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. Gyeonggi Province Intangible Cultural Asset Festival (160829-3)
[Anchor’s Headline] On August 26, a 3-day cultural festival that showcased more than 60 registered intangible cultural assets of Gyeonggi Province in performance arts and crafts opened at the KINTEX exhibition complex of Goyang (고양) City.

▶ KINTEX, Goyang City (August 26 – 28)
2016 Gyeonggi Province Intangible Cultural Asset Festival
The women’s sword dance of Gyeonggi originates from the Shilla (신라) Dynasty and is famous for its mixture of delicate, almost bashful movements and dazzling displays of power performed by colorfully dressed dancers.
The sword dance is followed by Nongak (농악), a farmers’ dance, specially choreographed for the Gwangmyeong (광명) Nongak Group.
▶ [PIP] Lim Woong-soo / Gwangmyeong Nongak Performer
“Our performance is best appreciated if spectators stand up and accompany the music with their own body movements.”

▶ 61 Registered Intangible Cultural Assets Showcased
The 61 intangible cultural assets that were showcased at the festival include a number of performance arts such as the sword dance and farmers’ dance as well as various traditional crafts displayed by masters in each field.
▶ [PiP] Park Pung-jo / Visitor from Pyeongtaek City
“I happened to pass by, saw the festival sign and came in to see what it was. I enjoy the performances very much and the rice wine tasted wonderful.”
Marking its 18th occasion this year, the three-day festival saw more than 2,500 visitors who rediscovered and appreciated the cultural heritage of the province.
▶ Lim Jeong-lan / Chief Director, Gyeonggi Intangible Cultural Asset Association
“At this festival, people will rediscover the art possessed by Gyeonggi Province. Then we will be encouraged even more to work harder …”
The intangible cultural assets will be passed to new generations through the efforts of their masters and apprentices.

Article 2. Gyeonggi Nurtures Emission Trading Specialists (160830-3)
[Anchor’s Headline] Since the introduction of an emission trading system in Korea last year, the demand for specialists in this field has increased among those enterprises with emission permits. To address such demand, Gyeonggi Province began nurturing emission trading specialists.

▶ Hwaseong Green Environment Center
This incineration plant is one such facility that was designated as an emission permit allocation facility. Greenhouse gas emissions are a natural result of this plant’s operations.
When this facility received a two-year emission permit allocation last year, the person in charge was not familiar with the system. However, after completing the emission trading specialist education course, he is now able to handle the allotted emission permits as an efficient emission trader.
▶ Kwak Gyeong-jun / Emission Trader, Hwaseong Green Environment Center
“I didn’t even know what greenhouse gases were at first. I thought I needed to take an emission trader certificate course to be able to handle the tasks at hand, so…”

▶ Emission Trading System – Allocation and Trading of Emission Permits
With the emission trading system, designated organizations are allocated emission permits that represent emission reduction units. When the allocated reduction is achieved, the remainder of the permits can be traded among designated organizations.
▶ Demand for Emission Trading Personnel Increases
However, there has been a significant lack of understanding regarding the system and a shortage of emission trading personnel among these organizations.
▶ Emission Trader Certificate Course
The emission trader certificate course is thus provided by Gyeonggi Province.
▶ Lee Yun-pyo / Gyeonggi Province Climate Change Team Official
“The demand for emission trading personnel has been increasing since the enactment of the related law in 2012. This education course will contribute to the creation of new jobs since it is a new job field.”
Gyeonggi Province will also provide assistance to relevant organizations with greenhouse gas reductions.

Article 3. Former Landfill to be Transformed into Large Park (160831-1)
[Anchor’s Headline] Gyeonggi Province recently announced the development of the former Sihwa (시화) Landfill in Ansan (안산) City as a large park incorporating adjacent marshland parks. The entire area will be as large as 50 soccer fields.

▶ Former Sihwa Landfill in Ansan City
This development plan was finalized after the end of the 20-year stabilization period for the landfill following its closure in 1995.
▶ Largest Garden Park in Korea
When completed, this park will be the largest garden-style park in Korea.
▶ Lee Eun-hui / Ansan City Resident
“It will be nice to have a spacious park in Ansan instead of having the area left unused.”

▶ Area: 1,320,000 Square Meters
The total area of the former landfill and adjacent marshland is 1,320,000 square meters.
▶ GTV Reporter Han Seon-ji
“Ansan Reed Marshland Park and Bisong Marshland Park are adjacent to the landfill. These parks will also be included in the new large garden park.”
[CG] Located within a short distance of a large amusement park, an airport and expressways, this park is expected to attract more than 5 million visitors annually.
▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (August 30)
The construction of the park and its amenities will cost approximately KRW 56 billion in total.
▶ Kim Ik-ho / Director General, Gyeonggi Province Livestock & Forestry Bureau
“The park will consist of six gardens that represent the five continents of the world and a traditional Korean garden plus tourism facilities and amenities for children.”
Director General Kim also revealed that there will be a sales and distribution center for garden materials.
▶ Ansan City to be Developed as Garden Industry Center
When the construction of this park is completed, Ansan (안산) City will become the garden industry center of Korea.
Beginning from the formation of a master plan in October, the construction of the park is expected to be completed by the year 2021.

Article 4. Gyeonggi On-site Consultation Services for Individuals with Disabilities (160901-3)
[Anchor’s Headline] In order to improve welfare and consultation services for individuals with disabilities, Gyeonggi Province began on-site services in cooperation with nine provincial organizations. Those with disabilities often fail to receive services available to them simply because of the difficulty of seeking out such services.

▶ Apartment Complex in Suwon City
At an apartment square in Suwon (수원) City, residents with hearing impairments receive medical examinations from a visiting doctor who is assisted by social workers. At the next table, others receive legal consultation services from a lawyer.
▶ Professionals from 9 Organizations Provide On-site Services
A team of professionals in nine different fields provide services at a single site for the convenience of residents with disabilities.
▶ Jeon Hwa-jin / Service Recipient
“I received consultation services in several fields that are beneficial to me. I am very grateful.”

▶ Visiting Welfare & Consultation Services
The services include the repair and cleaning of various physical aids. Since there are a large number of requests, service users had to wait in line. Consultation services included those in the fields of disability classifications, pensions and jobs. A total of 150 individuals with disabilities used the on-site welfare and consultation services today.
These on-site services for individuals with disabilities are organized by the Gyeonggi Province Disabled Welfare Support Center
▶ Jang Ji-won / Gyeonggi Province Disabled Welfare Support Center Team Leader
“We will improve on-site services by including more organizations and programs through detailed requirement studies.”
This on-site welfare and consultation service team will visit two more sites in the eastern and western regions of Gyeonggi this year.

Article 5. Gyeonggi Opens Help Desk for Urban Improvement Program (160830-1)
[Anchor’s Headline] Gyeonggi Province has been operating the Urban Vitality Improvement Program to improve rundown urban areas by implementing projects proposed by residents. In order to promote better utilization of the program by residents, a help desk was recently opened.

▶ Doil Market, Siheung City
This old market area was once rundown to such a degree that many buildings were deserted and the streets were abandoned. However, this area has had its vitality restored thanks to Gyeonggi Province’s urban improvement program in which local residents participated.
▶ Kim Jeon-sik / Doil Market Merchant
“This alley had been totally deserted. It was dark and dirty. However, people began to come to the market after the improvement of its environment. Shops are finding their business slowly picking up now…”

▶ Urban Vitality Improvement Program
The Urban Vitality Improvement Program works by involving residents in the planning and implementation of improvement projects.
▶ Help Desk Opens to Assist in Project Proposal Preparations
The help desk provides residents with assistance in the preparation of project proposals for provincial support.
▶ ‘City Doctors’ at Help Desk Provides Consultation Services
A group of specialists titled ‘City Doctors’ at the help desk will provide professional advice on devising improvement ideas and preparing project proposals.
▶ Han Dae-hui / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Regeneration Policy Team
“Residents sometimes lack professional knowledge and manpower, and this may cause negative project assessment results. The purpose of our service is to help them create project proposals that can win provincial support …”
The help desk will be established at the Gyeonggi Province Urban Regeneration Center and start operation in September.
▶ GTV Reporter, Lee Ye-sol
“Gyeonggi Province’s help desk will visit rundown areas in urban regions and help them regain their vitality. Gyeonggi GTV, Lee Ye-sol.”

Article 6. Gyeonggi Province 2nd Half-term Coalition Agreement (160829-2)
[Anchor’s Headline] The Gyeonggi Provincial Administration and the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly recently entered a coalition agreement for the second half of the term. This agreement contains more than 300 items covering more detailed and diverse areas.

▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly (August 26)
Announcement of 2nd Half-term Coalition Agreement
The final agreement was reached and announced after tense negotiation of coalition policy details that began on August 19.
▶ 322 Coalition Items
The 2nd Half-term Coalition Agreement contains 322 finalized items.
▶ Park Seung-won / Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member, Saenuri Party
“We focused on creating a coalition that can open up a new local government era such as the one regarding the introduction of local ministers.”
[CG] The agreed-upon coalition items also include the introduction of youth employment support that will be provided during job search periods.
Also included is an increase in free provincial school support and the appointment of four provincial assembly members as local ministers.
▶ Choi Ho / Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member, Saenuri Party
“This agreement can be considered as an experimental step in clarifying how the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly can function effectively and what the assembly members can do for provincial residents.”
According to the agreement, the two provincial bodies will work together in promoting SMEs and increasing living wages while abandoning the provincial assembly hearing for a coalition vice governor appointee.
▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“The Gyeonggi administration will do its utmost to realize the agreed-upon items and create a coalition for the benefit of residents.”
Gyeonggi Province will appoint teams of officials for the realization of agreement items and begin taking necessary procedural actions.

Article 7. Gyeonggi to Raise Living Wage to KRW 10,000/Hour (160901-1)
[Anchor’s Headline] Gyeonggi Province announced its plan to increase the living wage in phases to KRW 10,000 an hour by the year 2019. According to this plan, the monthly earnings of a living wage earner will be increased from the current KRW 1.4 million to nearly KRW 2.1 million in three years.

▶ Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services
Lee (이병무) is a living wage-based senior employee of the Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services. He currently receives approximately KRW 1.4 million per month. However, his monthly earnings will be KRW 2.09 million in 2019.
▶ Lee Byeong-mu / Employee of Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services
“I am happy because I have a job that I like and working is good for my health. I think the living wage system is what we need.”

▶ Living Wage – Minimum Pay Necessary to Maintain Normal Standard of Living
Living wage is the minimum income necessary for a worker to maintain a normal standard of living.
▶ Living Wage to Increase to KRW 10,000
The current living wage in Gyeonggi Province is KRW 7,030 per hour. This is higher than the statutory minimum wage of KRW 6,030 an hour.
[CG] Gyeonggi Province will increase the living wage 12.5 percent annually for three years up to KRW 10,000 per hour in 2019.
▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“I think this is reasonable wage increase that will help boost the economy. The hourly living wage will reach KRW 10,000 in three years.”

▶ Living Wage-based Employees of Gyeonggi Province to Benefit from Increase
There are 697 living wage earners in Gyeonggi provincial offices and provincial organizations who will benefit from such an increase.
▶ Living Wage Increase from January 1, 2016
The living wage increase will go into effect from January 12 next year.

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