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. 2021 Gyeonggi Province Human Cultural Asset Festival (1115) The 2021 Gyeonggi Province Human Cultural Asset Festival was held at the Hanam (하남) Art Center from November 12 to 14. Held under the theme of ‘Millennium of Masters,’ this event featured performances and exhibitions of plays, music, dances, games, and other intangible cultural assets of the province. A total of 68 intangible cultural assets were featured at the festival including masters of 40 skill sets such as porcelain-making and comedic performances as well as 28 masters of arts such as traditional Gyeonggi folk songs. ◇ Gyeonggi’s Delivery Worker Safety Education (1115) On October 28, Gyeonggi Province provided delivery workers with safety education at the Labor Rights Center in Goyang (고양) City. Introduced for the first time among Korean local governments to foster a safe delivery culture and promote safety awareness, this education program also offered a penalty reduction benefit so as to encourage participation. The province plans to stage this education program at a series of locations in November. ◇ Gyeonggi to Introduce Sign Language Service at Tourism Locations (1115) Gyeonggi Province plans to operate a sign language service, initially on a trial basis, at 8 tourism locations in the province including the cities of Paju, Gwangju, and Siheung. Provided in connection with Gyeonggi Tour Nurim (누림), a tour vehicle support program for individuals with disabilities, this service will include the provision of location information by guides accompanied by sign language interpreters. For this program, the province has recruited 29 cultural tourism guides and provided them with 2 months of preparatory education. Based on the results of trial operation, the province will consider expansion of the service next year. ◇ Gyeonggi Launches DEF Task Force (1116) In response to the acute shortage of diesel exhaust fluid, also known as DEF, Gyeonggi Province convened the first meeting of a task force comprised of the heads and senior officials of its 31 cities and counties on November 15. The meeting was chaired by Acting Gyeonggi Province Governor Oh Byoung-kwon (오병권). Topics discussed during the meeting included current DEF production and distribution as well as ways in which to secure DEF supplies and minimize losses through the monitoring of related fields. Consisting of five teams, including an economy and industry team and an environment and investigation team, this task force will pursue the development and implementation of short- and long-term response measures. ◇ Acting Gyeonggi Governor Pursues Clean Marine Environment (1116) On November 15, Acting Gyeonggi Province Governor Oh Byoung-kwon (오병권) visited marine and fishery-related sites including Gukhwado (국화도) Island and the Gyeonggi Marine Safety Experiential Center. During his visit to the island, Acting Governor Oh participated in coastal cleaning with residents. He also visited Tando (탄도) Port and viewed the operation of an ocean-cleaning ship, the Gyeonggi Cheongjeongho (경기청정호). Since last year, Gyeonggi Province has been pursuing its ‘Clean Gyeonggi Oceans’ initiatives so as to realize a clean marine environment for residents through marine resource protection and environmental management efforts. ◇ Gyeonggi Launches On-site Agricultural Technology Education for Farmers (1116) The Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services is currently providing on-site technical training to 153 Rural Leaders Association members in 7 cities and counties of the province including the cities of Osan (오산), Yongin (용인), Uiwang (의왕), and Icheon (이천). Running until November 24, this program is geared to improve the competitiveness of provincial agriculture while providing next-generation farmers with technical support through education on drone usage, welding and heavy equipment. The institute expects this program to help promote the latest technologies while preventing farm-related accidents. ◇ Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Proposes Introduction of Amphibious Buses (1119) At a press conference on November 18, Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly members proposed the introduction of amphibious buses on routes that encompass Han River Boat routes. Assembly member Min Gyeong-seon (민경선) asserted that amphibious buses can reduce commuting times while operating at costs that are lower than those of other traffic congestion remedies. Assembly member Jo Seong-hwan (조성환) proposed the operation of amphibious buses as provincial public buses as well as utilization of the buses for tours outside of commuting hours. ◇ Thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV. We look forward to seeing you again next week.