Article 1. Gyeonggi Lowers Business Promotion Fund Interest Rates (0120-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Small and Medium Business Promotion Fund, or SMBP Fund, is a national fund that had been operated exclusively by the public financial institute Nonghyup (농협). From this year, however, the same fund has become available through eleven private banks in Gyeonggi Province.
[Report]
This means that the fund’s interest rates are now determined autonomously via free competition among banks.
1) High Interest Rates Due to Interest Rate Monopoly
The SMBP Fund had been unable to serve its purpose due to monopolized high interest rates.
2) Kang Hee-jin / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Business Support Team 1
“This fund has been shunned by businesses. In fact, only 30% of the available resources were used last year. Something had to be done to improve the situation…”
3) Interest Rates Effectively Lowered through Free Competition among 11 Banks
By expanding to eleven private banks and allowing them to operate the fund autonomously, interest rates will be lowered by up to 2.5 percent on average.
It is the first time in Korea that a provincial government intervened in the operation of a national fund in order to apply the free-competition concept.
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government also plans to provide additional benefits while simplifying the application process.
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For example, a female entrepreneur would normally pay annual interest of 4.3 percent on a loan of KRW 100 million from the fund. However, with privatized operation of the fund at lower interest rates and a gender discount, she will be charged interest of only 2.2 percent.
4) Ho Geum-ok / Chairman, Korea Women Entrepreneur Association Gyeonggi Branch
“Many businesses simply have to go on without even making any profit. Discounted interest rates will be a great help for small businesses in managing sustainable operations.”
The Gyeonggi Provincial Government has already earmarked KRW 1 trillion for the financial support of small and medium businesses this year.
 
Article 2. Gyeonggi Medical Centers Introduce Full Nursing Services (0121-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
In Korea, non-medical personal care for hospital inpatients is the responsibility of the patient’s family members or paid caregivers. However, this family-orientated Confucian tradition is beginning to change as a full nursing service system is being adopted at some public hospitals.
[Report]
From March this year, five Gyeonggi provincial medical centers will begin full nursing services that will include 24-hour personal care such as feeding and tending individual needs.
1) Son Min-yeong / Jeongja-dong Suwon City
“I take care of my father 24 hours a day. It’s not an easy task, and I am having problems with my job, but I cannot afford to hire a caregiver.”
A waiting room for independent caregivers has been designated at each provincial medical center since 2005. These rooms will be closed and instead replaced with full nursing services at a lower cost.
2) GTV Reporter, Choi Chang-soon
“From March, this medical center will become a hospital without caregiving family attendants, but the personal care services will be significantly upgraded.”
Since personal patient care services will be provided by nurses and nursing aides, patients will receive quality professional services.
3) Provincial Medical Centers without Patient Caretakers
The introduction of hospitals without patient caretakers will be realized at five Gyeonggi provincial medical centers that accommodate 214 beds in total.
After a free-of-charge trial period for patients in low income brackets, full nursing services will begin in June at reasonably low costs.
4) Cho Mi-sook / Planning and Coordination Manager, Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center
“We believe that it is our responsibility as medical professionals and public servants to create hospitals without patient caretakers so to alleviate the costs and burdens of residents.”
The recruitment of more nurses is a continuing problem, although the trial operation and full introduction of this patient care system without private caretakers will greatly improve the quality of nursing services.  
Article 3. Industrial Wastewater Analysis Service by Gyeonggi Institute (0122-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Gyeonggi Province Health and Environment Institute is providing industrial wastewater analysis and technical consultation services to help the manufacturing industry save facility improvement costs and to contribute to environmental conservation.
[Report]
This company in Yongin (용인) City produces various cooking sauces.
Last year, this company was able to resolve the high toxicity problem of its wastewater thanks to consultation services provided by the Gyeonggi Province Health and Environment Institute.
Without the institute’s services, this company would have had to expend a large amount of money on chemical analysis.
1) Park Yong-je / Food Company Plant Manager
“We were able to resolve the problem of chlorine residue through consultation with the Gyeonggi institute last year. Otherwise, it would have cost us a lot of time and money.”
Not part of standard inspection items, chlorine can be highly toxic if it exists in high concentrations.
2) Water Fleas Are Used in Ecological Toxicity Tests
Chlorine residue from this company was detected during an ecological toxicity test using water fleas.
3) GTV Reporter, Choi Chang-soon
“Water fleas are released in industrial wastewater samples and the results derived after 24 hours determine the toxicity of the wastewater.”
Water fleas are useful in determining the toxicity of industrial wastewater more accurately than by application of inspection standards.
The inspection standards are only approximations of toxicity levels for a limited range of substances.
4) Shin Gyu-seing / Researcher, Gyeonggi Province Health and Environment Institute
“Once toxicity is determined, we carry out tests for 50 different substances to identify the toxin, and then provide the enterprise with technical support to eliminate the release of that particular toxin.”
Last year, the institute provided toxicity analysis services for 88 industrial sites and identified ecologically dangerous toxin levels at six of them.
These sites were then provided with intensive technical support for the improvement of wastewater quality. The institute plans to expand its toxicity analysis services this year.
 
Article 4. 42 Lunar New Year Markets Open in Gyeonggi Province (140120-1)
[Anchor’s Headline]
A number of markets began offering popular Lunar New Year food items produced in Gyeonggi Province at low prices. There are also temporary open markets where consumers can purchase quality agricultural products directly from producers.
[Report]
1) Lunar New Year Open Markets Open (January 17th – 24th)
These markets are open until January 24th at 42 sites throughout the province including public offices and parks.
At these open markets, everything that consumers may need during the Lunar New Year holidays, such as fruits, vegetables, meat and even items for home memorial services, can be purchased directly from producers.
2) Yoon Chae-won / Juksan-myeon, Anseong City
“By joining a market like this, I can sell at reasonable prices and consumers can also purchase at reasonable prices. It is good for everyone.”
Since consumers can purchase directly from producers, the prices of goods are up to 30 percent cheaper than at supermarkets.
3) Park Mi-hyang / Maetan-dong, Suwon City
“I have many things to buy for the Lunar New Year holidays. This direct market is a good place for shopping because the goods can be trusted and they are cheaper.”
4) Gyeonggi Cyber Market (www.kgfarm.or.kr) and G-Mark Markets
There are also other good channels for Lunar New Year shopping through which consumers can purchase quality products at low prices.
At the Gyeonggi Cyber Market, Lunar New Year items are offered at prices discounted by up to 53 percent.
G-Mark Markets are also open at agricultural and fishery distribution centers in the cities of Suwon (수원), Seongnam (성남) and Goyang (고양) until January 27th.
These G-Mark Markets currently feature G-mark Good promotion events and offer high quality products of Gyeonggi Province. 
Article 5. Convergence Science Camp for High School Students (140121-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
The Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology opened a Fusion Science Camp for high school students in Gyeonggi Province. This camp was organized to promote interest in convergence science among youths through experiential programs.
[Report]
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This robot is one of the products of convergence science that involves a number of different scientific fields in its creation and function. By controlling the robot themselves, students learn about convergence science.
1) Yoon Ho-seong / Student, Pyeongnae High School, Namyangju City
“I realized that robots are used in a variety of fields. I think this program may help me make future career choice. It was also quite an enjoyable program.
In another room, students learn to separate antioxidants from vitamins. Going through an experiment, these aspiring scientists also learn about the power of science while nurturing their dreams.
2) Do Soo-ji / Student, Juyeop High School, Goyang City
Performing an experiment using technical instruments myself was much more interesting than just theoretical study.”
3) Convergence Science Youth Camp
These camp programs were designed by the Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology as winter vacation programs for high school students.
A total of 120 students in Gyeonggi Province participated in the camp and learned about convergence science first hand through various experiential programs.
4) Park Tae-hyeon / Director, Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology
“We will continue to improve the youth programs to make them more interesting to young students. We also plan to accommodate more students in our programs.”
For young students who have already shown interest in science by joining the camp, such programs can be powerful tools in enabling them to view science from a more practical perspective.
 
Article 6. Trash Disposal Problems in Detached Housing Areas (140122-3)
[Anchor’s Headline]
While the majority of people in Gyeonggi Province live in apartments, there are 1.7 million detached houses in the province. Unlike in apartment complexes where different types of trash are systematically collected for disposal, the residents of detached houses often suffer problems caused by the lack of such systems.
[Report]
As can be seen at this apartment complex, apartment buildings have their own trash disposal spaces where different types of trash are collected in different containers. They also have someone assigned to manage trash disposal sites.
However, most detached housing areas have no common spaces for trash disposal or anyone who manages neighborhood trash.
Although most residents use pay-as-you-throw trash bags, they have no means of separately disposing of recyclable materials other than in expensive trash bags.
1) Jeong Yeong-mi / Godeung-dong, Suwon City
“People have no choice but to put their trash out on the street, causing inconvenience for pedestrians. It also causes a foul smell. There is no place for the free disposal of recyclable materials, either.”
2) GTV Reporter, Park Ha-na
“In order to resolve the issue of uncontrolled trash disposal practices, apartment-type trash collection system will be introduced in detached housing areas.”
When this system is enacted, common trash disposal places will be designated at which normal trash should be disposed of in pay-as-you-throw trash bags and placed in a designated container.
Recyclable materials should be sorted and disposed of in separate containers.
Trash will be collected once a week.
3) Oh Byeong-gwon / Director, Gyeonggi Province Environment Division
“The management of trash collection is as important as the introduction of trash disposal system itself. So, we will recruit volunteers among residents for the effective management of trash disposal system.”
The trial operation of the separate trash disposal and collection system will begin in detached housing areas in the cities of Namyangju (남양주), Uijeongbu (의정부), and Goyang (고양), before being introduced throughout the entire province from April next year.
 
Article 7. Horseback Riding Course Opens in Hwaseong City (0123-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]
For the first time in Korea, a horseback riding course opened in Gyeonggi Province. It is part of Eco Farm Land, an agricultural and livestock farm tour complex currently being developed by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government. This horseback riding course was tentatively opened ahead of Eco Farm Land.
[Report]
1) Horseback Riding Course Opens at Eco Farm Land, Hwaseong City (January 22nd)
The course runs along scenic routes including the shoreline of Hwaseong (화성) City.
2) Course Features Scenic Route
Riding a horse along an open course will provide a completely different experience from riding in the limited spaces of enclosures.
3) <PIP> Park Sang-gyeong / Student, Sohyeon Middle School
“Riding along the scenic course was wonderful and refreshing.”
Horseback riding is still very new in Korea, but is slowly gaining popularity in the Year of the Horse.
4) [INTERVIEW] Yeo Woon-eung / Bongdam-eup, Hwaseong City
“Horseback riding along an open course is like flying in the sky. I feel as if I conquered the world.”
5) Course Opens Temporarily on an 18-km Trail
Opened on January 22nd, this horseback riding route is the first open-field course of its kind in Korea.
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Eco Farm Land is a futuristic agricultural and livestock farm tour complex undertaken by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government.
6) Complete with Hills, Curves and Straight Runs
This horseback riding course comes complete with a variety of riding sections including hills, curves and straight runs along the shoreline as well as the foothills of mountains.
7) <PIP> Seo Sang-gyo / Director, Gyeonggi Province Livestock and Forestry Bureau
“Even though the horseback riding route course was tentatively opened, there are no facilities for horse riding along the course yet. If you wish to use the course, please call the Livestock Policy Division. We will make necessary arrangements for you. You must bring your own horses (until the construction of Eco Farm Land is complete.)”
8) Official Opening of 20 km Course Slated for 2016
Following the tentative opening of this 18-kilometer course, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government plans to open a course totaling 20 kilometers complete with all the necessary amenities in 2016.