The fourth weekly of September
Createdd 2008-10-01 Hit 1042
Contents
1. [Promise of Social Contribution]
There is a phrase called Noblesse Oblige. It is a moral obligation of those of high social standing. White collar workers in the province in the fields of law and medicine have gathered to participate in Noblesse Oblige.
The volunteer work of experts, like doctors who provide free medical treatment to the less fortunate, are gradually becoming more apparent.
This is Noblesse Oblige in action, leaders in society on the front line of volunteer work.
To expand on the social contribution of professionals, Gyeonggi Province has concluded a professionals Noblesse Oblige social contribution agreement.
1)s- Professional Noblesse Oblige social contribution agreement concluded / Siheung Migrant community service center (September 21)
Last September the agreement between the commission for Noblisse Oblige and 8 public agencies in the province expired so another agreement was written up.
This year the Korean Dental Hygenists Association Incheon, the Gyeonggi Region Association, and the Gyeonggi Edu volunteers have been newly added.
2)s- 10 public agencies participate in Noblesse Oblige
After signing the agreement a promise has been made by the social leaders to the less fortunate for volunteer and service work.
2. [Restriction Free Military Land \\\’Welcomed\\\’]
Restrictions on an area of land 72 times bigger than Yeoido have been dropped. Building construction, the enlargement of a building and other property rights are now allowed. Gyeonggi Province responded by holding a welcoming deliberation.
On the 19th, with the announcement of lifting the ban on all land reserved for military facilities by the Defense Ministry such land in the province is now free of restrictions.
1) s- Ban lifted on land reserved for military facilities
Following the ban lifted on the greenbelt area, the measures taken by the government on this land was welcomed by the province.
2)sync
{Under the banner of national defense the various restrictions that were overexcessive regarding private property rights and causing inconvenience have been relaxed and were seen as an answer to one of the many requests by the province.}
However, it was pointed out that the 69 square kilometers of land formerly reserved for military facilities makes up only 3% of the total land reserved for the military, an unsatisfactory amount of land being released.
3) s- Extent of land for military use made available still lacking
4)sync
{At present 22% of all land in the province is still used for military purposes. We will pursue the succession of measures which will carry out the suitable compensation and support policies.}
Gyeonggi Province has urged the government for many years to compensate local residents and for additional measures except those that are covered in the metropolitan security plan act.
5) s- Compensation requested for residents in restricted area
3. [Going All Out to Secure Public Welfare]
This year Gyeonggi Province drew up a second additional budget. It was stated that the budget was drawn up focusing on securing the public welfare of the less fortunate who are experiencing a major hit from the rising costs of oil and inflation.
Gyeonggi Province drew up the second additional budget this year in an attempt to go all out in battling high oil costs for the public welfare of the less fortunate.
The amount of the additional budget is $129.2 million.
Accordingly, Gyeonggi\\\’s total budget increased by 1.2% over the first additional budget to $1.2 billion.
1) s- second additional budget at $129,217,000
2)
{Due to high oil costs the finances of the less fortunate have ben stretched thin; it is for this reason that support is being added in the budget.}
. Main Breakdown of the Second Additional Budget 2008
In the main breakdown of the additional budget, $11.47 million has been budgeted for support of the less fortunate, and to help stimulate the economy; $49.94 million will go towards special support due to high oil costs, and projects to improve transportation culture; $10.86 million will go towards welfare policies. Further, $29.15 million has been budgeted for improving the water quality of Paldang Lake, for making Gyeonggi Province a better place to live, and for pending projects.
The cost of running city buses and fire trucks, and other estimated costs have been drawn up in the budget focusing on overcoming high oil prices.
3)s- Budget drawn up focusing on beating high oil costs
Further, a welfare policy has also been put into place providing support for secure schooling, an after school daycare program for underprivileged children, and other such programs.
4) s- Support focusing on welfare policies
The second additional budget for Gyeonggi Province this year will be brought up in the 236th special session where it will be considered.
4. [Invest in Pyeongtaek Port]
An investment information session was held in Pyeongtaek Port, which is being evaluated as having the fastest level of increased commercial traffic, and as a good strategic geographical location.
On the 25th a domestic investment information session on Pyeongtaek Port was held.
1)s-Pyeongtaek Port Investment Information Session/ Gwacheon, Horse Track Convention Hall (September 25th)
At the event the related companies from home and abroad gathered to promote Pyeongtaek Port, and there seemed to be much interest in investing in the port.
2)s-About 300 participants related with the port attended
Provincial Governor Kim Mun-su, who attended the event, explained how Pyeongtaek Port is a place of great growth potential.
3)
{I would like to convey the fact point that this area, only in Gyeonggi, revolving around Pyeongtaek Port, as the gold coast of Korea has the greatest potential to develop quickly, and will grow along with the hinterland.}
Following was the Pyeongtaek Port Office and other related parties that explained plans for Pyeongtaek Port to develop the hinterland and about plans to build a marine center which will house port distribution companies.
4)s-Hinterland, marine center plans explained
Gyeonggi Province presently has the hinterland nearby Pyeongtaek and Poseung-eup under construction to be completed by 2010.
5)s-Pyeongtaek Port Hinterland: $70,733,199 invested in 1,428,000㎡ of the area around Pyeongtaek Poseung-eup, Siheung-si.
Pyeongtaek Port is opening markets with its direct lines to Europe and the US, but when the hinterland is completed it is estimated to become an even higher value added comprehensive distribution port.
6)s-Predicted to become a comprehensive distribution port
5. [Economic Policies Evaluated]
Gyeonggi Province has evaluated the level of satisfaction that users had with main economic policies to analyze the efficiency and feasibility of the polices and to reflect on a course of establishing an estimate for the following year.
The results of the survey of business proprietors and others about the main economic policies required to increase investment many indicate \’relaxing restrictions on factory location\’ as the most pressing improvement needed.
1)s-\’relaxing restrictions on factory location\’ improvement needed
Further, \’application approval for establishing a factory is complicated\’ was also indicated, with difficulty securing manpower was related with moving into industrial complexes in the province, and unsatisfactory support facilities was another difficult point.
2)s-\’complicated approval process for establishing factory\’ was pointed out
Regarding support policies for funds to help grow small medium businesses, there were many who requested lower interest rates and simplifying the application procedures.
3)s-Low interest, simplification of application procedure needed
On the other hand, excellent results were obtained thanks to a high level of satisfaction recorded among newly registered businesses for support for finding a new job and consumer economic education.
4)s-Satisfaction levels high in support for finding new job
On the basis of these results, Gyeonggi Province will actively support policies that obtained good results, but those policies that were problematic will be improved separately.
5)s-Problematic policies, to be improved separately
6. [Online Education]
It is very important for foreign wives to receive Korean language and culture education. Online education making it easy to study Korean language over the internet is gaining much attention.
In Gyeonggi Province there are nearly 30,000 foreign spouses and counting making up more than 25% of the total number of foreign spouses in the country.
1)s-25.5% of foreign spouses are in Gyeonggi Province
However, except for face to face Korean language class there are few places to actually learn Korean language and culture.
To solve the problem Gyeonggi Province, POSCO, and the Korean Digital University concluded an agreement to provide online education for foreign spouses.
2)s-Signing ceremony for online education of foreign spouses/Provincial Office Briefing Room (September 25th)
According to the agreement the province would provide the necessary support, and the Korean Digital University would develop education programs, while POSCO would provide the necessary financial backing.
3)s-Gyeonggi Province – Support for promoting education
Korea Digital University – education course development
POSCO – financial backing for education
When online education begins even without an actual classroom, regardless of place or time one can study Korean language and culture.
Also there are plans in the future to provide education not only for foreign spouses, but also for Korean spouses or their children
4)s-Plans for education to be carried out for Korean spouse or children
As members playing a role in Korean society the online Korean language education is expected to be a great help for foreign spouses.
7. [Food Distribution Inspections to Increase]
The number of complaints from consumers about food are growing by the day. To regain consumer confidence, food in the middle of distribution has been removed and tested for safety.
Gyeonggi Province will remove all foods on sale until October 2nd at grocers, supermarkets, and outdoor markets to inspect them for safety.
1) s- Inspections carried out for safety of distributed food
Items under scrutiny include vegetables, meat, and seafood while snacks, breads, and rice cakes are designated for special management.
2) s- Special management of various foods included.
The removed foods will be tested for pesticide residue, tar coloring matter, lead, food poisoning bacteria, and other toxic substances.
3) s- Produce examined for toxic substances
Products deemed unfit will be immediately seized, and destroyed, with strong repercussions to follow in the processing plant where they came from.
4) s- Unfit products to be seized, destroyed
Lastly, to guarantee the safety of all foods in Gyeonggi province, plans are underway to continue inspecting distributed food.
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