Seoul to revise free childcare policies

Will be based on income level

The national government is going to revise its free childcare policies for infants through two-year-olds as well as youngsters aged five. 

The Ministry of Strategy and Finance says it's working to amend regulations so that service is matched to the recipients' income level.

From March, all families, regardless of income, have received free childcare for children up to two years in age and then free preschool for five-year-olds. Officials say that's changing because it has begun costing local governments too much to pay for their portion of the service.

 

Local fuel prices falling

2,080 April 16; 1,887 July 4

Fuel prices in Jeju continue to fall. According to the Korea National Oil Corporation's oil price information website (오피넷) 'Opinet,'

the average price of a liter of gasoline on the island was 1,887 won July 4th.

It hit an all-time high of 2,080 won April 16th. It remained high for some time, before breaking the 1,900-won marker and dropping to 1,891 won June 26th. Prices have continued to fall since then. 

 

Council 'demands halt' to China FTA talks

Says deal would lead to 'collapse' of farming, fishing sectors

The Jeju Provincial Council has demanded a suspension in negotiations on a free trade agreement between South Korea and China.

The council says it's evident the FTA will lead to a collapse of the island's fishing and farming sectors. In its resolution, the council says the talks must stop until the island comes up with strong measures to protect the primary industry through the revision of quarantine checks and other systems.

The council also demanded that mandarins and other major local crops be excluded from any agreement that is signed and listed as items quote/unquote "most vulnerable" to a trade deal, and therefore deserving of some protections.

 

Turning to Arirang now, the Korean and world economies struggled in the first half of 2012. Will the second half be any better? Arirang's economics correspondent Hwang Sung-hee (황성희) talked to the head of the international finance team at the Korea Institute of International Economic Policy for the answer.

"Korea's finance ministry recently cut its growth outlook for Korea to 3.3 percent. This is bad news, of course, but how is this compared to other major economies around the globe?"

[Interview] Huh In / Korea Institute for Intl. Economic Policy

"Due to the worsening European financial crisis, the expectation on economic growth has been cutting down worldwide. So basically, the IMF expectation on the U.S. economy has been cut down by about 0.2 percentage point, so it's about on the same line. Our economy is slowing down together with the world economy."

Dr. Huh is one of many economists who blame the prolonged eurozone debt crisis as the main reason for the global economic slowdown.

But he says the latest countermeasures, such as the EU leaders' agreement to recapitalize Spain and Italy's ailing banks,... provides a flicker of hope for a better second half.

[Interview] Huh In / Korea Institute for Intl. Economic Policy

"At the end of last month, the EU countries have agreed on some countermeasures such as the EFSF will be buying the problem bonds. So probably, it will calm down the financial markets and the world economy will be better off if we have some stable financial market."

[Brighter economic outlook in second half]

Fortunately, Korea is not taking direct blows from the worsening eurozone crisis.

Take, for example, China... who ships 20 percent of its goods to the troubled region.

Due to decreased demand from Europe, China's purchasing managers index, or PMI remained below the 50 point range for the eighth straight month in June.

A reading below 50 means that manufacturers' are feeling pessimistic about the nation's business conditions. However, that doesn't mean Korea is completely safe.

[Interview] Huh In / Korea Institute for Intl. Economic Policy "Basically, if we think about our destination of exports, only around ten percent is going directly to European countries but 25 percent, or quarter of our exports is headed to China. (dissolve) So we have to watch for how the Chinese economy does and how the Chinese government makes some countermeasures against the economic slowdown."

[Reporter ] Hwang Sung-hee

"Coming back to Korea, how will these external uncertainties affect the Korean economy?"

[Interview] Huh In / Korea Institute for Intl. Economic Policy

"Basically, our exports have slowed down for the first half of this year. And because due to the base effect, the second half will be little bit better off, but we will be facing the slowdown from external demands."

[camera ] Kim Jin-hyub

One way to prepare for slowing overseas demand for this trade-dependent nation, according to Dr. Huh, is to substitute external demand with internal demand... and in doing so, he says, a 3-point-3 percent growth could be an achievable goal.

Hwang Sung-hee, Arirang News.

 

Staying with Arirang for one more story, almost a year has passed since the city of Pyeongchang won the bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. And Wednesday the event's organizing committee gave an update on progress made so far, which includes a big change in plans. Our Song Ji-sun (송지선) reports.

 

Pyeongchang's ski jump facility in Alpensia... will NOT be used as the main venue for opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

The original plan... was to expand the current 10-thousand seating venue... to a capacity of 50-thousand for the two largest events.

[Interview] Kim Jin-sun / President, Olympics organizing committee

"Through detailed analysis, it turned out that occupying the facility for the ceremonies could conflict with the training schedules of ski jump athletes... and access to and from the ski jump is not ideal.

We have decided to set up a new hub for the ceremonies, under the name Olympic Park in Hoenggae(횡계) -- just two kilometers away from Alpensia."

[Pyeongchang to set up new space for ceremonies]

Spanning over 80-thousand square meters, the Olympic Park will be the center of festivities, complete with attractions for visitors.

The ceremonial site will be disassembled after the event.

[www.pyeongchang2018.org ]

The organizing committee also launched its official website Wednesday available in Korean, English and French.

Visitors will be able to obtain the information they are searching for in just two clicks -- on computers or through mobile devices.

[ camera ] Hong Myung-ho

Pyeongchang's crew still has a list of item to cross off its to-do list -- such as preparing a masterplan for the IOC... and visiting Olympic host cities -- starting with London this month.

(Stand-up) Song Ji-sun

"Although there are six more years to go... the organizing committee says it has to have the infrastructure ready in four-and-a-half years... to test the venue through pre-games before the actual games in 2018.

Song Ji-sun, Arirang News.

 

"Hodduk" is kind of a rice pancake stuffed with brown sugar and mixed with nuts, and Kim Min-young, the CEO of King Hodduk is widely-viewed as one of the top cooks of the delicacy. As Kim Hyun-jung now reports, KCTV recently sponsored a special class by him right here in Jeju.

First you stuff the chewy dough with brown sugar and mixed nuts, and then drop it onto the frying pan. Here, we have "hodduk".

After losing his fortune in the stock market, it was "hodduk" that helped this man back onto his feet.

Kim Min-young started selling "hodduk" as a street vendor, but now he has more than 130 franchised shops around Korea. KCTV invited him to Jeju and held an event to share his hopes and happiness with migrant wives.

[ Interview : Kim Min-young ]

This is the session in which migrant wives can learn how to make "hodduk" from CEO Kim in person, and try to make it themselves. From making dough through to toasting properly, they are writing down every detail in order to pick up as many tips as possible.

It was rather difficult to make the sweet snack for the first time, but there were smiles all around when they literally tasted their success

[ Interview : Chuntuitizzang ]

The "hodduk" made that day were delivered to senior citizens centers, and to facilities for the disabled.

The price of a "hodduk" is mere 500 won. However, nothing less than priceless love and devotion were delivered thanks to this event.

Kim Hyun-jung, KCTV.

Policy boosts business at traditional markets

5.5% increase in sales when large retailers closed

Local traditional markets are benefiting from a newly-enacted policy that forces large retailers to close down two days per month.

The provincial government and the Jeju Merchants' Association commissioned a survey of sales at traditional markets June 23rd, one of the days the big stores remained closed. Compared to the previous week, sales were up an average of five-point-five percent.

(서문) Seomun Public Market saw the biggest jump, at 10.4 percent. It was followed by Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market's 8.5 percent, (도남) Donam Market's 8 percent, and the 7.4 percent spike in business at (동문) Dongmun Fish Market.

 

Policy boosts business at traditional markets

5.5% increase in sales when large retailers closed

Local traditional markets are benefiting from a newly-enacted policy that forces large retailers to close down two days per month.

The provincial government and the Jeju Merchants' Association commissioned a survey of sales at traditional markets June 23rd, one of the days the big stores remained closed. Compared to the previous week, sales were up an average of five-point-five percent.

(서문) Seomun Public Market saw the biggest jump, at 10.4 percent. It was followed by Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market's 8.5 percent, (도남) Donam Market's 8 percent, and the 7.4 percent spike in business at (동문) Dongmun Fish Market.

 

Woo goes out on 'rainy season' inspections

Governor visits National Typhoon Center, Han Stream reservoir

With the arrival of the rainy season, Governor Woo Keun-min visited the National Typhoon Center and the Han Stream's first reservoir Wednesday to boost employee morale and inspect the facilities.

Woo asked the staff at the typhoon center to inform the provincial disaster and safety department of expected storm paths before they alert other regions.

At his next stop at the reservoir, he urged employees to immediately remove any earth or sand that piles up after typhoons or downpours and be timely in opening and closing the floodgate to prevent any flood damage.

 

Today on our In the News segment, we take a closer look at the Jeju Provincial Development Corporation.

Now, the JPDC was established in the mid-nineties to ensure that the island's spring water be developed as a product and sold in a responsible manner.

It is actually behind a number of products, but it is most well-known for the locally-bottled water called Jeju Samdasoo.

The corporation recorded record sales and profits in the first half of this year.

 

▶ The play 'If I Were With You' will be performed this weekend at Jeju Culture and Art Center.

Title - Play 'If I Were With You'

Details - Romantic Comedy

Date - July 6, 7 at 7:30 PM

Location - Jeju Culture and Art Center

 

▶ The play 'Daytime Drinks' will be staged Sunday at Halla Art Hall.

Title - Play 'Daytime Drinks'

Details - Award-winning cast

Date - July 8

Location - Halla Art Hall

▶ A local pottery club is hosting its 11th annual exhibition through July 11th.

Title - 'Jeju Stones and Winds'

Details - Local potters

Date - Through July 11

Location - Jeju Culture and Art Center

▶ Jeju Ensemble Joon is performing Friday at Jeju Culture and Art Center.

Title - 'Jeju Ensemble Joon'

Details - Beethoven

Date - July 6 at 7:30 PM

Location - Jeju Culture and Art Center

 

[MOVIE]

▶ A young Baltimore detective teams up with Edgar Allan Poe to stop a murderer in "The Raven."

Title - The Raven

Genre - Thriller, Mystery

Age - Over 18

Theaters - Lotte Cinema Jeju, CGV, Primus

 

[MOVIE]

▶ A family travels to the French capital for business in "Midnight in Paris."

Title - Midnight in Paris

Genre - Comedy, Romance, Fantasy

Age - Over 14

Theaters - CGV

제목: 정부, 무상보육정책 수정

영아에서 2살까지,

그리고 5살 유아에 대한 무상보육정책이 수정될 전망입니다.

기획재정부는

지난 3월부터 시행된 보육료의 전면 지원에서

소득에 따라 차등 지원하는

선별지원방식으로 바꾸기로 하고

현재 관련 규정을 정비하는 중이라고 밝혔습니다.

이같은 방침은

지방자치단체마다 재정적 부담이 커지고 있기 때문입니다.

현재 정부는

영아에서 2살까지의 영유아와

5살의 아이를 어린이집에 보낼 경우

보육료의 전액을 지원해 주고 있습니다.

 

제목: 제주지역 기름값 하락세 '뚜렷'

제주지역 기름값이

하락세를 유지하고 있는 것으로 나타났습니다.

한국석유공사 유가정보서비스 오피넷에 따르면

오늘(4일) 현재 제주지역 유류 평균가격은

보통휘발유를 기준으로 리터당 1천887원을 기록했습니다.

도내 휘발유 가격은

지난 4월 16일 2천80원까지 올라 사상최고를 기록하며

고공행진을 이어오다,

지난달 26일 1천891원을 기록하며 천800원대에 진입하면서

하향곡선을 타고 있습니다.

 

제목: 도의회, '한·중 FTA 협상 중단해야'

제주특별자치도의회가

한 - 중 FTA 협상 중단을 촉구했습니다.

도의회는 오늘 결의문을 채택하고

한 - 중 FTA가 체결되면

제주의 1차산업 붕괴가 불을 보듯 뻔하다며

검역강화 등 제도개선을 통한 보호책을 강구하고

확실한 대책을 마련하기까지

모든 협상을 중단해야 한다고 주장했습니다.

또 제주도는

감귤이나 생계형 밭작물 등 주요품목들이

양허대상에서 제외되거나

초민감품목에 포함될 수 있도록 노력할 것을 촉구했습니다.

 

제목: 대형마트 의무휴업으로 전통시장 매출 증가

대형마트의 의무휴업으로

전통시장이 반사이익을 누리고 있습니다.

제주특별자치도와 제주도상인연합회가

여론조사 전문기관에 의뢰해

대형마트 의무휴업일인 지난달 23일,

전통시장의

매출동향을 조사한 결과

전주보다 평균 5.5% 증가한 것으로 나타났습니다.

시장별로 매출 증가율을 보면

서문공설시장이 10.4%로 가장 많고,

서귀포매일올레시장 8.5%,

도남시장 8%, 동문수산시장 7.4% 순이었습니다.

 

제목: 대형마트 의무휴업으로 전통시장 매출 증가

대형마트의 의무휴업으로

전통시장이 반사이익을 누리고 있습니다.

제주특별자치도와 제주도상인연합회가

여론조사 전문기관에 의뢰해

대형마트 의무휴업일인 지난달 23일,

전통시장의

매출동향을 조사한 결과

전주보다 평균 5.5% 증가한 것으로 나타났습니다.

시장별로 매출 증가율을 보면

서문공설시장이 10.4%로 가장 많고,

서귀포매일올레시장 8.5%,

도남시장 8%, 동문수산시장 7.4% 순이었습니다.

 

제목: 우 지사, 국가태풍센터·저류지 방문·점검

우근민 제주특별자치도지사가 장마철을 맞아

오늘 하루

국가태풍센터와 한천 1저류지를 방문해

관계자들을 격려하고 현장을 점검했습니다.

우 지사는

국가태풍센터를 방문한 자리에서

태풍의 예상위치 정보를

다른지역보다 일찍

제주도 재난안전대책본부 상황실에 알려줄 것을 협조요청 했습니다.

이어 한천저류지를 방문해

시기적절한 수문개폐로 침수피해를 막고

태풍이나 호우가 지나간 후

바닥에 쌓여 있는 토사를

즉시 제거할 것을 관계자들에게 당부했습니다.