Article 1. ‘Museum via Library’ Summer Programs for Children (0804-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
During summer vacation, a number of entertaining and educational programs for children are being offered by libraries in Gyeonggi Province. Among these programs, those that incorporate visits to museums draw particular interest from children.
[Report]
Jeongok Prehistory Museum, Yeongcheon County
In this artificial ancient cave at a prehistory museum, children explore the darkness with flashlights and discover wall paintings.
[Sound at the Scene]
“What is this?”“Ah…a prophet?”
“Or a god?”“Not a prophet?”
As they make a journey back through time, children are captivated by the mysterious paintings they discover on the walls.
[Interview]Lee Seung-gyu, Hong Seong-bin / 4th Graders, Hangaram Primary School, Paju
“It was amazing to learn that people drew such paintings during prehistoric times.”
The experience of exploring an ancient cave was followed by a painting session in which children became imaginary cave dwellers and created their own wall paintings using primitive materials such as grass, flower petals and stones.
‘Museum via Library’ Program Offered by Gyeonggi Provincial Libraries
Entitled ‘Museum via Library’, these museum visits are part of the summer vacation programs for children organized by Gyeonggi provincial libraries.
[Interview]Lee In-sook / Librarian, Paju Central Library
“Children seemed to enjoy today enormously. I believe that programs such as this provide children with great opportunities to broaden their horizons through experience.”
Gyeonggi Libraries to Develop More Joint Programs with Cultural Institutes
The Gyeonggi provincial libraries plan to develop more educational programs with natural learning opportunities for children jointly with cultural institutes.
[Interview]Jeong Eun-yeong / Librarian, Gyeonggi Province Cyber Library
“Through exposure to various cultural experiences, children not only can develop broader and deeper perspectives of the world but also familiarize themselves with cultural institutes.”
There are numerous cultural experience programs offered by libraries in Gyeonggi Province in which children can participate during summer vacation.
 
Article 2. Gyeonggi Supports Modernization of Compost Producers (0805-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government has been supporting compost producers with facility modernization to help them improve quality and productivity. This year, the provincial government will expand its support to include more facilities.
[Report]
Iljook Nonghyup Joint Compost Production Plant
At this compost facility, sacks of compost are handled efficiently by machines and robots.
Productivity Increased through Production Facility Modernization
Only a few years ago, this plant relied entirely on manual labor in all of its production processes. However, after automating only the packaging and transport processes, its production increased by no less than 40 percent.
Gyeonggi Province to Support Modernization of Decomposition Process
Inspired by such remarkable improvements, this plant also began the modernization of its decomposition process with support from Gyeonggi Province.
[Interview]Yoon Cheol-han / Executive Director, Iljook Nonghyup
“A large part of our production has been modernized. We currently process about 15,000 tons of manure, which will be further increased to over 20,000 tons. We expect that more livestock farmers will benefit from our increased capacity.”
Farmers will also benefit from higher quality compost, which is ensured by the modernization of the decomposition process.
Four More Compost Plants to Receive Provincial Support for Modernization
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government has earmarked KRW 1.5 billion to provide modernization support to four compost producers this year, in addition to the three last year.
[Interview]Lee Gwan-gyu / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Eco-friendly Development Team
“The objectives of provincial support for facility modernization are to establish firm compost production foundations and to ensure the stable production and supply of better quality compost.”
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government also expects that the improved quality and increased production of compost will help farmers increase their own productivity and competitiveness.
 
Article 3. Solar Power Plant Investments Gain Momentum (0806-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The recent mitigation of approval procedures for solar power generation businesses in Gyeonggi Province is attracting active investments from enterprises interested in this safe, economical, and eco-friendly power generation field.
[Report]
The number of new solar power generation businesses registered in Gyeonggi Province during the first half of this year was 275, 2.5 times more than during the same period last year.
[CG]Last year, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government introduced power generation investment promotion support. In addition, approval authority for smaller power generation businesses of up to 200 kilowatts was transferred to local administrators.
Such institutional mitigation and financial support is drawing a surge of interest from investors.
[Interview]Kim Dae-ui / Maintenance Manager, Korea Rural Community Corp. Hwaan Project Division
“Institutional modification for the simplification of solar power generation business approval procedures will speed up the process of solar power plant establishment by both individuals and enterprises.”
951 Solar Power Projects Currently Approved in Gyeonggi Province
To date, a total of 951 solar power projects with a combined capacity of more than 130,000 kilowatts, enough power to supply 45,000 houses for a year, have been approved in Gyeonggi Province.
Gyeonggi to Continue Support for New and Renewable Energy Projects
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government will continue to identify administrative areas that can be mitigated and expand financial support so as to promote the establishment and operation of private new and renewable energy projects.
 
Article 4. Residents Participate in Teaching on Gyeonggi Online Education Site (0804-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Gyeonggi Province operates a wide range of lifelong education courses for residents via the provincial‘ e-Learning’ website. The site operator recently began producing sports education videos that feature assistant instructors recruited from among residents.
[Report]
Over 700,000 Use Gyeonggi Province e-Learning Site
More than 700,000 residents of Gyeonggi Province use the e-Learning site each year.
Pogok Middle School, Pocheon
Sports education contents are currently being produced in the province using actual young players as demonstrators.
[Interview]Kim Hoon / Former National Basketball Player
“There are limitations for all participants of a particular sports course, such as a basketball course, in terms of actually being present at classes. However, online classes are accessible anytime, anywhere without such constraints.
Similar to typical sports education videos, this basketball education video features a host and a specialist who deliver educational information in the form of an interview.
However, this video also features six young players.
Young Players Participate in Sport Education Content Production
They are street basketball tournament winners working as assistant instructors for demonstrations.
The objective of using young players such as these students is to promote participation in e-Learning education courses among teenagers who currently account for only 10 percent of all users of the site.
[Interview]Kim Dong-cheol / Gyeonggi Women`s Development Center Education Management Team Leader
“We are using youths as instructors in our development of resident-participation online education contents. We hope that it will encourage their peers to participate in the e-Learning courses. It will also help prevent internet addiction.”
This basketball education video will be released at the end of next month and followed by similar contents for marathons, table tennis and golf as trial cases.
Based on the results of these trial education contents, Gyeonggi Province will expand production of resident-participation education courses.
 
Article 5. Province-wide Free Collection of Large Waste Electrical Appliances (0805-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
In Gyeonggi Province, a free collection service for large waste electrical appliances has been operated in some regions on a trial basis since last year. This service has now been expanded to the entire province.
[Report]
A simple phone call is all that is required to dispose of large electrical appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines.
Free Large Waste Electrical Appliance Collection Service Expands to Entire Province
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government recently announced that its free collection service areas for large waste electrical appliances will be expanded to all 31 cities and counties of the province.
A collection time can be arranged via the internet or telephone.
Electric Appliances with Height, Width or Depth of 1m or More
Electrical appliances that are greater than one meter in height, width or depth are the targets of this service.
[Interview]Lee Yoon-saeng / Free Collection Service User
“We live on the twenty-second floor, so it was a difficult to move the thing down to the first floor. I am very grateful to the free collection service team.”
24,914 Large Electric Appliances Collected over the Past Year
During the one-year trial period that began in June of 2013, nearly 25,000 large electrical appliances were collected free of charge in ten cities and counties of the province.
Residents Saved KRW 200 Million; 99.6% Satisfaction Rate
In terms of the cost of disposal based on the previous disposal sticker tem, it is equivalent to savings of KRW 200 million for residents.
Collection Booking /Large Electric Appliances Collection Homepage (www.edtd.co.kr) or Call Center (1599-0903)
Visit the large electric appliance collection homepage or call the Gyeonggi Province Call Center to make an appointment for collection.
 
Article 6. Gyeonggi Achieves First Political Coalition in Provincial History (0806-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
For the first time in the history of Gyeonggi Province, a political coalition was realized with the adoption of a political agreement for the advancement of the province among the leaders of the provincial government and provincial assembly from both the ruling and opposition parties.
[Report]
Public Announcement of Political Coalition Agreement / Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly (August 8)
On August 5, slightly more than one month after Governor Nam took office, the Gyeonggi Province Political Coalition Committee announced apolitical agreement on twenty clauses, the first of its kind in the history of local governments in Korea.
[Soundbite]Kim Hyun-sam / Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly New Politics Alliance for Democracy Party Representative
“There has been no previous case of such a political coalition in the history of Korea, and we are proud to be the first to announce this coalition agreement. This will be a new milestone in our history.”
Agreement Includes Clauses for Four Ordinances
Four ordinances including a minimum wage ordinance, for which the provincial administration and provincial assembly have shown huge opinion gaps, were also included in the agreement.
[Soundbite]Lee Seong-cheol / Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Saenuri Party Representative
“Special organizations shall be established for the realization of the particulars agreed upon by the Political Coalition Committee, and utmost efforts shall be exercised in the political coalition for mutual existence and cooperation as desired by provincial residents.”
Amendment of Local Government Act to Be Pursued
According to the agreement, the coalition will pursue an amendment of the Local Government Act so as to expand the authority of local ministers and the vice governor for political affairs.
Agreement Includes Key Political Pledges of Governor Nam
The agreement also includes a number of political pledges made by Governor Nam including the ‘warm and blessed town’ and ‘big pie’ projects
[Soundbite]Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“As governor, I feel deeply responsible for the realization of those agreed upon issues, and will do my utmost to do so.”
The implementation of the agreed upon issues will be led by separate organizations established for those specific purposes.
Gyeonggi Province is now committed to innovative changes based on communication. The success of the political coalition in Gyeonggi Province remains to be seen.
 
Article 7. Korean Government to Compensate FTA-Related Farmers’ Losses (0808-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Free trade agreements triggered a surge of agricultural imports to Korea, causing prices to drop beyond levels with which Korean farmers can cope. However, farmers of certain agricultural products who sustained FTA-related losses may now apply for direct compensation for their losses.
[Report]
Potato Farmer / Samjuk-myeon, Anseong
Kim Geun-soo (김근수)began potato farming five years ago.
With manpower costs and fertilizer prices soaring each year and potato prices even lower than those of five years ago, Kim is in despair and feels as if he is clinging tothe back of a tiger because he has no choice but to continue his potato farming just to survive.
Kim Geun-soo / Potato Farmer
“Potato prices dropped further this year while labor costs doubled. I just don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this.”
Gyeonggi Province to Pay Direct Compensation for FTA-Related Losses
Direct compensation will be paid to those farmers who suffered losses due to price decreases after the effectuation of free trade agreements.
Subjects of Direct Compensation: Potato, Sweet Potato and Millet Farmers
From August 25, Gyeonggi Province will receive applications for direct compensation from potato, sweet potato and millet farmers. The amount of compensation will be, for each hectare, KRW 1.3 million for potato farms, KRW 8,000 for sweet potato farms and KRW 140,000 for millet farms.
[Interview]Kim Seok-jong / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Food Management Team
“The subjects of compensation are individuals and corporations who cultivated millet, potatoes or sweet potatoes. This program is expected to continue next year since it aims to help farmers who suffered losses due to FTAs in securing their income and stability.”
Cultivators of these three agricultural products may file applications supported with evidence of production and sales for the period from the effectuation of FTAs through local community centers.