What does it Feel Like to Ride a Helicopter or a Tank?
(Published August 21, 2012)

2012 Fall/Winter Security and Disaster Equipment Exhibit to be held at the provincial government field until the 23^rd

◇ Children who visited the Fall/Winter Security and Disaster Equipment Exhibit on August 21^st listen to the guide as they take a look at an armored vehicle. ⓒ G-News Plus / Yu Je-hun

In the morning of August 21^st, children in their raincoats gathered on the front lawn of the provincial government building, shouting, “Teacher, there are people in the tank!” Their priceless expressions conveyed how unbelievable it was to see a working tank, which they have only seen before on TV, complete with people on board.

“You can take a ride as well!”

As soon as their teacher finishes, the children line up to take part in the excitement. Min-ji is smiling broadly, wearing a safety helmet and sitting inside the tank, half full of fear and half full of curiosity.
◇ Children who visited the exhibition are having a great time riding on an armored vehicle. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

“With these tanks, the soldiers here are protecting our country.”

Forty kindergarteners from Saedongsin Kindergarten located in Jeongja-dong of Jangan-gu, Suwon City, were divided into groups as they looked around the helicopters and armored vehicles at the exhibit and participated in the fire safety drills and meteorological experiences. Director Park Suk-hyeon said, “We visit the exhibit every year to heighten the children’s awareness of national security.” She went on to say, “It’s unfortunate that we didn’t get to see the military band perform due to the rain, but I feel gratified that the children had the chance to have such a great experience.”

Sponsored by Gyeonggi Province for the benefit of all residents, the 2012 Fall/Winter Security and Disaster Equipment Exhibit will run for 4 days from the 20^th at the provincial government complex. Displays will include: cutting-edge firefighting equipment, military combat equipment, a tank, an armored vehicle, and self-propelled artillery. Some 230 soldiers from 23 different units within the province came out to help with the exhibition and related events. On one side of the exhibition, they displayed memorials to dead soldiers, photos of the reality of the human rights conditions in North Korea, and security films.

Combat equipment such as a Black Hawk helicopter, Apache helicopter, K1A1·M48A5K tanks, a K-200 armored vehicle, a K-9 self-propelled artillery piece, ammo vehicle, low detection radar, and other air defense weapons were on display. Mayumi (Osaka), a Japanese tourist visiting the exhibition, said, “It was very interesting to see and sit in the helicopter and tank, which I have never done in Japan.”
◇ Children crowd around the rice ball sample stand ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

The experience program this year has been broadened compared to last year and included reserve force survival training experiences, a two-way radio operation experience, and fire hydrant practice. The exhibition also included a poster drawing contest sponsored by the Gyeonggi Provincial Council and Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, and a highly popular rice ball sample stand run by the Female Civil Defense Corps.

More than 3,000 visitors have stopped by the 2012 Fall/Winter Security and Disaster Equipment Exhibit so far and it will continue through the 23^rd.
◇ Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo, who visited the exhibition site, poses for a commemorative photo with the people. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang
◇ Governor Kim Moon-soo being briefed on a localized torrential downpour and the 119 disaster report in the situation room on the 21^st. ⓒ G-News Plus / Yu Je-hun

Meanwhile, visiting the exhibition on the morning of the 21^st, Governor Kim Moon-soo took a close look at the combat equipment and experience program booths, checking the security situation before he headed to the provincial situation room to be briefed on the 119 disaster report in preparation for the torrential downpour forecast for the 20^th and 21^st.

The meeting included some thirty people, including Kwon Tae-o, the waterworks commander, Jang Gwang-hyeon, commander of the 51^st unit, and Kim Sang-gon, the superintendent of Gyeonggi Province. In the meeting, Governor Kim listened to a situation report, which included information on casualties and local flooding. He was also briefed on various measures to be implemented, including road closures.  Governor Kim said, “We must minimize the damage in the flood-prone areas by using 24-hour CCTV surveys. He went on to add, “When it rains, the damage to the Imjin River area is heavy. We must be sure that preventive measures and infrastructure are meticulously checked.”

Gyeonggi Province is expecting the rainfall in the northern area to exceed 30 mm and is monitoring torrential rainfall conditions closely, ensuring that the local response activities are strong.

ⓒ G-News Plus / Rohh Kyeong-hui / khrohh@kg21.net

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201208211501307055C048&s_code=C048