Greetings, everyone,thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV. I’m Don Valiantthisthe newsGyeonggi Province this week. 1. Gyeonggi Helps Osan City with Culture City Designation (190820-2) The Korean government has been operating a Culture City designation tem to identify regions with valuable local cultureto promote their cultural contents through a 5-year support program. Recently, Gyeonggi Province signed an agreement with Osan (오산) City to help it secure Culture City designation. ► Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (August 20) Gyeonggi ProvinceOsan City Sign Agreement on Osan City’s Culture City Designation With the signing of this agreement on August 20, Osan City, the only city in the province that has applied for 2020 Culture City designation as grantedthe Korean Ministry of Culture, SportsTourism, will receive assistancethe province with its application. ► Gyeonggi to Actively Support Osan City in Culture City Designation In addition to administrative assistance, Gyeonggi Province will also participate in formal support activities. ► Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung “We will work together in our efforts (for Osan City) to achieve Culture City designation based on what has been achievedto realize an outstanding Culture City.” ► Regional Characteristic Cultural Program OperationRegional Brand Creation Culture City designation can be viewed as a regional brand with characteristic historical, cultural, artseducational contents. Combining its image as an education city with culturethe arts, Osan City plans to cultivate specialized cultural education programs. ► Osan City Mayor Kwak Sang-wuk “The purpose of this initiativeto establish our city as an educationalcultural city for cultural creation. Provincial support will aid us significantly in securing (Culture City) designation.” Culture City designation entails national support of up to KRW 10 billion provided over the span of 5 years as well as consultation supportfast-tracked urban regeneration project implementation. The Korean Ministry of Culture, SportsTourism will announce the application results of 10 aspiring Culture Cities at theof next year.   2. Korean Government Procurement Website Features Prices Higher than Online Shopping Malls (190820-3) In Korea, an online procurement website for Korean government agencies also operates as a sales channel for SMEs. Recently, Gyeonggi Province discovered that the prices of items listed on this website were significantly higher than those found on general online shopping malls. ► Website Nara Jangteo, Korean Public Procurement Service On this website, known as Nara Jangteo (나라장터), office equipment listed at more than KRW 2 million was offered for less than KRW 1 million on online malls for the general public. ► Some Items Sold at Lower Prices on General Online Malls There were other items listed at prices that were more than twice as high as those found on general online malls. However, according to relevant law, this website must be used for purchases madegovernment agenciespublic organizations. ► Gyeonggi Province Compares Prices between Nara JangteoGeneral Online Malls Such exorbitant prices were discovered among those items used primarilypublic organizations. ► Lee Hin-hye, Director, Gyeonggi Province Fair Consumer Division “We conducted a survey of prices to prevent budgetary waste. If procedural guidelines were observed, these prices shouldn’t be higher than those offered to the Korean Public Procurement Service.” ► Gyeonggi Proposes Measures to Ensure Reasonable PricesStrengthen Price Monitoring Of approximately 3,300 items reviewed on the Nara Jangteo (나라장터) website, more than 40 percent were listed at prices higher than those offered on general online malls. Gyeonggi Province will share these results with the Korean Public Procurement Servicewill propose the strengthening of measures to prevent unfair public procurement transactions through coordination between centrallocal governments.   3. 11th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival to Open on September 20 (0819) The organizers of the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival recently announced that this year’s festival, which will open for an 8-day run on September 20, will be geared to strengthen the event’s identityto promote the film industry. ► Hana Financial Group (August 19) Press Conference for 11th DMZ International Documentary Film Festival Marking its 11th occasion this year, this documentary film festival will take place at multiple venues in the cities of Goyang (고양)Paju (파주). ► 150 Documentaries46 Nations to be Featured During the event, a total of 150 documentaries46 nations will be screened in competitivenon-competitive categories. ► Opening Film: Across Deserts Past Lakes A journeyyouthsthe Korean city of Mokpo (목포) to Berlin in Germany, titled Across Deserts Past Lakes, was ed as this year’s opening film. ► Park So-hyeon, Director of Across Deserts Past Lakes “The journey includes retracing the steps of independence fighters who travelled through ManchuriaPrimorsky Krai a century ago…” ► 64 Korean-made Documentary Films to be Featured This year’s festival will see a significant increase in the number of Korean-made films that focus on more diverse aspects of Korean society. ► New ‘DMZ Industry’ Program Established to Provide Production Support A new ‘DMZ Industry’ program will be established to provide Asian documentary projects with production support. There will also be diverse programs for visitors including lecturestalks that feature world-renowned figures, one-stop convenience spacesoutdoor screens. ► Hong Hyeong-suk, Chief Executive, DMZ International Documentary Film Festival “We will boldly prepare for the next festivalpursue unrestricted freedom of mind. Please share this ambitionjoin us in making this a beautiful journey for all.” The opening ceremony of the festival will take place at Imjingak (임진각) in Paju (파주) City. ► Diverse ProgramsEvents at Multiple Venues Diverse programsassociated events will be held at major cinemas in Goyang CityPaju City during the festival period, which runs until September 27.   4. South Gyeonggi Youth Self-support Center Opens in Gunpo (0820) On August 20, the South Gyeonggi Youth Self-support Center opened in Gunpo (군포) City to help those graduatingyouth shelters with their first steps beyond the facilities through accommodation, vocational educationemployment support. Kim (김우영), who had been living at a youth shelter since he was a high school student until two years agois now a university sophomore, faced great difficulties supporting himself outside of youth shelter care, especially in terms of finding accommodations. ► Kim Woo-yeong (Alias, Age 23), Youth Shelter Graduate “I had to find my own way with no one helping me. The most serious problem was finding accommodations since that was the most difficult.” ► Sanbon-dong, Gunpo (August 20) South Gyeonggi Youth Self-support Center Opening Ceremony The South Gyeonggi Youth Self-support Center will provide valuable assistance to thoseKim who are leaving youth facilities. ► AccommodationIndependence Support for Facility Graduates Available to facility graduates who are unable to return to families, schoolssociety, youth self-support center services are provided until the age of 24. The South Gyeonggi center will manage individual cases through regular home visits providing a range of assistance covering housing, medicalemployment support as well as introductions to sponsorships. It will also offer connections on a long-term basis with related support programs of the Korea LandHousing Corporation. ► Kim Hyeong-geun, Director, South Gyeonggi Youth Self-support Center “We will provide facility graduates with support so as to enable them to lead sound adult lives instead of falling into delinquency or crises.” With the existing center in Uijeongbu (의정부) City, Gyeonggi Province now has two youth self-support centers. The province will continue to expand its safety nets for youths.   5. 110 Groundwater Water Facilities in Gyeonggi Found Substandard (0821) During recent inspections at educationwelfare facilities, Gyeonggi Province discovered substandard groundwater quality at more than half of the locations. The province swiftly began measures to remedy this situation. ► Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (August 21) Announcement of EducationWelfare Facilities Groundwater Inspection Results These findings were revealed during the announcement of the results of inspections that began this past June at 289 facilities in the province. ► Groundwater at 110 of 207 Inspected Locations Found ‘Unpotable’ Of 207 locations inspected, higher than permissible levels of harmful substances were detected in the groundwater at 110 locations. ► Kim Yong, Gyeonggi Province Spokesperson “No less than 110 locations failed to pass water safety tests due to high levels of harmful substances including fecal coliforms, nitric acid, arsenic, fluorinealuminum. This number accounts for more than half [of the locations] at 53 percent.” With inspections of 82 locations still remaining, the number of locations failing to pass water safety testsexpected to increase. ► 4 Unregistered Underground Drinking Water Facilities Also Failed Tests Out of 7 unregistered groundwater facilities, 4 also failed water safety tests. ► Suspension of UseFacility Improvement Recommended for Test-Failed Locations Gyeonggi Province notified local governments of the inspection results so as to enable suspensionfacility improvement at the affected sites, scheduling primary inspections of the remaining locations as well as site inspections of failing locationsthe Gyeonggi Province Water Resource Headquarters. ► Kim Yong, Gyeonggi Province Spokesperson “When the results of secondary water safety teststhe Gyeonggi Province Institute of HealthEnvironmentsite inspectionsthe Gyeonggi Province Water Resource Headquarters become available, we will consult regarding remedial actions for each locationstudy additional possible measures.” The province recently convened an emergency vice administrator meeting of 31 local governments to discuss groundwater management statusalternatives for improvement.   6. Labor Rights & Career Fair for Juveniles Held in Gyeonggi (190822-1) On August 21, Gyeonggi Province held a labor rightscareer showcase for middle schoolhigh school students so as to better equip these juveniles for issues associated with their work as temporary employees. Juveniles are often treated unfairly due to their agea lack of knowledge about labor rightsconditions. ► KINTEX, Goyang City (August 21) 2019 Gyeonggi Province Juvenile Labor Rights & Career Fair A high school student in a large costume hands out fliers. Some passersby throw the fliers back in his faceeven physically attack him when he offers to help with photos. ► Choi Yeon-wung, 1st Year - Hopyeong High School, Namyangju City “I find it hard to deal with unkind individuals. I hope that people will be kind to working youths.” Thisa scene of daily work experienceda juvenile at the Gyeonggi Province Juvenile Labor Rights & Career Fair. At this fair, youths can experience a variety of daily work rolesconvenience store keeping to courier package handling. ► Labor Rights LearnedExperience The first of its kind among the area-wide autonomies of Korea, this fair, which saw the participation of more than 2,000 young visitorsbusinesspeople, helped middle schoolhigh school students learn more about labor through experience. ► Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Kim Hee-Kyeum “I hope that this fair will help youths, who are forced to work due personal circumstances, ensure their labor rightsget what they value through their work.” ► EducationConsultationSpecialists Subjects deemed especially difficultyouths, such as employment contractslabor law, could be learnedspecialists through consultations. ► Cho Eun-byeol, 3rd Year - Ilsan High School, Goyang City “Wordslaborclaim rights were unfamiliar to me. However, I now know better after the experiencesconsultations here.” This fair also featured other diverse programs for career seekers including mock interviews using virtual reality equipmentjob-search styling.   7. Gyeonggi to Pursue Western Gyeonggi Culture & Tourism Belt Development (0822) Gyeonggi Provinceseven western cities of the province will jointly pursue the development of a culturetourism belt that links major tourism destinationsencompasses accommodations, shoppingtourism in western regions. ► Bucheon Art Bunker B39 (August 22) Signing of Cooperation Agreement for Tourism Promotion in Western Gyeonggi Regions On August 22, Gyeonggi Provincethe Western Gyeonggi Culture & Tourism Council, which consists of seven western Gyeonggi cities, signed a cooperation agreement for the development of a culturetourism belt linking major tourism destinations across western provincial regions. ► Culture & Tourism Hub for Stays Linked with Major Tourism Destinations in West Gyeonggi The objective of this beltto promote local economy through the formation of a culturetourism hub for staying in which visitors can enjoy stays, sightseeingshopping within short travel distances. After signing the agreement, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung (이재명) pointed out the lack of a culturetourism network, especially under current trade tensions with Japan,asserted the importance of jointly developing the combined tourism resources of the seven western Gyeonggi cities. ► Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung “I hope that we can work together to enable western Gyeonggi regions to form a national tourism center through discussions at practical levels about the joint development of tourism infrastructurethe connection of tourism resources.” ► Joint Tourism Product Development, Tourism MarketingPromotion, Tourist Inducement Under this agreement, participating authorities will cooperate in tourism product development, marketingpromotion as well as tourist inducement. ► Yun Hwa-seop, Chairperson, Western Gyeonggi CultureTourism Council “I sincerely hope that this agreement will become a stepping stone in the advancement of the Western Gyeonggi Culture & Tourism Council.” For effective linkage of tourism destinations in western Gyeonggi regions, the province will propose big data analysis for optimal tour course development. Thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV We look forward to seeing you again next week.