Article1.Gyeonggi Provincial Theatrical Company Produces Audio Books(0217-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Since last year, the Gyeonggi Provincial Theatrical Company has been producing audio books for visually impairedreaders as part of its talent donation program. Recently, the company began recording Macbeth to celebrate Shakespeare’s 450th birthday.
[Report]
Jeong (정) is visually impairedanda regular visitor at a braille library. He is an avid reader of audio books, reading several books every week.
1) Jeong Kim-won with1st-Degree Visual Impairment
”Audio books areideal for individuals with visual impairment because they can also be read by those who haven’t learned braille.”
2) Shortage of Audio Books
Audio books are still relatively scarce in Korea. Unlike audio books for children, most audio books for visually impaired persons are produced by a few volunteer groups instead of publishing houses.
3) Gyeonggi Provincial Theatrical Company Donates Talent for Audio Book Production
This is why the Gyeonggi Provincial Theatrical Company embarked upon donating the talents of its members and has begun recording audio books of plays since last year.
4) [SOUNDBITE]
“Speak, if you can: what are you?”
“All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!”
Recorded by the actors and actresses of the theater company, these audio books are very popular among individuals with visual impairments like Jeong (정).
5) Lee Soo-min / Producer, Gyeonggi Provincial Theatrical Company
“We began this work to enablevisually impaired individuals to enjoy pieces. We will continue to produce audio books to help create a richer society.”
The audio book recording of Macbeth will be completed at the end of this month, and will then be distributed to thirty-five braille libraries throughout Korea.
 
Article 2.Gyeonggi Institute Develops Year-round Strawberry Production Technique(0218-1)
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Rich in vitamin C and anti-oxidantproperties, strawberries are popular during winter and spring in Korea. However, strawberries can now be enjoyed throughout the year since an all-season strawberry production technique was developed by the Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services.
[Report]
1) Strawberry Farming Increases in Korea
Strawberry farminghas increased considerably in Korea over the past few years as the localbreed successfully spreadsthroughout the country. The Korean strawberry is also gaining popularity in Southeast Asian countries including Malaysia and Thailand.
2) Korea Strawberry Prefers Low Temperature
However, strawberry production has been almost impossible during summer since the Korean strawberry is grown at low temperatures, usually from autumn until spring.
3) GARES Develops All-Season Strawberry Production Technique
To address this problem, the Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services developed a year-round strawberry production technique.
4) Reporter Choi Chang-soon
“The new technique uses a cool water spray to maintain the temperature of the strawberry roots below 24degreesCelsius. With this technique, strawberries can now be produced during summer as well.”
Instead of soil, this new method uses a water cooler and special spray nozzles to supply water and nutrients directly to the roots of the plant in the form of a cool mist.
5) Double Productivity and 20% More Sugar Content
Compared with ordinary farming methods, this method has proven to increase productivity by a hundred percent and sugar content by twenty percent.
6) Lee Yeong-seok / Researcher, GARES
“It is a partial cooling technique that lowers the temperature of roots only, saving energy consumption for cooling while being able to produce strawberries during the summer.”
After final testing, this new technique will be introduced at strawberry farms as early as next year.
 
Article 3.Pangyo to Host‘Contents Korea Lab’(0219-2)
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Pangyo (판교) of Seongnam (성남) City joins the creative economy hubnetwork of central Gyeonggi Province as it was chosen for the establishment of the Contents Korea Lab, a high-priority project of the Korean Government for the realization of a creative economy.
[Report]
Following the Smart Contents Valley in Anyang (안양) City and the Digital Contents Korea Lab in Bucheon (부천) City, this is the third contents development complex to be established in Gyeonggi Province in two years.
1) Local Infra-Based Contents Development Complex
Seongnam (성남) City was chosen for the Contents Korea Lab since it has ideal local infrastructure for the establishment of a contents development complex.
2) Kim Geon-joong / Director, Gyeonggi ProvinceCultural Industry Division
“There are 2,200 enterprises and 3,000 professionals specializing in creative industry in Pangyo. Also, Gyeonggi Province has been endeavoring to create a contents hub. I believe these are the factors of merit considered by the Korean Government.”
The Contents Korea Lab will be constructed as a large 10-story building in the Public Support Center that has already been established in Pangyo.
Facilities will include conference rooms and studios, as well as unitary facilities with specialized equipment for creative development. These unitary facilities will be constructed in a café style to facilitate free communication.
3) From Idea Formation to Business Inauguration
The Contents Korea Lab will serve as an incubation center in which all processes from idea formation all the way through to business inauguration can be carried out in one //
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While the purpose of the Contents Korea Lab in Bucheon (부천) City is to support the existing projects of enterprises, the Pangyo lab will assist individuals and aspiring entrepreneursin the formation and realization of new creative ideas from the very beginning.
4) Reporter Choi Chang-soon
“Through the operation of a contents industrial hub, the Gyeonggi Provincial Governmentseeks to serve at least 100,000 individuals and help create 450 contents development enterprises.”
 
Article 4.Gyeonggi Hostsa Meeting with National Assembly Members(0211-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo invited a number of National Assembly members to discuss provincial issues. This first political meeting of the year drew interest from many since it was held during the final stage of the second four-year term of the Gyeonggi governor.
[Report]
1) Gyeonggi Province – National AssemblyMembers Meeting (February 10th)
During this meeting, which was held four months before local elections, Governor Kim discussed current provincial issues with National Assembly members representing provincial districts.
Having declared his intention not to run for a third term, Governor Kim asked the National Assembly members of both ruling and opposition parties for continued support with consideration for the province.
2) [SOUNDBITE]Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo
“I humbly askthe respected members of the National Assembly not to forget our Gyeonggi Province…”
Governor Kim has begun rounding off his two terms inoffice as he mentioned an annual to-do list at the beginning of this year.
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During the meeting, Governor Kim emphasized the causes of the provincial financial crisis and possible effects of inevitable welfare budget reductions as well as the importance of the abolition of governmental and legal restrictions that the next governor has to face.
3) 20 National Assembly Members Attended the Meeting
This meeting was attended by twenty National Assembly members including JeongByeong-gook (정병국) of the Saenuri (새누리) Party who has announced his intention to run for the office of the Governor of Gyeonggi Province in the upcoming election.
4) [SOUNDBITE]Jeong Byeong-gook / National Assembly Member,Saenuri Party
“The reformation of the provincial financial structure is a universal problem and should be dealt with through bipartisan efforts in the National Assembly…”
The attending members of the National Assembly unanimously agreed that solutions to the current problems of Gyeonggi Province must be sought through bipartisan efforts.
5) [SOUNDBITE] Kim Myeong-yeon / National Assembly Member, Head of Gyeonggi Province Saenuri Party
“The National Assembly must take the initiative in abolishing unreasonable restrictions.”
6) [SOUNDBITE] Kim Tae-nyun / National Assembly Member, Head of Gyeonggi Province Democratic Party
“It is time that we united to overcome the impending difficulties faced by Gyeonggi Province.”
There are many variables that may affect the outcome of provincial administrative performance in 2014 and onward. The role of theNational Assembly is extremely important for the improvement of the difficult situation faced by the province.
 
Article 5.Taxi Ride Safety Service Application of Gyeonggi Province (140217-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
A smart phone applicationthat ensures safe taxi rides, the Taxi Ride Safety Service,wasrecently introducedin Gyeonggi Province. Developed especially for women and young students who travel home by taxilate at night, the number of users has exceeded six thousand in just two months.
[Report]
Taking a taxi to go home after work late at night no longer makesKimnervous after she began using the Taxi Ride Safety Service application.
This application works by installingthe app on a smart phone and placing the phone near the head rest of the front passenger seat in the service-affiliated taxi. The phone then reads the details of the taxi from the Near Field Communication, or NFC, tag embedded in the head rest and sends the information to a person designated by the user.
1) Kim Geum-soon / Yong hyeon-dong, Uijeongbu City
“I always felt nervous until I arrived at homewhen I took a taxi at night. This application makes me feel safe. I hope all taxis become safety service taxis.”
2) Taxi Ride Safety Service Application Operated by Gyeonggi Province
This taxi ride safety service has been operated by Gyeonggi Provincesince last December for the safety of children and students who travel at night. This service is hailed by both users and their families.
3) Lim Jong-hyop / Kim’s Husband
“I used to wait nervously for my wife without knowing where she was. Now I feel relieved because I know when she will arrive and which taxi she is riding in. I can even track her location before leaving home.”
Currently 18,000taxis are affiliated with this service.
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Since its introduction two months ago, six thousand individuals have downloaded the Taxi Ride Safety Service application, and the number of usagecaseshas exceeded 17,000.
4) Ahn Yoon-mo / Senior Official, Gyeonggi Province Transportation Policy Division
“This service is currently being operated on a trial basis. Once improvements have been made based on the results, we plan to includeall 36,000 taxis in Gyeonggi Province in the service program.”
The Safe Taxi Ride Service application of Gyeonggi Province can be downloaded from Play Store or Application Market free of charge.
 
Article 6.Gyeonggi Prepared for Chemical Spillson Roads (140218-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government recently signed an agreement with the Korea Expressway Corporation to take preventive measures against chemical spills on expressways. Such accidentsmay lead to serious consequences if appropriate corrective measures are not taken immediately. There were a number of such incidents last year.
[Report]
Last July, a chemical tank truck overturned on the West Coast Expressway in Gyeonggi Province, spilling a large amount of nitric acid waste. Two patrolmen who had arrived at the scene were affected by the noxious gas and brought to hospital.
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In anotherroad accident near a residential area, a container truck carrying vessels of hydrofluoric acidleakedmore than forty liters of this highly volatile and toxic acid.
Expressway accidentsthat result in chemical spills havethe potential to create dangerous situations or even disasters causing serious damageandcasualties.
1) Gyeonggi Home to 35% of Enterprises Using Toxic Chemicals
Gyeonggi Province has a high chemical spillrisk since it is home to 35 percent of enterprises that use or produce toxic chemicals in Korea.
2) Cooperation MOU for Expressway Chemical Spill Treatment
Under this agreement, the Korea Expressway Corporation will provide cooperation in dealing with chemical spills on expressways in Gyeonggi Province.
3) Anti-Disaster Equipment to Be Mobilized
Also under this agreement, anti-disaster equipment will be made available for immediate mobilization on major expressways in the province while education for related personnel will be provided.
4) Oh Byeong-gwon / Director General, Gyeonggi Province Environment Bureau
“Since many expressways run through Gyeonggi Province, we must be prepared for possible occurrences of chemical spills…”
The MOU also specifies the establishment of a cooperation committee tooversee chemical accidents and to intensify safety management on an ongoing basis.
 
Article 7.Gyeonggi Implements Big Data Utilization Trial Program (140219-3)
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The Gyeonggi Provincial Governmentran a trial program in which big datapertaining to residential issues wasanalyzed to produce scientific results that can be used to develop new or improved ways in which to address those issues.
[Report]
1) Analysis of Big Data Based on Residential Complaints via Smart Phones
It took two months to complete the analysis and develop measures to address the identified issues. The analysis was based on big data that was accumulated from residential complaints received via smart phones during 2012 and 2013.
2) Kim Tae-hyeong / Director General, Gyeonggi Province Information System Planning Division
“From the analysis, we could identify a number of problems, of which those regarding illegal parking, road damage and trash disposal are of highest significance.”
3) Countermeasures to be Implemented
Parking violationswere found to be serious in 60 percent of Gyeonggi Province. Regional crackdowns and notifications of penalization via SNS will be implemented as countermeasures.
Regarding trash disposalproblems, 3,500 complaintspertaining to illegal disposal in the 31 cities and counties of the province have been analyzed.
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Based on the analysis results of trash disposal issues, which include the indiscriminatedisposal of cigarette butts, illegal trash disposal and uncollected trash, resident participation was found to be most important for improvement.
4)Oh Byeong-gwon / Director General, Gyeonggi Province Environment Bureau
“We will promote privatization of roads and intensify cleaning programs with cooperation with private organization.”
The Gyeonggi Provincial Governmentwill also improve road utilization by addressing problems stemming fromdamaged roads and road facilities.
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government plans to developa big data-based public complaints map by 2015, and to establish a consolidated analysis tem by including big data collected via theInternet and call centers to develop customized, scientific administration processes.