eFM News

≡ Plans For Inter-Korean Olympic Team Sparks Concerns

[Anchor] South and North Korea are on track to field a joint women's hockey team at the Winter Games next month. If realized, it will be the first time the Koreas will have formed a single team at the Olympics. But this potentially historic move doesn't come without concerns, as some question whether the interests of South Korean players are being cast aside unfairly in the hopes that inter-Korean relations make further headway. Jeong-eun Lee reports. [Reporter] In response to growing concerns about plans for a joint women's Olympic hockey team, Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung said the idea will be pursued in a way that does not damage South Korean players. But head coach for the South Korean team Sarah Murray told reporters earlier that it's "a little bit dangerous" for anyone to be added to the roster right before the Winter Games start. Hundreds of critics and fans took to Cheong Wa Dae's online petition site, urging President Moon Jae-in to cancel the plan on the grounds that it would take away hard-won spots for South Korean players. During a visit to the Jincheon National Training Center yesterday, the president highlighted that a unified team, on top of the North's participation in the Games, would significantly contribute to improving inter-Korean ties. Since the start of inter-Korean talks last week, Seoul and Pyongyang have agreed on other ambitious plans, such as a joint march in the opening ceremony and a cultural event at the North's Mt. Kumgang resort. Further details regarding North Korea's Olympic delegation is expected to be confirmed when the two Koreas hold talks Saturday with the International Olympic Committee in Switzerland. Jeongeun Lee, eFM News.■ [2018.01.18]

≡ S. Koreans Split Over Unified Korea Flag At PyeongChang: Poll

South Koreans are apparently split over which flag should be raised if the two Koreas march together at the opening ceremony of next month's PyeongChang Winter Games. A Realmeter survey commissioned by tbs asked 500 adults nationwide yesterday what they think about the inter-Korean agreement to march under a "unified Korea" flag. Those in support stood at 41 percent while 49 percent said the two Koreas should stick to their respective national flags. The phone survey had a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points and a response rate of 6.1 percent.■ [2018.01.18]

≡ S. Korea, US Affirm Security Commitment

South Korea and the United States have reaffirmed there will be no letup in the rotational deployment of major American defense assets like aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and bombers to and around the Korean Peninsula. The South Korean defense minister announced the result of vice-ministerial talks between the two allies in Washington D.C. as the two Koreas engage in dialogue ahead of the PyeongChang Games. The minister said the allies also agreed to consult closely on security related issues, including cross-border dialogue, and maintain the joint goal of resolving the North's nuclear issue diplomatically and peacefully.■ [2018.01.18]

≡ Seoul Keeps Emergency Measures In Place To Combat Fine Dust

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has kept emergency measures in place today to tackle high levels of fine dust in the capital. The concentration of fine dust and ultra fine dust particles in Seoul and surrounding areas remain at "bad" levels. Conditions have worsened as smog combined with yellow dust has swept down from China. Under the city's emergency measures, government officials who drive cars with odd-numbered license plates should stay off the roads. Individual drivers are also being encouraged to follow the alternate no driving day system. Public transportation, meanwhile, will be offered free of charge this morning until 9 a.m. and during the evening commute hours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.■ [2018.01.18]

≡ Incheon Intl Airport Begins Operations At New Second Terminal

[Anchor] South Korea's main gateway, Incheon International Airport, has officially kicked off operations of its brand new second terminal today. A Korean Air flight from Manila was the first to arrive at Terminal 2 at 4:20 this morning, with passengers getting more than a warm welcome. As our Devin Whiting explains, it's a state-of-the-art facility that the airport hopes will make Incheon a hub not only for the region but for the world. [Reporter] It was 7-and-a-half years in the making at a cost of nearly 5 trillion won. Incheon's new Terminal Two can handle 18 million passengers a year, boosting the airport's total annual capacity to 72 million. But the change is more than quantitative. For one thing, T2 will offer a lot more shopping. Lotte Duty Free has opened what it says is the world's biggest liquor store. Shilla is running six cosmetics shops, and Shinsegae is selling 170 high-end fashion brands. For passengers' convenience there are self-check-in and bag drop kiosks, robot guides and automated boarding; and for security it has 360-degree body scanners. The roof of the new terminal has solar panels to cut down on power consumption, and another new feature is an aircraft observation deck. Operating out of Terminal Two are the SkyTeam carriers -- Korean Air, KLM, Air France and Delta. T1 and T2 are on opposite sides of the airport, though, and that fact has already caused some confusion. Subway trains and buses run to both terminals, but heading to the wrong one can cause a major delay, so passengers are advised to double-check which terminal they need to use and how to get there. Devin Whiting, eFM News.■[2018.01.18]

≡ BOK Keeps Key Rate At 1.5% At First Meeting Of 2018

The Bank of Korea is keeping its key interest rate at 1.5 percent. The monetary policy committee held its first monthly rate setting meeting of the year this morning and left the base rate unchanged. This falls in line with market expectations, amid weaker inflationary pressures and the strengthening of the Korean won. Last November, the BOK marked up its key rate from 1.25 percent for the first time in six years after the U.S. Fed started tightening its rate and amid solid signs of recovery in the local economy.■[2018.01.18]

≡ Seoul Stocks In Mid-Day Trade

Turning to the local bourse, stocks in Seoul are trading _________ at this hour. As of noon, the benchmark KOSPI was up/down _____ percent at _______, while the tech-heavy KOSDAQ was up/down _____ percent at _______. The local currency was trading at _______ won against the greenback, up/down/unchanged _____ won from yesterday's close.■1,071[2018.01.18]

≡ Banks Earn ￦2.2 Bln In Virtual Currency Trading Fees

Government data show six major South Korean banks earned 2.2 billion won in commission for providing virtual accounts to cryptocurrency investors last year. That compares with just 61 million won earned in 2016. The Financial Supervisory Service said Industrial Bank of Korea raked in the most at 675 million won, closely followed by NongHyup Bank and Shinhan Bank. The government is struggling to rein in the virtual currency frenzy amid concerns of a bubble in bitcoin, ethereum and other digital currencies. Regulators have temporarily banned the opening of new virtual accounts and threatened to shutter crypto exchanges in an effort to cool the market.■ [2018.01.18]

≡ (BBC) World's Longest Underground Cavern Discovered

A group of archeologists has discovered two underwater caverns in eastern Mexico are, in fact, connected, creating what's believed to be the longest known underwater cave on the planet. The BBC's Rebecca Wood reports.■ [Report: 00:36][2018.01.18]

≡ Weather Update 1100

Taking a look at the weather, Seoul and the surrounding areas remain under gray skies. Bad levels of fine and ultrafine dust in the central region are expected to intensify this afternoon, compounded by yellow dust from China. Make sure to take precautions when outdoors and use face masks if necessary. Light clouds are forecats to linger nationwide, while daytime highs peak between 2 to 11 degrees. As for the current temperature in central Seoul, it is _____ degrees Celsius or _____ degrees Fahrenheit.■ [2018.01.18]