The Gyeonggi-do Provincial Institute for Lifelong Learning will host the K-Culture Festival on June 7 at the Gyeonggi Future Education Campus Paju (formerly Paju English Village).

The festival will include seven themed zones and 24 interactive experience booths, all designed to foster intergenerational connection and promote Korean culture.

Among the highlights is the K-Square zone, which will feature performances that appeal to audiences of all ages. Beloved EBS characters Bungae Man, Farting King Pung Pung, Yaho, and Ttukttaki will take the stage in the E-Vengers Musical, while Dr. Kwon Il-yong, Korea’s first-generation criminal profiler, will deliver a special lecture on future-oriented convergence science.

At the K-Mini Stage, audiences can enjoy a variety of performances, including K-pop cover dances, magic juggling acts, and yodeling. The K-Playground will offer visitors hands-on access to ten traditional Korean games, such as paper-folding, marble-shooting, and tuho (arrow throwing), available throughout the day. The K-Broadcast Content Zone will provide teens—future leaders of the Korean Wave—with immersive experiences such as vocal recording, animation voice dubbing, and drama acting.

In addition, the festival will feature educational and interactive programs, including making LED K-cheer sticks and CPR emergency response training.

The event is free and open to the public, with pre-registration available online or on-site on the day of the festival. For more information, visit the official Paju K-Culture Festival website (www.pajukculture.com).

Oh Who-seok, Director of the Gyeonggi-do Provincial Institute for Lifelong Learning, stated, “We hope this festival will offer Gyeonggi residents a meaningful opportunity to experience K-culture firsthand and serve as a stepping stone for northern Gyeonggi to grow into a global hub of the Korean Wave.”

Meanwhile, the K-Culture Festival is scheduled to return in September with new themes, including K-Performance, K-Pop, and K-Food.

Gyeonggi and the Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator announced on the 25th that ten Gyeonggi companies, including Ains Co., Ltd., participated in the SIAL China 2025 food exhibition, resulting in USD 20.37 million in export consultations and USD 16.94 million in contract agreements.

Held from May 19 to 21 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, SIAL China is Asia’s largest food exhibition, spanning 200,000 square meters and featuring over 5,000 participating companies and approximately 150,000 visitors.

This initiative was part of Gyeonggi’s overseas market development support program for agricultural and food products. Participating companies conducted preliminary virtual consultations with pre-matched buyers and followed up with in-person meetings at the exhibition to deepen discussions.

RenewalLife, based in Yangpyeong County, specializes in producing rice cakes, rice sticks, brown rice puffs, and other products made from locally grown organic rice. At the expo, the company signed two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) valued at USD 1 million and USD 5 million, respectively, through consultations with pre-matched buyers.

A representative from RenewalLife stated, “Thanks to the thoughtful support of the organizers, we were able to fully focus on export consultations with buyers. The video meetings conducted in advance allowed us to reach solid preliminary agreements, which led to strong results at the event.”

GeumSeong TK, based in Paju City, sells snack seaweed, golden honey citron tea, and Korean ginseng drinks through airport duty-free shops as well as in the United States and Hong Kong. At the expo, the company was recognized for its innovation and signed a USD 5 million business agreement with a distribution specialist buyer.

Lee Byeong-jik, Director of the Gyeonggido Business and Science Accelerator GBC Shanghai, who oversaw the event, stated, “Among the 15 exhibition halls, the International Food Hall (Hall N1), where the Korea Booth and Gyeonggi Booth were located, was positioned at the main entrance, drawing significant attention from visitors.” He added, “The event was a great success, attracting not only Chinese food distribution officials but also buyers from Russia, South America, the Middle East, and Africa to the Korea and Gyeonggi booths.”

Bae So-yeong, Director of the Agricultural Food Distribution Division of Gyeonggi, stated, “We plan to actively support Gyeonggi’s agricultural and food companies in expanding into overseas markets to enhance their global competitiveness and achieve even greater outcomes… We also expect that this support will contribute to increasing the income of farmers in Gyeonggi.”

Gyeonggi and the Gyeonggido Business and Science Accelerator plan to continue providing follow-up support to ensure that the consultation outcomes from this year’s participation in SIAL China lead to finalized contracts.

Gyeonggi Province opened its first official booth at the 2025 Global Talent Fair, held at COEX in Seoul from May 19 to 20, operating a dedicated recruitment center for foreign-invested companies. A total of 24 foreign-invested companies based in the province took part, conducting on-site interviews with global talent and offering employment opportunities.

Organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Global Talent Fair is an international job fair that connects domestic and international job seekers with companies. Gyeonggi actively supported foreign-invested companies in recruiting top-tier talent more efficiently at the event. While foreign-invested companies had participated independently in previous years, this year marked the first time Gyeonggi directly operated a booth, providing more structured and coordinated recruitment assistance.

Participating companies offered job counseling and conducted on-site interviews with global talent across a range of industries, including semiconductors, electrical and electronics, chemicals, and logistics. Job seekers responded enthusiastically to the opportunity to explore job openings and hiring conditions on-site and take part in immediate interviews.

Alongside the job fair, the Gyeonggi-do Support Center for Foreign-Invested Companies hosted workshops tailored to the needs of foreign-invested companies and introduced a variety of support programs. In particular, the center provided information on support measures such as tax incentives, tailored consulting, and training programs aimed at helping foreign-invested companies establish a stable presence and achieve long-term growth in Gyeonggi.

These efforts not only enhanced the province’s environment for attracting foreign investment but also laid the groundwork for supporting the continued success of foreign-invested enterprises.

For more information about Gyeonggi’s support programs for foreign-invested companies—including post-investment services, job matching, and investment attraction—please contact the Gyeonggi-do Support Center for Foreign-Invested Companies at +82-31-247-8855.

“The recruitment center for foreign-invested companies operated by Gyeonggi provided a meaningful platform for direct engagement between global talent and foreign-invested businesses,” said Yu So-jeong, Director of the Investment Promotion Division at Gyeonggi. “We will continue to actively support talent acquisition efforts and offer a range of assistance to help these companies establish and grow within the region.”

Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong Yeon Kim met with Thai Labor Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn at Dodamso, Gyeonggi’s official gubernatorial residence, on May 15. The meeting was organized to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation with Thailand—a major trading partner and central player in ASEAN—amid increasing international uncertainty.

Governor Kim welcomed the minister’s visit, stating, “This is my third meeting with Minister Phiphat. In Korea, we say the first meeting is coincidence, the second is inevitability, and the third is fate. I’m thrilled to have built such a meaningful connection with the minister.”

He added, “Thailand is a vital partner for both South Korea and Gyeonggi Province. In today’s turbulent international climate, relationships with trustworthy partners who share our views are more important than ever. Thailand, in particular, is the center of the Indochina Peninsula, ASEAN’s second-largest economy, and an outstanding, dependable partner.”

“When I served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, I chaired the ASEAN finance ministers’ meeting and took the initiative in promoting Korea’s New Southern Policy. I have always prioritized and expanded cooperation with ASEAN countries, including Thailand, and my commitment remains unchanged,” Governor Kim recalled. He asserted, “As Governor of Gyeonggi Province, I continue to emphasize the importance of partnerships with ASEAN nations.”

Gyeonggi Province considers Thailand to be an economic center of ASEAN and a key cooperation partner. The province operates the Gyeonggi Business Center (GBC) in Bangkok and supports local companies entering the Thai market through events such as G-Fair and the K-Beauty Expo. In April 2024, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization became the first regional tourism organization in Korea to establish a representative office in Thailand.

Governor Kim stated, “Thai residents living in Gyeonggi Province are valued neighbors and members of our community. We will continue to treat them with care and respect.” He continued, “Gyeonggi’s establishment of Korea’s first Immigrant Society Bureau is a meaningful first step toward deepening our partnership with Thailand. We will continue to explore and implement closer and more practical cooperation.”

Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn responded, “Being able to meet three times shows that we are not just partners, but friends… Diplomatic relations between Korea and Thailand have lasted around 60 years. I ask for your continued interest and support for Thai nationals, not only those working in Gyeonggi Province.”

Minister Phiphat was in Korea to attend the APEC Employment and Labor Ministers’ Meeting in Jeju, and this was his third meeting with Governor Kim.

The two first met in 2023, when Phiphat served as Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, discussing ways to promote tourism exchanges on the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Thailand, as well as the 2023–2024 Mutual Visit Years. Their second meeting took place in March 2024, following Phiphat’s appointment as Minister of Labor. They signed a Record of Decision (ROD) covering key issues such as visa conversions for skilled workers to expand Thai employment opportunities in Korea, and strategies to manage workforces and prevent illegal residency.

Currently, approximately 58,000 Thais reside in Gyeonggi Province, accounting for roughly 30% of all Thai nationals living in Korea. Around 13,000 of them work in industrial fields.

To strengthen its foreign resident policies, Gyeonggi Province established Korea’s first Immigration and Social Affairs Bureau at a provincial level in July 2023. Gyeonggi also introduced a Comprehensive Plan for Immigration Policies for 2025–2027, focusing on stabilizing foreign workers’ employment, supporting their settlement, improving working conditions, and protecting fundamental rights, among other initiatives.

Moreover, Gyeonggi Province is laying the foundation for longer-term stays of foreign workers through its “Gyeonggi Regional Visa Pilot Project” and attracting skilled foreign labor, helping to alleviate manpower shortages for local businesses.

The fifth season of the Gyeonggi Tourism Foreign Social Media Supporters, run by the Gyeonggi Provincial Government and the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, officially launched on May 10 with an opening ceremony at the Sejong Library in Yeoju City.

Known as “Oh! My Gyeonggi (O.M.G.)” supporters, the members were selected through an open recruitment process—both online and offline—targeting foreign residents in Korea with strong social media presences. This year’s team includes 30 creators from various regions around the world, including Asia, the Americas, and Europe.

Over the next seven months through to November, the supporters will explore Gyeonggi’s top tourist destinations, hidden attractions, festivals, events, and must-visit local eateries. They will then share their firsthand experiences by creating engaging content on global platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. By incorporating cultural perspectives and creative styles distinct to their home countries, the supporters will present Gyeonggi to potential international tourists in relatable and engaging formats. The availability of multilingual subtitles will further enhance accessibility to tourism information.

The provincial government anticipates generating fresh, vibrant content that resonates with global audiences and effectively showcases the unique appeal of Gyeonggi across the globe. The initiative is also expected to significantly increase the number of foreign tourists visiting Gyeonggi.

“Gyeonggi is often seen as a location that is close, yet unfamiliar to many foreign tourists,” said Jang Hyang-jeong, Director of Gyeonggi Province’s Tourism Industry Division. “We will actively assist the supporters in creating new, on-the-ground content and hope they will help share Gyeonggi’s diverse attractions with the world.”

Gyeonggi Province was recognized as a clean energy leader in Asia at the Renewable Energy Markets (REM) Asia 2025 event held in Singapore from April 29 to 30.

The event, hosted by the U.S.-based nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), took place at the Sofitel Singapore City Centre and brought together around 300 stakeholders, including representatives from global companies such as Google and Apple, as well as public institutions. CRS is a trusted authority in North America that operates the Green-e renewable energy certification program.

The selection process began with CRS receiving recommendations on nominees through LinkedIn, the world’s largest social platform for business networking. The next step involved CRS’s internal selection committee, which ultimately decided that Gyeonggi should be a recipient of this year’s award.

This recognition highlights the global impact of Gyeonggi’s proactive renewable energy policies, including the Gyeonggi RE100 initiative, the RE100 policy for industrial complexes, and reforms to improve distance regulations for solar panel installation. Over the past three years, major global companies and organizations such as Meta, Microsoft, and CLP Power Hong Kong have also received this award.

“The winners of this year’s award have all achieved substantial and crucial progress in advancing sustainable energy,” said CRS CEO Jennifer Martin. “Their drive and commitment to expanding renewable energy production and access, and their responsiveness to the demands of rapidly growing businesses, have positioned them as pioneers in the market.”

Kim Yeon-ji, Director of Gyeonggi Province’s Energy Industry Division, said, “It’s a great honor for Gyeonggi to be recognized as a clean energy leader representing Asia,” after attending the award ceremony. She added, “This award strengthens the global credibility of our RE100 policy… We will continue building partnerships with key organizations and businesses across Asia to help Gyeonggi play a leading role in the global renewable energy market.”

Gyeonggi Province has selected 25 promising companies with high potential to attract overseas investment in strategic industries. These companies will receive tailored support, including overseas investment consulting, investor relations (IR) assistance, and ongoing follow-up management.

Despite being a newly launched initiative this year under the “INVEST Gyeonggi” program, competition to participate was fierce, with a total of 95 companies from 22 cities and counties applying, resulting in a competitive rate of approximately 4:1.

The “INVEST Gyeonggi” program is designed to strengthen companies’ investment attraction capabilities, aiming to bring overseas investment to local businesses with technological expertise and growth potential.

The selected companies were chosen based on criteria including investment potential, readiness to attract overseas investment, market entry capabilities, and business execution ability.

These companies represent key strategic industries in Gyeonggi Province, including artificial intelligence (AI), information technology (IT), medical and biotechnology, mobility, energy, and new materials.

Each selected company will undergo a corporate assessment by a specialized consulting firm with expertise in industry, investment, and management, as well as experience in promoting overseas investment. They will receive 1:1 customized consulting on investment promotion strategies and conditions. Based on the consulting results, companies will receive follow-up support to further enhance their investment promotion capabilities. This includes the development of IR materials and promotional videos, with up to KRW 10 million in support per company allocated for these efforts. The selected companies will also be given priority access to overseas investment promotion delegations and IR events organized by Gyeonggi Province.

This year, Gyeonggi plans to bring the selected companies to major global events such as Web Summit Vancouver in Canada and GITEX Global in Dubai. The goal is to increase the likelihood of securing overseas investment by facilitating meeting with global investors, sharing trends in global innovative technologies, and fostering networking among innovative technology companies.

“We hope that this project, which offers overseas investment consulting, customized corporate growth services, and support for overseas investment, will empower local companies to enhance their global competitiveness and attract foreign capital,” said Yoo So-jeong, Director of Gyeonggi Province’s Investment Promotion Division.

The 25 companies selected as promising candidates to attract overseas investment in Gyeonggi will receive corporate orientation on May 9.

For more information about the INVEST Gyeonggi program, visit the Gyeonggido Business & Science Accelerator (www.gbsa.or.kr) and the Gyeonggi Business Portal (www.egbiz.or.kr).

This year, the EG Tour features six routes spanning the eastern, western, northern, and southern areas of Gyeonggi.

The Suwon–Yongin route focuses on traditional and Korean culture, with visits to the Korean Folk Village, Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, and Nammun Market. The Pocheon–Gapyeong route offers a healing and experiential theme, including stops at The Garden of Morning Calm, local farm experiences, and Pocheon Art Valley. For the farm experience, participants will visit a strawberry or apple farm, depending on the season.

The Icheon–Yeoju route follows a historical and experiential theme. It includes stops at the Royal Tomb of King Sejong, Icheon Ceramic Art Village, and Namhansanseong Fortress. At Icheon Ceramic Art Village, participants can enjoy a mug-painting activity. For lunch, local specialties featuring Icheon rice are served. The Paju route is themed around the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and peace. It includes Imjingak, Camp Greaves, and the Peace DMZ Tour (the 3rd Tunnel, Dora Observatory, and Tongil Village). The Gimpo route focuses on peace and food. It features stops at Aegibong Peace Ecopark, Gimpo Hyundai Premium Outlets, and Hanok Village. Tourists can take part in a gochujang-making experience. Afterward, they are served bibimbap topped with the gochujang they made. The Suwon–Hwaseong–Gwangmyeong route features a maritime and hotspot theme, with visits to Tando Port Seohaerang Cable Car, Suwon Starfield, and Gwangmyeong Cave. All routes operate as one-day tours that depart from various locations in Seoul including Hongik University Station, Namsan Yejang Public Parking Lot, and Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station. The tours take travelers to various regions in Gyeonggi Province and return to Seoul the same day.

EG Tour fares range from USD 65 to USD 77 per adult. Tickets can be purchased through online travel agencies such as Klook, KKday, Trip.com, and GetYourGuide.

“EG Tour is designed to make it easier and more enjoyable for foreign tourists to travel to Gyeonggi,” said Jang Hyang-jeong, Director of Gyeonggi Province’s Tourism Industry Division. “We will continue to develop tourism products that showcase the unique charm of Gyeonggi to attract international visitors.”

In addition, Gyeonggi Province introduced a new logo and character this year to strengthen the brand image of the EG Tour. The province also expanded tourism content tailored to foreign tourists, making it easier and more enjoyable for anyone to experience Gyeonggi’s charms.

The EG Tour, which stands for “Easy to Enjoy Gyeonggi,” is a one-day tour product designed for individual foreign tourists visiting Gyeonggi. It has been operating since 2017 with the goal of attracting international tourists to the region.

Starting on May 27, Gyeonggi Province will launch a multilingual counseling service at the Gyeonggi Institute of Research and Policy Development for Migrants’ Human Rights (GMHR) to protect the rights and interests of foreign residents and alleviate difficulties related to daily life and settlement.

The service supports a total of nine languages: Cambodian (Khmer), Vietnamese, Lao, Thai, Uzbek, Russian, Filipino, English, and Chinese, with recruitment ongoing for counselors in three additional languages.

Previously, the absence of multilingual support resulted in issues such as delays and errors in processing complaints, as well as challenges in addressing human rights violations due to language barriers.

The counseling service is available nationwide via 1661-0222 (ext. 1–10), from Sunday to Thursday, 9 AM to 6 PM.

Counselors provide services including phone consultations, in-person complaint assistance, translation and proofreading, and online consultations. Most of the counselors are based at the Gyeonggi Institute of Research and Policy Development for Migrants’ Human Rights (GMHR) (2F, 140 Chudong-ro, Uijeongbu-si), while one Korean-language counselor is stationed at the Suwon Station Labor Rights Center.

“We hope to provide practical assistance to foreign residents who face challenges in living and settling in Gyeonggi due to language barriers,” said Kim Won-kyu, Director General of Gyeonggi Province’s Immigrant Society Bureau. “We will continue to improve the system and strengthen administrative support to make Gyeonggi Province a leading model of an inclusive society for immigrants.”

Gyeonggi Province also plans to establish effective policies aimed at enhancing the quality of life for migrants and to further expand administrative services that support their stable settlement.

On April 15, Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi FTA Global Business Center (GGFTA Center) announced that they had held on-site export consultations in Melbourne, Australia, on April 8 and in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on April 10. A total of 105 business meetings were held across both locations.

These export consultations were organized to support local SMEs in the K-beauty and household consumer goods sectors to diversify into global markets amid increasing external uncertainties, including the intensifying U.S.-China trade conflict and rising non-tariff regulations worldwide.

Ten companies from Gyeonggi, specializing in beauty and daily consumer products, participated in the consultation sessions across both regions. In Melbourne, Australia, 49 business meetings were held, resulting in USD 1.06 million in potential exports and USD 510,000 in contracts currently under negotiation. Meanwhile, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 56 meetings were held, with export consultations amounting to USD 2.11 million and contract negotiations underway for USD 750,000.

“We could sense the recognition of Korean products’ excellence by Australian consumers first-hand,” said a representative of a Hanam City-based skincare company entering the Australian market for the first time. “Thanks to the Korea–Australia FTA tariff benefits, our price competitiveness has improved, increasing the likelihood of actual contracts.”

“This consultation gave us valuable insight into the Malaysian market and buyer responses,” commented a representative of a Yongin City-based food company. “Overseas standard certifications are essential for entering global markets, and the GGFTA Center’s support has been extremely helpful.”

Australia is recognized as a premium market backed by high purchasing power and consumer trust, with a growing demand for eco-friendly and health-focused products. Malaysia is also emerging as a key hub for accessing the ASEAN market and a strategic entry point into the halal market in the Islamic world. As such, these consultations are expected to be a significant stepping stone for provincial SMEs to move beyond an export structure heavily reliant on the U.S. and China and into new, diversified markets.

Gyeonggi Province and the GGFTA Center plan to continue offering local export consultations, overseas certification support, and tailored training and briefings to help companies in the province overcome non-tariff barriers in various global markets, including Australia and Malaysia.

For further information, please contact the GGFTA Trade Promotion Center (+82-1688-4684).

Gyeonggi Province International Trade Director Park Gyeong-seo stated, “We will continue to provide proactive support to help companies recognize the importance of overseas certifications and prepare in advance to respond effectively to the evolving global trade landscape.”