the period.

[Pkg]

The movie "Sea Gull" is a work of director Lee Kyu-hwan, one of the renowned Korean filmmakers of the colonial era along with Na Un-kyu. It was released in 1948. "Sea Gull" depicts Seoul and Busan shortly before the establishment of the Republic of Korea, featuring shots of Seoul Station, Sungnyemun Gate and streetcars.

[Soundbite] Prof. Kim Jong-won (Korea Nat'l Univ. of Arts) : "It's fun to see how impoverished we were and what kind of clothes we wore. Clothes made using U.S. military uniforms look like kindergarten kids' uniforms."

"Sea Gull" is the debut film of the silver-screen star Cho Mi-ryeong, who was popular in the 1950s and 60s.

[Soundbite] Cho Mi-ryeong (Actress, Hawaii Resident) : "After the Korean War, we lost everything. That was my debut film. It has a special meaning to me."

The film was kept by a Japanese film archive that had bought it from an antiques dealer in 2011. It was discovered recently by the Korea Film Archive and disclosed to the public for the first time in 67 years. A total of 230 films were produced in Korea until the 1940s, but only 21 of them have been preserved to this day. The discovery of "Sea Gull" is expected to shed light on the history of Korean cinema in the 1940s.

8. Entertainment News

[Anchor Lead]

Singer Sean, who is widely known for his philanthropic activities, has made a meaningful donation yet again by earning around 8,800 dollars cycling a thousand kilometers. He donated the money to treating people who suffer from rare diseases. Here's more from the world of culture.

[Pkg]

Singer Sean showed off his impressive athletic skills in the cycling edition of the KBS TV2 show "Cool Kiz on the Block." Sean set his goal at donating around 9 dollars per kilometer by cycling. He completed a one-thousand-kilometer course, earning over 8,000 dollars and donating the money to a foundation that has been raising funds to build a nursing facility for people suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. Girl group Girls' Generation has released its new single album and music video. The group's new song "Party" is an exciting dance track that matches the summer mood and showcases the diverse charms of its members. All of the three songs included in the album were selected for release as singles. The Seoul International Food Film Festival, the first movie festival in Korea to be dedicated to the subject of food, will kick off for a four-day run on Thursday. More than 30 films about food from around the world, including classics and new releases alike, will be screened at the festival.

9. The Right Sunglasses

[Anchor Lead]

Since sunlight is the major source of ultraviolet rays, UV radiation is a particular risk in the summer. Sunglasses provide protection from the sun's UV rays, so let's find out more about the types of sunglasses best suited to each occasion and your face shape.

[Pkg]

Shoppers are captivated by an array of sunglasses with unique and stylish designs. The latest trend in sunglasses is mirrored shades coated with a reflective optical material that makes them look like small mirrors.

[Soundbite] Hwang Yun-geong (Shopper) : "It has a wider field of vision than I expected and is comfortable and nice-looking."

Consumers have a wider variety of lens colors and frame materials to choose from.

[Soundbite] Park Jin-woo (Sunglass Designer) : "People tend to look for sophisticated styles, so combination frames that use both metal and plastic are popular."

So how can you tell which shades best suit the shape of your face? People with oval faces look great with any frame, so why not try a pair with an elaborate design? If you have a round, plump face, frames with sharp angular lines are recommended. Such faces appear slimmer if the eyeware has big lenses instead of smaller ones, which tend to show your facial curves. People with square-shaped faces look best when sporting shades with round or curved frames. Sunglasses should also provide full protection for your eyes from the sunlight. So it's important to choose lens colors fit for different occasions. Gray-tinted lenses are said to be most comfortable for the eyes, so they're good when engaging in outdoor activities for a long time. Orange lenses are effective in protecting the eyes when you suffer from eye disease or are recovering from cataract surgery. If you're going to the beach, try brown lenses which block out the glare from the water surface. Green lenses are good for driving, particularly in cities.

[Soundbite] Park Seon-ja (Consumer) : "I'm going to keep wearing sunglasses to keep my eyes healthy."

Sunglasses tend to get corroded from the salt in your perspiration or seawater. Here is how to wash your shades so that you can wear them for a long time. Soak the sunglasses in soapy water for just 30 seconds and rinse under running water before drying them with a soft cloth. Also, don't forget to replace the lenses with new ones every three or four years to keep your eyes in the best shape.

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