Article 1.Number of Individuals with Disabilities Increases in Gyeonggi Province (0728-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
With the number of individuals with disabilities in Gyeonggi Province increasing steadily, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government recently announced that it will expand welfare benefits and support for these individuals.
[Report]
Gyeonggi Province to Expand Welfare Benefits and Support for Individuals with Disabilities
The number of registered disabled in Gyeonggi Province is now more than 506,000, accounting for 4.1 percent of all provincial residents.
[CG]While the number of disabled in Korea is slowly decreasing, the proportion of those individuals in Gyeonggi Province relative to national numbers has been increasing since 2004.
Types of Disabilities: Physical(53.3%), Mental (10.3%), Visual(9.9%), Auditory (9.4%)
More than half of all the registered individuals with disabilities are those with movement impairments.
Individuals with Higher Degrees of Disabilities: 195,039 (38.5%)
More than 190,000 individuals have higher degrees of disability, first to third degree, accounting for 38.5 percent of all disabled individuals registered in the province.
[CG]Gyeonggi Province will expand customized support and welfare benefits for the disabled through the intensification of various support programs.
Improvement of Human Rights and Physical Convenience
The number of care providers will be increased and personal monitoring activities will be intensified to improve quality of life for disabled individuals.
Expansion of Social Participation Opportunities and Welfare Infrastructure
More employment and social participation opportunities will be provided through social events and employment support.
[Interview]Park Chan-gu / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Disabled Policy Team
“Since the income levels of individuals with disabilities are generally lower than those without, we will focus on providing support to help them maintain stable lives and achieve economic independence.”
The provincial government also plans to promote changes in the social recognition of individuals with disabilities to prevent unjustified social discrimination.
 
Article 2. Senior Smart Phone User Training by Seniors (0728-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
In Gyeonggi Province, senior citizens who have completed a smart phone usage education course and ed the skills are working as instructors to pass their knowledge to fellow seniors. They are receiving positive responses among class participants.
[Report]
Senior Welfare Center, Namyangju
In this classroom, senior students are intent on learning how to search the Internet, send messages, chat with friends and read quick response codes using their smart phones.
Nothing seems amiss, except that the students seem much more involved and relaxed.
That is because today’s instructor is a senior of over eighty years of age who, only weeks ago, was a student in the same class himself.
[Interview]Hwang Yeong-mok / Senior Smart Phone Education Instructor
“I was fascinated by smart phones; they are capable of all sorts of things and I found them extremely useful. So, I wanted to help others utilize them, too. I teach them at their eye level, so (they learn more effectively).”
They do indeed learn more effectively because the senior instructors understand exactly how to best engage with seniors.
[Interview]Oh Hwa-sook / Senior Smart Phone Education Class Student, Onam-ri, Namyangju
“Young instructors may find us too slow to learn. But with elder teachers, we feel more comfortable because they understand us better and help us until we actually learn.”
786 Seniors Received Smart Phone Usage Education in Gyeonggi Province
During the first half of the year, nearly eight hundred seniors received smart phone usage education from senior instructors at senior welfare centers around Gyeonggi Province.
[Interview]Kim Hyeon-hwa / Welfare Worker, Namyangju City Senior Welfare Center
“Many senior citizens have smart phones but do not use them fully simply because they do not know how to use them. We began training seniors who will work as instructors and have been receiving positive responses. Courses taught by senior instructors are now provided eight times a month.”
Senior and Student Volunteer Training for Senior Smart Phone Education
Gyeonggi Province will increase the number of senior instructors and student volunteers for smart phone usage education for seniors so as to bridge the information gap between seniors and modern society.
 
Article 3. In-Class Farm Experiential Program for Children (0729-2)
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Farm experience programs are both educational and beneficial for the emotional development of children. A Gyeonggi agricultural institute developed an educational program that enables primary school children to experience a farming environment without leaving the classroom.
[Report]
Farm experience programs are popular among children as well as primary schools due to their positive effects on children in their emotional development. However, on-site farm trips by children often raise safety concerns among primary schools.
‘In-Class Farm Environment Experience’ / Gosaek Primary School, Suwon
Through this program, children can learn about different aspects of farm environments–such as the lives of insects–with as much enjoyment within a classroom as on a farm through instruction, observation and experience.
This program is especially popular among those primary schools with pressing safety concerns.
[Interview]Jeong Gyeong-hoon / Second Grader, Gosaek Primary School
“It was fun. I thought the insect larvae would be creepy but I found them cute.”
[Interview]Lee Myeong-sook / Principal, Gosaek Primary School
“I think it is an excellent program for the development of imagination and creativity. I think it is a good program for children.”
This program is not only beneficial for primary schools seeking safe experiential education programs but also for farmers supplying educational materials for the program.
[Interview]Cho Jeong-ju / Farm Supervisor, Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services
“This program is intended to promote and introduce educational agriculture. We developed the program to provide various farm experience opportunities to more children by visiting primary schools.”
Number of Recipient Students to Increase from 1,990 (1st Semester) to 6,000 (2nd Semester)
Last semester, nearly 2,000 students participated in this education program. The number will be increased to 6,000 next semester with the program incorporating more varied educational contents.
 
Article 4. Traffic Accident Fatalities Decreased by 9% in Gyeonggi Province (0728-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The number traffic accident fatalities in Gyeonggi Province showed a year-on-year decrease of 9 percent last year. Nonetheless, Gyeonggi Province will further strengthen traffic safety measures.
[Report]
43,900 Traffic Accidents Occurred in Gyeonggi Province in 2013
Last year, 43,900 traffic accidents occurred in Gyeonggi Province, claiming the lives of 946 individuals and injuring 68,430.
Number of Accidents, Fatalities and Injuries Decreased
Compared to the previous year, the number of traffic accidents decreased by 1.9 percent, fatalities by 9 percent, and injuries by 3.7 percent.
[CG]Among the fatalities, 369 were outside of vehicles. The failure to drive safely was the greatest cause of fatal accidents, resulting in 671 deaths. Among the days of the week, Saturdays saw the highest accident rate.
GTV Reporter Choi Chang-soon
“It is notable that fatalities among children decreased by 24 percent, and that no children died in traffic accidents within child protection zones.”
According to the provincial government, this remarkable improvement in child safety stems from increased safety education among children and the implementation of preventive measures.
[Interview]Lee Dong-wook / Senior Official, Gyeonggi Province Transportation Welfare Team
“This year, Gyeonggi Province will spend KRW71.5 billion on five major transportation safety projects, and will endeavor to prevent traffic accidents involving children and seniors through safety education.”
[CG]This year’s transportation safety projects include the structural improvement of roads, the installation of CCTV tems, the implementation of advanced traffic control tems, the expansion of safety education among children, and an increase in the incentives for transportation enterprises.
Traffic accidents claim nearly three lives in Gyeonggi Province every day.
By implementing these transportation safety projects, the provincial government hopes to decrease annual fatalities to less than 865.
 
Article 5. Gyeonggi Province Targets Creation of 700,000 New Jobs (0729-3)
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Job creation was one of the primary pledges made by Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil. The Nam administration has now set a target of creating 700,000 new jobs and began formulating detailed plans to achieve that target.
[Report]
New Gyeonggi Administration Targets Creation of 700,000 New Jobs
This target is based on the expected annual average growth of the gross regional domestic product, or GRDP, by 5.1 percent, which equates to 565,000 more jobs, plus the additional creation of 135,000 new jobs through various endeavors.
Gyeonggi to Strengthen Employment Support for Individual Population Groups
Support policies will include the establishment of a combined work and study tem as well as a knowledge industry center for youths, selective part-time job creation for women, and the expansion of employment opportunities for baby boomers.
Employment Mismatch Prevention through Customized Manpower Development
Gyeonggi Province will also attempt to address employment mismatches between job searchers and recruiters through customized manpower cultivation.
To this end, the provincial government will increase the number of training organizations and pursue cooperation with academia and industry.
[Interview]Han Yeong-hui / Director, Gyeonggi Province Employment Policy Division
“There are many positions open at industrial sites, but job searchers are reluctant to apply due to transportation and childcare issues. The improvement of the work environment is also another factor. We will do our utmost to achieve the target of creating 700,000 jobs set by the new administration.”
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government also plans to strengthen customized support for new businesses and venture enterprises throughout their development stages through the utilization of techno valleys as well as financial and technical support.  
Article 6. GwangMyeong Cave Summer Festival Begins (0730-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
While the scorching summer heat touches every corner of our lives, there is one place where the temperature remains at 12 degrees year round…And that place is bustling with people since it is the scene of a summer festival.
[Report]
Gwangmyeong Cave (Gahak Mine), Gahak Mountain, Gwangmyeong
That place is a man-made cave in Gahak(가학) Mountain of Gwangmyeong (광명) City.
Formerly a gold mine that operated for forty years from 1912, this unique cave structure within the metropolitan region around Seoul has been transformed into a tourist attraction.
This cave features exhibits of artifacts used by miners as well as colorful illuminations and decorative birds and sea creatures that emanate the aura of a fantasy world.
It also features an underground ecotem with a stream.
[Interview]Kim Mi-gyeong / Visitor
“Children are fascinated to see a cave in the middle of a city and to be able to touch things in it. There is also a stream. It was wonderful to have my children enjoy listening to the story of the cave and to be close (to the underground ecotem).”
GwangMyeong Cave Summer Festival (July 28 – August 17)
The most popular feature, however, is the Art Hall in the cave where media performances and mini-concerts are held twice daily during the festival period, which runs during summer vacation.
630,000 Visitors since 2011
Since it opened in 2011, this cave has had more than 630,000 visitors, and has become one of the major attractions in the region, especially during summer.
However, don’t forget to bring a long-sleeved shirt.
[Interview]Choi Bong-seop / Chief Official, Gwangmyeong City Thematic Development Department
“This cave is a popular tourist attraction because it’s cool, there is much to see, and it is good for education. There are 6,000 to 13,000 visitors a day.”
Once the workplace of weary miners, the Gahak (가학) Cave is now filled with amazed visitors.
GTV Reporter Choi Chang-soon
The GwangMyeong Cave Summer Festival, set in this unique cave in central Gyeonggi Province, runs until August 17. This is Choi Chang-soon, Gyeonggi GTV.”
 
Article 7. Gyeonggi Province Pursues Utilization of Piloti Levels (0731-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government has submitted a proposal to the central government for the utilization of piloti spaces in apartment buildings. Pilotis are the supports that lift a building above ground. They usually incorporate wall structures that create air passages, and contain large unused spaces.
[Report]
Apartment Building, Suwon
The piloti level at this apartment building has an empty space as large as an entire apartment that has been left unused.
Utilization of Piloti Level Prohibited by Law
However, the modification of piloti spaces for specific purposes is prohibited by law in Korea.
That is why the residents in this apartment building had to use the basement for communal purposes.
A basement room has been refurbished by the residents and is now used as a common study room complete with desks and chairs.
The problem, however, is that this place poses health hazards due to limited air circulation.
[Interview]Cho An-na / Joint Chief of Community Care Club
“This place can be dangerous in certain circumstances. There are also problems in natural ventilation and illumination, so I think it is unsuitable for use by many people.”
Gyeonggi Proposes Amendment of Housing Law for Utilization of Piloti Level
In order to enable the utilization of piloti spaces by apartment residents for communal activities, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government proposed an amendment to the related housing law to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. This is also in line with the ‘warm and blessed town’ creation policy of the new provincial administration.
[Interview]Lee Choon-pyo / Director, Gyeonggi Province Housing Policy Division
“Utilization of idle piloti spaces is expected to have substantial positive effects on the creation of ‘warm and blessed towns’.”
The outlook for the amendment of the law is favorable since the ministry also has a positive view on Gyeonggi Province’s proposal. Common utilization of piloti spaces by residents will help lower barriers between and promote a sense of unity among neighbors.