Article 1. Gyeonggi Business Center As Export Supporter (0404-1)
[News Script]
Operated jointlyGyeonggi Provincial Governmentthe Gyeonggi SmallMedium Business Center, the Gyeonggi Business Center has been providing overseas marketing support to smaller enterprises in the province,has helped secure international orders.
[Report]
This silicon parts manufacturing company in Hwaseong (화성) has recently secured a sales contract for electromagnetic shieldsa Russian company, which will effectively double its annual sales. This company has been facing serious financial difficulties until it was rescuedthe Gyeonggi Business Center last year.
1) Han Baek-soo / CEO of Silicon Parts Manufacturing Company
“We couldn’t afford technical manpower reinforcement as well as overseas marketing.”
Another company has successfully developed the world’s first anti-pollution nose plugs, but was in a crisis, due to inability to establish its products in the markets. Thanks to the supportthe Gyeonggi Business Center, it has recently signed a 300,000 Dollar-contract with a Chinese purchaser.
2) Jeong Jin0-gu / CEO of Anti-pollution Nose Plug Manaufacturer
“We struggled to launch our products in the Chinese market without success. The Gyeonggi Business Center helped usthe waytechnical enquiriesbusiness negotiations to meeting arrangements…”
Last year, the Gyeonggi Business Center assisted 150 small enterprises to achieve exports amounting to 5.4 million U.S. Dollars.
3) Lee Gye-il / Export Support Team Leader, the Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Center
“We will continue to act as overseas branches for companies seeking export. We also plan to invite teams of overseas buyers to the province to link them with our companies.”
Seven overseas offices of the Gyeonggi Business Center in six countries will play a key role in its continued overseas marketing support.
 
Article 2. Green Energy Education Program for Children (0405-3)
[News Script]
A newrenewable experiential energy education class was given at a primary school in Guri (구리) City. This visiting education program was designed to help children understand how newrenewable energy generation works. Out reporter was there.
[Report]
1) Green Energy Learning through Experience
In one corner, hydrogenwater drives a miniature train. In another, a graphic display explains how a homeheatedheatunderground. A model orangutan on a moves when flashlightshone on it. Children are intent on listening to the instructor about newrenewable energy.
2) Lee Gyeong-min / Primary School 4th Grader
“I didn’t know much about new energyrenewable energy. I can better understand now, because I learned them through experienceplays.”
Plays included turning a handle to see how high they can generate voltageampere, which also generated the sound of a song,turning pedals to light a light bulb.
3) Gwon Min-ji / Visiting Green Energy Instructor
“The keyto tell the children that there are alternative energy sources than electricity. We introduce 11 newrenewable energy, using the equipment designed to draw interestchildren…”
This Green Energy Learning Program has been in operation since 2011,has since been visiting primary schools in isolated regions to provide an experiential education class.
4) Lim So-il / Gyeobnggi Province New & Renewable Energy Team Leader
“We targeted the primary schools in remote areas with less than 100 students. Children can learn about green energyparticipating in the operation of energy generating equipment.”
The purpose of this education programto help children understand the importance of green energy resources, as well as the importance of the reduction of energy consumption.
 
Article 3. 4th I’m Café Opens (0408-1)
[News Script]
The ‘I’m Café Project’operated jointlythe Gyeonggi Provincial Governmentthe Korean Racing Authority with the purpose of providing physically challenged youths with employment opportunities. Our reporter examined the details.
[Report]
In this barista training center in Goyang (고양) City, a dozen youths with disabilities hone their coffee-brewing skills. Though their movements may seem to lack finesse, they soon produce fine cups of coffee
1) 4th I’m Café
Following the three ‘I’m Cafés’ that were opened in other cities in Gyeonggi Province, the fourth café opened in Gwacheon (과천) City, which will be runthree young baristas with disabilities.
2) Kim Hee-gyeong / Barista with Mental Deficiency
“I am happy (to have this job). I will continue to learnserve our customers well.”
The ‘I’m Café Project’ has generated fifty qualified baristas with disabilities to date. Among them, sixteen found employment at four ‘I’m Cafés’ in four cities in Gyeonggi Province beginningthe first café in Ansan (안산) City.
3) Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Choi Seung-Dae
“We will open more than 20 cafés in public office building in the province until next year. We will then be able to provide a total of 120 new employments to youths with disabilities.”
The employment opportunities for youths with disabilities have been limited to simple labor jobs. This ‘I’m Café Project’ will help them realize their dreamsestablish themselves in society with stable jobs.
 
Article 4. GTX System Improvement Seminar (0408-3)
[News Script]
The Gyeonggi provincial administration invited transportation specialists to a seminar on the GTX metropolitan express railroad tem, to seek solutions to the problems with the tem. Our reporter was there.
[Report]
When completed, GTX lines will bring the entire Gyeonggi ProvinceSeoul into a maximum 30-minute distance. However, the provincial governmentfacing difficulties in proceeding with the project due to financial limitations.
1) ‘GTX System Improvement Seminar’ / National Assembly Members’ Hall
During his presentation, researcher Lee Jae-hoon (이재훈) described problems that arise in connection with the uncertainty of the ‘owner’ of the project.
2) Lee Jar –Hoon / Researcher of the Korea Transport Institute.
“Different national subsidy rates are applied depending on the project operators, causing conflicts between authorities, which, in turn, cause delays in project implementationnegative impacts on local residents.”
Lee emphasized the need for the unification of project operations under a single authority to avoid confusion, as well as for an increase of the contributionthe national budget. During the open discussion that followed, the difficulty of determining the national portion of contribution was noted due to vagueness of the scope of GTX.
3) Huh Tae-soo / Chief of National Assembly Land & Transport Committee
“The central government also doeshave clear-cut, objective criteria for the distinction between ordinary railroadsGTX lines.”
All being well the identification of such problems will lead to better solutions that the GTX construction currently needs.
 
Article 5. Support for Aged Diesel Cars for Emission Reduction (0410-1)
[News Script]
The Gyeonggi provincial administration announced that it will provide the owners of aged diesel-fueled vehicles with support for the attachment of an emission reduction device. Our reporter examined the details.
[Report]
1) A Vehicle Inspection Center, Suwon City
Emission gas tests are one of the essential testing items that are performed at vehicle inspection centers. Diesel cars, especially the old ones, are known to generate a much larger amount of pollutants than others.
2) Provincial Support for Emission Reduction Device
In order to reduce the generation of air pollutants, the Gyeonggi provincial administration decided to provide the ‘emission reduction device attachment’ support to diesel cars of more than seven years old. The compositions of emitted gasthe vehicles withwithout this device showed significant difference.
(CG)
According to the plan, a support of 1.8 million to 7.7 million Korean won will be provided for an installation of the emission reduction device, 3.66 million won for a retrofitting with a low-pollution engine,up to 7 million won for early scrapping of the vehicle.
3) Eum Ghi-seon / Gyeonggi Province Environment Bureau Climate & Air Quality Div. Officer
“Emission reduction devices can reduce the generation of pollutants50-80%,engine retrofittingearly scrapping will have the effect of 100% reduction.”
For the emission reduction program, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government has set aside a budget of 70 billion Korean won for this year.
 
Article 6. Consumer Volunteer Education As Food Hygiene Guards (0410-1)
[News Script]
The Gyeonggi provincial administration recently began ‘Food Hygiene Guard’ training among consumer volunteers. The moveset to strengthen its surveillance on food safety to prevent childrenadultsexposure to unhealthy food.
[Report]
1) A Stationary Shop in Suwon
Stationary shops around schoolsthis one offer a variety of snacks to children. Though they are very popular among children, many of them docomply with the product safety regulations. The food-safety-related work force of the provincial governmentfarbeing sufficient for the monitoring, supervision,investigation of shops, manufacturers, or restaurants.
2) Kim Beom-seon / Food Hygiene Guard Trainee
“Healththe most important value of life, isn’t it? I want to work at the front to safeguard our childrenunhealthy food sold around the school.”
3) Food Hygiene Guard Education / Gyeonggi Arts Center
The implementation of the ‘Food Hygiene Guard’ program begantraining volunteer consumers. After the completion of the education, the qualified guards will be assigned a job of safeguarding the food, to realize the eradication of unhealthy food, whichone of the four major social vices definedthe Korean Government.
4) Han Seung-yeon / Gyeonggi Province Food Safety Division Official
“Eradication of unhealthy foodalso one of the campaign promises of the new Korean Government. We continue to train food hygiene guards to deploy up to 1,600 guards.”
With such large numbers of volunteer ‘Food Hygiene Guards’, the provincial policy for the protection of food safety will no doubt have a significant supplementary resource for its realization.
Article 7. Tight 2013 Gyeonggi Province Budget (0410-3)
[News Script]
The total annual budget of Gyeonggi Province for 2013approximately fifteen trillion Korean won, seven trillion won less than that of Seoul. Expecting a severe financial shortage this year due to changes in the revenue structure, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government d the introduction of ‘emergency management practice’ early this year.
[Report]
1) Governor Kim Ordered Emergency Management
The ‘emergency management practice’the entire provincial officers began following the order of Governor Kim.
2 [INTERVIEW] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo
“Every individual official of the province will watch the expenditurelooking out for any wastage. A task force will be organized to establish timely, comprehensive measures to proactively overcome the financial crisis.”
The main reason for the financial crisisthe stagnation of real estate markets, which resulted in a huge decrease in provincial revenue, because the real estate acquisition tax accounts for 56% of its revenue.
3) Poor Revenue Structure
Compared to other larger autonomous bodies, Gyeonggi Province has an inferior revenue structure.
CG1)
For example, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government shares nearly fifty percent of its revenue with the local citycounty governments as subsidies, Seoul keeps eighty percent of its revenue.
CG2)
In addition to the insufficiency of the budget scale, the outlook for the collection of real estate acquisition taxvery pessimistic, worsening the financial situation.
4) High Educational Finance
The high rate of educational financealso one of the influencing factors for the provincial financial crisis.
CG3)
The subsidy rate for the purchase of lands for schoolsfour times higher, compared to that of Seoul. With the real estate market at a standstill as it is, the introduction of the ‘emergency management practice’ may help the provincial government overcome the crisis, even though it may-not be the fundamental solution.