Wonmi-2-dong Puts Name Tags on Trees

Wonmi-2-dong Puts Name Tags on Trees

The Nature Conservation Committee of Wonmi-2-dong, a town in Bucheon City, South Korea, announced to put name tags on trees in several parks in the town when March comes on February 26, 2013. Before that announcement, the committee has started to check into the types of trees from last Friday, February 22, 2013.

If the committee completes putting name tags on trees, the name tags will help embarrassed parents visiting parks with their kids when their children question the name of a tree which they don’t know.

The name tags will show not only the name of tree but also the period of blossom, the period of fruit. It will make citizens understand more about trees.

Ms. Lee, the chairperson of the Nature Conservation Committee, said, “We’ll also give trees nutrients when putting name tags on them. Caring about trees more, we’ll make the parks better for citizens.”

<photo 1: A name tag hangs on a quince tree. The tag says the name, type, blossom period, fruit period of the tree. The Nature Conservation Committee of Wonmi-2-dong, a town of Bucheon City, South Korea, makes a plan to put name tags on trees in the parks in the town, Wonmi-2-dong, Bucheon City, South Korea.>

Students and Parents Mob at Flea Market for Used School Uniforms

Students and Parents Mob at Flea Market for Used School Uniforms

Three hundreds of parents and students gather on first day of the flea market

The previous news about this event on February 14th 2013 - 
"Bucheon City Opens Flea Markets for Used School Uniforms"

Three hundreds of parents and students gathered on the first day of the flea market for used school uniforms which is hosted by Bucheon City, the Green Market of Bucheon YMCA, and Bucheon Supporting Office for Education.

The flea market will continue from February 25th to 28th for 4 days.

<photo 1: Hundreds of students and parents gather at the flea market for used school uniforms on the first day of the market, February 25th 2013, Bucheon City Hall, Bucheon City, South Korea.>

<photo 2: Students and parents are looking for what they want to purchase among used books at the flea market for used school uniforms and books on February 25th 2013, Bucheon City Hall, Bucheon City, South Korea. Bucheon City hosts this flea market for sharing used school things such as school uniforms, reference books, and textbooks. The flea market will continue to February 28th, 2013.>

Bucheon Simgok Library Recruits New Members for the Book Club

Bucheon Simgok Library Recruits New Members for the Book Club

If you want to teach reading and discussion to your kids, join the book club in Bucheon Simgok Library and visit the library afternoon every Friday.

Bucheon Simgok Library is recruiting thirty new members for the Elementary Book Club where students in the 1st and 2nd grade of elementary schools can join. The members of the book club will learn reading and writing and enjoy understanding new truth out of books with book teachers. And they will discuss their understanding and thoughts with their friends to strengthen their way of thinking while sharing their book reviews.

The regular meetings of the book club will be held ten times on 4 pm, every Friday from February 22th to May 31st 2013. You can apply for the membership from 10 am, February 26th via the website of Bucheon City Library (http://www.bcl.go.kr) on a first-come first-served basis. The application fee is free but 10 thousands won(KRW) for educational materials.

For more information or application for this book club, visit the website of Bucheon City Library, http://www.bcl.go.kr, call the team of Simgok Library, +82-32-625-4581, and contact the address of the twitter, @BucheonLibrary.

And the Simgok Library is 10 minutes away from the bus stop of the post office in South of Bucheon Station on foot. The address of the library is 24 Seongmoo Street, Sosa-gu(a district of a city), Bucheon City, Gyeonggi-do(a province or a state), South Korea.

Bucheon City Recruits Volunteers for ‘Sharing Your Talents’ Program

Bucheon City Recruits Volunteers for ‘Sharing Your Talents’ Program

Seventy one years old Mr. Park has taught Chinese character to children at Community Child Center for 9 years. He tried to look for his volunteer service after his retirement and   finally found that children are hard to learn Chinese character which he’s familiar with. He started to teach Chinese character and calligraphy to children with tales of history after then.

Bucheon City announced to recruit volunteers, like Mr. Park, with special talents or skills for public’s welfare in Bucheon City, South Korea, February 19th, 2013. 

The city is recruiting persons who are good at medical checkups, quarantine activities, photo shooting, house repair, helping the handicapped, guiding children’s studies and so on.
Everyone who has not only professional skills but also small talents can apply for the volunteers. You can sign up for this until the end of March 2013 via your personal visit to Volunteer’s Center or a phone call to +82-32-324-0166.

An officer in charge of public’s welfare from Bucheon City Hall said “We will make a special sharing culture of Bucheon’s own with volunteer service of sharing citizen’s talents. I’m asking for your application to this program that you can share your talents and skills with your neighbors.”

The volunteer program of ‘Sharing Your Talents’ is giving a volunteer service for public’s welfare using volunteers’ professional talents and special skills.

* Calligraphy is the art of producing beautiful handwriting using a brush or a special pen. We can see mostly Korean or Chinese characters on a paper.

Bucheon City Opens a New Small Library, ‘Gulmaru Little Library’

Bucheon City Opens a New Small Library, ‘Gulmaru Little Library’

Bucheon City opened a new small library, ‘Gulmaru Little Library’, for residents in Sosa-bon-dong, a small district of Sosa-gu, Bucheon City, Feburary 20th 2013. The expression of ‘Gulmaru’ in Korean means the main or center of text.

The main concept of the library is a kind of ‘Korean traditional reception room for all people in the village where they talk each other about their life, feelings, and thought’. There are five tables and forty chairs in center of the library when you enter there at first. Anyone can easily enter, read books and leave. Behind the reading space, there are five yellow green bookshelves stocking 2,400 books. On the left side of bookshelves, there’s a talking room where people can talk each other and tell a story in front of audience.

The library opens during 9 am to 6 pm on weekdays but 10 am to 3 pm on Saturdays. Everybody living in Bucheon City can use the library. The city changed the first floor of old Residents’ Center for Sosa-bon-2-dong into the library. The total space of the library is 186.89 square meters. The city spent $197,000 dollars for this library. It’s located on the first floor of ‘Didimdol Culture Center’ in Sosa-bon-dong, Bucheon City, South Korea.

An officer from Bucheon City Hall said, “The new library will be a place of meetings and communications through books and a room of culture for residents. After we monitor the way people use this library for several months, we will provide well-designed cultural programs about books and culture.”

<photo 1: Bucheon City opened a new small library, ‘Gulmaru Little Library’, on 1st floor of old Sosa-bon-2-dong, Bucheon City, South Korea, Feburary 20, 2013.>

<photo 2: A boy student and two girl students talk each other in front of bookshelves in a room for talking and performance, a newly open small library, ‘Gulmaru Little Library’, Bucheon City, South Korea. This new library is useful not only for reading books but also for meetings and communications between residents.>

Bucheon City Had a Conference to Discuss Protecting Children

Bucheon City Had a Conference to Discuss Protecting Children

“Sosa-gu office, a district of Bucheon City, serves psychology counseling and treatment for children living in Sosa area. I suppose to expand the service, called Emotional Healing Service for Children, to other districts of Bucheon City.”, said Ms. Moon, Head of Dream Tree Counseling Office for Children at a conference to discuss protecting children.

Bucheon City had the conference to talk about status of children’s welfare and plans to protect them from abuse at 5th Floor, Bucheon City Hall, Bucheon City, South Korea on Feb. 20th, 2013. There attended specialized agencies for children protection, heads of child welfare office, directors from local child center associates, and local government officers responsible for child welfare in Bucheon City.

They shared the rising trend of child abuse, how to protect children from abuse, how to give counseling about them, and discussed plans to protect them from those problems.

There are 162,761 children in Bucheon City until last Dec. 2012, and 375 children from 324 families need protection from abuse. Most of them have divorced parents or experienced child abuse. Bucheon City supports them using several welfare programs such as providing facilities for children, helping children of families without parents, and operating local supporting center for children. And the city also gives them some money for living, school uniforms, and entrance fees to colleges.

<photo 1: Local government officers and heads of child welfare offices in Bucheon City come together and discuss status of child welfare and plans to improve child welfare at 5th floor Bucheon City Hall, Bucheon City, South Korea.>

Bucheon City Improves Services of Text Messages Warning to Tow Cars

Bucheon City Improves Services of Text Messages Warning to Tow Cars

Bucheon City expands and improves IT services of sending text messages which have warnings that the authorities are about to tow a car to the driver of the car. The city has launched this service from Jan. 2nd 2013 at the first time in Gyunggi Province, South Korea.

The city sends the first text message of warning to tow to the driver when cameras installed on some traffic areas catch an illegal parking or pullover. The second text message of issuing a parking ticket is sent if the driver doesn’t move away from that area in 5 minutes after the first message.

The number of subscribers was 5,891 at the end of last year 2012 and the total number of text messages to be sent during last year was 12,559.

The city improved the subscription process for getting text messages warning parking tickets and has launched upgraded services from Dec. 2012 on. And the city expanded the range of subscribers from drivers and owners living in Bucheon City to all drivers and car-owners.

If you want to get a text message about a parking ticket, access the homepage of Bucheon City, http://www.bucheon.go.kr, and write your car number, your phone number and simple personal information at the menu of ‘Transportation Information’ , after signing up. And you can subscribe the service at the Department of City Management in local District Offices and Residents’ Centers with filling in your acceptance sheet for personal information and subscription sheet.

<photo 1: A camera installed on the top of a long pole which is located aside a road watches a distance area.>

A District Office of Bucheon City hosts Korean Traditional Games for Local Residents

A District Office of Bucheon City hosts Korean Traditional Games for Local Residents

The Residents’ Center of Simgok-sam-dong in Wonmi-gu, Bucheon City hosted the Korean traditional games, a game of ‘Yut’, celebrating the First Lunar Full Moon Day of New Year and wishing to get along with neighbors, on Feb. 18th 2013 at the town office of Simgok-sam-dong, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon City, South Korea.

<photo 1: People watch the player tossing wooden sticks during a Korean traditional game, Yutnolee, celebrating the First Full Moon Day of New Year on Feb. 18th 2013 at the town office of Simgok-sam-dong, Bucheon City, South Korea.>

The game of ‘Yut’, ‘Yutnolee’ is a Korean traditional game. Koreans play it on Korean tradition holidays such as Korean Lunar Thanksgiving days, Korean Lunar New Year, and First Lunar Full Moon day of New Year. It’s similar to a western board game with a dice but they use four wooden sticks which have two different sides, round face and flat one, instead of a dice. They move forward the four horses, actually small stones with different colors, on the board on which several paths painted according to the numbers of flat sticks after a player tosses the sticks over a small pad.

<photo 2: Koreans play a game of Yut. A player tosses four wooden sticks over a small pad. He can move forward his horse on the board as many points as the numbers of flat sticks.>

Bucheon Infrastructure Corporation Runs a Trial of Taxies for the Handicapped

Bucheon Infrastructure Corporation Runs a Trial of Taxies for the Handicapped

Bucheon Infrastructure Corporation, the BIC, will open the Mobile Support Center for the Disabled and Elderly on Feb. 25th 2013 after it runs a trial of taxies for the handicapped from Feb. 18th to Mar. 3rd, 2013(for 14 days).

During the period of the trial run, the BIC is monitoring performance of the vehicle for the handicapped, the patterns of driving, and the level of user satisfaction. The BIC will officially operate the vehicles for the handicapped after they fix the issues revealed during the trial from Mar. 4th, 2013.

The BIC has a plan to drive 12 taxies for the handicapped that are installed with slopes for wheelchairs. The taxies for the handicapped run from 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. on weekdays and from 8 A.M. to 6 P.M. on weekends and holidays. If you want to use them, call to +82-1588-3815 and make a reservation.

Whoever has 1st to 3rd grade of handicap or temporary handicap can use this taxi. And the fare is half of the general taxi.

<photo 1: A handicapped person on a wheelchair takes on the taxi for the handicapped which has a slope equipment for the wheelchair. Bucheon Infrastructure Corporation started to run a trial of taxies for the handicapped from Feb. 18th, 2013, in Bucheon City, South Korea.>

Bucheon Football Club Hosts Beginning Event for K-League 2013

Bucheon Football Club Hosts Beginning Event for K-League 2013

It was a big shock that Bucheon SK Football Club changed their base city from Bucheon to Jeju in 2006. But the Hermes, supporters’ club for Bucheon FC, and Bucheon citizens didn’t stay in despair. 

Bucheon City, citizen, and the Hermes founded new professional football team, Bucheon FC, in Dec, 2007. It has been not easy to operate Bucheon FC by itself without financial support from a big company. But the members of Bucheon FC, the Hermes and Bucheon citizens who love football and Bucheon FC have gone through difficulties with giving up their salaries and donating their money and talents.

Finally last year 2012 Bucheon FC was in third place at Challengers’ Cup League and its operation went into the black. Most of all Bucheon FC got a chance to play in K-League, the biggest professional football league in South Korea.

The beginning event for Bucheon FC’s K-League 2013 was held on Feb. 16th, 2013 at the Grand Conference Room in Bucheon City Hall, Bucheon City, South Korea. The event focused on the slogan ‘BUCHEON IS BACK’.

The concept of the event was an opening ceremony of film festival. The guests stepped on red carpet, posed for the picture with the team’s mascot, and entered into the conference room. Season tickets for Bucheon FC’s games in 2013 were sold and the public application for stocks as citizen owners of Bucheon FC was prepared. Some guests got season tickets for 2013, gift cards, football goods, and footballs signed by players as gifts.

<photo 1: Bucheon FC’s players, staffs and supporters pose for the picture with their fists in the air on Feb. 16th 2013 at the beginning event for K-League season 2013 at Bucheon City Hall, Bucheon City, South Korea. Bucheon FC gets back to K-League in 7 years after Bucheon SK moved to Jeju in 2006.>

<photo 2: The event poster for the beginning event ‘BUCHEON IS BACK’.>

<photo 3: The emblem for Bucheon FC. The year 1995 means the start year of the Hermes, the official supporters’ club for Bucheon FC. The Hermes has done lots of things for revival of Bucheon based football club for 7 years. Bucheon FC includes ‘1995’ into its name for remembering their supports and sacrifices.>

Bucheon City Library Renew its Website

Bucheon City Library Renew its Website

Bucheon City Library makes its website more convenient. The website offers easy menus, integrated search function, and extended mobile access.

Bucheon City Library reopened new website for Bucheon Library from Feb. 13th 2013. The renewal project took five months from September 2012 to this month. The renewal has focused on more convenient access for users and upgrading functions of mutual communications on it.

The new website of Bucheon City Library shows eight different design themes whenever you access to a specific library among 8 specialized libraries in Bucheon City.

They integrate search function, improve online reservation system for Library Culture Program, and enlarge menus for citizen’s involvement such as uploading reviews about books and voting for preferable books.

Citizens can access to mobile website of Bucheon City Library, http://m.bcl.go.kr, using their smart phones and tablet PCs. And you can search books, extend your lending period, and apply mutual lending between library users on mobile website.

You can access to the new website of Bucheon City Library with the address http://www.bcl.go.kr on PCs and http://m.bcl.go.kr on mobile devices.

<photo 1: Bucheon City Library renews its website on Feb. 13th, 2013, Bucheon City, South Korea. The renewal site provides easy menus for users, 8 different themes according to selected library and extended mobile functions.>

<photo 2: The mobile membership card for library users which is issued by Bucheon City Library after the reopen date of its new website, Feb. 13th 2013. Citizens in Bucheon City can access to mobile website of Bucheon City Library, http://m.bcl.go.kr, using their mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets.>

Bucheon City Opens Flea Markets for Used School Uniforms

Bucheon City Opens Flea Markets for Used School Uniforms

Bucheon City announced to host flea markets where senior students in middle and high schools can sell their used school uniforms for cheap prices to their juniors and freshmen for four days, from Feb. 25th to 28th 2013, Bucheon City, South Korea. 

These marketplaces will be hosted by Green Store of Bucheon YMCA and cooperated by Bucheon Office of Education Support. The number and attention of students and parents grow bigger every year.

Wonmi-gu(a district of Bucheon City) is preparing the market at 1st floor of Bucheon City Hall and Sosa-gu(another district of Bucheon City) at Grand Conference Room on 5th floor in Sosa-gu Office building and Ojeong-gu(also another district of Bucheon City) at Ojeong Green Store on 1st basement level in Ojeong-gu Office building. 

They’re supposed to accept used school uniforms from senior students on Feb. 20th to 22th 2013 at three event places.

The sellers will take 90% of selling prices and the Green Store is planning to spend 10% of prices for clean environment and supporting school uniforms to students in low-income families.

For more information, contact Bucheon YMCA (+82-32-325-3100, www.pcymca.or.kr) or Environment Policy Department of Bucheon City (+82-32-625-3170).

<photo 1: Students and parents purchase used school uniforms at a flea market on a day of Feb., 2012, Bucheon City, South Korea. This year Bucheon City’s planning to open three flea markets for used school uniforms of middle and high schools on Feb. 25th to 28th 2013.>

Bucheon City Release a Casebook “Drivers, Please Be Kind!” about public vehicle complaints

Bucheon City Release a Casebook “Drivers, Please Be Kind!” about public vehicle complaints

Bucheon City released a casebook, named “Drivers, Please Be Kind!”, on Feb. 8th, 2013. This book is summarized the example cases of unhappy and inconvenient complaints about buses and taxies which were called to Bucheon Civil Contact Center during last one year 2012.

Bucheon City will distribute the casebook to bus drivers, taxi drivers and public transportation workers to use education materials for drivers.

Bucheon City has expected a big jump for safe public transportation from this casebook release. The city’s tried to eliminate the five big complaints about public transportation, which are skipping the bus stop, driving wild, violating the traffic signal, unkindness, and running buses infrequently, from last year on.

The last chapter of this casebook also contains the good examples to share the feelings that bus and taxi drivers have warm minds to work hard and do the right things despite of difficult situation.

<photo 1 : Bucheon City releases a casebook “Drivers, Please Be Kind!” on Feb. 8th, 2013. It’s a summarized cases about unhappy public transportation called to Bucheon Civil Contact Center during last one year 2012. The city’s expected a big upgrade for safe public transportation from this release.>

Bucheon Traditional Markets Prepare Events for Korean Lunar New Year Day

Bucheon Traditional Markets Prepare Events for Korean Lunar New Year Day

Bucheon City and traditional markets in Bucheon hosted promotion events such as running a big discount day, selling goods for special prices, giving coupons, and giving small gifts for revival of traditional markets at the time of Korean Lunar New Year Holidays.

Bucheon traditional markets including Wonjong-Kogang Jeil Market run big discount day when they discount 5 to 10% of prices to customers who visit and buy goods there.

Besides, Bucheon City supported several renewal projects for traditional markets. Recently Bucheon City has completed Support Center for Customers in Yeokgok North Market, changed roof of Gangman Market, and repainted customer lines on the walk ways of  5 markets including  Wonmi Total Market.

<photo 1 : A man and a woman hit together the steamed rice with a wooden hammer to make the Korean traditional cake which is called Chaldduk as the merchants and customers watch it around them at a Bucheon traditional market, Bucheon City, South Korea. Bucheon City and traditional markets in Bucheon prepare events for customers who visit and buy goods there at the time of Korean Lunar New Year holidays.>

Bucheon City Recommend Railroad Hero as a Special Guest at Inauguration 2013

Bucheon City Recommend Railroad Hero as a Special Guest at Inauguration 2013

Bucheon City recommended Hangkyun Kim, the chief of Yeokgok Station, who is called ‘the Railroad Hero’, as a special guest at 18th President’s Inauguration on Feb. 25th 2013. He lives in Joong-4-dong, Bucheon City, South Korea.

He saved a child on the railroad in Yeongdeungpo Station but lost his two feet hit by a train in 2003. After that accident, he got back to his job only in one year. He showed an example of self-sacrifice and an iron will of rehabilitation.

He has tried to help other people for several years after that accident. He invited 1,620 children to free train trips to see the New Year sunrise at Jeongdongjin Station every January. And he shared 4,400 kg of rice with neighbors who live alone and are too old to work.

<photo 1 : Hangkyun Kim, the chief of Yeokgok Station located in Bucheon City, South Korea, smiles brightly. He is called “The Railroad Hero” because he saved a child on a railroad but lost his two feet hit by a train in 2003. Even after that accident, he’s tried to help other people who live alone or need help.>

<photo 2 : The monument says “We remember your self-sacrifice deep inside”. It’s for Hangkyun Kim, the Chief of Yeokgok Station, so called “the Railroad Hero”. This monument is located in Yeongdeungpo Station where the accident occurred in 2003.>

Bucheon City Promotes Sports for All

Bucheon City Promotes Sports for All

Bucheon City announced the plan to promote sports for all and make citizens healthier on Feb. 4th 2013. The number of persons who enjoy sports for all will reach to 100,000 this year and will increase by 50,000 per year.

The city is planning to make new associations for new sports, to make new clubs for new sports, to host Sports for All Games, to improve sports facilities, and to distribute information leaflets about sports for all.

<photo 1 : Athletes carrying bicycles walk by box seats during the opening ceremony of Bucheon Sports for All Games 2012 held in Bucheon City, South Korea.>

<photo 2 : People perform Taekwondo front of visitors during the opening ceremony of Bucheon Sports for All Games 2012 in Bucheon Sports stadium, Bucheon City, South Korea. >

Bucheon City Renew Twenty Parks for Bucheon Citizen

Bucheon City Renew Twenty Parks for Bucheon Citizen

Bucheon City announced the renewal project on 20 parks in Bucheon. At this project Bucheon City will focus on making new parks with themes such as enjoying the forest, learning nature and ecology, and playing leisure sports.

Bucheon City will spend $79.3 million dollars to rebuild five theme parks, twelve renovated parks and three ecology forests. This project will be complete till Dec. 2016.


A citizen said, " I'm happy that a new park will be built near my place. I'll be able to enjoy my free time to walk around the park on weekends." 

Mansoo Kim, the mayor of Bucheon City, said "The future of Bucheon depends on revitalizing the original downtown of Bucheon. This renewal project will make people in original downtown happier and healthier."

<photo 1 : Bucheon City announced renewal project on 20 parks in Bucheon on Feb. 1st, 2013. This photo is a bird’s-eye view image of Songnae Park which is located near a subway station named Songnae Station, Bucheon City, South Korea.>

<photo 2 : Bucheon City will renew 5 theme parks. This photo is a bird’s-eye view image of Wonmi Park which is located near a mountain named Wonmi Mt., Bucheon City, South Korea.>