Title 1. Express Railway Project of Gyeonggi Province, GTX, Secures Initial Labor Costs2012 National Budget (0102-2)
[News Script]
The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea approved basic planning cost support for GTX, the express railway project of Gyeonggi Province. The provincial governmentnow ready to set a detailed initial plan for GTX construction, which the government has been targeting toin 2013.
[Report]
1) KRW5 Billion Secured for Commissioning of GTX Design
The final approval of the National Budget for the year 2012the Korean National Assembly has secured Gyeonggi Province KRW 5 billion in support for the initial design costs of GTX. It also reflects the unanimous recognition of the necessity for GTX constructionboth rulingopposition parties.
2) Choi Min-seong / Director of Gyeonggi Province GTX Division
“The approval of design cost supportthe National Assembly was crucial for the commencement of GTX project implementation,we are now ready to actually start the ball rolling.”
The support funds will be used for initial administrative procedures including the establishment of a detailed initial construction planpreliminary environmental review.
3) Overall Construction Cost: KRW 13.6 Trillion
The GTX Project consists of three rail lines connecting the province with Seoul in five different directions. Covering a total of 140.7km – comprised of the 46.2km Ilsan – Suseo (일산-수서) line, the 48.7km Songdo-Cheongryangri (송도-청량리) line,the 45.8km Uijeongbu-Gumjeong (의정부-금정) line – the construction of these GTX lines will cost a total of KRW 13.6 trillion.
4) Lee Ji-hoon Reporter
“Gyeonggi Province plans tooperation of the GTX lines in 2018. When these lines are complete, they will play an important role in transforming the province into a huge metropolis around the capital city of Korea.

Title 2. New Financial Support for Social Enterprises (0103-1)
[News Script]
For the first time in Korea, Gyeonggi Province will introduce a prioritized financial support program for social enterprises.
[Report]
There are 283 officially recognized social enterprises in Gyeonggi Province.
1) Most Social Enterprises Under Financial Pressure
Social enterprises are great providers of new jobs, especially for people in low income brackets, but most are struggling to survive, primarily because they have limited access to financing due to difficulties in offering collateral.
2) 5207 New Jobs CreatedSocial Enterprises in 2011
Last year alone, 5,207 new jobs were dsocial enterprises. Most of these jobs were offered to people with disabilities or in low income brackets, helping them achieve independence.
CG
A questionnaire-based survey of social enterprises revealed that the most-desired financial boons were low interest rates, preferred28%, followedmitigated mortgage limits at 25%simpler application procedures at 23%.
3) Gyeonggi Province Introduces Special Credit Guarantee Program for Social Enterprises
Gyeonggi Province announced that it will introduce a special Prioritized Credit Guarantee Program for Social Enterprises so as to promote their growth through the provision of financial assistance.
CG
For this credit vehicle, Gyeonggi Province will release a total of KRW 5 billion at interest rates of 3.7 to 4.2%. Individual companies can borrow up to KRW 100 million at these low interest rates.
4) Choi Chang-ho / Gyeonggi Province Employment Policy Division Official
“Financingthe most difficult challenge for social enterprises. This support program will relieve some of the financial pressurethese companies.”
Gyeonggi Province plans to expand the credit guarantee program in collaboration with citiescounties in the province. Low-cost financing will be granted based on the performance of the company. Applications for financial support are being received at the Gyeonggi Credit GuaranteeDecember 26th.

Title 3. Winter Programs for Children at Public Libraries (0104-1)
[News Script]
Thisthe time for parents to take their children to placesthey can enjoy winter vacation. How about a public library? There are a variety of children’s programs designed to make the winter vacation worth.
[Report]
1) Jookjeon Library / Yongin City
Visiting public librariesa clever way for children to spend the days of winter vacation in warmthenjoyment. After one or two hours of lessons, children valiantly write diary entries in English in this English Diary Writing Class. And they really enjoy doing it.
2) Ahn Ji-min / 2nd Grade, Bokjeong Primary School
“I wrote my diary in English. It was fun.”
3) Wolgot Mini Library / Shiheung City
There are also programs in which parents can participate with their children. In this Fairy Tale Narration Class, childrentheir mothers are lost in a world of fairy tales presentedthe instructor. They also practice their own narration skills. Libraries are no longer just places for reading, but have transformed into placeschildren can also playhave fun.
4) Kim Jeong-hyun / Parent, Shiheung City
“I wonderedto go with my childended up coming to this library. We participated in a wonderful programwe had a very good time.”
5) Special Winter Vacation Classes at Public Libraries in Gyeonggi Province
Various winter vacation classes are now being offered at 170 public libraries in Gyeonggi Province. These include a variety of interesting programs that cannot be found in public schools as well as reading programs.
6) Gyeonggi-do Cyber Library (www.library.kr)
Contact the Gyeonggi-do Cyber Library for detailed information about winter programs for children at public libraries.

Title 4. 2012 – The Year of Dragon (0102-1)
[News Script]
The Watch Night Event at the dawn of the New Year took place at Imjingak (임진각) in Paju (파주) City.
[Report]
The year 2012the Year of Dragon, a symbol of sanctity, honorpower.
1) 2011 New Year’s Watch Night Event / Imjingak, Paju City (December 31st)
This end-of-the-year Watch Night Event has been held annually at Imjingak, a national tourist site just inside the border with North Korea, but this year’s event was the first in two years since the last one was cancelled due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. Many people braved the coldarrived here to celebrate the New Year. What they are currently doingDaljip (달집) Burning, a traditional ritual of making New Year’s wishesburning a piece of paper inscribed with wisheswrapped with rice straw.
2) [INTERVIEW] Han Seong-jin / Paju City
“I wished that my mother-in-law will recoverher illnessforthe people around me to be happy in the New Year.”
3) [INTERVIEW] Jeong Yoo-jin / Paju City
“Because I will go to a middle school in the New Year, I wished to study hardplease my parents. I also wished that my younger brother can adapt well to school life when he becomes a primary school student in the New Year.”
The tolling notes of the New Year’s Bell spread through the night air, carrying the wishes ofthose gathered.
4) [INTERVIEW] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo
“We are economically in difficult times, but I believe we can overcome these difficulties as we have many times in the past. I say, let’s go for it!”
Let us hope that 2012 will be a year of dynamic success, justa dragon soaring up to the sky.

Title 5. Marina at Jeongok Harbor Completed (0103-2)
[News Script]
Marina expansion work at Jeongok (전곡) Harbor has been completed,this harbornow ready to lead an era of marine leisure in Korea.
[Report]
Gyeonggi Province has finished marina expansion at Jeongok (전곡) Harbor. This harborfully equipped withthe necessary facilities for marine leisure sports.
1) Mooring Capacity for Boats
New features at this harbor include an additional on-the-water mooring facility with the capacity for 79 medium-to-large boats.
2) Total Capacity: 139 Boats on Water, 53 Boats on Land
With the existing mooring facility – completed in November of 2009 –its 113-berth capacity, Jeongok (전곡) Harbornow capable of accommodating 192 vessels in the seaon land.
3) [INTERVIEW] Kim Sang-yul / Gyeonggi Province Marine Leisure Official
“Construction of facilities for yachtsboats at the Jeongok (전곡) harbor marina means that this harbor now has a modern foundation for the development of marine leisure as well as the marine industry.”
Situated at the heart of beautiful Gyeonggi Bay, Jeongok (전곡) Harbor alsostrategically ideal for the promotion of tourism.
4) Marinas at Nearby Harbors to Complete in 2015
Since the provincial governmentwell aware that the marine leisure industryone of the growth industries of the future, Gyeonggi Province plans to complete the construction of other marina facilities at nearby harbors2015 so as to develop this region as a marine leisure center.

Title 6. Funeral
Cost Support for Koreans ReturningSakhalin (0104-2)
[News Script]
For the first time in Korea, Gyeonggi Province will provide funeral cost support to former Korean residents of Sakhalin who have permanently returned to Korea. Sakhalina large island in the North Pacific thatpart of Russia. Many Koreans were forcibly moved to Sakhalinthe Japanese during World War II to work in coal mines,now comprise a large segment of the island’s populace.
[Report]
1) Funeral Cost Support of KRW 22.5 Million
The 2012 Budget of Gyeonggi Province includes KRW 22.5 million in funeral cost support for former Sakhalin residents who are now living in six cities of Gyeonggi Province.
CG: Koreans ReturnSakhalin
There are a total of 1,285 former Korean residents of Sakhalin who have permanently returned to their mother countrysettled in Gyeonggi Province. They are now living in six cities in the province including Ansan (안산) City.
2) Burden of Funeral Costs
Since most of them are aged citizens, funerals are a frequent event, but the funeral cost support providedthe provincial government under the Basic Living Expense Guarantee Lawfarsufficient to cover actual costs, especially since most of these newcomers have no relatives in Korea to rely on.
3) [인INTERVIEW] Cho Gwang-o / Director of Gyeonggi Province Aged Welfare Division
“Most of returnersSakhalin live in very financially limited conditions. So, we are planning to provide them with necessary support to live the rest of their lives in reasonable comfortfree of worries about their funerals.”
4) Funeral Cost Support of KRW 500,000 Per Person
From January of 2012, funeral cost support of KRW 500,000 will be provided for each deceased individual within four daysthe date of application at the local resident center.
5) Contact for Information: Gyeonggi Province Aged Welfare Division (☎031-8008-2570)
The funeral cost support came as a huge relief for the aged Koreans who returnedSakhalin after many yearshad to worry about their afterlife. They should be given every opportunity to savor a worry-free life in their mother country.