Article 1.Gyeonggi Province Announces Reorganization Plan (0825-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
On August 21, following last month’s provincial reorganization, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government announced a more detailed division-level restructuring plan.
[Report]
This plan includes the introduction of a team for Governor Nam’s proposed project,…
‘Warm & Blessed Town’ Support Team and Mobile Safety Inspection Team to Be Introduced
…tentatively titled the Warm and Blessed Town Support Team.
The Mobile Safety Inspection Team will also be established in the Fire & Disaster Headquarters.
Social Job Division for Integrated Employment Project Management to Be Introduced
The Social Job Division will be established to integrate various employment projects dispersed among different divisions so as to provide more effective employment support.
Taxi Policy Division and Ombudsman Program to Be Introduced
For the advancement of the taxi industry and its services, the Taxi Policy Division will be introduced.
An ombudsman program will also be implemented to safeguard the rights of residents against possible administrative wrongs.
Provincial Office Construction Promotion Team and Railroad Construction Divisin to Be Introduced
The new Provincial Office Construction Promotion Team as well as the Railroad Construction Division will be established for the effective implementation of the related projects.
International Cooperation Bureau and Big Data Division to Be Introduced
The International Cooperation Bureau will be established in the Economy & Investment Office for the independent administration of foreign affairs as well as the Big Data Division in the Information System Planning Bureau for big data utilization.
Logistics Division and Service Industry Division to Be Closed
Architecture Division and Design Division to Be Merged into Architecture & Design Division
The existing Logistics Division and the Service Industry Division will be closed while the Architecture Division and the Design Division will be merged into the Architecture & Design Division.
From 13 Bureaus 116 Divisions To 14 Bureaus 119 Divisions
According to the reorganization plan, which is subject to ratification by the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly when it convenes on September 15, the provincial administration will eventually consist of fourteen bureaus and 119 divisions.
 
Article 2.Ban on Billiard Halls in School Zones (0826-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Billiards, one of the universally recognized ‘sports for all’, is enjoyed by people of all ages in Korea. However, billiard halls are still classified as ‘business places harmful to juveniles’, and are not allowed within 200 meters of schools, a regulation violated by many.
[Report]
Maetan High School, Suwon
Billiards became a regular sports event in the Asian Games in 1998.
This high school in Suwon (수원) City of Gyeonggi Province even has a billiards team consisting of five aspiring players who are preparing for university entrance with a billiards major.
A Gyeonggi Province team organized a public hearing to discuss the efficacy of the zoning regulation with related members of the public.
[Interview] Han Choon-ho / Meatan High School Billiards Team Coach
“If billiards is recognized as a real sport, the distance (of billiard halls) from schools shouldn’t matter. It is a lack of such recognition that allows such a regulation to exist and that causes inconvenience.”
School Health Law Prohibits Billiard Halls within School Environment Zones
This regulation dates back in 1981 when billiard halls were included among business places deemed harmful to juveniles.
These places are prohibited in ‘school environment zones’, a200-meterareaaround schools as defined in the School Health Law.
During the public hearing, a Korea Billiard Association representative argued that the regulation is an infringement upon business rights when juveniles are free to use billiard halls.
An official from the Suwon Office of Education expressed concern about the possible adverse effects of excluding billiard halls from among the businesses prohibited in school zones.
[Interview]Park Soo-yeong / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Regulatory Reformation Promotion Team
“Majority opinion is leaning toward mitigation of the regulation. I hope that such mitigation will alleviate inconvenience and be helpful for business among those who are related to this sport.”
Based on the findings of the public hearing, Gyeonggi Province plans to make a proposal to the central government for mitigation of this regulation.
 
Article 3. Gyeonggi Province Intensifies Prevention of Sinkholes (0827-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Recent successive sinkhole occurrences in downtown areas have raised concerns in Korea. To prevent further occurrences, Gyeonggi Province began proactive measures, investigating for signs of sinkhole formation, which Governor Nam Kyung-pil undertook himself at a subway construction site.
[Report]
Governor Nam visited the Migeum (미금) Station construction site on the Shinbundang (신분당) Line.
Governor Nam Checks Safety at Migeum Station Construction Site
After receiving a briefing at the site, Governor Nam entered an underground tunnel to inspect the safety status first hand.
Governor Nam emphasized the importance of safety for underground work, and called for special care during heavy rains to prevent the development of sinkholes.
[Interview]Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“I earnestly ask all of you to do your utmost to successfully complete construction without safety incidents.”
Underground work in Korea is relatively safe since limestone beds are rare. However, increasing groundwater usage and underground water leakage increases the risk of sinkhole formation.
Gyeonggi Research Institute / “95% of Residents in Metropolitan Areas Regard Sinkholes as Tangible Threat”
According to a survey undertaken by the Gyeonggi Research Institute, 95 percent of residents in metropolitan areas regard sinkholes as a tangible threat.
Gyeonggi Province Intensifies Sinkhole Prevention
Taxi drivers and traffic reporters will be invited to join in the early identification of sinkholes.
All possible sinkhole formation areas will be investigated by the end of the month.
The priority, however, is the establishment of an institutional tem and guidelines for responding to sinkhole occurrences.
[Interview]Lee Won-yeong / Director, Gyeonggi Province Road Planning Division
“As soon as we receive investigation results and a response manual from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, we will begin public education in cooperation with the central government.”
Gyeonggi Province will also establish a basic road safety plan and utilize advanced pavement management techniques so as to fundamentally prevent road danger.
 
Article 4. Graffiti Art Exhibition at Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art (0825-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
On August 7, an unusual art exhibition opened at the Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art. Entitled “Art on the Street– Graffiti Art”, this exhibition, the first of its kind in Korea, features internationally recognized Korean graffiti artists. Our reporter was there.
[Report]
Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art / ‘Art on the Street – Graffiti Art’ Exhibition
Originating from drawings on the walls of urban areas in New York City, graffiti has now become a distinct genre in modern art.
The walls of the exhibition hall are covered with huge and colorful renderings of caricatures, letters and images.
Paintings on Walls by 12 Korean Graffiti Artists
Unlike gallery-style artwork, these paintings are not done on framed canvases, but instead have been drawn on walls by twelve artists who have received awards in international events. Viewers can also appreciate music and videos presented in association with the paintings.
[Interview]Gwon Yeong-eun / Viewer
“I thought graffiti was just random scrawls on street walls. Having seen the pieces here, I now know that there are various types of graffiti.”
First Gallery Display of Graffiti in Korea
This exhibition is the first attempt at exhibiting graffiti art in a gallery instead of on the streets in Korea.
The organizer hopes that this event will set an example for such occasions in which the public can view graffiti from a new perspective.
[Interview]Choi Gi-yeong / Curator, Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art
“Since graffiti is street art, we organized the exhibition in a way that will enable viewers to feel as if they are walking on a street. We hope that viewers will remember this event as enjoyable.”
Together with DJ-ing, MC-ing and B-boy dancing, graffiti is one of four hip-hop elements.
Graffiti Art Exhibition / Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art (until September 21)
With its free style and intensity of expression, this graffiti exhibition will run at the Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art in Ansan (안산) City until September 21.
 
Article 5.Street Name-Based Address Promotion before Chuseok (0826-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Chuseok (추석) is a season during which there is a surge in demand for the delivery of gift items in Korea. In order to facilitate delivery traffic, Gyeonggi Province resumed intensive promotion of the street name-based address tem introduced nationally at the beginning of the year.
[Report]
Gyeonggi Province Transportation Education Institute
At this provincial education institute, private delivery service personnel watch a street name-based address promotion video.
Although most of them have been accustomed to house number-based addresses for many years, this animated video helps them understand the new tem more easily.
[Interview]Kim Jin-hwi / Delivery Service Personnel
“This video helps me clearly understand how to locate destinations more easily.”
New Address Usage Rate in Gyeonggi Province Increases from 18% to 39% in 8 Months
Over the past eight months, the new address usage rate has increased by more than 20 percent in Gyeonggi Province. Most residents, however, still prefer the previous house number-based addresses.
New Address Promotion before Chuseok
Gyeonggi Province intensified the promotion the new street name-based addresses so as to prevent confusion in deliveries.
A street name-based address promotion CD was produced this past May and distributed to post offices and private delivery service operators.
Local maps with street names are also being distributed to travelers at railroad stations and bus stops.
[Interview]Suh Eun-ju / Senior Official, Gyeonggi Province New Address Team
“We plan to publish street name guide books. These books contain the names of all streets in the 31 cities and counties of the province, and will be useful to delivery service and emergency mobilization personnel.”
Gyeonggi Province also plans to increase the new address usage rate through promotional efforts via various media and events.
 
Article 6. Gyeonggi Province Begins Inspection of Public Cardiac Defibrillators (0827-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Gyeonggi Province began an inspection of all cardiac defibrillators installed for emergency public use at various locations. These medical devices can be lifesavers for those who suffer cardiac arrest outdoors.
[Report]
Together with CPR, cardiac defibrillators are used for the emergency treatment of sudden heart failure.
Cardiac Arrest Can Cause Brain Damage after 4 Minutes
After four minutes without emergency treatment, cardiac arrest can cause brain damage and be fatal.
[Interview]Kim In-byeong / Head of Myeongji Hospital Emergency Medical Center
“The crucial survival factor for cardiac arrest victims is not treatment at a hospital after arrival, but the use of CPR and a cardiac defibrillator by a person on site.”
There are 6,000 automatic cardiac defibrillators installed at various public locations including apartment buildings in Gyeonggi Province. The province will inspect all of them.
GTV Reporter Lee Tae-hui
“Since cardiac defibrillators are used in critical, life-threatening circumstances, it is important to ensure that they are immediately usable and in working order.”
Cardiac Defibrillator Inspections in Gyeonggi Province
If necessary, consumables such as batteries and pads, or even the entire device, will be replaced.
Installation locations will also be checked to ensure that the devices are readily available.
Inspection results will be logged and managed through an emergency medical information network.
[Interview]Kim Hye-sook / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Pharmaceutical Administration Team
“We are investigating all cardiac defibrillators in the 31 cities and counties of the province. Results will be stored in an emergency medical information network. We will complete the education of personnel in the management of this network by December.”
In addition to the functional inspection of defibrillators at all locations, Gyeonggi Province will also educate residents to ensure that they know where the devices are and how to use them.
 
Article 7. DMZ Train Draws Tourists to the DMZ (0826-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Since its launch three months ago, the number of passengers on the DMZ Train that runs between Seoul Station and Dorasan (도라산) Station in the Demilitarized Zone has increased greatly.
[Report]
Imjingang Station
A DMZ Train that departed from Seoul Station an hour ago early in the morning arrives at Imjingang (임진강) Station.
At this station, passengers alight to go through DMZ entry procedures.
After the passengers have boarded again, the train continues on.
[Sound at the Scene]
“The barbed wire fence on the right marks the limit beyond which no civilians are allowed to go.”
The train passes through a landscape where time has stopped without human trace since the end of hostilities.
Upon hearing the announcement, all passengers look out the windows and are lost in the surreal scenery.
[PiP-Interview]Shin Chil-gyun / Songpa-gu, Seoul
“I took the train to remember the past. I used to serve in the DMZ, but it looks different now.”
The Dorasan (도라산) Station Tour Train, or DMZ Train, departs from Seoul Station twice a day.
15,000 Visit Dorasan Station in 3 Months
The Dorasan (도라산) Station Tour, which attracts many foreign tourists, includes visits to Dorasan (도라산) Peace Park and an underground tunnel excavated by North Korea.
[Interview]Jeanette, Evelyn & Béat / Tourists from Germany
“My friends and I looked into the Internet for tour information. (It’s) interesting.”
The DMZ train tour was temporarily closed in 2009 following a security incident, but reopened after four years.
KORAIL / “6.5 Times More Passengers vs. pre-Closure Numbers”
Since reopening, the number of passengers has increased from the previous daily average of 30to more than six times that number.
[Interview]Kim So-yeong / Chief of Dorasan Station, KORAIL
“We had only 10-20 visitors daily last year, but we had 16,000visitors since the reopening (of the train tour), which means 180 a day on average.”
There are more passengers on weekends, with some having to use standing passenger tickets.
Gyeonggi Province plans to link the DMZ tour programs with Peace Park programs to attract more visitors to the DMZ.