OECD Anniversary

[Anchor Lead]

This year marks the 20th anniversary of South Korea's introduction into the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD.) To begin today’s show, we take you to a seminar on the economy held at OECD headquarters in Paris, France, as part of celebrations for the anniversary.

[Pkg]

The Korean movie "Ode to My Father" was specially screened at the headquarters of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to mark the 20th anniversary of South Korea's joining of the organization. The movie was selected for the special presentation, because it unfolds along the process of dynamic economic development South Korea has achieved after the Korean War. In a following seminar, South Korea's role in the OECD was spotlighted and assessed. The nation was recognized for its active participation in the OECD-driven green growth initiative.

[Soundbite] Angel Gurría(OECD Secretary-General)

The seminar also discussed challenges for the next 20 years.

[Soundbite] Yoon Jong-won(South Korean Ambassador to the OECD) : "South Korea has followed the rules set by the international community. Now, it is time for the country to participate more actively in forming the international order."

There was an opinion that in order to raise the nation's per-capita national income, it is an important long-term task to properly address the problem of its rapidly aging population. South Korea was also advised to continue its restructuring efforts to spur the slowing economic growth in the nation.

2. Public Exercises

[Anchor Lead]

Rapid deployment units of the South Korean Navy and Marine Corps have conducted their first public exercise to demonstrate their around-the-clock defense readiness for any emergency on the Korean Peninsula. Let’s take a look.

[Pkg]

In this mock exercise, terrorists have taken hold of the Pyeongtaek LNG plant, which accounts for a third of Korea's liquid natural gas supply. Special forces members of the Korean Marine Corps and Navy are deployed to the scene to overpower the terrorists.

[Soundbite] "One terrorist down!"

The commandos retake the control room from the terrorists and rescue the hostages. A bomb squad is then called in to remove and dismantle explosives installed by the terrorists.

[Soundbite] "Detonate, detonate!"

This was the first public exercise by the Korean Navy and Marine Corps' rapid deployment unit, the official duties of which were launched on May 1st. Established in March with 4,000 soldiers, the rapid deployment unit is capable of responding to emergency situations that occur anywhere on the Korean Peninsula within 24 hours. The drill was also a chance to inspect the deployment procedures by which landing vehicles and Air Force transport planes are sent to tactical areas.

[Soundbite] Col. Kim Dae-hyeon(Head of Rapid Deployment Unit) : "We are fully ready to be deployed promptly to any mission, anytime, anywhere, and complete the operations swiftly."

The rapid deployment unit will be rushed to North Korea in times of emergencies to strike its key facilities as well as carry out post-disaster restorations and protection and evacuation of Korean nationals abroad.

3. Traditional Holiday Fest

[Anchor Lead]

In Korea this year, June 9th marks Dano, one of the nation's four major traditional holidays. It falls on the fifth day of May according to the Lunar calendar. A Dano festival is being held in Gangneung, Gangwon-do Province, which is on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list.

[Pkg]

Today, the fifth day of May on the Lunar calendar, is Dano in South Korea. But in Gangneung, Gangwon-do province, a Dano festival entered its fifth day after having started last Sunday. About 300 booths are open here now. They are divided and operated in six categories: culture of Dano; promotional events and hands-on experiences; and foods. A wide array of 75 programs in 12 fields has also been prepared, ranging from traditional shamanic rituals to the traditional farmers' music performance "nongak" and Korean wrestling known as ssireum. The festival is approaching its peak with the staging of famous domestic and overseas folk performances and various spectacles. The Gangneung Dano Festival was added to the UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in November 2005. Upon the designation, the Gangneung city government declared to make the Dano festival an international event. In this year's festival, folk dances of foreign countries such as France, Ghana and China, will be presented. A singing festival for multi-cultural families and exhibitions on foreign cultures will also be held. In 2008, Gangeung initiated the establishment of an association of 13 cities with UNESCO-listed cultural assets. The Gangneung-headquartered Inter-City Intangible Cultural Cooperation Network is leading efforts to promote the Gangneung Dano Festival worldwide by holding an international intangible cultural heritage festival. The Gangneung Dano Festival will run until June 12.

4. Jeju Volcano Study

[Anchor Lead]

How do you tell when a volcano last erupted? The World Natural Heritage Management Division affiliated with the Jeju World Natural Heritage Center and the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources will drill through the bottom of Baengnokdam Lake at the top of Jeju’s Hallasan Mountain to try to determine when the volcanic mountain will next erupt.

[Pkg]

Hallasan Mountain is a UNESCO-designated World Natural Heritage site. Scientists will attempt to drill Baengnokdam Lake for the first time ever, in order to determine the exact eruption time of the volcanic mountain. First, a helicopter will carry two-ton drilling equipment to the crater lake at the top of the Mountain. Then the equipment will then be used to drill five holes, each measuring 20 centimeters in diameter and between 20 and 40 meters in depth, at the bottom of the lake. The underground sediment collected from these holes will be analyzed to determine the eruption time more precisely. Until now the volcano is estimated to have erupted about 25,000 years ago.

[Soundbite] Jeong Se-ho(Researcher, Jeju World Natural Heritage Center) : "This analysis is expected to reveal when Hallasan Mountain and Jeju Island were formed."

The study will also include a detailed investigation of Hallasan Mountain's fauna and flora distribution by season and altitude. Scientists will also design vegetation preservation plans by analyzing the distribution of Korean fir trees and other endangered alpine plants, as well as threats to their survival. The study is expected to provide fundamental measures to preserve the original state of Hallasan Mountain and its ecosystem, threatened as they are by climate change.

5. Honorary Citizens

[Anchor Lead]

Two foreign nuns who cared for leprosy patients on Korea’s Sorok Island for some 40 years have become honorary citizens of South Korea. The nuns are the first to receive the honor after Guus Hiddink, the former head coach of South Korea’s national soccer team who led Team Korea to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup. The nuns offered a very different service to this country, but Koreans are no less grateful.

[Pkg]

After arriving in South Korea in the 1960s, nuns Marianne Stoeger and Margreth Pissarek devoted their lives to taking care of leprosy patients for more than four decades on Sorok Island. The two nuns cared for people with Hansen's disease on the island into their 70s. But in 2005, they silently left the island - just leaving a letter. They did so, because they got older and sick. And they did not want to become a burden for the island. The two nuns received honorary South Korean citizenship for their dedication to helping leprosy patients on Sorok Island until the day they left. At the awards ceremony, Stoeger calmly said that she just did what she had to do.

[Soundbite] Marianne Stoeger(Nun) : "We did nothing special. As nurses, we just served and treated patients."

They will be given permanent residency immediately if they want to live in South Korea.

[Soundbite] "For me, South Korea is the country I love."

The two nuns who willingly shared the sufferings of people with Hansen's disease have become permanent South Korean citizens.

6. Baseball Complex

[Anchor Lead]

The largest youth baseball complex in Asia will soon open in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi-do Province. In our next story we take you to the groundbreaking ceremony to start the construction in earnest.

[Pkg]

Maehyang-ri village was left neglected after serving as a bombing range for the U.S. armed forces for more than five decades. Now the area is being reborn as a site of new hope through baseball. Maehyang-ri is brimming with energy generated by the banners and balloons welcoming a new baseball complex. The Hwaseong Dream Park is Asia's largest Little League Baseball complex with 8 fields featuring natural grass and a cutting-edge lighting system. The park is scheduled for completion in March 2017. It is a field of dreams for the future baseball stars of Korea.

[Soundbite] Sohn Tae-min(Hwaseong Little League Baseball Player) : "I'm going to practice baseball more in a better environment to become a major league baseball player who makes Korea proud."

Korean Little League Baseball has relied on the outdated Jangchung baseball stadium, which is more than 40 years old. But starting next year, most of the games will be held in the new compound in Hwaseong.

[Soundbite] Han Young-kwan(Chairman, Korea Little League Baseball Federation) : "Once the Dream Park is complete, all the players will forge friendships and make memories here."

Having risen out of scars from the past, the Hwaseong Dream Park is gaining attention as a symbol of Korean youth baseball.

7. Humble Heroes

[Anchor Lead]

Next we bring you the story of the heroes who risked their own lives to rescue a bus driver from a burning bus. The good Samaritans are as humble as they are brave: none of them would take credit for their heroic acts.

[Pkg]

A burning bus is full of toxic gases. Twenty-six-year-old Kim Hye-min gets into the bus to rescue the driver, whose body is stuck.

[Soundbite] Kim Hye-min(Helped Rescue Bus Driver) : "All I could think of is that the driver had to escape as soon as possible. I realized that I got into a serious accident later."

But when asked about her heroic act, Kim gave credit to someone else. This footage was taped during the bus accident. Someone tries desperately to connect a wire for towing cars to the bus. The man is the tow truck driver Kim Jong-deuk. The bus driver was saved because Kim pulled the bus using his tow truck. But Kim also refused to take credit for what he did.

[Soundbite] Kim Jong-deuk(Tow Truck Driver) : "One of the people at the site was a truck driver. He put out the flames and got into the bus several times. There was also a woman in a suit who provided first aid at the site of the accident."

The bus driver says he is grateful to everyone who saved his life.

[Soundbite] Lee Ki-sook(Rescued Bus Driver) : "They refused to leave and tried to help me even though I told them I would handle it on my own. I am very grateful to them."

All of these heroes credited one another for rescuing a precious life.

8. Unwelcome Guests

[Anchor Lead]

Rice farmers face a potential crisis due to abnormally high temperatures this month bringing in some unwelcome guests. Rice paddies in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province have fallen victim to grasshoppers that have hatched earlier than usual.

[Pkg]

Rice seedlings were planted in this paddy a month ago. Each of the growing plants is covered with several grasshoppers. They are young paddy grasshoppers measuring about one centimeter in length. Swarms of grasshoppers fall off the rice each time the plants are shaken. Paddy grasshoppers usually hatch from their eggs in June, but this year they hatched about 20 days earlier than usual due to the abnormally high temperatures.

[Soundbite] Kim Jae-ki(Yecheon-gun County Resident) : "This has never happened before. We are surprised because the grasshoppers appeared so early this year."

Rice plants affected by the grasshoppers are severely damaged. The leaves, which should be straight and long, are covered with grasshopper bites.

[Soundbite] Kwak Young-ho(Gyeongsangbuk-do Agricultural R&E Services) : "If the current period of vegetative growth is hampered, stems will fail to develop and the harvest yield will be affected."

The Agricultural Research and Extension Services were forced to deploy unmanned helicopters to kill the intruders. Concerns are rising that these unwelcome guests brought by the hot weather might ruin the rice harvest this year.

9. Summer Preview

[Anchor Lead]

The early arrival of summer and a wide range of fun activities are enticing people to start their summer vacations early. Let's visit the beaches of Busan and Jeju to give you a preview of summer break this year.

[Pkg]

Gentle white waves roll onto the beach. A colorful blanket of parasols cover the expanse of white sand. The water is still a bit cold, but that doesn't discourage early beachgoers from throwing themselves against the waves and enjoying the warm sun. Sand sculptures dotting the beaches are a whimsical accompaniment to the seaside scenery.

[Soundbite] Linda Murphy & Jack Blent(Tourists)

This coastal walkway stretches toward the middle of the sea. Spanning 365 meters, it's Korea's longest offshore walkway. The center strip of the pedestrian bridge is made of transparent glass, making you feel as if you're walking on the sea to enjoy the breeze.

[Soundbite] Ji Mi-hong(Visitor) : "It feels like I'm walking on the clouds. It's an unusual way to enjoy the sea."

The beaches of Busan attracted a record 46 million people last year. This year a variety of services like nighttime swimming and street performances are expected to entice even more vacationers. Tourists play in the waters off a beach on Jeju Island, although its official opening is a month away.

[Soundbite] Kim Yeong-nam(Visitor) : "The June weather is great and it's a great time to travel, because it’s less crowded."

Jeju Island's Gotjawal is a dense forest of lush, green trees. It's also packed with tourists. Glowing reviews of the charming Jeju scenery in June bring these tourists to the island to enjoy the season's change from spring to summer.

[Soundbite] Kim Hong-ki(Visitor) : "The scenery is very pretty. It's right between the spring and summer. I'm enjoying it tremendously."

Well-known tourist hotspots are already seeing an influx of vacationers. A range of diverse tourism attractions is gradually erasing the distinction between peak and slow vacation seasons. Check it out this year.