eFM News

≡ 2019 College Entrance Exam Wraps Up

[Anchor] The College Scholastic Ability Test, or Sunueng, has wrapped up after a nine-hour marathon of test taking for more than 590,000 students nationwide. According to test makers, the difficulty level of this year's exam was similar to last year. Hanna Choi has our top story. [Reporter] Each year in November, the marathon of back-to-back exams brings the whole country to a near standstill. Like past years, government offices and many companies pushed back the start of their work days to help ease traffic so students could get to test sites without delay. Despite these measures and yesterday's orientation informing students of the exam start time, local police were spotted providing emergency transportation for test takers around the nation. More than 12,000 police officers and patrol volunteers were dispatched to provide rides or support for students in trouble, who were mostly running late, at the wrong test venue or had left their ID cards at home. Last year, the make-or-break national exam was unprecedentedly delayed by a week after a strong quake struck Pohang. This year, high levels of fine dust were an issue, prompting the education ministry to allow the test-takers to wear masks during the exam, and take them off only for the check-in process. During the test, the high-stress environment reportedly caused some students to hyperventilate, have panic attacks or experience dizziness. They were treated on-site or taken to hospitals. Meanwhile, many parents lingered outside test venues long after the test began, huddled in coats, praying that their children will do their best on the exam that they've been preparing for most of their lives. Final results will be sent to students from December 5th. Hanna Choi, eFM News.■[2018.11.15]

≡ Moon Stresses Strong S. Korea-US Alliance Amid US-N. Korea Stalemate (Update)

President Moon Jae-in says the strong alliance between South Korea and the United States is what brought North Korea back to the negotiating table. He made the remark during a meeting with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in Singapore earlier today. Moon stressed that inter-Korean ties and relations between Washington and Pyongyang need to develop together in order to achieve permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said Pence asked Moon to communicate with the North more closely. Kim said Washington seems to be seeking Seoul's cooperation in delivering results from its upcoming meetings with Pyongyang.■ [2018.11.15]

≡ Trump To Meet N. Korean Leader Early Next Year: Pence

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence says President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will likely meet for a second summit after the beginning of the New Year. Speaking to reporters in Singapore Thursday, Pence said the meeting would "put details on paper" for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. He stressed that Washington would continue putting "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang until then. Pence added the U.S. is also working very closely with South Korea and respects the talks it is holding with the North.■ [2018.11.15]

≡ Hyundai Group Chief To Visit Mt. Kumgang Sunday For Anniversary Event

Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun will visit North Korea to attend a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of a suspended tourism program at the scenic resort of Mount Kumgang. Seoul's unification ministry said more than 100 South Koreans, including Hyundai executives, lawmakers, former officials and journalists, will visit Mount Kumgang for two days from Sunday. About 80 North Koreans are also expected to take part in the celebration. Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung pioneered the tourism program at Mount Kumgang in 1998. Seoul suspended tours in 2008 following the shooting death of a South Korean tourist by a North Korean soldier.■ [2018.11.15]

≡ Women's Curling Team Seeks To Change Management After Alleged Unfair Treatment

The women's national curling team that won silver at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics earlier this year has reaffirmed that they will not work with current management following allegations of abuse. At a press conference in Seoul this morning, the team members said they have had a hard time because of verbal abuse and irregular and unfair treatment by their coaches. They also insisted the prize money that they received from international competitions was not properly distributed. The curlers, registered under the North Gyeongsang Province's sports council, recently sent a letter to the Korean Sports and Olympic Committee claiming that they have been abused by their head coach. The coaches have denied the allegations. The sports committee and the sports ministry are set to launch a special audit into the case next week.■ [2018.11.15]

≡ Seoul Stocks Rebound After 4-Day Losing Streak On Eased Trade Woes

Korean stocks ended higher today following a four-day losing streak, as institutional investors scooped up large-cap shares amid eased trade woes. The benchmark KOSPI added 1 percent to close at 2,088. Other Asian markets finished mixed. Tokyo fell 0.2 percent, Hong Kong rose 1.7 percent while Shanghai gained 1.4 percent. The local currency closed at 1,129 won against the U.S. dollar, up 5 won from yesterday's close.■ [2018.11.15]

≡ Justice Ministry Says Internet Cafe Murder Suspect Not Mentally Ill

The justice ministry has concluded that a murder suspect who stabbed a part-time worker to death at an internet cafe in Seoul last month was not mentally ill or unstable. Announcing the results of its weeks-long examination into the case this afternoon, the ministry said Kim Sung-soo had been treated for depression but was not psychologically ill at the time of the incident. Since last month, the ministry has been monitoring, interviewing and conducting tests on Kim at a psychiatric facility to determine whether he suffers from a mental disorder. Kim submitted his medical records to police after being arrested, apparently in an effort to blame his brutal act on depression and evade harsh punishment.■ [2018.11.15]