1. [An Era of Hi-Tech Industry]

Gyeonggi Province secured an investment of $30 million from FCI, a Taiwanese company that possesses next generation cell phone core technology.

On the 22nd of August, Gyeonggi Province concluded an investment agreement with the Taiwanese company FCI, which possesses core cell phone technology.

1)s- Gyeonggi Province – FCI Company conclude an MOU / August 22nd (provincial office International Briefing Room)

FCI, part of the Taiwanese company, Silicon Motion, possesses mobile TV and CDMA technology.

2)s- FCI possesses mobile TV and CDMA technology

According to the agreement, FCI has plans to invest $30 million by 2010, participate in the development of the Pangyo Techno Valley, and establish an R&D center. It also has plans to invest in the R&D center facilities in the Kins Tower in Bundang.

3)s-Plans to invest $30 million by 2010

Here for recruiting new employees it looks as if Gyeonggi Residents will be given a priority to the 150 or so researcher jobs that would be created.

4)s-About 150 researcher jobs to be created

2. [Specialty Field High Schools]

12 schools in the province have plans to receive support from government departments developing them into specialized vocational schools.

The Gyeonggi Province Ministry of Education designated 12 specialized high schools in the province to focus on specific fields and are to receive government support from 5 departments.

1)s- 12 specialized high schools, designated vocationally focused

-cg-
The schools designated include 8 that will receive support from the small and medium business administration including the Gunja Technical High School and Sahwa Technical High School, while the knowledge and economy department will support Pyeongchon Technical High School and the Patent Office will support Samil Technical High School.
The Small and Medium Business Administration – Gunja Technical High School, Shihwa Technical High School, Pyeongtaek Machine High School, Suwon Information Industrial High School, Maehyang Women\’s Information High School, Samil Industrial High School, Gunpo Information Industry High School, Anseong Duwon Technical High SchoolMinistry of Knowledge Economy – Pyeongchon Technical High School
Patent Office- Samil Technical High School
The Defense Ministry- Suwon Technical High School
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry- Suwon Agricultural and Life Science High School

These schools will receive support in budget and programs from the government departments for 5 years, and in support an amount in gradation of between $184,180 and $276,270 will be offered over 5 years.

2)s- Budget, program support for 5 years

3)Interview: Cho Do-sun Scholar, Gyeonggi Ministry of Education Industrial Science Department
(This will help students decide on a career path, and will greatly contribute to developing the right kind of manpower for regional care industries.)

These schools will select a specialty as well as new students from March of next year after a preparatory period and plan to train students focusing on the specialties of each school.

4)s-Education that suits school specialties

3.[60 Famous Walks Selected]

In step with the 60th anniversary of Foundation Day the province has selected several walks worth bragging about and included them in a guidebook, which is grabbing a lot of attention.
In the city center a well-planned path leads along a stream, an excellent spot for a leisurely stroll.

In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the country Gyeonggi Province has put together a list of several paths worth walking and included them in a guidebook that it has now issued.

1)s-\’Let\’s walk Gyeonggi! 60 places to walk\’ published

2)Interview: Oh Se-gu Director of Administration, Gyeonggi Council of Sport for All
#Many places people that were not already popular were introduced. 31 places worth see in 31 cities and counties can be found here. The idea behind \’Walk Gyeonggi\’ is for residents to make Gyeonggi a province full of energy through walking.#

Some famous sites that have been selected include nearby cultural remains, historical exploration paths, tourist attractions near the water, and other themed locations where one can enjoy the changing colors.

This guidebook introducing famous places to walk includes the selected paths of 60 places by region, transportation, restaurants and other topics.

3)s-Paths by region, transportation and restaurants introduced

In addition, the Gyeonggido Council of Sport for All says anyone can easily find famous places to walk in Gyeonggi by visiting their website.

4.[For the Improvement of City Architecture]

Famous architects from throughout Korea have gathered in Gyeonggi Province. They spent some time talking about the city architecture scene, and design improvements.

Uniform, fixed apartments around us,

When developing a new city so much effort was poured into solving the housing shortage that city scenery, and the make up of the environment were neglected.

Gyeonggi Province recognizes these problem areas and has begun to emphasize through a housing ordinance enacted in 2005, that now restricts the box-style apartment buildings ruining the city architecture scenery.

With that as a starting point famous architects from throughout Korea have been called in to gather opinions about how to improve the city architecture scenery and designs of Gyeonggi Province.

1)s-Architect specialists group bull session / Gyeonggi Provincial Office Briefing Room (8/27)

In the bull session the architects stated that when designs that include the special characteristics of that region are achieved the result is an environment that is creative as well as well in harmony with the city scenery.

2)s-Designs that capture regional characteristics needed

3)Interview: Seung Hyo-sang Architect
Efforts to coexist with the environment are necessary.
The essence of Gyeonggi can be found when city design comes from a perspective that harmonizes architecture and nature, architecture and architecture, architecture and people.

From now in new cities doing away with the cookie-cutter houses new residential complexes will appear that consider local scenery, and cultural characteristics.

5. [Pottery Shopping Mall Is Born]

These days shopping online has become commonplace; anything can be purchased easily. From now on one will soon be able to purchase pottery online. An online mall specializing in pottery is drawing much attention as it recently opened shop.

It looks as if customers will be able to purchase pottery conveniently online. Gyeonggi Province and the World Ceramic Exposition Foundation announced the opening of Toyashop, the online mall for pottery that they are running.

1) s- Pottery online mall \’Toyashop (www.toyashop.net)\’ just opened

Different from other sites from being able to see the image of a product, this site has a product video function that could help with one\’s purchase.

2) s Product video function included

The video where a host appears and describes the product is especially gaining much attention.

3) s- Shopping host appears in video describing product

Further, the image can be revolved 360 degrees allowing the viewer to see the image in greater detail.

Also, 5 kinds of product certification systems, which recognize expert potters\’ goods has been introduced in an attempt to boost consumer confidence.

4) s- 5 product certification systems introduced

The World Ceramic Exposition Foundation has a plan to open and operate an information community where potters and citizens can share pottery related information.
5) s- Plan to operate information community
6. [Project Budget Reduced]

Gyeonggi Province has established a new station to prevent unused budgeting from being wasted in various projects. The saved funds will go towards social welfare related projects.

Gyeonggi Province has begun to greatly reduce the budget.

In the budget performance process, Gyeonggi stated it has introduced a contract inspection division which manages various project orders, and the cost inspection of reconfiguration processes.

1) s- Gyeonggi Province \’contract inspection division\’ established

According to the contract inspection division a system to clearly inspect unnecessary road works, and other construction and services that operate on a fixed budget in Gyeonggi Province.

-CG- Projects falling under contract inspection scrutiny would include
works with a regular budget in amounts over $450,000, for construction technology in amounts over $180,000, and product manufacture, and purchasing in amounts over $18,000.

CGword: Projects falling under scrutiny/works/services/products/regular budgets over $450,000/regular budgets over $180,000/Data: Gyeonggi Province

Even for projects limited to provincial funds in 31 cities and counties in the province they too will fall under the same criteria as at the provincial level.

2) s-Interview: Director Hong Wan-pyo (Gyeonggi Contract Inspection Division)
We expect that cases of overspending will have a reduced effect from the budget through expert investigation.

In the second half this year the contract inspection division has a goal of $38.4 million dollars in savings.

3) s- $38.4 million dollars in savings expected in the second half

Gyeonggi Province plans to use the funds from the budgets to stimulate the local economy, create jobs and expand welfare projects.

4)s- Funds from the budgets to be used in service projects

7. [Economic Effect of $152.1 million]

The numbers from the 2008 Gyeonggi International Boat Show and World Yacht Contest from last June are in.

Last June, the International Boat Show and World Yacht Contest that ended in June in Seonghwang-ri had an economic effect of $152.1 million.

1) s- Boat show, Yacht Contest had economic effect of $152.1 million

On the 27th Gyeonggi Province held a last evaluation briefing session and uncovered the following results.

2) s- International Boat Show, World Yacht Contest last evaluation session / Gyeonggi Provincial Office (August 27th)

According to the report there were 350,000 visitors with 190 export and import contracts worth $55.2 million.

3) s- 350,000 total visitors, $55.2 million in export and import contracts

90.3% of the foreign buyers and investors expressed an intention for a repeat visit, while the average level of satisfaction of participants stood at about 70.3%.

4) s- 90% of foreign investors expressed intention to return

But, for perpetual success it was pointed out that expert event planning, an increase of hands-on programs and public relations are needed.

5) s- More hands-on programs, public relations needed

To continually serve the participating companies and investors the analysis shows that separate task forces should be assembled, and marina facilities, lodging and the construction of an infrastructure are all necessary.

6) s- Marina, building of lodgings, infrastructure needed

The province has a plan deeply consider the preparations for the second G-Marine Festival that will be held next June.