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 Opens Field Education for Aspiring Farmers (160822-3)
[Anchor’s Headline] Gyeonggi Province is providing field education to aspiring farmers. The objective of this education program is to better prepare inexperienced agricultural aspirants with field-based education through simulated farm business startup processes.

▶ Practical Education Farm, Anseong City
At this practical education farm, which opened this past July, participants are busy tending their small-yet-proud individual patches of rented land and planting seedlings under the guidance of instructors. Even from the selection of plants, the instructors assist the participants throughout the entire learning process.
▶ Choi Rin / Program Participant from Yongin City
“This program is greatly beneficial since it provides us with comprehensive knowledge about farming from farmland renting and greenhouse building to actual farming, harvesting and marketing.”

▶ Simulated Farm Business Startups
While many new farmers experience failures due to a lack of knowledge and experience, the participants of this program can minimize trial and error by undertaking simulated farm businesses in advance.
▶ Farmland and Equipment Rentals and Education Fees Supported
Participants are provided with support for farmland and equipment rentals and education fees as well as customized education in farming techniques and business management for related crops.
▶ [PIP] Kim Chung-beom / Director, Gyeonggi Province Agricultural Policy Division
“This program helps its participants learn from both qualified specialist instructions and their own farming experience, giving them confidence in farming and marketing before they start farm businesses.”
Gyeonggi Province will expand the regional coverage of farm business startup education so as to help more new farmers succeed.

Article 2. Gyeonggi’s Unfair Trade Consultation Center (160823-1)
[Anchor’s Headline] Since opening one year ago, the Unfair Trade Counseling Office of the Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Center has successfully helped settle nearly 200 unfair trade cases.

▶ Franchise Restaurant, Seongnam City
Under his franchise contract, the owner of this restaurant, Ha (하정호), had to use only those food items supplied by the franchiser at prices much higher than market rates.
He and other affiliated restaurant owners submitted collective complaints to the franchiser, but were brushed off on the grounds that they had signed contracts that bore such terms.
Ha turned to Gyeonggi Province’s Unfair Trade Counseling Office as a last resort, and the matter is now under positive negotiation.
▶ Ha Jeong-ho / Franchise Restaurant Owner
“Gyeonggi Province suggested settlement through negotiations instead of legal action, and assisted us in successfully opening a dialogue with the franchiser, for which we are deeply grateful.”
The Unfair Trade Counseling Office was opened to offer help in the settlement of unfair trade complaints.
▶ 190+ Cases Resolved
Gyeonggi Province’s Unfair Trade Counseling Office has achieved a great record in helping resolve more than 190 cases out of approximately 200 unfair trade complaints received.
▶ [PiP] Cho Jang-seok / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Coexistence & Cooperation Team
“What is most significant is the fact that there is now a place to which small and medium enterprises and small businesses can turn to when they are victimized by unfair trade practices.”

▶ Gyeonggi to Pursue Franchise-related Administrative Power
A Gyeonggi Province spokesperson revealed that the province will pursue the establishment of a legal foundation that enables second-tier governments to intervene in franchise matters so as to eradicate unfair trade practices.
Gyeonggi Province will also provide education to SME and small business personnel so as to improve their capabilities in protecting their rights from unfair trade practices.

Article 3. West Gyeonggi Expressway Traffic Jams Relieved (160823-2)
[Anchor’s Headline] The final section of Gyeongin (경인) Expressway III that connects with the Yeongdong (영동) Expressway to the east has been notorious for constant traffic congestion. The situation became even more serious when another expressway to the south was connected with this part of the expressway system in 2013.

▶ Road Expansion Completed between Jeongwang Interchange and Wolgot Junction
Traffic conditions in the area, however, have improved significantly after the recent completion of road expansion work on and around this Gyeongin (경인) Expressway III section, as seen at its junction with the Yeongdong (영동) Expressway.
▶ Shoulders Expanded to Function As Extra Lanes
Even during commuting hours, traffic now moves smoothly at this interchange with extra lanes created by expanding the shoulders.
▶ Chae Bong-gi / Commuter from Seongnam City
“I use this route four times weekly. Traffic has become much better since the opening of the shoulder lanes.”

▶ Shoulder Lanes Opened Both Ways at Wolgot Junction
This past July, the extra shoulder lanes were opened in both directions of this expressway section for traffic load-based operation.
▶ GTV Reporter, Han Seon-ji
“With the opening of extra lanes, the 2.7km-long vehicle queues disappeared and the average traffic speed became 38 km per hour faster, reducing the travel time of through traffic by up to 20 minutes.”

▶ Gyeonggi to Expand Shoulder Lane Operations
Gyeonggi Province also announced the creation of shoulder lanes on the Hakui (학의) Junction section of the Seoul Beltway, another heavily congested area. Work will begin this September for completion at the end of the year.
▶ Lee An-se / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Privately Invested Road Team
“We will operate the shoulder lanes by opening them during rush hours. During uncongested hours, these lanes will be returned to their normal function as shelters for vehicles in emergency situations.”
Flexible shoulder lane operation will not only reduce travel time and the length of vehicle queues on expressways but also reduce the risk of rear-end collisions at the end of queues.

Article 4. Gyeonggi Game Development Camp for Talented Youths (160822-2)
[Anchor’s Headline] During this past summer, Gyeonggi Province operated a camp for talented young game developers that recently produced its first graduates. On graduation day, participants presented the games they had created at the camp.

▶ ‘Single Path Runner’
This obstacle game features a cute character that runs an adventurous path.
▶ ‘Enchanted Shooter’
Another game features a tank battle in a hail of artillery fire.
These games display such sophistication that even the judges could not believe that they were created by middle school students.
▶ [Sync] “The Korean game industry is currently in a difficult situation, but these games… We were very surprised.”

▶ Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center (August 20)
1st Gyeonggi Game Development Camp for Talented Youths Graduation Ceremony
Throughout the entire process, from planning to designing and programming, these talented teenagers created their own computer games without assistance. The parents of these youths were also surprised to find a new side of their children whom they had only known, with worries, as game-loving addicts.
▶ Noh Ae-sun / Participant’s Mother from Siheung City
“I don’t know how many times I told him not to stay up all night playing games. Seeing the game he created, I am very proud now. I was really surprised to see how well he did.”

▶ Velocity by Return Zero Team Won 1st Prize
The first prize, the Gyeonggi Gubernatorial Award, went to the battle game ‘Velocity’ by the Return Zero team.
▶ Youths Experience Game Development Processes
During the camp, which was overseen by the Gyeonggi Contents Agency, youths experienced the game development process through independent work.
▶ Kang Man-woo / Camp Participant, 3rd Year Middle School Student
“It was hard work and took me a long time since I had to change the plan several times. I am very satisfied with the final result. My focus in the future will be virtual reality games.”
The ultimate purpose of this youth camp was to promote the potential of the provincial game industry by nurturing youths with game development talent.
▶ Hong Deok-su / Director, Gyeonggi Province Contents Industry Division
“This camp is geared to encourage talented youths to further develop their own capabilities through experiencing the actual development processes, having a taste of their possible future career, and forming a positive rapport from their parents.”
Beginning from this year’s first youth game development camp, which produced 30 graduates out of 115 applicants, the camp will continue to operate on an annual basis.
Article 5. Gyeonggi Begins Regular Literacy Educator Refresher Training (160823-3)
[Anchor’s Headline] On August 18, a two-day refresher training course for literacy teachers opened at the Gyeonggi Province Lifelong College. This course was attended by literacy educators currently working for various local adult education programs in the province.

▶ Literacy Class, Anyang Citizens’ College
The adult students in this literacy class are intently listening to the teacher’s explanation of Korean character phonetics. During their early years, these students were unable to receive normal education, primarily because of economic reasons.
▶ [PiP] Jeon Hyun-ok / Student from Anyang City
“We couldn’t go to school because we had to start helping the family make a living when we were young. I can read signboards one character at a time, but I couldn’t read at all until now.”
Since there are no general qualification requirements for literacy teachers in Korea, literacy education is conducted mostly by arbitrarily qualified teachers.
▶ Gyeonggi Province Lifelong College (August 18 to 19)
Gyeonggi Province Adult Literacy Educator Refresher Training
There has thus been a necessity among literacy educators for the refinement of their teaching skills.
▶ [PiP] Lee Gi-bok / Literacy Teacher, Dongducheon City
“When students ask questions about spacing, I couldn’t give them clear answers. This refresher training was very helpful.”
This refresher training course for literacy educators, which opened for the first time this year, was designed to improve the expertise of literacy teachers.
▶ Go Wun-mi / Director, Gyeonggi Province Lifelong College Happy Learning Center
“We developed this refresher course to help literacy teachers regain their original confidence, review their own capabilities, and refine their teaching skills. The course consists of contents that can readily be applied in classrooms.”
Gyeonggi Province expects that this training program will have the effect of creating an informal network among literacy teachers and plans to operate the training course on an annual basis.

Article 6. Gyeonggi Earmarks Special Chuseok SME Financial Fund (160824-3)
[Anchor’s Headline] For most Korean enterprises, operation costs increase during the period around the major Korean holiday of Chuseok. To help SMEs through this time of year, Gyeonggi Province earmarked KRW 20 billion in special operation support funds.

▶ Auto Parts Manufacturer, Hwaseong City
The extra funds required at this time of year include those for additional production and material purchases as well as Chuseok bonus payments. During this period, many enterprises operate at full capacity to meet deadlines.
▶ [PiP] Yu Soon-gyeong / CEO, Yujin Teco
“This time of year, we need extra funds to meet delivery requirements before Chuseok while also having to pay bonuses to employees. However, SMEs like us have difficulties in financing due to limited means of security.”

▶ KRW 20 Billion Earmarked for Special Pre-Chuseok Financing
The loans under this program are provided at an interest rate of 1 percent.
▶ Up to KRW 500 Million per Enterprise on 1-Year Repayment Terms
Loans are available within a limit of KRW 500 million per enterprise with 1-year repayment terms.
▶ Woo Byeong-bae / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Policy Funds Team
“The purpose of the special operation support funds is to help alleviate the financial burdens SMEs experience during the period when demands for supply increase.”

▶ Loan Applications Received until October 31
Applications for this special loan are being received by all Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation branches until October 31 or until the funds are exhausted.

Article 7. Local Tax Billing & Payment via Smartphones (0824-1)
[Anchor’s Headline] Gyeonggi Province has been pursuing the introduction of a smartphone-based local tax billing and payment system. With this system in operation, the time and costs for bill printing and mailing as well as record tracking will be significantly reduced while also facilitating tax collections.

▶ Uiwang City Tax Office
A local tax official is busy sorting returned tax bills. Nearly two hundred returned bills arrived today.
In Korea, the annual mailing costs of local tax bills amount to KRW 60 billion. However, 4 percent of them are returned and subject to a re-mailing process.
▶ Mailboxes in Apartment Building, Uiwang City
Printed tax bills contain personal information that can easily be exposed, and require treatment as recyclable waste.
▶ Cho Ryun-hui / Apartment Resident
“I always feel uneasy about the possibility of my personal information being stolen. While we can receive and pay mobile phone bills via phones, tax bills require cumbersome payment processes.”

▶ Smart Bill System under Development in Gyeonggi Province
Gyeonggi Province plans to replace the costly paper-based billing system with a convenient smartphone-based Smart Bill system.
▶ Billing and Payment via Smartphones
With the Smart Bill system, tax payers can receive local tax bills and immediately pay the bills or even communicate with the tax office via smartphones.
▶ [PiP] Seo Gang-hui / Director General, Gyeonggi Province Self-Governance Bureau
“Since bills are sent and paid via smartphones, the number of returned bills will be reduced while enabling the residents to pay the bills conveniently,”

▶ Legal Basis for New System to be Initiated by National Assembly Member,
Gyeonggi Province’s plan for a smartphone-based tax billing and payment system coincides with the current movement in the Korean National Assembly to establish a legal basis for such a system.
▶ Kim Seong-tae, National Assembly Member, Saenuri Party
“I will pursue the amendment of the related law so as to combine smartphone technologies with public services and, ultimately, to enable our system to become a global standard …”
The new system will have the effect of realizing KRW 10 billion in annual budget savings for Gyeonggi Province while also significantly enhancing convenience for residents.

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We look forward to seeing you again next week.