Article 1.What’s New in Gyeonggi Province in 2014?(1230-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
A GTV reporter examined some of the major changes that Gyeonggi Province will see in 2014.
Changes will include the introduction of distance-based fire and rescue servicedeployment and an upgraded bus information system.
[Report]
Here at the Disaster Control Center of the Gyeonggi Province Fire Service Headquarters, emergency calls are directed to the fire stationsnearest the callers.
1) From Jurisdiction Deployment System to Distance-based System
From this year, deployment of fire and rescue services is based on distanceinstead of jurisdiction. This change has already taken place at seven of thirty four fire stations in Gyeonggi Province. The rest will follow in February.
2) Gang Shin-gwang / Chief Officer of the Information Communication Team, Gyeonggi Fire Services
“This (new deployment system) means that the time and distancesfor our services to reach destinations are shortened.”
From October this year, the users of red buses will be able to check the number of vacant seats before buses arrive.
3) Real-time Vacant Seat Information for Red Bus Users
This information, which includes 282 long-distance buses on 18 routes in Gyeonggi Province,will be provided online on a real-time basis.
Many users of these red buses have often wasted time waiting for buses without knowing ifseats were available.
4) Autonomous Interest Rate for Small & Medium Enterprise Development Financing
For the first time in Korea, autonomous control of interest rateswill be permittedfor thefinancing ofsmall and medium enterprise development in Gyeonggi Province.
This will allow smaller enterprises to benefit from interest rates as low as 2 percent.
5) Volunteer Internet Watchers Begin Operation
From this year, a group of volunteer Internet watchers, consisting of two hundred Gyeonggi residents,will begin round-the-clock monitoring of online material for any harmful sites.
Each report of a socially harmful site will be compensated with official recognition of 3hours of volunteer work.

 
Article 2.Gyeonggi Province Supported9,000 Small Businessesin 2013(1231-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
More than nine thousand small business owners received provincial support last year.
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government has been providing small businesses with various supports including consultation, education and employment services.
[Report]
This online bags and accessories shop is a one-person business founded by a former bag designer.
Although she still does everything from design to photography and sales on her own, she is now a successful businessperson with her own patented brand and a plan to open an overseas sales outlet.
1) Business Inauguration Support by Gyeonggi Province
She attributes hersuccessfulbusiness startup to support provided by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government for business inauguration.
2) Min Ji-yeong / CEO of Princess Story
“I only had limited knowledge about management and marketing. But I had intensive visiting consultation support from a specialist, which was a great help.”
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government has been operating various support programs for small businesses that are more vulnerable to economic difficulties.
3) 9,486Small Business Owners Benefited from Provincial Support
Last year, more than nine thousand small business owners received provincial support.
(CG)
3,764 individuals received visiting consultation services from ten regional support centers, and 2,350 individuals attended education in management and business inauguration.
Employment services helped 94 businesses and 74 individuals.
4) JeongHye-sook / Small Business Support Team Leader, Small & Medium Business Center
“We provided a range small business support services including employment, environmental improvement and management.”
Most small business support programs of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government are on-going programs that help ensure the success of entrepreneurs.
 
Article 3.G-Cinemas Features 10 Diversity Movies (0102-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Established by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government to promote diversity movies, G-Cinemas proved to be a remarkable successlast year.
G-Cinemas have now become some of the most popular venues for diversity movies.
[Report]
Currently, G-Cinemas are rescreening ten of the most popular diversity movies from last year.
1) Special Diversity Movie Featuring until January 15th
These special two-week rescreeningsare taking place at four G-Cinemas in Suwon (수원), Goyang (고양), Namyangju (남양주) and Pyeongtaek (평택).
2) 10 Most Popular Diversity Movies of Last Year
Also called independent movies, as opposed to heavily-invested commercial movies, diversity movies realized great success in Korea last year, drawing large audiences.
The moviesfor these special rescreeningswere selected by the Selection Committee out of 26 that were introduced last year,
One of these movies,Jiseul (지슬), received the Grand Jury Prizeat the Sundance Film Festival in the United States.
Also included are: Sleepless Night, about a newly married couple facing childbirth and nursing, and Koala, featuring youths in their job-finding adventures, as well as three documentaries.
3) 15,000 Viewers Visited G-Cinemas in 2013
Since first opening in April last year, nine G-Cinemas have been established,and the total number of visitors exceeded ten thousand in just the first six months from April.
4) Jang Bong-soo / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Content s Infrastructure Team
“We will continue to bring diversity movies closer to our residents so that they can enjoy the movies comfortably.”
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government plans to designate a number of private facilities such as local cultural halls as G-Cinemas to improve accessibilitytodiversity movies. 
Article 4.Defense-related RegulationsEased in Gyeonggi Cities (1230-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government announced the easing of construction regulations pertaining to the protection of military facilities in the cities of Icheon (이천) and Pocheon (포천).
These areas are now expected to undergo tremendous changes for the benefit of residents.
[Report]
For the residents of this small village in Icheon (이천) City, obtaining permission to rebuild their homes have been nearly impossible since they are close to an airbase.
1) Hong Dae-ui / Daepo-dong, Icheon City
“It’s all because applications for building permits have to go through military offices, which takes months on end. That is if permission is even given. It’s so inconvenient.”
2) Administrative transfer Agreement
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government and the Korean Air Strategy Headquarters recently signed an administrative transfer agreement.
CG)
Under this agreement, construction and development approvalin the affected areas will now be handled by the local governments, includingthe cities of Icheon (이천), Pocheon (포천), Yongin (용인) and Yeoju (여주), which means that the building of structures up to 65 meters in heightis permitted in these areas.
The total area covered by this agreement is 91 square kilometers, which is thirty two times larger than Yoido(여의도) Island in Seoul.
3) Kim Hak-ju / Korean Army Air Strategy Commander
“I think this agreement is a milestone for cooperation between the military and local governments.”
This agreement is the result of continuous efforts by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government to secure an understanding with the military.
4) Shim Gyeong-seop / Director of the Gyeonggi Province Emergency Planning Bureau
“There are 20 military air bases. We have plans to achieve the abolition of regulations in each of these areas.”
Each of these plans has been carefully formulatedto take into account the necessity for both national security and the wellbeing of civilians.
 
Article 5.Baekwoon Valley Winter Festival in Pocheon (1231-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
A winter festival is at its peak in Baekwoon (백운) Valley in Pocheon (포천) City of Gyeonggi Province.
Titled “Whizzing Ice Party”, the festival features various objects made from ice including ice sled slopes and ice trees.
[Report]
Ice sledding is one of the most popular featuresof this festival in which children are all smiles as they slide down hard slopes of ice instead of snow.
1) Cho Woo-shin / Jamshil-dong, Seoul
“I am having a lot of fun because I am with my family, there is lots of snow, and I get to ride a sled.”
Some children are completely taken with rabbits that elude their entreaties, while a father proudly exhibits his skill with a rabbit to his children.
2) Lee Gi-soo / Ansan City Resident
“It’s great to be out here with my kids. I think I will come here every year and make family memories.”
3) 10th PocheonBaekwoon Valley Winter Festival
This year marks the tenth anniversaryof this annual winter festival, which has a different theme each year.
This year’s theme is “Sing Sing Ice Party”, ‘sing sing’ being a mimetic word for cold winds, hence the translation“Whizzing Ice Party.”
As suggested by the theme, the festival groundsare covered with various objects made from ice, such as ice trees and fountains. Even the sled slopes are made from ice.
4) SeongWoon / Chief Organizer, Baekwoon Valley Winter Festival
“The entire place is open free of charge. I hope that many families, couples and groups won’t just stay at home because it’s cold, but will instead come here and enjoyeverything.”
This festival features a variety of things to see, enjoy, experience and eat.
It runs until February 2nd.
 
Article 6.HopeRebornEmployment Service Project (0102-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
In 2009, the Hope Reborn Project wasintroduced by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare to help the economically less fortunate find employment.
In Gyeonggi Province, the project has been in operation in 22 cities, and so far more than 3,700 residents have found employment through the project.
[Report]
Lee works as a guard at a construction site. He had been living alone for more than ten years,hiding from his family and creditors.
Thanks to the Hope Reborn Project, he found a job and has now become a hard worker. He is even in contact with his family again.
1) Lee Jae-cheon / Maesan-dong, Suwon City
“They gave me education and even accompaniedme to job interviews. I hope many peoplewilltry to visit public centers such as the Hope Reborn Center and get help (just as I did).”
2) Employment Service for Individuals in Low Income Brackets
The Hope Reborn Project is an employment service program for individuals in low income brackets.
Their services include education and consultations in a variety of subjects such aslabor law and the preparation of resumes, as well as comprehensive employment services.
3) Song Ju-Jyun / Operation Manager,Gyeonggi Hope Reborn Project Headquarters
“We are operating a number of employment preparation programs to provide motivation. We also provide follow-up programs to ensure that the beneficiaries successfully adapt to their new employment environments.”
CG
The number of individuals who found employment through the Hope Reborn Project has been steadily increasing from 696 in 2009 to 755 in 2011 and 931 in 2013.
So far, 3,749 individuals havefound employment through the project.
The Gyeonggi branch of the project plans to introduce various employment programs based on past experience.
4) JeongYeon-ui / Director of Gyeonggi Hope Reborn Project Headquarters
“We increased the number of posts by 20% (this year) to allow more people to participate in our project, which numbers2,580 participatingindividuals in Gyeonggi Province in total. We also plan to work with local employment centers more closely.”
The Gyeonggi Employment Centers also plan to extend full cooperation to the Hope Reborn Project to help as many residents as possible with their job searches.
 
Article 7.Registration of Pet DogsBecomes Compulsory in Korea(140102-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
From January 1st, the Companion Animal Registration Regulation goes into effect nationwide in Korea. For now, pet dogs are the only registrationsubjects. Failure to register will result in a fine of up to KRW 400,000.
[Report]
1) Gyeonggi Assistant Dog Sharing Center/ Mado-myeon, Hwaseong City
This companion dog sharing center opened in March last year to train homeless dogs as assistant dogs for free distribution to those who can benefit from them.
2) 15,000 Dogs Become Homeless Annually in Gyeonggi Province
In Gyeonggi Province alone, more than fifteen thousand dogs are known to become homeless every year; this has become a social issue.
3) Dog Registration Is Compulsory in All Cities and Counties
The purpose of the enforcement of this regulationis to reduce the number of homeless dogs, which has been increasing nationwide.
In accordance with the registration regulation, all pet dogs must be registered at local public offices.
Dog owners can also benefit from the registration system since it can help them find their dogs more quickly should they become lost.
4) Dogs Older Than 3 Months Must Be Registered within 30 Days
The regulation requires all owners of pet dogs older than three monthsto register their dogsno later than thirty days from the date that ownership commenced. Otherwise, the owner will be subject to penalization.
Registration applications are being received by the local animal registration organizationsdesignated by city, county, or Gu administrations.