[Establishments Splendid Reformation]

City establishments are under major reform on design for both convenience and appearance. After the introduction of a new term: public design, more and more establishments have begun matching their appearance with their surroundings in color and configuration.

Recently, in step with clean bathrooms and eccentric bus stops, foot bridges with conspicuous designs are catching the eyes of passersby. These new foot bridges are shaped in various forms including giraffes and air planes. New foot bridges not only have a nicer look, but also have elevators installed.

The design is pretty. Also I think the elevators will be helpful for the old and feeble. City establishments, which formerly had a uniform design and an antiquated look, are now being renewed with modern senses of public design

[Gender Equality for Teachers]

There are many cases where the ratio of men and women in certain jobs is just not equal. Currently, there are far more female than male teachers.

However, recently in Gyeonggi, a male nutrition instructor was hired and vast numbers of female principals were appointed causing quite a stir. Records have shown that the ratio of female teachers is also increasing rapidly in high schools and middle schools.

The Gyeonggi Province Ministry of Education announced that 83% of the 1,320 newly employed middle school teachers were female teachers.

This gap is growing by about 1% annually.In one situation when the ratio of female teachers was up 70~80%, one middle school in the province appointed a male nutrition instructor.

Although there are 3~4 male nutrition instructors hired through special recruitment, this was the first time through regular recruitment. I will instruct students with healthy eating habits and provide well organized menus for school meals Assistant teachers are also pleased with his appointment.

There will be a greater variety of jobs for male students now. I know that many chefs in hotels are men and I think they serve nice meals These changes are also vivid in promotions. On March 1, 2008, of those promoted 33% of elementary school principals, 28% of middle school principals, and 37% of vice principals were female.

[Loans for Farmers Children]

Gyeonggi province is going to offer interest-free student loans for farmers children. The province announced a plan to ease the financial burden of farmers through student loans for College.

Those students attending college or a university, whose parents farm for a living are eligible to receive a $4,200 loan every semester without interest.Gyeonggi province will aid 5000 students with $21.1 million annually. The loans will be required to be paid back after 4 years after receiving 2 years worth of aid, and after 6 years after receiving 4 years worth of aid.

In order to obtain the loan, one must first pay the tuition, then turn in a copy of the receipt and report card to a local village office.

After application, the size of the farm, actual place of residence, and actual occupation will be confirmed before the loan is written by mid April. Nevertheless, in order to make this policy more efficient, it should be concerned with issuing loans to students who need immediate money for tuition.

[Change my Name!]

Those with unusual names are often under stress and embarrassment. Such individuals must have thought of changing their names at least once.

Recently, more people are requesting for a name change. According to the Suwon District Court, there were about 1800 requests this year, a 20% increase over last year.

After the 2005 Supreme Court ruling, which says it will allow name changes within reason, the number of name change applicants and permissions granted has steadily increased

Name changing stems from a social view, which considers the image of one\’s name important. I feel like my children are embarrassed of my name, and I myself feel embarrassed when I introduce myself in public

An increasing number of applications in January and February were for children who are trying to change their names before school starts. Parents are allowing the name change so that their children won´t be made fun of at school.

I found out that the Chinese characters on the family registrar were wrong. So I came to fix it before school starts.

Since the law was changed in 2005, the number of people changing their names has steadily increased. One can consider changing one´s name if one is seriously suffering because of one´s name in social activities.

However, misapplying the simplified procedure to change one´s name and taking the approach that changing one´s name would change one´s life should be reconsidered.

[Love tickets]

Gyeonggi province is issuing various policies to offer cultural activities to those living in poverty. The love ticket project is now underway. From March to December, Gyeonggi province will fund part of the ticket price for those who are impoverished and often do not have many opportunities to enjoy such shows. The budget limit will be set at $529,000.

The beneficiaries of this ticket enterprise will be children, teenagers, town and village residents, Sarang members, the elderly, the disabled, and foreign workers. Nanum members will receive full aid on any performances. Sarang members will receive 3-5 dollars for stage performances, and a dollar for exhibitions.
Though the amount of aid is limited to 10 times per person, and 2 times per group per year, it even funds tickets of other provinces.

It is expected to give more opportunities to enjoy cultural activities to those who are culturally impoverished. Moreover, this would also be helpful in selling more tickets.

In the near future, the system will be set up to receive benefits from various websites so that even more people can benefit from the policy.

[Pollution-free Gas Stations]

Many people must have at one time experienced the smell of gasoline at a gas station. Not only does it smell bad, but it also causes air pollution and threatens our health.

At one gas station in Gyeonggi province the gas pumps here seem to be little different. These are equipped with a gas-vapor reclaimer that collects oil vapors in storage tanks. Oil vapor, which is generated from gasoline, is one of the green house gases that has a foul odor and is harmful to the human body.

Especially as Suwon and Seongnam become tied up with new environment regulations, 15 gas stations within the province will receive funding to install the oil vapor reclaimers. As a result, from this year new gas stations must have oil vapor reclaimers installed, and it is mandatory that existing gas stations have them installed by 2012.

When filling up there is no smell present, and with greenhouse gases emitted from the vapors being collected, ozone depleting gases are also reduced.

After all stations become equipped with the oil vapor reclaimer, drivers will feel safer and feel it more convenient.

[Metropolitan Traffic?]

A traffic survey was conducted in 90,000 households in Gyeonggi, Seoul, Incheon, and other metropolitan areas. It was the first of its kind in all the metropolitan areas in the greater Seoul area. 2.5 of 10 Gyeonggi residents go to work in Seoul. 53% of attendants use public transportation to get to work and 42% drive themselves to work.

On average, regardless of location, the commute time for using passenger vehicles was 37 minutes, faster than those using the bus or subway. As a result, many Gyeonggi residents prefer driving their cars to work. ccording to the survey, analyzing automobile driving rates of residents, federal support for expressways and highways is necessary.

In the mean time, since the rate of public transportation usage varies greatly between cities and districts, the supply and demand measures for public transportation should vary according to the location.