[Haemil Library Opens]

A　library for the blind has opened creating quite a stir.

This is a library in Bucheon, Gyeonggi.

Different from regular libraries it was built intended mainly for the visually impaired.

The stacks are packed with books, and volunteers even read books aloud to blind patrons.

In the library there are also audio books, and a studio that produces books for the blind.

It is also equipped with reading rooms and research rooms for even those without any handicap to use.

All are looking forward to the library becoming a place where once culturally estranged handicapped persons and those without any ailments can interact with each other.

[Healthy Dark Tomatoes]

Tomatoes are known for their many good healthy attributes, however, a new kind of tomato has come out that contains even more attributes and is gaining a lot of attention. It will soon begin to appear in markets in the metropolitan area.

This greenhouse in Suwon is full of unripe tomatoes. These tomatoes are egg-sized, and their most distinct feature is a dark hue.

The reason why it is dark is because it contains more than three times the cancer-preventing element lycopene than regular tomatoes.

Dark tomatoes also contain 1.4 times more vitamin C than regular tomatoes and are chock full of fiber.

Plus, the tomatoes have 2 times as much beta carotene, which also prevents cancer.
Accordingly, many are looking forward to the cultivation of the new produce.

Suwon has a plan to concentrate cultivation on the dark tomatoes that are raised naturally without pesticides, in line with current trend of eating healthy.

The dark tomatoes are planned to enter the metropolitan food supply this month.
A tomatoes that is more delicious and nutritious can easily make its way onto our tables.

[Leave Car at Home Once a Week!]

To reduce the amount of consumer demand due to the high oil costs, and to reduce traffic congestion a system of voluntarily leaving the car at home once a week will go into effect in the second half.

Gyeonggi Province will carry out the \’leave your car at home program,\’ where drivers do not drive their cars on one weekday of their choosing starting from this October.

The regions that will carry out the \’leave your car at home program\’ will include 14 districts including Bucheon, Gwangmyeong, Anyang, Uiwang, Gunpo, and Seongnam.

These regions have been selected because they have good public transportation, commuter buses, and trains so drivers can move to and fro without much difficulty.

To apply for the program one can go online or visit a local dong office, applicants are then issued an electronic tag to confirm the authenticity of the participant.

There will also be many benefits for drivers who participate in the program including reductions and exemptions from city and county public parking lots.

If phase 1 of the program records good results, the province plans to expand the program to other regions and will gradually increase the incentives for participants.

[A Mecca for Ocean Leisure Industry..]

The Gyeonggi International Boat Show and Korea Match Cup World Yacht Contest venue is an opportunity for expanding ocean leisure culture, and for businesses relating with the ocean leisure industry to enter overseas markets.

Jeongok Port, Hwaseong where a festival of boats and yachts takes place!
There is a fine line between victory and defeat in this yacht contest, where global athletes participate on the sea.

Meanwhile, 200 boats and water sports related goods are on display offering much to see for visitors.

While hosting the yacht contest and boat show a place for overseas potential buyers and export consultations has been set aside for the development of the water sports industry, which is a high value added future growth industry.

At the export consultations great results of opening overseas markets by domestic companies were achieved through lively talks between foreign buyers and domestic ocean sports industry companies.

Accordingly, the Gyeonggi International Boat Show was not merely another festival, but was a good opportunity for domestic and foreign firms to have valuable exchanges.

Lastly, Gyeonggi Province plans to build the first ocean leisure tourism complex in the Hwaseong Port area after the festival finishes, and plans to make it an ocean sports Mecca.

[Fire Station opens in Yeoncheon!]

For a long time Yeoncheon had no fire station making it difficult to receive emergency services and rescues, but those days are over. With the new station 30 cities and towns out of Gyeonggi\’s 31 now have their own fire station, the era of one station for every town or city is near!

Before the new station in Yeoncheon had been built, the town had relied on the Dongducheon fire station.

With a force of about 100 fire fighters and 34 fire trucks, the Yeoncheon Fire Station will have jurisdiction over the Yeoncheon area which includes 10 towns and villages covering everything from fires to fire related civil appeals.

The newly opened government building offers a look at the revamped work environment where two fire fighters who are on call share one room.

On the 9th at the opening ceremony
children listened to explanations about fire equipment
and even had a chance to put out a fire themselves.

Yeoncheon, was once a blind spot in terms of fire safety!
Now, with the newly opened fire station residents\’ safety from fires, flooding and various disasters can be better secured.

[Which places are hot?]

A public announcement of the price of 3.75 million lots in the province has been made after a survey was conducted based on values on January 1st.

This year the individual lot prices had increased an average of 11.2% increase, a rather low rise compared to last year.

With the influences of the 3rd Gyeongin Expressway being built, along with other developments Siheung has seen the greatest increase at about 18%.

Additionally, Ansan, Pyeongtaek, and Hwaseong experienced somewhat lower rises, with Hanam experiencing the lowest rise in the province at 6.3%.

By plot the most expensive was a building with shops near Seohyeon Station; on the flip side the cheapest was forest land in Galwolli, Shinbukmyeon Pocheon.

One can go to the local city or town hall civil appeals office or go online to confirm the public announcement for land prices, location and can register complaints regarding land ownership and other issues by the end of June at one\’s local city or town office.

[Easier Local Tax Payment]

For the first time as a local autonomy in the country, Suwon will introduce a local tax payment service from an approved account where one can pay anytime 365 days a year.

Regardless of time or day, a tax payment service has begun allowing tax payments to be made 365 days a year from an approved account.

This service is an improvement from paying taxes at the bank since even without a notice through just a phone call one can receive their approved account number.

Tax payers who have received their approved account number
can easily pay the taxes online or over the phone.

The tax payment confirmation which previously took 2 or 3 days to confirm can now be confirmed right away. The payment confirmation sheet can also be printed off the internet from anywhere.

From next month Suwon will apply this service to various negligence fines and non-tax receipts.