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 Expands Sunlight Housing Project (0209-1)

[Anchor’s Headline]
Gyeonggi Province announced that it will expand the Sunlight Housing Project, a home-improvement project, to more households with services also expanded to include follow-up management.

[Report]
The objective of this project is to help less economically fortunate households improve their living conditions. Services are provided free of charge and include home repair work and the improvement of energy efficiency.

▶ 166 Households Received Sunlight Housing Project Service Since 2013
Since it began in 2013, this project has helped more than the targeted 80 households annually.

▶ Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (February 3)
Signing of Sunlight Housing Project MOU
On February 3, ChildFund Korea signed an agreement with the Gyeonggi Provincial Government to provide support for the project. By utilizing the fundraising capabilities of this foundation, Gyeonggi Province will be able to help more households.

▶ Lee Jae-hun / President, ChildFund Korea
“We will find as many sponsors as possible so that more families can benefit from the provincial project.”

▶ 120 Households Targeted with Support of KRW 5 Million per Household
This agreement targets the provision of up to KRW 5 million in support to each of 120 households.

▶ ChildFund Korea to also Provide Children’s Education Cost Support
ChildFund Korea also promised to provide the Sunlight Housing service recipient families with child education cost support.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“People make homes, and homes also make people. ChildFund’s support will make the lives of many people happy…”
Gyeonggi Province will complete selection of housing support recipients and begin housing improvement work in July for completion by November.
 

Article 2. Gyeonggi Province’s Hearing Impairment Surgery Support (0210-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Since 2008, Gyeonggi Province has been providing hearing-impaired individuals with surgical treatment cost support. This support is provided to those whose hearing can be restored with ear surgery to repair the cochlea, a structure in the inner ear.

[Report]
▶ Ra Im / Byeongjeom-dong, Hwaseong
Nineteen-month-old Ra has new found enjoyment in listening to her mother reading books to her.
“Bowwow? Try Meow”
“Meow~”

She seems like any other child; yet until recently, she had been unresponsive to sounds and remained in bed, cocooned in her own world. However, thanks to medical cost support from Gyeonggi Province, she is animated as her ability to hear develops normally.

▶ Gwon Bo-ra / Ra’s Mother
“She is curious about things. Until now, I’d had no idea that she had such a personality, that she was such a bright person who likes interacting with others and greeting people first.”

Cochlea surgery is most effective when performed at an early age. Ra is now doing follow-up rehabilitation therapy, and is expected to lead a normal life by the time she enters elementary school.

▶ Hearing Impairment Treatment and Rehabilitation Cost Support Began in 2008
Hearing impairment treatment including rehabilitation therapy is supported jointly by a private charity organization and a general hospital.

▶ Seo Dong-wan / Director, Gyeonggi Province Disabled Welfare Division
“Each year, 20 individuals with hearing impairments will receive surgery and rehabilitation cost support of up to KRW 6 million annually through this project.”

A total of 340 individuals have regained their hearing ability through this program to date. Gyeonggi Province has begun receiving applications for support for this year and will select 20 individuals from among the applicants.  

Article 3. 4 Railroad Routes to Open in Gyeonggi Province This Year (0210-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Traffic problems in southern regions of Gyeonggi Province will be greatly reduced with the opening of four railroad routes this year. Our reporter examined the details.

[Report]
The Suseo-Pyeongtaek (수서-평택) section of the KTX Seoul Metropolitan Line is one such route that will open this year.

[CG] This 61-kilometer KTX section will reduce the travel time between Seoul and Pyeongtaek (평택) to a mere 20 minutes. This route will also alleviate bottlenecks on the Gyeongbu (경부) Line.

▶ KTX Operation Distance Extended
This extended KTX service will also significantly improve convenience for railroad users in southern Gyeonggi regions.

[CG] The opening of a double-track railroad section between Seongnam (성남) and Yeoju (여주) will improve public transportation in southeastern regions of the province.

▶ Travel Time between Jeoyu and Gangnam Less than 1 Hour
By transferring to the Sinbundang (신분당) Line, travelers from Yeoju (여주) will be able to arrive at Gangnam (강남) within an hour.

▶ Single-track Poseung-Pyeongtaek Line and Suin Line Partly Open This Year
Parts of the single-track Poseung-Pyeogntaek (포승-평택) Line as well as the Suin (수인) Line will also open in June and December this year.

▶ Public Transportation in Southern Gyeonggi will Greatly Improve
When these four railroad construction projects are complete, public transportation in southern areas of the province will improve greatly.

▶ GTV Reporter Lee Tae-hui
“The completion of a number of railroad projects is expected to open a new rail age in Gyeonggi Province. This is Lee Tae-hui, Gyeonggi GTV.”
 

Article 4. Gyeonggi Food Confirmed Free of Radioactivity (0211-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment recently conducted radioactivity checks on food items and announced that all items checked were safe for consumption. Consumers may now be reassured of the safety of food when they purchase agricultural products and seafood for the Lunar New Year.

[Report]
Radioactivity-related food safety has been a concern among Korean consumers since the nuclear power plant accident in Japan four years ago.

▶ Kim Yeon-sun / Dalan-dong, Suwon
“I am extra-cautious and always check country of origin when I buy food because it is what our family eats.”
Consumers, suspicious of radioactivity, are especially reluctant to purchase imported seafood items.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment Food Radioactivity Check
These radioactivity checks were performed to reassure consumers of food safety from radioactivity.

▶ 50 Popular Food Items Checked for Radioactivity
Fifty popular food items, including those commonly used during Lunar New Year, were collected randomly from market shelves and checked for radioactivity.

▶ No Radioactivity Detected in Food Items Checked
The institute announced that no radioactivity was detected in any of the food items checked.

▶ Park Yong-bae / Head of Anyang Agricultural Product Inspection Office
“According to the report, no radioactive materials such as cesium or iodine were detected from any of the food items. Consumers may be assured of the safety of agricultural and marine products whether imported or produced in Korea.
Gyeonggi Province will conduct radioactivity checks of food items on an on-going basis to alleviate consumer worries by ensuring the safety of food

▶ GTV Reporter Lee Tae-hui
“With the radioactivity scare among consumers relieved, food markets are expected to regain liveliness with increased consumer activities. This is Lee Tae-hui, Gyeonggi GTV.”
 

Article 5. Gyeonggi Mitigates Second Business Startup Support Requirements (0212-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
In Gyeonggi Province, those who failed in establishing a business may apply for special provincial support for a second chance, provided that applicants meet certain requirements.

[Report]
From this year, these requirements are mitigated for such ventures that have high potential such as this electronic parts manufacturer.

▶ Seong Yong-an / CEO, Stonix
“We spent one year in product development. When we were finally ready for mass production, our financing ran out.”
Previous business failure was an obstacle for this company in securing financing for production facilities.

▶ GTV Reporter, Kim Tae-hui
“This company has a promising proprietary technology for generating wave frequencies using quartz. This company is now well on its way to growth.”
Gyeonggi Province provides support of up to KRW 100 million for a second attempt at a business startup.

▶ Requirements for Special Guarantee for Second Business Startup Mitigated
Provincial support for second business startups has been provided in the form of special guarantee certificates that can be used by eligible applicants as an alternative to collateral for additional loans.
[CG] Mitigated requirements for special guarantee applications enable those who have bad loan repayment records to still seek loan applications.

▶ Kim Cheong-su / Gyeonggi Province Enterprise Support Division Official
“We introduced the Special Guarantee program for second business startup attempts in November last year. However, we modified the requirements based on suggestions from enterprises.”

Already, six enterprises have received special guarantee certificates for financial applications amounting to KRW 600 million thanks to the mitigated conditions. This revised program is expected to help realize more business opportunities that otherwise would have been wasted.
 

Article 6. Gyeonggi Aids Social Enterprises with Online Sales Promotion (0211-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Gyeonggi Province has been supporting social economy enterprises and traditional market merchants through various programs. Among these programs, online marketing support proved especially effective for increasing sales.

[Report]
This village enterprise in Osan (오산) City, which produces processed bean products, had relied exclusively on telephone orders. However, its orders increased rapidly through online marketing.

▶ Hong Jin-e / Chief of Jandari Village Community
“Gyeonggi Province helped us with various promotional materials. The new homepage was especially helpful because it allowed consumers to access our information much more easily. Our sales have increased by about 10 percent.”

The number of visitors and subscribers to this village enterprise’s homepage increased by 20 percent and 40 percent, respectively, in the two months since Gyeonggi Province helped promote the homepage through internet cafés and portal sites. Gyeonggi Province also helped the Osaek (오색) Traditional Market receive increased online orders by connecting its products with power bloggers.

▶ Social Enterprises and Traditional Markets Require Assistance in Marketing
Online marketing via homepages, bloggers, shopping malls and social networking services have proven to be an effective way of promoting the sales of social enterprises and traditional markets.

▶ Gyeonggi Province to Provide Continuous Customized Online Consultation Support
In order to help these small businesses expand their customer bases through online sales, Gyeonggi Province will continuously operate customized online marketing consultation services based on business and service characteristics.
 

Article 7. Gyeonggi Muhandolbomi Active in Welfare Blind Spots (0210-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
In Gyeonggi Province, volunteer welfare workers have been active this winter. Officially titled Muhandolbomi (무한돌보미), their job is to identify, report and aid individuals in their neighborhoods who are living in difficult situations outside of welfare coverage.

[Report]
This small rooftop room is the home of seventy-seven-year-old Lee who lives without family. The visitors she received today are most welcome.
They are a Muhandolbomi (무한돌보미) team, a local resident leader and a nurse. After performing a medical examination of Lee, they take over household chores and set about cleaning the dwelling and washing dishes.

▶ Lee Sun-ja / Gwangmyeong-5-dong, Gwangmyeong
“They always say nice things to me, asking me if I am feeling all right. I am very grateful that they treat me with such kindness.”

Lee has a legal supporter, and is thus ineligible for welfare support. However, she lost contact with that individual long ago and has been living on her own ever since. The Muhandolbom (무한돌봄) welfare service has been operating three-person teams to aid residents in welfare blind spots like Lee. This particular team currently looks after 74 households.

▶ Muhandolbomi Help Welfare Unqualified Households
Muhandolbomi (무한돌보미) are local residents who have received special welfare training. They act as liaisons between local authorities and households that normally do not qualify for welfare services.

▶ Lee Gi-ok / Muhandolbomi
“Some individuals are really in need of welfare support, but we are not sure what types of support we can recommend for them. Trained Muhandolbomi can help these individuals regardless of their eligibility for welfare services.”

Being members of the public, Muhandolbomi (무한돌보미) have first-hand information about people in their neighborhoods who are living in critical situations without any outside help. There are limitations for welfare authorities in identifying such households unless reported to them. The Muhandolbomi (무한돌보미) are a valuable resource for both welfare agencies and their service recipients.

▶ GTV Reporter Kim Tae-hui
“Muhandolbomi services will be expanded through online training programs on the Home Learning website of the province. This is Kim Tae-hui, Gyeonggi GTV.”

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