Article 1. Gyeonggi Announces Results of 2-Month Long Creativity Audition (1230-3)
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Last October, Gyeonggi Province introduced a novel, competition-based regional project screening procedure, titled “Creativity Audition”, for provincial support. The final selection results were announced at the end of 2014.
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▶Applications from Local Governments (October 20 to December 15, 2014)
For provincial support of KRW 40billion, regional administrations responded with a large number of applications.
▶Joo Yi-ja / Chief Official, Gimpo City Budget Team
“We are thrilled about the increased subsidy limit of KRW 10 billion for a single project. If our project is selected, it would help us a lot.”
The Creativity Audition aims to provide effective support for creative regional development projects withup to KRW 10 billion for individual projects.
▶Of 66 Local Projects, 33 Qualified for Finals
Out of sixty-six project applications submitted by all regional governments, thirty-three were initially selected as qualifiers for the final competition.
▶Gyeonggi Province Human Resources Development Center (December 22)
Final Screening by Selection Committee
In the final competition, seven projects were ultimately selected for provincial support.
▶7 Selected Projects Require KRW 50.3 Billion in Support
The provincial support required by these seven projects amounts to KRW 50.3 billion. This means that each project will receive a substantial amount of support.
▶Bae Woong-gyu / Member of Selection Committee, Creativity Audition
“I see that you applied for support of KRW 10 billion for this project. I cannot understand what in this project you need to spend that much money on, nor how. Can you explain…”
For close assessment of the projects, the selection committee often worked in task forces.
▶Previous Provincial Subsidy Limits for Local Projects Proved Unrealistic
Previously, the provincial subsidy amount for individual local projects was KRW 470 million per project on average, too low to garner the effects of support. This was because subsidies were granted as available from the provincial budget on the basis of requests by the heads of local governments without screening.
▶[PiP]Lee Hui-won / Director, Gyeonggi Province Budget Division
“This open competition also proved effective in that local administrations are now more focused on large projects that can create new jobs and promote the local economy…”
The allocation of provincial subsidies is no longer a simple sharing of funds. Creativity is now the key for regional projects to succeed in securing provincial support.
▶Seo Sun-tak / Head of Selection Committee, Creativity Audition
“It was difficult to judge. I think this (provincial subsidy allocation) method will have positive effects on the advancement of Gyeonggi Province.”
The two months of fierce competition among regional governments in the Creativity Audition have finally ended with the promise of positive results.
 
Article 2.Gyeonggi Province Section of Gyeongui Rail Line Completed (1231-1)
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On December 26, construction of the Gyeongui(경의) Rail Line was finally completed, marking continued rail connection across Gyeonggi Province from east to west.
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▶Final 1.9km Section between Gongdeok and Yongsan Completed.
The 48-km section of the Gyeongui (경의) Line from Paju (파주) City of Gyeonggi Province to Yongsan (용산) in Seoul is now complete with the opening of the final 1.9-km section in Seoul.
[CG]It is now possible to travel from Paju (파주)all the way to Yangpyeong (양평) by way of Yongsan (용산) where the Gyeongui (경의) Line meets the Joongang (중앙) Line.
▶Travel Time from Paju to Yangpyeong Reduced by 30 Minutes to 2 Hours 35 Minutes
The travel time for the east-west crossing of the province has now been reduced by 35 minutes to 155 minutes. A reduction of more than one hour is realized via express train.
▶Jang Su-im / Munsan-eup, Paju
“It was inconvenient having to transfer trains. Now I can travel without transfering. It’s a lot more convenient.”

▶Gyeongiui Double-track Line Construction Began in 1999 and Cost KRW 2.4 Trillion
Construction of the double-track Gyeongui (경의) Line began in 1999 to promote the development of the northwestern regions of Gyeonggi Province, and has cost a total of KRW 2.4 trillion
▶Yonesan Station, Seoul (December 26)
Gyeongui Double-track Railroad Line Opening Ceremony
Fifteen years after the project began, the Gyeongui (경의) Line officially opened this past December 26.
▶Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“The connection of the northwestern and eastern regions of Gyeonggi Province will be beneficial for the balanced development as well as the tourism promotion of the province.”
The completion of the Gyeongui (경의) Line will improve the convenience of travel and the accessibility of Seoul for the residents of the province’s northwestern regions.
 
Article 3.Tourism Promotion Effects of Creativity Audition on Northern Gyeonggi (1226-1)
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The Creativity Audition that Gyeonggi Province staged to select regional projects for total support of KRW 40 billion has ended with the selection of seven projects. Among these seven projects are tourism promotion projects proposed by northern regional governments.
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▶Gamak Mountain, Paju
Although Gamak (감악) Mountain in Paju (파주) City of Gyeonggi Province is one of the most popular mountain destinations in the province, it lacks tourism facilities.
▶Gamak Mountain Healing Theme Park Project of Paju City
In order to promote tourism to this region, Paju (파주) City proposed development of the Gamak (감악) Mountain Healing Theme Park. This development plan includes a circular trail for hikers as well as resting areas, and avoids the demolition of existing unlicensed facilities.
▶Lee Su-ho / Director, Paju City Park and Forest Division
“There will be 200,000more visitors annually, eventually reaching around 600,000. This project will be beneficial for all three bordering regions in terms of local development and job creation.”

▶Hanyeoul Happy Village Project of Pocheon City
Pocheon (포천) City proposed development of a large ecological tourism complex utilizing its beautiful natural environment. Titled “Happy Village”, this project includes the development of camping sites, sports facilities and ecological preserves.
▶Lee Su-jin / Director, Pocheon City Culture and Sports Division
“This project will provide opportunities to see and enjoy nature as well as dining and accommodation facilities.”

▶Music Village Project of Gapyeong County
Gapyeong (가평) County’s Music Village project was also selected for provincial support. This project aims to develop facilities for musical activities such as music clubs and academies and residential facilities for musicians, in linkage with the annual Jazz Festival, as well as facilities for visitors for healthcare.
▶Gapyeong County Mayor Kim Gwan-su
“The Music Village will be worth approximately KRW 4 billion upon completion, and will become the first music city of the country.”

▶Yangpyeong County Governor Kim Seon-gyo
“Having two thousand visitors for two nights throughout the year will lead to the creation of about 30,000 new jobs…”
The heads of regional governments were often the presenters during the Creativity Audition. The Gyeonggi Provincial Government expects that, in the long run, this audition process for provincial support will help resolve development problems in regulation-ridden northern regions through the provision of substantial support for projects of high economic potential.
 
Article 4.Job Creation Effects of Creativity Audition on Southern Gyeonggi (1229-1)
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Among the seven regional projects selected for provincial support in the Creativity Audition held by Gyeonggi Province, those proposed by southern regional governments focused primarily on job creation through the utilization of local infrastructure.
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▶Korean Cartoon Museum Project of Bucheon City
Bucheon (부천) City proposed the establishment of a cartoon museum featuring webcomics. Webcomics are a rapidly-growing online digital content field that attracts millions of viewers. Popular comics have also been produced as comic books and even animated movies. There are also digital games and commodities featuring famous webcomic characters.
▶Bucheon Aims to Promote Webcomic Industry
Bucheon City also aims to create many new jobs through the promotion of the webcomic industry and support for export, translation and operations.
▶Choi Yeong-hyeon / Chief Official, Bucheon City Cartoon Team
“There are many aspiring webcomic writers. We intend to promote the webcomic industry so as to help resolve youth unemployment.”
Ansan (안산) City, on the other hand, focuses on supporting youths with their business startups as a means of creating jobs.
▶Youth Business Incubation Center Project of Ansan City
Instead of primarily focusing on the commercialization of products as is the case in other similar projects, the Youth Business Incubation Center project of Ansan (안산) City aims to support individuals with ideas from the very beginning.
▶Choi Jone-eun / Director, Ansan City Industrial Policy Division
“We will use available spaces in industrial areas as business incubation centers for youths. This will lead to the creation of new jobs and the advancement of the local economy.”
Large industrial complexes in the cities of Ansan (안산) and Siheung (시흥)are densely populated with small enterprises. Nearly 80 percent of them have less than ten employees, and are incapable of achieving growth on their own.
▶Convergence and Complex Support Center Project of Siheung City
Siheung (시흥) City’s Convergence and Complex Support Center project seeks to help these small contract-based component manufacturers improve their competitiveness and grow into globally recognized enterprises through education, consultation and support.
▶Yoon Hyeon-yeong / Director, Siheung City Enterprise Support Division
“This center will be a place where products of high added value are developed and creative ideas are realized. It will have the effect of creating 2,100 direct and 34,000 indirect quality jobs…”
The results of the Creativity Audition reflect the regional economic policies of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government: promotion of tourism in northern regions and job creation in southern regions utilizing respective, characteristic local resources. The real effects of the regional projects subsidized by the provincial government through this new method remain to be seen.
 
Article 5. Gyeonggi Provincial Administration and Assembly Meeting (1231-2)
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On December 30, Gyeonggi provincial administration officials led by Governor Nam Kyung-pil (남경필) and members of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly gathered together to discuss current administrative issues of the province.
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▶Gyeonggi Provincial Government Complex (December 30)
Gyeonggi Administration and Assembly Meeting on Provincial Issues
This meeting was convened by Gyeonggi Province for the in-depth discussion of issues raised during last month’s regular Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly meeting. Specialists from Gyeonggi institutes were also invited to the meeting, which began with the discussion of strategic solutions for the economic imbalance between large and smaller enterprises.
▶Kim Jun-hyeon / Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Member
“There is so-called ‘surplus profit sharing’. A structural foundation upon which to share profit opportunities must be established.”
Impending FTA-induced challenges faced by the agricultural industry were also discussed.
▶Lee Soo-haeng / Researcher, Gyeonggi Research Institute
“We must promote local specialty food items through the expansion of their distribution, and develop farm culture utilization models. Doing so will help develop a foundation for the ‘warm and blessed communities’ that Gyeonggi Province is currently pursuing.”

▶Gyeonggi Province to Support Taxi Services
When problems regarding taxi services were the topic, a Gyeonggi official stated that the provincial administration has plans to provide support for the improvement of taxi operation environments and the working conditions of taxi drivers.
▶Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“I would suggest the formation of task forces among provincial assembly members, provincial officials and Gyeonggi institute specialists for on-going studies on issues…”
This meeting marked the beginning of the coalition movement in budget matters between the administrative and legislative branches promised by Governor Nam.
 
Article 6.Multi-level Cultivation System Developed in Gyeonggi Province (1231-3)
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A Gyeonggi institute has developed a year-round cultivation tem that is sufficiently economical for farmers to adopt in their own greenhouses. This tem has the same features as those of expensive high-tech plant factories that automatically control environments for stable, weatherproof cultivation. This new tem employs multi-shelved farm beds to reduce installation costs.
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▶Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services
In this glass greenhouse, lettuce is growing on three shelves of cultivation beds. These vertically-arranged beds hide a technology that increases productivity to four times that of other flat bed tems.
▶GTV Reporter Choi Ji-hyun
“It is easy to distinguish between the two tems. The one on the left is the ordinary flat-bed tem and the one on the right is the multi-level cultivation tem.”
This vertical tem increases production per unit area to a rate that matches the productivity of advanced plant factories.
▶Multi-level Cultivation System Easily Applied in Greenhouses
The top level uses natural sunlight, while the lower levels are supplemented with fluorescent lights that have the same effect as sunlight.
▶Jang Seok-woo / Researcher, Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services
“We solved the problem of the under-coloration of vegetables grown in closed-in spaces by providing artificial light. These special lighting fixtures ensure the production of fresh vegetables year round since they also prevent over-growth and diseases.”

▶Cultivation Conditions Controlled with Atomizer and Culture Solution Cooler
These multi-shelf vegetable beds are equipped with control features to maintain optimal temperatures and nutrient supplies for vegetables.
▶Installation Cost per Unit Area Greatly Reduced
Unlike commercial plant factories, this tem can be installed easily by farmers in their greenhouses at one eighth of the cost per unit area; hence it is called the ‘Plant Factory for Farmers’.
▶Yim Jae-wuk / Researcher, Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services
“For lettuce, for example, the productivity of three-level beds is four times that of single-level flat bed in ordinary greenhouses. Which also means farmer income increases four times.”
The Gyeonggi Agricultural Research and Extension Services, the creator of this tem, plans to develop similar tems for other plant types beyond leafy vegetables.
 
Article 7.Creativity Audition for KRW 40 Billion in Provincial Subsidies Ends (1230-2)
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After two months of Gyeonggi Province’s Creative Audition regional project screening process, seven projects were finally selected for provincial support of up to KRW 10 billion each.
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▶7 out of 66 Projects Proposed by 31 Regional Governments Selected for Provincial Subsidies
All 31 regional governments of the province entered the competition with 66 projects, seeking provincial subsidies amounting to KRW 460 billion.
▶Gyeonggi Human Resource Development Center (December 29)
Creativity Audition Main Competition
Ultimately, seven projects beat the 9.4-to-1 odds and succeeded in securing provincial support. Selection was based on the potential effects of the projects on job creation and local economy advancement. Among these seven winning projects, the one that took first place is entitled to maximum support of KRW 10 billion.
▶Gapyeong County Won 1st Place
First place was won by Gapyeong (가평) County with the ‘Music Village’ project for the creation of a musical tourism complex. This project received the highest evaluation for its creativity.
▶Gapyeong County Vice Mayor Kim Gwan-su
“Our Music Village project is based on the concept of three zonal divisions – a music zone, a business zone and a food zone.”

▶Siheung City and Bucheon City Won 2nd Place
The cities of Siheung (시흥) and Bucheon (부천) both finished in second place. These cities and the other winners will receive provincial support of 67 to 83 percent of the amounts sought.
▶Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil
“Provincial subsidies have usually been provided in small amounts for typical local projects such as road construction and sport facility improvement. Such a support method has limitations in realizing sustainable economic effects. That is why this new method was devised to support a few large projects with large amounts of money…”
Since the audition-type regional project screening will continue next year, scenes of intense competition for provincial subsidies among regional governments are expected to become a regular feature in Gyeonggi Province.