1. [Keeping Food Safe]

Gyeonggi Province presented a policy to keep the distribution of food safe.

Gyeonggi Province came up with a way to win back the trust of consumers who have been complaining recently about what they eat.

1)s-Briefing to carry out food safety policy/ Gyeonggi Provincial Office (September 29th)

At first it was stated that a safety agreement was in order between supermarkets to be concluded by the middle of next month.

2)s-Agreement planned for food safety

3)
(We are planning to conclude an agreement with supermarkets on November 7th.)

According to the agreement these companies would have to post a record of inspection that determines whether or not the agricultural and seafood products that they are selling are safe.

4)s-Inspection results to be posted for consumers

Further, to greatly expand on the volume of food inspected a system will soon be introduced to deal with complaints about food with a single phone call.

5)s-System to deal with consumer complaints: phone number to report food (120) -> connected to \\\’food safety management division\\\’ -> results are reported within 2 weeks

Recently, in response to some imported foods that have been detected to have melamine causing much trouble, an emergency recall has been carried out, and continual inspections are being carried out at the Research Institute of Public Health and Environment.

6)s-Foods with melamine recalled, inspections carried out

2. [Driving 4 Weekdays a Week]

A benefits system for driving four weekdays was implemented in 14 cities across Gyeonggi Province. Participants will be able to receive various benefits.

A　benefits system for driving 4 weekdays, where one voluntarily leaves the car at home one weekday per week, has been initiated.

1) s- Gyeonggi Province benefits system for driving four days a week carried out

14 cities, including Seongnam and Yongin will be applied under the benefits system for driving 4 days a week. All the selected cities have good public transportation and have a lot of traffic to and from Seoul.

2) s- 14 cities included like Seongnam and Yongin

CG
Drivers who participate in the system will receive a discount on fees in public parking lots in their respective city or county, and a 50% discount on the toll in Namsan Tunnels 1 and 3, as well as discounts on other traffic induced expenses.

#.CG WORD :
/20% discount on fees in public parking lots/50% discount on toll in Namsan Tunnels 1 and 3/20% discount on traffic induced charges/ Source: Gyeonggi Province/

To participate in the system of driving 4 days a week, apply at the system\\\’s website or at a nearby residents\\\’ center, and after receiving your wireless recognition electronic tag, affix it to the windshield of your vehicle, and you are ready to go.

4) s- Apply online: green-driving.gg.go.kr
Apply offline: visit your local residents\\\’ center

If 500,000 drivers leave their vehicle at home even once a week a savings of $30.9 million in vehicle operation costs can be realized.

5) s- Potential operation savings of $30.9 million realized from 500,000 drivers participation.

3. [Direct Rapid Bus in Operation]

There is a new direct rapid bus, which makes on 3 or 4 stops in Gyeonggi Province and transports commuters between Seoul and the province. The travel time has been greatly reduced making travelling by bus even more convenient.

This is the \\\’Ori Station\\\’ bus stop in Seongnam.

The express buses going between Seoul and Gyeonggi here stops at every bus stop in Bundang before making their ways to Seoul which is the reason why they take so long.

1)s- Interview: Ahn Eun-gyeong (Eonnam Dong, Yongin)
{Before there were so many stops on the way to Seoul, so it took a long time, but with the new bus there are fewer stops so its convenient and seems to go quickly.}

2)s- Interview: Cho Yong-hee (Jukjeon, Yongin)
{It\\\’s much faster now, maybe by about 15 minutes.}

The direct rapid bus runs along 15 routes in 3 suburbs in Gyeonggi, Seongnam, Yongin and Paju.

3)s- 15 direct rapid bus routes in operation

The bus only stops at about 4 places of high usage then passes making no stops reducing travel time by 30 or 40 minutes.

4)s- Possible to save 30-40 minutes on travel time

The direct rapid bus looks as if it will take its place as a quick method of transportation for Gyeonggi residents who have a high rate of ridership on express buses.

4. [The Power of Volunteering]

Now not only for large scale emergencies, service work is making its own culture within daily life. And the number of volunteers in the province is growing steadily to the point that it is predicted to soon reach 1 million volunteers.

Gyeonggi Province held the 10th service work contest.

Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Province Service Work Center held the opening ceremony of the 10th Gyeonggi Province Service Work contest with a service work relay.

1) s- Opening ceremony for the 10th Gyeonggi Province service work contest 2008/Gyeonggi Center for Small and Medium Business (September 30th)

At this campaign Gyeonggi Province held various events in all areas of the province including the service work exhibition, bicycle tour campaign, and the noblesse oblige movement.

2) s-
{With the number of volunteers increasing by 32% every year, there are plans to increase the base of service work as volunteers are increasing in cooperation with service work centers.}

As of September there are about 960,000 registered volunteers.

3) s- About 960,000 registered volunteers in Gyeonggi Province

When taking into consideration the number of registered volunteers is increasing by an average 32% annually, one can predict the number of volunteers to soon reach 1 million.

4) s- Number of registered volunteers increasing by 32% every year

The power of volunteers was confirmed after the oil spill along the Taean Coast.

The increase in the number of volunteers was not only for large scale emergencies, but have quickly increased for everyday volunteer work such as helping seniors who live alone or providing children of low income families with free tutoring.

The increase in the numbers of volunteers reflects the natural social culture of volunteer work in our society

5. [Railroad Zone MOU]

Gyeonggi Province, Uiwang, several companies and colleges, 10 in all decided to cooperate in designating a railroad zone.

Starting with the related agencies, Gyeonggi Province and Uiwang, a memorandum of understanding was concluded for the designation of the Uiwang railroad zone.

1)s-Uiwang railroad zone designation MOU / Uiwang City Hall (September 29th)

Uiwang City has taken a leading role in the development of the railroad industry as a city concentrated with related facilities such as Railroad College, the Railroad Technology Research Center, and the Railroad Museum.

2)s-Uiwang, focused on railroad related industry

Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province and Uiwang, carving it into a regional symbol as a railroad city, is in the middle of tranforming the Bukok Dong Railroad Research Complex and the area around the Uiwang Container Base to help stimulate the economy.

3)s-Uiwang Railroad Zone designation carried out

4)
(We will provide administrative support and specialize this railroad cluster, which will become the best in Korea and to become a base that can develop globally.)

According to the agreement which was concluded, 10 related agencies will cooperate from now on for the designation of the Uiwang Railroad zone.

A unit specialized project especially for the railroad designation zone will be excavated and positive efforts will be made to present a plan for the concrete execution.

5)s-Unit specialized project to be excavated, carried out

6. [2008 Child Plus]

Ansan held the child plus festival to inform multi-child families about the benefits they are entitled to.

According to the office of statistics \\\’2007 birth statistics\\\’ the birth rate has increased little over the past two years, but at last years 1.26 child average it is still the lowest in the world.

1)s- Birthrate sees slight increase, single child families increasing

In response to this, Gyeonggi Province held the child plus festival 2008 on the 27th to create an atmosphere of social benefit to multi-child families. This event, which was hosted by Gyeonggi Province and Ansan, was held at the Hwarang resort and invited 20 families totaling about 1,000 people in all.

2)s- The 2008 Child Plus Festival/Ansan Hwarang Resort (September 27th)

At the event, there was an area showing first hand information on the various Gyeonggi Province policies and where one can participate in hands-on activities.

Meanwhile a comedian who writes child cartoon essays, Im Hyeok-pil, has been appointed Child Plus ambassador.

3)s- Comedian Im Hyeok-pil, appointed ambassador

With a purpose of creating an environment that encourages childbirth and raising children this event was a good opportunity to inform multi-child families about the benefits and policies that are available to them.

7. [Support for Company Training]

From now on the province will cover some of the costs of hosting a company workshop within the province.

Gyeonggi province is in close proximity to Seoul, and has many excellent accessible facilities. However in the off season the facilities are not used as much.

1)s- Rate of usage of facilities less in off season

The Gyeonggi Tourism Organization stated it will provide subsidies to companies who carry out company training, or workshops within the province from this month until February in an effort to stimulate the training facilities industry and tourism industry.

2)s- Businesses using facilities to receive group discount

3)s-
(To raise the awareness of trainees and to stimulate usage in Gyeonggi Province starting from October a system will go into effect which will provide an incentive for company training or workshops held in Gyeonggi Province. This is expected to contribute to stimulating the tourism industry as well as the awareness of training facilities.)

Small and medium sized businesses or groups can apply by making a reservation at the ethankyou.co.kr website.

4)s- ethankyou.co.kr site-> Tourism information>>Overnight trip>>make reservations at another facility

The eligibility requirements are any company with 25 or more employees, and according to the use can receive up to $315 in subsidies.

Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization has already produced 8,000 information booklets that include detailed tourism resources in the area and has distributed them widely to companies.

5)s- Guidebooks on training facilities and tourism printed and dispersed

If this training subsidy project gets off the ground, training facilities will be able to run more efficient operations during the off season, and it will be an effective way to inform the public of the tourism resources within the province.