Greetings, everyone, and thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV.
I’m Don Valiant and this is the news from Gyeonggi Province this week
Article1. Gyeonggi Governor Attends 100th ‘Meet Governor’ (170911-1)
[Anchor’s Headline] Gyeonggi Province’s ‘Meet the Governor’ program recently saw its 100th session. Introduced three years ago by Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil (남경필), this program has helped resolve more than 60 percent of the issues raised during the meetings.
►Yang Yeong-hun/ Gapyeong County Resident
After his talk about the necessity for ordinances for food truck operations with Governor Nam at a ‘Meet the Governor’ session, Yang (양영훈) became a food truck operator.
►Yang Yeong-hun / Food Truck Operator
“After the meeting with the governor, I was referred to the county mayor. When the ordinances were enacted, I was able to become one of the first food truck operators. I am grateful for that.”
When faulty construction at an apartment complex in the province became an issue, ‘Meet the Governor’ was the channel through which requests for provincial inspections were made.
This led to Gyeonggi Province’s initiative for the enactment of laws that prevent such practices.
‘Meet the Governor’ has been held at Public Service Offices in the cities of Suwon (수원) and Uijeongbu (의정부) on a weekly basis.
►Gyeonggi Province Public Service Office(September 8)
100th ‘Meet the Governor’
Over the past three years, ‘Meet the Governor’ has covered a wide range of issues.
►Kim Jae-jung / Gyeonggi Province Public Service Office User
“It is an excellent program since it gives residents opportunities to talk about their complaints directly with the governor and to have their issues handled more actively.”
[CG] To date, of a total of 488 complaints have been raised at ‘Meet the Governor’ sessions, and nearly sixty percent have been resolved. Gyeonggi Province plans to expand the areal coverage of the ‘Meet the Governor’ program.
►Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“People might have thought that my decision to meet residents on a regular basis would not last long. However, it has now reached a hundredth occasion. It will keep going.”
Governor Nam’s regular meetings with residents has helped identify and resolve a large number of problems in the province
Article 2. Gyeonggi Releases KRW 20 Billion for SME Financing during Chuseok(170911-2)
[Anchor’s Headline] Gyeonggi Province announced the release of KRW 20 billion in special funds to help SMEs that face operational difficulties during the Chuseok holidays, a period when seasonal expenditures increase.
►Gift Manufacturing Enterprise, Suwon City
Although this is a high production season for gift manufacturers, this company is experiencing financial difficulties due to excessive payables for purchased materials that have increased three-fold over the previous month. Creditors are demanding payments before Chuseok.
►Choi Min-ki / CEO, Gift Item Manufacturing Enterprise
“Whenever big traditional holidays approach, there is a high financial risk due to increased expenditures. It is near impossible to borrow money since everyone is in a similar situation.”
A large number of SMEs experience financial difficulties when Chuseok approaches.
►Gyeonggi to Release KRW 20 Billion as Financial Support for SMEs
These special funds will be provided to such enterprises as operational financing support. Each benefiting enterprise will be provided with a short-term loan of up to KRW 500 million at low interest.
►Woo Byeong-bae / Deputy Director, Gyeonggi Province Policy Funds Team
“This loan will provide a great relief since it is available to enterprises that have exhausted other loan channels.”
Last year, 65 enterprises benefited from Gyeonggi Province’s special Chuseok financing support.
►Applications: http://g-money.gg.go.kr/
Applications for Chuseok financing support are being received at Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation offices as well as via the SME Promotion Fund website until the end of October.
Article 3. Autonomous Vehicle Operations to Begin in December(170912-2)
[Anchor’s Headline] In December, Gyeonggi Province will see Korea’s first autonomous vehicle operations in the form of a 12-person shuttle bus. Based at Pangyo (판교) Station, this bus will run a 5.6-kilometer route through an urban center of Seongnam (성남) City, carrying passengers without a driver.
►Korea Transportation Authority
A GTV reporter rode an autonomous vehicle during a test run.
►GTV Reporter GuYeong-seul
“The vehicle I am riding now is a self-driving vehicle. I am in the driver’s seat, but can use my both hands doing other work while the car moves autonomously.
An autonomous vehicle automatically changes lanes and alters direction when the driver touches a turn button. While the car is moving, the driver does not need to use the steering wheel or pedals.
►Autonomous Shuttle Bus to Begin Operations in Pangyo in December
The autonomous shuttle bus is slated to start transportation services between Pangyo (판교) Station and Pangyo (판교) Zero City in three months.
►Lee Jong-don / Director, Gyeonggi Province Industrial Policy Division
“An autonomous shuttle bus will operate between Pangyo Station and Pangyo Zero City. Its operation will serve as a model for future urban transportation tems.”
The autonomous shuttle bus will operate on a trial basis. Its operation will be controlled semi-automatically through traffic monitoring from the control center.
►World’s Largest Experimental Autonomous Vehicle City Slated for Next Year
With the primary operation of autonomous vehicle tems in Pangyo (판교) this year, the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to develop the world’s largest experimental autonomous vehicle city next year.
In this city, self-driving vehicle tems will be tested in various operation environments for future improvements.
► [PiP] Min Gyeong-chan / Research Official, Korea Transportation Authority
“With autonomous driving vehicle tem technologies being developed actively, we expect that the commercialization of self-driving cars will be realized by the year 2020.”
By the year 2020, Gyeonggi Province will see the first autonomous driving vehicle transportation tems in Korea.
Article 4. Gyeonggi Pursues Prevention of Faulty Apartment Construction Practices (170912-3)
[Anchor’s Headline] Following widely reported conflicts between the occupants of an apartment complex in Hwaseong (화성) City and its constructor over construction quality, Gyeonggi Province initiated legislation to prevent faulty construction practices.
►Booyoung Apartment Complex, Hwaseong City
Less than a year after the completion of this new apartment complex, dozens of complaints about building defects were lodged with the constructor by residents. However, the constructor failed to address the defects.
►Gyeonggi Pursues Legislation against Faulty Apartment Construction
Gyeonggi Province’s pursuit of legislation is aimed at preventing such irresponsible construction practices.
►Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“When constructors lose public confidence, it puts the advance housing sale tem in jeopardy. Irresponsible construction practices threaten the quality of life and happiness of the people.”
In order to protect the public from such malpractice, Gyeonggi Province proposed the amendment of a related lawto the central government that would prohibit advanced housing sales by irresponsible constructors so that construction quality is ensured before payment.
The proposal has received positive responses from the central government as well as from the public.
►Kim Eun-ji (Alias) / Future Occupant of New Booyoung Apartment
“We sincerely hope that many people will support this law so that its enactment will be realized and faulty contraction practices will be eliminated.”
Gyeonggi Province has already finished special inspections of the ten apartment complexes that were built by this constructor and identified defects including water leakage in underground parking lots.
►Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“The chairman of the board of Booyoung Construction must publicly apologize. Then fundamental solutions must be sought.”
This new law is already known as the Booyoung Law for the name of the company that constructed the defect-ridden apartment complex in Hwaseong (화성) City.
Article 5. 322nd Gyeonggi Provincial AssemblyExtraordinary Session Ends(170913-1)
[Anchor’s Headline] On September 12, the 322nd extraordinary session of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly ended its 15-day run. The primary agenda of this session was the deliberation of the budget for a youth employment project.
►Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly (September 12)
4th General Meeting of 322ndExtraordinary Session
This project consists of three sub-projects for youth employment that connect youths with positions in small and medium-sized enterprises.
The budget for this project - titled Working Youth Series Project –is included in this year’s second revised supplementary budget for the province.
►Working Youth Series Projects Launch in January 2018
The project series will be implemented from January next year.
►Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“We will develop detailed programs in cooperation with the provincial assembly in order to ensure that the three sub-projects will be implemented from January 1 next year as scheduled.”
The second revised supplementary budget amounts to KRW 19.4 trillion.
Among the items discussed during the extraordinary session, an agreement on the semi-public operation of intercity buses was deferred to the next session.
►75 Items Passed during 4th General Meeting
This extraordinary session saw the passage of 75 items on the final day.
The general meeting was followed by 5-minute speeches by assembly members on various issues.
►Cho Jae-wook / Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member
“I ask the administration to develop practical regulatory reformation policies to relieve residents in source water protection areas from excessive regional regulations.”
►Cho Seung-hyeon / Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member
“I ask to for the continuous attention and cooperation of the governor for the establishment of indoor gymnasiums in schools by securing related budgets.”
The next extraordinary session of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly is slated to begin on October 17 for an 8-day run.
Article 6.Local Autonomy Project Contest Held in Gyeonggi Province (170913-2)
[Anchor’s Headline]Since 2014, Gyeonggi Province has been holding an annual local autonomy project contest with positive results. Winning projects have been granted support totaling KRW 40 billion annually. Some have already shown substantial progress.
►Chulleong Bridge in Gamak Mountain, Paju City
This recently completed swaying bridge on a mountain in Paju (파주) City was one such contest-winning project.
Spanning 150 meters between ridges over the valley, this bridge has already become a popular destination among local residents who enjoy crossing this swaying bridge.
►Cho In-mi, GwakJeong-ja / Visitor from Seoul
“It was scary but fun at the same. My friends enjoyed it and had great fun, too.”
This bridge project won fourth prize in the local autonomy project contest held in 2014. Within just one year of its opening, it has become a regular tourist destination in Paju (파주) City and attracted 750,000 visitors to date.
►Gwangmyeong Café, Gwangmyeong City
Gwangmyeong (광명) Cave in Gwangmyeong (광명) City won KRW 10 billion won in the contest; it has also became a popular tourist destination, attracting 1.2 million visitors annually.
►Yun Yang-hyeong / Director General, Gwangmyeong City Citizens’ Happiness Bureau
“Gwangmyeong Cave was included among 100 tourist destinations selected by the Korean government. We will develop diverse contents to promote the cave as a tourist destination of international caliber.”
The Hwaseong (화성) City project that transformed a former US military firing range into a baseball ground for youths was also realized through the contest. To date, 32 local projects have succeeded in the contest and received provincial support totaling KRW 164 billion.
►Kim Seon-hwa / Deputy Director, Gyeonggi Province Planning & Administration Budget Team
“Local governments may have difficulties realizing large projects. This contest contributes to the local economy and job creation…”
Titled Next Gyeonggi Creative Audition, this local autonomy project contest is helping local governments realize projects that would otherwise have been impossible due to financial limitations.
Article 7. Fake Tea Producer Uncovered in Gyeonggi Province (170913-3)
[Anchor’s Headline] A tea company that sold fake tea products made from hazardous materials was uncovered in Gyeonggi Province. This company used industrial materials that can cause damage to membranes in the human digestive tract to produce fake tea products, and deceptively sold them to housewives and seniors.
►Food Company, Anyang City
In a food company in Anyang (안양) City, officers from the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police find large quantities of empty bottles as well as sacks of silicate that is used for industrial purposes.
►Industrial-purpose Silicate Used to Make Fake Tea
This company mixed silicate with liquid tea to make fake tea products and sold them to unsuspecting consumers, touting health benefits.
►Kim Jong-gu / Super Intendent, Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police
“This is a case in which the offender created fake tea using industrial silicate and sold the product as a cure-all.”
►Illegally Gained Profit of KRW 330 Million
This company sold the products primarily to housewives and seniors, claiming the tea was a panacea.
►Strong Alkalinity with Health Risks
According to the National Forensic Service, which performed tests, the tea products–instead of being a panacea – could cause membrane burns as well as diarrhea and stomach pains. The judicial police arrested six individuals including the president of the company and sent them to criminal prosecution for violation of the Food Hygiene Act.
Thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV
We look forward to seeing you again next week.
