Greetings, everyone, and thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV.
I’m Don Valiant and this is the news from Gyeonggi Province this week.

Article 1. Bridge Destroyed During Korean War Opens for Tourists (161212-1)
[Anchor’s Headline] In South Korea, the Civilian Control Line encloses a military-controlled civilian exclusion zone several kilometers south of the Demilitarized Zone. Recently, a bridge in this zone in Gyeonggi Province was partially restored as a skywalk for tourists.

▶ Dokgae Bridge over Imjin River
The remaining se ction of the bridge still shows the devastation that it suffered during the war.
[CG-Partial] This bridge was all but destroyed during the Korean War and had since been left untouched.
▶ Park Sang-hyeon, DMZ Tour Guide
“This bridge couldn’t be used after it was destroyed during the Korean War. So, a temporary bridge had to be set up next to it to exchange prisoners after the war.”

▶ Only Facility in Civilian Exclusion Zone Accessible by Civilians without Permission
This bridge crosses the Imjin (임진) River into the civilian exclusion zone; it will be the only facility within this zone that the public can access without permission. The skywalk was designed to simulate a train carriage with its northern tip widened to serve as an observatory for panoramic views as well as to oversee the remainder of devastated bridge.
▶ GTV Reporter Han Seon-ji
“The second story terrace offers a panoramic view of the civilian exclusion zone and the remainder of the bridge as it was left from the time it was destroyed during the Korean War.”
This bridge has been a symbol of the war and national division, but has now been reborn as a new tourist destination under the new name of ‘Bridge Skywalk’.
▶ Yu Chung-ho / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province DMZ Preservation Team
“Combined with the nearby Ecological Tourism Support Center and Pyeonghwanuri Park, we expect this area will become a popular tourist destination in northern Gyeonggi Province and receive many visitors.”

▶Dokgae Bridge Skywalk to Open on December 21
The Bridge Skywalk on the Imjin (임진) River is slated to open on December 21.

Article 2. Suseo Express Rail Begins Services (161212-2)
[Anchor’s Headline] On December 8, high-speed rail service began between Suseo (수서) in Seoul and Jije (지제) in Pyeongtaek (평택) City of Gyeonggi Province via the Super Rapid Train, or SRT.

▶1 Suseo Station, Seoul (December 8)
Suseo-Pyeongtaek High Speed Railway Opening Ceremony
Operated by the private rail service enterprise Supreme Railway, the SRT – with a top speed of 300 kilometers per hour – will provide exclusive services on the Suseo-Pyeongtaek (수서-평택) line.
[CG] SRT services will then continue on to southern regions of Korea via connections with the Gyeongbu (경부) and Honam (호남) high-speed rail lines.
▶2 Transportation Improved for Southeastern Gyeonggi
After the construction rail lines and train stations over a five-year period, the opening of this high-speed railway will improve transportation for southeastern Gyeonggi Province.
▶3 Kim Yeong-su, Hwaseong City Resident
“It took me 4 hours to travel to Jamsil in Seoul and back. With SRT, the travel time is reduced to half. It’s great!”

▶4First Competitive Principal Rail Services in Korea
Provided by a private enterprise, the SRT high-speed rail services are the first of their kind on principal railroads in Korea in 117 years of rail transportation history. The SRT has already begun differentiated services.
▶ SRT Services Include Crew Services and Fairs 10% Lower than KTX
The SRT offers travel fares that are 10 percent lower than those of KTX and, for the first time in Korea, provides crew services to passengers.
▶ Kang Hwa-gi, Hwaseong City Resident
“Seats are very comfortable and spacious. I am satisfied with travelling (on the SRT).”
With the launch of the SRT, the number of high-speed train departures increased 40 percent. This will significantly alleviate ticket-purchasing difficulties among weekend travelers.

Article 3. Unhygienic Food Producers Uncovered in Gyeonggi Province (161212-3)
[Anchor’s Headline] The special judicial police of Gyeonggi Province staged a crackdown on unhygienic food producers and uncovered food hygiene violations at more than a hundred production sites.

▶1 Salad Producer, Anseong City
This salad producer has been indicating production dates on product labels with shipment dates.
[Sync]2 “We understand that it should mean the dates products leave.”
“No, it should be based on the dates of production, not delivery…”

▶3 Egg Processing Enterprise, Gwangju City
At this egg processing enterprise, compulsory egg inspections have been neglected. While documents indicate no defective eggs, there are broken eggs in cartons.
▶4 Food Processing Enterprise, Namyangju City
There is also a lunchbox supplier for schools and dormitories who used sauces that were more than three months past their expiration dates.
▶5 115 Unhygienic Food Producers Uncovered
The crackdown, which was conducted this past November, targeted more than 1,400 businesses. Of these, food hygiene violations were found at 115 establishments.
▶6 Park Seong-nam / Chief of Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police
“This month, we will also perform 10-day re-inspections on 1,200 previous violators so as to eliminate illegal practices.”
The special judicial police of Gyeonggi Province have transferred the violators to the prosecution as well as local authorities for administrative punishments.

Article 4. Gyeonggi-Heilongjiang Agree on Environment Technology Exchanges (161213-1)
[Anchor’s Headline] Gyeonggi Province and Heilongjiang Province of China agreed to cooperate in environmental preservation. This was the third such agreement with a Chinese province following those with the provinces of Jilin and Liaoning in 2012.

▶1 Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health & Environment
The environment industry delegation from Heilongjiang Province, led by the head of the provincial environment protection office, visited Gyeonggi Province’s Institute of Health & Environment to view first-hand the facilities and technologies being employed.
▶2 Yi Pyong / Head of Heilongjiang Province Environment Protection Office
“We came to benchmark the facilities of the Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health & Environment and were very impressed.”
Gyeonggi Province has been pursuing environmental cooperation with Chinese local authorities.
▶3 Gyeonggi Provincial Human Resource Development Institute (December 12)
Signing of Gyeonggi-Heilongjiang Environmental Cooperation Agreement
This agreement completes the initial pursuit of such cooperation with three northeastern Chinese provinces.
▶4 Heilongjiang Province Environment Industry Valued at KRW 1.4 Trillion
The agreement between the two provinces covers environment technology exchanges as well as exchanges in information, personnel and promotional events.
Heilongjiang Province is home to more than 200 environmental enterprises with a market size valued at KRW 1.4 trillion.
▶5 Kim Gunn / Director General, Gyeonggi Province Environment Bureau
“It does not end with the signing of an MOU. We will do our utmost to achieve practical and specific results through the agreement.”
China has announced investment totaling KRW 3.9 quadrillion in environmental projects over the next five years. Such massive market potential in China will provide Korean enterprises with excellent opportunities to launch themselves in this market.

Article 5. Gyeonggi-Gangwon-Seoul to Cooperate for 2018 Winter Olympics (161213-2)
[Anchor’s Headline] On December 6, the heads of Gangwon (강원) Province, Gyeonggi Province and Seoul met to sign a cooperation agreement on joint marketing for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games to be held in Pyeongchang (평창) County of Gangwon (강원) Province.

▶1 Seoul City Hall (December 6)
Gyeonggi-Gangwon-Seoul Joint Tourism Marketing Agreement
The 2018 Winter Olympic Games are expected to attract more than 390,000 visitors from around the world. The three second-tier government heads agreed to work together in tourism marketing as well as for the success of this international sports event.
▶2 Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“The successful hosting of the Pyeongchang Olympics requires not only national efforts but also close cooperation among local governments.”
The three government heads agreed to establish a working committee and funds of KRW 5 billion for marketing projects.
[CG] These funds will be spent on projects in five marketing categories including TV and online advertisements and familiarization tours.
Each government head will also personally visit overseas countries as part of marketing endeavors.
▶4 Seoul Mayor Park Won-sun
“I hope that Korea will regain social stability soon and that everyone will participate in this regardless of their locality and political standing…”

▶5 Joint Development of Tourism Programs
Such joint efforts, which will have the effect of reducing overall costs for event preparations, will also include the development of thematic tourism programs vested with the regional cultures of the three localities.
The economic and tourism effects of the Pyeongchang (평창) Winter Olympics are estimated to be worth almost KRW 100 trillion.

Art icle 6. Small Libraries Workshop Held in Gyeonggi Province (161213-3)
[Anchor’s Headline] Libraries that serve small local communities are officially classified as ‘small libraries’ in Korea. In Gyeonggi Province, a workshop for small library operators took place for the improvement of their services.

▶1 Hotel Prumir, Hwaseong City (December 12)
Small Libraries Workshop
During the workshop, which featured more than 300 small library operators, participants shared book reading trends and knowhow for adapting operations to local characteristics. Participants also shared experiences in utilizing the library for cultural programs and socializing among residents.
▶2 Oh Hyun-jeong / Operator of Mansae Market Small Library, Hwaseong City
“I organized evening human science group meetings. These meetings led to members contributing their spare time to the library while working in the market.”
The enthusiasm of participants was greatest during the ‘Ten Years from Now’ session when they talked about ways in which to improve library operations. The attending Gyeonggi official promised provincial support.
▶3 Park Hae-myeong / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Small Library Team
“We will continue to provide operation cost support as well as support for heating and air conditioning so as to ensure the comfort of small library users.”
There are more than 1,300 small libraries in Gyeonggi Province. The provincial government has been providing support for various programs operated by these libraries.
▶4 Yu Su-gyeong / Operator of Small Library, The Genus, Goyang City
“We received a lot of assistance through the mentoring program (of Gyeonggi Province) when planning for reading culture programs.”
Small libraries and their operators are playing a part in enriching local societies through independent cultural activities and the dissemination of knowledge.

Article 7. Gyeonggi Earmarks KRW 193 Billion for Education Projects (161214-2)
[Anchor’s Headline] Gyeonggi Province announced a KRW 90 billion increase in the revised supplementary budget for joint education projects next year with the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education and the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly.

▶1 Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly (December 13)
Signing of Gyeonggi Province Joint Education Project Promotion Agreement
This announcement followed the signing of an agreement on this increase by the three provincial authorities.
▶2 Total Budget for Joint Education Projects Increased to KRW 193.3 Billion
With this additional amount, the total budget for joint education projects next year increased to KRW 193.3 billion, a 43 percent year-on-year increase.
▶3 Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“I am very pleased that Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Superintendent Lee Jae-jeong joined us in this. I will continue to talk with the education superintendent to identify possible areas of cooperation.”
Upon consultation with the provincial government, the education office will execute individual budgets for joint education projects including support for education facility improvement, computer purchases, and childcare facilities.
▶4 Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Superintendent Lee Jae-jeong
“I will work closely with Governor Nam Kyung-pil and Assembly Chairman Jeong Gi-yeol to create a Gyeonggi Province that leads the future of education.”
This increased budget for joint education projects will also encourage the provincial education office to actively cooperate in other educational projects of Gyeonggi Province.

Thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV
We look forward to seeing you again next week.