1. [I’m also a Rice Cake Master]
The ‘National Rice Cake Master’s Contest’ was held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Office on the afternoon of the 19th to discover masters in making rice cakes, to boost the pride of those engaged in making rice cake, and to develop the industry and drive rice consumption.
There is steam rising up from the front gardens of the Gyeonggi Provincial Office.
The ‘National Rice Cake Master’s Contest’ was held in the same place as the G Food Show 2007 which Gyeonggi was promoting.
The participants waited with tense and ready expressions on their faces for the start of the enthusiastic contest.
The sensitivity of a master could be felt by watching the hands of participants that were shaping dough into rice cakes.
The splendid hues and beautiful shapes drew the audience out to have a taste.
At the contest there was a Rice Cake pounding event that viewers enjoyed watching.
50 teams out of 100 participating teams were selected at the contest. The selected teams will display their goods at the G food show 2007 where a grand prize winner will be selected.

2. [Gyeonggi as the center of Northeast Asia]
The point was raised for Gyeonggi to be developed to become the center of Northeast Asia, Korea’s counter plan to China’s growth and Japan’s revival.
To manage the formation of an economic zone in Northeast Asia, and exchanges between the North and the South the emphasis was made to split up development strong points into 3 main areas: exchanges between the North and the South, globalization, and industrialization.
The Gyeonggi Research Institute held a briefing on the 21st, presenting the need for differentiating China’s trade area and at the same time creating a partnership strategy among companies from both nations.
Accordingly, by fulfilling the requirements of the industrial structure and abilities which are activity differentiated, the production of high value-added components, financials, and distribution services must be offered.
In line with that, the 3 areas of focus would include exchanges between the North and the South, globalization and industrialization. Under the exchanges with the North focus, is the drive to develop a Peace City, under the globalization focus is a continual push for a free trade zone, and also there is the Bucheon, Kimpo, Siheung development circle, which would have to be widened.
Lastly, under the industrialization focus, a push for an industrial rail line, and the construction of a second Seohae Bridge were proposed.

3. [Dust Scattering from construction sites exposed]
Several construction projects underway in the province did not make the proper precautions and underwent a special inspection that uncovered some troubling news.
For 3 weeks since the 15th of last month the results of a special investigation for construction sites responsible for dust scattering in 1,466 places where high-rise apartments were being built, 77 violations of inadequate dust walls, vehicles passing at high speeds, poor control facilities and poor control measures were exposed.
The province responded to the exposed sites by giving improvement orders, took administrative measures and levied fines of 22 million won according to the atmospheric environment regulations.
Also the 17 places that didn’t have any control facilities will be slapped with prosecution measures, and the names of violators of previous investigations will be provided for inspection measures before a construction bid.
Presently in the province, many construction sites’ dust walls and such are set up, and precautions are taken against the occurrence of dust scattering, but they are not set up properly causing citizens to suffer due to the dust and noise from the construction sites.
Also the construction vehicles that go back and forth from the construction sites have mud stuck to their tires and loads that frequently fall onto the road harming the environment.

4. [Expansion of Bicycle Roads]
In the future, new bike lanes are expected to be constructed nationwide for cyclists. Following the trend, Suwon has presented it’s plan to expand bike lanes in Suwon.
Recently, the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs commented that they will boost bicycle usage presently at 3% to 10% with action being taken in each local autonomy to increase bicycle usage.
Accordingly, Suwon City claimed it will undergo a wholesale expansion of bike lanes by 2010. The existing bikes lanes in Suwon include 83 routes total of 256 kilometers.
The city has a plan to add 125 kilometers of bike lanes from Seryu Station to the Wolam Interchange, and from Pajang Dong pass one could glide down to Gokseon Dong.
On the one hand an issue that was raised was it was hard to tell the difference between the bike lane and the sidewalk potential resulting in more accidents. Also there was the problem of various things cluttering up the bike lanes reducing their availability.

5. [LAPP Korea\’s Factory Completion]
The Korean branch of the German company, LAPP Korea held a completion ceremony on the 16th for its factory in the Jangan Industrial complex in Hwaseong City.
The LAPP Group does business in 68 countries around the world producing and supplying special industrial cables.
The completion ceremony of their latest factory would be the group\’s 15th factory and will produce semi-conductors, steel, and about 30,000 different kinds of cables and other industrial supplies.
The LAPP Group\’s investment in Gyeonggi has continually expanded their investment and results since 2000, and on the 14th at the Investment Attraction Conference they were seen as a successful case of foreign investment in Gyeonggi and shared the story about their success.
Foreign business support policies and the investment environment helps with both attracting the investment of businesses and winning them results.

6. [International Organizations are coming to Gyeonggi]
Of the 720,000 foreigners that reside in South Korea about 30% of them live in Gyeonggi. In the future more proactive research will take place to provide more abundant benefits for them.
The International Organization for Migration, IOM, which is widely known for its support of international organizations, will set up an affiliated migration policy research institute in Goyang, Gyeonggi.
On the 19th, Gyeonggi, the Ministry of Justice and the International Organization for Migration concluded a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of a migration policy research institute and promised to provide mutual cooperation.
The research institute is planning its official opening at the beginning of 2009, which will conduct research related to international migration, provide social integration education for immigrants, and develop policies for immigrants in various countries throughout the world
By attracting an international organization that stands behind the improvement of immigrants’ rights, Gyeonggi, where 30% of the immigrants to Korea reside, is expected to play a central role in the building of a multi-cultural social community.

7. [G+ Food Show 2007]
Gyeonggi recently held the G+ Food Show, a large-scale agricultural products exhibition.
From the 22nd through the 25th Gyeonggi saw how its advanced marketing strategy would work, which consists of packaging representative agricultural products like -199 Rice and -23 Meat as luxury items.
The image of the event, different from most agricultural products shows made use of polished exhibition techniques and different events giving it a touch of class with the feel of a famous gallery, or luxury section of the department store.
The first day of the food show exhibition was special. 100 domestic and foreign buyers were invited. Fancy agricultural, livestock and marine products under the G+ brand were on display, and an export contract worth 15 million dollars was concluded with Taiwan.
Also, in appreciation for the excellent service of farming families and businesses that contributed to the export of farm products, a ceremony was held to award the export tower award and certificate awards.
Under the sponsorship of a single autonomy and through this exhibition, the largest of its kind the province was a success in opening markets for their goods.
Further, with the inflow of buyers that are not only engaged in buying rice and livestock, but those involved in buying flowering plants and other various products, a greater circulation network is secured, breathing new life to the agricultural, livestock and marine products market.