1. [The Results of Investment from the US]

Gyeonggi Province succeeded in attracting $465 million of investment from companies in the US.

1)s-$465 million of investment induced

Companies that have concluded investment agreements on this trip total 5 companies including Steck Medical, Mathson and Telio Solar.

(-Businesses concluding investment agreements- Steck Medical (Bio), Mathson (semiconductors) Telio Solar (solar power) A (semiconductors) S (solor power)

There were two hi-tech renewable energy companies among the 5 drawing a lot of attention.

2)s-2 renewable energy companies included

New energy is predicted as becoming a new outlet as an alternative to gasoline in these times of high oil prices.

Further, Gyeonggi representatives held an explanatory meeting and devoted a lot of energy to making their case for the investment environment in Gyeonggi Province.

3)s- Gyeonggi Province investment explanatory meeting held

Further, through individual consultation with competitive companies more specific contact was tried for inducing investment.

2. [Attracting the World Organic Congress]

Namyangju, Gyeonggi succeeded in attracting the World Organic Congress.

1)s- Namyangju, Gyeonggi secured hosting World Organic Congress

On the 24th, Korea time, at the general meeting of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements in Modena, Italy the venue of the 2011 17th World Organic Congress was decided to be held after each member country voted with Taiwan and the Philippines losing out at the last moment.

2)s-Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements General Meeting / Modena, Italy (June 24th)

3)s-
{Thanks to overwhelming support the venue for the 2011 World Organic Congress has been decided. I will do my best for the developing the production of healthy foods that is the dream of Korean and all mankind.}

The World Organic Congress, the largest agricultural related congress in the world is held every three years in a different continent and includes displays, an academic conference, and exhibition. It is made up of 110 member countries and 750 member organizations belonging to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements.

Gyeonggi Province sent 30 representatives to the 16th Congress in Italy to attract the event to Korea, and after lively inducement activity it was able to win great support from other member countries.

4)s-30 representatives made development thanks to active attraction work

In today\’s day and age the importance of organic farming is growing, and it is expected that the hosting of the World Organic Congress in Gyeonggi Province will play a pivotal role in the development of Korean organic farming.

3. [Childcare Facilities Lacking]

The ratio of public to private childcare centers in Gyeonggi Province stands at 3.9% no where near the national average of 5.6%.

1)s-Public childcare centers at a low of 3.9%

At present there are about 86,000 childcare centers open and only 330 of them are public centers.

The breakdown of public childcare centers by city and town show that only 4 areas have a ratio over 10% including Yangpyeong 20.7%, and Yeoncheon 17.2% while the other 27 regions are closer to the 4-5% range.

{CG Title: Ratio of public childcare centers by city and town
Yangpyeong: 20.7%, Yeoncheon 17.2%, Gwacheon 14.6%, Gapyeong 11.1%, with the other 27 regions in the 4-5% range}

The public childcare centers have a similar bottom line with private centers, but food costs, materials costs, and other additional expenses are covered making them more affordable for parents.

2)s-Food costs, material costs, and other expenses are covered

Accordingly, to expand the number of public childcare centers in areas that fall short of the national average, Gyeonggi Province plans to complete 46 centers presently under construction and has a plan to quickly build 44 more new centers to increase the overall supply.

3)s Plan to increase number of public childcare centers

4. [Easing Congestion]

The Suwon Station detour that has been under construction since 2002 in Suwon, Gyeonggi will soon open. It is expected to greatly improve on transportation in the Suwon area.

This is what the congestion looks like in front of Suwon Station with buses, taxis and passenger cars all jumbled together.

The volume of traffic each day reaches 100,000 vehicles.

A project to improve bus stations seemed like a turn for the better, but is still lacking.

However, the detour that is about to open is predicted to greatly improve the traffic conditions here.

1) s- Suwon Station detour about to open

At present the finishing touches are being put on the Hwaseo tunnel, where the detour is going in,

When the detour is complete one travelling from Hwaseo Station to Suwon Bus Terminal would now be able to avoid the Suwon Station congestion altogether.

2) int – Jeong Yeok-ho (Suwon Construction Division)
{With 3.5km section of road opening for traffic the average travelling speed will increase from 40km an hour to 60km an hour, reducing travel time from 17 minutes to only 9, a savings of 8 minutes.}

Suwon has a plan through 2012 to improve traffic congestion by building new roads in all areas affected.

With the opening of the new detour heavy traffic jams will be a thing of the past and is predicted to greatly improve the traffic through all of Suwon.

5. [Beware of Chinese Liquor]

The Chinese liquor available on the market today is being criticized for containing artificial sweeteners, which are prohibited additives in Korea.

1) s- Carcinogenic substances detected in Chinese liquor

The Kyonggi-do Institute of Health & Environment conducted a survey to find out if the standards of 21 kinds of Chinese liquor, and 60 kinds of imported foods are suitable to the food standards of Korea. The results show that in two types of Chinese liquor cyclamate was detected.

Cyclamate is a banned substance in the US, and Japan, and in Korea it is prohibited to import, produce or turn out.

2) int – Choi Ok-jeong (Kyonggi-do Institute of Health & Environment Food Inspection Team)
{With the carcinogenic controversy we cannot yet confirm the safety of this artificial sweetener. Since it is thousands of times sweeter than sugar it is being used more frequently than before in liquors and Kimchi.}

Foods that are judged not up to standards are planned to be taken off shelves and disposed of.

The research worker says a special food safety task force is continually carrying out inspection work to ensure the safety of imported and domestic foods.

There will be constant safety checks for imported food.

There seems to be a need for safety measures that can determine carefully the ingredients even before import.

6. [Edu-town to be Built]

Construction for Edu-town in the new Gwanggyo city is underway.
It is to become a future model for residential living as a place that combines savvy education as well as comfortable living.

1)s-Edu-town: Education and comfortable living in one community complex

Through a combined design, Edu-town has plans for apartments, schools, environment-friendly amenities, and parks all in one luxury complex.

(-Edu-town (combined design)-
apartments, schools, environment-friendly amenities, and parks in luxury complex

On a 300,000 square meter plot located northeast of Woncheon lake Edu-town, 3100 units are to be available for sale, and an elementary, middle and high school as well as various institutes are planned to be built.

2)s-3100 units up for sale

Also, there are plans in the existing housing complexes for discontinued community centers, and amenities to be supplemented building a diverse educational environment for all residents.

3)s-Community centers, amenities to be supplemented

4)
(For Edu-town to accommodate education and residential living plans are being unified from the initial stages. Gwanggyo new city offers an excellent education infrastructure.)

Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Urban Innovation Corporation are presently carrying out a public subscription for the basic building plans for Edu-town, and will present their basic building plans this upcoming August.

5)s-In August Edu-town special building plans to be announced

7. [Getting to Work Faster]

The weekday bus lane system will cover an area of 44.8km from Osan to the southern part of the Hannam Bridge.

1)s-Weekday bus lane section: Osan ~ Hannam Bridge 44.8km

From July 1st the number of express buses using this route will increase.

2)s-From July 1st weekday bus lane system will take effect

Gyeonggi Province plans to add 470 buses to the route during rush hour.

This way a bus traveling 90 kilometers per hour can reach central Seoul in about 15-20 minutes.

3)s-Will take about 15-20 to central Seoul

Accordingly it is predicted travel time during rush hour would be reduced by 30 minutes and can also help drivers save on transportation costs.

4)s-Rush hour commute shortened by 30 minutes

5)
(Travel time will be reduced by about 30 minutes if one uses the bus lanes. So taking the bus would look better than driving.)

Gyeonggi Province expects to transport 6,000 Gyeonggi residents per hour thanks to this newly planned program.