Greetings, everyone,thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV.
I’m Don Valiantthisthe newsGyeonggi Province this week.

Article 1. Gyeonggi Local Officials Gather for Inter-regional Meetings

[Anchor’s Headline]
During the first weekend of April, the heads of local governments in Gyeonggi Province gathered together for a two-day retreat organizedthe provincial government to discuss conflicting inter-regional administrative issues.

[Report]

▶ Gwacheon City Mayor Sin Gye-yong
“The portion of provincial support for pre-school education,been reduced to only 10 percent of the total supportthis year, increases the financial burden on the city.”

▶ Uijeongbu City Mayor An Byeong-yong
“Financial powerpower in its extreme. Problems arise because the powers of the provincial governmentgovernor in financial matters have been too one-sided.”

▶ Expert Training Center (April 3 to 4)
Gyeonggi Administrations ‘Win-win Meeting Camp’
The regional administrators of Gyeonggi Province were divided into subgroupsopenly discussed ways in which to resolve long-standing issues among neighboring administrations. The Governor of Gyeonggi ProvinceChairman of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly participated in each meeting in rotation. Private arbitration experts were also present at each meeting to help steer the meetings to effective resolutions.

▶ Jeon Hyeong-jun / Professor, Dankuk University Dispute Resolution Center
“My rolethe role of the senior Gyeonggi Province official hereto maintain a neutral positionhelp the regional administrators come to mutually acceptable resolutions.”
During the retreat, the regional administrators boarded togetherdiscussed sensitive matters in an earnestopen-minded manner. This campregarded as the realization of Gyeonggi Province’s internal coalition among the provincial, central,local governments

[CG] Six issues were discussed separately regarding budget coalition, crematorium construction, water source protection zone designation, inter-city borders, bicycle paths,environmental odors.
The budget coalition issue was raisedthe provincial government so as to promote the participation of local governments in horizontal top-down budget planning procedures. Others tackled problems that have remained unresolved for prolonged periods of time due to conflicts of interest among neighboring regions.

▶ 4 Issues Progressed towards Resolution
Among the conflicts discussed during the two-day retreat, four issues have seen resolution via preliminary agreements among the concerned regions.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“The spirit of coalition willend with political coalition but will extend to budget planningamong the provincial, centrallocal governments through communication, discussioncoordination.”

▶ ‘Win-win Retreat’ to be Held Regularly

▶ Gyeonggi Local Governments Agree on Joint Conflict Resolution Efforts

At theof the retreat, the centrallocal administration heads of Gyeonggi Province agreed to work together for inter-regional conflict resolutionto maintain the ‘Win-win Retreat’ as a regular biannual fixture.

Article 2. Gyeonggi ‘Win-win Retreat’ Helps Resolve Regional Conflicts (0406)

[Anchor’s Headline]
The Win-win Retreat for citycounty administrators of Gyeonggi Province helped resolve long-standing conflicts among local governments in the province. Our reporter examined the detailed outcomes of this two-day retreat.

[Report]

▶ Expert Training Center (April 3~4)
Gyeonggi Administrations ‘Win-win Retreat’
One of the hottest issues addressed pertained to the construction of a crematorium.

▶ Conflict between SuwonHwaseong over Crematorium Construction
This Hwaseong (화성) City project has been stalled due to strong objectionsneighboring Suwon (수원) residents.

▶ Hwaseong City Mayor Chae In-seok
“Suwon City kept insisting that the emotional aspect of the issue must be addressed first without being able to suggest alternatives. I don’t know why you couldn’t honestly say what the problem istell us what to do.”

▶ Suwon City Mayor Yeom Tae-yeong
“Unless scientific procedures are completed, residents areprepared to agree to the project; they ask why they should when this project has already been relocated once due to resident objection.”
Both cities were unable to reach an agreeable solution, but they at least agreed to continue their dialogue to close the gap.

▶ Issue: Dongducheon Creek Odor
DongducheonYangju Agree on Short-Long-term Solutions
Foul odorsDongducheon (동두천) Creek have been a nagging problem for the cities of Dongducheon (동두천)Yangju (양주). However, the two cities agreed on detailed actions for short- as well as long-term solutions.

▶ Issue: Suwon-Yongin Border
Two Cities Agree to Exchange Lands to Rationalize Border
The inconveniently defined border between the cities of SuwonYongin was resolvedthe two cities agreeing to exchange areas of jurisdiction.

▶ Issue: Bicycle Paths – Gyeonggi ProvinceLocal Governments to Share Costs

▶ Issue: Water Source Protection Zone Designation – Three Cities Agree on Joint Studies
Issues regarding bicycle path constructionthe removal of water source protection zone designation in some areas are to be resolvedthe administrative bodies involved through cost sharingjoint studies.

▶ Icheon City Mayor Cho Byeong-don
“We have agreed to removemitigate (protection zone) designations through joint studies using jointly secured funds.”
For budget coalition, the local governments of Gyeonggi Province unanimously agreed on its necessitydiscussed its procedures in detail.

[CG] Regarding new projects initiatedeither the provincial or local governments but financeth, it was agreed that utive tees for preliminary agreement would be establishednotification periods introduced.
The Gyeonggi Provincial Governmentsurrendering much of its financial power to work with local governments.

▶ Hwan Seong-tae / General Director, Gyeonggi Province PlanningCoordination Office
We willchange provincial subsidy rates without giving notification of at least one year. We will discuss the matter with the heads of local governments who are present here…”
This retreat for the thirty-one local government heads of Gyeonggi Province has produced successful solutions to a number of difficult issues through dialogue,is expected to become a model for inter-regional conflict resolution.

Article 3. Gyeonggi Tackles Low Birth Rate & Aging Society Issues (0407-1)

[Anchor’s Headline]
With Korean society aging rapidlyfacing an ever-decreasing birth rate, Gyeonggi Province has begun developing additional measures to effectively address these issues.

[Report]
The average lifetime childbirths, or total fertility rate, of Korean womena mere 1.19 persons per woman.
[CG-Overlap] The average first childbirth age has also been increasing steadily since it surpassed the age of 30 in 20 06.

▶ Seniors Aged 65+ Account for 12.7% of Korean Population
The pace at which Korean societyagingone of the fastest in the world, with seniors aged 65 or older now accounting for 12.7 percent of the total population. This percentageincreasing.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Announces New Population Policies
To develop fundamental solutions to these problems, Gyeonggi Province announced new policies that include the establishment of a task forcepopulation policy meetings.

▶ Ho Mi-ja / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Population Policy Task Force
“We organized a population meeting so as to discuss the low birth rateaging society problemsto develop projects that can address the problems effectively.”
It has generally been agreed that the key to increasing the birth rateto increase the marriage rate.

▶ Housing Support for Newly Married Couples
For newly married couples, housing support will be provided to help with the primary challenge before childbirth.

▶ Direct Linkage of Birth Registration with Welfare Programs
In order to prevent new-born babiesmissing out on welfare opportunities, parents will be automatically guided to welfare benefits via direct linkage of birth registration to social welfare tems.

▶ Promotion of Senior EmploymentActivities
Aging society issues will be addressed through both the institutionalemotional promotion of employmentactivities for seniors. The enactment of a senior employment promotion lawthe introduction of senior activity support programs are some of the suggested options.
The ideaspopulation policy meetings will help reverse the birth rate trend as well as improve quality of life for seniors.

Article 4. Gyeonggi to Expand ODA for Developing Countries (0408-2)

[Anchor’s Headline]
The official development assistance, or ODA, projects of Gyeonggi Province are expected to be enhanced through an agreement with a Korean national overseas cooperation agency.

[Report]
Gyeonggi Province has been implementing ODA projects in more than twenty countries since 2003.

▶ Gyeonggi ODA Projects Operated with Limited Results
The fields of these projects rangeconstruction to education to medical services. However, with structural limitationsa lack of evaluation means, the ODA projects of Gyeonggi Province have been less than successful in their continuityefficacy.

▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (April 7)
Cooperation Agreement between Gyeonggi ProvinceKOICA
The agreement with the Korea International Cooperation Agency, or KOICA, will change Gyeonggi Province’s ODA perfo
rmance.

▶ ExchangeSharing of Overseas Development SpecialistsProjects
With this agreement, the ODA projects of Gyeonggi Province will be greatly strengthened through the exchange of ODA specialistscooperation in the development of projects with KOICA.

▶ Kim Gyeong-han / Director General, Gyeonggi Province International Cooperation Bureau
“Future ODA projects will benefitthe IT technologiestechno valley resources of Gyeonggi ProvinceKOICA’s know-how…”

▶ Gyeonggi ODA Projects to Focus on 5 Nations
Beginning with an initial budget of KRW 900 million this year, Gyeonggi Province plans to operate ODA projects in five ed countries – including Myanmar, Cambodia, Russia, MongoliaIndonesia –will gradually increase the annual ODA budget to KRW 5 billion2018.

Article 5. Pyeongtaek Port Grows Rapidly with Increasing Cargo (0408-3)

[Anchor’s Headline]
The Pyeongtaek (평택) Port authorities of Gyeonggi Province invited Korean distribution industry personnel to a promotional presentation for the port.

[Report]

▶ Pyeongtaek International Ro-Ro Terminal
The cargo amounts passing through Pyeongtaek (평택) Port have been growing rapidly in recent years. Today, its automobile terminalfilled to capacity with vehicles arrivingChina to be shipped elsewhere in the world.

▶ Kim Hak-su / President, Pyeongtaek International Ro-Ro Terminal.
“An estimated 600,000 automobiles will pass through the port for transshipment this year. When the Korea-China FTA goes into effect, the port will truly become a Northeast Asian marine transportation hub.”

▶ No. 1 Automobile Cargo Port in Korea for 5 Consecutive Years

▶ Over 100 Million Tons of Cargo Handled Annually for 3 Consecutive Years
Pyeongtaek (평택) Port has been the number one automobile cargo port in Korea for the past five consecutive years,its overall cargo flow has amounted to more than a hundred million tons annually for the past three consecutive years.
During the presentation organizedthe Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek (평택) Port Corporation, more than a hundred personnelthe Korean distribution industries expressed their interest in using the portenquired about financialadministrative incentives as well as available support.

▶ Song Yu-yeon / General Director, Gyeonggi Province Agricultural & Maritime Administration Bureau
“We have secured KRW 560 million in promotional incentives,will increase the amount. We will also provide administrative support to shippersforwarders.”
When the Korea-China free trade agreement goes into effect this year, Pyeongtaek (평택) Port – with its geographically strategic location – will benefit greatly. The port authorities thus plan to increase the number of berthsthe current sixty-two to seventy-nine2020.

Article 6. Gyeonggi Campsites Undergo Safety Inspection (0406-3)

[Anchor’s Headline]
Following a fire that occurred at a campsite on Ganghwa (강화) Island last month, a related provincial agency began safety inspections of campsites in the province.

[Report]

▶ Hantan River Auto Camp, Yeoncheon County
In cooperation with related safety organizations, inspections will focus primarily on fire safety featurerical installations.

▶ Safety Inspections CooperatedSafety Organization
Furnished camp sites with electrical facilities will be closely checked for the operation of circuit breakerssmoke detectors as well as the availability of working fire extinguishers at appropriate locations. Upon completion of inspections, inspectors evaluate results on sitesuggest any improvements necessary to the persons responsible for the campsite.

▶ Baek Sang-gyun / Senior Official, Yeoncheon County Facilities Management Corporation
“We will take corrective measures as soon as possible fordefective electricalfire safety items found during the inspection whether large or small.”

▶ GTV Reporter Kim Tae-hui
“Itimportant for large campsitesthis to have safety facilities inthe right places for the safety of s.”

▶ Safety Facilities Required for Campsite License
Out of 530 campsites in Gyeonggi Province, only about a hundred have safety facilities that enable qualification for a licensebusiness registration, which are requireda recently enacted law. Those that fail to qualify will have to install necessary safety facilities within the lead period before the full enforcement of the law.

▶ Go Jung-guk / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Tourism Resource Team
“Those that failed to satisfy the safety requirements are guided to take remedial actions immediately. If any institutional improvements are required, we will make recommendations to the related ministry…”
The purpose of these campsite safety inspectionsmore to prevent incidents than to ensure accident management capabilities. Gyeonggi Province plans to complete the inspectionstheof the year.

Article 7. Certified ‘Shops of Excellence’ in Traditional Markets

[Anchor’s Headline]
Gyeonggi Province has been designating shops in traditional markets that exhibit exemplary practices in terms of qualityservices as ‘Shops of Excellence’ so as to help promote traditional markets.

[Report]

▶ Country Home Urongi Ssambab / Rodeo Market, Suwon
This restaurant in the Rodeo Market in Suwon City specializes in a freshwater snail delicacy. It wasfor the unusual ingredient that this restaurant received ‘Shop of Excellence’ designation, but for its preparation techniques. This restaurant uses only healthy ingredients without artificial flavorsserves only a hundred persons a day.

▶ Kim Seon-ju / Owner of ‘Country Home Urongi Ssambab’
“Since my restaurant became a Shop of Excellence, I have improved the food even more. When people say, ‘I knew this restaurant would get the title’, I feel very proud.”

▶ Gyusudang / Motgol Market, Suwon
This 30-year-old traditional marriage food shop in another traditional market in Suwon City saw a turning point in its history when it was designated as a Shop of Excellenceprovided with refurbishmentmarketing supportGyeonggi Province.

▶ Kim Min-seop / Shopper, Seonbu-dong, Ansan
“I found this shop on the internet looking for a marriage food shop. Walking around the market reminded me of my childhood days.”
Since 2013, Gyeonggi Province has designated eighteen Shops of Excellence that best reflect the values of traditional markets. Designated shops were provided with shop improvement supportmanagement consultations as well as onlineTV advertisement support.

▶ Yun Seong-su / Gyeonggi Province Social Economy Division Official
“We provide support of KRW 3 million to each ed shop. In 2014, average sales of the designated shops increased14.8%the sales of their markets increased12.2%.”
Not only the Shops of Excellence but also their markets benefitthe increased exposure through the designationsprovincial marketing support.

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