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. 1. First Handicraft Support Center in Korea Opens in Yeoju (191111-2) The first public handicraft support center in Korea opened at Yeoju (여주) Ceramic World in Gyeonggi Province. Equipped with 3D printers and a range of advanced devices, this center is open to the public as well as to handicraft artists. ► Gyeonggi Handicraft Support Center, Yeoju Dojasesang, Yeoju City A novice glassware creator picks up a lump of molten glass from a furnace with a steel pipe, blows through the pipe, and carefully crafts a round glass form. ► Choi Ji-hun, Handicraft Support Center User from Seoul “I think I will look at glassware at home differently from now on. I now know that every single detail of each piece is the product of meticulous work. It was a rewarding experience.” ► Gyeonggi Handicraft Support Center Opening Ceremony (November 8) Established by Gyeonggi Province with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, this center features handicraft workshops for diverse materials including ceramics, metal and wood. ► Advanced Equipment Available These facilities and the equipment are available to all visitors including handicraft artists in common workshops that function as ‘maker spaces’. ► Choi Yeon, President, Korea Ceramic Foundation “Anyone with a creative mind can use the facility freely. We will endeavor to play a leading role in advancing the handicraft industry through the provision of services ranging from prototype production to business startup.” There are also spaces for handicraft-related startups, education programs and small exhibitions. The Gyeonggi Handicraft Support Center will run free handicraft experiential programs as part of its opening events until the end of the year before entering full operation next year.   2. Traffic Safety Fair Held at KINTEX, Goyang City (191111-3) Korean transportation safety levels are lower than OECD averages with Korea’s pedestrian accident rate being the highest among OECD nations. To foster safe traffic culture, Gyeonggi Province has been holding the Traffic Safety Fair annually. This year marked its fourth occasion. This traffic sign provides traffic, atmospheric and road temperature information for surrounding areas via IoT and big data. ► Baek Ju-yong, CEO, Quantum Gate “Unlike other products that only display numeric speed information, our system is differentiated since it provides numeric and alphabetic information as well as pictograms that enable drivers to sense danger intuitively.” Other items featured at this fair include ground signs that are easily noticed by pedestrians using mobile phones, median strips that prevent jaywalking and illegal U-turns, and vehicles for individuals of limited mobility. There are also experiential booths for dangerous traffic situations that are open to all visitors. ► Kim Mi-ae, Gimpo Green Mothers’ Association “While driving, I didn’t realize that situations could be that serious. Through this experiential program, I became aware of the necessity to be more alert and to drive more safely.” ► KINTEX, Goyang City (November 8-9) Gyeonggi Province Traffic Safety Fair Held at KINTEX on November 8 and 9, this year’s two-day Traffic Safety Fair featured more than 300 booths run by more than 100 organizations. ► Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Lee Hwa-soon “I hope that the Traffic Safety Fair will help improve traffic safety levels. The provincial administration stands with you to ensure traffic safety and safeguard your lives.” The Traffic Safety Fair provided related SMEs with opportunities to promote their new technologies and products through public consultation sessions.   3. Democratic Party to Support Gyeonggi Province’s Administrative Policies (1111-1) Gyeonggi Province and the Democratic Party recently held a joint policy meeting and discussed a range of provincial policies. ► National Assembly Members Hall (November 8) Gyeonggi Province – Democratic Party Budget Policy Meeting This meeting, titled Budget Policy Meeting, was held on November 8 at the Korean National Assembly Members’ Hall. ► Democratic Party Asked to Help Gyeonggi Avoid Reverse Discrimination During the meeting, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung (이재명) asked Democratic Party leaders to help the province avoid reverse discrimination because of its status as a national capital region. ► Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung “I ask you to help Gyeonggi Province avoid reverse discrimination because of its status as a national capital region and to enable all of its residents to live prosperous lives.” ► Gyeonggi Asks for Democratic Party Cooperation in Realizing Provincial Policies As subjects of cooperation, Gyeonggi proposed the expansion of local currency usage, deregulation of public rental housing, and safeguarding national subsidies for express bus operations. ► Democratic Party Agrees to Cooperate with Gyeonggi in Policy Pursuits The Democratic Party leader offered assurances that he will see these issues discussed within the party. ► Democratic Party Leader Lee Hae-chan “I see that the Gyeonggi Local Currency is fast becoming a fixture (in Gyeonggi commerce) with its issuance amount marking KRW 380 billion. The party will provide positive support for the nationwide expansion of local currency…” Democratic Party Leader Lee Hae-chan (이해찬) also offered assurances that the party will discuss express bus operation cost issues with the central government. The policy meeting ended after 2 hours of discussions among representatives of Gyeonggi Province and the Democratic Party including national and provincial assembly members. ► Governor Lee Proposes Improvements for 3 Current Issues During the meeting, Governor Lee also proposed three new policies regarding the expansion of public rental housing supply, the establishment of a provincial animal resource recycling center, and the promotion of pork consumption. ► Gyeonggi Requests Increase in 2020 Provincial Budget Gyeonggi Province also submitted 17 written proposals and requested an increase in the budget for the promotion of major nationally funded projects in Gyeonggi Province in 2020.   4. Public Library Services More Diversified in Gyeonggi (191112-2) In Gyeonggi Province, there is a growing array of public library services that provide learning and experiential programs in a wide variety of subjects. ► Pangyo Children’s Library, Seongnam City This children’s library in Seongnam (성남) City offers programs that use advanced technologies such as drones and robots. A virtual reality dinosaur landscape and a volcano-experience program that combines sand play with holograms are also popular among visiting children. ► Lee Go-eun, Childcare Center Teacher “There are a variety of arrangements that children can easily access and enjoy.” ► Yeongok Library, Bucheon City The Yeokgok (역곡) Library in the foothills of Bucheon (부천) City operates a range of ecological programs in which children can experience nature under the guidance of instructors. ► Gwon Tae-in, Ecological Program Participant, Yeokgok Library “In this environment where there are lots of trees and fresh air, I feel deeply relaxed.” There are a number of other public libraries that offer a variety of special programs in Gyeonggi Province such as a library in Osan (오산) City from which musical instruments can be borrowed and another library in Anseong (안성) City that features a large collection of cartoons. ► Kim Seong-nyeon, Director, Gyeonggi Province Library Policy Division There is a growing need for spaces in which users can engage in a variety of cultural activities, not simply read books. To address such diversified resident needs…” In order to promote library programs that accommodate local characteristics, Gyeonggi Province will increase related budgets. These and other engaging programs at public libraries of the province are gaining popularity.   5. Large Number of Loan Sharks Apprehended by Gyeonggi’s Special Judicial Police (1112-1) Recently, a large number of illegal moneylenders were apprehended in Gyeonggi Province. These offenders include loan sharks who charged appallingly high interest rates and others who operated without a license. ► Illegal Moneylender in Seongnam City A GTV reporter followed inspectors who raided the home of an unlicensed moneylender. [Sync] “We come from the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police to ute a search and seizure warrant.” Inspectors discover a large number of illegal loan transaction documents. ► Illegal Moneylender in Icheon City Another illegal moneylender was caught in the act by inspectors who posed as potential clients. In a compartment of the subject’s motorbike, inspectors find stacks of fliers advertising illegal loan services. ► 30 Illegal Loan Sharks and Unregistered Moneylenders Apprehended During a 3-month crackdown that began in July, the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police uncovered 30 illegal moneylenders. These loan sharks victimized 38 individuals, primarily college students and housewives who have limited access to bank loans, through high-interest loans totaling KRW 190 million. ► Appalling Annual Interest Rates of up to 8,254% Charged These loan sharks charged annual interest rates of up to 8,254 percent and frequently threatened to reveal the transactions to family members of the victims when payments were overdue. ► Unregistered Moneylender Operates Membership System Apprehended individuals include those who operated without a license on a membership basis. ► 17 Illegal Advertisement Dispensers Apprehended on Site Thirteen illegal moneylenders and 17 illegal ad distributors were apprehended with nearly 60,000 fliers being confiscated by the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police. ► Kim Yeong-su, Superintendent, Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police “Gyeonggi Province’s efforts to eradicate illegal loan activities will continue and our special judicial police will lead in protecting economic minorities and creating a fair world.” Of those apprehended, 22 will be sent to prosecution or charged with criminal offenses while the others are still being investigated. Gyeonggi Province will expand the scope of the investigation to online loan operators.   6. ‘I Love Korean Pork’ Campaign Held at Korean National Assembly Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung (이재명) and Democratic Party Leader Lee Hae-chan (이해찬) acted as one-day Korean pork ambassadors to support pig farmers affected by the recent African swine fever outbreak. ► National Assembly Members’ Hall (November 12) 2019 National Assembly ‘I Love Korean Pork’ Campaign The ‘I Love Korean Pork’ campaign took place at the Korean National Assembly on November 8. ► 1-Day Korean Port Promotion Ambassadors Appointed This Korean pork promotion campaign was also assisted by National Assembly members and other political leaders. ► Korean Pork Promotion Campaign This campaign was organized to help pig farmers who are experiencing difficulties due to declining pork consumption and falling prices after the recent outbreak of African swine fever. ► Democratic Party Leader Lee Hae-chan “Pig farmers in Gyeonggi Province were seriously affected by the African swine fever outbreak. In addition, pork consumption has fallen significantly due to misinformation about the disease.” ► Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung “Not only pork currently on the market but also that which has been infected is safe for consumption by humans. Safety has been assured for the next 100 years.” ► National Assembly Chairperson Mun Hui-sang “I ask people to eat a lot of pork so as to minimize the damage suffered by pig farmers…” During the campaign, participants worked hard to encourage people to consume pork. Gyeonggi Province will continue its pork consumption promotion campaign and pursue diverse measures to help pork farmers.   7. National ‘Town Hall Meeting’ Tour for Agricultural and Fisheries Industry Promotion Arrives in Gyeonggi (191114-3) On November 13, the national ‘Town Hall Meeting’ tour of the Agricultural and Fisheries Special Committee, a presidential advisory body, arrived in Gyeonggi Province. During the subsequent meeting, related specialists and local residents discussed the advancement of the agricultural and fishing industries. ► Suwon Convention Center (November 13) ‘Town Hall Meeting’ The meeting was held in the form of a roundtable conference in which each participant writes down their views on threats to local agriculture and fisheries on a piece of paper. ► Choi Rin, Youth Farmer “The fact that imports keep increasing while production is decreasing has become a fundamental cause of worry among farmers…” This Town Hall Meeting was organized jointly by Gyeonggi Province and the Agricultural and Fisheries Special Committee. ► Gyeonggi Farmers, Fishermen and Specialists Discuss Future of Agriculture and Fisheries The meeting saw the attendance of more than 100 farmers, fishermen, related specialists and organization representatives. This meeting in Gyeonggi Province was the fourth in a national tour of nine area-wide autonomies. The aim of this tour is to analyze the current status of the agricultural and fishing industries and to identify future policy directions. ► Park Jin-do, Chairperson, Agriculture and Fisheries Special Committee “Sustainable agriculture can only be realized through the successful formation of a kind of contractual relationship between farmers who create value of public interest and the government that provides compensation for such value…” ► Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Kim Hee-kyeum “I hope that this meeting will serve as the basis for policies or materials to change the agricultural framework of Korea.” During discussions on key issues for the advancement of the agricultural and fishing industries, basic income payment assurances were regarded as the most important issue by 44 percent of participants. ► Aimed at Developing New National Agricultural and Fisheries Administration Policies Based on the results of the Town Hall Meeting tour, the Agricultural and Fisheries Special Committee will develop detailed policies by March next year. Thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV. We look forward to seeing you again next week.