Title 1. GARES Develops Auto Seeding Machine for Smart Vegetable Plant (1231-1)
[News Script]
The Gyeonggi Agricultural ResearchExtension Services, or GARES, has recently announced that it has developed a new seeding machine for smart vegetable plants. A smart vegetable plantan intelligent all-weather farming facility with an environment thatautomatically controlled to ensure optimal cultivation conditions.
[Report]
1) 10 Times More Efficient than Manual Seeding
Also developedGARESattracting interestagricultural authorities overseas, the smart vegetable plant can now feature greatly improved production efficiency with the introduction of this automatic seeding machine. This machineten times faster than manual seeding, whicha time-consuming process involving the use of a pair of tweezers to handle seeds one at a time for planting in a cultivation bed at precise depthsintervals.
2) Shin Hee-yeon Reporter
“This new machine can reduce seeding time considerablythus greatly improve production efficiency.”
3) Lee Yeong-seok / GARES Researcher
“This machine enables us to directly use sterilized seedsalso reduces manpower for seeding.”
GARES also plans to develop smaller versions of automatic seeding machines for usefarmers in aquaculture. Conventional seeding machines take longer to prepareare limited in terms of seed varieties. They are also too large to maneuver in multi-layered, compact flower beds.
4) Choi Yeong-bae / Proprietor of XX Plant Nursery
“Therea prevailing manpower shortage in farming in Korea. The automatic seeding machines are products of necessity.”
The automatic seeding machines are expected to greatly alleviate manpower problemsonly for the smart vegetable plants but also on other farms in Korea.
 
Title 2. 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 3. Infant Cap KnittingFirefighters at Gimpo Fire Station (0103-3)
[News Script]
Firefighters at Gimpo (김포) Fire Station have been knitting woolen caps for infants for five years running. A single woolen cap can save a newborn babyhypothermia.
[Report]
1) Gimpo Fire Station
The greater part of every 24 hours at the Control Room in Gimpo (김포) Fire Stationbusy with incoming emergency callsfirefighters getting ready for or returningaction. In one corner of a room, however, some firefighters have gathered during a rare break. They are immersed in knitting life-saving woolen caps for infants.
2) Infant Woolen Cap Knitting for 5 Years
They are currently working on a batch of fifty caps which, when wornnewborn babies sufferinghypothermia, can save their lives.
3) Kim Gyeong-mi / Gimpo Fire Station Firefighter
“Hypothermia among newborn babies can be fatalhappens more often than we think. Having had heartbreaking experiences ourselves in this field, we decided to start this project. Weto think that each of these capsanother life assured of survival.”
Batches of completed caps are delivered to Save the Children, an international child relief organization, which then delivers them to infants born in harsh condition to reduce hypothermia-related fatalities.
4) Park Yeong-ui / Save the Children PR Team Leader
“Woolen caps are shipped to the Ivory Coast, TajikistanUzbekistan to help reduce fatality of new-born babies.”
The exemplary caregenerosity of Gimpo (김포) firefighters are warmingonly the bodies of children but also the hearts of people at the beginning of the year.
 
Title 4. Gyeonggi Province Intensifies Support for Economic Minorities (130103-2)
[News Script]
Gyeonggi Province will introduce new policies to intensify its support for economic minorities. Such policies will include the reduction of interest rates on operational financing costs for smallmedium-sized enterprisesup to 0.3%January,free encephalomeningitis vaccinationsMarch.
[Report]
1) New Policy in 2013 ① Operational Financing Cost Reduction for Small & Medium Enterprises
The major change in the new financial interest package for the year 2013the reduction of financing costs for smallmedium-sized enterprises.
CG1)
The fixed interest rate that ranged4.8 to 5.85% last year will be reduced to between 4.55.55% this year; the floating rate will be reduced to between 4.346.14%. Such reductions are equivalent to a 0.5% decrease in the fixed interest ratea 0.1% decrease in the floating rate for short-term operational financing of up to three years. Thisalso equivalent to a reduction of KRW 1.8 billion in the annual interest on a principal of KRW 300 billion.
2) New Policy in 2013 ② Free Encephalomeningitis Vaccinations
Encephalomeningitis vaccinations have been provided as an option at the cost of the recipient. However, this vaccination will be provided free of chargeMarch this year. Infants of up 12 months of age are now entitled to eleven free vaccinations in Gyeonggi Province.
3) New Policy in 2013 ③ Differentiated Compensation for Used Plastic Sheet Collection
(DISSOLVE)
Differentiated rates of compensation for used plastic sheets collectedfarms will go into effectthis year.
CG2)
Compensation has so far been paid at a flat rate of KRW 100 per kilogram of collected plastic sheets, but different rates will be applied depending on the amount of foreign matter present with sheets such as mudsoil. Therefore, the total compensation that farmers will receive may be slightly reduced.
In addition, Gyeonggi Province plans to intensify it on-site administration activitiesMuhandolbom (무한돌봄) welfare services to more effectively support people facing difficulties.
 
Title 5. 365.24 Public Service Center Recognized as an Excellent Public Administrative Service (1228-2)
[News Script]
The public services of Gyeonggi Province were officially recognized for their excellence for a third consecutive year.
[Report]
1) 365/24 Public Service Center
The Public Service Center at Suwon (수원) Stationstrategically located so that residents can conveniently apply for civil documents on their way tofrom work withoutto visit public offices.
2) Cho Gyeong-sook / Suwon Resident
“I have used this center several times. Itvery convenient because I can get civil documents quickly I am commuting.”
Basic health checkups as well as free financiallegal consultation servicesspecialists also are among the reasons why this centervery popular among residents.
3) 365/24 Operation for the First Time in Korea
The public services of Gyeonggi Province were the first tooperation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in Korea. The province has been officially recognized as an excellent public service organization for three consecutive years.
4) Oh Hyeon-sook / Head of Public Service Center
“The key to the high popularity of the public service centerthe elimination of distancetime limitations. We will expand our servicesincluding wireless public servicesoperating a public service arbitration tee.”
The public service administration of Gyeonggi Province has been adopting innovative service policieswill continue to endeavor to provide convenient, quality services.

 
Title 6. Voluntary Environment InspectionPrivate Enterprises (1231-1)
[News Script]
Where theregrowing public interest in eco-friendly products among consumers, there are also manufacturing companies that perform voluntary environmental inspections to enhance their eco-friendly images.
[Report]
1) Self-Inspection of Pollutant-generating Facilities
At this printed circuit board manufacturing company in Ansan (안산) City, employees use smart phones to read bar codes on their facilities to report inspection results to a central tem. The facilities that have passed the inspections are indicated in blue,those that require inspections are indicated with yellow blinking lights. This inspection tem was developedthe company for their self-inspections.
2) Shin Won-gyu / XX Electronics Plant Manager
“We were able to reinvest reduced maintenance costs in facilitiesat the same time reduce the accident rate to almost zero.”
This company no longer resorts to taking remedial actions on matters discoveredstipulatedauthorities. Instead, it actively performs inspectionsitselfannually reports the results to an administrative agency. Accordingly, the company can reduce maintenance coststhe authorities can free up inspection resources.
3) Um Ik-tae / Gyeonggi Province Industrial Complex Environment Supervising Team Leader
“We have limited administrative manpower resources. But self-inspectioncompanies enables us to concentrate on locations with more serious problems.”
Of 6,900 enterprises that require environmental inspections, 345 have been approved for self-inspections. The number will be increasedGyeonggi Province to promote a sense of responsibility among industrial companies.
 
Title 7. Winter Support for Residents with Economic Difficulties (0102-3)
[News Script]
While the Korean Peninsularepeatedly hitprolonged cold spells, Gyeonggi Provinceproviding heatingaccommodation cost support to those who have difficulties getting through the winter.
[Report]
1) Home of a Senior in Yongin City
60-year-old Park Chun-seon (박춘선)his wife movedtheir humble abode to this new rental home one month ago thanks to accommodation cost support providedGyeonggi Province.
(DISSOLVE)
Their previous home was a shipping container at the foot of a mountain with vinyl sheets for windows; they had no electricityno running water. Every winter was extremely miserablehard to endure in that place.
2) Park Chon-seon / Yongin City
“We had neither water nor electricity. A lantern was the only source of lightheat we could depend on.”
ItpeoplePark who are situated in the blind spots of energy welfare that Gyeonggi Province intends to help get through the winter.
3) Energy Welfare Blind Spots
Provision of supportbased on the results of an initial investigation to identify residents facing difficulties,supportprovided in the form of electricity or fuel cost support as required. Those who need new accommodations due to an inability to pay monthly rent or for other reasons are provided with accommodation cost support.
4) Gwon Gyu-ho / Director of the Yongin City Muhandolbom Center
“We will do our utmost to locate as many individuals in energy welfare blind spots as possiblewill provide them with necessary support.”
Those who require support may submit applications to local public offices. Support will then be provided after a visit to their homes. The Gyeonggi provincial administration will extend every possible support to ensure thatresidents are relieved of any hardships during the winter.