Article 1.Gyeonggi Leads Sports in Korea (1215-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Male and female athletes from Gyeonggi Province realized remarkable achievements in both national and international sports events again this year. Gyeonggi provincial teams swept all major national sports events.
[Report]
Gyeonggi athletes also led national teams with superlative performance sat both the Sochi Winter Olympics and the Incheon Asian Games this year.
▶Gyeonggi Achieves Overall Win at the 43rd National Junior Sports Festival and
13th Consecutive Overall Win at the 95th National Games
This year, the Gyeonggi juniors won the most gold medals in the history of the National Junior Sports Festival. Concurrently, adults achieved a remarkable 13th consecutive overall win at the National Games in both the summer and winter events. Many athletes attribute such achievements to provincial support.
▶Shin Hyun-woo / Korean Record Holder in Shooting
“I was supplied with the best equipment, which, I think, is the reason for my current good performances.”

▶Hotel Castle, Suwon (December 11)
The 45th Gyeonggi Sports Awards Presentation Ceremony
On December 11, athletes as well as sports leaders of Gyeonggi Province who brought honor to the province through their excellent performances in national and international sports events this year were presented with awards by the provincial government. Among the sixty-one award recipients, eleven received the Sports Star Award.
▶Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“The Gyeonggi Provincial Government and the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly recognize those who worked hard to win, and will provide them with active support.”
Hopes are high for Gyeonggi athletes to show their capabilities again in the Summer Universiade in Gwangju (광주) next year and at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro the following year.
 
Article 2. Gyeonggi Province Reforms Local Project Selection Procedures for Subsidy (1216-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government recently announced the introduction of a new provincial subsidy allocation tem for local government projects from next year. The projects to be subsidized will now be selected by a screening committee on an application basis so as to maximize the effects of provincial support on individual projects.
[Report]
▶ Provincial Subsidy Ineffective for Individual Projects
Total of KRW 176 Billion for 369 Projects in 2014 – Only KRW 470 Million per Project
Last year, Gyeonggi Province subsidized 369 local projects. However, the amount of support received by individual projects was only KRW 470 million on average, far too low for financial supplementary effects to be realized.
▶Provincial Subsidy Reserve of KRW 40 Billion Open for Subsidy Applications
As a start, Gyeonggi Province made a reserve of KRW 40 billion available for subsidy applications.
[CG]This is a proactive reformation of the local project support policy of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government from the previous request-based procedures.
▶Selection Criteria
● Local Economy Promotion Effect
● Cultural/Tourism Infrastructure Improvement Effect
● Road and Social Overhead Capital Expansion Effect on Northern Regions
Provincial support will be provided primarily to core projects with potential for substantial contributions to the local economy, cultural and tourism infrastructure and roads, and social overhead capital.For this first support reserve, project selection results will be announced at the end of the month.
▶Maximum Support for Individual Project Increased to KRW 10 billion
Each project selected from the local government applications may receive a subsidy of up to KRW 10 billion.
▶Joo E-ja / Gimpo City Budget Team Leader
“If we divide a large project into a number of sub-projects (for financial reasons), overall progress may have to be compromised. With provincial support of up to KRW 10 billion for a single project, we will be able to implement the project much more effectively.”
Based on the outcomes of this innovative, effect-orientated process, Gyeonggi Province plans to introduce similar procedures in the ution of other applicable budget items.
 
Article 3. Neighborly Sharing Active in Gyeonggi Province (1217-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Usually at this time of year, one sees a greater number of charity activities and helping hands for neighbors living in difficult circumstances. However, there are more people around us than we realize who care about underprivileged individuals year round.
[Report]
▶Majang Regional Children’s Center, Icheon
The school children at this regional children’s center in Icheon (이천) City of Gyeonggi Province appear comfortable working with their teachers during their afterschool hours. However, the teachers are employees of a local enterprise who are working as one-day volunteers.
▶Lee Sun-ju / Director, Majang Regional Children’s Center
“Children often become quite attached (to volunteer teachers) in a short period of time and ask them to come again next week. It would be great if they could come every day.”
Eighty-six percent of the more than 20,000employees of this company are currently engaged in volunteer service activities for local communities. More than 300 volunteer service teams work for local children’s centers or other facilities, and often donate equipment.
▶Kim Byeong-hun / Social Service Personnel, SK Hynix
“Since the ultimate purpose of our company is not just to make profit but more to make life better for every concerned group including employees, families and our neighbors…”

▶ 27 Individuals and Organizations Receives Commendations from Gyeonggi Province
Gyeonggi Province presented commendations to 27unseen individuals and organizations like this company that have exhibited exemplary performances in sharing with underprivileged neighbors.
▶[PiP]Kim Num-hwan / Director, Gyeonggi Province Muhandolbom Welfare Division
“Sharing is a wonderful way of taking care of our neighbors since the provincial government has financial limitations…”

▶’The Mother Teresa Effect’, a Harvard Study
“If I look at the mass, I will never act. If I look at the one, I will.”
Sharing has been proven to be beneficial to the givers as well as the receivers. According to a survey, thinking about giving and receiving love strengthens the immune tem. It is called the Mother Teresa Effect.

 
Article 4.Gyeonggi Villages Reborn through Environmental Welfare Project (1215-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
An old village in Gyeonggi Province was reborn through the province’s Environmental Welfare Project. The faces of villagers also became much brighter after the village-wide refurbishment.
[Report]
▶Hohyeon Village, Anyang
The walls of houses were repainted with bright colors and pleasant designs, transforming the alleys into picturesque thoroughfares.
▶Environmental Improvements in Villages Selected for Environmental Welfare Project
This is one of the dilapidated villages that underwent environmental improvement through the provincial project.
▶Kim Eun-cheol / Head of Hohyeon Village Resident Association
“This village was unfit for human habitation. Residents actively responded (to the environmental improvement project) and now the village has changed remarkably for the better.”
Dilapidated walls and fences were replaced, and benches and resting areas were installed at a number of locations.
▶Lee Tae-hui / GTV Reporter
“All the asbestos slates on the roofs, which posed health hazards, were removed and replaced with neat, functional roofs.”
Quiet corners were transformed into resting places and quickly became popular destinations among neighbors who now spend more time communicating with each other.
▶Moon Soon-rye / Villager
“Benches like this made a major difference. We can rest here and chat with others. They are good for old folks as well as for children, and they make the village look better.”
The Environmental Welfare Project was initiated by Gyeonggi Province to improve the environment of underdeveloped areas.
▶4 Villages Reformed through Environmental Welfare Project
Since 2012, four villages have been reformed through this project.
▶Kang Jung-hp / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Living Environmental Welfare Team
“This project received positive responses from residents, and an increasing number of villages are now requesting improvement. So we plan to select five villages for improvement this year.”
Provincial support of living environment improvement is returning livelihoods to the residents of villages in areas isolated from development.
 
Article 5. Gyeonggi Housing Quality Inspection Team Protects Rights of Occupants (1216-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Purchasers of new homes are often disappointed when they move in and find discrepancies from what they saw in model homes. The Housing Quality Inspection Team of Gyeonggi Province works on behalf of new homeowners to prevent such problems.
[Report]
▶Pre-Occupation New Apartment Building in Hwaseong
Construction specialists discuss their final inspection plan at a new apartment building and accompany apartment owners to perform detailed inspections before the commencement of residential occupation.
▶Choi Yong-hwa / Chief of Gyeonggi Province Housing Quality Inspection Team
“Electric light and sounds from the bedroom should not leak to the living room…”
Nothing escapes the eyes of these specialists who meticulously inspect everything from indoor finishing materials to walls and windows as well as safety features and even landscaping. The would-be occupants are reassured by this expertise since they have been worried about possible problems.
▶Occupant Assistance in Constructer-Occupant Conflicts
This team also helps occupants in the resolution of housing quality issues with constructors before such matters become serious. To the innocent occupants, they are a godsend.
▶Ju Ein-hyeong / Would-be Occupant
“We have limited knowledge about housing construction and interiors. We are very grateful to these specialists for their services and feel quite reassured.”
Contractors who were present at the site promise to take remedial actions to address matters indicated by the inspection team.
▶Lee Chum-pyo / Director, Gyeonggi Province Housing Policy Division
“We committed 80 specialists for these services. They are dispatched to sites immediately upon request to ensure that nothing is overlooked on behalf of the owners.”

▶Housing Quality Inspection Manual Planned
For more tematic inspection of housing quality, Gyeonggi Province plans to prepare a housing quality inspection manual for use by both inspectors and residents.
 
Article 6. Consumer Complaints about Electric Heaters Increase (1217-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
With temperatures falling far below freezing, the number of consumer complaints about frequent breakdowns and lack of warranty services for electric heating equipment have increased.
[Report]
A consumer bought an electric mat through a home shopping channel last winter. When its temperature controller did not work, he tried calling for warranty service. However, both the seller and the manufacturer simply disappeared and could not be contacted.
▶Hong Sin-ki / Electric Mat Purchaser
“Without warranty service, I’ll have no option but to throw this mat away. It’s very frustrating.”
[CG]The Gyeonggi Consumer Information Center received 510 electric heating equipment-related consumer damage reports this year alone.
▶Sales Events and Discounts without Quality Assurance Support
Some manufacturers are more concerned about sales than warranty service and quality assurance.
▶Consumers Must Check Manufacturer Credibility before Purchase
Consumers are advised to check the manufacturer’s credibility in quality assurance before making purchases when they buy electric heating equipment.
▶Son Cheol-ok / Information Education Team Leader, Gyeonggi Consumer Information Center
“Consumer consultations about electric heating equipment increase considerably during the winter. Consumers are advised to use shopping malls with good reputations and, if possible, to visit the shops for purchasing. Call 1372 for consumer complaints.”
Special offers and discounts may be appealing, but it is important to check the manufacturer’s commitment to product quality in order to make wise purchasing decisions.
 
Article 7.Smoking Banned in All Restaurants from Next Year (1217-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
From next year, smoking is prohibited in all restaurants. Currently, non-smoking zones include restaurants larger than 100 square meters and some business premises for public usage such as internet cafes.
[Report]
▶Internet Cafe, Pyeongtaek
In an internet cafe, a young customer has obviously been smoking using a paper cup as an ash tray. However, deeply absorbed in a game, he ignores the patrolling officer.
“Watch out, because you will be fined on the spot if you smoke.”
Others honestly admit their violations.
“You are lucky because we didn’t catch you smoking, but you know you shouldn’t.”
“Ah! Okay, I won’t.”
Abstaining from smoking on non-smoking premises is well observed by the public, but there are still those who ignore the rule.
▶Restaurant Exterior
It is now easy to see restaurant customers come outside to smoke. Since some street sections have been designated as non-smoking zones, smokers should be careful even when they smoke on the street.
▶ Non-smoking Zones Expanded to Include All Restaurants from 2015
From next year, all restaurants and coffee shops, regardless of their size, will become non-smoking zones without designated smoking sections. Billiard and screen golf establishments will follow.
▶Lee Geon-jae / Chief Official Gyeonggi Province Regional Public Health Team
“There are 40,000 restaurants with areas larger than 100 m2 in which smoking is not allowed. However, the number (of non-smoking restaurants) will increase to 140,000,since the smoking ban will apply to all restaurants regardless of their size from next year.”

▶Penalty for Facility Owner: Max. KRW 5,000,000 Penalty for Smoker:
– Indoor Areas Including Public Buildings, Restaurants, Performance Facilities: KRW 100,000
– Locally Designated Outdoors Areas(parks, bus stops, school zones, etc.): KRW 20,000 to 100,000
Those caught smoking in a non-smoking zone face a maximum fine of KRW 100,000. It is now up to the public to keep the air clean in commonly used places.