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Guillaume BRESSION

'We built this city... to work far from Seoul'
25/09/2012 - SOUTH KOREA

'We built this city... to work far from Seoul'

South Korea is moving several of its administrative offices 120 kilometres outside the capital, Seoul, to a newly created, purpose-built city called Sejong. Inspired by the city of Brasilia in Brazil, the idea is to reduce congestion on Seoul's roads. Yet shortly after its official opening, state employees are not happy at having to live and work so far from their families. Even the government itself is starting to wonder if such a plan can really work.
Japan and China argue over sovereignty of tiny Senkaku islands
28/06/2012 - JAPAN

Japan and China argue over sovereignty of tiny Senkaku islands

The tiny Senkaku islets may lie off the coasts of China and Taiwan, but they actually belong to Japan - and the Japanese are determined to hang on to them. Beijing has declared sovereignty, but a group of Japanese nationalists known as Ganbare Nippon ('Hang on, Japan') has sprung up and members are rallying their country to defend the uninhabibted Senkakus from falling into China's grasp.
Okinawa to close: USA to pull out of its Japanese military base
21/06/2012 - JAPAN

Okinawa to close: USA to pull out of its Japanese military base

The US has decided to pull out of Okinawa, Japan - home to its biggest Asia-Pacific military base since the end of World War Two. It's a victory for the locals who have long complained about the noise and extra traffic, but there are some people who will be sorry to see the 9,000 Marines go, particularly the cash they bring to the local economy.
Times getting tough for Japan's Yakuza
15/06/2012 - JAPAN

Times getting tough for Japan's Yakuza

Japan's yakuza, whose members are known for cutting off their little fingers to atone for acts of disloyalty and mistakes, have long been active in gambling, loan sharking and money-laundering. In their golden age after World War II they even had significant influence within certain political spheres. But times are getting tougher for Japan's estimated 80,000 yakuza members: for the past decade they've been increasingly feeling the strain of a weakened economy and increased repression.
Clearing the rubble, one year on from Japan's tsunami
05/03/2012 - JAPAN

Clearing the rubble, one year on from Japan's tsunami

On March 11th, Japan will commemorate the devastating tsunami that ravaged the Tohoku region one year ago. This report highlights the daunting task of managing the mountains of rubble left over from the post-tsunami clean-up operations - some 23 million tons. The task is further complicated by fears of radioactive waste around Fukushima, posing risks to those involved in the mammoth operation. Our correspondents Marie Linton and Guillaume Bression were there.
Spy wars: northern defectors under threat
15/11/2011 - KOREAS

Spy wars: northern defectors under threat

Armed with a poisoned needle, a North Korean agent posed as a defector in order to reach South Korea. His mission was to kill an anti-Pyongyang activist. But the spy was unmasked by local authorities and arrested. Our reporters, Marie Linton and Guillaume Bression, met with the defector he was supposed to murder.
Clearing up Fukushima
07/10/2011 - REPORTERS

Clearing up Fukushima

Fukushima was the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Who would still want to work at the plant? And yet, thousands of people go there every day to work at cleaning away the radioactive debris and trying to secure the site. France 24 went to meet these workers who are ready to risk their lives to save Japan.
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Fukushima's human guinea pigs
08/09/2011 - JAPAN

Fukushima's human guinea pigs

Fukushima is becoming a sad laboratory that will permit future scientists to know more about the harmful effects of radiation. But not all the inhabitants are willing to stay around and be part of the experiment.
'With this husband training I thee wed'
14/06/2011 - SOUTH KOREA

'With this husband training I thee wed'

One in ten of all marriages in South Korea are "international" unions, largely because many would-be grooms look abroad for future wives. But linguistic and cultural barriers have led to such a spike in divorce rates that Seoul is now organising 'husband training' sessions, aimed at helping newlyweds better understand each other.
Japanese PM closes Hamaoka nuclear plant over safety fears
02/06/2011 - JAPAN

Japanese PM closes Hamaoka nuclear plant over safety fears

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said that Japan underestimated the tsunami threat ahead of the disaster that struck the eastern coast on March 11. So the closure of the Hamaoka nuclear plant near Tokyo has been welcomed by anti nuclear activists. The only question now is what happens to peoples' livelihoods and the local economy that are dependent on it?
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