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 Province in 2015 – Coalition, Safety & Welfare (1228-1)

[Anchor’s Headline]

At the closing of 2015, GTV investigated changes initiated by the provincial administration in Gyeonggi Province during the past year. First, we looked at coalition, safety and welfare.

[Report]

Since the appointment of a vice governor from the opposition party, political coalition has become a trademark of Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil.

▶ Coalition / with Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly in Budget Planning

For the first time among second-tier governments in Korea, the Gyeonggi provincial administration formulated a collaborative system with the provincial assembly during annual budget planning.

▶ Coalition / with Local Governments to Mitigate Conflicting Interest

Twice last year, in April and December, Gyeonggi Province convened meetings with local government heads so as to resolve or mitigate persistent issues among localities.

▶ Coalition / with Gangwon & Jeju Provinces

Gyeonggi Province also pursued coalition with the provinces of Gangwon (강원) and Jeju (제주) through collaboration agreements for mutually beneficial projects.

In safety areas, Gyeonggi Province also made significant progress.

▶ Safety / Creation of Combined Private & Public Medical Network

During the MERS outbreak that occurred in May last year, Gyeonggi Province successfully controlled the disease even without previous experience through the formation of Korea’s first combined public and private medical network.

▶ Safety / Gyeonggi Province Certified as Safest in Korea by Korean Government

In an assessment undertaken last November by the Korean government, Gyeonggi Province was recognized as the safest region in the nation, securing top scores in five safety categories.

In addition, Gyeonggi Province’s Warm & Blessed Community policy became a model welfare system foundation.

▶ Welfare / Gyeonggi Supports 178 Warm & Blessed Community Projects

Last year, Gyeonggi Province established the Warm & Blessed Community Support Center and provided support to 178 community projects.

▶ Welfare / First Warm & Blessed Village Established for Youths

In July last year, Gyeonggi Province opened the first Warm & Blessed Village, a low-cost rental housing complex for youths of limited means.

▶ Welfare / Warm & Blessed Bus and Taxi Operations

For residents in areas with limited access to public transportation, Warm and Blessed taxi and bus operations were introduced in January last year. To date, more than 20,000 residents have used the taxi services, and 13 buses have served an average of 154 passengers daily.

Article 2. Gyeonggi Province in 2015 – Economy, Innovation & Northern Development (1228_2)

[Anchor’s Headline]

In economic areas, Gyeonggi Province also saw notable achievements. Gyeonggi Province’s employment policies garnered the highest national award while making tangible progress in northern regional development.

[Report]

The most significant achievement of the province’s economic policies has been that of job creation, the greatest results being realized in youth employment.

▶ Economy / College Student Internship & Regional Employment Consultant Services

Gyeonggi Province introduced the first college student internship program in Korea and opened employment consultation desks at all regional resident centers.

▶ Economy / 235,000 New Jobs Created

Approximately 235,000 jobs were created last year in Gyeonggi Province, accounting for nearly half of the national total.

▶ Korean Government Complex, Sejong City (May 20, 2015)

Gyeonggi Tops National Employment Policy Assessments

Gyeonggi Province received the highest overall scores among 243 local governments in Korea during national employment policy assessments.

▶ Innovation / Gwangyo New Provincial Government Complex Construction Begins

In innovation areas, the most notable development was the resolution of issues regarding the construction of the new provincial government complex in Gwangyo (광교) New Town. Work has now begun with landscaping for tentative use by the public until main construction begins in July.

▶ Innovation / Double Decker Bus Operation

This past October, for the first time in Korea, Gyeonggi Province introduced double-decker buses for public transportation. Aimed at mitigating the capacity limitation of seat-only intercity buses, double-decker buses have served an average of 259 passengers daily, with each bus carrying 30 more passengers than a standard intercity bus.

The development of northern provincial regions also saw tangible progress in 2015.

▶ Northern Development / Establishment K-Design Village

Last year, Gyeonggi Province invested KRW 40 billion in the economic development of northeastern regions and the industrial promotion of northern regions.

▶ Northern Development / Pyeonghwanuri Tourism Complex Expansion Plan

And the province also announced a tourism complex expansion plan for the northern region.

Article 3. Gyeonggi Opens Public Common Rooms for Youths (1229-3)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Since December, a new type of youth facility opened in four Gyeonggi Province locations. These public facilities provide youths with comfortable spaces for personal pursuits. Our reporter visited one such facility.

[Report]

▶ ‘Hyu Café’ at Gwangju City Youth Center

Commonly named Hyu (휴) Café – Hyu meaning ‘resting’ in Korean – this facility is located within the recently renovated Gwangju (광주) City Youth Center.

▶ GTV Reporter Heong Yeon-woo

“In this common room, children enjoy their own pastimes such as reading books, studying or using computers.”

▶ Open to Gyeonggi Youths

Operated by Gyeonggi Province, Hyu (휴) Cafes are open to all youths in the province free of charge. Although only recently opened, many students are already using the facilities, indicating their popularity.

▶ Lee So-yeong / Student, Gwangju City

“Since I began using the Hyu Café, it didn’t cost much to enjoy my pastimes. I can study or chat with friends here. It’s great.”

▶ Job Experience Program to Be Introduced

In addition to functioning as common rooms, their operators also plan job experience programs for youths.

▶ Gwon Oh-suk / Instructor, Gwangju City Youth Center

“We plan to provide various job experience programs so as to help youths identify their preferred careers in the future.”

▶ 4 Hyu Cafes Opens

Beginning with the Yangju City facility this past December, four Hyu (휴) Cafés have opened to date in Gyeonggi Province.

▶ 2 More Cafes to Open in 2016

Gyeonggi Province plans to open two more Hyu (휴) Cafes in the cities of Yeoju (여주) and Ansan (안산) in January.

Article 4. Gyeonggi Sports Association Absorbs Sports for All (1230)

[Anchor’s Headline]

The Gyeonggi Sports Association and the Gyeonggi Council of Sports for All have been merged to create a new provincial sports association. This merger signifies the unification of athletes with public sportspeople.

[Report]

▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Human Resources Development Institute (December 29, 2015)

Inauguration of Gyeonggi Sports Association

The merger of these two sports organizations is the first of its kind to be realized among second-tier localities in Korea.

▶ Merger Boosts Exchanges between Elite and Public Athletes

Such a merger is expected to boost exchanges between elite athletes and sports-for-all enthusiasts in the province.

▶ Gyeonggi Governor Named First GSA Head

Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil was named the first president of the new Gyeonggi Sports Association.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil

“I hope that, through this integration, you will now become a pillar of both elite sports and public sports for all.”

▶ Job Opportunities Expand for Retired Athletes

This merger is also expected to expand job opportunities for retired elite athletes as coaches and managers of sports-for-all athletes.

▶ Lee Jin-han / General Director, Gyeonggi Province Culture, Sports & Tourism Bureau

“I believe that the combination of elite sports leaders and sports-for-all pursuers will realize positive synergy effects.”

▶ Merger Announced in September 2015

The merger of these two sports organizations of Gyeonggi Province was announced in September last year.

▶ New Combined Sports Projects to Be Launched in March

Once the merger processes at the individual sport organization level are completed, new combined provincial sports projects will be announced and implemented from March.

Article 5. More Gyeonggi Employment & Welfare Plus Centers Open (151223-3)

[Anchor’s Headline]

One year ago, Gyeonggi Province opened Korea’s first Employment & Welfare Plus Center in Namyangju (남양주) City so as to integrate employment and welfare services for the convenience of users. The province has since continually opened new centers.

[Report]

▶ Osan Employment & Welfare Plus Center Opens

Recently, the ninth such center opened in Osan (오산) City. There, our reporter met a woman who, after unexpectedly losing her job, is currently on unemployment benefits provided through this center. She is now looking for work while preparing herself for a new job by using the services provided by this center.

▶ Kim Hyun-suk (alias)

“I am currently on unemployment benefits. It is hard to find a job these days, so I am came here to get information about job openings for women like myself.”

Employment & Welfare Plus Centers are the combined offices of six employment and welfare-related organizations. They provide one-stop services for job searchers and welfare beneficiaries. Users no longer have to travel among different organizations for different services. Such geographic integration also helps officials provide more efficient services.

Since its opening in January of 2015, the employment rate among the users of the Namyangju (남양주) Employment Welfare Plus Center increased approximately 50 percent. A similar achievement was also realized at another center opened a year ago in a neighboring city.

▶ Lee Cheol-wung / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Employment & Welfare Service Team

“We will open Employment & Welfare Plus Centers at more locations including Anyang, Pocheon, and Yangpyeong next year.”

Gyeonggi Province plans to open eleven more combined employment and welfare centers in Gyeonggi Province by the end of 2017.

Article 6. Seosuwon-Uiwang Expressway Tolls Reduced (151224-1)

[Anchor’s Headline]

From January 1, the tolls on the expressway between Seosuwon (서수원) and Uiwang (의왕) were reduced by up to KRW 100. This expressway is used by more than 46 million vehicles annually.

[Report]

▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (December 23, 2015)

Announcement of Seosuwon-Uiwang Expressway Toll Reduction

Gyeonggi Province reduced the tolls for this privately-invested expressway so as to alleviate travelling costs for Gyeonggi residents.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil

“The Seosuwon-Uiwang Expressway Tolls will be reduced by KRW 100.”

▶ Amounts of Seosuwon-Uiwang Expressway Tolls Reduced

From 00:00 pm January 1

For Cars, Buses, Trucks: KRW 100

For Small Cars: KRW 50

From zero hour on January 1, the new tolls will be KRW 800 for cars, KRW 900 for buses, KRW 1,000 for trucks and KRW 400 for small cars. These reduced tolls are 30% lower than other privately invested expressways and even 10 percent lower than publicly constructed expressways.

▶ Kim Sang-hyun / Gunpo City Resident

“Daily commuters like myself will benefit greatly from the toll reduction.”

▶ Choi Cheol-ho / Suwon City Resident

“Any reduced toll fees are beneficial for all drivers.”

Gyeonggi Province’s decision to reduce tolls was based on a recent interest rate reduction that resulted in cost savings of KRW 45 billion for the Gyeonggi South Road Company. The toll reduction aims to return the savings to the public.

▶ GTV Reporter Oh So-eun

“Gyeonggi Province expects that this toll reduction will have a savings effect of KRW 12 billion for the public over the next three years. This is Oh So-eun, GTV.”

Article 7. Preliminary Audit Consulting System of Gyeonggi Province (151229-1)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Gyeonggi Province has been implementing a preliminary audit consulting system so as to promote positive attitudes among officials. This system also proved helpful in resolving public complaints.

[Report]

▶ Library in Gwangmyeong City

Eight cleaning workers hired by a labor agency have worked at this library for many years. When they left the agency a year ago, the agency failed to provide them with severance pay.

▶ Lee Jin-yeong / Cleaning Worker

“We felt devastated when we heard that there would be no severance pay. We are very grateful to the public office (for resolving this issue for us.) We just can’t thank them enough.”

It was Gyeonggi Province’s preliminary audit consulting system that helped them receive severance pay as well as overdue salary.

[CG] This system encourages officials to approach the provincial audit office in advance when they have concerns regarding complicated public complaints, so as to promote active administrative practices among officials.

▶ 250 Cases out of 270 Preliminary Consulting Cases Resolved

Since its introduction in 2014, 250 out of 270 public complaint cases processed through this system have been resolved.

▶ Kim Won-seop / Director, Gyeonggi Province General Audit Division

“Next year, we will speed up public complaint processing by local administrations so as to produce results and resolve issues earlier.”

The audit office of Gyeonggi Province will continue to actively assist administrative offices with public complaint processing.

Thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV.

We look forward to seeing you again next week.