On December 24, Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong Yeon Kim welcomed British Ambassador to Korea Colin Crooks to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between Gyeonggi Province and the United Kingdom, as well as the current situation in Korea.

Governor Kim emphasized that Korea is addressing the political turmoil, including the lifting of martial law and the impeachment of the president, through democratic processes. He expressed gratitude for the support received from Korea’s allies during this time and reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with them in the future.

In response, Ambassador Crooks stated that the United Kingdom has been closely monitoring the situation in Korea and commended the progress of the country’s constitutional process. He also expressed his confidence in continued close cooperation with Korea as a strategic global partner.

The two leaders discussed a wide range of topics, including global affairs and economic issues, and reaffirmed the importance of cooperation between the two countries. They agreed to continue close collaboration, particularly in areas such as climate change responses and high-tech industries.

Prior to his appointment as the UK Ambassador to South Korea in February 2022, Ambassador Crooks served as the UK’s Ambassador to North Korea. He is a recognized expert on the Korean Peninsula, having also served as First Secretary at the British Embassy in Seoul from 1995 to 1999, where he oversaw Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Korea.

Since taking office, Governor Kim has worked to strengthen the friendly relations between Gyeonggi Province and the UK through numerous high-level exchanges. Starting with a meeting with Ambassador Crooks in July 2022, their cooperation has continued through significant events, including a visit to the British Embassy to offer condolences after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, a meeting with the UK Climate Action Ambassador in October, and Ambassador Crooks’ participation in the DMZ Peace Walk.

Moreover, cooperation between the two sides has expanded to various fields, including Governor Kim’s participation in a reception hosted by Ambassador Crooks at the British Council in November 2022, meetings with British Trade Envoy John Whittingdale in 2023, and Ambassador Crooks’ speech at the opening ceremony of Eco Fair Korea .

This meeting was organized in response to Governor Kim’s emergency overseas letter regarding the declaration of martial law on December 3, reflecting the solid trust between Governor Kim and Ambassador Crooks.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Government expects this meeting to be an invaluable opportunity to reaffirm shared values and further strengthen the cooperative relationship between the two countries.

On Thursday, April 24, Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong Yeon Kim met with U.S. Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg to convey gratitude for the Ambassador’s unwavering trust in and support for Korea. During their meeting, the two reaffirmed their commitment to the strong partnership between Korea and the United States.

Governor Kim thanked Ambassador Goldberg for his steadfast belief in the resilience of Korean democracy, even in the face of the difficult circumstances of martial law and impeachment.

He said that he had received supportive responses from political leaders around the world, including nine U.S. governors, after reporting on the stable situation in Korea and Gyeonggi Province.

The discussion also highlighted the robust and unwavering commitment to the Korea-U.S. alliance, with both leaders emphasizing economic cooperation, particularly in advanced industries. They pledged to maintain close communication to further strengthen the relationship.

The two agreed to collaborate to ensure that the Korea-U.S. alliance continues to play a vital role in fostering peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.

The lunch meeting, held shortly before Ambassador Goldberg’s return to the United States, built on the continuing friendship between the two leaders. Governor Kim first met with Ambassador Goldberg during his visit to Gyeonggi Province in November 2022, where they explored ways to bolster Gyeonggi Province-U.S. and Korea-U.S. cooperation. In April 2023, the two leaders attended the KBO league’s opening game at the KT Wiz Baseball Stadium in Suwon City, accompanied by Lieutenant General Willard Burleson, Commander of the Eighth U.S. Army. In September 2023, Governor Kim and Ambassador Goldberg visited Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek City and held discussions with General Paul LaCamera, Commander of United States Forces Korea (USFK). In March 2024, when Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer visited Gyeonggi Province, Ambassador Goldberg joined the meeting, further solidifying the friendship and trust between the two countries.

Since the first meeting between Governor Kim and Ambassador Goldberg, Gyeonggi Province and the United States have significantly expanded bilateral cooperation, signing two new MOUs, organizing three official visits by Gyeonggi Province delegations to the United States, and holding 12 meetings with nine U.S. governors. These efforts have greatly strengthened both the quantity and quality of cooperation.

On December 19, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government announced the selection of 15 winning works from the “1st Gyeonggi Immigrant Worker Awareness Content Contest.”

The contest, which aimed to raise awareness about immigrant workers while also promoting their rights and interests, received 20 video entries and 74 poster entries, for a total of 94 entries. After an initial round of evaluation by expert judges and a survey of employees, 15 winners were selected. To ensure fairness, the province selected 12 judges, including university professors and representatives from immigrant organizations, through an open recruitment process. The judging process also included expert reviews and public verification steps, such as plagiarism checks.

The grand prize in the video category went to “Line of Diversity: Connection Instead of Division,” while the poster category’s grand prize was awarded to “Different Roots, but We’re Friends.” Moreover, two entries received first-place prizes, four received second-place prizes, and seven received honorable mentions. The province will provide a total of KRW 7.8 million in prize money, with KRW 2 million awarded for the grand prize video and KRW 600,000 for the grand prize poster.

The grand prize winning video “Line of Diversity: Connection Instead of Division” employs hand-drawn illustrations to convey a powerful message: by connecting rather than dividing in the face of immigrant diversity, society can create a future where everyone lives together in harmony.

In the poster category, the grand prize was awarded to a third-grade student from Mangwol Elementary School in Hanam City. The student’s entry, “Different Roots, but We’re Friends,” received praise for its clear depiction of the theme. Using hand-drawn illustrations, the poster shows that although friends from different countries may have diverse origins, they live together in Korea as equals, free from discrimination.

Kim Won-gyu, Director General of the Immigrant Society Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, “We hope this contest serves as a significant step toward respecting the rights and interests of immigrant workers while fostering diversity in local communities. We will continue to make various efforts to create an inclusive society for immigrant workers.”

On December 12, Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong Yeon Kim held the first Gyeonggi Emergency Livelihood and Economy Meeting at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex, calling for swift and bold policy support to restore people’s livelihoods and expressing his intention to take responsibility and provide support as needed.

“I have been in charge of economic policy for a long time and worked hard to overcome the 1997 Asian financial crisis and the 2008 global financial crisis, but we are now facing an economic crisis like no other we have ever experienced,” said Governor Kim, explaining the reason for holding the meeting. “Today, through the Emergency People’s Economic Council, I would like to explain the general direction of the measures that Gyeonggi Province is considering, and hope to use today as an opportunity to do what we can quickly.”

“We are going through a difficult time with uncertainties caused by Trump’s election, protectionist trade and the battle for hegemony over future cutting-edge industries such as semiconductors, but the bigger issue is people’s livelihoods,” he continued, announcing that Gyeonggi Province will pursue three directions in its response to restore livelihoods: focus on the fields, respond quickly and act boldly.

“I will prioritize the fields above all else,” Governor Kim said, emphasizing, “What is important now is not grand macro-policies or policy directions, but what can be done quickly and in detail. What is needed is not the bureaucracy or the repetitive measures of the past, but bold measures that break the existing administrative framework.”

At the same time, he ordered the immediate review of special loans secured by receivables for the tourism industry and related industries, the review of policy support/financing to prepare for foreign exchange losses; financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises, small business owners and the self-employed who have reached their limits, and the establishment of a business complaint window accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises, small business owners and the self-employed and able to provide responses within 48 hours.

“I hope you will break the stable administrative framework we have been operating under and take bold action, as long as it does not violate the law or rules in the course of administrative work. If necessary, I will bear full responsibility and support my staff in their work,” said Governor Kim, once again emphasizing bold action.

In line with Governor Kim’s instructions, Gyeonggi Province will increase funds for the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises from KRW 1.75 trillion this year to KRW 2 trillion next year so as to support the management stability of such enterprises and small business owners. In addition, the province plans to continue the KRW 300 billion in special guarantees for repayment extensions of small and medium-sized loans among small business owners, which has been in effect since September, so as to reduce the burden on small business owners, and to fully implement the “Cheer Up Go Card for Small Business” from next year to support essential operating funds for small business owners. In addition, KRW 3.5 trillion worth of local currency will be issued to stimulate consumption at neighborhood stores.

To stimulate consumption investment in cities and counties, KRW 461.7 billion in December adjustment grants (originally set for December 25) will be executed early around December 20, and KRW 749.3 billion in regional development funds and other funds will be injected early once the business plans are completed immediately after the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly approves next year’s budget. Additionally, KRW 138.9 billion in term deposits in the Fiscal Stabilization Account will be transferred to the general account as soon as they mature to be used as financial resources, and reserve funds and special adjustment grants will be actively used for local livelihood issues to stimulate the local economy.

In the tourism sector, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization held an emergency meeting with tourism industry representatives on December 11 to analyze damage to and suggestions for the tourism industry in Gyeonggi Province and to devise countermeasures. Gyeonggi Province plans to allocate emergency funds for business stabilization and also to engage in assertive tourism marketing, such as holding the Gyeonggi Tourism Grand Festa in January and February.

Meanwhile, the Gyeonggi Emergency People’s Livelihood Council was established in accordance with Governor Kim’s instructions. At a recent emergency meeting of the three Gyeonggi vice governors, Governor Kim said, “We need measures to support people’s livelihoods, which have been damaged by the unconstitutional and illegal imposition of martial law of December 3,” adding, “Please investigate the overall damage to the people’s livelihoods, including small and medium enterprises and small business owners, and promptly formulate tailor-made, field-oriented measures led by the Vice Governor for Economy and the Economy Office.”

The Gyeonggi Emergency People’s Livelihood Council will work with relevant public institutions such as Gyeonggi’s Economy Office and its Planning and Coordination Office, as well as the Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation and private economic stakeholders such as small business owners, traditional markets, tourism associations, and small and medium-sized enterprises, with the aim of establishing field-based recovery plans for people’s livelihoods. Initially, the focus will be on gathering real-time opinions from field workers in the regional economy, including directly affected sectors such as exports and investment, as well as culture and tourism, and formulating tailor-made measures.

To this end, an emergency economic meeting will be held at least once a week, with the Vice Governor for Economy taking the lead. The plan is to do everything possible to prepare measures to restore the people’s livelihoods by focusing on the following sectors: small and medium-sized enterprises, investment and exports, and tourism and disasters. In addition, based on the results of damage surveys by sector and industry, the province will prepare comprehensive measures to restore people’s livelihoods as a whole, if necessary, by adding other sectors such as agriculture, livestock and employment.

A total of 22 people received awards, with 15 people being recognized for their contributions to exports — including CDFLEX Co., Ltd. — as well as 5 people for their contributions to the utilization of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and 2 people for their contributions to overseas marketing agencies.

Gyeonggi Province also recognized 79 companies with excellent results among those that started exporting for the first time in the past three years (from July 2021 to June this year) as “Export Frontier Companies” and presented them with certificates.

Of particular note, five companies — including Ronda Korea Co., Ltd., which achieved the best export performance in each of five fields: information technology (IT), consumer goods, beauty, machine materials and parts, and medical/biotechnology — were selected as “Export Rookies” and awarded trophies and certificates.

Companies certified as Export Frontier Companies receive three additional points when applying for various overseas marketing support projects in Gyeonggi Province, and the Export Rookie Awardees receive five additional points. The certification is valid for three years.

Sam-sang Seo, CEO of CDFLEX Co., Ltd., who received an award for his export contributions, established a specialized manufacturing company in 2003 to develop thermal transfer adhesive films. Through continuous research, he has developed environmentally friendly water-based products with superior adhesive strength, as well as heat and moisture resistance, which are currently exported to 35 countries. The company has trained specialized personnel and invested in facilities, environmental improvements and product development, achieving export results of USD 19.11 million last year; it is expected to realize exports of over USD 20 million this year.

Ronda Korea Co. Ltd., a semiconductor company established in 2019, was selected as Rookie of the Year. The company has expanded its domestic semiconductor market share and strengthened its overseas sales to meet the growing demand in China, the United States, Taiwan and Singapore by establishing a technology support network, and has recorded exports of more than USD 62.91 million from 2021 to the present.

In addition, 55 executives and staff members of companies and related organizations who have contributed to the revitalization of the economy of Gyeonggi Province through exports received awards such as the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award (3), the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award (5), the Gyeonggi Regional SMEs and Startups Administration Award (10), the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) President’s Award (5), the Small and Medium Venture Business Agency Chairman’s Award (5), the Gyeonggi Business and Science Accelerator President’s Award (10), the Gyeonggi Credit Guarantee Foundation Chairman’s Award (5) and the Gyeonggi Export Enterprise Association Chairman’s Award (12).

Park Keon-kyun, Director General of the International Cooperation Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, said, “As global trade conditions have changed significantly in recent years, with nationalism and protectionism on the rise, we plan to actively respond by supporting the diversification of export destinations to eliminate uncertainties for businesses.”

Meanwhile, the event was attended by exporters from Gyeonggi Province, including Lee Je-young, Chairman of the Future Science Cooperation Committee of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly, Park Keon-kyun, Director General of the International Cooperation Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, Cho Hee-soo, Director of the Gyeonggi Regional SME and Startup Administration, and Kang Seong-ho, Chairman of the Gyeonggi Province Export Business Association.

About 50 people, including provincial and local officials, outside experts, Gyeonggi Research Institute personnel, Gyeonggi Housing & Urban Innovation Corporation officials, and academics attended the policy meeting held that day to discuss the proposed improvement of laws and systems pertaining to the returned grant zones and their development direction.

The council discussed clarifying the point in time for calculating the land purchase cost of returned grant zones based on the date of the decision to return, allowing the free use of returned land for public purposes, and establishing a basis for mitigating profitability declines due to reduced demand for educational, cultural and tourism facilities in areas near returned land due to low population concentrations, thereby facilitating the smooth attraction of private sector projects to long-undeveloped returned grant zones.

Following the council session, Professor Lee Hoon of Shinhan University gave a special lecture titled “Unification of Military Facilities Regulations for Northern Gyeonggi Province,” and Nam Ji-hyun, head of the Balanced Development Center of the Gyeonggi Research Institute, gave a lecture titled “Status and Tasks of U.S. Military Grant Zones in Korea.” This was followed by a site visit to the area around a camp where the Uijeongbu Returned Grant Zone Development Project was completed and to a planned development site.

Gyeonggi Province officials said they will continue to make recommendations to central government agencies on issues discussed during the policy council session and will also work with cities and counties to actively promote the development of the returned grant zones.

Approximately 10 people attended the signing ceremony held at the Gyeonggi Agricultural and Fishery Promotion Agency, including Gyeonggi Agricultural and Fishery Promotion Agency Director Choi Chang-soo, Gyeonggi Foreigner Welfare Center Directors’ Council Chair Kim Yong-guk, and Gyeonggi Foreigner Human Rights Support Center Director Oh Gyeong-seok.

The Gyeonggi Foreigner Welfare Center Directors’ Council is an organization composed of about 10 foreigner welfare centers in the province. It develops various policies to support the settlement of foreign immigrants, including medical and housing counseling and multicultural talent development.

The Gyeonggi Foreigner Human Rights Support Center is an organization that counsels foreign workers on their human rights and researches ways to protect their rights against discrimination. It also provides legal and labor advice.

The agreement aims to promote the human rights of seasonal foreign workers, whose numbers are increasing due to shortages of rural labor, so as to help them adapt to rural life and build sustainable agriculture and rural communities.

Each organization plans to provide seasonal foreign workers with communication support, such as interpretation, human rights counseling, and legal advice, and to conduct awareness-raising training with regard to seasonal foreign workers.

“We signed this agreement so that seasonal foreign workers and farmers can coexist,” said Gyeonggi Agricultural and Fisheries Promotion Agency Director Choi Chang-soo. “We will do our best to address concerns about human rights violations against seasonal foreign workers and help them smoothly adapt to rural life.”

The Gyeonggi Agricultural and Fisheries Promotion Agency is promoting Seasonal Foreign Worker Operation Management Support Project through the operation of the Gyeonggi Agricultural Human Resources Support Center, which includes on-site consultations on human rights related to the working environment of seasonal foreign workers and education to improve employer awareness.

As part of her first visit to Korea, President Díaz Ayuso traveled to Gyeonggi Province to explore opportunities for cooperation in areas such as investment, digital initiatives, and culture. The two leaders agreed on the importance of cooperation between local governments in times of global turmoil and agreed to establish a consultation channel to explore opportunities for cooperation in cutting-edge industries such as AI, startups, healthcare, tourism, and other sectors.

Noting that Alcalá de Henares, the hometown of Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, is located in Madrid, Governor Kim said, “I have read the complete translation of Don Quixote. After serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance and entering politics, I have always thought about what Don Quixote’s windmills would mean to Korean society and have been striving for innovation.”

“I heard that the president is very interested in healthcare, digitalization, and cultural exchange. I also understand that she will be visiting companies in Gyeonggi Province such as Samsung, Hyundai and LG,” Governor Kim continued. “I hope we can lay a good foundation for cooperation in future investment and business development. At the same time, I look forward to more cooperation between Madrid and Gyeonggi in the fields of startups, AI and tourism.”

“The Community of Madrid is the economic engine of Spain, playing a major role in finance, insurance and education. It is also a region open to all, with a rich culture, gastronomy, and a variety of sports and entertainment events,” said President Díaz Ayuso. “Through this visit, we hope to strengthen economic, technological and cultural ties with Gyeonggi Province and the Republic of Korea.”

“When I came to Korea and saw it for myself, I felt that it is very developed not only in terms of industry and technology, but also in terms of culture,” she said, adding, “I hope to continue working with Gyeonggi Province next year.”

Governor Kim and President Díaz Ayuso promised to pay official visits to each other at the earliest convenient time.

The Community of Madrid includes the capital city of Madrid and its metropolitan area. It has the highest GDP in Spain (EUR 262 billion in 2022) and attracts more than 75% of investments in Spain. It is the economic, political and cultural center of the Iberian Peninsula and is considered one of the most active regions for startups in Spain.

Governor Kim has been expanding engagement with Spain, including discussing cooperation measures with Spanish Ambassador to Korea Guillermo Kirkpatrick in March.

Of particular note, Gyeonggi Province successfully held the “2024 Gyeonggi Startup Summit” in September in cooperation with South Summit, a global startup platform based in Madrid. Gyeonggi Province plans to cooperate more actively with Spain next year, taking advantage of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Spain.

This was the first meeting between the two leaders in six years. During his year and a half as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Governor Kim met with then Singapore Finance Minister Heng on several occasions at finance ministers’ meetings of various economic cooperation organizations, such as the G20 and ASEAN+3, and at the annual meetings of international financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). The two became friends, attending meetings together or having separate bilateral meetings to discuss strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries, and even having personal conversations.

Governor Kim expressed his happiness, saying, “I have seen the Deputy Prime Minister many times in Singapore, Argentina, the Philippines, the United States and many other places, and even though his position has changed, I am so happy to see him here in Korea.

Deputy Prime Minister Heng responded, “We have been friends since I was Finance Minister. I have met finance ministers from many countries, but the Governor has a deep knowledge of economics and finance, so I have always gained a lot from our conversations. I am very happy that you invited me to meet you in Gyeonggi Province.

On this day, six years after these two first met as ministers of South Korea and Singapore, respectively, the Governor of Gyeonggi Province (the largest local government in Korea) and the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Research Foundation (which oversees Singapore’s R&D policy) exchanged views on cooperation in new areas such as R&D, personnel and youth exchanges for future industrial innovation.

“I look forward to greater cooperation between Gyeonggi Province and Singapore,” Governor Kim said. “I hope that there will be even better results in cooperation across all industries, including AI, big data, mobility, and semiconductors, as well as in people-to-people exchanges.”

“The similarities between Gyeonggi Province and Singapore can be summed up in two words: ‘innovation’ and ‘courage.’ Innovation for opportunity and courage for the future. On this basis, both countries have enjoyed rapid economic development,” Governor Kim continued. “We are both doing our best to lead innovation and create a better future for our people. That is why I am so excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. I believe we are partners who have a lot to offer each other.”

Deputy Prime Minister Heng said, “The Gyeonggi Province I am seeing today is a cradle of vibrant innovation and talent cultivation. As the largest province in the Republic of Korea, I believe there will be many opportunities for cooperation between Gyeonggi and Singapore in the future.”

“At a time when we are seeing leadership changes in the U.S., the U.K. and many other countries, and uncertainty is on the rise, we need to do a lot of work to deal with change,” Deputy Prime Minister Heng continued. “In this sense, I think the various programs in Gyeonggi Province that encourage young people to take on new challenges send a very good message.

After the official meeting, Governor Kim proposed the formation of a high-level working group to strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation, as well as to expand youth exchanges and research exchanges, to which Deputy Prime Minister Heng responded positively, saying, “It’s a good idea.”

Before meeting with Governor Kim that day, Deputy Prime Minister Heng visited the Pangyo Techno Valley Startup Campus and the Gwanggyo Techno Valley Gyeonggi Bio Hub, both established by Gyeonggi Province, and learned about Gyeonggi Province’s policies for promoting startups and supporting research and development in advanced industries.

Since the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this year, Gyeonggi Province and Singapore have maintained steady exchanges in innovation, including a meeting between Governor Kim and Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo, a meeting between a delegation led by Singapore Smart Nation Authority Group Second Permanent Secretary Augustine Lee and Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor for Economic Affairs Kim Hyun-gon, and a visit to the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex by Singapore’s Ambassador to Korea Eric Teo. In July, 30 young people from Gyeonggi Province participated in language classes and various experiential activities at the National University of Singapore, Singapore’s most prestigious university, as part of Gyeonggi’s Youth Ladder Project. In October, Singapore Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer Dr. He Ruimin attended the Gyeonggi Global Transformation Forum hosted by Gyeonggi Province to discuss AI and Humanomics. In addition, the Singaporean government officially invited Governor Kim through the S R Nathan Fellowship, a program that invites high-level foreign officials to share their insights.

Gyeonggi Province plans to continue its efforts to expand exchanges with Singapore in various fields.

The event coincided with the 2024 Saigon Beauty Show, Vietnam’s largest beauty exhibition, raising the profile of K-beauty brands.

The K-Beauty Expo, held in Vietnam for the fourth time since 2020, featured 60 booths representing 60 beauty companies from Gyeonggi Province. K-beauty products including cosmetics, nails, hair, body care, fragrance, ingredients, fitness, spa and functional cosmetics and more were showcased to 6,496 Vietnamese visitors.

Gyeonggi Province and KINTEX supported booth participation fees and interpretation services for participating Gyeonggi companies and arranged consultations with buyers from 230 companies, achieving export consultations valued at USD 45 million.

Support was provided to promote the brands/products on local official social media sites, and export consultations were held with invited local buyers in collaboration with the KOTRA Ho Chi Minh Trade Center.

NSL Co, Ltd, which sells skin care products (basic cosmetics and cleansing products), had a total of 15 consultations with major buyers at the event, establishing a bridgehead for developing its Southeast Asian market. Speaking about their participation, a company representative said, “This is the first time we have participated in an overseas beauty exhibition, but there were more visitors than we expected and many buyers interested in exclusive contracts… The Gyeonggi-supported interpreter also worked hard at the booth for three days, which contributed to the good results, and we will definitely participate again next time.”

“The high level of interest has confirmed the potential of Gyeonggi Province’s beauty companies to successfully enter Vietnam… We will continue to expand overseas sales channels for small and medium-sized beauty enterprises through various support measures,” said Kim Seong-beom, Director of the Bio-Industry Division of Gyeonggi Province.