DP CHAIR GRILLED AGAIN

DP CHAIR GRILLED AGAIN

[Anchor Lead]
The probe into Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung's alleged involvement into the Ssangbangwool Group's illicit money transfer to North Korea, has wrapped up after two sessions. Lee again refused to sign his initial interrogation statement from last weekend.

[Pkg]
On day 13 of his hunger strike Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung steps out of the prosecutors' office looking haggard. He was interrogated for the second time in relation to Ssangbangwool Group's alleged illegal remittance to North Korea. The first round of questioning took place last weekend. Lee once again refused to sign his affidavit of the first interrogation.

[Soundbite]
Park Gyun-taek (Lee Jae-myung's lawyer): The purpose of the testimony was not reflected properly.

Lee took issue with the accusation that a rice aid of 100,000 tons was pledged by the Gyeonggi-do provincial government to North Korea through a letter written by former Gyeonggi-do Province vice governor Lee Hwa-young. Lee reportedly called the accusation "dumbfounding", but prosecutors recorded it as "a dumbfounding act by the former vice governor". Lee rebutted by saying he referred to the prosecutors' interrogation as "dumbfounding". An unsigned affidavit is not valid as evidence in court. A prosecution official said the affidavit can still be used as circumstantial evidence and there will be no problems in proving the charges. The official added that the matter needs to be debated in court as Lee has flatly denied the allegations.

[Soundbite]
Lee Jae-myung (Chair, Democratic Party): I am not foolish enough to commit such a serious crime as telling to pay KRW 10 bn to North Korea.

The rift between the prosecutors and Lee over summoning dates and his refusal to sign an affidavit seems to have subsided for now. But Lee has filed a complaint against the prosecutors for the alleged publication of facts of suspected crime, signaling another round of standoff. Prosecutors are considering requesting an arrest warrant for Lee early next week over favoritism allegations to developers in the Baekhyeon-dong land development project.

PRES. OFFICE CALLS ON RUSSIA

[Anchor Lead]
Referring to the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the South Korean Office of the President yesterday urged Russia to act responsibly as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. When asked about the possibility of the two leaders discussing arms trade from reporters, a President's Office official answered that plenty of countries are watching with concern the summit between U.N.-sanctioned North Korea and Security Council permanent member Russia.

EXPORT CONTROLS WITH U.S.

[Anchor Lead]
Amid signs of a North Korea-Russia arms deal, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Don Graves, will visit South Korea to bolster export controls against China and Russia. Crucial discussions will also address the export measures for tech giants.

[Pkg]
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves said he will visit South Korea next week to discuss stronger export controls on China and Russia. He said the top priority for Seoul and Washington is preventing Russia from sidestepping export controls and securing tech and materials that can be used in its war in Ukraine, and that with South Korea, he will discuss ways to strengthen such export controls currently in place against Russia. Though he did not directly mention North Korea, it appears the two sides will seek joint response measures to an impending arms deal between Pyongyang and Moscow.

[Soundbite]
Don Graves (U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce)

Graves also called for export controls on China saying one of the most urgent matters is Seoul and Washington's coordination against Beijing's economic coercion. He noted that discussions in Seoul will address export control measures that prohibit chipmaking equipment from entering China without a review process by the U.S. The key to the talks is whether a one year grace period the US granted to South Korean firms Samsung Electronics and SK hynix when implementing stringent chip controls last October will be extended.

[Soundbite]
Don Graves (U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce)

The U.S. official however refrained from remarking on a possible Validated End-User(VEU) status which South Korean firms have been requesting. The VEU is a trade-facilitating program that saves the burden of yearly export reviews for pre-approved entities.

[Soundbite]
Don Graves (U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce)

During Graves' visit, the two sides are expected to discuss coordination on export controls related to Russia and China on various fronts, in view of an impending arms deal between Pyongyang and Moscow as well as issues concerning South Korean chipmakers' trade prospects with China.

CRIMINALS' MUGSHOT BILL

[Anchor Lead]
In police investigations, the suspect's photos, known as 'mug shots', couldn't be released without consent. However, a bill mandating their capture and public disclosure has now passed a National Assembly subcommittee.

[Pkg]
Law enforcement authorities decided to disclose the identity of Choi Won-jong, whose fatal stabbing rampage left 14 casualties. However, the photo on his driver's license had been corrected and his eyes are closed in the picture taken at the time of arrest. His real face was not disclosed until he was transferred to prosecutors. That's because he refused to take a mug shot needed to record his description. In case of Jung Yoo-jung, who murdered a woman in her 20s, only her ID photo was disclosed to the public. When she was being transferred to the prosecution, she covered her face with a mask and a hat. Under current law, there was no authority to prevent her from doing so.

[Soundbite]
Jeong Jeom-sig (Legislation and Judiciary Committee (PPP, Aug. 22)): Many are calling for disclosing criminals' mug shots as they look different from their photos. Only one case was disclosed in the past four years.

Amid this controversy, a bill mandating the disclosure of mug shots of those who commit violent crimes has passed the first legislative process. The bill passed by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's subcommittee show that the number of crimes subject to disclosure of criminals' personal information has surged. In addition to suspects of sexual violence and certain violent crimes, the bill also allows drugs and arson suspects to have their personal information revealed as well. This applies not only to suspects but also to defendants who have been handed over to trial.

[Soundbite]
So Byung-chul (Legislation and Judiciary Committee (DP)): We took into consideration public opinion, the limitations in protecting human rights and foreign legislations.

The bill will likely be enforced at the end of the year at the earliest once it passes the committee five days later and at a plenary session on Sept. 21.

KBS HEAD TO BE DISMISSED

[Anchor Lead]
President Yoon Suk Yeol approved of the dismissal of KBS President Kim Eui-chul requested by the KBS Board of Directors. At an ad hoc meeting yesterday, the KBS Board of Directors passed a recommendation to dismiss Kim for financial difficulty, loss of leadership, and unfair and biased news coverage. The directors appointed by the opposition parties left the meeting before the vote took place. Kim warned of a legal action, claiming that he hadn't done anything wrong to deserve the firing.

QUESTIONABLE ESG PROJECT

[Anchor Lead]
The renowned outdoor brand, The North Face, promotes its 'North Face Edition', donating a part of sales profits for charity. However, a KBS investigation hints at potential irregularities, possibly favoring personal businesses within the company's executive family.

[Pkg]
The North Face Edition claims to use part of its profit to help potable water development projects in underdeveloped countries. The brand's outdoor clothing and gear are sold at some 40 stores nationwide.

[Soundbite]
Kim Seo-yeong (Gimpo resident): I thought it was the same brand as The North Face because they had the same logo and that it was ESG project.

But The North Face and Edition are two completely different companies. The North Face belongs to Youngone Outdoor while Edition is a brand owned by E. K. Tech. Youngone explains that the two companies are organizing a donation project as a single brand. But why is Edition selling its merchandise at The North Face stores? The answer lies in E. K. Tech. E. K. Tech's registered director is Youngone Outdoor's Vice President Sung Ga-eun. She is the youngest daughter of Youngone Group founder Sung Ki-hak and has been the CEO of E. K. Tech until last year.

[Soundbite]
Park Young-il (KBS advisory counsel): If collaboration doesn't take place, consumers may confuse the brands. If owner's family unlawfully supported her own company, she could be accused of breach of trust.

Sung has been exposing other brands she owns besides Edition through this charity project. When asked if the owner's family received any unfair assistance, Youngone answered that personal gain is not the aim of the project with Edition and that the exposure frequency of the brands other than Edition were insignificant. But when asked why The North Face worked together with Edition and how the proceeds are divided, Youngone declined to answer, claiming that it is a trade secret.

DRUG DRIVER WIELDS KNIFE

[Anchor Lead]
In Seoul's Gangnam district, a man in his 30s threatened another individual with a weapon and fled, after a parking dispute over his luxury car. Captured on CCTV, he displayed erratic, drug-induced behavior. Police later confirmed multiple drugs in his system.

[Pkg]
Outside a restaurant in Sinsa-dong, Seoul. A man wearing a white cap stumbles, before eventually falling over. He tries to get up but falls again. Lying face down, his entire body shivers.

[Soundbite]
(Witness): He was shaking all over and sat on a flower pot. I sensed he was on drugs and called the police.

This is footage from a scene when the driver of a Lamborghini, in his 30s, was detained for wielding a weapon following a dispute over parking with another driver. When the man got into a fight while trying to leave the parking lot, he took out a weapon from his car and threatened the other person. When the victim called the police, the man ran away in his car only to be detained 3 hours later.

[Soundbite]
(Victim (VOICE MODIFIED)): He had a knife wrapped with tape which was odd. I called the police but he fled before they arrived.

When he was detained, he could barely stand still and was in a convulsion. Suspecting drug use, police ran a simplified test which came out positive for meth, ecstasy and ketamine. After confirming the man had visited a hospital around the time of the parking dispute, officers are looking into whether he was prescribed any narcotics. This incident shares many similarities with a recent case where a woman in her 20s became brain dead after being hit by a Rolls-Royce driver, who was intoxicated with drugs. Rumors online speculated the drivers in both cases were acquainted but the Lamborghini driver reportedly told police that was not true. Police plan to continue their investigation on the man, questioning him about drug use and potential ties to a criminal gang.

MOVIE INJUNCTION DENIED

[Anchor Lead]
The Seoul Central District Court rejected yesterday the application for provisional injunction on thriller movie "Chiaksan Mountain". The city of Wonju and local groups in Gangwon-do Province made the request for the movie set against the Chiaksan National Park. The court ruled that the film is just a mystery taking place in Chiaksan Mountain and just because the movie features that particular location, it is hard to foresee that the mountain's reputation would be undermined or the movie would cause people to have negative ideas about the mountain.

YELLOW CROSSING FOR CHILDREN

[Anchor Lead]
With recent changes to the Road Traffic Act, crosswalks in school zones must now be painted yellow. Local authorities are transitioning from white to this noticeable yellow to enhance student safety during commutes.

[Pkg]
In front of an elementary school in Yongin city. Children cross the road under the guidance of volunteer workers. For the younger ones, parents come to pick them up.

[Soundbite]
Lee Im-gyeong (Gugal-dong resident): There's a crosswalk on 4 sides of the school. Children tend to look straight when running, so I'm worried when they cross wide roads.

What is noticeable is the color of the crosswalk. The bright yellow is intentional, to encourage safe driving and reduce accidents in a school zone.

[Soundbite]
Jang Gi-suk (Yeongdeok-dong resident): The yellow really stands out from afar. I instantly realize a school zone presence and drive more carefully.

In a three-month trial carried out by the police in 7 cities and provinces, nine out of ten drivers said the color yellow helped them better recognize the existence of school zones. Six out of ten said the yellow mark helps them better observe the stop line. The installation of yellow crossings within school zones became mandatory since the revised enforcement regulations of the Road Traffic Act was introduced in July. Local authorities have been implementing related changes in phases in consideration of budget conditions.

[Soundbite]
Heo Jeong-gyu (Giheung-gu Dist. office): With police precincts, yellow crosswalks will be installed at all school zones by next year's first half. LED floor signals and traffic light time markers will be expanded.

Amid criticism that drivers often fail to realize they entered a school zone, measures will also be sought to clearly indicate the start and end points of a school area.