Starting in the new year, Gyeonggi Province will be the first in the nation to implement a Childcare Support Program for Undocumented Foreign Children.

Undocumented foreign children refer to children residing in Korea without legal residency status. While Korean children currently receive monthly childcare subsidies ranging from KRW 280,000 to 540,000, and registered foreign children receive KRW 150,000 per month, undocumented foreign children have received no childcare support to date.

In accordance with the Gyeonggi Province Ordinance on the Identification and Support of Undocumented Children Born in Gyeonggi Province, enacted last year, the province planned and developed this childcare support program to address blind spots in childcare and welfare services.

Eligible beneficiaries are undocumented foreign children enrolled in daycare centers within the province. Each child will receive a monthly childcare subsidy of KRW 100,000. To prevent misuse and enhance transparency in budget execution, the subsidy will not be paid in cash to guardians but will instead be provided directly to daycare centers.

After comprehensively considering regional population composition and administrative conditions, the province selected Hwaseong, Anseong, and Icheon as pilot project areas for implementation in 2026. Following system stabilization, the province plans to gradually expand participation to additional cities and counties.

Kim Seong-hwan, Head of the Gyeonggi Province’s Immigration Society Support Division, stated, “This program is significant as it represents the first step toward guaranteeing rights and providing financial support to undocumented foreign children who have long been neglected and marginalized. We will continue to present an integrated rights-guarantee model covering the entire child life cycle—from birth and childcare to education and settlement in the local community.”

Gyeonggi Province also plans to implement the Gyeonggi Province Public Verification System for Undocumented Foreign Children Born in Korea, which will issue verification certificates enabling undocumented foreign children born in Korea and residing in the province to access public services and connect with support programs provided by private organizations.

Gyeonggi Province, together with its 31 cities and counties, is implementing elementary school enrollment guidance for the 2026 academic year by producing and distributing guidance materials in 20 languages to households with registered foreign children aged six residing in the province.

Unlike Korean children, foreign children are not subject to compulsory education and are not included in the resident registration system. As a result, they do not receive official enrollment notifications from local governments. As sa result, many children have remained out of school because foreign parents were unaware of enrollment procedures and schedules due to language barriers and difficulties in understanding the education system.

To address this gap in school enrollment, the province obtained data on foreign children eligible for enrollment from the Ministry of Justice and is promoting enrollment guidance in cooperation with local offices of education and city and county governments.

Last year, for the first time among metropolitan-level local governments, 21 cities and counties participated in the initiative, providing enrollment guidance to 2,037 registered foreign children. This year, all 31 cities and counties will participate, expanding the initiative to provide guidance for the 2026 elementary school enrollment of a total of 3,629 children.

To ensure accessibility for foreign households, the guidance materials have been translated into 20 languages, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Russian, and Uzbek. The province plans to produce official enrollment notices and enrollment guide booklets and send them to each household by mail. In addition, for families requiring interpretation support, foreign-language consultations will be provided in coordination with the Gyeonggi Migrant Integration Support Center and the Danuri Call Center.

Kim Seong-hwan, Head of the Gyeonggi Province’s Immigration Society Support Division, stated, “This initiative is meaningful in that it institutionally addresses an area where responsible personnel and guidance materials have been unclear. We recognize that foreign children are also members of our community who must be nurtured, and we expect this initiative to protect their right to learning and development. In the long term, we hope it will also contribute to social integration.”

– Economic activity participation rate at 64.7%, with lower participation among women and a high proportion of temporary employment
○ Gyeonggi Province to pursue a policy shift toward a settled immigrant society, aiming to establish an inclusive regional model

According to the survey results, the growing proportion of long-term residents and foreign nationals of Korean descent among foreign residents in Gyeonggi Province suggests that policy measures should shift from a short-term stay–centered approach to one that supports long-term residence and settlement.

On December 15, Gyeonggi Province announced the results of the 2025 Gyeonggi Province Immigrant Social Integration Survey at a workshop held in Siheung for officials from immigrant support departments across the province’s 31 cities and counties.

According to 2023 statistics from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, approximately 810,000 foreign residents live in Gyeonggi Province, accounting for about 33% of the national total. In response to rapidly growing immigrant-related demand, the province surveyed 712 immigrants residing in Gyeonggi Province between June and August, examining their economic activity, family life, social participation, and experiences of discrimination.

By residency type, foreign workers accounted for the largest share at 22.3%, followed by foreign nationals of Korean descent (22.2%), marriage immigrants (21.3%), other foreign residents (14.3%), naturalized citizens (13.5%), and international students (6.3%). More than half of respondents (56.6%) were long-term residents who had lived in Korea for five years or more, including 29.8% who had resided in the country for 10 years or more and 26.8% who had lived there for 5 to 9 years.

The overall economic activity participation rate among respondents was 64.7%, with a notable gender gap: 85.2% for men compared to 52.2% for women. While the average proportion of regular employment among all immigrants was 53.5%, foreign nationals of Korean descent and other foreign residents showed particularly high proportions of temporary and daily employment—60.3% and 61.8%, respectively—indicating greater exposure to long working hours and employment instability.

The majority of naturalized citizens (97.0%), marriage immigrants (96.2%), and foreign nationals of Korean descent (93.0%) lived with their spouses. In contrast, only 19.6% of foreign workers lived with their spouses. Notably, even among foreign workers with children, only 11.2% lived with them, highlighting the need for policies that support family cohabitation.

Language barriers emerged as a common difficulty in both economic activity and family life. Among respondents, 41.2% cited insufficient Korean language proficiency as the greatest challenge in job searching, while 35.5% of immigrant children reported difficulties using Korean.

Regarding social participation, three out of four immigrants reported not having voting rights, while only 16.1% indicated that they had voting rights and had participated in elections. The main reasons for not voting were lack of time due to work (38.7%), not knowing they were eligible to vote (26.3%), and lack of interest (22.7%). In contrast, the election participation rate among naturalized citizens was high at 92.2%.

The rate of experiencing discrimination stood at 30.8%, including experiences such as being ignored or insulted, or facing disadvantages in employment or wages. Immigrants who had experienced discrimination reported a lower life satisfaction score of 6.5 points, compared to 7.26 points among those who had not. Their average depression and stress level was 10.74 points, higher than the 9.83 points reported by Korean nationals. This indicator consists of 11 items scored on a 0–3 scale, with higher scores indicating greater levels of depression. Despite these findings, fewer than 5% of immigrants reported using professional services such as psychiatric treatment or counseling at public health centers, emphasizing the need for enhanced policy support in this area.

Based on the survey findings, Gyeonggi Province plans to establish the Gyeonggi Province Comprehensive Plan for Immigrant Social Integration.

Kim Seong-hwan, Head of the Gyeonggi Province’s Immigration Society Support Division, stated, “This survey is significant as it represents the first official data to closely examine the realities of Gyeonggi Province’s immigrant community. As we rapidly transition toward a settled immigrant society, we will concentrate our policy capacity on ensuring that practical measures take root, including eliminating discrimination, expanding economic and social participation, and guaranteeing the right to health.”

A survey conducted by Gyeonggi Province on the human rights conditions of foreign seasonal workers found that more than half of respondents who experienced human rights violations did not know where to seek help in emergency situations.

On December 11, Gyeonggi Province announced that it will complete a comprehensive analysis of the survey results and present policy improvement measures early next year.

The survey was conducted from July to November by the Gyeonggi Provincial Human Rights Division, the Agricultural Policy Division, the Gyeonggi Agro-Fisheries Institute, and the Hanyang University ERICA Industry–Academic Cooperation Foundation. Investigators visited farms employing seasonal workers and surveyed a total of 579 respondents, including 419 seasonal workers—336 directly employed workers and 83 public-type workers—along with 126 employers and 34 city and county officials.

According to the key findings, 78.2 percent (315) of the seasonal worker respondents (403) reported having a written employment contract. However, when asked about their understanding of the contract, only 54.4 percent (162) said they understood it very well.

Regarding experiences of human rights violations in the workplace, the most frequently reported issues were discrepancies between the workplace specified in the contract and the actual work location (14.3 percent, 59 respondents), unpaid overtime wages (13.3 percent, 55 respondents), and verbal abuse (11.1 percent). Among public-type seasonal workers, higher rates of violations were reported compared to directly employed workers. These included unpaid overtime wages (35.4 percent, 29 respondents), verbal abuse (29.1 percent, 23 respondents), additional accommodation fees (22.0 percent, 18 respondents), discrepancies in workplace location (21.0 percent, 17 respondents), restrictions on going out (15.7 percent, 13 respondents), and physical violence (7.3 percent, 6 respondents).

Among the 96 respondents who reported experiencing human rights violations, 87.5 percent said they endured the situation without taking any action. In addition, only 41.9 percent said they were aware of institutions where they could seek assistance in an emergency.

A separate survey of employers regarding working conditions showed an average daily working time of 9.2 hours, an average rest period of 1.7 hours, three days off per month, an average monthly wage of KRW 1.98 million, and average deductions of KRW 194,000 for expenses such as accommodation and meals.

With respect to pay slips, only 58.4 percent (52) of employers reported issuing them. Among those employers, 56.9 percent (29) provided pay slips in Korean, while only 39.2 percent (20) provided them in the worker’s native language.

As for employer-provided accommodation, the most common type was general housing (36.8 percent, 42 cases), followed by temporary structures (22.8 percent, 26 cases), housing attached to the employer’s residence (15.8 percent, 18 cases), and studio apartments (11.4 percent, 13 cases).

Meanwhile, 76.5 percent (26) of city and county officials responsible for seasonal worker affairs reported that staffing levels were insufficient. In addition, 24.2 percent—nearly one quarter—said they had relied on assistance from intermediaries such as brokers or managers.

Regarding human rights education programs for seasonal workers conducted by city and county governments, 71 percent (22) reported providing translated materials in workers’ native languages, and the same proportion reported offering interpretation support. However, in jurisdictions with only one staff member assigned to seasonal worker affairs, the provision of translated materials fell to 64.7 percent, while interpretation support dropped to 47.1 percent, indicating greater vulnerability due to limited administrative capacity.

When asked whether they had paid fees to intermediaries such as brokers or managers, 79.4 percent (104) of respondents from Laos, 7.4 percent (5) from Cambodia, and 6.7 percent (11) from Vietnam answered “yes.” Expert advisory meetings noted discrepancies between the survey findings and on-the-ground conditions. Experts also observed that seasonal workers often hesitate to report human rights violations out of concern that doing so could jeopardize future employment opportunities in Korea, potentially limiting the scope of the survey results.

To prevent human rights violations, Gyeonggi Province’s Agricultural Policy Division provided labor and human rights education this year to 796 employers across 12 cities and counties, focusing on compliance with labor contracts and the prevention of discrimination. The province also conducted pilot psychological counseling programs for public-type seasonal workers in three cities and counties to support emotional well-being and social adjustment.

Choi Hyeon-jeong, Gyeonggi Province’s Human Rights Director, stated, “This survey marks a starting point for strengthening the institutional foundation needed to ensure that the growing number of seasonal workers can work in a safe and respectful environment,” adding, “Based on the findings, we will develop comprehensive institutional improvement measures addressing labor contracts, language accessibility, workplace safety, and intermediaries.”

Meanwhile, anyone may seek consultation or apply for remedies through the Gyeonggi Provincial Human Rights Center regarding discrimination and human rights violations occurring within Gyeonggi Province, its administrative agencies, province-funded institutions, entrusted organizations, entities receiving provincial support, and social welfare facilities. Applications may be submitted by third parties as well as by affected individuals, and all consultations are handled in strict confidence. Inquiries can be made to the Gyeonggi Provincial Human Rights Center at 031-8008-2340 or 031-120 (press 8), or via the center’s website (www.gg.go.kr/humanrights).

Gyeonggi Province and the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) held the “2025 K-Beauty Expo Malaysia” at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) from November 20 to 22, achieving business consultations valued at USD 15 million in total.

This inaugural expo was organized to secure Malaysia—a market with high demand for Korean cosmetics due to influences like K-dramas—as a strategic hub for exports in Southeast Asia.

A total of 66 companies, including 50 from Gyeonggi Province, participated, exhibiting a full range of K-Beauty products such as cosmetics, haircare items, raw materials, and beauty devices. The expo was held concurrently with the K Meditech Expo Malaysia, attracting over 7,000 visitors, including 151 local buyers, generating strong interest.

Gyeonggi Province provided participating companies with support amounting to approximately KRW 4.1 million per company in cost reductions for booth fees, interpreting services, and transportation costs. Additional support included buyer matchmaking, follow-up management, and collaboration with KOTRA, providing diverse opportunities for companies to develop export channels.

During the expo, a one-on-one export consultation session co-hosted with KOTRA resulted in USD 15 million in potential export deals, with contracts worth about USD 2 million currently being pursued—demonstrating tangible outcomes even at its first-ever event.

A representative from Ronas Cosmetic, a participating company, said, “We are grateful for the extensive support we received as a Gyeonggi company, including assistance with booth fees, interpreters, and transportation costs,” adding, “We were pleased to achieve strong results, including signing a USD 30,000 contract with a local buyer during the on-site export consultations. This event gave us confidence in the purchasing power of K-Beauty products in the Malaysian market.”

Eom Ki-man, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Bio Industry Division, commented, “Although this was the first expo, achieving substantial consultation figures and contract negotiations demonstrates both the capabilities of Gyeonggi companies and the growth potential of the Malaysian market,” and added, “The province will continue strategic efforts to help local beauty SMEs strengthen their global competitiveness and establish a foundation for sustainable growth.”

On November 15, the Gyeonggi-do Provincial Institute for Lifelong Learning hosted the “K-Food Yangpyeong Festa” at the Gyeonggi Future Education Yangpyeong Campus, under the theme “Lifelong Learning Through Food: Learning and Sharing.”

The event was designed to provide a platform where both residents and foreigners can learn and interact together through Korean cuisine, a globally recognized cultural content at the center of Hallyu (the “Korean Wave”). More than 1,000 participants gained hands-on exposure to Korea’s rich culinary culture by enjoying a variety of programs, such as cooking experiences, crafts, and book-picnics.

Of particular note, the featured “Kimjang Sharing Event” brought together over 100 participants, including 57 foreign students and global influencers from 19 countries, international students from Kyungbok University and Jangan University, volunteers from the Arum Supermodel Volunteer Service Group, members of the Yangpyeong County Citizens’ Choir, and native-speaking teachers at the Yangpyeong Campus.

Tae Taeya Min-soo, an international student from Jangan University, shared, “I love kimchi and was curious about how it’s made, so I’m glad I could take part. I hope there will be more opportunities like this.”

The kimchi-making event was held under the guidance of Lee Mi-ran, Director at the Korea Fermented Food Research Institute’s Fermentation Schole, incorporating a seasoning recipe that reinterprets Korea’s traditional fermented food culture in a modern way. Around 2,000 heads of kimchi will be delivered to those in need through welfare organizations such as the Gyeonggi Sharing Food Bank, with support from NH Nonghyup Bank Gyeonggi Headquarters and the Gyeonggi Community Chest of Korea.

Yoo Seong-ho (40), a Yangpyeong resident, commented, “By making kimchi with my child, we were able to naturally learn the meaning of sharing. It was a special moment for our family.”

In addition to kimchi sharing, the event offered a wide range of hands-on experience programs, including: “Cooking Lab,” a hands-on cooking session such as dasik, gyeongdan, and gimbap; “Little Chef Workshop” for apron-making and hanji crafts; “Future Imagination Studio” for AI mug-making and a drone-delivery challenge; “Book, Forest Picnic,” a book-picnic program in nature; and “Performance Stage,” showcasing live performances and interactive shows.

Oh Who-seok, Director of the Gyeonggi-do Provincial Institute for Lifelong Learning, said, “The ‘K-Food Yangpyeong Festa’ captured learning and sharing, the essence of lifelong education, through food,” adding, “We will continue to expand a culture of learning, where everyone can grow and connect across generations and nationalities.”
 
Gyeonggi Hosts Foreign-Invested Company Day, Honoring Businesses and Individuals Contributing to Investment Attraction
○ Companies and individuals lauded for achievements in attracting investment and contributing to regional co-prosperity
– Three organizations received plaques of appreciation for excellence in investment attraction and local collaboration; thirteen individuals honored for outstanding contributions
○ Gyeonggi will continue to foster a business-friendly investment environment to support the sustainable growth of domestic and foreign-invested companies

On November 26, Gyeonggi Province held the “2025 Gyeonggi Province Foreign-Invested Companies Day” at the Ramada Plaza Suwon. Now in its 17th year, the annual event is designed to recognize the contributions of foreign-invested companies and related organizations within the province, while reinforcing mutual cooperation and networking.

Approximately 100 participants joined the event, including Yoo So-jeong, Director of Gyeonggi Province’s Investment Promotion Division, executives and employees from foreign-invested companies operating in Gyeonggi Province, and representatives from relevant institutions.

A total of 16 recipients—including public officials, business leaders, and institutions—received awards for their role in attracting investment to Gyeonggi Province and revitalizing the regional economy.

In the public sector category, honorees included Song Young-il, Administrative Officer of Uiwang City; Yoon Cheol, Corporate Support Team Leader of Osan City; and Yoo Mi-jin, Administrative Officer of Pyeongtaek City. In the private sector category, 10 individuals were recognized, including the Hwaseong Business Support Team Leader from Shinsegae Property and the Project Strategy Promotion Team Leader from Kia Corporation. Additionally, three organizations, including Faurecia Korea represented by CEO Lee Sang-guk, received plaques of appreciation for their contributions to both investment attraction and regional coexistence.

Following the award ceremony, a special lecture titled “2026 Global Economic and Trade Outlook” was delivered by a global economic expert, providing valuable insights into upcoming changes in the economic and trade landscape and strategies for responding to them.

A luncheon and professional consultation booths covering tax, labor, and customs were also provided after the event, supporting practical networking opportunities and enabling meaningful information exchange among foreign-invested company representatives.

In her congratulatory remarks, Director Yoo stated, “The dedication of foreign-invested companies is the driving force that makes Gyeonggi Province the best place for investment in Asia.” She added, “We will continue to turn challenges into opportunities and achieve even greater progress together with you.”

The Gyeonggi-do Support Center for Foreign-Invested Companies continues to assist the stable operation and investment expansion of approximately 3,800 foreign-invested companies in the province, offering diverse services such as business consultations, workforce support programs, and professional management advisory services. For more information, contact the Gyeonggi-do Support Center for Foreign-Invested Companies at 031-247-8855.

An international forum will be held to examine the structural changes and social impacts of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence across the fields of technology, climate, and labor, and to discuss the direction the international community should pursue alongside leading scholars from around the world.

On December 3, Gyeonggi Province announced that it will host the 2025 Gyeonggi International Forum on December 10 and 11 at KINTEX in Goyang City under the theme “Human-Centered Transformation: Designing a Society Where Technology Serves Humanity.”

The Gyeonggi International Forum is the newly rebranded successor to the Gyeonggi Global Transformation Forum, which was launched by the province last year. Modeled in part on the World Economic Forum in Davos, the event brings together world-renowned scholars, representatives of international organizations, and other prominent figures to address global challenges that require new and transformative ways of thinking.

This year’s forum will span two days and include an opening ceremony, keynote addresses, opening discussions, and thematic sessions focusing on Opportunity, Climate, Caregiving, and Labor, followed by a closing ceremony. Approximately 500 participants are expected, including members of the diplomatic corps in Korea, officials from international organizations, representatives from local businesses, subject-matter experts, and university students.

At a time when technological advancement, the climate crisis, and shifts in the global order are mutually reinforcing and accelerating, Gyeonggi Province aims to explore values and policy directions for designing technology in ways that enhance human dignity and the common good. Through the forum, the province seeks to convey the message that technology is a means rather than an end, and that it will respond to these challenges through concrete policy action.

Keynote speakers include Professor Jürgen Schmidhuber of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), widely known as the “father of modern artificial intelligence,” and Professor Daniel Susskind of King’s College London, known for proposing new frameworks for work and economic growth in the AI era.

Professor Schmidhuber, a global pioneer in artificial intelligence and deep learning, is expected to highlight the role of AI in advancing an “AI for All” era—one in which powerful and transparent AI technologies are broadly accessible—and to emphasize AI’s potential to promote inclusion for socially vulnerable populations. Professor Susskind will reexamine the benefits and limitations of economic growth, arguing that achieving prosperity in the AI era requires rethinking the purpose of growth and redirecting it toward outcomes that are genuinely valuable to society.

Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi Province will moderate the opening discussion, which will feature Professors Schmidhuber and Susskind alongside Christine Zhenwei Qiang, Global Director for Digital Development at the World Bank. Together, the panelists will lead discussions from a global perspective on connecting advanced technologies with digital transformation, climate action, and efforts to reduce inequality. The forum’s key messages include the importance of AI grounded in fairness, accountability, and inclusiveness; the need for new economic and social models suited to the AI era; and the promotion of multilateral, cooperative governance among governments, the international community, academia, and industry to foster inclusive AI development.

The Gyeonggi International Forum will host individual sessions on four core agendas—Opportunity, Climate, Caregiving, and Labor—through December 11. These sessions will comprehensively assess the social impacts of structural changes driven by technology, climate challenges, and labor transformation while also presenting potential solutions. Discussion topics will include strategies for addressing inequality in the AI era, rural RE100 initiatives and energy transition, human-centered AI applications in caregiving, and labor issues arising from the platform economy.

Park Keon-kyun, Director General of the International Cooperation Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, “The 2025 Gyeonggi International Forum will establish itself as an international platform for identifying practical policy alternatives for a human-centered transformation.” He added, “We will translate the proposals and insights presented at the forum into provincial policies and expand cooperation with domestic and international local governments, international organizations, research institutions, and companies, fulfilling our role as a responsible local government leading the era of transformation.”
 

On December 2, Gyeonggi Province held the 2025 Foreign Resident Honorary Ambassador Achievement Report Meeting at the Gyeonggi Migrant Integration Support Center.

This year’s honorary ambassadors included 20 immigrant community leaders from 17 countries, selected for their strong Korean-language communication skills, extensive experience in local communities, and ability to engage with the public through social media platforms.

Over the past year, the ambassadors carried out a wide range of activities, including multilingual translation and distribution of emergency safety text messages; production of themed card-style news content (19 items); participation in six leadership and capacity-building programs (8 sessions); interpretation and operational support for the Mobile Safety Culture Education program; regular online and offline meetings and participation in provincial administrative activities; and the collection of opinions from immigrant communities, followed by the submission of related policy proposals.

In particular, they contributed to strengthening the provincial social safety net and improving access to information for foreign residents by ensuring rapid delivery of multilingual information during disaster situations, collaborating with immigrant organizations and foreign resident centers across cities and counties in the province, and conducting on-site monitoring of various provincial policies.

During the meeting, policy proposals were presented on several key issues, including measures to address racial discrimination and hate, support for youth from immigrant backgrounds in Gyeonggi, job-seeking assistance for skilled immigrant workers, and the establishment of rest and shelter facilities for female immigrant workers.

Heo Young-gil, Director of the Immigration Society Policy Division, stated, “Direct participation by immigrants is essential to the Comprehensive Immigration and Social Integration Plan we are pursuing,” adding, “We will continue to expand opportunities for honorary ambassadors to serve in policy advisory roles related to foreign residents and will make every effort to reflect their proposals in provincial administration.”

Gyeonggi Province announced on November 12 that it received the Digital Government Award at the 2025 ASOCIO Digital Summit in recognition of its achievements in introducing artificial intelligence (AI) across government administration and driving innovation in public services.

The Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization (ASOCIO) is an international ICT council representing 24 countries across Asia and Oceania. Every year, the organization selects and awards public and private institutions that lead advancements in AI and digital transformation.

This year’s awards ceremony was held from November 10 to 12 in Taipei, Taiwan. Nine organizations from Korea—including Gyeonggi Province, LG CNS, Hankook Networks, and Mirae Asset Securities—received awards across various categories.

Gyeonggi Province was recognized for its achievements across daily-life public service innovation and comprehensive AI transformation, including: AI Care, AI Welfare Call, a behavioral analysis system for individuals with developmental disabilities, and AI-based 119 emergency call receipt services; the launch of the Gyeonggi-style AI Administrative Innovation Platform (LLM); AI talent development and digital-inclusion education programs to reduce the information gap for digitally vulnerable groups; and the establishment of an AI innovation cluster and provision of high-performance computing resources to support industry, administration, and welfare sectors.

Based on this recognition, the province plans to expand international cooperation networks through initiatives, including the following: support for overseas expansion of AI companies in Gyeonggi Province; pursuing global joint research in leading AI fields; sharing exemplary cases of AI literacy among residents; and advancing policies for safe and ethical AI utilization.

Kim Ki-byeong, Director General of Gyeonggi Province’s Artificial Intelligence Bureau, stated, “This award affirms that the international community recognizes Gyeonggi Province’s efforts to deploy AI across residents’ daily lives, from administration and welfare to industrial development,” adding, “We will continue advancing AI-based resident services, industrial innovation, and administrative modernization so that the Gyeonggi-style AI public-innovation model becomes a globally leading best practice.”

Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong Yeon Kim, while conducting a field tour to inspect provincial affairs and listen to residents, visited Pangyo in Seongnam City for the 14th time and reaffirmed continued support to build a “startup paradise” in Korea.

Speaking at the Korea Innovators Community Summit held at the Global Biz Center in Pangyo Techno Valley 2 on November 7, Governor Kim stated, “This is the first startup program the World Economic Forum has undertaken in partnership with a single country, which makes it even more significant.”

The Korea Innovators Community Summit is a startup-focused event co-hosted by Gyeonggi Province and the World Economic Forum. The World Economic Forum is an international non-profit private organization through which leaders from governments, businesses, academia, and civil society convene to discuss major global economic and social issues and seek solutions. It is widely known as the organizer of the annual Davos Forum held each January in Davos, Switzerland.

In his welcoming address, Governor Kim stated, “We are launching the Korea Frontiers program together with the World Economic Forum. Beginning with this initiative, we will provide full support to cultivate the growth of unicorn companies.”

“Korea Frontiers” is Korea’s first global startup incubation program, jointly developed by the Gyeonggi Province Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the World Economic Forum (WEF).

He continued, “For many years, I have envisioned transforming not only Gyeonggi Province but all of the Republic of Korea into a startup paradise,” adding, “To bring this plan to fruition, I have pursued two consistent goals: first, expanding global opportunities for startups and making bold investments; second, reforming the startup support system and ecosystem.”

Governor Kim further explained, “The goal of attracting KRW 100 trillion in investment to Gyeonggi Province was first announced about two years and eight months ago, and it was achieved ahead of schedule during my Boston visit last week. Since much of this investment is directed toward ecosystem development, it translates into more opportunities for our startups.”

Governor Kim also stated, “Through the Pangyo+20 Project, we are expanding startup spaces totaling 660,000 square meters across 20 locations in the province to build clusters. We launched the Gyeonggi Startup Council, which now has more than 520 participating companies, and last month opened the Gyeonggi Startup Bridge to support startups at every stage of growth. Just a few days ago, four startups nurtured by Gyeonggi Province received innovation awards at the world’s largest exhibition.” He emphasized, “We will continue to identify innovative startups, reinforce the ecosystem, enhance communication, and create opportunities for global expansion.”

This event served as the first official platform where Korea’s leading innovative startups, jointly selected by Gyeonggi Province and the World Economic Forum, came together with domestic unicorn companies and global venture investors to discuss cooperation. It marked a meaningful starting point for expanding Korean startups’ presence on the global stage.

Approximately 200 attendees participated, including Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum; CEOs of major domestic AI and tech companies such as Yanolja, Lunit, DeepX, and Upstage; and representatives from major investment institutions.

Notably, the event also marked the official launch of Korea Frontiers, Korea’s first global startup incubation project co-developed by the Gyeonggi Province Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the World Economic Forum (WEF), known for hosting the Davos Forum.

The 30 startups selected for the first cohort will participate in the WEF Innovators Community for two years, gaining opportunities for global networking and market entry. Over 80% of the selected companies have secured cumulative investments exceeding KRW 5 billion, with 15 of them having attracted more than KRW 10 billion.

Following this summit, the province plans to strengthen cooperation with more than 20 global centers of the World Economic Forum and continue supporting the overseas expansion of domestic innovative companies, centered on the Korea Frontiers program.

Governor Kim attended the Davos Forum in January last year and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the World Economic Forum to establish a Fourth Industrial Revolution Center in Gyeonggi Province. Earlier this year, the province established Korea’s first Fourth Industrial Revolution Center in Pangyo, which plays a key role in discovering leading domestic startups, forming a community, and providing collaboration opportunities with global startups.