Title: Jara Island Sing Sing Winter Festival (0107-3)
[News Script]
A winter festivalbeing held on Jara (자라) Island in Gapyeong (가평) County of Gyeonggi Province. Entitled ‘Sing Sing Winter Festival’, this representative winter festival of the provincepacked with visitors who brave the cold weather to share winter memories with family membersfriends.
[Report]
1) Jara Island Sing Sing Festival / (January 4th ~ 27th, 2013)
The ice-covered Gapyeong (가평) Streampacked with people intent on catching trout through ice holes. An impatient father pulls the fishing line timetime again, anxious to show a big catch to his expectant children. Another struggles to grab a wriggling trout that he managed to pull out of the ice hole before the fish falls back in. The winter cold seems to be the least of their concerns.
2) Kim Seong-soon / From Pyeongtaek City
“Itwonderful to come out here with my family. I hope I will catch a big trout to please my children.”
Childrenvarious parts of the province are alsoa wonderful time riding sleds or just sliding on the ice. Improved transportation contributed to the attendance of many visitors to this festival which, in addition to trout fishing, includes various winter sports as well as concertstraditional food, handicraftshands-on game programs forages.
3) Park Jae-geun / Gapyeong County Office Planning & Administration Department Official
“Anyone can join trout ice fishing here. It now takes only forty minutesdowntown Seoul via the new Cheongchoon ITX Express railway line.”
This year’s festival features an even greater variety of programs than in previous years.
4) Reporter Shin Hee-yeon
“Offering an ideal place for a winter holiday for families, friendscouples, this Jara Island festival will run until January 27th.”

 
Title: Watch-night Bell Tolling at Imjingak (0102-2)
[News Script]
A watch-night event was held on New Year’s Eve at Imjingak (임진각) in Paju (파주) City.
[Report]
1) 2013 Bell Tolling Ceremony / Imjingak, Paju City
In Korea, a watch-night eventusually highlighteda bell-tolling ceremony that begins at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. Gyeonggi Province’s official New Year’s Eve ceremony was held at Imjingak (임진각) in Paju (파주) City, a location symbolic of the national hope for reunification. Our reporter was there to talk to citizens visitingdifferent parts of the nation.
2) Choi Soo-il / From Seongnam City
“I succeeded in finding employment last year, so my New Year’s resolutionto maximize my potential as a good employee.”
3) Suh Yoon-HeeHer Family / From Seoul
“I hope thatof my family members will be healthy this year.”
4) Park Gyu-hwan . (Gwangju City), Park Ji-hye (Mokpo City), Anda Hye (Gwangju City), Lee Jo-A (Uijeongbu City)
“I hope I will have a boyfriend.”
“I want to get married.”
“I hope I can win a lottery.”
“I just want to be happy.”
5) New Year’s Concert for PeaceReunification Wish
With this New Year marking the sixtieth anniversary of the armistice between SouthNorth Korea, the bell-tolling ceremony was followedmusical performancesprofessional singers under the theme of “Wishing for PeaceReunification”.
6) Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo
“I wish everyone have the best of lucksuccess throughout the year.”
This yearthe year of Gyesa (계사) in the sexagenary cycle, or the Year of the Snake in the Chinese Zodiac
7) Shin Hee-yeon Reporter
“The snake symbolizes wisdomwealth. Please have a prosperous 2013!”
 
Title: Improved Trash Disposal among Gyeonggi Residents (0108-1)
[News Script]
Since the declaration of a war against trashGyeonggi Province last year, the provincial government has been promoting good trash disposal practices through public education programs. There are visible signs of improvement throughout the province.
[Report]
1) An Apartment in Gunpo City
Thisan apartment in Gunpo (군포) City. After dishwashing, a housewife removes food residuea sieve into a net container in the trash bin for secondary draining. She checks the weight of discarded food everyday to ensure that itproperly dried. She even makes her own soap with used cooking oil. Why go tothis trouble? It is, of course, to reduce trash production. Shealso an energy saving enthusiast.
2) Kim Eun-ju / Green Village Collage Participant
“Practicing trash reduction also led me to focus on other environmental issues such as reduced energy consumption.”
3) Yucheong-dong Village Hall
Separate garbage containers for recyclable items were installed in a farming village. They were introduced as a result of a decision made among residents at the village hall. Even seniors seem to naturally use different collecting bins for different types of trash.
Such changes were obviously influencedthe environmental education program implementedGyeonggi Province, since such changes can be observed inthirteen villagesprovincial officials conducted education.
4) Kim Yong-won / Gyeonggy Province Environmental Policy Division Official
“We are endeavoring to support residents to help them voluntarily participate in creating clean village environments.”
Voluntary effortsresidents to reduce trash production are gradually spreading throughout the province.
 
Title: Reading Culture Programs for Children at Gyeonggi Libraries (0109-3)
[News Script]
Libraries in Gyeonggi Province offer a variety of programs for children that are educational as well as entertaining. During winter vacation, many children seldom venture out to play with friends. Whybring them to a local library?
[Report]
1) Suwon Central Library
A library isjust a place for children to read books; italso an enjoyable playground.
2) [싱크] Ahn Gyeong-ja / Fairy Tale Narrator
“Sob sob… Wherethe pumpkin pudding man? Why doesn’t he come?”
Children intently listen to a fairy tale with their facial expressions in sync with those of the narrator. After the story, children participate in creating a story book based on what they just heard. Some use scissors to cut out the shape of a pumpkinothers paste paper characters on a page.
3) Oah Hye-in / 2nd Grader of Hyowon Primary School
“I am making a story book about a goblin I just heard about. I want to read lots of books.”
4) Uiwang Central Library
Some library programs for children involve more activitiesthis one in which children are led outside to observe trees in winter. They are fascinated to find hidden fuzzy flower buds ready to bloom in the spring. Back in the library room, they write about what they sawsome even write letters to the trees.
5) Oah Hye-yeong / Uiwang Central Library Reading Culture Program Coordinator
“We have been offering various programs for children during each vacation. I hope that these programs will help children become more familiari with libraries.”
There are a host of children programs provided at libraries in Gyeonggi Province. Detailed information about these programs can be found on local library web sites.
 
Title: Farmers’ Monthly Salaries (0107-1)
[News Script]
Many farmers in Korea use loans to finance their farming. The annual repetition of borrowingrepayment causes economic instability for farmersoften leads to a heavier debt load. However, a local autonomous body in Gyeonggi Province has introduced monthly salaries for farmers to ensure their economic stability.
[Report]
1) A Farm in Hwaseong City
Kim Geun-yeong (김근영)a rice farmer in Hwaseong (화성) City who manages 66,000 square meters of rice paddies. In the early months of every year, he faces financial problems due to education expenses for his children. However, heno longer worried this year because he became a recipient of a monthly salarythe city.
2) Kim Geun-yeong / First Farmer Salary Recipient
“I was always in the red after repaying loans following harvest. A monthly salarya great relief because I am assured of a stable income.”
3) Hwaseong City Introduced First Farmer Salary Program
For the first time in Korea, Hwaseong (화성) City has introduced a salary program for farmers. Thirty-six rice farmers were ed as the first beneficiaries of this unprecedented salary program. The ed farmers will receive a monthly salary of up to KRW 2 million within a limit of 80 percent of their expected production. The objective of this programto rescue farmersthe vicious cycle of a financial rollercoaster.
4) Shin Heung-beom / Hawseong City Agricultural Administration Department Team Leader
“We introduced this program to relieve farmersa vicious cycle. Thisa pilot program,we will expand the range of beneficiary farmers depending on the initial program.”
Let us hope that this Farmers Salary Program will prove to be an effective solution to the unstable income problems facedfarmers.
 
Title: Educational Exhibitions at the Gyeonggi Children’s Museum (0108-3)
[News Script]
This yearthe Year of the Snake. In Western countries, the snakesymbolic of a seductive evil, but it symbolizes many things in Asia such as greed, wealthlife. On the occasion of the Year of the Snake, the Gyeonggi Children’s Museumholding an exhibition about snakes.
[Report]
1) Snake Year Niche Exhibition / Gyeonggi Children’s Museum
Thisa small-scale exhibition that will run continuously throughout the year. It features comprehensive information about snakes including their ecological characteristicstheir symbolism in various parts of the world as well as related relicscultural information. Laying as many as a hundred eggs at a time, snakes are also known to represent fertilitylife. This exhibition shows both positivenegative images of snakes.
2) Kim Josep / Yongin City
“I used to hate snakes, but I now find them interesting.”
3) ‘Silk Road Travel on a Camel’
The Gyeonggi Children’s Museum also features a Silk Road exhibition that showcases various architectural stylesindigenous productsvarious regions along the Silk Road which can be appreciated riding a camel.
4) ‘Extraordinary Artists’
Another exhibition features seven extraordinary artists of the world including Baek Nam-jun (백남준) as well as Picasso, KandinskyMatisse. Children can experience artistic creation in the simulated studios of these artists.
5) Kim Eun-ju / Curator of the Gyeonggi Children’s Museum
“We have prepared a variety of programs for children during winter vacation. These programs will help children develop their creativity.”
6) Reporter Choi Cang-soon
“Various experiential programs at the Gyeonggi Children’s Museum are providing children with different educational opportunities during their winter vacation.”
 
Title: Food Certification Safeguards Children’s Health (0109-1)
[News Script]
During winter vacation, children spend a great deal of time at home. Winter vacationalso a time when they are easily temptedfast foodssnacks. Itimportant to know which foodsnack products are safe for our children.
[Report]
1) Quality Certification Mark
When ing snacks for children, be sure to check for the Food Quality Certification Mark. Use of this markonly granted to items that contain balanced nutrients. Selecting good food itemsespecially important for growing children.
2) Milk, FruitsVegetables Are Recommended
Milk, fruitsvegetables are ideal for children’s health. Two cups of milkhalf an apple or one tangerine should help meet the daily nutritional requirements of a child.
3) Designated Good Food Sellers for Children
When visiting a food seller, look for a place that has been designated as a ‘Good Food Seller for Children’. There are 376 good food sellers that have been officially designatedGyeonggi Province. Eligibility to become a Good Food Seller for Childrenbased on nutrient contents, low caloriesstable food quality.
4) Seong Hyang-eun / Proprietor of a Good Food Seller for Children
“Children are our main customer group, so we insist on using good ingredientsmaintaining a clean environment.”
There are a growing number of obese youths in Korea since youths are freely exposed to foods with high calories. Using quality certified fooddesignated good food sellers may be the first step towards changing the eating habits of children.
 
Title: Transformation of Traditional Markets (0110-3)
[News Script]
Merchants of traditional markets are working hard to restore their popularity among consumers. Our reporter visited one traditional market that ranked second in a national market activation assessment.
[Report]
1) Osan Central Traditional Market
This market in Osan (오산) City uses LED lights along its arcade, improving energy efficiency. Its extended public toiletsparking lot are now comparable to those of large supermarkets.
2) Reporter Choi Cang-soon
“Weonly extended public facilities but also endeavored to change our mindsets through the operation of weekly merchant college.”
The merchant college provides education based on merchant needs that can be readily applied in their business activities.
3) Park Nam-hee / Merchant College Graduate
“I received computer education as well as language education for dealing with foreign customers; such education helps me a lot in practice.”
The fourth Friday of each monthdesignated as a Sale Day during which special salesvarious gift presentation events are held. It has received positive responses among consumers, contributing to a 20 percent increase in sales.
4) 2nd in National Traditional Market Activation Assessment. 1st in Gyeonggi Province
Voluntary improvement effortsmerchants in this market garnered recognition when it ranked second in a national assessment, whicha far cryits ranking of 205th only two years ago.
5) Kim Byeong-do / President of the Osan Central Traditional Market Merchant Association
“We merchants have truly devoted ourselves in our efforts to improve. We now plan to designateoperate each market lane as a specialty lane with individual characteristics.”
Traditional markets may still have a long way to go to revive their former glory. However, voluntary efforts among merchantsthe actual positive results that they have achieved cast a bright light on the future of traditional markets.