Standardized Textbooks

입력 2015.10.08 (14:06) 수정 2015.10.08 (14:29)

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[Anchor Lead]

The government has decided to standardize history textbooks used in schools nationwide. KBS reports that the government will make an official announcement on the issue on October 12.

[Pkg]

The government has made a final decision to publish state history textbooks for the nation's junior high and high schools. Currently, history textbooks are published by several private publishing companies after obtaining approval from the government. A high-ranking Education Ministry official has confirmed the decision to publish state-mandated history textbooks, and said that the government would make an official announcement on October 12. As a result, students nationwide will learn history using the same textbooks starting in 2017. The new regulation takes effect when the government posts an official announcement after an administrative pre-announcement period. But the Education Ministry says it will make an official announcement for the public because the decision to publish state history textbooks is a matter of national concern.

[Soundbite] Hwang Woo-yea(Minister of Education/Parliamentary Inspection, Sept. 10) : "There is too much confusion and academic pressure from different history textbooks providing different information. We should make them more consistent."

After Korea's liberation from the Japanese colonial rule, history textbooks in the nation were published by publishing firms after getting the government's approval, but they became state-mandated in 1974. In 2010 the government gave its approval to private publishers to print history textbooks, but is now to be state-mandated yet again in 7 years.

2. NK Nuclear Capability

[Anchor Lead]

North Korea may have enough nuclear materials to produce up to 22 nuclear weapons according to recent estimates by a U.S. policy think tank. Here are the details.

[Pkg]

The U.S. Institute for Science and International Security announced estimated values for North Korea's inventories of nuclear materials as of late last month. According to the Institute, the North is believed to have separated 30 to 34 kilograms of plutonium through reprocessing. North Korea is also thought to possess 100 kilograms of highly enriched, weapons-grade uranium produced at a centrifuge in its Yongbyon nuclear facility. The think tank further postulated that the North may have as much as 240 kilograms of highly enriched uranium if it has a separate centrifuge in a secret site, as believed by the U.S. If the estimation is true, North Korea has enough material to produce at least 15 and up to 22 nuclear weapons. However, the ISIS went on to explain that North Korea can more likely produce ten to 16 nuclear weapons in reality, as 40 percent more nuclear materials would be consumed to produce each weapon.

3. Economic Outlook

[Anchor Lead]

At a recent meeting on the economy President Park Geun-hye said that despite the slowdown in China's economic growth, the Chinese market still offers ample opportunities. The president also called for systematizing regional development based on the creative economy.

[Pkg]

The Korea Development Institute says that if China's gross domestic product, or GDP, falls by one percent due to the economic slowdown, Korea's GDP will decline by 0.21 percent. Presiding over the second National Economic Advisory Council meeting, President Park Geun-hye urged her administration to make a multilateral response to the recent changes in China's economic structure.

[Soundbite] Park Geun-hye(President) : "We must efficiently adjust our economic structure in line with changes in China from a long-term perspective."

President Park said that although the Chinese economy has slowed down and is more focused on domestic demand now, the massive Chinese market will continue to offer new opportunities. She urged her administration to consider indirect investment, such as buying equities in Chinese companies and signing mergers and acquisitions (M&As) if advancing into China's domestic market turns out to be difficult.

[Soundbite] "We must implement intensive strategies to surpass China while also growing hand in hand with it."

The president also stressed the importance of nurturing specialized industries by region based on her "creative economy initiative."

4. Korean Speaking Contests

[Anchor Lead]

Korean speaking contests have been held at "Sejong Hakdang" Korean language centers around the world ahead of Hangeul Day. Contestants took the chance to boast their Korean speaking skills. Let's take a look.

[Soundbite] "Hello, My name is Daniel."

[Soundbite] "I will begin my speech."

[Pkg]

Applause of encouragement pours in for a contestant's awkward but serious speech, delivered in Korean.

[Soundbite] (1st Prize Winner) : "I went to a club, drank and ate a great deal of samgyeopsal (pork belly.)"

The Korean cultural boom associated with Korean pop music, dramas and cuisine is one of the major factors that motivated these students to learn the Korean language.

[Soundbite] (Participant) : "This bad guy in the TV drama marries this woman's mother."

Students in the advanced course of the "Sejong Hakdang" Korean language centers boasted a deep understanding of Korean culture.

[Soundbite] (Participant) : "King Sejong the Great created this easy alphabet for his people, naming it "Hunminjeongeum."

Korean speaking contests were held at seven Sejong hakdang locations across the world to mark the 569th Hangul Day.

5. “Queen of Hangeul”

[Anchor Lead]

Another special contest has been held for foreign women married to Korean nationals to mark Hangeul Day. Find out who will be crowned the “Queen of Hangeul” this year.

[Pkg]

The auditorium of a local district office has transformed into a venue of a Korean language contest. The participants look nervous. They are foreign women from Thailand, Vietnam and other countries who are married to Korean nationals. This contest was organized for foreign spouses to mark Hangeul Day. Contestants who get the answers right are triumphant. But for some, learning Korean remains a big challenge even after years of living in Korea.

[Soundbite] (Contestant from Thailand) : "I can learn Korean easily because I speak Korean with my mother-in-law. But writing is still difficult."

Forty contestants competed fiercely for the title of "Queen of Hangeul." Here's the final winner.

[Soundbite] (Contestant from Vietnam) : "I'm very happy. Learning Korean is fun. I had no idea I would win. I didn't study that hard."

Foreign women married in Korea need diverse help to adapt to society.

[Soundbite] Moon Seok-jin (Head of Seodaemun Dist. Office) : "We will help them better understand the language and culture so that they can easily adapt to life in Korea."

The contest served as an opportunity for foreign spouses living in Korea to become closer to their new home country.

6. Horizon Festival

[Anchor Lead]

A horizon festival has opened in the Honam plains, the nation's breadbasket. Here are some glimpses into the festival, which offers chances to experience the traditional farming culture in the crisp autumn weather and a view like no other.

[Pkg]

A field of ripening grain stretches out into the distance. These are the Honam plains, the only region in the nation where the horizon can be seen on land. A festival has opened near Byeokgolje, the oldest reservoir in the Orient, offering visitors a chance to experience and learn about farming culture. Children catch grasshoppers in rice paddies and thresh rice with old-fashioned farming tools.

[Soundbite] Yoo Mi-sun (Jeonju, N. Jeolla Prov.) : "It was really great to experience rural culture and become immersed in the autumn season."

Participants try their hands at operating "moojawi," an installation used in the past to pump water.

[Soundbite] Kim Seo-yoon(Gwangsan District, Gwangju) : "Seeing how people worked manually in the past really drives home the development of science."

A traditional type of swing, rarely seen in cities, is also popular.

[Soundbite] Australian Tourist

The festival is expected to draw more than one million tourists this year, as it did last year. Selected as a representative festival of Korea by the government, the Horizon Festival will run until October 11.

7. Dinosaur Exhibit

[Anchor Lead]

Last year, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources caused a sensation when it solved the puzzle of a mysterious dinosaur called Deinocheirus. Now a number of photographs from the dinosaur excavation project are on display to delight both aspiring paleontologists and ordinary dinosaur-loving citizens alike.

[Pkg]

A Korean excavation team is seen digging up the fossils of a dinosaur called the Deinocheirus in southern Mongolia. Since two huge forearms measuring 2.4 meters were discovered in the Gobi Desert in 1965, the identity of the dinosaur those limbs belonged to remained a mystery for 50 years. That mystery was solved by Korean paleontologists.

[Soundbite] Prof. Lee Yuong-nam (SNU, Head of Excavation Team) : "I was so elated I yelled, "It's a Deinocheirus!" Then all the members of the excavation team cheered and celebrated."

Later, the team once again earned the world's attention by recovering a stolen cranial bone and completing the dinosaur's entire body structure. Now on display are photos and materials from the Korean exploration team's fossil hunting project conducted together with Mongolia for five years from 2006. The exhibit features a number of photographs from Mongolia, displaying scenes from the prairies and desert as well as the base camp and excavation site.

[Soundbite] Seo Ah-yeong (3rd Grader) : "It was amazing to see how they excavated the fossils."

Some of the fossil samples were restored to their original skeletal forms with a 3D printer. Free admission is offered at this exhibit and the show will continue until the year's end at the Geological Museum.

8. Installation Art

[Anchor Lead]

Korean technicians have been instrumental in setting up installation artworks of a world-renowned artist. Here are some of the works produced using their exceptional skills and Korea's world-class IT technology.

[Pkg]

This is a large-scale art museum in Shanghai, China. As visitors enter the museum, their attention is drawn to a large installation artwork resembling an artificial moon. Three thousand LED bulbs rotate to create a gala of entrancing light. Entitled "Mouth," this stunningly life-like piece resembles a real mouth in its skin tone and movement. These are some of world-renowned Chinese installation artist Wang Yuyang's signature works. These pieces were produced by a special art company in Korea. Famous for its animatronics design and special effects makeup, this special art lab was responsible for designing, producing and installing Wang Yuyang's artworks.

[Soundbite] Jang Jong-gyu (CEO, Wizard) : "We already possessed the technologies used in the art pieces. We were able to correct shortcomings through countless tests and verifications."

The artist could not find a single company in China or Japan that could realize his artistic visions. But then he came to Korea two years ago and found this group after a long search. Korea's advanced technology is garnering global attention in the field of cutting-edge installation art where IT technologies and arts are integrated.

9. Downtown Markets

[Anchor Lead]

When you're traveling, the key tourist sites and the restaurant scene are nice, but those in the know suggest that you make sure to drop by the local markets. Today we have the scoop on markets full of character located in the heart of Korean cities.

[Pkg]

At this parking lot in the Gyeonggi province city of Siheung, a flea market opens every third Saturday of the month, drawing crowds of locals. A wide range of items are bartered such as books, clothes and toys.

[Soundbite] Byeon Chae-yeong (Flea Market Vendor) : "I came out to sell unused toys and brand new shoes that don't fit me."

One person's junk is another person's treasure at the flea market. The prices are great. With just a couple of dollars, you can find items you need. We also see children, who came out with their mothers, selling stuff on their own.

[Soundbite] Kim Tae-gyeong (Flea Market Vendor) : "I came out to share items I don't use at home, a helmet and some bags."

[Soundbite] "It's USD 1.70! Thank you. Thank you."

The children get a taste of making money as a hands-on learning experience in economics.

[Soundbite] Bang In-hye (Flea Market Vendor) : "They clearly learn the concept of money through this experience. It's better than having them nag me to buy this and that."

There's also a flea market in the Myeongdong area in the heart of Seoul every Friday evening. As the sun sets, vendors begin to put their items on display including cups, accessories and leather products.

[Soundbite] Kim Hye-min (Planning Team, Living & Art Creative Center) : "At Myeongrang Market in Myeongdong, you encounter unique items found nowhere else. People love this place."

The sellers, some of whom are career artisans, also embrace the opportunity to interact and communicate with their customers. The market has become a venue to bond and share personal stories related to the created works.

[Soundbite] Gang Ri-su (Flea Market Participant) : "There are many interesting items and one of a kind pieces as well. It's also nice talking with other participants."

Flea markets are much more than just people buying and selling goods. They're an open public space anyone can take part in and enjoy a sense of community with interesting people.

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  • Standardized Textbooks
    • 입력 2015-10-08 07:18:10
    • 수정2015-10-08 14:29:41
    News Today
[Anchor Lead]

The government has decided to standardize history textbooks used in schools nationwide. KBS reports that the government will make an official announcement on the issue on October 12.

[Pkg]

The government has made a final decision to publish state history textbooks for the nation's junior high and high schools. Currently, history textbooks are published by several private publishing companies after obtaining approval from the government. A high-ranking Education Ministry official has confirmed the decision to publish state-mandated history textbooks, and said that the government would make an official announcement on October 12. As a result, students nationwide will learn history using the same textbooks starting in 2017. The new regulation takes effect when the government posts an official announcement after an administrative pre-announcement period. But the Education Ministry says it will make an official announcement for the public because the decision to publish state history textbooks is a matter of national concern.

[Soundbite] Hwang Woo-yea(Minister of Education/Parliamentary Inspection, Sept. 10) : "There is too much confusion and academic pressure from different history textbooks providing different information. We should make them more consistent."

After Korea's liberation from the Japanese colonial rule, history textbooks in the nation were published by publishing firms after getting the government's approval, but they became state-mandated in 1974. In 2010 the government gave its approval to private publishers to print history textbooks, but is now to be state-mandated yet again in 7 years.

2. NK Nuclear Capability

[Anchor Lead]

North Korea may have enough nuclear materials to produce up to 22 nuclear weapons according to recent estimates by a U.S. policy think tank. Here are the details.

[Pkg]

The U.S. Institute for Science and International Security announced estimated values for North Korea's inventories of nuclear materials as of late last month. According to the Institute, the North is believed to have separated 30 to 34 kilograms of plutonium through reprocessing. North Korea is also thought to possess 100 kilograms of highly enriched, weapons-grade uranium produced at a centrifuge in its Yongbyon nuclear facility. The think tank further postulated that the North may have as much as 240 kilograms of highly enriched uranium if it has a separate centrifuge in a secret site, as believed by the U.S. If the estimation is true, North Korea has enough material to produce at least 15 and up to 22 nuclear weapons. However, the ISIS went on to explain that North Korea can more likely produce ten to 16 nuclear weapons in reality, as 40 percent more nuclear materials would be consumed to produce each weapon.

3. Economic Outlook

[Anchor Lead]

At a recent meeting on the economy President Park Geun-hye said that despite the slowdown in China's economic growth, the Chinese market still offers ample opportunities. The president also called for systematizing regional development based on the creative economy.

[Pkg]

The Korea Development Institute says that if China's gross domestic product, or GDP, falls by one percent due to the economic slowdown, Korea's GDP will decline by 0.21 percent. Presiding over the second National Economic Advisory Council meeting, President Park Geun-hye urged her administration to make a multilateral response to the recent changes in China's economic structure.

[Soundbite] Park Geun-hye(President) : "We must efficiently adjust our economic structure in line with changes in China from a long-term perspective."

President Park said that although the Chinese economy has slowed down and is more focused on domestic demand now, the massive Chinese market will continue to offer new opportunities. She urged her administration to consider indirect investment, such as buying equities in Chinese companies and signing mergers and acquisitions (M&As) if advancing into China's domestic market turns out to be difficult.

[Soundbite] "We must implement intensive strategies to surpass China while also growing hand in hand with it."

The president also stressed the importance of nurturing specialized industries by region based on her "creative economy initiative."

4. Korean Speaking Contests

[Anchor Lead]

Korean speaking contests have been held at "Sejong Hakdang" Korean language centers around the world ahead of Hangeul Day. Contestants took the chance to boast their Korean speaking skills. Let's take a look.

[Soundbite] "Hello, My name is Daniel."

[Soundbite] "I will begin my speech."

[Pkg]

Applause of encouragement pours in for a contestant's awkward but serious speech, delivered in Korean.

[Soundbite] (1st Prize Winner) : "I went to a club, drank and ate a great deal of samgyeopsal (pork belly.)"

The Korean cultural boom associated with Korean pop music, dramas and cuisine is one of the major factors that motivated these students to learn the Korean language.

[Soundbite] (Participant) : "This bad guy in the TV drama marries this woman's mother."

Students in the advanced course of the "Sejong Hakdang" Korean language centers boasted a deep understanding of Korean culture.

[Soundbite] (Participant) : "King Sejong the Great created this easy alphabet for his people, naming it "Hunminjeongeum."

Korean speaking contests were held at seven Sejong hakdang locations across the world to mark the 569th Hangul Day.

5. “Queen of Hangeul”

[Anchor Lead]

Another special contest has been held for foreign women married to Korean nationals to mark Hangeul Day. Find out who will be crowned the “Queen of Hangeul” this year.

[Pkg]

The auditorium of a local district office has transformed into a venue of a Korean language contest. The participants look nervous. They are foreign women from Thailand, Vietnam and other countries who are married to Korean nationals. This contest was organized for foreign spouses to mark Hangeul Day. Contestants who get the answers right are triumphant. But for some, learning Korean remains a big challenge even after years of living in Korea.

[Soundbite] (Contestant from Thailand) : "I can learn Korean easily because I speak Korean with my mother-in-law. But writing is still difficult."

Forty contestants competed fiercely for the title of "Queen of Hangeul." Here's the final winner.

[Soundbite] (Contestant from Vietnam) : "I'm very happy. Learning Korean is fun. I had no idea I would win. I didn't study that hard."

Foreign women married in Korea need diverse help to adapt to society.

[Soundbite] Moon Seok-jin (Head of Seodaemun Dist. Office) : "We will help them better understand the language and culture so that they can easily adapt to life in Korea."

The contest served as an opportunity for foreign spouses living in Korea to become closer to their new home country.

6. Horizon Festival

[Anchor Lead]

A horizon festival has opened in the Honam plains, the nation's breadbasket. Here are some glimpses into the festival, which offers chances to experience the traditional farming culture in the crisp autumn weather and a view like no other.

[Pkg]

A field of ripening grain stretches out into the distance. These are the Honam plains, the only region in the nation where the horizon can be seen on land. A festival has opened near Byeokgolje, the oldest reservoir in the Orient, offering visitors a chance to experience and learn about farming culture. Children catch grasshoppers in rice paddies and thresh rice with old-fashioned farming tools.

[Soundbite] Yoo Mi-sun (Jeonju, N. Jeolla Prov.) : "It was really great to experience rural culture and become immersed in the autumn season."

Participants try their hands at operating "moojawi," an installation used in the past to pump water.

[Soundbite] Kim Seo-yoon(Gwangsan District, Gwangju) : "Seeing how people worked manually in the past really drives home the development of science."

A traditional type of swing, rarely seen in cities, is also popular.

[Soundbite] Australian Tourist

The festival is expected to draw more than one million tourists this year, as it did last year. Selected as a representative festival of Korea by the government, the Horizon Festival will run until October 11.

7. Dinosaur Exhibit

[Anchor Lead]

Last year, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources caused a sensation when it solved the puzzle of a mysterious dinosaur called Deinocheirus. Now a number of photographs from the dinosaur excavation project are on display to delight both aspiring paleontologists and ordinary dinosaur-loving citizens alike.

[Pkg]

A Korean excavation team is seen digging up the fossils of a dinosaur called the Deinocheirus in southern Mongolia. Since two huge forearms measuring 2.4 meters were discovered in the Gobi Desert in 1965, the identity of the dinosaur those limbs belonged to remained a mystery for 50 years. That mystery was solved by Korean paleontologists.

[Soundbite] Prof. Lee Yuong-nam (SNU, Head of Excavation Team) : "I was so elated I yelled, "It's a Deinocheirus!" Then all the members of the excavation team cheered and celebrated."

Later, the team once again earned the world's attention by recovering a stolen cranial bone and completing the dinosaur's entire body structure. Now on display are photos and materials from the Korean exploration team's fossil hunting project conducted together with Mongolia for five years from 2006. The exhibit features a number of photographs from Mongolia, displaying scenes from the prairies and desert as well as the base camp and excavation site.

[Soundbite] Seo Ah-yeong (3rd Grader) : "It was amazing to see how they excavated the fossils."

Some of the fossil samples were restored to their original skeletal forms with a 3D printer. Free admission is offered at this exhibit and the show will continue until the year's end at the Geological Museum.

8. Installation Art

[Anchor Lead]

Korean technicians have been instrumental in setting up installation artworks of a world-renowned artist. Here are some of the works produced using their exceptional skills and Korea's world-class IT technology.

[Pkg]

This is a large-scale art museum in Shanghai, China. As visitors enter the museum, their attention is drawn to a large installation artwork resembling an artificial moon. Three thousand LED bulbs rotate to create a gala of entrancing light. Entitled "Mouth," this stunningly life-like piece resembles a real mouth in its skin tone and movement. These are some of world-renowned Chinese installation artist Wang Yuyang's signature works. These pieces were produced by a special art company in Korea. Famous for its animatronics design and special effects makeup, this special art lab was responsible for designing, producing and installing Wang Yuyang's artworks.

[Soundbite] Jang Jong-gyu (CEO, Wizard) : "We already possessed the technologies used in the art pieces. We were able to correct shortcomings through countless tests and verifications."

The artist could not find a single company in China or Japan that could realize his artistic visions. But then he came to Korea two years ago and found this group after a long search. Korea's advanced technology is garnering global attention in the field of cutting-edge installation art where IT technologies and arts are integrated.

9. Downtown Markets

[Anchor Lead]

When you're traveling, the key tourist sites and the restaurant scene are nice, but those in the know suggest that you make sure to drop by the local markets. Today we have the scoop on markets full of character located in the heart of Korean cities.

[Pkg]

At this parking lot in the Gyeonggi province city of Siheung, a flea market opens every third Saturday of the month, drawing crowds of locals. A wide range of items are bartered such as books, clothes and toys.

[Soundbite] Byeon Chae-yeong (Flea Market Vendor) : "I came out to sell unused toys and brand new shoes that don't fit me."

One person's junk is another person's treasure at the flea market. The prices are great. With just a couple of dollars, you can find items you need. We also see children, who came out with their mothers, selling stuff on their own.

[Soundbite] Kim Tae-gyeong (Flea Market Vendor) : "I came out to share items I don't use at home, a helmet and some bags."

[Soundbite] "It's USD 1.70! Thank you. Thank you."

The children get a taste of making money as a hands-on learning experience in economics.

[Soundbite] Bang In-hye (Flea Market Vendor) : "They clearly learn the concept of money through this experience. It's better than having them nag me to buy this and that."

There's also a flea market in the Myeongdong area in the heart of Seoul every Friday evening. As the sun sets, vendors begin to put their items on display including cups, accessories and leather products.

[Soundbite] Kim Hye-min (Planning Team, Living & Art Creative Center) : "At Myeongrang Market in Myeongdong, you encounter unique items found nowhere else. People love this place."

The sellers, some of whom are career artisans, also embrace the opportunity to interact and communicate with their customers. The market has become a venue to bond and share personal stories related to the created works.

[Soundbite] Gang Ri-su (Flea Market Participant) : "There are many interesting items and one of a kind pieces as well. It's also nice talking with other participants."

Flea markets are much more than just people buying and selling goods. They're an open public space anyone can take part in and enjoy a sense of community with interesting people.

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