Article 1.Double-Decker Bus Introduced on Routes in Gyeonggi Province (1208-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
For the first time in Korea, a double-decker passenger bus has appeared in Gyeonggi Province.
This bus was introduced for trial operations with the aim of supplementing the seat-only intercity red buses.
The red buses have recently been temporarily permitted to accept standing passengers. However, their limited capacities fall short of demand.
[Report]
This double-decker bus, already nicknamed ‘Good Morning Bus’, is one meter higher than single-deck buses.
The lower deck does not differ greatly from those of existing buses except that there is a staircase leading to the upper deck where there are more seats.
▶79 Seats– Twice the Capacity of Existing Red Buses
With seventy-nine seats, each double-decker bus has a capacity that is almost twice that of the existing red buses, which have forty seats.
▶Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“We hope to make commuting more pleasant and comfortable for our residents. We will ensure safe and smooth operations of double-decker buses once they are fully introduced.”

▶3-Week Trial Operation on 3 Routes
During the 3-week trial operations, this bus will run consecutively on three routes between Gyeonggi Province and Seoul.
▶Kim Yeong-soo / Double-decker Bus Driver
“The bus does not start until 3 to 4 seconds after the door is closed for the safety of passengers. So, yes, it has good safety standards.”

▶Suh Jin-hui / Dongtan-dong, Hwaseong
“If you are on the upper deck, you can see the traffic situation farther ahead, which is nice.”
Trial operations are running on routes 7770, M6117 and 8012.
▶5-Day Trial Operation on Routes 7770, M6117 and 8012 during Commuting Hours
Starting with operations on route 7770, which began on December 8, this double-decker bus will run for five days on each of the three routes during commuting hours.
During these trial operations, a public official, an engineer and personnel from the bus operator will perform safety assessments on board the bus.
Based on the results, Gyeonggi Province and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will decide on the import of more double-decker buses.
 
Article 2.Food Cultural Zone Designations by Gyeonggi Province (1209-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Good Restaurant designation tem of Gyeonggi Province has been officially recognizing restaurants that exhibit good culinary practices.
In addition, there are also Food Cultural Zones designated by Gyeonggi Province so as to promote good culinary practices.
[Report]
▶Korean Restaurant, Seonyudo / Daengigol, Ansan
This restaurant on a street of eateries in Ansan (안산) City of Gyeonggi Province recently received provincial Good Restaurant designation.
▶Sodium Content Checked before Serving
At this restaurant, salty dishes are always checked for their sodium content before leaving the kitchen.
This restaurant also practices high standards of hygiene and excellent facility management.
The serving amounts are controlled carefully so as to minimize food waste.
Unless otherwise requested by the customer, leftover food is always packaged for take-out.
▶Lee Bok-sung / Owner of Seonyudo
“We sometimes hear customers say that they like to come to our restaurant because they can trust food here. Those are the moments when we know that our efforts are worth while.”
Daengigol (댕이골) in Ansan (안산) City is lined with restaurants like this one.
▶GTV Reporter Choi Chang-sun
“Daengigol was formed in 2009, and has become a popular destination. The combined annual sales of its 11 restaurants now amount to KRW 4.3 billion.”
Food Cultural Zone designation helped these restaurants overcome distances from residential and office areas.
▶21 Culinary Cultural Zones Designated in Gyeonggi Province since 2010
Since 2010, when six areas including Daengigol (댕이골) were designated as Food Cultural Zones, 21such zones have been designated and provided with various incentives by Gyeonggi Province
▶Kang Bong-won / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Food Culture Team
“We provided support of KRW 63 million this year, KRW 1 million to each restaurant. We will continue to support restaurants that observe good culinary practices.”
The Good Restaurant and Food Cultuval Zone designations also have positive effects on the local economies.

Article 3. Gyeonggi Province Holds Educational Environment Meeting (1210-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
On December 9, Gyeonggi Province officials led by Governor Nam had a meeting with parents of students and the representatives of thirteen primary schools in rural districts so as to identify pressing issues pertaining to educational environments.
[Report]
▶Maesong Primary School, Hwaseong (December 9)
2nd On-site Meeting for Gyeonggi Province Special Project for School Support
It was the second such meeting following last month’s meeting on urban educational environments held in Suwon (수원) City.
This time, the meeting was held at a primary school in Hwaseong (화성) City and focused on rural educational environments
▶Park Hyang-suk / Head of Maesong Primary School Parent Association
“School libraries should be comfortable. However, one cannot stay there for more than an hour because it is too cold during the winter and too warm during the summer.”
There have been a number of indications about the necessity for programs during off-school hours, especially following the recent implementation of the 9-o’clock school start tem.
▶Ho Mo-seon/ Bibong Primary School Parent Association Member
“There are no educational opportunities for talent and aptitude development either within the communities or at schools. Absolutely none. Unless some support is made available…”
There were also requests for extended operation hours for safety guides around schools, as well as for the expansion of school bus services for many children who have to commute long distances.
▶Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“We will work with the provincial education office and do our utmost to address the issues beginning with those of highest priority and required by most.”
This educational environment support movement of the Gyeonggi provincial administration is part of its cooperative endeavors to assist the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, which is currently experiencing financial difficulties.
 
Article 4.Collage Arts Exhibition Opens at Gyeonggi Museum (1208-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
On November 29, the Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art opened a Collage Arts Exhibition.
Originating from the word ‘pasting’, a collage is an artistic composition done by pasting or assembling various forms of materials not normally associated with each other, thus creating a new whole.
[Report]
▶[Top of Screen]‘Lamenting the Architectural Discretions’ by Yang Hye-gyu
Electric bulbs and wires hung on coat hangers, and dangling funnels and yarn…. Combinations of these unlikely components create a strange but subtle sense of balance.
▶[Top of Screen]“Two Faces” by Kim Dong-yu
This picture of a face is, in fact, a collection of many small images of the same face drawn individually.
▶[Top of Screen]‘Ruby-Nike-Bape’ by Gwon O-sang
This sculpture, made with a number of two-dimensional photographs, depicts human society in which everyone is dependent on each other.
▶Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art (November 29, 2014 – January 25, 2015)
Exhibition, ‘Collage Arts – Thoughts Weaving, Images Blending’
This collage art exhibition features artworks created with common objects by twenty-one Korean collage artists
▶Oh Chang-hui / Viewer
“I realize that collages are deeply embedded in our everyday life. Perhaps life itself is a collage…”
The fifty artworks on display at this exhibition, unhindered in their materials and genres, showcase the creativity of the artists.
▶Hwang Rok-ju / Curator, Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art
“You can say that the pieces displayed at this exhibition are not painted artworks but pasted ones. It will also be fun to find out what materials were used in each piece.”

▶Creativity Development Program
In tandem with the exhibition, a creativity development program is also open to the public in which participants can create their own collages.
▶Exhibition, ‘Collage Arts’ Open until January 25
This collage art exhibition is being held at the Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art in Ansan (안산) City of Gyeonggi Province, and will run until January 25 next year.
 
Article 5.Gyeonggi Lifelong Education Student Meeting (1210-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
On December 9 and 10, the Gyeonggi Provincial Institute of Lifelong Learning held a presentation and communication event for the participants of the provincial lifelong education programs this year.
[Report]
▶Gyeonggi Province Lifelong College (December 9 – 10)
Gyeonggi Lifelong Education Student Meeting
A woman reads a poem she wrote after eight months of poetry study at the lifelong education center in Gwangmyeong (광명) City of Gyeonggi Province.
▶“…How he misses the time bygone, now within the confinement of a wheelchair undone…”
Housewives boast the skills they honed in handicraft classes.
Every corner of the Gyeonggi Province Lifelong College in Ansan (안산) City, where this event took place, is filled with the enthusiasm with which former lifelong education students from the thirty-one cities and counties of the province present or share their acquired knowledge.
▶Choi Jong-guk / Director, Jangja Village Happy Learning Center, Pocheon
“I noticed many creative attempts which are unique and new. I hope to be able to introduce such creative learning programs to our village.”
There are also scenes of communication in which participants of mixed generations engage in serious discussions on various subjects and share their thoughts and learning experiences.
▶Lifelong Learning Experiences Sharing and Communication
The purpose of this event was to provide lifelong education program participants with an opportunity to revisit their study subjects and communicate with each other.
▶Lee Seong / President, Gyeonggi Provincial Institute for Lifelong Learning
“Each region has different educational environments and resources. Sharing learning experiences among people from different regions is all the more valuable because of that.”
The finale of the Gyeonggi Lifelong Education Student Meeting was marked by a gathering of more than a thousand lifelong education personnel from all corners of Gyeonggi Province to celebrate their achievements.
The lifelong education tem of Gyeonggi Province has been a role model for other autonomies of Korea.
 
Article 6.Gyeonggi Children’s Centers Receive Donations (1209-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
On December 8, a donation presentation ceremony for children’s centers in Gyeonggi Province was held. These donations, which were made by Gyeonggi Province as well as sponsoring enterprises, will be used for facility improvement and program development.
[Report]
▶Woori Multicultural District Children’s Center, Ansan
This children’s center is located in a district densely populated by foreign residents. More than thirty children were using this center when its operations were hampered by serious financial difficulties.
▶Donations Enabled Facility Improvement and Program Expansion
However, after receiving donations from Gyeonggi Province and private enterprises last year, this center was able to improve its facilities and introduce more experiential programs.
Children and their parents are greatly pleased with its improved environment and services.
▶Park Seong-hui / Social Worker, Woori Multicultural District Children’s Center
“(Thanks to the donations,) we were able to provide children with a comfortable environment and more space for activities. We also took children on a cultural experiential tour to Gyeongju.”

▶International Conference Room, Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (December 8)
Children’s Center Upgrade Donation Ceremony
The donation presentation ceremony was held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex.
▶Donations Presented to 10 Regional Children’s Centers in Gyeonggi Province
Donations were presented to ten local children’s centers in Gyeonggi Province. These centers will use the money for much needed facility improvements as well as the introduction of educational and cultural programs for children.
▶Go Gwang-gap / Director, Gyeonggi Province Child and Youth Division
“We have been endeavoring to upgrade the facilities and services of regional children’s centers. We will work with private organizations and enterprises to promote donations.”

▶KRW 600 Million Targeted for Children’s Center Support for This Year
Gyeonggi Province will continue to support regional children’s centers and raise the targeted KRW 600 million for the Children’s Center Upgrade Project by the end of this year.
 
Article 7. Indonesia Emerges as Major Medical Service Market (1209-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Gyeonggi Province recently invited officials from Indonesia to participate in a tour of provincial medical facilities. Indonesia is emerging as a major market for Gyeonggi Province’s international medical services following China, Russia, and the United States.
[Report]
▶SAM Medical Center, Gunpo
At a general hospital in Gunpo (군포) City of Gyeonggi Province, public officials and medical personnel from Indonesia are trying an oriental medical treatment.
▶Santi Apipi / Jakarta Official
“We don’t have this in Indonesia. I am intrigued.”

▶Officials from 3 Regions of Indonesia Join Medical Service Tour in Gyeonggi Province
During the medical tour, the Indonesian officials viewed advanced medical facilities of the province and witnessed the treatment of foreign patients while listening to detailed explanations.
They were impressed by the quality of the medical services.
▶Dien Emmawata / Director, Jakarta Health Office
“We usually go to Singapore since it is closer. I think Korea will be preferred in the future because the medical service quality is excellent.”

▶600,000 Indonesian Patients Travel Overseas for Treatment Annually
Indonesia has the fourth largest population in the world.
Since Indonesia has limited medical resources and infrastructure, 600,000 patients travel overseas annually, mostly to neighboring Singapore, spending an estimated USD 1.1 billion for medical services.
However, there are an increasing number of Indonesian patients coming to Korea for skin care and plastic surgery as well as cancer treatments.
▶Park Sang-eun / Director, SAM Medical Center
“Since the Indonesian economy is steadily growing, there will be a significant growth in medical service demand. If we pay more attention to and prepare for such demand, we expect more Indonesians will choose to use Korean medical institutes.”
Gyeonggi Province has been paying more attention to the potential growth of medical service demand among Indonesians, and has initially targeted the regions of Jakarta, North Sumatra and East Java for medical tourism promotion.
▶Gyeonggi Province Signs Medical Cooperation Agreement with North Sumatra
Gyeonggi Province has already signed an agreement with North Sumatra for medical personnel exchanges and cooperation.
▶Lee Han-gyeong / General Director, Gyeonggi Province Health and Welfare Bureau
“We targeted the attraction of 40,000 foreign patients by 2018. Indonesia will be the third largest market following China and Russia.”
National medical revenue from foreign patients amounted to KRW 390 billion last year alone. This figure will increase significantly when Indonesian patients are included.