Greetings, everyone, and thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV.
I’m Don Valiant and this is the news from Gyeonggi Province this week.

Article 1. Gyeonggi Public Facilities Found Safe from Radon (161017-2)
[Anchor’s Headline] Radon, a radioactive gas, forms as building materials such concrete decay, and may accumulate in poorly ventilated areas and aging buildings. Gyeonggi Province recently conducted radon safety assessments at public facilities.

▶ Suwon Subway Station
Subway stations are high-risk areas for radon concentrations. The safety doors that inhibit air movement may contribute to radon concentrations in the underground levels of subway stations. Assessments targeted such high-risk facilities that see heavy public use.
▶ Kim Ji-yun / Subway User, Gunpo City
“I am aware of the danger of radioactive materials, but never heard of radon.”

▶ Radon (Rn) is Carcinogenic
Radon may cause cancer in the human body. It is a trace element that exists in rocks and soil. It can infiltrate through cracks or be emitted from structural materials, and can accumulate in underground areas since it is nine times heavier than air.
▶ All Public Facilities Found Free of Radon
Safety assessments were based measurements taken over the past four years at heavily-used public facilities such as subways stations and underground childcare facilities.
[CG] All such facilities were found safe with radon levels that were less than half of the safety standard.
▶ Kim Bok-jun / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Living Environment Team
Radon exists all around us, but most of us do not know of its danger. We will continue to identify high-risk areas and take measurements on an ongoing basis.”
Gyeonggi Province also emphasized the importance of filling in cracks and improving air ventilation in facilities so as to reduce radon concentrations.

Article 2. Public Safety Idea Contest Held in Gyeonggi Province (161019-2)
[Anchor’s Headline] On October 18, an idea contest was held among aspiring safety industry entrepreneurs in Gyeonggi Province. Those selected will receive provincial support for transforming their ideas into successful businesses.

▶ Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center (October 18)
The 1st Safety Industry Creative Audition
Titled the Safety Industry Creative Audition, this contest was organized by the Disaster & Safety Headquarters of the province.
▶ New Ideas and Technologies in Safety Industry Fields Introduced
This contest, which was conducted in an audition format, saw a variety of novel ideas and technical solutions for safety including smoke guns for fire simulation training, inflammable polystyrene foam, and industrial-grade ear plugs.
▶ [PiP] Kim Jeong-hun / Director General, Gyeonggi Province Safety Management Office
“The safety industry of Korea is largely dependent on overseas safety technologies. We organized this event to promote the localization of such technologies…”

▶ Fire, Disaster & Safety Personnel Attended as Spectators and Judges
Gyeonggi Province’s fire, disaster and safety personnel were present at the audition as spectators as well as judges.
▶ Winners to Be Provided with Prize Money and Business Startup Support
The four winners of the contest will be provided with various business startup supports as well as prize money totaling KRW 13 million.
▶ Kim Hui-gyeong / Safety Industry Creative Audition Winner
“We presented an item that we have worked on for the past ten years. We have already received the required product approval and began production.”
This annual safety idea and technology contest will help promote the interests of inventors while contributing to the localization of technologies used in the fire and safety industries in Korea.

Article 3. Long-range Wireless Networking Developed in Gyeonggi (161019-3)
[Anchor’s Headline] A Gyeonggi provincial research institute recently announced the development of a new data transmission technology that enables wireless networking among devices at significantly greater distances than currently possible.

With this technology, a Wi-Fi service can cover a considerably larger area.
▶ Coffee Shop, Suwon City
Free Wi-Fi is widely available in service establishments such as tourism locations and coffee shops in Korea.
▶ [PiP] Kim Min-kyu / Suwon City Resident
“I prefer using free Wi-Fi at coffee shops because it is faster and saves me data costs.”
The traditional range of Wi-Fi is 30 to 40 meters from the router.
▶ World’s First Long-range Wireless Networking Technology
This long-range wireless networking technology was developed jointly by the Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology of Gyeonggi Province and a team of scientists at Hanyang (한양) University using metamaterial super-transmitters.
[CG] As demonstrated in testing, wireless transmissions from a metamaterial super-transmitter are twice as clear as those from an ordinary antenna.
▶ [PiP] Yoo Yeong-jun, Ph.D. / Professor, Hanyang University
“This technology is essentially the use of a new material that can control any types of wave, such as sound, light and electromagnetic waves. This material enhances their transmission.”

▶ Applicable to Wide Range of Wireless Applications
This technology can be used in a wide range of wireless applications including Wi-Fi, robotics and military surveillance. This technology is expected to significantly benefit wireless communication, a market that is steadily increasing.

Article 4. Pangyo Zero City Will Be Home to First Autonomous Cars (161020-1)
[Anchor’s Headline] Pangyo (판교) Zero City was selected by Gyeonggi Province as an initial operation area for autonomous vehicles that are expected to appear on the road at the end of next year.

▶ Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center
This decision was announced after the signing of a cooperation agreement for the development of an autonomous vehicle trial operation area by Gyeonggi Province, the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, two related public organizations, and BMW.
This announcement was followed by an indoor demonstration of autonomous car operation. Without a steering wheel, this vehicle followed a route while communicating with a command center that controls traffic based on real-time sensory data from vehicles.
▶ [PiP] Kim Jae-hwan / Head Researcher, Advanced Institutes of Convergence Technology
“While the energy efficiency of ordinary vehicles may be affected by errors as well as the operation methods of the driver, autonomous vehicles operate more safely and efficiently since they are part of a system.”
The signing of the agreement took place at the Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center.
▶ Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center (October 19)
Signing of Cooperation Agreement for Autonomous Vehicle Trial Operation Area Development
According to the agreement, Gyeonggi Province will develop the necessary traffic control system at Pangyo Zero City.
▶ Next Generation Intelligent Traffic System
This control system will employ a next-generation intelligent traffic system with a cutting-edge communication technology that is 270 times faster than LTE communication.
▶ Driverless Vehicle Operation R&D Center
Gyeonggi Province will also prepare high-precision digital maps and establish a research center for autonomous vehicle operations.
▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“Autonomous vehicles are the icon of the fourth industrial revolution. I hope that Pangyo will become the international center for this technology for which Gyeonggi Province is competing with other global contenders.”
Beginning with autonomous vehicle operation at the end of next year, Pangyo (판교) Zero City will become a city of the future and home to more than 800 advanced technology enterprises as well as 50,000 personnel.

Article 5. B.I.G. Forum Held in Pangyo (161020-2)
[Anchor’s Headline] On October 19, an international forum on autonomous vehicles and smart cities was held at the Pangyo Startup Campus. Entitled 2016 B.I.G. Forum, this international meeting featured a number of domestic and international authorities in these fields.

▶ Pangyo Startup Campus (October 19)
2016 B.I.G. Forum
Participants in this visionary meeting included scholars and industry representatives as well as researchers from private institutes. During the forum, participants discussed the present and future of these technologies as well as legal provisions necessary to accommodate such technologies.
▶ Yu Si-bok / Director, Autonomous Vehicle Technology Research Center
“If our autonomous vehicle technology project progresses as scheduled, I am certain that we will be able to see level-3 products that enable riders to be completely freed from vehicle operations by the year 2020.”
In the smart city area, home technologies that involve the Internet of Things became one of the major topics.
▶ Applicable Areas of Smart Technologies Predicted
The participants agreed that smart technologies will evolve rapidly to an extent that enables us to predict applicable areas in the fields of roads and traffic. There was also a cautionary note that indiscreet technology development must be avoided.
▶ Andreas Hauser / Digital Service Representative, TUV SUD
“Technology progresses and development progresses on the safety, security and reliability sides. So, we need also to develop new tools for certification.”
This forum also had a number of accompanying events featuring participating enterprises that helped attendees better understand smart technologies and the related industries.

Article 6. International Childcare Forum Held in Gyeonggi Province (161020-3)
[Anchor’s Headline] On October 19, another international forum was held in Gyeonggi Province. Titled 2016 International Childcare Forum, this meeting focused on the promotion of the rights of infants and, for the first time, featured childcare specialists from Asian countries.

▶ La Vie D’or SINTEX (October 19)
2016 International Childcare Forum
During the forum, which was organized by Gyeonggi Province, participants from 11 Asian nations shared their national childcare policies and discussed the establishment of a system for mutual cooperation.
▶ Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Coalition Kang Deuk-ku
“I hope that, at this forum, the representatives of nations with different childcare environments will share opinions about the improvement of childcare and find ideal options…”

▶ Present and Future of Childcare Policies
During this two-day forum, the participants presented current childcare policies, had general discussions, and signed a cooperation agreement. The current policies presented included those regarding parent-child communication, infant education and joint approaches by government and families.
The participants also discussed childcare policies of the future, the improvement of the rights of infants, and ways in which to cooperate with each other in support of the children of multicultural families.
In the final session, the participants had an in-depth discussion on the establishment of an international childcare organization.
▶ Gerald Glenn F. Panganivan / Representative of Philippines
“I learned that, first, the government support is most important. They set the policies and…”
Gyeonggi Province will continue to organize international childcare forums on an ongoing basis and endeavor to establish a firm foundation for international childcare cooperation in Asia.

Article 7. Gyeonggi Holds 2nd Business Idea Audition (161018-1)
[Anchor’s Headline] On October 17, Gyeonggi Province held its second business idea contest, titled Superman Creative Audition, to identify new businesses with potential and provide them with startup and operational support.

▶ Pangyo Startup Campus (October 17)
2016 Superman Creative Audition
This enterprise was recently established with a new yam-processing idea. It has solved the problem of the browning of the yam, which is regarded as a health food in Korea.
▶ [Sync] “We succeeded in developing primary processed products that maintain the original white color and chewy texture of the yam.”

▶ Vacuum Tea Tumbler Receives Grand Prize
The grand prize of the contest, which was organized in an audition format, went to the originator of a simple vacuum tea tumbler concept. These bottles can brew tea more quickly while maintaining the initial taste of the content for more than six hours.
▶ Ahn Byung Hyun / Grand Prize Winner
“My goal is to lead the tumbler market with this technology, to graft this technology with an electric mixer, and to eventually grow into a large enterprise that specializes in small home appliances.”
At today’s contest, seven finalists were selected as businesses with potential.
▶ Winners to Be Provided with Startup and Operational Support
Those selected will be provided with a range of provincial business startup and operational support as well as an investment from the Superman Fund created by Gyeonggi Province last year.
▶ Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Yang Bok-wan
“Investments of KRW 14.9 billion have already been realized from the Superman Fund 1. We have already created Superman Fund 2 of KRW 21 billion and are ready to invest.”
The Superman Creative Audition will be held annually so as to identify businesses with potential and help them grow into sustainable, profit-generating enterprises.

Thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV
We look forward to seeing you again next week.