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 to Expand Policy Idea Contest (0222-1)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Last year, Gyeonggi Province held a policy idea contest among working-level officials. Based on the successes some of these ideas achieved, the provincial government plans to expand the scope of the contest this year.

[Report]

▶ Gyeonggi Province Construction Headquarters
Jang (장현석) currently works in a construction administration team. Seeing provincial vehicles parked unused during weekends, he suggested utilizing the vehicles for the public while they are not in official use. Thus the ‘Happy Car Sharing’ service was born.

▶ `Happy Car Sharing’ Implemented with High User Satisfaction Rate
This service has been a great success, achieving a satisfaction rate of 95 percent among the 21 families who used the vehicles during the past Lunar New Year holidays.

▶ [PiP] Jang Hyun-seok / Official, New Government Complex Establishment Task Force
“The trial service operations ended without mishap. We are currently working on an ordinance and implementation tem for expanded service that will include all weekends and public holidays.”

Revenue management official Lim (임병기) knew that tax notifications sent via post or email often fail to draw the attention of tax payers.

▶ Tax Notification and Payment via Smart Phones
He thought that, by using smart phones, tax payers could be more effectively notified of taxes due and could also pay taxes or communicate with tax offices more easily.

▶ [PiP] Lim Byeong-ki / Official, Gyeonggi Province Non-Tax Revenue Collection Team
”I think this tem will provide tax payers with a new opportunity to communicate more closely with tax offices as well as other related offices.”

▶ Policy Idea Contest Expanded This Year
Other policy ideas adopted from the contest include the development of a used car export complex in Pyeongtaek (평택) and the promotion of hydro farming in urban agricultural areas.
This year, Gyeonggi Province will expand the scope of the policy idea contest to include a wider range of administration categories.

▶ Kim Yang-ho / Director, Gyeonggi Province Inspection & Evaluation Division
“The contest will be open to more young officials in public organizations with ideas about new projects, joint endeavors, reformation and service improvement in all areas.”

The novel spirit of the policy idea contest itself is leading the reformation of Gyeonggi Province.
 

Article 2. Home Child Caretaker Education for Mothers (0222-2)

[Anchor’s Headline]

The Gyeonggi Women’s Vision Center is offering a home child caretaker education program to experienced mothers who, relieved from motherly duties, are now seeking job opportunities. These professional babysitters are in high demand among working mothers who need help while pursuing their careers.

[Report]

▶ Gyeonggi Women’s Vision Center Childcare Education Program
The trainees of this program are mostly women in their 50s and 60s who have accrued years of childcare experience and know-how. However, in the classroom, they become humble students listening to the instructor intently and taking notes enthusiastically about how to play with children, handle mischief, and communicate with parents.

▶ [sync] “This is about our Chori. He doesn’t put his toys back after playing. I’d like your counseling.”

▶ [Sync] “Perhaps he has too many toys. He just couldn’t keep all of them in proper places.”

▶ Kim Yeong-hyun / Anyang City Resident
“I was bored and wanted to do something. And I like children, so I started this. I am a granny with daughters who said I’d make an excellent babysitter.”

While there are an increasing number of working mothers, finding a babysitter with good credentials is not easy.

▶ Promotion of Home Childcare Services and Middle-aged Woman Employment
This childcare service education program has the dual purpose of satisfying the needs of working parents while promoting employment among middle-aged women.

▶ 80 Hours of Classes Plus 10 Hours of Practice
The education program is comprised of 80 hours of classroom study and 10 hours of practice in actual homes. Some graduates are paired with more experienced graduates.

▶ Lee Jeong-sim / Official, Gyeonggi Province Women’s Activity Support Team
“We will invite instructors of high caliber so as to produce quality professionals, and will increase the capacity of the program to produce more graduates next year.”

▶ Education Begins 3-4 Times Annually
The education program, which has produced a total of 1,400 graduates to date, runs 3 to 4 times annually. The second group of trainees will start the program in March.

▶ Home Childcare Service Enquiries at Local Public Offices
Enquiries and requests for home child caretaker services can made via local public offices.
The child caretaker education program benefits both middle-aged women seeking employment and young working mothers who require professional services from experienced and qualified child caretakers.

 
Article 3. Gyeonggi Supports Agricultural Startups by Youths (0223-3)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Gyeonggi Province announced a support program for youths who start agricultural endeavors. This program aims to promote self-employment among unemployed youths in urban areas while supplementing a much-needed young agricultural workforce.

[Report]

▶ Mushroom Farm in Yangpyeong County
At this mushroom farm, a soon-to-be high school graduate and a graduate student nurture their dreams of becoming agricultural entrepreneurs.

Instead of going on to college to satisfy the expectations of others, Park (박) chose to do what he wants. Their initial objective is to learn farming techniques before they become agricultural exporters.

▶ Park Yong-tae / High School Senior Student, Chungnam Province
“I didn’t want to go through a difficult job search process. Once I learn the techniques, I hope to have my own mushroom farm in my hometown.”

▶ Jeong Sees Opportunities in Farming
Seeing the opportunities in farming where young farmers are scarce, Jeong (정) went on to study agriculture after graduating from college so as to develop his own farming technologies.

▶ Jeong E-eun / Graduate Student, Cheongnam Province
“It takes considerable investment from the beginning before you can see tangible outcomes from farming. Provincial support will help me overcome the difficulties.”

The current agricultural workforce in Korea consists largely of aged residents and foreign workers. The provincial project will help local youths establish themselves as successful farm owners through long-term support.

▶ Youth Agricultural Startup Support Program
This Youth Agricultural Startup Support Project was initiated by Gyeonggi Province so as to resolve agricultural labor shortages and youth employment problems.

▶ Kim Chung-beom / Director, Gyeonggi Province Agricultural Policy Division
”We devised this program so as to help youths with learning and living while pursuing their agricultural endeavors. This is an on-going program for the promotion of agricultural settlements by youths.”

Support will be provided to applicants selected from among qualified candidates. Successful applicants will receive monthly agricultural startup financing of KRW 800,000 for up to 2 years in addition to mentoring and consultation services.
 

Article 4. Green Light for Subway Line 7 Extension Project (0219-2)

[Anchor’s Headline]

The Subway Line 7 extension project of Gyeonggi Province between Uijeongbu (의정부) and Yangju (양주) received the green light as the Korean Ministry of Strategy & Finance approved the results of the preliminary feasibility study.

[Report]

▶ Okjeong New Town, Yangju City
This extended subway line will have significant effects in alleviating transportation problems and promoting the local economy in northern Gyeonggi regions including Okjeong (옥정) New Town in Yangju (양주) City.

▶ Lee Gyeong-soon / Yangju City Resident
“It takes too long to go to Seoul. My husband wakes up very early to make this almost two-hour journey every day. The Subway Line 7 extension is wonderful news.”

▶ Subway Line 7 Extension Project
This subway line extension project had been vetoed by the central government twice, once in 2010 and again in 2012. The reason was a lack of economic merits as determined by feasibility studies. However, in its third attempt, the economically modified project finally received preliminary ministry approval.

▶ Shin Yong-seok / Gyeonggi Province Metropolitan Rail Team
“With the preliminary feasibility study having been approved, we will submit the main feasibility study and basic plans so as to begin full-fledged efforts with the project.”

▶ 15 km Section between Dobongsan – Okjeong to Be Extended
The extension of Subway Line 7 will occur on a 15 kilometer-section between Dobongsan (도봉산) Station in Uijeongbu (의정부) City and Okjeong (옥정) in Yangju (양주) City. Travelers in these areas will then be able to reach Gangnam (강남) in Seoul within 50 minutes.

This subway line extension will also positively influence development projects in northern Gyeonggi regions.
 

Article 5. Gyeonggi Industry-Academia Agricultural Cooperation (0219-3)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Gyeonggi Province’s joint industry-academia agricultural counseling teams have been operating in the province so as to help farmers with the development and marketing of local agricultural specialty products.

[Report]

▶ Succulent Plant Farm, Paju City
Succulent plants such as cacti produced in Gyeonggi Province are gaining popularity in Korea as well as in China, Vietnam and Indonesia. These plants are easy to grow since they do not require constant tending.
When Lee began seeking overseas markets two years ago, he met with great difficulties due to a lack of information. However, thanks to assistance provided through joint industry-academia counseling support, he became a successful plant exporter and enjoys average annual sales of KRW 1 billion.

▶ [PIP] Lee Gil-jae / Succulent Plant Farm Owner
“I learned a lot, such as those about quarantine, from the joint counselors when I first started export.”

▶ Joint Industry-Academia Counseling Teams from Different Fields
Each joint industry-academia counseling team is comprised of specialists in different fields who understand problems and provide advice on farm operations.

▶ Hong Seung-min / Official, GARES Cacti & Succulent Plant Research Center
“We provide assistance with production foundation, on-site consultations, export logistics establishment, workshops, and education through information sharing…”

The joint counseling teams currently work in three areas: horticultural, rice, and ginseng farming. Since their creation last year, they have contributed to the performance of farms through customized consultations.

▶ Lim Jae-wuk / Director, Gyeonggi Agricultural Research & Extension Services
“We have targeted a 10% increase in rice consumption, horticultural product exports exceeding USD 7 million, and the popularization of ginseng.”

The joint industry-academia counseling teams are also contributing to the increased competitiveness of the agricultural products of Gyeonggi Province.
 

Article 6. Gyeonggi Textile Marketing Center Opens European Offices (0223-2)

[Anchor’s Headline]

The Gyeonggi Textile Marketing Center announced plans to establish branches in Europe. Gyeonggi Province is home to the majority of Korean textile enterprises. Most of these enterprises are small or medium-sized and usually have limited international marketing resources.

[Report]

▶ Textile Manufacturer, Yangju City
This 20-year-old textile manufacturer needs to expand its markets overseas. Its initial export attempts were not successful due to a lack of information and capabilities.

▶ [PIP] Kim Tae-seong / Company Director
“We knew our products would sell, but we didn’t know how to find buyers overseas. That was most difficult.”

▶ Gyeonggi Textile Marketing Center Provides International Marketing Support
The Gyeonggi Textile Marketing Center has been providing textile enterprises in the province with international marketing support through various endeavors. These include overseas market information services and clothing design support as well as textile exhibitions and fashion shows.

▶ Export marketing Support Using In-house Facilities
For individual enquiries, the center also connects enterprises with potential buyers or, if necessary, recommends them through overseas branches.

▶ Nam Sang-woo / Director, Gyeonggi Textile Marketing Center
“We conducted expert strategic marketing events through three overseas branches including those in Los Angeles, New York and Shanghai. We will expand our overseas operations in Europe so as to help our industries with European marketing.”

Last year, this center helped 41 enterprises achieve export sales of USD 8.8 million. It is playing an important role in international market development for the domestic textile industry.
 

Article 7. Exhibition of Gyeonggi’s Freedom Fighters (0225-3)

[Anchor’s Headline]

In Gyeonggi Province, there are more than a thousand registered Persons of Merit for National Independence. In Imjingak (임진각) of Paju (파주) City, an exhibition opened featuring five of the most prominent patriots.

[Report]

These patriots fought for national freedom from Japanese occupation in the early 20th century.

▶ Park Chan-ik (1884-1949), Paju
Park (박) was a diplomat of the Korean government in exile in Shanghai.

▶ Eom Hang-seop (1884-1949), Yeoju
Eom (엄) was one of the leaders of the resistance who safeguarded the government in exile.
There are also displays about a prominent political leader, a social leader who defended equality, and a politician and journalist.

▶ Kim Tae-eun / Visitor from Seoul
“I learned that Yeo Wun-hyeong was from Gyeonggi Province through this exhibition. It was a meaningful experience to see all those pictures of that time.”

▶ Gyeonggi Peace Center / Imjingak, Paju City (~May 30)
‘National Freedom Fighters from Gyeonggi Province’
Although the individuals featured in this exhibition represent only a fraction of those who devoted their lives to national independence, the past images of their activities inspire patriotic sentiments among viewers.

▶ Eo Won-seon / Curator, Gyeonggi Provincial Museum
“We tried to portray the persons as closely to their actual images as possible. In addition to the March 1st Movement commemoration event currently being featured at Imjingak, this exhibition will offer a memorable experience.”

This free exhibition, which features more than 70 images and deions of the lives of these five patriots from Gyeonggi Province, will continue until May 30.

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