1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,730 Speaker 1: This is a C. N. A podcast. Picture this you 2 00:00:04,730 --> 00:00:08,180 Speaker 1: are heading to work leaving behind blue skies and fresh 3 00:00:08,180 --> 00:00:12,649 Speaker 1: air to descend into absolute darkness below the mine is 4 00:00:12,650 --> 00:00:15,650 Speaker 1: where you grind to make a living? The only light 5 00:00:15,650 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 1: coming from a small fixture on your helmet. The beam 6 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 1: barely penetrates the black around you. A sprinkling of coal 7 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,430 Speaker 1: dust covers your mask and exposed skin and at times 8 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:28,380 Speaker 1: all you hear is this 9 00:00:43,770 --> 00:00:47,570 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to CNN correspondent. I'm your host, Teresa Tang. 10 00:00:47,860 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: This is the podcast where our network of correspondents shine 11 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:53,610 Speaker 1: a light on the stories from wherever they are in 12 00:00:53,610 --> 00:00:57,660 Speaker 1: the world, bringing you behind and beyond the headlines on 13 00:00:57,660 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: today's edition, we explore South Korea's energy dilemma. 14 00:01:08,510 --> 00:01:12,190 Speaker 1: South Korea is poor in natural resources and imports an 15 00:01:12,190 --> 00:01:17,140 Speaker 1: astounding 94% of its energy sources and that has posed 16 00:01:17,140 --> 00:01:20,970 Speaker 1: a challenge figuring out what the best energy mix is 17 00:01:20,970 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: to zero out emissions from the bowels of a coal 18 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,750 Speaker 1: mine into a nuclear power plant. Our Korea correspondent, lim 19 00:01:27,750 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 1: eun Sook looks at why the country's clean energy push 20 00:01:31,180 --> 00:01:34,630 Speaker 1: is pushing some people to despair. She joins me now 21 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:36,610 Speaker 1: welcome eun sook, Thank you. 22 00:01:37,459 --> 00:01:40,789 Speaker 1: Alright, so first off, let's talk about the political tug 23 00:01:40,790 --> 00:01:44,610 Speaker 1: of war between the country's current and former presidents. They 24 00:01:44,610 --> 00:01:46,490 Speaker 1: don't seem to be on the same page when it 25 00:01:46,490 --> 00:01:50,250 Speaker 1: comes to the role of nuclear power and coal. Well, yes, 26 00:01:50,260 --> 00:01:53,510 Speaker 1: you know South korean president's former and current are all 27 00:01:53,510 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 1: aware that this country needs some kind of an energy 28 00:01:56,240 --> 00:02:00,210 Speaker 1: mix to meet its electricity demand. But how much of 29 00:02:00,210 --> 00:02:01,970 Speaker 1: what is needed is the big question 30 00:02:02,230 --> 00:02:05,230 Speaker 1: and that changes whenever we have a new president here 31 00:02:05,230 --> 00:02:08,410 Speaker 1: in South Korea, which many experts are saying that that 32 00:02:08,419 --> 00:02:11,350 Speaker 1: alone is a big problem because they're saying that when 33 00:02:11,350 --> 00:02:13,730 Speaker 1: it comes to the energy issue, it should be a 34 00:02:13,730 --> 00:02:17,220 Speaker 1: long term solution, a long term policy of the south 35 00:02:17,220 --> 00:02:20,739 Speaker 1: korean government and not something that changes every five years 36 00:02:20,820 --> 00:02:23,590 Speaker 1: since the president here can only serve a single five 37 00:02:23,590 --> 00:02:26,410 Speaker 1: year term. Now. The energy mix usually in 38 00:02:26,710 --> 00:02:31,070 Speaker 1: the nuclear power, the coal power and renewable energies like hydrogen. 39 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:34,050 Speaker 1: How much focus you put in each of those sector 40 00:02:34,060 --> 00:02:37,570 Speaker 1: differs from the different leaders. Like for example President Yoon 41 00:02:37,570 --> 00:02:41,769 Speaker 1: Sung Yang, he says he understands that renewable energy is 42 00:02:41,770 --> 00:02:43,780 Speaker 1: the way to go, but that's just going to take 43 00:02:43,780 --> 00:02:46,770 Speaker 1: a lot of time. And so he wants to actively 44 00:02:46,770 --> 00:02:50,750 Speaker 1: operate the nuclear power plants across the country. He says 45 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:51,030 Speaker 1: new 46 00:02:51,050 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 1: the power plant is the thing right now around the 47 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:58,540 Speaker 1: world and he wants to increase that proportion to 30% 48 00:02:58,540 --> 00:03:03,799 Speaker 1: from the current 25 to 27% which his predecessor when J. N. 49 00:03:03,810 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 1: Had tried to face out nuclear plants during his five 50 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:10,310 Speaker 1: year term. So this nuclear power plants were halted under 51 00:03:10,310 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 1: the moon administration. But now they're reopening up again because 52 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:15,580 Speaker 1: of this change in policy. 53 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:19,440 Speaker 1: And you actually stepped foot in one of the nuclear 54 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,869 Speaker 1: power plants one of 24 across the country. What was 55 00:03:22,870 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: that experience like? Did you have to wear any protective 56 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:28,470 Speaker 1: gear for instance? I admit when I'm even close to 57 00:03:28,470 --> 00:03:30,739 Speaker 1: an X ray machine, I get a bit uneasy. 58 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,269 Speaker 1: Well, I didn't go inside a nuclear plant this time 59 00:03:34,270 --> 00:03:37,730 Speaker 1: because for security reasons. But I did go to this 60 00:03:37,730 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: huge compound where there's several nuclear plants inside that compound 61 00:03:42,730 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: and there's just one section inside that compound where there 62 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:48,870 Speaker 1: are plans to build new ones. So I went there 63 00:03:48,870 --> 00:03:51,400 Speaker 1: to have a look and right now it's really just 64 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,860 Speaker 1: bare land and it's in the initial stage of getting 65 00:03:54,860 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 1: the permits, the environmental permits to be able to 66 00:03:57,695 --> 00:04:01,725 Speaker 1: To go and start the process of reactivating this. Because 67 00:04:01,725 --> 00:04:05,285 Speaker 1: all of that came to a halt in 2017 recently, 68 00:04:05,285 --> 00:04:09,615 Speaker 1: President Daniel visited the same site and there he emphasized 69 00:04:09,625 --> 00:04:13,015 Speaker 1: the importance of nuclear power plants in the country. And 70 00:04:13,015 --> 00:04:16,215 Speaker 1: so we're expecting this whole process of getting the permits 71 00:04:16,214 --> 00:04:18,585 Speaker 1: and all of that to be really quick. But it 72 00:04:18,585 --> 00:04:21,225 Speaker 1: was very interesting to see some of the nuclear power 73 00:04:21,225 --> 00:04:24,215 Speaker 1: reactors actually there in front of my eyes. 74 00:04:24,620 --> 00:04:27,530 Speaker 1: So if nuclear power is going to be part of 75 00:04:27,529 --> 00:04:31,540 Speaker 1: Korea's energy future? One issue that needs to be addressed 76 00:04:31,540 --> 00:04:33,500 Speaker 1: is where are you going to put all of that 77 00:04:33,500 --> 00:04:37,719 Speaker 1: nuclear waste, where are the hot and highly radioactive spent 78 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 1: uranium fuel rods going to go. Are there plans for 79 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: a waste facility? 80 00:04:42,390 --> 00:04:45,070 Speaker 1: That is the big question for the South Korean government 81 00:04:45,070 --> 00:04:47,340 Speaker 1: now and I think they will have to find an 82 00:04:47,339 --> 00:04:50,460 Speaker 1: answer very soon because South Korea has been running the 83 00:04:50,460 --> 00:04:53,890 Speaker 1: nuclear power reactors for decades and this is a very 84 00:04:53,890 --> 00:04:57,540 Speaker 1: densely population. And right now there are about 25 of 85 00:04:57,550 --> 00:05:01,130 Speaker 1: the nuclear power plants across the country. But there's only 86 00:05:01,130 --> 00:05:04,790 Speaker 1: one nuclear waste facility and that's in count you 87 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,110 Speaker 1: which I don't know if you've heard of it, but 88 00:05:07,110 --> 00:05:10,650 Speaker 1: many tourists would have because it is a tourist attraction 89 00:05:10,650 --> 00:05:14,020 Speaker 1: there in the North Kyongsang province. Now I did go 90 00:05:14,020 --> 00:05:17,409 Speaker 1: to that one waste facility and there, I did have 91 00:05:17,410 --> 00:05:21,090 Speaker 1: to wear gowns and gloves and helmet before I was 92 00:05:21,089 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 1: allowed to go in because this is an underground radioactive 93 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: nuclear waste disposal facil. 94 00:05:27,870 --> 00:05:31,250 Speaker 1: And he only opened up in 2015. And since then 95 00:05:31,260 --> 00:05:34,570 Speaker 1: it has been receiving waste from nuclear power plants, but 96 00:05:34,570 --> 00:05:39,799 Speaker 1: also other places like different industries, factories and hospitals. That's 97 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:43,590 Speaker 1: because only the low and intermediate level wastes are disposed 98 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:47,130 Speaker 1: there things like the gowns, the gloves, things that you'll 99 00:05:47,130 --> 00:05:49,980 Speaker 1: find in the X ray department at the hospitals. 100 00:05:50,150 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: Now, the big problem is that there is no permanent 101 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: waste disposable site for the high level radioactive waste. The 102 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:03,070 Speaker 1: spent nuclear fuels. Currently they're being disposed at temporary storage 103 00:06:03,070 --> 00:06:07,070 Speaker 1: facilities at the 25 nuclear power plants. But they're filling 104 00:06:07,070 --> 00:06:10,450 Speaker 1: out real fast. And so they need to be taken somewhere. 105 00:06:10,460 --> 00:06:13,770 Speaker 1: There's some discussions that perhaps they can be stored overseas, 106 00:06:13,779 --> 00:06:16,610 Speaker 1: but then also here in South Korea, the South Korean 107 00:06:16,610 --> 00:06:17,870 Speaker 1: government is looking to see 108 00:06:17,895 --> 00:06:21,575 Speaker 1: where they can have this facility located because the South 109 00:06:21,575 --> 00:06:25,135 Speaker 1: korean government wants, it does announce where the location will be. 110 00:06:25,145 --> 00:06:27,445 Speaker 1: They're definitely going to see a lot of South Koreans 111 00:06:27,445 --> 00:06:30,655 Speaker 1: out there in the streets demonstrating because they don't want 112 00:06:30,654 --> 00:06:34,935 Speaker 1: a nuclear waste facility in their backyard. Apparently right now, 113 00:06:34,945 --> 00:06:37,895 Speaker 1: Finland is the only country in the world that has 114 00:06:37,895 --> 00:06:41,245 Speaker 1: that permanent nuclear waste facility and it took filling about 115 00:06:41,245 --> 00:06:44,025 Speaker 1: 40 years. Many expensive lawyers say it could take much 116 00:06:44,025 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 1: longer for South Korea, 117 00:06:45,850 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 1: Wow. 40 years. And like you said, people agree that 118 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,810 Speaker 1: this waste needs to be disposed of safely but just 119 00:06:52,810 --> 00:06:55,660 Speaker 1: nowhere near them. Right. All right, stay with us up 120 00:06:55,660 --> 00:06:58,979 Speaker 1: next on CNN correspondent. We hear from miners and we 121 00:06:58,980 --> 00:07:03,070 Speaker 1: talk about the economic cost of leaving the black gold behind. 122 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:08,260 Speaker 1: Mhm 123 00:07:10,870 --> 00:07:13,890 Speaker 1: Hi, I'm Stephen chow. And I host the new season 124 00:07:13,890 --> 00:07:16,980 Speaker 1: of our podcast heart of the matter, join me in 125 00:07:16,980 --> 00:07:19,340 Speaker 1: getting right to the heart of the headlines as we 126 00:07:19,340 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 1: speak with experts and newsmakers to delve deep into the 127 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: most talked about news developments, look out for our episodes 128 00:07:26,250 --> 00:07:28,170 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. 129 00:07:36,650 --> 00:07:41,570 Speaker 1: We're back with Ciena's career correspondent. Yeon Suk This job 130 00:07:41,570 --> 00:07:45,010 Speaker 1: has taken you to so many interesting locations and a 131 00:07:45,010 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: coal mine has really got to be one of the 132 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:50,910 Speaker 1: most memorable, definitely. I think it's an experience. I will 133 00:07:50,910 --> 00:07:53,950 Speaker 1: never forget it somewhere where I did have to go 134 00:07:53,950 --> 00:07:56,540 Speaker 1: and take all my clothes off and instead where the 135 00:07:56,540 --> 00:08:00,230 Speaker 1: clothes that they gave me. I always also given gloves 136 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: a very important helmet 137 00:08:02,086 --> 00:08:05,666 Speaker 1: because there's only one light and that's on this helmet 138 00:08:05,676 --> 00:08:07,786 Speaker 1: that I was told to wear. And this is an 139 00:08:07,786 --> 00:08:11,856 Speaker 1: underground tunnel which is pitch black. You cannot see anything 140 00:08:11,856 --> 00:08:14,946 Speaker 1: in front of you around you or anything in that 141 00:08:14,956 --> 00:08:18,636 Speaker 1: underground tunnel. And so that helmet is very important. But 142 00:08:18,636 --> 00:08:20,906 Speaker 1: you know from the entrance of this tunnel we had 143 00:08:20,906 --> 00:08:23,890 Speaker 1: to walk about 10 15 minutes in the dark 144 00:08:23,902 --> 00:08:27,512 Speaker 1: With that one light. And where there was an elevator 145 00:08:27,512 --> 00:08:30,212 Speaker 1: there that was going to take us down about 800 146 00:08:30,212 --> 00:08:34,232 Speaker 1: m underground. And once we went down and did take 147 00:08:34,232 --> 00:08:37,222 Speaker 1: a few minutes to go 800 m underground. But once 148 00:08:37,222 --> 00:08:40,352 Speaker 1: we got off the elevator we also had to go 149 00:08:40,362 --> 00:08:43,032 Speaker 1: on this it was like a card but that card 150 00:08:43,032 --> 00:08:45,712 Speaker 1: was going to take us deeper down into the mine. 151 00:08:45,900 --> 00:08:49,050 Speaker 1: And after that ride we still had to go down 152 00:08:49,050 --> 00:08:53,099 Speaker 1: further down the steep stairs. And remember the only light 153 00:08:53,100 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: I had to guide me was on my helmet and 154 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 1: I had no idea what was around me. I had 155 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:01,260 Speaker 1: to go down those steep stairs and 156 00:09:01,285 --> 00:09:03,735 Speaker 1: they were very nearer to there's nobody there able to 157 00:09:03,735 --> 00:09:06,285 Speaker 1: hold my hand or I had one rail that I 158 00:09:06,285 --> 00:09:08,795 Speaker 1: could hold on to but that was it and only 159 00:09:08,795 --> 00:09:11,954 Speaker 1: one person was allowed to go down one by one. 160 00:09:11,965 --> 00:09:16,670 Speaker 1: And then suddenly I heard the sound 161 00:09:18,900 --> 00:09:21,819 Speaker 1: eun sook. What were those miners saying? I could make 162 00:09:21,820 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: out some korean there, but I don't understand what they 163 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: were saying and what was it like for you and 164 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:28,960 Speaker 1: your cameraman to witness these men at work? They were 165 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:33,089 Speaker 1: saying blast blast. So they were giving out a warning 166 00:09:33,090 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 1: to the people there, including myself and the crew and 167 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: there was an explosion that went off inside that underground 168 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: tunnel while I was there and everybody else were there 169 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:44,130 Speaker 1: with me 170 00:09:44,260 --> 00:09:47,910 Speaker 1: and that explosion, the miners were saying goes off like 171 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,900 Speaker 1: 30 40 times a day and while I was there 172 00:09:50,900 --> 00:09:53,290 Speaker 1: it was going off like 23 times that they did 173 00:09:53,300 --> 00:09:56,350 Speaker 1: warn me to ensure that my ears were blocked while 174 00:09:56,350 --> 00:09:58,620 Speaker 1: they were standing there as if it was really to 175 00:09:58,620 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: think for these miners. But the reason that they do 176 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,729 Speaker 1: this is because they need to break up this coal 177 00:10:04,740 --> 00:10:08,100 Speaker 1: from the walls so that they can extract the coal 178 00:10:08,100 --> 00:10:09,460 Speaker 1: from there and they needed 179 00:10:09,476 --> 00:10:12,675 Speaker 1: The help of the explosions and these cold that they 180 00:10:12,676 --> 00:10:16,986 Speaker 1: mind are usually used by people in the low-income bracket 181 00:10:16,996 --> 00:10:20,456 Speaker 1: who rely on this cold during the winter. And also, 182 00:10:20,456 --> 00:10:22,746 Speaker 1: you know, all those Korean barbecues that you see, I'm 183 00:10:22,746 --> 00:10:25,876 Speaker 1: sure you've seen those coal briquettes that they used, well 184 00:10:25,876 --> 00:10:28,606 Speaker 1: that's where it comes from, it comes from this mine 185 00:10:28,616 --> 00:10:31,876 Speaker 1: across South Korea. And so you know, despite the fact 186 00:10:31,876 --> 00:10:34,126 Speaker 1: that the South Korean economy is one of the top 187 00:10:34,136 --> 00:10:34,676 Speaker 1: 10 in the 188 00:10:34,692 --> 00:10:38,592 Speaker 1: world, they still have to rely on these underground mines 189 00:10:38,592 --> 00:10:42,402 Speaker 1: to get their feel and also at the restaurants. So 190 00:10:42,412 --> 00:10:45,712 Speaker 1: if these mines shut down, if South Korea moves away 191 00:10:45,712 --> 00:10:50,012 Speaker 1: from coal use, that means a huge impact on these miners. 192 00:10:50,022 --> 00:10:53,011 Speaker 1: You talk to them, are they resigned to the notion 193 00:10:53,011 --> 00:10:56,732 Speaker 1: that their communities could potentially collapse or are they hopeful 194 00:10:56,732 --> 00:10:59,910 Speaker 1: that they'll still have a place in a hydrogen based economy? 195 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,100 Speaker 1: Well right now talking to the miners and many of 196 00:11:03,110 --> 00:11:06,069 Speaker 1: them have been there for about 2030 years, some even 197 00:11:06,070 --> 00:11:10,500 Speaker 1: 40 years um is mixed. This whole town of Tibet 198 00:11:10,500 --> 00:11:13,180 Speaker 1: where this mine is located. It used to be called 199 00:11:13,179 --> 00:11:16,530 Speaker 1: the coal Miner's city. It was very famous here in 200 00:11:16,530 --> 00:11:19,830 Speaker 1: South Korea for that because everyone there lived off those 201 00:11:19,830 --> 00:11:23,359 Speaker 1: mines but the number of coal mines have drastically been 202 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:26,380 Speaker 1: reduced and in fact the mind that we visited is 203 00:11:26,380 --> 00:11:29,670 Speaker 1: also scheduled to close down in 2024. 204 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:32,370 Speaker 1: Now the miners say that they know the mines have 205 00:11:32,370 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 1: to close. In fact, many say they're happy in a 206 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:36,910 Speaker 1: way that they don't have to go back to the 207 00:11:36,910 --> 00:11:40,050 Speaker 1: mines to work but at the same time they don't 208 00:11:40,050 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: know what else to do except to mine because that's 209 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,290 Speaker 1: what they've been doing all their life. And so there 210 00:11:45,290 --> 00:11:48,770 Speaker 1: are those concerns and also talking to people outside the 211 00:11:48,770 --> 00:11:52,350 Speaker 1: coal mines who run restaurants and businesses, they too are 212 00:11:52,350 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: worried that they will have no business once the coal 213 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:56,360 Speaker 1: mine closes down 214 00:11:56,550 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: the Tibetan city is worried things that the local economy 215 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:02,620 Speaker 1: can collapse. And so it is still looking despite the 216 00:12:02,620 --> 00:12:05,390 Speaker 1: fact that for decades the south korean government has said 217 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:08,390 Speaker 1: that the coal mines will have to close down eventually. 218 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: They're trying to see if there's another way around this 219 00:12:10,890 --> 00:12:13,860 Speaker 1: that the miners to some say they're looking for new jobs. 220 00:12:13,870 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 1: But many of them also told me how seriously but 221 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:19,750 Speaker 1: also have jokingly that the first thing they will likely 222 00:12:19,750 --> 00:12:23,240 Speaker 1: have to do is to admit themselves to the hospitals 223 00:12:23,250 --> 00:12:24,300 Speaker 1: for treatment. 224 00:12:24,530 --> 00:12:26,689 Speaker 1: And this one minor tells me why 225 00:12:28,500 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 2: the space is very tight inside the mine we need 226 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:36,199 Speaker 2: to weave through that small space carrying heavy loads. When 227 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:39,330 Speaker 2: you move around we bump our heads, we get neck problems, 228 00:12:39,340 --> 00:12:41,890 Speaker 2: you get cuts and even break our bones. If you 229 00:12:41,890 --> 00:12:44,350 Speaker 2: go in for yourself you can see how different it is, 230 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:49,080 Speaker 2: it's heaven and hell. At least you get fresh air outside. 231 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: Were they depressed Like when you visited that community? No 232 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:57,070 Speaker 1: they were all smiling and they were really nice. Yeah. 233 00:12:57,070 --> 00:12:58,609 Speaker 1: I mean it's a job that they've had but I 234 00:12:58,610 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: think I can say is although I was there for 235 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:04,410 Speaker 1: just half an hour to me thinking of having to 236 00:13:04,410 --> 00:13:06,609 Speaker 1: go back to that coal mine the next day. I 237 00:13:06,610 --> 00:13:08,690 Speaker 1: don't think I would be able to bear it because 238 00:13:08,690 --> 00:13:11,260 Speaker 1: you go in and although it's there for half a 239 00:13:11,260 --> 00:13:14,680 Speaker 1: day my throat was hurting so much. Although I had 240 00:13:14,705 --> 00:13:17,645 Speaker 1: mass con and so I can imagine what it must 241 00:13:17,645 --> 00:13:20,585 Speaker 1: be like for them and for many of them though 242 00:13:20,585 --> 00:13:23,065 Speaker 1: they do say that they're happy. I think this has 243 00:13:23,065 --> 00:13:26,025 Speaker 1: been their home all their lives and for me during 244 00:13:26,025 --> 00:13:28,415 Speaker 1: that half day there I even had a meal with 245 00:13:28,415 --> 00:13:31,495 Speaker 1: them inside because they do go to work early and 246 00:13:31,495 --> 00:13:34,885 Speaker 1: they're there for about 78 hours. So to them while 247 00:13:34,885 --> 00:13:38,490 Speaker 1: they're there inside this underground tunnel it's their home. 248 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:41,510 Speaker 1: Thank you to you and to your crew for going 249 00:13:41,510 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: to such lengths for bringing us this story And no 250 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:47,290 Speaker 1: doubt those miners appreciate you bringing their story to light 251 00:13:47,290 --> 00:13:48,069 Speaker 1: as well. 252 00:13:51,270 --> 00:13:55,060 Speaker 1: The tv version of CNN correspondent airs on sienna every 253 00:13:55,059 --> 00:13:58,110 Speaker 1: Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. You can also catch up with 254 00:13:58,110 --> 00:14:01,680 Speaker 1: them whenever you like on sienna dot asia follow this 255 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:05,250 Speaker 1: podcast version that takes you behind the scenes with our correspondence. 256 00:14:05,260 --> 00:14:08,450 Speaker 1: So you'll know when a new episode is out. Our 257 00:14:08,450 --> 00:14:12,059 Speaker 1: podcast team is made up of daniel lee, Christina robert, 258 00:14:12,070 --> 00:14:15,450 Speaker 1: Clara yong and me, Teresa Tang. Thank you for listening.