Article 1. Gyeonggi to Provide Emergency Financial Aid to Pantech’s Suppliers (0818-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government plans to release emergency financial funds of KRW 30 billion to aid suppliers of Pantech, a Gyeonggi Province-based mobile phone manufacturer.
[Report]
This provincial decision follows Pantech’s filing for legal protection that effectively freezes its debts.
Pantech Files for “Enterprise Revival Procedure”
Pantech has been on the verge of liquidation due to recent global changes in mobile phone distribution structures that adversely affected Korean manufacturers.
While this company is under court management, which began on August 12, its 550 creditors, mostly small and medium-sized part suppliers, face a looming danger of closure due to frozen cash flows.
Nearly two thirds of these companies, with their 43,000 employees, are located in Gyeonggi Province.
Emergency Financial Aid of KRW 30 Billion to Be Released to Pantech’s Suppliers
The emergency provincial aid will be used to minimize the damage that these enterprises will inevitably have to bear.
[soundbite]Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“We made emergency funds of KRW 30 billion available for operation financing. If necessary, we will pursue commitments from local governments and the Small and Medium Business Administration for additional support.”
Operation Financing of up to KRW 500 Million per Enterprise Plus Increased Credit Guarantee
Each recipient will be entitled to financial support of up to KRW 500 million as well as priority consideration in credit guarantee limitations on their loan applications.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil /“Administrations and Telecom Companies Are More to Blame”
Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil stated that the Pantech problem is more the result of a failure by administrations to create competitive business environments. Governor Nam also urged the three major telecommunication companies to take up additional orders for 130,000 phone units and the central government to take measures to minimize the ripple effects of the situation.
 
Article 2. 100 Days of Locating Individuals in Welfare Blind Spots (0819-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
More than a hundred days ago, a team of Gyeonggi provincial officials was established to begin searching for families and individuals isolated from welfare tems. This team has since made remarkable achievements.
[Report]
Hwang / Senior Resident, Yongsu-ri, Gwangju
Hwang lives in a roadside tent house that also served as a clothing shop. His makes only KRW 300,000 a month by selling used clothes he gathers. Since losing his teeth, he has been consuming liquids only, and his health has deteriorated rapidly.
[Interview]Hwang / Individual Isolated from Welfare System Found by Gyeonggi Team
“I have been eating only food that can be swallowed without chewing, which led me to suffer weight loss and malnutrition. I felt dizzy and very weak…”
Hwang’s case was reported by his dentist. He is now a recipient of the provincial living expense benefit as well as dental treatment cost support from a private welfare foundation.
In Gwangju (광주) City, for example, the number of reports of individuals isolated from welfare tems like Hwang have increased by more than 30 percent.
[Interview]Choi Yeong-jin / Chief Official, Gwangju City Muhandolbom Team
“More senior residents unknown towel fare tems as well as those we might not have been able to locate are being reported and identified, contributing to the elimination of welfare blind spots.”
Welfare Blind Spot Search Team Established in Gyeonggi Province in April
This past April, a special Gyeonggi Province team began searching for unknown welfare benefit candidates.
[CG]In 100 days from the inauguration of the search team, the number of households that this team visited and those that receive welfare benefits increased many-fold thanks to the active involvement of community members who contributed with more than 1,300 reports.
[Interview]Bae Yeong-sang / Head of Gyeonggi Province Welfare Blind Spot Search Team
“There has been a tremendous number of contributions by community members who worked as Muhandolbom assistants. We will provide them with more education and incentives to strengthen their capacities and to reward them…”
Gyeonggi Province will also strengthen cooperation with private welfare organizations and improve welfare policies so as to enable more people to benefit from provincial welfare tems.
 
Article 3. Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra Begins Skills Donation for Aspiring Conductors (0819-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
A hundred members of the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra began donating their time to help students who aspire to become conductors but who would never have dreamed of practicing their skills with real orchestras. Our reporter went to witness the scene.
[Report]
Grand Hall, Gyeonggi Arts Center
At this hall in the Gyeonggi Arts Center, members of the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra exhibit utmost concentration while rehearsing piece sled by a conductor.
Today, the conductors of this full four-part orchestra are students in their twenties and thirties who have yet to make professional debuts.
[Interview]Kang Dae-woong / Student, Conductor Dream Sharing Program Participant
“There is a big difference between practicing alone and doing it on stage with actual musicians. Since they are professional musicians, they are really well prepared to accommodate what we want and…”
Conductor Dream Sharing Program of Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra
The orchestra members have been donating their time to help students of high potential by providing them with the opportunity to practice their conducting skills with professional musicians.
Entitled “Conductor Dream Sharing Program”, this year’s event is the third of its kind.
This year, six aspiring conductors, selected from among students who have not had overseas study experience, participated in the program.
Each had a mentoring session with the head of the orchestra before rehearsal.
[Interview]Seong Si-yeon / Head of Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra
“A moment of enlightenment as a conductor is important and can last a lifetime. Participating in this program, students can experience what they have never had…”
What an orchestra is to a conductor is what a musical instrument is to its player. To become a conductor, one needs to practice with orchestras. The Conductor Dream Sharing Program is providing that opportunity to young aspiring conductors. 
Article 4. Gyeonggi Province Goes on Full Foot-and-Mouth Disease Alert (0820-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Following the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in North Gyeongsang (경상) Province last month, Gyeonggi Province went on full alert and began the production of an eco-friendly disinfectant and vaccine to prevent the disease.
[Report]
Livestock Farm / Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province
The owner of this livestock farm in Hwaseong (화성) City has vaccinated his 110 head of cattle against foot-and-mouth disease, but is still deeply concerned by news of the outbreak of the disease.
[Interview]Park Gwang-soon / Livestock Farmer
“I am worried because I may have to bury all my cattle if any of them catches the disease. To prevent this, I should keep the vaccination schedule, sterilize the sheds thoroughly and…”
In Gyeonggi Province, the period from October tonext May is designated as a special foot-and-mouth quarantine period.
Gyeonggi Moves Quarantine Period Up and Operates 24/7 Emergency Quarantine System
Since foot-and-mouth disease occurred early this year, Gyeonggi Province has moved up the quarantine period, began operating the emergency quarantine tem on a 24/7 basis, and intensified preventive activities against this highly infectious disease.
Production of Eco-friendly Disinfectant Begins
The provincial government also began producing Foot-and-Mouth Zero, an eco-friendly disinfectant compound consisting of lactic acid bacteria and citric acid that increases the immunity of animals while destroying the pathogenic virus.
[Interview]Lim Byeong-gyu / Director, Gyeonggi Province Veterinary Service
“We are now supplying Foot-and-Mouth Zero to all livestock farms in the province and strengthened vaccination monitoring to ensure a 100 percent antibody development rate at all farms.”
At least sixty tons of Foot-and-Mouth Zero will be used, especially in provincial border areas and previously infected areas.
Livestock farmers were also advised to strengthen their preventive measures through vaccination, sterilization and access restriction.
 
Article 5. Gyeonggi Province Announces Small & Medium Business Support Policies (0821-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
On August 20, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government announced special small and medium business support policies. This announcement was made in line with the various economic revival policies announced recently by the central government.
[Report]
The provincial government’s small and medium business support policies can be divided into three categories.
Small & Medium Business Promotion Funds to Be Increased to KRW 2 Trillion
Small and medium business promotion funds will be increased from KRW 1.3 trillion to KRW 2 trillion using additional budgetary sources. More than 2,500 enterprises, the largest number in Korea, are expected to additionally benefit from the increased funds.
Credit Guarantee Funds to Be Increased to KRW 1.8 Trillion
Credit guarantee funds will also be increased to KRW 1.8 trillion with guarantee fees discounted by up to one percent.
These two provincial policies were designed to alleviate financial burdens on smaller businesses in their early stages.
Special Guarantee for Business Revival
A special guarantee will also be made available to businesses attempting revival.
This is the first of its kind in Korea and was based on a suggestion that Governor Nam received during his industrial field visits.
Based on an official assessment, a special guarantee of up to KRW 100 million will be offered to each individual whose business has failed but still possesses technological potential.
[Interview]Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs Park Soo-yeong
“It is not their credit ratings but their technological potential that matters. Gyeonggi Province will identify individuals with high potential and provide them with an opportunity to try again even if their first attempt failed.”
Multifaceted Site-Oriented Business Support
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government will also expand various small and medium business support programs such as business environmental improvement support, the Technology Doctor Program, and exchange risk coverage insurance.
More than 14,000 enterprises are expected to benefit from the special small and medium business support policies of Gyeonggi Province announced for the second half of the year.
 
Article 6. Gyeonggi Province Designates More “Top Eateries” (0822-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
In Gyeonggi Province, there is an official recognition tem for restaurants. Those restaurants that maintain exemplary practices and offer excellent food are selected for a privileged “Top Eatery” title.
[Report]
Myeonggajeong, Suwon
This galbi restaurant is unique even in Suwon where galbi, barbequed beef ribs, are a local specialty.
Its recipe was developed thirty years ago by the owner himself.
Unlike others, this restaurant uses black beans and black sesame and, instead of soy sauce, salt and sugar to create its proprietary taste and to enhance nutritional value.
[Interview]Lee jong-seop / Owner of Myeonggajeong
“I differentiated our galbi by adding beans and sesame and had terrific responses from customers. We now have customers come from as far away as Seoul and other Gyeonggi areas as well as from Busan and Mokpo.”
In addition to the uniqueness of the taste, this restaurant also scored high in hygiene, service and the qualifications of its chefs, and was selected as a Top Eatery of Gyeonggi Province.
Top Eatery of Gyeonggi Province Introduced in 2006
Different from the Exemplary Restaurants designated by city and county governments, Gyeonggi Province’s Top Eatery designation began in 2006 among traditional and local food restaurants.
Number of Top Eateries Increased by 14 to 165 Restaurants in Total This Year
This year, fourteen more Top Eateries were designated for a total of 165 such restaurants.
[Interview]Kang Bong-won / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Food Culture Team
“Visitors and residents can trust Top Eateries. We plan to increase the number of such eateries to 200 by the year 2018.”
Gyeonggi Top Eatery Homepage :www.ggfood.go.kr
For detailed information and a list of the Top Eateries of Gyeonggi Province, visit the homepage. The same list will also be accessible via mobile phones from early next year.
 
Article 7. 183 Red Buses Added in Gyeonggi Province (0822-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
Gyeonggi Province has secured an agreement with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the cities of Seoul and Incheon on increasing the number of red buses, and announced a schedule for adding these buses that connect Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan regions of Gyeonggi Province.
[Report]
Gyeonggi Province Announces Plan for More Red Buses
According to the announced schedule, more than 200 red buses will be added beginning with eight-nine buses on thirty-five routes on August 25.
203 Red Buses to Be Added on 66 Routes
A total of 203 buses will be added on sixty-six routes until shortly after September 1 when transportation demand will increase as the vacation season ends and schools reopen.
183 Gyeonggi Buses to Be Included
Among these buses, 183 Gyeonggi Province buses will be added on 60 routes.
Total of 394 Red Buses Added in Gyeonggi Province
This means that, with 211 buses added on July 16, a total of 394 buses will have been added in Gyeonggi Province.
However, it is still far from the additional 600 buses that Gyeonggi Province needs in order to resolve related transportation problems.
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Permits Flexible Operation with Standing Passengers
Recently, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport permitted the flexible acceptance of standing passengers on red buses. The Gyeonggi Provincial Government will continue to monitor the situation and negotiate with related government agencies, while developing measures to improve red bus services.
Red Bus Users Expected to Increase by 5,000 in September
The ministry expects that the number of red bus users during commuting hours will increase by more than 5,000 after the summer vacation and holiday season.