Gyeonggi Province hosts welcoming ceremony for 3rd Corps of Dream Tree Child Reporters

Total of 302 elementary school students in Gyeonggi Province cover events, cultural properties, and festivals

◇ The welcoming ceremony for the 3rd Corps of Dream Tree Child Reporters took place at the Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Center (GSBC). ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yu Jaehun

“I will perform the duties of a reporter, such as covering, writing and uploading news faithfully, with the innocent vision of a child”. “I will be concerned about friends and neighbors and become a proud reporter who spreads encouraging news”.

The elementary school students expressed their ambitions at the Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Center in the afternoon on November 29. They are the 3rd Corps of Dream Tree Child Reporters of Gyeonggi Province.

The child reporters participated in the welcoming ceremony and officially started their activities. The 302 3rd Corps of Dream Tree Child Reporters are elementary school students in Gyeonggi Province from the 3rd to 5th grades who have excellent writing and observation skills as well as a strong ambition to become reporters.

Children wearing blue uniforms and reporter nametags took their oath cheerfully and intensely while their parents watched with love and pride.

Celebrities including television personality Sam Hammington, announcer Baek Seongju, actress Park Haemi, national table tennis team coach Yu Seongmin, and rapper Kisum sent congratulatory video messages.

◇ Representative child reporters take an oath–“I swear that I will spread encouraging news and dream of becoming a proud reporter” –with Governor Nam Kyung-pil. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yu Jaehun

◇ The 2nd Corps of Dream Tree Child Reporters, representatives of the 3rd Corps of reporters, as well as Governor Nam Kyung-pil participate in the talk show ‘You are a Hope of Gyeonggi Province’. ⓒ Gyeonggi G News Yu Jaehun

A Taekwon jump rope performance took place at the welcoming ceremony. The performance team invited Governor Nam on stage in an impromptu move, and the Governor demonstrated board breaking and rope jumping.

A talk show titled ‘You are a Hope of Gyeonggi Province’ also took place at the event. Announcer Im Pyeongsun hosted the show, and the 2nd Corps and 3rd Corps of Dream Tree Child Reporters expressed their impressions and determination. Governor Nam Kyung-pil also participated in the show.

Jeong Seowon, a 2nd Corps of Dream Tree Child Reporter and 6th grade student at Pungsan Elementary School in Goyang City, said that she neither knew what she would do in the future nor had any future dream until she participated in the 1st and 2nd Corps of Dream Tree Child Reporters. Since she covered a story on 600 years of Goyang City history as a reporter, she has dreamed of becoming a scientific historian. The girl expressed her impression of two years of reporting activities, saying it provides an opportunity to realize her dream.

In addition, she advised the 3rd Corps reporters that, when covering stories in all corners of Gyeonggi Province, taking swift action and understanding the flow of event are important. She also said she hopes to see better activities for the 2nd Corps of Dream Tree Child Reporters.

Jeong Minkyo, a 3rd Corps of Dream Tree Children Reporter and 4th grade student at Anjung Elementary School in Pyeongtaek City, said that he wanted to become a leading reporter in diverse areas, and that he aspired to cover the stories of famous people in Gyeonggi Province. Kim Yerim, the youngest among the Child Reporters and a 3rd grade student at Jamwon Elementary School in Suwon City, said that writing stories was not easy so she thought reporting might be difficult, but reporters have to write true stories.

Governor Nam said, “You look like a professional announcer. You are the hope of Gyeonggi Province. I’m sure you will be great people in the future”. He then expressed thanks to the children’s parents.

Governor Nam hosted a quiz game called Learning about Gyeonggi Province. The questions covered: the number of cities and countries in Gyeonggi Province; the population of Gyeonggi Province; a UNESCO world heritage site where King Jeongjo stayed; a slogan of Gyeonggi Province; and the city where the Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office is located. He gave gifts to children who answered the questions.

◇ A quiz game called Learning about Gyeonggi Province was also held. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yu Jaehun

◇ Winners pose for a photo with Governor Nam. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yu Jaehun

Prior to the talk show, the best videos of the 3rd Corps of Dream Tree Child Reporters were screened and some children won awards for their outstanding efforts. A total of 11 Child Reporters received awards from Governor Nam. The Best Reporter in the 4th Quarter Award went to three children including Lee Junghun, a 6th grade student at Dongsak Elementary School in Pyeongtaek City; the 2014 Exemplary Reporter Award went to three children including Kim Dohyeon, a 5th grade student at Sinpung Elementary School in Suwon City, and the Best Video Contest Award went to Chae Sua, a 5th grade student at Sindong Elementary School in Uijeongbu City.

A video about the activities of the 2nd Corps of Dream Tree Child Reporters was also screened. In the video, the child reporters are seen participating in numerous activities including visits to government offices for first-hand experiences as well as to Hwaseong Haenggung Palace and a pig farm in Icheon City. They also reported about events and policies of Gyeonggi Province.

After the welcoming ceremony, the 3rd Corps of Dream Tree Child Reporters had time to learn about their duties and how to write articles in an orientation session.

The 3rd Corps of Dream Tree Child Reporters will cover stories about major events , cultural properties and festivals in Gyeonggi Province and attend more than 10 press conferences by the end of 2015. The children received appointment letters as well as reporter nametags, hats and vests.

Their articles will be posted on the webpage of Dream Tree Child Reporters (ggumtree.gg.go.kr) and the news portal of Gyeonggi Province (gnews.gg.go.kr) after the articles are revised. Outstanding reporters can receive awards from Governor.

Lee Sangjin, an official with the Interaction Division of Gyeonggi Province, said that Dream Tree Child Reporters covered stories in all corners of the province, serving as messengers who spread dreams and hope. “I hope the 3rd Corps of Dream Tree Child Reporters are proud to be provincial residents, helping people learn more about the province as former Dream Tree Child Reporters have done”, Lee said.

Gyeonggi Province has operated Dream Tree Child Reporters since 2012 to enhance understanding and interest in the province and to inspire children to feel pride as provincial residents. The admission of reporters for the following year starts in the preceding September. Those interested can refer the website at www.gg.go.kr.

◇ Governor Nam demonstrates rope jumping and board breaking. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yu Jaehun

◇ Governor Nam demonstrates rope jumping and board breaking. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Yu Jaehun

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Cheon Gyeongnam ckn0403@kg21.net 

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201411291842537055C048&s_code=C049