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 Lifelong Learning Site Opens Liberal Art Classes (0703-3)

[Anchor’s Headline]

The free lifelong education site of Gyeonggi Province, Home Learn, opened new classes in July as part of its expansion in liberal arts education.

[Report]

Hwang (황) spends hectic lunch hours and long evenings juggling work and English conversation study. Recently, she also registered for an art course on this website.

▶ Hwang Jae-yeong / Maetan-dong, Suwon

“I have always been interested in the arts. The new art course allows me to visit art museums online, which I couldn’t actually find time to do otherwise.”

The art course that Hwang is taking is one of the liberal arts courses recently opened on Home Learn.

▶ Oriental Painting, Modern & Contemporary Art Classes

The classes that opened in July include oriental painting as well as modern and contemporary arts. All classes are offered free of charge.

▶ Park Esther / Gyeonggi Women’s Development Center Official

“(The courses cover) modern and contemporary arts from the period of the Japanese occupation to the 90s and feature famous as well as unknown artists…”

Courses are open to anyone via online registration.

▶ Occupational Education Courses

Home Learn has been offering a range of occupational education courses to women in Gyeonggi Province including certification courses as well as courses in cooking, health management and hobbies. After completing a course, students are invited to make free contributions to education support funds for individuals in low income brackets.

▶ www.homelearn.go.kr

While maintaining high educational standards, Home Learn ensures that its courses are easily accessible by anyone. Courses can even be accessed via mobile phones.

Article 2. Gyeonggi Supports Online Marketing for Social Enterprises (0706-1)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Gyeonggi Province is connecting social economy enterprises in the province with large internet-based shopping malls so as to assist with marketing. The products of these small enterprises are now available via national online malls such as Auction and G-Market.

[Report]

The common objective of these enterprises is to improve quality of life among economic minorities.

[CG-Overlap] There are more than 1,700 social economy enterprises in Gyeonggi Province, of which 430 are social enterprises, 160 are village enterprises and the remaining are cooperatives.

These enterprises are contributing to local economies, providing jobs to those in low income brackets. However, most face difficulties in marketing their products.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Seoul Office (July 6)

Social Economy Enterprise Support Agreement with E-Bay Korea

On July 6, Gyeonggi Province signed a cooperation agreement with E-Bay Korea for the launch of products from social economy enterprises.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil

“Cooperation with E-Bay Korea will provide a great opportunity for social economy enterprises to expand their markets and…”

Under this agreement, E-Bay Korea will also provide enterprises with online marketing education and consultation services.

▶ G-Market & Auction Open Gyeonggi Social Economy Enterprise Special Mall

Gyeonggi Province also secured a Gyeonggi Social Economy Enterprise Special Mall on G-Market and Auction. Opening in August, this mall will feature products from thirty Gyeonggi enterprises.

▶ Lee Geun-taek / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Warm & Blessed Community Support Team

“Today’s agreement is not a one-off event, but instead a permanent position in a mall that is a starting point for on-going online trade.”

In addition to online marketing support, Gyeonggi Province also helps these enterprises connect with customers through negotiations with large supermarkets for product launches. The province also aids individual enterprises with the improvement of product and service quality.

Article 3. Gyeonggi Province Pursues Land Slide Prevention (0708-1)

[Anchor’s Headline]

There has been tendency for localized and concentrated downpours when it rains in Korea in recent years. To counter associated effects such as landslides, Gyeonggi Province began inspecting susceptible mountain areas before the advent of the monsoon season.

[Report]

▶ Doamri, Sindun-myeon, Icheon

This area in Icheon (이천) City was the site of a 2013 landslide that occurred after a heavy rainfall of more than 200 millimeters. The scars left by boulders still remain on tree trunks. In order to prevent secondary damage downstream, anti-erosion work has been performed in the area.

▶ Sanseong-ri, Yul-myeon, Icheon

Work is still underway in another area of Icheon City.

▶ GTV Reporter Son Si-eun

“This area has been classified as a class ‘A’ landslide risk zone. When current anti-erosion work is completed along streams and valleys, it will become a safe zone with a class ‘C’ risk designation.

Since 2011, Gyeonggi Province has been constructing anti-landslide structures in more vulnerable mountain areas.

▶ Inspection of Landslide-susceptible Mountain Areas

Gyeonggi Province also began cataloguing high-risk areas in 2013 and has since designated more than 1,700 high-risk zones.

▶ Lee Jeong-soo / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Landslide Response Team

“We are inspecting the status of waterworks, sand barriers and emergency structures as well as tems for emergency communication with local residents.”

Risks identified during inspections will be addressed immediately. Such landslide prevention work coupled with continuous inspection and remedial action will ensure the safety of residents and property.

Article 4. Walk Under the Moonlight at Suwon Hwaseong (0708-2)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Hwaseong (화성) Fortress in Suwon (수원) City is famous for ‘Walk Under the Moonlight’, a catch phrase for the promotion of the site. It is also the title of a traditional art performance that takes place at the fortress.

[Report]

▶ Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

This fortress, which doubled as a temporary palace during the Joseon (조선) Dynasty, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

▶ [screen Top] Pavilion Song, Dalmalggo

While riding a fortress tour vehicle, visitors are captivated by the colorful images of the surrounding architecture. With a pavilion song beckoning, visitors alight from the vehicle and start walking along a promenade while holding lanterns.

▶ [PiP] Yu Eun-ju / Dongsak-dong, Pyeongtaek

“I learned more about the fortress and had a wonderful time. This visit made me to think about our history from a new perspective.”

The traditional court music performance is the highlight of the walk.

▶ [screen Top] Gyeongpungnyun by Gyeonggi Provincial Classic Orchestra

The Gyeonggi Provincial Orchestra plays an Ode to Rich Harvest, a piece that was formerly performed at royal banquets.

▶ [screen Top] Hanryangmu by Gyeonggi Provincial Classic Dance Troupe

The following performance by the Gyeonggi Provincial Dance Company depicts a nobleman who dances with elation. Visitors are captivated by the reproduction of royal festivities staged by these two classical art companies.

▶ [PiP] Song Jong-pyo / Planning manager, Gyeonggi Provincial Classic Dance Troupe

“Audience members are left with their own imagination while empathizing with us as performers.”

Walk Under the Moonlight at Hwaseong (화성) Fortress is organized on a regular basis by the Suwon Cultural Foundation around the full moon day of every lunar month.

Article 5. Gyeonggi Governor Nam Visits Gold Valley (0709)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil has been making monthly visits to industrial sites. This month, he visited the Gold Valley Industrial Complex in Gimpo (김포) City and spoke with representatives of the resident enterprises.

[Report]

▶ Gold Valley Industrial Complex, Gimpo City

Gold Valley is home to more than seven hundred enterprises, primarily in the metal and metal processing industries. Among the locations visited by the governor, this electronic part manufacturing company was one of those that had undergone a revival process supported by Gyeonggi Province after its first unsuccessful business launch. After viewing the factory, Governor Nam pointed out the necessity for the establishment of an industrial revival tem.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil

“Our current revival support tem must work better. We will help enterprises make the most of what they experience and learn from initial mistakes so they can become stronger global enterprises.”

Provincial officials led by Governor Nam invited resident enterprise personnel to discuss site issues.

▶ Gwon Yeong-woo / CEO, Dongwon SoTech.

“It took 20 minutes for fire engines to arrive after a fire report. Without a fire station nearby, we are the ones who will suffer casualties as well as property damage.”

Governor Nam responded with a promise to study fire service requirements in the area. The necessity for the early opening of extended railway service was also voiced by enterprise representatives.

▶ Lee Jeong-seok / CEO, Wooribyul Co., Ltd.

“Tens of thousands of workers have to walk 1.5 kilometers to and from the nearest station to Gold Valley. Railway extension is imperative…”

After the industrial site visit in June, Gyeonggi Province helped resolve several issues including recruitment problems and old road signs. The remaining issues are being addressed.

Article 6. Gyeonggi Moves toward Public Organization Merger (0706)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Mergers and closures among provincial organizations have been a long-standing challenge for Gyeonggi Province. Efforts have been hampered by conflicting interests among the organizations… until recently.

[Report]

The ordinance draft for the merger of the Gyeonggi Youth Center and the Gyeonggi Provincial Institute for Lifelong Learning, whose functions partly overlap, was rejected by the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly last year.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Public Organization Management Rationalization Committee

Following the ‘no’ vote by the provincial assembly, Gyeonggi Province formed the Public Organization Management Rationalization Committee, a negotiating body headed by the Social Integration Vice Governor. The committee will discuss matters regarding the merger and closure of provincial organizations that have been in limbo due to differences among organizations.

▶ Kim Yang-ho / Director, Gyeonggi Province Inspection & Evaluation Division

“This committee will work as part of Gyeonggi Province’s Coalition Executive Committee to analyze organizational functions and find ways in which to rationalize management.”

This committee will assign an external body to undertake detailed studies of twenty-six provincial organizations for possible mergers and closures. Gyeonggi Province plans to finalize the related ordinance draft by April next year and subsequent management rationalization by the following June.

Article 7. 300th Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Extraordinary Session (0709)

[Anchor’s Headline]

On July 7, the 300th extraordinary session of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly began with its general meeting. Matters to be discussed during the session include an ordinance draft regarding infectious diseases such as MERS.

[Report]

▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly (July 7)

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the publicly-elected regional autonomy tem of Korea. It also coincides with the 300th extraordinary session of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly which runs for eight days until July 14.

▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Chairman Gang Deuk-gu

“Coalition must be more than just institutional coalition. It should be the coalition of values aimed at the happiness of provincial residents realized by the provincial assembly and the administration.”

Governor Nam spoke about the revised supplementary budget for MERS and related planning rights.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil

“As a trial case, I will share part of financial resources for MERS and draft management with the related standing committees of the assembly.”

An assembly member raised education issues associated with North Korean defectors.

▶ Lee Sun-hui / Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member

“The central government and the Gyeonggi Provincial Government must provide active support for North Korean defectors so that they can have stable and unrestrained lives.”

Another assembly member urged the expansion of public medical facilities for effective management of epidemics.

▶ Won Mi-jeong / Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member

“Gyeonggi Province must expand public medical tems to ensure the efficiency and publicity of medical services and to guarantee the health rights of residents.”

During the general meeting, the provincial assembly will deliberate a number of ordinance drafts including those for social employment, jurisdictional modifications and the utilization of the Hantan (한탄) River Dam.

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

We look forward to seeing you again next week.