Article 1. Cultural Contents Business Startup Support Center Opens (0519-3)
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A specialized business startup support center for cultural contents development businesses opened in Pangyo(판교) Techno Valley of Gyeonggi Province. The Korean cultural contents industry has been growing rapidly by more than 10 percent annually in recent years.
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Gyeonggi Cultural Creation Hub Opening Ceremony / Pangyo Techno Valley (May 19th)
Entitled Gyeonggi Cultural Creation Hub, this new business inauguration support center is located in the Public Support Center building, occupying more than 3,300 square meters on two floors.
It is at an ideal location since Pangyo (판교) Techno Valley has the most comprehensive cultural contents industry infrastructure in Korea.
Provision of Customized Services to New and Aspiring Entrepreneurs
The major functions of the center include the provision of customized 24-hour services for business inauguration fund applications, networking with related specialists as well as existing enterprises, and business incubation services.
[Interview] Park Jae-hwan / CEO, Melephant
“They provide international marketing support through diverse networks and introduce us to various financial opportunities such as venture capital and investments, which are greatly beneficial to us.”
One of the two floors of the center is reserved for those who are just about to launch their businesses, while the other floor features business incubation spaces in which new businesses are closely monitored to ensure successful operations.
[Interview] Shin Seong-han / Aspiring Entrepreneur
“The step-by-step support tem is reassuring. I am one of the first residents here, which means we are open to various means of support without being restricted by standardized procedures.”
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The business startup support services of the center are expected to have synergistic effects, especially since the same building also houses the Contents Korea Lab and an Employment Support Center, as well as a business inauguration support organization of the Korean government.
[Interview] Choi Yoon-shik / Director, Gyeonggi Contents Agency
“We will provide support so that Gyeonggi Province will not only lead the national contents industry but also become one of the global contents industry centers.”
By early next year, twenty-two new enterprises and eighty-eight aspiring entrepreneurs will take up residence at the center. The Gyeonggi Provincial Government plans to provide business startup support to more than 5,000 enterprises by the year 2018.
 
Article 2. Korean Tea Culture Exhibition Opens (0520-1)
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An exhibition that showcases historical Korean tea culture is being held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Museum in Yongin (용인) City. Historically, tea and the art of ceremonial tea-making formed an important part of the lives of Korean nobility and Buddhist monks for many years.
[Report]
Stone Tea Mortar
This 2,000-year-old stone mortar from the Baekje (백제) Period was used to grind tea cakes that Koreans invented to store tea for long periods of time.
Tea Cup from Unified Shilla Period
The oldest remaining tea cup is from the Unified Shilla (신라) Period of the 7th century. Bearing the word ‘tea’, it is much larger than modern tea cups.
Tea utensils have since evolved.
[Interview] Park Se-ra / Visitor
“We hear of precious blue and white ancient pottery many times but seldom get to see it. I was very pleased and fascinated to see such things.”
Korean Tea Culture Special Exhibition / Gyeonggi Provincial Museum
There are many records, writings and paintings from old times that describe tea drinking.
To retired noblemen and scholars, tea was a companion as well as a relaxing drink.
A gentleman in a painting by Kim Hong-do(김홍도) enjoys tea with a friend under a tree while a servant tends a tea kettle on a fire. Another gentle man in a different painting awaits tea while playing music in the moonlight.
One of the scholars of the Choseon (조선) Dynasty had the pen name Tea Mountain. A well known tea lover, he even left detailed tea preparation and drinking instructions to one of his pupils.
In Buddhism, tea is regarded as one of the six valued items—together with incense, lamps, flowers, fruits, and rice—that were used in religious services.
[Interview] Yoo Chi-sek / Curator, Gyeonggi Provincial Museum
“(At this exhibition,) one can learn about various types of tea and their uses as well as how and why our ancestors prepared and drank tea.”
Ancient Koreans preferred to drink tea in a natural environment since tea drinking coincides with the purpose of seeking to become a part of nature as well as relaxation and pleasure.
 
Article 3. Wooden Cultural Monuments Fire Drill (0521-2)
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At Namhansanseong (남한산성) Fortress, the Gyeonggi Fire Services conducted a fire drill in cooperation with related organizations. The drill was timed with a prime holiday season, during which many vacationers visit historic sites with wooden monuments.
[Report]
Namhansanseong Haenggoong
Smoke erupts from the Royal Lodge in Namhansanseong (남한산성) Fortress, where most structures are made of wood.
Wooden Cultural Monuments Fire Drill(May 21st)
It is a simulated fire, supposedly caused by arson, in one of the palace buildings.
A cultural tourism official at the fortress locates the fire via CCTV and alerts the local fire station and police office. Fire engines are deployed immediately.
At the same time, a broadcast announces the occurrence of fire to visitors, and officials begin initial firefighting efforts using fire extinguishers.
Firefighters soon arrive and take over the firefighting operation, overseeing the evacuation of visitors and removal of cultural assets.
Fire Suppressed in 12 Minutes by 60 Personnel
The fire incident was completely resolved in twelve minutes by sixty personnel from the Namhansanseong (남한산성) Cultural Tourism Office, local fire station, police office, and the civil fire squad.
[Interview] Jeon Jong-deok / Head Official, Namhansanseong Cultural Tourism Office
“Wooden cultural properties can be completely destroyed by fire within twenty minutes. Such fires should be suppressed inthe initial stages through multi-organizational cooperation.”
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government will stage regular fire drills and work more closely with related organizations so as to strengthen firefighting capabilities at wooden cultural monuments.
 
Article 4. Gyeonggi Extends Promising Enterprise Certification Period (0519-1)
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The Promising Enterprise Certification of Gyeonggi Province aims to provide small and medium-sized enterprises of high economic potential with a range of support. In response to growing demand for the extension of the support period among certified enterprises, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government decided to extend the period up to eight years.
[Report]
Certified Promising Enterprise / Songtan Industrial Complex
Since this semiconductor parts manufacturing enterprise received Promising Enterprise Certification from Gyeonggi Province, it has experienced a decrease in employee turnover.
The employment stability led to an increase in productivity, which in turn resulted in an increase in sales and ten new employees each year.
[Interview] Lee Jae-seong / CEO of Certified Promising Enterprise
“The certification improved the status of the company as well as confidence among employees. The resulting improvements in productivity and profitability then led to better recognition among banks and government agencies, creating a virtuous circle…”
Gyeonggi Province’s Promising Small and Medium Enterprise Certification Began in 1995
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government has been recognizing small and medium-sized enterprises of high growth potential with Promising Enterprise Certification since 1995.
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Certificate recipients are provided with a variety of incentives including reduced interest rates on loans and priority treatment at credit agencies. This certification tem has had substantially positive effects on the growth of the recipient enterprises.
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The extension of the certification period means that incentives will be available to recipient enterprises for up to eight years instead of the standard five years.
[Interview] Kim Yeong-tae / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Enterprise Support Division 1 Team
“Many enterprises that graduated from the certification tem called for an extension of the certification period. We decided to adopt re-certification for such enterprises that still have potential for further growth.”
26 Incentives from 8 Organizations for up to 8 Years
The number of incentive programs provided by eight organizationswas also increased to twenty-six.
Detailed information on the certification extension can be obtained from the Gyeonggi Province Enterprise Support Division 1 or the SOS Support Team of the Gyeonggi Small and Medium Business Center.
 
Article 5. Gyeonggi Master Gardeners Help with Village Beautification (0520-3)
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The Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services has been operating a 6-month Master Gardener course annually since 2012. On May 19th, some of the graduates of the course visited a farming village to help with the beautification of village roads.
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Jeokgari Village, Anseong City
These gardening specialists took a day off to help villagers enhance the appearance of their village by creating flower beds along roads while providing on-site training.
Farm Village Beautification by Master Gardeners, Public Officials and Villagers
Villagers are enthusiastic as they learn how to plant and maintain flowering plants.
Local public officials also participated in this one-day event that transformed village roads into lovely country thoroughfares.
[Interview] Kim Yeong-hui / Gyeonggi Province Master Gardener
“We received training over the past three to four years. I am pleased to help villagers in Anseong with the improvement of their environment.”
Residents are all smiles as they walk around the village with the gardeners afterwardsto collect trash and empty bottles from the village roads.
[Interview] Na Hong-geun / Head of Jeokgari Village
“Having learned about gardening from specialists, I think we can make the entire village a beautiful flower garden. This was a really useful experience for us.”
Enhanced Public Official-Villager Communication through Village Beautification
The village beautification event that aimed to brighten the village with the assistance of gardeners also helped public officials to enhance communication and cooperation with villagers.
[Interview] Lim Jae-wook / General Director, GARES
“We will organize a village beautification event once or twice a month to help villagers improve their living environments.”
By involving the gardeners, the effects of the village beautification event will endureas the villagers learn how to improve their environment through gardening. 
Article 6. World-leading French Company Opens a Factory in Hwaseong (0521-3)
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Air Liquide, a world-leading chemical company from France, opened an electronic material production plant in theJangan (장안) Industrial Complex in Anseong (안성) City of Gyeonggi Province. This is the first case of foreign investment in this field in Korea.
[Report]
Air Liquide Plant Completed in Jangan Industrial Complex, Hwaseong City
This world-leading industrial gas material producer completed construction of the plant in this high-tech industrial complex and held an opening ceremony on May 20th.
First Foreign Investment in Gas Materials for Electronics in Korea
Since 2001, Air Liquide has invested more than KRW 40 billion in Gyeonggi Province, but this is its first investment in the production of electronic materials.
[Interview] Song Sang-woo / Executive Director, Air Liquide
“We made an investment to supply materials primarily to the Korean electronic and semiconductor industries. We expect to play a part in the export of electronic parts such as memory chips by local enterprises.”
Semiconductor Material Production Base for Asian Market
With 60 percent of the electronic materials currently being produced by Air Liquidesold to Asian countries, its Hwaseong (화성) plant is expected to become a semiconductor materials production base for the Asian market.
The plant will create many new jobs and is expected to contribute substantially to the local economy.
[Interview] Nam Choong-hui / Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Nam Choong-hee
“This is the first case of foreign investment in materials for electronics in Korea. We expect that it will have great domestic technological propagation effects.
Production Spurred by Domestic Demand for Semiconductor Materials
Air Liquide has invested KRW 13 billion in the new plant in Hwaseong (화성) City, where world-leading semiconductor parts manufacturers are located.
The company’s strategic investment, using such a geographic advantage, is expected to lead to the highly effective operation of this new plant. 
Article 7. Direct Rice Seeding Promoted in Gyeonggi Province (0521-1)
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Traditionally, rice farmers in Korea have exclusively used a transplantation method since it offers many advantages over the ancient direct-seeding method. However, direct seeding, using advanced techniques and modern equipment, is currently being promoted in Gyeonggi Province.
[Report]
Oseong-myeon, Pyeongtaek
This new method uses machines that deliver rice seeds and nutrient granules in rows as they cross water-filled paddies.
Direct Seeding without Seedling Preparation and Transplantation
The direct-seeding method eliminates the necessity for rice seed plots and a transplantation process.
Labor Reduced by 35.3%, Production Costs by 9%
Such an economy of process, coupled with modern techniques, reduces labor costs by more than 30 percent and over all rice production costs by up to 9 percent, while preserving the advantages of the transplantation method.
[Interview] Hwang In-ho / Rice Farmer
“I started direct seeding seven years ago because it saves me labor costs and production costs. I think the only viable rice farming alternative in the future will be direct seeding.”
Aging Agricultural Population, Labor Shortage and Free Trade
Rice farming, the backbone of Korean agriculture, has recently faced unprecedented pressure due to an agingagri cultural population, manpower shortages, high production costs and international competition.
Gyeonggi Province to Promote Rice Farming Techniques Using Direct Seeding
To address such problems, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government has been promoting direct-seeding techniques among rice farmers.
The provincial government plans to increase the direct-seeding farm area from last year’s1,000 acres to 1,500 acres this year.
[Interview] Yim Jae-wook / General Director, Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services
“We are endeavoring to improve the international competitiveness of domestic rice by reducing labor requirements while increasing productivity.”
Rice farms occupy a total area of 87,000 acres in Gyeonggi Province. The Gyeonggi Provincial Government plans to increase the direct-seeding rice farm area to 10 percent by the year 2020.