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. Private Enterprise joins Gyeonggi’s Epidemic Control (160106-2)

[Anchor’s Headline]

During the MERS outbreak last year, a number of social enterprises played an important role in creating an epidemic control model for the province through areal disinfection services. These enterprises have since formed a public quarantine service cooperative.

[Report]

Recently, this cooperative signed a collaboration agreement with Gyeonggi Province for future epidemic control.

▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (January 5)

Infectious Disease Control Cooperation Agreement

This cooperative became part of the epidemic control network of the province, which consists of public and private institutes, and will provide public quarantine services during infectious disease outbreaks.

▶ Lee Gwang-hun / President, Areal Cooperative

“We will do our utmost to protect the health of provincial residents using advanced technologies and equipment.”

▶ Yoo Byeong-ok / Director, Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center

The six Gyeonggi provincial medical center hospitals are at the forefront and serve as the final defense in relieving our residents from diseases.”

▶ Areal Cooperative to Provide Free Disinfection & Quarantine Services

The cooperative members are seven social enterprises in Gyeonggi Province that performed areal sterilization during last year’s MERS outbreak.

According to the agreement, the cooperative will provide sterilization and quarantine services free of charge at the request of Gyeonggi Province during infectious disease outbreaks.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Social Integration Vice Governor Lee Ki-woo

“There are things that individual private institutes cannot handle as we realized during the MERS outbreak. We created a cooperation network for effective epidemic prevention and control.”

Gyeonggi Province also plans to create a specialized epidemic control function within the administration that will oversee the operation of the epidemic control network.

Article 2. Red M// Year Exhibition Held at Gyeonggi Museum (160107-3)

[Anchor’s Headline]

This year marks the Year of the M// in the Korean zodiac. This time, it’s a red m// year. In the orient, m//s represent, among other things, guardianship and maternal love. Our reporter visited an exhibition commemorating the Year of the M// held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Museum.

[Report]

The m// is the subject of this exhibition titled ‘M//s in Our Culture’. There are ceramic figurines of one of the most enduring Chinese literary characters, the M// King in Journey to the West, also known as Sun Wukong (손오공).

Another m// figurine made during the ancient Goryo (고려) Dynasty depicts a baby m// in a motherly embrace.

▶ M//s Symbolize Guardianship and Maternal Love

An ancient bronze mirror and a writing brush case feature twelve zodiac animals including dancing m//s. M//s are regarded as tricky and mischievous creatures. In the past, pet m//s were highly valued and frequently used as gift items by envoys and diplomats.

▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Museum (until June)

‘M//s in Our Culture’ Exhibition

M//s are featured in all artworks and artifacts displayed at this exhibition

▶ [PiP] Min Ji-yeon & Song Yu-min / Visitors from Incheon City

“I saw many m//s here. They are cute and funny.”

“It’s amazing that m//s look so much like humans.”

▶ Stone Relief of M// at Kim Yu-shin’s Tomb

Around the copy of the stone relief of the m// that guards an ancient general’s tomb, visitors attach sticky notes bearing their wishes.

▶ [PiP] Park Min-seon / Viewer from Incheon City

“My friends and I came with our children. I wrote my wish for our children to be well and wiser this m// year.”

This exhibition features more than 30 m//-related cultural artworks.

▶ [PiP] Han Jun-yeong / Curator, Gyeonggi Provincial Museum

“In artifacts, m//s appear as the symbol of maternal love and guardianship. I hope that viewers will appreciate these good values.”

At this exhibition, which will run until June, visitors will be able to appreciate what m//s represent in traditional Korean culture.

Article 3. Modified Local Taxation Applied from 2016 (160108-1)

[Anchor’s Headline]

There are a number of local taxes applied with modifications from this year. Since these modified tax systems are directly related to the lives of residents, our reporter examined the details.

[Report]

▶ Suwon Vehicle Registration Office

After long hesitation, Oh has finally decided to purchase a new car. She could make her decision since the vehicle procurement tax exemption program for parents with more than one child was extended for another three years.

▶ [PiP] Oh Gyong-sun / Suwon City Resident

“I was exempted from the procurement tax of KRW 2.1 million since I am a parent with more than one child. I hope that many residents benefit from such exemption programs.”

▶ Procurement Tax Exemption Program Extended until 2018

Until 2018, parents with more than one child can purchase vehicles tax free. The procurement tax is also reduced for the purchasers of small cars and electric cars, as well as for the purchasers of former rental housing. The local education tax will continue to be applied as part of the cigarette tax over the next three years to prevent financial losses for local education.

[CG] For the resident tax, which was 0.5 percent of salaries, employers are no longer required to make deductions from employee wages or to report if the salary amount is low. For higher salaries, variable exemption rates are applied based on average wages.

For purchasers of buildings that have been left unused for more than two years, the procurement tax is reduced by 4 percent.

Local tax reporting procedures for multi-location enterprises were also simplified. Such enterprises may now report local taxes to a single tax office in the jurisdiction of their head offices.

▶ Park Dong-gyun / Director, Gyeonggi Province Tax Administration Division

“We adopted the opinions of tax payers and changed the imposer-orientated taxation procedures to payer-orientated ones.”

Gyeonggi Province extended a total of 178 local taxation programs for three more years, which is equivalent to tax support of KRW 2.4 trillion over the same period.

Article 4. Results of 3-Year Operations of G-Cinemas (160111-3)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Three years ago, Gyeonggi Province introduced G-Cinemas so as to support the production of diversity movies by independent and artistic movie makers. Since their introduction, more than 100 diversity movies have been screened at the G-Cinemas.

[Report]

▶Suwon Megabox

In 2013, Gyeonggi Province designated the first provincially-operated G-Cinema so as to provide screening opportunities to independent movies, artistic movies and documentaries of high standards produced by movie makers with limited budgets.

▶G-Cinemas Operate in 11 Gyeonggi Localities

Operating in eleven localities in Gyeonggi Province, G-Cinemas have featured more than 100 movies and have attracted approximately 54,000 viewers over the past three years.

▶[PIP] Lee Yeong-sil / Viewer

“I only learned of the existence of such movies when I arrived at the cinema. I hope that I can watch more of these movies.”

▶”Don’t Cross That River, Darling” Attracted Most Viewers

The most popular G-Cinema movie was Don’t Cross That River, Darling, a heart-warming romance about a senior couple. This movie was seen by more than 13,000 viewers. G-Cinemas offer valuable connections with the public for such high-quality, low-commercial movies.

▶ [PiP] Jang Bong-su / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Contents Infrastructure Team

“I believe that G-Cinemas have contributed significantly to the advancement of diverse movies in Korea while serving the varied cultural needs of Gyeonggi residents.”

▶Gyeonggi to Increase G-Cinemas

Gyeonggi Province plans to increase the number of G-Cinemas from the current 16 to 19, and also plans to hold screening events at provincial organizations.

Article 5. New Sex Education Facilities in Gyeonggi Province (160112-3)

[Anchor’s Headline]

New sex education facilities for children using walk-through indoor structures with various informative materials are gaining popularity in Gyeonggi Province. Our reporter visited one such facility.

[Report]

▶ North Gyeonggi Youth Center, Paju City

Located at the North Gyeonggi Youth Center in Paju City, this facility consists of a simulated tunnel of female genitals and a womb complete with a large fertilized egg on a wall.

▶Model Embryos and Baby Dolls Used as Education Materials

Inside the womb, which doubles as a classroom, are various model structures that depict the childbirth process. There are even special jackets that children can wear to simulate pregnancy. This experiential education method developed by Gyeonggi Province is regarded as an effective sex education tool.

▶An A-reum / Sex Education Instructor, North Gyeonggi Youth Center

“Experiential education is a more effective means of sex education than instruction-based education since it draws greater interest from children.”

▶Suitable for Children, Adolescents & Children with Disabilities

Last year, approximately 50,000 children, adolescents and children with disabilities received sex education at experiential facilities like this.

▶ [PIP] Cho Hyun-jun / Disabled Children Day Care Center, Paju City

“It was interesting to know how a baby is born. I didn’t know we were born through that process.”

▶Sex Education Bus for Mobile Classes

In addition to experiential sex education facilities, Gyeonggi Province also operates a special bus for the on-site sex education of youths in remote locations.

▶Gyeonggi Province to Develop Family Sex Education Programs

There is also a plan to develop sex education programs for youths as well as their parents to promote healthy sexual behavior and prevent the use of pornography.

Article 6. Sharing Initiated by Lifelong Education Graduates (160114-2)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Gyeonggi Province has been designating local communities that exhibit active lifelong education participation as ‘lifelong learning villages’. One such village in Yangpyeong (양평) County goes even further with participants sharing their earnings from their newly acquired skills with others.

[Report]

▶’88 Nolgong School’, Gangha-myeon, Yangpyeong County

These colorful ceramics, aroma products and beautiful bead handicrafts are the products of lifelong education school students in this village.

▶ Lifelong Learning Village Designated in 2015

Last year, this village was designated by Gyeonggi Province as a lifelong learning village for the active participation of residents in various education programs offered at the school.

▶ Park Chang-ok / Principal, Yangpyeong 88 Nolgong School

“With learning opportunities available within the village, residents became much more active and are receiving lots of pleasure.”

▶ Specialty Product Sales Proceeds Donated to Underprivileged Individuals

Since last autumn, villagers began selling sesame tea and cakes, specialty products of their school, and donated all proceeds to those who were unable to attend the school.

▶Lifelong Education Villages Help Create Jobs

The lifelong learning villages not only share their earnings, they also help create jobs through their assistance in the nurturing of program instructors and lifelong education coordinators.

▶ [PIP] Park Seon-gyeong / Official, Gyeonggi Provincial Institute for Lifelong Learning

“Lifelong learning leads to self development, self development leads to earnings, and earnings lead to sharing. The spread of this sharing culture is the most valuable outcome of lifelong learning.”

▶57 Lifelong Learning Villages Designated in 20 Localities

There are currently 57 ‘lifelong learning villages’ designated in Gyeonggi Province.

▶Gyeonggi to Expand Lifelong Learning Village Designation

Gyeonggi Province will expand lifelong learning village designation so as to promote skill donation at a community level as well as sharing culture at large.

Article 7. Gyeonggi Develops Simulation Program for Safety Education (0112-2)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Gyeonggi Province developed a computer simulation program for safety education that features fire in virtual duplicates of major buildings in the province. Users can train themselves in how to react and evacuate safely from these buildings.

[Report]

▶ Gwangju Fire Station Public Service Office

In this fire station, residents experience a fire via a computer simulation program.

▶ Game-type Simulation of Disaster Situation

Users are tasked with finding an escape route from a fire in a virtual Suwon Station that exactly duplicates the actual structure. Some react calmly and succeed in leaving the station. However, most run around aimlessly and eventually succumb to smoke and fire. In a real-life situation, it could have been a tragedy.

▶Ju Jae-hun / Gwangju City Resident

“It was fun and very realistic. It made me think about what I should do in real (fire) situation.”

This disaster simulation experience is available at local fire stations in Gyeonggi Province.

▶ Popular Public Facilities in Gyeonggi Province Simulated

This program produces simulated 3D images of the interiors of popular public facilities in the province, such as subway stations and hospitals, for more realistic experiences.

▶ [PIP] Cho Jun-hyeong / Fire Official, Gwangju Fire Station

“Your escape is successful if you can reach the exit within five minutes using various fire equipment and things in various situations. You can also customize your experience by setting the program to your age and gender.”

Gyeonggi Province plans to expand the program by adding more disaster types and location models.

▶ [PiP] Yu Ji-yeong / Fire Official, Gyeonggi Disaster Safety Headquarters Safety Culture Team

“We will distribute (this disaster simulation program) to other facilities and schools so that more people can experience the program.”

Major disasters tend to occur when the previous disaster is almost forgotten. Gyeonggi Province will remain alert through continuous safety education.

Thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV.

We look forward to seeing you again next week.