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.

Article 1. Gyeonggi to Bill and Collect Taxes via Smart Phones (160113-1)

[Anchor’s Headline]

For the first time in Korea, Gyeonggi Province will introduce a new tax billing tem that will enable residents to receive and pay provincial tax bills via smart phones so as to prevent non-payment due to the misplacement of bills delivered by post.

[Report]

▶ Yoon Hae-jeong, Restaurateur

Yoon receives all local tax bills by post. She makes it a habit to check each bill to ensure that it is correctly addressed to her.

▶ Yoon Hae-jeong, Maetan-dong, Suwon City

“Sometimes there are bills addressed to other persons in my mailbox. I once went to the bank to pay a bill and found that it wasn’t mine. I was embarrassed.”

Printed bills comprise a large portion of the paper waste of every household.

[CG] Approximately 98 percent of all local tax bills in Korea are currently being delivered in printed format, costing an average of KRW 130 billion annually.

▶ Gyeonggi Province to Develop Smart Tax Billing and Collection System

In order to address issues regarding the delivery and cost of printed bills, Gyeonggi Province will introduce a ‘smart tax billing and collection tem’ by adopting a proposal made during an idea contest held last year among public officials.

▶ Tax Payers Can Receive and Pay Tax Bills via Smart Phones

This new tem will enable tax payers to receive and pay local tax bills conveniently via smart phones without having to visit banks or internet sites.

▶ Yim Byeong-gi / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Tax Administration Team

“We will send tax bills via the messenger service of the tax payer’s choice. Residents can pay the bills anytime, anywhere.”

Gyeonggi Province will introduce the smart tax billing tem initially on a trial basis in July after coordination with the central and local governments.

Article 2. Integrity of Gyeonggi Organizations Assessed (160114-2)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Gyeonggi Province recently conducted an assessment of integrity among officials in 26 affiliated public organizations. The objective of this provincial government survey was to eradicate potential corruption and negligence in organizational management.

[Report]

▶ Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation

In this assessment, the Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation received the highest honor.

At this foundation, all officials are constantly reminded of integrity requirements on a daily basis. Such reminders include the 31 compliance guidelines displayed on the standby screens of monitors, integrity alarm notifications delivered via computer every morning, and reminders on mouse pads and business cards.

▶ Choi Min-ho / Manager, Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation Audit Office

“Such honorable recognition is attributed to the commitment of management to integrity and effective integrity education as well as to the loyalty of all employees”

Anonymous online and offline corruption-reporting tems also enhance the transparency of the foundation’s officials.

▶ Gyeonggi Province Family & Women Research Institute

The Gyeonggi Province Family & Women Research Institute also received a high score in the integrity assessment. The integrity standards of this institute are maintained through an integrity resolution and in-house budgetary audit by designated officials.

▶ Han Ok-ja / Director, Gyeonggi Province Family & Women Research Institute

“We operate an in-house audit tem that performs audits four times a year and ensures that any potential issues are addressed immediately.”

This integrity assessment was conducted for 26 provincially affiliated organizations through a survey of more than 10,000 residents and organization officials. In this assessment, the Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation scored highest among larger organizations with more than 50 employees; among smaller organizations, the Gyeonggi Province Family & Women Research Institute received the highest score.

▶ Byun Yong-hyun / Director, Gyeonggi Province Investigation Office

“The most important factor for competitiveness is integrity. Integrity is the key to the advancement and transparency of our society. We will intensify integrity education in more vulnerable areas.”

Some of the more vulnerable areas identified through this assessment include the protection of whistleblowers and safeguarding against unreasonable supervisor instructions.

Article 3. Gyeonggi Increases Priority Guarantee for Social Enterprises (160115-1)

[Anchor’s Headline]

The priority credit guarantee limit for social economic enterprises in Gyeonggi Province will be increased up to 100 percent so as to better facilitate the financing of these enterprises, which usually have limited security capabilities.

[Report]

▶ Sunflower Medial Social Cooperative

This medical enterprise is a social cooperative operated by local residents. Opened in 2011 as an oriental medicine clinic, this cooperative has endured financial difficulties but is now thriving thanks to provincial guarantee support.

▶ [PiP] Oh Yeong-hui / Executive Director, Sunflower Medical Cooperative

“We obtained an operational loan through (Gyeonggi Province’s) credit guarantee support last year, and were even able to expand our business.”

This cooperative uses its profits to provide free medical services to families in low income brackets, solitary seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

The priority credit guarantee support is provided to social economic enterprises with limited security capabilities for loan applications.

▶ Guarantee Limit Increased 100% with 2% Interest Support

[CG] The provincial guarantee limit is now increased up to KRW 200 million for social enterprises and social cooperatives, and up to KRW 50 million for preliminary social enterprises and village enterprises. There is additional interest support of 2%.

▶ Ryu In-gwon / Director, Gyeonggi Province Ddabok Community Support Division

“The modified program also permits expanded use of loans to include rent instead being limited to operational expenses.”

With expanded provincial credit guarantee support, the 1,930 social economical enterprises of Gyeonggi Province can now increase their competitiveness.

Article 4. Gyeonggi Discloses Northern Regional Development Plans (0118-1)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Gyeonggi Province announced 10-year development plans for its northern regions. Projected to cost a total of KRW 8.5 trillion, this initiative consists of four regional plans for four geographic zones. Our reporter examined the details.

[Report]

▶ Northern Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (January 14)

Northern Gyeonggi Development Strategy Committee

Disclosed at the Northern Gyeonggi Development Strategy Committee meeting on January 14, these 10-year northern regional development plans include four zone plans geared to optimize the characteristics of each zone.

▶ New Growth Foundation Zone

– Mid North Regions Including Uijeongbu and Yangju

The mid-northern regions were designated as the ‘new growth foundation zone’. The existing fashion, textile and furniture industries in this zone will be further promoted while new development projects incorporating former US military bases will be developed.

▶ National Reunification Industrial Development Zone

– Northwest Regions Including Goyang and Paju

Western regional development will focus on tourism and the Korean Wave in preparation for national reunification. Detailed projects will include the development of a techno valley and a support center for the Kaeseong (개) Industrial Complex in North Korea.

▶ National Reunification, Ecology & Peace Zone

– North Regions Including Pocheon & Yeoncheon

For northern regions, provincial projects will include eco-friendly town development and the designation of an education zone and the World Geological Park.

▶ North Han River Culture & Art Zone

– East Regions Including Guri & Namyangju

The eastern regions of the province will see cultural and artistic development through the North Han River Corridor and Joseon Royal Tomb tracking projects.

A total of 73 development projects will be implemented in these four northern provincial zones.

▶ [PiP] Yoon Seong-deok / Chief Official, Gyeonggi Province Policy Assessment Team

“We will see increased jobs and local economic revival in these regions as well as the formation of an industrial foundation for national reunification, defense and ecological tourism. Such major changes will be made possible by legislative arrangements and regulatory reformation.”

Gyeonggi Province will distribute the northern regional development plans to the related regional administrations for local residents to view, and will start workshops with regional governments from next month.

Article 5. Gyeonggi Develops New Cancer Cell Culturing Technology (160115-3)

[Anchor’s Headline]

A scientific institute in Gyeonggi Province announced the development of a new cancer cell culturing technology. This development is expected to help identify the most effective medications for individual cancer patients and potentially improve their treatment.

[Report]

[CG] Approximately 37 percent of Koreans, or two out of five people, have a chance of developing cancer during their lives.

▶ Each Cancer Patient Has Different Causes

Cancer treatment development is difficult due to the diversity of causes and treatment requirements among individual patients.

▶ More Than 100 Cancer Cell Types Exist

There are more than 100 different cancer cell types, each with different genetic characteristics

[CG] Developed by the Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology, this new technology uses culturing environments similar to the in situ cancer cells of four basic types.

▶ GTV Reporter Jeong Yeon-woo

“One of the important findings of this study was that spherical cancer cells are especially resistant to conventional treatments.”

▶ Identification of Best Medicines for Individual Patients

Using a 3-dimensional culturing method, this technology enables doctors to predict medicinal resistance and identify the most effective medicines for individual cancer patients.

▶ [PiP] Kim Seong-hoon / Professor, Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology

“Cancer cell cultures have been prepared in a completely different environment from where they occurred in patients. With this new technology, we can identify the most effective medicines.”

The institute will continue to develop this cancer cell culturing technology so as to transfer it to other research institutes and pharmaceutical enterprises.

Article 6. New Business Startup Support Center Opened in Gyeonggi Province (160118-3)

[Anchor’s Headline]

A leading nano technology institute in Korea opened a business startup support center in Gyeonggi Province for new businesses in related fields so as to help them enter markets in their startup stages.

[Report]

▶ WIT Co., Ltd., Suwon

Choi has developed an ultra-thin, transparent ceramic plate manufacturing technology for heat radiators and established his company last May. However, he still has complicated registration processes to complete.

▶ Choi Jae-wan / Founder of WIT Co., Ltd.

“We prepared patent applications by ourselves through searching the internet and investigating similar patents. We had to cover all constraints in our patent briefings.”

▶ Korea Advanced Nano Fab Center

Established by the Korea Advanced Nano Fab Center, this business startup support center will provide customized support to new businesses that possess related technologies with high potential.

▶ 20 Enterprises in Startup Stages Initially Selected as Support Candidates

After an assessment of technical and commercial potential, 20 new enterprises have been initially selected as candidates for support.

▶ 5 Enterprises Selected Finally

Of these enterprises, five were finally selected. These enterprises will be provided with free usage of office space as well as financial support and mentoring services by specialists.

▶ Jeon Yeong-jin / Director, Nano Enterprise Center, Korea Advanced Nano Fab Center

“We will provide comprehensive support to new enterprises established less than 3 years prior with excellent business potential so as to facilitate the early launch of their items.”

▶ Nano Center to Contribute to Job Creation and Local Economic Development

By supporting new businesses in their growth, the nano center in Gyeonggi Province will contribute to job creation and local economic development.

Article 7. Gyeonggi Province to Release Its Vehicles for Public Use (160119-2)

[Anchor’s Headline]

Gyeonggi Province announced that it will release its registered vehicles for use by the public free of charge during weekends when the vehicles are not in use.

[Report]

▶ Kim Seok-wan / Suwon City Resuident

After his retirement due to health problems five years ago, Gwon (권) has been living on national basic livelihood benefits without a car. Whenever major holidays come, he finds it difficult to visit family members in his hometown.

▶ Kim Seok Wan / Gwonseon-gu, Suwon City

“I have difficulty using a car to go to my hometown since I can hardly afford a rental car. It is also difficult to borrow a car during such holidays.”

▶ Gyeonggi Province Operates 128 Vehicles

There are 128 official vehicles used by Gyeonggi Province.

▶ ‘Happy Car Sharing’ to Be Introduced on Lunar New Year Holiday

Adopting an idea proposed in an idea contest among officials held last year, Gyeonggi Province will open its official vehicles for use by the public free of charge for 10 days from February 6 on a trial basis.

▶ Families in Low Income Brackets and with More than One Child.

This free public car usage service will be available to families in low income brackets and to those with more than one child.

▶ No Rental Fees

Since these cars can be borrowed free of charge, users will only have to pay for fuel and toll fees.

▶ Public Car Sharing Program to be Expanded Province-wide

After trial operation, the free rental service will be expanded to public holidays and weekends. An online application method will also be made available.

The ‘Happy Car Sharing’ program will then be expanded to all the 31 cities and counties of the province, enabling residents to pick up cars at the nearest public centers.

Thank you for joining us for this week’s edition of GTV.

We look forward to seeing you again next week.