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 Designates Non-Smoking Residences (160330-3)
[Anchor’s Headline] Gyeonggi Province introduced a non-smoking multi-dwelling residence designation system based on resident applications. The first five apartment complexes were recently designated as non-smoking apartments.
Smoking is a frequent cause of complaints among apartment residents. The designated non-smoking multi-dwelling residences are subject to the same regulations as those applied to public non-smoking areas.
▶ Kim Do-yeon / Apartment in Yongin City
“Men used to come to children’s playground to smoke, and we hated it.”
This apartment complex in Yongin (용인) City now has non-smoking signs in all communal spaces.
▶ Smoking Banned in Communal Spaces of Non-Smoking Apartments
During the first three months following designation, residents are guided to refrain from smoking within the complex except in designated smoking areas. Following this period, non-smoking regulations are fully enforced.
▶ [PiP] Choi Soon / non-Smoking Apartment Resident
“It’s nice to walk around because the air is cleaner. We also feel proud of living in healthier places.”

▶ Non-Smoking Designation Requires Minimum of 60% Resident Consent
Application for non-smoking designation requires consent from a minimum of 60 percent of residents.
▶ Violations Subject to up to KRW 100,000 Fine
In non-smoking apartment complexes, smoking in communal spaces such as staircases, parking lots and corridors will be subject to a fine of up to KRW 100,000.
▶ [PiP] Kim Hyang-suk / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Regional Public Health Team
“We introduced non-smoking area designation for apartment complexes so as to promote neighborly consideration and prevent smoking in communal areas.”
Gyeonggi Province will continue non-smoking apartment complex designations based on applications from residents.

Article 2. Gyeonggi to Establish More Public Campgrounds (160404-3)
[Anchor’s Headline] According to a survey of holiday travelers in Korea, Gyeonggi Province ranks first as a same-day travel destination, but second for multi-day travel. In order to promote longer stays in the province, Gyeonggi Province will establish more public camping facilities among its outstanding natural resources.

▶ Jara Island Public Campground, Gapyeong County
This public campground on an island in the North Han River is one such site that is popular among holiday campers in Korea for its scenic surroundings and closeness to metropolitan areas.
▶ Lim Jun-chang / Goyang City Resident
“I wish there were many more campgrounds so we can have more choices. It would also help us improve the quality of our lives…”
There are 37 public campgrounds in Gyeonggi Province.
▶ Campsite Visitors Increased 230% from 2013
The number of campground visitors has increased rapidly, more than doubling in two years to approximately 3 million visitors annually.
▶ [PIP] Jang Yeong-tae / Seoul Resident
“Campgrounds are usually small and very crowded. When more campgrounds open, the number of users will also increase and more people can enjoy their holidays.”

▶ Gyeonggi to Invest KRW 27.9 Billion in 22 New Campgrounds by 2017
To accommodate increasing demand for camping facilities, Gyeonggi Province will invest KRW 27.9 billion in 22 new campgrounds by 2017 utilizing its outstanding natural assets.
▶ Gwon Gyeong-hyun / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Tourism Resources Team
“There is an increasing trend for family travel and rapidly increasing demand for camping facilities. The public campground establishment project aims to accommodate such demand. It will also contribute to the local economy.”
With a larger number of camping facilities, more vacationers will be able to enjoy their holidays and convenient accommodations close to nature while boosting local tourism.

Article 3. First Milk Bank Opened in Gyeonggi Province (160405-2)
[Anchor’s Headline] The Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services opened a colostrum bank to supply the nutritious first milk of cows to beef cattle farms. The first milk used by the bank is collected from dairy cows.

The calves of cattle that are fed with this milk grow healthier and stronger.
▶ First Milk of Dairy Cows Popular among Cattlers
The first milk of dairy cows is in high demand among beef cattle farmers in Korea, especially those whose cows fail to produce enough milk to nurse their young.
▶ An Chi-ho / Beef Cattle Farmer
“Calves may starve if cows do not produce enough milk or refuse to nurse their young. When we feed these calves with first milk, their chances of survival increase significantly with increased immunity and disease resistance.”
The first milk is collected from dairy cows within two days of the cows giving birth.
▶ First Milk 5 Times More Nutritious than Ordinary Milk
First milk is darker in color and is essential for new-born calves. It contains up to five times more nutrients and antibodies than regular milk.
▶ Cow Colostrum Bank Opens
Upon arrival from dairy farms, the first milk is pasteurized and subject to deep freeze for storage before being supplied to beef cattle farms.
▶ Cho Jeong-ju / Chief Official, Horticulture & Livestock Technology Team, GARES
“By ensuring healthy growth of calves, the colostrum bank helps beef cattle farmers overcome difficulties and increase their income.”
The institute plans to open two more first milk banks in areas with higher colostrum demand.

Article 4. Universal Design Applications Expanded in Gyeonggi Province (160331-2)
[Anchor’s Headline] Gyeonggi Province has been promoting universal designs for public convenience and urban environment improvement. Universal designs are chiefly applied at sites of frequent public use. These areas will now include school zones.

▶ Sanseong Welfare Center, Seongnam City
This welfare center is a favorite place for many local residents ranging from children to seniors.
Since renovation with universal designs last year, its previously inconvenient and dangerous entrances have been completely redesigned. Visitors, often in wheelchairs or with children in strollers, no longer have to negotiate through the parking lot or climb steep steps.
▶ [PiP] Jang Yeon-seok / Welfare Center Visitor
“I come to the childcare center here everyday with my child. It was extremely difficult to climb up and down the steps with a baby stroller, but there is no such trouble any more.”
Since last year, Gyeonggi Province has been incorporating universal designs in public facility renovations.
▶ Universal Design to be Expanded to School Zones
From this year, Gyeonggi Province’s universal design project will include some school zones.
▶ [PiP] Park Chang-hwa / Director, Gyeonggi Province Design Division
“We will introduce universal design in back alleys and residential areas in children protection zones so as to improve the convenience and safety of children during their movements around their schools.”
The opinions of local residents, police offices and schools will be considered in determining the universal designs to be applied in these school zones.
▶ GTV Reporter Han Seong-ji
“Gyeonggi Province will initially introduce universal designs in 10 school zones over the next three years and designate these areas as Kids’ Zones. Han Seon-ji, Gyeonggi GTV.”

Article 5. Gyeonggi Intervenes in Public Rental Apartment Management (160404-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The tenants of public rental housing in Korea often have to endure significant inconveniences caused by the deterioration of residential buildings since they do not have legal representation to challenge property authorities regarding such issues.
▶ Public Rental Apartment, Seongnam City
Gyeonggi Province regularly performs inspections of such buildings so as to protect the rights of their tenants. This rental apartment building is in urgent need of repair; there are many signs of aging in both the exterior and interior.
▶ Public Rental Apartment Tenant
“Mold has taken over our homes, especially in verandas.”

▶ Building Management beyond Legal Responsibilities of Tenants
Since public rental housing tenants have no statutory rights to formulate representative bodies for building management, problems such as leaks, cracks and mold may remain unaddressed until they reach significant levels.
▶ Gyeonggi Province Seeks Public Rental Housing Management Improvement
In order to improve public rental housing management, Gyeonggi Province established a team of officials and specialists to identify problems on site and find legally feasible solutions. Solutions may include permitting the formation of resident committees for the self-monitoring of buildings.
▶ Seo Beom-seok / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Multi-housing Inspection Team
“This team will seek to protect the rights of tenants and find appropriate public rental housing management solutions so as to improve quality of life for tenants.”
On site investigations and management improvement of rental housing will continue on an on-going basis.

Article 6. Harmful Invasive Insects Hatch Early (160401-3)
[Anchor’s Headline] While abnormally warm weather continues in Korea during an early spring, concerns have arisen regarding blights caused by invasive insect species. Farmers are advised to take preventive measures early this year.

▶ Blueberry Farm, Goyang City
The inside of a blueberry stem is lined with white insect eggs. These are the eggs of brown winged leafhoppers that originate from China; they have been spreading rapidly in Korea over the past two years. When they hatch, these insects cause fatal black mildew.
▶ Kim Seong-rae / Blueberry Farmer
“They appeared suddenly. I tried several insecticides but none worked. I may have supplied infested seedlings to other farms. I heard of blights of similar insects in southern regions…”

▶ Timely Prevention Critical
Other harmful invasive insects include the citrus flatid planthopper from America and spotted lanternfly from China. Since these insect species are expected to hatch earlier this year due to warm temperatures, early prevention is critical.
▶ [PIP] Lee Yeong-soo / Research Official, GARES
“These insects are expected to hatch one week earlier than they did last year. It is important to remove and burn all branches that have egg pouches through to early May, and to apply insecticides thoroughly before the end of May.”
Specialists also advise the continuous use of insecticides into June and July so as to eradicate adult insects that may have hatched from surviving eggs.

Article 7. Events Promote Understanding of Mental Disorders (160407-2)
[Anchor’s Headline] One in every four individuals in Korea is known to experience a mental disorder to some degree at least once in their lifetime. In order to address public perception of mental disorders, Gyeonggi Province has organized special cultural events.

▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly
Mental Disorder Understanding Promotional Art Exhibition
The twenty paintings at this exhibition were created by artists while they had mental conditions. Kim (김동기), who created this artwork, suffered from schizophrenia.
▶ ‘Beside my Mom’ by Kim Dong-gi
This painting represents a physically close and identical yet distant relationship between a modern mother and daughter.
▶ Kim Dong-gi, Artist
“The purpose of my work is to inspire peace in viewers through my paintings. I will continue to learn about fine art while working as a painter.”

▶ ‘Happiness’ by Kim Bo-gyeong
This painting by an artist with bipolar disorder depicts an individual with a mental disorder searching for happiness and love.
This art exhibition features paintings of the world as seen by those who are suffering from mental conditions.
▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly (until April 10) / Beosi Art Gallery (until July 11)
Mental Disorder Understanding Art Exhibitions
These exhibitions are being held at two venues: the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly and Beosi (벗이) Art Gallery in Yongin (용인) City.
▶ Mental Disorder Understanding Play to Circulate 26 Gyeonggi Regions
There is also a theatrical play that features a transformed individual who had previously attempted suicide. This play will circulate among 26 localities of the province.
▶ Gyeonggi Province Social Integration Vice Governor Lee Gi-woo
“We must eliminate our preoccupation with mental disorders. It is important for us to create a Gyeonggi Province in which those with mental disorders can live happily as part of society.”
Mental disorder understanding promotion is part of this year’s new provincial vision, ‘Try Again and Create Happiness’.
▶ [PIP] Oh Suk-gil / Viewer from Seongnam City
“Although the exhibition is a small, the paintings are eloquent of the minds of their creators. I was touched and felt a little emotional.”
These cultural events are helping members of the public address their misunderstandings about individuals with mental disorders.

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