Gyeonggi Province announces the “Top 10 Gyeonggi Provincial Government News Items of 2013” on December 19

Events such as commencement of Godeok Samsung Electronics Industrial Complex construction and securing of K-POP venue are included in the news 

The year 2013 in Gyeonggi Province has clearly been one of mixed emotions. The Godeok Samsung Electronics Industrial Complex, which entails the one of the greatest investments in Korean history of at least KRW 100 trillion, has finally seen the beginning of construction. The export of medical services by Gyeonggi Province fired up Asia and brightened the future for Gyeonggi. There were year-round, peace-themed events at the DMZ in honor of the 60th anniversary of the  Korean Armistice Agreement that received global attention. However, Gyeonggi also had to make determined efforts to overcome the financial crisis with the reduction of the revised supplementary budget in August. Let’s look back on the top ten Gyeonggi Province news items of the hectic year of 2013.

■ Construction finally begins on Godeok Samsung Electronics Industrial Complex 

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Godeok Samsung Electronics Industrial Complex in Pyeongtaek City, which represents one of the greatest investments in the history of Korea with at least KRW 100 trillion, was held on May 14. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News 

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Godeok Samsung Electronics Industrial Complex in Pyeongtaek City, which represents one of the greatest investments in the history of Korea with at least KRW 100 trillion, was held on May 14. It has been two years and five months since the agreement for preliminary transfer was completed back in December 2010.

The Godeok Samsung Electronics Industrial Complex in Pyeongtaek will cover 3.39 million ㎡ (1.19 million pyeong) of the Godeok-myeon, Jije-dong and Jangdang-dong areas of Pyeongtaek City, which is 2.4 times larger than the current Suwon Samsung complex (500 thousand pyeong); this is the largest in the history of Samsung Electronics’ production line investments in Korea as well as overseas. The Gyeonggi Urban Innovation Corporation will cover project costs and Pyeongtaek City will provide administrative support; the construction project costs alone will require an outlay of KRW 2.2277 trillion.

Samsung Electronics will create over 30,000 new jobs by building production facilities for new businesses (new initiatives) such as next-generation semiconductors and medical devices. Site renovation work will be completed in 2015.

LG Electronics also made the final announcement of its Pyeongtaek Jinwi 2 General Industrial Complex Plan in December of 2013, finalizing its plan to establish operations in Pyeongtaek City. LG Electronics will undertake projects for new future businesses such as refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment and lighting, as well as the manufacture high value-added electronic devices. LG Electronics is also planning an investment of over KRW 5 trillion with its partners, and thereby, the creation of at least 5,700 jobs is expected.

Gyeonggi Province expects the Jinwi 2 General Industrial Complex to be a high-tech industrial complex that represents Korea as well as Asia by forming the heart of a high-tech industrial cluster that incorporates southern Gyeonggi along with the Samsung Electronics Industrial Complex.

■ Revival of Hallyuworld by securing contract for K-POP venue and hotel opening 

In February, Gyeonggi Province won the contract to build a K-Pop venue at Hallyuworld, which is being promoted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The photograph shows the business information session for the land sale of Hallyuworld in June. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

In February, Gyeonggi Province won the contract to build a K-Pop venue at Hallyuworld, which is being promoted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Gyeonggi presented the key site of Hallyuworld under a free leasehold condition, edging out bids by other local governments such as Gangseo-gu and Songpa-gu (Jamsil) in Seoul. The K-Pop venue is an exclusive performance place for K-Pop with a capacity of 18,000 seats; it is being constructed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism with funding of KRW 2.5 billion from government subsidies and KRW 242.4 billion from private funds, and is slated for completion by 2016.

Gyeonggi’s greatest first-class luxury hotel, Daemyung MVL Hotel KINTEX, opened in March, and Bitmaru, a digital broadcasting contents support facility launched with government funding of KRW 220 billion, opened in December. 

Moreover, Gyeonggi Province entered an agreement with the Korea Tourism Organization in January to build a MICE complex for Hallyu (Korean Wave) tourism in Hallyuworld. A budget of KRW 585.6 billion will be assigned until 2017 to build creation spaces, experiential facilities and consumption spaces for Hallyu. When the complex is completed, it is projected to generate production value of KRW 32.8 trillion as well as 420 thousand jobs over the next 20 years, while also becoming a hub of Hallyu development and the MICE industry in Korea.

■ Advanced medical techniques of Gyeonggi Province fire up Asia

Gyeonggi Province promoted the competiveness of Gyeonggi’s medical techniques by hosting medical business information sessions, conferences and medical tours with the invitation of local healthcare providers in Central Asia and Far East Asia starting with Kazakhstan. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

Gyeonggi Province has been undertaking the full-fledged promotion of its global medical business since 2009. The province has promoted the competiveness of Gyeonggi’s medical techniques by hosting medical business information sessions, conferences and medical tours with the invitation of local healthcare providers in Central Asia and Far East Asia starting with Kazakhstan. 

Approximately 27,000 foreign patients visited medical institutions in Gyeonggi, which represents a 41% increase from 19,347 in 2012. The annual average increase rate of patients from the Russian Far East who visited medical institutions in Gyeonggi over the last three years is 234.6%, and that of patients from Kazakhstan is 145%, attesting the Korean Wave of medical services in this area.

Of particular note, Kazakhstan demonstrated wholehearted confidence in Gyeonggi’s medical industry by conducting the government-funded medical training of the Bolashak Foundation, which was established by the Kazakh President to nurture the country’s human resources, in hospitals in Gyeonggi twice in March and August.

Gyeonggi Province expanded the scope of cooperative relations in the medical field from Central Asia and Far East Asia to Jiangsu of China and Mongolia in 2012, and then to Vietnam in 2013. Gyeonggi is also promoting plans to extend the scope of medical tourism by reviewing the construction of a medical hotel in Hallyuworld in conjunction with medical institutions of Gyeonggi.

■ 60th anniversary of Korean Armistice Agreement; DMZ now a place of peace and life

Gyeonggi Province held various events under the slogan “60th Year of DMZ: Now It’s Life!” in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement. The photograph shows a Chinese veteran and a Korean veteran holding hands in reconciliation. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News 

To publicize the DMZ’s ecological value and associated peace in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement, Gyeonggi Province held various events under the slogan “60th Year of DMZ: Now It’s Life!.” It was fitting to transform the DMZ, a symbol of war and division, into a place of peace and life.

Starting with the Nuri Peace bike riding contest of 72.7km (symbolic of July 27, the signing date of the Korean Armistice Agreement) in the DMZ area in May, Gyeonggi hosted 11 events through to the end of October including the Chinese army invitational event, the DMZ World Peace Concert, and the 60th anniversary party of Daeseong-Dong (Freedom Village).

Of particular note, nine people including Chinese veterans who had taken part in the Korean War and their families came to Korea for the first time since the signing of the armistice, receiving the spotlight from global media as they embraced Korean veterans. Furthermore, over 20,000 people attended the Imjingak DMZ World Peace Concert in August, gaining popularity with over 800,000 hits from YouTube viewers around the world.

Gyeonggi announced the design plan for the DMZ World Peace Park that connects the Han River mouth and Paju- Yeoncheon- Cheorwon-Goseong, and formed a council for related authorities including the Gyeonggi Research Institute. Gyeonggi has secured government funding of KRW 14.7 billion for the 2014 DMZ project budget, an increase of 137% over 2013’s KRW 6.2 billion.

■ Abandoned dogs reborn as service companions

Gyeonggi Province undertook Korea’s first project to train abandoned dogs as service companions for disabled individuals free of charge. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News 

Gyeonggi Province undertook Korea’s first project to train abandoned dogs as service companions for disabled individuals free of charge. The province established the Service Dog Sharing Center at Eco-Farm Land, located in Mado-myeon, Hwaseong City, in March, and began training 45 dogs with the potential to become service dogs from among abandoned dogs at 27 animal shelters within the province.

A total of nine dogs that went through six-month training program and completed vaccinations, neutering, and animal registration were adopted in November by nine families with disabled members, senior citizens living alone, and other families needing social and emotional assistance.

Starting next year, the province plans to invest KRW 6 billion in 32,970 ㎡ of the land surrounding the Service Dog Sharing Center to build the Companion Animal Theme Park, which will include buildings for training and raising animals, outdoor training fields, animal experience and education centers, a contest venue, dog museum, and dog park.

The Service Dog Sharing Center was established to resolve the social issue of abandoned dogs, as 5,481 dogs that could not be reunited with their owners among 16,164 dogs abandoned in 2012 were euthanized.

■ Exclusive cinemas for diversity films support independent filmmakers

Gyeonggi Province opened exclusive cinemas for diversity films in April, with daily screenings of independent films, art films and documentaries that would be otherwise be overpowered by commercial movies sponsored by major film studios. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News 

Gyeonggi Province opened exclusive cinemas for diversity films in April, with daily screenings of independent films, art films and documentaries that would be otherwise be overpowered by commercial movies sponsored by major film studios. Gyeonggi Province is the first local autonomy in Korea to open cinemas that exclusively screen diversity films year-round.

Gyeonggi Province operates G-Cinemas, exclusive diversity film cinemas, in four Megabox venues in the province including Baekseok, Yeongtong, Namyangju and Pyeongtaek. Moreover, it has screened diversity films at five public facilities including the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon, the Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art, the Gyeonggi Provincial Museum, the Goyang Media Center, and the Seongnam Media Center.

Since featuring Azooma as an opening movie, G-Cinema has screened an average of three diversity films a month including Jiseul, Bhikkhuni – Buddhist Nuns on the Road, and Pluto, surpassing the 10,000-viewer mark in October.

Gyeonggi’s project to support diversity films won the hearts of filmmakers in a tough environment, and provides an opportunity for Gyeonggi residents to experience diverse culture. “Representing a first among all local governments, Gyeonggi’s new project to support diversity films is a groundbreaking initiative to give a taste of new culture to audiences who are only familiar with the sweetness of commercial films,” said director Jeon Kyu-hwan of Tree Film that produces diversity films.

■ Setting an “eyesore removal” example to revive businesses

Gyeonggi Province’s Business SOS (Speed One-stop Solution) support group was launched in 2007, and since then has been making efforts to remove “eyesores” for companies. The photograph shows the agreement signing ceremony with Hyundai Glovis held in October. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

Gyeonggi Province has taken the initiative to reform burdensome regulations and customs that hinder the growth of companies in Gyeonggi like proverbial eyesores that seem extremely trivial and yet are quite painful. Gyeonggi Province’s Business SOS (Speed One-stop Solution) support group was launched in 2007, and since then has been making efforts to remove “eyesores” for companies.

Since it was established, Business SOS has resolved 77,801 business issues for 47,730 companies. It has received an A grade in a government joint assessment four years in a row since 2010, a presidential citation in 2012, and the Grand Prize of the Master Brand Award in 2013, serving as a role model of business problem-solving for local governments nationwide.

The case of Hyundai Glovis is Gyeonggi’s representative case in 2013. The province changed the designation of a road passing the Hyundai Glovis in Poseung Industrial Complex (Pyeongtaek) in October to a site for industrial facilities, thus resolving a long-standing issue. To cross the road should have required only 10 seconds; for the past 10 years, however, the company had to complete the administrative process of receiving temporary travel passes 20 km away and attaching them to cars for export, bearing a loss of four hours a day and KRW 4 billion a year.

■ Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police safeguard public welfare

Officials of the Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police crackdown on fishery products. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News 

Severe rainstorms, which hit Gyeonggi Province in July 2011, resulted in 39 casualties and property damage of over KRW 300 billion in nine cities and counties in the province including Dongducheon, Gwangju and Yangju. The photograph shows the debris barrier at a valley in Dopyeong-ri, Idong-myeon, Pocheon. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News 

Severe rainstorms, which hit Gyeonggi Province in July 2011, caused 39   casualties and property damage of over KRW 300 billion in nine cities and counties in the province including Dongducheon, Gwangju and Yangju. The devastation was caused by heavy downpours with daily precipitation averages of over 380 mm that occurred over a three-day period.

In July of 2013, there were 13 heavy rainstorms with precipitation surpassing 300 mm in the Yeoju, Icheon, Gwangju, Gapyeong and Pocheon areas. However, they resulted in only two casualties and property damage of KRW 86.6 billion, which was much less than in 2011. The province concluded that the reduced damage was the result of flood prevention measures implemented by Gyeonggi Province since 2011.

Gyeonggi has repaired storm sewers and improved waterways in Gwangju, which had been significantly damaged by the overflow of the Gyeongan Stream, utilizing a budget of KRW 1.6428 trillion since 2011. The province also repaired a drainage pump station in Dongducheon, which had suffered flood damage due to a lack of processing capacity.

Gyeonggi also implemented a disaster prevention project with a budget of KRW 138.1 billion in Pocheon, which had experienced severe damage due to a landslide. The installation of a debris barrier, in which intensive investment has been made since 2011, is considered the best contributor to the prevention of greater damage from landslides. The year 2013 indicated that intensive budget investments can prevent damage from floods.

■ First revised supplementary budget reduction since Asian Financial Crisis

Gyeonggi Province announced the first revised supplementary budget with a reduction of KRW 387.5 billion in August, embarking on vigorous belt-tightening efforts in order to overcome the current financial crisis. The photograph shows the meeting to establish measures for Gyeonggi’s budget reduction back in October. ⓒGyeonggi G-News 

The biggest issue for Gyeonggi Province in the second-half year was the financial crisis of the province. The burden of welfare expenditures and the downturn in the real estate market, which had been concerns since the beginning of the year, ultimately dragged business down in Gyeonggi. The free childcare services implemented by the central government led to an increase in Gyeonggi’s welfare expenditure burden by at least KRW 300 billion in 2013, while tax revenue dropped by over KRW 450 billion due to a downturn in the real estate market. The rapid increase in expenditures along with income reduction led to the financial crisis.

Consequently, Gyeonggi announced the first revised supplementary budget with a reduction of KRW 387.5 billion in August, embarking on vigorous belt-tightening efforts in order to overcome the current financial crisis. This was the first reduction plan by Gyeonggi since the Asian Financial Crisis back in 1998. As the province entered the financial crisis, it presented various measures to overcome the crisis.

First, Gyeonggi promoted a plan to share the pain with public officials by reducing all annual leave compensation expenses for public officials Class 3 and above. The province then decided to carry out major projects such as the World Match Racing Tour and Gyeonggi Ansan Airshow biennially, and cut the contributions of public institutions by 11% from KRW 117.1 billion this year to KRW 104.3 billion. The province is also in the process of restructuring.

“During the financial crisis of the late 1990s, the resolute enforcement of restructuring despite great pains resulted in the ability to cope with the crisis that followed,” said an official of Gyeonggi Province. “We will use this crisis as an opportunity to build the fundamental strength to endure whatever financial crisis we might face in the future.”

ⓒGyeonggi G-News  | Park Gwan-sik malbut@kg21.net 

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