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 Expands Electric Car Supply (0908-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Gyeonggi Province recently announced that it would supply 540 electric vehicles next year. The provincial government has been promoting the supply of electric vehicles to both the public and private sectors since 2011.

[Report]
Since Cho switched to an electric car, his vehicle expenses have been reduced to KRW 50,000 a month, one seventh his previous costs.

▶ Cho Seong-gyu / Banghwa-dong, Seoul
“It has great economic advantages. It also has long-term environmental advantages. We can help with the protection of Gyeonggi Province and the Earth by using…”

Home to one fourth of Korea’s automobile manufacturing capacity and most electric vehicle battery manufacturing facilities, Gyeonggi Province plans to intensify its promotion of the use of eco-friendly electric vehicles from next year. Electric vehicles are also economical in terms of maintenance costs.

▶ 300 Vehicles to be Supplied in Selected Regions as a Trial
Initially, three hundred vehicles will be supplied to two or three regions selected for trial distribution.

▶ 150 Vehicles for Business Purposes 90 Vehicles for Public & Other Uses
An additional 150 vehicles will be supplied in industrial areas for business use as well as a further 90 vehicles for use by public offices and others. Ten recharging stations will also be established in the same areas.

▶ Oh Jae-yeong / Director, Gyeonggi Province Climate & Air Quality Management Division
“For this purpose, we will arrange support of a total of KRW 22.2 billion including a provincial budget of KRW 1.1 billion next year.”

Each purchaser of an electric vehicle will receive support of up to KRW 20 million. Since 2011, Gyeonggi Province has supported the supply of a total of 226 electric vehicles this way. Next year’s target is more than double this figure.

Article 2. Gyeonggi Provincial Government & Education Office Coalition (0908)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil attended a ceremony at the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, an occurrence rarely seen in the history of Gyeonggi Province. This ceremony was for the commendation of retiring educators.

[Report]
▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Government & Education Office Coalition
Gyeonggi Province has been active in realizing coalitions with opposition parties, the Gyeonggi Provincial Council and the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education.

▶ Governor Nam at Press Conference
Promise of Continued Coalition Efforts
Governor Nam declared a coalition with the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education at a joint press conference last year. Now the governor has visited the education office, marking the first time in ten years that a provincial governor has made such a visit.

▶ First Project under Coalition Began with “Economic School Uniform” Project
The first project implemented under the coalition with the education office was the ‘Economic School Uniform” project that saw the two offices working together to alleviate the financial burden on parents.

▶ Cooperation Continued in Educational Projects
Last month, both parties met to discuss educational cooperation while the office of education dispatched senior officials to the provincial administration’s theme park project sites to discuss educational contents.

▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education (September 7)
Gyeonggi Governor Attended Educator Commendation Ceremony
During the ceremony chaired by the Gyeonggi Province Education Superintendent, Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil participated in the presentation of commendations to educators.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“There should be no political or ideological barriers in creating the future through education. The education superintendent and I are together in this.”

▶ Gyeonggi Province Education Superintendent Lee Jae-jeong
“Educational autonomy and administrative autonomy must proceed together in education in the province. It is for this reason we invited the governor to this ceremony…”

In Gyeonggi Province, traditional conflicts between the administration and the education office no longer exist. There is instead communication and cooperation between the two.

Article 3. Yellow Sea Free Economic Zone Development Accelerated (0909)
[Anchor’s Headline]
In order to make the most of the opportunities brought by the free trade agreement concluded between Korea and China last year, Gyeonggi Province designated Pyeongtaek (평택) City as part of the Yellow Sea Free Economic Zone and gave impetus to investment inducement for this area.

[Report]
▶ Yellow Sea Free Economic Zone Development Site (Pyeongtaek)
Two areas in Pyeongtaek (평택) have been selected to be part of the free economic zone. Investors in these areas will be provided with various incentives including tax reductions.

▶ Pyeongtaek to Become Northeast Asian Economic Center
Pyeongtaek (평택) is strategically situated for Sino-Korean trade and exchanges. Gyeonggi Province has already begun preliminary work for the development of the two designated areas.

▶ Groundbreaking in Poseung Zone Planned for November
While the Hyeondeok (현덕) area will be developed for individual travelers in terms of shopping and tourism, the Poseung (포승) area will see groundbreaking in November to accommodate high-tech industries and logistic facilities.

▶ [PIP] Lee Jeong-gu / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Investment Inducement Team
“Work in the Poseung area will begin in November for completion in 2020. Since we have finished compensation for private property, private enterprises will be able to start construction work as early as the second half of 2017.”

▶ 12 Enterprises to Invest in Poseung Area
Gyeonggi Province has already secured investment in the Poseung (포승) area from twelve local and overseas enterprises.

▶ COEX (September 8)
Battery Business Conference
Earlier this month, Gyeonggi Province held a Battery Business Conference as part of its efforts to induce investments from vehicle battery enterprises.

▶ [PiP] Lee Jeong-gu / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Investment Inducement Team
“We will also endeavor to induce investment in smart automobile technologies so as to foster a creative knowledge and economy center.”

Investment inducement and development efforts will be undertaken concurrently for the Hyeondeok (현덕) area, which is slated for completion in 2018.

Article 4. ‘Happy Region Expo’ Held in Incheon (0910)
[Anchor’s Headline]
A national exhibition showcasing regional development policies was held in Incheon (인천) City. Entitled ‘Korea Happy Region Expo’, this festive event featured a variety of entertaining programs.

[Report]
This food truck is an example of successful business items made possible by regulatory mitigation. Gyeonggi Province’s regulatory reformation policy has opened up a number of new business opportunities such as this food truck named Good Morning Food.

▶ Ha Hyeok / Good Morning Food Business Owner
“Of course I am happy. Many people show interest. Food trucks are a good example of newly legalized business items. I hope many people will begin their own businesses and be successful.”

▶ Songdo Conventia (September 9 ~ 12)
2015 Korea Happy Region Expo
In this 2015 Korea Happy Region Expo, fourteen Korean government agencies and seventeen second-tier governments participated under the theme of ‘Hope for Regions, Happiness for Residents’. Among the notable events were presentations of local job creation cases.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Presented Leading Job Creation Projects
Under the slogan ‘Thinking of the Future’, Gyeonggi Province exhibited its prime job creation projects in areas including games, information technologies, and talking dolls.

▶ Yangju City Participated in Insect Food Experiencing Hall
At the Insect Food Hall, Yangju (양주) City participated with cookies made from insects, as well as an insect display case-making program that offered an entertaining experience.

▶ Lee Seo-yeong / Junior, Sinmyeong Women’s High School, Incheon
“These experiential programs were informative regarding what services are being provided by Gyeonggi Province and how different they are from those of Incheon.”

This national show aims to communicate regional development endeavors through experiences and communication. This year’s event ran until September 12.

Article 5. Gyeonggi Integrates Employment Services (0911)
[Anchor’s Headline]
In Gyeonggi Province, a number of different employment agencies serve different age groups and demands. To make matters easier for job searchers, Gyeonggi Province will establish the Gyeonggi Employment Foundation, integrating all employment services. Our reporter examined the details.

[Report]
▶ Gyeonggi Employment Foundation to be Established in January 2016
This foundation will open in January next year and provide comprehensive services from career planning to consultation and job training for all job searching groups.

[CG] Six employment agencies of Gyeonggi Province including those for youths, technical trainees, women and others will be integrated into a single organization.

▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (September 10)
Briefing on Gyeonggi Employment Foundation
During a briefing about the foundation, Gyeonggi Province’s spokesperson explained how similar functions in different organizations will be united in the foundation or absorbed by other organizations.

▶ Employment Personnel Service Duration: Average 1.7 Years
The current service duration of employment personnel is too short for the attainment of expertise; this is primarily due to frequent personnel transfers. To address this issue, private employment specialists will be employed.

▶ Hwang Seong-tae / General Director, Gyeonggi Province Planning & Coordination Office
“There has been a lack of continuity and expertise among employment personnel. Once the foundation takes over, its personnel will remain indefinitely, thereby attaining know-how and expertise.”

A task force will be organized this month to oversee the establishment procedures and the opening of the foundation by January next year. The current Gyeonggi provincial administration aims to achieve the creation of a targeted 700,000 jobs during its term.

Article 6. Rapid Ignition Briquette Buyers Must Specify Usage (0909)
[Anchor’s Headline]
From now on in Gyeonggi Province, buyers of rapid ignition charcoal briquettes must specify the intended usage when purchasing them. Gyeonggi Province is enforcing this regulation so as to prevent the use of these briquettes for suicide.

[Report]
▶ Supermarket in Suwon
Rapid ignition briquettes can be found easily in supermarkets. However, their buyers must now tell the cashiers why they are buying them.

▶ [Sync] Lee Sang-sun / Supermarket Owner
“We have to ask you for what purpose you are buying these rapid ignition briquettes.”
Rapid ignition briquettes are highly dangerous when used in poorly ventilated places since they generate carbon monoxide while burning.

[CG-Overlap] In fact, the number of suicide attempts using these briquettes has increased twenty-one times over the past six years.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Social Integration Vice Governor Lee Gi-woo
“Asking this question with warmth may also have the effect of changing their minds. Or they may be discouraged in the process.”
Shops selling these briquettes are required to post a ‘Love-practicing Shop’ sign and ask their buyers about the intended usage. Manufacturers of rapid ignition charcoal briquettes are required to include suicide-discouraging words and a telephone number for counseling services on the packages.

▶ Lee Bong-soo / Rapid Ignition Briquette Manufacturer
“We produce quick ignition briquettes for normal users. We want to tell those who are not normal users that the briquettes should only be used for their intended purpose.”
This regulation was enforced in Gyeonggi Province on September 10, Suicide Prevention Day.

Article 7. Spicy Foods Help Prevent Obesity and Diabetes (0908)
[Anchor’s Headline]
According to recent research, proteins generated by receptors in the human body in response to spicy ingredients have the effect of preventing obesity and diabetes. Our reporter examined the details.

[Report]
▶ Restaurant in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon City
Seon (선) has a thing for spicy foods. She often eats spicy kimchi chigae (김치찌개) for lunch. She also enjoys occasion bites of hot peppers.

▶ Seon Hye-min / Seryu-dong, Suwon City
“I eat hot peppers often because I have heard they help with dieting.”

▶ Capsaicin Receptor Helps Prevent Obesity & Diabetes
In a joint international research project conducted by teams from the Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology in Gyeonggi Province and the University of Massachusetts in the United States, it was revealed that capsaicin, a spicy food component, stimulates receptors and the production of proteins in the human body that have a preventive effect on obesity and diabetes.
Without the proteins, one is more susceptible to obesity and diabetes due to increased cravings for food and reduced metabolism levels.

▶ Lee Gi-won / Professor, Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology
“These receptors can themselves be used as pain relievers. However, they can also be used for the development of substances that reduce body fat and blood sugar.”

Based on these findings, researchers believe that it will be possible to develop new drugs and foods that can prevent obesity and diabetes by stimulating the receptors for spicy tastes in our bodies.

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