Article 1. Gahak Cave Areas to be Developed into Theme Park (1103-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Since its reopening in 2012, the Gahak (가학) Mine Cave in Gwangmyeong (광명) City of Gyeonggi Province has become a favorite destination among local residents. However, many visitors are inconvenienced by the lack of amenities in its vicinity.
[Report]
Gakak Mine Cave, Gwangmyeong
The Gahak (가학)Cave attracted more than 400,000 visitors this year alone.
However, there are virtually no supplementary facilities for the cave because it is located in a Development Restriction Zone that bars the construction of any new facilities.
To address this problem, Gyeonggi Province decided to develop the area into a theme park complete with tourist facilities.
[Interview]Yoo Myeong-sik / Certified Culture Tour Guide
“People complain about having no places to eat, no places to go other than the cave itself. It would be much better if there is a developed area close by.”
Tourist Theme Park to be Developed around Gahak Cave
Gyeonggi Province has already designated park development areas around the cave.
GTV Reporter, Choi Chang-sun
“The mountain behind me is Gahak Mountain of Gwangmyeong City. It is in a development restriction zone now, but will become part of a large theme park.”
This 610,000-square-meterpark will contain comprehensive resort facilities including an observation tower, cafeterias, a rock climbing sports facility, a tree garden, and many other leisure facilities.
[Interview]Kim Tae-jeong / Director, Gyeonggi Province Regional Policy Division
“Approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is all that is left until we can start development, in which we will invest KRW 52 billion by 2018…”
When the Gahak (가학) Theme Park is complete, it will become one of the major tourist attractions of Gwangmyeong (광명) City for both local and foreign visitors.
It will also contribute to the local economy.
 
Article 2.Mobile Base Stations to Be Banned Near Childcare Centers (1104-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
For the first time in Korea, a legislative movement to restrict the installation of mobile base stations close to childcare centers is being pursued in Gyeonggi Province. Its purpose is to protect children from electromagnetic waves generated by mobile telecommunications.
[Report]
According to the World Health Organization, electromagnetic waves from mobile phones may have carcinogenic effects.
[CG]The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute of Korea reported that children are more susceptible to electromagnetic waves of certain bandwidths.
[CG]Another survey observed a higher prevalence of ADHD among children exposed to greater mobile phone usage.
[Phone Interview]Lee Ae-gyeong / Researcher, ETRI Bio electromagnetics Research Team
“The body mass index of children decreases when they reach the age six. BMI affects the body’s susceptibility to electromagnetic waves; a lean body mass with lower a BMI is more susceptible.”
Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly
Electromagnetism-Free Childcare Center Ordinance
The Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly is preparing to enact an ordinance to designate areas around childcare centers as electromagnetism-free zones.
Mobile Base Stations Installed at Many Childcare Centers and Kindergartens in Gyeonggi Province
Although mobile base stations generate intense electromagnetic waves, many of them were installed above childcare centers and kindergartens in Gyeonggi Province.
Mobile Base Stations in Electromagnetism-Free Zones to Be Removed
According to this ordinance, no mobile base stations can be installed within the electromagnetism-free zones. Those already installed must be moved within two years. Indoor wireless internet access points must also be installed away from the movement range of children.
[Interview]Lee Jae-jun / Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member
“The idea of this ordinance stemmed from the need to protect our children. It is also necessary to improve the performance of base stations as well as electronic devices to create environments safe from electromagnetism.”
Deliberation of the Electromagnetism-Free Childcare Center Ordinance draft will take place during the current Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly regular session.
 
Article 3. Gyeonggi and Incheon Agree to Cooperate in KTX Projects (1105-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
On November 4, the heads of the Gyeonggi Province and Incheon (인천) City administrations signed a cooperation agreement for early the implementation of KTX railroad construction projects.
[Report]
Suwon Station
KTX express trains stop at Suwon Station eight times a day. However, since they run on the existing Gyeongbu (경부) Line up to Daejeon (대전), the travel time on the Suwon-Daejeon (수원-대전) section is still the same as that of ordinary Saemaul (새마을) trains.
[Interview]Choi Bu-seon / KTX User, Gwonseon-dong, Suwon
“I hope that there will be more frequent KTX train departures. I also hope that KTX trains can run at the faster speeds that people normally expect from KTX lines.”
That is exactly what the KTX Suwon Departure Project of Gyeonggi Province aims to achieve.
[CG]This project consists of the construction of a 4.5-kilometer section that connects Seojeong-ri (서정리) on the Gyeongbu (경부) Line directly to the Suseo-Pyeongtaek (수서-평택) section of the KTX line. This KTX line section is currently being constructed.
KTX Suwon Departure Project
Suwon-Daejeon Travel Time Reduced by 19 Minutes-Departures from Suwon Increased to 20
When this connection project is completed, the travel time between Suwon (수원) and Daejeon (대전) will be reduced by nineteen minutes, and the number of runs can be increased to twenty.
[CG]Incheon City also has a similar project which connects the Suwon-Incheon (수원-인천) Line to the Gyeongbu (경부) Line to enable travelers to go directly south without having to travel up to Seoul or Gwangmyeong (광명) station to transfer.
Suwon-Incheon Line Construction Site (November 4)
Gyeonggi-Incheon Cooperation MOU for Early Implementation of KTX Projects
Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil and Incheon City Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok (유정복) signed a cooperation agreement for the early realization of these two KTX connection projects.
[Interview]Incheon City Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok
“Under the current situation, this cooperation agreement is necessary for the implementation of the project, which provides hope to local residents.”
[Interview]Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“I declare that these projects are essential not only for Incheon and Gyeonggi Province but also for the Next Korea, the future of Korea.”
Work on these KTX connections is expected to begin in 2016 since requests for increased budgets for these projects have already been made to the related ministry.
 
Article 4. Pine Cone Extract for Cosmetics Developed in Gyeonggi Province (1104-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
A Gyeonggi provincial research institute announced that it has developed a technology to extract a functional cosmetics ingredient from pine cones. Our reporter examined the details.
[Report]
The Forestry Environment Research Center has developed this eco-friendly cosmetics manufacturing technology and is now ready to transfer it to cosmetics manufacturers.
[PiP-Interview]Park Ju-hye / CEO of Cosmetics Enterprise, Aspiring Technology Recipient
“It feels smooth on skin and is absorbed well. My skin feels well nourished.”
[CG]Compared with synthetic compounds generally used in cosmetics, the pine cone extract has been found to be more effective in fighting atopic dermatitis, acne and wrinkles as well as inflammation.
Anti-oxidation Effect Prevents Skin Aging
It was also proven to have an excellent anti-oxidation effect, which prevents aging of the skin, and can protect the skin from harmful substances.
More Economical than Other Natural Cosmetics Ingredients
Another notable benefit is that pine cones are much cheaper than other natural ingredients such as ginseng and herbs.
[Interview]Chae Jeong-woo / Researcher, Gyeonggi Forestry Environment Research Center
“We have nine patents related to pine cone extraction. We plan to transfer these patented technologies to domestic enterprises and help them launch their products in China.”
Applications for Technology Transfer Received until November 14
Applications for technology transfers are being received until November 14 with the targeted commercialization of products by mid-December.
Utilization of Pine Cones to Increase Farmer Income
Pine cones, or specifically, pine nut tree cones, are discarded after the pine nuts are harvested from them. They are now emerging as a new source of income for farmers.
 
Article 5. Gyeonggi Residents Communicate with Provincial Office through Kakao Talk (1105-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Kakao Talk is an instant mobile messaging application for smart phones with free text and call features. It was recently adopted by the Gyeonggi provincial administration for communication with residents.
[Report]
Annoyed by trash that frequently appears in front of her house, a housewife takes out a mobile phone and sends a Kakao Talk message to Gyeonggi provincial offices to report the problem and immediately receives a reply.
[Interview]Gwon Su-gyeong / Singal-dong, Yongin
“It is very convenient being able to file a complaint using Kakao Talk. I feel confidence in the provincial offices since they reply quickly with the assurance that they will deal with the problem immediately.”
A job searcher makes an enquiry about job fair information while in transit by conversing with a provincial officer via Kakao Talk.
[Interview]Oh Ju-hyeon / Godeung-dong, Suwon
“Information searching using an app was often difficult. (With Kakao Talk), it is now much more convenient, and I can get the answer to my question right away.”
Gyeonggi Province Opens Kakao Talk Account for Dialogue-Based Public Service.
Gyeonggi Province is the first local administration to open a Kakao Talk account for public services.
Add Gyeonggi Province to Kakao Talk-Plus Friends List to ‘Talk’ to Provincial Officers
Unlike public service phone applications which require software installation and filing procedures, Kakao Talk enables one to interact with provincial officers simply by adding Gyeonggi Province to the list of friends.
It is also user-friendly since most smart phone users also use Kakao Talk.
Consulting Officers on Standby 24 Hours
Consulting officers are on standby 24 hours a day to respond to public enquiries via Kakao Talk. A range of services from residential life issues to information enquiries can be handled directly through such dialogues.
[Interview]Seo Jeong-hun / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Future Information Team
“It is truly administration through communication. This service is expected to become very popular among residents. We will improve the service by analyzing the operation results and linking the service with other communication channels.”
The use of bi-directional communication via a messenger service is bringing the offices of Gyeonggi Province closer to residents.
 
Article 6. Gosari Schools Bring Smiles to Sheltered Children (1106-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
For the first time in Korea, Gyeonggi Province opened supplementary schools, entitled Gosari (고사리) Schools, for children who temporarily reside at children’s shelters, and is achieving great positive results.
[Report]
Gyeonggi North Children’s Shelter Gosari School
The objective of Gosari (고사리) Schools is to provide the resident children of temporary shelters with continuing education. These shelters are for children who have been abused or neglected.
[Interview]Lee Ga-yeong / Gosari School Student
“(Attending the Gosari School,) we could look into parts of our minds that we haven’t seen before; or the parts that we knew were there but didn’t understand. It’s like finding who I am bit by bit.”
The tematic Gosari School education tem of changing the lives of such children.
Supplementary Education during Education Interruption
These schools provide children with supplementary education through regular classes as well as therapeutic education in music and art classes while their education is interrupted during their stay at the shelter.
Children easily bond with other children who have similar experiences.
It also helps them nurture a cooperative and understanding spirit that, in turn, aids their healing.
Those in their pre-school ages are provided with play-based education.
[Interview] Choi Seo-hyeon / Instructor, Gyeonggi North Children’s Shelter
“We give children the education that they missed as well as therapeutic care so that they can face the world with brighter faces when they leave the shelter, return home, or go to other facilities.”
This year, fifty children were provided with Gosari (고사리) School education.
Quality of Education to Be Improved
Gyeonggi Province plans to improve the education quality of Gosari Schools to normal school standards through the establishment of education facilities separate from the shelters.
 
Article 7. 292nd Regular Session of Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly (1104-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
On November 4, the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly opened its 292nd regular session, which will run for forty-six days until December 19. During this session, the assembly will review a number of important matters including the budget for next year.
[Report]
Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly (November 4)
292nd Regular Session
This is the first regular session of the ninth Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly.
More than 50 Items to Review
Among the items to be reviewed during this session are several ordinance drafts and this year’s revised supplementary budget and as well as next year’s budget.
Free School Meal Ordinance Draft to be Discussed
The Free School Meal Ordinance, which passed the standing committee but was not brought up at the general meeting, will be discussed during this session. The North-South Provincial Division Resolution will also be presented during this session.
[Soundbite]Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Chairman Kang Deuk-ku
“Today is meaningful in that it is the first day of the regular session with Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil and Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education Superintendent Lee Jae-jeong present…”
On the opening day of the regular session, five provincial assembly members made free speeches about some of the important current issues of Gyeonggi Province.
[Soundbite]Kim Si-yong / Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member
“The illegal installation of objects on bridges, elevated roads and tunnels in Gyeonggi Province must be eradicated and…”
[Soundbite]Kim Won-ki / Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member
“The position of the head of the North Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters must be promoted so as to establish effective on-site command tem.”
The agenda of this regular assembly session includes administrative office audits for provincial administration offices, the provincial office of education and twenty-six affiliated provincial organizations from November 11 to 24.