News – Gyeonggi Global

Gyeonggi Province Rolls Out Customized Smart Education Program “Farmdemic II” for Foreign Workers

2026-09-04T01:30:00Z

○ Smart livestock disease control education supporting 12 languages introduced to overcome language barriers for foreign workers
○ Easy smartphone access anytime, anywhere, greatly improving delivery of disease control guidelines
○ Field feedback from pilot operations to be applied along with full-scale rollout to livestock farms in Gyeonggi Province
Starting September 1, Gyeonggi Province will provide “Farmdemic II,” a multilingual, game-based livestock disease control training program, free of charge to 583 livestock farms in Gyeonggi that employ foreign workers, with the aim of strengthening the workers’ disease control capabilities.
Foreign workers have recently accounted for a steadily growing share of the livestock workforce, but language barriers and limited training conditions have made it difficult to accurately communicate disease control guidelines. To address these issues, Gyeonggi introduced the Farmdemic II smart disease control education system.
Farmdemic II is an experiential learning program that supports 12 languages, including Nepali, Vietnamese, and Thai, as well as 3D simulation features. Using the smartphone app, foreign workers can enter a virtual farm and repeatedly practice essential disease control procedures in a game-like setting, including controlling access to farms, disinfecting facilities and vehicles, administering vaccinations, and reporting animals suspected of carrying infectious diseases. As a key feature, it allows learners to immediately see the results when they choose actions corresponding to each situation, effectively increasing their understanding of disease control guidelines and engagement with the training.
Administrators can use the integrated management system to monitor each individual’s training progress. The system also supports tailored management based on each learner’s level and analysis of training outcomes, enabling farms to manage their disease control training systematically.
To increase use of the program in the field, Gyeonggi Province conducted three rounds of practical training and pilot operations for about 70 people, including disease control officials and foreign workers.
Lee Eun-gyeong, Director of the Animal Quarantine Division, stated, “Although the number of foreign workers is increasing, language differences and existing training methods have made it difficult to accurately communicate disease control guidelines.” She added, “Farmdemic II is a program that allows workers to directly experience, learn, and review disease control procedures in a language familiar to them. We expect it to provide practical help in improving farms’ disease control standards and preventing livestock infectious diseases.”

Gyeonggi Province Partners with Luxembourg to Support Local Healthtech Firms’ Entry into Europe

2026-09-04T01:28:10Z

○ “Gateway to Europe: Luxembourg Healthtech Business Seminar” hosted by the Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator on August 25
○ Introduction of Luxembourg’s healthtech ecosystem and one-on-one business meetings held for six companies
Gyeonggi Province has begun supporting local health technology companies in entering the European market by using Luxembourg as a gateway.
On August 25, Gyeonggi jointly hosted the healthtech business seminar “Gateway to Europe: Luxembourg Healthtech Business Seminar” at the Gyeonggi Bio Center with the Embassy of Luxembourg in Korea and the Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator.
The seminar was held to support bio and digital healthtech companies in the province in entering the European market by introducing the local market and industrial ecosystem, as well as the support environment for market entry, and by creating opportunities for exchanges with related institutions in Luxembourg. About 30 people attended the event, including Luxembourg officials and representatives of medical device and digital health companies in the province.
At the seminar, Koo Seon-mi, a senior commercial officer at the Embassy of Luxembourg in Korea, first introduced Luxembourg’s support system for entry to the European market. Regis Cire, head of healthtech at Luxinnovation, Luxembourg’s innovation support agency, then introduced Luxembourg’s healthtech and digital bio ecosystem, while Dr. Kim Hee-eun of the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) explained the local health research environment and the institution’s role.
Nam Byung-ho, CEO of HERINGS, a company with experience entering the Luxembourg market, then shared the company’s experience, providing Gyeonggi-based companies with practical information for their own expansion into the European market.
After the seminar, exchanges and one-on-one business meetings were held between companies in the province and Luxembourg’s related institutions. The meetings were attended by six companies in the province, including Noul (AI-based in vitro diagnostics), iConnectome (precision medicine and genomics), Biner (digital health and wearable devices), BioNexus (AI bio data platform), 6Letters (digital health and hormone monitoring), and Julia Bionics (biohealth and medical AI). They introduced their technologies and business models to representatives of Luxinnovation and the Embassy of Luxembourg in Korea. They discussed their potential to enter the European market as well as possible local cooperation.
Eom Ki-man, Director of Gyeonggi Province’s Bio Industry Division, said, “Access to information on local regulations and certification, as well as securing local business partners, is important for medical device companies entering the European market. With its healthtech ecosystem and business support system, Luxembourg is well suited to serve as a gateway to Europe.” He added, “Building on our cooperation with Luxembourg, we will actively support local medical device SMEs in expanding into Europe and strengthening partnerships there.”

Vietnam Women’s Union Visits Gyeonggido Technical Institute to Explore International Cooperation on Technical Education and Women’s Employment

2026-09-04T01:26:36Z

○ Overview and operating model shared for training skilled workers tailored to industry demand in fields such as electrical work and welding
○ On-site tour of vocational training at the Women’s Saeil Center and “DreamMaru,” a women’s startup support project
The Gyeonggido Technical Institute of the Gyeonggido Job Foundation welcomed a delegation from the Vietnam Women’s Union on August 25. The delegation had been invited to Korea for a training program on strengthening diplomacy and international integration capabilities, and the institute shared policies on technical education and women’s employment. The visit was arranged to share policies and field experience aimed at strengthening women’s economic independence and vocational skills, and to explore possibilities for future cooperation.
The Vietnam Women’s Union, which is currently studying outstanding international examples, visited the foundation to examine the Gyeonggido Technical Institute’s technical talent training programs and on-site support for women’s employment and startups. A total of 18 people took part in the visit, including the Senior Deputy Director of the Vietnam Women’s Union, other senior officials, and accompanying staff.
The Gyeonggido Job Foundation introduced the operating model of the Gyeonggido Technical Institute, focusing on the current status and major achievements of its training for technical talent—aligned with industrial demand in fields such as electricity and automobiles. The two sides then exchanged views on future cooperation, with a focus on strengthening women’s vocational skills and talent development.
The delegation toured key training sites at the Gyeonggido Technical Institute, including the departments of advanced machinery, electrical energy, smart mobility, AI industry, and smart welding. They reviewed curricula and training equipment designed to reflect industrial demand and observed the school’s field-oriented system for training technical personnel.
The delegation then visited the foundation’s southern regional office and toured vocational training programs at the Women’s Saeil Center and the operating site of “DreamMaru,” a women’s startup support project. The delegation reviewed the support system for women’s employment that connects vocational training with employment and business startup opportunities. Through the visit, they deepened their understanding of the foundation’s employment policies, which encompass both technical education and support for women’s economic participation.
The foundation expects the visit to serve as an opportunity for the two organizations to share policy experience and lay the groundwork for cooperation to expand women’s economic participation. It plans to continue expanding exchanges in technical education and women’s employment, while seeking practical avenues for cooperation.
Heo Jeong-eun, Director of the Convergence Talent Division at the Gyeonggido Job Foundation, stated, “Strengthening women’s vocational skills is a task that calls for shared deliberation and solutions across borders.” She added, “I hope this visit will go beyond sharing the two organizations’ experiences and become a starting point for practical cooperation.”

Gyeonggi Province Discusses Expanding Multilateral Local-Government Cooperation with U.S. State of Arizona

2026-08-20T01:24:30Z

○ Park Keon-kyun, Director General of Gyeonggi Province’s International Cooperation Bureau, met with officials from the Arizona Commerce Authority, City of Peoria, and Greater Phoenix Economic Council on August 14
○ Discussions on multilateral cooperation between Gyeonggi and Arizona local governments in advanced industries and other fields
Gyeonggi Province discussed ways to expand cooperation with the U.S. State of Arizona in advanced industries and other areas at the local-government level.
On August 14, Park Keon-kyun, Director General of Gyeonggi Province’s International Cooperation Bureau, met with Agnese Sturmane, Vice President of the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), Michael Finn, Vice Mayor of the City of Peoria, and Sean Fogarty, Vice President of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex. They discussed practical ways for local governments to cooperate in advanced industries, including semiconductor supply chains and corporate and investment cooperation.
Director General Park said, “Gyeonggi Province and the State of Arizona are regions with leading advanced-industry ecosystems, and I believe we can create even greater synergies by connecting our respective strengths,” and added, “I hope this meeting will serve as an opportunity to expand exchanges in advanced industries and lead to tangible economic cooperation.”
In response, Agnese Sturmane, Vice President of the ACA, stated, “Arizona places great importance on its partnership with Gyeonggi Province. Building on the strengths of both regions, we look forward to further expanding exchanges between businesses and institutions and achieving sustained results through continued cooperation.”
Arizona is a major international center for advanced industries, home to the headquarters of Onsemi and Amkor as well as major operations of global semiconductor companies such as TSMC and Intel. The state is enhancing its status as a global semiconductors hub, having recently been selected as a long-term host for SEMICON West, North America’s largest semiconductor industry exhibition.
The City of Peoria is home to Amkor’s largest advanced packaging manufacturing facility in North America, currently under development, while GPEC plays an important role in expanding Arizona’s industrial ecosystem by attracting global companies and supporting investment.
Gyeonggi Province has maintained local-government-level exchanges with the State of Arizona since signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on friendship and cooperation in 2024. The province expects this meeting to serve as an opportunity to further develop cooperation between the two regions and translate it into tangible results.

Gyeonggi Province Urges Central Government to Extend Support to Foreign Victims of Jeonse Fraud

2026-08-20T01:26:03Z

○ Gyeonggi Province proposes improvements to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to support legally staying foreign victims of jeonse (lump-sum housing lease) fraud
– Special housing support measures allowing victims to continue living in affected homes
– Special financial support measures enabling access to low-interest jeonse loans and refinancing loans
Gyeonggi Province announced on August 9 that it had asked the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to revise relevant laws and guidelines, including the Special Act on Support for Jeonse Fraud Victims and Housing Stability so that foreign victims of jeonse fraud who are legally residing in Korea can also receive government support.
The province requested that the Korea Land and Housing Corporation purchase the affected homes of foreign victims and use them for emergency housing support, allowing victims to continue living in their existing homes. It also proposed including foreign victims among those eligible for financial support so they can access low-interest jeonse loans backed by the Housing and Urban Fund, as well as refinancing loans that allow them to replace their existing loans.
Under the current system, foreigners are not excluded from the process of determining victims of jeonse fraud. However, even when foreign nationals are officially recognized as victims, they are excluded from major support programs, including access to public rental housing and financial assistance through the Housing and Urban Fund.
As a result, foreign victims cannot continue living in their affected homes even when they wish to do so for reasons such as employment or their children’s education. They also face difficulties accessing low-interest policy loans from the Housing and Urban Fund when they need funds for jeonse or refinancing.
Gyeonggi Province explained that the proposal was made based on its belief that exceptional housing and financial support is necessary for foreign victims who are legally staying in Korea and have established their livelihoods here through employment, family, and other ties. The province argues that the current system, which excludes victims of jeonse fraud from major support based on nationality, needs to be improved in light of the purpose of the Special Act on Support for Jeonse Fraud Victims and Housing Stability, which was introduced as a temporary measure to alleviate housing insecurity among victims.
Kim Tae-su, Director of Gyeonggi Province’s Housing Policy Division, stated, “We need to establish an institutional framework so that foreign victims of jeonse fraud who have established their lives in Korea can continue living safely in their affected homes and receive the financial support they need,” adding, “We will continue working closely with relevant agencies to ensure improvements at an institutional level.”

Seasonal Foreign Workers from Laos Experience Korean Food Culture at Gyeonggi Food Square

2026-08-20T01:27:26Z

○ Cultural experience programs jointly organized by the Gyeonggi Rural Workforce Support Center and Gyeonggi Food Square
The Gyeonggi Agricultural and Fisheries Promotion Agency (hereinafter, the “Agency”) held a Korean cooking and food culture program, “Sharing the Taste and Warmth of Korea at a Bossam Table,” on August 1 for 20 seasonal workers from Laos at the Gyeonggi Food Square Seasonal Kitchen.
Participants prepared and shared a traditional Korean bossam meal, experiencing the entire process from preparing ingredients and cooking to enjoying the meal together. Through cooking, they learned about Korean food culture and healthy eating habits while also having an opportunity to interact and communicate with one another.
Choi Chang-su, President of the Agency, stated, “We organized this event to support the emotional well-being of seasonal foreign workers and help them adapt to the local community, while providing them an opportunity to experience Korean food culture firsthand.” He added, “We will continue to strengthen cooperation among relevant organizations and commissioned programs in the province to create a stable living environment for seasonal foreign workers and promote sustainable development in rural communities.”
The Agency supports the stable settlement of seasonal foreign workers in rural communities through the Gyeonggi Rural Workforce Support Center, which is operated under a commission from Gyeonggi Province. The Agency continues to provide on-site support for safer working conditions by visiting rural worksites across the province, offering consultations to seasonal workers, providing guidance on preventing heat-related illness, and distributing preventive supplies such as cooling neck wraps and glucose-and-salt tablets.

Gyeonggi Province to Survey All Migrants in Substandard Housing, Strengthen Support, Crack Down on Illegal Activity

2026-08-11T23:46:26Z

Support for housing improvements, linked assistance through Gyeonggi Climate Insurance and welfare programs, and consideration of temporary accommodation when continued residence is impossible
Strict action against system abuse or illegal activities in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice
Under Governor Mi Ae Choo’s directive, Gyeonggi Province will conduct a comprehensive survey of migrants living in greenhouses, containers, or other substandard housing vulnerable to extreme heat and fire. The measure follows recent safety concerns over residents living in makeshift greenhouses amid record-breaking heat.
Governor Choo visited a residential greenhouse site in Gwangmyeong City on July 12. “No resident of Gyeonggi Province should be left without protection from disasters or safety risks,” she said. “Closely inspect living conditions for migrants vulnerable to disasters such as extreme heat. Put necessary protective measures in place without delay.”
From July 24 to August 14, Gyeonggi Province will conduct a three-week survey of all 4,420 accommodations housing migrant workers in agriculture, livestock, or fisheries across 31 cities and counties. Workers covered by the Employment Permit System and Seasonal Worker Program are included in the survey.
Inspections will focus on greenhouses, containers, prefabricated structures, or other substandard housing. Officials will check whether each residence complies with legal requirements and has essential facilities such as toilets.
Migrants found to be living in poor conditions will receive emergency relief and support to improve their living environment through Gyeonggi Climate Insurance, welfare programs, or other available assistance. Employers providing accommodation in temporary structures built without legally required procedures, such as approval for farmland conversion, will face administrative action in consultation with the relevant city or county.
Emergency protection will also be provided when housing is deemed unsafe for continued occupancy. Gyeonggi Province will work with cities and counties to arrange temporary accommodation when necessary. The province also plans to establish an integrated support system by connecting existing migrant assistance programs covering medical care, welfare services, and counseling. The system will help migrants in substandard housing achieve greater stability and settle into local communities.
Gyeonggi will continue humanitarian support, while separately working with relevant agencies to address system abuse or conduct undermining community order in accordance with the law.
Governor Mi Ae Choo stated, “Disasters such as extreme heat pose an even greater risk to residents living in poor housing conditions,” adding, “We will closely monitor conditions to help migrants live in safer environments while strengthening the safety net for people vulnerable to disasters.”
Meanwhile, joint inspections of extreme heat response measures at industrial sites and migrant worker housing have been underway across Gyeonggi Province since July 14, involving the Ministry of Employment and Labor and local governments.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Calls for Korea–China Local Government Cooperation to Become a Model in Reply to Jiangsu Province Governor

2026-08-11T23:44:10Z

Governor Mi Ae Choo sends a reply through the Chinese delegation returning home on July 24 Jiangsu Governor Liu Xiaotao sent a congratulatory letter through the Chinese delegation on July 23
“Jiangsu is the first region to send a delegation to Gyeonggi Province in person to deliver a letter. I am deeply grateful for such a warm gesture.”
“Let us bring new momentum to the Korea–China strategic cooperative partnership.”
Gyeonggi and Jiangsu continue cooperation following their 2024 sisterhood agreement and the launch of a joint consultative body
Gyeonggi Province Governor Mi Ae Choo sent a letter to Jiangsu Province Governor Liu Xiaotao on July 24, calling for the two regions to become a model for Korea–China local government cooperation. The reply came just one day after Governor Choo received a congratulatory letter from Governor Liu on July 23. Her proposal to strengthen exchanges is expected to further deepen cooperation between Gyeonggi and Jiangsu.
Governor Choo conveyed her reply through the Chinese delegation before its return home on July 24. The delegation had visited Gyeonggi Province for the second meeting of the Gyeonggi–Jiangsu Joint Consultative Body. She also expressed her gratitude for the friendship and sincerity shown by the delegation in personally delivering Governor Liu’s letter.
“Since taking office, I have received congratulatory letters from sister and friendship regions around the world. Jiangsu is the first Chinese province whose delegation personally visited Gyeonggi to deliver a letter,” Governor Choo said in her reply. “Jiangsu has long been a friend of Gyeonggi. I am deeply grateful for such warmth.”
“I hope Gyeonggi and Jiangsu can build closer connections by leveraging our respective strengths and potential to deliver tangible results for residents across both regions.” She added, “Let us set a model for Korea–China local government cooperation while bringing fresh momentum to the Korea–China strategic cooperative partnership.”
On July 23, Jin Xiangjun, Deputy Director of the Jiangsu Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, visited Gyeonggi Province for the second meeting of the Gyeonggi–Jiangsu Joint Consultative Body. During the visit, he delivered to Park Keon-kyun, Director General of Gyeonggi Province’s International Cooperation Bureau, a letter from Jiangsu Province Governor Liu Xiaotao congratulating Governor Mi Ae Choo on taking office.
Gyeonggi and Jiangsu established friendly cooperative relations in 2011 before upgrading their ties to a sister-province relationship in 2024. In 2025, they launched the Gyeonggi–Jiangsu Joint Consultative Body as a permanent working-level platform for concrete, practical cooperation.
Following the committee’s first meeting in Jiangsu last year, the second meeting was held in Gyeonggi on July 23. Both regions continue to pursue cooperation across the fields of economy, industry, climate and environmental issues, agricultural technology, healthcare, as well as future-generation exchanges.
Jiangsu has China’s second-largest economy, making the province Korea’s largest regional partner for trade and investment in China. Korea–Jiangsu trade reached approximately USD 86.3 billion last year, a volume that would rank fourth among Korea’s trading partners by country, just behind Vietnam at USD 94.5 billion. Jiangsu is also home to more than 3,000 Korean companies in major industries including semiconductors, batteries, and automobiles. Major operations include Samsung Electronics in Suzhou, SK hynix in Wuxi, Kia in Yancheng, and LG Energy Solution in Nanjing. The province therefore plays an important role in maintaining stable supply chains between Korea and China.
Jiangsu is an important partner with deep ties to Korea across economic, industrial, historical, and cultural fields. The province is home to the Choe Chiwon Memorial Hall, China’s first memorial hall dedicated to a foreign national, as well as an exhibition hall preserving historical records of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.

Gyeonggi Province Showcases SME Products at Guangzhou Pop-Up Event

2026-07-28T05:02:17Z

○ Korea Gyeonggido Company hosts “Gyeonggi Premium Product Fair” in Guangzhou from July 14 to 16
The Korea Gyeonggido Company (KGC) is hosting a “Gyeonggi Premium Product Fair” pop-up event at Shengjia Supermarket in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, from July 14 to 16. Shengjia is a major Guangzhou-based supermarket chain that operates more than 60 stores and logistics centers across the region.
The event features a range of products from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Gyeonggi Province, including pet nutritional supplements, red ginseng snacks, and health supplements.
Gyeonggi Province and KGC will assess feedback from local consumers and explore new business opportunities in the Chinese market.
KGC Director Tak Jeong-sam stated, “This pop-up event is focused on introducing products made by Gyeonggi-based companies to Chinese consumers and helping them build a local customer base,” adding, “We will continue working to turn this opportunity into tangible sales growth.”
KGC supports Gyeonggi-based SMEs seeking to enter overseas markets, including the US and China, by helping them identify and develop new export opportunities. From September through December last year, KGC also held an offline Gyeonggi Premium Product Fair at seven Long Mart stores in China’s Jilin Province. Approximately 90 products from 15 Gyeonggi-based SMEs generated around KRW 200 million in sales during the event.

Gyeonggi Province Inspects Workplaces to Protect Migrant Workers During Heat Wave

2026-07-28T05:05:06Z

○ Ministry of Employment and Labor, Gyeonggi Province, and local governments jointly inspect workplaces and accommodations for migrant workers
○ Heat-illness prevention guidelines distributed in 18 languages, with inspections covering cooling equipment and rest facilities
Gyeonggi Province will inspect industrial workplaces and accommodations from July 14 to 31 to protect migrant workers during the ongoing heat wave.
The inspections are part of a nationwide joint initiative led by the Ministry of Employment and Labor targeting workplaces that employ foreign workers. The initiative comes amid growing concerns over occupational heat illnesses. Several fatal cases of heatstroke involving foreign workers were reported last year, underscoring the need for stronger workplace safety measures during periods of extreme heat.
A total of 43 agricultural, livestock, and manufacturing workplaces employing migrant workers across the province have been selected for inspection. The joint inspections began in Icheon City on July 14 and will continue in Pocheon City and other areas with large numbers of agricultural and livestock businesses. The remaining sites will be inspected independently by the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s regional offices and the relevant local governments.
On July 14, officials from Gyeonggi Province’s Immigrant Society Bureau, the Seongnam District Employment and Labor Office, and Icheon City Government inspected a workplace employing foreign workers in Icheon. Accompanied by interpreters, provincial officials listened to the workers’ concerns and provided guidance on heat-wave precautions and health-protection measures.
Inspectors focused on compliance with five fundamental heat-safety measures: providing cool drinking water; installing cooling equipment; guaranteeing a break of at least 20 minutes every two hours when the heat index exceeds 33°C; supplying personal cooling gear such as cooling garments and vests; and immediately calling 119 and administering first aid when heat illness is suspected.
They also examined general workplace conditions and rest facilities, as well as the availability of air-conditioning and fire safety equipment in accommodations for foreign workers. Furthermore, inspectors distributed heat-illness prevention guidelines in 18 languages, including English, Chinese, and Vietnamese.
Gyeonggi Province is the only local government in Korea with a bureau-level organization dedicated exclusively to policies concerning foreign residents. The province plans to continue working closely with central and local government agencies to monitor the conditions faced by migrant workers, who are particularly vulnerable to heat waves and other climate-related risks, and to promote safer working environments.